Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Fireborne is the first novel in the Aurelian Cycle by Rosaria Munda. Described as Red Rising meets Game of Thrones, this series has caught the attention of many fantasy fans. Oh, and did I mention that it’s full of dragons? Because it is.

Annie and Lee are two of the best Dragonriders in their class. They both came from the same orphanage, yet the reasons they ended up there couldn’t have been more different. As you see, they grew up in a time of political revolution.

And it seems like a revolution – or war – is again on the horizon. This time, they’re both in a position to do something about it. And hopefully, they’ll prevent more victims from being made.

Fireborne is a novel perfect for any dragon lover out there. But it’s also ideal for people who enjoy reading something infused with politics and a debate on ethics. Combined with the characters within the series, this novel is shockingly profound.

Writing

Fireborne introduced us to a fantastical world of dragons and Dragonriders. And yet – the world is also still alarmingly dark. This was a world full of details and complexities. Everything from the main characters to the secondary characters’ political backgrounds was thought out and included. And then some.

There’s no doubt that Rosaria Munda made some intentional points in the world she brought to us. But the political complications honestly added a whole new level to the story. As did many other elements, but I’ll get to them later.

The Dragonrider system was a fascinating one. In many ways, it felt natural. It is the sort of dragon system any fan of the mythical beast has seen dozens of times. But in other ways, it’s clear that Munda added her flair. The changes she made were compelling and exciting.

Annie and Lee were the two protagonists and perspectives for this novel. Don’t let their mild names fool you, though – as their backstories and trials are anything but. Providing us with two characters that were so similar and yet so wildly different gave us the best opportunity possible to see the world and everything it had to offer, including all of the complications, trials, and temptations.

Development

Fireborne was a relatively fast-paced novel, though it was never rushed. As the novel progressed, the world and plot got darker and more complicated. It is clear that while this is a world of dragons, not everything is perfect and full of magical fixes.

Annie and Lee’s tale unfolded in an almost natural manner. Munda somehow managed to make us care for both characters while leaving us feeling torn about the complicated relations of the two of them. It was brilliantly written.

There were so many subplots woven into this tale. It’s no wonder it was compared to Game of Thrones. And yet that comparison doesn’t feel quite right because Fireborne is its own creature.

Conclusion

Fireborne was an intense and enthralling read. It was shockingly emotional and deep. It made the readers think, thanks to the intricate nature of the leading characters and their decisions. But that’s also one of the reasons why it will be so memorable.

All things said and done; this will be one of those series that leaves fans eager for the next installment the second they finish. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series, and it doesn’t even have a title yet! But it’ll be worth the wait.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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