This was a slow steady build but by part three, we really cranked up! The battle scenes were awesome and the cliffy was very well done. C&E were spectacular as always, can’t wait for more!!

One of my favorite series of all time and couldn’t be more thrilled to read this early and add to our library collection. This book was even better then the first, great world building and expansion and the romance was just incredible. Cayden is a man down bad! The lines he said the yearning! There was so much action and battles I loved it. Plus that ending WOW. One of the craziest endings and more unexpected I’ve ever read. Can’t wait to add to our library!

This book was heart wrenching for me. It took a while for Cayden and Elowen to work through their issues and find their way back together in this second book of the series. Elowen is such a strong character and felt betrayed. The battles were intriguing and plentiful. The ending was unexpected and will leave readers begging for the next book in this epic adventure.

First, thank you NetGalley and Olivia Darling for the eARC.

Oh. My god. I enjoyed this book SO much. Fear the flames was my first read of 2025, so I was so thrilled I got to read Wrath of the Dragons early.
The story is amazing, the found family and love in these books are unmatched. Elowen is one of my favorite FMCs, strong and relatable. Cayden? 😮‍💨 I loooved having his POV this book.
The ending absolutely threw me for a loop. When’s book 3? 😂

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The second book in the series, I won't say much because of spoilers but this was such a propelling read. I really enjoyed he mix of the couple we fell in love with in the first book, the continuation of their chemistry and banter filled dynamic, on top of the propelling plot forward. I am so ready for the third book!

I can’t even believe I’m typing this! Fear the Flames was my FAVORITE book of 2024 and this is the highly anticipated second book in a four book series. I fell head over heels in love with these characters and I am so incredibly grateful to be able to receive an early ARC copy to read and review.

This is such a comfort story for me (even though not a single character has ever known comfort in their lives) and I can’t wait for it to be released into the world on July 29,2025. I need everyone to pick it up so we can all gush about it afterwards💙

✦ Read if you love:
🐉 Epic battles filled with dragon riding, magic and strategy
💍 Marriage of inconvenience (but not really?)
❤️‍🔥 Dual POV
🌙 “My wife” moments
🌊 Overseas journey
⚔️ Stabby FMC & lethal MMC
🔥 Burn the world for him/her vibes

✦ Review:
5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The writing is absolutely captivating and it’s just so easy to just get lost in the story. The world Olivia has created is so dream-worthy and the way she phrases/describes things is stunning. I’m not kidding when I say I highlighted full pages on my kindle -several times- because everything was just *chefs kiss*

The added dual POV was definitely the right move for the second book. I ate up every word that came out of Cayden Veles mouth and it was interesting to be in his head and understand him more. Prepare to swoon, scream and suffer. 🗡️

I am still very much crashing out after that ending. I need to go back and reread the last 5 chapters to fully process what happened - but I am LOVING the direction book 3 is going.

As much as I love ARCs…. What am I supposed to do with my life now? Now I have EVEN LONGER to wait for book 3?? I’ll go stare at a wall I guess. 🥺

I have dying to read the sequel since I finished the first and I was not disappointed. Picks up right where we left off and has great pacing throughout the book. And the ending…oh boy. Now I have to not so patiently wait for the next one. If you have not read the first one, Fear the Flames hurry up and do so so you grab this one when it comes out.

Thank you @itslivdarling and @netgalley for allowing me to review this arc. Below are my honest thoughts.

✨✨TO MY BESTIES! IF YOU HAVE NOT READ FEAR THE FLAME PLEASE KEEP SCROLLING THIS IS BOOK 2 OF A 4 BOOK SERIES✨✨

Where to begin? This was ♾️ ⭐️’s. This book broke me and healed me. I was laughing and crying in so many parts of this book because of how beautifully written it was.

The character growth in Elowen and Cayden had you respecting both of them as they navigate the next steps in a life they have just been trying to survive in up until now. The cliff hanger they leave you on at the end of book one shows how much pain and distrust it put into their relationship. While Cayden and Elowen navigate their relationship and themselves they also are prepping for war on the kingdom that has caused them both so much pain.

The book navigates through them learning how to make alliances, enjoy the friends they have and each other when possible. It shows it in a raw emotional way as time and time again in this story something happens and you see life isn’t always promised or favors you.

By the end I was holding my breath. I now need book 3 asap because once again Ms. Olivia Rose Darling nailed it and I cannot wait for everyone to be able to read this when it gets released this July!

#wrathofthedragons #netgalley #oliviarosedarling #fantasy #romantasy #dragons #battles #friendship #mustread #recommend #fivestars

That was such a fantastic read!

Everything about it was thrilling! It felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster the entire time, and I never wanted it to end. The end of the book literally gave me whiplash, but I don't regret the experience one bit.

