Dragons, Romans, and dancing women, what more could you want.
Corrupt leader. Dragon treasure. Magic sisters. Roman Gods/Goddess
I got to listen to this an audio and both narrators did fantastic this is a dual narration

I know a lot of readers are loving this one, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

I never really connected to the characters, and the lore — while ambitious — felt a bit scattered and hard to settle into. The worldbuilding didn’t fully click, and I found myself struggling to stay invested.

I listened to the audiobook, which was well done and definitely helped me stay engaged, but even so, the central romance just didn’t sit right with me. A love story between a slave master and slave felt uncomfortable and, frankly, kind of icky. I get that it was meant to be redemptive, but it never landed in a way that felt earned or safe for me as a reader.

What worked:
🎧 Strong audiobook narration
🔥 A bold, sweeping concept

What didn’t:
💔 Disconnect from the characters
🌪 Lore felt unfocused
😬 Power dynamics in the romance made me uneasy

Final thoughts:
This one wasn’t a fit for me, but I can see why others are enjoying it. If the premise appeals to you, I’d suggest checking out some other reviews to see if it might be more your vibe.

Firebird

you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

The narrators did a good job, I felt they represented the characters well.

Here’s my review of the ARC, this still applies to the storyline:
This book has magic, dragons, Roman Gods, and some serious chemistry between the FMC and MMC. The story has a quicker pace, since it’s just over 300 pages. It hooked me fairly quickly and kept me wanting to come back for more. I really enjoyed Malina and Julian’s story and I’m excited to see where the rest of the books go. Oh, and there’s a nice little plot twist at the end!

Some of the writing was a little cringy(Cunny)🫣 But overall very much enjoyed this story!

*screaming into pillow*

I ate this up. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint.

This is certainly a world inspired heavily by ancient Rome, with the addition of magical elements and dragon shifters. And yes, that means that you get all of the brutalities and all of the messed up stuff romans were known for.

I would classify this less as a romantic and more of a political historical fantasy with romance. But don’t worry the spice is still good. Definitely a lot of focus on the political intrigue and scheming in this so if that isn’t your cup of tea just be warned.

This is great for fans of “touched her and you’ll die” and fated mates.

Screaming at the final Chapter because I knew it and I cannot wait for the next book to be announced.

3.5 ⭐️
Firebird was a fast paced read. I went in blind only knowing there were dragons in the story. 🐉
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to anyone who likes dragon shifters, fated mates and forbidden romance.

I didn’t really feel a huge connection between Julian and Malina. It was insta-love without a lot of getting to know each other. I think that was the main thing lacking for me and why I only gave 3.5 stars.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I will read the next book to find out what happens next. Cesar must dieeee.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date 4/8/25

Firebird by Juliette Cross
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

This Roman Empire-inspired fantasy sets the stage for a bold new series from Juliette Cross, featuring a dragon shifter/witch romance at its heart. Julian, the Emperor’s nephew and a commanding war general, steps in as our brooding dragon shifter MMC. Malina, a powerful and self-assured witch, is the FMC who finds herself tangled in both political and personal stakes. Ciprion plays the antagonistic thorn in Julian’s side, setting up some intriguing tension for the series ahead.

While I wanted to love this more, I found myself a little thrown off by the insta-love between Julian and Malina. I typically prefer more emotional build and slow-burn tension, and this connection felt a bit too quick for my taste.I also hoped for a more expansive fantasy plot—the Romanesque setting had so much potential, but it didn’t fully deliver the depth I was looking for.

An important element to note: this story includes a master/slave dynamic between Julian and Malina. While it wasn’t personally off-putting to me, I know this may be a concern for some readers. The dynamic could’ve used more finesse, but Malina is written as a capable and empowered woman, which helps balance the relationship and avoids reducing her to a passive role.

On the bright side, the audiobook narration is truly a highlight. Blair Dade and Kale Williams did a fantastic job bringing these characters and their chemistry to life. Their performance added emotional weight and richness that elevated the story beyond the page.

📚 Trigger Warnings: Includes a master/slave dynamic and power imbalance. Please check the author’s full list of content warnings.

🎧 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this advanced listener copy.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced listeners copy of Firebird, this is my honest review.

This is a dark romantasy with dark subjects. The setting is great and I’ve been wanting a good fantasy romance in Rome but the execution of this book was wrong. This is master/slave and the FMC is still a slave when the romance starts to take place.

“Are you offering yourself to me. Malina?”

“You’ll take me anyway” I snapped back.

“Tell me you’re giving yourself to me.” He demanded.

Even if the master/slave wasn’t so present in the spicy parts, it was still very cringey and not well done. I do believe there was a better way this could have been written to lessen some of the power dynamics going on because in the same scene as this she talks about her slave collar. She should have been made to be more of an equal before the spice started, otherwise, it’s just uncomfortable.

