Dragons in 1920? Flame Theory Review

MommaSaurus
Feb 9
3 min read

Updated: Apr 3

Flame Theory by C.F.E. Black

Quick Summary

Genre: Romantasy, Dragons, 1920's, Mafia, College, Rivals to More

Recommended Age: Older Young Adult (16+)

Possibly Concerning Content* (details below)

🤬 Language: None

❤️ Romance: Kisses only

🛡️Violence: Character deaths. Injuries described. Animals eaten by dragons.

‼️ Heads-up: Substance abuse. False god worship. Tarot cards. Bad parenting. Classism. Illegitimate child.

"I of all people, the dreamer, the Bottomsider, the girl who loved dragons enough to shovel their refuse just to be near them. I had a dragon. A dragon had picked me. And he was as much an outcast as I was." - C.F.E. Black in Flame Theroy

Review

C.F.E Black marketed this as How to Train Your Dragon set in the roaring 20's and I was immediately hooked! This young adult romantasy was a wild ride! That being said, there are a lot of heavy themes and subjects (check Heads-up below) that would make me hesitant to give this book to younger YA audiences. I loved the world building, from the dragon races to Cardan Lott College, where dragon's choose what house your in, to the seedy underbelly with gangs and political turmoil. The characters were well written, you really root for Ari and though I didn't like Rush at first I eventually found myself rooting for him too! If I had one complaint, it would be the cliffhanger ending. I am not a patient bookwyrm.

If you love

Historical fiction (set in the 20s)
Romantasy
Dragon bonds
Rivals to more
Clean romance
Political turmoil
Rebellions
Dragon racing

Official Blurb (dropdown)

"An imposter. A mafia heir. A dragon race that could kill them both. The perfect mashup of Six of Crows and How to Train Your Dragon.

It’s illegal to own a wild dragon. It’s even more illegal to bond with one.

I’ve spent my life scraping by in the city’s underbelly, doing whatever it takes to give my family a better future. So when I’m offered a place at the kingdom’s most prestigious dragon riding academy, I seize the chance—no matter that I’m diving headfirst into dangerous waters. To survive, I have to hide who I am and keep the truth about my dragon buried deep.

But at Cardan Lott College, secrets don’t stay hidden long. Especially not from Rushland Covington—the academy’s golden heir who’s far too clever for his own good. Behind that perfect smile, he’s chasing a forbidden mystery about dragons…and somehow, I’m the key to solving it.

Bound by secrets, we form a reluctant alliance that leads us down a path that will permanently alter our lives and possibly our entire world. Some secrets are meant to be uncovered, and others are meant to stay hidden. But the fire growing between us is the most dangerous truth of all.

If you loved Hiccup and Toothless, but this time you want it set in an elite academy like Maxton Hall where dragon racing is the school sport, then you’re in the right place. The first in an addictive new YA fantasy series, Flame Theory features the start of a no-spice, swoon-worthy romance filled with banter, dragon races, rivalries, and hidden truths.

Welcome to the world of dragon racing.." - From Amazon

Possibly Concerning Content*

Click on the dropdown icon for details. May contain spoilers.

🤬 Language: None

❤️ Romance: Kisses only

🛡️Violence: Character deaths. Injuries described. Animals eaten by dragons.

Possible Spoilers

A man is burned to death
Gang violence (beatings, shootings, stabbings etc).
Characters are shot (one dies off page)

‼️ Heads-up: Substance abuse. False god worship. Tarot cards. Bad parenting. Classism. Illegitimate child.

Possible Spoilers

Substance abuse: drinking, smoking, gambling
A side character worships the sun
Fortune teller reads tarot cards
Bad parenting: neglect, abandonment, murder, threatening
Bullying from upper classmen
Classism

Grab your copy

Grab a copy on Amazon*

📍*Possibly Concerning Content Disclaimer: I try my best to include all relevant content notes, or possibly concerning content, but I may not catch everything and/or you may feel things are concerning that I do not. Please research individually if you’re sensitive to specific topics/subjects! 📍

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