And the Sky Bled is S. Hati's debut novel, and it is fierce! I have never read a fantasy book quite like this one, and for it to be a one and done is quite remarkable. A dying city ruled by colonizers where they are harvesting something called Calor which is a magical fossil fuel from the blood rains. It has many uses, but the harvesting of it is destroying the environment. Where man's greed takes precedence over it's consequences, and other's are foced to steal it to survive. Meanwhile, heiress Anastasia tries to take control of the city and crush the slumlords, when her path crosses with Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia who have set out to find the treasure and their reunion may bring this city to it's knees.
A unique climate fantasy that will be sure to draw you in.
Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

And the Sky Bled by @shatiwrites has made my list of my most anticipated releases for 2024.

While epic fantasy/ sci-fi isn’t always my jam, your girl does love some Piers Anthony and Brando Sando. This story brings to mind the complex world building of the Stormlight Archives while finding its own voice with a cast of unique brown voices.

The novel also deals with some very heavy topics, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge those before listing pros and cons.

Trigger Warnings:
🔹Child SA (mentioned but not seen)
🔹Loss of a child
🔹Loss of loved ones
🔹War
🔹Poverty
🔹Colonialism

PROS:
🩸The way all the above trigger warnings are handled with respect.
🩸THE IMAGERY *chef’s kiss*
🩸Stone forests
🩸Calor being a necessary evil
🩸Mariam
🩸Community
🩸Found family
🩸Overall use of they/them pronouns. Because we love representation.

CONS:
🩸There are multiple POV’s, so it can be a little jarring to jump between them depending on the content of the previous chapter.
🩸Dev. For so many reasons.
🩸The bloodstrippers… mostly
🩸People abusing the planet
🩸People abusing each other for resources
🩸”White men are dangerous” -the voice of Chief Powhatan every time the Gehannese did colonizer things
🩸People peopling and destroying the Earth and each other.

✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ out of 5 model planes

Thanks to S. Hati and @netgalley for giving me the chance to read, review, and fall in love with this book.

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I really enjoyed And the Sky Bled. The premise of the book is that there is a society where a substance called calor both powers and poisons their society. There are classes of people trying to hoard the wealth of calor and hoard power, while many others are left to suffer. The story is told from the perspective of many different characters, all from different groups in their society. I liked the complexity of the characters, although it took me a while to remember all the different connections and relationships between them. It was an interesting contort of the conflicts that arise between those seeking power and those thinking in the best interest of humanity.

Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god???

I cant believe this is a debut book. And I refuse to believe this entire story was under 400 pages???

I was drawn into this world and story damn near immediately and it didn’t release me until the end. This book may be up there with Red Rising for me and I do not say that lightly. I cant wait to buy a physical copy and experience it all again.

I am totally blown away by this magnificent debut. The creativity, the execution, the language, and the story all weave an amazing tale that swept me off my feet immediately. It’s jarring and compelling in equal measure.

The characters immediately grabbing my attention. I loved the way they interacted with their world and how it guided the story. I fell in love with the way this author writes and I so hope to see more from them in the near future. This was such a treat to read early.

The author skillfully weaved history into the narrative, making the story not only captivating but also educational. It felt effortless to immerse myself in their world, as if I were growing and learning alongside the characters. This book has undoubtedly earned a permanent spot on my recommendation list. However, now that I've finished it, I find myself in a reading slump

This was a really cool ARC review book - And the Sky Bled had one of the most original and badass settings I think I've read for a while. Calor, a sort of Spice Milange for S. Hati's world, is the pivotal substance that drives the politics and dramas of the story. Aside from being a powerful metaphor for everything wrong with the world, I love the way it exists as a substance of desire and hate, a highly vivid motivating factor for the characters.

Against this background the scenes and action in And the Sky Bled were striking and often had been sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen.

For a bit of balance however, I did have a bit of beef with this book - the characters themselves were somewhat hard to really get into. It wasn't that they were flat or even uninteresting, it was the strange way their pasts and motivations were presented through the story. Compared to the intensity of the setting I found the internal and character motivations of the book relatively disconnected - weird to read a book where I was more invested in the Calor than the characters! But it certainly showed a unique talent that should be celebrated.

"And the Sky Bled" is an absolute masterpiece in writing. S. Hati is a force to be reckoned with, this book has redefined climate fantasy, one can only hope the genre successors can follow in its footsteps.

A story told with searing honesty and quiet subtlety, both elements balance so well within every tenet of the plot. The pacing is beyond compare, igniting readers with a catchy hook within Zain's first few pages while also sowing breadcrumbs of the past to keep you reading until the whirlwind of an ending. Everything involving the world-building, especially surrounding calor and Tejomaya, feels so thoroughly researched and meticulously created. The themes of colonialism and the ways colonialism extends its arms to fracture communities and people apart by piecemeal shows a level of nuance and attention to detail that goes above and beyond, especially in the ways the events that happen to these characters feel like mirrors of our own reality.

And on the characters themselves: every glimpse of Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia's histories piece together strong and multi-faceted characters, all of whom have let their past dictate their present. I found myself constantly surprised by the characters I grew attached to (I never thought I'd see the day where a colonizer [Anastasia] was my favorite character in a story and yet here we are), and the twists and turns had my opinions in a constant back and forth, all markers of characters who will leave a lasting impression. The relationship between characters also felt like they morphed and shifted alongside the character's changes, and it was incredibly fascinating to see the ways Hati wove a web between seemingly unconnected characters, altering their perspectives at the drop of a hat.

This was a jaw-dropping whirlwind of a debut, and I cannot wait to see what S. Hati writes next. I'm giving this book my highest recommendation, but be warned that the ending will leave you in shambles.

I absolutely loved this; it's a fantastic fantasy standalone! I loved the rich and atmospheric writing. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. I loved the characters, and the character development was excellent. The world-building was absolutely perfect. I loved the plot and all the deception. I really liked the mounting tension and sense of urgency, and the pacing was great. I would have liked a little more depth to the characters and more insight into the whys of the choices they made.

4.5 stars

I don’t know if I’ve ever read a climate fantasy book like this before, but I genuinely really enjoyed this debut! I thought the overall idea was really interesting (and slightly terrifying…) and the execution was well done. I love a stand alone and sometimes get nervous that things will be so bogged down with info dumping, but that wasn’t the case here! I do wish there was a bit more information on why things are the way they are when the book began. Things are explained over time, but I still had a few questions by the end. It also took about 30% for me to be fully invested in the characters and story; which isn’t always a bad thing- slow build ups can work and this one did. The last 50% had me staying up late and getting up early to read! I thought the characters were very nuanced and I really enjoyed reading about them and watching their growth, expect Dev…he can kick rocks and catch these hands. I really enjoyed the themes of environmentalism/climate change, found family, and forgiveness.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It's surprising to me that this is a debut novel because Hati is such a talented writer. I wish the ending was a little more fleshed out and the connection between the characters was a little clearer. Overall, an enjoyable read!

I was attracted to this book because of its premise and setting. However, the execution fell short for me and I find it difficult to relate to any of the narrators throughout the story. I also find the constant flashback to 10 years prior makes the storyline more difficult to follow. Overall, I was disappointed with the book and will not be posting this feedback on social media.

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: multiple POVs, climate fiction, political intrigue

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be posted to my review blog on 6/25 and to Instagram on 7/25.

This book just didn't do it for me. It had elements there that I liked and that should've made this a higher rated read, but it just wasn't working for me. That being said, there's not really a lot wrong with the book, it just ended up not being for me.

One of the things that bothered me was the secrecy around how our three narrators--Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia--are connected. It's pretty obvious from the get-go that it's related to the fire that happened a decade prior and, imo, it's also pretty clear how each character is connected to the other(s) through that fire. But the characters don't start saying it more explicitly until around 40% of the book, and the so-called 'big reveal' about the fire happens in the last 90-95% of the book....and I called it around 10-15% in. The characters validly make a big deal about the fire, but it's cloaked in so much insincere/flimsy secrecy that I got over hearing about it well before the characters were willing to stop talking about it.

Then, the 'big reveal' about the fire was a little...iffy feeling to me. One of the narrator's reveals two somethings that, again, I guessed pretty early in (and, to be fair, one of which was almost explicitly stated a few chapters prior), and two of the other characters react in the way you'd want them to react, but it has an almost choreographed quality to it and doesn't feel natural. Especially considering the character narrating that chapter insinuates that there were hints ten years ago that everyone ignored. If the character narrating the chapter is correct that 'everyone' picked up on things and chose to overlook it, then just because one of the other character's reacts correctly now doesn't mean they're absolved. Anyway, the whole thing just felt a little off.

In this world, the environment has been ruined by the harvesting and usage of something called calor, which can be used for all sorts of useful things from electricity to medicine to fertilizer. Tejomaya is the last place it can be harvested, where people get it from the blood rains. But there are also whispers that the rains have turned poisonous and that there's a 'soul-sickness' making people ill. Despite that, the plans to harvest calor are still in full swing. It is, essentially, the folly of man in pursuit of money and power. Why care about the environment when they won't be the ones reaping the consequences?

All three narrators come into the story clearly carrying baggage. Zain is particularly secretive about hers, but we're able to glean that it has something to do with why she disappeared from the slums during the drought despite the fact that she clearly cares deeply for the people there. Zain is someone stuck with really no good options. She even notes the fact that every time she tries to do something to make up to the ghosts in her past, something else goes horribly wrong. The poor girl really needs a break, and I'm glad that she has some people around who can comfort her and provide her hope for a better future.

Iravan is much less secretive about what bothers him. His daughter died in the fire and he's been haunted by that and everything that happened after. I liked Iravan and it's clear that he's trying to make the best of dwindling options. He cares about the people of the slums and genuinely wants to try and improve their lives, but with limited calor to go around and the soul-sickness taking ever more victims, there's little power to be had. I will say though, Iravan is a bit blind when it comes to his business partner and friend, Dev, and it isn't until close to the end that he realizes his friend is not a good person.

Anastasia is the last narrator and she falls somewhere between Zain and Iravan in terms of how much she shares about the fire. Imo it's clear pretty quickly what happened with her, but she doesn't mention it for a while. She's not the most likable of characters. She's the type who doesn't fully see her privilege and who lashes out majorly in her grief, even ten years out from the event. She doesn't really stop to consider all sides, she just wants what she wants. She's blind to her friend Charvi's opinions and needs solely because she's driven by a desire for revenge. That being said, while she's not likeable I can kind of understand how she got to be the way she is, even if I disagree with her. She does redeem herself toward the end and comes to realize some things about herself, the people she used to care about, and the world.

Theron...not really sure how I feel about him. I did end up liking him by the end, but he does some stuff at the beginning that I don't really like or agree with. Zain obviously has some trauma/issue/etc. with Dev, and Theron elects to essentially call her a coward and useless for not wanting to get anywhere near Dev without stopping to think that maybe she has a good reason for acting that way. And then later, once he becomes more tolerable, he doesn't apologize or anything.

Charvi had some hard decisions to make in this book. She's definitely a catalyst for a number of things that happen, both past and present, and I don't envy her the position of being caught between conflicting loyalties (and worlds). If Anastasia had just listened things might have turned out differently, but she didn't and so Charvi makes her decisions based on what she thinks is best for her, her daughter, and honestly for the world at large. Not all of these decisions turn out well, particularly for her, but she's definitely one of the movers and shakers of the story.

Overall this is an interesting read, but I just don't think it was for me. The characters were interesting and nuanced, and I would say they're all morally gray.

“And the Sky Bled” is an adult fantasy written by S. Hati, here at her debut. A powerful book with a strong climatic component, characterized by an epic and urgent atmosphere, captivating and evocative prose, and a fast and tantalizing pace. A tale that won me over completely with its expansive, curated world building on the brink of total destruction, a tough story full of action, political intrigues and power plays, and the three protagonists portrayed in a masterful way.

In general I'm always a little wary of standalone fantasy books, but this one really impressed me with its thoroughness and care! Seriously, I was pleasantly pleased!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but it just didn't work for me.

On paper, the themes appealed to me; a tale of revenge mixed with colonialism, environmental collapse, with schemes involving mob bosses, politicians and the slums. Unfortunately, none of these themes were properly developed and the book was let down by poor writing. The book doesn't have anything to say about colonialism beyond the superficial and the mob bosses don't act the way you would think.

I never got a good feel for the characters or the setting, the writing never brought them alive for me. The book is constantly telling us about the characters and how they feel, instead of showing us. There is a lot of very clunky exposition about the characters backstory and a very annoying habit of mentioning a fire that took place 10 years before the story begins. This incident is referenced almost every 5-10 pages in the novel, until I was sick of it. Imagine something like this:

"Hey, how are you? Remember that fire in the Temple 10 years ago that forever changed the nature of our friendship? Anyways, how's your day going?"

There's even a moment where a character brings up his friend's dead daughter in casual conversation for no reason (other than to tell the audience that he has a dead daughter).

There are so many references to 10 years earlier that I wondered why the book wasn't just set then instead? The exact nature of what happened is not explained until the very end of the book, but rather than building intrigue, this just made me fed up (especially because all the details are implied so there's not much of a secret).

Of the 3 POVs, Zain was the one I got the clearest image of, but even still, I struggled to connect with her story. I was surprised that she was 23 because she mainly acted like a child who wanted her parents. Her decision to <spoiler>betray Dev to the authorities</spoiler> should have been a momentous decision that clashed with her loyalty to the slums, but instead she made it quickly and never considered it again.

Iravan was poorly developed and I also found his age didn't match his actions (he acted more like a reckless youth than a middle aged man). You would think a slumlord with major influence would be ruthless and scheming, but in fact for most of the book he was pretty clueless. Also, the book was very unclear on where his money came from or what he did, he's called a slumlord but acts like a community leader providing charity. It doesn't seem plausible that he could become leader of the slums without earning the position and it's a bit too convenient that all the crimes can be blamed on his best friend.

Anastasia was also poorly developed. Initially she seems like the villain with her political intrigue, but then her plot and development essentially grinds to a halt. Honestly, her storyline doesn't really go anywhere and probably could have been cut.

The romance element felt incredibly half-hearted and based on nothing more than the fact a man and a woman spent time in proximity, so I guess they had to hook up.

Somehow, despite all the flaws mentioned, the ending is even worse. To be brutally honest, the wheels come off and the story collapses into incoherence at the end. None of the plot points are properly resolved and by the time the final secrets are revealed, nobody cares because it doesn't actually matter. It's a complete mess that I didn't even try to fit together, I was just glad it was over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the arc! I loved this, and it reminds me why I love reading, why I love stories. There were so many themes and concepts and ideas and somehow S. Hati managed all of this with grace. This book is also incredibly refreshing and unique; I’m so shocked that this is a DEBUT! Here are some things I loved about this:

The concept of calor is hauntingly fascinating. A fossil fuel with nearly unlimited uses and HARSH drawbacks. It reminds me of recent favorite of mine, Metal From Heaven. However, in this book we also get fucking blood rains! BLOOD FUCKING RAINS!

The world building in general was vast and satiating. Loved the way it mirrored our current world while still being distinct and unique on its own. I truly felt immersed.

I love the concepts and themes (this was my favorite aspect)!!! The concept of loneliness and what it could make out of you was beautifully explored. We have 3 protagonists who have all experienced loss and loneliness, and all 3 of them have been affected in different ways. Anastasia is vengeful, Iravan became a shell of himself, and Zain made some decisions that led her down a dark and tragic path. All of them are compelling. We also have concepts of colonization and greed, absolute power corrupting absolutely, decay and inevitable doom, the land remembering its people and its oppressor, reaping what you sow, destruction and rebirth, and all of them were beautifully handled. I won’t say much more though; you’ll have to read it ;)

The story itself was lovely. All character arcs were deeply satisfying, the reveals and twists were lovely (even if I predicted a few of them), the ending was wild and incredible, the city truly felt alive, and we get a dash of TRUE enemies to lovers. The concepts, themes, and ideas played off the story beautifully too.

All in all, this was an incredible book and an even more incredible debut. Very much looking forward to what S. Hati does next ~4.5

THE climate fantasy. What happens when violent imperialism leads to overmining of a magical fossil fuel? You are not prepared for the answer.

This is a heart-rending story of greed, betrayal, and loss, but also of perseverance and community. There was a growing sense of impending doom that had me devouring page after page, something I haven't felt since Crime and Punishment. I panicked, I felt sick, I cried.
What a debut! I'll be tuning into everything S. Hati writes.

Amid the chaos of a dying city ruled by colonizers, three rivals—a thief, a slumlord, and an heiress—race to find a hidden cache of magic that will decide the city’s fate.

In the occupied city of Tejomaya, calor—a magical fossil fuel—is found only in the blood rains that fall from the sky. While a six-month drought has brought Tejomaya to a desperate standstill, rumors of a secret stash of magic propel three unlikely treasure seekers to risk everything.

Tenacious and street-smart Zain Jatav has been forced to steal calor for her slumlord bosses for years. Finding the magic reserve might be her only key to freedom. But she’ll have to contend with Iravan Khotar, a slumlord himself and an ambitious revolutionary hoping to use the same magic to save his people from the mysterious illness devastating the slums—and to bolster a fight against their oppressors. Meanwhile, heiress Anastasia Drakos leads the ruling council of Tejomaya from the safety of a nearby island. With the hidden magic, she could finally take full control of the city and crush the slums beneath her unyielding fist.

As Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia draw closer to finding the treasure, their paths tangle, and not for the first time—they met before, a decade ago, in a fire that destroyed each of their lives in different ways. Their reunion might bring the already-weakened city to its knees.

Exploring the devastating mechanisms of power, this searing climate fantasy breathes life into a crumbling world hovering on the brink of total destruction.

An Asian inspired sci fi fantasy that will grip you from the first page. Great characters, amazing world builiding and an addictive plot. Definitely an author and series to watch!

LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I RATED THIS BOOK 4 STARS. SUCH A LOVELY STORY AND THE CHARACTERS ARE SO COOL AND AMAZING.

The PDF doesn't read well on the kindle, but I will be back once the ePub is available. Good luck to S. Hati and Zoranne Host!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC.