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Emberquell Academy #1
Flameborne: Chosen - A Dragon Romantasy Book
DUET COMPLETES SEPTEMBER 18th!
Flameborne is a slow-burn, mythical-world romantasy perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing, and Sarah J. Maass's ACOTAR series—in which one broken woman and her dragon wage war with centuries-old tradition and the men who uphold it
They all expect her to fall. Only one man believes she can fly.
Lowborn Bren never imagined she'd meet a dragonfury face-to-face. But when Ruin, her first love and a newly raised Furyknight, is sent on his first mission, Bren leaves the safety of her family's farm and stumbles through the night to surprise and farewell him. Instead, she discovers her lover's betrayal.
Shamed, broken, and reeling, Bren climbs the Dragonmaw cliffs to end her life, only to be saved—and bonded—by a dragon.
Now, as the first ever female Flameborne, Bren must earn her place among the Furyknights, a hallowed, all-male society of dragon riders. Her mere existence is the breach of centuries-old tradition. Yet, when the dragons embrace her, the men have no choice but to watch and wait for her to go up in flames.
Her only willing ally is the fabled Battle Commander, Donavyn Arsen. Donavyn knows dragons don’t make mistakes. He agrees to train Bren in secret to prepare her for the Trials. But with so many hours alone, the pair’s mutual respect deepens into something more.
Something forbidden.
The #1 bestselling serial author, Aimee Lynn, ignites a fierce new world in which a broken young woman must find the strength to claim love—and a future no one believed she'd survive.
Triggers and Tropes include: Romantasy with spice, dragons and dragon rider romance, fated mates, forbidden love, fantasy academy romance, touch her and die, forced proximity, weak-to-strong female lead, age gap, slow burn, and much, much more!
*****
Genre and Series info: This Emberquell Academy duet is a romantasy book for adults / romantasy with spice (though the first volume is slow burn.) These romantic dragon books are brimming with forbidden love storylines, "Who did this to you?" and a female lead who grows from weak to strong.
Flameborne is a slow-burn, mythical-world romantasy perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing, and Sarah J. Maass's ACOTAR series—in which one broken woman and her dragon wage war with centuries-old tradition and the men who uphold it
They all expect her to fall. Only one man believes she can fly.
Lowborn Bren never imagined she'd meet a dragonfury face-to-face. But when Ruin, her first love and a newly raised Furyknight, is sent on his first mission, Bren leaves the safety of her family's farm and stumbles through the night to surprise and farewell him. Instead, she discovers her lover's betrayal.
Shamed, broken, and reeling, Bren climbs the Dragonmaw cliffs to end her life, only to be saved—and bonded—by a dragon.
Now, as the first ever female Flameborne, Bren must earn her place among the Furyknights, a hallowed, all-male society of dragon riders. Her mere existence is the breach of centuries-old tradition. Yet, when the dragons embrace her, the men have no choice but to watch and wait for her to go up in flames.
Her only willing ally is the fabled Battle Commander, Donavyn Arsen. Donavyn knows dragons don’t make mistakes. He agrees to train Bren in secret to prepare her for the Trials. But with so many hours alone, the pair’s mutual respect deepens into something more.
Something forbidden.
The #1 bestselling serial author, Aimee Lynn, ignites a fierce new world in which a broken young woman must find the strength to claim love—and a future no one believed she'd survive.
Triggers and Tropes include: Romantasy with spice, dragons and dragon rider romance, fated mates, forbidden love, fantasy academy romance, touch her and die, forced proximity, weak-to-strong female lead, age gap, slow burn, and much, much more!
*****
Genre and Series info: This Emberquell Academy duet is a romantasy book for adults / romantasy with spice (though the first volume is slow burn.) These romantic dragon books are brimming with forbidden love storylines, "Who did this to you?" and a female lead who grows from weak to strong.
415 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2025
3168 people are currently reading
3744 people want to read
About the author
Aimee Lynn
25 books85 followersAimee Lynn (also known as Aimee Lane) started her publishing career in 2013, self-publishing a book which was eventually picked up by Alloy Entertainment and published traditionally as Every Ugly Word in 2014. In 2020, as she looked to shift gears into adult fiction she was invited to write for serial platform, Webnovel. In 2021 she became a Top 5 bestselling author on that platform, and in 2022 she won two coveted awards and branched out to other platforms. 2024 was a highlight when her book, Slave to the Wolf King reached #1 on both Radish and MyFavReads.
Her serial work has been translated into four languages, adapted into comics and audiobooks, and reached millions of views from readers around the globe.
Her serial work has been translated into four languages, adapted into comics and audiobooks, and reached millions of views from readers around the globe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
September 16, 2025
This could've been higher.
I must preface I am 100000% atheist. HOWEVER, I don't mind references to "gods/higher beings/etc" in books USUALLY. I even love quite a few books with religion as a main plot line, as it can be extremely interesting when used correctly. In this one however, we are just told "God is the Creator and we must follow the plan he lays for us" WITHOUT ANY OTHER SUBSTANCE. It's giving *Christian propaganda*. Like it didn't do a deep dive into the belief system or even a mini dive. It was just that line. Over and over again. "Trust the creator" "God puts us in our path and we must follow it without question" "Do you think God would put you here if it wasn't for a reason" Basically, imagine the song "mother knows best" from tangled, but change the word mother to God or The Creator.
Moving on, the dragons were cute, and I appreciated the fact that it was actually a slow burn, though when it comes to the relationship building its minimal. Very "I want her, but I can't have her not cause she's 20 years my junior but because I'm her superior and it'll make me look bad". It's also pretty guaranteed they're "soulmates" along with their dragons even though the author tried to "make it suspenseful" its just too obvious.
The plot was slow moving and had many many many time skips. *2 months later* *1 month later*.
The MMC is okay. He didn't do anything *bad* necessarily, but also the age gap and how he references her is just.....a little odd. He treats her as if she is a child though he repeatedly tells other people she's not.
The FMC has obviously been though a lot, and I liked the attempt at character depth. However, we don't really learn much of her past, other than small snippets when she's having episodes. It never really came all together.
What we did learn of the world is everything I'd expect of such a Christian society. Women are to be seen, but not heard. They're there for men's entertainment, but they must also somehow remain pure in the process. if you aren't pure you're demeaned and brutalized by men. There was so much emphasis at the beginning when she showed up about "where to put her" because "Men have urges and they might not be able to control themselves which is why all the women who work here are kept in specific places away from them" to the point that the first scene with the "honor bound men protecting the country" was dozens of them cornering her like she was a piece of meat because they "just couldn't help themselves". Basically, women are seen as weak things to use and abuse and discard and belittle when they're done.
I did like the side characters, but we didn't get much info on them either. The dragons were definitely the best part, but they too were obsessed with "God is the Creator".
