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Don't Fear the Fire
“Her mind refused to focus on anything other than the flame that lingered in her hands.”
Finally old enough to attend Leighton Academy, a school for those born with magikal powers, eighteen-year-old Scarlett Dalton cannot wait to escape from her small, mundane hometown of Whistlington.
Having struggled to fit in her whole life, she hopes Leighton Academy will offer her the fresh start she’s always craved, and when she meets her two Sagittarius roommates, it feels as though her dreams of building a strong friendship group have finally come true.
But when strange happenings begin to occur at the school, Scarlett is forced to work alongside Claude Richardson from the rival boys’ academy, and as they start to uncover the secrets of the students at the academy, and the deities that reside within their world, Scarlett starts to wonder if she might be fighting for the wrong side…
Finally old enough to attend Leighton Academy, a school for those born with magikal powers, eighteen-year-old Scarlett Dalton cannot wait to escape from her small, mundane hometown of Whistlington.
Having struggled to fit in her whole life, she hopes Leighton Academy will offer her the fresh start she’s always craved, and when she meets her two Sagittarius roommates, it feels as though her dreams of building a strong friendship group have finally come true.
But when strange happenings begin to occur at the school, Scarlett is forced to work alongside Claude Richardson from the rival boys’ academy, and as they start to uncover the secrets of the students at the academy, and the deities that reside within their world, Scarlett starts to wonder if she might be fighting for the wrong side…
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Published March 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 25, 2025
Lois came to visit us at our book club last night, bloom book club, in Poole. We found Lois via a local newspaper article, and we're so happy that we did.
Lois was SO friendly and such a fountain of knowledge of the publishing and writing world. Our group had a plethora of questions for her which she answered like an absolute pro. Everyone in the book club loved the book, and we were so happy to have chosen it for our April book of the month.
Thank you Lois, for your support with our book club. We loved having you.
Emily
Lois was SO friendly and such a fountain of knowledge of the publishing and writing world. Our group had a plethora of questions for her which she answered like an absolute pro. Everyone in the book club loved the book, and we were so happy to have chosen it for our April book of the month.
Thank you Lois, for your support with our book club. We loved having you.
Emily
April 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! Scarlett is the type of character you can't help but like and relate to. The friendships that she developed are heartwarming and it was so nice to see her find her way. The magic system was also interesting. There's fate, interesting magical creatures, astrology and more. There was even some romance and at first I wasn't too sure what I thought about it but in the end I really liked it! I hope there will be more books about Scarlett and her friends! Thank you Cranthorpe Millner and Lois Miller for sharing this book with me
April 22, 2025
3.75⭐️
This is a unique magic system.
The start was a tad wishy washy but the storyline got pretty good and I fell in love with the character Theo so much. I knew he seemed like an outcast in the Leighton Academy, and it’s usually those who bring some great talent and skills into a fantasy read like this, that stand out the most.He is super sweet and very bold, love that he’s so invested in herbs or medicines.
As for the MFC Scarlett, I loved how nerdy she was and always wanting to be near loved ones, even if its an inconvenience as she’s a girl who liked to have her head down in as many books as possible. I liked her but she did seem a bit too much at times, like very needy/clingy but I guess it does work in this context, maybe not so much my style.
I liked the premise of the book though, the writing improved so much towards the mid-end and found it much more emotive than to begin with. I think lots of young people would enjoy this book, as it’s relatable for youngsters in school, making friends etc and also navigating a world of bullies which is always important to identify and notice in this world. In addition, it’s also important to bring light to hidden talents and how powerful people can be and I do like that these talents were shown throughout the book.
🔥🖤
This is a unique magic system.
The start was a tad wishy washy but the storyline got pretty good and I fell in love with the character Theo so much. I knew he seemed like an outcast in the Leighton Academy, and it’s usually those who bring some great talent and skills into a fantasy read like this, that stand out the most.He is super sweet and very bold, love that he’s so invested in herbs or medicines.
As for the MFC Scarlett, I loved how nerdy she was and always wanting to be near loved ones, even if its an inconvenience as she’s a girl who liked to have her head down in as many books as possible. I liked her but she did seem a bit too much at times, like very needy/clingy but I guess it does work in this context, maybe not so much my style.
I liked the premise of the book though, the writing improved so much towards the mid-end and found it much more emotive than to begin with. I think lots of young people would enjoy this book, as it’s relatable for youngsters in school, making friends etc and also navigating a world of bullies which is always important to identify and notice in this world. In addition, it’s also important to bring light to hidden talents and how powerful people can be and I do like that these talents were shown throughout the book.
🔥🖤
July 26, 2025
2.5 ⭐
I liked the romance.
what the actual flipping acrobatic hell was that ending?
I liked the romance.
what the actual flipping acrobatic hell was that ending?
