I loved this book. The banter between the two main characters was top tier. I need the second book asap. Love the writing style.

I AM OBSESSED. Absolutely brilliant writing. One of the best debuts I've ever read. I cannot stress this enough: this is a MUST READ for romantasy lovers. You will not be disappointed.

I don't even know where to start. I think I highlighted the entire book. Elowen is a strong, resilient, hidden princess bonded with 5 dragons -- like ok doesn't get better than that. Cayden is a ruthless, stealthy, assassin and Commander of Vareveth, who's literally the most dangerous and feared man in Ravaryn but is willing to die for Elowen from their first meeting -- utter perfection. Their friends are just as badass and I genuinely love them all. The fight scenes are fantastic, the spicy scenes are unparalleled, the banter is hilarious. I have truly no words for how much I enjoyed this book (well actually I clearly have many words, but you get the point).

Fear the Flames has all the best parts of a romantasy: enemies to lovers, dragons, strong & skilled MCs, forced proximity, an MMC that will utterly destroy anyone who touches the FMC, danger, amazing friends/found family, and tons of tension. I love that the romance is obviously a major part of the story but the other characters are still given lots of page time and the plot is very well developed. The romance is built up so well and both Elowen and Cayden have solid characters arcs. Cayden was just spewing poetry every time he spoke. I probably highlighted 90% of his lines. The flirting was so fun and I loved how emotion driven Elowen and Cayden's actions were. They are both so loyal to the people they love -- and the same goes for Finnian, Ryder and Saskia. Also, the "angel" and "demon" nicknames -- adorable!

I can't think of a single thing that would have made this better and I look forward to seeing what comes next!

Thank you so much Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the DRC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Go read this one ASAP!

4.5/5 ⭐️!


Oh Cayden Veles, the man that you are. New book boyfriend unlocked, woooo! “You should be scared of what I’d do for her.” Literally I am foaming at the mouth.

You can’t help but root for Elowen, our FMC. She spent her childhood abused and was torn away from her beloved dragons. I absolutely adore the pure platonic love she has for Finnion, and ate up the found family trope in this.

Things I loved:

-The allies to lovers trope. Elowen and Cayden are seriously perfect.
-Found family 🥹
-Little hints of cozy vibes every now and then with the pastries and book references.
-Cayden being unhinged.
-Twist at the end!
-light humor (I know this isn’t everyone’s thing but I liked it!)

Things that could’ve been better:

-Elowen is definitely a Mary Sue. Not only does she garden, read smutty books, and love pastries- she is also the chosen one who has bonded to 5 dragons, was chained in a cell during her childhood, escaped and became queen to a different kingdom, is a skilled assassin and swordsman and oh- she is a very talented healer. She does it all lol. But I understand this is a first novel and I can definitely understand the author’s want to have a badass FMC in the story which she is! I just know it’s something other readers will point out.


Overall, if you love romantasy and men who would start wars for the woman they love, this book is for you.

I received an ARC copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Fear the Flames has been on my TBR since its independently published days and I was very excited when I heard it was going to be traditionally published! As a result, I was extremely excited to receive an early copy of the new version. Thank you Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As excited as I was for this book, I had a bit of a mixed bag of a reading experience. I struggled to get into the story for the first 30% or so, but was motivated to keep going because I have friends who adored the original indie published version. Past the 30% mark, I finally found myself connecting with the characters. Hooray! I was giggling at the banter between Elowen and Cayden, really enjoying the found family aspect that was developing between their friends, and intrigued to know how the heist they were working towards would pan out.

However, something with the plot was missing for me and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Outside of the characters, the story itself felt almost murky in many parts. I’m unsure if I needed more concrete world-building, more build-up and explanation between scenes, or what exactly was missing. But by and large, as I read this novel, I felt very confused.

Given I did not read the indie published version, I cannot comment on the differences between the two myself. But as I was reading I mentioned my confusion to a friend who also received and read an ARC *and* had previously read the indie version. Interestingly enough, she was able to provide me with the answers to my questions. For example, there is a chapter where suddenly we are headed into battle. Why? I didn’t know! Had I missed it? My friend knew the answer and explained it to me (amazing!) but… she knew the information from the indie book. Which makes me wonder: was too much cut in edits from the indie to the traditionally published version?