The romance was especially sweet and adorable, and the spicy scenes were definitely spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️

The first 40% of the book was slower paced. It focused almost entirely on the angst and tension between Cayden and Elowen, which was fun to read at first. But at a certain point I was ready for them to fully reconcile so that we could get to the juicy bits of the story.

There were a lot of info dumps about the gods and their lore during that first half of the book, most of which I found myself skimming inadvertently. There just wasn't enough dialogue or character interactions to break up those long paragraphs of world-building.

But once the pacing picked up around the halfway mark, it never let up.

The battle scenes were so exciting, and the new characters that were introduced were really interesting and fun to read about.

I also loved the continued development of all the relationships between Cayden, Elowen, Saskia, Ryder, and Finnian. It felt like revisiting old friends, and the found family trope is always a good time.

I also feel like it has to be said that a lot of the major elements of the story do seem to be borrowed from other fantasy novels/TV shows, but it honestly didn't bother me that much.

The second half of the book was just too good, and that cliffhanger was insane! I can't wait for book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

When I started reading, I didn’t realize that this series wasn’t complete. Having known that while reading, the overall plot would have made more sense. Third book came more like it was setting up book 3, rather than advancing the characters. There is a lot of battle strategy in this. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t get into that. The relationship, a marriage of convenience evened up feeling more in the background. Overall I love where the author is taking the story and I will absolutely read book 3.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I truly think this series is underrated. The story is interesting and I never feel bored with it. Usually with a second book in a series, the book tends to be boring and info dumpy but I think this book did a pretty good job of balancing everything out so it doesn't feel like everything is thrown at you at once. I think the characters have good arcs that don't feel forced and I'm actually interested in their development. I found myself having a hard time putting it down and I look forward to reading more from this author. It's a nice and easy read to get out of a reading slump as well as being a good sequel. I also looooooove Dual POV books so I enjoyed that it was told this way.

If I thought book one was amazing this exceeded my expectations. I am really happy that we got introduced to more characters and that there was a lot of character growth through out this book. Can’t wait for it to be published so I can buy ut

If I could rate this book as ♾️ stars I would! First of all Olivia how could you?! Second this book will make this series become one where people compare new books to when they are released (like ACOTAR and Fourth Wing). This was top tier romantasy at its finest.

The love Cayden has for Elowen is like no other. He is in my top 3 book boyfriends of all time! Also his chapters were so brilliant and I love that we got a look into his backstory.

The drama! The action! The banter! The emotions! The way Olivia describes everything in detail is perfection.

My heart broke at the end of this book. Utterly broken. I don’t know how or when it’ll be fixed. I literally cannot wait until the third book.

*ARC REVIEW* well, what am I supposed to do with myself now? I may as well induce my own coma until the next book comes because the cliffhanger?!?! I’m empty inside now, yet simultaneously so full of the emotion and love poured into and out of this story. Absolutely adored all the new characters and can already start to see some foreshadowing when it comes to the inner circle. Cayden evolving, finding new ways to torture our girl El (below deck hehe), and then truly embodying what all have referred to him as the demon. Tethered souls will always find each other…..I hope. 😩

The story of an exiled princess and her dragons continues in this exciting sequel to Fear the Flames. Cayden Veles and Elowen Atarah build their kingdom together, forging alliances and fighting fierce battles.

I have found another case where I absolutely love the sequel more so than the first book. What an exciting ride this book was, from start to finish. Cayden’s point of view was as enjoyable as Elowen’s, I loved getting to see more of his thoughts and feelings. He has definitely become one of my favorite male leads after this.

I am so happy we got to see and learn more about the dragons I was so eager for more of in the first book. I have no words for how much I adore them and their bond to Elowen.

I am very intrigued by what the surprising end to this book will bring in the next. It was definitely unexpected, but I can’t wait to see where it takes the story.

I hope more people will pick this series up and enjoy this sequel as much as I did! How can you not love a swoony, ‘destroy the world for her’ romance filled with dragons, war, fun banter and more!

Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine and Delacorte Press for the chance to read this incredible sequel.

Wrath of the Dragons is an epic, breathtaking adventure from start to finish! Olivia Rose Darling has crafted a world so vivid and fierce that I felt like I was flying alongside the dragons themselves. The story is packed with heart-pounding action, rich lore, and characters who feel incredibly real — brave, broken, and beautifully human. The emotional stakes were high, the twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and the writing was absolutely stunning. If you love powerful storytelling with dragons, destiny, and a dash of heartbreak, this is the book you need in your life.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wrath of the Dragons is an epic continuation of the Fear the Flames saga, where the stakes are raised, and the passion between hero and heroine keeps you hooked from the first page. The political intrigue is intense, but what really shines is the dynamic between these two. Elowen, now wielding power of her own, has to navigate the delicate balance of trust and love with Cayden. It’s this complex relationship that fuels the book, with each twist and turn leaving you breathless. The action is as fierce as the emotions, and there’s an underlying tension between main characters, it’s impossible to ignore. I’m desperate for the next instalment already.

