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Elysia Dayne #1
Under an Azure Sky - Elysia Dayne: Book One
They call me… Hero… Mercenary… Dragon Slayer.
But that wasn’t always the case.
There was a time when I thought that dragons were beautiful…
During my childhood, I believed that I was friends with a dragon, except the dragon never knew of this friendship.
Days after my thirteenth birthday, my secret was no longer mine to keep. Soldiers arrived to slay the dragon so that a feudal lord could make his name amongst the nine kingdoms. It ended in abject failure. They were left to soak in a bloodbath of their own making.
In a rage, the dragon destroyed the place that I called home, and killed the people that I called family. She also dismantled a thing that I called love.
Reborn under a mound of ashen corpses, my empty shell vowed vengeance, forging a fiery path of retribution that could not be undone.
Not by my own design, I inadvertently became a slayer of dragons. Curiously, dragon slaying isn’t my next job…
A princess is being held for ransom at a goblin fort. Wearing the stolen armour of a goblin knight, I attempt to rescue her to claim my prize.
When I met her, she was Winter. Now, she is Spring. Maybe I can learn to love again…
But that wasn’t always the case.
There was a time when I thought that dragons were beautiful…
During my childhood, I believed that I was friends with a dragon, except the dragon never knew of this friendship.
Days after my thirteenth birthday, my secret was no longer mine to keep. Soldiers arrived to slay the dragon so that a feudal lord could make his name amongst the nine kingdoms. It ended in abject failure. They were left to soak in a bloodbath of their own making.
In a rage, the dragon destroyed the place that I called home, and killed the people that I called family. She also dismantled a thing that I called love.
Reborn under a mound of ashen corpses, my empty shell vowed vengeance, forging a fiery path of retribution that could not be undone.
Not by my own design, I inadvertently became a slayer of dragons. Curiously, dragon slaying isn’t my next job…
A princess is being held for ransom at a goblin fort. Wearing the stolen armour of a goblin knight, I attempt to rescue her to claim my prize.
When I met her, she was Winter. Now, she is Spring. Maybe I can learn to love again…
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Published December 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 10, 2023
Alright first off, as someone who is less inclined to read romance focused fantasy, part of the three-star review is a me and not you thing. The other main part is that for me, it's extremely hard to keep track of audio books when they jump all over the place chronologically and don't label when something is happening.
Where I prefer a linear story in general, the bulk of this is told in time jumps, flashbacks, and memories. Additionally none of it was in chronological order either which didn't help, even up to the very end in which (something) left the MC injured, then we flash back to find out what. This is a different stylistic choice that resulted in a lot of confusion for me and I wish time had been specified.
The prologue was exciting and promising as a young girl's town is destroyed by a dragon. After that, I was expecting a linear story and was surprised to find that we jump to the story of the main character in the middle of a quest to rescue a princess. Throughout their journey, she (first person POV) flashes back to fill us in on what happened between the prologue and the present.
At heart, it's a good story. It's just hard because with the flashbacks we only get glimpses of events which made it difficult to sink my teeth into the story or really become invested in the characters. I also expected more from the dragon slaying part although that's not the focus of this story. Heck I'm still wondering why the princess was kidnapped in the first place 🤷♀️
It kept me on my toes for sure. I am not usually one who cares about showing versus telling but I think the entire story would have been better served linearly, since it was all told in present tense. I actually enjoyed the story at heart but not differentiating between past and present except in context was exceptionally confusing at times via audio. The main character has an ability that is interesting and I would have liked to know more about, but it was left sadly unexplored. There's a lot of potential here that I just don't think was capitalized on.
I think Chan's best talent is writing action and fight scenes! These were excellent when they came about.
One thing that I'm honestly not sure about is the target age group for this book? I liked the female friendship and actually didn't mind the romance, it was chaste and kind of cute how they mostly flirted with each other as they got closer. That said, if you know me you know that I just dislike proximity romances as a trope. I very rarely feel like they have enough to stand on.
At this point I can recommend the book for young adult. The language is clean, the romance is clean, but then there are also long and drawn out descriptions of mutilated bodies, death, killing, violence, just...huh. I think an upper YA/NA/Adult audience especially since the characters are in their twenties.
Rhonda Pownell is a decent narrator too. I enjoy her voice in general and like her female voices although some of the deeper male ones could hit a slightly off key note. I also found some word pronunciations vastly different from what I've heard before, although this could be a cultural/regional thing.
All in all, I enjoyed listening to the audiobook and would listen to more by the narrator.
If I was reading via text, I'm not sure. I would also try another book by the author although probably not book two in this series, seeing as he mentions both flashbacks and sexual coming of age in the description. It seems in book 2 that we're going to continue the journey that the characters are on now, and also focus on the main character's time in the military academy. I think instead of leaving so many holes in the past if it was me I would have just written a linear story across multiple books.
I would recommend for fans of character based stories with softer f/f romance
Where I prefer a linear story in general, the bulk of this is told in time jumps, flashbacks, and memories. Additionally none of it was in chronological order either which didn't help, even up to the very end in which (something) left the MC injured, then we flash back to find out what. This is a different stylistic choice that resulted in a lot of confusion for me and I wish time had been specified.
The prologue was exciting and promising as a young girl's town is destroyed by a dragon. After that, I was expecting a linear story and was surprised to find that we jump to the story of the main character in the middle of a quest to rescue a princess. Throughout their journey, she (first person POV) flashes back to fill us in on what happened between the prologue and the present.
At heart, it's a good story. It's just hard because with the flashbacks we only get glimpses of events which made it difficult to sink my teeth into the story or really become invested in the characters. I also expected more from the dragon slaying part although that's not the focus of this story. Heck I'm still wondering why the princess was kidnapped in the first place 🤷♀️
It kept me on my toes for sure. I am not usually one who cares about showing versus telling but I think the entire story would have been better served linearly, since it was all told in present tense. I actually enjoyed the story at heart but not differentiating between past and present except in context was exceptionally confusing at times via audio. The main character has an ability that is interesting and I would have liked to know more about, but it was left sadly unexplored. There's a lot of potential here that I just don't think was capitalized on.
I think Chan's best talent is writing action and fight scenes! These were excellent when they came about.
One thing that I'm honestly not sure about is the target age group for this book? I liked the female friendship and actually didn't mind the romance, it was chaste and kind of cute how they mostly flirted with each other as they got closer. That said, if you know me you know that I just dislike proximity romances as a trope. I very rarely feel like they have enough to stand on.
At this point I can recommend the book for young adult. The language is clean, the romance is clean, but then there are also long and drawn out descriptions of mutilated bodies, death, killing, violence, just...huh. I think an upper YA/NA/Adult audience especially since the characters are in their twenties.
Rhonda Pownell is a decent narrator too. I enjoy her voice in general and like her female voices although some of the deeper male ones could hit a slightly off key note. I also found some word pronunciations vastly different from what I've heard before, although this could be a cultural/regional thing.
All in all, I enjoyed listening to the audiobook and would listen to more by the narrator.
If I was reading via text, I'm not sure. I would also try another book by the author although probably not book two in this series, seeing as he mentions both flashbacks and sexual coming of age in the description. It seems in book 2 that we're going to continue the journey that the characters are on now, and also focus on the main character's time in the military academy. I think instead of leaving so many holes in the past if it was me I would have just written a linear story across multiple books.
I would recommend for fans of character based stories with softer f/f romance
June 11, 2023
The premise of this book was amazing, and the prologue chapter was very promising, so I went into the story with high hopes. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me.