And finally, as I'm writing this I've determined there was much more I disliked then liked, so I'm actually lowering my star rating from where I first started. 😂😂🥲
I must preface I am 100000% atheist. HOWEVER, I don't mind references to "gods/higher beings/etc" in books USUALLY. I even love quite a few books with religion as a main plot line, as it can be extremely interesting when used correctly. In this one however, we are just told "God is the Creator and we must follow the plan he lays for us" WITHOUT ANY OTHER SUBSTANCE. It's giving *Christian propaganda*. Like it didn't do a deep dive into the belief system or even a mini dive. It was just that line. Over and over again. "Trust the creator" "God puts us in our path and we must follow it without question" "Do you think God would put you here if it wasn't for a reason" Basically, imagine the song "mother knows best" from tangled, but change the word mother to God or The Creator.
Moving on, the dragons were cute, and I appreciated the fact that it was actually a slow burn, though when it comes to the relationship building its minimal. Very "I want her, but I can't have her not cause she's 20 years my junior but because I'm her superior and it'll make me look bad". It's also pretty guaranteed they're "soulmates" along with their dragons even though the author tried to "make it suspenseful" its just too obvious.
The plot was slow moving and had many many many time skips. *2 months later* *1 month later*.
The MMC is okay. He didn't do anything *bad* necessarily, but also the age gap and how he references her is just.....a little odd. He treats her as if she is a child though he repeatedly tells other people she's not.
The FMC has obviously been though a lot, and I liked the attempt at character depth. However, we don't really learn much of her past, other than small snippets when she's having episodes. It never really came all together.
What we did learn of the world is everything I'd expect of such a Christian society. Women are to be seen, but not heard. They're there for men's entertainment, but they must also somehow remain pure in the process. if you aren't pure you're demeaned and brutalized by men. There was so much emphasis at the beginning when she showed up about "where to put her" because "Men have urges and they might not be able to control themselves which is why all the women who work here are kept in specific places away from them" to the point that the first scene with the "honor bound men protecting the country" was dozens of them cornering her like she was a piece of meat because they "just couldn't help themselves". Basically, women are seen as weak things to use and abuse and discard and belittle when they're done.
I did like the side characters, but we didn't get much info on them either. The dragons were definitely the best part, but they too were obsessed with "God is the Creator".
And finally, as I'm writing this I've determined there was much more I disliked then liked, so I'm actually lowering my star rating from where I first started. 😂😂🥲
September 6, 2025
Christian romance. 0% spice
Favorite subject matter (dragons) but tainted by the 20 year age gap & constant God stuff.
I guess I didn’t realize this was a Christian romantasy. I would give it 2⭐️ for the sprained eyeballs at the every other page of incessant God stuff but, the writing is quite good & I love dragons. That being said, it’s just another space that’s being invaded by constant forced religion, including normalizing/romanticizing a 19 yo (almost 20) FMC & a 40 yo MMC. There is 0% chance a 19yo is attracted to a 40yo and it gives the ICK even though the MMC is portrayed as a competent and kind character. He never once questions the age gap as problematic other than how it will negatively change HIS position/image/reputation as her “superior” in the hierarchy. He’s insensitive/uncaring of the fact that she could get herself confidence & prior trauma regulated and date someone HER OWN AGE.
The FMC is what you’d expect from a Christian romance. Poor, unloved by her family, feels inferior, has been SA’d, and looking for anywhere to fit in. No self actualized teen or almost 20 something would see her 40yo commander as anything other than predatory or a platonic father figure.
Spoiler: The book ends with their 2nd kiss on a kind of fade to black deal. Despite this, while shallow, the dragon subject matter is a bonus for dragon lovers who are looking for uncomplicated plot, fewer characters, and an easy to follow writing style.
It’s not terrible, but I won’t be reading the next book as I don’t want to be taken out story of my leisure time reading experience by constant proselytizing.
Favorite subject matter (dragons) but tainted by the 20 year age gap & constant God stuff.
I guess I didn’t realize this was a Christian romantasy. I would give it 2⭐️ for the sprained eyeballs at the every other page of incessant God stuff but, the writing is quite good & I love dragons. That being said, it’s just another space that’s being invaded by constant forced religion, including normalizing/romanticizing a 19 yo (almost 20) FMC & a 40 yo MMC. There is 0% chance a 19yo is attracted to a 40yo and it gives the ICK even though the MMC is portrayed as a competent and kind character. He never once questions the age gap as problematic other than how it will negatively change HIS position/image/reputation as her “superior” in the hierarchy. He’s insensitive/uncaring of the fact that she could get herself confidence & prior trauma regulated and date someone HER OWN AGE.
The FMC is what you’d expect from a Christian romance. Poor, unloved by her family, feels inferior, has been SA’d, and looking for anywhere to fit in. No self actualized teen or almost 20 something would see her 40yo commander as anything other than predatory or a platonic father figure.
Spoiler: The book ends with their 2nd kiss on a kind of fade to black deal. Despite this, while shallow, the dragon subject matter is a bonus for dragon lovers who are looking for uncomplicated plot, fewer characters, and an easy to follow writing style.
It’s not terrible, but I won’t be reading the next book as I don’t want to be taken out story of my leisure time reading experience by constant proselytizing.
September 18, 2025
1.5⭐️ I thought this book was going to be really good but I was disappointed. When the synopsis reads “readers of fourth wing will love this book” it should really say if you like fourth wing, read it’s religious zealot step cousin. A lot of the school structure was the same including some of the squadron names like fang and wing, but also wing leaders. It was quite annoying that the world was so similar yet they didn’t do enough world building of their own. Who was this enemy they were talking about, why is war coming, what is the conflict, do the others have dragons?
Also, can we talk about the 20 year age gap between the love interests!?! I’m okay with an age gap book, but to not discuss it at all especially when they live normal life spans and we aren’t dealing with some immortal fae that are older but still look 19. I just found it odd that it wasn’t mentioned. Not to mention her obvious history with abusive relationships both with her family and her previous partner. FMC get SAd then starts dating her superior officer that’s also 20 years older than her???? Talk about unhealthy. This book should end with her getting the therapy she needs and deserves.
I don’t mind when books have references to god(s) old new or whatever. Usually it adds to the book and the background of the world, but you could tell this author was VERY religious. Mentioning god and his plan but not giving any context to who is this god, what is their goal? All the dragons and people would just say we must follow His plan/all will be revealed just feels very Christian propaganda. If you’re going to have religion in a fantasy book you have to give it more instead of putting real world religion where it doesn’t fit.
The writing was also bad and it really needed to be checked again for spelling mistakes and sentence structure. Will not read the rest of the series.
Also, can we talk about the 20 year age gap between the love interests!?! I’m okay with an age gap book, but to not discuss it at all especially when they live normal life spans and we aren’t dealing with some immortal fae that are older but still look 19. I just found it odd that it wasn’t mentioned. Not to mention her obvious history with abusive relationships both with her family and her previous partner. FMC get SAd then starts dating her superior officer that’s also 20 years older than her???? Talk about unhealthy. This book should end with her getting the therapy she needs and deserves.
