What do you think?
Rate this book
Heir of Wyvara #1
Wings of Cruelty and Flame: A Steamy Dragon Rider Romantasy
Fourth Wing
meets
Bride
in this enemies to lovers, arranged marriage fantasy romance
Varidian Saber is a ruthless wyvern rider. A cold, calculated killer. A prince with more power than any other fae. And now, he’s my husband.
Marrying a prince is any girl’s dream. But I’m the reject of my fae house and the bearer of a forbidden power that’s already killed one person. I see the union for what it really a cage.
My family think Varidian will tame me. Maybe even kill me. But my new husband is obsessed with my sharp tongue and sharper knives.
He doesn’t want to contain me; he wants to unbind me. Even if I can kill him with a single touch
Wings of Cruelty and Flame is a steamy fantasy romance set in a Morocco-inspired world on the brink of uprising, with cruel fae, powerful wyvern, dangerous secrets, and one utterly obsessed, wyvern riding husband. This is the first book in the Heir of Wyvara series.
Touch her and dieArranged marriageHe falls firstFated mates‘Who did this to you?’Jealous possessive husbandOlder man, age gap romance (25f, 39m)Morally greyFae royalsDeadly, snarky FMCWyvern/dragon riders
Varidian Saber is a ruthless wyvern rider. A cold, calculated killer. A prince with more power than any other fae. And now, he’s my husband.
Marrying a prince is any girl’s dream. But I’m the reject of my fae house and the bearer of a forbidden power that’s already killed one person. I see the union for what it really a cage.
My family think Varidian will tame me. Maybe even kill me. But my new husband is obsessed with my sharp tongue and sharper knives.
He doesn’t want to contain me; he wants to unbind me. Even if I can kill him with a single touch
Wings of Cruelty and Flame is a steamy fantasy romance set in a Morocco-inspired world on the brink of uprising, with cruel fae, powerful wyvern, dangerous secrets, and one utterly obsessed, wyvern riding husband. This is the first book in the Heir of Wyvara series.
Touch her and dieArranged marriageHe falls firstFated mates‘Who did this to you?’Jealous possessive husbandOlder man, age gap romance (25f, 39m)Morally greyFae royalsDeadly, snarky FMCWyvern/dragon riders
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2025
64 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Kelsey
110 books493 followersLeigh Kelsey is the author of romance and reverse harem books for anyone with a soft spot for steely women and the tortured men who love them. No matter what stories she's writing - vampires or shifters or bad boys - they all share a common thread of love, heart, and action. She is the author of the Lili Kazana series, the Moonlight Inn series, the Dead Space stand alone, and the Blacktower Prison for Supernaturals series, plus many more books.
https://www.facebook.com/leighkelseya...
https://www.facebook.com/leighkelseya...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 21, 2025
Beasts and their riders
This is an insta chemistry type love story so far, but it's not the cheesy insta love that makes you cringe. The banter between our two main characters are just the perfect mix. Who knew an arranged marriage could be so lucky? Lol.
We also deal with love, loss and war with a bit of mystery that leads us to the next book. Great book.
This is an insta chemistry type love story so far, but it's not the cheesy insta love that makes you cringe. The banter between our two main characters are just the perfect mix. Who knew an arranged marriage could be so lucky? Lol.
We also deal with love, loss and war with a bit of mystery that leads us to the next book. Great book.
November 13, 2025
This may be closer to a 2.5 for me, spoilers ahead.
This just fell a little too short for me. It comes with all the things I like; wyverns, cool fantasy background and a war. Please read my lists of books this year it's all I ever want. It just wasn't great, so let's break it down.
FMC:
I liked her enough. I think being untrained and constantly putting yourself in danger is idiotic though. No matter how "strong" your character is you can't escape how stupid that is. The little boy probably could've been saved if you hadnt demanded to go on the war party, or try to stab someone in the legion and make everyone emotionally coddle you. That time alone could've been saving that town. She also never thinks of next steps which for me in a fantasy book is a huge pet peeve. She runs out to the wyvern to kill it and is just in it's death stare range. Why would you not remember they fly? it's the whole annoying thing you've been hung up on this whole book. Aside from that she's a fine character.
MMC:
ready for another super big pet peeve? Don't make a "dual pov" book then give the MMC significantly less book time and only give us surface level crap from him. The point of dual pov is connecting with both characters equally to create the story. We don't get that here and his pov leaves you lacking. Why don't we know any inside details about him? Aside from "wife, wife, wife" bangs chest.
Romance:
I think this started promising, the playful banter and smirks top tier. Then it tanked. It's billed as a spicy romance which I guess if you count how much they talk about sex sure. but we got 2? scenes, I think? They also lose almost all spark half way through the book like it was hard to encapsulate a plot and love at the same time. I found it pretty surface level and just okay by the end.
plot:
I will be honest and say I think this was all over the place. There are so many moving pieces for this book and I think some were very rushed and we will have to see how it pans out. We have maybe dark magic possession, her cousin the spy, wyverns and tiger people attacking, the king hating our MMC, and that is just what I remember off the top of my head. It could have been a little more clear and concise because it doesn't seem like all the issues are going to address in the next few books.
overall, not the worst book just not my favorite
This just fell a little too short for me. It comes with all the things I like; wyverns, cool fantasy background and a war. Please read my lists of books this year it's all I ever want. It just wasn't great, so let's break it down.
FMC:
I liked her enough. I think being untrained and constantly putting yourself in danger is idiotic though. No matter how "strong" your character is you can't escape how stupid that is. The little boy probably could've been saved if you hadnt demanded to go on the war party, or try to stab someone in the legion and make everyone emotionally coddle you. That time alone could've been saving that town. She also never thinks of next steps which for me in a fantasy book is a huge pet peeve. She runs out to the wyvern to kill it and is just in it's death stare range. Why would you not remember they fly? it's the whole annoying thing you've been hung up on this whole book. Aside from that she's a fine character.
MMC:
ready for another super big pet peeve? Don't make a "dual pov" book then give the MMC significantly less book time and only give us surface level crap from him. The point of dual pov is connecting with both characters equally to create the story. We don't get that here and his pov leaves you lacking. Why don't we know any inside details about him? Aside from "wife, wife, wife" bangs chest.
Romance:
I think this started promising, the playful banter and smirks top tier. Then it tanked. It's billed as a spicy romance which I guess if you count how much they talk about sex sure. but we got 2? scenes, I think? They also lose almost all spark half way through the book like it was hard to encapsulate a plot and love at the same time. I found it pretty surface level and just okay by the end.
plot:
I will be honest and say I think this was all over the place. There are so many moving pieces for this book and I think some were very rushed and we will have to see how it pans out. We have maybe dark magic possession, her cousin the spy, wyverns and tiger people attacking, the king hating our MMC, and that is just what I remember off the top of my head. It could have been a little more clear and concise because it doesn't seem like all the issues are going to address in the next few books.
overall, not the worst book just not my favorite
May 22, 2025
MILUJU tuhle knihu, Ameriah, Varidiana, jejich wywerny i celý tenhle svět s nádechem exotiky.
Je smrtonosnější než Čtvrté křídlo? Rozhodně, blesky tu taky lítají!
Láska až se hory otřásají? Jo, až z toho wyverny padají z nebe!
Vítejte v Ithanysu – říši víl, magie, dračích jezdců a věčného konfliktu..
Ameriah má smrt v konečcích prstů, Varidian je princ s darem ovládat mysl a obcházet smrt. Dva nebezpeční hráči v politickém manželství, které mělo skončit vraždou...Všichni se ale přepočítali. Tahle smrtící dvojka k sobě zkrátka patří a z jejich chemie praská obloha. Dvojka k pohledání. Jenže jejich světem otřese naplnění dávného proroctví o bouři, která přinese začátek zkázy. Svět se bude doslova zmítat, nebe bude jedna velká bouře a celá země padne. Děsivé proroctví? Sakra jo, hlavně když jste v něm zamotaní a zkázu máte doslova na dosah.
Skvělý kousek, který si zaslouží čestné místo v každé knihovně a lituji všechny čtenáře, kteří se ho nedočkají ve svém jazyce!
ENG:
I LOVE this book! I love Ameriah, Varidian, their wyverns, and this entire world with its touch of the exotic.
Is it deadlier than Fourth Wing? Absolutely—lightning flies here too!
A love that shakes mountains? Oh yeah—so intense, wyverns are literally falling from the sky!
Welcome to Ithanys – a realm of fae, magic, dragon-riders, and eternal conflict.
Ameriah has death at her fingertips, Varidian is a prince gifted with mind control and the power to cheat death. Two lethal players in a political marriage that was supposed to end in murder... but everyone miscalculated. This deadly duo? They’re meant for each other, and their chemistry cracks the sky. A pair like no other.
But their world is about to be shaken to its core by the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy—of a storm that signals the beginning of ruin. The world will literally tremble, the sky will turn into one raging tempest, and the land itself will fall.
A terrifying prophecy? Hell yes—especially when you’re tangled up in it, and the end of everything is within arm’s reach.
Je smrtonosnější než Čtvrté křídlo? Rozhodně, blesky tu taky lítají!
Láska až se hory otřásají? Jo, až z toho wyverny padají z nebe!
Vítejte v Ithanysu – říši víl, magie, dračích jezdců a věčného konfliktu..
Ameriah má smrt v konečcích prstů, Varidian je princ s darem ovládat mysl a obcházet smrt. Dva nebezpeční hráči v politickém manželství, které mělo skončit vraždou...Všichni se ale přepočítali. Tahle smrtící dvojka k sobě zkrátka patří a z jejich chemie praská obloha. Dvojka k pohledání. Jenže jejich světem otřese naplnění dávného proroctví o bouři, která přinese začátek zkázy. Svět se bude doslova zmítat, nebe bude jedna velká bouře a celá země padne. Děsivé proroctví? Sakra jo, hlavně když jste v něm zamotaní a zkázu máte doslova na dosah.
Skvělý kousek, který si zaslouží čestné místo v každé knihovně a lituji všechny čtenáře, kteří se ho nedočkají ve svém jazyce!
ENG:
I LOVE this book! I love Ameriah, Varidian, their wyverns, and this entire world with its touch of the exotic.
Is it deadlier than Fourth Wing? Absolutely—lightning flies here too!
A love that shakes mountains? Oh yeah—so intense, wyverns are literally falling from the sky!
Welcome to Ithanys – a realm of fae, magic, dragon-riders, and eternal conflict.
Ameriah has death at her fingertips, Varidian is a prince gifted with mind control and the power to cheat death. Two lethal players in a political marriage that was supposed to end in murder... but everyone miscalculated. This deadly duo? They’re meant for each other, and their chemistry cracks the sky. A pair like no other.
But their world is about to be shaken to its core by the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy—of a storm that signals the beginning of ruin. The world will literally tremble, the sky will turn into one raging tempest, and the land itself will fall.
A terrifying prophecy? Hell yes—especially when you’re tangled up in it, and the end of everything is within arm’s reach.
September 12, 2025
Excellent Read! Thrilling and Delightful
This story pulled me in right away! I was captivated immediately. Love the characters, love their relationship. You will fall in love with Ameirah and Varidian right away! It gives the spicy, steamy moments I crave without detracting from the thrilling storyline. Plenty of action and excitement. A very well crafted high fantasy story.
The world is a lush and enticing setting and I LOVE the rich flavor it adds to the story!
Highly recommended!
Can't wait for the next book!
This story pulled me in right away! I was captivated immediately. Love the characters, love their relationship. You will fall in love with Ameirah and Varidian right away! It gives the spicy, steamy moments I crave without detracting from the thrilling storyline. Plenty of action and excitement. A very well crafted high fantasy story.
The world is a lush and enticing setting and I LOVE the rich flavor it adds to the story!
Highly recommended!
Can't wait for the next book!
March 30, 2025
I enjoyed the story, but I could spot some plot holes and weird timeline.
Naila joined legion 3 years ago and died 2 years ago. That would mean that she was there only for one year before her death. However, it's later mentioned that she was in legion for several years.
Naila joined legion 3 years ago and died 2 years ago. That would mean that she was there only for one year before her death. However, it's later mentioned that she was in legion for several years.
October 13, 2025
One of the best book on arrange marriage. The romantic intimacy was 🥵 loved the world building, it wasn't too complex to read. The plot twist was amazing. I don't understand why these fantastic books aren't famous. I was in reading slum and it definitely was very good
Read
November 19, 2025love it
I really liked this book. I've never read one about Muslims so I found it interesting. I can't wait to.read.the.next one.
I really liked this book. I've never read one about Muslims so I found it interesting. I can't wait to.read.the.next one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews