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Firstborn
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26In 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
16 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Hastings
1 book16 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.
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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 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
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
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 ?? 💗
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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
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 Publisher
I feel ill from how good this was. I literally could NOT put it down.
If you loved Hunger Games, Divergent, Red Queen, and want to find a dystopian that makes you feel like that again...this is it. It's fast-paced, propulsive, and there were plot twists that had me screaming.
The premise intrigued me from the start: a world where birth order determines your role/school. The eldest children become soldiers; the middle children become academics; the last children...disappear? This is all part of the nation's war efforts against those with magic, and the government's iron grip is everywhere. It is duty to nation first, not family.
Bryn is an 18 yr old eldest daughter, hard-headed, top of her class, purposefully distant to her younger siblings: Midborn Asa, the brilliant academic, and Lastborn Wren, the gentle but odd one of the family. But when Bryn discovers an enemy plot to kidnap the Lastborn, her path in life suddenly changes--and soon she'll discover how intimately her entire family is wrapped up in all that's gone wrong in this country.
I adored the surprising friendships she made along the way, especially with Poe! I really needed more of him and wish we had his POV in there. Romance wise, there is a steamy open-door scene, but I wouldn't say it's a romance-first novel. More fantasy dystopian first, with a romance subplot. I can see both older YA readers/New Adult readers loving this.
Thank you to BookCon for this galley, and I cannot wait to get a finished copy. I need people to read this so we can talk theories.
If you loved Hunger Games, Divergent, Red Queen, and want to find a dystopian that makes you feel like that again...this is it. It's fast-paced, propulsive, and there were plot twists that had me screaming.
The premise intrigued me from the start: a world where birth order determines your role/school. The eldest children become soldiers; the middle children become academics; the last children...disappear? This is all part of the nation's war efforts against those with magic, and the government's iron grip is everywhere. It is duty to nation first, not family.
Bryn is an 18 yr old eldest daughter, hard-headed, top of her class, purposefully distant to her younger siblings: Midborn Asa, the brilliant academic, and Lastborn Wren, the gentle but odd one of the family. But when Bryn discovers an enemy plot to kidnap the Lastborn, her path in life suddenly changes--and soon she'll discover how intimately her entire family is wrapped up in all that's gone wrong in this country.
I adored the surprising friendships she made along the way, especially with Poe! I really needed more of him and wish we had his POV in there. Romance wise, there is a steamy open-door scene, but I wouldn't say it's a romance-first novel. More fantasy dystopian first, with a romance subplot. I can see both older YA readers/New Adult readers loving this.
Thank you to BookCon for this galley, and I cannot wait to get a finished copy. I need people to read this so we can talk theories.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had high hopes going into Firstborn, but it completely exceeded them.
I’ve always had a soft spot for dystopian stories—I grew up on The Hunger Games and Divergent, so this genre will probably always have a special place in my heart. And Firstborn gave me that same addictive feeling all over again, while still bringing something fresh and exciting to the table.
The concept alone instantly hooked me—a world where your entire fate is decided by your birth order? From the very beginning, there’s this constant tension, this pressure that never really lets up, and it made the story incredibly hard to put down.
Bryn was such a compelling character to follow. I loved how she balanced strength and stubbornness with vulnerability—you could really feel the weight she carried in every decision she made. Watching her struggle between duty, family, and her own sense of right and wrong made her journey feel deeply emotional and real.
The pacing was so well done—I found myself flying through the pages without even realizing it. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would take another turn, and I was completely pulled back in. The twists kept me on edge, and by the end I was fully invested.
And the romance added exactly the kind of tension I love—complicated, charged, and full of that irresistible push-and-pull that makes everything even more intense.
This was such an immersive and addictive read, and such an easy five stars for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve always had a soft spot for dystopian stories—I grew up on The Hunger Games and Divergent, so this genre will probably always have a special place in my heart. And Firstborn gave me that same addictive feeling all over again, while still bringing something fresh and exciting to the table.
The concept alone instantly hooked me—a world where your entire fate is decided by your birth order? From the very beginning, there’s this constant tension, this pressure that never really lets up, and it made the story incredibly hard to put down.
Bryn was such a compelling character to follow. I loved how she balanced strength and stubbornness with vulnerability—you could really feel the weight she carried in every decision she made. Watching her struggle between duty, family, and her own sense of right and wrong made her journey feel deeply emotional and real.
The pacing was so well done—I found myself flying through the pages without even realizing it. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would take another turn, and I was completely pulled back in. The twists kept me on edge, and by the end I was fully invested.
And the romance added exactly the kind of tension I love—complicated, charged, and full of that irresistible push-and-pull that makes everything even more intense.
This was such an immersive and addictive read, and such an easy five stars for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2026
I really loved this story! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher/author for this ARC!
My biggest complaint was that it didn't read like a romantasy to me. There was little romance, little spice, and the plot wasn't really driven by romance in my opinion. But that it’s not a huge complaint, it was a great YA fantasy read!
The world was really well fleshed out! The magic system was fun! It felt like The Hunger Games but with blood magic instead of advanced science. I loved our main character. She was relatable and I rooted for her. I liked that she was strong and fierce but vulnerable and very soft as well. The plot twist ending was good so looking forward to the next book - I'm assuming that's happening anyway.
As far as romance - it took awhile for me personally to even get who the romantic character was. There were too many characters being introduced early on and each person was described as a big deal to me so I was confused. But I really liked him when he finally arrived. However, the romance writing felt a little uncomfortable/forced for me. The characters chemistry just fell flat at times. Ash however was great, just them together I was fully behind. This really made it harder to believe this should be called a romantasy as advertised.
Otherwise my only other complaint is the that the multiple POV switching did frustrate me at times. It took me out of the story and had it not slowed down I would have been less invested in the story.
It was a great first book in this story and thanks again for the ARC!
My biggest complaint was that it didn't read like a romantasy to me. There was little romance, little spice, and the plot wasn't really driven by romance in my opinion. But that it’s not a huge complaint, it was a great YA fantasy read!
The world was really well fleshed out! The magic system was fun! It felt like The Hunger Games but with blood magic instead of advanced science. I loved our main character. She was relatable and I rooted for her. I liked that she was strong and fierce but vulnerable and very soft as well. The plot twist ending was good so looking forward to the next book - I'm assuming that's happening anyway.
As far as romance - it took awhile for me personally to even get who the romantic character was. There were too many characters being introduced early on and each person was described as a big deal to me so I was confused. But I really liked him when he finally arrived. However, the romance writing felt a little uncomfortable/forced for me. The characters chemistry just fell flat at times. Ash however was great, just them together I was fully behind. This really made it harder to believe this should be called a romantasy as advertised.
Otherwise my only other complaint is the that the multiple POV switching did frustrate me at times. It took me out of the story and had it not slowed down I would have been less invested in the story.
It was a great first book in this story and thanks again for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It took me two weeks to finish this book because I took my time reading it. “Firstborn” is, in my opinion, a masterpiece. MJ Hastings brilliantly wove the lives of these characters together and the writing is so good that 95% of the storyline is completely unpredictable. From the beginning the twists and turns were fantastic and jaw dropping.
These characters started off so simple and the progressed wonderfully. The Ruelle siblings started off without a true familial bond because in Durst all siblings are separated into very different schools. The firstborn being Bryn Ruelle. Bryn was such a bad ass but also cowardly in many ways. By the end, she became THEE firstborn but much different from what the Dursti government intended. Then there is Asa, the “midborn,” he is a genius in so many ways. Asa gives Dr. Spencer Reid vibes with the way his mind worked. Finally…the baby or “lastborn,” Wren Ruelle. Wren physically looks nothing like her siblings with her shockingly white hair and pale skin but she inherited her siblings intelligence.
In this world wind of a book, we also have Oberst, Chancellor Minnick, Ash, Poe, Vida, the Durst Army, the magicians of Arcania and the Sisters of the Night. I don’t have enough time to explain the importance of every character but I can say that most of these characters are not what they seem. Anyone can be an enemy in Durst and Arcania.
I take my hat off to MJ Hastings because this book is officially my favorite book of the year. I will be counting down the days until the sequel drops.
These characters started off so simple and the progressed wonderfully. The Ruelle siblings started off without a true familial bond because in Durst all siblings are separated into very different schools. The firstborn being Bryn Ruelle. Bryn was such a bad ass but also cowardly in many ways. By the end, she became THEE firstborn but much different from what the Dursti government intended. Then there is Asa, the “midborn,” he is a genius in so many ways. Asa gives Dr. Spencer Reid vibes with the way his mind worked. Finally…the baby or “lastborn,” Wren Ruelle. Wren physically looks nothing like her siblings with her shockingly white hair and pale skin but she inherited her siblings intelligence.
