DNF @ 20%

I wanted to check out Jenn Lyons, as I've heard excellent things about her A Chorus of Dragons series, but I don't think The Sky on Fire is for me, unfortunately. I thought the premise of a heist story with dragons sounded super fun, but the world building and setup getting to that point is clunky and not interesting. The characters aren't really doing anything for me either, so just overall my motivation to pick this one up is low.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC!

DNF @ 20%

This very much didn't work for me. I'm not sure why Lyons loves to drop readers into an ongoing scene with a bunch of characters and names thrown around with little to no explanation in the opening of books. This made it very hard to connect to characters to the point I wasn't at all interested in the plot. Considering this is a standalone, I'm not willing to put in the time to see if there will be enough character development to win me over and make me feel something towards the story.

I love dragons, I love books that feature dragons, I especially love when dragons are main characters! The Sky of Fire features a world in which Dragons rule and humans are inferior and exist essentially to stop the dragons from succumbing to their magic. I loved the dynamic and twist of dragons being in control of their rider and humans in general. The FMC, Anahrod, is tough and smart but is dealing with some intense trauma. Her ability to communicate with animals is incredible and was one of my favorite parts of her story.

Besides the dragons, I enjoyed the world-building in this book. It is rare that I have to re-read sections of books because I really need to absorb the dynamics of the world but it happened to me a few times during this book (which I love!). The imagery is so well done (especially the bog and crystal spire). There is a large cast of characters in this book and I found the development of the characters perfect. There are betrayals and surprises that come from all the characters. The FMC was my favorite character and I found her quirks and attitude believable and relatable. Also, the banter between characters was top notch and there is definitely a found family aspect.

The only thing I did not really enjoy was at times the book felt like there was too much going on. Between the dragons, the cast of characters, and the heist, some parts of the book did not flow as well as they could have. Overall a great read though!

Thank you to Tor Publishing and Netgalley for this book!

“𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘺𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵? 𝘐𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺.”

One of my favorite things about Jenn Lyons’ work is how diverse she is with her worlds and characters. There’s representation for miles, in race and culture and sexuality. Sheldon builds queernormative, inclusive, dragon filled masterpieces that have me just wishing other authors could create worlds like these. That’s my favorite. Immaculate, unique, ever fascinating world building.

“𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧. 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.”

The Sky on Fire is no exception. First—dragons. Who doesn’t love them? Dragons rule this land and though some do have dragon riders, a lot of them are more akin to employees and people to use, not equals like you would typically see with this kind of bond. Some even go so far as being mentally and physically abused by their dragons as we see in rider Jaemeh. But the trick is, the bond created between a human and a dragon is what keeps a dragon from going rampant. Their use of magic and influx of power can overload them, leading to massive destruction and typically death for the dragon. A rider is here to rein that in and take some of that power and channel it away. Amazing concept.

Now this story revolves around Anahrod who was sent to the Deep, dropped in her execution for defying the dragons. She survived and now has been called back by a band of renegades years later. Her troupe has one major goal: steal the hoard from the queen of dragons herself. That’s right folks, this is a dragon heist!

“𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺.”

I like the characters we meet. Sicaryon in particular immediately endeared himself to me as a self proclaimed King of the Deep. A snarky man with an attitude, an air of great flirtation, and a long history with Anahrod.

𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧𝘧. 𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘏𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥: 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦.

The rest of the crew rounds itself out with another sexy dragon rider Ris (be ready for that polyamorous trio to hit you hard), Rogue like Claw, Kaibren the poet, Naeron a magic user, and Gwydinion “Sunshine” Doreyl, a 15 year old boy with the ability to talk to animals…just like Anahrod.

I liked this crew, they were rowdy and fun, snarky and invested. I do wish we got to know them a bit more. We learned a bit about their pasts—most focused on Gwydinion, Ris and Sicaryon, and even then it feels like we only scratched the surface. I’d love if this was more than a standalone so we had the opportunity to learn more.

While I love this world and boy do I, that’s the only fault. It focuses so much on the plot and the story that the characters get a little lost along the way. Thats not to say they’re not very important to the story, it just feels like a lot of the time, that’s all that matters. I want to know them as people and see their relationships grow more real. Our poly trio is beautiful and clearly they have some sort of connection, but it doesn’t ever really feel like we see it growing. It’s a little more telly than showy.

It was also funny as hell! I kept laughing out loud. I’ve got a whole page of quotes, both funny and raw, written down because they were just so good. I couldn’t even include all the ones I loved here. 10/10 love a story that can be easily humorous.

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘐𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥’𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

The dragons!! I loved the dragons. I really liked the intrigue behind Peralon’s backstory and I kept itching for more details about him and Ivarion. (Please Jenn give me another book so I can have more of them.) Neveranimus was also such a fascinating concept for an enemy dragon also ruling the country. Her history with Anahrod, her motivation—fascinating.

All around, I really enjoyed this book. All of Jenn’e book take some time to digest because there’s so much going on, but if you take your time and focus on the plot and the intent, you’ve got an awesome story.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC and thanks to TOR as well!

Great fun! Had a blast reading this. Well written characters, action was easy to follow and fun to read. Plot was built really well and had a good pace.

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons 🔥
Overall Rating 4/5 ⭐
Release Date: July 9, 2024

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from this book and was worried it wouldn't hold up to some of the other dragon books I've read recently. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this book quite a bit.

The characters were interesting and the plot kept me engaged throughout the whole novel. Sometimes things got a bit confusing for the world building of it, but overall a solid fantasy read.

I really enjoyed this! It easily could have been a duology instead of a standalone and I am a little torn on that. On the one hand, I do want to spend more time in this world and with these characters; on the other hand, it feels like everything is a series these days and so it was refreshing to actually get to the end of the story within one book.

The worldbuilding was complex (definitely a lot thrown at you for a standalone) but I really liked the details, including the system of identities via rings, the subversion of expectations with the Deeper culture, and the way dragons are sort of revered but more often reviled. It was a lot to keep up with the various characters and some of them were not as in-depth as they could have been but I felt like the glimpses we did see were well done and helped shape character motivation and background. I loved Anahrod and I was surprised, given the set up, how much I ended up enjoying Ris and Cary.

Pros: Queernormative world, really smart way of talking about sexuality and preferences without it feeling like a whole thing, loved the characters, found family heist vibes
Cons: So much packed in to the story that some of it didn't have the space to develop

Reviews going live on 6/27 on Goodreads and Storygraph; either 6/26 or 6/27 on Tik Tok

I feel that this book could have benefited from being expanded into a duology or trilogy.

There was so much from Anahrod's past that was just glossed over when her backstory alone could have been its own book. The history between Anahrod and Cary was just hinted at when that should have been explored more as it would have lent weight to his involvement in the heist and need to protect Anahrod.

The middle portion of the book up until the end of the heist was the best part. We had really great plot and character development that made sense . After that however, I felt the climax was rushed and a bunch of history/magical lore was just dumped onto us without the appropriate set up. Anahrod bonding with and waking Ivarion came out of nowhere as there wasn't enough lead up to it.

Lyons should have also sticked with either one POV or two POVs the entire time instead of just randomly jumping to 2 POVs during the last 15% of the book.

However, I really did love this world and the characters. The story had good bones, it just didn't get the right execution.

There really is so much to love about this one. A queernorm fantasy world, heists, dragons, amazing worldbuilding, a sprinkle of romance -- these were all strengths. The first 100-150 pages had me hooked.

I think this would have been better as a series, or even a duology. It just felt like it tried to be many things at once, which made for some old pacing at times and a slow middle. It took me longer to read than I expected, because so much of the middle didn't have much momentum behind it. Then it wrapped up really fast. But it did hint that there may be future books in this world, and I'm definitely excited for that.

But overall, I really think a lot of readers will like this one. If you liked Priory of the Orange Tree, you'll probably like this one as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Ok, so the cover freaked me out because I thought it was related to throne of glass series lol but this was a super fun fresh new fantasy. I liked the characters, but didn’t love them so that’s why I’m giving a 4 star. I’m not sure what was missing but I couldn’t quite settle in with them entirely. Otherwise, world building is great, plot is well paced and intriguing. And SO many dragons!! Haha Great read for fantasy lovers.

This had a lot of elements I look for in a fantasy, engaging world building and fun characters to follow - I was hooked from the opening chapter!

We are introduced to a societal hierarchy world where dragons are all but gods, ruling the Skylands and humans alike. Anahrod has been in hiding for seventeen years. Executed for betrayal and presumed dead, only to be found in the jungles of the Deep by a rag tag team of characters wanting to steal a dragon’s horde.

Heists and dragons, this was a fun and chill fantasy, I really liked Anahrod and all the various characters we meet like Ris, Claw, and Sicaryon - they had an entertaining camaraderie throughout. The world building aspects had me eating up the story, everything flowed effortlessly from the magical system to the fluidity of relationships and sexuality. It was very refreshing in that regard. While this isn’t a full blown romance, I think it worked very well within the story and I made an emotional connection to these characters and their battles.

Slow burning to a larger climax towards the end felt a little rushed but I still enjoyed the ride! Performed by my favorite narrator Lauren Fortgang, the voice changes she achieves are always top tier, from the feminine characters to the gruff and rumbling dragons, playing out the story like a movie in my head, amazing! 4.5⭐️

Thank you Tor Books for the eARC to review.

Did you think that Fourth Wing was missing dragons?

Fourth Wing is a comparison for The Sky on Fire because Fourth Wing is a comparison for everything these days. But if you thought there weren't enough dragons in Fourth Wing, then The Sky on Fire is for you. There are dragons on page one of The Sky on Fire and there are dragons on every page of The Sky on Fire. The Sky on Fire is a solid fantasy with deep characters, a plot, and fantastically rich world-building. (If you enjoyed Fourth Wing for the smut, The Sky on Fire isn't for you.)

I don't know when The Sky on Fire was drafted, but it definitely feels like it was written to correct the grievances readers had with Fourth Wing. The biggest difference is that Anahrod is thirty-two and has agency over her own choices. She's an adult who has made bad decisions, good ones, and all of the ones in between. So when Anahrod is faced with a corrupt government, a power imbalance in the dragon training system, and threats against her life she is able to act against them with the tools at her disposal that she's grown and cultivated herself. The Sky on Fire isn't riddled with relationships that threaten to turn abusive because of power imbalances and that is so refreshing to read. The Sky on Fire features peers working together to solve problems and adults actually looking out for the children in their care.

Anahrod is a well-developed character, with flaws, opportunities for growth, and set-backs of her own. Once I got over the name (also featured in The Merlin Conspiracy), I got quite attached to Anahrod. She's logical about the opportunities presented, she's fantastic in a crisis, she loves her friends, and she's clever. She's three-dimensional, the choices that she makes aren't all good or all bad and often carry a weight to them which makes Anahrod so relatable. It's been a while since I've read about a hero who actually has to weigh the choices and opportunities presented to them. This depth and level of characterization is present for all of the supporting cast as well - Sicaryon, Ris, and Gwydion.

I want to give a shout out to the world-building, especially the beautiful queer-normative world that Lyons has built. A huge feature of the culture is rings - there are both societal and garden rings. Societal rings introduce an occupation, someone's family, and their culture. But garden rings really stole my heart - they indicate someone's relationship status, sexuality, gender, and sexual preference. It's a beautiful plot device to convey a lot of information to the reader, but it's also beautiful to have spent time in this world where someone's gender and sexuality is publicly displayed on their hands. Where gender and sexuality are acknowledged as an important part of someone's identity and the public is open enough to view all of a person as part of the formal introduction process.

