First things first, I found this book enjoyable all around. I loved the premise. I appreciated the diversity of the characters - Biracial latina, dragon slaying sisters? Hell yeah! Plus one of them had anxiety and the other identified as bisexual (on the page! YES!). I even loved some of the banter. I especially loved that it was a standalone, because although I enjoy fantasy I hate that it's often delivered in massive series.

However, I really struggled to get through it. Honestly, part of this was me (I've had a lot going on recently), so please take these comments with a grain of salt. Reading is a highly individual experience and I can see that others would absolutely adore this story. Maybe it was just the wrong place and wrong time for me to read this particular novel.

I had a hard time from about 25% to 75% as the chapters were really long. Some chapters would take in excess of 40 minutes to read (and my reading speed is typically average, from what I can tell). This slowed the pace of the plot for me and I became a little disengaged even though I liked where the plot was going as a whole. This was compounded by the intricate writing style - usually I love this, and I did enjoy the descriptive and detailed points, but when the chapters were already really long I ended up resenting it a bit.

There were some character reactions and actions that seemed unlikely, which also threw me off. About halfway through the book there was a massive shift in the plot (to be expected with a turning point), but it felt like a stretch for that character, even with the build up that had been happening. As such, the second half felt like a completely different book. As much as I loved it being a standalone, it may have actually read better as a duology.

Overall, this was a mid-way read for me. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. It was just in the middle. I hope it wins over others more than it did me.

2.5/5 stars.

An urban fantasy perfect for summer, Destiny Soria’s new release, Fire with Fire is the fun, dragon filled fantasy you didn’t know you needed. Full of pop culture references and sibling rivalry, Fire with Fire left me entertained and wanting more. I can’t believe this is a standalone, the second I closed the book, I searched for information about the sequel. The fantasy element felt so light and easy to take in – the blend between reality and fiction was seamless.

Dragons are often accompanied by connotations of rage and destruction. Soria introduces us to Nox, a sarcastic, stubborn dragon who wants to strengthen his magic enough to hatch some of the last dragon eggs.

Fire with Fire is split into two perspectives, Dani and Eden, two sisters on opposite sides of a war. Dani was such a great protagonist, she was easy to root for. All she wants is a normal life, unlike Eden, her older sister, who only wants to be the best dragon slayer in the Rivera family. Both characters were well written, the sarcasm and the banter felt really natural. There were also some great side characters, I love the trope of the unsuspecting friend being pulled into the chaos of the magical world, and this book did it so well.

My only complaint is that the romance felt too much like insta-love for me. With standalones, I often find that it happens fast to wrap the story up, and sadly, while I liked the pairing, it was too quick for me to fully believe.

This book delves into sorcery, magic and power, but it also handles themes of mental health and sexuality with such care. Fire with Fire was unlike anything I expected, and this fun fantasy is one I’ll be recommending for a while. Now to manifest a sequel . . .

Did not finish.

I was unable to connect with the book. I feel as though there was a struggle to connect with the contemporary world and the idea of dragons and this element of fantasy did not necessarily work for me.

Fire with fire is possibly one of my favourite books this year. I just loved everything about it. The characters, the plot and the running themes.

It was a quick, fast paced book. I never wanted to put it down. I loved the theme of found family and strong bonds as well as a good diverse range of characters.

I felt the characters developed really well. There was no boring parts of the book, it all felt very fast paced.

I would never ever read a book with dragons as it’s not my usual type, this however has me converted!

Fire with Fire is a story that’s filled with found family and familial bonds. It’s a story sure to play with your emotions and you’ll devour it pretty quickly.

Up to around 20% of the book I was enjoying it, it was a really nice look into Dani and Eden’s home life. It’s obvious that Dani has a lovely set of friends and Eden is a little too obsessed with trying to be the best. Early on we see that Eden struggles with anxiety and honestly, I loved that representation being present. There is also bisexual representation with Dani and they have a Mexican mother and Scottish father, which makes for a lot of Latino references which I really enjoyed.

