This offers a quick and accessible romantasy read, but while the premise holds promise, the execution was disappointing. The concept of a protagonist serving as a royal whipping girl is certainly intriguing and sets the stage for what could have been a powerful and emotional story. However, Tamsyn’s passivity as a character made it difficult to feel invested in her journey. Despite her tragic upbringing, she seems to accept her circumstances with little resistance or personal growth.

The romance also felt underdeveloped. Fell’s rapid change of heart—from disdain to devotion—wasn’t convincing,. Tamsyn’s interactions with Stig were similarly lacking in depth and I'm not sure why it even needed to be a love triangle since Tamsyn didn't even know Stig's 'feelings' for her. His view of her seemed more about his own feelings than her value as an individual, leaving their dynamic feeling shallow and toxic.

Additionally, the story’s pacing was uneven. Much of the plot felt slow and repetitive, with key details revisited multiple times from different perspectives, which didn’t add much. While the final moments picked up, the journey there felt predictable and lacked the tension or surprises I was hoping for.

That said, the narration of the audiobook was fantastic and added a lot to the experience. The narrator’s performance brought energy and emotion, even when the story itself faltered.

While this was fun enjoyable moments, it ultimately felt a bit surface-level. Fans of light romantasy might still enjoy it for its simplicity, but it may not linger in your thoughts for long. It certainly won't in mine.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I… don’t know? While I found myself moving through this story very quickly and I would be curious to see what a second installment would entail based on that ending, I didn’t find myself super engaged with the rest of the story. The pacing was slow, it took up to 60% of the way through to get to any true substance, and the chemistry between our main characters is basically non-existent and you want to convince me that they are attracted to one another?

I liked the IDEA of this story. Again, the ending did make me incredibly curious about a sequel with what I would imagine will have a more fleshed out plot line. I just feel that this book falls flat in its overall execution.

Don’t even get me started about the flowery writing, regular use of … for ✨dramatic pauses✨ and the presence of short, little sentence right in a row like: “And something else. Something more. Something I had…” and etc. LITTERED throughout… drove me absolutely insane.

This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

It didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I was really excited by the premise and hoped to be swept up in the story, but I found the pacing a bit slow and the plot didn’t quite grip me as I’d hoped. The characters had potential, but I struggled to connect with them on a deeper level. While there were some intriguing moments, the overall experience left me wanting more. It’s a 2.5-star read for me—there were sparks of something good, but it didn’t fully ignite.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

While the premise of a girl with fire powers fleeing a tyrannical government might seem familiar, "A Fire in the Sky" offers some unique twists. Sky isn't just another chosen one stumbling into her destiny; she's fiercely independent and deeply scarred by the tragedy she's endured. Jordan crafts a world where the magic system is intricately tied to the environment, and Sky's connection to it adds a layer of depth to her character. I've seen early reviews praising the romantic subplot, and while I'm not usually a fan of romance in fantasy, I found the connection between Sky and a certain rebel intriguing and believable. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, with the middle section dragging a bit before picking up for an action-packed finale.

What a great start to a new Dragon themed romantasy series by Sophie Jordan. "A Fire in the Sky" starts the story of Tamsyn, the royal whipping girl for the princesses of Penterra. Enter Fell and her world turns upside down as she embarks on an eye-opening journey, learning about herself and finding passion.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced book. The characters were well written and I was entertained by their story. This is a great beginner fantasy as the world building is not so detailed that you are left scratching your head for the 1st 50% of the book. It has a great ending and I look forward to the next installment!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for an advanced raeders copy of this book for my honest review.

We love a dragon book! Any time of day, month, year is a good time for a book with dragons. I have been hearing about this on tiktok and was worried but it is very appropriately hyped!

It was like you picked a bunch of popular tropes and built a book around them. Instead of finding the tropes after the book was completed. Pacing issues. Ending was rushed. I felt like there were no hints to the plot twist and it came out of left field. I started skimming after 60%.

