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val_booksandtea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
blankpagepanic's review against another edition
After careful consideration I decided to DNF this book at 56%. Sadly, for a book with so much promise (dragons, heists, a potentially poly relationship), I didn't find myself picking it up nearly as much as I'd like, it's just too boring and convenient.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
bamamelereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This is an enjoyable and entertaining fantasy adventure story with found family, dragons, magic, and high stakes action. This is my first book by Lyons, but I’ve wanted to read Chorus of Dragons for a while.
This book isn’t at all slow paced, but it reads slow if that makes sense. The world building is dense, there are a lot of characters, and a lot of intricacies to the plot and world. It takes some brainpower to process everything (one character speaks only in quoted poetry or plays that another character then has to interpret for example). It also feels like a much longer book because so much happens! There are several quests, several plots, a Mission Impossible style heist, and then there’s still 30% of the book left to address the plot with the First Dragon and wrap everything up! But I was never bored.
There’s a large cast of characters, but I’d say the 4 most important were Anahrod, Ris, Sicaryon, and Gwindinion. I have to say I think Sicaryon was actually my favorite and I would not have minded more time with him. I think there is just so much going on with the plot and the world, that I missed really feeling the emotional connection to everyone, plus it made some of the relationships less believable. Ris holds so much back in information throughout the book that I found it hard to believe how easily Anahrod trusted her. That being said, I definitely enjoyed the steamy relationship between Anah, Ris, and Cary.
Overall, just a little something was missing to make it a new fav, but it was highly enjoyable and I would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own
This book isn’t at all slow paced, but it reads slow if that makes sense. The world building is dense, there are a lot of characters, and a lot of intricacies to the plot and world. It takes some brainpower to process everything (one character speaks only in quoted poetry or plays that another character then has to interpret for example). It also feels like a much longer book because so much happens! There are several quests, several plots, a Mission Impossible style heist, and then there’s still 30% of the book left to address the plot with the First Dragon and wrap everything up! But I was never bored.
There’s a large cast of characters, but I’d say the 4 most important were Anahrod, Ris, Sicaryon, and Gwindinion. I have to say I think Sicaryon was actually my favorite and I would not have minded more time with him. I think there is just so much going on with the plot and the world, that I missed really feeling the emotional connection to everyone, plus it made some of the relationships less believable. Ris holds so much back in information throughout the book that I found it hard to believe how easily Anahrod trusted her. That being said, I definitely enjoyed the steamy relationship between Anah, Ris, and Cary.
Overall, just a little something was missing to make it a new fav, but it was highly enjoyable and I would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own
clemslibrary's review against another edition
4.25
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-arc in return for an honest review!
this is an action and dragon field fantasy book, I had a really fun time with this and loved the development of the heist plot.
We follow a ragtag group of people planning a heist, and it was really fun seeing the development of the group and their character dynamics as the plot developed. Dragons are so cool, there’s a new span on the dragon and dragon rider trope that I really enjoyed. The plot itself is gripping and entertaining, there’s movement throughout the world which helped add to the worldbuilding and our enjoyment of the plot. It’s set in a queer normative world, and there is a subplot of a polyamorous relationship.
The main character is in her 30s, which I think adds a really fresh perspective to the world since she has had to move to a different part of the world.
This is a fantasy book that has everything you want in relation to dragons, the world itself is really cool and there is a really interesting way of showing gender identity and queerness- rings are used to show what you’re interested in and who you’re interested in which I thought was a new fun way to explore this.
if you’re looking for a heist fantasy with dragons and a fun queernormative world, this is what you should read!
this is an action and dragon field fantasy book, I had a really fun time with this and loved the development of the heist plot.
We follow a ragtag group of people planning a heist, and it was really fun seeing the development of the group and their character dynamics as the plot developed. Dragons are so cool, there’s a new span on the dragon and dragon rider trope that I really enjoyed. The plot itself is gripping and entertaining, there’s movement throughout the world which helped add to the worldbuilding and our enjoyment of the plot. It’s set in a queer normative world, and there is a subplot of a polyamorous relationship.
The main character is in her 30s, which I think adds a really fresh perspective to the world since she has had to move to a different part of the world.
This is a fantasy book that has everything you want in relation to dragons, the world itself is really cool and there is a really interesting way of showing gender identity and queerness- rings are used to show what you’re interested in and who you’re interested in which I thought was a new fun way to explore this.
if you’re looking for a heist fantasy with dragons and a fun queernormative world, this is what you should read!
fictionalwanderer's review against another edition
Disappointingly, one of my most anticipated 2024 releases was a let down.
The premise is great, but I cannot be bothered to care about any of these characters. They're flat and two-dimensional, plus it's hard to differentiate between some of them.
Thank you to Tor for providing an early copy.
The premise is great, but I cannot be bothered to care about any of these characters. They're flat and two-dimensional, plus it's hard to differentiate between some of them.
Thank you to Tor for providing an early copy.
franniereviews's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
fouroffivewits's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
exlibris_noctis's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
aruktai's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A first Jenn Lyons book for me, and I was not disappointed. This book ticked all the boxes for a high-fantasy, dragon filled adventure, bursting with action from beginning to end.
The world building is immense - so large that it definitely takes some time to get your head around. The descriptions are lush, the creatures and people painted so strongly, mixed in with the system they have in their world. I will say that I still don't 100% understand the meaning of the social and garden rings which people seem to pick at 15 years of age. Alas, there was no explanation but a lot of hinting, so maybe I'm just dense...
The storyline was amazing, being split into sizable parts to allow a sense of where a new major plot point was happening. While the beginning may have been a bit slower, with the plot set up and the meeting of all our beloved characters, it was worth the build up because it was just non-stop action, adventure and dragons. Gwydinion grew on me a lot, his mischievous mind always turning. I also loved Sicaryon and wished there was almost more of him.
There was also hint of a potential growing poly relationship, which didn't feel forced or sudden at all. While it's true that the attraction between Ris and Anahrod felt quite quick, the story not being too clear on how much time passed between start to end, it wasn't quite insta-love nor slowburn.
I am seeing this a standalone, even though it opens up a way for a sequel if needs be with the ending. Since that is the case, I look forward to reading Jenn Lyons other books.
The world building is immense - so large that it definitely takes some time to get your head around. The descriptions are lush, the creatures and people painted so strongly, mixed in with the system they have in their world. I will say that I still don't 100% understand the meaning of the social and garden rings which people seem to pick at 15 years of age. Alas, there was no explanation but a lot of hinting, so maybe I'm just dense...
The storyline was amazing, being split into sizable parts to allow a sense of where a new major plot point was happening. While the beginning may have been a bit slower, with the plot set up and the meeting of all our beloved characters, it was worth the build up because it was just non-stop action, adventure and dragons. Gwydinion grew on me a lot, his mischievous mind always turning. I also loved Sicaryon and wished there was almost more of him.
There was also hint of a potential growing poly relationship, which didn't feel forced or sudden at all. While it's true that the attraction between Ris and Anahrod felt quite quick, the story not being too clear on how much time passed between start to end, it wasn't quite insta-love nor slowburn.
I am seeing this a standalone, even though it opens up a way for a sequel if needs be with the ending. Since that is the case, I look forward to reading Jenn Lyons other books.
afloodofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
5.0
The Sky on Fire was my first Jenn Lyons book and it immediately sucked me in. As soon as I finished, I ran to the library and picked up Ruin of Kings because I was ready for more.
Synopsis: The cloud cities are ruled by dragons, from which Anahrod was *literally* ejected 17 years before. She now lives only for survival in the warm jungles of the Deep with her titan drake. A misfit group of saviors (not so) accidentally rescue Anahrod from capture by the local warlord, Sicaryon. She is immediately thrust on an epic adventure as she learns that her rescue was very intentional and her past has come to call, as her saviors require her help stealing from a dragon's hoard for revenge, and to hopefully save future dragon riders.
Lyons' world building of the sky cities and the Deep was exceptional and immediately drew me in, I loved the social structure and the use of ring wearing to denote things like careers, gender, sexual preferences, and bedroom activities. The characters were diverse in their sexuality, love interests, and gender expression and it was such a run, daring, and exciting read as we transverse through the world and far into the sky with Anahrod and her misfit saviors. Lyons built a lovely dynamic between the characters that spanned ages, gender, motives, skills, identity, etc. and created a really fun group of characters, and ultimately a very fun and engrossing read. This book is touted as a standalone, but I hope we get to join Anahrod and her friends as they transverse their changing world together.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for an advanced eARC of The Sky on Fire.
Synopsis: The cloud cities are ruled by dragons, from which Anahrod was *literally* ejected 17 years before. She now lives only for survival in the warm jungles of the Deep with her titan drake. A misfit group of saviors (not so) accidentally rescue Anahrod from capture by the local warlord, Sicaryon. She is immediately thrust on an epic adventure as she learns that her rescue was very intentional and her past has come to call, as her saviors require her help stealing from a dragon's hoard for revenge, and to hopefully save future dragon riders.
Lyons' world building of the sky cities and the Deep was exceptional and immediately drew me in, I loved the social structure and the use of ring wearing to denote things like careers, gender, sexual preferences, and bedroom activities. The characters were diverse in their sexuality, love interests, and gender expression and it was such a run, daring, and exciting read as we transverse through the world and far into the sky with Anahrod and her misfit saviors. Lyons built a lovely dynamic between the characters that spanned ages, gender, motives, skills, identity, etc. and created a really fun group of characters, and ultimately a very fun and engrossing read. This book is touted as a standalone, but I hope we get to join Anahrod and her friends as they transverse their changing world together.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for an advanced eARC of The Sky on Fire.