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The Iron Sky Trilogy #1
Under the Iron Sky
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
29 days and 17:29:20
50 copies available
U.S. only
A fallen empire. A warrior determined to protect her people. And the masked soldier who captures her behind enemy lines. The first novel in a dark, seductive, and all-consuming trilogy where hope is fickle but the fight is never over.
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 true identity unknown.
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.
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 true identity unknown.
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.
488 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 543 reviews
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
5⭐️ I. AM. OBSESSED. This is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve ever read. 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 different.
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 different.
If you haven’t added this to your TBR yet, what are you waiting for?!
Currently Reading
September 23, 2026✎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!
💌 Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc!
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
breathlessly-anticipating
June 24, 2026I just feel like the moment this lands in my hands it’s gonna become my entire personality x
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 🥹!!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
Want to Read
September 2, 2026WAIT my favourite fanfic and the FMC is named Soraya, I feel so special🙂↕️🙂↕️
Want to Read
September 20, 2026i keep 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!
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 sounds so delicious!
a lot of people really want a fairyloot edition of this too, so manifesting they do one, but the standard edition is also super gorgina
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 sounds so delicious!
a lot of people really want a fairyloot edition of this too, so manifesting they do one, but the standard edition is also super gorgina
May 28, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
This one definitely started slow for me. I was intrigued with the sci-fi storyline but it took me awhile to truly get into it.
I will definitely continue with this trilogy as I see a ton of potential with it!! I will probably reread this with audio as well!
This one definitely started slow for me. I was intrigued with the sci-fi storyline but it took me awhile to truly get into it.
I will definitely continue with this trilogy as I see a ton of potential with it!! I will probably reread this with audio as well!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 🌟!! The BEST ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS (?) I’ve read all year.
Under the Iron Sky by A.T. Emerald absolutely blew my mind. I originally picked this up because I loved all the published Dramione fanfics I’ve read, but this book is truly in a league of its own.
The story follows Soraya and Ikarus (what a fitting name!) on opposing sides of a war after the "evil" side wins and Soraya is taken captive.
This world has quickly become one of my all-time favorites, it somewhat blends a modern dystopian setting with sci-fi elements and an epic, deeply unique magic system. Every single character is brilliantly flushed out, proving to be so much more than the sum of their trauma. You finish the book KNOWING and connecting to every single one of the.
The interconnected subplots, shock-value twists, darkness, emotional damage, TENSION, Slow-burn, and impeccable pacing are masterfully woven together into this masterpiece.
I genuinely didn't want it to end. Absolutely phenomenal!
September 8, 2026
‘Under the Iron Sky’ is a unique mix of fantasy and dystopian, set in the aftermath of a cataclysmic war between two species fighting for dominion over the world above the ground.
the centre point of the story is the intense enemies-to-lovers dynamic between the two main characters, Soraya of the Vordellians who once ruled the world above ground, and Ikarus of the Dar’rak, the species once imprisoned beneath the ground who set the war in motion when they attacked the Vordellians many years ago.
I appreciated that this was a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic between two warring factions on relatively equal footing, both with very justifiable reasons to hate each other. while Soraya is a prisoner of war for the majority of the story, you never really feel that the power balance between the two characters is tipped too far one way, which was pretty refreshing in a story like this.
the world itself is a very inventive mix of tech and magic. it is very action-heavy and the action scenes are written very well, in rich and vivid detail - in fact, it may have been one of the first times I’ve read a book where I felt the action scenes were actually some of the strongest.
what didn’t always land for me was, unfortunately, the romance, which I felt sometimes leant a bit too much into telling over showing. it felt like I was constantly being told that Ikarus and Soraya had a very intense connection, but I don’t think I quite saw enough of the chemistry between them to fully believe it. their conversations never really evolved past: “I hate you” “I hate you too” *punches each other*. for a 500 page book with the romance marketed as the primary selling point, I do think there should have been a bit more development and I wanted to feel more connected to it. I wanted to root for them, but I never really felt fully sold.
I enjoyed a lot of the side characters, particularly Malakai, however I did find myself getting pretty bored by Theron’s chapters.
the story does end at a rather interesting point that may have intrigued me enough to read book 2.
overall I think there’s a fair amount of potential here but there were a couple of things that didn’t fully work for me.
thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
the centre point of the story is the intense enemies-to-lovers dynamic between the two main characters, Soraya of the Vordellians who once ruled the world above ground, and Ikarus of the Dar’rak, the species once imprisoned beneath the ground who set the war in motion when they attacked the Vordellians many years ago.
I appreciated that this was a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic between two warring factions on relatively equal footing, both with very justifiable reasons to hate each other. while Soraya is a prisoner of war for the majority of the story, you never really feel that the power balance between the two characters is tipped too far one way, which was pretty refreshing in a story like this.
the world itself is a very inventive mix of tech and magic. it is very action-heavy and the action scenes are written very well, in rich and vivid detail - in fact, it may have been one of the first times I’ve read a book where I felt the action scenes were actually some of the strongest.
what didn’t always land for me was, unfortunately, the romance, which I felt sometimes leant a bit too much into telling over showing. it felt like I was constantly being told that Ikarus and Soraya had a very intense connection, but I don’t think I quite saw enough of the chemistry between them to fully believe it. their conversations never really evolved past: “I hate you” “I hate you too” *punches each other*. for a 500 page book with the romance marketed as the primary selling point, I do think there should have been a bit more development and I wanted to feel more connected to it. I wanted to root for them, but I never really felt fully sold.
I enjoyed a lot of the side characters, particularly Malakai, however I did find myself getting pretty bored by Theron’s chapters.
the story does end at a rather interesting point that may have intrigued me enough to read book 2.
overall I think there’s a fair amount of potential here but there were a couple of things that didn’t fully work for me.
thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Under the Iron Sky completely captivated me from beginning to end. A.T. Emerald has created a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy filled with expansive world-building, complicated characters, and a conflict that feels both deeply personal and devastatingly immense.
The contrast between the world before the Iron Sky (gold, glittering, and full of possibility) and the darkness that follows is striking. That darkness seems to seep into every part of life for both the Dar’rak and the Vordellians, two peoples who have known little beyond hatred and war. The world felt vast, layered, and fully realized, and I was completely immersed in it.
I lost track of how many times my heart ached for Soraya and Ikarus. The flashbacks into their pasts were incredibly emotional, slowly revealing the experiences that shaped them into the people they are today. Their journey beautifully explores how two people can be divided by everything they have been taught, yet still discover how much they truly have in common.
This is not a traditional enemies-to-lovers story. It is more enemies to slightly less hostile and back again, with tension and distrust that is continually justified.
The found family, particularly on Ikarus’s side, brought warmth and humor into an otherwise dark world. Golla and Malakai were absolute standouts and added so much to my enjoyment of the story.
I learned afterward that the story was originally written as fanfiction, but I never would have guessed. The world, history, and characters all felt completely developed and entirely its own.
I cannot wait to see where the series goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The contrast between the world before the Iron Sky (gold, glittering, and full of possibility) and the darkness that follows is striking. That darkness seems to seep into every part of life for both the Dar’rak and the Vordellians, two peoples who have known little beyond hatred and war. The world felt vast, layered, and fully realized, and I was completely immersed in it.
I lost track of how many times my heart ached for Soraya and Ikarus. The flashbacks into their pasts were incredibly emotional, slowly revealing the experiences that shaped them into the people they are today. Their journey beautifully explores how two people can be divided by everything they have been taught, yet still discover how much they truly have in common.
This is not a traditional enemies-to-lovers story. It is more enemies to slightly less hostile and back again, with tension and distrust that is continually justified.
The found family, particularly on Ikarus’s side, brought warmth and humor into an otherwise dark world. Golla and Malakai were absolute standouts and added so much to my enjoyment of the story.
I learned afterward that the story was originally written as fanfiction, but I never would have guessed. The world, history, and characters all felt completely developed and entirely its own.
I cannot wait to see where the series goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to Read
February 25, 2026Is this what I think it issssssss?!
August 24, 2026
This book was incredible. Holy cow. Blown away. This story is so messed up but I devoured it.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ. I loved everything about it. It will make you question your morals, question what’s right and what’s wrong, and you won’t be sure who to root for and who to hate.
So much of this plot was truly and utterly SHOCKING. Still in 🆘 mode from the entirety of Part Five of the book.
This has me questioning what is truly unforgivable, and what must be done under the right (wrong???) circumstances.
I cannot wait for the rest of this trilogy to consume me!!!!!!!! A million stars. ⭐️
🌌 “She’s strong, your girl. She hasn’t given anything away yet, but cracks will appear.”
🌌 “He didn’t think he would ever tire of their game. Thought he might do this with her forever, dance with her for eternity while the rest of the world burned to ash around them, and he would never be bored.”
