An interesting fantasy book. I'm not sure I would recommend in an oversaturated market, but certainly worth the time if you come upon it.

This was such a fun ride! If you're curious about the book's tropes, you will find: forced marriage, enemies to lovers, orphaned MCs, multiple POVs, a sorta (not really) love triangle, dragons, witches, and deliciously slow burn romance. There are centuries old conflicts and perilous landscapes and creatures, and with the plot's slower pacing, readers can take their time and savor all of the reveals and romantic tension.

We're left with quite the cliffhanger that has me needing book two, and I'm given the impression that the sequel will be action-packed and kick it up a notch on the pacing.

I absolutely loved the tension between Fell and Tamsyn....despite them being forced to connect near the start of the story, the rest of the book had delectably slow burn tension and brooding between them, which I'm ALL about.

The whipping girl premise was a new one to me and definitely one I haven't read yet. Very interested to see where Sophie Jordan takes the story after that ending!

A Fire in the Sky is a spicy fantasy story about a royal whipping girl, raised alongside the royal family, but never one of them. She is married to a powerful warlord, and as she slowly falls for him, she learns about her true nature and the nature of the Threshing that rid the world of dragons. Or maybe not?

This book was fine. Not the next best thing in Romantasy, but on par with Fourth Wing in terms of fantasy and romance elements, as well as spicy scenes and writing style. And I mildly liked Fourth Wing when it comes to entertainment. Minimal world-building, a few explicit spice scenes and a emphasis on a relationship that develops pretty quickly within 300 pages or so. Though, I will say that these characters don't pretend to be in all-consuming love, but mostly lust and admiration at first. The cliff-hanger at the end was a surprise.

My biggest pro when it comes to this story is that the main character, Tamsyn, she does not do what is quite typical of Female heroines. She does not run away from her duty and she maintains a sense of agency within herself, she doesn't pander too much to the Male Hero. Not everyone may see it that way, but it was a refreshing character change for me.

I'm not sure if I will impatiently await the next book in this series, but if I see it around I may give it a go.

Thank you Netgalley and Pulisher for the eARC.

Read this if you need a easier read but certainly something different in the fantasy romance world.

⚔️Arranged Marriage
⚔️Dragons

I flew through this and had a good time with this one. Was this perfect, nah. But I loved this just because it was different and wasn't the typical cookie cutter fantasy romances out there lately.

This was odd for me. I liked the story and want to read what happens next however, the whole story felt so rushed. I wish there was more written about the first few days (weeks?) in the Borderlands as a couple. I could tell that this was just a set up for the next book when I was 80% of the way through and they had just barely gotten to the Borderlands. I like the ideas a lot but the execution wasn’t the best.

I won’t lie, I was a little unsure about this book when I first started it. The main character being a whipping girl for those she refers to as her “family” & the forced marriage (w/ a public consummation) made me slightly uneasy. But despite those things, I still found myself being drawn in & unable to put it down. I needed to know that things were going to get better for Tamsyn, because they were looking bleak, and in some aspects they did. But in others…. TBD 🫠

I loved that this book had multiple POVs. I was intrigued by the immediate connection they felt toward one another & the journey they took together throughout the story. I was SO glad when I read this was just the first of Tamsyn & Fell’s story, because with the way things ended I need to know more asap!

It took a twist that I was absolutely not expecting. It was very different from the other fantasy books I’ve read so far & I really enjoyed it. I found it to be very fast-paced and an all around fun read. Highly recommend adding this one to your autumn TBR

Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC

3.5⭐️

If you’re looking for a quick, classic romantasy with dragon shifters, you will likely enjoy this book!

It was easy to digest, bingeable, and light on the world building. The premise of a whipping girl is a new one for me, so that spin was interesting. It featured arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, hidden/secret identity, and a love triangle (kinda).

Nothing really stood out to make this an exceptional book for me and honestly it felt like a bunch of other romantasy books I’ve already read. I may still pick up book 2 to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

In this new romantic fantasy, we follow a strong female lead who has been manipulated and abused her whole life since she was abandoned at birth. This world is full of magic but with crumbling kingdoms. Tamsyn sees the world with rose colored glasses, but they’re soon yanked off when she’s forced into a marriage with the Beast of the Borderlands. The very man who is the reason why their kingdom still stands.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this series, but I got immediately hooked by the absurdity of Tamsyn’s life and beliefs. She is loving character who has had little to no choice in her life and struggles to see her true reality. What better way to see clearly than to have to put up with a grumpy brute with a sharp tongue & a soft side? Things get even more interesting when things start magically occurring around her.

If I had the second book I’d pick it up immediately. There’s so much still left unanswered and I did not expect the ending it had.

If you like dragons this needs to be on your TBR yesterday. This was an incredible read. Tamsyn stole my heart early on as a relatable and likable character. I was honestly worried about the after the wedding part, but wow that scene was done with such care that it made me devour the rest of the book! I was not expecting how the story played out, which made it an even more interesting read for me. I am excited for future books from this author!

EEEEEEEEEE! That’s my excitement after finishing this book. The only thing bad is that I can’t immediately read the next one.

Given away in marriage, Tamsyn is scared of her husband to be. She is starting the marriage out with deceit and she doesn’t know what awaits her. Her husband, Fell, is wary of his new bride but something simmers between them.

I loved the fantasy, it wasn’t too much all at once, and the romance. The romance was so good. I really loved it.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up. I liked this romantasy, liked the characters, liked the story line… I just didn’t LOVE it. At times parts felt a little slow but the book always seemed to suck me back in with some twist or turn. If you love dragons, witches, a little trickery and some mystery this is worth the read. I did enjoy going on this adventure with Tamsyn, the royal whipping girl, and am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing where it goes! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A Fire in the Sky follows three POVs: Tamsyn, the whipping girl of the royal family, Fell, the ruler of the Borderlands, and Stig, the Captain of the Guard and Tamsyn’s friend.

I’ll start off by saying I haven’t read the Firelight series, and this book is set in the same world. However, I found this a classic and interesting fantasy world, where dragons and witches have mostly died off due to being hunted and persecuted. The majority of this book is set on a road through the countryside and wilderness, and I love a good travel story.

Overall, this is a solid read. I can tell a lot more is going to happen in the sequel, so this first book definitely feels like the setup for the rest of the series. I really enjoyed the second half especially, as the pacing picked up and more events began happening to spur the plot along. While the romance lacked some depth, with the events at the end, I definitely think the romance will have more depth as the series continues!

My only cons were that Sig’s POV seemed unnecessary, and Fell was constantly described as big, and it got to be a little much.

This was a fun and easy read. If you like dragons and romantasy, give it a shot!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for my ARC!

Sophie Jordan’s Fire in the Sky is an enthralling blend of political intrigue, forbidden magic, and sizzling romance. Set in the decadent and dangerous kingdom of Penterra, where dragons have long vanished and witches are exiled, the novel pulls readers into a world teetering on the edge of collapse, with magic lying dormant beneath the surface. Be aware that this book did start slow.

At the heart of the story is Tamsyn, a complex and compelling heroine trapped in a life of servitude. Tamsyn is eventually thrust into a whirlwind of deception and danger, forced to marry the warrior in a desperate bid to protect the very people who have always looked down on her.

Fell, though brutal and menacing, is not without his own layers, and watching Tamsyn navigate their tempestuous dynamic is both heart-pounding and captivating.

The evolving bond between Tamsyn and Fell is fraught with mistrust and unspoken truths, yet it simmers with undeniable chemistry.

Fans of slow-burn romance, rich world-building, and stories where secrets can change the fate of kingdoms will find Fire in the Sky an unputdownable read. Sophie Jordan delivers a stunning tale that reminds us that sometimes, even the most ordinary among us can spark extraordinary change.

From the first page, I was HOOKED! It’s so different from anything I’ve read. And I love that. I never knew what would happen next.
I had the hardest time putting it down. HIGHLY recommend it.
I CANNOT wait for the next book!

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I thought the world-building was interesting and accessible and I loved the dragons. I wish we would have had more on the page time of watching the main couple fall in love, I wanted more of the romance. But overall, an enjoyable read!

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

The premise of this book hooked me. I was hoping it wouldn't be a letdown, and it was NOT. I devoured this book so quickly. I loved Tamsyn and Fell's chemistry, and their different POVs. I loved the book's ending and cannot wait for the next. The only thing I didn't like about this story was that it felt like there could've been more, It's a rather short story, only 320 pages (which in the fantasy world is VERY short), and I wished it was just a little longer. I felt like we only got half of a story, but I suppose that leaves a lot of room to grow for the next books.

4/5 Stars
1.5/5 Spicy

A Fire in the Sky had me texting everyone who had read it with exclamation marks. From the beginning, we have Tamsyn who is a whipping girl for the spoiled princesses. Not going to lie, my enjoyment for the book really began once Tamsyn was allowed to bloom as her own character. We are able to see the ways Tamsyn finds her sense of the truth and herself. Her own strength, her limitations, and her care. A Fire in the Sky has so many of our favorite tropes like arranged marriages and love triangles, and brings it to this fantastical world which I am so excited to discover.

Actual stages of reading A Fire in the Sky:

* this book is basically a historical romance. Bossy duke demands wife. Lowly lord tricks duke with governess in disguise

*Is this book better than Fourth Wing?! yes. yes it is.

*SHE DID WHAT?!? And then she WHAT?!

*WAIT - Him too???

*OMG. That's the end?!? I need more. When is the next book??

Best book I have read in ages. I needed not only this fast paced romantasy in my life, but I needed the book conversations that came with it. Sophie Jordan wins September and reading for me right now.

Raised as a princess of Panterra, as the royal whipping girl, Tamsyn is an outlier. Duty bound to her sisters. Tamsyn has found solace in Stig, her only friend, captain of the guard and son of the lord regent.

Fell, the Beast and brutal lord of the borderlands has defended and protected Panterra. Now it is time for his reward in the shape of a bride.

To save her sisters from marriage to The Beast, Tamsyn is commanded to veil herself and wed the lord of the borderlands. Will he accept her and her deepest secrets? Even the ones she does not yet know?

A Fire in the Sky was an enjoyable read featuring exiled witches and mythical dragons. Tamsyn was raised in a world where she never quite belonged but loved her family blindly. When Fell, the borderland lord, takes her for a wife she embarks on a journey that hardens and transforms her. Ultimately leading her to a quest for self discovery and belonging. I give this book a 3.75 out of 5.

Do you love arranged marriage? Secret identities? The ‘touch her die’ troupe? Dragons?? Romantasy that is more romance with fantasy vibes? Then this is the book for you! Buckle up for some troupey, cheesy fun in a book that you will not want to put down!

I will highlight that world building wasn’t really a thing in this book, but if you’re after a book you can dive straight into, this was overall a really fun read that I would recommend to any light romantasy lover (emphasis on light when it comes to the fantasy aspects). This book made me giddy, in a kicking my feet in the air kind of way (and if you read this book, this could be you) and I honestly cannot wait for the next instalment!

A big thank you to Lara Baez, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.