I was obsessed with mythology when I was younger, and judging by the amount of books I read that are "retellings" I must still be! This is a take on the tale of Icarus, who flew to close to the sun. The world building in this was STUNNING and there was so much depth to the story because the characters felt real and the intricacies of the politics and even the family dynamics was so well done. The magic system is also well developed, with clear "rules and lines" for how it all works. Pacing was also just right. I've read other books by this author before that slowed down a bit, but this one just marched on beautifully, with just the right amount of ups and downs to keep me turning the page! It was intriguing to see the characters be brought in and try to understand their motivations (which were well flushed out) and then seeing how the dominoes fell as the story progressed! I enjoyed the interactions between characters which were "real" and seemed like something that could happen normally. Speaking of character interactions, those between the main characters was beautifully tragic, and while this is an Icarus inspired story, it gave me loose Romeo and Juliet vibes, as far as two souls that just want to be together, and are forced apart because of the views of those around them. As so often happens when I've picked up what is sure to be an incredible series, I'm dying to know when the next book is coming and cannot wait for other book lovers to get their hands on this!!

OMG THIS WAS FANTASTIC!!

What a refreshing writing style and voice. I was compelled to read this after seeing it was inspired by Icarus, as I love that myth.

There was so much action and tension, and the romance? Yes please!! Winged princes, my beloved.

A great read that I finished in one sitting! Drawing inspiration from the tale of Icarus in Greek mythology and Greek/Roman mythology in general, this is a romantasy with great world-building, strong female characters and is well-paced with plenty of action. It explores themes of classism, misogyny, belonging and being torn between love and duty. The romance is a slow burn with lots of yearning looks and unspoken words to start with and it was heart-warming to see how their relationship evolves and how it challenges beliefs and attitudes that have been pressed on them from a young age. The intimate moments are tastefully done for the most part although I felt for one particular scene it would have been better if the timing were changed.

As a sidenote, I appreciated the content warning and age recommendation at the start, I don’t believe I’ve read many books where it’s actually included in the book. Definitely think this is something that more authors should do.

Looking forward to the next book in this duology!

I absolutely fell in love with the universe of Scorched Skies. Cādra & Galia are beautiful settings, and I look forward to seeing more of the world in the second book. The traits of the different peoples—Volari, Süra, and coming together in Mütra—were intriguing and could be taken as a parallel of many of our socioeconomic and cultural differences in modern western society. I appreciated the emphasis on the gulf between a mainly unmeritorious elite and their oppressed workers; and how even within the elite, women and queer folk face their own additional challenges.

To that end, I grew especially fond of Tanwen. She started out somewhat meek and self-conscious, even underestimated by her own father, but she found her power and strength through coming to the aid of others, including those who were above her in station but facing injustices of their own. She is a true champion of the people, and I can’t wait to see her shine more jn the second book. I was very into the chemistry and scenes with Zolya as well. I was living for the worship vibes of his reverence of Wen.

There were also many interesting supporting characters—friends, foes, gods, animals. Almost too much for just two books in my opinion, as my only wish would be that we got more development of them all, as well as the world and MCs themselves. In that regard, I felt this caused the pacing to be rushed. The events seemed to happen very quickly, too conveniently quickly in some ways. For example, the time from when Tanwen arrives in Galia to how fast she rises through the ranks was too fortuitous in my opinion, even with the blessing of a goddess on her side. I would have liked to have the timeline more clearly established as well as more world-building so that the story flowed more organically in that sense, so for that reason I dropped one star.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

A great worldbuilding, interesting fantasy story and well written maincharcters.
It's like an onion, it has a lot of layer!

3,5-4 stars and a thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was really well written. I was so excited to read another EJ Mellow book. The world was intriguing and I loved that the FMC had horns. However, the FMC and MMC lacked chemistry. I didn’t feel it. Also, there was an uncomfortable seen—the FMC was assaulted and then literally hooked up with the MMC the next chapter. I lost interest after that.

Really adored this one from E.J Mellow. I loved her previous series and am so happy with the start of Way of Wings! This is fantasy romance but I would say more epic/high fantasy. There is a lot happening, a LOT of politics, but the romance that's there is beautiful (and forbidden-my favorite!!)

Can't wait to see what happens next in this incredibly immersive world.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC~

Scorched Skies is a slow burn romantasy novel. We follow the story of Tanwen, a half breed forced to live in secret, and Zolya, a prince with misgivings about his father's leadership. Predictably, they find themselves repeatedly thrust together and a forbidden romance ensues - one which could have deadly consequences. It is the first in the Way of Wings duology.

