A Scar in the Bone is a gripping sequel that dives even deeper into the dark, romantic world Sophie Jordan introduced in The Fire in the Sky. The tension is high, the emotions are intense, and the twists kept me hooked from start to finish. If you enjoyed the first book, this one definitely delivers more of that addictive drama and danger.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

.Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

I really struggled through this book. There is a time jump and a change of location and characters that I had a difficult time getting invested in. I had some reservations after book 1 but I always try give the author time in a fantasy story to lay the ground work. This did not have payoff for me that I needed to continue the story.

I had a hard time reviewing this book as I found the first 56% or so hard to get through. I had to push myself to get to the part of the book (56% and after) where it finally picks up. After that, I was able to quickly read and enjoy the book again.

Besides the pacing, I really did not like the time jump. The time jump of a year was very confusing, and I honestly had to check the end of the last book to see if I missed reading an epilogue or something.

Lastly, I didn’t like that one of the main characters I came to really enjoy in the first book doesn’t make an appearance until the last quarter of the book. As he was one of the main points of the original story, I found this frustrating and really detracted from the enjoyability of most of the book.

All in all, if you enjoyed the first book, it might be worth a read just to see where the characters end up. Especially since the last quarter of the book was enjoyable.

First, a confession. I began reading this series because the first book, A Fire in the Sky, had flipbook page illustrations in the print version. I am a total sucker for cool gimmicks, but especially that one. And I loved the book, so that was fortunate. This book also has the flipbook art so I pre-ordered a hardcover and prepared to wait. But then the good people at NetGalley offered me an ARC so I got an early chance to find out if the story would support the fun illustrations for a second time. I can’t speak to the illustrations as of this writing, but I will say I was sucked in again.

Frankly, on the surface, this should not be a book I like. The vast majority of the story is sad. Tamsyn has lost Fell, but still feels the connection. She is living with “her people” now, but still feels like an outsider because no one is letting her forget that she is different. There is pain, both physical and emotional, with very little in life for her beyond surviving. And yet…..

As I get older and as the world gets more dystopian, I rarely read books that are sad or bring me down. Even with a promise of happy (or happier) endings, I just need my escapism to be escapism. But A Scar in the Bone sucked me in and I just devoured the story.

Tamsyn is strong, but doesn’t really see herself as such. She sees herself getting knocked down over and over, but doesn’t really notice the getting back up part. Most importantly, while she is losing some of her naivete and trust in others, she still has compassion for the suffering of others – all others. While she knows she could be excused by focusing on her survival, she repeatedly does what is right in sparing others, even when she will suffer because of it. Furthermore, her character points to the unique position outsiders in a society have in seeing things differently from everyone else and serving as bridges between groups.

If you haven’t read A Fire in the Sky, you will enjoy this book much more, but you could read this book without doing so, I think. There is enough backstory shared for you to figure out what is going on. The emotions of loss, survival, and recovery are the main drivers of this story and it is beautifully told. I highly recommend this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book!

Well, this is proof some authors need to get through book one to really warm up their engines…

Warning: some mild spoilers ahead!

Tamsyn is now part of the dragon pride led by her brother in law, Vetr. Stig, crueler than ever, is now lord of the borderlands. Fell is dead.

The first half of this book had me fooled and this, THIS, is how you write a plot twist. A painful study of grief, like a slow fog surrounding you deeper and deeper as you keep reading, marks the first half of the book. Artfully written, the author navigates Tamsin and us the readers through the loss of Fell and the need to move on. The second half is where we see some action…

I really liked how the lack of a main character was still filled subtly by the other character’s inner world, as well as those who surround her. The only thing I didn’t really like was the epilogue, built like a short sequence of film scenes, a shot or two for each. I assume this was because a setup was needed for the next book, and the artistic choice in this book was not to flesh out multiple points of view. I think if the author did that, she would have her own Game of Thrones. Just like my review of her first book in the series, I kind of wish she did that and gave us the epic I know she can write.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️
2.5 scenes, still not hot enough for me

Scar in the Bone is the sequel to Fire in the Sky. This review will contain spoilers of the first book.

I was a disappointed in this installment of the series. It starts off rocky with the story continuing a year after the events of the last book. It made me feel like we missed so much of what had happened and Tamsyn's grieving/growth. After finding out from an awkward flashback that Fell has been captured by the skelm and likely dead, the first 60% of the book felt directionless. I didn't know what the plot was, who the villain was, where the story was going or why we should continue to root for Tamsyn. It was shoved down our throats that she 'didn't belong' with neither the dragons nor the humans, yet when speaking of dragons she continually referred to them as 'us' or 'we' which made her a confusing MC.
The last 40% provided more action and plot which I enjoyed, but the story as a whole could have been condensed into a novella. This book absolutely acted as a bridge to the third book with tons of unnecessary repetition. I am not a fan of Jordan's writing, though I am still intrigued in where the story itself will go, especially after the last few pages.

I liked the fact that there are different types of dragons, creatures, and magical beings, but we don't see any depth to them. They are mentioned a couple of times but without substance which made the worldbuilding lack luster. There is also a decent amount of on-page violence which was graphic but also highlighted the immense bigotry against a certain race that I think Jordan wanted to portray. <spoiler>Stig's character was an excellent example of this problem.</spoiler>

I will most likely read the third book with the hopes that it has the content I was expecting in this sequel. <spoiler>Except for the predictable 'romance' between Vetr and Tamsyn that creates potential future problems between her and Fell, the only new information we received from this story is in the last few pages where trouble is brewing in all parts of the world.</spoiler>

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I will admit, I didn't not realize this was the second in the series when I grabbed it. I started reading then realized there was a lot of backstory that appeared to be missing. The writing got me interested in the story immediately however and luckily, I was able to get the first book on Kindle Unlimited. I tore through the first book in a day then got back into reading A Scar in the Bone. I'm a sucker for fantasy romance in general, but having dragons involved really sold it for me. Sophie Jordan did a great job with fish out of water for the main character that had multiple dimensions and I honestly was kept guessing where the story would go. I look forward to the next book in the series as I'm assuming there will be a next book!

My oh my this was everything I could've hoped for this story to develop into. I love the character that Tamsin grew into, and that she never gave up in her beliefs and eventually chose herself because she was tired of being told what to do. Vetr doesn't sit well with me in don't trust him I'm absolutely team fell and I was hoping through the whole book he would return. I really enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it to other people.

Unfortunately, I just don’t think that this author’s writing is for me. Reading both books in the series so far, I really tried. But I find the writing to be very choppy and doesn’t flow well to the next scene. I feel like I am reading a rough draft or a bullet point draft.

This book seems to be a filler for the series. The author took away a main character for the majority of the book to insert a new character, and then brought the old character back as if nothing ever happened.
Tamsyn walked or flew in a big giant circle this entire book. I’m really not understanding the point of this book because nothing really happened.
We’re back to square one almost.
It was entertaining enough. But I think this is where my journey with the series ends. I appreciate getting both books as ARCs, I do enjoy finding new to me authors. This one, however, is just not for me.

In this electric sequel to A Fire in the Sky, we dive back into a world of dragons and elemental magic alongside our beloved heroes Tamsyn and Fell!

As always, Sophie Jordan draws us in with her charming characters and sizzling chemistry. She never fails in creating heartfelt relationships and even including lovable side characters that help bring the story to life!

While this book held an intriguing storyline of its own, I believe this could have been far greater had we been given the opportunity to experience more world building. Had it been expanded upon, this plotline had the potential to stretch across three books at least which I believe would have only enriched the overall storyline and provided more room for deeper character development.

Nonetheless, if you’re looking for an entertaining read full of dragons, magic, arranged marriage, and “where’s my husband” trope, and more, do give this sequel a try!

This is probably closer to a 3.5 star book for me.

I’ll start by saying that I was so excited for this sequel! A Fire in the Sky was one of my favorite books from last year and I gave it 5 stars. And the cliffhanger it ended on, left me eager to start this next installment.

Starting this book though, I felt such a big disconnect between it and the first books. We start A Scar in the Bone with a one year time jump which results in is skipping right over some of those big confrontations that the end of the first books set us up for. We also learn at the very start of the book that one of our main characters has died of page which turned me off to the start of the book. The story starts in a different setting from as well and at least the first half takes place there so it really feels like being thrown in the middle of a different series.

I do still really enjoy Tamsyn’s character so I stuck with it for her. And I also had some theories that I would hope prove true about what really happened to Fell. I’m glad I kept reading because things really picked up towards the end and it did feel like we got redirected back to the original plot again. There were also some new characters introduced that I’m curious to see how their story arcs will evolve. So I will be continuing the series and hopefully the next book will be stronger for me! I am weary because the epilogue suggests there will be another 1 year time jump. But I’m hopeful it’s a more natural one since the end of this one wasn’t as much of a cliffhanger.

"I already had scars. Invisible wounds rooted deep." – Tamsyn

This sequel to the Fire in the Sky duology brings back the world of dragon shifters, fated mates, steamy moments, and the ever-satisfying “Who did this to you?” trope. The dragon lore continues to shine, and I loved watching the pride rebuild and reclaim its strength.

But where this book struggled for me was the timeline and pacing. It picks up an entire year after the events of book one, with Fell missing. Which… okay? We never actually saw him go missing; it was just there. But also... we don’t see him again until the very end. Because of that, the romance, which was so central to the first book, felt practically nonexistent here. This story is as much Fell’s as it is Tamsyn’s, and sidelining him for most of the book left me feeling unfinished.

Overall? I liked it... I think. There were powerful themes, strong worldbuilding, and some standout lines, but the heart of the series felt absent. The result read more like a filler than a full continuation. Which had me sad because book 1 I remember being so so so good.

4.5 stars ⭐

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley! A Scar in the Bone takes place a year after the events of book one, and therefore I recommend a reread of Fire in the Sky if you're coming back to this series after some time! Truthfully, this book is jam packed - so much occurs from the very get go until the epilogue - and I loved it! This series is very much a guilty pleasure type, and I can't wait to continue in the next addition!

I loved the first book and I love the second one as well.

The characters in this series have shown so much growth over the first 2 books already. It's been so interesting watching them learn and change their viewpoints a they grow throughout the story.

I love any books with dragons but I really enjoy the take on dragons and shifters and magic in this series. It's something slightly different from all the other books about dragons out there right now and comes with its own backstory and history that captures your interest.

I really enjoyed the different twists and turns throughout the book and how the characters reacted to them and overcame them.

This book (Scar in the Bone) is set in the same world as A Fire in the Sky but is not a direct sequel. I love how Sophie is developing this world and they characters' stories inside it. Gorgeous hardcover - I'm going to have to get it to live on the shelf - and lovely story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate it!

Sophie Jordan did it again; another book I could not put down. As a big fan 'A Fire in the Sky,' I was thrilled to reenter this world. I had been so curious what would become of Tamsyn, Stig, and Fell. Sophie Jordan did not disappoint. While all of the characters have some relatability, I felt myself in Tamsyn. There were aspects of her struggle and metaphorical coming of age that I could relate to. I think many readers will feel the same. We all go through periods of self-discovery and Tamsyn made it feel possible to come out the other end stronger and better for it. Add in the other subplots and life lessons, and you've got yourself a strong, enjoyable read.

Other than Tamsyn, what I love most about this book and the series as a whole is the world. Worldbuilding has always been a large aspect of fantasy and can be daunting for a lot of readers. I've been told by many people that they avoid fantasy because the worldbuilding takes up too much of the story and can be overwhelming. Sophie Jordan not only created a new fantasy world, but she did so in a manageable, bite-sized approach. There aren't chapters dedicated to explaining the mechanics of the world. Instead, the information is sprinkled throughout and the rest is made to feel almost like it could be our world, just in a different time period and with a sprinkle of magic. This makes fantasy more approachable for some readers and is a great way to bring people into the genre.

The only criticism I would have is the pacing. There were times throughout the book where I felt we sped through things, such as the walk Tamsyn took to Stig's camp site, and others where it dragged on. Consistent pacing makes for an easier read and there were a few times I had to put the book down for an hour, let my brain catch up to where it believes we should be in the story, and come back to it. This wasn't a huge problem for me though, and its not enough for me to ding it in the ratings. Just something to consider for next time.

Overall, I absolutely LOVED this book. I can't wait to see what else Sophie Jordan has waiting for us!

I went right into this after finishing “A Fire in the Sky” and I wonder if not having any gap between the two made the beginning of this book a little more jarring. There is a year time skip between the end of Book 1 and the start of this story and I’ll be honest, I wanted to see some of the things they discuss happening in that time period.

Pros: this story (like the first) does a good job handling the shifter aspects of the story. It doesn’t really feel out of place and I like that without much instruction I can understand the magic system and shifter dynamics. I also LOVE a duology and getting some conclusion to this story!

Cons: without spoiling anything, there is a key plot point with Vetr that felt off - the ways it’s written makes it feel like it’s meant to be different than what we ultimately get. Also, not necessarily a huge con, but as mentioned, I wish we got more of the year between the end of Fire and the start of this book.

I’m invested into this world now and going to ultimately read the YA series because I’m curious to see how well these new prequel additions meld with the original story!

Thanks to Avon & Sophie Jordan for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was so excited to dive into sequel for A Fire in the Sky. However I am left a bit wanting and unfulfilled...by the end of the book I just wasn't invested.

The saga continues. Tamsyn is trying to find her place among dragonkind while mourning the loss of her love. When she only begins to find comfort among the pride, secrets are revealed, changing everything she knew to be true.

DNF pour ce livre! Après un premier tome qui m'avait laissé un peu mitigé, je me suis dit allez je laisse quand même une chance ça peut le faire ça a du potentiel... Malheureusement au bout de 15%, j'ai abandonné. C'est toujours aussi confus, l'héroïne toujours autant tête à claque et clairement ça m'a exaspéré ... J'ai préféré abandonner que de continuer et de me frustrer