A Queen Crowned In Flames

Bonded to Beasts #2

by Hazel McBride

The rightful queen and her fire-breathing dragon must fight against corruption and overcome the betrayal of the man she loved in the searing conclusion to the Celtic-inspired fantasy romance duology that began with A Fate Forged in Fire.

Aemyra Daercathian is a queen on the run. Having failed to take Àird Lasair and betrayed by her husband-whom she grew to trust and 'and was beginning to fall for during her time in captivity-Aemyra is forced to retreat with a raging desire for revenge. But before she can settle the score and fulfill a sacred promise to kill Fiorean, her forces must rest and replenish their strength.

No one can know the truth.

Even though Aemyra has a fierce dragon and a large army of elemental wielders called Dùileach standing behind her, she has lost what's most important to her-her fire magic. Haunted by her love for her enemy, and unsure if she is even goddess-blessed anymore, Aemyra vows to do right by her people. Even if that means she must make a new kind of alliance, one that could mean winning back her kingdom. At a cost to her heart...

From the ashes, Aemyra must emerge a new kind of queen, but will she be the dawn for her people or the fire that burns everything to the ground?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Dragons, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers

480 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Hazel McBride is a Scottish author currently living in The Netherlands.

Book one in her upcoming adult fantasy romance duology, A FATE FORGED IN FIRE is being published in early 2025 by Renegade books UK and Dell US with pre-empt deals with Aufbau in German and NeoN Libri in Italian

After gaining her BSc in Psychology at the University of Glasgow, she moved to the Dominican Republic. Switching the laid-back Caribbean for the sun-drenched Canary Islands a year later, she then moved to the South of France and is now fluent in three languages. As a bisexual author, having queer characters feature prominently in her novels, alongside her Scottish heritage is hugely important to her.

Reviews

[Salma [inactive]]

Sooo...funny story, I want to be an ARC reader, and I just applied for a bunch of ARCs, while certain I'll never get them.

Guess what? I got the ARC for this, and I didn't even read book 1 😭

[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑨𝒆𝒎𝒚𝒓𝒂,” 𝑭𝒊𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅. 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆. “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆.”

ENEMIES TO LOVERS TO ENEMIES TO THEN LOVERS heheh I ATE IT UPPP 😮‍💨🔥 I can say with confidence that the constant flip between enemies vs. lovers I devoured it. And not only that, but the feminine rage in this duology for our rightful queen Aemyra to have her throne was STRONG, and I loved every second of it.

I won’t go into spoilers about how the first book ended, but let’s just say this book is a slow burn in both storyline and romance from what we got at the end of book 1. So by the time you get hit with MULTIPLE plot twists, you start to cheer… or read faster… just to get ahead of what’s coming 😭 Then by 80%, you’re already screaming like AHH GIMME THE HAPPINESS, THE CALM, THE CONCLUSION because you just keep getting hit over and over again.

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕.”

I loved the conclusion of this duology. I do believe I could easily keep reading about this world. I loved our main characters how intertwined their rage and love for one another was in the first book, and then how it evolves into something even more in this series. YES TO ALLLLLL ✨

tropes
🔥 enemies to lovers
🔥 my wife
🔥 dragon bonds
🔥 full on war


⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ book 1 ended in cliffhanger, now I got the arc to see what happens (thank the lord for duologies)!!!!! if you want to read my review of A Fate Forged in Fire<-- here you go.

[Liana Gold]

Very excited to be able to read the continuation of A Fate Forged In Fire!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine/Delacorte Press and the author, Hazel McBride for the early eARC!

Publication date: May 26, 2026

[Romy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

A huge thank you to the amazing author herself, Hazel McBride, for gifting me an ARC of A Queen Crowned in Flames!! I really enjoyed this book! I wasn’t sure which direction the story would go in after the devastating cliffhanger from book one, but I was pleasantly surprised! I won’t give anything away, but I love when a book can subvert my expectations/predictions! I will also always love a world inspired by Scotland, although I wouldn’t have minded a little more! More world building, more from the side characters, and more from the dragons/dragon bonds! I know there will be more books in this universe, so here’s to hoping we will go even deeper into the lore of Erisocia and its people!

[Ali]

need this book like i need air to breathe

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book as much as the first one, but it suffered from the same (very) slow start among a number of additional new issues. Overall, I still mostly enjoyed it, but I wouldn't really recommend it.

A Queen Crowned in Flames centers on Queen Aemrya's struggle to regain her kingdom from Alfred and her husband, Fiorean, who recently betrayed her. The main struggle (beyond just endless battles) is that Alfred has created a chemical that blocks the magic of the magic-wielders in Aemrya's army. A major subplot follows Aemrya and her twin's struggle to create an antidote. The second major subplot is focused on Aemrya agreeing to marry the son of one of the other lords in exchange for his allegiance and support in her war.

Aemrya herself doesn't do very much in this book. The antidote is mostly her twin's project and she mostly serves as a vessel for the deus ex machina that makes it work. While she participates in the battles, her actions have very little effect on the outcome of the battles. She spends most of the book caught up in her own head about her magic, while suddenly throwing her trust at the one new character instead of all of her friends and companions from the previous book.

And on top of that, all of the plot suffers from being hugely predictable. The antidote doesn't work until it suddenly does. And of course you can guess what happens with Aemyra and Fioren, given that we know what sort of romance book this is. (Sorry Thear, I did think you were great).

The pacing is also not quite right. The beginning was incredibly slow, and worsened by the fact that there was no recap of the previous book or any attempt to remind you who some of these characters are or why they are important. While the book does get faster after this point, the pacing is still all over the place. It jumps from high energy drawn out battle scenes to sudden time skips where apparently nothing happens to random rituals which don't really progress the plot.

This book does set up a really interesting dichotomy between the 'normal' or non-duileach and the magic-wielding, animal-bonded duileach. There is real growth in recognizing that the non-duileach have a justified reason to be angry at being powerless and looked-down upon. Aemrya's journey to understanding her people was actually very interesting and satisfying to see.

A few other random thoughts:
- There's a lot of causal anti-men sentiment, just lots of 'fucking men' and repeated allusions to men being stubborn and unreasonable. I would normally ignore this, but there was just so much of it that it did make me slightly uncomfortable.
- The battles are won and lost for reasons outside of Aemyra's control, which weakens the plot and her purpose in the story.
- The secret to good mental health is apparently drug induced hallucinations
- The super cool dragons mostly seem like a combination of inanimate vehicles, an excuse for mind magic, and status symbols. Other than causing problems, the dragon bonds don't actually do? anything? I would've loved to see a deeper connection between Aemyra's and Terrea that actually amounted to something more.

Overall, this book is fine. It's got a healthy amount of spice and the writing itself is generally pretty good. However, it has a few too many plot holes and just-so moments for me to give it 5 stars.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Davi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5⭐️

I was so happy to be an ARC reader for this book!

A Fate Forged in Fire was one of my 5-star reads of 2025, and this sequel is a fantastic follow-up. A Queen Crowned in Flames was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I will definitely be buying a physical copy. If you read and enjoyed book one, this second installment is well worth your time.

This story is a direct continuation of the first book and picks up shortly after the previous conclusion. The plot follows Aemyra as she processes the trauma she endured in book one and explores how those experiences have shaped her outlook on the war and her relationships with her allies. Religious oppression and the weight of making sacrifices for loved ones are two major themes throughout the story. New characters are introduced, old ones are fleshed out more, and the world building is expanded upon significantly.

My only qualm, and the reason I deducted 0.5 stars, was the pacing. While book one was consistently fast-paced and impossible to put down, the momentum in this book felt like it dropped off during the second quarter. However, many of my lingering questions from the first book were finally answered, and the battle sequences were easily some of my favorite scenes. All in all, this is a satisfying conclusion to the duology.

[Hecate’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 🌶️2

🔥Religious trauma
🐉Single POV
🔥Dragon bonds
🐉Enemies to lovers

“In order to rule, you have to become what they fear most, and by the Goddess, you will fear me.”

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and Hazel McBride for an ARC of this sequel.

This book picks up right after the cliff hanger at the end of book 1. SO much happened in this book, and I’m torn about a few of them. I also saw both big plot twists coming unfortunately, it was very obvious to me exactly what would happen. I can’t help but be disappointed by how little Aemyra had to do with the trajectory of everything that happened.

Probably very nit picky of me, but the following things did really bug me. There is a good chance they will be fixed for final publication though. Why is the pronunciation guide not in alphabetical order 😢 and some character names are in the world building section? And why are half the places mentioned not on the map??? I looked like a fool zooming in on the map searching for places that I don’t think existed.

small maybe spoilers:
-my man Thear deserved better. If the next spin off in this world isn’t his story I’ll be legit angry.
-new ick unlocked with one of the scenes with the dragon, I won’t give more away

[Loz✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the cliffhanger we were left on after book one i have been absolutely desperate to get into this book. ‘A Fate Forged in Fire’ by Hazel McBride was one of my favourite reads of last year and we’re back with a sequel which is somehow even better!?

Aemyra is the perfect fantasy fmc for me. She is fierce, strong, intelligent and brave but she is also messy, flawed, scared and loves so deeply. Her healing journey throughout this book was beautiful and the way Hazel explores grief and the marks it leaves on us I found so special and relatable.

The world building feels much more expansive as we get into book two but none of it feels overwhelming or hard to follow. Getting to know the rest of Tìr Tiene and peeks at the wider lands of Erisocia were wonderful and I am so excited for further books set in this world.

I could go on and on about how talented a writer Hazel is but it is so clear in the way she has managed to beautifully explore the importance of equality for all people - to quote the book, “regardless of religion, background, or culture” - within a perfectly balanced plot. We get so much action, moments of reflection and political commentary throughout and each moment within this book feels important and pushes the characters, the plot, or the reader.

A Queen Crowned in Flames is out in May, completing this duology and is perfect for fans of Outlander, House of the Dragon and the Kindred’s Curse books ❤️‍🔥

✨Some of my favourite quotes:

“Grief is the price we pay for the blessing of having people to love”

“If the Dùileach weren’t so separated, perhaps they would join their elements and be strong enough to fix it”

“The women of Tìr Tiene will never shrink themselves to be more palatable to men”

🫶🏼 Thank you so much to Dialogue and Netgalley for this arc and of course to Hazel for such an incredible, inspiring story 🧡

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ / unfortunately this really dragged for me, worse than book 1 did. I found the FMC overly abrasive and frustrating. the plot was predictable but everything was, at the same time, so incredibly confusing. it had been a while since I read book 1, but honestly so much of the terminology was confusing and seemed like it was just dropped in with very little context. same with characters. the conflict, while it could have felt nuanced, mostly seemed all over the place. (also tell me why they had to fuck on dragonback and she had to grind her clit on his scales????? while both human mates were telepathically connected with the also-mated dragons?? it was fine for me in Fourth Wing when the humans and dragons were fuckin separately but when they're all involved somehow is when ya lose me.)

anyway prob not one i'll be rushing to recommend.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the eARC!

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t post all of my feelings yet, but this is a favorite duology of mine now.

Coming out 5/26!!!!!!!! 🐉🔥

[louise ʚଓ · Rating 4 out of 5]

| rating: 4 stars

i love seeing authors grow and improve their craft. this was an incredible read.

full review to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House for the e-ARC!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

Great conclusion to duology that addressed nearly all my issues from first book.

First thank you to Ballantine, Delacorte Press, NetGalley, and Hazel McBride for the eARC, all opinions my own.

This book picks up exactly where A Fate Forged in Fire left off with Aemyra fleeing for her (and her army’s) lives following defeat in battle for Tir Tiene. Aemyra must fight her grief and betrayal (and the loss of her fire magic) to rally allies to fight and take her rightful place as Queen.

I really enjoyed this one and while I do have some issues it was fun, emotional ride. Aemyra’s battle against her anger, grief, confusion, love, and how to be a just ruler, is center stage here and I really enjoyed the overall arc it took. In book 1 I had gotten annoyed with Aemyra’s lack of foresight/impulsivity but after reading this book it does good job working that into how she has changed since her betrayal/defeat.

I also had been frustrated in book 1 that many of the side characters felt one dimensional and that was remedied here. New characters like Thear and Riya add depth to Aemyra’s arc and returning ones like Maeve, Sorcha, and even the dragons played larger, and moving, roles in the story. Adarian was still fairly one note but that was ok. The bonds between magic wielders, their magic, and their beasts continued to play large role and was really great.

If I had to complain one thing would be that I think this could have actually been a trilogy instead of duology (or maybe just slightly longer book). I think some of the lore/events could have done with bit more room to breathe and then might seem little less convenient. Similarly the final large battle against Alfred’s forces happens mainly off page. However, overall I think it’s not huge issue.

Also (and I stress that this might just be an eARC issue so please disregard if changed in final version) if places are going to be referenced so frequently they need to be labeled on the map. I spent lot of time looking for places mentioned only to find them missing. But still that’s minor issue.

