Of Dawn and Embers

The Fireborn Epic #3

by Gillian Bronte Adams

He rides a dawnling, a steed of light and glory, destined to restore.

Jakim Ha’Nor will save his people, or so says the prophecy that upended his life and drove his brothers to betray him. Now, he has returned as the dawnrider to fulfill his purpose and reconcile with his brothers—only to find himself embroiled in a war.

Captured in the fallout of a deadly attack, Rafi grapples with the ghosts of the past. His brother is alive but no longer himself, and Rafi will stop at nothing to save him. Farther up the coast, Ceridwen strives to reignite the embers of the rebellion to burn the empire down. When Rafi is sentenced to execution before the imperial court, Ceridwen must rally every spear and steed she can for a blistering strike at the heart of the capital.

But the empire’s schemes are already in motion, and Jakim’s two missions collide when an unexpected encounter with one of his brothers reveals the true threat behind the imperial thirst for ancient secrets. Hidden forces intend to unleash a cataclysmic power, spurring Ceridwen, Rafi, and Jakim to challenge the full, crushing might of the empire for the fate of the world.

Stars weep and ash falls as the tides of battle propel the Fireborn queen, the Sea-Demon prince, and the Dawnrider priest toward a meteoric clash in this thunderous series finale.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Horses

560 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 13, 2026

About the author

Gillian Bronte Adams is a horse-riding, wander-loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own (and more coffee).

She loves to connect with readers and fellow wanderers online through her website, Facebook page, and Instagram.

Reviews

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me catch my breath.

And wipe my eyes.

And grin an ear-splitting grin.

I am stunned. This is an amazing book.

Five flaming stars.

🌅 Longer review to come very soon! 🌅

[Jane Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

To call this story "epic" feels entirely insufficient. It is expansive, magnificent, heart-wrenching, chills-inducing, stay-up-too-late-reading-for-days-straight kind of stuff.

This whole series is an all-time favourite for SURE, and I am speechless in the wake of finishing. I love this world and these characters so so much. The book hangover from this is going to be a killer of a thing, I can already tell.

[Sharon Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Digital ARC (My opinions are my own and I was not required to write a review.)
YA Christian fantasy
15+ (Lots of battles and complex plot. Nothing inappropriate!)

5 glorious stars!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What an amazing finish to an epic and heartwrenching trilogy! (Another reviewer called it “expansive”, and I fully agree!) I will not forget these characters and this incredible story for a long time, and if I do, I bought the books since I know this will be a story I come back to frequently.😌 I have a new comfort read--a place that will feel like I am coming home time and time again. Adams is the queen of epic Christian fantasy, not to mention battle scenes that I actually want to read.🤭 This is a world class story with incredibly effective writing. I felt all the feels, lived every moment, cried every tear, grieved every defeat, cheered every victory. I want to go back and reread it right now, but I will wait for my reading group to get through the first two books so we can read and experience it together.💜

Details:

🐎Rafi has always been my favorite POV, Ceridwen second, and Jakim third. In this installment, Jakim shines like the sun, you guys! What amazing character development!
🐎I loved the 4th POV in this story. And there's even a 5th, if you look carefully.👀 (And it's one I rooted for.😍)
🐎 Restoration, grace, forgiveness, and identity are strong themes in this installment.
🐎The subtle romances, one expected and one not, were very well done. This isn't a romance, so I was pleased with how it was done. Just a light touch.💜

My only critique is that I would have loved it if the faith elements played out in all the POVs more fully. It's there, but it's a very subtle shift over the course of the series.

Highly recommended!! Releases in January 2026, but you can pre-order it.

My reviews of the first two books:

Book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book 2: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lucy Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope was not a candle flame. It was the dawn. Rising again and again after the darkest night.

...HOW does one write a review for the last book in a series that knocked Lord of the Rings out the window, destroyed every fantasy read for forever, and completely shaped me as an author and a reader?

I can't believe it's over.

I also cannot believe HOW it ended. I don't think I've everread such an epic book.

"...Maybe it's finding the courage to kneel in the ashes and wait for the sun to rise again."

Of Dawn and Embers is a breath of fresh air, a rush of hope, a wild shout of courage. It's a call to rise and ride again, to change the tides, to wait and hope for the sun's rising.

I needed it. And I now REALLY need it on my shelf.

"Sleep is for mortals."
"Don't tell me, you've given it up?"

These characters. Rafi, *screams at spoiler*, Liam, Moc, Sev, Finnian, Markham, Ceridwen, and Jakim... even Sahak... they're all brilliant. Their growth, their friendships, THAT SCENE IN THE CLIMAX—

I'm going to miss them all so much. Especially Rafi. I've never felt so seen by a character than the Sea Demon of Zorrad.

"...you told me to trust to hope, and flames take me, I still do."

The author side of me really wants to spend another 1k words ranting on the plot. I don't know how so long a book NEVER grew boring, but I was completely hooked. I binge-read the thing in eight hours. (It's...long. Gloriously long. XD)

But I will mention the climax. Somehow, someway, every moment of all three books tied into ODaE's climax. EVERYTHING leveled up in terrifying, awe-inspiring, absolutely epic ways. I've never read anything like it.

"What can I say, Sea Demon? We mean to change the tides with you."

Make way for my new favorite book. I highly doubt it'll ever lose that title.

For Saga Crisps

[Jess (Jessie’s World of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒘𝒏. 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.

Intense. Epic. Heart-pounding. This book is exceptional.
"Epic" isn't actually an adequate enough word for The Fireborn Epic trilogy. It's so much more than that!

I'll start my review with talking about how scary Of Dawn & Embers is. It is, in fact, terrifying because there were times I was too scared to read the next page as I was afraid I'd read the death or destruction of a beloved character. Whether that happened or not, I'll leave in suspense.

Moc snorted. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that. I’ve seen Rafi drowned, tortured, and left for dead more times than I can count. I would have to see him dead at my feet before I were to believe it true, and even then, I would prod him twice and wave a saga crisp under his nose, just to be certain.”

It was the feeling of coming up against something greater than herself, something vaster than she could imagine, something she did not understand and still could not name, and yet finding herself still standing there, remarkably unscathed. But not unchanged.

The heart of this story is hope—even when everything seems hopeless. I absolutely love how Gillian Bronte Adams writes scenes that can make you feel like the entire cause is doomed, but then she still gives you an ember of hope that things might just turn out all right.

But if she had learned one thing over these months here in Nadaar, it was that ruin wasn’t necessarily the end. Some embers could be salvaged from the ashes.

While I loved the epic twists and intense plot, my favourite part of this book was by far seeing how much the characters grew throughout the trilogy. Fair warning: you may get extremely attached to them! You may also get very attached to the horses—I know I did!

But she plunged back into the fight in a shock of flame instead, and it wasn’t stubbornness that impelled her, not a reckless need for triumph or a refusal to accept the agony of defeat. It was hope. Foolish, desperate hope, perhaps, but hope nonetheless. Like defiant embers burning on, it fueled her.

Sometimes Aodh leads us by strange, twisting paths. We may not be able to see where those paths lead yet, but one day, I know we’ll look back and we’ll see that all of them have been made straight by Aodh’s hand.

Although I'm sad to say goodbye to Ceridwen, Finnian, Rafi, Jakim, Markham, and their steeds, I'm very satisfied with the bitter-sweet ending. Of Dawn & Embers is without a doubt my favourite of the trilogy. And let me tell you, the final showdown was epic!

“Maybe,” he murmured, “this is what matters. Maybe this is how we do it. Maybe it’s finding the courage to kneel in the ashes and wait for the sun to rise again.”

Bonus quote that made me laugh:

Rafi’s mouth twitched. “I was mostly curious how soon I could eat Saffa’s cooking again. Bushka bean soup, cala root crackers . . . saga crisps.” Somehow, he managed to infuse that last one with a reverence Ceridwen had aways heard reserved for creatures of lore, like dawnlings or winged leviathans or a tangle of sosswyrms.

Note: I REALLY want to know what saga crisps taste like!

The Fire Born Epic (a completed trilogy):
Book 01: Of Fire and Ash - 5 stars
Book 02: Of Sea and Smoke - 4.25 stars
Book 03: Of Dawn and Embers - 5 stars

Content Note: Although I generally don't recommend or read violent books, this series can get quite violent (though not in a gratuitous way) at times, so keep that in mind please. This series has no spice/sex/smut. The villain uses dark sorcery (no on-page spells) & it is portrayed as evil.

***I am very grateful for the complimentary ARC I received as a member of the author's street team. All thoughts & opinions are my own, and I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Elisabeth (Bets)]

Looking forward to this book! It's gonna be incredible!

[Hailey Huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hope was not a candle flame. It was the dawn. Rising again and again after darkest night."

At its core, this is a story about hope, and not the light and fluffy kind of hope. It's about gritty hope, hope that refuses to be extinguished even when the darkness seems relentless.

Of Dawn and Embers doesn't shy away from showing the struggle. It was a little hard to "watch" these characters I've come to care about wrestle with scars, visible and invisible, that they gained in book two. But even in that heaviness, Gillian weaves in reminders of light, hope, and truth. I've always appreciated Jakim's character from the beginning, and I loved him and the culmination of his character arc in this one.

Gillian masterfully ties together the plot threads and elements spanning across the series, bringing in new twists along the way. Once the action started ramping up toward the climax, I was unable to put the book down until I'd finished. And the ending fit perfectly.

Of Dawn and Embers is a worthy conclusion to this masterful series.

(I received an eARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

[Artham]

I am SO excited to read this one, oh man!!
This is definitely my favorite fantasy series... And the cliffhanger on the last book was TERRIBLE. 😭
Can't wait to see the ending! :D

[A.M. Reynwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being on this journey from the first announcement of book 1 and anxiously awaiting this final chapter since the whirlwind of book 2, I wanted to savour this book lest it be over too quickly, the ending come too fast, the farewells come too soon. Yes, rereading is a thing (and it will happen. Multiple times) but I'll never be able to read this conclusion for the first time again. To gasp strangled breaths as the events unfold with no real notion of how any of it can possibly turn out—let alone turn out all right.

11 days. That's how long I managed to soak in this story and ride alongside these beloved characters before the last 100+ pages caught me up in its swell and carried me off to the very end, gasping and grieving and laughing. For loss. For love. For saga crisps. The lows this installment goes to only makes the heights it reaches all the more glorious. The gleaming, burning, relentless hope all the more tested and true for the lengths despair went to try and extinguish it. Alas. Hope is the dawn, and no matter how dark the night, the sun always rises. Change the tides. Rise and ride again. Onward.

Such phrases are more than catchy taglines. They're battle cries that we can echo in the face of the seemingly overwhelming odds stacked against us in our own lives. Aodh's truths ones that ring with a reality deeper than the foundations of the earth.

In heart, this book is bursting. In pacing, exhilarating. In craft, exquisite. In characters, heartachingly endearing (except may that one guy. And that other one. But otherwise, treasures). All I can say is that this ending makes the beginning worth everything that comes in between, and I can't recommend it highly enough. It's just . . . amazing.

An all-time favorite? Shades, yes.

[aundrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m so sad this is over.
wdym i have to leave these characters after they’re finally safe and beginning to heal 😭 i need more than that epilogue 😭😭

but im so happy with the ending. this book kept me engaged the entire way through and i didn’t want to put it down at all. i haven’t felt this excited to read in a while. it literally felt like a movie.

the last battle felt a little dragged out and abrupt, and the god king plot was a little hard to follow, but that’s the only thing i can critique lol. even tho so much of this book is fighting and traveling, it was balanced well with other scenes and character arc movement(?), so that the battles were more than just fighting for the sake of fighting, and i absolutely loved all the main characters interacting.

and let me just say IM SO PROUD OF JAKIM 🥹
and ceridwen and finnian finallyyy getting togetherrr😭🫶🫶
and don’t even get me started with rafi actually i’ll burst into relieved sobs lol

i definitely recommend this series if you like found family bc it does it extremely well
-
😭😭😭 rtc

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars is ridiculously insufficient for this. Twenty is more like it.

This book exemplifies PERFECTLY all of the reasons why Gillian Bronte Adams is my favorite author. Deep characters, jaw-dropping worldbuilding, heartrending themes, a plot that's so twisty-turny I couldn't put the book down, and so dangerous that my heart was physically POUNDING.

The story follows Jakim, Rafi, and Ceridwen on their final battle to save their world from an evil so menacing they struggled to imagine it... until it met them head-on, that is. Of Fire and Ash and Of Sea and Smoke were epic in their own right. Of Dawn and Embers not only fills their shoes, it surpasses them.
Jakim has been my child since book one. But this has GOT to be Jakim at his best. His arc, his struggles, EVERYTHING about him is more well done than I know how to put into words. (Seriously. Most of my words on the subject of Jakim can be summarized as "ijosfhewjkhrjklfdjkdhewijodfjkldsuher" and many many fangirl screams. XDD)
Ceridwen feels that she's failed in the role she was meant to fill, but she keeps. getting. back. up. Again, again, and again, even when she's not so sure that there's any hope of dawn left. Because she loves her found family, and she loves her people just as much, and she refuses to consider what her defeat would mean for them.
Rafi struggles to fight an entirely different war than the one he thought he was called to. The list of people he needs to save is growing longer and longer, and time is growing shorter and shorter. No matter what he does, he can't save them all. But SHADES is he gonna try. (and in all honesty, the number of Captain America: Winter Soldier references in his part of the story--AND THE CRUDDING INGENIUS CHAPTER QUOTES--are yet another thing that have made my fangirl heart happier than any other book).
Finnian is back in all his lovely Finnian-ness. Which means that Ceridwen finally has a voice of sanity.
Markham, with all his trademark gruffness that we love from Of Shadow and Rust, must deal with not only a splintering kingdom, but also his surrogate son's dog. XDXD
I never thought I would be convinced to like Ineth. Yet, here we are. Not only that, but she's on my list of Top 10 Mentors. Right up there with Markham, Obi-wan, and Gandalf. XDXD

This review is definitely more ramble-y than most of my reviews. But I regret nothing. Just go read the book. You'll understand what the crap I'm talking about in no time.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go reread this lovely beast of a book.

[Mandee Joy Nuce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting great things. But I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster ride I experience while reading Of Dawn and Embers. Gillian is a fabulous story teller. I was just gushing to someone about it, and was saying that I would put her up there with the greats. The depth in characters is extremely well done, and I felt attached to the characters. There were so many unexpected twists and turns. I felt myself gasping in shock at many points throughout. There were so many truths about God woven throughout. Jakim reminded me that even when we can't see, God is true. God is just. God is merciful. So many times in life, I struggle to see how God could possibly use my circumstances for his glory. Or if He is still even there with me. But as Jakim found, "He doesn’t erase or gloss over the wounds of the world. He takes them on himself. He bears our pain in truth, and he mends it in truth, and so in truth, his justice and mercy are complete.” Gillian wove that truth beautifully throughout Of Dawn and Embers. And I won't give any spoilers, but there was a certain development *cough* Gillian *cough* that made me very happy😁. It feels bittersweet that the series has come to a close, but I look forward to whatever adventures Gillian starts next.

[Julia N White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A larger story, bigger threats, more enemies, more mysteries, and even more blazing flames.
This ending to the incredible Fireborn Epic fulfilled my every wish and even gave me news ones I didn’t know I had!
The plot twists were surprising, the characters (whether you loved them or loved to hate them) were fantastic, and the world-building surprises that had been foreshadowed in the first 2 books all came together in a perfect flaming package of deliciousness.
In an effort to refrain from spoilers, I will tell you that I enjoyed each of our POV characters’ stories and the way they intertwined. The ‘new’ monsters and higher stakes keep me turning pages.
If you think this review is a little too sweet, you’d be right because it's dripping with syrup.
The Fireborn Epic is in my top 5 favorite stories of all time (sitting next to Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia), and I was worried about how it would end. I’m pleased to say this is the ending you need to see!!!!


Scoresheet:
Category: YA/NA Epic Fantasy
Spice/Romance: Clean read/No spice. Only a brief kissing.
Violence: Battle wounds, mention of torture, and some blood are present, but no excessive gore
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview. Good morals.
Recommended reading age: 16+
Language: None

[Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the hardest time putting this book down. When you start you will not want to stop until you get to the glorious conclusion. With that said I don't even know where to begin with this bombshell of a conclusion to the Fireborn Epic. The amount of depth every character has is astounding. The world building is vibrant and bursting.

Gillian somehow managed to not only suck me in to this story and invest full heartedly into her characters lives, but also makes me yearn to be a part of it myself. If only I could be a real earthrider.

Without spoiling anything, you will experience heart pounding action scenes, tender moments between characters (especially when it comes to a certain shadow and firerider), and my favorite part magical warhorses and getting to learn more about the Dawnling breed. Of Dawn and Embers has easily been one of my favorite reads of this year.

I am grateful to have stumbled upon this series last year. It has been life changing. Especially with this opportunity to be a part of Gillian's launch group and getting to read the book before its release in January.

[Stephanie Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Dawn and Embers delivers everything you're looking for in your next fantasy read: gripping action, thrilling adventure, enduring friendship, tender romance, magical war horses, a dash of humor, and an epically satisfying conclusion. Once again, Adams wound together a tale that teaches us hope will find us even in the darkest of places. While I'll miss these friends and the winding adventure Adams gave us in this tale, this book was everything I wanted and needed as the series came to a close. Thank you, Gillan Bronte Adams, for inviting us into this fascinating world with these incredible fictional friends.

🐎 I received an early copy of this book (ARC), but the bookish thoughts and effusive praise expressed here are all my own and given because I love this book, not because I had to. Of Dawn and Embers releases on January 13, 2026.

[Abby Cleek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. This book. So much richness and epicness and complexity woven together in this story. Of Dawn and Embers is one of my favorite reads of the year, and quite possibly one of my favorites of all time.

Probably my favorite aspect of the story is the characters. Usually in multi-POV stories I pick a favorite and want to spend all my time in that POV, but this time I genuinely couldn't. I just wanted to follow Ceridwen and Rafi and Jakim all at the same time, because each of their stories was so gripping. But following each of the side characters was amazing as well. I loved getting to see new sides of my favorite characters, as well as meeting the new characters introduced in this story.

The way Adams ties together the characters with the plot and the intricate world building is truly masterful. And the ending! Endings so often don't satisfy me, especially after such an epic adventure as this one. But the way everything came together left me with that satisfied ache, happy but also sad that the journey is over.

My only regret is not picking up Of Fire and Ash and rereading the series as a whole to refresh my mind on all the wonderful details before experiencing this amazing finale. But it's okay, because it just means I have an excuse to reread the whole series!

[Esther B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start? It was every bit as magnificent as I had hoped. All the plot threads came together and the finale was heartwarming, satisfying and a perfect end to the series.
The worldbuilding, characters and description were just as good as the previous entries and this is a great series for anyone to be drawn into.

( Note that I received an ARC copy but I’m confident that my review is honest and accurate. )

[Lizzy Hite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between rereading the first two books and reading this one, this series has lived in my head rent free for the better part of three weeks and I’m not mad about it in the least. Gillian Adams weaves such a good story, and I finished the epilogue smiling so big. Absolutely fantastic series, and I’d highly recommend!!!!

~~ I received an early copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a positive review.~~

[Kylie Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to describe how much I loved this book! It’s filled with battles, friendship, love, and hope,
The characters made me laugh on multiple occasions and even cry a few times (I haven’t cried while reading a book in years!) I read it in three days and can't wait for release day so I can get a physical copy!

Thank you so much Gillian Brontë Adam’s for writing this amazing series!🤩

[Cassie Chidester · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third and final installment of this series is a douzy.  You'll get to follow your favorite characters once again as they battle to save friends, family, and their homes.  Many learn things along the way that really make you understand why they are the way they are.


This book is fast paced and keeps you guessing where you were headed next.  There will be times you want to cheer and other times you'll want to cry.  This is a book that will keep you up way past your bedtime.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Dawn and Embers is a long book, but it never feels unnecessarily long. Everything continues to build onward, ever onward, toward an epic conclusion to an epic fantasy trilogy. This book is perfect for readers who want a chunky fantasy story full of hope and light where good triumphs over evil and the good guys rise and rise again.

[Amy Rietveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Just...wow!

I knew this book would be an absolute masterpiece, but I wasn't prepared.

The characters. The heartbreak. The horrors of war. The themes of light vs dark, good vs evil, and perseverance and hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable struggles all come together perfectly.

I can't believe that my love for this series started by picking up book 1 (Of Fire and Ash) on a whim at the public library. Here we are nearly three years later and it has probably claimed the title of my favorite series of all time.

I think that God knew that I needed a story like this to show me how beautiful modern literature can be, especially in an age of fast publishing and romantasy. Gillian Bronte Adams has taken care in each element of this story and taken her time to pursue excellence rather than instant gratification and it has paid off. It is an inspiration to me as a reader and writer.

Thank you, Gillian, for giving us this story. And thank you for using your talent to point us to the One who bears our scars.