First - thank you to NetGalley and Dell Romance for the ARC! Wrath of the Dragons was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads, so receiving that email came with shock and elation.

Personally, this book started out slower for me than Fear the Flames. I didn’t feel like I was truly hooked until about 50% in. I’m not sure if it’s because it felt more political trying to understand all the other kingdoms and houses and royalty? But once we reached a certain point that I will not spoil (😉) I was all in. At that point I actually procrastinated finishing it because I wasn’t ready to leave Elowen and Cayden & co. The last 10% of the book had tears streaming down my face, and I absolutely did not anticipate the ending. I am already spiraling over how book 3 will go.

The dual POV was *everything.* Obsessed with their dynamic, always. The lost princess out for vengeance, the warrior who would burn the world down by her side, and five vibrant dragon personalities - oh, and found family. It really is the perfect fantasy formula. The rageful feminism that is woven into the heart and soul of this book (and Fear the Flames) is everything to me. Olivia, if you have no fans it means I’m deceased 🫶

I enjoyed Fear the Flames, but Wrath of the Dragons was next level!

Having overthrown the king of Vareveth, Cayden and Elowen are forced into a sort of marriage of convenience, and have to find their way back to each other emotionally. Meanwhile, the mission to exact revenge on the king of Imirath continues. The journey takes us through an expanding high fantasy world, full of new places and people whose names can be difficult to keep track of at times.

What to expect:
- Dual POV. Prepare to fall hard for Cayden. If you thought you loved the broody warrior before, no you didn’t.
- Even more found family goodness. Plus the dragon bonds.
- Magic, politics & war.
- Major burn-the-world-for-her vibes.
- An unexpected ending. With only a few chapters left, I was wondering how this story could possibly continue… And I was not disappointed.

I kicked my feet. I cried. My jaw hit the floor. Sign me up for book 3; I’m so ready!

Thanks to NetGalley & Ballantine | Delacorte Press for access to the ARC!

#WrathoftheDragons #NetGalley

♾️★

"𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚𝙣, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚." 🔥

𝘈 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊! 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺

Oh my GOD, where do I even begin?! This book was phenomenal. Everything I could ever want in a romantasy series. I don't know how to properly describe the way Olivia Rose Darling's writing and storytelling makes me feel. I become so enveloped in her books and the way she writes a love story. The emotional impact this book, in particular, had on me will forever stay with me.

I can tell that she put her whole heart and soul into this. From expanding immensely on details for the world-building and lore about Ravaryn's kingdoms, to going more in-depth with the magic system, introducing new and exciting characters that I quickly came to love, and furthering the backstories of the main characters (ESPECIALLY Cayden). I couldn't put this down at all, yet I never wanted it to end. ❤️‍🩹

"𝙄𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙟𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙙."

Elowen and Cayden... I can't even accurately describe my love for their story. A soft, dragon queen that loves to read, bake, and dress in pretty gowns but will stab anyone who dares take what's rightfully hers and who she cares about. She overcame so much in a world of cruelty while holding on to the softer side of her heart. Then a commander, a warrior, with a heart made of steel that softens only for her. Having Cayden's POV in this book means readers get to see a whole different side of him -- a vulnerable, broken side. Getting to know more of his backstory, his ambitions, his scars and trauma, it furthered the story SO much. Seeing how unquestionably devoted he was to Elowen, willing to do ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING, for her... it's the kind of earth-shattering love we all want.

"𝙄 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚, 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩." 💘

The side characters growing into their own and their unwavering loyalty to Elowen and Cayden is what makes their found family so special. I love every single one of them and the bonds they created with one another. They'd go to extreme lengths to ensure that one another is safe and unharmed. I loved the action scenes of this book, but the small intimate scenes with all characters were everything. The dragons were SO fun to read about, and I loved getting to know more about their individual personalities and the bond they share with Elowen.

The breadcrumbs throughout were perfect, leaving little hints for the reader yet remaining a mystery until the end. As you near the end you begin to have this sense of dread, yet the ending still takes you by surprise. I had a small feeling I knew where the direction of the book was going to end, and I love/hate that I was right, but it's going to make book 3 have immeasurably high stakes that I can't wait to read.

Again, it's hard to really emphasize just how much of an emotional impact this had on me. I am going to be internally sobbing everyday with that ending and eagerly awaiting the next installment. I cannot recommend this series enough, you just gotta read it to understand 😭