I don’t mind when books have references to god(s) old new or whatever. Usually it adds to the book and the background of the world, but you could tell this author was VERY religious. Mentioning god and his plan but not giving any context to who is this god, what is their goal? All the dragons and people would just say we must follow His plan/all will be revealed just feels very Christian propaganda. If you’re going to have religion in a fantasy book you have to give it more instead of putting real world religion where it doesn’t fit.
The writing was also bad and it really needed to be checked again for spelling mistakes and sentence structure. Will not read the rest of the series.
September 30, 2025
DNFd at 62% - this review is basically a stream of consciousness regarding all the things that crossed my mind as I attempted to read this story. Be warned lol.
As an avid romantasy reader, I wanted to like this book; I really did. But while the pieces / foundation are there for a great, compelling story, it just ultimately falls flat (for me).
First and foremost, I am never really a fan of age gaps when it comes to human with human romances, my preferred cap is like 6 years - and once it gets to 8-10 I am definitely actively burying my discomfort. So this TWENTY year age gap is a lot and honestly seems so unnecessary. And to be clear a 50 year old man plotting on a 30 year old woman wouldn’t be my first choice either - but I’d take it everyday of the week over a 39 year old and 19 year old. Like seriously?!? It’s just really uncomfy :(
As for the FMC, she doesn’t really seem to have a clear like personality. She’s naive and stubborn enough to chase a man through the woods all night before he ships out, and to also talk back / out of turn to the highest ranking official and also just straight up disobey orders; but is also apparently meek and afraid and doesn’t see value in herself. Not to mention, We only get these like half glimpses into her past with her betrayed lover and also her dads reaction to the loss of her maidenhood, but we otherwise have no clear details as to why she’s absolutely terrified of men. This can be both confusing and frustrating as a reader. It’s hard to cheer for her and her decision making. Also, I find it kind of odd, but like, we never got a description of her, right? ?? Like we see the little illustration before her chapters, but like is she tall or petite? Slender of curvy? What color are her eyes? Does she have black her or brown? It’s possible I missed this, but I just remember her disheveled state being described, not her features, when MMC first lays eyes on her.
There’s A TON of religious pretense - which is fine and common in these books - but it’s truly like coming in every other 5th line in the book. And with no exposition of details on the religion. It very much gives when a parent says “because I said so” instead of actually providing any plot forwarding information or character development devices.
This might significantly change - idk bc I DNFd at page 256 - but like, this is a war college / academy and she has like no friends at all? Has a whole squadron the author went through the effort of introducing us to and naming / describing for us readers twice, just for her to spend like zero time with them?
Not to mention there’s been no mention of what / who we are fighting in the war. Do they also have dragons?! For someone who took 2 months before they could test for their flying assessment, she sure is mighty determined to get out to the dangerous war front of all places - makes me think she don’t really know anything about the war either.
I’m sure many of my above questions perhaps get answered later on, but alas, I will not be on that journey!
Honestly, if the age gap wasn’t so off putting for me, I might actually have finished it. But on top of the other things I didn’t care for, my dislike of that lead me to realize this book may not be for me!
As an avid romantasy reader, I wanted to like this book; I really did. But while the pieces / foundation are there for a great, compelling story, it just ultimately falls flat (for me).
First and foremost, I am never really a fan of age gaps when it comes to human with human romances, my preferred cap is like 6 years - and once it gets to 8-10 I am definitely actively burying my discomfort. So this TWENTY year age gap is a lot and honestly seems so unnecessary. And to be clear a 50 year old man plotting on a 30 year old woman wouldn’t be my first choice either - but I’d take it everyday of the week over a 39 year old and 19 year old. Like seriously?!? It’s just really uncomfy :(
As for the FMC, she doesn’t really seem to have a clear like personality. She’s naive and stubborn enough to chase a man through the woods all night before he ships out, and to also talk back / out of turn to the highest ranking official and also just straight up disobey orders; but is also apparently meek and afraid and doesn’t see value in herself. Not to mention, We only get these like half glimpses into her past with her betrayed lover and also her dads reaction to the loss of her maidenhood, but we otherwise have no clear details as to why she’s absolutely terrified of men. This can be both confusing and frustrating as a reader. It’s hard to cheer for her and her decision making. Also, I find it kind of odd, but like, we never got a description of her, right? ?? Like we see the little illustration before her chapters, but like is she tall or petite? Slender of curvy? What color are her eyes? Does she have black her or brown? It’s possible I missed this, but I just remember her disheveled state being described, not her features, when MMC first lays eyes on her.
There’s A TON of religious pretense - which is fine and common in these books - but it’s truly like coming in every other 5th line in the book. And with no exposition of details on the religion. It very much gives when a parent says “because I said so” instead of actually providing any plot forwarding information or character development devices.
This might significantly change - idk bc I DNFd at page 256 - but like, this is a war college / academy and she has like no friends at all? Has a whole squadron the author went through the effort of introducing us to and naming / describing for us readers twice, just for her to spend like zero time with them?
Not to mention there’s been no mention of what / who we are fighting in the war. Do they also have dragons?! For someone who took 2 months before they could test for their flying assessment, she sure is mighty determined to get out to the dangerous war front of all places - makes me think she don’t really know anything about the war either.
I’m sure many of my above questions perhaps get answered later on, but alas, I will not be on that journey!
Honestly, if the age gap wasn’t so off putting for me, I might actually have finished it. But on top of the other things I didn’t care for, my dislike of that lead me to realize this book may not be for me!
September 20, 2025
Not a true duet, it will be left with no ending until next year when the other "duet" will come out. I fished both books in this "duet" and while I truly enjoyed everything about the story I am very upset with the fact that it is not complete at all. I always wait for fantasy books to all come out before I start them because I like to read the story all at once with no cliffhangers. Since it said it was a completed duet I went ahead and read them thinking it would be like crowns of nyaxia, duets with completed stories as part of a bigger fantasy world but it is not like that. If you are good with waiting for books to finish I think this is a good series. First book has no spice but 2nd has multiple scenes if you're into that. I never really cared so doesn't bother me when a book has or doesn't have but I know some people only read books that include it. I can see why people think it's a Christian book based on the dragons always saying believe in "the creator" but I feel like it's more like wolf shifters always talking about the "moon goddess" and to trust her judgments. Overall I really liked the story and the characters but wished I would have known to wait to read till all books are out because I read too many books a year to actually remember what these books were about by the time the next "duet" comes out and at that point I'll probably wait even longer just in case she left it with no end for more "duets"
November 12, 2025
Dnf 52% started out a fun fantasy page turner but got bogged down with the boring training scenes, Christianity and timidity/cowering of the FMC
September 10, 2025
(3.25)
Flameborne Chosen offers a compelling introduction to its heroine, a woman caught between her own fragility and fierce determination. I appreciated how the story frames her as both vulnerable and resilient, someone who feels heartbreak and despair yet still manages to burn brightly against the odds. Her dynamic with the “brotherhood” of men she’s thrust among was one of the book’s strongest elements—rather than constant conflict, the tension was often internal, shaped by her expectations of rejection in a male-dominated world. I also enjoyed how Donovan, the primary male lead, mirrored her struggles with self-doubt while still embodying the moral compass of the group, making their push-and-pull dynamic engaging to follow. The dragons, with their wit, wisdom, and playful bond with their riders, added a vibrant layer to the worldbuilding and hinted at a deeper culture still to be revealed.
