Silver Is the Sky

Empire of Blood and Storm #1

by D.E. Carlson

The time to hide is over. The time to fight has come.



Silverfell doesn’t know why her element is different from everyone else’s. She doesn’t know why her father’s eyes fill with fear when he looks at her. She doesn’t know what wild song calls to her blood, pulling her to run. But when she receives a nightmare vision on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, one thing suddenly becomes clear.



Her home is in danger.



And she is the key to saving it…or dooming it.



Silver is the Sky combines the powerful fantasy romance storytelling of ACOTAR with the mystical vibes of Caraval and the faith themes of Chronicles of Narnia! First in a five book series!

Genres: Fantasy, Christian, Young Adult, Romance, Christian Fiction

396 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2026

Reviews

[Maria Gilbert]

DNF at 37%. Oh gosh ok. I've read all of D. E. Carlson's previous books and have thoroughly enjoyed them but this one didn't hit for me. I don't ever read books with vampires, but decided to give it a try anyway and I just couldn't get over that element. This just didn't work for me and the darkness described made me feel uncomfortable unfortunately.

[Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope]]

I received this ebook arc in exchange for an honest review. I tried, I really did, but I couldn’t keep into this book. I had no idea what was going on. It was so confusing and I was just lost. Maybe it was the writing style or the story itself. It was very dark and evil feeling. I didn’t really see any glimpses of light or Christian themes. It just wasn’t for me unfortunately.

[Rylie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from the author. All thoughts are honest and my own.

This book is REALLY good. It has everything we love in a YA fantasy, like prophecy, a chosen one, betrayal, magic, and friendship, while also bringing in some really unique elements like circus acts and firebikes.

There’s no language, no spice, and very minimal romance with no kisses either, plus some faith themes woven in.

It keeps you guessing about who the MMC is, and the plot twists are 🔥. I cannot wait for book two. Thank you so much to the author for sending me this early copy 🫶

[Carissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

dedicating a ROMANTASY novel to Charlie Kirk was not on my bingo card but here we are…

[Emma Freund · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this ebook arc in exchange for a honest review. This is my first arc read and my first book by D.E. Carlson. And I really only signed up for this book because it is dedicated to Charlie Kirk and it is supposed to be Christian. I tried, i really did. But I had such a hard time getting into it. I had no idea what was going on and was just so lost and confused as to what was going on. It felt very dark and evil for me and I didn’t see hardly any light or Christian themes. The dark theme did make me feel kinda uncomfortable. This book just wasn’t for me unfortunately and I truly do feel bad. I will be going and reading her other books because they have been on my TBR for a while. I did unfortunately DNF at 12%:(

[Green Eyed Girl Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA fantasy has never really been my preferred genre, so I may not be the ideal target reader for this book, but even early on I can genuinely recognize this author’s talent. While the genre itself isn’t a personal fit for me, the writing is undeniably strong. The author does an incredible job of creating vivid atmosphere and immersive detail, making it easy for readers to clearly picture the world around them. The pacing is fast, exciting, and engaging, pulling the story forward in a way that fans of YA fantasy will likely appreciate even more. It’s clear this book was written with skill, care, and imagination. Readers should give it a fair chance based on its actual content rather than outside assumptions, because for the right audience, this could be a truly enjoyable read.

[Krisa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started the book, became frustrated with the characters, and then put it down for 3 weeks. 😅 I’m very glad I picked it back up! The best books make you feel all the feels and make you self reflect on your life. So persevere! It is worth finishing in the end! 🙌

[Emily Affee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first ever ARC read and to be honest I signed up almost entirely due to the fact that it's dedicated to Charlie Kirk. This is also my first D.E. Carlson book, which I now realize was a mistake on my part.
I'm putting this at like 3.25 stars, but I think if I had read her other series first it would be 4 stars. I really enjoyed the story as a whole, but the magic system was very confusing to me. And now I know why 😅 there's a few other aspects of the book that I had trouble with, but those might have been due to this being a next generation novel as well. Definitely need to read the Empire of Ash and Song series to fully grasp all the background info.
All in all tho, a pretty great read!

[Sara Ashley]

YUCK

[Anamieke Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorothy and her vampires - what you need to know

I’ve never been one to go for a vampire book, but I’m so glad I picked this up because Dorothy never disappoints. What you need to know:
- fantasy/adventure setting
- Illustrative, not graphic
- Absolutely zero spice (I have a low-to-no tolerance for spice and Dorothy consistently delivers fabulous tension while never once crossing the line)
- Well-developed, dimensional characters with individual arcs (heroes, villains, and even minor side characters)
- The vampires in this story are not true to regular tropes, and by no means act as a crutch to the writing (by the time they entered the story I had forgotten that was the premise because of everything else going on)
- In general, the writing is a cut above mainstream fantasy. Not to be a troll to anyone else but honestly this is just better.
- Lots of Easter eggs and references to EOAS but easily stands alone.

This author is openly Christian and her works are infused with those themes in a way that serves to add vibrancy and depth without sacrificing quality. As a Christian who hesitates to read “Christian fantasy” novels for fear of The Cheese, I highly recommend this author!

[Pearson Myles]

Thank you D.E. Carlson for the ARC!
The elemental bikes were my favorite aspect of the story. Love a cool magic invention. Magic system was hard to grasp, if I'm being honest. To be fair, magic systems can be tricky to make unique in the age of booktok. Biggest highlight for me in this story, without getting into spoilers, was the final chapter. Solid set up for the sequel. Always love it when we get a glimpse of the next story in a new series debut.
Besides that, it was a little difficult getting into the story beyond chapter one. Maybe because it's YA, maybe it's the writing style, or my struggle to connect with the characters. I'm reading the other arc reviews, and I have to agree with a lot of them. I think readers will find it easier to enter this world if they read the preceding trilogy. Can't remember if I finished the series, but I wish this was a separate story instead of a continuation.

[Sierra Rhoades · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy in Exchange for an honest review.

My first impression is that it’s very different from what I expected. I’ve read books from this author before and this is very different, it’s more modern and dark. It was very difficult for me to get into but after about halfway through I enjoyed it. The Christian themes are there, though few, though I imagine there will be more as the series progresses.

If you’re into rebellious teenagers, vampire like creatures, and dark circuses then this book is for you! The writing is wonderfully done as always, just a bit too dark for my tastes.

(Maybe small spoilers?)
I gotta say I was disappointed with where Besaun and Casandra ended up with their family, it seems so broken and sad. They’re my favorite in this story universe and to see them like that made me sad. I enjoyed many of the new characters though!

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did receive this book as an ARC, but my opinions are my own.

I am so excited to jump back into the world of this author’s previous series. Somehow I missed the memo that this book is in that same world. I think I was just excited to see she was writing more books. Ha ha.

It did take me a minute to get into things. But a few pages in, I was hooked. It is much darker than the previous series. There is honestly a lot that is truly difficult to articulate concerning this book. It made me feel a lot of different things. Some good, and some bad. I am so sad in the direction the Traders have taken. But on some level I understand it as well. I always hope for redemption, but in real life, not everyone makes that choice. So even though I do read mostly for escapism and entertainment, sometimes I’m OK if everything doesn’t end in rainbows and butterflies.

