The book has an attention-grabbing premise and started off great. The pacing, however, was atrocious. I felt like I should have whiplash with the speeding up and then suddenly slowing down. There was also a lot of telling me and not much showing me. The first 20 chapters are mostly dialogue with a bit of action here and there. Stop telling me and just show me. Also, I was completely confused for the first 15 chapters about who the main character actually was. It wasn’t explaining it very well.

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

Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons Review
Star rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

As someone who loves dragon-centered fantasy, I was eager to see how Sky on Fire would portray them—and I wasn’t disappointed. The dragons in this world are not just powerful; they are intelligent, prideful, and often terrifying, each with unique magical abilities and distinct personalities. Their relationships with their riders go beyond the typical bond, adding layers of tension and intrigue that kept me invested.

At its core, this is a high-stakes heist story with a team of unlikely allies forced to work together. The ensemble cast is full of engaging personalities, and their interactions are one of the book’s highlights. The witty banter and evolving friendships give the story heart, making the team feel like a true found family rather than just a group thrown together for a job.

However, while the group dynamic shines, Anahrod, the main character, felt somewhat passive. Given her history, I expected her to be more driven or distinct in personality, but much of the time, she seems to be following others’ plans rather than shaping the course of events herself. While this didn’t take away from my enjoyment in the moment, it stood out more in hindsight.

The pacing is another aspect that felt uneven. The setup moves quickly, and just as the tension ramps up, the story slows with a series of delays that stall the heist. Then, the finale, though exciting, feels rushed in comparison. I can’t help but think the story might have benefited from being a duology, giving the characters and world more space to breathe. Still, I do appreciate a well-contained standalone in a genre filled with long series.

One aspect that didn’t quite work for me was the romance. While Anahrod has great chemistry with her love interests, the relationships don’t feel fully developed. The romantic tension is introduced early but then fades into the background, only to reappear with dramatic confessions that don’t feel entirely earned. One of the love interests is a rekindled past romance, but it’s given little time to develop on the page. There are also a few steamy moments that feel oddly placed, disrupting the flow rather than enhancing the story. While I liked that the romance didn’t overshadow the main plot, it would have been stronger if it had been more naturally woven into the narrative.

Despite a few missteps, Sky on Fire is an entertaining read with an exciting mix of action, magic, and camaraderie. The dragons are a definite highlight, and the team’s dynamic makes the heist fun to follow. While it doesn’t quite hit every mark, it delivers a solid adventure that’s worth picking up—especially for fans of fast-paced fantasy with a unique take on dragons.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*ARC provided to me via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*

In The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons delivers a thrilling blend of high-stakes heists, dragons, and unexpected alliances, crafting an unforgettable fantasy adventure. The story follows Anahrod, a lone survivor navigating the treacherous jungles of the Deep with her loyal titan drake. Her solitary existence is disrupted when a band of unlikely adventurers rescues her from a local warlord, but this isn’t just any rescue—it’s a pull into a larger scheme involving the dragon-ruled sky cities.

The adventurers, led by a charismatic and frustratingly attractive dragonrider, need Anahrod’s expertise to pull off a daring heist: stealing from the hoard of the powerful dragon regent, Neveranimas. The catch? Neveranimas wants Anahrod dead. As the plot unfolds, Lyons crafts a world filled with treacherous political intrigue, conniving dragons, and complex characters whose motivations remain unclear until the last page.

With her signature mix of witty dialogue and heart-pounding action, Lyons creates a world that’s both rich in lore and unpredictable in its twists. The Sky on Fire is a fast-paced, action-packed standalone that will captivate fans of dragon-filled fantasy. Its compelling characters and tight plotting make it a must-read for those who enjoy stories of heists, dragons, and rebellion.

A special thanks to Tor Books for providing the opportunity to experience this epic adventure.

Strong start, loved the characters and the pacing of the book itself. The plot was nice, and I loved the dragon/rider dynamic. Not the strongest read I’ve had, but it was very good.
I did go buy a physical retail copy for my sister however as it seemed like something she would love.

This took me forever to start but honestly what a surprise! I really enjoyed this. It's got dragons, heist, and an amazing group of characters. Love it!

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons is a bold and thrilling fantasy heist that immerses readers in a world where dragons rule the skies and survival is a delicate dance between cunning, courage, and loyalty. With its intricate world-building, snappy dialogue, and high-stakes adventure.

This is a fantastic, high-flying adventure that will leave you breathless! Jenn Lyons, the master of dragon lore, delivers a captivating heist story with a unique twist. Anahrod, a fierce and independent woman, is forced to confront her past when she's rescued by a charismatic group of dragonriders. Their mission? To steal from a dragon's hoard, a dangerous proposition that puts Anahrod squarely in the crosshairs of the powerful and ruthless Regent Neveranimas.

Lyons masterfully weaves together thrilling action sequences with moments of quiet reflection, allowing the reader to truly connect with Anahrod and her magnificent drake. The banter between the characters is sharp and witty, adding a layer of humor that keeps the story lighthearted even as the stakes rise.

While some might find the plot predictable at times, the sheer scale of Lyons's world-building and the intricate relationships between the characters more than compensate. This is a must-read for fans of dragon fantasy, offering a thrilling escape with unforgettable characters and a touch of romantic intrigue.

I particularly enjoyed the way Lyons explores themes of freedom, loyalty, and the complexities of power. "The Sky on Fire" is a captivating and entertaining read that will leave you wanting more.

I loved the idea of dragon lords, a heist, and the group of misfits!
The prologue is AMAZING! I found myself sucked into this book

I could not connect to these characters or the story itself. While I've heard a lot of good things about the book I could not get into it and I found the story quite boring.

I am very thankful and grateful to everyone who has allowed me the opportunity to read and review this book. I wish for nothing but success. This book was just not for me. Thank you!

Let no one say this novel lacks ambition. There's a ton of world-building up front, from big, broad strokes (there are dragons, they're jerks, and they're terrifying) to tiny intriguing details (an entire system of jewelry carved with flowers in a complex language signifying people's sexual proclivities). But there's so much all at once that it becomes difficult to unpack, to latch onto what's important and what isn't, and at times (especially in the early going) to even follow what the protagonist wants or who she is, given everything there is to absorb in the basic setup of her world.

I eventually felt like I'd caught up enough to at least find most of the story threads compelling, especially once some of the characters start planning a big heist that follows the usual heist beats, except with signature magics and a dragon as a mark. Large chunks of this book just breezed by in following the action. At least one of the heist twists shocked me and set up some intriguing new developments.

I appreciated some of the spins on familiar genre tropes, like the fact that the dragon riders in this world aren't generally extra-special Chosen One types who get to lord their special connection to fantasy beasts over everyone else, they're almost more like accessories who might be abused or disposable to their dragon masters. And there's a lot in here that I haven't seen in a fantasy novel before, mostly small details like those rings, or the conceit of dragons ruling over anything above a certain height, and everything else eking out a living in the jungle wilds below.

But there were times when I struggled to get through this one because the pileup of details about the setting and culture outweighed any detail about the people living in it. And there were other moments where I just had a hard time buying that, for instance, the king of an unstable, chaotic region would walk off and leave it alone to manage itself while he chased the protagonist into the sky kingdoms. It's the kind of romantic fantasy that readers are expected to find endearing, but it didn't seem all that well-justified to me.

Dragons, daring heists, and misfit heroes—an addictive fantasy adventure!

I received an ARC of The Sky on Fire in exchange for an honest review, and it’s a thrilling ride through a vividly imagined world ruled by dragons and high-stakes intrigue.

Anahrod is a fierce, resourceful heroine, and the heist-driven plot is fast-paced and fun, filled with twists and camaraderie. Lyons’ unique take on dragon society—entitled rulers more than noble allies—adds fresh intrigue to a familiar trope. The immersive world-building, from jungles to cloud cities, is a highlight.

While the pacing sometimes left little room for deeper character connections, the story’s thrilling action and clever twists kept me hooked.

Final Thoughts:
Perfect for fans of dragon-filled high fantasy and daring adventures, The Sky on Fire is an engaging, fast-paced romp that leaves you eager for more.

Jenn Lyons continues to deliver unique attention capturing world building! I love dragons so any story that involves them is a win in my book. My only complaint is that the book started a little slow and took some time to get into, but once the plot started moving it didn't stop. Overall it was an enjoyable read, 3.5 stars.

I was really excited about The Sky on Fire—the premise sounded intriguing, and who doesn’t love dragons? Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

From the start, I felt like I was dropped into a world with no context or explanation. The lack of world-building made it difficult to get a grip on what was happening, and there was a lot of telling instead of showing. I also struggled to connect with any of the characters—none of them really grabbed my attention enough to keep me reading.

I pushed through and made it about 20% in, but I still wasn’t invested. I skimmed ahead to see if anything picked up, but nothing caught my interest, so unfortunately, this one became a DNF for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Tor Publishing for the ARC. This just wasn’t for me, but I’m sure others might enjoy it more.

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.

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.

I featured this book in a new release video prior to publication and was very excited to read a dragon book that revolves around a quest!! I love a main character who is super closed off and allows themselves to have friends aka LOVE!! All while dealing with fantastical beings and action of course. Will update when final review posts, but I'm expecting 5 stars!

*Fiasco* by Constance Fay is an engaging and dramatic exploration of personal turmoil and the consequences of poor decisions. The story centers around characters whose lives spiral out of control, each facing the fallout of their actions. Fay's writing is sharp and raw, capturing the emotional depth and complexity of her characters. The plot unfolds with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers hooked as they witness the characters' unraveling. Themes of redemption, failure, and self-realization are thoughtfully explored. *Fiasco* is a compelling read for those who enjoy character-driven stories that delve into human flaws and the messy realities of life.

I knew this book was going to sweep me away and yet I was not prepared for just how much I was going to love every page.

Jenn Lyons is an absolute master of her craft and an auto buy author for me. She weaves epic fantasy in an effortless way and yet each element of fantasy is well thought. And also always surprisingly funny.

A queer normative world always brings me joy and this book was no exception. I would like to request 12 more in the series.

Also the dragons - so different and so amazing!
Cannot recommend this book enough.

Anything with dragons and I am sold. "The Sky on Fire" was no exception.

I was so fascinated with the twist that the dragons ruled the world. It was truly enjoying to read the world building that was taking place along with the story of a heist. I believe this would be a fun read for fantasy lovers and fans of the found family trope.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for gifting me this ARC. I enjoyed it and can't wait to tell people to get this one.

Heist fantasy with dragons.

This book was a wild mix of many things, started as an escape from hunters and confusing as hell with this world building where no much made sense, and for a moment I even thought it would be a competition fantasy or that it would lean heavily in the romance, which it didn't in either case.

There are dragons plotting against dragons, with dragonriders using magic and a heist in the core of it.

It gave me Treasure Planet vibes for a moment but that was a faint.

The world building seemed rather small, and it's heavy on the character work, but the characters were rather funny and unique.

There was even a super horny conversation very out of pocket.

I would be down for another standalone in this universe with these characters.