This book was so intriguing! I loved the magic, the dragons, the characters. It all flowed well for me, and the storyline itself was amazing.

The Sky on Fire is the standalone fantasy novel that I have been searching for.

Dragons, magic, intrigue, and captivating characters—plus daring heists—make this engaging from the very first page and will keep you turning page after page. I’d happily take more stories set within this world but did really love the standalone component of it.

The premise of this book reminded me of Six of Crows mashed up with The Hobbit. It was something else entirely, but I loved the themes of a found family, unique sexual/relationship dynamics, and some witty banter.

I have been searching for a standalone fantasy book for a while, so I was so excited when a friend told me about this one as she read the ARC.

One of the things I adored about this novel was the unique twist on dragons. We had dragons manipulating and controlling humans, each with different powers (from breathing acid to ice and everything in between).

Another thing I thought was well done was the world-building. I could smell and see the bog. I could hear the sounds of Crystalspire. It was all richly described with vivid imagery. This is so hard to do in a standalone book without info dumping, so my hats off to Lyons for conquering this obstacle with mastery.

The pace is one of the things that made this only a 3.5-star read for me. While Lyons puts the reader right into the action (literally), I had whiplash at some points and had to reread sections to figure out what was going on. First, we had a political drama. Then, a jungle adventure. Then, a heist. Oh, wait, now we’re on some kind of flying ship crew. Then we have mega lust? If you think that’s fast-paced, wait until you read this one 😅 I almost wish this book was longer so we had more character development and some slower-paced sections to breathe.

I need to call out the relationship dynamic in the book. While it was an incredibly unique system that I have never seen in a book, I did not enjoy the throuple aspect of this one. It felt like insta love and I wanted more development or at least a discussion around the relationship dynamics.
Overall, this book was entertaining; the plot twists and reveals delivered, and I was invested in the dragon-rider relationships. If you want a standalone fantasy book with tons of action and a found family, try “The Sky on Fire.”

This is my favourite book of the year. Dragons, found family, heists, sexy drama, magic and secrets. This has it all
I adore Jenn Lyons work already, but I know her other series is long and can be difficult to approach, and that's where this book shines. Its a standalone and a beautifully approachable size. I will recommend this to anyone I can.
The queer rep is phenomenal, and in this world gender and sexuality are flexible and open to everything and changeable, and it is all accepted. You truly get to figure out who you are and be yourself.
There's also a good element of class views and discussions on prejudice and privilege, and how views can be distorted depending on where and how you're raised. Add dragons this conversation and it will always make for an interesting take!
And in my opinion the additions of dragons, riders and bonding will always add to a story!

I have fallen in love with so many of the characters, and already want to be a part of the ragtag crew, and spend more time with them all. They all have their own goals and motivations and are very distinct which I liked, I could tell everyone's reasoning for their actions and loved uncovering more about their pasts.

An absolutely fantastic book overall, and my only complaint is I want more of this world, its so fantastically crafted and in-depth I hope we get more adventures in this world, both with the same characters, but also with characters in different times!

This story was very interesting. It has dragons and heists which are two things that always convince me to read a book. Unfortunately I didn’t get to emotionally connect to the characters also think the the Poly relationship could’ve been left out. I was very excited to read this story but I wasn’t drawn to this book... I’m able to overlook that a little bit since the world building was very detailed and well thought out. But apart from that the story didn’t draw me in to read and find out what happens next, hence why it took me almost three months to finally finish this book … this book put me in a really deep reading slump.

Such a thrill! I really really enjoyed this one. Such a fabulously developed world and amazing characters who jumped off the page. I loved it!

Dragons, check. Group of Misfits, check. Heists, check. I’m a sucker for a good heist story and the cast of characters was diverse I just felt a disconnect between some of them. Overall I enjoyed the story and the world it was set in.

This was great! The sky on fire was exactly what i wanted in a dragon book. Everyone needs to read this!

