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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
13 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Jordan
68 books9,032 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 52 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.
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.
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 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.
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
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Spellcast
Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)
I read A Fire in the Sky and enjoyed it, so it was nice to return to this series with a new fmc. The entire premise of someone becoming invisible to all their loved ones and seeing life move on without them is quite heartbreaking. It was written in a way that I really felt horrible for Arden and all that she had been through, and it was a strong way to open this story. Because of her horrible backstory, I really was rooting for Arden and was invested in her having a good romance. I enjoyed the romance. I wish it could have had a bit more nuance, but it was satisfying enough. I wish there were a few more positive supporting characters. Arden would benefit from some more nice friends, though given her circumstances, it would be quite hard.
The overall plot twist at the end was not my favorite, but it did work with the story. I wish it could have been done a bit differently. However, I was happy with how the story wrapped up overall, and the Sophie Jordan gave Arden’s story a satisfying ending.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)
I read A Fire in the Sky and enjoyed it, so it was nice to return to this series with a new fmc. The entire premise of someone becoming invisible to all their loved ones and seeing life move on without them is quite heartbreaking. It was written in a way that I really felt horrible for Arden and all that she had been through, and it was a strong way to open this story. Because of her horrible backstory, I really was rooting for Arden and was invested in her having a good romance. I enjoyed the romance. I wish it could have had a bit more nuance, but it was satisfying enough. I wish there were a few more positive supporting characters. Arden would benefit from some more nice friends, though given her circumstances, it would be quite hard.
The overall plot twist at the end was not my favorite, but it did work with the story. I wish it could have been done a bit differently. However, I was happy with how the story wrapped up overall, and the Sophie Jordan gave Arden’s story a satisfying ending.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Personal rating (4/5)
Instead of getting out of the village to see the world, at 14, Arden's world stops. Suddenly she is invisible to everyone she loves for years then suddenly dragons appear and she isnt invisible anymore,
Spoilers:
I really enjoyed the story andagain read it in one weekend. Like the Fire in the Sky this book is a predictable but cozy story. I really enjoyed these new characters. Arden was different from most FMCs. With her affliction of invisibility she was both experienced and inexperiencd with life. Tage our MMC is the real fantasy of this story when he stays firm when his friends question his affection for Arden.
I also think Sophie does a great job in this series hitting hard topics like the lose of a child, I felt that scene so deeply and she wroite the weight of that in Ardens heart well through the rest of the book.
Genre: Romantasy
Length: 352
Vibe: Fairytale, Self Discovery,
Tropes: dragon shifters, medium burn, perceived bad guy to lover
Instead of getting out of the village to see the world, at 14, Arden's world stops. Suddenly she is invisible to everyone she loves for years then suddenly dragons appear and she isnt invisible anymore,
Spoilers:
I really enjoyed the story andagain read it in one weekend. Like the Fire in the Sky this book is a predictable but cozy story. I really enjoyed these new characters. Arden was different from most FMCs. With her affliction of invisibility she was both experienced and inexperiencd with life. Tage our MMC is the real fantasy of this story when he stays firm when his friends question his affection for Arden.
I also think Sophie does a great job in this series hitting hard topics like the lose of a child, I felt that scene so deeply and she wroite the weight of that in Ardens heart well through the rest of the book.
Genre: Romantasy
Length: 352
Vibe: Fairytale, Self Discovery,
Tropes: dragon shifters, medium burn, perceived bad guy to lover
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all, I want to say thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the ARC! I am such a huge fan of the world that Sophie Jordan created in A Fire in the Sky and to be able to read one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 earlier than I dreamed, has made my year. I had such huge expectations, and I was not disappointed. This has been ranked as my first 5 star read of 2026. We follow Arden's journey and a curse that was placed on her. For the first 30% of the book, we get to experience alongside Arden, how the curse happens and how it affects her. As a reader, you go through the motions of what she experiences as life literally passes her by while being invisible. The sorrow, despair, tragedies, are felt so deeply it made me root for Arden since page one. This book is more than just a standalone romantasy, it lessons and hardships that Arden survives. Just like we all do. As for Arden and Tage, I am going to miss them, and I really wish we could have another book on them.
