Sisters of the Lizard

The Rakada #2

by Jackson Ford

'AWESOME. MASTERFULLY EXECUTED. FREQUENTLY HILARIOUS' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld on The Bone Raiders

Following The Bone Raiders comes the next thrilling new novel set in the world of the an edge-of-your-seat, action‑packed epic fantasy series, where a wild band of raiders harness the power of gigantic, fire-breathing lizards to defend their homeland.

All Sayana wanted was to enjoy her life in the rolling grasslands of the Tapestry. After she and her fellow Rakada managed to ride humongous fire-breathing lizards to face down the Great Khan's army, they should have been able to kick back a little for once. Not too much to ask, right?

Instead, the Tapestry is in turmoil - invading armies threaten, the other raider clans are at war, and inside his fortress city of Karkorum, the Khan broods and plots. What's more, the Rakada's giant lizards are getting sick, and they have no idea how to cure them. If they die, there's no telling what might happen to the Tapestry.

But then the Rakada receive a vision - apparently from the gods. A deep emerald pool surrounded by bone-white sands - one that may be able to heal their lizards. With no other option, the raiders set out on an epic quest across the mountains and into the desert.

But the danger that awaits them will be one greater than they've ever faced before. These guys really can't catch a break.

Praise for the Rakada

'A ton of fun. The premise is awesome, the found-family dynamic is masterfully executed, the dialogue is wicked-sharp and frequently hilarious' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

'Ford begins this new series with quirky characters, loads of great action sequences, and his trademark brand of humour' Booklist

'The Bone Raiders is a relentlessly cheeky, ofttimes unserious, and undisputedly rip-roaring bit of fantasy that can only be written by Jackson Ford. Badass female protagonists, found family, and giant lizards - what more do you need? Add this one to your TBR. I fully guarantee you'll be entertained' FanFiAddict

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, High Fantasy, Adult, Epic Fantasy, LGBT

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

Jackson Ford is the author of The Frost Files series, including The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind and Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air). He may or may not be the alter ego of author Rob Boffard, but he is definitely 100% a jackass.

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t believe I got another of my most anticipated reads as an ARC! Seriously NetGalley & the publishers - THANK YOU SO MUCH

« Your father should have shouted to the world about you. »

4.25✨

Wow, what a read! Sisters of the Lizard picks up a short while after the events of The Bone Raiders and brings you on an unstoppable and epic ride.

I’ve said this in my review for the first book and I’ll say it again : this author loves & respects women and it just shines through the pages. You can see how much he loves his characters, and he succeeds in making you love them as much as he does.

Hogelun was my favourite in this sequel. I couldn’t get enough of her! The character development was wild and she just kept on getting so much better. I loved that we got more of her povs in this sequel and that she was a central point to the story. Khun & Sayana seemed to be stuck in a flight mode in this sequel - they were avoidant and I liked how the author depicted this very differently for both of them.

I didn’t expect the storyline to go into such a religious theme but I liked how it ended and the direction it ended up taking. It’s definitely way darker than the first instalment. There’s a lot of things I didn’t see coming and I was sad by certain directions and things that happened but I love how the author just pulls on your heartstrings and makes you want to read the next one immediately.

« A little embarrassed at how much she wanted her lizard to survive more than she did Sarena. »

🎶 Peacefield - Ghost 🎶

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great being back in the Tapestry with the Rakada ladies and their Araatan.

This time around the land’s two Gods are front and centre, and there was a lot more religion and lore involved which was interesting, but also a bit wearisome at times too.

Loved Crazy Khun, seeing Hogs become more decisive, and Erhi getting her dues. I didn’t think we really needed Jai or his father in the story- he was just a bit too weird for me to like him at all.

I will say that at some points, the characters drove me a bit mad with their slowness in getting through the mountains (literally life or death situation happening here, let’s hustle!!!); when they were faffing around I was literally yelling at the book.

This second book was full of battles, heartache, strong warriors, fire breathing giant lizard babies, and adventure, everything you’d want in a female driven fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Orbit Books for a copy!

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 5.0 stars.

I had the best time with book 2 and it equally captured my attention as much as book 1 did. The follow up to book 1 lands us back in the tapestry with chaos unfolding due to a tenuous balancing act of resisting the khan’s forces, uncooperative raiders and other kingdoms. We get new characters that really pulled on my heartstrings and we see the consequences of betrayal.

I’m so invested in these characters and the lizards they seem to have bonded with. I feel like the bone raiders are a little lost in this book now there are less of them and how much they’ve sacrificed for the tapestry. Book 2 pushes them into new and horribly dangerous challenges that are life and death, but it honestly does seem like just another day in the tapestry.

I’m keen to see where the next book takes us after the ending of book 2, I feel like we’ve only just scratched the surface on the chaos and magic of this found family bunch.

[Molly G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t even begin to put into words how much I enjoyed this book and how badly I need the third one.

Sisters of the Lizard picks up after the events of The Bone Raiders and follows the Rakada as they grapple with a changed Tapestry. When they receive a vision from the gods, the raiders must travel across the Tapestry to save their lizards from the sickness slowly overtaking them.

Truly amazing storytelling with just enough action and emotional plot. I was CRYING (all caps, no brakes) during the last 10% and I can’t wait to see where the third book goes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and the author for an eARC in exchange for my thoughts.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Rakada series. I loved this, but I need to think about it for a while before reviewing.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

After everything the Rakada had been through over the last few months, their Araatan facing possible extinction was the very last thing that had crossed the women's minds, but that was exactly what they were facing. It started with their fire going out, then their tails started turning black and falling off, white growths appeared in their mouths and according to another raider who came across the body of a wild one death was the inevitable outcome. With the four remaining Rakada each having their own mount now this is simply not something they are willing to accept even if they haven't the first clue on how to save them. One evening each of them has a dream, a vision really, Father Sky shows them a place in the desert where they can be saved the women just have to make the journey, to a place they've never been with four sick araatan. Even knowing there is distinct possibility they'll never make it, they set off knowing they never really had a choice. What they don't know is they've just entered into a battle between gods because while Father Sky may want to save the araatan, Earth Mother wants them dead.

The very first thing I thought when I started reading this is "so help me ever god ever if the lizards die, I will throw my Kindle into traffic!" You all have no freaking clear how very spot on to the entire book that whole statement was.

To start this review I really have to backtrack to the first book, because whatever I thought this series was going to be about from that first book is absolutely not it. I genuinely pictured this to be some warring fantasy novel where the Rakada organize the rest of the raider clans get them all up on araatan and take out the Khan. That is absolutely not remotely the direction this went in. Oh sure the Khan is in it but quite frankly he's the least of their concerns. Who their real concern is, is Erhi. Erhi figured after she betrayed the Rakada that she would be rewarded greatly by the Khan or at least some higher up in the military. That did not happen, she literally becomes a grunt in the military isn't even allowed to be a healer and since Erhi is the biggest narcissist ever, as far as she is concerned, it's all the Rakada's fault. Since she gets the same vision as the rest of the Rakada due to her connection to the araatan she makes it her life goal to do the one thing she knows that will hurt them the most; ensure the araatan die. Of course, she just happens to meet up with a man who has been "called on" by Mother Earth to help destroy Father Sky. This is where Erhi really truly goes sideways, because while her narcissism is evident before she sets out on her trek to kill the araatan and utterly destroy the Rakada it's there but it's kind of that whiny narcissism, if you've ever met a narcissist you'll know what I'm talking about. The "it's everyone's else fault" but since she has no where to really point that blame while she's stuck doing absolutely nothing for the army that's all it is. It's all it would have stayed too if she had never left the military. Unfortunately for the Rakada but fortunately for readers because she is 100% one of those villains you will love because you hate her so much, she leaves and the closer she gets to them the more absolutely insane she gets. Her narcissism grows worse and worse and by the end she genuinely truly believes that not only has she not done anything wrong even though she's caused the death of probably hundreds thanks to her actions, she feels like she's owed for this. I am not going to go to far into it because I'll end up giving way too much away, and yeah I am going to use a video game reference here, but ya know the bombs on Final Fantasy where every time you hit them they get bigger until they explode? Yeah, that was Erhi except she just kept hitting herself and no matter why she had hit herself she decided that it was the Rakada's fault, but especially Hogelun's and the worst part the absolute f*cking worst part is that the araatan were just collateral damage. Hell, everyone that isn't the Rakada and Hogelun is and the end she does something so gods damned despicable that had there been even a hint of redemption or forgiveness on anyone of the Rakada's part regarding her I would have really thrown my Kindle.

Whew, that was such a lot on one character but I'm telling you all right now that oh is she one of my top 10 most hated characters ever. She may be even slimier than Seymour from FFX. Yup, I said that. The reason why though was really freaking simple, the Rakada are truly four of the greatest damn women ever written. For every minute of hatred I felt for Erhi my heart burst with absolute love for these wonderful imperfect women who omg fought so much but always, always had each other's back, who always, always loved each other unconditionally. Who risked their lives over and over again to save a bunch of damn lizards. Wonderful, beautiful lizards who made me cry numerous times throughout this book. And oh I want plushies NOW!! This book is from Hogelun and Sayana's POV again in terms of the Rakada and honestly both of them broke my damn heart and made so proud simultaneously. Sayana especially, that girl does not give herself enough credit, ever. She is so freaking bright and I think she's the only one that really never sees it, but more than that, the lengths she's willing to go to are just, well for her their perfect and understandable, but for the rest of us, would we be willing to make the sacrifices she makes? Probably not. Hogelun grows so much in this one too and yeah right up until the very end of this book just leaps and bounds. She's got PTSD from Erhi and she recognizes that even if she doesn't name it as such, so she is watching her araatan die while she's struggling with finding herself after an emotionally abusive relationship and the fact that she only stops and just screams once is absolutely astonishing to me. Again, so damn proud of her.

I am not going to go into Jai, not fully, because honestly, I just can't but just know whatever you think of him when you meet him, he is absolutely wonderful.

I almost cried so many times throughout this book. Genuinely there were so many times when I was like "nope, I can't do this anymore, how the hell could it possibly keep going so f*cking wrong for these women who I absolutely adore." But it wasn't till the end and I think a lot of people will know it when they get to it, that I just couldn't anymore. Between the near misses with the araatan (so many), the fact that one of Princess's babies does actually die (the babies are not the araatan that the Rakada raise, a bit of a spoiler there but important given that last statement), Erhi's explosion into just straight up madness, Sayana's sacrifices (that does not mean what you think), Hogelun trying to keep it together, Chimeg trying to keep them all together, and Khun actually not being Khun, there is a point where I realized I think I had kept all of these emotions going to be able to just get through it because omigoodness there are so many times when I thought that this was the end, no way were they getting out of this mess. My one big spoiler here will be that they do mostly get out and that cry at the end was just as much mourning for what was lost as for what was found.

Highly recommend this series. Honestly, after the first book I genuinely thought this was going to be a fun fantasy adventure and Jackson just shot that all to hell in the best possible way with book two. Easily, easily one of my favorite series ever.

As always thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eArc!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson Ford has done it again! A stunningly unique fantasy with badass warrior women and fire-breathing lizards?! Truly, I could not ask for more.

Catching up with our lovely lizard ladies shortly after the ending of book 1, things are tense for the Rakada. Despite carving a place for themselves in the Tapestry, the raiders face challenges from all angles: the Khan’s forces, rival clans, invading armies, and now, the araatan are starting to get sick. With their lizards unable to breathe fire and rotting before their eyes, the Rakada suddenly receive a vision from Father Sky himself, showing a divine, emerald-green pool in the middle of the desert, supposedly able to heal the lizards. With no other options, the raiders embark on a quest through the mountains and desert to save their beloved companions. However, every Bone Raider received the vision, including Erhi, the betrayer who sold them out to the Khan, and she is hellbent on reaching the pool first to destroy their only salvation.

Good grief this series is so much fun!!! It’s definitely heavier than The Bone Raiders, but I enjoyed it just as much. The first book had a feeling of setting things up for the next installments, and here, we get to see so much of that payoff. Each of the Rakada has their own bonded lizard with a unique personality, and I thoroughly enjoyed the animal companionship featured here. Not to mention, the politics of the world are fascinating, previous tensions reach a boiling point, and each character has their own motivations and goals to make things especially juicy.

The found family aspect was my favorite part. Sayana, Hogelun, Chimeg, and Khun are such a chaotic but somehow well-functioning group, and I loved the banter throughout. I feel like I read most books with an RBF but this somehow cracked open my cold, dead heart and made me laugh multiple times. On the opposite end of happy emotions, this book isn’t afraid of hurting your feelings either. The Rakada are my girls, and it was a gut punch to see them at their breaking point and under so much pressure. Not that this is a bad thing! I thought the stakes and build-up were excellent, and it made that final confrontation all the better.

The only thing that brought down my rating was the pacing. Again, the stakes are so high, and I was dying to know how the Rakada would persevere, which made the reading experience very frustrating each time there was a random setback. This was sort of addressed towards the end of the book and actually got tied into a plot point, but still, it did bring down my enjoyment a fair bit. I would have preferred if a few of these roadblocks had been cut, but that might just be a me problem.

Also, important thing to note! There are a lot of animals in pain and being injured in this book. There are also two tense battle scenes where an animal dies, which are described in detail and very heavy moments. It’s never done in a gratuitous way and I didn’t feel like the author was including it just to get a rise out of the reader. It’s (unfortunately) very well-done and vital to the story being told. It didn’t bother me too much or affect my rating, but I do imagine others would like to avoid this content.

I actually think I may prefer this book to the first! It’s hard to say, they’re both super solid and complement each other so well. As with the first, I highly recommend this series if you enjoy epic fantasy, found family tropes, and animal companionship, with the caveat that if animal death/pain is upsetting to you, this may be a skip. Really looking forward to the next book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Jackson Ford, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of Sisters of the Lizard in exchange for my honest review.

Sisters of the Lizard is the second book in The Rakada series. This book takes place several months after the conclusion of The Bone Raiders. Now that they have gained control over the Tapestry from the Khan, the Rakada have taken the unexpected role of policing the Tapestry. However, that is just a blip in this story because when their giant lizards get sick and they receive this mysterious vision, they go out on a quest to save their beasts.

Unfortunately, I did not love this book as much as I loved The Bone Raiders. Don't get me wrong, it was still well-written. However, this book is clearly just a way to get the plot from conflict a to conflict b. The policing the tapestry becomes such a minor issue, however by the end of the book after they have gone on this adventure, it is clear it will be one of the central conflicts of the next book. I know in series there needs to be at least one book that more focuses on moving the conflict along to get to the major showdown that typically takes place at the end. I just wish it was not so obvious from the start that this is what the book is trying to do.

This book does have some things going for it though. There continues to be multiple POVS and the character development (whether their development is for the better or worse I will not say) was outstanding. I could see how much each of these characters were growing or changing because of the challenges that they were facing. I can see noticeable differences in the characters and that is something I always love to see in books. The writing and the overall world-building were also great. We got to see more of this world and learn more about different nations and somewhat more about the different political atmospheres that occur in other nations. I loved learning more about what is going on in this world and who the major players might be. While the plot was a bit of a letdown for me, I do not want to take away all the good that comes from this book. Even though I was not the biggest fan of this book clearly being more of a filler book, I am beyond excited for book 3. I loved loved loved The Bone Raiders and I am trying to keep in mind that even though I did not love this one nearly as much, it does not mean I will not love book 3. It is very possible that my expectations for this book were higher because of my love for book one. It is also possible that when I read book 3 the importance of this book will become more apparent to me and I will appreciate it all the more. Overall, if you loved book one this is definitely worth the read and this series as a whole is a great introduction to epic fantasy for those who are curious about the genre.

[Baccata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Sisters of the Lizard with quite high expectations - and ended up somewhere between excitement, frustration and emotional exhaustion.

The story picks up shortly after the first book and plunges you straight back into chaos: rival clans, the Khan, looming wars - and above all the ailing Araatan, who suddenly can no longer breathe fire and are slowly wasting away. When the Rakada receive a divine vision of a healing, emerald-green pool, a desperate journey through desert and mountains begins, in which absolutely everything is at stake. This plot alone had me hooked straight away.

What still works best for me is the basic concept: a rugged, Mongolian-inspired world, badass female warriors and their giant lizards. Plus that found family vibe that keeps coming through. I particularly liked the dynamics within the group, even though they’re put to the test far more here. There’s plenty of conflict, plenty of pressure, plenty of emotional breakdowns...and at the same time, there’s humour that lightens the mood time and again (even if it didn’t always land for me).

Overall, the book is significantly darker and more intense than the first instalment. The scenes involving the suffering animals in particular were at times really hard to read and really hit home for me. Sometimes, I got a bit too angry about that. At the same time, however, this is precisely what creates high stakes and some truly powerful, painful moments.

What did cause me some problems, however, was the pacing. The journey drags in places, mainly due to the many setbacks, and I often felt that the story only really picked up pace in the final third. On top of that, I never quite got as emotionally invested as I would have liked: some characters and relationships remained a bit too superficial for me, and the antagonist also came across as rather one-dimensional.
Nevertheless: it’s loud, chaotic, emotional and, at times, truly gripping. I laughed, I was stressed, and towards the end it definitely hurt, even if not every blow landed squarely on target for me.

All in all, I liked the second volume slightly less than the first, but I still see wasted potential. The idea is brilliant, but the execution is a bit hit and miss (is that a thing?) for me. Anyone who enjoys action-packed, emotional fantasy with found families and animal companions, and can cope with a rather uneven pace, will probably have a lot of fun here. Just be prepared for the fact that it can also be quite painful. Read the trigger warnings.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this eArc early! <3

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

OH MY GOD this is one of the most stressful books I've read in a very long time. So to answer the big question: Do any of the main lizards die? Yes. One of them dies. As far as having an animal death, I think Ford was very deliberate here in not naming the araatan that dies, and not characterizing it as much as he does the other three, so we're not as attached to it as we are to Princess, Tooth Monster, and Sponge Bath., and its death ends up fitting in with the narrative rather than just being a tragic event along the way. But it's still sad.

Okay, so. If you are expecting more of the first book, this is not it. This is much darker than the first book; animal suffering is RIFE here and it was so, so agonizing to read. It feels like Ford was doing the writing exercise where every time you stop, you go "What's the worst thing that could happen to these characters right now?" and then did that. It felt like it bordered on misery porn at some points--and yet with a mix of humor that wouldn't be out of place in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Does it work? Most of the time, yes, but sometimes things are just so. Incredibly. Bleak. I honestly almost DNF'd this at multiple points, despite having liked the first one so much, because I wasn't sure I could take more suffering. It was done very masterfully, but I did not enjoy it at all. (Yes, I know that is clearly the point, and yet it being so bad that I almost quit reading it multiple times is A Lot.)

This book also has straight-up magic in it; I can't remember if the first book did or not, but if it did, it wasn't very present, and there's a big "Yeah that's magic" thing going on here.

The character work continues to be done very well in this volume. I feel like a man writing an almost full cast of female characters, and doing it so well, is very rare and deserves to be applauded, so there you go. All of them continue to be written with nuance and layers, and in this book all of them are feeling somewhat adrift in their own ways, and Ford does a very good job of depicting that for both the POV characters and the non-POV ones.

The story has a very satisfying conclusion that can work as either a stop for a duology, or a jumping off point for another book. I wouldn't be surprised either way. That conclusion is what really propels my high rating here; it needed it in order to bring up the tragedy of the rest of the book. But in the end I felt like everything came together really well.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Sisters of the Lizard with pretty high expectations after how much I loved The Bone Raiders, and overall this was a strong, emotional follow-up that really expands the world and raises the stakes. This is the second book in The Rakada series, and now the Tapestry is in complete turmoil: invading armies, raider clans fighting each other, and the looming threat of the Khan. On top of that, the Rakada’s bonded giant lizards, the araatan, are mysteriously falling ill, and no one knows how to save them. When all the Rakada receive a shared vision from the gods of an emerald pool, white sand, and the promise “you can save them all” - they’re forced into a dangerous journey across mountains and desert with everything on the line.

I absolutely loved being back with these characters. Seeing each of the raiders now bonded with their own araatan added so much character, and the found family dynamic continues to be one of my favorite parts of this series. That said, it’s really tested here - everyone is pushed to their limits, tensions are high, and the constant bickering made the journey feel even more real and strained. Jackson Ford still manages to weave in moments of humor, which helped balance things out, but this is definitely a heavier, more brutal installment.

The hardest part of this book, for me, was watching the araatan suffer. The Rakada fought so hard for them, and seeing them sick, unable to breathe fire, and struggling through the journey made this a genuinely tough read at times. The new characters introduced were a great addition and helped keep things fresh, but the overall tone stays pretty intense.

I will say the pacing felt a bit uneven - it took a while to really get going, and with how many setbacks the raiders face, it sometimes felt exhausting to push through. But that ending? Absolutely devastating. It hit hard, and I was sobbing more than once.

