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And the Sky Bled
Amid the chaos of a dying city ruled by colonizers, three rivals—a thief, a slumlord, and an heiress—race to find a hidden cache of magic that will decide the city’s fate.
In the occupied city of Tejomaya, calor—a magical fossil fuel—is found only in the blood rains that fall from the sky. While a six-month drought has brought Tejomaya to a desperate standstill, rumors of a secret stash of magic propel three unlikely treasure seekers to risk everything.
Tenacious and street-smart Zain Jatav has been forced to steal calor for her slumlord bosses for years. Finding the magic reserve might be her only key to freedom. But she’ll have to contend with Iravan Khotar, a slumlord himself and an ambitious revolutionary hoping to use the same magic to save his people from the mysterious illness devastating the slums—and to bolster a fight against their oppressors. Meanwhile, heiress Anastasia Drakos leads the ruling council of Tejomaya from the safety of a nearby island. With the hidden magic, she could finally take full control of the city and crush the slums beneath her unyielding fist.
As Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia draw closer to finding the treasure, their paths tangle, and not for the first time—they met before, a decade ago, in a fire that destroyed each of their lives in different ways. Their reunion might bring the already-weakened city to its knees.
Exploring the devastating mechanisms of power, this searing climate fantasy breathes life into a crumbling world hovering on the brink of total destruction.
In the occupied city of Tejomaya, calor—a magical fossil fuel—is found only in the blood rains that fall from the sky. While a six-month drought has brought Tejomaya to a desperate standstill, rumors of a secret stash of magic propel three unlikely treasure seekers to risk everything.
Tenacious and street-smart Zain Jatav has been forced to steal calor for her slumlord bosses for years. Finding the magic reserve might be her only key to freedom. But she’ll have to contend with Iravan Khotar, a slumlord himself and an ambitious revolutionary hoping to use the same magic to save his people from the mysterious illness devastating the slums—and to bolster a fight against their oppressors. Meanwhile, heiress Anastasia Drakos leads the ruling council of Tejomaya from the safety of a nearby island. With the hidden magic, she could finally take full control of the city and crush the slums beneath her unyielding fist.
As Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia draw closer to finding the treasure, their paths tangle, and not for the first time—they met before, a decade ago, in a fire that destroyed each of their lives in different ways. Their reunion might bring the already-weakened city to its knees.
Exploring the devastating mechanisms of power, this searing climate fantasy breathes life into a crumbling world hovering on the brink of total destruction.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2024
81 people are currently reading
14934 people want to read
About the author
S. Hati
2 books89 followersS. Hati is a speculative fiction writer, currently residing in the Bay Area. She holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from UCLA and a master’s degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, and pretends to use them both while working in health tech. She writes about brown girls in strange worlds that straddle the line between magic and science.
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December 24, 2024congrats to s. hati and allegra for their debut!! it was so lovely meeting them for their launch event and seeing all the love and care put into this ambitious desi fantasy filled with political intrigue <3
November 27, 2024
I feel extremely biased to be writing this review considering I am the person who picked this book to be published and brought into the world. There’s not much I haven’t said already about how much I love this book. When I picked And The Sky Bled to be the first book I published under my imprint, Fantasy & Frens, I knew it wasn’t going to be a book for everyone. After all, not every book should be for everyone. It was a book for ME.
And The Sky Bled is special because it has stuck with me long after I read it the first time. It was terrifying to read because the environmental disasters our characters are grappling with are a direct reflection of climate events happening in our world. I chose this book because it’s about perseverance and hope. It’s about community and banding together in the darkest of times.
In short, if you love climate fantasy/sci-fi, multiple POVs, found family, magical fossil fuel, morally gray characters, sentient forests, and are curious about why this world is LITERALLY RAINING BLOOD, I urge you to pick up And The Sky Bled! <3
And The Sky Bled is special because it has stuck with me long after I read it the first time. It was terrifying to read because the environmental disasters our characters are grappling with are a direct reflection of climate events happening in our world. I chose this book because it’s about perseverance and hope. It’s about community and banding together in the darkest of times.
In short, if you love climate fantasy/sci-fi, multiple POVs, found family, magical fossil fuel, morally gray characters, sentient forests, and are curious about why this world is LITERALLY RAINING BLOOD, I urge you to pick up And The Sky Bled! <3
August 26, 2024
Like many people, I was interested in Bindery when it was announced: a publishing company and social media platform run by book influencers, where those same influencers would select manuscripts for tradpub. And the Sky Bled is part of their first round of books from Zoranne's imprint Fantasy & Frens, so I should say that Zoranne and I are mutuals and she kindly reached out to ask if I was interested in an ARC of this book!
And the Sky Bled is a fantasy standalone following three main characters in a dying world. The rapid use of a nonrenewable resource - the bloody liquid calor, which burns those who come into contact with it - has led to an international shortage, and these characters find themselves competing to find a rumored cache for their own political ends. While I think And the Sky Bled will appeal to fans of dystopian fiction, particularly those who recall with fondness the era of Divergent and The Hunger Games, I should've anticipated that my personal preferences lying outside of dystopian/climate fiction would mean a lower level of overall enjoyment.
But let's start with what I liked about this book! Hati's writing is excellent: sharp, lurid, and grotesque when it needs to be, especially when describing calor and its violent effects on people. Her characters feel unique, and though Zain will be a recognizable protagonist to most readers, it was the relationship between Iravan and Anastasia that really caught my attention. They have a palpable chemistry even within their memories, and Hati manages to pull off revealing information to the audience through what she selectively conceals within their perspectives. Anastasia in particular is a breath of fresh air! I have a soft spot for scheming, morally grey women.
However, as mentioned above, I think my appreciation for the story was hampered by personal preferences with genre and theme. Additionally, the structure of And the Sky Bled didn't always work for me. Our characters are connected through a shared event from their past, and part of the book's suspense comes from the slow reveal of this event until its explanation at the end of the book. But because each POV character references this event so often (usually once a chapter, sometimes more) without explaining it, the narration can feel slightly repetitive. I think constant references to "the fire" were meant to build tension for the reader, but in my experience they contributed more to a sense of confusion and frustration. This blind spot also meant that I didn't feel like I could get as close to the characters as I might have liked! I wonder if an extra 50 pages or so would've been the solution, to better familiarize ourselves with their personalities and motives outside of references to an event that's already happened off of the page. I get the feeling that Anastasia and Zain in particular had much more to give to this story had they the opportunity. The plot progression is brisk and consistent, but I also would've liked to spend some more time marinating in the politics and relationships, both of which fly by at a breakneck pace.
Thematically, And the Sky Bled reminded me of The Fifth Season: a melding of science fiction and fantasy that uses the magic system to comment on wider issues. While NK Jemisin's focus is primarily on race, S. Hati competently hones in on class, climate change, and colonialism. While I'm walking away from this story unsure if it resonated with me, I'm absolutely sure that it'll find its audience, and I'm interested to see what S. Hati brings in the future!
And the Sky Bled is a fantasy standalone following three main characters in a dying world. The rapid use of a nonrenewable resource - the bloody liquid calor, which burns those who come into contact with it - has led to an international shortage, and these characters find themselves competing to find a rumored cache for their own political ends. While I think And the Sky Bled will appeal to fans of dystopian fiction, particularly those who recall with fondness the era of Divergent and The Hunger Games, I should've anticipated that my personal preferences lying outside of dystopian/climate fiction would mean a lower level of overall enjoyment.
But let's start with what I liked about this book! Hati's writing is excellent: sharp, lurid, and grotesque when it needs to be, especially when describing calor and its violent effects on people. Her characters feel unique, and though Zain will be a recognizable protagonist to most readers, it was the relationship between Iravan and Anastasia that really caught my attention. They have a palpable chemistry even within their memories, and Hati manages to pull off revealing information to the audience through what she selectively conceals within their perspectives. Anastasia in particular is a breath of fresh air! I have a soft spot for scheming, morally grey women.
However, as mentioned above, I think my appreciation for the story was hampered by personal preferences with genre and theme. Additionally, the structure of And the Sky Bled didn't always work for me. Our characters are connected through a shared event from their past, and part of the book's suspense comes from the slow reveal of this event until its explanation at the end of the book. But because each POV character references this event so often (usually once a chapter, sometimes more) without explaining it, the narration can feel slightly repetitive. I think constant references to "the fire" were meant to build tension for the reader, but in my experience they contributed more to a sense of confusion and frustration. This blind spot also meant that I didn't feel like I could get as close to the characters as I might have liked! I wonder if an extra 50 pages or so would've been the solution, to better familiarize ourselves with their personalities and motives outside of references to an event that's already happened off of the page. I get the feeling that Anastasia and Zain in particular had much more to give to this story had they the opportunity. The plot progression is brisk and consistent, but I also would've liked to spend some more time marinating in the politics and relationships, both of which fly by at a breakneck pace.
Thematically, And the Sky Bled reminded me of The Fifth Season: a melding of science fiction and fantasy that uses the magic system to comment on wider issues. While NK Jemisin's focus is primarily on race, S. Hati competently hones in on class, climate change, and colonialism. While I'm walking away from this story unsure if it resonated with me, I'm absolutely sure that it'll find its audience, and I'm interested to see what S. Hati brings in the future!
April 28, 2024
excellent and honestly a little terrifying
edit: thinking about this even more a few days after i finished and that’s always a sign that a book will stay with me and how much it affects me. it’s hard to believe S. Hati is a debut author bc of how impressive this story is. it’s also solidly a climate fantasy, which, as a sustainability professional, i very much love reading about as much as it makes me anxious. but not only that, it’s a SOUTH ASIAN cli-fi and that means even more to me. once you get to 50%, you will be LOCKED in. what’s even more impressive to me is that this is a standalone. to write a full story that isn’t a million pages long yet still completely effective is actually a talent and there is no denying that S. Hati is meant to be a storyteller 💓
edit: thinking about this even more a few days after i finished and that’s always a sign that a book will stay with me and how much it affects me. it’s hard to believe S. Hati is a debut author bc of how impressive this story is. it’s also solidly a climate fantasy, which, as a sustainability professional, i very much love reading about as much as it makes me anxious. but not only that, it’s a SOUTH ASIAN cli-fi and that means even more to me. once you get to 50%, you will be LOCKED in. what’s even more impressive to me is that this is a standalone. to write a full story that isn’t a million pages long yet still completely effective is actually a talent and there is no denying that S. Hati is meant to be a storyteller 💓
October 1, 2024
4 Stars
I *think* I liked this story; I maybe even liked it a lot.
To be honest, the plot, the writing, the themes, and (even, probably) the symbolism at play here went a bit over my simple mind, but I know I was fully engaged the entire time I was reading, and I finished the book feeling fairly impressed by the concept, quality, and execution of this fairly unique and era-relevant story.
There’s really no point in me rehashing the synopsis (mostly because I wouldn’t know where to start)—truth be told, I went in pretty blind and I think that actually worked in my favour. But know that you’re going to experience a multi-POV, climate fantasy, that’s a slow-burn in the telling and thought-provoking in its deeper message.
The world-building didn’t namby-pamby to exposition, which I really appreciated. I felt like I was dropped straight into this fully formed world—a world struggling to survive in the face of political upheaval and rapidly diminishing life-sustaining resources.
I liked the way the 3 distinct POV’s wove together, slow-building in character development, interpersonal connections, and plot reveals in the first-half of the story, but then barrelling into unputdownable territory in the very eventful and emotionally gripping second act.
Fantasy readers jonesing for a well-written, provocative cli-fi story—with South-Asian inspired characters and rich, atmospheric world-building—should definitely consider giving this book a look-see. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of S. Hati’s professional writing journey, if the quality of this debut is anything to go by.
***A special thanks to Bindery Books (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I *think* I liked this story; I maybe even liked it a lot.
To be honest, the plot, the writing, the themes, and (even, probably) the symbolism at play here went a bit over my simple mind, but I know I was fully engaged the entire time I was reading, and I finished the book feeling fairly impressed by the concept, quality, and execution of this fairly unique and era-relevant story.
There’s really no point in me rehashing the synopsis (mostly because I wouldn’t know where to start)—truth be told, I went in pretty blind and I think that actually worked in my favour. But know that you’re going to experience a multi-POV, climate fantasy, that’s a slow-burn in the telling and thought-provoking in its deeper message.
The world-building didn’t namby-pamby to exposition, which I really appreciated. I felt like I was dropped straight into this fully formed world—a world struggling to survive in the face of political upheaval and rapidly diminishing life-sustaining resources.
I liked the way the 3 distinct POV’s wove together, slow-building in character development, interpersonal connections, and plot reveals in the first-half of the story, but then barrelling into unputdownable territory in the very eventful and emotionally gripping second act.
Fantasy readers jonesing for a well-written, provocative cli-fi story—with South-Asian inspired characters and rich, atmospheric world-building—should definitely consider giving this book a look-see. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of S. Hati’s professional writing journey, if the quality of this debut is anything to go by.
***A special thanks to Bindery Books (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2024
I officially blurbed this desi fantasy book and it's finally out today! Here is my blurb:
“An intimate study of power and revolution in a magical, ferocious world. Hati's riveting prose and reimagining of South Asian culture forms a thrilling climate fantasy that left me on the edge of my seat.”
And the Sky Bled is a searing standalone climate fantasy novel with South Asian influences. It does an excellent job of exploring power, oppression, class, and race, set against the backdrop of an environmental disaster.
As a Bengali reader, it was so cool seeing the nods to Bengali words and culture! The character relationships were also so interesting to follow along. I think fans of climate fantasies like The Surviving Sky and epic fantasies with complex character dynamics like An Ember in the Ashes will love And the Sky Bled.
Thank you to Bindery for providing me with an ARC!
“An intimate study of power and revolution in a magical, ferocious world. Hati's riveting prose and reimagining of South Asian culture forms a thrilling climate fantasy that left me on the edge of my seat.”
And the Sky Bled is a searing standalone climate fantasy novel with South Asian influences. It does an excellent job of exploring power, oppression, class, and race, set against the backdrop of an environmental disaster.
As a Bengali reader, it was so cool seeing the nods to Bengali words and culture! The character relationships were also so interesting to follow along. I think fans of climate fantasies like The Surviving Sky and epic fantasies with complex character dynamics like An Ember in the Ashes will love And the Sky Bled.
Thank you to Bindery for providing me with an ARC!
October 30, 2024
It's been almost a month since I finished this arc, and I legitimately don't remember anything remotely important that happened other than the blood rain and the huge rip in the sky. I don't remember any of the characters, or their history, or their motivations.
Trust me, I really wanted to like this novel. I love anything to do with fantasy colonialism, inequity, revolutions, etc. but this felt so generic and a rehash of other POC-led apocalyptic fantasies I've read before.
Two stars because I did like the setting and apocalyptic worldbuilding. It was very immersive and made me feel like I was living in a hellscape colored with reddish orange tones. But sadly, the characters weren't as memorable as the setting.
Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this arc.
Trust me, I really wanted to like this novel. I love anything to do with fantasy colonialism, inequity, revolutions, etc. but this felt so generic and a rehash of other POC-led apocalyptic fantasies I've read before.
Two stars because I did like the setting and apocalyptic worldbuilding. It was very immersive and made me feel like I was living in a hellscape colored with reddish orange tones. But sadly, the characters weren't as memorable as the setting.
Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this arc.
September 27, 2024
There’s lots of political intrigue, there’s greed and betrayal; there’s love and friendship. The ingredients were there… it just didn’t work for me because I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters.
Despite having many signs pointing to the truth, it took us forever to find Zain’s secret. When it was finally out it didn’t surprise me.
I liked the epilogue, but if you want to know why, you’ll have to read the story yourself.
Editing. Please!…🙄
I received a free e-ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion about the story.
Despite having many signs pointing to the truth, it took us forever to find Zain’s secret. When it was finally out it didn’t surprise me.
I liked the epilogue, but if you want to know why, you’ll have to read the story yourself.
Editing. Please!…🙄
I received a free e-ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion about the story.
January 18, 2025
Thanks to bindery for the ARC. For transparency’s sake, I am very good friends with the bindery creator whose imprint this book falls under.
I genuinely And the Sky Bled a standalone cli-fi or climate science fiction fantasy title that follows a couple of different POV characters as they're dealing with this situation in a city in which the sky rains or bleeds this sort of like red substance and from the rain it creates this like energy source called Calor. The resource is rare and can produce amazing magical feats but because it only appears in one place and very infrequently, people scramble to collect and sell this resource. The stakes are immediately presented, and we follow characters in a world that is currently dying and the only sort of resource that can help is not renewable and constantly being fought over.
The book is well written, I think S. Hati is a good writer and does a fine job balancing the world and showing your important details about it without it feeling like a lot of info dumpy. The information in her writing is clear, it's concise, and I was very impressed in the 1st chapter how much information was presented to me without it feeling like I was reading a textbook—things were happening, characters were doing what they were doing and at the same time I was learning all about the world. The characters of the book are well crafted--the main character, though a bit trope-y protagonist at times is a good anchor of the story.
I actually found a lot of the supporting casts more interesting—Anastasia was probably my favorite, and I wish we had a bit more involvement from her.
Where the book sort of detracted stars from me, if we're going to put it that way, is in the pacing though if you've been here a long time you know that I'm quite picky about how fantasy books are paced. It is not as egregious as others I've read in 2024, but I do think the first half takes a bit of time to capture interest, but once you get to the 50% mark the interest in the story also picks up.
All in all, if this is a first title from bindery, I am really interested in the stories the are going to publish next.
4/5
I genuinely And the Sky Bled a standalone cli-fi or climate science fiction fantasy title that follows a couple of different POV characters as they're dealing with this situation in a city in which the sky rains or bleeds this sort of like red substance and from the rain it creates this like energy source called Calor. The resource is rare and can produce amazing magical feats but because it only appears in one place and very infrequently, people scramble to collect and sell this resource. The stakes are immediately presented, and we follow characters in a world that is currently dying and the only sort of resource that can help is not renewable and constantly being fought over.
The book is well written, I think S. Hati is a good writer and does a fine job balancing the world and showing your important details about it without it feeling like a lot of info dumpy. The information in her writing is clear, it's concise, and I was very impressed in the 1st chapter how much information was presented to me without it feeling like I was reading a textbook—things were happening, characters were doing what they were doing and at the same time I was learning all about the world. The characters of the book are well crafted--the main character, though a bit trope-y protagonist at times is a good anchor of the story.
I actually found a lot of the supporting casts more interesting—Anastasia was probably my favorite, and I wish we had a bit more involvement from her.
Where the book sort of detracted stars from me, if we're going to put it that way, is in the pacing though if you've been here a long time you know that I'm quite picky about how fantasy books are paced. It is not as egregious as others I've read in 2024, but I do think the first half takes a bit of time to capture interest, but once you get to the 50% mark the interest in the story also picks up.
All in all, if this is a first title from bindery, I am really interested in the stories the are going to publish next.
4/5
June 16, 2025
I feel so guilty giving this only two stars, but in the end this just didn't work for me. I actually really enjoyed the authors writing style and for a debut it's impressive. The premise of this book hooked me and I'd read the blurb and thought this was something I'd love. The blurb made me think this book was about a bunch of unlikely hero's going on a quest to save there home, however it wasn't quest like at all, most of the book was spent building up the world (which to me still seemed pretty shallow) and trying to flesh out the characters.
Nothing exciting really happened in this book, which isn't always a must have for me, but if you're not going to give me action you need to give me amazing characters. So let's talk about the characters, I found them so generic and flat I didn't manage to feel any connection to them or feel the connection between each other. I found the characters pretty stiff and emotionless, the dialogue had a little to do with this, I couldn't pick out even one beautiful thing said.
I nearly gave this book a three star just because the writing was really nice, but barely any plot and no characters I could like or dislike, it wouldn't be a fair review. I don't know if I would read from this author again now, I feel slightly cheated by the blub, maybe if they do something I hear everyone raving about I would try again.
Nothing exciting really happened in this book, which isn't always a must have for me, but if you're not going to give me action you need to give me amazing characters. So let's talk about the characters, I found them so generic and flat I didn't manage to feel any connection to them or feel the connection between each other. I found the characters pretty stiff and emotionless, the dialogue had a little to do with this, I couldn't pick out even one beautiful thing said.
I nearly gave this book a three star just because the writing was really nice, but barely any plot and no characters I could like or dislike, it wouldn't be a fair review. I don't know if I would read from this author again now, I feel slightly cheated by the blub, maybe if they do something I hear everyone raving about I would try again.
June 17, 2024
This was a really cool ARC review book - And the Sky Bled had one of the most original and badass settings I think I've read for a while. Calor, a sort of Spice Milange for S. Hati's world, is the pivotal substance that drives the politics and dramas of the story. Aside from being a powerful metaphor for everything wrong with the world, I love the way it exists as a substance of desire and hate, a highly vivid motivating factor for the characters.
Against this background the scenes and action in And the Sky Bled were striking and often had been sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen.
For a bit of balance however, I did have a bit of beef with this book - the characters themselves were somewhat hard to really get into. It wasn't that they were flat or even uninteresting, it was the strange way their pasts and motivations were presented through the story. Compared to the intensity of the setting I found the internal and character motivations of the book relatively disconnected - weird to read a book where I was more invested in the Calor than the characters! But it certainly showed a unique talent that should be celebrated.
Against this background the scenes and action in And the Sky Bled were striking and often had been sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen.
For a bit of balance however, I did have a bit of beef with this book - the characters themselves were somewhat hard to really get into. It wasn't that they were flat or even uninteresting, it was the strange way their pasts and motivations were presented through the story. Compared to the intensity of the setting I found the internal and character motivations of the book relatively disconnected - weird to read a book where I was more invested in the Calor than the characters! But it certainly showed a unique talent that should be celebrated.
August 26, 2024
Ever read a book where you think "This SHOULD be resonating with me, but it's just not?" That was this book. The writing was great, the premise and world-building was intriguing. I just found myself not caring about the characters enough to invest myself in their stories.
June 7, 2024
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Bindery Books in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but it just didn't work for me.
On paper, the themes appealed to me; a tale of revenge mixed with colonialism, environmental collapse, with schemes involving mob bosses, politicians and the slums. Unfortunately, none of these themes were properly developed and the book was let down by poor writing. The book doesn't have anything to say about colonialism beyond the superficial and the mob bosses don't act the way you would think.
I never got a good feel for the characters or the setting, the writing never brought them alive for me. The book is constantly telling us about the characters and how they feel, instead of showing us. There is a lot of very clunky exposition about the characters backstory and a very annoying habit of mentioning a fire that took place 10 years before the story begins. This incident is referenced almost every 5-10 pages in the novel, until I was sick of it. Imagine something like this:
"Hey, how are you? Remember that fire in the Temple 10 years ago that forever changed the nature of our friendship? Anyways, how's your day going?"
There's even a moment where a character brings up his friend's dead daughter in casual conversation for no reason (other than to tell the audience that he has a dead daughter).
There are so many references to 10 years earlier that I wondered why the book wasn't just set then instead? The exact nature of what happened is not explained until the very end of the book, but rather than building intrigue, this just made me fed up (especially because all the details are implied so there's not much of a secret).
Of the 3 POVs, Zain was the one I got the clearest image of, but even still, I struggled to connect with her story. I was surprised that she was 23 because she mainly acted like a child who wanted her parents. Her decision to should have been a momentous decision that clashed with her loyalty to the slums, but instead she made it quickly and never considered it again.
Iravan was poorly developed and I also found his age didn't match his actions (he acted more like a reckless youth than a middle aged man). You would think a slumlord with major influence would be ruthless and scheming, but in fact for most of the book he was pretty clueless. Also, the book was very unclear on where his money came from or what he did, he's called a slumlord but acts like a community leader providing charity. It doesn't seem plausible that he could become leader of the slums without earning the position and it's a bit too convenient that all the crimes can be blamed on his best friend.
Anastasia was also poorly developed. Initially she seems like the villain with her political intrigue, but then her plot and development essentially grinds to a halt. Honestly, her storyline doesn't really go anywhere and probably could have been cut.
The romance element felt incredibly half-hearted and based on nothing more than the fact a man and a woman spent time in proximity, so I guess they had to hook up.
Somehow, despite all the flaws mentioned, the ending is even worse. To be brutally honest, the wheels come off and the story collapses into incoherence at the end. None of the plot points are properly resolved and by the time the final secrets are revealed, nobody cares because it doesn't actually matter. It's a complete mess that I didn't even try to fit together, I was just glad it was over.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but it just didn't work for me.
On paper, the themes appealed to me; a tale of revenge mixed with colonialism, environmental collapse, with schemes involving mob bosses, politicians and the slums. Unfortunately, none of these themes were properly developed and the book was let down by poor writing. The book doesn't have anything to say about colonialism beyond the superficial and the mob bosses don't act the way you would think.
