Fire Power: A Novel

by Mir Benitz

Fourth Wing meets Formula One in this enemies-to-lovers sports romantasy about a stubbornly ambitious dragon rider who goes up against her childhood friend turned racing rival in the ultimate dragon race.

The Silverscale Grand Prix is the national championship of dragon racing—a high-speed, often deadly, elite sport with an unimaginably big cash prize. 

Asta and her dragon Carmine are unlikely competitors. No sponsors, no high-tech gear, no fans out in the stands. Not to mention that a female rider hasn't won the Prix for nearly sixty years. The odds are stacked against them—but Asta is determined to prove everyone the training school that kicked her out for fighting a classmate, her family who wished she'd never left the farm, and, most of all, her infuriatingly arrogant childhood-best-friend-turned-rival Felix, the poster-boy heir to the Seraphin racing dynasty and reigning tournament champion.

Raw talent alone won't be enough to get Asta and Carmine through these races—and it soon becomes clear that the risks Asta has taken to get to Silverscale could have devastating consequences. Time to think fast, or die trying.

"Exhilarating, dangerous and a little bit sexy. The genre blend I didn't know I needed." —Hazel McBride, author of A Fate Forged in Fire

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dragons

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Mir Benitz writes about imperfect people adventuring into love. Also, dragons. She is an eclectic reader, a haphazard gardener, and an overly ambitious carpenter. At various points in her life, she has worked as a high school English teacher, a college instructor, a janitor, an editor, the executive director of a writing nonprofit, a landscaper, and an extra in one movie. She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and houseplants.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ARC Book Review✨

This book is described as F1 meets Fourth Wing, filled with dragon racing and romance.

I would say for the adventure and suspense of the dragon racing, I’d give this book a solid 4/5. The visual imagery made the races feel so exciting. The competition surrounding the races was entertaining and addictive. I also really liked her dragon, Carmine.

The romance between Asta and Felix, however, is a 2/5 for me. I just couldn’t feel the chemistry between them. By 25% into the book, they had barely interacted outside of the prologue, where they competed in the same race. I loved the concept of childhood friends turned rivals turned lovers, but the execution didn’t really work for me. The romance is definitely more of a subplot in the story.

Honestly, I found myself wanting Asta to end up with Nat, the flirty side character, instead.

Overall, this was a fun read as long as you go in knowing it’s much more about adrenaline driven dragon racing than romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company publishing for providing me with an (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

[louise ʚଓ · Rating 3 out of 5]

| rating: 3.5 ★

RTC!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the e-ARC!

—

pre-read | got the arc for this and i'm a little intrigued. the concept of f1 but with dragons...

[Annet Yarkovaya]

DNF 37%

[Alessia Doni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with dragons races formula one inspired its the thing I didn’t thought I need until I read it . I mean, really, the premise was brilliant and the book start was so strong that hooked me from the first page . The sport with its rules , politics ,and high stakes races kept me in a chokehold . Also the bond with Asta and Carmine was so genuine ,beautiful and heartwarming and totally was the highlight of the story. But around the middle the story starts to slow down and getting lost: I loved seeing how the friendship between Asta and Felix was born but , to be honest, I didn’t resonate with Asta decisions and behaviours event if I tried and I expected definitely more from romance !

That said , even if it’s not perfect it’s a fun, addictive and quick read !

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
This book is described as 'F1 Romance meets Fantasy Dragons' and I am not completely sure I agree with this summary. Fire Power is a super concept and is a fantastic tale of adventure where you can definitely see the influence of F1. Where I think Fire Power fell down a little was the Romance aspect. Personally I felt the romance between Astra and Felix was more of a subplot which, although cute was not necessarily crucial for the progression of the plot.

Astra dreams of being a dragon rider and has worked her whole life to prove her worth, not coming from one of the great families. Her goal is finally in sight as she has made it to the Silverscale Grand Prix. Now she just need to win so that she can have control of her life and silence her critics.

Astra is in debt to the Bruce's, the bad boys of racing. Without them, she wouldn't have made it this far. Winning the prize money will allow her to finally be free of them. But did her alliance come with more strings than she realised? This was one of the thinks that really bothered me about Fire Power - for someone who is so strong by necessity she is also incredibly naive. She chooses to ignore the warnings of everyone around her, and then acts surprised by the results.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but think I would have preferred if it was not portrayed as a romance but just as a fantasy adventure as I was expecting more than what I got regarding Astra and Felix. While it did feature, I never felt invested in them romantically.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an eARC of Fire Power in exchange for an honest review.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire Power promised F1 but with dragons and that is the perfect description! I devoured it! The dragon racing was so compelling - with pit teams, medical checkups for dragons, legacy houses, opening ceremonies, riding rivalries, press and more, it felt exactly well thought out and well delivered, the depth it had making it feel all the more realistic.

Asta was a great character. She’s impulsive and brave and wants nothing more than to compete and win Silverscale, the epitome of dragon riding. If she wins, she can pay off her debts and finally earn her place in the the world of dragon riding. Except when she gets there, it’s nothing like what she expected. Her only friend is untrustworthy, the family she owes taking more than she’s willing to give and her childhood best friend and rival who she hasn’t seen in years is the favourite to win. Her feelings for Felix are messy and complicated, their history twisting up everything. Plus there were a ton of other characters I loved that added a lot to the story. Asta is naive in a lot of ways and can often only see what she expects/ wants but I felt it was realistic to her character even if a little frustrating at times.

The legacy houses added a lot of engaging dynamics. The privilege and classist opinions were insidiously woven into the whole of Silverscale and the elite of dragon riding. Asta is the opposite of all this. She was never meant to be a rider, she doesn’t belong but all she wants to to earn her place as a dragon rider. She struggles hard and Felix is the living embodiment of the elite class.

I really liked that we got flashback chapters of Asta’s childhood. It gave us a lot of context to her childhood and her relationship with Felix. I enjoyed them just as much as the present, and it really added to my emotional connection to the characters.

The books was just such a great journey. There were so many interesting characters and so much for Asta to learn and work through. Plus the dragons racing was just so much fun. I loved learning about the obstacles, the rules and experience the high risk, intense races alongside Asta and Carmine. Speaking of, Carmine was a delight! Plus the romance felt earned and realistic, their communication and forgiveness and understanding a choice after years of going through opposite. It was really enjoyable seeing them learn to trust again and learn to see the past through each others’ eyes. It was a refreshing change. And I really liked how it ended and the choices everyone made despite the difficulties.

Overall just a very enjoyable read with a lot of great threads woven though with a compelling perfectly F1 style dragon racing setting!

I will say I would class this as more of a cosy fantasy adventure than a romance as the romance is great but more of a subplot. It’s balanced really well with the story but it’s not the sole central focus.

[BookishKB]

🐉🏁 Fire Power 🏁🐉

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Dragon Racing
• Enemies to Lovers
• Childhood Friends
• Sports Romantasy
• Dragon Rider FMC
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

***ARC courtesy of Little, Brown and Company Publishing and NetGalley***

Tropes: Dragon Racing, Second Chance, Rival Families, Bisexual FMC, She Comes From Nothing

Spice: 2/5

This review is going to be split up as I feel that this book should belong in the YA section. So some of these words will be supportive of that choice, but if this falls into the adult category, then I have stronger critiques. No matter what, I applaud the author for writing and completing a book, that is an admirable journey.

This book follows one POV, our FMC who has desperately wanted to race dragons for most of her life. She grew up on a farm without supportive parents, but when rich neighbors move in across the valley, they bring money and a dragon breeding program. She quickly develops a friendship, and subsequent crush, on their son. While there may be a financial gap between our girl and boy, their friendship knows no boundaries. He and his family teach her how to ride, allowing her to be one step closer to fulfilling her dream of winning the Grand Prix one day. Both of them go off to school together, but as she (and us as the readers) find out, she is a charity case. His parents paid for her admission which causes of a rift of distrust between her and him. Throughout this journey, both of them have admitted their feelings towards each other but have decided to wait until after graduation to make any actions. A massive event at the school causes their friendship to dissolve and results in her expulsion. She doesn't give up hope on racing though, she seeks out a training family who may dabble in illegal activities but they are willing to train her for free. She even gets to train alongside their daughter too. They majority of our story takes place during the Grand Prix, a five day (I think?) event where the best of the best have come to race. Our FMC is there, her girl friend is there, and so is he. He has become the golden boy of racing. This is a story of trust, forgiveness, and honesty, with a touch of young love.

Right off the bat, I think the marketing campaign needs to change because I went in with vastly different ideas than what I read. I take responsibility for those expectations and attempting to make comparisons. As it stands, this book is using "F1 meets Fourth Wing" and is being categorized as a fiery romantasy. I appreciate the fire pun, but I never felt passion from any of these characters. As for the comparison, these dragons cannot speak to their riders, they primarily run on the ground instead of flying, there is no war going on, the race courses change each day, and so many others. So truly, this should be marketed as "Kentucky Derby meets Fast and Furious meets dragons."

For the structure of the book, it is told through present day moments as well as flashbacks. I wanted a lot more history of our FMC in those flashbacks. I wish I had seen her actually learn how to ride a dragon and how to communicate with them. Instead, we know her ultimate dream is to race on a dragon and she has that idea at 13 years old, but then we jump to her 18th birthday where she is already a fantastic rider and hoping to be accepted into a prestigious school. Without reading about her riding journey, I was confused on how her dragon understood her. She would shout commands or even sentences and he would immediately follow them. How long did it take for him to learn her language or cues? I also think that by learning with her, we would have learned a lot of about the saddles on the dragons. The author was using terms that I was struggling to comprehend, even with context clues.

To follow up the previous paragraph, I needed a lot more physical descriptors. I only knew what two of our characters look like because of the book cover. I appreciate that the author is allowing us to form our own ideas, but I need something to go off of. We received one comment about her hair color, but I know nothing else about her. I don't know anything about him except for his love of hair gel. I have a vague idea about the rebellious girl that trains alongside our FMC, but even then, I know more about her outfits than anything else. I don't know how old these characters are either. I can make a vague guess, but when I was about halfway through the story before I realized that their college was only a two year program instead of four. Are these characters 20? 22? Even older?

I also need way more information on the dragons themselves. Feathers were referenced numerous times, at least in relation to their heads. Their horns and scales were also mentioned a few times. But what do they look like? Do they have membranous wings or feathered wings? Why do they run these courses? How tall are they? I repeat, why are they running through most of these courses if they are dragons? We are given drake races, essentially giant lizards, they have their own classification of race within this book. So why are the dragons also running all the dang time?

Back to the characters and their development. Unfortunately, I never related to any of the characters. I could read about their struggles on the page, but I never felt it. When the characters would bicker, I had difficulty keeping up with their reactions. I understood the words that I was reading, but their emotions did not make sense. I couldn't understand why this character was mad or that character was crying. I never felt any of the chemistry between them either. I applaud the author for writing a bisexual lead character. I did need some clues to her desires though; it took about 1/3 of the way through the book before the female rival kissed our FMC. I could not get a read on if our girl liked it, if she accepted it because this other girl always used flirting as a defense mechanism, or if she just didn't care. I'm not saying that characters have to immediately state their romantic leanings right out of the gate, but I do need some context for if a character is consenting towards an action or not. Was this her first F/F experience? Had they hooked up before?

If this is marketed as a yong adult book, then here are my final takes. This is absolutely a safe (spice free-ish) read. There are a few fade to black moments and even then, I didn't realize that was happening/had happened until two to three pages later. This book feels very surface level in the sense that the world building is not super heavy. The bad guys feel kind of cookie cutter in a way; they reminded me of Nickelodeon villains. The revenge from the kids towards the adults felt like it was made for a teenager's television show instead of an adult audience.

I would not personally recommend this book, but I hope that I fall into the minority category of readers. I want all authors to succeed.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really drawn in by the F1-meets Fourth Wing concept, and the book started strong with an engaging opening that kept me reading. The characters were introduced well, with solid backstory between them.

However, I struggled to see any real chemistry between the main characters. Personally, I felt Asta and Nat had more spark, even though Nat is a bit of an asshole.

In the end, it’s a dragon rider story with a SMALL romantic subplot, which didn’t really work for me. I think this book will land for some people, but it didn’t for me.

2.75 stars.

[Sasha | omgitssmk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breathe In….Breathe Out.
Breathe In….Breathe Out.

I close my eyes, focusing on my dragon's heartbeat thrumming between my thighs as I chant the same mantra over and over to help lower my creeping anxiety.

Breathe In……Breathe Out.
Breathe In……Breathe Out.

Opening my eyes, I look to my left and see one of my competitors tapping their foot nervously waiting for the GREEN LIGHT to strike at the podium in front of us. To my right, another competitor waits as they lazily yawn while purposely flexing to the blinding flashes of cameras pointed his way.

Breathe In….Breathe Out.
Breathe In….Breathe Out.

I focus back to the podium in front of me, still remaining RED.
It's the semi-finals of the Grand Prix Racing Weekend and I only need to make it in the top three to be able to participate in the final race of the weekend for the main prize. As with many of us here, we have worked hard to get us to this point and I am so proud of myself and my team who have gotten us this far.

"How Many Minutes?" I ask while re-adjusting my helmet.
"60 Seconds and Ticking."

I close the visor of my helmet and lower my left arm to give three pats to the side of my dragon, a tradition we do together to let her know that we have 30 seconds till her wings can spread free. She snorts in excitement, directing light smoke rings from her nostrils as I find a good grip on the scales in front of me. In the next 20 seconds, we are going to be shooting off forward and my dragon is well known for her speed - that's why I named her Rocket after all.

"Let's show them what we're made of", I whisper to myself as my internal clock ticks down the final seconds.

FIVE….FOUR…..THREE…..TWO…..

The light turns GREEN and my mouth forms into a smirk as Rocket shoots us off toward the path leading us already into first place territory.


Dragon Riding Meets Formula One Racing - those six words blared at me as I looked at the description of the book, Fire Power by Mir Benitz, on the NetGalley website. We've heard of Dragon Riding in many fantasy novels that the reading community have come to love but the concept of mixing genres with Sports Romance really caught my attention; so much so that I squealed in excitement when my approval arrived in my inbox that I was receiving this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Little Brown to read before it released on its PUB DATE of September 01, 2026.

To start us off with this review, let's talk a little bit about the tropes you'll experience on your high-stakes competition journey….

🏁 Underdog FMC
🏁 Dragon Racing
🏁 Friends To Enemies To Lovers
🏁 Second Chance Romance
🏁 Slow Burn
🏁 Found Family

These are a few of the tropes you'll come across as you find yourself learning more about our FMC Asta, MMC Felix, and their heart pumping adventure through the Silverscale Grand Prix.

The book starts you off by bringing you to the world in which our FMC, Asta, has found herself bored with the day to day farm living that doesn't bring the excitement and desire she craves to find herself feeling each morning. One night when her father falls asleep on the couch, his traditional sitcom had ended and started the beginning of a Grand Prix for Dragon Racing which immediately ignited something within her. Startled awake, her father angrily turns the television off informing her that Dragon Racing will never be a way of living and showed his distaste for the career path. For Asta, however, she just found something worth living for and has a goal to brainstorm how she will find herself riding a dragon as this is what she wants to do with her life. Convenient enough, her next door neighbors that are moving in just happen to be taking quite a bit of land which her father had slipped that just so happen to be "Dragon Farmers"; meaning the fantastic creatures she just saw on the televisions are now closer than she would have ever thought possible.

Fast forward to present day, Asta has found herself walking up to the Registration Booth for the 194th Silverscale Grand Prix, grinning ear to ear, because she has officially made it and her dreams of dragon racing has now become a reality. As she registers herself and her dragon, Carmine, she glances around to see if her "ex-childhood best friend turned rival", Felix, was also around. Low and behold, she didn't have to check long as there, among the ever growing flashes of cameras and cellphones was Felix, showcasing his 1000 watt smile that would make any girl melt, including Asta who tries to keep herself in check and focused on winning this Grand Prix. In fact, it's Asta who feels she needs this more than anyone else as she not only wants to show that a woman can win the 194th Silverscale Grand Prix, but also to obtain the prize. That money they are offering? Yeah, this money is something Asta DESPARATELY NEEDS as it's already set to be paid on debts which she hopes doesn't come to surface with the journalist on site and especially not with Felix, who she hasn't seen in such a long time since their fallout years ago.

While reading this ARC, I loved the author's dedication bringing the reader on a the journey of understanding how dragons could be within a formula one racing system. This idea of "Sports Fantasy" really intrigued me and was one of the reasons I actually requested for this read on NetGalley in the first place. The way the author described the world and the surroundings as the FMC made their way through the Grand Prix was so detailed that I truly felt like I was there with Asta as she experienced each area of the racing program. The intensity provided through the racing trials was very tense that I found myself gripping my toes waiting to see what will come through the twists and turns of the track.

I would note, however, that the romance was definitely a VERY small sub plot of this storyline which may have been a misunderstanding from my side when I read the original description. In fact, it wasn't until around 80% of the book where any real connection or romance truly started to blossom between our two MCs. I wanted to feel more chemistry and dynamic between both Asta and Felix. And I really wanted to find myself caring more about the characters and their relationship - to root for them to be together throughout the storyline. But in this case, I just felt like their relationship was really flatlined and almost forced to mention in the book most of the time which didn't execute well reading through. It was almost like it read more on the contemporary romance side of the spectrum than what I'm used to with other "fantasy" related reads. My past experience with contemporary romance has not been favorited or rated well, which may have contributed to that - so that take with a grain of salt as you determine whether to pick this up as your next TBR choice.

Overall, I did enjoy my experience reading through this book and appreciated the new take on genre blending that Mir Bentiz created (from my reading experience at least). If you are someone looking for high stakes racing tension, a unique spin on formula one racing with dragons, and an underdog story with feminine empowerment, I definitely recommend you pick this up for a spin when it comes out this SEPTEMBER 01, 2026.

[Chloë · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publication Date - 27th August 2026 🇬🇧

A high action, sports fantasy for readers who enjoy -
• Fourth Wing & Formula 1
• Dragon racing & deadly games
• Friends to enemies to lovers
• Second chances
• Found Family
• The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, The Princess Knight, Divine Rivals & Cross The Line


~ plot ~

Asta has had to work harder than most to get to where she is now - a competitor in the dragon racing Silverscale Grand Prix.
She received heavy criticism from her family, was kicked out of training school and had to lean on some less than savoury characters along the way.
To make matters worse? She’s going to be competing against her childhood best friend turned rival, Felix.

What should be a very exciting time in Asta’s life is anything but and as if the high stakes, perilous, life on the line competition wasn’t dangerous enough, the risks she took to get there seem to hold a lot more weight than she realised.


~ review ~

‘Fun F1 sports romance meets action-packed dragon racing fantasy!’ - Now let me tell you, the moment I read that and saw 2 of my favourite worlds colliding, I sprinted to request a copy quicker than Lance Stroll can drive on a good day. (Sorry Lance fans…) 🏁

Fire Power is an adrenaline filled, high stakes sports romantasy that combines the high speed energy of Formula 1 with the magical thrill of dragons. It’s tense but entertaining and Mir Benitz is able to draw the reader in with some fantastically immersive, vivid writing.
While it wasn’t fully what I expected, I still enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to other readers. It’s a fun, fresh take on sports meets fantasy with an exciting, unique concept and premise.

The start of Fire Power really drew me in. It was fast-paced, the characters were well introduced, the plot was easy to follow and there was a clear backstory. I flew through the pages, totally engaged until I reached the midpoint where unfortunately, things started to slow. Towards the end of the book things did pick back up again however the pacing then went in the opposite direction with the ending itself feeling rushed and chaotic.
Was this frustrating? A little. Did it stop me from reading? No, not once did I think about calling it a day! I was still engaged just not at the same level I was to begin with.

When it came to genre, as someone who is a huge fan of F1, dragons and fantasy, the fact that romance didn’t play as big of a role as implied wasn’t a huge issue. However, for people who pick up this book favouring romance, expecting it to be equal parts with sports and fantasy as suggested, I can see how it would be.
Romance was definitely more of a subplot & when it came to Asta and Felix’s relationship, I just really struggled to get behind it. There was love between them, I just felt that it lacked chemistry and depth.

BUT, a relationship/bond I did get behind & that did in my opinion somewhat make up for Asta & Felix - Asta & Carmine. Granted it wasn’t romantic but it was still one of my favourite parts of Fire Power. In what was a fast-paced, exhilarating, dangerous world, the bond they shared brought an element of calm to things. It was genuine, strong, heartfelt and added emotional depth to the story.


~ final thoughts ~

Overall this was a great read. I loved the concept and how Mir Benitz was able to transfer and portray things we know and love from F1 but with dragons - so fun! Asta was snappy and determined albeit a little annoying at times. Like, when there’s a red flag waving in front of you, you’re supposed to turn and run in the other direction, you do not pass go, collect $100 and sprint towards it!? I did find myself shaking my head a fair amount with her… However as a whole, small teething issues aside, an exciting, fun, entertaining read that I’d definitely recommend to sports fantasy fans!

Thank you to Headline Books, NetGalley & Mir Benitz for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️

[Kam · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ 3.5/5 — A fun, high-octane dragon-racing fantasy that delivers exactly what it promises… mostly.
I went into Fire Power expecting dragons + F1 vibes and that’s exactly what I got — and honestly? The concept alone deserves a standing ovation. Formula One but make it fantasy with actual dragons racing? Chef’s kiss. The adrenaline, the competition, the strategy, and the sheer spectacle of it all had me hooked from the very beginning.

The premise is brilliant: high-stakes dragon racing packed with tension, speed, and that addictive sports-romance energy. The bond between Asta and her dragon, Carmine, is easily one of the standout elements — it felt genuine, emotional, and grounded in quiet trust and respect. I also really enjoyed the childhood-best-friends-to-rivals tension with Felix; that dynamic brought some excellent sparks and unresolved history that kept things interesting.

Where the book stumbled a little for me was in the middle. The pacing slowed down, and I struggled to fully connect with Asta at times — especially some of her choices and the way she seemed to sabotage herself when the stakes were highest. We’re constantly told how badly she wants to win and how much the Grand Prix means to her, but her actions didn’t always feel fully convincing or deeply explored. The romance also felt more like a subplot than the main emotional driver for me, and I would’ve loved a bit more chemistry and development there.

The world-building had so much potential — especially the magic system and the deeper lore around the dragons — but it felt like it wasn’t fully unpacked. The ending, particularly the epilogue, also felt a little chaotic and rushed, with too many things happening at once. I wanted more space to sit with the resolution and the characters’ arcs.

That said, Fire Power is still a really enjoyable, unique read. It’s fast-paced, full of adrenaline, and brings that fresh “F1 meets Fourth Wing” energy in a way that feels fun and memorable. The action scenes are vivid and easy to visualize — at times it genuinely felt like watching a race unfold.
If you’re looking for a light fantasy with dragons, fierce competition, sports-romance vibes, and a touch of chaos, this one is worth picking up. It’s not perfect, but it’s entertaining as hell and I’d still recommend it — especially to F1 fans who want something different or romantasy readers craving high-stakes adrenaline with wings.

