I reply like rh book
The world building, the characters and the plot were really food.
Highly recommend

Despite some technical flaws in the writing like frequent use of passive voice, I loved this storytelling style, the strong sense of plot, the complex characters, and the magical world.

This was my first book by this author, but will absolutely be reading her previous titles.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc.

I'm giving this 4.5 stars. I was worried after reading the trigger warning about animal cruelty, but do feel that it was handled well. The deaths in this book are what takes the half star away for me.

This is a romantasy featuring ground dwelling süra and sky flying volari - also mütra the forbidden result of süra and volari procreating.

Tanwen and her family have been living in the forest undetected for many years now after having to hide and relocate for their safety.

Zolya is the prince with white wings, searching for Tanwen's father. Acting on the orders of his father, the king, he steals her father and brother away to the island in the skies.

Tanwen finds her way to the island in search of her father and brother. She must act as a servant and not be found out for who and what she is. She catches the eye of the prince and a forbidden relationship slowly begins between them.

This book has gods, magic, forbidden relationships, power struggles, treason, loss and more.

I really enjoyed this story. The author does a great job of building the world and characters. It doesn't end on a cliff hanger, but does leave unanswered questions leaving it open to the second installment. I found the deaths, at least two of them to be a bit unnecessary.. but I know life in general is not always a HEA reality.

4.5 rounding up to 5

An absolute work of art, so well written! The world building was so dynamic and unique. Forbidden love is my favourite trope and this did not fail to deliver on that😍

I cannot wait for book 2!

This book was great, I fell in love with Zoyla & Tanwen! They were completely made for each other and complimented one another very well. They were supportive and very vulnerable.
Plus, we have Huw and Eli, they deserve the world! Also, I love a book about character growth and this book was full of that with all the characters helping each other.
The pace was perfect for this story and made it fun to read.
Thanks NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this.
This is inspired by Icarus, but through a female perspective.
The tension, both romantic and otherwise, was so good. The forbidden romance was very well done, and I really liked having POVs from both MCs. There are also some POV chapters from Tanwen's father, which really added to building the world and backstory, but the majority of the book is from Tanwen and Zolya's POV.
The first part of the book is a bit slow, but there's a lot of world/relationship building and character introductions, so it's appropriate. Personally, I prefer a slightly slower start to dive into the world, rather than a mass infodump in a few chapters which makes me feel overwhelmed.
This gave me all the feels, and it made me cry, so you know that's a win for me. I already can't wait for the next book and this one isn't even out yet 🙃

Beautifully written and richly imagined, Scorched Skies is a heartrending story of family, duty, and forbidden love. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, though I did find it a bit meandering. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance!

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for this arc.

Starting my reading year on a low note.
Unfortunately, Scorched Skies was one of my most anticipated books of the year. and I was delighted to have gotten an arc and didn't think it would be a disappointing read.

Tanwen, our heroine, didn’t shine through. She loses sight of her goals as soon as the prince makes doe eyes at her, her resolves were weak as shit. She was very lacking as a main character. Zolya's, The hero, thirst for his father’s approval made him overlook so many injustices, discriminating laws and even the selling of his own sister as if she was some sort of object to be traded. That was one of the few plot points where I felt there was a an emotional dilemma and looking forward to the unraveling of it. However, Zolya does not act upon what he feels right and just lets things happen around him. Plus, I didn't feel the chemistry between the main couple, it was quite bland.

The MC was SA’ed and that was instantly disregard as if it’s never happened. Makes you think that the point of the scene was to make the hero look good by saving her!!! That was some really effed up shit that happened to her. She should’ve been affected way more than that. Oh and there was a smut scene right after she was nearly R worded. At that point I mentally checked out of the book.

While It definitely took its time with the world building and setting the lore, which were some of the few redeeming parts of the book. It was obvious that the characters were not flushed out and didn't have depths. Lastly, there was an unnecessary death at the end that just didn't make sense and was abrupt.

This is a duology and I don't if I'm intrigued enough to read the sequel.

Scorched Skies in the first book in a romantasy duology inspired by the myth of Icarus. I absolutely adored previous books by EJ Mellow so I had very high hopes for her newest book.

I was completely mesmerized by the beautiful writing style, which pulled me into the story and did not let go. I adored the immersive fantasy world that EJ Mellow created but the stand out of this book for me was the breathtakingly perfect romance, which was a beautiful forbidden slow burn.

Scorched Skies is a flawless example of a romantic fantasy book and although it does not end on a cliffhanger, I am still desperate for more.

