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The Fourth Empire #1
Savage Skies
WINNER OF THE 2024 READERS’ FAVORITE BRONZE MEDAL FOR MAGIC & WIZARDRY!
When someone dies in Aveline, they don’t always stay that way.
Castelio learned this hard lesson when he was a boy.
Now he roams from village to village as a Quietus, banishing restless spirits and keeping the Ducissa Orlaith’s peace—until the day her only son is kidnapped.
Blame falls on the land across the Boundary, where necromancers practice their black arts in eternal darkness.
To get the child back, Castelio recruits the aid of a young stranger named Delilah, along with her peculiar (and possibly demonic) cat Thistle. The pair has a habit of attracting violent thunderstorms, but their wind ship can cross the high mist-cloaked passes of the Boundary.
As the trail leads deeper into the wilds of midnight, Castelio and Delilah discover there are worse things than the risen dead. Yet nothing is quite as it seems in the Moon Courts. Despite the dangers all around, they find allies in unexpected places.
And choosing a side in the brewing war between light and dark magic might be harder than they imagined.
When someone dies in Aveline, they don’t always stay that way.
Castelio learned this hard lesson when he was a boy.
Now he roams from village to village as a Quietus, banishing restless spirits and keeping the Ducissa Orlaith’s peace—until the day her only son is kidnapped.
Blame falls on the land across the Boundary, where necromancers practice their black arts in eternal darkness.
To get the child back, Castelio recruits the aid of a young stranger named Delilah, along with her peculiar (and possibly demonic) cat Thistle. The pair has a habit of attracting violent thunderstorms, but their wind ship can cross the high mist-cloaked passes of the Boundary.
As the trail leads deeper into the wilds of midnight, Castelio and Delilah discover there are worse things than the risen dead. Yet nothing is quite as it seems in the Moon Courts. Despite the dangers all around, they find allies in unexpected places.
And choosing a side in the brewing war between light and dark magic might be harder than they imagined.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2023
230 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Kat Ross
60 books806 followersKat Ross is an award-winning and bestselling fantasy author whose series range from the Persian-inspired Fourth Element to the cozy Ravencroft Hall books. She lives in Connecticut with her son and a gang (clowder?) of anarchist cats. When she’s not writing, you can find Kat wandering in the woods or poring over maps in the cartography turret. For more info, check out her website: www.katrossbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 28, 2024
Feckin’ A, this book is FANTASTIC!!!! I hate it is so unknown because the world-building and dialogue are stellar. Easily one of the best and most inventive high fantasy books I’ve read in a long time. Necromancy and court intrigue with a small hint of romance. Can’t wait to read the next one.
February 15, 2025
Solid 4 stars for me. Kat Ross has done it again and is quickly becoming a favorite author for me. I discovered her Nightmarked series last year and was amazed at how much I really loved the way she tells a story. Though I was dissatisfied with the ending of that series, it left me with the impression that I needed to read her other series as well.
Savage Skies is the first book in The Fourth Empire series. I found it as a free download so obviously had to pick it up to see if Kat Ross’ other series captured me like her Nightmarked series. It has! I’m currently purchasing the series so I can continue it, though I’m having trouble finding Savage Skies in paperback like the others and am only finding the ebook. Never fear -I will find it. My series must be complete! I also fully intend on reading everything Kat Ross. My mind is made up. She’s got what I like.
We have political intrigue. Some slow burning and developing romance. We have complicated characters where everyone seems to have their light and dark sides making it difficult to know who to fully trust.
There’s magic, necromancy, demons, and dual lands reminiscent of the Nightmarked series, but definitely completely separate worlds. Alternative reality? Other dimension? I don’t know and I don’t care. It’s enough of a blend that we’re able to connect with all of the character depth with the world around them and feel like the reader could easily be a part of that world if only some strange power would let us. It draws you in. The magic is just real enough.
I’m reading all that is Kat Ross and I recommend others do as well. I’m hoping for a more satisfying ending in this series than in the Nightmarked series. But there’s definitely something to be said about an author when they can grab you and pull you in, take you along for a wonderful ride where you get lost in the adventure, can totally blow an ending and still make someone want to read everything you’ve ever created. Kat Ross does that for me. The journey is so great for me that I honestly will go on said journey even if I suspect the destination is nothing that I want. I guess we’ll find out with The Fourth Empire series.
Savage Skies is the first book in The Fourth Empire series. I found it as a free download so obviously had to pick it up to see if Kat Ross’ other series captured me like her Nightmarked series. It has! I’m currently purchasing the series so I can continue it, though I’m having trouble finding Savage Skies in paperback like the others and am only finding the ebook. Never fear -I will find it. My series must be complete! I also fully intend on reading everything Kat Ross. My mind is made up. She’s got what I like.
We have political intrigue. Some slow burning and developing romance. We have complicated characters where everyone seems to have their light and dark sides making it difficult to know who to fully trust.
There’s magic, necromancy, demons, and dual lands reminiscent of the Nightmarked series, but definitely completely separate worlds. Alternative reality? Other dimension? I don’t know and I don’t care. It’s enough of a blend that we’re able to connect with all of the character depth with the world around them and feel like the reader could easily be a part of that world if only some strange power would let us. It draws you in. The magic is just real enough.
