Steal The Sky

by Marina Massino

A dragon slayer could free her people...if only she can capture the dragon king's heart.

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with intricate world-building and a steamy, slow-burn romance full of self-discovery, claiming your power, and accepting the love you deserve, STEAL THE SKY blends themes from Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale with the lush romance of Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses.

In a floating kingdom high among the clouds, men transform into dragons, serving the gods above and protecting us mortal women below. In exchange for their protection against the savage rogues, we bear the sky kingdom’s offspring. But not me. Not now. Not ever.

Twenty-five-year-old huntress Kaisa was content to kill rogues and hunt for her people, but when she defies the demi-god dragon shifter who intended to breed her, she knows she’s chosen certain death. So when the leader of the rogue dragons, Ozias, offers her an escape, she takes it—even if it means betraying the only life she’s ever known.

Spirited away to a land shrouded in mist and mystery, Kaisa learns of a darkness claiming the lives of hers and Ozias’s people, and unless she can harness her newfound power to get close to the stoic, untouchable dragon king of the sky kingdom and steal his power to stop the darkness, she’ll doom them all. But as Kaisa works alongside the handsome and charismatic Ozias, all the while secretly growing close to the dragon king, she realizes that her heart might be the most treacherous thing of all.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Dragons

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Kateřina · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st POV / 1 POV / Chapters length: medium /ARC // TW bellow

DEEP BREATHS. I wasn't a big fan of the first half of the book, but holy fuck, the other half was worth it. This is the first time I've read a love triangle that actually made sense and added depth to the story instead of just being angsty.
Right at the end of the book I had to take a break because I thought I was gonna have to go through something really angsty and anxiety-inducing...but I was wrong? Sure it was super high stakes but this book really took all the things that give me anxiety and dealt with them in a way that I wasn't anxious?????
I'm not a very "one more chapter" person but after "If you let another drop of blood fall from her veins again, I will ensure yours runs dry." I decided that sleep is for the weak.

🐉 dragon-shifters
🐉 strong, powerful and badass FMC
🐉 love triangle between: intense enemies to lovers and insta-lust friends to lovers
🐉 women are used for breeding only (they take sons away from them)
🐉 assholes get punished 👏🏻
🐉 strong friendships
🐉 insta-lust
🐉 bonding 😏

The jump between prologue and chapter 1 is too drastic and completely destroys the prologue and I really hope the author still has time to add a passage that connects the two chapters. The world-building left me confused and I really wish it had a glossary. I still don't know what "collecting" means. 😭 I had to go back repeatedly and although I read the passages where they described certain terms and I still didn't get it.

I really want to talk about the two love interests so feel free to skip this section - SPOILERS:
Ozias somehow gives me the ick? I loved him at first and really wanted them to be together but after they've spent some time together it just started to feel wrong. The insta-lust felt forced for someone who's over a 100 years old and just met a 25yo girlie. Her describing him as a "stranger" really made me suspsicious and I think she should get over her horniness and listen to her gut.

Zhorick is my ride-or-die and if they're not end game I'm gonna scream. Yes, he deserves to be the villain. Yes, I am absolutely manipulated by his tragic past. Yes, their attraction might be influenced by /spoiler/ BUT. Where Ozias is a stranger, Zhorick feels like home. And I really hope those words were a foreshadowing and he's gonna be the main love interest in book two. Yes, I'm choosing the blond guy...sigh.

The pacing was perfect, time made sense and all the characters were likable. I hope this book is gonna go viral. I hope book 2 is with the editor rn, girl.

"I refuse to be another womb, another mother with her heart split in two."

I love Kaisa's sass:
"'You re phenomenal. What did I do to deserve such a match?' Absolutely nothing, I think." 😭

"I haven't taken a single breath in your presence since I saw you at your selection ceremony." SCREAMING

Trigger warning: oppression and violence against women, blood/violence, injury detail, sexual assault (graphic, murdered before he gets to rape her), consensual sexual content, death of a parent, parental emotional abandonment and hatred

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Negative feedback is not meant as an insult to the author!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75/5 stars, ARC. I struggled with this book. The story follows Kasia as she fights societal expectations of women first in her own life, and then on a much larger scale. Taking an opportunity to escape the dragon kingdom, she finds herself nonetheless surrounded by shifters and learns that the transgressions against women run even deeper than she knew. In this new realm, the author weaves together multiple magical elements, curses, and powers that could make for a very rich world if I was able to understand the rules governing them. Every rule of magic seemed to have several exceptions, and I struggled to parse out which rules actually mattered. I did find it really intriguing that there's no single/fated person a dragon shifter can bond with, but rather several potential connections that can shape the character's actions. I think ultimately, I was turned off from this book by Kasia's lack of critical thinking and unreasonable willingness to trust others. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace to read this book, but I think it could appeal to readers looking for complicated magic systems in a misogynistic world heavily featuring dragons.

[Jaici Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I just finished this one and I’ll admit I’m at a loss for words that was the ending of endings what was that ugh I am now officially starving for the next book. I have been on a dragon kick so far this year so this was the perfect read for me right now in that it has the elements I love while being so unique with an original storyline that I truly did not know what was coming next or who to believe or root for. At the end I’m left still so lost in who is good and who I want to come out on top.

The book follows Kaisa who lives in a land where women are basically raised to breed to dragon shifters in a cloud kingdom above them and are selected by the male shifters after a certain age. The kingdom they live in is also filled with some cursed dragon creatures that Kaisa has put herself in charge of irradiating to protect her people rather then be bred and have her children be taken away to the kingdom with the father. She quickly becomes dragged into the world however and when she attempts to outsmart their plan she places herself in danger and must make some decisions that lead her to much more information and freedom along with curses then she bargained for.

The world, plot and characters are unique and flowed well and made the book interesting from page one.The magic system is a little confusing and I thought could be a little better explained, along with the character descriptions I’m having a hard time really picturing the characters throughout the story but the dialogue and actions between them was phenomenal and did feel so real, from friendships and families to romantic relationships it was all so real you really felt like you were right there with Kaisa trying to figure out what was going on and what she should do and who to trust.

The MMC’s my goodness I don’t know what to think they’re both wonderful and I’m so curious how it will look in the next book especially after the relegations at the end. Ozias was so sweet and charming and magnetic and helped her to heal and understand herself so well but also holds so much of who he really is back. Zhorick was so tough but I love when there’s a character that I wants to take on the worlds problems alone but will only soften for one person and I loved seen him slowly open up and let Kaisa in and even though he’s bad in some ways I can’t help but feel their tension and hope they end up figuring things out because they both have such self sacrificing tendencies and would be the most beautifully heartbreaking couple. I immediately followed and searched the authors page for any scrap of information on the rest of the series, feed it to me now! This book comes out this week so I’m afraid I’ll be waiting a while for book two but here’s to hoping for sooner then later! Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read it before it’s release I enjoyed it so much

[Chloé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchased this book after meeting the author at a once upon a com (hiiiii!) because she was SO nice and after reading the book I can honestly say she did not hype herself up enough. The book was very good. I need to know what happens next!

[Sarah P · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️s
Wow what a wild ride!!

This was gripping from the first pages. You are thrown into this vivid world of dragon shifters and the King who rules them. You follow a young woman named Kaisa, who with her twin sister are one of the women who live to serve them. To her mother’s disappointment Kaisa feels trapped in this life waiting to see if she will be chosen by one of the Elite. So she is starting to question whether that is all there is and whether there is another choice for women like her.

There are dragons, magic, hidden power, rebels, destiny, betrayal, and compelling characters that make this a great book!

I love that some of the strongest bonds in this book is of friendship but the potential romance between two powerful dragon shifters was great fun!

This was my first dragon shifter fantasy book but I will definitely be reading more!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! I just hope that I can return to Kaisa’s world and read more soon!

[Arie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was really easy to sink into. From chapter one, I was intrigued and felt connected to the female main character. The world is vivid and atmospheric, and the story blends political intrigue, emotional depth, and healing while reflecting some of the harsher realities of our world.

At its core, this is a genuinely empowering, female driven story. She is brave and resilient, deeply touched by loss yet still daring to hope. Her strength does not come from being untouchable, but from endurance and the support of strong female relationships.

The romance is a true slow burn enemies to lovers. There’s a lot of tension and emotional complexity, and I really appreciated that past harm isn’t brushed aside or magically fixed. The connection is messy and compelling.

I loved the twist on fated mates. It felt original and really set this story apart from others I’ve read. I was genuinely surprised by who her strongest potential bond turned out to be, and even more surprised when I later found myself drawn to him as well. The dream walking scenes were some of my favorites, and I devoured every crumb he revealed about himself.

The magical training and mindfulness sequences were fun and meaningful. Watching the female main character connect with her true self was so moving. Nothing felt rushed, and the growth took time in a way that felt honest, all while balancing a fast-moving, extremely engaging plot.

I finished and immediately wanted more. You need to read this!

Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Anais (atrailofpages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I want to say that I, for the most part, enjoyed this book. The world building is exquisite. There are just some bits of the story that bothered me, like really bothered me, and so, it wasn’t quite for me. Please take what I say with a grain of salt. This book upset me.

This follows Kaisa who is deemed Undesirable by the dragon king during the selection for the carremai, the ones who bear the children of the male dragon shifters, and ever since, Kaisa’s anger towards the king and his men for taking their children has grown.

When an elite takes an interest in Kaisa, she’s determined to never bear his children, but when she’s caught trying to foil him, she’s saved by a rogue dragon shifter named Ozias, who takes her to his Realm of Rogues where he tells her she’s the key to their freedom. With her help, they can get close to the dragon king and bring them all down.

I wanted to like this so so much. I’ll start with what I did enjoy.

I really like the world. It’s well thought out with this patriarchy that suppresses women who are expected to be solely used for bearing the male dragon shifters their children and the women cannot even keep the male children if they are shifters. It’s heartbreaking, and also sad when this is what the grew up with and all they know.

There’s a lot of fun characters in this book and I love the relationships that are developed. Kaisa and her sister have a beautiful relationship. They care deeply for each other and know each other very well.

Kalista I think is an underrated character. She seems more mature than Kaisa and seems to know and see more than Kaisa does. She’s not afraid to call her sister out too and knows how to be around her sister. They just have such a good bond.

Kaisa’s friendship with Ninon is also beautiful. They have a strong and healthy friendship. And even despite being hurt or betrayed by the other, they are still close and care about each other no matter what.

Kaisa builds other relationships slowly with the rogues. And there is a sense of found family, but yet, not full trust and a lot of wariness that may change over time. Maybe.

Zhoric was the most interesting character to me. I wanted to know everything. Why he’s done what he’s done, what are is he doing now to help, who is he? I just wish someone would talk to him and treat him like a human being. He’s not going to open up after everything that’s happened to him in the past, Kaisa!

The romance that I thought this would be would have been amazing. I loved the idea of Kaisa slowly growing closer to someone she’s not supposed to and seeing that there’s more than meets the eye. A forbidden enemies to lovers romance. It sounded wonderful.

Alas, twas not to be.

Kaisa and the romance is where I drew the line.

Kaisa is a strong willed and opinionated gal. I appreciate how she wanted things to change and she really stuck to that want. But she’s so angry and so blinded by her anger that she acts out irrationally and without thought. The choices and decisions she makes throughout didn’t make sense. She made assumptions, which lead to misunderstanding and miscommunication(something else I dislike) and which led to devastating consequences that she took all in stride acting like it was fine 🙄here’s someone who claims she feels too much, which she does, but she tends to feed anger too much and allows that to overtake her thinking abilities.

Then the romance is a love triangle. Which I. Do. Not. Like. If they’re done well, I tolerate them. I, for some reason, didn’t expect a true love triangle. And that’s one me, but this one was not okay.

There might potentially be small slight spoilers below:






















Kaisa seems to want to fall into every male’s pants who gives her the time of a day or looks at her or tells her she’s beautiful. Like every male. Gag.

So after she’s almost assaulted, taken away by the male rogue shifter who looks at her like he wants to take her to bed already(gag again), she also feels that same heated feeling and wants him already. Umm what? For someone who doesn’t trust males, she seems super eager to get into ALL their pants. And trusts way too easily. Like there was absolutely NO emotional connection between the two. Why. Was. This. Romance. In. Here???? Ozias was dull and I could tell he had some personal pathetic petty vendetta against the king and is so focused on that he’s not seeing the bigger picture. Same with Kaisa. She just wants to jump him but isn’t focusing on the bigger picture. Like what are we? 15?

The worst is when Ozias needed Kaisa’s power and in order to increase it, they had to be intimate. Excuse me????(gag once again) Ummm no you just want to take advantage of being with her. That absolutely disgusted me. He was no better than the other males. Also, pretty sure he’s in love with someone else, but whatever.

And I guess I need someone to explain to me about the bonds? I got the impression there’s only one bond certain pairs can have, but I guess you can bond with whomever you want? 🤨

Zhoric, though, was an interesting character. He had depth, he is a man of mystery, someone who has suffered a lot with no one to help him. He reminded me of Gideon in Crimson Moth. My heart hurt so much for him. I wasn’t a fan of what he’d done, or the choices he’d made since, but there’s more to him than meets the eye, I understood where he was coming from, he felt bad and was TRYING the best he could with the limits he has, there’s more to what has happened all these years or what’s happening behind the scenes. We can’t make assumptions. Plus, who doesn’t love a good redemption arc???? One of my favorite tropes ever is a redemption arc. And I know this guy could have one, he already did in my book.

But then Kaisa happens. When Kaisa learns the secret of what happened to him in the past with a partner, here she comes, someone who could be someone who could help him, and instead, she betrays him, and even knowing what happened to him with a past partner, she did exactly what this other did in the past, and that to me, that kind of betrayal, is absolutely horrid. Rather than try to solve problems violently, how about you try it another way and be the bigger person. Like try talking to him.

I was just absolutely devastated with how this ended. I felt no sympathy towards Kaisa because apparently she felt no remorse for what she’d done at the end. It’s like suddenly she had no feelings left even though she’s supposed to “feel too much”, and forgot everything that happened and instead now wants to fix it. Well, girl, if you had THOUGHT before you acted, maybe none of this would have happened. I don’t mind a good betrayal in a book, but this one was unnecessary and unbelievably cruel.

Not sure if you can tell, but this book got me so heated lol. I was so so angry through half the book. And I don’t like feeling like that when reading a book, so I don’t think I’ll continue even though I want to know what happens with Zhoric. I just don’t care about Kaisa enough to want to continue.

It may depend on what the synopsis is for the next book.

[MaReads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sky ruled by dragon and gods.
Women marked, silenced, and controlled.
One woman burning with rage, determined to tear the system down, even if it costs her everything.

2.5/5 ⭐ — 3/5 spice 🌶️ (2 chapters out of 30)

❤️‍🔥 Female rage
⚔️ Patriarchal society
🐉 Dragon shifters
🗡️ Rebels
💞 Love triangle
✨ Soulmates / Dragon bonds


Steal the Sky started strong for me. The prologue and first chapters immediately pulled me in with a strikingly patriarchal fantasy world, dragon shifters living in the sky, and women forced into servitude under the guise of protection and divine order. Kaisa’s female rage, her refusal to accept her fate were compelling from the start.
Unfortunately, the further I read, the more disengaged I became. The ideas are there, and they are good ones, but everything stays too much on the surface. Characters, relationships, and even major plot points lack depth, which made it difficult for me to fully connect emotionally with the story or its stakes.

⚠️ Spoilers ahead
This book has a fantastic premise: a deeply patriarchal society where male dragon shifters rule from the sky while women are marked to suppress their power and forced to bear heirs. The themes of control, bodily autonomy, rebellion, and rage are clearly present, and Kaisa’s anger feels justified and raw.
However, the execution didn’t live up to the potential.
A large portion of the book follows Kaisa training with Ozias, learning to control her dragon form and her elahi power, but these sequences feel rushed and oddly effortless. She faces very few real challenges, which removes tension and makes her growth feel unearned. Training arcs should feel hard, frustrating, and costly, here, they mostly skim the surface.
The plot moves quickly, but without emotional weight. Big revelations and betrayals happen, yet Kaisa’s reactions often feel muted or underdeveloped, especially toward the end.

🗺️ Worldbuilding
This is where the book shines and stumbles.
What worked:
-The patriarchal dragon society
-Women being magically marked to suppress their transformations
-Dragon bonds and shifter lore
-The idea of rebellion and fractured gods
What didn’t:
-The soul-collecting system is extremely unclear
-Major concepts are explained late or vaguely
-A map would have helped enormously, especially early on
-Too many locations and rules introduced without enough grounding
The world feels expansive, but underexplained.

Characters
Kaisa embodies female rage in a way I genuinely appreciated. Her refusal to submit, her hatred of the system, and her willingness to burn everything down are strong foundations for a compelling protagonist. However, her emotional responses often feel inconsistent or too restrained, particularly when faced with manipulation or betrayal. She makes massive decisions with surprisingly little internal conflict.

The friendship between Ninon and Kaisa is told to be important, but we rarely see it. There are very few moments of genuine bonding or intimacy between them, which makes their relationship feel hollow and lacking legitimacy, especially given how central Ninon is to Kaisa’s motivations.

Ozias was one of the more engaging characters for me. His attraction to Kaisa is clear, verbalized, and consistent, which I appreciated. He expresses desire openly, and their dynamic has tension and promise. Still, even with intimate scenes between them, something feels missing: emotional depth, vulnerability, or true development.

The bond between Kaisa and Khoric remains frustratingly unclear. It’s hard to tell whether her feelings stem from the dragon bond itself or from genuine emotional connection. His actions suggest attachment, especially toward the end, but the lack of clarity weakens the love triangle and its impact.

❤️ Romance & Relationships
The love triangle exists, but it never fully lands. The emotional lines between desire, obligation, manipulation, and genuine feeling are too blurred, not in an intentional, morally complex way, but in a confusing one. As a result, the romantic stakes never feel as high as they should.

The ending left me unsatisfied. Kaisa barely reacts to learning that Ozias manipulated her, and her sudden positioning as a savior figure, after helping unleash chaos, feels rushed and emotionally disconnected from what came before.
Steal the Sky had everything it needed to be a powerful, rage-fueled fantasy with dragons, rebellion, and morally complex relationships. Sadly, the lack of depth, emotional payoff, and narrative clarity kept it from reaching its full potential.

A promising concept that needed more space, more emotion, and more development to truly soar. 🐉✨

Thank you Marina Massino and Net Galley for sending me this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Erin Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marina Massino’s debut novel, Steal the Sky, is a great new fantasy romance series. It successfully balances a brutal, high-stakes world with the simmering, complex emotional arcs that "romantasy" fans crave.

The story takes place in a world sharply divided by geography and power. High above the clouds lies Dyeus, a floating kingdom where men transform into dragons to protect the mortal women below from "Rogues"—shifters who have lost their minds and turn into feral beasts at night. However, this protection comes at a horrifying price: women are treated as breeding stock, expected to bear dragon-shifter offspring to maintain the kingdom's defenses.

Our protagonist, Kaisa, is a twenty-five-year-old huntress who has spent her life hunting Rogues to protect her people. She is fierce, capable, and deeply cynical about the "gods" in the sky. When she defies the system and a demi-god who intended to claim her, she is forced to flee into the very place she was taught to fear: the Realm of Rogues.

Kaisa’s character arc is the heartbeat of the novel. She isn't just a "badass" heroine; she is a woman grappling with trauma, agency, and the realization that everything she knew about her world was a lie. Her journey from a hunter to someone who must face her own internal darkness—and her own transformation—is written with incredible emotional depth. Massino excels at depicting "feminine rage" in a way that feels grounded and justified, making Kaisa a compelling FMC.

The romantic tension is handled through a fascinating and emotionally charged triangle. On one side, we have Ozias, the charismatic and handsome leader of the Rogues. He offers Kaisa an escape and a different perspective on the "monsters" she has spent her life killing. On the other side is Zhoric (Sar Dyeus), the stoic and untouchable Dragon King. Zhoric represents the very system Kaisa hates, yet as she begins to see him in her nightly visions and uncovers the truth of the dragon bonds, their connection becomes undeniably electric. The "enemies-to-lovers" energy here is top-tier, built on secrets and a shared, tragic history that neither fully understands yet.

What makes Steal the Sky stand out as a debut is the imaginative magic system and the mechanics of the dragon shifters. These aren't just pets or mounts; the shifting is a burden and a curse as much as it is a gift. The concept of the "nightly curse" that turns Rogues into feral dragons adds a ticking clock to every scene in the second half of the book. Massino’s world-building feels "lived-in," with the harsh wasteland of Novoba and the mist-shrouded Rogue lands providing a stark, atmospheric contrast to the gleaming, oppressive heights of Dyeus.

For a first novel, the pacing is remarkably polished. Massino knows exactly when to lean into the political intrigue and when to let the romantic tension take center stage. The writing is evocative and lyrical, pulling the reader into Kaisa’s head as she navigates a world where her heart is just as much of a battlefield as the sky.

However, be warned: the ending is a total game-changer. It changes Kaisa’s role in the world and leaves the fate of both the sky kingdom and the rogue realms hanging in a precarious balance. It is the kind of conclusion that makes you want to immediately flip back to the first page to see the clues you missed, while simultaneously reaching for a sequel that isn't out yet.

Steal the Sky is an amazing start to a series that promises even more magic, more dragons, and more high-stakes romance. If you love stories about reclaiming your power and finding love in the midst of a revolution, put this at the top of your TBR. I will definitely be picking up the next book the moment it’s available!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Annmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars
🌶️🌶️ 2.5 Spice

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly.

The moment I started reading and understood how women and dragons interacted in Dyeus, I felt a surge of anger and injustice. The unfairness made me imagine setting the world on fire. I was so furious that my blood felt hot, and the situation gave me chills. In that instant, I realised I was entirely invested in the story and eager to see what would happen next. This was an amazing opening for a book.

Wonderful world-building and creation of how the world works. I loved learning how it worked, how that impacted the people I was reading about, and what that really meant and led to as a whole. I felt rage at the dynamics of the society, but I was excited to see where it all led.

I found Kaisa to be a great lead. She wants to be free, wants a life that is her own, but she also wants to protect what she holds dear without having to give herself away when she does not want to. I felt like she was nonstop being tested in a way. She wants to do the right thing. She wants to make sure the world is better, even at the expense of her own wants and needs, and I found that relatable. It is a heavyweight to carry.

By over halfway into the book, I was conflicted, unsure who the lead should trust and what the lead should do. I would find myself putting myself into her shoes and worrying. I had moments where I wanted to question people more, to end someone for all the evil they had done, and that really had me spinning out. I felt untethered and totally unsure of what direction this story would be heading, which is always great when you truly do not know. I had no idea who was good and who was bad, and it made for an epic rollercoaster ride.

The book was entirely story-driven, with romance and spice sprinkled here and there, but the main event was the story, and it was amazing. I ate up each chapter like it was a favorite dish. I pretty much read the book in a few hours, unwilling to close it, sleep, or do anything, really, needing to know how it would end.

I did have a nitpick. I felt like our lead’s growth throughout the book would lead her to ask more questions and not blindly step into things. Given her life and upbringing, she was always portrayed as strong, even when she had to yield. But why, oh why, did she not look into things more, ask more questions, fact check, and not blindly nod and follow?

The ending… I am a wreck. My heart and head are a total mess, and I need the next book like I need air to breathe. How am I meant to go on without knowing what happens? Sobs. The wait will be painful.

What I liked:
Fantastic story. I had no idea where it was going, and that was great.
The connection I felt to the lead at times.
How the author portrayed the males in this book messes with me.
All the questions I have are rolling about in my mind at top speed.
The pain and grief the book got me feeling.
THAT ENDING!!! OMG

What I did not like:
A few moments in the book were a little confusing, so I had to go back and reread.
That our lead did not ask more questions or think more about the choices she was making.

Would I recommend the book:
Yes. It was a fantastic start to a series.

Sum up:
A phenomenal start to what I think will be an EPIC series. It had me in a tizzy from the get go, had me questioning so much and feeling so much, and DRAGONS!!

[Allie James · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I absolutely loved Steal the Sky. It has one of the most complex, nuanced relationships I've read about in quite some time and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Steal the Sky follows Kaisa, a dragon slayer who flees the man planning to impregnate her and joins the rogue dragons she once believed to be monsters. Once there, she realizes her people have been lied to for generations and that she alone holds the power to change things by defeating the dragon king who has led her people to near-ruin.

This book started slightly slow, but still had enough interesting aspects and potential to keep me holding on and WOW am I glad that I did. While I read the first 50 pages over the course of a couple of days, I absolutely ZOOMED through the rest of the book in what was basically a manic reading episode.

Steal the Sky's characters are both complicated and flawed, leading the reader to really empathize with and relate to them. Kaisa is a fierce outsider whose only desire is to stay with her sister and her best friend. But when she risks growing pregnant and birthing a son that will
be harvested by the dragon king, she knows that she must abandon the life she knew in order to avoid heartbreak. Her character arc is a great one because, while she starts the book mainly just looking out for herself and her close group of loved ones, she ends up realizing that if she does nothing for the greater good, the world could fall to complete ruin around her. She is stubborn, tough, and extremely empathetic with a great heart.

The rogue dragon that rescues her, Ozias, is a really fun and enticing character. He has a lot of knowledge that both Kaisa and the reader seek out about the nature of dragons, the lies that have been told to Kaisa's people, and the individual, unique powers that each dragon can have. He's a lighthearted character, which is necessary because he deals with such serious matters and a likable love interest for Kaisa. At the beginning of the book, I completely loved him, but I will say that some of my feelings towards him changed a little bit in light of certain events towards the end of the book.

But then there's my favorite character of the book - the dragon king, Zhoric. I was VERY surprised with this character. At the beginning, I just viewed him as this one-note villain that I could never forgive for what he did to Kaisa's people. But oh my goodness is this character complex. I absolutely love the way he was written and his relationship to Kaisa is strikingly unique and unforgettable.

That's where the real success of this book lies - in its characters' relationships. While Kaisa's relationship with Ozias is on the simple side, with her just believing him to be the people's savior, her relationship with Zhoric is very multifaceted and really makes the reader examine their own feelings and level of empathy. I really look forward to seeing how these relationships play out now that they could be in closer proximity to one another.

The world built in this book is very interesting and complex, which makes me eager to read another book on this series. I really hope for a sequel because I'm dying to know what happens between Kaisa, Zhoric, and Ozias. I highly recommend this book if you're a fan of fantasy and love triangles.

[krispy.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold my hand when I tell you this: this book is incredible. I was expecting a cute fantasy with some romance, but it was so much more.

🐲 dragon shifters
🐲 betrayal and conspiracy
🐲 the possibility to bond, but that's forbidden
🐲 some draconem having special magic
🐲 everything women thought they knew is a lie
🐲 a badass and sassy FMC
🐲 one MMC is charming and warm, the other is cold and tormented
🐲 insta-lust and a bit of spice

I loved this book so much, the plot is so unique and the magic system is so interesting. I love the characters, especially Kaisa (though sometimes she felt too perfect) and Zhoric, definitely my favourites. I loved the journey Kaisa had to go through to find herself and what she had to learn. I loved every aspect of the magic of this world, so well developed and really interesting. But sometimes I got lost on the world and a glossary would be nice to have. I loved the whole dragon shifting stuff, really nice to read and imagine. This book is a perfect combination of magic and the focus on characters.

The whole love triangle is so well written, you can totally root for both men. But since the beginning I knew who I wanted Kaisa to end with and hopefully it will happen. It was really nice to see how different Kaisa is with Ozias and Zhoric, how both see a slightly different side of her. I usually don't like love triangles, but this one makes sense. And one of them already has my heart 🤭

I really liked the author's writing, really beautiful. The reading pace I would say is a bit slow, it took me longer to read than it usually takes for a book of this length. But it also makes you not want to put it down, you want to read and read. I couldn't put the book down after the 70% mark. Some moments were a little more tell than show, but I still liked it. I liked how the author describes the characters and their relationship, the yearning and the affection they have. You really care for the protagonist.

Fav quotes:
★ "If you let another drop of blood fall from her veins again, I will ensure yours runs dry."
★ "As he straightens, the backs of his fingers ghost against mine. My eyes flick down, catching him pull away and flex his hand." - this reminded me of Mr. Darcy
★ "He stops dead in his tracks and raises his gaze to me, eyes roving all over my face, catching on the ends of my hair, on my cheeks where Issa hit me. His stillness deepens, turning him to stone, his voice lowers to a deadly octave. 'Who struck you?'"
★ "You noticed," I say, touching the ends, which feel like nothing but a suggestion in this form. "I notice a great number of things about you."

This is a great book if you like fantasy, dragons, magic, yearning, fated mates and bonding, love triangle and of course, a good antagonist. I really recommend this book and can't wait for the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC ☺️

[Cynthia Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could steal the sky, I can make the sun move - I will mend the gods.

Steal the Sky is a beautifully immersive romantasy that intertwines religion, feminism, and high-stakes magic in a story that kept me turning pages well into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am already eager for the sequel... honestly, I want it now!!!! (And the first book isn't even OUT yet!!)

The protagonist, Kaisa, is a strong, independent woman who clearly understands her circumstances and refuses to be defined by them. While the feminist themes occasionally felt a little heavy-handed (almost pulling me slightly out of the plot), the core message is still powerful and meaningful.

Kaisa’s relationships are layered and compelling. Ninon embodies the truest best friend energy; steadfast, bold, and unafraid to stand against the grain. Kalixta serves as the bridge to Thrace, who adds depth by showing that not all elites are irredeemable.

Now let’s talk about the men. Ozias, the rogue dragon shifter, hits so many beloved tropes of the classic MMC, yet I still couldn’t help but be drawn to him. He’s dangerous, intriguing, and that forbidden-fruit energy is irresistible… especially since Kaisa is supposed to bond with Zhoric. And oh man, ZHORIC: the mysterious, haunted “big bad” of the elites whose backstory and connection to Ozias are so expertly revealed. I really hope this unfolds as a why-choose and not a love triangle. (please don’t make me choose!!!)

You might not have sought out these questions you didn't know existed, but you'll get the answer to them all the same.

The setting and magic system are easy to visualize and follow, with the dragon transformations and powers mostly well developed. I do think the lore could benefit from a bit more depth (there were BOOKS we didn't discuss) especially around how the magic works and clearer details about the dragons themselves (I kept picturing something closer to Game of Thrones, but then the descriptions hinted at a more serpentine, fur-covered design like Chinese-inspired dragons).

The writing is strong and engaging, with just a few minor editing slips. Occasionally it leaned into preachy territory for me, but that didn’t significantly dampen my enjoyment. And the romance?? Chef’s kiss. I loved that it wasn’t insta-love and that both relationships felt nuanced with real chemistry on both sides.

Overall: SO enjoyable. I’ll definitely be picking up a physical copy and am counting down to the next book!

"No. You don't get to come to me now when I am this..."
I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for letting me read this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Alice ☆ Manicures and Manuscripts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overview: For Kaisa, a twenty-five-year-old huntress, her days are spent protecting the mortal women of her clan from the savage dragons who attempt to take their lives above ground, and the callous dragon-shifters who attempt to steal their children below ground.

Vowing to never sacrifice herself to this barbaric practice, Kaisa avoids notice for several years as an 'undesirable'. But when a demi-god-shifter chooses her, she's forced to defend herself and defy the gods.

She has no choice but to join Ozias, the handsome and charming leader of the rogue dragon hoards and abandon the life she once knew. Now, living ina new land shrouded in mist and mystery, Kaisa learns that a great secret has been withheld from her people. Seducing the dragon-king and harnessing her new powers may be the only hope to save them all from the darkness.

My thoughts: I devoured this book - mostly because for 300 pages it felt it was on the precipice of something great. Unfortunately, it didn't feel like it ever really got there.

The worldbuilding was solid - dense at times, and there were parts I didn't fully grasp, but it was clear the author put a lot of thought into it and was passionate about the fantasy genre! The ideas were great - it may have been a case of putting almost too many ideas into one book, but the execution did well to manage them all.

For me, the letdown was the character development and sometimes the writing. Both of these things can come good with time and editing. At times, the writing felt repetitive - mostly because Kaisa treads the same path multiple times in her thoughts. This is forgivable as a character-flaw, but it didn't feel true to that/there wasn't enough development of her and her flaws to paint that picture. I also struggle when a character's whole deal is that they're contrary and questioning and challenge everything, but at times accept information at face value/don't ask obvious questions. Again, this would be a great opportunity for a character flaw - too ready and willing to accept the next truth to protect yourself after learning the world is a lie - but the execution misses the mark.

The romance is quite delicious. I, for one, am firmly in Team Zhoric camp. At the end, it did feel slightly insta-love, and I wish there was more exploration of their time together but I'm not mad about it.

I have no doubt this will be an author to watch - I'm excited to see what they do next as they hone their skills. And of course, keen to see the next instalment so I can find out what happens!

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I applied for this ARC and was gifted it only for my honest opinion. I don’t know if this was the author’s debut but the story grips you in its claws and won’t you go! I loved it!

We start the book with Kaisa (our fmc) who lives in a world where male dragon shifters live in a sky island and all females (non shifters) live near in some underground caves. The male shifters every year come down and choose from the fertile females one to mate. Then the chosen are taken to the sky island by the dragon so they can woo them and eventually breed them to get them pregnant. Once the babies are born the dragons take the boys if they are dragon shifters (if not they go to the farms as workhands) and they keep the females as possible future breeders. Here I was a bit worried thinking this book was going to be a handmaiden tale horror story but no, just keep reading! Basically the male shifters have the task of keeping the females and farmhands safe from the rogue (think feral) dragons that live in the Realm , which is a zone surrounded by mists. The legends also say that anyone crossing to the Realm gets cursed to becomes a monster losing their consciousness, but they can’t be sure because the people who cross are never seen again…
That’s like more or less the beginning of the book. Our fmc despite being deemed undesirable for breeding gets chosen by a male shifter and she and her best friend go looking for plants for a potion to prevent pregnancy. And that’s where the plot thickens, we get to meet a rogue dragon and things are not like they seem…. Are the bad guys really bad? Are the good guys really good? There are secrets, dragons, magic, betrayals and fated mate bonds. The story was beautiful, Kaisa must learn to accept her past, her magic and herself. Torn between 2 mmc both of them mysterious and dangerous… story does end on a cliffhanger and I seriously need book 2 to know how things get fixed after the events at the end of the book.

Read it if you like dragons mixed with feminine rage, a mystery and fated mates bonds. The love triangle here is also very complex and the “enemies to lovers” option here I never saw it as possible but it’s very well done. Characters have depth and are very complex, the magic is beautiful and being a dragon is at the same time a blessing and a curse.

Bravo Marina you wrote a wonderful book!

[Laura Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.

This book had such an interesting world with compelling ideas and a great premise, but something about the execution of it felt a little off, and it took me out of the story several times and ended up affecting my enjoyment of it. There was an overall lack of descriptions of the people around our main character (we don't get any details on her best friend's physical appearance until 33% into the book) which felt really odd, and I thought a lot of the dialogue was awkward and stilted. I also found all the curses and their rules to be quite confusing, because every time a new rule was introduced, it turned out that there was some sort of exception to it that was rarely explained in any detail. It was pretty convenient, and it made the whole reading experience a bit jagged and strange at times.

I also had mixed feelings about both love interests. Kaisa and Ozias's journey happened so fast, and I really disliked his flirtations and obvious lust for her THE DAY after she was almost raped. Just have a little decency and keep it in your pants, please sir. Plus, we didn't get to see a lot of his personality so I just ended up not really caring that much about him. And then I had a hard time with Zhoric and all the women's suffering he was responsible for, which didn't really sit right with me when our FMC was supposed to fall for him. We still don't know the full extent of the curses and what happened all those years ago, so I'm sure we will get more details and probably sympathize with him more in the next book, but I'm just not sure I'm going to continue the series and get to that.

So, even though I liked many elements throughout (and I truly did think the concept of the story was fun and interesting, and I loved seeing everyone shift into dragons), it still ended up falling a little flat for me and it didn't have quite the emotional payoff that I had hoped.

[Jessica Winder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steal the Sky follows Kaisa, one of many women forced to live underground while awaiting the arrival of dragon shifters who will eventually claim them for breeding. While the premise is dark, the book offers some refreshing and engaging elements that stood out to me.

One of the highlights was the author’s approach to familiar tropes. The take on fated mates and enemies-to-lovers felt fresh and thoughtfully handled, and I enjoyed how this dynamic unfolded over the course of the story. The dragon-shifting scenes were also particularly well written and vivid, adding energy and interest to key moments. Although I was slightly confused about how the dragon shifters are linked to the gods, this may have been something I missed rather than a flaw in the writing.

I was engaged throughout the book and curious to see how the story would develop as it moved beyond the underground cave system and began to expand the world. That said, I did find the early portion of the novel quite slow. Spending so much time underground made the pacing feel drawn out, and it took a while for my interest to fully build. I also struggled to get a strong sense of the wider lore of the world above ground; aside from the existence of monsters, there was limited detail to help contextualise the broader setting.

In terms of character relationships, I found these to be one of the weaker aspects of the book. While Kaisa’s motivation to remain underground for the sake of her family and her friendship with Ninon was understandable, her family dynamic felt underdeveloped, and the bond with Ninon relied more on proximity than emotional depth. The two male characters were intriguing in concept, but I never felt particularly compelled to root for either relationship.

Overall, I gave Steal the Sky three stars. I enjoyed the story and remained interested in what was happening, but it loses one star because the major reveals were not especially surprising, and another because I did not strongly connect with the characters.

[Alexandra Vlaming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steal the Sky is a tour de force! This fantasy romance debut from Marina Massino is jam packed, and the pace moves quick, you can hardly bear to put it down or take a breath. Our main character, Kaisa, is a huntress living with the rest of the women in her community, supporting the men who live above, in a literal cloud city. We are dropped right into the action, and the reader is quickly acclimated to this world, its magic systems, and the rules that its residents must live by.

Kaisa undergoes a journey of self discovery, along the way trying to find for herself what real love and connection means, fighting her upbringing, and realizing what she’s always believed is likely false. Kaisa is a firecracker, quick with a smart response, and capable of protecting herself, she’s a great FMC. Steal the Sky has multiple MMCs, and boy they couldn’t be more different. As the story goes on, I started to doubt who the real “good guy is, both appear to be keeping secrets, and I can’t wait to hopefully find out what those secrets are, as the story continues. The side characters are well written too, every one has a backstory, personality, and they feel wholly realized.

The plot is crackling, and the action moves quickly, there is no lag in the story, we keep hurtling toward its conclusion from the jump. The magic is fairly complex, but for the most part Massino does a good job of keeping the details in order, and reminding the reader of things as needed. One quibble I have plot wise is that at times it almost moves too quick, I had to backtrack and reorient myself at times. But overall, the magic and rules of this world are clear, and I certainly wasn’t bored. But be warned - there is a cliffhanger!

Many thanks to the author for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[María Navarro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tbh, this book took a while to fully win me over. The story follows Kaisa, a huntress in a floating kingdom where dragon shifters serve the gods and rule over mortal women, demanding obedience—and offspring—in exchange for protection. When Kaisa defies her assigned fate and escapes with the help of Ozias, the leader of the rogue dragons, she’s thrust into a much larger conflict involving ancient power, a spreading darkness, and the dragon king of the sky kingdom himself — Zhoric.

While the premise is compelling and the world-building is clearly ambitious, I struggled during the first half of the book (maybe because of the language). The magic system and bond dynamics are complex, and at times the explanations felt overwhelming.

That said, the final act is where everything finally clicks. The pacing improves, the emotional stakes deepen, and the plot gains clarity and momentum. By the end, I was fully invested—and the cliffhanger is no joke. This was my first dragon shifter romance, and despite the slow start, I’m absolutely planning to read the sequel.

In terms of characters, I found myself unexpectedly leaning toward Zhoric rather than Ozias. Even though Zhoric is portrayed as the antagonist, there’s a sense of familiarity and emotional tension between him and Kaisa that felt more genuine to me. That connection became especially hard to ignore the “If you let another drop of blood fall from her veins again, I will ensure yours runs dry.”

Overall, while I don’t feel I fully experienced the story’s entire potential, this is still a strong and promising debut from Marina Massino. I’d recommend readers give it a chance, especially those who enjoy epic fantasy romance, morally gray characters, and slow-burn tension. I’m definitely continuing the series!!!

*Thanks NetGalley and Marina Massino for this ARC!!!

[Bets O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Marina Massino and Victory Editing (through Netgalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I chose Steal the Sky for the cover, and stayed for the story. This book was a breath of fresh air. I LOVED it! It's very rare that a debut novel doesn't feel like it's someone's first book. I was flabbergasted to find, when looking up the author (in order to find other titles I could dive into), that this was the only one.

