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Of Flame and Fury
Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow in this enemies-to-lovers young adult romantic fantasy by debut author Mikayla Bridge. The hottest must-read of the summer!
On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly.
Seventeen-year-old Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races and the fortune that comes with it. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup” Coupers – an arrogant rival she can’t get out of her head.
As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel's home is mistakenly burned down, and she’s forced to take a job from a mysterious tech mogul with an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This sets in motion a conspiracy that threatens everyone Kel cares for, especially Coup, for whom her embers of resentment are quickly igniting into something dangerously new.
Heart-pounding pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic culminate in a final twist readers will never see coming.
On an island built from ash and shrouded in fire, phoenix racing is a sport just as profitable as it is deadly.
Seventeen-year-old Kel Varra and her team of underdogs, the Crimson Howlers, are desperate to win the annual races and the fortune that comes with it. But the Howlers need a new rider, which leads Kel to join forces with Warren “Coup” Coupers – an arrogant rival she can’t get out of her head.
As tensions rise on and off the track, Kel's home is mistakenly burned down, and she’s forced to take a job from a mysterious tech mogul with an unsettling interest in her phoenix, Savita. This sets in motion a conspiracy that threatens everyone Kel cares for, especially Coup, for whom her embers of resentment are quickly igniting into something dangerously new.
Heart-pounding pages full of steamy romance, fiery confessions, political scheming, and volatile magic culminate in a final twist readers will never see coming.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2025
232 people are currently reading
74268 people want to read
About the author
Mikayla Bridge
5 books352 followersMikayla Bridge is a young adult fantasy author living in Melbourne, Australia. She grew up on a small-town farm and completed a BA with honours in political science and international relations. She loves writing books that feel like a triple espresso: high-energy, heart-racing, and might ruin your sleep schedule.
You can find her on instagram at @mikayla_bridge.
You can find her on instagram at @mikayla_bridge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 856 reviews
July 15, 2025
જ⁀➴ 4.25 stars (rounded down to 4)
Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux (BYR) for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update:: Happy publishing day to Of Flame and Fury!
𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧
*cue "The Phoenix" by Fall Out Boy*
Omg. PLEASE tell me there's going to be a second book. I can't live like this, Mikayla Bridge. What do we need to do for a second book?! This book single-handedly got me out of a reading slump. I've seen so many things about how Of Flame and Fury is going to be the hottest YA fantasy debut of the summer, and honestly, I think it lives up to the hype.
If I had only one way to describe Of Flame and Fury, I would say, "F1 racing but with phoenixes." The story had me hooked right away from the very first chapter and sucked me in until the very last pages. There was no buildup to the action, it just happened right away.
Kel Varra, along with her best friend, Dira, are members of The Howlers, a phoenix-racing team that's part of the larger CAPR organization, a phoenix-racing organization, on the island they live on. When they suddenly lose a bunch of their crew, including their main rider, Warren "Coup" Coupers and his older brother, Bekn, step in to help out. Kel and Coup constantly butt heads, but with Kel financially struggling to keep her family home, she reluctantly lets Coup and Bekn join. When she and Coup get propositioned by a billionaire tech mogul to get sponsored by him in exchange for the best training facilities for Savita, Kel's phoenix, a roof over their heads, and opportunities they'd never be allowed otherwise, the Howlers accept. When things start to get fishier after getting sponsored, Kel and her crew have to get to the bottom of a new conspiracy that could threaten everything they love and care for.
Let's discuss the vibes and what to expect in this book. Like I said earlier, if you are a BIG F1 fan, you're going to LOVE the phoenix racing in Of Flame and Fury! The vibes we get from the races, how CAPR is organized and set up, how the teams are set up, along with the idea of CAPR racing teams getting sponsored by larger organizations, are all extremely reminiscent of how an F1 race typically goes! There were plenty of racing scenes to go around, and just like F1 races, CAPR races are all set in totally different areas across the island, each with its challenges and obstacles. The phoenix races were so much fun to read, and I loved reading about the Howlers coming together to strategize on how to win and place in the top 3.
I wish we got to learn more about the other CAPR teams aside from the Howlers and how sponsorships come about and work though; I feel like the racing scenes solely focused on the racing itself and from the Howlers' perspective. I wanted to see rivalries! I want to know how teams even make it into CAPR! There's only 20 phoenix riders allowed in a race (again, JUST like F1 races are!), and I would've loved to see how people rise up through the ranks to make it there in the first place.
If you love a good found family trope, the Howlers are the friend group for you! There was a lot of animosity at first, considering Kel and Coup are enemies and can't stand the sight of each other, let alone training with each other. With Dira's sarcastic remarks, Bekn's constant need for making sure everything goes smoothly, and Rahn making sure Coup and Savita get the best gear for races (and nothing but the best), everyone in the group balances each other out so nicely.
As for the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the story that is talked about in the official blurb for the book, I wish it were more developed. I would also make the argument that this is NOT romance-focused in comparison to other romantasy books, which I thought was a good thing, but was also its downfall. Kel and Coup are the literal definition of enemies, and there is a specific way/trope the author uses to get them to the "lovers" aspect of the story, but I also feel like it came completely out of nowhere. Kel spends pretty much all of her remaining brain power hating Coup when she's not thinking about Savita, training with her, taking care of her, and making sure she's okay, and I personally felt like a light switch was flipped in her head when she started liking Coup.
Aside from them training together with Savita and a few cutesy scenes here and there, I didn't really feel like there was any real evidence that Kel was starting to warm up to Coup or even any instances of her starting to catch feelings for him. Again, it was as if a light switch went off in her head one day, and she woke up and said, "I kinda wanna kiss him." I think having Coup's POV would've added some more perspective on their relationship and would add some much-needed depth.
I also love the discussion that the story brings up about the phoenixes. Phoenixes were on the island way before humans were, and to live on the island, humans had to tame them by collaring them. There was a lot of debate throughout the story about whether or not to let phoenixes live free in the wild, or to tame them so humans have more control over them. I love that at the end of the day, the phoenixes answer to no one. No matter if you tame them, train them, or domesticate them, they're always going to do what's best for them, and phoenixes, and I suppose animals in general, don't owe humans anything. They're wild. They're free. They can burn you. They can do whatever they want, and they're completely unapologetic.
Some other minor things that I wanted to bring up:
ˋ°•*⁀➷ A certain side character: without going into too much detail, there was a side character that was there that I didn't really feel like was entirely relevant other than to play a role in Kel's plot and character arc. They kind of came out of nowhere, considering they were barely mentioned in the story, and that's what I'll leave it at.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ The epilogue: So...the epilogue wasn't included in the ARC. I had to go to my Barnes & Noble (which had the finished book out a week early) and find the epilogue to read it. The epilogue brings SO much more context to the story after the main plot is over. It's making me believe there'll be a second book as a follow-up because if the story truly ends like that and it's only going to be a standalone, I'm not sure how readers are going to feel about not having everything tie up super nicely.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ AB: For context, there's a pandemic on the island known as AB. It's a deadly disease, and the sideplot of the story is trying to figure out how to cure it. The theory behind how it manifests in what areas of the island is very interesting, but as a healthcare worker, I have a lot of questions about AB itself regarding how it spreads from person to person. I'm not sure if I just simply don't remember reading that, or it wasn't explained at all, but what I don't understand is how some of these characters just know people who have been infected and passed away from AB, but they're not personally infected themselves. I'm sure if there's more to come after this book, it'll probably be explained then, but that was something I couldn't get past as someone who works in healthcare.
If you're looking for a fast-paced romantasy read this summer and want to support a debut author, look no further than Of Flame and Fury. I can't wait to see what Mikayla Bridge has in store next (hopefully a sequel to this. Please let it be a sequel to this!!!)
𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧
Content/trigger warnings: recounted deaths of loved ones, on-page death of side characters, graphic depictions of injuries, hospitalization
⋆˙⟡ 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒 (7/5/2025, 2:48 PM): All I’ll say for now is that you guys are in for a treat with this book! Can’t believe this is a debut novel!
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I got last minute approved for 2 ARCs for this month and this is one of them! I need to get out of what I'm feeling is like a reading slump, and I've heard SO many good things about this, so I can't wait to start it!🩷💜💙
This is ARC 3/16 for my July 2025 ARCs, and eARC 1/4 for my next deadline of July 15th, 2025!
Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux (BYR) for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update:: Happy publishing day to Of Flame and Fury!
“Savita owed Kel nothing beyond what she chose to bestow. She was the rightful god of this island, and Kel considered herself lucky that she’d known Sav at all.”
𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧
*cue "The Phoenix" by Fall Out Boy*
Omg. PLEASE tell me there's going to be a second book. I can't live like this, Mikayla Bridge. What do we need to do for a second book?! This book single-handedly got me out of a reading slump. I've seen so many things about how Of Flame and Fury is going to be the hottest YA fantasy debut of the summer, and honestly, I think it lives up to the hype.
If I had only one way to describe Of Flame and Fury, I would say, "F1 racing but with phoenixes." The story had me hooked right away from the very first chapter and sucked me in until the very last pages. There was no buildup to the action, it just happened right away.
Kel Varra, along with her best friend, Dira, are members of The Howlers, a phoenix-racing team that's part of the larger CAPR organization, a phoenix-racing organization, on the island they live on. When they suddenly lose a bunch of their crew, including their main rider, Warren "Coup" Coupers and his older brother, Bekn, step in to help out. Kel and Coup constantly butt heads, but with Kel financially struggling to keep her family home, she reluctantly lets Coup and Bekn join. When she and Coup get propositioned by a billionaire tech mogul to get sponsored by him in exchange for the best training facilities for Savita, Kel's phoenix, a roof over their heads, and opportunities they'd never be allowed otherwise, the Howlers accept. When things start to get fishier after getting sponsored, Kel and her crew have to get to the bottom of a new conspiracy that could threaten everything they love and care for.
Let's discuss the vibes and what to expect in this book. Like I said earlier, if you are a BIG F1 fan, you're going to LOVE the phoenix racing in Of Flame and Fury! The vibes we get from the races, how CAPR is organized and set up, how the teams are set up, along with the idea of CAPR racing teams getting sponsored by larger organizations, are all extremely reminiscent of how an F1 race typically goes! There were plenty of racing scenes to go around, and just like F1 races, CAPR races are all set in totally different areas across the island, each with its challenges and obstacles. The phoenix races were so much fun to read, and I loved reading about the Howlers coming together to strategize on how to win and place in the top 3.
I wish we got to learn more about the other CAPR teams aside from the Howlers and how sponsorships come about and work though; I feel like the racing scenes solely focused on the racing itself and from the Howlers' perspective. I wanted to see rivalries! I want to know how teams even make it into CAPR! There's only 20 phoenix riders allowed in a race (again, JUST like F1 races are!), and I would've loved to see how people rise up through the ranks to make it there in the first place.
If you love a good found family trope, the Howlers are the friend group for you! There was a lot of animosity at first, considering Kel and Coup are enemies and can't stand the sight of each other, let alone training with each other. With Dira's sarcastic remarks, Bekn's constant need for making sure everything goes smoothly, and Rahn making sure Coup and Savita get the best gear for races (and nothing but the best), everyone in the group balances each other out so nicely.
