Bound by the Sky

Aether & Industry #1

by Megan G. Elisabeth

The sky brought them together.
The storm could tear them apart.

While pirate ships and floating cities soar overhead, Amaya Sinclair’s feet are planted on the ground. But when a violent tragedy results in her abduction by a villainous Sky Lord, her once-clear path vanishes underfoot. In its place, she finds a beautiful, unforgiving world that challenges everything she believes about herself and her future.

William Lexington has spent over a decade carving out a space for himself among the clouds, at the cost of his identity and ideals. When a twist of fate lands Amaya on his airship, he writes her off as a pretty inconvenience—until he realizes she’s the only thing standing between his monstrous former mentor and a brutal new era.

Caught in a fight to live on their own terms, Amaya and Will’s growing connection calls every priority into question. As the enemy’s looming shadow darkens, their race to control forces best left untouched reveals that much more than their lives are at stake.

Welcome aboard the Maelstrom. Enjoy the view—and don’t get killed.

Treasure Planet meets Final Fantasy in this fast-paced romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Rebecca Yarros.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 28, 2026

Reviews

[mel. · Rating 5 out of 5]

@megwritesalot’s Bound By The Sky has been one of my most anticipated indie reads (ever) and let me tell you, it exceeded all my expectations!

i honestly struggled with writing this review because nothing i wrote felt adequate to describe how much i love and adore this story, these characters, and this world. the story is gorgeously vivid, emotional, adventurous, steam-punk, chaotic at times (in the best way), and filled with so much love. the characters are all multi-layered with their own unique voice but make you feel like you’ve been friends with them for years. and, the world- god, how can i move there and join a sky crew? the world is filled with stunning sky cities, savage (and hot) sky pirates, unique magic infused relics, and so much political chaos. the world Meg created made my Treasure Planet loving heart so happy.

i absolutely love the character arc our FMC Amaya goes on in this story! going from being told what to do to placate men to going after what you want and who you want to be is a storyline a lot of people can relate to. with so much sass, confidence, and determination, you can’t help but want to be friends with Amaya. and our MMC Will? he’s the definition of “bad boy with a good heart for those he cares about” and i love him so much for it. Will is a ruthless Sky Lord with a dark past who has no problem “eliminating” problems that get in his way. through dual POVs, we can watch Will deal with the struggles of being a Sky Lord while trying to keep his friends safe.

this book was just everything. i was constantly stuck between “this is so good, i don’t want to stop reading” and “this is so good, i want to go slow and savour it”. i could tell you a million reasons why i love this book so much, but i don’t want to share spoilers. i highly recommend adding Bound By The Sky to your TBR and checking it out! releasing January 28, 2026 🩵

thank you, Meg, for trusting me with an advanced copy of your book! i cannot wait to have a gorgeous copy for my bookshelf! 💞

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC (advanced reader copy) to review before it’s out and oh boy do I have a review for you!
First of all, when I saw posts on instagram talking about a book inspired by treasure planet, pirates of the caribbean,final fantasy and a sprinkle of steampunk in the mix I just had to sign up and pray to be chosen. Needless to say my expectations were through the roof and I was more than happy to be part of the ARC team. Everything in this book called to thirteen years old me and simply hit the spot on everything on my list!
Great main character? Check! Amaya was so enjoyable to discover and I loved her evolution throughout the story. She is strong willed, funny and intelligent. For me, she is in my top new female protagonists in my reads this year and I can’t wait for people to discover and love her as I do.
A cool MMC (main male character) that would surely break readers' hearts all over the world? CHECK. Honestly, Will was amazing and I would take a prequel with his backstory tomorrow morning (speaking of prequel I would read one about the relics war as well pretty please hehe)
Banter? One hell of a Check
Side characters whose names you remember because you like them? Goshdarn Check
A cool magic system? Check! I loved the relics and the steampunk aspect of everything
Nice and to the point world building? Check! I did not want to read something heavy that I would have to take notes to remember how the world works. This one is to the point not confusing and delightful.
This book was everything it promised and it delivered so much more I wanted to call in sick to keep reading. The twists, the turn, the ENDING???? (It should be illegal but I still love the author) I can’t wait to read it again and I will for sure get a physical copy when it releases. If you made it this far, you know this a 5 out of 5 stars for me. It’s a great read and I will recommend it to anybody who wants a great pirate read or to get out of a reading slump. It’s paced perfectly, the dialogues are chef kiss, the description makes you feel like you are there and experiencing the sky cities with the main characters. I hope to see y’all board the Maelstrom when this book is out!
See you in the next one.

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound By The Sky
Review
5stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Let me start off by saying that Megan G. Elisabeth’s knocked her debut as an author out of the water 😍

The world building is amazing. It feels like a combination of treasure planet Peter Pan, and Atlantis all wrapped up in one.The attention to all the details made it really feel like I was stepping into to this world. I fell in love with the story and the characters instantly. (Will, Amaya and the whole pirate crew.) literally cannot express how much I love them.💗This story is filled with love danger, found family, laughter, twists and so much more.
Definitely adding this to my list of favorites and I’m going to need the second book ASAP that ending😳😮

I also wanna give a huge thanks to Megan G. Elizabeth for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC copy 💗

Content:
Language 3 to 4 /5
Spice 1.5
Pages skip
441 to 446 or chapter 43

[Jada Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasure Planet meets Final Fantasy 🔥

[Phoenixinruin P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve received an ARC of Bound by the Sky by Megan G. Elisabeth!!

Where to begin! This book is Treasure Island x Final Fantasy x One Piece x Pirates of the Caribbean! I think that the plot line was amazing and paced nicely.

The characters I all loved, including the villains, you really end up hating them. The character development was chefs kiss! Our FMC, Amaya, loved that character and how she was throughout the book! Our MMC, William, oooo no spoilers, but he is fine as heck!

The author included women in fields that are predominantly male driven, which I thought was such a great touch!

I may or may not have woken up at 2am to read this book, I was hooked!!

I cannot wait for book 2, because there has to be a book 2, right…right???!?

[Erin Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book went above and beyond my expectations. The author said it was a mix between Treasure Planet and Final Fantasy and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

From the start, I was hooked. The characters, the world building, the story were all perfection

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please be advised of the following trigger/content warnings:

*War violence*
*Gun and sword violence*
*Death of a friend*
*Death of parents*
*Threat of sexual assault*
*Mention of physical abuse*

Bound By The Sky is an incredible debut novel by Megan G. Elisabeth. Her storytelling is easy to read but still very engaging; I could not put the book down no matter how hard I tried! I stayed up until the witching both nights that I read the book (yes, I finished it in two days). Her world building is immersive and I love all the history of this universe that is revealed throughout the story. The magic in the universe that is honed through technology is awesome and I love that it feels like science fiction while still being a fantasy novel. I love books with a found family, so being able to experience Amaya finding her place in the crew and by proxy herself was wonderful. It was refreshing to see a slow burn romance where the plot was just important as well! The story progressed smoothly while still giving us moments of romantic tensions between Amaya and Will. I love that the book could have stood on its own without the main characters falling in love and that their romance enhanced the story even further! 

I’m so excited for the second book already and this one isn’t even out yet! I applied to this ARC on a whim when I saw an ad and I’m so happy I did!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Is Treasure Planet one of your favorite animated movies, do you love to see a Westley coded blonde MMC? Then Bound by the Sky should be added to your TBR.

This was such a fun read, the world building, the characters, the pirates and relics (those were so creative), it all added up to a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Amaya is a wonderful breath of fresh air as an FMC, and Will as an MMC is great, like I said Westley coded red flag pirate, but he’s green for her. Their love story is sweet, there’s spice, but it’s not overly explicit.

Pirates aren’t the only morally grey characters.

I need the second book.

Thank you to the author Megan G. Elisabeth for the eARC.

[Nicole Yorba Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first time I received an ARC copy of a book and I absolutely loved this book! It is such a refreshing romantasy and could not put it down, finished it in two and a half days! The story is amazing, has a magic system that has unique traits, and the banter between Amaya and Will is exactly what I look for between a FMC and MMC.

Loved the concepts within the books, definitely gives off Atlantis and Treasure Planet vibes. And love that it’s in 3rd POV. The pacing was great, there wasn’t a chapter that I felt was dull or lagged. And the ending…🫠.

It’s a must read! I can’t wait for the second book!

Spoiler:
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Victor gives me the ick…

[Amanda Choquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and I was hooked from the very beginning. It was so well written and was easy to connect with the characters.
I had so much fun getting to know Amaya and Will and his crew. It was an adventurous read that I wish I didn’t have to put down.
I highly recommend, and can’t wait to see what other adventures are in store for Amaya.

[A Book Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

In mid-December, I received an Advance Readers' Copy of Bound by Sky, which is scheduled for official release to the public on January 28, 2026. Thank you to BookFunnel for accepting me as one of your readers for the ARC, and here is my review of it.

Overall, I think the book was fine. I did not fall in love with the book, but I also do not hate it. It is not the worst that I have read. In fact, as a debut novel, I think it’s decent. My main issues with this book are the worldbuilding and minor character issues. For the worldbuilding, I find it lackluster; the descriptions did not paint a picture of the cities, era or culture of the world. I am still not sure what the motifs and themes of the world are. Typically, in fantasy books, there is an era that the world is based on, like Ancient Greece, Medieval, Edwardian, Ancient Japan, etc. It does not have to be historically accurate nor super detailed, but it has to be sound and logical within the context of your fictional world. In this book, I was not sure if this was inspired by modern technology or steampunk, or diesel punk, though there are some hints and motifs here and there, but it is just a general pirate-y vibe. Basically, there are too many vibes going on that the world does not feel solid. It did not feel immersive, and it is throwing me off with how the author uses very generic language to describe something.

The characters are okay. I did not fall in love with any of them, but I liked them enough to continue reading and be curious about what happens next. I am very grateful that there was no misunderstanding or miscommunication between Amaya and Will, the two main characters and couple in this book, especially with the events that happened with Amaya trying to save the crew. I am very vague here to avoid spoilers. William is actually intelligent and not a stupid man who just deliberately misunderstands people’s actions, so I am very thankful for that because I was very worried that the miscommunication trope would happen (I loathe this trope). I am neutral with every single character; perhaps my dislike is leaning more towards Victor, the other supposed love interest, but this is not a love triangle. We know who Amaya is aiming for, so that is definitely a plus. I am glad that this book didn't fall into many romantasy tropes like love triangles, miscommunications, stupid characters that deliberately misunderstand everything, so that is definitely something I love about it. There is one person that I cannot say because it is a bit of a spoiler where I am quite interested in, and I am looking forward to learning about him.

The plot itself was decent, I personally really like it, I was definitely curious about what happens next and what they are going to do. There are some character dynamics and progressions that I find written badly. I cannot say any specific without spoiling anything, but there is a specific progression between two characters that I just find odd and glossed over when their dynamic, given that they are pirates, is very important to the hierarchy of the ship. But this event between these two characters was simply glossed over, and it really took me away from the story. It just was not good. There is also this one character that joined the crew 60% into the book, and I thought that was just odd as well because it seems like she is VERY quickly a well-established member of the crew. Perhaps I would expect her to join at the beginning of the sequel, but that is just my personal opinion. The main couple is fine. Literally just fine, I am neutral towards them. Though I wish their relationship progression would be more spaced out instead of being almost established at the end of the book.

The Epilogue was good and the cliffhanger, though I probably know what is going to happen next ahah! I am looking forward to the sequel.

That is all for my review! I will posting the same thing in fable. Thank you once again to BookFunnel for sending me an eARC!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

How wonderful it was to receive an advance copy of Bound by the sky, I am extremely grateful! A huge thank you! 💙

First of all, I must say that the cover is absolutely magnificent, and after reading it, I can understand what most of the elements on the cover represent, which is truly amazing. I am also amazed! To think that this masterpiece is this author's first work, wow!!! Megan G. Elisabeth is truly brilliant!

As a fantasy and pirates lover, I was immediately captivated by the story and the characters. I also love stories with the found family trope and the slow burn, and this one certainly delivered.🔥 I've been looking for a novel about pirates for years, and I've finally found what I was looking for.

From the very beginning of the novel, a tragic event shakes the story and sets the tone. The story opens with a character named Amaya, initially somewhat naive, a young woman who has lived in luxury and prestige since childhood. However, events unfold that cause her character to evolve significantly throughout the story, making her even more endearing. At one point, she encounters a crew, a very friendly band of pirates who treat our FMC with great respect. They are all equally endearing, which is rare for a band of outcasts, but so interesting. I like that Amaya isn't immediately a fighter and that she has to train to become skilled, and that even then, she needs help. I really like the concept of relics, and I was charmed by the Wayfinder that Will gives Amaya to keep track of her no matter how far apart they are.

Will. What can I say about this cocky man with sleep problems and messy hair? I HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT HIM! I completely understand our FMC falling in love with him so quickly because I've fell in love numerous times. When he finds Amaya by the water and carries her in his arms. The kisses on Amaya's head, her forehead. When he mentions wanting to kill Victor because he can't stand the way he talks about her. THE ENTIRETY OF CHAPTER 41. This quote: "I’d watch the sky burn for you. And everything in it." Will is now my new standard. OOPS! The chemistry between the two main characters was truly incredible. Two desperate souls comforting each other. At times though, I agree with Edmund and Sebastian when they mention that Will was blinded by Amaya, but love makes you lose your mind, doesn't it?

A special mention also goes to the secondary characters: Mouse is the sweetest and Serena is a queen, I truly adore her. I would love to have a cup of hot cocoa with her and chat about life. I also wish Ozzie would cook for me everyday for the rest of my life! Everything he makes always looks fresh and amazing.

Also, I’m sorry but THE ENDING?! I’m wrecked. I genuinely need book two delivered to me by tomorrow.

This book gave me strong Pirates of the Caribbean vibes at times and I absolutely loved that, since I love the movies.

I can’t wait to get a hardcover copy of this novel so it can reign over my bookshelf like the trophy it deserves to be. I will never stop talking about it or stop recommending this novel. It has completely taken over my mind. It’s my Roman Empire now.

[Nicole Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review of Bound by the Sky by Megan G Elisabeth

Themes/ Tropes:
* Pirate Romance
* Cinnamon roll MMC disguised as a Grumpy MMC
* Treasure Planet meets One Piece meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Final Fantasy - tbh I could go on
* Steampunk/ romanatsy with spice
* Magic meets Tech
* Adventure

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There are tiggers so check that trigger warning at the start of the book!

Premise : It’s such a beautiful story and I fear no matter what I write will not do it justice! It’s funny, cute, steamy, chaotic with romance and spice and has elements of steam punk themes mixed with fantasy and space. It’s magical.

The world building in this book was utter perfection, the sky cities and the way they were designed had me envious and my treasure planet fan heart beam with jealously and excitement. It honestly made me want to watch the movie again 🤣

Okay onto the premise I promise lol! So we have our FMC, Amaya, she is a strong, confident and sassy queen, who has had enough of being pushed around by men. She crossed path with our bad boy of the skies, who secretly had a heart of gold, Will, a Lord of the Sky. For sure he is a heartbreaker and I say it now people next anticipated book boyfriend! He is funny, cocky but also somewhat sweet and charming.

We navigate through Amaya finding herself and her crew as well as navigating through a developing friendship/ relationship with Will. It’s both beautiful and alluring at the same time. I won’t say much more as I don’t want to spoil it for you but the chemistry between them is just 🥵. Chapter 41!!!!!

