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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
"On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly."
So, I've had this arc for a minute and man am I mad that I waited until now to read it. This is a strong debut novel and I can't wait to see where Bridge takes this series.
Unlike what I've seen in a lot of fantasy novels, Bridge doesn't deep dive into world building and I know that could be a little off putting for some readers. There is also the late addition of what seems to be an important group of people with little to essentially no real explanation, however, I am giving Bridge the benefit of the doubt that they will be playing a larger role in the next book and we'll receive more information about them then.
Kel and Coup have a fun dynamic, a little grumpy x sunshine feel happening with Kel having a pretty short temper and Coup being a popular, though reckless, racer. Now mix that with a dash of faking dating, some forced proximity, and we have the perfect set up for flirty arguments and deep conversations.
If you're into found family, racing phoenixes, fake relationships, political scheming, and conspiracies then I would suggest giving this book a try.
So, I've had this arc for a minute and man am I mad that I waited until now to read it. This is a strong debut novel and I can't wait to see where Bridge takes this series.
Unlike what I've seen in a lot of fantasy novels, Bridge doesn't deep dive into world building and I know that could be a little off putting for some readers. There is also the late addition of what seems to be an important group of people with little to essentially no real explanation, however, I am giving Bridge the benefit of the doubt that they will be playing a larger role in the next book and we'll receive more information about them then.
Kel and Coup have a fun dynamic, a little grumpy x sunshine feel happening with Kel having a pretty short temper and Coup being a popular, though reckless, racer. Now mix that with a dash of faking dating, some forced proximity, and we have the perfect set up for flirty arguments and deep conversations.
If you're into found family, racing phoenixes, fake relationships, political scheming, and conspiracies then I would suggest giving this book a try.
My goodness this was a fun story! It was much more intense than I was expecting, and honestly I loved that about it. The Phoenix racing is quite brutal and chaotic. The world building around the races, the history, and the lore is all really well done and detailed. This is a YA, and as such the character development matches this designation. That said, these characters did not annoy me the way younger characters tend to. They were young and naive but also mature for their ages, in the way of children who went through hardship and loss would be.
Kel was a little tougher for me. I loved her passion regarding Phoenix care and conservation. However, she is a bit self righteous in her opinions about phoenix racing, especially considering she also is involved in the profession. I loved how Coup pointed that out to her because 1. Go Coup! And 2. It made her think on it more and open her mind a little to the grey area between right and wrong. The Howlers as a whole are a great group of kids and a fun take on found family. I like how they all managed to get along and tease each other, but also bounce ideas and stand up for themselves. The enemies to allies to lovers relationship had pretty good development and I loved Kel and Coup’s tension.
As I stated previously, the plot is very exciting and intense. ***Slightly spoilery so look away now if you must*** I like to think of this story as having two main plot points. One of them is more or less predictable but drives the story. The other one took me by surprise and gave me an “oh shit!” moment. Both were great and really contributed to giving this an exciting climax, and I loved the conclusion we get in the epilogue. It’s hopeful but not overly HEA. I think it was perfect.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Macmillan for this ARC opportunity!
fast-paced
I flew through this book—it's one of those stories where the pages just turn themselves. From the very beginning, it throws you straight into the action and barely lets up. With phoenixes as the central magical creature and a world that blends fantasy with modern tech, it felt like a refreshing change of pace from the usual fare, even if it was a little predictable.
—
Let’s break it down!
🙌 What I Liked
The phoenixes were such a highlight. Not only are they majestic and fiery (literally), but they play a massive role in the world’s culture and conflict. The competitive racing scenes had real Fast & Furious-meets-F1 energy, except in the air and with firebirds. Completely reckless, but very fun to read—although, fair warning: the races could be brutal at times, especially for the birds.
There’s also a surprising amount of philosophical tension running beneath the flames. Some people in this world see phoenixes as divine beings who should never be collared or controlled—no matter how dangerous or deadly their presence becomes. Others believe restraint is necessary for the survival of humanity. That moral grey area gave the story more weight than I expected.
And the inclusion of tech—tele-comms, tablets, enhanced gear—gave the world a fantasy-meets-sci-fi feel I didn’t expect, but it worked. It made the setting feel more grounded in a modern-fantasy way, which I enjoyed.
❌ What Didn’t Hit
This story moved fast, which kept the momentum high, but didn’t leave much room for downtime. I found myself wishing for a few quieter, more reflective moments to slow down and sit with the characters or the emotional weight of what was happening. Because of that, the characters felt a little hard to connect with on a deeper level. I liked the whole cast, but I wasn’t especially attached to any of them by the end.
There’s also a romance thread, but it’s light and largely underdeveloped (it’s also decidedly NOT an enemies-to-lovers romance 👀). With everything else going on, the characters barely get a chance to explore their feelings—let alone talk about them.
👀 Do I Recommend It?
Yes—if you’re in the mood for an action-heavy fantasy with unique world-building and a very cool take on magical creatures, this delivers. It’s not a deeply emotional read, but it’s definitely a gripping and enjoyable one.
—
Let’s break it down!
🙌 What I Liked
The phoenixes were such a highlight. Not only are they majestic and fiery (literally), but they play a massive role in the world’s culture and conflict. The competitive racing scenes had real Fast & Furious-meets-F1 energy, except in the air and with firebirds. Completely reckless, but very fun to read—although, fair warning: the races could be brutal at times, especially for the birds.
There’s also a surprising amount of philosophical tension running beneath the flames. Some people in this world see phoenixes as divine beings who should never be collared or controlled—no matter how dangerous or deadly their presence becomes. Others believe restraint is necessary for the survival of humanity. That moral grey area gave the story more weight than I expected.
And the inclusion of tech—tele-comms, tablets, enhanced gear—gave the world a fantasy-meets-sci-fi feel I didn’t expect, but it worked. It made the setting feel more grounded in a modern-fantasy way, which I enjoyed.
❌ What Didn’t Hit
This story moved fast, which kept the momentum high, but didn’t leave much room for downtime. I found myself wishing for a few quieter, more reflective moments to slow down and sit with the characters or the emotional weight of what was happening. Because of that, the characters felt a little hard to connect with on a deeper level. I liked the whole cast, but I wasn’t especially attached to any of them by the end.
There’s also a romance thread, but it’s light and largely underdeveloped (it’s also decidedly NOT an enemies-to-lovers romance 👀). With everything else going on, the characters barely get a chance to explore their feelings—let alone talk about them.
👀 Do I Recommend It?
Yes—if you’re in the mood for an action-heavy fantasy with unique world-building and a very cool take on magical creatures, this delivers. It’s not a deeply emotional read, but it’s definitely a gripping and enjoyable one.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is quite possibly the most YA of YA books I've ever read, and I've read my fair share. The characters in Of Flame And Fury read like kids fresh out of high school. Bickering, jealousy, overconfidence, and uninhibited hormones are prevelant.
Despite a few eye rolls, the story was fast paced and engaging, with at least one plot twist I didn't see coming, and an ending that was both tragic and hopeful.
Of Flame and Fury surprised me with its animal rights themes. Although Kel tames and races phoenixes, she is plagued with doubts of taming them for their own good vs letting them be free with a chance of coexistence.
Despite a few eye rolls, the story was fast paced and engaging, with at least one plot twist I didn't see coming, and an ending that was both tragic and hopeful.
Of Flame and Fury surprised me with its animal rights themes. Although Kel tames and races phoenixes, she is plagued with doubts of taming them for their own good vs letting them be free with a chance of coexistence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge was probably one of the best debut books I’ve read in a very long time. The book felt so well thought out and managed to be fast paced without being rushed. Set in a unique world full of magical creatures, it was amazing to have phoenixes take center stage—especially in the amazing context of racing them for sport. I was sat.
The rivals to lovers romance is given the perfect amount of tension and attention to make it a central plot point without losing any of the characters or world building. In terms of spice, I felt like this book flirted with transitioning to the older end of YA with some of the descriptive language used. While nothing actually wound up happening on page that would tip into NA territory, I will be curious to see if that line is crossed in the next book. Because there will be a next book… right? Right!?
I absolutely recommend this to anyone that wants to stay in their comfy YA/NA romantasy wheel house but with a fresh take from a fresh author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux (BYR) for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
This was close enough to a knock out of the park for a debut. I was hooked the entire book. The gamut of emotions this story makes you run through will keep you on your toes for sure.
What the heck was that ending????
I will say that without knowing that this is being marketed towards Fourth Wing fans, I did feel a correlation at the beginning.
The only thing that I didn't like, but made sense for the story, is that the FMC is 17.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC & ALC.
What the heck was that ending????
I will say that without knowing that this is being marketed towards Fourth Wing fans, I did feel a correlation at the beginning.
The only thing that I didn't like, but made sense for the story, is that the FMC is 17.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC & ALC.