This was one of my most anticipated books of this fall, unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations for it and I was incredibly disappointed in it. While I did like the writing, the story and plot were a huge miss for me.

The pacing was odd. The first third of the book is just leadup to a single event. The second third of the book is primarily characters traveling with exactly one conflict. It is not until the final third of the book that it felt like things really happened. I felt that the first two thirds of the book could have been condensed significantly and a lot more could have happened overall.

The event the first third of the book leads up to is a deception that was just not believable to me. It didn’t feel that it was particularly believable to the author either. When the MMC, who is being deceived, questions things, as he really should, someone who is on his side whispers in his ear and then all of his concerns are gone, and he moves forward. We don’t know what was whispered to him to make him continue on, but I can’t come up with anything that would have made much sense.

Our FMC suddenly suffers from an ailment that is incredibly significant, can’t be hidden, and will most certainly continue to ail her. A witch comes to her rescue and suddenly she wakes up and is all better other than this ailment definitely happening again at some point. The witch tells her she can’t help or explain and sends her on her way. This just made no sense. Clearly something helped her, there is no way, in her position, that I would just leave without answers. This whole scenario just felt lazy and like a way to move the plot along.

We have a final big twist, but it was a twist that I predicted rather early on and with one bit of information in the middle, I had no doubt where this was going. I wanted to be wrong because I am not a fan of something so predictable, but unfortunately I was correct in where the story was going.

This also felt very YA, but with an adult level of spice. The characters came across as very immature and I really struggled to connect with them in any way.

Overall, this was an unfortunate miss for me. At this point, I seem to be in the minority on this, so I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Honestly? Not bad.

The beginning (roughly 1/3 of the book) felt like your standard romantasy with an underdog heroine and a gruff, beefy warrior as the MMC. It was slow and somewhat predictable but entertaining nonetheless. I did have to take a few breaks here and there and asked outloud “where are the dragons” a few times. It continued on for roughly halfway through the book… and then things changed.

And I had my suspicions about certain characters but I was never quite sure where exactly it would go and who would be affected. After the first big reveal the plot started to come together and I knew what the next big “reveal” would be but it was still glorious.

This had some great plot devices in it and was unique enough from other romantasy that I was pleasantly caught off-guard. The writing took some getting used to as it felt bit bogged down by all the extra internal monologuing but the story itself was pretty decent!

If you liked certain elements of Blood and Steel as well as Glint you may like some of the characters here as well. The romance was pretty much instalust and lacking any build up or push and pull or soft, sweet pining feelings. So if you’re only interested in the build up of a sweet romantic relationship, this will not be the book for you. Oh and… yes, dragons. There are in fact dragons.

This book was CRAZY.
Imagine the winter king meets the fourth wing and sprinkles of some ???????.
It was WILD girlies. As an oblivious reader, I was just perplexed as I kept reading. If I keep talking about the story, I might spoil it.
Join if you want to be shaken and a little upset. The book ended too soon, from my point of view.

First, thank you to Avon & NetGalley for the chance to read!! This one was way up my alley.

Before I get into my review, I will stress that I never read Jordan's YA novels, which may be part of my problems with this novel... The first half was amazing, and I loved getting the introduction into this world, but then it quickly fell apart in terms of pacing.

Everything moved so fast that I lost that connection to Tamsyn, and to Fell, and it seemed like the book became just a means to the real action (in book 2). Even the romance - which is definitely the heart of this story - totally slips off the page. I'll probably read book 2 when it comes out because my curiosity is there, but the best readers for this one are those who already know they click with Jordan's writing style.

4.25/5 for me. This is a well balanced, quick, romantasy read. I don’t think you can get many quick fantasy reads nowadays so I really liked that for this, and it didn’t cut down on the space in order to do it 🤌

Here are some spoiler free notes

⭐️So the first half of the book to me was a little more medieval-esque minus a few mythical mentions and I felt like the fantasy really came in closer to the end, but that’s okay.
⭐️ I was NOT drowned out too much in the beginning with world building, but there was still some information towards the middle of the book that came about a little randomly that sort of confused me. Nonetheless I pushed on and (sort of) figured it out as we went on.
⭐️ Zaddy Fell, what can I say?? I sort of knew how everything would eventually fizzle out in the book with Tamsyn, but I loved the ride. Sweet zaddy Fell has a soft spot for our little red headed girly pop and boy am I heeeeeere for it

Honestly, I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed it, but unfortunately I need the next book immediately or I will have to hack into the authors computer :/

Thank you to the publisher & netgalley for the ARC!

Raised in the palace alongside the princesses, orphan Tamsyn is more than a “sister” she is the royal whipping girl. Considering it her duty to suffer and protect the princesses and knowing that she may never see the only family she’s ever known again, she agrees to don a veil and marry the Beast of the Borderlands in a deception that could end in violence and most certainly lead to an unhappy marriage. But even as these secrets emerge, there are deeper deceptions buried in the history of a kingdom that believes that dragons are extinct, witches are exiled, and magic is dying.
I devoured this book. Even though the first half is utterly predictable (and laid out in the description), I couldn’t help but read on in the hopes of catching a hint of the magic buried within Tamsyn, not to mention the palpable tension between Tamsyn and Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands.
As far as spice, the wedding scene was the first and most satisfying. None of the other encounters lived up to the promise, often feeling rushed. I don’t need a book to be spicy, but when it leads with that much heat, I expect the rest of the book to rise to the occasion. I would have loved for this book to invest more time in developing the relationship between Tamsyn and Fell, both in and out of the bedroom. That being said, I will eagerly await the next book in this series.

A magical and twisted beauty and the beast retelling. Marrying herself to the monster that attacked her village, we follow her through plans of lies and deceit. Of course, she will need to survive to be successful.

This book is going to be a hit.

The characters are strong and interesting. The world is interesting. Knights and dragons. Romantasy. Touch her and die. It’s sweet and a quick/easy read. The fantasy world is light, nothing complex to understand. It’s not a deep obsession book, but it is great. Fast paced. Can’t put down.

I’m not exactly sure how I’m supposed to wait who knows how long for the sequel that hasn’t even been announced. I need it now. I need more Fell and more Tamsyn. I need answers. There isn’t a crazy big cliffhanger, so you won’t feel tortured waiting but you also will want to read the next one.

Thanks to Harper Collins and Sophie Jordan for the advanced copy. I had no idea what I was getting, but I’m so so happy I got to read this and recommend everyone keep it on their radar for release!

Fire in the Sky" is an enchanting tale of love and resilience, set in a world of dragons and magic. The story follows Tamsyn, a character who, despite not being a true princess, is raised as one and ends up being offered as a bride to a fearsome beast. The unexpected relationship that develops between Tamsyn and the "beast" is the heartbeat of the story, and it's a captivating journey of love and inner strength. The book also weaves in a beautiful message about the indomitable nature of magic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and eagerly anticipate the next chapter in Tamsyn's journey.

Really liked this book. Sophie Jordan has a way of bringing you in with her writing. It's so addicting and easy to get through. The romance was amazing and well paced, iny opinion. The plot was super interesting. This felt very original, which surprised me, do to the popular dragon books out right now, cannot wait for more from Sophie Jordan, would definitely recommend. Thanks NetGalley and Publisher!

This is my first Sophie Jordan book. I am not familiar with her other work. This was a good book that kept me wanting to read it to find out what happens. I just didn’t connect that well with the POV characters.

thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book for my honest review

Thank you so much for a copy of this book to read and ponder. While the book started out well I thought the way the story was divided to be different and a little off putting. The way the characters Tamsin and Fell connected but the eventual shun of Tamsin was tolerable. I liked the story but the skipping irked me.

A solid fantasy romance that is definitely unique. However, something about it lacked for me. I think people will be excited to pick this one up but it wasn’t completely for me unfortunately

A Fire in the Sky is a romantasy that follows Tamsyn, a royal whipping girl who is deceitfully married to a brutal warrior from the north. Tricked into marrying Tamsyn instead of one of the true princesses, Fell is furious that his plans to gain influence and push for change have been thwarted. However, he can’t deny his feelings for Tamsyn and the strange connection they share.

Something I found interesting throughout the story is that it’s never clear who the enemy really is. From different perspectives, it seems there are many monsters, both literally and figuratively, that Tamsyn and the others must face. And it’s clear that deception, secrets, and more have blurred the lines between truth and lies.

Tamsyn has suffered abuse in the princess's name for her entire life. The violence she endured is terrible, as is the manipulation and brainwashing that she and others face. Tamsyn's physical journey also takes her on an emotional odyssey, and the truth slowly reveals itself and changes her perspective. Her character is layered and interesting, and I wish some of the other characters were fleshed out as well as she and Fell were.

Tamsyn and Fell have an incredible amount of chemistry from their very first meeting, I liked both of the characters and that the story switched between their perspectives. It also is told from Tamsyn's friends point of view, which reveals a bit of a love triangle. This isn’t my favorite trope, and I think the story could have done without it. After the betrayal, it takes time for Fell to reconcile his feelings for Tamsyn, and there are parts of their love story that felt a little drawn out and repetitive. I wanted to shake this brooding warrior who should surely have been able to see that Tamsyn had and continues to have no choice. Nevertheless, I still rooted for the two of them and hoped that they could get past the past and be a united front against their enemies.

There are other parts of the story that I also wish were explained more, especially in relation to the world-building and dragons and witches, though I think a lot of it will be expanded on as the series progresses. The story went in a direction I kind of expected, and though it wasn't surprising, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I have A LOT of questions! lol

Also, I would definitely recommend checking out the content warnings before starting the book because there are some parts that might be difficult to read. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Hits the ground running and never lets up!

Tamsyn is the royal whipping girl. Raised with the princesses and made to take their punishments, she still sees the royals as her own family. When the barbarian lord from the Borderlands, Fell, comes to court demanding a princess as his bride, they trick him into taking Tamsyn instead.
This is a great book! We start with meeting Tamsyn during a whipping. Immediately Fell comes into the picture.

There is so much happening and quite a bit of world-building, but it never feels confusing or hard to understand. It’s so perfectly wrapped up in the story that you hardly notice it. Dragons and witches are supposed to be gone from the world, but the world is bigger than they realize. The immediate heat between Fell and Tamsyn is very all consuming from the start. Fell is sweeter than you would think. He cares deeply for his people and only wants a seat at the table. There are multiple POV, and I love getting a look into everyone’s heads. There is so much more to this book. It is a perfect set-up to a fabulous series

Sophie Jordan's A Fire in the Sky offers a refreshingly unique concept that draws readers into its fiery embrace. The novel introduces a captivating storyline with a blend of romance and suspense that sets it apart from other books in its genre.

One of the standout features of the book is the male lead. His character is richly developed and brings a compelling mix of charm and depth that readers will find engaging. His presence alone adds a significant amount of allure and emotional complexity to the narrative.

However, while the book's premise and the main male character are noteworthy, the overall writing style left something to be desired. The prose sometimes felt a bit too anchored in a young adult tone, which occasionally detracted from the novel's more mature themes. That said, Jordan manages to infuse the story with just the right amount of adult spice, keeping it both steamy and engaging.

In summary, A Fire in the Sky is a mixed bag. It boasts a unique concept and a charismatic lead, but its writing style may not fully satisfy those looking for a more mature literary experience. If you're a fan of romance with a touch of suspense and don't mind a younger tone, this book might still be worth your while.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5, open door, explicit, 2ish scenes
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Feelings after turning the last page: okay I already need book 2 and book 1 hasn’t come out yet 😂
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Review: Wow wow wow. I read this in less than 24 hours; I loved this book so much!!! I was fully invested in the story from beginning to end. An amazing start to a new Romantasy series!!! Obsessed with both the FMC and the MMC. I loved the multiple POVs and the different magical beings we’ve already encountered. The writing was great and I’m so excited for book 2 already!!!

i am OBSESSED with a fire in the sky by sophie jordan, and i can’t wait for the next installment of this series! this book was left on QUITE the cliffhanger and i will be so curious to see what happens next!

i loved tamsyn as a character (and to be honest i love the name tamsyn, i think it’s so fun). she was strong willed and stubborn, but also very empathetic to others and loyal to her friends/family. her character development was also 10/10! i loved where tamsyn began and where she ended up!

fell was also LOVELY, he is your run of the mill possessive, “touch her and die” mmc, but his character was executed PERFECTLY by the author.

overall i loved this book, id recommend it for anyone needing a semi-spicy fantasy that will have you hooked from the very beginning!

A Fire In The Sky - Review

This book had me engaged from the first chapter. I enjoyed the multiple narrations, especially from the heroine, Tamsyn, who starts off from humble beginnings. She arrives in a basket as a baby at the palace and is adopted by the king and queen to be raised as a princess but is given the role of “whipping girl,” fated to accept punishment for her adopted sisters’ transgressions. Tamsyn is overly protective of her adoptive sisters and accepts the role she plays in their lives. It’s noble but frustrating because, deep down, she knows she doesn’t belong.

The story opens with Tamsyn’s arranged marriage to the “Beast of the Borderlands,” as an act of deception by the crown. We are introduced to the main male character, Fell, known for his heroism, brutality on the battlefield, and reputation as a beast. He wishes to be rewarded for his heroism by marrying a princess of Penterra. This is where the crown deceives him and uses Tamsyn as a pawn in their game.

Magic is alive in Tamsyn and Fell and they must now discover the true nature of their powers as dragons and discover how they are destined to use it.

I would have liked to see more exploration of the true parentage of Tamsyn and Fell and why they are so magnetically drawn to each other. The pacing of the book was, at times, too fast, and at other times, repetitively slow. Another round of editing is warranted to improve the pacing of the story from the wedding night to the end of the book. The steamy scenes and chemistry between the FMC and MMC were just right to keep me engaged.

Overall, I could NOT put this book down. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the final version of this book as well as the next installment.

Thank you, Avon and NetGalley, for this ARC to read and review.

Sophie Jordan's talent shines through in her ability to craft complex, multi-dimensional characters like Tamsyn and Fell. The way their paths intertwine is a testament to her storytelling prowess, leaving readers intrigued.

The book reads like a traditional YA, with a simple and straightforward storyline. Whether it's the author's intention or my overactive ADHD brain making inferences, the important plot points are clearly foreshadowed, which can make the reading experience less suspenseful.

The way Sophie Jordan has set up the story, I can't help but look forward to reading the subsequent books. The anticipation is real and I'm eager to see where the story goes next.