I’m a daughter of House Jupiter, the empire’s most powerful family built on the backs of those brainwashed to serve.
The king is dead, and the Terrulian Trials have begun. This is my one chance to be crowned ruler of the kingdom and right my family’s wrongs.
If only it were that simple.
The House of Ascension isn’t for the fainthearted. I must survive three deadly challenges to secure my place as queen—and that’s not counting the Potentials ready to stab me in the back.
It doesn’t help that four sinfully good-looking guys keep messing with my head. I can’t trust anyone, least of all myself.
There can only be one sovereign … and I’ll stop at nothing to win these vicious games.
***The Terrulian Trials is a steamy urban fantasy series brimming with mystery, magic, and blood. Please note, we don’t like to choose favourites when it comes to book boyfriends, and neither does our heroine. We recommend for fans who enjoy the humour and fun of Zodiac Academy, the brutality of The Hunger Games, and the steaminess of The Bonds that Tie. If you're looking for a serious read in this academy-set series, this isn't it!
I'm the bestselling author of The Cursed Blood series and Guardians of the Grove trilogy. I write all things Fantasy--epic, paranormal, and soon to be RH and urban.
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If a softer version of Zodiac Academy and The Hunger Games had a baby.
This is a five POV book, told by the POV´s of Fallon, Ace, Zane, Noah and Kayden.
My favorite of all five of them was definitely Ace. Since Marvel I just can´t seem to resist a brooding, dark haired man with a metal arm. So he is definitely my top one and I really liked the "Princess" thing. My least favorite of the men was Zane. I can´t really tell you why, his character mostly reminds me of a mix of Geraldine (speech wise) and Max from Zodiac Academy. I liked Fallon, she seemed ressourceful and smart.
Regarding side characters there aren´t really that many, so it feels a bit hard to judge the book on that. I liked Fallon´s other roommate, although she isn´t mentioned that much in the book, she definitely seems badass.
We have a reverse harem with this book, and the tropes are supposed to be enemies to lovers and bully romance. I say supposed to be, because for me personally it didn´t really work. If I compare it to Zodiac Academy (which this book is compared to a lot), there doesn´t seem to be any "proper" bullying whatsoever in this book, and the enemies to lovers didn´t really come across for me. Only one of the guys claims to hate her and she doesn´t really hate him, so this trope fell kind of flat for me. I would say plotwise this doesn´t go as deep with any amazing world building, but a vague plotline is there and then I would argue that it is mostly smut with a side of plot. However it is still a fun book that is mostly fast paced and also contains a few action scenes and humorous moments. I´d say read if you want a fun reverse harem smut story with a side of plot, leave alone if you are looking for a complex Romantasy.
Overall it was a fun read and I am looking forward to see what book 2 has in store.
trigger warnings: death/murder, torture, sexual assault (not caused by the love interests), attempted rape (not caused by the love interests)
Super fun! I am always looking for something that fills the void left by the end of J. Bree's Bonds that Tie series, and this came pretty close! A Sky of Storms feels like the lovechild of Broken Bonds and Dark Fae with a little bit of The Hunger Games thrown in. Despite being a little predictable, the story was interesting, the characters were funny, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
If you like Zodiac Academy but wanted a why choose situation and no twins this is for you! Earth is fallen and the humanity had to move to other planets forming different houses and communities. The people also developed special gifts.
Fallon is entering a competition as a second daughter of the powerful and rich House of Jupiter to become the queen, one problem, her older sister has all the support from her parents and also is as ruthless as them.
Fallon, once in the contest finds her alone and hated by the most, but does not waver, instead she finds allies in handsome and strong guys that have their own agenda and a new bestie girlie that is just amazing.
And then the action starts!
In general this book was pretty entertaining and definitely ADULT 🥵. No group stuff but I can bet on a lot of money that it's inevitable in the next books.
I wished for a little bit more wold building as I still don’t really understand the whole humans living on the other planet(s) now, but I reckon we find out more in the next books.
Also, this book had so much Australian slang that it started annoying me a lot, I literally didn't understand what they meant half of the time. xD hopefully it diles down a bit in the next books in the series that I definitely want to read.
I received an ARC of this book! And I really loved it. Admittedly, it took me a while to get into, but once I did, wow! All of the characters are great and fun (especially Zane - we love a hot, goofball). And the trial!? It was definitely on par with The Hunger Games, and in no way was I mad about that. It was wild and brutal, but I loved the sexy, tender moments that were sprinkled in. And the ending..... ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I need that 2nd book right now!
THIS BOOK!!!!!! When I heard about this book I knew I would love it.
It includes all my favourite things: - the humour and fun of Zodiac Academy - the brutality of The Hunger Games AND - the sexiness of The Bonds that Tie 😍😍😍😍
It sure delivered. I fell in love with ALL of the main characters.
We have our FMC ✨Fallon Auger ✨ who is a daughter of House Jupiter and part of the most powerful family. Since the king died, they are in need of a new ruler so the Terrulian Trials begin. Fallon has goals to right her families mistakes but to get there is going to be a challenge. The House of Ascension is what stands between her and a selection of other Potentials to rule. You cannot trust anyone but when FOUR let’s call them HOTTIES start messing with Fallons head, things start heating up! We have a great selection of hotties.
🔥 Kayden Hale 🔥 Big Red. Boulder. He is all muscle and keeps his eye on the prize and never backs down.
🔥 Zane Loch 🔥 The Merman. The quirky, cuddly and marshmallow. He doesn’t take life seriously but is serious about his starfish.
🔥 Ace Warner 🔥 Our bad boy. Gang member of the Drakes with a bad attitude.
🔥 Noah Hawthorn 🔥 Our sarcastic, witty and quiet MMC. Noah thinks logical and is our resident book worm.
✨ TROPES ✨ - Why choose - Enemies to lovers - Bully romance - Insta lust - Friends to lovers - Who did this to you - Academy setting - Humour - Found Family
I have no words to say how much I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I was sucked in right from the beginning and felt like I was there. I was fully immersed into this world and I never wanted to leave. I’m already ready for a second read of it 🫣
I highly recommend this series if you love why choose romances, Zodiac Academy, The Hunger Games and Bonds that tie series.
A Sky of Storms is book 1 of 6 and I cannot wait for book 2.
A very special thank you to both Chloe Hodge and Rebecca Camm for an ARC of this book! I am so in love with this world you have both created and cannot wait to continue this series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!/5 stars
✨ SEPTEMBER 2023 reread update ✨ Still totally obsessed with this world! I loved this reread and will always recommend this book 😍
Fallon Auger is our BADASS FMC, and she’s entering the Terrulian Trials, which is a Hunger Games-Esque competition to determine the new king/queen for their kingdom. She is completely determined to win so she can overthrow her family and change things for the better and to protect her two younger siblings, Ethan and Hadley. We follow her as she’s training for the trials and starts competing! She meets 4 guys who she definitely likes to look at!
Let’s meet our guys!
🔥 Zane Loch - our sweet, sexy merman! I seriously loved him, his chapters had the most highlights for and had me laughing out loud. He is the sweetest and I loved his energy.
🔥Ace Warner - our bad boy! This man has definite bad boy, loner energy. He doesn’t have the best attitude but I love his friendship with Noah!
🔥 Kayden Hale - A literal rock with a fluffy marshmallow inside. He’s determined to win and doesn’t ever back down from a challenge.
🔥 Noah Hawthorn - the quietest of the 4 MMCs, but I loved his quick wit and his genuine caring for others!
This is a why-choose, urban fantasy romance book and I loved everything about it! I couldn’t put it down, and I read it so fast. It touches on some dark themes but still kept the dialogue and inner monologues pretty light hearted. There were times I was actually laughing out loud (mostly Zane’s chapters, IYKYK!). I love the world-building and am soooo so so interested to see what happens in the next book, because that CLIFFHANGER!!!! If you loved The Hunger Games, Zodiac Academy, and The Bonds That Tie, chances are you will love A Sky of Storms😍
If you love these tropes, you will love it!! 🔥 Why Choose 🔥 Enemies to Lovers 🔥 Bully Romance 🔥 Magic 🔥 Instalove 🔥 Witty Banter 🔥 Spice
Thank you soo much to Chloe Hodge and Rebecca Camm for the opportunity to read this ARC! I can’t wait for the next book!
*These are my true reactions and thoughts on this book 😊
A Sky of Storms follows Fallon Auger, as she enters the Terrulian Trials for her chance to become ruler of their kingdom and actually make a change for the good. This is a why choose urban fantasy, and while it is heaps of fun it also deals with some serious topics and brutal circumstances. It also incorporates four other POVs: Zane, Kayden, Ace and Noah.
I'm pretty sure I read 50% of this story in one sitting. Once they hit the trial in the marshes, it's so fast paced and soooo good. I was totally immersed in the story and feel like Fallon was a great perspective to read from. I wish that she we had more time developing her friendship with Kendra, but they felt like real friends.
Zane absolutely reminded me of The Deep from The Boys, if The Deep was actually kind and a good person. I thought he was hilarious and I definitely pictured him as Chace Crawford. He loves and will do anything to protect his Starfish (aka Fallon). I want to learn more about Ace as I feel like his dark and mysterious background is intriguing, and I loved Noah's character as well. I'm still not sure on Kayden - I'm keeping an eye on him.
This does end in a cliffhanger! Beware. It looks the second one will be out later this year, so we don't need to wait too long.
Thank you so much to Chloe and Rebecca for providing me with a review copy! All opinions are my own.
With that being said, this novel was a fun read in the “why choose?” category.
As always, I find myself drawn to my types of guys. Anyone that knows me knows I’m a sucker for the asshole types. I was well fed in that category.
Fallon is a bold protagonist that goes for what she wants, and I love that about her.
I won’t spoil plot points or anything like that, but there’s a lot of interesting things that happen. The ending had me on edge!
As for critique, I usually read novels in this genre knowing what to expect. Unfortunately, there were points in the middle I found myself not as engaged. It took a bit to pick up the momentum from the beginning again, but the ending didn’t disappoint at all.
If you’re into this genre, I highly recommend checking it out.
" She's part of our threesome," he said, nodding seriously. " She's the bestie and I'm the comic relief. Together, we're the ultimate team."
This book was such a great start to this why choose/RH urban fantasy. It really had the elements of The Hunger Games, Zodiac Academy and Bonds that tie.
Fallon is a great protagonist who I felt had to work so hard to be where she is, especially not having the support of her family. Truly her sister is awful and cruel....and lets just say I hope we see what's coming to her in the upcoming books. I really liked reading about each of the guys as they are all different and of course I have my favourites (as this tends to happen and you gravitate to guys you like to read about).
The trials were brutal but it also had some really fun banter between the characters that brought a lightness to the book. I'm intrigued by the world and the cliffhanger ending made me want to jump straight into the next book!
If you are looking for an urban fantasy why choose series - with action, banter and some very hot men. This series is great and it is a fast read.
Bec and I had the best time writing this. Sometimes characters just grab you by the heart and don’t let go. Well, that’s what this group of misfits have done for us, and we hope you fall in love with their silly, chaotic ways too! Also, better gear up because things are about to get brutal. Enjoy the read!
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. This is only MY opinion, if the summary sounds interesting to you, read it and make up your own mind! If you want to know what I thought, please continue. Okay so I wanted to love this. The synopsis is amazing and it theoretically has everything I look for in a fantasy and an RH but….. it just wasn’t for me. BUT I think this story and these authors have a lot of potential. This book has moments of pure brilliance but then other moments that were so terrible I couldn’t get over it and give more stars.
Here’s a fast look at what this book has ✔️Multi-POV ✔️Enemies to Lovers ✔️Morally grey characters ✔️Forced proximity ✔️Why choose romance ✔️Bada$$ FMC ✔️Unique magic system
So on paper this has everything I could want, but like I said it just fell flat in some areas so here’s the rundown on my thoughts.
Plot- excellent and super creative. We’ve got a Hunger Games style competition for the next King/Queen of the kingdom & it takes place in a ruthless academic setting that will give you Zodiac Academy/Ruthless Boys vibes. I would have liked to see more details on the world building. There are a lot of hints and maybe they’ll flesh this out more in the next installment. For a fantasy it is not overly descriptive- that will be good or bad depending on the time of reader you are.
Characters- FMC is a bada$$ & the men are all morally grey, dangerous, powerful, handsome, etc. the potential is all there. If you’ve read Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac by The Twisted sisters then two of the characters here will look a little familiar- Zane and Ace. These two are the most original and different in personality than the other characters. BUT they remind me of a poor imitation of my favorites from a Ruthless Boys. Zane is obviously just like Leon (but not as good) he’s quirky and sunshine and ridiculous and so much fun to read. Ace is a lot like Ryder (although, again not nearly as good) he’s broody, twisted and lethal. It’s obvious these authors have some inspiration from the Twisted Sisters- I don’t blame them, the sisters are freaking amazing and everything they write is gold. But Ruthless Boys is one of my all times favorites so… these guys just made me sigh and want to re-read Ruthless Boys because nothing will ever be as amazing as the real Leon and Ryder. But again I have to give the authors credit for almost getting there because these characters were fun & if you don’t draw on the RB similarities they would seem super original.
Dialogue/Banter - here is where I just died inside. I get that the characters are young but I felt like the way they spoke was so immature, juvenile and at times moronic. I’m talking about the continuous use of the words “dude” “bro” “suss” and “asshole”. I think the authors wanted to really make you feel the youth of these characters but I think there are other ways to write that without also making the characters seem boring AND annoying. And it wasn’t one character is was all of them. I would love to see these authors work some variety into the character’s vocabulary and inner monologues.
Spice- This was really well written. No cringy words and all the spice scenes were really good.
Overall I feel like these writers just need to get into a groove together. It’s written by two authors but a lot of the book actually makes you FEEL very aware that you are reading two completely different authors. It’s like they passed it back and forth without actually collaborating at the same time. It made me feel like I was going crazy. At times it was awkward and terrible but there were moments of pure brilliance! This has a lot of potential and does end on a cliffy. I don’t know if I’ll come back to this or not though. I think these two authors and this story have the potential to be really great.
This was an amazing read! Absolutely loved it! It had 2 of my favourite reads combined! A mixture of Zodiac Academy with the humour and Academy bully setting and hungers games with the raw brutality of the trials! This got my blood pumping from the start it was so well executed!
There are 5 ruling houses with so many potentials from each house competing for the chance to become king or queen of Terrulia. Each house has an adaptation such as wings, gills, camouflage and turning to stone with affinities too. I really liked the concept of this makes it interesting.
Fallon (Jupiter Stormcrest City) - FMC is such a likeable character she’s strong and fiercely loyal to the ones she loves! She comes from a very powerful wealthy family but she’s different to her family who only wants power she wants to succeed to be free and make her life and siblings better. She truly is a badass with a great sense of humour!
Zane (Neptune Tritosa City)- the merman the quirky, cute squishy like a marshmallow joker of the group he reminds me of Geraldine in Zodiac Academy with his humour and quotes like “flopped around like a beached tuna fish” “slippery seal” takes life with a pinch of sea salt and dotes on his his Starfish Fallon.
Ace - (Pluto Damascon Hollow) bad boy of the group a gang member of the Drakes with a permanent scowl on his face and a bad attitude.
Noah (Ceres Verdant Plateau) - sarcastic, witty, shy, mysterious member of the group. Who is the logical one that loves a good book to read.
Kayden - (Mars Crimson Steppes) big boulder made of stone. Likes to destroy, seems more brawn than brains and doesn’t let anything stand in his way to success.
Then you have Victoria which is Fallons sister who is the enemy and she’s an evil Bitch.
Thank you Chloe and and Rebecca for the ARC 😊
Highly recommend to any fantasy lover who enjoyed Zodiac Academy and hunger games. You will not be disappointed this is just as good! This book does end on a cliffhanger so be warned! Can’t wait for book 2!! One of my favourite reads so far this year!! 💜
This story mainly follows Fallon. Fallon wants to bring down her family and to do that, she needs to become more powerful. The old king is dead and there are trials Fallon can join to try and become the next ruler of Terrulia which would give her the power to bring down her family and save her younger siblings.
First off, this book had such potential! The story sounded so good and add in an RH romance to it, even better! I feel like I enjoyed a part of this book and the other part I just did not. It definitely had some major Hunger Games vibes with some steamy scenes 😏😂 It also has a vast world that a lot of thought was put into that I wish I had more history on because I wanted to know more about the world and it’s history. We do get to learn about each of the main characters a lot and a bit about where they live and their families or parents, which is nice since I think it’s important to learn about the characters, especially main ones.
However, I honestly could not stand this book from the beginning. The speech and the modernity in this book made no sense to me. I cringed every time the word “bro” came up or “dude” it was just over the top and cringy. I felt like I was amongst high school jocks and cheerleaders with the way they spoke to each other and with their immaturity.
I also never really liked any of the characters except for Zane and Ace. Zane was the fun one, and Ace was the broody dark horse(which I always love). And despite learning about each of the characters, the romances made no sense! They just lusted after each other and no relationship was built with any of them, or at least none that were believable to me. And for being an RH romance, there was almost no romance in this book and only a couple of steamy scenes that were very quick. My expectations may have just been too high 😕
I’m so so bummed I didn’t like this book in the end 😭 it had such potential! I don’t DNF books and I was hoping it would redeem itself by the end, but it just didn’t for me. I’m sure others will love this book, and so I do recommend this one if you like Hunger Games and RH romances, but it just was not for me in the end. The cover is beautiful though!
The covers may look elegant & olde world - but this series is written in a very contemporary sentence structure & snappy word choices. So b4 starting just regroup & dont overthink it relax and enjoy.
Dark humour abounds in each characters POVs. The two Authors write cleverly, so you can either dip below the surface or skim and move on with ease.
Book takes off for me, from Chapter 5,then I couldnt stop page turning.
I love the, "all is not what it seems" & the "have and have not" vibes on this journey to select the next Monarch and that some preconceived judgements will be overturned eventually as you page turn- as your burning at each injustice to be righted.
Fallon - MC Self self-deprecating outsider who doesnt want IN any further into her current life. Operates in unapologetic bratty overtones - its her best survival instinct - many will underestimate her true gritty nature.
Taunted and Trained from an early age for her House to gain advantage at great cost to Fallon - made we want to keep reading - Fallon, yes was written as Badda⚔️⚔️ but underneath it all Fallon was never broken enough that she couldnt be Kind or feel something more - because Fallon is better ( inner drive is clear on page) than the life experienced - this was refreshing - & perfectly flys in face of bullydom&Bully "as if" Doms(Fallon not easily cowed in submission lol).
Kudos for writing the best trope ever Touch "me"and you d!€ " the Mark scene still has me chuckling" i.e Fallon can protect herself. Plus I love ,A main character that has a strong sexual sense of self to know what she wants and needs.
-Why Choose romance with HOT options - Aussie cut to chase dialogue - Enemies to lovers - magic systems - wrong side of the tracks MCs - Rich Girl wronged i.e all is not what it seems - Bully romance - Insta attraction - Friends to lovers - Selection & Academy settings
Jasmin E Reads - im a vibe & feels reviewer my first thoughts after just finishing this read.
"A Sky of Storms: The Terrulian Trials: Book 1" is an exhilarating and captivating urban fantasy novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world filled with magic, mystery, and political intrigue. Written by Chloe Hodge and Rebecca Camm, this book introduces us to a fierce and determined protagonist, a daughter of House Jupiter, who must navigate the treacherous Terrulian Trials in order to claim her birthright as queen.
From the very first page, the authors immerse readers in a vividly depicted world where power and deception reign supreme. The trials that the protagonist must endure are intense and deadly, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they eagerly turn the pages to find out what happens next. The plot is skillfully woven, incorporating elements of mystery and suspense that add depth to the story.
One of the standout aspects of this novel is its compelling cast of characters. The four love interests who complicate the protagonist's journey are well-developed and each brings their own unique charm and allure to the narrative. The chemistry and tension between them and the protagonist add an additional layer of complexity to the story.
While "A Sky of Storms" offers a steamy romance subplot and explores themes of love and desire, it is important to note that this is not a book for readers seeking a serious, academically-focused narrative. The authors skillfully balance the passionate moments with the thrilling action and political machinations, creating a highly entertaining read.
Overall, "A Sky of Storms" is a fantastic start to the Terrulian Trials series. With its engaging storyline, vibrant world-building, and intriguing characters, this book will leave readers eager for the next installment. Fans of Zodiac Academy, The Hunger Games, and The Bonds that Tie will find much to enjoy in this urban fantasy novel.
Holy sh!t. What a story this was! I am now so beyond excited for this series after reading book one. There's a Hunger Games vibe to it, but much more brutal and with spice thrown into the mix. I found the world and magic to be super interesting, and I loved the academy setting aspect! I also enjoyed the multiple points of view that were given. Each character was so different and had pretty memorable characteristics that it wasn't difficult to keep track of who's who. Speaking of, there were all kinds of intriguing characters. I loved our fmc Fallon. She has been through so much, and it has made her into such a fierce individual. I loved how determined she is to make things better and be there for those she cares for. I also loved her confidence and how unafraid she was of being herself. A couple of other characters I absolutely loved and adored were Kendra and Zane! Like Fallon, I loved Kendras fierce-ness. And don't even get me started on merman Zane! He brought so much humor to the story. They were definitely my top favorites. I found Ace and Noah to be pretty interesting as well. I'm so happy and excited that this is set to be a 6 book series! I cannot wait to get to know these characters even more and to find out what happens next. Especially after that ending! Talk about a freaking cliffhanger! I can't wait to get my hands on book 2! 😍
If you're looking for an unputdownable story that is easy to get lost in, full of mystery, tension, magic, and spice (did I forget to mention that it's a "why choose!?" 😍 then definitely check this one out!
⚠️TW: assault, attempted murder, blood, death, graphic descriptions of violence and injuries, kidnapping, murder, profanity, SA, sexually explicit scenes, torture, violence.⚠️
A Sky of Storms is the first of the six books from The Terrulian Trials Series. This fast-paced urban fantasy gives us so many things all at once. I must say, it is refreshing to have a fantasy series that is able to provide us with humour (10/10) and light-heartedness, while keeping the action, betrayal, and flowing plotline that are central to the story.
Immediately you are thrown into the world of modern-day magic where the authors have created a beautifully structured story with accurate references to Roman Mythology, which as a history geek I was OBSESSED.
The magic, mystery, and crazy reveals have you hooked from beginning to end. The tension and spice DELIVER EVERYTHING with a ‘why choose’ (multiple love interests) romance.
There are also multiple POV’s (more than three), which normally I struggle with. I have found in the past that most authors are unable to give us strong character backstories, foreshadowing and developments in addition to strong worldbuilding and creative concepts, but WOW this is a game-changer. Each character is so different in their backgrounds and struggles. We are able to witness how their journeys develop and how they are able to grow into their future. However, they are all motivated by the same goal – winning the Terrulian Trials. I loved being able to watch all of their journeys at the same time through different eyes.
Keeping this review spoiler-free, I must give a shout out to the FMC, Fallon. This girl is a straight up BAMF, IYKYK. who knows who she is and isn’t going to apologise or back down from her actions and beliefs.
All in all – Chloe and Rebecca THANK YOU for gracing our brains with this story. I cannot wait to; 1. get my hands on the GORGEOUS physical copies of these books and 2. be taken back to the world of Terrulia and be blown away with where this story takes us, because that cliff-hanger GOT ME GOOD.
"A Skye of Storms" presents a fascinating premise that instantly captivated my attention - the idea that the protagonists once lived on Earth and brought many elements of their former world to the new planet. This concept provided a unique and engaging backdrop for the story.
As the narrative unfolded, I found myself drawn into the characters' journey and the exploration of the new world they inhabit. The authors skillfully portrayed the struggles and triumphs of adapting to a foreign environment while still holding on to fragments of their past.
However, as the story progressed, I noticed that it became increasingly saturated with explicit erotic scenes and hormone-driven behavior. While I understand that sensuality can add depth to a novel, I felt that it overshadowed the main plot and character development, detracting from the initial allure of the book's concept.
Despite my reservations about the abundance of erotic content, "A Skye of Storms" still managed to maintain some semblance of the engaging story it promised in the beginning. The world-building and the characters' connection to their Earthly origins remained compelling throughout.
In conclusion, "A Skye of Storms" has a captivating and imaginative premise that resonated with me. However, I was disappointed by the excessive focus on erotic elements, which at times overshadowed the novel's more unique and intriguing aspects. While this may appeal to some readers, it ultimately detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a slower burn, darker fantasy romance read with heavy plot and world building. Spice is definitely there but a slower burn so far. I can't wait to read book 2.
World building -> 5/5 The world building in a sky of storms was flawless, I could easily picture each world, didn't take away from the plot, and I loved loved the character descriptions.
Spice 2.5 / 5 -> spice was definitely ramping up throughout the book with Zane and Kayden. Even though I do love a good slow burn. I'm hoping we get to see more spice in the next book and more focus on Noah and Ace. This series is a reverse haram, and we are introduced to 4 MMC in book one, who I'm pretty sure will all be in the haram.
Main characters/possible haram members:
Fallon: FMC comes across as a strong female lead. I enjoyed that she wasn't a whiney damsel in distress and didn't let the MMCs walk all over her.
Ace -> I live for a good bad boy, walking reg flag, touch her and die alpha male, and so far Ace has not disappointed.
Zane -> Golden retriver engery, he seems to be the MMC that will bring the group together, excited to see his relationship with Fallon grow more in the next book. We focus alot on zane and Fallon in book 1.
Noah -> Seems like the strong, smart, silent type, possibly a touch her a die vibe? We don't get too much relationship building between Fallon and Noah in book 1, I'm hoping this changes in book 2.
Kayden -> big douche bag vibes, walking red flag... I love him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
'A slight smile curved over his lips, the hint of dimple popping into view. Bingo.'
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 For the 95% of the book i thought it's a solid 3.5/4 start book, but last chapters, all emotions and actions lead me to raise the rating. This story is a nice mix of Hunger games, Battle Royale and The Serpent and the Wings of Night. We have an interesting set of characters who are competing in a dangerous game. The winner will become next Queen or King of their country. Sounds alluring. In this book we see the story through several POVs, and each of them is unique one. All of them joined this 'fun' stuff in order not only win the crown, but for family, people, themselves and it's really interesting how their personal agendas clashed together. How grumpy and unfriendly guys open a little bit, how lone wolves starts to communicate, how friendship and possibly more started and progressed, how they realized that crown may be yours at the end, but can you get it and stay human? Add monsters and superpowers to this amazing mix of characters and danger, and you will get this book, full of flirt, fun, adventure and intriguing characters. Jokes about sea-life are on next level.
Can't wait to see what's awaiting our character in following books, lucky us we have second book scheduled to be released in October 2023.
____ ACR was provided by authors in exchange of honest review.
This was such a fun read! This book is urban fantasy. Think different houses wanting to rule the land, “hunger games” type trials to determine the ruler, Academy/dorm room living, a badass FMC and multiple spunky MCs, all with different abilities and magic.
I was hooked in from the very beginning. I felt the pacing was good. I didn’t find myself getting bored during the book. There were many moments where I laughed out loud. I liked the world building and how all the houses look geographically different. I enjoyed the multi povs as I felt that this really made the characters unique personalities shine through which I feel helped me to form better connections with each of the characters. I liked how Fallon had a different relationship with each character and can’t wait to see how those relationships develop in the next books. And the cliffhanger!!! I’ll be counting down until the release date of the next book because I just need to know! I have indeed recommended this book to my friends.
I am so grateful to have received this as an E-ARC for free and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
Before anything else, I need to say: This is one of the prettiest book covers I've ever seen, holy shit. Also, I love the map at the beginning.
Some thoughts of the book: - Very Wattpad-esque. - I like the premise of humans developing adaptive forms based on the conditions of their environments after Earth presumably dies. - I'm a sucker for a fantasy competition, so I probably will check out the rest of the series. - Fallon feels a little like Bryce Quinlan, but not with the depth of character development (yet!). - There were some phrases used oddly that pulled me out of it (e.g., "my heart swelled" was used when something bad happened, instead of "my heart clenched"). - A self-proclaimed "why choose", but so far just a girl seeing people without committing - maybe the why choose comes later in the series? - There were two spicy scenes by my count. I didn't really like them because they both felt really sudden without much build up, and also ended super abruptly. That being said, I don't read much spice in general so I imagine this is a personal preference.
To summarise: Nice world-building, looking forward to seeing more character development in future :)
This book is a pretty decent addition to the RH academy genre.
It follows most of the tropes. Abused badass FMC that despite all her misfortune still manages to be self sacrificing and kind to a fault. Grumpy asshole who hates for no real reason but still ends up hate banging the FMC because reasons. The golden retriever who is nothing but sunshine and kookiness and loyal to everyone in the group because he has good vibes about them. The cocky misogynistic that thinks the world and everyone in it should bow to him because he is jacked and takes what he wants. The quiet stoic one that is both domineering and reserved.
I honestly don’t see many redeeming qualities in Ace or Kayden, and the kookiness of Zane is a little over the top, but he’s still likeable. Noah is meh right now and I’m waiting to see if he has growth of character in the following books.
I like that the first trial takes up a most of the book and isn’t completed in a few short chapters like they usually are in these types of books.
The evil sister is also a little over the top, but every abused FMC needs a villain in their story.
After that cliffy, I’m straight into the next one.
2 ⭐️ | Sighhh this book had all the potential and none of the follow through. I wanted to get into this bc it was why choose and “full of magic” but it disappointed me at every turn. After 370 pages, I have yet to care about a single character. I don’t care where they come from, why they are in the trials to begin with, or the relationships the main characters have between each other (if you can even call it that).
I also got flash backs to ACOWAR with us having sex or sexual moments at the most random times. Are we going to fight a monster? Yes but let’s make out first and like touch each other!? Idk I just thought there was no romance and only lust. And I get that there are 5 more books to come but idk how you turn all this indifference into feelings and love, especially since none of the males know each other and they hate each other all at the same time.