That said, the book struggled with pacing and structure. The arcs didn’t always land cleanly, and the ending felt more like a pause in a serialized drama than the conclusion of a novel. While I usually enjoy multiple POVs, here I felt the heavy early focus on Donovan detracted from fully grounding us in the heroine’s perspective. Her recurring panic attacks and fractured memories of past trauma were evocative but underdeveloped, leaving her backstory and growth less impactful than they could have been. With more clarity and focus, especially in exploring how her past informs her present, the emotional weight of the story could have been stronger.
Overall, Flameborne Chosen reads like a rough but enjoyable indie novel. It moves quickly, the characters are easy to root for, and the interplay between humans, dragons, and the trials ahead is intriguing. While its execution is uneven—particularly in pacing and character depth—the book still delivers enough charm, heart, and promise to keep me turning pages. For fans of dragonrider fantasy looking for a lighter, less polished but still engaging entry into the genre, this lands as a solid three-star read.
Flameborne Chosen offers a compelling introduction to its heroine, a woman caught between her own fragility and fierce determination. I appreciated how the story frames her as both vulnerable and resilient, someone who feels heartbreak and despair yet still manages to burn brightly against the odds. Her dynamic with the “brotherhood” of men she’s thrust among was one of the book’s strongest elements—rather than constant conflict, the tension was often internal, shaped by her expectations of rejection in a male-dominated world. I also enjoyed how Donovan, the primary male lead, mirrored her struggles with self-doubt while still embodying the moral compass of the group, making their push-and-pull dynamic engaging to follow. The dragons, with their wit, wisdom, and playful bond with their riders, added a vibrant layer to the worldbuilding and hinted at a deeper culture still to be revealed.
That said, the book struggled with pacing and structure. The arcs didn’t always land cleanly, and the ending felt more like a pause in a serialized drama than the conclusion of a novel. While I usually enjoy multiple POVs, here I felt the heavy early focus on Donovan detracted from fully grounding us in the heroine’s perspective. Her recurring panic attacks and fractured memories of past trauma were evocative but underdeveloped, leaving her backstory and growth less impactful than they could have been. With more clarity and focus, especially in exploring how her past informs her present, the emotional weight of the story could have been stronger.
Overall, Flameborne Chosen reads like a rough but enjoyable indie novel. It moves quickly, the characters are easy to root for, and the interplay between humans, dragons, and the trials ahead is intriguing. While its execution is uneven—particularly in pacing and character depth—the book still delivers enough charm, heart, and promise to keep me turning pages. For fans of dragonrider fantasy looking for a lighter, less polished but still engaging entry into the genre, this lands as a solid three-star read.
October 28, 2025
If you are missing Fourth Wing and want something similar this is definitely for you! The first book has very little romance to it and is more about overcoming obstacles but the tension is definitely there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
im a sucker for a dragon rider story so this book had me entertained at some parts, but others had me incredibly irritated or bored.
love the dragons!! i like the concept of the world/dragon war academy. i even like bren at some points and i think her development was decent! however, the pacing of the story was unbearably slow at some parts but then there were sudden major time skips that were explained away as “training”, but really was just skipping any time bren wasn’t interacting directly with the commander.
i guess this was meant to be a primarily romance book but it was disappointing to see virtually no character/relationship development between bren and anyone not the main romantic interest. the romantic chemistry fell flat (prediction: they’re connected by fate or destiny or soul bonds or whatever, which honestly feels like the only way to explain why these characters are even interested in each other).
just found out on the goodreads summary that this is meant to be only a duet which is very surprising and leaves me doubting book 2 will deliver a satisfying end and tie up all the loose ends (because there is a fair amount of them) but i will remain hopeful.
mayyyybe a 2.5/5? (the additional .5 is hope for the second book)
love the dragons!! i like the concept of the world/dragon war academy. i even like bren at some points and i think her development was decent! however, the pacing of the story was unbearably slow at some parts but then there were sudden major time skips that were explained away as “training”, but really was just skipping any time bren wasn’t interacting directly with the commander.
i guess this was meant to be a primarily romance book but it was disappointing to see virtually no character/relationship development between bren and anyone not the main romantic interest. the romantic chemistry fell flat (prediction: they’re connected by fate or destiny or soul bonds or whatever, which honestly feels like the only way to explain why these characters are even interested in each other).
just found out on the goodreads summary that this is meant to be only a duet which is very surprising and leaves me doubting book 2 will deliver a satisfying end and tie up all the loose ends (because there is a fair amount of them) but i will remain hopeful.
mayyyybe a 2.5/5? (the additional .5 is hope for the second book)
December 8, 2025
I made it as far as him saying he’s almost 40 and her saying she’s 19/20. Would it kill someone to make her like 25 and more acceptable of an age gap!!
Read
October 4, 2025DNF at 5% because something about this book and the writing gave me the ick. I think the moment I saw the formatting of each chapter as well as how the first paragraph opened in the middle of a scene, I knew it was going to be rough. And despite what some of the reviews say, no, I could tell by the profanity in the first chapter that this certainly isn’t a Christian book.
November 19, 2025
3 stars entirely for the fairly ok dragon yarn but it’s badly edited, the FMC is such a drainer (her poor dragon) and it’s filled with Christian propaganda. Overall I’d call this: Christian Temu Fourth Wing
November 30, 2025
This was terrible
Summary:
Flameborne sets out to be a fantasy romance but struggles to balance its elements. While the concept of fated mates could have added depth, the execution feels rushed and underdeveloped.
Strengths:
• The writing style is smooth and easy to read.
• Readers who enjoy instant attraction and mate-bond dynamics may find the romance appealing.
Criticism:
• No World-Building: The kingdom and realm are barely described. There’s no sense of geography, culture, or political intrigue, leaving the fantasy setting feeling empty.
• Romance Without Foundation: The main characters sleep together almost immediately, with no shared experiences or challenges to build a believable emotional connection. Their bond relies solely on being “mates,” which feels shallow.
• Overused Miscommunication Trope: The central conflict hinges on misunderstandings rather than meaningful stakes, making the drama feel forced.
• Missed Potential for Action: There’s little to no depiction of battles, quests, or external challenges that could have enriched the story and strengthened the characters’ relationship.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with rich lore and adventure, Flameborne will likely disappoint. It reads more like a romance with a thin fantasy veneer than an epic tale. Fans of deep world-building and layered character development may want to look elsewhere.
