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Bonded to Beasts #2
A Queen Crowned In Flames
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26The 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?
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?
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
1161 people want to read
About the author
Hazel McBride
8 books703 followersHazel 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Want to read
January 7, 2026Very 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
Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine/Delacorte Press and the author, Hazel McBride for the early eARC!
Publication date: May 26, 2026
Want to read
June 30, 2025need this book like i need air to breathe
December 10, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
December 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.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.
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.
December 13, 2025
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. 🐉
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. 🐉
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
January 2, 2026
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 !!
December 10, 2025
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~
~ I received this eARC free from NetGalley. Thank you to Ballantine/Delacorte Press and Hazel McBride! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~
January 14, 2026
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.
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.
January 20, 2026
[SPOILER FREE]
“𝘐𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵,” 𝘈𝘦𝘮𝘺𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥. “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘦.”
AQCIF is an incredible conclusion to Aemyra’s story. There was so much heavy grief, sacrifice and loss in this book but it was tempered with forgiveness, hope and acceptance. I’ve fallen completely in love with this world and these characters and it’s been a joy to read books so carefully and beautifully crafted from Scottish lore.
I don’t want to say too much about Thear but my love for him is a testament to Hazel’s writing - I was ready to embrace him with an open heart and open legs. Arms, I mean arms.
The themes in this book are not for the light-hearted but they are handled in a way that is considerate and thoughtful. I’m not someone who cries easily at books but I found myself straight up weeping towards the end. I loved the development of the secondary characters and felt fully satisfied by how the plot progressed and everything came together.
Truly can’t recommend this duology enough! Hazel is for sure joining the ranks of my auto-buy authors and I am so ready to find out where Beira’s winds will blow us next.
“𝘐𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵,” 𝘈𝘦𝘮𝘺𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥. “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘦.”
AQCIF is an incredible conclusion to Aemyra’s story. There was so much heavy grief, sacrifice and loss in this book but it was tempered with forgiveness, hope and acceptance. I’ve fallen completely in love with this world and these characters and it’s been a joy to read books so carefully and beautifully crafted from Scottish lore.
I don’t want to say too much about Thear but my love for him is a testament to Hazel’s writing - I was ready to embrace him with an open heart and open legs. Arms, I mean arms.
The themes in this book are not for the light-hearted but they are handled in a way that is considerate and thoughtful. I’m not someone who cries easily at books but I found myself straight up weeping towards the end. I loved the development of the secondary characters and felt fully satisfied by how the plot progressed and everything came together.
Truly can’t recommend this duology enough! Hazel is for sure joining the ranks of my auto-buy authors and I am so ready to find out where Beira’s winds will blow us next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received an eARC from netgalley. Thank you Ballantine/Delacorte Press for this early copy and to the author Hazel McBride for writing one of my all time favorite duologies.
I cannot praise this author enough for her debut duology being an absolute home run. She nailed it!
This duology is the epitome of Fantasy Romance.
This is high fantasy with mythical creatures and elemental magic. Hazel has a way of writing with a beautiful descriptive prose.
There are so many things I wish I could note but they are unfortunately spoilers and I’m keeping this spoiler free since the book doesn’t come out until May. This book leaves off after the cliff hanger book 1 ends on… it is a rollercoaster of emotions to say the least.
If you loved the Disney movie Brave, the tv series House of the Dragon, the tv series Game of Thrones, and the book Fourth Wing then you will love this duology.
Aemyra has been through it and there are lots of themes of grief and anxiety in this book that were interesting to see Aemyra navigate. She meets new people that help her on her journey and there are loveable side characters that captured my heart immediately. I’m hoping a certain male is in future books by Hazel.
You can never have enough dragons in fantasy and the dragons in this duology are everything.
All I will say is, THE DRAGON SCENE!! HAZEL!! Never have I ever read anything like it before. And I was screaming and kicking my feet 😂❤️🔥
My heart had whiplash from this book and I loved every second of it!
My favorite quote from the book:
“Just like this bow, you just learn to bend instead of break”
I may add to this review as I gather my thoughts.
I put my glossary of Scottish Gaelic words I had to look up in my book 1 review so I decided to add to it and put it here as well.
Glossary:
A caraid- my friend
A chuisle- my pulse
A ghràidh- my love
Aird Caolas- raised point of land overlooking or jutting into a narrow stretch of water. Narrow sea passages between land masses.
Bannocks- round flat bread
Beathach/beathaichean - beast/ dragon
Breithday- birthday
Cailleach- goddess
Caisteal - castle
Caisteal cloiche- castle of stone
Caisteal lasair- castle of flame
Cèilidh- “Kay-lee” social gathering
Clan Leòmhann- lion
Clan lolairean- eagle
Copar- copper
Cuith- “koo-uh” group of people or army?
Dreich- gloomy, dreary
Dorchadas- darkness
Duileach- elemental
Fearsolais- light bringer
Feileadh- kilt
Gealach- the moon
Giogag- a bit of mischief
Gorse- wild shrub with yellow flowers with coconut like scent
Hamlet- small settlement/ tiny village
Jetty- similar to a dock
Laird- lord
Leuthanach- lazy
Loch- freshwater body of water or sea inlet
Luidsean- pathetic, weakling
Macanta- honest,sincere,genuine
Mo chridhe- my heart, my love
Mo luaidt- my beloved/ my treasure
Nigh- almost
Omar- amber color
Porticullis- heavy, iron/wood, vertical gate, slides up and down.
Slàinte mhath- good health/cheers!
Sleekit- sneaky, clever
Sgian-dubh- Scottish knife
Sgillinn- shilling, pence, penny
Simurgh- large mythical bird
Tartan- plaid pattern
Terrea- earth
Trodach - warriors/soldiers
I cannot praise this author enough for her debut duology being an absolute home run. She nailed it!
This duology is the epitome of Fantasy Romance.
This is high fantasy with mythical creatures and elemental magic. Hazel has a way of writing with a beautiful descriptive prose.
There are so many things I wish I could note but they are unfortunately spoilers and I’m keeping this spoiler free since the book doesn’t come out until May. This book leaves off after the cliff hanger book 1 ends on… it is a rollercoaster of emotions to say the least.
If you loved the Disney movie Brave, the tv series House of the Dragon, the tv series Game of Thrones, and the book Fourth Wing then you will love this duology.
Aemyra has been through it and there are lots of themes of grief and anxiety in this book that were interesting to see Aemyra navigate. She meets new people that help her on her journey and there are loveable side characters that captured my heart immediately. I’m hoping a certain male is in future books by Hazel.
You can never have enough dragons in fantasy and the dragons in this duology are everything.
All I will say is, THE DRAGON SCENE!! HAZEL!! Never have I ever read anything like it before. And I was screaming and kicking my feet 😂❤️🔥
My heart had whiplash from this book and I loved every second of it!
My favorite quote from the book:
“Just like this bow, you just learn to bend instead of break”
I may add to this review as I gather my thoughts.
I put my glossary of Scottish Gaelic words I had to look up in my book 1 review so I decided to add to it and put it here as well.
Glossary:
A caraid- my friend
A chuisle- my pulse
A ghràidh- my love
Aird Caolas- raised point of land overlooking or jutting into a narrow stretch of water. Narrow sea passages between land masses.
Bannocks- round flat bread
Beathach/beathaichean - beast/ dragon
Breithday- birthday
Cailleach- goddess
Caisteal - castle
Caisteal cloiche- castle of stone
Caisteal lasair- castle of flame
Cèilidh- “Kay-lee” social gathering
Clan Leòmhann- lion
Clan lolairean- eagle
Copar- copper
Cuith- “koo-uh” group of people or army?
Dreich- gloomy, dreary
Dorchadas- darkness
Duileach- elemental
Fearsolais- light bringer
Feileadh- kilt
Gealach- the moon
Giogag- a bit of mischief
Gorse- wild shrub with yellow flowers with coconut like scent
Hamlet- small settlement/ tiny village
Jetty- similar to a dock
Laird- lord
Leuthanach- lazy
Loch- freshwater body of water or sea inlet
Luidsean- pathetic, weakling
Macanta- honest,sincere,genuine
Mo chridhe- my heart, my love
Mo luaidt- my beloved/ my treasure
Nigh- almost
Omar- amber color
Porticullis- heavy, iron/wood, vertical gate, slides up and down.
Slàinte mhath- good health/cheers!
Sleekit- sneaky, clever
Sgian-dubh- Scottish knife
Sgillinn- shilling, pence, penny
Simurgh- large mythical bird
Tartan- plaid pattern
Terrea- earth
Trodach - warriors/soldiers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hazel McBride is a talent that everyone MUST know about.
I was fortunate to gain access to an ARC copy of A Queen Crowned in Flames thanks to NetGalley. Prior to reading, I did a quick reread of the previous book in the duology, A Fate Forged in Fire.
This is a wonderful conclusion to Aemyra and Fiorean's story and the beginning new age of Erisocia. Picking up quickly after the previous book ended, this second book is full of perfectly time flashbacks, different POVs but through a unique structure and the focus on healing despite the fantasy backdrop. When the novel begins, Aemyra is not in a good place and honestly how can she be? She has been betrayed and has also lost connection to herself through absolutely painful to read (due to empathy) trauma. McBride weaves together Aemyra's journey back to herself with the help of new characters, who readily become favorites, intimate internal moments for both main characters and a unique description and implementation of the healing benefits of mediation.
Aemyra is a wonderful FMC because she balances ego, power, confidence with insecurity, fear and self-doubt. She asks the questions and says the things everyone needs to hear. Aemyra's journey to healing and happiness was enjoyable to witness. I can see and empathize with Aemyra especially in moments or hesitancy and "dumbness" due to fear or anxiety.
Fiorean has become a top level MC for me. His cold exterior hides a depth of love, dispair, passion, and sacrifice that was devastating to read but so excellently written. I felt so deeply for him but also can admit when he was being "dumb" and was thrilled to see him realize it too.
I really enjoyed the development of other surrounding characters and the introduction of new ones. Thear and Riya are wonderful and I would love to see their relationship with Aemyra in the coming years. Draevan showed his vulnerability while also remaining fierce, which to me perfectly captured the balancing act of fatherhood. Adarian is the best brother and I will not change my mind; even forgetting that he and Aemyra are twins, their bond and love for each other is really beautiful and never once is their jealousy or betrayal. Sorche, Sorche, Sorche... I had high hopes for you but as the book continued, it became clear she was too hurt and bitter to thrive. Despite this, the conclusion of her story arch did catch me off guard a bit but in looking back, none of it was a surprised. I also loved the evolution of Katherine, Elizabeth and Maggie as the war raged on and hoe they with Aemyra came to understanding and friendship.
I'm sure I have much more to say about this amazing book but I need more time to process the grief of the duology being over. I cannot wait to find out what is in store for the next duology within the Bonded to Beasts series. I have loved the wild ride Hazel McBride has taken me on and she has further solidified me being a life long fan and her being an autobuy/auto read author!
Look out for A Queen Crowned in Flames, Out May 26th, 2026.
I was fortunate to gain access to an ARC copy of A Queen Crowned in Flames thanks to NetGalley. Prior to reading, I did a quick reread of the previous book in the duology, A Fate Forged in Fire.
This is a wonderful conclusion to Aemyra and Fiorean's story and the beginning new age of Erisocia. Picking up quickly after the previous book ended, this second book is full of perfectly time flashbacks, different POVs but through a unique structure and the focus on healing despite the fantasy backdrop. When the novel begins, Aemyra is not in a good place and honestly how can she be? She has been betrayed and has also lost connection to herself through absolutely painful to read (due to empathy) trauma. McBride weaves together Aemyra's journey back to herself with the help of new characters, who readily become favorites, intimate internal moments for both main characters and a unique description and implementation of the healing benefits of mediation.