The general plot is interesting and intriguing. I liked the world, and the world building was good. I feel like it has a lot of similar elements of a magical fantasy world. But, there are some differences to make it stand out. I liked the characters. Our FMC has the potential to be a strong powerful FMC. Her past is interesting and something I've never even heard of. It definitely makes sense that it helped build who she is as a person. I felt that she wasn't too "innocent" or "naive". The only thing that really made me feel meh about the book was some of the plot points are just so glaringly obvious. I felt like I was being slapped in the face with a neon sign about what was happening and what was to come. Maybe some better subtlety would have been nice.

This was an excellent book!! I enjoyed the character development as well as how the plot was developed throughout the story. The author was able to to do a good job with all aspects of the story. I would recommend to others. THIS WAS AN AMAZING BOOK!!

I absolutely loved this book! I thoroughly enjoyed the love story of Tamsyn and Fell, and the magical dragon-shifting aspect. I was drawn in from the very beginning and did not want to put it down. While I had pretty much predicted what would happen in the end, I was super excited to be along for the ride as it unfolded. I can't wait for the next installment!

A Fire in the Sky set my heart on fire! This book was very different from anything I have ever read! I was continuously swiping, needing to know what was going to happen next, what secrets our characters have, and how it was all going to hash out at the end. I am so excited to continue this series and see what happens with Tamsyn and Fell in the next book.

This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I was excited to dive in since I’m a sucker for a Romantasy with dragons. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

The plot is engaging and kept my interest. The world-building is well-done, with a lot of familiar elements from magical fantasy worlds, yet it introduces enough unique twists to feel fresh and distinct.

The characters were another highlight. The FMC, Tamsyn, shows great potential to be a strong, powerful figure. Her backstory is intriguing and unique—something I haven't come across before—which adds depth to her development. She doesn't come across as overly innocent or naive, which I appreciated because that tends to be a trend when the main character makes dumb choices and has to have a huge growth arc. Fell, the MMC, is your typical brooding, protective, and strong hero, and I liked the intensity of his emotions and his desire to protect his people.

My only real issue with the book was that some plot points felt too obvious. Without giving away spoilers, there were moments where the outcome seemed too clear, and I would have preferred some things to be a bit more subtle.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m eager to see what comes next and can’t wait for the next installment in the series. It’s a strong start, and I’m excited to follow the journey.

I have mix feelings about this book. It's not great and nothing happens but there is potential for the story... hence the middle of the road 3 stars.
The flowery writing felt cumbersome at time and took too long to say anything but the book also felt too short. The story in this book is essentially the synopsis with a little twist which honestly many probably can see coming. It seems the whole purpose of this first book was to get us to that cliffhanger and focus on actually developing the story in book 2.

I have to say that the marriage consummation scene which happens very soon in the story is quite disturbing. The whole building up to it I was waiting for some loophole to be presented to avoid it but alas it happened and I was uncomfortable and almost DNFed the book.

Was also slightly disappointed in one relationship in particular that was presented as strong but then was quickly turned into betrayal for the sake of what needs to happen next in the story.

Very curious how book two will do but would probably not read a book 3 if there was one -- the story can't be dragged and so self-serving... the writing and characters aren't strong enough for that.

Anything Sophie Jordan writes I will always read!! This book had my attention from the very beginning. I love how strong Tamsyn with what she went through and continues to go through. I will say it slows down after the wedding but that's okay sometimes that is needed! Either way I am ready and waiting for more of this!!

Why am I not seeing more chatter about this book? My first 5 star read of 2025. I was gripped from the first chapter of this and binged this in just a little over a day - could not put it down until 1am bc who needs sleep?

Tamsyn is the royal whipping girl who literally gets whipped in place of her royal sisters as an adopted princess to the royal family. Other than that, she was raised as a royal, until she is forced into a marriage to save her sisters from the same fate, to a man they call The Beast, whose true name is Fell. Fell is the brute leader of the Borderlands who protects the realm from invaders.

I fell for Fell (😅) instantly. There was an instant attraction btwn the two characters and readers soon start to wonder why.

The plot really moves in this book and it was a real page turner for me where I could not put it down. Oh and there are dragons! A different perspective to how many romantasies write them as usual side beasts.

I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read the sequel.

MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOOOOORR!!!
🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you love a Romantasy with dragons, this book is for you! This was one of those stories that sucks you in immediately, I had a hard time putting it down (and I love when I have that feeling).
Our FMC, Tamsyn, is a royal whipping girl and beloved by the royal family (supposedly). She’s considered the fourth princess, but takes whippings for her sisters. When the Beast of the Borderlands visits the kingdom demanding a princess for his service to the crown, the King has no choice but to oblige, though he doesn’t say which princess he’ll give Lord Dryhten.
After a marriage of deceit is complete, the crossing back to the Borderlands is an incredible journey in more ways than one.
AND THAT ENDING?!?!?! I immediately called my brother and demanded he read this now, this series is going to blow up soon I just know it.
You’ll love this book if you love:
🔥 Arranged marriage
🔥 Witches & Dragons
🔥 Fated mates
🔥 Hidden identity

Thank you to Avon and Harper Publishing for the eARC!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
What to expect: arranged marriage/ forced marriage; dragons, some Game of Thrones vibes.
Once I got around to picking this book up I flew through the story. I really loved the vibes of the MMC, Fell. I, like others, didn't love the consummation scene - but I do love how Fell does his best to comfort her during it. Tamsyn, the FMC, is really intriguing to me and I like her spirit, especially once she is away from being property of the crown.
This books leaves plenty of room for a sequel and learning more about the dragons and their 'politics'. I'm excited to see where the storyline goes! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced ebook of this book.


Sorry this is so late in the process, it didn't get transferred to my own tracker and then life happened. I really enjoyed the book though!

Sophie Jordan’s Fire in the Sky is an exhilarating blend of romance, action, and adventure set against a vivid, fantastical world. Known for her ability to craft captivating relationships and high-stakes drama, Jordan once again delivers a story that keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last.

The novel follows a courageous and fiercely determined protagonist, caught in a world shaped by warring factions and the ever-present threat of fire-wielding dragons. The setting is a breathtakingly imagined landscape where the skies are both a source of beauty and terror, reflecting the novel’s central tension.

What stands out most in Fire in the Sky is Jordan’s gift for character development. The protagonist is layered and relatable, grappling with inner fears and external challenges as she navigates shifting allegiances and dangerous enemies. The romance subplot is a particular highlight, brimming with chemistry and tension that feels both organic and deeply satisfying.

Jordan’s writing style is cinematic, painting vivid scenes of dragon battles, sweeping landscapes, and emotional confrontations. The pacing is swift, with each chapter ending on a note that compels the reader to keep going. However, the novel’s fast pace occasionally leaves some of the world-building elements less fleshed out, which may leave readers wanting more depth in certain areas.

For fans of fantasy with a heavy dose of romance, Fire in the Sky is an absolute treat. Jordan’s ability to balance heart-pounding action with deeply emotional moments makes this a standout addition to her bibliography.

Rating: 4/5

If you’re looking for a fiery, passionate story with dragons, adventure, and love, Fire in the Sky will not disappoint!

I really wanted to love this story. The premise sounded so good—a royal family with a “whipping girl” who takes their punishments, a political marriage to unite kingdoms after a dragon war, and a brooding warrior husband. It had all the ingredients for something amazing. Unfortunately, It just didn’t work for me.

It started off strong, but somewhere around the halfway mark, it started falling apart. The pacing felt…. Wrong, like nothing was really happening, and the romance, it was just…strange. Tamsyn and Fell’s relationship didn’t make sense. One moment they were enemies with some forced attraction, and the next, Fell was totally fine with being tricked into marrying her? Where was the tension? The build-up? It all happened so fast, I felt like I missed something.

And Tamsyn herself, she grew up as the royal family’s literal whipping girl, but she barely seemed affected by it. So unless she has become a non feeling psychopath, it seems strange that she didn’t seem to show any signs of trauma, or resentment, or real depth. She just went along with everything, sacrificing herself for her sisters without question. It felt flat and unrealistic, especially considering her background. I really felt her character should show signs of struggling more, to seem more real, human or whatever.

The writing didn’t help either. It was overly flowery, stretching out scenes that didn’t need it while skipping over the important parts.

And I really don’t want to mention the random love triangle. it felt unnecessary and so out of place…. Because of this, is why I mention it.

In the end, I just couldn’t connect with this one. The premise was great, but the execution fell short, and by the time I gave up on it, I felt more disappointed than anything else.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager.