What a stunning debut! This climate fantasy has such a unique concept that I personally haven't read before. How everything tied together at the end amazed me! Jaw dropped!

Thank you to S. Hati and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

"And the Sky Bled" follows the harrowing perspectives of an heiress, a thief, and a slumlord as they unknowingly compete against each other, time, and the very sky itself to find a cache of magical power that could change the fate of their beloved city once and for all. As secrets - some new, some long buried in the ashes of a fire ten years ago - begin to unravel along with the tenuous stability of the streets of Tejomaya, these treasure seekers are forced to decide what is worth dying - and worse, living - for.

Do you every have to take a minute with a fantasy story that reeks more of present-day than far-flung fancy? "And the Sky Bled" does a wonderous (and frankly, somewhat disturbing) job of combining climate threat, civil unrest, occupation, and the dark parts of very human choices in a gripping "fantasy" through the eyes of three different, but ultimately three very similar countrymen. The reader is dropped into the occupied city of Tejomaya decades after tragedy has struck and changed the physical and metaphorical landscape of the dying world we are thrust into, but I feel like large parts of this story could have been written from current-day events. I think that's part of the reason this book has sat with me a few days after reading - it's left me a little uncomfortable (which is by no means a bad thing, to feel when we read - it can't be all broody faerie morally grey book boyfriends all the time), but introspective about our real, tangible world and reading in general. It could also be the election lurking around the corner, but I digress.

Readers of dystopian futures, unique and volatile magic systems, political intrigue, interpersonal drama, and themes of love, loss, national pride, and the idea of the earth remembering those who have trespassed against it will all find something to love (and possibly be disturbed by) in this book, and I think it was an excellent debut from author S. Hati!

This was such a unique world with loveable characters. Really enjoyed this climate fantasy. I was immediately pulled in and cared about the stakes of these characters, even ones I didn’t like very much. So excited for more from Zorannes imprint and S. Hati’s writing.

And The Sky Bled is a dystopian climate fantasy that explores the intersection of power and the human condition. The unique concept of this book is what made me pick it up. Hati weaves together 3 different narratives to tell the story of a city hovering on the brink of destruction.

I really enjoyed the way Hati wove the 3 narratives together, the building of tension was exquisite, and the ultimate reunion of all 3 was explosive to say the least. The world building is so intricate and vibrant that you can’t help but be sucked into the story.

Overall, this is an excellent debut novel and I am excited to see what S. Hati writes next.

My first climate fantasy and I really enjoyed it!!! Fantastic writing & I loved seeing how all of the POVs ended up connecting- I can’t wait to see what S. Hati does next!

Readers looking for a rich and beautifully written fantasy that has Hunger Games-esque vibes, this is the one for you. I actually follow a TikToker who had mentioned helping to be a part of publishing this book and she is the main reason I discovered authors like John Gwynne! When I saw her promoting this book I knew I'd love to be part of ARC reading and was thrilled to receive an ARC. This book was a bit slow to start, but once it hit, it HIT! I also feel like this is a book that is beautifully laced with symbolism that will have fans of books that will live rent free due to the amount that they really make you ponder, get this book! Definitely will be recommending to all of my fantasy book besties!

ty to netgalley & bindery books for the arc 𓈒ㅤׂ 𝜗𝜚

there’s a lot of good in this. it just took me some time (about 60% in personally) to get there. once i got past the more uninteresting bits, i breezed through the rest.

the POVs work well with each other and you’re gradually given a sense of how the different characters are actually so intertwined with each other. that’s what made the story work for me. i do wish we were given a bit more when it came to the main characters. i kind of had a hard time connecting with any of them but i got there eventually. i was honestly more interested in the events surrounding them which idk is a plus or not.

read this if you’re into -

~ political intrigue
~ multi POVs
~ standalone fantasies
~ slow-burn (in every sense)

i’d give it a go even if these cli-fi reads aren’t your thing 𓈒ㅤׂ 𝜗𝜚

I wish i liked this more. I liked the concept, the first ~15% and the last 15% but felt it needed more editing/workshopping. The characters were very tell not show and I just wasn’t invested. I won’t share this review to the public reader space due to this being a brand new imprint, and I will be looking out for S. Hati’s next book.

And the Sky Bled is a strong fantasy debut that tackles a climate crisis in this world through the eyes of three very different characters who are dealing with the consequences of massive imperialism. The book took a bit to get into but after the halfway point it definitely picked up as we got closer to the ending.



I think it could have benefitted from another go of editing as there were some moments and character choices that did not flow as well as others but it is a pretty solid debut with a unique concept.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery books for an early arc in exchange of an honest review.

When I say S. Hati has a way with words that just makes you go and stand in front of a mirror, asking why I don't have the same gift for words as she has you better believe me, otherwise the whole writing world is a lie or I'm just stuck in a never-ending delusion.

Every small expression, every sentence was well-crafted, and it all lead at the end to the final moments.

While then writing was exemplar, I felt that this book was too long for what it could have been, not in the terms of scenes as most of them were necessary for the ending to be understandable and complete, but in term of pages, especially around the middle. The middle felt especially long for me, nothing was truly happening and the did send me into. reading block that lasted for a couple of weeks. But that still wasn't enough for me to give it less than 4 stars here (rounded to excess as it's a 3.5/-4).

All characters were meticulously crafted to make the reader realize what type of world they live in (what were the events that led them to become like that and how their past actions weight on their dirty consciences).

my fav characters where Zain and Theron (I stand for the Theron POV, we readers had the right to at least expect one chapter from his POV) even if there really wasn't one that stuck to my heart, even if Zain and Theron went dangerously close into achieving it.

Was this book bad? No absolutely not. Could it'd been better? Yes.
Will I read more works from S. Hati? oh yeah I sure will.

4.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the free ebook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While And the Sky Bled by S. Hati is a fantasy book set in a different world than our own, it does an amazing job exploring class differences through climate disaster due to climate change. While I found the book very challenging to jump into, due to the lack of any background info and introduction, the themes at play made the storyline easier to follow. If you're not really up for the detective work and dedication this book needs in the first few chapters, it will however make for some unforgiving reading, even if the story rewards you later on.

While the world-building slowly unfolds on the pages as the story progresses through different characters, it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer amount of thought and ambition put into this book. This does, however, feel like a double-edged sword, because the story almost drowns in the ambitions at times. It's hard not to, when the main themes are climate change, politics, colonialism and social standings, where all of the nuances of the themes are given their time to shine in a standalone book. Did I wish that the book had gotten more space - maybe in a sequel? Yes, absolutely.

I enjoyed the multi-POV, with vastly different characters, that the book had going on; especially with the separate plotlines that intertwined nicely for the finale. The multi-POV worked nicely for a more complete world-building shown but not told, but also had the effect that I felt like I had missed some important events, interactions and general bonding experiences with the characters whenever the POV shifted, and they didn't really get the time to be as full-fledged as they had potential to be.

If you're into, or want to explore, climate change fantasy and how climate change as a plot device for other complex themes, then this book is an interesting choice to pick up.

This book follows a group of characters that are living on a dying world with limited resources left. The characters are all interconnected by a past event that slowly unfolds before us throughout the book. If you were to compare; think The Hunger Games vibes. Though this book has its own unique writing and world building, and it may be my own personal issue, this book sadly doesn’t stand out in the genre as much as I would have liked. The write and storyline are great, but it falls a little flat from time to time. Overall, a decent read!

With rich world-building and nuanced characters, this felt viscerally real. I did find the plot overly convoluted at times, with every character concealing a secret backstory, but the resolution packed an emotional punch so it was worth the initial confusion.

And the Sky Bled brings a bold and unique take on the fantasy genre by tackling climate change through morally ambiguous characters and complex motivations. The multiple perspectives and conflicting goals create a rich and layered world, where no character is entirely likable or predictable. The personal quests and decisions often blur the lines between right and wrong, which adds a refreshing depth to the plot.

However, despite its ambition, the story sometimes struggled to keep me fully engaged. The characters’ lack of redeeming qualities made it hard to connect with any of them on a deeper level, and this, coupled with the heavy moral ambiguity, made the reading experience feel more like an intellectual exercise than an emotional journey. I also found the pacing uneven, with certain sections dragging while others felt rushed.

In the end, And the Sky Bled delivers a thought-provoking and complex narrative, but it may not be for everyone, especially if you’re looking for more character-driven or emotionally resonant storytelling. It’s a solid read, but one that didn’t fully meet my expectations.

This book! From start to finish, And The Sky Bled, was absolute madness in the best way possible. The morales of many characters were a mystery til the end, except Dev who sucked the whole time. There are multiple POVs, and the characters are built up so slowly, not in a way that drags on, but in a way that doesn't show the whole story til we near the end. There are so many intertwining histories between characters, the land, and the sky itself. I guess you'll have to see for yourself why the sky bleeds, and why it stopped.

I am not usually the biggest fan of science fantasy, but this book can be added right to the list of exceptions. I won't add spoilers, but the epilogue was beautiful. Hope after tragedy is a lovely thing, indeed.

4/5 ⭐️

This book teetered between a 3.5 and 4 for me. Hati's standalone, fantasy/sci-fi, political, climate fiction debut was overall quite good. I liked the multi POVs - we follow three characters (Anastasia, Iravan, and Zain) through the city of Tejomaya where calor, a magical fossil fuel, rains down from the sky. I never felt like I was fully able to connect with the characters but there were moments that were impactful. The pacing felt a bit off for me. The beginning to mid-way kind of dragged on and I wish the climax build-up had started a little sooner.

Overall a great debut and it's nice to see a standalone fantasy/sci-fi book.

Thank you to NetGalley, S. Hati, and Bindery Books for my early access to this.

This book could be wonderful for the right person, it just wasn't for me. I found the world-building and Calor system unique and interesting, I liked the depth the characters had, but there was just not enough driving the plot to keep me interested. If you don't mind spending 30% of your imagination in a board room discussing politics, you will have a better time than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the chance to read this book!

3.75 ⭐️

This was a very interesting book and the system of colonialism, climate change and the distinctive way every group of people get treated, shows us a little bit of how our real world works and could become in the future. I really enjoyed the characters because they are not black and white, they’re gray and have a sense of real people because that’s how people are. I loved the found family and how even though everything was going to hell, people were protecting each other and making everyone feel a little safe due to the circumstances. I did think that we get thrown in the story and we don’t get any information and kind of have to learn it along the way, every character gets thrown and we don’t really understand how they are important or why. It made me lose my mind because I was trying to keep up but for some reason I always got confused. However, I really enjoyed the pacing, the high stakes and how everyone had something to lose due to the decisions they needed to make. I enjoyed this quite a lot. So I’m excited for what’s to come.

Thematically, 'And the Sky Bled' was a great mixture of sci-fi and fantasy that tackles very real world issues. I think my appreciation for this book was hampered a bit by my personal preferences with the character POVs and overall story structure. I didn't feel like I could connect to each character that much, and the narration felt a little repetitive in regards to ominously referring to a past event that all three POVs shared a traumatic experience with. Despite my leaving this book feeling not totally satisfied, I'm confident that this novel will find the right audience! It's got a clashing of classes, climate change issues, and colonialism. I enjoyed S. Hati's writing style a lot, and I would definitely recommend that people give this book a shot. It may have missed it's mark a bit with me, but I know readers who enjoy this theme will likely eat this book up!

Wow! What an amazing read.
I have to admit, for the first 100 pages or so I was a bit lost - and even now I´m not sure if I grasp all the details of this world building. But the imagery was so profound and viceral, I loved it. The plot just blew up and by the end, I was at the edge of my seat. The ending was perfection. I want more of this author. This story will most def. stay with me for a very long time.
Also: LOVE the cover. Perfect for this very original read.

All of my thoughts of this reading experience can be found in my dedicated reading vlog where I read all four fall releases of Bindery.