Fear The Flame - by Olivia Rose Darling

Here is a summary with spoilers of Fear The Flame

Princess Elowen was four years old when her father locked her away. When she was born, a grand celebration was held in her honor. As a gift, Queen Cordelia presented her with five dragon eggs that would bond with her. That same day, a seer delivered a prophecy: Elowen’s soul was forged in flames and bound to those five dragons—she would either bring destruction or glory to Imirath.

Fearing the prophecy, her parents imprisoned her, tearing her away from her dragons. She hasn’t seen them since—until she escaped. Over time, Elowen built her own home, growing it into a hidden sanctuary and ruling over a thriving community. While she is content in her new life, she is devastated by the years spent apart from her bonded dragons and longs to reunite with them.

The story begins with Elowen and her best friend—practically a brother—Finnian, as they spy on King Garrick and gather intelligence about the ongoing skirmish between him and Vareveth. It is here we are introduced to Cayden Veles, Commander of Vareveth and the most feared warlord on the continent, known as the "Demon Commander." During their reconnaissance, Elowen learns that Vareveth is searching for "the heir"—her.

While spying on the soldiers, a masked man confronts her, demanding to know what she has overheard. They strike a deal: the heir and the Commander of Vareveth will meet and discuss their options.

Elowen has a small group of people who feel responsible for her—Finnian and her uncle, Ailliard, among them. They urge her to remain hidden, to stay the lost princess, fearing that once she is seen, her father will stop at nothing to have her killed. She also bears responsibility for her people, who are on the brink of starvation. Despite their protests, she decides to meet Cayden.

When they finally meet, both reveal their true identities. Cayden agrees to help her execute a heist to free her dragons and ensure her people have enough food. In return, she must pledge her aid to Vareveth in the battle against her father. They form a pact to protect each other and never betray one another. Before the heist, they decide on a test mission—to steal a book that may hold the answers they seek.

The mission is a success—they retrieve the book—but it comes at a cost. A high priestess appears, offering them cryptic guidance. She gifts Elowen an amulet, warning that it will guide her when she is ready—but if she isn’t, it will kill her. Cayden offers to safeguard it for her.

Back in Aestilian, Elowen tells Finnian and Ailliard what she has done. Finnian insists on accompanying her, while Ailliard is distraught that she can no longer live in the shadows.

On their journey to Vareveth, Elowen and Finnian are ambushed. Finnian is gravely wounded, but Cayden and his second-in-command, Ryder, arrive just in time to save him. They take Finnian to Vareveth, where he can recover, while Elowen signs their official alliance before the Vareveth royals. She and Cayden begin making final plans.

At the castle, Elowen and Cayden are assigned connected chambers—a precaution in case of emergencies. The arrangement brings them closer, fostering a growing friendship. It proves useful one night when assassins break in and attempt to drown Elowen while she bathes. Cayden kills them and nurses her wounds. When word spreads of the assassination attempt, Ailliard pleads with Elowen to abandon her plan and return home.

Elowen refuses. She and Cayden press forward, searching for answers, when they stumble upon a blood magic site. When Elowen’s blood touches the pillar, she is struck by a vision of her dragons. The pain of their separation shatters her, and their bond flares to life, allowing her to feel them once more. Overwhelmed, she nearly succumbs to the magic, but Cayden pulls her back, comforting her through the anguish. By now, Cayden’s actions and words reveal his growing affection for Elowen, and she is beginning to reciprocate.

Back at the castle, Elowen explores the grounds and unknowingly ingests poison. When three more assassins attack, she fights them off until Ryder arrives and finishes the job. As she succumbs to the poison, Ryder rushes her back to be healed. During her recovery, she has vivid dreams of her dragons, strengthening their bond even further.

Determined to uncover the mastermind behind the assassination attempts, Elowen and Cayden devise a plan. Posing as a couple in a brothel, they lure the assassin into the open. The ruse works—they capture the man orchestrating the attacks. He is one of the guards who tortured Elowen as a child. Seizing her chance for revenge, she kills him. Cayden is overjoyed for her in this moment.

The time has come. Elowen and Cayden embark on their mission to confront her father and retrieve her dragons. Along the way, they finally confess their feelings for each other, promising a future once their mission is complete. Disguised, they infiltrate the castle during a masked ball. For the first time in years, Elowen lays eyes on her father as he delivers a speech. To her horror, he announces that Elowen has resurfaced—and must be killed, blaming her for the queen’s death.

Despite the danger, they locate her dragons. At first, the creatures are wary of her, but one ultimately incinerates the soldiers with dragonfire, proving their trust. They escape, with Elowen sustaining only minor injuries. Cayden takes her to his childhood home to recover, and the two share a tender night together. The next day, she finally reunites with her dragons, as well as Ryder and Finn.

Back in Vareveth, all seems well. Elowen and Cayden enjoy each other’s company, and her bond with her dragons strengthens. But trouble looms. Ailliard arrives, claiming that Elowen’s father has lifted the bounty on her head—she could return home. She refuses, suspecting it is a trap, but Ailliard insists. He then reveals his true feelings: Elowen has ruined his life by being bonded to dragons, and the only way to fix it is for her to go home. Devastated, she leaves the encounter, but before she can process it, she learns that Vareveth’s royals have taken Finn hostage.

The royals demand she return home to appease her father and end the war. In response, Cayden boldly declares his loyalty—to his queen, Elowen. He invokes his right as commander to challenge the ruling royals, but he can only do so if he marries someone of royal blood. Reluctantly, Elowen agrees, though she is furious, fearing he only wanted her for the throne. Cayden swears he has loved her long before learning of the clause.

The coup begins. Battle erupts. Ailliard is among the enemies, and Elowen hunts him down. In their final confrontation, she kills him, realizing he never loved her—only used her.

After the dust settles, Elowen confronts Cayden. She is angry and distrustful. He insists he never wanted the crown—only her. He promises to spend the rest of his life proving it. Together, they begin their reign as Dragon King and Queen.

During the execution of the old royals, Elowen and Cayden’s coronation takes place. As Elowen assumes her new title, her power over flame intensifies—and Cayden, too, appears to have gained some of it. The high priestess returns, declaring Elowen the Queen of Flames and deepening her bond with her dragons. But something feels unfinished.

Trusting her instincts, Elowen rushes to a cliff and leaps into the abyss—believing her dragons will catch her. And they do. For the first time in her life, she feels whole.

The Fire Queen—the first Dragon Rider Queen—has been reborn.

The book ends with Cayden kneeling before his queen, in front of their new kingdom.