I’m reading all that is Kat Ross and I recommend others do as well. I’m hoping for a more satisfying ending in this series than in the Nightmarked series. But there’s definitely something to be said about an author when they can grab you and pull you in, take you along for a wonderful ride where you get lost in the adventure, can totally blow an ending and still make someone want to read everything you’ve ever created. Kat Ross does that for me. The journey is so great for me that I honestly will go on said journey even if I suspect the destination is nothing that I want. I guess we’ll find out with The Fourth Empire series.
December 21, 2025
A Thrilling Ride Through a Fantastical World – 4 Stars!
A captivating and inventive story, Savage Skies by Kat Ross takes readers to an intriguing world full of magic, intrigue, and adventure. The book has a lot of positive qualities, but a few minor flaws keep me from giving it a perfect rating.
Savage Skies ♦ Kat Ross
Opinion
Above all else, the entire book showcases Ross’s talent for narrative. The world-building is fascinating and detailed, providing a rich and realistic experience. It is very amazing how well the author was able to construct a distinct world with its own set of magical and social norms. With their distinct motivations and complexities, the characters are well-developed, and the action-packed plot is sure to keep you interested all the way through.
The tale moves along at a generally good pace, striking a nice mix of tension and character growth. I couldn’t stop turning the pages in anticipation of the next development in Ross’s excellent job of holding the reader’s interest.
But the reason Savage Skies only received four stars instead of five is that the plot occasionally appeared a little confusing. Though fascinating, the world’s intricacy and the numerous narratives occasionally made it difficult to keep track of everything. It would have been nice to have had a little more clarity in several places.
The characters are interesting, but I thought some of their motives and acts could have been explored more in order to build stronger links between the reader and the characters. I found myself wanting to explore their inner lives even more at times. I guess I have to wait for part two.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Savage Skies is an exciting and inventive piece of fantasy literature that will surely enthrall readers who enjoy the genre. Even with the small issues I pointed out, Kat Ross’s writing abilities are evident, and the book is an incredibly captivating and engaging read. To everyone looking for an exciting adventure through a fascinating realm, I wholeheartedly suggest it. Offering an entertaining escape into a world of magic, mystery, and adventure, it’s a terrific 4-star read.
This review was first published at The Art of Reading.
A captivating and inventive story, Savage Skies by Kat Ross takes readers to an intriguing world full of magic, intrigue, and adventure. The book has a lot of positive qualities, but a few minor flaws keep me from giving it a perfect rating.
Savage Skies ♦ Kat Ross
Opinion
Above all else, the entire book showcases Ross’s talent for narrative. The world-building is fascinating and detailed, providing a rich and realistic experience. It is very amazing how well the author was able to construct a distinct world with its own set of magical and social norms. With their distinct motivations and complexities, the characters are well-developed, and the action-packed plot is sure to keep you interested all the way through.
The tale moves along at a generally good pace, striking a nice mix of tension and character growth. I couldn’t stop turning the pages in anticipation of the next development in Ross’s excellent job of holding the reader’s interest.
But the reason Savage Skies only received four stars instead of five is that the plot occasionally appeared a little confusing. Though fascinating, the world’s intricacy and the numerous narratives occasionally made it difficult to keep track of everything. It would have been nice to have had a little more clarity in several places.
The characters are interesting, but I thought some of their motives and acts could have been explored more in order to build stronger links between the reader and the characters. I found myself wanting to explore their inner lives even more at times. I guess I have to wait for part two.
Conclusion
To sum it up, Savage Skies is an exciting and inventive piece of fantasy literature that will surely enthrall readers who enjoy the genre. Even with the small issues I pointed out, Kat Ross’s writing abilities are evident, and the book is an incredibly captivating and engaging read. To everyone looking for an exciting adventure through a fascinating realm, I wholeheartedly suggest it. Offering an entertaining escape into a world of magic, mystery, and adventure, it’s a terrific 4-star read.
This review was first published at The Art of Reading.
May 17, 2025
Captivating. I’ve been staying up too late into the night reading this. I just went into Amazon and got any of her free books. I know they book # 1 of her different series, that’s okay. I’ve been reading free books for years now and they are always (or, almost always) book 1 of a series. I’m poor so I will take what I can get :). I just read reviews of the following books.
February 5, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. I'm still a little shocked at the connection to the other series, which I did not realize before starting this book, but I am really glad that I had read that series first because it made it all the more enjoyable.
The characters are a great lot of fun, though I must admit I was thrown for a better surprise than I was prepared for in the Character Nathan. His name alone threw me to be honest. I am not sure yet what I think about him. I will for sure have to continue reading to understand it all.
I do wish that there had been more about the setting and the land, but I think that there was enough to tell a compelling story. I really love that this story brought to life a less talked about form of fantasy and gave it a bit of a twist.
I must also add that I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and cannot wait to see what happens next.
The characters are a great lot of fun, though I must admit I was thrown for a better surprise than I was prepared for in the Character Nathan. His name alone threw me to be honest. I am not sure yet what I think about him. I will for sure have to continue reading to understand it all.
I do wish that there had been more about the setting and the land, but I think that there was enough to tell a compelling story. I really love that this story brought to life a less talked about form of fantasy and gave it a bit of a twist.
I must also add that I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and cannot wait to see what happens next.
