I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Fireborne Blade
Publisher: Tordotcom (May 28, 2024)
Length: 192 pages
Author Information: Website
The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond surprised me with its richness, considering it is a novella of modest length and the fact it delves into the familiar territory of dragon fantasy. That said, there were times I wished the story hadn’t been constrained by the page count because I wanted more, especially from the characters and the ending.
At its heart, the book is a tale about a knight and her quest. Maddileh is one of only a few women in her order, and she’s eager to prove her mettle. To do this, she’s set her sights on recovering a mythical sword called the Fireborne Blade, which now resides in the lair of a powerful dragon known as the White Lady. But Maddileh is not alone, accompanied by her squire Petros, a surly young mage she has reluctantly agreed to take into her service.
Together, they venture underground towards the White Lady’s hoard, finding more than they bargained for in the dark tunnels. But Maddileh is exceptionally stubborn and determined to get what she has come for despite the obstacles in her path. Petros also harbors a dark secret, one he is careful to keep from Maddileh lest it jeopardizes their mission, for he has his own reasons to seek the White Lady and retrieve the Fireborne Blade.
However, it’s the ending—especially its crazy twist—that really elevates this story. Without revealing any spoilers though, it’s also where I felt we could have used a little more attention on character relationships and plot development.
To be fair, the initial buildup was strong, creating an atmosphere of mystery and anticipation by revealing the past alongside the present. While we’re not getting many answers at this point, this obfuscating approach only made me even more intrigued. But once the surprise was revealed, the remainder of the book was a mad rush to the finish—great for momentum, but not so much for sticking the landing.
Ultimately, The Fireborne Blade falters where many novellas have also struggled before: in its brevity. Still, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and in this case, knowing that the release of the sequel The Bloodless Princes is only a few months away softens the blow greatly. I confess I’m hooked on the deceptively simple premise, the world building, and the character dynamics that have been established, and I’m looking forward to a fuller exploration of these elements in the next book.
