I really wanted to like this but I just didn't unfortunately. The pacing was really slow at 50% it felt like not a whole lot had happened and what had was rather uncomfortable (the consummation of the marriage). I could not connect with any of the three POV characters. Tamsyn the FMC just seemed to let things happen to her and was fine with it because it was her duty and her love for her sisters but there was so little interaction with them and what there was did not convey to me any real sense that they felt as deeply for her except maybe the youngest but even then. Don't even get me started on the King and Queen their behavior if they actually loved her like a daughter was inexcusable not just the events that take place in the book but her whole life. Stig came off as one of those guys that doesn't really care about something until you tell him he cant have it and then he is obsessed with having it. Fell, ugh, this man just wanted a princess and it didn't matter to him which. I get why he wanted the marriage but still his whole attitude put me off.

This story has a lot of potential. I am excited to see where this goes with future books in the series.

This story focuses on Tamsyn, a whipping girl that is more than she seems, marrying Fell, a brute that is actually a really decent guy. Each has their own points of view, which I enjoyed. The plot seemed intriguing, and the characters obviously had a lot more to them that could be explored. However, everything felt rushed. The development of the romance between Fell and Tamsyn wasn't there. One minute they hate each other, and the next Fell is out of his mind with desire. I really need more of a slow burn leading to the uncontrollable lust or just an absolute instant draw to one another as potentially fated mates. It came off as a bit of a mix, which just didn't work.

I felt the world-building was also a bit lacking. I need Sophie Jordan to spend as much time on the world-building and character development as she did on the ick of the arranged marriage.

I did not understand Stig's role in this story. He felt thrown in last minute. I felt he was added simply to increase the page count. We get chapters from his point of view, but I felt they weren't needed. Maybe it will play out further where his point of view will add depth and give us insight, but currently it is just annoying.

Dragons and magic still exist in “A Fire in the Sky” by Sophie Jordan, first in her new romantasy series!

There is a lot of world building given that this is the first book of the series. I appreciate world building and appreciate more that this romantasy was not wordy. I love the simplicity of this book with a story of woe, scandal, and a romance that will continue to grow.

I enjoyed that this was a dragon book and enjoyed more that this was a shifter story. I haven’t read a lot of shifter books so I was open to whatever Jordan delivered. The more I read, the more I excited I got to realize the fated mates aspect of this book!

I highly recommend this well-paced book for those who love anything dragons, magic, and fated mates!

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This book was... fine. I was just kind of surprised when I got to the last ten percent because I didn't feel like anything had really happened? Tamsyn is raised as a whipping girl, the adopted daughter and princess of the court of Penterra, until Fell, the "Beast of the Boarderlands" comes to the kingdom and she is promised to him as his wife. She accepts her fate as a continuation of her familial duty. There are dragons and witches and magic but there's no real world building and no real climax and I just don't really get what the point of the story was. I also really dislike the way the author tries to dance around the issue of Tamsyn's trauma and obvious inability to give consent. Meh. Every book its reader and all that, but I am not the one for this one.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ability to have this arc read.

I had high hopes for this book, I’ve seen it on several socials and thought it looked interesting. The first few chapters were interesting, it pulled me in. The fmcs story and how she was used a pawn, the mmcs broody and mysterious appeal. But I lost interest quickly after the wedding. There was so much missing information and they would be in one place and the next sentence they are somewhere else without context. It was all over the place and hard to follow. Also, the dragon was very cartoonistic. The way it’s described it moves reminds me of toothless. Also it was never described how she managed to shift back after seeing the witch. This book had potential but fell short for me.

Plot? Plot? Anyone see a plot over here? I sure can’t find it. This is a pretty long book to have so little happen. There was no character growth - no one even for a second confronted their own biases and prejudices so the romance felt flat. There was also shockingly little “fantasy” for a book that has dragons.

Very compelling and intriguing, fast paced great fantasy story! Well written plot but almost too fast paced, could’ve used more elaboration. Great plot building and overall loved!

I really wanted to love this book more than i did. It wasn't bad but I just didn't connect to it much and i felt like it kinda did out half way and I felt like i was forcing myself to finish it. Honestly i think i need to re read because i am such a mood reader and maybe I just wasn't feeling it at the time because I LOVE dragons lol it was just kinda of slow for me

This was uhhh not my favorite. The plot was slow, the romance was cringey. Their feelings flip flopped more than my pancakes on a Sunday morning. This might fruit some readers as it’s a quick read but it was not for me.

This is a dual POV romantasy about Tamsyn the royal whipping girl, and Fell the Warrior Beast of the north. In their magical land both dragons and witches have been hunted to extinction. But after their arranged marriage, the journey they go on reveals that magic is not extinct, but in hiding. And will be found in the most unexpected places.

Was this book an original and groundbreaking masterpiece? Far from it. But did it help me in my reading slump? Yes, I finished it in three days. I will say that it ends on a cliff hanger, and I feel like it was not the best place to end, but as a popcorn read I can recommend it. Maybe don’t buy it, but get it from the library or Kindle. I will read the sequel, since it was a fun time. Most romantasy books these days are too long. This one was too short, which I personally prefer.

*Wow—what an epic ride!* Sophie Jordan delivers a breathtaking romantasy filled with dragons, danger, and sizzling romance. Tamsyn is a fierce, unforgettable heroine, and the twists kept me hooked from start to finish. If you love high-stakes drama, passionate love stories, and a world brimming with secrets and magic, *A Fire in the Sky* is a must-read!

This book was soooo good. I didn’t realize that I had already purchased it and I read it in one day. I just couldn’t put it down. Between witches, spice, and dragons I was hooked.

"A Fire in the Sky" was my first foray into Sophie Jordan's work, and it certainly lived up to expectations. From the very first page, I was captivated, finding it to be an entertaining fantasy romance teeming with magic, dragons, and love—a delightful read that has me eagerly anticipating the second book.
In a world where dragons have vanished and witches are forced into hiding, the constant is humanity's insatiable thirst for power. Tamsyn, raised in the palace alongside the princesses, is both part of the family and an outsider. She understands her role and loyally endures the princesses' punishments as their "whipping girl." Though she's treated like a sister and holds affection for them, she willingly accepts her role. However, when the formidable Beast of the Borderlands, Fell, demands a princess as his bride, Tamsyn is ordered to take the princess's place, veiled to deceive the fierce warrior into marriage. She consents to this final act to safeguard her sisters, even at the cost of leaving her family and best friend. But what will happen when Fell discovers the deception? Will he resign to his fate, or seek retribution against the bride who fooled him? As Tamsyn's secrets begin to unravel, they will soon discover that there's much more at risk—will these revelations draw them together or doom the entire kingdom?
For those who cherish fantasy infused with a dash of magic, romance, and dragons, this is a tale not to be missed. The evolving bond between Fell and Tamsyn is mesmerizing, drawing you into their improbable alliance. Crafted with beautiful prose, this compelling and alluring narrative will leave you yearning for more.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan ignites the ultimate fantasy adventure for fans of witches and dragons. Set in a world where dragons no longer rule the skies and magic is fading, the story captures the mystique of hidden powers and long-buried secrets. Tamsyn, a young woman forced into a life of punishment and servitude, finds herself at the center of a fiery battle when she’s ordered to marry the dangerous Fell, a warrior with a dark reputation. Their chemistry—and her discovery of her own magical potential—adds layers of excitement and intrigue as she confronts dragons’ ancient legacy and the awakening of magic itself. Jordan masterfully brings the thrill of witches and dragons back to life, promising a powerful blend of romance, danger, and enchantment that will keep readers spellbound.

I was obsessed with Sophie Jordan’s Firelight series as a kid, and when I learned she was writing an adult series, I knew I had to read it ASAP. This was a perfect mixture of sweet nostalgia and new exciting twists! Fire in the Sky is a very easy-going read with intriguing action scenes. The romance is done to perfection, unfolding at the right amounts of tension and passion. Fell is the kind of love interest you can’t help but root for!