This was simply not for me. The narrator was alright but I was not grabbed by the story at all. It confused me to have the world based off ancient Rome and use some of the same terms but also to have it be its own thing. I feel like it strayed too close to what is known about Rome to be able to carve its own identity separate from that.

I really wanted to love this one, and there were things I genuinely enjoyed—especially the female lead. She’s fiery, strong-willed, and doesn’t shy away from standing her ground, which made her a compelling character right from the start. I was rooting for her.

That said, I was disappointed by how quickly she gave in to the male protagonist. For someone with so much strength, it felt out of character to surrender so easily to someone who, frankly, came off as more controlling and whiny than charming or persuasive. I tend to prefer a slower burn, a bit of tension—more of an enemies-to-lovers dynamic.

This story just didn’t deliver on that front for me. I know some listeners will love the dynamic and the romance, but personally, it didn’t hit the mark. Just not my vibe.

Firebird was exactly what I needed. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump—especially when it comes to romantasy—but this book had me in a chokehold from page one. I devoured it in two days.

It’s a Roman-inspired romantasy with dragon shifters, fated mates, “touch her and die” energy, and just the right amount of plot, worldbuilding, and spice. It’s technically a darker romantasy, but it didn’t feel overwhelmingly dark to me. There is a slave/master dynamic—but personally, it felt like a power imbalance you’d find in a historical romance, like an aristocrat/nobility and servants, rather than something deeply graphic or dehumanizing. He does give her orders, but the tone didn’t feel harsh or uncomfortable to me. That said, it’s something to be aware of going in, because I know it won’t be for everyone.

I thought the worldbuilding was solid without being overwhelming, the chemistry between the characters was immediate, and the whole story was just wildly addictive. So many romantasy series now end mid-story with a brutal cliffhanger, but this gave me a solid resolution, a satisfying arc, and a happy-for-now ending that still leaves room for more. I had so much fun with this—it’s fast-paced, hot, addictive, and exactly what I needed to get excited about reading again. I will 100% be picking up the next one.

I listened to this one on audiobook. The performance worked really well for the tone of the book. Definitely a solid listen.

Firebird by Juliette Cross

⭐ 5
🌶️ 2.5
📚 Tropes/Themes: Dragon shifters, fated mates, forced proximity, touch her and die, ancient Rome, politics, cliffhanger
👀 Dual POV 1st person
🎙️Dual Narration
⏰ Approx 12 hours
🛍️ Available: Now
💔 Triggers: gore, violence, murder, parental death, loss of family

💬 Ugh I'm obsessed. Although I do enjoy it, I haven't been the biggest romantasy fan of late. However, I am a big Juliette Cross fan, after reading her Stay A Spell series (go read that series too!!!), which is why I applied for this ALC and let me just say that was ABSOLUTELY the right decision.

I cannot get enough of this story. It's ancient Rome but with dragons and fated mates and it's making my little heart just go pitter patter all over the place. I usually only have time to listen to audiobooks when I'm cooking, but I have been trying to find any and every little opportunity I can to listen to this.

There's so much tension and angst and the political intrigue is TOP NOTCH. Cross is such a great writer.

My biggest complaint is that I'm listening to it through NetGalley and they don't have a bookmark option so I can't highlight the shit out of it 🤣 oh and it's a cliffhanger 😭😭

The narrators are also doing an INCREDIBLE job. I feel like I'm there, immersed in the story even though it's "only" duet.

If you are a fan of Fourth Wing or Zodiac Academy I highly recommend this book.

Rating: 3.75⭐️/5

I think this is a solid Romantasy series start. I had an ALC and the dual narration was good. There was some great spicy scenes but there wasn’t much build up to the romance it was kind of there all of a sudden. Also, I’m not a huge fan of the master/servant trope.

I do think the mythical elements of this series is really interesting and unique! Her magic being able to influence and directly manipulate emotions was really cool. I do wish there was a bit more tie in of the gods and that the story of Medusa in the beginning was actually worked into the story.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC.

The storyline and world-building in this book were engaging, with enough tension and intrigue to keep me invested from start to finish. The setting was well fleshed out and easy to get lost in, and while the magic system wasn’t particularly unique, it served its purpose in supporting the plot. This is the first Roman Empire retelling that I've come across so I enjoyed that uniqueness. I appreciated the scope of the world and the mix of history and fantasy. The side characters added some color, but they often felt underdeveloped—more like background props than fully realized people.

What really held the book back for me, though, was the romance. The insta-love between the main characters felt forced, lacking the emotional progression that makes a love story believable. More troubling was the power imbalance between them—especially with the FMC being a literal slave to the MMC. Despite his repeated insistence that she was “free,” it was hard to ignore how often he called her “mine” and spoke about her belonging to him. That dynamic made the relationship feel less like a romance and more like a claim, which overshadowed any genuine connection they might have had.

Firebird by Juliette Cross is excellently narrated by Blair Dade and Kale Williams. I loved the dual narration and that is the only good thing I can identify about this book. The content warning are completely false. A slave cannot give consent that is inherent in the nature of a master/slave relationship. The SA by Cesear in a room full of people despite her 'wanting it' is still a SA. Again, the power disparity is what makes all of this wrong. This book is marketed incorrectly as well. The smut is cringeworthy. If I could give this 1/2 a star I would. I finished it so I could tell you the consent is not given in this book because it cannot be given. Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

First off, I absolutely loved the dual narration by Blair Dade and Kale Williams—they did an amazing job bringing the characters to life.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. The world-building was immersive, the plot was well thought out, and the story was easy to follow. Dragon shifters? I’m already excited to see fan art of Julian once this book is published. Malina is a witch with empathic powers, and I feel like her powers have so much potential in book 2.

Julian first sees Malina when she’s 17 and falls for her. Four years later, they meet again when he saves her from torture and death, taking her in as his body slave. From there, the story unfolds, with their complex relationship and the plot progressing in unexpected ways.

This book is a reimagining of ancient Rome, so I should have expected some of its themes, but they still caught me off guard. If you’re not a fan of master/slave relationships, I’d recommend skipping this one. Also, keep in mind that this is a dark romantasy.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enemies to lovers
Fated mates
Forbidden romance
He falls first
Touch her and die
Dragon shifters and witches
Roman vibes with smut


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for this ALC.

This audiobook was amazing! I listened to some parts twice! This works had me hooked and I cannot wait for more! I’m now going to find more from this author. The richness of the atmosphere and the hearts of the characters were top tier!

DNF’d at 20%.
Thank you to the publishers for the ALC and this is my honest review. The 2 stars is because the narrators were quite lovely. The story had potential… but there’s one very glaring issue that wasn’t stated in the bio/summary. This is a Master and a Slave. It’s not a BDSM dynamic, it’s a literal master owner/slave girl. This was definitely something that should have been very apparent with. Not trigger warnings on an IG post that say elements of master/slave which makes people assume dynamic, not literal slavery.
This is not my cup of tea and I was unable to finish it.

This book has a lot of popular tropes and I think fans of dark romantasy are going to have a blast. Be forewarned, this is a romance between a master and a slave so there's definitely some power dynamics at play here. It's also a very gritty Game of Thrones-esque world so checking trigger warnings would be a good idea before diving in. I personally felt like the author did a great job of balancing the power dynamic so that I didn't feel like Malina was being taken advantage of. I enjoyed the politics and the dragon shifter lore. I did want more emotional development though. The instalove is strong in this book and part of that is because our MMC is a dragon shifter but even so I needed more to fully believe in the romance. Lovers of alpha heroes and fated mates will eat this book up. I'm finding that fated mates only works for me if we get to see them develop a relationship as well. A mystical bond isn't enough for me to root for a relationship. I know there is a whole camp of people who go feral for this type of story though so I'm very happy this exists for them.

The audio was lovely! Both narrators were well cast and I had a great time listening to this story with my ears.

Really not understanding the hate this book is getting. Dragon shifters, empathic magic, forbidden love, fated mates, touch her and die, etc etc. What is not to love?!

Does this story feel like it’s already been done? Sure. But that has never stopped me from escaping into the story, and that ultimately why I read these types of dark fantasy, to escape.

Duet style narration was fantastic, both narrators did a great job bringing these characters to life. Thank you Macmillan and Net Galley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for honest review.

Picture this: a story set at the height of the Roman Empire…but the Romans are dragon shifters. (It makes it easier to conquer other peoples when you’re the ones that breathe fire after all.)

The reigning Caesar is known for his brutality, but, unbeknownst to him, Julianus Dakkia, his lead general (and nephew), feels the empire should be run differently.

And it’s rather fortunate for Malina, a Dacian dancer and “witch” who is captured by Julian’s legion while she is fighting for the Celts, that he feels this way.

Julian brings her to his home to serve as one of his slaves, but she quickly learns that he treats those in his household with compassion rather than condescension and cruelty.

There’s something mystical that seems to bind Malina and Julian together. And with her empathic powers and his strength and scheming, perhaps they can change the empire for the better.

At a glance:
- Dual POV
- Roman Empire setting
- Dragon shifters
- A "witch"
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Forbidden romance
- Fated mates

Things get a bit graphic and gruesome in this one between the warfare scenes, fighting, and extracurricular activities at the bacchanals of Caeser’s court.

I liked the portrayal of Malina as an empath with her ability to manipulate the emotions of those around her and the clever ways she uses her power as well as the members of Julian’s household and how his treatment of them and their backstories reveal even more about his character.

The connection and romance between Malina and Julian is believable, and I’m interested to see how both the revolution and their relationship progress in this series.

Blair Dade and Kale Williams do a good job voicing the characters and capturing the drama of the book. Please note that Williams does get extra growly when Julian is in his dragon form, though.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.