I read Empire of Flame and Thorns in English, so it felt only natural to share my thoughts in the same language. Writing this review in English just feels more honest and connected to the reading experience. ( Spoiler Alert!)
So ,fantasy has always been a genre that captures my interest especially when it includes an “enemies to lovers” dynamic. I can never pass up a story like that. Empire of Flame and Thorns caught my attention for that very reason. But as I turned the pages, I realized this book was not just about romance or the usual magic tropes it was much more than that.
The main character, Selena, doesn’t fit the typical “most powerful female lead” mold. She does have powers, but they’re limited. Especially in the earlier chapters, she sometimes fades into the background compared to the other characters. And that actually makes her feel more realistic and relatable. One thing that stood out to me from the beginning was that she never tried to use her power to manipulate others she just wants people to love her. That alone set her apart from many other “perfect” heroines. Selena feels more sincere, more human and that’s exactly why I found her so compelling.
Selena is forced to take part in a deadly competition filled with incredibly powerful opponents. At this point, the strongest Dragon Shifter, Darven, tries to stop her from joining the contest. At first, I thought he was doing it either because he was authoritarian or still holding a grudge over the drink incident. But as the story progressed, a different reason slowly became clear: Darven was afraid something terrible would happen to Selena. As the competition went on, the gray areas between the characters became increasingly obvious. For example, Alistair, who first appeared harsh and threatening, clearly