I wasn’t very sure of this book when I started it and wasn’t sure how it would go but after a few chapters I became hooked when the story ramped up and the main character reveals her true self, I didn’t expect the book to end the way it did but now I’m excited for the second book to see how the story ends!

this was a promising read and it started okay but i just didn’t connect with it or the characters as much as i wanted to. thank you netgalley and dell for the arc, i tried with it for months and ultimately just fell a little flat for me

Sooo this book was kinda a ride. It has dragons (always a win), fire magic, politics and a good dose of betrayal so it definitely kept me hooked. The enemies to lovers thing between Aemyra and Fiorean was intense, like the tension was sooo good once it actually started happening. I loved their banter and the whole “I hate you but I can’t stop looking at you” vibe.

The thing is… it was slow to get into. Like the beginning dragged for me and I had to push through before it picked up. Also sometimes it felt like there was too much info thrown at once, and I didn’t really care much about the side characters. Aemyra herself… I liked her fierceness but sometimes she came across as a bit arrogant and it made me roll my eyes.

BUT once I was in, I was in. The world is fun, it gave me like Celtic vibes mixed with dragons and betrayal, and the ending has me kinda desperate for book two. So yeah, definitely not perfect, but if you’re into enemies to lovers, political drama, and a heroine who refuses to shut up, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC!

I'm going to give this a 3 stars for now. This was really hard to get into as I didn't understand quite a bit but also a lot of the typical info dump that comes with the start of a series. I am having a bit of an issue with the Romantasy genre so this may be more critical because it led to me feeling burnout.

I think this will be better later on when I am not feeling those things. It just feels all too similar and unoriginal and while this does have some differences, it didn't really save it for me. Again I am clearly being overly critical so I'm going to come back to this in the future when the series is more complete and see how it does then.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for a review!

🔥 Compelling Characters & Immense Growth
• Aemyra is a ferocious, heroine—born with fire magic and hidden power, forced to rise from obscurity when her claim to the throne is threatened. Her journey from overconfidence to humility and purpose is one of the story’s core draws .
• Prince Fiorean, the cold and arrogant dragon-rider, begins as Aemyra’s primary obstacle—and slowly evolves into her reluctant ally. Their dynamic captures the essence of a high-stakes court drama .

🐉 Dragons & Magic Rooted in Celtic Lore
• The tropical themes of fire magic tied to dragons (or “beathaichean”) are woven into the political and spiritual fabric of the story. Magic isn’t just flashy—it’s meaningful and tied to identity and power .
• The world is steeped in Celtic-inspired worldbuilding, including nods to Gaelic language and tradition, enhancing depth and authenticity in the setting .

🎭 Political Intrigue & Moral Complexity
• Set in a kingdom long ruled by corrupt, patriarchal kings, the story explores power struggles, betrayal, and the tension between an ancient matriarchal heritage and oppressive royal structures .
• Demonstrates ambiguity of political manoeuvring and the human cost of revolution .

✍️ Vivid Writing, Emotional Intensity
• McBride’s prose is both lyrical and gritty, blending cinematic scenes of dragonflight and combat with intimate emotional moments. Dialogue crackles with wit and subtext
• She doesn’t shy away from difficult themes: misogyny, religious extremism, violence, and trauma appear throughout—but are handled thoughtfully and with care

⭐️ I connected with Aemyra’s fiery independence and her fierce determination to reclaim her legacy.
⭐️ Lush Celtic-based worldbuilding and politically charged drama offer depth that enhances the fiery magic and emotional arcs.
⭐️ Themes of resistance, female power, and moral texture—especially through dragons and religious conflict—create both escape and resonance.

A Fate Forged in Fire delivers a potent blend of politically charged fantasy, emotionally resonant romance, mythic worldbuilding, and a heroine who embodies rage, strength, and evolution. If any of these elements made you feel fired up—or deeply satisfied—you’ll have to give this book a try.

I had expected this book to be a classic romantasy which are usually heavier on the romance and lighter on the world building, however, it was a breath of fresh air in that it definitely felt more epic fantasy with the romance and spice which come in around 50% of the way through, supporting a very strong plot. I loved the characters and, of course, the dragons! I'm fully invested, and I will 100% be reading the next in the series once released.

Having not read this author before, I’m pleasantly surprised by this book!

Don’t get me wrong the first half was a little slow but that’s to be expecting with world building and getting to grips with the storyline! I was so grateful for the glossary for some of the more challenging words lol but it really helped to create an immersive world!

The enemies to lovers was a true testament to the trope, not just ‘I hate you’ now ‘I love you’ within chapters. The forced marriage was executed perfectly!

The FMC is a ragefull badass and I loved her!

The last few chapters had me screaming!! I’ll be looking forward for book 2.

A Fate Forged in Fire is a bold, immersive fantasy debut filled with fire magic, dragons, political intrigue, and a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance. Hazel McBride doesn't hold back—this book delivers high stakes, layered characters, and unexpected twists that keep you on edge until the final page.

The story follows Aemyra, a fiery and fiercely capable young woman hiding her identity as the true heir to a stolen throne. Gifted in fire magic and determined to bond with a dragon, she’s thrust into the heart of enemy territory when everything falls apart. What unfolds is a tense, emotionally charged clash between Aemyra and her adversary, Prince Fiorean—two strong-willed opponents who may be too perfectly matched for their own good.

The world building here is rich and textured. The Celtic-inspired setting, complete with Gaelic influences and fire-haired warriors, feels fresh and distinct. The beast bonding system is especially unique—beautifully subtle and unlike anything I’ve seen in recent fantasy. McBride’s attention to detail in the lore and magic system adds real depth without bogging the story down. The romance is slow-burning but intense, with genuine chemistry and emotional complexity. And yes, it’s hot—literally and figuratively.

That said, this isn’t a light read. The tone leans dark, with plenty of violence, power struggles, and grim realities—especially for women. Some scenes are heavy, and the world can feel bleak, in a way that will appeal to fans of Game of Thrones. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it is incredibly gripping.

While the book could benefit from a glossary to support the Gaelic terminology and dense political landscape, it still manages to build momentum into a tense, rewarding climax. If you’re looking for a fantasy romance with dragons, danger, and a heroine who sets the world on fire, this one’s for you.

Thank you so very much to Netgalley and Dialogue Books/Renegade Books for accepting my request to read and review this book.

When I saw this book was Celtic inspired and had dragons, I knew it would be 100% up my alley, and I was not disappointed.

This book was fast paced and fun and had a nice variation from other romantasy. I loved the protagonist Aemyra and her determination to be queen and rule her people. It felt unique to read from the perspective of a contested heir.

Prince Fiorean was an intriguing love interest, and I am so so so eager to read book 2 to see where the romance storyline takes us.

This book was dubbed as perfect fans of House of the Dragon and Fourth Wing, I'm not sure I see the Fourth Wing similarity aside from the dragons but I definitely saw the similarity to House of the Dragon, with the house politics and fight for the throne.

I highly recommend this book if you love romantasy but are looking for a fresh take.

Magical, sexy, funny and twisty turny.
I imagined every man as Jamie Fraser and there are dragons. What more do you want?

Aemyra is living in hiding, a young woman gifted in fire magic who spends her days healing with her mother and waiting. When the time comes well laid plans come with endless complication and Aemyra is stuck in the heart of her enemy. Aemyra believes she is the person to save her people but her enemy Prince Fiorean believes the same. Two well matched opponents who may just be too well matched…

This is sooo good. The Celtic vibe was really really refreshing and I did my best to read everything in a Scottish accent. Double bonus with fire red hair was casting Jamie Fraser as every hot man.

The magic system and lore were well explained and thoughtfully crafted, I love the beast bonding, it was really different to stuff already out there. There was a beautiful subtlety to it.

The characters are layered and complex and the political system isn’t black and white and it all makes sir a really rich world. Aemyra is uncouth and fairly masculine in a lot of her manners, she’s also confident and capable which make a lovely change for a heroine. The enemies to lovers romance is genuinely scorching and not only cos they’re fire wielders…

Hazel McBride is bold. She goes for big kills and big twists. I don’t think any character is safe in her stories and I love that!

Highly recommend and looking forward to book 2!
Thank you #netgalley and #DialogueBooks for my #arc

“For weeks, thoughts of you have suffocated me, like a cloying inferno I will never escape. I never knew what it felt like, to burn.” 🔥

The moment I heard it had dragons and a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance I knew I just had to have it! 😆

It did take me a little while to get into. The world-building is dense, and there were what felt like a million names and places thrown at me early on—I was definitely a bit lost at first. But once I hit the 50% mark, I absolutely flew through it and ended up really enjoying it!

Think:
🐉 Dragons
🔥 Fire magic
🗡️ Enemies to lovers to…???
✨ Fierce, stabby, bisexual FMC
👑 Court drama
💍 Arranged marriage

One small gripe: I really wish the characters could communicate with their dragons—I blame Fourth Wing for setting that expectation. Still, I loved that the author doesn’t shy away from killing off characters early on. Keep that energy going in book two, please! 🤞🏻

All in all, a solid read with strong vibes and an even stronger FMC. Can’t wait for the sequel!

A mix of feminine rage, scottish lore and dragons!

Difficult to get into but enjoyable. I hear this is planned to be a massive series so will be interesting to see where this goes.

A Fate Forged in Fire is a compelling and atmospheric entry into the romantasy genre, perfect for fans of slow-burn romance, political intrigue, and fiery magic. Set in a Celtic-inspired world, the novel follows Aemyra, a fiercely determined blacksmith with a hidden claim to the throne and a rare affinity for fire. When her carefully laid plans are shattered, she finds herself forming an uneasy alliance with Fiorean, a dragon-riding prince whose icy demeanor masks his own dangerous secrets.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is its protagonist. Aemyra is a layered and complex character who evolves meaningfully over the course of the story.

This is fantasy/fantasy romance and it's the first in a duology.

Our female main character is the hidden true heir to the throne but when the king is finally killed, his family are not keen to give it up. She's determined to bond to a dragon to increase her power and therefore her chances of winning. But even if she manages that, can she beat both the prince and the religious order which is taking over and hates women.

This has kind of a slow start but does build well once you get into it. The latter part of the book is very tense.

It definitely could have benefitted from a glossary - it only had a pronunciation guide for the gaelic terms and context wasn't always enough to figure things out.

Tone wise, this is very reminiscent of game of thrones, which I did find a bit of a struggle as I don't necessarily enjoy things which have such bleak miserable worlds - many people die violently, and it's just a generally terrible place for women. There's one particular scene with the FMC where I had to put the book down as that was just a lot for me.

If you're a fan of game of throne/house of dragons though, you might love this.

3.75 stars, rounded up.

A new staple of the genre, this was an action packed, romantic, energetic adventure that will leave you thinking about it for days on end once it is finished.

Magic, dragons, lost heirs, enemies to lovers, all things I love. The world was really fun to get into and I love that it’s based on Celtic mythology, something that I haven’t read before.

I can see this one being a staple in the Romantasy genre for many people.

It wasn’t five stars because the FMC was a bit too self absorbed, her cockiness was rude, in a way that maybe tried to emulate classic overly confident FMCs like Aelin or Bryce but it just missed the mark at times. It took me a while to really understand all the terminology used but there was complex world building that the author had clearly taken time to create.

Despite any qualms I had, it’s still got dragons and strong female characters and that means overall I did enjoy it.

This is a Celtic-inspired tale of rebellion, power, and passion introducing us to the fire-wielding blacksmith Aemyra, a heroine born to reclaim a throne lost to patriarchal decay and religious oppression.

Set in the richly imagined realm of Tìr Teine, once ruled by queens and now corrupted by the True Religion’s anti-magic dogma, the story follows Aemyra as she emerges from hiding to claim her destiny. Her plan to bond with the king’s dragon and ascend the throne is thwarted, plunging her into a treacherous court where alliances are fragile and betrayal simmers beneath every smile.

At the heart of the conflict is Prince Fiorean—arrogant, loyal to the old regime, and dangerously compelling. Their enemies-to-lovers arc is both fiery and fraught, adding emotional complexity to the political intrigue. McBride’s prose is lyrical yet accessible, and her world-building is immersive without overwhelming the reader.

What sets this novel apart is its fusion of elemental magic, feminist themes, and romantic tension. Aemyra’s journey is not just about reclaiming power, but redefining it. Challenging the legacy of kings and the cost of silence. The pacing is brisk, the stakes are high, and the emotional beats land with satisfying resonance.

While the novel stands strong on its own, it also lays the groundwork for a sequel that promises even greater upheaval. Hazel McBride has forged more than a fantasy—she’s crafted a heroine worth rooting for and a world worth returning to.

This is the first book in a brand new fantasy romance series that is ideal for readers who are looking for political intrigue, LGBTQIA+ rep, and a slow-burn set in a Celtic-inspired world that has magic, dragon bonding, and feminine rage. This is written in third person, with single POV, and short chapters. It ends on a cliffhanger.

I read this in one sitting because I literally couldn't put it down. This definitely has darker themes and is quite heavy. I noticed a lot of people felt that it was really slow in the first 30% and I have to shake my head because WHAT?! There was so much happening on every page. The writing was well done and the pacing was fantastic. The plot twist felt a little obvious, I had guessed it early on, but it didn't stop me from loudly gasping when it happened. The dragon lore and political aspects of this book were extremely interesting and I can't wait to dive back into this world.

If you love romance with your fantasy, then this one is for you. While the romance does take place, it is not the main plot point. I will absolutely be reading the next book when it comes out; hopefully I can get another ARC because May 2026 seems way too far away!

The Scottish vibes of this books are immaculate - it really helped me get immersed into the world building.
Despite having initial reservations on the FMC I actually began to love her.
The slow burn was really well paced. The magical system/political intrigue and DRAGONS really made for such fun read!
This is my first experience of this author and I can’t wait to read more. Great book for romantasy fans

First and foremost, we have an entitled and somewhat naive leading lady full of feminist rage and a desperate desire to reclaim her birthright. Then we have easy to follow world building, an arranged marriage, an enemies to lovers journey and a lot of political scheming. As an added bonus, we have dragons. Despite some reservations about our main gal, I enjoyed this book more and more as it progressed. The tension, the Celtic lore, the matriarchal society threatened by patriarchal teachings - it all drew me in and, at times, had me seething. I especially loved the cliffhanger ending and the fact it left me with a lingering feeling that there is so much potential for where it will take us next.