Fear the Flames cover art

Fear the Flames

Fear the Flames, Book 1

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Fear the Flames

By: Olivia Rose Darling
Narrated by: Hannah Van Der Westhuysen
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About this listen

 No one in Imirath had ever seen a dragon, until five eggs long thought fossils hatched in the presence of their young princess, Elowen Atarah. Fearing the power his daughter would wield through her soul-bond with the creatures, King Garrick imprisoned her for many years, desperately trying to break the bond that united them, until a daring rescue saved Elowen from his clutches - but left her five precious dragons at his mercy.

Years later, Elowen is now a woman determined to free her dragons. Having established a queendom of her own, she is ready to do whatever is necessary to save her people from starvation and seek vengeance against her father. Even if that means leaving the home she built for herself. Or having to align herself with the Commander of Vareveth, Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous man in all the kingdoms of Ravaryn and her father's sworn enemy.©2024 Olivia Rose Darling (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK Dragons & Mythical Creatures Fantasy Royalty Fiction Dragons

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All stars
Most relevant  
I love the idea of dragons and warrior princesses but unfortunately the story didn’t quite grip me.
It was an adult book (with spice) but somehow felt like I was reading a YA book.

The story started at well but quickly became boring

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Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

Bonds with dragons, imprisoned by fear, and the strength of one young girl — Elowen’s determination to survive and reunite with her dragons lies at the heart of this gripping tale.
This is a story rooted in courage, connection, and survival — with dragons, danger, and one determined young woman at its core, and don't forget about the romance. Elowen’s resilience and longing to reunite with her bonded dragons form the emotional heart of this unforgettable fantasy.
Right from the opening pages, I found myself drawn into the narrative. It’s an expertly balanced mix of romantic tension and high fantasy, written with clarity and heart. The pacing is spot on, offering just enough detail to build a fully realised world without ever dragging. Unlike many fantasy novels that take time to find their stride, this one moves with confidence from the start. I’d gladly recommend it to readers just beginning to explore the genre, as well as those well-acquainted with it.
Elowen is a strikingly real and emotionally rich protagonist. Her journey through pain, trauma, and healing is sensitively portrayed, and I was especially moved by the honest depiction of her anxiety. It’s rare to see vulnerability and inner strength woven together so authentically. Her bond with Finnian stands out as one of the novel’s most quietly powerful threads — a friendship grounded in loyalty and understanding.
Cayden is everything you could want in a romantic lead — layered, intense, and utterly magnetic. His connection with Elowen is immediate and electric, and as the story progresses, their evolving relationship feels both earned and emotionally satisfying. The enemies-to-lovers arc is crafted with care and never feels forced.
Although romance plays a prominent role, the novel offers so much more. There’s a thrilling undercurrent of revenge, the fierce strength of chosen family, and visceral action that keeps the tension high throughout. The world Olivia Rose Darling has created is rich and textured, and the characters feel lived-in — making it easy to disappear into their story. And of course, no review would be complete without mentioning the dragons — majestic, formidable, and utterly captivating.
By the end, I was left wanting more. The wait until 29th July 2025 for the sequel, Wrath of the Dragons, feels far too long. It’s already high on my list of anticipated reads. Until then, I fully intend to revisit this book and experience it all over again.

Just a note on the audiobook — I listened to this on Audible as well as reading along, and while the narrator did an excellent job voicing Elowen and conveying the emotional depth of her journey, I did feel the experience would have benefited from a second voice for Cayden. It took me a little while to adjust, which was a bit of a shame, as it momentarily pulled me out of the story. For that reason alone, I couldn’t quite give the Audible version a full five stars — though the performance overall was still very strong.
Wrath of the Dragons, available on Kindle, Audible, and in paperback 29th July 2025 — and truly, not one to miss.

Fantasy, Dragons, Danger, Romance — and Rich World

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I loved this, really empowering and some quotes are going to stick with me
Has really helped me escape reality for a little while
Any book that has bonded-dragons sings to my soul and how I wish I could have one of my own
The narrators performance was brilliant she really brought it to life, made me laugh and cry
Can’t wait for the next one!

What a ride

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She is vengeance. He will be her sword 🗡️
This romantic fantasy book was engaging and addictive..
Elowen is an exiled Princess and Cayden Veles, the most feared and dangerous commander, the chemistry between them both was of the chart.

Loved it

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I loved this book when it was indie and am so pleased it’s now on audio and getting the praise it deserves - very excited for the next instalment.

Epic story - can’t wait for the next

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I found myself desperate to get back to this book each time I had to leave it for something in real life! If I have any criticism at all it would be that Caden's voice is sometimes so gruff that it's not easy to decipher - but that's probably because I needed my hearing aid and didn't have it. If you want a story filled with excitement, action, likeable main characters and a slowish burn romance - buy this.

Excellently written & narrated

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This really did live up to the hype. I am so pleased. loved the interaction between the lead characters and the supporting characters it really made for an exciting story. the world was enough that you felt the threat and the romance was intense.

hot stuff

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I really wanted to like this audiobook but it’s really poor. The narrator is fantastic, and I honestly only got to the end because of her! But the story was just awful. There’s no world building, monsters and priestess randomly mentioned and you’re left with a ridiculous amount of unanswered questions and not in the good way!

This is an awful story

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First book in a while I haven't been able to finish. The characters are superficial and the storyline is not developed. It feels like the author believes by throwing I. the word dragon every now and then is enough to keep the story going. Weird creatures appear every now and then with no explanation. There is no explanation as to why war is raging, how she built her new kingdom, why her dragons are locked up, why her dad hates her and the list goes on. I got half way through and have given up.

Superficial

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