Fireborn was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it lived up to every single expectation I had and more! Full of adventure and magic this beautiful middle grade is such a captivating story. I can't wait for my kids to read it and they have patiently been waiting for me to finish 🤣
Twelve is training to be a hunter. A warrior that fights alongside her comrades for the good of Ember but she has ulterior motives and is desperate to seek revenge for her family killed by the Cave Clan.
When Seven another of the Huntlings go missing during a training session the race is on to find her. She's been kidnapped by goblins and for what reason nobody knows.
An enchanting quest, filled with mystical creatures, talking trees and goblins galore, this is such a fast paced read. I love the found family trope and In Fireborn is done beautifully.
A children's fantasy filled with everything you could possibly want in a middle grade I honestly can't tell you how excited I am that this is a series. I know it sounds controversial but I can't remember middle grade being this amazing when I was growing up. Read this book because its just so joyful and magical.

This book doesn’t even give you a chance to breathe, lands a punch right from the start and throws you in an epic adventure a few pages in.
every time you think the pace will slow down, it picks up again, with a new mystery, a new clue and a new truth.
By the time you reach the ending, you will close the book, open it again and check if you have missed any pages while racing to the finish line….. you might end up chucking it across the room few times out of anger but it will pass by quickly ^^
But now what to do but wait for the sequel to come out soon “Pray to book gods”

Highly recommend it to children and people who enjoy the thrill of the adventure in a magical world

One should never judge a book by its cover but this cover seems to work very well for its target group: Once my son, age 11, saw the cover in my review he asked me to get him the book once it is translated to German. So this is what we will do 😃. Especially as this book will be perfect for my son even though the main character is a girl. This book is the perfect fantasy novel for middle grade children of all sexes.
Ember is a dark world full of magical and sometimes very spooky and scary creatures. Some are common traditional ones like for example goblins but there are also new intriguing ones. They add perfectly to the fast paced plot that gets you hooked on the story straight away.
The main character, Twelve, is an outsider and the reader quickly understands why she is not too well liked by the other huntlings -children training to be dark creature hunters. But also the ones not seeming to be too nice grow on the reader while reading and have a fantastic character development. My most favorite characters are Six and the litte fire-creatures.
All in alll I can totally recommend reading this book for middle grade children and older, even if they’ll be releasing the breath they didn’t know they were holding three times 😉 and I am really looking forward to reading more about Twelve and her companions.

This story is so much more than the description. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect but this was so much fun to read. There is so much I absolutely loved about it and even though this is meant to be a Middle Grade story, it is one that can be enjoyed by anyone. The story starts off and I just think of how much I’m going to dislike Twelve’s character, along with Five. It quickly picks up and their journey begins. The group absolutely learns how to work together and all of the lessons Twelve learned but ignored, showed its importance as they travel Ember. While the journey the group went on was interesting and fun, it was honestly the world that grasped me. I loved all of the unique monsters that were introduced and how they were described. It was all so fascinating and I enjoyed learning all that this world had to offer. It is such an intricate world and I loved it. The age group it is meant for will become absorbed as I was. I’m so glad this is a series because I really want more.

Along with the amazing world building that Fowler was able to make, the characters fit it so well. I was weary about Twelve at first, just because I know the blindness of revenge that can happen to a character. But she grows up so fast and in such a believable way that you can’t help but root for her at the beginning. I’m so glad that Five and Six join her as well. To learn their stories, even though you’re not supposed to talk about your past, and see how they compliment each other was satisfying. And then Dog. Why can’t I have a stone dog Guardian? There is so much that was successful with these characters as well. I will be waiting impatiently for the next book.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Fireborn by Aisling Fowler was such an amazing book. I absolutely loved this new fantasy world. It is filled with magic, new and old, and does a great job establishing itself. It was fun to learn about these new monster and how our heroes face them. The journey and the world will keep anyone who reads this absorbed in its words without it ever feeling boring. Each description was very well thought out and made an amazing picture. I loved Twelve’s development on this journey. It’s always great to see our main protagonist grow and realize the person they want to be. The group, in general, is one that I want to continue to follow. I absolutely recommend this book if you enjoy magic, monsters, and a group that embarks on a dangerous quest.