Aemyra is a wonderful FMC because she balances ego, power, confidence with insecurity, fear and self-doubt. She asks the questions and says the things everyone needs to hear. Aemyra's journey to healing and happiness was enjoyable to witness. I can see and empathize with Aemyra especially in moments or hesitancy and "dumbness" due to fear or anxiety.
Fiorean has become a top level MC for me. His cold exterior hides a depth of love, dispair, passion, and sacrifice that was devastating to read but so excellently written. I felt so deeply for him but also can admit when he was being "dumb" and was thrilled to see him realize it too.
I really enjoyed the development of other surrounding characters and the introduction of new ones. Thear and Riya are wonderful and I would love to see their relationship with Aemyra in the coming years. Draevan showed his vulnerability while also remaining fierce, which to me perfectly captured the balancing act of fatherhood. Adarian is the best brother and I will not change my mind; even forgetting that he and Aemyra are twins, their bond and love for each other is really beautiful and never once is their jealousy or betrayal. Sorche, Sorche, Sorche... I had high hopes for you but as the book continued, it became clear she was too hurt and bitter to thrive. Despite this, the conclusion of her story arch did catch me off guard a bit but in looking back, none of it was a surprised. I also loved the evolution of Katherine, Elizabeth and Maggie as the war raged on and hoe they with Aemyra came to understanding and friendship.
I'm sure I have much more to say about this amazing book but I need more time to process the grief of the duology being over. I cannot wait to find out what is in store for the next duology within the Bonded to Beasts series. I have loved the wild ride Hazel McBride has taken me on and she has further solidified me being a life long fan and her being an autobuy/auto read author!
Look out for A Queen Crowned in Flames, Out May 26th, 2026.
December 6, 2025
~Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this e-ARC!!~
I must be honest, I enjoyed A Fate Forged in Fire but it was just ok, not great. A Queen Crowned in Flames however, was spectacular. In Hazel McBride's second book in the Bonded to Beasts series we reunite with our FMC Aemyra who is recovering from a betrayal she never saw coming that makes the path to reclaiming her throne even more tortuous. She finds herself without her goddess blessed powers, and in desperate need of allies. As she battles her way back to her crown she learns to accept and forgive herself, what it means to sacrifice, and to finally trust in others.
I truly felt more connected to Aemyra in this book. We get greater insight into her insecurities, due in large part to her ego taking an enormous hit + endless self-doubt and guilt. Her growth and selflessness drew me in, and I could relate to her emotional turmoil. Her journey to forgive herself was a long one, but was a poignant reminder that even with the greatest intentions no one is perfect.
I was on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster regarding our MMC Fiorean. Of course with the end of the last book I anticipated and eagerly awaited his death at the hands of our Queen, but I didn't actually expect it to happen... Then with the appearance of Thear I was almost convinced Fiorean was actually dead. With Fioreans revival I found myself letting out a breath of relief I didn't know I was holding. With the misunderstandings finally revealed and the subsequent rebirth of their romance we finally are blessed with SPICE.
The intimate scenes in this book, as with the first are open door and appropriately interspersed without overshadowing the major plot points. The scene on the dragon...I have mixed feelings about. Maybe re-reading it a few times will give me better perspective.
And finally the writing and major plot of the book. McBride's writing paints a clear picture to the reader of what the world and its creatures look like. I was halfway through the book and truly was gagged at how much had already happened. The pacing was *chef's kiss* and I never found myself bored or drifting away from the book. Surprise surprise there was more betrayal, grief/loss, and trauma! However, it is also filled with hope, perseverance, and healing. Beyond that every plot line had a satisfying resolution. Though I do wish Sorcha's death had been drawn out a little more.
My one and only major gripe with this book is the phrase "Brenna's tits". Dear lord if we could remove this phrase from the vernacular of romance books. It is so tacky and gave me immediate ick. There is nothing wrong with classic curse words, or even Scottish turn of phrases that are commonly said in moments of exasperation/dread!!
Overall would definitely recommend others pick this book up once it comes out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley, Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and Dell Romance for gifting me an e-arc to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
" To all the women who were forced to dim their light. Blind the f*ckers."
There may be spoilers. Please proceed with caution.
Wow! Wow, wow, wow. I'm still speechless after reading Hazel McBride's last chapter and the possibility of something more on the horizon.
A Queen Crowned in Flames is the explosive and bittersweet conclusion to A Fate Forged in Fire. Aemyra's journey starts right where A Fate Forged in Fire left readers, like me, reeling and in utter shock. Aemyra's powers have escaped her grasp after being dealt with traumatic experiences by Alfred, the Savior worshiper and leader of the Covenanters, and the betrayal caused by her husband Fiorean. Months have passed, and she is plagued with nightmares and visions, unforgiving sadness, and the weight of a lost throne on her shoulders. She must figure out a new path to her destiny, create new alliances, and forge forward when she feels like she can not.
" She would learn to bear the weight of her grief and her crown. Her magic would return, and with it, the true queen. Tir Teine was the land of fire, and Aemyra would make sure they remembered that before the end."
I was completely enthralled the entire time by Hazel McBride's ability to ensnare a reader's attention and hold you there like a prisoner, but in the best possible way. These characters put me in such a chokehold. I enjoyed every bit of it. I appreciate the way the author handles and develops Aemyra's grief and anxiety. Her panic attacks had felt real and relatable. The support she has from her family is done well, too. I loved the new addition of Thear, who I hope we will see in the future if there is a possibility of more books in this world.
I highly recommend reading A Fate Forged in Fire. The enemies-to-lovers-enemies romance is probably one of my favorites. I'm always looking for more enemies to lover romances where the leads actually hate each other, and they are at each other's throats constantly in violent and pleasurable ways. The story has so much heart, bravery, and fight. I love the world-building, the dragons, and the different elements of magic.