August 22, 2023
Spirits roam Aveline and very few know how to send them back. Castelio learned his affinity for the dead as a young boy and now is one of the few tasked with banishing spirits. But when the heir to the land is kidnapped, he begins to see that there is more to the world than he has been told. Let’s find out!
Read if you like: fantasy, cool magic systems, interesting world building, dystopian feel, high adventure, spooky spirits, magical cat companions, lots of lore, a duty bound MMC, and an independent FMC on a quest!
The sun and moon have stopped leaving most of the world to survive through magic. The Boundary is left in constant twilight. And in part of the world, the dead walk. Casetlio is a sort of warrior priest tasked with keeping the people safe from the spirits. Delilah is half elemental and wholly focused on finding out what happened to her family. When their paths cross, they become reluctant allies. And together they keep finding more and more surprises about the state of the world. It’s becoming harder to see who might be on the right side of things in this unique and magical world.
Savage Skies is a spin off series of Kat Ross’s Fourth Element Trilogy. I probably should have gone and read that… but I didn’t. Soooo, I had a bit of a slow start just trying to wrap my head around the worldbuilding and the few little time jumps that bring us up to the current timeline. Castelio is your typical holy warrior type, compassionate but not asking too many questions, just trying to do good things. Delilah is a bit of a mess. She’s not sure what sort of power her mixed heritage has given her, and she’s a bit of a risk taker so she makes solo supply runs while looking for information about her long lost family.
There’s enough of a familiar storyline to balance all the new elements of the world to keep it fresh but easy to read and enjoy. The unique magic and the stark environments with the world being split into constant day and night give it an eerie feel. It lends itself to all the twists and regional differences. The interplay between Castelio and Delilah has a lot more to explore as the duo learn more about each other and the ways of this interesting world.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Kat Ross for an electronic copy of Savage Skies for review.
Read if you like: fantasy, cool magic systems, interesting world building, dystopian feel, high adventure, spooky spirits, magical cat companions, lots of lore, a duty bound MMC, and an independent FMC on a quest!
The sun and moon have stopped leaving most of the world to survive through magic. The Boundary is left in constant twilight. And in part of the world, the dead walk. Casetlio is a sort of warrior priest tasked with keeping the people safe from the spirits. Delilah is half elemental and wholly focused on finding out what happened to her family. When their paths cross, they become reluctant allies. And together they keep finding more and more surprises about the state of the world. It’s becoming harder to see who might be on the right side of things in this unique and magical world.
Savage Skies is a spin off series of Kat Ross’s Fourth Element Trilogy. I probably should have gone and read that… but I didn’t. Soooo, I had a bit of a slow start just trying to wrap my head around the worldbuilding and the few little time jumps that bring us up to the current timeline. Castelio is your typical holy warrior type, compassionate but not asking too many questions, just trying to do good things. Delilah is a bit of a mess. She’s not sure what sort of power her mixed heritage has given her, and she’s a bit of a risk taker so she makes solo supply runs while looking for information about her long lost family.
There’s enough of a familiar storyline to balance all the new elements of the world to keep it fresh but easy to read and enjoy. The unique magic and the stark environments with the world being split into constant day and night give it an eerie feel. It lends itself to all the twists and regional differences. The interplay between Castelio and Delilah has a lot more to explore as the duo learn more about each other and the ways of this interesting world.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Kat Ross for an electronic copy of Savage Skies for review.
November 26, 2024
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only and the author for providing me with a free copy of this book.
Savage Skies is a fantastic book!! Wow!! This was, honestly, much better than I was expecting. With this book being offered for free, I think I had pretty low expectations, but now I know I really shouldn't have. This was my first read from VRO and it has set the bar high for the rest of the books I read from this service! I loved this book sooooo much!!! It was an unbelievable first instalment and introduction into a very interesting fantasy world. The setting, the creatures, the characters... all of it was incredible!!
I was immediately immersed in this story. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. I absolutely LOVED all the differences across the lands of this fantasy world - the cultural and magical differences. I thought that was handled very well. I thought the world building was exceptional! All of the characters were incredible in their own way, all so compelling, but the two main characters were definitely my favourites of the book - I loved them individually and I also really loved their connection and how their relationship developed. It felt completely authentic. The plot was very fast-paced and totally unpredictable. So many intriguing plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout!
I love how this book ended. It had the perfect cliffy - the characters are all on the verge of very intriguing developments in their journeys and quests, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I need to get my hands on book 2 ASAP! I cannot comprehend how this author isn't more popular. This book was amazing!!! One of the most intriguing and well developed fantasy worlds I've had the pleasure of reading. I will certainly be reading more of this series and more from this author!
Savage Skies is a fantastic book!! Wow!! This was, honestly, much better than I was expecting. With this book being offered for free, I think I had pretty low expectations, but now I know I really shouldn't have. This was my first read from VRO and it has set the bar high for the rest of the books I read from this service! I loved this book sooooo much!!! It was an unbelievable first instalment and introduction into a very interesting fantasy world. The setting, the creatures, the characters... all of it was incredible!!
I was immediately immersed in this story. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. I absolutely LOVED all the differences across the lands of this fantasy world - the cultural and magical differences. I thought that was handled very well. I thought the world building was exceptional! All of the characters were incredible in their own way, all so compelling, but the two main characters were definitely my favourites of the book - I loved them individually and I also really loved their connection and how their relationship developed. It felt completely authentic. The plot was very fast-paced and totally unpredictable. So many intriguing plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout!
I love how this book ended. It had the perfect cliffy - the characters are all on the verge of very intriguing developments in their journeys and quests, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I need to get my hands on book 2 ASAP! I cannot comprehend how this author isn't more popular. This book was amazing!!! One of the most intriguing and well developed fantasy worlds I've had the pleasure of reading. I will certainly be reading more of this series and more from this author!
September 25, 2023
Well, this makes my 5th Kat Ross novel and as always it is fantastic! Her story telling skills are phenominal and I have now placed Ms. Ross in the same category as Cassandra Clare, Sarah J. Maas, and Stephanie Garber. Once again, she has lured me into a world full of creatively vivid and the most fascinating places with bold characters that are to die for. Cas and Lo, are quite a duo that you immediately feel a connection with as they embark on their own individual yet intertwined journey. A journey to find truth along with who they are… if they can escape the dead!!!
To be clear I have not read the novels that already exist in the Fourth Element-verse (but I will be soon)! And that makes this even more impressive for me, as I do not feel as though I have missed anything. I was captivated by this somewhat fresh take on magic and myth from the very first chapter. There is mystery, magic, beauty, death, and humor, with a hint of love infused in the pages of Savage Skies. It was very difficult to put it down once I got started. To say I devoured it would be an understatement (four days)! I'm currently off to start the next novel in the series as I can wait no longer. I highly recommend picking up a Kat Ross novel today! I'm positive the only thing that could've made this one better is if it were longer, but then who wants a good story to end? Nobody!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
To be clear I have not read the novels that already exist in the Fourth Element-verse (but I will be soon)! And that makes this even more impressive for me, as I do not feel as though I have missed anything. I was captivated by this somewhat fresh take on magic and myth from the very first chapter. There is mystery, magic, beauty, death, and humor, with a hint of love infused in the pages of Savage Skies. It was very difficult to put it down once I got started. To say I devoured it would be an understatement (four days)! I'm currently off to start the next novel in the series as I can wait no longer. I highly recommend picking up a Kat Ross novel today! I'm positive the only thing that could've made this one better is if it were longer, but then who wants a good story to end? Nobody!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 15, 2023
I am a fan of Kat Ross, I have read most of her other books and was eagerly awaiting this one as well. The story picks up off of the Fourth Talisman series, so I highly recommend you start there first.
This is a fast paced ride of a story. The characters are excellent and really well developed. The world building was also excellent; there were references to Greek, Egyptian, and Persian mythology, mixed in with unique elements as well. I loved the setting, where half the world is in sun, and the other half in only moonlight, with a thin land boundary in between.
My only critique is now I have to wait for the rest of the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a fast paced ride of a story. The characters are excellent and really well developed. The world building was also excellent; there were references to Greek, Egyptian, and Persian mythology, mixed in with unique elements as well. I loved the setting, where half the world is in sun, and the other half in only moonlight, with a thin land boundary in between.
My only critique is now I have to wait for the rest of the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2023
Buckle up your wind ship harness, my friends, because you are in for a ride!
In a country where the dead do not always stay dead, Castelio is the tender age of 12 when he banishes his first of the unquiet dead to the Dominion. We follow along his journey in a very brief backstory before we meet him as the Quietus in the Ducissa Orlaith's household.
Castelio crosses paths with Delilah (also known as Lola or Lo) is a wind ship captain working for a courier service moving product across the Sunlands. Her ship is hijacked and she and her cat, Thistle, are taken to the Boundary lands. Good people make bad choices, bad people make good allies, and I sunk so deeply into the story I hated to put it down.
There are good guys fighting demons, daevas smugglers and traders, demons (mortifexes) bound by oath to fight each other, necromancers who are reluctant allies, and SO MANY crossings and double crossings that I wondered if anyone was loyal or all just ruled by power and purse.
I loved the worldbuilding, there were references to Persian and Greek stories, Egyptian minor deities in the Sun lands mixed with unique stories of ghost haunters and hunters of the Moon Lands. The setting - half the world is in sunshine, the other half in perpetual moonlight, with a thin boundary land in between - is similar to Daniel Arenson's Moth series, but then races off into a complex environment of its own.
And that is all the teaser I am going to give you.
Let me end this review with my favorite quote: "Lo knew well how elusive the truth could be, depending on who told the tale. It was a fluid thing. poured easily from one vessel to another, taking whatever shape the vintner chose."
Mark your calendars - this book drops on August 16, 2023. I was lucky enough to score an ARC from BookSirens. The thoughts and opinions of this review are my own and I have already Amazoned her other books, City of Storms, A Feast of Phantoms, and Nocturne.
Enjoy!
In a country where the dead do not always stay dead, Castelio is the tender age of 12 when he banishes his first of the unquiet dead to the Dominion. We follow along his journey in a very brief backstory before we meet him as the Quietus in the Ducissa Orlaith's household.
Castelio crosses paths with Delilah (also known as Lola or Lo) is a wind ship captain working for a courier service moving product across the Sunlands. Her ship is hijacked and she and her cat, Thistle, are taken to the Boundary lands. Good people make bad choices, bad people make good allies, and I sunk so deeply into the story I hated to put it down.
There are good guys fighting demons, daevas smugglers and traders, demons (mortifexes) bound by oath to fight each other, necromancers who are reluctant allies, and SO MANY crossings and double crossings that I wondered if anyone was loyal or all just ruled by power and purse.
I loved the worldbuilding, there were references to Persian and Greek stories, Egyptian minor deities in the Sun lands mixed with unique stories of ghost haunters and hunters of the Moon Lands. The setting - half the world is in sunshine, the other half in perpetual moonlight, with a thin boundary land in between - is similar to Daniel Arenson's Moth series, but then races off into a complex environment of its own.
And that is all the teaser I am going to give you.
Let me end this review with my favorite quote: "Lo knew well how elusive the truth could be, depending on who told the tale. It was a fluid thing. poured easily from one vessel to another, taking whatever shape the vintner chose."
Mark your calendars - this book drops on August 16, 2023. I was lucky enough to score an ARC from BookSirens. The thoughts and opinions of this review are my own and I have already Amazoned her other books, City of Storms, A Feast of Phantoms, and Nocturne.
Enjoy!
August 7, 2023
First off, I'll admit I love Kat's books. I devour each and everyone of them quickly, so the only BAD thing I'll say is that she needs to write faster as I finish her novels far too quickly and suffer as I wait for the next one. So I relished the ability to be an ARC reader. To be first before it's official, yeah I jumped. So on to the book. I was one of the folks that voted for this new series, and while most would wait with dread and trepidation, I knew Kat would not let us down, and she did not! I downloaded the book and set out to start it slowly and as you can see from the date of my review I have fallen into my pattern, download, try to only read a few chapters, then devour it and scream for the next one. The story, picks up off of the Fourth Talisman series, and if you haven't read them, you absolutely must. Kat weaves nuance and subtlety in it's finest. I don't want to do any spoilers, but the story is so well planned and nuanced, that all you can do is buckle in and enjoy the ride. And enjoy it you will. The characters are so well developed that while reading I can feel the chill from the wraiths, the heat from the fires and hear and smell the forests. I can almost feel the winds blowing thru my hair as I'm taken along for the ride. As always, there is angst, frustration and all the best parts of a truly well made novel… just please write faster, I NEED to know what happens next! I did receive this as an advance review copy for free and am reviewing voluntarily, however, have also pre-ordered a paid copy to support one of my favorite authors and because these books are that good!
September 30, 2023
Castelio (Cas for short) is a quietus, who helps spirits move on from the land of the living. Aveline is a land divided between the sun courts in the west and the moon courts in the east, a fantasy land with three moons. The dead don’t always rest peacefully. There are the Low Dead, encompassing wraiths, liches, ghouls, revenants and regular spirits, and there are the rarer more dangerous High Dead, mortifexes, usually bound by a menotte to a necromancer.
Savage Skies is the first of a duology, the second part Rogue and Revenant, will come out in April of next year.
This was the first book I had read by the author. I understand from other reviewers that some of the characters are from the Fourth Element series, but you don’t need to have read that to enjoy this. You feel invested in the characters, particularly Cas and Lo (Delilah), a half daeva trader, whose wind ship, Cas commandeers to search for a kidnapped heir.
The plot has some fascinating twists and turns. The world building is fantastic and draws a little on Greek and Persian mythologies. Francophones will delight at some of the place names: Aquitan, Clovis, Mystral and Aveline…when I lived in France I lived in the Rue Aveline, there are also the occasional French interjections in the text.
For me this was easily a five star read and I look forward to the next book in the duology.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Kat Ross for an electronic copy of Savage Skies for review.
Savage Skies is the first of a duology, the second part Rogue and Revenant, will come out in April of next year.
This was the first book I had read by the author. I understand from other reviewers that some of the characters are from the Fourth Element series, but you don’t need to have read that to enjoy this. You feel invested in the characters, particularly Cas and Lo (Delilah), a half daeva trader, whose wind ship, Cas commandeers to search for a kidnapped heir.
The plot has some fascinating twists and turns. The world building is fantastic and draws a little on Greek and Persian mythologies. Francophones will delight at some of the place names: Aquitan, Clovis, Mystral and Aveline…when I lived in France I lived in the Rue Aveline, there are also the occasional French interjections in the text.
For me this was easily a five star read and I look forward to the next book in the duology.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Kat Ross for an electronic copy of Savage Skies for review.
July 27, 2025
I am completely in love with very single character in this book. Lucius, Thistle, Nathan, Chaos, Caul etc. THEY ARE AMAZING!!!
I really love the “reluctant allies” dinamic in the group, how Lucius and Cas can’t stand each other and keeping Delilah alive is the only thing they both agree on lmao. Nathan is so funny I don’t even care if he’s a trickster and brings the apocalypse, he’s just a lonely boy with a love for the eccentric🗣️
I’m so in love with Castelio it’s not even funny anymore, he’s a paranormal priest, farm boy at heart who knows everything about flowers, talks with an accent, doesn’t eat meat, would give his life for his family (and little siblings) and friends. He NEVER got mad at Lo for keeping secrets from him bc he understood she did it to save herself, never raised his voice nor threaten anyone (which he could, I mean he is an assassin priest with 5 knifes and otherworldly abilities but he chooses the dialogue 😭).
