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adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“I’d rather walk into the fire than have it chase and burn me as I ran away.”
🐉📿🏛️❤️🔥
A pleasant surprise! Firebird takes place in a reimagined Ancient Rome ruled by powerful dragon shifters. The negative discourse around this book is interesting considering the factual accuracy of the social hierarchy of Ancient Rome… which included slaves lol. I’m not sure why a fated love story between a noble and a slave is so polarizing but here we are. I went in with an open mind and I’m glad I did, because if you actually read the book you’ll see the way Julian treats Malina and his ultimate intentions to build a better world for her and those like her.
I loved the concept for this book, and the execution was pretty good. Minimal world building meant it was easy to digest. I liked the writing and the romance until the end, when things started to feel a bit cheesy and rushed - not sure what happened there but it prevented a higher rating. I will definitely continue this series and look forward to other works by Juliette Cross.
🐉📿🏛️❤️🔥
A pleasant surprise! Firebird takes place in a reimagined Ancient Rome ruled by powerful dragon shifters. The negative discourse around this book is interesting considering the factual accuracy of the social hierarchy of Ancient Rome… which included slaves lol. I’m not sure why a fated love story between a noble and a slave is so polarizing but here we are. I went in with an open mind and I’m glad I did, because if you actually read the book you’ll see the way Julian treats Malina and his ultimate intentions to build a better world for her and those like her.
I loved the concept for this book, and the execution was pretty good. Minimal world building meant it was easy to digest. I liked the writing and the romance until the end, when things started to feel a bit cheesy and rushed - not sure what happened there but it prevented a higher rating. I will definitely continue this series and look forward to other works by Juliette Cross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First off, it is a dark romantasy. Whomever decided to market it as just a romantasy needs to be educated in terms. It has power dynamics, noncon/ dubcon (not MCs), s3xual assault, and lots of violence. I knew that going in and I'm all for a morally gray MMC, I love dark romance, so this worked for me. I was constantly worried about the characters. The tension and yearning was top notch. Very touch her and die. There are 2 more books to go so the romance was a little fast but it was well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Inspired by Ancient Rome, an empath witch turns slave and discovers her master isn’t as loyal to his uncle as it seems. Who would have thought dragon shifters fighting in the colosseum is a scene not used more in romantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was truly terrible in so many ways that I don't even know where to start. To begin with, the world building was very lacking and I felt lost as to how and why these characters were dragon shifters and felt lost to the ways in which politics functioned. I understand this was based on Ancient Rome, but the fantasy elements built in to the political structure was confusing and not well fleshed out.
I've read other reviews that indicate that the master/enslaved person dynamic didn't bother them. I could not disagree more. The power dynamic between these characters was completely imbalanced and I found myself cringing as soon as they started engaging in a romantic relationship and even more when they began to engage in physical intimacy. While I understand that Julian is attempting to overthrow the corrupt government in the story and is not cruel to the people who run his household, it doesn't negate for me the fact that these people literally walk around with his name branded into a collar around their necks. At no point was the power dynamic addressed or mitigated between Julian and Malina.
Next, I found the level of sexual violence described in this book to be gratuitous and on many occasions completely unnecessary to the overall plot. Again, I understand this is Ancient Rome and these elements existed historically. However, we are in a fantasy world in this book and I certainly don't need to read about the level of sexual violence and depravity depicted in this book to understand that the leaders of this corrupt government are, in fact, shitty and corrupt. It was too much.
Lastly, and probably least important, the sex scenes were genuinely cringey. The author was truly doing way too much with her descriptions in these scenes. It literally made me laugh out loud multiple times because it was so badly written and made me think of that scene in 10 Things I Hate About You where the guidance counselor is trying to write smut in her office and talking about an "engorged member". It was SO bad I don't feel I could fully describe.
The one thing that I didn't hate about this book was our female main character. Malina was really likeable and kindhearted. I wish that the world-building had been fleshed out enough to get a better picture of her magical abilities and in particular I wish we got to see more of her using her abilities. It felt like her powers were only mentioned when they became convenient to the plot, which was disappointing because so much more could have been done!
Overall, this was just not good. I would not recommend it, even to those who enjoy dark romance/romantasy.
I've read other reviews that indicate that the master/enslaved person dynamic didn't bother them. I could not disagree more. The power dynamic between these characters was completely imbalanced and I found myself cringing as soon as they started engaging in a romantic relationship and even more when they began to engage in physical intimacy. While I understand that Julian is attempting to overthrow the corrupt government in the story and is not cruel to the people who run his household, it doesn't negate for me the fact that these people literally walk around with his name branded into a collar around their necks. At no point was the power dynamic addressed or mitigated between Julian and Malina.
Next, I found the level of sexual violence described in this book to be gratuitous and on many occasions completely unnecessary to the overall plot. Again, I understand this is Ancient Rome and these elements existed historically. However, we are in a fantasy world in this book and I certainly don't need to read about the level of sexual violence and depravity depicted in this book to understand that the leaders of this corrupt government are, in fact, shitty and corrupt. It was too much.
Lastly, and probably least important, the sex scenes were genuinely cringey. The author was truly doing way too much with her descriptions in these scenes. It literally made me laugh out loud multiple times because it was so badly written and made me think of that scene in 10 Things I Hate About You where the guidance counselor is trying to write smut in her office and talking about an "engorged member". It was SO bad I don't feel I could fully describe.
The one thing that I didn't hate about this book was our female main character. Malina was really likeable and kindhearted. I wish that the world-building had been fleshed out enough to get a better picture of her magical abilities and in particular I wish we got to see more of her using her abilities. It felt like her powers were only mentioned when they became convenient to the plot, which was disappointing because so much more could have been done!
Overall, this was just not good. I would not recommend it, even to those who enjoy dark romance/romantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this! I really liked the setting and the dragon element. I liked the characters and liked how it was dual POV. The ending was tense as well. I’m excited for the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, War, Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence
dark
medium-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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Colonisation
Minor: Genocide
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Slavery
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Apparently book two isn’t available until winter 2026 and I’m probably going to forget about it and what happened in this entire book 🫠
It being dual POV between Julian, the MMC, and Malina, the FMC, was a nice change of pace. A lot of newer romantasy books seem to always be in a single POV and I’ve found myself getting sick of being in the FMC’s head by the end of it.
Blessedly, no pregnancy even with the amount of banging the MCs do towards the end (not constant, but protection and/or ~contraceptive teas~ aren’t mentioned)
🐉 dual first person pov
🐉 fated mates (human x dragon shifter)
🐉 Roman mythology-esque world
🐉 historical setting but old timey toothpaste is used 🙏🏻
🐉 war
🐉 slavery & strict caste system
✅ no third act break up
✅ no sexual acts with others on page
✅ he falls first
✅ she’s not a super special virgin who’s been subconsciously saving herself for her super special future mate (bc she’s human)
It being dual POV between Julian, the MMC, and Malina, the FMC, was a nice change of pace. A lot of newer romantasy books seem to always be in a single POV and I’ve found myself getting sick of being in the FMC’s head by the end of it.
Blessedly, no pregnancy even with the amount of banging the MCs do towards the end (not constant, but protection and/or ~contraceptive teas~ aren’t mentioned)
🐉 dual first person pov
🐉 fated mates (human x dragon shifter)
🐉 Roman mythology-esque world
🐉 historical setting but old timey toothpaste is used 🙏🏻
🐉 war
🐉 slavery & strict caste system
✅ no third act break up
✅ no sexual acts with others on page
✅ he falls first
✅ she’s not a super special virgin who’s been subconsciously saving herself for her super special future mate (bc she’s human)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence
Regarding sexual assault:
Not between MCs
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed the premise of this story because the world building is so beautiful, as was the backstory of the coin, but the relationship between the two main characters was giving hardcore Stockholm Syndrome by the middle and was pretty disappointing. There wasn’t nearly enough non-sexual emotional development between them that would possibly validate her loving Julian back. Julian’s dad freed his mom from slavery so they could marry and it seemingly never even crossed Julian’s mind to simply free Malina. This was bizarre and would’ve solved the entire conflict with the protagonist Ciprian as well as balanced out their power dynamic to make their relationship more believable. It felt like the FMC sometimes forgot she had powers and was a supposed badass because there was too much focus on HIS power and HIS dragon. Also the spice was sooo cringey. Saw a review that said the dragon narration was giving Gollum and I unfortunately have to agree. At one point I literally rolled my eyes and skipped the scene. Ick. I’m pretty disappointed because the physical book itself is so stunning, but I’m not eager to read the next one whenever it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Xenophobia, Blood, Kidnapping, War