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!

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!

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.

I lost sleep over this book! I didn’t answer my phone over this book! I cancelled plans to finish this book!

It’s 👏🏾 So 👏🏾 Good!! 👏🏾

Dragons 🐉
Ancient Rome 🏛️
Magic ✨
MMC 🫦🫦🫦

The author created a vivid, well-paced book set in Rome that features a FMC with powers that are waiting to be developed and a MMC I would love to have in my corner. Or house 👀

She brought Ancient Rome to life in all of its brutal glory and I wil’ emphasise that this is a dark romantasy that doesn’t shy away from the realities of ancient warfare and brutality. Absolutely worth the read and now I must suffer waiting for the next one 😭 Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The romantasy loving and dragon enthusiast booktok girlies are going to love this one. It’s me, I am girlies.

dragon shifters
touch her and die
fated mates
he falls first
forced proximity

This was SO good. Absolutely exquisite world-building in the setting of Ancient Rome, it was fast paced and had some really great elements of political intrigue.

I already have the special edition of this book on pre-order so I was elated to get to read this early. An endless thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

This book is excellent! The romance, the world, the dragons! I was completely hooked from the first page and could not put it down. JC has woven a brilliant romantasy set in an adapted ancient world that is both illustrious and barbaric at times, with two MCs that you can't help but fall in love with. And that ending! Bring on book two

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.

Oh wow I absolutely loved this first instalment in what is sure to be one of the next big Romantasy series!

The Roman inspired setting really made this stand out from other books I’ve read in the genre lately. The bloody and violent nature of the empire with the dragon shifter twist was a combination I never knew I needed. The author built the world so well, I could picture every scene and I really appreciated all the small details she added throughout.

Often fantasy books can be a little info dumpy at the start and you have to get your head around a new world but I didn’t have that issue here. From page one I was completely immersed and felt like I could immediately enjoy the story without needing to work too hard for it. The pacing was excellent and I flew through it in a few hours.

The romance is of course the main focus and I thought it was really well done with a lot of the tropes you’d expect to find in this genre. I absolutely loved the side characters and I was just as invested in their stories as I was the main romance so I really hope we get to see more of them in book two.

Thanks so much for letting me read this early copy! Off to order the stunning sprayed edge edition now 😍

romantasy is hit or miss for me, and this is one of the very few that hiiiittttt.

the romance felt a little too insta love for me. it’s also a slave x master dynamic, which i know might put a lot of people off (i thought i was going to hate i too, but i found the mmc to be such a ray of sunshine and loveable person). a few nicknames rubbed me the wrong way, but they weren’t frequent enough to put me off. besides all that, the romance was really enjoyable. i loved both malina and julianus. their scenes were heavy in chemistry and sexual tension.

juliette cross has written such a lush and descriptive world. the setting is so vivid, i could easily picture it in my head. i really loved the rich world building. the magic was also really fun — firebird features a mmc (among other characters) who have the ability to turn into dragons. i don’t read shifter romances so i’m unsure if this is a unique thing, but it felt it to me.

the pacing was absolutely perfect. not once was i bored of felt a lull in the storytelling. i was hooked from beginning to end (so much so, that i sat and finished this in one sitting).

/content warning/
firebird does include a couple scenes with sexual violence, as well as death and gore. firebird uses wartime 🍇 was a part of the story, so please be mindful when you go into this book!