The Fireborn Epic: A Review

Today, I’ve got a wonderful recommendation for you guys — Gillian Bronte Adams’s Fireborn Epic. If you love fantasy, this is for you. If you love horses, this is for you. If you love raw characters and, well, epic storylines, this is for you.

This YA series is still being written, but books one and two are out and I enjoy them thoroughly. They’ve earned a well-deserved spot on my shelf of favorites. Of Fire and Ash has won two Realm awards already and I’m sure the trend will continue. Without further ado, the blurb:

She rides a fireborn, a steed of fire and ash, trained for destruction.

Ceridwen tal Desmond dreams of ruling like her father over the nation of Soldonia, where warriors ride to battle on magical steeds—soaring on storm winds, vanishing in shadow, quaking the earth, and summoning the sea. After a tragic accident claims her twin brother, she is exiled and sworn to atonement by spending her life—or death—for her people.

But when invaders spill onto Soldonia’s shores and traitors seize upon the chaos to murder her father, Ceridwen claims the crown to keep the nation from splintering. Combatting overwhelming odds and looming civil war, she begins to wonder if the greatest threat to the kingdom may, in fact, be her.

With fire before her and ash in her wake, how can she hope to unite instead of destroy?

Flames rage and oceans rise in this explosive first installment of The Fireborn Epic as the exiled heir, a novice priest, and a reluctant rebel wage war against a hidden power that threatens to shake the world.

Amazon Blurb

Now, why do I like this book? Reason numero uno, the heroine. Good, role-model-worthy heroines are hard to find in YA these days. Usually they’re cliched, empty-headed damsels in distress or unrealistic, ultra-feminist tough chicks, or some woke, empowered sissy in the middle.

But Ceridwen is different. She is strong, yes, but she’s human. She struggles with her new responsibility. She feels guilt for the mistakes she makes. And she can interact with guys without either raving about their eyes or showing them up and acting as if she’s just better. She has a male mentor. And he’s hilarious. I love a good mentor-apprentice relationship, and it’s seriously needed in today’s culture, where rejecting the wisdom of our elders and mocking them has become the norm. As well, Ceridwen has a male friend who eventually becomes a love interest. But there’s no stupid ‘does he love me’ angsty agonizing. Instead, the theme of ‘having each other’s backs’ is constantly emphasized in a way that reminds us that love is a commitment, not a feeling. Usually, when two characters fall in love in popular novels, I roll my eyes and pray for one of them to get killed so I can be spared the moaning. So thank you, thank you, Gillian Bronte Adams, for creating a fictional relationship I can support.

Like I said earlier, this is YA. There’s violence and magic, and it’s tough and gritty and the characters struggle with their own choices and with each other. One… cannot get attached. We’ll put it that way. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll get attached anyway and have some heartstrings pulled, but you’ll enjoy it all the same because a lot of literature fails to do so. Characters die and characters get injured and it’s not pretty, but it’s never gratuitous. It’s realistic, and it shows what these people are sacrificing.

This is not as direct an allegory as Adams’ previous series, the Songkeeper Chronicles, but there are nonetheless Christian themes. I love how she calls Aodh (God,) the ‘Bearer of Eternal Scars.’ It’s a powerful reminder of the God we serve, of the God who loves us and bears our burden. There are many burdens that Ceridwen, Finnian, Jakim, Rafi, Nef, and the rest deal with: guilt, worry, responsibility, grief, despair. They struggle with them in a way that’s realistic and compelling, and I can’t wait for the end of the series to see it all come to what’s sure to be a powerful conclusion.

P.S. For my fellow Finnian and Markham fans, there’s a free short story on Adams’ website. Go check it out!

P.P.S (Added 1/20/2026)BEWARE SPOILERS: The final book came out and wow, it did not disappoint. Content warnings are mostly the same as in the other books – battle violence, wounds, torture – but no gore farther than blood, some black magic and mention of little-g false gods, and some slight self-harm. Adams has my deep thanks that the romance never went farther than a kiss and some very light cuddling.

As always, the theme struck deep and against all odds, the heroes managed to pull through with sheer grit and wit. I’m so glad Finnian, Markham, and Cu survived, and I’ve also got to admit that the trope of best friend or brother with amnesia portrayed in Delmar is one I’m a sucker for, so I loved that bit. I also enjoyed getting to explore more of the world and see the parallels to what Joseph must have felt portrayed in Jakim. Definitely a solid series and a high recommend.