A Fate Forged in Fire by Hazel McBride is a masterpiece!!! I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't put it down for a second. The characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate.

The magic and politics of this felt intriguing and I really enjoyed these elements! However I struggled to gel with the characters and the main romance storyline fell a bit flat, and I felt the story would have been stronger if it held more focus on familial bonds.

This book 🥹♥️

The story follows Aemyra, our FMC, who was born to be the queen of a territory who was once under matriarchal rule and values, but has since been governed by kings. After hiding for years as a blacksmith, it’s now time for Aemyra to claim back her throne.

A true slow burn enemies to lovers with a badass FMC 🔥 Aemyra is such a great character and I adore her attitude and determination. She really is unapologetic, knows what she wants and is determined to get it. Atta girl!

The world building was great& I loved how historically the whole system was a matriarchy. This made so many parts of the story very interesting, different&explained a lot about how the FMC grew up and her belief system.

The relationship between Aemyra and her twin brother was lovely&don’t get me started on the MMC! Fiorean my man ♥️ I absolutely loved him with Aemyra&the fact that he was protective of her, but also knew when he needed to step down and let her take revenge into her own hands. They don’t agree on everything because they are both very loyal to their families, who both have conflicted interests, and it makes their dialogues&relationship dynamic super interesting.

The battle scenes with dragons were amazing and so well written, I was fully immersed in them and could truly feel how high the stakes were.

The ending?! 😱 It’s a great cliffhanger and I’m so so curious to understand what happened!

Am already way too excited and ready for book 2 🫡🐉💚

Thank you so much to Hazel McBride&NetGalley for the opportunity to read the e-arc ♥️

And this is how enemies to lovers is done!!Brilliant, captivating, and utterly unputdownable. I DEVOURED this in one sitting. The characters are richly developed, each with their own compelling arc, and the world they inhabit is vivid and immersive. The story grips you from the start. This book is a true gem, and I can’t recommend it enough.All the stars!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

A Fate Forged in Fire - @hazelmcbrideauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Random House via @netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC ahead of its release in May!

I was so excited to see this be approved as I’ve followed Hazel for ages on social media and couldn’t wait to read her work. The premise sounded SO cool and interesting and it didn’t disappoint 🙏🏻.

If you are an enemies to lovers fan like me then you’ll love this. It is done brilliantly. They really are true enemies. They despise each other. You wonder how on earth that will ever change because it seems impossible. I looove when it’s like that, so props to Hazel for writing it so well.

The world building is intricate and detailed but as this is book one in a series, it’s warranted. The story blends Celtic mythology with elemental magic, so description is welcomed and builds intrigue and adds so much depth to the story. I’m very much looking forward to seeing where the information leads in the next book.

I don’t want to give too much away about the plot - I’ve already said enough I think - but this book is fast paced and action packed and very exciting. Please do pick it up on May 27th 2025 when it’s released!

A fate forged in Fire is book 1 in a expected duology, and has the bones of a fantastic fantasy story, which includes; dragons, a strong heroine, high stakes, political intrigue, woman's rage and some much loved tropes.

Oh my god book one isn’t even out yet and I need book two. (#ARCproblems).

The Celtic culture and Gaelic language are handled so beautifully throughout I really could feel myself transported to the rich and vibrant Scotland I love.

The FMC truly is one you can root for throughout.. though I will say I did find her a little childish at times, she seems to sulk a fair amount but yknow… her life warrants that on occasion.

The political atmosphere was really well handled, though I actually would have liked to get more into the nitty gritty of how everything worked I know that isn’t to everyone’s taste - the dowager queen and the true religion were a really compelling foe.

And enemies to lovers… but true enemies to lovers… I’m here for it. I’m so anti insta-love so this was refreshing.

For fans of Throne of Glass and Game of Thrones 100%

First of all, thank you so much Dialogue Publishing and Hazel McBride for providing me with an ARC of this book.

What can I say? I loved it! It deserves all the stars I can give this book!

One of the things I liked the most was how Celtic culture was so seamlessly introduced throughout the book, and of course that a matriarch society was also introduced here.

The FMC is all you could want from a main character: she's strong, she's a sword fighter... she represents a perfect powerful female main character. Cherry on top for this book: there are DRAGONS! And you bond with them! The magic system is very clever and well thought.

One of the things I really liked about the book is that even though it's a fantasy, there are lots of topics discussed here that we deal with every day in real life (misogyny, oppression, clashing religions...). I would also recommend checking trigger warnings as some scenes might feel a bit uncomfortable to read for some.

Overall it was a very entertaining, and engaging book that I read in no time, as I simply could not put it down.

I would 100% recommend this!

If you love Throne of Glass & Game of Thrones this is for youuuu!! The magic, the worldbuilding, the dragons all drew me in immediately, the political intrigue was top notch. I love Celtic inspired worlds and female rage so I knew I’d adore this. It’s a really good start to a romantasy series, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I wanted to love this book, from what I had heard online about this book I was going into this expecting more than what I got. Maybe my expectations were too high, and I drew into the hype for this.

On paper this seemed like everything I love in a fantasy romance book, but there were some parts of this book that I just couldn’t gel with.

Firstly the book felt so slow to me, I was quite close to a dnf in the first half, but thankfully the second half did pick up and did redeem itself somewhat.

Moving on to the characters - I just did not like the FMC, it felt like her attitude and her choices were out in place to annoy and test me! She just annoyed me and I wanted a strong, badass FMC that was promised. I wanted to like her, but she just annoyed me as she acting so childish throughout in my opinion. Talking about characters, I didn’t gel with many of them, finding myself not really caring what happened to the characters. I wanted to know more, I wanted to feel more connected to characters, which just never happened. I also wanted more dragons, the dragons were my favourite part.

I did like the story and all the tie ins to the authors heritage was lovely, great to see an author connecting within their books. As I said before the second half did pick up and I liked that the FMC and MMC were true enemies to lovers, this is one of my favourite tropes so I appreciated this.

Just wanted more, maybe if I went into this not seeing much about it, I would have felt differently. But if a book has some hype, it’s been given a spotlight.
I might pick up the next one, as the ending was okay but I feel like I won’t be jumping to do so.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Holy hell. Whaaaaaat!?!

I'm a complete wreck after finishing A Fate Forged in Fire!! There is nothing I didn't absolutely love and adore about this book!

The characters are incredible. Aemyra is 100% that b*tch and I'm front row cheering her on. I love Adarian, I love Fiorean. I freaking love the dragons!

The tension is unbearable. I am totally swept away by the world building and the political plot. It's flawlessly torturous!!!

Also, big yes to the Gaelic pronunciations included at the start of the book!!!!

Oh my god, just incredible.

I was fascinated by the Celtic/Gaelic inspiration for the story. You can tell from the guide that a huge amount of research and dedication has been put into researching for this world.
People battling an Onyx Storm hangover will be thankful of a new dragon-riding male main character to fall in love with. Additionally the LGBTQ+ representation is always a welcome change when it characterises a main character in the face of a heteronormative climate.
The magic system and lore was enjoyable, plus THAT CLIFFHANGER? I’ll eagerly be awaiting the next part in this duology.

I adored this book. From the very first chapter, it had me in a chokehold and never let go. And somehow, it just kept getting better.

I don’t even have the words to do justice to how beautifully written this was. A story woven around a matriarchal society, it felt like a dedication to women—our strength, our resilience, our fire. I felt this book in my soul. The fear, the bravery, the heartbreak, the triumph, the sheer force of survival and comeback.

And the FMC? An absolute badass. Dragons, magic, breathtaking world-building, and the rich infusion of Celtic lore and language made this a chef’s kiss experience.

There’s so much more I could say, but just know this: A Fate Forged in Fire is an instant five-star read and easily one of my top books of the year. What an absolute banger of a read.

Dragons, Kilts, and a Battle for the Throne – What More Could You Want?

Let me start with two things: DRAGONS and men in kilts. If that’s not enough to grab your attention, let me tell you why this book needs to be on your TBR.

A Love/Hate Relationship for the Ages
You know what’s better than enemies to lovers? Enemies to lovers… to enemies again. The tension in this book was off the charts. The slow burn? Absolutely sizzling. And if you love a good “Touch her and you die” moment or a dagger-to-the-throat standoff, buckle up—because this book delivers.

The chemistry and banter between the two main characters had my heart racing, and just when you think you know where they stand, the story pulls the rug out from under you.

Celtic Lore & a Magic System Like No Other

One of the biggest highlights of this book is its rich Celtic mythology. Hazel weaves folklore seamlessly into the plot, making this world stand out from other fantasy novels. The magic system? Absolutely brilliant

Here’s how it works:
- Dùileach– magical beings with elemental powers
- Beathach– magical creatures (think firebirds, salamanders, griffins, phoenixes, and yes, dragons) that bond with Dùileach to amplify their abilities

It’s unique, immersive, and just so well done.

Meet Our Fierce & Mysterious Leads
Aemyra – Strong, fiery, and absolutely NOT a damsel in distress. She’s undercover as a blacksmith and healer’s daughter, but she’s actually the rightful queen the people have been waiting for.

Fiorean — The definition of a walking enigma. He plays his cards very close to his chest, and I was questioning his true motives until the very end.

Their dynamic? Utterly addicting.

A World Worth Getting Lost In
I’ll be honest—the world-building is a little dense at first, but once you settle into it, the payoff is worth it. I was so hooked, I physically could not put it down. The story is packed with political intrigue, religious conflict, and all-out war

What I Loved
🐉 Rich Celtic lore
🥀 A strong FMC who takes charge
❤️‍🔥 Enemies to lovers (to enemies again?!)
👑 Traitor kings & queens
⚔️ Nonstop action & high stakes

If you love traitor queens, morally gray love interests, and being emotionally wrecked by fantasy novels, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I need the sequel ASAP.

i was really excited to get an arc of this book - dragons, slow burn romance, and a prophecy? yes, please! however, i ended up feeling a little let down

it took me longer than i’d like to admit to get into the story, as there were so many names, places, and gods that i struggled to keep up - the world-building, while detailed, felt overwhelming at times

as much as i enjoy a well-crafted fantasy, this one leaned too heavily into politics and religion for my taste 👀 a little bit of political intrigue can add depth, but here, it felt like the entire book revolved around those elements, making it harder for me to stay engaged

the romance, unfortunately, didn’t work for me 🥲 the two characters didn’t seem well-matched, and their interactions often felt awkward rather than compelling

overall, it was a decent read with some fun moments, but it wasn’t anything new, and the ‘plot twists’ were predictable

I loved this!
The Celtic lore that flowed throughout the book was brilliant.
I enjoyed the clever magic system with the bonded animals, the beathach.
Aemyra is a brilliant FMC, she is fierce and powerful and I love that she will rescue herself before she waits for someone to rescue her.
Fiorean was a complex character who had me guessing his true motives right until the end.
I found the topics in this book extremely poignant especially considering what is happening in the real world at the moment, the misogyny and conflicts with religion, the oppression of women and girls, it was all handled very well within the book and came very close to home.
A fate forged in fire, is dark and bleak and gruesome at times but also action packed, engaging and full of twists and turns.
I will be looking forwards to book 2 when it is released

I am really sorry to say I gave up at 15% I should like this book it has all the things I usually like in a book. Unfortunately I couldn't get interested enough to want to carry on. I get using the Gallic names for things as that is a long tradition but some of the words being used seemed unnecessary and it just put me off.

Firstly, thank you to Hazel McBride, Dialogue Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read an eARC of A Fate Forged in Fire.

A Fate Forged in Fire was an absolute masterpiece. It's probably going to be one of my top reads of the year and it's only January!! Hazel McBride has created an immersive word full of dragons, magic, court intrigue and politics, with a fierce female lead at its heart. Aemyra is the FMC I dream of. Intelligent, loyal and unforgiving to those who seek to dampen her spirit or belittle her because she's a woman. Misogyny and sexism are key themes in this book and Aemyra must navigate constant belittlement and people either ignoring her or insulting her because she isn't a male. She takes no prisoners and this is HER story, make no mistake. I adored the world building, the romance, the character arcs and relationships, the storyline, the twists...everything. I raged, celebrated and sobbed with Aemyra. That is how you write characters that your readers connect to. Hazel McBride has written an absolutely fantastic tale, full of magic, feminine power and steeped in Gaelic history and I was hooked from the start. I cannot wait to see where Aemyra and Fiorean go next and Hazel is now a go to author for me. Just wow. An incredible read.

I can't get over that these two can track how closely related they are



Overall this was fun. I think people who like Fourth Wing will enjoy this.

It has really interesting world building that I enjoyed, I liked the conflicting religions and the barriers that Bonding with a mythical creature means you can't leave a territory (I know they want to expand to multiple duologies so this was smart). The general idea was easy yo keep track of, though I definitely couldn't tell you who people were or what they looked like. And although I liked the politics I had a big issue in trying to actually figure out what anything looked like, there was practically no imagery description. All I know are the main characters are both red heads because they are RELATED.

I like a slow burn enemies to lovers and this would have been fine... IF THEY WEREN'T RELATED. Generally the dynamics between characters were alright. Aemyra was a bit of a brat and really wasn't very women supporting women other than in her own head, matriarchy is cool but only if she's Queen first apparently.

The dragon bonds were cool. I didn't get why it happened so fast for Aemyra, it felt rushed which happened in other aspects I wished were more fleshed out.

Ultimately I liked the ending but really has anything changed? No. We are back where we started but she's married now.

4.25 ✨

The bridge kingdom meets throne of glass BUT WITH DRAGONS

I love a good enemies to lovers but do you know what I love more?

• enemies to lovers and back to enemies again
• traitor kings/queens
• and finally dilfs

Does this have all three? Yes.

For the first 20% I was unsure if I was going to love this book or just like it but by 30% I was hooked. At 60% I could not put it down.

Our FMC is a “blacksmiths daughter” but lowkey she is the true heir to throne and wants to take back her queendom. What does she need to rule? Ideally a freaking dragons. Do I love dragons? Yes, I am in my dragon era.

Spice 🌶️ 2.5/5
Enemies to lovers 4/5
Back to enemies? 5/5
Well presented trauma? 4/5