Veiled Flames

A Destiny of Dragons #1

by Mara Leigh

I've spent my life in the shadow of my father's neglect, a princess in a Kingdom where women have no power. When my father arranges my marriage to a cruel and elderly king, I escape.

Disguised as a boy, I join the elite dragon riders who protect the Kingdoms of Light. But women can't ride dragons. It's impossible. Forbidden. Blasphemous for a woman to mount a dragon's pommel.

At the rider camp, Saxon, my mysterious and handsome dragon master, sees through my disguise. My experienced commander awakens sensations I never knew existed, but forbids me from riding the beasts he commands, convinced I will die.

My rival at camp, Prince Tynan, is the arrogant grandson of the very man I was meant to marry. He doesn't recognize me in disguise, and our inexplicable attraction confuses us both. I hate him, the thinks I'm a boy. But beneath his cruelty, I glimpse wounds that mirror my own.

Then there's Zogar the Behemoth—the largest, most feared dragon of them all. He’s never accepted a rider upon his saddle… Not until now.

When I claim my dragon, what I discover changes everything. The line between human and dragon blurs, and destiny awaits.

As demons break through the veil that protects the Kingdoms of Light, my forbidden bond with the Behemoth takes me beyond its protection to discover the truth. When I uncover ancient wrongs, I must choose between duty and desire, between the Light I've always known and the Darkness I'm forbidden to embrace.

First in a romantasy trilogy where a princess discovers her true power in a world of secrets, dragons, and forbidden love.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Why Choose, Romance, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Romantasy

526 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2025

About the author

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Mara Leigh, a corporate world escapee, loves to hang out in coffee shops and let her imagination run wild.
After hopping between various cities including Edinburgh, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, Mara and her exorbitant shoe collection have settled in Toronto where she writes steamy and emotional reverse harem paranormal, and m/f contemporary romances.

Reviews

[Morally Grey Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️
🌶🌶🌶 (every 2 pages they fuck)

It's literally a sexist version of FW, with much more spice and RH. I'm going to read the second one just because I liked the ending.

I don't recommend the book: One of the MMCs rapes the FMC. No matter how angry she is with him and how much she swears she won't forgive him, it's obvious that at some point they're going to end up together. Not to mention the sexism in the book, although I understand it given the era. It bothered me immensely.
Even so, I really liked the FMC👏🏻

Also, men bond with dragons by inserting a protrusion into their butts 😭 wtf

[Katiebug · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dauntless princess....Oh where to begin about this story! This is one of the most unique and imaginative stories that I have read in a while. Some trigger warnings include rape and violence against women.

In the opening chapter, we meet Rosomon, princess of Achotia, one of the Seven Kingdoms in her realm. But she is a princess who has led a very sheltered life in a household dominated by males, since her mother died while giving birth to one of her brothers. Her father, the King, largely ignores her, and she uses this opportunity to learn about history and weaponry alongside her brothers.

While out on a (forbidden) ride on her father's stallion, she happens upon a large party with the crest of Khotor, a neighboring Kingdom, heading towards her castle. She witnesses them abusing a young girl and she is NOT having that! As she attempts to intervene, she is intercepted by a handsome stranger who warns her not to do that. As he sees her safely back home, she learns very little about him (other than the way he affects her!).

Once she is home, she learns that the King of Khotor is indeed traveling to Achotia, and her father has promised her to him! Oh! And he is old enough to be her grandfather..... She learns firsthand that he is a cruel man and decides that she cannot marry him. She steals away into the night hoping to find and join the dragon riders that she has been hearing about.

What ensues is a little adventure, danger, and some spicy romance between more than one man! She does fulfill her dream of becoming a dragon rider. And when that happens, she learns that her dragon, Zogar, is actually a man that has been trapped in his dragon form for 400 years!

Whew.....and the story doesn't end there. It is continued in the next installment of the "A Destiny of Dragons" series. Looking forward to seeing what happens next in Rosomon's world!
I was excited to receive an ARC of this book!

[Stfnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Failing in the first chapter 🫠
The almost rape scene of the wench felt more like a comedy/parody than something i had to take seriously. I think it would’ve had more (emotional) impact if it had been written plainly, without all the inner dialogue; just facts of what she was seeing. Reading a few reviews told me that it’s sex every other page and i’m not in the mood to entertain that atm.

[nicola.aliey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Коли думала шо гірше вже не буде, але буде.

Боже це такий крінж шо пздц

Хто ці люди шо ставлять цій книзі більше 3😬 мені і одиницю шкода

[Courtney Miller]

This book has some weird and clunky language to start. I don’t think it’s going to be for me, so I’m going to go ahead and give up now.

[Delibes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veiled Flames by Mara Leigh
ARC received for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

What. The. Actual. Fuck. Did. I. Read.

This book lives somewhere between soft-core dragon porn and a medieval fever dream, and honestly? I’m still processing. Not in a traumatized way… more in a “Did someone actually write that word on purpose?” way.

Let’s begin with Rosomon, the king’s daughter and apparently the most spectacularly unqualified royal to ever walk on two legs. For someone raised to be political currency, you’d think someone would’ve taught her literally anything about the world, or men, or consequences, or how to form a normal thought. But nope! We’re doing full feral innocence mode.

And then.
THE WORDING.
I’m sympathetic to many things in life, but calling certain male anatomy “sausages” should be a crime punishable by at least 30 days of literary jail. I cringed so hard I nearly folded into a new dimension.

Then comes the dragon riding, which—listen—could have been epic. Could’ve been majestic. Could’ve been a powerful moment of bonding between girl and ancient beast. But no. Instead we’re mounting pommels like we’re filming a dragon-themed OnlyFans. The saddle innuendo alone had me looking around my room like I needed an adult.

But wait—Rosomon doesn’t get one lover.
Not even two.
Oh no, she gets two men and the biggest dragon in existence — because of course she does. If there’s a hierarchy of power, she’s apparently contractually obligated to climb every rung of it in one book. Classic.

Now. To be fair — because I’m trying to stay balanced like a responsible reviewer — the worldbuilding? Actually kind of interesting. The characters? Also interesting, when they weren’t saying words that made me want to peel my own face off. The idea of the story had potential.

But the execution?
The vibes?
The cringe?

Oh honey.
This book had me squinting, pausing, rereading sentences like I was deciphering forbidden texts. It wasn’t bad… it was just a lot. Too much. Excessively much.

In conclusion:
If you want dragons, spice, chaos, unhinged metaphors, questionable vocabulary choices, and a heroine who reacts to the world like she was raised by sheltered nuns and set loose with zero supervision… this book is for you.

If you want coherence?
Good luck.

[LC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Mara Leigh’s other books, and although this is slightly different than what she’s done before it’s no less fantastic.

Veiled Flames is part 1 in a romantasy series (due to be 3 books I think) about a princess who, after being given as a bride for an evil king, decides to run off and join the Dragon Riders, an elite military force created to keep the world protected from evil. Obviously there's more to it than that, but that's the gist.

There was a slight disconnect at the beginning for me with some of the vocabulary used for the world building, but after about 50 pages I adjusted. I think it was more of a me-not-expecting-a-romantasy story than any kind of issue with the writing. The world building was very well done, and although there's so much more to build on, it didn't take long to get a feel for the politics, the environment, or the magic of the world.

Our FMC is named Rosomon and I really enjoyed her character. She is incredibly innocent and naive, but is strong in a way that didn’t feel forced. She challenges gender norms, both successfully and unsuccessfully, while still being very certain of who she is as a woman. Despite how her upbringing has led to restrictions being placed upon her being, she was very aware of her power as a woman and as a person, and found ways to work with what she had. I enjoyed the banter between her and the other characters, especially with the first MMC we meet - Saxon - and look forward to seeing her grow more.

Some of the romance was a little bit too insta-lovey in parts, especially with a massive shift from enemies to lovers with one MMC, but with a touch of suspension of disbelief this wasn't an issue for me. Bear in mind, however, that I generally prefer insta love. I can tell that the relationships between our characters will develop as the series progresses, and this would be true to form for Mara Leigh. By the end of this book we have met 3 MMCs but only 2 of them really develop through book 1.

As the story developed and we met the dragon riders, I began to suspect that riding a dragon was going to involve adjusting my mindset. I was not disappointed. The anatomy of a dragon is creative, and it really was the most unreal and incredible thing i think I’ve ever read in a romance novel with dragons. I was shocked, appalled, delighted, and cannot wait to read more about this.

I’m very excited for the next book in this series to find out more about the dragons. That’s probably my biggest complaint with this book- most of the info about the dragons is kept until the end and I desperately want more.

Although this was different than I expected it was truly enjoyable and engaging. The romance was quick, the spice was well written, and the story left me wanting more.

I’d rate this book a very solid 4/5, with an expectation that this will increase once the series is complete.

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I saw that this book is Mulan meets Fourth Wing and that is completely accurate.

Rosomon is a defiant princess on the run from an arranged marriage to a cruel, aging king. She disguises herself as a boy and joins elite dragon rider camp. It's an unforgiving place where survival depends on secrecy and strength. Among the recruits are Prince Tynan, the arrogant grandson of the king, and Saxon, a quiet warrior with secrets of his own.

The momentum builds beautifully until the prose stumbles. It's clumsy enough to undo pages of promise. Leigh’s choice of words like “rod”, “cleft”, and "cunny" in romantic scenes evokes the tone of an old timey bodice ripper more than a modern romantasy. It was unintentional hilarious. It felt out of place and pulled me out of the moment more than once. That said, the love scenes themselves are impressively detailed and emotionally charged. Rosomon’s first kiss especially was beautifully written. It was tender, breathless, and felt genuinely earned. If the language had been a little more modern and less theatrical, those moments could’ve landed even harder.

The emotional arc between Rosomon and her love interests feels rushed. We don't meet the last one the harem until the end of the book. The shift from animosity to intimacy skips the slow burn and lands in instalust territory. Tynan goes from cold and dismissive to suddenly captivated, without the tension or reckoning you'd expect from someone unknowingly drawn to a mysterious person. Saxon begins as a gentle, almost reverent lover, but his demeanor shifts abruptly. Though he offers Rosomon an alternative role in his life, the gesture feels more like a calculated compromise than a heartfelt connection. His emotional withdrawal is sudden and jarring, and the offer to be his concubine is deeply insulting.

One part that really weirded me out was how dragon riders bond with their dragons. It’s described in a way that feels way too intimate and honestly, it was kind of uncomfortable. It took me out of the story and made the whole connection feel awkward instead of magical.

Even with a few hiccups and some cringey word choices, I still really enjoyed Veiled Flames. The world was immersive, the tension kept me turning pages, and Rosomon’s first kiss was a standout. It was sweet, intense, and genuinely well written. I’d give it a solid 3.75 out of 5 stars, and I’m definitely curious to see where things go next. Hoping for more dragons, more rebellion, and maybe a little more emotional logic in book two.

Tropes:
Romantasy
🧔🏻‍♂️👱🏻‍♀️👨🏼‍🦱👨🏻‍🦰MFMM
🐲Dragons
🔥Medium burn, slow build
🥷🏻Hidden Identity\Gender Switch
👸🏻Runaway Princess
❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Spice level

[Dani Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosomon is free-spirited yet tightly controlled, so honestly, I don’t blame her at all for sneaking away whenever she can just to breathe. That’s exactly how she ends up meeting Saxon and I loved that moment.

My heart really went out to her, especially with the way her father treats her as “less than” simply because she’s a woman (because of course 🙄). And then he has the audacity to try to force her into doing something against her will. Luckily, Rosomon isn’t someone who can be controlled. She refuses to be held back and chooses to flee instead.


Her introduction to Tynan, though… yeah, less than ideal. Poor girl truly cannot catch a break.

Her first real interaction with a dragon not just seeing one, but actually interacting with it was absolutely hilarious. The fact that she tells the dragon her secret had me stressed for a second, not going to lie 😅 I fully expected the dragon to spill immediately. But hey girls support girls, even in dragon form.


Everything Rosomon goes through to become a dragon rider is honestly insane. No wonder she’s constantly in pain. And you know what made it even more impressive? She’s not reduced to a crying, blubbering mess. Does she complain about being sore? Absolutely because she’s human. But she never gives up. In fact, she voluntarily goes first during some of the most brutal moments, which is honestly wild and made me respect her even more.


