Sky on Fire is a standalone fantasy packed with dragons, betrayal, politics, and a magical heist. I don’t usually read standalone fantasy since I prefer spending more time with characters when learning a new world and magic system, but the cover and premise intrigued me. The first chapter hooked me, but the story lost some steam. The plot structure felt a bit chaotic, and I wish the book had more room to develop its world and characters. That said, it’s a complex, engaging read with strong D&D influences, and the audiobook is well done.

Thank you to Jenn Lyons, Lauren Fortgang, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Always on the hunt for my next story with dragons, I was so intrigued by this one!

THE SKY ON FIRE features a world with dragons, and all the secrets. I loved the writing and all the banter, which made for an enjoyable read.

I would definitely recommend the audio format!

*many thanks to Tor, Macmillan audio, & Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Imma say 3.75 rounded up. the story had some trouble for me attention wise but when I was pulled in I was in but I drifted too often to go to a full 4 star. Definitely enjoyable and the dialogue especially was very fun. This is kind of what I wanted from fourth wing but didn’t get. There’s actually reasons for the human/dragon bond which I greatly appreciate and the overall story is very engaging but a LOT was going on and I think it’s my brain that struggles lately with my move and stuff

A standalone queer romance dragon rider book? Yes, please! There was a lot of world building and moving parts to this story. I decided to just lean in, let the process unfold & enjoy the ride (pun intended)! I love Lauren Fortgang’s narration so that made the experience even better!
*Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley

The Sky on Fire has a lot going for it. Dragons. A heist. Great characters.

First, what I liked. The worldbuilding was really interesting. The way the dragons and humans co-exist and interact was really cool. Also, we got lots of great descriptions of what the dragons looked like and their individual powers. Love a queer normative world. Love a heist. The characters were all interesting. I especially found Anahrod compelling and relatable.

I also thought the narrator for the audiobook was great. Lauren Fortgang does some really subtle but clever things with inflection to suggest characters that are from different areas have different accents without using obvious accents from our world.

Now what I didn’t like so much. I felt that the romance broke up the pacing of the story and was a little unnecessary. My bigger issue was that the ending felt kind of rushed. There were a few things that happened very quickly close to the end which felt very… convenient. A little too convenient in my mind. Nothing that ruined the story for me but it definitely felt like someone was making an Oscars speech and saw the red ‘wrap it up’ light so they rushed through to get to the end.

Overall though it’s a super fun, fast-paced read, and I’d absolutely recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC. This is my honest review.

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons is the first book I've read by the author, and while it didn't really work for me, I'd love to give another one a try. This story had a lot of potential but it fell flat for me. The pacing was really off most of the book. The plot had too many different elements moving at once for me. The chain of events was incredibly chaotic and it made it harder to enjoy. I'm sure others will enjoy this one but something about it just didn't come together for me.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

I received this audiobook ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dragon overlord, dragon riders, magic powers, and a heist!!!!? Count me in!

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I wish it had been a duology instead of a standalone novel. The first part of the book was great, but the ending felt rushed. I feel like the world could be a lot more developed. Particularly the culture of the society, it was super interesting but underdeveloped. If this book had been a duology, it could have solved the issues I had with pacing, worldbuilding, and character development.

An incredible story from start to finish. I have always loved dragons and Jenn Lyons brings them to life with fantastically animated personalities. But let’s not forget our human cast as well, all of whom are well fleshed out and have you rooting for them whether you love them or not! A gripping tale that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

DNF at 30%

I was really invested in the beginning. I started taking notes of all the creatures, landmarks, and characters, thinking this was going to be a new favorite read because the worldbuilding was so interesting, but once we got to the plan for Anarod to pretend to be herself while not being herself (?)... it just didnt make sense to me. I found that whole thing so confusing and convoluted. Her time on the ship interacting with the crew was fun and I enjoyed listening to that, but I just couldn't get behind the main plot. I liked the main character Anarod, and started to like Rizz, too, and the tension both characters. But, after learning her motive/purpose in finding Anarod, her character felt paper thin and my interest quickly waned.

I wished the worldbuilding and the dragons were enough to push me to finish this book, but they weren't. Hopefully, those who don't mind a slightly confusing plotline will still enjoy this.

There was just simply too much world building for me to take in in audio format. I may give this a try when I get a physical copy, it was just too much and I could not get into it this way!

What would happen if a girl, accused of a crime, went into hiding, only for her past to catch up with her years later?

This is the story of Anahrod, who, as a child, was accused of stealing something precious from the Dragon. Many years later, the Dragon decides to find her, believing she is not, in fact, dead. In the meantime, Anahrod has created a life for herself. Now, she is dragged back into the world she once escaped.

This story has everything: dragons, heists, a funny group of people, sapphic love, and complex friendships.

The writing initially drew me in, and I was enchanted by the worldbuilding. However, after the 60% mark, everything fell flat. The never-ending, overly complex world descriptions became tedious, and I found myself losing interest in the characters. The story felt dragged out—so much happened, yet nothing seemed to move forward. I finished the audiobook production with no real interest in finding out how it ended. Honestly, if you asked me now, I couldn’t tell you what happened.

The narrator did a splendid job immersing the listener, but at times, the sheer amount of information overwhelmed me instead of keeping me engaged.

That being said, if you enjoy epic fantasy and alternative takes on dragon riders, I would still recommend giving this a try. Just because it bored me doesn’t mean it won’t interest someone else.

Thank you so much for the advance listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly this book was not for me. The synopsis and dragons sold me the story but once I got to about 30% I started to realize I wasn’t going to like it.
I have a love/hate with standalones so that can be as well one of the reasons why I didn’t enjoy this one. There was a lot that happened without consistency in the pacing and although that bothered me, the thing I hated the most was the rings.
I didn’t like the Mcs either and I just feel that most characters needed development. This could have worked out if it was a series rather than one book

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy.

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.

*3.5*

**Thank you, Macmillan, for the audiobook copy!**

Gimme dragons, and I'm in. I have been wanting more dragon books, and this one did not disappoint in that department. I liked that the dragons were more or less the superior race, but that that didn't come without a cost. I also liked that there were more than just dragons and humans and that there was a more complex world. There was also a lot going on, which sometimes I felt was a little hard to follow, but for the most part, I feel like I know all of what happened. Sometimes, I would get characters' names mixed up as well, but that might have just been a me problem.

This one took me longer than most audiobooks to get through despite being a longer audiobook already. For me, I think I was getting burned out on audiobooks so I had to take almost a month off from listening and I ended up picking up a different audiobook when I was about halfway through this one for a change of genre. I don't listen to a ton of fantasy. Usually, I physically read them, so I'm not sure if that's what my problem was or if I was just burned out. Regardless, it was pretty easy to do with this one, so that to me means I wasn't overly excited about it. I felt like I was being pulled in a lot of different directions during the course of the story, like it couldn't settle on which plot it wanted to follow. I feel like it did eventually come together and msde sense, but for a good chunk of the middle, it just was kind of all over the place.


*SLIGHT SPOILER* - also, if I spelled any names wrong I apologize. I listened to the book, not physically read it

I would be interested to see where this one goes and to see what happens with the characters. I feel like the Anarod, Rizz, and Sicarion thruple could be a really fun and banter filled relationship!

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons is one of the best books I have read all year. The story drew me in immediately and didn't let go until the last words were uttered. We are first introduced to main character Anahrod, who has been on the run in the below. Her life is quickly changed as she is found by a group who have unclear motivations. There is so much to love about this book - the beautifully developed and fascinating world, the intriguing story, and the building relationships between characters. Anahrod remained my favorite part of this story. She is strong and flawed. This book features found family, a heist, and dragons! If any of those appeal to you or you are looking for a standalone fantasy that will leave you filling fully satisfied, this book just might be for you.

I listened to the audiobook and Lauren Fortgang's performance was spectacular. It helped draw me into the world and the story and really added to my enjoyment.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a lot going for it. The characters and setting were dynamic, but I didn't feel it had a lot that set it apart from all of the other dragon fantasy romances on the shelves. I'm sorry. But, I did enjoy listening to it.

This was my first audio book with netgalley, and honestly I had a hard time listening to it. I did end up reading a good chunk of the book on the side but ended up DNF around half way through. I enjoyed the action but I wast invested in the story.

I liked this one. I think it had a fun and unique approach to dragons while also hitting all the familiar tropes. As always, Lyons approaches sexuality in a unique and interesting way. My main issue was that this book was trying to do too many things at once to where you couldn't dig deep on any one element. I wanted a bit richer world building. I also felt like the pace was breakneck while not really moving the plot forward until about 40%. At that point, the plot moved, but it was still SOOOO fast that I didn't get to enjoy anything. Dig deeper into anything. I did like the plot and the characters I just wanted more depth. The audiobook I do think was well done. She did a great job with the voices and fit our main character well.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advance listener’s copy of The Sky on Fire.

Anahrod lives only for survival, preferring to thrive in the jungles of the Deep with the titan drake she keeps by her side. When an adventuring party saves her from capture by the local warlord, Sicaryon, she is eager to return to her solitary life, but this is no ordinary rescue. Anahrod’s past has caught up with her. And these cunning misfits intend to spirit her away to the cloud cities, where they need her to help steal from a dragon’s hoard.

There’s only one in the cloud cities, dragons rule, and the hoard in question belongs to current regent, Neveranimas - and she wants Anahrod dead.

This book wasn’t bad, the plot was interesting, I love that it was a heist story with dragons. I love the whole found family x misfit gang mashup. But ultimately it all fell short. The narration was done well, Lauren kept me interested in wanting to know more.

I think what I’m learning about myself is that high fantasy just doesn’t work *for me* in a standalone format. I need more world-building, more connection…just more.