Perfect YA book for Fantasy lovers. There is no spice, but future romance is hinted at. Time will tell if any feelings develop into actions in later books. This book kept me engaged and the characters were well written. The ending is completed well and there is very little cliffhanger for the next book. This book was original and enjoyable. Amy de la Force took me on an epic quest through brutal, war-torn moments with excellent writing and character development. A unique book that is an enjoyable read.

Tropes include: found family, quest, prophecy fulfillment, forbidden romantic feelings, hidden royalty, strong FMC, and self-discovery.

My favorite character: Hael. A big baddy that can speak to the FMC in her subconsciousness throughout the book and is fully present at the ending. This character has so much promise for future books. He is one of the romantic interests that may develop in future books.

Read this book if you enjoy Young Adult books focused on character development as the FMC finds her inner strength and purpose.

Summary:
Cahra, a blacksmith apprentice, is thrown into a 400-year-old prophecy to save the capital city, Hael'stromia, and retrieve the greatest weapon. Hael'stromia has been empty and petrified after the last Emperor died the weapon has been lost to the inside of the unreachable black pyramid. Cahra believes she is a low-born commoner, ex-thief turned blacksmith, and traitor to her country Kolyath as she escapes with a Prince and spy after being hunted for the weapon she created. Cahra meets an Oracle that explains she is the answer to the prophecy. Cahra and her guards/acquaintances travel to the capital where they are met with resistance from two of the three countries as they converge on the capital to try and get the ultimate weapon first. Cahra sacrifices herself in a trade and completes the prophecy freeing the weapon while gravely injured. The capital is filled with regrowth and is open to all of the tri-countries as they attempt to find peace among themselves after battling for 400 years.

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for this opportunity to read A Kiss of Hammer and Flame.

This was a solid YA fantasy romance with an interesting premise and a likable three dimensional FMC. We go on this journey with Cahra and understand her emotions and experiences as her world is turned upside down. She is forced to flee from her home with a strange lord and learns of a prophecy that she unknowingly set into motion involving multiple kingdoms with a long history she has yet to learn about.

The first half of the book was stronger than the second. Characters and relationships were given more time to develop in the first half. The storyline also seemed more rushed and muddled at the end. Some of the world building was also confusing.

The relationships between characters is where I think the book was most lacking. The romances felt clunky without enough build up. Both friendships and conflicts between characters seemed a bit sudden and made it hard to follow certain trains of thoughts.

Overall, an engaging fantasy novel with a strong FMC and interesting premise.

3 ⭐️

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC for an honest review. All opinions are my own*

Overall an amazing read! I flew through this and will be for sure following along for the rest of the series!

This was a well written book, however, it was slightly confusing to understand and the fmc was not the most likeable, Amy de la Force did a great job writing her debut novel and I'm curious to see what the remainder of the series is like.

Thanks to net galley for letting me read this book. This was a compelling story, the MFC had a sad but tough upbringing which made her likeable and wanting to root for her. The romance angle was a bit lacking, I would have liked to have seen more from that. The characters were interesting along with the plot which was different. I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read, I’d like to see more on the relationships in the next book

I had to DNF this. It wasn’t for me. Writing is pretty good, but also not my taste. Felt disjointed and it was hard for me to stick with it.

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame — a book I couldn’t wait to dive into, and now that I’ve turned the final page, I can say my excitement was completely justified.

This story unfolds in a world unlike any I’ve encountered before, utterly unique and impossible to step away from. Cahra’s transformation from a blacksmith into a reluctant hero gripped me, while the backdrop of warring kingdoms and ancient prophecies brimmed with potential. My only critique? I craved richer, more vivid worldbuilding to fully immerse myself in the setting but everything else was nothing short of spectacular. From beginning to end, this book had me enthralled. "Love at first sight" trope which caught me off guard probably because i'm not the biggest fan of it, their romance didn't have much buildup which was kinda disappointing and why I think her ending up having feelings for Hael made so much more sense (personally I felt they had so much more chemistry). I’d eagerly welcome more tales in this universe, and I’ll be keeping a sharp eye out for this author’s next work.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Design (cover, title): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I LOVED everything about this book.

It ticks all the boxes for an epic fantasy story. The plot had depth and backstory that made the world immersive and kept my interest all the way through. I loved the subtlety and growth of the feelings between Cahra and Heal and Cahra and Thierre. For me Cahra and Thierre always gave off friend vibes and nothing more but there was more depth with Heal. The ending suggested at a forbidden love troop for book 2 which is exciting as its the best troop behind enemies to lovers.
The action and battle was well built up and led to a crescendo ending.
The writing was so well done I formed vivid images of the world being built around me.
Even from the use of the spelling "magick" apposed to "magic" shows the depth of this author and the thought that went into the writing. It's not a spelling mistake it's an early modern English spelling for the connection of earth and natural powers not Supernatural ones and is linked to Paganism, which isn't seen or used enough in fantasy worlds. It just made me love this book even more.
Not only would I buy it when it's released but I would gift it, recommend it, urge my friends to read it just to have another person to talk to about it.
I really hope the world loves this as much as I do because this feels like it is going to be the next best romantasy/fantasy series. I already can't wait for book 2 and book 1 isn't even published yet.
The cover is gorgeous, the title is perfect. I can't find a fault with this.
I hope it's the next big story in the bookish community. Wow.
Thank you so much for choosing me for an ARC. I can't wait to get myself a paperback to reread again and again.

This book was teetering between a 4 and a 5 for me. Ultimately, I have to give it a 4. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, and I was excited to pick it back up and even read through my lunch breaks to finish the story. I’m almost sad that this is an ARC because now I have to wait to find out what happens next!
I enjoyed the unique plot elements: the key, the Scion, and the Weapon. While there were common romantasy tropes baked into the story, the way that they were presented kept me flipping through the pages to see what happened next. The prophecy, and the journey to uncover its mysteries, had me hooked throughout the entirety of the story. The relationship between the Scion and the Weapon is what sealed the deal, and is what ultimately has me desperate to read more of the story.
The timespan of the story is pretty short, with everything happening in quick succession. While it helped keep me engaged and on the edge of my seat, it sometimes took me out of the story. The quickness that Cahra’s, the FMC’s, romantic interests and trusted friends shifted is what caught me off guard sometimes. With that being said, this takes place in a completely different time frame from modern society, and it reminded me of the romances of Pride and Prejudice in a sense that romances happened with stolen glances and brushes of the hand.
I also wanted more out of some of the side characters. While the world was well-rounded and set up beautifully, I wish that characters like Lumsden were more developed. I wanted to feel as attached to him as Cahra did, but I found myself a bit more detached. I also felt that the main villain(s) of this story could have used a little bit more of a backstory. Maybe that will come with the revelations of the second and third books in the series, but I wanted more. I think this book could have easily added another 50 pages to round out some of the characters and their backstories.
Cahra was a fun character to read. She felt relatable, and her heart always seemed to be in the right place. While Cahra was someone I found myself rooting for, I was even more excited for Hael. His story is such a unique concept, and his story of how he came to be was wild. I can not wait to see what happens with his story line and how his relationship with the Scion develops. I can see him being an incredibly complex and well-rounded character, and I am desperate to know where he goes on his journey.
I had no idea what to expect walking into this, as this was my first ARC read, and I couldn’t be happier that this story is where my ARC journey began. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amy de la Force for including me in this early read.

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame is a spellbinding romantasy that sweeps you into a world of immortal power, shattered empires, and the fiery heart of a blacksmith destined to change the course of history. Amy de la Force has crafted a story that is equal parts thrilling, romantic, and richly imaginative, with a plot that moves at a breakneck pace and a world that feels alive with magic and danger.

The world-building is exceptional, with vivid descriptions of the lost capital of Hael’stromia, the darkly magical Wilds, and the war-torn kingdoms vying for power. The political intrigue and the clash of tyrant kings add layers of tension, making every twist and turn of the plot feel urgent and unpredictable. The themes of destiny, sacrifice, and the power of choice are explored with nuance, giving the story a satisfying emotional weight.

Fans of romantasy filled with danger, destiny, and slow-burning magic will absolutely devour A Kiss of Hammer and Flame. It’s a breathtaking adventure that I couldn’t put down, and I can’t wait to see what Amy de la Force writes next. Highly recommended!

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame was an absolute thrill to read — I couldn’t put it down! The blend of romance, adventure, and dark magic completely swept me away. Cahra’s journey from blacksmith to reluctant hero was captivating, and the world of warring kingdoms and ancient prophecies felt rich with possibility. The dark, enchanted atmosphere was one of my favourite aspects—I only wished for more vivid worldbuilding to fully lose myself in the setting.

With its fast pace, action-packed plot, and unique world, this book had me hooked from start to finish. I’d love to see more stories set in this universe, and I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author. Fans of romantasy filled with danger, destiny, and slow-burning magic will devour this adventure.

This book is an intriguing blend of romance, adventure, and fantasy and was enjoyable. I would say a solid read for fans of magical fantasy with romance, but it may leave those who looks for a deeper or more original story lacking in a way. The end and shift in the romance was a bit off on me, but still worth a read.

im not sure i was a fan of this book? I mean the Fmc was stunning and such a fun character to this book with her character growth and how determined she was to do what she thought was best. but the romance was definitely confusing for me. I feel throughout the whole 75 percent of the book it is set up as if she is meant to be with this one love interest but them towards the end she chooses someone completely different that we didnt see any chemistry or much interaction in regards to romance with. it was an alright book but i wish we got a bit more of an explanation for the sudden switch up.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Cahra was such an interesting character in this book, i really liked how strong and focused she was on working for what she had and her journey to improve her life. She is incredibly resilient and a force to be reckon with when saving the world. The love interest Terryl was sooooooo good!! The romance was definitely the best part of this book and it made me so giggly the way they interacted with each other. definitely felt a bit like insta love but i think after a while i got over that part. but also the switch up at the end?????? idk man that was kinda a shocker because i didnt see any chemistry between them at all in this book.

Im excited to see what the author comes up with next!
Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Cahra is such an interesting FMC in this YA fantasy that she is compelling to watch. Her journey throughout the book from blacksmith to going on this adventure is a very interesting plot to follow along with her interactions with the other characters and MMC.

Although the plot of the story was good, I did find that the romance just seemed to kick off from nowhere. One minute there was nothing and then it was instant love before any of the emotional build up I enjoy.

Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and if you’re looking for a strong female lead with character development and don’t mind instant love in a YA novel, this is definitely worth a read!

Ooooh, I have mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the world (even though I found myself wishing there was more worldbuilding) and found the FMC, Cahra, likeable. The romance between Cahra and Terryl felt insta-lusty which I'm not a big fan of, but honestly didn't mind in this instance. It DID throw me for a loop, however, when she decided she had feelings for another character at the end. I needed more between the characters for that "relationship" to be believable (she literally had more chemistry with Raiden!) especially when it was being set up for her to end up with Terryl for the majority of the book. Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

A Kiss of Hammer and Flame by Amy de la Force is so good I couldn't put it down for a second. I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't stop reading it. I read it in 16 hours! It's so good.

Cahra was such a tough and compelling female protagonist, and her journey from having nothing—growing up poor and alone on the streets—to becoming a blacksmith’s apprentice was already an epic arc. But then she takes it even further, setting off on a quest to help save the world and rescue her love interest, Thierre. That alone made this book an exciting and adventurous read!

While the journey was fun, the romance took center stage more than I expected. I appreciated that the characters didn’t fall into an instant-love trope, but at the same time, their romance didn’t have much build-up—it felt like they were in love before they even shared a single kiss, which was a bit disappointing. A little more development in their relationship would have made the emotional moments even stronger.

That said, if you're looking for a young adult fantasy with a strong heroine, an engaging adventure, and a heartfelt love story, A Kiss of Hammer and Steel is definitely worth a read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Although I could have used a bit more world building, I was enjoying the pacing and the story progression as Cahra learned more on her journey. I liked seeing the blossoming relationship between her and Terryl.

Putting the next bit under spoilers.
<spoiler>The end is where it fell apart for me. The story had been setting up the beginnings of a relationship between Cahra and Terryl but (at least to me) it felt very sudden that Cahra had feelings for Hael? Like actual feelings and not just thinking he was attractive.</spoiler>

I devoured this book. Easy to follow and loved the FMC Cahra. Really enjoyed the story and can't wait to continue this series. Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for ARC.