April 24, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
March 18, 2025
This needs some editing I feel like. I can tell it's a debut and it's not that great. This reads somewhere between middle grade and ya and I was expecting different, which isn't bad but definitely not for me. Has a magic school and a believable romance but I just really wasn't invested at all in any of the characters. Plus a lot of the side characters are utterly forgettable. Thanks Netgalley for an early copy but unfortunately not for me.
May 3, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Full review to come.
Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner for sending me this paperback for the book tour – see my tour post here!
My bookstagram
Full review to come.
Thank you to Cranthorpe Millner for sending me this paperback for the book tour – see my tour post here!
My bookstagram
April 6, 2025
Don't Fear the Fire is a debut dark academia crossed with fantasy novel set in a grand manor that is a boarding school for teens gifted with magick. We follow 18 year old Scarlett, who is finally old enough to attend Leighton Academey, where males and females are educated separately until they are required to pick their soulmates. Brought up by her aunt, shes led a fairly sheltered life and is ready to find her feet and make some friends. Life at the school is everything she expected until she meets her apparent soulmate Claude and is invited to stay with his family for the winter break. His parents are incredibly intense and task Scarlett and Claude with investigating some mysterious goings on at the school. Despite Scarlett drawing Claude as her soulmate, she also seems to have an undeniable spark with the enigmatic Theo, who is left without a partner after the girl who would have been his soulmate is forcibly removed from the school.
At first, I found myself struggling to get invested in the stpry as the writing felt a bit disjointed. The pacing seemed uneven, and it took a while for the plot to find its rhythm. However, once the male characters were introduced, the story began to open up, becoming more detailed and a much more riveting read.
One of my favourite parts of the novel is the school setting. The author describes the school in vivid detail which really brings it to life. The gothic architecture, the mysterious atmosphere, and the strict rules that attendees at the school must abide by gives the school both an enchanting yet also foreboding feel. There isnt a magic sytem as such, but the way magic is described to be used is straightforward and really easy to understand.
The writing style clearly belongs to the YA genre, though it leans more toward the older side of the YA spectrum. It does explore some deeper themes and portrays characters with more mature concerns, which is what makes it feel like its aimed more towards the NA end of YA.
The FMC Scarlett is an interesting character to get your head around. She is undeniably intelligent but it is definitely book smarts rather than world smarts. Many of her decisions come across as naïve, which can be infuriating at times when important decisions need to be made. You often find yourself wanting to shake her for her inability to see the obvious, particularly in the slow-burn romance between her and Theo. The tension in this relationship is well done, and while there are moments where you want to scream at Scarlett for being oblivious, it's clear that this romance is really important to her character development. I did find that the author didn’t spend a whole lot of time developing any of the side characters and it isnt until much later into the novel that you actually start to learn anything about Theo despite him having a prety integral role to the whole plot.
Overall, this is a pretty solid effort for a debut novel, and without trying to come across as patronising, its pretty impressive when you consider the author is a teenager herself. By the end of the book I did find myself fully invested in Scarlett and Theos fates and the conclusion leaves it open for a return to this world for another book, which I’m really hoping the author does!
At first, I found myself struggling to get invested in the stpry as the writing felt a bit disjointed. The pacing seemed uneven, and it took a while for the plot to find its rhythm. However, once the male characters were introduced, the story began to open up, becoming more detailed and a much more riveting read.
One of my favourite parts of the novel is the school setting. The author describes the school in vivid detail which really brings it to life. The gothic architecture, the mysterious atmosphere, and the strict rules that attendees at the school must abide by gives the school both an enchanting yet also foreboding feel. There isnt a magic sytem as such, but the way magic is described to be used is straightforward and really easy to understand.
The writing style clearly belongs to the YA genre, though it leans more toward the older side of the YA spectrum. It does explore some deeper themes and portrays characters with more mature concerns, which is what makes it feel like its aimed more towards the NA end of YA.
The FMC Scarlett is an interesting character to get your head around. She is undeniably intelligent but it is definitely book smarts rather than world smarts. Many of her decisions come across as naïve, which can be infuriating at times when important decisions need to be made. You often find yourself wanting to shake her for her inability to see the obvious, particularly in the slow-burn romance between her and Theo. The tension in this relationship is well done, and while there are moments where you want to scream at Scarlett for being oblivious, it's clear that this romance is really important to her character development. I did find that the author didn’t spend a whole lot of time developing any of the side characters and it isnt until much later into the novel that you actually start to learn anything about Theo despite him having a prety integral role to the whole plot.
Overall, this is a pretty solid effort for a debut novel, and without trying to come across as patronising, its pretty impressive when you consider the author is a teenager herself. By the end of the book I did find myself fully invested in Scarlett and Theos fates and the conclusion leaves it open for a return to this world for another book, which I’m really hoping the author does!
March 5, 2025
Firstly, I want to acknowledge how amazing this book is while also being mind blown that it was written by a 19-year-old. Miller’s ability to create a whole new world that was not only easy to understand but also provided me with the best level of detail, interactions, and action scenes in less than 500 pages has been significantly impressive.
