"Six of Crows" meets "Fourth Wing" - dragons, magic, a heist, found family, action and a whole lot of things going wrong!!

This action-packed novel follows the adventure of a girl who is suppose to be dead- the misfits who need her help and dragons who can control their riders!

A great read, though I needed some more romance in there to completely draw me in (personal preference only and not a comment on the book itself). The plot was well developed and the characters are broad that everyone will have a favourite no matter their preferences.
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and all the twists and turns that came with it!
🌟🌟🌟

It's a heist! With dragons! The world building felt complete without too much info dumping, and although I wasn't thrilled about going to dragon school everything about it made sense (sorry, Fourth Wing). Although the characters were all true adults, it felt like there was a love triangle being set up a la YA ... until it turned into a triad. (I was very happy about that one, NGL. Why choose, indeed?)

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I am pretty disappointed in this book, it has so much potential and so many cool and unique elements but I felt it was too rushed and tried to squeeze too many things in but it all happened too fast for me to get invested in the characters or plot. I liked the dragons and how the magic worked with them, I also loved the queernormative world and how the system of rings you wore told others how you identified and what romantic interests you had. It had so many interesting elements but it just felt like it needed to be a duology or trilogy to truly feel invested in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for granting me access in exchange for an honest review

I am so sad I didn’t like this book. I loved her Chorus of Dragons series, but this one felt lost. There wasn’t really a plot, so the main character’s actions and motivations felt random and nonsensical. I couldn’t engage or feel excited in the book as I had no idea where it was going or what the point was. The author almost made it feel like it was supposed to be a dark romance with what turned our characters on, but left so many scenes almost unfinished that the scenes felt unnecessary and rushed. The attraction between characters literally made no sense as even though we were in our main character’s mind, it was all action, no real thought. We had no idea how she felt being hunted and kidnapped and threatened with death. She just went one scene to the next seemingly unfazed by most things.

"The Sky on Fire" by Jenn Lyons catapults readers into a spellbinding fantasy realm where intrigue, magic, and epic stakes converge in a breathtaking narrative. As the second installment in the Chorus of Dragons series, this book picks up the threads of the gripping saga that began with "The Ruin of Kings," expanding upon its intricate world and multifaceted characters.

Lyons masterfully weaves together multiple perspectives and timelines, immersing readers in a tale where ancient prophecies, divine schemes, and personal vendettas collide. At the heart of the story is Kihrin D'Mon, a reluctant hero grappling with his destiny as a savior or destroyer of worlds. As Kihrin navigates the complexities of power and loyalty, he encounters a diverse cast of allies and adversaries, each with their own agendas and secrets.

The world-building in "The Sky on Fire" is richly textured, with each chapter unveiling new layers of mythology and history that deepen the intrigue. Lyons' prose is vivid and evocative, painting scenes of breathtaking landscapes and intense battles that leap off the page. The narrative's pacing is relentless, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with twists and revelations that reshape everything they thought they knew about the characters and the world they inhabit.

Beyond its fantastical elements, the novel delves into themes of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of wielding power. It explores the complexities of relationships forged in adversity and the moral dilemmas faced by those who must make decisions that affect entire civilizations.

"The Sky on Fire" is a tour de force in epic fantasy, blending intricate plotting, compelling characters, and profound thematic depth. Lyons proves herself a master storyteller, delivering a thrilling continuation that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Kihrin's journey. For fans of epic fantasy seeking a world to lose themselves in, "The Sky on Fire" offers an unforgettable adventure into realms both familiar and fantastical.

A fun dragon filled heist adventure! This one is fun if you’re up for a fair amount of world building and characters to keep up with. I enjoyed the adventure and alternated between reading and listening. I preferred listening so I could hear the names pronounced and the voices of the characters!

If you’re into high fantasy, heists and dragons, check this one out!

Thank you to Tor Books and Maximillian audio for the ARC/ALC.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this book.
This was a good dragon rider book. The set up and execution of a heist and adventure made for a fun story. As well as It's dungeon and dragons-ish premises that makes it a fun read. The discussions and secrets on how the dragons came to be and about the gods that they worship was a nice look at the history of this world. This could be a stand alone book but I'm hoping there will be more books based in this world. This was the first book of Jenn Lyons that I have read, but I have had her a chorus of dragons series on my to read list for some time. So I think this was a good book to start with before diving into that series.

This was a fun and fast paced fantasy novel. I love books about dragons and heists and this one worked really well for me!

All of the characters are uniquely written and distinctive. While we follow mostly from Anahrod, I still got a good sense of the other characters.

The plot is faced paced, though almost too fast sometimes. There were a few moments that I wished we had some time to sit in.

This world is richly described and I enjoyed being in the pages.

Overall, I enjoyed my time reading this and hope to see more set in this world!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I was very excited for this book. Dragons, heists and misfits is my perfect book. I feel like there’s something missing in the story and that’s why I’m giving it 4 stars

Holy smokes. This was so good. It held my attention and the characters were so amazing. I could not put this book down at all

This is a placeholder for now as I'm a couple of days behind on my reading, but I wanted to make sure I got something out today.

I've read the first 30% of this tonight, and I'm pretty sure this is going to be a 5* book. I'm only forcing myself to stop reading because I have work in the morning.

I love Jenn Lyons, and the author has not failed in creating another unique world full with intrigues and plots and dragons! I'm super hooked already and can't wait to see what happens next.

Edit:

I was right. This book didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it.

I would love to see more of the worldbuilding, in terms of the Deep. It seems like a cool, hellish landscape, and I hope more will come of that.

I love the characters. They're intriguing, and it's interesting to see the dynamics between everyone and how it all plays out.

This can work as a standalone, but I really hope there is more to come!

Unfortunately, I ended up not finishing this one. I was really excited about the premise of the story, but I truly felt like I was reading the second book in the series rather than the lead. I really didn’t connect with many of the characters. I would say Anarhod was probably the most enjoyable, but the secondary characters were very much forgettable.l for me. I’m kind of bummed!

Dragons, heists, and a group of misfits. Anahrod spends her time trying to survive and being accompanied by her dragon, so when she is saved from being captured by a local warlord by a group of adventurers she thinks she's survived... only the group needs her for their own purposes, to steal from a dragon's hoard. The bigger problem besides trying to teal from a dragon is the fact that the very dragon they are trying to steal from wants her dead. This is a standalone fantasy story and it's a pretty thick read as well. The story kind of just immediately drops you into the world and if I'm being honest I just wasn't all that interested in the characters or the story. It initially sounded like so much fun and like something I would absolutely love reading however I just found myself getting bored and disassociating while reading it unfortunately.

Release Date: July 9,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I enjoyed this story and would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, dragons and heists! That said, some of the worldbuilding could have been done a bit better. I found it confusing at times and was left wanting it to be a bit more than it was.

Anahrod doesn’t trust dragons or dragon riders for a very good reason, however as she’s rescued by a dragon rider and her misfit crew, Anahrod believes her past might be catching up to her. an adventurous fantasy filled with dragons. magic and LGBTQ romance.

I always love books with dragons, no matter the age range or genre, if it has dragons there’s a high possibility of me picking it up, and this book delivers, with multiple dragons both friend and foe throughout the novel, however, I do wish we got to explore the dragons and their lore a little bit more personally.

I love the world-building in this novel, with people living in “the deep” on the ground and “the Skylanders” who live among the clouds in the mountains with the dragons, I felt like this made the story interesting and added more conflict than just the dragons. but the pace felt too rushed at the start and felt disjointed with the rest of the story, the rest of the book’s pacing is at a much slower pace, except the ending which once again sped up but felt a bit more natural than the first part.

One thing that really disappointed me was that I was advertised as a heist book, yes it’s a main part of the story, but it’s not THE story, this book has so much to offer and selling it mainly as a heist, felt like selling it short.

If you are looking for a dragon-filled fantasy with LGBTQ characters and high stakes this book is for you.

I LOVE dragons. As soon as I know a book has dragons, I am sold. Say less.

This book was a thrilling adventure! Initially, juggling numerous characters and a complex world felt overwhelming. However, once the intricate politics and magic system clicked into place, I was fully immersed in a captivating tale brimming with wit, emotion, and, of course, dragons!

The unexpected heist element added a thrilling twist to what could have been a straightforward good-versus-evil conflict. The characters were a fascinating mix, both endearing and infuriating, with rich backstories and distinct personalities. While the garden rings concept was cleverly woven into the plot, a quick reference guide might have been beneficial.

This was a solid three, but I was really hoping for more from it. I loved the twist on how dragons are usually portrayed, and I really liked the world building with the contrast between the Deep and the Sky. The characters were all super fun, but they just never quite grabbed my heart. I wanted to love them but they just felt tooooo try-hard at times. The twist on the kink element was also fun - I love this authors ideas, but that just makes me hold them to a higher standard!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy for review!

Review posted to Goodreads 7/10/24

The book has an amazing premise that promises a high-stakes heist set in a world where dragons have the upper hand -- a Six of Crows plot set in a Fourth Wing atmosphere. Although the book does offer all that, it's missing a lot to make it a stand-out and addicting fantasy book.

The world building
The world itself is not necessarily complex, but it does take a long time to get into the nitty gritty of its landscape. The copy I was provided did not provide a map, but it would have been helpful. The dragons itself and their dynamics aren't introduced until much later in the book, and at that point it felt rushed to fill in the story's gaps. I felt like the plot was stalled for the first half of the book (which is extremely long for a 450 page book) and lacks motivation.

The characters
I liked Anahrod's character -- she's capable and has grit, but also has flaws of her own that make her a fantastic protagonist. Some of the side characters are extremely forgettable and lacks character development. The romance aspects felt rushed and thrown together, which is disappointing considering the potential for sapphic and poly representation.

Overall, the book feels like it's trying to accomplish too much without ever focusing on and perfecting one aspect that could make it stand out. It's entertaining, especially near the end of the book, but that doesn't make up the lack of character development and awkward pacing.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have always been a huge Anne McCaffery fan. Nothing has ever held a candle to her phenomenal Dragonriders of Pern series. But Jenn Lyons may have just created her own modern masterpiece. Going into this story I was excited it was a standalone. Now I'm hoping Lyons may mirror a master and create all the stories in her own incredible world.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the arc

For now this is going to be a DNF for me!

The premise of this book sounds brilliant. Standalone fantasy, dragons, a heist, absolutely my cup of tea. Unfortunately the book just couldn't grip me the way I wanted it to and it's taken me a few weeks to barely reach the halfway mark.

Starting this book I felt as though I had picked up a second book in the series by accident. While the world-building is incredibly the interesting, it felt as though I had missed the part where the world is explained and explored which left me with lots of questions and quite confused. I had very little connection with the characters and I think this was due to the pace of the plot.

I've seen some really positive reviews so your mileage may vary!

Thank you again to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.