This was not a huge win for me personally. I think the romance happened just a little too quick. However, I see a lot to enjoy in this title and I think it's going to be a big hit. I have a lot of readers who will enjoy this so I will definitely be purchasing and recommending.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

I wasn’t completely sure what I was getting myself into with this book. I assumed it was going to be similar to Fourth Wing, but other than being a book about dragons, the similarities stopped there. I really liked the characters. I liked that Elowen didn’t change drastically. The amount of killing and gore was surprising, but made me like the characters even more. This whole book was a very pleasant surprise and I hope there are more to read.

This book was everything I needed and more!!! The plot line, the high stakes, dragons, the spice!!! a broody and cruel (soft when he wants to be mmc 🤭), a princess who is so strong willed and bodies the definition of FEMALE RAGE which I just LOVE!!!! oh and one of my favorite parts about this whole story is the found family 🥹 just perfection. the detail to the world building and imagery was out of this world, I could vividly picture every scene while reading this story. I loved everything about it and would 100% recommend to all the romantasy book lovers out there!!

This book surprised me! It is definitely a good "starter" fantasy romance book for someone who is looking for some dragons with a side of spice!

The main character Elowen gives big Aelin (from Throne of Glass) or Daenerys Targaryen (from Game of Thrones Vibes) but didn't feel like a copy paste. She has her own story and trauma as an exiled princess who just wants to get her dragons back.

She has to align herself with the Commander of the neighboring country, the most "feared and dangerous man" (spoiler- he's a softie for her!) in order to save her dragons and take down her abusive father.

Some things I loved: the found family vibes, the world building, and the balance of romance and fantasy.

Something that needed some work: the pacing, especially at the end. I admit to skimming a bit at the end because I just wanted the know what happens and move on but for a debut book, It was by no means terrible.

Fun and exciting. Had me captivated from beginning to end. I do feel like the last few chapters need to be reworked - I understand those last few twists were supposed to be a total surprise, but there was absolutely no foreshadowing. Hint at them! Small details that don't seem off to the MC but nudge at the reader that something isn't quite right.

The prologue is beautifully written...I mean, beautifully. It gave STRONG Daenerys Targaryen vibes, which I was all here for. But that's about where the parallels end. I had high hopes after the prologue, but felt that everything after fell flat. I had a hard time connecting to Elowen. I mean, I love coffee and books and pastries and cozy things as much as the next girl, but to read about it countless times? Unnecessary and it made me feel like it should have some higher significance or that the author didn't put enough trust in readers to remember that. Either way, I'm not sure why it was there so much.

I ended up abandoning (which I hate to do in general, especially when I have an ARC) about 20% through because the story crawled. Dialogue was clunky, and I just couldn't force myself to stick with it. I also picked it up expecting more dragons. Where are the dragons!?! I certainly thought they'd be around more, but given other reviews, they don't come in until toward the end, but I just can't. Unfortunately.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A strong start to a romantasy series with endless potential!

“Fear the Flames” follows Elowen Atarah, an exiled princess, as she teams up with Cayden Veles, the feared Commander of Vareveth, to free her dragons and save her people. As forces beyond their control try to keep them apart, the pull between Elowen and Cayden becomes irresistible.

The concept of this book immediately grasped my attention. It was the reluctant allies-to-lovers romance that drew me in further! Elowen and Cayden’s knife to the throat meet-cute put me in a chokehold and I was living for their banter. Their dynamic is truly incredible and the tension had my heart pounding.

Unfortunately, the pacing and aspects of the writing are what lost me. While Cayden fell first, he also fell very fast. Many readers might like this if they prefer instantaneous chemistry, but I tend to like books where the relationship development moves more slowly, so I did not enjoy how quick it felt. Much of their dialogue, aside from the banter, was also clunky and cringey at times.

As far as the plot, the heist was the main focus, so I was a bit let down when it missed the mark. There was a lot of build-up surrounding it only for it to be done and over with so quickly. Nearly everything was executed perfectly without a hitch, so it just ended up being anticlimactic.

Overall, I appreciate this book’s vision and really liked some of its elements despite its setbacks. I’m interested to see what direction Darling takes the next book now that the groundwork has been laid.