About 20% of the way in, Dani encounters a dragon. Obviously, he was aiming on killing her. However, when they meet they end up with a rare soul bond forming between them. The soul bond is completely awesome, existing between a human and dragon, and it essentially means that their thoughts are linked and the human becomes basically immortal. Clearly, this is a slight issue for a supposed dragon slayer like Dani. The conflict they both feel from the beginning is clear to see, but seeing them learn to forgive each other for their respective pasts and become pretty much best soul friends is just so endearing. Nox’s character is such that he’s a bit of a snarky dragon, but with a big heart (especially where Dani is concerned). It’s adorable and made me want a soul bond with Nox whilst reading.

“I would rather do anything than ask a slayer for help, but there is no other way. I need you.”
So, you have the dragon slayers and the dragons… and the sorcerers. We meet the high sorcerer, Calla, very early on and it’s clear to see that Eden is in awe of her. There’s a lot more to the sorcerers that meets the eye though and this ends up being a huge part of the story itself.

But, I won’t go too far into spoiler territory.

Another group of people we meet are Dani’s friends, which is most notably Tomás but an old best friend of Dani’s, Sadie, quickly joins the group. Found family is a bit of a soft spot for me and you can tell that’s exactly what the two are to Dani. She might have a family that loves her but to top it off she has these two friends who are ready to do whatever it takes to help and support her. Dani has rough moments with the two of them, most notably Sadie (for past reasons), but in the end they’re there for her and it’s just one of those friendship groups you can’t help but feel a little envy towards.

Eden has what she probably believes is found family too, but it’s far more toxic and really more like a cult that anything else… She loses a part of her humanity and one thing I found interesting is that whilst she’s outwardly denying that humanity she doesn’t really have the panic attacks or suffer from anxiety. It definitely seems like this is intentional, Destiny’s way of saying that they’re human emotions and so it’s okay to… well, not be okay. And I loved that. It’s a great way of representing mental health and I loved this story all the more for it!

She had her demons, just like everyone else. And just like everyone else, she was learning how to live with them.
The only thing I’d say I didn’t like is that the first 20% was a bit slow for me, but after that point… excuse the pun but the story was on fire.

I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a quite, overall cute read with a dragon to fall in love with (think Toothless-like but with Smaug’s sass).

It’s such a long time since I read a fantasy book so I was pretty excited when I got gifted an advanced copy of this book.

Dani and Eden despite being sisters are very different, possibly the only thing they have in common is that they are dragon slayers. Eden really embraces her family’s role in keeping the world safe, she trains constantly and always strives to be the best. Annoyingly to Eden, Dani isn’t really interested in being a dragon slayer she just wants to be a normal teenager yet her natural skill is impossible to deny.

When Dani forms an unthinkable relationship with a dragon she turns to her sister for advice. However, Eden’s dedication, jealousy and competitiveness lead her to make decisions which leave the two girls fighting against each other as enemies. Can their bond save them? Or will their stubbornness destroy them both?

I honestly really enjoyed this book. To me it wasn’t even so much about the fantasy elements of the story, but more the relationship between the sisters; me and my sister are complete opposites so I’m always interested in books and films about sisters. I also loved the way that Soria approached the decision making of each and justified their actions through the dual narration.

I’m unsure whether this story will lead to a series, I can see that some aspects were left unresolved, but to me it was a great standalone book. I gave it 4/5 stars and really would recommend it to others.

Dragons! Magic! Out and proud bisexual protagonist! Slayer training in the barn! Unlikeable protagonist! There are so many excellent things that I love in Fire With Fire by Destiny Soria. Firstly, it’s just a really fun read. The plot trots along quickly, the writing style is engaging and entertaining, and the characters are super enjoyable to read about.

