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A Fire in the Sky #3
Spellcast
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan is back with an epic romantasy set in the world of A Fire in the Sky, about a girl on the hunt for the witch who cursed her, unaware of her own dormant power…waiting to emerge.
For ten long years, Arden has been invisible, trapped in her village by a spell she cannot break. She listens to friends chatter, watches her family grieve, but can never touch, speak, or be seen. Living like a ghost among those who’ve forgotten her, she dreams of vengeance against the witch who cursed her.
Until one fateful day, her village is devoured in flame, and everything changes.
From the wreckage rises a pride of dragons that can transform into humans. Their piercing eyes slice through her curse, and for the first time in a decade, Arden can be seen.
Swept off to the Crags by the enigmatic alpha dragon, Tage, Arden is forced into a world of fire and power, where danger lurks in every shadow. Though she plots her escape at every turn, Tage’s fiery intensity and undeniable magnetism spark an unwilling response in her.
But Arden’s fate is bound to a secret she has yet to uncover, a magic older and more perilous than she could ever imagine. With war on the horizon, Arden must decide whether to trust the dragon she swore to defy, harness the wild magic around her, or risk losing everything.
Sometimes all it takes to break a curse… is to cast another spell.
For ten long years, Arden has been invisible, trapped in her village by a spell she cannot break. She listens to friends chatter, watches her family grieve, but can never touch, speak, or be seen. Living like a ghost among those who’ve forgotten her, she dreams of vengeance against the witch who cursed her.
Until one fateful day, her village is devoured in flame, and everything changes.
From the wreckage rises a pride of dragons that can transform into humans. Their piercing eyes slice through her curse, and for the first time in a decade, Arden can be seen.
Swept off to the Crags by the enigmatic alpha dragon, Tage, Arden is forced into a world of fire and power, where danger lurks in every shadow. Though she plots her escape at every turn, Tage’s fiery intensity and undeniable magnetism spark an unwilling response in her.
But Arden’s fate is bound to a secret she has yet to uncover, a magic older and more perilous than she could ever imagine. With war on the horizon, Arden must decide whether to trust the dragon she swore to defy, harness the wild magic around her, or risk losing everything.
Sometimes all it takes to break a curse… is to cast another spell.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 28, 2026
12 people are currently reading
1297 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Jordan
71 books9,054 followersPseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
February 7, 2026
📖✨ Bookish Thoughts
I was honestly hoping for more from this book. The worldbuilding felt lackluster and underdeveloped. A large portion of the story read very YA to me, and the first 100 pages felt completely unnecessary to the overall plot. At most, maybe the first 20 pages were actually needed.
I also struggled with the FMC. She came across as whiny and frustrating. And the plot twist at the end just made me mad. It left me feeling like everything she endured was for nothing, especially after all those years of loneliness. It was a deeply unsatisfying.
🖤 What to Expect
• Cursed FMC
• Dragon shifters
• Captor/captive
• Touch her and die
• Witch magic
• Alpha dragon MMC
• War
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3 stars
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I was honestly hoping for more from this book. The worldbuilding felt lackluster and underdeveloped. A large portion of the story read very YA to me, and the first 100 pages felt completely unnecessary to the overall plot. At most, maybe the first 20 pages were actually needed.
I also struggled with the FMC. She came across as whiny and frustrating. And the plot twist at the end just made me mad. It left me feeling like everything she endured was for nothing, especially after all those years of loneliness. It was a deeply unsatisfying.
🖤 What to Expect
• Cursed FMC
• Dragon shifters
• Captor/captive
• Touch her and die
• Witch magic
• Alpha dragon MMC
• War
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3 stars
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
January 10, 2026
Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of Spellcast by Sophie Jordan, to be published on July 28th, 2026.
This book is part of A fire in the Sky, which has already 2 books published. This is a spin-off.
The plot is entertaining from beginning to end, with characters such as a wraith, a healer, witches, shapeshifters, different flocks of dragons, and harpies.
There's also so much mystery in the story that keeps you intrigued at all times.
The book is divided into three parts: The first one is related to "the ghost", the second one to "the dragons", and the third one "to the witch."
I really liked the organization of the book, and I certainly loved the plot twists!
This book is part of A fire in the Sky, which has already 2 books published. This is a spin-off.
The plot is entertaining from beginning to end, with characters such as a wraith, a healer, witches, shapeshifters, different flocks of dragons, and harpies.
There's also so much mystery in the story that keeps you intrigued at all times.
The book is divided into three parts: The first one is related to "the ghost", the second one to "the dragons", and the third one "to the witch."
I really liked the organization of the book, and I certainly loved the plot twists!
February 17, 2026
I was a bit surprised at how much I loved this book! I went in fairly blind because when I requested this, I must've missed that this was a companion novel to a completed duology in the same world. Let me tell you though that regardless of whether you have read the other books or not, you can still easily fall in love with Spellcast.
We follow Arden, a youngest daughter of an unremarkable family in an unremarkable village, who gets cursed by a witch when she was 14. For ten years, she is invisible and spends her days watching her family, friends, and fellow villagers with only her own thoughts for company. One day, her village is razed by a group of dragon shifters leaving her as the only survivor. She is then kidnapped by our MMC, Tage, and his friends. Things pick up from there.
This is a very character driven novel, which worked for me, but I understand it won't work for everyone. I want to preface this before I get too far into this review. The first third of this is almost a different novel compared to the last 2/3. It is very heavy as a multitude of different topics are discussed like death of a minor, depression, grief, and loneliness. I thought these were all handled well, however, I do feel like this section of the book could've been significantly shorter. I understand the purpose of it, in regards to the heavy themes present, but I feel it dragged on a little.
This leads into the rest of the book. The content is not nearly as heavy, and it was fun to learn more about the dragons and how they live. I felt like each of our 6 dragons had distinctive personalities and were equally interesting characters. I wasn't entirely sold on Tage and Arden as a couple. He seemed to just decide he would sacrifice everything for her out of the blue with not much of a defense for why. The tension was well done, however, and I felt the attraction.
There really isn't much of a plot here, so be prepared for that. This book is more fun vibes, cool world building, and well done character arcs. I think Arden is very relatable. Even though none of us have ever been cursed to become invisible, I think we can all relate to not being heard at some point in our lives.
I will certainly be checking out Jordan's other books in this series now!
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
We follow Arden, a youngest daughter of an unremarkable family in an unremarkable village, who gets cursed by a witch when she was 14. For ten years, she is invisible and spends her days watching her family, friends, and fellow villagers with only her own thoughts for company. One day, her village is razed by a group of dragon shifters leaving her as the only survivor. She is then kidnapped by our MMC, Tage, and his friends. Things pick up from there.
This is a very character driven novel, which worked for me, but I understand it won't work for everyone. I want to preface this before I get too far into this review. The first third of this is almost a different novel compared to the last 2/3. It is very heavy as a multitude of different topics are discussed like death of a minor, depression, grief, and loneliness. I thought these were all handled well, however, I do feel like this section of the book could've been significantly shorter. I understand the purpose of it, in regards to the heavy themes present, but I feel it dragged on a little.
This leads into the rest of the book. The content is not nearly as heavy, and it was fun to learn more about the dragons and how they live. I felt like each of our 6 dragons had distinctive personalities and were equally interesting characters. I wasn't entirely sold on Tage and Arden as a couple. He seemed to just decide he would sacrifice everything for her out of the blue with not much of a defense for why. The tension was well done, however, and I felt the attraction.
There really isn't much of a plot here, so be prepared for that. This book is more fun vibes, cool world building, and well done character arcs. I think Arden is very relatable. Even though none of us have ever been cursed to become invisible, I think we can all relate to not being heard at some point in our lives.
I will certainly be checking out Jordan's other books in this series now!
