Dawn of the Firebird is a rich and ambitious debut with stunning world building inspired by Central Asian and Middle Eastern folklore.

The political intrigue, magic, and mythology are deeply immersive, though the heavy exposition sometimes slows the pace.

Khamilla is a strong, complex heroine, and her time in the enemy military academy adds emotional depth and tension. While I didn’t fully connect with her at times, the plot twists and battle scenes kept me hooked.

A solid start to a promising series and recommend for fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and The Poppy War.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury and the author for the ARC.

This was a hard DNF at 32%. It was slow, and unfortunetley, boring. I couldn’t get into it no matter how hard i tried. I wish the author success with her debut and hopefully the rumours around hate to reviewers is fake.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. The world building was beautiful and intricate and I really enjoyed it, but at times it did feel like it got in the way of the actual plot. Around the middle things started to lag, but I felt they did pick up again towards the end, and hopefully that improved pacing will continue in the sequel. Not my favourite book, but I enjoyed it enough that I think I will go back for the next one in the series.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

So I finished this E-ARC in almost record time and it has left me so shook I can feel a reading slump coming - yes it’s THAT AMAZING😍🥳

The worldbuilding?Intricate✍🏻
The characters? Problematic favs all round👀
The magic? Unique, stunning and so visual✨

I truly cannot begin to express how much I loved this - each character was flawed but it made them feel so alive! Our FMC is SO complex and she really resonated from the page!! This revenge fantasy book explores war, divided loyalties, morals and humanity as we follow our FMC on a journey full of brutal twists, turns and emotions that had me tearing up😭

I can’t wait for its release in December and I’ll be on the edge of my metaphorical seat for the next instalment!!

This book gives such The Poppy War vibes and if you love complex storytelling then you absolutely MUST pick up this book!!

I’m now on the hunt for a physical UK ARC👀

As a debut novel this has a lot of positives. Detailed, intricate world- building that references Asian culture and folklore; vast scope in content and ambition; political and military intrigue; and a strong, complex fmc.
However I found the level of detail overwhelming to the detriment of the narrative and overall pacing, and despite desperately wanting to engage with the main character I struggled to truly empathise with her and her struggles. I did a lot of skim reading to get to the end as I DID want to found out how it all panned out. Not sure I will rush to pick up the sequel

A brilliant addition to the world of epic fantasy.
The lore and magic system in this book are phenomenal. There is a lot of detail that requires your attention, so if you love to be completely immersed this is for you.
My jaw was on the floor at the end of part one and it was such an incredible set-up for the story. Part two reminded me a little of The Poppy War with the transformative/training elements in the academic setting (but a lot more positive).
The one on one combat scenes were extremely detailed and the stakes were so high I was on edge at every moment. The elements or strategy and battle planning were so thorough I feel like I’ve also read a military handbook. It was very well written.
Some huge plot twists later in the story caught me off guard and o was stunned by the direction it started to take.
A fantastic story which I think will suit fans of Priory of the Orange Tree and Game of Thrones.

Dawn of the Firebird is an ambitious and richly imagined debut that blends myth, politics, and identity into an epic fantasy inspired by Central Asian and Middle Eastern traditions. Sarah Mughal Rana’s worldbuilding is dense and vivid, filled with jinn, celestial birds, and powerful cultural detail that creates an immersive, poetic atmosphere.

Khamilla, a princess-turned-warrior, is a compelling heroine shaped by grief and vengeance, and her time in the enemy military academy offers some of the most emotionally grounded moments. While the pacing and heavy exposition can occasionally make the story feel overwhelming, the depth of the setting and themes—loyalty, legacy, and survival—make it a rewarding read for fans of complex heroines and intricate fantasy worlds.

An exciting and thoughtful debut that sets the stage for a powerful series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an e-arc in exchange for a review!

Dawn of the Firebird is an ambitious debut steeped in mythology, war, and identity, with a setting and cultural framework that felt truly refreshing. Inspired by Middle Eastern and Central Asian traditions, the book follows Khamilla, a discarded princess-turned-warrior whose path to vengeance winds through courts, armies, and ancient magic. From the very beginning, it’s clear that Rana has poured immense care into the worldbuilding: the politics, religion, and history of this universe feel layered and intentional.

What stood out most to me was the atmosphere: the food, the language, the imagery of jinn, cranes, and celestial birds. It’s vivid and poetic at times, and I appreciated how unafraid the story was to be steeped in its own mythology, even if that meant the reader had to work a bit harder to keep up.

Khamilla’s arc is brutal but compelling. She’s a protagonist shaped by grief, vengeance, and a deep yearning for belonging. Her time in the enemy’s military academy was probably the most engaging section for me; the friendships, rivalries, and ethical grey areas she encountered there made her journey feel more emotionally grounded. That said, I sometimes struggled to fully connect with her as a character. There were time jumps and fast developments that made some emotional beats feel a little rushed, especially in the early and late sections. I also felt the prose occasionally leaned a bit too far into telling rather than showing, which made it harder to feel the weight of certain relationships or turning points.

Still, this is a bold, intelligent fantasy that isn’t afraid to ask big questions about loyalty, legacy, and the cost of violence. If you enjoy morally complex heroines navigating collapsing empires, it’s well worth a try. I’ll be curious to see how Khamilla’s story develops in the next book.

An incredible epic fantasy - with immense world building and hats off to Sarah for this debut fantasy novel!

If you're a fan of rich history and INTENSE world building this one is for you! While I enjoy rich story-telling - this was unfortunately a bit too much for me as it took quite a while for me to get into the plot. While this might partly be because we follow Khamilla's journey from her nomadic lifestyle to then training her magic and watching her grow as a character - it did feel like a bit too much of info overload at times. But these things can also be seen on the flip side of being able to provide vibrant and vivid descriptions to allow the reader to truly experience the story unfold!

I will add however that I really enjoyed the thought that has been put into building out the Central Asian cultural elements along with the politics - and the ending has me excited for what's to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an e-arc in exchange for a review! :)

I was so grateful to have the opportunity to advanced read this book and as a fantasy lover I loved it. The world building was amazing, I loved the characters and the story was good. I would recommend it to any fantasy reader

3 - 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you netgalley and Bloomsbury publishing for this arc.

If you like a high fantasy novel, then this will be a one for you!

It took me a minute to get my head around some of the world building and language used but after a few chapters I finally got into the flow of the story. I loved the vivid description of the surroundings throughout the book and this really helped paint a picture throughout the story.

Our MFC shows determination, strength and a drive for seeking revenge, however I felt I could have had a deeper connection to her which I didn’t quite get within this book. However this may come with series development.

A unique fantasy/ magic system for sure which makes for an interesting story with the door open for a sequel!

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was a great fantasy read. Loved the writing style.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sarah Mughal Rana for the chance to read this ARC. What a great epic fantasy book! I can't believe all the exciting things that happened in this less than 500 pages. I was hooked on the story from start to finish!

This book may look a bit intimidating with its huge worldbuilding and all the different places and characters. I, myself had a bit of trouble at first since english is not my first language and some description's meaning scaped me. But once I got past that, I really got to apreciate the amazing flow of the narration. There was not one dull moment on sight. And those rich descriptions made the story so much vibrant and real in a wonderful way.

The world of Dawn of the Firebird has really captivated me with it's history, political conflicts, magic system, diffetent views of religion and a very well rounded main character with her virtues and flaws... I only would have liked to see a bit more of development in some of the main character's relationships. To really get to know a bit better those who we are supposed to care about.

I really enjoyed this read. And after that crazy ending, I'm really exited to see where the story goes next in the following book.

I wish i didn't have to write a review like this but as a reviewer, i need to be honest. This book just wasn't for me. It sounded promising from the synopsis and what i saw on social media but it fell flat. I felt like i was reading some sort of textbook at times and because i couldn't get into it at the beginning, the rest just didn't grip me. I wanted to dnf at times but i told myself to give it a chance. It was ok in certain areas (hence the 2 stars) but nothing more and i had to skim read just to get myself to finish the book. I thought it may be because i'm not in the right headspace right now but i think, even if i were to re-read it when i'm better, my thoughts will still be the same.

I felt like the author was trying to do a lot so nothing was explained well and there wasn't much development with characters. I felt no connection to any of them. I didn't even like them so when things were meant to be emotional, i just didn't care. This book could've delivered really well if the writing and worldbuilding had been better. It's a shame that i couldn't connect with it.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for allowing me to read and e-arc for an honest review. I truly appreciate it.

This turned out to be a great read that kept me turning pages late into the night. The story is full of action and great world building that felt full of potential.

It did take me a little while to find my footing. There’s a lot of information and names thrown at you early on, and the pacing doesn’t give you much time to catch your breath. But once I got into the flow of it I was fully invested.