Honestly the start the book gives me Disney’s treasure Planet X Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. However as we move through the story it then also gives One Piece as well (the manga/anime). I love all of these especially One Piece and Treasure Planet. It also gives Final Fantasy vibes as well. The nostalgia this unearths when reading this book it’s phenomenal and it’s what made me not want to put this book down.

The authors writing is alluring and you can generally get a feel of the characters, their personalities and warmth for each other. All I can say is bravo.

I went into this book not having read any pirate romance books at all and was a bit hesitant to absolve devouring this book, the story/ plot and the characters. The tension, chemistry and my god the drama at some points had me on edge. It’s very rare that a book makes me feel this way…not even Quicksilver (my favourite book) had me this way.

I will say that ending!!!! Megan you are so cruel 😭. Also Victor can go do one.

This book has exceeded all of my expectations and then some!! Honestly please guys add this to your TBR list for 2026, releasing 28th January 2026.

Thank you so much to Megan G Elisabeth for giving me the opportunity to review a ARC copy of your book. You have me hooked to this series, I cannot stop thinking about it and I want more!!!

[Amber Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’d watch the sky burn for you. And everything in it.” -Will

Thank you so much for the opportunity to be able to receive the arc for this book! I did not want to put this book down! The only reason I had to put it down was to take care of my kids haha but wow this has to be my favorite book EVER!! I loved it so much! If you love:

💫 Treasure Plant
💫 Final Fantasy
💫 Pirates and the Caribbean
💫 Steampunk
💫 Sky Pirates 🏴‍☠️
💫 Touch her and 💀
💫 Morally grey MMC
💫 Found Family
💫 Forbidden Romance
💫 Dual POV

Then this book is for you! The banter was a chefs kiss! Will and Amaya have my heart! (Plus the character artwork for them are STUNNING!) The action was thrilling! The story is so fun and unique! The world building is amazing! The relics and weapons are so cool! The minor characters are strong and lovable! It felt like you were apart of their little pirate family! Also, THAT ENDING!!!! I need the second book NOW!! 😭😭😭

Every time I picked up to read this arc, I was kicking my feet giddy with happiness and excitement! Treasure Planet was one of my favorite movies growing up and reading this book made me feel so nostalgic. Final Fantasy has always held a place in my heart with the characters, stories, weapons, and worlds. This book was a beautiful mesh of the two and I couldn’t be happier with it! 🩵

Such an amazing job for a debut novel! As thankful as I am for being able to read this early, I’m sad I have to wait for it to be released and have to wait for the second novel. 😭 However, I will be waiting with excitement! As soon as the preorders for the physical book become available, I am going to click that preorder button like my life depended on it! If there is ever a deluxe edition, I will buy it instantly! If I could give this book a million stars, I would, but Goodreads only allows up to 5, so 5 stars it is! Thank you so much again for this amazing opportunity to read this ARC! @megwritesalot you are a very talented writer and should be proud! I can’t wait to see how the rest of this series unfolds!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 to infinity!!
🌶️.5 Spice

Favorite Quotes:

“It’s not stealing if I was going to give it back—it’s borrowing. A pirate should know that.” “Except we don’t borrow, Sinclair. We steal.” “Then that just makes me one of you.”

“For what it’s worth,” he said as they entered the lift. “I like this version of you.”

“If I don’t want you,” he said darkly, as if it was the most ridiculous phrase he’d ever heard, “then hell has frozen over. I want you more than you can imagine, Bluebird. I want to make you mine. I want to ruin you for anyone else who even dares to look.”

[Erin | the.gremlin.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bound by the Sky by debut indie author Megan G. Elisabeth is the first installment of the steampunk sky pirate fantasy romance series Aether & Industry. There’s so much to love about this story, which is fast paced and full of adventure and found family.

Amaya Sinclair is a wealthy socialite and the Lord Mayor of Sorrento’s only daughter & heir. She often finds herself isolated in a privileged life of beauty and excess. Her station requires a meekness and obedience that doesn’t come naturally but she’s resigned to accept the future that’s expected of her.
Her marriage to an ambitious Royal Fleet Captain has been arranged and her time pretending she’s free to live and love as she desires is over. Her future is coming for her. That is — until Amaya finds herself captive on a sky pirate ship with more questions than answers.

William is a feared and respected Sky Lord. His tragic past saw him orphaned, molded and groomed by the same vicious Sky Lord that killed his parents. William’s role in Amaya’s story steadily evolves from rescuer, to captor, to protector, to lover. The spark between them is instant but both challenge and resist its pull. I love that when others saw Amaya as delicate and fragile — William saw a caged bird with a fierce spirit ready to take flight.

The premise of this story is really interesting. I love the idea of sky cities and magical relics with unique properties, strengths and consequences. I would love for political tensions between land & sky, classism, prejudice, and the land’s brewing radicalism/rebellion to be explored further as the series continues.

I think this story would benefit from a prequel novella from Pearce’s POV further explaining the Aetherstorm, sky wars, invention & distribution of relics and the politics & ideologies that motivated their creation. Pearce seems like a fascinating character uniquely capable of clarifying the historical landscape and events that ultimately lead to Amaya’s kidnapping. I also think a dual timeline novella exploring Will’s time on the Baroness and his experience in the Sky Lord trials alongside Amaya & Cam’s evolving friendship would add a lot of depth and richness to their character backstories.

