with the resurgence in popularity of dragon books I was intrigued to pick this one up to see how it stands against other popular series at the moment and it did not flop!

If you loved Julie Kagawa's Talon series you will love this!!

The perfect YA option for teens looking to get their dragon fix!

I absolutely loved this book. The dynamics between the characters was great. I loved the relationships between the characters aswell. Anything with dragons in I’m here for it. The plot was well written. To me it’s one of them stories/standalones that gets you wondering where the characters are now and what they are doing

It is an exciting fantasy book that takes you into a world full of magic and thrilling adventures. It follows the journey of Dani, a brave girl whose family is involved in crime, and Carmen, a girl from a rival group. Together, they face danger and seek revenge while learning about trust and friendship.

Good things:

Interesting Characters: The characters in the book are well-written and feel real. You'll enjoy following Dani and Carmen as they navigate through their challenges.
Cool World: The world in "Fire with Fire" is imaginative and feels alive. It's full of magic and mysteries that will keep you hooked.
Friendship Story: The bond between Dani and Carmen is heartwarming and adds a lot to the story. Their friendship is one of the best parts of the book.
Exciting Plot: The story moves quickly and is full of surprises. You'll always be eager to find out what happens next.
Diversity: The book includes characters from different backgrounds, making it feel inclusive and relatable to many readers.
Not-so-good things:

Some Parts Feel Rushed: At times, the story moves too fast, and you might wish for more time to explore certain parts.
Predictable Moments: While it's exciting, some parts of the story are a bit predictable, which can take away from the surprise.
Side Characters Could Use More Depth: While the main characters are fleshed out, some of the side characters feel a bit flat.
Dramatic Dialogue: In some scenes, the characters talk in a way that might feel exaggerated or unrealistic.
Quick Resolutions: Some parts of the story are wrapped up too quickly, leaving you wanting more closure.
Overall, "Fire with Fire" is a fun and engaging read. It's perfect for anyone who loves magic, adventure, and stories about friendship. Even with a few flaws, Destiny Soria's book will keep you entertained and wanting more.

Great book! It’s a fun YA fantasy standalone with dragons. I had a good time reading it and enjoyed the characters and the plot

Fire with Fire is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. Destiny Soria has earned herself a spot on my auto-buy authors list. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Fire with Fire today.

‘Fire with Fire’ has been one of the fantasy titles I really looked forward to reading, and I can’t believe it took me so long to finally get into this exciting title. Growing up, I loved fantasy with dragon elements, but I must admit it’s been a while since I read a book featuring these fantastic creatures. I was, therefore, very excited for ‘Fire with Fire’.

While at moments it felt that I would have enjoyed this title a little bit more when/if I was younger, I really liked the book, and it was a good experience going on this journey with Dani and Eden.

I think that was in fact my favourite thing from ‘Fire with Fire’ – it’s focus on the sister-bond/sibling relationship in the book, which was messy, complicated and pushed the narrative forward. Having three younger siblings, it was great to have a book focusing on this, rather than just romantic element of the story (which was present, though more in the background).

Dnf’d at about 56%

I think this book took me by surprise as I did not expect it to be a contemporary fantasy from the synopsis.
I liked the bisexual rep and the panic disorder representation but did not really connect with the characters or the story.

Good book, not going to lie…just really like anything that includes dragons! Easy to read and good plot and characters..and obviously dragons.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I love dragons. Literally who wouldn’t?

The world-building here is delightful and I really enjoyed Dani and Eden’s relationship. They felt like real sisters, and their rivalry/love was very accurate to real life. None of that “hello, sister” nonsense here!

The antagonist was a bit obvious, but that happens a lot in YA, and it almost felt creepier watching Eden’s experience with them.

That being said, the ending was super abrupt and didn’t feel consistent with Eden. She had a huge switch right at the end that just didn’t feel authentic.

To be honest, I feel like this may be one of the YA books that I am a little too old to read. If I had read it at 15, I think most of my current issues wouldn’t even stand out to me.

If you’re looking for a fun, contemporary fantasy read for a younger to middle teen, I think this would be a great option!

Four stars from me.

Great fantasy story of two woman and a dragon on a quest. I loved the writing style and the pace of the story.

So the plot of this book is simplistic but it serves a purpose, to show off the authors talents elsewhere! I loved the unique location, character relationships & representation for anxiety, bisexuality & badass women. Also DRAGONS.

I was given a digital review copy of this in exchange for a fair and honest review (Thanks NetGalley). Alongside the digital copy I also got a Special Edition Hardback version from Fairyloot which was (as always) stunning.

Dani and Eden Rivera are sister who were born into a secret society of dragon slayers tasked with keeping the human world safe from dragons. Eden is the epitome of wanting to take over the family business and is so intensely passionate about training in Dragon Slaying, while her younger sister Dani, is the full blown opposite - more interested in being normal and experiencing life outside the slaying business.

That is, until, she comes face to face with an actual Dragon. Not just a dragon but one that she connects with on top of it. We follow Dani trying desperately to wrap her head around how she can feel as connected as she does to Nox and coming to the realisation that maybe everything she had been taught isn’t quite as true as she first thought.

Dani and Eden end up on opposite sides of the conflict between the dragons and the slayers with the added complication of the sorcerers and a long-fought difference between the sorcerers and the slayers.
Nox and Dani are fantastic characters and I felt like I could really understand Dani’s point of view and world. Eden I find incredibly irritating and slightly selfish but it does feel like its in fitting with the character arc. I do have an issue with Sadie – while I enjoy her character, there are times where it simply feels like she’s been injected into the story line to reiterate Dani’s bi-sexuality – almost as though the only way you can prove it is by showing it.

The representation in this I felt was overall well done, however, especially with some of the imposter syndrome, body issue type topics covered.

I wish we saw more of the dragon world rather than *just* Nox. The world building was good, although the background stories between the slayers, sorcerers and the dragons has the potential to be outstanding if that had been taken and run with. The author’s writing and prose is excellent and they write in such a way that you know the language is written involving teens but it never for one moment feels like its being written by an adult
trying to write as a late teen which is an achievement in itself. On the flipside of this the POV switching does get a bit much at times, mainly because it doesn’t feel like we have much time in each POV before we switch again.

The plot felt like it was multiple trying to be one plot line. I almost wish this didn’t have the constraints of the YA bracket and it could go over the “expected” page/word count and explore the whole thing more.

I enjoyed this book overall and rated it 3/5* on GoodReads.

Unfortunately had to DNF this one at 30% as it just wasn’t for me!
I’ve read Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria and really enjoyed it but I think I preferred it because it was fantasy and not contemporary fantasy. So I will definitely give her other books a shot because I do enjoy her writing style!

Sibling rivalry against a backdrop of dragons, magic, and emotions is bound to unravel a tale about family, forgiveness, and friendship. While the chosen one trope sets up a predictable plot that might read repetitive as an idea, the quick pace and humorous undertones manage to keep the interest intact. The familial bonds are explored with as much sincerity as the soul bonds with dragons that intrigue through the magic system. With an anxiety rep worth appreciating for authenticity and characters with distinct personalities, this urban fantasy consistently engages through young women depicting flaws and bravery.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I couldn't settle into the writing style and didn't like the setting.

This was one that I put down and I've never picked back up

(3.25/5) 'Fire With Fire' was quite funny with great, energetic dialogue - I highlighted quite a few banter-y passages and snappy comebacks - and it's also very readable. I'd get through quite a few chapters in one sitting! However, I did feel like I lacked a deeper connection to the main characters, and at one point I actively disliked Eden, but I did really like a few of the side characters, for example Dani's best friend Tomás, her aunt Frankie, the dragon Nox, as well as new characters like Kieran and Zephyr. I wish at least the dragons could have had a POV! I think the POVs being limited to just the two sisters also made one of the romance subplots a bit unbelievable and cringey, though I really loved the friendships in this book.

The antagonist is glaringly obvious but perhaps deliberately so - it definitely made it even creepier and more discomfiting to watch what felt a bit like Eden being groomed. There is also a nice contrast in scenarios before and after a pivotal moment in a sort of 'descent-into-villany' arc, which made the changes in character and personality all the clearer (and more unsettling). That being said, I did get a bit confused about Eden's character arc, as it kind of flip-flopped depending on the plot context rather than seeming organic.

I was disappointed by the ending, because firstly it was confusing and the time jump felt a bit trite. I also kept expecting at least some kind of explanation to come, which never happened. The alternatives to how it ended also seem way more interesting to explore.

All in all though, this was an entertaining and inventive read with some really great action scenes - especially the Final Battle™! I also really appreciated the mental health rep with Eden's character, the normalisation/de-stigmatising of medication and that Eden isn't weak or broken because of her anxiety. An engaging book and I'd recommend if you're looking for books about dragons, sibling rivalry, magical conspiracies and tense action.

Thanks to @netgalley for my ARC.

"I made a mistake, trusting you, but having anxiety doesn't make me a coward. It doesn't make me weak."

This book is a standalone urban fantasy featuring two sisters who have been secretly raised as Dragon Slayers their whole lives, whilst also trying to live as normal teenagers. The two often feel in competition with each other and have a bit of a strained relationship because of it.

One day Dani is attacked by a Dragon, who then becomes her bond mate, and everything the sisters thought they knew about dragons, slayers, sorcerers and family is put to the test.

The book explores identity in a lot of different forms. The sisters are mixed latinx but feel a bit separated from the latinx side of the family, they can't be fully open with their friends because of being slayers, Dani is bisexual & Eden suffers with severe anxiety.

Dani was arguably more likeable but I feel like Eden was probably more relatable (for me anyway!)
She was a flawed character, never felt good enough, didn't always make the right choices and had a lot of things to deal with.

I fell that this book deals with anxiety very well & shows the prejudice that can come with it. Eden's anxiety was a big part of her story but she comes to realise that it doesn't need to stop her from doing the things she wants doesn't make her weaker & it doesn't have to push people away.

There's some romance, lots of character development, interesting world building and lots of action.

The book was a good standalone but I do feel like there could've been a bit more to it and some parts felt a bit rushed.

CW: Biphobia, anxiety, panic attacks, death, violence, blood

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't quite out my finger on it but I just didn't get with this book. I thought the synopsis made this sound so much more that how I preserved this.

Dani was ok by I felt that the appearance of Sadie was there just to show people that Dani was bisexual. Telling me would have been enough.

Eden was something else and I just didn't get her and I'd have preferred less of her and more of Nox.

I think this would have been better to a younger audience than myself and clearly that's no fault of the author. I think that was my biggest issue with it.

I actually ended up enjoying this one!
At first I wasn't sure I would, due to the constant POV switching between Dani and Eden en I didn't feel connected to either of the sisters because of that, but I ended up caring about them by the end anyway.

That ending was a little abrupt and I didn't buy Eden's 180° switch. I feel like this could do with a sequel, because some things were left pretty open. I'm not sure there's going to be one though.
I especially love the bond between Dani and Nox and the importance of family in this one.
While I liked this, I don't see myself re-reading this anytime soon, hence the 3-star rating.

I'm sadly behind on my reading due to personal circumstances and for some reason this book didn't send to my kindle and the file is now archived.

Have ordered a physical copy to read soon so will update once I have read!