3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.

S. Hati's 'And the Sky Bled' is a strong debut novel It's a climate fantasy novel with creative worldbuilding and fascinating characters.

I think this is the second climate fantasy book I've read this year, and it's a completely new genre too. So, I'm excited to see what's next for Hati.

Wowza!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than I had anticipated. This was my first cli-fantasy novel and this is a new genre that I plan to keep exploring.

The world building was completely elemental and so creative that I was sucked in from the first chapter. As the story evolved and secrets are told, I had some emotional damage towards some characters and some hatred towards one in particular 😉.

I love the character growth and how everyone is overcoming their past to become better than where they currently were.

This had a very interesting set up--I generally love climate fiction, and the idea of calor being both dangerous, necessary, not fully studied, and raining from the sky was a fascinating combination. Unfortunately, I did struggle to connect with the characters in the novel. I felt like so much effort was put into hiding the "big reveal" that connected the three of them (which honestly was not as unpredictable as you might think) that it kept a lot of their own inner thoughts mysterious/unknowable, which in turn made it harder to enjoy their POVs. Anastasia in particular was tough for me. I didn't mind the scheming and political nature of her, I just didn't understand why she really wanted some of the things she wanted other than sort of a vague caricature of being power hungry. Zain was definitely my favorite of the three. I also felt like it was hard to get a handle on the ages of the characters, because they would often talk and think like teenager age characters but be constantly referring to an event 10 years ago. Some of the class structure was a little heavy handed.

This definitely picked up around the halfway mark and I found the pacing in that second half to be quite a bit better, especially since things were getting less and less secretive with the characters. A book I might recommend to people based on their past reading preferences, but I don't know that I would be rushing to grab something else by the author again unless the premise was really unique.

Thank you so much for the ARC! And The Sky Bled is such a powerful, hungry story. It is very well written, a master of tension. There are three perspectives, three narrators, and only when woven together does the entire thing make sense.

This is a review that's hard to write, because of the aforementioned storytelling. It's something you can't be told about, that you need to sit down and experience. The story of Tejomaya and her people is heartbreaking. Every fantasy has the edges of reality around it, and the pain experienced on the pages is true to someone's life. The sooner we learn to treat our planet with reverence instead of painting it with blood, the better, lest it become the portrayed monster that it was forced to become.

Rating is closer to a 4.5. Extremely well written; a powerhouse of a novel. Emotionally, it couldn't have hurt me more.

I really enjoyed this book! It was so different for me and I was very into it. It did take a little time for me to be invested in the story and characters but once I was I was hooked. I really enjoyed the found family aspect to the story. This is a great debut.

The writing of this book was very good, but it was hard to connect with the characters. The characters just felt a bit flat to me.

I *think* I liked this story; I maybe even liked it a lot.

To be honest, the plot, the writing, the themes, and (even, probably) the symbolism at play here went a bit over my simple mind, but I know I was fully engaged the entire time I was reading, and I finished the book feeling fairly impressed by the concept, quality, and execution of this fairly unique and era-relevant story.

There’s really no point in me rehashing the synopsis (mostly because I wouldn’t know where to start)—truth be told, I went in pretty blind and I think that actually worked in my favour. But know that you’re going to experience a multi-POV, climate fantasy, that’s a slow-burn in the telling and thought-provoking in its deeper message.

The world-building didn’t namby-pamby to exposition, which I really appreciated. I felt like I was dropped straight into this fully formed world—a world struggling to survive in the face of political upheaval and rapidly diminishing life-sustaining resources.

I liked the way the 3 distinct POV’s wove together, slow-building in character development, interpersonal connections, and plot reveals in the first-half of the story, but then barrelling into unputdownable territory in the very eventful and emotionally gripping second act.

Fantasy readers jonesing for a well-written, provocative cli-fi story—with South-Asian inspired characters and rich, atmospheric world-building—should definitely consider giving this book a look-see. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of S. Hati’s professional writing journey, if the quality of this debut is anything to go by.


***A special thanks to Bindery Books (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit confused. It seemed like I was already in a series or something. The beginning of the book just jumped right in and didn’t really explain anything that was happening or what things even were

“A throne was open for the taking”

“Fortune favoring Zain Jatav? Surely the world was ending”

“That has always been the problem, Iravan,” she said, quietly, her eyes shining with sorrow. “You light the fire in all of us, but you’re never there to watch us burn”

Three different povs all thrilling and engaging. With the same purpose but different reasons. Three people with nothing in common but the only thing that binds them. I feel especially sad after finishing this book. It brought me back to the reason why I love fantasy book. It brought me back to the realm why I love impossible quest and people getting together for selfish and selfless reasons. The characters did remind me a lot of the six of crows bunch whose are a complicated lot. But it is true that alongside Iravan, Anastasia and Zain I felt constantly pulled from one side and pushed towards another. Living this experience alongside them felt like walking a maze you don’t know how to exit but you know you have to. Criminals, rebels, lords and councils and beneath it all, secrets that need to be revealed. What a wild ride. And when it got to the end, it did make me exceptionally emotional !!! Oh what a great thing to find good fantasy books.

“Everyone says they live the sunset … but the sunrise is far superior. Not necessarily in beauty, but in the intimacy do it all. Sunsets are observed by lovers, friends, and families, all locked together in awe of its magnificence. Not everyone is awake for the sunrise. It’s you and the glorious, balding sky, watching as the light shatters the darkness above your head”

“The things that matter, this world, what it has to offer us … it’s all been lost to us for a long time. We are biding our time, trying to relish in the scraps”

“The power of the fallen skies has always belonged to them. It was time to see if the land remembered”

“The past is a beautiful thing … It’s resurrection, even more so”

A debut fantasy full of interesting symbolism that serves as a metaphor to our own real life consumption of natural resources.

This is a world dependent on a rare substance called calor. For many generations it has spurred advancements in technology, machinery, health and wellness, supporting pretty much every infrastructure of society. However, mining this substance has resulted in severe scarcity resulting in strife and desperation.

This is also a world that is divided between the haves and have nots. Here, the country Gehanna has ruthlessly taken by force other provinces, acquiring their stores of calor under the guise of regulating allocation, but in reality, there's very little left to control. What remains is a lone city whose sky still sporadically “bleeds” the invaluable calor, who is under close guard and on the brink of insurrection. At its center are 3 critical players, drawn into a frantic search for a hidden cache that could be the answer to all their problems, each with a deeper desire for forgiveness, revenge, and redemption.

I won’t go into too much more detail so as to not spoil things. Just know that this is a dark story, complexly tragic with harsh unforgiving truths. Admittedly, I can appreciate the commentary about colonialism, dwindling resources, cutthroat politics, miserable survival, but also not surprisingly in these sorts of stories, the power of hope. I also readily admit that my ratings are often heavily weighed by the enjoyment factor, and there is very little joy here. That’s on me. Additionally, this is a slow, so terribly slow, reveal that builds to a painful catharsis for all involved. One must infer a lot in regards to the world building here, as well as the nuance of what transpired during the oft referenced past event that haunts our protagonists. Sometimes not fully knowing works for me, greatly spurring reading momentum, and sometimes it doesn’t.

Overall, this story has merit, and I think if one is looking for something different, seeking an unique perspective about the terrible price of overconsumption that can’t be rectified, then this is a great place to start. It definitely lends an insightful sobering view, but thankfully, leaves one with a promising outlook despite the grim circumstances.

Thank you to the author and Bindery Books via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review posted to GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6881443007?type=review#rating_775740480

Rating: ★★★★½ | 4.5/5

Recommended For: Readers who like multiple POVs, climate fiction, light magical realism and political intrigue.

Triggers: Injury Detail, Sexual Assault, Violence, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire Injury, Child abuse, Gun violence, Emotional abuse

This was . . . everything. A dash of magical realism paired with climate commentary and the drastic results that come about as a condition of imperialism. I loved this book. However, I won’t say that it doesn’t have its shortcomings. I think any good piece of literature should have something critique, particularly as a piece of tangible, digestible art created by the human mind.

And the Sky Bled is set in a world that has had it’s ecosystems and environments destroyed by a magical substance called Calor, which can, in turn, be used for a plethora of things: medicine, farm fertilizer, energy and then some. Calor was previously harvested from the skies, until the sources were depleted. At the point in time that we begin our tale, the only chance of harvesting Calor is from the land after a phenomenon known as the Blood Rains.

In Tejomaya, where our narrators reside, the blood rains have turned poisonous, and raw exposure to calor is beginning to affect individuals with something known as “soul-sickness” but that doesn’t stop the harvesting and collecting of calor, as it’s become vital to the establishment of the basic processes of human life in Tejomaya and the surrounding areas.

Truthfully, And the Sky Bled starts off really heavy, just given the events of the past that have culminated into the narrator’s present. The amount of baggage some of them have is brutal, and simultaneously, makes the characters feel more real and relatable:

We first meet Zain, who is incredibly secretive about her past. But rightfully so, to a degree. Zain is someone who has felt an extreme amount of trauma, and we aren’t entirely sure what those traumas are from the beginning, but they shape her into the individual she is; and also contributes to her feeling a particular listlessness in life. Feeling that her options are finite, or non-existent, she does what she needs to survive.