The world building is unique, along with the magic. Every step forward is purposeful and charged with female disappointment and rage. Like anything, the more you know of a situation the angrier you get.

All the complaints I've ever had about Romantasy were finally remedied. I couldn't believe my luck when I was handed a FMC, who contemplates/makes rash decisions and then owns up to them. Kaisa makes the most of an unfortunate situation instead of lamenting about how unfair life is. She is strong, independent, and capable, and doesn't need to arm herself to the teeth, and then pick fights to prove it. And my goodness when she was horny and exclaimed something along the lines of “things are too tense, now is not a good time” I SWOONED. I will take twenty more of these books please.

There is a love ^ (not triangle) and it was interesting to see the attractions unfold. I was rooting for both interests, which was a surprise. Normally I can pick a side, but was unable to. Even with the history and baggage that unfolded.

I'm anxious to see the series progress. I think there is strong world building and interesting magic.

Above all else this book took a stingy fantasy reader, and made her actually love a romantasy. I think this is a case where fantasy and romance are on equal footing. One doesn't overpower the other. It's incredibly refreshing.

[Candace Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter, Steal the Sky opens with an intriguing message that sets the tone for everything to come. The writing caught my attention right away, it's immersive, vivid, and confident. Massino painted such a clear picture of the world that it’s impossible not to sink into it completely.

One of my favorite parts of the story is the relationship between Ninon and Kaisa. Their loyalty to one another feels authentic and so realistic (their banter is so funny). Ozias deserves his own moment because I love him. Sweet, caring, supportive… and yes, very hot. No notes.

The action throughout the book is intense and relentless... in the best way of course. I also really appreciated how we’re given space to understand the characters beyond the chaos. The glimpses into their pasts add depth and context, helping you understand not just who they are, but why they are the way they are. The mind walking, in particular, is used in such a creative and emotional way. I was completely enamored by how it deepened both the worldbuilding and the character connections.

As a huge empath, Kaisa’s pain hit me hard and I felt it like it was my own. And then there’s Zhoric… why do I feel for him? There’s clearly more beneath the surface than just “the enemy.” What he’s done isn’t forgivable, but I couldn’t fully hate him and the conflicting emotions around his character were fascinating. And also uncomfortable 😂

Now. The ending. My actual reaction was: “Are you f*cking kidding me?!” The emotional damage delivered in the final moments was nothing short of cruel. The twists had me spiraling, questioning everything, and whisper yelling “WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS GOING ON” into the void. Absolutely devastating.

[Michelle Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect this to be a 5 star rating for me since the beginning of the book has so much information to keep up with.
But here I am, hoping the husband and child will be at the grocery store a little bit longer so I can finish that last chapter.
The creative world building in this book took me by surprise. At first, I felt overwhelmed and bored but the story telling is so unique and different. The dragons are unlike most dragon books I've read (and its a lot). I felt like they have a more wyvern/Chinese dragon body to them with the long whiskers, horns, and the furry manes. I love the spin on the typical dragon shifter books but its hard to describe without giving any spoilers.
I appreciated Kaisa being a strong FMC who always felt different and wanted to find out where she could belong. The twists and turns with her story without honestly had me second guessing who was trust worthy and who wasn't. I was cheering for her developing relationships with both Ozias and Zhoric and all of the new side characters. Although, excuse me dear author. My heart was broken a couple of times in the book and I almost put it down. I'm thoroughly glad I didn't and I powered through to the last chapter.
I really enjoyed the fact that Kaisa wasn't some whiney FMC who felt like the world should spoil her and listen to her complaining. She struggled with her choices and you get to see the inner conflict throughout the entire book. Last minute decisions are made (some good and some bad) but I really felt like this book was 500 pages long, in a good way. I'm so shocked so much fit into such a shorter book (288 pages on my app) but I couldnt get to the ending fast enough. Reader beware: there must be a second one after this. We have some loose ends to tie up with the gods.

[Tre' · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that starts with injustice and slowly asks what it actually costs to fight it.

I went into Steal The Sky thinking I knew what kind of book it would be. Dragons, romance, maybe some political tension, perhaps even a bit of rebellion. What I didn't realize was how wrong I would be. This book sits in that uncomfortable space where injustice is baked into everyday life, and it does not let you look away. From the start, Kaisa’s world feels a bit unfair, and that tone never really lets up.

Kaisa (fmc) worked for me because she feels real. She's angry, stubborn, and often acts out of hurt rather than long-term planning. While I might not have always agreed with her decisions, I understood them. The dragon lore and bonding rules are woven directly into her emotional journey, which I appreciated. Nothing here feels decorative. Every piece of magic seems designed to take something from someone else.

The relationships are where things get complicated fast. The dynamic between Kaisa, Ozias, and Zhoric is tense, messy, and at times, emotionally exhausting. I kept changing my mind about who I trusted, who I liked, and who I wanted to throat punch. This is not a comfort romance where you settle in and root for one obvious outcome. Power, guilt, and desire are all tangled together, and the book absolutely knows it. That's one of the main reasons it was hard to put down.

The ending goes big and moves fast, and while a few moments felt rushed, I respected the risk Massino took. I finished the book thinking more about responsibility than resolution, and about how breaking a corrupt system can still leave significant damage behind.

ARC provided by Marina Massino through NetGalley. Many thanks for the early copy.

[Freya Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating -🐉🐉🐉🐉 4/5
Genre- dystopian fantasy with some romance
Spice - 🌶️ 1/5
Pace -medium-fast
vibes-handmaids tale, fighting the patriarchy, cults, villain not a villain???,

Tropes- mating bonds, shifters, Enemies to lovers, love triangle, LGBTQIA, escaping the system

Summary with spoilers:
Kaisa is born into something like the handmaids tale (a book I have embarrassingly not read) but she is not chosen by the king to breed with one of his elites even though there is a lot of sexual tension between her and the king. That doesn't stop one of them eventually choosing her though. After the initial disappointment she had already decided she didn't want to have children and got he friend to make her some birth control. The Elite that chose her finds out and tries to force himself on her so she kills him and escapes with a stranger to the wilderness where the "real beasts" live. He starts grooming her to be the handmaids savior and for some reason she doesn't question a single thing. While this is happening she dream walks to the King at night and they become closer. She finds out he isn't pure evil but he obviously abused generations of women with the system he put in place. He is a complicated character. In the end Kaisa bonds with the king and starts the armageddon of that world.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book but I have to say the main character while a strong woman needs to ask more questions. I don't trust either men of the love triangle. the king has already don't bad shit in the story but seems regretful, Ozias on the other had is posing as the savior but I don't trust him. He wasn't transparent with Kaisa and seemed to use sex to keep her from questioning anything. I guess only one way to find out! I look forward to the next book!

[Alyssa Radigan-Cordes · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review

I very much enjoyed my time in this draconic universe and I look forward to the rest of the series.  The world is interesting and well fleshed out.  Despite what could be described as a LOT of exposition at a few points in the story, I didn't mind it as it does make sense for things needing to be explained to the FMC.

The romantic relationship was developed at a pace that made sense within the story and the parameters of the universe's draconic bonding.  The enemies to lovers feels earned, and I am torn between the male love interests possibly as much as Kaisa.  

A few nitpicks keep me from giving it 5 stars.  Kaisa came off as very passive in some situations despite being built up as a more outspoken person.  I sat there wishing she would ask just a few more questions.  Guarding your heart is not the same as closing your brain!  I wish there was just a bit more to descriptions of characters and places to bring the world to life a bit more. 

And finally, for all the exposition on powers and what Kaisa needed to do, I wish there was a bit more time spent explaining the relationship between humans, dragons, and gods.  The interactions between dragons and their society is really fleshed out, but I'm left wondering what gods and humans really have to do in all of this.  I hope it's explained in the future, but it's a shame there's not a bit more about it in this book 

Overall I think this book is interesting and does something different than a lot of other fantasy based romance.  I'd recommend giving it a read if only to enjoy something other than a classical Western take in dragons.

[Caley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a great read, so glad to share my thoughts on this ARC!

Steal the Sky introduces a dark, imaginative world divided between The Realm, where rogue dragons live under a curse, Novoba, a harsh underground wasteland controlled by the elite, and Dyeus, a city in the sky ruled by dragon shifters. The premise is gripping from the start, particularly the brutal system in which women are forced to breed with shifters and surrender their male offspring that will eventually shift. It creates high emotional stakes and a constant sense of tension throughout the story.

Kaisa is a compelling FMC, navigating impossible choices, family ties, and the weight of being marked as undesireable by the king. The love triangle is one of the book’s strongest elements. Ozias is the charming, swoon-worthy option and an easy character to like, while Zhoric (Sar Dyeus) brings a darker, more emotionally charged presence that adds real depth and conflict. Both relationships are engaging in different ways, and I appreciated that neither felt flat or unnecessary.

The world-building is ambitious and intriguing, especially the concept of rogue dragons cursed to shift at night and become feral if they cross boundaries. I loved this variation of magic and dragon bonds, I felt it was a very new and fresh take.

Overall, Steal the Sky is an engaging and atmospheric read with strong characters, a dark romantic core, and an interesting take on dragon shifters and fate bonds. Fans of fantasy romance with morally gray characters, high stakes, and emotional tension will find a lot to enjoy here.

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

**4.5 stars**

Steal the Sky by debut indie author Marina Massino is the first book in a new fantasy romance series that explores a patriarchal society where dragon shifters rule the sky and history is written by the victors.

The floating sky kingdom of Dyeus is home to men that transform into dragons. It is their purpose and duty to protect the women below from “Rogues” — feral dragon shifters that live outside the safety of their borders. In exchange, women are taught that their value is in their compliance & ability to be bred.

Our FMC, Kaisa, has a natural inclination for the wild and untamed as well as an inherent longing for something unidentifiable & more. She rejects the future thats expected of her. Kaisa’s is a story of self-discovery, stepping into your power and taking control of your destiny.

The world Marina paints is intricate, complex and steeped in magic. I found the concept of bond potentials rather than inherently fated mates to be really unique. This story is marketed as a love triangle, and to be fair — there definitely is one — but it feels more like the illusion of a love triangle (which I like even more). So much happens in this book but I get the feeling we’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of what’s to come.

Steal the Sky comes out February 10th and is perfect for fantasy romance readers that enjoy dragon shifters, unique magic systems, strong female relationships, feminine rage, self discovery, secrets & betrayals, unreliable histories, political intrigue and slow burn enemies-to-lovers with open door spice!

[hope linan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you SO much, Marina, for allowing me to read this book prior to release!

As I’m learning the ARC world, I’ve read some really fun books. This is definitely top two for me, for many reasons.

Do you like dragons? What about a love triangle between two very, VERY different men that has you questioning whose side you’re on?? Like, I’m not supposed to love Zhoric but I do?? Do you like your main characters to make massive decisions, only to find out those decisions have their own set of consequences? If you answered yes, this is definitely a book you want to read.

The writing style was lush, descriptive, and easy to follow. The world was very well laid out; I didn’t have questions as to where the sky kingdom was, or where Nevoba was. That’s a HUGE plus. I could see the land in my mind and the book had a well paced development of it.

Kaisa is a great leading lady. She’s adventurous, doesn’t conform to her society’s sense of normalcy, and has a quick tongue she’s not afraid to use. I love it. She’s loyal, loves her family, and is willing to sacrifice herself to save them.

My only beef is the friggen cliffhanger 😭 Such sweet sorrow, but so worth it!

I honestly can’t wait to see when this next book comes out. But man, this was a really, really great book if you’re a fan of dragons, world-altering decisions in which you aren’t sure which answer is correct, fabulous world development, and a whole lot of suspense and intrigue waiting for you in the next book.

Kudos, Marina! I loved this.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steal the Sky by Marina Massino is a fantasy book set in the world of dragons. It opens with a claiming ceremony where male dragons can choose the females to bear their children. Kaisa and her sister Kalixta are twins, but Kaisa was the second born and according to her mother, should have been a boy. Boy dragons are taken from their mothers at birth and raised in the sky to become dragons. Girl babies stay with their mothers and are tied to the ground. This causes problems between Kaisa and her mother. The lives of male and female are separate except for reproduction. At the ceremony, Kalixta is deemed acceptable by the dragon ruler, Zhoric, but Kaisa is judged unacceptable, so no other dragons can choose her. Fast forward three years and that changes, but Kaisa is determined to forge her own destiny and not have it chosen for her.
This self-published book seems to be the first by Ms. Massino and it is definitely worth a read. I struggled a bit with the rating because there were a few problems. The pacing could have been better. It took me 4-5 days to read the first half of the book and one to read the second. Some of the world building was not explained well enough in my opinion (such as the soul collectors). Overall though, it was a good story and that is what counts. The ending is not quite a cliffhanger, but the closest thing to it so I am anticipating a book two in a series.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[amel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out strong, so I'm really shocked at how much it spiraled out of control. The misogynistic society that is meshed with a dragon shifter fantasy world is a very interesting concept to explore. Kaisa starts off as a very interesting FMC bent on defying this society that presses women down. Her interactions with other female characters (and their interactions with one another) was done incredibly well as a representation of what these women were forced to be and how they have survived.

Which makes the downward spiral of this book all the more unfortunate. Her relationship with Ninon and her sister are strong throughout, but other aspects of this book seem to undermine much of the plot and her character. It was interesting to see how bonds function in this world, and the idea of how love persists in this society are really interesting, but the way that it is portrayed in the relationships Kaisa has with both MMCs is in part why I did not enjoy this book. I just can't get behind the idea that this Handmaid's Tale style society/the man that has sustained it for a century is necessary or excusable for any reason.

The plot was also paced very inconsistently. There were a lot of really slow points, and then the ending feels extremely rushed (like....extremely). And even though the stakes are through the roof, I'm just very disinterested in continuing with this series.