One thing I really loved was how unlikeable Destiny Soria made Eden. Since she’s one of the two point of view characters, I assumed that she’d want us to like Eden and feel sympathy for her – and I do, but that’s not all I feel. Eden makes some really, really bad choices, and I kept on expecting this time to be the time she recoiled and made a better choice. I was so impressed at how far into darkness Destiny Soria allowed her to fall, and honestly it made for a much more interesting story. If there’s a sequel, I really hope that we get to see some of the fallout from the decisions Eden made. Dani is more of a standard protagonist, but I still liked her a lot and enjoyed her story. I could live without the teenage girl/immortal romance, but I hold out hope for that not to work out in the sequel!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

I am sad to say that this book was disappointing.

The description sounded amazing, I love books with dragons in.
Eden and Dani are training to kill dragons, but the sisters couldn’t be more different. For Dani, her schooling and friends are more important than dragon slaying, while Eden prioritizes training above everything else. When Dani connects with a Dragon, Nox, her life is turned upside down and everything she once believed about Dragons is wrong.
I really disliked Eden. She was frustrating, selfish and made me want to scream. Her chapters were absolute torture and I wanted to skip over them.
Dani was an alright character and I think I would have liked the book more if it had been from hers and Nox's POV. I don't think Nox got enough development or content in this story. Dani's romantic storyline was frustrating. Sadie was a pointless addition to the story. I felt like her addition was only to show "evidence" of Dani's bisexuality. It should be enough to just say someone is bisexual and then we move on with the rest of the story. As a bisexual person myself, I just found this irritating.
I found the writing style to be very difficult to get immersed in. For starters, in the first half of the book nothing much happened and I was getting so bored I almost stopped reading. The switching between POV's was smooth or well-timed and it pulling me out of the story because I had to re-read sections multiple times.

Positives for me were the representation of Latinx characters, Dani's bisexuality, and Eden's mental health and self-image issues.

did somebody say dragons, sorcerers, slayers, sister rivalry and magic?? if any of the above tickle your fancy then this is the book for you!! 🐉

first off, massive thanks to netgalley and hodder & stoughton for this e-arc!

this book follows eden and dani rivera, who are born into a family of dragon slayers. however a rift divides them when dani encounters a dragon face to face and realised they share a ‘soul bond’ and eden gets caught up in sorcery.

you guys, i now want to be soul bonded with a dragon because NOX WAS MY FAVE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK. i just want to give him a massive hug. he was such a sarcastic character but i felt like he had the kindest soul ever and i want him to be my bestie🥺!!

i thought all the characters were well fleshed out and purposeful, be that both the main characters and the side characters too. i also thought that the sister rivalry was >>> fab and for me the pacing was spot on as well!

this book is out now so it’s one that’s worth checking out!

With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Destiny Soria for an advanced reader copy of this book

3*

Enjoyable, quick YA Fantasy.

Fire with Fire is a fun, fast paced fantasy following two dragon slayer sisters as they struggle with their differences in style as well as the dragons they are set to train. Soria builds a unique world full of intrigue that unfortunately develops into a lot of unanswered questions. The plot at times becomes very troupey and predictable.

I enjoyed the read, but would likely not revisit it, or the world again.

Fire with Fire by Destiny Storia was a story I lost myself in completely and loved every moment of.

I mean first of all, there are Dragons and stories with dragons in them are always good in my humble opinion and Nox is no exception. I loved that we had a dragon with so much sass that I couldn't help but chuckle at the way he essentially eye rolls at Dani's somewhat naive view of the world she lives in.

The book is a little slow at first but the author's world-building is so well done that although not a lot initially happens? You get a good idea of what the Rivera family are like, and what is expected of them as the latest family members to be Dragon Slayers - and for Dina and her older sister, Eden? That means a lot of training on top of their normal lives as typical teenagers. I did like how their personalities come through both the similarities and the differences that lead to the sisters clashing and playing the all too familiar game ofone-up manship that for those particular teenagers can mean taking on a mechanical dragon that can and will burn you if you make a mistake. We see that Eden is the one who follows all the rules and is meticulous in her training, whereas Dani is led by instinct and passion - she fights to win and knows that lessons in their training setup don't always work in the real world and unfortunately for Eden makes Dani be the better prospective slayer...

