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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.
TROPES
Captor/CaptiveTouch Her and DieExtra SpicyMagic, Dragons & WitchesWorld at War
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.
TROPES
Captor/CaptiveTouch Her and DieExtra SpicyMagic, Dragons & WitchesWorld at War
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 28, 2026
About the author
Sophie Jordan
72 books9,072 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 143 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!
June 8, 2026
Thank you Avon & NetGalley for this eARC!
What a quick, exciting read with a concept that has me scared to ever make a wish out of haste/my mood again 😭
This is primarily character driven as our FMC learns to navigate the new world she’s thrust into. The plot twists were twisty and descriptions so vivid I was fully immersed.
If you like impressive character arcs, witches & dragons/dragon shifters, you will love this!
What a quick, exciting read with a concept that has me scared to ever make a wish out of haste/my mood again 😭
This is primarily character driven as our FMC learns to navigate the new world she’s thrust into. The plot twists were twisty and descriptions so vivid I was fully immersed.
If you like impressive character arcs, witches & dragons/dragon shifters, you will love this!
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.
June 16, 2026
Thank you Avon for the eARC!
Sophie Jordan truly can do no wrong.
Spellcast pulled me in right from the start with its unique premise. Arden has spent ten years cursed to live unseen and unheard, watching life move on without her. It was heartbreaking, fascinating, and impossible not to root for her.
Once dragons enter the story, the stakes get even higher. I loved the mix of magic, danger, and mystery, and the slow-building connection between Arden and Tage kept me turning the pages.
While this one feels like the beginning of something much bigger, it lays a strong foundation for the series and leaves plenty to look forward to. Sophie Jordan has once again created a compelling fantasy world filled with powerful magic, dragons, and characters you can’t help but become invested in.
If you love romantasy, dragons, curses, and discovering hidden magic, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Sophie Jordan truly can do no wrong.
Spellcast pulled me in right from the start with its unique premise. Arden has spent ten years cursed to live unseen and unheard, watching life move on without her. It was heartbreaking, fascinating, and impossible not to root for her.
Once dragons enter the story, the stakes get even higher. I loved the mix of magic, danger, and mystery, and the slow-building connection between Arden and Tage kept me turning the pages.
While this one feels like the beginning of something much bigger, it lays a strong foundation for the series and leaves plenty to look forward to. Sophie Jordan has once again created a compelling fantasy world filled with powerful magic, dragons, and characters you can’t help but become invested in.
If you love romantasy, dragons, curses, and discovering hidden magic, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
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!
June 23, 2026
Arden makes a wish to be invisible but doesn’t expect that a witch will end up granting it. For the next ten years, she watches her family and friends move on while she just exists, until her village is attacked and she is taken by a group of dragons who may be the only ones capable of seeing her.
I didn’t realize this was book 3 in a series until I received it but I had no issues following along.
The first half of the book really drew me in watching Arden see everyone around her while she was stuck in limbo and her loneliness. I loved Tage and his group of morally grey dragons. This book was a lot of fun and perfect for anyone who likes a dragon MMC, witchy elements, and a dark fairytale vibe.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t realize this was book 3 in a series until I received it but I had no issues following along.
The first half of the book really drew me in watching Arden see everyone around her while she was stuck in limbo and her loneliness. I loved Tage and his group of morally grey dragons. This book was a lot of fun and perfect for anyone who likes a dragon MMC, witchy elements, and a dark fairytale vibe.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️
This was an enjoyable story, with dragon shifters and witches. I enjoyed the plot point regarding the FMC being invisible. I did feel that it was a bit of insta love, despite them meant to be sworn enemies and on a personal level I did find the language used during the spicy scene a bit cringy. However, an enjoyable story and would read more of Sophie’s work.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
🌶️
This was an enjoyable story, with dragon shifters and witches. I enjoyed the plot point regarding the FMC being invisible. I did feel that it was a bit of insta love, despite them meant to be sworn enemies and on a personal level I did find the language used during the spicy scene a bit cringy. However, an enjoyable story and would read more of Sophie’s work.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2026
Thanks to the author and publisher for my alc. Narrator did a fantastic job especially with different distinct voices for different characters.