As for the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the story that is talked about in the official blurb for the book, I wish it were more developed. I would also make the argument that this is NOT romance-focused in comparison to other romantasy books, which I thought was a good thing, but was also its downfall. Kel and Coup are the literal definition of enemies, and there is a specific way/trope the author uses to get them to the "lovers" aspect of the story, but I also feel like it came completely out of nowhere. Kel spends pretty much all of her remaining brain power hating Coup when she's not thinking about Savita, training with her, taking care of her, and making sure she's okay, and I personally felt like a light switch was flipped in her head when she started liking Coup.
Aside from them training together with Savita and a few cutesy scenes here and there, I didn't really feel like there was any real evidence that Kel was starting to warm up to Coup or even any instances of her starting to catch feelings for him. Again, it was as if a light switch went off in her head one day, and she woke up and said, "I kinda wanna kiss him." I think having Coup's POV would've added some more perspective on their relationship and would add some much-needed depth.
I also love the discussion that the story brings up about the phoenixes. Phoenixes were on the island way before humans were, and to live on the island, humans had to tame them by collaring them. There was a lot of debate throughout the story about whether or not to let phoenixes live free in the wild, or to tame them so humans have more control over them. I love that at the end of the day, the phoenixes answer to no one. No matter if you tame them, train them, or domesticate them, they're always going to do what's best for them, and phoenixes, and I suppose animals in general, don't owe humans anything. They're wild. They're free. They can burn you. They can do whatever they want, and they're completely unapologetic.
Some other minor things that I wanted to bring up:
ˋ°•*⁀➷ A certain side character: without going into too much detail, there was a side character that was there that I didn't really feel like was entirely relevant other than to play a role in Kel's plot and character arc. They kind of came out of nowhere, considering they were barely mentioned in the story, and that's what I'll leave it at.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ The epilogue: So...the epilogue wasn't included in the ARC. I had to go to my Barnes & Noble (which had the finished book out a week early) and find the epilogue to read it. The epilogue brings SO much more context to the story after the main plot is over. It's making me believe there'll be a second book as a follow-up because if the story truly ends like that and it's only going to be a standalone, I'm not sure how readers are going to feel about not having everything tie up super nicely.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ AB: For context, there's a pandemic on the island known as AB. It's a deadly disease, and the sideplot of the story is trying to figure out how to cure it. The theory behind how it manifests in what areas of the island is very interesting, but as a healthcare worker, I have a lot of questions about AB itself regarding how it spreads from person to person. I'm not sure if I just simply don't remember reading that, or it wasn't explained at all, but what I don't understand is how some of these characters just know people who have been infected and passed away from AB, but they're not personally infected themselves. I'm sure if there's more to come after this book, it'll probably be explained then, but that was something I couldn't get past as someone who works in healthcare.
If you're looking for a fast-paced romantasy read this summer and want to support a debut author, look no further than Of Flame and Fury. I can't wait to see what Mikayla Bridge has in store next (hopefully a sequel to this. Please let it be a sequel to this!!!)
𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧ ˚₊𓋼 𓍊₊˚ ୨ 🐦🔥 ୧
Content/trigger warnings: recounted deaths of loved ones, on-page death of side characters, graphic depictions of injuries, hospitalization
⋆˙⟡ 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒 (7/5/2025, 2:48 PM): All I’ll say for now is that you guys are in for a treat with this book! Can’t believe this is a debut novel!
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I got last minute approved for 2 ARCs for this month and this is one of them! I need to get out of what I'm feeling is like a reading slump, and I've heard SO many good things about this, so I can't wait to start it!🩷💜💙
This is ARC 3/16 for my July 2025 ARCs, and eARC 1/4 for my next deadline of July 15th, 2025!
October 12, 2025
Oh my goodness! The sheer intensity of this book had me on the edge of my seat! This is an electrifying, action-packed, and wildly original story that transports you straight into high-stakes races—only this time, instead of cars, we have phoenixes! The adrenaline, the danger, the heart-pounding thrill of every competition had me stress-eating my way through snacks while frantically flipping the pages. My fellow book lovers, do not sleep on this one!
From the very first page, Of Flame and Fury throws you into a world of fire and ambition, where phoenix racing isn’t just a sport—it’s a deadly game of survival. Kel Varra, our fiercely determined protagonist, is an underdog you can’t help but root for. She’s bold, stubborn, and willing to risk everything to win. And then there’s Coup—arrogant, maddening, and yet utterly irresistible. Their rivalry crackles with tension, making every interaction between them feel like a battle of wills. The enemies-to-lovers trope? Flawlessly executed! The slow-burn romance, the lingering stares, the push and pull—it’s the kind of dynamic that keeps you hopelessly hooked. I found myself whispering “just kiss already!” more times than I care to admit. And yes, I fully embraced my obsession by brainstorming ship names for them (Kelco? Koup? Someone back me up here!).
Beyond the romance, the world-building is simply breathtaking. The idea of phoenix racing is fresh and exhilarating, and the descriptions make you feel the heat of the flames and the rush of the wind as the riders battle for victory. But this isn’t just a story about winning a race—there’s a deeper layer of political intrigue, dangerous conspiracies, and secrets that could change everything. The stakes are impossibly high, and just when you think you know where things are headed, the plot takes a sharp turn that leaves you gasping.
One of my favorite things about this book is how effortlessly it blends different elements—action, fantasy, romance, and suspense—without ever losing momentum. The pacing is relentless, yet it still takes the time to develop its characters and relationships in a way that feels authentic and compelling. The side characters are just as intriguing as the leads, and I found myself desperate to know more about them (Dira and Bekn need their own spin-off, I’m just saying).
For fans of fantasy, romance, and high-intensity storytelling, Of Flame and Fury is an absolute must-read. It’s fierce, exhilarating, and packed with everything you could want—betrayals, secrets, pulse-pounding action, and a romance that burns brighter than a phoenix’s flames. If you love books with heart-racing competition, rich world-building, and characters who feel like real people, this one needs to be on your radar.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for sharing this ARC of one of the most anticipated fantasy books of the year in exchange for my honest opinions—I truly appreciate it!
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From the very first page, Of Flame and Fury throws you into a world of fire and ambition, where phoenix racing isn’t just a sport—it’s a deadly game of survival. Kel Varra, our fiercely determined protagonist, is an underdog you can’t help but root for. She’s bold, stubborn, and willing to risk everything to win. And then there’s Coup—arrogant, maddening, and yet utterly irresistible. Their rivalry crackles with tension, making every interaction between them feel like a battle of wills. The enemies-to-lovers trope? Flawlessly executed! The slow-burn romance, the lingering stares, the push and pull—it’s the kind of dynamic that keeps you hopelessly hooked. I found myself whispering “just kiss already!” more times than I care to admit. And yes, I fully embraced my obsession by brainstorming ship names for them (Kelco? Koup? Someone back me up here!).
Beyond the romance, the world-building is simply breathtaking. The idea of phoenix racing is fresh and exhilarating, and the descriptions make you feel the heat of the flames and the rush of the wind as the riders battle for victory. But this isn’t just a story about winning a race—there’s a deeper layer of political intrigue, dangerous conspiracies, and secrets that could change everything. The stakes are impossibly high, and just when you think you know where things are headed, the plot takes a sharp turn that leaves you gasping.
One of my favorite things about this book is how effortlessly it blends different elements—action, fantasy, romance, and suspense—without ever losing momentum. The pacing is relentless, yet it still takes the time to develop its characters and relationships in a way that feels authentic and compelling. The side characters are just as intriguing as the leads, and I found myself desperate to know more about them (Dira and Bekn need their own spin-off, I’m just saying).
For fans of fantasy, romance, and high-intensity storytelling, Of Flame and Fury is an absolute must-read. It’s fierce, exhilarating, and packed with everything you could want—betrayals, secrets, pulse-pounding action, and a romance that burns brighter than a phoenix’s flames. If you love books with heart-racing competition, rich world-building, and characters who feel like real people, this one needs to be on your radar.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for sharing this ARC of one of the most anticipated fantasy books of the year in exchange for my honest opinions—I truly appreciate it!
medium.com
September 11, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. The pacing was uneven, the romance was lacking, the world building was underdeveloped and the characters were flat. Although I did like the phoenixes, the magic, and the plot was interesting. The pacing was all over the place, in the beginning it was fast, in the middle it was slow and at the end it was too fast. I enjoyed learning about the phoenixes and their magic, but the history of the world was not explained and how the phoenixes came to be. I also didn’t learn enough about the different countries in the book and how they differ. The magic could also have been explained in more detail. I liked that the people in the book were riding phoenixes instead of dragons, it’s a unique idea. The plot was interesting, but it was chaotic at the end. The characters were okay but they felt flat and underdeveloped. Kel was okay, but I didn’t connect to her and she was hotheaded. I also didn’t agree with the decisions she made and most of the time she didn’t treat her friends well. I liked Coup, but I didn’t understand him enough to fall in love with him and his character development was lacking. I liked the side characters, but again didn’t know them well enough. The banter between Kel and Coup was great, but their chemistry was lacking. Also the development of their relationship was chaotic, I liked that it started off with enemies to lovers but then there wasn’t much development of the next stage. Additionally there wasn’t much of a talk about feelings, they just went to the next stage. The ending was exciting, but ended suddenly and not everything was answered. Overall, this book was fine, but the pacing was uneven, the romance was lacking, the world building was underdeveloped and the characters felt flat.
March 29, 2025
This debut author nailed it! If you love a great magical fantasy book, I recommend reading this! Moreover, it had other great elements in this book as well. It came with action, romance, survival and suspense. It takes you on a wild ride with phoenixes, which had vivid descriptions that will forever be memorable to me. The races were exciting and I was eager to see what happens next!
It had an enemies to lovers trope, along with fake relationships in this book. I really enjoyed all the characters, including the minor characters. It did take a while for the characters to develop, which is understandable. The storyline felt original and it was easy to read. Even though this is in the teens and young adults genre, I feel like this can be read by different age groups. Be sure to read the content warnings. Her first book was definitely a great one that you do not want to miss! I give “Of Flame and Fury” a high 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Mikayla Bridge and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is set to be published in July of 2025!
It had an enemies to lovers trope, along with fake relationships in this book. I really enjoyed all the characters, including the minor characters. It did take a while for the characters to develop, which is understandable. The storyline felt original and it was easy to read. Even though this is in the teens and young adults genre, I feel like this can be read by different age groups. Be sure to read the content warnings. Her first book was definitely a great one that you do not want to miss! I give “Of Flame and Fury” a high 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Mikayla Bridge and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is set to be published in July of 2025!
June 21, 2025
~4.5 stars rounded down~ rtc
~ post read ~
i swear to god, i am completely changed after reading that. i don’t know whether im getting weak or books are getting better because, what, im BROKEN right now? please tell me theres at least a second book coming out. i beg. 🧎♀️🙏
~ currently reading ~
wait wait wait are you telling me she’s grumpy and he’s sunshine?? yes please.
i don’t think i’ve been this excited to read a book since onyx storm
~ preread ~
i won’t lie, i’m really excited to read this one. the idea of F1 style phoenix races is crazy 🧡💫
features-
🧡 debut author
💛 phoenixes
🧡 political plot
💛 YA (i think?)
🧡 romantasy
>> thank you to netgalley and macmillan for an arc in exchange for an honest review <3
~ post read ~
i swear to god, i am completely changed after reading that. i don’t know whether im getting weak or books are getting better because, what, im BROKEN right now? please tell me theres at least a second book coming out. i beg. 🧎♀️🙏
~ currently reading ~
wait wait wait are you telling me she’s grumpy and he’s sunshine?? yes please.
i don’t think i’ve been this excited to read a book since onyx storm
~ preread ~
i won’t lie, i’m really excited to read this one. the idea of F1 style phoenix races is crazy 🧡💫
features-
🧡 debut author
💛 phoenixes
🧡 political plot
💛 YA (i think?)
🧡 romantasy
>> thank you to netgalley and macmillan for an arc in exchange for an honest review <3
July 16, 2025
Ok, one thing I feel I need to say before I start reviewing.. if you are a true " enemies to lovers" fan.... 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️Please,🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ PLEASEEEEEEEEE,🗣️ don't 🗣️listen🗣️ to🗣️ all🗣️ the🗣️ people🗣️ labeling🗣️ this🗣️ " eNeMiEs To LoVeRs" 🗣️in reviews🗣️... respectfully 🫶🏻 lol.. Because it's really not, like it's really, REALLY not lol.. Then you're going to be disappointed by this book because you're looking for something that's not here! But it's not the Author's fault you were misinformed. Because this really was SUCHHHH a great, original , &, fun read. So seeing this get undeserved hate is going to irk me.. I really feel like a sub genre needs to be created for love interests that aren't quite "enemies to lovers" but also not "love at first sight"ers
AnyWHO, now that I've ranted that rant, let's actually get into it.
This was a super fun and original read! Think horse racing but instead of riding horses we're riding flippin Phoenixes!!!!!, so COOL.!!. & of course there's all different breeds of these beautiful creatures!.. but just like in real life, there will always be those trying to hurt animals.. while others are just as easily willing to put their lives on the line to try & protect them. This book is a beautiful telling of a very real life issue.
Not every great fantasy book needs to be a 1,200 page & 17 book series. This book is also a great example of that.
I'm truly grateful I was able to receive an ARC of this book
Oh my God!.. & these Phoenixes?!.. yeah, the descriptions of these Phoenixes will be living rent free in my head till the end of time!!
The end of this book gave me legit chills!!
& the epilogue had me balling!! 😭🥹🥹
Honestly, the last few books from Netgallery have been SO good, my personal TBR pile is about to send me a "Dear John" letter 🤣🫠
Edit it has now been days & I'm still thinking about this book.😭
AnyWHO, now that I've ranted that rant, let's actually get into it.
This was a super fun and original read! Think horse racing but instead of riding horses we're riding flippin Phoenixes!!!!!, so COOL.!!. & of course there's all different breeds of these beautiful creatures!.. but just like in real life, there will always be those trying to hurt animals.. while others are just as easily willing to put their lives on the line to try & protect them. This book is a beautiful telling of a very real life issue.
Not every great fantasy book needs to be a 1,200 page & 17 book series. This book is also a great example of that.
I'm truly grateful I was able to receive an ARC of this book
Oh my God!.. & these Phoenixes?!.. yeah, the descriptions of these Phoenixes will be living rent free in my head till the end of time!!
The end of this book gave me legit chills!!
& the epilogue had me balling!! 😭🥹🥹
Honestly, the last few books from Netgallery have been SO good, my personal TBR pile is about to send me a "Dear John" letter 🤣🫠
Edit it has now been days & I'm still thinking about this book.😭
July 13, 2025
I need a moment to emotionally recover from that book… 😭 I NEED the epilogue once the book officially comes out on July 15, 2025—I’m begging!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Mikayla Bridge, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Kelyn “Kel”, an experienced phoenix tamer who works alongside her sassy and lovable phoenix, Savita “Sav.” Kel has a deep love for phoenixes and is fiercely protective of them. Her best friend and sidekick, Dira, is her partner on their racing team, the Crimson Howlers. After a series of unfortunate events and some unexpected publicity during their most recent race, they’re forced to team up with Warren “Coup” Coupers and his brother Bekn, who have bounced between teams due to Coup’s unpredictable behavior. Now, they’re seeking a new team and come up with a proposal that brings their worlds crashing together.
Their new partnership lands them under the sponsorship of Cristo Industries, run by the powerful and influential Canen Cristo, who takes a particular interest in Sav. Canen offers to sponsor the Howlers if they agree to relocate to his facilities and work under his terms, which quickly throws them into a whirlwind of rising tension, secrets, and suspicion.
Things I LOVED about this book and think others will too:
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Found family
• Debut novel (!!)
• Romantasy with a YA vibe
• Twists and turns
• Phoenixes (YES please)
• A Hunger Games x Fourth Wing energy
• Enemies to lovers
• Political corruption and secrecy 👀
Some parts of the book were a little slow and repetitive for me, but overall I really enjoyed it. The cover is absolutely STUNNING, and this definitely leans more YA than the blurb initially suggests—which I actually loved once I adjusted expectations.
Let me tell you, I gasped when all the dots connected for Kel (you’ll know exactly the moment when you get there 😭). I was shocked and heartbroken so many times. Sav is the sassiest phoenix, and I absolutely adore her character. The bond between Kel and Dira was so heartwarming, and watching them build a found family with Coup and Bekn was one of the most rewarding parts of the story. I loved how much they leaned on one another and grew together.. it added so much depth and heart to the story 💕
This was such a strong and emotional debut, and I’m excited for more from this world!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Mikayla Bridge, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Kelyn “Kel”, an experienced phoenix tamer who works alongside her sassy and lovable phoenix, Savita “Sav.” Kel has a deep love for phoenixes and is fiercely protective of them. Her best friend and sidekick, Dira, is her partner on their racing team, the Crimson Howlers. After a series of unfortunate events and some unexpected publicity during their most recent race, they’re forced to team up with Warren “Coup” Coupers and his brother Bekn, who have bounced between teams due to Coup’s unpredictable behavior. Now, they’re seeking a new team and come up with a proposal that brings their worlds crashing together.
Their new partnership lands them under the sponsorship of Cristo Industries, run by the powerful and influential Canen Cristo, who takes a particular interest in Sav. Canen offers to sponsor the Howlers if they agree to relocate to his facilities and work under his terms, which quickly throws them into a whirlwind of rising tension, secrets, and suspicion.
Things I LOVED about this book and think others will too:
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Found family
• Debut novel (!!)
• Romantasy with a YA vibe
• Twists and turns
• Phoenixes (YES please)
• A Hunger Games x Fourth Wing energy
• Enemies to lovers
• Political corruption and secrecy 👀
Some parts of the book were a little slow and repetitive for me, but overall I really enjoyed it. The cover is absolutely STUNNING, and this definitely leans more YA than the blurb initially suggests—which I actually loved once I adjusted expectations.
Let me tell you, I gasped when all the dots connected for Kel (you’ll know exactly the moment when you get there 😭). I was shocked and heartbroken so many times. Sav is the sassiest phoenix, and I absolutely adore her character. The bond between Kel and Dira was so heartwarming, and watching them build a found family with Coup and Bekn was one of the most rewarding parts of the story. I loved how much they leaned on one another and grew together.. it added so much depth and heart to the story 💕
This was such a strong and emotional debut, and I’m excited for more from this world!
April 12, 2025
ARC - 4.5/5⭐️ Mikayla Bridge is coming in HOTTTT with her debut novel, Of Flame and Fury!! Think F1 racing but with phoenixes meets enemies-to-lovers romantasy. The high stakes, racing scenes were exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the characters. Kel and Coup were great; the chemistry and tension between the two was on fire 🔥. The last 30% of this book absolutely destroyed me; did not predict anything that was going to happen. Wow. I am hoping and praying that we get a second book because I need answers!!
Learning about the different subspecies of phoenixes was really interesting and I appreciated the cheat sheet guide at the beginning of the book; I definitely kept referring to that throughout my reading. The world building was top tier! The writing in this was just incredible! Bridge did such a wonderful job with this one.
Thank you to Macmillan publishing for the ARC!! 🩷🧡
Learning about the different subspecies of phoenixes was really interesting and I appreciated the cheat sheet guide at the beginning of the book; I definitely kept referring to that throughout my reading. The world building was top tier! The writing in this was just incredible! Bridge did such a wonderful job with this one.
Thank you to Macmillan publishing for the ARC!! 🩷🧡
August 9, 2025
I had a hard time with this book. It reads like a debut. Interesting premise - mid execution. A lot of contradictions here and there. Characters just changing their minds left and right for plot purposes. World building was okay ish but plotholes were present.
The FMC’s personality was insanely fickle. She judged everyone and then turned around and did the exact same thing she judged them for 🥴 very hypocritical but what got to me the most is that she would say something on one page - and the next would do a 360 and do exactly what she was so up against. There wasn’t a build up to a decision that went against her values - she just switched lightning fast. She hated the MMC for things she did herself. And she was mean to her only friend for no reason. She also had no character development whatsoever.
You start off on a race with no context about the world building - and for a good while I was wondering where this was going. A few storylines are introduced at some point but I did notice plot holes that weren’t resolved by the end.
I am settling on a 2 stars rating - considering I struggled with a lot of things. I did love the phoenixes and the races. But it wasn’t enough to redeem this book to me. I think a lot of people will like this but as an avid Fantasy reader, I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief with all the plot holes.
Now those are just my SUBJECTIVE thoughts. I’ve seen some pretty mean comments in the negative reviews for this book. I don’t know why strangers thoughts about a book get to some people so much lol - happy if you enjoyed it.
—-•preread
« For those who find solace in their rage. » yes thank you
The FMC’s personality was insanely fickle. She judged everyone and then turned around and did the exact same thing she judged them for 🥴 very hypocritical but what got to me the most is that she would say something on one page - and the next would do a 360 and do exactly what she was so up against. There wasn’t a build up to a decision that went against her values - she just switched lightning fast. She hated the MMC for things she did herself. And she was mean to her only friend for no reason. She also had no character development whatsoever.
You start off on a race with no context about the world building - and for a good while I was wondering where this was going. A few storylines are introduced at some point but I did notice plot holes that weren’t resolved by the end.
I am settling on a 2 stars rating - considering I struggled with a lot of things. I did love the phoenixes and the races. But it wasn’t enough to redeem this book to me. I think a lot of people will like this but as an avid Fantasy reader, I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief with all the plot holes.
Now those are just my SUBJECTIVE thoughts. I’ve seen some pretty mean comments in the negative reviews for this book. I don’t know why strangers thoughts about a book get to some people so much lol - happy if you enjoyed it.
—-•preread
« For those who find solace in their rage. » yes thank you
February 22, 2025
First of all, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I read the excerpt, and I liked it so much that I decided to read the whole thing!
Phoenixes, wild and dangerous, are hard to control, yet there are people who organize races with them.
It's a world of technology, magical and dangerous creatures, and a virus with no escape...
I think it’s worth reading just for the phoenixes, plus it's perfect for fans of racing, adrenaline, and secrets.
I worried I wouldn’t like it because of comparisons to “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Widow,” but I connected with the book.
The style is light and enjoyable; at times the pace felt quick, and I was able to predict some moments, but the ending surprised me—I might not have thought too deeply and was just reading, which made my eyes widen.
I really enjoyed the banter between the characters; she’s a grump, while he’s a sunshine who gets into trouble.
At times, the heroine's paranoia annoyed me, and it bothered me that she wasn't trusted, but I understood her.
