Plot Synopsis – Once a territory built on matriarchal rule and values, Tìr Teine has since grown frail from a long line of fruitless kings, the most recent of which have ruled under the influence of the True Religion, an oppressive group who have steadily poisoned the region with their anti-magic teachings.

Born to rule and blessed by fire, Aemyra has begrudgingly lived in hiding rather than risk her life in court, waiting in anticipation for the current king’s death so she can bond to his dragon, claim her throne, and protect her people. But when the king dies and Aemyra is ready to take what is rightfully hers, her ambitious plan is foiled, and she is thrust into a game of vicious politics and plots.

Song This Reminds Me Of – This Movie Sucks by DURRY

Publication Date – May 27, 2025

Bookshop Link – A Fate Forged In Fire a book by Hazel McBride – Bookshop.org US (purchasing from link means I get a small commission)

Content Notes – This is an adult fantasy novel, there is blood, sex, violence, violence against women, off page parental abuse, sexual abuse, and war. There is also some mild blood kink.

Steamy Rating – 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Overall Rating – ⭐⭐.5

Review – Look if you really like romance fantasy as a genre, you’ll probably like this book. For me this book was a little too jumbled for me to really enjoy. I felt like the magic system could have been better explained, the dialogue was clunky, and the main character Aemyra was kind of awful. Also, I lot of the plot was very heavy handed, there was almost no subtlety or twists. I did like the bad guys, The True Religion, but again it was just very heavy handed and it’s been done before.

Aemyra is the princess hiding as a blacksmith’s daughter waiting for the King to die so she can take his throne. That’s it. That’s the plan. Aemyra, her twin brother, and her father with like 100 soldiers basically just plan on a surprise coup at a funeral. Guess what, doesn’t work. From there the plot unfolds like pretty much every other romance fantasy book.

Aemyra is also very fiery, you know because she has fire magic. She never really has a plan or shows any aptitude at ruling, other than saying she’s doing things for her people. She says her father trained her, but it just feels like she’s a little kid stomping her foot to be queen. I don’t know, maybe I just wasn’t in the mood, but I didn’t vibe with this book and I won’t be reading the second.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Delacorte Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.