Overall very enjoyable duology that leaves open lot of potential exploration within the world that I would be very excited to return to.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a duology!

Thank you Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

We dive back into our world where oppression reigns, unless we can get Aemyra to sit on golden throne. Her promise mark burning and her dragon Terrea ready to unleash their feminine rage and the battle carries on.

She travels to gain aide from the Chimeras and we get golden retriever Thear. Whom soothes Aemyra’s heart and teaches her much about herself along with Riya.
I enjoyed all of the side characters and depth they provided to Aemyra’s growth.
They believe in her, just like her father Draevan.

She has such a passion for her people. She proclaimed in this quote:
“All would be welcome in Tir Teine, regardless of religion, background, or culture. It would be a peaceful home for all.
And their queen would fight with flame and fury to ensure it remained so.”

I again experienced alllll the emotions.
This book didn’t traumatize me like book 1, but it still gave emotional damage.
Hazel McBride really has a way with descriptive feelings and she set the stage for them so well.

My favorite bit is that the dragons(all mythical creatures) that are bonded don’t speak directly to you in words but in images and emotions.

[Kelly||sketchbooksandsoftbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Balentine and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

This is a review for book 2, so there may be spoilers for what happens in book 1!

Quick plot:
Aemyra has been betrayed. She must fight to get her kingdom back from the one person she loves. Except, her magic isn’t cooperating. As she navigates running a kingdom, trying to amass more troops, a new political betrothal and some epic battles, she also must learn to cope and grieve people she has lost. Her connection to magic is key to taking back her kingdom and restoring dragon power. Although, some people haven’t been who we thought they were. This alters the choices Aemyra makes and also makes her second guess choices she’s already made!

Thoughts:
This was super fun! I loved having a Scottish dragon time! I think the author has some great pacing and can craft worlds and magic systems in a compelling way. My only feedback is the love triangle that unknowingly transpires felt like I needed more story for it to be fully flushed out. The plot twists and turns had it so Aemyra almost could move on to a new romantic interest, but then it was ripped away and unsettled. I feel left hanging and need more story from Thear!

I really do recommend this duo and I am hopeful there will be more duos set in this world!

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 | 4.25 stars rounded down

A Fate Forged in Fire is one of my all-time favorite romantasy books, and A Queen Crowned in Flames picked up right where AFFIF left off.

Aemyra's struggles with grief, guilt, betrayal, rage, and so much more are portrayed in a very raw and meaningful way throughout this book. I really enjoyed seeing her grapple with the cost of leadership. The side characters are really well fleshed out and stand on their own.

The emotional impact of this book is HIGH, and I felt characters' pain as though it was my own. The world building is rich and vivid, and I LOVE the Celtic elements throughout.

The pace was a bit inconsistent at times and I missed the political scheming of the first book, but this was still an excellent read. I wanted just a *tad* more from Aemyra and Fiorean's reunion, too, considering how much they both went through.

I also really appreciated the pronunciation guide at the start of the book.

Overall, a fantastic conclusion to this duology, which has made me extra excited for the next two duologies in this universe.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Sennehs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feminist fantasy is a decisively adventurous follow up to “A Fate Forged in Fire”. I was hooked by Aemyra’s story and anxiously awaiting the second installment.

In this book we follow Aemyra’s continued quest for the golden throne. While faltering at times she mostly held her own. She had to make more strategic decisions which sometimes came at the risk of making her character look weak and indecisive. I don’t know if that was the author’s intention.

The book was fast paced, but it had A LOT going on which diluted the storyline some. Were there thrilling surprises, twists, and return characters I didn’t anticipate (I don’t want to give any spoilers)? Absolutely! That made it an exciting read. But, it was also sometimes exhausting (not in a good way). The characters, the locations, etc. made it more convoluted than strictly necessary. While the pace was on point it was still a slog to get through at times.

I didn’t think this was as successful as the initial book in the series, and the ending which proposed there may be more to come was unfortunate. The author has exhausted this tale and I hope they don’t spin it off into another story.

[Amy Starr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ is generous because this was a complete bust for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the arc of A Queen Crowned in Flames. After reading book 1, this was an anticipated new release for me in 2026.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this book.
I’m truly disappointed that this book wasn’t a success story for me. I still urge you to read and decide for yourself. Especially if you loved book one.

Pros:
✔️ extensive pronunciation guide, which you will need if that kind of thing matters to you.
✔️ dragons
✔️ the story picks up exactly where it left. There are no time leaps.
✔️ The last 20% saved this book.
✔️ It does wrap up nicely with a satisfying conclusion.

Cons:
❌ It was incredibly slow for 80% and then suddenly rushed. The plot felt disjointed. I couldn’t make sense of how we got from one step to the next. The battle scenes and world building did not feel complete.
❌ The relationship development didn’t make sense, between any of them. The characters weren’t likable (except Thear) and the romance wasn’t believable.
❌ The magic thrown in at the end needed further exploration.
❌ Also, the biggest ick over the use of a dragon to aid in self gratification/pleasure.

[Darth C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy flying f*ck balls…. we were warned. We were gently, lovingly, ominously warned about the trauma. And yet??? I still walked into this book like a fool with hope in my pocket.

Book one ruined my life.
Book two set it on fire, crowned itself in the flames, and made me watch. And I liked it.

This sequel is whiplash central. The emotional damage hits deeper, sharper, and with intent. The twists are absolutely here (and yes, if you’re paying attention you know what’s coming), but that does not make it any less feral, devastating, or satisfying when it finally drops. If anything, the dread marination makes it worse (complimentary).

Hazel McBride said: stakes higher, knives sharper, feelings illegal.
And I ate it up.

By the end, Hazel has officially secured auto-buy author status for me. No questions. No blurbs needed. I will simply show up, emotionally unprepared, every single time. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this universe, even if we’re no longer seeing it through Aems’ eyes (though I would absolutely let her ruin me again).

This book is power claimed, trauma embraced, and crowns earned the hard way.
Burn it all down. I’ll be seated. 🔥👑

PS: That Cho 39 scene???
🥵🥵🥵
Absolutely uncalled for. Completely feral. Next. Level. 🐉

[Lexi Library☕️&#x1f3d9;️ &#x1f4d6; · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐ so happy I was able to receive this ARC after reading AFFIF and firstly that cliffhanger from that book?! I was reeling so thank you Hazel for that!
What a satisfying ending to this duology!

*warning: mini spoilers ahead*

This sequel is a direct continuation from the first book and is absolutely filled with everything from battles to politics to dragon mating and birthing of eggs?! Aemyra actually experiencing this first hand through the bond was so different and a real interesting development into exploring the ‘reality’ of bonding and not just the glamourised benefits.

Aemyra is defintely an FMC to love in this book as she continually portrays strength and compassion as well as vulnerability to all her people, those who worship the goddesses and the Savior.

I was definitely rooting for Thear and his charming ways but you just knew that Fiorean and Aemyra were destined.

I somewhat sensed the betrayal coming but not the repercussions which made me SO emotional. It was satisfying how the fall out was dealt with in a ruthless, no-mercy fashion. Reminded me very much of how things are dealt with in Game of Thrones.

Overall I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for others to read in May!

[Rhianne Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I wanted from a finale and more. Just like the first book, A Queen Crowned in Flames had me completely hooked from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I gasped out loud at several moments, and by the time I reached the end I felt both emotionally wrecked and deeply satisfied. It was the perfect conclusion to this duology.

At the heart of the story is Aemyra’s healing and reckoning with her past, and Hazel handles it with so much care. Her journey is messy, painful, and powerful, and it never feels rushed or simplified. The female rage in this book is raw and earned, but it’s balanced beautifully with growth, forgiveness, and learning how to live with what you’ve survived rather than letting it define you. Watching Aemyra truly come into her power was incredibly rewarding.

The pacing is excellent, the battle scenes are vivid and cinematic, and the twists kept me on edge. The dragons remain a standout, adding both spectacle and emotional depth, and the supporting cast only made me love this world more. By the final pages, I was an emotional mess in the best possible way.

A stunning, fiery, and heartfelt ending that solidified this duology as a favourite. Hazel McBride is officially an auto-buy author for me.

[Brenda Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed being back in Tir Tiene and watching as
Aemyra fought battles in everyone else’s view but also internally. Her struggles of being a queen, the grief of loosing so many important people to her and Adarian was raw and very emotional at times. Female Rage is evident in this book but also a little bit of a young girl who wasn’t trained properly on how to lead and figuring it out on her own is present.

Losing Fiorean in A Fate Forged in Fire has Aemyra cursing all men for the first ½ of the book but their reunion was bittersweet and the reasons for the reconciliation are eye opening to a lot that happened in Book 1.