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 1, 2026
I was immediately sucked into this book with that prologue! The descriptions are just incredible! This is a character driven story following Arden and I loved experiencing her emotional journey alongside her! My heart ached for her during the first third of this book as she is forced to watch life happen around her but never experience anything herself or help the ones she loves! Once Tage enters the picture (queue protective dragon shifter hehe), you can understand all her internal battles between being a captive but also the desire to be touched and feel that connection! Their relationship has all the push and pull, tension, and spice to keep you craving more! The twist toward the end was one I did NOT see coming and I loved the way everything concluded. It was great being back in this world and it was so easy to fly through those pages! 4.25 stars
✨Captive/Captor
✨Virgin and touch starved FMC
✨Touch her and die vibes
✨Wound care
✨Only one fur 😉
✨Dragon shifters and witches
Thank you so much to Avon, NetGalley and the author for the review copy!
✨Captive/Captor
✨Virgin and touch starved FMC
✨Touch her and die vibes
✨Wound care
✨Only one fur 😉
✨Dragon shifters and witches
Thank you so much to Avon, NetGalley and the author for the review copy!
January 21, 2026
I had to sit on this one for a bit before reviewing. I love Sophie’s consistency in her writing, but I’ll be honest this one was a bit of a miss for me compared to the others in the series.
The first half of this was way longer than necessary and the second half was a lot of the same thing. I liked Arden but she’s also super naive. I knew the plot twit was coming which was disappointing. However her story is pretty tragic so be prepared to sit in some heavy feelings.
It was definitely an interesting addition to the series, but not my favorite.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.
The first half of this was way longer than necessary and the second half was a lot of the same thing. I liked Arden but she’s also super naive. I knew the plot twit was coming which was disappointing. However her story is pretty tragic so be prepared to sit in some heavy feelings.
It was definitely an interesting addition to the series, but not my favorite.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2026
When I finished A Scar in the Bone, the duology was over but I didn't feel done with this world. Spellcast has everything you know and love about A Fire in the Sky, but expands on the world with new characters in a standalone novel. Set in the same world, Spellcast follows Arden: a young girl who finds herself cursed to a life of invisibility by a witch. This character driven story takes us through multiple iterations of Arden. Most notably: as a young girl forced to watch her friends and neighbors but not be seen or heard, as the captive of an alpha who can't allow her to tell others that dragons still exist, and as a woman who is discovering what it means to be seen/ touched for the first time in over a decade.
As Arden adapts to being invisible, she is able to observe the world around her without consequence. When she is suddenly able to be seen by the dragons, it gives her the push to choose the future that she wants for herself. I think Sophie Jordan painted an excellent picture of what it means to truly be SEEN, and not just by a romantic partner. Arden's romance with Tage was definitely a slow burn, but it also allowed her to navigate her circumstances without her character arc being led by another person. I really loved Arden's journey, and thought the further exploration of witches, dragons, and magic was a wonderful way to expand this world. Secretly hoping that Sophie Jordan continues to write stories about swoon worthy dragons and strong FMCs.
Spellcast releases on July 28, 2026. Thank you Avon for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley widget), all thoughts expressed are my own.
As Arden adapts to being invisible, she is able to observe the world around her without consequence. When she is suddenly able to be seen by the dragons, it gives her the push to choose the future that she wants for herself. I think Sophie Jordan painted an excellent picture of what it means to truly be SEEN, and not just by a romantic partner. Arden's romance with Tage was definitely a slow burn, but it also allowed her to navigate her circumstances without her character arc being led by another person. I really loved Arden's journey, and thought the further exploration of witches, dragons, and magic was a wonderful way to expand this world. Secretly hoping that Sophie Jordan continues to write stories about swoon worthy dragons and strong FMCs.
Spellcast releases on July 28, 2026. Thank you Avon for gifting me with an eARC (via Netgalley widget), all thoughts expressed are my own.
May 1, 2026
Thank you netgalley for this opportunity to read and leave a review. I was not sure what I was walking into until I started reading and boy was I hooked fast. The premise, plot, characters and world you experience was to fall into and want to keep reading. There was spice eventually but mostly a solid plot with mystery involved. It has witches, dragons, and other creatures. You have a found family that seems to be questionable as you read and discover each person’s true self. I like the way the story develops and that there isn’t Wei’s time jumps or awkward moments where the flow isn’t continuous. I have read multiple books by this author before and loved them so no surprise that this one was read in one day. Definitely add to your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 3.25⭐️/5⭐️
I went into Spell Cast hoping this would be the book in A Fire in the Sky series that finally clicked for me. While I didn’t love the first two installments, the premise here—new main characters, a cursed FMC, and dragons—had me genuinely interested. In the end, it was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t live up to what I hoped it would be.
Arden’s story starts out very bleak. Cursed by a witch to be invisible, she’s forced to watch her village, friends, and family live their lives without ever acknowledging her existence. Those early chapters do a good job of capturing her loneliness and quiet despair. When dragons burn down her village, leaving her truly and completely alone, the story takes a turn. The fact that some dragons can actually see her was such an intriguing twist.
The pacing was my biggest issue. The pacing felt very uneven throughout. The first part of the book was extremely slow, spending a lot of time establishing Arden’s situation without moving the plot forward. Then, once the story finally picked up, everything else felt rushed. Major events, emotional moments, and twists flew by, which made the story feel underdeveloped.
This was especially noticeable in the romance. Tage, the dragon who kidnaps Arden, had the potential to be an interesting MMC, but both he and his relationship with Arden felt underdeveloped. Their connection progressed quickly with very little buildup, making it hard to truly feel the bond between them or be invested in their story.
Despite these issues, Spell Cast was a quick and easy read. Once the story picked up, it was entertaining enough, and I didn’t struggle to finish it. Readers who enjoyed the first two books in the series will likely enjoy this one as well. However, if you were hoping this book would change your opinion of the series, it probably won’t.
One final note: there were no trigger warnings included in the version I read, and the book does include the death of minors. I’m not sure if this was specific to the ARC, but it’s something I think should be clearly stated.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Sophie Jordan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I went into Spell Cast hoping this would be the book in A Fire in the Sky series that finally clicked for me. While I didn’t love the first two installments, the premise here—new main characters, a cursed FMC, and dragons—had me genuinely interested. In the end, it was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t live up to what I hoped it would be.
Arden’s story starts out very bleak. Cursed by a witch to be invisible, she’s forced to watch her village, friends, and family live their lives without ever acknowledging her existence. Those early chapters do a good job of capturing her loneliness and quiet despair. When dragons burn down her village, leaving her truly and completely alone, the story takes a turn. The fact that some dragons can actually see her was such an intriguing twist.
The pacing was my biggest issue. The pacing felt very uneven throughout. The first part of the book was extremely slow, spending a lot of time establishing Arden’s situation without moving the plot forward. Then, once the story finally picked up, everything else felt rushed. Major events, emotional moments, and twists flew by, which made the story feel underdeveloped.
This was especially noticeable in the romance. Tage, the dragon who kidnaps Arden, had the potential to be an interesting MMC, but both he and his relationship with Arden felt underdeveloped. Their connection progressed quickly with very little buildup, making it hard to truly feel the bond between them or be invested in their story.
Despite these issues, Spell Cast was a quick and easy read. Once the story picked up, it was entertaining enough, and I didn’t struggle to finish it. Readers who enjoyed the first two books in the series will likely enjoy this one as well. However, if you were hoping this book would change your opinion of the series, it probably won’t.
One final note: there were no trigger warnings included in the version I read, and the book does include the death of minors. I’m not sure if this was specific to the ARC, but it’s something I think should be clearly stated.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Sophie Jordan for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 22, 2025
Arden is the daughter of a blacksmith. She spends ten miserable years invisible due to a curse, unable to interact with her family and fellow town’s folk. Tragedy strikes her village, leaving Arden the lone survivor. She ends up kidnapped by a pride of dragons, ones who can transform into humans. Arden knows she does not belong with them, but she cannot ignore her desire for their alpha. Can Arden find a way to break her curse? Or will a secret forever alienate her from Tage?
Tage is the leader of a small group of shape-changing dragons. They investigate a skelm attack – dragons who prey on humans – only to find one survivor. Tage decides to bring the human woman back with them when they fail at altering her memories. Arden proves to be an anomaly among her kind; one he cannot ignore. Tage does not dare trust her with the secret of their existence. Will Arden’s presence destroy everything that Tage built within his pride?
