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adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, War
No non consensual sex on the page, only referenced
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
SPICE: 🌶🌶🌶, RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25, VIBES: ⚔️🔥 Forbidden love, fierce heroine, broody commander, political drama, magic on the edge
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 — and I’ll admit, some of the reviews floating around online had me sweating a little. But when my library had a cooy ready, I decided to see for myself… and honestly? I’m glad I did!
Yes, on paper this sounds like: “Roman commander owns enslaved woman” — but that barely scratches the surface. Julian (our MMC) rescues Malina (our fierce FMC) from a brutal situation and makes her his slave only as a way to protect her and keep her powers hidden. Not once is he cruel or degrading — in fact, this man worships her. He adores her sharp tongue, her defiance, and the way she shakes up his worldview.
Meanwhile, Malina is everything: beautiful, powerful, unafraid to challenge the status quo, and determined to protect those she cares about. Girl’s got brains, backbone, and magic — and I was cheering her on every step of the way.
The world itself? Messy. We’ve got kings, commanders, politics, and some absolute villains who are more than happy to steal wives and wield power with zero conscience (shudder). Julian, thankfully, has both a conscience and the capacity for growth.
Final verdict? This book gave me spice, heart, political intrigue, and two leads I genuinely rooted for. Book two can’t get here fast enough!
TL;DR: Come for the forbidden romance, stay for the badass heroine and the Roman commander getting emotionally wrecked.
⚔️🔥❤️🔥✨👀💥💬👑
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 — and I’ll admit, some of the reviews floating around online had me sweating a little. But when my library had a cooy ready, I decided to see for myself… and honestly? I’m glad I did!
Yes, on paper this sounds like: “Roman commander owns enslaved woman” — but that barely scratches the surface. Julian (our MMC) rescues Malina (our fierce FMC) from a brutal situation and makes her his slave only as a way to protect her and keep her powers hidden. Not once is he cruel or degrading — in fact, this man worships her. He adores her sharp tongue, her defiance, and the way she shakes up his worldview.
Meanwhile, Malina is everything: beautiful, powerful, unafraid to challenge the status quo, and determined to protect those she cares about. Girl’s got brains, backbone, and magic — and I was cheering her on every step of the way.
The world itself? Messy. We’ve got kings, commanders, politics, and some absolute villains who are more than happy to steal wives and wield power with zero conscience (shudder). Julian, thankfully, has both a conscience and the capacity for growth.
Final verdict? This book gave me spice, heart, political intrigue, and two leads I genuinely rooted for. Book two can’t get here fast enough!
TL;DR: Come for the forbidden romance, stay for the badass heroine and the Roman commander getting emotionally wrecked.
⚔️🔥❤️🔥✨👀💥💬👑
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, War
Book was marketed as a Historical Fanatsy with some romance. There was no mention of the colonizer dark romance aspect where a slave falls in love with her master.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Firebird the first book in The Fire That Binds trilogy by Juliette Cross. This Roman-inspired dual-POV dark fantasy romance is equal parts dark and romantic. The author does not shy away from the horrors of Ancient Rome. I would check trigger warnings.(There’s also an Author’s Note at the beginning of the book.)
I’m curious about what is going to happen next, and who else’s POV we might be getting in the second book-IYKYK.
I’m curious about what is going to happen next, and who else’s POV we might be getting in the second book-IYKYK.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Death of parent
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, War
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very dark. Great ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
The use of Ancient Rome setting and characters with dragons mixed into Roman mythology and a Shakespearean spin plus a romance story make this a great blend for me. Many readers have cited it as a huge miss due to the master/slave relationship, however, the situation is much more complex than that basic label. Julian claims Malina as his slave to save her life and never interacts with her in any kind of intimate way without her consent. They development a friendship prior to any romance, which I did not expect. Romance almost takes a backseat to the coup plot, except Julian's feelings for her propel events to move more quickly than the conspirators intend. The last quarter jumped quickly between action with a faster pace that does not match the rest of the book, and I do wish that more transition occurred between the battle scenes and the final sweet moments of solace.
Generally, I am not a huge romantasy or romance reader. I read many subgenres of fantasy and even other genres scattered throughout my reading, and some romantasy and romance works for me. The historical ties and dragon lore with Roman mythology roots drew me most to the book, and I stayed fully invested from start to finish. The epic ending has me yearning for book two.
As a final note, disgusted claims of colonization being a theme or the premise of the book seem unfounded or distorted to me. Ancient Rome and the Romans' conquests of a larger empire were a form of colonization, but that is merely part of the book's setting in time and place. Reading the whole book and understanding the nature of Julian shows that the author attempts to convey colonization and conquering people of other lands or cultures is wrong through his motivations.
Generally, I am not a huge romantasy or romance reader. I read many subgenres of fantasy and even other genres scattered throughout my reading, and some romantasy and romance works for me. The historical ties and dragon lore with Roman mythology roots drew me most to the book, and I stayed fully invested from start to finish. The epic ending has me yearning for book two.
As a final note, disgusted claims of colonization being a theme or the premise of the book seem unfounded or distorted to me. Ancient Rome and the Romans' conquests of a larger empire were a form of colonization, but that is merely part of the book's setting in time and place. Reading the whole book and understanding the nature of Julian shows that the author attempts to convey colonization and conquering people of other lands or cultures is wrong through his motivations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Vomit, Colonisation
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation
Minor: Incest, Vomit
Respectfully. This is not okay or good y'all.
Master/Slave dynamics are not healthy, sexy, or romantic. I feel like we shouldn't need to say that but here we are.
Additionally, do y'all know 17 year olds? Does it not make you uncomfortable to read those first few chapters knowing 17 year olds? It sure made me uncomfortable. This was not it.
The butchered mythology here too was weird. I can't put my finger on it but it was... very weird. The retelling of Medusa and the idea of greek gods being dragons? I don't know about it man. It makes for strange context in the rest of the world. Not to mention the very clear coding of the main character as Romani and the further mess that makes of the slavery. Just nah, skip it. And shame on Bramble for not disclosing the actual contents. I wouldn't have bought this if it actually said Slave/Master in the initial marketing.
Master/Slave dynamics are not healthy, sexy, or romantic. I feel like we shouldn't need to say that but here we are.
Additionally, do y'all know 17 year olds? Does it not make you uncomfortable to read those first few chapters knowing 17 year olds? It sure made me uncomfortable. This was not it.
The butchered mythology here too was weird. I can't put my finger on it but it was... very weird. The retelling of Medusa and the idea of greek gods being dragons? I don't know about it man. It makes for strange context in the rest of the world. Not to mention the very clear coding of the main character as Romani and the further mess that makes of the slavery. Just nah, skip it. And shame on Bramble for not disclosing the actual contents. I wouldn't have bought this if it actually said Slave/Master in the initial marketing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Violence
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was not it. The plot was lacking, the characters were annoying. The smut was random and uncomfortable. Would not recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Death, Grief, Death of parent