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Fire Wizard
Passion. Power. Revenge.
A death at a Fertility Festival. A dragon’s poison. A plot to destroy the magical community.
Morgan, a female water wizard, sage, and healer, didn’t seek leadership—it was thrust upon her when her friend was murdered.
But can she trust Rowan, her ex-lover and a fire wizard for hire, to help her discover who or what is behind a mysterious dragon poison that is killing those she holds dear?
In a race against time, the star-crossed lovers must set their differences aside and gather allies to fight the ancient evil before it destroys their world.
A death at a Fertility Festival. A dragon’s poison. A plot to destroy the magical community.
Morgan, a female water wizard, sage, and healer, didn’t seek leadership—it was thrust upon her when her friend was murdered.
But can she trust Rowan, her ex-lover and a fire wizard for hire, to help her discover who or what is behind a mysterious dragon poison that is killing those she holds dear?
In a race against time, the star-crossed lovers must set their differences aside and gather allies to fight the ancient evil before it destroys their world.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2025
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 14, 2026
A promising mystery weighed down by rushed resolutions and instant love.
This opens strong: treachery, murder and morally bankrupt, power-hungry politicians who weaponize misogyny for influence. Rowan, a PI, investigates the suspicious deaths of several wizards, while Morgan can no longer accept the steady early deaths of female wizards as “natural causes.” When their paths cross again after a longtime, they slide quickly back into being lovers.
That initial setup works well and carries real thematic weight. The political rot and systemic violence are compelling, and the stakes feel personal as well as structural. Unfortunately, the world beyond that core remains frustratingly thin. Almost everything of consequence seems to happen in Seattle, and I would have appreciated more context for the wider magical and political landscape.
The final act didn’t quite land for me. The pacing accelerates sharply, the ending feels abrupt, and too many threads are left dangling. It reads less like a deliberate open ending and more like a rush to the finish line. I’m hoping for a sequel, because there are simply too many unresolved questions to leave things here.
The romance was the weakest element for me. The second-chance love relies heavily on insta-attraction; the connection is simply there again, without enough tension or emotional work to make it convincing or satisfying.
Overall, a solid read with an intriguing premise and strong opening, but one that loses momentum toward the end and doesn’t fully capitalize on its world or its relationship dynamics.
(No notable MMC scent this time.)
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Solid and readable with a strong premise and opening, but held back by rushed pacing, thin world-building beyond Seattle, and a romance that lacks tension.
This opens strong: treachery, murder and morally bankrupt, power-hungry politicians who weaponize misogyny for influence. Rowan, a PI, investigates the suspicious deaths of several wizards, while Morgan can no longer accept the steady early deaths of female wizards as “natural causes.” When their paths cross again after a longtime, they slide quickly back into being lovers.
That initial setup works well and carries real thematic weight. The political rot and systemic violence are compelling, and the stakes feel personal as well as structural. Unfortunately, the world beyond that core remains frustratingly thin. Almost everything of consequence seems to happen in Seattle, and I would have appreciated more context for the wider magical and political landscape.
The final act didn’t quite land for me. The pacing accelerates sharply, the ending feels abrupt, and too many threads are left dangling. It reads less like a deliberate open ending and more like a rush to the finish line. I’m hoping for a sequel, because there are simply too many unresolved questions to leave things here.
The romance was the weakest element for me. The second-chance love relies heavily on insta-attraction; the connection is simply there again, without enough tension or emotional work to make it convincing or satisfying.
Overall, a solid read with an intriguing premise and strong opening, but one that loses momentum toward the end and doesn’t fully capitalize on its world or its relationship dynamics.
(No notable MMC scent this time.)
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars
Solid and readable with a strong premise and opening, but held back by rushed pacing, thin world-building beyond Seattle, and a romance that lacks tension.
January 19, 2026
3.5 stars. Set around solving gruesome murders and trying to stay alive, it is about lovers who never stopped loving each other (even though the MMC believes the FMC died many years before) reconnecting after many years, realizing the love and the spark are still there. It takes a while for trust as this is new to their relationship. This is not insta-love; it is a renewal of love thought lost forever.
