Keeper of the Flames

A new epic fantasy series

Embark on a journey across sweeping landscapes where secrets are hidden in blood and forged by fire.

Blood of Bryggen: book one of Keeper of the Flames

Blood remembers what the kingdoms hid…

Nineteen-year-old Reese and her brother, Finn, have spent their lives isolated from the war brewing beyond their village, with little understanding of the political tensions between the kingdoms of Bryggen and Durstrum. But when the Durstrum Army marches on Forde, Reese’s world is shattered overnight. With war drums at their back, she and Finn flee into the mountains where they are intercepted by two dragon riders. Forced against their will, they are taken to Dyerfjell Castle.

Dyerfjell is a stronghold where every secret seems tied to Durstrum’s bloody past, and as Reese’s strange connection to the dragons begins to grow, she is pulled deeper into a conflict far larger than the attack on her village. Her only guide through this dangerous new world is Zekiel Valgun, the Alpha Commander of Dyerfjell, whose authority Reese challenges at every turn. Between politics, secrets, and a growing attraction neither of them wants to admit, Reese must decide whether to keep running from the war or embrace the power awakening inside her.

Keeper of the Flames is a high stakes romantic fantasy series set in a world reminiscent of middle earth in the Lord of the Rings and the Last Kingdom. With threads of Norse Mythology woven throughout the story, the world is full of medieval lore and mythical creatures.

Coming Fall 2026

A perilous journey

An unforgiving wilderness

Jagged mountains

Castles & hot springs

Slow Burn Romance

Cold steel & Fiery Blood

Enemies to Lovers

Tension & Defiance

Hidden Magic

Dragon Lore

Norse mythology

Elves, Dwarves & Direwolves

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Become an ARC reader to receive an Advance Reader Copy of Blood of Bryggen early before the general public.

Selected readers will receive additional details by email on September 18th, including how to access the ebook ARC and where reviews may be shared.

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Get to know
Cate Renee Rayne.

What inspired the Keeper of the Flames series?

I love the sweeping landscapes in Lord of the Rings, the Nordic folklore in The Last Kingdom, the dragons in Fourth Wing, and the sentient evil waiting to invade the lands like in Game Of Thrones. So I took these threads and wove them together with characters that would clash and spark against each other. Who would struggle with one another and with their own emotions – depicting both the beauty and curse of what it means to be human.

Why did you start writing?

I love mainstream Romantasy and wanted to craft a story where readers would fall in love with the characters and yearn to be in this world with them – a place where readers could go to find an escape from the stress of the modern world – and a story to lift your soul after that last five star read destroyed you.

Which scene are you most excited for readers to experience?

There are so many great scenes that I hope the reader can sink into! I love the places where Reese connects to the dragons, where she watches them soar through the mountains or when she falls asleep next to one. The flight to the castle is one of my favorites, as well as when she first arrives there.

  • "It felt like such a good balance between fantasy and romance. The relationships between the characters felt authentic and the world building was unique and exciting."

    — Brittney

  • "I am loving this book and worried I’ll miss the characters when I’m finished in 50 pages!"

    — Riah

  • "Loved it! I honestly read it so fast and didn’t want to put it down. I loved the writing style and story from the very start. I loved the main character. I liked her sarcasm, loyalty, and bravery."

    — Lacey

  • "I couldn’t put this down. I need more!!! When do I get book 2????? This is so good!!! That cliff hanger! I’m literally dying right now."

    — Priscila

  • "I have to say I enjoyed every single moment of reading Book 1! I loved Reese, and she made me laugh out loud multiple times. I loved being in her head!! I love the world and can't wait to see more of it!"

    — Bridget

  • "Romantasy and dragon lore with a twist. Cate Rayne spins a master class tale where the reader begins to question if the telling of history can be trusted, all the while building to an ending that leaves you desperate for more."

    -Lili

  • "Reese is such a strong emotional anchor for the story... She helps ground the world so the reader isn’t just taking in lore or mystery from a distance, they’re feeling it through her... There’s warmth in the more personal moments, but also this steady sense that something bigger and darker is moving underneath everything, and I love that kind of tension in fantasy so much. It gives the story both coziness and unease in this really compelling way! Ahh, and her lines. Her lines are made of gold. And honestly... this book just has so much to sink into in the best way"

    -Bridget