After completing this duology, I know I'll be on the lookout for more from this author.
5 stars
" To all the women who were forced to dim their light. Blind the f*ckers."
There may be spoilers. Please proceed with caution.
Wow! Wow, wow, wow. I'm still speechless after reading Hazel McBride's last chapter and the possibility of something more on the horizon.
A Queen Crowned in Flames is the explosive and bittersweet conclusion to A Fate Forged in Fire. Aemyra's journey starts right where A Fate Forged in Fire left readers, like me, reeling and in utter shock. Aemyra's powers have escaped her grasp after being dealt with traumatic experiences by Alfred, the Savior worshiper and leader of the Covenanters, and the betrayal caused by her husband Fiorean. Months have passed, and she is plagued with nightmares and visions, unforgiving sadness, and the weight of a lost throne on her shoulders. She must figure out a new path to her destiny, create new alliances, and forge forward when she feels like she can not.
" She would learn to bear the weight of her grief and her crown. Her magic would return, and with it, the true queen. Tir Teine was the land of fire, and Aemyra would make sure they remembered that before the end."
I was completely enthralled the entire time by Hazel McBride's ability to ensnare a reader's attention and hold you there like a prisoner, but in the best possible way. These characters put me in such a chokehold. I enjoyed every bit of it. I appreciate the way the author handles and develops Aemyra's grief and anxiety. Her panic attacks had felt real and relatable. The support she has from her family is done well, too. I loved the new addition of Thear, who I hope we will see in the future if there is a possibility of more books in this world.
I highly recommend reading A Fate Forged in Fire. The enemies-to-lovers-enemies romance is probably one of my favorites. I'm always looking for more enemies to lover romances where the leads actually hate each other, and they are at each other's throats constantly in violent and pleasurable ways. The story has so much heart, bravery, and fight. I love the world-building, the dragons, and the different elements of magic.
After completing this duology, I know I'll be on the lookout for more from this author.
5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Hazel McBride, Penguin Randomhouse, and NetGalley for this ARC. I was really excited to read the conclusion to this duology as I truly enjoyed book 1.
3.75⭐️
There was a lot about this sequel that I liked and a lot that was also left to be desired. I think this book suffered from second book syndrome where things were difficult to put together, especially in terms of pacing. The first 60% was very slow. While I understand it became a major plot point for Aemyra to work through the block in her powers and finding an antidote to the blocking agent - it’s difficult for me to recount much of what even happened during the first half other than meeting Thear. The only time I am more open to dragging it out is when it’s a long series with extensive character development. As this book was only a 2 book series (which is perfect) it didn’t need to last that long in my opinion.
In book 1, Fiorean was a major character alongside Aemyra but felt more secondary in this book. Pacing wise, I think there could’ve been more tension if he had more presence or a POV in the first half.
Draevan’s and Sorcha’s deaths I thought played out really well. I expected the loss of her father at some point in this book but it was definitely done poetically. The contention between dùileach and non-dùileach was better explained in this novel, especially with non-dùileach’s draw to the True Religion and how it came to be with Katherine. The ending was how it should be and appreciated that Aemyra came into the throne allowing her people to practice the goddess’s ways or the True Religion.
It would’ve been cool to see or understand more with the dragons. The bonds between them and their beathach didn’t always seem super strong or isolated to build their bonds, only when they needed them for war. I don’t expect a “Fourth Wing” kind of dragon bond but would’ve liked to see Aemyra spend one-on-one time with Terrea to build that bond stronger in this book. I like they figured out the more bonding, the mental fractures happened to dragons and that the eggs set them up for a future.
Overall an enjoyable read and closure to this duology!
3.75⭐️
There was a lot about this sequel that I liked and a lot that was also left to be desired. I think this book suffered from second book syndrome where things were difficult to put together, especially in terms of pacing. The first 60% was very slow. While I understand it became a major plot point for Aemyra to work through the block in her powers and finding an antidote to the blocking agent - it’s difficult for me to recount much of what even happened during the first half other than meeting Thear. The only time I am more open to dragging it out is when it’s a long series with extensive character development. As this book was only a 2 book series (which is perfect) it didn’t need to last that long in my opinion.
In book 1, Fiorean was a major character alongside Aemyra but felt more secondary in this book. Pacing wise, I think there could’ve been more tension if he had more presence or a POV in the first half.
Draevan’s and Sorcha’s deaths I thought played out really well. I expected the loss of her father at some point in this book but it was definitely done poetically. The contention between dùileach and non-dùileach was better explained in this novel, especially with non-dùileach’s draw to the True Religion and how it came to be with Katherine. The ending was how it should be and appreciated that Aemyra came into the throne allowing her people to practice the goddess’s ways or the True Religion.
It would’ve been cool to see or understand more with the dragons. The bonds between them and their beathach didn’t always seem super strong or isolated to build their bonds, only when they needed them for war. I don’t expect a “Fourth Wing” kind of dragon bond but would’ve liked to see Aemyra spend one-on-one time with Terrea to build that bond stronger in this book. I like they figured out the more bonding, the mental fractures happened to dragons and that the eggs set them up for a future.
