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The Iron Sky Trilogy #1
Under the Iron Sky
The first book in a new dark, seductive and all-consuming fantasy series, in which a human commander and the masked enemy interrogator sent to break her are drawn into a slow-burn, dangerous bond - one that could end a fifteen-year war or ignite something far deadlier. Perfect for fans of Alchemised and Samantha Shannon.
A multi-cast production, featuring original music and a choir of singers.
Vordell was beautiful once. Its people lived in harmony as they harnessed the power of light – until darkness came. The Iron Sky smothered the suns, the earth split, releasing vicious creatures, and the long-buried Dar’rak reclaimed the world above.
A high-ranking commander, Soraya Tollmere has spent most of her life on the front lines of the brutal war that followed. By day, she leads covert missions across ruined lands through enemy territory. By night, she meets with a Dar’rak defector who has kept humanity alive with his steady stream of secrets.
But when a lead that could turn the tide of the war draws her into enemy territory, Soraya is captured by The Demon, the Dar’rak’s most feared soldier. His orders are break the human commander and uncover humanity’s greatest weapon.
As devastating truths unravel and loyalties blur, Soraya must decide who to trust in a world where light is dying… and where her greatest enemy may be her only salvation.
'Under the Iron Sky is a masterclass in dystopian worldbuilding, with characters and mystery that kept me glued to the pages. A. T. Emerald executes this enemies to lovers story flawlessly, and I’m counting down the seconds until the next book!' - The Fantasy Fangirls Podcast
'Riveting. Unique. Exquisite. An epic fantasy romance debut! I loved every word of this story and cannot wait for more. Bravo, A.T. Emerald!' - Devney Perry
'Under the Iron Sky sinks its teeth into you from the first page and refuses to let go. The dark, war-torn world is populated by characters who are all too easy to love—even when they have knives angled at each other's throats.' Lynn D. Jung
A.T. Emerald 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
A multi-cast production, featuring original music and a choir of singers.
Vordell was beautiful once. Its people lived in harmony as they harnessed the power of light – until darkness came. The Iron Sky smothered the suns, the earth split, releasing vicious creatures, and the long-buried Dar’rak reclaimed the world above.
A high-ranking commander, Soraya Tollmere has spent most of her life on the front lines of the brutal war that followed. By day, she leads covert missions across ruined lands through enemy territory. By night, she meets with a Dar’rak defector who has kept humanity alive with his steady stream of secrets.
But when a lead that could turn the tide of the war draws her into enemy territory, Soraya is captured by The Demon, the Dar’rak’s most feared soldier. His orders are break the human commander and uncover humanity’s greatest weapon.
As devastating truths unravel and loyalties blur, Soraya must decide who to trust in a world where light is dying… and where her greatest enemy may be her only salvation.
'Under the Iron Sky is a masterclass in dystopian worldbuilding, with characters and mystery that kept me glued to the pages. A. T. Emerald executes this enemies to lovers story flawlessly, and I’m counting down the seconds until the next book!' - The Fantasy Fangirls Podcast
'Riveting. Unique. Exquisite. An epic fantasy romance debut! I loved every word of this story and cannot wait for more. Bravo, A.T. Emerald!' - Devney Perry
'Under the Iron Sky sinks its teeth into you from the first page and refuses to let go. The dark, war-torn world is populated by characters who are all too easy to love—even when they have knives angled at each other's throats.' Lynn D. Jung
A.T. Emerald 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Audible Audio
First published October 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,249 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5⭐️ I. AM. OBSESSED. This is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read all year, maybe even of all time. The perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy, I was hooked from the very first chapter!
The story follows our FMC, Soraya, and our MMC, Ikarus, two soldiers on opposing sides of a 15-year war. Their paths collide when Soraya is captured by the enemy during a mission gone awry.
Soraya is a COMPLETE badass. Despite being a feared and renowned general, she struggles to hold onto her humanity in a war that has molded her into a calculated killer. She carries an immense amount of trauma over the lives she’s taken, and I enjoyed seeing the contrast between the formidable warrior and the woman beneath the armor. I honestly can’t remember the last time I loved an FMC this much😩
I take “slow-burn” and “enemies-to-lovers” labels VERY seriously, so when I say this is a true slow-burn and enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, you best believe I mean it!! Soraya and Ikarus genuinely hate each other, so if you are looking for characters who fall in love by the end of the first book, you’re not going to find that here.
But the sexual tension between these two?? OFF. THE. CHARTS. There is one scene in particular that had me grinning like a fool (trust me, you’ll know when you read it🤭).
I also really appreciated that there wasn’t a power imbalance between the FMC and MMC that we so often see in Romantasy/Fantasy. Ikarus has DEFINITELY met his match in Soraya. They are equals in strength, power, and sheer force of personality. They challenge each other physically, but more importantly, they challenge each other’s deeply-ingrained beliefs about the other side.
The last 25% was when everything went completely off the rails. My heart was pounding so hard and my anxiety was through the roof. For a moment, I was a little concerned for my wellbeing😅
This book seriously has it all: immersive writing, unique world-building, complex characters, an addictive plot, and a romance that will have you simultaneously biting your nails and screaming for more. I wouldn’t be surprised if this blows up on social media because it deserves every bit of hype it gets. In a genre that can often feel repetitive, it was so refreshing to read something that felt truly original.
If you haven’t added this to your TBR yet, what are you waiting for?!
The story follows our FMC, Soraya, and our MMC, Ikarus, two soldiers on opposing sides of a 15-year war. Their paths collide when Soraya is captured by the enemy during a mission gone awry.
Soraya is a COMPLETE badass. Despite being a feared and renowned general, she struggles to hold onto her humanity in a war that has molded her into a calculated killer. She carries an immense amount of trauma over the lives she’s taken, and I enjoyed seeing the contrast between the formidable warrior and the woman beneath the armor. I honestly can’t remember the last time I loved an FMC this much😩
I take “slow-burn” and “enemies-to-lovers” labels VERY seriously, so when I say this is a true slow-burn and enemies-to-allies-to-lovers, you best believe I mean it!! Soraya and Ikarus genuinely hate each other, so if you are looking for characters who fall in love by the end of the first book, you’re not going to find that here.
But the sexual tension between these two?? OFF. THE. CHARTS. There is one scene in particular that had me grinning like a fool (trust me, you’ll know when you read it🤭).
I also really appreciated that there wasn’t a power imbalance between the FMC and MMC that we so often see in Romantasy/Fantasy. Ikarus has DEFINITELY met his match in Soraya. They are equals in strength, power, and sheer force of personality. They challenge each other physically, but more importantly, they challenge each other’s deeply-ingrained beliefs about the other side.
The last 25% was when everything went completely off the rails. My heart was pounding so hard and my anxiety was through the roof. For a moment, I was a little concerned for my wellbeing😅
This book seriously has it all: immersive writing, unique world-building, complex characters, an addictive plot, and a romance that will have you simultaneously biting your nails and screaming for more. I wouldn’t be surprised if this blows up on social media because it deserves every bit of hype it gets. In a genre that can often feel repetitive, it was so refreshing to read something that felt truly original.
If you haven’t added this to your TBR yet, what are you waiting for?!
October 15, 2026
I absolutely flew through this one, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Such an interesting world/magic system, A.T has blended dystopian, sci-fi and fantasy elements in such a unique way, I couldn’t help but feel completely immersed. The story follows Soraya our FMC who is a warrior/commander determined to protect her people no matter the cost, she ends up being captured on a mission gone wrong by ‘The Demon’ who is the enemy’s most feared/high ranking solider. In her captivity both Soraya and The Demon are forced to confront truths and secrets that have them questioning the ongoing war and where they stand amongst it all. I liked that we have an actual enemies to potential lovers in this and I really loved the balance of plot/politics to romance with the plot taking the foreground and the romance progressing at a steady pace (perfect slow burn!). The characters were all so layered and I am so excited to continue this series!!
June 25, 2026
this was SO GOOD. this felt like such a unique story (sci-fi, dystopian, military fantasy?? so cool!) and had a TRUE enemies to lovers storyline, which i know is few and far between nowadays. i absolutely adored the writing in this book too, it was extremely addictive, and for it being a 500 page book, i FLEW through it. we have a side character called Golla which i just know everyone is going to love (i am obsessed with him). i would highly, highly recommend picking this book up when it comes out - i was so so impressed with how new and unique it was.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great beginning, great ending, everything in between though... erghhh
I don't even know where to start with this one, so after rewriting it way too many times, bullet points it is 🥲
· The pacing was slow and the story was not as engaging as I’d hoped. The action scenes were great, BUT a huge chunk of the book has Soraya imprisoned in a cell. In these scenes, she spends a lot of time trying to keep Ikarus out of her head and memories, spying on his friends, or talking to the cutest rock ever (It's a talking rock. I'm not crazy, I promise). Unfortunately, I found most of this really dragged. We got plenty of background on Soraya and her family/friends, but the plot wasn’t moving as fast as I’d like.
· The ending was rushed and we were speeding way too fast through the reveals. Not to say they weren’t good reveals, but we were fed a lot of information with barely any breathing room to process it. (What happened to Soraya also made me so uncomfortable (poor girl!!!))
· Some of the stuff that went down felt like it was meant to be more impactful than it actually was. I’m guessing it’s because the character depth and bonding got lost in the transition from fan fic to trad.
· Possibly right book, wrong time… My reading mood is all over the place, so take this rating with a grain of salt. I probably would have liked this more at a different point in my life. This wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t invested.
Still, I’m really curious to see Ikarus’ redemption arc in the next books. Hope it’s worth it.
✎ᝰ. pre-read: sometimes i get anxious to start longer books so i’m changing this to currently reading so i force myself to start 😳 i’ve been seeing so many good reviews too!!
💌 Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc!
I don't even know where to start with this one, so after rewriting it way too many times, bullet points it is 🥲
· The pacing was slow and the story was not as engaging as I’d hoped. The action scenes were great, BUT a huge chunk of the book has Soraya imprisoned in a cell. In these scenes, she spends a lot of time trying to keep Ikarus out of her head and memories, spying on his friends, or talking to the cutest rock ever (It's a talking rock. I'm not crazy, I promise). Unfortunately, I found most of this really dragged. We got plenty of background on Soraya and her family/friends, but the plot wasn’t moving as fast as I’d like.
· The ending was rushed and we were speeding way too fast through the reveals. Not to say they weren’t good reveals, but we were fed a lot of information with barely any breathing room to process it. (What happened to Soraya also made me so uncomfortable (poor girl!!!))
· Some of the stuff that went down felt like it was meant to be more impactful than it actually was. I’m guessing it’s because the character depth and bonding got lost in the transition from fan fic to trad.
· Possibly right book, wrong time… My reading mood is all over the place, so take this rating with a grain of salt. I probably would have liked this more at a different point in my life. This wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t invested.
Still, I’m really curious to see Ikarus’ redemption arc in the next books. Hope it’s worth it.
✎ᝰ. pre-read: sometimes i get anxious to start longer books so i’m changing this to currently reading so i force myself to start 😳 i’ve been seeing so many good reviews too!!
💌 Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc!
priority-tbr
October 12, 2026i'm actually so behind on arcs it's not even funny. sigh.
anywayyy I LOOOOVED 'secrets and masks' and i think i've read that fanfic around 2-3 times already and i'm soooo glad that this got published. also, 2025 and 26 are the years of dramione fanfics and i'm so here for it
anywayyy I LOOOOVED 'secrets and masks' and i think i've read that fanfic around 2-3 times already and i'm soooo glad that this got published. also, 2025 and 26 are the years of dramione fanfics and i'm so here for it
November 2, 2026
5 stars! HOLY MOLY! Going straight to my top 10 list.
So much to say, but no words are coming out right now.
Under the Iron Sky is lethal, a brutally intense slow burn. It’s brilliant, calculating! With a unique magic system I’ve never thought would captivate me. It’s dark and seductive. It’s honestly a book that will consume you. Written so, so well! Dystopian is soooo back.
A fallen empire. A warrior determined to protect her people. And a masked soldier who captures her behind the enemy lines. It’s a place where hope is fickle but the fight is not over.
This is a science/dystopian fantasy where a once very-prosperous civilization, Vordell, is under attack from a race of magical beings, Dar'rak, that were imprisoned underground. They return to the surface and bring darkness upon Vordell, cutting off their primary source of energy, the three suns, and the world descends into war.
We have the human commander, Soraya, who basically becomes involved with the Dar'rak defector by exchanging intelligence but is captured by The Demon, their most feared soldier. Their relationship is at first quite hostile where they absolutely despise one another but then slowly turns very complicated as they start seeing things from a different perspective.
Sounds good right?
FULL REVIEW SOON TO FOLLOW!!!!!
So much to say, but no words are coming out right now.
Under the Iron Sky is lethal, a brutally intense slow burn. It’s brilliant, calculating! With a unique magic system I’ve never thought would captivate me. It’s dark and seductive. It’s honestly a book that will consume you. Written so, so well! Dystopian is soooo back.
A fallen empire. A warrior determined to protect her people. And a masked soldier who captures her behind the enemy lines. It’s a place where hope is fickle but the fight is not over.
This is a science/dystopian fantasy where a once very-prosperous civilization, Vordell, is under attack from a race of magical beings, Dar'rak, that were imprisoned underground. They return to the surface and bring darkness upon Vordell, cutting off their primary source of energy, the three suns, and the world descends into war.
We have the human commander, Soraya, who basically becomes involved with the Dar'rak defector by exchanging intelligence but is captured by The Demon, their most feared soldier. Their relationship is at first quite hostile where they absolutely despise one another but then slowly turns very complicated as they start seeing things from a different perspective.
Sounds good right?
FULL REVIEW SOON TO FOLLOW!!!!!
September 20, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
i kept seeing murmurings for this first novel in a new dystopian sci-fi series, and i realllllyyyyy manifest that it's light on the romance and stays true to socio-political commentary... i mean it just sounds so good! and the beginning and ending WERE good, i was just kind of bored in the middle of everything leading up to the reveal? and there wasn't as much socio-political commentary as i would have liked.
under the iron sky revolves around a fallen empire where hope is fickle but the fight is never over, a warrior determined to be her people's protector, and a masked soldier that captures the warrior behind enemy lines... i mean it just sounded so delicious, and i wish it were as delicious as i had hoped!
this was more of a (light) horror fantasy in my opinion, what with all of the blood and gore and exploding of bodies… and i think i may have enjoyed an audiobook version more, so maybe i’ll listen to the audiobook of book two.
i kept seeing murmurings for this first novel in a new dystopian sci-fi series, and i realllllyyyyy manifest that it's light on the romance and stays true to socio-political commentary... i mean it just sounds so good! and the beginning and ending WERE good, i was just kind of bored in the middle of everything leading up to the reveal? and there wasn't as much socio-political commentary as i would have liked.
under the iron sky revolves around a fallen empire where hope is fickle but the fight is never over, a warrior determined to be her people's protector, and a masked soldier that captures the warrior behind enemy lines... i mean it just sounded so delicious, and i wish it were as delicious as i had hoped!
this was more of a (light) horror fantasy in my opinion, what with all of the blood and gore and exploding of bodies… and i think i may have enjoyed an audiobook version more, so maybe i’ll listen to the audiobook of book two.
breathlessly-anticipating
June 24, 2026I just feel like the moment this lands in my hands it’s gonna become my entire personality x
October 4, 2026
4.5⭐️
Wow wow wow! Sensational read!
Such an incredibly interesting world and plot, definitely more fantasy than romantasy so go in with the right expectations
The twists for the last 150 pages had me gagged.
Great characters that I can’t wait for more of in book 2!
A must read!
Wow wow wow! Sensational read!
Such an incredibly interesting world and plot, definitely more fantasy than romantasy so go in with the right expectations
The twists for the last 150 pages had me gagged.
Great characters that I can’t wait for more of in book 2!
A must read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The gasp I let out!! HUGE thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc 🥹!!
« She was fire and light, a burning flame in this hell hole of darkness, and there was nothing he could do to stop her. »
A few months ago, I was looking through possible book box picks and this book kept coming up. I felt immediately drawn to it and the hype I built up in my own head was actually pretty phenomenal. It didn’t end up being picked by one of my book boxes and I’m so sad about that because this was such a winning read for me. It managed to hit all of my expectations and by 12% I knew it was a strong contender for a 5 stars read.
This follows a fmc & mmc on opposite sides of a war. The line between good/evil is slim and both sides believes they’re in the right. It was an amazing blend of scifi/fantasy and I loved how fluently everything was explained. I never felt overwhelmed by the amount of information. I really loved how strong willed the fmc was and I loved how protective the mmc was towards his friends. Their dynamic really reminded me of KyloRen (but done in a much, much better way) and I was there for it. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a romance to be quite honest because it’s just so complex. And this is another thing I really loved because it was realistic to the world they were in. It’s so chaotic & everything is just so depressing that romance is not really what is the most logical in that particular moment. This book surprised me in more ways than one… there’s a few twists I absolutely didn’t see coming.
This is just a side note but I’m a human who absolutely loves the sun with a burning passion… and the feelings I get when I feel the sun on my skin was so well depicted by the author. Phenomenal writing.
The side characters were a really important part of this novel and I appreciated how distinct they all were. It moved at a good pace and I just didn’t want to put it down. I was so invested in the storyline and I just felt like I was at the edge of my seat. The ending really sets up the tone for the sequel and I have a feeling the next book is going to move a lot. I can’t wait! I’ll come back on publication date with my quotes.
« Do you think that just because you’re on the ‘good side’ of this war that the lives you’ve taken don’t count? »
« She was fire and light, a burning flame in this hell hole of darkness, and there was nothing he could do to stop her. »
A few months ago, I was looking through possible book box picks and this book kept coming up. I felt immediately drawn to it and the hype I built up in my own head was actually pretty phenomenal. It didn’t end up being picked by one of my book boxes and I’m so sad about that because this was such a winning read for me. It managed to hit all of my expectations and by 12% I knew it was a strong contender for a 5 stars read.
This follows a fmc & mmc on opposite sides of a war. The line between good/evil is slim and both sides believes they’re in the right. It was an amazing blend of scifi/fantasy and I loved how fluently everything was explained. I never felt overwhelmed by the amount of information. I really loved how strong willed the fmc was and I loved how protective the mmc was towards his friends. Their dynamic really reminded me of KyloRen (but done in a much, much better way) and I was there for it. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a romance to be quite honest because it’s just so complex. And this is another thing I really loved because it was realistic to the world they were in. It’s so chaotic & everything is just so depressing that romance is not really what is the most logical in that particular moment. This book surprised me in more ways than one… there’s a few twists I absolutely didn’t see coming.
This is just a side note but I’m a human who absolutely loves the sun with a burning passion… and the feelings I get when I feel the sun on my skin was so well depicted by the author. Phenomenal writing.
The side characters were a really important part of this novel and I appreciated how distinct they all were. It moved at a good pace and I just didn’t want to put it down. I was so invested in the storyline and I just felt like I was at the edge of my seat. The ending really sets up the tone for the sequel and I have a feeling the next book is going to move a lot. I can’t wait! I’ll come back on publication date with my quotes.
« Do you think that just because you’re on the ‘good side’ of this war that the lives you’ve taken don’t count? »
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ready to have my heart broken again by this author in a different font 🫡
Post Read: FUCK YES
Guys. GUYS. Holy shit this ate, the author DELIVERED FUCKING JUSTICEEEEEEE to Secrets & Masks and I promise you you're going to fucking love it. The way I can tell book 2 is gonna be 5 stars. JUST WAIT. The magical system, slow burn, dystopia, plot twists!!! I finished the book like a blithering idiot, smiling like a goofy person.
God, this author does found family so perfectly.
Anyway, time for a big fat deep dive—
The World~ This world was SO cool and well built. Right from chapter one we're introduced to this society recovered from a historical war, which is then dived right back into it. It gave me chills reading the invasion, the way it got under my skin omg. I looooved seeing the different types of creatures and kind of wish we got more? Somehow I feel like we didn't get nearly enough about them and the behaviours that make them unique or the cultures among these different monsters!
The Dystopia~ I feel like this book did really well in portraying the fact that there are no 'good' sides in war. Ikarus and Soraya are constantly arguing and debating this but at the end of the day they know neither are good but are just fighting for the spot of victory in history.
This quote really made me think. Said by the one and only Ikarus.
The plot & events~ I feel like alot more should have happened in the first half because all that was happening was the memories being explored and nothing else. Once we started going down more exciting rabbit holes it felt ALOT more exciting. The ending was too good. Everything that I wanted happened (It's not predictable but I've read Secrets & Masks) and some new plot twists popped up too had had me gasping. The ending just really solidified the fact that we're gonna get the found family they deserve :')
The Characters~ Soraya was so real ISTG. I felt her to my core, I love that girl. Her and Ikarus boutta become angsty as fuuuuccckkkkkkkk. Their dynamic is alot different to S&M because in this version it's a slowburn but in the ff they fucked so much bahahahaha. Not complaining about either! I love both ideas ngl- but the plot where they fucked loads made shit sm messier 🤭. Oh my god, Malakai and Emelda have my fucking HEARTTTTT. They delivered so hard— I was waiting for them the entire book and at the end I feel like we started them seeing in the more raw light and I loved it :') I literally cannot wait. This friend group is EVERYTHING, fyi. EVERYTHING. It was one of my fave things about S&M. Nothing beats this found family it's the best because they TRULY will do anything for eachother. TRULY.
The romance~ omg why did I blush when Ikarus threatened to kill Soraya :0 IT WAS SO HOT. Then there's a super angsty moment at the end where he's basically saying he can't stop thinking about her and UGHHHH IT'S SO LUSH WHEN THEY HATE THAT THEY LIKE/LOVE EACHOTHER. I was so gassed when we got that scene where Soraya puts her foot on Ikarus' chest. This love story is put through the TRENCHES, it makes you think how couLd they ever love each other after this because it's just so FUCKED. I love when he would call her human omg, it slowly became a cute nickname.
Critiques—
While I can see the writing has actually improved since the FF, I still feel like some parts were a bit weak! For example when Ramapheal did the blood ritual, it felt like spark notes LOL. A blood ritual as consequential as this one needed to feel more epic, suspenseful and creative. This one felt scripted and like it was a quick chore to get done with.
The british lingo really took me off guard lmfaooooo—at first I was like why is this here but then it kinda made the book.
I also think Soraya's rep should have been shown more to us before she got captured? Like who knew she was so famous among the Da'raks?!
What makes Da'raks and Human's different? 😭
10/10 ending btw
4.5 stars
Post Read: FUCK YES
Guys. GUYS. Holy shit this ate, the author DELIVERED FUCKING JUSTICEEEEEEE to Secrets & Masks and I promise you you're going to fucking love it. The way I can tell book 2 is gonna be 5 stars. JUST WAIT. The magical system, slow burn, dystopia, plot twists!!! I finished the book like a blithering idiot, smiling like a goofy person.
God, this author does found family so perfectly.
Anyway, time for a big fat deep dive—
The World~ This world was SO cool and well built. Right from chapter one we're introduced to this society recovered from a historical war, which is then dived right back into it. It gave me chills reading the invasion, the way it got under my skin omg. I looooved seeing the different types of creatures and kind of wish we got more? Somehow I feel like we didn't get nearly enough about them and the behaviours that make them unique or the cultures among these different monsters!
The Dystopia~ I feel like this book did really well in portraying the fact that there are no 'good' sides in war. Ikarus and Soraya are constantly arguing and debating this but at the end of the day they know neither are good but are just fighting for the spot of victory in history.
"Do you think that just because you're on the 'good side' of war that the lives you've taken don't count?"
This quote really made me think. Said by the one and only Ikarus.
The plot & events~ I feel like alot more should have happened in the first half because all that was happening was the memories being explored and nothing else. Once we started going down more exciting rabbit holes it felt ALOT more exciting. The ending was too good. Everything that I wanted happened (It's not predictable but I've read Secrets & Masks) and some new plot twists popped up too had had me gasping. The ending just really solidified the fact that we're gonna get the found family they deserve :')
The Characters~ Soraya was so real ISTG. I felt her to my core, I love that girl. Her and Ikarus boutta become angsty as fuuuuccckkkkkkkk. Their dynamic is alot different to S&M because in this version it's a slowburn but in the ff they fucked so much bahahahaha. Not complaining about either! I love both ideas ngl- but the plot where they fucked loads made shit sm messier 🤭. Oh my god, Malakai and Emelda have my fucking HEARTTTTT. They delivered so hard— I was waiting for them the entire book and at the end I feel like we started them seeing in the more raw light and I loved it :') I literally cannot wait. This friend group is EVERYTHING, fyi. EVERYTHING. It was one of my fave things about S&M. Nothing beats this found family it's the best because they TRULY will do anything for eachother. TRULY.
The romance~ omg why did I blush when Ikarus threatened to kill Soraya :0 IT WAS SO HOT. Then there's a super angsty moment at the end where he's basically saying he can't stop thinking about her and UGHHHH IT'S SO LUSH WHEN THEY HATE THAT THEY LIKE/LOVE EACHOTHER. I was so gassed when we got that scene where Soraya puts her foot on Ikarus' chest. This love story is put through the TRENCHES, it makes you think how couLd they ever love each other after this because it's just so FUCKED. I love when he would call her human omg, it slowly became a cute nickname.
Critiques—
While I can see the writing has actually improved since the FF, I still feel like some parts were a bit weak! For example when Ramapheal did the blood ritual, it felt like spark notes LOL. A blood ritual as consequential as this one needed to feel more epic, suspenseful and creative. This one felt scripted and like it was a quick chore to get done with.
The british lingo really took me off guard lmfaooooo—at first I was like why is this here but then it kinda made the book.
I also think Soraya's rep should have been shown more to us before she got captured? Like who knew she was so famous among the Da'raks?!
What makes Da'raks and Human's different? 😭
10/10 ending btw
4.5 stars
October 4, 2026
”He’d make make an afterlife just to find her. He’d haunt her like a poisonous shadow, choking her every moment. The two of them, fighting for eternity.”
the short version of this review is this : i just wasn’t as impressed as i’d thought i’d be while reading this book.
the potential is there, especially in the world building and it’s blend of fantasy and sc-fi. i also think the last 30% of the book and it’s action scenes are where the story is the strongest.. the rest? not so much.
Soraya and Ikarus can sort of be considered a true enemies to lovers, but be aware that the lust with them is not excluded from that statement. these two had no sexual chemistry, so it was very jarring to me when they’d switch between hate and random attraction.
the plot was a weird mix of boring and all over the place, we get a lot of info dumping through memories and convo exposition. this didn’t help me connect to the characters, it’s too much telling rather than showing.
i also completely guessed the reveals, which doesn’t happen to me often. the breadcrumbs were shoved down my throat that i felt there was no way they weren’t meant to be obvious? i just honestly feel that this book was a bit sloppy in its overall execution. i did enjoy the side characters and im curious to see where Soraya’s character arc will take her, but i hope to see more depth from the two main leads in a way that’s believable.
➛ thanks to NetGalley, the author and Ballantine for the arc, all opinions are my own.
the short version of this review is this : i just wasn’t as impressed as i’d thought i’d be while reading this book.
the potential is there, especially in the world building and it’s blend of fantasy and sc-fi. i also think the last 30% of the book and it’s action scenes are where the story is the strongest.. the rest? not so much.
Soraya and Ikarus can sort of be considered a true enemies to lovers, but be aware that the lust with them is not excluded from that statement. these two had no sexual chemistry, so it was very jarring to me when they’d switch between hate and random attraction.
the plot was a weird mix of boring and all over the place, we get a lot of info dumping through memories and convo exposition. this didn’t help me connect to the characters, it’s too much telling rather than showing.
i also completely guessed the reveals, which doesn’t happen to me often. the breadcrumbs were shoved down my throat that i felt there was no way they weren’t meant to be obvious? i just honestly feel that this book was a bit sloppy in its overall execution. i did enjoy the side characters and im curious to see where Soraya’s character arc will take her, but i hope to see more depth from the two main leads in a way that’s believable.
➛ thanks to NetGalley, the author and Ballantine for the arc, all opinions are my own.
September 21, 2026
“They were like a sun and moon, slowly circling each other, each fighting for their chance to eclipse the other.”
☀️🌙🌘
WOW you guys!! This book was literal drugs. If you haven’t picked it up yet, what are you even doing?! This might be one of the most impressive debuts I’ve ever read. The perfect mix of military/dystopia/fantasy, with an enemies-to-lovers arc that actually delivers. I’m obsessed!
Soraya & Ikarus -- THEY ARE EACH OTHER’S MATCH. They push each other to their absolute limits, and they’re equal in strength, power, intelligence, and everything else. Neither of them has to dim their light for the other to shine. They bring out both the best and worst in each other, and you rarely see this kind of dynamic done sooo well in romantasy. The tension, the rivalry, the way they challenge each other?!! Im unwell!
Soraya☀️
She is SO badass, but she also feels so much. She’s intelligent, powerful, emotional, and one of my favorite types of FMCs. It’s so refreshing to read about a badass female character who doesn’t have to be rude to prove her strength!! She has so much depth to her, and I loved watching her navigate everything thrown her way. WE LOVE A GIRL WHO CAN HOLD HER OWN!
Ikarus🌙
“She was the most terrifying thing he’d ever seen—and the most beautiful.”
BRO THIS MAN IS IN LOVE WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT.... I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. He’s my broken sad boy but he’s also fierce, intelligent, and SO loyal to his friends. He's a man who can match the FMC’s strength while still having so much emotional depth himself. He sees Soraya so clearly. These two are actually going to be the death of me.
The side characters
You’re going to love them, too!! They all add so much to the story, and I enjoyed getting to know them. I don’t want to say too much because going in without knowing much about this book made the experience even better!
The worldbuilding
I loved the worldbuilding in this book so much!!! 😭 The descriptions were so vivid and atmospheric, and I had such a fun time imagining everything. The whole concept of the suns versus the darkness, the Arch, the iron sky, etc. was very cool to me. There was just something about the way this world was constructed that really pulled me in, and I think it added so much to the reading experience. I loved what this author did here.
My only qualms throughout reading this book:
- some of the sentences were VERY long, to the point where one sentence would take up an entire paragraph. It sometimes made the writing a little difficult to follow.
- the middle also dragged a bit for me, especially compared to how gripping the beginning and ending were. BUT THE BEGINNING AND ENDING??? AMAZING.
Overall, this was such an entertaining, refreshing read, and I’m genuinely so so impressed that this is a debut. The character dynamics alone make this worth picking up, and I need MORE of Soraya and Ikarus immediately. WHY IS THE SECOND BOOK NOT OUT YET?!?!?! 😭
☀️🌙🌘
WOW you guys!! This book was literal drugs. If you haven’t picked it up yet, what are you even doing?! This might be one of the most impressive debuts I’ve ever read. The perfect mix of military/dystopia/fantasy, with an enemies-to-lovers arc that actually delivers. I’m obsessed!
Soraya & Ikarus -- THEY ARE EACH OTHER’S MATCH. They push each other to their absolute limits, and they’re equal in strength, power, intelligence, and everything else. Neither of them has to dim their light for the other to shine. They bring out both the best and worst in each other, and you rarely see this kind of dynamic done sooo well in romantasy. The tension, the rivalry, the way they challenge each other?!! Im unwell!
Soraya☀️
She is SO badass, but she also feels so much. She’s intelligent, powerful, emotional, and one of my favorite types of FMCs. It’s so refreshing to read about a badass female character who doesn’t have to be rude to prove her strength!! She has so much depth to her, and I loved watching her navigate everything thrown her way. WE LOVE A GIRL WHO CAN HOLD HER OWN!
Ikarus🌙
“She was the most terrifying thing he’d ever seen—and the most beautiful.”
BRO THIS MAN IS IN LOVE WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT.... I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. He’s my broken sad boy but he’s also fierce, intelligent, and SO loyal to his friends. He's a man who can match the FMC’s strength while still having so much emotional depth himself. He sees Soraya so clearly. These two are actually going to be the death of me.
The side characters
You’re going to love them, too!! They all add so much to the story, and I enjoyed getting to know them. I don’t want to say too much because going in without knowing much about this book made the experience even better!
The worldbuilding
I loved the worldbuilding in this book so much!!! 😭 The descriptions were so vivid and atmospheric, and I had such a fun time imagining everything. The whole concept of the suns versus the darkness, the Arch, the iron sky, etc. was very cool to me. There was just something about the way this world was constructed that really pulled me in, and I think it added so much to the reading experience. I loved what this author did here.
My only qualms throughout reading this book:
- some of the sentences were VERY long, to the point where one sentence would take up an entire paragraph. It sometimes made the writing a little difficult to follow.
- the middle also dragged a bit for me, especially compared to how gripping the beginning and ending were. BUT THE BEGINNING AND ENDING??? AMAZING.
Overall, this was such an entertaining, refreshing read, and I’m genuinely so so impressed that this is a debut. The character dynamics alone make this worth picking up, and I need MORE of Soraya and Ikarus immediately. WHY IS THE SECOND BOOK NOT OUT YET?!?!?! 😭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fuck, and I can’t stress this enough, that shit.
I feel like someone just shoved a bolt of lightning up my ass I am WIRED after the last 30% of this book. I can’t go to sleep. I can’t stop thinking about this and all the layers to it.
This is single-handedly my favorite dystopian book that I have ever read.
This is DARK and heavy. You are truly exposed firsthand to the darkness and evil of this ongoing war. So know that going in.
• dark atmospheric world building
• dystopian sci-fi
• rich background history and lore
• ENEMIES enemies enemies
• long standing war & propganda
• shadow dragon
• found family & charming side characters
• FMC & MMC are both equally brutal & feared soldiers on opposite sides of the war
Under the Iron Sky puts enemies to (?lovers) in a whole new bracket. Soraya and Ikarus are as enemies as enemies can get…my god they are unrelenting. It’s none of that “ohhhh I hate him but he makes me sooooo horny but I hate him >:(”. Not once. They are ENEMIES. They are not letting either of them forget the things their people have done to eachother.
Despite that, the romance was not the center topic (though god did that romance hit me upside the head 20 times with a frying pan I am unwell!!!). The way Emerald can describe the tension, the agony, the inner turmoils the characters face in their back and forth had me on the edge of my seat waiting for something to give.
”What makes you think you’ll be rid of me in death? What makes you think I won’t follow you there, just so this thing between us never has to end?”
Why this book is so compelling and complex is that at its root it’s a dissection of humanity and intention and looking at the thoughts and actions that makes people take away that humanity. Both sides of the war genuinely think that their side is the right side for their varying reasons. It was so well done. I highlighted over 200 things.
”My magic doesn’t always have to cut, you know.”
“No? Then why do you always wield it like a blade?”
“Because it’s all I know.”
I’ve read a lot of traditionally published you-know-what fanfic for someone who did not read the original source material. This is the first one where it feels completely separate to the original context. It’s so unique in its world building that you are reading something fresh. I also thought the magic system was well done and did not feel confused or overwhelmed. We learned things slowly and naturally over the course of the story.
Thank you to Delacorte and Netgalley for the eARC.
I will be buying every version I can get my little hands on and will be crying until I get the next book. I’m very afraid where this is going to go.
I feel like someone just shoved a bolt of lightning up my ass I am WIRED after the last 30% of this book. I can’t go to sleep. I can’t stop thinking about this and all the layers to it.
This is single-handedly my favorite dystopian book that I have ever read.
This is DARK and heavy. You are truly exposed firsthand to the darkness and evil of this ongoing war. So know that going in.
• dark atmospheric world building
• dystopian sci-fi
• rich background history and lore
• ENEMIES enemies enemies
• long standing war & propganda
• shadow dragon
• found family & charming side characters
• FMC & MMC are both equally brutal & feared soldiers on opposite sides of the war
Under the Iron Sky puts enemies to (?lovers) in a whole new bracket. Soraya and Ikarus are as enemies as enemies can get…my god they are unrelenting. It’s none of that “ohhhh I hate him but he makes me sooooo horny but I hate him >:(”. Not once. They are ENEMIES. They are not letting either of them forget the things their people have done to eachother.
Despite that, the romance was not the center topic (though god did that romance hit me upside the head 20 times with a frying pan I am unwell!!!). The way Emerald can describe the tension, the agony, the inner turmoils the characters face in their back and forth had me on the edge of my seat waiting for something to give.
”What makes you think you’ll be rid of me in death? What makes you think I won’t follow you there, just so this thing between us never has to end?”
Why this book is so compelling and complex is that at its root it’s a dissection of humanity and intention and looking at the thoughts and actions that makes people take away that humanity. Both sides of the war genuinely think that their side is the right side for their varying reasons. It was so well done. I highlighted over 200 things.
”My magic doesn’t always have to cut, you know.”
“No? Then why do you always wield it like a blade?”
“Because it’s all I know.”
I’ve read a lot of traditionally published you-know-what fanfic for someone who did not read the original source material. This is the first one where it feels completely separate to the original context. It’s so unique in its world building that you are reading something fresh. I also thought the magic system was well done and did not feel confused or overwhelmed. We learned things slowly and naturally over the course of the story.
Thank you to Delacorte and Netgalley for the eARC.
I will be buying every version I can get my little hands on and will be crying until I get the next book. I’m very afraid where this is going to go.
November 5, 2026
⭐️ 2.75
The pacing is off, that's my main critique. Knowing that this was once a fanfiction (a dramione fanfic) makes this pacing issue check out as often fanfic is more filler than published fiction. It can be fun to have more time with a story but without the goodwill that fanfic is given because of it's already established beloved characters and world, I found I couldn't excuse the dilly-dallying.
I would say this book definitely leans more fantasy than sci-fi and it absolutely leans more fantasy than dystopian. The worldbuilding is quite surface-level and simple but I did enjoy bits and pieces, like the solar technology. I didn't vibe with the writing style. It was usually unoffensive but had moments that felt amateur or perhaps YA. Now, this is marketed as a romantasy, so as with all books of this category I am judging it strongly based off the chemistry of the main couple and I never really bought their romance. The pace of the romance is slow, as with most things in this book, and I'm not against this but I just didn't find any sort of believable connection was between them at all. The FMC and MMC are the predictable protagonists of this type of story. She's a spitfire, a warrior with a heart, and he's the edgy hot bad guy who also has a heart under all that ice. It's a cliché for a reason I just don't find it's repetition to be entertaining without more effort to actually make the characters different from every other iteration. I'm not saying this is a bad book, just middling.
If you enjoyed books like Silver Elite or Daggermouth, I think you'd enjoy this. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing is off, that's my main critique. Knowing that this was once a fanfiction (a dramione fanfic) makes this pacing issue check out as often fanfic is more filler than published fiction. It can be fun to have more time with a story but without the goodwill that fanfic is given because of it's already established beloved characters and world, I found I couldn't excuse the dilly-dallying.
I would say this book definitely leans more fantasy than sci-fi and it absolutely leans more fantasy than dystopian. The worldbuilding is quite surface-level and simple but I did enjoy bits and pieces, like the solar technology. I didn't vibe with the writing style. It was usually unoffensive but had moments that felt amateur or perhaps YA. Now, this is marketed as a romantasy, so as with all books of this category I am judging it strongly based off the chemistry of the main couple and I never really bought their romance. The pace of the romance is slow, as with most things in this book, and I'm not against this but I just didn't find any sort of believable connection was between them at all. The FMC and MMC are the predictable protagonists of this type of story. She's a spitfire, a warrior with a heart, and he's the edgy hot bad guy who also has a heart under all that ice. It's a cliché for a reason I just don't find it's repetition to be entertaining without more effort to actually make the characters different from every other iteration. I'm not saying this is a bad book, just middling.
If you enjoyed books like Silver Elite or Daggermouth, I think you'd enjoy this. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Strong start, exciting ending. The rest could have been a long email.
Soraya is a commander in a war against a underground magical race called the Dar’rak.
She is captured by The Demon (a masked, ruthless Dar'rak soldier named Ikarus), who is ordered to break her and find humanity's secret weapon.
This is deemed an enemies to lovers and they’re definitely enemies. The ‘attraction’ between them felt forced and the slow burn tag feels like an excuse rather than it being tragic or yearning. I wonder if the Dramione roots explain this. I did not believe in the chemistry between these two. I’m sure the sequels will make this a more conventional ‘romance’.
The characters never felt developed enough despite being in their heads. There were a few occasions where Soraya’s overwhelming emotions were well-written, but she would quickly recover and the story would move on.
There was potential in the dystopian, sci fi/fantastical world building where magic meets technology and sunlight. However, the descriptions, rules, and systems were flimsy and lacking.
There were plot decisions which were nonsensical and there for the ease of furthering the plot which frustrated me.
The start was intriguing and exciting. The very end was revealing (if not predictable) and very promising. Everything in between didn’t add much - in terms of plot, character development, relationships, side characters, or world building.
The audiobook was a full cast recording with musical transitions. This made it very fun and definitely elevated the performance. The ‘villain’ reminded me of Voldemort meets Darth Vader.
I don’t think I’ll be continuing on unless reviews that were hesitant about book one remark on a continuation of the quality found at the end.
Audiobook and physical arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Soraya is a commander in a war against a underground magical race called the Dar’rak.
She is captured by The Demon (a masked, ruthless Dar'rak soldier named Ikarus), who is ordered to break her and find humanity's secret weapon.
This is deemed an enemies to lovers and they’re definitely enemies. The ‘attraction’ between them felt forced and the slow burn tag feels like an excuse rather than it being tragic or yearning. I wonder if the Dramione roots explain this. I did not believe in the chemistry between these two. I’m sure the sequels will make this a more conventional ‘romance’.
The characters never felt developed enough despite being in their heads. There were a few occasions where Soraya’s overwhelming emotions were well-written, but she would quickly recover and the story would move on.
There was potential in the dystopian, sci fi/fantastical world building where magic meets technology and sunlight. However, the descriptions, rules, and systems were flimsy and lacking.
There were plot decisions which were nonsensical and there for the ease of furthering the plot which frustrated me.
The start was intriguing and exciting. The very end was revealing (if not predictable) and very promising. Everything in between didn’t add much - in terms of plot, character development, relationships, side characters, or world building.
The audiobook was a full cast recording with musical transitions. This made it very fun and definitely elevated the performance. The ‘villain’ reminded me of Voldemort meets Darth Vader.
I don’t think I’ll be continuing on unless reviews that were hesitant about book one remark on a continuation of the quality found at the end.
Audiobook and physical arc gifted by Del Rey.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
November 6, 2026
resisting the urge to bang my chest like a gorilla. WDYM THIS IS THE END?!?! I NEED MORE.
this started off extremely slow for me, i will
not lie. the sci-fi aspects were not expected, however, i ended up loving it.
if you are looking for true enemies, LOOK NO FURTHER BABE. the ending had me slack jawed, i cannot believe the shit they do to each other, lmao.
the two main characters are such mirrors of each other and i loved seeing their dynamic play out as she was forced into proximity with him after he abducts her. she was such a layered character with so much depth. i am excited to see her growth expanded on in later installments.
i also LOVED that we got both POV’s, it adds a ton of nuance to the war. the MMC has such an interesting plot going for him, too. i would love to see where the author takes him, if he keeps going in such a morally grey direction!
because this was so slow at the beginning, i think i have to give this 4.25 stars ⭐️, however the rest of the book made up for that. can’t wait for book 2, THE ANGST.
this started off extremely slow for me, i will
not lie. the sci-fi aspects were not expected, however, i ended up loving it.
if you are looking for true enemies, LOOK NO FURTHER BABE. the ending had me slack jawed, i cannot believe the shit they do to each other, lmao.
the two main characters are such mirrors of each other and i loved seeing their dynamic play out as she was forced into proximity with him after he abducts her. she was such a layered character with so much depth. i am excited to see her growth expanded on in later installments.
i also LOVED that we got both POV’s, it adds a ton of nuance to the war. the MMC has such an interesting plot going for him, too. i would love to see where the author takes him, if he keeps going in such a morally grey direction!
because this was so slow at the beginning, i think i have to give this 4.25 stars ⭐️, however the rest of the book made up for that. can’t wait for book 2, THE ANGST.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As soon as I heard about this book, it immediately became one of my most anticipated releases—and it absolutely lived up to my expectations! I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s a dark fantasy with a unique world, unexpected plot twists, and a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The main characters are literally trying to kill each other!
Soraya and Ikarus are two of the greatest warriors, standing on opposite sides of a war. For 15 years, a conflict between light and darkness, technology and magic, has been raging. Soraya ends up captured by Ikarus, but the more time they spend together, the more the lines begin to blur, and they start to realize they aren’t as different as they thought.
This book has the slowest of slow burns—their relationship develops gradually, and you believe every single step of it. Their dynamic is a mix of hatred, tension, and chemistry. There were also many moments that completely broke my heart.
The world-building is unique and well thought out, and AT Emerald’s writing style is impressive. I didn’t just fall in love with Soraya and Ikarus, but also with the side characters (yes, I’m talking about Malakai). It was incredibly engaging, and the ending completely blew me away. I need book two now!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓dark fantasy
✓enemies to lovers
✓forced proximity
✓slow burn
✓morally grey characters
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Delacorte Press) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
______
Pre-read: I’m not a fan of Dramione, but I absolutely love reading traditionally published former fanfics!
Soraya and Ikarus are two of the greatest warriors, standing on opposite sides of a war. For 15 years, a conflict between light and darkness, technology and magic, has been raging. Soraya ends up captured by Ikarus, but the more time they spend together, the more the lines begin to blur, and they start to realize they aren’t as different as they thought.
This book has the slowest of slow burns—their relationship develops gradually, and you believe every single step of it. Their dynamic is a mix of hatred, tension, and chemistry. There were also many moments that completely broke my heart.
The world-building is unique and well thought out, and AT Emerald’s writing style is impressive. I didn’t just fall in love with Soraya and Ikarus, but also with the side characters (yes, I’m talking about Malakai). It was incredibly engaging, and the ending completely blew me away. I need book two now!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓dark fantasy
✓enemies to lovers
✓forced proximity
✓slow burn
✓morally grey characters
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Delacorte Press) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
______
Pre-read: I’m not a fan of Dramione, but I absolutely love reading traditionally published former fanfics!
October 17, 2026
3.25⭐️
від самого початку огортає відчуття жорстокості й безвиході через затяжні військові дії, де людство опинилося на межі вимирання без енергії сонць, що живлять усе довкола 🌒
задумка цікава, хоча ніби нічого нового, але на диво затягує в цей похмурий всесвіт. особливо коли детальніше пізнаєш протилежну сторону - дар'раків: демонів, фейрі, інших істот та почвар, які єдині володіють магією й були заслані під землю та ув'язнені на сотні років у темряві.
що мені не сподобалося, як це написано. занадто багато зайвого тексту та подій, які взагалі ніяк не рухають сюжет. насичений початок, насичений кінець, а середина добряче просідає. колишній фф-цеглинку й так розтягнули на цілу трилогію, але чи варто було.. з першої книги можна спокійно викинути 100+ стр. місцями я прям нудилася, а місцями сутички та екшн змушували ковтати розділи на одному подиху. звідси й такі максимально полярні враження.
інший радше мінус - знову в центрі уваги блокування/читання спогадів головної героїні та витягування всієї важливої інфи про ворога через них. я розумію, що це кочує як елемент всесвіту гп, але це ж було вже 😕
як і лінія одного з дар'раків, який тривалий час допомагав людям, попереджаючи та здаючи плани своїх же. ну це ж буквально було в «закованих». вони там шо фф по драміоні один в одного списували, чи як.
фінал максимально насичений подіями й сюжетними «оце так поворотами», але більшість із них для мене виявилися передбачуваними.
➛ хто виявився шпигуном? та там і вибір був не те щоб великий, але дякую, що хоч не найочевидніший.
➛ справжня мотивація рамафіла? він же втілення волдеморта: брехня та маніпуляції - це його кисень.
➛ апгрейд сореї? харош. але я все ще чекаю, коли вона вчинить щось більш жахливе 🌚
➛ пояснення, звідки береться магія? окей, зараховано 🪄
➛ мув із перенесенням частини арки за планом, який сорея мала б ідеально знати.. це якась розводка на лоха. логіка просто вийшла з чату
хімія і динаміка між ікаром і сореєю.. ну просто норм.
як персонажі вони дійсно цікаві: двоє головних командирів і найкращих воїнів своїх народів, закляті жорстокі вороги і, звісно ж, зранені особистості. так, під кінець вони все ще вороги, все ще так-сяк ненавидять, які пару разів ледве не повбивали одне одного, а потім рятували, згадуючи про свій кровний зв'язок (бо якщо помре ікар - помре й сорея) 😏
як для першої книги це окей, але я б спокійно прибрала всі оці натяки на їхній надуманий потяг, бо почуттями там поки й не пахне. вони тільки-но дізналися про минулі страждання одне одного, розплющили очі на правду й під кінець стали вимушеними союзниками. хоча після фінального твісту з апгрейдом сореї я очікувала ще більшого спалаху лютої ненависті, а в результаті.. наче нічого не змінилося. легкий пшик і союз заради спільної мети з обіцянкою to be continued..
загалом хочеться дізнатися, що буде далі, але без вау очікувань. головне, щоб до виходу другої частини взагалі інтерес не зник, а все може бути 🫣
p.s. голла - просто найдобріший і наймиліший голем. не можу не асоціювати його з добі 🥹
від самого початку огортає відчуття жорстокості й безвиході через затяжні військові дії, де людство опинилося на межі вимирання без енергії сонць, що живлять усе довкола 🌒
задумка цікава, хоча ніби нічого нового, але на диво затягує в цей похмурий всесвіт. особливо коли детальніше пізнаєш протилежну сторону - дар'раків: демонів, фейрі, інших істот та почвар, які єдині володіють магією й були заслані під землю та ув'язнені на сотні років у темряві.
що мені не сподобалося, як це написано. занадто багато зайвого тексту та подій, які взагалі ніяк не рухають сюжет. насичений початок, насичений кінець, а середина добряче просідає. колишній фф-цеглинку й так розтягнули на цілу трилогію, але чи варто було.. з першої книги можна спокійно викинути 100+ стр. місцями я прям нудилася, а місцями сутички та екшн змушували ковтати розділи на одному подиху. звідси й такі максимально полярні враження.
інший радше мінус - знову в центрі уваги блокування/читання спогадів головної героїні та витягування всієї важливої інфи про ворога через них. я розумію, що це кочує як елемент всесвіту гп, але це ж було вже 😕
як і лінія одного з дар'раків, який тривалий час допомагав людям, попереджаючи та здаючи плани своїх же. ну це ж буквально було в «закованих». вони там шо фф по драміоні один в одного списували, чи як.
фінал максимально насичений подіями й сюжетними «оце так поворотами», але більшість із них для мене виявилися передбачуваними.
➛ хто виявився шпигуном? та там і вибір був не те щоб великий, але дякую, що хоч не найочевидніший.
➛ справжня мотивація рамафіла? він же втілення волдеморта: брехня та маніпуляції - це його кисень.
➛ апгрейд сореї? харош. але я все ще чекаю, коли вона вчинить щось більш жахливе 🌚
➛ пояснення, звідки береться магія? окей, зараховано 🪄
➛ мув із перенесенням частини арки за планом, який сорея мала б ідеально знати.. це якась розводка на лоха. логіка просто вийшла з чату
хімія і динаміка між ікаром і сореєю.. ну просто норм.
як персонажі вони дійсно цікаві: двоє головних командирів і найкращих воїнів своїх народів, закляті жорстокі вороги і, звісно ж, зранені особистості. так, під кінець вони все ще вороги, все ще так-сяк ненавидять, які пару разів ледве не повбивали одне одного, а потім рятували, згадуючи про свій кровний зв'язок (бо якщо помре ікар - помре й сорея) 😏
як для першої книги це окей, але я б спокійно прибрала всі оці натяки на їхній надуманий потяг, бо почуттями там поки й не пахне. вони тільки-но дізналися про минулі страждання одне одного, розплющили очі на правду й під кінець стали вимушеними союзниками. хоча після фінального твісту з апгрейдом сореї я очікувала ще більшого спалаху лютої ненависті, а в результаті.. наче нічого не змінилося. легкий пшик і союз заради спільної мети з обіцянкою to be continued..
загалом хочеться дізнатися, що буде далі, але без вау очікувань. головне, щоб до виходу другої частини взагалі інтерес не зник, а все може бути 🫣
p.s. голла - просто найдобріший і наймиліший голем. не можу не асоціювати його з добі 🥹
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and A. T. Emerald for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
5/5⭐️
This is my holy grail of arcs. I may have screamed when I was approved for this, because this book? Is IT! A. T. Emerald is a fantasy genius, and this is only her debut novel. You know when you read a book and you’re like ‘yeah, this is the next big thing’? This is that. I promise you.
‘An Iron Sky stretching right above our heads with no end in sight.‘
The Iron Sky was summoned over Vordell when the Dar’rak escaped from their underground prison and destroyed the once beautiful and glowing land. The Dar’rak turned the pioneering Vordell into a rusted shell of itself, slipping up through the cracks in the ground to rip them apart. Soraya Tollmere has grown up in the midst of this war, fighting a losing battle against the Dar’rak and their Iron Sky, that of which blocks them from their power of Light. During battle, Soraya is captured by The Demon, Dar’rak’s most infamous soldier, known for his brutality. Upon her capture, she is forced to be a pawn for the Dar’rak, and assigned as a captive under The Demon’s watch.
‘The Demon, Ikarus, bowed his head, a loyal dog on a leash if Soraya had ever seen one.’
When I say I want to read romantasy, this is the kind of book I mean. The initial hatred and tension between Soraya and Ikarus felt so real. You have two characters so desperate to save their people, so certain their side is right, that the tension flows off the pages. They want to kill each other, and they mean it, taking every opportunity possible. Their hatred isn’t forced, and it isn’t easily changed. The years-long battle, two people in the same position, just opposite sides. Two pawns in a game. Overtime, they find they have more in common then they thought, no matter how much they wish that weren’t true. Their hated for each other, their tension, turning into the possibility of friendship or allies was perfect. I love slow-burn, and this was that to a T.
‘Was she stupid to antagonize him now? Probably. Was she going to stop? Absolutely not.’
The characters, side characters included, are so complex. The brutality and raw violence of their actions are introduced first, but the emotional complexity is built on as you dig further into everyone’s backstories. Learning about the side characters, both Vordellian and Dar’rak, added so much depth to the story. I found them all just as interesting as Soraya and Ikarus themselves. The world building and fantasy elements were done very well. The world felt so immersive and easy to visualize. Plus, for the sci-fi fans, we did lots of explaining of the magic/technical details.
This book had everything! Fairies, pet-sidekick familiars (who are so cute), spider-human half-breeds, dragons, blood manipulation magic, telekinesis, and one very brooding, white haired captor. Found family, well written magic systems, enemies-to-?, slow burn, strong female characters, and plot twists. I mean, how much more could you ask for? I feel such a strong connection to these characters after just one book that I’m desperate for more.
I’m thrilled beyond words to have been able to read this book so soon. I’ve been keeping up with A. T. Emerald in anticipation for this release, and my expectations were exceeded. I might cry knowing how long I have to wait for book two!
5/5⭐️
This is my holy grail of arcs. I may have screamed when I was approved for this, because this book? Is IT! A. T. Emerald is a fantasy genius, and this is only her debut novel. You know when you read a book and you’re like ‘yeah, this is the next big thing’? This is that. I promise you.
‘An Iron Sky stretching right above our heads with no end in sight.‘
The Iron Sky was summoned over Vordell when the Dar’rak escaped from their underground prison and destroyed the once beautiful and glowing land. The Dar’rak turned the pioneering Vordell into a rusted shell of itself, slipping up through the cracks in the ground to rip them apart. Soraya Tollmere has grown up in the midst of this war, fighting a losing battle against the Dar’rak and their Iron Sky, that of which blocks them from their power of Light. During battle, Soraya is captured by The Demon, Dar’rak’s most infamous soldier, known for his brutality. Upon her capture, she is forced to be a pawn for the Dar’rak, and assigned as a captive under The Demon’s watch.
‘The Demon, Ikarus, bowed his head, a loyal dog on a leash if Soraya had ever seen one.’
When I say I want to read romantasy, this is the kind of book I mean. The initial hatred and tension between Soraya and Ikarus felt so real. You have two characters so desperate to save their people, so certain their side is right, that the tension flows off the pages. They want to kill each other, and they mean it, taking every opportunity possible. Their hatred isn’t forced, and it isn’t easily changed. The years-long battle, two people in the same position, just opposite sides. Two pawns in a game. Overtime, they find they have more in common then they thought, no matter how much they wish that weren’t true. Their hated for each other, their tension, turning into the possibility of friendship or allies was perfect. I love slow-burn, and this was that to a T.
‘Was she stupid to antagonize him now? Probably. Was she going to stop? Absolutely not.’
The characters, side characters included, are so complex. The brutality and raw violence of their actions are introduced first, but the emotional complexity is built on as you dig further into everyone’s backstories. Learning about the side characters, both Vordellian and Dar’rak, added so much depth to the story. I found them all just as interesting as Soraya and Ikarus themselves. The world building and fantasy elements were done very well. The world felt so immersive and easy to visualize. Plus, for the sci-fi fans, we did lots of explaining of the magic/technical details.
This book had everything! Fairies, pet-sidekick familiars (who are so cute), spider-human half-breeds, dragons, blood manipulation magic, telekinesis, and one very brooding, white haired captor. Found family, well written magic systems, enemies-to-?, slow burn, strong female characters, and plot twists. I mean, how much more could you ask for? I feel such a strong connection to these characters after just one book that I’m desperate for more.
I’m thrilled beyond words to have been able to read this book so soon. I’ve been keeping up with A. T. Emerald in anticipation for this release, and my expectations were exceeded. I might cry knowing how long I have to wait for book two!
November 4, 2026
⋆˙⟡ ── ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ 5⭐️
This is absolutely worth the hype. Absolutely incredible; I was hooked from the beginning. I thought I knew who I was rooting for, then I was duped, then my mind changed again, and at the end I got both excited and scared for what’s to come. I could not put this down!
In this dark, dystopian fantasy, we find ourselves at two different sides of a war. Told in multiple POVs, we have Soraya who is protecting her people with the aid from a defector, Ikarus who is leading an effort to do what he believes is right to save his own family, and Theron who is taking the helm and doing what he can to rescue his best friend. Without spoiling anything, this story will have you understanding the motives of everyone on both sides of the war and developing feelings for every character introduced.
I loved everything about this. Bump this up your TBR if you’re looking for something that’s different. I cannot wait to see this trilogy unfold.
♡ 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮: Daggermouth, Alchemised, Wool
This is absolutely worth the hype. Absolutely incredible; I was hooked from the beginning. I thought I knew who I was rooting for, then I was duped, then my mind changed again, and at the end I got both excited and scared for what’s to come. I could not put this down!
In this dark, dystopian fantasy, we find ourselves at two different sides of a war. Told in multiple POVs, we have Soraya who is protecting her people with the aid from a defector, Ikarus who is leading an effort to do what he believes is right to save his own family, and Theron who is taking the helm and doing what he can to rescue his best friend. Without spoiling anything, this story will have you understanding the motives of everyone on both sides of the war and developing feelings for every character introduced.
I loved everything about this. Bump this up your TBR if you’re looking for something that’s different. I cannot wait to see this trilogy unfold.
♡ 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮: Daggermouth, Alchemised, Wool
October 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Delacorte Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I spent so much of Under the Iron Sky confused about how this world was supposed to work.
There are a LOT of ideas here. A world without sunlight, a war that's been raging for years, monsters, different races, Light-based powers, underground civilizations, covert missions, mind magic, and a mysterious weapon that could potentially end the war. But instead of all of those pieces building into an intricate fantasy world, they raised more questions the further I read.
The worldbuilding was easily my biggest issue. I kept getting hung up on the logistics of how either side had survived under these conditions for so long, how certain parts of society were still functioning, and even some of the basic history behind the conflict. Normally I can overlook a few unanswered questions in a fantasy, especially when it's the beginning of a series, but there were too many here that directly affected whether I believed what was happening.
Soraya also frustrated me. We're repeatedly told that she's an incredibly skilled and feared commander, but I didn't feel like the story actually showed me enough of that. After the initial setup, she spends so much time reacting to what other characters are doing that I kept wondering where the commander from the beginning of the book had gone.
And unfortunately, the romance did absolutely nothing for me. I love enemies-to-lovers when the transition between those two things is painfully gradual. Here, I felt like I missed several steps. The attraction seemed to appear because the story had reached the point where it needed to, rather than because Soraya and Ikarus's relationship had naturally changed.
There were individual concepts I liked, particularly the Iron Sky itself and the idea of Light disappearing from the world. I just needed considerably more development around them.
By the end, I had too many questions about the world, too little investment in the romance, and no real desire to find out what happens next. This one unfortunately wasn't for me.
October 26, 2026
6🌟’s! Holy shit, this book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD.
Hands down my favorite romantasy read of the year. I am utterly obsessed.
The plot was original and intriguing, the worldbuilding was fantastic, and I loved the blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopia. The magic system, the politics, the character development. ALL OF IT.
And the romance?! THIS is how you write enemies to lovers. Actual enemies who genuinely hate each other, with a slow burn that is SLOW BURNING. The romance never overshadows the plot, and every bit of tension feels earned.
I absolutely loved the characters, especially Saraya and Ikarus. Ikarus has officially joined my book boyfriend list, and these two have barely even gotten started. 😂
And THAT ENDING?! Are you kidding me?! I need the next book immediately.
Easily one of my favorite reads of 2026. Absolutely incredible. ❤️🔥
Hands down my favorite romantasy read of the year. I am utterly obsessed.
The plot was original and intriguing, the worldbuilding was fantastic, and I loved the blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopia. The magic system, the politics, the character development. ALL OF IT.
And the romance?! THIS is how you write enemies to lovers. Actual enemies who genuinely hate each other, with a slow burn that is SLOW BURNING. The romance never overshadows the plot, and every bit of tension feels earned.
I absolutely loved the characters, especially Saraya and Ikarus. Ikarus has officially joined my book boyfriend list, and these two have barely even gotten started. 😂
And THAT ENDING?! Are you kidding me?! I need the next book immediately.
Easily one of my favorite reads of 2026. Absolutely incredible. ❤️🔥
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is GENUINELY one of my favorite books I have ever read🖤🗡️🧚♀️💫🩸 Every word was laced together with pure magic, weaving both a dark & glittering world that left me wonderstruck and a cast of characters that I will never, ever forget.
As a fantasy reader, I am always chasing the sense of wonder that comes when a book feels less like words on paper and more like a portal to another world. A world that I cannot help but believe exists because IT JUST HAS TO. OF COURSE these characters are real. Of COURSE they have soul-deep wounds that have been carefully patched with layers of armor.
Our story starts in the middle of a fifteen year old war between the humans and the Dar’rak; a magic-aided enemy that has been trapped underground for centuries. Soraya is a badass human commander who is captured by the most feared soldier in the Dar’rak army. We are thrown into a mist-shrouded world of black rock, red vapor, dragons and faeries. It’s so visceral and atmospheric I could literally cry! ✨💖 No like this world is an actual hellscape, but I want to go to there!!!💖✨
Throw out every other enemies-to-lovers book!!! This is IT. THIS IS ALL YOU NEED. We also have a found family that is an integral part of the story….THANK GOD. I AM SO SICK OF ROMANTASY BOOKS WHERE THERE ISN’T FRIEND GROUP REPRESENTATION!!!! ADULTS HAVE FRIEND GROUPS AND EVERY STORY IS BETTER IF WE EXPLORE THEIR INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS!!!! THIS IS WHY PROPLE READ (ME) !!!!!!!!
READ THIS IF YOU LOVE:
-an atmosphere that glitters
-soooooo much pain and trauma
-a plot that will leave you SHAKING and STARVING for more
-FOUND!!! FAMILY!!!
-high fantasy x dystopian combo
-LOVABLE SIDEKICKS!!! (MULTIPLE!!)
-FAERIES AND DRAGONS
-A DEEP BOND FORGED IN A CRUEL WORLD !! BUT ALSO IS IT EVEN A BOND AT ALL?!!!?
-gorgeously lush writing
Thank you universe for sending me my first infinity star read in 143 days🥲🥲🥲 I was about to give up forever (jk would never) but ugh I needed this so bad and this book will forever mean that much more to me bc of the timing.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! This comes out on October 13th and I WILL be listening to the audiobook on release day!
As a fantasy reader, I am always chasing the sense of wonder that comes when a book feels less like words on paper and more like a portal to another world. A world that I cannot help but believe exists because IT JUST HAS TO. OF COURSE these characters are real. Of COURSE they have soul-deep wounds that have been carefully patched with layers of armor.
Our story starts in the middle of a fifteen year old war between the humans and the Dar’rak; a magic-aided enemy that has been trapped underground for centuries. Soraya is a badass human commander who is captured by the most feared soldier in the Dar’rak army. We are thrown into a mist-shrouded world of black rock, red vapor, dragons and faeries. It’s so visceral and atmospheric I could literally cry! ✨💖 No like this world is an actual hellscape, but I want to go to there!!!💖✨
Throw out every other enemies-to-lovers book!!! This is IT. THIS IS ALL YOU NEED. We also have a found family that is an integral part of the story….THANK GOD. I AM SO SICK OF ROMANTASY BOOKS WHERE THERE ISN’T FRIEND GROUP REPRESENTATION!!!! ADULTS HAVE FRIEND GROUPS AND EVERY STORY IS BETTER IF WE EXPLORE THEIR INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS!!!! THIS IS WHY PROPLE READ (ME) !!!!!!!!
READ THIS IF YOU LOVE:
-an atmosphere that glitters
-soooooo much pain and trauma
-a plot that will leave you SHAKING and STARVING for more
-FOUND!!! FAMILY!!!
-high fantasy x dystopian combo
-LOVABLE SIDEKICKS!!! (MULTIPLE!!)
-FAERIES AND DRAGONS
-A DEEP BOND FORGED IN A CRUEL WORLD !! BUT ALSO IS IT EVEN A BOND AT ALL?!!!?
-gorgeously lush writing
Thank you universe for sending me my first infinity star read in 143 days🥲🥲🥲 I was about to give up forever (jk would never) but ugh I needed this so bad and this book will forever mean that much more to me bc of the timing.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC! This comes out on October 13th and I WILL be listening to the audiobook on release day!
October 31, 2026
6⭐️ 1🌶️ If you’re looking for TRUE enemies to lovers, this book understood the assignment! 🔥 Because these two? They absolutely CANNOT stand each other. And I mean can’t even breathe the same air without wanting to throw hands 😂
There’s no insta-love or insta-lust here. Theres plenty of tension, stubborn characters, and a whole lot of war-torn angst. They’re constantly at each other’s throats, fighting, arguing and challenging one another. But our FMC never backs down. She gives just as good as she gets, and I was HERE FOR IT!👏
Our FMC is scrappy, clever, resourceful and a little jaded. The war has clearly left its scars on her, making her guarded and somewhat closed off. But I absolutely loved her! She’s tough, smart and knows how to hold her own.
The MMC is cut from a similar cloth. He’s also carrying a whole lot of trauma from growing up in a world shaped by war. Both characters have been through so much and you can really feel how their past experiences have shaped who they are.
The found family is lovely .. each person with distinct personalities contributing to the plot.
The writing is good and the storytelling had me completely hooked !!!
There are a few twists that I managed to see coming, but then there were some seriously intense moments that caught me completely off guard. My jaw was on the floor more than once! I even cried in the last 80% of the book 😭🫣
And can we talk about the WORLDBUILDING?! Because WOW. The author has created such a rich and fascinating world. We get to explore both civilizations, their cultures, ways of life, magic, and technology. There’s plenty of lore to sink your teeth into, but it’s woven into the story so naturally that it never feels overwhelming or confusing. We get a real sense of what life was like before the war, what went wrong, and how everything came to be the way it is now.
Honestly, I was completely swept up in this story. The tension, the characters, the worldbuilding, the twists… it all just WORKED. This book had me hooked and I did not want to put it down!
Highly HIGHLY recommend!
5 EASY STARS!
There’s no insta-love or insta-lust here. Theres plenty of tension, stubborn characters, and a whole lot of war-torn angst. They’re constantly at each other’s throats, fighting, arguing and challenging one another. But our FMC never backs down. She gives just as good as she gets, and I was HERE FOR IT!👏
Our FMC is scrappy, clever, resourceful and a little jaded. The war has clearly left its scars on her, making her guarded and somewhat closed off. But I absolutely loved her! She’s tough, smart and knows how to hold her own.
The MMC is cut from a similar cloth. He’s also carrying a whole lot of trauma from growing up in a world shaped by war. Both characters have been through so much and you can really feel how their past experiences have shaped who they are.
The found family is lovely .. each person with distinct personalities contributing to the plot.
The writing is good and the storytelling had me completely hooked !!!
There are a few twists that I managed to see coming, but then there were some seriously intense moments that caught me completely off guard. My jaw was on the floor more than once! I even cried in the last 80% of the book 😭🫣
And can we talk about the WORLDBUILDING?! Because WOW. The author has created such a rich and fascinating world. We get to explore both civilizations, their cultures, ways of life, magic, and technology. There’s plenty of lore to sink your teeth into, but it’s woven into the story so naturally that it never feels overwhelming or confusing. We get a real sense of what life was like before the war, what went wrong, and how everything came to be the way it is now.
Honestly, I was completely swept up in this story. The tension, the characters, the worldbuilding, the twists… it all just WORKED. This book had me hooked and I did not want to put it down!
Highly HIGHLY recommend!
5 EASY STARS!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Happy Release Day!!
Holy hell. That ending was 🔥🔥
This could have so easily been a 5-star read for me. The plot was plotting, the characters were great, and the action was great.
But I was having issues on and off with the pacing. The story would randomly DRAG, and then boom, it was crazy and super entertaining and then boom, drag again. Part of it was just a lot of info dumping and a lot of internal processing.
But apart from that, I think the enemies to lovers was done really well here, and the FMC is one of the biggest badasses I've read in quite some time, and I think the next two books can only be absolutely amazing. Can't wait to see what happens ❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Holy hell. That ending was 🔥🔥
This could have so easily been a 5-star read for me. The plot was plotting, the characters were great, and the action was great.
But I was having issues on and off with the pacing. The story would randomly DRAG, and then boom, it was crazy and super entertaining and then boom, drag again. Part of it was just a lot of info dumping and a lot of internal processing.
But apart from that, I think the enemies to lovers was done really well here, and the FMC is one of the biggest badasses I've read in quite some time, and I think the next two books can only be absolutely amazing. Can't wait to see what happens ❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Want to Read
September 2, 2026WAIT my favourite fanfic and the FMC is named Soraya, I feel so special🙂↕️🙂↕️
November 4, 2026
Imagine Avatar (James Cameron) and Star Wars coming together to create something with an entirely unique flavor. That's the best way I can describe ✨ Under the Iron Sky ✨
The prose and dialogue occasionally feel a little juvenile, and the characters tend to fall into familiar, stereotypical archetypes.
While I am willing to overlook some of these shortcomings in a debut novel, I genuinely hope they're covered in the second one
The storytelling is otherwise straightforward, accessible, and easy to follow.
The story itself didn't leave a particularly lasting impression on me, and the characterization felt inconsistent at times.
However, the worldbuilding is going to stay with me for a while💖(So much so that my hands are itching to pick up procreate and illustrate some of the scenes)
Highly recommend audiobook! 🎧
The atmospheric background scores, immersive sound design, and wonderfully performed character voices is amazing ✨
That said, there were certain details that disrupted my emotional flow and made my eye twitch. Not plot holes, but because some of them raised questions that the narrative was not interested in answering.
For instance, there's an exchange that goes something like:
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Baking a cake. What does it look like?"
STAWP✋ How do people who have spent their lives dwelling underground alongside fairies know about cake? Especially when baking, cooking, or even the existence of such food has barely been established in this world?
I know this might seem like a ridiculously minor thing to get hung up on, but it's precisely these little details that can make or break my immersion in a fantasy setting.
Another example is when a character exclaims something along the lines of:
"He's going to hunt me to the ends of the Earth!"
Earth? EARTH?! 🌍💀
We spent this entire book in a world with THREE suns, and suddenly we are invoking Earth? Is this an idiom? Is this actually Earth? Have I missed something?
These might seem like small inconsistencies, but when an author goes to such lengths to establish an unfamiliar universe, familiar expressions and unexplained cultural references can feel surprisingly jarring
Despite my occasional frustrations with some details, I genuinely enjoyed the experience. The world is fascinating, the premise is compelling, and although the characters and storytelling didn't always deliver the emotional impact I hoped for, there's enough here to keep me curious about what comes next
Waiting on Part Two!💕
The prose and dialogue occasionally feel a little juvenile, and the characters tend to fall into familiar, stereotypical archetypes.
While I am willing to overlook some of these shortcomings in a debut novel, I genuinely hope they're covered in the second one
The storytelling is otherwise straightforward, accessible, and easy to follow.
The story itself didn't leave a particularly lasting impression on me, and the characterization felt inconsistent at times.
However, the worldbuilding is going to stay with me for a while💖(So much so that my hands are itching to pick up procreate and illustrate some of the scenes)
Highly recommend audiobook! 🎧
The atmospheric background scores, immersive sound design, and wonderfully performed character voices is amazing ✨
That said, there were certain details that disrupted my emotional flow and made my eye twitch. Not plot holes, but because some of them raised questions that the narrative was not interested in answering.
For instance, there's an exchange that goes something like:
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Baking a cake. What does it look like?"
STAWP✋ How do people who have spent their lives dwelling underground alongside fairies know about cake? Especially when baking, cooking, or even the existence of such food has barely been established in this world?
I know this might seem like a ridiculously minor thing to get hung up on, but it's precisely these little details that can make or break my immersion in a fantasy setting.
Another example is when a character exclaims something along the lines of:
"He's going to hunt me to the ends of the Earth!"
Earth? EARTH?! 🌍💀
We spent this entire book in a world with THREE suns, and suddenly we are invoking Earth? Is this an idiom? Is this actually Earth? Have I missed something?
These might seem like small inconsistencies, but when an author goes to such lengths to establish an unfamiliar universe, familiar expressions and unexplained cultural references can feel surprisingly jarring
Despite my occasional frustrations with some details, I genuinely enjoyed the experience. The world is fascinating, the premise is compelling, and although the characters and storytelling didn't always deliver the emotional impact I hoped for, there's enough here to keep me curious about what comes next
Waiting on Part Two!💕
October 22, 2026
no one is more disappointed than i am lol😭
firstly i want to state that secrets and masks is my favourite fanfiction ever so naturally i went into this one with insanely high expectations even though i tried not to.
i wasn’t expecting it to be the same but i really wanted to read a story with well developed world building, characters and relationships.
it started off great, the world building was rich and immersive and was able to stand on its own from the original fic. i loved the mixture of sci fi and fantasy elements.
the pacing was also great until the last part of the book where i felt far too many plot points/revelations were rushed and needed more time to be developed. the book should have finished at the end of part 4 to give more of that shock factor.
i enjoyed the side characters in this book and could begin to see the found family element but i didn’t feel they were developed enough to really believe it. it felt like we were told more than shown. i then realised that it was too easy for me to imagine them as the characters from the fanfic which for me meant they weren’t as developed as they could have been. we barely got any interactions between ikarus, emelda, aeris and malakai outside of talking about the war to see how their dynamic works. malakai was the only one who had some substance to him.
sadly for me there was a lack of chemistry and tension between soraya and ikarus. the author did a really good job of building the enemies part, but i don’t think we had any of the romance/tension building alongside it. i never found myself begging them to give in so when we did have those moments of attraction, it fell a bit flat for me. also, the “in another life” sentiment really bothered me because it came too quick compared to where it happened in the fan fic (i’m not trying to compare but just trying to explain how this book felt rushed for me).
the first book should have just focused on the world building and character development before bringing in any romance. i feel like we were just told everything rather than been shown. a.t. emerald’s writing is incredible but things just needed to be slowed down for me so i could really immerse myself into the story and fall in love with these characters.
secrets and masks will forever be my god tier fanfic and whilst this book didn’t quite hit the way i wanted it to, i still want to continue the series and hope things are more fleshed out and expanded in the next book.
this could be very much a me problem and i likely bring a lot of bias to my review so im sorry 🥲
firstly i want to state that secrets and masks is my favourite fanfiction ever so naturally i went into this one with insanely high expectations even though i tried not to.
i wasn’t expecting it to be the same but i really wanted to read a story with well developed world building, characters and relationships.
it started off great, the world building was rich and immersive and was able to stand on its own from the original fic. i loved the mixture of sci fi and fantasy elements.
the pacing was also great until the last part of the book where i felt far too many plot points/revelations were rushed and needed more time to be developed. the book should have finished at the end of part 4 to give more of that shock factor.
i enjoyed the side characters in this book and could begin to see the found family element but i didn’t feel they were developed enough to really believe it. it felt like we were told more than shown. i then realised that it was too easy for me to imagine them as the characters from the fanfic which for me meant they weren’t as developed as they could have been. we barely got any interactions between ikarus, emelda, aeris and malakai outside of talking about the war to see how their dynamic works. malakai was the only one who had some substance to him.
sadly for me there was a lack of chemistry and tension between soraya and ikarus. the author did a really good job of building the enemies part, but i don’t think we had any of the romance/tension building alongside it. i never found myself begging them to give in so when we did have those moments of attraction, it fell a bit flat for me. also, the “in another life” sentiment really bothered me because it came too quick compared to where it happened in the fan fic (i’m not trying to compare but just trying to explain how this book felt rushed for me).
the first book should have just focused on the world building and character development before bringing in any romance. i feel like we were just told everything rather than been shown. a.t. emerald’s writing is incredible but things just needed to be slowed down for me so i could really immerse myself into the story and fall in love with these characters.
secrets and masks will forever be my god tier fanfic and whilst this book didn’t quite hit the way i wanted it to, i still want to continue the series and hope things are more fleshed out and expanded in the next book.
this could be very much a me problem and i likely bring a lot of bias to my review so im sorry 🥲
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Everything I never knew I needed in one book. A bleak dystopian world that was previously prosperous from harnessing the power from the three suns until one day an enemy force below ground returns and creates an iron sky that sunlight cannot penetrate and they want to take back what was stolen from them. It has a fantasy feel with it's creatures and magical beings but also a sci-fi touch with the technology that the humans have built over the years, the advancements they've made, and in the Marvel level fight scenes of machinery VS magic.
So so good. But it also has a slowburn enemies to loves romance that tinkers away in the background at a great pace. I'm reluctant to call anything enemies to lovers after setting the bar high with The Jason Heir and I really liked how far the author pushed the enemy aspect of the dynamic. Soraya and Icarus are on two sides of an impossible war but tentatively begin to understand each other when they're forced into a blood bond to prevent one from killing the other. I'm very very very excited for book 2.
Of course there are some fun comic relief side characters and I can't wait to dive into more of their stories in book 2!
So so good. But it also has a slowburn enemies to loves romance that tinkers away in the background at a great pace. I'm reluctant to call anything enemies to lovers after setting the bar high with The Jason Heir and I really liked how far the author pushed the enemy aspect of the dynamic. Soraya and Icarus are on two sides of an impossible war but tentatively begin to understand each other when they're forced into a blood bond to prevent one from killing the other. I'm very very very excited for book 2.
Of course there are some fun comic relief side characters and I can't wait to dive into more of their stories in book 2!
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