If you like enemies to lovers, dragons, and a feud for a throne, you’ll love this book. Aemyra is the rightful queen of her matriarchal kingdom - the first woman born in her clan in generations, but the current king took measures to ensure the line of succession stayed within his own male offspring. When the king dies and Aemyra declares herself, it starts a battle between to sides of the same clan each backed by their own religion. Aemyra has to try to bond the dead king’s dragon before his eldest son does to turn the tides of war.

I thought one of the strong points of this book was the religious aspect. The use of these two warring religions - one matriarchal and one “patriarchal” (I use the term loosely because rather than just revering men it actively subjugates women) - in the battle for the throne made for a fascinating juxtaposition. The book was a bit slow to start but ultimately became something I couldn’t put down. At times predictable, at other’s definitely not, once I got into the book, I was hooked. I can’t wait for the second in the series!

TW: SA

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Hazel McBride for the ARC of this book!

This was such a disappointing read. I tried rlly hard to like it as well. The fantasy aspect was very flimsy and the chemistry between the main characters was nonexistent.

There was one point in the book where it caught my attention (I think it was about at the halfway mark) and I thought okay we’re finally getting somewhere but then it lost me even faster lol 😭

The fmc irritated me and the mmc was blander than plain bread. There was nothing new or exciting about them.

The cast of characters were so 1 dimensional and the plot was sleep inducing (no actually I fell asleep for a good 7 hrs)

Overall, it had a lot of potential but fell rlly flat.

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Once I got past the first part of this book, it really shined. I really love how the author used some of our favorite fantasy/romantasy tropes but gave her own spin on it. I also love the Gaelic influences as that hits my need for historical allusions just wonderfully.

The enemies to lovers is amazing and deliciously slow burn. The strong FMC who stands up for who she is, is a total highlight. The connection I felt to Aemyra is also what kept me reading. She is flawed and going through it and I think we can all relate to that struggle on many levels. She's a force to be reckoned with and I'm here for it.

This book really has something for everyone: representation, slow burn, dragons and elemental magic, action-packed and a massive cliffhanger for the ending.

I can't wait to see where this story goes in the future. :)

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

3.5 ⭐

Oh lordy I did not expect this enemies to lovers to enemies trope OKAY!!!! 😭🔥 For me, it always throws me off when fantasy books take inspiration or direct translations from Scottish Gaelic, so I think that's why it slightly affected my rating overall. BUT DON'T LET THIS DISCOURAGE YOU OKAY?! 😅 Because the plot and the vibes were GIVINGGGGG 😮‍💨🔥

I was in the mood to have me screaming at the pages, and I got exactly that. Some people would say that experience makes it a low-rating book, but honestly, when I get frustrated with how the characters act in their surroundings (cause duh we all know is on purposes) that’s what I call a good time 😂 (should I.. fix that? eh, let's not think about that right now lmao)

I totally got frustrated with Aemyra 😵‍💫 because like... SHE WAS BORN TO RULE, but was raised as a low commoner and forger of her town, so she was "taught" to make royal decisions... but MAN SHE DUMB DUMB LMAOOOO 🤣 I was literally screaming at her throughout the book. 😂

Another aspect I LOVED about this book was the society/world-building being centered around a matriarchy. LIKE YESSSSS 👏 WHO RUNS THE WORLD??? WOMEN. PERIOD. 💅👑

Anyway, I GOT HOOKED around 40% which is why my rating is 3.5⭐ rounding up because even though it took me a while and me side eyeing Aemyra's choices, I definitely wanted to keep going. AND as soon as Prince Fiorean came into the picture, OHHH LORDDD 😮‍💨🔥 it was delicious. The chemistry??? THE ANGST???? 🤌 SPOT ON.

As a reader and it being 3rd person POV, you definitely get a higher understanding of what’s happening before the characters do, so it gave me major Game of Thrones vibes 👀 ANDDDD it has dragons 🐉 sooooo you already know it’s giving. Like Aemyra’s over here like “I’m meant to rule” and the kingdom basically said “yea you thought.” 💀😂

⚠️ Warning this book has a CLIFFHANGER that will HURT YOUR SOUL 💔 but thankfully it's just a duology (for now LOL we can never be sure) so hopefully the wait isn't too long. Manifesting fast releases 🙏

ALSO, I STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO TO TRUST IN THIS BOOK!!!! 😭 LIKE WHO IS THE ENEMY WHO IS THE FRIEND I'M STRESSED.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 💕

The cover is really eye catching and the writing is well done, but I just didn’t like the main character Aemrya. Female main characters having ultra feminist rage is just not appealing. She is said to be 26, which I think is a pretty mature age, but she does not act like it. Also not like other girls/only wear pants is a recurring theme in fantasy and is getting way too played out now. Part of the story just seems like a rant about the author’s politics. Not something I like to read for fun. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounds so fresh and different, but the execution is just kind of meh. I had a hard time getting through the book, but ultimately glad that I finished it. Others may love it more, but it’s not quite my cup of tea.

This had such a promising start but it petered out halfway through and I just could not continue on. Part of the issue is that the main character is almost unbearably annoying - she is so sure that she is "special" but seems determined to get herself into the dumbest possible situations. This wanted to be Daenerys round 2, but you gotta give the FMC some brains if you want to achieve that!

I couldn’t put the book down! Initially the Gaelic was slowing me down but once I got the flow of it I was hooked from beginning till end. It was intense and spicy with phenomenal inner dialogue, and entertaining plot and changer development. I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this book

I really enjoyed this book. I really felt like the characters were well developed and that the relationships between them felt organic. The magic system was really interesting, I would love to get more insight to that as the series progresses. Also - DRAGONS. I loved this take on the dynamic between dragons and people. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. It left me wanting more.

DNF @ 45%
I am sorry to the author and the publisher, but this just wasn't it for me.

I had a hard time keeping up with all the random terms and phrases that were not explained in any detail and I was supposed to know, in context, what they meant. This frustrated me to no end. I also didn't love how suddenly, Ameryra is a queen, but also, isn't really queen. I further didn't love that her dad read like a flirty book boyfriend...so much so I thought he was a love interest for a moment, before he was defined as her dad, and then, still read like a flirty book boyfriend. I was not invested, it moved too slow, and honestly, I got bored. Maybe I will pick it up again later and give it another try. But for now, it's a no.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to Hazel McBride and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the eARC of this. This was one book I could not put down. I loved this fantasy romance book and can't wait for the next. The tension and slow burn and world building was perfect!

Absolutely amazing, this story has everything I love in a fantasy book, explosive romance, wonderful world building, political intrigues and action everywhere, but most of all, badass and extremely amazing characters.

The relationship between Aemyra and Fiorean is just WOW, tension everywhere and with a slow burn of millions, the dynamic between them was wonderful to read, and something that was definitely a total success was that marriage of convenience, with that trope they completely caught me.

The cherry on the cake for me is definitely Aemyra, she has become one of my new favorite FMC, she is a character that I would call complex, who seeks to rebuild and bring back to life the legacy of her people while fighting for her own survival as the last of her species. On the other hand Fiorean I don't need to say much about him, long red hair? Oh I'm definitely in, he made me hold my breath on more than one occasion!

Hazel knew how to build a perfectly rich and entertaining world, with plot twists that I never saw coming and as mentioned above, full of action and epic moments. Her writing was more than wonderful in my opinion. The story flows like water and before you know it, you finish the story and you are left with that feeling of wanting more of this world and its characters.

So if you are looking for your next read with dragons and a wonderfully constructed world, A Fate Forged in Fire is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Hazel McBride for the e-ARC!! I really had a good time reading this book.

4.5 ⭐️

After being invited to read this title, I went in completely blind. Zero expectations, and having no clue what I was in for. And DAMN- this one shocked the hell out of me!! It literally had everything that I look for in an epic Romantasy, including dragons, true enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, political intrigue, Celtic mythology, and a bad ass FMC that I completely fell for.

The writing was so beautiful, and the world building so meticulously crafted, I truly felt like I was there. And each and every character was so beautifully fleshed out, I connected with his entire cast, especially the FMC, Aemyra. She was strong, fierce, took no sh!t, and gave zero effs. She was laser focused on her goal of reclaiming her birthright, and didn’t care who got in the way of achieving her ends. And I LOVED this about her.
When Aemyra clashes with the MMC, we are treated to a true enemies to lovers story arc that I could not get enough of. Sparks absolutely flew, tension was thick, and the banter was bantering. And when the marriage of convenience trope hits, it hits hard and true. Just… 🤌🏻🔥
I was completely swept away by this book, and I cannot wait until the second one drops! It does end on a cliffy, but TOTALLY worth the read!!

Tropes:
TRUE enemies to lovers
Marriage of convenience
Strong FMC
Found family
Dragons
Banter and humor
Spice
Unique magic system
Epic world building

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I was so looking forward to this but unfortunately it was a DNF for me. I found it quite hard to get into right off the bat and pushed through but it just wasn’t it for me. Super bummed as a lover of Scotland and fantasy - I wanted to love this.

Okay I loved this book! A Fate Forged in Fire is the first book in a Celtic inspired fantasy romance duology. Honestly there is so much to talk about in this book. First the world building is phenomenal! There is a full fleshed background and history that leads to where this world is today. We hear about multiple clans and their beliefs and past which for me was very interesting. Now add in a unique elemental magic system. Only children who are blessed by the fire Goddess Brigid are born with magic and have the chance to form a bond with a mythical creature to grow their magical abilities. The world previously was a matriarchal society following a strong Queen. However there hasn’t been a daughter born to the ruling clans in years. Until our main character Aemyra is born. Hiding her identity and true heritage until the King dies, Aemyra is ready to bond with a dragon and take her throne. However, there is a new faction that is against the gods, magic, and women ruling who cause so many problems for the main character.

Main character Aemyra is a strong fmc. She knows what she wants, has been training for years to fight and bond with a dragon, and isn’t afraid to stand up against the ruling family. Enter Fiorean. The second son of the king and a dragon rider. Fiorean and Aemyra have the strongest magic and are true enemies in the beginning of this book. They try to kill each other multiple times but when Aemyra is captured and is forced into a marriage with Fiorean we finally start to learn more about him and the politics surrounding his life. There relationship is intense from the start and the slow burn romance in my opinion was perfect. It felt natural considering all that is happening in the war around them. I loved where their relationship was progressing and so many of their scenes were amazing!

I could go on and on about this book! I loved the writing style and the inspiration from Celtic lore and heritage. There is a bit of a slow start due to the complex world building but the story quickly picks up and is full of action throughout the book. This is a darker fantasy and gave me major Game of Thrones vibes at times. I need the next book ASAP after that crazy ending! I’m ready to see more magic and dragons, a major revenge plot, and some big fights between the main couple. I can’t wait to see how this story ends!

What was the last five-star read that kept you up into the wee hours of the morning? For me, it was this book, and I have zero regrets.

If you love high-stakes Romantasy with dragons, a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic, and an absolute baddie of a female main character willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim her throne from a corrupt political system—then this book is for you.

I cannot overstate how much I devoured this book. I read it in two days and stayed up far too late on a work night. Aemrya was everything I wanted in a fire-wielding protagonist—passionate, fiery, and impulsive. The rich lore and high political intrigue immediately pulled me in, and the enemies-to-lovers romance was perfection. It had everything I look for in the trope: angst, tension, sizzle, and fire. The chemistry between these two was unmatched, and I loved how their dynamic developed throughout the story.

Oh, and there was a touch her and 💀 moment that completely caught me off guard—I literally gasped out loud. And that ending?! I was not prepared. It is going to be a long wait for the next book. Exceptional five-star read.

I’m DNFing this book. The world building was very clunky and once the story started it was still very slow. The characters were likable. I really wish I liked it as much as others did but it just didn’t live up to the hype.

I was really looking forward to reading this title. A strong female lead character, an enchanted world, dragons and a hate/love plot too! Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The world-building at the start was confusing and I almost didn't push past it to continue reading. Once the story line was established, the book moved along well. It could have used more editing. It was sort of a mash up of a traditional "bodice ripper", a "How to train your dragon" and magical elements borrowed from Harry Potter. Stick with the classic fantasy authors like Raymond Feist and David Eddings who not only built complex worlds but developed characters that were "real" from the first pages. I'm not sure if I'll bother with the next volume.

To start, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
4.5 stars rounded up!

This is the first book in a planned duology, also planned to be part of a bigger, five book series.

Normally when I read a book, I know by the time I hit 50% what my rating for it will be. But my rating for this one just kept climbing as I continued to read. I had a hard time starting it due to outside circumstances, but once the story got going I didn't want to put it down.
This story had elements that reminded me of How To Train Your Dragon, Eragon, and Throne of Glass. How McBride balances the political and religious power in this book is done well, showing how one influences the other. I'm looking forward to the fanart and reactions from readers when this book hits shelves. I did not see the end coming and I will be waiting impatiently not only for release day to hold this story in my hands, but for the announcement of the second book.

Beginning was a lot of world building that got confusing and some was just unnecessary information. Was very cliché and kind of slow and I did not like the FMC at all, she was just awful.
And the spice was not spicing. The scenes were very awkward and weird. They just weren’t giving what I wanted it to give. Over all pretty disappointing.