What do you think?
Rate this book
Shatter the Sky #2
Storm the Earth
Maren and her girlfriend Kaia set out to rescue Sev and free the dragons from the corrupt emperor in the explosive finale to the journey that began with the thrilling Shatter the Sky.
Let them burn.
Maren’s world was shattered when her girlfriend, Kaia, was abducted by the Aurati. After a daring rescue, they’ve finally been reunited, but Maren's life is still in pieces: Kaia seems more like a stranger than the lover Maren knew back home; Naava, the mother of all dragons, has retreated into seclusion to recover from her wounds, leaving Maren at a loss on how to set the rest of the dragons free; and worst of all, her friend Sev has been captured by the emperor’s Talons.
As a prisoner of Zefed, Sev finds himself entangled in a treacherous game of court politics. With more people joining the rebellion, whispers of a rogue dragon mistress spreading, and escape seeming less likely with each passing day, Sev knows that it won’t be long before the emperor decides to make an example of him. If he’s to survive, he’ll have to strike first—or hope Maren reaches him in time.
With the final battle for Zefed looming, Maren must set aside her fears, draw upon all she’s learned about her dragon-touched abilities, and face her destiny once and for all. But when the fighting is over and the smoke clears, who will be left standing?
Let them burn.
Maren’s world was shattered when her girlfriend, Kaia, was abducted by the Aurati. After a daring rescue, they’ve finally been reunited, but Maren's life is still in pieces: Kaia seems more like a stranger than the lover Maren knew back home; Naava, the mother of all dragons, has retreated into seclusion to recover from her wounds, leaving Maren at a loss on how to set the rest of the dragons free; and worst of all, her friend Sev has been captured by the emperor’s Talons.
As a prisoner of Zefed, Sev finds himself entangled in a treacherous game of court politics. With more people joining the rebellion, whispers of a rogue dragon mistress spreading, and escape seeming less likely with each passing day, Sev knows that it won’t be long before the emperor decides to make an example of him. If he’s to survive, he’ll have to strike first—or hope Maren reaches him in time.
With the final battle for Zefed looming, Maren must set aside her fears, draw upon all she’s learned about her dragon-touched abilities, and face her destiny once and for all. But when the fighting is over and the smoke clears, who will be left standing?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2020
12 people are currently reading
971 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Kim Wells
9 books189 followersRebecca Kim Wells is the author of Shatter the Sky, Storm the Earth, and Briar Girls.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 13, 2020
3.75 Stars. This was better than I expected. After reading book one a few days ago, I was concerned that I might have some trouble with this read. I do my best to always keep an open mind so I read this book tonight with fingers crossed. I’m happy to say that not only was it better than I expected, but it was also more fun and exciting than book one was. But, and unfortunately there is a but, some of my worries did in fact come true. It was a pretty big disappointment because had some things gone differently, I would have loved this book instead of just liked it.
I want to start with the good part first. It won’t be any surprise but dragons, dragons, and more dragons. There is the cutest baby dragon ever, a giant take your breath away kind of dragon, and then plenty of fire breathing dragons. I really liked the storyline behind the dragons and I enjoyed how the main character Maren interacted with them. In fact all the scenes with Maren were really fun to read.
On to the parts that were disappointing. The number one thing really was the romance. I heard this series was going to be a sapphic romance with dragons, which is why I read this. The problem was the first book was basically a set-up for a M/F romance instead. And sure enough that’s where this book was leaning toward again. And even though Wells made the girlfriend into this awful character all of a sudden -so that she was always fighting with Maren- at least they had angry chemistry and some passion together. The prince character Maren had an opportunity to fall for was a bump on a log that was either always captured or injured and did not have one lick of chemistry at all with Maren. I’m okay with showing some growth which leads to two people no longer being a match but why couldn’t Maren have a chance to fall in love with a kickass princess instead? Luckily, there was so much action in this book that there was very little time for romance.
The other issue I had was the book split into two POV’s. Book one was only about Maren, this book we were stuck in the princes’ POV too. And the problem with that is he was just so boring. I didn’t get the appeal of him at all. Some scenes were interesting because we got to see the main “bad guy” up close, and finally he was not just a name. But quickly I would tire of this lackluster prince character and wished we were back flying with Maren and the dragons.
As you can see I have two pretty big complaints, but I still had a lot of fun with this book. Every scene with Maren was really entertaining and I was complete absorbed into her parts of this book. If only the prince character had disappeared or been really different, I would have loved this. I can’t really recommend this to someone looking for a wlw romance with dragons, but I would recommend it to people looking for just a YA fantasy read. Had I not had my hopes up for what this book appeared to be, I wonder if I would have been less disappointed. But even that would not have changed how completely boring the prince was.
Thank you kindly to Simon & Schuster for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
I want to start with the good part first. It won’t be any surprise but dragons, dragons, and more dragons. There is the cutest baby dragon ever, a giant take your breath away kind of dragon, and then plenty of fire breathing dragons. I really liked the storyline behind the dragons and I enjoyed how the main character Maren interacted with them. In fact all the scenes with Maren were really fun to read.
On to the parts that were disappointing. The number one thing really was the romance. I heard this series was going to be a sapphic romance with dragons, which is why I read this. The problem was the first book was basically a set-up for a M/F romance instead. And sure enough that’s where this book was leaning toward again. And even though Wells made the girlfriend into this awful character all of a sudden -so that she was always fighting with Maren- at least they had angry chemistry and some passion together. The prince character Maren had an opportunity to fall for was a bump on a log that was either always captured or injured and did not have one lick of chemistry at all with Maren. I’m okay with showing some growth which leads to two people no longer being a match but why couldn’t Maren have a chance to fall in love with a kickass princess instead? Luckily, there was so much action in this book that there was very little time for romance.
The other issue I had was the book split into two POV’s. Book one was only about Maren, this book we were stuck in the princes’ POV too. And the problem with that is he was just so boring. I didn’t get the appeal of him at all. Some scenes were interesting because we got to see the main “bad guy” up close, and finally he was not just a name. But quickly I would tire of this lackluster prince character and wished we were back flying with Maren and the dragons.
As you can see I have two pretty big complaints, but I still had a lot of fun with this book. Every scene with Maren was really entertaining and I was complete absorbed into her parts of this book. If only the prince character had disappeared or been really different, I would have loved this. I can’t really recommend this to someone looking for a wlw romance with dragons, but I would recommend it to people looking for just a YA fantasy read. Had I not had my hopes up for what this book appeared to be, I wonder if I would have been less disappointed. But even that would not have changed how completely boring the prince was.
Thank you kindly to Simon & Schuster for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 27, 2021
(2.5)
Rep: bi mc, wlw li, nonbinary character
CWs: torture, gore, violence
•
• the plot is so repetitive it's like. sev tries to defy emperor. fails. maren and kaia argue. maren talks to a dragon. sev tries to defy emperor. fails. maren and kaia argue. maren talks to a dragon. And So On And So Forth.
• for the amount of things that happen, this duology could easily have been a single book, i'm just saying
• sev's pov was boring and unnecessary and what the hell was that bit where he decided he liked his torturer
• maren/kaia is so frustrating it's just like, kaia refuses to tell maren anything, maren refuses to sympathise with the fact kaia's been through a highly traumatic event, and repeat, kaia snaps at maren for reasonable reasons, maren claims kaia's being unreasonable, and repeat
• two separate damn love triangles i am suffering
Rep: bi mc, wlw li, nonbinary character
CWs: torture, gore, violence
•
• the plot is so repetitive it's like. sev tries to defy emperor. fails. maren and kaia argue. maren talks to a dragon. sev tries to defy emperor. fails. maren and kaia argue. maren talks to a dragon. And So On And So Forth.
• for the amount of things that happen, this duology could easily have been a single book, i'm just saying
• sev's pov was boring and unnecessary and what the hell was that bit where he decided he liked his torturer
• maren/kaia is so frustrating it's just like, kaia refuses to tell maren anything, maren refuses to sympathise with the fact kaia's been through a highly traumatic event, and repeat, kaia snaps at maren for reasonable reasons, maren claims kaia's being unreasonable, and repeat
• two separate damn love triangles i am suffering
October 18, 2020
This was much better than the first with a lot more action and watching little Tasia grow. Of course, Maren's growth was just as important... from the timid kid bravely setting out to free her heartmate, to the more mature dragon mistress she was always meant to be and freeing lotsa dragons!
I would have given this five stars but I didn't like the what happened with Maren and Kaia, especially after all she went through to set her free. And just, blah... too hetero 😜 hehehe.
I would have given this five stars but I didn't like the what happened with Maren and Kaia, especially after all she went through to set her free. And just, blah... too hetero 😜 hehehe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
April 15, 20204/15/20:
*spoilers for Shatter the Sky*
I've said in my review for Shatter the Sky that it disappointed me mainly because I was expecting it to have an established romance and instead we have the MC falling for someone else on her journey to save her gf. I would rather see Maren working on her relationship with Kaia than throwing another love interest into the mix (and possibly into the relationship, if "heartmates" means anything). This cover is stunning, though. I didn't know that this series would be a duology, but I like that. It's simple.