They Sky on Fire is the latest from Jenn Lyons who wrote one of my favourite Dragon series of all time - so there was a lot of pressure on this book to continue the trend.
But have no fear, Lyons manages not only to create a fantasy world that feels unique, fresh and most importantly distinct from her previous books, but also manages to maintain a large number of tropes and ideas that make fantasy books with dragons feel fun. There are so many cultural, geographical, small and large world-building details within this book that I won't spend hours naming here. One that stood out for me was the idea that no two dragons could hoard the same thing, so dragon hoards become increasingly esoteric- genius.
Alongside that world-building, there is a wonderful plot - who wouldn't want to read a dragon heist? This is paced and planned out perfectly for maximum excitement and tension. Finally, Jenn Lyons her trademark deeply queer and messy (positive) romantic storylines throughout. I just thought that was wonderful and I'm pleased those elements continued on from Chorus of Dragons.
Overall I'd recommend this book both to existing fans of Jenn Lyons' work but also to those who might have felt intimidated by reading a five-door-stop fantasy series.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

What a fun read and ride this was. I hadn't read any of Jenn Lyons prior to The Sky on Fire, but now I'm going to have to! The dragons were great, the pace was fast and fun, and I really enjoyed this. It's currently in my Amazon cart to purchase because I enjoyed this so much and will want to share it on my tiktok and display on my bookshelf.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Do you like dragons, camaraderie between a group of misfits, heist adventures? Then you will enjoy this book! The story and idea behind the book was so fun to read about, and unique to other fantasy books that involve dragons. While I did enjoy this book, it took me a hot minute to get into it between the world building and characters you are introduced to right off the bat but once I got into it I was hooked.

Two of my biggest takeaways from the book would be the characters, and how I wished they had more depth to them. I felt as if they lacked development and the book dragged on a little too long and could be trimmed in a few areas.

As a final thought, I would absolutely read more books from this Author and still recommend this book if you are a huge fantasy lover! Thank you Net Galley for the copy!

3.5 stars
“Dragons don’t see us as equals. We’re slaves, we’re pets, we’re things. As far as they’re concerned, our only purpose is to keep them from going rampant.”

In this world, dragons rule and humans are pets. Anahrod is a loner, she prefers it that way. But when a group need her help to steal a dragon’s hoard, she’s the only one that can help. The problem is, this dragon will surely kill Anahrod if given the chance.

I loved the unique premise of dragons ruling over humans. There are a few dragon riders in this world but if one is chosen, the riders are that dragon’s slave for life. Not all the dragons are self-serving and Anahrod has the ability to connect to them through their minds. This added in with some magical virtues of some dragons made for a great story.

The oddball characters come together to form a team that is a high-stakes adventure, the biggest heist anyone has seen and banter to keep everyone laughing. It was never short on life threatening moments and moved quickly through plotting, friendships and new knowledge. There were times I felt a disconnect with the story where I couldn’t quite pinpoint the purpose, but this may have been due to switching back and forth from e-book to audio.

🎧AUDIO REVIEW: Lauren Fortgang did a great job alternating between the different characters but also the dragon voices. The dragon voices portrayed whether they were friend or foe to the characters and it was done with great flow.

Thank you to Tor Books, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the copies!

"Six of Crows" meets "Fourth Wing" - dragons, magic, a heist, found family, action and a whole lot of things going wrong!!

This action-packed novel follows the adventure of a girl who is suppose to be dead- the misfits who need her help and dragons who can control their riders!

A great read, though I needed some more romance in there to completely draw me in (personal preference only and not a comment on the book itself). The plot was well developed and the characters are broad that everyone will have a favourite no matter their preferences.
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and all the twists and turns that came with it!
🌟🌟🌟

It's a heist! With dragons! The world building felt complete without too much info dumping, and although I wasn't thrilled about going to dragon school everything about it made sense (sorry, Fourth Wing). Although the characters were all true adults, it felt like there was a love triangle being set up a la YA ... until it turned into a triad. (I was very happy about that one, NGL. Why choose, indeed?)