Overall an enjoyable read and closure to this duology!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2026
She will fight with flame and fury
The second book in this well written duology was an excellent follow up to the first. It was definitely a stay up too late, cannot put it down, kind of book. I fell head first into the story and was once again lost in the world of Aemyra, dagons and magic happy to follow wherever the story led me. With the perfect balance of exhilarating adventure, nail biting danger, palpable tension, unexpected twists, deep emotions and soul touching romance, expect a twisty windy roller coaster of a story from the first page to the last because this story starts with intensity and just never lets up. The book picks up exactly where the last book ended. Aemyra, a Dùileach with fire magic, has been betrayed by her husband, Prince Fiorean. Her army is on the run, her magic is inaccessible and any possibility of restoring a female heir of the Daercathian royal line to the crown seems like an impossibility. But never count a strong woman out, certainly not Aemyra. I love that Aemyra’s character, despite her unique overwhelming powers, how the rest of the world views her and the overwhelming task she has taken on, is still kind, impulsive, arrogant, stubborn, reluctant, flawed, and at times resentful which makes her a very likeable and relatable hero. Like the first book, this is also a deeply emotional book. Aemyra is damaged and bruised but not broken hero who continues to find her way by owning her choices, recognizing her scars, finding her strength, embracing life, and deciding to answer the call to do what is right, even when it is hard. The story includes all the goodness that you’d expect from this genre - fighting, dangerous situations, evil entities, henchmen, religious zealots, loyal friends and family, tragic back stories, mystical coincidences, snark, mystery, secrets, betrayal, revelations, and laughs and woven together with excellent world building. I will miss Tìr Teine and its people and hope there will be more stories set in this world. 4.5 stars.
The second book in this well written duology was an excellent follow up to the first. It was definitely a stay up too late, cannot put it down, kind of book. I fell head first into the story and was once again lost in the world of Aemyra, dagons and magic happy to follow wherever the story led me. With the perfect balance of exhilarating adventure, nail biting danger, palpable tension, unexpected twists, deep emotions and soul touching romance, expect a twisty windy roller coaster of a story from the first page to the last because this story starts with intensity and just never lets up. The book picks up exactly where the last book ended. Aemyra, a Dùileach with fire magic, has been betrayed by her husband, Prince Fiorean. Her army is on the run, her magic is inaccessible and any possibility of restoring a female heir of the Daercathian royal line to the crown seems like an impossibility. But never count a strong woman out, certainly not Aemyra. I love that Aemyra’s character, despite her unique overwhelming powers, how the rest of the world views her and the overwhelming task she has taken on, is still kind, impulsive, arrogant, stubborn, reluctant, flawed, and at times resentful which makes her a very likeable and relatable hero. Like the first book, this is also a deeply emotional book. Aemyra is damaged and bruised but not broken hero who continues to find her way by owning her choices, recognizing her scars, finding her strength, embracing life, and deciding to answer the call to do what is right, even when it is hard. The story includes all the goodness that you’d expect from this genre - fighting, dangerous situations, evil entities, henchmen, religious zealots, loyal friends and family, tragic back stories, mystical coincidences, snark, mystery, secrets, betrayal, revelations, and laughs and woven together with excellent world building. I will miss Tìr Teine and its people and hope there will be more stories set in this world. 4.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thought this book was the perfect conclusion to wrap up the Bonded to Beasts duology. The cliffhanger that book 1 ended on had me chomping at the bit to know what would happen next. I found that this ARC copy was on NetGalley and got the opportunity to read it early!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✦ 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑦 𝑅𝑒𝑐 & 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 ✦
A Queen Crowned in Flames by Hazel McBride
Book 2 ✦ 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐵𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑠 duology
📖 480 pages
🗓️ Publication Date: May 26, 2026
Publisher: Ballantine | Delacorte Press
𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯
𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳
𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦
𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦
𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴
𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤
𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵
𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵)
ʙʟᴜʀʙ: Aemyra is a queen on the run. Having failed to take Àird Lasair and been betrayed by her husband whom she had grown to trust and was beginning to fall for. Aemyra is forced to retreat with a raging desire for revenge. 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?
𝐀 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 is the searing conclusion to Hazel McBride’s dragon romantasy duology, following 𝐴 𝐹𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑒. This finale raises the stakes with war, betrayal, and shifting loyalties as a queen fights to reclaim her throne.
In this sequel, Aemyra digs deep as she grapples with the emotional fallout of betrayal and the weight of her crown. I found book two to be a fast paced, fun, and page turning read, packed with political intrigue, intense battles, and the introduction of a possible new love interest in a Chimera warrior (I loved Thear!).
Overall, this was a satisfying and fiery conclusion to a dragon filled romantasy series that delivers both action and emotional growth.
If you enjoyed 𝐴 𝐹𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑒 and love fantasy featuring dragons, elemental magic, and powerful queens, be sure to add this duology to your TBR. 🔥🐉
Huge thank you to @ballantinebooks + @netgalley the early digital copy. 🖤📚
Rating: 4.25/5
A Queen Crowned in Flames by Hazel McBride
Book 2 ✦ 𝐵𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐵𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑠 duology
📖 480 pages
🗓️ Publication Date: May 26, 2026
Publisher: Ballantine | Delacorte Press
𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯
𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳
𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦
𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦
𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴
𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤
𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵
𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵)
ʙʟᴜʀʙ: Aemyra is a queen on the run. Having failed to take Àird Lasair and been betrayed by her husband whom she had grown to trust and was beginning to fall for. Aemyra is forced to retreat with a raging desire for revenge. 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?
𝐀 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 is the searing conclusion to Hazel McBride’s dragon romantasy duology, following 𝐴 𝐹𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑒. This finale raises the stakes with war, betrayal, and shifting loyalties as a queen fights to reclaim her throne.
In this sequel, Aemyra digs deep as she grapples with the emotional fallout of betrayal and the weight of her crown. I found book two to be a fast paced, fun, and page turning read, packed with political intrigue, intense battles, and the introduction of a possible new love interest in a Chimera warrior (I loved Thear!).
Overall, this was a satisfying and fiery conclusion to a dragon filled romantasy series that delivers both action and emotional growth.
If you enjoyed 𝐴 𝐹𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑒 and love fantasy featuring dragons, elemental magic, and powerful queens, be sure to add this duology to your TBR. 🔥🐉
Huge thank you to @ballantinebooks + @netgalley the early digital copy. 🖤📚
Rating: 4.25/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much NetGalley and Hazel McBride for the chance to read A Queen Crowned in Flames. After finishing A Fate Forged in Fire, I knew I could not wait until May 2026 to find out what happens in the Bonded Beasts Series.