I liked that the phoenixes are truly wild creatures here, unlike how dragons are often portrayed with a quick attachment to the hero.
Every animal is born to be free, but people love to control everything.
I really enjoyed the racing atmosphere; I thought about something similar last year, and I finally got it!
It reminded me more of "How to Train Your Dragon."🤌🏻
• Enemies to lovers
• Fake relationships
• Phoenixes
• Racing
• Found family
• Secrets
My thoughts as I began to read the passage:
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read a snippet of the beginning of the book!
Seeing "Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow," I realized I wouldn't like it.
I didn't like those books.
But the synopsis was so interesting that I decided to read this excerpt, for which I'm immensely grateful!
The atmosphere is incredible; I want more, I want to keep going!
It reminded me so much of horse racing, those old movies I used to watch, and the feeling of riding, the adrenaline.
I will definitely read the whole book! 🙌🏻
I don't know how to rate such a passage, but on a scale of interest, it's 4,5/5.
I read the excerpt, and I liked it so much that I decided to read the whole thing!
Phoenixes, wild and dangerous, are hard to control, yet there are people who organize races with them.
It's a world of technology, magical and dangerous creatures, and a virus with no escape...
I think it’s worth reading just for the phoenixes, plus it's perfect for fans of racing, adrenaline, and secrets.
I worried I wouldn’t like it because of comparisons to “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Widow,” but I connected with the book.
The style is light and enjoyable; at times the pace felt quick, and I was able to predict some moments, but the ending surprised me—I might not have thought too deeply and was just reading, which made my eyes widen.
I really enjoyed the banter between the characters; she’s a grump, while he’s a sunshine who gets into trouble.
At times, the heroine's paranoia annoyed me, and it bothered me that she wasn't trusted, but I understood her.
I liked that the phoenixes are truly wild creatures here, unlike how dragons are often portrayed with a quick attachment to the hero.
Every animal is born to be free, but people love to control everything.
I really enjoyed the racing atmosphere; I thought about something similar last year, and I finally got it!
It reminded me more of "How to Train Your Dragon."🤌🏻
• Enemies to lovers
• Fake relationships
• Phoenixes
• Racing
• Found family
• Secrets
My thoughts as I began to read the passage:
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read a snippet of the beginning of the book!
Seeing "Fourth Wing meets Iron Widow," I realized I wouldn't like it.
I didn't like those books.
But the synopsis was so interesting that I decided to read this excerpt, for which I'm immensely grateful!
The atmosphere is incredible; I want more, I want to keep going!
It reminded me so much of horse racing, those old movies I used to watch, and the feeling of riding, the adrenaline.
I will definitely read the whole book! 🙌🏻
I don't know how to rate such a passage, but on a scale of interest, it's 4,5/5.
September 23, 2025
Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me. The concept of phoenix racing had so much potential, but the execution never quite captured the excitement I was hoping for. Even after reading about 75% of the book, I struggled to connect with the characters. The tropes felt a little too familiar and predictable, which pulled me out of the story. While I understand this is YA, I’ve read many fantastic YA books that balance familiar elements with nuance and freshness which is something I wish this one had achieved.
July 26, 2025
5⭐️ FOR PURE ENTERTAINMENT
I am genuinely shocked by how much I loved this book? from the synopsis, I thought I would enjoy it but never would I have predicted just how much fun it ended up being. I finished it over a day ago and am still thinking about it!!
I loveddd the concept of phoenixes as the main animal in this world, I feel like dragons have been slightly overdone in the last few years and this felt like a breath of fresh air. the racing component of the plot was also super interesting, it kept me on my toes and the way I was rooting for these fictional characters to win every time was slightly concerning 🫣
I loved our cast of characters as well, they felt like their own people and contributed meaningfully to the plot, which can be difficult to do at times with a large cast.
kel and coup?? OBSESSED WITH THE TWO OF THEM I need more!!!!! every interaction between them had be giggling and I ate. it. up. 👏🏼👏🏼 this felt like a true enemies to lovers in the context of the story and I appreciated how it genuinely felt that kel disliked him from the start for valid reasons. one of my least favorite things is false advertising of enemies to lovers, where from the start the FMC constantly comments on the looks of her “enemy” and the hate feels so forced. safe to say this was not the case!
this read like a YA novel, but in the best way possible! I think the pacing was well done and the way the story came together by the end was wild to read about. the cliffhanger def had me screaming and I cannot wait for book 2!
I am genuinely shocked by how much I loved this book? from the synopsis, I thought I would enjoy it but never would I have predicted just how much fun it ended up being. I finished it over a day ago and am still thinking about it!!
I loveddd the concept of phoenixes as the main animal in this world, I feel like dragons have been slightly overdone in the last few years and this felt like a breath of fresh air. the racing component of the plot was also super interesting, it kept me on my toes and the way I was rooting for these fictional characters to win every time was slightly concerning 🫣
I loved our cast of characters as well, they felt like their own people and contributed meaningfully to the plot, which can be difficult to do at times with a large cast.
kel and coup?? OBSESSED WITH THE TWO OF THEM I need more!!!!! every interaction between them had be giggling and I ate. it. up. 👏🏼👏🏼 this felt like a true enemies to lovers in the context of the story and I appreciated how it genuinely felt that kel disliked him from the start for valid reasons. one of my least favorite things is false advertising of enemies to lovers, where from the start the FMC constantly comments on the looks of her “enemy” and the hate feels so forced. safe to say this was not the case!
this read like a YA novel, but in the best way possible! I think the pacing was well done and the way the story came together by the end was wild to read about. the cliffhanger def had me screaming and I cannot wait for book 2!
June 24, 2025
4.0 ★— This book was a fun, fast-paced ride that I enjoyed it a lot!
Phoenix racing scenes? Plentiful.
Hints of fake dating? Yes.
A non-broody MMC with a personality besides being a mysterious bad boy? Also yes.
Lots of lore on phoenixes? Hell yes.
I will say, I know publishers are being liberal with the enemies to lovers term for marketing purposes, but this really isn’t an enemies to lovers story.
Coup, the MMC, is a phoenix racer known for his reckless style of flight that the FMC, Kel, dislikes. But they’re really not enemies. His manner just rubs her the wrong way and she thus finds him grating. They start to warm up to each other quite quickly.
And this brings me to their relationship development.
In my opinion, the author didn’t quite manage the transition from reluctant teammates to lovers here. While I actually did enjoy their relationship once they’d gotten to know each other more, I found Kel’s change in how she thought about Coup a little sudden and not well developed enough. There’s a pretty pivotal scene that leads to this change in their dynamic, and while I liked the idea behind it, I just don’t think their feelings for each other were showcased enough prior to this. I would have loved to have the fake dating trope (that I liked here!) explored more and utilized to its full potential for more cute moments between them.
Onto the phoenix racing plot point.
I really loved the whole concept behind the phoenix racing and the entire teams behind the sport. The mechanics of it were fascinating, and I almost wished we could have gotten more deeply into the sponsorship aspects and technical aspects of this sport, though we did get plenty of racing scenes. I liked that the phoenixes were portrayed as willful, powerful animals that really couldn’t be controlled. They weren’t cuddly, they weren’t docile — they were beautiful, wild animals that could easily kill humans in their vicinity, and their danger was palpable whenever they were on-page. That said, yes, the worldbuilding did feel a tiny bit bare overall. I really wish we had gotten more information on other racers and teams, because the lack of it led to the world feeling strangely empty at times.
Aside from that, the book had an overarching plot that also slowly builds throughout the book.
This one, as it is revealed, was slightly predictable. It was fine and competently executed, but not nearly as compelling as the aforementioned elements. There was a pretty surprising plot point involving another character that sprung up in the last batch of chapters that threw me off for a while and made me question why exactly the author added it. Yes, it’s tied to a certain revelation pertaining to the FMC, but I felt like it was unnecessary and distracted me from the story as I tried to make sense of it.
Otherwise, I’ll just reiterate again that I had fun with this! It’s definitely not a perfectly written book and not some wildly original masterpiece, but it delivers on excitement and is, in my opinion, a well-executed YA fantasy story.
I listened to this as an audiobook for half of it and then switched to reading, and I can say that the narrator did a fantastic job. The way she found such different intonations for each of the characters was just masterfully done, and I can fully recommend this audiobook experience for the excitement of the racing scenes alone as they were a real delight to listen to!
__________________________________________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s
Publishing Group for the ARC, and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC, both provided in exchange for an honest review.
Phoenix racing scenes? Plentiful.
Hints of fake dating? Yes.
A non-broody MMC with a personality besides being a mysterious bad boy? Also yes.
Lots of lore on phoenixes? Hell yes.
I will say, I know publishers are being liberal with the enemies to lovers term for marketing purposes, but this really isn’t an enemies to lovers story.
Coup, the MMC, is a phoenix racer known for his reckless style of flight that the FMC, Kel, dislikes. But they’re really not enemies. His manner just rubs her the wrong way and she thus finds him grating. They start to warm up to each other quite quickly.
And this brings me to their relationship development.
In my opinion, the author didn’t quite manage the transition from reluctant teammates to lovers here. While I actually did enjoy their relationship once they’d gotten to know each other more, I found Kel’s change in how she thought about Coup a little sudden and not well developed enough. There’s a pretty pivotal scene that leads to this change in their dynamic, and while I liked the idea behind it, I just don’t think their feelings for each other were showcased enough prior to this. I would have loved to have the fake dating trope (that I liked here!) explored more and utilized to its full potential for more cute moments between them.
Onto the phoenix racing plot point.
I really loved the whole concept behind the phoenix racing and the entire teams behind the sport. The mechanics of it were fascinating, and I almost wished we could have gotten more deeply into the sponsorship aspects and technical aspects of this sport, though we did get plenty of racing scenes. I liked that the phoenixes were portrayed as willful, powerful animals that really couldn’t be controlled. They weren’t cuddly, they weren’t docile — they were beautiful, wild animals that could easily kill humans in their vicinity, and their danger was palpable whenever they were on-page. That said, yes, the worldbuilding did feel a tiny bit bare overall. I really wish we had gotten more information on other racers and teams, because the lack of it led to the world feeling strangely empty at times.
Aside from that, the book had an overarching plot that also slowly builds throughout the book.
This one, as it is revealed, was slightly predictable. It was fine and competently executed, but not nearly as compelling as the aforementioned elements. There was a pretty surprising plot point involving another character that sprung up in the last batch of chapters that threw me off for a while and made me question why exactly the author added it. Yes, it’s tied to a certain revelation pertaining to the FMC, but I felt like it was unnecessary and distracted me from the story as I tried to make sense of it.
Otherwise, I’ll just reiterate again that I had fun with this! It’s definitely not a perfectly written book and not some wildly original masterpiece, but it delivers on excitement and is, in my opinion, a well-executed YA fantasy story.
I listened to this as an audiobook for half of it and then switched to reading, and I can say that the narrator did a fantastic job. The way she found such different intonations for each of the characters was just masterfully done, and I can fully recommend this audiobook experience for the excitement of the racing scenes alone as they were a real delight to listen to!
__________________________________________________
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s
Publishing Group for the ARC, and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC, both provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2025
3.5 stars
Of Flame and Fury has an exceptional premise - I love any fantasy book with unique animal companions - but unfortunately, it really reads like a debut. There are some elements to the plot that feel very marketing-driven, such as the snarky FMC, the deadly trials aspect of the races, and the cocky love interest who turns out to have a heart of gold. Still, as a whole, I really enjoyed the plot. My issues fell more with the world building. As much as I wanted to fall into this world, the writing was very tell, not show, and as such, I never felt transported into the world. There also seemed to be some contradictions to the world building and character motivation in terms of the whole "phoenix/animal rights" aspect of the book. And finally, I don't really think there was any reason for this book to be YA. The characters behaved like adults, so I don't know why they weren't just aged up. Overall, I had fun with this book, largely in part due to the strength of the plot, but I'm not yet sold on this author's writing.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Of Flame and Fury has an exceptional premise - I love any fantasy book with unique animal companions - but unfortunately, it really reads like a debut. There are some elements to the plot that feel very marketing-driven, such as the snarky FMC, the deadly trials aspect of the races, and the cocky love interest who turns out to have a heart of gold. Still, as a whole, I really enjoyed the plot. My issues fell more with the world building. As much as I wanted to fall into this world, the writing was very tell, not show, and as such, I never felt transported into the world. There also seemed to be some contradictions to the world building and character motivation in terms of the whole "phoenix/animal rights" aspect of the book. And finally, I don't really think there was any reason for this book to be YA. The characters behaved like adults, so I don't know why they weren't just aged up. Overall, I had fun with this book, largely in part due to the strength of the plot, but I'm not yet sold on this author's writing.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 12, 2024
Firstly, BEKN MY BELOVED REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU'RE FAMOUS!! #IMWITHTHEHOWLERS 🔥🦅
Ok now is it hot in here or is that just Of Flame and Fury? WHOAH this book is a flamin' good time. Truly ignited a spark in me and now I'm obsessed with those wild firebirds. I have so many burning theories I need to share. The sizzling tension between Kel and Coup gives me life. And my man Bekn...holy smokes. The Howlers are gonna come hot off the track and soar into readers' hearts. Nothing can extinguish the excitement I have for this book to rise from the ashes and blaze into bookstores. It's lit. I'm so fired up.
Puns aside, OFAF has EVERYTHING I love in a YA Fantasy, from the thrilling action scenes to the fiery (I'm sorry) romance and the epic magical creatures. The author's pretty cool too (though I hear her sister's a menace).
Saddle up, everyone. This is gonna be one hell of a ride ❤️🔥
Ok now is it hot in here or is that just Of Flame and Fury? WHOAH this book is a flamin' good time. Truly ignited a spark in me and now I'm obsessed with those wild firebirds. I have so many burning theories I need to share. The sizzling tension between Kel and Coup gives me life. And my man Bekn...holy smokes. The Howlers are gonna come hot off the track and soar into readers' hearts. Nothing can extinguish the excitement I have for this book to rise from the ashes and blaze into bookstores. It's lit. I'm so fired up.
Puns aside, OFAF has EVERYTHING I love in a YA Fantasy, from the thrilling action scenes to the fiery (I'm sorry) romance and the epic magical creatures. The author's pretty cool too (though I hear her sister's a menace).
Saddle up, everyone. This is gonna be one hell of a ride ❤️🔥
July 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Mikayla Bridge, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book reminded me of THE PHOENIX KEEPER but without the cozy vibes. We accompany a phoenix tamer who is part of a racing team, the Howlers. Yes, racing. Think F1. This society is crazy about seeing phoenixes and their flames race each other, and these animals are very cutthroat and wild; so, in other words, they're not pets.
We accompany the behind-the-scenes of the Howlers, including the many setbacks that bring about a new rider who our main character *absolutely* despises, and a billionaire who is committed to "helping" phoenixes out and curing an epidemic that's been slowly killing people. All throughout we get an amazing found family with a realistic dynamic, as well as the relationship between our girl, Kell, and her phoenix, Sav, who is entering her first rebirth season and is therefore more agitated than usual (totally relatable if you ask me--I too would freak out about dying).
The romance falls within the typical enemies-to-lovers path, but I wouldn't say it's the main driver of the plot. Fortunately, we actually get a pretty compelling story going on that made this fast paced and exciting to read. I think the big bad of the story was hinted at from the very beginning, but what made this character a good villain was actually their motivation. They weren't cartoonishly evil, they were just too blinded by a cause that they believed was worth certain sacrifices. This made this character a lot more three dimensional and brought about more complexity to the book, including ethical questions that I appreciated.
Overall, I had fun reading this book but I recognise I'm not a huge racing/F1 fan, which lead to my being pretty bored during the racing scenes (truly lost interest after the second one), which is what is bringing the rating down.
This book reminded me of THE PHOENIX KEEPER but without the cozy vibes. We accompany a phoenix tamer who is part of a racing team, the Howlers. Yes, racing. Think F1. This society is crazy about seeing phoenixes and their flames race each other, and these animals are very cutthroat and wild; so, in other words, they're not pets.
We accompany the behind-the-scenes of the Howlers, including the many setbacks that bring about a new rider who our main character *absolutely* despises, and a billionaire who is committed to "helping" phoenixes out and curing an epidemic that's been slowly killing people. All throughout we get an amazing found family with a realistic dynamic, as well as the relationship between our girl, Kell, and her phoenix, Sav, who is entering her first rebirth season and is therefore more agitated than usual (totally relatable if you ask me--I too would freak out about dying).
The romance falls within the typical enemies-to-lovers path, but I wouldn't say it's the main driver of the plot. Fortunately, we actually get a pretty compelling story going on that made this fast paced and exciting to read. I think the big bad of the story was hinted at from the very beginning, but what made this character a good villain was actually their motivation. They weren't cartoonishly evil, they were just too blinded by a cause that they believed was worth certain sacrifices. This made this character a lot more three dimensional and brought about more complexity to the book, including ethical questions that I appreciated.
Overall, I had fun reading this book but I recognise I'm not a huge racing/F1 fan, which lead to my being pretty bored during the racing scenes (truly lost interest after the second one), which is what is bringing the rating down.
June 27, 2025
This is an ARC review. I want to thank Mikayla Bridge and McMillan Audio for allowing me the chance to listen to this book ahead of release day!
Kelyn (Kel) Varra and Warren Coupers (Coup) are enemies to lovers in a racing phoenix fantasy I could not put down! The banter between the two but knowing they need each other for the Howlers. If I thought there was action in the first half it picked up 10 notches in the second half. It was jam packed with adventure, suspense, plot twists, and everything in between. There is minimal spice which I didn’t find to be missing. It was necessary to expand on the intense banter and tension that NEEDED to be snapped between Kel and Coup.
Savita is the GOAT! There might have been times I questioned her but at the same time I questioned the humans who thought it was a great idea to tame these beasts in the first place. Kel’s appreciation and respect for not just Sav but all phoenixs.
The plot is very fast paced with something happening nearly every chapter. It is a binge worthy read that will keep you on your toes. There’s nothing better than falling in love with characters or disliking some with the fire of a thousand suns just based on how a book is written. The narrator did a great job portraying Kel which allowed me to connect with her even more. The narrator also did a great job changing her voice for all additional characters to note who was speaking without visually reading the book.
Kelyn (Kel) Varra and Warren Coupers (Coup) are enemies to lovers in a racing phoenix fantasy I could not put down! The banter between the two but knowing they need each other for the Howlers. If I thought there was action in the first half it picked up 10 notches in the second half. It was jam packed with adventure, suspense, plot twists, and everything in between. There is minimal spice which I didn’t find to be missing. It was necessary to expand on the intense banter and tension that NEEDED to be snapped between Kel and Coup.
Savita is the GOAT! There might have been times I questioned her but at the same time I questioned the humans who thought it was a great idea to tame these beasts in the first place. Kel’s appreciation and respect for not just Sav but all phoenixs.
The plot is very fast paced with something happening nearly every chapter. It is a binge worthy read that will keep you on your toes. There’s nothing better than falling in love with characters or disliking some with the fire of a thousand suns just based on how a book is written. The narrator did a great job portraying Kel which allowed me to connect with her even more. The narrator also did a great job changing her voice for all additional characters to note who was speaking without visually reading the book.
July 3, 2025
Tropes:
— enemies to lovers
— fake relationships
— found family
— racing
— phoenixes
— slow burn
Fire, phoenixes, and high-stakes racing. On an island built from ash and shrouded in flame, phoenix racing is as profitable as it is deadly. Kel dreams of only one thing — keeping her late father's farm afloat and holding on to Savita, her beloved phoenix. Her only chance to earn the money she needs is to join the races. But for that, her team needs a new rider to help.
This book has an amazing and unique worldbuilding. Unexpected twists, found family, and loyal friends. I liked how the book shows that wild animals — even when in captivity and treated well — shouldn’t be expected to give you anything except what they choose to. The same goes for any living being. A reminder worth repeating.
The book is worth your attention!
This story gives off major The Scorpio Races, How to Train Your Dragon, and Formula 1 vibes — and I mean that in the best way.
I also want to highlight that the book has a wonderful audiobook narration with a British accent by Safiyya Ingar. If you enjoy audiobooks or don’t have much time to read, this format is definitely worth considering. And to see if the narration works for you, you can always listen to a sample first.
Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), Macmillan Young Listeners, and NetGalley for providing this eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
— enemies to lovers
— fake relationships
— found family
— racing
— phoenixes
— slow burn
Fire, phoenixes, and high-stakes racing. On an island built from ash and shrouded in flame, phoenix racing is as profitable as it is deadly. Kel dreams of only one thing — keeping her late father's farm afloat and holding on to Savita, her beloved phoenix. Her only chance to earn the money she needs is to join the races. But for that, her team needs a new rider to help.
This book has an amazing and unique worldbuilding. Unexpected twists, found family, and loyal friends. I liked how the book shows that wild animals — even when in captivity and treated well — shouldn’t be expected to give you anything except what they choose to. The same goes for any living being. A reminder worth repeating.
The book is worth your attention!
This story gives off major The Scorpio Races, How to Train Your Dragon, and Formula 1 vibes — and I mean that in the best way.
I also want to highlight that the book has a wonderful audiobook narration with a British accent by Safiyya Ingar. If you enjoy audiobooks or don’t have much time to read, this format is definitely worth considering. And to see if the narration works for you, you can always listen to a sample first.
Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), Macmillan Young Listeners, and NetGalley for providing this eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2025
4 / 5 Stars
Let me pitch this super fun book concept to you: Imagine Formula 1 racing but with phoenixes and there are also knives falling out of the sky as they race. I don’t know what it says about me that I think deadly races are super fun but I really liked this book!
The synopsis in layperson terms: Kel and her racing team, the Crimson Howlers, are the underdogs among phoenix racers. Kel desperately needs the money she'd win from racing to take care of her family’s farm which she is now responsible for, at 17 years old, since her father passed away and her mother left. She has to team up with Coup, an arrogant, reckless but really skilled rider, who Kel has hated for years. Just as they are figuring out their team, Cristo Industries invites Kel and Coup to join them – Cristo will sponsor them and Kel and Coup will work for Cristo. What are Cristo’s motives? Are they as bad as everyone thinks? Kel and Coup have to sort out what Cristo’s is up to while sorting out their complicated feelings for each other while competing in more and more dangerous races.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🔥 Young Adult/New Adult Romantic Fantasy
🏆 Hate to love
🔥 Fake dating
🏆 Deadly trials
🔥 Twists galore!
