What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
17 days and 12:17:25
50 copies available
U.S. only
Firstborn
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
17 days and 12:17:25
50 copies available
U.S. only
In this epic dystopian romantasy, one eldest daughter must fight for her survival in a world where birth order determines your fate—and defiance comes at a deadly cost.
The first children take up arms. The second children take up books. The third children are taken.
The Long Night is the final trial for Firstborn soldiers, and Bryn Ruelle must prove she can take a life—or face immediate exile. If she survives, she’ll graduate to defending the country’s borders against their magic-wielding neighbors. Bryn has never made a kill before tonight. By dawn, someone will be dead by her hands.
But when Bryn discovers a plot to kidnap the Lastborn, she must discern if the threat to her youngest sister is real, or merely a ruse to throw Bryn off her game. Her search for the truth forces her to work side-by-side with an alluring traitor-born enemy. As adrenaline and rage ignite a dangerous desire she refuses to name, Bryn must choose: her country, or her family? Her siblings, or herself?
A crossover fantasy perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing.
Praise for Firstborn:
“I couldn’t put the book down.” —Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of A Song to Drown Rivers
“Dark, propulsive, and unflinchingly sharp.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
“[A] fierce, unstoppable heroine.” —Claudia Gray, New York Times bestselling author of A Thousand Pieces of You
“A riveting romance and twists that made me gasp.” —Julia Riew, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Tiger
The first children take up arms. The second children take up books. The third children are taken.
The Long Night is the final trial for Firstborn soldiers, and Bryn Ruelle must prove she can take a life—or face immediate exile. If she survives, she’ll graduate to defending the country’s borders against their magic-wielding neighbors. Bryn has never made a kill before tonight. By dawn, someone will be dead by her hands.
But when Bryn discovers a plot to kidnap the Lastborn, she must discern if the threat to her youngest sister is real, or merely a ruse to throw Bryn off her game. Her search for the truth forces her to work side-by-side with an alluring traitor-born enemy. As adrenaline and rage ignite a dangerous desire she refuses to name, Bryn must choose: her country, or her family? Her siblings, or herself?
A crossover fantasy perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing.
Praise for Firstborn:
“I couldn’t put the book down.” —Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of A Song to Drown Rivers
“Dark, propulsive, and unflinchingly sharp.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
“[A] fierce, unstoppable heroine.” —Claudia Gray, New York Times bestselling author of A Thousand Pieces of You
“A riveting romance and twists that made me gasp.” —Julia Riew, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Tiger
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
M.J. Hastings
1 book43 followersM. J. HASTINGS is the oldest (and bossiest) of five sisters, which explains how she grew up to become an attorney, one who refused to have the imagination beaten out of her. She graduated from law school with honors and went on to serve as a federal law clerk and practice complex civil litigation. Her greatest education, however, was her childhood in rural Kentucky, which left an indelible mark on her life and her writing. M.J. lives in Louisville with her family. FIRSTBORN is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A dystopian novel I simply couldn't put down!
I didn't expect to become so attached to a universe with a context that affects me so negatively (which only means the book was so well-written that it made me believe it was real). As the firstborn, I would certainly die in the context the book expected of me (and my sister probably wouldn't succeed as a midborn either; it would have been easier to change the birth order).
Before continuing, I wanted to thank NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I need to start by saying that I don't believe this book is for every type of reader, mainly because the focus is more on world-building, magic, and politics... In other words, it was the perfect book for me, and it came at the right time I found the pacing perfect, the characters captivating and complex, and, above all, the dystopian world completely believable. As I mentioned before, as a firstborn, I couldn't live in that world, and I was very impacted by Bryn's story precisely because of that.
It's important to emphasize that this is a debut novel, and I'm generally very critical of those because I like the idea of being able to offer feedback to the author so they can improve. However, aside from one aspect of the love triangle (I won't mention names to avoid spoilers, but those who have read it will probably understand what I mean) bothering me quite a bit, and not feeling any chemistry between them, I can't think of any reason to criticize this book.
I didn't expect to find themes so well handled beyond those presented in the synopsis, and among those that surprised me, the strongest was prejudice. With a dynamic between an oppressive government and a part of society being oppressed, it's fascinating to see how the author masterfully addressed the prejudice stemming from this. At every moment I feared that someone might harm Bryn purely because of this, and the misinformation spread about her and her siblings.
The dystopian aspect isn't as intense or graphically violent as one might expect in a dystopian novel, but the context of the universe and the war that created this authoritarian government makes it clear that it is indeed a dystopian universe, and you feel just as apprehensive as you would if there were violence on every page.
For now, in this first book, I felt that the romance was a subplot, and we didn't have a true romantasy, but I believe the plot is heading towards becoming a full-fledged romantasy in the sequel.
Finally, I want to say that I loved reading it and highly recommend this book to everyone who loves fantasy, romantasy, or simply a dystopian novel. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel!
Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/SZ4kq-jD1Bs
Review: https://youtu.be/tbuYklaKbj4
I didn't expect to become so attached to a universe with a context that affects me so negatively (which only means the book was so well-written that it made me believe it was real). As the firstborn, I would certainly die in the context the book expected of me (and my sister probably wouldn't succeed as a midborn either; it would have been easier to change the birth order).
Before continuing, I wanted to thank NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I need to start by saying that I don't believe this book is for every type of reader, mainly because the focus is more on world-building, magic, and politics... In other words, it was the perfect book for me, and it came at the right time I found the pacing perfect, the characters captivating and complex, and, above all, the dystopian world completely believable. As I mentioned before, as a firstborn, I couldn't live in that world, and I was very impacted by Bryn's story precisely because of that.
It's important to emphasize that this is a debut novel, and I'm generally very critical of those because I like the idea of being able to offer feedback to the author so they can improve. However, aside from one aspect of the love triangle (I won't mention names to avoid spoilers, but those who have read it will probably understand what I mean) bothering me quite a bit, and not feeling any chemistry between them, I can't think of any reason to criticize this book.
I didn't expect to find themes so well handled beyond those presented in the synopsis, and among those that surprised me, the strongest was prejudice. With a dynamic between an oppressive government and a part of society being oppressed, it's fascinating to see how the author masterfully addressed the prejudice stemming from this. At every moment I feared that someone might harm Bryn purely because of this, and the misinformation spread about her and her siblings.
The dystopian aspect isn't as intense or graphically violent as one might expect in a dystopian novel, but the context of the universe and the war that created this authoritarian government makes it clear that it is indeed a dystopian universe, and you feel just as apprehensive as you would if there were violence on every page.
For now, in this first book, I felt that the romance was a subplot, and we didn't have a true romantasy, but I believe the plot is heading towards becoming a full-fledged romantasy in the sequel.
Finally, I want to say that I loved reading it and highly recommend this book to everyone who loves fantasy, romantasy, or simply a dystopian novel. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel!
Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/SZ4kq-jD1Bs
Review: https://youtu.be/tbuYklaKbj4
Read
April 28, 2026thank you so much to Stonefruit Studio for sending me this ARC!
3 stars, rtc!
3 stars, rtc!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I love that we are getting more dystopian books! This book was so interesting, i loved the concept of the first born child going to train to be apart of their army, the second goes to school, and the third gets taken. Immediately that drew me in. Bryn is our FMC and she is a firstborn, so she’s been in training since she was young and now must pass the final test. However on the night of the final test so much goes down and she ends up discovering that her sister, a last born, might have been taken.
Literally so much more unfolds in the last 15% of this book, my head was reeling. This book is marketed as a mix of hunger games and fourth wing, and I’d say it does have elements of those books but also can stand on its own. You get multiple POVs in this book, which I always love because it helps me connect to more characters. There is romance intertwined in this story, but the plot is the main focus for sure. The plot twist at the end actually made me gasp, i didn’t see that one coming!
I’m excited to see where this series will go and what Bryn will do in the next book. She was really a great FMC and I’m hoping we will get even more of some of the side characters!
Thank you to Stonefruit Studio for sending me an advanced copy!
Literally so much more unfolds in the last 15% of this book, my head was reeling. This book is marketed as a mix of hunger games and fourth wing, and I’d say it does have elements of those books but also can stand on its own. You get multiple POVs in this book, which I always love because it helps me connect to more characters. There is romance intertwined in this story, but the plot is the main focus for sure. The plot twist at the end actually made me gasp, i didn’t see that one coming!
I’m excited to see where this series will go and what Bryn will do in the next book. She was really a great FMC and I’m hoping we will get even more of some of the side characters!
Thank you to Stonefruit Studio for sending me an advanced copy!
Did Not Finish
April 7, 2026dnf'ed (i didnt know what i was getting into until.. i started it) i dont wanna tank the review specifically because this book wasnt for me, so im not gonna rate it.
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀☼⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
⌗ ρrє-reαd ⭑.ᐟ
⤷ ᯓ im so internally grateful to have received this arc, especially with how bad my feedback ratio is right now, so safe to say im really excited! plus its a dystopian book which makes this all the more better!
𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ also like lets all take a moment for this gorgeous, stunning cover ?? 💗
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀☼⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
⌗ ρrє-reαd ⭑.ᐟ
⤷ ᯓ im so internally grateful to have received this arc, especially with how bad my feedback ratio is right now, so safe to say im really excited! plus its a dystopian book which makes this all the more better!
𓏲⋆ ִֶָ ๋𓂃 ⋆ also like lets all take a moment for this gorgeous, stunning cover ?? 💗
June 22, 2026
4.5 stars!!!💫
I had suchhh an amazing time with this one!! It had HUGE hunger game vibes which I absolutely loved and was one of the things I heard that convinced me to pick it up in the first place and I am so glad I did!!
I think that the overall pacing of this book was done super well. We were able to jump into the story rather quickly while also getting a good overview of the magic, world, and political system in the book! I also really enjoyed the multiple points of view throughout this story. I don’t typically enjoy more than two POVs, but it can work so well in a story if done right and it was handled really well in this one!!
I overall really liked all of the characters in this. They were all complex and very intriguing and by the end I had love for so many of them. Poe…I absolutely ADORE him and would have loved to read from his point of view, but I am so excited to hopefully see him again in the next book. I thought Bryn and Ash’s relationship was very sweet, although I wish we saw a bit more development. I do think that is something we will get into more in the second book maybe, which I can’t wait to see!
I reallyyyy liked seeing the way Bryn and her mindset changed/developed throughout this story! We are introduced to her as a character who doesn’t like to care about or get close to people and it was heartwarming to see the friendships she made throughout the story where she learns that sometimes caring about people can be worth it.
Now, the couple of things I will say I did not love were the love triangle and one or two of the chapters in the end. I understand that we do need to learn more about what is going on, but I don’t love when it is just all lain down simply for the sake getting all of this information to the reader. I also did not really like the whole love triangle. The one side of it I truly did not even like the character and never felt anything between them, so scenes involving him in the end just did not appeal to me.
As I said, I overall had such an amazing time with this one and am throughly impressed with this debut novel! I cannot wait for the second book!!
initial review:
4.5!! oh…i will have to gather my thoughts later
I had suchhh an amazing time with this one!! It had HUGE hunger game vibes which I absolutely loved and was one of the things I heard that convinced me to pick it up in the first place and I am so glad I did!!
I think that the overall pacing of this book was done super well. We were able to jump into the story rather quickly while also getting a good overview of the magic, world, and political system in the book! I also really enjoyed the multiple points of view throughout this story. I don’t typically enjoy more than two POVs, but it can work so well in a story if done right and it was handled really well in this one!!
I overall really liked all of the characters in this. They were all complex and very intriguing and by the end I had love for so many of them. Poe…I absolutely ADORE him and would have loved to read from his point of view, but I am so excited to hopefully see him again in the next book. I thought Bryn and Ash’s relationship was very sweet, although I wish we saw a bit more development. I do think that is something we will get into more in the second book maybe, which I can’t wait to see!
I reallyyyy liked seeing the way Bryn and her mindset changed/developed throughout this story! We are introduced to her as a character who doesn’t like to care about or get close to people and it was heartwarming to see the friendships she made throughout the story where she learns that sometimes caring about people can be worth it.
Now, the couple of things I will say I did not love were the love triangle and one or two of the chapters in the end. I understand that we do need to learn more about what is going on, but I don’t love when it is just all lain down simply for the sake getting all of this information to the reader. I also did not really like the whole love triangle. The one side of it I truly did not even like the character and never felt anything between them, so scenes involving him in the end just did not appeal to me.
As I said, I overall had such an amazing time with this one and am throughly impressed with this debut novel! I cannot wait for the second book!!
initial review:
4.5!! oh…i will have to gather my thoughts later
April 23, 2026
Bryn Ruelle is a Firstborn, trained to be the best soldier in her academy. But when her sister is taken, she ends up forming an alliance with an enemy to find her.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, although it took me a while to get into the story. I found the first couple of chapters very info-dumpy, a problem that repeated itself towards the end when we find out the way of it all (oh, how my skin crawls when I see an "as you know..." in dialogue).
I did really like the main characters (I would have loved to get Poe's POV), and Bryn was a good heroine. I agree with others, though, that it would have been nicer to keep the same tense for all POVs. But the best part was the worldbuilding and magic system. It felt original, and I liked reading a dystopian book with something to say beyond the government=bad that we often get in YA.
The romance didn't fully convince me. I never believed Bryn and Oberst were in love-it actually felt kind of creepy to me how he seemed to be obsessed with her after treating her like shit for years lmao. And her falling for Ash was too quick for my liking. I was under the impression that they hadn't known each other for longer than a few days (sorry if it is mentioned that more time passes, it certainly doesn't read like it), and yet they go from lust to love in a few pages. I would have enjoyed it more if their love had developed after they get to Bryn's sister.
Overall, it's a really interesting foundation for a duology, and I'm excited for book 2!
3.5 stars rounded up
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, although it took me a while to get into the story. I found the first couple of chapters very info-dumpy, a problem that repeated itself towards the end when we find out the way of it all (oh, how my skin crawls when I see an "as you know..." in dialogue).
I did really like the main characters (I would have loved to get Poe's POV), and Bryn was a good heroine. I agree with others, though, that it would have been nicer to keep the same tense for all POVs. But the best part was the worldbuilding and magic system. It felt original, and I liked reading a dystopian book with something to say beyond the government=bad that we often get in YA.
The romance didn't fully convince me. I never believed Bryn and Oberst were in love-it actually felt kind of creepy to me how he seemed to be obsessed with her after treating her like shit for years lmao. And her falling for Ash was too quick for my liking. I was under the impression that they hadn't known each other for longer than a few days (sorry if it is mentioned that more time passes, it certainly doesn't read like it), and yet they go from lust to love in a few pages. I would have enjoyed it more if their love had developed after they get to Bryn's sister.
Overall, it's a really interesting foundation for a duology, and I'm excited for book 2!
3.5 stars rounded up
April 13, 2026
Dangerously addictive. I could not put this book down.
M.J. Hasting has put together a devastating debut dystopian fantasy novel. This book is fast paced with a unique social divide based on birth order. Not only that, but also a divide on what side of the land you were born on. Are you a true Dursti or an Arcanists, one who has magic in their blood? This book follows Bryn who is a Firstborn, born to fight and kill, and how far she’s willing to go for her sibling.
I loved this book. I have never had so many jaw dropping moments and tears in my eyes over a book.
This upper YA/ NA book has multi POVs, however it was not over whelming. The main POV stayed with the main character Bryn. And the character development Bryn had has to be one of my favorites. Everything she goes through and how far she pushes herself is top tier to me.
The romance felt more of a subplot to me, but I was invested in all the relationships between characters. And I’m very interested to see how these relationships grow OR change in the next book… I’m eyeing someone suspiciously.
Structure like Fourth Wing, action like the Hunger Games, and a romance like the early 2010 YA books gave us.
Five stars.
If you liked silver elite, you’re going to like this one too.
M.J. Hasting has put together a devastating debut dystopian fantasy novel. This book is fast paced with a unique social divide based on birth order. Not only that, but also a divide on what side of the land you were born on. Are you a true Dursti or an Arcanists, one who has magic in their blood? This book follows Bryn who is a Firstborn, born to fight and kill, and how far she’s willing to go for her sibling.
I loved this book. I have never had so many jaw dropping moments and tears in my eyes over a book.
This upper YA/ NA book has multi POVs, however it was not over whelming. The main POV stayed with the main character Bryn. And the character development Bryn had has to be one of my favorites. Everything she goes through and how far she pushes herself is top tier to me.
The romance felt more of a subplot to me, but I was invested in all the relationships between characters. And I’m very interested to see how these relationships grow OR change in the next book… I’m eyeing someone suspiciously.
Structure like Fourth Wing, action like the Hunger Games, and a romance like the early 2010 YA books gave us.
Five stars.
If you liked silver elite, you’re going to like this one too.
June 19, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Firstborn is one of those fantasy books that slowly pulls you into its world until suddenly you're fully invested in the characters, the politics, the magic, and everyone's future. One minute you're casually reading a chapter before bed, and the next you're looking at the clock wondering who thought 2 a.m. was an acceptable time to make life choices.
One of my favorite things was the worldbuilding. The whole concept of Firstborns, Midborns, and Lastborns is incredibly well done. It's not just a title people carry around. It affects their entire lives, how they're treated, what opportunities they have, and how society functions. The more I learned about this world, the more fascinated I became.
I also really enjoyed the magic system. Instead of feeling like traditional fantasy magic with spells flying everywhere, it felt more like scientific innovation and technological advancement. Magic is used to improve and shape society, and I found that approach incredibly refreshing. Basically, if you're expecting someone to yell a spell and make a chicken explode, this isn't that kind of fantasy.
But honestly? Bryn was what made this book for me.
She has this attitude of, "I don't care if I die trying, at least I tried." Meanwhile I pull a muscle sneezing and reconsider all my life choices. Bryn is brave, stubborn, impulsive, and refuses to stand by when something feels wrong. There were so many moments where I wanted to shake her and wrap her in bubble wrap at the same time.
I know multiple POVs aren't everyone's favorite thing, but I loved them here. Getting inside different characters' heads helped me understand their motivations and made the world feel so much bigger. Every perspective brought something valuable to the story, whether it was politics, family dynamics, personal struggles, or seeing the same events through a completely different lens.
And can we talk about the romance for a second?
Because for the longest time I genuinely thought, "Okay, maybe we're not doing this." Then suddenly it was THERE and I was kicking my feet and grinning like an idiot. The romance definitely takes a back seat to the fantasy plot, but when it shows up, it does not disappoint. It's one of those romances that sneaks up behind you and says, "Surprise, you're emotionally invested now."
The ending was probably one of my favorite parts. It wraps up enough to feel satisfying while also leaving me with about a million questions. What happens next for Bryn? Her siblings? The civilians caught in the middle of everything? I need answers, M.J. Hastings. Respectfully. Immediately.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be over here waiting for the next book and pretending I'm being patient.
=> Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Reading this before release was amazing, but now I'm stuck in that awkward phase where I need everyone else to read it immediately so I can talk about it. Please hurry. I'm running out of ways to yell into the void.
Firstborn is one of those fantasy books that slowly pulls you into its world until suddenly you're fully invested in the characters, the politics, the magic, and everyone's future. One minute you're casually reading a chapter before bed, and the next you're looking at the clock wondering who thought 2 a.m. was an acceptable time to make life choices.
One of my favorite things was the worldbuilding. The whole concept of Firstborns, Midborns, and Lastborns is incredibly well done. It's not just a title people carry around. It affects their entire lives, how they're treated, what opportunities they have, and how society functions. The more I learned about this world, the more fascinated I became.
I also really enjoyed the magic system. Instead of feeling like traditional fantasy magic with spells flying everywhere, it felt more like scientific innovation and technological advancement. Magic is used to improve and shape society, and I found that approach incredibly refreshing. Basically, if you're expecting someone to yell a spell and make a chicken explode, this isn't that kind of fantasy.