Summary:
Flameborne sets out to be a fantasy romance but struggles to balance its elements. While the concept of fated mates could have added depth, the execution feels rushed and underdeveloped.
Strengths:
• The writing style is smooth and easy to read.
• Readers who enjoy instant attraction and mate-bond dynamics may find the romance appealing.
Criticism:
• No World-Building: The kingdom and realm are barely described. There’s no sense of geography, culture, or political intrigue, leaving the fantasy setting feeling empty.
• Romance Without Foundation: The main characters sleep together almost immediately, with no shared experiences or challenges to build a believable emotional connection. Their bond relies solely on being “mates,” which feels shallow.
• Overused Miscommunication Trope: The central conflict hinges on misunderstandings rather than meaningful stakes, making the drama feel forced.
• Missed Potential for Action: There’s little to no depiction of battles, quests, or external challenges that could have enriched the story and strengthened the characters’ relationship.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with rich lore and adventure, Flameborne will likely disappoint. It reads more like a romance with a thin fantasy veneer than an epic tale. Fans of deep world-building and layered character development may want to look elsewhere.
September 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️, but dragons are 5 ⭐️ so rounding up
The dragons in this story are amazing. The world building is excellent, and the story is action-packed. I get a little bit annoyed with Bren because she's always so down on herself, but hoping that the confidence she's gaining that will change in the next book. My only other thing is that I'm not a huge fan of 15+ years age difference between the main characters. It doesn't hurt the story, just a preference thing.
The dragons in this story are amazing. The world building is excellent, and the story is action-packed. I get a little bit annoyed with Bren because she's always so down on herself, but hoping that the confidence she's gaining that will change in the next book. My only other thing is that I'm not a huge fan of 15+ years age difference between the main characters. It doesn't hurt the story, just a preference thing.
October 11, 2025
I feel like for a fantasy this really lacked the world building for the society and belief system it was set in, it felt rushed yet drawn out at the same time. Also I found both the FMC and the MMC insufferable half the time and their internal monologues were just a bit too much for me it felt so repeated every time. Had such high hopes after seeing this on KU but it just wasn’t for me at all.
September 26, 2025
a mix of some things being explained too much to the point I skipped paragraphs because it felt like I was rereading the same information over again and things that were explained enough. theres a lot of glossing over and using snippets of memories to provide suspense but it feels like its not fully plotted out. also the excessive God references is annoying. I dont mind deity use in books, but this was beating a deaf horse. I enjoyed the general plot though. the dragons and brothers are great characters.
September 26, 2025
This is a slowwww burn romantasy.
I admit I am still on the fence about the FMC. But I still really enjoyed the angst, the adventure and of course, the dragons
I admit I am still on the fence about the FMC. But I still really enjoyed the angst, the adventure and of course, the dragons
November 2, 2025
I was riveted
Fantastic book! Although, I'm really glad I waited until the second book was out. I'm about to download it now!!
Fantastic book! Although, I'm really glad I waited until the second book was out. I'm about to download it now!!
December 2, 2025
The dragons 100% made this book they were not side characters. I really enjoyed the tension and the found family.
December 15, 2025
I was not expecting to like this so much. The beginning was slow but once it started going I couldn’t put it down.
January 10, 2026
i could not stop
Are you ready for this slow burn strong fmc traumatized and learning to love her new life omg I love this book instantly starting on the second one
Are you ready for this slow burn strong fmc traumatized and learning to love her new life omg I love this book instantly starting on the second one
September 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An absolute must read!
Flameborne Chosen has completely swept me away. From the very first chapter, Aimee Lynn pulls you into a world brimming with danger, magic, and unforgettable characters! The writing is vivid and cinematic, making it so easy to get lost in the story
The heroine is a strong yet beautifully human, and the romance ❤️🔥 had me absolutely hooked with equal parts slow-burn tension and fiery intensity. Every plot twist kept me on the edge of my seat and I found myself thinking about the book 📖 even when I wasn’t reading it!
If you’re ever looking for a fantasy filled book with heart, heat, and high stakes, this is the one. I cannot wait for the next book to drop.
Aimee Lynn has gained a lifelong reader in me. Highly, highly recommend!
Flameborne Chosen has completely swept me away. From the very first chapter, Aimee Lynn pulls you into a world brimming with danger, magic, and unforgettable characters! The writing is vivid and cinematic, making it so easy to get lost in the story
The heroine is a strong yet beautifully human, and the romance ❤️🔥 had me absolutely hooked with equal parts slow-burn tension and fiery intensity. Every plot twist kept me on the edge of my seat and I found myself thinking about the book 📖 even when I wasn’t reading it!
If you’re ever looking for a fantasy filled book with heart, heat, and high stakes, this is the one. I cannot wait for the next book to drop.
Aimee Lynn has gained a lifelong reader in me. Highly, highly recommend!
November 23, 2025
this book brought the yearning!
I am tired of slow burns that suddenly just “happened” this friendship turned working relationship which develops into love was so romantic!
I am tired of slow burns that suddenly just “happened” this friendship turned working relationship which develops into love was so romantic!
October 23, 2025
DNF- If you’re just going to Google search “African names that mean King” the least you could do is research it further to ensure that the nickname and the name actually line up and make sense…
Calling the head dragon Kgosi (A Setswana name) and then his nickname being Keg makes no sense and jolted me out of the story every time he was in a scene.
A good concept but very poorly executed.
Calling the head dragon Kgosi (A Setswana name) and then his nickname being Keg makes no sense and jolted me out of the story every time he was in a scene.
A good concept but very poorly executed.
September 10, 2025
Rounded up to 3 stars because the story line is great… the writing however leaves something to be desired. It seems as though pieces are missing or the reader is expected to know things that aren’t stated. I will however be reading book 2 to find out what happens with Bren!
September 8, 2025
good book if you subtract Christianity
I really loved this book but I’m not a fan of how heavily Christianity was in this book. It felt forced, had nothing to do with the plot. Not a lot of world building but mentioned of god and creator atleast 1k times .
I really loved this book but I’m not a fan of how heavily Christianity was in this book. It felt forced, had nothing to do with the plot. Not a lot of world building but mentioned of god and creator atleast 1k times .
September 30, 2025
A Good Training Montage (among other things)
EDIT: This “duet” DOES NOT contain a full story.
Let me preface by saying I enjoyed this book. It was character-driven with an interesting, mysterious magic system and good world-building. Also, telepathic dragons, so that’s a plus. There were a couple of action sequences as a part of the female main character’s testing but for the most part, it was basically a training montage of her getting physically closer to her goal while also learning how to be vulnerable and how to trust again. There was surprisingly a lot of angst and self-loathing going on but it can only be assumed the author is going for major character-growth that’ll be tackled in the next book. The slow-burn romance was a ‘will they, won’t they’ kind of thing with a fade to black (or fade to cliffhanger) moment at the very end. What the readers do get to see is a strict, supportive love interest, a frightened, traumatized FMC trying to get past her trauma, and an assumed supernatural bond pulling them together. There’s a 20 year age gap between them.
Though briefly mentioned in the synopsis, there was a ton of triggering material in this book particularly regarding SA. What happened was never explicitly stated but the FMC clearly had PTSD from it—she started off the book with pain in her lower abdomen and outright lied to a healer when asked about it, she flinched around anyone including her most trusted people, had panic attacks when surrounded by groups of men, had graphic flashbacks and wasn’t able to separate memory from reality. Readers could piece together what happened with context clues, but will most likely get the whole story—and the big confrontation—in the next book since the perpetrators are part of the same society she was thrown into. The SA is a major part of the story and, in my opinion, wouldn’t be able to be skipped since it deeply affected how the FMC acted throughout the book.
There was also a lot of god-praising in this book which was entirely unexpected. This was a fantasy world with fantasy elements, so when the characters would mention their god I thought it was a cool world-building thing—a dragon god that everyone worshiped because the bond between dragons and their humans was clearly otherworldly. This made sense to me when the FMC would pray for strength before her dragon trials, or when her bonded dragon would urge her to “trust in the Creator” and to “follow His plan” without question. When her dragon would reassure her she was in the right place at the right time because their god deemed it so, I thought it was just another way their dragon god was pulling the strings of the story. And when one character prayed over the FMC and she felt tingles from where his hand rested on her head, I thought it was more confirmation that the dragon god was with her.
Turns out, I was entirely wrong and the author did in fact mean her Christian God the whole time.
That’s not to say I’m uncomfortable when authors do this, or that I begrudge them the right to apply their beliefs to their books. The problem was how utterly out of place her real-world religious beliefs were in the book. In hindsight, the way it was presented didn’t work within the story, and would’ve meshed better if she tried to work her god into the world-building instead of having her characters live in a magical world but just so happen to share her exact beliefs. I’m very thankful I was naive enough to assume the author had delved into her world-building since I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book as much otherwise.
There was also a good amount of errors throughout the book. A handful of characters’ names spelt differently from one chapter to another, a lot of formatting errors, some general typos or story-specific inconsistencies. It wasn’t unreadable, but it was enough to distract from the book.
Having said that, did I have a good time reading the book? Yes. Would I have preferred some things done differently? Also yes. At the end of the day, this isn’t my book and I have no say on how it was written. All I can do is share my opinion.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Major spoilers ahead.
As mentioned above, this book deals with the FMC’s trauma because of a SA, more specifically a group assault. Later in the book, her friends overpower her during (what they think is) playful roughhousing, ignoring her protests and causing flashbacks that include dialogue and her remembered feelings during the assault. There’s also a scene where a stranger touches her inappropriately (that triggers a panic attack), someone pushing against her chest to pin her to a wall and yell in her face, multiple mentions of her being the only woman in an army of men and the dangers of that, and multiple mentions of her being around only for her “services”.
This book also includes violence ranging from fist fights to dragon war games (on page), lots of misogyny (on page), parental abandonment because of the FMC’s “promiscuity” (off page), assumed physical abuse by parents (off page), suicidal ideation and a suicide attempt (on page), wounds ranging from oozing blisters to a bloody slash on a dragon (on page), a lot of extreme self-loathing and self-doubt (on page), and unwanted advances by someone in a position of power (on page).
EDIT: This “duet” DOES NOT contain a full story.
Let me preface by saying I enjoyed this book. It was character-driven with an interesting, mysterious magic system and good world-building. Also, telepathic dragons, so that’s a plus. There were a couple of action sequences as a part of the female main character’s testing but for the most part, it was basically a training montage of her getting physically closer to her goal while also learning how to be vulnerable and how to trust again. There was surprisingly a lot of angst and self-loathing going on but it can only be assumed the author is going for major character-growth that’ll be tackled in the next book. The slow-burn romance was a ‘will they, won’t they’ kind of thing with a fade to black (or fade to cliffhanger) moment at the very end. What the readers do get to see is a strict, supportive love interest, a frightened, traumatized FMC trying to get past her trauma, and an assumed supernatural bond pulling them together. There’s a 20 year age gap between them.
Though briefly mentioned in the synopsis, there was a ton of triggering material in this book particularly regarding SA. What happened was never explicitly stated but the FMC clearly had PTSD from it—she started off the book with pain in her lower abdomen and outright lied to a healer when asked about it, she flinched around anyone including her most trusted people, had panic attacks when surrounded by groups of men, had graphic flashbacks and wasn’t able to separate memory from reality. Readers could piece together what happened with context clues, but will most likely get the whole story—and the big confrontation—in the next book since the perpetrators are part of the same society she was thrown into. The SA is a major part of the story and, in my opinion, wouldn’t be able to be skipped since it deeply affected how the FMC acted throughout the book.
There was also a lot of god-praising in this book which was entirely unexpected. This was a fantasy world with fantasy elements, so when the characters would mention their god I thought it was a cool world-building thing—a dragon god that everyone worshiped because the bond between dragons and their humans was clearly otherworldly. This made sense to me when the FMC would pray for strength before her dragon trials, or when her bonded dragon would urge her to “trust in the Creator” and to “follow His plan” without question. When her dragon would reassure her she was in the right place at the right time because their god deemed it so, I thought it was just another way their dragon god was pulling the strings of the story. And when one character prayed over the FMC and she felt tingles from where his hand rested on her head, I thought it was more confirmation that the dragon god was with her.
Turns out, I was entirely wrong and the author did in fact mean her Christian God the whole time.
That’s not to say I’m uncomfortable when authors do this, or that I begrudge them the right to apply their beliefs to their books. The problem was how utterly out of place her real-world religious beliefs were in the book. In hindsight, the way it was presented didn’t work within the story, and would’ve meshed better if she tried to work her god into the world-building instead of having her characters live in a magical world but just so happen to share her exact beliefs. I’m very thankful I was naive enough to assume the author had delved into her world-building since I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book as much otherwise.
There was also a good amount of errors throughout the book. A handful of characters’ names spelt differently from one chapter to another, a lot of formatting errors, some general typos or story-specific inconsistencies. It wasn’t unreadable, but it was enough to distract from the book.
Having said that, did I have a good time reading the book? Yes. Would I have preferred some things done differently? Also yes. At the end of the day, this isn’t my book and I have no say on how it was written. All I can do is share my opinion.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Major spoilers ahead.
As mentioned above, this book deals with the FMC’s trauma because of a SA, more specifically a group assault. Later in the book, her friends overpower her during (what they think is) playful roughhousing, ignoring her protests and causing flashbacks that include dialogue and her remembered feelings during the assault. There’s also a scene where a stranger touches her inappropriately (that triggers a panic attack), someone pushing against her chest to pin her to a wall and yell in her face, multiple mentions of her being the only woman in an army of men and the dangers of that, and multiple mentions of her being around only for her “services”.
This book also includes violence ranging from fist fights to dragon war games (on page), lots of misogyny (on page), parental abandonment because of the FMC’s “promiscuity” (off page), assumed physical abuse by parents (off page), suicidal ideation and a suicide attempt (on page), wounds ranging from oozing blisters to a bloody slash on a dragon (on page), a lot of extreme self-loathing and self-doubt (on page), and unwanted advances by someone in a position of power (on page).
October 15, 2025
This is NOT a Christian book…
So if that’s what you’re looking for, move on.
This book talks about “cocks” and “nutting” and it condones homosexuality and premarital sex.
All in the same paragraph really….
So if that’s what you’re looking for, move on.
This book talks about “cocks” and “nutting” and it condones homosexuality and premarital sex.
All in the same paragraph really….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2025
I really wanted to like this book. I was very excited to read this book. It was recommended to me by several advertisements 🤣 as a book lover those of you who know, you know. So I finally dug into it last night and I cannot contain my disappointment. I rarely write reviews. But I had to with this one cause I don’t want anyone else to share my pain or loss of time. And I’ve considered that maybe this authors style isn’t my style. But it was advertised in a manor that was VERY misleading. So I must right that wrong.
I am a lover of FMC’s that are badasses, independent, empowered, made strong by their struggles, not perfect, sassy, don’t need no man, ready to take on the world, courageous. All the things. This FMC was supposedly supposed to fit within those guidelines. She absolutely did not. If you can relate to my pain on this and I have already convinced you to not pick up this book continue further. If this isn’t your jam and you’re still interested in reading this book then stop here!
✨SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT✨
This story starts out exactly as the description says. The FMC Bren finds out her man is cheating quite literally in the first 5 pages. Which was already kinda lack luster because when the main character feels pain, you as the reader want the back story. You want to feel their pain so you can move forward with the story accordingly. Well not much back story is given on this other than that she slept with the guy and now is considered “ruined” for not being a virgin anymore. That is implied but you don’t FEEL it. She decides to kill herself over this feeling of helplessness as she can’t go back to her parents now that she’s “ruined”. But you never meet her parents or really understand that dynamic and it’s not touched on enough. So she decides to jump off this ledge where her ex bonded with his dragon. And her dragon catches her and she becomes the first female Furyknight. Which is great I was stoked for the concept of this story. Only woman in her field, sign me up! I love an underdog and I love a come up story! You got cheated on but now you have a dragon that chose you, when no other woman has been chosen before?? I was hyped for this and ignored the lack of back story. So I trudged on.
Bren is your classic chronic victim. At every challenge she faces it’s “I can’t” “I can’t do this” and a melt down. Never once does she become empowered by the fact that one of these Furyknights cheated on her, attempted to abuse her, and she was left with nothing. At no point does she reflect on those things and brush herself off and get up. At every step of the way she’s doubting herself and her mere survival. Most of the book was about her squad, her commander, her dragon, the commanders dragon all reassuring her. I understand based on what she went through in a short amount of time she is traumatized. But the author doesn’t make you feel that trauma. And at no point does she see her ex on campus and have that confrontation. Which would and should have empowered her to this new life. The dragon and the bond she’s been gifted.
The romance is ok. I was hoping that would redeem this tragedy. The FMC and the MMC can’t be together based on him being the commander. So there’s some tension there. But it’s all mostly an after thought. His dragon makes funny commentary about the tension. And honestly Kgosi is my favorite character cause he was the only one with depth and actual personality. She has been keeping the fact that she almost killed herself a secret until she blurts it out to the MMC. And then he forces her to tell her squad….. the context of why he thought that was a good idea immediately after she outed herself is beyond me. He goes distant because he realizes she’s a temptation he shouldn’t indulge. But there’s no yearning. You don’t really feel that either. And when he does realize he wants her despite their differences in position. He asks her, “Are you lonely?”. This is where I almost threw my kindle across the room. He’s been distant for a week maybe two? And his opening line is “Are you lonely?” And her responses are equally as cringy and not at all romantic. Luckily that’s where it ends. No spice. Other than some very PG kissing. Which was very lack luster as it is. If you looking for a book with a story that will make you FEEL it, please do not waste your time.
I am a lover of FMC’s that are badasses, independent, empowered, made strong by their struggles, not perfect, sassy, don’t need no man, ready to take on the world, courageous. All the things. This FMC was supposedly supposed to fit within those guidelines. She absolutely did not. If you can relate to my pain on this and I have already convinced you to not pick up this book continue further. If this isn’t your jam and you’re still interested in reading this book then stop here!
✨SPOILERS PAST THIS POINT✨
This story starts out exactly as the description says. The FMC Bren finds out her man is cheating quite literally in the first 5 pages. Which was already kinda lack luster because when the main character feels pain, you as the reader want the back story. You want to feel their pain so you can move forward with the story accordingly. Well not much back story is given on this other than that she slept with the guy and now is considered “ruined” for not being a virgin anymore. That is implied but you don’t FEEL it. She decides to kill herself over this feeling of helplessness as she can’t go back to her parents now that she’s “ruined”. But you never meet her parents or really understand that dynamic and it’s not touched on enough. So she decides to jump off this ledge where her ex bonded with his dragon. And her dragon catches her and she becomes the first female Furyknight. Which is great I was stoked for the concept of this story. Only woman in her field, sign me up! I love an underdog and I love a come up story! You got cheated on but now you have a dragon that chose you, when no other woman has been chosen before?? I was hyped for this and ignored the lack of back story. So I trudged on.
Bren is your classic chronic victim. At every challenge she faces it’s “I can’t” “I can’t do this” and a melt down. Never once does she become empowered by the fact that one of these Furyknights cheated on her, attempted to abuse her, and she was left with nothing. At no point does she reflect on those things and brush herself off and get up. At every step of the way she’s doubting herself and her mere survival. Most of the book was about her squad, her commander, her dragon, the commanders dragon all reassuring her. I understand based on what she went through in a short amount of time she is traumatized. But the author doesn’t make you feel that trauma. And at no point does she see her ex on campus and have that confrontation. Which would and should have empowered her to this new life. The dragon and the bond she’s been gifted.
The romance is ok. I was hoping that would redeem this tragedy. The FMC and the MMC can’t be together based on him being the commander. So there’s some tension there. But it’s all mostly an after thought. His dragon makes funny commentary about the tension. And honestly Kgosi is my favorite character cause he was the only one with depth and actual personality. She has been keeping the fact that she almost killed herself a secret until she blurts it out to the MMC. And then he forces her to tell her squad….. the context of why he thought that was a good idea immediately after she outed herself is beyond me. He goes distant because he realizes she’s a temptation he shouldn’t indulge. But there’s no yearning. You don’t really feel that either. And when he does realize he wants her despite their differences in position. He asks her, “Are you lonely?”. This is where I almost threw my kindle across the room. He’s been distant for a week maybe two? And his opening line is “Are you lonely?” And her responses are equally as cringy and not at all romantic. Luckily that’s where it ends. No spice. Other than some very PG kissing. Which was very lack luster as it is. If you looking for a book with a story that will make you FEEL it, please do not waste your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2025
If how to train your dragon and fourth wing had a baby — but that baby was written in slightly more descriptive prose, raised in a misogynistic dragon academy, and went to church on Sundays, then that baby would be Flameborne: Chosen.
