Empire of Flame and Storms by Marion Blackwood

Long ago, dragon shifters and fae riders ruled the world together. But over time, the riders took advantage of the dragons, and the dragons fought back and won. Now they control the Seelie Court. The dragon shifters have created a world where the fae rely on them completely for everything, including food, jobs, housing, and more. Never again do the shifters want riders.

Selena Hale is a fae who wants more from life. After living for over one hundred years, she longs to see real change. She was blessed with magic, which not all fae possess, but it is emotion-based magic. She believes it is more a curse than a gift, having already destroyed her family life. She joined the resistance in hopes of making a difference, though her parents disapproved. However, the resistance only assigns her low-level lookout jobs.

One day, while gutting fish at her job and simultaneously keeping watch, she spots a dragon shifter approaching. She signals for the resistance to shut down their meeting, but something goes wrong and Selena is forced to cover for them. The shifter turns out to be Draven Ryat, known as the Shadow of Death and Commander of the Dread Legion. In a desperate move to escape, Selena throws a drink in his face and manages to hide from him.

Realizing she wants more change in her life, Selena signs up for the Atonement Trials, where the top three winners receive money and a chance at a new life.

A few weeks later, the dragons arrive. Draven comes with the Empress and Emperor of the Iceheart to observe the trials. Upon seeing Selena, Draven recognizes her as the girl who got away but decides not to interfere, confident the trials will eliminate her.

The trials begin unofficially when they are told that in order to compete, they must reach the castle gates before sundown. Selena knows she is not a fighter, so she sprints for the entrance, hoping to avoid conflict. She is blocked by a fae named Alistair and fails to make it in time. However, she climbs the wall and tumbles over, arriving just before the cutoff. Draven watches and tells her she should drop out before the next trial.

The next morning, Selena finds her reputation already working against her. Her emotion magic, nicknamed souleater, makes it difficult to form alliances. For the trial, contestants must use their abilities to provoke an emotional reaction from one of the royals. Many succeed through magic. When it is Selena’s turn, she is paired with Draven. Her magic cannot affect him at first, so she takes off her shirt, catching him by surprise. That moment of surprise gives her the emotional energy she needs to make him move, allowing her to pass the trial.

That evening, a ball is held. Everyone wears silver to be reminded of who they belong to. Selena struggles to make friends, and Draven corners her, forcing her to dance with him and putting a target on her back. That night, several contestants are poisoned.

For the first official trial, they must stay within a circle. Half the competitors are expected to fail, and injuries or deaths do not matter. Selena is beaten nearly to death but survives. She also manipulates Alistair’s emotions to gain an edge, which makes him hate her even more.

Afterward, the contestants are given time to heal. During her rest, Selena overhears two men talking about rebellion and their hatred for Draven. She cannot identify them, except that one used to be Draven’s friend.

The next time she encounters Draven, it is awkward. She had gone for a shower, but someone took her towel and clothes. While sneaking back to her room naked, she runs straight into Draven. He gives her his shirt and tells her it changes nothing.

The second trial begins. Each contestant is given a glass egg in a wooden box and must keep it intact until the end of a maze. Draven gives Selena her box, but she soon realizes he gave her a broken one. She now has to steal an egg to survive. During the maze, she makes a temporary truce with Isera, an ice magic user who owes her a favor. Selena successfully switches boxes with one of Alistair’s friends, who does not notice the change until it is too late. He is disqualified and furious.

That night, he and another friend of Alistair attack Selena in her room. They beat her badly and prepare to kill her, but Draven arrives just in time, knocks them out, and carries her away.

Selena wakes up fully healed in someone else’s room. From voices in the courtyard, she realizes Draven is holding an execution for her attackers. When he returns, she realizes she is in his room. His plan is to keep her there so she misses the third trial. For the next few days, they share the room, irritating one another. Their mutual tension builds. Selena takes advantage of it, kisses Draven, cuffs him to the bed while he is distracted, steals the key, and escapes.

The third trial is relatively easy. Each contestant must obtain a wooden coin from a local townsperson. Using her magic, Selena quickly finds one. Ten contestants move on to the final trial.

In the final trial, three rings are hidden somewhere in the forest. The first three to return with a ring and kneel will be declared the winners. Selena uses her magic to track another contestant and discovers a group already fighting over the rings. She saves one of the fighters, and in gratitude, he gives her a ring. She begins the journey back, but Draven intercepts her, steals the ring, and tries to leave. Suddenly, a sinkhole opens beneath them, pulling them underground.

They spend the night together in the cavern and figure out how to escape the next morning. While traveling, Selena devises a plan to steal the ring back. After tricking Draven and reclaiming the ring, the two share an intimate moment. While Draven is distracted, Selena escapes. Nearing the finish line, she defeats one final contestant in a fight. Selena, Isera, and Alistair are named the champions.

They are taken to the Ice Castle of Jessina and Bane, the emperor and empress, for the official ceremony. Before leaving, Selena leaves a note for the resistance and tries to say goodbye to her parents, but they are just glad she is gone.

At the ceremony, all three champions are honored. Draven approaches Selena and places an iron collar around her neck. Jessina and Bane do the same to the others. The iron suppresses their magic, and Draven absorbs Selena’s power. Jessina then reveals the truth. She and Bane are the last surviving shifters from the ancient war. They discovered a way to live forever by draining magic from fae. That is why they hold the trials every one hundred and fifty years. The three winners are kept alive for that long, their magic feeding the rulers, until they eventually die.

Selena realizes she has just been sentenced to a lifetime of servitude to the Empress, the Emperor, and Draven. Draven whispers that he tried to stop her, but all Selena can think about now is revenge.