Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for an eARC of “Of Flame and Fury”! I thought that the book was a thrilling and captivating read.

I loved the worldbuilding and I thought it was immensely detailed and rich. Overall, I felt like the book was fast paced and exciting even though the very start of it was a little slow. Although sometimes the plot was predictable, it was quite a refreshing read for YA!

However, the eARC didn’t include the epilogue and I felt that having the epilogue would have really helped the storyline. Still, I thought it was a fun and exciting read and I would definitely recommend!

🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Fake Dating (briefly)
🔥 Found Family
🔥 PHOENIX RACING

This was SO MUCH FUN. The pacing, the plot, the racing, I absolutely loved it.

We follow Kel & her phoenix Sav and their racing team. Kel is forced to work with Coup, the man she cannot stand, following a tragic accident with the rider of Sav's team. They end up sponsored by a tech billionaire who appears to want to save as many Phoenix as possible. Things end up taking a turn and Sav & her band of friends, her team, must face them.

This felt fresh & original. There is an incredible twist woven throughout the book that is revealed at the end. Some things were a bit predictable but not in a way that took away from the read. I will be waiting very impatiently for the next book!

Thank you so much to the publisher & Netgalley for this ARC.

THOUGHTS: Wow. There are not enough words to describe how intense and fantastical this book is. It is full of angst, passion, action, danger, betrayal, and more. The world-building is beyond scope, drawing you immediately into Kel’s world. In this one, all the action centers around phoenix birds. Yes, the mythological birds that burn to a crisp, then are reborn. Only in this one, they are huge and are used by riders in races. Flaming races that can get you killed. From the first page where Kel, a trainer, is racing her phoenix, Savita in order to earn enough money to save her home, you are drawn into her world. An unfortunate accident gets her rider killed and she is forced to take on another rider—Coup—an arrogant rider with too much attitude. But there’s something about him that both draws Kel and repels her.

They, along with Coup’s brother and Kel’s best friend reluctantly agree to work for a large company who can provide Kel with everything she needs to save Savita from being taken away for her debts. But it comes with a price that might be too high for them to pay.

The only downside I found to this was the end – and the missing epilogue in this ARC. I really, really wanted to know what happened to Kel and Savita! Maybe in the print version? Or a second book? I hope so.

Definitely recommended.


Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for sharing this ARC. All opinions are my own and are not required, requested, or influenced by anyone or anything.

The concept of this book is so cool. Pheonix racing?? They are vicious and fast and flaming hot.

I liked the small mysteries throughout this book. From medical questions of where does AB (a deadly illness) come from, to what is going to happen on the next racetrack, to can we really trust Cristo industries?

I liked the relationship between the two main characters. I loved their first kiss.

I liked how all the characters dealt with some serious issues and bonded over them. They constantly found things to connect with.

What I didn't like about this book was I feel like it lacked some key explanation. It tried really hard to be enemies to lovers, but there was no real reason why Kel hated Coup. The magic of how people were able to ride birds on fire was also very weird.

**spoiler**

The end is revealed that Kel has the illness, and they list all these symptoms as the reason they finally realize. The main one being short term memory loss because she can't remember this girl, they have all been hanging out with for months. Which I found really hard to believe. If you are friends with someone, you talk about them even when they aren't around. Even to say, I wonder if she will be at dinner today? So how did it never come up? I would have liked better if the symptoms were brought in earlier so that the reader could maybe put the clues together. Like maybe when they first arrived at the compound, they could have gotten an exam just asking if they had any sign or symptoms, especially because they just interacted with two people dead from the disease.

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridges is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, with phoenix racing at its heart—fast-paced, dangerous, and exhilarating. I loved how the races weren’t just about skill but also strategy and survival, making every moment feel high-stakes.

Kel is a fierce and determined protagonist, and her dynamic with Coup is everything I love in an enemies-to-allies (and maybe more) story. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and their reluctant partnership adds so much tension and depth. The found family aspect with the Crimson Howlers also warmed my heart—it’s always a bonus when side characters feel just as fleshed out as the leads.