The plot moves fast, but it kept me engaged the whole way through. I really enjoyed the twists, and the fresh take on familiar fantasy elements. Overall a really enjoyable read, and I’m really excited to see where the story goes next.

4 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A rich, lyrical fantasy set in a war-torn world once blessed by celestial birds, Dawn of the Firebird
follows Khamilla Zahr-zad, an outcast princess turned magical weapon. After awakening the rare power of nur, Khamilla is thrust into a world of court politics, brutal training, and shadowed vengeance.

The author crafts an immersive tale blending nomadic culture, jinn lore, and empire-spanning intrigue.

While the pacing slows in parts, especially during Khamilla’s academy arc, the emotional stakes remain high.

Her inner conflict — torn between revenge and freedom — adds depth to a vivid, morally complex world.

Verdict: A beautifully written, compelling fantasy with a fierce heroine and a world steeped in myth and war.

A great epic fantasy debut!

Born to an emperor who refuses to acknowledge her and prophesied to inherit nūr (cold Heavenly light), Khamilla is viewed as cursed by her tribe. When their village is attacked, she’s taken to live with the emperor’s clan, where her power is trained
and where she endeavours to earn her dada’s recognition. Yet when another rebellion strikes, Khamilla is forced to forge another path, infiltrating the army school of her enemy (the Sajamistani tribe) where she works to cultivate her power and gain valuable intel. There, she starts to realise that the tribes’ conflicts are not as simple as she first presumed.

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this book. My favourite section was definitely her time spent in the army school. Her interactions with her trifecta were intriguing, I loved her relationship with the pazktab children, and there were some really dramatic and captivating fight scenes that had me gripped from start to finish.

I can see why, in marketing, it’s been likened to the poppy war trilogy because there are definitely aspects of Khamilla’s personality that remind me of Rin - she might not be the strongest, or the most powerful, but she is dogged in her determination and driven by her need for revenge. There were also elements that reminded me of The Sword of Kaigen, particularly in the way her beliefs started to be challenged.

While I really enjoyed my reading experience , there were just a couple of things that stopped it from being a higher rating. Predominately, the pacing. For example, one of the things I found slightly jarring in the first quarter was the big time jumps we would sometimes get - where we’d move on a couple of years and just be told that she’d been, for example, training during that time. While I understand the author might not have wanted to make this book even longer, with Khamilla being so young at the start of the book, I would’ve liked to see some of that development. I felt the same with some of the pacing towards the end of the book. Secondly, I love an epic fantasy work great world building and action; however, I’m also a very character driven reader. The relationships she started to build (both good and bad) at the army school made for some of the most interesting moments (same with Eliyas at the start); however, I thought we lost some of that towards the latter part of the book. Overall, still a great read and I’m really excited to see what the rest of the trilogy brings!

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

I really enjoyed this. The world was interesting and you really feel for the main character. From the very start I was gripped.
My only issue is that it was very confusing which kept taking me out of the story. There was a lot of focus on world building which created a very expansive and rich setting, but I feel that focus left the characters feeling a bit underdeveloped in comparison. So if you love rich world building in your fantasies then this book is for you. If you are more character driven then potentially not.
Overall a very solid epic fantasy.

I did not really know what to expect with this book, but it felt like reading an epic fantasy. The reader goes on a huge journey with the main character as she embarks upon a very pain filled, grief fuelled life surrounded by war. The first half of the story I found it quite hard to understand what was happening and why. The second half of the story flowed a lot better and I found myself immersed into the world. If you haven’t read a lot of fantasy I would recommend reading some easier fantasy books before starting this book as it has a lot of heavy themes and harder to follow. I felt moments of joy, sadness, grief and anger while reading this. You go on an emotional journey - so be prepared!

This book and I just didn’t click. It wasn’t that the premise turned me off, it actually sounded really promising, but I quickly found myself buried under layers of detailed lore and political intricacies. While some readers thrive on that level of depth, I personally needed a stronger emotional hook to stay invested, and I couldn’t find that here at least right now. The worldbuilding was a bit heavy and there was too much unnecessary information that made it hard for me to stay interested.

In another mood or mindset, I might’ve had the patience for it. For now, though, it was simply a bit too much, and I had to step away. If you're into expansive, deeply built worlds, this could very well be your thing. It just wasn’t mine, at least not right now.