In this book, I was introduced to 18-year-old Scarlett Dalton. Scarlett is eager to leave her small, unremarkable hometown of Whistlington, now that she is old enough to attend Leighton's Academy, a school for people born with magikal abilities. Scarlett hopes that Leighton's academy will give her the fresh start she always desired because she had always battled to fit in. When she meets her two Sagittarius roommates, it feels like her dreams of forming a close-knit friendship group have finally come true.
However, Scarlett is compelled to work with Claude Richardson from the rival boys' academy when strange things start to happen at the school. As they begin to learn the secrets of the academy's students and the deities that inhabit their world, Scarlett begins to question whether she is fighting for the wrong side especially when Scarlett gets to know one student, Theodore Tate.
The school and magik was nicely detailed as I got to immerse myself into this fantasy world as I flipped through the pages, while eagerly unveiling what happens next as the story unfolds. There were characters that were very likeable, while also getting villainous characters which constantly had me fuming, and on the edge of my seat.
It was a major challenge for me to put this book down. I was hooked, and constantly thirsty for more, it was completely captivating. The plot twists and revelations between what certain characters really are was terrific, and it was very well thought of. Nothing was rushed, and I do believe that Miller could deliver the overall storyline, character development and plot twists in a good pace.
There is a lot of tropes in this book that many will enjoy including flame twins, enemies to lovers, love triangles, forbidden love, family secrets, familiar pets, magik, and forced proximity.
This book is something to enjoy if you love the idea of reading about a magikal world that you are itching to escape into from reality. The ending of “Don’t Fear the Fire” leaves an opening for a future book to pick up from where this book had left off.
I am delighted to say that this book was a 5 out of 5 stars rating! I wish Lois the absolute best of luck with this book, and future books that she writes.
In this book, I was introduced to 18-year-old Scarlett Dalton. Scarlett is eager to leave her small, unremarkable hometown of Whistlington, now that she is old enough to attend Leighton's Academy, a school for people born with magikal abilities. Scarlett hopes that Leighton's academy will give her the fresh start she always desired because she had always battled to fit in. When she meets her two Sagittarius roommates, it feels like her dreams of forming a close-knit friendship group have finally come true.
However, Scarlett is compelled to work with Claude Richardson from the rival boys' academy when strange things start to happen at the school. As they begin to learn the secrets of the academy's students and the deities that inhabit their world, Scarlett begins to question whether she is fighting for the wrong side especially when Scarlett gets to know one student, Theodore Tate.
The school and magik was nicely detailed as I got to immerse myself into this fantasy world as I flipped through the pages, while eagerly unveiling what happens next as the story unfolds. There were characters that were very likeable, while also getting villainous characters which constantly had me fuming, and on the edge of my seat.
It was a major challenge for me to put this book down. I was hooked, and constantly thirsty for more, it was completely captivating. The plot twists and revelations between what certain characters really are was terrific, and it was very well thought of. Nothing was rushed, and I do believe that Miller could deliver the overall storyline, character development and plot twists in a good pace.
There is a lot of tropes in this book that many will enjoy including flame twins, enemies to lovers, love triangles, forbidden love, family secrets, familiar pets, magik, and forced proximity.
This book is something to enjoy if you love the idea of reading about a magikal world that you are itching to escape into from reality. The ending of “Don’t Fear the Fire” leaves an opening for a future book to pick up from where this book had left off.
I am delighted to say that this book was a 5 out of 5 stars rating! I wish Lois the absolute best of luck with this book, and future books that she writes.
April 10, 2025
This review will remain spoiler free.
This is a good debut and would be ideal for someone just starting out as a fantasy reader. I enjoyed the plot, although I do think it could do with some polishing as sometimes it did feel like certain elements of the storylines were being changed suddenly to fit a certain plot path rather than flow organically. But saying that I still enjoyed it and there were some parts where I got the creeps! (in a good way!).
This is a good novel leading up to a second as it introduced the characters, the school, magic system and the old legends. I enjoyed the observatory scenes and how those were incorporated into the story.
There is a romance arc woven within with the idea of soulmates and a choosing ceremony but all is not as it seems. There are friendships and loves, ouija boards and rebelliousness.
The boys and girls are split between two schools that are linked but they cross paths occasionally. I think occasionally this element could've done with some refinement as they aren't supposed to talk but find themselves constantly in situations where they will be pushed together, such as many balls, and study sessions. But it didn't ruin the story, just something that could be refined.
with the avoidance of spoilers... I enjoyed the magic system and the twist regarding this and the main characters. Although the female main characters twist became more predictable it was great to go along on her journey of discovery with her.
Some reviews I have seen mention there are a lot of cliches but personally I think it's nigh on impossible to be completely original in fantasy writing, and as an avid fantasy reader I didn't have a problem with the "cliches".
Apart from what I have already mentioned regarding polishing things up and some plot refinement this is a great debut, one I would recommend if you want to get into the fantasy genre. I have seen mentions that some things are left unanswered but I think this is written to perfectly set up for a second book, I'm the worst for feeling like things have been missed or left out but I think it's clearly written to lead us to a second book which I'd very much look forward to.
It wasn't a slog to read, we had plenty of world building and descriptions but it wasn't so over done where I find myself skimming pages which sometimes debut's can bog you down with.
If the author is to publish a sequel I will be choosing to read it and enjoy this world further.
This is a good debut and would be ideal for someone just starting out as a fantasy reader. I enjoyed the plot, although I do think it could do with some polishing as sometimes it did feel like certain elements of the storylines were being changed suddenly to fit a certain plot path rather than flow organically. But saying that I still enjoyed it and there were some parts where I got the creeps! (in a good way!).
This is a good novel leading up to a second as it introduced the characters, the school, magic system and the old legends. I enjoyed the observatory scenes and how those were incorporated into the story.
There is a romance arc woven within with the idea of soulmates and a choosing ceremony but all is not as it seems. There are friendships and loves, ouija boards and rebelliousness.
The boys and girls are split between two schools that are linked but they cross paths occasionally. I think occasionally this element could've done with some refinement as they aren't supposed to talk but find themselves constantly in situations where they will be pushed together, such as many balls, and study sessions. But it didn't ruin the story, just something that could be refined.
with the avoidance of spoilers... I enjoyed the magic system and the twist regarding this and the main characters. Although the female main characters twist became more predictable it was great to go along on her journey of discovery with her.
Some reviews I have seen mention there are a lot of cliches but personally I think it's nigh on impossible to be completely original in fantasy writing, and as an avid fantasy reader I didn't have a problem with the "cliches".
Apart from what I have already mentioned regarding polishing things up and some plot refinement this is a great debut, one I would recommend if you want to get into the fantasy genre. I have seen mentions that some things are left unanswered but I think this is written to perfectly set up for a second book, I'm the worst for feeling like things have been missed or left out but I think it's clearly written to lead us to a second book which I'd very much look forward to.
It wasn't a slog to read, we had plenty of world building and descriptions but it wasn't so over done where I find myself skimming pages which sometimes debut's can bog you down with.
If the author is to publish a sequel I will be choosing to read it and enjoy this world further.
June 16, 2025
3.5 Stars
Magic school meets dark secrets and slow-burn romance in this spirited YA debut.
If you've ever wanted to escape your boring hometown for a magical academy filled with elemental powers, suspicious deities, and dangerously attractive rivals—Don’t Fear the Fire delivers
Scarlett Dalton finally gets the fresh start she’s dreamed of when she’s accepted into Leighton Academy, a school where magikal teens train under the watchful eye of tradition… and hidden agendas.
Scarlett is instantly relatable, a girl with a fire she doesn't yet understand, trying to fit in while her powers (and her instincts) say she was never meant to blend in.
The novel’s real spark comes from the tension that builds as mysterious events start unraveling, forcing Scarlett into an uneasy alliance with Claude Richardson, a boy from the rival boys’ academy who is 50% arrogance, 50% mystery, and 100% magnetic. (Enemies-to-reluctant-partners alert!)
What to love:
* Magic with personality: Scarlett’s flame powers are as volatile as her emotions—and both are fun to watch flare.
* Sagittarius roommate chaos: Think loyal besties with serious main-character energy of their own.
* Boarding school secrets: Cloaks, coded histories, and a world where every student might be hiding something.
* Claude. Just… Claude.
* Themes of identity, trust, and choosing your path—even when everything you’re taught says otherwise.
Don’t Fear the Fire is a fresh YA fantasy with the warmth of Violet Made of Thorns and the mythic whisper of Percy Jackson gone dark academia.
With heart, humour, and danger, Lois Miller sets up a magical world you’ll want to return to and a FMC who’s just beginning to blaze her own trail.
Magic school meets dark secrets and slow-burn romance in this spirited YA debut.
If you've ever wanted to escape your boring hometown for a magical academy filled with elemental powers, suspicious deities, and dangerously attractive rivals—Don’t Fear the Fire delivers
Scarlett Dalton finally gets the fresh start she’s dreamed of when she’s accepted into Leighton Academy, a school where magikal teens train under the watchful eye of tradition… and hidden agendas.
Scarlett is instantly relatable, a girl with a fire she doesn't yet understand, trying to fit in while her powers (and her instincts) say she was never meant to blend in.
The novel’s real spark comes from the tension that builds as mysterious events start unraveling, forcing Scarlett into an uneasy alliance with Claude Richardson, a boy from the rival boys’ academy who is 50% arrogance, 50% mystery, and 100% magnetic. (Enemies-to-reluctant-partners alert!)
What to love:
* Magic with personality: Scarlett’s flame powers are as volatile as her emotions—and both are fun to watch flare.