I loved this! Great adventure, found family, beautiful friendships and a really gripping tale. I've not come across so many unique magical creatures since HP. Fantastic. Give me more.
One critique: Twelve "released a breath she didn't know she was holding" quite a few times. This phrase annoys me so much that I actually deducted a point on writing style. Sorry.
CAWPILE: 8.28 (high 4*)
Characters- 9. Loved Twelve, loved the relationship between Five, Six and Twelve. Dog is fab.
Atmosphere- 9. Really gripping, great adventure and I had to keep reading.
Writing Style- 8. Would have been higher if Twelve could breathe normally.
Plot- 7. I loved this, but it was a fairly predictable, standard adventure.
Atmosphere- 8. Lots of great magical creatures and a gorgeous setting
Logic- 8. Couple things that didn't completely make sense to me; why all the clan in-fighting? What started it?
Enjoyment- 9. Really liked this and I will now be anticipating the sequel.

Thanks to @thewritereads for the advanced copy

Oh wow this is such an amazing fantasy adventure! Twelve is a huntling at the Hunter’s Lodge where she is training to become strong enough to fight the dark creatures that exist in Ember while vowing to protect the different clans that exist. But Twelve is full of anger and when a fellow student at the lodge causes her to get angry, the two are sent to the dungeons for the night as punishment. While there, with only her squirrel for company, Twelve tries not to let memories of her past haunt her, but soon something happens and Twelve will have to go on a quest and face her past and fears.

I just loved reading this book so much and couldn’t put it down from the start. From the first pages it was easy and compelling to read although I have to admit to not really liking Twelve’s character so much at the start. Twelve is full of anger and the way she treats her fellow students is a result of this anger and it was this aspect of her personality that made it hard to warm to her at first, but the book was easy to read and as the story progresses Twelve’s past is revealed in bits and you see why she’s a character so filled with anger and hatred, making you sympathise with her more.

Despite not liking her character at first, it wasn’t long before I started to enjoy both her and the other characters in the story. Once twelve and a couple of the other students end up leaving the lodge to find something, the adventure really starts and I love everything that ends up happening to all of them. I won’t lie, the book has some creepy moments with some of the creatures encountered being very creepy or scary. There’s also quite a lot of darker and sadder moments too, especially when the adventure takes the characters further into the Frozen Forest and Twelve’s memories come back to haunt her.

I love what happens in this story and maybe it’s because I like slight creepy/spooky things but there’s just something about the adventure that was so interesting. I love what happens with all the creepy things in the forest, especially with the trees, and the build up of tension was just brilliant. The atmosphere is constantly dark and interesting and as the story progresses towards the end, there’s also a great twist too and a wonderful build up to the ending which felt like a brilliant battle. The ending is very satisfying and I love what happens and what is revealed. The book finishes perfectly but with a great set up for the next book in the series which I just can’t wait to read.

Overall this was such an interesting read and I’m so glad I stuck with the book despite not liking Twelve’s angry character at first. Having characters like Dog and especially Widge the squirrel, and the funny things he does, really made me love this book so much more and although it’s a bit of a dark and quite a sad story in parts, due to the mentions of some deaths and the sad memories of that, which might be a bit much for sensitive readers, for me it’s such a brilliant story and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Book source ~ Tour

Twelve went through something so tragic that she was left completely alone. She made her way to the Hunting Lodge to become a Hunter because what else was there for her to do? Once there and accepted she has to give up her name and her identity to become only Twelve. If she can survive her blooding then she may chose a name and go from huntling to Hunter. But that’s not what she’s there for. Twelve wants to learn everything she can so she can exact revenge on those who took everything from her. When the Lodge is attacked, something unheard of, all of her plans start to crumble. Will she firm up her plans or adapt to her new situation?

Twelve is an interesting character. There is tragedy in her past and something else. She is determined and focused, but at what expense? She has no friends and even though she says she doesn’t want or need any, everyone needs at least one person they can count on. Her training helps considerably when she ventures out beyond the Hunting Lodge, but she has so much to learn. Enter her traveling companions…

Twelve knows intellectually that she’s not the only person to suffer, but everyone who joins the Hunting Lodge has to leave their identity behind. They pledge themselves to the Lodge and ALL the peoples of the land, not just their own clans. So, they aren’t allowed to talk about their pasts. Not even what their names once were or why they ended up at the Lodge. But she’s so focused on her own agenda she forgets that she’s not the only one with a tragic past. As she finds out during her travels with her unexpected companions.

I don’t want to give away details of their journey, it’s reason, or who her companions are, I just want to say that it’s a learning experience for them all. Each and every one of them. And, for the reader, too as we discover secrets and more secrets along the way. Some questions are answered and some things are put right, but at the end of Fireborn, we know the story is just beginning.

If you have an appetite for Middle Grade Fantasy filled with danger, a journey, and learning opportunities then Fireborn is a satisfying and tasty treat.

So…this one is a bit of a weird one for me.

I don’t really read much fantasy or even much middle grade fiction so I’m not entirely sure why I signed up for this blog tour – apart from the fact that Dave at The Write Reads does get some great blog tour books!

I’m glad I did though.

This is the story of Twelve, a young girl who has renounced her previous life and joined a hunting lodge where she will (along with other huntlings) progress to being a full Hunter. However, Twelve is finding it hard to forget her past and it is causing friction with her peers, especially Five.

When one of their number goes missing and the lodge is attacked, Twelve embarks on a brave journey into the Frozen Forest to try to help. Accompanied (against her wishes) by other huntlings, she learns a lot about herself and her past…to the point that her life will never be the same again.

This isn’t my usual genre at all, but I thought the writing was beautiful. The descriptions of the frozen world that Twelve finds herself in were breathtaking, although the equally vivid descriptions of the stinky goblins and ogres were pretty grim! Fowler builds her fantasy world and its occupants well – I could picture the scenes and characters, even if I didn’t necessarily want a clear picture of the dreaded Ygrex!

Twelve is a compelling main character. She starts the story as an outsider – clearly talented in the lessons offered by the lodge, but without friends (aside from her squirrel, Widge). However, the journey that the book takes her on sees her learn important lessons, not least about building relationships and not letting the past hold her back.

The novel is cleverly plotted and kept me engaged. There were some genuinely surprising twists and turns along the way and I was keen to see how everything would work out for Twelve. The end, when it comes, is satisfying but – I hope – opening the door for more adventures featuring this tough, sassy protagonist.

I’d definitely recommend this to the middle grade readers in your life – they will definitely thank you. It will absolutely charm and engage the tween-age readers in your life (and everyone else, if the experiences of this forty-something are typical!)

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and The Write Reads for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The cover for Fireborn by Aisling Fowler was enough to sell me this book. It’s gorgeous! Many of the blog tour participants got a physical copy but since I’m not in the UK, I didn’t get one (and that makes me a sad panda). That’s okay though. Shipping is terrible and it might not have gotten here on time. I’m still super grateful for the digital copy and the opportunity to read it before the release date. Which is begin October, by the way.

Fireborn follows Twelve as she prepares to take the last test to become a hunter when a group of goblins attacks the Hunting Lodge and kidnaps one of her peers, the only girl who showed her kindness and who reminded her of her sister. On her way out, she notices she is being followed. The guardian of the Lodge is on her tail, or well, Seven’s. He wants her to go home, but Twelve is stubborn and demands to come with him. Later, Five and Six also join their group. The rivalry between the huntlings is exciting but also a bit frustrating. I’m glad it gets better towards the end.

The world Fowler created is dangerous, unfair, and magical. You want to go there and at the same time, you don’t. The three huntlings and the guardian Dog meet and challenge various magical creatures. I really like their guide, kind of the same as the dragon book in How To Train A Dragon. Each creature gets a score for how dangerous it is. But that doesn’t stop the huntlings from confronting them. Throughout their trials, they learn more about each other, but also about themselves.

