Fifth Flight Series by L. Darby Gibbs

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... moreEverything 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 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 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. less

Some secrets can’t be hidden under a stack of swords and armor or behind a shelf of rolled maps. They live and breathe, demanding to be seen and heard. Squad leader Cordella Gandomilford has always been fearless on the battlefield, but facing her commander, Boden Marks, is another matter entirely. For Boden, the squad leader is no longer the snarky, affectionate woman he once knew. The stranger in her place keeps him at arm’s length, even as he can’t seem to look away... moreSome secrets can’t be hidden under a stack of swords and armor or behind a shelf of rolled maps. They live and breathe, demanding to be seen and heard. Squad leader Cordella Gandomilford has always been fearless on the battlefield, but facing her commander, Boden Marks, is another matter entirely. For Boden, the squad leader is no longer the snarky, affectionate woman he once knew. The stranger in her place keeps him at arm’s length, even as he can’t seem to look away. For Cordella, every moment near Boden risks revealing the truth—one that would shatter what little connection remains with the man who once loved her. Years of silence and avoidance come crashing down when a royal decree forces them to work together to secure more dragons. Without dragons and a strong team leading them, the realm is at the mercy of their enemies. The decimation of Shartres looms. The stakes are too high to fail, but every step closer to their goal brings them closer to a confrontation Cordella has spent years avoiding. The realm needs dragons. The squad needs unity. And Cordella and Boden must find a way to work together—before the storm outside matches the one brewing within. Read this second book in the epic dragon romantasy Fifth Flight. less

She battles behind her beauty. He hides behind a spell. In a land where dragons are bound and loyalties blur, trust may be the only true magic. Jillian Mermia is a sword-skilled warrior with a queen’s guard past—and a face that blinds others to her worth. Kenith Gandomilford-Eichen is a newly minted dragon rider and a powerful thaumaturgist, cloaked in illusion to conceal his strength and identity... moreShe battles behind her beauty. He hides behind a spell. In a land where dragons are bound and loyalties blur, trust may be the only true magic. Jillian Mermia is a sword-skilled warrior with a queen’s guard past—and a face that blinds others to her worth. Kenith Gandomilford-Eichen is a newly minted dragon rider and a powerful thaumaturgist, cloaked in illusion to conceal his strength and identity. When they’re paired for a dangerous mission into ogre-controlled lands, both are wary … of the enemy, and of each other. Their task is clear: uncover how ogres control their dragons, locate clutches to steal, and, if possible, offer those dragons a chance at freedom through honest bonds. Nothing about the mission is simple. A new breed of dragon stalks the skies—larger, deadlier, and bred for war. Their own dragons lack the clutch-bond that makes riding together seamless, leading to missteps and danger. As Jillian and Eichen battle injuries, ambushes, and dwindling supplies, the line between pretense and truth blurs. When Eichen offers Jillian a spell to hide her beauty, she’s furious. Until she learns the truth of the illusion he’s lived behind. Beneath the facades they wear, something deeper stirs—tenderness, understanding, and a longing neither expected. But illusions are fragile, and the truths they hide can fracture trust. Together, they must cross a strait into dragon-held lands, outwit those who pursue them, and convince enslaved dragons that a different future is possible. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Jillian and Eichen must ask themselves: Will the truth between them bring choice—or ruin? Wing of Illusion is a romantasy of slow-burn desire, dangerous magic, and the power of seeing—and being seen—for who we truly are. less