From the moment I started reading Fear the Flames, I was drawn into Olivia Rose Darling’s powerful story about a princess and her deep connection with dragons.

Princess Elowen Atarah doesn’t just command dragons; she is one with them, bound in a way that’s soul-deep.

Hatched from fossilised eggs in her infancy, they are her protectors and her kin, the source of her strength. But everything changes when her father, King Garrick, breaks this sacred connection, leaving Elowen devastated.

I could feel her anger as she vowed, “Vengeance is a promise signed in blood.”

Her quest to reclaim them becomes something far more than rebellion, it is a fight for survival.

Darling does not sugarcoat the relationship between Elowen and her dragons. When Elowen joins Cayden Veles, the ruthless commander of Vareveth, tensions rise. To him, the dragons were mere weapons but for her, they were an extension of her soul.

In Ravaryn, people whisper that Elowen’s bond with the dragons could either save or destroy the kingdom, and this prophecy haunts her every move. As she sneaks into Imirath’s fortress to rescue the dragons, the stakes are incredibly high. Every plan and every battle relies on her connection with them. When Elowen finally reunites with her dragons, she is overcome with primal triumph.

She is no saint, her trauma has shaped her into a morally complex queen, leading Aestilian with fierce cunning. The dragons amplified her strength but they also exposed her vulnerabilities. The character development in Fear the Flames keeps readers interested and creates a story filled with deep emotions.

The writing is at its best during the battle scenes, where dragon fire lights up the sky in bright shades of gold and red. Cayden’s character also grows, and their relationship is more than just romantic; it shows their shared challenges. This debut book establishes Darling as a powerful new voice in fantasy literature, reminding us that power, like dragon fire, can both build and destroy.

* Fear The Flames by Olivia Rose Darling is available on loot.co.za

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