Would I read another book by this author? Absolutely. The concept is too cool not to see what they do next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mountain Leopard Press for an eARC.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire Power • Mir Benitz

One phrase: Formula One but make it dragons 🐉🏁

Fire Power is described as Fourth Wing meets Formula One, and honestly, the dragon racing part absolutely delivers.

The Silverscale Grand Prix is an elite, dangerous, high speed dragon racing championship with a massive prize and even bigger stakes. Asta and her dragon Carmine are not exactly the expected winners. No sponsors. No fancy gear. No cheering fans. And no female rider has won the Prix in almost sixty years.

Naturally, Asta is determined to prove everyone wrong.

Her old training school. Her family. The racing world. And especially Felix, her arrogant childhood best friend turned rival, who also happens to be the reigning champion and heir to a major racing dynasty.

The adventure and suspense of the races were easily my favorite part. The visual imagery made the competitions feel exciting, dangerous, and cinematic. I loved the speed, the competition, the tension, and the whole adrenaline rush of dragon racing.

Also, Carmine? Loved.

The romance, though, did not fully work for me. I loved the concept of childhood friends to rivals to lovers, but I wanted more from the execution. Asta and Felix did not interact enough early on for me to really feel the chemistry, and the romance felt much more like a subplot than the center of the story.

Honestly, I found myself wanting Asta with Nat instead.

So for me, this worked best as a fantasy adventure with a sports competition edge rather than a romance heavy romantasy. Going in with that expectation made it a fun read.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
🐉 dragon racing
🏁 Formula One vibes
🔥 Fourth Wing energy
⚔️ rivals to lovers
🏆 deadly competition
💪 ambitious FMC
🐲 dragon bond
👑 racing dynasty MMC
💸 high stakes prize
👀 childhood friends to rivals
💨 adrenaline driven fantasy
✨ romance subplot

📚 Read this if you like:
Dragon books, fantasy competitions, sports romantasy, high speed races, underdog heroines, ambitious riders, dangerous tournaments, and stories where the action takes the lead over the romance.

This was fun, fast, and exciting, with dragon racing that absolutely stole the show.

#FirePower #MirBenitz #DragonBooks #FantasyRomance #BookReview @LittleBrownBooks

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to sit with this one a bit before I could review.

First and foremost, this book has a setting that was extremely intriguing. It seemed to have basically 80s/90s technology, and also there are dragons. It wasn't set in the existing world as urban fantasy; rather it was a fantasy world with its own place names.

I hesitate to say this setting was a problem, but it raised so many questions for me as to be distracting to the rest of the book.

Dragons are only for hunting and racing? You're telling me humans domesticated dragons but they aren't using them to make money in other ways? The phrase "(h)asta la vista is used, but again, this isn't Earth and in fact there's no real implication of a wider cultural world beyond one character with a distinctly Asian name and the use of that Italian phrase. The authorities pose enough of a threat to street racing to shut races down but not a single cop responds to the presence of dragons on an active train bridge at the end??

I digress.

The romance...it was barely there. It was all telling and no showing. I didn't buy it. The most believable part of it was the chapter where Felix and Asta are teenagers trying to navigate a friendship and love and the weight of his family name. Unfortunately, Asta seemed to not have moved on from that mindset even a bit in the years since, and it led to a funky perspective, since we are in her head for the book. Her naivety was distracting. The switch that flips a little over halfway through where suddenly she and Felix decide not to be mad at each other anymore was abrupt and not cathartic.

The chemistry was better with Nat, who, among a family of cartoonishly menacing cheats and murderers, was a cartoon of a different kind (the rebel girl who is promiscuous, flirtatious, and foul-mouthed to a clownish degree).

As an aside, there was more gruesome death or near death experiences interjected throughout the book than I expected.

Overall, I didn't have a bad time with this book, but it didn't cohere for me as a romance, a fantasy adventure, or a sports story, landing unsatisfactorily in the margins outside all three.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Vippi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I went into this expecting dragons and vibes… and got dragon racing with full-on sports romance energy—and honestly? That concept alone deserves a standing ovation. It’s giving F1 but make it fantasy, and it’s so much fun.

The book starts strong. Like, instantly hooked, can’t-put-it-down, already-picturing-the-movie-adaptation kind of strong. But somewhere around the middle, I started to lose my grip a little. I struggled to fully connect with Asta—especially when it came to her choices. Both in her relationship with Felix and in the way she keeps… lowkey sabotaging herself when it matters most. And that was frustrating because the stakes are so high, and we’re constantly told how much the Grand Prix means to her.

That said, there’s a lot to love here.

The premise? So cool. Dragon racing is just chef’s kiss. If you’re into fast-paced competition, tension, and that adrenaline rush you get from sports stories, you’re going to eat this up. And the bond between Asta and Carmine? Easily one of my favorite parts. There’s so much trust, respect, and quiet understanding between them—it felt real, grounded, and genuinely emotional.

Also… childhood best friends to rivals?? Say less. That tension was doing a lot for me.

On the flip side, Asta’s characterization didn’t always fully land. We’re told she has to win, that she’s worked her whole life for this—but then she repeatedly gets in her own way, and not always in a way that felt fully convincing or explored.

And the ending? It got a bit chaotic, a bit rushed. So many things happening so fast, and I just wanted more space to sit with it all—especially in the epilogue.

I also would’ve loved a bit more depth in the world-building. The magic system, in particular, felt like it had so much potential that wasn’t fully unpacked.

Overall though, this was such a fun, unique read with a killer premise and some standout dynamics. Not perfect, but definitely memorable—and I’d 100% recommend it if you’re looking for something with high-stakes competition, dragons, and a touch of chaos

[Pavla Leitgebova · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just adorable, from the characters, to the dragons and also the magical quirks we got a glimps at along the way..

Having read Winged games before this, I can not say I found this book that groundbreaking as some of the other reviewers, but dragon racing sports romance is an original idea nonetheless. I only wish they would actually fly, rather than just sprint really quickly, that just seems like a waste of their potential. Still, the setting of the Silver scale competition is interesting and it's obvious the author put quite a lot of thought into the mechanics of the sport and the world itself.

I think the story and the characters were very well set up and I especially found myself gravitating towards the sidecharacters - and the villains! They weren't your classical mustache-twirling bunch, their motivations were actually realistic and made perfect sense for the story.

The weakest part for me was the romance between the two main characters. We barely get time to know Felix, leaving him as dimensional as cardboard cut out and there is absolutely no development between the two characters - they are fighting and then suddenly Felix pops up with "We are friends now." (barely a paraphrase) and then couple hours later, they are sleeping together.

And then there was the ending... there are so many good ideas in this book, so many solid bones, but they felt half-hearted. The ending is messy, the main character completely changes her motivation and forsakes the one thing that's been driving her the entire time - which might have been interesting, if it was actually explored, but no, it's as sudden as her insta-love with Felix and she wastes no time mourning or having existential crisis.

Thinking about it, it is quite a choice to end an underdog story this way - I'm not the type of reader that necessary needs a positive message from every book, but darling, what even was the point of this?

I'm grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for being able to read the book in advance in exhange for a honest reviews.

[Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is sure to become the next big book in YA fantasy! Fire Power by Mir Benitz revolves around Asta, a dragon-rider who is competing in the Silverscale Grand Prix, a national championship of dragon racing. There are high stakes and deadly consequences. Her main rival is her former childhood friend Felix, who Asta hasn't spoken to in some time since their falling out. Will Asta and her dragon Carmine be able to beat Felix in the races, or will they die trying? Will Asta and Felix remain enemies, or will their relationship turn into something else?

Here is an exciting excerpt from the Prologue:

"Asta Ekenberg stood at the edge of the track at Horizons Raceway, waiting out the last few minutes until it was time to strap herself on to Carmine's mountainous back and race the Silverscale Grand Prix. The racecourse - with its mountains and scrambles, its canyons and watery trenches - was aglint with magic illusions, shimmering as if they were made of burning motes of fire. The other winged dragons and their riders were assembling behind the starting line, restless with anticipation. Stretching around and above them, the lofty stands of the Horizons Raceway, were packed with thousands upon thousands of spectators. The crowd rumbled with a sound like a stoked furnace."

Overall, Fire Power is an amazing YA fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Fourth Wing and The Scorpio Races. One highlight of this book is how exciting and fast-paced it was. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how each race would end. Another highlight of this book is the relationship between the female lead and male lead. I liked how they had a history together as childhood friends and how that turned into an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. It was interesting to see how their relationship affected the plot of the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in September!

[Cierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book received from NetGalley. Thank you!

The description of the book as Fourth Wing meets Formula One (while seemingly being a standalone) was really interesting to me.

However…

What little romance there was, was really set on the back burner for the dragon racing bit; this book was like if you called James Bond a romance movie - yeah, sure, there’s a love interest, but that really isn’t what the movie (book) is about. It was way mote action-fantasy with two “love” interests, though one is a hookup with not really hidden intentions and the other one is one that we’re told that Asta love him in a romantic way (and vice versa). They really felt like bffs with a bit of a situationship.

I also wish we knew a little more about the world that this story takes place in. Is it advanced? Are dragons like horses for everyone, with the races being the same thing as horse races? How common is the use of magic outside of these races? It f Les like we have a micro view on the world building whereas a little bit of a macro/ big picture would have fleshed out things more.

Additionally, some of Asta’s decisions drove me crazy and I just wanted to shake her. You know that everyone knows that you’re hiding something, and they’re all begging for your help, so you…? Do something dumb in secret, right, yes, of course. 🙂‍↔️

Then also the ending was almost opened ended and also bittersweet? Only one (maybe two) character got want they wanted, and were told that Asta has come up with a new plan for the future but it’s… now the end of the book, guess we don’t know what the future plan really is.

I’m going to give this a 2.5-3 stars rating. I liked it enough to finish the full book in a day or so, but if it turns out that there is a sequel, I’m not sure that I would read the next book(s) without first reading other reviews.

Also, as an fyi, there was some making out and heavy petting, but not anything I would really consider very “spicy.”

[Alyssa Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Fire Power is an exciting ride with some pretty interesting characters, an intriguing world (that I'd love to see more of) and a few more hurdles in the way than I found myself enjoying, though the ending landed very well for me.

Asta is an engaging main character, and I felt for her as she struggled through all of the curveballs that seemed to be thrown her way. She's tough and enduring, continuing to push forward even when I thought things were going pretty rough for her. I enjoyed her relationships with her fellow racers Nat and Felix, and her relationship with her family felt real and honest in a way that was both hard at times but also heartwarming.

The pacing at the beginning felt really solid - getting to see the race in current time and then jumping back to see how things got to this point was a good way of getting to know the characters and learn about the world. I was worried when things started to get more and more complicated just over halfway through, but it did keep me engaged and the final 20% or so was a race to the finish line in more than one way. I think some of the ending was a little rushed, but what did happen was "just right".

I think the races were very interesting, and I love the idea of a world that mixes magic and science and F1 racing and dragons. I loved the attention to detail in course design and themes and how these things would work in a world where this is the norm. It was all very exciting and I'd love to see more in the world (maybe some drake racers? there's a whole other section of the race that feels like it could get some attention, though obviously it wasn't Asta's focus as the POV character).

All in all, I really enjoyed Fire Power, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read about friendship, second chances, racing dragons, and what it means to find your people.

[Charlotte Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐
*Thank you so much to the author and publisher for letting me ARC read. This is an honest review and contains all my own thoughts*

Yes, yes, yes, this was exactly what I was hoping for when I heard 'F1 with dragons'!

As a big F1 fan, this sounded like such a brilliant idea to me. I was concerned that the dragon races would be too far in the background of a love story but I was very happy to find that there was actually a lot of description of the races themselves, the obstacles etc.
Our main character, Asta Ekenberg, has always dreamt of being a dragon racer despite growing up on a farm, and we meet her now she's finally made it to the Silverscale race (I'm a UK girl so love this reference 🤭). She's rash and stubborn, but is so passionate about her dream and an incredibly lovable character.
Both Nat and Felix make for really interesting characters. Everyone in this is brilliantly complex and imperfect, and the character growth you get in this is super enjoyable and satisfying. For me, some of the romance scenes felt a bit sudden and out of place which took me out of the story a bit, but that's a minor aspect.
As is to be expected from me by now, I adored the dragons in this! I really enjoyed their designs in this one, with two different types of dragon, and some fun features like feathers and frills. Carmine is an absolute sweetheart and his and Asta's bond is so sweet.
Overall, this was a super fun and enjoyable read. I loved that F1 romance format with the added fantasy elements and I'd definitely recommend you try this one if you like the idea of F1 with dragons

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating 2.5

Dragon racing wrapped in a high-stakes competition, layered with messy rivals-to-lovers tension, feels tailor-made for today’s romantasy market and it’s easy to see why some readers will enjoy the ride. The premise carries a lot of weight. The Silverscale Grand Prix is thrilling and dangerous, and there are moments where the concept truly sparks to life. When the races land, they deliver that rush of adrenaline the story promises—but those highs aren’t consistent.

At its heart, the idea of dragon racing remains undeniably fun, even when the execution falters. The main drawback is how familiar it all feels, without bringing much that’s new to the table. The plot unfolds along very expected lines, with few genuine surprises. The writing itself is clear and approachable, prioritizing pace over flourish. Sentences are often direct and punchy, especially during action sequences. However, if you’re drawn to rich, immersive fantasy prose that lingers on atmosphere and worldbuilding, this style may come across as a bit plain, more functional than evocative. And because it leans heavily into romantasy conventions, some dialogue and moments slip into predictability.

Overall, Fire Power isn’t a bad read, it just doesn’t fully live up to its potential. The ideas feel stronger than their execution, and while it moves quickly and reads easily, it doesn’t leave a lasting mark. Still, for readers who love trope-forward romantasy, there may be enough here to make the journey worthwhile.

[Neo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read a sports fantasy where the sport itself feels almost secondary to everything the characters are going through?

🐉 Fire Power by Mir Benitz takes place over the span of just a week, which gives the story a surprisingly focused feel. Asta has finally reached the place she’s worked so hard for, but getting there was anything but perfect. Instead of celebrating her success uninterrupted, she’s forced to confront the mistakes, regrets, and unfinished business that followed her to the finish line.

The romance follows a childhood-sweethearts-to-strangers-to-lovers path, which is apparently one of my weaknesses. The second-chance aspect worked well because it felt tied to Asta’s personal growth rather than existing purely for the romance.

The sport here is dragon racing, which sounds objectively awesome. That said, I don’t think the story is really about the racing. You could probably swap the dragons for another competitive sport and still end up with the same emotional core. This book is much more interested in character development than athletic achievement.

It also reads very YA despite a little bit of spice making an appearance. We’re talking jalapeño levels here 🌶️. Noticeable, but nobody is calling the fire department.

For readers who want:
🐉 dragon racing (but mostly character growth)
❤️ childhood sweethearts to strangers to lovers
🌶️ a tiny jalapeño of spice
⏳ a story that unfolds over just a few days
✨ characters forced to face the consequences of their past choices

[Unnamednonsense · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon Racing Plot:

I thought the racing part was done exceptionally well. It’s fast, it feels dangerous in its own way, and most of all, it’s unique. I felt like I was there and actually in the scenes. While the racing itself could be a bit hard to follow at times, I still found myself enjoying it and feeling the suspense of who would win.

The Romance Plot:

The romance felt a bit off to me. I almost felt like the main character had some better chemistry with some of the other characters than she did with the love interest. I would’ve liked to see the romance develop a bit more over time. It felt almost rushed, which is understandable since it isn’t the main focus of the story. Even though he wasn’t necessarily my favorite love interest, I do think it all works out quite nicely in the end.

The Characters:

Overall, the characters feel very well thought out and real. I liked getting to know them and see how they operate under such high stakes. I wouldn’t mind reading other books in the future following the stories of some of the characters.

Overall:

I had fun with this one. It isn’t the first dragon racing F1 style book that I’ve read recently, but I do think it was the most memorable. It had its own spin on things that separated it from the others and made it stand out a bit more in my mind. I’ll likely keep an eye out for this author because I can tell she’ll have some cool story ideas coming out in the future.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Devreadsallday · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Fire Power. I would rate this 3 stars.

This is a YA fantasy with a really fun and eye catching concept, combining dragon riding with a competitive, race style element. That idea alone makes it stand out, and it definitely has appeal for readers who enjoy lighter, fast paced fantasy with a bit of romance.

The highlight for me was the relationship between the main character and her dragon. Their bond felt genuine and added a nice emotional core to the story. There were also some enjoyable character interactions, especially moments of banter and tension that hinted at stronger dynamics.

For me, the pacing didn’t quite match the high stakes feel of the premise. Even with the action elements, the story moved a bit slower than I expected, which made it harder to stay fully immersed. The worldbuilding is easy to follow, but I did find myself wanting a bit more depth, especially when it came to the magic and overall setting.

The romance had a lot of potential, especially with the enemies to lovers angle, but it felt a little underdeveloped. I was hoping for more buildup and stronger emotional payoff.

Overall, Fire Power has a really strong concept and some enjoyable elements, especially the dragon bond and character dynamics. While it didn’t fully come together for me, I think readers looking for a more accessible YA fantasy with action and light romance will still enjoy it.

[Bora Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
---
The cover is beautiful!!!!

Firstly, if you are gearing up (hehe) to take on this novel, I warn you: do not expect the romance to be front and center. Did I expect this myself? Yes. But was I disappointed? No. Asta and Felix’s romance was full of yearning with flashbacks to their childhood and time at Pillar. This worked for me because I do love a friends-to-lovers-to-rivals trope. The yearning was through the roof with Asta. You spent the majority of the novel figuring out how their relationship got to be where it was. I had nothing to complain about! Well, actually, there were times when I could not understand why Asta was letting certain things (or a certain person) slide. I was highly concerned for her.

But wait! If you are dissatisfied with this, the action-packed dragon racing scenes make up for it! “Get ready to ride or die . . .,” YES! I was pleasantly surprised to find out how intense and frightening the sport could be. The DRAMA, the betrayals, and jealousy will glue you to the pages. It was nonstop suspense. Every character you met left an impression. They felt REAL.

That ending was absolute CHAOS, but in a good way! The story wrapped up perfectly and deserves the four stars.

This would have been five stars, but I found the dialogue and world-building to be lacking. Still, I enjoyed the ride.

[Inge · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Things I liked:
- The cover: gorgeous!
- The premise: dragon racing sounds so cool!
- The bond between Asta (FMC) and Carmine (her dragon). They had such a strong bond with mutual understanding and respect. They clearly cared for each other.
- The bond between Carmine and his sister Essie (also a dragon) was pretty adorable.

Things I thought were weird:
- The dragon racing: Why is the biggest part of the race just running and jumping? I expected way more flying and way less running.

Things I didn't like:
- Asta has worked her entire adult life to get to the grand prix. She really wants to win. Moreover, she claims she *has* to win. BUT, on the evenings before races she goes (1) street racing, and therefore fatiguing herself and her dragon, and risking injuries, and (2) drinking, getting herself a hangover on race day. This kind of self-sabotage made me care tremendously less about how Asta performed on race day, since she didn't really seem to care either.
- The romance
- Nat
- The plot towards the end got too messy, in my opinion.

Overall, I didn't really care for the characters and therefore I didn't love this story. Unfortunately this was a miss for me, but I do think some readers will love this!

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Mountain Leopard Press for an eARC. This review shows my honest opinion.

[Shyla's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

┈୨♡୧┈

Fɪʀᴇ Pᴏᴡᴇʀ
ʙʏ Mɪʀ Bᴇɴɪᴛᴢ

♡♡♡✧✧ → 3.75★

┈୨♡୧┈

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I got approved for this ARC I was so excited. Dragons mixed with racing?? That is genuinely such an incredible concept and immediately had me interested.

And honestly, this was a really enjoyable read. The story itself was engaging, the worldbuilding was fun, and the writing kept me invested throughout. The combination of high-speed racing energy with dragons created such a cool atmosphere, and it felt fresh in a way that made the book stand out.

The only reason this sits at a 3.75 instead of a higher rating is honestly because of me and my mood while reading it. I don’t think I was in the right headspace for this kind of story at the time, which affected how deeply I connected with it. Looking back, I almost wish I had waited to read it so I could’ve experienced it the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Even with that, I still had a great time with it and can absolutely appreciate what the book was doing. I already know I’ll be recommending this to my fellow F1 romantasy girlies because the concept alone deserves attention.

Overall, a really fun and well-written read with a unique premise that I think a lot of readers are going to love.

┈୨♡୧┈

[Vee]

Nope. Nope nope nope.

I’m at 60% and I honestly just can’t do it. For the fact it’s an eARC I was trying to push my way through but I just can’t force myself to read this book anymore - it will be a DNF for me, unfortunately.

I had such high hopes, F1 but make it dragons? Hell yes please. Except it REALLY fell short.

The FMC hasn’t really been an interesting enough character for me, the MMC is unbearable in his entitlement and the rest of the characters equally grating on my last nerve. None of them are likeable and as such it’s making it impossible for me to connect or want to even see what happens.

The story has a great premise, the flash backs are intriguing but I feel that there are just too many and really all I want is more of the racing part! The races are really well described and adds such a punch of action into the mix, keeping you on the edge of your seat (perfect?!).

However the overall story is too slow and lacklustre for me, with a romance that just doesn’t seem to make sense at all (I would not pick someone who has 0 faith in me and LITERALLY tells me I’m ’not as good as I think I am’ - into the bin with Felix).

Thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for the eARC and I really do hope it finds its audience.

[whereintheworldis · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was wonderful!!! truly surprised to see so many folks complaining about the amount of romance because I thought it was perfect and true to the MC. asta is the kind of angry, insecure, jealous, bitter and all in all deeply flawed protagonist with something to prove that the romantasy world NEEDS. she is raw & real & makes mistakes & struggles to say sorry when she should and all of that frankly just makes her HUMAN. (idk about yall but I am tired of reading about these carbon copy MCs who are physically perfect, powerful beyond belief, emotionally intelligent, selfless, incapable of doing wrong, and give Mother Teresa a run for her money….just tired!!!!)

asta’s relationship arc with felix is equally messy but no less magical. this isn’t some silly fated mates shit but just two people figuring out how to choose each other while also choosing themselves. (and I say this as someone who fundamentally does not usually enjoy second-chance romance) plus I felt the epilogue was a lovely way to wrap it all up.

just an outstanding read all-around.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fire Power has a Formula 1 inspired dragon racing primary plot, with a second chance rivals-to-lovers subplot 🐉

Fire Power follows Asta’s Grand Prix race at Silverscale (a nice nod to Silverstone from the F1 calendar) - a moment she has dreamed of since she first introduced to dragon racing. It was unlikely that Asta and her dragon Carmine would even reach the start line of the Silverscale GP with her lack of sponsors, high-tech gear, and fans supporting her. However, her determination saw her through to the ultimate race of the season 🏁

Asta’s experience of Silverscale was not the dream she imagined it to be, she was in debt to the tyrant Bruce family who have funded her racing career thus far. The politics of the racing world became more difficult and dangerous to navigate than Asta first imagined 🏎️

The development of Asta and Felix’s relationship was enjoyable to read, with the story of how they became rivals sprinkled throughout the main plot ❤️‍🩹

Thank you for this ARC via NetGalley 📚