This was a great conclusion (maybe) to the duology and I can’t wait to see what Hazel has up her sleave next for us readers.

Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine/Delacorte Press and the author, Hazel McBride for the early eARC.

[Lis Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.50 ⭐️ Loved this book!! It was such a delight to read, there was so much political intrigue, the emotional heaviness of knowing that any decision you make in war will cost lives, the fear of making the wrong choice, the guilt, etc.

BUT on the other side, the ability to learn to compartmentalize and make the best objective choice for your people, being able to recognize how previous leaders created a broken system and being able to act to change it, etc.

Loved this so much!! Looking forward to any future books in this series! Thank you to Ballentine and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this ARC, all thoughts are genuine and mine only.

[Kalynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.

This book had me holding my breath, just like A Fate Forged in Fire. The pacing is just right, and the way Hazel McBride writes combat is so vividly done that I could see every movement clearly in my mind.

At the heart of this story is Aemyra being forced to truly reckon with what happened to her at Caisteal Lasair, and that healing journey felt painfully real. Healing isn’t linear or pretty — it’s messy, uncomfortable, and often tangled up in self-doubt and insecurity. This book doesn’t shy away from that. Watching Aemyra confront her trauma while learning how to stand in her power was one of the most impactful parts of the story for me.

The female rage here is unmatched. It’s raw, justified, and deeply earned — the kind that makes you want to stand up and scream alongside her. But what makes it even stronger is how that rage is balanced with growth. Aemyra doesn’t just burn; she learns, reflects, and rebuilds herself in the process.

The characters introduced are rich and full of life, and the dragons deserve a special mention — fierce, loyal, and impossible not to love. Their presence adds both emotional weight and wonder to the story in a way that never feels like an afterthought.

This book absolutely tore me to shreds. By the end, I was a puddle. While a few moments were predictable, there were plenty of twists and deceptions along the way that kept me emotionally invested (and occasionally frustrated with Aemyra, in the best way). The humor and banter brought some lightness to heavy moments — it pulled me out briefly at times, but it also felt human, especially in a story so rooted in trauma and healing.

I can’t wait to read more from Hazel McBride. Both A Queen Born in Flames and A Fate Forged in Fire kept me holding my breath from start to finish.

[Alexis Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a roller coaster. I knew it would be a lot to take and it was. I could not wait for this book and so thankful that I did not have to wait super long bc of the blessings bestowed by Netgalley once again sending an absolute banger my way. This FMC is strength personified even when facing issues that withhold her magic. I mean she picks a guy up and carries him down the stairs, kind of strong, not just mentally strong in handling the madness that Hazel McBride wants to put us all through. Oh my goddess, do we go through it in this book. It hurts, won't lie. But we get it all in this book. The pain, the love, the bonds, the healing, the dragons, the spice and lots of fire, naturally. This was a very detailed duology that took me for a fabulous ride on dragon back. I friggin love this FMC. That is all. Now I have to search for another fabulous book on netgalley to cure the book hangover.........

[Kara DeLorey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Queen Crowned in Flames is a powerful conclusion to a phenomenal duology. I loved Aemyra in the A Fate Forged in Fire but she absolutely SHINED in this book; watching her come into her own was such a cool experience to witness.

Ugh, I can't believe it's over.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review,

[Grace Goldberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I felt fully consumed by a series but I truly couldn’t put this book down. There’s not much missing..yearning, battles, and dragons!? This was the perfect conclusion to the duology!! Can’t recommend enough and will look forward to reading more by Hazel McBride !!

[Amy | romantasy.myromanempire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! RTC!!

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC 5/12/26 per publisher request :)

~ I received this eARC free from NetGalley. Thank you to Ballantine/Delacorte Press and Hazel McBride! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a perfect conclusion to this story, even though it absolutely emotionally wrecked me. The twists and turns just kept coming, and somehow none of them felt cheap or there just for shock value. I kept thinking I knew where things were going, and then wrong again. This book hurt my feelings on multiple occasions, so obviously I loved it.

Aemyra’s character development was a real highlight for me. Watching her move through grief, trauma, and anxiety while still being forced to lead and make impossible choices felt painfully real and not at all sanitized. Her growth is messy and slow and human, and I loved that the book didn’t rush her healing. I also really appreciated getting more of the dragons and their story woven in, which added depth to the world. And Thear. I need more of Thear immediately, please and thank you. This felt like such a satisfying stopping point while still leaving me wanting for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.