I’m pleased to meet Elowen Atarah once again in the republished version of Fear the Flames. The indie version quickly became a comfort read for me and this has been my most anticipated release of the year so I was thrilled to be given the chance to read it early. Spoilers ahead!

The strength of this story has always been its characters. Elowen, Cayden, Finnian, Saskia, and Ryder are a fun bunch and I want to read about their adventures forever. New prison heist? Love. We get more dragons in this version and I love that we can already see their distinct personalities peeking through. Cayden is still obsessed with Elowen as he should be and his love for her is everything. I still feel the utmost betrayal on Elowen’s behalf at the end. Sobbing in a blood-soaked gown gets me every time.

I had a great time reading this story again for the first time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t everything I know this story could be. I just can’t stop myself from wondering if the editors were focused on the right things. On a technical note, at times it can be hard to decipher who’s speaking and some of the new sentences are so simple that I feel like they could’ve been elevated. While I loved the added scenes and learning about Cayden’s backstory, I couldn’t help but miss almost everything that was cut from the indie version. Some of these scenes became tell and not show and I have to question that if they were so important that the audience still needs to know about them, why couldn’t we keep them in?

Some of this is my own personal preference and how attached I got to certain scenes and dialogue, however, I truly think all these cuts might be to the detriment of the story. I miss the training scene in Ladislava where Elowen shows everyone up, but Cayden ends up winning a favor to be cashed in later. I desperately miss the letters. I’m sure they were removed to cut down on pages, but I think they’re vital for the audience’s understanding of Elowen and Cayden’s relationship. I think the original final banquet scene is more compelling. The end result is the same, but for me, the reader, the impact of Elowen’s feelings in that moment felt delayed and like it didn’t hit quite as hard.

The most profound loss that I think will be felt by those who haven’t read the indie: it seemed like we got so much less Ryder and Saskia in this version. His banter with Cayden was important! Not just from an entertainment POV, but it added more color to Cayden as well. We seemed to cut some of the political conversations and I think that took away opportunities for Saskia to shine more. I also don’t believe it’s clearly explained why Cayden has so much power over the King and Queen of Vareveth.

I will always love this story and I’ll stand by Elowen forever. I have to know how she gets her happy ending so I’ll be reading the rest of the series and look forward to doing so. Thank you Delacorte Press and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy.

I received an ARC Copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
Fear the Flames was the first book I’d read from author Olivia Rose Darling. I’d been wanting to read this one for far too long, and let me say, it did not disappoint. This was absolutely the perfect fantasy romance, with so many enjoyable aspects. I absolutely loved the tension between Elowen and Cayden, and the spice scenes were HOT. It was easy to immerse yourself into this world, and I absolutely loved our found family/side characters. This book overall was a fun read, and not to mention…. DRAGONS!

⭐️ 4/5

We dive into this book meeting Elowen (our FMC), the princess in hiding to some, or the lost princess to most. We follow Elowen’s POV throughout this book, which I believe worked out perfectly. Elowen is a complex, fierce and absolutely loveable character. I loved following along with her story and being able to truly unravel the depth of her as a character throughout. After some time in hiding, Elowen had always vowed to return to Imirath to bestow the same pain that had been dealt to her and of course, to free her dragons. This is where we meet Cayden Veles (our MMC), otherwise known as the demon commander. When I say you will absolutely be DRAWN to this man… he is THAT man in every way. Cayden absolutely had a way with words. Although, I do feel we lack a bit of depth in Cayden as a character, the banter and tension between him and Elowen was amazing! I was truly intrigued with the heist aspect of this book, and enjoyed the action scenes that we got. I did feel this book was heavily romance driven, but adored it nonetheless. I have to say, Finnian had my heart as well. The friendship and loyalty between him and Elowen was absolutely refreshing and so sweet. I’d also loved all of our found family/side characters, I was able to easily feel connected to them.

I’d like to have gotten a bit more background/lore on the dragons, although this story mainly follows the heist to free them, I feel like we did not get as much information on them or the bond between them and Elowen. I’d also love to dive deeper into Cayden’s past, although we know how lovely of a morally grey MMC he is, I do hope we get a bit more history on him. My last wish would be to dive deeper into the magic system, although we did get some glimpses I am anticipating the second book will include more depth. Overall, this was an excellent read and when I say I cannot WAIT for book #2, I truly can’t.

