This plot lost me. By 40% the only thing that had happened was the arranged marriage..? IMO the first person internal monologue takes away from experiencing the world building and even the romance didn’t land for me. Wasn’t rooting for either of the characters, and the dragon component wasn’t at all what I expected.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sophie Jordan weaves together an fascinating premise paired with complex characters in her novel "A Fire in the Sky." Jordan did an excellent job exploring the ideas surrounding duty versus self-advocacy. I also thought Tamsyn, the FMC, was a compelling character, especially with the whole concept of the "whipping girl" and how Jordan fits that role into the medieval-inspired world she created. There were also a few beautifully written moments, and the take on dragons in this magical world was interesting.

Yet, the execution and pacing fell short. For a majority of the novel, not a lot happened. In fact, most of it took place on the journey to Fell's homeland, which led the ending, where a lot of moving parts connected and were set in motion, to ultimately feel too rushed. Also, dragons did not even become relevant and appear until over halfway through the book. I also wasn't a fan of the "marriage trick," as it put a bad taste in my mouth.

One of the most heartbreaking parts of this novel surrounded the character Stig, as his whole character arc was squandered. At the beginning, he was complex and likeable, paired with a history and upbringing that allowed the reader to understand why he made the choices he did. His and Tamsyn's relationship was deep and interesting as they stood on the line between friendship to something more their entire lives. Yet, as the novel progressed, it felt as if all of his character development sputtered out. Where his motives were clear in his point-of-view, Jordan rushed through his few chapters and had him make confusing, almost foolish choices at the end. And his final act, that ultimately led to his doom, was so out of character for him, which I imagine was done for "shock factor"--which may have worked if there had been hints of that throughout the story.

Thank you to HarperCollins NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review

For the romantasy vibes and DRAGONS, this became an unexpected favourite. I loved the worldbuilding and plot, as well as the lead character.

I was given this as an ARC a while back and never started it because I wasn't in the mood. There are so many multi-part romantasy novels coming out that this got 'lost' on my book shelf. I ended up getting the audiobook and listening to it. The audiobook was well done and I enjoyed listening to it.

~~What I liked~~
-The plot was interesting enough. It wasn't super original and nothing stood out to me as Earth-shattering, but the pacing was good and it was short enough that I didn't feel bored.
-The characters were good. There were four POV in the book, but the majority were from the FMC, Tamsyn. She was an interesting character, but nothing too exciting.
-The writing was also decent.

~~What I didn't like~~
-The romance came out of left field. I'm not sure how all of a sudden the MMC <I>needs</I> her, when she is gone.
-There were some plot points that just didn't make sense, like her unquestioned healing abilities.
-The plot wasn't super convoluted, but there were enough things about the world and history of the world, that it was a bit confusing.


Overall, I didn't hate my time reading this, but it didn't blow me away. With so many books to choose from, I'm not sure I'll be finishing this series.

Thanks Netgalley, Sophie Jordan and Harper Collins for letting me read this E-ARC!
Overall I found this to be a fast read with likable charaters and Great world building without it going into heavy detail..
I would recommended this novel for anyone who likes the Arranged/Forced Marrige trope.
My personal rating is a solid 4.5 stars !.

Fire in the Sky was an amazing introduction to this new fantasy series I was captivated and cannot wait for the next installment!

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"I don't know which is more treacherous. Humans or love. In the end, both will fail you."

I would like to thank Avon and Harper Voyager, Netgalley, Harper Audio and Libro.fm for a copy of this eARC and audioARC. You give me dragons and an enemies to lovers, arranged marriage and i'm there. I'll beg if I have to for more of it.

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones world, and the story telling style of A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen, this is a book for you. I wasn't even half way through this book before I was screaming at my cousin and best friend to read it. I couldn't talk about it enough.

I've said it once and I'll say it again--nothing ever hits quite as a hard as a good enemies to lovers, and while I love a slow burn story, I adored that the bedding scene allowed us to get a sneak peek rigth away at what their dynamic would be for the romance of this book.