But honestly? Bryn was what made this book for me.
She has this attitude of, "I don't care if I die trying, at least I tried." Meanwhile I pull a muscle sneezing and reconsider all my life choices. Bryn is brave, stubborn, impulsive, and refuses to stand by when something feels wrong. There were so many moments where I wanted to shake her and wrap her in bubble wrap at the same time.
I know multiple POVs aren't everyone's favorite thing, but I loved them here. Getting inside different characters' heads helped me understand their motivations and made the world feel so much bigger. Every perspective brought something valuable to the story, whether it was politics, family dynamics, personal struggles, or seeing the same events through a completely different lens.
And can we talk about the romance for a second?
Because for the longest time I genuinely thought, "Okay, maybe we're not doing this." Then suddenly it was THERE and I was kicking my feet and grinning like an idiot. The romance definitely takes a back seat to the fantasy plot, but when it shows up, it does not disappoint. It's one of those romances that sneaks up behind you and says, "Surprise, you're emotionally invested now."
The ending was probably one of my favorite parts. It wraps up enough to feel satisfying while also leaving me with about a million questions. What happens next for Bryn? Her siblings? The civilians caught in the middle of everything? I need answers, M.J. Hastings. Respectfully. Immediately.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be over here waiting for the next book and pretending I'm being patient.
=> Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Reading this before release was amazing, but now I'm stuck in that awkward phase where I need everyone else to read it immediately so I can talk about it. Please hurry. I'm running out of ways to yell into the void.
April 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for the advanced reader arc in exchange for my honest review.
Bryn Ruelle is the first born, the one to take up arms. And her final test has come around called The Long Night where she must take a life. Before she goes into the trial, she is contacted about her younger sister, Wren, who’s been taken away. Put in an impossible position, Bryn finds herself working with the enemy, calling himself the Reaper. With his help, she will have to decide where her loyalties lie, and if going after her sister will determine to be successful or not.
This dystopian romance is a great concept and honestly has the making to be a good series or duology. I thought the plot was strong, there was a clear sense of direction and overarching timeline of where this book was headed. The magic system is interesting, relying on the usage of runic magic to create spells that have a cost. There is a working historical aspect and political significance to this book as well. You don’t know who the bad guy really is — and you spend a lot of time figuring it out. There are some good characters, mainly Poe is fleshed out and doesn’t really need much to determine if he’s good or bad. Bryn, Asa and Ash are all main characters who are alright, and push the story along.
Despite all the hard work and effort into making this book just packed with references, history, action, downtime, and much more — it fell sort of flat for me.t personal nitpicks are the switching from first to third person POV, I’m not a huge fan of it. The chemistry felt sort of forced and rushed into if this is a series or duology, and I’m a firm believer that less is more. If this was a standalone, it was paced decently. And the pseudo-love triangle that happens was unnecessary, you really don’t see the connection between them until the very end. I had a hard time believing that it was “love” between Bryn and Oberst. And given the relatively new bonding with Ash, I felt that she trauma bonded with one and was obsessed over by another.
I’d read the next book just to see what the author comes up with given how much was in this book. Overall, 3.25 stars.
Bryn Ruelle is the first born, the one to take up arms. And her final test has come around called The Long Night where she must take a life. Before she goes into the trial, she is contacted about her younger sister, Wren, who’s been taken away. Put in an impossible position, Bryn finds herself working with the enemy, calling himself the Reaper. With his help, she will have to decide where her loyalties lie, and if going after her sister will determine to be successful or not.
This dystopian romance is a great concept and honestly has the making to be a good series or duology. I thought the plot was strong, there was a clear sense of direction and overarching timeline of where this book was headed. The magic system is interesting, relying on the usage of runic magic to create spells that have a cost. There is a working historical aspect and political significance to this book as well. You don’t know who the bad guy really is — and you spend a lot of time figuring it out. There are some good characters, mainly Poe is fleshed out and doesn’t really need much to determine if he’s good or bad. Bryn, Asa and Ash are all main characters who are alright, and push the story along.
Despite all the hard work and effort into making this book just packed with references, history, action, downtime, and much more — it fell sort of flat for me.t personal nitpicks are the switching from first to third person POV, I’m not a huge fan of it. The chemistry felt sort of forced and rushed into if this is a series or duology, and I’m a firm believer that less is more. If this was a standalone, it was paced decently. And the pseudo-love triangle that happens was unnecessary, you really don’t see the connection between them until the very end. I had a hard time believing that it was “love” between Bryn and Oberst. And given the relatively new bonding with Ash, I felt that she trauma bonded with one and was obsessed over by another.
I’d read the next book just to see what the author comes up with given how much was in this book. Overall, 3.25 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2026
high stakes feelings. i cried, but probably mostly due to my own shit. dead siblings are triggering for me. i couldn’t help but root for almost all of the characters (except the evil old ones obviously) and i am so ready for round two
bryn is such a badass. her sister is ethereal. and her brother is like a gay young sheldon just caught amidst it all. i appreciate the cast of characters—i am especially fond of Poe and Ash. I am lowkey rooting for oberst in book two, but we’ll see. Tbh, my ideal outcome is they both work out, that would be a fun twist. Not surprising but rewarding for my romance seeking heart.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. My opinions are as always, my own.
bryn is such a badass. her sister is ethereal. and her brother is like a gay young sheldon just caught amidst it all. i appreciate the cast of characters—i am especially fond of Poe and Ash. I am lowkey rooting for oberst in book two, but we’ll see. Tbh, my ideal outcome is they both work out, that would be a fun twist. Not surprising but rewarding for my romance seeking heart.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. My opinions are as always, my own.
Did Not Finish
June 29, 2026DNF. I find that I'm having to make myself read this one and that's no fun, so I'm out. I don't connect at all with any of the characters. They all feel kind of flat. I also can't get a handle on the setting. It feels fantasy, but there's magic and technology and I just want to know more about the background. Also, the fact that this is being marketed as YA feels icky, because it really shouldn't be.
July 6, 2026
That was really good. Has a dystopian vibe and an interesting love dynamic. There’s definitely some plot twists and it ends with a cliff hanger. I feel like I wanted more of one character that I’m hoping is in the next book???
Read
June 29, 2026Thank you so much @stonefruit.books @sourcebooks and @themegjhastings for my #gifted ARC of Firstborn! ❤️🗡️📖
I truly loved this book! It’s a dystopian romantasy, and M.J. Hastings debut novel. I thought it was amazing, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
The firstborn become soldiers, the middle child focuses on books, and the third child just disappears. Bryn is a firstborn, and the most skilled soldier at this time. She is expected to win The Long Night- a trial where killing and surviving is the number one focus- until she learns that her youngest sibling disappears. It’s then that she chooses her love for her sister, rather than her duty as a firstborn soldier, to save her sister and determine what is being hidden from them all.
This story has magic, world building, and tons of twists. I never found all of the information overpowering, and just loved the wild ride of Bryn and her family’s story.
I truly loved this book! It’s a dystopian romantasy, and M.J. Hastings debut novel. I thought it was amazing, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
The firstborn become soldiers, the middle child focuses on books, and the third child just disappears. Bryn is a firstborn, and the most skilled soldier at this time. She is expected to win The Long Night- a trial where killing and surviving is the number one focus- until she learns that her youngest sibling disappears. It’s then that she chooses her love for her sister, rather than her duty as a firstborn soldier, to save her sister and determine what is being hidden from them all.
This story has magic, world building, and tons of twists. I never found all of the information overpowering, and just loved the wild ride of Bryn and her family’s story.
Read
April 25, 2026Calling it at 18%. DNF.
I’ve been trying for a week to get into this and enjoy it and I just don’t. It’s marketed as being perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing, both books I love and both books I didn’t struggle at all with.
There is so much explanation of a very complicated world that really doesn’t make sense it’s like one big info dump, not to mention the cringey dialogue. I’m sure it gets better based on other reviews but I can’t do it any longer. — especially for such a long book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
I’ve been trying for a week to get into this and enjoy it and I just don’t. It’s marketed as being perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing, both books I love and both books I didn’t struggle at all with.
There is so much explanation of a very complicated world that really doesn’t make sense it’s like one big info dump, not to mention the cringey dialogue. I’m sure it gets better based on other reviews but I can’t do it any longer. — especially for such a long book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of Firstborn. I’m not okay and I already need the next book 😭🔥
I absolutely devoured this. The last half, especially the ending, had me genuinely spiraling. There were so many holy crap moments and twists I did not see coming at all. I was completely hooked and could not put it down.
The world-building is immersive and detailed without ever feeling overwhelming, and the magic system is so interesting and well done. I really loved that this is a plot-first, romance-second kind of story. There is a love triangle, but it’s subtle and adds to the tension rather than taking over, which I appreciated so much.
The tension? Incredible. The betrayal? Painful. The stakes? So high I was stressed the entire time (in the best way). Everything just works together so well. And Poe, I loved him. Such a standout character with so much personality.
And that ending… I’m still recovering. I need book two immediately.
If you’re into high-stakes dystopian worlds, messy tension, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and twists that will leave you reeling… this one’s for you.
I absolutely devoured this. The last half, especially the ending, had me genuinely spiraling. There were so many holy crap moments and twists I did not see coming at all. I was completely hooked and could not put it down.
The world-building is immersive and detailed without ever feeling overwhelming, and the magic system is so interesting and well done. I really loved that this is a plot-first, romance-second kind of story. There is a love triangle, but it’s subtle and adds to the tension rather than taking over, which I appreciated so much.
The tension? Incredible. The betrayal? Painful. The stakes? So high I was stressed the entire time (in the best way). Everything just works together so well. And Poe, I loved him. Such a standout character with so much personality.
And that ending… I’m still recovering. I need book two immediately.
If you’re into high-stakes dystopian worlds, messy tension, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and twists that will leave you reeling… this one’s for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve been waffling on what to rate this, but I’ve decided I’m giving it 3.75 stars.