I was blown away by how much depth there was to the dragons themselves their limits before bonding with a rider, the process riders must go through to mount them, and the overall dragon–rider dynamic. It was such a cool and unexpected twist on the genre, and nothing like what I thought I was getting going in.

The moment Rosomon finally meets her dragon Zogar it is intense and unforgettable. Through him, she learns even more about dragons.


And then… we get introduced to another character. WOW. That meeting was absolutely unhinged in the best way. Crazy, hilarious, and completely unexpected (iykyk).

That ending though??? I did not see it coming. I immediately needed the next book. I am luckily it is out so I can jump right into it. I cannot wait to see where this goes next.

[Nicci Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author gifted me the first two books in this series when I requested to read the ARC of the final book in the trilogy. Beyond excited to discover a new (to me) RH author! I adore the premise of these books - so far we have dragons and dragon riders - color me surprised at how riders “mount” their dragons.

Rosomon is a princess betrayed by her family, given to a murderous, spouse killing tyrant king - decades older than her. She runs away and joins the dragon riders academy disguised as a boy. Rosomon is a sheltered, virginal girl who is entirely clueless about men and sex. This is a reverse harem - naturally she doesn’t remain clueless for long. Her first lover is Saxon, a dragon master much older than her, but he seems to fall hard for her. Secondly is Prince Tynan, a royal dragon rider, who starts out hating the boy he can’t help desiring, and then falling in love with the revealed girl.

What I loved:

Dragons
Trials in an academy type setting
Interesting world building
Feisty FMC
Guys fall first and hard

What I didn’t love:

Language of the Middle Ages - Paps (breasts), drilling (fucking), rods (cocks), cleft (cunt), stones (balls), wenches (don’t get me started) and some other usage designed to set a scene of a certain era - for me this is annoying and unnecessary. It’s a fantasy novel, the world,building is interesting and detailed enough without distracting and vaguely cringy words.

The relationships didn’t have time to develop as there was almost no actual dialogue, plenty of inner monologue but no one actually really revealed themselves or had meaningful connections. I missed that and found the leap into creative and heated f*cking a little hard to swallow. The FMC went from clueless virgin to ready for rough, hard, plentiful sex with two of her developing harem, and she feels no love or tender emotion for either of the guys.

I am interested and invested enough to carry right on to books two and three, where I have hope that the love and romance party of the romantasy will develop, deepen and become something deeper.

[Persephone Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, so many things all at once! Sometimes, I really shoot myself in the foot as an ARC reader. It really hinders the whole 'must read the next book now' feelings! I have to admit, the first chaper or so, I was worried I was not going to be able to get into things and enjoy this book. I was wrong though. It is not unlike many other fantasy dragon rider books, but it does have its own pizazz. At times the fmc got on my nerves. She is so naive and I get why. It's thoroughly explained and we know where she comes from, but she's still 22, so.. she does grow, and for that I'm appreciative. The other thing that kind of rubbed at me is the instant love factor. I can get on board with super quick and passionate love, but there seemed to be no relationships to base it on for the men involved. It's just hard to believe how instantaneously it happens based on what we're given and what we know.
There were some really shocking points which made me cackle and I really loved that. Things kind of fit and follow basic set ups, there's some recognizable Mulan similarities, some fourth wing similarities, etc. Then, bam, let's keep you on your toes and that is really great from an author. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are fun, the dragons are awesome as always, although we only got a taste in this book, and the plotline is building. The ending really shows that things are about to shuffle and I am here for that. I'm excited to figure out more and where we are heading in the next installment.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragon Riders . . .

Life in a Kingdom where women hold no power can be dreadful. Princess Rosomon has spent her entire life ignored, but even that was better than her father arranging for her to be married to the cruel elderly King of Khotor whose wives all seem destined to die under mysterious circumstances! Fortunately, Rosomon is able to escape and clothes herself as a boy to become a dragon rider where they would not expect to find her since women would never be permitted to ride a dragon! She meets Dragon Master Saxon, one of three dragon masters at the camp, as he goes over the rules with the trainees. She also meets Prince Tynan who is the grandson of the horrible old man she was supposed to marry. He is also apparently arrogant and cruel like his grandfather. Hopefully she will have sense enough to avoid involvement with either of these two men.

Meeting the dragons is also a tense moment. Zogar the Behemoth is the largest and most fearsome of the dragons and has not accepted a rider. And the requirement of having to mount a dragon’s “pommel” is atrocious and would deter many students from wanting to proceed. But it is what creates a bond and is required. Will Rosomon be willing to go through this horror? Or is it time for her to flee and find a safer place to hide?

I absolutely adore dragons, but the requirement for riding one in this story is way out of my comfort zone. I think I’ll continue riding a horse with an English saddle instead… a much smoother ride!

[ReverseHaremMuse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5 stars)

I'm really on the fence with Veiled Flames. There are moments that almost work, but just as many that really don’t. The fantasy elements are kind of there, but the world-building needs a lot more development. Too much focus is spent on filler content, while the more important aspects are glossed over.

The alternating between modern and old-timey language was inconsistent - sometimes it worked, other times it was jarring. And please, can we retire the word “paps” forever? Total mood killer.

The female main character feels like a child stuck in a twenty-something's body. She’s not naïve in a charming or believable way - she’s just… irritating. Hopefully, she matures soon because right now she’s insufferable.

As for the male leads? All of them are awful. I’m really over the “treat her like crap and she sticks around” trope. It’s tired and unappealing.

And then there's the dragon riding method. They're holding on by what now? Literal sphincter grip? I laughed, sure - but not in a good way. You could see it coming, but I still can't believe that was the best option chosen. Feels like someone has a love-hate relationship with Avatar and took it to a bizarre place.

Overall, this book is weird - but not the good kind. It had its moments, and I did chuckle, but I’m not sure this author or series is for me.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Rosomon is absolutely an innocent. In every sense of the word. Her father and nursemaid should be ashamed for letting her reach 22 with the vast level of purity that is Rosomon. Luckily she has enough self preservation to high tail it out of the castle when her father tries to marry her off to that horrible, brute of a man 3Xs her age. Enter Saxon who tries to hobble her from being a dragon rider—so she can be his courtesan 🤨 Then there’s Tynan, who started out as a class a jerk … well, you’ll have to read to know what happens with him and with Zogar—I can’t give it away.

It took me a few chapters to get into Mara Leigh’s writing style—Granted, I JUST came off a 4-book binge of ‘incredibly intense’ books. I am a glutton for punishment—but I loved the read once I was able to shake off my last reads and enjoyed this one. I am looking forward to book 2!

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Dragon Master Saxon
✨Prince Tynan
✨Dragon Zogar
FMC:
✨Princess Rosomon
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨to be continued, cliffhanger
Series:
✨Book 1 of A Destiny of Dragons
Tropes:
👉fantasy romance
👉why choose
👉enemies to lovers
👉forbidden
👉size gap
👉age gap 16years 22/38
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
💥death
💥betrayal
Burn Speed:
✨fast
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon E. Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Romantacy, Enemies to Lovers, Hidden Identity, Shifters, and Why Choose stories you should definitely give this one a read.

The MFC is a sheltered but strong willed young royal who goes against the plan that was set for her life by her King Father. With that rebellion, she becomes enemies with all the royals of another kingdom. While she runs, she hides her identity by disguising as a young 15 year old boy who tries out for a spot at a training camp who's trainings have a very short life expectancy.

Slowly her disguise falls apart as her love interests start truly seeing her and how they feel for her. Despite their fears for her life, she keeps going towards her goal of riding dragons. And she keeps proving them all wrong about women being able to do the training and the job.

I received an advanced copy of Veiled Flames and am leaving my honest review.

The story does start off a little slow and there is some characters near the beginning that might be triggering for some readers but they are NOT part of the main story. Please don't let that make you miss this great story.

The book ends on a bit of a Cliff Hanger. And I am so ready for the next one in the series!

[Diana Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Veiled Flames: A Destiny of Dragons Book 1 Kindle Edition

by Mara Leigh (Author) 

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for the complimentary advanced reviewer's copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.

Veiled Flames is essentially the love child of a 1980s bodice ripper and Fourth Wing. However, the heroine, Rosomon is the direct opposite of Violet – where Violet is strong willed and determined, Rosomon is a flighty princess who seems to float from problem to problem. And Saxon is no Xaden – he is the leader of the Dragonriders who seems to buy into the “women are weak and only worth an intact Hymen” nonsense of the universe of this book.

The writing is forced, trying desperately to sound like a regency novel and includes plot points like a forced marriage, misogyny, and so on. It's a difficult read,if this is not your jam. It is not my jam.

The plot itself is transparent without any twists. You can see where this is going from page one.

All in all, not my type of book. If it is yours, you will enjoy it.

3 stars out of 5

This book publishes in Kindle (with Kindle Unlimited) on 5 September 2025

[Eljesa Ahm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow—what an incredible read! I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Veiled Flames, and honestly, I devoured it from start to finish. It was so gripping, so thrilling, and so beautifully written that I couldn’t put it down.

Rosomon has completely stolen my heart—her strength, resilience, and presence on the page are amazing. I loved following her journey, and the way she was written made me feel every moment alongside her. But it’s not just Rosomon; all of the characters are vivid, memorable, and so easy to connect with.

The story also has just the right amount of spice—enough to make things exciting and emotional, but never too much. It fit perfectly with the characters and the flow of the plot.

Even though English is my third language, I had no trouble reading this book. The writing style flows so naturally and has such a unique voice—it carries you effortlessly through the story.

In short: Veiled Flames is powerful, captivating, and unforgettable. I cannot recommend it enough!
12/10 & 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Kristin E. Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veiled flames

Book one of unfinished series. Interesting beginning in which a strange world is introduced. Rosamon is a human Princess of one of the 8? kingdoms in this pnr world. There is a great threat of demons breaking through the veil that separates her world from the magical other side. Humans are taught that their deity Orthix created the veil and dragons to protect their world. The human live in a mysoginistic culture where females are treated like servants. When Rosamon meets her arranged fiance she smartly runs away to join the dragon riders, pretending to be a boy. The entire bonding to dragons mechanism is quite uncomfortable to read about (pun not intended). There are several mysteries, and several romantic interests. Not all is as it seems. This kindle version includes three chapters of another book so it ends quite abruptly at 92%. Correct punctuation and spelling for the most part, but sometimes characters' names change? The ending of this volume does leave me wanting to continue this series.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories spark with magic from the very first page — and this one definitely did.

I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Veiled Flames: A Destiny of Dragons by Mara Leigh, and it was such a sweet and enchanting escape. The blend of fantasy, dragon lore, and slow-burn romance creates a world that feels both immersive and comforting, like slipping into a warm, glowing daydream.

The characters’ connection is tender yet fiery, filled with fated-mates energy and emotional tension that kept me invested the whole way through. Mara Leigh’s writing brings the magic to life beautifully, with moments that feel both intimate and epic.

There were a few scenes I wished were explored a little deeper, but overall, this story left me smiling and fully charmed. It’s a delightful, heart-warming adventure that shines with destiny, dragons, and just the right amount of heat.

If you love fantasy romance that wraps you up in its wings and doesn’t let go, this is one to add to your TBR. 💖🐉🔥

[Shu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was done reading dragon harems but this book caught my eye from the description. I love that the FMC gradually grows stronger throughout the book rather than stay weak and waiting for her men to rescue her. Currently have a love/dislike on all three men because they constantly put her down/don’t believe in her (even though readers only get a little bit on Zogar in this book). Tynan is growing on me though as he actually admits he loves Rosomon and is trying to be nicer/showing it to her. Saxon is still a bit unlikeable because he is still confused about his feelings and would rather Rosomon be a courtesan than dragon rider. There may be more unknown background information readers don’t know about Saxon too. Can’t wait to see what happens with Zogar and the main storyline as it is building up at the end of this book. I admit, the bonding with the dragons is a bit different…

[Regan Pontius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Veiled Flames as an eARC. It was the fantasy book I didn't know I wanted. Veiled Flames is the first book of an up and coming triology.

This book gave Fourth Wing vibes set centuries ago. Women were expected to wed and become mothers, not dragon masters. Princess Rosomon escapes her upcoming nuptials to a vulgar king. She disguises herself as a boy and begins her journey to become a dragon rider.

Along the way, she meets Saxon, a dragon master, who knows her secret, and Prince Tynan, the grandson of the vulgar King Vyktor who can't deny his attraction.

Eventually, she bonds with Zogar, the most dangerous dragon and the king of all dragons.

The book does end on a cliffhanger

I'd recommend this book if you like heroine princesses who want to defy their duties, multiple love interests, and multiple POVs

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

The girl that wasn’t supposed to ride a dragon… becomes the rider of one of the most impressive and challenging dragons that exist..

The world building was detailed and impressive, the characters worked out well. In the beginning of the book Princess Rosomon is rather naive and has a whole world to discover, but grows strength the more the story continues.

The romance is not a slow burn one but develops quite fast. It wouldn’t have been a bad thing to stall things a little, build up some more lingering chemistry.

The storyline is logical, the timeline is correct. The story is very interesting and with all the different things happing, it’s hard to put the book down.

I’m ready for the next book in this series! ☺️.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential but it got worse in the second half of the book. Sometimes it just reminds me of Fourth Wing which made it boring. Additionally, the way that mounting the dragon was written is quite weird. Let's just say you don't just sit on the dragon's back. I also wasn't fond of the body terminology in this book. I feel like the reason why dragons need riders doesn't make sense either. Prince Tynan had a 180 on his personality, and it felt very unnatural.
I'm a sucker for princess books, and I liked Princess Rosomon in the first half, but she started to annoy me near the end of the book. But hey, just cause this wasn't for me doesnt mean it isn't a 5-star for someone else :)

[Caleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A high 2.5, at times a 3.5 star read and at times a 1.5 star read. The plot and secret girl disguised as a boy kept me around but the patriarchal and unsupportive MMCs lost my interest. Their lightbulb moment on how strong the FMC is seemed too sudden and deserved way more groveling. So many ups and downs in the relationship in a matter of a few days (from hurting and vows to never again be together to lust and love with minimal work for forgiveness). Also I’m all for a super strong FMC but the physical tests and gauntlet of being a dragon rider seemed way rushed with no growth overtime, just instantly the best.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique design

This book was quite a journey. I would have rated it higher but there are 2 things that almost caused me to DNF.
1# the select wording regarding the body or having sex was completely jarring. Paps for boobs, drilling for sex, sausage and stones for dick and balls... it makes no sense at all.
2# you can't have a well educatored princess who is curious but has zero understanding of how babies are made... make it make sense.

Anyway, the second half of the book gets interesting, unique world building, more questions then answers - which I'm totally there for. Loved reading a different lens on things. Will read the next book now the author found their story.

[LeeAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a bit for me to get into the book, but once I got into it I was sad it ended and can’t wait for the rest of the series. The main female character is very naive and was hard to click with at first. I do like her feistiness and how she learns but it takes a bit to get over her naivety. There are things that she doesn’t know that seem realistic but then there are others (male body) that seem silly (how marriage among nobles as a princess works).

I love the creativity and reinvention of dragons and can’t wait to read more to see how it connects to the other stories.

[Reina Luxe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an exciting read! Rosomon’s journey from being ignored as a princess to daring to disguise herself and chase the dream of becoming a Dragon Rider was inspiring and full of tension. I loved the mix of danger, secrets, and determination. The world of dragons and the stakes of keeping her true identity hidden kept me hooked until the very end. A must-read for fantasy lovers who enjoy strong heroines and thrilling adventures!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel leans more toward fantasy than romance, and it’s a true page-turner. The courageous heroine constantly faces prejudice against women, which makes her journey both inspiring and engaging to follow. With a medieval-like setting and detailed world-building, it’s a wonderful read for fantasy lovers. If you’re looking for something mainly steamy and light on world-building, this isn’t the book—but if you love immersive fantasy with a romantic thread, it’s perfect.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Devin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um...

I'm pretty bummed out by this book. It seemed to have a lot of promise, even though the violent opening scene was fairly unexpected. Once I got to the part where a rider needs to use a buttplug to mount their dragon, that was enough. I've read some questionable content, but this was just bizarre and took me out of the story to the point I was asking out loud, "What am I reading?" And I love MM in RH! This wasn't it. I'd absolutely continue the series if not for that key element.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 1 of A Destiny of Dragons series and it is FANtastic and starts things off with a bang.

The characters were so well written and developed. They were compelling and complex and complicated. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was excellent and fascinating and solidly built. Great start to the series and I look forward to more from this world. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.