🏆 Mental health rep
🔥 LGBTQ rep
🏆 So many villains to pick from but it’s complicated
This was really well done, especially for a debut author. The world itself was super interesting and unique but not complicated that it felt overwhelming. Because of the different races the team competes in, the pacing never felt slow and it was easy to get sucked in. There were a lot of twists (some that you can see coming and some that you don't) which was really fun. I liked that all of the characters were written with depth, but not overwritten (it’s a fine line and it was well balanced here). The discussions of mental health were also very expertly done.
It was fun to watch Kel and Coup’s relationship grow. The bickering lasted a hair too long for my liking BUT I had to remind myself that they are 17 years old so maturity might not be their forte yet. I liked learning more about their backstories and you could understand why they fell for each other.
I liked that there were multiple villain-esque organizations with complicated motives in the book. There were also complicated themes like whether the phoenixes should be collared to control them and it was written with enough nuance and treated with enough care that you could understand both sides of the argument (maybe not agree but at least understand).
I still don’t think I understand the logistics of when you should or should not touch a phoenix so don’t sign me up for any of these races. The ending was a tad repetitive but I am looking forward to the next one!
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: July 15, 2025
Let me pitch this super fun book concept to you: Imagine Formula 1 racing but with phoenixes and there are also knives falling out of the sky as they race. I don’t know what it says about me that I think deadly races are super fun but I really liked this book!
The synopsis in layperson terms: Kel and her racing team, the Crimson Howlers, are the underdogs among phoenix racers. Kel desperately needs the money she'd win from racing to take care of her family’s farm which she is now responsible for, at 17 years old, since her father passed away and her mother left. She has to team up with Coup, an arrogant, reckless but really skilled rider, who Kel has hated for years. Just as they are figuring out their team, Cristo Industries invites Kel and Coup to join them – Cristo will sponsor them and Kel and Coup will work for Cristo. What are Cristo’s motives? Are they as bad as everyone thinks? Kel and Coup have to sort out what Cristo’s is up to while sorting out their complicated feelings for each other while competing in more and more dangerous races.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🔥 Young Adult/New Adult Romantic Fantasy
🏆 Hate to love
🔥 Fake dating
🏆 Deadly trials
🔥 Twists galore!
🏆 Mental health rep
🔥 LGBTQ rep
🏆 So many villains to pick from but it’s complicated
This was really well done, especially for a debut author. The world itself was super interesting and unique but not complicated that it felt overwhelming. Because of the different races the team competes in, the pacing never felt slow and it was easy to get sucked in. There were a lot of twists (some that you can see coming and some that you don't) which was really fun. I liked that all of the characters were written with depth, but not overwritten (it’s a fine line and it was well balanced here). The discussions of mental health were also very expertly done.
It was fun to watch Kel and Coup’s relationship grow. The bickering lasted a hair too long for my liking BUT I had to remind myself that they are 17 years old so maturity might not be their forte yet. I liked learning more about their backstories and you could understand why they fell for each other.
I liked that there were multiple villain-esque organizations with complicated motives in the book. There were also complicated themes like whether the phoenixes should be collared to control them and it was written with enough nuance and treated with enough care that you could understand both sides of the argument (maybe not agree but at least understand).
I still don’t think I understand the logistics of when you should or should not touch a phoenix so don’t sign me up for any of these races. The ending was a tad repetitive but I am looking forward to the next one!
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: July 15, 2025
August 15, 2025
3 Stars ✨
Action packed and nothing like the blurb (in a good way)
Content ⚠️
-Few instances of language
-kissing
-mild violence
Action packed and nothing like the blurb (in a good way)
Content ⚠️
-Few instances of language
-kissing
-mild violence
July 9, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio, for a free ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this book! From the moment you pick it up, you are transported into a fantasy world with so much action that you'll miss sleep to keep reading it!
The story follows Kel, who is a part of a Phenoix racing team called the Crimson Hawkes. Her team is the underdogs, and they have their eyes on placing this year so that they can finally win some of the prize money that comes with racing. Soon, Kel’s team is on the lookout for a new rider for their team, which leads her team to Warren “Coup” Coupers, who also happens to be Kel’s nemesis. There is tension having Coup on the team, but soon, Kel’s home is burned down, which leads her to team up with a tech mogul and Coup. Soon, the team starts to find secrets and learn why this tech mogul is so interested in the Phenoix and studying them.
I loved Kel; she is so strong-willed and passionate. I love the bond that she shares with Savita. Kel loves Savita and will do anything to make sure that she’s okay. When Kel loves someone she cares about them a whole lot, and will put them before herself. We see this with her enemies-to-lovers love interest, Coup. I thought that Mikayla Bridge did a nice job of blending the fantasy aspects of this book with romance as well. You will get a slow-burning romance, with the best banter that will have you kicking your feet screaming.
I liked the moral dilemmas that come along with the book as well, it makes you think about the animals as more than just animals that people’s race. Kel is forced into racing to stay alive, so she tries to help keep Savita as comfortable as possible. Savita doesn’t really love the collar that she has to wear when they race, but she sure does love winning. So I think it’s a fair trade for her.
I liked the pacing of this book and all the action during the Phoenix racing! Every race will have to gripping the edge of your seat, wondering if someone is going to get hurt or die. It is common for people who race to die, even though they are all young. This book also felt like such a breath of fresh air. The idea behind having Phoenix races is so unique!! The ending will leave you on your toes and have you flipping pages faster than you can read. There are betrayals and lots of twists and turns at the end.
Also, can we talk about the ending and Epilogue!!!! I need the next book asap so I know what happens next.
Overall, I really liked this book and highly recommend it! It is a 5/5 stars!
I loved this book! From the moment you pick it up, you are transported into a fantasy world with so much action that you'll miss sleep to keep reading it!
The story follows Kel, who is a part of a Phenoix racing team called the Crimson Hawkes. Her team is the underdogs, and they have their eyes on placing this year so that they can finally win some of the prize money that comes with racing. Soon, Kel’s team is on the lookout for a new rider for their team, which leads her team to Warren “Coup” Coupers, who also happens to be Kel’s nemesis. There is tension having Coup on the team, but soon, Kel’s home is burned down, which leads her to team up with a tech mogul and Coup. Soon, the team starts to find secrets and learn why this tech mogul is so interested in the Phenoix and studying them.
I loved Kel; she is so strong-willed and passionate. I love the bond that she shares with Savita. Kel loves Savita and will do anything to make sure that she’s okay. When Kel loves someone she cares about them a whole lot, and will put them before herself. We see this with her enemies-to-lovers love interest, Coup. I thought that Mikayla Bridge did a nice job of blending the fantasy aspects of this book with romance as well. You will get a slow-burning romance, with the best banter that will have you kicking your feet screaming.
I liked the moral dilemmas that come along with the book as well, it makes you think about the animals as more than just animals that people’s race. Kel is forced into racing to stay alive, so she tries to help keep Savita as comfortable as possible. Savita doesn’t really love the collar that she has to wear when they race, but she sure does love winning. So I think it’s a fair trade for her.
I liked the pacing of this book and all the action during the Phoenix racing! Every race will have to gripping the edge of your seat, wondering if someone is going to get hurt or die. It is common for people who race to die, even though they are all young. This book also felt like such a breath of fresh air. The idea behind having Phoenix races is so unique!! The ending will leave you on your toes and have you flipping pages faster than you can read. There are betrayals and lots of twists and turns at the end.
Also, can we talk about the ending and Epilogue!!!! I need the next book asap so I know what happens next.
Overall, I really liked this book and highly recommend it! It is a 5/5 stars!
June 22, 2025
3.5 stars
Full transparency, I'll usually only read the blurb and not the summary when deciding on a book. Publishers and Authors need to stop throwing out popular titles and tropes just to get readers. I personally saw zero similarities to Fourth Wing, and this is rivals to lovers, not enemies to lovers. And though this is marketed wrong, I still enjoyed it for the most part.
The plot feels original, unique and fresh. The story pulls you in immediately starting with an intense race scene.
The world building felt like there were a lot of holes, I found myself confused about some things. The technology aspect wasn't explained, but perhaps had it been it might have felt too lengthy and bogged the story down. But since this is intended to be a duology then there should be more worldbuilding. This is definitely a simple read making it a nice YA for younger readers or anyone wanting the fantasy feel without the extremes of an epic fantasy.
The relationship progression felt really natural, and their banter was fun. The push and pull dynamic was great. I loved that the plot is the main focus with the romance secondary.
The characters did lack development though, the most developed was Coup, which is probably why I liked him best. I would have liked for growth for Kel, she was irritable and not nice to her friends, and seemed only concerned with her own problems, it would have been great for her to come around some to show she's grown as a person. We didn't get nearly enough time with the side characters for them to feel fully developed.
Audio: The narrator really adds life to the story and captured my attention by adding emotion and appropriate inflections in the delivery, though some pauses after what seemed to be a period felt a tad bit too long, and there isn't much differentiation between character voices.
Full transparency, I'll usually only read the blurb and not the summary when deciding on a book. Publishers and Authors need to stop throwing out popular titles and tropes just to get readers. I personally saw zero similarities to Fourth Wing, and this is rivals to lovers, not enemies to lovers. And though this is marketed wrong, I still enjoyed it for the most part.
The plot feels original, unique and fresh. The story pulls you in immediately starting with an intense race scene.
The world building felt like there were a lot of holes, I found myself confused about some things. The technology aspect wasn't explained, but perhaps had it been it might have felt too lengthy and bogged the story down. But since this is intended to be a duology then there should be more worldbuilding. This is definitely a simple read making it a nice YA for younger readers or anyone wanting the fantasy feel without the extremes of an epic fantasy.
The relationship progression felt really natural, and their banter was fun. The push and pull dynamic was great. I loved that the plot is the main focus with the romance secondary.
The characters did lack development though, the most developed was Coup, which is probably why I liked him best. I would have liked for growth for Kel, she was irritable and not nice to her friends, and seemed only concerned with her own problems, it would have been great for her to come around some to show she's grown as a person. We didn't get nearly enough time with the side characters for them to feel fully developed.
Audio: The narrator really adds life to the story and captured my attention by adding emotion and appropriate inflections in the delivery, though some pauses after what seemed to be a period felt a tad bit too long, and there isn't much differentiation between character voices.
June 12, 2025
Of Flame and Fury
by Mikayla Bridge
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
Macmillan Children's...
Ages: 14+
Kel and her team are the Crimson Howlers, who participates in the dangerous sport of Phoenix racing, but after an accident, they are now looking for a new rider, and Warren Coup is the only one willing to join the team. Kel does not like the arrogant boy, but if she wants to keep her phoenix, either she has to be the one who races or give in.
Much to her disappointment, Kel's phoenix accepts Warren, and the race goes great, and they are offered a sponsorship from a tech CEO, but she declines, not trusting their motives. Then there's a fire caused by old wiring, destroying her phoenix's aviary, so she accepts the offer, taking her phoenix and her team into the company's complex that specializes in tech and phoenix breeding.
I like the idea of racing a phoenix, though there are some obstacles to riding a fiery bird, but the author does a good job getting around them.
The story is missing some history of the world/people/places, and the phoenixes... There are other creatures mentioned, but there are missing pieces of how/why this world came to be. Also, there's a 'fairy tale' mentioned in this story that... spoiler... but where did it come from?
