ARC Review: Her Hidden Fire (Her Hidden Fire #1) by Cliodhna O'Sullivan

 

The first book in a searing new romantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of POWERLESS

If he has the ability to wield magical powers, everyone will rejoice – especially the girl who loves him.
But what happens when they realize she has the gift?

In a world where dragons stalk the skies and magical abilities are an elite privilege, the ruling family of Ailm’s Keep is on a knife can Ionain, the heir apparent, channel magic, or will the family be cast out and replaced by a cruel master from a neighbouring land?

So when Éadha, a servant girl who loves Ionain, discovers that she can draw power, she finds herself in grave danger. It’s extremely rare for a girl to have this talent, and certainly never outside the great families. At Ionain’s moment of truth, Éadha makes a desperate gamble to save him, Ailm’s Keep, and ultimately herself.

As Éadha and Ionain enter a whirlwind of patriarchy, class, heartache and jealousy, they learn about power’s terrible cost – a price others willingly pay to maintain theirs.

How far would you go to empower the one you love?

Title: Her Hidden Fire

Author: Cliodhna O'Sullivan

Publisher:
Publication Date: March 3, 2026

Review:

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I will admit, the cover is what initially drew me to this book. It's just so pretty. But then the publisher contacted me and sent me a physical copy and I had to jump right in.

The blurb for this one had all the right words to draw me and and get me hooked. Dragons? Check! Magic? Check! Academic type setting? Check! Childhood friends? Check! I really wanted it to deliver but for me it just missed its mark.

Initially I really liked Eadha and Ionain. And I could not wait to see them grow together. But I needed a bit more background. There was a lot of telling what happened but never showing. I feel like flashbacks would have been great to build that for me. Especially considering they grew up together and slept in the same room. I felt like they would have been closer. But it seemed like it was so easy for them to become two totally different people once they left where they grew up. It seemed like the strong bond the two had from growing together would initially lend to the chemistry between the characters but it just didn't do that for me. And the kind of love triangle threw me at first. I wasn't surprised to see Gry and Eadha's relationship grow, especially considering how Ionain treated her.

While the world was initially interesting to me, the world building was lacking. I just didn't fully understand it. There was not enough immersion for me. I felt like I didn't truly understand why the world is the way it is. How it got that way. Why it stays that way. And so on. Plus, the magic just wasn't explained well enough for me. Add to that a bit of slow pacing and it just didn't keep me interested in the story.

I see this one will be a series but I don't think I will be continuing with it. While the premise is interesting, I just could not get into the writing. And I feel like any future stories attached to this would be just as lacking since the initial world building is not there.

Author:

Clíodhna O'Sullivan is a writer based in Co. Louth, Ireland. She works part-time as a legal counsel. In the last few years, she has taken part in several writer events, including as a panel moderator at a Terry Pratchett conference in DCU and panellist at the Cymera festival in Edinburgh. She's reasonably fluent in German and plays in a band, Molasha (you can find them on Spotify!). She is married with three children, one of whom is autistic, as well as far too many cats and a dog.