Iravan is dealing with an extreme loss that has removed his sense of life and vibrancy after losing his daughter. He, too, suffers from limited options and he does what he can, but he has an overall kind heart that wants to see the lives of those around him be improved, despite the equally dwindling amounts of Calor to go around. It is this trust he puts in those around him, though, that proves to be a detriment at times, rather than a boon.

And, lastly, we have Anastasia, who is on an overarching quest for vengeance. Her morality falls somewhere in the middle between Zain and Iravan, given their shared history and her character overall teeters between the two sides of a moral polarity, which I found highly fascinating as a perceived villain. Because of her path of vengeance, she doesn’t consider all parties involved and often lashes out because of unresolved trauma and baggage. She isn’t designed to be likable, but I found myself sympathizing with her more than I thought I would.

My biggest critique, overall, with this novel was the length of time it took for the intersection between our three narrators lives to be fully explained. Though they all left breadcrumbs, it was easy enough to follow the threads and put together my own conclusions, but I feel that they brought it up far too often for it to have taken as long as it did.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this novel. And I'm excited to read more of Hati's work.

Ranking this 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4.

☠️

I’ve been excited to read this one since Zorrane Host announced it as her inaugural book selection in her Bindery imprint. Having seen behind the scenes on the live editing and more I was stoked to get an early copy from NetGalley.

I think Hati is a talented writer. Her writing is descriptive and I was able to picture scenes throughout the novel. The concept of the book was intriguing. I ended up liking the book, including the ending, but thought it was underdeveloped. Another 50-100 pages of exposition would have helped shape the main characters and their convictions. I felt like I didn’t know them well enough, even at the end.

I’d still recommend the book and I do look forward to the author’s future projects.

This powerful debut from S. Hati has climate driving the plot, a precious commodity being sought by various characters with various motivations, and a pace that never lets up.

Calor (Spanish for heat) is what keeps this world moving, a fuel derived from the bloody, deadly rains that fall upon the land. Except there is a drought and now calor is being stolen just to survive. Then there is the discovery of a secret cache that sets off our main three characters, each of whom will wield the power of calor for their own purposes.

The three are also tied by something that happened in the past, and this event is slowly hinted at and revealed throughout the book.

A solid story and a writer I will follow.

This is everything you want in a climate fantasy—tense, gritty, and filled with characters who are one bad day away from breaking entirely. Tejomaya, a city where magic is literally in the air (or, well, raining down from the sky), is on the brink, and a drought has everyone desperate. And I mean *desperate*. The only thing that can fix it all? A secret stash of calor, the magical fuel that’s basically the only hope for anyone stuck in this mess.

We’ve got three main characters, all with their own motives and issues, and let me tell you, they are each just as messy as the next. Zain Jatav is a scrappy thief who's done whatever it takes to survive. She’s been stealing calor for the slumlords, and you can feel that fire in her—a mix of survival, revenge, and hope for something better. She’s in it for freedom, and you can’t help but root for her, even when things get morally gray.

Then there’s Iravan Khotar, one of those slumlords but also someone who’s got bigger dreams. He wants to lead a revolution, fight for the sick, and take down the oppressors. He’s complicated—part ruthless, part revolutionary, and his desperation feels so raw. You can tell he’s trying to do right, but there’s a fine line he’s walking, and it's clear he’s willing to cross it if needed.

On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve got Anastasia Drakos, who’s living it up in her island fortress while the city is basically falling apart. She’s the kind of character you love to hate—cold, calculating, and determined to crush anyone in her way to take complete control. But there's depth there, and as much as she’s the antagonist, you can’t help but be fascinated by her icy determination.

The fun (and chaos) kicks in as these three are forced to cross paths in their hunt for that hidden magic. There’s some serious history between them—an old fire that pretty much ruined all their lives—and their reunion is a whole lot of tension and mixed emotions. The dynamics between them are wild. You’ve got betrayals, old scars, and all this unspoken resentment, and when they finally come face to face again, you just *know* things are going to explode (sometimes literally).

The world-building in this book is intense, too. Tejomaya feels alive in its decay—the drought, the power imbalance, the sickness creeping through the slums. The climate crisis isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a living part of the story that affects everyone differently, from the slums to the council halls.