While falling into the typical good/bad, rich/poor trope, this is still a cute little story similar to others in this same genre/trope, but thankfully, this is innocent, almost cozy. There is a little violence and romance, but there is nothing 'adult' in these pages! The writing is 'simple' so it'll be easy for younger readers to understand, thus making this suitable for readers fourteen and older, though I could see younger, advanced readers liking this story.
I read the ARC and it is missing the epilogue... Imagine my irritation when I saw 'Epilogue' TK... To Come... Really!!! So why this could be the first book in a series, that epilogue could have confirmed or denied it, I don't know... What I do know is that I won't go out and buy the book just to read it. But I hope the epilogue ended the book because I don't think this would make a good series with these characters. New ones, maybe.
3 Stars
by Mikayla Bridge
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: July 15, 2025
Macmillan Children's...
Ages: 14+
Kel and her team are the Crimson Howlers, who participates in the dangerous sport of Phoenix racing, but after an accident, they are now looking for a new rider, and Warren Coup is the only one willing to join the team. Kel does not like the arrogant boy, but if she wants to keep her phoenix, either she has to be the one who races or give in.
Much to her disappointment, Kel's phoenix accepts Warren, and the race goes great, and they are offered a sponsorship from a tech CEO, but she declines, not trusting their motives. Then there's a fire caused by old wiring, destroying her phoenix's aviary, so she accepts the offer, taking her phoenix and her team into the company's complex that specializes in tech and phoenix breeding.
I like the idea of racing a phoenix, though there are some obstacles to riding a fiery bird, but the author does a good job getting around them.
The story is missing some history of the world/people/places, and the phoenixes... There are other creatures mentioned, but there are missing pieces of how/why this world came to be. Also, there's a 'fairy tale' mentioned in this story that... spoiler... but where did it come from?
While falling into the typical good/bad, rich/poor trope, this is still a cute little story similar to others in this same genre/trope, but thankfully, this is innocent, almost cozy. There is a little violence and romance, but there is nothing 'adult' in these pages! The writing is 'simple' so it'll be easy for younger readers to understand, thus making this suitable for readers fourteen and older, though I could see younger, advanced readers liking this story.
I read the ARC and it is missing the epilogue... Imagine my irritation when I saw 'Epilogue' TK... To Come... Really!!! So why this could be the first book in a series, that epilogue could have confirmed or denied it, I don't know... What I do know is that I won't go out and buy the book just to read it. But I hope the epilogue ended the book because I don't think this would make a good series with these characters. New ones, maybe.
3 Stars
August 27, 2025
This was a very easy read but with more deeper underlying themes than I anticipated, which I was happy about!
Although sadly, I found myself very disconnected from the characters and just didn’t connect with the plot in the way I’d hoped. I felt that this was due to a lot of contradictions and at points the story just didn’t quite flow for me.
Overall I loved the phoenixes and the concept was very refreshing! But it’s not a favourite for me.
Although sadly, I found myself very disconnected from the characters and just didn’t connect with the plot in the way I’d hoped. I felt that this was due to a lot of contradictions and at points the story just didn’t quite flow for me.
Overall I loved the phoenixes and the concept was very refreshing! But it’s not a favourite for me.
July 8, 2025
Of Flame and Fury is an action-packed, original YA fantasy that follows a team of teens competing in deadly Phoenix races. While I enjoyed this book, I wish this book was marketed differently.
📖 ARC review 📖
🗓️ Pub date: July 15, 2025
What to expect:
💜 YA romantic fantasy
💜 3rd person, single POV
💜 Phoenix racing
💜 Political scheming
💜 Grumpy x sunshine
💜 Conspiracies
Spice rating: 🫑 /0.5🌶
This book is currently being compared to Fourth Wing and Fast & Furious, which I think is misleading/inaccurate. This debut book stands on its own—I'm not even sure of an accurate book comp for it—and feels more like a mix of high-stakes NASCAR and the thrill of riding & taming wild horses. Its themes around animal freedom and captivity actually gave me a sense of nostalgia because I grew up in the early 2000s watching movies like Spirit, Free Willy, and Andre.
Mikayla Bridge does a great job at developing the foundation of this world and its atmosphere. It's an interesting juxtaposition to learn that these god-like Phoenixes, who created magnificent islands, are now collared and raced for sport.
While Of Flame and Fury is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy, the romance (in my opinion) is a small sub plot and more of a grumpy x sunshine dynamic. I actually LOVE that she's the grumpy, more level-headed one.
I wish I'd gone into this with different expectations because it has A LOT of great aspects: the action-packed races, discussions around animal freedom and rights, conspiracies, suspense, and an incurable blight.
Even though it was predictable at many times, I still had a lot of fun reading this book. Great cliffhanger that makes me want to jump into book 2!
A sincere thank you to Macmillan for gifting me a physical finished copy ahead of its pub date.
📖 ARC review 📖
🗓️ Pub date: July 15, 2025
What to expect:
💜 YA romantic fantasy
💜 3rd person, single POV
💜 Phoenix racing
💜 Political scheming
💜 Grumpy x sunshine
💜 Conspiracies
Spice rating: 🫑 /0.5🌶
This book is currently being compared to Fourth Wing and Fast & Furious, which I think is misleading/inaccurate. This debut book stands on its own—I'm not even sure of an accurate book comp for it—and feels more like a mix of high-stakes NASCAR and the thrill of riding & taming wild horses. Its themes around animal freedom and captivity actually gave me a sense of nostalgia because I grew up in the early 2000s watching movies like Spirit, Free Willy, and Andre.
Mikayla Bridge does a great job at developing the foundation of this world and its atmosphere. It's an interesting juxtaposition to learn that these god-like Phoenixes, who created magnificent islands, are now collared and raced for sport.
While Of Flame and Fury is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy, the romance (in my opinion) is a small sub plot and more of a grumpy x sunshine dynamic. I actually LOVE that she's the grumpy, more level-headed one.
I wish I'd gone into this with different expectations because it has A LOT of great aspects: the action-packed races, discussions around animal freedom and rights, conspiracies, suspense, and an incurable blight.
Even though it was predictable at many times, I still had a lot of fun reading this book. Great cliffhanger that makes me want to jump into book 2!
A sincere thank you to Macmillan for gifting me a physical finished copy ahead of its pub date.
June 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All opinions in this review are my own.
1.5 stars. DNF'd at 63%/C32/End of Part Two.
This is one of those books that has a fiery start in the middle of the action only to fizzle to ashes not long after and then never rebirths from it. A true death as it were.
I think for this review, I am going to put my complaints into a list.
- The FMC felt sidelined in her own story. Even with it being 3rd person, it was very clear that we are experiencing everything through her but she felt like such a secondary character. Like once the MMC came onto the scene and became the phoenix rider, there was almost no need for the FMC. The MMC basically bonded with the FMC's phoenix right away and was attuned to her. What's the point of having the FMC be the tamer if the MMC is both a good rider AND tamer himself?
- Everything outside the phoenix races is frustratingly vague. Technology is mentioned and used heavily but no reference as to how far along in this technology we are talking about, like is it Cyberpunk, 90's, 2000's, or present times? Same with the the islands and magic. Could not tell you anything about them in a concrete fashion other than names. There was also repeated mentions of an AB virus that is lethal and has killed a bunch of people but its not contagious but yet, no one knows how it spreads and there is no cure? It doesn't make sense which kind of leads me to my next point.
- A lot of the plot revolves around suspending disbelief in a heavy manner. Even if it is fantasy, you still need to have actions, systems, etc be plausible or at least a very good explanation as to why its not according to our modern understandings. This book had neither. Society as a whole didn't make sense for a bunch of kids to be able to race to the death on these phoenixes and there was some kind of regulating body with rules but it was all bark and no bite it seemed like. Other than one of the side characters being (barely) an adult and the tech billionaire villain, where the adults? How are all these children, and I mean children, able to live on their own, pay bills, drop out of school, and be in the public limelight doing dangerous phoenix racing (before the tech billionaire comes onto the scene) without several adults asking questions. And its not just the FMC and gang doing this, its several different groups of children for decades apparently. Like it would be one thing if these kids were doing unregulated races and got caught and then sponsored, but thats not what happened and a functional society wouldn't allow this, magical phoenixes or no. Leading on from that...
- This felt like it was intended to be a New Adult or Adult book but then was heavily toned down to fit into the Young Adult market but then missed the mark in editing to adhere to my last point. Its also being marketed as a Fourth Wing/Iron Widow mashup which the first is clearly New Adult and the second is Young Adult but has the grittiness and cross readership appeal that this novel lacks. I can see elements of inspiration from both that the author pulled from but it doesn't quite spin it into a new direction that is both exciting and enthralling.
- It felt like this novel tried to cram a lot of different points in but didn't succeed in navigating any of them. The phoenix races, the AB virus, the mysterious tech billionaire, the magic, the romance, the backstories. None of it quite landed.
- And this one is kind of a personal rant but I beg authors to please to do even a little bit of research into things you are not experienced with and in this particular novels case, burns and their severity. I have personal history with life threatening burns with almost losing one of my little brothers as a toddler to it and sustaining some myself. Neither mine nor my brother's burns will ever go away but while my second degree burns are minimal and easily covered, his are third degree that cover a large portion of one of his extremities and can never be "fixed" or "healed" and he is extremely lucky he has full use of all of his limbs and body. In this novel it is described over and over how burns are common in phoenix racing and in one particular scene, the MMC sustains FOURTH degree burns to his ABDOMEN and was prescribed a few days of rest after surgery. This just isn't possible not only by how his positioning was described in the race scene but also because even that severe of a burn is likely life crippling if survived especially in such a vital part of the body. I know this is fantasy but this brings up my earlier points (2 & 3) with the need of having a sense of what is realistic and also having a magic and technology system that supports it if it falls outside the realism angle. It wouldn't have raised so much eyebrows if I even knew what the technology is like in this world because maybe it is good enough to lessen the impact but the problem is that we aren't even shown, let alone told, what it is. This tell but no show was also a common problem throughout the book.
All in all, this was a novel that had a spark but could never bring it to quite ignite into flames that were full of fury.
1.5 stars. DNF'd at 63%/C32/End of Part Two.
This is one of those books that has a fiery start in the middle of the action only to fizzle to ashes not long after and then never rebirths from it. A true death as it were.
I think for this review, I am going to put my complaints into a list.
- The FMC felt sidelined in her own story. Even with it being 3rd person, it was very clear that we are experiencing everything through her but she felt like such a secondary character. Like once the MMC came onto the scene and became the phoenix rider, there was almost no need for the FMC. The MMC basically bonded with the FMC's phoenix right away and was attuned to her. What's the point of having the FMC be the tamer if the MMC is both a good rider AND tamer himself?
- Everything outside the phoenix races is frustratingly vague. Technology is mentioned and used heavily but no reference as to how far along in this technology we are talking about, like is it Cyberpunk, 90's, 2000's, or present times? Same with the the islands and magic. Could not tell you anything about them in a concrete fashion other than names. There was also repeated mentions of an AB virus that is lethal and has killed a bunch of people but its not contagious but yet, no one knows how it spreads and there is no cure? It doesn't make sense which kind of leads me to my next point.
