I'm a big Jenn Lyons fan and though I long her longer series, I thought this was a great standalone (though I would love to return to the world to see what trouble her brother gets himself into as he gets older)! Lyons always serves with her love triangles and this was no different. I thought the dragons were interesting and the world-building was fun. Really my only issue was that I didn't love the way the novel handled the story of an abused character (Jaime). I understand that he was making questionable choices but I thought at the only main character who was suffered that type of abuse the narrative was very unforgiving towards him.

I have always loved reading about dragons. T.A. Barron, the Hobbit, pretty much anything fantasy I absorbed and devoured as a kid and into adulthood. I do read many different genres, but sometimes it's comforting to come back to an old favorite. The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons scratched the missing dragons in my life itch.

I admit, I did struggle a little bit after the initial introduction to the characters. The pacing of the story was a little off, but nothing that was too distracting from the story. It wasn't difficult to follow, it was more that things went very very very fast or very very very slow with not a lot of in between. There were moments I felt a little jerked around and it was a little choppy in portions of the storytelling.

In my opinion, the book potentially could have benefited from being split, whether that's into two or three I'm not sure but it could have really been a more series with all the storylines that the author explored. There were pieces of the book that I wish had been moved around, and it felt like there were several distinct story lines that did not get the full depth they could have if it were split. We get a lot of lore in the end of the novel, that I think would have been better placed in the beginning or middle as it helps give context to events. Overall, if you're looking for a dragon fantasy novel, this was a fun read, and I enjoyed the unveiling of the characters and their motivations and priorities as the book went on. There is a resurgence in the dragon fantasy novel, and this is great for any reader that wants to lose themselves in the political intrigues of dragons. As a heads up, there are some spicy scenes and discussions in the latter half of the novel.
 
Please be advised that I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

I am sorry to say that I could not get into this book at all. The beginning confused me and even though things started to make more sense soon, I disliked all characters and did not care for world or story. Not sure if I'm the problem because this book has a lot of things that I usually enjoy, but somehow it did not grow on me at all.

So maybe ignore this review. Sorry!

2.5 stars because DRAGONS

I received an advanced copy of The Sky on Fire from Netgalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Sky on Fire is a book that has everything I love: dragons, heists, adventure, and magic. However, something about it left me unsatisfied, and I had to mark this book as a DNF.

The prologue reeled me in, leaving me with so many questions. Knowing that the book is about Anahrod, having those first characters talk about her the way they did left me intrigued. I needed to know what happened, and I wanted to understand more about this world that is separated by those who live in the sky and those who live on the ground. And the dragon/dragon-rider relationship? Fascinating. But then ...

I honestly couldn't tell you what happened. The first chapter throws you into the action and doesn't let up. I had no issues with the writing style and can't say that the story wasn't pulling me along. There was something about it, though, that left me not wanting to pick the book back up, and every time I did, I would only get a couple of pages in before wanting to do something else.

There was a lot of information thrown at you at once. I love starting with action scenes, but that means the author needs to find a way to integrate the world-building with those action scenes so the reader can follow what's going on. I didn't get that seamless flow here. It felt like the information interrupted the scenes, pulling me from what was supposed to be an intense moment. I have no problem with that happening occasionally, but the consistency started getting to me. I'm the person who wants all the world-building the author can give me, but, like most, I'm not too fond of it all at once in undigestible chunks in the middle of the action.

Furthermore, none of the characters resonated with me. They may get better as the story goes on, but they fell particularly flat in those chapters I read, their personalities feeling too reliant on familiar group tropes. I'm sure I've said it in other reviews, but I have no problem with authors relying on tropes for characters. They're popular for a reason, and I enjoy them. My issue is that sometimes, the trope is the only part of their personality. Again, this may get better as the story continues, but the characters needed to engage me more initially to want to continue to read about them.

While The Sky on Fire was a DNF for me, I believe it has the potential to draw others in. The first chapters didn't align with my reading preferences, leading to frustration that persisted until I eventually gave up. However, I encourage you to give it a chance, as it may work for you in ways it didn't for me.

I thought I’d love The Sky on Fire because it has magic, dragons, the whole shebang. While I did enjoy aspects of it, I found the majority of the tropes to feel like they were lacking. I found the pacing to be really odd and kind of off putting at times, some parts really dragged on. I wasn’t super engaged in the story or the outcome for the characters. I did find the world building and fantasy elements interesting!

Thank you Tor Books and netgalley for my copy!

The Sky on Fire is the newest book from Jenn Lyons, the author of the A Chorus of Dragons series. I really enjoyed the world-building and characters in this book. The plot felt a little predictable at times, but I still very much enjoyed the ride and look forward to more in the series (hopefully).

Loved most of this book... Unfortunately it didn't quite come together for me. The dragons were great, the plot was full of interesting elements but there was never a moment where it all clicked for me.

I loved this book! It's a standalone and lighter than Jenn Lyon's other works. If you love polyamory, heists, and dragons, then this is the book for you. We see so much of the well-built world (including sky-whalers, forest tribes, and a dragonrider school) while keeping the action consistently paced. My favorite of Jenn Lyons's so far!

*The Sky on Fire* presents a compelling mix of elements that should appeal to fantasy aficionados: dragons, heists, and a diverse cast of characters. The novel, written by the talented author *Lyonns*, showcases her prowess in worldbuilding and character development. However, despite these strengths, it ultimately leaves readers divided, reflecting a puzzling narrative that may struggle to find its footing amidst its ambition.

From the outset, *The Sky on Fire* immerses readers in a vibrant world that immediately captivates with its imaginative premise. The dynamic between dragons and dragon riders is intriguingly explored, presenting powerful and complex creatures imbued with distinct personalities. This dynamic elevates the narrative, creating a foundation for the unfolding adventure and establishing a high-stakes heist that centers on retrieving a legendary hoard.

The story revolves around Anahrod, a spirited protagonist who finds herself entangled with a motley crew of misfits intent on executing a daring robbery. The camaraderie among the characters, marked by witty banter and emotional resonance, is one of the book's high points. The interactions evoke a sense of found family, which often resonates well with readers, adding layers of warmth to the tale. The humor and quirkiness of the characters lend an engaging tone, reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign where personalities clash and meld in unexpected ways.

However, the pacing of *The Sky on Fire* is a significant concern. Initially, the narrative’s brisk start is promising, but it soon devolves into a whirlwind of events that lack clarity and direction. The rapid shifts from political intrigue to jungle adventures, to romantic entanglements, and back again can feel disorienting. This chaotic pacing undermines the emotional weight of the plot's climactic moments and diminishes character development, particularly for Anahrod, who struggles to establish clear motivations or agency throughout the story.

The romantic subplots also suffer from similar pacing issues. The relationships, particularly the one involving Anahrod, feel rushed and underdeveloped. Moments of instant attraction lead to a lack of believable chemistry, leaving readers longing for more depth. The awkwardly inserted steamy scenes further contribute to the overall sense of disconnection within the narrative. When romance feels like an afterthought, it detracts from the otherwise engaging heist plot.

Moreover, while *The Sky on Fire* presents a queer-normative world, its handling of queerness has drawn criticism. The introduction of “garden rings,” which signify sexual preferences and kinks, is viewed as reductive and contrary to the very essence of a queer-normative narrative. Many readers appreciate nuanced portrayals of identity that transcend labels, and the rings appear to undermine that freedom. The representation of trans characters, while well-intentioned, often veers into tokenization, lacking the depth necessary for meaningful engagement. These aspects highlight a disconnect between the story's ambitious goals and its execution.

Despite its flaws, *The Sky on Fire* does achieve some noteworthy moments, particularly in its action sequences and character dynamics. The heist scenes deliver exhilarating tension, showcasing Lyonns's ability to craft engaging set pieces that draw readers in. Additionally, the charm of the diverse cast often rescues the narrative, ensuring that moments of levity and humor shine through even in the midst of confusion.

Ultimately, *The Sky on Fire* is a story rich with potential, yet its execution falters under the weight of its many ideas. It stands as a testament to the complexities of modern fantasy, where ambitious narratives can sometimes struggle to balance multiple elements successfully. Readers who appreciate quirky characters and heist adventures may find enjoyment in this tale, but those seeking a coherent narrative with well-developed relationships might leave feeling somewhat dissatisfied. As Lyonns continues her exploration of this fantastical world, there remains hope that future installments will refine the storytelling and deliver the depth and cohesion that *The Sky on Fire* hints at but doesn’t fully realize.

