Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.
But human lust for power is immortal.
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. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard...though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.
When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.
The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.
Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.
PJ's Thoughts:
I’m not typically a romantasy reader but this book...wow…I could not put it down. From the opening pages to the final sentence, I was fully immersed in this world, in these characters. I had to know what would happen next.
Jordan’s world building gave me a clear and vivid vision and understanding of this land where dragons once filled the skies before being annihilated by humans. The war against the dragons was necessary. It was kill or be killed. The only way for the humans to survive was to rid their world of the dragons. Only then would they be safe. But, was that really what happened or was there a deeper, more sinister plot at play among those humans who incited the masses? Why are some citizens living in the lap of luxury while those who protect their borders balance on the brink of starvation? And what will happen when a woman raised in that luxury is married off to a warrior from those borders who thinks he’s marrying a Royal Princess, who counts on that marriage to give him a seat at the table where decisions are made but, instead, finds himself saddled for life with the royal whipping girl? (And yes, that is exactly as horrible as it sounds)
Stakes are high for both Tamsyn and Fell from the get-go and it didn’t take long for me to be fully invested in both, especially Tamsyn. Jordan does an outstanding job of slowly unveiling the layers of these characters as they face off against danger, treachery, unimaginable circumstances, unexpected feelings, and each other. I enjoyed watching Tamsyn grow in confidence, finding her self worth and identity as her journey progresses while Fell deals with unfamiliar feelings as well as life-altering revelations. Tamsyn and Fell have the opportunity to change their lives, their world, if they are willing to embrace the unthinkable. Please embrace the unthinkable!
A Fire in the Sky is one of my favorite books this year. The story held me in thrall, never once lagging, and keeping me eagerly reading late into the night. I’m fully invested in Tamsyn’s and Fell’s plight, emotionally attached to both characters, and already begging to know when book two will be released because….whoa…that ending! I have to know what happens next!
Thanks for the review. LIke you, this would not be a book I would normally read. But, it does sound like an interesting plot. And I like character driven books. So....Thanks
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no!! I don't have temporal or psychological room to fall in love with another complicated series. But as Annette said, your review was pretty persuasive. Guess I'll have to check it out. Thanks, P.J.!
ReplyDeleteI like and have read many Sophie Jordan books; this seems like the start of something big. Will this be a new series or a one-off?
ReplyDeleteSusan in AZ
It’s book in a new series with continuing characters.
ReplyDelete* Book one of a new series.
DeleteFantasy/romantasy are not my usual reads, but I do enjoy a good one. This sounds like it is more than worth reading. Is there any indication how many books will be in this series and how long it will be before the next one comes out? I don't like getting pulled into a story then having to wait months for the rest of it. It is why I prefer to get ll the books in a series and then binge read it. This one sounds like the end of book one propels you into book two. Thank you for the review and high recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s going to be a trilogy but I don’t know when book two will be published. I’ve asked the author and will let you know when I find out.
DeleteI heard back from Sophie Jordan. This is contracted to be a duology. Book two is already with the publishing company and should be released in 2025. I don’t know what date. Sophie said she loves this universe and would be open to writing more books if fans love the first two. Time will tell on that.
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