Empire of Flame and Thorns
Fourth Wing meets Powerless in this riveting new adult romantasy series! Set in a world where the Seelie fae are enslaved to dragon shifters, Empire of Flame and Thorns follows a fae rebel fighting for her freedom in a series of deadly trials—and the ruthless dragon shifter commander who is determined to make her lose. Trapped in the Seelie Court by a forest of thorns, Selena Hale lives at the mercy of the dragon shifters. Her only chance to gain her freedom is by entering the Atonement Trials: a deadly competition that pits fae magic users against each other. Only three people can win, and Selena intends to be one of them. There is only one problem. Draven Ryat, the ruthless commander of the dragon shifter army, is determined to make her lose. He symbolizes everything that she hates, and if he finds out that she is also a member of the secret fae rebellion, he will not only mess with her chances to win, he will kill her. But the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself inexplicably drawn to him. And nothing is more dangerous in a lethal trial than a distracted heart. Especially one that beats for the enemy…
Things to Note:
Our Spice Scale
🌶️ 1 Pepper — Barely a Spark
What to expect:
- Subtle romantic tension
- Hand brushes, lingering looks, emotional connection
- Fade-to-black moments or implied affection
Perfect for:
Fantasy lovers who want plot-first stories with just a whisper of romance.
🌶️🌶️ 2 Peppers — Soft Heat
What to expect:
- Kissing, yearning, and physical closeness
- Romance takes center stage, but details stay gentle
- Intimacy is suggested rather than shown
Perfect for:
Readers who enjoy romance but prefer things cozy, sweet, and low-heat.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Peppers — Noticeably Spicy
What to expect:
- On-page intimate scenes with moderate detail
- A balance of story, emotion, and physical connection
- Heat that feels intentional, not overwhelming
Perfect for:
Romantasy readers who want chemistry you can feel without it taking over the plot.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Peppers — High Heat
What to expect:
- Frequent and detailed intimate scenes
- Strong physical tension woven throughout the story
- Desire, attraction, and connection are front and center
Perfect for:
Readers who like their fantasy rich with passion and aren’t afraid of intensity.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5 Peppers — Extra Spicy
What to expect:
- Explicit, on-page intimacy with vivid detail
- Multiple scenes and sustained heat
- The spice is a major element of the reading experience. May include some considered taboo elements.
Perfect for:
Seasoned spice lovers who want maximum heat alongside their magic, monsters, or morally grey love interests.
✨ Important Nox & Novel Notes
Because transparency is kind of our thing:
- 🌶️ Ratings reflect on-page detail and frequency, not just vibes
- 🌶️ Emotional intensity ≠ spice (but we’ll tell you when both show up)
- 🌶️ Trope-heavy books may feel hotter—this scale keeps it honest
- 🌶️ When in doubt, we round up, never down
Spice & Content PSA
Books listed outside of our mystery selections are not guaranteed to be low-spice. While we do our best to curate with care, spice levels can vary by author, genre, and reader interpretation.
If spice level is something you’re concerned about, we strongly recommend checking reviews or spice guides (shoutout to Google & BookTok ) prior to purchasing.
As always, books may contain profanity, mature themes, and descriptive or explicit content. Reader discretion is advised, and we recommend these titles for readers 18+.
Brand new titles likely have not undergone team reading and will not have our pepper & review at the top of the description.
Returns/Exhanges
Apparel, accessories, and books by title are returnable within 3 days of receiving. Items must be new, unread, and in original packaging to be eligible for return.
FINAL SALE ITEMS INCLUDE:
Due to the curated and limited nature of our blind dates, book of the months, exclusive editions, subscription boxes, pre-orders, and add-ons, all sales are final. We do not accept returns or exchanges on these items
Additionally, some books may be titles you’ve already read, as we have no way of tracking individual reading histories without your Goodreads link. This is not considered a defect or eligible for return but simply a risk of ordering a blind book.
If your item arrives damaged, please contact us within 3 days of delivery, and we’ll be happy to assist. Hello@noxandnovel.com