The Sky on Fire is an action-packed heist fantasy with an endearing cast of characters.

I have to admit that I am not generally a big dragon fan. I don't find them that compelling and I don't go out of my way to read books with dragons. Despite that, I really enjoyed the world-building around the dragons in this book. The Sky on Fire delivers powerful, terrifying, and arrogant dragons with a range of magical abilities. The dragon rider dynamic was really interesting and I loved that the dragons had distinct personalities.

As this is a heist book of course there is a large cast of characters pulled together to complete this impossible heist. I liked all of the characters. I thought they played off of each other well and the banter was incredibly engaging. I was expecting the romance but I love that the book also explored some found family and friendship dynamics as well.

I do feel like Anahrod as a main character was a little bit flat. You would expect someone with her history to have a stronger or more distinct personality. But she almost lacked motivation and was mostly a tool for other people’s plans throughout the book. I enjoyed the group of characters enough that it didn’t really bother me until I was reflecting back on the book.

This was a very fast and engaging read for me, however, the pacing in the second half did feel a bit off. I thought it was rushing to the heist really quickly but then they ran into a bunch of delays that slowed the story down awkwardly. That delay made the ending feel crammed, which was unfortunate given the scale of the final confrontation.

Part of me feels like the story would have been more successful as a duology. Not because there is too much happening in this book, but because the story and the character dynamics would have been more successful if more had happened to achieve these goals. With all of the series that I’m in the middle of, however, I do appreciate that this was a standalone.

The thing that bothered me the most about the story was surprisingly the romance. I liked the relationship and I thought Anahrod had great chemistry with both her partners. But the romance was not well integrated into the story itself which makes it feel a bit clunky and unsatisfying. I was almost taken aback by how quickly the romance was introduced in this story. I was expecting it to be a later development given that the romance is only a subplot. But it started right away with instant attraction and flirting. I was on board because I like the dynamic but then the romance is completely dropped for the next couple hundred pages. It felt like the author was just rushing to get the romance to a certain point so it could be sidelined or taken for granted for the rest of the story. The other partner was a previous relationship revisited with no real time spent on the romance in this book. We get all these love confessions that feel so unbelievable because there is no time spent building the relationships or chemistry between the characters. The resolution to the romantic tension was incredibly unsatisfying and almost off-putting. There were also some random spicy scenes that were just wedged into the story awkwardly. I like that the romance did not distract from the heist plot or the other character dynamics. But as a subplot, I wish it had been more woven throughout the story.

Though I think there are some things that could have been executed better, overall, The Sky on Fire is a very enjoyable reading experience.

I loved the premise of this book but I just didn't click with it for some reason. The writing was well done but I could not get into the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. Heist stories are always a hit for me and this one had dragons to?! Yes please.

I enjoyed many aspect of this book. The world building was great, Jenn Lyons can certainly tell a fun story, while also making the world believable and immersive. The characters were fun and I loved the relationships between them. The relationship aspect was a little rushed, and felt a bit Insta-lovey but I loved all the character as individuals so it still sort of worked for me.

The dragons are written wonderfully and the way the magic is woven in felt like a different take on what is quite a common fantasy trope.

The only part I didn’t love was when certain things happen at the end that felt a bit convenient plot wise.

A really fun read and I certainly need to get to the authors other works soon.

Anahrod is supposed to be dead, but years ago she survived a fall–execution if we are being specific– that should have killed her but didn’t, depositing her in The Deep where she has attempted to make a life for herself. This is made easier thanks to her special talent, the ability to communicate with animals and even take over their bodies. While this can come in handy, it is a talent that others fear. Now she has two separate groups attempting to kidnap her for their own personal, and selfish, reasons. To make matters worse, Neveranimas, the leader of the dragons, is eager to find her as well.

The Sky on Fire is a novel that has some great things about it, and some not so great things. I really enjoyed a majority of the narrative–it is action-packed and Lyons’ world building is amazing–as well as the characters, who were well developed and relatable to a degree, but there seemed to be a lot of fluff throughout. There were events and characters that added little to nothing to the story, which made some parts a little boring and slow. I also liked how there were characters who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, but at times I did not like the ways in which they were described or referred to, such as using the term “late-blooming” to refer to individuals who identify as trans. I believe that this is something that people might find offensive, leading them to abandon the book; I know I struggled with the terminology used. There is a great story in The Sky on Fire, it just wasn’t executed fully, nor was it done in the sensitive ways that it should have been.

As anyone who knows me can attest, I love dragons. Like. Please give me all the dragons. And then include:
-mental bond with humans
-actual personalities and not just 'rawr dragon bad' or 'uwu dragon good'
-queer, trans, and poly rep
-a neat magic system

and you get 4 stars from me. Chef's kiss. This was a rollicking good time. I would die for these disaster bi/pan/queers and GUYS THERE ARE QUEER DRAGONS TOO okay thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Have you ever wanted to read a fantasy book about dragon riders where the dragons are absolute assholes? Then you should read The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons. At a glance this has:

- adult high fantasy
- DnD inspired
- cast of characters
- queer representation
- dragons & dragonriders
- a heist

This was quite the fun adventure-type story and it follows a ragtag group of people trying to steal from a dragon hoard. The cast of characters worked really well, I loved the banter between them and the romance was very believable and quite sexy!

The Sky on Fire read almost definitely like a DnD campaign or at least some sort of TTRPG setting. I found the worldbuilding to be very imaginative and rich. We had a world where dragons are the superior species to humans and are almost lording over humanity which, honestly, makes way more sense than humans keeping gigantic dragons as pets. While they are usually regaled to being animal companions, the dragons in this book definitely had agency and their own motives.

Overall, The Sky on Fire was a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that I recommend to fans of Nicholas Eames' Kings of the Wyld. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARc in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I thought this was fun. It wasn’t anything special, but I found myself enjoying it. I do think the author tried to bite off more than they should have for a stand-alone, but it is what it is. What really bothered me was the repetition of certain phrases and actions.

However, it was still interesting to see a take where humans haven’t gained control over the dragons and dragons are actually kind of scary

An overall fun fantasy heist read with great world building and an interesting take on the ever popular dragon. Pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, Didn't fully connect with any of the characters, but the story was fun and interesting.

Unfortunately this felt very pieced together and rushed in many areas. The characters didn’t really gain much development, and the romance didn’t make me feel anything. Really disappointed :(

This was a fun read. I really enjoy it when a book has good world building and plenty of action and you get dropped right in the middle of it haha! I especially loved the take this author took on the dragon/dragon rider dynamics. That being said, I do feel like there was A LOT going on for one book and that it caused a bit of what I call reader whiplash 😂. This many elements would've been more feasible in a duology or trilogy but for one standalone book, it left me reeling a little. I also found that I didn't connect with the characters as deeply as I would've liked.

Either way, I think it was a fun read with plenty of action, a heist, dragons and queer rep!

I went between ebook and audiobook for this one and both were enjoyable! The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.

A big thanks to Tor books, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC. All opinions are my own.

Jenn Lyons' The Sky on Fire delivers an exhilarating blend of fantasy and adventure, though it sometimes feels like it’s moving at breakneck speed. The story leaps from one event to the next, which, while keeping the reader on their toes, can occasionally lead to a sense of disorientation due to the rapid pacing and frequent shifts in focus. Despite this, the novel is undeniably engaging. Lyons' world-building and character development shine through, making the characters endearing and relatable. As the story progresses, you find yourself invested in their journeys and growth. The climax of the book might feel a bit rushed, leaving some threads hanging or resolved too quickly, but it’s clear that Lyons is setting up for future installments. This rush does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book. The fast pace and energetic plot, combined with characters you grow to care about, make The Sky on Fire a compelling read.

It took me quite some time to get into this book and forever to finish it.

I love heist stories and dragons hence I figured this would be the perfect book for me...it wasn't though.

I'm someone who needs to connect with the characters on some level and I just couldn't.
Anahrod I honestly disliked from the start and the romance/relationships were also not for me (the rings 🙈).

The writing style itself, the dragons and also the world building were great, the rest just fell flat for me.

For fans of: heists, found family, dragons, throuples, lush histories, and inclusive worlds. While not as complex as A Chorus of Dragons (it is a standalone, after all), Lyons manages a fair bit of world-building that has me eager to dive into its histories.

Amazon Review submitted
Blog review goes live August 30th

TL;DR: This one felt like it couldn’t stop twisting but it worked SO well!
Source: Netgalley! Thank you to the publisher!

Plot: This one went from kidnapping, to heist, to save the family, to so much and I was just holding on enjoying the ride.
Characters: Everyone felt distinct and interesting and I was genuinely upset at several points when someone would die or be at risk. A fun and diverse cast.
Setting: This world felt very well drawn, it was a little standard with floating islands and low lands but I still really enjoyed it.
Magic: This was very fascinating and I’d love to read more books in this world just to learn more about the magic!

