Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery for the ARC!
I liked it overall,(I think?) but I never fully felt connected with any of the characters which made it hard to stay in the book. The setting was entirely unique and stood out to me, being the characters themselves just felt...forgettable. I read it, and said okay cool and promptly forgot most of what happened. I don't know if I would recommend this to just anyone, it feels pretty niche which isn't a bad thing in itself, just a thought I had.

3/5 stars

I was really hoping to enjoy this book more than I did because the premise seemed so unique and interesting. I think the storytelling just fell a little flat to connect the events and emotions I know the author wanted to convey.

Plot: The plot continuously alluded to a major event that happened 10 years prior which is vital to the 3 POV characters but I felt it held out far too long to the point it was frustrating. I needed more breadcrumbs to "unravel" the mystery or keep engaged. Instead it felt like the author was withholding information without purpose. I didn't enjoy the ending and it felt a bit unrealistic. There were a few parts where things felt out of character or unrealistic in order to further the plot.

Setting: The setting was interesting but I really wished there was a map so I could understand where things were and how the city was laid out. This info would be helpful as there was military/slumlord battle strategy dependent on positioning.

Characters: The characters were fair. I think I liked Anastasia's character the best even though she is a bit big headed. Zain's mysterious past was just not fleshed out enough throughout the book and instead used more as a big reveal... and I felt the romance was a bit unrealistic for being over the course of a week (?). I think the side characters were more interesting and dynamic.

Writing: The writing was beautiful but took me a while to slow down to understand what was being said.

Overall, I think this is a unique premise with good writing but would need a stronger plot and characters to really have me behind it. I wish things were more logical and fleshed out, the world building, characters and major plot points felt light handed for me to get immersed.

Incredibly written with emotions spilling between the lines.
The land has had enough.
Zain, Ana, and Ravi have been though enough.

As the past intertwines with the present, I felt so deeply connected to these characters.
My heart surged multiple times and I could not help but smile at the beauty of the meaning between the lines.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Three rivals race to find a hidden collection of magic that could change the course of each of their lives, and the world in very different ways.

I appreciate the combination of fantasy and real-world climate crisis.

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for the e-arc!
This book is worth every single piece of praise I have seen! I initially picked this book up as everyone kept saying it was perfect for fans of Fonda Lee and N.K. Jemisin but make it a standalone and they where right! This is a chaotic and immersive climate fantasy/sci-fi with 3 different perspective, Zain, Iravan and Anastasia. In this book the world runs on calor, a magical fuel that is slowly running out, but there is a rumor that there is a hidden stash of calor. Each character is trying to find this hidden store of calor for their own reason but as the book goes on, their paths weave together in a way no one expects.
Now this book starts out hard from the first page; one of my concerns for such a complex fantasy world in a standalone is if the world will be adequality explained/developed but this book didn't have any of these issues. I found the world well crafted and surprisingly easy to understand. Not only was it easy to understand but the inspiration for the world really came through. It felt so vivid as I was reading. The premise is unique and thought provoking; the real life comparisons where there and the overall themes of climate, colonization, and destruction made for a heartbreaking and moving piece.

Holy cow this book is amazing! A world in chaos, 3 points of view and when their stories all come together…oh man! Mining the sky is such an interesting concept. This book took a little bit to fully understand but what a crazy world this was. I enjoyed the climate themes and the resource depletion but also the characters journeys and backstories. At one point I was nervous for one of my favorite characters and had to stop reading. I was so attached that I needed a break so I could continue the journey. What a wonderful story!

This was such a unique book with an incredible world. From the first few chapters I was absorbed in this story and wanted to keep flipping pages. This is the type of book you really need to pay attention to as there is a lot of political intrigue going on within its three POV’s. I found myself getting lost at times but that was completely on me as I get easily distracted. I immediately thought of Dune when reading this book with a little Game of Thrones sprinkled in there. Overall I really loved this story and was satisfied with how it concluded.

A brilliant blend of science fiction and fantasy, Hati makes a bombastic debut with this thrilling adventure, set in world where rivals may very well be your best chance at survival. With compelling characters and a plot that sucks you into mystery and intrigue, And the Sky Bled is an enrapturing book featuring climate, political intrigue, and a cast of characters you can't help but root for. Hati's writing style sucked me in from the beginning, and the interweaving stories of the three protagonists kept each moment fresh enough to keep me coming back for more!

It's been almost a month since I finished this arc, and I legitimately don't remember anything remotely important that happened other than the blood rain and the huge rip in the sky. I don't remember any of the characters, or their history, or their motivations.

Trust me, I really wanted to like this novel. I love anything to do with fantasy colonialism, inequity, revolutions, etc. but this felt so generic and a rehash of other POC-led apocalyptic fantasies I've read before.

Two stars because I did like the setting and apocalyptic worldbuilding. It was very immersive and made me feel like I was living in a hellscape colored with reddish orange tones. But sadly, the characters weren't as memorable as the setting.

Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this arc.

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.