The Fireborne Blade, Charlotte Bond
The Fireborne Blade, Charlotte Bond
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The Fireborne Blade

Author: Charlotte Bond

Narrator: Helen McAlpine

Unabridged: 4 hr 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/28/2024


Synopsis

Kill the dragon. Find the blade. Reclaim her honor.

It’s that, or end up like countless knights before her, as a puddle of gore and molten armor.

Maddileh is a knight. There aren’t many women in her line of work, and it often feels like the sneering and contempt from her peers is harder to stomach than the actual dragon slaying. But she’s a knight, and made of sterner stuff.

A minor infraction forces her to redeem her honor in the most dramatic way possible, she must retrieve the fabled Fireborne Blade from its keeper, legendary dragon the White Lady, or die trying. If history tells us anything, it's that “die trying” is where to wager your coin.

Maddileh’s tale contains a rich history of dragons, ill-fated knights, scheming squires, and sapphic love, with deceptions and double-crosses that will keep you guessing right up to its dramatic conclusion. Ultimately, The Fireborne Blade is about the roles we refuse to accept, and of the place we make for ourselves in the world.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com.

About Charlotte Bond

Charlotte Bond is an author, freelance editor, and podcaster. Under her own name she has written within the genres of horror and dark fantasy, but she’s also worked as a ghostwriter. She edits books for individuals and publishers, and has also contributed numerous non-fiction articles to various websites. She is a co-host of the award-winning podcast, Breaking the Glass Slipper. Her micro-collection The Watcher in the Woods won the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection in 2021.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Greekchoir on December 22, 2023

If you enjoy Six Deaths of the Saint, Brienne of Tarth, or Elden Ring, then I have the story for you. The Fireborne Blade is one of the best things I’ve read this year. It’s a relatively simple story: a knight goes to kill a dragon and retrieve a sword, interspersed with records of other dragon enco......more

Goodreads review by Holly Hearts Books on January 17, 2024

This is like “Dragon Fantasy for Dummies” and I don’t mean that in a rude negative way AT ALL. Merely saying this is a simple, straight forward dragon fantasy with no world building. Not a whole lot of detail. 200 pages of pure dragon fan service (the classic kind that like to hoard treasure!) with......more

Goodreads review by Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) on June 07, 2024

3.0 Stars Video Review [URL not allowed] I can appreciate a good female driven narrative, especially in a piece of traditional fantasy. In 2024, I can't say that's its very revolutionary to place a female in a traditional male role, in a knight. Still, I suppose I have a soft spot for a str......more

4.5 stars rounded up This was great! I love a fantasy novella and The Fireborne Blade effectively encapsulates a complete story with interesting characters, while introducing us to a new world. I also didn't see the twist at the end coming. It follows a queer woman who is a knight, on a quest to get......more

Goodreads review by Samantha on February 06, 2024

3.5 stars The Fireborne Blade has so many elements that I love, but it needed more time to build up to the reveal. This story mimics the weird, mind-bending fantasy stories that I love. It is particularly reminiscent of The Six Deaths of the Saint. However, this novella doesn't quite pull off the big......more


Quotes

“A quick, delicious bite of a dragon-slayer fantasy with clever worldbuilding and twists that’ll catch in your throat… if you’re not careful.” —C.L. Clark

The Fireborne Blade is fresh, well-crafted, and engaging. A knight, squire, and dragon adventure like none you've ever read!” —Juliet Marillier

“A monstrously clever gem, chilling, dark and full of character.” —Adrian Tchaikovsky

The Fireborne Blade is a delightful romp through a vibrant, surprising world of mages, knights, and dragons. I loved following Maddileh through her adventures!” —Kelly Robson

“Like its claustrophobic, dimly lit passageways, Bond’s prose deftly tantalizes in this puzzlebox of a narrative. A quiet gem of a novella with much more lurking beneath the surface.” —Eliza Chan

“Highly inventive and entertaining. Charlotte Bond is an exciting new voice.” —Priya Sharma

“What an enjoyable read! In few words, Charlotte Bond blends fantasy with horror elements to create a complex and memorable world. Maddileh is an understandably prickly character who is easy to root for, and I guarantee you will not see the magnificent twist coming until it hits you in the feels. More please!” —Lucy Holland

“Sharp as a brave knight's sword, bright as a silver dragon. I loved it.” —Anna Smith Spark