Chapter One is a bit rough with the absolute avalanche of info dumping we get buried in. It felt like *she takes a step, looks at Character B* - insert whole backstory of who this is and what happened when she was five with this person - *takes another step, sees the guards* -goes into the political machinations of their country’s government - *turns slightly* - here’s another two characters with a whole page dedicated to each - at this point, you’re 20 pages deep and she’s taken two whole steps. I understand it’s a new world we need to learn, but I felt this could have been paired down considerably into “need to know” only, especially for the first chapter. This is where you potentially lose readers if they don’t wanna stick around to see if it pays off.
Once I was past chapter one, the pacing increases and I was hooked. So much so I looked down and realized I was almost 20% of the way through already once I decided to take a break.
I absolutely LOVED the premise of this, having your life determined by your birth order. A government that’s hiding the truth from its citizens and doing its best to rewrite history and brainwash the populace. The deconstruction the FMC goes through as she discovers more and more of the truth. It felt very fitting in today’s world. I can see where the correlation to The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing comes in, but by using those as comp titles I was expecting a heavier focus on The Long Night / caste system dynamics and less of a traipse-across-the-country style quest, if that makes sense.
The ending is where this really started losing stars for me. I wanted *more*. More explanation for the magic system (it started to feel very much like magic was being used as a crutch, the easy way out for our characters). I was starting to get confused - feeling bogged down by going what felt like going a little too deep into the political side of things but at the same time still not 100% understanding it all. Feeling a sharp disconnect with the whole Oberst as a love interest (is this because we don’t get as much time with him? It felt really out of left field. I wasn’t buying their romance at all). If this had a stronger ending I truly think it would have easily been a 5 star read.
That being said, as a debut, I thought this was great. It has me interested to know what happens next and I absolutely will be keeping my eyes peeled for book two.
Last but not least:
I don’t think this should be shelved as YA. Our main character is in her twenties. She’s not going through a “coming of age” cycle. She’s definitely a New Adult coming to terms with the reality of how the world works (that rose colored veil is being ripped away). There’s an open door spicy scene. Although there *is* romance, it’s not the main focus on the book - the politics are, which also makes me question the Romantasy tag. Granted, I don’t know what the plans are for the following books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for sending me this ARC! I am immensely grateful!
Chapter One is a bit rough with the absolute avalanche of info dumping we get buried in. It felt like *she takes a step, looks at Character B* - insert whole backstory of who this is and what happened when she was five with this person - *takes another step, sees the guards* -goes into the political machinations of their country’s government - *turns slightly* - here’s another two characters with a whole page dedicated to each - at this point, you’re 20 pages deep and she’s taken two whole steps. I understand it’s a new world we need to learn, but I felt this could have been paired down considerably into “need to know” only, especially for the first chapter. This is where you potentially lose readers if they don’t wanna stick around to see if it pays off.
Once I was past chapter one, the pacing increases and I was hooked. So much so I looked down and realized I was almost 20% of the way through already once I decided to take a break.
I absolutely LOVED the premise of this, having your life determined by your birth order. A government that’s hiding the truth from its citizens and doing its best to rewrite history and brainwash the populace. The deconstruction the FMC goes through as she discovers more and more of the truth. It felt very fitting in today’s world. I can see where the correlation to The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing comes in, but by using those as comp titles I was expecting a heavier focus on The Long Night / caste system dynamics and less of a traipse-across-the-country style quest, if that makes sense.
The ending is where this really started losing stars for me. I wanted *more*. More explanation for the magic system (it started to feel very much like magic was being used as a crutch, the easy way out for our characters). I was starting to get confused - feeling bogged down by going what felt like going a little too deep into the political side of things but at the same time still not 100% understanding it all. Feeling a sharp disconnect with the whole Oberst as a love interest (is this because we don’t get as much time with him? It felt really out of left field. I wasn’t buying their romance at all). If this had a stronger ending I truly think it would have easily been a 5 star read.
That being said, as a debut, I thought this was great. It has me interested to know what happens next and I absolutely will be keeping my eyes peeled for book two.
Last but not least:
I don’t think this should be shelved as YA. Our main character is in her twenties. She’s not going through a “coming of age” cycle. She’s definitely a New Adult coming to terms with the reality of how the world works (that rose colored veil is being ripped away). There’s an open door spicy scene. Although there *is* romance, it’s not the main focus on the book - the politics are, which also makes me question the Romantasy tag. Granted, I don’t know what the plans are for the following books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for sending me this ARC! I am immensely grateful!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
: huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
at first, i thought this book was going to be genuinely up my alley, because it really was. the plot was plotting. the vibes were vibing. the dystopian was dystopianing (which i am well aware is not a word but idc) and then the romance just happened. so let's dive into it because i thought daughtered long enough on this book and i think i'm ready to write my review.
⚔️ plot
well the plot was pretty great until it was tossed out of the freaking window for whatever else was going on. like the plot was there but also it wasn't. i know this is going to be part of a series because so many questions were answered but non were brought up. here's my petition can we please get a break from everything being a series??? please.
the plot twists pissed me off and i will leave this a spoiler free review so if you want spoilers click here
the whole plot with bryn's brother was lowk kinda confusing bc he was important but we don't really know why (but we also do) and hes just there, love him but he needs a spine im sorry. anyways hopefully he has redemption in the next book
bryn
she was ok, not amazing as an fmc but stood her ground lowk had no personality but that was kinda her personality.
oberst
i'm sorry, i mean this in no offense but when this man was first introduced i thought he was like a grandpa. yeah my bad bruh, but his name is fricking oberst. like not to name shame he's just giving...like...idk...he's from germany and he's about to heil hitler me. great image imo (sarcasm is high). like i didn't hate him, but he was an absoloute lowk jerk? like "how does she not know i like her"
idk bruh, maybe bc you beat up her brother? and maybe because you were a jerk to her? and maybe it's giving enemies but enemies bc ur her literally commanding officer and general thing? is???it???not??clocking??to??you??that??im??standing??on??business?? bc if i met this potato of a man i would probably hit him with a 50 inch tv. i don't have one, but if i did i would. he has no substence
ash
this man probably plays the bass in real life (stealing this from a friend) he probably is an emo rockstar (that's offensive to the emos to be lumped with him im sorry). he pissed me off so freaking bad. id have killed him when bryn had the chance too. maybe im the cold hearted one tbh. he has no personality aside from being a flirty egotistical "reaper"im sorry.
romance
i. cant. stand. love. triangles. written. like. this. there end of story. here i'll map out the romance for you.
bryn has no feelings. bryn doesnt know how to feel about oberst when she sees him bc her heart feels funky (mine too whenever i see men i feel funky bc they are just there and im like pls leave). bryn meets ash. ash flirts. bryn almost kills ash. bryn and ash start a relationship. bryn and ash "do it'" on the battlefield. what's more romantic than doing the deed while the world is lowk ending ?? oberst shows up. bryn doesnt know what to do. end of book.
wow.
i need more of poe btw, he pmo but he was hilarious and i'd love his pov but instead we got the two dudes pov's in third person !?!? THIRD PERSON!? like keep the whole book third person or write their's as first person.
anyways! end of rant! overall a slay book bc yay dystopian but also idk conflicted thoughts
review to come when i (the firstborn and only child of my parents) decide to cajole my thoughts
at first, i thought this book was going to be genuinely up my alley, because it really was. the plot was plotting. the vibes were vibing. the dystopian was dystopianing (which i am well aware is not a word but idc) and then the romance just happened. so let's dive into it because i thought daughtered long enough on this book and i think i'm ready to write my review.
⚔️ plot
well the plot was pretty great until it was tossed out of the freaking window for whatever else was going on. like the plot was there but also it wasn't. i know this is going to be part of a series because so many questions were answered but non were brought up. here's my petition can we please get a break from everything being a series??? please.
the plot twists pissed me off and i will leave this a spoiler free review so if you want spoilers click here
the whole plot with bryn's brother was lowk kinda confusing bc he was important but we don't really know why (but we also do) and hes just there, love him but he needs a spine im sorry. anyways hopefully he has redemption in the next book
bryn
she was ok, not amazing as an fmc but stood her ground lowk had no personality but that was kinda her personality.
oberst
i'm sorry, i mean this in no offense but when this man was first introduced i thought he was like a grandpa. yeah my bad bruh, but his name is fricking oberst. like not to name shame he's just giving...like...idk...he's from germany and he's about to heil hitler me. great image imo (sarcasm is high). like i didn't hate him, but he was an absoloute lowk jerk? like "how does she not know i like her"
idk bruh, maybe bc you beat up her brother? and maybe because you were a jerk to her? and maybe it's giving enemies but enemies bc ur her literally commanding officer and general thing? is???it???not??clocking??to??you??that??im??standing??on??business?? bc if i met this potato of a man i would probably hit him with a 50 inch tv. i don't have one, but if i did i would. he has no substence
ash
this man probably plays the bass in real life (stealing this from a friend) he probably is an emo rockstar (that's offensive to the emos to be lumped with him im sorry). he pissed me off so freaking bad. id have killed him when bryn had the chance too. maybe im the cold hearted one tbh. he has no personality aside from being a flirty egotistical "reaper"im sorry.
romance
i. cant. stand. love. triangles. written. like. this. there end of story. here i'll map out the romance for you.
bryn has no feelings. bryn doesnt know how to feel about oberst when she sees him bc her heart feels funky (mine too whenever i see men i feel funky bc they are just there and im like pls leave). bryn meets ash. ash flirts. bryn almost kills ash. bryn and ash start a relationship. bryn and ash "do it'" on the battlefield. what's more romantic than doing the deed while the world is lowk ending ?? oberst shows up. bryn doesnt know what to do. end of book.
wow.
i need more of poe btw, he pmo but he was hilarious and i'd love his pov but instead we got the two dudes pov's in third person !?!? THIRD PERSON!? like keep the whole book third person or write their's as first person.
anyways! end of rant! overall a slay book bc yay dystopian but also idk conflicted thoughts
review to come when i (the firstborn and only child of my parents) decide to cajole my thoughts
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Had to sit on my feelings for a day before I felt like I could put into words all the emotions this book made me feel. I ripped through this. I'm obsessed with this world and these characters - although, as a fellow firstborn child, I would not survive in this world. Firstborn is a dystopian romantasy where birth order determines your fate. This story has teeth and it grips you, chews you up, and spits you back out a little broken. At its core this is a story about the fierceness of the bond family, a story of power and corruption and control. Love for a sibling, something the government has essentially tried to root out, is so pure and vicious that it pushes Bryn to challenge her beliefs of what is right, to leave the safety of what is accepted and known. The worldbuilding flows so seamlessly as the story progresses, and we get several POVs (although it is mainly told from Bryn's POV), which I loved because I, as a reader, got a clearer understanding of what was happening even if the characters themselves were in the dark. The characters (and there's kind of a lot of them??) are nicely developed, I felt connected to them and want to protect everyone at all costs.
The main thing I struggled with: the last ~15% of the book. For a number of reasons (this gets spoilery, beware!). It felt like things were happening and I kept having to go back and try to understand WHAT was happening and WHY they were happening. I don't quite understand the "romance" between Oberst and Bryn, it felt like it was breezed over, and we see no real chemistry between them, it is just an expectation that they have weird, complicated feelings for each other (heavy emphasis on complicated, I could never). Sometimes it felt like characters figured answers out too easily (what do you mean Asa just GUESSED Bryn's exact plan? What do you mean Bryn and Poe and Ash just happened to be at the right place at the right time and stumble into overhearing treachery??). Sometimes characters did things and I was left baffled why a decision was made (How does Poe following his blood song equate to them finding Wren? Speaking of Wren, I'm so confused what happened with her? Bryn just gave up on finding her again after she vanished at the end -or did she actually escape, this wasn't explained well- because of the shocking information that Ash gave her... after EVERYTHING she did to get to her??).
This book was so close to being a 5-star read for me but dipped at the end because I found myself getting so frustrated. Overall, this was still such an incredible book and one I'll be thinking about for a really long time. I can't wait for the next book in this series! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!
The main thing I struggled with: the last ~15% of the book. For a number of reasons (this gets spoilery, beware!). It felt like things were happening and I kept having to go back and try to understand WHAT was happening and WHY they were happening. I don't quite understand the "romance" between Oberst and Bryn, it felt like it was breezed over, and we see no real chemistry between them, it is just an expectation that they have weird, complicated feelings for each other (heavy emphasis on complicated, I could never). Sometimes it felt like characters figured answers out too easily (what do you mean Asa just GUESSED Bryn's exact plan? What do you mean Bryn and Poe and Ash just happened to be at the right place at the right time and stumble into overhearing treachery??). Sometimes characters did things and I was left baffled why a decision was made (How does Poe following his blood song equate to them finding Wren? Speaking of Wren, I'm so confused what happened with her? Bryn just gave up on finding her again after she vanished at the end -or did she actually escape, this wasn't explained well- because of the shocking information that Ash gave her... after EVERYTHING she did to get to her??).
This book was so close to being a 5-star read for me but dipped at the end because I found myself getting so frustrated. Overall, this was still such an incredible book and one I'll be thinking about for a really long time. I can't wait for the next book in this series! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DUE TO EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT THIS NOVEL SHOULD NOT BE SOLD AS YOUNG ADULT!
I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of Firstborn via Netgalley because this story has a fabulous hook, and with it being promoted as Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing (both books I love!) I was eager to dip in!
Although the writing is strong and the world building and plot deliver some Hunger Games vibes, please be warned that the romance is not Katniss and Peeta sweet, it is lust driven and culminates in on the page and explicit sex in a steamy barn scene that belongs in an adult novel, not a book marketed to children! I had difficulty pinpointing the FMC's exact age (which I believe is intentional), but if the FMC is a minor, I believe it is quite problematic to read an explicit sex scene involving a minor, and if she's older than 18, this book clearly belongs in the New Adult section, not shelved where kids as young as 12 are likely to pick it up and read it with zero idea of what they will be exposed to without their consent.
The back copy of the ARC states Firstborn is a YA/NA romantasy targeted to ages 16 and up with a "high heat" romance. Anything described as "high heat" should NOT be sold by a children's imprint and placed on a general YA shelf.
The flurry of negative reviews for the book Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz indicate readers of YA are not receptive to explicit sexual content in YA novels. Spoiler: it wasn't just the threesome, necrophilia, and non consent in Sibylline that enraged readers--it was the presence of spicy content in a kids book! Given the disgust we all feel over the epstn list and children being horrifically exploited and abused, I hope authors and publishers will realize how desperately readers want the YA shelf to return to a safer place that's protected from explicit content. Where kids can be kids instead of reading a spicy sex scene from first person POV.
I reached out to the author privately (she's amazing and was very gracious and she herself has been promoting this book as crossover and not YA) and she said she'd forward my feedback to her publisher. I sincerely hope they consider rebranding this book as New Adult and removing the YA marketing entirely.
If you want a dystopian novel with a plot reminiscent of the Hunger Games and a romance that brings some Fourth Wings vibes, this is likely a book you'll enjoy, however, due to the explicit on page sex I personally believe it is inappropriate for readers under the age of 18.
I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of Firstborn via Netgalley because this story has a fabulous hook, and with it being promoted as Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing (both books I love!) I was eager to dip in!
Although the writing is strong and the world building and plot deliver some Hunger Games vibes, please be warned that the romance is not Katniss and Peeta sweet, it is lust driven and culminates in on the page and explicit sex in a steamy barn scene that belongs in an adult novel, not a book marketed to children! I had difficulty pinpointing the FMC's exact age (which I believe is intentional), but if the FMC is a minor, I believe it is quite problematic to read an explicit sex scene involving a minor, and if she's older than 18, this book clearly belongs in the New Adult section, not shelved where kids as young as 12 are likely to pick it up and read it with zero idea of what they will be exposed to without their consent.
The back copy of the ARC states Firstborn is a YA/NA romantasy targeted to ages 16 and up with a "high heat" romance. Anything described as "high heat" should NOT be sold by a children's imprint and placed on a general YA shelf.
The flurry of negative reviews for the book Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz indicate readers of YA are not receptive to explicit sexual content in YA novels. Spoiler: it wasn't just the threesome, necrophilia, and non consent in Sibylline that enraged readers--it was the presence of spicy content in a kids book! Given the disgust we all feel over the epstn list and children being horrifically exploited and abused, I hope authors and publishers will realize how desperately readers want the YA shelf to return to a safer place that's protected from explicit content. Where kids can be kids instead of reading a spicy sex scene from first person POV.
I reached out to the author privately (she's amazing and was very gracious and she herself has been promoting this book as crossover and not YA) and she said she'd forward my feedback to her publisher. I sincerely hope they consider rebranding this book as New Adult and removing the YA marketing entirely.
If you want a dystopian novel with a plot reminiscent of the Hunger Games and a romance that brings some Fourth Wings vibes, this is likely a book you'll enjoy, however, due to the explicit on page sex I personally believe it is inappropriate for readers under the age of 18.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
The concept here was really great. In this dystopian world your entire life is determined for you simply by which order you were born into your family.
We enter a bit of a Handmaid's situation where the mother of a successful Firstborn (one tested and found with potential) is then bred (with random fathers) to deliver a Midborn and a Lastborn, each serving a purpose in this society. No one seems to care all that much about the mothers once they serve that purpose. And every woman, Firstborn at least, is expected to eventually fulfill that role.
Predetermined at birth you are:
Firstborn-Soldier
Midborn-Academic
Lastborn-Taken from the family at a certain age for some sketchy purpose, usually never to be seen again
The idea of family, a topic that tends to be important in many romantasy/fantasy series is twisted here, in a really creative way. Children are separated from their families early and are encouraged to forget them or forsake them, whichever comes first. All loyalty is owed to the state.
The FMC, Bryn, is a Firstborn and we start the book with a bang, right at the beginning of the trial which will determine whether she is good enough to take on the red cloak of the Firstborn legion. Of course, at the start, Bryn is the odds on favorite to win the entire trial...but she has her secrets that could jeapordize this future. (I found this kill or be killed situation a tad wasteful of all of those potential Firstborns, but devious governments always have their reasons, right?)
Magic and Magic wielders are the enemy and we follow Bryn's journey as she begins (with the help of some mortal enemies-or are they?) to see the real cracks in the system. The book lost me a bit with the backstory on the separation between the countries and the reasons behind it, but I think more will come on that as the series progresses.
There is a love triangle (enemy on one side and Firstborn on the other), although I am definitely rooting for the villain in this one...
I assume the next two books will be Midborn and Lastborn, and I am looking forward to those.
A really strong start to a series.
The concept here was really great. In this dystopian world your entire life is determined for you simply by which order you were born into your family.
We enter a bit of a Handmaid's situation where the mother of a successful Firstborn (one tested and found with potential) is then bred (with random fathers) to deliver a Midborn and a Lastborn, each serving a purpose in this society. No one seems to care all that much about the mothers once they serve that purpose. And every woman, Firstborn at least, is expected to eventually fulfill that role.
Predetermined at birth you are:
Firstborn-Soldier
Midborn-Academic
Lastborn-Taken from the family at a certain age for some sketchy purpose, usually never to be seen again
The idea of family, a topic that tends to be important in many romantasy/fantasy series is twisted here, in a really creative way. Children are separated from their families early and are encouraged to forget them or forsake them, whichever comes first. All loyalty is owed to the state.
The FMC, Bryn, is a Firstborn and we start the book with a bang, right at the beginning of the trial which will determine whether she is good enough to take on the red cloak of the Firstborn legion. Of course, at the start, Bryn is the odds on favorite to win the entire trial...but she has her secrets that could jeapordize this future. (I found this kill or be killed situation a tad wasteful of all of those potential Firstborns, but devious governments always have their reasons, right?)
Magic and Magic wielders are the enemy and we follow Bryn's journey as she begins (with the help of some mortal enemies-or are they?) to see the real cracks in the system. The book lost me a bit with the backstory on the separation between the countries and the reasons behind it, but I think more will come on that as the series progresses.
There is a love triangle (enemy on one side and Firstborn on the other), although I am definitely rooting for the villain in this one...
I assume the next two books will be Midborn and Lastborn, and I am looking forward to those.
A really strong start to a series.
April 9, 2026
This fantastic debut had me immediately intrigued with the opening blurb of a world where:
The firstborn take up arms.
The midborn take up books.
The last born are taken.
I was hooked!
I loved the birth order system and truly the whole premise of this book. I felt engaged the whole time and kept wanting to pick it up as soon as I could.
I will say it did feel like Bryn was in slow motion for the first few chapters as you dive into her world. I understand the author’s intent to equip the reader with all the background info and explanations for things that are occurring as she’s on her way to the Long Night. But I remember thinking, just get me to the long night already! I do think the book flows super well following that.
I had a few concerns that are addressed below in my spoilers section.
Overall this was an awesome first book from M.J. Hastings and I’m really looking forward to the next one to see how the story continues!
Thank you NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for the arc to review!
**************************************
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
***************************************
Don’t keep reading if you haven’t read!
***************************************
The magic system was intriguing and for the most part things added up but I remember a couple of scenes where I felt things were glossed over. For example the amazing high stakes ending didn’t involve the same caliber of intense weapons used in previous chapters as they were escaping. Also the scene with the last borns dancing under moonlight describes the children being watched by the ominous Sisters so I’m still confused as to how nothing seemed amiss when she waltzed her way to her sister.
I would have loved a few more flashback scenes to support the B and O romance (especially from B’s perspective other than the “little sparrow” story) as it felt one sided and came off a bit like trauma bonding. Or the scene where he’s dropping her off right before the Long Night and she tells him “she’ll see him in hell”, I was already in the mindset that there wasn’t any mutual affection. It was a bit of a shock when she delivers her love confession in the end.
The firstborn take up arms.
The midborn take up books.
The last born are taken.
I was hooked!
I loved the birth order system and truly the whole premise of this book. I felt engaged the whole time and kept wanting to pick it up as soon as I could.
I will say it did feel like Bryn was in slow motion for the first few chapters as you dive into her world. I understand the author’s intent to equip the reader with all the background info and explanations for things that are occurring as she’s on her way to the Long Night. But I remember thinking, just get me to the long night already! I do think the book flows super well following that.
I had a few concerns that are addressed below in my spoilers section.
Overall this was an awesome first book from M.J. Hastings and I’m really looking forward to the next one to see how the story continues!
Thank you NetGalley and Stonefruit Studio for the arc to review!
**************************************
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
***************************************
Don’t keep reading if you haven’t read!
***************************************
The magic system was intriguing and for the most part things added up but I remember a couple of scenes where I felt things were glossed over. For example the amazing high stakes ending didn’t involve the same caliber of intense weapons used in previous chapters as they were escaping. Also the scene with the last borns dancing under moonlight describes the children being watched by the ominous Sisters so I’m still confused as to how nothing seemed amiss when she waltzed her way to her sister.
I would have loved a few more flashback scenes to support the B and O romance (especially from B’s perspective other than the “little sparrow” story) as it felt one sided and came off a bit like trauma bonding. Or the scene where he’s dropping her off right before the Long Night and she tells him “she’ll see him in hell”, I was already in the mindset that there wasn’t any mutual affection. It was a bit of a shock when she delivers her love confession in the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Has potential, but I was ultimately left slightly disappointed.
The beginning started strong. We're thrown into this world during a moment that is really fast-paced and exciting. I thought that the FMC, Bryn, had a really strong voice and personality, which I enjoyed. The first quarter or so of the book was setting up for "The Long Night," which is essentially like a Hunger Games-esque survival trial; however, the actual event only lasted like three chapters. So all of that build-up felt like it was for nothing.
The romance developed really quickly, but I found most of their interactions to be genuine. The main issue I have is that, while the characters are in their 20s, this book is being classified as Young Adult and contains an open-door sex scene. I'm a smutty smut smut reader, I enjoy spice in books, but open-door scenes have no business being in Young Adult books. If anything, this book should instead be marketed as New Adult or Adult, definitely not Young Adult.
I also had a hard time when new POVs were introduced. Look, I loveee multi-POV books; however, I hate how each POV switches from first person to third person. The FMC's POV is written in first person, while the others are written in third. I don't have a preference when it comes to POV as long as it stays consistent throughout, which, in this case, it didn't. In my opinion, it was an odd choice to do this as it doesn't add anything to the story, but rather, takes away from it. This change disrupted the flow of the story for me, making it feel like two separate books (one happening in first, and one happening in third), so it was much harder for me to connect with the rest of the book.
Overall, I think a lot of people will enjoy this book as an easy, entertaining read. However, I'm still searching for five-star dystopian romance.
I received this book as an ARC on NetGalley to give an honest review. Thank you to Stonefruit Studios (Sourcebooks) for letting me give this book a chance!
The beginning started strong. We're thrown into this world during a moment that is really fast-paced and exciting. I thought that the FMC, Bryn, had a really strong voice and personality, which I enjoyed. The first quarter or so of the book was setting up for "The Long Night," which is essentially like a Hunger Games-esque survival trial; however, the actual event only lasted like three chapters. So all of that build-up felt like it was for nothing.
The romance developed really quickly, but I found most of their interactions to be genuine. The main issue I have is that, while the characters are in their 20s, this book is being classified as Young Adult and contains an open-door sex scene. I'm a smutty smut smut reader, I enjoy spice in books, but open-door scenes have no business being in Young Adult books. If anything, this book should instead be marketed as New Adult or Adult, definitely not Young Adult.
I also had a hard time when new POVs were introduced. Look, I loveee multi-POV books; however, I hate how each POV switches from first person to third person. The FMC's POV is written in first person, while the others are written in third. I don't have a preference when it comes to POV as long as it stays consistent throughout, which, in this case, it didn't. In my opinion, it was an odd choice to do this as it doesn't add anything to the story, but rather, takes away from it. This change disrupted the flow of the story for me, making it feel like two separate books (one happening in first, and one happening in third), so it was much harder for me to connect with the rest of the book.
Overall, I think a lot of people will enjoy this book as an easy, entertaining read. However, I'm still searching for five-star dystopian romance.
I received this book as an ARC on NetGalley to give an honest review. Thank you to Stonefruit Studios (Sourcebooks) for letting me give this book a chance!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstborn by M.J. Hastings is an epic dystopian romantasy with a premise that immediately hooks you. In this world, your entire life is decided the moment you are born. Firstborns are trained to be soldiers and take up arms, secondborns become scholars and take up books, and thirdborns are taken away.
Our protagonist, Bryn Ruelle, is a Firstborn facing her final trial. To graduate and defend her country, she must take a life or face exile. But Bryn has never killed before. Just as the pressure reaches its peak, she uncovers a plot that threatens her youngest sister. To save her, she has to team up with an enemy, she must choose between loyalty to her nation and protecting the family she loves.
The concept of society being strictly divided by birth order is brilliant and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed seeing how the government controls information, rewrites history, and tries to brainwash its people. Watching Bryn slowly uncover the truth and deconstruct everything she believes in felt very powerful.
The world-building and plot definitely give off major Hunger Games vibes, which fits perfectly with how the book is marketed as a mix of Hunger Games and Forth Wings. The writing is strong, the pacing is quite fast, and the tension keeps you turning pages. The dynamic between Bryn and her love interest is full of chemistry, danger, and forbidden desire.
While the story feels much like a Young Adult dystopian adventure in terms of plot and world-building, there is one important thing to mention: the romance includes explicit scenes.
In my opinion, this moment feels more suited to an Adult or New Adult fiction novel rather than a YA novel. I honestly don't recommend this book for young adult readers. If you are an Adult and you're looking for a strictly clean read, you might want to be aware of that before diving in.
Despite the romance feeling too mature for the genre, the story itself is gripping, imaginative, and full of action. If you like political intrigue, strong female leads, and intense romance, pick this up!
Our protagonist, Bryn Ruelle, is a Firstborn facing her final trial. To graduate and defend her country, she must take a life or face exile. But Bryn has never killed before. Just as the pressure reaches its peak, she uncovers a plot that threatens her youngest sister. To save her, she has to team up with an enemy, she must choose between loyalty to her nation and protecting the family she loves.
The concept of society being strictly divided by birth order is brilliant and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed seeing how the government controls information, rewrites history, and tries to brainwash its people. Watching Bryn slowly uncover the truth and deconstruct everything she believes in felt very powerful.
The world-building and plot definitely give off major Hunger Games vibes, which fits perfectly with how the book is marketed as a mix of Hunger Games and Forth Wings. The writing is strong, the pacing is quite fast, and the tension keeps you turning pages. The dynamic between Bryn and her love interest is full of chemistry, danger, and forbidden desire.
While the story feels much like a Young Adult dystopian adventure in terms of plot and world-building, there is one important thing to mention: the romance includes explicit scenes.
In my opinion, this moment feels more suited to an Adult or New Adult fiction novel rather than a YA novel. I honestly don't recommend this book for young adult readers. If you are an Adult and you're looking for a strictly clean read, you might want to be aware of that before diving in.
Despite the romance feeling too mature for the genre, the story itself is gripping, imaginative, and full of action. If you like political intrigue, strong female leads, and intense romance, pick this up!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a nice read, and I am dying to get to the next book! Unfortunately for me, I got this ARC from the publisher months before the release date…
The beginning is pretty tough to get through. It’s a huge info dump, and the times when it is not doing that, you have to read about the FMC (Bryn) being an angsty loner. Even with the info dump, the general pre-plot timeline is kind of confusing, and I found myself lost when characters were referencing past events throughout the book.
An interesting aspect of this book is that while it skews towards dystopian, it’s kind of a “new” dystopia, in that the current world order has only been around for about 20 years. This lends itself to some interesting plot points throughout the book, but some of the things mentioned (such as the severe prejudice of the people) seem like the timeline should’ve longer for these things to take root.
I appreciate that as a dystopian-type book, its general message isn’t just that government is bad and oppressive. Overcoming government-instilled prejudice and brainwashing are at the forefront, though it is a bit clumsily handled since it is mostly through the lens of our angsty FMC. I really liked that the book also placed an emphasis on the bonds between family and how those are important, in different ways for each character.
I found the worldbuilding interesting, with “craft” being a sort of science-based anti-magic. It creates a lot of interesting and unpredictable scenarios, and I appreciate that it also gives a plausible reason behind some of the modern technology.
There are a few frustrating things, such as how Bryn goes to an illegal brothel to get secret information and gives out her real name plus removes her disguise once there. She’s supposed to be the top soldier and code-breaker in her year, and she does that?
The romance seems a little fast for the end point, especially since half of the time the two MC’s are fighting for their lives. On top of that, the book wants to play with a love triangle, but I did not see any chemistry on Bryn’s side with Oberst. It would’ve been better if it was a one-sided, creepy obsession with her rather than a side of a love triangle.
Also, I really hate when authors try to use terms they don’t understand. Before getting to the wastes, they refer to it as being radioactive. However, the author starts using terms about the supposed radiation that are not quite right. Such as saying a piece of tech will encounter radioactive decay, which is not what they meant at all. It should’ve been “the technology is susceptible to radiation damage” or “degradation”. There are a few other times this happens. The author should have used something other than describing it as radiation for the wastes. Later mentioned as magical toxicity rather than radiation, which is much better, but they shouldn’t have said radiation to begin with.
The beginning is pretty tough to get through. It’s a huge info dump, and the times when it is not doing that, you have to read about the FMC (Bryn) being an angsty loner. Even with the info dump, the general pre-plot timeline is kind of confusing, and I found myself lost when characters were referencing past events throughout the book.
An interesting aspect of this book is that while it skews towards dystopian, it’s kind of a “new” dystopia, in that the current world order has only been around for about 20 years. This lends itself to some interesting plot points throughout the book, but some of the things mentioned (such as the severe prejudice of the people) seem like the timeline should’ve longer for these things to take root.
I appreciate that as a dystopian-type book, its general message isn’t just that government is bad and oppressive. Overcoming government-instilled prejudice and brainwashing are at the forefront, though it is a bit clumsily handled since it is mostly through the lens of our angsty FMC. I really liked that the book also placed an emphasis on the bonds between family and how those are important, in different ways for each character.
I found the worldbuilding interesting, with “craft” being a sort of science-based anti-magic. It creates a lot of interesting and unpredictable scenarios, and I appreciate that it also gives a plausible reason behind some of the modern technology.
There are a few frustrating things, such as how Bryn goes to an illegal brothel to get secret information and gives out her real name plus removes her disguise once there. She’s supposed to be the top soldier and code-breaker in her year, and she does that?
The romance seems a little fast for the end point, especially since half of the time the two MC’s are fighting for their lives. On top of that, the book wants to play with a love triangle, but I did not see any chemistry on Bryn’s side with Oberst. It would’ve been better if it was a one-sided, creepy obsession with her rather than a side of a love triangle.
Also, I really hate when authors try to use terms they don’t understand. Before getting to the wastes, they refer to it as being radioactive. However, the author starts using terms about the supposed radiation that are not quite right. Such as saying a piece of tech will encounter radioactive decay, which is not what they meant at all. It should’ve been “the technology is susceptible to radiation damage” or “degradation”. There are a few other times this happens. The author should have used something other than describing it as radiation for the wastes. Later mentioned as magical toxicity rather than radiation, which is much better, but they shouldn’t have said radiation to begin with.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
NET GALLEY ARC
4.5 star read
This is an amazing debut!!! Wow!
Birth determines your place within the world.
Firstborn - a soldier
Midborn -the academic
Last born - are taken
A war is being fought against those who wield magic. Or is it?
In a kingdom so against magic, they do like to twist it so it’s not technically the magic they are so against.
The people have been told it’s magic that is the evil.
Bryn discovers the truth.
Bryn is a firstborn, her brother Asa is midborn, and her sister Wren is a last born.
The journey Bryn takes is one that’s personal and changes everything she’s ever known. Not only that, it changes her.
It’s full of vengeance, violence, and action from the very first page.
The world building is complex, yet it’s immersive and intricate. The five POVs give a full experience of every part of the world as the characters are in different areas. It makes it feel complete and helps understand the way the things are working together, which further enhances the fullness of the world building.
Some POVs aren’t as rich and full as others, but Bryn’s was great! I loved reading about her and her development.
The romance is a great touch and adds a softness to Bryn. The love triangle is subtle; it doesn’t overwhelm the story. I loved the fact that we got to experience the inner dialogue of each character; it brought more depth to the romance. This is definitely more of a plot first, romance second read. And I loved that! There is spice, but I don’t feel it was needed; it wasn’t bad though.
I need to say, Poe is an amazing character, I loved him!! He’s witty and my kind of petty. He was a great addition to the story. He is definitely a standout character!
The magic system is interesting, and I felt it had a feel of the Shadow Hunters as runes are a key component.
The book is gripping, and the second half is addictive; I struggled to put it down.
Divergent, Cassandra Clare, Hunger Games, and Fourth Wing fans, you’ll love this!
4.5 star read
This is an amazing debut!!! Wow!
Birth determines your place within the world.
Firstborn - a soldier
Midborn -the academic
Last born - are taken
A war is being fought against those who wield magic. Or is it?
In a kingdom so against magic, they do like to twist it so it’s not technically the magic they are so against.
The people have been told it’s magic that is the evil.
Bryn discovers the truth.
Bryn is a firstborn, her brother Asa is midborn, and her sister Wren is a last born.
The journey Bryn takes is one that’s personal and changes everything she’s ever known. Not only that, it changes her.
It’s full of vengeance, violence, and action from the very first page.
The world building is complex, yet it’s immersive and intricate. The five POVs give a full experience of every part of the world as the characters are in different areas. It makes it feel complete and helps understand the way the things are working together, which further enhances the fullness of the world building.
Some POVs aren’t as rich and full as others, but Bryn’s was great! I loved reading about her and her development.
The romance is a great touch and adds a softness to Bryn. The love triangle is subtle; it doesn’t overwhelm the story. I loved the fact that we got to experience the inner dialogue of each character; it brought more depth to the romance. This is definitely more of a plot first, romance second read. And I loved that! There is spice, but I don’t feel it was needed; it wasn’t bad though.
I need to say, Poe is an amazing character, I loved him!! He’s witty and my kind of petty. He was a great addition to the story. He is definitely a standout character!
The magic system is interesting, and I felt it had a feel of the Shadow Hunters as runes are a key component.
The book is gripping, and the second half is addictive; I struggled to put it down.
Divergent, Cassandra Clare, Hunger Games, and Fourth Wing fans, you’ll love this!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book Review: Firstborn by MJ Hastings
Firstborn builds an interesting premise around a society where birth order determines your role, with firstborns like Bryn trained to fight and serve without question. As she approaches her final test, she begins to realize the system isn’t as straightforward or honorable as she’s been told, especially as the truth about what happens to lastborns starts to surface.
The plot itself is fairly simple at its core. Bryn uncovers that the system is built on controlled information and hidden motives, with figures like the Reaper complicating the idea that lastborns simply disappear. Her supposed death, and the way her brother Asa is misled, reinforces how tightly everything is managed and shaped by propaganda. It’s also implied that her family is made up of powerful magic wielders, which adds another layer to her importance. The connection between Ash and the Reaper adds further tension, especially as he becomes her primary love interest.
The book is divided into three parts and told through multiple POVs, which should add depth but often contributes to the uneven pacing. There is a heavy amount of internal monologue and repeated emotional processing, while actual plot developments are delivered in short bursts of dialogue. It creates a strange reading experience where it feels like a lot is happening, but the story itself moves very slowly.
That said, there are still standout elements. Poe, as one of the most powerful Arcanists, is easily one of the more compelling characters and adds some needed intrigue to the world. The worldbuilding overall is interesting, and it doesn’t feel like a standalone. There are too many open threads and not quite enough resolution for this to read as a complete story. It comes across more like the setup for something larger, which may work better depending on where the series goes next.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Firstborn builds an interesting premise around a society where birth order determines your role, with firstborns like Bryn trained to fight and serve without question. As she approaches her final test, she begins to realize the system isn’t as straightforward or honorable as she’s been told, especially as the truth about what happens to lastborns starts to surface.
The plot itself is fairly simple at its core. Bryn uncovers that the system is built on controlled information and hidden motives, with figures like the Reaper complicating the idea that lastborns simply disappear. Her supposed death, and the way her brother Asa is misled, reinforces how tightly everything is managed and shaped by propaganda. It’s also implied that her family is made up of powerful magic wielders, which adds another layer to her importance. The connection between Ash and the Reaper adds further tension, especially as he becomes her primary love interest.
The book is divided into three parts and told through multiple POVs, which should add depth but often contributes to the uneven pacing. There is a heavy amount of internal monologue and repeated emotional processing, while actual plot developments are delivered in short bursts of dialogue. It creates a strange reading experience where it feels like a lot is happening, but the story itself moves very slowly.
That said, there are still standout elements. Poe, as one of the most powerful Arcanists, is easily one of the more compelling characters and adds some needed intrigue to the world. The worldbuilding overall is interesting, and it doesn’t feel like a standalone. There are too many open threads and not quite enough resolution for this to read as a complete story. It comes across more like the setup for something larger, which may work better depending on where the series goes next.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**ARC provided by Stonefruit Studio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I can’t believe this was a debut novel for MJ Hastings, what a start!! I hope this storyline is intended to be turned into a duology or trilogy. Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing is definitely the way to market this.
Most importantly: I love the concept of this world. Each child has a chosen date based on their birth order and Bryn Ruelle is here to bring the system crashing down. I liked how the magic system was portrayed in a way that didn’t feel complicated to the reader, especially when there were so many nuances to who can have magic and why.
What I liked:
-Bryn is such a complicated character, in the best way. However, I think the other major characters, Ash and Poe, were even more beautifully written. I will be thinking about the complexities of their past for a long time.
-The political system is so complicated, but relatively easy for the reader to understand as they go along. Even though there are a ton of plot twists in the end on which side is truly at fault for the tensions, I didn’t find myself lost
What I didn’t like as much:
-I wish there had been more back story on the Ruelle siblings. Bryn is constantly talking about the need to save her sister, but I didn’t really get the “why” behind it… she said she wasn’t close with her siblings at times, and then there are paragraphs that talk about them being close when they were little. It was just a little inconsistent, enough for me to be confused at times.
-the ending felt rushed. SO MANY PLOT TWISTS happen in the last 15% of the book. I didn’t see the majority of these twists coming, and I felt like they were very well chosen. However, Bryn needed more time to find out the truth of what her country has been doing to the Lastborn.
Overall I really liked this book. I am giving it 3 ⭐️s mainly due to the pacing at the end. I can’t wait for the next book by this incredible author!!
I can’t believe this was a debut novel for MJ Hastings, what a start!! I hope this storyline is intended to be turned into a duology or trilogy. Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing is definitely the way to market this.
Most importantly: I love the concept of this world. Each child has a chosen date based on their birth order and Bryn Ruelle is here to bring the system crashing down. I liked how the magic system was portrayed in a way that didn’t feel complicated to the reader, especially when there were so many nuances to who can have magic and why.
What I liked:
-Bryn is such a complicated character, in the best way. However, I think the other major characters, Ash and Poe, were even more beautifully written. I will be thinking about the complexities of their past for a long time.
-The political system is so complicated, but relatively easy for the reader to understand as they go along. Even though there are a ton of plot twists in the end on which side is truly at fault for the tensions, I didn’t find myself lost
What I didn’t like as much:
-I wish there had been more back story on the Ruelle siblings. Bryn is constantly talking about the need to save her sister, but I didn’t really get the “why” behind it… she said she wasn’t close with her siblings at times, and then there are paragraphs that talk about them being close when they were little. It was just a little inconsistent, enough for me to be confused at times.
-the ending felt rushed. SO MANY PLOT TWISTS happen in the last 15% of the book. I didn’t see the majority of these twists coming, and I felt like they were very well chosen. However, Bryn needed more time to find out the truth of what her country has been doing to the Lastborn.
Overall I really liked this book. I am giving it 3 ⭐️s mainly due to the pacing at the end. I can’t wait for the next book by this incredible author!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of Firstborn in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a really strong premise, with an interesting world and the potential for complex dynamics between the Dursti and the Arcanist. However, it didn’t fully work for me.
One of my main issues was the pacing. There is a heavy focus on dialogue, especially in the first half, with very little action or plot progression. This made it difficult to stay engaged, as it often felt like the story wasn’t moving forward.
I also found that the worldbuilding could have been handled better. The concepts of the Dursti and the Arcanist are intriguing, but I wish they had been explained more clearly and introduced earlier in the story. At times, I felt like I was trying to piece things together without enough context.
While the book does pick up somewhat later on, it wasn’t enough to fully draw me in. Overall, it has a good foundation and interesting ideas, but it didn’t quite manage to captivate me.
🇵🇹Este livro tinha uma premissa muito forte, com um mundo interessante e o potencial para dinâmicas complexas entre os Dursti e os Arcanist. No entanto, não funcionou completamente para mim.
Um dos meus principais problemas foi o ritmo. Há um foco excessivo em diálogos, especialmente na primeira metade, com pouca ação ou desenvolvimento. Isso dificultou manter o interesse, pois muitas vezes parecia que a história não avançava.
Também achei que a construção do mundo poderia ter sido melhor trabalhada. Os conceitos dos Dursti e dos Arcanist são intrigantes, mas gostaria que tivessem sido explicados com mais clareza e apresentados mais cedo na história. Às vezes, sentia que estava a tentar juntar as peças sem contexto suficiente.
Embora o livro melhore um pouco mais tarde, não foi o suficiente para me envolver completamente. No geral, tem uma boa base e ideias interessantes, mas não me cativou totalmente.
This book had a really strong premise, with an interesting world and the potential for complex dynamics between the Dursti and the Arcanist. However, it didn’t fully work for me.
One of my main issues was the pacing. There is a heavy focus on dialogue, especially in the first half, with very little action or plot progression. This made it difficult to stay engaged, as it often felt like the story wasn’t moving forward.
I also found that the worldbuilding could have been handled better. The concepts of the Dursti and the Arcanist are intriguing, but I wish they had been explained more clearly and introduced earlier in the story. At times, I felt like I was trying to piece things together without enough context.
While the book does pick up somewhat later on, it wasn’t enough to fully draw me in. Overall, it has a good foundation and interesting ideas, but it didn’t quite manage to captivate me.
🇵🇹Este livro tinha uma premissa muito forte, com um mundo interessante e o potencial para dinâmicas complexas entre os Dursti e os Arcanist. No entanto, não funcionou completamente para mim.
Um dos meus principais problemas foi o ritmo. Há um foco excessivo em diálogos, especialmente na primeira metade, com pouca ação ou desenvolvimento. Isso dificultou manter o interesse, pois muitas vezes parecia que a história não avançava.
Também achei que a construção do mundo poderia ter sido melhor trabalhada. Os conceitos dos Dursti e dos Arcanist são intrigantes, mas gostaria que tivessem sido explicados com mais clareza e apresentados mais cedo na história. Às vezes, sentia que estava a tentar juntar as peças sem contexto suficiente.
Embora o livro melhore um pouco mais tarde, não foi o suficiente para me envolver completamente. No geral, tem uma boa base e ideias interessantes, mas não me cativou totalmente.
May 2, 2026
”The first children take up arms. The second children take up books. The third children are taken.”
Bryn Ruelle must complete the Long Night, a final trial that firstborn soldiers must show they can take a life or face death.
What no one knows is that this will be Bryn’s first kill. Will she be able to complete this final trial, a trial she has been trained for since she was a child?
“There are no heroes in wars,” he said, eyes glittering. “There are only survivors.”
When Bryn gets a mysterious encrypted message that her sister Wren, a thirdborn, will be kidnap she’ll do everything in her power to keep her promise to her mother and protect her. She must work together with the enemy, a magician, to get her sister back. Will she be able to make it in time, or will it be too late? Can she truly trust Ash or even her heart?
“You were never the bird,” Ash whispered. “You were always the sky.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This has been one of the few Romantasy books I have read this year, and this did not disappoint!! I loved all the characters, even if I had a suspicious feeling about a few and their true intentions. But my love for Bryn was through the roof. I related to her, especially being the firstborn and wanting to protect my siblings. Bryn truly blossomed in this first book and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
The ending, I never saw coming, and I can’t wait for everything to be fully revealed and to see what will happen next for the siblings and for Bryn’s romance.
Thank you to M.J. Hastings, Stonefruit Studio, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Bryn Ruelle must complete the Long Night, a final trial that firstborn soldiers must show they can take a life or face death.
What no one knows is that this will be Bryn’s first kill. Will she be able to complete this final trial, a trial she has been trained for since she was a child?
“There are no heroes in wars,” he said, eyes glittering. “There are only survivors.”
When Bryn gets a mysterious encrypted message that her sister Wren, a thirdborn, will be kidnap she’ll do everything in her power to keep her promise to her mother and protect her. She must work together with the enemy, a magician, to get her sister back. Will she be able to make it in time, or will it be too late? Can she truly trust Ash or even her heart?
“You were never the bird,” Ash whispered. “You were always the sky.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This has been one of the few Romantasy books I have read this year, and this did not disappoint!! I loved all the characters, even if I had a suspicious feeling about a few and their true intentions. But my love for Bryn was through the roof. I related to her, especially being the firstborn and wanting to protect my siblings. Bryn truly blossomed in this first book and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
The ending, I never saw coming, and I can’t wait for everything to be fully revealed and to see what will happen next for the siblings and for Bryn’s romance.
Thank you to M.J. Hastings, Stonefruit Studio, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstborn by Firstborn pulled me in immediately with its immersive world-building, emotional tension, and addictive atmosphere. The writing style made it easy to sink into the story, and I especially enjoyed the darker fantasy elements and layered character dynamics. I’ve clearly been in my dystopian era lately, and this absolutely scratched that itch.
One of the strongest aspects for me was the tension between the characters. This is a true slow burn that tortures the reader in the best possible way. The emotional stakes felt real, and the story balanced intrigue, conflict, and vulnerability in a way that kept me turning pages.
That said, the pacing at the beginning felt very fast, and the world-building is complex enough that I occasionally had to reread sections to fully understand what was happening. Once the story settled into its rhythm after the first few chapters, though, I was completely invested.
I also loved the addition of Poe as a banter-heavy character to lighten some of the darker moments. Bryn and Ash were both incredibly endearing and tragic in their own ways, which made the emotional moments hit even harder. And that cliffhanger? Perfect. I’ll absolutely be continuing the series.
Overall, this was an engaging fantasy romance with compelling tension, strong emotional depth, and a dark, addictive vibe. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy romantasy, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, dystopian fantasy, morally gray characters, and emotionally intense fantasy worlds.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the strongest aspects for me was the tension between the characters. This is a true slow burn that tortures the reader in the best possible way. The emotional stakes felt real, and the story balanced intrigue, conflict, and vulnerability in a way that kept me turning pages.
That said, the pacing at the beginning felt very fast, and the world-building is complex enough that I occasionally had to reread sections to fully understand what was happening. Once the story settled into its rhythm after the first few chapters, though, I was completely invested.
I also loved the addition of Poe as a banter-heavy character to lighten some of the darker moments. Bryn and Ash were both incredibly endearing and tragic in their own ways, which made the emotional moments hit even harder. And that cliffhanger? Perfect. I’ll absolutely be continuing the series.
Overall, this was an engaging fantasy romance with compelling tension, strong emotional depth, and a dark, addictive vibe. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy romantasy, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, dystopian fantasy, morally gray characters, and emotionally intense fantasy worlds.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews