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Her Hidden Fire #1
Her Hidden Fire
The first book in a searing new romantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of POWERLESS
If he has the ability to wield magical powers, everyone will rejoice – especially the girl who loves him.
But what happens when they realize she has the gift?
In a world where dragons stalk the skies and magical abilities are an elite privilege, the ruling family of Ailm’s Keep is on a knife can Ionain, the heir apparent, channel magic, or will the family be cast out and replaced by a cruel master from a neighbouring land?
So when Éadha, a servant girl who loves Ionain, discovers that she can draw power, she finds herself in grave danger. It’s extremely rare for a girl to have this talent, and certainly never outside the great families. At Ionain’s moment of truth, Éadha makes a desperate gamble to save him, Ailm’s Keep, and ultimately herself.
As Éadha and Ionain enter a whirlwind of patriarchy, class, heartache and jealousy, they learn about power’s terrible cost – a price others willingly pay to maintain theirs.
How far would you go to empower the one you love?
If he has the ability to wield magical powers, everyone will rejoice – especially the girl who loves him.
But what happens when they realize she has the gift?
In a world where dragons stalk the skies and magical abilities are an elite privilege, the ruling family of Ailm’s Keep is on a knife can Ionain, the heir apparent, channel magic, or will the family be cast out and replaced by a cruel master from a neighbouring land?
So when Éadha, a servant girl who loves Ionain, discovers that she can draw power, she finds herself in grave danger. It’s extremely rare for a girl to have this talent, and certainly never outside the great families. At Ionain’s moment of truth, Éadha makes a desperate gamble to save him, Ailm’s Keep, and ultimately herself.
As Éadha and Ionain enter a whirlwind of patriarchy, class, heartache and jealousy, they learn about power’s terrible cost – a price others willingly pay to maintain theirs.
How far would you go to empower the one you love?
410 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2026
About the author
Clíodhna O'Sullivan
2 books104 followersClíodhna O’Sullivan is a writer based in Co. Louth, Ireland. She works part-time as a legal counsel. In the last few years, she has taken part in several writer events, including as a panel moderator at a Terry Pratchett conference in DCU and panellist at the Cymera festival in Edinburgh. She’s reasonably fluent in German and plays in a band, Molasha (you can find them on Spotify!). She is married with three children, one of whom is autistic, as well as far too many cats and a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
Did Not Finish
April 13, 2026✨softdnf✨
if I'd drink a shot for every time the characters pmo, I'd not be writing this rn. I don't wanna read this now, ig I'm soft dnfing :)
✨preread✨
all the books that i have recently read were just bad (apart from one out of idk 10?) so this better deliver. There's dragons in this book, so who am I to say no 🐉
if I'd drink a shot for every time the characters pmo, I'd not be writing this rn. I don't wanna read this now, ig I'm soft dnfing :)
✨preread✨
all the books that i have recently read were just bad (apart from one out of idk 10?) so this better deliver. There's dragons in this book, so who am I to say no 🐉
November 5, 2025
Dragons + magic + kissing, set in a unique world!
Actually there was SO much f-ing kissing but never with the right guy!
This was a wild ride, a bit slow to start but picked up at 40% and then I stayed up till 2:30am to finish.
This is a rare occasion where I think it’s worth it to stick it out through the slower start. The middle is moving and the pay off at the end is worth the mild slog at the start. The potential for the rest of this series has me screaming “I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW,” despite knowing this book isn’t even released yet.
The folklore, the world, and the magic were interesting and felt fresh enough. I won’t detail specifics (potential spoiler) but I will say the author does some really cool things with the magic and the book itself feels like an allegory for a major real world problem.
Overall I had a really great time with this book and I’m definitely continuing
I do think this book has a few problems and I’m actually hopeful it’ll get a few more editing adjustments prior to pub. One of my biggest issues was repetition in the prose. We’d be told something, then told again a few paragraphs later. I am reading this quite early though (6 months prior to pub) so I’m curious to see if these will be caught as something to edit out or if it’s intentional repetition for the age rage (12+).
Whats to love…
- love triangle (I’m sat for this resurgence in these)
- interesting world, magic, folklore
- DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- hidden powers, secrets, and lies
- political intrigue
- Corrupt governments
- ridiculously passionate kissing
- utterly HATEABLE villains
Whats not to love…
- repetitive prose
- overly descriptive at times (do we need to know so many physical details about every single person we encounter?)
- all that kissing made the kiss that we want to happen lose a bit of its specialness
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Penguin for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Actually there was SO much f-ing kissing but never with the right guy!
This was a wild ride, a bit slow to start but picked up at 40% and then I stayed up till 2:30am to finish.
This is a rare occasion where I think it’s worth it to stick it out through the slower start. The middle is moving and the pay off at the end is worth the mild slog at the start. The potential for the rest of this series has me screaming “I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW,” despite knowing this book isn’t even released yet.
The folklore, the world, and the magic were interesting and felt fresh enough. I won’t detail specifics (potential spoiler) but I will say the author does some really cool things with the magic and the book itself feels like an allegory for a major real world problem.
Overall I had a really great time with this book and I’m definitely continuing
I do think this book has a few problems and I’m actually hopeful it’ll get a few more editing adjustments prior to pub. One of my biggest issues was repetition in the prose. We’d be told something, then told again a few paragraphs later. I am reading this quite early though (6 months prior to pub) so I’m curious to see if these will be caught as something to edit out or if it’s intentional repetition for the age rage (12+).
Whats to love…
- love triangle (I’m sat for this resurgence in these)
- interesting world, magic, folklore
- DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- hidden powers, secrets, and lies
- political intrigue
- Corrupt governments
- ridiculously passionate kissing
- utterly HATEABLE villains
Whats not to love…
- repetitive prose
- overly descriptive at times (do we need to know so many physical details about every single person we encounter?)
- all that kissing made the kiss that we want to happen lose a bit of its specialness
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Penguin for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
March 5, 2026
Her Hidden Fire
by Cliodhna O'Sullivan
Her Hidden Fire #1
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Mar 3, 2026
Penguin/Viking for young readers
Ages: 16+
Growing up as Ionain's companion, Eadha would do anything to assist her friend, but when she discovered she had the power to channel magic and he didn't, she saved him by sending her magic to him.
But as a girl and a servant, she wasn't supposed to have that kind of power. With the help of another, she found she could hide enough of it so to pass as a keeper, thus able to accompany Ionain to an academy of magic, where she must find a way to keep sending her magic to him to keep both of their secrets.
Paired with a heartless Channeller instead of Ionain, Eadha learns that there is a patriarchy to the school, and because she is the lowest class, she is fodder, as are those from whom the Channellers get their power from.
This story started off right away, though it was a little vague with the history and magic, but it did explain more as it went, though I still feel things are missing, which could be included in the next book of the series.
As with most 'school' stories, there is rich vs poor, highly gifted vs lesser, and all of those 'class' separations. And of course there's the 'evil bully', the innocents, and 'romantic interest'. I felt that the romance/sacrifice for love was a little repetitive, and because I'm older and have experienced the b.s. boys put girls through, I saw Eadha weak because she willingly put up with it, but I also get it. I was that person once.
Even though it's typical, the 'bully' is scary, and I can see the importance they will play in upcoming books, especially with where the magic comes from.
It was pretty clear as soon as it was introduced that the 'animal' will have a major role in this/upcoming stories, so I felt that its introduction didn't have enough 'feeling', so I didn't get attached to it. There should've been more heart in the writing to express it, but instead it felt vague/hurried, thus lazy, so the overall impact in this book was lessened.
There is violence and a little adult content, making this not suitable for readers under sixteen.
I will be looking for the next in this series.
3 Stars
by Cliodhna O'Sullivan
Her Hidden Fire #1
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Mar 3, 2026
Penguin/Viking for young readers
Ages: 16+
Growing up as Ionain's companion, Eadha would do anything to assist her friend, but when she discovered she had the power to channel magic and he didn't, she saved him by sending her magic to him.
But as a girl and a servant, she wasn't supposed to have that kind of power. With the help of another, she found she could hide enough of it so to pass as a keeper, thus able to accompany Ionain to an academy of magic, where she must find a way to keep sending her magic to him to keep both of their secrets.
Paired with a heartless Channeller instead of Ionain, Eadha learns that there is a patriarchy to the school, and because she is the lowest class, she is fodder, as are those from whom the Channellers get their power from.
This story started off right away, though it was a little vague with the history and magic, but it did explain more as it went, though I still feel things are missing, which could be included in the next book of the series.
As with most 'school' stories, there is rich vs poor, highly gifted vs lesser, and all of those 'class' separations. And of course there's the 'evil bully', the innocents, and 'romantic interest'. I felt that the romance/sacrifice for love was a little repetitive, and because I'm older and have experienced the b.s. boys put girls through, I saw Eadha weak because she willingly put up with it, but I also get it. I was that person once.
Even though it's typical, the 'bully' is scary, and I can see the importance they will play in upcoming books, especially with where the magic comes from.
It was pretty clear as soon as it was introduced that the 'animal' will have a major role in this/upcoming stories, so I felt that its introduction didn't have enough 'feeling', so I didn't get attached to it. There should've been more heart in the writing to express it, but instead it felt vague/hurried, thus lazy, so the overall impact in this book was lessened.
There is violence and a little adult content, making this not suitable for readers under sixteen.
I will be looking for the next in this series.
3 Stars
April 12, 2026
A YA fantasy much deeper than you imagine
3.5⭐
I didn't expect to find such heavy themes in "Her Hidden Fire," even though the synopsis literally mentions patriarchy, for example. In fact, until about 60% of the book, I wasn't really that engrossed in the story; I hadn't been impressed by any of the characters yet... Then Éadha captivated me.
I'll try not to give spoilers, so what I can say is that, as someone who suffered bullying as a teenager, and who is now in therapy, realizing how she never managed to overcome all that violence at school, Éadha's situation hurt me deeply. I felt very much like her, I identified with her a lot, but I don't consider that a good thing, considering she allowed herself to be used and trampled on by others, pretending to be much weaker than she clearly was. And clearly that was the author's intention, to lead Éadha and the story in a way that would make us uncomfortable with how things were unfolding.
Éadha is a beautiful character, with an admirable personality and the only one truly lucid and concerned enough about the horrible society she lives in, which uses many people as energy repositories for those in power. However, at the same time, she is giving her own magic to protect someone who clearly doesn't deserve it.
I wanted to use this as a hook to say how much I disliked Ionàin, especially the way he treated Éadha and tried to manipulate her so that everything he did seemed right because of the "theatrics they had to perform to be accepted." Would you really let the person you supposedly love suffer just to fit in? Then you are a terrible human being! Regarding Gry, I don't think I saw enough of him in the book to like or dislike him.
On the other hand, I found it admirable how well the book managed to address heavier and more important themes, such as patriarchy, prejudice, and how people in power use others for their own benefit. I don't want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers, but there's one scene in particular where I panicked, thinking something triggering for me was going to happen, but it didn't. I think not knowing whether or not it would be a theme in the book intensified how I felt about the scene. I think it was handled very well in the book.
However, I think this book suffers from the "first book in a series" syndrome (and the author's first book, if I'm correct), so a lot was thrown in throughout the book, and I didn't feel the author managed to explain everything in the 400-odd pages. But I know it's the first book in a series, so it might all be intentional, and we'll see more development in the next books. Also, if you're expecting many moments with dragons, don't expect them, or you'll be disappointed. They do exist, but they aren't that important. Perhaps they'll be more important and appear more in the next book.
Finally, I recommend it to anyone who likes YA fantasy, and I intend to read the sequel.
Full review: https://youtu.be/FzsqSyWU558
3.5⭐
I didn't expect to find such heavy themes in "Her Hidden Fire," even though the synopsis literally mentions patriarchy, for example. In fact, until about 60% of the book, I wasn't really that engrossed in the story; I hadn't been impressed by any of the characters yet... Then Éadha captivated me.
I'll try not to give spoilers, so what I can say is that, as someone who suffered bullying as a teenager, and who is now in therapy, realizing how she never managed to overcome all that violence at school, Éadha's situation hurt me deeply. I felt very much like her, I identified with her a lot, but I don't consider that a good thing, considering she allowed herself to be used and trampled on by others, pretending to be much weaker than she clearly was. And clearly that was the author's intention, to lead Éadha and the story in a way that would make us uncomfortable with how things were unfolding.
Éadha is a beautiful character, with an admirable personality and the only one truly lucid and concerned enough about the horrible society she lives in, which uses many people as energy repositories for those in power. However, at the same time, she is giving her own magic to protect someone who clearly doesn't deserve it.
I wanted to use this as a hook to say how much I disliked Ionàin, especially the way he treated Éadha and tried to manipulate her so that everything he did seemed right because of the "theatrics they had to perform to be accepted." Would you really let the person you supposedly love suffer just to fit in? Then you are a terrible human being! Regarding Gry, I don't think I saw enough of him in the book to like or dislike him.
On the other hand, I found it admirable how well the book managed to address heavier and more important themes, such as patriarchy, prejudice, and how people in power use others for their own benefit. I don't want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers, but there's one scene in particular where I panicked, thinking something triggering for me was going to happen, but it didn't. I think not knowing whether or not it would be a theme in the book intensified how I felt about the scene. I think it was handled very well in the book.
However, I think this book suffers from the "first book in a series" syndrome (and the author's first book, if I'm correct), so a lot was thrown in throughout the book, and I didn't feel the author managed to explain everything in the 400-odd pages. But I know it's the first book in a series, so it might all be intentional, and we'll see more development in the next books. Also, if you're expecting many moments with dragons, don't expect them, or you'll be disappointed. They do exist, but they aren't that important. Perhaps they'll be more important and appear more in the next book.
Finally, I recommend it to anyone who likes YA fantasy, and I intend to read the sequel.
Full review: https://youtu.be/FzsqSyWU558
February 28, 2026
Her Hidden Fire is an intriguing and unique debut by Cliodhna O’Sullivan. The worldbuilding and magic system were rich and atmospheric and immediately pulled me into the story. The hierarchy of Channellers and Keepers, the tension surrounding the Reckoning, and the political and school intrigue were all layered and immersive, and I like how the story combines political pressure, hidden magic, and an academy setting that gives off major dark academia vibes.
Éadha was such a great protagonist! She’s smart and brave, and I love how much she grows by the end of the book. Loyal and self-sacrificing, her choices often focus on others, like Ionáin, as well as the limits of her station and societal dictates, but little by little, she starts questioning what she wants for herself. Oof. She really goes through it, and there are some parts that were tough for me to read. I would definitely suggest checking out the trigger warnings before starting this one. There are a lot of odds stacked against her, and though she makes mistakes and struggles with guilt, shame, fear, and doubt, she also becomes stronger and more self-aware. The only thing I wished was that she stuck up for herself more with one of her love interests. He didn’t treat her well for a good part of the story, and I couldn’t understand why she kept sacrificing for him considering how her treated her.
The love triangle was probably my least favorite part of the book, but that is more of a personal preference since it’s never been a trope I enjoy. In this particular triangle, there’s one clear better choice. One love interest is more giving and kind, while the other seems very selfish and doesn’t treat Éadha well. I already have a favorite, but Éadha doesn’t, and I’m a little curious to see how the whole thing plays out.
The book also has an interesting plot with hidden powers, a patriarchal system riddled with secrets, lies, and manipulations that serve the societal elite. There are also a few twists and revelations about characters and how the magic works in this world, which added some interesting layers and thought-provoking messages to the story. Overall, I think this is a strong debut, and I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Éadha was such a great protagonist! She’s smart and brave, and I love how much she grows by the end of the book. Loyal and self-sacrificing, her choices often focus on others, like Ionáin, as well as the limits of her station and societal dictates, but little by little, she starts questioning what she wants for herself. Oof. She really goes through it, and there are some parts that were tough for me to read. I would definitely suggest checking out the trigger warnings before starting this one. There are a lot of odds stacked against her, and though she makes mistakes and struggles with guilt, shame, fear, and doubt, she also becomes stronger and more self-aware. The only thing I wished was that she stuck up for herself more with one of her love interests. He didn’t treat her well for a good part of the story, and I couldn’t understand why she kept sacrificing for him considering how her treated her.