As previously stated, this reading experience was a mixed bag and despite the rather murky plot I really liked these characters. Especially the farther I got into the novel! The plot and how we got there? Unclear at times! The characters? 10/10! And the romance? Is it getting hot in here?!? Whispers yes, yes it was! The characters and the romance CARRIED this story for me and were what kept me turning the pages. They are also what, even with my qualms, will bring me back to see how their story continues in book 2.

arc review 📖

fear the flames by olivia rose darling
overall 4⭐️

pub day: september 17

this was such a fun read ✨ if you like a fast paced story that isn’t too heavy on the world building, then i would absolutely recommend this book. the plot is easy to get invested in, the mc’s have great chemistry, the side characters are lovable, and it’s just an all around entertaining ride.

elowen and cayden are like fireworks on the page together. they have delicious banter and great tension. and the spice? 👀 so good. they also have mutual strong, morally grey personalities and what’s not to love about that?

the found family aspect was also one of my favorite elements. elowen and finnian have such a lovely friendship at the beginning of the story and it was great to see cayden and his friends connect with them so easily. they have the kind of friendships that everyone would want in real life.

overall i’m excited to continue this series! i was surprised by the direction this book went in and i’m real curious to see where it’s going next!

give this one a go if you like:
✧ morally grey mc’s
✧ touch her and 💀
✧ allies to lovers
✧ found family
✧ dragons
✧ spice spice spice

*Received an ARC for an honest review* The blurb for this book is very intriguing and the book itself has the potential to be the beginning of a really good romantasy series. This book felt like a lot of set up, character introduction and world building. It was a little slow going. I like the characters of Elowen and Cayden, but I had a hard time trying to determine of this is a slow burn relationship or just platonic. I prefer a lot more spine in my books, which might be another reason I had a hard time getting completely into it. However I'm curious enough if there's a second book I'll pick it up.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. This book is a great starting point for any reader who wants to explore the romance/fantasy genre. The world building was easy to follow and I could picture the book as though it was a movie playing in my head. I really enjoyed the banter between the FMC and MMC. It was one of my favorite parts of the story! It felt so real and I could really feel the tension between the two. I enjoyed the storyline and the found family aspect as well. The pacing was good and kept me entertained throughout the story. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series! I can see the potential for this series to become well known and loved by readers, so I’m excited for what’s to come next for our FMC and MMC!

This was easily consumable and I loved it!

Elowen is the exiled princess who has made her own kingdom. In order to protect them she makes a deal with a the commander of another territory if he promises to help her rescue her 5 dragons.

Yep that’s right she has 5 dragons. Mother of dragons anyone? Not going to lie, this definitely had some GOT’s vibes, but if Dany had ended up with Daario instead.

Cayden, the commander of the Verenath army has some amazing one liners and definitely is a swoon worthy mmc. He REALLY took touch her and die very seriously.

Tropes:
Exiled Heir
Touch her and die
Found family
Princess x Bodyguard

Thank you Random house for this advanced reader copy, I enjoyed and can’t wait for the next one!

“Your presence is agonizing and yet I’ll beg for the pain if it means I can have a moment with you”

Excuse me while this book becomes my entire personality 💅🏼

Sometimes I feel like i’ve read it all when it comes to romantasy - but nottttt with this one 😍 We have the mostttttt vengeful princess out for blooooood after her father, the king, locked her away and kept her from her bonded dragons. Years after escaping and still in hiding, Elowen gets offered a chance at rescuing her captive dragons with the help from THE Cayden Veles 😮‍💨 This was the most unique and fun plot with a group of characters you can’t help but adore including a truly iconic fmc. I love how Elowen can be so flawed and angry and brutal and the people around her absolutely loveeee her for all those things.

The slow burn, the tension, the found family, the trauma rep, THE BROTHEL SCENE 🔥 1000000/10

∞ ⭐️
3/5 🌶️ (slow burn)

Tropes:
• dragons !!!! & heists
• reluctant allies to lovers
• top tier found family
•dirty mouthed mmc (see bonus quotes below 😮‍💨)
•only one bed
•fake pda to distract our enemies 🔥 (my new favorite trope)
•hidden kingdoms
•badass fmc who’s soft at the same time

Anddd some bonus quotes because I literallyyyyy could not pick just one

“I’ve never been a religious man, but I will worship you in ways the gods will envy”
“For you, Elowen, I’ll become the worst version of myself”
“Did you enjoy the sight of me on my knees, angel?”

after obsessing over the indy version, i was given an e-arc of the trad published version and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This one was going strong for me and then it kind of started to drag to the point that I had to push myself at 86% to keep going. I do have to say that Cayden is probably now in my top 10 book boyfriends. The way that he is just for El was a cinnamon roll for her was my jam. Now I would have liked more character development and world building (for how long the book is there should have been a lot more) and it falls under an easy fantasy, but not a fantasy, if that makes sense?

Imagine if Daenerys from Game of Thrones decided to switch things up and cozy up with a brooding, demon Commander instead of dragons. That’s Fear the Flames for you. Princess Elowen, once destined to be a dragon-whisperer, is now stuck playing a high-stakes game of fetch with her five dragons—who’ve been snatched away by her kingdom. To get them back, she teams up with the insufferably charming (and occasionally filthy-mouthed) Commander Cayden.

Elowen kicks butt and takes names, making her a breath of fresh air among the usual damsels. The banter between her and Cayden is sharp enough to cut glass—if you’re into enemies-to-lovers with a side of sarcastic flirting, this is your jam. And let's not forget Finnian, her platonic BFF, whose friendship is so sweet it might give you cavities.

The book is trope-heavy, from pinning enemies against walls to exchanging witty jabs. The dragons? They’re more of a tantalizing carrot on a stick right now, but we’re promised more of them in future installments. The world-building is a bit haphazard, with mythical creatures and cults thrown in like confetti, but it’s a fun ride.

The steamy scenes are hot enough to make you sweat, but never overshadow the plot. Plus, there’s some great representation and a charming nod to romance novels. Overall, this is a fresh, thrilling read that’ll leave you craving more—and if you’re into a good romance with a side of dragon-less drama, this one’s a keeper.

Perfect for fans of "Fourth Wing" and "Game of Thrones," this fantasy features a fierce heroine determined to free the dragons stolen from her as a child. She'll stop at nothing to exact her vengeance. The story immerses readers in a magical adventure, showcasing a compelling allies-to-lovers trope that's sure to captivate TikTok audiences. Olivia Rose Darling has crafted a masterpiece that will leave readers spellbound.

I have been incredibly distraught after reading a certain popular series about dragons and was hoping to find something that gave me the same world building and feel as this particular series that I shall not name (if you know, you know). "Fear the Flames" may not have exactly fulfilled that very high standard wish list, but it did come close.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, & Random House Publishing for the eARC in return for my honest review! I was thrilled and highly entertained.

From the start, this was a character driven story. There isn't much in the way of world building (to almost a detriment tot he story), and as such it's potential didn't quite live up to the afore-unnamed-mentioned series. Only, I don't think I have put quote so many highlights and notes in a book before. I absolutely died of mirth at the whit and banter thrown around by the MFC and the MMC. Not to mention the side kicks and the way they just flawlessly took a foothold in my heart. just made me to eager to get back to reading. The story has MASSIVE potential and book 1 is a great start to the series. Not to mention the spice level was just right! I will say that the book started out and immediately enthralled me, but the last quarter of the book left me feeling like it was quickly wrapped up. I always favor longer books to quickly reaching a conclusion because publishers like to preserve their word counts. A few directional thoughts for book 2 would be to focus more on the dragons and why each one is special (why 5). It was a bit annoying how many times the color for each one was mentioned. Also, while I hope none of the dialogue and banter is spared, I NEED more world building and plot clarity. Elowen is a princess that was taken captive and tortured by order of her own father and kept from her dragons. Then she was rescued by a self-seeking uncle, but not much else is actually plotted here. Dragon rescue was such a small part of this book and the flames of the dragons and why the kingdoms should fear them is so small, that I question the validity of the title.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will most definitely read the next, but there are some writing wrinkles that need attention to make this one a keeper past that.

No Regrets!!!!
4.4 out of 5 stars

This was fine. I had high hopes for this, but it just wasn't for me. It felt a bit gimmicky with the tropes, the worldbuilding was lack luster and the characters didn't grab me. It was fine, but it felt like a chore reading it at times.

🐉 Book Review 🐉

Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling
🐉
If you like romantasy books with dragons, go read this right now! It’s got a quest, heists, battles, excellent side characters, and a swoony romance. Elowen is the perfect main character. She an exiled princess who was imprisoned for most of her life and is now on the run. She is full of rage, fueled by revenge, and wants to watch the world burn for hurting her and her dragons. I love her. She makes a deal with Cayden who is the dangerous, possessive, and broody captain of the armies for a neighboring kingdom. He is sarcastic, flirty, loyal, and will 💀anyone who looks at Elowen. They are both morally gray, and they don’t let anyone stand in the way of getting what they want. This book was amazing, and sets everything up perfectly for an epic series about dragons, revenge, and all-consuming love. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a new favorite romantasy series!
🐉
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🐉
Read if you like:
▫️dragons
▫️strong, stabby heroine
▫️reluctant allies
▫️great banter
▫️found family
🐉
Thank you to Penguin Random House, Delacorte Press, NetGalley, and Olivia Rose Darling for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Obsessed! If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would

It has been a long time since I have read a fantasy romance book that was able to consume me in the way that this book has. I finished reading this and was instantly craving more. I want to re-read, I want more of the story, I want spin offs, I want to just stay in this world with these characters forever.

This book is fast paced and I never once felt bored while reading this. This book is a little under 400 pages, and I was able to read this book in under a day. I didn't want to put this book down and I sacrificed sleep and responsibilities.

Elowen is the exact kind of FMC that I love to read about. She is strong, direct, and not afraid of fighting for what she wants and what she believes in. I would do anything for this woman. I love the found family in this story. Many of these characters have been through some very traumatic things and I love how they are able to stick together and help each other out.

The last thing I want to talk about is the steam!!! I wouldn't say this is a very spicy book. Yes there is some on page action, but it is minimal. What this author has done fantastically is the build up and the tension. There are so many absolutely beautifully written steamy moments that had me blushing and craving more so that when the spice finally did hit it was a close the book squeal moment.

This is what I want my Romantasy to be and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

OMG.....I cannot say enough great things about this book!!!!!! It by far one of my favorite books this year and I am already dying to read book 2!!!!!! I need more of Elowen and Cayden's story!
Reluctant allies to lovers with dragon bonds and a looming war!!! What is not to love about this book!!¡ I could say more but I don't want to spoil any of it, just go out and buy it and read it!!!! I could not put it down.

"𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒔 𝑰 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔."

That ending gave me goosebumps! How is this book not everywhere?!
Dragons? Check.
Tortured lost Princess/Queen. Check.
Hot, brooding Army Commander. Check CHECK!
This book sucked me in so fast and I kept dreading the book coming to an end. There are sooooo many good quotes!

The banter between Elowyn and Cayden was FANTASTIC! I loved every conversation/joke/argument they had. Cayden is the "touch her and die" type and basically hates everyone and everything except her. Elowyn trusts very little and throws knives first and asks questions second. It was very entertaining.

Their little found family were like siblings fighting about everything, but still protecting eachother with everything they had. The characters had me rooting for all of them and I was desperate the whole time for no one to betray the other.
"𝑾𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒇*𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅-𝒖𝒑 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑. 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕."

This book really did have it all. A good backstory, a reason to root for some characters & hate others, great fight scenes, romance & love, spice, betrayal, a heist and dragons!

Fear The Flames by Olivia Rose Darling is a fantasy about a princess who is meant to be the ruination or savior of the kingdom.

This book started off strong for me. The concept of there being 5 dragons linked to the main character was intriguing but then didn't really stick. The secret identity and heist ideas were great at first but didn't really feel like it was a secret at all. Lastly, I was not a fan of the dialogue. It read too modern for me in this sort of old world that the world building/descriptors made it out to be.

There are some really great aspects of this book, but overall it was hard for me to push through and finish it, which is why I’m giving it 3 stars. I read about 80% of the indie version and hardly ever re-read books so that may be part of why I didn’t enjoy it as much as my first read, too. What I love is the found family aspect, CAYDEN VELES, and what a strong, ruthless, badass woman Elowen is. She has been through so much and it fuels her rather than holds her back. I felt the dragon content and build up to the heists could have been woven in better, and another thing is that I’m not a big heist/action lover and I think the trad version has much more of it than the indie version. If you like that, you may enjoy this more than I did.