The only thing that was halfway decent was Zane. His character at least had a personality to him and tried to give some life to this story but even he couldn’t breathe enough oxygen into this tale.
“I would one day be queen … I just had to become a monster first.”
Im not sure what I thought this book was going to be, but let me just say it was so much better than anything I could imagine on my own.
A Sky of Storms is book 1 in what I believe will be a stellar urban fantasy series. Think, Hunger Games competition style, Zodiac Academy academic vibes, and The Bonds That Tie romance feels. That is this book. We follow Fallon, a girl all to familiar with the violence of the world and wants to make a change. Every time the ruler of Terrulia dies, a brutal competition is held that tests mind, body, and magic to find the best of the best to rule this kingdom. It’s such a unique and interesting plot and honestly I LOVED it. In addition to Fallon we also follow 4 other characters who I feel will play big roles in her journey through these harrowing trials.
For a story with such high stakes, I loved the comedic relief. It was definitely one of the most prominent and appreciated elements in this one. Additionally, this is a RH romance (why choose), with a decent amount of spice that I think will probably progress along with the series. With this type of romance, I really appreciate getting multiple POV. The characters surprised me in this book, the goofy, muscle brain, alphahole archetypes were actually very endearing. I loved getting each individual perspective from the boys and it helped me resonate with their motives and mindsets. I can’t wait to get to know them more!
Ill be straight with y’all, do not read this book if you don’t like cliffhangers cause the ending is seriously the brutalest of cliffhangers. Like, I need book 2 now! This book has a way of get under your skin. You will feel for these characters, laugh constantly, and gasp at every twist. I really cannot wait to see what the rest of this series has in store! It is an extremely enjoyable read and I really recommend this one to y’all 💙
If you’re looking for a fierce FMC and a group of delicious men each with a varying personality and sexiness, this is it.
The way I LOVED this book though. Fallon was such a badass, I enjoyed her arc from the very first page. There are so many hints that point to a backstory that will get bigger and bigger over the series, and I love her sense of humour and sass.
The banter between all characters was so good and the spice was on point. Can’t wait to see this grow over the books too! I have a special soft spot for Zane and I think Kayden will end up being a big marshmallow as well.
Plot wise, this was excellent. So many little facets happening and keep you wanting more, not to mention the action and brutality was very much in keeping with The Hunger Games being a comp title.
If you’re still reading this, just go get the book. Seriously!
A special thank you to the authors for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you so much to the authors for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a fun, easy read. It felt like a combination of The Hunger Games and The Ruthless Boys in the best possible way, combining high stakes and dark fantasy elements with wacky humor and steamy why choose romance. If you, like me, love the Twisted Sisters, this book is for you.
I loved our FMC Fallon in particular for her grit and passion. And I can’t wait to see how her relationships with her love interests develops further in the next book. The fast pace of the story and multiple POVs made me feel like I’m still getting to know some of the men. But that’s totally understandable given that it’s the first book in a series and I’m definitely excited to learn more in the follow up.
As mentioned, this book does contain some dark elements so please check trigger warnings before reading.
Ok, so what first drew me to the book was the absolutely gorgeous cover, I mean come on someone tell me I’m wrong?!
This book gave me hunger games vibes but with way more spice, and this alongside the why choose trope is so refreshing making the book even more enjoyable. There are multiple POV’s throughout this book and I feel like this really lends itself to the story telling, allowing us to learn more about the characters while still maintaining some of the mystery.
Favourite character is Zane, 100%! I thought I was going to find him annoying at the beginning but he really grows on you and I really don’t think I have ever come across a character with mannerisms and a personality quite like him.
I really can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, that cliffhanger was absolutely torturous, plus I’m dying to see another breathtaking cover.
I receive an arc copy of this book and can confirm that this is my honest review!
Thank you to Chloe and Rebecca for giving me the ARC
Rating: 3 stars
I enjoyed the world building and I adored Fallon, she knows what she wants and what she does is to become Queen and get with several different men at the same time. I enjoyed the idea of the trials and each city having a house of a planet over them
What I struggled with was the rest of the book, i struggled with the world building of the trials and I found it was a bit dragged out. As the series is going to be 6 books, i understand keeping the plot going, but the first book barely concluded the first trial with the cliffhanger at the end on Fallon's ending.
I also found the male characters not very memorable, and found their characters blurring together. And as it is a why choose romance, i did expect Fallon to be with at least 2 guys in the first book, except she was only with one guy not even properly in the book from what i can remember
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.