In this world wind of a book, we also have Oberst, Chancellor Minnick, Ash, Poe, Vida, the Durst Army, the magicians of Arcania and the Sisters of the Night. I don’t have enough time to explain the importance of every character but I can say that most of these characters are not what they seem. Anyone can be an enemy in Durst and Arcania.
I take my hat off to MJ Hastings because this book is officially my favorite book of the year. I will be counting down the days until the sequel drops.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
Firstborn is marketed as a dystopian fantasy for fans of the Hunger Games and Fourth Wing. In some ways I think that will be true if you lean more as a fan of modern romantasy (Fourth Wing) versus YA dystopian from the 2000's (Hunger Games).
The world was interesting but so much was over explained. For example, being told the slur used for our main character is a slur... when it's a real, actual, modern day slur. We did not need to be told an insult is an insult. It made it really hard to get into the book at first and whether or not you feel it pays off to stick with it is largely going to depend on the reader.
At about the 30-40% marker, suddenly we get more POV's and while multiple POV's is fun and dandy, it's weird to shuffle them in so far into the book with such frequency.
I think marketing is doing this book a disservice trying to push it into the YA category versus new adult. Romance in YA is fine but this book was too open door for YA
As it stands now, there is no one in my life I would recommend this book to as it just doesn't fit squarely into any of my social circle's interests but I think if you still enjoy "TikTok romantasy" and want more of that feeling, this book is for you. There is nothing wrong with that but it is a vibe I have personally gotten burned out on. I do not know if I'll read a sequel but the world building is interesting enough that I would be open to reading one or more of M. J. Hastings' future works
Firstborn is marketed as a dystopian fantasy for fans of the Hunger Games and Fourth Wing. In some ways I think that will be true if you lean more as a fan of modern romantasy (Fourth Wing) versus YA dystopian from the 2000's (Hunger Games).
The world was interesting but so much was over explained. For example, being told the slur used for our main character is a slur... when it's a real, actual, modern day slur. We did not need to be told an insult is an insult. It made it really hard to get into the book at first and whether or not you feel it pays off to stick with it is largely going to depend on the reader.
At about the 30-40% marker, suddenly we get more POV's and while multiple POV's is fun and dandy, it's weird to shuffle them in so far into the book with such frequency.
I think marketing is doing this book a disservice trying to push it into the YA category versus new adult. Romance in YA is fine but this book was too open door for YA
As it stands now, there is no one in my life I would recommend this book to as it just doesn't fit squarely into any of my social circle's interests but I think if you still enjoy "TikTok romantasy" and want more of that feeling, this book is for you. There is nothing wrong with that but it is a vibe I have personally gotten burned out on. I do not know if I'll read a sequel but the world building is interesting enough that I would be open to reading one or more of M. J. Hastings' future works
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review
A massive thank you to M.J. Hastings, Stonefruit Studio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of Firstborn. I am obsessed, emotionally devastated and I need more of this story asap 🙌🔥
Firstborn is an incredible NA fantasy in a dystopian world where birth order determines your path in life and defiance is deadly. In this book, we follow a stubborn, feisty and equally vulnerable FMC, Bryn Ruelle. She is an eldest sibling whose path as a Firstborn in Durst is to take up arms against the magic-wielding neighbour country, but soon discovers a plot to kidnap her youngest sibling and must work alongside a traitor-born enemy magic wielder.
Pitched as The Hunger Games x Fourth Wing, Firstborn lives up to the comparison and I would also consider it to have some Divergent vibes in there too. The world is complex, but M.J. Hastings makes it easy to understand through immersive worldbuilding and gripping prose. It is 400+ pages of fast-paced and high stakes adventure, tension and plot twists that will have your jaw to the floor! The last 15% of the book had me feeling whiplash from the constant twists, turns and emotional devastation. The cliffhanger though... I need book two like I need air!
You will love this book if you like:
- morally grey characters
- unique magic system
- who did this to you?''
- love triangle
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- secret identities.
A massive thank you to M.J. Hastings, Stonefruit Studio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of Firstborn. I am obsessed, emotionally devastated and I need more of this story asap 🙌🔥
Firstborn is an incredible NA fantasy in a dystopian world where birth order determines your path in life and defiance is deadly. In this book, we follow a stubborn, feisty and equally vulnerable FMC, Bryn Ruelle. She is an eldest sibling whose path as a Firstborn in Durst is to take up arms against the magic-wielding neighbour country, but soon discovers a plot to kidnap her youngest sibling and must work alongside a traitor-born enemy magic wielder.
Pitched as The Hunger Games x Fourth Wing, Firstborn lives up to the comparison and I would also consider it to have some Divergent vibes in there too. The world is complex, but M.J. Hastings makes it easy to understand through immersive worldbuilding and gripping prose. It is 400+ pages of fast-paced and high stakes adventure, tension and plot twists that will have your jaw to the floor! The last 15% of the book had me feeling whiplash from the constant twists, turns and emotional devastation. The cliffhanger though... I need book two like I need air!
You will love this book if you like:
- morally grey characters
- unique magic system
- who did this to you?''
- love triangle
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- secret identities.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“The first children take up arms.
The second children take up books.
The third children are taken.”
Firstborn by M.J. Hastings follows Bryn as she prepares to enter the Long Night where she is expected to take a life or be exiled. Passing the Long Night means becoming a soldier and joining the fight against the neighboring country of magic‑wielders. But as Bryn trains for the Long Night, she uncovers a plot to take the Lastborn. Fearing for her youngest sister, Wren, she finds herself torn between family and duty.
I really enjoyed a lot about this book and thought the execution was strong. The characters had compelling arcs, and the multi‑perspective structure which can often difficult to pull off did work well here. The world of Firstborn was fascinating, and I was excited to learn more about its history. The overall plot was engaging and kept me wondering where it would go next. I enjoyed most of it and only have a few small complaints.
I did feel that the choice of perspectives might have made more sense if we had access to a few additional points of view. I also wasn’t entirely sure about some characters’ ages (which could be on me), and that uncertainty made me hesitant about certain romances. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment after that ending.
“The first children take up arms.
The second children take up books.
The third children are taken.”
Firstborn by M.J. Hastings follows Bryn as she prepares to enter the Long Night where she is expected to take a life or be exiled. Passing the Long Night means becoming a soldier and joining the fight against the neighboring country of magic‑wielders. But as Bryn trains for the Long Night, she uncovers a plot to take the Lastborn. Fearing for her youngest sister, Wren, she finds herself torn between family and duty.
I really enjoyed a lot about this book and thought the execution was strong. The characters had compelling arcs, and the multi‑perspective structure which can often difficult to pull off did work well here. The world of Firstborn was fascinating, and I was excited to learn more about its history. The overall plot was engaging and kept me wondering where it would go next. I enjoyed most of it and only have a few small complaints.
I did feel that the choice of perspectives might have made more sense if we had access to a few additional points of view. I also wasn’t entirely sure about some characters’ ages (which could be on me), and that uncertainty made me hesitant about certain romances. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment after that ending.
Review of advance copy
"Going it alone doesn't mean you're stronger, it just means you're alone."
"You were never the bird, you were always the sky"
Wow, I don't even know what to say even though I took so many notes.
This story is the epitome of "Rules for thee and not for me."
A story about the choices made for those without an actual choice.
Having to give up any semblance of family or connection to siblings or anyone getting too close to you.
And self discovery and view of the world you were taught and indoctrinated into believing totally rocked and changing your entire life.
This really is like The Hunger Games except even crazier.
Our FMC's character development was unmatched and this entire story gripped and captivated me from the beginning.
There wasn't a single point where I was bored. The magic system was so unique.
The pacing felt perfect and beautifully written.
Side characters held so much importance and their place in the story was so wonderfully written. I loved almost every character.
Except Oberst he was a creeper.
Bryn and Ash's banter was so great and funny at points. Poe's addition to everything was such a good addition to their journey.
I cried, I felt empowered, I felt scared and angry for all involved. I was moved and touched in ways that stories don't often give.
This book and story is going to blow up and be a total hit and slam dunk, in my opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
"You were never the bird, you were always the sky"
Wow, I don't even know what to say even though I took so many notes.
This story is the epitome of "Rules for thee and not for me."
A story about the choices made for those without an actual choice.
Having to give up any semblance of family or connection to siblings or anyone getting too close to you.
And self discovery and view of the world you were taught and indoctrinated into believing totally rocked and changing your entire life.
This really is like The Hunger Games except even crazier.
Our FMC's character development was unmatched and this entire story gripped and captivated me from the beginning.
