Firebird

Firebird (2025) is a historical fantasy romance novel by American author Juliette Cross. The first installment in The Fire That Binds series, the novel blends Roman imperial politics, dragon mythology, and star-crossed romance. Set in an alternate universe inspired by Ancient Rome, the story follows Malina, a Dacian empath enslaved by Rome, and Julian, a dragon-shifting Roman general caught between duty and rebellion. As their bond deepens, the pair navigate a brutal empire marked by caste hierarchies, divine bloodlines, and political conspiracies. Cross uses this richly imagined world to explore themes such as The Relationship Between Fate and Free Will, The Morality of Power and Domination, and Resisting Conquest Through Quiet Rebellion. 

This guide references the 2025 Bramble e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of gender discrimination, sexual violence and harassment, rape, mental illness, child abuse, death by suicide, graphic violence, sexual content, cursing, illness and death, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. The source also features depictions of enslavement and uses offensive terms to refer to enslaved people that are replicated in the guide only in direct quotes.

Plot Summary

The novel begins with a legend in which a dragon raised 2 boys, Romulus and Remus, granting them the power to shift between human, dragon, and half-skin forms. Romulus founded the Roman Empire and became the first Ignis (red) dragon, while Remus founded the Media Nocte (black) dragon line. Other dragon types include Sapphirus (blue), Amethystus (purple), Chrysocolla (green), Griseo (grey), Vicus (white, always female), and the presumed-extinct Chrysos (gold). Humans that have the power to shift also each have their own particular superhuman powers.

Legend also states that Neptune raped Medusa, a Vicus dragon and priestess of Minerva. Because priestesses must remain virgins, they stripped her of her role. In response, Minerva granted Medusa and her 2 fellow priestesses magical gifts to punish corrupt men: empathic powers, siren powers, and Charon’s kiss.

Seventeen-year-old Malina Bihari, a Dacian girl, performs with her sisters to earn money before winter. During the performance, she impresses Julianus Ignis Dakkia, a Roman centurion, who gives her an aureus coin. They briefly connect before parting.

Four years later, Julian, now a general, defeats rebels in Gaul. When his men disobey orders and torment a prisoner, he intervenes, only to find it is Malina. His dragon instincts flare, and he shifts into dragon form; he rescues her and flies with her to Rome. 

Malina is now enslaved by Julian, and at first, she resists, trying to escape.  However, she gradually warms to Julian upon learning he shelters hurt and endangered enslaved people: Kara, the cook; Ruskus, the butler; Ivo, the mute stableman; and Stefanos, a young lowborn dragon boy.

Malina reveals her empathic magic, with which she can “tether” to others and manipulate their emotions, a gift from the goddess Minerva. She used this gift to aid the Gauls before she was captured. When she asks Julian to buy Enid, a Gaulish woman who protected her, he agrees. Though Enid dies, Julian honors her with a secret funeral, which is against Roman law.

Julian attends a banquet hosted by his uncle, Emperor Igniculus, referred to as Caesar. Julian’s rival, Ciprian Media Nocte Seneca, accuses him of using dragon form to kill a soldier, but Julian deflects. The Emperor rewards Julian but later sends him to Moesia to battle marauders coming in and destroying villages. The marauders lure the Romans into a trap, killing over 400 soldiers. Julian fights with the leader and realizes that they are dragons as well. Wounded in battle, Julian recuperates under Malina’s care, and their bond deepens.

In Rome, Julian visits Caesar at the palace’s dragon pit, home to Camilla, Caesar’s sister and a Vicus dragon. Once a revered temple priestess, Camilla was seized from the Temple of Vesta by Caesar when he rose to power. Whatever he did to her during that abduction has left her trapped in her dragon form for seven years, unable or unwilling to shift back. Julian is deeply unsettled by the sight of his once-proud aunt reduced to a silent, caged creature. His discomfort grows into horror when Caesar, with no apparent shame, tells Julian that Camilla is the only woman he would ever consider marrying.

When Caesar orders Julian to host a Rite of Skulls to promote Ciprian to the rank of legatus, or general, Ciprian demands Malina serve as his blood giver. Julian objects but Caesar overrules him. Later, Ciprian insults Malina, prompting Julian to nearly attack him. To resolve their tension, Caesar declares they must duel in the Colosseum. When the event’s entertainment is canceled, Malina dances and uses her empathic magic to sedate both the emperor and Ciprian.

Julian wins the duel but refrains from killing Ciprian at Malina’s urging through their empathic bond. Caesar declares the match a draw and forces Julian to trade Malina for a horse. Julian is devastated, but Malina assures him she can handle Ciprian. Meanwhile, Julian and his allies plan to overthrow Caesar and eliminate Ciprian, but the timing is tricky.

At Ciprian’s estate, Malina meets Rhea, another enslaved woman. Rhea recounts the legend of the Firebird, a female gold dragon who refused the Emperor and died by fire rather than submit. Ciprian attempts to humiliate the women, but Malina uses her power to induce violent nausea in him. She and Rhea begin to bond.

When she visits the market, an apothecary can tell that Malina has empathic magic and gifts her a dragon skin. Malina brings it to Minerva’s temple, praying to protect her loved ones and offering her powers in return. Julian finds her there and comforts her. Meanwhile, Ciprian learns of Julian’s secret meetings about overthrowing the emperor. He drugs Malina and interrogates her.

Malina uses her tether with Julian to call for help. Julian and Trajan, his tribune, kill imperial guards sent to arrest Julian and then hide his household. Julian storms Ciprian’s home, and the two fight in dragon form. Julian kills Ciprian and rescues Malina. As they flee, Malina sees Minerva’s dragon form watching over them.

Julian and his household relocate to Britannia. Trajan, now Caesar’s confidant, becomes a double agent, remaining in Rome. Julian and Malina secretly marry and send Caesar an aureus coin to taunt him, as he will realize that they have escaped and are married. The novel ends with Malina’s sister Lela, now enslaved in Caesar’s consul’s house, hearing Caesar’s cry of fury.