The Fire Bride

Kings of Fury #3

by Gena Showalter, Jill Monroe

She has burned through lifetimes alone.
In the hidden realm of Ashmorra, immortal berserkatrix Olyssa Drachenveil, Queen of Dragons, has spent centuries bound to a cruel grant eternal life to a mortal firebrand in the heat of her flames or watch him perish. But any man she’s ignited has died screaming. She’s vowed never to test another.

He must survive her fire.
Taron Locke, brilliant historian and secret dragon slayer, has spent his life preparing to end the creature who murdered his father. A legend cloaked in beauty and ruin. When he summons her with ancient chains, he intends to end her reign, not fall under her spell. But the moment they meet, everything combusts. A battle. A bond. A kiss that could burn an empire to ash.

In war, desire is the most dangerous blaze.
As ancient enemies rise and Olyssa’s crown—and heart—hang in the balance, she must decide whether to defy destiny or surrender to it. And Taron must destroy the queen he was born to hate… or become the firebrand destined to love her for eternity.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Magic, Shapeshifters

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2026

About the author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olyssa is an immortal Fire Dragon Queen. But, don't be fooled. Her heart can still be broken.
Taron is a mortal being. He is a professor. He is also a Dragon slayer. And he wants to kill Olyssa.

There are multiple threads in this one, and I didn't really see it all coming...

Just know that Olyssa is always on guard and always ready to attack and defend. And, it seems, is always being tested to defend her crown.

Also be aware that her Dragon Fire has killed many...

As we proceed we are faced with many instances of attacks… many to the death… and it is a bit terrifying!

But also, we see that Olyssa just really wants to find a real kind of love…

And what happens may just blow your mind! 🤯

4 bright, fiery, blazing, can-true-love-really-happen? Stars for me!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

#FireBride (Kings of Fury, book 3) by @GenaShowalter and @JillMonroe. Narrated nicely by @NinaYndis.

*** This has not been released yet! Please look 👀 for it in a few days on 6/2/26! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @DreamscapeMedia for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!

And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷

[Joleen Turns Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and DreamScape Media for the ALC!

I had the chance to advance listen to the audiobook of The Fire Bride, and it was such an enjoyable escape. Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe know how to write characters that keep me invested, and I was hooked on Olyssa and Taron's story from the start.

What stood out most to me was the push and pull between them. Their relationship is built on distrust, conflicting loyalties, and a whole lot of tension, which made every moment they let their walls down feel that much more rewarding. I also loved that Olyssa wasn't just powerful—she's carrying the weight of centuries of responsibility and loss, and that added an emotional depth I wasn't expecting.

The audiobook was incredibly easy to binge. The narration brought so much life to the characters and kept me engaged through every twist, revelation, and emotional moment. More than once I found myself saying, "just one more chapter" and then listening for another hour.

While there were a few places where I wished certain storylines had been explored a little further, I still had a great time with this one. Between the dragon magic, adventure, romance, and emotional stakes, it delivered exactly the kind of fantasy escape I was looking for.

A solid 4-star listen for me—full of heart, tension, and characters I couldn't help rooting for.

[Ina · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶

This is the third book in the Kings of Fury series but can be read as a standalone novel. Olyssa, an immortal dragon monarch, and Taron, a historian and a secrer dragon slayer, are destined to be together, notwithstanding Taron's lethal intentions. The story incorporates themes of yearning, fated mates, power struggles, and enemies-to-lovers. The ending made it worth the read/listen.

The narrators' performance was commendable; however, the accent detracted from the listening experience.

The cover requires aesthetic adjustments to ensure the title stands out more prominently.

Thanks to Netgalley, the authors, the publishers, Dreamscape for this ALC in exchange for my opinion.

[Selene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read the other two in the series but this works perfectly as a stand alone and is thoroughly enjoyable. Narrator did a great job although I think personally the loss of the German accent wouldn’t haven’t hurt. This was a fast easy listen and I loved the banter and chemistry they had. The end …. Such a twist …. If you enjoy dragon shifters, enemies or lovers and touch him/her and die you’ll love this! Thanks netgalley the author and the publishers for this ALC

[Franjessca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fire Bride is the third book in Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe’s King of Fury series. I’ve enjoyed each one of the books in this series because both Gena and Jill are the Queens of writing Paranormal Romance with strong heroines and heroes. They also excel at writing Fated Mates and Enemies to Lovers storylines, which are two of my favorite tropes to read in romance books.

I loved both characters in this installment because Olyssa is a fierce and strong immortal dragon queen determined to break the bond with Taron and escape the curse she’s been cursed with for many years. She knows how to handle anyone who tries to overpower her and wants her crown. When it came to Taron, he may be a human and a professor, but he knows how to fight and is willing to do anything to take on Olyssa and break the bond between them, even though when they are forced to work together to find the ingredients that will help them break their potential bond, the attraction between them becomes inevitable. And I was one reader who loved the yearning that was happening between Olyssa and Taron.

This book was full of adventure and danger, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The twist at the end surprised me, and I loved every moment. Olyssa and Taron’s love story stands out for how they overcame obstacles to be together. Their love rose above everything thrown at them.

I do want to mention that the books in this series, including this one, only have kissing, so if you are expecting spice, you won’t get that in this series.

Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars and look forward to the next in the series, featuring Olyssa’s sister and a Kraken. Sign me up immediately for a Kraken romance. 🥰

POV: First Person (Single POV)

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Kings of Fury series, but each book can be read as a standalone.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy adventurous romances where characters become reluctant allies with forbidden attraction and battle to break a curse, check out The Fire Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe.

What to Expect:
🩷Enemies to Lovers
🩷Forbidden Love
🩷Fated Mates
🩷Slow Burn – Kissing Only

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fierce, loyal, protective dragon Queen who is beautiful, witty, and intelligent vs a fierce, driven, vengeful dragon slayer who is handsome, intelligent and sexy. This is a great story of adventure, challenges, wars, unbidden attraction, romance, suspense and a twist you won’t see coming. I love Olyssa and Taron. These two are on the top of my favorites list!

[Joseandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

I really liked The Fire Bride. Even though I’ve read my fair share of dragon books lately, this one still managed to feel fresh and different, with its own unique take on the world and characters. I loved how different the take on enemies to lovers was, it definitely felt different

Even though this is book three in the Kings of Fury series, I think it works perfectly well as a standalone. I never felt lost, and the story gives you everything you need to enjoy it on its own while still making me curious about the rest of the series.

I also listened to the audiobook and had a great time with it. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life and keeping me invested from start to finish. The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was the accent, it wasn’t really my favorite but it definitely didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, this was great read and it made me want to read the other books in the series!

[☆Amanda☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a short romance fantasy, its a good palate cleanser. Although it's part of a series, it works as a standalone. Easy to fall along and catch up with the world building and history that has them in their current conflict.
It has a tragic love story, enemies to lovers, hard obstacles to overcome and political conflicts. It sounds like a lot, but it is an easy read!
The narrator was ok, I wished she had made the FMC sound more fierce but it was overall okay.

[BookMarkedbyNicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC for a honest review.

I had not read the first two books, but I didn’t feel like I needed to. This is a super quick binge listen. I really enjoyed the audio.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog

Yessss! Another book in this series!

Queen Olyssa is a dragon berserker (shifters are what happen when the berserkers let go of their morals/inhibitions, so she’s a berserker, but there are dragon shifters). Once upon a time she fell in love with a human. To give her true love the gift of immortality, meaning he would be her firebrand, her one true mate, she has to burn him…and he has to survive. She doesn’t want to do this, but he convinces her to burn him and he dies. For centuries, his descendants call to her to only fall in love with her and have her burn them. They’ve even got magical chains that allow them to bring her directly where they are, and capture her. And after so many centuries of this, when the latest Locke descendant calls to her with the chains, it’s to kill her, not love her.

