A FATE FORGED IN FIRE is set in a dystopian world called Erisocia.  The author is off to a great start setting the stage for this story by weaving the cultures of the various regions of Erisocia with the backstory of the heroine, Aemyra.  I loved the map at the beginning of the book which shows the proximity of the different regions to one another so the reader gets a pictorial view of the character's movements throughout the story.  I would have preferred that the pronunciation guides were also at the beginning of the book instead of the end (the good news is I now know at least a few Scottish Gaelic words).  The first few chapters move a bit slowly, but fortunately, the action picks up quickly as the true roles of the main female character, Aemrya and her twin Adarian are slowly revealed.   The story is an adequate mix of fantasy (with sentient creatures from dragons to chimera), romance, adventure, and intense action. 

Aemyra, the main female character is a force to be reckoned with from the very beginning of the story.  It is clear that as soon as Fiorean crosses paths with Aemyra, she may have just possibly met her match.  The main characters as well as the supporting characters are well developed, with more layers being revealed as the story unfolds.  I appreciate that there are supporting characters that fall into the ‘morally grey’ category (being neither totally good nor totally evil).  The reader will have to wait for future books in the series to find out what happens with these characters.  The connection between many of the characters in the book and their Beathach adds an interesting element wherein the personalities of humans and beasts are so similar it’s hard to distinguish between the two. 

In addition to the hate-love-hate relationship between the heroine, Aemyra, and her biggest adversary, Fiorean, is the rising hate and persecution of anyone who still has magic from a growing contingency of zealots calling themselves the 'True Religion'. The 'True Religion' is also hell-bent on stripping the rights of all females in Erisocia.  The conflict between those with magic and those who are vehemently anti-magic serves as a cautionary tale of the devastating results of intolerance of the beliefs and culture of others within a society.  There is constant conflict and violent clashes between those with magic and those without. 

While I enjoyed the story for its characters and interconnected plots, I want to know how the story will end.  If you are the type of reader who thrives on delayed gratification, A FATE FORGED IN FIRE is the book for you.  Will the people of Tir Teine be saved? Will all of Erisocia succumb to the 'True Religion'?  Stay tuned for the next book in this new series.