I will start with the good things. As I mentioned, the premise sounded great. The protagonist, Elysia Dayne, who is a dragon slayer goes on a quest to save a princess. We learn more about her past, her adventures and watch as she and the princess, Isabella, get closer. The world seems rich and interesting, with some of the lore scattered throughout the story.
Now, I must move on to what I didn't enjoy. As I mentioned, both the plot and the world seem interesting, but my biggest complaint is that it all seems underdeveloped. The story had great potential, but I feel like we don't get to experience it in its full glory.
My first issue was the pacing. It made the book hard to read. It's slow in the beginning, but with a lot of info-dumping in the prologue chapter, and the plot of some of the later chapters seems to be dragging more than it's necessary and enjoyable.
There were many flashbacks incorporated, and while it's a writing element I usually enjoy, here it was distracting from the main plot. The main plot was Elysia's quest to save Isabella (and their journey) and the flashbacks provide information about Elysia's past. The flashbacks were often, and pretty lengthy and sometimes they were more interesting than the main plot. Which, in my opinion, defeats their purpose which is to be filler content and provide exposition. There was a lot of back and forth and the way it was done made the story dizzying and confusing at times.
The writing style in general consisted mostly of telling and not showing, using many filler words, and there were many drawn-out details that just failed to keep my interest. It seems more like I'm supposed to guess what the author meant to do, rather than actually experience it while reading.
The characters were, in my opinion, underdeveloped. They had the potential to be really interesting, but they sadly were not. It is clear what the author meant to do with the characters, but they seem unfinished. They seem pretty flat, two-dimensional and even the main character had next to no personality. I was well into the book (about 70%) when I finally felt like the main character had a personality whatsoever. This made it hard to connect with the characters and care about their stories. It again seems like I am guessing who the characters are, but because I'm assuming and not because they're presented that way in the book.
The relationship between Elysia and Isabella falls flat for me. There is no buildup to it, and while they spent time together, there is no chemistry between them and it doesn't look like a significant bond is forming. These are the chapters where the plot dragged the most, as it seemed that every chapter is exactly the same just packaged to be slightly different. They don't seem to like each other at all, especially Elysia, whose POV we're reading from. She seems to view Isabella as a child and complains about her constantly, and there are no actual indicators to tell us she is getting more fond of Isabella but all of a sudden she is in love with her. It seemed very uncharacteristic, and there wasn't anything leading up to it, it was like a switch went on.
The dialogues seemed stilted, and the banter seemed forced. There were a couple of instances of banter between Elysia and Isabella I enjoyed, but like most things in this book - it was underwhelming. In the flashbacks, most of the dialogues are used as exposition, to find out more about Elysia, but many of them just seem to be pandering. Many characters tell Elysia how great of a hero she is, how they admire her, and so on, but I think those dialogues could've been used to show what her actual personality is, and not just to tell us that she is a great hero. Asides from Elysia and Isabelle, no other character seems even remotely important, they just seem to be there to push the plot, and I wish there was more to the side characters. The main character also doesn't experience any character development, in my opinion, she is exactly the same throughout the entire book.
I did like the world, but I wish there was more world-building. It is obvious that the author put a lot of thought into creating this world, but we only see it in snippets. Hopefully, the next book incorporates more world-building, as I think this world has a lot more to offer.
Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I think this would be more suited for someone who is less character-oriented while reading, and/or for someone who likes episodic storytelling - the flashbacks provide fun little adventures that someone might enjoy more than I did.
I received a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I will start with the good things. As I mentioned, the premise sounded great. The protagonist, Elysia Dayne, who is a dragon slayer goes on a quest to save a princess. We learn more about her past, her adventures and watch as she and the princess, Isabella, get closer. The world seems rich and interesting, with some of the lore scattered throughout the story.
Now, I must move on to what I didn't enjoy. As I mentioned, both the plot and the world seem interesting, but my biggest complaint is that it all seems underdeveloped. The story had great potential, but I feel like we don't get to experience it in its full glory.
My first issue was the pacing. It made the book hard to read. It's slow in the beginning, but with a lot of info-dumping in the prologue chapter, and the plot of some of the later chapters seems to be dragging more than it's necessary and enjoyable.
There were many flashbacks incorporated, and while it's a writing element I usually enjoy, here it was distracting from the main plot. The main plot was Elysia's quest to save Isabella (and their journey) and the flashbacks provide information about Elysia's past. The flashbacks were often, and pretty lengthy and sometimes they were more interesting than the main plot. Which, in my opinion, defeats their purpose which is to be filler content and provide exposition. There was a lot of back and forth and the way it was done made the story dizzying and confusing at times.
The writing style in general consisted mostly of telling and not showing, using many filler words, and there were many drawn-out details that just failed to keep my interest. It seems more like I'm supposed to guess what the author meant to do, rather than actually experience it while reading.
The characters were, in my opinion, underdeveloped. They had the potential to be really interesting, but they sadly were not. It is clear what the author meant to do with the characters, but they seem unfinished. They seem pretty flat, two-dimensional and even the main character had next to no personality. I was well into the book (about 70%) when I finally felt like the main character had a personality whatsoever. This made it hard to connect with the characters and care about their stories. It again seems like I am guessing who the characters are, but because I'm assuming and not because they're presented that way in the book.
The relationship between Elysia and Isabella falls flat for me. There is no buildup to it, and while they spent time together, there is no chemistry between them and it doesn't look like a significant bond is forming. These are the chapters where the plot dragged the most, as it seemed that every chapter is exactly the same just packaged to be slightly different. They don't seem to like each other at all, especially Elysia, whose POV we're reading from. She seems to view Isabella as a child and complains about her constantly, and there are no actual indicators to tell us she is getting more fond of Isabella but all of a sudden she is in love with her. It seemed very uncharacteristic, and there wasn't anything leading up to it, it was like a switch went on.
The dialogues seemed stilted, and the banter seemed forced. There were a couple of instances of banter between Elysia and Isabella I enjoyed, but like most things in this book - it was underwhelming. In the flashbacks, most of the dialogues are used as exposition, to find out more about Elysia, but many of them just seem to be pandering. Many characters tell Elysia how great of a hero she is, how they admire her, and so on, but I think those dialogues could've been used to show what her actual personality is, and not just to tell us that she is a great hero. Asides from Elysia and Isabelle, no other character seems even remotely important, they just seem to be there to push the plot, and I wish there was more to the side characters. The main character also doesn't experience any character development, in my opinion, she is exactly the same throughout the entire book.
I did like the world, but I wish there was more world-building. It is obvious that the author put a lot of thought into creating this world, but we only see it in snippets. Hopefully, the next book incorporates more world-building, as I think this world has a lot more to offer.
Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I think this would be more suited for someone who is less character-oriented while reading, and/or for someone who likes episodic storytelling - the flashbacks provide fun little adventures that someone might enjoy more than I did.
I received a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
Under an Azure Sky is the first book in the epic fantasy series Elysia Dayne, written by Wil Chan, which is part of the SPFBOX. In this first novel, we have multi-timeline story, exploring how Elysia ended becoming a mercenary, and her current task trying to rescue the princess Isabella; an interesting and thrilling adventure to read with dashes of romance.
Told from the perspective of Elysia, we can see the difference between the legendary mercenary and the real character; even she doesn't give full credit to the stories told about her. Don't get me wrong, she's competent and definitely is suited for the job, but she's still flawed, and that is what surprises the people when they know her. Rescuing a princess might not be easy, but it only becomes really difficult when you are being persecuted by a criminal band.
The fragmented timeline structure helps a bit, easing the tension of the main storyline, building Elysia's past and giving us hints of how she became this kind of mercenary; it also gives us a breath (especially at the start) of Isabella's complaints, which become a bit annoying. However, Isabella slowly grew inside me as character, probably at the same time the love sparks between both of our characters.
The writing is accessible, making this a really fast read, which, paired with the relative fast pacing, it makes it fly. While the world-building is not exactly mold-breaking, I found that how the story is told made it definitely worthwhile.
Under an Azure Sky is a great fantasy adventure, dashes of romance, and perfect if you are looking for a more escapist perspective in your reads. Elysia is a solid character, and I'm curious to see how her story evolves!
Under an Azure Sky is the first book in the epic fantasy series Elysia Dayne, written by Wil Chan, which is part of the SPFBOX. In this first novel, we have multi-timeline story, exploring how Elysia ended becoming a mercenary, and her current task trying to rescue the princess Isabella; an interesting and thrilling adventure to read with dashes of romance.
Told from the perspective of Elysia, we can see the difference between the legendary mercenary and the real character; even she doesn't give full credit to the stories told about her. Don't get me wrong, she's competent and definitely is suited for the job, but she's still flawed, and that is what surprises the people when they know her. Rescuing a princess might not be easy, but it only becomes really difficult when you are being persecuted by a criminal band.
The fragmented timeline structure helps a bit, easing the tension of the main storyline, building Elysia's past and giving us hints of how she became this kind of mercenary; it also gives us a breath (especially at the start) of Isabella's complaints, which become a bit annoying. However, Isabella slowly grew inside me as character, probably at the same time the love sparks between both of our characters.
The writing is accessible, making this a really fast read, which, paired with the relative fast pacing, it makes it fly. While the world-building is not exactly mold-breaking, I found that how the story is told made it definitely worthwhile.
Under an Azure Sky is a great fantasy adventure, dashes of romance, and perfect if you are looking for a more escapist perspective in your reads. Elysia is a solid character, and I'm curious to see how her story evolves!
April 5, 2022
Big thank you to NetGalley for providing this free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Reading this book felt like playing a video game on the early 2000s with poor graphics.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. It looks amazing and something that might belong as a cover of a graphic novel (or a video game). The blurb was very consistent to the story. However, the quality of the story and writing was lacking. It didn't feel like a book, rather more like a collection of children's stories someone was trying to pass off as adult novel.
I am sad to say that I didn't even read the end part fully, I just flew over it because I could not engage with the story. All in all, sadly this book was a huge disappointment. I was looking forward to a good story with dragons. But did not get it.
Reading this book felt like playing a video game on the early 2000s with poor graphics.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. It looks amazing and something that might belong as a cover of a graphic novel (or a video game). The blurb was very consistent to the story. However, the quality of the story and writing was lacking. It didn't feel like a book, rather more like a collection of children's stories someone was trying to pass off as adult novel.
I am sad to say that I didn't even read the end part fully, I just flew over it because I could not engage with the story. All in all, sadly this book was a huge disappointment. I was looking forward to a good story with dragons. But did not get it.
November 15, 2024
Under an Azure Sky is a hard swerve from the modern multi-POV fantasy adventures we get pretty much everywhere.
It's a very well crafted story from the POV of Elysia Dayne, our heroine (she doesn't see herself like that.
Above it all, it's a deep delve into the psyche of a person with many traumas, hurts and losses along her history. And the single-POV keeps your focus, goblin-steel sharp, into that story, those hurts and wounds and everything that makes up Elysia, Elysia.
The world is very vibrant, well crafted and feels cohesive, I did feel some incongruencies in expressions, terms and words when switching from place to place or in some use of modern language. Nothing terrible, just a bit distracting from time to time. But considering how the story kept you going you could quickly brush over those and carry on.
There's a scene where Wil shows all the ugly sides of the human condition. I'll always remember that.
And while I really liked the book, it's not the kind of series I can plough through one book after the other, as the deep dive into a psyche is quite taxing for me and it takes me a while to process it all.
It's a very well crafted story from the POV of Elysia Dayne, our heroine (she doesn't see herself like that.
Above it all, it's a deep delve into the psyche of a person with many traumas, hurts and losses along her history. And the single-POV keeps your focus, goblin-steel sharp, into that story, those hurts and wounds and everything that makes up Elysia, Elysia.
The world is very vibrant, well crafted and feels cohesive, I did feel some incongruencies in expressions, terms and words when switching from place to place or in some use of modern language. Nothing terrible, just a bit distracting from time to time. But considering how the story kept you going you could quickly brush over those and carry on.
There's a scene where Wil shows all the ugly sides of the human condition. I'll always remember that.
And while I really liked the book, it's not the kind of series I can plough through one book after the other, as the deep dive into a psyche is quite taxing for me and it takes me a while to process it all.
November 14, 2025
I had been interested in reading this book for a rather long while and took ages to nab a copy. Lest to say, I once again entered the book without any prior notions because I seldom ever read blurbs prior to trying it out.
I offer a forewarning the book is non linear because some readers hate it when stories go back and forth like that. However, I think it works most of the time in this book because we see current day assertive mercenary Elysia and her prior self as a sheltered preteen living in a remote village. We get a few fun chapters where she has joined military school somewhat under the table after convincing a nobleman she wants to defeat him in an honorable battle. This is due to the nobleman nicknamed 'the peacock' being the culprit of a spoilery event seen early in the book. I felt the early happy childhood chapters were a tad too long and would have wanted to learn more of academy era self. Other readers might think the happy childhood offers some more lightheated chapters to compensate some of the grimer higher stakes chapters in the present.
One thing I liked about this book that is seldom done right is how it stresses ad nauseum Elysia has to use other stretegies such as impressive acrobatics and cunning to compensate her short stature and weak upper body. Tons of research is poured regarding the accuracy of armor piece assembly and types of swords. Another thing I felt highly believable that makes this epic stand apart is how the battles tend to be a messy ordeal instead of the refined finesse of Legolas's arrows always hitting its mark without 1 blood droplet wasted. Taking advantage of rudimentary medical knowledge, Elysia forgone the traditional military tutelage and learned how to throw knives over swiping longswords. And dammit, she never wastes an opportunity to aim them right in the carotid artery. This knowledge goes beyond the typical human brigand match. Another fun aspect of this book is the enormous care in explaining some interesting aspects of dragon anatomy during the entertaining flashback chapters Elysia has single handedly killed dragons.
The sapphic is intentionally slow burn, without truly confirming nor denying there even is a 1st base in book 1. It feels more like an overall setup to prioritize learning about the protagonist's past. Readers that don't mind the glacial pace the romance is going and instead like to know the troubled past of the heroine will likely have their patience rewarded in the sequel. Since I haven't read book 2, I cannot confirm or not.
We get chances to start knowing our damsel in distress Isabella, from her frosty uptight princess mode to the joyful and haughty true self. She is sometimes despairing, goofy and sufficient street smart to let the heroine kick some butt.
Due to the non linear plot, we do get one bad aspect of the book. The book ends in a pivotal emotional scene while concurrently still feeling like the 'save the princess' plot is only halfway done. That doesn't mean it is a terrible ending, and all signs you will have to read book 2 to get that initial story conflict to be fulfilled. But for me, when it comes to road trip stories, I do have a personal preference they actually get to their hyped destination before the book ends. Other readers won't find it as much of a big deal due to the (rather unexpected but still anticipated) final showdown battle.
Despite this issue, I did enjoy the book, liked the protagonist and will consider getting a copy of the sequel to continue reading it.
I offer a forewarning the book is non linear because some readers hate it when stories go back and forth like that. However, I think it works most of the time in this book because we see current day assertive mercenary Elysia and her prior self as a sheltered preteen living in a remote village. We get a few fun chapters where she has joined military school somewhat under the table after convincing a nobleman she wants to defeat him in an honorable battle. This is due to the nobleman nicknamed 'the peacock' being the culprit of a spoilery event seen early in the book. I felt the early happy childhood chapters were a tad too long and would have wanted to learn more of academy era self. Other readers might think the happy childhood offers some more lightheated chapters to compensate some of the grimer higher stakes chapters in the present.
One thing I liked about this book that is seldom done right is how it stresses ad nauseum Elysia has to use other stretegies such as impressive acrobatics and cunning to compensate her short stature and weak upper body. Tons of research is poured regarding the accuracy of armor piece assembly and types of swords. Another thing I felt highly believable that makes this epic stand apart is how the battles tend to be a messy ordeal instead of the refined finesse of Legolas's arrows always hitting its mark without 1 blood droplet wasted. Taking advantage of rudimentary medical knowledge, Elysia forgone the traditional military tutelage and learned how to throw knives over swiping longswords. And dammit, she never wastes an opportunity to aim them right in the carotid artery. This knowledge goes beyond the typical human brigand match. Another fun aspect of this book is the enormous care in explaining some interesting aspects of dragon anatomy during the entertaining flashback chapters Elysia has single handedly killed dragons.
The sapphic is intentionally slow burn, without truly confirming nor denying there even is a 1st base in book 1. It feels more like an overall setup to prioritize learning about the protagonist's past. Readers that don't mind the glacial pace the romance is going and instead like to know the troubled past of the heroine will likely have their patience rewarded in the sequel. Since I haven't read book 2, I cannot confirm or not.
We get chances to start knowing our damsel in distress Isabella, from her frosty uptight princess mode to the joyful and haughty true self. She is sometimes despairing, goofy and sufficient street smart to let the heroine kick some butt.
Due to the non linear plot, we do get one bad aspect of the book. The book ends in a pivotal emotional scene while concurrently still feeling like the 'save the princess' plot is only halfway done. That doesn't mean it is a terrible ending, and all signs you will have to read book 2 to get that initial story conflict to be fulfilled. But for me, when it comes to road trip stories, I do have a personal preference they actually get to their hyped destination before the book ends. Other readers won't find it as much of a big deal due to the (rather unexpected but still anticipated) final showdown battle.
Despite this issue, I did enjoy the book, liked the protagonist and will consider getting a copy of the sequel to continue reading it.
August 1, 2024
Elysia Dayne, a dragon-slaying hero is tasked with saving princess Isabella from a horde of goblins. Things go wrong and the two are forced to wander the harsh wilderness to find safety in the nearest town which is impossibly far away.
Elysia Dayne is a troubled character who feels nothing when she takes a life. She's analytical and decisive, bordering on cruel at times. But through flashbacks, her tragic past is revealed and you find what shaped her into the legend she is today.
Under an Azure Sky was darker than I expected. In the prologue, Elysia's whole life in burned to the ground in front of her very eyes. Both it and chapter one were deeply compelling and an excellent start to the story.
The world felt interesting and deep with a softer magic that worms its way into the plot at times. The combat was gritty and fun, even if a touch exaggerated at times.
Isabella is a princess through and through. I think Chan nailed the characterization for someone pampered but under careful watch—never allowed to truly discover herself.
However, the structure of the story didn't quite sit right with me. The flashbacks were interesting on their own, but they often didn't affect or impact the present storyline. In several cases, I would've preferred ordering the story differently for a bigger emotional impact. And as much as I loved certain scenes, others felt more like summary. Finally, the ending left me feeling unsatisfied as it wrapped up almost none of the plot points or questions presented in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed Under an Azure Sky and would recommend it to anyone who likes darker fantasy adventure with a heavy dose of sapphic romance.
Elysia Dayne is a troubled character who feels nothing when she takes a life. She's analytical and decisive, bordering on cruel at times. But through flashbacks, her tragic past is revealed and you find what shaped her into the legend she is today.
Under an Azure Sky was darker than I expected. In the prologue, Elysia's whole life in burned to the ground in front of her very eyes. Both it and chapter one were deeply compelling and an excellent start to the story.
The world felt interesting and deep with a softer magic that worms its way into the plot at times. The combat was gritty and fun, even if a touch exaggerated at times.
Isabella is a princess through and through. I think Chan nailed the characterization for someone pampered but under careful watch—never allowed to truly discover herself.
However, the structure of the story didn't quite sit right with me. The flashbacks were interesting on their own, but they often didn't affect or impact the present storyline. In several cases, I would've preferred ordering the story differently for a bigger emotional impact. And as much as I loved certain scenes, others felt more like summary. Finally, the ending left me feeling unsatisfied as it wrapped up almost none of the plot points or questions presented in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed Under an Azure Sky and would recommend it to anyone who likes darker fantasy adventure with a heavy dose of sapphic romance.
March 19, 2022
Thank you to both the author and Reedsy Discovery for the opportunity to read this book in advance, via ARC!
Under an Azure Sky - Elysia Dayne: Book 1 stars Elysia Dayne, a young woman turned dragon slayer after a tragedy turned her from a naïve and innocent child into a hardened hero with whom 'love' has lost all meaning. Until she meets Princess Isabella after being tasked with rescuing her from goblins. At first, Isabella is cold towards her, being the typical image of a spoiled princess at ease with the idea of marrying a prince and becoming a queen. Without spoiling certain events, over time they warm to each other as they face increasingly dangerous threats to their safety.
Elysia as a hero (she states in the book she isn't fond of the term 'heroine' as it 'sounds lesser' than hero) is an interesting depiction of the usual heroic type. She isn't perfect by any means, but she's far from inept. She laughs off the legends that surround her, and even the princess is disappointed when they finally meet and Elysia confirms her identity. The blend of being skilled but not invincible makes her feel more human, and that kind of characterization applies to a lot of the characters in the book. It intrigued me how even characters who are killed off as quickly as they're introduced get moments with bits of background information or an idea of their personalities. The book also gives nonhuman characters and antagonists sympathetic traits, so that very few seem one-note. That being said, I feel like some scenes feel drawn out, though that may be a personal issue. It may put off anyone weary of long, heavily descriptive scenes, but I'm aware many people like detailed descriptions.
The primary draw of the story is the romance between Elysia and Isabella, which is incredibly well-done. As someone who's usually not a fan of slow burn, it was entertaining to watch their relationship develop. Their personalities clashed in a way that was believable and any arguments they had felt realistic, never feeling like they had an argument quota to fill before they could start truly liking each other. The way their relationship gradually mends itself feels real and not at all forced.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantastical worlds, meaningful relationships, and great care given to even the most minor characters.
Under an Azure Sky - Elysia Dayne: Book 1 stars Elysia Dayne, a young woman turned dragon slayer after a tragedy turned her from a naïve and innocent child into a hardened hero with whom 'love' has lost all meaning. Until she meets Princess Isabella after being tasked with rescuing her from goblins. At first, Isabella is cold towards her, being the typical image of a spoiled princess at ease with the idea of marrying a prince and becoming a queen. Without spoiling certain events, over time they warm to each other as they face increasingly dangerous threats to their safety.
Elysia as a hero (she states in the book she isn't fond of the term 'heroine' as it 'sounds lesser' than hero) is an interesting depiction of the usual heroic type. She isn't perfect by any means, but she's far from inept. She laughs off the legends that surround her, and even the princess is disappointed when they finally meet and Elysia confirms her identity. The blend of being skilled but not invincible makes her feel more human, and that kind of characterization applies to a lot of the characters in the book. It intrigued me how even characters who are killed off as quickly as they're introduced get moments with bits of background information or an idea of their personalities. The book also gives nonhuman characters and antagonists sympathetic traits, so that very few seem one-note. That being said, I feel like some scenes feel drawn out, though that may be a personal issue. It may put off anyone weary of long, heavily descriptive scenes, but I'm aware many people like detailed descriptions.
The primary draw of the story is the romance between Elysia and Isabella, which is incredibly well-done. As someone who's usually not a fan of slow burn, it was entertaining to watch their relationship develop. Their personalities clashed in a way that was believable and any arguments they had felt realistic, never feeling like they had an argument quota to fill before they could start truly liking each other. The way their relationship gradually mends itself feels real and not at all forced.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantastical worlds, meaningful relationships, and great care given to even the most minor characters.
Read
August 3, 2025I've decided at 26% to pull the plug on this one.
I'll be sure to write my full reasoning later, just for now, I had a couple issues with it, and way to many books on my TBR to tough it through to the end.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
I'll be sure to write my full reasoning later, just for now, I had a couple issues with it, and way to many books on my TBR to tough it through to the end.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
January 1, 2023
nice find
I started the book after thinking the description sounded cool. A revenge story and flee from assassins. Well, it was kind of that. But surprisingly touching and tragic. Although a dragon didn’t destroy my village and kill everyone I loved, I still related to her loss and confusion.
I started the book after thinking the description sounded cool. A revenge story and flee from assassins. Well, it was kind of that. But surprisingly touching and tragic. Although a dragon didn’t destroy my village and kill everyone I loved, I still related to her loss and confusion.
January 28, 2022
“Under an Azure Sky” is the opening act of a new fantasy series set in an immersive world you won’t soon forget!
The lead, Elysia, is a dragon slayer with a new mission. A complex hero with a strong personality and independent mindset, she once had a dragon for a friend…but the beast turned out to be a destroyer of all that she loved. Elysia swore to seek vengeance on the creature, which is how she became a dragon slayer, but ended up on a mission to save Princess Isabella. This may turn out to be Elysia’s second chance at love, or is it? The two females are complete opposites in many ways. They are low on supplies, not to mention understanding and patience, but together they must face challenges in the wild. All of these forces combined will either make or break them.
Wil Chan has crafted an emotionally and intellectually satisfying fantasy novel that draws you in with rich characters, a compelling plot, and a writing style that’s enjoyable without being cumbersome. My favorite part is watching the friendship develop between Elysia and Isabella—a relationship that feels original and realistic—starting out with a number of differences and then growing from there. Both characters are likeable in their own ways; Elysia has experienced trauma in her past, while Isabella is a princess in trouble.
The backstory makes this tale even more compelling, and the settings are fully realized and intensely creative. Battles aren’t necessarily my favorite scenes, but these are so well-written that you feel like you’re a part of them. This book is a great introduction to what I hope becomes a solid series. The first-person POV adds a distinctive touch to the narrative, and the flashbacks fill in any gaps that readers may be curious about. The dialog feels fresh and spontaneous, and the pacing makes the story go by quickly.
As you read, you will see that this is one tale that would make a spectacular video game or fantasy film. If you’re looking for an entertaining book based on friendship and growth, “Under an Azure Sky” is that adventurous “must-read!”
The lead, Elysia, is a dragon slayer with a new mission. A complex hero with a strong personality and independent mindset, she once had a dragon for a friend…but the beast turned out to be a destroyer of all that she loved. Elysia swore to seek vengeance on the creature, which is how she became a dragon slayer, but ended up on a mission to save Princess Isabella. This may turn out to be Elysia’s second chance at love, or is it? The two females are complete opposites in many ways. They are low on supplies, not to mention understanding and patience, but together they must face challenges in the wild. All of these forces combined will either make or break them.
Wil Chan has crafted an emotionally and intellectually satisfying fantasy novel that draws you in with rich characters, a compelling plot, and a writing style that’s enjoyable without being cumbersome. My favorite part is watching the friendship develop between Elysia and Isabella—a relationship that feels original and realistic—starting out with a number of differences and then growing from there. Both characters are likeable in their own ways; Elysia has experienced trauma in her past, while Isabella is a princess in trouble.
The backstory makes this tale even more compelling, and the settings are fully realized and intensely creative. Battles aren’t necessarily my favorite scenes, but these are so well-written that you feel like you’re a part of them. This book is a great introduction to what I hope becomes a solid series. The first-person POV adds a distinctive touch to the narrative, and the flashbacks fill in any gaps that readers may be curious about. The dialog feels fresh and spontaneous, and the pacing makes the story go by quickly.
As you read, you will see that this is one tale that would make a spectacular video game or fantasy film. If you’re looking for an entertaining book based on friendship and growth, “Under an Azure Sky” is that adventurous “must-read!”
February 16, 2022
Under an Azure Sky is a fantasy novel written by Wil Chan. It is Book One in the Elysia Dayne series, of which I immediately became a fan. The main protagonist is Elysia, a tortured soul who has lived a highly traumatic life. She harnesses her hatred for dragons to become a dragon slayer, which turns out to be a less-than-ideal career choice for the young woman. However, she develops a specific skill set that allows her to pursue other thrilling adventures. Her heroic nature finds her responsible for rescuing Princess Isabella, who was kidnapped and held hostage by goblins. The two find themselves on a very tense journey back home which eventually develops into a beautiful love story.
Wil Chan is a highly talented author with an exciting writing style. His imagery and ability to create an immersive world will impress readers. He has clearly put a lot of effort into this project. He also composed the music for the book trailers, which shows that he is an all-around talented person.
The storyline has elements of fantasy, sword and sorcery, and adventure wrapped up in a complex journey Elysia must navigate. Her feelings of loss and betrayal run deep, and it is dragons, the creatures she once loved, that have caused this change. Readers see and feel what Elysia endured and will want to root for her as she starts to develop feelings for Isabella.
Chan’s worldbuilding is thorough; he gives readers detailed information allowing them to be fully engaged in the storyline. While the beginning of the book instantly hooks you in with the traumatic events that unfold, the main plot takes a slow burn approach while remaining entertaining all the way through. The LBGTQ+ representation is excellent, especially in tandem with the theme of goblin culture in this creative book.
Under an Azure Sky evokes emotion in the reader, and the quality of the author’s writing is one to praise. Fantasy readers will love the familiar elements; those looking for action and adventure will not be disappointed.
Wil Chan is a highly talented author with an exciting writing style. His imagery and ability to create an immersive world will impress readers. He has clearly put a lot of effort into this project. He also composed the music for the book trailers, which shows that he is an all-around talented person.
The storyline has elements of fantasy, sword and sorcery, and adventure wrapped up in a complex journey Elysia must navigate. Her feelings of loss and betrayal run deep, and it is dragons, the creatures she once loved, that have caused this change. Readers see and feel what Elysia endured and will want to root for her as she starts to develop feelings for Isabella.
Chan’s worldbuilding is thorough; he gives readers detailed information allowing them to be fully engaged in the storyline. While the beginning of the book instantly hooks you in with the traumatic events that unfold, the main plot takes a slow burn approach while remaining entertaining all the way through. The LBGTQ+ representation is excellent, especially in tandem with the theme of goblin culture in this creative book.
Under an Azure Sky evokes emotion in the reader, and the quality of the author’s writing is one to praise. Fantasy readers will love the familiar elements; those looking for action and adventure will not be disappointed.
January 21, 2022
“Under an Azure Sky” is the book one of the Elysia Dayne series by author Wil Chan, and a really good fantasy fiction.
In this first approach to the main character, readers can learn about her background and childhood, and how she becomes a slayer of dragons. But I think the richest part of the story is when she is assigned the task of rescuing Princess Isabella. The development and evolution of their relationship perfectly reflects the complexity of human emotions and feelings. Also, the writing is so descriptive that makes it easy for readers to clearly imagine their scenes. The author did an excellent job by establishing a clear tone and atmosphere for the engaging story.
In this first approach to the main character, readers can learn about her background and childhood, and how she becomes a slayer of dragons. But I think the richest part of the story is when she is assigned the task of rescuing Princess Isabella. The development and evolution of their relationship perfectly reflects the complexity of human emotions and feelings. Also, the writing is so descriptive that makes it easy for readers to clearly imagine their scenes. The author did an excellent job by establishing a clear tone and atmosphere for the engaging story.
March 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was so descriptive that it was easy for me to conjure up an image in my mind, and made me feel more invested in the story. I noticed this was something other readers didn't like, but I loved it. Elysia is a complex character, neither good or bad and she's pretty badass which I loved. I think it would be really interesting to see things from Isabellas point of view, especially her thought and feelings towards Elysia. Overall I thought it was a great read and I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 29, 2021
Under an Azure Sky by Wil Chan is a very promising book that didn't rush into anything in the story plot wise and everything flowed well. The characters, Elysia and Isabella, were intresting and engaging as they warmed up to each other. I want to find out more about how Elysia gained the other titles to her name. I'm looking forward to reading more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2022
good stuff
I gave this five stars because there is a lot of effort here. And a lot of the story is well-executed. Fantasy fans will absolutely enjoy this rich world and entertaining plot.
I do have some suggestions, though. The beginning is slow. The information presented, at times, can feel like a lot to take in, and doesn’t always work in tandem with the or specifics of a scene. I look forward to more form this series, though. Well done!
I gave this five stars because there is a lot of effort here. And a lot of the story is well-executed. Fantasy fans will absolutely enjoy this rich world and entertaining plot.
I do have some suggestions, though. The beginning is slow. The information presented, at times, can feel like a lot to take in, and doesn’t always work in tandem with the or specifics of a scene. I look forward to more form this series, though. Well done!
December 21, 2021
Interesting
I usually don’t like first person narrative, and stop reading after a chapter. I’m glad I continued with this one. It does bounce back and forth in time with flashbacks (again I don’t usually like this type of storytelling), but it was necessary to build the main character.
Truly looking forward to the next installment. I do love a good cliffhanger.
I usually don’t like first person narrative, and stop reading after a chapter. I’m glad I continued with this one. It does bounce back and forth in time with flashbacks (again I don’t usually like this type of storytelling), but it was necessary to build the main character.
Truly looking forward to the next installment. I do love a good cliffhanger.
April 7, 2022
Under an Azure Sky by Wil Chan is the first in a series based on the character Elysia Dayne, renowned dragon slayer and hero to many. This debut instalment explores Dayne’s journey after rescuing Princess Isabella with narrative and tense shifts as we learn more about Elysia, her past and what motives her.
The more I read contemporary fantasy fiction, the more I feel refreshed by how this genre has taken on diverse characters and storylines. Chan centres the relationship and love between two women in this story and what I appreciated the most was how Chan wrote about this love no differently than any romance. The LGBTQIA+ element is treated normally and both women are confident in who they are and their sexuality.
The character development overall was strong, with Chan’s use of flashback enabling us to understand Elysia’s determination, flaws and strengths as the story and her journey with Isabella progressed. Chan also writes combat incredibly well - the pace in these sections was at its best - with a clear knowledge of movement and action. Most of the description was pertinent too, especially with regard to the world building within this series - it was interesting to see how Chan drew upon recent fantasy worlds alongside medieval history and the Latin language.
At times the pacing could have been improved - not because of the flashbacks - but because of the frequent lulls in Elysia and Isabella’s journey on foot. This felt very slow and I found myself itching to read ahead, especially towards the end when the resolution was nigh and the description felt like filler rather than important.
The resolution itself, if read as a standalone book, is disappointing. While the final page build up is well done, the final moments seemed to sap all I had invested thus far into these characters, especially Elysia. But, it must be noted that this is the first in a series. Thus, I have no doubt the resolution you read in this book is not a permanent end at all but a cliffhanger to entice you into book two of the series; which, based on book one, promises to be another good story! Elysia is certainly a character I want to spend more time with.
The more I read contemporary fantasy fiction, the more I feel refreshed by how this genre has taken on diverse characters and storylines. Chan centres the relationship and love between two women in this story and what I appreciated the most was how Chan wrote about this love no differently than any romance. The LGBTQIA+ element is treated normally and both women are confident in who they are and their sexuality.
The character development overall was strong, with Chan’s use of flashback enabling us to understand Elysia’s determination, flaws and strengths as the story and her journey with Isabella progressed. Chan also writes combat incredibly well - the pace in these sections was at its best - with a clear knowledge of movement and action. Most of the description was pertinent too, especially with regard to the world building within this series - it was interesting to see how Chan drew upon recent fantasy worlds alongside medieval history and the Latin language.
At times the pacing could have been improved - not because of the flashbacks - but because of the frequent lulls in Elysia and Isabella’s journey on foot. This felt very slow and I found myself itching to read ahead, especially towards the end when the resolution was nigh and the description felt like filler rather than important.
The resolution itself, if read as a standalone book, is disappointing. While the final page build up is well done, the final moments seemed to sap all I had invested thus far into these characters, especially Elysia. But, it must be noted that this is the first in a series. Thus, I have no doubt the resolution you read in this book is not a permanent end at all but a cliffhanger to entice you into book two of the series; which, based on book one, promises to be another good story! Elysia is certainly a character I want to spend more time with.
April 12, 2022
Coming in strong as the first book of the Elysia Dayne series by author Will Chan, Under an Azure Sky is an exciting fantasy adventure filled with dragons, goblins, annoying princesses and more.
Focusing on Elysia and her adventures after a tragic ending to her childhood years, the reader gets to live vicariously through her point of view throughout the book. A chance encounter with a princess Isabella makes Elysia rethink much of her outlook on life, and forces her to come to peace with her past.
A fun read, I found the book entertaining and swift to complete. The characters are well developed and the storyline thought out well. The only criticism I had is that a bit of the romantic aspect is a bit forced and makes the book less appropriate for younger readers to whom fantasy typically appeals, but the book is still enjoyable for an older audience which I feel was most likely the author's intention when writing.
December 9, 2021
The publisher provided an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
[DNF at 25%]
I'll admit that I did enjoy what I read. Ultimately I had to put it down because the structure, the pacing and the staggering amount of filler words became too much.
That is not to say that I don't have faith that it has potential because it does. The conversation does not feel stilted, and the banter made me audibly chuckle.
But, unfortunately, I have to draw the line somewhere. I am a firm believer that if a story does not manage to lure me in and hold my interests at the 25% mark, then it most likely never will.
[DNF at 25%]
I'll admit that I did enjoy what I read. Ultimately I had to put it down because the structure, the pacing and the staggering amount of filler words became too much.
That is not to say that I don't have faith that it has potential because it does. The conversation does not feel stilted, and the banter made me audibly chuckle.
But, unfortunately, I have to draw the line somewhere. I am a firm believer that if a story does not manage to lure me in and hold my interests at the 25% mark, then it most likely never will.
June 25, 2025
I loved the story, and Elysia even more. The layering of the story really gave it a touch of something special and I really enjoyed it!
Read
December 13, 2021I was send an eCopy of this book by Netgalley so thanks to them and the author. I DNFed this 5% in, I just couldn’t get into it. It’s too much saying and no showing at all.
December 19, 2023
A fun fantasy book that excels in its atmosphere, even if I did find myself getting a little lost at points along the way. But it certainly left me keen to read the sequel!
April 2, 2024
I enjoyed the book but thought it lost its way a bit.
February 1, 2022
A must read!
Under an Azure Sky - Elysia Dayne: Book 1 by Wil Chan is a captivating story that will attract teenagers and young adults too. I liked how the characters were built and how creative the plot was. I believe this is the strong point of this book.
The trailers of the book have no waste; I recommend watching them before or after reading the book because they are very nice.
I congratulate the author because it is clearly shown that the story was carefully thought about and that everything was meticulously revised. I liked that because that’s something I don’t see in every book I read. I recommend it!
Under an Azure Sky - Elysia Dayne: Book 1 by Wil Chan is a captivating story that will attract teenagers and young adults too. I liked how the characters were built and how creative the plot was. I believe this is the strong point of this book.
The trailers of the book have no waste; I recommend watching them before or after reading the book because they are very nice.
I congratulate the author because it is clearly shown that the story was carefully thought about and that everything was meticulously revised. I liked that because that’s something I don’t see in every book I read. I recommend it!
January 29, 2022
I believe it is a long read for the intended audience because it is aimed at teens. But the story is very engaging and hooks the reader from the very beginning. The plot is well developed and characters are likable at first read. I liked them and I enjoyed their adventures. I also would like to highlight that the descriptions in general are very well accomplished. Some parts were so beautifully described that it seemed as if I was watching it on screen.
Also, the cover of the book is very nice and portrays its content perfectly. I would recommend this novel and the followings in the series, not only for teens but for everyone young at heart who would enjoy an adventure such as this one.
Also, the cover of the book is very nice and portrays its content perfectly. I would recommend this novel and the followings in the series, not only for teens but for everyone young at heart who would enjoy an adventure such as this one.
February 6, 2022
I did receive this book as an ARC from Booksirens for an honest review.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
The plot was interesting, and most of the time it was easy to follow. The descriptions in the first half of the book could be a little confusing at times. However, that being said, the second half used beautiful vivid descriptions that drew the reader in.
I thoroughly enjoyed the prologue and it was a good hook for readers. I was a little confused by the timeline jumping at times but got used to it throughout the book.
Overall, I think this is a well written and interesting book, and I can’t wait for the release and second book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
The plot was interesting, and most of the time it was easy to follow. The descriptions in the first half of the book could be a little confusing at times. However, that being said, the second half used beautiful vivid descriptions that drew the reader in.
I thoroughly enjoyed the prologue and it was a good hook for readers. I was a little confused by the timeline jumping at times but got used to it throughout the book.
Overall, I think this is a well written and interesting book, and I can’t wait for the release and second book.
January 27, 2022
Slow start, good story
Elysia never thought she would be more than a farmer, but when she befriends a dragon, her world changes drastically. Losing her friend and family at the same time hurtles her down an unexpected path of dragon slayer and hero. When she tried to save a princess her world changes again. This book certainly will not win any awards for action or quick pacing. It is drawn out, slow and methodical but it works. Think of the world of time series, or the lord of the rings, this author is setting his world up with them.
Elysia never thought she would be more than a farmer, but when she befriends a dragon, her world changes drastically. Losing her friend and family at the same time hurtles her down an unexpected path of dragon slayer and hero. When she tried to save a princess her world changes again. This book certainly will not win any awards for action or quick pacing. It is drawn out, slow and methodical but it works. Think of the world of time series, or the lord of the rings, this author is setting his world up with them.
January 21, 2025
This review was originally posted on sffinsiders.com
This is my first full length read of the year, and one that lies a bit outside my normal reading comfort zone. Despite all that, this book certainly delivered. Under an Azure Sky by Wil Chan is a fantasy novel with a touch of romance, a touch of dragons, and a whole lot of adventure, so what’s not to love? Well, I’m not a big romance reader (I once bought Fourth Wing because I saw dragons and thought it might be cool. Needless to say, I did not read it when realizing what it was about. Though be not afraid, reader, for many of the other site members have convinced me to read it anyways, lol). I also prefer 3rd person POV, so for a book written in 1st person present, I had my work cut out for me.
And I beat it (I don’t think that's an ample explanation or articulation, but oh well). The story starts with Elysia, a young woman from the tranquil village of Dayne. Here, we have two different timelines, which is something I continuously love reading, as many may know already. The first is in the present, where we follow a journey of princess-rescuing from goblins (awesome) and other ne'er do wells. The second timeline is more of an origin story, detailing how Elysia went from her younger, happy-go-lucky self, to the legend that she’s turned into today.
I was far more intrigued in the origin story, if I must say, largely because I’m not a big romance reader, which is a main driver of the main plot. That is not to say I dislike the main plot, rather, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just liked the origin story more.
And so, we start with Elysia invading a goblin fortress with the armor of a goblin knight, shoving some vile concoction down her throat to give her a more masculine voice, and busting out a princess. Well, the princess more or less does it herself, and then the journey begins! They leave to rendezvous with the man paying for the princess’ rescue and then marriage, but they’re waylaid on the road, and must run off to safety.
As that happens, in the origin story we learn of how Elysia’s fabled heroic cult-following comes from—dragon slaying. Well, not immediately. At first, we learn of her fascination with dragons, owing to the one roosting just beyond a cliff at the edge of Dayne village. But one fateful day arrives and lo’, men. Yeah, that’s really it. Men come in to kill the dragon (because of course they do) and fail (again, because of course they do). This results in the dragon getting angered and flying away to—yup, you guessed it—burn Dayne to the ground. Not everyone dies, but Elysia’s family does, and so she is labeled a witch.
But something strange happens. Elysia lives through the fire. In fact, the fire actually heals her. Torn between being sacrificed as a witch and running away, a third option presents itself, go with the man responsible for the dragon-aggravation. She chooses the third, and vows to kill the man, something hinted at in the main story multiple times.
Now, all this happens fairly quickly, and to explain more is to spoil and I try not to do that. One of the reasons I enjoyed the origin story so much is because it was short, sweet, and concise, while it felt like some of the main story dragged a bit or could have used some cutting.
All this seems very nitpicky, doesn’t it? For that I apologize. I enjoyed it, honest! But my own personal preferences kept rearing their ugly head, which has led me down this road.
However, the writing was quite good. I enjoyed the descriptions of scenery, the extensive worldbuilding Wil put into this, the dialogue, and a lot of the internal conflict. I can’t speak on how realistic or unrealistic the romance was, though, because I have little to no experience reading it. So make your own conclusions there, but it wrapped itself up rather nicely, or seems like it has, since this story continues on in the next couple books.
That’s another thing. The ending???? Crazy, unexpected, what the ?$&@ happened? Alas, if only I could read books at the speed of light, then you’d be seeing reviews of the next books right after this one.
Quintessential fantasy with goblins, dragons, ridiculous quests, and everything else you might want, with a touch of romance for anybody of that persuasion, Under an Azure Sky was an enjoyable read from cover to cover. Even to me, who stepped way outside my comfort zone.
This is my first full length read of the year, and one that lies a bit outside my normal reading comfort zone. Despite all that, this book certainly delivered. Under an Azure Sky by Wil Chan is a fantasy novel with a touch of romance, a touch of dragons, and a whole lot of adventure, so what’s not to love? Well, I’m not a big romance reader (I once bought Fourth Wing because I saw dragons and thought it might be cool. Needless to say, I did not read it when realizing what it was about. Though be not afraid, reader, for many of the other site members have convinced me to read it anyways, lol). I also prefer 3rd person POV, so for a book written in 1st person present, I had my work cut out for me.
And I beat it (I don’t think that's an ample explanation or articulation, but oh well). The story starts with Elysia, a young woman from the tranquil village of Dayne. Here, we have two different timelines, which is something I continuously love reading, as many may know already. The first is in the present, where we follow a journey of princess-rescuing from goblins (awesome) and other ne'er do wells. The second timeline is more of an origin story, detailing how Elysia went from her younger, happy-go-lucky self, to the legend that she’s turned into today.
I was far more intrigued in the origin story, if I must say, largely because I’m not a big romance reader, which is a main driver of the main plot. That is not to say I dislike the main plot, rather, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just liked the origin story more.
And so, we start with Elysia invading a goblin fortress with the armor of a goblin knight, shoving some vile concoction down her throat to give her a more masculine voice, and busting out a princess. Well, the princess more or less does it herself, and then the journey begins! They leave to rendezvous with the man paying for the princess’ rescue and then marriage, but they’re waylaid on the road, and must run off to safety.
As that happens, in the origin story we learn of how Elysia’s fabled heroic cult-following comes from—dragon slaying. Well, not immediately. At first, we learn of her fascination with dragons, owing to the one roosting just beyond a cliff at the edge of Dayne village. But one fateful day arrives and lo’, men. Yeah, that’s really it. Men come in to kill the dragon (because of course they do) and fail (again, because of course they do). This results in the dragon getting angered and flying away to—yup, you guessed it—burn Dayne to the ground. Not everyone dies, but Elysia’s family does, and so she is labeled a witch.
But something strange happens. Elysia lives through the fire. In fact, the fire actually heals her. Torn between being sacrificed as a witch and running away, a third option presents itself, go with the man responsible for the dragon-aggravation. She chooses the third, and vows to kill the man, something hinted at in the main story multiple times.
Now, all this happens fairly quickly, and to explain more is to spoil and I try not to do that. One of the reasons I enjoyed the origin story so much is because it was short, sweet, and concise, while it felt like some of the main story dragged a bit or could have used some cutting.
All this seems very nitpicky, doesn’t it? For that I apologize. I enjoyed it, honest! But my own personal preferences kept rearing their ugly head, which has led me down this road.
However, the writing was quite good. I enjoyed the descriptions of scenery, the extensive worldbuilding Wil put into this, the dialogue, and a lot of the internal conflict. I can’t speak on how realistic or unrealistic the romance was, though, because I have little to no experience reading it. So make your own conclusions there, but it wrapped itself up rather nicely, or seems like it has, since this story continues on in the next couple books.
That’s another thing. The ending???? Crazy, unexpected, what the ?$&@ happened? Alas, if only I could read books at the speed of light, then you’d be seeing reviews of the next books right after this one.
Quintessential fantasy with goblins, dragons, ridiculous quests, and everything else you might want, with a touch of romance for anybody of that persuasion, Under an Azure Sky was an enjoyable read from cover to cover. Even to me, who stepped way outside my comfort zone.
April 19, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
Bards sing songs of the hero Elysia Dayne - she's a hero, monster slayer, and renowned for killing a dragon in one-on-one combat. Sometimes, though, the bards build up the truth to make a better story. There was a time, after all, that Elysia admired the dragons and thought of them as beautiful.
Even a hero needs to work and Elysia takes on a job to rescue Princess Isabella Solemaine who's been taken prisoner by goblins in the dangerous Borderlands. Knowing that one of the keys to a successful rescue is careful planning, Elysia prepares for everything she can think of, yet still things go wrong and she and Isabella are left to wander through unfriendly territory. And in case it wasn't bad enough that the goblins are unhappy to have lost their prize, Niemirian raiders are tracking the pair, looking to kill them both.
It will take time and trust and Isabella will slowly come around to Elysia and a soft romance will develop, but the Niemirian challengers may cut any romance short.
Author Wil Chan does a very nice job of creating an interesting protagonist in Elysia Dayne, but muddies the strong rescue story by mixing in Elysia's back story as well. The two stories don't mix well so the jumping back and forth in time doesn't build the story and instead interrupts it.
The final fight sequence is exciting and Chan writes it quite well, but it goes on and on and on. I'm not sure, but I think the last 10% of the entire book is just one fight scene. It's hard to sustain excitement when the combatants are constantly on their last legs but manage one more, one more, one more stab, slice, or cut. Even here, though, it might have worked if the book was leading up to this battle (I'm thinking of another fantasy author who writes a heck of a lot of fight scenes, but makes it work) but instead, half the book was back-story.
The 'romance' is subtle. It's more longing and friendship than anything else, and it works nicely.
In general, a decent book, but I'm not eagerly looking for the next volume.
Looking for a good book? Under an Azure Sky by Wil Chan is a multi-layered fantasy that work on one layer, but not so much on the other. If sword fighting scenes are your favorite thing to read, this might be right up your alley.
Bards sing songs of the hero Elysia Dayne - she's a hero, monster slayer, and renowned for killing a dragon in one-on-one combat. Sometimes, though, the bards build up the truth to make a better story. There was a time, after all, that Elysia admired the dragons and thought of them as beautiful.
Even a hero needs to work and Elysia takes on a job to rescue Princess Isabella Solemaine who's been taken prisoner by goblins in the dangerous Borderlands. Knowing that one of the keys to a successful rescue is careful planning, Elysia prepares for everything she can think of, yet still things go wrong and she and Isabella are left to wander through unfriendly territory. And in case it wasn't bad enough that the goblins are unhappy to have lost their prize, Niemirian raiders are tracking the pair, looking to kill them both.
It will take time and trust and Isabella will slowly come around to Elysia and a soft romance will develop, but the Niemirian challengers may cut any romance short.
Author Wil Chan does a very nice job of creating an interesting protagonist in Elysia Dayne, but muddies the strong rescue story by mixing in Elysia's back story as well. The two stories don't mix well so the jumping back and forth in time doesn't build the story and instead interrupts it.
The final fight sequence is exciting and Chan writes it quite well, but it goes on and on and on. I'm not sure, but I think the last 10% of the entire book is just one fight scene. It's hard to sustain excitement when the combatants are constantly on their last legs but manage one more, one more, one more stab, slice, or cut. Even here, though, it might have worked if the book was leading up to this battle (I'm thinking of another fantasy author who writes a heck of a lot of fight scenes, but makes it work) but instead, half the book was back-story.
The 'romance' is subtle. It's more longing and friendship than anything else, and it works nicely.
In general, a decent book, but I'm not eagerly looking for the next volume.
Looking for a good book? Under an Azure Sky by Wil Chan is a multi-layered fantasy that work on one layer, but not so much on the other. If sword fighting scenes are your favorite thing to read, this might be right up your alley.
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