Overall, I’m giving Sisters of the Lizard 4.25 stars. It’s an emotional, high-stakes continuation that leans darker than the first book, with a strong focus on survival, loyalty, and sacrifice. I definitely recommend this series if you love epic fantasy with found family and animal companions - just be prepared, this one hurts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to review this eARC!

I’ll be honest — I finished this mostly feeling relieved to be done.

After being pretty underwhelmed by book one, I was really hoping the sequel would deepen things a bit. And I did end up enjoying this one more overall, mainly because the pacing is better. Especially toward the last ~20%, where it finally feels like the story actually kicks into gear. It just… takes a while to get there.

One of my biggest issues is still the character work. They didn’t really gain more depth here, and the relationships still felt pretty surface-level, which made it hard for me to feel fully invested in what was happening. The humor also didn’t really land for me this time around — it kind of lost the novelty it had in the beginning of book one.

The villain was probably the most frustrating part. Her whole motivation is very revenge-driven, but it never felt particularly nuanced. It came across more like she was just determined to make things worse for everyone out of spite, rather than from anything more layered or complex. So the central conflict ended up feeling flatter than I wanted it to.

The worldbuilding expands a little — mostly confirming that gods are actively meddling — but beyond that it still felt pretty surface-level to me. Which was disappointing, because the Mongolian-inspired setting is such a strong concept and I really wanted more from it.

And I do have to say… with a premise like a group of raiders riding fire-breathing lizards into battle, I expected a bit more… actual fire breathing. The idea is so good, it just didn’t feel fully realized on the page.

The ending didn’t fully land for me emotionally either. There are some heavy losses, but because I never felt deeply connected to the characters, those moments didn’t hit as hard as they probably should have. It ended up feeling more frustrating than impactful.

That said, the concept itself is still fantastic. A Mongolian-inspired fantasy world with a found-family group of raiders protecting each other is such a strong idea, and I really wanted this series to work more for me.

I think this will probably work better for readers who enjoy fast-paced, chaotic fantasy and aren’t looking for a ton of depth.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.25

Sisters of the Lizard is the follow-up to The Bone Raiders. The world of the Rakada widens into sun-scorched deserts and crumbling ruins, and with that expansion comes thicker layers of political intrigue. The stakes rise not just through battle, but through instability. A mysterious sickness striking the lizards doesn’t merely threaten survival — it upends an entire culture. Power structures tremble, spiritual certainties fracture, and the bond between rider and beast becomes something deeper than loyalty. It becomes existential.

World building isn’t just decorative. Ford crafts a politically splintered landscape where alliances feel brittle and traditions rest uneasily atop buried histories. The widening horizon introduces questions of colonization, adaptation, and what survival truly costs. These themes don’t arrive, they surface through travel, confrontation, and the friction between characters who see the world differently.

As the setting expands, so do the people within it. The novel leans hard into questions of identity, leadership, and the weight of responsibility. Its most compelling evolution lies in forcing characters to interrogate beliefs they once held sacred. That discomfort is the point. They are allowed to be wrong. To falter. To argue. To grow. The conflicts feel moral as much as physical, and the character work stands as the book’s strongest pillar.

That said, some quest beats tread familiar ground and can verge on predictability. The banter, still sharp and entertaining, occasionally skims over deeper emotional fractures that might have cut more sharply if left exposed. Even so, the action remains gripping, and Ford’s gift for blending humor, tension, and camaraderie keeps the narrative buoyant.

Overall, this is a thoughtful, high-stakes continuation that trades some of the raw immediacy of the first book for greater depth and complexity. It feels like the middle movement of a larger symphony, not the loudest, but an important, shaping one.

[East of Reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for: Animal death, animal suffering, character death

This is not a happy book. It is, in fact, far from being happy. The arratan, who are a delight, end up spending most of the book suffering as a debilitating disease starts eating away at their tails, rotting them from the inside, and no mortal cure can be found. So of course this means the Rakada have to find some way to heal them, which means a lengthy road trip on the backs of dying animals — and the author doesn’t let you forget that these animals are in pain. (And it’s a ong road trip.)

So if animal suffering is a deal breaker for you, you might want to tread carefully with this book.

Then there are the character deaths. I knew they were coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to read about them. Sayana continues to be impetuous, and has no real character arc or growth in this book. Hogs is still the stand out character for me, learning to stand up for herself — even having to remind herself that she can and should voice her opinion rather than remaining silent — after so long with Ehri telling her what to think, what to do. Ehri, too, has her part to play, and yes … you can see the ending coming, but that doesn’t make it any less bittersweet.

Often in trilogies the second book is the darker one, amping up the stakes so that book three can have more time to work on the satisfying ending. But if this is the second half of a duology … well, the ending works. I just feel unsettled, like I’m still waiting for something … more. I wanted some giant cathartic — and ideally happy! — moment of victory. Instead I had a moment of victory, but it didn’t feel like the grand explosion or the release of tension, just a slow unwinding. Now, I don’t know if there’s a third book coming out, but if there is, I’m going to be standing right in line to get it.

Thank you so very, very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Whitney ✨A River of Books✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC!

First of all, this review is gonna have some personal analogies-so if you don’t like those kinds, it’s cool…

I can say with my whole heart I absolutely loved The Bone Raiders, and while I knew going into this there was going to be some really sad moments, I wasn’t fully prepared for the absolute emotional roller coaster 🎢 I experienced.

This book made me ill, at times I didn’t even want to pick it up-look how long it took me to read it for goodness sake!
But I also had “Hell Yeah!” Moments, fucking sad emo kid moments 🫶🏻, and found the character behaviors to hit home more than I expected them too.

The first chapter sets the scene for what’s to come, but oh boy is it mild in comparison.

There is one scene that reminded me of the feeling of watching The Land Before Time (you know the scene) but hit me with the Uno reverse card-as an adult it flipped it on me and I cried… sobbed… I messaged the author a few times on IG to let him know just how sick I was feeling. His response 😈😈😈

😑😑😑😑😑😑

Anywho, Erhi pissed me off so bad because what do you mean The Rakada ruined your life and took everything from you? Girl, you did that when you flipped on them- traitor ass.. she did all that because Hogs wouldn’t allow herself to be manipulated and she spoke up, instead of letting Erhi tell her what to do all the time. I think it’s great Hogs found her own voice in the group, even though she was internally fighting herself. Their dynamic reminded me of the relationship I have with my mom- I said they would be personal… it’s honestly sad how much people will give up or try to fight you once they can’t control you anymore.

The last 100ish pages I was crying, cheering, wanting it to just be over! It was a long, grueling battle and fuck dude-it hurts still.

Also, Sponge Bath and Toothy are the goodest boys and Princess is still my girl 👑

10/10 would recommend- can’t wait to hold the paperback in my hands

[Bia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

Sisters of the Lizard was seriously epic, everything I wanted from the sequel! The stakes were higher, the connection between the Rakada and the lizards even more fleshed out and we got even more character development from our favourite badass ladies!

I have to warn you, the author didn't pull any punches, there were real consequences to mistakes and danger loomed over both the Rakada and their araatans.

The plot was rather complex, since there not only were conflicts between the clans of the Tapestry but also with the Khan, and what's more, the giant fire-breathing lizards got sick from a mysterious sickness. So the Rakada had to navigate all the fights while also trying to find a cure for their araatans. But can they trust the vision they received from the gods, and the people they met along the way to actually help them?

I already despised Erhi in The Bone Raiders for her betrayal, but my hate for her only grew by tenfold in book 2! I understood her motivations, but found her incredibly selfish and obnoxious.

The confrontation between Sayana and her father, the Khan, was highly anticipated by me after the last chapter of book 1 and it did not disappoint!

Thankfully, it's not just Erhi and the Khan whom we met again in this book, but that encounter did not happen how I had expected at all. It only left me wanting more - hopefully in book 3!

And my favourite character, Khun, was just as iconic here as in book 1! I mean naming her araatan Sponge Bath? Who else could have come up with such a name if not Khun...

The final chapter was very foreboding - I already fear the challenges the Rakada will have face in the next instalment in the series. Which I cannot wait to read!

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK | Orbit and the author for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follow-up to The Bone Raiders by Jackson Ford wastes no time throwing you into the story. It immediately reaches out, grabs you by the sternum, and refuses to let you go until the last page. I’d like to say I couldn’t put it down, but it’s more accurate to say that I frequently had to put it down and go pace or stare at a wall for a few minutes.

Taking place not long after the events of the first book, Sisters of the Lizard somehow manages to raise both the stakes and the action from the first book. The book starts out at a moment of immense crisis, and the tension never really eases from there. I found myself laughing, yes, but also sobbing and wishing I could scream in frustration and stress.

This, more than anything, should be an endorsement for the quality of the writing. Ford effortlessly writes a story that has readers completely invested and enamoured with the characters. As with the previous book, the writing is the opposite of the dreaded “women-written-by-men” phenomenon. So much care and time is dedicated to the characters’ thoughts and inner worlds–whether they are characters we love or that we hate.

I loved (and emotionally suffered) through every heart-pounding moment of this book. Though marked as a duology, I truly hope that this story keeps going because it seems to have SO much left to say, and my shattered heart hopes for a resolution.

Do not miss this or the previous book if you love books with action, political intrigue, complex characters, and–of course–dragons.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for generously providing me with a copy. All opinions are my own.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read for me and deeper than you might think

In full

The Sisters of the Lizard are a group of (female) raiders - the Rakada. The lizards (more properly araatan) are very large and can breathe fire - they scare the sh*t out of people basically. The raiders ride them which leaves nothing much in the way of opposition! As raiders they tend to be anti-establishment however there are complications there. The Tapestry (their land) is under threat from various quarters both inside and out of their territory and that distracts them from raiding. In addition it would seems that their lizards are not well and that really worries them. The book starts with Sayana in a tree (just) on a cliff with a branch through her leg and no memory of how she got there - tense and exciting. The book then goes back a while to pick up the start of this story.

There's a good cast here. Bear in mind that who is actually "good" will always be moot in a book like this. You (well me anyway) get to love the raiders but they can be brutal. There's four Sisters ; Sayana, Hogs (Hogelun), Khun and Chimeg (the chief). There are 4 araatans, Tooth Monster, Sponge Bath, Princess and the Chief's one (she refuses to name her's). There are a few other significant folk involved but they start to arrive a little way into the book. The book follows the Sisters in their quest to save their lizards. Will the fact that the gods seems to be interested in the sickness of the lizards be good or bad news…

There is a lightness here to the writing/storytelling however parts of the story are dark, maybe brutally so at times. Don't expect happily ever after from this. I'm not a fan of "categories" however I'd call this modern fantasy that - for me - has a feel of David Wragg's books or possibly Grey Bastards or Scott Lynch's work. At its best this was at least as good as any of those.

Ultimately I got into this book fairly easily. I didn't feel I was missing out for having not read the first book (though I intend to do that as soon as I have time). As time went on it became a book that was far easier to read than put down. OK - it's not "the most fantastic fantasy" I've ever read but it was very entertaining and ticked lots of boxes. Book 3 soon please…

My thanks to the author and the publisher for an advance copy of this book

[Trevor Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure Statement: I received a copy of this novel from the author. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and have not been influenced by either the publisher or the author.

I loved The Bone Raiders for its characters and its quirks, but I adore Sisters of the Lizard for the ways it matures the ongoing saga of the Rakada. Ford delivers all the same driving action present in the first chapter, but gives space for his characters to grow, question their positionality within the world of the Tapestry, and make bold mistakes and heartbreaking triumphs.

This is perhaps the most existential I've seen a Jackson Ford book get, with some cosmological philosophy woven into what is otherwise a solid quest novel. The book is part road trip, part character study, part action/adventure comedy, at times somber and at times hilarious. It's also an excellent study in tension, and Ford as a craftsman continues to hone his ability to keep up suspense for his readers. And every bit of the outcome of the novel feels deserved, a testament to his ability to build lovable, complex characters both human and inhuman (I'm looking at you, lizards!).

As solemn as this chapter gets--and it does get pretty sad--it never forgets to have fun along the way. Can't wait for the conclusion to this series. It's a hell of a good time.

Long live Jai.

[Dwon D · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC

After reading the first book in this series I was absolutely excited that I was given an Advanced Copy of this sequel. I had so many expectations of what this book was going to be and where this story was going to go. I was also hopeful on the story arcs of some of the characters but boy was I mistaken. Jackson Ford took me in a completely different directions of what I personally thought was going to take place.

The araatan literally burrows themselves into your heart right alongside these 4 amazing Rakada women. This is the group of women that you want as an inner circle. They fight with each other sure, but they fight for each other harder. This book brought eye sweats out several times. Watching the growth of Hogelun after everything she went through and goes through with the betrayal of Erhi is an amazing journey and just amazing writing on Ford’s part as well.

He also gives us a villain you love to hate because god do I absolutely HATE Erhi. The consequences of her actions seem to be everyone else’s fault but her own. Her narcissistic crazy is out for everyone to see in this book and boy is it a doozy. She has definitely found a place on the list of characters that I hate.

I’m truly glad I invested my time in reading this fantasy series.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the change to read this arc

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 stars)

This was everything I wanted and more.

From the very beginning, I was completely pulled back into the world of the Tapestry—its chaos, its danger, and the constant feeling that nothing ever comes easy for these characters. Sayana continues to be such a compelling protagonist, and watching her navigate yet another impossible situation made it so easy to stay invested. She just wants a moment of peace, and honestly… same.

The stakes in this one felt even higher. Between the political tension, the warring clans, and the looming threat of the Khan, there’s this constant pressure that keeps the story moving. And the added element of the lizards getting sick? That raised the emotional stakes so much. It wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was about losing something deeply important to their identity and way of life.

The journey aspect of the story was one of my favorite parts. The vision, the quest, the harsh landscapes—it all felt epic without losing the emotional core. I loved seeing the dynamics between the characters develop more, especially as they’re pushed to their limits. That balance between action and character work was really well done.

I’m so attached to these characters and this world, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely fantastic - it manages to encompass both absolute insanity with brutal fight scenes as well as beautiful character growth and powerful, sometimes sweet storylines. This book picks up with the Rakada after escaping the Khan and Erhi’s betrayal, and follows their next set of trials and work to care for their lizards and become more involved than they would like in the Tapestry’s mythology.

This was a beautifully written book. Each POV was distinct and gave insight into the character and the events that occurred. The picture painted of the landscape and the animals was fantastic, and it was great to start to see more of the world. I loved the relationships between the Rakada members, and getting to know each of them better and learn more of their history. The lizards are both terrifying and somehow lovable. The villains were varied and developed over the course of the book, I loved that we got a POV from Erhi as well. Ford beautifully showed the lengths a person can go to justify their own despicable behavior, as well as the damage apathy can deal to someone. I really hope we will be getting a sequel based on the ending! Thank you NetGalley, Jackson Ford, and Orbit for this E-ARC.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Orbit for the eARC and finished copy!

This book is set a few months after The Bone Raiders, where we see the Rakada go on a big ol' journey to save their Arataan (big puppies!!!!!!!), a few months after the events of the first book. We meet some new side characters in this one and I loved them both so much (Trying to hard not to do spoilers here!) and we get to see the changes in the Rakada from the last book.

This really did break my heart, I spent so much time crying over these damn lizards! The blurb might have warned me that the Araatan are sick but I did'nt realise how much I had grown to care about them during the first book. I also spent so much time shouting in absolute FURY at certain things.

The worldbuilding in these books is absoutely wonderful, I can truly picture myself in the Tapestry and beyond. The found family aspect really keeps me interested as well as this is one of my favourite things to read. The love the Rakada have for eachother and the Tapestry really shines through.

Father Sky and Mother Earth can also absolutely suck my nuts!!

Jackson, if you see this - you've already replied to my tweet but just want to reiterate that you need to pay for the therapy I require after this one...

[Katie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you had mixed feelings about book 1 of this series because it was a bit more character driven, I implore you to continue this series because this installment more than delivers on plot. No middle book syndrome in sight.

Book 1 feels more like a prologue compared to this book. It still has the same great humor and found family dynamics but now things are happening and the stakes are quite high. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot but it’s brutally realistic and I actually loved it all the more for that. The lizards are sick and the crew has to make a grueling journey in order to save them. There are certainly highs and lows and the author makes sure you feel every one of them.

I’m not sure if this series has been confirmed as a duology or trilogy yet (the blurb feels like trilogy since it says this is the next installment). No cliffhanger here but certainly the story could continue and it would be a great disservice if it doesn’t.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit publishing/Jackson Ford for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.

[TheMondayMuse · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5 ⭐

This sequel to The Bone Raiders delivers all the chaotic sisterhood we have come to expect of the Rakada and more. This sequel delves into some of the characters a little deeper and this time the author decided to tug on my heart strings also.

We follow Sayana and her giant lizard again as she continues to make some questionable decisions, but she gets an A for effort. The writing was funny and sarcastic with a well paced plot that honestly went in a different direction than I expected, but I was not disappointed.

I most certainly didn't cry whilst reading this book (someone was just cutting onions nearby), but if I HAD cried it would have been at several points because what the hell was some of that. I love the balance of books with chaotic characters and sarcastic verbal barbs that secretly lodge themselves in your heart. I hope we get more adventures from the Rakada soon.


Thanks to NetGalley and little Brown book group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly loved this book! I read the first one as part of a book club and really enjoyed it! But book two was such a great continuation of the story.
Set only a few months after the first it feels like no time has passed at all. We see how the impact of training the lizard affects the rest of The Tapestry and how the Radaka have fully embraced the lizards. The first book had a lot of humor and chaos and the second installment did not disappoint, as it had a darker and more intense story. This time we are introduced to a few new side characters who were great additions (can’t say too much Spoliers!). We see more heartbreak and character development, and also some closure as well.
What was a change was the inclusion of a more religious aspect of the book with a lot of references to Father Sky and Mother Earth, both of which were executed brilliantly and helped to understand some characters (Klun).
Overall I loved the darker book while still keeping the fun humor in parts. Brilliant sequel.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

[Cayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1 AM EST and I am absolutely reeling from this ending!
Book 2 of The Rakada starts off in the middle (literally) and then explains to us how hanging off a cliff in a snowstorm might be bad for one’s health.

We reconnect with the gang for yet another quest. Along the way we make new friends, new enemies and fight our own doubts and fears. Ford writes characters (and arataan!) that you want to root for and empathize with. I absolutely love the character development and the expansion of the “tapestry” and lore.

The story is fast paced, and we are moving through these parts quickly! I’d say that if you enjoyed Book 1, this sequel will answer some very important questions. Just an all over fun time and a satisfying read.

I cannot wait to see what WE are going to do next! Ford starts the story on a cliff and (literally) leaves us there until book 3.. !

Thank you to Jackson Ford and Orbit Books | Orbit as well as NetGalley for allowing me to fight for freedom once more.

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up for Goodreads and Netgalley.
I had a really good time with this sequel, even though I slightly preferred the first book. The plot was enjoyable and the world-building and creatures still very interesting. Some characters and their relationship dynamics did not convince me very much, but other than that, it was a fun read. The series could have been better without male characters though. The women were fierce and strong and the center of the series truly, but the males… were sort of useless. And sometimes (a bit) dumb and ridiculous. They could have been removed from the story, it wouldn’t have changed very much. It would have been so cool to have a fantasy story completely focusing on women. But I just ignored the males and they did not alter my overall enjoyment of the book too much. I still highly recommend this fantasy series.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 of this series, The Bone Raiders, had completely blown me away, and I felt entertained in a way I hadn't expected. So I was thrilled to dive back into this world with Sisters of the Lizard.

I loved being back in the world of the Rakada, and I was delighted to read more of my beloved characters, both human and non-human. The dynamic between Sayana and the others was just as charming and engaging as I remembered. There was a really good mix of humor and deep thoughts, which made the story both fun and thought-provoking.

Despite everything, I missed the absolute chaos that was book 1 and the choke hold it had on me. Still, this was a fantastic sequel that expanded the world and gave me more of what I loved.

I really hope there will be more sisterly lizardly things to come in the future!

4/5 stars. 

Thank you to @NetGalley and @littlebrownbookgroup_UK for the eARC!

#SistersOfTheLizard #Bookstagram #NetGalley

[A M Van Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in The Rakada series did not quit. I really enjoyed the story, especially the parts involving Sayana and Princess. I was involved in every moment of the story without fail. The lizards are sick in this book and, while my heart lay broken on the floor for a large bit of the story because of this, I was happy to get to the end of the book without the loss of my two favorite characters. There is animal suffering in this book and, if this is not your jam, you may want to consider reading at a time where it will hurt less. I have no idea if there is another book. The ending could've been a conclusion or a bouncing off point for future stories. I would welcome the latter.

#SistersoftheLizard #NetGalley #OrbitBooks
Thank you to Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.