I'll be honest, I had some reservations going in. The recent trend of blending romance into fantasy is often to the detriment of both. More than once, I have felt like I'm reading fanfiction rather than a published novel so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself enjoying Scorched Skies almost immediately.

Out of the gate, the world building is exceptional and the reader feels immersed in a complex and nuanced universe. While the enemies to lovers trope treads a well worn path, the romance elements are done with panache and feel natural. The characterisation is slower to build. Initially, I did find Tanwen to be more childish with teenage reactions despite supposedly being older. Likewise, Prince Zolya's initial arrogance seemed overdone rather than authentic. Thankfully, this improved dramatically over the course of the book. In addition, I found the minor characters well defined, varied and fleshed out.

I would have welcomed more conflict. Friends are good people, enemies are bad people. There are no surprise betrayals, no reluctant allies, no changes of heart at all. As such, the plot went A to B without any real setbacks and I felt the book overall did suffer slightly for this lack of depth.

However, I did find myself hooked. The pacing is superb and makes up for a multitude of smaller sins. The descriptions are exquisite in places, to the point I found myself reading them aloud for the pleasure of hearing them.

The LGBTQ+ representation felt natural and I must credit the author for building these elements into the plot without using it as a selling point. If you're looking for a book which has realistic diversity without being an obvious reach for the pink pound, Scorched Skies makes my top 10.

Externally, the cover art is a delight. It will sit beautifully on the shelf and would be a good candidate for the sprayed edge trend. I will definitely be purchasing in hardback. The length is reasonable for the genre and is suitable for casual reading while still having enough to satisfy more savant readers.

While not ground-breaking, I would definitely recommend both fans of the genre and those deliberating dipping their toes into romantasy for the first time.

This review was published to Pending Plays on 10th February 2025

“What about you would scare a god? Are you willing to find out?”

Scorched Skies is a novel loosely based on the Greek myth of Icarus. Rooted in a similar world where gods are petty, vindictive, and meddle in the daily lives of those unfortunate enough to cross their paths, it still manages to set itself apart from other mythology-based retellings. The story of course does share some base components: there is an inventor in service to a king, who has a son and is trapped creating a terrible labyrinth as slowly as possible to strike a balance between making progress to keep his son alive while avoiding creating a similar evil to the old labyrinth he created.

Daedelus in this story is exchanged for Gabreel, a brilliant engineer and inventor who falls in love with a lesser mortal. This is where the Greek mythology is further blended into a broader imagery of angels: Gabreel is Volari, a long-lived, gods-blessed, winged race that pride themselves on their beauty and power. He makes the treasonous mistake of confronting the own evil he has committed and falling in love with a Süra, a horned race that lacks magic and does the dirty and difficult labor of providing food, wealth, and medical attention to the Volari.

The story follows Tanwen, who is Mütra: child of both Süra and Volari. Her and her twin brother, Aberthol, live a sheltered and restricted life on the outskirts of society along with their parents. Aberthol is apprentice to their father, and Tanwen has the same desire to be an inventor but has instead been trained in the healing arts by her mother. Though they chafe against their limited lives, they keep to themselves, as Mütra are executed as soon as they are discovered by King Reol’s edict.

On the Volari side of the story, Zolya is the perfect prince. He plays politics and does what his father, the king, asks of him. Tanwen and Zolya collide when he is tasked with hunting down the king’s former royal inventor so Gabreel can create a new mine to fill the kingdom’s drained coffers. Zolya discovers their family and Gabreel and Aberthol are taken to Galia, to the royal palace. Tanwen, aided by a god (for a favor), follows.

The book is so wonderful. I love novels that explore the idea that things that are beautiful and perfect also hide rot and corruption - that facades are just that, and cannot be trusted at face value. Galia and the Volari as a whole are picturesque, powerful, cruel, and absolutely flawed in their terror of change. Zolya and Tanwen are fully realized, complex beings and my only regret is that we don’t get to see more of them before the book is over.

The entire world is so rich and vibrant. The people, the landscape, the gods, and the steamy scenes.

Fast paced and heart pounding, Tanwen’s plot to break out her father and brother had me reading as quickly as possible to know what happened next. I love these characters and this world. I cannot wait for the second book and will recommend this one to anyone who will listen.

I'm a sucker for opposites attract and this book delivers that trope in spades. I was quite pleasantly suprised as to how much I enjoyed this book. The dynamic, the characters, the world, all of it just hit the spot the right way. Recommended for all the fantasy lovers!

ᨳ᭬ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑.25 ࿐ྂ

“If their first kiss had been a storm, this one was a languid summer’s eve, a slow dip of sunset over warm grass.”

Are you kidding me?
That was sooo good?!

The love story, the characters, the world building, the story and the plot?
CHEFS KISS!

A mesmerizing tale of forbidden love, political intrigue, and epic stakes set in a world divided by those with wings and those without. Tanwen’s daring quest to save her family and her growing bond with the conflicted Prince Zolya bring heart and tension to this beautifully woven story, perfect for fans of myth-inspired fantasy.

This book was a little confusing at first with all the different and unique words, but I really did enjoy it. I thought the way the author wrote the book was very poetic and beautiful.

The cover for Scorched Skies caught my eye first, and since I’ve been reading A LOT of romantic fantasy lately, I decided to add it to my reading list. I’ve never read E.J. Mellow before, but I have seen other books by this author while searching and doing deals and new release posts, so I was excited to dive in. This is one of those books that I really, really wanted to like it more than I did. The premise is interesting, and the world building is well done. I think it all boils down to pacing.

Cādra is a world where the winged Volari are the ruling class and the Süra are forced to be earthbound and subjugated. Tanwen is a woman who was born from an outlawed union, her father was once a great Volari engineer and her mother a Süra healer. They fell in love and had twins, Tanwen and her brother. Since that time, the family has moved from town to town, always avoiding attention and deeply aware that they aren’t really safe anywhere.

Zolya is the Crown Prince who always follows his father’s orders. He comes across Tanwen while searching for her father. Not realizing her actual identity, he is intrigued, and their meeting leads to him and his soldiers locating her father and capturing him and Tanwen’s brother to take back to his father. The family now wrenched apart, Tanwen decides to infiltrate the city in the sky by signing up to be a worker. She is determined to save her father and brother.

I think I anticipated more action and less low-key political maneuvering. The worldbuilding is interesting to be sure, and I really enjoyed the secondary characters and how they fit into the world. I think my issues rise from Tanwen’s actions once she reaches the city. Which is pretty much nothing, to me there didn’t seem to be any real sense of urgency. Oh, she does end up locating her family members with the help of her mouse friend, but in the meantime, she works around the palace and discovers she has sexual feelings for the crown prince, and skulks around. All while her father is a broken man, watching his son being tortured by the king and his minions, trying to balance his need to resist creating another dangerous situation for the vulnerable in the city but still keeping his son safe.

I wasn’t a big fan of Zolya, he is a weak man who isn’t proactive about keeping those he loves safe. He only does the right thing after being confronted by his sister and Tanwen and their dire situations. And his actions are more inaction than anything. He is drawn to Tanwen, and his forming a connection with her seems to be the only thing he really does to rebel against his father. The relationship between Tanwen and Zolya feels kind of like instalove, but there seems to be an underlying theme of Volari and Süra being fated, which would explain their instant attraction to each other and being unable to resist that attraction.

All in all, this was an okay read. I was more invested in Tanwen’s father and brother’s situations and Zolya’s sister’s despair at her upcoming nuptials. I do plan on reading the next book in the series, the ending of this book leads me to believe there will be quite a bit more involvement between the higher and lower gods, and I’m hoping the Zolya grows a spine and ends up being a true romantic hero.

Trigger warnings for: child abuse, attempted sexual assault, torture, suicide, animal death

This was a grimmer and more brutal book than I expected! Tanwen and her twin brother have been raised all their lives knowing that they are both loved by their parents, and abominations in the eyes of everyone else for being a mix of Sura (horned, wingless, earth bound) and Volari (winged, magical, and the ruling class). They must hide themselves and their parents identities at any cost, and to this end their father spent time torturing them, teaching them to endure pain and suffering and not break.

When her Volari’s father’s past catches up with him and he is captured, along with her twin brother, Tanwen decides to do the noble thing and rescue them. Selling herself into bondage to the palace — floating in the sky — she falls in love with the prince, befriends the princess, and finds her father and brother only to realize that her brother is being brutally tortured by the king himself while her father is being forced to build a mineral mine so the king can get richer, a mine using Sura labor that will doubtless cost dozens if not hundreds of lives. And doing so only to keep his son alive.

Tanwen … doesn’t really seem to care about what’s happening to her brother and father. She knows where they are, and that’s fine, but she has feelings about the prince. Hot, tingly feelings. Her father is living in despair as he watches his son break more and more each day while he sells his soul to keep him alive, and Tanwen doesn’t spare them a thought until the plot needs her to. She’s emotionally distant from them, and it felt more like they were people she knew, not people she, in theory, loved and would give her own life to save.

However, her relationship with Zolya, the prince is decent enough. He’s a weak man, carefully broken by his father to be dutiful, obedient and frightened, to feel powerless so that he acts powerless, leaving him to the disdain and disinterest of court and advisors, so his father can look down at him and the cycle continues. Wanting Tanwen is one of the few things he does of his own volition — and the way love is presented here, between Sura and Volari feels magical, like fated mates or something with how all consuming it is; be it Tanwen’s parents to a couple being executed for their cross species love, to the instalove she feels for Zolya.

The world building is vague, and the religion unexplained which, frankly, I think works in the books favor. There are hints of conflicts between the low gods — the gods of the wingless Sura — and the high gods, of various alliances and divine power struggles, but it’s mostly hinted at in between other moments. All in all, the writing is strong, the pace is decent, but I really didn’t feel anything for Tanwen. I was more invested in her poor twin, her father, and even the princess who struggled to break free of her father’s hold on her.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

4.5 stars
I loved this so much, I don't ever highlight in my books but this one I had to. So many beautiful lines that made me cry. This book broke my heart and put it back together. I can't wait until the next one!

I enjoyed the story, characters, and writing overall. However, I did find parts of the story to be a bit slow, so it was hard for me at times to push through.

Having finished the book only moments ago, I struggle with getting my thoughts in order and the urge to tell everyone about this book immediately. First and foremost, if you read nothing else past this, this was a 6-star read and a new favourite.

I would classify this book as more of a romantic fantasy. The fantasy elements are the core focus of the book, while the romance itself is supportive of the overall plot. While there are a handful of intimate scenes, they do not feel like they are for fan service but rather for the logical growth and development of the relationship.

If you come to the romantic fantasy/fantasy romance genre with more of a high or epic fantasy background, you may find this is an easier entry point. The world-building is well done and is the focus of the first portion of the book. Stay with it though, even if you think the book is moving too slowly or if the world-building and character-building feel too confusing. You will settle in in the 30-50% mark. After that, the plot completely takes over and you won't be able to turn the pages fast enough. I can honestly say that I don't remember the last time my heart was beating that quickly through the final chapters.

Tanwen is one of my new favourite FMCs. We all have that one superpower that we wish we could have. Such as invisibility, flying, etc. Mine is communicating with animals. So when I realized that this was Tanwen's magic, I was SOLD. Immediately. The scene in the orchard (IYKYK) was one of my favourite scenes I've ever read and is burned in my memory.

I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are looking for a romantic fantasy that steers clear of silly goofy territory, modern language, and simple writing styles, and want something a bit more lyrical without being purple, realistic characters who don't make face-palm choices, and a rich world of magic, political intrigue, and commentary on real-world issues (namely, misogyny, racism, and classism), then please do not hesitate to pick this book up.

Big thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The forbidden romance made this book! The slow burn, the tension, the perfect amount of spice—it was everything.

Tanwen and Zolya were meant for each other, and I loved getting to know them. The beginning was a little slow, but that’s okay—it takes time to really connect with characters! 🙂
And then… beyond the romance, Tanwen’s fight for her family and her stand against injustice made for an intense read.

This book gave me all the feels! ❤️‍🩹
I absolutely loved it and can not wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake!

Scorched Skies was my first introduction to E.J. Mellow’s writing, and I was immediately captivated by the world of Cādra. From the first page, the intricate world-building sets this book apart—dividing the land into the earthbound Süra and their winged overlords, the Volari. Deep-rooted prejudice fuels their conflict, with the Volari believing in the divine supremacy of their Higher Gods while the Süra are protected by the Lower Gods, who challenge the status quo.

At the heart of the story is Tanwen, the daughter of a forbidden union between a Süra woman and a Volari man. Her very existence is considered treason, forcing her to live in hiding. But when her brother and father are captured by Crown Prince Zolaya and taken to the kingdom in the skies, she has no choice but to infiltrate the Volari stronghold disguised as a servant. What she doesn’t expect is the undeniable pull between her and Zolaya—one that could change everything.

The world-building was mesmerizing, weaving together rich mythology, divine politics, and an immersive magic system. As someone who loves fantasy worlds filled with intricate power dynamics and lush settings, this book completely satisfied that craving.

Tanwen is a strong, determined protagonist, and her journey of survival and defiance is both emotional and inspiring. She constantly challenges the injustices around her, making her an easy character to root for. Zolaya, on the other hand, surprised me with his depth. His internal conflict—torn between duty, personal beliefs, and his growing feelings for Tanwen—is explored beautifully through dual POVs, making their slow-burn, forbidden romance all the more compelling. Their chemistry is fire, and the tension between them is palpable.

Beyond the romance, Scorched Skies also explores ambition, oppression, and the cost of challenging fate, adding layers of depth to the story. While the romance sizzles, the stakes remain high, making this a gripping read from start to finish.

If you love romantasy with lush world-building, divine conflicts, and slow-burn tension, Scorched Skies is one to add to your TBR!

Thanks again, NetGalley, for the ARC!