There is a severe lack of canonically ace characters in fiction. The line from Morgan, about not caring but liking the idea of having someone around who she can count on... that resonated with me. I wish there were more of this book. I wish some things were more drawn out, given a bit more room to breathe, but what it was is just enough. I look forward to the next, if there are more in this series. Thank you for a new ace character with a good potential romantic interest who is happy with exactly what they are for each other and nothing more than what she's ready for.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Sky on Fire by E.K. Johnston is a third person multi-POV YA Queer science fantasy. Morgan is a magicless prodigy at a university for mage-scientists and her work could break new ground. When a group of rebels recruit Morgan, they take on more than they thought they would.

This was very fast-paced; not only in terms of what is happening on the page, but in how easy it was to just fly through the prose. The prose is propulsive and is formatted in a way that makes me believe this is closer to 60k despite the page count. There are pros and cons to this as it is a quick read that a read can finish in two or three hours but it doesn’t leave a ton of room to linger on worldbuilding or character arcs. A reluctant reader who is really struggling with anything slower paced would probably find this to be just right.

Morgan and Ned are in an Aspec relationship that maybe could be defined as a QPR but I’m not quite sure. Morgan is very explicitly Aspec and Ned mentions that while he enjoyed the physical side of relationships, he doesn’t enjoy the embarrassment of it and isn’t willing to experience it again. There is a point where Ned even wonders why people equate ‘love’ with ‘physical relationships.’ Teen readers need examples of not only how to start decoupling physical love from romantic love (because it’s OK to want one and not the other), but also different ways that being Aspec can manifest.

The worldbuilding did feel very Star Wars so when I saw that E.K. Johnston has written Star Wars IP, it made sense. It’s that same sort of science fantasy ‘fantasy in space’ sphere that is so hard to pull off and Star Wars does beautifully and so does Sky on Fire. It almost felt like reading a Star Wars AU that is a bit more focused on the magic system.

I would recommend this to fans of Star Wars looking for new worlds to explore and readers struggling to get into slower-paced books.

Morgan Enni is a scientific prodigy in a university full of mage-scientists, having no magic herself, but is having trouble getting anyone to listen to her research because it may disrupt everything they hold dear. Without anyone willing to listen, her ability to secure funding is at risk. However, her work does eventually catch the eye of a group of rebels, who are eager to hear more about disrupting the aether and, as a result, the weakened bones of the Stavenger Empire.

This was a fun little (and I mean little!) SciFi adventure! Morgan reads somewhere firmly along the grey scale, and I am always going to shout about asexual representation in YA novels. I thought the pacing was a little choppy and the ending feels unfinished, but maybe there will be a book three! I do think it's important to have read Aetherbound before this, and yet the publisher makes no mention of this being a sequel.

This sequel burns bright, balancing political drama, high stakes tension, and emotional growth with Johnston's signature poetic prose. While it took a few chapters to find its rhythm, once it hit its stride, I was hooked. The character arcs deepen beautifully, and the worldbuilding expands in meaningful ways, answering questions from book one while raising new, compelling stakes. It’s quieter than some sci-fi epics, but no less powerful. A thoughtful, grounded read that earns its fire.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, releasing on July 22nd!

Like some other reviewers, I didn’t realize this was a sequel and I think my read suffered for it-you certainly can, as I did, read it as a standalone, but I think it would probably greatly benefit from being read after Aetherbound. Despite feeling like I was playing catch up for much of it because of this, I liked it overall-characters were likable and the story moved along at a good pace.

this one was definitely fun. i did NOT notice this one was a sequel, and it was... kinda hard to understand because of that? like the characters felt underintroduced and the setting felt underexplained? but still, it was a solid novel like this, and if you've read the previous book you'll probably like it even more than I did. 3.5 stars. tysm for the arc.

One of my bookish red flags is that even though I know nothing about Arthurian legend, I still come running any time a book has any references to it at all.

I saw Sky on Fire on Netgalley and requested it immediately because of aforementioned mild Arthurian legend obsession. I'm going to be honest right away and say I did not realize this was book 2 in a series until after I'd already downloaded my e-ARC. I thought maybe I could make sense of it because it didn't appear to follow the same characters as book one (and I think it was fairly understandable without the context of the first book), but I would highly recommend reading the first book first, even if they're not listed as a series. In theory, it can stand alone, but I'm not sure that it should.
Morgan Enni is a young scientist with a secret, so it's no surprise when she catches the attention of a handful of rebels. The book starts with a quick summary of a rebellion that acts as a backstory of sorts, which is helpful in some sense. I've seen a few reviews saying they found this book to be very worldbuilding-heavy, but honestly, I felt a bit lost. Things were described, but they weren't clarified (either that, or I somehow missed it), and I'm hoping they were explained in book one because I really didn't understand the importance of gene-mages until the very end of the story. The pacing started a bit slow but was pretty quick by the end. However, I also felt the ending was a bit rushed, and all of the action was resolved in about two chapters. Again, the stakes might be higher if you've read the first book, so I don't think this book should be read as a standalone.
I thought Morgan was a very compelling narrator. She's introverted, intelligent, and innovative. I enjoyed seeing her growth as she began to spend time with those who truly appreciated her, and I really liked seeing her dynamic with Ned (especially with her being ace!). Most of the side characters felt a bit flat, but I think that a lot of them were probably developed in book one. I found the tangled web between Pendt, Fisher, and Ned to be quite intriguing, and I liked Pendt and Ned on their own, too. I thought Jonee was interesting, so I'm glad she was relevant for most of the book. I wish I had read the first book before this because I think it would have enhanced the experience.
I wouldn't recommend Sky on Fire as a standalone, but if you read Aetherbound, you won't want to miss this thrilling sequel that brings back old friends and introduces some new ones.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.25/5

This was fun!
There was a lot of info-dumping, especially in part 3. At some points it was hard to stay focused on the story while my mind was trying to catch up on 5 full pages of world building and backstory. The characters were flat, they didn't have a lot of depth to them. There weren't major plot twists and all the little twists were predictable.
I did enjoy the overall story! Spaceships, rebels, futuristic cities. It was a beautiful world, I just wish it had been described in a more fleshed out way instead of all at once. I need to read more science fiction and I think after this I'm going to pick up some more. The vibes!
I don't know if I'll read any more from this series, but I'll likely pick up another from this author!

The scientific and magical worlds of the story world collide with tension in this quiet sci-fi narrative of Sky on Fire. Morgan Enni stands as the main character of the story through her fierce intelligence and lack of magic powers while she fights to establish herself in a society that does not value her. She starts her academic research with intellectual interest and it later transforms into an uprising against powerful political systems.

Through its central narrative the book develops three themes that explore identity and resistance and the power of people who resist conformity. Throughout the narrative the author builds a complete virtual world while integrating queer characters naturally within the plot. eskort divides the plot early on and the plot slows down initially but the plot's emotional depth with intellectual depth leaves a profound mark on readers.

The book tells a story that appeals to fans of reflective sci-fi that explores characters through slow-building development and highlighting internal growth along with gentle acts of rebellion.

I did realize when I requested this that it was a sequel because my brain just saw queer sci-fi and went yes give me. I really enjoyed the first half of this book, it reminded me a lot of Entrapta from She-Ra. The second half I got a bit lost by the plot and characters.

ky on Fire is an emotionally intense and thought-provoking book that offers more than just an action-packed post-apocalyptic survival story. It’s a deeply introspective look at the complexities of humanity in a world that has lost its way.

A very charming sci-fi, mystery, romance.
Morgan Enni reads as neurodivergent, asexual, and frankly..very adorable. I admired that their determination to complete their research never crossed moral boundaries. They are loyal, inquisitive, and self-sacrificing. I will admit that I didn’t know this was book two, so I am excited to learn even more about Pendt as I’ve already ordered Aetherbound from my local library. The fantastic part of being a fantasy reader is that we tend to be accustomed to being thrown right into the world building and deducing as we go! I found it easy to follow and fun too.

I imagine oglasa are so gorgeous and shimmery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review:

DNFed at 28%. Tried to get more into sci-fi, but this one was not it for me. I don’t think it’s a bad book, but there wasn’t anything grabbing my attention.

I have been waiting for this story for about 3 years and was so excited to get an ARC.

I loved the story and how inclusive the world/universe EK Johnston creates (plus the writing style/voice is so unique, love-love-love).

I know edits are still ongoing, but I highlighted a few places I found a few things (don't know if you can see it or not, but thought I'd do it just in case it helps). There were so many good lines and concepts I highlighted too. I think I've already talked 3 friends into reading this series in the last 2 days (they were skeptical when it was just one book but now there's more so it's easier).

Morgan is such an interesting character that we don't often see in sci-fi/fantasy/fiction-in-general books. I loved being in her head and thought process while getting to know characters we met in Ætherbound. Ned has turned into an unexpected surprise. I'm so glad we got to see more of Choria (I was so intrigued by her in book 1, I kinda want more inside her head - I might be developing a crush).

I don't know if I can articulately express how glad/excited/optimistic I am because this series has been given a chance to expand itself and grow more. I don't know why it's an underdog because it deserves all the love and chances it can to succeed. It's totally unique ... and I will devour anything EK Johnston writes.

A space adventure with thorough world-building. The author's detailed descriptions really bring the world to life. The scale of things is still incomprehensible but the gorgeous cover art gives a good idea. I have not read the first book in the series, so this was all new to me. I don't feel like I was missing out though I am sure reading the first book would have given me a richer experience.

The pacing can be a bit slow, especially at the beginning, but is so worth it.
I really enjoyed the main character, Morgan, and their development. Morgan's shift in mentality and maturity was nice to see - also relatable and realistic. Aunt Vianne is what you hope all adults in your life are, but sadly that's not the case. I liked how the author showcased a variety of families as well. Tasia and Jonee are also fast favorites. The humor sprinkled throughout was a nice break from the seriousness.

The end of the book is packed with action. I can't wait to read more about this world.