Olivia Rose what magical drug did you sprinkle into this story?? I absolutely ATE IT UP. what’s equally impressive is the fact that this is her debut novel. it had all the elements that I love in a fantasy romance (allies to lovers, slow burn, banter, strong fmc, touch her and die, DRAGONS). and in my honest opinion, the story unfolded much more organically than some other more popular romantasies out there. it felt like the grown up version of some ya fantasy that just didn’t live up to the hype for me. and maybe that’s an unfair comparison because this is definitely not ya (thank the lordt lol), but like I mentioned, all those elements that are so beloved in those books are in this one. and just better 🤷🏻‍♀️

the story had great pace and captured my attention from the very beginning. my theory is that because a “certain dragon tv show” has been pretty mid this season (other than the dragons themselves), the dragons in FtF fueled my need for more dragons. the dragon obsession is real atm and I’m definitely back in my dragon era. I cannot wait to see more of the fearsome five, as I call them lol. elowen—my gorgeous, stabby gorl. I love my badass fmc’s. but beyond the quips and fierce exterior, her struggle with anxiety/PTSD, while simultaneously trying to embrace her role as queen, was beautifully complex and broke my heart. aaannd of course, here I am out here falling for yet another fictional man…and I absolutely will not tolerate any cayden slander. he is commander of my heart. he is also the perfect compliment to elowen and i would die for the two of them. if two tortured souls finding each other is a trope, just inject it straight into my veins.

will eagerly be awaiting book two with bated breath!

ps. I was reading in the ‘about the author’ that darling’s favorite movies growing up was the LOTR series & I 100% felt that ethereal influence in this story. I know for a fact that I noted verendus was giving rivendell lol.

I love this book! Probably my favorite fantasy book this year. I t has great detail in the world building, you feel like you can actually see the layout. Olivia has a very beautiful way of telling a story.

This book fills every want i’ve needed in a romantasy!

Elowen is hardcore and i love her! she does not hesitate to protect herself or the people she loves, and is not afraid to use her knife skills, and is just so perfectly “morally grey”. i love that she fully accepts who she is, and you don’t spend most of the book hearing complaints about it.

Cayden is a HEART. THROB. basically annotating every line out of his mouth. i love that he never shies away from his feelings, and that he is also “morally” grey. i love the dynamic of the two together and the feeding off of their good and bad.

finnish, ryder, saskia are the best entertainment, i wish i could be in a band of thieves with them and getting drunk at taverns.

could not put this book down.

also, DRAGONS!!

I first want to say thank you to the publisher and author for sending me the ARC of this book. I am very grateful. I really liked the plot line of this book, but I feel like the book needed to be longer to really establish the plot. I also think more world building would’ve helped me understand the world and kingdoms better. I would’ve liked to see the relationships develop more slowly. I couldn’t feel the connection between any of the characters because I didn’t see it develop over time. I did enjoy the representation of anxiety in this book since it is so rare to see it in fantasy books.

I thought this book would have a lot of the fantasy elements that I like and I was looking so forward to this read, but it just wasn’t for me. In my opinion there could have been more world building, a lot of plot moments just felt too convenient/ unrealistic, the banter between the two main characters took away from the story, and I just didn’t enjoy the writing. The writing felt like it was meant to be YA, but this is not a YA book. If it was YA, I’d be more understanding. If you’ve read any of my previous reviews you might know I refer to a “fanfiction writing style” and fear the flames gave off those vibes for me.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, it’s been one of my most anticipated reads. Unfortunately, the parts of the story that really mattered to me concerning the plot didn’t get enough attention (the war, the dragons and their bond with Elowen, back story, etc.) and instead there was too much focus on Elowen and Cayden and their tension. Someone else had mentioned that this book is the opposite of info dumping, and I would have to agree. I just wanted to know more about the world and conflict.
HOWEVER: don’t cross this book off your list entirely. If you’re someone who prefers or doesn’t mind romance/banter over plot or you just want a fun read, you should still give this one a shot. Just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for you, and one of the reasons I was so excited for this book was because so many other people have loved it 💚
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC

Thank you so much to Delacorte Press for sending me an arc!

The way this was not on my radar until the publisher sent this to me in my email & I flew through it in one sitting. I loved everything. the dragons, the romance, the found family. THE ROMANCE. this is what i want out of Romantasy as a whole. I want dragons, princesses, daring sword fights and a commander that will literally burn the world to protect you. what more could you want? I highly HIGHLY recommend you add this to your TBR. I've already recommended it to everyone i know.

I absolutely loved the indie version and i’m so happy that i absolutely loved the trad published version!!! this was so perfect in its own way. I like the way she expanded on certain things and cut out others! i love the character dynamics and how she was able to tie everything together towards the end!!! i also loved the ending as well, it felt so fresh but it also felt like it was revamped in the best way. I will forever love cayden and el. their relationship felt so genuine and the BANTER?!? THE BANTER?!?!!! i loved this man even more and i didn’t even think that was possible!!!! overall i loved the little bits added and this is still a favorite book and favorite series of mine!!! thank you netgalley and olivia for the eArc and the physical arc ❤️

3.5/5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, the story was captivating and the banter between Elowen and Kayden was amazing. I loved the little story we got of Elowen’s childhood, it helped understand her and her motives better. The writing in general was also great, it made me feel like I was in a fairytale or watching a really good movie.

Darling introduces us to a richly constructed universe where the kingdoms of Ravaryn clash, setting the scene for a narrative filled with tension and ambition. Elowen, who has already endured years of imprisonment at the hands of her father, King Garrick of Imirath, emerges as a strong and relatable heroine, determined to reclaim her birthright and set her dragons free. Her establishment of the secret kingdom of Aestilian showcases her resourcefulness and strategic mind, making her a force to be reckoned with. Cayden Veles, the formidable Commander of Vareveth, enters the story like a tempest. His reputation as the most ruthless man in the land is balanced with an intriguing complexity—one that is slowly unveiled through his relationship with Elowen. The chemistry between them crackles with intensity, making their alliance all the more riveting. Darling does an excellent job of exploring their contrasting motives: while Elowen is propelled by vengeance and a desire to protect her dragons, Cayden’s interests are shrouded in his own ambitions for power and revenge against Imirath.
The story excels in character development. Elowen’s journey is marked by personal growth and emotional resilience as she navigates betrayal, alliances, and the heavy mantle of leadership. Cayden, too, reveals layers of vulnerability under his hardened exterior, making him a compelling anti-hero. Darling has created a dynamic cast of supporting characters that enrich the storyline further, providing both camaraderie and conflict. Overall, its a tale of redemption and resilience, exploring how love and vengeance can intertwine in unexpected ways. I highly recommend this book, it will certainly appeal to fans of romantic fantasy who relish complex characters and high-stakes narratives.

I read the original version of this book and am so excited to see it traditionally published. I’ve been a big fan of this author and I’m excited for more people to experience this world.

I downloaded the sample to Fear the Hames (back when it had a completely difterent cover where it inevitably got lost in the jungle of my Kindle library. When I rediscovered it and finally gave it a read, I instantly fell in love! The story felt so fresh and different. I was so excited! You can imagine my disappointment when I learned that this gem was officially off the market for a revamp into traditional publishing. So, when I found out I was receiving an eARC, I was ecstatic! And this story really lived up to my expectations. Every character really brought this story to lite. The bonds of love, friendship, and family were at times spine-chilling and heartwarming, proving that love doesn't have to be familial to be real and that the people who route for you are the ones that are worth protecting. Beyond a few editing issues, I really enjoyed tagging along on all the adventures and I can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC! This is my honest review.

Let me tell you how much I loved this book. I mean where can you go wrong with dragons……. Seriously you can’t. The FMC is strong and I love her so much. The found family is excellent, they are so supportive and I want them as my BFFS. The MMC is absolutely delicious.

This book is absolute perfection and I cannot wait for book 2

When I was offered an ARC of this book, I did minimal research. I read the synopsis and decided it was worth trying. I had no idea it was being republished from an earlier date with added scenes.

That said, I’m not sure what it was like before, but now…. It. Is. Fire. 🔥

I could not put this thing down. My work suffered. My kids may have had to call me multiple times. Just wow. I guess I need to wait for the second in the series to re-release as well?! I CANNOT wait.

If you like:
🔥enemies to lovers
🐉 forced proximity
🔥 dragons
🐉 adventure
🔥 SPICE 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Then this is your book.
Absolutely in love!

Thank you NetGalley and Olivia Rose Darling for this book! 📚

LOVED this one!

The slow burn, the banter, the found family, the dragons, the badass FMC! *chef’s kiss*

Found this gem of a book on instagram via fan art and have been awaiting the re-release ever since!

One thing I wish the author would’ve expanded more on a bit was Elowen’s ptsd journey. We get glimpses of this in the very beginning and seem to have completely left the main bits behind soon after. I’m a big advocate for mental health and it’s accurate representation in books, so this was a bit of a bummer for me. Especially with the line “she can be strong and have anxiety. She’s not made of stone” I was just expecting more.

The angst, slow burn, and banter between the two main characters so was so much fun! It was a constant “will they, won’t they” with every interaction. I would’ve loved to get Cayden’s POV as it seemed to be more about his want of Elowen than what the readers were being told. Maybe in the next book?? I hope so!

Overall a great read!

this book reminded me of why I’m such a hard core romantasy lover!! everything was perfect in this book from the plot to the characters. I loved seeing elowens character progres throughout the story. she felt different from other fantasy fmc and had a lot of dimension to her. the author really made me feel for her and now I LOVE her. 😭 as for cayden he’s my definition of the most perfect fantasy mmc and had so much depth!! these two had giggling and kicking my feet EVERY SINGLE PAGE. 🤭 I loved seeing there relationship progressing through out the story. I could never put into words how perfect they are for each other! 🥹 I’m someone who’s favorite trope is found family and this one was done so well i love the connection all of them have with each other. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and see what’s in store for these characters that now feel like family!! ❤️‍🩹

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

I enjoyed this a lot. I loved the relationship between the two main characters. Their bantering and tension was well done, as was the spice. The end was pretty busy and I'm curious to see where it goes next!

2.5-3
This was a drag to get through for me. The writing was immature. The dragons didn't make a big appearance until near the end which is when the story got interesting. It was a big buildup that lasted too long only for the last 10% to be the best part of the book.

Take all your stabby, broody, dark guy banter that you get in pretty much any romantasy and pair it with a golden retriever girl who loves coffee, pastries and smut, throw in some magic that hopefully gets explained further in future books because it was very *vague*, and add non existent world building (minus descriptions of the castles) and that's the book.

I first heard about Fear the Flames a year ago while it was still independently published. I was seriously intrigued but with a TBR so long never got around to picking it up just yet. Let me say after reading it now I seriously regret it. I give this 4.5 stars! According to everywhere I read this is book one. i have seen no news on a second book but I am not chomping at the bit for the sequel becuase I need to know what happens next.
In this our FMC, Elowen is an exiled princess who was seventeen mistreated by her father. Now known as a missing princess she tries to do her best for her new kingdom, Aestillian, that she has since estabshed with the help of her uncle. She still wants to get back and find a way to save her 5 dragons that she miraculously was gifted and bonded with from birth. Our MMC is from an enemy kingdom from the one she has run away from. He is of course extremely good looking, and has a mouth on him that will leave you wanting more!
I will say that I loved the banter that these two had going on between them. I was laughing and really couldn’t get enough. I would not say they are really enemies though the kingdoms they are oginally from are. They are two people who in the end are allying together among a common enemy! I found all the characters to be really likeable. I do think that the ending was a little predictable but that didn’t stop from me enjoying the book. I really look forward to the next installment and seeing where this ends up!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! The banter between the main characters was on point. I loved the relationship between the fmc and her best friend/brother - it was so wholesome and genuine - just all the warm fuzzy feelings!

Some parts felt a bit rushed - almost as if there were large blocks of the backstory edited out. In reviewing some of the indie reviews on Goodreads, I can see where some people thought the indie version had too much “fluff” in it. I’m anxious to read the indie version and see if it ranks higher for me than this version.

All in all, I enjoyed the book very much and will definitely read a sequel if one comes around!

This was such an interesting read! It had my attention from the beginning and it had everything you could ask for in a Romantasy book!
🐉 reluctant allies to lovers
🐉 touch her & 💀
🐉 banter & spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🐉 DRAGONS (who doesn’t love a book with dragons!)
🐉 found family
Elowen Atarah is a lost princess in hiding after escaping imprisonment by her father King Garrick of Imirath and being ripped away from her dragons.
After years of building her own kingdom in secret, her only quest is to exact her vengeance and free her dragons. But she has to form an alliance with the Commander of Vareveth, Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms of Ravaryn to accomplish it.

I honestly had such a good time reading this. The world building was easy to comprehend, the plot was fast paced, and the tension and banter between Elowen and Cayden was 10/10🤩 adding another broody & possessive book boyfriend to my list🤪
I’m very excited to see how the next book plays out and the journey Elowen, Cayden, the dragons, and the gang will embark on!

𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆:
“Words have given me wings when I’ve needed an escape. Books breathe life into the mundane and have brightened the darkest of days for me with merely some pretty prose and hope.”