Vibes: arranged marriage, bride swap, warrior hero, Secret Identities

Heat Index: 6.5/10

The Basics:

Tamsyn is the royal whipping girl, which means that though she has been raised like a princess—even calling the princesses her sisters and the king and queen her parents—her ultimate duty is to take the punishment meant for her adoptive siblings. She takes it again when Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, demands a princess to marry in exchange for his continued protection of the kingdom. Veiled for the wedding night, Tamsyn is given to Fell in place of a real princess... something that, despite their immediate connection, he isn't happy about upon realizing it. He has no choice but to keep her—but as the two make their way to Tamsyn's new home, they have to decide whether they can even trust each other. Because not doing so could cost them their lives.

The Review:

I'll be honest—the past few historical romances I've read by Sophie Jordan have been a bit light on the romance for me. And fantasy romance in particular can be a mixed bag on that level as it is. So I'm happy to say that this series is off to a SOLIDLY "fantasy Romance" (emphasis on the romance) start. Really, a lot of this first book was laying the groundwork for the general world and big plot, while giving us a clearer idea of our characters and teeing up the direction in which their love story is going. Which I'm not mad at!

From the beginning, you get the sense that Tamsyn has a personality, has desires and needs... but her role as the whipping girl has essentially forced her to push her individuality away. That's compelling to me, especially when she's paired with Fell, someone who is all about self-determination and responsibility and carving out his own destiny. While the two do have an instant physical attraction—and why shouldn't they? They sound hot—the trust is immediately gone as soon as Tamsyn's real identity is revealed.

And... I like that! I like that they have this amazing moment together—Tamsyn's first time, by the way—only for it to be thrown off instantly. It creates a good amount of angst on both sides. However, it's well-balanced because, despite that angst, they also have to focus on immediate dangers, rough travel, and so on.

The Big Fantasy Plot isn't like, a shocker. You'll probably be able to predict the twist fairly on (which isn't a bad thing, to me). Again, we're definitely more laying the groundwork here. If anything, I feel like we needed a bit more time with Fell and Tamsyn getting to know each other. But again, that does seem to be somewhat symptomatic of the plot of this book—how much can they really trust each other at this point? The book is bringing them together, and it's far from a standalone, so I feel like the true emotional intimacy will come later.

For the most part, this is really more of a fun time, an adventure. I will say—something I found so insightful was the handling of Stig, Tamsyn's childhood friend-turned-Friend Guy who only acts on his feelings when he realizes she's going to marry Fell, who tells her she's "more than a whipping girl".

Tamsyn's response is somewhat conflicted, but she's mostly like "Yeah... So why are you only offering me the chance to escape NOW?"

So refreshing. The Friend Guy is a type I hate more than anything. It's a Mal from Shadow and Bone thing. He's always been the heroine's friend, he doesn't make a move, and suddenly I'm supposed to see him as the best option because... friends? Because Other Man Scary?

And to be fair, Fell isn't a bad guy at all. He's big, he's gruff, he's a warrior, he's definitely dangerous. But he clearly has a good heart, and even when he's pissed at Tamsyn, he's never abusive. Stig, however, presents him as this threatening violent guy—and Stig clearly sees HIMSELF as this softer, safer option.

That's really deconstructed here, and I so appreciated it.

The Sex:

I wouldn't call this overly steamy—you have two full-length sex scenes and one scene that is EXTREMELY hot, but not... mutually satisfactory...?—but it's definitely heated. That first scene? So good. You really get the physical chemistry between Fell and Tamsyn.

And there's a whole... thing... that I can't spoil.... But it involves examinations... and it's SO. GOOD. I was clutching my pearls.

I'm a sucker for a "fuck first feelings later" romance. And this does that quite well.

I'm excited for more from this series, and honestly? That's great. While it does feel like a lot of setup, it was entertaining setup. I'm ready to get into what happens next—in the big plot, yeah, but mostly within Fell and Tamsyn's romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Fire in the Sky - 4 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait for the next book! As soon as you become acquainted with the world and history, it’s easy to predict the plot and reveals. Still had a lot of fun going through it! Maybe a little too much foreshadowing and time spent in the character’s heads, but the tropes had me hooked. I thought the fact she’s a whipping girl and has been raised as part of the royal family was fascinating. She’s so brainwashed to normalize her situation that it makes a lot of sense she would go along with the marriage arrangement. The scenes had some very fun tension. Such much going on in that bedding ceremony! 👌

I love anything to do with fantasy and can I just say this book exceeded my own expectations. From the very beginning you are drawn into the story of Tamsyn and Fell. The history of royalty and the overall question of how a royal child was punished… whipping girl/boy? The author pulls you into this world of fantasy from the first page and I could not put this book down. I will eagerly be anticipating book 2. Thank you so much for the ARC!!! Best birthday gift ever!

Release Date: September 24, 2024

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adored this book. I read it in one sitting, as I could not put it down. Dragons in books are my favorite.

Tamsyn is our FMC, and she is the royal whipping girl. Raised with the princesses of Penterra as their sister, she is the one who gets the punishments for their misdeeds. That is her sole purpose. So when "Beast Lord" comes and demands one of the princesses as a wife, she gets chosen by the king and queen so they don't have to give up their daughters. They hide her face and hair within a veil and do not allow it to be removed until after the marriage is comsummated. Once Fell, our MMC, finds out he is absolutely enraged that he has been tricked.

I honestly figured the twist out fairly early in the book. But I didn't expect the other twists. The fantasy in the book was amazing, and the spice was spicing. It's definitely a book i will be sharing with others. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Sophie Jordan for this E-Arc. This is my honest review.

Hooked from the very first page this is a touch her and die romantasy .. the world building isn’t too heavy and the plot was great!

Look forward to more dragons in the next book

If you are looking for your next adult romantasy book with dragons, look no further. Admittedly, the dragon bits are few and short but given the ending, I'm guessing the next book will have more dragon content. I think this is a great new start to a new fantasy series and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more. This book hooked me right from the beginning and the worldbuilding isn't overwhelming at all so that is a definite plus. Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands is broody and hot, has a body like a god and protects his wife from the instant they are wed despite the deception of their joining. What's not to love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hooked from the very beginning. Love the touch her and die troupe! Thought I had everything figured out, but was pleasantly surprised in the end. Looking foward to more by this author!

Thank you to Avon for my #gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f romantasy
-marriage of convenience
-beauty and the beast vibes
-insta attraction
-whipping girl
-fated mates vibes
-hurt/sick comfort

Welcome to my newest obsession. This book was everything I needed it to be more. Propulsive, just the right mix of adventure, romance, and sizzling chemistry. The little doodles on the corner of the pages. Everything about this book was perfectly executed. The fairytale vibes, the self-sacrificing heroine who deserves the world. The grumpy LI with a chip on his shoulder who can't help but fall for her.

I loved how this story twisted their fates together even as they constnatly butted heads, just two stubborn people trying to fight the incredibly chemistry between them. Both orphned, struggling with family and the future, two sides of the same coin. I am already ready to reread it just to hold off the fact that I am desperate to see what happens in book 2. Just romantasy perfection.

What a great book! This is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros. The main character is that great combination of tough and soft. The world building is excellent. Great for romance and fantasy lovers alike. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC copy

Despite being a "princess," Tamsyn has lived her life in service to and for others, knowing that one day it would be over, and she would finally have choice. Just at the cusp of gaining that freedom, the man she has called father, her King, takes any hope of having of a life of her choosing, by marrying her off to a barbarian border lord, descended from a long line of dragon slayers, known as The Beast.

Relationship fraught with lies and secrets from the outset, Tamsyn tries to navigate a new marriage, new expectations for who (and what) she is, and new dawning realization that she still has strength, and most importantly choice, in her life.

I could not put this book down. I read it start to finish in one sitting and am chomping at the bit for the sequel. There was just enough to keep you hooked without getting tedious. Just enough romance, just enough spice, just enough secrets and lies, just enough will they won't they?

And then...there are dragons. 🥰

I have to admit, I did see a few things coming, but it absolutely did not spoil the journey or the reveal.

I’m calling it right now: This is going to be the next big romantasy book series.
Tamsyn has grown up alongside the princesses of Penterra, but she is the one who is punished for their wrongdoings. As the royal whipping girl she is not granted the same freedoms as the princesses. When the Beast of the Boarderlands comes demanding one of the princesses as his wife, Tamsyn is forced to marry him to save the princesses from that fate. When the Beast finds that he was tricked into marrying the wrong girl he begins to plot his revenge on the King who deceived him. But, he can’t ignore the connection that they have.

This book was so addictive! I never wanted to put it down and when I finished I thought about the story for weeks. This book has magic, dragons, hate to lovers, touch her and die!!! So many twists and an ending that feels satisfying but still gives room for a continuation of the series. A Fire in the Sky comes out on September 24th and I 1000% recommend picking it up!

I loved this book. The history, magic, and world were great. The relationship between the main characters was well done - arranged marriage, brute with a soft side, secret powers. I was hooked from the beginning and finished ready to dive into book 2 - it’s going to be a long wait!

A thrilling fantasy filled with deception, a forced marriage to the Beast Lord, a witch's curse, the return of dragons, and a fiery connection. A Fire in the Sky captivated me from the start.

Tamsyn (FMC) has been tasked from a young age to protect the princesses who she views as sisters. Receiving their punishments and now even wedding the barbarian lord in their place to keep the peace... Fell, the lord (MMC), won't know it is her under the veil until it is too late. Now that she is his he will have to deal with his unexpected wife.

Journeying back to his lands will be a bumpy ride filled with bandits, discoveries, and dangerous creatures. Sparks may fly and Fell may get a bit possessive/ protective even though he shouldn't. Enjoyed this phenomenal start to the story and the foreshadowing. Saw somethings coming but did not expect that ending. Looking forward to book 2 and learning more about the dragons before/after the Threshing.

Highly recommend checking this read out when it releases if you enjoy romantasy reads with dragons, royalty, hate to love, and forced marriage. Thank you for the ARC!

I have read a few of Sophie Jordans books including her firelight series. I was interested in this one since it was returning to a similar world. I enjoyed it at first but it was too predictable. My main issue was the romance, it was a bit too insta-lust for my tastes. Plot wise while the character has an interesting backstory the general story left a lot to be desired.

If you like romance fantasy you may like it more than I did. Many thanks to netgalley for the review copy.

Sophie Jordan brings dragons into a new world of adult fantasy with A Fire in the Sky. When Fell, the warlord who has been protecting the kingdom’s borders comes to the capital demanding a royal bride, the king weds him to one who has been treated like a princess for half her life…with the other half spent as the royal whipping girl.

Tamsyn was raised next to the royal daughters, treated the same except for when she was punished for their mistakes. It’s her duty to protect the princesses from physical harm, and she marries the Beast of the Borderland for that purpose. But while she’s always been resilient, traveling through the dangerous borderlands brings out a fiery side of her no one could have expected—especially as the last of the feared dragons was vanquished over twenty years ago.

A Fire in the Sky was a great story with some fun twists and turns. It doesn’t feel like much happened in it looking back, but it leaves a lot of excitement for the sequel.

Fun, new dragon shifter series from an old favorite -- definitely intrigued to read more!

This shifter story reflects a world in which magical creatures have became extinct after a major war called the Threshing. It follows our Tamsyn (FMC) and Fell (MMC) on their journey. Tamsyn, the FMC, has been trained to serve the crown at all times. No matter the request. It was fun to watch her slowly figure out what she wanted throughout the course of the story. I am interested to see where her journey goes next and watch her morph into a powerful character. Fell, our MMC, has a mission that has challenges at every step, especially when he is tricked into a wife he did not want.

The plot comes full circle by the cliffhanger at the and I am intrigued to see where Sophie Jordan takes the series next. The book appears to be setting up a much larger story and I hope to see more of this new world that she alluded to at the end.

I was a bit confused by the inclusion of Stig's chapters. I felt like a lot of his thoughts could be inferred from his actions. I wanted them to be a bit deeper than they were. I did enjoy the background POV that explained how Tamsyn came to be in this human society. I am hoping we get more of Tamsyn's and Fell's pasts in the next book.

Sophie Jordan's A Fire in the Sky is a fun romantic fantasy. If you are looking for a romance-heavy story with low worldbuilding and an amusing plot at this one to your list.

This book has so much potential, especially with the current moment that dragon books are having, but it's hindered by the repetitive prose. When every thought is echoed three or four times later on the same page, it's really hard to get into a reading rhythm. Combining that repetition with a relatively short high fantasy novel means the world is somewhat small (which does mean more to come later in the series, I'm sure). I think this will appeal more to straight romance readers than fantasy lovers, though with the gorgeous edges and exciting premise, others will likely be eager to read this one.

Having read and enjoyed Sophie Jordan in her other genres, I decided to give this a go. I really liked the set-up to the story, but I am afraid it lost me with the introduction of the fantasy elements. But that's really a me problem. I will definitely be recommending this for fans of romantasy! Overall, a great read!

“A Fire in the Sky” by Sophie Jordan follows Tamsyn, official whipping girl to the pampered princesses of Penterra. Raised as one of the royal family’s own, Tamsyn’s sole purpose is to accept the punishments for the princesses’ misdeeds. When Lord Fell Dryhten, the Beast of the Borderlands, arrives at the castle, demanding payment for his assistance to the kingdom - a princess as his only asking price - Tamsyn is dragged into a deception of the royal kind.

Despite her only friend’s objections (Stig, captain of the guard who’s also secretly/not so secretly in love with her), Tamsyn marries Lord Dryhten and is swept away to the Borderlands.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter! Despite being duty-sworn, Tamsyn feels this innate compulsion to protect her “sisters” - even when it comes at her own cost. When she’s thrust into an arranged marriage with a stranger, Tamsyn puts on a brave face and goes through with it so that her sisters don’t have to. Tamsyn is the quintessential romantasy leading lady - tough, compassionate, pragmatic, imperfect, resolute.

The characters in “A Fire in the Sky” are deftly written. Tamsyn and Fell - both wrapped up in upholding their duty - passionately and unapologetically collide in this story. Their chemistry is palpable from their very first meeting, and their journey is filled with fiery passion, danger, and unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.

With Jordan’s rich and immersive storytelling, Tamsyn and Fell’s story had me reading this book from cover to cover in one sitting! (I actually read and then re-read the book before writing this review - and it had me biting a clenched fist each time!) Jordan masterfully weaves together romance and fantasy, creating a story that's both heartwarming and thrilling.

And then there's the cliffhanger ending – a brilliant, jaw-dropping twist that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. It's a testament to Jordan's skill that I'm already counting down the days until I can dive back into this magical world. If you’re looking for a book that has it all - witches, dragons, arranged marriage, secret heritages - you’ll want to add this to your TBR list!

Great for fans of the Fourth Wing series and books by Carissa Broadbent! This book will be a favorite for romantasy readers. I will be recommending this to many fantasy readers.