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A review by secretofmusing
The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Overall thoughts:
I thought this was a fun and engaging story. I loved the main character, she felt strong and independent. Also, I enjoyed that Anahrod was not a 16 year old chosen one. She her fellow characters felt quite real throughout the story, though I did have some hangups further into the story. I loved the plot and the idea of a heist/overthrowing an evil empire but I don't know that I ever felt the severity or how high the stakes were within the story. Oh, I loved the world building and how the dragon society used scales as money, the religion being based upon a goddess creating dragons, humans being kicked out of heaven to serve the dragons etc. OH! And the garden rings to declare preferences, identities, and status. Brilliant.
That all said, I will definitely keep an eye on Jenn Lyons and check out all their other books because I loved the descriptions and how detailed the dragons were here. I want to know more about all the dragon books!
Rating the book:
1..Characters? Nope. Everything just kind of fell together if that makes sense. I didn't really see the main character, Anahrod, has some pretty intense preferences at the beginning but they seem to just fall away instead of her making a conscious choice. 0
2. World-building/setting? Check. Loved the world! The socieity living and serving with the dragons were within the mountains at serious elevation. While those that lived at sea level, were in an inhospitable and quite dangerous jungle. Also, the garden rings that people decide on as they grow was brilliant. I want my own lmao. 1
3. Plot? Loved it. 1
4. Originality? - CHECK - loved this new way to visualize the dragon/dragon-rider bond. And how a society would look if it was beholden to dragons. 1
5. Writing? I thought the writing was good, I had no issues with the words pulling me out of the story. 1
6. Pacing? I finished the book in a couple days, the pacing kept me wanting to know what would happen next. 1
7. Themes? Idk, it felt like there was an attempt to address the serious gulf between the power of dragons and humans, and the humans upholding that gulf. For me it ended up feeling quite surface level. 0
8. DID I CRY/WILL IT STICK - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯? I did not cry and I honestly don't think this one will stick with me, it just felt too surface level. BUT the world building and new take on dragon/dragon riders will. 0
9. Enjoyment? check - This book was fun, and it kept me engaged throughout the story. 1
10. THE end. It felt kinda flat for me? idk. It was an ending but it just felt kinda blah. .5?
6.5/10 = 3.25/5 but I'm the boss so I'm rounding up to 4
(I borrowed Elyse Meyers' breakdown because it's too good)
Also, thank you to Tor and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book and the chance to leave an honest, voluntary review.
I thought this was a fun and engaging story. I loved the main character, she felt strong and independent. Also, I enjoyed that Anahrod was not a 16 year old chosen one. She her fellow characters felt quite real throughout the story, though I did have some hangups further into the story. I loved the plot and the idea of a heist/overthrowing an evil empire but I don't know that I ever felt the severity or how high the stakes were within the story. Oh, I loved the world building and how the dragon society used scales as money, the religion being based upon a goddess creating dragons, humans being kicked out of heaven to serve the dragons etc. OH! And the garden rings to declare preferences, identities, and status. Brilliant.
That all said, I will definitely keep an eye on Jenn Lyons and check out all their other books because I loved the descriptions and how detailed the dragons were here. I want to know more about all the dragon books!
Rating the book:
1..Characters? Nope. Everything just kind of fell together if that makes sense. I didn't really see the main character, Anahrod, has some pretty intense preferences at the beginning but they seem to just fall away instead of her making a conscious choice. 0
2. World-building/setting? Check. Loved the world! The socieity living and serving with the dragons were within the mountains at serious elevation. While those that lived at sea level, were in an inhospitable and quite dangerous jungle. Also, the garden rings that people decide on as they grow was brilliant. I want my own lmao. 1
3. Plot? Loved it. 1
4. Originality? - CHECK - loved this new way to visualize the dragon/dragon-rider bond. And how a society would look if it was beholden to dragons. 1
5. Writing? I thought the writing was good, I had no issues with the words pulling me out of the story. 1
6. Pacing? I finished the book in a couple days, the pacing kept me wanting to know what would happen next. 1
7. Themes? Idk, it felt like there was an attempt to address the serious gulf between the power of dragons and humans, and the humans upholding that gulf. For me it ended up feeling quite surface level. 0
8. DID I CRY/WILL IT STICK - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯? I did not cry and I honestly don't think this one will stick with me, it just felt too surface level. BUT the world building and new take on dragon/dragon riders will. 0
9. Enjoyment? check - This book was fun, and it kept me engaged throughout the story. 1
10. THE end. It felt kinda flat for me? idk. It was an ending but it just felt kinda blah. .5?
6.5/10 = 3.25/5 but I'm the boss so I'm rounding up to 4
(I borrowed Elyse Meyers' breakdown because it's too good)
Also, thank you to Tor and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book and the chance to leave an honest, voluntary review.