I wish those that DNF’d it would give it more of a chance. It does have the darker elements, but so do some of our struggles through this world. Christian or not. I really feel the author captures this throughout her writing. I will be buying and reading pretty much anything she writes.

The hardest part is waiting for the next installment. Sigh.

[Melissa Kronenbitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review: Silver is the Sky by D.E. Carlson ✨

Silver is the Sky took me on a journey I wasn’t expecting.

To be completely honest, I was not a fan of Silver at first. I found myself frustrated with her choices and didn’t want to root for her. In fact, part of me wanted her to fail. But the deeper I got into the story, the more my perspective changed.

When I began viewing Silver through a biblical lens, everything shifted. What I initially saw as frustrating became heartbreaking. Instead of judging her, I found myself feeling compassion for her brokenness, desperately wishing she would turn to El and surrender to the Light pursuing her.

And that’s what makes this story so unique.

D.E. Carlson doesn’t simply tell a fantasy story. She creates an experience that forces readers to wrestle with darkness, redemption, pride, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of grace. The dark circus atmosphere is unsettling and captivating all at once, creating a world where evil feels tangible and every choice carries weight.

What surprised me most was realizing that I wanted to pray for a fictional character. That has never happened to me before.

Silver is the Sky is unlike anything I’ve read. It’s dark, thought-provoking, emotionally challenging, and ultimately a story about light finding its way into the darkest places. Add in found family, betrayal, unforgettable characters, and D.E. Carlson’s distinctive writing style, and you have a book that lingers long after the final page.

I cannot wait to see what comes next.

[Abby Burrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[DragonRider Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

More like 3.5-3.7 stars… I can’t decide.
(5 stars to combat the 1 star reviews… lots of haters that haven’t read the book did that bc the author dedicated it to Charlie Kirk)

Okay, I’m finally reviewing this (I finished it three days ago, but I haven’t had time to write my review 🙈)

Content:

Sexual content: None

Language: Definitely none

Violence/gore: A character is impaled, there’s vampires (so blood-lust and blood sucking are a thing), then there’s some other things (decapitation, strangling, killing, etc.)

If you start this book and think, “Mmm, this is really not for me,” Then keep reading.

Also, to note, though this book can be read separately from the authors other series, it has many elements that are better understood if you have read the series first. I didn’t, so I will exclude worldbuilding or lore negatives from my review in near entirety because I don’t think you should cry about things you don’t have proper context for.
(THOUGH IN MY OPINION EVERYTHING MADE SENSE, EVEN IF I DIDN’T READ THE OTHER BEFORE HAND)

I almost DNF’d. That first 10% was annoying. I don’t like the characters and the decisions they made seemed so pointless, but as I kept reading, it got better.
That doesn’t mean I don’t have qualms with the book over that though. 😗

Our FMC, Silverfell (or Sil/Silver) is a rebel. The book starts on the eve of her 16th birthday. I’d give her grace for that, but I’m almost 18 and she annoyed the ever lovin’ crap out of me. A lot of the book. 😒
But she isn’t why I kept reading. (More on that later.)

There’s a point where her teacher is telling her about the circus and it says, “Silver gripped her skirts in her fists, her heart racing at the new information.”
WHEN HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN LIKE THAT OVER VAGUE INFORMATION ABOUT A CIRCUS?? WHEN? 🤨🤨🤨
Have you? I sure haven’t.

Also, we are told REPEATEDLY that Silvers mom is bad. She’s angry, she is narcissistic, she is selfish, she is etc…. And yet, the first time we see her, she’s fine. She’s actually the opposite of everything Silver describes her as. We are only ever told that about her, never shown. What we are shown contradicts the narrative. Maybe that’s intentional on the authors part, but if I was supposed to be surprised with Silver at her mother’s reaction to Silver wanting to run away, I wasn’t.

Speaking of that… WHAT!?
Her mom comes to Silver after Silvers friend dies saving her and essentially says, “I know you have to do it. You have to run away. I did when I was your age. You have my permission to leave.”
HUH!? Yeah girl, run away. Get out there! Girlboss it! 🤦
Spare me. Shoot me. Get me out of here!



She was a pick me, let’s be so for real.

On the run, she comes across this village. A little girl is getting water and Silver asks about food. Little girl says her parents are happy to feed her. Silver puts little girl on fire bike (authors version of a motorcycle but powered by fire) and takes girl to her house.
Girls mother comes out, appalled that a random stranger has her daughter on a dangerous contraption she’s never see before (NATURALLY), woman demands answers (as she should, bc her daughter was literally picked up by a stranger), and Silver says, “I was hungry. She said you had food.”
No explanation, no politeness, no respect, nada. Just brat-holery (you’re welcome for that word).
Woman NATURALLY gets mad at that answer and tells Silver to leave, points a finger at her, and Silver says, “Please get your finger out of my face.”



GIRL! I WOULD SLAP HER!

Anyway, the mom ends up giving her food. Read it to find out why. And she mentions that a city on Silvers way is a place for sinners and bad types (of people), and Silvers inner monologue is legit, “It sounded like her kind of place.”



She rides to this city after rudely leaving the house of the strangers, and when she sees it says, “One persons rock was another persons gem. She had a feeling she’d fit in here better than at home.”
Sure princess. Rebel. Baddie. Girl-boss. Whatever.
OH YEAH! Did I mention that Silver is a literal PRINCESS!? A butthole of one, but a princess nonetheless.

Back at the palace, Silvers dad is freaking out bc of what her mom did (literally telling Silver to run away), and says, “I tried. I tried to protect her, to keep her close, so when the moment came I could stop the prophecy.”
And everyone is like, “What prophecy, Gerald???” (Idk his name, so that’s my filler).
HE’S YELLING AT EVERYONE FOR NOT DOING WHAT HE WANTED THEM TO EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN’T TELL ANYONE WHAT WAS ALLEGEDLY PROPHESIED!

And no one told Silver she was having partial visions (which had prophesied her friends death multiple times), so she just thought they were nightmares, but then the event leading to her friend’s death was because of a vision. A FULL VISION THAT HER PARENTS KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE AS SOON AS SHE TURNED 16! THEY JUST DIDN’T TELL HER!
In my opinion, they’re fully at fault for her friend’s death. He died saving her because she got distracted by that vision she didn’t know she was supposed to have.



Side note: It’s implied that when the clock struck midnight she had the vision (bc that would have started her 16th birthday), but unless she was born at 12am, that doesn’t really work.

The whole vision aspect of the book was kinda ditched half-way through.

It just felt a little like the author was forcing the inciting incident, rather than letting the story unfold.

Anyway, once we got past all of that, it started getting better (bc Kay 🖤🖤🖤).

Something that took me out of the world multiple times was the authors use of “language” from these characters.
One teenage (16-18) biker boy says “goodness knows” at one point. I’ve never in my life heard a teenage boy say that. Especially not one like him.
Also, at one point, there’s some guys messing with Silvers firebike and one says, “Is this yours?”
To which she replies, “Yeah, and your runty backside is touching it.”
😃🔫



Honey, what? I can’t take that seriously at all. But there’s not any in-world language either… so that’s what the author used. 😭

Also, there’s not any creative naming in here (regarding worldbuilding). At all. Capital of the fire nation? Fire City. Bike powered by fire? Firebike. Moth type bug? Moon-moth. Monkey with tusks? Mammoth monkey. Demon lord? High Prince of Demons. And so-on and so-forth.
😁🔫

MOVING ON!

I FREAKING LOVE KAY! I ADORE HIM! 😩
He’s such an intriguing character! At first you kinda hate him, then you kinda like him, then you definitely love him but don’t know if you can trust him, and then… I can’t say. You’ll have to read. If there’s one thing you should know about him, though, it’s that I FREAKING LOVE HIM! 😭
I could go on for days about him! He’s definitely the most alluring character.

I also loved Nayway! He was great! Really have no idea what he’s about… but I liked him a lot. Shipped him with Silver WAY more than I EVER shipped Rain with her.

I hate Rain. He’s supposed to be the MMC, as far as I know… but he’s there for maybe two chapters and then disappears for most of the book. When we see him again, he’s not even the same. His whole vibe goes from aloof stranger with mystery to broody bad boy in that gap. 😑 This is why I love Kay. He’s consistent.

(Also, I guessed the plot-twist with Rain as soon as I saw him in the tavern)

I don’t want to talk about him. He annoys me too much.

Nayway was better. 💅🏻

It felt like there were three potential love interests though. Kay, Rain, and Nayway.
I can’t ship her with Kay bc he deserves so much better… but I can ship her with Nayway bc I feel like he wouldn’t take her crap and he’d call her on it.
I won’t ship her with Rain bc he’s every basic enemies-to-lovers MMC ever. There were parts I liked him (the entirety of the first chapters we see him in, and a few moments later on), but most times I didn’t.

Back to Silver.
Her whole hating El plot was SO pick-me and SO annoying. I couldn’t have cared less about it.

Away from Silver and back to Kay bc I can’t stay away from him…
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MY BOY!
He’s a conscriptor (vampire). But this caught me off-guard (slight spoiler, but not for the plot, just a character):

(Silver:)“So. Conscriptors can cry.” Kay lifted a finger and touched the wet track on his face, pulling his hand back and staring at it. “No. They can’t.”
????????????????????????????????????????????



WHAT!? HE IS DEFINITELY A CONSCRIPTOR SO I DON’T UNDERSTAND!?
I’m SO excited to see more of him, more of his story, and more of his plot! He is the main (potentially only) reason I plan on reading the sequels. It was a good book, but it would be so basic without Kay!



Let me put a quote here for y’all. A Kay quote:

“No matter how fast he ran, he would be late.”

You know why I love Kay? Things like this. You know why Rain is boring? Bc things like what happened before this.

Another Kay quote:

“You do your act as normal. Rain will be the ground act, mostly as eye candy, of course; the shirt will have to go.”



Back to Silver. Don’t even get me started on that whole Phoenix situation. Silver handled that SO wrong! The whole thing throughout the whole book! The phoenix deserves someone like Kay. She knows it too.

Silver refused to kill the vampires. Multiple times they are overwhelming and trying to kill (or successfully killing) people around her, and he refuses to “take away their song”. KILL THEM. OH MY GOSH! KAY IS SPECIAL, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE EVIL! 😤 I can’t with characters like that. She’d sooner watch innocent people die than kill a vampire (that literally happens).

“Still.” She heaved her sword, and a conscriptor head rolled. “Easier to take care of them that way.”
Horror flooded Silver. “He was defenseless,” she hissed through bared teeth, taking a threatening step toward [name redacted].



So was everyone he’s bitten and drank dry.

The Dal-Ishnadi chick (gonna call her Dal) was so… Disney villain most of the time.
“You live a little longer. In case I need more leverage than I’ve got. But make no mistake; you will die. And your death will be agonizing.”
Wooooooow. I’m terrified.
She slapped a vampire and the vampire fell to the ground in pain. Why? Idk. Vampires are stronger than that, even in this book. But Dal just likes to bully her servants (as every evil overlord does).

Also, the fact that Kay and Nayway had been on Silvers side for forever, and Rain just reappeared after abandoning her and yet she never once tried to save Kay or Nayway, instead choosing to SACRIFICE HER HUMANITY for Rain.
Both Kay and Nayway have done so much for her, but she’s a complete and total jerk to both of them (especially Nayway, but she’s not much better to Kay).

Anyway, this is a long review. After reading it, you may wonder, “Why did you rate it so highly???”

The answer is Kay. He’s the reason I’m gonna buy the next books. He’s amazing.

HOWEVER, just bc this wasn’t totally my vibe rn doesn’t mean I won’t like future books! And it doesn’t mean you won’t like this one! Just read it and find out.

I revived this copy as an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sara Garcia Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, the book is good but not fully great. While most of the characters had at least a main goal, they still often needed more development: the why of their goals, a clear definition of their internal conflicts and misbeliefs, and there were many actions taken by them made no sense if compared to their goals. Besides, there were too many short scenes that didn't give readers any new information beyond Silver being hungry or tired - they basically served no purpose.

Now, I know the story doesn't end with this book and there's quite a few things unsolved, ergo character arcs need to be finished, so I won't go too deep in certain parts of the character transformation cause I know there's still more to come. This is a sequel to the original series set in the same world, which, as a disclaimer I'll admit I have not read, so I won't go too deep in wordbuilding either.

I want to start by saying that I love the metaphors in this book! Having the circus trap people inside it and have the vampires inside feed on them is basically like saying that entertaiment can lure one in without you realizing, become a sort of trap in a person's life and drain them of things like energy or even family time if it becomes an addiction.

However...

Silver, a princess of the fire empire and heir to the throne, just wants to spend her birthday with her friends riding bikes. She escapes the palace at night and meets her friends at an old amphitheater. This scene is crucial in the story but it is missing a few things. For one, we get hints of what's Silver's internal conflict and misbelief is, I deducted it to be something along the lines that her lightning song/power is a mistake, something that should've never been. But the story takes quite a few pages to get there, which meant that I was scouring the pages for a long time to figure out who Silver, as a character, was. Secondly, the death of one of the characters in this scene partially acts as the inciting incident for the book because of his relationship with Silver. Yet, the minute interactions they have before his tragedy don't even establish their relationship well enough. We get that he at one point was a love interest for Silver but, why? What did Silver like about him? What was their reationship like? What was their bond like? I get that they were close friends, and anyone would've been horrified if the person they liked died in the way he did, but we as readers never get to experience that relationship between them enough so that we feel that death as deeply as Silver. And I would argue we need to feel that death deeply because of the fact that that tragedy hunts the protagonist for the rest of the book and because of things that happen near the end. Simply, I would've liked the author to give these two a bit more time together before he died, or at least show more of it during flashbacks all across the book, maybe in the moments Silver was traveling to the circus she could've been thinking more about him.

There were scenes, as I mentioned before, that simply seemed to serve little to no purpose at all in the story. Namely many of the instances where Silver is riding her fire bike to the circus and she simply feels tired or hungry, and a few of the training moments while she's on the circus. Silver traveling to the circus was the perfect opportunity to have her relive moments of her past with her friend that died, to explore the relationship and what it was that made him specifically special for her. We could've also had moments - thoughts that Silver had, trinkets or objects that reminded her of it, etc. - that would expand upon Silver's relationship with her kingdom and why she wanted to save it so badly. Of course she gets the vision that tells her something or someone will destroy her kingdom and she believes it because that vision's the cause for her friend's death, of course that's her home and most people would fight to protect her home if they were in a similar situation. But Silver didn't seem to love her life on inside her kingdom that much, why would she go through all that trouble to save it? Also, while she doesn't seem to particualrly love her kingdom, we don't really know because we never see how she truly feels about her city, her kingdom, or even at the most minimum, her family. There are hints, but nothing concrete. As a consequence, we don't ever truly know what she wants: does she really want to save her city/kingdom? Or does she simply want redemption for what happened to her friend? Is she leaving simply because she wanted to escape her life? If she truly wanted to save her kingdom, why did she spend so many days/weeks on the circus trying to become a trapeze artist? There are hints that she did it to find out more about what was happening inside the circus and figure out what exactly was the threat to her kingdom, but this information comes in too late, by which time I had too many questions about why she was doing what she was doing. Every scene should have a character persuing their goal, but when she first tried hard to be good at the trapeze, readers get zero reason as to why, it's not even conected to her goal.

Characters like Nayway, Rain, and Hannah are each missing some crucial components. Nayway has a vague goal which is fine, but why? Why does he want that? Why would he risk his whole life for it? In his case, I'm not sure if he appears in the other series and if so he may have more of a complete character arc there, so I won't go too hard on him. Still though, he really didn't do much of anything other than tell Silver about the circus; yet he keeps appearing randomly throughout the book. For Rain, I just wish we would've gotten more little details about what he was doing that maybe foreshadowed for the revelation at the very end or that simply gave him more of a characterization other than just getting mentions of his amber eyes so often. I simply would've liked to see more of how he was (e.g. quirks, habits, trinkets he wore, etc.) that would say more about who he was. For Hannah, while she didn't really need much more since she's a flat character intentionally, I would've still liked to know why did she invite Silver to join the circus in the first place, why did she continue training her? I would've also liked to spend even if just a tiny bit more time with the other characters in circus, since by the time I reached the final battles where Silver found the other circus performers, I couldn't remember anybody.

The prose was good for the most part, but I there were moments where I think a few tweaks could've made certain scenes much more impactful. Moments like when Silver first sees the circus felt sort of unclimactic after all the buildup for it. I liked the fact that the author used the technique of giving some information that answers one or two questions but creates three more for most of the book. Yet, I feel like she didn't give too many answers to satisfy readers until like 60% of the book and was only creating questions.

[Janessa Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to do my best to be thorough with this review. I don't typically take notes during my read, but I did in this case so I will briefly cover some specific moments. But I'm not a huge fan of spoilers in my reviews so I'm going to start with more vague, overall thoughts. This book is amazing! It had me hooked from chapter 1 to the epilogue. There were so many twists and turns, some predictable, others far from it, that I was on the edge of my seat for a lot of my read. I do think it's important to read the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy to fully understand the world and where these characters are coming from, but it's also not necessary! Silver, Rain, Kay, and many of the other characters are new and easy to connect to. The world also feels very new—it works like a portal fantasy inside of a fantasy world. So you don't really need a full understanding of the fantasy to follow, though, as I said, it is helpful (and Empire of Ash and Song is a beautiful trilogy that deserves a read). This is a Christian fantasy with strong connections to the faith. I've seen reviews mention that the world is too dark for their tastes, but to me that makes it stronger. The world is a dark place, and only God can save us from that darkness. That idea translates well in this book. The characters are all very realistic and fun to follow. They have their own motivations and make mistakes. I will say the actions of the characters from the original trilogy were frustrating, but they do move the plot forward well and, knowing the author, their stories and reasonings will become clear as the narrative progresses.

Okay, onto a more specific review. Spoilers ahead! These are chronological notes I took, so apologies if it feels a bit scattered.

The book hit me over the head right out the gate with utter heartbreak. Despite hardly knowing James, Silver's best friend, at all, his death still left me devastated. It reminded me of Chapter 5 of Crescent City. We were all having a good time until we very much were not, and the reader happened to be in the crosshairs. It was such a powerful way to open the book. It grabs the reader's attention and spurs Silver to run away, jump starting the plot well.

As I mentioned in my overall review, I did struggle with how some of the original characters were portrayed. This was especially true of Besaun and Casandra, two of my absolute favorite characters. How they treat their daughters just doesn't fit their characters, in my opinion. They don't teach Silver how to control her gift from El—they hardly seem to teach her about El at all—and they seem to completely ignore Dia. This may change as the situation fleshes itself out, but as of now they are taking actions I don't see them taking. I can understand concerned parents taking similar actions regarding Silver, but I can't imagine Casandra sitting back and not taking more control of the situation.

I really appreciated the pacing of this book. There is not too much time spent on traveling, which cuts down on tedious moments of waiting and silent walking. In the moments we do see we get to see Silver begin to rely on Rain, which sets up their relationship well. I often struggle with books that show too much travel; it just gets annoying at a point. Onyx Storm is a good example of that. Silver is the Sky did a great job keeping my interest when the plot was in a necessary lull.

When Silver catches up to the circus, it's clear that she's enraptured by them. Their act is meant to pull all in, and she wants a part of it. She knows there is darkness at the center—that is why she's come—but that doesn't turn her away. I think this is a great way of reflecting what happens in real life with kids raised in Christian households. They can stray off the path their parents laid for them. They might think it's not harmful, but if it is, that's something they have to find out themselves. Carlson does a great job portraying this.

The Phoenix was a surprise to me. It initially seems ominous, like it wanted Silver's power for itself, but it turns out to be connected to El. It's the one hope in this dark place, and it's caged. It's great symbolism.

Kay is a very interesting character. He's reminiscent of Jinu from KPop Demon Hunters. He sees himself as a monster, but he wants to do the right thing and save people. The focus on him is great, but it does take a little bit away from Rain. Rain gets put on the back burner despite being advertised as the main love interest. This isn't anything against the book, I really love how both characters get some spotlight, but it was unexpected with the advertising I saw before reading. But I did like it by the end of the book; Silver clearly has a strong connection to Kay, Rain, and Nayway because of the separate time spent with them.

Near the end, there's a beautiful scene where the circus gives their songs to help Silver, which reminded me of the church. They were stronger together than they could ever be apart. This is why they're able to push back the darkness. But the evil is coming back because they have yet to fully give themselves to El.

The final few chapters had my mouth on the floor. I had inklings of guesses for a couple of the reveals, but they didn't hit any softer just because I had suspicions. Jaxose being James, for an example, I very much expected. The hints were subtle but having read Empire of Ash and Song I did catch onto them. But I'm very excited to see where this leads, especially with Jaxose taking over.
Similarly, I had suspected Rain was the mentioned bounty hunter, but I had honestly forgotten about that by the end because of the climax. When Rain counts out his payment and walks away, seemingly indifferent, I was appalled. Buddy didn't even flinch when Silver called out to him after realizing his betrayal. This is a lovely set up for a friends to enemies to lovers.
Besaun locking Silver up, once again, doesn't feel like him at all, but I think it's clear he's being manipulated and I look forward to his inevitable realization that he's being rude so he can beg for forgiveness.
I am so so so excited for the next book! I would definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a high-stakes Christian fantasy that focuses on character growth and saving the world from the darkness lurking just beneath the surface.

[Emdaisy1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was gonna be a shorter review but then I read other reviews to see if other people had already said what I was thinking and avoid redundancy. That wound up seeing some common criticisms that maybe I just think differently about so I figure I'll note some thoughts on those here.

The TLDR though for those who don't wanna read a whole thing: The book can be confusing at the start especially if you're not familiar with D.E.'s Empire of Ash and Song series. It may take a few chapters to pick up the pace and get you hooked. If you persevere though it's worth it! There's wisdom tucked in it, a refreshing take on the battle between good and evil, and plenty of plot twists to keep you on your toes. A solid read, and I'm looking forward to book 2.

Longer thoughts (some may sound vague as I am trying to avoid spoilers):

Rating as 5 stars because I hate how many fake 1 stars there are, and also because I'm banking on enjoying book 2 even more. Realistically this would be a 4 star for me now, it was probably a 3 star at first. This was my first read by D.E. and it was stated as one you could read without having read her previous books, so I went into it blind. That would have it as a 3 star rating, as I found some parts very confusing (their magic/songs, the whole thing about what the circus was and why it was bad, what was up with the bike gifts as a peace offering from the fire King, etc), though ignoring some of that I still enjoyed the book.
The book would be a 4 star now, as I've since read the Casandra's Dragon prequel novella and I'm most of the way through To Bind Fire. While I haven't finished the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy, being largely done the first book has still given me a lot of helpful insight into the world and backstory that clears up some of the confusion I faced in Silver is the Sky. I highly suggest to anyone reading it that they first read Casandra's Dragon and then the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy.

There's a few things that kept the book from being a full 5 star for me (although I'm hopeful that book #2 will wind up closer to a 5 star, based on how my feelings about book 1 changed from start to finish, and the hinted trajectory of things). Some are probably definitely gonna be more just personal qualms/taste. Some I'm seeing noted by other reviewers.

I did find it very hard at first to get into this book at the start. However I've had that before with enough books that unless there is something blatantly disturbing or such I usually give it several chapters before I will DNF. I'm glad I persevered. For me the tone and style of the first few chapters feels a bit disconnected from the rest of the book, and it didn't draw me in. That may also have been because I didn't have any connection to the world setting, or I feel like I would have been more naturally drawn into wanting to know what happens next after the events of Empire of Ash and Song.

I honestly didn't love the FMC at first... But that shifted through the book. How she develops in the next book will probably cement my decision of if I like her or not. I'm also not sure how I feel about the main implied love interest. How I feel about that will largely depend on how book 2 goes about things.

There's a few other minor things that left me feeling a bit confused, but I suspect many of those will be addressed later - it's important to remember this is just book 1 of a planned 5, so really just an introduction!

Those minor issues aside, once I got a few chapters in I found myself picking up the book to read every chance I got. One particular character at the circus became a fast favorite, another character added a lot of questions (which I hope will be answered in book 2), and the pace picked up quickly when the hidden evils of the circus began to be revealed to Silver. I was scared when I hit a major plot twist with only a little bit of book left. Now I'm anxiously awaiting the next book and glad the plan is for 4 more!

I really enjoyed the book's approach to the battle between good and evil, where good assumes peace over a recent victory, meanwhile evil quietly gathers strength in the shadows. I appreciated the characters who are supposed to be the "bad guys", but are they really? Or are they victims of the evil in the world? Then the "good guys" aren't perfect heroes, which is always refreshing - they seem to have their own secrets, struggles, and selfish motives. There were quotes with deep nuggets of truth that made me think "wow, that's a good reminder".

I appreciate the book more now having finished Casandra's Dragon and To Bind Fire, and I'm excited for the rest of the series as it comes!

[Clarissa Boucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I’ll admit I’m much less invested in the chapters focused on Silver’s family than the ones centred on Silver herself, but I still smile every time Carlson weaves in references to her previous books. It feels necessary — I’m sure the prophecy is going to matter a lot — even if those sections aren’t as gripping. The dad is growing on me, Dia is becoming more enjoyable now that she has a clearer purpose, and the mum is instantly a favourite for obvious reasons. Having said that, I did read *almost* the whole book in one sitting.

I wasn’t fully hooked at the beginning, probably not until around chapter five, but the world-building is already excellent. Watching her eyes open to the wider world — and ours opening alongside hers — is one of the strongest parts of the story.

The mentions of El keep making me want to reread Empire of Ash and Song. You can read this book without it, but if you enjoy this world, you’ll definitely enjoy Empire of Ash and Song too. The plot makes sense on its own, but it makes even more sense with that background.

James is a great emotional anchor for everything that’s happening.

Some favourite lines so far:
• "If the truth scares you, I don’t see how that’s my problem"
• "She'd come here for answers... but now that she were immersed in the daydream her mind had invented her it was far too real"
• "Because it was easier than the truth and because Silver wasn’t sure it wasn’t true, she nodded back."

The circus is one of my favourite elements — a place for a fresh start, with so much more beneath the surface. I can’t believe she didn’t rename herself, but the plot thickens quickly. The manor still confuses me, but the circus? Wow.

Kay is incredibly well written, even if I hated him at first. Now I hate him less. I’m still not sure I want him to become a love interest, but he grows on you in that frustrating, complicated way. The Rain–Kay dynamic is fantastic: "though they were born and bred to hate and agreement passed through them". I love that they can fight and still align when it matters.

The creatures at the circus are a delight — subtle character development woven into every scene. And the phoenix… THE PHOENIX.

More standout lines:
• "Fight all you want Silverfell, but I know who you are. You are destined to save us all, and I will see to it you meet your destiny"
• "Just because you don’t want your destiny doesn’t mean destiny will release you"

Silver’s power development and her fear are handled incredibly well. I feel so bad for her, but the writing is strong enough that I can’t put the book down.
• "But you will always be you, no matter where you are. The sooner you face it, the sooner you know peace"
• "The goal is not to live forever but to live well. And if so, through legends you can live a life eternal"
• "She was lightning blood. and soon the whole circus would know it"

The Rain–Lightning duo in the circus scene absolutely blew me away.

I also appreciate that Lightning respects the conscription — she doesn’t blame them, and she hates hurting them. They’re victims too, just like she is.

And of course, the classic prophecy twist: characters realising prophecies are rarely what they seem, and in trying to avoid them, they only accelerate them.

The later chapters are strong in plot, though the rapid switching of places and characters between chapters can get confusing.

Her promise to James near the end… devastating.
And I knew it — how dare the professor be the bounty hunter?

The ending left me emotionally wrecked, and the sneak peek of the next book? NO.

As a final note, I love that even though the book isn’t inherently Christian, I could still sense some underlying themes — or at least the absence of others that felt safe.

[Tirzah Adcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wild, intense and fun read, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
First of all, I liked how it continues threads and plot lines that were left hanging at the end of Empire of Ash and Song.
Side note: I think it's best if you have read EOAS first before diving into SITS so that you can understand the world better!
The portrayal of vampires (and the wolf shifter) was really cool and original to the world of Jondria! I haven’t read such an original adaptation of vampires since Nightweaver! It’s rare for someone to write these creatures as part of a story world, make it original in a unique way, and for the reader ti think of them by their story based name instead of just 'vampires'.
LOVED the circus vibes! Dorothy definitely did her research for trapeze flying really well!
Also, that first chapter had some serious Lost Boys vibes! I never in my life would have pictured her being able to write MOTORCYCLES into her fantasy world but it WORKED SO WELL!
And how she brings a certain character from EOAS into the haunted circus...🤭
If I had to describe the vibes/story threads in this book, I'd say it really felt like a cool mix of Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Lost Boys, The Greatest Showman, and Frozen wrapped into one!

And that ending???? I literally did NOT see that coming! I was just chillin’, reclining and reading then… BAM! I literally sat up straight and repeatedly asked “what!” to no one in particular! I. Was. Shook!!!🫨🫨🫨

As for the dedication. That wonderful, controversial dedication...
I loved it. But, if anyone must know, it has nothing at all to do with the subject of the story or what happens. So, if you don't like it, then don't pass on this book just because of it! The book never felt at all political or like it was inspired by Charlie's life, AND the author had already finished the book BEFORE even dedicating it to him. The author was just inspired by him, his life, faith and work for helping open the younger generation up to debate and seeking the truth.
Which, come to think of it, the character of Silver is the type of young person I could see Charlie wanting to talk too, to have a debate with about God and His existence with. The dedication is after all, "For Charlie Kirk and the generation he inspired." I definitely feel as though Silver would be someone he would inspire, maybe not at first, but later down the road. After she's stubbornly chosen her own way and defiantly gone down the wrong path; she would finally look back, and remember his words of wisdom that would've been hard to hear, that would've caused offense.
I don't know, but that's just a thought I had.



Things I didn't quite like (Includes minor spoilers):

Did not like Besaun as a dad. I felt like he wasn't a good listener and was terrible to Silver, especially at the end!
Dia. That's it. Her story is very sad but boy, she is shaping up to be the main villain for sure.
Nayway flirting with Silver. It felt a little awkward because she knew him as an elderly professor. But then, when she meets him again at the circus he's younger. And I'm not one to usually bat an eye at an age gap romance -IF it's done well! But I think that his line about "Your father isn't here" just rubbed me the wrong way.
Silver seeming to not know that El exists. Like, a little later I believe it is mentioned that her parents told their children about El, but it seems like they -devote followers of El- didn't do a good enough job teaching their kids about Him. But I'm willing to overlook it as the series plays out, this is only book 1 and there are 4 more on the way.

[Olivia Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I’m starting this by saying that my real review is more like a 4.5 because WOW wow wow wow!
This is a very good book. I don’t normally reach for books with circus settings and really have never read anything with vampires because it not my cup of tea. But I’ve read DE Carlson’s first trilogy and I really enjoyed that one so I figured I would give this book a chance. My goodness am I glad I did! The first chapter does a great job of hooking you but I found that for myself, the story was dragging until the halfway point. Much was happening and there was stuff to be discovered but once we passed that marker it was as if I was truly captivated.
The setting is in the same world as her first trilogy and yes you could read this without reading those first, I think it is more enjoyable and easier to understand if you have read them first. Of course, read however you want, that’s just my opinion. It was nice falling back into a familiar world and seeing new things about it. The circus was both glistening and disconcerting; you can truly see what DE Carlson is portraying as the story unfolds. Vampires suddenly make perfect sense in a world where I thought it would be too much.
It’s Christian so of course there are talks about God (El in the fictional world) but there wasn’t as much of El in this book as I would have liked. Simply some comments and thoughts here and there about His existence or lack thereof for some characters. However I do think that it is very fitting for both the setting where we spend a majority of the book, the overall atmosphere of the book, and the MC’s state of faith. Not much progress is made in this one but it is the first in a series and I am hopeful for a beautifully compelling journey to El for our MC.
The MC Silver is a tough one for me, I didn’t much for her the first few chapters. She was too rough, too headstrong, too stubborn, too cutting, too harsh for me to really enjoy her. But I actually love her now so I think it’s an amazing testament to DE Carlson’s ability to write fleshed out characters. Her characters are messy and make mistakes and are genuinely having their ups and downs and are not always the most likable at times. But as I learned more and the characters bared their hearts to me, an understanding grew of Silver and her character and I can say now that she is a complex, compelling, and interesting character that I am rooting for.
The side characters were lovely. I enjoyed all of them and there was really no one that I dreaded seeing for being in the perspective of. From Rain to Kay to Hanna to Dia to so many others, they are all so well crafted and the way their storylines play out is wonderful. No one is simply a bundle of traits and tropes stuffed in a sack; these are characters that have many facets that I can’t wait to discover.
The twists and the plot were incredible! I was left gawking so many times not because I didn’t see coming (though there were plenty of those and I loved them) but for some of them, it was more HOW DIDN’T I see that coming? Especially the ending … my goodness. So yes, I’m going to need the next book and maybe a few business days to recover from that ending because … wow, my heart.
DE Carlson’s writing style is quite beautiful. There were so many lines I highlighted just for the sheer beauty or profoundness of them.

[TheBeeMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful to have received an ARC of this book from the author. In preparation for this book, I read several, but not all of the books, from the Empire of Ash and Song series. Now that I have finished this book I get to go back and see how we got from To Bind the Stars to Silver is the Sky and I am so excited. But back to the point of THIS review, this book was so good…
Silver Is the Sky completely pulled me in. What I expected to be a rebellious princess story quickly turned into something much bigger, darker, and more emotionally raw than I saw coming. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, another twist or betrayal flipped everything on its head. By the final page, I was just sitting there staring at the wall, desperate for the next book to already be out. D. E. Carlson does give you chapter 1 of Silver is the Sea, but I need the rest, ASAP. Don’t get me wrong, it finished well, and didn’t feel cut off, I just hate waiting and need the rest of the story.
Silverfell (Silver, Sil) is such a compelling protagonist. She’s stubborn, wounded, and constantly wrestling with who she is and what she believes. Her faith journey felt incredibly real, full of grief, doubt, anger, and fragile hope, without ever feeling forced or shallow. I loved how naturally the faith elements wove into the story instead of preaching. Even in the moments when Silver feels abandoned, you can still sense El’s quiet presence.
The world-building is immersive and refreshingly original. Vampires, prophecies, lightning powers, political intrigue, bloodline songs, and an eerie circus that feels like its own pocket dimension all somehow blend together beautifully. That circus especially caught me off guard—in the best way. It added this unsettling, mysterious layer that made the book impossible to put down.
One of my favorite things is how emotionally intense it gets without relying on spice or cheap shock value. It’s genuinely YA in the best sense: gripping, layered, and mature. The friendships, relationships, and slow-burn tension kept me hooked the whole way through.
If you’ve read the Empire of Ash and Song series first, the emotional weight hits even harder. Seeing older characters carry the consequences of past choices adds so much depth, and all the little connections and Easter eggs made the world feel truly alive. That said, you can absolutely enjoy this as a starting point too.
The pacing is excellent, the final-act twists genuinely shocked me, and some scenes hurt in the best possible way. I laughed, teared up, got genuinely angry with some characters, and nearly threw my Kindle more than once.
Silver Is the Sky is heartbreaking, tense, hopeful, mysterious, and wildly addictive. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your head long after you finish it.

[Emma Heinz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the first few chapters, my initial impression was to give this book 3 or 4 stars. Silver came across as a stereotypical rebellious teenager who likes to defy her parents just cuz being rebellious is "cool" and "fun."

Meanwhile, her parents seemed like the stereotypical overprotective parents cuz reasons. Those reasons are all either a misunderstanding or just plain mis-handling the situation. This especially irritated me because I loved Besaun and Casandra in EOAS, so to see them act so stupidly and out of character toward their own daughters was...frustrating. They basically pulled Frozen's move of "my daughter has a dangerous power, so instead of helping her, we're going to tell her to hide it and make her feel ashamed."

The plot, initially, felt so loosely held together that I was not emotionally invested. Character decisions made little to no sense and a certain rather important event was so jarringly sudden that my reaction was just, "huh."

So why is my rating so high?

The circus.

Shortly after Silver joined the circus, I suddenly found it very hard to put this book down. The circus had this exceptionally eerie feeling of danger and wrongness. It's a wonderfully creepy yet alluring atmosphere around the whole place. Silver became less annoying as she realized how foolish some of her choices were. She felt like she had significantly matured by the end, though she still has room for growth.

Most of the characters are presented in ways that make it feel like they would all cut your throat in your sleep. You wonder who you should trust, you wonder the extent of whatever evil is going on here, you wonder if Silver will manage to stop it. Kay's character in particular is done incredibly well. Everything builds into such a thrilling finale. I saw the plot twists coming, but I'm known for that, and it didn't make reading it less dramatic.

I went from dragging myself through the beginning chapters to flying through the ending.

On a more philosophical note, I think the darkness/creepiness aspect of the book is a great way of showing the tempting but ultimately deadly nature of demons. There is also light in the darkness as Silver and her companions eventually attempt to defeat the demons and save the victims. I hope the next installment continues from the high bar set by the middle/end of this book.

A few other notes:
-I don't understand Besaun's decisions at the end (or really at any point) at all. Like what are you even doing my dude, what is your plan here???
-Nayway confuses me. He's introduced as an old professor, but he shows up later looking young and Silver doesn't even ask him how or why. But how?? Why???
-Rain is still great. I have high hopes for him.

[Anna Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘“I’m sure running away from your problems seems like the best way to deal with them now. But problems have a way of chasing you till you finally turn and fight.”’

‘“We make mistakes. But even our mistakes lead us ultimately to our destinies.”’

‘“I’ve got it, but I’ll be hiding it.”’ (When you read it, you’ll see why I smiled at this one!)

‘“Just because you don’t want your destiny doesn't mean destiny will release you.”’

‘At last, Kay spoke again. “My dear. Even the demons believe El exists. And tremble at his name.”’

‘“The goal is not to live forever, but to live well. And if so, through legends and remembrances, you can live a life eternal.”’

As an original member of the ‘D. E. Carlson’s books are amazing’ team, seeing the build up to the release of Silver is the Sky, and everything she’s been through to bring it to life, I knew this book would be exceptional.
I was not mistaken.

This tale is full of intrigue, discovering new and some familiar characters from the Empire of Song and Ash series. We have shifters, vampires, a circus that isn’t quite all that it seems, relationships in various states of development; the sometimes fraught familial ones, some of begrudging tolerance, friendships established and beginning, as well as the flutters of a ‘what if….’ butterflies taking hesitant flight romance.

Silver is the Sky follows Silverfell, jumping on a bit from the ending of To Bind the Stars, but with several of the same characters we loved, grieved, groaned and rolled our eyes with in the Empire of Song and Ash series. While it would be helpful for the backstory of the world Silverfell is part of, it’s not necessary to ready that series first, but I do recommend it.
Silverfell faces identity questions, family tension, what she believes is an ongoing debate raging inside her. She struggles with her magic, so unusual in her world, making her unusual. In a bid to find her place in the world, she uncovers a darkness she never imagined existed and must make a choice about who she is, and what she stands for. Along the way, she makes friends, some hilarious, some scary and some both, as well as powerful enemies.

As with all of her books, this one challenges, moves and transports the reader into the world she's created, while also causing internal personal contemplation on who we are, what we believe and stand for.

D. E. Carlson is a wondrous tale teller, weaving the deep, the hard, the funny, the fantastical and the emotions together to create a moving, intriguing and challenging story. She’s a master at combining faith and fantasy, her books an excellent addition to the world of Christian fantasy.

I was fortunate enough to be part of the ARC team for this book, my thanks to the author for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear, sweet, author, I adore you. Please don’t take this too hard.
It is very uncomfortable to write this, but this book wasn’t my favorite. Truthfully, it felt like it needed a bit more development. Some of the phrasing was unclear and repetitive, while some of the world building was a bit confusing. Having already read the entire Empire of Ash & Song series, I understood the main world, but where the vampires came from, the Dal-Ishnadi’s ash-stained fingers (And is this Mila?? 😭😭😭), and how James could become a demon/star prince rather than a conscriptor were a bit confusing. I was also expecting an entirely new world, so it took me by surprise when we were following Besaun and Casandra’s daughter. I was sad to see how they weren’t really great parents, but maybe that humanizes them and that story arc will follow in the next few books…?

I love the lava spikes in the amphitheater and that whole scene surrounding it; so cool. Fire bikes, heck yes. Perfect invention from the beloved Besaun!
I love the circus idea but I think it came off more like she was just emotionally running away to the circus instead of chasing after her destiny. She spent too much time obsessed with acrobatics and having weird interactions with Kay. I got a little bored waiting for Sil to get to the main reason she was there.
I love the bonding with the Phoenix and the last exciting quarter of the book. Silver’s struggle for courage was very human but I love how she was willing to responsibly face her father at the end.

Rain is a really great character but the ending where he is suddenly staring at her with malice before he leaves with his bounty from Besaun is so weird. He was so protective and gentle with her, then all of a sudden, that. It just felt too jarring and not in a great way.
All I can fathom is that Dia has her father (and maybe Rain?) under some sort of spell. Her bitterness has poisoned her with some unknown power that is influencing her parents? Because most fathers would be first relieved that his daughter is alive before he starts accusing her of treason. It just seemed out of character for Besaun.

Although Kay’s character was a little weird in the beginning, he ended up one of my favorites; and his love for Hanna… beautiful.
Love the performers (especially Tink!) and their teamwork fight strategy!
I would love to see the Phoenix come back and receive a name! I need more Phoenix attitude.

I do so love this author’s clean and creative writing, but this one just had too many unanswered questions for me.
Hoping for some character growth and more answers in book 2!

[Jen Deluna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride! The story of a girl who doesn't feel she fits in and has to hide who she is at home. So she runs away and joins a very creepy circus.

I don't think I've read anything like this since the proper advent of YA Dystopian novels back in the early 2010s and I had missed them! I know, I know, this was supposed to be Romantic Fantasy but, with the romantic interest being unclear and/or missing for most of the novel, we got the sparks of a leader beginning to catch fire and come into her own.

There are so many fun elements and characters (my favorite side character was Tink, and I truly wanted to taste some of her food). Plenty of action, high stakes, and real danger, which I've been feeling is lacking in a lot of Christian writing lately. Not this one! And it's all handled without gore or anything like that. I loved that there was a distinction between the conscriptors (vampires) and the demons. There seems to possibly be a way to save the conscriptors from their fate, as they are neither demons nor possessed by demons, but rather victims of a powerful woman backed by a nest of demons. I look forward to seeing if I'm right in future books! The demons, of course, are not sympathetic, nor should they be. I was a little confused about some of that, though, as it sounded like certain demons weren't actually demons but hollowed-out people waiting to be possessed. That may be an artifact of the original books, but you still don't need to have read them to enjoy this one.

As someone who has read a number of Next Generation novels, I'll forewarn you that's what you're getting into. Even so, it was not difficult to pick up what was happening without having read the previous books set in this world.

As a Christian reader, I fully appreciated the Christian themes: calling out to God even when you're not sure He exists, questioning what good really looks like in the face of evil, and watching Him work in ways you might only recognize in hindsight. It was beautiful that the author didn't pull any punches with the struggle to believe, especially in the darkest hours of the FMC's life.

Overall, this book delivers fun action, a great creep-factor, breathtaking circus shows, layered characters with genuine arcs, twists I saw coming that were still so satisfying, twists I absolutely did not see coming, and enough cliffhangers to keep me actively wanting more!

[Shelia Reinert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m first going to label the cons of this book.
This book was okay but very confusing. I saw what others were saying about it being a next generation novel and you can really tell. Other than that I feel like the theme was not very clear all that much. It felt very all over the place. I think another thing about this book that gave me a hard time is that if you look at how D.E. Carlson advertises her book; she advertises Rain as the MMC but we don’t see very much of him in the book at all. At the end I was left thinking why Silver even cares about a guy who hasn’t done much in the story at all. Now that may just be on purpose but it's really difficult to tell.
Another thing is the vampires are called demons and it seems like we are meant to sympathize with them. I feel like this clashes really bad with the faith themes of the book. If we were shown that they were all liars and were trying to lead Silver further from finding God then it would be less of an issue but we are not shown that. However this could be yet again a fault of the book being a next generation novel.
The last like major critique I have is the fact that this book is a next generation novel. I think it would have worked if it didn’t feel like we were omitting major information. It should have been either a continuation (instead of the book being labeled as book one it should have been labeled as book 4) this would have felt less like it was being falsely advertised.
Now onto what I liked about this book.
Despite not liking how calling the vampires demons clashes with the faith themes I really liked Kay. He was an absolute delight and really feels like a person who is trying to find light in the darkest of places. He is also an all pretty fun character but I do wish his motives were a bit more clear in the beginning of when he was introduced.
The atmosphere is also pretty well done. I really like how the circus is described and I wish we could have gotten more time there.
The magic system is pretty cool and unique. Thankfully there is no shadow magic lol (this is a joke)
Dia is a pretty interesting antagonist. However I wish we could see more of what her motives are and why she is acting the way she is.
All around a fun book and a good time. I would recommend this.

[Sydney Schmied · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by D.E. Carlson, and I loved the passion, Christian themes, and world building in this story! There are a lot of strong storytelling elements and a lot going on in this fantasy book.
As others have said, the setting felt confusing without reading her previous series. I definitely think I will go back and read those at some point to see if I can understand this series better. The writing flowed well and the author’s descriptions were super lovely. I would have loved to see a little more resolved at the end and a little more in each scene with all the POV switches to really ground the setting.
From a YA reading perspective, I think this book may be a little dark for some. There was some creepy circus/ almost Alice in Wonderland disorientation (which was cool!) but also some bloody descriptions and power running through character’s blood/other character’s wanting their blood for the power, which may be uncomfortable for some readers. (There is a warning at the front of the book) I found several of the side male characters not the best role models and say some weird things at times to the female lead. I think SITS was classified as having romance elements to it, but I really wasn’t picking up on the things that make a romance thread a romance thread in this story, and the “hero” turns against the lead at the end. There was a LOT of supernatural activity and demons, and some violence. I can see a lot of parents not being comfortable with their younger teens reading this one.
I think the older side of YA could get a lot of meaning out of this novel and the series to come with the Christian themes and depth, and the story not being afraid to explore battling darkness and darker forces. There is so much allegory and other explorations in this story that you could really think on for a long time, and it was amazing how the author pulled it all together. I also liked the book dedication and that this story will resonate with the older side of YA readers who are thinking through tough things.
I would rate this book 16+, maybe 18+ for some.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to start off with saying that this is a continuation of the Empire of Ash and Song trilogy. You can read this without reading the pervious books, but you'd have more back story, how this world works, etc. information if you did.

My interpretation of D. E. Carlson's style is slow character development through unexpected or difficult events. I mean that in a positive way. It's not a simple-in-your-face type thing. This book has a similar vibe as her others. I see multiple reviews saying that they quit early on. Please stick with it, the pace picks up. Also, as more books come out in this series, I'm sure we'll see the characters flushed out more thoroughly.

The world building and individual characters are solid. I like how she shows how the kingdom has moved on since the battle and regime change in the last book. Vampires are not my thing, but I still enjoyed the story. It wasn't as graphic as other books in that genre and I'm thankful for it.

The characters at the Circus are all unique and well done. They are what kept me reading.
The main character Silver has a very difficult personality. She annoyed me, and apparently, I'm not the only one that feels that way.😅 I'm really hoping this is going to be similar situation to Ahsoka in Star Wars. When she was first introduced she was annoying and over confidant, most of the fans hated her. It was by design. The writers had plans for her to mature, eat some humble pie, and grow as a person. I'm really hoping this is the case here. The family relationship between her, her sister, and parents had me constantly thinking of Frozen, but if Anna had a more sinister feeling agenda. Again, that is something we will just have to wait and see what happens. 😁

I left 4 stars because even though it wasn't total love, I still enjoyed it and was thinking on it for days afterwards. I know D.E. Carlson writes in a slow burn type way and I'm excited to see what is coming and how this story unfolds.

Full disclosure: I was given a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is all my own.