Her Hidden Fire (A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick)

By: Cliodhna O'Sullivan

Narrated by: Evanna Lynch

**A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick**

In the first book of a heart-pounding, Irish-inspired debut romantasy series set in a world of dragons and magic, one girl must make an impossible decision: watch the boy she loves get exiled for lack of magic, or pass her formidable powers off as his own.

“Brimming with intrigue, romance, and peril…a lush and compelling debut.”—Kirkus Reviews

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

In a world where dragons soar through the skies and magical abilities are an elite privilege, the ruling family of Ailm’s Keep is on a knife-edge: Can their son Ionáin prove that he can channel magic, or will his entire family be cast out in disgrace?

Éadha, a servant girl who loves Ionáin, is shocked to discover shortly before the test that she can wield magic herself. It’s extremely rare for a girl to have this talent, especially outside the few great Families. At Ionáin’s moment of truth, when it's clear he is about to fail, Éadha makes a desperate gamble to save him from humiliation by pretending her magic is his, forfeiting her own claim to power.

Her decision sends them both to an academy of magic, where she must shield her secret from every grim Master and scheming apprentice—especially the handsome but enigmatic Gry. As Éadha enters this whirlwind of patriarchy, class, heartache, and jealousy, she also learns about magic’s terrible cost—the human price that Channellers willingly pay to maintain their power.

Critic reviews

Praise for Her Hidden Fire:

★ “O’Sullivan deftly interweaves Irish-mythology-inspired worldbuilding with dystopian fantasy trappings to deliver an intriguingly dark romance.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “O’Sullivan’s Irish-inspired ­fantasy creates a lush landscape filled with magic and deceit that readers will be eager to uncover.”—SLJ, starred review

“Brimming with intrigue, romance, and peril, this fast-paced fantasy sweeps readers into a world of impossible choices and breathtaking twists that will leave them racing toward the end. A lush and compelling debut.”—Kirkus Reviews

"This story will captivate any romantasy reader and have them eagerly awaiting the sequel.”—Booklist

"Pacey and gripping at every turn, this is a thrilling fantasy about power and patriarchy."—The Bookseller, featured as "Book of the Month"

Couldn't put it down

This is so far my favorite read of 2026! I wish I could read all over again! Can't wait for the next book in November!