You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder
Minor: Incest
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book isn't a easy, light read, or even what people assume dark romance is. This book is brutal, painful, and in some parts, extremely dark topics are brought up. But there is a beautiful romance that gets built along the way. There's a lot of talk going around how this book glorifies slave/owner romance, which IMO, isn't even remotely close as to what is actually happening in the book.
Malina and Julian first meet when she is almost 18 years old, and maybe for few minutes. Nothing ever happens during this interaction. 4years later, we see Julian rescue Malina and bring her back to his home, where she is a "slave" in title alone. She was never bought/sold to him, and she isn't being exploited or being used for someone else's gain. She's in the role of "slave" to keep her safe. By the time anything romantic happens between the 2, it is Malina who initiates it. Malina is a grown adult, making her own decisions. Julian is a very morally gray character, but never pressures her or manipulates her into doing anything she doesn't want herself.
Also, this book is set in ancient Rome. Rome was not this, beautiful, rainbow and sunshine place 24/7, especially during the invasions that we see reading this. Rome was cold, brutal, and bloody. There's bound to be stuff that some are going to struggle reading. That's what makes Firebird a true dark romance.
I never knew I needed a book about ancient Rome and dragons in my life, but I'm so glad I picked this up. The high stakes of what was going on in Rome during the time, the slow burn romance beginning to build between Malina and Julian, and the absolute shocker of a cliffhanger at the end had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!
If you are on the fence about reading this, just do it and form your own opinion without listening to all the hate circulating around this book.
Malina and Julian first meet when she is almost 18 years old, and maybe for few minutes. Nothing ever happens during this interaction. 4years later, we see Julian rescue Malina and bring her back to his home, where she is a "slave" in title alone. She was never bought/sold to him, and she isn't being exploited or being used for someone else's gain. She's in the role of "slave" to keep her safe. By the time anything romantic happens between the 2, it is Malina who initiates it. Malina is a grown adult, making her own decisions. Julian is a very morally gray character, but never pressures her or manipulates her into doing anything she doesn't want herself.
Also, this book is set in ancient Rome. Rome was not this, beautiful, rainbow and sunshine place 24/7, especially during the invasions that we see reading this. Rome was cold, brutal, and bloody. There's bound to be stuff that some are going to struggle reading. That's what makes Firebird a true dark romance.
I never knew I needed a book about ancient Rome and dragons in my life, but I'm so glad I picked this up. The high stakes of what was going on in Rome during the time, the slow burn romance beginning to build between Malina and Julian, and the absolute shocker of a cliffhanger at the end had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!
If you are on the fence about reading this, just do it and form your own opinion without listening to all the hate circulating around this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved the premise of Imperial Rome and dragons, but it came off as lackluster execution for me. Love the worldbuilding and attention to the political interaction, but the relationship felt less believable to me and I was disappointed by the lack of politics. The smut was okay, but I was left feeling like its legs had been cut out from under it, that the worldbuilding had been thinned down too much, to make a faster/more sex-focused read; that takes away the import and impact of some of the character decisions, esp. for Malina, and the emotional weight and complexity that she could (should?) be undergoing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
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
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Firebird was such a captivating star crossed lover/ enemies to lovers story!
It is set in roughly the Roman Empire but had a magical twist. There are dragon shifters and women blessed with magic from a goddess. I found the magically blessing to be quite unique and refreshing, such as the FMC being able to control emotions for a period of time. The debates surrounding what the extents of her powers were or could be were fascinating. I loved her heart and how brightly she burned.
I appreciated Juliette's forward and all of the research she put into this story. The Roman Empire was a gruesome period in history, and she does not sugarcoat it. It was also a period of innovation. Many of those innovations I have studied through my education and love for historical documentaries, I loved seeing so many references.
It is set in roughly the Roman Empire but had a magical twist. There are dragon shifters and women blessed with magic from a goddess. I found the magically blessing to be quite unique and refreshing, such as the FMC being able to control emotions for a period of time. The debates surrounding what the extents of her powers were or could be were fascinating. I loved her heart and how brightly she burned.
I appreciated Juliette's forward and all of the research she put into this story. The Roman Empire was a gruesome period in history, and she does not sugarcoat it. It was also a period of innovation. Many of those innovations I have studied through my education and love for historical documentaries, I loved seeing so many references.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Sexual harassment
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
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
<strong>Another junk food book</strong>
I read the reviews and still read it anyway, so I have no one to blame but myself. This book is in dual first-person POV from Malina and Julian, so that was nice at least. The Ancient Rome setting was also a nice change from quasi-Renaissance. But this is a messed up book y'all.
Roman setting or not, this is fantasy so the author picked and chose what she wanted to include. Malina and Julian first meet when she is a free woman (though a much lower class and different nationality, heck different species), and that's when their "bond" forms. But the meat of their relationship starts years later when he makes her his actual slave.
Julian could have freed her, immediately. His father did free his mother to marry her. And while Julian even tells Malina that story...he never frees her! At least nothing official and binding. She even brings up the stark disparity in their situation and how it doesn't give them room for an honest relationship. What a mess...
The dragon natures are interesting to be fair. There are different colors and different forms but no magic beyond the transformation itself. Malina has magic and is branded as a witch...in a world with shape-changing DRAGONS. Always blaming the women, somehow!
The romance is nearly insta-love for him, she takes a bit longer. Being ENSLAVED and all. There is a lot of spice but the descriptions don't start fun but rather show the evil dragon emperor's debauchery. Not a pleasant start to a book.
Lots of doom and gloom in this story, only little points of lightness.
I read the reviews and still read it anyway, so I have no one to blame but myself. This book is in dual first-person POV from Malina and Julian, so that was nice at least. The Ancient Rome setting was also a nice change from quasi-Renaissance. But this is a messed up book y'all.
Roman setting or not, this is fantasy so the author picked and chose what she wanted to include. Malina and Julian first meet when she is a free woman (though a much lower class and different nationality, heck different species), and that's when their "bond" forms. But the meat of their relationship starts years later when he makes her his actual slave.
Julian could have freed her, immediately. His father did free his mother to marry her. And while Julian even tells Malina that story...he never frees her! At least nothing official and binding. She even brings up the stark disparity in their situation and how it doesn't give them room for an honest relationship. What a mess...
The dragon natures are interesting to be fair. There are different colors and different forms but no magic beyond the transformation itself. Malina has magic and is branded as a witch...in a world with shape-changing DRAGONS. Always blaming the women, somehow!
The romance is nearly insta-love for him, she takes a bit longer. Being ENSLAVED and all. There is a lot of spice but the descriptions don't start fun but rather show the evil dragon emperor's debauchery. Not a pleasant start to a book.
Lots of doom and gloom in this story, only little points of lightness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Sexual harassment, War
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger warns galore, definitely look into this book before reading. There was lots of violence and blood, slave ownership, uncomfortable sex scenes, rape situations…just beware.
I’m making this my lowest rated book of the year which feels a little odd cause I feel like it was easier to read than my other lowest rated read but I enjoyed that one more which is to say not that much. I really should have DNF’d this at the beginning but I held out thinking maybe it’ll get better and I was reading it for a readathon so I didn’t want to give up. So I suffered through uncomfortable scenes and was mostly bored out of my mind.
The idea of it sounded good but certain topics I felt like could have been handled better and the characters were just so bland. I really didn’t care about the main characters at all and did not care for their romance. I didn’t feel why they should be together, it just felt like we slapped mating bond on them and that’s why. And try as I might I could not picture the dragons in half-skin and tbh I don’t think I want to.
I’m making this my lowest rated book of the year which feels a little odd cause I feel like it was easier to read than my other lowest rated read but I enjoyed that one more which is to say not that much. I really should have DNF’d this at the beginning but I held out thinking maybe it’ll get better and I was reading it for a readathon so I didn’t want to give up. So I suffered through uncomfortable scenes and was mostly bored out of my mind.
The idea of it sounded good but certain topics I felt like could have been handled better and the characters were just so bland. I really didn’t care about the main characters at all and did not care for their romance. I didn’t feel why they should be together, it just felt like we slapped mating bond on them and that’s why. And try as I might I could not picture the dragons in half-skin and tbh I don’t think I want to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail