Under the Iron Sky

The Iron Sky Trilogy #1

by A.T. Emerald

Brought to you by Penguin.

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.

Vordell was beautiful once. Its people lived in harmony, and their civilization flourished as they learned to harness and control the power of Light.

Then the darkness came.

The Iron Sky unfolded dark clouds across the land, thick enough to choke out the light of the suns. The ground cracked, releasing vicious creatures that looked like humanity’s oldest fears. The Dar’rak - an enemy long believed to be buried and forgotten - returned to claim the world above.

Soraya Tollmere has spent most of her life on the front lines of the brutal war that followed. Now a high-ranking commander, she knows loss better than anyone.

By day, she leads troops across ruined landscapes and guides covert teams through enemy territory. By night, she meets with a Dar’rak defector who has kept humanity alive with his steady stream of secrets.

On a mission to investigate his latest lead - one that could turn the tide of the war - Soraya is captured by The Demon, the Dar’rak’s most feared soldier.

His orders are break the human commander, uncover where the humans are keeping a weapon that could win them the war, and bring it to the Dar’rak. But as he gets to know the fierce warrior, the lines between interrogator and enemy, prisoner and ally, begin to blur.

As devastating truths surface and loyalties shatter, Soraya must decide who to trust in a world where light is dying - and where her greatest enemy may be her only salvation.

A.T. Emerald 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Fiction

Audible Audio

Expected publication November 3, 2026

Reviews

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Iqra]

I just feel like the moment this lands in my hands it’s gonna become my entire personality x

[clicktojointhemafia]

ready to have my heart broken again by this author in a different font 🫡

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so tired of romantasy, lately. But Under the Iron Sky? In a sky filled with gray, it is blindingly, brilliantly blue.

This book is a g*d damn masterpiece.

Think PEAK enemies-to-lovers. Characters that truly hate one another, that come to physical and emotional blows, with tension in a slow burn that absolutely scorches.

Soraya is the perfect FMC. She’s fiery, tenacious, brilliant, calculating, and most of all, human. A tinkerer and a thinker. No magic needed, to be a complete and utter badass.

Ikarus is her perfect foil—a dramatic & deadly diva who is more down bad than even he knows. (rich smart shitty sad blonde boy CORE, people!)

Add to that an utterly original, immersive world that you truly LIVE in. I just loved the concept of the Iron Sky, and how sun played into the civilizations here. There’s a touch of sci-fi, political intrique, complex morality.

It’s all so stunningly visual, I felt like I was watching this play out on a screen, as I read. One fight sequence had me SCREAMING. Someone get these screen rights, ASAP.

Also:
🐦‍⬛ magical metal familiars you’ll fall for (I’d die for Twiigs)
💅🏼 a deadly, chaos goblin side character who is a total shit (affectionate)
🔩 incredible found family with rich, complex characters
🩵 the perfect dash of irreverent humor, and witty banter
☀️ high stakes and a plot that keeps you guessing
🪨 a golem friend who was giving Rocky

I suspected this would be good. It still utterly blew me away. I’m genuinely wowed. Emerald deserves all the flowers, for this debut.

All the ⭐️ s. Get that NetGalley request in. Preorder all the copies. You need this book ASAP.

Thank you Delacorte for the eARC!

[Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️]

Is this what I think it issssssss?!

[Sarah Horgan]

I’ll rate this later when I’m not the first to do it since I designed the cover, but wooweee y’all aren’t ready. Just stayed up till 2:30 to finish this.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“we’ll be side by side, me and you, written on the walls in blood”

5/5. Spectacular. No notes. Except, well, I have some notes.

When I got into the Dramione bug I had 3 big works that had me addicted. Manacled, The auction and Secrets and masks. I have read and loved the trad published version of the first two and I was over the moon when the author announced she’s rewriting her work for publishing. Tho considering how bad the ending to secrets and masks got me, I am stressed 😂

First of all I want to say A.T. Emerald’s writing is spectacular. It has this addictive quality to it that it only took me a few pages to be unable to put this down. She turned the world into a very well executed blend of sci fi and fantastical elements that’s very easy to comprehend and follow. The pacing was perfect, I was not bored for a second, not even in the slower parts of the story. She kept some of my favorite parts from the original fanfic and added on to them seamlessly that had I not already known what I was reading, I would have never guessed this story was originally written in a different universe.

The characters. THE CHARACTERS 😩 in love with both Soraya and Ikarus (and can I just say how on the nose perfection this name was), but the secondary ones as well. The found family adds so much to the story and to the MMCs character and motivation. I’m not one for tropes reading or reviewing, but if you want enemies to lovers that stay that way through the entire first book, I highly recommend picking this up. Both the main characters are very morally ambiguous. In a war setting, they have both committed atrocities for their cause, going to any lengths to protect what they think is right. The tension and banter between them is “chefs kiss”, their interactions feel natural and the overall flow of both their relationship and the story reads seamlessly.

“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?”

“I will find you in the next life, in every life, and torture you for eternity! You do this, and you will never be rid of me!”

Now one of my favorite books. Foaming at the mouth for the next one😭

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for my arc copy!

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dystopian sci-fi meets romantasy?? Yes please!

𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮: 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 > 𝙤𝙤𝙤𝙤𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣 > 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 > 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 > 𝙗𝙧𝙗 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 > 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮𝙮𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 > 𝙬𝙩𝙛 𝙬𝙩𝙛 𝙬𝙩𝙛 > 𝙤𝙝 𝙛*𝙘𝙠 > 𝙨𝙪𝙨 > 𝙂𝙄𝙈𝙈𝙀 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙆 2.

I went into this book completely blind & I am so glad that I did. I was initially intrigued by the premise of it being a “captor x captive romance” but it was so much more than that!!! AT Emerald has created such a unique world by combining elements of fantasy, dystopian, and sci-fi. I can’t wait to dive more into this world in book 2.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚.”
“𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

Ikarus & Soraya are on the complete opposite side of the war. During their childhoods they were raised to hate each other, but as they spend more and more time together, they realize that everything might not be as it seems. They fight each other at every turn, but walking through each other’s memories {iykyk} gives them a different perspective. I really enjoyed their dynamic — specifically their snarky banter.

I loooooved the side characters — Malakai especially. The found family between Ikarus, Emelda, Malakai, and Aeris was so heart warming.

The lies & secrets & betrayal & developing plot points in the last 20% had me screaming!!! I need book 2 immediately.

✦ dark romantasy & sci-fi
✦ captor x captive
✦ their lives are tied together
✦ he has a dragon
✦ unique magic system
✦ third person x multiple pov
✦ she heals him
✦ a tension filled shower scene
✦ “who did this?” x2!!!
✦ slow burn
✦ betrayal

Thank you so much Ballentine & NetGalley for this ARC!

[Lucie V.]

GIMME!!!

Now, should I read Secrets & Masks before or after this book? 🤔

[sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

— 4.5 ⭐️

yeah this book is definitely going to blow up during release week 🤩 if you like REAL enemies to lovers, where they’re constantly trying to kill each other then you’re in the right place

thank you to the publisher for the early copy!

[Robin]

"A fallen empire. A warrior determined to protect her people. And the masked soldier who captures her behind enemy lines."

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.

[Christina Reads]

I am prepared to go to war for an ARC.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone whose favorite read ever is the original work, this was my most anticipated book of 2026! And it did not disappoint!! This is SO GOOD! It’s sci-fi meets dystopian with the slowwwwest romantasy slow burn! And true enemies to lovers! All 500+ pages they are trying to kill each other!

Soraya and Ikarus are hardened soldiers on opposite sides of the 15 year war who have done whatever they’ve needed to do to survive. But they may be more alike than each other want to admit. Secrets, lies and TWISTS! And the best group of side characters that you will fall in love with!

October can’t come soon enough so everyone can read this! Now I’ll have to re-read over and over again until book 2!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I literally cried!

[Laini · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Underneath all that rotting gold, you’re just like me.”

Going to try my best to put into words how absolutely amazing this book was. WOW. I’m not sure what I expected, but Under the Iron Sky exceeded my expectations. This was almost a dystopian read mixed with sci-fi & fantasy, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it. The world building is immaculate. Soraya? Easily one of the top FMC’s I’ve EVER read and a certain chapter with her had my jaw on the floor. There were some fun plot twists that came into play and had my mind whirling. This is definitely going to be the next big fantasy read when it releases.

[Nonfictionally Yours · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She was fire and light, a burning flame in this hellhole of darkness, and there was nothing he could do to stop her."

6☆

This book deserves all the stars in the entire world. Literally. Under the iron sky was an absolute masterpiece from every aspect possible.

I have never been quite this entranced by the world building in a book as i was with this. The way every facet of the world was given so much attention and detail in the way it was written, made it feel like a movie to me. I was completely lost inside this book, and that's exactly what I want from a book, a really good escape from reality lol. The plot of this book was unlike anything I have ever read. Yes yes i say this a lot but in my defense, i do read some incredible books✋🏻 I don't want to go into depth about it because I do feel like you should go into this book completely blind to get the full experience.

This book followed different POVs, which really added to the scope of the plot because you got to see how every character viewed things, personally. Every point was explored with so much care and rigor, i had goosebumps through out. I don't think a book will give me all these feelings Under the Iron Sky has anytime soon. A.T Emerald, you have ruined me for other books. This story made me realize how true the saying is about "you'll always be the villain in someone else's story". Under the iron sky showed that it's all about perception and whose view you see it from. They both considered each other the villains, yet they were forged into those people by their trauma. The plot twisted will literally feel like you got punched in the face but in the best way possible!

The romance, wow. I wouldn't quite call it romance because well they were ENEMIES, in every sense of the word. Personally, that is exactly how it should be. THIS IS WHAT I WANT FROM AN ENEMIES TO LOVERS!!! They absolutely hated, HATTTEEDDDD each other, and then you got to see their feelings in their respective POVs and you notice the way their feelings are growing softer and more understanding. The tension in this book was literally perfection. I had to shut the book and slap my face like three different times and I kept giggling.

Both Ikarus and Soraya had so so many layers to them. Ikarus is literally my baby. He is so so tortured and yeah he has done some very questionable things but in my eyes he is very redeemable ✋🏻 he is perfect and precious. Soraya, she thinks herself a monster at times but she is so so far from that, both her and Ikarus are. They both have shown immense strength and their need to survive and protect the people they love drives their actions and I feel so much sympathy for them. They deserve the entire world. Both, Soraya and Ikarus, felt so human and real with how their emotions were expressed through the writing. The side characters were given so much attention that it felt like i knew them personally. All of this put together, created the most wholesome found family and I can't wait to see where it goes🥹


The writing was done so so beautifully, it added so much to the experience of the book. I literally felt like my heart was in my throat during the end and I had so much anxiety because I did not want it to end😭. WHAT AM I MEANT TO DO NOW THAT ITS OVER?!!!! I would willingly sell my left kidney for book 2 right now. I'll be pacing around impatiently till it's in my hands.

Thank you so so so muchhhh penguin export, A.T Emerald and Del Rey for this proof copy. I will be giving it the highest spot on my shelf. And thank you to the author for listening to my yap throughout my reading journey😭 i definitely needed that ahahah

[⋆｡ ﾟ sara (rinezha’s version) ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc provided by netgalley and random house UK. thank you!

this is how you do enemies to lovers! the tension and chemistry between the characters were incredible, and i absolutely love the "enemies bound together by magic" trope.
"if you kill me, it will kill you too" exactlyyyyyy!!

i also really enjoyed the cast. from the protagonists to the side characters, everyone felt well-developed and had a distinct personality. it made the world feel so much more alive.

it did take me a little while to get into the story, but once everything clicked into place, it became impossible to put down.

i think one of the challenges with fan fiction turned traditionally published is that the transition to an entirely new fantasy world can sometimes leave you feeling a little lost. in fan fiction, both the author and the reader already share an understanding of the original world. when it's rewritten for traditional publishing, that familiar foundation is gone, so it can take longer to fully grasp the setting and its rules. i definitely felt that here, but once i settled into the world, i had an amazing time. honestly, that's the only real criticism i have.

[Ash ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly gagged over this book. It is perfect in every way: the plot, the characters, the writing, the atmosphere... everything.

Not only was I on the edge of my seat the entire time, but I was also oohing and aahing at the descriptions of this world. I also now have a deep attachment to a fictional rock monster-ish boy named Golla.

I highly recommend going into this book completely blind. However, if you enjoy dark post-apocalyptic fantasy, dangerous MMCs, fierce FMCs, slow-burn romance, and war-torn worlds, this will be your new fave book.
…and even if you don’t like any of that, this will likely still be your new fave book. 😂

I have not been this enthralled by a story in a long time, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series has in store for us!

Thank you immensely to Delacorte/Dell for the gifted eARC. This book is now in my top favorites of all-time!

FRTC 🖤

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000000/10. Exactly the way I thought it would be.

As someone who read the original work, I was ecstatic when this got picked up traditionally. Turning an existing piece of writing into an entirely new piece can be challenging. But Emerald knocked it out of the park.

It was everything I wanted it to be and more. The tension is incredible. The slow burn, true enemies to lovers is chef’s kiss. The side characters (looking at you Malakai) are perfection. Even having read the original, the last 15% had me STRESSED. There are so many twists and turns. The world is easy to understand. Every fantasy reader needs this on their TBR, trust me.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine for the ARC! (for real though - you’re real ones)

[hailee stipanovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC.

“underneath all that rotting gold, you’re just like me”

True enemies to lovers is back!! This was incredible. The world building, the characters, the angst, It was so atmospheric and kept my interest the entire time.
This rest of this trilogy is gonna destroy me. My best read of 2026 by far! I will be very annoying about this series for years to come i fear

[Tatianna]

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure I can even put into words how excellent this book was.
What an absolutely incredible debut from A.T. Emerald.
Nothing could have prepared me for how good this book is - thank you immensely to Dell Romance/ Del Rey and NetGalley for the eArc.

Emerald’s writing is spectacular - the world building is incredible - I felt like I was IN IT with them.
Soraya is a fearsome warrior and emotionally complex woman, doing everything she can to save her people. The way she, and her world are introduced have you absolutely hooked in from the very get go.
The stakes are set incredibly high and the pacing never falters.
Meeting the Demon (Ikarus) and seeing his absolute ruthless behavior on the battlefield, and then learning what has shaped him into the man he is. Stunning.
Twiigs and Golla have my whole heart - and anything left is torn between Emelda, Aeris, and the entirely unhinged Malakai.

Other key points:
Excellent world building
Very intense enemies to… unwilling allies with the world most palpable sexual tension?!
True found family.
Incredible magic and tech systems.
Oh, and my cry count rounded out at 5 times which is 5 times more than I expected to cry in a FIRST book of a series (how dare you!)

As a lover of AT Emerald’s writing, I was prepared to enjoy this. I was not prepared to be absolutely blown out of the water, as I have been.
I cannot wait for the next book. I cannot wait to re-read this book and pick up on more details.
If you want to see more gushing, I’ll be over on Instagram screeching into the void over this book for the foreseeable future.

[maggie]

im about to become so annoying about this

[lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay, i don’t think words will ever do this book justice, but i’ll try my best because this is my favourite book of the year. a million stars. my god-tier book. i don’t think this story will ever really let me go; i have never wanted to crawl inside a book and stay there more than i did with this one.

okay, so it’s basically light against darkness, humans against monsters. the monsters are called the dar’rak, and they’re at war with humanity. there are all kinds of monsters, and some even possess magic. humans draw their power from three suns, but with a literal iron sky blocking them, that power is running out while the dar’rak continue winning battle after battle.
their only problem is that they can’t breathe human air since most of them were born in the darkness. but that’s just the general idea of the book.

then we have our vous mylist (god killer), soraya. she’s the commander’s daughter and plays a huge role in the war. she’s the main reason the vordellians haven’t lost yet, spending her life hunting down any information that could turn the war in their favour. she does everything for her people and sacrifices absolutely everything for them.

her mother, the cold commander, has grown to feel almost nothing for her own daughter, and that relationship absolutely broke me. seeing the change was heart breaking in every way

soraya is the strongest fmc in the history of fmcs, and i’m genuinely in awe of her. she knows anger, grief, and loss, and she uses all of it to her advantage… well, at least until one of the highest dar’rak commanders, known as the demon (ikarus), captures her. he keeps her prisoner to find out where the humans are hiding the weapons that could finally help them win the war once and for all.

now ikarus… he’s not nearly as terrifying as he first appears. honestly, i fell more in love with him with every page. he has a reason for everything he does, and peeling back his layers only reveals how incredibly complex he is. he’s nowhere near as heartless as i expected, and i genuinely found myself sobbing over everything he had to endure. his entire life has been built on lie after lie, and watching those truths unravel was devastating. and he gets bonus points for having the cutest, and most terrifying, dragon.

and soraya and ikarus? their banter was everything. they are actual enemies, like the real kind!!! they hated each other, wanted to kill each other, and every interaction between them had me completely hooked. i wasn’t ready for this book to end.


"If you weren't so important to the Ancient One," he hissed,
"I'd kill you right now." […] whispering back, "If I still had my weapons, you'd be dead already."


"What happened to you?"
"Why? You gonna kiss it better?"
"Id rather jump off the balcony, but thanks."


and the betrayal… i’ve never felt a betrayal this cutting in my life. the knife in my back just kept twisting, and even when it was finally pulled out at the end, the broken shards are still embedded in my soul. those final chapters genuinely broke me good and put me back together all at once, and now i’m desperate for the next book.


"You know what, human," he started, lighting it with a match, "if it weren't for this war, and the very existence of you and your kind didn't threaten the extinction of mine, I might have liked you."


the writing is absolutely stunning, and i could not put this down. this is coming from someone who reads romantasy once in a blue moon, so trust me when i say this completely changed me!!! will be forever recommending it from now on because wow, im speechless but can’t stop talking at the same time

all the revelations still have me reeling, and i’m trying to process everything, but just know this book left an impression that i don’t think anything else will ever top.

this is my god-tier book. the best book i’ve read all year.


"Pulling back, she slapped his hand away, and he didn't get time to threaten her in the common or Dar' rak tongue before she slid so close the insides of her thighs bracketed his hips.
Ikarus held his breath. So did the cave.
The human froze. She glanced up at him. "You okay?"
"Yes," he lied. "Keep going." (screamed)

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*

As someone who considers Secrets and Masks one of my favorite reads of all time, I went into Under the Iron Sky equal parts excited and terrified.
I should not have worried.

A.T. Emerald has done something incredibly difficult here: she has captured everything that made me fall in love with the original story while creating something that feels fresh, expansive, and entirely its own. This is not a scene-for-scene retelling. This is a reimagining.

The worldbuilding is immersive without ever feeling overwhelming, the magic system is easy to sink into, and every detail feels intentional. And the characters?! Just as complex, frustrating, brilliant, and unforgettable as ever.

Most importantly, this is a true enemies-to-lovers story. Not mild dislike. Not irritation. Not two people secretly obsessed with each other after three chapters. These characters genuinely hate each other, and the tension that creates is absolutely delicious. Every interaction crackles with conflict, yearning, resentment, and the kind of emotional complexity that keeps you turning pages long after you should have gone to sleep.

What I loved most is that this story doesn’t rely on spice to create chemistry. It relies on tension. On longing. On impossible circumstances. On two people who would rather do anything than admit what is happening between them.

Book one left me completely obsessed, and I think breaking this story into a trilogy was a brilliant decision. There is so much room for the world, the characters, and their relationships to fully unfold.

If this is where the trilogy begins, I cannot wait to see where it goes next. A.T. Emerald has created something imaginative, addictive, and unforgettable, and October cannot come fast enough!

[Marissa Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Iron Sky is such an emotional roller coaster. The world pulled me in from the very first sentence, and it’s fascinating to watch it unfold. We start by seeing this beautiful world, only to watch it be destroyed, and as the story progresses, we realize that some of what we’ve been told is a lie.

I loved getting to see both sides of the conflict and how each believes they’re fighting for what’s right. The deeper you get into the story, the more complicated everything becomes, and by the end there are still so many unanswered questions that left me excited for the next book.

The characters are another highlight. Everyone desperately needs therapy, but that’s part of what makes them so compelling. Soraya was easy to root for, I just want her to be happy. And the enemies-to-lovers dynamic is definitely still in the enemies stage, but the tension is fantastic.

If you’re picking this up, just know it’s much more fantasy than romantasy. The romance is fairly light, but the chemistry and slow-burn tension are absolutely there. Overall, I definitely recommend it and can’t wait for book two.

[Kelli]

I started reading this as soon as I got the ARC. Secrets + Masks consumed me for days last year when I read it. I bumped this book up on my TBR so fast. Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me to read this early.

The world building does take a little to get into — Like most dystopians. At around 70 pages in, the story truly kicks in and gets so good. I’m obsessed with the number one scene stealer Malakai. These side characters are literally the best of the best. The cutest banter.

The scene when Soraya meets Ikarus on a Dragon is when the book truly becomes amazing. Give me anything Dragons. Especially masked men riding on them.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t think I can put into words just how much I enjoyed this book!

Under the Iron Sky was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, so my expectations were already incredibly high before I turned the first page… and it exceeded every single one of them.

Set beneath the looming Iron Sky, where humanity has spent centuries at war with the magical Dar’rak, the story follows Soraya Tollmere, one of Vordell’s most skilled commanders, after she’s captured by the enemy’s most feared warrior, known only as the Demon. As both sides race to uncover an ancient power capable of changing the fate of the war, two sworn enemies find their paths becoming increasingly intertwined...

If you’re a fan of TRUE enemies-to-lovers (with several attempts to KILL one another), morally grey conflicts, rich and creative fantasy worldbuilding, dual POVs, SLOW-burn, and stories where every new revelation changes your understanding of the world, then I think you’re going to love the first book in this trilogy.

Here’s why I fell in love with this story.

✨Creative worldbuilding done right✨
One of my favourite aspects of the novel was, without question, the worldbuilding.

The chilling prologue immediately hooked me. From the mystery surrounding the Iron Sky itself to the history of Queen Aleena, Ramapheal, the other creatures in the world, and the Arch, I was completely fascinated by every new piece of lore the book introduced.

What impressed me most wasn’t just how imaginative these ideas were, but how interconnected they felt. The story of Queen Aleena, Ramapheal and his actions shaping the lives of the characters centuries later, and the history surrounding the Arc driving the conflict forward… There’s just so many things but they all fit so cohesively in the storytelling.

I also loved how the novel uses that history to reframe the war itself.

At first, it seems like a fairly straightforward conflict between humans (the Vordellians) and the Dar’rak. But the deeper you delve into the world’s history, the more complicated everything becomes. Neither side sees themselves as the villain. Both genuinely believe history is on their side and both carry generations of inherited hatred, grief, and fear. And that’s exactly what makes the conflict so compelling to me—when the novel takes the time to explore those perspectives instead of reducing one side to faceless enemies.

I love when every answer naturally leads to another question, when history matters just as much as the present, and when every revelation you get makes the world feel deeper rather than simply bigger. Instead of constantly introducing new concepts, Under the Iron Sky builds upon the foundations it has already laid, making each discovery more satisfying than the last. It feels like a world that existed long before the story began rather than one created purely for the plot.

Beneath the magic, the creatures, and the battles is a story about inherited prejudice. About how history becomes myth, how myth becomes propaganda, and how that propaganda shapes entire generations.

Soraya has spent her entire life believing one version of history. Ikarus has spent his entire life believing another. They’re both the products of the stories they’ve been raised with, and this dynamic was incredibly intriguing to read.

✨THIS is what enemies-to-lovers should look like✨
It was incredibly refreshing to read an actual enemies-to-lovers romance.

So many books are marketed as enemies-to-lovers when the characters are really just rivals, mildly annoyed with each other, or on opposite sides for about five minutes before falling into bed together—or wanting to jump each other’s bones after only seven days (if you’ve read the book I’m thinking of, let’s start a support group.)

Soraya and Ikarus are ACTUAL enemies.

They’re commanders fighting on opposite sides of a centuries-long war, and both have spent years killing each other’s people. Their hatred isn’t based on a misunderstanding or a personality clash, it’s rooted in everything they’ve been taught to believe about one another since childhood.

That’s what made every interaction between them so compelling.

I absolutely loved that we get both of their perspectives through Ikarus’ POV, because it transforms the romance into something so much richer. You don’t just understand Soraya’s fear and hatred of the Dar’rak—you understand Ikarus too.

The novel doesn’t simply TELL you that he’s a ruthless killer. It shows you why. You understand why he kills humans without apology, why he despises them, why Soraya initially represents everything he’s spent his life fighting against. Whether or not you agree with every decision he makes almost becomes irrelevant because his actions are so deeply rooted in his own experiences, losses, and history that they feel completely believable.

One of my favourite things in fantasy is when I can genuinely understand both sides of a conflict. I love morally grey stories where the “enemy” isn’t simply evil, but someone whose perspective challenges both the protagonist and the reader.

That’s exactly what Ikarus does. He constantly forces Soraya to question everything she thought she knew, just as his own beliefs begin to evolve through her. Neither character abandons their worldview overnight. Their trust (or, well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves with that term yet) is built gradually, painfully, and through countless moments where they’re forced to see each other as individuals rather than symbols of the war they’ve inherited.

Because of that, the tension between them is absolutely incredible. 10 out of 10, chef’s kiss.

Every conversation is layered with suspicion, reluctant curiosity, and undeniable chemistry. Every small act of trust feels monumental because the novel has already convinced you just how impossible it should be. Some of my favourite scenes in the entire book were simply the two of them talking because the tension practically leapt off the page.

✨A story that has truly become its own✨
One thing I also want to mention is how impressed I was by the adaptation itself.

Going into the book, I knew Under the Iron Sky had originally existed as a fanfiction and I was curious to see how it would translate into an original fantasy novel.

Honestly, I have so much respect for the amount of work that has clearly gone into making this story stand on its own.

It would have been easy to simply change the names and republish it, especially since the fic is very original in itself. Instead, it feels like the author returned to the story with fresh eyes, expanding the mythology, strengthening the foundations of the world, and carefully reshaping it into something that feels even more original.

The premise may have familiar roots and lines (you’ll definitely find some of the same great lines), but the story never feels dependent on them. The world, its history, its cultures, and its mythology all feel uniquely its own, and that’s something I really appreciated.

Overall, Under the Iron Sky was everything I wanted it to be and more.

It gave me one of the most genuinely compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamics I’ve read, a richly imagined fantasy world full of history that actually matters, morally complex characters I couldn’t stop thinking about, and a story that kept me theorising until the last page.

I cannot wait to see where this trilogy goes next!!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars

[Aurora Rypdal]

Theodore Nott from Secrets and Masks is the most unhinged character I have ever read.

I’m here for more.

[lins୨ৎ📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I will find you in the next life, in every life, and torture you for eternity!"🗡️🐉
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𝓤𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓘𝓻𝓸𝓷 𝓢𝓴𝔂
★★★★★ 5/5
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꒰💭꒱ This may just be the BEST fantasy world and book ever crafted! If I could give it ten stars I would.

If you know me, you know I don't particularly read fantasy books because I can't deal with half-baked worlds and magic systems, BUT Under the Iron Sky blew my expectations away. This novel feels like something new and fresh. It is a story that is easy to understand while also being well-written and perfectly complex.

This story's world, its characters, and everything in between was absolutely perfect, and you couldn't help but be sucked into a unique, diverse universe that we have NEVER seen before. Also, Soraya is a total kick ass! Love her to bits and of course Golla!

I can't wait to read the other books in this coming trilogy and I cannot wait to see where @at.emerald goes as this story and she herself deserves everything and more.💐Thank you to @ballantinebooks @dellromance and @netgalley for the Earc🐉

Everyone PLEASE preorder this book! Under the Iron Sky by A.T. Emerald is out Oct 8th 2026🖤