I was not aware this was a Christian fantasy before picking it up. (Hi, atheist here). It’s not explicitly stated, but it’s very obvious. And while I 100% respect the author for weaving in her own beliefs, I do think that should’ve been mentioned in the synopsis, because a lot of the low reviews seem to come from readers being blindsided by that aspect. I personally don’t enjoy modern religion being included in fantasy worlds because it tends to feel two dimensional when fantasy can be so expansive. I want ancient gods with questionable morals, not one god no one’s allowed to question. But hey — I applaud the author for sticking to her faith. And I’m sorry so many reviewers here felt the need to speak about her faith disrespectfully.
Now onto the age gap of twenty years. Apparently that freaked a lot of people out. Me? Not so much. Trauma survivors, especially women, do often end up in relationships with older men, and that felt believable here given the world’s misogyny. Plus, Donavyn isn’t some creepy predator. He’s patient, kind, and reassuring — the ultimate green flag, actually. My only gripe is that for an academy setting with a clear power imbalance, there was so much room for a forbidden romance vibe, and instead we got a very sweet, slow burn. I would’ve liked a little more of their relationship build up and why they caught feelings for each other rather than it feeling as though it was just a result of them being thrown together because of their circumstances. I wanted a little more tension, a little more oh no, we might get caught. That said, watching a 40 year old war hardened dragon rider turn into a flustered idiot because he caught feelings for a 20 year old was comedy gold.
Now let’s talk writing and editing — the sentence structure was odd in places, and there were frequently missing words. It read like it needed one more editing round or a few stronger beta readers to catch those clunky lines. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it was distracting.
World building wise, the bones are there, but it’s very surface level. I’d have loved more about the war and why it’s happening, more about this god no one can question (who even is he? — though yes I know this is clearly Christianity now), and more general depth about the world itself. Without the map, I genuinely wouldn’t have known what the continent was called. The dragons and academy are incredibly well thought out and written about in so much detail, but the world around them feels thin. In fact, Kygosi, you dry humoured, winged therapist, I love you. Donovyn and Kygosi’s dynamic was my favourite part of this book.
Character wise, I would’ve liked more development from Bren regarding overcoming her trauma. I understand she’s navigating trauma on page, but I wish we’d seen her process it more. There’s a clear attempt to portray PTSD authentically, but without actually exploring it or taking active steps to begin to heal from it, and as a result, it doesn’t hit as hard as it could. Donavyn, on the other hand, could’ve used more backstory to really root for him — we see who he is now, but not how he became that man. I hope book two delves more into both of these things for these characters.
There are heavy themes here, so it absolutely should’ve had a trigger warning page. The FMC has PTSD from a (heavily implied) sexual assault by a group of men that happened before the story begins (off page), and there’s an on page suicide attempt.
It shares a lot of similarities with Fourth Wing, but this is a great example of putting your own spin on popular things and it shows. It’s not Fourth Wing. It’s not trying to be. It’s softer, slower, and leans less on the dramatic moments.
And someone please explain to me how this is three duets about the same characters. So actually, it’s six books in a series? What in the publishing sorcery is that?
Despite all that, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s slower paced than I usually enjoy, the stakes aren’t as high as I’m used to, but it’s an easy, bingeable read with great dragon dynamics and a protagonist who (hopefully) finds her footing in book two. I’m definitely continuing the series.
I was not aware this was a Christian fantasy before picking it up. (Hi, atheist here). It’s not explicitly stated, but it’s very obvious. And while I 100% respect the author for weaving in her own beliefs, I do think that should’ve been mentioned in the synopsis, because a lot of the low reviews seem to come from readers being blindsided by that aspect. I personally don’t enjoy modern religion being included in fantasy worlds because it tends to feel two dimensional when fantasy can be so expansive. I want ancient gods with questionable morals, not one god no one’s allowed to question. But hey — I applaud the author for sticking to her faith. And I’m sorry so many reviewers here felt the need to speak about her faith disrespectfully.
Now onto the age gap of twenty years. Apparently that freaked a lot of people out. Me? Not so much. Trauma survivors, especially women, do often end up in relationships with older men, and that felt believable here given the world’s misogyny. Plus, Donavyn isn’t some creepy predator. He’s patient, kind, and reassuring — the ultimate green flag, actually. My only gripe is that for an academy setting with a clear power imbalance, there was so much room for a forbidden romance vibe, and instead we got a very sweet, slow burn. I would’ve liked a little more of their relationship build up and why they caught feelings for each other rather than it feeling as though it was just a result of them being thrown together because of their circumstances. I wanted a little more tension, a little more oh no, we might get caught. That said, watching a 40 year old war hardened dragon rider turn into a flustered idiot because he caught feelings for a 20 year old was comedy gold.
Now let’s talk writing and editing — the sentence structure was odd in places, and there were frequently missing words. It read like it needed one more editing round or a few stronger beta readers to catch those clunky lines. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it was distracting.
World building wise, the bones are there, but it’s very surface level. I’d have loved more about the war and why it’s happening, more about this god no one can question (who even is he? — though yes I know this is clearly Christianity now), and more general depth about the world itself. Without the map, I genuinely wouldn’t have known what the continent was called. The dragons and academy are incredibly well thought out and written about in so much detail, but the world around them feels thin. In fact, Kygosi, you dry humoured, winged therapist, I love you. Donovyn and Kygosi’s dynamic was my favourite part of this book.
Character wise, I would’ve liked more development from Bren regarding overcoming her trauma. I understand she’s navigating trauma on page, but I wish we’d seen her process it more. There’s a clear attempt to portray PTSD authentically, but without actually exploring it or taking active steps to begin to heal from it, and as a result, it doesn’t hit as hard as it could. Donavyn, on the other hand, could’ve used more backstory to really root for him — we see who he is now, but not how he became that man. I hope book two delves more into both of these things for these characters.
There are heavy themes here, so it absolutely should’ve had a trigger warning page. The FMC has PTSD from a (heavily implied) sexual assault by a group of men that happened before the story begins (off page), and there’s an on page suicide attempt.
It shares a lot of similarities with Fourth Wing, but this is a great example of putting your own spin on popular things and it shows. It’s not Fourth Wing. It’s not trying to be. It’s softer, slower, and leans less on the dramatic moments.
And someone please explain to me how this is three duets about the same characters. So actually, it’s six books in a series? What in the publishing sorcery is that?
Despite all that, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s slower paced than I usually enjoy, the stakes aren’t as high as I’m used to, but it’s an easy, bingeable read with great dragon dynamics and a protagonist who (hopefully) finds her footing in book two. I’m definitely continuing the series.
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