“Of Flame and Fury” is a stand-alone young adult novel in which Mikayla Bridge creates a vivid new world and tells a strong story.
Phoenix racing is highly profitable, exciting, and potentially deadly. It produces strong rivalries between the crews of different phoenixes. Kel Varra has a particularly strong aversion to Coup – he rides for a different team, and she sees him as cocky and dangerous.
Still, Kel and her team have been operating on the bare edge of survival. When a tech billionaire offers lucrative support and a place at his training facility, Kel can no longer ignore the fact that the crew needs money and support. Unfortunately, the offer also forces her to work with Coup.
Coup turns out to be everything Kel thought, but there’s also far more to him. And as it becomes clear that there’s also far more to their benefactor, Kel has to turn to Coup for help and support.
The framework of this story and a lot of the early plot beats are very familiar and quite predictable. However, this leaves the reader free to concentrate on the world and characters, and by the time they’ve settled in, the plot becomes less predictable. While most readers will anticipate at least some of the moments, it’s very involving and there’s a real sense of tension regardless.
The characters are strong and pretty believable, although they live in a world quite different from ours. Most readers will quickly empathise with Kel and will become involved in the story through their concern for her. This is pitched at the sorts of emotions young people experience, and it portrays them well.
The ending is close to perfect: a sense of great relief as the tension dissipates, a feeling of satisfaction for the characters as they reach a goal, and a sense of pleasure as the story is so complete. I’ve rarely seen a young adult novel that ends with such a strong sense of rightness.
I really enjoyed this novel. The slight predictability will be less of an issue for younger (and less experienced readers), and it didn’t really impede my enjoyment. It’s a well written and entertaining novel, and the ending in particular is excellent. I appreciated that it seems to be a stand alone; I enjoy a good epic, but sometimes you just want a complete story, and that’s what Bridge offers here.
Highly recommended, not only for young adult readers, but also for adult readers who’d appreciate a straight forward and well executed story.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and I love sharing that joy.
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, across all genres. There’s not much I won’t at least try. I’ve been an enthusiastic book reviewer for years. I particularly enjoy discovering writers new to me, and sharing good writing with others.
My career has included time spent writing and editing technical documents, but it’s fiction that really moves me. I’ve reviewed for a number of different outlets over the years, and have been a judge in literary competitions.
I’m now raising little bookworms of my own, which brings a whole new kind of joy to sharing books.
More of my reviews can be found on my review blog www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog .
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge (Pan MacMillan Australia) is a fantasy, action packed YA novel, with a touch of romance.
In this book, phoenixes and other wild magical creatures roam the land, a deadly disease is ravaging the population and technology is being used to try and harness some of the magic.
The story follows 17 year old phoenix tamer Kel who takes part in the lucrative but ruthless sport of phoenix racing. For Kel and her beloved phoenix Savita, its a case of racing in order to make ends meet. For others it is pure adrenaline rush.
However when Kel, and her business partner and friend Dira, form a new racing team with ‘daredevil’ rider Coup and his brother Bekn, they attract the attention and sponsorship of the powerful and influential Canen Cristo, of Cristo Industries.
Canen and the technological resources and facilities he makes available to the team are state of the art. However after their initial awe, first Kel and then the rest of her team become suspicious of Canen’s real motives…
This is a fun and interesting read, and I found the author’s development of all the various relationships – between team mates, friends, rivals and with the phoenix, to be particularly well done.
Mikayla Bridge had me so immersed in her book “Of Flame and Fury” that I was believing that this wonderful land where the most Majestic Phoenix flew could and did exsist.
Kel Varra with her wonderful Phoenix named Savita have futures that are uncertain. With bad luck following her, life becomes a struggle so when a tech billionaire makes an offer for them to work within his training facility and to race for him the offer is too good to refuse. But it turns out its not all that it seems.
I really enjoyed learning about the majestic Phoenix and delighted in the bond between Kel and Savita.
The deadly AB Virus added and interesting twist to the entire story.
This is a great book if you wish to escape to another World for a little bit. It will keep you guessing and will have you holding out for Kel and Savita’s success. Kels pairing with rival Coup and the relationship that forms was some what predictable but at the same time it fit the story well.
Of Flame and Fury Win or Burn by Mikayla Bridge .
A fantasy novel with dangerous fast paced phoenix racing in a high stakes competition. All based around he world of magical creatures and high tech billionaires and training facilities.
The story is about 17 year old kel Varra and her phoenix called Savita and her crew called the Crimson Howlers who participate in dangerous phoenix racing a profitable and dangerous sport . But they are struggling to survive until a mysterious tech billionaire offers them a spot at his training facility.
But there is a catch kel has to team up with Coup her arrogant rival .
But as they work together they start uncovering political scheming and volatile phoenix magic.
There is also romance developing between them,
there is also the treat of the AB virus ravaging the population.
I enjoy fantasy novels and this one was definitely that .
It has you turning page after page for more .
A great read for avid fantasy lovers of all ages .
I love the Cendorian Compendium of Phoenixs .
It tells me about the Phoenix subspecies and there colours,speed, intelligence and if they are a common species or not also the temperature of a phoenix makes the story more real.
Thankyou beauty and lace .
A great read it certainly warmed me up on a cold winters night.
Thank you Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read Of Flame And Fury by Mikayla Bridge.
I wasn’t quite sure what I was actually reading to start with but once I understood I couldn’t stop reading.
I really liked this book about racing Phoenixes. It’s a cut throat world but it’s the only way to survive and you need to win or you could loose everything.
The excitement of the racing the phoenixes at all costs makes this a great read with a bit of romance thrown in!
Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve been reading fantasy for years, and Of Flame and Fury was a book that reminded me why I keep coming back to the genre. The concept of phoenix racing was unique and exciting, and from the very first chapter I was hooked. The races felt dangerous and vivid, and the mix of action with political intrigue kept me turning the pages.
Kel Varra was a character I could really get behind. Her drive to protect her team and her phoenix came through strongly, and it made her easy to root for. Coup irritated me more than once, but his arrogance made the tension between them feel authentic and gave the story a spark.
The world-building was one of the highlights for me. The setting felt alive, from the fiery tracks to the undercurrent of politics and magic. If anything, I would have liked a bit more at the end, maybe an epilogue, just to spend more time in that world.
Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read that delivered adventure, emotion, and a bit of romance.
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge is a YA romantasy filled with furious phoenix screams and the flames of young love.
I really enjoyed the well written fantasy aspect. For a created world, it read as real. The characters, settings and even the phoenixes were easy to picture.
The story flowed well, and the phoenix races really drew me in. The descriptions of the phoenixes in particular were fascinating.
I felt that the epilogue led to more questions than answers. It hinted at a second story, so I can only hope that it isn’t far away so as to keep the momentum going.