🌌 “You trapped the sun in a cage, but she does not burn the way you thought she would, does she?”
🌌 “They were like a sun and moon, slowly circling each other, each fighting for their chance to eclipse the other.”
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ. I loved everything about it. It will make you question your morals, question what’s right and what’s wrong, and you won’t be sure who to root for and who to hate.
So much of this plot was truly and utterly SHOCKING. Still in 🆘 mode from the entirety of Part Five of the book.
This has me questioning what is truly unforgivable, and what must be done under the right (wrong???) circumstances.
I cannot wait for the rest of this trilogy to consume me!!!!!!!! A million stars. ⭐️
🌌 “She’s strong, your girl. She hasn’t given anything away yet, but cracks will appear.”
🌌 “He didn’t think he would ever tire of their game. Thought he might do this with her forever, dance with her for eternity while the rest of the world burned to ash around them, and he would never be bored.”
🌌 “You trapped the sun in a cage, but she does not burn the way you thought she would, does she?”
🌌 “They were like a sun and moon, slowly circling each other, each fighting for their chance to eclipse the other.”
Want to Read
August 13, 2026GIMME!!!
Now, should I read Secrets & Masks before or after this book? 🤔
Now, should I read Secrets & Masks before or after this book? 🤔
September 22, 2026
somehow so addictive and readable even while being a bit of a disaster when it comes to world building and character development
it scratched an itch that kept me dying to keep reading but I can’t say it’s very good SORRY
I really don’t like technology vs magic in fantasy I find it very jarring and inconsistent and while some issues I had were explained well towards the end it was almost too little too late
ending much better than the entire book before it however
thanks to penguin for sending me a review copy
idk just a very odd reading experience truly very very addictive though
(and for anyone who is in the know, this actually didn’t really feel related to said material at all tbh so props for that)
it scratched an itch that kept me dying to keep reading but I can’t say it’s very good SORRY
I really don’t like technology vs magic in fantasy I find it very jarring and inconsistent and while some issues I had were explained well towards the end it was almost too little too late
ending much better than the entire book before it however
thanks to penguin for sending me a review copy
idk just a very odd reading experience truly very very addictive though
(and for anyone who is in the know, this actually didn’t really feel related to said material at all tbh so props for that)
Want to Read
September 19, 2026Seeing a lot of good things about this one, I really hope it's an Allurial pick for October.
August 31, 2026
5⭐️ THIS WAS EVERYTHING! I have been waiting to be so consumed by a fantasy and Under the Iron Sky blew me away. In this story we are following several characters, but mainly Soraya, in a world where everything is powered by light. This world seems like a utopia to these people and their familiars until the Dar'rak who have been trapped beneath their feet rise up and build an iron sky to block their access to light. Soraya's world is turned upside down and this book, while fantasy, certainly had a strong dystopian vibe to it as well.
These characters are so well developed that my heart physically ached for them by the end. This was TRUE slow burn and TRUE enemies to lovers. Anyone who has been disappointed by fantasy books failing to deliver on these aspects in the past will be obsessed with this story.
Under the Iron Sky felt fresh, unique, and is the type of binge read that made me fall in love with reading in the first place. I don't know how I'm supposed to wait for book two now. 🥲
Thank you Delacorte for the physical ARC and eARC!
These characters are so well developed that my heart physically ached for them by the end. This was TRUE slow burn and TRUE enemies to lovers. Anyone who has been disappointed by fantasy books failing to deliver on these aspects in the past will be obsessed with this story.
Under the Iron Sky felt fresh, unique, and is the type of binge read that made me fall in love with reading in the first place. I don't know how I'm supposed to wait for book two now. 🥲
Thank you Delacorte for the physical ARC and eARC!
June 12, 2026
“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!
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!
Read
April 22, 2026I’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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
NOTE: I received an unsolicited ARC of this book from Penguin Australia. I have no prior knowledge of the source material, so my review is from the perspective of a fresh reader.
Given I received this for free, I read it with the view of forming a balanced opinion. However, I feel strongly that the publisher marketing around this novel is off.
As these things were not made clear to me before I received this book, I am setting them out below for the context of other new readers, who are not familiar with the source material:
- This is a rewrite of a popular Dramione ship Harry Potter fanfic. It is not an original fiction;
- This book ONLY covers one third of the original fanfic's progression, and there are two more books planned to adapt the full story. It ends abruptly; and
- While character and group names have changed, they remain similar to the original (e.g. Draco > Ikarus, Death Eaters > Dar'rak, Voldemort > Ramaphael).
I am not adverse to authors using fanfics they have written as the launching pad for creative ideas behind their published work. However, if no-one had told me this was a HP fic rewrite, literally nothing would have made sense. It still relies heavily on the source material, and given both all that we know in 2026 about JKR's values and actions, and my belief that a book marketed as original fiction should be able to be read without any prior knowledge of the original work, this book does not stand up.
I was enthralled by the prologue, which sets up an interesting and gritty world, and doesn't hold its punches.
Unfortunately, after that I couldn't find a single thing that I enjoyed about this book. It is very rare for me to rate a book below 2.5 stars but this was truly dire. I hold grace for the author being dyslexic and this being an ARC copy. However, it reads like a fanfic. It was littered with spelling and grammar errors (again, this alone I could forgive, being an ARC) and the writing style was, in my opinion, brash and unprofessional.
The whole thing reeked of being a copy + paste and name replace of fan fiction. I do believe Penguin anticipate this to be the "next big thing" after Alchemised, but Alchemised stood on its own, and Under the Iron Sky does not.
How is it possible that we need 650 pages to adapt 1/3 of a fanfic? Surely editing without blinkers could have led the entire source material to be adapted in that many pages (not that we needed another Dramione fic adapted).
This is the sort of book that makes me feel disillusioned with traditional publishing and ARC culture.
The copy I received was BEAUTIFUL. Foiled, named and numbered with sprayed edges. I felt so happy receiving it. But it's not just about the exterior. The substance of the book has to match, and this one's substance is sub-par on characters, writing and plot. Everything about the marketing is trying too hard, and I feel like I'm the only one that isn't buying into it.
Fans of the original fic and latest hype trends will eat this up. But I couldn't in good faith recommend this to anyone who isn't already bought into the hype.
I genuinely am greatful for Penguin for sending this to me. I do love well-written dark fantasy, scifi and romantasy, and I wish that this had been that. I am always honoured to be trusted with works early, and I believe that part of that is authenticity around what doesn't work. I hope that marketing to new readers can be done with clarity, and I'm sure this book will sell well and find its target market regardless.
Given I received this for free, I read it with the view of forming a balanced opinion. However, I feel strongly that the publisher marketing around this novel is off.
As these things were not made clear to me before I received this book, I am setting them out below for the context of other new readers, who are not familiar with the source material:
- This is a rewrite of a popular Dramione ship Harry Potter fanfic. It is not an original fiction;
- This book ONLY covers one third of the original fanfic's progression, and there are two more books planned to adapt the full story. It ends abruptly; and
- While character and group names have changed, they remain similar to the original (e.g. Draco > Ikarus, Death Eaters > Dar'rak, Voldemort > Ramaphael).
I am not adverse to authors using fanfics they have written as the launching pad for creative ideas behind their published work. However, if no-one had told me this was a HP fic rewrite, literally nothing would have made sense. It still relies heavily on the source material, and given both all that we know in 2026 about JKR's values and actions, and my belief that a book marketed as original fiction should be able to be read without any prior knowledge of the original work, this book does not stand up.
I was enthralled by the prologue, which sets up an interesting and gritty world, and doesn't hold its punches.
Unfortunately, after that I couldn't find a single thing that I enjoyed about this book. It is very rare for me to rate a book below 2.5 stars but this was truly dire. I hold grace for the author being dyslexic and this being an ARC copy. However, it reads like a fanfic. It was littered with spelling and grammar errors (again, this alone I could forgive, being an ARC) and the writing style was, in my opinion, brash and unprofessional.
The whole thing reeked of being a copy + paste and name replace of fan fiction. I do believe Penguin anticipate this to be the "next big thing" after Alchemised, but Alchemised stood on its own, and Under the Iron Sky does not.
How is it possible that we need 650 pages to adapt 1/3 of a fanfic? Surely editing without blinkers could have led the entire source material to be adapted in that many pages (not that we needed another Dramione fic adapted).
This is the sort of book that makes me feel disillusioned with traditional publishing and ARC culture.
The copy I received was BEAUTIFUL. Foiled, named and numbered with sprayed edges. I felt so happy receiving it. But it's not just about the exterior. The substance of the book has to match, and this one's substance is sub-par on characters, writing and plot. Everything about the marketing is trying too hard, and I feel like I'm the only one that isn't buying into it.
Fans of the original fic and latest hype trends will eat this up. But I couldn't in good faith recommend this to anyone who isn't already bought into the hype.
I genuinely am greatful for Penguin for sending this to me. I do love well-written dark fantasy, scifi and romantasy, and I wish that this had been that. I am always honoured to be trusted with works early, and I believe that part of that is authenticity around what doesn't work. I hope that marketing to new readers can be done with clarity, and I'm sure this book will sell well and find its target market regardless.
Want to Read
September 21, 2026pls let me get an arc pleaseeeeeee
need this book very badly
need this book very badly
September 27, 2026
Well! That was certainly a book. An unbearably long one... I was so bored.
I'm honestly just really tired of this book. That took way too long to read for only a 500 page book??? I had to force myself to pick it up a lot of the time... it was a struggle getting to the end. I was so excited for this book so believe me when I say I'm extremely disappointed.
Let it be known that the only reason Under the Iron Sky is getting 3 stars is because of my girl, Soraya. She was such a well-written and amazing character. I loved how clever she was and her strength and compassion is so admirable, she is SO cool!! Quite literally the only character I adored (Theron and Raina come close but unfortunately they were barely there).
The others uhh yeah, especially Ikarus? DON'T CARE. What a boring MMC. He's called the Demon and said to be terrifying and not once did he have me intimidated. He should take notes from my beloved, Arin (from The Scorched Throne duology which yes let this be your sign to read that to meet the loml). And the romance? Uhh enemies to lovers where? They actually lacked so much tension and chemistry I WAS BORED. I so did not feel the tension which I'm definitely in the minority for thinking this so if you're excited for this book, don't let that deter you from reading this and seeing for yourself. Obviously, the next book will be more romance focused but I didn't even care for any of their interactions in book 1 when they're actually enemies so I know I would not care for them in book 2 either.
And the other side characters were also meh, I felt nothing for them. I did find Malakai interesting at some point but then it died quickly and I was back to not caring about him nor did I ever care for Emelda or Aeris. Golla was cute though.
Plot-wise there were too many things I noticed that were very ??? Like the placement of Soraya's cell hello?? Why was she in perfect view of everything and could easily eavesdrop on conversations like you'd think Ikarus would NOT want that?? And then when Soraya was captured by the Dar'rak we find out she has this nickname of "God Killer" and I was just so confused LOL😭 If she was going to be feared and have a scary reputation among the Dar'rak, I wish we could've seen that because I was like ??? God Killer? Really? (BTW the synopsis lied!!! It said Soraya was a high-ranking commander but she was always just a soldier!!! Which did not help me being so confused about the Dar'rak just fearing some random soldier who has apparently killed a lot of them) And the way Soraya was just stuck in a cell the whole book... I get it considering the circumstances but it makes for also a pretty boring setting. This book was just too long in my opinion. The world itself is very interesting though.
I predicted who Ma'varea was so that was very satisfying. One of the twists at the end were really interesting but past that I just really didn't care anymore and wanted this book to be over lol. Glad I'm done.🫡
This book wasn't for me but I'm sure it'll find it's audience!
Thank you Ballantine for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I'm honestly just really tired of this book. That took way too long to read for only a 500 page book??? I had to force myself to pick it up a lot of the time... it was a struggle getting to the end. I was so excited for this book so believe me when I say I'm extremely disappointed.
Let it be known that the only reason Under the Iron Sky is getting 3 stars is because of my girl, Soraya. She was such a well-written and amazing character. I loved how clever she was and her strength and compassion is so admirable, she is SO cool!! Quite literally the only character I adored (Theron and Raina come close but unfortunately they were barely there).
The others uhh yeah, especially Ikarus? DON'T CARE. What a boring MMC. He's called the Demon and said to be terrifying and not once did he have me intimidated. He should take notes from my beloved, Arin (from The Scorched Throne duology which yes let this be your sign to read that to meet the loml). And the romance? Uhh enemies to lovers where? They actually lacked so much tension and chemistry I WAS BORED. I so did not feel the tension which I'm definitely in the minority for thinking this so if you're excited for this book, don't let that deter you from reading this and seeing for yourself. Obviously, the next book will be more romance focused but I didn't even care for any of their interactions in book 1 when they're actually enemies so I know I would not care for them in book 2 either.
And the other side characters were also meh, I felt nothing for them. I did find Malakai interesting at some point but then it died quickly and I was back to not caring about him nor did I ever care for Emelda or Aeris. Golla was cute though.
Plot-wise there were too many things I noticed that were very ??? Like the placement of Soraya's cell hello?? Why was she in perfect view of everything and could easily eavesdrop on conversations like you'd think Ikarus would NOT want that?? And then when Soraya was captured by the Dar'rak we find out she has this nickname of "God Killer" and I was just so confused LOL😭 If she was going to be feared and have a scary reputation among the Dar'rak, I wish we could've seen that because I was like ??? God Killer? Really? (BTW the synopsis lied!!! It said Soraya was a high-ranking commander but she was always just a soldier!!! Which did not help me being so confused about the Dar'rak just fearing some random soldier who has apparently killed a lot of them) And the way Soraya was just stuck in a cell the whole book... I get it considering the circumstances but it makes for also a pretty boring setting. This book was just too long in my opinion. The world itself is very interesting though.
I predicted who Ma'varea was so that was very satisfying. One of the twists at the end were really interesting but past that I just really didn't care anymore and wanted this book to be over lol. Glad I'm done.🫡
This book wasn't for me but I'm sure it'll find it's audience!
Thank you Ballantine for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Del Romance for the early review copy!
Under the Iron Sky
By A.T. Emerald
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Commander Soraya Tollmere is captured by The Demon, a feared enemy soldier, and must navigate devastating truths and blurred loyalties in a war-torn world where darkness has consumed the light.
From chapter one, I knew I was going to love this book!
The writing immediately pulled me in. The dialogue and descriptions felt so natural, and the dark atmosphere and world had me hooked.
Soraya is such a badass FMC. She carries the hurt of everything she’s experienced, and knowing the cost of war drives so many of her decisions. But underneath that hardened exterior, we still get those softer moments that I loved.
And then there’s The Demon…
Dark, brooding, and infuriating , but I needed to know more about this entity! His interactions with Soraya? Chef’s kiss.
The romance is a slow burn where the temperature rises one degree at a time until suddenly it’s at 100. The tension between these two is to die for!
The entire cast was great, too. Everyone had their own motivations and reasons for their actions. I really, really loved Gola… and that’s all I’m saying!
This book also had me thinking about how far I would go to protect the people I love. Some decisions are hard to justify from the outside, but put yourself in their shoes… what would you do?
If you love darker romantasy, great world building, a badass FMC, complicated decisions, and a shadow daddy who frustrates you while making you desperate to know more, pick this one up.
I need book two ASAP!
Under the Iron Sky
By A.T. Emerald
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Commander Soraya Tollmere is captured by The Demon, a feared enemy soldier, and must navigate devastating truths and blurred loyalties in a war-torn world where darkness has consumed the light.
From chapter one, I knew I was going to love this book!
The writing immediately pulled me in. The dialogue and descriptions felt so natural, and the dark atmosphere and world had me hooked.
Soraya is such a badass FMC. She carries the hurt of everything she’s experienced, and knowing the cost of war drives so many of her decisions. But underneath that hardened exterior, we still get those softer moments that I loved.
And then there’s The Demon…
Dark, brooding, and infuriating , but I needed to know more about this entity! His interactions with Soraya? Chef’s kiss.
The romance is a slow burn where the temperature rises one degree at a time until suddenly it’s at 100. The tension between these two is to die for!
The entire cast was great, too. Everyone had their own motivations and reasons for their actions. I really, really loved Gola… and that’s all I’m saying!
This book also had me thinking about how far I would go to protect the people I love. Some decisions are hard to justify from the outside, but put yourself in their shoes… what would you do?
If you love darker romantasy, great world building, a badass FMC, complicated decisions, and a shadow daddy who frustrates you while making you desperate to know more, pick this one up.
I need book two ASAP!
August 25, 2026
I am unwell. Stunned. Jaw on the floor. I fear this series is already my new obsession. What an incredible debut of a first book in a trilogy. I had high expectations for this being what it originally was, and those expectations were exceeded. The world building?? Top tier. The new magic system?? Truly one of the best I’ve read. The slow burn?? EVER SO SLOWLY BURNING. And Golla???? My new favorite lil companion that’ll steal your heart. This may be the only series where I’m terrified of where this is going in the next two books 😭. But obviously I’ll still be supporting and reading them while simultaneously having heart palpitations and sobbing uncontrollably.
Thank you to Ballantine and the author for the arc!!
Thank you to Ballantine and the author for the arc!!
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