Fear the Flames: A Novel
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Darling's uneven romantasy debut follows Princess Elowen Atarah of Imirath, who was born with a soul "forged from the fire of the gods, creating a link to the five dragons that could not be broken by any mortal or god." When her violent father attempts to break this bond, the dragons attack, killing her mother, and Elowen spends the rest of her childhood imprisoned. As a young woman, she's saved by her uncle Ailliard, and they flee Imirath to establish their own kingdom, Aestilian. Come winter, the snowed-in kingdom requires a fresh food supply, so Elowen comes out of hiding to sign a treaty with neighboring Vareveth, agreeing to join their war against Imirath in exchange for resources. Part of the deal includes allying with the fearsome Commander Cayden Veles to stage a heist to free Elowen's dragons from Imirath's castle. Romance soon sizzles between these two, but the chemistry is not enough to save the meandering story. The central heist feels disappointingly easy and low-stakes, draining the novel of suspense. There's little to make this stand out in a crowded market. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Sept.)

In this debut fantasy romance, a princess in hiding teams up with an unlikely ally to take back what's rightfully hers. Elowen Atarah is not your average princess. When dragon eggs hatched for her, she was proclaimed to be "forged from the fire of the gods." But instead of celebrating her dragon bond, her father put her in chains, seeing her as a threat. Elowen escapes after years of torment--but without her dragons. Exiled but finally free of her father's cruelty, Elowen learns to fight and becomes a deadly force with the intention of getting her dragons back. This opportunity arrives in the form of Cayden Veles, commander of the neighboring kingdom. Cayden and Elowen have a common enemy--her father. An alliance is forged, and with the help of Cayden and her most trusted friends, Elowen seeks her chance at revenge and rebirth. Darling combines the thrill of the heist à la Leigh Bardugo'sSix of Crows with the dragon lore of Samantha Shannon'sThe Priory of the Orange Tree while throwing in a lot more violence and sex. The premise of battling kingdoms fighting a revenge-seeking exiled dragon queen flies close toGame of Thrones territory--but this is romance at its core. Worldbuilding and warmongering take a back seat to the fire building between Elowen and her ally turned lover. Cayden is quick to use the threat of murder to protect Elowen as proof of his love--"Even if a man evenhardly touches you, it'll be the last thing he does in this life." While the gratuitous violence may be a turnoff--heed the author's note on trigger warnings--the first-person narration eliminates much of the discomfort factor. Elowen's perspective is clear: Cayden's darkness matches her own. For the first time, the dichotomies within herself make sense and she feels seen. The one thing more unbelievable than how quickly Cayden starts calling Elowen "love" is how often Elowen denies their relationship is anything more than an alliance. Clunky attempts at building tension aside, Darling deserves credit for managing to resolve this power struggle in a way that celebrates Elowen's return to confidence and strength. Quippy and crass with lots of passion but far from a light read--expect some emotional whiplash and the desire for more. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

DEBUT Princess Elowen was blessed with the love and bond of five dragons but was cursed to leave them behind after her father imprisoned and tortured them all. But she was a child then, and now adult Queen Elowen has a mission. She has a duty to find allies to help her feed the people of her hidden kingdom. She also needs to get her dragons back, but above all, she must get revenge on her father, the king who stole her childhood and her birthright. She'll bathe in the blood of her foes, fight betrayal at every turn, and do her damndest to protect herself from the enemy who her heart desperately desires to claim as its own. The political machinations are practically Machiavellian, the blood and guts are frequently hip-deep, and the enemies-to-lovers romance is as hot as dragon fire. VERDICT Originally self-published and now receiving a special edition with additional content from a big publisher, this debut novel and Book Tok sensation is highly recommended for romantasy lovers, especially fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.—Marlene Harris

Darling's uneven romantasy debut follows Princess Elowen Atarah of Imirath, who was born with a soul "forged from the fire of the gods, creating a link to the five dragons that could not be broken by any mortal or god." When her violent father attempts to break this bond, the dragons attack, killing her mother, and Elowen spends the rest of her childhood imprisoned. As a young woman, she's saved by her uncle Ailliard, and they flee Imirath to establish their own kingdom, Aestilian. Come winter, the snowed-in kingdom requires a fresh food supply, so Elowen comes out of hiding to sign a treaty with neighboring Vareveth, agreeing to join their war against Imirath in exchange for resources. Part of the deal includes allying with the fearsome Commander Cayden Veles to stage a heist to free Elowen's dragons from Imirath's castle. Romance soon sizzles between these two, but the chemistry is not enough to save the meandering story. The central heist feels disappointingly easy and low-stakes, draining the novel of suspense. There's little to make this stand out in a crowded market. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Sept.)