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I am pretty disappointed in this book, it has so much potential and so many cool and unique elements but I felt it was too rushed and tried to squeeze too many things in but it all happened too fast for me to get invested in the characters or plot. I liked the dragons and how the magic worked with them, I also loved the queernormative world and how the system of rings you wore told others how you identified and what romantic interests you had. It had so many interesting elements but it just felt like it needed to be a duology or trilogy to truly feel invested in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for granting me access in exchange for an honest review

I am so sad I didn’t like this book. I loved her Chorus of Dragons series, but this one felt lost. There wasn’t really a plot, so the main character’s actions and motivations felt random and nonsensical. I couldn’t engage or feel excited in the book as I had no idea where it was going or what the point was. The author almost made it feel like it was supposed to be a dark romance with what turned our characters on, but left so many scenes almost unfinished that the scenes felt unnecessary and rushed. The attraction between characters literally made no sense as even though we were in our main character’s mind, it was all action, no real thought. We had no idea how she felt being hunted and kidnapped and threatened with death. She just went one scene to the next seemingly unfazed by most things.

"The Sky on Fire" by Jenn Lyons catapults readers into a spellbinding fantasy realm where intrigue, magic, and epic stakes converge in a breathtaking narrative. As the second installment in the Chorus of Dragons series, this book picks up the threads of the gripping saga that began with "The Ruin of Kings," expanding upon its intricate world and multifaceted characters.

Lyons masterfully weaves together multiple perspectives and timelines, immersing readers in a tale where ancient prophecies, divine schemes, and personal vendettas collide. At the heart of the story is Kihrin D'Mon, a reluctant hero grappling with his destiny as a savior or destroyer of worlds. As Kihrin navigates the complexities of power and loyalty, he encounters a diverse cast of allies and adversaries, each with their own agendas and secrets.

The world-building in "The Sky on Fire" is richly textured, with each chapter unveiling new layers of mythology and history that deepen the intrigue. Lyons' prose is vivid and evocative, painting scenes of breathtaking landscapes and intense battles that leap off the page. The narrative's pacing is relentless, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with twists and revelations that reshape everything they thought they knew about the characters and the world they inhabit.

Beyond its fantastical elements, the novel delves into themes of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of wielding power. It explores the complexities of relationships forged in adversity and the moral dilemmas faced by those who must make decisions that affect entire civilizations.

"The Sky on Fire" is a tour de force in epic fantasy, blending intricate plotting, compelling characters, and profound thematic depth. Lyons proves herself a master storyteller, delivering a thrilling continuation that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Kihrin's journey. For fans of epic fantasy seeking a world to lose themselves in, "The Sky on Fire" offers an unforgettable adventure into realms both familiar and fantastical.

A fun dragon filled heist adventure! This one is fun if you’re up for a fair amount of world building and characters to keep up with. I enjoyed the adventure and alternated between reading and listening. I preferred listening so I could hear the names pronounced and the voices of the characters!

If you’re into high fantasy, heists and dragons, check this one out!

Thank you to Tor Books and Maximillian audio for the ARC/ALC.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this book.
This was a good dragon rider book. The set up and execution of a heist and adventure made for a fun story. As well as It's dungeon and dragons-ish premises that makes it a fun read. The discussions and secrets on how the dragons came to be and about the gods that they worship was a nice look at the history of this world. This could be a stand alone book but I'm hoping there will be more books based in this world. This was the first book of Jenn Lyons that I have read, but I have had her a chorus of dragons series on my to read list for some time. So I think this was a good book to start with before diving into that series.

This was a fun and fast paced fantasy novel. I love books about dragons and heists and this one worked really well for me!

All of the characters are uniquely written and distinctive. While we follow mostly from Anahrod, I still got a good sense of the other characters.

The plot is faced paced, though almost too fast sometimes. There were a few moments that I wished we had some time to sit in.

This world is richly described and I enjoyed being in the pages.

Overall, I enjoyed my time reading this and hope to see more set in this world!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.