The love triangle was probably my least favorite part of the book, but that is more of a personal preference since it’s never been a trope I enjoy. In this particular triangle, there’s one clear better choice. One love interest is more giving and kind, while the other seems very selfish and doesn’t treat Éadha well. I already have a favorite, but Éadha doesn’t, and I’m a little curious to see how the whole thing plays out.
The book also has an interesting plot with hidden powers, a patriarchal system riddled with secrets, lies, and manipulations that serve the societal elite. There are also a few twists and revelations about characters and how the magic works in this world, which added some interesting layers and thought-provoking messages to the story. Overall, I think this is a strong debut, and I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
February 15, 2026
thank you to netgalley for sending me this arc. as a preface, you always know by a book’s first chapter whether it’s going to be a hit or miss. this varies from author to author and highly depends upon certain factors, mainly writing style. if i can’t picture the setting which is ESPECIALLY important for a fantasy book, i’ve already knocked you down a star. off the bat, i was mildly impressed…with simple the names of our main characters ionáin and éadha (finally something unique, but don’t ask me how to pronounce either 😀), along with the concept of, “the reckoning,” a special test to determine those born with the gift.
it was also very simple to follow along with the magical and hierarchal system, including the legends behind their power origins. ‘her hidden fire,’ really diverged from the typical memes of not understanding anything that’s going on within the first 100 pages of a fantasy book. perfect for beginner fantasy readers!
our setting is in land of domhain, ruled over by the ailm family. the magical aspect is composed of, ‘channellers,’ ‘keepers,’ and even DRAGONS… yes and YES. what’s more to love? a magic training academy (a fav microtrope)! it’s located on group islands called, ‘lambay,’ where the gifted are trained by the ‘masters’. i loved reading about the variety of classes, their strength and endurance training, as well as, the many heated peer rivalries (get it heated rivalry 🤭😉).
however, there is darkness surrounding the source of their power with the reality of their magic being drawn from the fodder, people’s life force.
our young orphan, éadha, learns to navigate her newfound life as a uniquely powerful channeller, after being isolated in the keep as a servant her whole life. she struggles with maintaining this secret out of loyalty to her childhood friend/ heir and battles with the constant temptation to make certain choices that can change her future. themes of oppression, exploitation, fighting-the-system and unlikely allies are prominent. what’s a good fantasy, without a good romance subplot? it is there, but very subtle (not poppy war subtle…if you catch my meaning). there’s a potential love triangle brewing and i already know who i’m rooting for. mr “you’re worth running away for.” gry >>>. genuinely did expect to dislike ionáin, but he continuously proves to have redeeming qualities. still #teamgry. they need more scenes together please. more dragons in book 2 as well!!
sidenote 1: seoda dying gave me flashbacks to rue dying (never a good sign for my mental health).
sidenote 2: the absolute joy i felt when she revealed her powers to senan and beat him up🤩. slow burn romance? maybe? hopefully? but also slow burn power reveal. chapter 31 was EXTREMELY satisfying. difficult to put into words…
excellent for a debut novel, 4⭐️. might be the first arc that i continue reading the series!
fav quote & suiting the valentine’s theme: “this is what love is. making the hard choices, not the cleanest ones.”
it was also very simple to follow along with the magical and hierarchal system, including the legends behind their power origins. ‘her hidden fire,’ really diverged from the typical memes of not understanding anything that’s going on within the first 100 pages of a fantasy book. perfect for beginner fantasy readers!
our setting is in land of domhain, ruled over by the ailm family. the magical aspect is composed of, ‘channellers,’ ‘keepers,’ and even DRAGONS… yes and YES. what’s more to love? a magic training academy (a fav microtrope)! it’s located on group islands called, ‘lambay,’ where the gifted are trained by the ‘masters’. i loved reading about the variety of classes, their strength and endurance training, as well as, the many heated peer rivalries (get it heated rivalry 🤭😉).
however, there is darkness surrounding the source of their power with the reality of their magic being drawn from the fodder, people’s life force.
our young orphan, éadha, learns to navigate her newfound life as a uniquely powerful channeller, after being isolated in the keep as a servant her whole life. she struggles with maintaining this secret out of loyalty to her childhood friend/ heir and battles with the constant temptation to make certain choices that can change her future. themes of oppression, exploitation, fighting-the-system and unlikely allies are prominent. what’s a good fantasy, without a good romance subplot? it is there, but very subtle (not poppy war subtle…if you catch my meaning). there’s a potential love triangle brewing and i already know who i’m rooting for. mr “you’re worth running away for.” gry >>>. genuinely did expect to dislike ionáin, but he continuously proves to have redeeming qualities. still #teamgry. they need more scenes together please. more dragons in book 2 as well!!
sidenote 1: seoda dying gave me flashbacks to rue dying (never a good sign for my mental health).
sidenote 2: the absolute joy i felt when she revealed her powers to senan and beat him up🤩. slow burn romance? maybe? hopefully? but also slow burn power reveal. chapter 31 was EXTREMELY satisfying. difficult to put into words…
excellent for a debut novel, 4⭐️. might be the first arc that i continue reading the series!
fav quote & suiting the valentine’s theme: “this is what love is. making the hard choices, not the cleanest ones.”
March 29, 2026
Okayyyyy this one was unexpected. At some points I genuinely felt like I had read this before in other books & that I could easily predict where it was going, and while that is true in some parts, I’m also very surprised by everything else.
This read away so easily and was great for the physical reading slump I had. The world building is easy to follow, yet intriguing. The main characters were… Interesting (and frustrating). I loved Gry, Éadha’s development was great & Ionáin was… well… I mean I get it but he really went up and down and even more down and then up a bit and well you get the gist.
My heart broke in several scenes & others had me sick to my stomach or just pissed me off. It was a bit dark for a YA & I genuinely felt for everything Éadha and all the other characters went through.
Overall this FairyLoot pick was a great read. I doubt I would’ve picked this up otherwise & I’m really glad I did. Very excited for the sequel, which thanks to the ending I’ll need sooner rather than later!!!
This read away so easily and was great for the physical reading slump I had. The world building is easy to follow, yet intriguing. The main characters were… Interesting (and frustrating). I loved Gry, Éadha’s development was great & Ionáin was… well… I mean I get it but he really went up and down and even more down and then up a bit and well you get the gist.
My heart broke in several scenes & others had me sick to my stomach or just pissed me off. It was a bit dark for a YA & I genuinely felt for everything Éadha and all the other characters went through.
Overall this FairyLoot pick was a great read. I doubt I would’ve picked this up otherwise & I’m really glad I did. Very excited for the sequel, which thanks to the ending I’ll need sooner rather than later!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
You say dragons and magic and I am sold! No but for real, Her Hidden Fire went above my expectations and I could not put it down. What a strong debut from Clíodhna!
In this book you enter a world where magic is reserved for the elite. So when Éadha, a servant girl, finds out she can channel magic, and Ionáin, the son of the ruling family, cannot, they are in quite a pickle. Éadha decides to channel for him and let him believe he does have his own powers. Ah yes, young love and all that. When they start their training, horrible things come to light and less horrible things happen, like Gry. Man, do I love Gry!
The worldbuilding in this book is so nice. We get a good grasp of the world without it going into too much detail. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, things sometimes got a bit slow but I can definitely look past that in a first of a series. And that action-packed scenes in this book totally made up for it. The writing is really well done so honestly you read through this book so fast. The plot and story are unique and still easy to follow. The characters really drag you in, like I hated some of them with my entire being and then there were some (cough Grey cough) that I loved with all my heart.
Oh, did I mention there are also dragons?! Not too much of them in this first book, but that ending sure promises a lot of climaxes in book 2 (and 3). I'm so excited to see more of the world, dragons, characters and their journey in the rest of this trilogy!