First of all, I want to say thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the ARC! I am such a huge fan of the world that Sophie Jordan created in A Fire in the Sky and to be able to read one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 earlier than I dreamed, has made my year. I had such huge expectations, and I was not disappointed. This has been ranked as my first 5 star read of 2026. We follow Arden's journey and a curse that was placed on her. For the first 30% of the book, we get to experience alongside Arden, how the curse happens and how it affects her. As a reader, you go through the motions of what she experiences as life literally passes her by while being invisible. The sorrow, despair, tragedies, are felt so deeply it made me root for Arden since page one. This book is more than just a standalone romantasy, it lessons and hardships that Arden survives. Just like we all do. As for Arden and Tage, I am going to miss them, and I really wish we could have another book on them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was such a easy, fun ride. It got me out of a real reading slump.
Things I liked
-Learnig more about the mythical creatures, especially Arden's big reveal
-Beautiful cover art
- It's short
Things that I didn't
- Tage's pride seem to follow him because he is strong and powerful, not because they side with his principles. They do not seem very committed to anything.
Things you just have to accept to enjoy this book
- this is lite fantasy. The world building is not detailed or intricate.
- the writing skews towards YA where things are described in broad strokes. There is a lot of perseverating. We do not get into the minutea of Arden's daily life. This is not deep or serious literature.
- and thats okay!
Again, this book came to me at the right time and helped me get back into the enjoyment of reading.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Things I liked
-Learnig more about the mythical creatures, especially Arden's big reveal
-Beautiful cover art
- It's short
Things that I didn't
- Tage's pride seem to follow him because he is strong and powerful, not because they side with his principles. They do not seem very committed to anything.
Things you just have to accept to enjoy this book
- this is lite fantasy. The world building is not detailed or intricate.
- the writing skews towards YA where things are described in broad strokes. There is a lot of perseverating. We do not get into the minutea of Arden's daily life. This is not deep or serious literature.
- and thats okay!
Again, this book came to me at the right time and helped me get back into the enjoyment of reading.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Captor/Captive
Dragons
Slow-burn
Trauma
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
This book starts slowly, focusing on our FMC Arden and the repercussions of a wish that left her invisible to her friends and family. We see her pass 10 long and lonely years always watching from the sidelines, unable to talk to anyone or interact with them. Everything changes though when one day she's seen by and kidnapped by a pride of dragons! The book definitely starts to pick up from there and pulls you into the world and the perfect tension between Arden and the dragon alpha, Tage.
I liked the interactions between Tage and Arden, especially the little moments and that hot springs scene is 🌶️! The spice isn't pushy or rushed which I also enjoyed! There's lots of plot with this spice. While it does take a little bit to get into the story it's definitely worth the wait!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Jordan for the ARC provided for my honest review.
Enemies to Lovers
Captor/Captive
Dragons
Slow-burn
Trauma
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5
This book starts slowly, focusing on our FMC Arden and the repercussions of a wish that left her invisible to her friends and family. We see her pass 10 long and lonely years always watching from the sidelines, unable to talk to anyone or interact with them. Everything changes though when one day she's seen by and kidnapped by a pride of dragons! The book definitely starts to pick up from there and pulls you into the world and the perfect tension between Arden and the dragon alpha, Tage.
I liked the interactions between Tage and Arden, especially the little moments and that hot springs scene is 🌶️! The spice isn't pushy or rushed which I also enjoyed! There's lots of plot with this spice. While it does take a little bit to get into the story it's definitely worth the wait!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Jordan for the ARC provided for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This has been on my anticipated reads list as I've gotten arcs of others in this series so when I heard there would be another, I was excited. This can be read on its own without knowing much about the first series. I read this book in a day it was so good. I didn't really read the description before reading this as any book from here is an automatic buy for me so I didn't have many expectations going in. That being said, it seemed like there would be more about witches than there actually was. I'm hoping there is a sequel to this that might expand on the witches and the world building along with more about Arden and Tage. For a while I felt like nothing happened but somehow I was 50% into the book already. This is a good intro romantasy read and I look forward to reading more of her books.
This has been on my anticipated reads list as I've gotten arcs of others in this series so when I heard there would be another, I was excited. This can be read on its own without knowing much about the first series. I read this book in a day it was so good. I didn't really read the description before reading this as any book from here is an automatic buy for me so I didn't have many expectations going in. That being said, it seemed like there would be more about witches than there actually was. I'm hoping there is a sequel to this that might expand on the witches and the world building along with more about Arden and Tage. For a while I felt like nothing happened but somehow I was 50% into the book already. This is a good intro romantasy read and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my second Sophie Jordan book—after reading A Fire in the Sky, I was really excited to dive into this ARC. The premise sounded amazing, full of some of the god-tier BookTok tropes we all know and love: the captor/captive dynamic, “touch her and die” energy, extra spice, and a world brimming with magic, dragons, and witches. And yes—dragons! Dragon shifters, too!
That said, it ended up being a bit of a letdown for me. At this point in my reading journey, I’ve started to crave fantasy romance that does something new. These tropes can still be fun, but they need a fresh twist to keep readers guessing. While this story had strong elements and definitely fits the romtasy vibe, it didn’t surprise me in the way I was hoping.
I’m not knocking the book—it’s still a great pick for readers who are newer to the fantasy romance world or who just want a classic “comfort trope” kind of read. But for me personally, as a more seasoned reader, it landed at about 3 stars.
That said, it ended up being a bit of a letdown for me. At this point in my reading journey, I’ve started to crave fantasy romance that does something new. These tropes can still be fun, but they need a fresh twist to keep readers guessing. While this story had strong elements and definitely fits the romtasy vibe, it didn’t surprise me in the way I was hoping.
I’m not knocking the book—it’s still a great pick for readers who are newer to the fantasy romance world or who just want a classic “comfort trope” kind of read. But for me personally, as a more seasoned reader, it landed at about 3 stars.
February 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Sven and Harper Voyager for this eARC.
Spellcast is about a girl, Arden who is cursed by a witch and is determined to hunt them down to regain the life she once had. The story was engaging, and the characters were easy to connect with—I especially appreciated how their personalities and motivations carried the narrative forward. The world and pacing kept me invested, and overall it was a very entertaining read.
I did initially think this book would be a direct continuation of the existing series, so realizing it was a spin-off took a little adjustment, but once I settled into the story, I found it worked well on its own. My only real frustration was a small plot hole that pulled me out of the story briefly, though it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a great read with compelling characters and an engaging premise, and I’d be happy to read more stories set in this world.
Spellcast is about a girl, Arden who is cursed by a witch and is determined to hunt them down to regain the life she once had. The story was engaging, and the characters were easy to connect with—I especially appreciated how their personalities and motivations carried the narrative forward. The world and pacing kept me invested, and overall it was a very entertaining read.
I did initially think this book would be a direct continuation of the existing series, so realizing it was a spin-off took a little adjustment, but once I settled into the story, I found it worked well on its own. My only real frustration was a small plot hole that pulled me out of the story briefly, though it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a great read with compelling characters and an engaging premise, and I’d be happy to read more stories set in this world.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Spellcast by Sophie Jordan is a refreshing read with a totally original plot that stands out in the fantasy-romance genre. I really enjoyed the creativity woven into the story, it felt unique and imaginative, which kept me invested.
That said, the pacing took a little while to find its rhythm. The beginning felt slower than I expected, and it took me some time to fully sink into the world and characters. Once the story picked up, though, it became engaging and rewarding, with twists that made the journey worthwhile.
Overall, Spellcast is a solid read with inventive storytelling and a payoff that makes it worth sticking through the slower start. If you’re looking for something different in the fantasy romance space, this one delivers originality with heart.
3.5 stars
I received this ARC copy of Spellcast from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
That said, the pacing took a little while to find its rhythm. The beginning felt slower than I expected, and it took me some time to fully sink into the world and characters. Once the story picked up, though, it became engaging and rewarding, with twists that made the journey worthwhile.
Overall, Spellcast is a solid read with inventive storytelling and a payoff that makes it worth sticking through the slower start. If you’re looking for something different in the fantasy romance space, this one delivers originality with heart.
3.5 stars
I received this ARC copy of Spellcast from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.
This book is 30% Arden living her life as an invisible person in her community. Then it’s 50% being held captive by dragons. And then the remaining 20% involves spoilers but things get revealed in a very fast manner. This is a romantasy novel. If you were expecting fantasy, it is not. There’s barely any fantasy or world building. The beginning of the book started off pretty strong, but then the middle and end were just kind of boring. The romance feels VERY instant love-y that even the other side characters are mentioning it. The ending is done so quickly that barely anything is really resolved in a good manner. Overall, a disappointing read.
This book is 30% Arden living her life as an invisible person in her community. Then it’s 50% being held captive by dragons. And then the remaining 20% involves spoilers but things get revealed in a very fast manner. This is a romantasy novel. If you were expecting fantasy, it is not. There’s barely any fantasy or world building. The beginning of the book started off pretty strong, but then the middle and end were just kind of boring. The romance feels VERY instant love-y that even the other side characters are mentioning it. The ending is done so quickly that barely anything is really resolved in a good manner. Overall, a disappointing read.
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