Nox the dragon is amazing and I loved him from the first encounter, he reminded me a little of the dragon from the BBC Merlin TV series with the attitude. He says it as he sees it and is fiercely loyal to his soul-bonded human and I loved their relationship as they strive to protect dragon eggs and humans alike. I promise you too will love him, and will be torn between encouraging him to destroy everything and leave the humans to their battles and wanting him to trust his soul-bonded companion. (You want to know more you know what to do)

Each and every character has been thought out so well, whether they be a main character or background - their voice is heard and adds something to the journey the Rivera siblings find themselves on. I especially loved Tomas, who is Dina's best friend who has no idea he doesn't completely know everything about the Rivera family as a whole. His reaction to the fact dragons exist felt so real, that his main problem isn't the myths are true but that Dina lied to him and it shows the bond of their friendship - you cannot help but want to hug him and tell him it's okay to be angry and feel betrayed...

Hmm... what else? There are awful people in Fire with Fire, and you want to scream at those who are completely unaware of what the reader can see that they need to run far far away. There is nothing about them that makes you believe they're capable of change, and they deserve every awful thing that can be cast upon them - Nox settling them on fire would be all top easy for example.

This is a brilliant book, one that if you love dragons, magic and a little inevitable trouble will be one to add to your bookshelves. You might also just wish that dragons were real after all...

"I didn't choose you, and you didn't choose me. But we have each other now. Always."


In Fire with fire we follow 2 sisters, Dani and Eden who are trained to be dragon slayers.
Dani takes her training seriously but wants for a more 'normal' life, who then forms a rare magical bond with a dragon called Nox and then Eden, who takes her role as a dragon slayer very seriously, always striving to be the best and prove herself who tries to save her sister from the dragon by turning to sorcerers.


Fire with Fire definitely took me by surprise. It was a little slow-paced at the beginning and I was kinda expecting to end up DNF-ing ... but once I got to about 30% and the plot really started picking up I couldn't stop reading .. I am so glad I stuck it out. If you are feeling this way to begin with definitely stick with it a bit longer it does pick up.

I enjoyed the sisterly dynamics & I really liked Kieran - who doesn't love a morally grey(ish) kinda character .. but mostly I was here for Nox, his sassiness and to see if everything ended happy for him.
I literally just adored him! His and Dani's bond was definitely my favourite thing in this book - I want a sassy dragon companion like Nox please!

I would have loved a tad more world building, character development and a bit more plot depth personally ... it does read quite YA which is always a bit hit and miss with me but all that aside it was still a very enjoyable read and I would definitely pick up a sequel!!
A perfect read if you are looking for a fun light YA fantasy and you love dragons!!


Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an advanced reader’s copy of Fire with Fire through Net Galley!

3.75 rounded up.

So I admit it said dragons so I wanted to read, what person doesn’t love dragons !!! This book is so different from what I expected though and it blew me away, the world building was brilliant, the characters so well constructed and developed over the course of the story, I loved the relationships of the sisters, very competitive and loving at the same time, felt a very realistic relationship to me. I loved how the author made you feel that a school was a completely normal along the world of dragon training , but basically the whole love of the story, my main focus was Nox, the dragon, he was an character , I love how developed his character and story was and I truly hope there are more books to come from this world

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria is an urban fantasy story about two sisters who come from a family of dragon slayers. And this sounded great, so I just had to read it and this book surprised me in the best way because it is amazing.

The book is set in our world with the exception that there are dragons and sorcerers. The Rivera family was always part of this and they are the one’s protecting the world from the dragons. So the sisters Dani and Eden train to follow in their families steps and responsibility.

