A Heart of Fire and Flame

Fire and Flame #1

by K.J. Johnson

A dark, seductive Rumpelstiltskin retelling.

She was promised to the realm.
He took her for himself.

Harlowe

Peace between Valoren and Pyrithia was always an illusion, one fragile enough to shatter with a single misstep.

So when Pyrithia’s infamous dragon riders cross our borders uninvited, I’m ready to meet them blade to blade.

What I wasn’t ready for… was him.

Silas, the Commanding General of the Cathal, is everything I should fear: dangerous, deceitful, and beautiful enough to be my downfall. His smile is as sharp as the blade he keeps hidden, and every instinct warns me not to trust him.

Yet the pull between us is relentless.

Trust is lethal.
But desire might just be worse.

Silas

She is a pawn in a game she doesn’t understand.

And yet, I want her.

To claim her.
To possess her.
To make her mine.

But I am not the only one hunting her, and if I fail, she won’t survive what’s coming.

The realm teeters on the edge of war, and Harlowe will soon learn that reclaiming the life stolen from her may demand she become the very thing she fears.

Dragons guard the skies. Lies rot the throne. And a love like theirs could burn it all down.

​​​​​​​Perfect for fans of dark fantasy romance and seductive fairy tale retellings, including The Broken Kingdoms, Fourth Wing, and From Blood and Ash.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Dragons, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Retellings, Fantasy Romance

328 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2024

About the author

K.J. Johnson is an international bestselling author of dark fantasy romance and dark romance, which feature fierce heroines and the kind of morally grey men that are guaranteed to leave your sense of right and wrong deliciously scrambled.

Her stories are a heady mix of danger and desire, making them perfect for readers who like their romance a little wicked.

Fueled by a lifelong passion for reading and storytelling, K.J. finally unleashed her imagination with her debut novel, A Heart of Fire and Flame.

When she’s not busy creating worlds of her own, you’ll find her curled up with a book, happily lost in someone else’s fantasy.

Reviews

[꧁ Brutally Honest ꧂ · Rating 1 out of 5]

You’ve heard this story before. A mouthy barely legal teenager that’s supposed to be a princess but she’s stubborn, argumentative, and sits on a high horse, gets traded like a deck of used cards for a marriage (when she was a baby mind you) to a thousand year old immortal. So our devilishly stupid princess grows up to be stabby stabby much to her fathers chagrin who’s trying his darndest to teach her how to be a royal lady. But that smart mouth of hers always gets her in trouble. Go figure. Now we fast forward to an underscored amount of time where our evil king of darkness and evil made up shit that was probably embellished marches in demanding he gets what he was promised all those years earlier. You know, because he’s evil and he’s impatient and wants to go to pound town with that young barely legal teen 🍑 . Enter in superficial hatred and yada yada whatever.

Then there’s some mention of dragons who are very very feared by everyone. But oh no not our princess who marches right up to a pack of them in full armor and weapons in hand staring them straight in the eyes knowing that’s a cause of aggression for them, only for these ferocious beasts to….. rub up against her like a cat? And smell her??? HUH??????? Wait. No, I can see where that’s going. Some kind of dragon princess like a certain white haired fictional character from a popular TV show (excluding the last season of course)? Hmmmmm….

Anyways, back to the deliberately misleading book description.

You don’t get that from the description. No no no - nowhere does it mention arranged marriages. Instead it glosses over that part entirely (ie is no where near what happened) as it SOUNDED like the PRINCE of nightmare and all things evil didn’t want the princess to begin with. I’m not the only one who got that impression right??? Cuz it does NOT say anything about how the KING (of evil) had bartered for her hand in marriage with her FATHER when she was 5 DAYS OLD from her mothers womb, all so father of the year can get this all powerful evil guys alliance in some never ending convenient war that’s like never really is mentioned unless the plot needs it so.

But wait! Let’s keep her marriage a secret until a day after her 18 birthday because now she’s 18 it’s not as creepy!! She’s MATURE now! 🥹 Mature enough for those steamy sex scenes at least.

Speaking of….

Take out the corny ranchy and really a catch-trigger type sex scenes and you’ll have your stereotypical YA romance.

Apparently our standards our so low these days that all we need are a few of sex scenes to trade for a 5 star review. Sorry that’s not gonna cut it for me.

[CB]

I’m bored. Nothing special going on. Won’t rate as I only got 10% in. Page 25/315. The FMC has also already had sex with someone who isn’t the MMC. 😑

[Izzie d · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not too sure how to rate this.
It appears to be a new author. The book ends on a cliffhanger, from her website it looks like a trilogy.
It's an interesting premise, fantasy based, magic and dragon bonds.
When an author invents a new world with a map, warring nations and history you have to admire them.
However, I'm not sure if its the inexperience of the author but it felt like they talked exactly like we do, same expressions and I just felt that let's it down. 'hightailed it out of here'. Some expressions didn't fit another world fantasy.
It's a hard line to walk because if there are too many unfamiliar words or expressions that can be too much.

Cliffhanger ending.
Dual POV.
When we start the book it is hinted he has been involved with a fellow soldier woman and the heroine has a friends with benefits arrangement, which ends as her attraction to the Hero grows.
She doesn't know but the reader knows from the prologue that she is arranged to be married to a cruel neighbouring king.
He turns up and tries to be intimate with her which she rejects but he is powerful.

[Bi Wi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

There were several elements that kept me captivated including:

1. The strong female characters. These women were self assured, resilient and owned their sexuality. In short, they were tough b*itches.

2. There were dragons... need I say more.

3. The smut was sizzling and come on... who doesn't enjoy a smutty chapter... or seven ;)

4. It was funny. There were times when I re-read parts because they just cracked me up.

5. The chapters were short and easy to read so you didn't feel like things were dragging on and if you only had time for a few pages, it worked perfectly.

Overall it was a great read and it leaves you wanting more. Bring on book two!

[Emily-Rose Brlevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down!
It ended on such a cliffhanger that I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!

[Tillyzreadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg i have no words 😶 this book 🤤 perfect
The spice 🔥🔥🔥🔥 the characters are perfect balance between alpha hole and kick ass. That twist in the plot the actual f*** yes this is what i wanted in a read. If fourth wing fell short for you read A heart of fire and flame it will not disappoint. I normally can predict whats about to happen but you got me good i need a bit to process everything. Will definitely reading book 2.

[Bella Reves · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting and spicy fantasy romance! I really enjoyed the FMC and her growth throughout the book. I would also love to read more about Emmerson and Cillian!!

[Nalannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparks ignite and passions flare in this enchanting fantasy novel as Harlow and Silas embark on a thrilling journey of love and magic. The author skillfully weaves a tale of spicy romance, set against a backdrop of vividly imagined worlds. The chemistry between Harlow and Silas is palpable, creating a captivating narrative that keeps you turning pages. With its rich world-building and sizzling romance, this book is a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts who crave a generous dose of heat and magic in their literary escapades.

[Aussie Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced, entertaining story with strong plot that draws you in.

Impressive for first time indie author.

[Britt M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a was captivating read! My emotions were all over the place and I could barely put the book down. Excited for book 2!

[Natalie Mackrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, anything with magic and dragons will quickly captivate me. I did however have trouble with some of the spicier parts of this story, not necessarily from a “trigger” perspective but I had a hard time deciding if our MMC actually loved the FMC or if he just needed to posses her. It felt a little beyond just controlling or morally grey so I had a hard time finding him to be a likable character. The story left on a major cliffhanger, so I am invested in seeing where it goes from here.

Definitely check the trigger warnings here and be prepared for spice. If you’re uncomfortable with extreme possessiveness or controlling behaviors (especially in a bedroom setting) I would probably suggest skipping this story….if that doesn’t bother you, then you’ll likely enjoy.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an incredible ride!

This story moves with such momentum, I felt completely immersed.

I connected deeply with Harlowe. The author has such a nuanced way of writing characters, I found myself both questioning and completely understanding their choices. Harlowe’s strength, passion, and complexity really stood out to me. Her dynamic with Silas was intense, but I also really valued how firmly she stands in her own power.

The layers of this story, the secrets, the magic, the betrayal, all unfolded in a way that felt rich and deliberate. I didn’t want the journey to end… and then came that cliffhanger!

I actually had to pause and decide: do I reflect now or dive straight into the next book? But I didn’t want to lose these first impressions, they feel important.

Silas… I’m torn. Part of me says YES!, and part of me is very much not sure.

Kieran? He can go take a leap off the cliff you left us on. I’m crossing my fingers that Silas catches up with him. But then… there’s Cian. I’m not ready for what that might mean for Silas.

The take on dragons in this world is so refreshing, I’m completely hooked. I’m especially intrigued by Harlowe’s powers and the bigger mystery around them.

And Emmerson? She is the best, best friend! I just adore her.

Okay, full fan mode now: if I could build my dream K. J. Johnson crossover, I’d absolutely pair Emmerson with Riordan from Bonded Chaos. What a dynamic duo they’d be!

This story had me from the first page, and I’m already craving more.

[Ramune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toliau malšinu savo troškulį fantastikai. 🤫 Pradėjusi klausyti šią knygą visiškai nežinojau kur mane ji nuneš, ir ką galiu pasakyti - tai buvo tikrai įsimintina kelionė. Įvairiomis prasmėmis. 🤫
Knygos centre - Harlow. Ji princesė, kurios tėvas vos jai gimus, vardan taikos, ją pažadėjo kitos karalystės valdovui. Užaugusi princesė yra tikrai "ne iš kelmo spirta": ji maištinga, drąsi, žinanti ko nori, tiesiog tikras viesulas. Apie tai, kad ji pažadėta žiaurumu ir galia garsėjančiam valdovui, ji nieko nenutuokia, o kai pagaliau tiesa išaiškėja, ji neketina su tuo taikstytis.
O kur dar šios karalystės generolas Silas, kuris princesę ne tik moko kovoti, bet ir rūpinasi, kad ir naktimis jai nebūtų liūdna. 🤫 Tai toks alfa personažas, kuris pasiruošęs sulyginti su žeme bet ką, kas norės pasisavinti jo "turtą".
Mielų ir nuolankių personažų čia nerasite. Visi jie ryškūs ir spalvingi, turintys ir nemažai tamsumos savyje. O kai tokie susiduria - ore tvyro įtampa ir lekia žiežirbos. 🌝
Daug čia visko buvo: drakonai, įtampa, žaidimai dėl valdžios, klasta, fantastika, netikėti siužeto posūkiai, ir dauuug aistros ir ugnies. 🔥Pasakysiu atvirai - dažnai 🔥 scenos priversdavo mane vartyti akis ir net nusijuokti balsu, bet autorei tikrai pavyko sukurti karštą ir ugnimi alsuojančią istoriją.
Nepaisant keletos vietų, kurios pasirodė cringe, knyga iš tiesų patiko. Istorija tikrai įdomi ir įtraukianti. Būtinai čiupsiu ir kitas istorijos dalis. 😎

[Abigail Mader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!
It has strong female characters, dragons, magic and a dramatic cliff hanger leaving you wanting more!!

[Kayla Cronin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me start off with I’m giving it a one star because I DNF it. This review is my opinion, yours might be different and thats okay.

I read that this is supposed to be a rumpelstiltskin retelling and what? I’m confused, I would never have thought that reading this book.

So, it’s starts off okay with the prologue being the parents POV and talking about some arranged marriage they organised for their 5 DAY OLD daughter. Shes supposed to marry a king when she comes of age but who knows when that is. Oh and they’re one of many royal families.

Once it switches to Harlowe’s perspective it goes down hill. Her character is annoying and almost unlikeable. She’s the classic teenage brat with the “I can do whatever I want” attitude. It gets annoying pretty quickly. I don’t know how old she is as there’s no mention of it and i stopped reading about half way through. I did try to figure it out but there are conflicting opinions on her age so I honestly have no clue.

The story itself is almost nonexistent and confusing. Theres no mention of her arranged marriage, but shes sleeping around, a lot. I feel like the author was torn between writing a story and writing smut. Theres random things thrown into this book unnecessarily, like dragons and sirens. They only get mentioned a couple times and have absolutely no reason for being there.

There are a few bits that didn’t make much sense. FMC has been training to fight her entire life. But she just sucks at it? And there are commoners who are better than her?

There are so many sex scenes it actually annoyed me. Im not even joking, theres at least one per chapter. It got to the point where i was skipping them because i got sick of them and it s the same thing. Every. Time.

The MMC is okay but his behaviour and some of the things he says are a bit gross. It’s not just him though, it’s every single male character. They are all dicks and majority of their vocabulary is “you are mine”

I wanted more story! I wanted more lore! This book as a whole is just lacking and I wouldn’t recommend it if you are looking for a good plot. But hey, if you want a book with so much smut you’ll get annoyed, this is the book for you.

[Feyfire · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I didn’t like, but others might if:
- You like world building that isn’t especially fleshed out and complex (very generalized)
-Main female character that is sarcastic “sassy bad ass” (to me she just came off as annoying… like complaining about things and dashing off to action doesn’t necessarily come off as badass)
-Petty female jealousy
-the ‘’sassy’’ best friend.. when the main female character actually calls her the sassy best friend….but sassy best friend is interpreted to hyper
-Instant lust/love
-Instantly possessive man

With the writing and the characters, I can honestly say that I wasn’t really invested in the romance. I couldn’t get into it. There was no build up to it and of course it was a man that was apparently banging people everywhere but never wanted to commit to anyone until he runs into (quite literally) the main female character in (gasp-scandal) her nightshift wielding weapons. The main female character was already in a friends with benefits relationship with someone else and that was swiftly overlooked by ONE GLANCE at the main male character and his tattoos.. Sorry, I need more than that. There’s no build up at all and Silas of course is instantly smitten with the ‘touch her and die’ tropes..which were dry to me. I don’t mind it if its built up but with this.. meh. It was there. The smut was decent but again, not super into the characters so even those scenes were just there.
There was actually *no* character that I can say that I especially liked in this one. It was all very generic

It's a light read, probably something for people getting into romantasy books but this one wasn't for me.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I would say if it didn't have the spicy scenes it would be a YA. The story line is very typical princess forced into marriage and defys orders to gain her independence.
It has fantasy monsters, witches and dragons which I liked however they aren't in the book long enough to say it's a fantasy. I'd say it's more a romance book with a fantasy influence. I will have to say even with the FL being very young and nieve with relationship I do enjoy that she "semi" understands the possessiveness the men show her isn't all healthy. Don't get me wrong I LOVE a good possessive male but when they don't see you as a person but their property it gets a bit annoying to me personally. And unfortunately, she is stuck between two men that are hundreds of years old that still get jealous of someone looking at their toys. It did end on a major cliff hanger and I'm interested to see where the next book goes.
I will have to say I hope the main ML gets better at being supportive and is better at being an allie than wanting to chain her up in a room so no man looks her way.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun beginning to a new series. Harlowe was such a strong, fun and fiery FMC! She is determined to help her kingdom but becomes faced with something that is just too much to ask of her.

If you are a lover of ultra possessive, morally grey MMC’s then look no further than Silas. He is totally enraptured with Harlowe right from the beginning of the story and the tension between these two is great.

One of my favorite characters in this book was Emerson, Harlowe’s extremely loyal and badass best friend. She will do whatever it takes to protect her princess from anybody, even Silas.

Once I got to the halfway point in this book I couldn’t put it down. There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I immediately wanted to jump into book two after the ending of this one!

If you are looking for a book with dragons, a possessive MMC, and spice look no further than this series!

[lilith cross · Rating 1 out of 5]

i like the dragons and the spice. but the words and the way these characters speak are so uncreative. it's giving gen-z in a realm of kingdoms and wars and dragons. i expect more finesse from a princess who has been taught etiquette and manners from the young age. i get that her character is "strong", but it downright seems like she learned nothing from years of education and training. women can be both into spice and still have class. instead of throwing tantrums about a wedding she doesn't want to happen, how about out maneuver that? i'm sorry but these trends of "sassy" FMLs are so tired and overused.

and how about the MLs are who are crazy possessive with zero tactics and strategies. just brutes his way around growling "you're mine". shut up.

[Sabrina Custer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No one would ever use me again.”
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
.
From the moment I met Harlowe, I loved her. She is headstrong, determined and fiercely loyal. Her journey through finding her inner strength is such an incredible one! I also am obsessed with her relationship with her best friend Emmerson.
Silas is moody, hot headed and so bad ass. He honestly had me on my knees! Just like Harlowe, I genuinely could not keep away from his gravitational pull if I tried.
There were so many twists and turns, I was so invested in everything single one of them. I cannot wait to dive into the next book! Seriously, one of my favorite reads of the year.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick paced, dark fantasy romance!
The book starts out with a flash back to Harlowes dad making a deal with the evil king. Moving ahead, we meet Harlowe, our FMC, a spicy, sassy red head who enjoys the stabby stabby. She is awoken when the enemies dragons have crossed into her home. Silas, our MMC gives big possessive alpha hole energy. He's grumpy, moody, and controlling in the bedroom 👀 The spice in this bool is high, but it doesn't take away from the overall plot and keeps the story moving along nicely.

Trigger warnings
Possessive male
Controlling male

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodbye fourth wing. Hello fire and flame! 🔥
A perfect combination of dragons and magic. What I loved about this book in particular was that our badass mfc, Harlowe, is an experienced 25yr old. And what do I need to do to have a bff like Emerson, the lady is a weapon! Enter shadow daddy, Kieran, and enter possessive dragon riding commander of the Cathal, Silas. Argh, this book! 11/10 recommend
And that cliffhanger, whyyyyy haha lucky I have the whole series to binge, cause I need to know what happens next

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good pacing which kept things interesting. One more chapter led to four more 😂

Kickass women. I really enjoyed the heroine and her best friend, but the quiet standout for me was Clementine. Her steely resolve added to the tension building.

The forest of nightmares was exciting and definitely kept you on your toes.

All of the supporting characters were great too. They added to the storyline and provided an entertaining read.

Overall, I’d recommend.

[Kiwi]

I made it 5%. The FMC is immature and the author wasted no time in showing it. Our first scene is with her immediately coming to a gross assumption about a situation and strapping knives to her person. Then proceeds to use them for no reason. Very “act first, question later.”

Ugh. Another one of those FMCs.

Since I didn’t bother with finishing, I did not give a review. My DNF speaks for itself.

[Piros OlaSz · Rating 5 out of 5]

ohhh jeez that was a good

1. Dragons ✅
2. Cool, strong but not overly masculine FMC with an attitude ✅
3. A firecracker BFF ✅
4. MMC with dark gray layers ✅
5. A hot villain ✅


So just go, read it.
Its HOT though, so don’t be shy!
And it has a lot of adventure so be on your toes at all times…

Can I just get B2 right now?!

Just praying it won’t fall into an overly long and boring never ending story….

But so far so good or bad haha 😆

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

With inspiringly fierce yet feminine female characters, a fast but well paced plot and a whole lot of unpredictability this saga will not disappoint. Incredibly steamy with liberating themes surrounding feminine sexuality and autonomy coupled with strong, fulfilling relationships and intriguing supporting characters these books belong on every avid readers shelves. 5 stars. Can’t wait to read her next literary works.

[Sitara :P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the dragon having more sass then evey Basic bitch out there :P love it. Not to mention how hot the characters are. If you like dark fantasy, hot af characters and lots of smut 10/10 recommend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can't wait to read the next one :P

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

El tema del insta love no me gusta, estoy cansada de que ahora las historias se dediquen a hacer escenas spicy sin parar, en este caso la relación entre los protagonistas sucedió demasiado rápido, literal hasta la mitad del libro recién pasan ciertas cosas. Leería el siguiente solo porque quisiera saber en que terminará esto.

[Metika Constable · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn’t grab my attention until the last 80% but the ending!!! I knew it was probably coming but it still left me wondering what would happen next!

I love Emerson she is such a great feisty best friend!

I love the dragons!

While a tad annoyed at her I also loved the FMC’s mother!

I will probably read the next books eventually just because I want to know what happens next!

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written with plenty of twists in the story.
I have loved the sass of the FMC and her best friend. The possessiveness of the MMC makes me feel something else is waiting to be revealed. There is another MMC who comes across as pure evil and I don’t know how the FMC is going to manage them both.
4.5 stars