So conflicted about this book. The story idea is good, and the lore is interesting enough for me to finish it. Annie and Lee have a complicated relationship that’s told really well. But the pacing and events feel so LONG. I got bored multiple times reading this book. I didn’t want to pick it up again. I don’t think the amount of events justify the page length here.

Thanks for Netgalley for a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately just didn't gel with this one, I couldn't get past the 27% mark. The only thing I remember is that I was bored, I really hope others like it though.

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.

Book 1 of Aurelian Cycle Trilogy

A wonderful YA fantasy with Fourth Wing vibes without the spice! This has everything, politics, friendships, loyalty, rivalries, romance and of course Dragons.

An adventure that follows Lee and Annie, brought together in the same orphanage and both in training to become the city’s dragonriders.

I adored the characters in this book and enjoyed the action throughout. The pacing, world building and back stories were good and gave way to a great storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

I've just finished reading Fireborne by Roasaria Munda and 🤯 this was so so good. I am so happy that it's been released in the UK finally after hearing US bookstagrammers raven about it.

The book follows two dragon riders; Annie and Lee, who are orphans of the new Republic of Callipolis that has risen after overthrowing the previous regime of dragonlords. Callipolis is now a meritocracy and they have passed the tests to become dragonriders and are competing to become Firstrider and leader of the dragonfleet. Annie is a former serf whose family was killed by the old dragonlords and Lee is the son of one of the dragonlords who is trying to become Firstrider like he has always dreamed of whilst keeping his identity hidden. Survivors of the old regime are now threatening the new Republic and everything they stand for.

This book revolves around Annie and Lee and their relationship as well as how they try to decide where they stand and what they're willing to do for what they believe in. The emotional turmoil in this book is insane, you're in for a ride so buckle up! Extremely well written relationships and characters, I can't wait for Flamefall to publish in July.

Thanks to @dkbooks and @Netgalley for the eARC. I've already gone out and bought the paperback it was so good!

This is a very enjoyable book. It is definitely a book for young adults, so if you are looking for fantasy books with spice then this isn't the book for you. But if you love a slow burn romance, dragons, an academy school setting and lots of battles then I think you will enjoy this. It is told from the point of view of the two main characters.

Lee is working his way through the dragonrider system and is seen as someone who is respectable, strong and will be a worthy and dedicated leader. But he is keeping a very big secret from everyone that may destroy everything.

Annie is a young woman who is a strong and capable dragonrider, but the people in charge have their doubts about her future success. She is a lowborn young woman and as such, in a world where your success in life is bound to the metal bracelet you are deemed to qualify for when young, she is not seen as optimistically as Lee, but she is determined to show them how wrong they are about her.

When an outside force starts attacking them Lee, Annie and the rest of the students must come together to support each other and the local community. But will they be able to do that, and can Lee keep his secret to himself?

3.5 stars. Think Fourth Wing but with no smut and younger main characters acting like actual teenagers. I liked the remise of the book - years after a rebellion overthrew the Dragonborn monarchy, a son of the old leader is in training with the head of the rebellion to become a dragon rider. Lee (or Leo as his real name) and his classmates have spent years studying and training to become defenders of the country - they're already bonded to dragons when the book kicks off and I found the start a little slow. There's a competetition going on to see who the best rider in the class is so that they can become First Rider but it's otherwise a lot of waiting for the end of the School Year (at least that's how it felt to me).

As time passes it becomes clear that Lee is not the only surviving member of the previous ruling family and his relatives are not pleased that he's not on their side - oh and guess what? They have dragons too!

There's also relationships between themembers of the dragon riders but it's clear from the very beginning that Lee is in love with Annie - poor small Highlander Annie who watched her entire family get burned to death in their home by Lee's father, so there are obvious complications with that.

I just didn't get on with this one unfortunately, I think it felt younger than the ages of the characters and I didn't really understand the motivations of a lot of the people who were there (they had to swear vows of poverty and forsaking their families and some just wanted power and the opportunity to be cruel).

I won't be continuing the series.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book, got 40% through and gave up.
Y.A. Fantasy, sure younger people will get to grips with the dragons, their riders, the broken families, the revolution.
The story revolves around Lee, the son of a murdered Dragon lord, Lee witnessed the destruction of his high-born family and was bought job in an orphanage, his friend Annie the daughter of a poor farming family watched the rest of her family burn to death when her village did not produce enough food. Now both Lee and Annie are competing in trials to lead the Dragon riders.
Other people in the trials have their own agenda, some engaging people such as Duck or the egotistical Power.
During the trials a threat comes from the former Dragon Lord's and their dragons, which side will Lee take.
Thank you NetGalley, Today is and Dorling Kingsley for this ARC.

I found the writing and pace of this book enjoyable. I found I kept saying one more chapter but I couldn’t put it down. For me I really enjoyed the book. Romance, fantasy and adventure. A great mix to have as I was grilled to the end.

Thank you to Rosaria Munda, DK Children, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fireborne is finally being published in the UK and has been given beautiful covers. A fantasy about dragons? What’s not to like? I’ve heard rave reviews about this series so I was excited to get the chance to read it early.

Unfortunately, a few things are not to like. Firstly, this reads as middle grade rather than YA, I think. The dual POV first person can be a little grating and each character feels very one dimensional. A lot of the action seems to happen off-page and you’re told about it later. Some characters’ decisions and motivations make no sense and the pacing and plot dragged. It was a great premise, but the execution was lacking.

Fireborne is a new fantasy series following Lee and Annie, as they compete for the rank of Firstrider. In this world, everyone has a test and if you score highly enough, you have the chance to be chosen - by a dragon. This elite group are the top of a tested order, in which you are no longer born into power and success, but you reach it on your own merits.

I enjoyed this book but I do feel like a lot of authors are trying to jump on the fantasy bandwagon and as a result, need to find a niche that sets them apart. The story as a whole was enjoyable but I did find some parts overly slow while other bits, like the ending, just felt rushed.

I didn’t really feel connected to the characters and have much empathy for them, but I feel that I should have based on their storyline. I’m not sure whether I’ll read the next book in the series for this reason.

Overall, three out of five stars.

Annie and Lee grew up in the aftermath of a bloody revolution which overthrew their city's rulers and shattered old traditions. Brought together in the same orphanage, the two children from different backgrounds formed an alliance, which turned into friendship.
Now, both are competing to become leaders of Callipolis’ legendary dragon riders. As they’re preparing for duels among the trainees on dragonback, some of the former rulers return, determined to win their city back. Soon Annie and Lee both must decide what is more important, the bonds of friendship, the blood ties of family, or their role in the new regime that they have been preparing for.

Fireborne, the first book in the Aurelian Cycle Trilogy, and it's YA at the top of the game! The two main protagonists, Annie and Lee, had a rich backstory and both characters showed great depth of emotion. I felt we really got to know them and their struggles. The novel looks at what happens in the aftermath of a revolution, and brutally examines how ideals and reality can clash. This is a story with lots of grit and substance and it was an absolutely immersive read. I am relieved that we won't have to wait long for the continuation as this series is being republished, with the other two books out later this year.

This book genuinely impressed me! While it falls under the young adult fantasy category, it carries a level of sophistication and depth that makes it feel far more mature than most titles in the genre. The world-building is particularly rich, especially when it comes to the political dynamics—it felt layered, thoughtful, and grounded in a way that added real weight to the story.

The character work is excellent, but Annie stood out as a true highlight for me. She’s complex, compelling, and refreshingly grounded. Even the romantic subplot, which can sometimes feel forced or overly dramatic in YA, was handled with surprising nuance and authenticity. It developed naturally and never overshadowed the broader narrative.

I'd strongly recommend this to readers across the age spectrum. If you're someone who typically gravitates toward adult fantasy but is open to YA with substance, this one is absolutely worth your time.

I thought this book was such a great start to the series. Despite the characters being YA in age, the struggles they’ve gone through in childhood and have faced since gave them a maturity and nuance rarely seen in YA fantasy or romantasy MCs.

We follow Lee, a dragonborn whose aristocratic and oppressive family were brutally murdered in a revolution that overthrew the ruling class when he was only 8 years old. From there, he’s left in an orphanage where he meets Annie, a young girl who was herself orphaned when Lee’s father killed her entire family with dragon fire.

Years later, Lee and Annie are dragon riders themselves in a new regime that promotes based on merit rather than birth. However, some of the dragon born survived and are now looking for revenge on the massacre that threw them from power. Lee’s loyalties will be tested - does he stand by the new regime whose tactics are starting to look more and more familiar to the old ways or defect to his last living family? And will Annie, his best friend, trust in Lee or will her loyalty to the state force her to betray Lee?

Fireborne set the scene for a really interesting world with lots of political intrigue, conflict and relationship development. Dual POV and lots of dragon time, which is never a bad thing in a fantasy book! Can’t wait to see what happens in book 2 (especially after a sneak peak of chapter 1 and seeing a new POV!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.

This probably wasnt the book for me as I am already a bit tired of the new 'dragons' in books trend that has arisen since Fourth Wing (which I also didnt enjoy).

I will admit the writing was good, the world was well built and fleshed out and it was an interesting story. I would give it a go if you liked Fourth Wing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had everything that I could ask for. There was a really well-built political system which was a heavy focus throughout the book - and will continue to be so throughout the series it seems - and it is shown how this system already has and can affect the main characters. The main characters, Lee and Annie, are wonderfully created. Their backstories are beautifully intertwined and brutal, they are flawed individuals and they have their quirks that you pick up on. Another important thing is that they do not act like your typical ‘whiny’ YA protagonists, they are extremely likeable and you find yourself routing for them both. I was captivated from start to end, despite it being a little slow to start - it had promise and it defintiely delivered.

I love this genre and have read extensively so I always marvel that there are still new details and angles to explore. In this one, I love how the dragons can only breathe fire when fully grown.

Dragon riding families used to rule, but that all changed with the revolution where the meritocracy has taken over. Lee lost his whole family in the purge but in a trick of fate, not only did he survive but he now finds himself a dragon rider. He is competing to lead the squadron and because no one knows his true identity, he is the favourite to win. Until he discovers that part of his family escaped and are intent in claiming what they once had. Lee may need to choose sides - between his friends and his family.

I found this gripping and creative and loved all the little details involved in building this world. The key characters are richly crafted and the politics of this new world explored. Its an exciting, rollercoaster of an adventure.

Absolutely loved this book! From page one I was hooked and couldn’t wait to pick the book back up.

I can’t wait for more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a lot of books about dragons recently. In the grand scheme of things this was not my favourite but it improved throughout, and I did find myself drawn into the story by the end.
Based on Virgil’s Aeneid and Plato’s Republic is a heavy weight to bear in a book about dragons, but the concept of building a new society and how to be better than what came before when there are hard choices to make was well executed. I liked the friendships in this book and enjoyed the battle to be the best between protagonists Lee and Annie (Antigone). I just wish it had started in a less confusing, more coherent way.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A rich boy in hiding, a poor girl by his side, and a revolution in their past that covered them in blood. Plus dragons. Who can resist?

Lee was the son og one of the highest men of their nation, until a revolution slaughtered his entire family, leaving him alone in an orphanage, the boy he was dead and gone. Annie had watched her entire family filled in dragon fire as punishment, leaving her an orphan before the revolution. And together they both were accepted to train to become dragon riders, the elite who would defend their island from those who want to invade it. But as pasts clash with the present, and destinies change before their eyes, Lee and Annie fight for loyalty, friendship and their very existance.

This is a fast paced, action fueled, wonderful story about finding where you belong, and who you belong with. Munda has created a great story, with a rich background and characters that everyone can see themselves as. A fun read.