I love Tamsyn’s background and the thought that went into it, it added a unique depth to her story and personality. I’m interested to see how it plays a role in the continuation of the story, and how it will affect her struggles. The vivid imagery adds a level of immersion to the story that I found refreshing too.

I devoured this book in just a few hours, I was so upset when I finished! I want to return to Penterra right now, I cannot wait to read more of this story. Time to go re-read Firelight now!!

Thank you NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this review copy.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

On one hand, I didn't hate the main character. She's smart and resilient and not a "poor me" whiner. She might be such a non-whiner, in fact, that her family walks all over her and she just smiles and waves.

On the other hand, the multiple viewpoints seemed so unnecessary. <spoiler>We meet Stig for just a minute and then he's got his own chapters that we jump back to in the middle of the book. Fell's viewpoint really doesn't tell us anything that Tamsyn's doesn't. I'm not a professional author so I'm probably just wrong on this, but I feel like it would have been better written in third person rather than four (?) first person viewpoints that really don't come off as having a different tone at all.</spoiler>

My other quibble is with some of the weird turns of phrase. One that stuck with me (and was right at the beginning!) was Tamsyn saying her "breasts weren't dormant." Girl what. And shortly after, feeling Fell's voice like a slap?

That said, I read it, I finished it, and I even found myself wanting to keep reading and putting my other book on a temporary hiatus. So yeah, not bad! I'll read the second.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for this ARC!

I think I'd really rate this book around a 3.5 but will round up because it was an entertaining, light read, and kept my attention. However, I need more world building and explanation in the second book because what did I just read? Clearly there are hints and you can anticipate what's going to happen, but also...how?

I'm also interested in seeing more character growth from Tamsyn - she's not a bad fmc but I'm hoping she'll come into her own in her new environment. I found the interactions between Stig and Fell hilarious, although I'm not sure I should have (shrug). Overall, the story has potential- I do wish the reveal at the end had come sooner so we got more story in the first book, a lot of time was spent on them traveling.

I received the e-book ARC of this story and I am so glad that I did! From the first page to the last this story held my attention which recently has been hard to do. The FMC, Tamsyn is great. She is heroic, spunky, and at times self loathing. Fell is such a gentle giant even though for a minute I wanted to punch him in the throat. The story and cliff hanger was a little predictable, but the delivery made this one of my few 5 stars for the year.

AHHHHHH

I'm so obsessed. This book is my entire personality now. WOW. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I do! I immediately need book 2 nooooow 😩

Tamsyn and Fell are such a great couple and that ENDING. Fuck me.

A Fire in the Sky tells the story of Tamsyn, the whipping girl for the royal family of Penterra. She has grown up with the princesses, always told that she was one of them, but she was the one who had to pay for any mistakes they made. Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, comes to court to update the royal family on the attacks on their borders and to demand a wife as payment. He hopes that having a princess for a wife will give him more sway with the kingdom and allow him to make changes to help his people. Tamsyn is offered in the place of the princesses, told to keep her identity a secret. Once she's been wedded and bedded, her identity is revealed and while Fell isn't thrilled with the deception, he accepts Tamsyn and they begin the long journey back to the Borderlands. Along the way, the encounter magic Tamsyn thought was all but extinct and reveal secrets about themselves that they never would have believed.

Unfortunately, A Fire in the Sky missed the mark for me. The main issue I had with the story was that the pacing was so slow. It felt like very little happened in this book and it took forever to make any progress. There was a lot of repetitive inner monologuing that I feel could have been cut and maybe been replaced with more world building. I found the world to be interesting, but there just weren't enough details for my liking. Fell also accepted Tamsyn super easily and was almost immediately enamored with her, which felt unrealistic. I understand they have a special connection, but it would have made more sense for Fell to struggle with it a bit more. This book will appeal to readers who like super romantic male leads and introspective romantasy.