I will say I was incredibly confused at the beginning because they kept refering to her as a princess, and that the other princesses were her sisters, but also "not by blood", so I went through the first waurter of the book thinking she was a bastard to the king if i'm honest. It didn't stop me from enjoying but finally understanding that they view the whipping girl AS family, gave me clarity I needed to continue forward.

Speaking complex court relationships, Stigg's proposal made me cringe and nausous the same way Criston Cole did in House of the Dragon. Read the room bro. And him sitting in on the bedding ceremony was just the biggest ick ever for him. Obviously we get more insight later on why, but lord, that was rough.

I feel stuck now trying to figure out what to talk about next, it was all just so good. The dynamic with Fell, her own revelations about herself and the magic she carries, the secrets the Queen had kept from her, the betrayal of who she trusted most in the world, and the protection of who she never expected. The story kept me enthralled from begining to end, and I spent half the book thinking it was a standalone and trying to figure out how she would wrap it up in the next few chapters, only to jump for joy when I found out it would have a sequel.

I need more of this relationship, I need more of this world, I need more from this author, and I will continue to pick up anything and everything Sopie Jordan writes. Book two cannot come quick enough with the cliff we were left hanging from.

When I first requested this I didn’t know that it was going to be connected to this author’s YA series Firelight. I read those back when I was in high school and enjoyed them a lot! So when I found out these were connected I was even more happy to read this.
I was disappointed.
I do enjoy the idea that this is pretty much an origin story for the dragon shifters that are introduced in the YA series but it was done poorly.
The romance made no sense. Forced/arranged marriage trope where, as soon as they consummate the marriage, the guy is entranced. He’s possessive and believes she’s everything and they barely had a real conversation. While in her case, she just wants to have more sex with him and is stupid the whole book.
The pacing was all over the place. Nothing was happening for a fantasy. I was excited for dragons but they weren’t relevant until past the halfway mark. Why market this as a dragon book when it’s not the main focus?
Reading this makes me question if the original trilogy was good or maybe it was just my high school self enjoying anything with dragons.

A Fire in the Sky offers an addictive blend of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue, with a forced marriage trope and the promise of dragons. Tamsyn, raised as a royal whipping girl, is thrust into a dangerous situation when she’s given as a false bride to the warlord Fell, sparking slow-burning chemistry and a journey filled with secrets. While the dynamic between Tamsyn and Fell is engaging, the pacing feels uneven at times, and some plot points lack depth. Despite its intriguing premise and moments of tension, the story ultimately feels surface-level, but it’s still a fun and accessible romantasy read for those looking for a quick escape.

Purple prose and sweet, flowery writing does not make up for the lack of plot and direction of this book. I had hoped for so much more because, honestly, what girl doesn't love a good romance book that also has dragons? However, plot was directionless, characters were not great, world building was lacking. And then again, maybe I had higher hopes and need to re-read this with a lower standard.

If you're looking for a fantasy romance with political intrigue, a forced marriage trope, and the promise of dragons, A Fire in the Sky delivers an addictive read. Tamsyn, raised as the royal whipping girl, has lived a life of servitude in the palace—until she’s offered up as a false bride to the fearsome warlord Fell. What follows is a whirlwind of deception, slow-burning chemistry, and a journey that unearths long-buried secrets about Tamsyn’s true identity.

The dynamic between Tamsyn and Fell is gripping, with plenty of tension, misunderstandings, and reluctant attraction that keeps the pages turning. The worldbuilding is intriguing, hinting at a lost age of magic and dragons that I hope gets expanded in future books. While the pacing felt uneven at times—especially in the middle sections—and some plot points could have used more depth, the story still held my attention from start to finish.

The audiobook narration is phenomenal, adding an extra layer of immersion to the story. If you enjoy forced proximity, slow-burn romance, and hidden magic, this is one to check out. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!

Unfortunately, DNF at 30%. I just wasn’t enjoying it. What exactly is the plot?! I’m not sure. I can’t force myself to read romantacy.

This is seriously one of the best books I’ve read in a while!!! It has an arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, and dragons!! Need I say more? No, but let me just say, Fell (or “the beast” is such a strong but delightful teddy bear when it comes to Tamsyn. Our girl Tam has literally been abused her whole life a the royal whipping girl when this fine af warrior man rides up to the castle and demands a bride. While he isn’t super thrilled about the outcome, he never mistreats her in ANY way! I need book 2 now, no joke! Why isn’t there a release date yet?!?!

This book was fine but nothing ground-breaking. I enjoyed it well enough, but I probably won’t go out of my way to recommend it.

Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Character Archs: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I can't say enough about this book!

This book has everything you could ask for wrapped up in a tiny little package. It's quick pasted and a short read at just around 300 pages, the plot twists are fabulous. The tension and the banter between the FMC and the MMC are swoon worthy. The world building was ripe and easy to follow. I really think this book is a good time for anybody who needs a good romantic cleanser.

Rfmc is the Royal whipping girl, she's aging out and doesn't really know what to do with her life, but she's been treated as a princess aside from the whippings. Are MMC is a broody warrior who is the reason the humans won the war against the dragons, but the kingdom doesn't really like him. He comes to the kingdom requesting a bride for all that he's done, and they tell him sure we'll give you a princess. The wedding night ensues, it is quite spicy 👀 and once the marriage is official, the FMC reveals herself to be his bride and not an actual princess. Chaos ensues. I LOVED this book! So many plot twists!!

A fascinating start to a series that had me on the edge of my seat for more. I was in a bit of a book slump right before picking up this book and didn’t have high expectations. I am so glad that I was wrong. This book had romance and suspense. The characters were likable and the emotions the characters felt were well displayed. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.

This offers a quick and accessible romantasy read, but while the premise holds promise, the execution was disappointing. The concept of a protagonist serving as a royal whipping girl is certainly intriguing and sets the stage for what could have been a powerful and emotional story. However, Tamsyn’s passivity as a character made it difficult to feel invested in her journey. Despite her tragic upbringing, she seems to accept her circumstances with little resistance or personal growth.

The romance also felt underdeveloped. Fell’s rapid change of heart—from disdain to devotion—wasn’t convincing,. Tamsyn’s interactions with Stig were similarly lacking in depth and I'm not sure why it even needed to be a love triangle since Tamsyn didn't even know Stig's 'feelings' for her. His view of her seemed more about his own feelings than her value as an individual, leaving their dynamic feeling shallow and toxic.

Additionally, the story’s pacing was uneven. Much of the plot felt slow and repetitive, with key details revisited multiple times from different perspectives, which didn’t add much. While the final moments picked up, the journey there felt predictable and lacked the tension or surprises I was hoping for.

That said, the narration of the audiobook was fantastic and added a lot to the experience. The narrator’s performance brought energy and emotion, even when the story itself faltered.

While this was fun enjoyable moments, it ultimately felt a bit surface-level. Fans of light romantasy might still enjoy it for its simplicity, but it may not linger in your thoughts for long. It certainly won't in mine.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I… don’t know? While I found myself moving through this story very quickly and I would be curious to see what a second installment would entail based on that ending, I didn’t find myself super engaged with the rest of the story. The pacing was slow, it took up to 60% of the way through to get to any true substance, and the chemistry between our main characters is basically non-existent and you want to convince me that they are attracted to one another?

I liked the IDEA of this story. Again, the ending did make me incredibly curious about a sequel with what I would imagine will have a more fleshed out plot line. I just feel that this book falls flat in its overall execution.

Don’t even get me started about the flowery writing, regular use of … for ✨dramatic pauses✨ and the presence of short, little sentence right in a row like: “And something else. Something more. Something I had…” and etc. LITTERED throughout… drove me absolutely insane.

This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

It didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I was really excited by the premise and hoped to be swept up in the story, but I found the pacing a bit slow and the plot didn’t quite grip me as I’d hoped. The characters had potential, but I struggled to connect with them on a deeper level. While there were some intriguing moments, the overall experience left me wanting more. It’s a 2.5-star read for me—there were sparks of something good, but it didn’t fully ignite.