There wasn't a single point where I was bored. The magic system was so unique.
The pacing felt perfect and beautifully written.
Side characters held so much importance and their place in the story was so wonderfully written. I loved almost every character.
Except Oberst he was a creeper.
Bryn and Ash's banter was so great and funny at points. Poe's addition to everything was such a good addition to their journey.
I cried, I felt empowered, I felt scared and angry for all involved. I was moved and touched in ways that stories don't often give.
This book and story is going to blow up and be a total hit and slam dunk, in my opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark, moody, and magical - FIRSTBORN is a take-no-prisoners sort of book. I thought I was ready for the Long Night, where duty-bound Firstborn soldier Bryn Ruelle must kill or be killed, but this was only the beginning of an epic adventure that defied my expectations and urged me to climb on for an unforgettable ride.
While I appreciated the complex worldbuilding and enjoyed Hastings' gorgeous prose (including a fight scene that took my breath away!), my favorite aspect of the book was the magical system. I loved the employment of runes for both magic and craft. How they were utilized in quieter moments and during the action. And how they were manipulated and corrupted.
Bryn and her journey to rescue her sister was the main focus of this first book. Her motivation helped ground the character, her transformation, and the revelations she faces. There were also more POVs which gave us insights into the experiences and choices of other characters -- including Bryn's Midborn and Lastborn siblings. At one point in the book, the switching of POVs felt like a dance and led to one of the story's many plot twists.
The romance was electric and tied in well with Bryn's journey of connection and her awakening. Several steamy scenes make this book a strong YA Crossover as well as a solid read in the NA space.
Overall, Firstborn was a riveting romantasy that already has me impatient for book two. I can't wait to see what happens next!
While I appreciated the complex worldbuilding and enjoyed Hastings' gorgeous prose (including a fight scene that took my breath away!), my favorite aspect of the book was the magical system. I loved the employment of runes for both magic and craft. How they were utilized in quieter moments and during the action. And how they were manipulated and corrupted.
Bryn and her journey to rescue her sister was the main focus of this first book. Her motivation helped ground the character, her transformation, and the revelations she faces. There were also more POVs which gave us insights into the experiences and choices of other characters -- including Bryn's Midborn and Lastborn siblings. At one point in the book, the switching of POVs felt like a dance and led to one of the story's many plot twists.
The romance was electric and tied in well with Bryn's journey of connection and her awakening. Several steamy scenes make this book a strong YA Crossover as well as a solid read in the NA space.
Overall, Firstborn was a riveting romantasy that already has me impatient for book two. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was genuinely amazing! An incredible debut from M.J. Hastings with fast-paced chapters and a plot line that was unique and kept me hooked!
This book follows Bryn Ruelle, who is a Firstborn soldier, not to mention the highest-ranked soldier. Through an intense event called the Long Night, soldiers must prove themselves by taking a life. However, it does not go as planned for Bryn and soon enough, her life's flipped upside down.
From the beginning Bryn's character was clear. She had her motivations, a past and so much more. The world building wasn't all dumped on the first page and was spaced out incredibly well! Personally, this was such a great concept that should definitely be done more (ie. different children having different roles in society). Specifically, this plot line worked amazingly with the dystopian setting and romantasy elements. Overall, while I couldn't relate to any of the characters, I definitely connected to them through the occasional third person pov of a side character and Bryn's prominent point of view. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is craving that 2010's dystopian vibe mixed with the current trends of 2026. Additionally, I am definitely reading the next books, as this series will be complete as a trilogy!
This book follows Bryn Ruelle, who is a Firstborn soldier, not to mention the highest-ranked soldier. Through an intense event called the Long Night, soldiers must prove themselves by taking a life. However, it does not go as planned for Bryn and soon enough, her life's flipped upside down.
From the beginning Bryn's character was clear. She had her motivations, a past and so much more. The world building wasn't all dumped on the first page and was spaced out incredibly well! Personally, this was such a great concept that should definitely be done more (ie. different children having different roles in society). Specifically, this plot line worked amazingly with the dystopian setting and romantasy elements. Overall, while I couldn't relate to any of the characters, I definitely connected to them through the occasional third person pov of a side character and Bryn's prominent point of view. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is craving that 2010's dystopian vibe mixed with the current trends of 2026. Additionally, I am definitely reading the next books, as this series will be complete as a trilogy!
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