* Sagittarius roommate chaos: Think loyal besties with serious main-character energy of their own.
* Boarding school secrets: Cloaks, coded histories, and a world where every student might be hiding something.
* Claude. Just… Claude.
* Themes of identity, trust, and choosing your path—even when everything you’re taught says otherwise.
Don’t Fear the Fire is a fresh YA fantasy with the warmth of Violet Made of Thorns and the mythic whisper of Percy Jackson gone dark academia.
With heart, humour, and danger, Lois Miller sets up a magical world you’ll want to return to and a FMC who’s just beginning to blaze her own trail.
March 15, 2025
More Good (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Sadly, I did not enjoy this book. The writing felt cliched and unoriginal, the heroine was completely unlikable and selfish, and the plot was painfully obvious. So much went unexplained and felt random, while people changed personalities constantly. None of the encounters between characters felt organic and realistic; instead, everything served to push the heroine's storyline.Story: Scarlett is happy to go to Leighton Academy for the magically gifted. While she isn't sure about her magical ability, she hopes to finally be with people who will accept her. But not all is as it seems at the academy.
I probably would have enjoyed this when I was 16 - feisty but dense heroine, eye wincingly emo love interest, the usual "adults ruin the world" storyline, overblown melodrama and painfully cliche dialogues. But I've read enough books now where I am more impressed when the heroine is NOT a speshul snowflake with no brain power whatsoever, when not everyone falls inexplicably in love with a person who is rude and unpleasant to be around all the time, and when the the love interest changes personalities every five pages so as to fit into the heroine's storyline better.
In all, it's not a terrible read but it does lack the strong writing skills that would have made it a more nuanced, believable, and engaging story. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
March 11, 2025
4 stars
There's something about this novel that made me feel so nostalgic. Like the feeling I had while reading this was the same one I had when reading ya fantasy for the first time, this feeling of being on an adventure with the characters.
This is a YA fantasy set in an academic setting. Our fmc is Scarlett, who comes to Leighton Academy so she can study and graduate top of her class to support her aunt. But as she makes new friends and settles in, she realizes things aren't as they seem. A force within her starts to take over, so she teams up with someone from the boys' academy to help her.
The first thing I noticed was the writing. Very ethereal and it easily wove the tale of these characters without losing my attention one bit. I felt enraptured.
I absolutely devoured this. The romance took a turn that I didn't expect, but I ended up LOVING. The mmc makes me mellltt. He fell first and harder.
"I'm sick of pretending that you're not all I think about." Eeekk!
I liked the magic system. We get to see some astrology, fate, and magical creatures weaved into this world.
The relationships Scarlett had were so heartwarming. The friends she connected with, whether those were her roommates or the boys.
She remined me of myself in the way she was a strict rule follower, but most situations would have her break them.
There's something about this novel that made me feel so nostalgic. Like the feeling I had while reading this was the same one I had when reading ya fantasy for the first time, this feeling of being on an adventure with the characters.
This is a YA fantasy set in an academic setting. Our fmc is Scarlett, who comes to Leighton Academy so she can study and graduate top of her class to support her aunt. But as she makes new friends and settles in, she realizes things aren't as they seem. A force within her starts to take over, so she teams up with someone from the boys' academy to help her.
The first thing I noticed was the writing. Very ethereal and it easily wove the tale of these characters without losing my attention one bit. I felt enraptured.
I absolutely devoured this. The romance took a turn that I didn't expect, but I ended up LOVING. The mmc makes me mellltt. He fell first and harder.
"I'm sick of pretending that you're not all I think about." Eeekk!
I liked the magic system. We get to see some astrology, fate, and magical creatures weaved into this world.
The relationships Scarlett had were so heartwarming. The friends she connected with, whether those were her roommates or the boys.
She remined me of myself in the way she was a strict rule follower, but most situations would have her break them.
April 6, 2025
So Scarlett Dalton finally turns eighteen and gets to go to Leighton Academy (about time!). It's this school for kids with magikal powers, and she's SO ready to get out of boring old Whistlington.
She's never really fit in anywhere, you know? So she's thinking Leighton will be her big chance to start fresh. And when she meets her roommates - both Sagittarius like her - she's like, "Yes! Finally found my people!"
But then weird stuff starts happening at school. She ends up having to work with this guy Claude Richardson from the boys' academy next door (not part of her plan). As they dig into what's going on with the students and these deities in their world, Scarlett's wondering if maybe she's on the wrong team...
Honestly, I had all the feels reading this. I stayed up way too late finishing it because I just couldn't put it down. The characters actually talk like real teenagers without being annoying, and Scarlett's not one of those "chosen one" types who's automatically good at everything.
It was such a quick, fun read, and thankfully not another copycat YA story. The magic system is super cool - they did this whole thing with astrology and magical creatures that really works.
If you're into good characters, soulmate connections, magic stuff, plus lots of "OMG didn't see that coming" secrets and betrayals - you should definitely check this out.
She's never really fit in anywhere, you know? So she's thinking Leighton will be her big chance to start fresh. And when she meets her roommates - both Sagittarius like her - she's like, "Yes! Finally found my people!"
But then weird stuff starts happening at school. She ends up having to work with this guy Claude Richardson from the boys' academy next door (not part of her plan). As they dig into what's going on with the students and these deities in their world, Scarlett's wondering if maybe she's on the wrong team...
Honestly, I had all the feels reading this. I stayed up way too late finishing it because I just couldn't put it down. The characters actually talk like real teenagers without being annoying, and Scarlett's not one of those "chosen one" types who's automatically good at everything.
It was such a quick, fun read, and thankfully not another copycat YA story. The magic system is super cool - they did this whole thing with astrology and magical creatures that really works.
If you're into good characters, soulmate connections, magic stuff, plus lots of "OMG didn't see that coming" secrets and betrayals - you should definitely check this out.
March 5, 2025
What drew me most to this book was the cover. To a big degree most of us book lovers are cover**ores to a various degree. What kept me glued to the story were the characters. And that lasted just long enough for the plot to grip me completely.
It has been exactly 7 years (give or take) since a debut author impressed me this much. There is nothing about this book that screams debut author. If you remove the name from the book, ask me to read it and guess who wrote it, I would probably tell you Leigh Bardugo, Laini Taylor, Maggie Stiefvater, or even Cassandra Clare. That's how good this book is.
In today's world it's almost hard to come up with an original story. Not to knock any author down but most themes have already been tapped. Most we can do is take something that has already been done and put a different, authentic and unique spin on it. And this is exactly what Lois Miller does here. She tells a gripping tale of belonging, and finding oneself in a world where she never really fit. And just when she does, a few wrenches get thrown in there to complicate things. Probably a story most of us have read a few times in our lives. But here, it's original and unique enough where it becomes a gripping story you're reading for the first time.
It has been exactly 7 years (give or take) since a debut author impressed me this much. There is nothing about this book that screams debut author. If you remove the name from the book, ask me to read it and guess who wrote it, I would probably tell you Leigh Bardugo, Laini Taylor, Maggie Stiefvater, or even Cassandra Clare. That's how good this book is.
In today's world it's almost hard to come up with an original story. Not to knock any author down but most themes have already been tapped. Most we can do is take something that has already been done and put a different, authentic and unique spin on it. And this is exactly what Lois Miller does here. She tells a gripping tale of belonging, and finding oneself in a world where she never really fit. And just when she does, a few wrenches get thrown in there to complicate things. Probably a story most of us have read a few times in our lives. But here, it's original and unique enough where it becomes a gripping story you're reading for the first time.
October 4, 2025
I really wanted to like Don’t Fear the Fire, but it ended up being a struggle to finish. The magic system is interesting and unique, but the execution just isn’t there. The writing feels rough and unpolished - you can tell it’s a debut, and while there’s potential, it needs a lot more refining.
The romance fell flat, feeling more like a box to tick than a believable relationship. What really got me, though, were the contradictions - like the FMC cheating on a test but being described as hardworking and determined. It made her character confusing and inconsistent.
Eighteen also feels far too old to be classed as YA. With a bit more maturity, depth, and thought-out plot points, this could have worked much better as a New Adult fantasy. Instead, it sits awkwardly in between and doesn’t fully deliver on either front.
In short, good concept, poor execution. I had to force myself through it, and while I respect the effort, this one just didn’t land for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
The romance fell flat, feeling more like a box to tick than a believable relationship. What really got me, though, were the contradictions - like the FMC cheating on a test but being described as hardworking and determined. It made her character confusing and inconsistent.
Eighteen also feels far too old to be classed as YA. With a bit more maturity, depth, and thought-out plot points, this could have worked much better as a New Adult fantasy. Instead, it sits awkwardly in between and doesn’t fully deliver on either front.
In short, good concept, poor execution. I had to force myself through it, and while I respect the effort, this one just didn’t land for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
April 4, 2025
Don't Fear the fire was an interesting read. In the beginning the scenes and writing style felt disjointed, though that became less of a problem later on. However, the writing style was not one that worked well for me. I felt that I didn't really know the main character well, as well the romance plot line didn't exactly make sense. Information was not delivered well, as in, later on, we find out more about the world, and certain things we find out exist that were not introduced earlier in the book, so I felt a little confused when that was just randomly dropped. We also did not know the side characters well, and the fact that it was set in the 1960s I found completely pointless, as it does not come up later in the book or relate to anything in the story. The plot I also found to be cliche.
The magic system was very interesting, though there were parts of it I didn't like, and I loved the boarding school vibes, with the creepy forest and the studying in thr common room or the library.