This romantisy is set in today’s Seattle and the San Juan islands. Rowan, a Fire Wizard, works two jobs: as a solder for the Grey Counsel, and as consultant to the Seattle Police Department where he gets called in to solve unsolvable murders. Morgan, the FMC, is 35 years old and second in line to head the Female Water Wizards; these are women who do not live a long life, most die around her age and she is well aware of this fact. After the death (murder) of the leader of the Water Wizards and her best friend, Morgan is elevated to leader and her life is in peril.
It has some issues. It has inconsistent pacing but this doesn’t take away from the world building and the depth of the main characters.
If the author hadn’t said this was Book One in a series, the many unanswered questions the reader still has at the end would have made it obvious. I look forward to reading the next book.
More to come
This romantisy is set in today’s Seattle and the San Juan islands. Rowan, a Fire Wizard, works two jobs: as a solder for the Grey Counsel, and as consultant to the Seattle Police Department where he gets called in to solve unsolvable murders. Morgan, the FMC, is 35 years old and second in line to head the Female Water Wizards; these are women who do not live a long life, most die around her age and she is well aware of this fact. After the death (murder) of the leader of the Water Wizards and her best friend, Morgan is elevated to leader and her life is in peril.
It has some issues. It has inconsistent pacing but this doesn’t take away from the world building and the depth of the main characters.
If the author hadn’t said this was Book One in a series, the many unanswered questions the reader still has at the end would have made it obvious. I look forward to reading the next book.
More to come
January 18, 2026
**I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review, provided voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity!**
The initial premise of the story was strong and compelling. A strong water wizard combines forces with her ex, who is a wizard for hire, to try to save their community from a dragon poison. Picking up this book, I was expecting a story that was a little Dresden Files, a badass lady wizard, and a joint effort to counteract some dragon-y danger poison. The unfolded story, while interesting and action packed, did not quite meet my expectations.
It’s established early on that male and female wizards are not allowed to have romantic relationships. Moreover, they don’t seem to have socialization beyond an annual fertility festival, during which the females often heavily spell themselves and the males to alter their image and perceptions of their multi-night tryst. In processing the book, I wondered if this may be the reason why all male and females and one dimensional interactions and conversation. For example, the MMC and FMC didn’t actually work much together on the problem so much as the FMC worried about whether the MMC was capable of a real relationship while the MMC chased her around with heart eyes, desperate to save her. This extended beyond the main characters. The result was that the characters felt more like walking archetypes than complex living beings. With this, their interactions felt very surface-level, and I really struggled to form an emotional attachment to the characters.
That being said, I felt the plot was nicely sketched, with interesting problems, developments, and solutions. The bones of the story were very good and intriguing.
With some editing issues (multiple instances where characters discussed plot points that they were absent for without connecting dots for their awareness and the poison wasn’t from dragons), I wonder if the underdevelopment of the characters themselves were a product of rough editing. Whatever the reason, I would have loved to see more engaging interactions and depth with these characters, as their overall concepts hold a lot of promise.
The initial premise of the story was strong and compelling. A strong water wizard combines forces with her ex, who is a wizard for hire, to try to save their community from a dragon poison. Picking up this book, I was expecting a story that was a little Dresden Files, a badass lady wizard, and a joint effort to counteract some dragon-y danger poison. The unfolded story, while interesting and action packed, did not quite meet my expectations.
It’s established early on that male and female wizards are not allowed to have romantic relationships. Moreover, they don’t seem to have socialization beyond an annual fertility festival, during which the females often heavily spell themselves and the males to alter their image and perceptions of their multi-night tryst. In processing the book, I wondered if this may be the reason why all male and females and one dimensional interactions and conversation. For example, the MMC and FMC didn’t actually work much together on the problem so much as the FMC worried about whether the MMC was capable of a real relationship while the MMC chased her around with heart eyes, desperate to save her. This extended beyond the main characters. The result was that the characters felt more like walking archetypes than complex living beings. With this, their interactions felt very surface-level, and I really struggled to form an emotional attachment to the characters.
That being said, I felt the plot was nicely sketched, with interesting problems, developments, and solutions. The bones of the story were very good and intriguing.
