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City of Skies
AS SEEN ON TIKTOK, CITY OF SKIES IS A HIGH FANTASY ADVENTURE DEBUT. A LYRICAL BLEND OF MAGIC, MUSIC, ACTION AND ROMANCE, IT IS SURE TO APPEAL TO ROMANTASY AND EPIC FANTASY READERS ALIKE.
"Ancient darkness shall be met with ancient Light..."
A truce betrayed. A kingdom vanished. Lovers torn.
When raiders attacked the kingdom of Ginan, their neighbour Kirantel escaped to safety with the powers of the twelve Light-blessed gemstones with supernatural powers. Five years later, Zael is still tormented over leaving Aniyah behind. Only by forsaking his crown and accepting banishment can he leave the "City of Skies" to search the world for her.
He hopes to travel unnoticed, disguised as a tavern bard.
But with imperial soldiers in every city and monsters in the wilderness, Zael must do more than forsake pacifism in order to he must embrace unprecedented powers he doesn't yet understand.
Zael's long awaited reunion with Aniyah is only the beginning in a chain of world-altering events. While they face the ghosts of their pasts and rekindle lost love, a dragon-god is released from the abyss.
And Zael and Aniyah are the first targets.
"Ancient darkness shall be met with ancient Light..."
A truce betrayed. A kingdom vanished. Lovers torn.
When raiders attacked the kingdom of Ginan, their neighbour Kirantel escaped to safety with the powers of the twelve Light-blessed gemstones with supernatural powers. Five years later, Zael is still tormented over leaving Aniyah behind. Only by forsaking his crown and accepting banishment can he leave the "City of Skies" to search the world for her.
He hopes to travel unnoticed, disguised as a tavern bard.
But with imperial soldiers in every city and monsters in the wilderness, Zael must do more than forsake pacifism in order to he must embrace unprecedented powers he doesn't yet understand.
Zael's long awaited reunion with Aniyah is only the beginning in a chain of world-altering events. While they face the ghosts of their pasts and rekindle lost love, a dragon-god is released from the abyss.
And Zael and Aniyah are the first targets.
398 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2025
7 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 20, 2025
My notes while reading this:
- Ooh, cool map! 🤩
- Dang, this started with a bang! 😮
- Ahhh, the yearning! 💖
- And the plot thickens... Colour me intrigued 😁
- Gosh, I love how refreshing indie authors voices are 🤩
- Wait... WAIT!!!! 🤯
- If I didn't know this was a debut I wouldn't have believed it, cuz it certainly doesn't read like one.
I loved the world-building, the carefully crafted lore and the different magical beings. You can tell the author put a lot of work into creating complex lore with realistic dynamics.
Add a nice romance with a caring MMC, plus action and intrigue and you got a very well rounded book.
There were some questions unanswered here and there, but I'm assuming they'll be cleared up on later books. This is a series, after all.
Also, yes, this is slow-paced. And I have ZERO problems with that because the world, the magic system, and the characters needed that to shine the way they do. Sorry if I sound defensive, but every time an author rushes what could be one heck of a beautiful world "cuz readers don't want details, they're here for the dialogue" a baby dragon dies.
Actually, what I thought could be minor details turned out to be very relevant later, and that's why we don't jump to conclusions, folks!!
📚 So...
If you — like me – are into books with fun elements like cool maps and visual representation of certain elements, song lyrics, you're gonna love this one.
If you enjoy a high-stakes setting that unravels slowly to create even more high stakes, without rushing the characters or the plot, then this is for you.
If you're looking for a story with classic fantasy vibes in a complex world full of lore and magical creatures, and a beautiful, tender romance, I strongly recommend you give this one an opportunity.
- Ooh, cool map! 🤩
- Dang, this started with a bang! 😮
- Ahhh, the yearning! 💖
- And the plot thickens... Colour me intrigued 😁
- Gosh, I love how refreshing indie authors voices are 🤩
- Wait... WAIT!!!! 🤯
- If I didn't know this was a debut I wouldn't have believed it, cuz it certainly doesn't read like one.
I loved the world-building, the carefully crafted lore and the different magical beings. You can tell the author put a lot of work into creating complex lore with realistic dynamics.
Add a nice romance with a caring MMC, plus action and intrigue and you got a very well rounded book.
There were some questions unanswered here and there, but I'm assuming they'll be cleared up on later books. This is a series, after all.
Also, yes, this is slow-paced. And I have ZERO problems with that because the world, the magic system, and the characters needed that to shine the way they do. Sorry if I sound defensive, but every time an author rushes what could be one heck of a beautiful world "cuz readers don't want details, they're here for the dialogue" a baby dragon dies.
Actually, what I thought could be minor details turned out to be very relevant later, and that's why we don't jump to conclusions, folks!!
📚 So...
If you — like me – are into books with fun elements like cool maps and visual representation of certain elements, song lyrics, you're gonna love this one.
If you enjoy a high-stakes setting that unravels slowly to create even more high stakes, without rushing the characters or the plot, then this is for you.
If you're looking for a story with classic fantasy vibes in a complex world full of lore and magical creatures, and a beautiful, tender romance, I strongly recommend you give this one an opportunity.
June 20, 2025
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for this book.
If you enjoyed the world building in Lord of the Rings, When the Moon Hatched, Throne of Glass, The Lost Prince series, you will enjoy this book!
The world building is enjoyable, you dont get lost with it, the author is able to fully engulf you into the world, the detail of each town, what the characters are seeing, feeling, all of it paints a very clear picture in your head!
This book is not my norm of book either, its lead by the MMC Zael. I grew to love him and his character development throughout the book, by the end of the first book his growth is fantastic and isnt the same character you started with.
The MFC Aniyah is still a bit of a mysterious character, as not much is know about her. I look forward to seeing where her character goes, along with the few extra characters that come into play later into the book.
Im only rating it at 4 star just due to my own preference of it not being fast pace, or action packed. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next 4 books to come!
If you enjoyed the world building in Lord of the Rings, When the Moon Hatched, Throne of Glass, The Lost Prince series, you will enjoy this book!
The world building is enjoyable, you dont get lost with it, the author is able to fully engulf you into the world, the detail of each town, what the characters are seeing, feeling, all of it paints a very clear picture in your head!
This book is not my norm of book either, its lead by the MMC Zael. I grew to love him and his character development throughout the book, by the end of the first book his growth is fantastic and isnt the same character you started with.
The MFC Aniyah is still a bit of a mysterious character, as not much is know about her. I look forward to seeing where her character goes, along with the few extra characters that come into play later into the book.
Im only rating it at 4 star just due to my own preference of it not being fast pace, or action packed. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next 4 books to come!
August 30, 2025
ARC Reader review
First off, any book that gives me a great map and various other charts makes me squeal as a fantasy romance reader. I feel like it gives a good indicator as to the amount and quality of world building in the story.
This story is refreshing in unlike a lot of fantasy romance, as it's told mainly from the MMC's point of view. Our MMC , Zael, at times gave me Wesley vibes ( Princess Bride), searching for his true love. Five years ago, Aniyah's home of Ginan was attacked by raiders. Zael has been tormented by it. Leaving his crown behind and accepting banishment, he leaves his kingdom to search for her.
I loved seeing their backstory as to how they fell in love and Aniyah's story of survival. Zael is so full love and yearning for her- slow burn city! My only complaint is I would have like a little more backstory or development with our villain. Hopefully, we'll get that in book 2.
First off, any book that gives me a great map and various other charts makes me squeal as a fantasy romance reader. I feel like it gives a good indicator as to the amount and quality of world building in the story.
This story is refreshing in unlike a lot of fantasy romance, as it's told mainly from the MMC's point of view. Our MMC , Zael, at times gave me Wesley vibes ( Princess Bride), searching for his true love. Five years ago, Aniyah's home of Ginan was attacked by raiders. Zael has been tormented by it. Leaving his crown behind and accepting banishment, he leaves his kingdom to search for her.
I loved seeing their backstory as to how they fell in love and Aniyah's story of survival. Zael is so full love and yearning for her- slow burn city! My only complaint is I would have like a little more backstory or development with our villain. Hopefully, we'll get that in book 2.
September 2, 2025
I received this as an ARC and am so excited for the rest of the series! Please consider me if you need Book 2 ARC readers, Elle :)
Negatives:
Zael is amazing and too good to be true, yet he IS true! I love him so much. I did get a bit annoyed with him sometimes, him mentally complaining about not knowing whether Aniyah loves him back or not, when anyone with a brain can see that she does. Basically, there was just too much back and forth for me. "Does she love me or not?" "Does he love me or not?". When it came to being able to identify that, both of Aniyah and Zael are complete idiots, and it got slightly old and repetitive. That being said, I love both of them and definitely got emotionally attached to them.
I would have appreciated a little more focus and maybe slight explanation on Zael's multiple Stargem abilities as opposed to all other human's single ability. I suspected somewhat early that he would have several. Aniyah wondered, and Orrin clearly knew Zael was special, hence why he gave him Chiron's sword. But Zael is oblivious. He doesn't wonder why he has several abilities, he just doesn't notice at all. I was hoping for some dialogue between him and Aniyah about it, which didn't really happen. So that aspect of Zael's story didn't seem fully flushed out.
I would have liked more on Kirantel. Either active in the story, or in more flashbacks and background lore. It's such an important city to the story, so I would have liked more of it.
Positives:
Zael is one of a kind. I love that he is basically a genuine through and through good guy rather than a morally gray kinda guy. His kind of wholesome goodness and purity is rare. He struggled to keep his mind pure at times, but he still tried, and managed to stay wholesome.
Aniyah was slightly annoying to me, but more so because I simply could not relate. She annoyed me because she kept thinking Zael couldn't possibly love her because she was poor and unworthy of him with nothing to offer. I know many women these days struggle with that, I have not. I admit that I do not find myself to be the most gorgeous woman on the planet or anything, but overall I think I am relatively pretty, and I am confident in myself and my worth. I know I am worth something, and deserving of love and kindness. I suppose maybe 5 years of not receiving love or kindness from others might change a little of that, but I don't know.
I love the stargems and the lore of them and how they work. It seems a little funny to me, in that all of those stones are found and formed by the earth, not by sky or meteorites hitting earth or something, but alright. Overall, decent world building. Would like more, but it's not bad.
Lastly, I love that religion is shown positively and negativity. Faith in God is a beautiful thing, and I love hope Zael is shown to be stronger and more powerful BECAUSE of his faith in the creator, not just because he's awesome. Obviously the religion of the Adarians justifies horrible things, but some religions in our world do that too. I liked that religion was shown from both perspectives, and was shown to be relevant, not something outdated, and not something that believers are seen as naive for believing. Yes, the believers are seen as silly and naive by some, but we as readers get to see that it is not naive, and is actually something founded and real and right.
Negatives:
Zael is amazing and too good to be true, yet he IS true! I love him so much. I did get a bit annoyed with him sometimes, him mentally complaining about not knowing whether Aniyah loves him back or not, when anyone with a brain can see that she does. Basically, there was just too much back and forth for me. "Does she love me or not?" "Does he love me or not?". When it came to being able to identify that, both of Aniyah and Zael are complete idiots, and it got slightly old and repetitive. That being said, I love both of them and definitely got emotionally attached to them.
I would have appreciated a little more focus and maybe slight explanation on Zael's multiple Stargem abilities as opposed to all other human's single ability. I suspected somewhat early that he would have several. Aniyah wondered, and Orrin clearly knew Zael was special, hence why he gave him Chiron's sword. But Zael is oblivious. He doesn't wonder why he has several abilities, he just doesn't notice at all. I was hoping for some dialogue between him and Aniyah about it, which didn't really happen. So that aspect of Zael's story didn't seem fully flushed out.
I would have liked more on Kirantel. Either active in the story, or in more flashbacks and background lore. It's such an important city to the story, so I would have liked more of it.
Positives:
Zael is one of a kind. I love that he is basically a genuine through and through good guy rather than a morally gray kinda guy. His kind of wholesome goodness and purity is rare. He struggled to keep his mind pure at times, but he still tried, and managed to stay wholesome.
Aniyah was slightly annoying to me, but more so because I simply could not relate. She annoyed me because she kept thinking Zael couldn't possibly love her because she was poor and unworthy of him with nothing to offer. I know many women these days struggle with that, I have not. I admit that I do not find myself to be the most gorgeous woman on the planet or anything, but overall I think I am relatively pretty, and I am confident in myself and my worth. I know I am worth something, and deserving of love and kindness. I suppose maybe 5 years of not receiving love or kindness from others might change a little of that, but I don't know.
I love the stargems and the lore of them and how they work. It seems a little funny to me, in that all of those stones are found and formed by the earth, not by sky or meteorites hitting earth or something, but alright. Overall, decent world building. Would like more, but it's not bad.
Lastly, I love that religion is shown positively and negativity. Faith in God is a beautiful thing, and I love hope Zael is shown to be stronger and more powerful BECAUSE of his faith in the creator, not just because he's awesome. Obviously the religion of the Adarians justifies horrible things, but some religions in our world do that too. I liked that religion was shown from both perspectives, and was shown to be relevant, not something outdated, and not something that believers are seen as naive for believing. Yes, the believers are seen as silly and naive by some, but we as readers get to see that it is not naive, and is actually something founded and real and right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
This cozy fantasy is a romance forward journey that centres around the reunification of Anaya and Zael after they were separated during an invasion. Zael has strong golden retriever vibes. There are brief encounters with mystical creatures and this book spends time laying the ground work for future novels. The star gem magic system is very unique and I would have loved to find out more about it.
August 25, 2025
I was given the privilege of being an arc reader for this book.
While the story sounds interesting and I like that it’s dual POV I found it to be slow. I DNF at 30%. I wasn’t inlove with the characters and they didn’t connect with me.
While the story sounds interesting and I like that it’s dual POV I found it to be slow. I DNF at 30%. I wasn’t inlove with the characters and they didn’t connect with me.
September 1, 2025
Advanced Reader Review
"City of Skies" (Stargem Chronicles book 1) by Elle Wither
With shades of LOTR, The Princess Bride, and When the Moon Hatched, this author's debut fantasy romance features lush and thorough worldbuilding with glimpses of a darker plot ahead.
As a fantasy, it assumes the reader is familiar with standard fantasy races e.g. dwarves, Fae, etc. with minimal descriptions thereof, but with enough to get a picture even without such.
Additionally, an intriguing magic system that's more shown than told, with enough seeds and nuggets dropped throughout that halfway through I could make some theories about why some characters' evident abilities were such (though I was still surprised in the end!) 🤐
As a romance, this is a slow burn, second-chance, back-and-forth friends-to-lovers romance. Plenty of adorable banter and moments that left me screaming at the characters to just kiss already!
For those looking for it, heat = (0.5-1)🌶
Thank you again to Elle for choosing me to read this lovely book! Looking forward to the next one!!
"City of Skies" (Stargem Chronicles book 1) by Elle Wither
With shades of LOTR, The Princess Bride, and When the Moon Hatched, this author's debut fantasy romance features lush and thorough worldbuilding with glimpses of a darker plot ahead.
As a fantasy, it assumes the reader is familiar with standard fantasy races e.g. dwarves, Fae, etc. with minimal descriptions thereof, but with enough to get a picture even without such.
Additionally, an intriguing magic system that's more shown than told, with enough seeds and nuggets dropped throughout that halfway through I could make some theories about why some characters' evident abilities were such (though I was still surprised in the end!) 🤐
As a romance, this is a slow burn, second-chance, back-and-forth friends-to-lovers romance. Plenty of adorable banter and moments that left me screaming at the characters to just kiss already!
For those looking for it, heat = (0.5-1)🌶
Thank you again to Elle for choosing me to read this lovely book! Looking forward to the next one!!
August 1, 2025
City of Skies is a really great fantasy debut novel by Elle Wither. I adore authors who take the time to describe beauty throughout their worldbuilding, yes please tell me the goodness we're fighting to save! Hopefully one day we'll see Aniyah and Zael by the river enjoying the beautiful spring flowers among their stargems. The literary style reminds me of Howls' Moving Castle, if CoS was written from Howl's perspectives in trying to find his long lost love.