In this book you enter a world where magic is reserved for the elite. So when Éadha, a servant girl, finds out she can channel magic, and Ionáin, the son of the ruling family, cannot, they are in quite a pickle. Éadha decides to channel for him and let him believe he does have his own powers. Ah yes, young love and all that. When they start their training, horrible things come to light and less horrible things happen, like Gry. Man, do I love Gry!
The worldbuilding in this book is so nice. We get a good grasp of the world without it going into too much detail. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, things sometimes got a bit slow but I can definitely look past that in a first of a series. And that action-packed scenes in this book totally made up for it. The writing is really well done so honestly you read through this book so fast. The plot and story are unique and still easy to follow. The characters really drag you in, like I hated some of them with my entire being and then there were some (cough Grey cough) that I loved with all my heart.
Oh, did I mention there are also dragons?! Not too much of them in this first book, but that ending sure promises a lot of climaxes in book 2 (and 3). I'm so excited to see more of the world, dragons, characters and their journey in the rest of this trilogy!
September 12, 2025
This fantasy novel delivers a rich blend of worldbuilding, courtly drama, and political maneuvering. The author skillfully crafts a realm where shifting alliances, hidden agendas, and the struggle for power feel just as dangerous as any battle fought with steel.
The characters are layered and morally complex, each driven by ambition, loyalty, or survival. Protagonists are rarely purely heroic, and antagonists are never wholly villainous—everyone operates in shades of gray, making their choices both believable and compelling. The political intrigue drives the story forward, with betrayals, secret pacts, and unexpected twists that keep the reader guessing.
The characters are layered and morally complex, each driven by ambition, loyalty, or survival. Protagonists are rarely purely heroic, and antagonists are never wholly villainous—everyone operates in shades of gray, making their choices both believable and compelling. The political intrigue drives the story forward, with betrayals, secret pacts, and unexpected twists that keep the reader guessing.
April 8, 2026
This was slow and I just felt terrible for the FMC the entire book. I really wish the magic was more explained, you just kind of get thrown right into it.
I really wish we could have gotten more scenes with the dragons. The FMC never wants to let go of the first love interest and was infuriating seeing as he definitely didn’t act like he loved her back.
I really wish we could have gotten more scenes with the dragons. The FMC never wants to let go of the first love interest and was infuriating seeing as he definitely didn’t act like he loved her back.
March 26, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Obsessed!
I was skeptical going in, since the premise for this book sounds very generic, but it didn’t feel that way to me at all while reading it. I loved the way the magic was set up in this book, I don’t see it done that way in many books and it was really interesting!
The characters were great and felt very complex (particularly for YA), making silly conclusions that teenagers would jump to, and I particularly liked that the fmc actually faces some consequences for her dumbassery! She makes mistakes and hurts people and the people do NOT sweep it under the rug and forgive her bc she’s hot or whatever. These dynamics made the love triangle actually interesting and tbh I’m not sure who I want the endgame love interest to be (although I have a feeling I know who it is)
The dragons were sparse in this book, but I can’t wait to see them (hopefully) take a larger role in the next book!
My two main critiques are that the actual world didn’t feel the most descriptive and fleshed out, it had some vibes and impressions but if we could’ve added a bit more descriptions it would’ve really put the cherry on top of everything. And the second critique is that I really dislike when the main character’s power is personified like it’s its own entity: “her power responded” or “her power blazed up in response “ etc etc. It should be an extension of the character more directly and not a separate thing (imo) but other than those two things I have no notes
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Obsessed!
I was skeptical going in, since the premise for this book sounds very generic, but it didn’t feel that way to me at all while reading it. I loved the way the magic was set up in this book, I don’t see it done that way in many books and it was really interesting!
The characters were great and felt very complex (particularly for YA), making silly conclusions that teenagers would jump to, and I particularly liked that the fmc actually faces some consequences for her dumbassery! She makes mistakes and hurts people and the people do NOT sweep it under the rug and forgive her bc she’s hot or whatever. These dynamics made the love triangle actually interesting and tbh I’m not sure who I want the endgame love interest to be (although I have a feeling I know who it is)
The dragons were sparse in this book, but I can’t wait to see them (hopefully) take a larger role in the next book!
My two main critiques are that the actual world didn’t feel the most descriptive and fleshed out, it had some vibes and impressions but if we could’ve added a bit more descriptions it would’ve really put the cherry on top of everything. And the second critique is that I really dislike when the main character’s power is personified like it’s its own entity: “her power responded” or “her power blazed up in response “ etc etc. It should be an extension of the character more directly and not a separate thing (imo) but other than those two things I have no notes
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
December 9, 2025
This book had great pacing for the story. I'm excited to read the next book!
April 3, 2026
This I think suffers from being the first book in a series but I also think it lays all the ground work for the rest of the series and I am so excited for it. The foundation is right, unique magic, DRAGONS , coming into one’s own power. Looking forward to book two. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc.
March 5, 2026
Picked this up after attending her release event at my local bookstore and have eaten it up in a day! The character connection is beautiful and absolutely dimensional. The setting is mysterious and magical and I felt so transported by the author's storytelling.
Finding hope in the darkness is such a powerful theme and one that we need a constant reminder of....I can't wait to continue the series and see where the next installment takes me
Finding hope in the darkness is such a powerful theme and one that we need a constant reminder of....I can't wait to continue the series and see where the next installment takes me
March 5, 2026
2.5/2.75 ⭐️
I’m being really harsh but I was not the target demographic for this book. I will not be keeping my Fairyloot edition so keep an eye out on my Pango I guess 😂
I’m being really harsh but I was not the target demographic for this book. I will not be keeping my Fairyloot edition so keep an eye out on my Pango I guess 😂
April 6, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Penguin Random House, for the eARC! I’m giving this book 3.5 stars rounded down to 3. Let’s get into it 👇
So overall, I’d say I liked this book. The premise was interesting, the world building ended up being easy to understand and visualise, the plot was decent. Powerless boy needs secretly powerful girl to save him? Say less.
There was a lot of this book that bored me though. I did struggle at times, particularly in the middle, to keep myself invested in the story and which direction it was going. We essentially went to a magical school to learn how to use our powers, and our fmc had to pretend to be weak so she could secretly channel her power into the mmc without anybody, including him, noticing. A lot of stuff prevents her from doing this, some more dramatic than others. She almost gets SA’d at one point?
I also was not convinced by the romance at all really. We have two potential love interests, neither of which are particularly compelling. If I had to choose, childhood friends to lovers over the random guy that’s kind of just there would be my choice, but the childhood best friend is so unlikeable for most of this book? The fmc is straight up getting borderline tortured by her classmates and he’s just hanging out with the head bully and ignoring her. He does explain why he’s doing this towards the end of the book, but his reasoning is not only weak, it’s also too, little too late. I’m not rooting for them anymore. The other guy is okay, I guess. But he doesn’t really do anything either. Neither of the options are amazing if I’m being totally honest, and I’m finding it hard to pick because there’s not really a good, clear choice.
The dragons that appear are kind of side characters, they’re there and they do stuff but it’s not like Fourth Wing where they’re talking to us and having clear personalities, or something like Game of Thrones where they’re essential for the fmc’s hostile takeover. They definitely aren’t there for nothing, but I almost didn’t notice them. Their biggest appearances occurred in the middle of the book though, which was where I was struggling the most to pay attention.
I wouldn’t say this is a bad book, I know I’ve criticised it quite heavily, but I did enjoy it, for the most part. I just found a lot of it to be quite difficult to stay focused on because there were so many parts where either nothing was happening, no romance was developing in the fantasy plot downtime, or if something WAS happening, it wasn’t particularly interesting. That’s a me thing though, I have ADHD and can’t stay focused on stuff if it’s boring for too long.
So overall, largely good, lots of interesting elements, decent plot, but interwoven with quite a large chunk of slower-paced material that I found difficult to stay interested in.
So overall, I’d say I liked this book. The premise was interesting, the world building ended up being easy to understand and visualise, the plot was decent. Powerless boy needs secretly powerful girl to save him? Say less.
There was a lot of this book that bored me though. I did struggle at times, particularly in the middle, to keep myself invested in the story and which direction it was going. We essentially went to a magical school to learn how to use our powers, and our fmc had to pretend to be weak so she could secretly channel her power into the mmc without anybody, including him, noticing. A lot of stuff prevents her from doing this, some more dramatic than others. She almost gets SA’d at one point?
I also was not convinced by the romance at all really. We have two potential love interests, neither of which are particularly compelling. If I had to choose, childhood friends to lovers over the random guy that’s kind of just there would be my choice, but the childhood best friend is so unlikeable for most of this book? The fmc is straight up getting borderline tortured by her classmates and he’s just hanging out with the head bully and ignoring her. He does explain why he’s doing this towards the end of the book, but his reasoning is not only weak, it’s also too, little too late. I’m not rooting for them anymore. The other guy is okay, I guess. But he doesn’t really do anything either. Neither of the options are amazing if I’m being totally honest, and I’m finding it hard to pick because there’s not really a good, clear choice.
The dragons that appear are kind of side characters, they’re there and they do stuff but it’s not like Fourth Wing where they’re talking to us and having clear personalities, or something like Game of Thrones where they’re essential for the fmc’s hostile takeover. They definitely aren’t there for nothing, but I almost didn’t notice them. Their biggest appearances occurred in the middle of the book though, which was where I was struggling the most to pay attention.
I wouldn’t say this is a bad book, I know I’ve criticised it quite heavily, but I did enjoy it, for the most part. I just found a lot of it to be quite difficult to stay focused on because there were so many parts where either nothing was happening, no romance was developing in the fantasy plot downtime, or if something WAS happening, it wasn’t particularly interesting. That’s a me thing though, I have ADHD and can’t stay focused on stuff if it’s boring for too long.
So overall, largely good, lots of interesting elements, decent plot, but interwoven with quite a large chunk of slower-paced material that I found difficult to stay interested in.
March 14, 2026
Set in a world where powerful families rigidly control magic, this story follows Éadha, an orphan servant girl who discovers she has this forbidden (to her) magic... one that could save the boy she loves or destroy both of them. What starts as a desperate choice quickly pulls her in over her head into a dangerous system. The VIBES (though not the darkness) and the overall atmosphere in this one reminded me a bit of A River Enchanted.
The world-building is surprisingly dark for a YA fantasy. Magic isn’t just rare, it’s sustained through something deeply disturbing, with powerless people essentially treated as expendable. It’s the kind of concept that feels uncomfortably close to things we’ve seen in real life (perhaps with a certain LIST), which gives the story WAY more bite than I expected. As always with these concepts, it is more horrifying to think about the ramifications of this element and it feels uncomfortably close to our own reality. The moral ugliness gives this story a lot more weight than you might expect for a YA book, which is something that I ADORE.
However, Éadha definitely feels her age. She makes some frustrating decisions, and yes, I rolled my eyes more than once, but it also felt realistic for someone her age suddenly thrown into a terrifying situation with very little control. Her naivety and tendency to cling to people treating her poorly can be frustrating, but they are super understandable. I, too, was an idiot at that age. This is very much a coming-of-age story wrapped in court politics and dangerous magic. And while the romantic elements are present, they don’t overwhelm the larger story. The love triangle is there, but it has a specific focus and I look forward to the love story slowly being set up here.
I’d heard the book was slow, which is true, but I NEVER felt bored. It reads like a long setup for something much bigger, carefully laying the groundwork for future books rather than rushing from plot point to plot point. The pacing feels deliberate, focused on laying groundwork rather than rushing. By the end, it feels like we’ve only just begun to understand the world and that’s exactly what made me excited to continue! We’ve only scratched the surface of this world and its darker possibilities.
Overall, this is a really strong start to a series with huge potential. The darker ideas, the oppressive system, and the promise of larger conflicts ahead all left me eager to see where the story goes next. I'm super excited to get to the next because I see the massive potential here!
Thanks so much to Storygram Tours, Penguin Teen, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
The world-building is surprisingly dark for a YA fantasy. Magic isn’t just rare, it’s sustained through something deeply disturbing, with powerless people essentially treated as expendable. It’s the kind of concept that feels uncomfortably close to things we’ve seen in real life (perhaps with a certain LIST), which gives the story WAY more bite than I expected. As always with these concepts, it is more horrifying to think about the ramifications of this element and it feels uncomfortably close to our own reality. The moral ugliness gives this story a lot more weight than you might expect for a YA book, which is something that I ADORE.
However, Éadha definitely feels her age. She makes some frustrating decisions, and yes, I rolled my eyes more than once, but it also felt realistic for someone her age suddenly thrown into a terrifying situation with very little control. Her naivety and tendency to cling to people treating her poorly can be frustrating, but they are super understandable. I, too, was an idiot at that age. This is very much a coming-of-age story wrapped in court politics and dangerous magic. And while the romantic elements are present, they don’t overwhelm the larger story. The love triangle is there, but it has a specific focus and I look forward to the love story slowly being set up here.
I’d heard the book was slow, which is true, but I NEVER felt bored. It reads like a long setup for something much bigger, carefully laying the groundwork for future books rather than rushing from plot point to plot point. The pacing feels deliberate, focused on laying groundwork rather than rushing. By the end, it feels like we’ve only just begun to understand the world and that’s exactly what made me excited to continue! We’ve only scratched the surface of this world and its darker possibilities.
Overall, this is a really strong start to a series with huge potential. The darker ideas, the oppressive system, and the promise of larger conflicts ahead all left me eager to see where the story goes next. I'm super excited to get to the next because I see the massive potential here!
Thanks so much to Storygram Tours, Penguin Teen, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
April 5, 2026
Éadha is a servant girl for one of the most powerful families of Domhain, a land were dragons rule the sky and the Noble families are in an ever-evolving power struggle to have the most powerful channelers. Her best friend Ionáin, the heir apparent, has to show the world that is is also ready to channel, but until now he has not shown any inkling of the magic required. When the moment comes, Éadha channels magic from herself to Ionáin to save him and his family, but that is only the sart of their problems. Because now both of them are shipped of to Lambay, the seat of the Masters and their bid to create the next generation of channelers, no matter the very much human cost of their power.
Pro's:
+ The background of this story and the way the magic works is very intricate and it took a lot of pages to truly explain how this world works. Between the politics and horrible nature of the masters, the setting and the romantic triangle there is a lot going on in just shy of 400 pages.
+ I think Éadha is just very relatable, a nobody thrown into a world she does not really understand and yet she might be more powerful than all of them. I liked the emphatic touch she gave to everything around her, even the dragons they all fear so much.
Con's:
- It was very hard to get into this story. I like a story that moves fast, but this story moved so fast I was very confused into the beginning and later on I felt like there was no point at all where we got a chance to process this all while reading.
- The romance triangle was completely lost on me. The relationship between between Éadha and Ionáin turned romantic with the flip of a switch and did nothing and the relations between Gry and Éadha are better, but no real fireworks there. We could have done without all of this, there was already more than enough story.
Well, reading this book feels like being hit by a bus and not in a good way. There is so much story here, from the politics, to the cruelty of this magic to a complicated world that also inhabits dragons. And on top of that we get a complicated love-triangle that nobody asked for, as a reader I felt lost in the beginning and now I'm just tired. I secretly also expected more of an Irish mythology-esque twist to this story, but only the names of the characters were Irish inspired. This book was not it for me and I will evaluate if I'm interested enough to pick-up the next book in this series in the future, since I'm not sure about that at all.
Pro's:
+ The background of this story and the way the magic works is very intricate and it took a lot of pages to truly explain how this world works. Between the politics and horrible nature of the masters, the setting and the romantic triangle there is a lot going on in just shy of 400 pages.
+ I think Éadha is just very relatable, a nobody thrown into a world she does not really understand and yet she might be more powerful than all of them. I liked the emphatic touch she gave to everything around her, even the dragons they all fear so much.
Con's:
- It was very hard to get into this story. I like a story that moves fast, but this story moved so fast I was very confused into the beginning and later on I felt like there was no point at all where we got a chance to process this all while reading.
- The romance triangle was completely lost on me. The relationship between between Éadha and Ionáin turned romantic with the flip of a switch and did nothing and the relations between Gry and Éadha are better, but no real fireworks there. We could have done without all of this, there was already more than enough story.
Well, reading this book feels like being hit by a bus and not in a good way. There is so much story here, from the politics, to the cruelty of this magic to a complicated world that also inhabits dragons. And on top of that we get a complicated love-triangle that nobody asked for, as a reader I felt lost in the beginning and now I'm just tired. I secretly also expected more of an Irish mythology-esque twist to this story, but only the names of the characters were Irish inspired. This book was not it for me and I will evaluate if I'm interested enough to pick-up the next book in this series in the future, since I'm not sure about that at all.
April 1, 2026
3.5⭐️
Her Hidden Fire had a bit of a slow start for me, I’m not gonna lie, but by the end, I can definitely see the potential for this to turn into a really solid YA fantasy series.
It took me a while to properly connect with the characters (honestly not until around the 60% mark), and I think that’s mainly because there was a lot of telling rather than showing when it came to their relationships and the world-building. I didn’t feel fully immersed at the beginning, which made it harder to get invested early on. Once things picked up though, I was more into it.
I did really enjoy the almost academy-style setting, but I would’ve loved to see more of the outside world too. That said, it definitely feels like something that’ll expand in the next books, so I’m not too worried about it yet.
The story itself was interesting, and I liked the folkloric elements woven in, it gave it a nice, slightly different feel. I just wish we got more from the dragons. It feels like such a big, exciting part of the story, but it didn’t quite go deep enough here for me to be fully invested in that side of things.
Overall, this wasn’t a perfect read for me, but I can see the potential. If the next books build on this, stronger character connection, more immersive world-building, and leaning into the dragons, I’d definitely keep reading
Her Hidden Fire had a bit of a slow start for me, I’m not gonna lie, but by the end, I can definitely see the potential for this to turn into a really solid YA fantasy series.
It took me a while to properly connect with the characters (honestly not until around the 60% mark), and I think that’s mainly because there was a lot of telling rather than showing when it came to their relationships and the world-building. I didn’t feel fully immersed at the beginning, which made it harder to get invested early on. Once things picked up though, I was more into it.
I did really enjoy the almost academy-style setting, but I would’ve loved to see more of the outside world too. That said, it definitely feels like something that’ll expand in the next books, so I’m not too worried about it yet.
The story itself was interesting, and I liked the folkloric elements woven in, it gave it a nice, slightly different feel. I just wish we got more from the dragons. It feels like such a big, exciting part of the story, but it didn’t quite go deep enough here for me to be fully invested in that side of things.
Overall, this wasn’t a perfect read for me, but I can see the potential. If the next books build on this, stronger character connection, more immersive world-building, and leaning into the dragons, I’d definitely keep reading
March 14, 2026
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O'Sullivan is an excellent debut, I loved the magical elements and the world in which this tale that is set. Imagine a training academy on a group of islands where dragons fly above.
The magical system is so unique and Eadha the lead female character is brave and loyal and a likeable heroine. Eadha grew up an orphan and sheep herder and a companion and shadow for Ionian a male heir who once he turned seventeen would find out if he had the ability to channel magic otherwise his family would lose everything. Eadha who loves Ionian takes a desperate gamble when Ionian is tested for the gift of Channeling.
The corrupted and violent realm is driven by survival and ambition, there are bullies, shifting alliances and struggles for power. The Masters ensure Channellers get hooked on power and they can’t imagine life without it.
There is a love triangle, heartache and jealously, secrets and of course there is a dragon! A real page turner and I highly recommend.
I enjoyed the ending and I’m absolutely invested to see where the series goes next! Her Rising Flame is the next book which I believe will be released later this year.
Publication Date 10 March 2026
Publisher Penguin
Thank you so much Penguin Books Australia & Penguin Teen Australia for a copy of the book
Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O'Sullivan is an excellent debut, I loved the magical elements and the world in which this tale that is set. Imagine a training academy on a group of islands where dragons fly above.
The magical system is so unique and Eadha the lead female character is brave and loyal and a likeable heroine. Eadha grew up an orphan and sheep herder and a companion and shadow for Ionian a male heir who once he turned seventeen would find out if he had the ability to channel magic otherwise his family would lose everything. Eadha who loves Ionian takes a desperate gamble when Ionian is tested for the gift of Channeling.
The corrupted and violent realm is driven by survival and ambition, there are bullies, shifting alliances and struggles for power. The Masters ensure Channellers get hooked on power and they can’t imagine life without it.
There is a love triangle, heartache and jealously, secrets and of course there is a dragon! A real page turner and I highly recommend.
I enjoyed the ending and I’m absolutely invested to see where the series goes next! Her Rising Flame is the next book which I believe will be released later this year.
Publication Date 10 March 2026
Publisher Penguin
Thank you so much Penguin Books Australia & Penguin Teen Australia for a copy of the book
February 28, 2026
Her Hidden Fire by Cliodhna O’ Sullivan
Thank You NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is Book 1 of a new romantasy trilogy. It is a Young Adult novel. Eadha and Ionain grew up together. Ionain, the male heir, is from a well-to-do family and Eadha grew up in their household as a servant girl. There is a reckoning coming for all those turning 17 years old. They are al tested to see who has the ability to wield and channel magic. Whoever cannot, the entire family is cast out. Unfortunately, Ionain is unable to wield. But Eadha realizes she has a great power in her. She decides to help Ionain without telling him and channels her power to him, but she keeps her ability hidden from everyone. Those with power get sent to a special school to train. Ionain becomes a Channeler and Eadha a mere Keeper. But so much more is going on. People are being used as Fodder, a form of power the channelers pull from to wield, but ends up killing many innocents in the process. When Eadha finds out from her friendship with fellow keeper, Gry, she wants to do something about it!
I don’t want to spoil anything so I will stop her. There is lots of action, kissing, love triangle, magic, secrets, dragons, fighting, and a corrupt government! I really enjoyed reading this and cannot wait to find out what happens in the rest of the trilogy. AVAILABLE March 3, 2026
Thank You NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is Book 1 of a new romantasy trilogy. It is a Young Adult novel. Eadha and Ionain grew up together. Ionain, the male heir, is from a well-to-do family and Eadha grew up in their household as a servant girl. There is a reckoning coming for all those turning 17 years old. They are al tested to see who has the ability to wield and channel magic. Whoever cannot, the entire family is cast out. Unfortunately, Ionain is unable to wield. But Eadha realizes she has a great power in her. She decides to help Ionain without telling him and channels her power to him, but she keeps her ability hidden from everyone. Those with power get sent to a special school to train. Ionain becomes a Channeler and Eadha a mere Keeper. But so much more is going on. People are being used as Fodder, a form of power the channelers pull from to wield, but ends up killing many innocents in the process. When Eadha finds out from her friendship with fellow keeper, Gry, she wants to do something about it!
I don’t want to spoil anything so I will stop her. There is lots of action, kissing, love triangle, magic, secrets, dragons, fighting, and a corrupt government! I really enjoyed reading this and cannot wait to find out what happens in the rest of the trilogy. AVAILABLE March 3, 2026
April 5, 2026
I don’t think even the book knew what it wanted to be
August 20, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
I was a little apprehensive about the Powerless comparison because I don't like books that read as a list of tropes. However, I also don't take book comparisons too seriously because I've found comparisons to other popular books to only be ~40% accurate. I do think the Powerless comparison wasn't very accurate because technically the general idea of people with magical powers vs people without was there but there really wasn't anything in common. I can see the appeal of Powerless because of it's trope-y writing but this book didn't really seem to have tropes.
Initially, I wasn't going to request this book but the references in the blurb to a patriarchal society got me excited because I love feminist-rage books and critiques of the patriarchy. Having a fantasy book also based off of Ireland was definitely a unique choice as the generically British and French fantasy settings, or German if the author is feeling spicy, tends to get a little dull.
There's a helpful pronunciation guide in the beginning that I liked as well as a handy little map too. Starting the book out with an established romantic relationship was definitely a refreshing choice. I like seeing characters with a clearly defined love interest rather then the angsty and overdone will-they-will-they-won't. I loved how the relationship between Éadha and Ionain was done! It was so different and refreshing and they actually felt like people with personalities outside of each other. I didn't like though, that Éadha kept it a secret that she was a Channeler and was faking Ionain's powers from Ionain as I feel like it would have been much more interesting had they been plotting together.
The writing style was definitely very interesting. It actually reminds me of The Luck Uglies in that it's very fantastical and easy-to-read but with a certain grittiness to it. The world-building was fascinating too. There are layers of patriarchy, class, and privilege that feel all-too-real like the way that using channeling literally drains energy out from innocent people (I saw that coming but the metaphor was done so beautifully) so that the powerful (and rich) could benefit.
I will say that I wish the differences between a Keeper and a Channeler were explained a little better. I wasn't exactly sure what exactly a Keeper was and what powers they have that made them different and weaker then Channelers.
TW: Sexual Assualt
I was a little apprehensive about the Powerless comparison because I don't like books that read as a list of tropes. However, I also don't take book comparisons too seriously because I've found comparisons to other popular books to only be ~40% accurate. I do think the Powerless comparison wasn't very accurate because technically the general idea of people with magical powers vs people without was there but there really wasn't anything in common. I can see the appeal of Powerless because of it's trope-y writing but this book didn't really seem to have tropes.
Initially, I wasn't going to request this book but the references in the blurb to a patriarchal society got me excited because I love feminist-rage books and critiques of the patriarchy. Having a fantasy book also based off of Ireland was definitely a unique choice as the generically British and French fantasy settings, or German if the author is feeling spicy, tends to get a little dull.
There's a helpful pronunciation guide in the beginning that I liked as well as a handy little map too. Starting the book out with an established romantic relationship was definitely a refreshing choice. I like seeing characters with a clearly defined love interest rather then the angsty and overdone will-they-will-they-won't. I loved how the relationship between Éadha and Ionain was done! It was so different and refreshing and they actually felt like people with personalities outside of each other. I didn't like though, that Éadha kept it a secret that she was a Channeler and was faking Ionain's powers from Ionain as I feel like it would have been much more interesting had they been plotting together.
The writing style was definitely very interesting. It actually reminds me of The Luck Uglies in that it's very fantastical and easy-to-read but with a certain grittiness to it. The world-building was fascinating too. There are layers of patriarchy, class, and privilege that feel all-too-real like the way that using channeling literally drains energy out from innocent people (I saw that coming but the metaphor was done so beautifully) so that the powerful (and rich) could benefit.
I will say that I wish the differences between a Keeper and a Channeler were explained a little better. I wasn't exactly sure what exactly a Keeper was and what powers they have that made them different and weaker then Channelers.
TW: Sexual Assualt
Read
February 23, 2026This was heavy for a YA, but I really enjoyed it
A critique of patriarchal society and the subjugation (literally and metaphorically) it demands, and how one yields, or learns a new way of power
I liked the main character's fire (haha) and the descriptions of the magic were beautiful (silver fish! such a lovely choice!)
Why are we doing all this for a man girl x
Disclaimer I work for PRH, not involved in book production!
A critique of patriarchal society and the subjugation (literally and metaphorically) it demands, and how one yields, or learns a new way of power
I liked the main character's fire (haha) and the descriptions of the magic were beautiful (silver fish! such a lovely choice!)
Why are we doing all this for a man girl x
Disclaimer I work for PRH, not involved in book production!
November 2, 2025
I really enjoyed reading Her Hidden Fire! A fantasy story set in a Irish-like world, filled with dragons and magic. It was slow to start out, but the final half made me glad that I stuck with it! The author does an amazing job of making the story both relatable and heart wrenching.
The main character, Éadha, was very easy to root for. She had a strong spirit, and cared deeply about others. She constantly questioned the unjust norms of her society, even when she later paid the price for it. Her bravery and courage throughout the story was inspiring. My only complaint with her was her initial choice in men! (She deserved so much better!)
I can't wait to read the next two books!
Thank you Penguin Teen for an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
The main character, Éadha, was very easy to root for. She had a strong spirit, and cared deeply about others. She constantly questioned the unjust norms of her society, even when she later paid the price for it. Her bravery and courage throughout the story was inspiring. My only complaint with her was her initial choice in men! (She deserved so much better!)
I can't wait to read the next two books!
Thank you Penguin Teen for an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
August 29, 2025
I AM COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. It made me ache from the inside out. The forbidden love that creates a pull to do the unthinkable, until the pressure becomes unbearable and you must face the question of whether it can withstand the strain. THE DRAGONS, something so subtle, but incredibly important and always there. The magic system that upholds power, and those that are fighting, in their own ways, to bring that power away from those who have warped it for their own gain.
This book is incredible. It is everything fantasy is supposed to be, and I love it with my whole entire heart. It is a gut-punch, but is is one that that is so spectacular.
This book is incredible. It is everything fantasy is supposed to be, and I love it with my whole entire heart. It is a gut-punch, but is is one that that is so spectacular.
February 21, 2026
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This was an ARC I got at the AASL convention back in October. I know my high school students want to read more romantasy as it gets bigger, and while I do have Fourth Wing in my library, I am always open to more geared to the YA level stories whenever possible. And this book definitely is perfect for that. Not only is it perfect for the age level, I loved the story so much! It had me not wanting to stop reading after lunch break, to go to bed, etc.
Now, at first, I did have a little trouble trying to remember how to actually pronounce all the names with their Irish spellings. So much whenever those names came up, at first I was repeating them out loud as I read. Don't get me wrong, I love that kind of thing, but it did take me a minute. Once I got going in the story though, I was too hooked and devouring every word to be tripped up by that though.
This story may end up with a bit of a love triangle, but personally I would not be shipping Éadha with her childhood best friend Ionain. No matter how he explains away that the way he treated or snubbed her as being what was best to keep her safe, still no. At certain points if I was Éadha I would have gone ahead and let everyone know I was the one with the power, not him.
However as we get farther into the story, we learn that if she did do this, she wouldn't be welcomed with the power as the others were from their own reckonings, because she is no one. Not one of the families that the Channelers come from, or have always come from. There is a moment with a dragon towards the beginning of the story, and I wanted from that moment more of the dragon, I knew that there had to be more to their part of the story, and when we get it later on, I was even more hooked on the story.
The way the end of the story was going, and knowing there is at least one more book, I was so scared about how we would end. I could see so many of the bad things happening and that being where we were left off, worrying about Éadha. Fortunately, the story went way past that and the ending was so good! While it could possibly be an ending if for some reason they don't publish the next book, it also left us with more things to learn about this world, and to see Éadha help change the world for the better, to get it away from these elite families who only want to do things their way, a horrible way for others who they use as fodder to feed their power.
A wonderful story, and I think maybe book 2 comes out later this year? At least that is what it says on Goodreads and I hope that is true, because I can't wait!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
Now, at first, I did have a little trouble trying to remember how to actually pronounce all the names with their Irish spellings. So much whenever those names came up, at first I was repeating them out loud as I read. Don't get me wrong, I love that kind of thing, but it did take me a minute. Once I got going in the story though, I was too hooked and devouring every word to be tripped up by that though.
This story may end up with a bit of a love triangle, but personally I would not be shipping Éadha with her childhood best friend Ionain. No matter how he explains away that the way he treated or snubbed her as being what was best to keep her safe, still no. At certain points if I was Éadha I would have gone ahead and let everyone know I was the one with the power, not him.
However as we get farther into the story, we learn that if she did do this, she wouldn't be welcomed with the power as the others were from their own reckonings, because she is no one. Not one of the families that the Channelers come from, or have always come from. There is a moment with a dragon towards the beginning of the story, and I wanted from that moment more of the dragon, I knew that there had to be more to their part of the story, and when we get it later on, I was even more hooked on the story.
The way the end of the story was going, and knowing there is at least one more book, I was so scared about how we would end. I could see so many of the bad things happening and that being where we were left off, worrying about Éadha. Fortunately, the story went way past that and the ending was so good! While it could possibly be an ending if for some reason they don't publish the next book, it also left us with more things to learn about this world, and to see Éadha help change the world for the better, to get it away from these elite families who only want to do things their way, a horrible way for others who they use as fodder to feed their power.
A wonderful story, and I think maybe book 2 comes out later this year? At least that is what it says on Goodreads and I hope that is true, because I can't wait!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
March 16, 2026
Sometimes societies are not as they seem, sometimes they hold deep dark secrets. To hold the power that these secrets are intertwined in the government must control their people. Unfortunately Eadha lives under this communist like rule.
The people are told what to do and if they step out of line they are taken care of.
Eadha does not realize how deep this corruption runs until she helps her friend Ionain pass a test. The two travel to a well known training facility that the commoners can only dream of going to. Here they are wined and dined and taught the ways of deception and a path to heartlessness. Magic powers are the main focus of this school, learn to harness them and protect your kingdom, feed your people, or so they want you to believe.
Through this journey Eadha realizes her powers are not normal as the other students, but something special. Something her government wants to hide and abolish. For if this power is acknowledged to exist it could crumple the existing system and turn the pages on a government for the people and not against them.
I tried very hard not to give anything away! This I found to be a very intriguing book. It kept me wanting to read and turning the pages. It is a longer read, but it is full of excitement. Be prepared to binge read.
If I had to compare it, it would be to hunger games and twilight due to the love triangles and government systems in place in the book.
This book unfortunately can not be used for my classroom due to the things I have listed below that are not ok for sensitive readers. I can recommend it for a good read. Ages 15 + to understand the seriousness and weight of the situations. I think 12 may still be a little young for some readers to understand what some of the situations mean that arise and how wrong and serious in real life they are.
Be aware this book is not cozy and is fast paced action almost throughout.
Spoilers and stuff for sensitive readers: so do not scroll down if you want to be surprised.
There are many scenes of making out, but no closed door scenes.
There is attempted rape that is talked through in detail
Curse words including the F word and B word
Death and torture
Blood
The people are told what to do and if they step out of line they are taken care of.
Eadha does not realize how deep this corruption runs until she helps her friend Ionain pass a test. The two travel to a well known training facility that the commoners can only dream of going to. Here they are wined and dined and taught the ways of deception and a path to heartlessness. Magic powers are the main focus of this school, learn to harness them and protect your kingdom, feed your people, or so they want you to believe.
Through this journey Eadha realizes her powers are not normal as the other students, but something special. Something her government wants to hide and abolish. For if this power is acknowledged to exist it could crumple the existing system and turn the pages on a government for the people and not against them.
I tried very hard not to give anything away! This I found to be a very intriguing book. It kept me wanting to read and turning the pages. It is a longer read, but it is full of excitement. Be prepared to binge read.
If I had to compare it, it would be to hunger games and twilight due to the love triangles and government systems in place in the book.
This book unfortunately can not be used for my classroom due to the things I have listed below that are not ok for sensitive readers. I can recommend it for a good read. Ages 15 + to understand the seriousness and weight of the situations. I think 12 may still be a little young for some readers to understand what some of the situations mean that arise and how wrong and serious in real life they are.
Be aware this book is not cozy and is fast paced action almost throughout.
Spoilers and stuff for sensitive readers: so do not scroll down if you want to be surprised.
There are many scenes of making out, but no closed door scenes.
There is attempted rape that is talked through in detail
Curse words including the F word and B word
Death and torture
Blood
March 3, 2026
HER HIDDEN FIRE - CLIODHNA O'SULLIVAN
Her Hidden Fire is the first book of what promises to be an excellent young adult romantic fantasy trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book. Although the story starts off slowly, and there's a fair bit of repetition, I LOVED the build up to and the perfect execution of *that* ending.
Éadha is an orphaned servant girl who has grown up with Ionain, the son of the ruling family who lives at Ailm’s Keep. As they grow up, their friendship starts to turn into something more - until it's time for Ionain's Reckoning, where it will be discovered whether he can draw magical power or not. When Éadha discovers that she can draw magic while Ionain cannot, she makes a decision that kickstarts a dangerous series of events that neither of them can stop.
Rich with Irish folklore and language, Her Hidden Fire exposes a magical system that carries a disgusting cost, whilst being upheld by patriarchy and elitism. The stakes are increasingly heightened, especially as Éadha finds it almost impossible to keep acting as Ionain's source of power.
I won't say anymore except for this: there are dragons too. I thoroughly recommend this book, and thank Cliodhna O'Sullivan and the publisher for the chance to read it.
Release date: 5 March
Review score: 4.5/5
TWs: d*ath, v*olence, injury detail, t*rture, misogyny, s*xual assault
Her Hidden Fire is the first book of what promises to be an excellent young adult romantic fantasy trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book. Although the story starts off slowly, and there's a fair bit of repetition, I LOVED the build up to and the perfect execution of *that* ending.
Éadha is an orphaned servant girl who has grown up with Ionain, the son of the ruling family who lives at Ailm’s Keep. As they grow up, their friendship starts to turn into something more - until it's time for Ionain's Reckoning, where it will be discovered whether he can draw magical power or not. When Éadha discovers that she can draw magic while Ionain cannot, she makes a decision that kickstarts a dangerous series of events that neither of them can stop.
Rich with Irish folklore and language, Her Hidden Fire exposes a magical system that carries a disgusting cost, whilst being upheld by patriarchy and elitism. The stakes are increasingly heightened, especially as Éadha finds it almost impossible to keep acting as Ionain's source of power.
I won't say anymore except for this: there are dragons too. I thoroughly recommend this book, and thank Cliodhna O'Sullivan and the publisher for the chance to read it.
Release date: 5 March
Review score: 4.5/5
TWs: d*ath, v*olence, injury detail, t*rture, misogyny, s*xual assault
February 14, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
I devoured this!! I couldn’t put the book down, I’m intrigued by the unique magic and where the plot will take us in book 2 after the revelations we had in book 1.
I’m so livid at some of the character choices because where did your sense go in certain situations and some characters had such an inflated sense of self importance I needed the FMC to drop the nice girl vibes and beat people up. We get some real villains in this like completely bad vibes, no redemption arc on the horizon. Then we get characters worth fighting for and really renew your faith in people, but the nice ones never get what they deserve I fear.
I’m excited to see how the world opens up in book 2 as we expand on the betrayals, political structure and questionable choices we’ve come to know in book 1. My heart breaks for the FMC even though she’s one of my questionable choice makers, she has a heart of gold and I think it’ll have to severely harden in book 2.
There’s a yearning and longing in this book I haven’t seen in a little while and I loved it. The story isnt romance heavy, but connection and loyalty is a strong motivator for our FMC and I’ll be keen to see where that leads her.
I devoured this!! I couldn’t put the book down, I’m intrigued by the unique magic and where the plot will take us in book 2 after the revelations we had in book 1.
I’m so livid at some of the character choices because where did your sense go in certain situations and some characters had such an inflated sense of self importance I needed the FMC to drop the nice girl vibes and beat people up. We get some real villains in this like completely bad vibes, no redemption arc on the horizon. Then we get characters worth fighting for and really renew your faith in people, but the nice ones never get what they deserve I fear.
I’m excited to see how the world opens up in book 2 as we expand on the betrayals, political structure and questionable choices we’ve come to know in book 1. My heart breaks for the FMC even though she’s one of my questionable choice makers, she has a heart of gold and I think it’ll have to severely harden in book 2.
There’s a yearning and longing in this book I haven’t seen in a little while and I loved it. The story isnt romance heavy, but connection and loyalty is a strong motivator for our FMC and I’ll be keen to see where that leads her.
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