REVIEW: Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

In Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling, Princess Elowen Atarah’s soul was bound to five dragons shortly after her birth. Legends said the power she would one day wield could either be the saving grace or the demise of her home kingdom, Imirath. After a series of unfortunate events, her father, King Garrick, banished then five-year-old Elowen to the dungeons while her beloved dragons were taken from her. The years of torture and neglect left a dark, lasting effect on the princess. But once she escaped, she chose her own way forward. And that was to create her very own hidden kingdom, Aestilian, and became queen all while biding her time until the day she will free her dragons and wage war on Imirath.

‘Imirath wants me dead, but I still stand. Only now, I stand with knives drawn and a crown on my head.’

Elowen’s plans for revenge never included the help of Cayden Veles, the Commander of Vareveth, a man known to be so merciless and harsh he’s been dubbed the Demon. But from their first dangerous encounter, it’s clear that Cayden and Elowen are on very similar paths–and sadly also have very similar darkness in their pasts. An alliance is struck between them and their kingdoms. One that could see Elowen finally reuniting with her dragons as well as stopping Imirath from starting war with Vareveth. But as she and Cayden along with their closest family, friends, and advisors make their plans, the feelings she has for the commander intensify, turning every one of their encounters into something fraught with tension and bickering. All too soon, the time comes for Elowen, Cayden, and their army to infiltrate Imirath’s royal castle. And hopefully they will come out victorious.

‘I can show Cayden the darkest parts of myself, the twisted parts I hide, and find comfort in knowing that the same darkness resides in him.’

A Romantasy where danger lurked around every corner for two main characters with tortured pasts, FEAR THE FLAMES was a thrilling, steamy debut by Olivia Rose Darling.

‘The way Cayden says my name forces my gaze to his again. “I swear on all that I have and all that I’ve lost, you will see your dragons again.”

CW: View Spoiler »Torture & imprisonment, child abuse (historical), attempted murder, anxiety, PTSD, murder « Hide Spoiler

I am completely enamored with Romantasy and so happy to see how popular it has become. Olivia Rose Darling’s debut, FEAR THE FLAMES, is the perfect example why readers devour these types of novels. The poetic prose, wonderful world-building, and complex characters Darling created are wholly her own, however, this gave me some of the same vibes as Jennifer Estep’s fantasy books or KA Tucker’s Fate & Flame series. They each have a depth of emotion that always seems to draw me in. And when paired up with a fast-paced plot, deceit and power struggles, it’s a winning combination.

Elowen and Cayden were some of my favorite types of MCs in this genre. Elowen was tough as nails but somehow still had a caring, tender soul and was a relentless protector of her found family. Cayden was nicknamed Demon due to his lethalness in battle and how he could come across as cold and uncaring, yet he would give his life immediately if it meant keeping his loved ones safe. So, Elowen and Cayden understood each other inside and out. They both were abused as children–she was imprisoned, dragged away from her dragons, and tortured, while he lost his parents tragically when he was young and grew up on the streets.

Cayden and Elowen walked this fine line between challenging each other, protecting each other, and struggling to trust and understand the soul-deep emotions they felt. They’d both been lied to and deceived, particularly Elowen, so they danced around one another until their chemistry as well as the connection between them was strong enough that they couldn’t ignore it. I will warn that some of Cayden and Elowen’s backstories are tough to read, and the fight scenes are detailed (some might say a bit gory) but it wasn’t done gratuitously. It showed how strong they were. And how skilled they became through time and necessity. Together, though, they made a formidable team. Especially with their found family of Finnian, Ryder, and Saskia by their sides.

QOTD: Have you jumped on the Romantasy bandwagon yet? If so, any books/authors you’d recommend?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: September 17th, 2024 (Originally released November 19th, 2022) | Delacorte Press | Fear the Flames #1

An exiled princess teams up with the last man she thought she could trust in the start of a dazzling and unforgettable epic fantasy romance series.

As a child, Elowen Atarah was ripped away from her dragons and imprisoned by her father, King Garrick of Imirath. Years later, Elowen is now a woman determined to free her dragons. Having established a secret kingdom of her own called Aestilian, she’s ready to do what’s necessary to save her people and seek vengeance. Even if that means having to align herself with the Commander of Vareveth, Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms of Ravaryn.

Cayden is ruthless, lethal, and secretive, promising to help Elowen if she will stand with him and all of Vareveth in the pending war against Imirath. Despite their contrasting motives, Elowen can’t ignore their undeniable attraction as they combine their efforts and plot to infiltrate the impenetrable castle of Imirath to steal back her dragons and seek revenge on their common enemy.

As the world tries to keep them apart, the pull between Elowen and Cayden becomes impossible to resist. Working together with their crew over clandestine schemes, the threat of war looms, making the imminent heist to free her dragons their most dangerous adventure yet. But for Elowen, her vengeance is a promise signed in blood, and she’ll stop at nothing to see that promise through.

An immersive fantasy filled with a sizzling reluctant-allies-to-lovers romance, a world to get lost in, dangerous quests, dragon bonds, and an entertaining band of characters to root for, Fear the Flames marks the stunning debut of Olivia Rose Darling.