I can see that this is currently a stand-alone, but I am definitely hoping for a sequel.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was...disappointing to say the least. I love dragons, I love a found family trope, and I especially love a heist book. For all three of these, there are books that do it better. When I read "fantasy heist" I was expecting to love this, and get something similar to how I felt about 'Six of Crows'. I just found myself not really caring for any of the characters, which made it difficult to immerse myself fully into this world. It felt like no one was really fleshed out into a whole being, rather they just fit a role within the group. Everything felt so surface level. Because of that I found myself skim reading, which I really hate to do. I am not sure if the writing style is similar to Lyons previous series, as that is still on my TBR and I like to read authors standalones to get a taste of what they're like. Now I'm not so sure if I should read her quartet. Overall, this was quite disappointing.

Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons takes readers on a thrilling journey into a world divided by both geography and power. The narrative unfolds in a vibrant setting where the "upper people" reside in the mountains, ruled by power hungry dragons, while the "deepers" navigate the dangers of the dense jungle below. This stark dichotomy sets the stage for an epic tale brimming with dragon riders, magic, heists, and a fierce, over-30 female main character.

One of the standout features of this novel is its plot-driven structure. Lyons crafts an intricate storyline that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The unpredictable twists and turns ensure that there's never a dull moment, making it difficult to put the book down. The heist is particularly well-executed, adding layers of intrigue and excitement.

In addition to its compelling plot, Sky on Fire offers a refreshing take on LGBTQ+ characters. Lyons integrates these characters seamlessly into the narrative, providing representation without resorting to clichés or tokenism. This aspect of the book feels organic and adds depth to the story.

The theme of found family is beautifully explored. The bonds formed between characters from diverse backgrounds and with differing motivations highlight the power of unity and trust. This element adds a heartwarming touch to the otherwise intense and action-packed narrative.

However, the novel does have its shortcomings. The characters, while interesting, often feel slightly underdeveloped. This lack of depth made it challenging to connect with them on an emotional level. Their motivations and backstories could have been fleshed out more to provide a richer reading experience.

Overall, Sky on Fire is a captivating read that excels in world-building and plot development. Jenn Lyons has created a unique and immersive universe that will appeal to fans of fantasy and adventure.

Pros:

Engaging, unpredictable plot
Unique and inclusive LGBTQ+ representation
Strong world-building and setting
Exciting heists and action sequences
Themes of found family
Cons:
Characters feel slightly underdeveloped

Recommended for: Fans of fantasy, dragon enthusiasts, readers seeking strong LGBTQ+ representation, and those who enjoy plot-driven narratives with a dash of heist excitement.

This was so much fun! A little bit hard to get through in the beginning, with lots of characters and world building happening as you are thrown into the story. But once you grasp the politics and magic system, it unfurls into an engaging story with a lot of heart, sass, and dragons!

While I wasn’t expecting the heist plot, it added more interest to the story beyond a usual “good dragon vs bad dragon” arc. The characters are lovable (and detestable), with unique backstories, personalities, and identities. I thought the garden rings system was incorporated well, although a cheat sheet might have been helpful.

My one gripe with this book was that some bits were bogged down by details, and thus hard to get back into after a reading break. Overall, I think this book will be a satisfying and enjoying read for lovers of dragons, fantasy, and found family.

The Sky on Fire offers an exhilarating fantasy adventure, The richly crafted characters and diverse cast breathe life into a story that seamlessly blends plot-driven action with imaginative world-building, showcasing distinct powers and cultures. A captivating read from start to finish, it’s a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling escape into a fantastical realm.

Thank you for providing an e-ARC; all opinions expressed are my own.

This book was so much freaking fun.

It’s got so much cool shit in it. Airships. Jungles infested with fantasy dinosaurs. Found family. Heists. Love triangles that don’t make me want to smack everyone involved. Terrible puns. Wonderful puns. (Often the same pun.) Dragons. More dragons. And check out that cover! Seriously, that is such a cool cover.

This is set in a world split in two. On the one hand, you have the Skylands, mountain top cities linked by airships. On the other hand, you have the jungles of the Deeps. The humans of the Skylands are ruled by dragons, whose leadership sits somewhere between tyrannical and disinterested neglect. The Skylanders see the people of the Deeps as primitive savages, though of course it’s not so simple.

Our main character is Anahrod, cast out of the Skylands and into the Deeps for a crime she did not commit. Literally cast out: she was tossed off an airship 50,000 feet up. But she was able to survive and start a life in the Deeps with her fantasy dinosaur titan drake Overbite. Anahrod finds herself between a rock and a very large, scaled, be-toothed, breath-weapon-wielding place when she is hunted both by the self-proclaimed king of the Deeps (also her ex-boyfriend) and a dragon, dragonrider, and miscellaneous companions searching for her on the rumor that she somehow survived her fall. That group wants her for something they keep quiet about, but they also aren’t trying to kidnap or kill her (and Ris the dragonrider is distractingly sexy) so it’s not really a hard choice for Anahrod which group to go with.

From there we’re off. This is, as I said at the top, a hell of a lot of fun. Pure popcorn fiction in the very best sense of the term. Highly recommended.

Thank you @torbooks @macmillan.audio #partner #macaudio2024 for the gifted copies of this book!

Calling all Dragon lovers! This is a heist book mixed with dragons ruling the world! Yes please. 😅 The group of characters in this book were fun to follow. They are strong willed, can communicate with animals (what?!), unique in their own way, daring and bold! I have to admit I did grab this one as it said it was for the likes of Fourth Wing lovers (that’s me! 🙋‍♀️) but I don’t know that I would actually put it quite in that category. It was more of a slow burn for me but still a satisfying read. This book has a great mix of eccentric and nonconformist characters, romance, a heist, a vivid world perfectly built and dragons. 🐉 This was a first for me by this author and I would most certainly grab more by her! The audio was done well and really made me feel immersed into this adventure.

✨ARC REVIEW ✨

The Sky on Fire is a well paced fantasy story that has a lot of diversity and lovable characters. The main character we follow in this book, Anahrod, is an interesting personality to follow and I enjoyed watching her overcome the challenges and fears along her journey. I loved the exploration of the way that identity was displayed in this world, and I loved following a main character that was comfortable in who she was from the start.

I found that the beginning of this story was very hard to get to grips with as there was a lot of information and names dumped on the reader within the first few pages/chapters. For newer fantasy readers this may make the start of this book feel daunting. Even for myself I found the start of this book a little daunting however I seriously recommend pushing through this initial confusion as the story itself is worth the brief confusion.

The dragons in this story were lots of fun with the different powers and looks. I enjoyed the magic systems and government/politics that made up all the different areas of this world. The plot had some good twists in it, not always unpredictable twists but enjoyable non the less. The author did a great job with the settings and character descriptions in this story considering it was a standalone the world felt very fleshed out and developed.

I did wish that the romantic relationships were explored a bit more as I felt there was lots of angst and build up missing. I could see the connections were genuine but I wasn’t fully invested in them due to the lack of buildup and background. I also did wish that the FMC had more development as a character as her morals and personality remained mostly the same throughout the story.

Overall this was an enjoyable and engaging fantasy story that was well written and executed.


***Arc provided in exchange for honest review***

actual rating: 2.5 stars

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me. The premise sounded very intriguing (especially with it being a standalone fantasy, which is very rare), but it just fell flat in the end. The characters were not well developed, which meant that I was not invested in the plot, or with the intricacies of the different interactions . Additionally, the romantic sub-plot just felt like it came completely out of nowhere that it was so unbelievable. Finally, the plot was very roughly developed - the stakes didn't feel very extreme, and the world building was completely left behind.