I have decided to DNF this book because I feel as if the writing style is a bit over the top for me. It seemed like very simple concepts were made into these long, complex sentences with unnecessarily complicated verbiage. While this is something that may be appealing to some people, it just makes the book less enjoyable to read for me.

This was a strong start to the Way of Wings series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the concept of this world. It was everything that I was hoping for from the description, and that the characters were everything that I wanted. E.J. Mellow wrote this well and left me wanting to read more in this world.

Scorched Skies is a captivating read that swept me off my feet from the very first page! E.J. Mellow introduces us to a vibrant world filled with refreshing characters who feel immediately relatable and engaging. The internal dialogues are skilfully crafted, making it easy for readers to connect with the protagonists and navigate their intricate journeys.

One of the standout elements of the book is Mellow's unique and imaginative magic system, which adds depth and intrigue to the overall world-building. Inspired by the Icarus mythos, this backdrop not only enhances the story but also sets it apart from other fantasy novels.

As I delved deeper into the narrative, my investment in the main characters soared. The suspense throughout the book was palpable, creating a personal kind of torture as I anxiously awaited the unfolding of events. However, the ending felt a touch condensed, which left me yearning for a bit more elaboration, especially regarding certain characters who I felt were underutilised. While I appreciate the path Mellow has chosen for her characters, I can’t help but feel there’s untapped potential that will hopefully be explored in the next instalment.

Overall, Scorched Skies is an exhilarating journey that left me breathless and eagerly anticipating the sequel. Mellow has crafted a world and cast of characters that I am deeply invested in, and I can’t wait to see where she takes them next.

If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that offers a refreshing take on magic and character development, look no further! I await the next book with bated breath!

3.5 stars

thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

scorched skies was a great romantasy read. i love how this book utilises the enemies to lovers trope, presenting it in a "two people on opposing sides" way rather than just two people who hate each other.

zolya and tanwen were also interesting protagonists, although i do wish we saw more sides to zolya as a person. he did have a really strong character arc however, with his whole realisation of the atrocities him and his people have been complicit in.

the plot was okay although it did really pick up around the 70% mark. that point when everyone came to the conclusion that they all had the same goal was really strong and kept me invested.

overall it was a pleasant read although not something i would reread. i think the main issue is this story falls into the issue of being readable but quite mediocre and forgettable.

Okay, so Scorched Skies was one of those books where I went in thinking, “This sounds fun,” and came out emotionally wrecked and completely obsessed. I don’t even know where to start because this book has everything. Forbidden romance? Check. Enemies-to-lovers slow burn? Oh, absolutely. An incredible world in the clouds inspired by the Icarus myth? Yup. And let’s not forget a prince with wings and a heroine with horns—literally.

First off, the worldbuilding is amazing. The split between the winged Volari and the earthbound Süra felt so vivid and real, and the political tension was handled beautifully. I loved how the story slowly peeled back the layers of this society—both the magic and the injustices—while still keeping the focus on the characters.

Speaking of characters, Tanwen and Zolya were everything I wanted them to be and more. Tanwen’s determination to save her family (and maybe burn the entire system down in the process) made her an easy character to root for. Zolya, meanwhile, is the classic "duty-bound prince" trope, but he’s so much more than that—complex, conflicted, and utterly magnetic. The chemistry between them was next-level, full of stolen glances, slow-building tension, and moments that had me screaming and giggling.

The writing itself is gorgeous. E.J. Mellow has a way with words that’s equal parts lyrical and accessible. It flows so well that you almost don’t realize how deeply invested you are until you’re fully spiraling into the emotions of these characters. And when the romance finally happens, it hits like a thunderstorm—it’s intense, emotional, and so worth the wait.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say there were a few moments where I wanted a little more depth from the side characters, but with a sequel coming, I’m hopeful we’ll get more of their stories. As for the ending… let’s just say it’s an emotional gut punch (in the best way), and now I’m counting the days until the next book.

If you’re into romantasy with rich worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and a love story that will make your heart ache in the best way, Scorched Skies is for you. I couldn’t put it down.

Scorched Skies is the first book in a romantic fantasy duology inspired by the myth of Icarus. Featuring forbidden love, a pantheon of petty gods, a world ripe for revolution, and a tiny mouse companion, this book kept me turning (digital) pages for hours on end! The plot centers around Tanwen, who has spend her life in hiding because she is Mütra, a child born from a forbidden union between one of the divinely-descended Volari and an earthly Süra. When her father and brother are arrested by the Volari prince, Zolya, she must infiltrate the palace and find a way to save them (while also ignoring her blossoming feelings for the prince).

The worldbuilding in this novel was one of it highlights. I was fascinated by the gods, both high and low, and the physical effects they had on the world whenever they appeared. The descriptions of these portions were vivid and lush, as were the descriptions of various fashions, both in fabric and in wing and horn decorations.

In terms of characters and relationships. I enjoyed Tanwen’s POV and was pleasantly surprised by her father’s, which I had not been expecting. Tanwen's familial relationship is the beating heart of this novel, and it was nice to see it explored in two different perspectives. Although the novel centers on a forbidden romance between the two main POV characters, Tanwen and Zolya, I found the most compelling parts of the novel to be interactions between Tanwen and the various side characters, my favorites being her tiny mouse companion, Eli.

My favorite romantic relationship in the book was Princess Azla’s romance with the Lady Esme, which I found to be sweet and passionate. It also allowed the text to juxtapose the main romance in an interesting way, as the queer relationship is not considered to be legitimate, though it is allowed to be explored while Tanwen and Zolya’s is forbidden on every front.

Unfortunately, I did not find the central romance to be engaging as Azla’s and Esme’s. While I enjoyed Tanwen as a character, I found her immediate attraction to Zolya to be a bit over the top. As a result, I found myself rooting against the romance at times when I should have been all for it. Most of this might have been due to the reservations I had about Zolya as a character. In an otherwise very well-rounded cast of characters, Zolya felt a bit flat. His development focused on him balancing his duty to his father with the injustices faced by the women in his life. Because Zolya’s relationship with his father was underdeveloped, this journey did not feel satisfying. I felt as though Zolya only ever needed a brief conversation to suddenly be able to overcome all of his previous prejudices.

This was my first time reading an E.J. Mellow novel, and I’ve already added a few more of her books to my TBR. While Scorched Skies wasn’t the perfect read for me, there was a lot to like about this book. Based on where this book left off, I think that many of the things I hoped to see more of (like Mütra magic and the conflicts between the gods) might be better explored in the sequel, and I will definitely be reading it when it comes out!

Scorched Skies by E.J. Mellow masterfully blends myth, romance, and political intrigue in a story that soars as high as the winged Volari who rule over the divided world of Cādra.

Tanwen, the brave and determined heroine, risks everything to infiltrate the royal court and save her family, while Crown Prince Zolya grapples with duty and forbidden love. Their electrifying chemistry and star-crossed romance anchor this richly imagined tale.

With vivid world-building, gripping twists, and a poignant exploration of love and courage, Scorched Skies is a must-read for fantasy lovers. A stunning opening to what promises to be an unforgettable duology!

If you love a slow burn, forbidden romance, this is FOR YOU! What a fantastic book! So much yearning. The plot and characters were solid and I am so happy that I got the chance to read this.

"Scorched Skies" by E.J. Mellow took me completely by surprise. I went into it blind, without even reading the synopsis, and I’m so glad I did—it exceeded all my expectations. The world-building was masterfully done, and the pacing was absolutely spot-on. I was captivated from start to finish and found it impossible to put down.
The forbidden romance and enemies-to-lovers dynamic felt fresh and original, which is impressive given how saturated the market is with these tropes. They often feel overdone, but this story brought a fresh perspective. The tension between Tanwen and Prince Zolya was pure perfection—absolutely chef's kiss! This is an absolute must-read for fans of romantasy.
Thank you to NetGallery and Montlake for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the story and the writing and I liked the characters, and I would definitely like to continue. The reasons why it’s not a perfect 5 star is purely subjective, but I think if it sounds intriguing to you you should definitely read it.

✨ Book Review: Scorched Skies by E.J. Mellow ✨
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for this advanced reader’s copy!

From the divided world of Cādra to the soaring Volari skies, Scorched Skies is a mesmerizing blend of forbidden love, court intrigue, and high-stakes action. E.J. Mellow delivers a spellbinding reimagining of the Icarus myth with Tanwen, an outcast fighting to save her family, and Zolya, a prince caught between duty and desire. Their chemistry? Electric. Their dilemmas? Heart-wrenching.

Admittedly, the heavy use of third-person references to Tanwen was a little jarring at first, but the narrative found its stride halfway through—and WOW. Zolya’s lines had me absolutely swooning! I loved the tension, the stakes, and the vivid worldbuilding.

Trigger warnings: There are some scenes involving unwanted physical touch and an attempted assault, so please read mindfully.

I’m already counting the days until book two of this duology because I NEED to know what happens next! If you’re a fan of slow-burn romance, winged princes, and epic stakes, don’t miss Scorched Skies. E.J. Mellow has outdone herself!