A Kingdom of Fire and Fury

by Hailey Gonzales

The king wanted to execute me for treason.

A dragon had other plans.

I was just a thief who stole to provide for my sister. But a heist went wrong, and I watched my entire crew turn to ash before my eyes.

I should be dead. Should be burned as a traitor, but a powerful dragon stopped my execution and claimed me as her rider.

Now I'm forced to fly alongside the king's greatest dragon riders if I want my sister to live—because he’s taken her hostage.

And my captain? The ruthless Kieran Caddel. The very man who almost executed me.

Enemies surround me, waiting for me to fail. Secrets burn beneath the surface. I don't know if I'll survive.

But I’ll save my sister no matter what.

A Kingdom of Fire and Fury is a steamy, dragon rider romantasy that includes morally gray characters, enemies-to-lovers, political intrigue, an MMC with shadow powers, and touch her and unalive.

Genres: Dragons, Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

633 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2025

About the author

Hailey Gonzales lives in a small town in California. She adores her dog, Miley, who is the cutest animal in the multiverse. Hailey enjoys writing Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, and occasionally, Contemporary. But most of all, she loves to write about found family.

Reviews

[Dea꧂ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love reading dragon books but I will forget this one in a blink of an eye.
Nothing stood out except our special snowflake Siren whose maturity I estimate to be around 11 years old except when she sees her Kieran and becomes wholly pubescent.
An underwhelming reading experience plotwise and character development wise.

[Bri West · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For the crime of touching her, I sentence you to death”


Dragons, fated mates, shadow daddy and a scrappy, takes no shit FMC. This book had my full attention.

Let’s start with the characters.

FMC Selena : she is complicated. She lets her emotions run her and at times her stubbornness made me wanna slap her. However she’s scrappy, fiercely protective of her loved ones and man does she just never give up!

MMC Kieran: oof I love me a shadow daddy. The slow burn for this man was real. I know he made some stupid mistakes and I get why selena is frustrated with him but for me, his intentions were never in doubt. He is forgiven for all 😂

Dragons guard + dragons :🐉
Umara is my queen
Nimue is a bad ass girls girl
I adore Ben
Gareth is my baby
Aurelia can kick rocks
King Luther …. You suck dude


I truly love the relationship development of Selena with (most) the dragons guard. I cannot wait to see how it continues to develop in the next book. The banter is also great, and again Nimue, my girl, has some of the best lines! Selena’s relationship with her sister and how it’s having to evolve is such a joy to read. I also loved Clara and Wes. I hope we get more of him in book 2.


The world building is immersive and you absolutely feel like you become a part of Lusadia. It’s just the right amount of description to put you in the scene without overwhelming you.

The plot and storyline were great! While yes, some foreshadowing made some of the twist and turns a little predictable in my opinion, I still was enthralled and couldn’t put the book down. The action kept up at a good pace and was nicely balanced with the character developments and romance storyline.

I am beyond grateful that I was able to receive and ARC of this book and will be immediately adding the paperback to my collection !

Cannot wait for book 2, please Hailey don’t make us wait too long 🫣🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

TROPES:
- touch her and die
- Fated mates
- Dragon + powers
- Shadow daddy
- Slow burn
************************************

Spoilers on why Nimue might be my favorite 😂


“Nimue my savior.
I agree
Nimue you bitch. “


“Of course not. You could murder him and I’d tell Luther Aurelia did it”

“Let me know if I need to hide the body”

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you loved QuickSilver and Fourth Wing, add this to your TBR right now!!!

Grumpy Shadow Daddy ❤️
Slow Burn ❤️
Fated Mates ❤️
Strong FMC ❤️
DRAGONS?! 🐉❤️

I was so honored to receive an ARC copy of this book, I was SO excited to read it and it did not disappoint. It filled the hole that QuickSilver and Onyx Storm left in my heart! I devoured it in one sitting, and now I’m sitting here heartbroken that book two isn’t out yet 😭

I highly recommend this one especially if you’re in your romantasy era.

[Samantha Sahli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a arc copy for this book and i absolutely fell in love with this book and the characters. I was having such a hard time putting this book down! If you are a fan of fourth wing you will love this book just as much as i did. It Had dragons a shadow daddy and a strong lead female character. I will be thinking about this book for a long time and waiting impatiently for the next book.

[Nicole Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’ll show you I can protect you. Even if I have to slaughter the world to do it.”

“There’s no light without darkness. There’s no peace without chaos.”

“Life isn’t a fairytale, and you’re not Prince Charming. The people call you the Shadow King for gods’ sakes.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I am a huge Kieran fan. I absolutely adore him & everything he stands for. He’s different than most of our normal captains we see in this genre and I appreciate that. Seeing that he outright cares for his whole squad and he jokes with them regularly as well is top on the list.

Selena on the other hand, I cannot stand her. & it’s not that she’s weak or a street rat. I love that about her. I loved that growth for her. & she worked hard & even then she still isn’t even a bad ass yet & she knows it. It’s her weird overprotectiveness of her sister for me. This whole book I was thinking her sister is like 15-16. Still a bit much but whatever. When I found out she’s a whole ass adult it was too much. With that also being said, I would love to see some growth on Clara too. I hope to see her come out a bad ass too in the next book. I really thought she was a teenager the whole time.
I also feel like Selena bitches too much about Kieran keeping secrets. He’s a Captain. He has to keep shit. Like damn you were blessed to know about the eggs! He shadow blocked a room to tell you that?! But the manipulating the feelings into fated mates was craaazy. Girl needed grippy sock vacation after that thought. She knows damn well she was digging him the moment she tried to rob his carriage. She knows she can trust him she’s just being an ASSHOLE now about it. Using her own words against her.

What I disliked:
There was a few words that were really repeative that was pretty annoying tbh. I love banter as much as the next person but the banter was very much one sided, & I found myself skipping over it.

What I loved:
I had a good time with this book. The bond with the dragons and their riders was different than what I was expecting. I actually really enjoyed the theory of the fated mates on Kieran and Selena. (Selena’s overreaction was not an enjoy lol).

The ending was not a huge plot twist for me. I had a wonder in the back of my mind if something weird was going to happen like that because of something that was said earlier in the book. But I like where it’s heading and I look forward to the next book.

For the record. I am team Xaden & can’t stand Violet either. So I just might not like female characters and only Shadow daddies. I’m probably the problem here 😅

I had the greatest opportunity to read this as an ARC. Thank you to the author for allowing me the chance!!

[Nicole Holstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this but it is sort of just a fast paced carbon copy of fourth wing :’)

[Mckenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I’m so happy I was able to get an ARC copy, I literally finished it in one sitting, and now I’m actually really irritated the next one isn’t out yet 😭 but I loved it, I think the first few chapters were a little fast paced but the rest was great and I loved their chemistry together, fills a small fourth wing sized hole in my heart 😂

[lovetrulyashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC on this but am truly an unbiased reader. WOW I felt so connected to the characters and loved their relationships 🫶🏻. I woke up in the morning needing to finish and know what happens next.

✔️found family
✔️dragon riders
✔️SLOW burn
✔️witty banter
✔️plot twists

Please read. I CANNOT wait for book 2 with how it ends! 😱

[Joana Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first ever ARC read and I am so grateful to the author for giving me a chance and sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

That being said, I give this book a solid 3.5 stars.
I really liked the premise, it hit all the right spots for me. In the beginning reading this book felt a bit like deja vu, what with all the similar tropes it has to fourth wing, but it managed to be it's own story and really captive me.
I enjoyed the dinamics between the dragonsguard and learning about their pasts, however I felt like the chemistry between Selena and Kieran was a bit lacking.
Also, I wish we saw more of the other characters using their powers, it felt like Kieran and Gareth were the only ones who really used them and the other's powers were just there and we never really see them used.
I have to admit that I guessed the plot twist at the end right from the beginning but that doesn't really bother me since it's such a common twist in these kinds of books so I'm always low-key expecting it.
The worldbuilding could definitely use some work as it felt confusing at times but aside from that I found the world and magic system really interesting and can't wait to understand it better with the next book.
So while the writting could use some work this book was definitely and enjoyable and fun read for me and I will be impatiently waiting for the next book to come out.

If you like dragons, enemies to lovers, slow burn, MMC with shadow powers and a little bit (or a lot) of spice definitely give this book a try!

[Ashley Hobsonreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selena has spent the entirety of her short life trying to scrape a living to support both her and her baby sister. Even taking on dangerous jobs and stealing. All to provide food and medicine.