If you’re into books with morally complex characters and a plot where everyone’s got their own twisted agenda, *Blood Rains and Broken Dreams* (not the actual title, but it totally fits the vibe) delivers on all fronts. It’s a searing look at power—who gets it, who suffers without it, and the lengths people will go to seize it. There’s no clear hero here, but that’s exactly what makes it such a compelling read. Buckle up for a story that’s equal parts heartbreaking, thrilling, and thought-provoking—because this ride does *not* let up.

an okay book but very underwhelming if i’m honest..

the characters were very flat, they are all just tortured and traumatized but they didn’t have anything else to make them stand out. i didn’t feel connected to them at all.

the world was interesting but kinda needed some more explanation.

overall the plot felt very underdeveloped. it was obvious what bits were added to try and liven up the characters but it just felt weird and i just feel like the whole thing needed some more work.

it’s not a bad book but it’s not a great book. it’s just okay. pretty bummed about it cause i was very excited for this release.

ty netgalley for the earc and bindery for a physical arc in exchange for an honest review

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

There’s lots of political intrigue, there’s greed and betrayal; there’s love and friendship. The ingredients were there… it just didn’t work for me because I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters.

Despite having many signs pointing to the truth, it took us forever to find Zain’s secret. When it was finally out it didn’t surprise me.

I liked the epilogue, but if you want to know why, you’ll have to read the story yourself.

I received a free e-ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion about the story.

Rating: 3.5 stars

The concept of And the Sky Bled is so unique, and the description made it very interesting so I was excited to read this. I have mixed thoughts about it after reading it. The first thought is that this was a good debut novel with based on a dystopian future addressing valid issues. While I liked the concept, the execution was a bit off for me. I do like that the story is told from multiple POVs, but the singular event connecting the characters is repeatedly touched upon in a repetitive way until it's finally revealed at the end. After awhile that repetitiveness became annoying and was causing me to lose interest in the story.

Dystopian, sci-fi isn’t my typical go to but the cover and book description caught my attention.

I enjoyed the world building and the dystopian themes worked well here.

I appreciated the language; it was easy to read and follow along with. The story had a nice flow and pacing was well done, as well.

Thank you to the author and the publisher,Bindery Books, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley.

More like 3.5 stars for me.

This is the type of book where I like everything except the main characters... and the plot 😅.

I like the idea of the world. An oriental dystopia based on limited access and ending “deposits” of a substance that drives technology and the economy. It's not exactly a source of energy like our fossil fuels, but more of a panacea for everything - medicine, fertilizer and fuel. But it's easy to imagine what will happen to our world when the oil fields are depleted. And it's easy to remember how countries colonizing the world mindlessly consumed other countries' resources.

However, the first 25% of the novel was quite difficult to digest. And it's not because of the world-building, here we get a very nice balance, we're not saddled with lengthy descriptions, and we learn about the world through the events and comments of the characters. There is a lot going on, and the chapters are fragmented and it's hard to figure out the passage of time. Are we still in the same square in the slums, or is it another day and another encounter? The action rushes headlong before the reader has time to get a good feel for the world, the rhythm and the characters. Before the mysterious meeting is properly outlined, we get a town fire that lasts half a page and we end up in jail. This is a treatment that works well in describing the climax rather than outlining the action. The frequent POV changes mean that we only get to know the characters well, somewhere in 3/4 of the novel.

The author conducts a dispute about colonization, we get two POV of the characters representing the native population of Teyjomaya city and one POV of the daughter of the leader of the occupying council. And this plot is really well conducted and developed. Different points of view, different social classes, resentment, contempt, but also some forced coexistence and cooperation. There were many beautiful and heartrending moments and musings - about freedom, loss, sacrifice and duty.

Great worldbuilding (too bad it's limited only to city), an interesting place of action, engaging, and a difficult theme. The idea is really good. However, the plot, the plot is the problem here. We have a clearly outlined main plotline, but we can't get into it for too long. The characters circulate, reminisce, ponder, and take pointless actions. There is a lot going on, but nothing of greater significance. In addition, the secondary characters are more interesting than the main ones.

This book had its brilliant moments, when the puzzle fell into place with a satisfying click, but it also had many awkward, unflattering and detached scenes that ruined the experience. The trio of Zain, Theron and Leander was an awful stretch, as a reader I don't believe in this plot, I don't buy it, it has no justification for me. It's needed, but it's simply badly introduced and motivated. The whole POV is lost in the fact that Zain is clearly not the smartest fish in the pond. A tedious circle of bad decisions and self-pity.

In conclusion, the story is worth telling and paying attention to, while it would still need refinement. Both the plot and the characters and the interactions between them were artificial and forced in places. At times I had the impression that I was reading a very long elaboration, and it turned out that this book in paperback is supposed to be less than 400 pages. This was caused by the fact that the important events and interesting action were described in bulk and too quickly, while the aimless wanderings of the characters around the city took up too much space. However, I intend to keep an eye on the author, because for a debut it is quite an interesting, ambitious position, and the writing is very good.