I've already read this book, but I loved it so much before I couldn't resist a reread!
One of my favourite series, and I'm so happy its officially being published in the UK.
Warning, will make you desperate for a dragon of your own!

Annie and Lee are great together! 😍

The world building is fantastic! Also the social dynamics of all the characters and the writing was brilliant and really sucked me in.

I was fully invested in the future of these characters in the new world that was created from the ashes of Lee's life 😭. Listening to their past and then what they are going through in the present is heart-breaking. It really shows the reality of what happens after a revolution and it is tragic but a fascinating and gripping read.

Lee's and Annie's backstories clash and watching them reconcile with this and choose each other was just *chefs kiss* I loved reading every minute of it and I want more.

I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Annie and Lee grew up in the aftermath of a revolution, although with completely different experiences, they both ended up in an orphanage. As the new regime takes hold, they find that their future is being shaped differently, and they are both in competition to become the leader of the dragon riders. With war suddenly on the horizon, they will be tested personally, professionally, and their friendship will be pushed to the brink. An amazing fantasy that is busting with thrilling battles and political machinations. It races along with a captivating story that will satisfy everyone looking for a dragon fantasy. Without question this is a five-star read. I’m very excited for the rest of the trilogy.

I have previously read this title but just HAD to reread it and review it now it’s being published in the UK!

peasant and a high lord thrown together in a new regime where they must face their pasts and decide their futures.
Two people from very different economic backgrounds, but the same suffering, are thrown together throughout their childhoods and now fight for the top spot as Dragon riders. *Chaos* ensues.

There are so many different tropes that come from this book, and the obvious lure of dragons is why I was originally drawn to this book (especially with so many other well known titles herding in a definite Dragon era).
But you also become so attached to the characters and their own demons, the battles they have with themselves and eachother. This was one of my 5 star reads back when I read it originally, and I can say nothing will have changed in that time.

A compelling and emotionally rich fantasy that blends political intrigue, deep friendships, and dragons with precision and heart. Slow-burning but rewarding, it’s a powerful start to a promising series! i cant wait for book 2!

I think this book has the potential to become one of my favourites. The world building is excellent, and who doesn't love dragons? I found the political side of it fascinating and would love to have explored that more, but as it was I couldn't put Fireborne down and will be picking up the sequel immediately.

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

Loved loved loved, didn't really feel YA - will definitely be reading the next one and loved the little spoiler

YA fantasy novel, engaging and worthwhile.

I don’t know if this qualifies as a romantasy but there is a romance element to this interesting novel. The author claims inspiration from the Aeneid but there’s also some comparison with the outcome of the French and/or Russian Revolutions. Lee and Annie, orphan friends, are dragonriders and this tale deals with their lives as teenagers in their city-state, contending with prejudice, wrangling and friendships as well as their developing skills. There are a dozen or so other characters, all well-developed, that play an important part in the story. It’s a well-told story which is entertaining with some original ideas. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Books that include dragons are always a win for me and this one was definitely a good one, especially for being a debut book.

My favorite parts were the dragons and their training and the tournaments to find the First Rider who was going to lead the dragons against the enemies that would show up eventually. The political parts were okay at times but it also frustrated me that the revolutionaries overthrew the old regime because of the atrocities of the dragon lords but by the end it seemed like they were sliding that way themselves, only with them in charge instead of the dragon lords. I sure hope Annie and Lee and the other dragon riders can stop it seeing as they are believers of a better way that does not stamp down on the lower class.

This was a very vivid world that the author created and it was easy to lose myself in this book and I am so looking forward to finishing this series to see if a better world can be created, with dragons still playing a big part. And it is wonderful that this is being published in the UK now so even more people can get lost in this book!

A wonderfully rich story of political upheaval and struggling to survive. That makes the book sound heavy and dry but nothing could be further from the truth. An exciting first episode with dragons, more please ........

Fireborne is a book I've had on my TBR since it was first announced, so when it popped up on my NG (thank you UK publisher), I couldn't resist requesting... And I got so much more than I bargained for.

The story is told from the POV's of Annie & Lee. Pre-revolution, these two characters were at opposite ends of the pecking order: Lee the son of a Dragonlord, wanted for nothing and has his life planned out for him. Annie, the daughter of a farmer whose land was ruled over by Lee's father. But now, post-revolution, they're both orphans, both seen as lesser, until the time comes to test them and they become Dragon riders, a position once feared and revered in equal measure. Annie and Lee are both determined to be different than the riders that came before them, but this need to effect change is what both pulls them apart and pushes them together.

They're wondrously complicated, in fact all of Munda's characters are, but it's in Lee and Annie that she shows the real struggle to effect change, to become better than the people before you. Lee struggles with a need for revenge against those who slaughtered his family, against realising that his family tortured and killed those they deemed as lesser. He spends a good portion of the book torn between these two beliefs, and there are certainly times when his morality wavers a little and he does start to wonder what form his revenge may take. Then we have Annie, someone who knew what it felt like to be under the boot of the old regime, and while she knows the new government aren't perfect, they have to be better than what came before, or else what is she fighting for. Munda has a knack for making you empathise with these characters, even when you don't necessarily agree with them, and it's these that really make this book what it is.

And it's not just the characters that are complex. Munda's world building is tight knit, but this means what we do get is brilliantly developed, but what I loved the most was how the 'after' of the rebellion was portrayed. It's been almost 10 years between the rebellion at the start of this book, and Munda shows perfectly that change doesn't occur overnight, that even people with the best of intentions can fail in so many ways. So many times through this book we get asked the question of 'what is the right thing to do.' So many times we see characters warring with decisions they have to make, actions they have to take part in, and bit by bit we start to see the true underbelly of the current government, how despite their hatred for the old ruling class, they are more than happy to use their techniques when the time suits. It's just a brilliant display of politics in general, showing that there's really no such thing as 'good guys', just people who will do whatever it takes to survive, stay in power.

Now for the Dragons - because who doesn't love Dragon's in a book. Munda's Dragons may play a smaller part, but when they made an appearance I just couldn't put the book down. It's not the most action packed of stories, but Munda breaks up the politics and scheming with some beautifully described bits of training, competition and even a couple of battles. These scenes were so well described, they almost played like a movie in my head, and I got so excited every time we got to spend time with our characters and their Dragons. And these parts were needed because Fireborne is a slow burner in so many ways. I never once felt bored, or wanted to put the book down, but you can just tell it's building to something, and let me tell you that ending was 100% worth it all.

The story wasn't the only thing that was on a slow burner, the romance in this was torturous. Our two characters clearly love one another, but there are so many things in the way of their happy ending. Lee's father murdering Annie's family just one. They fight their feelings, as well as with each other for a good portion of the book, and they each get their own separate love interests for a while, but I just knew (hoped) where it was heading, and a certain scene towards the end made all of the angst and tension pay off. Munda doesn't make it an easy road, and it shouldn't be with all the things that separate them, but they are almost the perfect mirrors to one another, the perfect pairing, and I can't wait to see where there story goes in the second book.

I'm absolutely annoyed at myself for not picking this up sooner. It ended up becoming a new favorite, and my first 5* review of the year. If you like your fantasy's complicated & political, with dragons and complex characters, slow burn romance and a plot that draws you in from the first page I can't recommend this enough, and I can't wait to carry on with the series.

After my last disappointing arc I really hoped Fireborne would spark a desire in me and boy, did it.

I was hooked from page one and in one day I had surpassed the page I DNF'd on my last read, which was around 120 pages, something that took me 4 days to achieve with the last book. When a book has me gripped me like that I know I'm going to love it.

I loved the battle system they had and the bond with their dragons. Even though the dragons couldn't communicate verbally they did so through emotion. They felt what their riders felt be it happiness, anger or grief.

Annie and Lee were annoying at times especially with their feelings for each other. It was painfully obvious that they lobed each other but they still pursued other people while giving each other doe eyes and holding hands where no one else could see. I felt like screaming at them to stop leading their friends on and to just get together.

Lee's backstory was great. I loved how we saw the turmoil and conflict he has when Julia appears on the scene and Annie's backstory was painful. Reading about what happened to her family left me feeling heartbroken for her.

I don't like Atreus, even before finding out more about him I just didn't trust him. I didn't understand how he never realised who Lee was, but it all makes sense towards the end.

I can't wait to read the next one.

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