Her latest heist goes utterly wrong and as she watches the rest of her crew turn to ash during the execution by dragon fire, the oldest and strongest dragon, Umara, claims her instead. Suddenly, a commoner like her is brought into the dragonsguard as a bonded partner of one of the 7 remaining dragons in the kingdom.

The ruthless king and his captain, Kieran Caddel, both intend to use her to turn the tide in the war against Andova. If Selena wants her sister to live, she will have to cooperate and train like her sister’s life depends on it. Which unfortunately it does.

Will Selena be able to survive this game of politics and fire and still save her sister from a tyrannical king?

If you love dragons and dragon riders, morally grey shadow daddies, and enemies to lovers, I would recommend you add this book to your reading list. The levels of spice, while quite spicy, are just right and not entirely overpowering.

I’m looking forward to the sequel to see what happens (some proper Game of Thrones vibes in the ending - won’t say which scene in the series but you’ll know it when you get to it!) as that’s yet another cliffhanger I need to have tied up for me!

[Hannah Bedrosian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Kingdom of Fire and Fury delivers a blend of dragons, danger, and slow-burn romance. Hailey Gonzales creates an immersive world full of political intrigue, morally gray characters, and high-stakes twists. I wanted to throttle the main female character at the start for her stubborn, immature outlook, but she has amazing character development and her transformation into a strong, resilient heroine by the end was one of the book’s most rewarding arcs.

The enemies-to-lovers tension crackles, and the “touch her and die” vibes are spot-on, though at times the pacing felt a bit uneven. Still, the rich worldbuilding and sizzling chemistry make this a must-read for romantasy fans.

While this book wasn’t quite the right fit for me personally, I think I was in a reading slump, and I struggled with the slower pace, and the immaturity of the FMC at the beginning of the book, I still recognize how much care and intention went into this story. Just because it didn’t fully click for me doesn’t mean it won’t resonate deeply with someone else. If you love character-driven fantasy with high-stakes power plays, dragon bonds, and slow-burn romantasy, this might just be your new favorite. —give it a try and see if this is your next favorite book!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Read 🐉 ❤️
Thank you so much Hailey Gonzales for picking me to be an Arc reader for your new book “A Kingdom of Fire and Fury”, book 1 of the House of Embers series. I am beyond honoured to have been given a chance to read this book.

4/5 ⭐️
A Kingdom of Fire and Fury has a bit of everything for everyone that is in their romantasy reading era right now. It has Shadow Daddy’s, Fated Mates, Dragons, Slow Burn, and Found Family.
If you enjoyed reading Fourth Wing, and Quicksilver, then this is the book for you to help fill in the gap!
The pacing at the beginning of the book was a little quick for my reading style, but it developed into a great story and I felt connected to the characters the entire time. You could feel the emotions all throughout the book, it had me kicking my feet and holding my breath.
I cannot wait for the second book, especially after how this one ends!

Thank you again Hailey Gonzales

[Mykelti O'Brien · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an arc copy of this book and went into it with really high hopes, but there were so many typos (to the point of switching to the wrong character mid conversation) that it’s hard to believe it was published like this. I understand that I received an arc and not a final copy, but for there to be a typo on nearly every page really took me out of the book to the point where I could not finish it and put it down at 55% in.

In addition, the FMC hasn’t had much character growth despite the challenges she has faced so far, and after reading other reviews that doesn’t seem likely to change. I’m disappointed that this book turned out the way it did because I think the story has potential, it’s just needs some more massaging before being ready for release.

[Stinkin’Good Good Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hailey girl you had me so enthralled with this one I forgot I was in the land of the living!! Dragons fated mate and shadow daddy!! That ending! I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!

Whew this one would not let me rest and I’m sure I’m dehydrated at this point.
Selena is a common thief who becomes a dragon rider. Kieran is a caption of the drangonguard. Both have their goals that need to be reached by obeying the king just a little longer. But then Selena finally gets her power and goes to war only to find out who she really is!
Love this story overall and the little bit of spicy scenes was a bonus!

[Hila Jonker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC

A fun, light read that got me hook, line and sinker. Loved the relationships of the characters but also the relationships between rider and dragon.

The world-building was a bit slow but it also gave you time to form the structures in your mind.

The only thing that disappointed me was that Selena's radioulnar synostosis is only briefly mentioned in the beginning and that Luther has the same condition, probably as a foreshadowing for the twist, but it's not mentioned at all in the many training sections. Surely the restricted movement would have some effect on her fighting style?