With some editing issues (multiple instances where characters discussed plot points that they were absent for without connecting dots for their awareness and the poison wasn’t from dragons), I wonder if the underdevelopment of the characters themselves were a product of rough editing. Whatever the reason, I would have loved to see more engaging interactions and depth with these characters, as their overall concepts hold a lot of promise.
December 30, 2025
Fire Wizard by Pam Binder is a completely captivating fantasy romance that grabs you from the first page. The premise is instantly engaging: a death at a Fertility Festival, a mysterious dragon poison, and a plot that threatens the entire magical community.
The heart of the story lies in the brilliantly crafted dynamic between the two leads. Morgan, a water wizard and healer thrust into a leadership role she never wanted, is a resilient and compelling heroine. Rowan, the fire wizard for hire and her ex-lover, is all smoldering intensity and guarded history. Their forced reunion is charged with unresolved passion, professional wariness, and a tangible, addictive tension. Binder excels at making their journey from conflicted allies to trusted partners and perhaps more feel both earned and intensely satisfying.
The world building is efficient and evocative, quickly immersing you in a realm where magic is tangible and danger lurks in beautiful places. The mystery of the dragon poison provides a urgent, high stakes plot that perfectly complements the character driven drama. It’s a race against time that forces characters to confront their pasts and their true loyalties.
Fans of fantasy romance that balances action with deep emotional connection will devour this. It has the magical intrigue of a classic fantasy adventure paired with the slow burn, enemies to lovers chemistry that genre readers adore. The story is passionate, well paced, and delivers a deeply gratifying payoff.
I was thoroughly engrossed and finished the book in one sitting, eager for more. Fire Wizard is a standout and a must-read for anyone who loves their magic powerful and their romance passionately complicated. Highly recommended!
The heart of the story lies in the brilliantly crafted dynamic between the two leads. Morgan, a water wizard and healer thrust into a leadership role she never wanted, is a resilient and compelling heroine. Rowan, the fire wizard for hire and her ex-lover, is all smoldering intensity and guarded history. Their forced reunion is charged with unresolved passion, professional wariness, and a tangible, addictive tension. Binder excels at making their journey from conflicted allies to trusted partners and perhaps more feel both earned and intensely satisfying.
The world building is efficient and evocative, quickly immersing you in a realm where magic is tangible and danger lurks in beautiful places. The mystery of the dragon poison provides a urgent, high stakes plot that perfectly complements the character driven drama. It’s a race against time that forces characters to confront their pasts and their true loyalties.
Fans of fantasy romance that balances action with deep emotional connection will devour this. It has the magical intrigue of a classic fantasy adventure paired with the slow burn, enemies to lovers chemistry that genre readers adore. The story is passionate, well paced, and delivers a deeply gratifying payoff.
I was thoroughly engrossed and finished the book in one sitting, eager for more. Fire Wizard is a standout and a must-read for anyone who loves their magic powerful and their romance passionately complicated. Highly recommended!
December 13, 2025
Morgan is a water wizard and healer. She never wanted to be a leader, but when her friend is murdered, she has no choice. Someone is using dragon poison and killing those Morgan cares about. She has no choice but to entrust her ex-lover, Rowan, a fire wizard, to help her. They must trust each other and put their sorted past behind them to stop a plot to kill everyone in their magical world. Will they be able to stop an ancient evil in time?
Fire Wizard is a gripping romantasy I couldn’t put down. The world-building is so immersive, so visually stunning, it equals Rebecca Yarros and Sarah Brianne. The emotive narration consumed me. But it’s the characters and the choices they make which make Fire Wizard an unputdownable read.
The characters truly make this an entertaining read. I connected with the characters, even with the large cast of characters like this one. The sparring between Morgan and Rowan adds depth to the overall story. The main characters are original and colorful.
Let’s discuss the world-building. For any romantasy to be an epic read, it has to have flawless world-building. Pam Binder takes this challenge and flexes her writing muscles. The world-building is vivid, imaginative, and flawless.
Fire Wizard is my latest obsession, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
My Rating: 5++ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
Fire Wizard is a gripping romantasy I couldn’t put down. The world-building is so immersive, so visually stunning, it equals Rebecca Yarros and Sarah Brianne. The emotive narration consumed me. But it’s the characters and the choices they make which make Fire Wizard an unputdownable read.
The characters truly make this an entertaining read. I connected with the characters, even with the large cast of characters like this one. The sparring between Morgan and Rowan adds depth to the overall story. The main characters are original and colorful.
Let’s discuss the world-building. For any romantasy to be an epic read, it has to have flawless world-building. Pam Binder takes this challenge and flexes her writing muscles. The world-building is vivid, imaginative, and flawless.
Fire Wizard is my latest obsession, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
My Rating: 5++ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
November 15, 2025
This story follows Rowan, a wizard on the Grey Council. He is known for solving the impossible cases. Morgan comes to him after realizing someone is targeting female water wizards, and the two of them get pulled into a dangerous mystery. Rowan is still haunted by the memory of the soulmate he once lost. During Beltain he crosses paths with another intriguing woman. Meanwhile, a female troll has teamed up with the water wizards to help them escape, and wizardlings are suddenly going missing. It turns out that Morgan is his soulmate from the past.
As Rowan digs into these disappearances, both male and female wizards start turning up dead.
Morgan knows that the wizardlings are hiding in the troll compound.
Together, they try to uncover who's behind the killings. All signs point toward Vlad, the leader of the Talons.
An ancient substance may be the key to why the wizards are dying.
This book is full of twists and turns. It blends our world with rich fantasy elements, creating a magical mystery. The magical wizards are vulnerable, and the characters hold on to the strength of their past connections. I really enjoyed this book!
As Rowan digs into these disappearances, both male and female wizards start turning up dead.
Morgan knows that the wizardlings are hiding in the troll compound.
Together, they try to uncover who's behind the killings. All signs point toward Vlad, the leader of the Talons.
An ancient substance may be the key to why the wizards are dying.
This book is full of twists and turns. It blends our world with rich fantasy elements, creating a magical mystery. The magical wizards are vulnerable, and the characters hold on to the strength of their past connections. I really enjoyed this book!
November 17, 2025
Fire Wizard by Pam Binder is a romance involving Dragons and magic beings. Our FMC is named Morgan, who is a healer and a wizard. She has been with Rowan, our MMC, who is a fire dragon, they are ex's. Rowan is a private detective of sorts who helps and finds people who can't be found by normal human standards. He thinks Morgan dies many years ago and is on a plane to the island where she lives with their child that he sired and is not aware of, as per the laws of the wizards. Morgan takes him as a lover during the festival of choosing their mates or lovers for a time. Halfway through the book, Morgan reveals herself to Rowan after her friend and fellow wizard Caitlin is murdered. They both still care very deeply for each other but can not be with each other. This book was engaging as you get drawn into the story as the murder investigation progresses and so does Rowan and Morgan's relationship. I love a good romance with supernatural elements like Dragons:) I love the ending where Rowan and Morgan get their version of a happy ending for now... I would be interested if there was another book to read after this one, it was a great romance with dragons and wizards!
November 17, 2025
Fire Wizard is the kind of book that will have you hooked in no time. We follow the story of Morgan, a wizard and healer, and Rowan, a fire dragon. Morgan turns to Rowan when female wizards start becoming targeted, and Rowan, a private detective agrees to help. They are exes, but you can tell there are so many feelings still there for one another. This story has all sorts of emotions, and as a reader, I promise you will feel them too. This is the perfect book for anyone who loves fantasy. I would definitely recommend it.
November 14, 2025
Magical. Intriguing. Heroic. Romantic. Dangerous. Complex.
This is a story that is filled with tension, sadness, hope, fear, and joy - of course, there is joy too!
This might be the perfect addition to your Christmas shopping list if you are looking for a gift for someone who is a fantasy and romance lover, who loves books with action and adventure, and who isn't afraid of a touch of dark in their books.
This is a story that is filled with tension, sadness, hope, fear, and joy - of course, there is joy too!
This might be the perfect addition to your Christmas shopping list if you are looking for a gift for someone who is a fantasy and romance lover, who loves books with action and adventure, and who isn't afraid of a touch of dark in their books.
December 28, 2025
the starting of the book was a little meh, juvenile and messy.. I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading.
I continued reading, but the plot felt very rushed and not properly fleshed out.
It could have been much better.
I continued reading, but the plot felt very rushed and not properly fleshed out.
It could have been much better.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews