A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson is an epic romantasy book first released on November 1, 2024. Sariah Wilson is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedies without spice, like The Chemistry of Love and Falling Overboard. A Tribute of Fire marks her fantasy debut—a genre she’s expressed deep love for in the Author’s Note section of the book.
If you’re curious about what sparked the idea for A Tribute of Fire, I read a section of her Author’s Note where she explains in this Story Darlings episode.
With the sequel A Vow of Embers coming out July 8, hopefully this post helps you remember all the important things that happened.
Here, you’ll find:
- characters in A Tribute of Fire
- locations in the book
- the book summary
- the ending explained
- my favorite quotes
- book review
Caution: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead!
A Tribute of Fire characters
Who is Lia?
AKA Princess Thalia (true name: Euthalia). Lia is our FMC, a princess of Locris training to survive the tribute. She is tall with light brown hair and eyes that are green-brown. Known for being short-tempered, judgmental, and impatient, but also determined and loyal. Her biggest goals in A Tribute of Fire is to save her country by retrieving the goddess’s eye and making the land verdant again (while also putting a stop to Kallisto’s betrothal to Lykaon.
Who is Jason?
AKA Prince Alexandros (nickname: Xander). When we meet him, he’s posing as an Ilionian sailor (and first mate to Trierarch Nereus) named Jason, serving on the tribute ship Nikos. He’s tall, with golden-brown skin, midnight black hair, and has a scar on his face.
Xander exudes charm and arrogance, but he’s also surprisingly kind and extremely competent at fighting—perhaps blessed. Seems to recognize something about Lia that even she doesn’t realize.
Other characters
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Quynh | Lia’s adopted sister and best friend. She is beautiful with silky black hair and high cheekbones, kind, generous, and selfless. Easily frightened but loyal to Lia. Was romantically involved with Andronicus but wouldn’t say she loved him. Gave Lia her treasured bracelet. |
| Hippolyta | Beloved and loyal palace servant to Lia’s family. Lykaon hit her, knocking her to the ground when he visited Locris. |
| Demaratus | Lia’s mentor, a former Daemonian general. He is older than Lia’s father, moves like a younger man, and is often drunk. He is a harsh but effective teacher, focused on survival and Daemonian warrior code. |
| Io | Lia’s first adelphia sister and Xander’s little sister (princess of Ilion). She is kind, trusting, talkative, positive, and determined to do what’s right. Io was learning potion and remedy work from Daphne and has an affinity for gardening. |
| Suri | One of Lia’s adelphia sisters who gained entrance to the temple on her own. She is Sasanian and has a scar on her arm. Strong and resilient and with a calming presence, she communicates nonverbally and has an affinity for finding secrets hidden in the earth. |
| Zalira | Ahyana’s older sister and an adelphia sister to Lia. She is skilled in fighting and sparring and quite observant and quick to piece together information. She is fiercely protective and has an affinity for storms and rain. |
| Ahyana | Zalira’s younger sister and an adelphia sister to Lia. She is playful and mischievous and has a close bond with the raven, Kunguru, who steals things for her. Ahyana has an affinity for insects and animals that help things grow. |
| Kunguru | A raven that seems to be bonded to Ahyana, but often watches and helps Lia. Protective of Lia and her adelphia. Possibly the bird Xander references as telling him info. |
| Artemisia | Cruel. A temple acolyte and one of the Chosen. She is the top-ranked fighter in training. Part of Nysa’s adelphia. Supposedly killed 6 girls on her run to the temple. Really hates Lia. |
| Daphne | A priestess and healer at the temple. She was mentoring Io until she died the same afternoon that Theano fell ill. Often disagreed with Theano. |
| Theano | Mysterious High Priestess at the temple. Fell sick the day Daphne died. Seems to dislike Lia and refused to open the doors to her when she survived the race. Always wears a half-veil. Her prayers differ from what Maia teaches, and some of the priestesses seem to worship Theano over the goddess herself. Holds the temple keys and is the only one allowed into the treasury. Seems keen on maintaining a good relationship with the royals. |
| Maia | Lia’s religious education instructor and mentor at the temple. She is kind and supportive and tells Lia about the savior prophecy and how Theano has been High Priestess for 50 years. |
| Antiope | Battle master priestess at the temple. Intimidating and fiercely protective of those in the temple and its laws. Fights like she’s goddess-blessed and easily cut down all the men who entered the temple courtyard. |
| Andronicus | Captain of Lia’s regiment and Quynh’s love interest. He is 20 years old and coming to the end of his military service. He is loyal to Lia. |
| King Ephesus | Lia’s father and the king of Locris. He is worried about the state of his nation and his family. Initially dismissive of old myths. |
| Queen Hypatia | Lia’s mother and the queen of Locris. She is supportive of her daughters but deeply affected by loss. |
| Kallisto | Lia’s beautiful older sister. Sweet, generous, compassionate, and prefers solitude. Will be Queen of Locris one day. Originally betrothed to Prince Alexandros but is now betrothed to Lykaon. |
| Doria | Haemon’s betrothed. She is in perpetual mourning for Haemon and blames the Ilionians for his death. Her family has rejected her and so Lia’s family took her in. |
| Haemon | Lia’s older brother, disappeared 2 years ago at sea while seeking a new trade route. He was the light and promise of the family and was betrothed to Doria. |
| Lykaon | Kallisto’s Ilionian betrothed. He is cruel like his nobleman father, Pelias. He beats women. Will reportedly kill Kallisto once she bears his child. |
| Acmon | An older Ilionian man who escorts Lia and Quynh to their cell on the ship. He is kind to them. |
| Trierarch Nereus | The captain of the Ilionian ship, the Nikos, responsible for transporting the maidens. |
| Chryseis | Lykaon’s sister, said to be the image of the goddess—sweet, kind, demure. Lia is jealous of her because of Xander. |
| Thrax | Captain of Prince Alexandros’s royal guard. Described as a redheaded demon by Lia during the race when he ripped Quynh away. |
Locations in A Tribute of Fire
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| Locris | Lia’s home country. It’s cursed with barren ground by the goddess. It is a desert kingdom that relies on trade and scavenging |
| Ilion | Locris’s enemy nation, responsible for a crippling blockade and demanding a yearly tribute of maidens. Its capital city is Troas. |
| Temple of the Goddess (Locris) | Dilapidated temple in Locris, partially destroyed by an earthquake. Contains a hidden book about the goddess and Locris’s history |
| Temple of the Goddess (Ilion) | The temple in Troas that the Locrian maidens must reach to gain sanctuary and become acolytes |
| Troas | The capital city of Ilion, protected by a massive maze of walls. It’s where the Locrian maidens must reach if they want to live by serving the goddess |
| Fields of Sithon | Open area in Ilion—just outside the city walls—where the men participating in the hunt line up. |
| Mount Knemis | The highest point in the Opuntian range. Marks the western border of Locris |
| Acheron Sea | Sea that separates Locris and Ilion |
| Naryx | The capital city of Locris. |
| The Nikos | The Ilionian trireme (warship) that transports the maidens to Ilion. Nikos means “victory” |
| The Library (Ilion) | Large building in Troas, guarded by…geese! Contains old scrolls, books, and other historical records |
A Tribute of Fire summary
It started with Ajax the Lesser
Lia is a princess of the cursed land of Locris. She trains every day with the former Daemonian general Demaratus to prepare for the annual tribute demanded by their enemies, the Ilionians. Locris has been crippled by an Ilionian blockade and its land was cursed by the goddess millennia ago due to Ajax the Lesser’s crime (Lia is a descendant). The tribute requires two maidens, chosen by lottery, to race through the maze-like city of Troas as men hunt them down and kill them. If the tributes can reach the goddess’s temple, they can live and serve in the temple for life.
Lia’s goal
Lia has been secretly training in the hopes of making it to the temple alive. Her grandmother had a forbidden book revealing that the eye of the goddess can make Locris’s lands fertile again and that it was kept inside the goddess’s temple. When she’s not training, she spends time with her family, mourning her lost brother Haemon, and worrying about her older sister Kallisto who is betrothed to the cruel Ilionian nobleman named Lykaon.
First kiss
The Ilionians arrive for their tribute visit early. At Kallisto’s betrothal dinner, Lia witnesses Lykaon’s cruelty firsthand after he hits a maidservant Hippolyta, and then herself. This solidifies her determination to stop the marriage and save her family.
She then meets Jason, a charming Ilionian sailor and first mate on the tribute ship. Despite her hatred for the Ilionians, Lia finds herself drawn to him, experiencing an unexpected attraction during their clandestine meeting beneath the courtyard olive tree. Jason gives Lia a passionate first kiss that confuses her and leaves her feeling conflicted.
Tribute selection
On the day of the selection, the historian recounts the origin of the tribute—a 1000-year punishment for Ajax the Lesser’s violation of a priestess in the goddess’s temple. Everyone is scared to be picked because no maiden has ever survived the race through Troas. Lia secretly bribed the selector to ensure her name is chosen.
She’s blindsided when the second name drawn is her adopted sister, Quynh. Lia’s quest will be nearly impossible now that she has to protect Quynh.
Journey across the Acheron Sea
When Lia and Quynh board the Ilionian ship the Nikos for transport to Troas, they’re treated like captives and kept in a cell. Lia gets seasick but is helped by Jason. She tries to resist his charm but is increasingly drawn to him, especially after he saves them from the pirates who came aboard trying to capture her.
During the voyage, Lia seems to connect with a dragon. Jason is alarmed, like realizing something important about her because of that connection.
Race through Troas
They finally arrive in Troas late due to the pirates, so Lia and Quynh disembark in broad daylight instead of the cover of night. As they race through the city, Lia uses her training to navigate the maze of streets and defend herself and Quynh against all the men chasing them down (feels very Minotaur-inspired). She realizes the painted city walls are a guide to navigating Troas. They find short refuge in a brothel to try and rest and rally for their final push to the temple.
Not far from the temple, Quynh reminds Lia of “one for many” and forces her to let go when she doesn’t make a leap across the roof. Quynh is presumed killed when a man rips her away. Wounded and alone, Lia finally reaches the temple (with a bunch of men knocked out around the temple who’d been there waiting), but it’s locked. She scales the exterior, makes a hole in the roof, and drops down gaining entrance. Some of the priestesses inside are bitches to her (except Io) and the High Priestess requires her head be shaved before she’s allowed to stay.
Lia is then assigned to her adelphia—Io, Suri, Zalira, and Ahyana—and starts attending classes and fight training. Artemisia becomes her nemesis. She also befriends a strange raven named Kunguru.
Weird dreams
Throughout Lia’s entire time at the temple, she has vivid, recurring dreams about Jason. In them, he’s always trying to get her to admit to having feelings for him, and they frequently get intimate (while not crossing the line). Later in the book, Lia realizes these aren’t normal dreams—she’s very much awake in them, as is Jason.
Searching for the eye
With Jason’s help, Lia begins sneaking out of the temple to search for clues on the whereabouts of the eye. She searches a goose-guarded library and administrative building looking for information, and she also finds someone to deliver a message to her family that she’s still alive.
Things become strange at the temple when men start breaking into the temple to try and capture Lia and sabotage their water supply. Lia and her adelphia are dispatched to go fix the problem and they are hunted down by terawolves on their journey back. And Io’s mentor Daphne mysteriously dies one afternoon when the High Priestess Theano falls sick. Weeeeeird things happening!
The women’s festival
Near the end of A Tribute of Fire, the temple holds a festival, complete with aphrodisiacal wine. Lia gets drunk and runs into Jason hanging about. They sneak into an unoccupied house to have sex and upon realizing Lia’s been drinking, Jason stops. His behavior feels almost desperate at this point because he’s trying to make her his and for her to profess loving him.
After leaving Jason, Lia finds Io. Both drunk, they spill the beans to each other about their true identities as the Ilionian and Locrian princesses. In Lia’s last dreams with Jason, he tells her two important things because she’s struggling to believe these are anything but dreams: 1) he’ll kiss her hand so she knows it’s real, and 2) when the time comes, say yes.
Super helpful, Jason!
A Tribute of Fire ending
After the women’s festival, Thrax shows up at the temple gates demanding Princess Thalia, which confuses everyone there. She recognizes him as the man who she thought killed Quynh and confronts him.
She then learns that Io told her brother Prince Alexandros about Lia being the Locrian princess (no one knows Io’s secret as the Ilion princess yet).
How does it end?
The book ends on a cliffhanger when Prince Alexandros returns with leverage—Quynh isn’t dead and he’s had her the entire time. Lia gives herself up to protect Quynh, reluctantly agreeing to marry Xander. What. The. Heck.
Unanswered questions
- How long has Xander/Jason known that Lia is his betrothed princess of Loris? Was it only after Io told him? Was it the whole time??
- Why is Xander/Jason soooo obsessed with getting Lia to say she loves him?
- What really happened to Quynh during the race? Did Xander tell Thrax to take her purely for the sake of protecting her (since that was Lia’s biggest wish on the Nikos)?
- What happened to Lia’s book and where is the Eye? Is it really broken into smaller pieces?
- Who was the old man that Io’s stepmother was trying to marry her off to—is he important to the story?
- Will we see Haemon again??
- What really happened to Daphne? She was only 69 years old yet she mysteriously dies after Lia broke into the treasury (where everything was coated in poisonous fire dragon’s blood), and while Lia and crew are gone fixing the water sabotage. And was Theano sick, too?
- How is Lia’s forced marriage to Xander going to play out since she’s secretly searching for the eye and working directly against Ilion?
- Will Lia and Quynh’s parents get the message Lia sent, or will they somehow hear that Quynh was killed and Lia captured to be forced into marrying Xander?
- What is Xander really after with his intentions toward Lia?
- Better yet, what is his true identity/lineage? Like the goddess, he also smells like irises, and his little sister Io has an affinity for flowers and gardening. Xander is also an exceptional fighter, making it look like a gods-blessed art form.
A Tribute of Fire quotes
It’s easier for women to believe in magic because we have the ability to make life and carry it inside us. We’re already magic. And it is a magic no man will ever understand.
You’re giving me my own weapon? I’m only going to tell you this because you’re courting Quynh, but women don’t like getting presents that already belong to them.
There’s an ancient prophecy about Ilion turning their backs on the goddess and that it would put us in danger. It says that a savior would rise up to protect the Ilionians and restore the goddess’s glory. And that we will know the savior because they will be flame-kissed and bear the mark of the goddess.
In the stories, the beasts that must be vanquished are always female. Have you ever wondered why? It is because men have always feared women’s destructive potential. Knowledge gives us power. Your power is a threat.
I pledge to you my whole heart. My entire soul. Every part of my being already belongs to you. Ask for anything and it is yours.
Book review: A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson
A Tribute of Fire by Sariah Wilson was such a great debut! I have soooo many questions about Xander and Io and the royal Ilion family, but hoping the next book will shed some light on what exactly is going on there.
Similar to Spark of the Everflame, I didn’t expect the slow burn to be as slow as it was, but I’m here for more Xander and Lia. I absolutely loved the adelphia and Lia’s unapologetic determination to help her country and her family, and I’m so ready to see what happens next.
If you’re looking for another Ancient Greek and Roman inspired book, I highly recommend Firebird by Juliette Cross. It’s heavier on the graphic violence and content side, but it has dragon-shifters and a really complicated love story at its heart.
For those who’ve read A Tribute of Fire, what did you think? It won’t be long now until we have A Vow of Embers in hand. Tell me all your thoughts!
Until next time, happy reading.
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