Everything is meat to an ogre.
For over fifty years, the Realm of Shartres has endured relentless attacks from ogres. The kingdom's survival grows even more dire when ogres unleash dragons to devastate Shartres' warriors and terrorize its people.
Rachel Stoi, an ostracized warrior with a past steeped in trauma, carries the key to changing the tide of war. When Marshal Buckleran, leader of the king's guard, steals five dragon eggs and struggles to train riders, Rachel reveals the reason for his failures. Her childhood encounter with dragons left her scarred?but also gifted her with a knowledge that can save them all.
Chosen as one of five dragon riders, Rachel's connection with her dragon is instant, a bond that hints at her untapped strength. Yet, her path to success is anything but smooth. Her bond with the dragon starkly contrasts with her strained relationship with Buckleran. His aloofness infuriates her, especially when the shared kiss they once had haunts her more than she's willing to admit.
Buckleran, torn between duty and his growing feelings for Rachel, keeps his distance, bound by the unyielding rules of command. Rachel's determination to succeed?both as a dragon rider and in earning his respect?fuels her efforts. But doubts linger: is his distance truly duty-bound, or proof of his disinterest?
As the threat of war looms, Rachel must navigate the chaos of training, the growing trust with her dragon, and her unresolved tension with Buckleran. The stakes couldn't be higher: the riders' success will determine whether the realm has a fighting chance against its enemies?or falls to ruin.
In a land ravaged by war and driven by survival, Rachel must find the courage to face her past, trust her instincts, and confront her heart?all while carrying the fate of a kingdom on her shoulders.
Buy this romantic high fantasy adventure, book 1 in the Fifth Flight series, because every battle for love is worth the fight.
Autorentext
L. Darby Gibbs has been publishing novels since 2011. Since 2018, Gibbs has been writing fantasy, and has three series out: Solstice Dragon World (six standalone books), Standing Stone (five series books), and her newest Kavin Cut Chronicles (a trilogy).
When she is not writing or teaching, she is active in the outdoors, mostly on a tandem bicycle or, more recently, sailing.
Gibbs is a teacher of writing and published a non-fiction reference book of traditional story plots titled THE LITTLE HANDBOOK OF OF NARRATIVE FRAMEWORKS in 2013.
Gibbs enjoys going to the theater, reading, traveling and spending time with her family and pets. She has been married over thirty years, has one child and a Labrador. She lives in the United States and has lived in several states north, east, west and south. Though born on the east coast, her roots are buried deepest in Southern California.