Thoughts:

I’m probably the last person to finally read Jenn Lyons but this won’t be my last of her books. I generally find something lacking in standalone fantasies that are longer than a novella. They reach just enough but not quite to a five star. This one breaks the mold for me though, I loved this.

We follow Anahrod as she’s living her best, exiled life in the jungle when things go sideways. She’s kidnapped and returned to the Skylands from where she came. There she is the ultimate criminal, the boogeyman and she thinks she is being returned to the Draconic ruler for her final death. Things aren’t quite that cut and dried though and we go on a wild and twisty journey that changes her world.

Everything from the characters to the setting worked so well for me. I felt a bit of a slump in pacing midway through but it didn’t detract enough from my reading to matter ultimately. I loved this. The dragons were unique, the world fascinating, and I was very invested in all the characters. I really recommend this for any Dragon Lovers out there.

5 out of 5 Dragonstones

As a big fan of Fourth Wing, you can only imagine my happiness while reading this book. We got what we were promised. Amazing adventure filled with dragons and interesting characters, what more can you ask for?

The sky on fire by jen lyons is a slow moving fantasy that unfortunately does not grip me. The characters were not interesting enough to keep me in the story.

"The Sky on Fire" offers an imaginative journey into a world ruled by dragons, with a unique blend of heist and adventure that will appeal to fans of high fantasy. The premise is intriguing, and the world-building stands out, particularly the dragon society and its customs. I appreciated the originality in the portrayal of the dragon-rider bond and the way the story explores a society beholden to these powerful creatures.

However, the book has its flaws. While the plot is engaging and the pacing kept me interested, the characters felt underdeveloped. I struggled to connect with them, and their actions often seemed to lack depth. The story also jumps around quite a bit, which made it hard to follow at times, and the magic system could have been better explained.

The action sequences, especially those happening off-page, felt like missed opportunities to add more excitement and tension. The ending, while satisfactory, didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Overall, "The Sky on Fire" is a fun read with an interesting premise, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of dragon-filled fantasies, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

The Chorus of Dragons is one of my favorite series ever, in comparison I knew a standalone heist book could not meet those highs but I did have a delightful time with this adventure fantasy standalone. If you like messy dragon rider relationships, that is touched on here and the characters are loveable archetypes that will make you feel grounded while exploring a fairly unique fantasy world, where the world building is not always spelled out for you on the page. That said a lot happens in 400 pages so if you like to sit in a fantasy book and not feel things passing you by, you might be more disappointed with this one than I was.

Things that checked my boxes:
+Dragons
+Queer rep
+Heist
+Standalone

The only real criticism I have is that the world-building is a little shaky when it comes to describing The Deep, an area that we do spend a decent amount of time in at certain points in the novel. However, Lyons does a fantastic job fleshing out the people and dragon societies up in the sky enough to paint a unique fantasy setting but not so much that it bogs down the story. Anahrod is a very compelling character with a colorful past and a well-rounded personality with strengths and weaknesses; I also loved that she's on the older side for a fantasy protagonist at 32ish. The pacing is a little slow at first, and we don't really get to any heisting until well past the halfway point, but once the group starts coming together I got properly immersed and didn't mind that the heist isn't really the main focus of the story, even if it's the plot driver. Overall though a great fantasy standalone in my opinion!!

Ahoy there me mateys! With the pretty cover, dragons in control, and author, I was sure this was going to rock.  Alas I decided to abandon ship at 32% right before Part 4.  I have been trying to finish this since July 1st and has been over a month.  I read some crew reviews for encouragement.  Instead, I have no urge to read more.  The reviews with spoilers cemented its doom.

This book is fast-paced to its detriment.  There are too many settings, too many underdeveloped characters, too many plot points, and confusing politics.  The book feels incredibly disjointed and aimless.  While I sort-of liked the main character, Anahrod, I never quite understood exactly what she wanted.  She just seemed to get thrown around by the plot.  She was rather bland.  Ris, a dragonrider, arrives for some insta-lust and frankly has awkward sexual tension with Anahrod.  There is a dude who talks in lines from plays, a girl who wants to fight with everyone.  A drake (that I liked) that is abandoned for "reasons."

I will stop here because I have honestly spent more time trying to force myself to finish the book, marshal my thoughts about what I read, and write this review then I did reading the 32% of the book.  To call this a disappointment is an understatement.  Arrrr!