Lo is genuinely the smartest fmc I’ve read in YA and Cas is the gentlest and fiercest mmc ever, it’s so refreshing to see a REAL friendship develop with no insta love/ lust whatsoever. They are so pure🥹💖.
Not a “tropey” book at all…but the “don’t touch her” scene got me running laps around my room at 2 am 🏃🏻♀️🤭 (mind you they are nearly strangers and there are no romantic clues, they protect each other out of pure kindness and empathy😭). I’m so so glad they found each other they are PERFECT!!!!!
I really love the “reluctant allies” dinamic in the group, how Lucius and Cas can’t stand each other and keeping Delilah alive is the only thing they both agree on lmao. Nathan is so funny I don’t even care if he’s a trickster and brings the apocalypse, he’s just a lonely boy with a love for the eccentric🗣️
I’m so in love with Castelio it’s not even funny anymore, he’s a paranormal priest, farm boy at heart who knows everything about flowers, talks with an accent, doesn’t eat meat, would give his life for his family (and little siblings) and friends. He NEVER got mad at Lo for keeping secrets from him bc he understood she did it to save herself, never raised his voice nor threaten anyone (which he could, I mean he is an assassin priest with 5 knifes and otherworldly abilities but he chooses the dialogue 😭).
Lo is genuinely the smartest fmc I’ve read in YA and Cas is the gentlest and fiercest mmc ever, it’s so refreshing to see a REAL friendship develop with no insta love/ lust whatsoever. They are so pure🥹💖.
Not a “tropey” book at all…but the “don’t touch her” scene got me running laps around my room at 2 am 🏃🏻♀️🤭 (mind you they are nearly strangers and there are no romantic clues, they protect each other out of pure kindness and empathy😭). I’m so so glad they found each other they are PERFECT!!!!!
August 24, 2024
ARC Reader for Voracious Readers Only – This is my honest review and opinion pertaining to Savage Skies.
First off, I want to say thank you to the author Kat Ross for sending me an ARC copy of Savage Skies and allowing me the privilege of reading and reviewing this book.
At the age of 12 Castelio experienced a heart-shattering event that changed the course of his future. Years later an old friend comes to his rescue after being labeled a necromancer by the village folk. The old friend knew what he had done in the past and helped him embark on the journey of becoming a Quietus by making him is apprentice. One day Castelio will take on a mission that will change the course of history revealing lies and secrets that could cause disastrous consequences if not stopped.
This book is wow – I cannot tell you how much I loved reading the book. The details, story line, and characters are all amazing and beautifully written. The story takes place in a realm where the undead rise and necromancers are to blame for the restless dead. The way the author describes this world in so much detail it is like you are there, following the characters as they embark on an adventure into unknown territories and terrains. I will be reading the rest of the series plus other series written by this author, Kat Ross does a fantastic job when it comes to writing fantasy novels.
First off, I want to say thank you to the author Kat Ross for sending me an ARC copy of Savage Skies and allowing me the privilege of reading and reviewing this book.
At the age of 12 Castelio experienced a heart-shattering event that changed the course of his future. Years later an old friend comes to his rescue after being labeled a necromancer by the village folk. The old friend knew what he had done in the past and helped him embark on the journey of becoming a Quietus by making him is apprentice. One day Castelio will take on a mission that will change the course of history revealing lies and secrets that could cause disastrous consequences if not stopped.
This book is wow – I cannot tell you how much I loved reading the book. The details, story line, and characters are all amazing and beautifully written. The story takes place in a realm where the undead rise and necromancers are to blame for the restless dead. The way the author describes this world in so much detail it is like you are there, following the characters as they embark on an adventure into unknown territories and terrains. I will be reading the rest of the series plus other series written by this author, Kat Ross does a fantastic job when it comes to writing fantasy novels.
August 3, 2023
This book was such a joy to read! A wonderful, fast-paced ride!
Quite exceptionally, I have loved each and every character (so far).
Well some I actually love to hate, especially a certain batshit crazy bitch...
Speaking of characters...I don't know where to start?!
Lo/ Delilah - is a fantastic heroine, she is badass but with quite the heart of gold (the best kind, really!).
Cas - at first I wasn't sure about him but he ended up being more than all right.
Lucius - I have a thing for fiery read heads. Okay?
Lady Chaos & sis - these can't get any cooler than they already are!
Nathan - the kinda scary, badass necromancer but with a kinda goofy and hilarious side--- Oh, he's my favourite all right.
And the cherry on top? The little cameos from already well-known characters
I don't want to spoil anything, so for now, let's just say Savages Skies is a very entertaining and exciting rollercoaster of a ride!!
If you don't read this one you definitely miss out the star of a new terrifically epic series!
Quite exceptionally, I have loved each and every character (so far).
Well some I actually love to hate, especially a certain batshit crazy bitch...
Speaking of characters...I don't know where to start?!
Lo/ Delilah - is a fantastic heroine, she is badass but with quite the heart of gold (the best kind, really!).
Cas - at first I wasn't sure about him but he ended up being more than all right.
Lucius - I have a thing for fiery read heads. Okay?
Lady Chaos & sis - these can't get any cooler than they already are!
Nathan - the kinda scary, badass necromancer but with a kinda goofy and hilarious side--- Oh, he's my favourite all right.
And the cherry on top? The little cameos from already well-known characters
I don't want to spoil anything, so for now, let's just say Savages Skies is a very entertaining and exciting rollercoaster of a ride!!
If you don't read this one you definitely miss out the star of a new terrifically epic series!
August 16, 2023
A cool twist on witch hunts with some historical fiction
When the masses are kept ignorant, they’ll fill in the gaps with all sorts of nonsense, including persecuting those who are helping them. Herbalists who heal IRL and the Quietuses (sp?) in this world who assist the risen dead in quitting the realm of the living. And necromancers? In one part of this world, they are responsible for raising the dead; in another part, the deceased are seen as protectors.
Truth is fluid, depending on the teller of the tale’s perspective.
Kinda freaky, but can’t argue it…
‘But you get hungry enough, the dead don’t see so scary anymore.’
Fave line:
There are ‘many things worth dying for, but hatred isn’t one of them’.
In addition to the awesome cover art, the author treats us to a map at the beginning and illustrations as chapter openers.
I’ve already enjoyed many of this authors works and look forward to continuing this series with ‘Rogue and Revenant’ (expected April 2024). In the meantime, I’ll keep myself busy with some of her other books.
When the masses are kept ignorant, they’ll fill in the gaps with all sorts of nonsense, including persecuting those who are helping them. Herbalists who heal IRL and the Quietuses (sp?) in this world who assist the risen dead in quitting the realm of the living. And necromancers? In one part of this world, they are responsible for raising the dead; in another part, the deceased are seen as protectors.
Truth is fluid, depending on the teller of the tale’s perspective.
Kinda freaky, but can’t argue it…
‘But you get hungry enough, the dead don’t see so scary anymore.’
Fave line:
There are ‘many things worth dying for, but hatred isn’t one of them’.
In addition to the awesome cover art, the author treats us to a map at the beginning and illustrations as chapter openers.
I’ve already enjoyed many of this authors works and look forward to continuing this series with ‘Rogue and Revenant’ (expected April 2024). In the meantime, I’ll keep myself busy with some of her other books.
August 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a fan of the Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix, I loved the similar flavor this one had, but with a substance all its own. The suspense of the 'woken dead' and dealing with intelligent undead servants was riveting, and kept me on my toes about the motives of individuals within the story line.
The twin story lines does a great job of keeping the plot moving, while not raising too many plot holes. This can sometimes be challenging to get right, but this author manages it well.
While initially the main female character seems a little over powered, and over empowered if you will, over time it starts to make sense. She still has a little mary sue flavor regarding her access to resources, training and connections, but overall it doesn't impact the story in a negative way.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The twin story lines does a great job of keeping the plot moving, while not raising too many plot holes. This can sometimes be challenging to get right, but this author manages it well.
While initially the main female character seems a little over powered, and over empowered if you will, over time it starts to make sense. She still has a little mary sue flavor regarding her access to resources, training and connections, but overall it doesn't impact the story in a negative way.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 17, 2023
Kat Ross has become one of my new favorite authors and this one is just another example of why! What a world she has created! Lo has a ship called the Wind Witch and she and her cat familiar, Thistle, fly it to make deliveries. They are kidnapped by another royal to aid in discovering why their country is being overrun by returning dead. Lo has special powers she doesn't understand and she's looking for her missing parents in the hope of getting answers when shipnapped! She and her kidnapper are then set on a recovery, to save something of value to his royal lodge and in doing this, run afoul of the other monarchs. What a tale! Looking forward to the 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.
June 21, 2024
I gleefully pre-ordered this book some time last year and then took an absurd amount of time to get around to reading it. But my timing ended up being impeccable, as Kat has just announced that book 3 will be available for preorder this summer, so I now have the two next installments to look forward to. This series is a gift for anyone who enjoyed The Fourth Element and Fourth Talisman books. I wouldn’t spoil it by saying which of the characters from those series are mentioned or show up. Suffice it to say I was more than happy to meet some old friends, and I loved the new world and characters and how they connected with the previous stories. I will not be taking as much time getting to the next book!
May 29, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers. This is only my second read from this service, so I was unsure what to expect from a quality standpoint. I genuinely really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series. My thanks to the author for sharing the book - I potentially would not have otherwise discovered you!
I’ve only recently gotten back into reading and prefer the fantasy genre, but I found the plot interesting and unique. The treatment of the undead was different than most of my recent reads and it was a delight. I am hopeful that in book two, the world building and character development expands. The author did a good job here - but I could still use a touch more!
I’ve only recently gotten back into reading and prefer the fantasy genre, but I found the plot interesting and unique. The treatment of the undead was different than most of my recent reads and it was a delight. I am hopeful that in book two, the world building and character development expands. The author did a good job here - but I could still use a touch more!
August 7, 2025
I really enjoyed Savage Skies! The world feels fresh and vividly built, and the story doesn't lean on the usual fantasy tropes. It’s fast-paced, full of tension, and the characters feel unique and real. I especially loved Thistle — absolute scene-stealer and such a perfect balance to the darker moments.
The dynamic between Delilah and Castelio kept me hooked, and I’m a sucker for slow reveals done right. A couple of plot points took a second to click, but once they did, I was all in.
If you like original world-building and fantasy with depth but not a huge info dump, this one’s definitely worth picking up. Can’t wait to dive into book two.
The dynamic between Delilah and Castelio kept me hooked, and I’m a sucker for slow reveals done right. A couple of plot points took a second to click, but once they did, I was all in.
If you like original world-building and fantasy with depth but not a huge info dump, this one’s definitely worth picking up. Can’t wait to dive into book two.
August 22, 2023
Really enjoyed this new storyline. Setting and ambiance completely worked for me.
It's fresh and not a rehash of older characters or the same story arc in a different timeline setting, but original and fun. The Cas - Quietus storyline works very good, though sometimes he might grow a pair and lose some of his insecurity. Delilah can be very impetuous and this leads her to all kinds of complications. But it's not overdone and not a way to keep driving the story.
Already looking forward to the next one.
It's fresh and not a rehash of older characters or the same story arc in a different timeline setting, but original and fun. The Cas - Quietus storyline works very good, though sometimes he might grow a pair and lose some of his insecurity. Delilah can be very impetuous and this leads her to all kinds of complications. But it's not overdone and not a way to keep driving the story.
Already looking forward to the next one.
January 15, 2024
another great book
Kay Ross has quickly become an auto buy for me as I can always count on a solid story with unique and interesting plots and characters. This brings us back to some of her previous works which makes me feel the need to reread some of those to be brought up to speed on the histories but not necessary if you are interested as a stand alone series.
Overall, a fast paced, dark, and mysterious read with a hint of a potential love story. The ending left me wanting more and needless to say, I’ve already pre purchased the second in the series.
Kay Ross has quickly become an auto buy for me as I can always count on a solid story with unique and interesting plots and characters. This brings us back to some of her previous works which makes me feel the need to reread some of those to be brought up to speed on the histories but not necessary if you are interested as a stand alone series.
Overall, a fast paced, dark, and mysterious read with a hint of a potential love story. The ending left me wanting more and needless to say, I’ve already pre purchased the second in the series.
September 30, 2024
This is the first book I have read by Kat Ross and I was impressed. Good character development and impressive scenes. Add in a touch of magic and adventure with danger along the journey and it was all quite intriguing.
When I got to the part with the walking dead, I almost put the book down but so glad that I didn’t. The main characters Cas, Lo and Lucious are tasked with retrieving a kidnapped child but each have their own secret agendas. The storyline is well developed and leaves you wanting more. So now I need to get more books in this series.
When I got to the part with the walking dead, I almost put the book down but so glad that I didn’t. The main characters Cas, Lo and Lucious are tasked with retrieving a kidnapped child but each have their own secret agendas. The storyline is well developed and leaves you wanting more. So now I need to get more books in this series.
May 22, 2025
I like the story, the writing and the characters. It is different enough from similar stories to make me pay attention to everything going on. I am going to absolutely read the next installment and might suggest that a prequel with regards to this story dealing with the underlying social divisions would be interesting on its own. Especially with regard to the protagonists, the character development is pretty good, and probably only going to get better. I recommend Savage Skies to any Fantasy buffs out there.
August 21, 2023
**I received a free ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for voluntarily leaving an honest review.**
Seriously Kat. Sometimes I hate this woman. I mean, my TBR list is over 500. I will in all probability die, before finishing it. And every single time, Kat comes out with a book, I'm like me! Me! OVEr HErE! ME!!!! And yes, I loved it. I will admit, I haven't found a single series of hers that I haven't enjoyed. This one is awesome. I am waiting eagerly for the next one.
Seriously Kat. Sometimes I hate this woman. I mean, my TBR list is over 500. I will in all probability die, before finishing it. And every single time, Kat comes out with a book, I'm like me! Me! OVEr HErE! ME!!!! And yes, I loved it. I will admit, I haven't found a single series of hers that I haven't enjoyed. This one is awesome. I am waiting eagerly for the next one.
August 22, 2023
I love Kat Ross’ books! Now starting a new series, set in the world of the 4th Talisman, and with some familiar characters. It still feels fresh and new. And I see that there’s going to be a slow burn romance between Lo and Cas. What a great surprise to see Culach and his cohort there in the Sun Courts…or rather the Star Courts. And even Lucius seems to have a soul…but I need to see where this is going. Can’t wait to read the next installment. A very good read!
August 19, 2023
Usually when authors are this prolific, their books rely on formulaic tropes—but Kat Ross consistently produces well-written and original stories. This series-starter has compelling characters, intricate world-building, and a fast-paced and unpredictable plot. I can't wait to see where it goes.
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.
August 21, 2024
If 3 stars is liked it and 4 stars is really liked it, then I give it 3 stars. Started well. Engaging premise. First chapter really grabbed me. But then it kind of settled into a "good book". I think they could have done a lot more with the MC personal journey and his power exploration. 2nd half of the book kind of degraded into a kidnap search.
March 8, 2025
Savage Skies is a captivating fantasy novel with engaging writing and an adventurous mix of magic and mystery, it offers puzzling twists and turns. However, the pacing was slower than I would have liked. Overall, it's a recommended read for those seeking an imaginative escape.
Thank you to Voracious Readers and Kat Ross for providing me with a copy of this book.
Thank you to Voracious Readers and Kat Ross for providing me with a copy of this book.
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