The premise of this book was fascinating. The whole idea of the limited resource being fought over with elements of colonization and the story from different points of view all added to the layers making it a rich tale. I have to say there was a larger element of confusion than I am typically comfortable with when reading a book. While the story was good it was not enough to make up for the lack of explanation so I always felt like I only knew about 50% of what was happening.

This book held so much promise. I want to start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I really like the premise, and I think it is a serviceable debut. I hope for a little cleaner editing to help it all come together.

Overall, the author’s voice was strong. There was a clear voice for each pov character, which is sometimes hard to do. And the plot points flowed nicely. It kept my interest.

I think my biggest issue was that there was almost too much hinting at past events in an unrealistic way. I think with a little more cleaning up, the mystery around the event could have been brought on in more subtle ways rather than forcing it into the dialogue and inner monologues.

Overall, definitely an author to follow. The ideas and voice are there. Experience will make the rest!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Bindery for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

I was so absorbed from the beginning. The writing style and world building were spectacular. I always adore a ragtag group of companions and was very satisfied with my read. 5e book does a great job tackling such relevant and important topics through fiction and fantasy. Climate fiction is so important today in our way of viewing the world and bringing attention to younger readers. I truly enjoyed this title.

This world was absolutely fascinating! It did drag a little in parts, I felt, but I overall enjoyed this.

I had to drag myself through this book. I completely understand the message the author was trying to convey, but at times it felt way too heavy handed. I struggled to know who the characters were and what their individual motivations were. Given the synopsis, I was expecting a heist and was sorely disappointed on that front.

I'm a sucker for dystopian fantasy and this one was powerful! With three distinct and evocative POVs, this author spins a story of compelling political intrigue at the end of the world. The characters develop with the story, slowly revealing new things even as the plot thickens and grows treacherous. The world-building was excellent with clear atmosphere and great prose that kept me engaged with the story from the beginning when fantasy books are at their most confusing.

This book took me back to my youth and love for dystopian fiction, and brought it about with a darker twist (though all dystopias are rather dark). I would recommend this to anyone looking to read an excellent standalone fantasy, dark political intrigue, and/or an homage to our own failing climate.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!

Thank you to Bindery Books for the advanced electronic copy!

This was a unique and well-thought out futuristic sci-fi climate dystopia novel. I felt a little lost at times with some of the world building and characters, but I think that was more on me for being distracted from the book by my daily life. I enjoyed the characters and the writing style, even when I didn't always remember who was who, and thought this was a fresh new take on the concept of various groups depending on and fighting over a limited resource - in this case, calor, a sort of blood rain that falls from the sky and powers their world, but is dangerous for humans to come into direct contact with. If you liked Dune, give this a try.

And the Sky Bled caught my attention with its unique premise and kept me reading with its fast paced structure.

What I loved
1. Magic being tied to a fairly limited resource is particularly interesting in that it builds scarcity into the narrative allowing for more natural development of social hierarchy and risk of social collapse than most magic systems allow for.

2. dialogue had a natural flow to its cadence and information delivery.

What didn't work as well for me

1. while I loved having three main characters it meant in a book this small there was not a ton of time to spend with any one of them and goodness did I want to spend more time with them.

2. My E arc copy came across with some odd formatting issues that thankfully do not seem to have translated to any issues in my final print copy.

I greatly enjoyed this title and will be looking forward to anything else this author produces.

This was a very strong debut. The world was interesting and the story kept me intrigued. This is an author who I will follow to see what else they put out.

I absolutely loved this book. It is the kind of fantasy that puts you right into the middle of the world and let’s you figure things out along the way. The characters were dynamic and interesting with secrets in their past that connected them and revealed themselves at just the right time. It was an interesting take on how we treat our current world and the environment, and what that could lead to as well, as taking on race and power and corrupt government, this was my first book from Bindery books and it definitely won’t be my last. Thank you to Netgalley and bindery for the e arc of this book in exchange for my honest review

DNF-ed with the intention of picking back up in the future. Slow start with the world building and lack of immediate connection to the three main characters kept me from getting invested.

This is a debut novel and I was here for it. “And the Sky Bled” offers a thought-provoking exploration of environmental and societal issues within a richly imagined world. I’m excited to see what else comes from this author.

This was such an amazing and beautifully told story. The concept was so interesting and kept me wondering and questioning all that was going on.

Well written and thought out, I enjoyed this immensely and appreciate the chance to have read this thankyou bunches

My rating: 3 of 5 stars—

And the Sky Bled is a solid debut fantasy that I enjoyed reading. But beyond that, it simply wasn’t particularly memorable or standout for me. I was entertained, I thought the writing was good, and the premise interesting.

Calor is a natural resource that rains from the sky and that every person depends on to live. But it’s almost all tapped out. The last remaining source is exploited by colonizers, while everyday people scrounge for any they can steal and deliver to slumlords that apportion these supplies as they see fit. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of the moral complexities of mobster-style leadership in an impoverished community.

The climate fiction genre was a definite strong point. I think the disconnect for me was investing in the characters and an oft-referenced tragedy 10 years prior that linked them despite different backgrounds, motives, and circumstances. This plot was enjoyable enough as a casual read, but didn’t offer me anything that stuck with me. However, there was enough here that I wouldn’t hesitate to try out Hati’s sophomore endeavor.

Many thanks to Bindery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*Tejomaya* presents an intriguing premise—a city on the brink of collapse, a magical fuel in the form of blood rains, and three characters with opposing agendas racing to find a hidden stash of calor. While the world-building and core concepts are ambitious, the execution falters in several areas, leaving the story feeling somewhat underdeveloped and predictable.

The setting of Tejomaya, a city where magic is tied to a precious resource found only in blood rains, is ripe with potential for a rich, atmospheric narrative. The looming drought and the desperation it brings to the slums create an urgent, high-stakes backdrop for the plot. Unfortunately, the world-building, while interesting, never quite reaches the level of depth and immersion needed to make Tejomaya feel fully realized. The political and social dynamics between the slumlord-controlled areas and the elite ruling council are compelling but lack nuance, and the explanations of calor and its role in society are vague at times, leaving too many questions unanswered.

The three main characters—Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia—are all motivated by their own desires for power, freedom, or control, but their arcs feel rather thin. Zain, the resourceful street-smart protagonist, is perhaps the most engaging of the trio, but her character remains predictable, driven largely by her need to escape the grip of her slumlord bosses. Iravan, the revolutionary, has potential but comes across as a bit too idealistic and one-dimensional in his fight against oppression. Anastasia, the heiress, is a typical power-hungry villainess, and while her motivations are understandable, her characterization never evolves beyond a "cold, calculating leader."

The connections between the characters, especially their shared past tied to the fire a decade ago, should have been a rich narrative thread, but it ultimately feels forced and underdeveloped. The reunion of these characters and the impact it has on the city’s fate lacks emotional depth and fails to deliver on its promise of a complex, intertwining backstory. Their interactions are often predictable, and their individual growth is stunted by a lack of meaningful conflict or development.

One of the novel's biggest weaknesses is its pacing. The story drags in places, particularly in the middle, where much of the action is bogged down by repetitive motivations and a lack of tension between the characters. The treasure hunt element, which should drive the plot forward, feels secondary to the characters' personal struggles and ambitions, and as a result, the sense of urgency that should propel the narrative is lost. By the time the climax arrives, it feels like more of a formality than a payoff.

The exploration of power dynamics and the environmental themes surrounding the city’s dwindling resources are important, but the novel’s handling of these issues feels superficial. The broader implications of Tejomaya’s collapse are not fully explored, and the political commentary is often lost in the shuffle of predictable character arcs and a plot that doesn't push boundaries.

While *Tejomaya* offers a unique setting and some promising concepts, the execution leaves much to be desired. The characters, though interesting on paper, fail to evolve in a way that makes their journey compelling, and the world-building, while creative, doesn’t fully immerse the reader in the dystopian world. The slow pacing and lack of tension detract from the impact of the story, and the climax feels anticlimactic, undermining the potential of this high-concept fantasy. With stronger character development and a more focused narrative, this could have been a much more compelling read.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

So the white colonizer gets a deeper characterization than the brown people being colonized and subjugated? Excuse me while I go throw up

DNF'd at 30%. The premise was really cool, but I was not impressed with the pacing or the plot. I found myself wanting more exploration and a little bit more connection between plot points.

This book was a DNF for me I really wanted to like it and I think the premise was super interesting but I just really wasn’t able to get into it. I didn’t connect with the story and characters very much which is pretty rare so I set it aside. This is something I might pick up in the future but just not loving it right now.