A Fire in the Sky

Firstly, thank you NetGalley, HQ, and Sophie for allowing me to read an early release of this wonderful book!

I was immediately on Tamsyn's side in all things - a girl found abandoned and used as a whipping girl for the princess's bad behavior, forced into marriage through trickery to the Lord of the Borderlands.
Although at first, I didn't like Fell, his character development meant that I understood and liked him better about halfway through the story.
Stig - no, I didn't like him - he gave me Dain in fourth wing vibes.

I loved this book, and finished it in a weekend, not even realizing I hadn't moved for the whole day to get a coffee. The world-building, the character development, the magic lore, and the beautiful writing make this enchanting and enthralling.
Already on my Amazon WL for release and recommending to friends to do the same.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loved this book!

Tamsyn is the main character and you find yourself rooting for her from the beginning. She is a whipping girl for the royal princesses but she is strong and resilient. Whilst loyal to the royal family, she still has her own mind and protects those around her.

The book contains a perfect level of spice and you're left wanting more.

Fell is a huge hunk of a man and is referred to as 'The Beast'. Tamsyn isn't intimidated by him at all and it leads to a great dynamic between the two.

She is betrayed but the twists leave you guessing as to where it will come from! It ends on a cliff hanger and leaves you wanting more.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My review will be posted in the following location on the 25th June.

https://www.instagram.com/hf.payne/

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the author's writing style and found myself struggling to put it down!

It felt like the perfect mix of fantasy and romance and although I suspected how the plot would develop, it was enjoyable to realise I'd worked it out rather than a feeling of frustration or predictability. I can't wait for the next one.

Tiktok review to be posted on release date.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC to review.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It had an unexpected twist which I did not foresee which I loved. An easy writing style makes the reading experience pleasurable and provides a good amount of descriptive detail without being too much at any point.
There are all the requirements for a great book, in my humble opinion, including romance, family love, power, deceit, conflict, action, mystery, history and change. The main characters are well crafted, believable and react and respond exactly how the reader would expect until...(no spoilers). There is a little spice (just so you know). Can't wait forthe next instalment!

I really enjoyed this book a lot. Enemies to loved is my favourite trope to read, and this book does it very well.
This book had me hooked, and I can't wait for book two!

I loved this book! Started it and couldn't put it down. It grabbed me within the first few pages.

Really liked the FMC and MMC and their relationship, the enemies to lovers, angst and 'she's mine' vibes. The spice was spicing, but there could have been more, IMO 🤣

Would definitely recommend it and can't wait for the next book!

This an original and exciting take on the enemy to lovers fantasy trope with some very unexpected plot twists by the end of book 1 that leave you on edge for book 2. Tamsyn and Fell have a mysterious past connected to dragons and witchcraft. Both were abandoned as children and as adults find themselves in a marriage of convenience. But what happens next is unexpected and opens the way to giving them answers about their pasts. I can't wait for book 2!

A Fire in the Sky is the first book in Sophie Jordan's new adult romantasy series, set in a world where dragons are extinct and magic is fading. Tamsyn is a whipping girl at the royal court of Penterra and is punished for the princesses' misdeeds. Her life is upended when she is forced to marry Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, under false pretenses to save the princesses from marrying him instead. Their relationship evolves as Tamsyn's identity and hidden powers come to light, revealing secrets that could reignite the dormant magic and transform the kingdom.

As soon as I started reading this book, I was instantly hooked, and I couldn't stop until I'd finished it in one go. I've never read the young adult Firelight trilogy, but given this new series is a prequel or origin story to the Firelight series, I think it was a great entry point, and it meant that I didn't really know where the plot was going so it was all very unexpected. I was definitely along for the ride and I was totally invested.

As well as loving the plot, I also loved the relationship between Tamsyn and Fell. Their instant attraction and chemistry was perfect as it didn't fall onto the instalove side of the line. The sex scenes were just right, and it was the perfect balance of plot and romance. It was just everything I was looking for.

I thought the world was fascinating - the presence of whipping girls or boys to take the punishment for the royal family, and the method of proving the consummation of a marriage were just a few of the ways that this world felt both fleshed out and original. It really felt like a real (but odd and interesting) fantasy world that had been really well thought through.

The only note I wrote while reading the book itself was "Omg it's amazing! So emotional and gripping" and that was around page 50, and after that I was too enthralled to write any further notes. So it's safe to say that I will definitely be reading the rest of this series. That cliffhanger had me gasping for more, and if this was a completed series already, I know I would binge the whole series right now. This is the perfect start to an adult romantasy series, and I can't wait to read the future books!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

In a book that is a million miles away from what she normally writes, Sophie Jordan, manages to capture the magic of fanasty story telling as she tells the story of the girl who is not a princess but is treated like one. Opening with dragons and closing with them too, this is a captiviting novel about Tamsyn, a whipping girl, who entered a false marriage.

What will happen when he finds out....will they fall in love? You've just got to read to discover what's inside this very different book.

I absolutely loved this book. The twist was unexpected and I love it! I will be keeping an eye out for more books from this author!

Romantasy + Dragons is a win-win for me. I loved it more than I expected to. There's really not much I can say without spoilers, but I implore you to READ THIS BOOK!

It has multiple POV, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, dragons/magic/witches. The world building was good and not too intense. The witch element was not as prominent as I expected, and I wish there were more dragons, but the story was intriguing, and I hope it will go more in depth in the next books. The FMC, Tamsyn, is interesting, and I really enjoyed her character arc. The MMC, Fell (The Beast of the Borderlands) is strong, intimidating but caring and gentle - a pretty perfect MMC. There is an interesting dynamic with Tamsyn’s best friend also. There were lots of surprises which I really enjoyed, and the pacing of the story was well executed.  

I will definitely be looking to read more from this author, and I can not wait for the next book! 

Thank you to the author, Sophie Jordan, the publisher, HQ, and Netgalley, for providing me with the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

A fresh take on romantasy. A genuine character, plenty of action, and a good explanation of the plot twist, that leaves you hungry for more.

Tamsyn is a not-perfect heroine and that makes her real, believable. She’s stronger than her sisters, who have been shelter all their lives, but she still can be overpowered by a man. She doesn’t know martial arts, she is not a perfect hunter, fighter, or political plotter. She is exactly who she has been raised to be: a whipping girl. A poor child who’s only job was to get beaten for the transgressions of the processes. She’s a bit brainwashed at the beginning, never seeing a different future for herself, and not understanding the world behind the walls of her cage. She’s smart though, loyal, and has a strong fighter’s spirit.

The love interest is dark, brooding, typical hero, certainly better than other men, stronger, better hunter, with perfect eyesight, sixth sense for Tamsyn and the danger. The true merit of the story: there is a reason why he displays abilities above an ordinary person. He’s not special just to satisfy the sighs of the reader, he’s uniqueness is valid for the plot.

And the plot itself is pretty good too. A whipping girl set up to marry a fighter. Forced to keep up the ploy to protect her ‘step’ sisters and the safety of the kingdom. A soldier, a leader, betrayed by his king, driven by his desire to rid the world of the blight of the dragons. Lots of known tropes: <spoiler>arranged marriage, one tent, who hurt you</spoiler>. A couple of great twist <spoiler>suspected him to be a dragon but was so sure she was a witch not a dragon (woop woop 🥳) the childhood friend turn boyfriend turn traitor and murderer - that one had it coming</spoiler>.

The book reads easy; quick smooth chapters, that push the narrative further and just beg you to keep on reading.

My favorite aspect of the entire book is the development of the main character, I love how she start to stand up for herself and fight for what matters the most.

The ending <spoiler>with the long lost brother</spoiler> oophff, can’t wait for book two.

I don't often read romantasy books, preferring fantasy over the romance aspect, but this book gave me everything that I could possibly want for a book in its genre; an arranged marriage despite a potential love triangle, a hidden identity (both known and unknown) and hinted soul mates with confirmation towards the end due to them both being Dragons/dragon shifters.

The initial half of the story gave me massive Under the Oak Tree / Marriage of Convenience vibes, with the demand of a princess as a reward for massive war deeds, and the medieval time period it seems to be set in. I also must admit I saw a pretty big spoiler for this book, but it didn't take away from the experience and actually had me seeing signs right from the very beginning. Not only that, but I didn't expect this book to focus so much more on the fantasy aspect and experiences Tamsyn went through over the steamy scenes that romantasies are usually more known for, but I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

Despite all the above, I was not prepared for the ending at all. It definitely left me wanting, and I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel because there are just too many unanswered questions.

I was sent a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.....for a full review please see my Amazon and Goodreads accounts

An epic new story. A whipping girl brought up as a princess, but the world has a fascinating twist in store. An amazing new dragon story, hopefully with plenty more to com. I was hooked from the very start. Beautifully written and just the right amount of heat

ᴡʜᴇɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴ, ɪᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴅᴇɴɪᴇᴅ

📚[arc review]

Thank you so much to @hq and @sophie for the arc of this book which I totally loved.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous – especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. So when she is tasked with the ultimate sacrifice of pretending to be one of the true royal princesses and marry Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, son to the great dragon slayer, Tamsyn accepts her fate even if it means tricking the deadly warrior…

Tamsyn has no idea of her potential or of the power she has until she does and she’s cared of what she is.
Her and Fell don’t really get along that well, especially after he finds out what she did. But their chemistry and lust run way deeper and. They will starting to see each other as their “maybe future”

Fell is seeing as such a a hard person and just a soldier, which is understandable especially after everything that happened to him, but we don’t even know entirely his story.
He has a weak spot: his wife.
He doesn’t know why or how but she becomes someone important for him and he actually care deeply about her.

She’s scared to cross that line with him because of things she found out about her self, but love and attraction is more strong than using your brain. 💓

In this book you have
🐉Enemies to Lovers
🐉Marriage of Convenience
🐉Magic
🐉Dragons
🐉Witches
🐉He tends to her wounds

Wow...what a book.
That twist, I really didn't see it coming. And now I need the next book and sincerely hope I don't have too long to wait.
I loved seeing Tamsyn's character progress - for her to finally stand up for herself.
I hope we get to learn more about Fell in the next one. I did have my suspicions about him once that twist mentioned above hit.
I'm so disappointed in Stig and hope he will burn.
If you haven't added this to your tbr, you need to!

A superb addition to the fantasy arena, fast paced and with many twist along the way. Tamsyn is the royal whipping girl - part of the family but not really. She is instructed to make the ultimate sacrifice and wed the Beast of the Borderlands but will tricking him to think she is a princess be her greatest mistake? Dragons are extinct, witches are outcasts but magic lives! Fantastic.

I honestly loved every second of this, I cannot believe how much I loved and how fast I read it.
I love the characters and their growth throughout and the intricate world building.
I'm just so excited so this review is less than eloquent but, just please please take a chance in this book so we can all talk about it, okay!? It is so so good!

Wow.

I'm not even sure I know where to start. I'll start by saying I will be recommending this book to whoever will listen! If you love dragons, magic, arranged marriage and spice this book will not disappoint!

From the get go, I found myself loving Tamsyn and wanting the best for her. The chemistry between her and Fell was 🔥🔥 and I appreciated it a LOT!

I am chomping at the bit for the next instalment already!

Thank you so much to HQ and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great Fantasy story, dragons that can become human, what next! There was a lot of atmosphere to this story that drags you in. A lovely, very fitting conclusion.

Could not put this book down! I just wanted to inhale it!

It was intriguing, engaging and just the right amount of spice!

Tamsyn was a perfect female lead. Her prestigious yet lowly position in court was a rollercoaster. 1 minute she's a princess the next a servant. Her mysterious life unfolded so well throughout the book. Giving just the right amount of background as you go along to keep you guessing!

Fell was a wonderful beast with rough edges and unruly followers. But his more tender nature just shone through! In the beginning it was so hard knowing whether to route for their marriage or hope he rejected Tamsyn to keep her safe.

The treachery thought up by the royals was both unbelievable and totally predictable. I loved the under current of mistrust that surrounded them as the book went on.

The only slight issue I had with this book was that it was too short!!! I could have read 200-400 more pages and still be wishing there were more!

Enemy to loves done right! If you love this trope buy this book! I could not put it down and the twist I did not see coming. Please give us book two asap!

What a great read. This book has it all, magic, tension, action, drama, spice (on the lighter side), and everything else in between. Tamsyn is the main character and you can't help but be on her side. She's hasn't been dealt an easy life. Fell is a great character too and I loved the dynamic between him and Tamsyn. I flew through this book as I didn't want to put it down. I love when I'm hooked for the first few pages. There was a great twist that I didn't see coming either.

The world building is excellent as is the character development and the magic. I loved the author's style of writing too. For me it was the perfect mix of fantasy and romance and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

I am obsessed with this book!! It is going to be such an amazing series!
I loved the writing style and the world and characters!! By chapter 2 I was completely hooked and couldn’t get enough! I will definitely be buying the physical copy for my shelf! Love love love!!!

Things I love in a book:
- Dragons ✔️
- Romance but not too much ✔️
- Quick pace ✔️
- A strong female protagonist ✔️
Not only this book had everything I love but also it was amazing.
I never read anything from the author but for me she is an author I want to follow from now on. This was one hell of a ride, a marvellous ride from the begging to the end, and I for sure want to read more books from her.
I needed more when I finished... I STILL NEED 😅
I recommend this book for the romantsy people as me, you will not regret reading it .

Calling fans of When the Moon Hatched and Game of Thrones!!

Wow, I was hooked from the beginning of this story. It follows the FMC Tamsyn who is brought up as part of the Royal family as the whipping girl (punished for the princesses misdeeds). The lord of the Borderlands (our MMC Fell) visits the King and demands he marries one of the princesses. The King agrees and unbeknownst to Fell arranges for Tamsyn to be the bride as he doesn’t want one of his blood daughters to marry such a brute and be taken to a place like the Borderlands. She wears a veil the whole ceremony until the marriage is consummated and only then does Fell find out he has not married Royal blood.

The story unwinds from here. There are two plot twists in the book and both are absolutely incredible. If you like Witches, Dragons, Game of Thrones vibes with people being used as pawns then this book is for you.

The writing and plot of this book are fantastic. Sophia Jordan has you captivated from the first chapter. I could not put this book down. Her writing is almost poetic at some points which immerses you into the world.

I love Tamsyn’s and Fell’s relationship in this book. I feel like there is so much more to both of them and I cannot to see how their characters both develop throughout the series.

You need to add this book to your TBR right now!

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for a copy of the eARC🔥

I absolutely loved this book. It had everything that I love in a story. It spoke to the teenager that lives in me still, of dragons, princes and princesses. There was romance and lust for the adult I am now. This part of the story also had a twist in how love is manifested.
It was a rocking adventure and the protagonist was not a meek and mild princess, she was gutsy and knew what she wanted.
It’s been a long time since I read a fantasy like this and I can’t wait to read the sequel.

This book has absolutely destroyed me - and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve not read spicy or enemies to lovers for a long long time as I got sick of the boring predictability of it all, so when I was offered this I was ready to “meh”.

On the other hand, I love magic, dragons, witches….that is right up my street but it’s been ages since I’ve read anything “dragony”, so I was looking forward to that element.

I couldn’t have been more wrong - I devoured this book - absolutely devoured it. From the start it had me gripped - I’m so pleased that it was a bank holiday weekend so I could devote more time to it. The last section absolutely destroyed me, ripped me apart. Incredible. I can not wait for the next book. Literally I cannot wait.

My thanks to Netgalley and Rachel Quin Marketing for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review (and for destroying me)