
Her Hidden Fire
Cliodhna O'Sullivan(Author)
Penguin Books Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 5. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-0-241-71481-2 (ISBN)
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?
Eadha (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. Eadha, a lowly servant girl, is in love with her close childhood friend Ionain, the son of the keep's ruling family. But the fate of his family's position rests on whether Ionain 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, Eadha discovers that she herself contains this power ... and Ionain doesn't. It's unheard of - and dangerous - for a servant, especially a woman, to be a Channeller.
Instead, Eadha 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 Ionain, who is - unbeknownst to him - being empowered by Eadha's own gift. Here, she is caught up in a whirlwind of patriarchy and heartache, torn between her lifelong devotion to Ionain 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
"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?
Eadha (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. Eadha, a lowly servant girl, is in love with her close childhood friend Ionain, the son of the keep's ruling family. But the fate of his family's position rests on whether Ionain 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, Eadha discovers that she herself contains this power ... and Ionain doesn't. It's unheard of - and dangerous - for a servant, especially a woman, to be a Channeller.
Instead, Eadha 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 Ionain, who is - unbeknownst to him - being empowered by Eadha's own gift. Here, she is caught up in a whirlwind of patriarchy and heartache, torn between her lifelong devotion to Ionain 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
Reviews / Votes
Pacey and gripping at every turn, this is a thrilling fantasy about power and patriarchy. * The Bookseller, featured as "Book of the Month" * 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. -- Sally Morris * Daily Mail * Riveting, romantic and thought-provoking, this chunky YA fantasy interrogates patriarchy, power-hoarding and the myths by which injustice sustains itself. -- Imogen Russell Williams * The Guardian * O'Sullivan deftly interweaves Irish-mythology-inspired worldbuilding with dystopian fantasy trappings to deliver an intriguingly dark romance. * Publishers Weekly, 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 * O'Sullivan's Irish-inspired fantasy creates a lush landscape filled with magic and deceit that readers will be eager to uncover. Highly recommended. -- Emily Walker * School Library Journal, starred review * O'Sullivan doesn't shy away from exploring the human cost of magic and how far patriarchal societies will go to indoctrinate the next generation. This story will captivate any romantasy reader and have them eagerly awaiting the sequel. -- Stacey Shapiro * Booklist * An excellent start to a new trilogy. -- Anna Bonet, "The 14 best new children's books for spring 2026" * The i Paper *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Random House Children's UK
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 14 to 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
294 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-71481-2 (9780241714812)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Cliodhna O'Sullivan
Her Hidden Fire
The No. 1 Bestseller about power, patriarchy and breathing your own fire
E-Book
03/2026
Penguin Books Ltd
€9.99
Available for download
Person
Cliodhna O'Sullivan is a writer based in Co. Louth, Ireland. She works part time as a legal counsel, is reasonably fluent in German, and plays in a band, Molasha (you can find them on Spotify!). She is married with three children, living with far too many cats and a dog.