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Aether & Industry #1
Bound by the Sky
The sky brought them together.
The storm could tear them apart.
While pirate ships and floating cities soar overhead, Amaya Sinclair’s feet are planted on the ground. But when a violent tragedy results in her abduction by a villainous Sky Lord, her once-clear path vanishes underfoot. In its place, she finds a beautiful, unforgiving world that challenges everything she believes about herself and her future.
William Lexington has spent over a decade carving out a space for himself among the clouds, at the cost of his identity and ideals. When a twist of fate lands Amaya on his airship, he writes her off as a pretty inconvenience—until he realizes she’s the only thing standing between his monstrous former mentor and a brutal new era.
Caught in a fight to live on their own terms, Amaya and Will’s growing connection calls every priority into question. As the enemy’s looming shadow darkens, their race to control forces best left untouched reveals that much more than their lives are at stake.
Welcome aboard the Maelstrom. Enjoy the view—and don’t get killed.
Treasure Planet meets Final Fantasy in this fast-paced romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Rebecca Yarros.
The storm could tear them apart.
While pirate ships and floating cities soar overhead, Amaya Sinclair’s feet are planted on the ground. But when a violent tragedy results in her abduction by a villainous Sky Lord, her once-clear path vanishes underfoot. In its place, she finds a beautiful, unforgiving world that challenges everything she believes about herself and her future.
William Lexington has spent over a decade carving out a space for himself among the clouds, at the cost of his identity and ideals. When a twist of fate lands Amaya on his airship, he writes her off as a pretty inconvenience—until he realizes she’s the only thing standing between his monstrous former mentor and a brutal new era.
Caught in a fight to live on their own terms, Amaya and Will’s growing connection calls every priority into question. As the enemy’s looming shadow darkens, their race to control forces best left untouched reveals that much more than their lives are at stake.
Welcome aboard the Maelstrom. Enjoy the view—and don’t get killed.
Treasure Planet meets Final Fantasy in this fast-paced romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Rebecca Yarros.
556 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews
February 2, 2026
➸ 4.5 stars
𓈀 𓄹𓂃 thank you to netgalley for the advanced readers copy!!
🔹 flying pirate ships
💫 sky cities
🔹 unique magical relics
💫 forbidden romance
🔹 dual pov
“For anyone who has ever been called too sensitive, too quiet, or too nice.
It requires resilience to have a soft heart in an apathetic world.
It takes wisdom to listen more than you speak.
And kindness requires radical courage.
These are not weaknesses. They are your greatest strengths—leverage them.”
“Welcome to the Maelstrom, Amaya. Don’t get yourself killed.”
this book was so much fun!!! pirates but in the sky with flying pirate ships, how cool is that?!! this was like something i’ve never read before and i found the magical relics to be so so unique!! creating the relics, imbuing aether, the usage, the user… SO COOL!!!! everything is so thought out i loved it!! as for the plot, CRAZY!! there were so many adventures and sneaking around and cool fight scenes, high stakes… and so much more!! the characters were so likeable and i loved the dynamic between our main characters!! the side characters were amazing as well and i loved the found family we had going on! i was truly on the edge of my seat while reading this and the ending had my screaming!!!! i am seated for book 2 and i can’t wait!! i need answers!!
💫🔹 quotes:
“For as long as you’re on my ship, you’re under my protection.”
“Will rolled his eyes, and his jaw ticked as he tried not to smile. Amaya wished he wouldn’t try so hard; she wanted him to smile at her so badly.”
“For what it’s worth, I like this version of you.”
“He’d talk to her all night if she wanted. About anything. With or without words.”
“We’ll be seeing each other privately, then?”
“Go to bed, Sinclair. Be ready to disembark at dawn.”
“I didn’t hear a no.”
“Did you want to?”
“. . .No.”
“Thank you for . . . thank you for coming.”
“I gave you Wayfinder to use, Amaya. Of course I came for you.”
“He couldn’t protect her if she went beyond his reach. And in just a couple short weeks, protecting her had become one of his greatest callings. He didn’t want to watch her go willingly back into her cage, where no one wanted the unfiltered version of her that had become so precious to him.”
“I wake up wanting you. I go to sleep wanting you. And I want you every damn second in between. Always.”
“He was going to lose everything for her. And the worst part? He’d give it up gladly if it meant he could call her his.”
“And he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if everything he’d endured and become in the twenty-six years of his life had led him to this woman, this moment, it was worth it. He’d do it all over again, as many times as it took, as long as she was waiting for him at the end of the line.”
“I’d watch the sky burn for you. And everything in it.”
“Will was terrified of what he’d do to keep Amaya. But if he lost her? He might not be a bystander when the world burned—he’d be the one igniting the flames.”
“What was it like to live your entire life without ever touching solid ground? Did everything feel like it was moving? Did it feel like you could reach out and swirl the sunset with your finger, or capture a star?”
𓈀 𓄹𓂃 thank you to netgalley for the advanced readers copy!!
🔹 flying pirate ships
💫 sky cities
🔹 unique magical relics
💫 forbidden romance
🔹 dual pov
“For anyone who has ever been called too sensitive, too quiet, or too nice.
It requires resilience to have a soft heart in an apathetic world.
It takes wisdom to listen more than you speak.
And kindness requires radical courage.
These are not weaknesses. They are your greatest strengths—leverage them.”
“Welcome to the Maelstrom, Amaya. Don’t get yourself killed.”
this book was so much fun!!! pirates but in the sky with flying pirate ships, how cool is that?!! this was like something i’ve never read before and i found the magical relics to be so so unique!! creating the relics, imbuing aether, the usage, the user… SO COOL!!!! everything is so thought out i loved it!! as for the plot, CRAZY!! there were so many adventures and sneaking around and cool fight scenes, high stakes… and so much more!! the characters were so likeable and i loved the dynamic between our main characters!! the side characters were amazing as well and i loved the found family we had going on! i was truly on the edge of my seat while reading this and the ending had my screaming!!!! i am seated for book 2 and i can’t wait!! i need answers!!
💫🔹 quotes:
“For as long as you’re on my ship, you’re under my protection.”
“Will rolled his eyes, and his jaw ticked as he tried not to smile. Amaya wished he wouldn’t try so hard; she wanted him to smile at her so badly.”
“For what it’s worth, I like this version of you.”
“He’d talk to her all night if she wanted. About anything. With or without words.”
“We’ll be seeing each other privately, then?”
“Go to bed, Sinclair. Be ready to disembark at dawn.”
“I didn’t hear a no.”
“Did you want to?”
“. . .No.”
“Thank you for . . . thank you for coming.”
“I gave you Wayfinder to use, Amaya. Of course I came for you.”
“He couldn’t protect her if she went beyond his reach. And in just a couple short weeks, protecting her had become one of his greatest callings. He didn’t want to watch her go willingly back into her cage, where no one wanted the unfiltered version of her that had become so precious to him.”
“I wake up wanting you. I go to sleep wanting you. And I want you every damn second in between. Always.”
“He was going to lose everything for her. And the worst part? He’d give it up gladly if it meant he could call her his.”
“And he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if everything he’d endured and become in the twenty-six years of his life had led him to this woman, this moment, it was worth it. He’d do it all over again, as many times as it took, as long as she was waiting for him at the end of the line.”
“I’d watch the sky burn for you. And everything in it.”
“Will was terrified of what he’d do to keep Amaya. But if he lost her? He might not be a bystander when the world burned—he’d be the one igniting the flames.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Megan G. Elisabeth and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Bound By the Sky releases on January 28, 2026!
Overall Rating: 5 / 5!! ⭐️
Spice Rating: 1.5 / 5 🌶️
First of all, this is a DEBUT novel!? Oh my gosh. This was such an amazing read.
The worldbuilding was insane. The characters were engaging, layered, and complex. The magic system? Beyond unique. And not a single section of the book felt too dragged out! I loved all of it! I felt like I was completely immersed in this fictional world, and drawn to our main characters!
Amaya and Will.
Banter? Perfect.
Slowburn? To die for.
Their relationship progressed so nicely. I was rooting for them the entire book! But, what really drew me in was the character development and Amaya's newfound family. To me, they were the true heart of Bound by the Sky. I loved each of them so much ugh.
I cannot wait to see the direction this series goes. Best believe I will be picking up a physical copy and eagerly waiting for the next book!
♡ pre-read ♡
ooooh i cannot wait to get into this ARC, i'm so excited! <3
Overall Rating: 5 / 5!! ⭐️
Spice Rating: 1.5 / 5 🌶️
First of all, this is a DEBUT novel!? Oh my gosh. This was such an amazing read.
The worldbuilding was insane. The characters were engaging, layered, and complex. The magic system? Beyond unique. And not a single section of the book felt too dragged out! I loved all of it! I felt like I was completely immersed in this fictional world, and drawn to our main characters!
Amaya and Will.
Banter? Perfect.
Slowburn? To die for.
Their relationship progressed so nicely. I was rooting for them the entire book! But, what really drew me in was the character development and Amaya's newfound family. To me, they were the true heart of Bound by the Sky. I loved each of them so much ugh.
I cannot wait to see the direction this series goes. Best believe I will be picking up a physical copy and eagerly waiting for the next book!
♡ pre-read ♡
ooooh i cannot wait to get into this ARC, i'm so excited! <3
June 28, 2026
First of all, anything that bills itself as Treasure Planet with pirates plus magic is automatically my new favorite. Second of all, to pull it off over 500+...? Megan G. Elisabeth, you just got yourself a new fangirl. I did not want to leave this book one bit. I kept having to slow myself down because the idea of being on a flying ship was so freakin magical that I did not want it to end. Yes, please. I need my own sky lord like RIGHT NOW.
This was an absolute delight of a book. Intriguing, mysterious, lightly spicy, and the yearning…. Level 1000 yearning. This sucker had me kicking my feet all over the place! I need y’all to read this and tell me who your favorite character was. (And why is it Mouse. Because… it definitely better be Mouse.)
6 stars! You win Megan G. Elisabeth. Now… how about that next book ma’am??? (Seriously, you’re just going to leave me hanging like that? REALLY? I see how it is…)
This was an absolute delight of a book. Intriguing, mysterious, lightly spicy, and the yearning…. Level 1000 yearning. This sucker had me kicking my feet all over the place! I need y’all to read this and tell me who your favorite character was. (And why is it Mouse. Because… it definitely better be Mouse.)
6 stars! You win Megan G. Elisabeth. Now… how about that next book ma’am??? (Seriously, you’re just going to leave me hanging like that? REALLY? I see how it is…)
March 4, 2026
⚙️ Bound by the Sky ⚙️
Full ARC Review to come
🖤 What to Expect
• Floating cities
• Sky pirates
• Slow burn
• Morally gray MMC
• Found family
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: January 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Compass Quill Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Full ARC Review to come
🖤 What to Expect
• Floating cities
• Sky pirates
• Slow burn
• Morally gray MMC
• Found family
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: January 28, 2026
📝 Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Compass Quill Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
December 21, 2025
I received this book as an ARC (advanced reader copy) to review before it’s out and oh boy do I have a review for you!
First of all, when I saw posts on instagram talking about a book inspired by treasure planet, pirates of the caribbean,final fantasy and a sprinkle of steampunk in the mix I just had to sign up and pray to be chosen. Needless to say my expectations were through the roof and I was more than happy to be part of the ARC team. Everything in this book called to thirteen years old me and simply hit the spot on everything on my list!
Great main character? Check! Amaya was so enjoyable to discover and I loved her evolution throughout the story. She is strong willed, funny and intelligent. For me, she is in my top new female protagonists in my reads this year and I can’t wait for people to discover and love her as I do.
A cool MMC (main male character) that would surely break readers' hearts all over the world? CHECK. Honestly, Will was amazing and I would take a prequel with his backstory tomorrow morning (speaking of prequel I would read one about the relics war as well pretty please hehe)
Banter? One hell of a Check
Side characters whose names you remember because you like them? Goshdarn Check
A cool magic system? Check! I loved the relics and the steampunk aspect of everything
Nice and to the point world building? Check! I did not want to read something heavy that I would have to take notes to remember how the world works. This one is to the point not confusing and delightful.
This book was everything it promised and it delivered so much more I wanted to call in sick to keep reading. The twists, the turn, the ENDING???? (It should be illegal but I still love the author) I can’t wait to read it again and I will for sure get a physical copy when it releases. If you made it this far, you know this a 5 out of 5 stars for me. It’s a great read and I will recommend it to anybody who wants a great pirate read or to get out of a reading slump. It’s paced perfectly, the dialogues are chef kiss, the description makes you feel like you are there and experiencing the sky cities with the main characters. I hope to see y’all board the Maelstrom when this book is out!
See you in the next one.
First of all, when I saw posts on instagram talking about a book inspired by treasure planet, pirates of the caribbean,final fantasy and a sprinkle of steampunk in the mix I just had to sign up and pray to be chosen. Needless to say my expectations were through the roof and I was more than happy to be part of the ARC team. Everything in this book called to thirteen years old me and simply hit the spot on everything on my list!
Great main character? Check! Amaya was so enjoyable to discover and I loved her evolution throughout the story. She is strong willed, funny and intelligent. For me, she is in my top new female protagonists in my reads this year and I can’t wait for people to discover and love her as I do.
A cool MMC (main male character) that would surely break readers' hearts all over the world? CHECK. Honestly, Will was amazing and I would take a prequel with his backstory tomorrow morning (speaking of prequel I would read one about the relics war as well pretty please hehe)
Banter? One hell of a Check
Side characters whose names you remember because you like them? Goshdarn Check
A cool magic system? Check! I loved the relics and the steampunk aspect of everything
Nice and to the point world building? Check! I did not want to read something heavy that I would have to take notes to remember how the world works. This one is to the point not confusing and delightful.
This book was everything it promised and it delivered so much more I wanted to call in sick to keep reading. The twists, the turn, the ENDING???? (It should be illegal but I still love the author) I can’t wait to read it again and I will for sure get a physical copy when it releases. If you made it this far, you know this a 5 out of 5 stars for me. It’s a great read and I will recommend it to anybody who wants a great pirate read or to get out of a reading slump. It’s paced perfectly, the dialogues are chef kiss, the description makes you feel like you are there and experiencing the sky cities with the main characters. I hope to see y’all board the Maelstrom when this book is out!
See you in the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am honored to be a part of the ARC team on this book, and even prouder to say this book is awesome!
I've been looking for a Treasure Planet-esque story, and to see the author wrote this for she was inspired by Treasure Planet is even cooler.
Our female lead is from a wealthy family, and is being courted by a general, but longs to explore. Her mother died when she was younger, but left her with a necklace. Little does she know is that this necklace is a piece of a puzzle that leads to a legendary planet where aether (a way of powering objects, turning them in leveled artifacts) exist. If one gets a hold of this trove of aether, one could control the future of the world in which they live.
Our lead gets kidnapped for said necklace, and during a skirmish between another pirate vessel. This one being flown by our male lead. He carries a sword that is bound to him and will eventually kill him. The only way to keep him from dying is use the sword to kill. He has no means to keep the girl aboard, but finding out that her necklace may lead to this horde, he wants to destroy it so no one can use it.
There is a pirate the knows the ML, and raised him when he killed his parents. This pirate is the one who is after the necklace and is on a quest to get ahold of it and use the aether. Cue journey through the skies, other planets, and meeting various friends and foes.
I loved the cast of characters. A brother and sister, a ship artifact creator / scientist, a young thief that all have objects that are tied to them that allow them to do things. The general that is after the female lead's hand reminds me a bit of Norrington with bite (from Pirates of the Caribbean), and is clearly after the female lead for clout than love.
The book ends with a cliffhanger that makes you wonder and leaves you needing the next book. I usually dislike cliffhangers, but this one was really good and the story that built up to it was fantastic for it.
If you really like Treasure Planet, Final Fantasy, a smart FL & ML, you need to get a copy when it comes out.
I've been looking for a Treasure Planet-esque story, and to see the author wrote this for she was inspired by Treasure Planet is even cooler.
Our female lead is from a wealthy family, and is being courted by a general, but longs to explore. Her mother died when she was younger, but left her with a necklace. Little does she know is that this necklace is a piece of a puzzle that leads to a legendary planet where aether (a way of powering objects, turning them in leveled artifacts) exist. If one gets a hold of this trove of aether, one could control the future of the world in which they live.
Our lead gets kidnapped for said necklace, and during a skirmish between another pirate vessel. This one being flown by our male lead. He carries a sword that is bound to him and will eventually kill him. The only way to keep him from dying is use the sword to kill. He has no means to keep the girl aboard, but finding out that her necklace may lead to this horde, he wants to destroy it so no one can use it.
There is a pirate the knows the ML, and raised him when he killed his parents. This pirate is the one who is after the necklace and is on a quest to get ahold of it and use the aether. Cue journey through the skies, other planets, and meeting various friends and foes.
I loved the cast of characters. A brother and sister, a ship artifact creator / scientist, a young thief that all have objects that are tied to them that allow them to do things. The general that is after the female lead's hand reminds me a bit of Norrington with bite (from Pirates of the Caribbean), and is clearly after the female lead for clout than love.
The book ends with a cliffhanger that makes you wonder and leaves you needing the next book. I usually dislike cliffhangers, but this one was really good and the story that built up to it was fantastic for it.
If you really like Treasure Planet, Final Fantasy, a smart FL & ML, you need to get a copy when it comes out.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was not expecting to love this as much as I did. It immediately gripped me and had me thinking about it all the time.
I loved all the action, there was never a shortage of something insane going on. I also really appreciated the sky pirate setting. It was original and refreshing to read something different.
My only complaint is I now have to wait for the next book and I got a copy of this pre-publication so it's going to be even longer 😭
✨️ "You do it for yourself. Because after this, that beautiful, badass version of you deserves a life doing whatever the hell she wants. You don't get to give up on her. I haven't; I never will." ✨️
I loved all the action, there was never a shortage of something insane going on. I also really appreciated the sky pirate setting. It was original and refreshing to read something different.
My only complaint is I now have to wait for the next book and I got a copy of this pre-publication so it's going to be even longer 😭
✨️ "You do it for yourself. Because after this, that beautiful, badass version of you deserves a life doing whatever the hell she wants. You don't get to give up on her. I haven't; I never will." ✨️
February 7, 2026
toto bolo tak preplnené akciou!
prvá polovica si ma hrozne získala, stred ma zase stratil a záver si ma znovu získal :D
prvá polovica si ma hrozne získala, stred ma zase stratil a záver si ma znovu získal :D
December 12, 2025
@megwritesalot’s Bound By The Sky has been one of my most anticipated indie reads (ever) and let me tell you, it exceeded all my expectations!
i honestly struggled with writing this review because nothing i wrote felt adequate to describe how much i love and adore this story, these characters, and this world. the story is gorgeously vivid, emotional, adventurous, steam-punk, chaotic at times (in the best way), and filled with so much love. the characters are all multi-layered with their own unique voice but make you feel like you’ve been friends with them for years. and, the world- god, how can i move there and join a sky crew? the world is filled with stunning sky cities, savage (and hot) sky pirates, unique magic infused relics, and so much political chaos. the world Meg created made my Treasure Planet loving heart so happy.
i absolutely love the character arc our FMC Amaya goes on in this story! going from being told what to do to placate men to going after what you want and who you want to be is a storyline a lot of people can relate to. with so much sass, confidence, and determination, you can’t help but want to be friends with Amaya. and our MMC Will? he’s the definition of “bad boy with a good heart for those he cares about” and i love him so much for it. Will is a ruthless Sky Lord with a dark past who has no problem “eliminating” problems that get in his way. through dual POVs, we can watch Will deal with the struggles of being a Sky Lord while trying to keep his friends safe.
this book was just everything. i was constantly stuck between “this is so good, i don’t want to stop reading” and “this is so good, i want to go slow and savour it”. i could tell you a million reasons why i love this book so much, but i don’t want to share spoilers. i highly recommend adding Bound By The Sky to your TBR and checking it out! releasing January 28, 2026 🩵
thank you, Meg, for trusting me with an advanced copy of your book! i cannot wait to have a gorgeous copy for my bookshelf! 💞
i honestly struggled with writing this review because nothing i wrote felt adequate to describe how much i love and adore this story, these characters, and this world. the story is gorgeously vivid, emotional, adventurous, steam-punk, chaotic at times (in the best way), and filled with so much love. the characters are all multi-layered with their own unique voice but make you feel like you’ve been friends with them for years. and, the world- god, how can i move there and join a sky crew? the world is filled with stunning sky cities, savage (and hot) sky pirates, unique magic infused relics, and so much political chaos. the world Meg created made my Treasure Planet loving heart so happy.
i absolutely love the character arc our FMC Amaya goes on in this story! going from being told what to do to placate men to going after what you want and who you want to be is a storyline a lot of people can relate to. with so much sass, confidence, and determination, you can’t help but want to be friends with Amaya. and our MMC Will? he’s the definition of “bad boy with a good heart for those he cares about” and i love him so much for it. Will is a ruthless Sky Lord with a dark past who has no problem “eliminating” problems that get in his way. through dual POVs, we can watch Will deal with the struggles of being a Sky Lord while trying to keep his friends safe.
this book was just everything. i was constantly stuck between “this is so good, i don’t want to stop reading” and “this is so good, i want to go slow and savour it”. i could tell you a million reasons why i love this book so much, but i don’t want to share spoilers. i highly recommend adding Bound By The Sky to your TBR and checking it out! releasing January 28, 2026 🩵
thank you, Meg, for trusting me with an advanced copy of your book! i cannot wait to have a gorgeous copy for my bookshelf! 💞
February 1, 2026
This book is so fun!!! It didn’t disappoint on the treasure planet vibes. It gave me the same feeling without being a direct copy. I love pirates in any form so this book was particularly fun for me!
I think the world building is very strong. I felt I had a firm grasp on both the social political structures, as well as the rules of how artifacts (relics in this book) worked.
I would protect Mouse with my life. His and Amaya’s relationship is so sweet. When we first met him, I expected him to just be plot device to get Amaya on the right ship and I am so happy he wasn’t.
*** ARC reader review ***
I think the world building is very strong. I felt I had a firm grasp on both the social political structures, as well as the rules of how artifacts (relics in this book) worked.
I would protect Mouse with my life. His and Amaya’s relationship is so sweet. When we first met him, I expected him to just be plot device to get Amaya on the right ship and I am so happy he wasn’t.
*** ARC reader review ***
December 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
thank you for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING GOOD???? I loved the world, the blending of relics as magical enhancement items, and sky pirates / any pirates or biomechanics…truly just so cool.
Characters were fun and believable and had room to breathe on the pages, relationships felt organic and realistic, plots were fun and things tied together in unique and interesting ways, and overall just GOOD.
Pirates of the Caribbean meets Treasure Planet meets (IMO) Bioshock Infinite, and those are three things that I’ve loved since I was a kid so here we are with a banger book to encompass all 3????
Foaming at the mouth, gnawing bars of my enclosure, scraping my nails against the walls, etc etc ready for the next book - SURPRISE IT’S GONNA BE A SERIES!
Would HIGHLY recommend if you’re a fan of:
- pirates uhmmm???
- more realistic fantasy trauma (aka not forgetting everything 1 day later?)
- creative worldbuilding
- adventure first narratives with focus on event descriptions and great pacing
- blonde haired MMC okkkkk new Jacks!
thank you for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING GOOD???? I loved the world, the blending of relics as magical enhancement items, and sky pirates / any pirates or biomechanics…truly just so cool.
Characters were fun and believable and had room to breathe on the pages, relationships felt organic and realistic, plots were fun and things tied together in unique and interesting ways, and overall just GOOD.
Pirates of the Caribbean meets Treasure Planet meets (IMO) Bioshock Infinite, and those are three things that I’ve loved since I was a kid so here we are with a banger book to encompass all 3????
Foaming at the mouth, gnawing bars of my enclosure, scraping my nails against the walls, etc etc ready for the next book - SURPRISE IT’S GONNA BE A SERIES!
Would HIGHLY recommend if you’re a fan of:
- pirates uhmmm???
- more realistic fantasy trauma (aka not forgetting everything 1 day later?)
- creative worldbuilding
- adventure first narratives with focus on event descriptions and great pacing
- blonde haired MMC okkkkk new Jacks!
January 12, 2026
Im always down for a pirate fantasy book!
I really enjoyed the magic system, the world building, the character relationship developments as well as the individual character arcs and growth.
Definitely recommend trying this one :)
I really enjoyed the magic system, the world building, the character relationship developments as well as the individual character arcs and growth.
Definitely recommend trying this one :)
February 5, 2026
“𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧.”
Bound by the Sky by Megan G. Elisabeth
4.5☆
This book is a love letter to every millennial that had a crush on Jim Hawkins. And knowing the story was actually inspired by Treasure Planet made it truly nostalgic.
“𝙒𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨, 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨.”
You’re immediately thrown into a steampunk world of sky cities. There is obvious political chaos, with those making the rules and those who break them—pirates finding and dealing in dangerous relics filled with a coveted substance called Aether (something that could shape the future and absolutely destroy the balance of the world if it falls into the wrong hands).
Amaya is from a wealthy family, being courted by a general who wants her more for status than love, and is quietly suffocating in a gilded cage, through a life chosen for her. Naturally, she’s kidnapped. Naturally, chaos ensues.
Enter William Lexington—Sky Lord. He’s a walking red flag with golden curls that match his heart. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen for a blonde MMC so hard. He carries a dark past that fuels his future plans. And when he begrudgingly rescues Amaya, neither one of them realize how necessary they will be to each other when that future comes.
𝙃𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨. “𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚, 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙧.” “𝙊𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡.”
The dual POV lets you see both of them wrestling with who they are versus who they’re expected to be, and the tension between them is delicious and the slow burn in IMMACULATE.
“𝙄’𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩.”
Its cities in the sky, magic-infused relics, political power plays, intense battles, found family, betrayals, and soft heroines who are quietly courageous, who choose bravery in the face of fear. It’s chaotic, emotional, and adventurous, and I’ve never wanted to be a sky pirate more.
*Thank you to Megan G. Elisabeth for the advanced reader copy!
Bound by the Sky by Megan G. Elisabeth
4.5☆
This book is a love letter to every millennial that had a crush on Jim Hawkins. And knowing the story was actually inspired by Treasure Planet made it truly nostalgic.
“𝙒𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨, 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨.”
You’re immediately thrown into a steampunk world of sky cities. There is obvious political chaos, with those making the rules and those who break them—pirates finding and dealing in dangerous relics filled with a coveted substance called Aether (something that could shape the future and absolutely destroy the balance of the world if it falls into the wrong hands).
Amaya is from a wealthy family, being courted by a general who wants her more for status than love, and is quietly suffocating in a gilded cage, through a life chosen for her. Naturally, she’s kidnapped. Naturally, chaos ensues.
Enter William Lexington—Sky Lord. He’s a walking red flag with golden curls that match his heart. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen for a blonde MMC so hard. He carries a dark past that fuels his future plans. And when he begrudgingly rescues Amaya, neither one of them realize how necessary they will be to each other when that future comes.
𝙃𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨. “𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚, 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙧.” “𝙊𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡.”
The dual POV lets you see both of them wrestling with who they are versus who they’re expected to be, and the tension between them is delicious and the slow burn in IMMACULATE.
“𝙄’𝙙 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩.”
Its cities in the sky, magic-infused relics, political power plays, intense battles, found family, betrayals, and soft heroines who are quietly courageous, who choose bravery in the face of fear. It’s chaotic, emotional, and adventurous, and I’ve never wanted to be a sky pirate more.
*Thank you to Megan G. Elisabeth for the advanced reader copy!
January 9, 2026
Bound by the Sky is one of those books that’s undeniably enjoyable but never quite crosses into can’t‑put‑it‑down territory. I liked the worldbuilding, the character dynamics, and the overall tone. There’s a steady charm to the story that kept me turning pages. The author has a lovely way of weaving atmosphere and emotion into the narrative, and several moments landed beautifully.
That said, the pacing didn’t always grip me. I found myself interested, but not fully invested, and there were stretches where the tension softened enough that I could easily step away. It’s a solid, well‑crafted read, just not one that had me completely riveted.
Still, if you enjoy fantasy with gentle momentum, appealing characters, and a touch of magic threaded through the quieter moments, this is a satisfying addition to the genre. A good read.
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
That said, the pacing didn’t always grip me. I found myself interested, but not fully invested, and there were stretches where the tension softened enough that I could easily step away. It’s a solid, well‑crafted read, just not one that had me completely riveted.
Still, if you enjoy fantasy with gentle momentum, appealing characters, and a touch of magic threaded through the quieter moments, this is a satisfying addition to the genre. A good read.
Thank you to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 28, 2026
It has been a couple days since I finished this book and it has not let me go. Bound by the Sky is an amazing, adventurous book. I loved the setting being steampunk sky-pirates! If you loved the movie "Treasure Planet", you will love this book! I could imagine everything vividly from how it was described. The magic system is based on "relics" which are magic infused items and every item has its own unique abilities, its so much fun!
I was at the edge of my seat a lot and felt all the feelings. There are characters I love with all my heart and ones I hate as ferociously. For me theres is also more than one villain in this book, but you'll have to read it to understand that. The ending ripped my heart out and I cannot wait for the next book to hopefully put it back together.
Got read it right now if you're contemplating, it's worth it!
I received an eARC for this book from the author, this review are my own thoughts and feelings about the book.
I was at the edge of my seat a lot and felt all the feelings. There are characters I love with all my heart and ones I hate as ferociously. For me theres is also more than one villain in this book, but you'll have to read it to understand that. The ending ripped my heart out and I cannot wait for the next book to hopefully put it back together.
Got read it right now if you're contemplating, it's worth it!
I received an eARC for this book from the author, this review are my own thoughts and feelings about the book.
January 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fun, fast-paced, and full of adventure!
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read and review this ARC ahead of its January 28, 2026 release.
This pirate-inspired romantasy sweeps readers into a world above the clouds, where Amaya—the Lord Mayor’s daughter—is kidnapped by sky pirates and thrust into a realm ruled by the Seven Lords of the Sky (think pirates of the skies, not the seas!). There she encounters Captain William “Will” Lexington, one of the feared Sky Lords. Alongside the crew of the Maelstrom, they must outwit and outmaneuver the most ruthless Sky Lord of all time, Lord Alastor Graven, navigate an impossible death trap, all the while wrestling with their growing attraction to each other.
For me, the story was entertaining, but the writing felt a little one-dimensional and at times, generic or flat. It seemed to lack the emotional depth I look for to truly connect with characters. That said, if you’re after a fun, fast-paced, escapist read with a unique setting and adventurous spirit, this one will hit the mark.
I can see this debut book by author Megan G. Elisabeth will be exactly what is needed by fans of steam punk, and pirate inspired fantasy fiction, who are ready to trade the seven seas for the seven skies, and soar into high altitude adventure.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read and review this ARC ahead of its January 28, 2026 release.
This pirate-inspired romantasy sweeps readers into a world above the clouds, where Amaya—the Lord Mayor’s daughter—is kidnapped by sky pirates and thrust into a realm ruled by the Seven Lords of the Sky (think pirates of the skies, not the seas!). There she encounters Captain William “Will” Lexington, one of the feared Sky Lords. Alongside the crew of the Maelstrom, they must outwit and outmaneuver the most ruthless Sky Lord of all time, Lord Alastor Graven, navigate an impossible death trap, all the while wrestling with their growing attraction to each other.
For me, the story was entertaining, but the writing felt a little one-dimensional and at times, generic or flat. It seemed to lack the emotional depth I look for to truly connect with characters. That said, if you’re after a fun, fast-paced, escapist read with a unique setting and adventurous spirit, this one will hit the mark.
I can see this debut book by author Megan G. Elisabeth will be exactly what is needed by fans of steam punk, and pirate inspired fantasy fiction, who are ready to trade the seven seas for the seven skies, and soar into high altitude adventure.
October 2, 2025
Treasure Planet meets Final Fantasy 🔥
July 12, 2026
3.75⭐️
Amaya lives in a world of floating cities, flying ships, and magical relics that grant different abilities to those who possess them. As the mayor's daughter, she's always lived a sheltered and predictable life, knowing she'll soon be expected to marry her father's protégé. But everything changes when she's kidnapped by the followers of the most dangerous Sky Lord, Alastor Graven. They claim she's a descendant of the creator of the relics and that only she can find a way through the magical storm to the place where he disappeared. She's unexpectedly rescued by another Sky Lord, Will, whose parents were murdered by Graven right in front of him when he was a child. Graven then forced him to join his crew. Now Amaya, Will, and his ragtag crew must stop Graven's sinister plans.
It was so refreshing to read a romantasy that isn't set in a medieval-inspired world. The setting feels like the early 1900s with a touch of steampunk, and I really liked the magic system centered around relics. There are four classes of relics based on their power, and they're artificially created using Aether, a magical substance discovered by Amaya's ancestor. Will, for example, has a Class Four relic called Hellsgate, a sword he can summon at will that feeds on the blood of his enemies.
I really enjoyed the plot too. This is a true adventure story with artifact hunts, long journeys, and mysteries to unravel, while the characters are being chased not only by the villains but also by the royal fleet led by Amaya's fiancé. The book actually gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, partly because of the romance. Unfortunately, the romance didn't completely work for me. It's supposed to be a slow burn, but considering their backgrounds, both Will and Amaya seemed to fall for each other a bit too quickly. I was much more invested in the adventure than in their relationship.
Overall, this felt much more like a YA story to me, especially because of the writing style, so the spicy scenes felt unnecessary, almost as if they were included just because they had to be. That being said, the cover is gorgeous, especially once you realize how many little details and references to the story are hidden in it.
Amaya lives in a world of floating cities, flying ships, and magical relics that grant different abilities to those who possess them. As the mayor's daughter, she's always lived a sheltered and predictable life, knowing she'll soon be expected to marry her father's protégé. But everything changes when she's kidnapped by the followers of the most dangerous Sky Lord, Alastor Graven. They claim she's a descendant of the creator of the relics and that only she can find a way through the magical storm to the place where he disappeared. She's unexpectedly rescued by another Sky Lord, Will, whose parents were murdered by Graven right in front of him when he was a child. Graven then forced him to join his crew. Now Amaya, Will, and his ragtag crew must stop Graven's sinister plans.
It was so refreshing to read a romantasy that isn't set in a medieval-inspired world. The setting feels like the early 1900s with a touch of steampunk, and I really liked the magic system centered around relics. There are four classes of relics based on their power, and they're artificially created using Aether, a magical substance discovered by Amaya's ancestor. Will, for example, has a Class Four relic called Hellsgate, a sword he can summon at will that feeds on the blood of his enemies.
I really enjoyed the plot too. This is a true adventure story with artifact hunts, long journeys, and mysteries to unravel, while the characters are being chased not only by the villains but also by the royal fleet led by Amaya's fiancé. The book actually gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, partly because of the romance. Unfortunately, the romance didn't completely work for me. It's supposed to be a slow burn, but considering their backgrounds, both Will and Amaya seemed to fall for each other a bit too quickly. I was much more invested in the adventure than in their relationship.
Overall, this felt much more like a YA story to me, especially because of the writing style, so the spicy scenes felt unnecessary, almost as if they were included just because they had to be. That being said, the cover is gorgeous, especially once you realize how many little details and references to the story are hidden in it.
January 29, 2026
4.5 stars! Pirates in the sky?! A girl kidnapped, and the Sky Lord who’s now responsible for her?! AHHHHH!!!
• Sky pirate romantasy
• Steampunk world
• Found family
• Morally grey MMC
• Touch her and die
• Dual POV
• Forbidden romance
• Treasure Planet vibes
This story was so unique, so intriguing, had great world building and plot, the slowest tension filled slow burn, and the BEST found family and supporting characters!
I am seriously mind blown that this is a debut, utterly fantastic for a debut!
The vibes were IT! The betrayals and twists?! Shocking! And the ending?! Gut wrenching!!
I am so excited to see where this series goes!
Highly recommend for any fantasy or romantasy lovers!!
• Sky pirate romantasy
• Steampunk world
• Found family
• Morally grey MMC
• Touch her and die
• Dual POV
• Forbidden romance
• Treasure Planet vibes
This story was so unique, so intriguing, had great world building and plot, the slowest tension filled slow burn, and the BEST found family and supporting characters!
I am seriously mind blown that this is a debut, utterly fantastic for a debut!
The vibes were IT! The betrayals and twists?! Shocking! And the ending?! Gut wrenching!!
I am so excited to see where this series goes!
Highly recommend for any fantasy or romantasy lovers!!
December 16, 2025
Bound By The Sky
Review
5stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Let me start off by saying that Megan G. Elisabeth’s knocked her debut as an author out of the water 😍
The world building is amazing. It feels like a combination of treasure planet Peter Pan, and Atlantis all wrapped up in one.The attention to all the details made it really feel like I was stepping into to this world. I fell in love with the story and the characters instantly. (Will, Amaya and the whole pirate crew.) literally cannot express how much I love them.💗This story is filled with love danger, found family, laughter, twists and so much more.