I will definitely look out for the next in the series.

[Tonya’s life in pages 📖🍓 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read!

I absolutely loved this book! I’m already itching for book 2.

There’s a perfect combination of enemy to lovers, banter, fighting and dragon riding. The storyline flows well and keeps you invested in the book. The characters are well developed and thought out…I loved the ones I loved and disliked the ones I should. 😆

I’m fully invested in seeing what will happen in the remaining books that will follow in this series.

[Charlee Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this as an arc and really wanted to love it. I was so excited because I’ve only received one other arc before.

The storyline is entertaining enough but within the first 20% of the book I highlighted 17 huge errors. I normally miss errors with my ADHD speed reading but there were just so many. The book also felt like she recently read a popular dragon riders book and it bled into her writing. Not a copy cat or anything, but still too similar.

I wasn’t going to review since I don’t plan on finishing but I figured other readers deserved to know before going in.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Kingdom of Fire and Fury is perfect for Fourth Wing and ACOTAR fans. There are dragons, riders, fae lore, and a shadow daddy.

Selena is a decent main character. There are times when I didn't necessarily like her, but I was always rooting for her.

I loved this book and getting to be immersed in a new world with dragon bonds and fated mates. I cannot wait for book 2!

[Leneé · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Overview

In A Kingdom of Fire and Fury, the story follows a street thief whose life turns upside-down after a heist goes disastrously wrong. Branded a traitor and spared only because a dragon unexpectedly claims her as its rider, she’s thrust into the elite ranks of dragon riders. Instead of execution, she’s offered salvation—on one strict condition: her sister remains hidden and held hostage. Now, amid enemies and political intrigue, she must navigate dragon bonds, royal plots, and the shadows of betrayal to rescue her sister and survive a kingdom that wants her dead.

✨ What I Liked
• A compelling premise combining dragons, high stakes, and moral ambiguity—full of energy and immediate tension.
• Genre appeal for romantasy fans: enemies-to-lovers dynamics, morally grey characters, steamy romance, and shadowy political maneuverings .
• It offers plenty of adventure and action—ideal for readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy with dragon riders, shadow powers, and high drama.

⸻

💭 My Thoughts — Where It Fell Short

Despite its promise, this book didn’t quite deliver in execution:
1. Writing Style Feels Juvenile and Disjointed
The prose often felt simplistic and clumsy. Sentences disrupted my immersion as the flow was inconsistent and less polished than I had hoped.

2. Overused Vocabulary
I noticed repeated words in single sentences—clearly symptomatic of lacking a thesaurus. It felt lazy and sloppy.

3. Unrealized Potential in the Premise
The initial setup promised intrigue and drama, but the plot didn’t build on that foundation in meaningful ways. Instead, it wavered aimlessly.

4. Fragmented Structure
The narrative jumps abruptly between scenes and ideas. It lacks cohesion, making it hard to feel grounded in the story world.

5. Flat, Underdeveloped Characters
None of the characters, including the protagonist, resonated with me. They failed to evolve or form meaningful connections with the reader. Supporting characters had storylines that began intriguingly but then vanished without resolution.

6. Overlong and Repetitive
The pacing sagged under length and redundancy. Scenes were dragged out with little new development, making the read feel unnecessarily long.


🧾 Final Thoughts

House of Embers: A Kingdom of Fire and Fury starts strong, with an exciting setup and dragon-bound potential. But the experience is undermined by clunky prose, poor pacing, and weak character development. While its genre tropes and steamy elements might appeal to fans of romantasy, for me it ultimately fell flat. If the execution matched the premise, it could have been so much more.

[Sarah Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5

Thank you to Hailey Gonzales for this ARC, I’m so grateful for the chance to read this early. What a wild, emotional, and magical ride.

I grew up on fantasy books, the kind that felt like portals and promises all at once, but I’ve avoided them as an adult, scared they wouldn’t hold the same kind of magic. Then this book came along and cracked me wide open in the best way.

A Kingdom of Fire and Fury reminded me why I fell in love with fantasy in the first place, but this time, it came with sharper edges, deeper wounds, and characters who felt so real I wanted to both protect and scream at them.

Selena and Kieran? I adored them. Their slow-burn romance was everything I crave: built on tension, survival, stubborn loyalty, and the kind of banter that had me grinning like an idiot. It didn’t feel like a trope, it felt like two people choosing each other again and again, despite the world falling apart around them. The way they challenged each other, the softness under all that fire… I felt it.

Selena is fierce and flawed and impossible not to root for, and Kieran, oh, Kieran, a brooding shadow daddy with a brutal past and a heart he hides like it’s a weapon? I’m obsessed. Their dynamic hit every emotional nerve in the best possible way.

Yes, there were a few repetitive moments, but they didn’t take away from the momentum or the impact. The story is bold, layered, and absolutely full of heart.

And the ending? I thought I saw it coming. I had my little theories. I was wrong. So wrong. That twist hit like a punch to the chest and left me staring at the last page, blinking in betrayal. In other words, incredible storytelling.

This book has:
🗡️ Enemies to lovers
🐉 Dragons with purpose
🖤 Shadow magic & angst
🔥 Slow burn spice
💀 “Touch her and die” energy
👑 Political power plays
❤️‍🩹 Found family + emotional damage

It’s the kind of romantasy that doesn’t just entertain, it lingers. And now I’m counting down the days until the next book because I need more.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You say you know my heart. What if you’re the one that sets it aflame?”

“I’ll take the darkness, so you can shine in the light.”

“I think you like playing the bad guy because underneath you’re scared like everyone else. But deep down, you want someone to look at you and see you. You want them to know you’re not a monster.”

“You’re my salvation, my light in the shadows.”

“For the crime of touching her, I sentence you to death.”

I want to state that I received an advanced copy of this book and will be giving an honest review. In the beginning of this book and several times throughout I got Fourth Wing vibes, but without the war college. This book is perfect for those who enjoy reading a romantasy involving a shadow daddy, dragons, and gryphons. The banter between Kieran and Selena was perfect and the spice did not overshadow the plot. She is such a witty FMC that refuses to bow down to anybody (except the king). Her only reason for obeying the kings command is to ensure her sister’s protection. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I’m eager to read more about Selena’s journey in the next book.

Living in the slums of Lusadia doesn’t give Selena and her sister a lot of options for survival. Having lived in poverty her entire life, Selena is not a fan of nobles or the king. She resorts to thieving jobs to earn the coin necessary to buy her sister’s draughts. Her last job ended in her being marked for death. Selena’s only salvation? A dragon claiming her as her rider.

Throughout the book Kieran definitely gave me Xaiden vibes. Love me a good touch her and die MMC. He definitely has his own motives, none of which he thought Selena would be a part of. Learning his story, I can see why he portrays himself as a harsh monster to all others. But those who truly know him know his heart. He is fierce and will lay down his life to protect those he cares about. What more can you ask for?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Kingdom of Fire and Fury contains triggering situations such as mentions of sex workers, swearing, on-page sex (three instances of it and some scenes have a kink to them), transphobia (in conversation), violence, sexism, starvation, undiagnosed medical issues, heavy themes of captivity and kidnapping, and finally mutilation.

A Kingdom of Fire and Fury is a steamy, dragon rider romantasy that includes morally grey characters, enemies-to-lovers, political intrigue, an MMC with shadow powers, and touch her and unalive.

I rated this book 5* I loved the characters, the plot and how the dragons were described. I also loved finding out more about the character's history and lore as I read.

I was sent this book as a ARC copy which I'm late posting due to mental health issues, however, I absolutely loved this book. The dragon's all sound so beautiful and fit their riders well reflecting each other's personalities.

Kieran drives me insane but you can't help but love the man.. he's my favourite. He's selfish and arrogant but plays the game well... I NEEED him like now. Selena is also an interesting character, seeing how she progresses in her current situation is relatable, it's either grow and progress or suffer the consequences. She'd do anything for her family and I love it. She's so stubborn acts on her feelings instead of thinking about it, often leading to rash decisions. The other drsgonsguard also grew on me, Gareth and his smut books definitely made me chuckle as we've all been there 👀

I'd recommend this book to those who like dragons, fantasy and fated mate books, this book does end on a cliffhanger so easy warned, but it's got me ready for the next book now, I need to know what happens due to that ending twist!

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you first of all to Hailey for preparing this book as an ARC for me to read and review. I wasn’t sure if I was going to write this review as I wanted to be constructive about it, but I think it warrants something so other readers are aware prior to going into this book.

I did enjoy the overall storyline and plot of this book, and I believe it has good potential, but it needs a thorough reread and editing. There are a surprising number of typos throughout the book that would often take me out of the reading zone I was in, and times I had to reread a sentence multiple times because the character names switched unexpectedly (at least one time) or I had to decipher the typo.

The author has a lot of potential in her writing - there were some really good, fleshed-out characters and dialogue, but unfortunately her main character was not one of them. I felt like Selena would say a lot of things, and then go immediately back on them or show no character growth whatsoever. There was a lot of tell, but no show, and it made it harder to really buy the story as a whole. I would highly recommend working towards having the characters’ actions tell the story instead of relying as heavily on narration and dialogue. There was also so many times that we’d revisit the same topics with Selena that I felt the book could’ve been much shorter if we weren’t circling the same conversations over and over.

Overall, if you are going to read this book, I recommend going in with an open mind and an understanding that it may not be the most polished version of a publication.

[Bookloverb1234 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a cruel world that stigmatizes, in a world steeped in rage, only the dragon's fire and love can save you.

Selena is a thief who is sentenced to death, but is saved by the most ancient female dragon of Lusadia kingdom and becomes a member of King Luther's dragon-riding guard. However, her past makes her untrustworthy and her little sister keeps her distance until she proves her worth and loyalty .

There he meets Kieran, the leader of their group, Nimue, Gareth, Ben and Aurelia.

The elements I liked are the atmosphere of this book, the team spirit of training, meals and relaxation even if there are tensions , Nimue's friendship with Selena, there is acceptance in the LGBT community. Kiran is one of the top book boyfriends, he far surpasses Zayden, he has tremendous character development so fans of the Fourth Wing should expect to see something completely different if they want read this book.

Not all dragon books are alike, nor are they all related to the Fourth Wing.
It is much better written than the book by Giarras, the protagonists have incredible chemistry and the ending leaves us with questions and impatience for what's next.

This book has its own voice and its own personality. Lets see the tropes:

Fated mates
Enemies to lovers
Powerful fmc- shadow daddy mmc
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ ( My fav chapter was 35)


And some quotes:
««You don’t believe in good-hearted princes or roses. You guard your heart with the fierceness of a dragon so that no one can hurt you.»»


««If we want to be happy, we have to be a bit selfish»»


Thanks so much for the arc! 😊

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Pathetic. I thought you had more fire than that, little thief.”

“You think of yourself as a puppeteer, but you’re a pawn just like me.”

“Go on an adventure with me.”

“You look so pretty on your knees. Maybe I should keep you like this.”

“Someday, you’ll have the nobles bowing at your feet, and I can’t wait to witness it.”

📖2.75⭐️

I truly wanted to love this book. It has everything I want in a fantasy book: dragons, banter, tension, and yearning but in my opinion, I felt this read like a Fourth Wing fanfic. “Lightning cracked” and “his shadows” or “You’re a vicious thing..” or even the sparring scene. The FMC was intolerable, impulsive, and kept saying “asshole” pretty much on every page and almost every situation. I hoped the FMC would have character growth but maybe on the next one? I understand all the hard work, thought, and dedication the author put into this, I do. While I enjoyed some parts overall I didn’t. It just wasn’t for me.

Pros: twist to the dragon rider lore, Nimue

✔️Romantasy
✔️Dragons
✔️Dragonrider lore
✔️Enemies to lovers to?
✔️Banter
✔️Yearning
✔️Tension
✔️Found Family
✔️Fated Mates/Dragons
✔️Cliffhanger
✔️Single POV, past tense
✔️🌶️🌶️


I read this as an ARC but the review is my own. I thank the author Hailey Gonzales for the opportunity to read this book!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love stories filled with dragons, magic, found family, and dangerously compelling secrets, A Kingdom of Fire and Fury delivers all that and more. Hailey Gonzales crafts a world where fated mates, evil kings, and burning rage collide in spectacular fashion. The plot is rich and layered, with twists that keep you on your toes, and the dialogue flows naturally, making it an easy book to sink into.
One of the standout elements is the spice after a nice slow burn — and wow, is it spicy! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ The romantic tension is intense and satisfying, sure to please readers who like their fantasy with heat.
That said, the reading experience wasn't without bumps. At times, the scene transitions felt a little abrupt, with characters in one place and suddenly elsewhere without enough separation to ground the reader. And while the main female character is strong and passionate, her repeated questions and rage-blindness grew a bit frustrating — though to be fair, that emotional reaction is a testament to Gonzales’s ability to make her characters feel real.
All in all, this is an exciting, emotional fantasy romp that’s well worth the read. I’d give it a solid 3.5 to 4 stars.
Thank you to the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC! #AKingdomofFireandFury

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books that entertain you, and then there are books that ignite something in you—that sit heavy in your chest long after you’ve turned the final page. A Kingdom of Fire and Fury is firmly the latter.

Hailey Gonzales delivers a debut that is as emotionally charged as it is politically layered. From the very first chapter, I found myself pulled into a world built on power, survival, and fire.

What surprised me most was how much heart lived beneath the shadows.

Gonzales handles morally gray characters with care. There’s no clear line between right and wrong here—only survival, loyalty, and longing. Her prose is sharp but emotionally honest, and the pacing never lags. When the story hits, it hits hard—both in its quiet moments and its explosive ones.

If you’re looking for fantasy that pairs high stakes with emotional intimacy, this book belongs on your shelf. It doesn’t just tell a story—it bleeds one.

✨ Final thoughts
A Kingdom of Fire and Fury is a powerful debut—dark, intimate, and unexpectedly tender in all the places it could’ve just chosen to be cruel. It gave me a lump in my throat more than once. I closed the final page breathless… and already needing the sequel.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was SO good. 4.5 ⭐️ The tension. The slow burn. The feisty FMC and shadow-wielding MMC. THE CLIFFHANGER.

I don’t have any notes. It was such a fun read. I wanted to keep picking it up.

Selena is so sassy and not afraid to speak her mind. I love that. Kieran is a total a-hole. I was so irritated with his behavior sometimes. But, I just knew he was softie underneath his scary exterior. Their relationship gets complicated, but I’m hoping they work things out.

The magic system is similar to Fourth Wing. Once a dragon bonds with you, you get a mark and then manifest a Gift. I was impatiently waiting to see what Gift our girl got. Was NOT expecting what it ended up being!

Luther is the absolute worst and I can’t wait to see how Selena handles him in future books.

The cliffhanger ending gave us an unexpected twist! I had started wondering, since we don’t know who Selena’s father is. The necklace is definitely important in determining who he was/is. So many questions still need to be answered and I am SO looking forward to seeing how the ending changes things for our girl.

Overall, I loved this story and I’m very much looking forward to the next book! It only lost half a star because I didn’t have a strong emotional response while reading.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a looong time since I've last given a review so here goes nothing
It took me a little bit to start liking this book. I'm not gonna lie at first I thought that it was gonna be a copy of fourth wing because it had dragons, a mmc that controls shadows, gryphons and the trainer-trainee dynamic. All of those elements are common to both books and there are alao certain tropes that you see in every other fantasy romance which can get a bit repetitive. What won me over was the romance which developed really slowly but was so worth it. The tension and earning were done so right! My favorite part about this book must be the plot because it has elements that are very unique and I can't see which way it will go which is always a plus. I related a lot Serena even though there were some times when I wanted to punch her, but the character development is there, and also I liked Kieran even tho he had some of the classic fantasy mmc traits. The other riders except Aurora and Luther are all sweethearts. That ending was only moderately cruel so not the worst one I've seen. All in all a really good read, can't wait for the next one. Rating 4/5⭐️ 2.5/5🌶️(it's not a lot but it's well written)

[FN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hat's off to the author. I absolutely love this book! It has everything that i love- magic, dragons, people to save! We can all pretty much predict the obvious part of the story right, like.. those endless hate, grudge, untrusting, questions, bantering between the FMC that end up with getting stucked with the MMC 😂 - and yet this does not spoil the fun at all.

Beautifully written characters and layered plots with so waves of emotions. Characters growth - keeping you in toes who to root or hate 😂. Strong and evolving characters dynamics that keep you invested and curious throughout, wanting to know who the good and the bad guys are. Secrets and clues that just makes you impatient to find out and makes them come out to light and plot twists that blow your mind. Broody Shadow Daddy that vows to keep his Badass Mommy safe forever even if it kills him. And the Baddass Mommy's hidden identity who's not who and what she seems. If these are your things, well, the book should be in your reading list.

Im thankful to be given the opportunity to review this book early. And looking forward to the next one!