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Shadow & Flame
Ryn Valor is the crown’s most lethal weapon. Raised to hunt traitors, forged by discipline, and bound by loyalty. She follows orders without question. But when a mission to assassinate a rebel commander goes wrong, everything she knows begins to unravel.
Held within the heart of the rebellion, and bound to a Dragon she was never meant to touch, Ryn is forced to play a dangerous game. Her orders are clear. Destroy them from within. But Commander Kade Draven sees the truth behind her eyes and he holds the key to a past she never knew was hers.
A forgotten name. A buried bloodline. A choice that could ignite a war.
As the line between enemy and ally blurs, so does the line between duty and desire. Loyalty is a weapon. Love is a threat. And some truths are too dangerous to stay hidden.
Held within the heart of the rebellion, and bound to a Dragon she was never meant to touch, Ryn is forced to play a dangerous game. Her orders are clear. Destroy them from within. But Commander Kade Draven sees the truth behind her eyes and he holds the key to a past she never knew was hers.
A forgotten name. A buried bloodline. A choice that could ignite a war.
As the line between enemy and ally blurs, so does the line between duty and desire. Loyalty is a weapon. Love is a threat. And some truths are too dangerous to stay hidden.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2025
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 11, 2025
Shadow & Flame is one of those books you open thinking, “I’ll just read a chapter,” and suddenly it’s midnight and you’re emotionally attached to people who make questionable life choices.
Ryn Valor is fierce, guarded, and absolutely convinced she doesn’t have time for feelings… which of course means she walks straight into a situation where feelings happen anyway. The romantasy tension in this book sneaks up on you — not dramatic, not overdone, just that nice slow-build where you can see two people circling around each other and pretending they’re not doing exactly that.
And honestly? It works. The chemistry feels earned, a little prickly in places, and just soft enough in others that you’ll catch yourself smiling. There’s banter, there’s tension, and there are definitely moments where you want to tap the page like, “You two. Come on.”
Butler’s worldbuilding gives all of this a really solid backdrop — shadows, danger, magic — but nothing so heavy that it pulls away from the characters. It’s atmospheric in a way that feels engaging instead of overwhelming.
Overall, it’s the kind of story that’s easy to fall into: a little action, a little heart, a sprinkle of humor, and a romance that’s more “slow-burn warmth” than “set the house on fire.” I genuinely loved it, and I’m already ready for whatever comes next.
Ryn Valor is fierce, guarded, and absolutely convinced she doesn’t have time for feelings… which of course means she walks straight into a situation where feelings happen anyway. The romantasy tension in this book sneaks up on you — not dramatic, not overdone, just that nice slow-build where you can see two people circling around each other and pretending they’re not doing exactly that.
And honestly? It works. The chemistry feels earned, a little prickly in places, and just soft enough in others that you’ll catch yourself smiling. There’s banter, there’s tension, and there are definitely moments where you want to tap the page like, “You two. Come on.”
Butler’s worldbuilding gives all of this a really solid backdrop — shadows, danger, magic — but nothing so heavy that it pulls away from the characters. It’s atmospheric in a way that feels engaging instead of overwhelming.
Overall, it’s the kind of story that’s easy to fall into: a little action, a little heart, a sprinkle of humor, and a romance that’s more “slow-burn warmth” than “set the house on fire.” I genuinely loved it, and I’m already ready for whatever comes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2025
If you are looking for a book with a good slow burning love, tension between the characters and less of a spicy read (perfect in my opinion),then this is it! The Author, Hannah Butler, does an amazing job at painting a picture. The character development is great, she introduces characters in a smooth way I never once thought “wait, who is this?” there is also a healthy number of characters as well, I didn’t feel like I had to try and keep track of who was who. The descriptions of each character painted a picture in my head where I could truly visualize what they looked like.
The flow of the story is very easy to follow, the way that Hannah writes made me feel as though I was walking alongside the characters vs. looking in on it as a bystander. She describes not only the characters well but the dragons, the places, and the action is told with amazing details truly painting the entire picture; there were points as I was reading that I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind, not just reading a book.
Lastly she ends this first book of three with a fantastic hook. A cliffhanger where I wasn’t mad that I was finished reading, but where I wanted more. I am so excited to read what happens next in the trilogy!
The flow of the story is very easy to follow, the way that Hannah writes made me feel as though I was walking alongside the characters vs. looking in on it as a bystander. She describes not only the characters well but the dragons, the places, and the action is told with amazing details truly painting the entire picture; there were points as I was reading that I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind, not just reading a book.
Lastly she ends this first book of three with a fantastic hook. A cliffhanger where I wasn’t mad that I was finished reading, but where I wanted more. I am so excited to read what happens next in the trilogy!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews