Her Hidden Fire
The No. 1 Bestseller about power, patriarchy and breathing your own fire
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- €6.99
Publisher Description
THE NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!
"A thrilling fantasy about power and patriarchy" - The Bookseller, featured as Book of the Month
"Riveting, romantic and thought-provoking" - The Guardian
The first book in a searing new romantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS and THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE.
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?
Éadha (A-ya) has grown up in a deeply flawed society. In Domhain, power is drawn by elites from the life force of other, “lesser” people called Fodder. Those with this innate ability, the Channellers, have reshaped society to ensure their own high status and obscure the exploitative nature of their powers. Éadha, a lowly servant girl, is in love with her close childhood friend Ionáin, the son of the keep’s ruling family. But the fate of his family’s position rests on whether Ionáin has inherited a Channeller’s ability – everyone is tense, waiting to see the result of the assessment on his 17th birthday.
However, in a twist of fate, Éadha discovers that she herself contains this power … and Ionáin doesn’t. It’s unheard of – and dangerous – for a servant, especially a woman, to be a Channeller.
Instead, Éadha tricks everyone into believing her to be gifted only as a Keeper, a Channeller’s assistant who is less powerful but can manipulate the threads of power from Fodder. She is allowed to attend the Channeller training academy alongside Ionáin, who is – unbeknownst to him – being empowered by Éadha’s own gift. Here, she is caught up in a whirlwind of patriarchy and heartache, torn between her lifelong devotion to Ionáin and her undeniable attraction to the enigmatic Gry. She also learns a devastating lesson: the human cost of the Channellers’ power – and the lengths they will go to keep it.
"A complex web of magic, feminism, sexual desire, Irish folklore and, of course, dragons – this will leave fans desperate for the next in the trilogy." - Daily Mail
*Nielsen Bookscan TCM Children's YA Hardback Sales, Week 11 2026
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
O'Sullivan deftly interweaves Irish-mythology-inspired worldbuilding with dystopian fantasy trappings to deliver an intriguingly dark romance. Predominantly male magic users called Channellers have ruled the land of Domhain for four centuries, using their abilities—supported by subservient, less powerful Keepers, typically female—to instantly grow food, conjure fantastical castles, and fend off invading dragons. Rather than use her unusually strong abilities to claim a Channeller position for herself, orphaned 17-year-old shepherd Éadha instead elects to save her childhood friend and first love, Ionáin—the only scion of a dying noble family—from disgrace. Passing her magic off as his and stepping into the role of his Keeper, both Éadha and Ionáin travel to Lambay islands to hone their gifts. As Éadha struggles to maintain her deception to everyone, including Ionáin, she finds an unlikely ally in Gry, a male Keeper from a prominent family who seems to know more than he lets on. Caught between her loyalty to Ionáin and her growing attraction to Gry, Éadha unravels the dark secrets underpinning the Channellers' power while considering what she will give up for love. Within the context of Domhain's intensely misogynistic hierarchy, O'Sullivan explores the grim consequences of systematic oppression and self-sacrifice, culminating in an explosive adventure with plenty of tantalizing plot threads to follow in future installments. Characters are described as having various skin tones. Ages 12–up.
