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Dawn of the Firebird
For fans of The Poppy War, She Who Became the Sun and The Will of the Many, a breathtaking fantasy novel about the daughter of an overthrown emperor from an exciting new voice
Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change. With her heavenly magic of nur, Khamilla is a weapon even enemies would wield—especially those in the magical, scholarly city of Za’skar. Hiding her identity, Khamilla joins the enemy’s army school full of jinn, magic and martial arts, risking it all to topple her adversaries, avenge her clan and reclaim their throne.
To survive, she studies under cutthroat mystic monks and battles in a series of contests to outmaneuver her fellow soldiers. She must win at all costs, even if it means embracing the darkness lurking inside her. But the more she excels, the more she is faced with history that contradicts her father’s teachings. With a war brewing among the kingdoms and a new twisted magic overtaking the land, Khamilla is torn between two impossible vengeance or salvation.
Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change. With her heavenly magic of nur, Khamilla is a weapon even enemies would wield—especially those in the magical, scholarly city of Za’skar. Hiding her identity, Khamilla joins the enemy’s army school full of jinn, magic and martial arts, risking it all to topple her adversaries, avenge her clan and reclaim their throne.
To survive, she studies under cutthroat mystic monks and battles in a series of contests to outmaneuver her fellow soldiers. She must win at all costs, even if it means embracing the darkness lurking inside her. But the more she excels, the more she is faced with history that contradicts her father’s teachings. With a war brewing among the kingdoms and a new twisted magic overtaking the land, Khamilla is torn between two impossible vengeance or salvation.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published December 2, 2025
326 people are currently reading
40661 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mughal Rana
5 books394 followersSarah Mughal Rana, Pakistani author of the debut novel Hope Ablaze, is a writer and student at Oxford University, pursuing her MPhil at the intersection of human rights and policy. She is a BookTok personality and the co-host of On the Write Track Podcast where she enjoys spilling tea with her favourite authors about the book world. Outside of school, she falls down history rabbit holes and trains in traditional martial arts. These days can find her on Instagram & Tiktok
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 575 reviews
November 23, 2025
The writing is BEAUTIFUL in this book! So poetic & descriptive (and the FOOD descriptions??? 🤤)
This story follows such a unique FMC who is struggling to find a sense of belonging, while dealing with trauma from a young age. The way she manipulates her own memory throughout the book is so interesting.
Some of the lore and war strategy honestly was a bit difficult for me to pick up at points, and went a little over my head 😂 but if you love imperfect characters trying to balance on the line of morality, found family, and the absolute coolest fight scenes, definitely recommend!
This story follows such a unique FMC who is struggling to find a sense of belonging, while dealing with trauma from a young age. The way she manipulates her own memory throughout the book is so interesting.
Some of the lore and war strategy honestly was a bit difficult for me to pick up at points, and went a little over my head 😂 but if you love imperfect characters trying to balance on the line of morality, found family, and the absolute coolest fight scenes, definitely recommend!
June 18, 2025
If I had to take a shot every time I read the word heavenly, I’d be dead nine times over.
This book started strong. The opening hooked me, and I was genuinely curious to see what all of it was building up to. I had not read a central-asian inspired fantasy before, and I was excited to learn and grow alongside the characters. But somewhere around the halfway mark, it felt like the book lost sight of itself.
The story became bogged down by infodumps that didn’t lead anywhere meaningful, and the pacing dragged as a result. It felt like the book was constantly distracted by its own world, desperate to wave every shiny idea in the reader's face without fully integrating them into the plot. Like a collage of other fantasies mashed together without cohesion. If you’ve read the books this one is comped to, you’ll pick up on the 'inspiration' scenes immediately—except the originals did them much better, with a finer focus on what made those scenes/dynamics interesting in the first place.
The bigger issue is that the book clearly wants to be epic and sweeping, but it doesn’t have the restraint, narrative discipline, and clarity to pull it off. Instead of refining its core themes and letting them breathe, it keeps adding more until none of it really lands. (And it also tried too hard to be edgy...like a 14-yo boy who wants to add every dark possible thing to his D&D world) The magic system especially was hard to grasp—not because it was complex, but because it just wasn’t explained in a consistent or helpful way. (I almost wanted to dnf it after the MC pulls out some new power up every battle to win)
As for the MC, she read as pretty juvenile—which was fine in the beginning. (I liked the beginning, I swear, Eliyas was great) But as the story went on, there wasn’t much growth or meaningful introspection until the very end, and by that point, it felt too little, too late.
Her PTSD and memory loss had the potential to be compelling. There were moments where I could see the glimmer of a more layered character under the surface. But the book never gave her enough room to be a person. Everything she did felt like it was in service of moving the plot forward rather than reflecting anything internal. Without a clear sense of who she is beyond what the story needs from her, it was hard to root for her or feel connected to her journey.
In the end, it all kind of collapsed under its own weight. A story trying so hard to be everything ends up saying very little. I think the author has potential, and I would advise her to trust her own instincts and less of what other fantasies are doing.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC.
This book started strong. The opening hooked me, and I was genuinely curious to see what all of it was building up to. I had not read a central-asian inspired fantasy before, and I was excited to learn and grow alongside the characters. But somewhere around the halfway mark, it felt like the book lost sight of itself.
The story became bogged down by infodumps that didn’t lead anywhere meaningful, and the pacing dragged as a result. It felt like the book was constantly distracted by its own world, desperate to wave every shiny idea in the reader's face without fully integrating them into the plot. Like a collage of other fantasies mashed together without cohesion. If you’ve read the books this one is comped to, you’ll pick up on the 'inspiration' scenes immediately—except the originals did them much better, with a finer focus on what made those scenes/dynamics interesting in the first place.
The bigger issue is that the book clearly wants to be epic and sweeping, but it doesn’t have the restraint, narrative discipline, and clarity to pull it off. Instead of refining its core themes and letting them breathe, it keeps adding more until none of it really lands. (And it also tried too hard to be edgy...like a 14-yo boy who wants to add every dark possible thing to his D&D world) The magic system especially was hard to grasp—not because it was complex, but because it just wasn’t explained in a consistent or helpful way. (I almost wanted to dnf it after the MC pulls out some new power up every battle to win)
As for the MC, she read as pretty juvenile—which was fine in the beginning. (I liked the beginning, I swear, Eliyas was great) But as the story went on, there wasn’t much growth or meaningful introspection until the very end, and by that point, it felt too little, too late.
Her PTSD and memory loss had the potential to be compelling. There were moments where I could see the glimmer of a more layered character under the surface. But the book never gave her enough room to be a person. Everything she did felt like it was in service of moving the plot forward rather than reflecting anything internal. Without a clear sense of who she is beyond what the story needs from her, it was hard to root for her or feel connected to her journey.
In the end, it all kind of collapsed under its own weight. A story trying so hard to be everything ends up saying very little. I think the author has potential, and I would advise her to trust her own instincts and less of what other fantasies are doing.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC.
July 24, 2025
Unfortunately it’s a DNF for me. From the very start this book just has to much packed in. It felt clunky and disorganized and by 20% I was bored and knew it wasn’t for me. I really didn’t read enough for a thorough plot review I just couldn’t get there. Comparing this book to Poppy Wars kinda feels like a crime. Not on the same level. I do think that there was some potential there but it just fell flat and didn’t really follow through.
Thank you to Harper Collin’s and Netgalley for the arc I’m sorry it just wasn’t for me
Thank you to Harper Collin’s and Netgalley for the arc I’m sorry it just wasn’t for me
August 15, 2025
DNF — and I wish I’d dropped it the second I saw the words “the creator created us.” That was my first red flag that I was in the hands of a writer with no grasp of prose or storytelling. From there, Dawn of the Firebird spirals into one of the most boring, clunky, and confusing reading experiences I’ve ever endured. The pacing? Nonexistent. The sentence structure? Jarring. The scenes? Irrelevant filler stacked on irrelevant filler. The author will spend paragraphs describing useless nonsense no one cares about while completely ignoring basic things like where the hell the characters are or what they’re doing. It’s all noise, no signal.
And then there’s the main character, an insufferable, juvenile, self-proclaimed “special” prodigy who is constantly praised by everyone and framed as the best at everything. Every character description somehow loops back to her. Being trapped in her head was torture. She’s the kind of narrator that makes you hate turning the page. Pair that with worldbuilding so poorly conveyed that I often had to reread entire sections just to figure out what was supposed to be happening, and still came up empty, and in summary, you’ve got a recipe for a book that feels like a sedative.
The constant bird imagery was the final nail in the coffin. I thought “firebird” might be a metaphor. Nope! Just endless talk about birds until I started resenting them. And don’t think the “academy” sections save it, those scenes are some of the dullest, most sleep-inducing pages I’ve ever read. The whole thing is marketed like it’s on par with The Poppy War, but that comparison isn’t just wrong, it’s insulting. This book isn’t in the same league, the same sport, or even the same planet.
And if the book’s mediocrity wasn’t bad enough, the behavior surrounding it is somehow worse. Reviews, including mine, have been reported and deleted. Readers accused of being trolls or bots simply for not liking it. People have been harassed, lied about, and identity-policed because they have dared to DNF this book. I’ve seen thin-skinned authors before, but this takes it to a new level: petty, vindictive, and wildly unprofessional. Goodreads is for readers, not a playground for authors, friends, and family to bully critics into silence.
This isn’t just the worst book I’ve read this year, it’s one of the worst I’ve read, period. I couldn’t even hate-read it. Nothing happens, nothing makes sense, and everything that is described is completely useless. The author magpies ideas from better books, executes them poorly, and then doubles down on ego instead of craft. Between the bad writing, the insufferable protagonist, and the exhausting circus of author drama, which includes the drama surrounding her debut book, her sister, and with what happened with Molly X. Chang, I can say with full confidence: I hated this book, I hated this experience, and I will never pick up anything by this author again.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the review copy— all opinions are my own, and I’m sorry, but this just wasn’t for me.
And then there’s the main character, an insufferable, juvenile, self-proclaimed “special” prodigy who is constantly praised by everyone and framed as the best at everything. Every character description somehow loops back to her. Being trapped in her head was torture. She’s the kind of narrator that makes you hate turning the page. Pair that with worldbuilding so poorly conveyed that I often had to reread entire sections just to figure out what was supposed to be happening, and still came up empty, and in summary, you’ve got a recipe for a book that feels like a sedative.
The constant bird imagery was the final nail in the coffin. I thought “firebird” might be a metaphor. Nope! Just endless talk about birds until I started resenting them. And don’t think the “academy” sections save it, those scenes are some of the dullest, most sleep-inducing pages I’ve ever read. The whole thing is marketed like it’s on par with The Poppy War, but that comparison isn’t just wrong, it’s insulting. This book isn’t in the same league, the same sport, or even the same planet.
And if the book’s mediocrity wasn’t bad enough, the behavior surrounding it is somehow worse. Reviews, including mine, have been reported and deleted. Readers accused of being trolls or bots simply for not liking it. People have been harassed, lied about, and identity-policed because they have dared to DNF this book. I’ve seen thin-skinned authors before, but this takes it to a new level: petty, vindictive, and wildly unprofessional. Goodreads is for readers, not a playground for authors, friends, and family to bully critics into silence.
This isn’t just the worst book I’ve read this year, it’s one of the worst I’ve read, period. I couldn’t even hate-read it. Nothing happens, nothing makes sense, and everything that is described is completely useless. The author magpies ideas from better books, executes them poorly, and then doubles down on ego instead of craft. Between the bad writing, the insufferable protagonist, and the exhausting circus of author drama, which includes the drama surrounding her debut book, her sister, and with what happened with Molly X. Chang, I can say with full confidence: I hated this book, I hated this experience, and I will never pick up anything by this author again.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the review copy— all opinions are my own, and I’m sorry, but this just wasn’t for me.
July 13, 2025
READING IS SUBJECTIVE!
Had to start by saying that this book just wasn’t for me. This is definitely a high fantasy with very intense world building. I definitely enjoy high fantasies but this for me was too much world building I felt like I couldn’t get into the plot of it. Every time I felt like I was getting somewhere, there was just so much information to take in I couldn’t keep up with it. It’s definitely very heavy on the politics and culture aspects aswell so again a lot to take in and remember as you’re going along.
I did really enjoy the magic system it was very unique, definitely haven’t read another book with anything like this. I’m pretty sure I was pronouncing over half the people/places incorrectly but that’s just my own incompetence 🤭
The story line was very interesting and I think a lot of people will definitely love this. Unfortunately for me it was too much from the start to understand what was going on and follow along. But please give this a go as not every book is for everyone so please try it before you walk past it 💖
Had to start by saying that this book just wasn’t for me. This is definitely a high fantasy with very intense world building. I definitely enjoy high fantasies but this for me was too much world building I felt like I couldn’t get into the plot of it. Every time I felt like I was getting somewhere, there was just so much information to take in I couldn’t keep up with it. It’s definitely very heavy on the politics and culture aspects aswell so again a lot to take in and remember as you’re going along.
I did really enjoy the magic system it was very unique, definitely haven’t read another book with anything like this. I’m pretty sure I was pronouncing over half the people/places incorrectly but that’s just my own incompetence 🤭
The story line was very interesting and I think a lot of people will definitely love this. Unfortunately for me it was too much from the start to understand what was going on and follow along. But please give this a go as not every book is for everyone so please try it before you walk past it 💖
Read
July 11, 2025i'm sure the pintrest boards for this book were lovely
August 9, 2025
I want to preface this by saying that I don't think this was a bad book, it just wasn't for me. The plot had a lot of potential and at times I was interested in the story, but overall I just didn't end up connecting with it.
A young girl lives in a nomadic clan raised by her mother and on the path to being a storyteller. The lands she lives in are rife with enemies and after her village is destroyed in war, she takes to living with her father, the emperor. He is reluctant to take her in, only doing so for the rare magic she wields. As she grows in his court, she learns various tools to control her powers and thwart attacks from poison. However, this home, too, is stolen from her through war. After having lost so much, Khamilla must seek revenge.
This story was incredibly dense and a little chaotic for me. The prose made it difficult for me to see the complexities of the characters as it focused heavily on their courtly motivations. I think the part that made it hard for me to connect to this story, however, was the magic. It lacked a solid form or shape in my mind even after half of the book. As it was central to the story, this made it a challenge to envision the happenings of the plot. All in all, this could definitely be an enjoyable read for others but it sadly wasn't the right book for me.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A young girl lives in a nomadic clan raised by her mother and on the path to being a storyteller. The lands she lives in are rife with enemies and after her village is destroyed in war, she takes to living with her father, the emperor. He is reluctant to take her in, only doing so for the rare magic she wields. As she grows in his court, she learns various tools to control her powers and thwart attacks from poison. However, this home, too, is stolen from her through war. After having lost so much, Khamilla must seek revenge.
This story was incredibly dense and a little chaotic for me. The prose made it difficult for me to see the complexities of the characters as it focused heavily on their courtly motivations. I think the part that made it hard for me to connect to this story, however, was the magic. It lacked a solid form or shape in my mind even after half of the book. As it was central to the story, this made it a challenge to envision the happenings of the plot. All in all, this could definitely be an enjoyable read for others but it sadly wasn't the right book for me.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 23, 2025Dnf at 10 pages, had trouble with the inconsistent switch between past-present tense writing/editing.
August 24, 2025
I want to start by saying how grateful I am to have received an advanced reader copy of this book through netgalley. Unfortunately, I was not able to finish it. While I always strive to give each book a fair chance, I ultimately found that this one just wasn’t for me.
The writing style felt inconsistent at times, which made it difficult for me to stay grounded in the story. Additionally, the narrative structure—particularly the time jumps—was challenging to follow. I also struggled with the world-building, which, while clearly rich and imaginative, came across as overly complex for my personal reading preferences.
That said, I fully acknowledge that these critiques reflect my own tastes and not the overall quality of the book. I can see how readers who enjoy intricate worlds and nonlinear storytelling may connect with it much more deeply. I encourage those interested to give it a try and form their own opinions.
The writing style felt inconsistent at times, which made it difficult for me to stay grounded in the story. Additionally, the narrative structure—particularly the time jumps—was challenging to follow. I also struggled with the world-building, which, while clearly rich and imaginative, came across as overly complex for my personal reading preferences.
That said, I fully acknowledge that these critiques reflect my own tastes and not the overall quality of the book. I can see how readers who enjoy intricate worlds and nonlinear storytelling may connect with it much more deeply. I encourage those interested to give it a try and form their own opinions.
September 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
I'm usually very generous with ratings, and it's not typical for me to give bad reviews. It's my second 2 star review ever but I feel like it's totally justified.
If it tells you anything, it took me over a month of reading to finish this book. Can't believe I spent that much time of something I expected to be more thrilling. Either my expectations were too high or this book is just not for me. Probably both.
2/5 ⭐ Boring plot, boring characters, boring philosophical statements that don't make sense, boring and predictable ending.
I finished 4 other books while I was reading Dawn of the firebird at the same time, one of them was The wedding people. And I kept thinking "man, I don't want this book to end" while reading The wedding people and The housemaid, and "I can't wait for this book to end" while reading Dawn of the firebird. And I'm a huge fantasy lover and have been since I was a teen!
It started so slow that the first quarter of it could have easily fit on one page and it would make no difference. I was getting tired of rolling eyes every time I saw the words "heavenly" and "bird" (spoiler - there were way too many!)
I still don't see how this book is about her infiltrating an enemy magic school because it seems to be so clumped together with other ideas and unnecessary events that it's hard to see the big picture.
And what's up with all her assignments there being about her tribe's lands? It's become so boring and predictable to have her circle back to her origins every chapter.
The magic system is also pretty hard to understand because there's too many foreign names and too little description, and when there is, it's all too confusing (much like the description of the battle scenes, because what in the world is that? I had so much trouble understanding how every one of them went!)
The main character barely had any development through the whole book. If anything she's the most annoying main character I've ever read about. She was as flat as it gets and definitely not morally gray and "super smart" as the author is advertising. The only improvement I saw was when she warmed up towards the kids.
On the bright side, intricate politics are kind of captivating. I haven't read The poppy war but Dawn of the firebird reminds me a bit of Dune.
I did appreciate some of the other elements, too. As someone who was raised in Eastern Europe, I'm quite familiar with the ways of our closest neighbor countries and it made my heart full when I realized I knew these things and they brought me back home for a little bit.
All in all, it was an interesting story but with how much space descriptions of every little detail and dialogues take, it seems more like a movie script than a book. I understand the author was trying to set the mood and elevate cultural aspect, but it was overwhelming and not in a good way. I'm not looking for that in books, I'm looking for deep connection with a fictional world and it's characters to the point where I'd want to teleport to their world and I'd cry if they died. Dawn of the firebird wasn't it.
I'm usually very generous with ratings, and it's not typical for me to give bad reviews. It's my second 2 star review ever but I feel like it's totally justified.
If it tells you anything, it took me over a month of reading to finish this book. Can't believe I spent that much time of something I expected to be more thrilling. Either my expectations were too high or this book is just not for me. Probably both.
2/5 ⭐ Boring plot, boring characters, boring philosophical statements that don't make sense, boring and predictable ending.
I finished 4 other books while I was reading Dawn of the firebird at the same time, one of them was The wedding people. And I kept thinking "man, I don't want this book to end" while reading The wedding people and The housemaid, and "I can't wait for this book to end" while reading Dawn of the firebird. And I'm a huge fantasy lover and have been since I was a teen!
It started so slow that the first quarter of it could have easily fit on one page and it would make no difference. I was getting tired of rolling eyes every time I saw the words "heavenly" and "bird" (spoiler - there were way too many!)
I still don't see how this book is about her infiltrating an enemy magic school because it seems to be so clumped together with other ideas and unnecessary events that it's hard to see the big picture.
And what's up with all her assignments there being about her tribe's lands? It's become so boring and predictable to have her circle back to her origins every chapter.
The magic system is also pretty hard to understand because there's too many foreign names and too little description, and when there is, it's all too confusing (much like the description of the battle scenes, because what in the world is that? I had so much trouble understanding how every one of them went!)
The main character barely had any development through the whole book. If anything she's the most annoying main character I've ever read about. She was as flat as it gets and definitely not morally gray and "super smart" as the author is advertising. The only improvement I saw was when she warmed up towards the kids.
On the bright side, intricate politics are kind of captivating. I haven't read The poppy war but Dawn of the firebird reminds me a bit of Dune.
I did appreciate some of the other elements, too. As someone who was raised in Eastern Europe, I'm quite familiar with the ways of our closest neighbor countries and it made my heart full when I realized I knew these things and they brought me back home for a little bit.
All in all, it was an interesting story but with how much space descriptions of every little detail and dialogues take, it seems more like a movie script than a book. I understand the author was trying to set the mood and elevate cultural aspect, but it was overwhelming and not in a good way. I'm not looking for that in books, I'm looking for deep connection with a fictional world and it's characters to the point where I'd want to teleport to their world and I'd cry if they died. Dawn of the firebird wasn't it.
September 11, 2024
Longer review to come, but I had the opportunity to read an early version of DotFB & y'all aren't ready!!! Honestly it is a POWERHOUSE of a fantasy novel & such a unique world that I don't think I've read in a fantasy book before. It's gritty and raw and powerful & perfect for a true fantasy reader. I can't wait until it's out in the world!!!
dnf
August 23, 2025My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for a free DRC of "Dawn of the Firebird" by Sarah Mughal Rana.
An Epic Fantasy debut that is packed with magic and court intrigue.
The first part, my favorite, reminded me a bit with falling in love with reading, thanks to "1001 Arabian Nights'. I was sad when that part ended.
The next part, the palace intrigue was too much for me in the sense it had too many things going on. I felt like I lost the connection with the main heroine.
While I had to stop reading, I am glad I gave this debut I try and I'll keep an eye on this author's future works.
An Epic Fantasy debut that is packed with magic and court intrigue.
The first part, my favorite, reminded me a bit with falling in love with reading, thanks to "1001 Arabian Nights'. I was sad when that part ended.
The next part, the palace intrigue was too much for me in the sense it had too many things going on. I felt like I lost the connection with the main heroine.
While I had to stop reading, I am glad I gave this debut I try and I'll keep an eye on this author's future works.
July 20, 2025
(I dont know wtf is going on in these reviews, but there's like obvious troll accounts trying to start drama??)
Anyways, thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
As a debut fantasy novel, I’m impressed by the sheer ambition of this book. While it doesn’t always and consistently deliver on scope, breadth and depth, I can totally see the series getting better with each book.
In this book, the author has clearly dedicated a lot of time, a lot of thought, and a lot of energy to building a unique world that carefully and respectfully pays homage to Asian communities and cultures (specifically central asian, I think). The author does this by reaching beyond the contemporary nation-state era back to a quasi-feudal form of political organization. There is a major emphasis on these characters, engaging with, and also being situated in smaller, more localized communities, marked by villages, regions or feudal lords. This is at the core of the structure of the novel, and also shapes the subsequent relationships and the central conflict. I really enjoyed this part of the book because Rana doesn’t copy-paste or rely on real-life cultures to do the heavy lifting of her worldbuilding. Instead, she takes these elements and plays around with them to differentiate her worldbuilding from others. The end result subsequently feels like a real-life kingdom/province. At the same time, I could totally see where readers (specifically those who don’t tend to pick up adult historical fantasies) can get lost, as the information does feel overwhelming at times.
As Rana draws from real-life inspiration, she’s also keeping the story rooted in a historical, more fantasy-based, elemental-centred world. The worldbuilding in her novel extends to what I mentioned before (more material forms of cultural inspiration, like foods and clothing). But at the same time, she’s weaving in political intrigue grounded by a really interesting Quranic magic system. In fact, this political intrigue throughout the entire book was one of the absolute highlights for me personally. While the upkeep of the politics isn’t always perfectly consistent or pursued with the same degree of energy throughout the narrative, I still think it really speaks to how great the book is on this front. Specifically, the central narrative gets re-anchored to different parts of this world. As a reader, I thought the transition between these different settings, in terms of the actual environment and political games, was a little awkward at times and felt abrupt/illogical. As I said earlier, you can really tell the author is passionate about this; it’s clear she spent a lot of time researching because the politics and strategies we see in the academy portion are layered, complex, and well thought-out.
In terms of the writing style, there were two aspects to it that I had complicated feelings about. On one hand, I loved the prose. Concerning description and setting up vivid visuals for the reader, the author does an excellent job. The beautiful prose made up for some of the weaker points in the book, especially in the middle sections where the character is at the academy. That part was one I found was the weakest, with a stagnant subplot, so having such smooth prose really helped to chug the narrative along.
However, I didn’t really vibe with the tone and voice of the characters, specifically our FMC. I think at the start, the author does very well in depicting the immaturity, age, and potential areas of development of the FMC. As the book progresses, she does end up going through a brutal and dark character development arc. Yet, while she technically matures, the voice weirdly stays the same. I really do feel like there was more room for the tone to mature along with her.
Overall, this was such a fantastic read! With how dense the worldbuilding and politics can be, I think this will especially land with those who enjoy books such as the Green Bone saga and/or She Who Became the Sun!
Anyways, thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
As a debut fantasy novel, I’m impressed by the sheer ambition of this book. While it doesn’t always and consistently deliver on scope, breadth and depth, I can totally see the series getting better with each book.
In this book, the author has clearly dedicated a lot of time, a lot of thought, and a lot of energy to building a unique world that carefully and respectfully pays homage to Asian communities and cultures (specifically central asian, I think). The author does this by reaching beyond the contemporary nation-state era back to a quasi-feudal form of political organization. There is a major emphasis on these characters, engaging with, and also being situated in smaller, more localized communities, marked by villages, regions or feudal lords. This is at the core of the structure of the novel, and also shapes the subsequent relationships and the central conflict. I really enjoyed this part of the book because Rana doesn’t copy-paste or rely on real-life cultures to do the heavy lifting of her worldbuilding. Instead, she takes these elements and plays around with them to differentiate her worldbuilding from others. The end result subsequently feels like a real-life kingdom/province. At the same time, I could totally see where readers (specifically those who don’t tend to pick up adult historical fantasies) can get lost, as the information does feel overwhelming at times.
As Rana draws from real-life inspiration, she’s also keeping the story rooted in a historical, more fantasy-based, elemental-centred world. The worldbuilding in her novel extends to what I mentioned before (more material forms of cultural inspiration, like foods and clothing). But at the same time, she’s weaving in political intrigue grounded by a really interesting Quranic magic system. In fact, this political intrigue throughout the entire book was one of the absolute highlights for me personally. While the upkeep of the politics isn’t always perfectly consistent or pursued with the same degree of energy throughout the narrative, I still think it really speaks to how great the book is on this front. Specifically, the central narrative gets re-anchored to different parts of this world. As a reader, I thought the transition between these different settings, in terms of the actual environment and political games, was a little awkward at times and felt abrupt/illogical. As I said earlier, you can really tell the author is passionate about this; it’s clear she spent a lot of time researching because the politics and strategies we see in the academy portion are layered, complex, and well thought-out.
In terms of the writing style, there were two aspects to it that I had complicated feelings about. On one hand, I loved the prose. Concerning description and setting up vivid visuals for the reader, the author does an excellent job. The beautiful prose made up for some of the weaker points in the book, especially in the middle sections where the character is at the academy. That part was one I found was the weakest, with a stagnant subplot, so having such smooth prose really helped to chug the narrative along.
However, I didn’t really vibe with the tone and voice of the characters, specifically our FMC. I think at the start, the author does very well in depicting the immaturity, age, and potential areas of development of the FMC. As the book progresses, she does end up going through a brutal and dark character development arc. Yet, while she technically matures, the voice weirdly stays the same. I really do feel like there was more room for the tone to mature along with her.
Overall, this was such a fantastic read! With how dense the worldbuilding and politics can be, I think this will especially land with those who enjoy books such as the Green Bone saga and/or She Who Became the Sun!
July 21, 2025
Trash! DNF
December 30, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc
2.5 stars — i was very excited to read this fantasy debut (the author has published previously, but this is her debut fantasy novel!) but i just could not get into the story after the first 25-ish %? which is unfortunate, because i was interested, but i felt the plot changed and then remained stagnant for some time.
i also listened to the audiobook, and the term for grandmother is babshah, which is very similar to the polish babca, so that was a personal anecdote that made me smile when i heard it.
the fairyloot edition is absolutely gorgeous, regardless of the fact i did not necessarily enjoy the story!
i’m sure this book will find its audience!
2.5 stars — i was very excited to read this fantasy debut (the author has published previously, but this is her debut fantasy novel!) but i just could not get into the story after the first 25-ish %? which is unfortunate, because i was interested, but i felt the plot changed and then remained stagnant for some time.
i also listened to the audiobook, and the term for grandmother is babshah, which is very similar to the polish babca, so that was a personal anecdote that made me smile when i heard it.
the fairyloot edition is absolutely gorgeous, regardless of the fact i did not necessarily enjoy the story!
i’m sure this book will find its audience!
dnf
November 29, 2025DNF’ed at 80%.
I honestly just don’t think I was the audience for this book. I was confused for a majority of the book while also not knowing much about the main character. Its very wordy. I couldn’t really connect with these characters and what the outcome would be. It did start out pretty interesting but I lost interest halfway through.
Thank you Frenzy Books and Harper Collins for this gifted ARC!
I honestly just don’t think I was the audience for this book. I was confused for a majority of the book while also not knowing much about the main character. Its very wordy. I couldn’t really connect with these characters and what the outcome would be. It did start out pretty interesting but I lost interest halfway through.
Thank you Frenzy Books and Harper Collins for this gifted ARC!
February 3, 2026
੭୧ 5 stars . ۫
“ i will show you. by the divine, i vow to kill them. every single one in their armies will die. ”
overall thoughts — there are books you admire, there are books you enjoy, and then there are books that feel like they've reached into your chest and rearranged something fundamental. dawn of the firebird is the third kind. this book did not simply impress me. it claimed me. it hollowed me out and then refilled me with grief and rage. i cried, i laughed, i screamed, i loved—i felt every emotion possible. my hand was scared to flip to the next page because flipping would bring me closer to finishing, and i wanted to savour and bask in every single word. it's definitely not the type of book for everyone, it does not dilute politics, its grief, or its rage to make itself easier to consume. it trusts the right reader will meet it where it stands, and if you are that reader, the connection feels almost terrifyingly personal. it was 100% for me and for that i am so grateful.
what struck me the most while reading is how every part of the narrative reinforces the same central ideas. the plot, the magic system, the academy structure, the mythology, and the character arcs all circle the same questions: who defines history? who gets to survive? what does power demand in return? this is why the book felt so consuming. it never lets you step outside of khamilla's reality. even moments that could have been framed as triumph, winning a contest, mastering nūr, earning recognition, are written with an undercurrent of loss. sarah mughal rana truly knows how to hook readers, but also speak to them through her characters and the events they experience.
khamilla zahr-zad is the daughter of an emperor whose tribe is annihilated by a rival empire. surviving the massacre, she discovers she possesses nūr, a rare and dangerous heavenly magic. the story is divided into 3 parts. the first follows khamilla and her life in azadniabad with her nomadic tribe, then her father's palace. we follow as she grapples with familial tensions and trains to prove herself to her father, a severe and cruel man. part 2 takes place in sajamistan, a rival empire. forced to conceal her identity, she infiltrates the enemy's military academy in za'skar, where eajiz train with the goal of bringing down the empire from within. we see more of khamilla's strength and rage as she advances and excels at the academy and through brutal trials and contests. in part 3 we see khamilla and the role she plays during the war. she is faced with a history that contradicts her father's teachings and discovers a betrayal that forces her to choose between her quest for vengeance and preventing a far greater evil.
i think another thing to mention is this book is very intricate. the language can at times be difficult, the world-building at times difficult to fully grasp, but this is as expected of a high fantasy novel. don't go into the book expecting the writing to be tame, because it isn't meant to be.
there are so many interesting aspects of the book that kept me SO invested. we have female rage, betrayal, meaningful discussions about war, genocide, power, history. the stories and the characters are rich and so well written. the pages are filled with tension. i could not put this book down, but at times i found i had to force myself in order to absorb what was happening, and allow myself to digest. there are some VERY triggering topics explored, but everything is done thoughtfully. i originally picked up this book because it was marketed for "fans of the poppy war"and bc of the stunning cover. and although my love for the poppy war is infinite, this book truly should be given the chance to stand on its own. there are so many aspects of the story that make the book unique and while yes, it 100% appeals to poppy war fans, it is also different in many ways. rf kuang would be proud!
khamilla is not written to be easy to love, and that is exactly why i adore her. i've always had a weakness for anti-heroes who embody female rage, and with khamilla it was no different. she is driven by ambition, vengeance, and a thirst for power rather than altruism. she makes morally questionable choices and even becomes monstrous at times. but as we watch khamilla's character grow from childhood to adulthood, we see how the world is horrifyingly cruel and terrible circumstances lead to terrible actions. you might not support her choices, but you understand them. she is quiet, angry, emotionally closed off, but at times we also glimpse moments of empathy. she is filled with pain, and i could not help but feel so deeply for her. what is most interesting is her loyalty. she is deeply loyal but in ways that hurt her. her loyalty isolates her, and becomes detrimental. throughout the book i felt incredibly connected to her character because of how much i understood her actions. she is complex in many ways, but one thing is certain i adore her. i can't help but love this woman with every fibre of my being.
cemil is one of those characters who feels incredibly real. he's observant, intelligent, and pragmatic in a way that contrasts beautifully with khamilla's intensity. again with his character we are faced with the question of do we like him? or hate him? but at the end of the day, he is just another character who has been through so much, and who knows nothing but survival. his dynamic with khamilla is so complicated. i loved him but equally hated him. the tension between them??? omg insane. does he despise her???? or does he simply see himself in her???? the way the author writes everything so ambiguously left me in awe.
they hurt me more than almost anything else. they are written with such tenderness and innocence. i love how khamilla interacts with them, how they offer us a glimpse into khamilla's humanity. khamilla's relationship with the pazktab children (especially arezu) is so dear to me. i will forever hold them in my heart. arezu and her pain constantly reminds us that good intentions don't guarantee safety and that war does not spare the innocent. I CRY thinking about what these children go through, how they are forced to become warriors in the face of violence and cruelty.
the sepahbad terrified and fascinated me. he is one of the most compelling antagonistic (?) characters i've encountered, emphasis on the question mark as again the author writes his character to be ambiguous. we never know his story, who he is, why he is the way he is, but there is an undeniable curiosity. the way i yearned to learn more about him, but the author gave the smallest crumbs. EVIL but brilliant. i finished with so many questions about him, and the fact that those questions are never fully answered feels intentional rather than accidental. i know sarah mughal rana will give us the backstory and thoughts I LONG FOR in the sequel. the sepahbad is defined almost entirely by presence not in the physical sense. he's never really there (at least not often). khamilla hears about him. she sees him. he gazes at her. but he never really physically acknowledges her. his interactions with khamilla OML again, so ambiguous. does he like her?? does he wish to use her?? or maybe both? there is a certain softness between them, that makes me wonder whether there is a potential romance? or does he simply see how naturally she fits into the war and wants to use her as an asset. SO MANY QUESTIONS, SO LITTLE ANSWERS. there is so much intentionality. as someone who loves reading into the smallest details, i couldn't help but read into his and khamilla's interactions. the way they move feels so intimate. maybe i'm a madwoman grasping at straws, trying to will them into something, but the tension is PALPABLE, insert "and if i were to ask you to be your partner?" the ending 😵💫 has consumed my thoughts and has left me emotionally feral. i am in pain because i will not be able to continue his story until the sequel releases. can i also just say, the sepahbad is so fine goshhhh. the author knew EXACTLY what she was doing.
eliyas, adel, and yagbhu again are such well writen characters! the bond they share with khamilla is so wholesome and tender. the way they each protect her so fiercely. i love these three with my whole heart <3
lastly, i have to say these are the best characters i've read about since the poppy war.
final thoughts — i love how each section of the book ends with plot twists. hit after hit after hit. death after death after death. i could not catch a break 💔 the amount of times i started sobbing and gasping uncontrollably. i was destroyed. i loved the plot and pacing because it was slow, heavy, and intentional (again something that might not appeal to everyone). i need closure, i need answers!!! sarah please give me the second book asap!! what do you mean there's no release date yet??? after that ending??? what do you mean???? how am i supposed to function properly with this book plaguing my thoughts. how am i supposed to be normal. i fear i will not know peace until the sequel exists in my hands. someone get me on the arc list for the sequel i beg.
sarah has definitely cemented herself as one of my new favourite authors and i will be thinking about this book for a very very long time....
i tried my best to put into words all my love and admiration, but i fear even this review does not capture the brilliance of dawn of the firebird. all my moots pls read this if u care 😭😭😭
annotations + spoilers!
i still have over 100 quotes i annotated. this is only a fraction of the book's beauty 😔
੭୧ㆍcontent warnings: genocide, murder, child death, violence, war, sexual violence, trauma
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
finished: 12/19/25
pre read: 12/14/25
"for fans of the poppy war" that is me! still haven't felt poppy war levels of grief since reading it in 2021, but i hope this book will at least somewhat satisfy me 😔
“ i will show you. by the divine, i vow to kill them. every single one in their armies will die. ”
overall thoughts — there are books you admire, there are books you enjoy, and then there are books that feel like they've reached into your chest and rearranged something fundamental. dawn of the firebird is the third kind. this book did not simply impress me. it claimed me. it hollowed me out and then refilled me with grief and rage. i cried, i laughed, i screamed, i loved—i felt every emotion possible. my hand was scared to flip to the next page because flipping would bring me closer to finishing, and i wanted to savour and bask in every single word. it's definitely not the type of book for everyone, it does not dilute politics, its grief, or its rage to make itself easier to consume. it trusts the right reader will meet it where it stands, and if you are that reader, the connection feels almost terrifyingly personal. it was 100% for me and for that i am so grateful.
what struck me the most while reading is how every part of the narrative reinforces the same central ideas. the plot, the magic system, the academy structure, the mythology, and the character arcs all circle the same questions: who defines history? who gets to survive? what does power demand in return? this is why the book felt so consuming. it never lets you step outside of khamilla's reality. even moments that could have been framed as triumph, winning a contest, mastering nūr, earning recognition, are written with an undercurrent of loss. sarah mughal rana truly knows how to hook readers, but also speak to them through her characters and the events they experience.
khamilla zahr-zad is the daughter of an emperor whose tribe is annihilated by a rival empire. surviving the massacre, she discovers she possesses nūr, a rare and dangerous heavenly magic. the story is divided into 3 parts. the first follows khamilla and her life in azadniabad with her nomadic tribe, then her father's palace. we follow as she grapples with familial tensions and trains to prove herself to her father, a severe and cruel man. part 2 takes place in sajamistan, a rival empire. forced to conceal her identity, she infiltrates the enemy's military academy in za'skar, where eajiz train with the goal of bringing down the empire from within. we see more of khamilla's strength and rage as she advances and excels at the academy and through brutal trials and contests. in part 3 we see khamilla and the role she plays during the war. she is faced with a history that contradicts her father's teachings and discovers a betrayal that forces her to choose between her quest for vengeance and preventing a far greater evil.
i think another thing to mention is this book is very intricate. the language can at times be difficult, the world-building at times difficult to fully grasp, but this is as expected of a high fantasy novel. don't go into the book expecting the writing to be tame, because it isn't meant to be.
there are so many interesting aspects of the book that kept me SO invested. we have female rage, betrayal, meaningful discussions about war, genocide, power, history. the stories and the characters are rich and so well written. the pages are filled with tension. i could not put this book down, but at times i found i had to force myself in order to absorb what was happening, and allow myself to digest. there are some VERY triggering topics explored, but everything is done thoughtfully. i originally picked up this book because it was marketed for "fans of the poppy war"
੭୧ khamillaㆍ“ you should have done it, coward, my words tremble quietly, for my anger is greater. you will regret that you did not end me. ”
khamilla is not written to be easy to love, and that is exactly why i adore her. i've always had a weakness for anti-heroes who embody female rage, and with khamilla it was no different. she is driven by ambition, vengeance, and a thirst for power rather than altruism. she makes morally questionable choices and even becomes monstrous at times. but as we watch khamilla's character grow from childhood to adulthood, we see how the world is horrifyingly cruel and terrible circumstances lead to terrible actions. you might not support her choices, but you understand them. she is quiet, angry, emotionally closed off, but at times we also glimpse moments of empathy. she is filled with pain, and i could not help but feel so deeply for her. what is most interesting is her loyalty. she is deeply loyal but in ways that hurt her. her loyalty isolates her, and becomes detrimental. throughout the book i felt incredibly connected to her character because of how much i understood her actions. she is complex in many ways, but one thing is certain i adore her. i can't help but love this woman with every fibre of my being.
੭୧ cemilㆍ“ if you ache for a monster, i will show you a monster. ”
cemil is one of those characters who feels incredibly real. he's observant, intelligent, and pragmatic in a way that contrasts beautifully with khamilla's intensity. again with his character we are faced with the question of do we like him? or hate him? but at the end of the day, he is just another character who has been through so much, and who knows nothing but survival. his dynamic with khamilla is so complicated. i loved him but equally hated him. the tension between them??? omg insane. does he despise her???? or does he simply see himself in her???? the way the author writes everything so ambiguously left me in awe.
੭୧ the pazktab childrenㆍ“ remember, we are your home. ”
they hurt me more than almost anything else. they are written with such tenderness and innocence. i love how khamilla interacts with them, how they offer us a glimpse into khamilla's humanity. khamilla's relationship with the pazktab children (especially arezu) is so dear to me. i will forever hold them in my heart. arezu and her pain constantly reminds us that good intentions don't guarantee safety and that war does not spare the innocent. I CRY thinking about what these children go through, how they are forced to become warriors in the face of violence and cruelty.
੭୧ the sepahbad jezakielㆍ“ i collide blindly with a warm body; hands grasp my waist, fingers brush my ribs. i mistakenly grab the neck to steady myself against the slippery tiles. ”
the sepahbad terrified and fascinated me. he is one of the most compelling antagonistic (?) characters i've encountered, emphasis on the question mark as again the author writes his character to be ambiguous. we never know his story, who he is, why he is the way he is, but there is an undeniable curiosity. the way i yearned to learn more about him, but the author gave the smallest crumbs. EVIL but brilliant. i finished with so many questions about him, and the fact that those questions are never fully answered feels intentional rather than accidental. i know sarah mughal rana will give us the backstory and thoughts I LONG FOR in the sequel. the sepahbad is defined almost entirely by presence not in the physical sense. he's never really there (at least not often). khamilla hears about him. she sees him. he gazes at her. but he never really physically acknowledges her. his interactions with khamilla OML again, so ambiguous. does he like her?? does he wish to use her?? or maybe both? there is a certain softness between them, that makes me wonder whether there is a potential romance? or does he simply see how naturally she fits into the war and wants to use her as an asset. SO MANY QUESTIONS, SO LITTLE ANSWERS. there is so much intentionality. as someone who loves reading into the smallest details, i couldn't help but read into his and khamilla's interactions. the way they move feels so intimate. maybe i'm a madwoman grasping at straws, trying to will them into something, but the tension is PALPABLE, insert "and if i were to ask you to be your partner?" the ending 😵💫 has consumed my thoughts and has left me emotionally feral. i am in pain because i will not be able to continue his story until the sequel releases. can i also just say, the sepahbad is so fine goshhhh. the author knew EXACTLY what she was doing.
eliyas, adel, and yagbhu again are such well writen characters! the bond they share with khamilla is so wholesome and tender. the way they each protect her so fiercely. i love these three with my whole heart <3
lastly, i have to say these are the best characters i've read about since the poppy war.
final thoughts — i love how each section of the book ends with plot twists. hit after hit after hit. death after death after death. i could not catch a break 💔 the amount of times i started sobbing and gasping uncontrollably. i was destroyed. i loved the plot and pacing because it was slow, heavy, and intentional (again something that might not appeal to everyone). i need closure, i need answers!!! sarah please give me the second book asap!! what do you mean there's no release date yet??? after that ending??? what do you mean???? how am i supposed to function properly with this book plaguing my thoughts. how am i supposed to be normal. i fear i will not know peace until the sequel exists in my hands. someone get me on the arc list for the sequel i beg.
sarah has definitely cemented herself as one of my new favourite authors and i will be thinking about this book for a very very long time....
i tried my best to put into words all my love and admiration, but i fear even this review does not capture the brilliance of dawn of the firebird. all my moots pls read this if u care 😭😭😭
annotations + spoilers!
“ no, you are a fool for taking his fist. you are not my shield. i am yours, little bird. ”
⤿ if i loved you less, i might be able to talk about you more
“ i am forever the emperor's blade. a blade does not leave its holder's side. wherever he walks, he will know i always follow. ”
“ i always have you marked, cemil hisses into my ear, his blade digging into my spine. ”
⤿ THE TENSION AHSHHDGGDG i love this scene so much there's so much to dissect between khamilla and cemil's relationship. what is he to her? what is she to him???
“ you cannot erase human brutality. not when it exists inside of us, as innate to the body as air. ”
“ you wish to read something from our game ”
⤿ AHHSHSH INTERNALLY SCREAMING
“ she cannot see me; she cannot hear me. she thinks she is alone. this child is dying. and she is utterly alone. ”
⤿
“ i know not victory, but i do know pain. i am war. and its anger will shrivel the sharpest fighters at my feet. ”
“ my tongue tastes copper, whose blood, i do not know. i smile, realizing i am only capable of grinning in the thoroughfare of destruction. ”
“ war does that to people, it turns bodies into numbers. ”
“ his lips tease up with a knowing smirk, why would i kill you when you've executed my plan so flawlessly ”
⤿ WHAT DO YOU MEAN. WHAT DO YOU MEAN SARAH ?????
i still have over 100 quotes i annotated. this is only a fraction of the book's beauty 😔
੭୧ㆍcontent warnings: genocide, murder, child death, violence, war, sexual violence, trauma
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
finished: 12/19/25
pre read: 12/14/25
"for fans of the poppy war" that is me! still haven't felt poppy war levels of grief since reading it in 2021, but i hope this book will at least somewhat satisfy me 😔
November 17, 2025
DNFing at 43%.
I wanted to like this book because the premise sounding really exciting, but throughout the first half of it I was, more often than not, confused by the world building. There were quite a few names of creatures, people, and places that were just sort of dropped on you with little explanation that you were expected to remember, and I couldn’t keep them straight. By the time I DNFed, there were so many words that I was reading but not processing because I had no memory of what they were or what they meant.
I was excited for this book because it was marketed as “the daughter of an emperor with special powers infiltrates an enemy war academy”, but it took 25% of the book for the war academy to even be a possibility. The slow start made it difficult for me to be invested.
There were aspects of this book that I liked, and moments of action where I was like “yes, THIS is what I’ve been wanting”, but those moments weren’t frequent enough to outweigh the confusion and frustration I felt at the world building and the pacing.
I think this book could be really enjoyable for some, but unfortunately not for me. I don’t want to deter people from reading it, but just go in with the expectation that this book is complex and takes a lot of time and concentration to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy of the book.
I wanted to like this book because the premise sounding really exciting, but throughout the first half of it I was, more often than not, confused by the world building. There were quite a few names of creatures, people, and places that were just sort of dropped on you with little explanation that you were expected to remember, and I couldn’t keep them straight. By the time I DNFed, there were so many words that I was reading but not processing because I had no memory of what they were or what they meant.
I was excited for this book because it was marketed as “the daughter of an emperor with special powers infiltrates an enemy war academy”, but it took 25% of the book for the war academy to even be a possibility. The slow start made it difficult for me to be invested.
There were aspects of this book that I liked, and moments of action where I was like “yes, THIS is what I’ve been wanting”, but those moments weren’t frequent enough to outweigh the confusion and frustration I felt at the world building and the pacing.
I think this book could be really enjoyable for some, but unfortunately not for me. I don’t want to deter people from reading it, but just go in with the expectation that this book is complex and takes a lot of time and concentration to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy of the book.
December 22, 2025
I am an emperor's daughter. I am worthy. I am his claws. Except I do not scream the words aloud, I swaddle them close to my chest, for the emperor prefers it when I keep my protest silent; when I keep myself cold and sharp.
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and I would never have guessed it would turn out to be such a disappointment. I went into Dawn of the Firebird fully convinced that I would love it. And while the concept behind the story has a lot of potential, the execution failed for me in almost every aspect. A major issue is the way this book was marketed, as an epic fantasy, even compared The Will of the Many. Honestly, that is the worst possible comparison. This reads far more like a Young Adult fantasy, and because of that, I went into it with the wrong expectations.
The story is set in a Central Asian-inspired world where the FMC lives in a nomadic tribe before joining the Khan's household after being recognised as his daughter. Her childhood takes up more of the narrative than I expected, and it's only after the first quarter that we finally reach the events described in the blurb.
Despite how much technically happens in this early section, I never felt immersed. I had to push myself to keep reading, and I struggled to connect with the characters, which only worsened as the story went on. The FMC remains nameless for the entire first quarter and only receives a name, Khamilla, after her half-brother pressures their father to give her one.
The entire plot hinges on Khamilla's determination to avenge her family. But given how horribly they treat her, I simply couldn't understand her motivation. She acts so naive and deeply brainwashed, which became frustrating very quickly. She is literally being poisoned constantly and never questions it. Poison is a major theme at the start of the book, and the court of the Khan is portrayed as a place where non-stop poisoning is treated as normal, which felt absurd to me.
Hand in hand with this goes another issue: if you have emetophobia, this book will be a nightmare. There is a lot of vomiting due to the near-constant poisoning. Many readers may not mind, but I found this element very unpleasant and overused.
Shall I turn the other cheek? I cannot. I may be a follower of the Prophet Nuh and the lost scriptures, but to find forgiveness in me, well, that can only happen after my enemies are dead.
We follow Khamilla across several stages of her life, but her narrative voice never changes. She never sounds different, and I saw almost no character development. I love stories that follow characters over long stretches of time, but here it felt hollow. Khamilla is a bland protagonist without a clear personality, making it hard for me to root for her. It felt like she was meant to be edgy, but instead she reads as a very typical, very juvenile YA heroine.
The side characters didn't fare much better. There are quite a few, but I cared about none of them. Characters are the heart of any story, and I love when even minor characters leave an impression. Here, I had trouble telling them apart as they all speak with the same voice and have almost no distinguishing traits.
The only character I found interesting was Eliyas, and I wish his storyline had gone differently. But his fate perfectly highlights how Khamilla simply does what is expected of her rather than making her own choices.
"Even if we convince them, they do not trust you as an Azadnian."
That is a good point. "I will make them trust me," I insist.
"But you rarely speak kindly," Sohrab remarks and my mouth gapes open.
"You are inept at social interactions," Arezu adds.
I usually adore found family dynamics, but that was another element I struggled with. Khamilla begins training a group of younger kids, and we are repeatedly told how little she cares about them and that they're merely a means to an end. Then suddenly she has a grand revelation and they mean everything to her. While the idea itself was sweet, the execution felt flat. The book often fails at show, don't tell: I often felt like I was told how characters felt or changed, without ever being shown the scenes that would make those developments believable.
One aspect I did like was the absence of a romantic subplot, even though some groundwork is clearly being laid for a future romance.
The army school plotline had so much potential, and I was excited for it because I love a good (magic) school setting. I had expected something more along the lines of Nevernight. Strangely, despite being highlighted in the blurb, the school plays a small role. We barely see her classes or daily life. The pacing feels jumpy, as if we're skipping from one plot point to the next. With such a promising premise, I really wish this section had been explored more deeply.
"All five annals? That's ...thousands of parchments." Would my broken mind even let me accomplish such a task?
(...)
"You must submit to a greater will, be obedient to your superiors, consume knowledge without question instead of fighting your masters at every turn. So yes, all five annals. Or get lost."
I also have to mention the plot holes and inconsistencies, which frustrated me. At the beginning of the army school section, a teacher who clearly dislikes Khamilla gives her an assignment that should be impossible: learning the material from hundreds of scrolls. Khamilla herself questions how she could ever mange it. But shortly afterward, she checks out the five volumes and is suddenly able to recite them perfectly, which was hard to believe.
Then there's the Marka Tournament, where squadrons compete to rise in rank. We're told repeatedly how difficult it is to climb the ranks and how no one wants Khamilla competing. But the issue is resolved simply by her showing up with her own squadron made up of the kids she's been training. It left me wondering why so few squadrons compete if entering is that straightforward, especially when the Tournament is supposedly the best opportunity to gain a higher rank. The arc stretched longer than necessary, and the outcome felt predictable. Khamilla was always going to overcome the supposedly impossible tasks.
"The Eskaria teaches that victory is achieved not solely through knowing yourself, but through understanding the enemy." I turn to Fayez. "Today I learnt you are shit. As was your strategy - shit. As was your leadership, also shit. All that makes you reeks, my Captain."
The world-building also missed many opportunities. The two enemy kingdoms could have been interesting, and the magical city of Za'skar had so much potential, but it is completely wasted. The author describes small details like wall decorations, but the world never feels alive. It's as if the characters are wandering through empty rooms. I desperately wanted to learn more about Za'skar, and I felt disappointed by how little we ultimately got.
I absolutely adore stories involving jinn, which was one of the main reasons I was excited for this book. But as someone who has read many jinn-centered stories from a young age, I found the magic system in Dawn of the Firebird incredibly disappointing. It felt like the author tried to do too much and stumbled over her own ambition. The lore is shallow, messy, and heavy on info-dumping, without ever delving deeply into any one idea. The potential is there, but it reads like a rough first draft.
"Our faith loves death, for it's the highest honour to die in martyrdom. Then you are truly Qabl. If not, you become prone to jinn influence, even possession."
I honestly don't understand how some readers rave about the lore and magic. I love high fantasy and have read enough intricate world-building to know that this doesn't come close. It feels underdeveloped and chaotic rather than rich or complex.
Overall, I'm baffled by the 'epic fantasy' label. This reads far more like a typical YA fantasy, especially given how juvenile the main character feels. Yes, there are a few gory scenes, but that alone does not make something epic fantasy. The entire book felt rushed and unpolished, and although the story clearly had potential, the execution didn't work for me at all. It often felt like the author was overwhelmed by her own ideas and unsure of the direction she wanted the story to take.
The characters were too bland, and as someone who loves deep world-building and carefully crafted magic systems, I didn't find what the book promised. If Dawn of the Firebird had been marketed as YA, I think it might have worked better, but as an epic fantasy, it simply didn't deliver.
I land in third stance and channel a fourteen-breath meditation, my bonds expanding into Second-Stratum. The flow of time wanes in my vision before I summon a stroke of nur, holding it like a paintbrush.
⇢ 1 star
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 10, 2025
ALC 🎧 Book Review 🤍
⭐️ (DNF at 23%)
In the beginning I was entranced and totally wanted to know more about this world, but it’s just so much going on and so little explanation…
The storyline is just everywhere. We’re introduced to so much early on… The writing is descriptive, I’ll give it that much, but as descriptive as it is, I wish things were better explained. Rana is able to paint a vivid world, but the layering of plot points does not help the lack of depth in other aspects.
I want to say that it might be easier understood read with your eyes, but I fear other reviewers have suffered the same experience that route as well.
Overall, I feel a round of editing would help break down the story a bit more. Sarah Slimani did a good job narrating nonetheless.
Update: I tried a bit more (37% in) and yeah, no.
This is just not for me at all 🥲
We’re just jumping to so many different things, I have no clue what’s going on whatsoever.
Little to none character attachment doesn’t help either and the 1 character we lowkey got close to… Yeah, anyways— I thought I’d give this another chance ‘cause I wanted to see what the good reviews were about, but sadly I just couldn’t get into it at all.
⭐️ (DNF at 23%)
In the beginning I was entranced and totally wanted to know more about this world, but it’s just so much going on and so little explanation…
The storyline is just everywhere. We’re introduced to so much early on… The writing is descriptive, I’ll give it that much, but as descriptive as it is, I wish things were better explained. Rana is able to paint a vivid world, but the layering of plot points does not help the lack of depth in other aspects.
I want to say that it might be easier understood read with your eyes, but I fear other reviewers have suffered the same experience that route as well.
Overall, I feel a round of editing would help break down the story a bit more. Sarah Slimani did a good job narrating nonetheless.
Update: I tried a bit more (37% in) and yeah, no.
This is just not for me at all 🥲
We’re just jumping to so many different things, I have no clue what’s going on whatsoever.
Little to none character attachment doesn’t help either and the 1 character we lowkey got close to… Yeah, anyways— I thought I’d give this another chance ‘cause I wanted to see what the good reviews were about, but sadly I just couldn’t get into it at all.
November 21, 2025
Sadly this is a DNF for me. Thank you so much NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for letting me listen to the audio of this book. I gave the book till 50% and it still never hooked me. I really couldn’t tell you the plot or explain the magic system.
I loved the poppy wars series so much but this book doesn’t compare. It wants to be like the poppy war but it falls short. Really wish I liked this book cause the sprayed edges on the hardcover are gorgeous.
I loved the poppy wars series so much but this book doesn’t compare. It wants to be like the poppy war but it falls short. Really wish I liked this book cause the sprayed edges on the hardcover are gorgeous.
September 5, 2025
First thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
I'm sorry but I had to DNF this book at 25%. I just could not could not read through any more as it just did not hold my attention and I could not connect with the characters at all. I was really excited to read this book based on the synopsis and I am disappointed that it did not live up to the hype.
What I did read I felt it was overly complicated at times and that may be because I have little knowledge or understanding of the culture the story was inspired by but I was confused alot, I was not interested in the MC after awhile, I found some things were not well explained like the magic system and some things like the poisons took up too much of the story. I just couldn't stay interested in the story and thought it would have been a lot further long by 100 pages.
I'm sorry but I had to DNF this book at 25%. I just could not could not read through any more as it just did not hold my attention and I could not connect with the characters at all. I was really excited to read this book based on the synopsis and I am disappointed that it did not live up to the hype.
What I did read I felt it was overly complicated at times and that may be because I have little knowledge or understanding of the culture the story was inspired by but I was confused alot, I was not interested in the MC after awhile, I found some things were not well explained like the magic system and some things like the poisons took up too much of the story. I just couldn't stay interested in the story and thought it would have been a lot further long by 100 pages.
December 3, 2025
I’m marking that I finished this because I got through 85% before I had enough
There is just way way too much going on and most of it is going over my head
The only part of the book that felt interesting was the Marka and Fayez fight, that felt like the most concise storytelling in the entirety of what I read
But I just simply keep struggling with the magic system and how it even works, and I struggle with understanding the different empires/groups of people. I know there’s going to be a map in the finished copy but not having it as an arc reader makes things so difficult. Edit: apparently there is a map and glossary on the authors website and I had no idea, this would have been so helpful to know in the first place but alas. Hopefully the finished copy has that as it will be beneficial to anyone picking this up in my opinion.
The storyline and plot changes like New England weather, to the point I feel like I’m being tossed around in the dryer with no clear direction.
Sorry but I really tried and I’m not going to force myself to finish something that I literally dread trying to get through
There is just way way too much going on and most of it is going over my head
The only part of the book that felt interesting was the Marka and Fayez fight, that felt like the most concise storytelling in the entirety of what I read
But I just simply keep struggling with the magic system and how it even works, and I struggle with understanding the different empires/groups of people. I know there’s going to be a map in the finished copy but not having it as an arc reader makes things so difficult. Edit: apparently there is a map and glossary on the authors website and I had no idea, this would have been so helpful to know in the first place but alas. Hopefully the finished copy has that as it will be beneficial to anyone picking this up in my opinion.
The storyline and plot changes like New England weather, to the point I feel like I’m being tossed around in the dryer with no clear direction.
Sorry but I really tried and I’m not going to force myself to finish something that I literally dread trying to get through
October 17, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I wanted to start out by saying that there were elements of this that I did enjoy. I loved the setting and all the beautiful descriptions of culture and landscapes, especially because these in particular are rarely featured in epic fantasy. I also liked the magic system and the sections in Za'skar were excellent. However, my rating is regrettably low because of the overall reading experience. This book tries to do too much, and as a result the pacing is breakneck speed and we hurtle between the different phases of the story. I admire the ambition with this story but as a reader it was very hard to follow in places and hard to stay immersed when the story did not feel cohesive. I would have enjoyed this far more if the a) the pace had been slower and possibly split into two books or b) a more focused plot line (for example, focused almost purely on the Za'skar sections). I am sure others will appreciate it more than I did, but this one was not for me and I will not be continuing.
January 8, 2026
Pompous and full of itself. This book is tiresome and trades in more platitudes and pseudo philosophy than you can keep track of. An unlikable, one dimensional, lead character surrounded by a phalanx of other unlikable and uninteresting shells of characters careen through a miserable slog of settings that feel stolen from better novels. It’s not nearly as deep or profound as it thinks it is. The only thing that matches the undeserved pretension of this novel is the spectacularly pretentious author’s bio. My only question is do I pass this onto some poor unsuspecting reader at the library book sale or toss it and its beautiful cover with dyed edges in the bin to save people from several hours of reading that they won’t get back?
July 30, 2025
I have very mixed feelings about this book. The world building was beautiful and intricate and I really enjoyed it, but at times it did feel like it got in the way of the actual plot. Around the middle things started to lag, but I felt they did pick up again towards the end, and hopefully that improved pacing will continue in the sequel. Not my favourite book, but I enjoyed it enough that I think I will go back for the next one in the series.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
September 16, 2025
This is for The Poppy War fans.
If you take rage, unrelenting determination, hidden treachery, and someone who will do anything to win: you will get this book.
Tyrants may not have chains around our necks, but they control something worse: our ideology.
The emperor’s black sheep barbarian daughter, a child of the Usur tribe, returns to the palace after thwarting invaders. She must prove herself and stay alive through harsh training and family willing to poison each other.
She is determined to infiltrate the ranks of their enemies who are formidable warriors and wield nūr - heavenly magic. Unbeknownst to most at court, our heroine is also able to wield these heavenly bonds.
That is all I’m going to say because so much happens and I don’t know what would be a spoiler or not.
It started off reminding me of The Birth of a Dynasty and then flips and turned into The Poppy War.
Our heroine begins unnamed, caught between two worlds and desperate to earn the loyalty of her father, the untouchable emperor. Everything is tinged with violent bonds of love which our heroine has normalised and even seeks.
And of course, children are children through their dreams. Children only become monsters when all the dreams fade away.
Where we started and where we ended up was crazily different. It astounded me how the main character and her convictions changed (but also didn’t).
The ending did feel too rushed - over-powered characters, a whiplash of a climax, and a resolution which left me unsatisfied.
However, I liked how unapologetic this book is in the anger and the unlikable underdog you can’t help but root for.
I can understand the mixed reviews, my own thoughts are all over the place.
Physical arc gifted by Bloomsbury Publishing.
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If you take rage, unrelenting determination, hidden treachery, and someone who will do anything to win: you will get this book.
Tyrants may not have chains around our necks, but they control something worse: our ideology.
The emperor’s black sheep barbarian daughter, a child of the Usur tribe, returns to the palace after thwarting invaders. She must prove herself and stay alive through harsh training and family willing to poison each other.
She is determined to infiltrate the ranks of their enemies who are formidable warriors and wield nūr - heavenly magic. Unbeknownst to most at court, our heroine is also able to wield these heavenly bonds.
That is all I’m going to say because so much happens and I don’t know what would be a spoiler or not.
It started off reminding me of The Birth of a Dynasty and then flips and turned into The Poppy War.
Our heroine begins unnamed, caught between two worlds and desperate to earn the loyalty of her father, the untouchable emperor. Everything is tinged with violent bonds of love which our heroine has normalised and even seeks.
And of course, children are children through their dreams. Children only become monsters when all the dreams fade away.
Where we started and where we ended up was crazily different. It astounded me how the main character and her convictions changed (but also didn’t).
The ending did feel too rushed - over-powered characters, a whiplash of a climax, and a resolution which left me unsatisfied.
However, I liked how unapologetic this book is in the anger and the unlikable underdog you can’t help but root for.
I can understand the mixed reviews, my own thoughts are all over the place.
Physical arc gifted by Bloomsbury Publishing.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
November 23, 2025
Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana
Book Blurb: Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change.
Rating: *****
Feels: Enraptured, Adventure, Vengeance, Choices
Style: Fantasy, Adult, High Fantasy
First published December 2, 2025: 480 pages
Lush world building, high stakes fantasy with an amazing strong female main character. I love that she starts her journey with no name and desires to earn her place, her name and her family. This was such an emotional read with so many gut wrenching moments that provoked true thought about so many aspects of life. The setting of many nations warring and our main character warring with herself sets the stage for a truly breathtaking fantasy. So many parts of this book had a lyrical storytelling aspect of the read that I was very much in love with the style of the writing and enjoyed this read very much.
Favorite Quote: Loss is acceptable to a good strategist as long as its never a concession in the greater war. To deceive the enemy, one must become them at all costs.
This book has:
Military Academy
Prophecy
Chosen One
Magic System
Found Family
Trials
Book Blurb: Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change.
Rating: *****
Feels: Enraptured, Adventure, Vengeance, Choices
Style: Fantasy, Adult, High Fantasy
First published December 2, 2025: 480 pages
Lush world building, high stakes fantasy with an amazing strong female main character. I love that she starts her journey with no name and desires to earn her place, her name and her family. This was such an emotional read with so many gut wrenching moments that provoked true thought about so many aspects of life. The setting of many nations warring and our main character warring with herself sets the stage for a truly breathtaking fantasy. So many parts of this book had a lyrical storytelling aspect of the read that I was very much in love with the style of the writing and enjoyed this read very much.
Favorite Quote: Loss is acceptable to a good strategist as long as its never a concession in the greater war. To deceive the enemy, one must become them at all costs.
This book has:
Military Academy
Prophecy
Chosen One
Magic System
Found Family
Trials
September 28, 2025
After a very promising start, I found my attention wandering after a certain characters death and struggled to get through the rest of the book. There was a lot of detail to this world that I struggled to keep track of and sadly pulled down my rating. Possibly I am just not the right audience for this story, I tend to enjoy ones that are more plot driven and need a lot of action to keep me engaged
November 22, 2025
**Thank you to Harlequin Trade and Netgalley for an advanced e-book in exchange for an honest review.**
2.75 stars
I was so looking forward to reading this book after hearing some great reviews and learning that it was going to be an enemies to even worse enemies to lovers eventually. And the author seems absolutely lovely online as well.
So I was really sad when this book just didn't work for me.
I want to start by saying that this book is NOT bad, and I didn't hate it. I think that a ton of people have and will enjoy this book, and I am really glad about that!
I'm going to layout my thoughts as best I can below.
- I think that this book does have good writing, especially for a fantasy debut. The writing is well done, and you can tell the author put a lot of thought into the tone and the vibes for the story.
- The plot of the book really drives things forward and I was curious to see how things were going to play out. The pacing is actually done well, balancing sections that have a lot going on and then sections that seem a little bit slower to give a bit of a break.
- I really liked the first quarter of the book, where the main character was put in all these situations and how she was figuring things out, and the time at the palace with her siblings and the poisons. I think that this part of the book was the strongest.
- Okay, there were some things that I struggled with, but the biggest one for me is that after reading the entire book - albeit skim reading some sections near the end - I STILL do not understand anything about this magic system or how it works. I know that we got some explanations, but I don't feel that they fully explained the extent of the magic, it's limits, or the various affinities and versions of the magic. The main character and one other have the same affinity. But then there are these random characters who have different affinities - like one can command plants, one commands bugs, and one, I'm not even sure but I think has power of multiple natural things? And then some were using their magic together and I didn't understand how that worked either. I'm honestly not sure if I missed something or if I am just not smart enough to fully grasp the magic system - and either is fine I guess. It just made it really hard for me to be fully immersed in the book because I would get lost with everything going on and trying to follow it all. To add to that, there were a LOT of martial arts stances and I also didn't feel like I had a grasp on what those stances looked like. Again, could just be me.
- Personally for me, there was a LOT of lore and history and philosophy that bogged things down. A lot. And for the character being at a military academy, there was pretty much nothing about the military pieces - as the main character had to seek out texts and a competition outside of the classes. Then, later in the book, she learns about all of the defensive tactics DURING A BATTLE, because she was at the academy for so short a time.
- I also found in some small ways that things were mentioned and then either felt contradicted or they weren't brought up again. Same with some characters. It became a little difficult to figure out what I needed to remember or focus on.
- The ending felt really underwhelming. I know it is setting up for the sequel, but it felt a bit too deus ex machina for me and the reveal at the end was kind of predictable.
Anyways, I think that this book will be loved by a lot of people and I am really glad it's out there! Personally, it just didn't work for me and I won't be continuing with the series.
TW: murder, blood, body horror, violence, child death, death of parent, war, grief, injury/ injury detail, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, abandonment, colonisation, vomit
2.75 stars
I was so looking forward to reading this book after hearing some great reviews and learning that it was going to be an enemies to even worse enemies to lovers eventually. And the author seems absolutely lovely online as well.
So I was really sad when this book just didn't work for me.
I want to start by saying that this book is NOT bad, and I didn't hate it. I think that a ton of people have and will enjoy this book, and I am really glad about that!
I'm going to layout my thoughts as best I can below.
- I think that this book does have good writing, especially for a fantasy debut. The writing is well done, and you can tell the author put a lot of thought into the tone and the vibes for the story.
- The plot of the book really drives things forward and I was curious to see how things were going to play out. The pacing is actually done well, balancing sections that have a lot going on and then sections that seem a little bit slower to give a bit of a break.
- I really liked the first quarter of the book, where the main character was put in all these situations and how she was figuring things out, and the time at the palace with her siblings and the poisons. I think that this part of the book was the strongest.
- Okay, there were some things that I struggled with, but the biggest one for me is that after reading the entire book - albeit skim reading some sections near the end - I STILL do not understand anything about this magic system or how it works. I know that we got some explanations, but I don't feel that they fully explained the extent of the magic, it's limits, or the various affinities and versions of the magic. The main character and one other have the same affinity. But then there are these random characters who have different affinities - like one can command plants, one commands bugs, and one, I'm not even sure but I think has power of multiple natural things? And then some were using their magic together and I didn't understand how that worked either. I'm honestly not sure if I missed something or if I am just not smart enough to fully grasp the magic system - and either is fine I guess. It just made it really hard for me to be fully immersed in the book because I would get lost with everything going on and trying to follow it all. To add to that, there were a LOT of martial arts stances and I also didn't feel like I had a grasp on what those stances looked like. Again, could just be me.
- Personally for me, there was a LOT of lore and history and philosophy that bogged things down. A lot. And for the character being at a military academy, there was pretty much nothing about the military pieces - as the main character had to seek out texts and a competition outside of the classes. Then, later in the book, she learns about all of the defensive tactics DURING A BATTLE, because she was at the academy for so short a time.
- I also found in some small ways that things were mentioned and then either felt contradicted or they weren't brought up again. Same with some characters. It became a little difficult to figure out what I needed to remember or focus on.
- The ending felt really underwhelming. I know it is setting up for the sequel, but it felt a bit too deus ex machina for me and the reveal at the end was kind of predictable.
Anyways, I think that this book will be loved by a lot of people and I am really glad it's out there! Personally, it just didn't work for me and I won't be continuing with the series.
TW: murder, blood, body horror, violence, child death, death of parent, war, grief, injury/ injury detail, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, abandonment, colonisation, vomit
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