Definitely recommend reading if you enjoy the following:
✨ Reluctant allies to lovers
✨ Morally Grey MMC
✨ DRAGONS!
✨ Found Family
✨ Touch her/him and die
✨ Stabby/Strong FMC
✨ Heist

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6632683425

Thank you, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the e-ARC of one of my favorite reads from 2023, republished traditionally!
I have to admit, I was terrified when this got picked up traditional, because I LOVED the indie version so much, I thought there was NO way to improve on it and make it better, and boy I am so happy to announce that I was completelyyyy wrong. This was the indie version all over again with a few more hot chili flakes sprinkled over the top of it. I am so happy with the way this version turned out and cannot wait to start recommending it to friends in September. Congratulations to Olivia on the traditional publish - you did it!!! Now please feed us more <3

The bones of this story are really good and the potential I foresee for this series excites me. However, the book didn’t feel fully fleshed out. And that is disappointing because isn’t that the whole point of being picked up by a traditional publisher and going through rewrites? Parts of the story felt unfinished and I needed and wanted more – more time with the characters, more kingdom politics, more lore, more ‘down time’ and quiet moments between the action scenes.

There was a notable shift from Chapter 33 through the end of the book where the story felt more settled and the writing flowed better. Although, the ending still felt a little rushed. I don’t think it hit with as much emotional weight as it could or should have.

I made the mistake of seeking out some of the cuts that were made with this book and I am devastated by the removal of the letters between Cayden and Elowen. I felt like they added so much context to the story and their relationship.

All that being said, I did overall have a good time reading this book and enjoyed the characters. I do intend to read the rest of the series.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Olivia Rose Darling, and NetGalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

🗡Found Family
🐉Allies to Lovers
🗡Dragons
🐉Morally Gray Characters
🗡He Falls First
🐉Slow Burn
🗡”Touch Her and Die”

Elowen Atarah is an exiled princess who was ripped away from her five dragons at a very young age when she was imprisoned by her father, King Garrick. When her uncle finally broke her out of the prison, all she wanted was for him to turn around so she could get back to them. Years later, she happens upon an unlikely ally, Cayden Veles the feared commander of Vareveth, who offers to assist her in fulfilling her deadly dream of freeing her dragons.

This book really had it all for me, I was kicking my feet and grinning almost the whole time! The slow burn was PERFECT, as well as the banter between the two main characters. Cayden Veles is one of my new favorite book boyfriends 😍 And those spicy scenes?! 🥵 The spice was perfect and didn’t overtake the plot which I prefer.

I LOVED their little found family and how each character really stood out with their relationships with the MC’s.

I felt like the pacing was perfect and the story was so well balanced with both intense plot lines, as well as cute slow moments (i.e. sharing an apple tart) that just meshed so well together and made me fall in love with all of the characters.

This was a great new adult fantasy and would highly recommend for anyone who likes:
- found family (it has this in spades)
- great side characters (Saskia will go down as one of my favorites... Ryder too)
- reluctant allies to lovers (because, honestly, the enemies to lovers trope is overrated in my opinion)
- spice (although not too spicy in my opinion)
- stabby FMCs
- just as stabby MMCs

There were some issues I had with plot and some character arcs but still a good read. It was very fun and the magic was easy to understand. Sometimes I just don't want to read about how a world works for 300+ pages (I'm looking at you SJM!). But it's a solid 4 stars for me.

I was sucked in to this book immediately and it kept my attention the whole time.

The tension and banter was top notch. I liked how instantly protective Cayden was of Elowen.

The ending was a bit odd to me. Just maybe felt rushed or forced.
But otherwise really enjoyed this story!

I would recommend this to other fantasy readers!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite fantasy books of the whole year! The pacing, the plot, the characters hooked me right from the beginning. Strong female characters with an undeniably soft heart is ALL I ever want to read!!!

The perfect fantasy read for dragon lovers! This book has everything you’d want in a fantasy romance. The plot was amazing as well. Will post reviews on social media once published.

4.5 Stars!!

I kept seeing this book getting recommended and I have to say I agree with everything I saw. Once I got 10-15% in, I couldn’t put the book down.

I felt like the world building was easy to understand and didn’t go on and on like a lot of fantasy books tend to do. I think Elowen was a really relatable FMC. She deals with anxiety, which I think was portrayed accurately throughout the story and really helped her seem more realistic. The side characters brought in the found family aspect and kept me laughing.

I loved Cayden as a character and how he acts toward Elowen and their friends. I’m a sucker for nicknames and this man used them frequently. My only issue with Cayden as a character was that I felt like he was fully developed. I understand keeping readers in the dark about some things, but I feel like there needed to be a little more background info on him that Elowen discovers as she gets to know him. I think this would’ve helped the progression of their relationship and given even more of a reason of why she should trust him. Even though I think his character could’ve been a little more fleshed out, I still thoroughly enjoyed the romance between them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. For being a fantasy, I was able to get through it pretty quickly and didn’t feel like it took a lot of brain power. The ending also took me by surprise (in a good way). I can’t wait for the next book to come out and get even more of the dragons!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review!

Full review will be posted on Goodreads two weeks before publication (9/3/2024) per author/publisher request.

I had been curious about this book for a while after seeing it all over social media, but sadly it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Elowen and Cayden were fine, but I felt like the author was constantly trying to emphasize how badass and bloodthirsty they both were. The romance also didn’t do much for me and I thought the way they spoke to each other was kind of cringey. I’m not sure if “reluctant allies” is all that accurate considering Cayden was obsessed with her pretty much immediately.

I also thought the author included an excessive amount of “profound” statements that you might find in a fantasy book, for example - “I will shake the very stars the gods hung in the sky and crumble the mountains they forged on the earth” and “I wring dreams from disparity and hope from hopelessness”. It was just too much.

It honestly wasn’t all bad hence the 3 stars - dragons are always good and I enjoyed Elowen’s bond with her brother Finnian, but there were a lot of things that needed to be explained better. I’m not really sure if I would read the next book or not.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC!

I loved this just as much as I did when I read the Indie Pub. Elowen and Cayden’s romance makes me GIDDY! Ugh just thinking about it has me smiling like a lovesick foooollll! I cannot get over how much chemistry they have, how much they understand each other, & care for each other. They both are so reserved & open up to one another about things they’ve never shared. It’s done so well. I absolutely devoured it and cannot wait to reread it in Sept to annotate my physical book. Cayden is so sarcastic and flirty it makes my heart raaacceeeee! I loved the action, adventure, our stabby FMC, our protective MMC, the found family, & of course the dragons. I can’t wait to continue this series!!

DNF @ 8%.

I was initially excited by "Fear the Flame", but I won't be able to finish this. The writing is very simple, but not in an enjoyable way. We jumped very quickly from one scene to the next without any real explanation as to what was going on. This made the setting and characters very one dimensional and juvenile.

The first meeting of our main characters doesn't make sense and all of the subsequent reveals are very predicable.

I don't know who the intended audience is, so I am unable to recommend it to anyone.

Rated 2 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ebook ARC.

This was a solid three for me - it started out a little rough (e.g. the banter felt contrived), but I ended up enjoying most of it. Overall it has the makings of a binge-able fantasy; an MMC who would kill and burn the world for her, betrayals, an inner circle of friends who would die for each other, dragons (but not in the way you often see dragons in fantasy), warring kingdoms, and spice. I'm hoping there's more of Saskia in the next book (if a sequel is planned) because she seems smart and interesting and I'd love to read more about her. And where do I find a friend like Finnian? Favorite quote: "I want to live the kind of life that makes me long for the next morning and the little moments."

I was completly enveloped by the romance between Cayden and Elowen!! This book was the fast-paced, romance-forward adventure (hello, dragons!) that I LOVE! There are so few books where you are swooning for the MMC, cheering on a badass FMC, falling in lovewith found family, going on heists- and it all works! I will read this over and over again....

This book was a wild ride and an easy read full of adventure, found family, banter and ultimately dragons.

Elowen was one strong kickass FMC, I definitely got end of series Daenerys vibes from her! She was slightly unhinged at times, confident in her abilities and lethal. Her complex character kept me invested in seeing her plan through. She knows who she is and is determined to get her dragons back. So much so she brokers a bargain with the demon commander, cayden. I enjoyed Caydens character, but I wanted more, I still felt there was more to him I was missing. He was similar to Elowen in many ways, I did love how super protective of elowen he was but also allowing her to be who she is. Together they had lots of slowburn tension and the spicy scenes were good!

Finnian was one of my fave characters, he is the best friend and I just adored reading the bond between him and elowen. I enjoyed the banter between all the side character in this book to be honest.

The plot however was a little bit out for me, though I did enjoy the heists, and the ending felt a bit rushed. I wanted more from the dragon reunion and a bit more lore surrounding the dragons. But I enjoyed it and will definitely pick up book 2.

4.5⭐️ rounded up for Goodreads
🌶️🌶️

First of all someone should slap me because I almost passed up this arc. Not because I didn’t want to read it, but because I’ve taken on too many lately and I was scared I wouldn’t be able to read it on time. However, my gut kept telling me to read it and here we are.

Fear the Flames was an indie book that is beloved by many and it got picked up for a trad publishing deal. This is book 1 in what I believe will be a 4 book series.

Elowen is cunning, brave, and strong. She is also harboring a lifetime of trauma which fuels many of her decisions. She’s stabby, whitty, and assertive.

Cayden is the definition of “looks like they could kill you…will kill you” yet is a giant cinnamon roll when it comes to one special woman. He is sexy, has a way with dirty talk and innuendos, and will absolutely kill anyone who pisses him off.

What I love most is that this is an allies to lovers story. So right from the beginning the love interests are teaming up and needing to put trust in one another. It is not insta love, but does allow us to get the good banter and flirting right from the start.

Fear the Flames does have elements that are reminiscent of other popular fantasy series (in a good way!), however, it is a story that stands on its own and has unique elements. I think book 1 has laid the groundwork for this to be a really incredible series and I am excited to see it continue.

Fear the Flames has a really vivid setting that gives cozy vibes. While it can feel cozy there are some very intense fighting and torture type scenes (as any good fantasy does).

A few other elements of the story that make it a great read:
⚔️Dragons
🖤Found family
⚔️Dark pasts/trauma
🖤VERY protective MMC
⚔️Banter and flirting
🖤Caring for/healing one another

When the lost princess, more accurately - the princess in hiding, meets the mysterious enemy commander and he offers to reunite her with her dragons, the story really begins! “Fear the Flames” delivers all the elements that readers love in a classic Romantic-Fantasy. I loved the world-building and the atmosphere of this tale. That ending has me so ready for the sequel!

For those who love:
💚 Princess + Enemy Commander
💚 Forbidden Romance
💚 Dragons
💚 Found Family
💚 The Banter!!
💚 Playing Cards at the Tavern with Friends
💚 He’s her bodyguard
💚 Political Intrigue
💚 Heist
💚 Reluctant Allies

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What an absolute joy and privilege to be able to read my favorite book for the first time once again. That is truly how it feels reading the ARC of the traditional publication of Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling after falling nose over tail for the indie version of it last year.

I knew there was no way that I wouldn’t still love this book even after edits and additional content was added, but I was not expecting to fall even *more* in love with it.

My ultimate weaknesses are dragons, morally grey romance, and found family - and this book has all three!

I adored all of the main characters SO MUCH. Are they vengeful and intense? Yes. Do I care? Not at all. The Band of Thieves are now my besties, and I would die for them. I literally cried over how much I cared about them as a unit and how much they all clearly care about each other.

And the spice was spicin’ between Elowen and Cayden, y’all. It’s even spicier than the indie version was! But even more than that, I just am obsessed with their playful banter and their overall devotion to each other. They are the ultimate power couple.

What a wonder it is to have my favorite book of 2023 also be my favorite book of 2024, and yet have them be slightly different books! Yes. You heard that correctly. Fear the Flames is my favorite book. I cannot recommend it enough. I would give it an infinite number of stars if that were an option.

I am absolutely mind blown that this is her debut novel, and I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this series! In the meantime, I’ve preordered multiple copies of this book because I am just that obsessed!

Thank you to Dell Romance for the physical ARC and to Dell Romance & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

“but is it not the most unsuspecting people who do the most extraordinary things?” (∞ / 5)

the indie version of fear the flames was tattooed into my veins and i didn’t think i could love anything more. enter … the trad pub fear the flames. a story of learning about both romantic and self-love, of following your destiny even in the face of adversity, and fueling your desire to follow your dreams. elowen atarah is the embodiment of a woman who will fight both her past and those who stand in her way for her dragons, her brother (i love you finnian), and the promise of a better world. as she meets her mighty trio, she learns that even the most important tasks don’t have to be handled alone. here’s to a beautiful story fighting for a better tomorrow … and dragons! 💔🗡️🏔️🐉✨