If you love fantasy with action, tension-filled romance, and a unique magic system, Of Flame and Fury is a must-read. It gave me Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow vibes, but with its own fresh twist. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

This book was a little slow to start for me, but by the end of the first part I was hooked! The phoenix racing was an exciting plot and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Some of the plot points were predictable but I have to assume that’s because it’s YA? Overall enjoyable read. I had to take a star off because the eARC did not include the epilogue and it really feels like that was critical to finishing out the storyline. I was really crushed that was missing. Looking forward to this books release and actually reading the epilogue!!

What got me super interested in this book was the fact that they said it was like ACOTAR. I loved acotar. This was okay. It was not a steamy romance like it was listed and I had a hard time getting through the book. The ending was really good and I’m excited to read the epilogue but the beginning was super slow. I feel like I wasn’t super interested until the last 10 chapters. Overall the book wasn’t bad just not entirely what i am into!

Five stars! The characters were excellent and there was a twist I never saw coming! Will keep you hooked from the very first chapter.

This was just what I wanted in a fantasy book! The book was fast paced and very interesting with a great plot and just the right amount of romance. Thank you NetGalley for this amazing e-arc! I can't wait to read more by this new author!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This debut author nailed it! If you love a great magical fantasy book, I recommend reading this! Moreover, it had other great elements in this book as well. It came with action, romance, survival and suspense. It takes you on a wild ride with phoenixes, which had vivid descriptions that will forever be memorable to me. The races were exciting and I was eager to see what happens next!

It had an enemies to lovers trope, along with fake relationships in this book. I really enjoyed all the characters, including the minor characters. It did take a while for the characters to develop, which is understandable. The storyline felt original and it was easy to read. Even though this is in the teens and young adults genre, I feel like this can be read by different age groups. Be sure to read the content warnings. Her first book was definitely a great one that you do not want to miss! I give “Of Flame and Fury” a high 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Mikayla Bridge and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is set to be published in July of 2025!

Strong start, shaky story from 70% on.

As you can see from my initial review of the first ten chapters, this was a really promising book. Kel is the phoenix tamer of Savita, and a member of the phoenix racing team the Howlers. After an unfortunate racing incident at the start of the book, Kel and her best friend Dira are forced to team up with Bekn and Warren 'Coup' Coupers under the sponsorship of Canen Cristo, tech billionaire with a vested interest in their racing. Living in the Cristo Industries compound, the team navigates working together as Savita draws closer to a rebirth - a rebirth that plays a bigger role than any of them can imagine.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and the racing aspect of it. It's something a bit more different than is typical of YA fantasy while still holding true to the fact that some teens are just reckless (I'm looking at you, Warren Coupers). Seeing technology in fantasy is always a plus as well. Coup and Kel have great rival-to-lovers energy, with sassy banter and secret longing. I also really liked the racing events, although it was really high stakes every single time with death looming over every single phoenix racer.

This is a spoiler free review but I struggled a bit more with the flow of the story. It felt more like I was being jerked in different directions and getting whiplash with all the different parties involved and the storylines happening. I think part of that had to do with Kel becoming an unreliable narrator, but I'm not 100% sure that was the writer's intention. I struggled through the last 30% of the book. However, I do want to know what will happen in book 2.

This is a good story that has the potential to develop into something unique and fascinating on its own, and I would consider continuing the series as it comes out.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the eARC via NetGalley.

3.5 ⭐️ Rounded up for Savita the badass Phoenix.
17 year old Kel is part of the Crimson Howlers, a Phoenix racing team. Early on in the book the team finds themselves needing a new rider. Cue our MMC Coup who is an arrogant and dare devil rival rider on the track. Together our MCs and their team take on a new sponsor but suspicion soon arises when things feel too good to be true surrounding the sponsor and his motives.

I found the Phoenix aspect as a whole very interesting and new. The book explained everything very well despite it being a newer topic for me.

This would be a great read for a high school student. If you omit a few paragraphs it also be good read for an advanced middle schooler as well. There are really only hints of romance but nothing explicit. It’s a kids vs. adults story Scooby Doo style. I imagined the pit crew from the Disney movie Cars as the team but instead of cars they’re racing with phoenixes. (Specifically elements from Cars 2 because I was a forced super fan for years.)

It’s unclear to me if there will be a second book? It is certainly set up where there could be more. The ARC I have has a blank epilogue which could answer my question on that. I do kind of like the idea of it ending where it did though.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

"On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly."

Seventeen-year-old Kelyn and her phoenix Savita, are part of a phoenix racing team called The Howlers. When the Howlers hit trouble, they band with Kelyn's arch nemesis - Warren 'Coup' Coupers. As the story progresses, the Howlers find out disturbing information about the industry they are working for and must band together to save their beloved phoenixes.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I do not feel the blurb was very accurate. Describing the book as "Fourth Wing meets Iron Window in this enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy---! --- pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic --". The book is in no way comparable to Fourth Wing in plot, magic system, romance, or writing... except that they both "ride" magical creatures. While being described as "enemies to lovers" and a "steamy romance", our protagonists share a few kisses towards the end of the book, but that is all. I can understand that the book is on the YA side, but feel like that was not at all communicated via the blurb. I also feel that the MCs had no chemistry together and did not do much growing as people. Also, the magic system itself was a bit of a disappointment, weaving in technology that was never clearly explained and left you wondering about the society itself.

That being said, I do applaud the author for putting herself out there in this debut novel, and the book's cover design itself is gorgeous. <3

Tropes:
-Rivals to lovers
-Found family

Review posted on GoodReads & Tiktok.

The comp titles of this book being Fourth Wing and Iron Widow are throwing me off a bit. I guess they ride phoenixes instead of dragons here, but that's where any resemblance to FW and Iron Widow end. There were parts of this I wish were expanded on more, like the sickness and taming of the phoenixes. I liked the characters and the romance. This is a fast paced book and a strong YA fantasy

Loved this book, perfect for fans of YA Fantasy, NASCAR/Formula 1 romances, and readers who enjoy a forced proximity. It was fun to watch the characters develop over the story. This book is also perfect for readers who want to take a break from spicier adult books, but still want a little bit of romance, as well as the exciting adventures and fantasy aspects. Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Oh my goodness, what a thrilling read! This was such a fun read after craving something that made me feel the way Fourthwing did. Instead of war with dragons, we have phoenix racing! This was so unbelievably good, that it had me flipping pages faster than I think I ever have! The world building in this book is so beautiful and well written, it felt like I was THERE!

Of Flame and Fury – Mikayla Bridge
A high-stakes fantasy filled with magic, betrayal, and unforgettable characters. Bridge delivers a captivating world where the lines between hero and villain blur, keeping readers on their toes until the very last page. Perfect for fans of epic fantasy with a strong emotional core.

SO SO Good. This is an electrifying, action-packed, and wildly original story that transports you straight into high-stakes races—only this time, instead of cars, we have phoenixes! The adrenaline, the danger, the heart-pounding thrill of every competition had me stress-eating my way through snacks while frantically flipping the pages. One of my favorite things about this book is how effortlessly it blends different elements—action, fantasy, romance, and suspense—without ever losing momentum. The pacing is relentless, yet it still takes the time to develop its characters and relationships in a way that feels authentic and compelling. The style is light and enjoyable; at times the pace felt quick, and I was able to predict some moments, but the ending surprised me—I might not have thought too deeply and was just reading, which made my eyes widen.

Thank you so much NetGalley for letting me read this incredible story early! I am so excited to be able to spread the word of this incredible book before it's release. I'm almost at a loss for words, this had me so entranced and excited the entire way through. I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on it and love it as much as I did. Phoenix racing in the description drew me in, and the authors incredible writing kept me hooked through the final page.