Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

This early review copy was gifted to me by Delacorte Press through NetGalley. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: Fear the Flames

Series: Fear the Flames

Author: Olivia Rose Darling

Release Date: September 17, 2024

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Romantasy

Source: digital, NetGalley

TW: graphic sexual content, death, blood, fire/fire injury, child abuse, confinement, torture

Synopsis

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.

Thoughts

I had high hopes for "Fear the Flames" as a dragon fantasy enthusiast, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. While the premise was intriguing, the execution left me wanting more.

The romance between Elowen and Cayden felt rushed and overly emphasized. Their instant connection overshadowed the plot, which seemed to lose momentum early on. I found myself more invested in the dragons and the world-building than the central love story.

One of the biggest letdowns was the supposed betrayal between the main characters. It felt underwhelming and almost forced, as if it was included merely to create conflict. Elowen's reaction seemed disproportionate to Cayden's actions, which made it hard for me to empathize with her character.

The dragons, which were a major draw for me, only appeared significantly in the last fifth of the book. I wish they had played a more prominent role throughout the story. Their limited presence felt like a missed opportunity to explore the rich lore hinted at in the synopsis.

The twist regarding Elowen's bond with the dragons came across as a last-minute addition. Rather than feeling like a natural progression of the story, it seemed more like an attempt to set up a cliffhanger for the next book in the series.

Overall, while "Fear the Flames" had potential, it didn't quite live up to it. The focus on the romance overshadowed the fantasy elements I was most excited about. While it wasn't a bad read, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I'm hoping future installments in the series will delve deeper into the dragon lore and world-building aspects that I found most intriguing.