Warning to everyone, though.. this is a DARK Romantasy. I feel like Brambl may not be doing the best at marketing this. Because I see a LOT of reviews that are dogging on it for the dynamic in here.

It's not supposed to be comfortable. It's not supposed to feel good. So I don't know what to tell you. But this trilogy as a whole is gonna be about liberation and change in Rome.... so maybe give it some time?

But again, if a Master/slave scenario in Ancient Rome, where they fall in love isn't gonna work for you... maybe... DON'T read it? And then completely dog on it for being exactly what it is... 😅😅

Anyway....

The narrators were fantastic! I meant to just get this one started and then I read it all in one sitting. Surviving Rome with Malina and Julian was a thrilling way to spend my afternoon. I need Bloodsinger, like, RIGHT NOW!

1.5⭐ (rounded up)

I.....really really did not like this.

Starting out with what I did like, which unfortunately wasn't much, I can honestly say I enjoyed Malina as a character. She wasn't a pushover and wasn't obnoxiously brash. I also liked Steffanos (spelling?), because he added extra humanity to the story.
As for the rest of what I think.....I did not jive with this writing style. I can usually ignore things like that with an audiobook, but it was such a blatant issue for me in this one. It felt like reading fanfiction, which is fine if that's the intention, but it wasn't. There were far too many short sentences, making the internal monologue choppy and repetitive. I cringed HARD every time I heard 'Her empathic sense' or 'His dragon eyes'. It improved after the first few chapters, but it really colored the rest of the story for me.
The relationship between the characters also ended up being a 'No' for me. If I had known it was going to start as a master x slave dynamic, I would have skipped this. Him knowing that his dragon has chosen her, and STILL making her his slave grosses me out to no end, regardless of reasoning. It added a level of darkness that the blurb didn't prepare me for.
Speaking of darkness...the amount of sexual violence was just unnecessary and gratuitous. It's not something that usually bothers me as a plot device, but it was heavy handed.

The narration was just okay. I don't have much to say there.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much as an ebook and with the audiobook...the narrators somehow made an already amazing book even better.

So bummed out that I didn’t love this one.
The premise of this being set in ancient in Rome with dragon shifters was so good but the world building lacked quite a bit and the romance felt so forced

“Firebird” is definitely different to the authors previous work, however when reading you definitely still feel like you’re reading a Juliette Cross book despite the differences.

I love how the book integrates not only the legend of Medusa amongst the times of the Roman Empire but also weaves dragons beautifully into the story blending themes of wars, death, magic and survival across a beautiful romance story.

Malina and Julian come from different worlds, countries at war they are bound to hate and fight against one another and yet they are pulled together by an invisible thread of lust and undeniable chemistry so when they find each other for the second time on the battle field Julian knows he must protect her at all costs despite the trouble he may receive for it.

Julian is cold hearted (cold blooded 😄) unyielding and feared amongst all his followers, of course except for Malina who is brave, stubborn, ethical and empathetic. The two couldn’t be any different so of course they are fated.

I loved reading this story and watching it unfold, there is so much magic and beauty in these pages if you are a vivid imagery reader you will have a great time seeing a world be created into life before your eyes.

In relation to the audiobook this is my first experience with both of the narrators covering the love interests POV and I think that they did a fantastic job and complimented each other perfectly 🙏🏼

The cover is absolutely what drew me in the artwork and stenciled edges are stunning and the inside of the book lived up to that.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Juliette Cross for the ALC.

Publish date : April 8th 2025

This book was incredible!!! Holy moles, the narration, the writing, the story. Ancient Rome, but with Dragons? I loved this story so freakin' much. I can't wait to own the beautiful copy for my shelves. The narrators were incredible in this story and truly brought it to life. I can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes!