Really liked this book. Sophie Jordan has a way of bringing you in with her writing. It's so addicting and easy to get through. The romance was amazing and well paced, iny opinion. The plot was super interesting. This felt very original, which surprised me, do to the popular dragon books out right now, cannot wait for more from Sophie Jordan, would definitely recommend. Thanks NetGalley and Publisher!

This is my first Sophie Jordan book. I am not familiar with her other work. This was a good book that kept me wanting to read it to find out what happens. I just didn’t connect that well with the POV characters.

thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book for my honest review

Thank you so much for a copy of this book to read and ponder. While the book started out well I thought the way the story was divided to be different and a little off putting. The way the characters Tamsin and Fell connected but the eventual shun of Tamsin was tolerable. I liked the story but the skipping irked me.

A solid fantasy romance that is definitely unique. However, something about it lacked for me. I think people will be excited to pick this one up but it wasn’t completely for me unfortunately

A Fire in the Sky is a romantasy that follows Tamsyn, a royal whipping girl who is deceitfully married to a brutal warrior from the north. Tricked into marrying Tamsyn instead of one of the true princesses, Fell is furious that his plans to gain influence and push for change have been thwarted. However, he can’t deny his feelings for Tamsyn and the strange connection they share.

Something I found interesting throughout the story is that it’s never clear who the enemy really is. From different perspectives, it seems there are many monsters, both literally and figuratively, that Tamsyn and the others must face. And it’s clear that deception, secrets, and more have blurred the lines between truth and lies.

Tamsyn has suffered abuse in the princess's name for her entire life. The violence she endured is terrible, as is the manipulation and brainwashing that she and others face. Tamsyn's physical journey also takes her on an emotional odyssey, and the truth slowly reveals itself and changes her perspective. Her character is layered and interesting, and I wish some of the other characters were fleshed out as well as she and Fell were.

Tamsyn and Fell have an incredible amount of chemistry from their very first meeting, I liked both of the characters and that the story switched between their perspectives. It also is told from Tamsyn's friends point of view, which reveals a bit of a love triangle. This isn’t my favorite trope, and I think the story could have done without it. After the betrayal, it takes time for Fell to reconcile his feelings for Tamsyn, and there are parts of their love story that felt a little drawn out and repetitive. I wanted to shake this brooding warrior who should surely have been able to see that Tamsyn had and continues to have no choice. Nevertheless, I still rooted for the two of them and hoped that they could get past the past and be a united front against their enemies.

There are other parts of the story that I also wish were explained more, especially in relation to the world-building and dragons and witches, though I think a lot of it will be expanded on as the series progresses. The story went in a direction I kind of expected, and though it wasn't surprising, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. I have A LOT of questions! lol

Also, I would definitely recommend checking out the content warnings before starting the book because there are some parts that might be difficult to read. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Hits the ground running and never lets up!

Tamsyn is the royal whipping girl. Raised with the princesses and made to take their punishments, she still sees the royals as her own family. When the barbarian lord from the Borderlands, Fell, comes to court demanding a princess as his bride, they trick him into taking Tamsyn instead.
This is a great book! We start with meeting Tamsyn during a whipping. Immediately Fell comes into the picture.

There is so much happening and quite a bit of world-building, but it never feels confusing or hard to understand. It’s so perfectly wrapped up in the story that you hardly notice it. Dragons and witches are supposed to be gone from the world, but the world is bigger than they realize. The immediate heat between Fell and Tamsyn is very all consuming from the start. Fell is sweeter than you would think. He cares deeply for his people and only wants a seat at the table. There are multiple POV, and I love getting a look into everyone’s heads. There is so much more to this book. It is a perfect set-up to a fabulous series

Sophie Jordan's A Fire in the Sky offers a refreshingly unique concept that draws readers into its fiery embrace. The novel introduces a captivating storyline with a blend of romance and suspense that sets it apart from other books in its genre.

One of the standout features of the book is the male lead. His character is richly developed and brings a compelling mix of charm and depth that readers will find engaging. His presence alone adds a significant amount of allure and emotional complexity to the narrative.

However, while the book's premise and the main male character are noteworthy, the overall writing style left something to be desired. The prose sometimes felt a bit too anchored in a young adult tone, which occasionally detracted from the novel's more mature themes. That said, Jordan manages to infuse the story with just the right amount of adult spice, keeping it both steamy and engaging.

In summary, A Fire in the Sky is a mixed bag. It boasts a unique concept and a charismatic lead, but its writing style may not fully satisfy those looking for a more mature literary experience. If you're a fan of romance with a touch of suspense and don't mind a younger tone, this book might still be worth your while.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5, open door, explicit, 2ish scenes
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Feelings after turning the last page: okay I already need book 2 and book 1 hasn’t come out yet 😂
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Review: Wow wow wow. I read this in less than 24 hours; I loved this book so much!!! I was fully invested in the story from beginning to end. An amazing start to a new Romantasy series!!! Obsessed with both the FMC and the MMC. I loved the multiple POVs and the different magical beings we’ve already encountered. The writing was great and I’m so excited for book 2 already!!!

i am OBSESSED with a fire in the sky by sophie jordan, and i can’t wait for the next installment of this series! this book was left on QUITE the cliffhanger and i will be so curious to see what happens next!

i loved tamsyn as a character (and to be honest i love the name tamsyn, i think it’s so fun). she was strong willed and stubborn, but also very empathetic to others and loyal to her friends/family. her character development was also 10/10! i loved where tamsyn began and where she ended up!

fell was also LOVELY, he is your run of the mill possessive, “touch her and die” mmc, but his character was executed PERFECTLY by the author.

overall i loved this book, id recommend it for anyone needing a semi-spicy fantasy that will have you hooked from the very beginning!

A Fire In The Sky - Review

This book had me engaged from the first chapter. I enjoyed the multiple narrations, especially from the heroine, Tamsyn, who starts off from humble beginnings. She arrives in a basket as a baby at the palace and is adopted by the king and queen to be raised as a princess but is given the role of “whipping girl,” fated to accept punishment for her adopted sisters’ transgressions. Tamsyn is overly protective of her adoptive sisters and accepts the role she plays in their lives. It’s noble but frustrating because, deep down, she knows she doesn’t belong.

The story opens with Tamsyn’s arranged marriage to the “Beast of the Borderlands,” as an act of deception by the crown. We are introduced to the main male character, Fell, known for his heroism, brutality on the battlefield, and reputation as a beast. He wishes to be rewarded for his heroism by marrying a princess of Penterra. This is where the crown deceives him and uses Tamsyn as a pawn in their game.

Magic is alive in Tamsyn and Fell and they must now discover the true nature of their powers as dragons and discover how they are destined to use it.

I would have liked to see more exploration of the true parentage of Tamsyn and Fell and why they are so magnetically drawn to each other. The pacing of the book was, at times, too fast, and at other times, repetitively slow. Another round of editing is warranted to improve the pacing of the story from the wedding night to the end of the book. The steamy scenes and chemistry between the FMC and MMC were just right to keep me engaged.

Overall, I could NOT put this book down. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the final version of this book as well as the next installment.

Thank you, Avon and NetGalley, for this ARC to read and review.

Sophie Jordan's talent shines through in her ability to craft complex, multi-dimensional characters like Tamsyn and Fell. The way their paths intertwine is a testament to her storytelling prowess, leaving readers intrigued.

The book reads like a traditional YA, with a simple and straightforward storyline. Whether it's the author's intention or my overactive ADHD brain making inferences, the important plot points are clearly foreshadowed, which can make the reading experience less suspenseful.

The way Sophie Jordan has set up the story, I can't help but look forward to reading the subsequent books. The anticipation is real and I'm eager to see where the story goes next.

For a dragon obsessed reader I really hoped to love this one more! It was a solid read but fell slightly short for me on the chemistry and world building.

A good dragon romantasy with adventure and steamy romance that will have any fantasy fan falling in love with the characters and flying through the pages. I am in my dragon fantasy era and this one helped satisfy that craving for me.

The only reason why I’m giving it 3⭐️ is because I wanted more. I just felt it was too short. However I am IN with the couple in the book. The MMC is a smoke show and I’m like yes please!

Anyways about the book, we follow the royal whipping girl named Tamsyn as she does her duties to take beating and punishments for the princesses in the royal family. However, when the Beast of the Borderlands comes to the palace demanding to marry a princess, Tamsyn’s life is flipped upside down and magic reawakens in the city of Penterra.

To not give any spoilers I’m gonna stop there but honestly I’m sitting here like *grabby hands* gimme more because I’m invested. I can’t wait to see where the author goes with this one.

Oh my gosh this story was just epic. I just couldn’t put this story down and I was just captivated by everything that was taking place. The author truly outdid herself with this story. This story just had my emotions all over the place and I am so sad to see this book end. I just can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Having read the Firelight series years ago, I was very excited for this adult series. This was a very quick read - I was hooked very quickly and engaged throughout the book. I enjoyed having both Tamsyn’s and Fell’s POVs. I would have enjoyed the book being longer if we were given more world building and more slow burn romance. I am excited to learn more about the world in general, more dragon history and more about the other hidden magical beings and will definitely pick up the next book in the series. Although the ending reveal is not a huge surprise, I would recommend picking this book up in September.

Loved the beginning of the book, fast pacing it got me once I read arrange marriage. I automatically thought it was a romance book but it's really not.. the ending was kind of a give away..

🅐 🅡 🅒 • 🅡 🅔 🅥 🅘 🅔 🅦

This grabbed me by the arm and drove me full force into this world. I LOVED this. This will keep your attention up until the very last page, the action ,the adventure and the world of characters will keep you intrigued and engaged. Now hear me when I say…THIS IS NOT A ROMANTASY….it is a FANTASY ROMANCE. I think that this may steer people to not finish this read if you go in thinking that it’s something that it is not. I thought that the character development, the world building, the relation to the characters was all there. I loved that this had all of my favorite aspects of a fantasy AND dragons…of course. Tamsyn and Fell are two of my favorite characters at the moment and I need more of them and their relationship…the connection they have, the chemistry and the ride they take us through throughout this read. If you are read to have your world rocked…pick this one up! You will not be dissapointed. I need more from our author ASAP. This needs to be on your tbr for its September 24, 2024 release!


Thank you @netgalley , @avonandharpervoyager and author for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

📚🔥 Just finished A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan and I'm absolutely spellbound!

In this brand-new epic adult romantasy series, Jordan returns to the captivating world of dragons, romance, and high-stakes drama. Set in a realm where dragons are extinct, witches are outcast, and magic is on the brink of extinction, the story centers around Tamsyn, a girl raised in the glittering yet perilous royal court of Penterra.

Tamsyn's life takes a dramatic turn when she is forced to marry Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, in a desperate bid to save the princesses she serves. What starts as a deceptive arrangement quickly transforms into a tumultuous relationship filled with unexpected passion, deep-seated secrets, and a struggle for acceptance.

The author weaves a mesmerizing tale of power, magic, and destiny, with Tamsyn emerging as a beacon of hope in a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin. The intricate plot twists and richly drawn characters kept me hooked from start to finish.

If you're a fan of intense romance, fierce battles, and the awakening of ancient magic, A Fire in the Sky is a must-read. 🔥👑📖

#BookReview #AFireInTheSky #SophieJordan #FantasyReads #Romantasy #MustRead #BookLovers #Dragons #Magic #EpicReads #ARC

A quick, enjoyable adult romantic fantasy. At times, it felt underwhelming and underdeveloped - I think this can be credited to the fact that it is an adult prequel to a young adult trilogy - but I had fun with it all the same. I think it definitely could have been a bit longer; I know we're getting another book after this, but I think if we'd been given more time to really build up and believe Fell and Tamsyn's bond, it would have made the reveal at the end that much better. I will definitely be picking up the next book!

3.5 stars

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it has some of my favorite romantasy tropes and I really enjoyed both Tamsyn’s and Fell’s POVs. On the other hand, this is one of those rare moments where I think the story would have benefited from longer scenes, scenes to help build the world and connect the reader to the characters.

Things I Loved:
- Using the concept of the whipping girl in a fantasy novel was entirely unique
- Arranged marriage, hidden identity, he falls first tropes
- The multiple POVs
- Dragons!

Things That Need Work:
- The sudden instalove - I would have loved to have seen more banter or argumentative screens between the FMC and MC. Something to show budding respect turning into affection.
- The development of the side characters and their relationships with the MCs, especially Mari’s relationship with Fell and Tamsyn’s relationship with her sisters.
- The overall world building and dragon lore

Overall, I enjoyed the story and it was an extremely quick read. I think the plot has a lot of promise, and I look toward to seeing what happens next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.