Definitely adding this to my list of favorites and I’m going to need the second book ASAP that ending😳😮
I also wanna give a huge thanks to Megan G. Elizabeth for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC copy 💗
Content:
Language 3 to 4 /5
Spice 1.5
Pages skip
441 to 446 or chapter 43
Review
5stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Let me start off by saying that Megan G. Elisabeth’s knocked her debut as an author out of the water 😍
The world building is amazing. It feels like a combination of treasure planet Peter Pan, and Atlantis all wrapped up in one.The attention to all the details made it really feel like I was stepping into to this world. I fell in love with the story and the characters instantly. (Will, Amaya and the whole pirate crew.) literally cannot express how much I love them.💗This story is filled with love danger, found family, laughter, twists and so much more.
Definitely adding this to my list of favorites and I’m going to need the second book ASAP that ending😳😮
I also wanna give a huge thanks to Megan G. Elizabeth for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC copy 💗
Content:
Language 3 to 4 /5
Spice 1.5
Pages skip
441 to 446 or chapter 43
March 13, 2026
Is it too early in the year to say this is probably going to be one of the best, if not the best book I’ll read? What a brilliant and wild ride. Finally something original. It felt like Disneys treasure planet but everyone’s sexy and the magic system is super cool and unique. Pirates are my new favourite genre. I could not put this down and I fear I won’t stop taking about it for a while.
December 13, 2025
I’ve received an ARC of Bound by the Sky by Megan G. Elisabeth!!
Where to begin! This book is Treasure Island x Final Fantasy x One Piece x Pirates of the Caribbean! I think that the plot line was amazing and paced nicely.
The characters I all loved, including the villains, you really end up hating them. The character development was chefs kiss! Our FMC, Amaya, loved that character and how she was throughout the book! Our MMC, William, oooo no spoilers, but he is fine as heck!
The author included women in fields that are predominantly male driven, which I thought was such a great touch!
I may or may not have woken up at 2am to read this book, I was hooked!!
I cannot wait for book 2, because there has to be a book 2, right…right???!?
Where to begin! This book is Treasure Island x Final Fantasy x One Piece x Pirates of the Caribbean! I think that the plot line was amazing and paced nicely.
The characters I all loved, including the villains, you really end up hating them. The character development was chefs kiss! Our FMC, Amaya, loved that character and how she was throughout the book! Our MMC, William, oooo no spoilers, but he is fine as heck!
The author included women in fields that are predominantly male driven, which I thought was such a great touch!
I may or may not have woken up at 2am to read this book, I was hooked!!
I cannot wait for book 2, because there has to be a book 2, right…right???!?
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book went above and beyond my expectations. The author said it was a mix between Treasure Planet and Final Fantasy and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT.
From the start, I was hooked. The characters, the world building, the story were all perfection
From the start, I was hooked. The characters, the world building, the story were all perfection
December 18, 2025
✨Bound by the Sky✨
It took me a couple days to get my head out of this Pirates of the Caribbean meets Final Fantasy meets Treasure Planet debut by Megan! I found myself so immersed in this world and its unique structure, intrigued by all the relics and their powers, and simping over our blonde pirate Sky Lord with the tortured soul.
We follow a dual POV in BBTS with our debutant FMC, Amaya, and our secret cinnamon roll captain, Will. After Amaya is set to marry the lieutenant by arranged marriage, she decides to sneak out with her best friend and forbidden love interest, Camden. But things instantly go murderously awry as they are kidnapped and Amaya is taken aboard her first sky-ship.
Her routine life on the ground has just been turned upside down as she finds out her family heirloom is a relic wanted by the most dangerous Sky Lord, she herself harbors blood that is wanted, and going home is a death wish. Rescued by the villainous Captain, William “Deathsmoke” Lexington, Amaya finds a new family, power, confidence, purpose, healing, and love. But the enemy is invincible; her newfound love is forbidden; and her life is the key to it all. So, how could this possibly end well for her and her loved ones?
Amaya grows immensely through these pages, beginning as a demure young adult and morphing into a woman who controls her own life. The slow burn and tension were so good and the wait to fulfillment is so perfect. The spice is nondescript, more imagery and feeling, and it reminded me of Divine Rivals. This romance is precious and I NEED IT TO WORK OUT after that ending MEGAN. Initially, I thought this was a standalone but that last 5%. Holy smokes! It broke me in the best kind of way.
Tropes you may find in BBTS are flying ships, forced proximity, magical relics, steampunk mechs, blond grumpy-yearning MMC, forbidden love, low spice, romance vibes of Pirates of the Caribbean, top of the head kisses, setting and intrigue of Treasure Planet, awesome weapons/action like Final Fantasy, “mine”, she saves him, and a cliffhanger.
Thank you for this gifted arc, Meg. I cannot WAIT for what comes next!
It took me a couple days to get my head out of this Pirates of the Caribbean meets Final Fantasy meets Treasure Planet debut by Megan! I found myself so immersed in this world and its unique structure, intrigued by all the relics and their powers, and simping over our blonde pirate Sky Lord with the tortured soul.
We follow a dual POV in BBTS with our debutant FMC, Amaya, and our secret cinnamon roll captain, Will. After Amaya is set to marry the lieutenant by arranged marriage, she decides to sneak out with her best friend and forbidden love interest, Camden. But things instantly go murderously awry as they are kidnapped and Amaya is taken aboard her first sky-ship.
Her routine life on the ground has just been turned upside down as she finds out her family heirloom is a relic wanted by the most dangerous Sky Lord, she herself harbors blood that is wanted, and going home is a death wish. Rescued by the villainous Captain, William “Deathsmoke” Lexington, Amaya finds a new family, power, confidence, purpose, healing, and love. But the enemy is invincible; her newfound love is forbidden; and her life is the key to it all. So, how could this possibly end well for her and her loved ones?
Amaya grows immensely through these pages, beginning as a demure young adult and morphing into a woman who controls her own life. The slow burn and tension were so good and the wait to fulfillment is so perfect. The spice is nondescript, more imagery and feeling, and it reminded me of Divine Rivals. This romance is precious and I NEED IT TO WORK OUT after that ending MEGAN. Initially, I thought this was a standalone but that last 5%. Holy smokes! It broke me in the best kind of way.
Tropes you may find in BBTS are flying ships, forced proximity, magical relics, steampunk mechs, blond grumpy-yearning MMC, forbidden love, low spice, romance vibes of Pirates of the Caribbean, top of the head kisses, setting and intrigue of Treasure Planet, awesome weapons/action like Final Fantasy, “mine”, she saves him, and a cliffhanger.
Thank you for this gifted arc, Meg. I cannot WAIT for what comes next!
December 10, 2025
I received an ARC for this review!
Spoiler free:
Pirates of the Caribbean meets One Piece meets Treasure Island. I think the world is super interesting, and as a lover of steampunk, fantasy and pirates, this is super up my alley. So love the world and its history. And I like the plotline as well. Action scenes are decent and fun. But my problem is really with the writing, especially considering the main characters are in their early to mid 20s. It’s a very juvenile style. Very tell, not show. I don’t feel any depth to their emotions. Nor Any suspense about plot movements. I’m just supposed to believe the FMC and MMC are falling for each other because of a few snarky moments, shared glances and one good conversation at a fair? I just don’t feel it. And when it comes to the spicy scene, the lack of depth and fluidity makes it feel super off. Like early YA writing. It sucks because I LIKE the characters. I love a found family and I can see the potential. I just don’t feel like the writing did any favors. I think the author just needs more time. And editing.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER:
On the other hand, as an absolute connoisseur of pirate media, it is kinda a rip off. Amaya is Elizabeth Swan to a T. Her necklace getting her captured away from her government dad and her military betrothed. Graven is clearly Blackbeard from One Piece, collecting more relics than he should be allowed to have. The relics are Devil Fruits. Victor is James Norrington. Will is half a shadow daddy. Shadow sword daddy. Because I DO love pirate media, it doesn’t bother me to mash all these bits together because I still liked the world. My problem is that combined with the writing style it reads like fan fiction. High hopes, big let down unfortunately. It would make a great TV show, it’s just not a fun read. My stars are mostly for vibes.
Spoiler free:
Pirates of the Caribbean meets One Piece meets Treasure Island. I think the world is super interesting, and as a lover of steampunk, fantasy and pirates, this is super up my alley. So love the world and its history. And I like the plotline as well. Action scenes are decent and fun. But my problem is really with the writing, especially considering the main characters are in their early to mid 20s. It’s a very juvenile style. Very tell, not show. I don’t feel any depth to their emotions. Nor Any suspense about plot movements. I’m just supposed to believe the FMC and MMC are falling for each other because of a few snarky moments, shared glances and one good conversation at a fair? I just don’t feel it. And when it comes to the spicy scene, the lack of depth and fluidity makes it feel super off. Like early YA writing. It sucks because I LIKE the characters. I love a found family and I can see the potential. I just don’t feel like the writing did any favors. I think the author just needs more time. And editing.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER:
On the other hand, as an absolute connoisseur of pirate media, it is kinda a rip off. Amaya is Elizabeth Swan to a T. Her necklace getting her captured away from her government dad and her military betrothed. Graven is clearly Blackbeard from One Piece, collecting more relics than he should be allowed to have. The relics are Devil Fruits. Victor is James Norrington. Will is half a shadow daddy. Shadow sword daddy. Because I DO love pirate media, it doesn’t bother me to mash all these bits together because I still liked the world. My problem is that combined with the writing style it reads like fan fiction. High hopes, big let down unfortunately. It would make a great TV show, it’s just not a fun read. My stars are mostly for vibes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I received an ARC version of this book I was super excited for many reasons but MOSTLY because the SkyPirate/Treasure planet theme was something I haven't read yet. The details and writing were BEAUTIFUL. I haven't been emersed in a world so quickly than this book. Adventure and heartbreak right from the get go!
Fav Quote:
He looked at her, the corners of his lips twitching up in a slight smile. “Anyway. We have a common enemy, and I’ve decided I’m willing to be your ally instead of your captor.”
This debut novel by Megan G. Elisabeth will take you on an adventure in the aether. SkyPirates and magic combine in this unique tale about Amaya, a young girl with a family history that I'm sure we haven't even grazed the surface of. A family secret gets her kidnapped more than once but that doesn't wear down her character. She's resilient and relatable (cute Eldest Daughter by Taylor Swift). There's something refreshing about the FMC not being a damsel in distress or uncertain of herself considering the circumstances.
Let's not forget about my new fav MMC, Will. I promise you, he will redeem the trope of bad blonde love interest, give him a chance. He's witty and layered. I can't say more but OH. MY. GOD.
I received a free copy of this book as an ARC and I immediately purchased a physical copy the minute I could, because I needed the trophy of what I had just read. (Not to mention how GORGEOUS the cover art is)
Reasons why I loved this book:
1. Dual POV
2. Blonde MMC
3. Found family with actually fun side characters (not the overly protective kind that are constantly telling the FMC she's too weak to contribute)
4. Awesome magic system (relics)
5. I CAN'T SAY WITHOUT SPOILING CUZ OF MY GOD
So grab your hot chocolate (if you know, you know) and a blanket and buckle up
Fav Quote:
He looked at her, the corners of his lips twitching up in a slight smile. “Anyway. We have a common enemy, and I’ve decided I’m willing to be your ally instead of your captor.”
This debut novel by Megan G. Elisabeth will take you on an adventure in the aether. SkyPirates and magic combine in this unique tale about Amaya, a young girl with a family history that I'm sure we haven't even grazed the surface of. A family secret gets her kidnapped more than once but that doesn't wear down her character. She's resilient and relatable (cute Eldest Daughter by Taylor Swift). There's something refreshing about the FMC not being a damsel in distress or uncertain of herself considering the circumstances.
Let's not forget about my new fav MMC, Will. I promise you, he will redeem the trope of bad blonde love interest, give him a chance. He's witty and layered. I can't say more but OH. MY. GOD.
I received a free copy of this book as an ARC and I immediately purchased a physical copy the minute I could, because I needed the trophy of what I had just read. (Not to mention how GORGEOUS the cover art is)
Reasons why I loved this book:
1. Dual POV
2. Blonde MMC
3. Found family with actually fun side characters (not the overly protective kind that are constantly telling the FMC she's too weak to contribute)
4. Awesome magic system (relics)
5. I CAN'T SAY WITHOUT SPOILING CUZ OF MY GOD
So grab your hot chocolate (if you know, you know) and a blanket and buckle up
Review of advance copy received from Author
I felt very privileged to be an ARC reader for this incredible book! The author really did an outstanding job with Bound by the Sky.
Amaya lives a privileged life that soon becomes shattered as family secrets come out of the stone work (see what I did there 😉) as a sky pirate captain comes after her and what she is capable of due to her great great grandmother.
This book takes place in a world full of ships and cities floating amongst the clouds and magic filled relics that give the beholder unimaginable capabilities. It will have you wanting to keep reading late into the night. With just enough spice and an antagonizing story the keeps unfurling, this is aether strom packed until the very end. 🌀
Don't even get me started on that ending! It destroyed me and I cannot wait to see what the next book brings.
Amaya lives a privileged life that soon becomes shattered as family secrets come out of the stone work (see what I did there 😉) as a sky pirate captain comes after her and what she is capable of due to her great great grandmother.
This book takes place in a world full of ships and cities floating amongst the clouds and magic filled relics that give the beholder unimaginable capabilities. It will have you wanting to keep reading late into the night. With just enough spice and an antagonizing story the keeps unfurling, this is aether strom packed until the very end. 🌀
Don't even get me started on that ending! It destroyed me and I cannot wait to see what the next book brings.
January 6, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and what a great experience it was to read. The characters were very like-able, except the antagonists who are very hate-able. The story was enjoyable and just plain fun and refreshing. I loved the steampunk elements thrown in with POTC and Treasure Planet antics. It's an easy, fun read, and I'm excited for more pages with these characters.
January 10, 2026
This book was so unexpectedly good, refreshing, different, and stunning! Finally some change of scenery, magic system, and approach to character development. And an indie debut no less!
With that, ladies and gentlemen, I have my first book that got top-2026 tag.
Simplified summary:
A 20 something socialite gets abducted by sky pirates for a locket she didn't know it had powers. She accidentally gets saved by other group of sky pirates and her life-changing adventure begins. Her entire life is turned upside down making her choose between her 'old' life where she had no voice but imposed rules and societal expectations and a 'new' life where she started discovering who she really is when she is free to make her own choices. While we follow her story we get introduced to a more than interesting world of sky cities, airships, relics, aether, and dangerous secrets.
Themes and Tropes:
- War-torn world and political turmoil
- Arranged marriage
- Slow burn
- Found family
- Secrets and Hidden identities
The entire story felt so adventurous and magical, that I found myself staring at the percentage not wanting to progress further.
World building was impeccable. Introduced from the very beginning in small but meaningful amounts just enough to understand and not be a victim of an info dump. The same applies to the magic system. Hand in hand with the world building, as you read you can actually understand what is happening, and trust me when I tell you, it's not simple to explain something like that. I tried to summarise it to my husband and failed 😁.
I know that I am biased when it comes to books with found family trope, but I enjoyed this one so much. Side characters were great and they added to the story just enough to support the world building but to drive the character development as well.
Now, our FMC, Amaya - the more I progressed with reading the story the more I disliked her. However, the way it all transpired, her choices kind of made sense as it was a short amount of time between her abduction to the actual big event. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt and I am really excited to see what will her character do in the next book.
While our MMC, William, was a very unorthodox male protagonist for this genre but stern and dominant enough to balance out the story. I honestly felt that this is more about him than her, that she is just a catalyst to all these events.
The spice is 0.5🌶️, but in my opinion not as important as this book is definitely focused on the fantasy element, and the romance between the characters is secondary. If you do read the author's notes you can easily deduce that this is a new genre for her and it's ok, it's brilliant.
- When it comes to the main villain, this one reminded me of Thanos (from the Avengers) which was funny to read and imagine, but I found it fitting in my head. On the other hand, I kind of think that the bigger villain is Victor, you meet him in the first chapter.
- Around 73% there is this unexpected twist that got on my nerves and I felt that I could predict the end, but I was somewhat wrong. It builds the suspense to the point that I was more worried I was right than anything else. You will be pulled into chaos to be rewarded with a cliffhanger, so prepare yourself.😎
With all that being said, my expectations are now high from the next book. I am not sorry, because something this unique better stay unique.
I hope that Bound by the Sky will hit the hyped lists this year, as it's really worth reading.
Still cannot believe I got to read this book before the release date, so thank you Megan G. Elisabeth and NetGalley for the ARC.
With that, ladies and gentlemen, I have my first book that got top-2026 tag.
Simplified summary:
A 20 something socialite gets abducted by sky pirates for a locket she didn't know it had powers. She accidentally gets saved by other group of sky pirates and her life-changing adventure begins. Her entire life is turned upside down making her choose between her 'old' life where she had no voice but imposed rules and societal expectations and a 'new' life where she started discovering who she really is when she is free to make her own choices. While we follow her story we get introduced to a more than interesting world of sky cities, airships, relics, aether, and dangerous secrets.
Themes and Tropes:
- War-torn world and political turmoil
- Arranged marriage
- Slow burn
- Found family
- Secrets and Hidden identities
The entire story felt so adventurous and magical, that I found myself staring at the percentage not wanting to progress further.
World building was impeccable. Introduced from the very beginning in small but meaningful amounts just enough to understand and not be a victim of an info dump. The same applies to the magic system. Hand in hand with the world building, as you read you can actually understand what is happening, and trust me when I tell you, it's not simple to explain something like that. I tried to summarise it to my husband and failed 😁.
I know that I am biased when it comes to books with found family trope, but I enjoyed this one so much. Side characters were great and they added to the story just enough to support the world building but to drive the character development as well.
Now, our FMC, Amaya - the more I progressed with reading the story the more I disliked her. However, the way it all transpired, her choices kind of made sense as it was a short amount of time between her abduction to the actual big event. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt and I am really excited to see what will her character do in the next book.
While our MMC, William, was a very unorthodox male protagonist for this genre but stern and dominant enough to balance out the story. I honestly felt that this is more about him than her, that she is just a catalyst to all these events.
The spice is 0.5🌶️, but in my opinion not as important as this book is definitely focused on the fantasy element, and the romance between the characters is secondary. If you do read the author's notes you can easily deduce that this is a new genre for her and it's ok, it's brilliant.
- When it comes to the main villain, this one reminded me of Thanos (from the Avengers) which was funny to read and imagine, but I found it fitting in my head. On the other hand, I kind of think that the bigger villain is Victor, you meet him in the first chapter.
- Around 73% there is this unexpected twist that got on my nerves and I felt that I could predict the end, but I was somewhat wrong. It builds the suspense to the point that I was more worried I was right than anything else. You will be pulled into chaos to be rewarded with a cliffhanger, so prepare yourself.😎
With all that being said, my expectations are now high from the next book. I am not sorry, because something this unique better stay unique.
I hope that Bound by the Sky will hit the hyped lists this year, as it's really worth reading.
Still cannot believe I got to read this book before the release date, so thank you Megan G. Elisabeth and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 1, 2026
OMG! OH MY GOD
Everyone please, please get this story on your radar and pick it up. I am shook at the ending! Honestly, the whole thing - what an absolutely spectacular debut! I am not ready to leave this incredible world.
This book has everything - a creative, incredible world that is so imaginative and gives the vibes of steampunk meets Arcane meets Treasure Island. We have sky pirates - ships that navigate in the air, and an incredible magic system and people who control the skies. There are relics of varying strength and power that people can posses that will give all sorts of powers and enhanced abilities.
In addition to amazing world building, we have great found family (it's the thing I love most about pirate fantasy stories - found family rep is always on point). Mouse must be protected at all costs. We have a bad ass engineer who is also a bad ass hot cocoa maker LOL. I loved so many of the characters, and everyone felt fleshed out and so real. There are complex relationships in here and things that will surprise you and definitely leave you guessing.
And then we have our captain of the Maelstrom - hello top tier book boyfriend material, William Lexington. I loved the slow burn between him and Amaya, their banter was on point, and the little moments between them are just everything.
Somewhere along the way of the last quarter of the book, I literally shut out everything else going on to finish reading this. It is nonstop action, twists and shocking surprises that no one will guess, and a TRULY EVILLLLLLLL CLIFFHANGER AND I NEED BOOK 2 IMMEDAITELY.
This will be one of my top books of 2026, no doubt about it. And I truly hope the wait for book 2 isn't tooooooo long.
I received a book for an instagram tour. My thoughts are my own.
Adding some reminders for myself to refresh my mind when the second book comes out.
Everyone please, please get this story on your radar and pick it up. I am shook at the ending! Honestly, the whole thing - what an absolutely spectacular debut! I am not ready to leave this incredible world.
This book has everything - a creative, incredible world that is so imaginative and gives the vibes of steampunk meets Arcane meets Treasure Island. We have sky pirates - ships that navigate in the air, and an incredible magic system and people who control the skies. There are relics of varying strength and power that people can posses that will give all sorts of powers and enhanced abilities.
In addition to amazing world building, we have great found family (it's the thing I love most about pirate fantasy stories - found family rep is always on point). Mouse must be protected at all costs. We have a bad ass engineer who is also a bad ass hot cocoa maker LOL. I loved so many of the characters, and everyone felt fleshed out and so real. There are complex relationships in here and things that will surprise you and definitely leave you guessing.
And then we have our captain of the Maelstrom - hello top tier book boyfriend material, William Lexington. I loved the slow burn between him and Amaya, their banter was on point, and the little moments between them are just everything.
Somewhere along the way of the last quarter of the book, I literally shut out everything else going on to finish reading this. It is nonstop action, twists and shocking surprises that no one will guess, and a TRULY EVILLLLLLLL CLIFFHANGER AND I NEED BOOK 2 IMMEDAITELY.
This will be one of my top books of 2026, no doubt about it. And I truly hope the wait for book 2 isn't tooooooo long.
I received a book for an instagram tour. My thoughts are my own.
Adding some reminders for myself to refresh my mind when the second book comes out.
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