Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
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Fireborne
In Fireborne by Rosaria Munda, two orphaned dragonriders, Annie and Lee, rise through the ranks of a new regime built after a revolution that toppled a brutal aristocracy. As tensions rise with the threat of a returning power and hidden truths come to light, both must navigate questions of loyalty, identity, and justice in a world still healing from war. The characters in the book felt very real to me, I often felt the characters' emotion while reading due to the author's use of rich descriptive words. As I read Fireborne, the suspensefulness of Lee's secret and the way he was rising to the upper echelons of the new regime made me sit on the edge of my seat waiting for the next page. My favorite part of the book was when Annie realized that Atreus was favoring the upper classes of people by giving them more rations. Annie is conflicted because growing up as a poor orphan due to the struggles of war, she can relate with the lower class. I thought that the theme of the book was great, it explores the idea of the moral complexity of revolution and having characters torn between loyalty, identity, and justice. I didn't have anything to dislike about Fireborne. If I were to recommend this book I would recommend it to any Hunger games lover, someone who loves action, fantasy, politics, and rebellion. Overall my rating of a 5/5 is due to the high quality of characters, world building and moral dilemmas, these qualities are what matters most to me when reading a book.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Welcome to your new Fantasy addiction
Fireborne is book one in The Aurelian Cycle by Rosaria Munda and has made them a go-to author in the fantasy genre because this book was absolutely incredible and had me hooked from the first page due to incredible world-building that has you drawn in, along with the social dynamics of characters both those in the forefront of the story along with secondary ones. Set in the years after a revolution that had the aristocracy brought to their knees , our protagonists Annie and Lee have grown from orphans and allies in the bid to survive among the many struggling children, to competitors in the bid to be a dragonrider and add their name to those of legend. Their journey to this point is written with thought and careful moments that provide insight into how far the two have come and offer the reader the opportunity to walk alongside them and show us how similar and yet, vastly different the two are. Giving us insight into their worst moments, of the tragedies the two have experienced ensures that we see how these tragedies have shaped the two into becoming the fierce young adults they have become at this point. What I really liked is how Munda doesn’t shy away from what a revolution can look like for those involved whether indirectly or directly as the case maybe. To bring about change, things can and often will be bloody, and decisions are often made in haste that leave situations unresolved. She shows how no matter who is in power, there are always victims and sacrifices to be made and also how sometimes, in the years after bringing down one power - for the majority nothing has really changed and this is really shown in FIreborne. The original dragonriders may well be gone, but discontent is brewing and it’s not so quiet and growing fast. Lee and Annie’s stories have moments where they cross over, or clash at times and when truths come out? You see the two forced to see what life is like without the other there and how trust can be as fragile and the lack of it is as fractured ice on a fast paced river - dangerous at best, deadly at worst. Munda has woven together their story in a wonderful manner, giving us a more insular insight on what is happening around them, and whilst succeeding as Dragonriders may well provide them with the opportunity to succeed and fight back against those in power? Survival might well be more important, and not just in the contests they’re about to face. This is a wonderful beginning to a series of three books, filled with political machinations made by the most slippery of people - Munda writes a perfect set of characters who are true villains because so many of them, given the opportunity, would tell you with a straight face that they’re anything but bad.. Our heroes are many, and they are far from infallible, forced to make decisions that go against their own values because they’re facing a rock and a very hard place. Plus… dragons who are wonderful and add just a little magic to the chaos Annie, Lee and their friends and foes are in. I loved book one, and then swiftly devoured the other two and was left with a book hangover and wanting more from this wonderfully insightful, talented author.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Dragons? Say no more.
Dragons? Say no more. Plot- 4/5🔆 Spice- 0/5🌶️ Romance-1/5💗 I REALLY enjoyed this book. A YA dragon story that has a lot of detailed plot and AMAZING character building. I am absolutely foaming at the mouth to read the second book. Things you'll find in this book: 🔘Dual perspectives 🔘Epic world building 🔘Lots of plot detail and politicking 🔘Very real feeling characters First off, I love Annie and Lee. I think getting both their perspectives as the the story went on really added to the layers of character development and understanding. I generally do not like dual perspectives but I think the author did it really well! Another thing I generally do not like is flashback moments in between the regular plot. In this case again, the author surprised me, and I found the flashbacks helping add to my love of Annie and Lee as people. It seems like most stories end up with a clear enemy or hated character, but I feel like I ended up liking all of the characters in this book despite their very human flaws. I can see how maybe going forward there could be some more "enemy-esque" characters coming into play. I feel like I have been really into new adult, slightly spicy, romance fantasy's lately, so I am always surprised when I am left so happy after reading a YA novel. I am going to continue the series.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fast paced and couldn't put it down!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am excited to continue on with the series. We follow Lee and Annie who, nine years prior, when a revolution overthrew the monarchy of Dragonlords, became orphans and friends at the orphanage they lived. We see snippets of the past woven into present day where Annie and Lee have both risen in the ranks of this ‘new’ regime but it seems the past is not all wiped out and another war becomes imminent. The plot of this book is intriguing, filled with reveals and high-stakes and is fast pacing & easy to binge. The characters are complex and well written. I feel like the topics of death, grief, trauma, friendship and family are huge and done very well. Also, the topics of politics, propaganda, hierarchy, classism, & elitism are also done very well. I finished this book and felt so many different emotions, it made me think about the choices I make and we make as a collective society, the idea of a “greater good” and/or “choosing the lessor evil” which can be covers for cruelty, greed, and power. A five star read for me! Loved this!
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Best Book!
hen I first picked up this book, I was excited. The cover of the dragon surrounded by red just stood out to me more than any other book I had picked up. I knew I would enjoy it. Having high expectations usually leads to let down however Fireborn lived up to them and even surpassed them. The characters were my favorite thing about this book. Sure, the plot was amazing with its high action-packed tournament duels and its realistic drama however what really sold it to me was the fully-developed characters. Annie and Lee felt real. I struggled when Lee was dealing with the biggest decision he will ever have to make, and I related to Annie when she felt like she couldn't do anything. All I can really say about this book is that it's amazing and by far one of the best books I've read this year. I'm so excited for the rest of this series and what is to come from this amazing author. I believe everyone should pick up a copy and dive into the world of Fireborne.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fantastic characters and worldbuilding
Instantly one of my favorite books! The characters all have so much depth and it adds so much to be able to see the story from each of their perspectives as the POV alternates throughout. Plus there's dragons!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Debut YA fantasy perfect for Games of Thrones fans
In her debut book, Rosaria Munda brings readers into a world of dragons, revolution, and adventure. The first book of The Aurelian Cycle, Fireborne, introduces readers to this fantasy world that fans of Games of Thrones will enjoy! This was a really interesting YA fantasy! There was political intrigue on top of fantasy world building and dragon riding that kept the action of the plot moving. And a fierce competition between two childhood friends who just need to admit their feelings to one another in my opinion… Can you say drama??? While it took a little bit for me to get into the book, the last few chapters were super engaging and I really liked how the book ended to set up the plot of the second book! I also liked the alternating POVs between Annie and Lee and the flashbacks to their childhoods to help deepen the plot and enhance the intrigue of the characters. Overall, I think this was a really good debut book and I’m looking forward to reading Flamefall and seeing what Lee and Annie will have to face next. If you’re looking for a fantasy book with dystopian themes then this is the book for you!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Awesome
I was drawn to this book because I love dragons. I found the competition and the relationship between the two POV characters quite interesting. The third POV was kind of confusing at time just because it took a while to realize how it connected to the other two. I would love to learn more about the dragons as well but overall it was a quick read and I look forward to reading the sequel. I received an eARC via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com