SPELLCAST is the third book in Sophie Jordan’s fantasy romance series, A FIRE IN THE SKY.I did not know the author wrote books/series in this genre – fantasy and fantasy romances are my top favs. So, I have not read the first two books in the series. This did not hinder my ability to follow the plot or enjoy the story and characters. SPELLCAST takes place in the same world yet an all-new cast of characters.
The author breaks the story into three parts. The first focuses solely on Arden. How the curse starts and the ramifications it has on her. It allowed me to really empathize with Arden. My heart went out to the girl for everything she experienced while invisible. I am amazed that Arden managed to maintain her sanity.
The second part introduces Tage and his pride. I like the creative spin the author took with her dragon shapeshifters. How their kind evolved with the ability to morph into human shape. I also like how the dragons are still learning the full scope of their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Tage is the leader of a small group of shape-changing dragons. They investigate a skelm attack – dragons who prey on humans – only to find one survivor. Tage decides to bring the human woman back with them when they fail at altering her memories. Arden proves to be an anomaly among her kind; one he cannot ignore. Tage does not dare trust her with the secret of their existence. Will Arden’s presence destroy everything that Tage built within his pride?
SPELLCAST is the third book in Sophie Jordan’s fantasy romance series, A FIRE IN THE SKY.I did not know the author wrote books/series in this genre – fantasy and fantasy romances are my top favs. So, I have not read the first two books in the series. This did not hinder my ability to follow the plot or enjoy the story and characters. SPELLCAST takes place in the same world yet an all-new cast of characters.
The author breaks the story into three parts. The first focuses solely on Arden. How the curse starts and the ramifications it has on her. It allowed me to really empathize with Arden. My heart went out to the girl for everything she experienced while invisible. I am amazed that Arden managed to maintain her sanity.
The second part introduces Tage and his pride. I like the creative spin the author took with her dragon shapeshifters. How their kind evolved with the ability to morph into human shape. I also like how the dragons are still learning the full scope of their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So I’m partially an idiot when it comes to this book. I’ll be honest I was excited for a new Sophie Jordan book especially involving witches. However, when I was sent an ARC for this book I had no clue it was part of the “A Fire in the Sky” world. If I had known or done my own research I would’ve kindly told the publishers DEAR GOD NO. But since that didn’t happen here we are. So first let me thank Avon & NetGalley for ARC in exchange for my honest review. I apologize in advance because I’m about to be harsh.
If you’ve been with me for a bit you know I ripped the second book in “A Fire in the Sky” series a new one. Which don’t get me wrong it still shocks me to this day. Because the first book is great. Second book complete dumpster fire. But after I got over my realization on what Spellcast was I decided to give it a fair try. I should’ve known book 3 wasn’t going to fair much better…
First up, let’s talk about trigger warnings. There should definitely be some. I don’t know if this was just an ARC thing. But please be advised if you read this and struggle with death. Specifically the death of a child. This is not for you. Next, what even was the relationship between the FMC and MMC. And I use the term relationship very loosely. There’s no development whatsoever, honestly it’s more lust than anything. Then to make matters even worse the FMC isn’t even likeable. If I hear her complain about how miserable and invisible she is I’m going to through my kindle throw a wall. Now I get our FMC is dealing with crap circumstances and her depression is real bad. But we didn’t need to dwell on it for as long as we did.
The only redeeming thing about this book and the reason it got 2⭐️ was the ending. I actually thought the ending was good. The twist was a pleasant surprise that I didn’t see coming so I guess I’ll take the small win.
Overall, I love Sophie Jordan writing but this one just wasn’t it for me.
If you’ve been with me for a bit you know I ripped the second book in “A Fire in the Sky” series a new one. Which don’t get me wrong it still shocks me to this day. Because the first book is great. Second book complete dumpster fire. But after I got over my realization on what Spellcast was I decided to give it a fair try. I should’ve known book 3 wasn’t going to fair much better…
First up, let’s talk about trigger warnings. There should definitely be some. I don’t know if this was just an ARC thing. But please be advised if you read this and struggle with death. Specifically the death of a child. This is not for you. Next, what even was the relationship between the FMC and MMC. And I use the term relationship very loosely. There’s no development whatsoever, honestly it’s more lust than anything. Then to make matters even worse the FMC isn’t even likeable. If I hear her complain about how miserable and invisible she is I’m going to through my kindle throw a wall. Now I get our FMC is dealing with crap circumstances and her depression is real bad. But we didn’t need to dwell on it for as long as we did.
The only redeeming thing about this book and the reason it got 2⭐️ was the ending. I actually thought the ending was good. The twist was a pleasant surprise that I didn’t see coming so I guess I’ll take the small win.
Overall, I love Sophie Jordan writing but this one just wasn’t it for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Spellcast by Sophie Jordan
This book quietly wrecked me in the best possible way.
Spellcast takes a concept that feels hauntingly simple a girl cursed to be invisible and turns it into something emotionally devastating and strangely empowering. Arden has spent ten years unseen. Not metaphorically. Literally unheard, untouched, and forgotten while life continues around her. The loneliness of that existence seeps into every page, and I felt it in my chest from the very beginning.
When the dragons arrive and finally see her, the shift is electric. Not just because dragons always raise the stakes, but because being seen after a decade of isolation hits on a deeply human level. Arden is fierce, bitter, vulnerable, and painfully self aware. Watching her wrestle with her anger, her worth, and her fear of hoping again was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Tage is exactly the kind of morally steady, quietly intense presence this story needed. Protective without being overbearing. Dangerous without being cruel. Their chemistry builds through tension, proximity, and small moments of intimacy rather than constant spice, and I loved that restraint. The touches. The shared space. The trust that forms piece by piece. It made the romance feel earned.
The pacing is excellent. There is action, emotional weight, magic, and dragons without ever feeling overwhelming. And beneath all of it is a powerful metaphor about self worth, invisibility, and the damage we do to ourselves when we believe we do not matter.
This book does not rush its emotional payoff. It lets the story breathe. It lets the romance grow naturally. And it proves that sometimes the most powerful magic is learning to see yourself.
I closed this one already wanting the next book in my hands.
#Spellcast #SophieJordan #RomantasyReads #DragonFantasy #BookstagramFavorite @Avon @HarperVoyager
This book quietly wrecked me in the best possible way.
Spellcast takes a concept that feels hauntingly simple a girl cursed to be invisible and turns it into something emotionally devastating and strangely empowering. Arden has spent ten years unseen. Not metaphorically. Literally unheard, untouched, and forgotten while life continues around her. The loneliness of that existence seeps into every page, and I felt it in my chest from the very beginning.
When the dragons arrive and finally see her, the shift is electric. Not just because dragons always raise the stakes, but because being seen after a decade of isolation hits on a deeply human level. Arden is fierce, bitter, vulnerable, and painfully self aware. Watching her wrestle with her anger, her worth, and her fear of hoping again was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Tage is exactly the kind of morally steady, quietly intense presence this story needed. Protective without being overbearing. Dangerous without being cruel. Their chemistry builds through tension, proximity, and small moments of intimacy rather than constant spice, and I loved that restraint. The touches. The shared space. The trust that forms piece by piece. It made the romance feel earned.
The pacing is excellent. There is action, emotional weight, magic, and dragons without ever feeling overwhelming. And beneath all of it is a powerful metaphor about self worth, invisibility, and the damage we do to ourselves when we believe we do not matter.
This book does not rush its emotional payoff. It lets the story breathe. It lets the romance grow naturally. And it proves that sometimes the most powerful magic is learning to see yourself.
I closed this one already wanting the next book in my hands.
#Spellcast #SophieJordan #RomantasyReads #DragonFantasy #BookstagramFavorite @Avon @HarperVoyager
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you, NegGalley and the publisher, for granting me early access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
4/5 ⭐
That was intense! Pretty good side story in the world of the previous books in the series. To be honest, I was stalling so much in the beginning, the first 1/3 of the book seems unnecessary long. Like there's no reason to explain how the FMC was suffering from the consequences of the spell.
But as soon as the new characters (and the main love interest *wink wink*) were introduced, the speed and tension skyrocketed! Loved it, finished it in a few days after weeks of reading just a couple percent ever day.
Loved the plot twists at the end, loved the happy ending but the main reveal kinda was obvious mid book... I was like, yeah, it's probably because of *this* and sure thing, I was right lol
When it comes to the characters, I'm so relieved to see that FMC doesn't lack common sense! Arden takes precautions, calculates, makes all the right decisions (except on in the beginning when she was a child and one at the end when she thinks she can survive in the mountains... in winter 😐). As for someone who was forced to live differently, she definitely knows how to use her brain. And as for MMC, I'm glad he's not broody and dismissive of his feelings towards FMC. Like, for real, I've had enough of the typical dark, tall, mysterious man who goes through all the painful (for me, the reader) stages of "enemies to lovers"... Sophie Jordan, specific thanks for creating Tage 🔥
Also, Spellcast advertised as extra spicy, but I'm gonna admit that one spicy scene doesn't count as extra in my books 😬 so... like... can we have more in the next books? 😅
Interesting idea, pretty good execution, engaging writing style, likable characters, a bit boring first third of the book, but it all comes up to 4/5 stars!
4/5 ⭐
That was intense! Pretty good side story in the world of the previous books in the series. To be honest, I was stalling so much in the beginning, the first 1/3 of the book seems unnecessary long. Like there's no reason to explain how the FMC was suffering from the consequences of the spell.
But as soon as the new characters (and the main love interest *wink wink*) were introduced, the speed and tension skyrocketed! Loved it, finished it in a few days after weeks of reading just a couple percent ever day.
Loved the plot twists at the end, loved the happy ending but the main reveal kinda was obvious mid book... I was like, yeah, it's probably because of *this* and sure thing, I was right lol
When it comes to the characters, I'm so relieved to see that FMC doesn't lack common sense! Arden takes precautions, calculates, makes all the right decisions (except on in the beginning when she was a child and one at the end when she thinks she can survive in the mountains... in winter 😐). As for someone who was forced to live differently, she definitely knows how to use her brain. And as for MMC, I'm glad he's not broody and dismissive of his feelings towards FMC. Like, for real, I've had enough of the typical dark, tall, mysterious man who goes through all the painful (for me, the reader) stages of "enemies to lovers"... Sophie Jordan, specific thanks for creating Tage 🔥
Also, Spellcast advertised as extra spicy, but I'm gonna admit that one spicy scene doesn't count as extra in my books 😬 so... like... can we have more in the next books? 😅
Interesting idea, pretty good execution, engaging writing style, likable characters, a bit boring first third of the book, but it all comes up to 4/5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Anything this author writes I devour. I didn't realize this series was getting another book, but it was welcomed! This is one of my favorite series!!
Spoiler Free Summary
A girl wishes out loud to be invisible and then becomes cursed with being invisible to others. She is picked up by dragons where they fight a local dragon gang and finally figure what happened to her.
Vibes
The pacing in this book was excellent—I was able to keep up with all the plots and drama while still fully enjoying the chemistry between the two main characters. You really feel for the FMC after witnessing everything she’s forced to endure and experience. For deep thinkers, this story reads as a powerful metaphor and lesson about overthinking. It does a great job of illustrating the harm someone can inflict on themselves when they don’t give themselves grace or believe in their own worth.
Spice/Romance
2/5 - 🌶️🌶️ - You knew what was going on, but it wasn't extremely graphic. Nothing Non-traditional
One of the reasons I love this author is that she doesn't force smut or spicy scenes. She just lets the story flow. She will put a romance scene in when it naturally flows, but won't force anything. To add on, the hot spring scene was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Finally, I also liked the little acts of intimacy the two characters would do like the arm cradles in bed or light touches. Next, I did see on the book description that it was super spicy. Compared to trending books, I wouldn't say its super spicy, but definitely 18+
Overall, this is a great addition to the series, and I cannot wait for what else this author has in store.
Tropes:
Secret Identity/Hidden Powers
Enemies to Lovers
Touch her and die
Captor/Captive
Magic
Dragons
Witches
Spoiler Free Summary
A girl wishes out loud to be invisible and then becomes cursed with being invisible to others. She is picked up by dragons where they fight a local dragon gang and finally figure what happened to her.
Vibes
The pacing in this book was excellent—I was able to keep up with all the plots and drama while still fully enjoying the chemistry between the two main characters. You really feel for the FMC after witnessing everything she’s forced to endure and experience. For deep thinkers, this story reads as a powerful metaphor and lesson about overthinking. It does a great job of illustrating the harm someone can inflict on themselves when they don’t give themselves grace or believe in their own worth.
Spice/Romance
2/5 - 🌶️🌶️ - You knew what was going on, but it wasn't extremely graphic. Nothing Non-traditional
One of the reasons I love this author is that she doesn't force smut or spicy scenes. She just lets the story flow. She will put a romance scene in when it naturally flows, but won't force anything. To add on, the hot spring scene was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Finally, I also liked the little acts of intimacy the two characters would do like the arm cradles in bed or light touches. Next, I did see on the book description that it was super spicy. Compared to trending books, I wouldn't say its super spicy, but definitely 18+
Overall, this is a great addition to the series, and I cannot wait for what else this author has in store.
Tropes:
Secret Identity/Hidden Powers
Enemies to Lovers
Touch her and die
Captor/Captive
Magic
Dragons
Witches
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sophie Jordan is back with Spellcast - an epic romantasy set in the world of A Fire in the Sky, about a girl on the hunt for the witch who cursed her, unaware of her own dormant power…waiting to emerge.
Spellcast is about a girl, Arden, who is cursed by a witch. For ten long years, Arden has been invisible, trapped in her village by a spell she cannot break. She listens to friends chatter, watches her family grieve, but can never touch, speak, or be seen.
Until one fateful day, her village is devoured in flame, and everything changes. From the wreckage rises a pride of dragons that can transform into humans. Their piercing eyes slice through her curse, and for the first time in a decade, Arden can be seen. Determined to hunt them down to regain the life she once had.
But Arden’s fate is bound to a secret she has yet to uncover, a magic older and more perilous than she could ever imagine.
Sometimes all it takes to break a curse… is to cast another spell.
The story was engaging with wonderful characters were easy to connect with. The worldbuilding and pacing kept me interested as well.
I initially thought this book would be a direct continuation of the existing series and I was worried because I didn't realize it before requesting it . So realizing it was a spin-off took a little adjustment, but once I settled into the story, I realized I understood everything (i think ) and I didn't need to read the previous story. ( I will update this once I read the previous story).
Overall, this was a great read with compelling characters and an engaging premise, and I look forward to reading the previous book(s) and rereading this again.
Thanks to @NetGalley , @Avonbooks and @HarperVoyagerUS for this gifted galley in exchange for my honest review.
Spellcast is about a girl, Arden, who is cursed by a witch. For ten long years, Arden has been invisible, trapped in her village by a spell she cannot break. She listens to friends chatter, watches her family grieve, but can never touch, speak, or be seen.
Until one fateful day, her village is devoured in flame, and everything changes. From the wreckage rises a pride of dragons that can transform into humans. Their piercing eyes slice through her curse, and for the first time in a decade, Arden can be seen. Determined to hunt them down to regain the life she once had.
But Arden’s fate is bound to a secret she has yet to uncover, a magic older and more perilous than she could ever imagine.
Sometimes all it takes to break a curse… is to cast another spell.
The story was engaging with wonderful characters were easy to connect with. The worldbuilding and pacing kept me interested as well.
I initially thought this book would be a direct continuation of the existing series and I was worried because I didn't realize it before requesting it . So realizing it was a spin-off took a little adjustment, but once I settled into the story, I realized I understood everything (i think ) and I didn't need to read the previous story. ( I will update this once I read the previous story).
Overall, this was a great read with compelling characters and an engaging premise, and I look forward to reading the previous book(s) and rereading this again.
Thanks to @NetGalley , @Avonbooks and @HarperVoyagerUS for this gifted galley in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2026
After arguing with her dad Arden rushes to the forest wishing to be invisible. She could never imagine that a witch would be waiting in that forest to make that her reality. Once she discovers she is truly invisible she shuffles through the next 10 years of life watching but never seen or heard while seeing some truly awful moments she desperately wishes she could intervene in. Determined to get her life back she hatches a plan to kill the witch, returning to the forest often to see it through. One day while in the forest her village is attacked and that’s when things finally take a turn for Arden as she meets Tage.
After reading the first two books I was excited to pick this one up. I didn’t know much more than it was in the same world but a new story going into it. I was not prepared for how emotional the first third of this book was going to be! It is very somber and there are a few moments that are truly heartbreaking. It’s a bit slow to start but I think it really works to build up what Arden is going through and how being invisible has impacted her. My only gripe is some parts did feel a bit repetitive but it’s mostly from Arden trying to work things out and think them through.
Once the dragons come into the picture the book does pick up. Tage is this slow to unravel pensive dragon man but he is also very straight forward at times and I loved that. The romance is definitely a slow build up and I think honestly comes a bit left field. This was a quick but somewhat emotional read for me that I had a good time with. 3.75/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
After reading the first two books I was excited to pick this one up. I didn’t know much more than it was in the same world but a new story going into it. I was not prepared for how emotional the first third of this book was going to be! It is very somber and there are a few moments that are truly heartbreaking. It’s a bit slow to start but I think it really works to build up what Arden is going through and how being invisible has impacted her. My only gripe is some parts did feel a bit repetitive but it’s mostly from Arden trying to work things out and think them through.
Once the dragons come into the picture the book does pick up. Tage is this slow to unravel pensive dragon man but he is also very straight forward at times and I loved that. The romance is definitely a slow build up and I think honestly comes a bit left field. This was a quick but somewhat emotional read for me that I had a good time with. 3.75/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
So excited to jump back into this world. Sophie's dragons are amazing as always.
Now, do be aware this could seem like a stand alone as it doesn't follow the same characters as the first two books. In this book it focuses on another set of characters. Same world, just a different view.
Arden is just trying to exist in a world where she doesn't. Least, not that anyone can see anyway. After one night as a kid she ran off and little did she know the words she let out was actually a spell. Thinking she was cursed by some witch, she goes on the hunt to find her and undo this curse. Unfortunately she won't learn the truth until it's too late.
From the sidelines in a way, she watches her family look for her and mourn her. Watches her sister get married, have kids and even witness the tragedy that will ultimately also take another from her. There isn't anything Arden can do about anything.
When more tragedy strikes Arden and she loses everything and everyone, she thinks it couldn't get any worse until a group of dragons come along. When they shifted back into human forms she notices they are looking at her, like they can actually see and hear her. Turns out magic can't hide from magic it seems and so they could all see her.
From there Arden has no choice but to go with them. Some want to get rid of her while the leader Tage has other plans. He his kind, he isn't the same as other groups of dragons set on destroying. He wants to be better, he doesn't just want to hurt humans or anything for no reason or simply that he can.
But what was supposed to keeping Arden as a guest turned into something way more.
This book was fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I loved being back in this world and getting another view of it. I loved every moment of it that I finished the book in a sitting and then immediately upset I didn't have another book to dive into.
Sophie will make you fall in love with dragons all over again. Especially if you've been around since the Firelight days. I loved her YA dragon series and now I get to love them all over again as an adult and I can't wait for more.
Now, do be aware this could seem like a stand alone as it doesn't follow the same characters as the first two books. In this book it focuses on another set of characters. Same world, just a different view.
Arden is just trying to exist in a world where she doesn't. Least, not that anyone can see anyway. After one night as a kid she ran off and little did she know the words she let out was actually a spell. Thinking she was cursed by some witch, she goes on the hunt to find her and undo this curse. Unfortunately she won't learn the truth until it's too late.
From the sidelines in a way, she watches her family look for her and mourn her. Watches her sister get married, have kids and even witness the tragedy that will ultimately also take another from her. There isn't anything Arden can do about anything.
When more tragedy strikes Arden and she loses everything and everyone, she thinks it couldn't get any worse until a group of dragons come along. When they shifted back into human forms she notices they are looking at her, like they can actually see and hear her. Turns out magic can't hide from magic it seems and so they could all see her.
From there Arden has no choice but to go with them. Some want to get rid of her while the leader Tage has other plans. He his kind, he isn't the same as other groups of dragons set on destroying. He wants to be better, he doesn't just want to hurt humans or anything for no reason or simply that he can.
But what was supposed to keeping Arden as a guest turned into something way more.
This book was fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I loved being back in this world and getting another view of it. I loved every moment of it that I finished the book in a sitting and then immediately upset I didn't have another book to dive into.
Sophie will make you fall in love with dragons all over again. Especially if you've been around since the Firelight days. I loved her YA dragon series and now I get to love them all over again as an adult and I can't wait for more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴, 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴
𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰
𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 / 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤
𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘍𝘔𝘊
I really enjoyed the vibe and adventure in Spellcast. It was entertaining and full of dragon drama.
Spellcast is Book 3 in the 𝘈 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘬𝘺 series and introduces two new protagonists with their own story, Arden and Tage.
The story follows Arden on the hunt for the witch who cursed her, unaware of her own dormant power. I loved that she is independent, resilient, and clever, making her a strong and relatable protagonist.
You will love Tage’s character. He is an alpha dragon shifter. He is naturally commanding, fiercely protective, and decisive, with a deliciously morally gray edge. His presence is magnetic, and the “touch her and ☠️” energy is unmatched.
You can expect an engaging adventure with well-timed romantic tension, balanced by occasional reflective beats that deepen character development. The first 30% felt slower as the focus was on introspection, but the pace picks up once Arden meets the dragon pride and Tage. There are also some dark themes, including village destruction and deaths, that may feel intense or heavy for someone seeking a lighter fantasy.
If you loved 𝘈 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘬𝘺 and 𝘈 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘦, then I recommend this one. It is perfect for fans of dragons, magic, adventure, and slow-burn romance.
✨ Thank you @avonbooks + @harpervoyagerus and @netgalley for an advanced digital copy!
𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰
𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 / 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤
𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘍𝘔𝘊
I really enjoyed the vibe and adventure in Spellcast. It was entertaining and full of dragon drama.
Spellcast is Book 3 in the 𝘈 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘬𝘺 series and introduces two new protagonists with their own story, Arden and Tage.
The story follows Arden on the hunt for the witch who cursed her, unaware of her own dormant power. I loved that she is independent, resilient, and clever, making her a strong and relatable protagonist.
You will love Tage’s character. He is an alpha dragon shifter. He is naturally commanding, fiercely protective, and decisive, with a deliciously morally gray edge. His presence is magnetic, and the “touch her and ☠️” energy is unmatched.
You can expect an engaging adventure with well-timed romantic tension, balanced by occasional reflective beats that deepen character development. The first 30% felt slower as the focus was on introspection, but the pace picks up once Arden meets the dragon pride and Tage. There are also some dark themes, including village destruction and deaths, that may feel intense or heavy for someone seeking a lighter fantasy.
If you loved 𝘈 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘬𝘺 and 𝘈 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘦, then I recommend this one. It is perfect for fans of dragons, magic, adventure, and slow-burn romance.
✨ Thank you @avonbooks + @harpervoyagerus and @netgalley for an advanced digital copy!
January 22, 2026
Spellcast
NetGalley ARC reader
Releases July 28, 2026
Stand alone
A fire in the sky #3
Fantasy
Romance
Dragon shifters
Captor/captive
There needs to be a trigger warning of a toddler’s death on page.
Ok reading back thru my notes, I was pretty harsh. Basically this wasn’t for me. The lack of time spent developing the relationship between the FMC and MMC killed this whole book for me.
Notes while reading:
We spent the first 30% of the book being miserable and invisible. We got an in depth look of what 10 years of invisibility felt like. The daily mundane life, her depression and anger over her circumstances…. If this is going to be a stand alone then the author spent way too much time on that part. Now the rest of the book is gonna feel rushed and underdeveloped. But, if this is a series then it’s understandable to flesh out that part.
Now she’s with the dragons who captured her and is rubbing up on one of them after knowing him about two weeks and hardly speaking to him. The foundation of their relationship is non existent yet she’s very willing to act on her physical desires for him. Even if he just sits there and doesn’t participate, yikes that’s embarrassing. Their relationship feels under cooked to me.
Ok I’m at 76% and she just said “nether lips”. 😑 At this point I’m just gonna push thru the rest of this book.
The ending is cool, the twist was a good surprise I didn’t see coming and I liked that.
NetGalley ARC reader
Releases July 28, 2026
Stand alone
A fire in the sky #3
Fantasy
Romance
Dragon shifters
Captor/captive
There needs to be a trigger warning of a toddler’s death on page.
Ok reading back thru my notes, I was pretty harsh. Basically this wasn’t for me. The lack of time spent developing the relationship between the FMC and MMC killed this whole book for me.
Notes while reading:
We spent the first 30% of the book being miserable and invisible. We got an in depth look of what 10 years of invisibility felt like. The daily mundane life, her depression and anger over her circumstances…. If this is going to be a stand alone then the author spent way too much time on that part. Now the rest of the book is gonna feel rushed and underdeveloped. But, if this is a series then it’s understandable to flesh out that part.
Now she’s with the dragons who captured her and is rubbing up on one of them after knowing him about two weeks and hardly speaking to him. The foundation of their relationship is non existent yet she’s very willing to act on her physical desires for him. Even if he just sits there and doesn’t participate, yikes that’s embarrassing. Their relationship feels under cooked to me.
Ok I’m at 76% and she just said “nether lips”. 😑 At this point I’m just gonna push thru the rest of this book.
The ending is cool, the twist was a good surprise I didn’t see coming and I liked that.
December 22, 2025
Spell Cast by Sophie Jordan is the third book in Fire in the Sky Series." Ten years ago, while upset, Arden went to the woods near her home and made a silly wish. Only it came true, and she now spends her days alone and unseen. Barely a part of the world any longer. Even though she did not mean to and has been trying to fix it ever since she has yet to find the one responsible for this horrible wish gone awry. She regrets it even more when the dragons come and she can not save those she loves. Her world is destroyed. She is then confronted by the fact that the dragons that came after the attack can transform into men.
This story is emotional as you can feel Ardens pain and loneliness as she is never seen nor heard, then as she watches her village be destroyed yet can do nothing or save anyone, your heart breaks again. Arden starts to develop feelings for the alpha dragon. Will hers be a love story or a tragedy?
This fantasy story was engaging and easy to read. The pacing was good, and it was easy to get immersed in Ardens story. The background on the dragons was interesting, and I liked the magical characters of this book.
I gave this book 3 stars out of 5. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick fantasy read and to fans of the series! I need to now go back and read the first two books in this series.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
This story is emotional as you can feel Ardens pain and loneliness as she is never seen nor heard, then as she watches her village be destroyed yet can do nothing or save anyone, your heart breaks again. Arden starts to develop feelings for the alpha dragon. Will hers be a love story or a tragedy?
This fantasy story was engaging and easy to read. The pacing was good, and it was easy to get immersed in Ardens story. The background on the dragons was interesting, and I liked the magical characters of this book.
I gave this book 3 stars out of 5. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick fantasy read and to fans of the series! I need to now go back and read the first two books in this series.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!
January 5, 2026
I first started reading Sophie Jordan years ago with her historical romances, so when A Fire in the Sky released in 2024, I was honestly so excited. Dragons. Magic. A completely new direction I did not see coming at all. Book one pulled me in immediately, book two kept me there, and when I saw Spellcast was coming next, set in the same world but with new characters, I knew I wanted it in my hands.
What I did not expect was how emotionally wrecked I would be.
We meet Arden as a young girl living in a small borderland village, dreaming of something more than the life she has been handed. One impulsive wish changes everything, leaving her cursed to be invisible to every human around her. And not for a day or a week, but for ten years. Watching life go on without you. Watching the people you love fall in love, grow older, and eventually disappear. Those early chapters are quiet and painful in the best way, and I felt every bit of Arden’s loneliness and anger.
When the dragons finally arrive, everything shifts. Arden is seen again. Heard again. Tage, the dragon alpha, is exactly the kind of steady, intense presence this story needed. Protective without being controlling. Dangerous without being cruel. Their connection builds slowly through proximity, tension, and trust, and I loved that nothing felt rushed. The small touches and shared moments mattered more than anything flashy.
This book pulled me out of a reading slump in the most perfect way. It is fantasy, romance, and adventure, but underneath all of that is a story about invisibility, self worth, and learning to believe you matter again. Easily my favorite book in this world so far, and I already want whatever comes next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
What I did not expect was how emotionally wrecked I would be.
We meet Arden as a young girl living in a small borderland village, dreaming of something more than the life she has been handed. One impulsive wish changes everything, leaving her cursed to be invisible to every human around her. And not for a day or a week, but for ten years. Watching life go on without you. Watching the people you love fall in love, grow older, and eventually disappear. Those early chapters are quiet and painful in the best way, and I felt every bit of Arden’s loneliness and anger.
When the dragons finally arrive, everything shifts. Arden is seen again. Heard again. Tage, the dragon alpha, is exactly the kind of steady, intense presence this story needed. Protective without being controlling. Dangerous without being cruel. Their connection builds slowly through proximity, tension, and trust, and I loved that nothing felt rushed. The small touches and shared moments mattered more than anything flashy.
This book pulled me out of a reading slump in the most perfect way. It is fantasy, romance, and adventure, but underneath all of that is a story about invisibility, self worth, and learning to believe you matter again. Easily my favorite book in this world so far, and I already want whatever comes next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a compelling story! I stayed up reading Spellcast WAY past my bedtime, until my bleary eyes finally got to the last word.
Arden is cursed with invisibility for 10 years. Her desolation and loneliness and despair permeate every page in the first section of the book. It was devastating to read at times, but I couldn't look away. It was the perfect setup for Arden's complicated feelings on encountering the dragons and realizing that, unlike humans, THEY could see her. Tage, the alpha of the dragon pride, is a really interesting character. He has a clear moral compass and a forward-facing outlook, in sharp contrast to the dragons of the skelm, who cling to the views and outlook of the past. Tage tells Arden that she must stay with the pride until he can trust her not to reveal the existence of dragons, and the building of trust between them, as slow and complicated as it is, is the basis for their burgeoning relationship.
I suspected what the big reveal would be fairly early on, but watching Arden's gradually dawning realization was so engrossing that I did not mind one bit. The twists and turns of the story still kept me guessing, and I loved revisiting the world of A Fire in the Sky. I hope this isn't the last installment!
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this title.
Arden is cursed with invisibility for 10 years. Her desolation and loneliness and despair permeate every page in the first section of the book. It was devastating to read at times, but I couldn't look away. It was the perfect setup for Arden's complicated feelings on encountering the dragons and realizing that, unlike humans, THEY could see her. Tage, the alpha of the dragon pride, is a really interesting character. He has a clear moral compass and a forward-facing outlook, in sharp contrast to the dragons of the skelm, who cling to the views and outlook of the past. Tage tells Arden that she must stay with the pride until he can trust her not to reveal the existence of dragons, and the building of trust between them, as slow and complicated as it is, is the basis for their burgeoning relationship.
I suspected what the big reveal would be fairly early on, but watching Arden's gradually dawning realization was so engrossing that I did not mind one bit. The twists and turns of the story still kept me guessing, and I loved revisiting the world of A Fire in the Sky. I hope this isn't the last installment!
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this title.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Sophie Jordan for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Spellcast was my first novel by Sophie Jordan, and I hadn't heard much about it but I was drawn in by the intriguing cover and blurb. I’m glad I did.
The novel unfolds in distinct acts, each with a noticeably different tone. The first was my favorite: Arden’s invisibility and her silent haunting of the people she loves experiencing tragedy felt poignant and intimate, reminiscent of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue. It’s the first book that’s come close to scratching that particular itch for me.
Later acts shift into higher action and dragon-centered conflict, as the cover hints. While engaging, these sections lean more into familiar romantasy beats and felt somewhat predictable. My main critique is that the dragons themselves lacked cultural depth; at times, it felt as though another mythological species could have filled the same role without significantly altering the story. That said, the author’s note suggests this world extends beyond this novel, so additional context may exist elsewhere in the series that this one happens to spin-off.
The final reveals are satisfying if tragic, and despite a few reservations, I’m intrigued enough to continue in this universe.
This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. 3.5/5
Spellcast was my first novel by Sophie Jordan, and I hadn't heard much about it but I was drawn in by the intriguing cover and blurb. I’m glad I did.
The novel unfolds in distinct acts, each with a noticeably different tone. The first was my favorite: Arden’s invisibility and her silent haunting of the people she loves experiencing tragedy felt poignant and intimate, reminiscent of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue. It’s the first book that’s come close to scratching that particular itch for me.
Later acts shift into higher action and dragon-centered conflict, as the cover hints. While engaging, these sections lean more into familiar romantasy beats and felt somewhat predictable. My main critique is that the dragons themselves lacked cultural depth; at times, it felt as though another mythological species could have filled the same role without significantly altering the story. That said, the author’s note suggests this world extends beyond this novel, so additional context may exist elsewhere in the series that this one happens to spin-off.
The final reveals are satisfying if tragic, and despite a few reservations, I’m intrigued enough to continue in this universe.
This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. 3.5/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Sophie Jordan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book!! It took me a while to get into it, but once the MMC enters the picture I did NOT want to stop reading! I was hooked.
Spellcast is an epic romantasy about a young girl who has spent years trapped by a witch's curse that renders her invisible and untouchable. She encounters dragon-shifters who can finally see her. As she enters their dangerous world, she must navigate her relationship with their alpha, while trying to find a way back to her family amidst the curse.
This book starts out pretty heartbreaking. Some really tragic things happen. It forces our FMC to grow up pretty quickly. Btw I love the FMC. I get her, I relate with her. I understand her. I love the MMC too. I immensely enjoyed reading about the dynamic between the FMC and MMC and the other characters.
I saw some comments about it feeling YA. I can see why initially it can feel this way (not a bad thing), I just want to point out that our FMC is 14 at the start of the book. She grows through the course of the book and by its end is certainly an adult making adult decisions. There is spice! 🌶️
I recommend this to all romantasy lovers! And specifically to those who loved Amid Cloud and Bones like I did.
Of note, this CAN be read as a standalone!
I really enjoyed this book!! It took me a while to get into it, but once the MMC enters the picture I did NOT want to stop reading! I was hooked.
Spellcast is an epic romantasy about a young girl who has spent years trapped by a witch's curse that renders her invisible and untouchable. She encounters dragon-shifters who can finally see her. As she enters their dangerous world, she must navigate her relationship with their alpha, while trying to find a way back to her family amidst the curse.
This book starts out pretty heartbreaking. Some really tragic things happen. It forces our FMC to grow up pretty quickly. Btw I love the FMC. I get her, I relate with her. I understand her. I love the MMC too. I immensely enjoyed reading about the dynamic between the FMC and MMC and the other characters.
I saw some comments about it feeling YA. I can see why initially it can feel this way (not a bad thing), I just want to point out that our FMC is 14 at the start of the book. She grows through the course of the book and by its end is certainly an adult making adult decisions. There is spice! 🌶️
I recommend this to all romantasy lovers! And specifically to those who loved Amid Cloud and Bones like I did.
Of note, this CAN be read as a standalone!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
TW: child loss
This book was extremely slow for the third of the book. It really felt like it was 3xs as long as it should be. It's hard to determine whether the author meant for this to happen. There's so much backstory here. 100 pages of backstory. The story starts interesting, but then drones on for far too long before anything actually happens. It makes sense if the author wanted to show how depressed and alone she was. Half way through, it becomes pointless to the story. The same effect could have been done in 20 pages of less. You start to question if it's important and if you should care about all this, but then realize it's actually not. Feel like you wasted valuable time reading this section.
During this first part of the book, there is child loss. If you have a hard time with this, then I would skip this. It's not important to the story line and seems completely unnecessary honestly.
The last half of the book is where things start to happen. I figured out everything early on. It follows the typical path and is very predictable.
There is no chemistry and very little conversation that occurs between the MMC and FMC. He risks it all for her so it's a bit strange. There needs to be more development and it would change the book drastically.
All in all, I would buy it when it came out and I would read the second book to see what happens next.
This book was extremely slow for the third of the book. It really felt like it was 3xs as long as it should be. It's hard to determine whether the author meant for this to happen. There's so much backstory here. 100 pages of backstory. The story starts interesting, but then drones on for far too long before anything actually happens. It makes sense if the author wanted to show how depressed and alone she was. Half way through, it becomes pointless to the story. The same effect could have been done in 20 pages of less. You start to question if it's important and if you should care about all this, but then realize it's actually not. Feel like you wasted valuable time reading this section.
During this first part of the book, there is child loss. If you have a hard time with this, then I would skip this. It's not important to the story line and seems completely unnecessary honestly.
The last half of the book is where things start to happen. I figured out everything early on. It follows the typical path and is very predictable.
There is no chemistry and very little conversation that occurs between the MMC and FMC. He risks it all for her so it's a bit strange. There needs to be more development and it would change the book drastically.
All in all, I would buy it when it came out and I would read the second book to see what happens next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5
This was an unexpected delight to read and I’m eager to go back and read the first two books in this series now. While this is part of a series I didn’t feel lost to the story at all.
“But now, I didn’t matter. I didn’t matter to anyone anywhere. And that was the cold reality that followed me through every waking moment.”
The beginning did read a little YA to me and while the world building was a bit lackluster, I loved how character driven this was. It follows Arden as she grapples with suddenly becoming invisible to everyone she knows, family and friends alike. She becomes convinced that a witch must’ve casted this cursed spell on her and so she sets off on an incredibly long journey invisible and in search for the witch believing she’ll never find her and she’ll die invisible. Until, she meets a group of dragons of which she thought were extinct. The whole story was very interesting. It was kind of a coming of age story too and had a strong message. Her connection with Tage, one of the dragons, opens up new possibilities and ultimately leads her toward discovering the truth about who she really is. The romance was also very steamy.
“You’re you and I’m me, that’s the only thing that matters.”
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was an unexpected delight to read and I’m eager to go back and read the first two books in this series now. While this is part of a series I didn’t feel lost to the story at all.
“But now, I didn’t matter. I didn’t matter to anyone anywhere. And that was the cold reality that followed me through every waking moment.”
The beginning did read a little YA to me and while the world building was a bit lackluster, I loved how character driven this was. It follows Arden as she grapples with suddenly becoming invisible to everyone she knows, family and friends alike. She becomes convinced that a witch must’ve casted this cursed spell on her and so she sets off on an incredibly long journey invisible and in search for the witch believing she’ll never find her and she’ll die invisible. Until, she meets a group of dragons of which she thought were extinct. The whole story was very interesting. It was kind of a coming of age story too and had a strong message. Her connection with Tage, one of the dragons, opens up new possibilities and ultimately leads her toward discovering the truth about who she really is. The romance was also very steamy.
“You’re you and I’m me, that’s the only thing that matters.”
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read. A Fire in the Sky, and I felt like it had promise, but I didn’t love it because I didn’t really enjoy the characters. I thought the world was cool, and I wanted to see more of it though. So when I saw the third book in the series is set in the same world with different characters, I knew I needed to read it.
I liked this book significantly more than I liked the first in the series. Watching our main character just sort of watch life happen around her while being trapped by herself hurt my heart a whole lot. It made me want to protect her, which I think is ultimately why I liked this book so much.
I was super excited to see more of the world. I really liked being able to explore new parts of the world that I hadn’t seen before, and the new characters we meet along the way are certainly memorable.
Will I continue with the next book? I’m unsure. I liked this book, but I did not enjoy the ending. It felt very rushed and not developed compared to the rest of the story. The ending seriously brought my rating down a whole star.
I genuinely don’t know if I’m going to continue now because of this. I’m optimistic though, so we’ll see what mood I’m in when it eventually releases.
Thank you very much to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book significantly more than I liked the first in the series. Watching our main character just sort of watch life happen around her while being trapped by herself hurt my heart a whole lot. It made me want to protect her, which I think is ultimately why I liked this book so much.
I was super excited to see more of the world. I really liked being able to explore new parts of the world that I hadn’t seen before, and the new characters we meet along the way are certainly memorable.
Will I continue with the next book? I’m unsure. I liked this book, but I did not enjoy the ending. It felt very rushed and not developed compared to the rest of the story. The ending seriously brought my rating down a whole star.
I genuinely don’t know if I’m going to continue now because of this. I’m optimistic though, so we’ll see what mood I’m in when it eventually releases.
Thank you very much to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Arden is a kid who is devastated by the lack of agency in her dreary life. After her father refuses to let her move to a nearby city with her older brother and his wife, she runs out of their house into the woods and makes a Kevin mccallister style wish to be invisible.
What do you know, it comes true. She initially thinks her family is playing an elaborate joke on her, but she quickly finds out, yeah her family went to Paris without her.
10 years pass- she watches her brothers move away, her best friend get married, the people in the village go through their lives.. She's always looking for the witch that curse her but to no avail. Until one day some evil dragons wipe out the village and she's taken captive by some 'not like other dragons' dragons. They can actually see her, and for the first time in a decade she's interacting with others.
Then there's some insta love, crazy dragon fights, not too robust world building, and a plot twist I didn't see coming (that's not saying much- I never see the plot twist coming).
I enjoyed the story- it was fast paced and it was a fun way to spend a few hours. The narrative style was overwrought for my tastes but I think it's typical in a lot of romantasy stories.
What do you know, it comes true. She initially thinks her family is playing an elaborate joke on her, but she quickly finds out, yeah her family went to Paris without her.
10 years pass- she watches her brothers move away, her best friend get married, the people in the village go through their lives.. She's always looking for the witch that curse her but to no avail. Until one day some evil dragons wipe out the village and she's taken captive by some 'not like other dragons' dragons. They can actually see her, and for the first time in a decade she's interacting with others.
Then there's some insta love, crazy dragon fights, not too robust world building, and a plot twist I didn't see coming (that's not saying much- I never see the plot twist coming).
I enjoyed the story- it was fast paced and it was a fun way to spend a few hours. The narrative style was overwrought for my tastes but I think it's typical in a lot of romantasy stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, HarperCollins and Sophie Jordan for the opportunity to read this eARC. The following review and thoughts are my own:
Spellcast was a 3 star read for me. There were moments I enjoyed snd other things that I wish were polished a bit better.
What I liked:
-the dragon shifters storyline being connected to Fire in the Sky and Scar in the Bone. It helped tone down fhe world building as I was already familiar with it
-the independence of the FMC, Arden. She stood on her own and didn't back down or apologize
-Tage was an appealing MMC and I liked that he stood up for Arden against his pride
What I wished for:
-less dark/depressing beginning. I understand that Arden's invisibility was a major plot point, but a large chunk of the book was depressing
-more development of romance. It seemed insta lust (not even love) and more of the storyline dedicated to the development of the romance would help
-some plot points were just thrown at you with no development. I don't want to give too much away for fear of spoiling, but the last 20% is very quick with things that seem to come out of nowhere
Overall, the book was a quick enjoyable read. With some polishing it could definitely be a 4 or 5 star read.
Spellcast was a 3 star read for me. There were moments I enjoyed snd other things that I wish were polished a bit better.
What I liked:
-the dragon shifters storyline being connected to Fire in the Sky and Scar in the Bone. It helped tone down fhe world building as I was already familiar with it
-the independence of the FMC, Arden. She stood on her own and didn't back down or apologize
-Tage was an appealing MMC and I liked that he stood up for Arden against his pride
What I wished for:
-less dark/depressing beginning. I understand that Arden's invisibility was a major plot point, but a large chunk of the book was depressing
-more development of romance. It seemed insta lust (not even love) and more of the storyline dedicated to the development of the romance would help
-some plot points were just thrown at you with no development. I don't want to give too much away for fear of spoiling, but the last 20% is very quick with things that seem to come out of nowhere
Overall, the book was a quick enjoyable read. With some polishing it could definitely be a 4 or 5 star read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Spellcast from the publisher/Netgalley. (Thank you!)
Spellcast is set in the same world as Fire in the Sky/Scar in the Bone and takes place after the events of SitB.
It's about a young girl, Arden who, after being denied permission to leave her small village with her brother and his wife, runs off in a rare fit of anger.
During this fit, she decides she just wants to disappear.
After returning home, she discovers that to everyone around her, she has. She's invisible to everyone ariund her and she'll remain that way for over 10 years while searching for the reason why it's happened.
This first third of the book was heartwrenching for me. For some reason it resonated, how she navigated living her life without being -seen-.
Eventually she gets discovered which (loosely) ties the book in back into the world of FitS/SitB.
Honestly, I had already pieced together what happened to her a but early on, buuuut, I was intrigued with the things that happened after she was discovered and taken.
I very much enjoyed this book and have recommended the first two to some friends already.
I really hope there could be more exploring other characters within this world.
Spellcast is set in the same world as Fire in the Sky/Scar in the Bone and takes place after the events of SitB.
It's about a young girl, Arden who, after being denied permission to leave her small village with her brother and his wife, runs off in a rare fit of anger.
During this fit, she decides she just wants to disappear.
After returning home, she discovers that to everyone around her, she has. She's invisible to everyone ariund her and she'll remain that way for over 10 years while searching for the reason why it's happened.
This first third of the book was heartwrenching for me. For some reason it resonated, how she navigated living her life without being -seen-.
Eventually she gets discovered which (loosely) ties the book in back into the world of FitS/SitB.
Honestly, I had already pieced together what happened to her a but early on, buuuut, I was intrigued with the things that happened after she was discovered and taken.
I very much enjoyed this book and have recommended the first two to some friends already.
I really hope there could be more exploring other characters within this world.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Spellcast, by Sophie Jordan, is the third book in a Fire in the Sky series. I would consider this an interconnected standalone to the first two books in the series. It is in the same world but can be read on its own.
All Arden, the FMC, wants is a life worth living, but instead she becomes invisible to everyone around her. She lives her days observing but never able to interact with those she loves, who think she has died. For ten years this is her life, until her village is destroyed by dragons and everyone in it dies. She soon finds out that dragons, in both their human and dragon form, can see her. For the first time in ten years, she is seen and heard, but she is terrified.
She is taken back to their cave, because they don’t trust her to keep their secret. There she is little more than a servant, but has the protection of Tage, the alpha of the pride. The other dragons all what her dead.
An unlikely connection happens between Arden and Tage, and the others are not happy about it. She tries to escape and secrets even she wasn’t aware of are revealed.
I really enjoyed this book, the beginning was a little slow, but once the dragons become a part of the story, it really picks up.
All Arden, the FMC, wants is a life worth living, but instead she becomes invisible to everyone around her. She lives her days observing but never able to interact with those she loves, who think she has died. For ten years this is her life, until her village is destroyed by dragons and everyone in it dies. She soon finds out that dragons, in both their human and dragon form, can see her. For the first time in ten years, she is seen and heard, but she is terrified.
She is taken back to their cave, because they don’t trust her to keep their secret. There she is little more than a servant, but has the protection of Tage, the alpha of the pride. The other dragons all what her dead.
An unlikely connection happens between Arden and Tage, and the others are not happy about it. She tries to escape and secrets even she wasn’t aware of are revealed.
I really enjoyed this book, the beginning was a little slow, but once the dragons become a part of the story, it really picks up.
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