I absolutely loved this premise, imagine being invisible and then captured by dragons! Because of her invisibility it starts out slow, and it’s a bit heartbreaking but once she is “kidnapped “ the story picks up. Love a good enemies to lovers, hidden power and dragon shifter trope and this doesn’t disappoint.
I absolutely loved this premise, imagine being invisible and then captured by dragons! Because of her invisibility it starts out slow, and it’s a bit heartbreaking but once she is “kidnapped “ the story picks up. Love a good enemies to lovers, hidden power and dragon shifter trope and this doesn’t disappoint.
May 21, 2026
This book made me hooked from the second I started reading it. It surprised me so much and I never knew what to expect! Arden is such a strong and resilient person and she inspires me to keep fighting even when things get hard and you are alone. I can’t get enough of this book and the ending that took me by surprise! I loved this book so much!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🐉✨ Spellcast by Sophie Jordan ✨🐉
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25 stars)
📅 Expected Publication Date: July 28, 2026
Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager, Sophie Jordan, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of Spellcast!
I was immediately pulled into this story from the very first pages—the prologue alone had me hooked, and I knew I was in for something intense, emotional, and completely immersive.
Spellcast follows Arden, a girl cursed into invisibility at fourteen, forced to watch her life and loved ones continue without ever being able to participate in it. That premise alone is heartbreaking, but the execution takes it even further. Her emotional journey is the true heart of this book, and I felt every moment of her isolation, grief, and longing so deeply.
The first third of the book is especially heavy, focusing on loneliness, grief, depression, and survival in a world where Arden doesn’t truly exist. It’s slow in places, but intentionally so, and it really establishes just how much she has lost.
When the story shifts and we meet Tage and his crew of dragon shifters, everything changes. The pace picks up, the world expands, and the dynamic becomes so much more layered and interesting. The tension between Arden and Tage is incredible—full of push and pull, emotional conflict, forced proximity, and a deep sense of yearning that kept me completely invested.
The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts. Wraiths, witches, healers, shapeshifters, harpies, and multiple dragon flocks all come together in a rich, magical setting that felt vivid and immersive without ever becoming overwhelming.
I also loved the structure of the book being split into three distinct sections—“The Ghost,” “The Dragons,” and “The Witch.” It gave the story a unique rhythm and helped highlight Arden’s emotional progression throughout.
The romance had strong chemistry, though I did struggle at times with the speed of Tage’s devotion. Still, the tension, attraction, and protective instincts made for a compelling dynamic.
And that twist near the end? I genuinely did not see it coming. It added a whole new layer to the story and made the conclusion even more satisfying.
✨ Tropes / Vibes ✨
🐉 Dragon shifters
✨ Captive / Protector dynamic
🐉 Cursed FMC
✨ Touch-starved heroine
🐉 Found identity arc
✨ Magical creatures galore
🐉 Emotional healing journey
✨ High tension romance
Overall, this was a fast-paced, emotional, and immersive fantasy with strong character focus, a unique structure, and a magical world that kept me turning pages late into the night.
I will absolutely be checking out more from Sophie Jordan after this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25 stars)
📅 Expected Publication Date: July 28, 2026
Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager, Sophie Jordan, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of Spellcast!
I was immediately pulled into this story from the very first pages—the prologue alone had me hooked, and I knew I was in for something intense, emotional, and completely immersive.
Spellcast follows Arden, a girl cursed into invisibility at fourteen, forced to watch her life and loved ones continue without ever being able to participate in it. That premise alone is heartbreaking, but the execution takes it even further. Her emotional journey is the true heart of this book, and I felt every moment of her isolation, grief, and longing so deeply.
The first third of the book is especially heavy, focusing on loneliness, grief, depression, and survival in a world where Arden doesn’t truly exist. It’s slow in places, but intentionally so, and it really establishes just how much she has lost.
When the story shifts and we meet Tage and his crew of dragon shifters, everything changes. The pace picks up, the world expands, and the dynamic becomes so much more layered and interesting. The tension between Arden and Tage is incredible—full of push and pull, emotional conflict, forced proximity, and a deep sense of yearning that kept me completely invested.
The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts. Wraiths, witches, healers, shapeshifters, harpies, and multiple dragon flocks all come together in a rich, magical setting that felt vivid and immersive without ever becoming overwhelming.
I also loved the structure of the book being split into three distinct sections—“The Ghost,” “The Dragons,” and “The Witch.” It gave the story a unique rhythm and helped highlight Arden’s emotional progression throughout.
The romance had strong chemistry, though I did struggle at times with the speed of Tage’s devotion. Still, the tension, attraction, and protective instincts made for a compelling dynamic.
And that twist near the end? I genuinely did not see it coming. It added a whole new layer to the story and made the conclusion even more satisfying.
✨ Tropes / Vibes ✨
🐉 Dragon shifters
✨ Captive / Protector dynamic
🐉 Cursed FMC
✨ Touch-starved heroine
🐉 Found identity arc
✨ Magical creatures galore
🐉 Emotional healing journey
✨ High tension romance
Overall, this was a fast-paced, emotional, and immersive fantasy with strong character focus, a unique structure, and a magical world that kept me turning pages late into the night.
I will absolutely be checking out more from Sophie Jordan after this.
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of the story was so unique that it hooked me right away!
Arden is upset because her father won’t let her leave her small village to travel with her brother and his wife. She has a fight and runs out into the woods and makes an emotional wish and plea that ends up coming true. This ends up giving her the freedom she was wanting but it also makes her invisible to everyone. She is forced to be invisible to everyone around her for years, walking along and watching her family and friends move on with their life without her. She’s basically a living ghost. Then one day she ends up running into dragons who can see her and kidnap her and take her to their den.
I really loved the premise of this and the entire aspect of her being invisible to everyone. You could feel the emotional impact this has and how utterly and truely lonely she was. However, the invisible parts of the book are far too long. It got to be a bit too much to the point I had to start skimming because it felt too much like unnecessary filler. Easily 50 pages could have been cut out of that part of the story and there would be no impact to the plot.
Then there’s Arden’s relationship to the dragons and Tage. I loved the whole enemies to lovers / captive x captive vibe. It was interesting to see their dynamics and the whole dragon culture too. I wish we got to see more build up of them, it felt almost a bit too insta lovey for me. It went from her doing everything she can to leave and then 20 pages later they’re together. I wish we took some of the pages of her invisible and got rid of them to use towards building their romance a bit more. It was a bit too faced paced compared to how slow everything else was in the story.
Overall it’s an okay read. I wish the relationships were a bit more developed, some of the beginning of her being invisible were cut out and we got to see more of the actual den and dragon dynamics.
If you like:
- Witches
- Dragons
- Harpies
- touch her and die
- enemies to lovers
- captive x captor
- spice ( 🌶️🌶️)
This is a book you should check out!
Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Arden is upset because her father won’t let her leave her small village to travel with her brother and his wife. She has a fight and runs out into the woods and makes an emotional wish and plea that ends up coming true. This ends up giving her the freedom she was wanting but it also makes her invisible to everyone. She is forced to be invisible to everyone around her for years, walking along and watching her family and friends move on with their life without her. She’s basically a living ghost. Then one day she ends up running into dragons who can see her and kidnap her and take her to their den.
I really loved the premise of this and the entire aspect of her being invisible to everyone. You could feel the emotional impact this has and how utterly and truely lonely she was. However, the invisible parts of the book are far too long. It got to be a bit too much to the point I had to start skimming because it felt too much like unnecessary filler. Easily 50 pages could have been cut out of that part of the story and there would be no impact to the plot.
Then there’s Arden’s relationship to the dragons and Tage. I loved the whole enemies to lovers / captive x captive vibe. It was interesting to see their dynamics and the whole dragon culture too. I wish we got to see more build up of them, it felt almost a bit too insta lovey for me. It went from her doing everything she can to leave and then 20 pages later they’re together. I wish we took some of the pages of her invisible and got rid of them to use towards building their romance a bit more. It was a bit too faced paced compared to how slow everything else was in the story.
Overall it’s an okay read. I wish the relationships were a bit more developed, some of the beginning of her being invisible were cut out and we got to see more of the actual den and dragon dynamics.
If you like:
- Witches
- Dragons
- Harpies
- touch her and die
- enemies to lovers
- captive x captor
- spice ( 🌶️🌶️)
This is a book you should check out!
Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.75 rounded up to 3
Spellcast is set in the same world as A Fire in the Sky but can be read as a stand-alone with no problems following the storyline. While this is considered part of the same series it doesn't have the same strength, cohesiveness or vibes of the previous two novels. I never felt fully immersed in the story and didn't find it as compelling as the author's prior works.
The first half of the novel was very slow paced and while I know we needed to understand the loneliness and despair Arden feels from being literally invisible and alone for an entire decade, I feel like far too much time was devoted to this. Twenty chapters of voyeurism, petulance, and yelling in the woods could've been reduced to half that with the same result. Especially considering there wasn't a whole lot of plot progression throughout these chapters. So, what was the point?
Once the dragons arrived the pace does pick up, but this storyline doesn't quite mesh with the previous one. It feels like these are two entirely different novellas the author is attempting to merge into one. It simply doesn't work for me.
Tage, our alpha dragon shifter, and Arden's relationship doesn't really work for me either. Sure, it's spicy hot and physical, but as an actual partnership? I wasn't feeling it.
The writing itself is solid. It's not that it was poorly written, it's that it doesn't feel cohesive, the pacing was very slow, then felt rushed towards the end. Almost as if the writer herself couldn't figure out how to make these two very different plotlines mesh so she just wrapped it up.
Also, there's a few trigger warnings that could've been included for sensitive readers.
Death of a child
Suicide ideation
Threats of sexual assault
Abuse
I know many will absolutely love this one, it simply didn't meet my expectations based upon that gorgeous cover and compelling blurb.
Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the gifted e-arc. All opinions are my own and freely given.
Spellcast is set in the same world as A Fire in the Sky but can be read as a stand-alone with no problems following the storyline. While this is considered part of the same series it doesn't have the same strength, cohesiveness or vibes of the previous two novels. I never felt fully immersed in the story and didn't find it as compelling as the author's prior works.
The first half of the novel was very slow paced and while I know we needed to understand the loneliness and despair Arden feels from being literally invisible and alone for an entire decade, I feel like far too much time was devoted to this. Twenty chapters of voyeurism, petulance, and yelling in the woods could've been reduced to half that with the same result. Especially considering there wasn't a whole lot of plot progression throughout these chapters. So, what was the point?
Once the dragons arrived the pace does pick up, but this storyline doesn't quite mesh with the previous one. It feels like these are two entirely different novellas the author is attempting to merge into one. It simply doesn't work for me.
Tage, our alpha dragon shifter, and Arden's relationship doesn't really work for me either. Sure, it's spicy hot and physical, but as an actual partnership? I wasn't feeling it.
The writing itself is solid. It's not that it was poorly written, it's that it doesn't feel cohesive, the pacing was very slow, then felt rushed towards the end. Almost as if the writer herself couldn't figure out how to make these two very different plotlines mesh so she just wrapped it up.
Also, there's a few trigger warnings that could've been included for sensitive readers.
Death of a child
Suicide ideation
Threats of sexual assault
Abuse
I know many will absolutely love this one, it simply didn't meet my expectations based upon that gorgeous cover and compelling blurb.
Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the gifted e-arc. All opinions are my own and freely given.
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.
June 17, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
I went into Spellcast incredibly excited because I’ve loved Sophie Jordan’s previous books, but unfortunately this one didn’t quite work for me.
The premise is fascinating: a girl cursed to be invisible for ten years, trapped in her village while life moves on without her. The first half of the book leans heavily into that concept, and it immediately reminded me of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Watching Arden exist as a ghost in her own life was heartbreaking, and I kept waiting for that setup to lead somewhere truly spectacular.
The problem is that it takes nearly 50% of the book for the story to really begin.
Once the dragons arrive, the novel shifts into an entirely different book. Suddenly we’re in a dragon-bonding fantasy with dragon shifters and romance. While I generally enjoy dragon stories, the transition felt jarring. Instead of the two halves building on each other, they felt disconnected as if I had read the beginning of one novel and the second half of another.
Because so much time is spent establishing Arden’s invisible existence, the dragon storyline felt rushed by comparison. I never felt like the emotional weight of the curse and the dragon world fully merged into one cohesive narrative.
Overall, Spellcast felt like two separate stories stitched together rather than one fully developed journey. I kept waiting for the connection between the invisible-girl premise and the dragon storyline to click into place, and for me, it never quite did.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars. A strong concept and promising setup, but the pacing and split narrative kept me from loving it the way I’ve loved Sophie Jordan’s previous books.
I went into Spellcast incredibly excited because I’ve loved Sophie Jordan’s previous books, but unfortunately this one didn’t quite work for me.
The premise is fascinating: a girl cursed to be invisible for ten years, trapped in her village while life moves on without her. The first half of the book leans heavily into that concept, and it immediately reminded me of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Watching Arden exist as a ghost in her own life was heartbreaking, and I kept waiting for that setup to lead somewhere truly spectacular.
The problem is that it takes nearly 50% of the book for the story to really begin.
Once the dragons arrive, the novel shifts into an entirely different book. Suddenly we’re in a dragon-bonding fantasy with dragon shifters and romance. While I generally enjoy dragon stories, the transition felt jarring. Instead of the two halves building on each other, they felt disconnected as if I had read the beginning of one novel and the second half of another.
Because so much time is spent establishing Arden’s invisible existence, the dragon storyline felt rushed by comparison. I never felt like the emotional weight of the curse and the dragon world fully merged into one cohesive narrative.
Overall, Spellcast felt like two separate stories stitched together rather than one fully developed journey. I kept waiting for the connection between the invisible-girl premise and the dragon storyline to click into place, and for me, it never quite did.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars. A strong concept and promising setup, but the pacing and split narrative kept me from loving it the way I’ve loved Sophie Jordan’s previous books.
June 20, 2026
I had fun with the first book in this series and overlooked a lot of convoluted writing because I wanted to see where things went. I hung in there for the second book to see how things would work out for the main characters. Now, we have the continuation of the series with a new heroine and yet another brooding MMC.
Arden craves getting away from home and while angry at her father for not letting her leave with an older sibling, wishes she was gone. Poof! She's invisible. She believes she's been cursed by a witch and stays in her town to find the witch. Arden could leave, as she's always wanted to, but she sticks around for TEN YEARS before watching the town get attached by evil dragons. Now it's time to leave...
She winds up being taken in by a small pride of five dragons that splintered off from the evil group. They basically make her a drudge around their cavern home. Their days seem to be focused on patrolling their little corner of space and looking for new pride members. The leader probably should be mating with the sole female dragon in the group, but he falls for Arden instead.
She recovers from this horrible realization pretty quickly and goes back to the dragons.
What more evident in this book than in the last two is just how much filler is in this book. There's so much repetition of inner dialogue that I started to wonder if this could have been a novella. Arden will think someone and then repeat it three or four times. A whole page could be dedicated to one thought because we have to lather, rinse, and repeat the idea. So there are lots of words, but not much story here.
Still, it was fun to revisit the dragons and see how things are going with Panterra.
Arden craves getting away from home and while angry at her father for not letting her leave with an older sibling, wishes she was gone. Poof! She's invisible. She believes she's been cursed by a witch and stays in her town to find the witch. Arden could leave, as she's always wanted to, but she sticks around for TEN YEARS before watching the town get attached by evil dragons. Now it's time to leave...
She winds up being taken in by a small pride of five dragons that splintered off from the evil group. They basically make her a drudge around their cavern home. Their days seem to be focused on patrolling their little corner of space and looking for new pride members. The leader probably should be mating with the sole female dragon in the group, but he falls for Arden instead.
She recovers from this horrible realization pretty quickly and goes back to the dragons.
What more evident in this book than in the last two is just how much filler is in this book. There's so much repetition of inner dialogue that I started to wonder if this could have been a novella. Arden will think someone and then repeat it three or four times. A whole page could be dedicated to one thought because we have to lather, rinse, and repeat the idea. So there are lots of words, but not much story here.
Still, it was fun to revisit the dragons and see how things are going with Panterra.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Publication date 28th July
✔️Magic
✔️Isolation
✔️Dragon Shifters
✔️Witches
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.
Spellcast is a spin-off from the A Fire in the Sky series, which currently has two published books. While it can be enjoyed on its own, it is said to add an exciting new perspective to the world. I, however, haven't read the other books and I can say that I didn't feel like I was missing any vital information or background anywhere whilst reading.
The story is packed with fascinating characters and creatures. What stood out most to me was how fresh and unique the concept felt compared to similar fantasy books. It brought something different to the genre while still delivering all the magic, mystery, and adventure I enjoy reading.
The novel is divided into three parts: "The Wanderer," "A Guest," and "The Witch." Each section introduced new elements and a different focus, making the story feel constantly evolving. Every time I reached a new part, it brought something unexpected to the table, which kept me invested and curious to see what would happen next.
While I enjoyed the overall story and world-building, I personally struggled to connect with the main character, which made it harder for me to become fully emotionally invested. Even so, the engaging plot, creative concepts, and steady stream of surprises kept me turning the pages.
Overall, this was an interesting and entertaining fantasy read with a unique premise, memorable world-building, and plenty of twists along the way.
✔️Magic
✔️Isolation
✔️Dragon Shifters
✔️Witches
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.
Spellcast is a spin-off from the A Fire in the Sky series, which currently has two published books. While it can be enjoyed on its own, it is said to add an exciting new perspective to the world. I, however, haven't read the other books and I can say that I didn't feel like I was missing any vital information or background anywhere whilst reading.
The story is packed with fascinating characters and creatures. What stood out most to me was how fresh and unique the concept felt compared to similar fantasy books. It brought something different to the genre while still delivering all the magic, mystery, and adventure I enjoy reading.
The novel is divided into three parts: "The Wanderer," "A Guest," and "The Witch." Each section introduced new elements and a different focus, making the story feel constantly evolving. Every time I reached a new part, it brought something unexpected to the table, which kept me invested and curious to see what would happen next.
While I enjoyed the overall story and world-building, I personally struggled to connect with the main character, which made it harder for me to become fully emotionally invested. Even so, the engaging plot, creative concepts, and steady stream of surprises kept me turning the pages.
Overall, this was an interesting and entertaining fantasy read with a unique premise, memorable world-building, and plenty of twists along the way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Negalley for the advanced readers copy of Spellcast.
Returning to Sophie Jordan’s world of dragons, after Firelight and A Fire in the Sky, felt like stepping into familiar magic, only to be swept somewhere entirely unexpected. Spellcast takes a bold turn, diving into the witches’ side of the lore with a concept that’s both fascinating and heartbreaking. A girl hidden beneath a spell that renders her invisible to everyone except magical creatures.
Arden’s life is defined by loneliness. At fourteen, she was already an outsider in her village, but once the invisibility spell took hold, she became something else entirely. She’s forced to watch life from the margins rather than live it. Ten years later, everything changes when she’s suddenly seen by beings she believed were long extinct, dragons.
It’s a moment that’s equal parts relief and terror. To be acknowledged after a decade of isolation is powerful, but being noticed by dragons, creatures known for their danger, feels like a death sentence. What follows is a journey of discovery, acceptance, heartbreak, and even love.
As much as I adore Sophie’s worldbuilding, what always stands out to me is her gift for supporting characters and found family. She writes them with so much heart and emotional weight. The twist in this story was gut wrenching yet undeniably the only answer that made sense. Through it all, my biggest hope was that Arden would finally find a place where she belonged.
I truly hope Sophie has more stories planned in this world. There’s so much magic left to explore.
Returning to Sophie Jordan’s world of dragons, after Firelight and A Fire in the Sky, felt like stepping into familiar magic, only to be swept somewhere entirely unexpected. Spellcast takes a bold turn, diving into the witches’ side of the lore with a concept that’s both fascinating and heartbreaking. A girl hidden beneath a spell that renders her invisible to everyone except magical creatures.
Arden’s life is defined by loneliness. At fourteen, she was already an outsider in her village, but once the invisibility spell took hold, she became something else entirely. She’s forced to watch life from the margins rather than live it. Ten years later, everything changes when she’s suddenly seen by beings she believed were long extinct, dragons.
It’s a moment that’s equal parts relief and terror. To be acknowledged after a decade of isolation is powerful, but being noticed by dragons, creatures known for their danger, feels like a death sentence. What follows is a journey of discovery, acceptance, heartbreak, and even love.
As much as I adore Sophie’s worldbuilding, what always stands out to me is her gift for supporting characters and found family. She writes them with so much heart and emotional weight. The twist in this story was gut wrenching yet undeniably the only answer that made sense. Through it all, my biggest hope was that Arden would finally find a place where she belonged.
I truly hope Sophie has more stories planned in this world. There’s so much magic left to explore.
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!
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