The magic system was very interesting, though there were parts of it I didn't like, and I loved the boarding school vibes, with the creepy forest and the studying in thr common room or the library.
March 18, 2025
Don’t Fear The Fire- Lois Miller
5✨
I fell in love with book the second I started reading it, every time I put it down my whole body was aching for me to pick it back up. I really enjoyed the slooooow burn, but man was I screaming at Scarletts stupidity at times. You can’t say that you are supposed to make the most important decision in your life and then NOT listen to your gut! (Yes I am talking about the cards) Girl if you feel drawn to one then pick that one! For such a smart girl she really was dumb sometimes. But I loved it anyways. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Here is what you can expect from this book,
🔥Soul mates
🔥Magic
🔥All girls school
🔥Secrets
🔥Betrayal
I highly recommend you put this on your TBR and get it on the release date 25th March!
Thank you NetGalley, Lois and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily
5✨
I fell in love with book the second I started reading it, every time I put it down my whole body was aching for me to pick it back up. I really enjoyed the slooooow burn, but man was I screaming at Scarletts stupidity at times. You can’t say that you are supposed to make the most important decision in your life and then NOT listen to your gut! (Yes I am talking about the cards) Girl if you feel drawn to one then pick that one! For such a smart girl she really was dumb sometimes. But I loved it anyways. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Here is what you can expect from this book,
🔥Soul mates
🔥Magic
🔥All girls school
🔥Secrets
🔥Betrayal
I highly recommend you put this on your TBR and get it on the release date 25th March!
Thank you NetGalley, Lois and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily
April 10, 2025
Fear the Fire is a YA enemies to lovers romantasy that takes place in Leighton Academy for Mystics. We follow Scarlett Dalton as she begins her new life at a magical school and leaves her old life behind. As she settles in things start going awry as she is forced to work with a Claud from the adjoining school for boys to uncover the secrets of the students at the academy.
This was such a fun time! I am always going to enjoy a book set in a magical school and this was no exception. What I was not expecting was for the mystery element to grip me as it did. As the book went on and more was revealed, making the stakes higher, I just couldn’t put the book down! The last 20% of the book was insane, I basically had to force myself not to read it too quickly so I could make it last longer.
Don’t even get me started on the ballroom scenes! I will eat up any fantasy book that includes a ball so I was over the moon when there was more than one in this book.
This was such a fun time! I am always going to enjoy a book set in a magical school and this was no exception. What I was not expecting was for the mystery element to grip me as it did. As the book went on and more was revealed, making the stakes higher, I just couldn’t put the book down! The last 20% of the book was insane, I basically had to force myself not to read it too quickly so I could make it last longer.
Don’t even get me started on the ballroom scenes! I will eat up any fantasy book that includes a ball so I was over the moon when there was more than one in this book.
April 8, 2025
Another fantasy for the books!
This was such a fun read that I picked up and devoured within one day. Following our mc as she explores this new life at Leighton Academy I quickly fell into this story line and was rooting for Scarlett from the start. Scarlett is relatable and realistic, we’ve all felt like we don’t fit in at one point and getting to see her grow through out this debut novel was fun and entertaining.
There’s nothing I love more than a dark academia novel mixed with fantasy! The unique magic system and mystery that you get to uncover while reading really keeps you hooked into this novel as well as the romance sub plot that’s fun to follow along. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
This was such a fun read that I picked up and devoured within one day. Following our mc as she explores this new life at Leighton Academy I quickly fell into this story line and was rooting for Scarlett from the start. Scarlett is relatable and realistic, we’ve all felt like we don’t fit in at one point and getting to see her grow through out this debut novel was fun and entertaining.
There’s nothing I love more than a dark academia novel mixed with fantasy! The unique magic system and mystery that you get to uncover while reading really keeps you hooked into this novel as well as the romance sub plot that’s fun to follow along. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
March 16, 2025
I want to say thank you to the author, the publisher and netgalley for this book
This was hands down a 5 star read!
I was so hooked on it, I had to tear myself away!
I was apprehensive about the outsider fmc going to a school setting and being the outside if you will but let me tell you, Scarlet can hold her own and she's very assertive And is such a well rounded character, this is wrote unlike other books of the same setting. The story is written so well and you can imagine everything that is happening and have a clear picture in your head.
100% if you want a story where you have a love triangle of sorts, a well written school system, great characters and more, pick this book up!
This was hands down a 5 star read!
I was so hooked on it, I had to tear myself away!
I was apprehensive about the outsider fmc going to a school setting and being the outside if you will but let me tell you, Scarlet can hold her own and she's very assertive And is such a well rounded character, this is wrote unlike other books of the same setting. The story is written so well and you can imagine everything that is happening and have a clear picture in your head.
100% if you want a story where you have a love triangle of sorts, a well written school system, great characters and more, pick this book up!
March 18, 2025
Magik School - Soul Mates - Secrets - Twists & Turns.
Such a great debut YA novel that I couldn't put down!
The world created within this story was fantastic and easy to understand. I loved that there were different elements to the magik system (astrology, fates, magical creatures)
The characters were interesting and extremely likable. Scarlett (FMC) made some really great connections along the way and I loved reading about her finding her place within the world.
The ending has left me wanting more (it's not a cliffhanger though!). I would love to read more about the magik system and learn more about the characters!
A great story of friendship, belonging and finding yourself.
Such a great debut YA novel that I couldn't put down!
The world created within this story was fantastic and easy to understand. I loved that there were different elements to the magik system (astrology, fates, magical creatures)
The characters were interesting and extremely likable. Scarlett (FMC) made some really great connections along the way and I loved reading about her finding her place within the world.
The ending has left me wanting more (it's not a cliffhanger though!). I would love to read more about the magik system and learn more about the characters!
A great story of friendship, belonging and finding yourself.
May 24, 2025
Don't Fear the Fire is a great young adult read, full of interesting magical powers, really unique characters, and a the fight between a late bloomer and herself as she struggles to fit in with everyone around her. On top of all this, she's moving from her home in a lighthouse with her deaf aunt to a really rich boarding school. The worst part? She hasn't gotten her powers yet. And that's a problem. I really enjoyed getting to know everyone personally in the story, and learning about just how in depth the world that they live in is.
Check out my full review here!
https://mutatedlibrary.wordpress.com/...
Check out my full review here!
https://mutatedlibrary.wordpress.com/...
July 31, 2025
This book has and eye catching cover and a interesting synopsis but unfortunately, for me it fell flat. I didn't care for the main character, she is 18 and going off to a new academy for magik wielders but has to cheat her way in on her magik ability but she is also portrayed as a person that works hard in her classes. When it came to the soulmate choice right away in the students first year of the academy just didn't sit right with me. Overall I was more annoyed by the FMC than anything else. Sorry I do hope others like it better than me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2025
Don’t Fear the Fire by Lois Miller is a fast-paced, magical YA read that had me hooked from the start. Scarlett, finally escaping her small town to attend Leighton Academy, is a relatable and strong main character. The friendships she forms, especially with her bold Sagittarius roommates, felt real and added a lot of heart to the story.
Miller’s writing is easy to fall into, with vivid world-building and a magic system that’s both fun and intriguing. There are familiar tropes (magical school, self-discovery), but they’re done in a way that still feels fresh. I would’ve liked a few more surprises in the plot, but overall, it was an engaging read with memorable characters.
Miller’s writing is easy to fall into, with vivid world-building and a magic system that’s both fun and intriguing. There are familiar tropes (magical school, self-discovery), but they’re done in a way that still feels fresh. I would’ve liked a few more surprises in the plot, but overall, it was an engaging read with memorable characters.
April 30, 2025
**Goodreads giveaway win**
Overall interesting magic system, with a strong discrepancy in how different magical races are treated.
I thought the characters were relatable, interesting, and developed as the book went along.
I only gave 3/5 stars because the story felt very surface level. It was as though everything was skimmed across briefly, but the important details that really draw a reader in were missing.
I'm open to reading the second book and see how both the characters and the author grow with the story.
Overall interesting magic system, with a strong discrepancy in how different magical races are treated.
I thought the characters were relatable, interesting, and developed as the book went along.
I only gave 3/5 stars because the story felt very surface level. It was as though everything was skimmed across briefly, but the important details that really draw a reader in were missing.
I'm open to reading the second book and see how both the characters and the author grow with the story.
April 10, 2025
What an incredible debut! The writing is fabulous and had me hooked from the very start. I love books involving magic and I thought the academic setting was perfect for Scarlett’s story. I felt she was a great character and found her interesting. The romance between Scarlet and Claude was a great addition to the story. The characters were very realistically portrayed as the teenagers that they were which made them very likable. I really enjoyed reading this one with its unique storyline.
May 7, 2025
This was such a great book. I love the academy and how they all are learning and have two schools one for boys and one for girls. I also find it interesting about the different types of beings there are. I love how they were explained and how there are stories told about the beings. I find Scarlet to be a great character and I love how she is doing her best with everything that is thrown her way. I cannot wait for a second book as this world has me drawn in.
March 13, 2025
Lois Miller delivers a powerful and gripping story with vivid storytelling and deeply compelling characters, this book explores resilience, courage, and the strength it takes to face life’s toughest challenges. The emotional depth and fast-paced narrative keep you turning the pages, making it impossible to put down. A must-read for those who love stories of perseverance and transformation.
April 1, 2025
Man. I was really hoping to like this. I just never was sucked in. A lot of it felt like the book was skimming through and in away rushed when I wanted more detail about the scenes. Other times there would be longer descriptions of things that didn’t feel as pertinent. I wish I had liked it more. The idea is there though, hence the 3 stars
This was a Goodreads giveaway win
This was a Goodreads giveaway win
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