I liked this a lot more than I thought I would! So far, it's a pretty basic YA novel, which isn't a bad thing, but I think the marketing is mismatched.
Comping it to Fourth wing and calling it steamy doesn't fit the vibe, and knowing this is a teen novel, I think it's a bit odd and trying to pull in specific readers.
I would probably finish it when it comes out! Although, I probably will be skipping the owlcrate edition.

This was a great preview of what's to come, I love the encyclopedic entries on the different birds, I love how it delves into the action, and how we get so much insight into the world and characters in just ten chapters. I think this will be really good. I'm giving it four stars for now because I don't know how everything ends up but I'm excited!

I was fortunate enough to receive the sampler where we are given the first 10 chapters of the book that is set to be released in July 2025.

This story captures you right from the first page as you are immediately thrown into the action. Think F1 racing, but for phoenixes and it can be a race to the death.

What drew me to reading this was the promise of wild magical creatures, enemies to lovers, found family, and intriguing new world of politics and magic systems! The first 10 chapters showed an INCREDIBLY promising debut for Mikayla Bridge, and I cannot wait for July to finish this!

Thank you net galley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) for the sampler chapters of this book!

I enjoyed this sampler of the book Of Flame and Fury. I thought the characters and the world were great. The political intrigue and the whole thing with riding phoenixes and how that is going were some of my favorite things. Kel is a great main character, and her sass is great. The friendships so far are amazing, and I want more. Coup and his crew are interesting, and I can't wait for him and Kel to work together more. I feel like I can't rate it very well right now as it is just a sample of the book, but it's amazing so far. I love the use of phoenixes. They are some of my favorite mythical creatures. Honestly, I can't wait for more and, hopefully, to find out more about Kel's father and also who is behind some of the crazy stuff going on or if it's just the group that wants to set the phoenixes free.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this sampler. I am already sucked in and intrigued after just a few chapters of Phoenix racing and crackling tension between the FMC and MMC! I will certainly be jumping into the full version of this book when I can. Right off this book has a very unique concept that feels unique to any other Fantasy I’ve read. Looking forward to reading more!

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.

A little bit like NASCAR but better because there are Phoenixes. It’s a promising storyline so far and I’ve been completely glued to my kindle. I haven’t read anything else like it and I’m excited to continue reading. Thank you for the full book as well as the sampler otherwise I would be devastated having to wait so long to read the rest.

After the chapter summary, I felt the story was a bit too much going on at first to get comfortable with the details. As a huge fantasy and science fiction reader, I do believe there needs to be a brief introduction period to allow some settling into the world. I believe this book has potential, I just don't know if it'll be something I seek out myself to finish!

After reading a chapter sampler for <i>Of Flame and Fury</i> by Mickayla Bridge, I ultimately decided not to continue with the full book. While the premise had potential, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters and wasn’t particularly drawn in by the writing. The story lacked the kind of hook that has me feeling invested early on, and without that sense of engagement, I didn’t feel compelled to keep reading.

That said, I did really enjoy the descriptions of the different types of phoenixes at the beginning of the book. This element added an interesting layer to the world-building and was a creative touch that stood out. However, beyond that, the narrative didn’t capture my attention enough. While this book may still appeal to readers who enjoy slow-burning fantasy with detailed mythology, it just wasn’t the right fit for me at the moment.

This book was very well written and had me staying up late for every page turn. I am going to be sending this to some of my book girlies since I loved it so much.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Mikayla Bridge for the opportunity to read this chapter sampler. In this chapter sampler, we are immediately given information on the phoenix species before diving head first into the story; which can be a little overwhelming. I can definitely see how this book compares to Fourth Wing. I am excited to see how the rest of the book plays out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the first 10 chapters, and based on that, I would absolutely want to read the full book because it left me wanting more in the best way.

I loved that we got a proper explanation of the different Phoenix species right at the start, and the book jumps into the action immediately. The writing is easy to follow and really pulled me in—I didn’t even realize how fast the chapters flew by.

From what I’ve read so far, there’s definitely potential for some great tension between the FMC and MMC, and I’m here for it. Magical creatures and enemies-to-lovers? That’s an instant must-read.

I received a sampler for of flame and fury from netgalley. The sampler is only the first 10 chapters so we haven't seen much. We are introduced to the characters and their dynamics. It's basically F1 racing but with phoenixes. The romance is enemies to lover so we are at the enemies stage. It's the beginning so we're just getting into the backstory of the phoenixes and the controversy of taming them/letting them be free. So it's definitely not just about racing. I kinda expected more but it was only first 10 chapters so I would try to finish it.

In this sampler, we get a basis for how the story is going to go and I enjoyed it a lot. I think based on this, I would read the rest of the book.

There’s lots of action off the bat and the fantasy aspects are not that hard to understand. We learn about the characters and witness some tragedies right off the bat.

It’s blunt and raw and I think it was pretty well written.

There’s not much to say since it was only a few chapters, but from what I read, again, I think it was good.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to sample this book. While not the most captivating or original I've read, Of Flame and Fury presents an interesting beginning and I wouldn't be opposed to reading more. I liked that Kel and Coup's relationship seemed to contain real dislike for each other that wasn't unnecessarily distracted by physical attraction like some other books do, although I believe this book should be marketed as "rivals to lovers" rather than enemies. I particularly enjoyed the lore and portrayal of the phoenixes; I liked that they were depicted as dangerous animals that need proper training and care to handle. I'm not entirely sure where the Iron Widow comparison comes from just yet, but I suppose that will be coming later. All in all, a nice if slightly tropey read.

Stop teasing me with the sampler and give me more. I’m already invested and I need more!!! I was a little hesitant going into this because it’s compared to Fourth Wing and Iron Widow, which I do love both yes but sometimes that worries you when it’s compared to two of your favorite books. This, however, just the sampler did not disappoint.

This was fascinating and I cannot wait to read more of this book! The world building is intriguing - though I can see it overwhelming some readers. The idea of racing phoenixes - who are at their core wild and untamable - is fascinating. I love a world that combines technology and magic! Just in these first 100 pages I am utterly hooked by the action, the stakes, and the world as a whole. I can't wait to see if Kel and Coup are able to work together and if Savita will ever sing for Kel.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR) for the opportunity to read the first 10 chapter sampler of Of Flame and Fury! The author throws you right into the world in the very first chapter with a pretty intense ending. I wasn't feeling totally connected to the characters or story (but again, this was only the first ten chapters) but I may end up picking this up over the Summer. I personally wasn't getting a Fourth Wing or "enemies to lovers" feeling - maybe more dislike or rivals? I'm not sure! Hard to say in only ten chapters but this does seem like a book with promise and a unique plot. :)

These first ten chapters were so easy to get into.
I was hooked from the very beginning, where we learned about phoenix racing, and how brutal it is. Our main characters at the moment; Kel, Dira, Coup and Bekn might seem like they dont work well together, but I have a feeling if they put their differences aside, their group, the Crimson Howler's would really prosper.
Anyway, these chapters sold me on this book, and hopefully I can get the rest of this arc!

This sampler contains only the first 10 chapters of Of Flame and Fury. And let me tell you, I was hooked from the beginning. We are immediately thrown into the thick of phoenix racing and learn the different roles on the team...and the tragedy and violence of the sport.

Bridge has set the stage early for us to learn more about the phoenixes, Kel's father, and how the government works. I am screaming for a map so I can see how these islands are set up! She has eased us into this world so that we can easily understand what is happening and how the world works but leaves us wanting to learn more.

I think this might be my favorite way for a couple to be forced into fake dating. I also love the grumpy/sunshine thing going on where Kel is the grumpy and Coup is the sunshine. I cannot wait to see their relationship develop more.

My heart is breaking for Kel at the end of this sampler and I am desperate for the rest of this book! I will definitely be snatching it up as soon as possible!