It’s truly a magical journey for all. I give Fireborn 4,5 stars. People who love adventurous fantasy for a younger audience (upper MG/YA) will definitely enjoy this one. Some parts can be scary so maybe not for the younger children as a solo-read.

This is such a riveting fantasy adventure for middle grade reading (and adults who are young at heart) and is a must for any bookshelf.
The writing style is so easy to follow but is also rich and dense in world and character building, so I’d say it’s a great introduction to fantasy for children. The reader becomes immediately immersed in Twelve’s world and it is built up around them with vivid description but in a way that is accessible to younger readers.
The setting resembles a middle-aged vibe with clans and lots of mythical creatures. Hunters train and come together to protect all clans against evil but when the hunting lodge is compromised and attacked, and a huntling (trainee) is taken. Twelve and some of her huntling classmates and The Guardian (Dog) set out to find her. I loved the idea of the hunting lodge and it reminded me a little of Hogwarts with a different theme. The mountains and the areas they journeyed through were just so well written and described. The whole story played like a film in my head.
Twelve has given up all her previous life to train and become a hunter. As the narrative moves forward, the reader gains little insights into her former life and the more you learn, the more real she becomes. At first she seems prickly and sullen however she is a fierce and fearless warrior and a superb female character to read about. I loved Dog, Five and Six too how their relationships and personalities changed throughout the book.
This is such an engaging and addictive book and it will delight all readers.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This definitely sparked my interest with the blurb and I was so lucky to get onto the blog tour so I could read it early. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to this universe and can’t wait to go back.

It’s a quest book, so in retrospect I'm not surprised I loved it lol, I always enjoy a good journey. In this case, we get down to it fairly quickly. Twelve is a bit of an outcast, but when a fellow student is taken, she runs to rescue her. I feel this is all you need to know about twelve in some ways - she may be guarded and abrasive but you can see that she is trying very hard not to care.

I especially loved Dog, he is amazing. And I really liked the friendships we see in the book - between five and six particularly. Even as lots of secrets come out, we see the relationships broaden into something more solid and that’s really well written.

I also liked that it’s actually quite a dark book. There’s a little hope, but it’s so action-packed that you don’t get too much time to see it! It’s most present at the end, and I think will be a big factor in the next book. But for this one, you are straight into finding out what’s going on and going on the quest.

I’d love to know more about the history behind the lodge and why it came to be. We see a lot of glimpses, from the previous dark war to the motto, but not a lot of world-building background. That said, we still get a great idea of what the world is like, with all the different clans, the forest, and the monsters.

I can’t wait for the follow-up to this and see our huntlings progress into hunters - including using their well-earned names!

Rating 4.5/5

I’m sure I’ve commented here before about not usually reading middle-grade books and then being unsure as to why that is but I think it is worth repeating because I think sometimes I forget that books written for younger readers can still have a lasting impact and be just as engrossing and relevant for (ahem) an older reader. Fireborn is a book I have thoroughly enjoyed and found quite surprising, it is action and adventure but it also deals with grief and self-discovery.

The world-building was great I felt like I could visualise the settings easily, the chilling atmosphere of the forest and the danger lurking at every stage of the journey from the monsters that all really jumped off the page, although I was trying with all my might not to think too long and hard about the deathspinner, but they were all really quite terrifying. The writing flowed really well and the pace of the book was brilliant, I flew through the story but it never felt rushed, I would have liked to have explored even more about this world and the clans because the little that has been revealed in this story definitely has me wanting more.

I think what really stands out about this novel though is its characters, Twelve is just fascinating she stands out from the rest of the huntlings and from the start you can tell she carries a lot of anger and determination but there is a question about what it is that is fuelling her. She was at times unpredictable but I found myself firmly in her corner and rooting for her to succeed in her mission, I really enjoyed getting to see her history through her flashbacks and they spurred on a growth in her character that made her all the more endearing.

The relationship between Twelve, Six, and Five was fantastic, I liked that they were constantly sparring and bickering but slowly started to appreciate each other, it was great to see their uneasy start blossom into something that could stand up even in the worst of situations. Of course, I couldn’t talk about the characters without mentioning Dog the guardian or Widge the squirrel, I mean Widge seemed like the most unlikely of companions but actually made me smile so much and I loved how Dog was so exasperated by Twelve and her friends but still tried to protect them at all costs, I just have so much love for them both.

Fireborn is an exciting and gripping book, it has its dark moments and there is a lot that the characters have to face but ultimately it is a really enjoyable story and I can’t wait to see what will happen next.

Before even reading, I knew this would be a book I would like, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. Everything from the magical world-building and many plot twists to the remarkable adventure these characters embark on filled me with pure excitement. I ended up reading it in one sitting because I was instantly hooked from page one. This is definitely an epic middle-grade fantasy you don’t want to miss!

The adventure that Twelve, Five, Six and the lodge guardian, Dog, go on to save Seven truly is an amazing one. Not only are there plenty of intense battles with frightening magical creatures to keep it exciting but there’s also inspirational moments between the characters that keep you fully invested. It’s hard not to be fascinated by this entire story because the author has created such an interesting and vivid world, that is so easy to imagine. Everything is described in so much detail you can easily get a feel for the sense of community at the Hunters Lodge and how frightening and creepy the monsters are that lurk about.



There are plenty of twists in the book that really shocked me as I didn’t see them coming. The whole story is incredibly well written and fast-paced so it really is impossible to put down until you’ve finished.

The characters were really a huge part of why I loved this book so much. Twelve is such a fierce and brave character, that you can’t help but love her. Her passion to be the best is so contagious and shown in everything she does. Whether that be killing it with her axes or arguing with Five. It was so great to learn so much about her and grow into the person she wants to be. I can’t forget her adorable companion squirrel, Widge. He is just the cutest addition and I love how much he meant to Twelve.

Dog, Five and Six also play a big part in the book and I loved them just as much. Five being the cocky, stubborn one is always butting heads with Twelve. I really didn’t like him at first but he really grew on me as we get to see more of his character and I ended up loving the quirky banter he brought to the team. Six on the other hand I adored from the beginning because of the sweet charm that he carries throughout the book. And Dog, you can tell at first he is just tolerating them all but he is so adamant to protect them. I love how we get to see them overcome all of these deadly challenges as well as bringing humour and meaningful moments about friendship to the story.

Overall, Fireborn is an epic tale full of intense action, gruesome monsters and magic. I loved every minute of this action-packed, adventure and can’t wait to jump back into the magical world of Ember if there is a sequel. There is just so much that happens that I don’t want to spoil, you will just have to read it! If you are a fan of fast-paced middle-grade fantasies this is definitely for you.

First thing first! Please, I need someone to tell me that this is only the beginning. The first book of a promising series. Please?

That final made me crave for more! There are so many questions left unanswered. Give me more, now!

Twelve gave up her name and her past. She has to forget who she is, where she came from, which is her clan, and her old name. This is the price everyone, who want to be trained as a Hunter, has to pay. Hunter? But what are they hunting you may ask? Monsters! The world is full of them. They are trained as huntlings first and to become Hunters they have to go through a ritual called Blooding. A group of few huntlings are thrown outside the walls of the Lodge, left to fight for their life with the creatures that are hiding in the shadows there.


What Twelve want to fight with doesn’t have anything to do with monsters. The reason behind her, joining the Hunting Lodge is because she wants to hunt humans. People from the cave clan. The cave clan, who killed every single person in her village, including her mother, father and little sister. This makes her a solo player. Always on her own, she doesn’t want a training partner, neither other huntlings want to be her partner. The only person that can count as a friend, or even half friend, is Seven. So when Seven went missing after the monsters attack the Lodge, Twelve throws herself heals over head in a rescue mission she is not sure she will come alive from.

I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this book! Firstly, the world building – it is amazing. Rich, colourful and full of life. You can feel every bit of the story. It just absorbs you and teleports you to one whole different world. The characters are fully blooded. Sneak-peaks to their previous life enriches their personality, and they feel even more realistic and, most importantly – lovable. I love how determine Twelve is to get her family revenged, but this doesn’t stop her from going on a life-threatening journey to save a girl that is not even her friend.
I love how she grows to be a part of a team and how the story evolved with her.

Honestly, there is nothing to get you disappointed with this book. It is well-written, fast-paced, absolutely lovable characters and it will pull you in from page 0!

A huge thanks to Harper Collins and the author Aisling Fowler for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Also to Dave from The Write Reads for letting me take part in the blog tour. All thoughts are mine!

4.5 STARS!

I absolutely loved this book, it has everything that I love in a MG fantasy book and more!

Set in the world of Ember children from various clans end up living at the hunting lodge and training to become hunters to protect every clan from the monsters that threaten the world.

These children go to the lodge for various reasons, a lot because they are unwanted/abandoned by their families and some because their families are sadly dead and they feel they have nowhere else to go.

When they arrive at the lodge they give up their names, pasts and everything about them. They train in weapons and learn to defend themselves and fight monsters of all kinds.

Until they become fully fledged hunters the children are known as huntlings and go by a number instead of a name.

In this book we follow the story of four of these huntlings. Twelve, Five, Six and Seven as well as the lodge guardian Dog and Twelve's adorable squirrel companion Widge.

The hunters and huntlings of the lodge are like family and honour their pledge to protect each other as well as every person of the varying clans of Ember from the dark creatures that lurk out in the wild.

As I mentioned previously there are a tonne of different magical creatures, many of which are referred to from a "Magical Bestiary" which gives lots of information about them including how dangerous they are and how to fight them. I really liked this and loved learning about the different creatures, some of which I have never read of anything similar to before so it was all very imaginative and fun! Some of the creatures sounded ridiculously scary to me, like the Deathspinner! I definitely would not want to meet one of those!

Since the Dark War, Ember has been mostly at peace but one night after a fight breaks out between Twelve and Five which results in the two of them spending the night in the dungeons, all hell breaks loose and one of the huntlings is kidnapped by Goblins. Twelve, Five, Six and Dog team up to rescue her and from then on the book is all adventure, scary monsters, fighting and danger!

Twelve goes on a real journey here and though she starts off incredibly cold, arrogant, self serving and very morally grey the way that her character grows and develops throughout the book is amazing and I really enjoyed it. She is a broken girl when we first meet her and it really is no wonder with what she has been through.

I really liked the way the author slowly explored her past through dreams and memories throughout the book. It helped a lot to understand what had happened to her and why she acts the way that she does.

Five and Six were both intriguing characters but I feel like Five was not fully explored the way the others were and it would have been nice to learn more about him and what led him to the lodge.

The last thing I'll cover off in my review is that HUGE twist/revelation toward the end. I will not go into the details of what it was obviously but I will say that I think it was very, very well done. It honestly left my jaw on the floor and my heart a little bit broken by the way the truth was forced to come out.

You also do not find out or even suspect who the real villain is in the story until the end and I never even suspected it so that was a brilliant surprise!

Overall I really enjoyed this, it is easily the best Middle Grade I have read all year and I do hope there will be a sequel as the way it ended is definitely open to one!

Fireborn has all of the essential components of an epic adventure; a brilliant heroine, a well developed magical world and a cool cohort to adventure with. We start the story at The Lodge, a place where children go to train to be Hunters & protect the world from monsters. As a Huntling (trainee) you no longer use your given name, forgetting your clan and life before you joined. Our adventure begins when The Lodge is attacked & another student is kidnapped. Twelve is determined to bring them home.

The protagonist of the story is Twelve. She is not very popular with other trainees and possibly for good reason. Twelve isn’t at The Lodge to make friends, she has her own agenda and will not allow herself to forget it. She is quick-tempered, harsh but also brave, intelligent and very talented. A lot of her behaviour stems from the trauma in her past. I like that her character isn’t super likeable as it makes her more fun to read about. Plus, she can’t be all bad as she has a pet squirrel called Widge who is awesome!

There are a lot of great characters including the other Huntlings and Hunters. Dog is one of my favourite characters. He is the stone guardian of The Lodge and definitely my number one choice as backup on an epic quest. I love that this book has two animal companions that are so different.

The world building in Fireborn is fantastic. I love how the history of the world is established, especially the Clan wars and systems. The magic system setup is great as is the beast lore that Twelve accesses through her bestiary book. It feels like a very full and rich world, which contains a lot of darkness and danger. Perfect for an adventure.

We explore multiple settings and landscapes in the novel. Each are very vivid and although you experience a lot, you get the sense that you are scratching the surface of the vastness around you. One of my favourite elements is the traditional creepy, enchanted forest. It is a common feature in fantasy novel but, in this case, it is used really well!

Aisling Fowler’s writing is brilliant throughout. There are plenty of unpredictable twists throughout the story. The pacing is spot on. This is the kind of book that would be easy to devour in one sitting! One aspect of the writing that I particularly liked is how the author doesn’t shy away from difficult feelings and conflict. There are good reasons why individual characters feel the way they do and I think that their feelings are explored very well.

Fireborn is a truly addictive fantasy story, which I didn’t want to put down. It is an exceptional debut novel and I can’t wait to read Aisling Fowelr’s next adventure! If you like middle-grade fantasy then I highly recommend you pick up a copy as soon as possible.

All together I really learned to love this book after a bit of a rocky start. It has strong themes of guilt, loss and grief and an amazing cast of characters that made the read really enjoyable. The enemies-to-friends trope is wonderfully built and was extremely satisfying. The world-bulding was top-notch and I would love to explore this world more, with all its monsters and harsh climates, with its mysteries and the lure of adventure. Fireborn is an amazing book and I can’t wait for the next installment of the series.

Thank you to Dave @ The Write Reads, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love a book where I can easily get lost in the story. A book that snags your imagination as soon as you read the first line and doesn’t let go til you hit the last page. A book that can leave you breathless, wondering what’s going to happen next. And Fireborn is that kind of book!

We follow the story of a young girl called Twelve. She is a trainee at the renowned Hunting Lodge, where she is learning to fight the monsters of Ember. But Twelve has a secret reason for all her hard work. She is planning revenge against the clan that took her family from her. Before Twelve gets a chance to enact her plan, though, the Lodge is attacked and she finds herself on a perilous journey that could change the world she lives in.

Ahhh, this was such a fun read! Fun and decidedly dark for a middle grade, which I kind of loved. This is not a story that shies away from the uglier human emotions and I think it’s so important to have more middle grades like this. Twelve is angry. She has a lot of rage inside of her and I think the author does an incredible job of diving into it and letting us see the hows and whys. Letting us watch Twelve try and grapple with her emotions in a real way. And, even if there were moments I wanted to talk some sense into her, it didn’t make her feel any less vivid. I think this author did an incredible job developing her main character! The secondary characters felt a little flat to me until closer to the end, but this is the beginning of a series, so I’m sure we’ll be able to see them become more fleshed out. And I, for one, am eager to continue the journey with them!

Beyond the characters, I thought the world-building in this was top-notch. I got a real sense of Ember and all the dangers and beauty it holds without ever feeling like I was being spoon-fed information. I loved the wintery feel of this book, too. Made me want to read it snuggle in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa! The descriptions and the imagery were all beautifully done and really kept me engrossed in the story. I flew through this book and I can’t wait to read more in this world.

Oh, and how can I not mention the animal companions!! If you’re a fan of books featuring animal companions, this is kind of a must read. Widge and Dog are the best and no one will ever change my mind 😤

Final thoughts: This was a fun, action-packed middle grade adventure that doesn’t shy away from some strong emotions. It’s pace will leave you breathless (in a good way!) and you’ll find yourself falling in love with the main group of characters. And, bonus points, there’s not one, but two animal companions! The plot is intriguing, the world-building is captivating, and it’s just a really good time. If you prefer your middle grade fantasy to lean towards the darker side, but with bright spots of light littered throughout, characters you can root for, and loads of action, I think you would enjoy Fireborn!

From the beginning, Twelve is a very abrasive character, not keen to make social or emotional connections, all for reasons we slowly unravel throughout the pages. The enforced proximity with the other training Hunters has made some of them bond closely, while other, like Twelve, stay on the edges of it all.

Despite this, fellow Huntling Seven has made attempts to get closer with Twelve, even giving her a baby squirrel she finds, who becomes relatively tame, and Twelve names Widge. He keeps her company, snuggled in her furs, throughout most of the book, and I would absolutely add him to my list of favourite animal companions. Between him and The Guardian, who they call Dog, this book gets 10/10 for animal sidekick quality.

Twelve has to do a huge amount of soul searching throughout the course of the book, most of it forced onto her by the circumstances she faces, but also through her dreams. Usually given a soothing drink to give her a dreamless sleep, while on her resuce mission, she has to brave the nights without it, and is forced to confront her memory filled dreams. Although she has no choice over this matter, she doesn’t turn back, run or hide; as someone who is plagued by nightmares, I admire this strength of character, especially in someone so young.

Some of the moments in this book are beautiful moments of growth, lessons we all need to learn somewhere along the way, and introducing the idea of being the person you want to be, and letting go of our prejudices to see the bigger picture, are things that are wonderful themes to give in a middle grade book.

Overall, it was a high impact, strongly written read that I can’t wait to see a sequel to.

This beautiful ARC showed up on my doorstep, courtesy of The WriteReads and HarperCollins, a few weeks ago and without reading any of the synopsis, I sank into this fierce, upcoming middle-grade adventure.

Twelve is a huntling, training to fight the various monsters that haunt the land of Ember. Her family were killed by the Cave Clan and she is determined to destroy them too. But then the Lodge is ambushed by goblins and a fellow huntling Seven is taken prisoner. Twelve feels it is her duty to rescue Seven and so begins an epic journey where she’ll face many dangers and discover her own destiny.

Twelve has an adorable squirrel friend called Widge. Widge is a wonderfully loyal and brave companion who almost plays the role of familiar to Twelve. He is usually buried in her furs or sitting on her shoulder. There is a point where Twelve and Widge get separated but I was very confident that they’d find each other again. Widge is definitely the cleverest squirrel I’ve ever encountered and his bond with Twelve is so lovely to read.

There are four clans in Ember that we know of. I wanted to learn more about them and their histories and I really hope we get more of this in subsequent books in the series. I feel that Twelve’s character will develop more as she learns more about the clans and their customs too because this was starting to happen towards the end of the book.

One of my favourite things about the book was the amount of interesting supernatural creatures there seems to be in Ember. Twelve has a book called A Magical Bestiary which details the nature of the creatures and tips on how to escape an encounter with them. None of them were creatures I’d met before, so I loved learning about them alongside Twelve and her friends.

There are some really lovely, unique descriptions in Fireborn and Aisling Fowler does an amazing job of creating a magical setting. I could feel the danger closing in at night time and see the soft ethereal glow that snaked its way through the Frozen Forest. Ember is certainly a place that absorbs its readers in and holds them there for the entire length of the narrative.

Dog is the Lodge’s guardian. He is a large stone dog who comes alive to aid Twelve and two other huntlings, Five and Six, on their quest to find and rescue Seven. He is a fantastic character who would really rather embark on the search alone but is now having to protect these three kids. Loyal and brave, he is very much like a typical dog and is therefore a very loveable character.

Twelve keeps having dreams and flashbacks of her life before her village and family were destroyed. We see her spending time with her little sister Poppy and her parents. The sense of longing and despair that she feels while watching these memories play out is so palpable and my heart broke for her, witnessing these scenes through her eyes. I really hope that future books explore Twelve’s trauma further and that she learns to heal as much as she can.

Fireborn is a unique, thrilling ride that manages to pack so much into 400 pages. Friendship dramas, family secrets, mythology, huge twists and battle scenes are all here and it often feels like the action doesn’t stop. The ending points very firmly to many more answers revealing themselves in the next book, so I can’t wait to see what else we find out about Twelve and her world.