And I will tell you… What a way to end 2025! This story did not disappoint. Book 1 had me on edge.. and Book 2 was the same. When was there going to be an attack? Who would survive? Would there be another heartbreaking betrayal?
Aemyra is one of the strongest FMC’s that I read this year. Her strength and determination showed in her willingness to not back down. The crown belonged to her, and nothing was going to get in her way… or was there a barrier that would hold her back.. something making her weaker?
This read was almost poetic and romantic in away. The thoughts of Fiorean were deep inside Aemyra’s mind. She hated him, yet almost every thought was of him.. visions of him. She was set to marry someone else, but her heart would always belong to Fiorean.. she could not deny this.
Enter Thear… a man everyone could love. Handsome, caring, and just a slight bit cocky. But he is not Fiorean. He will stand by his queen even though love is not an option.
And let us not forget the dragons. They have their own roles to play in these battles. Their bonds stronger than ever.
This read brought us through battles. It showed Aemrya growing – learning how to strategize against her enemies. This story was not without loss though… how will Hazel McBride break your heart in this book.. you will have to read it to find out.
And I will tell you… What a way to end 2025! This story did not disappoint. Book 1 had me on edge.. and Book 2 was the same. When was there going to be an attack? Who would survive? Would there be another heartbreaking betrayal?
Aemyra is one of the strongest FMC’s that I read this year. Her strength and determination showed in her willingness to not back down. The crown belonged to her, and nothing was going to get in her way… or was there a barrier that would hold her back.. something making her weaker?
This read was almost poetic and romantic in away. The thoughts of Fiorean were deep inside Aemyra’s mind. She hated him, yet almost every thought was of him.. visions of him. She was set to marry someone else, but her heart would always belong to Fiorean.. she could not deny this.
Enter Thear… a man everyone could love. Handsome, caring, and just a slight bit cocky. But he is not Fiorean. He will stand by his queen even though love is not an option.
And let us not forget the dragons. They have their own roles to play in these battles. Their bonds stronger than ever.
This read brought us through battles. It showed Aemrya growing – learning how to strategize against her enemies. This story was not without loss though… how will Hazel McBride break your heart in this book.. you will have to read it to find out.
January 25, 2026
A Queen Crowned in Flames by Hazel McBride
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Ballantine | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of A Queen Crowned in Flames. This book picks up right where A Fate Forged in Fire ended. The story follows Aemyra as she leads her army to war, learns to lead, and fights for all the people in her country.
Overall, this was a good sequel to A Fate Forged in Fire. I really enjoyed Aemyra’s character development in this one. She was a little self centered in the first book and I enjoyed watching her overcome this, learn about the needs of all her people, and become a better leader. The magic and world building were interesting as they expanded. I did enjoy the relatively fast pace of the book.
There is a major reunion between two characters that I wish had been explored a little more. It was a lot of build up for what was a pretty quick scene. There were some things that happened that I don’t think were developed or explained quite enough and left me wondering. There was one scene at the end and a spicy scene that were pretty cringy.
I do think that this story wrapped up nicely, although quickly, while still leaving it open ended enough to set up the next duology in this world. Since I don’t want to include any spoilers I will stop here. If you enjoyed A Fate Forged in Fire then I think you will enjoy this conclusion to Aemyra’s story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Ballantine | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of A Queen Crowned in Flames. This book picks up right where A Fate Forged in Fire ended. The story follows Aemyra as she leads her army to war, learns to lead, and fights for all the people in her country.
Overall, this was a good sequel to A Fate Forged in Fire. I really enjoyed Aemyra’s character development in this one. She was a little self centered in the first book and I enjoyed watching her overcome this, learn about the needs of all her people, and become a better leader. The magic and world building were interesting as they expanded. I did enjoy the relatively fast pace of the book.
There is a major reunion between two characters that I wish had been explored a little more. It was a lot of build up for what was a pretty quick scene. There were some things that happened that I don’t think were developed or explained quite enough and left me wondering. There was one scene at the end and a spicy scene that were pretty cringy.
I do think that this story wrapped up nicely, although quickly, while still leaving it open ended enough to set up the next duology in this world. Since I don’t want to include any spoilers I will stop here. If you enjoyed A Fate Forged in Fire then I think you will enjoy this conclusion to Aemyra’s story.
January 25, 2026
I didn't expect a book that opens with war to be a beacon of tolerance and inclusivity but here we are, and I kind of love that? The plot is reminiscent of Game of Thrones in some respects, but completely unique in others. This book continues to follow Aemyra, our strong and empowered female protagonist, dealing with the fallout of Fiorean/Alfred's decisions at the end of book one. As they vie for power and control, ideals and armies clash constantly. The author does a great job building each and every chapter with very little "filler." Not to say every action or piece of dialogue is critical and world changing, but everything certainly serves to move the story forward or build character depth. Aemyra in particular learns she doesn't want to rule for the sake of ruling--she wants to build a better and more inclusive world for all her people. Heavy topics are broken up with humor, and Thear makes a great addition to the cast of characters. We learn more about Aemyra's bond with Terra, and about dragons in general, and I really liked how their bond is almost exclusively communication through emotions.
I still have a couple unanswered questions (in particular, Katherine vs Draevan) and I'm hoping the author explores stories in the other territories. Overall, a very satisfying conclusion to the duology. Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the arc!
I still have a couple unanswered questions (in particular, Katherine vs Draevan) and I'm hoping the author explores stories in the other territories. Overall, a very satisfying conclusion to the duology. Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the arc!
December 16, 2025
5⭐️
3🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an e-arc of this book!
I was an arc reader for book 1 as well and could not wait for this book 2 after book 1’s ending!
This is why I love duologies. We get our anticipated ending without it dragging and having to wait for a third book. This was a great first duology by Hazel in this world!
He betrayed her and took her throne and crown, but she’s not going down without a fight. She doesn’t know why he turned on her but her goal and focus remains the same. She’s taking back her birthright.
Aemyra and Fioeran have this insane chemistry that just has you salivating for more. As in book one, they fight with their all and love with their all. Add in their dragons and it’s just this intense situation neither one of them can run from.
We truly get everything we wanted and needed in this book and I loved every word!
And as with book 1, the spice 🌶️ was great and intense and just had me devouring every second 🥵 while Aemyra may want to be in control of everything in her life, she’s not afraid to let it go during spicy times and I love it 🥵🥵
I’m so curious to see where the next set of duology takes us in this world and where we may explore to next! Back Hazel!
3🌶️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an e-arc of this book!
I was an arc reader for book 1 as well and could not wait for this book 2 after book 1’s ending!
This is why I love duologies. We get our anticipated ending without it dragging and having to wait for a third book. This was a great first duology by Hazel in this world!
He betrayed her and took her throne and crown, but she’s not going down without a fight. She doesn’t know why he turned on her but her goal and focus remains the same. She’s taking back her birthright.
Aemyra and Fioeran have this insane chemistry that just has you salivating for more. As in book one, they fight with their all and love with their all. Add in their dragons and it’s just this intense situation neither one of them can run from.
We truly get everything we wanted and needed in this book and I loved every word!
And as with book 1, the spice 🌶️ was great and intense and just had me devouring every second 🥵 while Aemyra may want to be in control of everything in her life, she’s not afraid to let it go during spicy times and I love it 🥵🥵
I’m so curious to see where the next set of duology takes us in this world and where we may explore to next! Back Hazel!
February 5, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sometimes a part two takes a minute to get back in to the story and other times it smacks you with jumping right in. A Queen Crowned in Flames falls in to the latter! We’re picking up from the last battle for Tir Tiene and she is having to handle the emotions warring in her (grief, betrayal, anger to name a few).
Her character at times struggles to accept the path she’s on (for many obvious reasons!). As angry as she is at Fiorean she cannot keep her thoughts away from him and this feels so true to many people. We can love someone with our entire hearts and still be so angry at them. (Although, I am glad for their resolution!)
I agree with a few other reviewers as well that the side characters really grab a hold of you much better than they did initially. In our first book, A Fate Forged in Fire, I wanted more from them. Book two gives us more wholly rounded characters and I’m always pleased when a story can do that!
This is not a light read but it is a good one. Go in expecting high emotions and being shocked, a little horrified, but mostly relieved it concludes in a satisfying way! I truly struggle when stories don’t have pleasant endings.
Her character at times struggles to accept the path she’s on (for many obvious reasons!). As angry as she is at Fiorean she cannot keep her thoughts away from him and this feels so true to many people. We can love someone with our entire hearts and still be so angry at them. (Although, I am glad for their resolution!)
I agree with a few other reviewers as well that the side characters really grab a hold of you much better than they did initially. In our first book, A Fate Forged in Fire, I wanted more from them. Book two gives us more wholly rounded characters and I’m always pleased when a story can do that!
This is not a light read but it is a good one. Go in expecting high emotions and being shocked, a little horrified, but mostly relieved it concludes in a satisfying way! I truly struggle when stories don’t have pleasant endings.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Queen Crowned in Flame by Hazel McBride is a powerful, emotionally rich fantasy that delivers on every level—stakes, character growth, and a fierce, unforgettable heroine. From the opening pages, I was completely immersed in a world shaped by power, sacrifice, and fire.
The character development is outstanding. Watching the queen step fully into her strength—claiming her power despite fear, loss, and resistance—was deeply satisfying. Her journey feels earned, layered, and raw, and the emotional beats hit hard without ever feeling forced. The supporting characters add depth and tension, and the relationships are complex, charged, and beautifully written.
Hazel McBride’s writing is vivid and confident, with world-building that enhances the story without slowing it down. The plot is compelling and well-paced, balancing political tension, emotional stakes, and moments of intensity that kept me turning pages late into the night.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. A Queen Crowned in Flame is a gripping, fiery read that fantasy lovers will devour. Hazel McBride is absolutely an author to watch, and I will be eagerly picking up whatever comes next.
The character development is outstanding. Watching the queen step fully into her strength—claiming her power despite fear, loss, and resistance—was deeply satisfying. Her journey feels earned, layered, and raw, and the emotional beats hit hard without ever feeling forced. The supporting characters add depth and tension, and the relationships are complex, charged, and beautifully written.
Hazel McBride’s writing is vivid and confident, with world-building that enhances the story without slowing it down. The plot is compelling and well-paced, balancing political tension, emotional stakes, and moments of intensity that kept me turning pages late into the night.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. A Queen Crowned in Flame is a gripping, fiery read that fantasy lovers will devour. Hazel McBride is absolutely an author to watch, and I will be eagerly picking up whatever comes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Net Galley and Penguin House publishing for this ARC!
A Queen Crowned in Flames// 4 stars
I loved A Fate Forged in Fire and I loved A Queen Crowned in Flames. Book 1 left us on a cliff hanger that had me gasping. Book 2 picked up right where we left off. I enjoyed the book and loved some of the new characters introduced in the book. Thear is amazing and I loved the witty banter with him. I really like his and Aemrya's relationship. I didn't like how long Fiorean was out of the book and how long it took for everything to settle. I loved their relatio0nship in the first book and was sad things stayed so messed up with them for so long. There are some more twists and disappointments in this book that keep you on your toes. I appreciate that this series was a duology, but I still feel like there is more that could be explored in future books. Not all our questions were answered and there are still unknows left. So I do hope that there are spin offs of these books in the future. If you love fantasy and love romance, you will definitely want to read this duology! I mean who doesn't love a dragon adventure with a baddie FMC?
A Queen Crowned in Flames// 4 stars
I loved A Fate Forged in Fire and I loved A Queen Crowned in Flames. Book 1 left us on a cliff hanger that had me gasping. Book 2 picked up right where we left off. I enjoyed the book and loved some of the new characters introduced in the book. Thear is amazing and I loved the witty banter with him. I really like his and Aemrya's relationship. I didn't like how long Fiorean was out of the book and how long it took for everything to settle. I loved their relatio0nship in the first book and was sad things stayed so messed up with them for so long. There are some more twists and disappointments in this book that keep you on your toes. I appreciate that this series was a duology, but I still feel like there is more that could be explored in future books. Not all our questions were answered and there are still unknows left. So I do hope that there are spin offs of these books in the future. If you love fantasy and love romance, you will definitely want to read this duology! I mean who doesn't love a dragon adventure with a baddie FMC?
January 27, 2026
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing.
4 stars.
This is the second book in the Bonded to Beasts duology and picks up after the events of the first book. Aemyra has fled the city of Aird Lasair after a failed attempt to take her birthright place on the golden throne. Believing she had betrayed by those around her, she seeks refuge and builds her forces to regain her destiny. She has to make tough decisions, trust those she doesn’t know, and fight forces off the battlefield to heal her traumas.
I was really excited to read this installment of Aemyra’s story. Maybe it was my fast read (bad retention) or the simple fact I read the first book a year and a half ago, I was quite lost in the first few chapters trying to figure out what was going on. Once I settled into the story, I wanted to see it through. The second bit of the first half of the book was a bit slow, to me, but there was a lot of things building up for the ending. Finished strong and I loved it! I don’t want to give anything away, but was definitely worth pushing through the slow bit.
4 stars.
This is the second book in the Bonded to Beasts duology and picks up after the events of the first book. Aemyra has fled the city of Aird Lasair after a failed attempt to take her birthright place on the golden throne. Believing she had betrayed by those around her, she seeks refuge and builds her forces to regain her destiny. She has to make tough decisions, trust those she doesn’t know, and fight forces off the battlefield to heal her traumas.
I was really excited to read this installment of Aemyra’s story. Maybe it was my fast read (bad retention) or the simple fact I read the first book a year and a half ago, I was quite lost in the first few chapters trying to figure out what was going on. Once I settled into the story, I wanted to see it through. The second bit of the first half of the book was a bit slow, to me, but there was a lot of things building up for the ending. Finished strong and I loved it! I don’t want to give anything away, but was definitely worth pushing through the slow bit.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Hazel McBride, for the opportunity to read an eARC of this title. All thoughts are my own.
3.75/5⭐️
Where book one took its sweet time getting moving, this sequel hit the ground running and never once let me breathe.
Aemyra’s journey after captivity was painfully real — the PTSD, the fear, the betrayal looping in her mind — and I swear my heart got put through a woodchipper right alongside hers. Hazel McBride did not pull punches, and honestly? I loved every painful second.
Also, I did not expect to fall in love with another main character, but apparently Hazel just said, “watch this.” Fiorean completely won me over, and seeing Aemyra and Fiorean’s story come together felt so earned after everything she endured.
And listen… I am not usually an emotional reader, but Daddy Daercathian going out the way he did? RUDE. Devastating. Beautiful. I am still emotionally recovering.
Overall: faster pace, emotional damage, character growth, betrayal, healing, and moments that genuinely hurt in the best way. A sequel that absolutely delivered.
3.75/5⭐️
Where book one took its sweet time getting moving, this sequel hit the ground running and never once let me breathe.
Aemyra’s journey after captivity was painfully real — the PTSD, the fear, the betrayal looping in her mind — and I swear my heart got put through a woodchipper right alongside hers. Hazel McBride did not pull punches, and honestly? I loved every painful second.
Also, I did not expect to fall in love with another main character, but apparently Hazel just said, “watch this.” Fiorean completely won me over, and seeing Aemyra and Fiorean’s story come together felt so earned after everything she endured.
And listen… I am not usually an emotional reader, but Daddy Daercathian going out the way he did? RUDE. Devastating. Beautiful. I am still emotionally recovering.
Overall: faster pace, emotional damage, character growth, betrayal, healing, and moments that genuinely hurt in the best way. A sequel that absolutely delivered.
February 6, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!! I got to read A Fate Forged in Fire as an ARC as well & have been DYING to a conclusion after the bomb of a cliffhanger + twist from AFFIF.
I highly, highly recommend doing a reread of the first book before diving in to this second one. The world building in book 2 felt a lot harder to get back into & caught up in the first half, I think I wouldn’t have struggled with the territories & clans if I would have refreshed with book 1. Book 1 did such an incredible job of sticking with me that the content & events were still fresh in my mind.
This book answered so many questions I had in book 1. It was beautifully written, with lots of emotion, mental health & dragons, we love a dragon book. I want to note again the beautiful way that emotion was pushed in this book - I could feel it to my core & resonated with so much of her inner struggles.
The ending was exactly what I wanted in the terms of wrapping it all up. I absolutely loved it. I know this is the end of this series but I hope the author continues down this road of fantasy - she’s fit for it.
I highly, highly recommend doing a reread of the first book before diving in to this second one. The world building in book 2 felt a lot harder to get back into & caught up in the first half, I think I wouldn’t have struggled with the territories & clans if I would have refreshed with book 1. Book 1 did such an incredible job of sticking with me that the content & events were still fresh in my mind.
This book answered so many questions I had in book 1. It was beautifully written, with lots of emotion, mental health & dragons, we love a dragon book. I want to note again the beautiful way that emotion was pushed in this book - I could feel it to my core & resonated with so much of her inner struggles.
The ending was exactly what I wanted in the terms of wrapping it all up. I absolutely loved it. I know this is the end of this series but I hope the author continues down this road of fantasy - she’s fit for it.
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