Her Hidden Fire

By Cliodhna O’Sullivan

Penguin 2026

Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey

From the opening page, Her Hidden Fire draws you into the secrecy and clandestine nature of the world of Eadha (Eh-ya), a servant girl. Her best friend, Ionain (Yun-aw-in), is heir to the castle where she lives and works. When the time comes for Ionain to be tested for his magical ability and Eadha realises there is nothing for the Reckoner to find, she makes a snap decision that will change the course of both their lives, possibly binding them forever.

Eadha and Ionain are swept off to Lambay, joining the newest class of Channellers and Keepers learning to wield magic together. Expecting their relationship to continue as it always had, Eadha is shocked when both the written and unwritten rules of the upper-class world seem bent only on tearing them apart. Absorbed in her secret commitment to Ionain and her reason for being in Lambay, Eadha struggles to keep herself not only focused, but alive. Partnerships are forced and alliances are tested, and Eadha begins to wonder whether placing her loyalty in Ionain has been a mistake. When Gry, fellow Keeper and male heir to one of the most powerful magically families in the land, opens up to Eadha and offers a safe space to be herself, her love and loyalty for Ionain barely waver. But as darker truths are exposed and Gry offers a lesson the Channellers have spent years hiding away, Eadha must choose between herself and the boy she has always loved.

Her Hidden Fire is the fantasy debut of Irish author Cliodhna O’Sullivan (whose name doesn’t come with a pronunciation key like the book does), and is full of intrigue and deception. Painting a landscape full of details that invite all the senses to join the reading journey, O’Sullivan has done an excellent job in setting the scene for a rich and compelling series. Full of characters you will love – some you’ll love to hate – and places that feel somehow both real and too good to be true all at once, readers will be swept up in the magic of the story from the very beginning.

While classism, sexism, patriarchy and misogyny run rampant throughout, the issues are handled with maturity and depth, both by the young characters and the author. As everyone is wont to do, Eadha battles internally between standing up for herself and succumbing to the desires she feels, highlighted by an authentic teenage voice wading through situations she doesn’t fully understand. Although there is no graphic sexual detail, there are hints it could spice up as the series continues. But be warned, there are scenes of sexual assault and coercive behaviour that some readers may find difficult to read.