A review by marie_thereadingotter
Scorched Skies by E.J. Mellow

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy

 
 This book is the Romantasy we all deserve. The enemies to lover we all deserve. I loved this book so much, aside from some small pacing issues, and maybe some parts that felt over written from time to time, I have no complaints. The romance didn't feel forced, their interactions felt real, and it didn't over shadow the larger plot of saving her family. If anything it added to the tension because it added a layer of complications. Oh, and a refreshing bonus there are no humans in this book. The romance is between two non-humans, which is a nice change. There's still an age-gap that I didn't think needed to be there, but at least she's over 20, which is also a nice change.

Tanwen, at first I was worried that she was going to be similar to other FMC's in romantasy, but she isn't. Sure, there are some common tropes that are part of her character, but with how they're used it doesn't feel tired, or like a cliché. I like the magic she has, it wasn't used in any deep way in this book, but I am curious how it will be used in later books.
 
Zolya, it was nice that the MMC wasn't a jerk. He loves his sister, he loves his mother, his biggest "crime" is that he's complicit in what his father does. Which doesn't make him a bad person, but he also doesn't really think there's anything he can or should do to change anything. He has the most character development in this book as he starts to see how bad things are under his father's rule. How it effects not only the Süra, but also the women Volari, like his sister and mother. And even the Mütra, and how messed up it was to damn a whole race for simply existing. Granted, it is a little strange that this guy who's been around supposedly for 80 years and has never once thought it was bad the mixed race of beings were killed basically on sight until he met one he thought was pretty. But I digress. 
 
The lore and the magic take more of a back seat than I would like for a fantasy story that has no human equivalent. There are two moons for starters, and as I already mentioned no humans in this world. The Gods talk to the people of this world when they feel like it at least. But I don't really understand the pantheon as of this book. Hopefully the future books will explain it more. 
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