Definitely a wild ride! Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc and now I have to (not so) patiently wait until the next book in the series!

Im glad for the guide in the back of the book due to the name that can be difficult to pronounce. However love to see more Scottish culture represented in books like this!

4 ⭐️ for me overall a really interesting read. As with most books in a new fantasy series it could be a bit slow around 20% - 30% through the books for me personally but definitely had be hooked more as the story between each character developed.

Things I enjoyed:
: ̗̀➛ Dragons, especially how they bond with their chosen rider.
: ̗̀➛ Adarian, would of loved for more time in the book to see him and how he was handling situations.
: ̗̀➛ Pacing throughout after around 70%
: ̗̀➛ Ending Battle and preparation.

Things I didn’t enjoy as much
: ̗̀➛ Felt slightly lost during the beginning chapters.
: ̗̀➛ Banter could of been more between characters
: ̗̀➛ The tension between Aemyra and Fiorean

Reading this book was an unforgettable experience that transported me into a captivating world of magic and adventure and of course dragons! From the very first page, I was drawn into the complex setting and the well-developed characters that made this novel so compelling.

The protagonist's journey is one of the most engaging aspects of the story.

The pacing of the novel kept me on my toes. While there were moments that felt a bit drawn out, especially in the middle, the intense action sequences and high-stakes moments were thrilling enough to keep me eagerly turning pages and hooked through the rest of the book. Each relationship felt authentic and contributed significantly to the FMCs growth.

The authors writing style captivated me as well. Her vivid descriptions brought the fantastical elements of the world to life.

All that being said, A Fate Forged in Fire was a fun read with adventure and some interesting themes. I will definitely be looking out for the continuation of this series in the future.

Book read completed: 03.01.2025

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It didn't fully click with me.

Spoiler alert: The assault scene felt unnecessary. Aemyra was hard to like, and the banter didn’t work for me. I also couldn’t get into Aemyra and Fiorean as a couple.

If you prefer plot over character development, this might be a good fit for you.

Aemyra is the most powerful fire-wielding queen in generations—but her crown is currently occupied by the male-favoring family line and they are not interested in giving it up. To win back her throne, she’s got to bond with a dragon, win the support of her people, and keep her family safe in the process. She spends a lot of her time failing at pretty much all of that, but most especially from staying away from the hot hot hotty Fiorean who is doing everything he can to help his brother keep the throne. And also, her Dad’s dubious motives & scheming to help her are weirdly attractive and interesting to read.

3.5 ⭐️ from me! Overall, I liked it well enough. It sucked me in around 70% and I couldn’t put it down, which was good because it helped me move past several aspects of this book that I just didn’t enjoy.

Things I liked:
- the dragon lore and the nature of their bonding with humans
- Adarian; he deserved more page time
- The battle at the end
- the story’s overall pacing

Things that irked me:
- Aemyra is just so unlikable for 85% of the book. And her character growth felt like a big jump that was unearned
- The romantic tension didn’t build much before we were supposed to be invested
- I have mixed feelings about fiorean
- the gratuitous assault scene
- there were moments of poor writing I had to mentally work to move past.

I might pick up the next one if it’s convenient for me, but probably won’t. I don’t care enough in the end to follow up with this world & characters, even if I do kind of want to know what happens next.

If you’re a plot over character person, this book will probably be plenty fun for you to read!

Whew, what a ride! I'm glad I got to review this book thanks to NetGalley and also upset that it's the first in a series so I have to wait to see what comes next.

This book is set in an alternate fantasy universe inspired by Scottish Gaelic culture, so there are names I can't pronounce but there is a handy pronunciation guide at the back of the book. There are clans, and tartans, and an occasional Scottish endearment, but otherwise, it is a fantasy world.

Aemyra is a twin, with magical fire powers, who has hidden for all her life, biding her time until she can rightfully claim her throne. Obviously, not everyone is happy about her claim, and so the fight begins. Everyone is a villain in someone else's story - there are multiple sides to any event, and the author keeps us on our toes showing us (and making us feel) the different perspectives, including loyalty, betrayal, helplessness, determination, love, and moments of affection.

There are whiffs of Fourth Wing - dragons, Acotar - woman coming into her power, and even Dragonriders of Pern - the fmc reminds me of Lessa. The author makes powerful statements about women, their independence, and body autonomy, making it an integral part of the story's politics while making a statement about our own modern times.

This is a book about right vs wrong (but whose right and whose wrong?), with more action than political bickering. It kept me glued to the page with plenty of twists and turns. The book ends in a good spot for a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see what happens next

Be aware of some triggers re: a woman's body, violence, open door spice.

I officially have a new book boyfriend and I am full heartedly a Fiorean apologist. (Hazel McBride, please do not make me regret saying those words)

The story is very engaging and while our lovely fmc can be manipulated by her relationships (aren’t we all), she has the best intentions at heart. She has so many relationships we see - her adopted family, her twin, her father, the priestesses, the royal family, and herself.

There are a few spice scenes and they’re well written, definitely had me blushing.

I appreciate the dig at Christianity, the True Religion, and as we see how it overtook Pagen religions in the violence of being the ‘correct’ one.

I can’t wait for the rest of this series!

Ehh.. I made it about 25% in and just can't continue. I'm not sure where the disconnect is but the story feels jumbled and a little all over the place.

If you're a fan of House of the Dragon and crave a rich fantasy world filled with political intrigue, dragons, and fiery tension, A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride will be right up your alley.
This book delivers an engaging enemies-to-lovers romance, a relentless battle for power, and a magic system that feels fresh and enchanting.
The protagonist's journey to claim her crown is a highlight, packed with grit and determination. The slow-burning tension between her and her rival is masterfully done, keeping you on edge as loyalties shift and feelings deepen. The plot twist at the end was absolutely gut-wrenching-it left me reeling in the best way.
Dragons! Need I say more.
The magic system is also brilliantly crafted, adding depth and wonder to the story.
However, the novel isn't without its challenges. The world-building, while ultimately immersive, takes some patience to unravel. The names of people and places are intricate and occasionally hard to pronounce, which might pull some readers out of the narrative initially. But once you're acclimated, the complexity of the world becomes one of its strengths.
Overall, A Fate Forged in Fire is a gripping tale of power, passion, and perseverance. Hazel McBride delivers a story that will stay with you long after the final page. If you can push through the slightly slow start, you're in for a thrilling ride with a finale that will leave you breathless.
Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy, slow-burn romance, and, of course, dragons!

A Fate Forged in Fire is a solid first entry in (what I'm assuming) a romantasy series that checks every box of what you could want in a book that ticks the romance and fantasy meter.

Review update (January 2, 2025):
"House of the Dragon but make it Scottish."

In my initial review, I was too raw from emotions and that grappling cliffhanger that it took me a hot minute to recover from finishing it. I am both honored and horrified to have read this book early because of course, it was a privilege to be an advanced reader of such a thrilling book but it was also a double edged sword because this also marked the torturous wait for the sequel which hasn't been announced yet.

A Fate Forged In Fire is unlike anything I have read before, but also bore some similarities to other fantasy books I have read in a wonderful and comforting kind of way. I love how the plot goes where I could not guess where it will land but at the same time, there was this feeling of familiarity with the tropes well known and I have come to love in my romantasy books. It's also a joy to explore the many Scottish influences obviously ingrained in the story as well as the characters. Being written by a native Scottish, the book tugged at my heart when I think of how the author honored her roots. There's so many writers who were inspired by Scottish lore and while some did their due diligence and did research to properly include Scottish elements in their book, there's nothing quite like reading from a Scottish author herself whose love for her homeland shone in every page and every use of her native language in her book.

I really enjoyed the magic system because elemental magic is my favorite type of magic and the beasts just added to the factors that made me fall even more in love with the story. When a setting is described, it's simple and not overbearing but at the same time, I could vividly picture it in my head. So yeah, I guess simplicity is key when it comes to describing a fantasy world that is already rich and vast that it doesn't need any unnecessary flowery words or deep vocabulary.

The writing was solid and easy to follow through and I liked the pacing and how tension and calm were distributed in equal amounts whenever they're needed. I compared this book to House of the Dragon because the politics dynamics of Fire and Blood (and ASOIAF, really) mirrors that of this book. I swear, it was just as anxiety-inducing and blood curling. Nothing goes according to plan and I loved that so so soooo much. I was hooked from the very beginning and was kept dangling chapter by chapter with strategically well placed breaks in between.

Aemyra is a character I want to grow up to be, and she's a unique main female character that I can say I haven't read of. She and the other characters in this book were just so fully realized and also distinguishable from other character archetypes though they most likely have been molded by them. That is how real they felt for me. They were all flawed like real people, mostly Aemyra which I highly praise, and so it adds to the realness of the story and how I viewed them as true to life people and not just characters slapped on the page. I was anxious to root for anyone because I got the feeling that they all have their hidden agendas and it was hard for me to trust any of them, not even the fmc nor the mmc. This is what I've been looking for in my books. It's all very new to me and I really enjoyed the stress the characters gave me while reading.

Speaking of the fmc and the mmc, A Fate Forged In Fire has a true to the bone enemies-to-lovers trope. It's not instalove or "you're my enemy but I'm attracted to you from the beginning so I really didn't hate you, not really". Aemyra and Fiorean didn't only came from opposing sides of warring clans but they truly have different beliefs that became an obstacle in the progression of their relationship. They fought to kill each other and plotted to bring the other's family down. The trust they have built was truly from hard work and the willingness to open up and be vulnerable to a person who, despite the circumstances and the odds, they have come to care for genuinely. The passion that followed was so hot and it was so worth the two of them being angsty at the beginning.

The other thing that I loved the most aside from the enemies-to-lovers trope that was very well done it was chef's kiss, was the beasts. In fantasy books, I prefer the beasts to have interactions with the characters and guess what? This book has something even better than that because it gave me an HBO-worthy fight between dragons which had me gagging and plastering myself on my seat. I want to close my eyes to pause for a second because of how intense the scene was but at the same time, I. Couldn't. Look. Away.

While I appreciate the glossary very much, I loved how the author literally just threw me into the story and made me figure things out on my own. There were a lot of terminologies and stuff that I had to discover while I read because they do not come in expositions. It's not that I have any issues with expositions (when they're done well), but it's refreshing to read a book which didn't baby or coddle me and instead just expected me to piece the puzzle independently.

Overall, A Fate Forged In Fire is now high on my watchlist, or at least its sequel because again I'm mentioning that cliffhanger and how it left me in a free fall with no bottom in sight. Seriously, when is book two coming out? I could not wait to recommend this to all my romantasy book besties whom I just know will love reading it as much as I did. Hazel McBride did amazing in this debut of hers and I cannot wait for more of her books.

My deepest gratitude to Samantha from Random House for providing me an e-ARC of this book to read and review. It was such a pleasure, this gift.

Original review from December 15, 2024 (date finished):
I would like to say I didn’t see that coming BUT I DID AND NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IT WAS AWESOME IT WAS AMAZING BUT

BOOK TWO WHENNNNN

I mean I’m so grateful for the ARC but this book doesn’t come out until May 2025 and so I’m just here thinking how long will it take have to wait for the sequel 😭

Yea selfish of me but it was just that CLIFFHANGER GOT ME

I need a break I need to breathe I need to calm down I’ll write a proper review later like more detailed and a bit more articulate than this one bc I’m just unstable rn

I couldn't get into this one no matter how much I tried. It was a DNF for me which I don't do often, I usually try to push through but I just couldn't with this one. I am not a fan of the FMC at all. I am a girls girl and love to read a rage filled empowering FMC but not one that puts other women down. I'll give it two stars since I did not finish and I may go back and try again but unfortunately for the time being this is the rating I'm giving.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! I was really excited and looking forward to reading this book based on the description- it sounded right up my alley! But the execution just wasn’t my favorite. It picked up a lot in the last quarter of the book, but overall, this one fell flat for me.

Some things I enjoyed:
- The dragons!
-I enjoyed how the author incorporated Gaelic and historical influences into the story
-The best character, Adarian, needed way more story

Some things I didn’t:
-the terrible assault scene that felt super unnecessary and came out of no where
-Aemyra is very unlikeable
-The banter fell super flat and I was never into Aemyra and Fiorean as a couple

There is definitely a lot of plot and not a lot of character development so if you prefer plot over character this one might be for you.

I was sent this by the publisher and the synopsis sounded fantastic but pretty quickly into the book I knew it wasn't for me. I think there will be so many others who love it!

So this had a bit of a slow start, but that is not uncommon with the first book of epic fantasy - and this has the feel of an epic series.

Once things picked up - such an intense read. I love the Scottish flavor, I *loved* our fiery FMC, with a temper and passion to match her hair color. There is growth, spice, betrayal, TRUE enemies to lovers, slooooow burn & DRAGONS. Oh - and the spicy scenes! They match her fire. I needed a fan or a cold shower, to cool my ass down. Please give me more!!!

More of a 4.5 star read for me, but since I can't give 1/2 star ratings this book deserves to be a 5 star over a 4

“You should show your subjects the same respect you demand from them.”

- secret heir to the the throne mc
- HATE to love
- one pov (thank god)
- bisexual mc

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this! This review is already posted on my Goodreads. This book had a hell of a lot of elements of fantasy incorporated that I love. To dragons, elemental magic, good support system, and to female rage, this book definitely was not lacking. The only thing that really made this book not a 5 star read is the fact that Aemyra, the mc, was childish and very annoying. However, i’m the first to DNF a book and this was one actually worth reading. Such a good story line and focuses on the differences of religion in a kingdom. I quite literally felt rage the whole time I was reading this but could not put the book down. Don’t even get me started on Fiorean, the mmc, because I think their relationship was done amazing. Finally a story where the enemies to lovers don’t have eyes for each other in the first 30 or less damn chapters! Definitely worth the read!

Thank you for allowing me to read an e-arc of A Fate Forged in Fire!

I DNFed this book at 33%. I was so excited to read this. The cover is amazing and added to my excitement. Once I started reading I could not keep my attention on the story. I couldn’t connect with the characters. I don’t feel it was horrible. It just wasn’t a book for me.

This was such a good book!! I am so sad I have to wait so long for the second one.

The magic system and the world building are light, but well done. I am interested in learning more about both in future books.

I love the FMC, she is such a strong yet emotional character and I enjoyed living her story.

The story is well paced and well thought through, with lots of twists that I never saw coming!! I feel that even though it is set in a fantasy world, it feels relevant in today’s world.

I’d like to start with thanking everyone involved in allowing me to get an ARC copy of this highly anticipated book!

There will be spoilers.

I overall enjoyed the first 80% of the book! I would have rated it 5 stars based on that alone. The Gaelic words were a struggle at the beginning, but like most fantasy books you catch on quickly. I really liked the FMC, although I do wish she was more prepared for a lot of scenarios. If she’s been training to take the throne and rule as Queen for 26 years she should have anticipated some of the traps more. I loved that she is bisexual! I do wish that her brother Lachlan would have been spared, I was really rooting for the MMC to have saved and hidden him. Speaking of Fiorean, his character development I felt was kinda poor? The whole book he’s this devoted brother, then devoted husband, then the ending switches his character? I have theories on the ending but I’ll keep them to myself. Overall I will recommend this book as the vibes were great and overall pacing of the story I felt was done well. Also if the author is hoping for me to hate Draevan, mission accomplished.

I had the opportunity to read the book "A Fate Forged In Fire" by Hazel McBride recently. I have mixed feelings about it. To begin with (and now) I really like the cover art and the storyline seems to be exactly what I love to get lost in. Dragons, oh yeah! However, there are a couple of points that stop me from giving it a glowing top rated review.

I kept wanting to get behind and support the main character, Aemyra, but I kept shaking my head at her as she would make less than stellar decisions. She is definitely a character that you can care about and want to do well. You want her to get what she wants and succeed. However, she keeps making irrational decisions based on less than the best logic. Then, towards the end of the story, you think she is finally gaining some smarts, finally making some better decisions, making a shaky alliance with one of her nemeses. And the story turns. . .

The book really is a good read, but by the end of it, I was quite disappointed. I really wanted a different ending for the main character. I believe the author wanted you to yearn for more at the end, and there is probably a book two, but there is no happy ending at the end of book one. I would have liked to have a book you can feel good about finishing, instead of one where you really wished it had a different ending.

The book is full of action and characters that you can care about. It has great potential to be a wonderful series, and I look forward to seeing if Hazel McBride puts out a book 2.

I adored this book. It was a surprise, as a was expecting something more tame but damn. Hazel came into this book swinging. There was no emotion spared and I couldn’t help myself from reading this book all night. This is a book I am recommending to all my friends.
I adore books who have a romance that isn’t inherently obvious. In fact, with this book the romantic elements didn’t come into play until well into the last half of the book and yet, I was so engaged in the plot from the start. I loved watching the characters grow and trust and love. And then the betrayal! Oh my. So excited for the next one!!

I really wanted to like this book. The concept was so interesting but I found the main character to be rather unlikable. I struggled to understand the magic system in the world and had to restart several times to understand what was happening.