★Fear the Flames. Olivia Rose Darling. Delacorte. Sept. 2024. 384p. ISBN 9780593873892. $28.99. FANTASY

DEBUT Princess Elowen was blessed with the love and bond of five dragons but was cursed to leave them behind after her father imprisoned and tortured them all. But she was a child then, and now adult Queen Elowen has a mission. She has a duty to find allies to help her feed the people of her hidden kingdom. She also needs to get her dragons back, but above all, she must get revenge on her father, the king who stole her childhood and her birthright. She’ll bathe in the blood of her foes, fight betrayal at every turn, and do her damndest to protect herself from the enemy who her heart desperately desires to claim as its own. The political machinations are practically Machiavellian, the blood and guts are frequently hip-deep, and the enemies-to-lovers romance is as hot as dragon fire. VERDICT Originally self-published and now receiving a special edition with additional content from a big publisher, this debut novel and Book Tok sensation is highly recommended for romantasy lovers, especially fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.