Wow wow! Definitely a contender for best read of the year. Wonderful world building and characters blended into an intricate and fascinating plot with twists and turns, Strong female leads. Love to read more from this author, thank you. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

A story about a fallen angel fueled by vengeance having to come to terms with his injuries and two atheist siblings trying to get him back to his own world.

We get introduced to Eleazar, the prince of Splendour, moments before he gets betrayed by his own brother, causing him to fall to the humans in the Below. There he’s found by Diver who is struggling with coming to terms with everything he witnessed during the war. He brings the badly hurt and unconscious Angelus to his sister Fury, who is both happy to finally be reunited with her brother and amazed by having proof of the existence of angels.

They quickly learn that an angel who was raised as a prince and told about how “beastly” the humans are, is not easy to get along with. Eleazar is arrogant and rude with some of the offhanded comments he makes but beneath all of that the siblings see someone lost and scared, someone who found himself in a strange world he doesn’t know.

The beginning of this story is super character focused, the reader gets introduced to our three characters through their own POV’s, making it easier to understand each of their motivations and fears.

Sadly, I couldn’t really connect that well with the characters and found myself not caring all that much about their every thought, this might just be because I love going deep with character studies and this at times felt really surface level. The relationship between the characters also felt underdeveloped and I felt myself not believing how much they cared about Eleazar because we never really got to witness/explore a reason on why their feelings towards him changed. Having sympathy for someone because you can relate to some of their pain and actually caring about them on a deeper level are two different things for me that felt like they were treated the same in this book.

Some parts of this book also dragged on in a weird way? I would suddenly feel really disconnected to the story and just want things to move along, only to then be really invested again.

I think the author did an incredible job with the world building and keeping the reader engaged enough in wanting to find out more about this world.

TLDR: a solid read, with great world building and a character focused story. Dragged on in some parts but kept me interested in getting answers to all the questions.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc of this novel.

Wings of steel and fury is a story about falling from grace (literally) and having to rebuild; having to question what you knew as fact, and then having to decide on how you’ll react to reality.

I enjoyed the premise of this novel, with the Angelus taking on the extractor role, with the human population kowtowed into submission. As with all things involving humans, there is revolution formenting(complimentary), and all it takes is a magical saviour angel to push it over the edge (scornful).

I think the main shortcomings were:
1.the ups and downs with the plot, which could have been tidied up - there were way too many attempted explanations and caveats which could have been left out, i.e. we are fighting a war because of x, we have to do y, our obstacle is z. Instead there was a lot of exposition about the war between the humans, and then the humans vs the angels, and then the angels vs the leviathans, and then the leviathans actually needing the humans; all of which unnecessarily confused the story
2. There seemed to be some confusion on who was actually the main character, and all three of the leading characters were their own versions of ‘special’, which becomes irritating when the main storyline becomes muddied because you don’t know which narrative to focus on.
3. The relationship dynamic was weird, I won’t spoil it but it was weird

The ending was satisfactory and the story felt generally complete, but it would have been so much stronger with the author pulling back just a little bit.

Wings of Steel and Fury completely blew me away. It opens with a war weary brother returning home and enlisting his sister’s help to save an injured angel. What unfolds from there is a breathtaking journey of healing, high stakes battles, and fierce sibling loyalty. The story weaves through childhood scars, searing conflict, and a romance so intense it radiates touch her and die energy. It doesn’t just reach for your heart, it strikes like a hurricane, breaking through every barrier and flooding you with feeling.

Our new book boyfriend has officially arrived. Swoon-worthy doesn’t even begin to cover it.

My favourite part (condensed to avoid spoilers):
I hate everything about you. I hate your eyes... so dark, deep and angry. Always seeing straight into my soul. Daring me to be better. I hate your need to see goodness in me. I am not good. I hate your mouth. Always full of bitter words, when it was made to speak of sweet things. Made to give and receive joy.

I’m obsessed and I think you will be too. Whatever you do, don’t miss this book.

4.5
This new fantasy novel put a twist on the "fallen angel" myth. It reflected the reality of people and all their imperfections beautifully.

This novel did what I have never seen a book do before: it gave us a raw, unfiltered look into addiction and how it can turn people into someone they are not. The struggle of PTSD and substance use is crafted brilliantly into this story, not diminishing the characters in any way, but showing us that they are even stronger now because of what they have overcome.

Wings of Steel and Fury also comes with an intriguing mythology of Leviathans and Angelus', interactions between two realms, and a variety of human cultures on Earth with their own belief systems.

Overall, I loved this book. I found the characters compelling, the world building fascinating, and the cultural substance hearty. It has a masterful blend of action, horror, fantasy, and sci-fi.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars, this book was outstanding.

Wings of Steel and Fury by Sarah Daley is a gritty, occasionally violent, expertly written delight.

What I loved in particular:
- I liked the unexpected relationship between Fury and Lee. Given his arrogance when they first met and her steadfast refusal to worship him, I didn’t see that coming.
- The characters are so well written. Everyone (with the possible exception of Fury and Diver) are morally a very dark grey in this book and I love it.
-The world building is complex but absorbing. I found the idea of a race of Angelus residing in a heaven-like world and bestowing manna on the people below in exchange for worship and tithes fascinating. I liked it even more when the story developed to show us that the angelus might not be as benevolent as they first seemed.
-the second half of this book is also seriously addictive, I couldn’t put it down.

I adored this book, I really hope there might be more to the story when Fury flies again.

Thank you to Angry Robot, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

If you want a book that destroys you and puts you back together, read Wings of Steel & Fury.

It took me 2 chapters to fully grasp what was happening. I read the blurb of the book, but there were a lot of names and places thrown in the first few pages. Once Eleazar has fallen, everything starts making sense. This is a story of revenge and love. Each chapter felt like a discovery, and I was eager to read more. There might have been some parts toward the end where it felt a bit dragging, but otherwise, it's a solid book.

I loved the character of Eleazar, but I have a weak spot for morally grey or underdog characters. Put some wings in there, and I will root for them until the end. I liked the romance bit of the story (it's subplot and plot at the same time, but without overdoing it, the right balance). So many villains to hate. This book has strong political vibes and reflection.

Pick it up if you like:
- Fantasy
- Intrigue
- Character growth (and it's a whole journey)
- Romance (and it's cute)

Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy. This was a hard book to review. While the story was engaging and I wanted to know what the solution was, it seemed to drag on in weird places and some of the details were a bit confusing as to why X worked or Y did not. I did enjoy the characters and their internal struggles to the world that was just out to get them. The idea that the world was more modern than heaven is a good concept and I did enjoy the ending wrap up. I would have preferred a shorter book but overall, I found it enjoyable. 3.75 stars.

When Diver finds a fallen Angelus and drags him back to his sister, Fury, the world is changed.

Prince Eleazar is known as a coward and feckless, so it takes him by surprise when his brother, a sadistic fiend, shoots him so he falls to the humans in the Below out of their haven - Splendour.

Fury is trying to survive as one of the only atheists in her small village lamenting her younger brother, Diver, who is fighting a pointless war for the Angelus.

This reminded me of The Wings Upon her Back - steampunk, rebellion, dystopian - with more going on behind the scenes those ‘worshipped’ are hiding for their own gain.

This is a unique take on the idea of angels, but doesn’t fall into the 2010s angsty category.

We have a one side love triangle with both siblings pining for Eleazar which wasn’t my favourite. It felt like unnecessary drama that wasn’t properly explored to mean more.

<b>”I hate everything about you.” There was an ache in his throat, a shuddering fire rolling up and down his limbs. He moved his hand, tilting her face closer to him. “I hate your eyes…so dark and deep and angry. Always seeing straight into my soul. Daring me to be better.”
</b>
This is almost broken in to two parts with Eleazar’s fall and recovery and the trio’s slow, unwanting alliance and connection, and then their assimilation into the rebellion.

The first half was my favourite. It was slower and more character-focused showing why our characters react the way they do. Eleazar goes from an assuming, selfish, demanding Prince to someone who appreciates humanity and the siblings grit.

Fury gave me major Katniss Everdeen vibes.
Diver is left broken after the war, but still has a protective streak.

The second half was foot to the pedal as we get a rushed conclusion to Splendour’s treachery. I wish this was more detailed as I felt like important pieces of information was rushed over.

There could easily be a sequel, yet could also work as a standalone.
I do wonder if this could have been paced better as a duology as so many interesting concepts were introduced, but not adequately fleshed out towards the end.

Arc gifted by Angry Robot.

Wings of Steel & Fury was an interesting read. The world-building was intriguing and I liked what the author revealed, however this story is definitely character-focused more than setting- or plot-focused. The novel is written in 3rd person omniscient with the three main characters alternating as the character of action. It is categorized as an urban fantasy, but I am not sure if I would agree with that.

The world is divided between Splendour - a heavenly realm populated by the winged, immortal Angelus - and Avernas - populated by humans. A mysterious portal separates the two, and the Angelus descend once per season to gather a tithe from the humans. The humans are divided into various nations that are constantly at war with each other, vying for the favor of the Angelus that they worship as gods.

Our MCs are: Eleazer Starson, an Angelus prince betrayed by his brother and lost, injured and alone, on Avernas; Fury Barrett-Cree, a half-Gullan woman trained as a healer and more by her long-vanished mother; and Diver Barrett-Cree, brother to Fury, a private in the Koine Army who deserts after finding Eleazer in the woods. Fury and Diver reunite and work to help Eleazer recover from the loss of one of his wings, while Eleazer plots revenge against his traitorous brother and a return to Splendour.

The characterizations were moderately engaging. I found Fury to be the most well-rounded and relatable of the characters, and enjoyed her scenes the most, having a relatively satisfying character arc. Eleazer had the most dramatic arc, showing growth and change, but never really managed to be endearing, with his attitude towards Fury and Diver being more possession than friendship or affection. Diver was the most obnoxious, and I found his interactions to be similar to Eleazer in that he wanted control/possession as the primary driver for interaction.

The premise of the story is really interesting, with the divided world, and there are some neat reveals and interesting mechanics. It felt similar to Metal from Heaven by August Clarke, and Star Wars: Rebels. However the writing style often got in the way of the writing itself. I think the Author hasn’t quite found their voice, and that their previous writing in other IPs like Warhammer is bleeding over a bit. The language went from overblown to slang-y and a good bit in between, and it made some of the dialogue clunky. The descriptions were often cumbersome and didn’t feel natural or proportionate.

The romantic subplots felt more like insta-lust than any genuine romantic feeling; there was an awkward attempt at a love-triangle that didn’t quite work for me, feeling neither believable or necessary for the plot.

The ending was satisfactory and wraps up the plot well. I didn’t feel like anything was left hanging or undone, which is fantastic for a standalone. The major conflict didn’t feel particularly urgent for me, and I wasn’t really surprised or involved in the plot twists.

The book was quick-paced and kept me entertained, and in general a solid novel.

Wow, Wings of Steel and Fury is quite the book and I genuinely don’t know what I enjoyed most; the fascinating world building between Splendour and Avernus or the authentic character development for multiple protagonists. Eleazar’s transformation in particular, not only physically but mentally was masterfully considered and seeing his originally distasteful attitude soften through human kindness was heartwarming.

I was completely mesmerised from start to finish and my only complaint is why isn’t it longer? I sincerely hope there’s going to be a sequel.

Thank you for the ARC!