Taron Locke is a professor, but he’s also a dragon slayer. His whole life has been leading up to the moment where he can kill Queen Olyssa. But the trick he uses to bind them so he can always find her has side effect. They can now feel each other, and it turns out, they’re crazy attracted to each other. So they do their best to ignore the bond, and the attraction, but that doesn’t last for long.

Even as he falls in love with Olyssa, her dead father, the former king who she killed, has resurrected and is causing trouble.

Both Taron and Olyssa have to work together, fight their attraction for each other, fight against enemies they didn’t see coming, and somehow save the kingdom all without falling in love. Piece of cake!

This is the type of book I really enjoy. I miss Paranormal Romance like this. Jill Monroe and Gena Showalter excel at the fun banter, the sexual tension, the romance, I really love this team! I enjoy the snark, the battles, the magic, the characters, both good and bad; I guess I’m 100% the target audience for this series!

I loved the twist at the end, and I enjoyed every second of this book!

[tanisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

let women be stronger than their boyfriends 2026 – 3.5 stars

going in, mostly from the cover, i assumed this would be one of those books where the romance exists purely as an excuse to get from one spicy scene to the next. not that i would have minded, but i was pleasantly surprised by how much more romantic, longing-filled, and emotional this was than i expected.

the biggest strength of the book was definitely the dynamic between olyessa and taron. i loved that she was this unstoppable force of nature. taron was strong, sure, but olyessa was the power in the relationship. she was the dragon queen. she was the one everyone feared. she was the one moving the pieces. taron was, comparatively, just a human. there was something really refreshing about the relationship dynamic being "he's strong, but she's the strongest."

which is why i was a little disappointed by the ending.

i really liked the imbalance of power between them. not because i wanted taron to be weak, but because it was rare to see the woman be the unquestionable powerhouse in the relationship. giving him her power and turning them into two equally powerful beings felt like it undermined some of what made their dynamic unique in the first place. maybe that's just me, but it left me with the strange feeling that the story couldn't let her remain more powerful than him.

i also never felt like i got to know taron as well as i wanted to. i liked him, but most of my understanding of him came through olyessa's perspective. considering how much of the story revolves around his actions and secrets, i wanted a stronger sense of who he was outside of her. this could've literally been just through one chapter from his perspective; when he sneaked into her castle, what did he see? how did he feel when he first laid eyes on her?

i was also a little confused by some of the lore, particularly the details surrounding olyessa's curse and what "burning" actually meant. that might be partly my fault since this is book three and i have not read the first two.

which is actually probably the biggest compliment i can give this book.

despite jumping into the series at book three, i enjoyed it enough that i am now considering going back and reading the first two books. my tbr did not need that, but here we are.

was it groundbreaking? not really.

were the vibes immaculate? absolutely.

thank you to the authors and netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review <3

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantasy, Dragons, and Cell Phones Walk Into a Castle

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ALC.

I picked up The Fire Bride as an ALC from NetGalley and ended up having a pretty good time with it, even if it didn’t completely stick the landing for me. The concept was immediately fun: a fantasy romance world that exists alongside modern technology. Characters live in castles, deal with fate and magic, and then casually pull out their phones. It shouldn’t work as well as it does, but honestly, I found the mashup charming.

The romance was believable, and the fated mates, grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers dynamic kept things moving. My biggest issue was that so much of the story lived inside the FMC’s head. There was a lot of internal dialogue and back-and-forth about her feelings, and by the end it felt like the relationship and the larger plot were both treading water a bit. The actual action often felt secondary to what everyone was thinking about doing.

The pacing was decent overall, though the payoff didn’t quite match the amount of buildup for me. The narration was also a little distracting because the narrator’s accent became noticeably stronger in character dialogue than during the regular narration. While I enjoyed the world and the humor, I never felt particularly emotionally invested, and most of the major developments felt predictable. Still, if you’re looking for a light fantasy romance that’s easy to listen to and doesn’t take itself too seriously, this could be a fun escape.

Who should read/listen: Readers who enjoy light fantasy romance, fated mates, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and fantasy worlds that blend modern conveniences with magical settings. Bonus points if you don’t mind a lot of character introspection.

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so bad, but unfortunately this fiery (pun intended) romantasy fell at 2 ⭐️ completely due to the audiobook narration.

Olyssa is an immortal Shapeshifter Dragon Queen whereas Taron is a mortal professor - hellbent on killing Olyssa. Their fates have been intertwined long before Taron was born due to the double-edged curse of love.

Overall, the premise was really unique. The idea that if a lover survives Olyssa’s dragon fire they are her fated mate and also become dragon shifter put an interesting spin on the saturated “fated mates” trope. The tension resulting between Olyssa and Taron builds slowly, giving the enemies-to-lovers subplot which entices you to keep going. Although this is part of an interconnected series, I didn’t feel lost without reading the previous books. There were both enough context clues and content you could piece together the plots from the preceding two books while allowing this to be a standalone.

However, the audiobook made this a feat to get through. Narrated by Nina Yndis, we are given a performance where the characters have subjectively bad German accents (not even 2x speed could save it) BUT ONLY WHEN SPEAKING. It turned what I think could have been a formidable plot and emotional character connection into something that was ingenious. I was 10% into this and already so over the narration, it overshadowed the rest of the plot for me.

🐉 Dragon shifters
🔥 Fated mates
🐉 Enemies-to-lovers
🔥 “Love is a curse”
🐉 Generational trauma

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape media, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

[Gabby S-Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was such a fun romantasy audiobook for me. I love dragons and slow burn enemies to lovers, so this really worked for my taste. Olyssa was such a strong and fiery FMC (pun intended honestly), and I liked that underneath all her power there was still loneliness and vulnerability from everything she’s been through.
The magic system was also really unique. The idea that if a lover survives her dragon fire they become her fated mate anda dragon shifter was such a cool concept and made the romance feel even more intense. The tension between Olyssa and Taron built very slowly, but in a good way. Their relationship had a lot of chemistry mixed with distrust and it kept me invested the whole time.
I also appreciated that even though this is part of an interconnected series, I never felt lost going in without reading the previous books first. It definitely worked as a standalone for me.
The audiobook narration by Nina Yndis was really well done too. Even with only one narrator, every character felt distinct and easy to follow, which made the listening experience really enjoyable.
Overall, this was dramatic, romantic, and full of dragon-filled tension. I’d definitely read more from Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe in the future.

[A Rush Of Emotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book snuck up on me in the best way. I didn't know what quite to expect from it, as I hadn't read the prior 2 books in the series, but damn did I love this one! And the narrator did an amazing job at bringing in different accents for different characters.


Right away, we meet the brutally fantastic Queen of Dragons, Olyssa. In chapter one we see her fall in love with an adversary who initially meant to slay her. Their love is fast and fierce, but ultimately is lost when her curse of having to give him immortality through her flames ends with his demise. Faced with an immortali lifetime of having to endlessly "test" her lovers with flame, she's become less trusting of any love that is brought before her.


Now, centuries later, she faces a new unassuming match in Taron Locke. He's a modern day historian, and the ancestor of a man that was once slain by Olyssa. He's determined to get his revenge, yet doesn't expect to be drawn to Olyssa as much as he is.  What is special about this book to me was how we already know their destiny of having to test their love through Olyssa's flame. We already know just how devastating it was for her to lose her first true love in such a horrible manner...yet it's easy to dive head first into wanting Taron and Olyssa to make it through to the end. 


I enjoyed this audiobook and definitely plan to read the rest in this series!

[Brea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fire Bride was a fun, fast-paced romantasy that kept me entertained from start to finish. Even though this is the third book in the series, I never felt lost and found it easy to jump into Olyssa and Taron's story. Olyssa is a powerful Dragon Queen carrying the weight of centuries of responsibility, while Taron is a dragon slayer with his own secrets and motivations. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic created plenty of tension, and I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve as loyalties, fate, and ancient curses collided.
The audiobook was easy to binge, with strong narration that kept me invested in both the romance and the action. While the accent occasionally pulled me out of the story at times, it didn't lessen my overall enjoyment. I especially loved the dragon lore, magical worldbuilding, and the twists woven throughout the plot. The story delivered a satisfying blend of romance, adventure, and fantasy, and the ending left me curious about the rest of the series.
If you enjoy dragons, fated mates, enemies-to-lovers romance, and magical worlds filled with danger and intrigue, this is an entertaining listen that's easy to get swept up in.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy of The Fire Bride. All opinions are my own. 🐉🔥📚

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A very good and fun listen! The Fire Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe is a well written enemies to lovers fantasy.

I laughed, laughed, and laughed some more. Queen Olyssa is a dragon shifter who has made enemies of the Locke family to which Professor Taron Locke, a human, belongs. Taron is duty bound to end Olyssa but events occur to prevent that from happening. Within this love story is political and familial fighting that provide more plot development for this book but intrigue for other books in the series.

Personal thoughts and feelings...I listened to this as a standalone. I LOVE Adelaide, Olyssa's sister, and cannot wait to read her story! The very, very end was a little lackluster but it was a good segway into the next book which made me wish I had immediately.

Nina Yndis did a fantastic job at narration! She made me feel as if I was in the story with the characters. Normally I listen to audiobooks at 1.5x-1.75x speed. I was able to listen to this story at 1.5x speed with no issues and was able to understand easily.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this story!

[Michelle.likestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This was a fast paced fantasy story.
I didn’t realize that this was the third book in a series, but the authors did such a fantastic job of introducing the story that I didn’t feel lost or like I was missing anything. It’s one of those series that can be started at any point.

I gave the story two peppers for spice- there were steamy kisses but no actual progression. I used the Romance.io pepper scale.

I listened to the audiobook. I wasn’t a fan of the constant switching between American and German accents, especially since the story is told in first person. Switching accents for the main character’s speaking parts felt weird. I think the narrator is very talented, and she did a great job, but the accent code switching pulled me out of the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Gena Showalter, and Jill Monroe for the advanced listener copy.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very lighthearted and easy binge read. Most definitely a bit different from book 1 and 2 in the series which is nice because it keeps the series unique and different with every new addition. (Which we already know book 4 is about Kraken’s, so even more diversity!)

Initially, despite the symptoms of the bond, I felt like the escalation of seeing each other as mortal enemies to being very cordial and willing to share intel was quite fast and abrupt. But as time went on, their hesitation and back and forth manner began to feel more natural which I enjoyed. And that plot twist at the end- totally did not see that coming. Overall a good read, but personally book 1 & 2 are more my style. I’m SO looking forward to reading Bronwyn & Sebastion’s story next eeeee!

Thank you to the authors for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this book is in a series, it seems that each book can easily be read as a stand-alone. Here we have Olyssa, a berserker, and one who killed her own love due to some prophecy. Then she ends up killing everyone in that line until we get down to Taron, who has spent his whole life preparing to take down the queen who killed his grandfather, father, etc. Of course, they are like, " Oh, you're great, let's get to know each other. Then you have a bond then everything is roses. Everything happens quickly, and the characters were just not as interesting as the ones in the first book. I didn't connect, and they felt very one-dimensional. I mean, it's ok, but it just didn't entertain me. The chemistry wasn't there; it felt too easy, too quick, and very predictable. I do look forward to the next book in this series, though, which sounds a bit more promising.

[Breanna Hillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable, fast-paced read. While I wasn't a huge fan of the accent used in the audiobook, the narrator did a great job overall.

Olyssa was a very likable protagonist, and I really enjoyed her relationship with Taron. Olyssa's passion and devotion to her kingdom was inspiring to read. I would have liked to see more interactions between Olyssa and her sisters, as those relationships felt like they had the potential for further development especially with her growth in the book.

My biggest criticism was the enemies-to-lovers romance. The transition felt a little too quick, especially considering Taron had despised Olyssa for years. I would have liked more time spent developing that change in their relationship. It is a shorter book so I can understand why this had to be.

The twist in the story was excellent and definitely left me wanting more by the end. Even though I haven't read the first two books in the series, I found this easy to follow as a standalone novel. After enjoying this one, I definitely plan to pick up the first two books and continue with the series.

[allbookedup80 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this audiobook. These are my honest opinions.

This audiobook peaked my interest. I had heard of the author but had never read any of her books prior. I did not realize that this was the third in the series. I do feel like I was at a little bit of a disadvantage initially having not read the previous the two books, but the story was pretty well explained that I knew what was going on.

The world building in this book was fantastic and it was definitely what I would consider a “high fantasy” book with immersive world building and very little spice. The audiobook narrator was fantastic and kept me very interested in the story. The twist at the end was unexpected. Overall, this was a bit of a different choice for me in the end and I’m grateful I had a chance to listen to this story unfold.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the story and the banter between Olyssa and Taron I would have enjoyed it more if it was dual POV. Taron unfortunately felt like an accessory to Olyssa. He was there but he had no real personality because it was all from her POV. Considering he’s been sneaking around her palace for months spying on her and plotting against her I would have liked to see things from his perspective instead of her seeing his memories in dreams. I wanted to be in his head as he realized he loved her and see her from his pov.

The second reason this only gets 3 stars is there is no smut. I have been reading Gena Showalter for decades and she used to do smut so well and suddenly her books are all smut free. Not even closed door just no smut at all. It’s disappointing.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the Kings of Fury series took readers in a new direction, and I was totally on board with this Berserker Queen and her fated (mortal) mate. Olyssa and Taron were enemies from the very start, but I loved that their issues with each other were completely understandable, and their hesitancy to pursue any feelings was totally justifiable. There was a history there that you don’t find often, even when dealing with immortal beings.

I loved Lyssa. She was a strong queen, but had a vulnerability about her the two previous Berserkers didn’t possess. She realized quickly that her feelings for her fire brand were coming into play, and I loved how that shaped her journey throughout the story. Showalter and Monroe gave Olyssa their unique brand of quirkiness, making the character’s dialogue and inner thoughts a fun experience all around.

I knew Jill and Gena would give us a happily ever after, so one of the things that kept me intrigued throughout the plot was just how we were going to get there. Lyssa’s love story was quite unlike the first two Berserkers’, and the uniqueness kept the Kings of Fury series exciting with this latest addition.

Both main characters put a lot on the line in The Fire Bride: her crown, his life, their very happiness and fate. It was a whirlwind adventure for them both, and I was more than happy to be along for the ride. Olyssa isn’t my favorite Berserker (that honor will always be reserved for Callen), but she was such a spitfire that it was impossible not to love her and Taron.

[Lana C · Rating 1 out of 5]

* Listened to through NetGalley*

I personally think the first book in this series was the strongest, and everything after that just went downhill for me. Each installment felt weaker than the last. This one especially came across as very YA and juvenile. I don’t mind that there’s no smut, but the writing style itself made it feel aimed at a much younger audience. The narration didn’t help either because it felt overly silly and hard to take seriously.

A lot of the time I found myself bored, and the story never really grabbed me emotionally. I understand these are supposed to work as standalones, but they also don’t feel connected enough to justify being part of the same series. Overall, I don’t have much else to say besides maybe just read the first book and leave it at that.

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really loved this series so far and I think this book is my favorite! Olyssa has been cursed for centuries and that curse is tied directly to Taron Locke. Their story is fast paced. You jump right into the action! They have such an adorable meet cute. The banter between the two is fabulous! I love all Easter Eggs that are dropped!

“Quick. Tell me something terrible about yourself.” – Olyssa to Taron I just love this quote!!!

This is a fantastic, enemies-to not enemies-to who knows, story! I know because I read the book! So, hurry up, grab this excellent read and find out for yourself!

[Meryl Markowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragon Queen Olyssa has been cursed. She loved a man, many generations ago, but he died when she burned him. Generation after generation, then men died.
There is one man left, of the family line, however her wants to kill the dragon.
Taron and Olyssa now have to work together on a quest. The longer they spend together, the closer they feel until lines become blurred......
There fun Easter Eggs, in this story, as well as feisty sisters, battles to be won, betrayals and an amazing twist.
Thank you to Gena Show alter for the advanced copy

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favorite book in the series but it was good. I like the premise of the book, the true enemies to lovers was well written. I just couldn’t connect fully to the characters or story even though there were moments I loved it. I think this book is definitely going to find its audience because who doesn’t love dragon romance where they want to kill each other but the magic makes them fall in love with each other???
The narrator did a good job with the story and all of the voice acting required to bring the story to life.

[Joanne Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance audiobook copy of The Fire Bride by Gina Showalter and Jill Monroe.

When I requested this book, I had no idea it was the third installment in a series. Fortunately, it works remarkably well as a standalone novel. I never felt lost or as though I was missing essential background information, which made it easy to become invested in the story from the very beginning.

I listened to the audiobook and found myself completely absorbed. The authors have a talent for creating engaging characters and relationships that keep readers invested. What stood out most for me was the dynamic between the two main characters. Their relationship begins with distrust, conflicting loyalties, and plenty of tension, making their eventual growth and connection all the more satisfying.

Despite not typically being a romance reader, I found this story incredibly easy to enjoy. Between the fantasy elements, magic, adventure, and slow-building romance, I ended up binge-listening to the entire audiobook in a single day. Once I started, I simply didn’t want to stop.

I especially loved the fiercely protective Dragon Queen and the way she gradually won over the dragon slayer. Their evolving relationship was one of the highlights of the book.

The audiobook narration was very well done overall. The narrator brought the story to life and kept me engaged throughout. My only minor criticism was the German accent used in the performance. For me, it felt somewhat distracting and wasn’t necessary to the overall impact of the story.

There were also a few moments where I wished certain plot points had been explored more fully, as some transitions felt a bit abrupt. However, these were minor issues in an otherwise entertaining and immersive fantasy.

Overall, The Fire Bride delivered a wonderful blend of romance, magic, and adventure. Even as someone who doesn’t normally gravitate toward romance-heavy stories, I found this one thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m now curious to explore the earlier books in the series.

[Gabby Fitzgibbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually like audiobooks with solo narrators, I usually like a full cast or dual narration to keep things distinct. But Nina Yndis completely blew me away. She was absolutely amazing. The sheer amount of raw emotion she poured into the main character had me completely gripped from the start. What impressed me even more was that I always knew exactly who was speaking without any confusion. She truly brought the world of Ashmorra, and Olyssa, to life.

Even though this book is part of a series, it is so beautifully detailed that you don’t even need to read the previous books to know what’s going on. The authors did a fantastic job of explaining, so you can jump right in without feeling lost (like me).

The romance itself was highly addictive. The chemistry between the characters, minus the forced bond (which was my favorite trope) was absolutely perfect. My only real critique is the pacing at the very tail end. I hated how quick the ending felt; it seemed like everything wrapped up a bit too fast after such a great buildup. That being said, it was still a satisfying ending to the book overall.

If you’re on the fence about a solo-narrated audiobook, let Nina Yndis change your mind with this one. A great story, incredible performance, and I highly recommend!

Rated: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

* I received a free ALC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.