I read this book so fast as it was so addictive! The FMC is so strong and powerful! I loved her and the MMC. I can't wait to read book 2. I need to know what happens next! I need revenge!!!!!

The author is amazing at world building and I could imagine scenes on my head because of it. The book has an easy flow and I good pace. I highly recommend this if you love Romantasty.

A chance meeting years ago saw Melina meet Julian. She was a dancer and he was a general, but when they meet again it’s on a battlefield where he is leading a battlilion against a clan she’s trying to protect.

Taking her away from the battle, he takes her into his home and behind the scenes of the Roman armies plans.

This was an easy read, particularly for a fantasy. There was a lot of work put into the main characters back stories, and despite the setting a lot of likeable characters.

It’s clear this is set up to be a series and I’d be intrigued to see what happens next.

Thanks you NetGalley and PanMcMillan for the ARC.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

Firebird has been a book releases that was talked about a lot, so I naturally got curious, especially after realizing it'd be a monthly book box pick and seeing that stunning Waterstones exclusive edition. If you're only looking for a spicy dark romantasy, then you should def check this one out, but that's about it.

Malina has lost her family twice-once her biological, and once her found family. Both times it was because of the Romans and more specifically the Roman dragons. She's a powerful empath, able to create a tether to other people, even dragon-shifters with strong fortitude. Her magic drew her to Julian, our love interest, a powerful super handsome Roman dragon general. Years later, they meet again when Julian saves her from a horrible incident as she was made a slave. While I do understand the concept of her magic drawing her to someone and breaking her defenses against him, it all felt way too insta-lovey for my taste. I was also confused by how she went from "I'm Dacian, I don't believe in your gods" to "I need to go outside and risk my life so I can pray to a goddess".

Julian is another "typical" love interest: very big, very handsome, very powerful, ruthless and possessive but with a kind heart. He never saw himself as a master to anyone more like a vessel for change and a shield for those few he could protect.

I was uncomfortable by the slave-master dynamic, however, and by the perpetual sexual abuse and violence that women had to deal with. Even though Julian treated Malina with nothing but respect and adoration, I was uncomfortable by the whole thing and by his possessiveness while according to society, he owned her by law.

I also don't feel enthused by the plot. While I liked how we addressed the elephant in the room and Malina realized what Julian really stood for, the plot wasn't intriguing or refreshing. And the ending was probably one of the most anticlimactic endings I've ever read. We do get a happy ending for Malina and Julian but not really a resolution in terms of the big picture. The author did set things up okay for the next book that will center on Julian's best friend and a woman I won't spoil you for, but it still felt remarkably anticlimactic to me.

I thought I'd read the next book, but the ending ruined it for me, to be honest, so I'll probably not read the sequel, and I will most likely skip the monthly box featuring it. I thought I was in my dark romantasy era, but this was simply not for me.

Enter Rome in a way you have never before!
This is a breathtaking story about a bloodthirsty and powerful Empire…..ruled by pure blooded Romans who share ancestry with ancient titans - dragon- and the gods themselves.
The Romans use the Power they have to burn, concur and enslave The Dacian and Celtic tribes.
The story is based on love, hope, loss and heartbreak.
Can one act of rebellion…. Based on hope? Love? A dream for more cause a big enough spark to change the whole structure of the Roman Empire or will they all burn in the embers created.

I absolutely love this book and cannot wait to read the next one.
I love how easy this story is to get lost in and how much Malina touched my heart.
In a world where you can be anything. Be kind and be brave.
I wish this book had been longer if I am honest with you and I am sad I have to wait so long for the next book.
I have never pre-ordered a book so fast as this one!
Brilliantly enchanting story! One I cannot wait to read read again and again.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Bramble for an advanced reader's copy in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was I expecting to finish this book in less than 24 hours? No, absolutely not. Did I enjoy it? Yes, more than I would have expected. Was it perfect? No, but there is something I liked.

The Roman Empire, the peak of culture around that time. Add dragons, senate politics and a squalid, corrupted emperor that rules them all against a former dancer taken slave by the own flesh and blood of the Cesare whom she met years before in her homeland? I'm sat.

First thing first, I'm Italian, it's in my blood to love the Roman Empire, aka my own history, and I did like how the author incorporated many terms and definitions inside the book, not overusing it and at times when needed giving the correct type of description to let readers understand what a specific object was used for. In this case the only thing I would have specified was how the word Mile was used. As in not the American Mile but the Roman Mile, just adding roman would have done the trick for someone who (rightfully) did not know about the difference.

Character-wise I liked Malina more than I initially expected, yes, at times she was too much but unlike other characters her snappiness was well dosed and her sly remarks at times made her more likable than expected. Was she always coerent? Well no. Again, if someone takes you as a slave and for 1/2 book you think about how to escape while at the end you never even try and attempt it (In not saying at the end of the book but around half way) you loose a bit of your backbone and belief, especially for someone who had her second home burned like the first, and for someone that for 3/4 of the book said she doesn't believe in the Roman gods. Julianus on the other hand is probably my favorite character? I think? Character wise he was always extremely supportive of her and did all he could to hide her from his evil uncle and self-proclaimed rival who wanted nothing more than to get rid of him. The only thing I didn't like about him was how easy he gave up the idea of starting the revulution (if we want to compare is gesture to someone else lets compare his move to Xaden Riorson) in terms of throwing away the best chance he had to end the terror reign of his uncle for Malina. Like yes I like you being so protective but at the same time for a Roman General such as yourself this was such a stupid and inaccurate move? Then again we may have to take into consideration that his dragon was probably going to kill him if anything were to happen to Malina.

The story was medium paced and I really did like the small interruptions between the two main characters, the plot too was nice, not overly heavy and I can't wait to see what the next installment of the series will hold for us.

3.85 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4) 2🌶️

3⭐️ 2🌶️

- Slave x Master
- Forced Proximity
- Dragon Shifters
- Roman Mythology
- Fated Mates
- Magic / Witches
- Political Intrigue

When fate brings the heir to the Roman Empire and a witch prophesied to save the Roman people together, they plot to end the Emperor’s tyrannical reign. But navigating political intrigue within Ancient Rome in a world of dragon shifters and magic is fraught with danger. As Malina and Julianus navigate the consequences of their love, they are forced to consider what matters most, each other, or the future of the entire Empire…

Firebird is a unique, intriguing dark romantasy and the first book in the Fire that Binds series. Admittedly on reading it I was not immediately convinced by the premise of a historical romantasy set in Ancient Rome, there is quite a blend of low and high fantasy elements which meant the world building didn’t quite gel for me.

Malina is a likeable FMC, she is independent and feisty and gives strong Esmerelda vibes. But she equally doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression. That being said I really liked Julianus as a MMC, and for him alone the story had me gripped.

It’s a solid dark romance read, I think Firebird would definitely appeal more to those who are keener on the romance side of romantasy than the fantasy element.

With thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for the ARC.

Genre & Tropes : Romantasy x Historical x Roman empire x Dragon x Mythology x Slave / Master x Mate-at-first-sight

A first book of a series that promises a lot and that I read with pleasure

When I learned that Juliette Cross (an author that I love, especially for her series Stay a Spell and Vampire Blood) was going to write a series with Roman empire AND dragon vibes, I was over the moon ! I'm not always a big fan of dragons but I LOVE the Roman Empire !! So having an ARC ... <3

After finishing this book, I'm a little torn :

- I devoured this book, vibrated with the characters (AND STRESSED SO MUCH especially because of Cyprian !! Some moments were super tense but I liked that we didn't fall into the gloomy and really awful !) and I had a HUGE crush on the universe which was as great as what I imagined (all this revisiting of the Roman empire but mixed with the folklore of dragons ... BRILLIANT !)

BUT

- I missed a little something for it to be a favorite ... I would have liked to spend more time getting to know the characters and discovering the whole universe (I wanted to explore Rome and all the folklore related to dragons !) !
I would have liked a more twisted and advanced plot and a slow burn for the characters (especially given the slave position of a person who were oppressed by the Romans / Roman master and general known for his cruelty !)

So I'm impatiently waiting for the second book to make a final decision for this series, even if I don't know if I would like Trajan and Lela as much as Milena and Julian (BUT I am very curious about the dragon barbarians !)

In short, a first book of romantasy that I read with pleasure and which promises a series full of twists and turns !

So the pros of this book are that I really liked the Ancient Rome setting and magic system.

Cons being it was waaayy too insta lovey for me and I wasn’t a fan of the whole master x slave dynamic.. like he could have a least freed her before the spice hit!

I have mixed feelings about the ending too as the author is obviously setting up for a book about each of the sisters.

Juliette Cross has done it again. Firebird is a masterpiece. And, what makes this story so extraordinary isn’t just the sizzling romance (though that’s definitely a highlight); it’s the lush, darkly magical world Cross weaves. It’s a symphony of emotions, raw and unrelenting, with moments of tenderness that took my breath away. Malina’s strength and Julianus’s quiet vulnerability made me root for them with everything I had. Cross’s writing doesn’t just pull you in; it consumes you. If you’re ready to lose yourself in a love story that’s as dangerous as it is beautiful, Firebird is your next obsession. I can’t wait to see where this series takes us next because, honestly? I’m hooked, and there’s no escape, and I don’t want one.

Firebird by Juliette Cross is a captivating blend of romance, action, and fantasy. The characters are deeply relatable, with fiery chemistry and emotional depth that kept me invested in their journey. The world-building is rich, and the story moves at a perfect pace, with plenty of twists to keep things exciting. If you’re a fan of steamy romance wrapped in an imaginative, magical setting, Firebird is a must-read!this was a first book for me by this author and it definitely won't be my last!

Firebird is a sweeping romantasy about dragons in an alternative Roman Empire. Malina was a dancer until her family were slaughtered, whilst Julian is the nephew of the Emperor who leads the Roman Army to conquer other lands. But there is more to both of them, and they come together in a fiery way.

The world building in this book was really good, and I really enjoyed the dragons. There is obviously a fair bit of set up for the next book but the pacing still felt just right, and I loved the main and side characters. I'm excited to read more in this series!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

A fast-paced romantasy inspired by the Roman Empire. Malina is a Dacian dancer, Julianus a Roman Centurion when he sees her dancing and is enthralled. Years later, when he's a general, they meet again on a Celtic battlefield - his dragon is not willing to let her go again.

I love Juliette Cross's writing, especially the Stay a Spell series, so I was excited to get my hands on Firebird. This is a fast-paced dragon shifter romantasy, heavy on the plot and romance, and a bit lighter on the world building (though, being inspired on the Roman Empire, this bothered me less than it might have in a fully unknown setting). It's a lighter read than I expected: while the world it's set in and it's events are certainly dark, the worst things don't really take place on page or to our main characters, with Malina's witchy powers and Julianus dragon shifter/Patrician status protecting her and those they care about.

The reason I don't rate it higher because this book has some tropes I'm just not the biggest fan of (insta-love/lust; master-slave), and that I never fully got past. They were fairly well done though, and I was engaged from beginning to end. A matter of taste, not quality. Assuming the sequel has even slightly different tropes, I'll absolutely be picking it up!

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for providing me with an arc through netgalley. All opinions are my own

This book was such an unexpected pleasure!

I often find romantasy books are slow to start with all the world building usually needed to set up a story. However, this book dove straight into a pretty fast paced plot trusting us, as the reader, to know enough about the Romans to assist in understanding the basics of the world the author was creating.

I absolutely loved the Julian was completely obsessed with Malins from the minute he saw her, in books with this trope, I always feel that a dual POV really helps us feel the longing and tension from the MMC, and Juliette Cross did this really well. I adored Julian's perspective.

The market these days seems to be quite over-saturated with Greek inspired fantasy stories, so it was completely refreshing to read one influenced by the Romans. I absolutely cannot wait to see where this series is heading!