Zael feels earnest and sweet traveling to the ends of the earth to right this wrong done to their love story, eternally dedicated to Aniyah and her light. He refuses to compromise his integrity, while also learning the nuances that shift us into adults from childhood naivety. Sometimes there isn't a right answer except self-defense. Zael reminds me of Siddhartha, who only became Buddha by relinquishing power and privilege in favor of awareness. By learning empathy and compassion directly from the people he was expected to rule, he fulfilled his destiny as a spiritual leader. Zael is only just beginning his saga and I can't wait to see his growth.
Aniyah is realistic as a sweetheart in an epic fantasy romance, they both have 90's prince/heroine vibes as a couple and it's beautifully endearing throughout the book. Sleeping Beauty/Enchanted vibes - just your heroine making the best of a bad situation by radiating joy everywhere she visits. I hope you'll root for her too! I so wish we could have City of Skies as an animated series, I can envision Don Bluth's legendary style, giving justice to Aniyah's whimsy and light amongst the gritty saga.
The slowburn crowd will adore City of Skies!! As someone whose suffered a TBI, I thought it was neat seeing both Aniyah and Zael patient with the process of returning back to love. I loved how much space he holds for her growth, and also her pain throughout his quests knowing they've held different stories during their trials apart. Without giving away much, the whole reveal is beautifully well written! Can Zael stay true to himself, can Aniyah heal into a complex heroine whose light can save a kingdom? Only more books will tell!
In full transparency, the author gave me an advance reader copy in exchange for my freely given reviews. City of Skies earned 4 stars only because it is the first in a series, which means more room to grow! I cannot wait to see what spiritual battles await Zael, how the star gems will play a bigger role in what's to come, and if we've found our future King and Queen who will reunite the lands after all!
Zael feels earnest and sweet traveling to the ends of the earth to right this wrong done to their love story, eternally dedicated to Aniyah and her light. He refuses to compromise his integrity, while also learning the nuances that shift us into adults from childhood naivety. Sometimes there isn't a right answer except self-defense. Zael reminds me of Siddhartha, who only became Buddha by relinquishing power and privilege in favor of awareness. By learning empathy and compassion directly from the people he was expected to rule, he fulfilled his destiny as a spiritual leader. Zael is only just beginning his saga and I can't wait to see his growth.
Aniyah is realistic as a sweetheart in an epic fantasy romance, they both have 90's prince/heroine vibes as a couple and it's beautifully endearing throughout the book. Sleeping Beauty/Enchanted vibes - just your heroine making the best of a bad situation by radiating joy everywhere she visits. I hope you'll root for her too! I so wish we could have City of Skies as an animated series, I can envision Don Bluth's legendary style, giving justice to Aniyah's whimsy and light amongst the gritty saga.
The slowburn crowd will adore City of Skies!! As someone whose suffered a TBI, I thought it was neat seeing both Aniyah and Zael patient with the process of returning back to love. I loved how much space he holds for her growth, and also her pain throughout his quests knowing they've held different stories during their trials apart. Without giving away much, the whole reveal is beautifully well written! Can Zael stay true to himself, can Aniyah heal into a complex heroine whose light can save a kingdom? Only more books will tell!
In full transparency, the author gave me an advance reader copy in exchange for my freely given reviews. City of Skies earned 4 stars only because it is the first in a series, which means more room to grow! I cannot wait to see what spiritual battles await Zael, how the star gems will play a bigger role in what's to come, and if we've found our future King and Queen who will reunite the lands after all!
June 22, 2025
I absolutely devoured City of Skies and I'm still thinking about it days later! Elle Wither has written something really special here.
Getting this story mostly from Zael's POV was such a nice change. His voice drew me in completely - all that guilt over leaving Aniyah, his determination to find her, the way he sees her when they finally reunite. His transformation from guilt-ridden prince to someone who has to embrace these scary new powers kept me turning pages way past my bedtime.
Aniyah though - her character development blew me away. Going from pampered princess to someone who's survived god knows what for five years, and then having to figure out if she can trust Zael again? The way Elle shows us how much she's changed without info-dumping about her trauma was masterful. She's not the same person he left behind, and their relationship has to start over in a lot of ways.
Elle's writing is gorgeous. It has this lyrical quality that really comes through when she includes actual songs and musical elements. The way music is woven into the magic system and the world itself feels organic, not forced. When Zael uses his bard disguise, those moments felt so authentic.
The creatures in this world are fantastic. The centaurions have their own complex society, and the dragons feel truly ancient and dangerous. Even the smaller monsters Zael encounters in the wilderness serve the story instead of just being there for action scenes.
The Light-blessed gemstones magic system is intricate but never confusing, and watching Zael figure out these new abilities while being hunted kept me on edge. The fight scenes hit hard and the pacing never lagged.
That ending killed me. I immediately went looking for book two release dates because I need to know what happens next. There are so many loose threads and I'm invested in seeing where Zael and Aniyah's story goes.
If you're into epic romantasy with beautiful prose and character growth that feels earned, definitely pick this up. I'll be watching for whatever Elle Wither writes next.
Getting this story mostly from Zael's POV was such a nice change. His voice drew me in completely - all that guilt over leaving Aniyah, his determination to find her, the way he sees her when they finally reunite. His transformation from guilt-ridden prince to someone who has to embrace these scary new powers kept me turning pages way past my bedtime.
Aniyah though - her character development blew me away. Going from pampered princess to someone who's survived god knows what for five years, and then having to figure out if she can trust Zael again? The way Elle shows us how much she's changed without info-dumping about her trauma was masterful. She's not the same person he left behind, and their relationship has to start over in a lot of ways.
Elle's writing is gorgeous. It has this lyrical quality that really comes through when she includes actual songs and musical elements. The way music is woven into the magic system and the world itself feels organic, not forced. When Zael uses his bard disguise, those moments felt so authentic.
The creatures in this world are fantastic. The centaurions have their own complex society, and the dragons feel truly ancient and dangerous. Even the smaller monsters Zael encounters in the wilderness serve the story instead of just being there for action scenes.
The Light-blessed gemstones magic system is intricate but never confusing, and watching Zael figure out these new abilities while being hunted kept me on edge. The fight scenes hit hard and the pacing never lagged.
That ending killed me. I immediately went looking for book two release dates because I need to know what happens next. There are so many loose threads and I'm invested in seeing where Zael and Aniyah's story goes.
If you're into epic romantasy with beautiful prose and character growth that feels earned, definitely pick this up. I'll be watching for whatever Elle Wither writes next.
July 20, 2025
First of all, I just want to say how excited I was to receive my very first ARC, thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book before its public release!
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was a solid read, and I think it has incredible potential as an audiobook. Music plays such a strong role in the plot that, with the right narrator and sound design, it could truly come to life in a powerful way.
The core storyline between the two main characters was easy to follow and engaging. There was a point where I was surprised - and honestly a bit confused - when a certain memory issue was introduced. It seemed to come out of nowhere, without any clear buildup. That said, the confusion didn’t last long, as the issue was cleared up relatively quickly.
There were some loose ends throughout the book, but by the end, most of them tied together well. Still, the ending did feel a little rushed and left on a pretty big cliffhanger, clearly setting up for a sequel, which I’m looking forward to!
One thing that stood out (in a slightly jarring way) was the inclusion of a few POVs from characters who hadn’t been introduced earlier or didn’t appear much outside of their chapters. Their perspectives felt random at first, and I struggled to place them in the larger narrative. That said, they did end up being important to the plot, so I wouldn’t say it took away from the overall story, but it might have helped to weave them in earlier or give them a bit more background.
This is definitely a light, enjoyable read that fits well within the young adult genre. I would note that the death of a parent is the biggest trigger to be aware of.
Overall, a great debut ARC experience for me. I’m hopeful we’ll get a chance to read the second book soon!
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was a solid read, and I think it has incredible potential as an audiobook. Music plays such a strong role in the plot that, with the right narrator and sound design, it could truly come to life in a powerful way.
The core storyline between the two main characters was easy to follow and engaging. There was a point where I was surprised - and honestly a bit confused - when a certain memory issue was introduced. It seemed to come out of nowhere, without any clear buildup. That said, the confusion didn’t last long, as the issue was cleared up relatively quickly.
There were some loose ends throughout the book, but by the end, most of them tied together well. Still, the ending did feel a little rushed and left on a pretty big cliffhanger, clearly setting up for a sequel, which I’m looking forward to!
One thing that stood out (in a slightly jarring way) was the inclusion of a few POVs from characters who hadn’t been introduced earlier or didn’t appear much outside of their chapters. Their perspectives felt random at first, and I struggled to place them in the larger narrative. That said, they did end up being important to the plot, so I wouldn’t say it took away from the overall story, but it might have helped to weave them in earlier or give them a bit more background.
This is definitely a light, enjoyable read that fits well within the young adult genre. I would note that the death of a parent is the biggest trigger to be aware of.
Overall, a great debut ARC experience for me. I’m hopeful we’ll get a chance to read the second book soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2025
Overall 3.5 stars!
This fantasy romance novel delivers a heartfelt love story set against the backdrop of cultural conflict and religious differences. At its core, it follows two lovers torn apart by war and ideology, with the devoted male lead disguising himself as a traveling bard in a desperate quest to reunite with his lost love.
What Worked Well
One of the standout aspects of this book is its imaginative fantasy world. The presence of stargems, along with the diverse peoples and cultures, gives the setting a unique sparkle. The romance shines most through the male lead—his unwavering devotion and determination make him both memorable and deeply endearing. Readers who love a steadfast hero willing to cross dangerous boundaries for love will find him captivating.
Where It Fell Short
Despite the intriguing setting, much of the worldbuilding is delivered through dialogue, which limits the reader’s immersion. Instead of truly stepping into this rich world, we often hear characters explain it secondhand. The female lead unfortunately doesn’t leave much of an impression; she lacks the depth or vibrancy to match the strength of the male protagonist. Additionally, the balance of power feels inconsistent. Characters who struggle against minor threats suddenly overcome major foes without clear development or training, and even supposedly all-powerful beings are defeated too easily, undercutting the tension.
Overall Impression
While not without its flaws, this book succeeds as a romantic fantasy tale. Readers seeking an emotional love story wrapped in a fantastical setting will likely enjoy the journey. Those who crave detailed worldbuilding or tight consistency in power dynamics may find it lacking, but romance-first readers will find it a charming, heartfelt adventure.
This fantasy romance novel delivers a heartfelt love story set against the backdrop of cultural conflict and religious differences. At its core, it follows two lovers torn apart by war and ideology, with the devoted male lead disguising himself as a traveling bard in a desperate quest to reunite with his lost love.
What Worked Well
One of the standout aspects of this book is its imaginative fantasy world. The presence of stargems, along with the diverse peoples and cultures, gives the setting a unique sparkle. The romance shines most through the male lead—his unwavering devotion and determination make him both memorable and deeply endearing. Readers who love a steadfast hero willing to cross dangerous boundaries for love will find him captivating.
Where It Fell Short
Despite the intriguing setting, much of the worldbuilding is delivered through dialogue, which limits the reader’s immersion. Instead of truly stepping into this rich world, we often hear characters explain it secondhand. The female lead unfortunately doesn’t leave much of an impression; she lacks the depth or vibrancy to match the strength of the male protagonist. Additionally, the balance of power feels inconsistent. Characters who struggle against minor threats suddenly overcome major foes without clear development or training, and even supposedly all-powerful beings are defeated too easily, undercutting the tension.
Overall Impression
While not without its flaws, this book succeeds as a romantic fantasy tale. Readers seeking an emotional love story wrapped in a fantastical setting will likely enjoy the journey. Those who crave detailed worldbuilding or tight consistency in power dynamics may find it lacking, but romance-first readers will find it a charming, heartfelt adventure.
January 1, 2026
I really enjoyed this story! And it left me with so much to look forward to in this series.
This book reads like a fantasy adventure story, with a healthy dose of romance on the side. The main character, Zael, is on an adventure to find his lost love, Aniyah. Without giving away spoilers, the majority of the story takes place on the road, journeying both to her and onwards from there. Zael is a very likeable character and his determination to find Aniyah, aliasing with his patience and long-suffering throughout the book are what made me really root for him and their love story. I wanted Zael and Aniyah to have their happy ending. Or, as this is book one in a series, their happy beginning. The pacing was a little bit slower towards the beginning of the book, but I think it gives time to build the characters and allow for their character arcs as well.
For me, the world building was absolutely fantastic. I loved the descriptions of the vast geographical locations throughout. I adored the map at the front, as it was beautifully drawn. The landscapes, towns, people, animals and mythical creature were all very well thought-out and easy for me to imagine. There was a good contrast between different places and it all felt very believable.
My favourite creature was the griffon with it's character and purpose being unique from any other story that I've read. I wish there had been a few more sentences about it as I liked it so much. I also really liked the Darkspawn animals. Animals such as crows and wolves that were actually turned evil and attacked the main characters. I won't say too much more than that because I want to let you experience it for yourselves, but they were excellently written.
There are dragons in this book! They are actually powerful, evil gods who control the elements. It's a nice twist (or nod back to old-fashioned stories) to have the dragons be scary/evil, whereas in our modern times there are a plethora of stories with friendly dragons who are almost pet-like characters.
The major themes in this book are good vs. evil, providence, and of course lost or second chance love and romance. I personally enjoy all of these themes immensely.
I understood and enjoyed the well developed magic system that is described as being a fraction of what once was, which raised the question of what will happen next because the main character seems to have more powers than he is thought to have at the outset of the story. The story occurs at a time when the world is in an era of transition. A thousand years have passed with the evil dragons sleeping/in prison. Now it's a new age. As evil forces are on the rise, Zael seems to be our hero processing more powers to defeat the darkness that is building. How does Zael have multiple powers? I can't wait to find out more in book two. More points in regards to the plot - I can't wait to find out more about the third point of view person that was introduced halfway through the story. Most of the book was from Zael's point of view with Aniyah's point of view mixed in here and there. Lots of very clearly laid out flashback which make it easy to read and understand their story. But they are a part of a larger world with many of it's own problems and the writing balances out their personal story with the larger plot that is to be revealed in later books.
As a love story, Zael and Aniyah are believable characters and relatable at times, less so at other times for me personally. Here's what I loved and what I related to: Zael is a hopeless romantic. He knew he wanted to marry Aniyah from a young age (18) and nothing could shake his passion for her or his hope for their future. I like that he is so optimistic and I am definitely a hopeless romantic myself. He went through many hardships on his way to get back to her and he showed himself brave and strong. Aniyah was carefree and playful when she first fell in love with Zael at 18, and now five years later is far more cynical and jaded. She doesn't believe in love anymore. I understand the factors holding her back but when she does begin to fall in love with Zael again, I had a hard time with how she didn't express her feelings to him at all, but left him wondering what was going on in her mind. At times this part of their story was cute and allowed the characters opportunities to get close physically but at times she just seemed to be toying with him too much. He was nothing but kind and patient with her while she seemed to be leading him on. He did get frustrated by her (but not as frustrated as I was at her) and feel confused but he would quickly overcome those feelings and be back to his cheerful self in no time. I got annoyed with her for not admitting to herself and to him that she had strong feelings of attraction and affection for him. I also had empathy for him and wondered how he could continue to be so kind to her when she was drawing him in and pushing him away. Can any man be that patient? It was hard to imagine that being real. Like he is too good to be true. But I guess that's the point of writing a hero the way you want him to be and that's the point of reading - to escape reality. In reality the man would have gotten angry with her and pushed her away more I think. BUT...!! when Zael and Aniyah finally kissed it was worth the wait! They are good together. And when everything came to a climax at the end, lots of things in the story all started happening together. The adventure, the monsters, the danger and the love all collided in a huge climactic event at the end of the book that made the last few chapters impossible to put down. Very well written and yes, very much a dream man at that point. So brave. So focussed on his mission of winning her heart.
An interesting element of this book was that the main character was a musician and song-writer and some of his original song lyrics are included and repeated as a motif throughout the book. I've not seen this done before. It adds an element of poetry to the writing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes epic fantasy or romance or romantasy. But bear in mind, it's not a cookie-cutter story. It's got it's own unique feel to it and for that I respect it.
PS: There are very few swear words and nothing beyond kissing in the spice department - for those of you, like me, who may be wondering about such things. I appreciate this story as being a mature story without being full of swear words and things. It's not necessary and in my opinion detracts from the story. That's why I'm glad this book is lean on such things.
Now go read Meli F’s review of this book because I agree with everything she said. That’s a terrific review. 👍👍
This book reads like a fantasy adventure story, with a healthy dose of romance on the side. The main character, Zael, is on an adventure to find his lost love, Aniyah. Without giving away spoilers, the majority of the story takes place on the road, journeying both to her and onwards from there. Zael is a very likeable character and his determination to find Aniyah, aliasing with his patience and long-suffering throughout the book are what made me really root for him and their love story. I wanted Zael and Aniyah to have their happy ending. Or, as this is book one in a series, their happy beginning. The pacing was a little bit slower towards the beginning of the book, but I think it gives time to build the characters and allow for their character arcs as well.
For me, the world building was absolutely fantastic. I loved the descriptions of the vast geographical locations throughout. I adored the map at the front, as it was beautifully drawn. The landscapes, towns, people, animals and mythical creature were all very well thought-out and easy for me to imagine. There was a good contrast between different places and it all felt very believable.
My favourite creature was the griffon with it's character and purpose being unique from any other story that I've read. I wish there had been a few more sentences about it as I liked it so much. I also really liked the Darkspawn animals. Animals such as crows and wolves that were actually turned evil and attacked the main characters. I won't say too much more than that because I want to let you experience it for yourselves, but they were excellently written.
There are dragons in this book! They are actually powerful, evil gods who control the elements. It's a nice twist (or nod back to old-fashioned stories) to have the dragons be scary/evil, whereas in our modern times there are a plethora of stories with friendly dragons who are almost pet-like characters.
The major themes in this book are good vs. evil, providence, and of course lost or second chance love and romance. I personally enjoy all of these themes immensely.
I understood and enjoyed the well developed magic system that is described as being a fraction of what once was, which raised the question of what will happen next because the main character seems to have more powers than he is thought to have at the outset of the story. The story occurs at a time when the world is in an era of transition. A thousand years have passed with the evil dragons sleeping/in prison. Now it's a new age. As evil forces are on the rise, Zael seems to be our hero processing more powers to defeat the darkness that is building. How does Zael have multiple powers? I can't wait to find out more in book two. More points in regards to the plot - I can't wait to find out more about the third point of view person that was introduced halfway through the story. Most of the book was from Zael's point of view with Aniyah's point of view mixed in here and there. Lots of very clearly laid out flashback which make it easy to read and understand their story. But they are a part of a larger world with many of it's own problems and the writing balances out their personal story with the larger plot that is to be revealed in later books.
As a love story, Zael and Aniyah are believable characters and relatable at times, less so at other times for me personally. Here's what I loved and what I related to: Zael is a hopeless romantic. He knew he wanted to marry Aniyah from a young age (18) and nothing could shake his passion for her or his hope for their future. I like that he is so optimistic and I am definitely a hopeless romantic myself. He went through many hardships on his way to get back to her and he showed himself brave and strong. Aniyah was carefree and playful when she first fell in love with Zael at 18, and now five years later is far more cynical and jaded. She doesn't believe in love anymore. I understand the factors holding her back but when she does begin to fall in love with Zael again, I had a hard time with how she didn't express her feelings to him at all, but left him wondering what was going on in her mind. At times this part of their story was cute and allowed the characters opportunities to get close physically but at times she just seemed to be toying with him too much. He was nothing but kind and patient with her while she seemed to be leading him on. He did get frustrated by her (but not as frustrated as I was at her) and feel confused but he would quickly overcome those feelings and be back to his cheerful self in no time. I got annoyed with her for not admitting to herself and to him that she had strong feelings of attraction and affection for him. I also had empathy for him and wondered how he could continue to be so kind to her when she was drawing him in and pushing him away. Can any man be that patient? It was hard to imagine that being real. Like he is too good to be true. But I guess that's the point of writing a hero the way you want him to be and that's the point of reading - to escape reality. In reality the man would have gotten angry with her and pushed her away more I think. BUT...!! when Zael and Aniyah finally kissed it was worth the wait! They are good together. And when everything came to a climax at the end, lots of things in the story all started happening together. The adventure, the monsters, the danger and the love all collided in a huge climactic event at the end of the book that made the last few chapters impossible to put down. Very well written and yes, very much a dream man at that point. So brave. So focussed on his mission of winning her heart.
An interesting element of this book was that the main character was a musician and song-writer and some of his original song lyrics are included and repeated as a motif throughout the book. I've not seen this done before. It adds an element of poetry to the writing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes epic fantasy or romance or romantasy. But bear in mind, it's not a cookie-cutter story. It's got it's own unique feel to it and for that I respect it.
PS: There are very few swear words and nothing beyond kissing in the spice department - for those of you, like me, who may be wondering about such things. I appreciate this story as being a mature story without being full of swear words and things. It's not necessary and in my opinion detracts from the story. That's why I'm glad this book is lean on such things.
Now go read Meli F’s review of this book because I agree with everything she said. That’s a terrific review. 👍👍
July 15, 2025
This indie fantasy romance is a hidden gem of rich, slow-burning, and emotionally immersive. At its heart, it's a story of lost love, burning desire, and the kind of connection that survives time, distance, and the darkness of fate. But what begins as a personal quest for love quickly deepens into something far grander, a battle between ancient forces of good and evil that threatens the very world the characters call home.
The worldbuilding is simply stunning. From astronomy and gemstone lore to religious undercurrents and the deep roots of history, every detail feels intentional and alive. The author has created a layered universe filled with diverse races, cultures, and hidden truths, all of which unfold seamlessly through the journey.
Zael is the kind of hero that readers fall for instantly, he is loyal, golden-hearted, and endlessly patient. He’s a steady flame in a world teetering on chaos. Aniyah, our strong-willed and emotionally raw heroine, is both relatable and radiant, a perfect match to Zael's quiet strength. Their dynamic is beautifully written, full of tension and tenderness, and evolves in a way that feels deeply earned.
The story is much more than a romance; it’s a journey through prophecy, sacrifice, and the fight to reclaim not just love, but hope. As a reader, I was captivated by the depth of the characters, the richness of the lore, and the high-stakes adventure that ties it all together.
If you enjoy stories where love burns slow but deep, where ancient powers awaken and destinies are rewritten, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. A truly magical and emotional read.
The worldbuilding is simply stunning. From astronomy and gemstone lore to religious undercurrents and the deep roots of history, every detail feels intentional and alive. The author has created a layered universe filled with diverse races, cultures, and hidden truths, all of which unfold seamlessly through the journey.
Zael is the kind of hero that readers fall for instantly, he is loyal, golden-hearted, and endlessly patient. He’s a steady flame in a world teetering on chaos. Aniyah, our strong-willed and emotionally raw heroine, is both relatable and radiant, a perfect match to Zael's quiet strength. Their dynamic is beautifully written, full of tension and tenderness, and evolves in a way that feels deeply earned.
The story is much more than a romance; it’s a journey through prophecy, sacrifice, and the fight to reclaim not just love, but hope. As a reader, I was captivated by the depth of the characters, the richness of the lore, and the high-stakes adventure that ties it all together.
If you enjoy stories where love burns slow but deep, where ancient powers awaken and destinies are rewritten, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. A truly magical and emotional read.
July 30, 2025
Stargems, mythical creatures, disappearing cities, young love, mountain village taverns and a long trek through the wilderness. City of Skies contains everything you could ask for in a fantasy, romance novel. I received this ARC and honestly had no idea what I was walking into, as fantasy novels are outside of my usual genres. I was pleasantly surprised.
City of Skies is a multiple point of view, dual timeline, fantasy + adventure + romance novel about a handsome young pacifist bard traipsing through rugged mountainside lands with only a horse and guitar to keep him company while he searches for his lost love... It reads like a cozy romace novel but with the adventure, action and mythical aspects giving the story an intriguing edge and making it hard to put down.
Both main characters, Zael and Aniyah, were likeable and developed well over the course of the story. Romance plots tend to get repetitive and predictable but the memory loss was an interesting, unexpected twist. I was initially unsure how multiple points of view and time periods would flow but it was pretty seamless and the storylines came together well. The unexpected, added points of view towards the end could have been better blended in earlier into the story so they seemed less abrupt, however, they do add to the longterm plot and build up to a sequel.
Overall, the characters, the fantasy world and the storyline itself drew me in because of the excellent, descriptive writing style. Lastly, shout out to the author for filling the entire book with beautiful lyrics. I was so impressed by the songs themselves on top of the intriguing storyline.
City of Skies is a multiple point of view, dual timeline, fantasy + adventure + romance novel about a handsome young pacifist bard traipsing through rugged mountainside lands with only a horse and guitar to keep him company while he searches for his lost love... It reads like a cozy romace novel but with the adventure, action and mythical aspects giving the story an intriguing edge and making it hard to put down.
Both main characters, Zael and Aniyah, were likeable and developed well over the course of the story. Romance plots tend to get repetitive and predictable but the memory loss was an interesting, unexpected twist. I was initially unsure how multiple points of view and time periods would flow but it was pretty seamless and the storylines came together well. The unexpected, added points of view towards the end could have been better blended in earlier into the story so they seemed less abrupt, however, they do add to the longterm plot and build up to a sequel.
Overall, the characters, the fantasy world and the storyline itself drew me in because of the excellent, descriptive writing style. Lastly, shout out to the author for filling the entire book with beautiful lyrics. I was so impressed by the songs themselves on top of the intriguing storyline.
June 23, 2025
Elle Wither’s debut novel, City of Skies, sweeps readers into a vibrant medievalish fantasy world, a tapestry woven with cobblestone streets and the scent of woodsmoke. The story begins with a breathless escape, a frantic flight punctuated by the clang of metal and whispered anxieties, planting seeds of mystery that deepen the narrative's intrigue. Alaniyah, a bookish heroine vanishes, prompting the noble and romantic Zael on a desperate quest. Clad in a disguise suitable to that of a traveling bard, he searches for his lost love, his heart echoing the desires of his youth and choices he made. The story shifts between the battle-scarred present and a shadowy past, a romance blossoming amidst faded memories. Wither's straight-forward prose places you squarely in the heart of the swirling drama. Lyrical songs, like tinkling glasses and raucous laughter, weave through the narrative, pulling you into the smoky, dimly lit taverns, the scent of ale and sweat thick in the air, as Zael searches for the missing woman. With dragon worship and gem powers, the book has a whimsical fantasy pulse that gives it a strong, fairytale-like heartbeat suitable for readers of all ages. The author includes content warnings at the front of the book, so readers know what to expect before they dive in. Wither masters the writing craft by pulling back layers of the story chapter by chapter in a way that holds interest. Fantasy lovers should enjoy this novel. I received a complimentary copy from the author but was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
July 18, 2025
I really want to give this a 4.5, but alas… no half stars here. I definitely recommend reading this book if you enjoy fantasy. It was a charming tale and I am anxiously anticipating the sequel!
There may be some spoilers, so read on at your own risk!
I enjoyed this book, however my main criticism is the timeline. The POV not only switches between characters, but from time periods as well and left me feeling fragmented at times. This was most confusing when the FMC suddenly develops a type of amnesia. Overall, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.
The MMC, who has the majority of the POV, was a delightfully unique character. The intertwining of music throughout his story is innovative. I’m looking forward to the next installment to see how he grows, as well as how the relationship between MMC and FMC develops.
I enjoyed the world building. There are some remarkably fresh ideas the author has employed while maintaining a notable reminiscence of classic high fantasy literature. I do wish there was more explanation of the magic system woven into the story structure, but the included glossary and notes is very helpful.
The introduction of the villain seemed late in the story, even though the villain’s minions had been in the story from the beginning. I didn’t get a good rational of why these people were doing what they were doing, other than the generic power grab. I am trusting more will be revealed in the following book.
There may be some spoilers, so read on at your own risk!
I enjoyed this book, however my main criticism is the timeline. The POV not only switches between characters, but from time periods as well and left me feeling fragmented at times. This was most confusing when the FMC suddenly develops a type of amnesia. Overall, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.
The MMC, who has the majority of the POV, was a delightfully unique character. The intertwining of music throughout his story is innovative. I’m looking forward to the next installment to see how he grows, as well as how the relationship between MMC and FMC develops.
I enjoyed the world building. There are some remarkably fresh ideas the author has employed while maintaining a notable reminiscence of classic high fantasy literature. I do wish there was more explanation of the magic system woven into the story structure, but the included glossary and notes is very helpful.
The introduction of the villain seemed late in the story, even though the villain’s minions had been in the story from the beginning. I didn’t get a good rational of why these people were doing what they were doing, other than the generic power grab. I am trusting more will be revealed in the following book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
I cannot stop thinking about this book. Days later. It’s still living rent-free in my head.
we mostly get the story from Zael’s POV — which I loved. He’s carrying so much guilt over leaving Aniyah behind, and his determination to find her? It had me hooked.
But Aniyah… oh my god. Her character arc? Chef’s kiss. She goes from a pampered noblewoman to someone who’s survived five brutal years on her own. Elle never info-dumps her trauma — you feel how much she’s changed
Their reunion isn’t just a happy ever after — they have to start over, because they’re not the same people anymore. And that made it so real.
Elle’s writing is stunning. There’s this lyrical quality, and music is literally woven into the magic system. When Zael uses his bard disguise? It felt so authentic, like you could hear the songs.
The worldbuilding? Chef’s kiss again. Centaurions with their own society, dragons that actually feel ancient and terrifying, even the little monsters serve the plot instead of just popping up for fight scenes.
The Light-blessed gemstones magic system is so intricate but never confusing. This isn’t just romance — it’s prophecy, sacrifice, and a battle between ancient forces of good and evil.
And that ending… I’m already desperate for book two. If you love epic romantasy, beautiful prose, and character growth that feels earned — you need this on your TBR.
Elle Wither… I’ll read whatever you write next. 💫
we mostly get the story from Zael’s POV — which I loved. He’s carrying so much guilt over leaving Aniyah behind, and his determination to find her? It had me hooked.
But Aniyah… oh my god. Her character arc? Chef’s kiss. She goes from a pampered noblewoman to someone who’s survived five brutal years on her own. Elle never info-dumps her trauma — you feel how much she’s changed
Their reunion isn’t just a happy ever after — they have to start over, because they’re not the same people anymore. And that made it so real.
Elle’s writing is stunning. There’s this lyrical quality, and music is literally woven into the magic system. When Zael uses his bard disguise? It felt so authentic, like you could hear the songs.
The worldbuilding? Chef’s kiss again. Centaurions with their own society, dragons that actually feel ancient and terrifying, even the little monsters serve the plot instead of just popping up for fight scenes.
The Light-blessed gemstones magic system is so intricate but never confusing. This isn’t just romance — it’s prophecy, sacrifice, and a battle between ancient forces of good and evil.
And that ending… I’m already desperate for book two. If you love epic romantasy, beautiful prose, and character growth that feels earned — you need this on your TBR.
Elle Wither… I’ll read whatever you write next. 💫
June 21, 2025
I thought a lot about what I was going to say in this review. First you must know, I'm more of a dark romance reader and have been reading romantasy books just under a year now, so I'm still new-ish to it I would say.
I am used to a lot more fast paced books then this. This book is a killer of slow burn😅 if you want smut (maybe it will come in the others) but there is none is this but the build up!! my life!! it's going to be good... the way Aniyah and Zeal are together, it's the sweetest thing ever
I would say we mainly follow Zeal on his journey in this book. I struggled a little with all the back and forward through time but once you get to Aniyah's present time line, you realize it's information you do need. I love Claybourne - he's a feisty thing 🤣 he has such attitude, I just love him and then Canis comes along and made it even more better 😂
the world building in this book is very good and the way she writes, wow... I usually wait for the whole series to come out before I read them so the fact I've only got one of the books and it ended like that!!! is nearly killing me inside. I do look forward to the next one
I am used to a lot more fast paced books then this. This book is a killer of slow burn😅 if you want smut (maybe it will come in the others) but there is none is this but the build up!! my life!! it's going to be good... the way Aniyah and Zeal are together, it's the sweetest thing ever
I would say we mainly follow Zeal on his journey in this book. I struggled a little with all the back and forward through time but once you get to Aniyah's present time line, you realize it's information you do need. I love Claybourne - he's a feisty thing 🤣 he has such attitude, I just love him and then Canis comes along and made it even more better 😂
the world building in this book is very good and the way she writes, wow... I usually wait for the whole series to come out before I read them so the fact I've only got one of the books and it ended like that!!! is nearly killing me inside. I do look forward to the next one
June 28, 2025
City of Skies is a multi-pov, quest based fantasy with a heavy dash of second chance romance.
I loved that the author took the time to really build the world and give you an idea of how the magic system works before jumping into the action. She took the time to allow her readers to understand what the stakes were and how the world was set up, but still had the romantic storyline as the driving force behind the plot.
Having Zael, the male hero, be the most frequent point of view was really nice. Most romances and romantasies are from the female pov with a dash of male pov, and it’s refreshing to have a male protagonist given so much page time.
It leans more in the direction of a darker fantasy than a whimsical fantasy. There were some elements that were darker than I anticipated. The author has a trigger warning page before the start, so you can judge if the content is right for you. I can definitely sense the rest of the series progressively getting more gruesome and more suggestive as the series continues.
Thank you to the author a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by any outside sources.
I loved that the author took the time to really build the world and give you an idea of how the magic system works before jumping into the action. She took the time to allow her readers to understand what the stakes were and how the world was set up, but still had the romantic storyline as the driving force behind the plot.
Having Zael, the male hero, be the most frequent point of view was really nice. Most romances and romantasies are from the female pov with a dash of male pov, and it’s refreshing to have a male protagonist given so much page time.
It leans more in the direction of a darker fantasy than a whimsical fantasy. There were some elements that were darker than I anticipated. The author has a trigger warning page before the start, so you can judge if the content is right for you. I can definitely sense the rest of the series progressively getting more gruesome and more suggestive as the series continues.
Thank you to the author a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by any outside sources.
July 29, 2025
Thank you Elle for the ARC <3
Spoiler free comments:
This book tells the story of Zael, who after tragedy is convinced to recover his lost love. The amount of yearning this man does for Aniyah is borderline criminal. Most of the book is written from his point of view, which is a refreshing change. I spent the first half giggling and sighing through the chapters as they began to fall in love. (My fav part of the whole book)
Aniyah is a young, free spirit, in love with books and fantasy stories, convinced that the only man she would ever marry has to be one straight out of her books (aren’t we all?). But when she meets Zael, a redhead with a gift for music and an easygoing charm... she begins to discover that maybe, just maybe... love could be more than fiction after all.
City of Skies (I love the name btw) is a sloooooooow burn centered around a miscommunication trope that intensifies in the second half (Not a big fan here tbh). The system magic is imo new and refreshing, I can wait to see what the second book bring us world-building wise.
I love the writing style, and my endlessly romantic heart thrived while reading this.
Spoiler free comments:
This book tells the story of Zael, who after tragedy is convinced to recover his lost love. The amount of yearning this man does for Aniyah is borderline criminal. Most of the book is written from his point of view, which is a refreshing change. I spent the first half giggling and sighing through the chapters as they began to fall in love. (My fav part of the whole book)
Aniyah is a young, free spirit, in love with books and fantasy stories, convinced that the only man she would ever marry has to be one straight out of her books (aren’t we all?). But when she meets Zael, a redhead with a gift for music and an easygoing charm... she begins to discover that maybe, just maybe... love could be more than fiction after all.
City of Skies (I love the name btw) is a sloooooooow burn centered around a miscommunication trope that intensifies in the second half (Not a big fan here tbh). The system magic is imo new and refreshing, I can wait to see what the second book bring us world-building wise.
I love the writing style, and my endlessly romantic heart thrived while reading this.
June 21, 2025
I was so excited to get an ARC of City of Skies by Elle Wither. This is her first novel in The Stargem Chronicles which will be available on KU and in paperback on September 1, 2025. I devoured this book in just shy of two days. I’m rating this 4.25 ⭐️ Elle Wither has painted a beautiful picture of the world this story takes place in so it was easy to follow along. The world building was done in such a way that it was easy to digest, understand and visualize. This story is more from the POV of the MMC who is basically a love story struck golden retriever who would go to the ends of the earth to find his love. The character growth from him was lovely to see. The chemistry between both the MMC and the FMC was felt and I could not help but route for them to get their HEA. This story did slow down a tad for me at about the 65% mark for a short while and picked up again towards the end. I’m definitely invested in this story, world and the characters so I will be anxiously waiting for the second book in The Stargem Chronicles to be released.
June 28, 2025
I had the privilege to be an arc reader for Elle Wither’s debut book the City of Skies, book one in the Stargem Chronicles.
The magic system is refreshing and not something you see in other books within this genre.
The world building does take some time, same as the love story as this is definitely a slow burn, but it allows you to understand the situations our main characters are in and how the magic works within their world before diving into the action.
We follow our MMC Zael throughout the story as he travels the continent looking for his lost love Anniyah. It was nice to have the story told through the MMC as it’s usually through the FMC. We get glimpses of Anniyah through her memories leading up to the downfall of her people, and more when she is reunited with Zael. I look forward to seeing how they grow throughout the series. I also look forward to more time with our sassy horse Claybourne 🐴.
I rate this book a 4 star ⭐️
The City of Skies will be released on Kindle Unlimited September 1st 2025!
The magic system is refreshing and not something you see in other books within this genre.
The world building does take some time, same as the love story as this is definitely a slow burn, but it allows you to understand the situations our main characters are in and how the magic works within their world before diving into the action.
We follow our MMC Zael throughout the story as he travels the continent looking for his lost love Anniyah. It was nice to have the story told through the MMC as it’s usually through the FMC. We get glimpses of Anniyah through her memories leading up to the downfall of her people, and more when she is reunited with Zael. I look forward to seeing how they grow throughout the series. I also look forward to more time with our sassy horse Claybourne 🐴.
I rate this book a 4 star ⭐️
The City of Skies will be released on Kindle Unlimited September 1st 2025!
October 1, 2025
This is a very good read and I highly recommend.
The world and characters that Elle Wither's has created are top notch. The two main characters are well-fleshed out and it's very easy to find empathy with them and care about their fates. The Adarian's, the bad guys, are very unlikeable and are a good foil for the good guy and girl.
The main antagonist leaves me a bit disappointed. She should be a despicable iron fist but I found her to be a wet paper bag and non-threatening. Perhaps she will get her spotlight in a subsequent book in the series?
Now, if you are really into action packed fantasy with epic battles and lots of body parts being loped off and blood and gore everywhere - you will be a bit disappointed. This is a romance/fantasy and the emphasis being on the romance. A good comparison would be The Mortal Instruments series.
So, even though the protagonist has yet to find her voice, this is an excellent novel from page to page and I can't wait for book two.
The world and characters that Elle Wither's has created are top notch. The two main characters are well-fleshed out and it's very easy to find empathy with them and care about their fates. The Adarian's, the bad guys, are very unlikeable and are a good foil for the good guy and girl.
The main antagonist leaves me a bit disappointed. She should be a despicable iron fist but I found her to be a wet paper bag and non-threatening. Perhaps she will get her spotlight in a subsequent book in the series?
Now, if you are really into action packed fantasy with epic battles and lots of body parts being loped off and blood and gore everywhere - you will be a bit disappointed. This is a romance/fantasy and the emphasis being on the romance. A good comparison would be The Mortal Instruments series.
So, even though the protagonist has yet to find her voice, this is an excellent novel from page to page and I can't wait for book two.
July 11, 2025
City of Skies delivers a fun fantasy read that combines good world-building with a heartfelt romance that will leave you ready for book 2.
The story follows Aniyah, the FMC, who is a dreamer with a fabulous life, with everything she could have ever wanted. Until it wasn’t. The relationship that developed between Aniyah and Zael (MMC) was so much fun. In the beginning, it was great. In the end, it was even better! You could tell their chemistry was real from the very beginning, and I ate it up. Most of the book occurs when Zael and Aniyah are apart, which allows you to get to know each individually which I thought was great. I especially loved Claybourne and was devastated when he was hurt. Overall, this was a great read with lots of world building but a great amount of banter and character building as well. By the end of the book, I was hooked and can’t wait for book 2!
The story follows Aniyah, the FMC, who is a dreamer with a fabulous life, with everything she could have ever wanted. Until it wasn’t. The relationship that developed between Aniyah and Zael (MMC) was so much fun. In the beginning, it was great. In the end, it was even better! You could tell their chemistry was real from the very beginning, and I ate it up. Most of the book occurs when Zael and Aniyah are apart, which allows you to get to know each individually which I thought was great. I especially loved Claybourne and was devastated when he was hurt. Overall, this was a great read with lots of world building but a great amount of banter and character building as well. By the end of the book, I was hooked and can’t wait for book 2!
August 24, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5
I really enjoyed this book. It’s about Zael’s journey through cities seized by the Adarians. He struggled countless times just to reach Aniyah. I loved his yearning, his patience, and his courage. I don't remember how many times death was about to swallow him but he refused to surrender. What kept him alive were her memories.
"Aniyah, I’m not giving up."
The worldbuilding was amazing. Magical creatures like centaurs, faeries, dragons, and dwarves made the story even more beautiful. I especially loved the concept of stargems- each with unique powers, guided by light against darkness.
Aniyah was a strong character. At times, her actions felt a little unbelievable, but she overcame her greatest fears and endured her own struggles throughout the journey.
This story felt like a spark of hope in the midst of disaster- a tale of love over hatred, and endurance before surrender- capturing the essence of true love
I would like to thank the author for this amazing ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s about Zael’s journey through cities seized by the Adarians. He struggled countless times just to reach Aniyah. I loved his yearning, his patience, and his courage. I don't remember how many times death was about to swallow him but he refused to surrender. What kept him alive were her memories.
"Aniyah, I’m not giving up."
The worldbuilding was amazing. Magical creatures like centaurs, faeries, dragons, and dwarves made the story even more beautiful. I especially loved the concept of stargems- each with unique powers, guided by light against darkness.
Aniyah was a strong character. At times, her actions felt a little unbelievable, but she overcame her greatest fears and endured her own struggles throughout the journey.
This story felt like a spark of hope in the midst of disaster- a tale of love over hatred, and endurance before surrender- capturing the essence of true love
I would like to thank the author for this amazing ARC.
September 5, 2025
ARC review
3.75 rounded to 4 stars
What an enchanting read! I could not believe that this was a debut novel, as it reads so well that it feels you are reading an established author. It was very well written with good storytelling.
There is good world building and the magic system is unique.
I liked that the story was mainly written from the MMC POV and you can really feel the pining and yearning.
Talk about a slow-burn! My main criticism is that it was a bit too slow.
The first half was great, the second half became a bit repetitive and the ending felt rushed.
The few chapters from characters other than the two MMC and FMC felt out of place.
I would have liked more backstory about the villain as the information is quite sparse. Perhaps there will be more in the second book.
I would definitely read the second book as I’m intrigued to see where this goes.
3.75 rounded to 4 stars
What an enchanting read! I could not believe that this was a debut novel, as it reads so well that it feels you are reading an established author. It was very well written with good storytelling.
There is good world building and the magic system is unique.
I liked that the story was mainly written from the MMC POV and you can really feel the pining and yearning.
Talk about a slow-burn! My main criticism is that it was a bit too slow.
The first half was great, the second half became a bit repetitive and the ending felt rushed.
The few chapters from characters other than the two MMC and FMC felt out of place.
I would have liked more backstory about the villain as the information is quite sparse. Perhaps there will be more in the second book.
I would definitely read the second book as I’m intrigued to see where this goes.
July 2, 2025
I was an arc reader for this book and I was curious about how Elle Wither described the book to me. It’s several POVs but mainly Zael’s POV, the main male character. Imagine Jamie Fraser from Outlander (in sexy red haired looks, charm and gentleman behavior) with Wheel of Time (quest, search for someone and power system). The first half of the book goes back and forth in time, as in present day and past 5 years ago, retelling how Zael and Aniyah met. There is world building like no other, magic system with several creatures, stargems, abilities, and even dragons. The book starts with a harsh raid throughout towns and villages which destroys everything and everyone. For those who survived where left with trauma and being lost in a new world order. Zael lost Aniyah in all of this war and after 5 years he decides to follow his instinct and try to find her all over the continent. Mission to find his lost, almost bethoyred, love of his life. Only to find her and she has no recollection of him. It’s a whole journey to follow Zael’s search for her and to get her memories back. Love it!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2025
I just want to say thank you for the ARC! And this my comments are all based on my opinions alone.
I loved this! Definitely a hidden gem I just stumbled into in search of more books to get into. The world building is fantastic. It is definitely a very sloooow burn but the yearning in this makes it sooo worth it and the book is honestly just refreshing. I loved the attention to detail throughout all the characters in the book! It's one of the reasons I even loved the Empyrean Series. So if you love books like Fourth Wing you will definitely love this book!
It's honestly nice to finally have more of an MMC POV as well so the change of pace compared to other romantasies is nice. I give this book 4.5 stars!
I loved this! Definitely a hidden gem I just stumbled into in search of more books to get into. The world building is fantastic. It is definitely a very sloooow burn but the yearning in this makes it sooo worth it and the book is honestly just refreshing. I loved the attention to detail throughout all the characters in the book! It's one of the reasons I even loved the Empyrean Series. So if you love books like Fourth Wing you will definitely love this book!
It's honestly nice to finally have more of an MMC POV as well so the change of pace compared to other romantasies is nice. I give this book 4.5 stars!
August 3, 2025
I had the honor of being an arc reader for City of Skies.
The world-building is expertly executed.
It wasn't too much to drown out the story but was necessary to understand the changes that have happened over the last 5 years.
The first half of the book is laid out perfectly with alternating chapters between present and past timelines, it helped me understand the relationship between Zael and Aniyah, and why he was trying so hard to find her.
The twist in the middle is good; it definitely caught me off guard.
This book ended on a cliffhanger that has left me wanting more.
By the end of the book, I had many questions, but I am hopeful that they will be answered in subsequent books, as this is the first in the series.
I'm giving this book 4.5 ⭐️
Definitely a slow burn but it was good.
The world-building is expertly executed.
It wasn't too much to drown out the story but was necessary to understand the changes that have happened over the last 5 years.
The first half of the book is laid out perfectly with alternating chapters between present and past timelines, it helped me understand the relationship between Zael and Aniyah, and why he was trying so hard to find her.
The twist in the middle is good; it definitely caught me off guard.
This book ended on a cliffhanger that has left me wanting more.
By the end of the book, I had many questions, but I am hopeful that they will be answered in subsequent books, as this is the first in the series.
I'm giving this book 4.5 ⭐️
Definitely a slow burn but it was good.
August 12, 2025
This was such a great introduction into a world that is no longer what it was. We start off with the FMC and MMC becoming friends, the relationship growing and then their world is turned upside-down. Aniyah is forced from her home into a world she has to learn to navigate. Zael also left his homeland, but their lives were on different paths. Once Zael was able he swore to travel the world to find Aniyah, did he? You will have to read this epic Fantasy/Romantasy to find out. This is a world of creatures and evil armies, a world where people are not valued the same. There is magic by gemstones and constellations. The ending leaves you needing book 2. What an amazing read . Dual POV and Dual Timeline.
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