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Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Colonisation
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Classism
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Firebird is a dark fantasy novel set in ancient Rome with dragons reimagined as gods and rulers. While the unique idea has potential, the lack of developed world-building, the repeated emphasis upon the oppression of women and the slightly questionable romance between the main characters lead to a story that may be disappointing for some readers.
The main character, a former dancer named Malina is viewed as a witch due to the unique abilities she posesses. She is eventually rescued from depraved soldiers by Roman general Julianus Dakkia and becomes his “body slave.” A situation that would normally be horrific, but Julian is not portrayed as cruel like the other Romans.
The pace of the novel is fairly quick and the writing itself is engaging. As a fan of mythology, the instances where the gods are mentioned/play a role in the plot are some of the better aspects of the story.
Malina is a resourceful main character, compassionate towards those around her and spirited despite her distressing situation. Julian is more morally grey as a Roman general, forced to bear witness to the cruelties of others to protect his personal objectives and yet still responsible for the deaths and enslavemnts of others.
As the history of Rome was changed to include dragons, I expected that there would be slightly more leeway given to provide the female characters within the story more agency. While not all historical fiction needs to be interpreted through a modern lense, having most of the male characters be powerful shapeshifting creatures, while the female characters are either slaves, dead or subjugated is frustrating.
Power imbalances are also fairly common in darker romantasy and the witch and shapeshifter dragon aspects add in the possessive “fated mates” and instant attraction tropes. As such, the romance between Malina and Julian lacks a certain depth, despite the physical intimacy and may be wholly unpalatable to some due to the master/slave dynamic.
Aside from Malina and Julian, many of the secondary characters lack nuance and development. The main villain and his underlings are all utterly evil and sadistic and the slaves within Julian’s household and his encampment are helpful towards the main characters and serve as evidence that Julian isn’t as bad as the other Romans due to his treatment of them.
The resolution of the novel is more positive than I had anticipated and as this is apparently only the first book in a series, there are possibilities for things to develop. Narrators Blair Dade and Kale Williams are fantastic and infuse the characters with emotion.
Nevertheless, the audiobook might benefit from warnings at the very beginning, in case the reader didn’t seek out the summary due to wanting to avoid spoilers.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Bramble Romance for providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery
SO many things here. I just finished this book and I feel really uncomfortable with many parts. I think starting with first and foremost: if you want to write a romance where the HEA involves a colonizer and a slave, then you should really a) make sure that the audience knows the colonizer doesn't actually believe in slaves/doesn't uphold that power dynamic in their relationship b) make sure the tension and romance is realistic and present c) maybe market the book not as a warrior saving his love but as an enslaver literally finding his fated mate and making her be his slave. Publishers- you gotta do better with checking white women and their propensity to rewrite stories that glorify white men who are only somewhat mediocre. Everything about this was so disappointing: the dragons always have potential, but then it's just outlawed and nothing really happens? Rape and vile men.... And just. I would love a romantasy to be original and not have a system that is based in the degradation of women and people of color. Like, let's be more creative than our current systems of oppression just regurgitated back while STILL making it seem like that it's NOT ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE EVIL. God, I'm so over it. There's so much more to say, but I literally don't want to spend more time on this book. The writing was flat, the tension was not tensioning, the description of the "tethering" was not impressive nor was it compelling. I was hopeful from the beginning with the Minerva telling but Juliette really did Malina dirty. and Lela. That chapter at the end- truly vile. Both Lela and Malina deserve so much more than the colonizers/enslavers they are being paired with. ALSO- ROME WAS GAY AS FUCK. WHERE IS THE QUEERNESS? Seriously tho- this is just another example writing minorities out of history. Basically- white women need to sit the fuck down and get in the back of the line when it comes to romantasy and/or re-imagining history with white people as the heros. Okay I lied before because clearly I'm all bent out of shape but truly. I will not give this anymore time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Classism