- A lot of the plot revolves around suspending disbelief in a heavy manner. Even if it is fantasy, you still need to have actions, systems, etc be plausible or at least a very good explanation as to why its not according to our modern understandings. This book had neither. Society as a whole didn't make sense for a bunch of kids to be able to race to the death on these phoenixes and there was some kind of regulating body with rules but it was all bark and no bite it seemed like. Other than one of the side characters being (barely) an adult and the tech billionaire villain, where the adults? How are all these children, and I mean children, able to live on their own, pay bills, drop out of school, and be in the public limelight doing dangerous phoenix racing (before the tech billionaire comes onto the scene) without several adults asking questions. And its not just the FMC and gang doing this, its several different groups of children for decades apparently. Like it would be one thing if these kids were doing unregulated races and got caught and then sponsored, but thats not what happened and a functional society wouldn't allow this, magical phoenixes or no. Leading on from that...
- This felt like it was intended to be a New Adult or Adult book but then was heavily toned down to fit into the Young Adult market but then missed the mark in editing to adhere to my last point. Its also being marketed as a Fourth Wing/Iron Widow mashup which the first is clearly New Adult and the second is Young Adult but has the grittiness and cross readership appeal that this novel lacks. I can see elements of inspiration from both that the author pulled from but it doesn't quite spin it into a new direction that is both exciting and enthralling.
- It felt like this novel tried to cram a lot of different points in but didn't succeed in navigating any of them. The phoenix races, the AB virus, the mysterious tech billionaire, the magic, the romance, the backstories. None of it quite landed.
- And this one is kind of a personal rant but I beg authors to please to do even a little bit of research into things you are not experienced with and in this particular novels case, burns and their severity. I have personal history with life threatening burns with almost losing one of my little brothers as a toddler to it and sustaining some myself. Neither mine nor my brother's burns will ever go away but while my second degree burns are minimal and easily covered, his are third degree that cover a large portion of one of his extremities and can never be "fixed" or "healed" and he is extremely lucky he has full use of all of his limbs and body. In this novel it is described over and over how burns are common in phoenix racing and in one particular scene, the MMC sustains FOURTH degree burns to his ABDOMEN and was prescribed a few days of rest after surgery. This just isn't possible not only by how his positioning was described in the race scene but also because even that severe of a burn is likely life crippling if survived especially in such a vital part of the body. I know this is fantasy but this brings up my earlier points (2 & 3) with the need of having a sense of what is realistic and also having a magic and technology system that supports it if it falls outside the realism angle. It wouldn't have raised so much eyebrows if I even knew what the technology is like in this world because maybe it is good enough to lessen the impact but the problem is that we aren't even shown, let alone told, what it is. This tell but no show was also a common problem throughout the book.
All in all, this was a novel that had a spark but could never bring it to quite ignite into flames that were full of fury.
July 4, 2025
Review for Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title ahead of its publication date. Below are my honest thoughts on the book.
First a summary in my words:
Kal is a phoenix tamer and trainer, leading a ragtag group known as the Crimson Howlers. Together, they compete in high-stakes Phoenix races. After a tragic event shakes their team, they accept a sponsorship deal from a powerful corporation that offers them resources and support in exchange for their participation in the races. The group relocates to the corporation’s grounds, where they begin rigorous training, races, and carry out tasks assigned by the company’s enigmatic leader. This is the core plot that stood out most to me.
Of Flame and Fury presents a compelling premise with a lot of potential. The concept behind the global AB pandemic and the high-stakes Phoenix racing was immediately intriguing and had me hopeful for a gripping, immersive read.
However, I found the execution lacking. The world-building felt underdeveloped—while we’re given scattered glimpses of the pandemic's impact, there wasn't enough depth or clarity to fully understand the world or how it collapsed. A key group, "The Fume," is introduced quite late in the narrative with little prior context, which made their sudden importance feel jarring. And while the name "The Fume" may work for some readers, it didn’t quite land for me.
The corporate sponsorship subplot seemed too convenient, and the story often felt like it revolved entirely around the races, leaving little room for substantial character development or meaningful interactions. The romance, while predictable, lacked buildup and chemistry—it felt more like a plot checkbox than a natural progression between the characters.
Overall, this story just wasn’t for me. That said, I truly believe reading is subjective, and I encourage others to give it a try for themselves. I've seen many readers connect with this book in ways I didn’t, and it certainly has the foundation for something great.
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title ahead of its publication date. Below are my honest thoughts on the book.
First a summary in my words:
Kal is a phoenix tamer and trainer, leading a ragtag group known as the Crimson Howlers. Together, they compete in high-stakes Phoenix races. After a tragic event shakes their team, they accept a sponsorship deal from a powerful corporation that offers them resources and support in exchange for their participation in the races. The group relocates to the corporation’s grounds, where they begin rigorous training, races, and carry out tasks assigned by the company’s enigmatic leader. This is the core plot that stood out most to me.
Of Flame and Fury presents a compelling premise with a lot of potential. The concept behind the global AB pandemic and the high-stakes Phoenix racing was immediately intriguing and had me hopeful for a gripping, immersive read.
However, I found the execution lacking. The world-building felt underdeveloped—while we’re given scattered glimpses of the pandemic's impact, there wasn't enough depth or clarity to fully understand the world or how it collapsed. A key group, "The Fume," is introduced quite late in the narrative with little prior context, which made their sudden importance feel jarring. And while the name "The Fume" may work for some readers, it didn’t quite land for me.
The corporate sponsorship subplot seemed too convenient, and the story often felt like it revolved entirely around the races, leaving little room for substantial character development or meaningful interactions. The romance, while predictable, lacked buildup and chemistry—it felt more like a plot checkbox than a natural progression between the characters.
Overall, this story just wasn’t for me. That said, I truly believe reading is subjective, and I encourage others to give it a try for themselves. I've seen many readers connect with this book in ways I didn’t, and it certainly has the foundation for something great.
May 24, 2025
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram)
Of Flame and Fury is an original, exciting, and super compelling YA fantasy with a refreshing worldbuilding and a delightful rivals to lovers romance! I absolutely devoured it!! It's definitely one of the best YA fantasy I've read, and the author became an auto-buy author for me--for the oustanding worldbuilding and great character portrayals!
Some plot twists were truly unpredictable!!! I didn't even consider them, and the turns the plot took were so interesting and refreshing. I thought I had everything figured out, but I didn't see them all coming, which was invigorating!
Kel is a lovely main character! I can definitely see many young girls reading about Kel and liking her! She cares so much about her phoenix, more than she cares about herself even. She doesn't like racing, but she is sort of forced to do it to survive. She has no other financial option, and while Sav (our beloved phoenix) may not like her collar, she def likes racing and winning!
And oh my goodness, Coup!! I loved him so much!! I also appreciated how the author portrayed the characters' concern for Coup. They didn't just call him reckless and shake their heads. They delved into why he was like that, and how he should start talking to someone about how he feels. It was such a delicate, beautiful scene.
AND I LOVED THE SLOWBURN RIVALS TO LOVERS ROMANCE!!!!!!!!!!! LOVED LOVED LOVED!! It was believable and genuine and compelling, and their bickering was PERFECTION!!
Phoenix racing, people!! Have you seen this in a book? NO? Me neither! Until now, that is. I really liked the worldbuilding, how unique it is! I'm not into racing myself, and I prefer that animals live in their natural habitats (not zoos), so I related a lot to the moral questions in the book, and I believe the author did a great job at expressing those but also poor people's need to survive somehow. Another delicate balance that the author navigated well and without preaching. However, I don't know much about the world outside of the racing, the nearby cities, and the natural habitat/forest of the phoenixes.
But you know what? The author didn't make a single wrong move here. The book perfectly executed this awesome premise, and I wouldn't change a thing. The fact that this is a debut blows my mind! Of Flame and Fury is a fierce and scorching perfection like Sav herself!
It's a duology, and I can't contain my excitement for the second book!
It's the July YA monthly pick for an American monthly book box company, and Idk what to do!! I really liked this book, but my bookshelf space isn't magically getting bigger. No matter what you do, you should def read this book, though!!
Of Flame and Fury is an original, exciting, and super compelling YA fantasy with a refreshing worldbuilding and a delightful rivals to lovers romance! I absolutely devoured it!! It's definitely one of the best YA fantasy I've read, and the author became an auto-buy author for me--for the oustanding worldbuilding and great character portrayals!
Some plot twists were truly unpredictable!!! I didn't even consider them, and the turns the plot took were so interesting and refreshing. I thought I had everything figured out, but I didn't see them all coming, which was invigorating!
Kel is a lovely main character! I can definitely see many young girls reading about Kel and liking her! She cares so much about her phoenix, more than she cares about herself even. She doesn't like racing, but she is sort of forced to do it to survive. She has no other financial option, and while Sav (our beloved phoenix) may not like her collar, she def likes racing and winning!
And oh my goodness, Coup!! I loved him so much!! I also appreciated how the author portrayed the characters' concern for Coup. They didn't just call him reckless and shake their heads. They delved into why he was like that, and how he should start talking to someone about how he feels. It was such a delicate, beautiful scene.
AND I LOVED THE SLOWBURN RIVALS TO LOVERS ROMANCE!!!!!!!!!!! LOVED LOVED LOVED!! It was believable and genuine and compelling, and their bickering was PERFECTION!!
Phoenix racing, people!! Have you seen this in a book? NO? Me neither! Until now, that is. I really liked the worldbuilding, how unique it is! I'm not into racing myself, and I prefer that animals live in their natural habitats (not zoos), so I related a lot to the moral questions in the book, and I believe the author did a great job at expressing those but also poor people's need to survive somehow. Another delicate balance that the author navigated well and without preaching. However, I don't know much about the world outside of the racing, the nearby cities, and the natural habitat/forest of the phoenixes.
But you know what? The author didn't make a single wrong move here. The book perfectly executed this awesome premise, and I wouldn't change a thing. The fact that this is a debut blows my mind! Of Flame and Fury is a fierce and scorching perfection like Sav herself!
It's a duology, and I can't contain my excitement for the second book!
It's the July YA monthly pick for an American monthly book box company, and Idk what to do!! I really liked this book, but my bookshelf space isn't magically getting bigger. No matter what you do, you should def read this book, though!!
July 14, 2025
great world building with phoenix races! the book started off thrilling and fast paced. towards the middle, the pace slowed down but it does go back up towards the end and keeps you on your toes with its suspense and worry. overall, it is an enjoyable and entertaining read. however, i didn’t feel a connection to the characters.
June 21, 2025
**I was gifted a eARC copy from First Ink (Pan Macmillan) via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**
The pace of this book was great. It reads very YA but honestly I needed a fast paced, action packed read. This was so close to being a 5 star read for me, I just wanted a tad more history and refined world building.
But the characters were solid, the story development was well thought out and Savita was amazing! It was pretty clear who the villain was and where the story was heading although one of the twists did catch me off guard.
The writing was easy to read and follow, and like I said the pace is consistently go go go throughout the book. I look forward to seeing what Bridge can do in the future!
Full review: https://mediashadowreads.wordpress.co...
The pace of this book was great. It reads very YA but honestly I needed a fast paced, action packed read. This was so close to being a 5 star read for me, I just wanted a tad more history and refined world building.
But the characters were solid, the story development was well thought out and Savita was amazing! It was pretty clear who the villain was and where the story was heading although one of the twists did catch me off guard.
The writing was easy to read and follow, and like I said the pace is consistently go go go throughout the book. I look forward to seeing what Bridge can do in the future!
Full review: https://mediashadowreads.wordpress.co...
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