This a great read for fans of dragon/dragon-rider books like The Fourth Wing. I thought the cast of characters was great. They felt like DnD characters kind of in the best way--tropey and fun. That said, the pacing was abit off to me and really didn't pick up until the last third of the book, but I still found it an entertaining read overall.

The Sky on Fire is detailed and fascinating. The story is difficult to follow in places, with extensive development and slightly confusing descriptions. It has a heist and dragons though, so in the end I absolutely loved it and it was up my alley. I am glad I continued through my initial hesitation because this book has left me wanting more.

Having read Jenn Lyons' books before, I found that this one didn't initially capture me as much as I'd hoped, but it was worth it in the end.

Jenn Lyons is amazing! She has a way of writing the most engaging, fast and fun stories! She does dragons right! I want more from here now!

Dragons, heists and a band of misfits? Sold, absolutely sold.

This story is fun, has a good pace, and was interesting. I didn't connect with characters the way I did for her other stories, so I'm not sure this falls in the I'll read on repeat year after year category, but more so the I had a really good time camp.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. This took me so long to read. It dragged along and I felt very confused and unsure about what was actually going on throughout this book. I was actively trying to do absolutely any single thing at all so I didn’t have to read.

I liked the many aspects of LGBTQIA+ relationships throughout the book. I’m sad I didn’t like this book I thought it was going to be a win but this wasn’t for me.

The incomparable Jenn Lyons has done it again, only this time it’s with a standalone fantasy, so if you’ve been reluctant to immerse yourself in the gloriously bewildering saga that is A Chorus of Dragons, The Sky on Fire is your chance to see what you’ve been missing.

The cover blurb will tell you this is a story about a rescue from a warlord and a heist from a dragon, but don’t let that deceive you – nothing about this is that simple. It’s also a story about regrets, resentment, and revenge, with personal motives driving the narrative. Nobody is all good or all bad, it’s just that their objectives are sometimes violently at odds with one another – so much so that even villains can end up becoming heroes.

The world-building here is simple but nicely detailed and well thought-out. Below, we have the jungles of the Deep, humid lands where air, foliage, and danger all lie thick and heavy. Above hang the cloud cities, home to the ruling classes, merchants, nobility, and dragons. So many dragons! This isn’t just a book with dragons, it’s very much a book about dragons – their history, their mythology, and their overbearing presence in the lives of tiny humans. While we don’t get too deeply into human politics, we do explore a lot of dragon politics, which makes sense because everything in this world is subservient to their whims.

Very much like A Chorus of Dragons, The Sky on Fire is wonderful in its casual, no-big-deal, assumed diversity in gender, sexuality, and relationships. Characters wear garden rings and social that communicate their identity, preferences, and personality, and I loved the way it’s done as much as I loved the language around it: a ring to denote “male, both by birth and inclination“; another to show “a committed, monogamous relationship“; and yet another to communicate a preference for “both feminine and masculine partners.” Anahrod, our protagonist and POV, is a bisexual woman who begins exploring a polyamorous triad, and all people can say about it is that it’s about time they admit their feelings for one another. There are also some casual kink references sprinkled throughout that, again, aren’t a big deal for the characters, but refreshing to see as a reader.

If I were to have one complaint about the book it would be that it flounders for direction in the middle, with the pacing suffering as goals, alliances, and agendas are established. However, at this point, I know Lyons never does anything accidentally, never just fills pages for the sake of exposition, so I trusted that it would all come together and that we’d see how and why it all fits together – and we do. Along those lines, there were some questions I had early on about aspects of the story that seemed too simple, too convenient, but they’re all satisfyingly explained by the end as well.

The Sky on Fire doesn’t feel as grand or as poetic as A Chorus of Dragons, but that may actually play in its favor for new readers. It’s a narrative style that fits the urgency of the tale, and had I not read anything else by Lyons, I’d never notice anything missing.

3.5
I love the concept of this book, and I found certain parts of it to be amazing. But it took me FOREVER to get through until I had the audio to help me move along faster.
The audio is excellent, though! I think the narration was done really well and really helped me know how to pronounce some of those dragon names.

Honestly, I think this book was too long and drawn out, and yet there was also TOO MUCH happening that my brain felt like exploding sometimes.
The ending was wild and I loved how it all came together, but getting to the end was a lot.

I do love the characters and their relationships, we see such a wide variety of dynamics here. But it was all just overwhelming sometimes as a whole. The romance(s)??? Immaculate. It was definitely a side point, but the relationships were so good.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for this ARC Copy!

Dragons and a heist, what more could you want in a book! I did not know anything about this book going into it but I really enjoyed learning everything as we go. The dragons were really well done and had the quintessential dragon personality that is to be expected from such strong and powerful creatures. There was a large cast that were part of the heists and I think for the most part they were all done well with distinctive motivations and personalities. All in all this was a fast paced read with dragons, what more could you want in a heist book!

I literally have no idea what I just read. This felt like 10 different plots all in one that the author just couldn't decide on, squished them all together and hoped that it would work. It didn't, for me.

Which is sad, because each piece is something I'd love on its own! It just felt entirely directionless and almost written like a bad debut.

The garden rings intrigued me the entire time for example but the author never really explained or delved deeper into them. There are dragons and riders which I always love. There's a heist, some random love connections that felt forced. There's a rider school, hidden cities, magic and more. I think this would have made a good series. But it was just too much for one book.

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

The Sky on Fire is a stand alone epic fantasy/heist novel by author Jenn Lyons, who burst onto the SF/F novel scene with her 5 book epic fantasy series "A Chorus of Dragons". After a rough start in book 1 (The Ruin of Kings), A Chorus of Dragons soon became one of my favorite fantasy series of the last few years. In that series, Lyons built a phenomenal set of characters and relationships/romances (both in the present and through reincarnations) and used an incredibly pageturning prose (so so so many end of chapter cliffhangers) to keep readers on the edge of their seats and it worked so well. It was a very queer epic fantasy series that dealt with some serious themes and often was unforgiving of what might happen to its characters, and Lyons wrapped it up in an incredibly satisfying fashion. So even if I hadn't heard two authors/reviewers praise this new book of hers, I'd have been extremely eager to give it a try.

And well, The Sky on Fire is indeed as excellent as I'd hoped. The story is kind of a Heist novel, featuring protagonist Anahrod being recruited - not as willingly as she'd like - to help an oddball team rob Neveranimas, the present queen of the dragons who rule the human cities in the sky. But Anahrod was thrown off the sky cities - literally - on behalf of Neveranimas and, after barely surviving, has spent the last few years rebuilding her life in the deadly jungles of the deep with her animal controlling powers and has little interest in returning to the sky cities that once tried to kill her. Add in a pair of romantic interests - a handsome and way too smart but ruthless warlord of The Deep and a mysterious dragon-rider woman who is planning the heist for revenge - and well, you have an excellent mix of characters and developments to underpin this novel. It all works really well, even if early on some of the end of chapter cliffhangers can get maybe a little repetitive, and I would gladly welcome a second book in this world if Lyons ever wants to return to it.


Plot Summary:
Nearly 20 years ago, Anahrod Amnead was thrown off of the dragon-ruled sky cities of the Seven Crests on order of their ruler, the regent Neveranimas. She was supposed to die, as befits a traitor who plotted against the First Dragon and who stole from Neveranimas' vault. But Anahrod used her powers - to talk with and magically interact with animals - to save herself....barely and has spent the years since wandering on her own through the harsh jungles of the Deep. It's a dangerous life, with no one to count upon but the trained titan drake she keeps and can control by her side, but it beats dealing with dragons.

But that all changes when an odd group of adventurers - one a sorcerer from the deep, others from the Sky above including a damned dragonrider (Ris, who is way too attractive and alluring) as their leader - rescues Anahrod from the forces of a deadly warlord. The four adventurers - and the 15 year old boy with them - know somehow who she is and want Anahrod to come back to the skies with them, whether she wants it or not. For even if Anahrod didn't really break into Neveranimas' vault back in the day, Ris and her team have a plan to use her to ACTUALLY do so this time.

But it's a plan with a LOT of moving parts, one in which any wrong move could get them all killed - especially Anahrod, whom the whole populace now thinks of as the ultimate evil. But as Anahrod begins to actually care for the team....and other associates from her past re-emerge....she finds herself deeply invested in making the plan work....and making sure it doesn't end with her actual execution this time at Neveranimas' craws....

The Sky on Fire features a narrative that very much is in the same style as A Chorus of Dragons, despite it featuring a very different world. Yes the story is almost entirely from Anahrod's point of view (as opposed to A Chorus of Dragons, which splits its narrative POVs), but the story is told in very easy prose and features lots and lots of end of chapter cliffhangers to tease readers and to get them to read more. It's a style that may not work for all readers and can sometimes get a little repetitive - Lyons has a habit of having her characters black out at the end of a chapter from a kidnapping or similar attack and she even lampshades this by having characters note how maany times Anahrod gets kidnapped in the first third of the book. But it never feels like Lyons' cliffhangers are too contrived and they all payoff, so it all flowed really nicely and kept me constantly wanting to turn the page and was never annoying.

The book also features an excellent and really enjoyable set of characters. Anahrod is a really fun character, a bit sarcastic and witty like Lyons' past protagonists, incredibly flirty at times (with both men and women - this book is very queernorm and no one really cares about it) and her narrative makes her very easy to like. She's good at heart, but also deeply damaged from her betrayal as a teen by the family who threw her to her "death" and thus wants mainly to survive and to avoid having people around her to trust....and yet she can't help but trust and care for those she is forced to be around. She's willing to take some big risks to save her own skin and to save those she cares about, but also knows how important it is to have limits and to not fall into an "ends justify the means" outlook - as she's seen first with her parents throwing her to her doom and later with her lover taking revenge and becoming a deadly Deep warlord. And well, her libido and attraction to certain people (Ris, Sicaryon) can lead her to bad thoughts....but she still keeps largely her head and doesn't let those attractions crowd out reason too much.

And outside Anahrod you have a really fun side cast. Ris and Sicaryon are fun kind of mirrors of one another - the dragon-rider and Deep warlord who both are too willing to go as far as it takes to enact their revenges - and their dynamic around Anahrod and the scheme is really fun to read. The other members of the crew, like a magic-wielding man who only speaks in quotes from plays and has to have a bodyguard translate for him, are enjoyable even if they feel like smaller players. 15 year old boy Gwydinion almost steals the show with his charm, earnestness, and intelligence. Seriously he's the best and Lyons writes him and all of the other characters so so well with some seriously fun dialogue and character developments.

The heist parts of the book - this is a heist novel after all - are pretty solid, nothing super crazy or inventive, but it all works well enough. And the setting is super fascinating, with the dragon-ruled sky cities featuring humans with decent luxuries in living (at least except for the poorest humans) but forces the humans to live in fear of dragons who rule with a dictatorial fist...and who might go mad at any moment. And then the Deep features none of those luxuries...except its people are in theory free from dragon oppression (assuming they can survive the warlords and deadly as hell animal life forms). There's a fascinating queer and sexual-desire friendly type of signaling practiced in the sky cities, to go along with interesting dynamics between dragon-riders and their dragons (most of whom simply treat their humans a slaves, but Ris shows it could be different?). And there's some solid themes here of the power of stories and religions to manipulate things - who's evil, who's righteous, who was created to serve whom, etc.

It's all really great is what I'm saying and I'd love to read a second book set in this world, but the finale we get here is entirely satisfying in and of itself. Recommended.

Can I be honest in this review?

Jenn Lyons could write anything and I'd probably love it. She became a favorite and auto-buy author after I completed her chorus of dragons series and I was ecstatic to be late on the bandwagon because that means I did not have long to read this.

If you enjoy a heist, will they/won't they story with dragons that truly feel like main characters this standalone was made for you. I was hooked after the first chapter and its a testament to Jenn's unbelievable pen game that she was able to tell such a well rounded story in a standalone. There's some fantasy writers that cant do that with multi book series :-(.

If I could add anything to this story is higher stakes, I want to feel that anxiety of not knowing what will happen and being afraid for the characters safety.