This story of a different world, or dragon riders and the overthrow of the dragon lords had me captivated. I am not in the intended age group for this book (young readers) but I really enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations of Lee and Annie who meet in an orphanage and go on to become dragon riders.
Well written with the writing going between the 2 protagonists written in the first person, making it feel like it’s happening to the reader.
Anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure will love this book. I am looking forward to the next one!

I haven’t been this excited about a book since Fourth Wing! It has everything; a fast-paced plot, complex characters, tragic back stories. I especially loved the excitement and tension of the tournaments! Will be recommending to my friends and can’t wait for the next instalment!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Nostalgic, Intense, and Surprisingly Thoughtful, I could not put this book down!!

Fireborne took me right back to my YA dystopian roots — and I loved every minute of it. If you were obsessed with The Hunger Games or Divergent, this book will hit that same sweet spot: rebellion, power struggles, forbidden bonds, and a heroine trying to find her place in a broken world. The vibes are all there and there is just something about this that had me gripped right up to the end.

What sets Fireborne apart is its emotional depth. Annie and Lee's dynamic is layered and heartbreaking, full of tension from their shared past and very different paths forward. Their relationship drives the story, but it’s the political backdrop — a post-revolution society trying to hold itself together — that really surprised me. It’s thoughtful without being preachy, intense without being melodramatic.

Also: dragons! The dragonriding scenes were cinematic and genuinely thrilling — and gave me all the fourth wing meets Throne of Glass vibes. I loved it but something was just missing that made me give it 4/5 stars instead of the 5 and I can’t quite put my finger on it but it was just missing the added sparkle.
Highly recommend especially for fans of classic dystopian YA with a more mature edge. It’s nostalgic in the best way, but also fresh enough to stand on its own.

Thank you to NetGalley and DK Children for providing me with this EARC ahead of the UK publication date!

I loved the idea of Fireborne, because who doesn’t enjoy dragons adventures?! The political drama aspect piqued my interest after reading other similar themed books.

Unfortunately I found it quite slow and hard to get into and took a while to properly build the world and the characters, but when it did get going it was definitely worth it!
I enjoyed the dual POV which really helped with giving you an insight into previous events.

Definitely worth sticking with, I will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy!

I found it really hard to get into this book to start. I can see why some people have DNFd it in the first quarter. I can't put my finger on why, just that it felt really slow and I struggled to become immersed in the world. I didn't have a good enough grasp on what was happening.

That said, I persevered and it was worth it. By the end I was hooked, completely invested in the outcome and the characters.

This is a YA political story that deals with class warfare, revolutionaries and dragonlords. It tests the boundaries of friendship, loyalty and mortality.

It's told in dual POV of Lee and Annie, but gives an insight into their history through flashbacks. I found these integral to the story and character development.

I really felt Lee's inner turmoil with what is right and wrong. His connection and loyalty to his blood, and to those who are his new family. Especially in the stark reality of war. As well as Annie's struggles with her self worth about being good enough to be a leader, her friendship with Lee, and her family history of how she ended up in that orphanage.

The characters are well developed and continue along their journey, we see their past, not only how this has shaped them but how they have risen despite it. They continue to grow as characters to the very end.

I loved the element of dragons. That they choose their riders and the connection of 'spilling over' was interesting. This is the first in a trilogy and I look forward to reading the next installment to rejoin Lee, Annie and the dragons.

Thank you to DK Children for this NetGalley ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and DK for this eCopy to review

Fireborne follows Annie and Lee, two orphans who rise through the ranks of a new regime's dragon riding fleet. Their bond, forged in shared tragedy, is tested as they compete for the prestigious title of Firstrider. The backdrop of a city recovering from a brutal uprising adds layers of political intrigue and moral complexity.

Annie, a lowborn girl haunted by self-doubt, and Lee, the last scion of the overthrown Dragonlords, are compelling characters. Their relationship oscillates between friendship, rivalry, and something deeper, making their journey emotionally charged.

The plot thickens when remnants of the old regime resurface, threatening the fragile peace. Lee faces a heart-wrenching choice between his surviving family and his loyalty to the new order. Meanwhile, Annie must decide whether to protect Lee or embrace her role as a defender of the city. Their struggles with identity, loyalty, and love are relatable, even in a fantastical setting.

If you're a fan of dragon-filled adventures with a side of political drama, Fireborne is worth a read.

This is a fantastic story of friendship, discovery and of course dragons.
After the revolution Annie and Lee find themselves in an orphanage and eventually competing to become Dragon Riders.
With another w at on the horizon, political intrigue and prejudice the duo must outwit the opposition.
This fantasy series should be enjoyed by a wider audience, and not just targeted at young adult.s.
Cannot wait for the next instalment!

Originally published in 2019, Fireborne is finally making its way to UK readers—and I’m so glad it is. This is a bold and layered YA fantasy that surprised me with its complexity and depth.

Set in the aftermath of a revolution, the story follows two dragonriders, Annie and Lee, as they navigate political tensions, class divides, and the weight of their own shared past. I was immediately struck by how much world-building and political intrigue Munda packs into this story—there’s a rich history, a complex cast of characters, and a unique terminology that you’re kind of just thrown into. It’s a bit overwhelming at first (especially for YA), but it pays off if you stick with it.

What really shines is the exploration of friendship, loyalty, and power—especially as Annie and Lee’s relationship is tested by their diverging paths and hidden truths. The class commentary is also strong, weaving in questions of privilege, justice, and identity without feeling heavy-handed.

While the pacing starts a bit slow due to the amount of setup, I found myself increasingly drawn in as the emotional stakes grew. It’s smart, ambitious, and offers a refreshingly mature take on YA fantasy.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

This is the first book I have read of Rosaria Mundane and I absolutely loved it. It felt like a grown up version of how to train your dragon a little bit.

Annie and Lee have been brought up in an orphanage, after the Dragon lords have been overthrown and slain. Both were affected by Palace day where this event took place, but the new regime tries to make things fairer, and anyone can try out to be at the choosing, where if chosen by a dragon they get to train to be a rider to protect the kingdom. Before this it was only the upper echelons of society were invited.

All these teenagers will soon have to step up and put their training into practice, when the members of the dragon lord families, who managed to escape, threaten to take the kingdom back.

In this first book, is the new regime better than the old one ? What secrets are Annie and Lee keeping?
The chapters are told from their points of view and you learn more about them and their friends and family as it goes along.

I can't wait for the next installment, and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books about Dragons.

Sadly this was a dnf for me. The synopsis sounded great but I could it very confusing with lots of characters introduced closely together and I found it hard to keep track.
I’m sure others will like it just not for me this time.

I’ didn’t re-read this because it turns out I’ve already read the first two books of this series sometime ago and it’s not a new release?

But they are amazing and I would highly recommend to anyone, still need to get round to reading Furysong.

Read it if you of course love dragons, but this book does revolution and political war so well too.

I loved this book so much and would highly recommend it. I don’t want to give any of the story away. Go and get it perfect book to read in the sun x

This book immediately gave me strong Fourth Wing/Hunger Games vibes with the dragons and tournament trials. A lot of characters are introduced immediately and it’s a little confusing tracking who is who though Munda does a good job of injecting personalities into them. There is a lot of world building at the start that felt too info dumping so it was a bit off putting.

It is a political YA book, it reminded me of the Roman Empire. I’m not sure what Munda based it off. I found the political themes a bit too heavy for my liking.

Overall it’s a fast-paced read and I can see why there are many fans, especially now it’s released in the UK. I believe it was originally released in the US in 2019.

I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up.

A solid YA fantasy novel. Fireborne contains a variety of standard elements you’d want in a YA fantasy story, with politics, rebellion, trials, friendship, budding romance, and likeable main characters. I grew especially attached to Annie throughout, as was intended for one of the two protagonists.

Equally, while I enjoyed this book, it didn’t blow me away. It felt a bit too slow in the first half, and I felt that some characters and elements of worldbuilding were lacking, or maybe a more accurate description would be flickering—so much was focussed around our two protagonists that a lot of possibilities and opportunities to flesh out the rest of the story were snuffed out.

Overall; a good book, would recommend if you’re interested by the synopsis, but not anything groundbreaking.

Thank you to DK and NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5🌟 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘒 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊.

With the proliferation of dragon-academy books in recent years, it's nice to return to a novel published at the beginning of that curve - that took its inspiration from classic texts rather than from the romantasy books lining that one aisle in Big Tesco.

Fireborne is firmly positioned as a YA offering, and follows friends (and rivals) Lee and Annie as they vie for Firstrider status amongst their airborne legion of fellow dragon riders. Both orphans of a revolution that saw the old dragonmasters (lords that formed a triarchy of privilege and dominion) slain, their rule overhauled in favour of a regime that could see individuals rise up from poverty if given the opportunity to do so. It's a pretty astute critique on class systems, class struggles, and the compromises and sacrifices that stand in the way of a truly utopian society. I particularly liked the use of metal-classes to divide people up into those capable of unskilled labour, skilled labour, military and cerebral pursuits (iron, bronze, silver and gold). Someone's worth is still very much defined by what they can offer, even if they're being paid to perform that role.

It never gets bogged down in excessive description or flowery language, and seems to know when to quit a scene. The heart of the story is definitely the relationship between Lee and Annie, with all its complexities and shared history. Though perhaps a tad predictable, there's a very clear arc that sees them evolve from childhood friends to workplace rivals to something more. The side characters lack some of the depth that would make them truly leap off the page, but in a dual-POV YA book there's only so much breathing room for them anyways.

The threat of the old regime returning is the big bad, though it doesn't shy away from questioning the recent changes and how the revolution was dealt with. Is it enough to be a lesser evil? Or do they need to be striving for something more? As a children's book, it offers a good introduction into class politics, though I think adult readers would naturally seek more nuance and further development/world-building. Fireborne isn't interested in finding that depth (which, for a YA novel, is perfectly fair!).

Overall, this felt reassuringly competent, if ultimately unsurprising. I'd have liked a greater focus on the dragons and magic system surrounding their bonds with their riders, but perhaps that will come in later books!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me.

I was excited by the description and premise but sadly i wasn’t gripped by the plot early on and didn’t feel a strong sense of storyline or character.

There was a lot of assuming the reader could keep up with a lot of characters being introduced alongside backstory, familial connections and world building. This was all within the first 10%.

While i love being gripped from the start and a fast paced plot, i do think there needs to be a slower introduction to some parts if you are going for a big fantasy political plot with multiple pov’s.

DNF @ 25%
While Fireborne has an interesting concept, it doesn’t seem to be holding my attention, so sadly it’s a DNF.

The prologue definitely piqued my interest, and from what I’ve read I can tell the author took care to make the world building rich and intricate.

There are two alternating POVs, Lee and Annie, which are written in first person. While I don’t mind alternating POVs, I do think it would’ve been stronger to have the chapters dedicated to one character’s voice at a time. I think the sudden switch between POVs mid chapters jarring, and that I wasn’t connecting with either character.

Although it doesn’t seem to be clicking for me, I can see Fireborne’s potential. I think readers who enjoy dragons and political intrigue may enjoy what this book has to offer.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

A gripping YA book that was easy to read but was a thrilling tale. The twists and turns had me wanting more I could barely put it down. It had me feeling hope, love, pain and sorrow for the characters. Dragons are so popular at the moment and this book truly did not disappoint. I'm so excited and can't wait to find out what happens with Lee and Annie in the next book. Thanks for the opportunity ity to read this I loved it.

I've seen this book being likened to Fourth Wing, and that does it a disservice. If anything, it's more House of the Dragon. Hugely classic inspired, with hints to Plato, this is a fantastic YA story about politics, classism and war (but with dragons).

The story doesn't spell out the actual villain until the last few pages, and the way it does it is superb. I cannot wait to read more.

Don't kid yourself into thinking this is a Romantsy, this is closer to an epic. The romance is not the story, it is barely a thing. There's no yearning, no steam, no spice. It's refreshing actually.

The only small issue I have with this book is the characters age. The things these Dragon Riders are being put through would break people my age, yet these are children. I think that this genre uses trauma to make them grow up too fast, but they are only 16/17.

All in all, an extremely well written novel.

I feel as though the Aurelian Cycle is a perfect introduction to fantasy. The world was easy to understand and the story drew me in from the beginning.
Our main characters were born on opposite sides of the kingdom’s hierarchy and grew up together in the face of a new regime. Chosen by dragons together. Now that new regime is compromised and they have to work together to fix it and the underlying problems they never saw before now.
Tension, rivals, best friends and a threatened revolution come together to create a great fantasy people can use to get into or rediscover their love for the fantasy genre.