Fireborne is a young adult fantasy novel written by Rosaria Munda. The book is set to be published on October 15, 2019.
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Synopsis
Game of Thrones meets Red Rising in a debut young adult fantasy that’s full of rivalry, romance… and dragons.
Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone—even the lowborn—a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.
Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different. Annie’s lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee’s aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.
But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.
With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he’s come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.
From debut author Rosaria Munda comes a gripping adventure that calls into question which matters most: the family you were born into, or the one you’ve chosen.
- Author: Rosaria Munda
- Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
- Publication Date: October 15, 2019
- Book Length: 448 pages
- Genre: YA Fantasy
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Review
Fireborne is a compelling young adult fantasy novel written by Rosaria Munda. Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, the book will be released on October 15, 2019. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Lee and Annie are orphans, surviving victims of the Revolution, when powerful families and dragonlords were killed during a coup to return power to the commoners and put an end to the famine. Lee is a dragonlord who is posing as a peasant, while Annie saw her family burned to death by a dragonlord’s dragon.
At only eight years old, Lee and Annie meet at an orphanage and forge an unlikely bond. They grow up together and share the same dreams. Ten years later, they participate in a tournament to be part of the Fourth Order. This is their chance to make a name for themselves, a chance to become a Firstrider, a commander of the dragon fleet, ready to fight all enemies to the new regime. As they near their goals, their pasts resurface, putting them at odds. A threat from another city is going to test both their characters and their bond, especially when the threats come from other survivors of the Revolution, Lee’s family.
This book has a wonderful premise. This plot is original, and I adored the unique use of dragons and how the riders communicate with the dragons. The backstory is detailed and well thought through, making it easy for readers to project themselves into the fantasy world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the conflicts, including the internal conflicts, that both characters faced, which kept me on my toes.
I am not much into political intrigues and strictly political talk, but this book treated these well. The flashbacks provide insights into how the two characters became so close; however, while these were interesting, they slowed down the story at times. I loved the complexity of the relationship between Lee and Annie and the fact that Annie is not portrayed as a typical hero. She has her own demons and her own fights to win, and she is both strong and vulnerable at the same time. Lee also faces many challenges, and I started to root for him early in the book. Both characters are relatable yet flawed.
The only thing I did not enjoy about the story was the romance. The second love interests each character has were too much. I loved the relationship between the two main characters, which is complex, intense, and genuine. I guess it depends on whether you enjoy love triangles. This was not for me, but romance and pacing issues aside, this book was a fun read. I believe that the next book will be even stronger in action and with the romance, but that’s only a guess. I recommend that you read it. If you have not already, you will fall in love with dragons.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
About Rosaria Munda
Rosaria grew up in rural North Carolina, where she climbed trees, read Harry Potter fanfiction, and taught herself Latin. She studied political theory at Princeton and lives in Chicago with her husband and cat.
For book recs and updates, follow her on instagram: @rosariamunda
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Book Excerpt
Giveaway
PRIZE: Win (1) of (2) copies of Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1) by Rosaria Munda (US/CAN Only)
Starts: October 9, 2019 – Ends: October 9, 2019
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