Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for access to this eARC. This book was on my tbr for when it released and I was thrilled to have an advanced copy.

This was a masterpiece. I was invested in this world and these characters from the get-go. Aemyra is a formidable main character, but not without flaws. In fact, many of the characters are on the sliding scale of morality and the twists and turns (and twists again) of the choices they make are gripping.

Hazel McBride has created a world that is at once fantastical and wholly believable. The battle for sovereignty against the backdrop of religious fanaticism feels completely realistic. The addition of magic and dragons is just a bonus.

The story was so wonderfully woven that I flew through this. And now anxiously await book 2.

Man, I’ve got mixed feelings on this one. It checks all the boxes for a romantasy, it’s definitely enemies to lovers, there isn’t a kiss until 70% of the way through so a good slow burn, the FMC is 26, so she’s not a teenager, it’s got arranged marriage……

BUT. BUT. The FMC is just SO unlikable. She’s cocky and so sure of herself and yet she makes THE DUMBEST CHOICES. She does NOT think most things through, she just does things on a whim and then oh no surprise pikachu face, there are terrible consequences.

The MMC is fine, the dragon part was cool, the plot was decent. Like it has solid bones and I do think most people that read this will like it, and I did enjoy reading it- I just didn’t love it, ya know?

Also, the plot twist at the end, part of it I had guessed, but one part I didn’t? I’m still not sure I grasp the whole magic aspect, and I didn’t love the religion part.

BOTTOM LINE: I enjoyed reading the book, if fantasy is new for you, you’ll probably really enjoy this. The FMC is just a hard pill to swallow, ya know? (That’s what HE said)

Absolutely loved A Fate Forged in Fire! I hope everyone else loved it like I do! I had conflicted feelings towards Fiorean, but I felt all the characters were well written!

I love-love-loved this book! the tension, the mythical beasts, everything was amazing! And the romance - a true enemies to lovers!

DNF at 43%

I genuinely wanted to like this book—there’s nothing inherently wrong with it. The writing is solid, and there are aspects that I was totally here for, like the feminist undertones and the Scottish Highland themes. However, I found it mind-numbingly boring.

I pushed myself to read almost halfway, but I just couldn’t convince myself to pick it back up. It wasn’t engaging enough for me, though I recognize that others might enjoy it more.

This isn’t a bad book by any means—it just wasn’t the right fit for me. 🥲

Unfortunately I didn’t know there was a pronunciation guide until I got to the end of the book cause it’s on kindle.. 😭 so I spent a lot of time googling how to say things🙃🙃

I don’t think this book is for me unfortunately I didn’t feel connected with our FMC and found her annoying to the point where I just wanted the book to be over with.

This book is enemies to lovers and has dragons in it. Don’t expect it to be centered around dragons like fourth wing!

I also feel like this book needs to be marketed differently then it currently is now because I read the description for it but once I started it I felt like I was reading a completely different book than the description!

Link to my review below. I try to keep my reviews short and sweet.
As stated I struggled with the MFC. I didn’t find her sassy but rude. However, the dragons in this book saved the day and I loved the fighting scenes. The MFC is in need of strong character growth.

Title: A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride
Genre: Romantasy
Pub Date: May 27, 2025

"The moment you unleash me upon
this kingdom, Tìr Teine will know what
it means to belong to fire"

Fire Magic
Dragon Riding
Badass Blacksmith FMC
Political Intrigue
Reluctant Allies
Slow Burn

Preface this review knowing I also disliked Fourth Wing, so if you liked that one, you might enjoy A Fate Forged in Fire, too! It definitely has some similarities! 🫶

⭐️⭐️✨️

This book had potential but it just didn't hit the mark for me. It had all the right tropes, featuring a Celtic inspired world with dragons and a fierce FMC who weilds fire... It sounds great, in theory.... Unfortunately, I found Aemyra to be decidedly unlikeable and if Prince Fiorean was a spice, he would be ✨️flour✨️ There was no chemistry and all of their interactions felt so clunky and awkward. I wanted to love it, I tried to love it, but I had the immense urge to DNF early on.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the digital review copy 🔥

I really wanted to love this book based on what I’d read in the synopsis. It sounded badass - a woman fighting for her rightful throne against those who would oppress women and are determined to overthrow the matriarchal ways in which their clan historically operated.

However, maybe it’s just my lack of knowledge of how these types of clans work, or the fact that I didn’t know until 30% in that this was inspired by HOTD, but I had to slowly piece together the fact that **the main characters in this book are related**. If that’s going to be the case, it absolutely needs to be mentioned in the content warnings of the book before it starts, and it wasn’t. And I’m not talking distant relations, I’m talking third cousins (technically, half third cousins). Again, if I’d known this was HOTD inspired, I could have maybe assumed this going into it. But I was caught off guard and left wondering for the entire book if they were related, which absolutely affected the experience of reading it. I did guess early on that they were third cousins, but it’s never fully explained well enough to say one way or another. I resorted to reaching out to the author to confirm (who was very nice and I appreciate the information she provided!!) Again, it needed to be stated explicitly in the CWs or at the beginning of the book, not assumed that the reader will understand the clan lineages based on the vague information that’s provided. This was just my experience, so I’d be interested to know if anyone else had this experience.

It’s also very clear that this is HOTD inspired. There are changes made, but if you’ve seen the show (I haven’t read the book), I think it’ll be clear where the inspiration was drawn from. Sometimes to the point that it felt too on the nose.

Finally, I just felt like the plot was too rushed for the romance to have happened realistically. I wish we’d had more time to develop the relationship, but it just felt like one thing happened after another so quickly and by the time the romance starts, I found it hard to believe that it would have actually happened given what was going on around them and to them.

Overall, this was a classic romantasy, with typical character arcs (though again, I wish we’d gotten more development) and a brutal cliffhanger. I did enjoy the plot, it was fun and the characters had good banter and the enemies to lovers appeal, and I really do think if I’d known what I was getting into ahead of time I would have had better expectations for what it would be, but the lack of clarity and my issues with the inspiration and pacing made this a three star for me. All in all, a fun, quick read and I’ll be picking up the second book when it’s out to see it through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance copy to review!

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I keep going back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars so I'm giving it 4 stars.

The plot of the story is really good, it felt really thought and was detailed. It a true enemies to lovers story, and I look forward to seeing more of that journey in the next book! The FMC is very strong-willed and has a strong since of right and wrong. The MMC thinks that what he is doing is protecting the people he cares about. Also I loved the FMCs brother he seems so caring and Im hoping to see more of him in the next book!

One thing I wish had a little more detail/ was more clear is the make up of the clans. Like what are the family's with in the clans? How are they connected to each other? Who is related to who? I'm hoping that will be further explained in the next book.

I personally was not a fan of this story. I felt like it was repetitive in some areas and almost read like we were rushing to the end in some areas. I had a hard time connecting to the characters, but overall though it was a decent read. The writing is decent in comparison to her other works, but I loved the world building. I still would recommend the book to those who enjoy the tropes!

Thanks to Net Galley for this eARC. This is my honest review


I was so excited for this book because it looked so promising - the fighting, the dragons…
But the characters is what fell through for me. The FMC was just plain old bitchy and so conceited. Normally, I can overlook that, but it was just so annoying to me. The dragons was the best part in my opinion.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a mesmerizing tale of rebellion, power, and reluctant alliances, set against the backdrop of a kingdom on the brink of ruin. With lush world-building, complex characters, and fiery political intrigue, McBride spins a story that feels both sweeping and intimate. This is the kind of fantasy that hooks you from the very first page, pulling you into a world where dragons soar, loyalties are tested, and love may be the greatest risk of all.

Tìr Teine, once a land defined by matriarchal strength and magic, is now a kingdom corroded by the anti-magic dogma of the True Religion and weakened by a succession of ineffective kings. McBride’s portrayal of the oppressive religious influence feels eerily relevant, as it explores themes of cultural erasure, fear, and power disguised as faith. The True Religion’s chokehold on Tìr Teine heightens the stakes for Aemyra, making her fight not just a personal quest for her rightful place, but a battle for the soul of her kingdom.

Aemyra is a dynamic protagonist—fierce, cunning, and deeply loyal. Her fire-wielding abilities and connection to dragons make her a formidable force, but it’s her emotional journey that makes her unforgettable. She’s lived most of her life in hiding, waiting for her moment to rise, and when her plans go awry, her frustration and sense of betrayal are palpable. McBride balances Aemyra’s strength with vulnerability, making her a heroine you can’t help but root for.

Then there’s Prince Fiorean, the cold and calculating fire-wielder who stands in her way. Fiorean is the epitome of a reluctant antihero—steeped in duty, shaped by a corrupt royal lineage, and burdened by his own internal conflicts. The slow-burning tension between him and Aemyra is expertly crafted, with their banter crackling like embers in a fire. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic feels earned rather than rushed, as McBride allows their relationship to simmer amidst the larger political chaos. The emotional depth of their connection makes their alliance—and their eventual romantic entanglement—both dangerous and thrilling.

The dragons in A Fate Forged in Fire are more than mere accessories; they’re woven into the narrative as powerful symbols of strength, legacy, and connection. The bond between a dragon and its rider is portrayed as sacred and primal, heightening the stakes for Aemyra as she fights for her rightful place as the queen and dragon-bonded ruler. McBride’s descriptions of the dragons are vivid and awe-inspiring, capturing their majesty and ferocity in a way that will delight fans of dragon lore.

The political intrigue in the novel is intricate without being overwhelming. The court of Tìr Teine is rife with scheming nobles, betrayals, and shifting alliances, and McBride handles the machinations with finesse. The pacing remains steady as Aemyra navigates one treacherous situation after another, though there are moments where the narrative slows slightly during detailed world-building and exposition. However, these quieter moments are rich with history and atmosphere, grounding the reader in the world’s complex mythology.

Thematically, the novel explores the cost of power and the sacrifices required to forge a new path. Aemyra’s journey is not just about reclaiming her throne—it’s about rediscovering who she is outside of vengeance and survival. McBride doesn’t shy away from showing the emotional toll of leadership, love, and war, making the story as much about personal transformation as it is about political upheaval.

At 4 stars, A Fate Forged in Fire is an enthralling fantasy filled with fire-wielding heroes, deadly betrayals, and unforgettable dragons. Hazel McBride’s storytelling is both fierce and lyrical, blending action, romance, and political drama into a captivating tale of destiny and resilience. Fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Song of Ice and Fire will find much to love in this beautifully crafted novel that reminds us that true power lies in the courage to forge our own fate.

Aemyra, the heroine and protagonist of Hazel McBride's A Fate Forged in Fire, offers stabby FMC, feminine fury, and dual vulnerability as well as strength in a fast-paced, character-driven, and exciting romantasy story. I admire Aemyra's fierce loyalty to her family, her connection with her dragon, and her deep desire to unite her people under a queen whose rule would be characterized by love and joy, instead of misogyny and fear. I wanted more on-page interaction between Aemrya and Fiorean, but I really enjoyed their scenes together and feel that readers haven't truly gotten to learn and know all of Fiorean's backstory! The cliffhanger ending of A Fate Forged in Fire has me eagerly awaiting book #2.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC copy.

A valiant take on a dragon-rider's romantasy, but ultimately this did not soar for me.
While the world-building was fairly well done, the pacing in this story felt very off-kilter. There was a lot of action overall but the places where I needed more plot or character development as lead-up to those moments never materialized, making it feel disjointed and unbelievable at times.

While I enjoyed the true enemies to lovers aspect, the relationship development didn't feel like it carried the romance. The spice felt a little out of left field, though was well written for me.

I had major frustrations with the FMC, whose fiery, brash demeanor felt like all talk, because when it came to the conflicts, she really lacked agency and felt sort of juvenile and naive. I also felt like the author couldn't decide who she was? Tough blacksmith? Healer? Warrior?

I did love the feminist themes, bisexual representation, and commentary on religion and patriarchy which were chillingly relevant to modern times. This book did have some beautiful one-liners and quotes I highlighted.

I did not see the last plot twist coming so the cliffhanger was a real doozy and may make me finish this duology just to know what happens!

Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 rounded down.

I really did enjoy reading this story. I think the first 20% was hard for me to get through because it was a little boring, but after that the pace picked up. I'd say that the last 30% was my favorite, which is usually true with most books for me.

The biggest flaw for me was how immature the FMC was. She was supposed to be 26, but was acting like she was 17 the whole time. How could someone with a fully developed frontal lobe make these decisions??? Especially someone who also had years to prepare for her future role as queen. She just kept making the absolute worst decisions over and over again.

The romance aspect was very meh to me - I enjoyed some of the banter and Fiorean had some endearing lines, but it wasn't overly exciting for me. It also freaked me out that they were related (I'm still confused on how distantly...), which maybe I just haven't read enough fantasy yet for me to get used to this? Idk. I also felt like they went from hating each other to loving each other too fast, there was very minimal buildup so the payoff didn't really hit for me.

The magic system was...okay. I feel like it was explained fairly well without overload, but it just seemed too easy for a lot of it. The conflict with the Covenant also felt too easy for me as well, with them having so many tools against magic. The overall political conflict with them left me wanting more. I did like that the politics of being a ruler and how public opinion/knowledge of events was brought in so much, as in a lot of fantasy books they often forget how important commoners really are.

Also, the "twist" at the end (if it could really be called that) was not even that shocking to me since the romance felt so half-hearted. I also was just kind of annoyed that each plot point was just a repeat of what had already happened, so I just didn't really like the end.

All of this being said, I did enjoy reading the book and will be looking out for the next one.

Dragons are having a big moment currently. This felt a lot like Rhaenyra/Aemon Targaryen fanfic to me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but neither Amyra or Fiorean were nearly as developed as their House of the Dragon counterparts. The premise was fun, but Aemyra was grating and flat. I don't think all main characters need to be likable, but there has to be something there for me to at least want to root for them and spend time with them.

I legitimately loved this book!! My video that includes me reading this book has not yet been uploaded but I couldn't wait to give my review. This book is quite literally spectacular!! I cannot believe I have to wait at least a year and a half for the next one. My only criticism is that the first half was a little bit too fast paced for me, but that's just a personal preference. My rating is roughly a 4.75, so near perfect for me it was incredible.

Hazel McBride weaves a captivating tale of political intrigue, forbidden magic, and slow-burning romance in A Fate Forged in Fire. Set in the fractured territory of Tìr Teine, Aemyra’s journey from exiled heir to reluctant ally with her sworn adversary, Prince Fiorean, is packed with tension and twists. McBride’s worldbuilding shines as she explores the complexities of court politics, the oppressive influence of the True Religion, and the mystical bond between dragons and their riders. The dynamic between Aemyra and Fiorean crackles with fiery chemistry, adding emotional depth to the high-stakes plot.

When I was reading this it reminded me a bit of House of Dragon - not realizing that this author wrote GOT fanfiction. Either way, it was reminiscent in a good way.

There's religious fanaticism, dragons, a broody/scarred MMC, a MFC with daddy issues, and court politicking. I didn't feel there was a lull in the storyline at all, regardless of how much was going on.

The ending has me very eager for the 2nd book.