While Dani just wants a normal life and to hang out with her friends and to have a good time in highschool, she has immense talent in the dragon slaying. Her sister Eden contrariwise is dedicating everything to it and she feels like this isn’t enough. They always grew up with seeing dragons as something evil and bad until one day Dani is face to face with one and sees that maybe not everything is as she was taught. At the same time Eden approaches the sorcerers more and more.

The dragon aspect was also done phenomenally and I loved it. You got to see the perspective of one and also saw how people study these creatures.

Overall, this book completely captivated me and from the beginning I could connect to the characters. The story unfolded beautifully and I loved to follow this. Definitely one of the best books with dragons that I’ve ever read. 5 stars.

(ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for a review.)

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the representation in this book; Bisexual POC as a main, anxiety - it was great. I really enjoyed the fact that the sisters Dani and Eden were so different as characters too. And who doesn't love dragons?!

Happy publication day!
Big thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the DRC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Fire with Fire follows the story of Eden and Dani, sisters who are descended from a famous family of dragon slayers. Both grew up learning how to kill a dragon. Eden wants to be the best; she prioritizes training above all. Meanwhile, Dani sees dragon slaying as a hindrance to achieving a normal life. Until Dani forges a rare and magical bond with a dragon named Nox. The sisters ended up on opposite sides: Dani with the dragons and Eden with the sorcerers.

I started reading Fire with Fire knowing next to nothing, except for dragons and sisters. Well, I read the synopsis before, but you know, I forgot lol. I was immediately hooked and finished it in two sittings.

The story centers around the dynamics of sisterhood, friendship, and forgiveness. I must say that the storyline is common: the Chosen One saving everyone from the villain. But I really enjoyed reading this. It’s character-driven, and Destiny Soria’s writing style is easy to follow. It’s also well-paced with great world-building and a well-written plot full of twists and turns.

The characters are well-rounded and likable. Dani is fierce, loyal, and headstrong. Meanwhile, Eden is goal-oriented, guarded, has a lot of insecurities, and envious of Dani. I did not like the sisters at first, but they both grew into me as I slowly get to know them. In addition, the exploration of sisterhood and conflict between them is relatable and understandable.
Also, this book has a great rep: Latino family, Eden has panic attacks, and Dani is bisexual - out and proud.

Overall, Fire with Fire is an enjoyable read. Full of action, sassy banters, and great characters. If you enjoy urban fantasy, dragons, sisterhood, and diversity: this book is perfect for you!

This is the story of two dragon slayer sisters, Dani and Eden, who find themselves on different sides of the conflict, when Dani becomes magically bound to Nox, a dragon. Eden teams up with a group of sorcerers thinking she has to save her and things get stickier when all is not as it seems.

Dani is the more outgoing one, wants more of a 'normal life', while Eden is more responsible and wanted to succeed in the family legacy. The antithesis of the siblings makes for an interesting dynamic, each POV presenting its own distinct voice. The emotional IQ of this book is very astute for each character's situation and alluring to read.

Dani becoming soul bound to what is supposed to be her eternal enemy is a wonderfully absurd situation and deeply ironic, since she was the sister less interested in their legacy. There is an endearing quality to the narrative and you can't help but adore smartass Nox. His interactions with Dani made me smile, chuckle, even laugh out loud.

Eden is misguided and a bit envious of her gifted sister, and I really liked how her situation is turned on its head.

Easygoing but elegant descriptions with quirky undertones, and enveloping, helping you absorb the elements of the story to the degree of an engrossing movie playing in your head.

Great action, exciting and unpredictable, I was pleasantly surprised with how the story doesn't quite go as you expect it too. And that oh so unforeseeable twist at the end? Brilliant!!

This story is about fighting for what is right even if it goes against popular opinion or what you have been taught all your life. It also shows the corruption and abuse of power.

Insightful as they are, sometimes the musings of the characters seem to get carried away with themselves, become slightly repetitive. Also, a few times the change between the POVs of the sisters was a little abrupt, but mostly they amped up the entertainment adrenaline and made it more cinematic.

I have always loved dragons and this is an absolutely entertaining and effervescent take on them which I highly recommend.

4.5 STARS

“Dani and Eden Rivera were both born to kill dragons, but the sisters couldn’t be more different. For Dani, dragon slaying takes a back seat to normal high school life, while Eden prioritizes training above everything else.”

Dragon slayers sisters turned into enemies.

Dragons? Sisters fighting each other? That was enough to make me read this book.

Let’s start with characters. They were amazingly fleshed out and portrayed from page one. I loved both Dani and Eden, but Eden’s character was always more interesting to me! The way she struggled with anxiety and the desire to be the BEST made her so unique.

The plot and the writing style made me read this book in one sitting. It was just so easy and quick, I genuinely had so much fun. The pace was just perfect and when you combine all of this with interesting characters, it is a perfect book.

Despite everything being so enjoyable, I feel like the plot lacked some depth (unlike the characters) and the magic system was a bit… meh. A lot of stuff at the end of the book didn’t really make sense BUT it also didn’t stop me from having fun! (also, the romance part of this book just didn’t do it for me...)

Overall, I think this book was really charming, magical and really easy to follow! I would DEFINITELY recommend it to anyone if you’re looking for a quick and fun read!

Rep: Bisexual mc, mc with anxiety, Mexican American mcs, mlm side characters

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've always loved books about dragons, so it doesn't surprise me that I really enjoyed Fire with Fire! Dragons became my favourite mythological creatures after reading Eragon by Christopher Paolini and I've been looking for more novels about dragons ever since! I also think that the cover is beautiful, I would definitely buy a physical copy for myself.

The plot: Dani and her sister Eden are both raised to be dragon slayers. Dani is told that it is her destiny to kill all dragons as they're the enemy, But everything changes when Dani meets a dragon called Nox and they form a rare and magical bond. Dani realises that everything she has been taught about dragons is wrong. Dani's sister Eden has always cared more about becoming a dragon slayer and turns to the mysterious and powerful sorcerers to help save Dani. Now the sisters are on opposite sides of an ancient conflict. How far will they go to fight for what they believe in?

I was hooked immediately and I love the idea of the story. I quickly connected with Dani who is the perfect fierce, badass main character. Eden has lots of insecurities and is jealous of Dani, so while I do understand Eden's motives, it is not that easy to empathise with her.

What I adored most about the book is the bond between Dani and Nox. They have both been told that they're enemies and need to learn to trust each other over the course of the story. That was beautiful to witness! I also loved the friendship between Dani and Tomas and that there wasn't a forced love story. Platonic relationships between people from different genders should be normalised. Another thing I like is that Dani is bisexual as I haven't read many books with bisexual rep. The main love story is with a guy (I won't mention the name to avoid spoilers) but I think that could have been explored in more detail. However, I liked that the love story wasn't the main focus.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to other people who love books about dragons and fierce female characters. I would love to read a sequel!

Dani and Eden are sisters who are destined to go into the family business, dragon slaying. Eden is driven and determined to be the best. Training with Dani, she resents Dani’s desire for a normal life.
Interwoven within this fantasy are the complexities of sibling relationships, anxiety and worry. Eden’s desire to be the best causes her to be anxious and unable to cope without feeling in control. Dani on the other hand seems to not care and just wants a normal life hanging out with her best friend.
The story has a slow start building in relationships, such as Dani’s ex best friend returning who Dani shared a kiss with years before. Also, sorcerers are introduced but it is not clear to start with what their motives are. About half way in the story starts to build with the girls parents going away and then Dani’s encounter with a dragon.
There are a number of twists and turns to the story that leave you wondering who will betray who. A great fantasy story about sibling rivalry and the importance of doing what is right and putting your trust in the right people.