"Who will be left standing?" Oooh - but, I mean, when your MC's in a love triangle you better not kill off one of her love interests to clear things up. If Maren breaks up with Kaia and then Kaia dies, that would be okay. If Kaia dies and then Maren decides to date Sev because he's the only one left... no. I hate that kind of thing.
I am sorta excited, though. Bring it on.
*spoilers for Shatter the Sky*
I've said in my review for Shatter the Sky that it disappointed me mainly because I was expecting it to have an established romance and instead we have the MC falling for someone else on her journey to save her gf. I would rather see Maren working on her relationship with Kaia than throwing another love interest into the mix (and possibly into the relationship, if "heartmates" means anything). This cover is stunning, though. I didn't know that this series would be a duology, but I like that. It's simple.
"Who will be left standing?" Oooh - but, I mean, when your MC's in a love triangle you better not kill off one of her love interests to clear things up. If Maren breaks up with Kaia and then Kaia dies, that would be okay. If Kaia dies and then Maren decides to date Sev because he's the only one left... no. I hate that kind of thing.
I am sorta excited, though. Bring it on.
November 27, 2021
3 stars
Again, not exactly bad per se, just seriously underwhelming, (but still better compared to the first book).
I'm just kinda pissed that Maren spent the whole first book trying to save her girlfriend and here it ends by her picking someone else because they grew apart with Kaia (don't get me wrong, it's handled well and believably, it just annoys me because I'm not a fan of the new pairing, at all) and so I'm docking points for that.
Again, not exactly bad per se, just seriously underwhelming, (but still better compared to the first book).
I'm just kinda pissed that Maren spent the whole first book trying to save her girlfriend and here it ends by her picking someone else because they grew apart with Kaia (don't get me wrong, it's handled well and believably, it just annoys me because I'm not a fan of the new pairing, at all) and so I'm docking points for that.
October 7, 2020
Oh wow. I did not like that.
1.5 stars, but I only give 1 stars to books I don't finish. I skimmed a fair bit, but I did still want to know the ending. And just... Ugh.
I liked the dragons. Everything else...?
The alternating chapters didn't work for me. Especially when I didn't care much for the other character dually narrating in this book 2. I feel we got way sidetracked from the cool premise promised for the first book of "girl steals dragon to rescue her girlfriend". I didn't care for new characters, nor redundant scenes (if I heard "you've changed" one more time I was going to scream), nor the continued severe lack of world building. This book was a little all over the place and both Maren and Kaia were intolerable, to be honest.
I'm sorry, but it just didn't work for me. Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC!
1.5 stars, but I only give 1 stars to books I don't finish. I skimmed a fair bit, but I did still want to know the ending. And just... Ugh.
I liked the dragons. Everything else...?
The alternating chapters didn't work for me. Especially when I didn't care much for the other character dually narrating in this book 2. I feel we got way sidetracked from the cool premise promised for the first book of "girl steals dragon to rescue her girlfriend". I didn't care for new characters, nor redundant scenes (if I heard "you've changed" one more time I was going to scream), nor the continued severe lack of world building. This book was a little all over the place and both Maren and Kaia were intolerable, to be honest.
I'm sorry, but it just didn't work for me. Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC!
May 28, 2022
When I read the first book of the series, I loved it content-wise but wasn't as awed by the writing and couldn't put a finger on what irked me. The problem becomes more clear to me with this second part: There's something unemotional about the writing style that tells more than shows and this shows especially in the romantic moments where I feel absolutely no chemistry with either love interest. If the book intends to point out why Maren x Kaia don't work out - which is annoying enough, I can't be the only one who dislikes bait love interests and thought Maren would stay with the girlfriend for whom she challenged an empire -, it has less to do with Wells's argumentation but more with the lack of emotions and care they show for each other (even the reunion sex is described as intense as taking a walk* though supposedly, the physical is as good as ever between them).
The problem is, the relationship between Maren and Sev, the other love interest with whom she spends like five minutes during the whole book, reads as dull and lukewarm.
It's like Wells does a better job at creating a queernormative world with gender equality than writing a queer romance.
The plot itself is okayish; good points are made yet due to odd pacing and repetitive action, it's not very captivating.
*) For clarification, I don't ask for explitcit sex in a YA novel but that there was build-up to the sex, like loaded glances, yearning touches, whispered words of desire. There is none of that.
The problem is, the relationship between Maren and Sev, the other love interest with whom she spends like five minutes during the whole book, reads as dull and lukewarm.
It's like Wells does a better job at creating a queernormative world with gender equality than writing a queer romance.
The plot itself is okayish; good points are made yet due to odd pacing and repetitive action, it's not very captivating.
*) For clarification, I don't ask for explitcit sex in a YA novel but that there was build-up to the sex, like loaded glances, yearning touches, whispered words of desire. There is none of that.
October 11, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Tw: torture
While Shatter the Sky seemed to be centered around Maren's quest for Kaia, Storm the Earth is about evolution. Because, what always fascinated me in stories, was what happens when they're reunited? We hear the stories about how they fall into each others arms and reconcile. But is that all there is? I flat out adored how Storm the Earth delves deeply into this question. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of action, even more dragons than I remember in the first, but there's also glorious character development and exploration of what comes next.
Because in that whole journey, we're being tested, learning more about ourselves than we could have ever thought. Everything Maren knew was called into question. And that experience leaves a scar. In Storm the Earth, Maren has to truly figure out who she is, especially as Kaia's re-emergence reveals old patterns of behavior. When we've been together with someone for a while, or in the throes of first love, we can become stuck as the person we were when we met. It's one of those trials for a relationship, can it evolve? Is the person we become someone we still love?
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Tw: torture
While Shatter the Sky seemed to be centered around Maren's quest for Kaia, Storm the Earth is about evolution. Because, what always fascinated me in stories, was what happens when they're reunited? We hear the stories about how they fall into each others arms and reconcile. But is that all there is? I flat out adored how Storm the Earth delves deeply into this question. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of action, even more dragons than I remember in the first, but there's also glorious character development and exploration of what comes next.
Because in that whole journey, we're being tested, learning more about ourselves than we could have ever thought. Everything Maren knew was called into question. And that experience leaves a scar. In Storm the Earth, Maren has to truly figure out who she is, especially as Kaia's re-emergence reveals old patterns of behavior. When we've been together with someone for a while, or in the throes of first love, we can become stuck as the person we were when we met. It's one of those trials for a relationship, can it evolve? Is the person we become someone we still love?
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
January 27, 2021
I have a hard time retaining details from books after I read them--I mostly remember sort of a feeling/sense of "Oh I liked it" or "It made me feel sad" or whatever and maybe a few key moments. So when I'm reading series books with a pause in between I either need to re-read the series (big time commitment!) or read a helpful wiki summary (my usual go-to). Unfortch Shatter the Sky didn't develop the kind of devoted fandom who would make a wiki for this so I came up pretty dry looking for a good summary of the last one. Someone please make this.
Anyway I couldn't find a wiki and didn't re-read Shatter the Sky and as a result it took me awhile to find my footing with this one. Like wait......who? What? Why is everyone so concerned about essential oils??? (It's because you can use essential oils to brainwash dragons I guess)
So anyway it was kind of a confusing ride which is partly on me for not doing all my research. But still fun and interesting worldbuilding! I've had a big uptick in kids asking for dragon books lately (thanks Wings of Fire) and this has some choice dragon stuff in it.
PS also I read some other reviews on here who are upset bc this book has a love triangle with a bi main character, her girlfriend, and a new boy love interest, and like, not to deny anyone's feelings about wanting more purely f/f fantasy ofc but...it's valid for a bi woman to end up with a man! It doesn't make her not bi! And from the start Maren identified as bi! OK bye/bi.
Anyway I couldn't find a wiki and didn't re-read Shatter the Sky and as a result it took me awhile to find my footing with this one. Like wait......who? What? Why is everyone so concerned about essential oils??? (It's because you can use essential oils to brainwash dragons I guess)
So anyway it was kind of a confusing ride which is partly on me for not doing all my research. But still fun and interesting worldbuilding! I've had a big uptick in kids asking for dragon books lately (thanks Wings of Fire) and this has some choice dragon stuff in it.
PS also I read some other reviews on here who are upset bc this book has a love triangle with a bi main character, her girlfriend, and a new boy love interest, and like, not to deny anyone's feelings about wanting more purely f/f fantasy ofc but...it's valid for a bi woman to end up with a man! It doesn't make her not bi! And from the start Maren identified as bi! OK bye/bi.
March 20, 2021
I'm going to 'meet in the middle' and give this 3 stars.
The good: dragons. Wow I love the dragons. The baby dragon. The ancient mama dragon. Every dragon in between.
The bad: the entire book is fighting between Maren and Kaia, mostly over a boy. I was here for sapphic romance. Book one was built around the sapphic romance. Book two was they are reuinted, argue a ton, and break up, leaving Maren open to explore her feelings for Sev.
Personally, I was hoping this would end up in a poly-vee, what with Naava saying 'heartmates' multiple times regarding Maren and her feelings, but Kaia was written way too jealously to allow for a poly dynamic to form. Which is a shame, because that would have been imho the best outcome. Second best would have been Kaia realizing Maren had her own agency and they find a way to be together. We got third best, Maren ends the book single but with feelings and the idea that someday she and Sev will be together. I'm glad at least the book did not end with them being together.
I came for sapphic romance and dragons. And well, the dragons were great.
The good: dragons. Wow I love the dragons. The baby dragon. The ancient mama dragon. Every dragon in between.
The bad: the entire book is fighting between Maren and Kaia, mostly over a boy. I was here for sapphic romance. Book one was built around the sapphic romance. Book two was they are reuinted, argue a ton, and break up, leaving Maren open to explore her feelings for Sev.
Personally, I was hoping this would end up in a poly-vee, what with Naava saying 'heartmates' multiple times regarding Maren and her feelings, but Kaia was written way too jealously to allow for a poly dynamic to form. Which is a shame, because that would have been imho the best outcome. Second best would have been Kaia realizing Maren had her own agency and they find a way to be together. We got third best, Maren ends the book single but with feelings and the idea that someday she and Sev will be together. I'm glad at least the book did not end with them being together.
I came for sapphic romance and dragons. And well, the dragons were great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2025
Sigh.
I am officially #TeamKaia, not in the sense that I think Maren should be with her instead of Sev, but because I sided with Kaia and not Maren in every conflict between them.
The hurdle this book had to overcome, for me, was the transition from 'girl steals dragon to save her GF' to 'girl decides to break up with said GF for a boy she's only known for a few weeks'. I still think it could have been done, but I don't think it was handled well here. In retrospect, that's building on the problem of Maren and Kaia's relationship being a non-entity in the first book; we're constantly told, but never shown, how important Kaia is to Maren... and then that falls apart immediately when they're reunited and Maren consistently (even after Kaia calls her out on it) does not treat their relationship as important.
At best, their conflicts fall into 'boy, I'm sure glad not to be seventeen anymore' - as when Kaia criticizes Maren for making unilateral decisions, and Maren retorts that Kaia was self-centered when they were back in Ilvera... except that she then admits she never told Kaia what she actually wanted. Sigh.
At worst, it feels like Kaia is being deliberately cast, either by the narrative or by Maren, as unreasonable or arrogant, described as speaking 'smugly' or 'scornfully', or 'sneering' at Maren. This honestly reflects poorly on Maren to me, because the descriptors don't match Kaia's words; it makes it seem like Maren has decided to dislike her, and is interpreting everything through that lens. And Maren can be frankly awful to the girl she supposedly loves; in addition to dismissing Kaia's contributions and not consulting her on decisions, we get things like this:
...That's not what she said though. "I need to be your partner" is basically all Kaia is saying throughout this book, and Maren just. Refuses to hear it.
The cherry on top is that when Kaia finally up and leaves, tired of being brushed off and not treated like a partner, Maren thinks:
GIRL, FROM KAIA'S PERSPECTIVE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING RE: SEV THE ENTIRE. DANG. BOOK.
One last thing on the teenage relationship drama: for a duology predicated on Maren saving her GF, when you look at both books in totality, it's clear that Sev is massively more important to the plot. He gets far more page time and development in the first installment, and in this one narrates half the chapters, as well as being the focus of Maren's energies in her chapters. This story isn't about Maren and Kaia, and it's honestly not completely about Maren herself - it's more than 50% about Sev. I'm feeling a little bit cheated that I picked up the story for the sapphic characters and got... a dude.
Moving on: the plot of this installment needed some structural help. Maren doesn't really encounter notable challenges to overcome, and Sev is so thoroughly trapped that his efforts are clearly pointless, so neither of them really get to go through the kind of try/fail cycles which build momentum and character. It feels like it's coasting on the momentum of the first book, and on the relationship drama element. The alternating POVs also lead to some strange timeline shenanigans - days may pass in a Maren chapter between two Sev chapters happening on the same day, which makes the pacing strange . I'm not going to go through and map everything out, but I kind of suspect their dragon dreams don't actually sync up correctly as a result.
Ultimately, this duology feels like a waste of a cool premise.
I am officially #TeamKaia, not in the sense that I think Maren should be with her instead of Sev, but because I sided with Kaia and not Maren in every conflict between them.
The hurdle this book had to overcome, for me, was the transition from 'girl steals dragon to save her GF' to 'girl decides to break up with said GF for a boy she's only known for a few weeks'. I still think it could have been done, but I don't think it was handled well here. In retrospect, that's building on the problem of Maren and Kaia's relationship being a non-entity in the first book; we're constantly told, but never shown, how important Kaia is to Maren... and then that falls apart immediately when they're reunited and Maren consistently (even after Kaia calls her out on it) does not treat their relationship as important.
At best, their conflicts fall into 'boy, I'm sure glad not to be seventeen anymore' - as when Kaia criticizes Maren for making unilateral decisions, and Maren retorts that Kaia was self-centered when they were back in Ilvera... except that she then admits she never told Kaia what she actually wanted. Sigh.
At worst, it feels like Kaia is being deliberately cast, either by the narrative or by Maren, as unreasonable or arrogant, described as speaking 'smugly' or 'scornfully', or 'sneering' at Maren. This honestly reflects poorly on Maren to me, because the descriptors don't match Kaia's words; it makes it seem like Maren has decided to dislike her, and is interpreting everything through that lens. And Maren can be frankly awful to the girl she supposedly loves; in addition to dismissing Kaia's contributions and not consulting her on decisions, we get things like this:
"Then I don't understand what you're thinking, Maren. The last time you went out on your own, you almost got yourself killed. I won't be your assistant any longer. I need to be your partner. I made a difference in Ruzi, and yet this is just another decision that you've made without consulting me first."
My frustration boiled into anger. Of all the things to complain about, it wasn't that she was hungry, or tired, or frightened. It was that I wasn't including her on a dangerous mission that might get all of us killed if we took one wrong step.
...That's not what she said though. "I need to be your partner" is basically all Kaia is saying throughout this book, and Maren just. Refuses to hear it.
The cherry on top is that when Kaia finally up and leaves, tired of being brushed off and not treated like a partner, Maren thinks:
No - how could she have left me? Chosen the unknown, to trust a complete stranger over me?
GIRL, FROM KAIA'S PERSPECTIVE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING RE: SEV THE ENTIRE. DANG. BOOK.
One last thing on the teenage relationship drama: for a duology predicated on Maren saving her GF, when you look at both books in totality, it's clear that Sev is massively more important to the plot. He gets far more page time and development in the first installment, and in this one narrates half the chapters, as well as being the focus of Maren's energies in her chapters. This story isn't about Maren and Kaia, and it's honestly not completely about Maren herself - it's more than 50% about Sev. I'm feeling a little bit cheated that I picked up the story for the sapphic characters and got... a dude.
Moving on: the plot of this installment needed some structural help. Maren doesn't really encounter notable challenges to overcome, and Sev is so thoroughly trapped that his efforts are clearly pointless, so neither of them really get to go through the kind of try/fail cycles which build momentum and character. It feels like it's coasting on the momentum of the first book, and on the relationship drama element. The alternating POVs also lead to some strange timeline shenanigans - days may pass in a Maren chapter between two Sev chapters happening on the same day, which makes the pacing strange . I'm not going to go through and map everything out, but I kind of suspect their dragon dreams don't actually sync up correctly as a result.
Ultimately, this duology feels like a waste of a cool premise.
March 27, 2021
I loved Shatter the Sky and I loved Storm the Earth! Maren is again on a journey, this time with more confidence in herself, and interesting companions. Way more dragons in this book!
Minor spoiler, but I thought this book would include some polyamory. I guess the publishing world isn’t there quite yet.
Minor spoiler, but I thought this book would include some polyamory. I guess the publishing world isn’t there quite yet.
February 22, 2022
Enjoyed the first book more mainly for the same reason as others. I came for the sapphic sci-fi/fantasy and it turned into a M/F romance. Totally all for supporting bisexuality but I think the books should have been marketed that way instead of what felt like gay baiting. Otherwise I enjoyed the books.
May 8, 2021
This book is even more of a mess than the previous one. And I really disliked how both Maren and the author treated Kaia.
October 21, 2020
DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 STARS
When we left off in Shatter the Sky, everything turned on its head.
In the first book, Maren learned that the Aurati that kidnapped her girlfriend relied on the great dragon Naava to supply their prophecies, and that without her, they are little but false prophets. More than that, Maren learned it would be her power, her connections to the dragons that could save Zefed and Ilvera from the cruel machinations of Rafael, the emperor of Zefed and so-called Flame of the West.
Now, in Storm the Earth, Maren has to come to terms with her new responsibilities and the expectations placed upon her, not to mention the changing dynamics between her and Kaia. It's a rapidly changing world, and though it's one where she might have power, that doesn't make it easy.
My absolute favorite feature was the nuance of relationships, especially between Maren, Kaia, and Sev.
Normally, miscommunication frustrates me to no end. I despise when characters can't seem to tell each other how they're feeling and why. But that's because I most often run into miscommunication when there's little justification for it. Here, though, Rebecca Kim Wells goes to outstanding lengths to craft a realistic, crumbling relationship.
It's not that Maren and Kaia don't want to communicate. But after the things Kaia endured at the hands of the Aurati, and Maren discovering her own independence without Kaia around to take the lead, neither girl is exactly who she used to be. They struggle to communicate more often than not because they've changed in ways that don't just go away with a good night's sleep and a hot meal.
Is it disappointing, to see these girls falling out of love? Of course! I want them to be happy, to find happiness. But that's a potential reality of first love: you fall out of it.
I also appreciated that Maren is absolutely bisexual. There's no denying the fact that she loves Kaia, but she loves Sev as well. And while I do wish that we'd seen a more polyamorous route (Maren has two hands! everyone say she has heartmates, plural!), I genuinely loved the nuance and heartbreak that came from Maren and Kaia no longer sharing the bond they used to.
Where Storm the Earth lies at fault is in its plot depth.
Like Shatter the Sky, unfortunately, Storm the Earth has an amazing concept and lovable characters, but not nearly enough depth of plot. This time around, Sev's POV introduces an element of political intrigue that lies in strong contrast to Maren's more action-oriented escapades. That alone, I think, needed more time and depth, given that Sev finds himself in the court of the man who murdered his family, among other connections to his past that he's been on the run from in order to remove Rafael from power. There's so much rich emotional potential there, so much backstory that could be explored, and so many more complications. To watch things play out almost as expected, with minimal twists and turns, is something of a disappointment.
And Maren's POV, too, could have used some greater depth. Sure, I loved the exploration of her changing relationship with Kaia. Truly, I think it was outstanding. And I also have a soft spot for her journey from timid and passive to decisive and bold. But at the end of the day, some moments felt a bit too impersonal, or simply too flat. Or maybe the word I want is straightforward. No matter the word I choose, though, my feelings remain the same: I wanted more, and I didn't want it quite so linear or predictable.
In the end, this is a duology worth the time, if only you love dragons.
Is it silly to say this after complaining about the lack of depth? Hardly! If you're after a light read in the spirit of HTTYD, complete with a bisexual lead discovering her own confidence and her own heart, this duology is sure to satisfy that itch. It's not as if Shatter the Sky or Storm the Earth are bad books! I've given them 3.5 stars each because they don't suit me 100%, which is the eternal curse of subjectivity in reviews. Never does go away, does it?
Anyhow, if you think Storm the Earth is for you, then good news! It hits shelves in just two days, on October 13th. That's just enough time to place a last minute pre-order if you're so inclined, ensuring that gays and dragons and gays with dragons end up on your TBR! Personally, I can't pass that up! 🐉
CW: violence, sex scene (fade to black), loss of a loved one, torture, graphic injury, gore (including eye gore), nudity, animal abuse, animal death
3.5 STARS
When we left off in Shatter the Sky, everything turned on its head.
In the first book, Maren learned that the Aurati that kidnapped her girlfriend relied on the great dragon Naava to supply their prophecies, and that without her, they are little but false prophets. More than that, Maren learned it would be her power, her connections to the dragons that could save Zefed and Ilvera from the cruel machinations of Rafael, the emperor of Zefed and so-called Flame of the West.
Now, in Storm the Earth, Maren has to come to terms with her new responsibilities and the expectations placed upon her, not to mention the changing dynamics between her and Kaia. It's a rapidly changing world, and though it's one where she might have power, that doesn't make it easy.
My absolute favorite feature was the nuance of relationships, especially between Maren, Kaia, and Sev.
Normally, miscommunication frustrates me to no end. I despise when characters can't seem to tell each other how they're feeling and why. But that's because I most often run into miscommunication when there's little justification for it. Here, though, Rebecca Kim Wells goes to outstanding lengths to craft a realistic, crumbling relationship.
It's not that Maren and Kaia don't want to communicate. But after the things Kaia endured at the hands of the Aurati, and Maren discovering her own independence without Kaia around to take the lead, neither girl is exactly who she used to be. They struggle to communicate more often than not because they've changed in ways that don't just go away with a good night's sleep and a hot meal.
Is it disappointing, to see these girls falling out of love? Of course! I want them to be happy, to find happiness. But that's a potential reality of first love: you fall out of it.
I also appreciated that Maren is absolutely bisexual. There's no denying the fact that she loves Kaia, but she loves Sev as well. And while I do wish that we'd seen a more polyamorous route (Maren has two hands! everyone say she has heartmates, plural!), I genuinely loved the nuance and heartbreak that came from Maren and Kaia no longer sharing the bond they used to.
Where Storm the Earth lies at fault is in its plot depth.
Like Shatter the Sky, unfortunately, Storm the Earth has an amazing concept and lovable characters, but not nearly enough depth of plot. This time around, Sev's POV introduces an element of political intrigue that lies in strong contrast to Maren's more action-oriented escapades. That alone, I think, needed more time and depth, given that Sev finds himself in the court of the man who murdered his family, among other connections to his past that he's been on the run from in order to remove Rafael from power. There's so much rich emotional potential there, so much backstory that could be explored, and so many more complications. To watch things play out almost as expected, with minimal twists and turns, is something of a disappointment.
And Maren's POV, too, could have used some greater depth. Sure, I loved the exploration of her changing relationship with Kaia. Truly, I think it was outstanding. And I also have a soft spot for her journey from timid and passive to decisive and bold. But at the end of the day, some moments felt a bit too impersonal, or simply too flat. Or maybe the word I want is straightforward. No matter the word I choose, though, my feelings remain the same: I wanted more, and I didn't want it quite so linear or predictable.
In the end, this is a duology worth the time, if only you love dragons.
Is it silly to say this after complaining about the lack of depth? Hardly! If you're after a light read in the spirit of HTTYD, complete with a bisexual lead discovering her own confidence and her own heart, this duology is sure to satisfy that itch. It's not as if Shatter the Sky or Storm the Earth are bad books! I've given them 3.5 stars each because they don't suit me 100%, which is the eternal curse of subjectivity in reviews. Never does go away, does it?
Anyhow, if you think Storm the Earth is for you, then good news! It hits shelves in just two days, on October 13th. That's just enough time to place a last minute pre-order if you're so inclined, ensuring that gays and dragons and gays with dragons end up on your TBR! Personally, I can't pass that up! 🐉
CW: violence, sex scene (fade to black), loss of a loved one, torture, graphic injury, gore (including eye gore), nudity, animal abuse, animal death
April 27, 2021
(I listened on audiobook so idk how to spell anyone’s names bear with me)
I saw the split with Kaya coming, so I wasn’t mad at it when it happened. This was a story of growing out of love with someone who was very important to you at one stage of your life but who no longer gives back what you need once you’ve changed. I loved this!!!!
I saw the split with Kaya coming, so I wasn’t mad at it when it happened. This was a story of growing out of love with someone who was very important to you at one stage of your life but who no longer gives back what you need once you’ve changed. I loved this!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2022
I recently read Storm the Earth, the second in Rebecca Kim Wells' queer fantasy and in preparation of reading Briar Girls (my most anticipated book of the year), I wanted to do a reflection of both books in the Shatter the Sky duology. Rebecca Kim Wells is an author I've turned to lately and if you want a strong, unapologetic bi protagonist and a world with normalized queer characters and relationships in a standard fantasy (Shatter the Sky) or in a dark fairytale (Briar Girls, which I haven't read yet), I'd recommend her books.
Shatter the Sky starts off with Maren and her girlfriend, Kaia. When Kaia is taken by the Aurati, Maren leaves her home to go rescue her, working her way into the empire and studying as a dragon trainer, in order to steal a dragon and rescue Kaia. Maren, unlike Kaia, wanted a quiet life and feels like a rescue is something more fitting of Kaia than her, but she goes through with it anyway.
Shatter the Sky is thoroughly entertaining and I found Maren a really compelling character who has a really nuanced arc of self-discovery through the duology, where she's discovering her strengths and finding out what she wants and needs.
Nothing is terribly complex in this book. It's a standard fantasy and there's a lot that truthfully isn't explored enough. It's been a while since I read the first book, so I honestly can't do a really in-depth review, but I do want to talk more about the second book, Storm the Earth, which I sped through and found very hard to put down (very vague spoilers below).
Storm the Earth picks up with Maren's character exploration from the first book framing her relationships and current needs. What I like about this book is that it really handles romance and sexuality in a really mature way, where Maren is figuring out what she wants and what's healthy for her. I really wish I had a bi protagonist and world like this earlier.
.
This second book really picks up the dragon plotline and Maren's desire to free the dragon's from enslavement. Maren spends much of the book freeing and connecting with the dragon's, while earning their trust. (Also, can I just say that the dragon kit is so cute!). This book also switches up the roles of Sev and Kai.
Okay, so it is very clear what's going to happen in this book. It's enthralling and the politics are interesting enough, but it is predictable, whether you think that's good or bad. And I found the Emporer's focus on Sev as an almost sole importance a bit unrealistic, even if their dynamic was thoroughly compelling. The ending sacrifices a lot of nuance plot- and politics-wise for convenience. For instance, there's a character that's far too accepted in a new position, when based on earlier sections, there should be more resistance. Why is this character suddenly well-liked? Likewise, I feel like I know basically nothing about Ruzi and little about the empire.
Okay, another thing I wished was addressed more was Kai's trauma. There's nuance to it, but I feel like it's brushed aside sometimes. You could interpret her healing as embracing her role and I'm not sure how to do this from Maren's POV, but I wanted something more. It didn't need to be in-depth, I just didn't feel enough closure or connection for Kaia, though I understand not dwelling on her trauma and I partially like that decision.
This is a duology I really wish I had in my life earlier. I wish I had a bi protagonist like this growing up, because Maren has helped me come to terms and become comfortable with much of my own identity. She's a really strong character. To me, despite some plot-conveniences and sometimes vague aspects of worldbuilding, I found this a really engrossing book for working through self-discovery with great characters and dynamic relationships. I think this will be a meaningful set of books for a lot of people and I'd really recommend them.
- Caroline Sophia Hamel (she/her)
Shatter the Sky starts off with Maren and her girlfriend, Kaia. When Kaia is taken by the Aurati, Maren leaves her home to go rescue her, working her way into the empire and studying as a dragon trainer, in order to steal a dragon and rescue Kaia. Maren, unlike Kaia, wanted a quiet life and feels like a rescue is something more fitting of Kaia than her, but she goes through with it anyway.
Shatter the Sky is thoroughly entertaining and I found Maren a really compelling character who has a really nuanced arc of self-discovery through the duology, where she's discovering her strengths and finding out what she wants and needs.
Nothing is terribly complex in this book. It's a standard fantasy and there's a lot that truthfully isn't explored enough. It's been a while since I read the first book, so I honestly can't do a really in-depth review, but I do want to talk more about the second book, Storm the Earth, which I sped through and found very hard to put down (very vague spoilers below).
Storm the Earth picks up with Maren's character exploration from the first book framing her relationships and current needs. What I like about this book is that it really handles romance and sexuality in a really mature way, where Maren is figuring out what she wants and what's healthy for her. I really wish I had a bi protagonist and world like this earlier.
.
This second book really picks up the dragon plotline and Maren's desire to free the dragon's from enslavement. Maren spends much of the book freeing and connecting with the dragon's, while earning their trust. (Also, can I just say that the dragon kit is so cute!). This book also switches up the roles of Sev and Kai.
Okay, so it is very clear what's going to happen in this book. It's enthralling and the politics are interesting enough, but it is predictable, whether you think that's good or bad. And I found the Emporer's focus on Sev as an almost sole importance a bit unrealistic, even if their dynamic was thoroughly compelling. The ending sacrifices a lot of nuance plot- and politics-wise for convenience. For instance, there's a character that's far too accepted in a new position, when based on earlier sections, there should be more resistance. Why is this character suddenly well-liked? Likewise, I feel like I know basically nothing about Ruzi and little about the empire.
Okay, another thing I wished was addressed more was Kai's trauma. There's nuance to it, but I feel like it's brushed aside sometimes. You could interpret her healing as embracing her role and I'm not sure how to do this from Maren's POV, but I wanted something more. It didn't need to be in-depth, I just didn't feel enough closure or connection for Kaia, though I understand not dwelling on her trauma and I partially like that decision.
This is a duology I really wish I had in my life earlier. I wish I had a bi protagonist like this growing up, because Maren has helped me come to terms and become comfortable with much of my own identity. She's a really strong character. To me, despite some plot-conveniences and sometimes vague aspects of worldbuilding, I found this a really engrossing book for working through self-discovery with great characters and dynamic relationships. I think this will be a meaningful set of books for a lot of people and I'd really recommend them.
- Caroline Sophia Hamel (she/her)
March 23, 2021
Rating: 4 Stars ★★★★
Storm The Earth is a wonderful conclusion to Well's Shatter The Sky duology! With political intrigue, additional layers to the world building, character depth, and DRAGONS, this is quiet YA fantasy well worth reading!
Shatter The Sky follows Maren, a girl from a quiet mountain nation whose girlfriend gets taken by Aurati, seers of the empire. So, she devises a plan to rescue her and learns she'll need to steal a dragon.
Now that Maren and Kaia are reunited with the great dragon Naava by their side, she's hoping to learn a lot more about her unique abilities being able to communicate with dragons and her mysterious Dragon Dreams. With Sev having become prisoner by the emperor, Maren is unsure of where he could possibly be. While the Emperor is devising a plan to destroy brewing rebellion, take control of the dragons, and bring an end to Maren's plans, Sev hopes she won't be too late. Then to make matters even more interesting Naava decides to leave and recover, having Maren discover how she will free the dragons on her own and deciding what the dragons fates will be...to join her or be free.
To start the worldbuilding in this sequel for me was excellent! I think where Shatter The Sky could have been better was in delving more into the different layers of the world from the various nations, political ties, and how the dragons fit into all of it. And Storm The Earth does that exceedingly well. While taking place across the Zefedi empire from Maren's POV, her travels detail more of the location, neighboring towns, and the world feels even more grounded than in the first novel. While from Sev's POV there's a much clearer picture as to the tyrannical rule of Rafael and his empire. [More to discuss in the worldbuilding: Talons, dragons that work for the Talons, economic class division, hierarchy of the court, etc.]
I felt telling the story from dual perspective was a brilliant move on Well's part because at its core, the story is propelled by its compelling cast of characters, especially our main protagonists. They are each learning more about themselves and how the world is shaping them at every step. Maren and Sev were both equally strong characters and I genuinely loved following them in this sequel, seeing how their stories intertwine added a new layer to this phenomenal series.
An interesting twist in this sequel is how Maren has taken up the role as the chosen hero, where Kaia has become more of the reluctant one this time around. While it can seem like "miscommunication" is a big factor in their surprisingly uneasy dynamic, Well's naturally explores a relationship that is shifting, changing, and drifting. It felt very realistic and with how this series is very character-driven it made perfect sense with how Maren's journey develops by the end.
As Maren is on a journey to free the dragons she learns more about where Sev is being held, the allies she has at her side, whether she can be the "Dragon Empress" the world desperately needs.
Sev is the last remaining royal of his family after they were murdered some years ago. With the Rafael knowing now about Sev's work with the rebel group known as the Dragon's, he knows he won't let him escape so easily. Now Sev is now forced to face trials that make him rethink the power he has as it slowly crumbles through torture and being coerced into making innocent people suffer.
My only complaint is that I felt there could have been even more plot threads across mainly Sev's pov because he is essentially just stuck waiting for a way to escape. There were some moments the pacing was a bit slow, but with the building conflict I didn't mind so much the further I read. Also, I really wanted more to Neve, she's obviously forced to a lesser role after what happened with Maren in book 1, but I just wanted more page time with her!!!
The new characters we're introduced to were so well-developed and despite only meeting some of them in this novel, their arcs felt complete by the end of the book. [More detail on the different characters // Faris, Piera, the dragons]. Also the intense action-scenes at the end, SO GOOD! Actually the action scenes in this novel were probably some of the best I've read in fantasy in quite a bit, Well's detail to movement whether it was a confrontation with a Talon, dragon, or anything else, was described so well and I never felt lost while reading them.
I also love how Well's navigated Queer relationships/rep. in a fantasy world. It's nice to see these tropes through the lens of a normalized queer fantasy setting. There's bisexual rep., a character who uses they/them pronouns, and the series focuses on a bisexual protagonist.
Once I reached the end I was overjoyed at where the characters journey had reached and truthfully I'm still feeling a bit sad at saying goodbye to this amazing world. If anything Storm The Earth left me wanting to know so much more. Maren, Sev, Kaia, the little dragon Tasia, Tovin, Efren, Neve, etc. were such intriguing characters and really captured my heart leading up to the end!
Shatter The Sky is a unique duology that despite only being two books, really took me on a journey, despite the minor flaws, these books are in my eyes truly under the radar. Its such a great series worth checking out.
Storm The Earth closes the chapter on the Shatter The Sky duology following a reluctant hero who learns to lead a rebellion. From a layered that gets explored even more, stunning cast of characters, dragon lore, politics, and much more, this is truly a YA Fantasy duology worth the read!
[Read an ARC and as I was listening to the audiobook, I picked up on more details interwoven between certain pages, but no major differences]
Storm The Earth is a wonderful conclusion to Well's Shatter The Sky duology! With political intrigue, additional layers to the world building, character depth, and DRAGONS, this is quiet YA fantasy well worth reading!
Shatter The Sky follows Maren, a girl from a quiet mountain nation whose girlfriend gets taken by Aurati, seers of the empire. So, she devises a plan to rescue her and learns she'll need to steal a dragon.
Now that Maren and Kaia are reunited with the great dragon Naava by their side, she's hoping to learn a lot more about her unique abilities being able to communicate with dragons and her mysterious Dragon Dreams. With Sev having become prisoner by the emperor, Maren is unsure of where he could possibly be. While the Emperor is devising a plan to destroy brewing rebellion, take control of the dragons, and bring an end to Maren's plans, Sev hopes she won't be too late. Then to make matters even more interesting Naava decides to leave and recover, having Maren discover how she will free the dragons on her own and deciding what the dragons fates will be...to join her or be free.
To start the worldbuilding in this sequel for me was excellent! I think where Shatter The Sky could have been better was in delving more into the different layers of the world from the various nations, political ties, and how the dragons fit into all of it. And Storm The Earth does that exceedingly well. While taking place across the Zefedi empire from Maren's POV, her travels detail more of the location, neighboring towns, and the world feels even more grounded than in the first novel. While from Sev's POV there's a much clearer picture as to the tyrannical rule of Rafael and his empire. [More to discuss in the worldbuilding: Talons, dragons that work for the Talons, economic class division, hierarchy of the court, etc.]
I felt telling the story from dual perspective was a brilliant move on Well's part because at its core, the story is propelled by its compelling cast of characters, especially our main protagonists. They are each learning more about themselves and how the world is shaping them at every step. Maren and Sev were both equally strong characters and I genuinely loved following them in this sequel, seeing how their stories intertwine added a new layer to this phenomenal series.
An interesting twist in this sequel is how Maren has taken up the role as the chosen hero, where Kaia has become more of the reluctant one this time around. While it can seem like "miscommunication" is a big factor in their surprisingly uneasy dynamic, Well's naturally explores a relationship that is shifting, changing, and drifting. It felt very realistic and with how this series is very character-driven it made perfect sense with how Maren's journey develops by the end.
As Maren is on a journey to free the dragons she learns more about where Sev is being held, the allies she has at her side, whether she can be the "Dragon Empress" the world desperately needs.
Sev is the last remaining royal of his family after they were murdered some years ago. With the Rafael knowing now about Sev's work with the rebel group known as the Dragon's, he knows he won't let him escape so easily. Now Sev is now forced to face trials that make him rethink the power he has as it slowly crumbles through torture and being coerced into making innocent people suffer.
My only complaint is that I felt there could have been even more plot threads across mainly Sev's pov because he is essentially just stuck waiting for a way to escape. There were some moments the pacing was a bit slow, but with the building conflict I didn't mind so much the further I read. Also, I really wanted more to Neve, she's obviously forced to a lesser role after what happened with Maren in book 1, but I just wanted more page time with her!!!
The new characters we're introduced to were so well-developed and despite only meeting some of them in this novel, their arcs felt complete by the end of the book. [More detail on the different characters // Faris, Piera, the dragons]. Also the intense action-scenes at the end, SO GOOD! Actually the action scenes in this novel were probably some of the best I've read in fantasy in quite a bit, Well's detail to movement whether it was a confrontation with a Talon, dragon, or anything else, was described so well and I never felt lost while reading them.
I also love how Well's navigated Queer relationships/rep. in a fantasy world. It's nice to see these tropes through the lens of a normalized queer fantasy setting. There's bisexual rep., a character who uses they/them pronouns, and the series focuses on a bisexual protagonist.
Once I reached the end I was overjoyed at where the characters journey had reached and truthfully I'm still feeling a bit sad at saying goodbye to this amazing world. If anything Storm The Earth left me wanting to know so much more. Maren, Sev, Kaia, the little dragon Tasia, Tovin, Efren, Neve, etc. were such intriguing characters and really captured my heart leading up to the end!
Shatter The Sky is a unique duology that despite only being two books, really took me on a journey, despite the minor flaws, these books are in my eyes truly under the radar. Its such a great series worth checking out.
Storm The Earth closes the chapter on the Shatter The Sky duology following a reluctant hero who learns to lead a rebellion. From a layered that gets explored even more, stunning cast of characters, dragon lore, politics, and much more, this is truly a YA Fantasy duology worth the read!
[Read an ARC and as I was listening to the audiobook, I picked up on more details interwoven between certain pages, but no major differences]
June 7, 2022
I enjoyed many parts of this, but it didn't grab me as much as the first book. I think the split narration might've hurt it a little. But. I particular liked:
June 9, 2021
Three and a half stars.
Pro: dragons. Baby dragon (swooooooooon).
Con: when you start a new chapter and find it's from a different character's perspective and your first thought is, crap I did not want this... that is not an auspicious start to a book.
Dragons are good. Relationships are not good. Ending was ok.
Pro: dragons. Baby dragon (swooooooooon).
Con: when you start a new chapter and find it's from a different character's perspective and your first thought is, crap I did not want this... that is not an auspicious start to a book.
Dragons are good. Relationships are not good. Ending was ok.
March 11, 2025
This series is incredibly underappreciated. I hadn't heard of it at all until I was reading the acknowledgements at the end of To Shape A Dragon's Breath and saw it mentioned. I'm so, so glad I decided to request it from my library. I listened to the audiobooks for both Shatter the Sky and Storm the Earth.
It was clear from early on that Wells took what she learned when writing Shatter The Sky and applied it to Storm. Her writing improved, in the flow and in the emotion of it, displaying her characters through their actions and words rather than defining them in narration quite so much. The way the world expanded for both Maren and the reader from the first book was well done, the greater scope of the task and of Maren's understanding of the world at large. I almost wish this was a 3-5 book series rather than a duology so that we could have dug more into the worldbuilding and spent more time with these characters.
Sev was my favorite from the first, and that didn't change at all in the second. He has all of the character traits and archetypes that appeal to me, and having him as a perspective character for #2 felt like a treat especially for me.
Also, I'm going to come right out and say it: This is the best use of the "love triangle" trope that doesn't resolve in a throuple. Both Maren's relationship with Kaia and her relationship with Sev feel fully fleshed out, developed, and stand entirely on their own. They each represent something different for Maren, and all three characters display their own character arcs and personal development which both serve the plot, and also serve the relationship that is either crumbling or building because of that development. I am incredibly impressed, as someone who usually fully hates love triangles. The tension felt real, rather than forced in simply because love triangles sell, or whatever the reason usually is.
Especially the relationship between Kaia and Maren. Kaia's development, the way that she put up walls and seemed to degenerate into a rougher, more selfish person was incredibly interesting and cool to see. Women and especially sapphic relationships are often held to such a standard and expected to be good, pure, wholesome, sweet, etc in order to be "good representation" and it is delightfully refreshing to get to see two young women in love and being so messy about it. The codependency of young first love is such a real and visceral thing, and as someone who went through that kind of codependency and "growing apart" and am still recovering from the way it affects how I interact with others, I felt very seen. My one teeny tiny complaint is that a lot of the build up, the way that Kaia was represented, made me feel like she was going to turn out worse. The way that Maren came to realize just how wilting and accommodating she used to be, how Kaia always used to be the louder more decisive personality and used to make all the decisions for them and was the golden child of Ilvara, and how Maren existed in her shadow... next to the obvious envy in Kaia that Maren had grown into a heroine in her own right, had become that famous adventurer, had become decisive and strong herself... it reflected how their relationship used to be, to me, in a very different and darker light. We see even at the beginning how Maren hesitates to leave home, and the way Kaia talks her into it, and it felt like looking back, we were seeing signs of a very unequal relationship in that way. The resolution that we got felt almost too perfect, too forgiving, for the way that had built, and I spent most of Storm the Earth expecting Kaia to truly betray Maren, whether fully on purpose or simply out of a misguided loyalty to the Aurati. When the moment finally came and she left the way that she did, it felt a little anticlimactic.
All that being said, though, I loved the resolution that we got for all three characters as people, and for Sev and Maren such as it was. It made sense for who Maren had become, and it was cool to see our heroine end the tale somewhat unsatisfied, somewhat still undefined in who she is. I thought it was beautiful.
And that's to say nothing of the dragons! The magic system for the dragons based in song, and in the oils of the Aromatory was so creative and fun, and once again I find myself wishing this was a bigger series so we could have drawn it out or spent more time in it. Tasia is a wonderful little character and the moment she started to speak I fully started whooping and hollering in my car. I'm not sure I've ever encountered any kind of magic system or dragon-related magic that was built on smells, and that creativity really paid off.
I look forward to reading whatever else Wells writes and publishes, and I hope she will return to writing about dragons and fantasy adventures, and I look forward to meeting the wonderful characters she spins up for them.
It was clear from early on that Wells took what she learned when writing Shatter The Sky and applied it to Storm. Her writing improved, in the flow and in the emotion of it, displaying her characters through their actions and words rather than defining them in narration quite so much. The way the world expanded for both Maren and the reader from the first book was well done, the greater scope of the task and of Maren's understanding of the world at large. I almost wish this was a 3-5 book series rather than a duology so that we could have dug more into the worldbuilding and spent more time with these characters.
Sev was my favorite from the first, and that didn't change at all in the second. He has all of the character traits and archetypes that appeal to me, and having him as a perspective character for #2 felt like a treat especially for me.
Also, I'm going to come right out and say it: This is the best use of the "love triangle" trope that doesn't resolve in a throuple. Both Maren's relationship with Kaia and her relationship with Sev feel fully fleshed out, developed, and stand entirely on their own. They each represent something different for Maren, and all three characters display their own character arcs and personal development which both serve the plot, and also serve the relationship that is either crumbling or building because of that development. I am incredibly impressed, as someone who usually fully hates love triangles. The tension felt real, rather than forced in simply because love triangles sell, or whatever the reason usually is.
Especially the relationship between Kaia and Maren. Kaia's development, the way that she put up walls and seemed to degenerate into a rougher, more selfish person was incredibly interesting and cool to see. Women and especially sapphic relationships are often held to such a standard and expected to be good, pure, wholesome, sweet, etc in order to be "good representation" and it is delightfully refreshing to get to see two young women in love and being so messy about it. The codependency of young first love is such a real and visceral thing, and as someone who went through that kind of codependency and "growing apart" and am still recovering from the way it affects how I interact with others, I felt very seen. My one teeny tiny complaint is that a lot of the build up, the way that Kaia was represented, made me feel like she was going to turn out worse. The way that Maren came to realize just how wilting and accommodating she used to be, how Kaia always used to be the louder more decisive personality and used to make all the decisions for them and was the golden child of Ilvara, and how Maren existed in her shadow... next to the obvious envy in Kaia that Maren had grown into a heroine in her own right, had become that famous adventurer, had become decisive and strong herself... it reflected how their relationship used to be, to me, in a very different and darker light. We see even at the beginning how Maren hesitates to leave home, and the way Kaia talks her into it, and it felt like looking back, we were seeing signs of a very unequal relationship in that way. The resolution that we got felt almost too perfect, too forgiving, for the way that had built, and I spent most of Storm the Earth expecting Kaia to truly betray Maren, whether fully on purpose or simply out of a misguided loyalty to the Aurati. When the moment finally came and she left the way that she did, it felt a little anticlimactic.
All that being said, though, I loved the resolution that we got for all three characters as people, and for Sev and Maren such as it was. It made sense for who Maren had become, and it was cool to see our heroine end the tale somewhat unsatisfied, somewhat still undefined in who she is. I thought it was beautiful.
And that's to say nothing of the dragons! The magic system for the dragons based in song, and in the oils of the Aromatory was so creative and fun, and once again I find myself wishing this was a bigger series so we could have drawn it out or spent more time in it. Tasia is a wonderful little character and the moment she started to speak I fully started whooping and hollering in my car. I'm not sure I've ever encountered any kind of magic system or dragon-related magic that was built on smells, and that creativity really paid off.
I look forward to reading whatever else Wells writes and publishes, and I hope she will return to writing about dragons and fantasy adventures, and I look forward to meeting the wonderful characters she spins up for them.
March 19, 2021
5 stars
Trigger warnings: torture, death/murder, hate crimes
Content warning: racism, colonialism, (dragon) slavery
It's been about 2 years since I read Shatter the Sky, but the sequel reignited my love for this duology. It's not perfect, but damn was it a good dragon story!
Beware however that this book starts right after Shatter the Sky ends - and I do mean, RIGHT after - and there are little reminders of what happened previously. It's best if you go in having fresh memories of the first book.
Where most fantasy books default to white cishet normative culture, Shatter the Sky and Storm the Earth are all about spinning that default on its head. Pretty much all the characters are POC, the main character is from and Indigenous land colonialized by a tyrant who enslaves native beings from that land and fights for her people's (and the dragons being enslaved's) freedom, there is no hate against people for their sexual or gender orientation AT ALL, etc. It's just all around an inspiring read.
The MC is also bisexual, which was pretty obvious - if not stated outright, though I can't remember - in the first book. Some reviewers have been spewing biphobic comments about this second opus, but I think Maren's growth and her fractured relationship with Kaia is pretty realistic. I don't doubt that, if I was to reread the first book, I would see the little cracks that led to their fights in this second opus. Yes, there is wlw content in this book, but that does not negate the fact that Maren is bisexual and therefore attracted to more than one gender. Her attraction to Sev (and whatever might develop between them in this second book) doesn't mean her feelings for Kaia aren't real and that she isn't in love with a woman. Let bisexual people exist and stop saying an author wronged you when they made it clear from the get go that their MC wasn't only attracted to women.
However, concerning Maren and Kaia's relationship, I didn't like the way Maren disregarded Kaia's feelings towards her trauma and refused to accept Kaia's decision to forgive the Aurati again and again. When a victim tells you they've forgiven - or gotten over their anger - for their agressor, it's not your decision to carry that anger and hate. Maren never respected Kaia's decision, and that was problematic in itself. I think the author could have better framed it to make Kaia appear less as the "bad guy" in that aspect, since it was Maren who was in the wrong and I don't think she ever apologized for that.
As for what actually happens in this book, I loved every page of it. I knew as a traitor from the beginning, but the discovery was still pretty good. The blurry line of friends and foe was interesting to navigate too, with many morally grey characters toeing it throughout the story. The whole thing is still pretty idealistic (greed leading to a person's downfall isn't exactly reality) but hey, that's what books are for, right?
I think any lover of dragons who wants an inclusive story would be delighted with this duology.
Trigger warnings: torture, death/murder, hate crimes
Content warning: racism, colonialism, (dragon) slavery
It's been about 2 years since I read Shatter the Sky, but the sequel reignited my love for this duology. It's not perfect, but damn was it a good dragon story!
Beware however that this book starts right after Shatter the Sky ends - and I do mean, RIGHT after - and there are little reminders of what happened previously. It's best if you go in having fresh memories of the first book.
Where most fantasy books default to white cishet normative culture, Shatter the Sky and Storm the Earth are all about spinning that default on its head. Pretty much all the characters are POC, the main character is from and Indigenous land colonialized by a tyrant who enslaves native beings from that land and fights for her people's (and the dragons being enslaved's) freedom, there is no hate against people for their sexual or gender orientation AT ALL, etc. It's just all around an inspiring read.
The MC is also bisexual, which was pretty obvious - if not stated outright, though I can't remember - in the first book. Some reviewers have been spewing biphobic comments about this second opus, but I think Maren's growth and her fractured relationship with Kaia is pretty realistic. I don't doubt that, if I was to reread the first book, I would see the little cracks that led to their fights in this second opus. Yes, there is wlw content in this book, but that does not negate the fact that Maren is bisexual and therefore attracted to more than one gender. Her attraction to Sev (and whatever might develop between them in this second book) doesn't mean her feelings for Kaia aren't real and that she isn't in love with a woman. Let bisexual people exist and stop saying an author wronged you when they made it clear from the get go that their MC wasn't only attracted to women.
However, concerning Maren and Kaia's relationship, I didn't like the way Maren disregarded Kaia's feelings towards her trauma and refused to accept Kaia's decision to forgive the Aurati again and again. When a victim tells you they've forgiven - or gotten over their anger - for their agressor, it's not your decision to carry that anger and hate. Maren never respected Kaia's decision, and that was problematic in itself. I think the author could have better framed it to make Kaia appear less as the "bad guy" in that aspect, since it was Maren who was in the wrong and I don't think she ever apologized for that.
As for what actually happens in this book, I loved every page of it. I knew as a traitor from the beginning, but the discovery was still pretty good. The blurry line of friends and foe was interesting to navigate too, with many morally grey characters toeing it throughout the story. The whole thing is still pretty idealistic (greed leading to a person's downfall isn't exactly reality) but hey, that's what books are for, right?
I think any lover of dragons who wants an inclusive story would be delighted with this duology.
September 5, 2021
Well, I was wrong about the polyamory, unfortunately. Despite that, this was a fairly enjoyable read! I can't get enough of dragons, and this book had a whole lot more to do with them than Shatter the Sky. Tasia, Naava, Braith, Alora, I loved getting to see more of their thoughts and personalities. I also really liked the romantic parallel between book 1 focusing on saving Kaia and book 2 about saving Sev. Maren is constantly trying to save a love interest! Speaking of which...
Time to talk about the elephant in the room: Maren ending up with Sev instead of Kaia. Even from the beginning, I assumed that Kaia and Maren were not going to end up together. Maren idolized her too much, and I could tell that the plot was setting them up to grow apart. However, Maren and Sev falling for one another was a bit of a surprise. Did I want them to have a more complex, long romantic build? Absolutely. Do I think their love is some cop out, heterosexual ending? Definitely not! Maren is most likely bi or pan (though it isn't explicit), and so the gender of who she fell in love with didn't matter.
However, I do think Kaia deserved better. A majority of their interactions seemed needlessly aggressive, with Kaia picking fights over the smallest things. I could understand why they disagreed, and even sided with Kaia on occasion, but having them only ever fight was a tad frustrating. I would have loved to have seen more of the good in their relationship before they fell apart, but I understand that there wasn't a whole lot of time for it with only two books.
Final thoughts: Tasia is the best and deserves to be protected at all costs, Maren is the dragon lady I've always hoped to be, Kaia deserved some chapters from her perspective, Sev needs a nap, and I love the idea that your first love is not always your last.
Time to talk about the elephant in the room: Maren ending up with Sev instead of Kaia. Even from the beginning, I assumed that Kaia and Maren were not going to end up together. Maren idolized her too much, and I could tell that the plot was setting them up to grow apart. However, Maren and Sev falling for one another was a bit of a surprise. Did I want them to have a more complex, long romantic build? Absolutely. Do I think their love is some cop out, heterosexual ending? Definitely not! Maren is most likely bi or pan (though it isn't explicit), and so the gender of who she fell in love with didn't matter.
However, I do think Kaia deserved better. A majority of their interactions seemed needlessly aggressive, with Kaia picking fights over the smallest things. I could understand why they disagreed, and even sided with Kaia on occasion, but having them only ever fight was a tad frustrating. I would have loved to have seen more of the good in their relationship before they fell apart, but I understand that there wasn't a whole lot of time for it with only two books.
Final thoughts: Tasia is the best and deserves to be protected at all costs, Maren is the dragon lady I've always hoped to be, Kaia deserved some chapters from her perspective, Sev needs a nap, and I love the idea that your first love is not always your last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2023
These books are light, fluffy, and just fun to read. Theyre not too deep, they have a well paced plot, and I loved the dragons! Theyre also of course very gay, which is wonderful. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the love triangle. I think exploring either of these relationships separately could've worked, but I didn't enjoy them side by side. In book one I hated the plot of Maren almost cheating on her girlfriend who at that point had done nothing wrong and was being kidnapped and tortured. She had just met Sev and was already falling for him. He also made moves on her after she said she was taken and asserted her boundaries, which was kind of gross to me. At least in book two this plot direction was more justified as we're shown Kya and Marens relationship becoming more distant. I still didn't love the fact that she got with Sev practically the same day she broke up with Kya, and this is one of several reasons why I think love triangles are gross. They dated for five years and she's just ready to rebound immediately. Sev grew on me a little in book two but not enough to justify the love triangle. I still really enjoyed the book though and I thought Maren and Kya's relationship and breakup in book two was very well written and emotionally realistic. I like how they got an epilogue scene and how Maren went to travel the world and not just hang out with Sev. But the best part of these books for me was the dragon kit bonding to Maren and her deciding to free all the dragons. 🐉
June 30, 2021
Just like Shatter the Sky, this book was a hard-to-put-down page-turner. This was a lovely conclusion to the series, and I was not disappointed!
In my review of the series, (which I posted as a review of Shatter the Sky), I mentioned the specific pros and cons, some of which are relevant to Storm the Earth, but for those who didn't see that review, I'll just simplify here by saying my only complaints were:
- the split point-of-view narration
(just a personal preference; I was hoping to stick with the single point-of-view that the first book had, but the split narration was necessary for telling the story as it was)
and
- the love triangle
(I was hoping this would be the Y.A. story that avoided this trope, but at least this story had a fresh spin on it.)
Those complaints are minor, however, compared to how good the story and worldbuilding are. I had so much fun reading this series, and isn't that the whole point when you pick up a fantasy?
- - - - - -
Full review at RebeccaReadsAndRants.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/review-shatter-the-sky-rebecca-kim-wells
In my review of the series, (which I posted as a review of Shatter the Sky), I mentioned the specific pros and cons, some of which are relevant to Storm the Earth, but for those who didn't see that review, I'll just simplify here by saying my only complaints were:
- the split point-of-view narration
(just a personal preference; I was hoping to stick with the single point-of-view that the first book had, but the split narration was necessary for telling the story as it was)
and
- the love triangle
(I was hoping this would be the Y.A. story that avoided this trope, but at least this story had a fresh spin on it.)
Those complaints are minor, however, compared to how good the story and worldbuilding are. I had so much fun reading this series, and isn't that the whole point when you pick up a fantasy?
- - - - - -
Full review at RebeccaReadsAndRants.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/review-shatter-the-sky-rebecca-kim-wells
May 19, 2022
What I Liked:
Political intrigue, additional layers to the world, and dragons Set up the sequel in the Shatter the Sky series with much anticipation. Dragons are what make this duology worth reading. The first book sets us up with the groundwork of Maren's heartmate being stolen from her and her half-brained plan to rescue her. Now Maren knows she possesses the ability to free the dragons from the talon control and to take back her home from the Emperor. In book two, the romance gets murky as Maren is torn between two loves, one she had forever and one she just developed. The development that the romance goes through feels very realistic and on par with a character who grows and comes into her own as Maren did. The story is told in dual perspective; switching between Maren and Sev makes the story move along at a fast clip.
Final Verdict:
Storm the Earth closes the chapter on this duology by following a reluctant hero who ends up leading a rebellion. A word with many layers to be explored, dragon lore truth to be discovered, and political upheaval, this is a fantasy story worth the read.
Political intrigue, additional layers to the world, and dragons Set up the sequel in the Shatter the Sky series with much anticipation. Dragons are what make this duology worth reading. The first book sets us up with the groundwork of Maren's heartmate being stolen from her and her half-brained plan to rescue her. Now Maren knows she possesses the ability to free the dragons from the talon control and to take back her home from the Emperor. In book two, the romance gets murky as Maren is torn between two loves, one she had forever and one she just developed. The development that the romance goes through feels very realistic and on par with a character who grows and comes into her own as Maren did. The story is told in dual perspective; switching between Maren and Sev makes the story move along at a fast clip.
Final Verdict:
Storm the Earth closes the chapter on this duology by following a reluctant hero who ends up leading a rebellion. A word with many layers to be explored, dragon lore truth to be discovered, and political upheaval, this is a fantasy story worth the read.
February 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this sequel, and I was glad that the author didn't feel the need to drag the storyline out into a trilogy because the plot line really felt quite complete.
Like the first book, this one too is action packed & I read it in one sitting. The romantic triangle Maren is caught in to me is less important than the relationship she develops with the dragons, and I really love that--Wells is clearly allowing Maren to grow into her own person who actualizes, accepts & celebrates the fact that she is capable of standing on her own independently.
Fans of book 1 will not be disappointed by Storm the Earth. I hope that Rebecca Kim Wells continues to write--I think she has so much to offer the world of YA fantasy literature & as a teacher, I am grateful to have the two books in my classroom library as they offer more representation & are both entirely appropriate for a high school setting.
Like the first book, this one too is action packed & I read it in one sitting. The romantic triangle Maren is caught in to me is less important than the relationship she develops with the dragons, and I really love that--Wells is clearly allowing Maren to grow into her own person who actualizes, accepts & celebrates the fact that she is capable of standing on her own independently.
Fans of book 1 will not be disappointed by Storm the Earth. I hope that Rebecca Kim Wells continues to write--I think she has so much to offer the world of YA fantasy literature & as a teacher, I am grateful to have the two books in my classroom library as they offer more representation & are both entirely appropriate for a high school setting.
June 17, 2021
Like some others, I was a little concerned on how some things would be handled in this book, primarily the love triangle we were left with in the first book. I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say I like how they handled it, especially as it seemed to avoid a lot of crappy love triangle tropes.
The story was pretty good with just a few scenes dragging on while others felt rushed and left me questioning some things that were never answered. I really enjoyed the characters, especially the dragons.
I felt that this book was a great wrap-up to this story. While there is possibly room for more in this universe, with a few things left open ended, I think that this as an ending spot is perfect.
The story was pretty good with just a few scenes dragging on while others felt rushed and left me questioning some things that were never answered. I really enjoyed the characters, especially the dragons.
I felt that this book was a great wrap-up to this story. While there is possibly room for more in this universe, with a few things left open ended, I think that this as an ending spot is perfect.
January 16, 2023
I’m used to longer high fantasy series with more build up, so the defeat of the emperor felt anticlimactic. One of the worst and best things was Maren and Kaia’s relationship. They couldn’t agree on anything because they’re both stubborn, Maren had grown into her own person, and Kaia was used to being the more accomplished one. On one hand it’s sad because they broke up (they reconciled and left as friends but still). And on the other hand it’s nice to see a more realistic take on relationships in YA. Most couples get together by the end, they were together in the beginning. Thankfully, Maren did not begin a relationship with Seth right after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2021
I started this book with hopes that it would turn into a polyamorous romance before my eyes, but as the pages unfolded, it became clear that I was going to get a story of two girls who have gone through hell and it has changed them, and they are just trying to find their ways back to each other. It gave me some Girls of Storm and Shadow vibes.
Unlike the last book in this series, this was also a dual PoV novel, with the character of Sev being the second point of view beside Maren.
Action wise, this book was everything I wanted the last book to be. We start this book with two dragons, but they are far from the only ones who enter into the story. The bond between Maren and the dragon that was an egg in the last book is just so beautiful.
Although I had some high hopes that this book was going to go down a polyamorous direction, this was not the way it happened. I actually liked what did happen better, I think, as it was more realistic to what ended up being a huge political shift.
Sev's points of view chapters throughout the book were all basically about the end of days of the current reign. The worse things were going for the emperor, the worse things got for Sev, who was in captivity for a lot of it. The intensity of royal politics got a bit much at times, so I was really glad that we were alternating viewpoints all the way through.
We got a really complete and complex story within these pages and I liked it.
Unlike the last book in this series, this was also a dual PoV novel, with the character of Sev being the second point of view beside Maren.
Action wise, this book was everything I wanted the last book to be. We start this book with two dragons, but they are far from the only ones who enter into the story. The bond between Maren and the dragon that was an egg in the last book is just so beautiful.
Although I had some high hopes that this book was going to go down a polyamorous direction, this was not the way it happened. I actually liked what did happen better, I think, as it was more realistic to what ended up being a huge political shift.
Sev's points of view chapters throughout the book were all basically about the end of days of the current reign. The worse things were going for the emperor, the worse things got for Sev, who was in captivity for a lot of it. The intensity of royal politics got a bit much at times, so I was really glad that we were alternating viewpoints all the way through.
We got a really complete and complex story within these pages and I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews