Fear the Flames

After reading the Romantasy novel Heavenly Bodies, the author for that book Imani Erriu mentioned Olivia Rose Darling in the acknowledgements. That got me to find Darling’s debut novel Fear the Flames.

It is about a princess with the ability to communicate and link with the dragon hatchlings she befriends as a child, and to be able to continue that bond as she becomes older. Fearing her abilities, her father imprisons her.

Elowen gains enough strength to escape. She establishes a secret kingdom with the purpose of gaining enough power to free the dragons her father has imprisoned. She seeks vengeance and aligns with a rival kingdom, and finds in the commander Cayden, someone who is capable in achieving her aims, as well as someone who can be more than a comrade. There is an attraction.

Cayden is ruthless, lethal and has secrets he keeps to himself, but he promises to help Elowen in exchange for her to stand against his foes.

Released in 2024, a second book was released in 2025, with a third book in the series expected in 2026.

Originally Published on January 8, 2026