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.

Fierce, fiery, and full of heart - Hazel McBride is a blazing new voice in romantasy that needs to be heard!

Five stars from this romantasy girl right here. I devoured this once I hit that halfway mark. It took me a little while to find my footing as there’s a lot of essential worldbuilding dynamics packed into the early chapters - but trust me, once it clicks, it really clicks.

Aemyra is exactly the kind of FMC I love: powerful, flawed, stubborn, and so deeply human beneath all that fire magic. Watching her come into her strength, both politically and magically, was incredibly satisfying. There’s such a rich vein of Scottish culture and heritage running through every page - this is the kind of fantasy that feels grounded in something real, even when dragons are involved.

I need book two NOW!

Gifted with the Goddess’s fire magic, Aemyra has always known she was destined to rule. But Tir Teine has been without a female heir for a century and the corrupt influence of an oppressive religion has been steadily infecting the land. When the old king dies, it is finally time for Aemyra to make her move and seize the throne, and she quickly finds herself thrust into a deadly game of politics and manipulation that she is woefully unprepared for. Throw into the mix the dangerously attractive, cold and arrogant Prince Fiorean, and Aemrya begins to understand the true weight of the crown.

I mostly enjoyed this book. Is it original? Not in the least. But it is pretty well written and contains plenty of action, an incredibly cliched enemies-to-lovers romance and, most importantly, dragons.

Unfortunately, Aemyra was super naïve which made her quite annoying. She was incapable of seeing Fiorean’s point of view on anything and made some very reckless decisions on the assumption that things would sort of just go her way, despite all evidence to the contrary. Most of the other characters, including Fiorean, were one dimensional and light on personality.

It really felt like the romance was the main point of this story, which is fine but means all other areas suffer from a lack of depth and detail. Case in point being the dragons and the way they bonded to their humans. It’s described in the book as a big deal and a special connection, but then the very first people to rock up and find a dragon manage to immediately bond with them. But also the bond seems very tenuous… How has Fiorean been ‘bonded’ with his dragon for 10+ years but needs Aemrya (who has been bonded for a few weeks) to teach him how to connect with his dragon? I don’t get it.

I was lucky enough to get to see Hazel on her book tour and she said that she could always tell in reviews whether someone came to her book with a preference for high fantasy or romance/romantasy. She said that high fantasy readers said things like “this pulled me in from page one” and “it dives straight into the action” and romantasy girlies say things like “slow start but was hooked from halfway” and “it took me a while to get into this but from the 50 percent mark I was obsessed.”

Well slap my ass and call me a romantic because I felt EXACTLY like how she said.

The world building and politicking is just on another level to most other fantasy books. There clearly has been some SERIOUS thought and planning that has gone into the history, society, religions and gender constructs of this world.

This book is the exact reason why we need everyone’s voices in literature. Scottish McBride has been open about being autistic and bisexual, and what she has produced is an immaculate example of nuanced and genuine representation of her culture, heritage and identities. Aemyra is a complex and fiery FMC who you want to succeed while enjoying her snark and intrusive thoughts.

But I’d be lying if I said the first half didn’t drag just a teeeensy bit for me.

The sheer amount of information we’re hit with early on. the politics, the multiple factions, the timelines, made it hard to emotionally anchor myself. While Aemyra is a brilliant lead, it took time for her layers to really peel back in a way that made me feel invested in her beyond the mission.

That said, once it does click - I was all in. The emotional arcs hit harder because of that groundwork, and the back half is a payoff parade of tension, tenderness and top-tier plotting.

Overall, a staggeringly ambitious and unique debut that wears its heart, heritage and hard-earned wisdom proudly. It’s not a comfort read, it’s a challenge, but one that absolutely rewards you for sticking with it.

I’m not sorry if taking off a star for that is basic AF I’m just romantasy girlie who needs her politics with a side of pining, okay?

Firstly thankyou to Hazel, the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The TikTok hype on this book prior to release really sucked me in and I was so excited and grateful to receive an early copy. Based on the authors Scottish heritage, expect a battle for the throne from a secret heir (Aemyra - FMC), dragons, a little bit of spice and plenty of fireworks.

I found the book slow to get going and didn’t particularly feel much inclination to the characters especially in the first 30% of the book. I wanted more from her dragon bond and sometimes found the use of Scottish Gaelic language a barrier to me following the story as it wasn’t explained what these words meant or translated to.

I had a really good time reading this book. The first half is absolutely amazing, I love our main character Aemyra, her personality and spirit are exactly what I look for in a FMC in a romantasy. I’m also thankful that the romance part of this didn’t start instantly, it felt fresh.

However I do think that the book could have done with being multiple POV as in the second half I felt like the book went a little downhill and it felt like something was missing.

Other than that I adored this book and will absolutely be reading the sequel!

I'd like to start by thanking #netgalley and the publisher @dialoguepublishing for a copy of this book.

Dragons always draw me in to a book (and what a time for dragon books) but this one in particular caught my eye with purple dragon scales and celtic details on the cover.

The celtic theme continue through the book with a lot of Scottish inspiration which I LOVED, you can tell it was written by someone who had lived here. Names, placenames, kilts and phrases, all added to it for me.

The story itself is good too. It gets a bit spicy at one point but not too much. The pace is a little slow around the end of the first half but the second half picks up and there is an actual cliffhanger at the end which means I will be on the lookout for Bonded to Beasts 2 to find out what happens.

From the very first sentence, I was hooked. Hazel McBride throws you into a world of fire, fury, and fractured power, and never once lets you come up for air.

Aemyra might be one of my favorite fantasy heroines of the year. She’s unapologetically bold, stubborn to a fault, and so sure of who she is even as the world tries to strip that away. She doesn't ask for space. She takes it. Watching her light up every page with raw power and bite? Obsessed.

The world-building is vivid and steeped in Celtic inspiration, with dragons, corrupted politics, anti-magic zealots, and a matriarchy buried under the weight of a rising patriarchy. I won’t lie,some parts of the lore were a bit dense, but once I found my footing, I was fully immersed. There’s a map. There’s magic. There’s a kingdom ready to burn.

The dynamic between Aemyra and Fiorean? It’s not just enemies to lovers. It’s I will gut you to I would die for you energy. He’s cold, arrogant, blindly loyal to the wrong cause and every moment between them crackles with tension and heat. I ofc am a dark romance girlie at heart so personally my favorite scene was the knife play scene! Hot damn.

That said, I do wish we had more depth from the side characters. Aemyra absolutely steals the show, but I can feel the potential simmering in the background, and I’m hoping book two lets them rise.

Thematically this book does not hold back. It digs into power, rage, religion, and resistance. I wanted to scream half the time because of how real the political commentary hit. I was ready to hurl my Kindle across the room and then immediately pick it back up because I needed to know what happened next.

That ending? Left me feral. I don’t know peace anymore.
I am fire consumed, fate bound, and absolutely not okay.