This was a compelling mix of heat and heart. The chemistry between the lead characters is intense, and the fast-paced plot keeps you engaged from start to finish. I think a few scenes could have used a bit more depth but the overall story is gripping and emotionally satisfying.

Fantastic gripping read full of magic. A great enemies to lovers fantasy. Love the strong fmc. Look forward to more.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is an emotional, character-driven fantasy with rich world-building and a powerful message of resilience. While the pacing lags at times, the story is heartfelt and engaging. A great read for fans of empowering, magical journeys.

A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is truly a strong read! Combining world building established in a Celtic/Gaelic society, a political and ruling monarchy established on the basis of matriarchal rule, until tragedy and despots corrupt the line, with the overarching and terrible religious dogmatic influence further subduing and dominating society and control.

Aemyra adopted daughter of a blacksmith and a healer has known since birth that she was destined to rule and save her kingdom from these corrupting influences. Gifted with fire and destined to claim her throne, alongside her twin brother she waits for the corrupted king’s death to stake her claim and bond to his dragon, however, life has a way of not going quite to plan.

Instead she finds herself amidst a court subsumed by controlling religion, deadly politics and enmeshed in an unwanted alliance with the brother to the new King and Heir, Prince Fiorean, and scrabbling to survive amidst a corrupted court and its religious overseers - the Covenanters whose religion dictates their desire to end magic for good.

Amidst all of this Aemyra must find and bind with a dragon to cement her magic, all whilst finding herself embroiled in politics, religion, coercive control, misogyny, violence against women and an enemy to lovers slow burn romance!

McBride delivers a strong, well structured and cohesive plot with one hell of a twist at the conclusion, alongside strong world-building, a well developed and understandable magic system, religious structure and politics that truly resonates with the current insanity that we are all living with.

Aemyra is a strong and empathetic character, who most definite grows and develops as her arc progresses. Including how she deals with and responds to some truly derailing events that hit very hard.

Overall, I very much enjoyed and was engaged by this romantasy debut and I can truly say that I’m now desperate to find out the next chapter in Aemyra’s fight for her people, her magic, her religion and her kingdom! And if I didn’t mention it before, there are dragons! I want more dragons!

Thank you so much Dialogue Books, Renegade Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A Fate Forged in Fire is unique because of its Gaelic influences, from the main characters all being fierce redheads, to the use of dialect used throughout.

At its core it is an enemies to lovers romance where our main character Aemyra fights for her birth right and Fiorean happens to be there getting in the way of that with all his moods and muscles. Ugh. Swoon.

Dragons and magic are a huge focal point of this book, so lovers of House of Dragon and Fear the Flames you are in luck.

This book made me laugh - the opening line is a good indicator of Amerya’s humour, and it made me sob - Hazel will soon be receiving a bill for my therapy. The spice was superb 👌🏻

And that ending?! I am in denial that I don’t know how long it will be until book 2 will be released.

3,75/4⭐

I really enjoyed A Fate Forged in Fire, the world-building was interesting and creative, but also simple and easy to follow. What I really enjoyed in the book were the characters, I particularly appreciated how Aemerya's journey and characters were developed: it was emotional and strong, while also showing weakness of the characters and their flaws.

That said, the story felt a bit slow at the beginning, and I wished some of the side characters were developed more. I feel like this book was a lot original on several aspects and I hope the next one will be just as much!

Overall, it’s a beautiful fantasy story, and I’m excited to see what the author writes next!

I was so excited to get an early copy of A Fate Forged in Fire. I am such a huge fan of fantasy books with dragons and this one sounded like something I would absolutely love. Unfortunately, I really struggled with this one. I found it quite difficult to get into. You’re really thrown into the deep end with this book, with very little world building. I was confused for so long, and felt like not only did I not know what was going on, but I also had no idea who all the characters were. They were introduced and having conversations, without much detail about who they actually were and how they linked in to the overall families and story.

I really tried with this one. I was determined to keep going and give it a good chance but I ended up giving up at around the 35% mark. I’m not completely sure how many pages that is, as I was reading an eARC on my kindle. I think this book really did have some good potential, but for me it was a little bit too fast paced. Despite me struggling to get into it, it wasn’t because it was slow… but rather so fast paced that things were happening to quickly without me having time to actually form any sort of attachment to the characters. I got 35% in, and decided that I honestly wouldn’t be bothered if a main character died at that point, as I just didn’t really care for any of them. Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me. I do think some people will love this one, and I really wish I was one of them but I decided to cut my losses as life is too short to struggle through a book you’re not enjoying.

4⭐️

This was so good!!! I had heard a lot of talk about this book and so was so excited to pick it up. This is exactly the type of fantasy I love! Good characters, great relationships and a fast paced action packed plot. I loved the dragons element (I have a weakness for dragons lol). I would’ve liked to see some of the side characters fleshed out a little more as we spent a lot of time with the fmc.

Really enjoyed this book! 4 star read for me! Loved the FMC! Defiantly hope to see more from this author in the future

Omg……..I’ve just finished this and I’m sat here open mouthed, I can’t believe it!

What a book! I love a dragon book, and I wondered how this was going to be different from the rest. It was totally original. It was amazing - I loved the world building, the bond, the characters, the Scottish twist, the spice, the dragons, the politics. All of it just came together and made for a monster of a fantasy book.

Think this could be the best book I’ve read this year!

I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next one!!!!

Wow, I actually do not know what to say. I loved this story from the start, and was hooked throughout. The characters are complex and I love the twist and turns throughout. Looking forward to book 2!

I absolutely adored the premise of this book! I was so excited about the Celtic inspired world and, of course, the dragons.

A Fate Forged in Fire is a solid debut and does a good job of setting up what promises to be a thrilling fantasy duology. I found the world building to be rather confusing at times but overall, I loved the atmospheric and magical world.

I absolutely adored the FMC and found her to be a strong and intriguing character. I really loved that she was bisexual because it is very rare to see bi rep, especially in a romantasy book where the romance is f/m.

I really loved the romance in this book, however, as someone who likes romance to be a very prominent center of the story, I found myself craving more. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the sequel will include more on that front.

Overall, this was a wonderful start to the duology and I definitely intend on picking up the sequel.

4/5 stars

It started a bit slow, but when the action began it reminded me of GoT/HotD but make it celtic which is always a good thing. I just hoped the dragons were a bigger part of it and we could've seen their personality more. I also adored how matriarchal the society in this is since I don't see it that often.

At times I was frustrated with Aemyra, but at the same time I admired how determined she was. I also liked the slow burn romance between her and Fiorean. I just hoped there would have also been his POV so that I would've been able to understand him better.

The ending was very unexpected and the cliffhanger hurt me. Can't wait to read the next one.

Thank you Netgalley, publisher and the author for the e-ARC

A fate forged in fire
Author Helen McBride
Release date 27th May
Rating 5 stars CAWPILE 9

This book intrigued me as soon as I saw it, a more historical setting with dragons, sign me up. This romantasy I forsee being one of the next big things so if you get a chance to read this do it.

Remember to check triggers for this one but the story was electric, Aemyra is powerful and a lot more powerful than the men take her for. When she meets Prince Fiorean we embark in the most delicious enemies to lovers and I cannot wait where this story goes and how much the world builds because while I was here for the romance I was also here for the politics and how everything worked in this world. For anyone who needs the itch to be scratched after a couple of other romantasys this year then this one will make you fall in love with this world.

For me I cannot wait to discuss this with everyone who reads it. But this books was everything I needed at this time and I hope it will also for you. Remember there are dragons always remember the dragons.

Review to go up 21st April

This was so so good!!
I did not expect a single thing, it was plot tiwst after plot twist!

This is THE dragon book I've been waiting for!
It's a Celtic-inspired romantasy and I ate it up!!!

I wasn't keen on the romance between Fiorean and Aemyra, so it took me a while to actually finish it, once their romance was introduced, but the end, Oh My God THE END! It broke MY heart!
I'm so mad at my myself for not reading the 2nd half sooner!

I read it on the train and it was so hard to keep it together, every page was devastatingly good, I fear Hazel McBride is now an auto buy author!

The writing is so fresh, I appreciate the gaelic-inspired language, it's such a beautiful language and I'm glad to see it getting a little revival!

The political intrigue, the dragons, the magic - I LOVE MAGIC, GIVE ME ANYTHING WITH MAGIC AND I WILL DEVOUR IT - the familial bonds, the betrayals, I LOVED IT ALL.

THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR GRANTING ME ACCESS TO THE DIGITAL ARC AND THEN SENDING ME A PHYSICAL ARC, IM SO GRATEFUL, I LOVE YALL SO MUCH!

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to shout from the rooftops about this book. However, I felt like there was something missing.

The world building at the beginning was a little challenging at times (although I am very grateful for the pronunciation guide at the front).

The premise of this book was what initially drew me to requesting this arc. There were moments, particularly in the middle where the plot and characters grabbed my attention with Aemyra living up to my expectations.

I loved the tension between Aemyra and Fiorean but I felt that they lacked chemistry to make it truely explosive in the great enemies to lovers way that I was hoping for.

Also I wanted more Dragons! I know that it’s only book 1 but still I feel like they’re integral to the plot somehow and while the discussion about bonding was brilliant, I really wanted them to play a bigger role.

Unfortunately I guessed the plot twist at the end but never mind. I am intrigued to see where the story goes next.

🔥 Enemies to lovers
🗡 Dagger to Throat
🐲 Bonding to Mythical Creatures
🧙‍♂️ Matriarchal Magic
🤍 Marriage of (in)convenience

3.5 stars

A fiery, feminist fantasy with a battle for a crown 👑

This book is a very slow burn, made a little more difficult with lots of world building and Celtic wording. However, once the story gets going, the reader is taken on quite a ride 💥.

Aemyra is an interesting and refreshing character and will not appeal to everyone. I liked her! A strong, bisexual, woman who knows how to fight and be an equal in a man’s world. Aemyra has been waiting to be Queen, hidden in a forge due to Covenanters wanting to stop magic and women having power. She is the first female born of the Daercaethian line for a long time and worships the Goddess, following in the line of some of the strongest queens in their history.

When the King dies, the opportunity arises for Aemyra to stake her claim for the Throne and then we are taken on quite a journey.

This is also an enemies to lovers story, with Prince Fiorean. This part was an ok read; however, the romance was slightly lacking in chemistry for me and Prince Fiorean quite unlikeable for the reader. For those looking for romance, this is secondary to the main story and this again I liked but will not suit everyone.

All in all, this story has everything, female protagonist, dragons, magic, battles, spice and romance. I did guess the twist at the end but will look forward to the second book in the duology.

A fantasy for today’s world. Recommended. 🔥

Thank you to Netgalley, Dialogue Books and Hazel McBride for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published on 27 May 2025.

A territory originally built on matriarchal rule, Tir Teine is under the rule of a corrupt king and has been for longer than anyone can remember, just waiting for a female heir to return. The first female in the royal line in centuries, Aemyra has always known she was born to rule. Hidden for her protection among her people and posing as a blacksmith’s daughter, she’s been biding her time until the king’s death when she can bond to his dragon and claim her throne. When things don’t quite go to plan, Aemyra finds herself thrust into a world of deadly politics and forced to forge an uneasy alliance with her enemy, Prince Fiorean, in order to survive.

Right from the start, I was drawn to this book. It features so many things that I love – enemies to lovers, a slow burn romance, forced proximity, an elemental magic system and dragons – that I just knew I needed to read it.

The combination of bonding with creatures and an elemental magic system was so intriguing. It felt original and I enjoyed getting to grips with how magic worked and the influence of a bond on that. Without giving too much away we see a few different bonds within the book, and I really enjoyed seeing how the formation and experience of these bonds impacted both individual characters and their relationships with their bonded.
The world building was strong and I got a clear sense of the history of Tir Teine (and the impact of magic on both that history and its people) which offered a really nice contrast to the present-day situation. There wasn’t any confusion over the two political ‘sides’ in this story which I appreciated.
I did have some issues early on, most notably with Aemyra’s character. Firstly, I will say that it was so refreshing to have a FMC who knew her position, knew her destiny and was building towards this. However, she was just not particularly likeable. On reflection I do think she was a bit naïve and easily manipulated but she had an inflated sense of her position and who she was – she was quite cocky I guess and very sure that she was always right. I really struggled to get behind her and the first 45% or so of the book was slow-going as a result.

However, the pace really picked up in the second half and I found myself flying though it. Aemyra as a character became much more likeable as her love and determination for her people became clear, in contrast to the first half where she seemed overly focused on the fact that the throne was her ‘right’. his did come hand-in-hand with the development of the relationship in this story (although I should make it clear that I don’t see this as being a result of that relationship – it’s more that as she reluctantly began working with Fiorean, her real motivations became clearer). The relationship itself was an interesting one – again, very refreshing to see a true enemies to lovers arc seemingly in play, although the cliffhanger ending does have me questioning the overall trajectory of this arc. I am going to be on tenterhooks now waiting for book 2 to find out what happens next.

Overall, I would say this was an encouraging romantasy debut. It is such a shame I struggled so much with the first half because the later part of the story really did have me hooked once it got into a rhythm, and I am excited to see where it goes next.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication for an honest review.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!)

I’m torn on this one. On paper, it has everything I love — enemies to lovers, dragons, romance, a hidden heir trope... the works. And yet, something just didn’t quite click for me.

There’s definitely promise here, and I did enjoy it overall, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. The pacing felt a little uneven at times, and the emotional beats didn’t always land the way I wanted them to.

Aemyra, our main character, had me going back and forth constantly. One moment she’s a strong, capable FMC, and the next she’s making choices that had me blinking at the page like “girl, what are you doing?” It made it hard to really connect with her, especially when her dynamic with the love interest was a constant game of emotional ping-pong. The back and forth got exhausting after a while.

And don’t even get me started on that ending — it felt a bit too abrupt and left me more frustrated than shocked.

That said… the cliffhanger did its job. I need to know what happens next, and I’ll definitely be picking up book two in the hopes it finds its stride.

An all round good read. I would say the strengths of this book is definitely the setting, as the world and the elemental magic is portrayed to be very vivid.
The FMC has been very torn, at the start of the book she is presented as very sure of herself and her power, as she knows she is one of the most powerful fire wielders of recent time. However I do think this comes across as cocky and arrogant instead of just confidence.
However in the later half of the novel, I did start to like her a lot more and I think in book 2 her character arc will have more depth.

I am really excited to see where this story goes as the last 10% had me hooked.