I can easily see readers falling in love with this new and exciting steampunk Romantasy. Bound by the Sky releases January 28th, 2026 and is perfect for fantasy romance fans interested in sky pirate adventures, Treasure Planet/Atlantis vibes, slow-burn closed door spice, dual POV, magical relics, forced proximity and grumpy/violent/secret cinnamon roll MMCs!

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.
Just wow.
This book was utterly AMAZING! If you haven't added it to your tbr please do! Because you will 100% not be dissapointed. TRUST ME.

Notes-
6/5 stars
The ending made me cry (no seriously, for the past half-hour i've been crying!)
Might be one of my fav reads of the year!!

This review does contain spoilers but I blocked them out!! And seriously, if you haven't read the book DO NOT CLICK ON THE SPOILERS! Please! No matter how curious you are!

The world-
Kind of like pirates of the caribbean but with magic, romance, and instead of taking place on water it takes place on land.

The magic-
Very very creative i'll say!! I loved the entire relic system and the quest that Amaya had to go on! Especially when (don't click it)we found out that Graven had the missing relic! I loved the entire relic system, and the idea of the sky ship pirate people!

The plot-
The book started out very fast (don't click it..) with Camden's death (i'm still not over it, and i cried even after only knowing him for like 5 pages lmao) so that the I was immediately hooked from the beginning! There were no plot holes and everything made sense! Yay! Also the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife!

The writing-
I loved the dual POV! And the third person was great

The tropes-
found family (especially mouse), pirates, (semi) enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, morally grey MMC!

the characters-
Amaya-
I loved Amaya so much! She does play piano (like me) and the author accurately described the feeling of playing the piano yay! I love her personality, and her resilliance even in annoying/difficult times.

Will-
my babyyyy (don't click it..)NO BUT WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE OMGGG will has been through it, but he still finds reasons to be nice to his crew which is great! He's very morally grey and a fantastic MMC (don't click it!) I love him and Amaya together, and in my mind he did not die! Also the way he speaks about Amaya is so sweet

The ending-
It made my cry. I still refuse to believe that it happened!

I read this as an ARC, and all of these opinions are my own! The author did not pay me at all to write this review.

Anyways thank you so much for reading this and please go pre-order bound by the sky! It's amazing!!

[Ariana wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Megan & her team for the EARC!

Bound by the Sky reminded me of what got me into reading and that I actually really love SCIFI. BBTS has everything you could need and more, forbidden romance (x2), magic (but not in the way you think of magic), fighting, war and political intrigue.

Firstly, Will omg. I wont say more because I don't want to spoil anything, but Megan did such a good job of making us feel for him and understand him within just the prologue. He is also the one and only sky daddy and I will not be elaborating.

Amaya is very relatable in the way she thinks, she starts off as someone not really interested in the political aspect of the world around her and just wants to live her daily life. She brushes off her friend and his radical ways of thinking about the current war going on above them, she thinks it wont ever affect her or anyone around her so she doesn't need to think about it much. She is so wrong, as we usually are about these types of things. But she grows, learns and understands the impact that these things have on everyone, especially herself. She also has two upper ranks, hot men pinning and fighting for her soooo she is kinda living the dream.

And lets not forget, the minor characters! They stand out to us in such impactful ways; Grace, Mouse and even the sentient robot Malcom. You can't help but to root for them, hold your breath when something happens and generally just want them to be okay. Every character has depth to them even if they are briefly there.

BBTS is so action packed, charming and intriguing. The world building is complex but easy to follow, the fashion is described so well you can really see it, and nothing seems insane or out there. And yes this is a book about sky pirates with floating ships, but Megan makes it WORK!!

This book is so so so good and has to be one of my top 10 for 2025. I'm honestly a little upset I'm an ARC reader for this because now I have to wait that much longer for the sequel....

My favorite quotes (these can contain spoilers):

"But sometimes, violence is the only way to build a better world"

"She would spend the rest of her life wondering how she'd missed the panicked quiver in Cam's voice"

"She belonged in the sky. She belonged with him"

"Amaya couldn't decide if she was truly sad or not, but she was taking his gun either way"

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Bound by the Sky✨

It took me a couple days to get my head out of this Pirates of the Caribbean meets Final Fantasy meets Treasure Planet debut by Megan! I found myself so immersed in this world and its unique structure, intrigued by all the relics and their powers, and simping over our blonde pirate Sky Lord with the tortured soul.

We follow a dual POV in BBTS with our debutant FMC, Amaya, and our secret cinnamon roll captain, Will. After Amaya is set to marry the lieutenant by arranged marriage, she decides to sneak out with her best friend and forbidden love interest, Camden. But things instantly go murderously awry as they are kidnapped and Amaya is taken aboard her first sky-ship.

Her routine life on the ground has just been turned upside down as she finds out her family heirloom is a relic wanted by the most dangerous Sky Lord, she herself harbors blood that is wanted, and going home is a death wish. Rescued by the villainous Captain, William “Deathsmoke” Lexington, Amaya finds a new family, power, confidence, purpose, healing, and love. But the enemy is invincible; her newfound love is forbidden; and her life is the key to it all. So, how could this possibly end well for her and her loved ones?

Amaya grows immensely through these pages, beginning as a demure young adult and morphing into a woman who controls her own life. The slow burn and tension were so good and the wait to fulfillment is so perfect. The spice is nondescript, more imagery and feeling, and it reminded me of Divine Rivals. This romance is precious and I NEED IT TO WORK OUT after that ending MEGAN. Initially, I thought this was a standalone but that last 5%. Holy smokes! It broke me in the best kind of way.

Tropes you may find in BBTS are flying ships, forced proximity, magical relics, steampunk mechs, blond grumpy-yearning MMC, forbidden love, low spice, romance vibes of Pirates of the Caribbean, top of the head kisses, setting and intrigue of Treasure Planet, awesome weapons/action like Final Fantasy, “mine”, she saves him, and a cliffhanger.

Thank you for this gifted arc, Meg. I cannot WAIT for what comes next!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“He was untouchable, nearly invincible. He was a Sky Lord, demanding respect and obedience and fear from all who heard his name or dared to challenge his authority.  No one challenged his authority anymore. No one except Amaya fucking Sinclair.  He was going to lose everything for her. And the worst part? He’d give it up gladly if it meant he could call her his.”

I can’t believe this was the first every pirate book I’ve read which is absolutely wild considering my favourite movie is Pirates of the Caribbean. And now I am so glad this was the first ever pirate book I’ve read!
First of all thank very much for Megan for sending me an ARC of this book. I was beyond excited to dive in to the story. I loved everything about what this book has promised.
The cover: breathtakingly beautiful
The story: super interesting
Visual of the MMC and MFC: insta love
So obviously I couldn’t wait a second to read the book and devoured it in 48 hours.
Steam punk sky pirates is everything I didn’t know I needed in my life.
I loved this book. It started really strong with lots of action. What I loved most was the dialogue between the characters. The pirates are to die for. William is a complete treasure of an MMC, I fall head over heels for him.
Amaya was somewhere in between a damsel in distress and a strong woman but by the end of the book she has found herself and become a strong MFC.
There was lots of world building in this book which I loved and lots of action.
Some people argue that the connection between Amaya and Will felt like it came from nowhere and were no built up but come on the heart knows what the heart wants. It was love at first sight and it was sweet.
I can’t wait to read book2 because I have a feeling it will grab we by the hook (pun intended) just as much as this one did!

[Katie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound By The Sky by was such an exciting immersive adventure that took off flying right from the start. Megan wastes no time diving right into the action during the prologue, and then delivers world building that literally made me want to jump right into the story. This futuristic steampunk realm of skyboats, pirates, and a magic system based on aether imbued relics just had me itching to be a part of this adventure. I was hooked right away.

It’s written in third person PoV so we get both the MMC Will and the FMC Amaya’s perspectives which I love especially as the relationship is building. The yearning and tension between Will and Amaya is definitely strong and develops quickly, but it fits so well within the story once you get to know the trauma they have both lived through and what they can offer each other. I found myself genuinely caring for so many of the side characters and already had my heart broken within the first few chapters. Megan has done such beautiful job bringing life to her characters and I really love their little found family. I found myself feeling quite protective over some of them. (Looking at you Mouse 😉)

Overall this book is a 10/10 for me. It’s fast paced. The world building and lore are sprinkled throughout so it’s not just a big info dump. The characters are lovable and flawed and villains are ruthless. There’s adventure, romance, humor, betrayal, grief, and a few good plot twists. Oh and after all the emotional damage it ends on a cliff hanger I’m still recovering from. I cannot wait for the next book to contain on with this exciting journey!


I received a free eARC of this book from the author. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Chelsea Drumm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a bottomless pit of emotions over here after finishing this book. I just... THE ENDING! Why?! Bound by the Sky has many parallels to Treasure Planet, but it was MORE. More politics, more magic, more danger, more romance. The author did such a beautiful job creating the lore of the world, and the magic system is so cool and creative. The relics in this book are kind of all-encompassing and boundless in what they can do with enough Aether and creativity on the part of person crafting them.
The characters are my favorite part of this book. Not just the two MCs, Amaya and Will, but the side characters too. The camaraderie and friendship Will has with his crew is so endearing and cute. Will is protective and badass and willing to jump into any situation needed to help his people. He is a GONER when it comes to Amaya. Amaya is a bit of a damsel in distress, but I love the journey she goes on in this book to becoming more reliant on herself. The relationship between Will and Amaya went from kind of being her savior but also kind of her second captor to friendly to BIG FEELINGS. I liked his big feelings, I like them together, but it seemed like Will cared too much too soon. It feels like Will NEEDING her came out of nowhere.
Some of the ideas and conclusions that characters came up with seemed a little too convenient (like when the Wayfinder buzzed in Will's pocket and he knew exactly what trouble Amaya was in) and sometimes had me wondering how they even came to such a realization.
The ending left me emotionally distraught. I'll be thinking about this book until the next one comes out. Eternally grateful I was given the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book! If you love Treasure Planet this needs to go on your TBR list!

[Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Bound by the Sky. This book kept me hooked the whole time and I was constantly picturing everything so clearly in my head. The world is rich and vivid, I just wanted to explore it more. This is a world I didn’t want to leave, I would love to read more and learn about the world and everything in it.

The story reminded me of Treasure Planet vibe with some Pirates of the Caribbean and I mean that in the best possible way. Adventure, atmosphere and the world-building was there all along.

The plot was easy to follow, really well done and the pacing felt just right. Nothing dragged, nothing felt rushed, in my opinion it flowed smoothly and kept my interest from start to finish.

I loved the characters and the world-building so much. Everything worked together beautifully and it made the story incredibly fun to read. I genuinely enjoyed every moment of this book.

Amaya (FMC), did have that childish, carefree vibe at first but that made sense given the way she was raised and her background. And it's not a bad thing, I loved her character from the beginning and I really loved how she grew throughout the story; her development felt natural and earned. She was such a fun and sweet character to follow.

Will (MMC) was a great character as well. He’s strict but fair, clearly cares for his crew and feels like someone you’ld genuinely trust to lead, which made him very easy to root for. His love for Amaya was sweet and sincere and I think they complement each other so well.

Overall, this was a really fun read and it pulled me in from the very first page and I was hooked the whole way through. I’m so excited to see where the story and characters go next.

[Ashley Jakubaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

💙🧭✨Bound By The Sky✨🧭💙

I finished this ARC read in literally two days and omg I was in love the whole time. The romance, the friendships, the found family! Absolutely everything about this book made me so happy so of course it has to be five stars!!

The relationship between Amaya and Will made me so happy and I was absolutely obsessed. Love them as a couple so much. I loved the tension between them and how they grew together. The dual pov also made it even better because I got to watch the couple fall in love through their own eyes, it was so sweet.

Will is absolutely stunning and is definitely my new book boyfriend. He's just such a complex and attractive guy and they way he speaks to Amaya has me on my knees.

Amaya is such a great FMC! I love how she went from being this little defenseless girl to this strong independent woman. I love how her outfit signifies her growth, how she starts off in the little girl pastels and that grows into that deep blue as she finds herself. Absolutely love her so much.

The pirates of the Caribbean and Treasure island vibes definitely come through and it's done literally so well. I will definitely be buying the hardcover when it comes out because wow. It honestly doesn't even feel like a typical debut album because of how good it is. I was hooked the whole time and will definitely be rereading this soon.

But that ending had me sobbing, and I don't know how I'm gonna continue existing for the rest of the day. I don't know how I'm gonna wait for the next one😭😭 it's too long of a wait!!

Overall a wonderful read and if recommend to anyone who loves romantasy piratey vibes!! So excited for the next one💙💙💙

[Megan Tromposch · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when your ARC list is full, but you see a book that looks awesome and think "I can squeeze one more?" That was Bound by the Sky for me, and I'm SO glad I made space for it. There are many reasons why this was such an awesome read, but first- sky pirates. Yes, you read that right. A book about PIRATES IN THE SKY. Do I really need to say more?

As daughter of the mayor, Amaya Sinclairs life is carefully planned for her. Her routine and life of luxury is turned upside down when she is kidnapped by a group of pirates to be delivered to notorious Sky Lord Alastor Graven. Her kidnapping is interrupted when she is rescued during a pirates raid by one of the other seven Sky Lords, William Lexington. Unlike the other pirates she has met, Will is young, charming and all together too intriguing. He shows her a world in the sky that is wild and dangerous and everything her dreams are made of. When they discover Graven is hunting her for more than just her ransom potential, Will and Amaya must learn to trust each other if they want to survive the challenges ahead.

I loved this book. @owlcrate or @fairyloot need to pick this up for a special edition, because Id buy it in a heartbeat.This was a super original narrative, with magic, magically imbued relics and (in case you need another reminder) LITERALLY PIRATE SHIPS IN THE SKY! Its a plot driven, lower spice story with a full cast/ship of engaging characters. There is a lot of word building potential and I cant wait to see where the series goes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
🌶.5

#arcreview #bookreview

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the author said this was Treasure Planet mixed with Final Fantasy, I immediately knew I was in danger. I am a massive Treasure Planet fan, so my expectations were sky-high. Honestly, I was convinced there was no way this book could live up to that comparison.

I was wrong. Gloriously, spectacularly wrong.

This book completely won me over. The world-building is vivid and immersive, with a strong steampunk flavor that feels fresh and well thought out. The setting alone pulled me in, but it’s the characters who truly made this story soar. They’re diverse, layered, and revealed gradually in a way that feels natural and earned. I loved getting to know them piece by piece.

And the story… I adored it. The pacing is excellent, striking that rare balance between action and breathing room. It never drags, but it also doesn’t exhaust you with nonstop chaos. Every moment feels intentional, and the emotional beats land exactly where they should.

Now, the ending. I have feelings. Deep, painful feelings. The heartbreak, the agony, the absolute audacity of ending the book that way, especially with the holidays around the corner. I was left emotionally wrecked and completely unprepared for how hard it hit.

Despite the emotional damage, this is easily a five-star read for me. It’s the kind of book I already know I’ll return to again and again. If you love sky pirates, rich worlds, found family vibes, and stories that grab your heart and refuse to give it back, do yourself a favor and read this book. Just maybe brace yourself first.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW ✨

First thank you to the author for giving me this opportunity to read this early copy of the book

If you love pirates of the Caribbean, One piece , magic, and just a great adventure this is the book for you. This story is an epic fast paced adventure filled with mystery, betrayal , love and revenge.

The start of this book had me sucked in instantly. I immediately loved Amaya. The first few chapters had me in such a hurricane of emotions. Happy one minute , angry the next, sad after that and then just needing more.

An adventure started with a bang and continued with so many twists and turns. I thought I could figure out the answers and then would be pulled into new theories , different questions and a whole lot of well what happens next??? Every single character was crucial to the story and gave that same feeling I had when watching pirates of the Caribbean, feeling like every character you have seen from the start had a mission and they did it together as one family, no one gets left behind and everyone had a reason to stand behind one another with respect and loyalty.

I sat through the whole book gasping during action & curling my toes in anticipation. This book has me in such a chokehold I’m not sure I will ever recover. The scream that came out of me at the end probably scared the neighbors….

(Closed door - would not recommend to those who want extreme romance or are looking for something that is less heavy on plot)

[Nicole Zohorsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an advance reader copy of this book, which I requested solely based on the stunning cover art.

This story is a fun blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and romance that I hadn't explored yet. With sky pirates, a falls-for-her-captor dynamic, a slow burn, and “touch her and die” devotion, this book hits all the right tropes. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately, and this fast-paced, action-packed plot pulled me right out of it. The side characters truly shone, adding depth to story and a beautiful found family aspect. While the romantic tension between the main characters was delicious, the intimate scenes were handled tastefully, not quite closed-door but not fully explicit either.

If I had a few small critiques: I could have done without the epilogue—I’m partial to a good cliffhanger. Especially since there is a second book coming. While the pacing was mostly spot on, the beginning could have done a little bit more world building to understand the setting fully. I personally had a tough time understanding where on the visual spectrum between "Pirates of the Caribbean" to "Star Wars" we were on the air ships - that very well could have just been me though haha. Lastly, I think a map at the beginning of the book would have been helpful to further build the world and understand the setting more clearly (this could just be something not in the ARC).

Overall a really fun page turning read! I can't wait to see what this author does next.

[Ava Loomar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this review!

Spoiler free:

Pirates of the Caribbean meets One Piece meets Treasure Island. I think the world is super interesting, and as a lover of steampunk, fantasy and pirates, this is super up my alley. So love the world and its history. And I like the plotline as well. Action scenes are decent and fun. But my problem is really with the writing, especially considering the main characters are in their early to mid 20s. It’s a very juvenile style. Very tell, not show. I don’t feel any depth to their emotions. Nor Any suspense about plot movements. I’m just supposed to believe the FMC and MMC are falling for each other because of a few snarky moments, shared glances and one good conversation at a fair? I just don’t feel it. And when it comes to the spicy scene, the lack of depth and fluidity makes it feel super off. Like early YA writing. It sucks because I LIKE the characters. I love a found family and I can see the potential. I just don’t feel like the writing did any favors. I think the author just needs more time. And editing.


SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER:







On the other hand, as an absolute connoisseur of pirate media, it is kinda a rip off. Amaya is Elizabeth Swan to a T. Her necklace getting her captured away from her government dad and her military betrothed. Graven is clearly Blackbeard from One Piece, collecting more relics than he should be allowed to have. The relics are Devil Fruits. Victor is James Norrington. Will is half a shadow daddy. Shadow sword daddy. Because I DO love pirate media, it doesn’t bother me to mash all these bits together because I still liked the world. My problem is that combined with the writing style it reads like fan fiction. High hopes, big let down unfortunately. It would make a great TV show, it’s just not a fun read. My stars are mostly for vibes.

[Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bound by the Sky by Megan G. Elisabeth is a creative steampunk sky‑pirate romantasy with a lot of potential, and it lands at 3 stars for me. The world of floating cities, pirate airships, and aether‑powered industry is vivid and imaginative, and the setup—Amaya’s life upended when she’s abducted by a Sky Lord and thrown into the dangerous world above the clouds—is immediately compelling. Will, who has carved out his own fragile place in the sky, makes a strong counterpart, and their forced proximity aboard the Maelstrom provides plenty of tension and sparks.
The found family vibes, political tension, and hints of something much bigger moving behind the scenes all worked well for me, and the romance has a nice blend of banter, conflict, and slow trust. However, the story sometimes feels longer than it needs to be—certain sections drag, and a leaner edit would, in my opinion, make the plot and emotional beats land harder. There are also moments where I wanted more clarity around the aether/magic systems and the stakes of the looming threat to fully immerse myself.
Overall, Bound by the Sky is an enjoyable, atmospheric start to the Aether & Industry series, especially for readers who love skyships, pirates, industrial fantasy, and slow-burn romantasy. With some tightening, future instalments could really soar. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC for this book for my honest review.

5 stars!

From the prologue, I was immediately hooked, it was fast-paced without sacrificing detail, and I was instantly invested. The adventure launches right away, and the crew interactions are such a highlight. The side characters don’t just fill space; they quickly become favorites in their own right.

The comparisons to Treasure Planet are spot-on (and yes, that movie is criminally underrated). The steampunk-inspired worldbuilding is vivid and imaginative, with relics that feel purposeful and fascinating rather than decorative. I especially appreciated that every description had weight—nothing felt like filler, even down to the FMC’s appearance.

Speaking of the FMC, her arc is fantastic. She grows into herself in a way that feels authentic, and the romance works because he doesn’t want to change her—he encourages her chaos, independence, and strength. His insistence on both protecting her and teaching her to protect herself makes their dynamic believable and refreshing. Their solo adventures add even more depth to the story.

Twists, turns, and surprises kept me glued to the pages, and now I’m absolutely desperate to know what happens next!