This is a republished version and while I haven’t read the indie book to compare, this version was 🗣️EVERYTHING! Also, im in my dragon era so thank you to @netgalley for the e-arc 🫶🏽

I truly enjoyed this book. It’s crazy how fast I fall in love with these MMCs 🫣 honestly I’m not even ashamed of it 🤣. Cayden, the man that you are 👩🏼‍🍳🤌🏽💋. The touch her and die vibes were all over this book and I swear I’m a sucker for that trope. I’ll never get sick of it.

Elowen was so bad ass, after everything she went through she was so strong, confident in herself. And as you know I love me a stabby FMC and from the start we get that. A little violent thing lol. From challenging a commander to torturing those who wronged her 🔪 I LOVE HER!

The banter between her and Cayden had me kicking me feet in the air and giggling lmao. The spice had me fanning myself 🥵 CAYDEN!!!

Finnian, I want a bestie like you! He was Elowen’s bother not by blood but by love. Omg I just love their friendship. They would truly do anything for each other. Finnian is loyal and so supportive of our girl Elowen. Truly one of a kind.

Ryder, if Olivia ever writes a book about this man, I will devour it. Funny, lethal and loyal AF. Cayden’s right hand man. He brought humor to certain situations and I enjoyed his character a lot.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes. I will say I wanted to see more of the dragons, so I’m hoping next book we get more of them. Overall, I loved it 🥰

Listen all you need to know is there are dragons. All you need to know is that this is one of the best books I read in a long time. All you need to know is this cured my reading slump. I am obsessed in a way that indescribable. I imagine the finished copy will tweak it to be perfection, but if this is what I call perfect and romantic and heart wrenchingly beautiful then what’s better? What could be beyond that?

4.5/5⭐️ This book definitely is giving what the romantasy girlys need. Dragons, check. Heist, check. Cool magic, check. Sexy and dangerous MMC, double check. I enjoyed the balance between character driven and plot driven storyline. I’m very excited to see where the story goes if there is a second book!

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b1203e9f-fb96-402a-8b91-df2c66680544

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6819927545

4.75 ⭐️ (rounded up) I had the pleasure of reading the indie version of this book in 2023 and fell in love. It is on my top ten reads of all time. Elowen, the FMC is basically everything I could EVER want in a heroine. She is strong, independent, feisty, a master with weapons and fighting. . . . and a lost Dragon Princess. . . I mean come on - it does not get better than that. Cayden, the MMC, is broody, mysterious and morally grey while also being a complete cinnamon roll when it comes to taking care of those he loves. My favorite thing about this story is the amazing found family that exists between the cadre of characters. And while the traditionally published version was excellent - I did find that some of the magic of the indie version was unfortunately lost. However, overally this is a great story and a world I cannot wait to read more about.

Highlights
✨Feisty Independent Lost Princess FMC
✨Allies to Lovers
✨Forbidden Love
✨Dragons
✨Found Family

Favorite Quotes: (this book has so many it was hard to only pick a few!) "But is it not the most unsuspecting people who do the most extraordinary things?"

"Vengeance is a promise signed in blood"

"Never let anyone make you feel guilty for letting yourself choose how you want to live your life. . . and give those bastards the hell they deserve."

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

Rating: 4✨
Spice: 1.5🌶️

Thank you to the author & Delacorte Press for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary & honest.

If there’s one way to describe this book, it is that it was FUN. This was a fun world to get lost in, filled with fantastical elements & beings like dragons which I ABSOLUTELY ADORE. The found family trope is also one of my favorites & we see it quickly begin to develop in this first installment of the “Fear the Flames” series. And though there were a few elements within this world that had me confused at times, mainly because they seemed more modern, it didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Elowen is a fiery FMC, one with a past that has haunted her & left long-lasting pain within her. But that pain helped her grow into a fierce heroine & one prepared to not only take back what was taken from her, but also take down those who hurt her & those she loved. The Dragon Queen is prepared to make her enemies fall & be engulfed within the flames.

Cayden is the Commander of Vareveth & the next MMC that will have you screeching, screaming & drooling. His fierceness & his unapologetic personality are perfection. His character is one that is morally gray but also one you immediately root for. Just from his words and his loyalty & devotion to Elowen, this man will have you swooning. He is ready to lay it all down for those he loves & for those he leads. I am excited to see more of him & his own story!

This story is one with twists you may not see coming & will have you excited to know more. The relationships between characters were definitely my favorite part. If you want a romantasy with political intrigue, a steamy romance that is forbidden, a man who is wholly obsessed and DRAGONS, Fear the Flames is one for you.

This book is beautifully written, I’ve highlighted so many quotes because they either made me feel some type of emotion or they were just really well written. I love the pace of the book it’s slow enough where we get enough details about what’s going on but not too slow to where people might find it boring. I think this is a book that deserves so much love and is very good for a debut novel.

I love this book so much!! I read the first self published version and then received this arc for the rereleased published book. The changes to this book are great. It flows so much better now. So happy to see more of the dragons. I loved the banter and chemistry between Elowen and Cayden. I highly recommend giving this book a try if you enjoy romance and fantasy. I look forward to the next book in the series.


Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the Digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this was not it for me.

Elowen, who is the Princess of Imirath is supposedly bonded to five dragons. However, we never really find out why. Also, there are barely any dragons in this book.

The world building fell flat, as I was left with tons of questions about the magic system and the plot in general. But what I do know is that this princess loves coffee, smut , and lingerie. As it was mentioned a million times.

The writing felt a little juvenile as well. And I just did not think Elowen and Cayden had any chemistry.

The premise of this story was good, but I feel like it was executed poorly and fell flat.

Thank you NetGalley and Randomhouse for this eARC.

While I really appreciated the arc, I had to dnf around 50 pages. It was too much going on plot wise and not enough world building

I liked the idea of this book (especially the dragons) but the execution didn't really like us to it. The world building was pretty weak and the dragons not really a feature. The writing needs a bit of work, it wasn't great. The book was fine though.

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy for review

Interesting debut fantasy novel featuring a lost princess, a commanding general, and dragons (sort-of). Elowen Atarah was imprisoned by her father as a child and separated from her five dragons. She grew up in a hidden kingdom with a taste for revenge and dreams of being reunited with her dragons. During a spy mission, she meets Cayden Veles, general of the army of her father's enemy. Cayden proposes a deal - that Elowen side with his king in the war against her father, and in return he will help her free her dragons. While I initially enjoyed the banter and hate-to-love relationship between Elowen and Cayden, the way they got together seemed a bit too easy, and the tension at the end that seemed to be setting up the next book was IMO unnecessary. I would have liked to have seen more of the dragons in this book. I guess that's something for the next book, but I am not sure if I will read any more in this series.

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶.5

"I will shake the very stars the gods hung in the sky and crumble the mountains they forged on the earth.  Vengeance is a promise signed in blood."

As a child, Elowen Atarah, was ripped away from her dragons and imprisoned by her father, the King. Now she finds herself teaming up with the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms, Cayden Veles (the demon commander), to free her dragons. This had everything I’m always looking for in a romantasy. Anything with dragons 🐉 Sign me up!! Elowen was such a b*da$s fmc. She has a caring heart, but takes no sh*t from anyone 🗡 The found family was a fun group and her friendship with Finnian was my favorite! They had the sweetest relationship 🥹 Now what can I say about our handsome, broody, possessive mmc?! Cayden doesn’t hold his tongue and everything he says and does will have you blushing, kicking your feet and FERAL 🥵🥵 Their banter was full of sarcasm, humor and SPICE!!! Cayden would burn the whole world down for Elowen, but what I loved most is that she would be right there burning it down with him 🔥 Thank you NetGalley and Olivia for this ARC opportunity. I cannot wait for the next books in this series!!      

🗡Princess x Bodyguard
🐉Heists
🗡Forbidden love
🐉Dragon Bonds
🗡B*da$s FMC
🐉Found family
🗡Touch her & 💀
🐉Angst, tension & spice 🥵
🗡Sarcastic & lethal MMC (only soft for her)
🐉Reluctant Allies-to-Lovers
🗡Only one bed