I never got a good feel for the characters or the setting, the writing never brought them alive for me. The book is constantly telling us about the characters and how they feel, instead of showing us. There is a lot of very clunky exposition about the characters backstory and a very annoying habit of mentioning a fire that took place 10 years before the story begins. This incident is referenced almost every 5-10 pages in the novel, until I was sick of it. Imagine something like this:
"Hey, how are you? Remember that fire in the Temple 10 years ago that forever changed the nature of our friendship? Anyways, how's your day going?"
There's even a moment where a character brings up his friend's dead daughter in casual conversation for no reason (other than to tell the audience that he has a dead daughter).
There are so many references to 10 years earlier that I wondered why the book wasn't just set then instead? The exact nature of what happened is not explained until the very end of the book, but rather than building intrigue, this just made me fed up (especially because all the details are implied so there's not much of a secret).
Of the 3 POVs, Zain was the one I got the clearest image of, but even still, I struggled to connect with her story. I was surprised that she was 23 because she mainly acted like a child who wanted her parents. Her decision to should have been a momentous decision that clashed with her loyalty to the slums, but instead she made it quickly and never considered it again.
Iravan was poorly developed and I also found his age didn't match his actions (he acted more like a reckless youth than a middle aged man). You would think a slumlord with major influence would be ruthless and scheming, but in fact for most of the book he was pretty clueless. Also, the book was very unclear on where his money came from or what he did, he's called a slumlord but acts like a community leader providing charity. It doesn't seem plausible that he could become leader of the slums without earning the position and it's a bit too convenient that all the crimes can be blamed on his best friend.
Anastasia was also poorly developed. Initially she seems like the villain with her political intrigue, but then her plot and development essentially grinds to a halt. Honestly, her storyline doesn't really go anywhere and probably could have been cut.
The romance element felt incredibly half-hearted and based on nothing more than the fact a man and a woman spent time in proximity, so I guess they had to hook up.
Somehow, despite all the flaws mentioned, the ending is even worse. To be brutally honest, the wheels come off and the story collapses into incoherence at the end. None of the plot points are properly resolved and by the time the final secrets are revealed, nobody cares because it doesn't actually matter. It's a complete mess that I didn't even try to fit together, I was just glad it was over.
June 8, 2024
“And the Sky Bled” is an adult fantasy written by S. Hati, here at her debut. A powerful book with a strong climatic component, characterized by an epic and urgent atmosphere, captivating and evocative prose, and a fast and tantalizing pace. A tale that won me over completely with its expansive, curated world building on the brink of total destruction, a tough story full of action, political intrigues and power plays, and the three protagonists portrayed in a masterful way.
In general I'm always a little wary of standalone fantasy books, but this one really impressed me with its thoroughness and care! Seriously, I was pleasantly pleased!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In general I'm always a little wary of standalone fantasy books, but this one really impressed me with its thoroughness and care! Seriously, I was pleasantly pleased!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2024
EVERYBODY STAY CALM !!
OH MY GOD IT'S HAPPENING.GIF
OH MY GOD IT'S HAPPENING.GIF
October 4, 2024
Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
I wanted to like this book. In the beginning, it gave me strong YA dystopian vibes from around 10-15 years ago. Think Caragh O'Brien's Birthmarked, Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns (fantasy but great), or--to a lesser degree--the Divergent series. The writing felt well-balanced between sufficient world-building, brisk pace, and character development. The concept of the sky "raining" a valuable blood-like resource, and having a society of haves and have-nots being built around access and possession to this resource, seemed like it was going to be riveting.
Unfortunately, as the chapters went on, I felt that the building up of empathy for each character began to be shunted aside for cheaply dramatic events, usually in the form of supposedly tense interactions between characters or, in one instance, a firestorm (?) that erupts from the sky. The (melo)drama felt contrived; I felt like I was reading a novelization of some done-before apocalypse film, minus the details that would help me stay invested. I wanted to empathize with the three main characters, but neither of them felt fully fleshed out, leaving me to have trouble distinguishing between their voices and circumstances.
Decent premise, good enough writing, but lacking in the emotional investment I want from my reads.
I wanted to like this book. In the beginning, it gave me strong YA dystopian vibes from around 10-15 years ago. Think Caragh O'Brien's Birthmarked, Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns (fantasy but great), or--to a lesser degree--the Divergent series. The writing felt well-balanced between sufficient world-building, brisk pace, and character development. The concept of the sky "raining" a valuable blood-like resource, and having a society of haves and have-nots being built around access and possession to this resource, seemed like it was going to be riveting.
Unfortunately, as the chapters went on, I felt that the building up of empathy for each character began to be shunted aside for cheaply dramatic events, usually in the form of supposedly tense interactions between characters or, in one instance, a firestorm (?) that erupts from the sky. The (melo)drama felt contrived; I felt like I was reading a novelization of some done-before apocalypse film, minus the details that would help me stay invested. I wanted to empathize with the three main characters, but neither of them felt fully fleshed out, leaving me to have trouble distinguishing between their voices and circumstances.
Decent premise, good enough writing, but lacking in the emotional investment I want from my reads.
August 8, 2024
This might just be one of my favourite debut novels in a long time. It's incredibly well-crafted, with even pacing and beautiful writing and a plot that never, not for even a second, left me feeling bored. The story is also a little terrifying: And The Sky Bled takes place in a world which has been stripped of its resources so thoroughly that the sky literally bleeds from a wound above the city of Tejomaya. This wound seems to be the last source of calor, the very resource everything in this world needs to function. It comes as no surprise then that it's been forcefully taken over by the most powerful nation which claims every last piece of calor for itself. It's what ruthless colonizers do, after all.
The characters are incredibly well-written and distinct, and while the "twist" that connects all three protagonists is a bit predictable, it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I was just mesmerized from page one, and I loved every one of the three perspectives though surprised myself when Anastasia's actually became my favourite. There is heartbreak, there is action, there is deep exploration of complex and frightening themes that despite this being fantasy, or climate fantasy to be precise, it's very relevant to what we experience in our own world.
4,5 stars, easily rounding up to 5.
Many thanks to Bindery Books and Netgalley for the arc!
The characters are incredibly well-written and distinct, and while the "twist" that connects all three protagonists is a bit predictable, it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I was just mesmerized from page one, and I loved every one of the three perspectives though surprised myself when Anastasia's actually became my favourite. There is heartbreak, there is action, there is deep exploration of complex and frightening themes that despite this being fantasy, or climate fantasy to be precise, it's very relevant to what we experience in our own world.
4,5 stars, easily rounding up to 5.
Many thanks to Bindery Books and Netgalley for the arc!
July 17, 2025
Despite my rating for this title, I'm excited about Bindery books. I first learned about them from Marines and signed up for her Bindery...press release? email list? I signed up to get emails about the Bindery books on her imprint
The first four Bindery books were released in 2024: this one, Inferno's Heir, Strange Beasts, and House of Frank.
I put the latter two on my TBR list immediately and even created a Bindery-Book bookshelf but the first two were the ones we got in the library so they're the ones I read.
And I didn't love them.
But. BUT!
I didn't necessarily want to read this one or Inferno's Heir because the synopses did not intrigue me, they sounded like standard YA speculative fiction and that's exactly what I got. However, since they were the first two to cross my path, I tried them out to see what Bindery has to offer.
Physically, they have a LOT to offer, they're nicely formatted and bound and are printed on thick paper. The paperbacks are sturdy, like the spine-is-nearly-unbreakable sturdy. Holding these was a pleasant tactile experience.
Sadly for me, reading them was not. However, I am also not the target audience.
This one is supposed to be adult, not YA. I don't even know if it's aimed at NA because two of the three main characters are in their 30's, possibly closing in on 40. But none of the characters seem as old as they are.
Zain, the first POV the reader is introduced to, is 23, I believe? She's had a rough beginning, having been orphaned and having survived a fire at a temple, and having been taken in by loving religious people, and having been drawn into the criminal underworld, sorta, to be used by one of the leaders of the slums. I expected her to be tough and street smart but she reads like a 17-year-old who hasn't experienced much of the world.
The next POV the reader meets is Anastasia Drakos. She's the daughter of the head of the council (?) that's ruling Tejomaya. She's Gehennese, a colonizer. The native Tejomayans refer to them as Gengs. I think she's supposed to be ambitious and politically clever but she seems to be in her own head and unaware most of the time. And she's really angry at the Tejomayans back on the mainland (the Gehennese rulers live on an island that used to be the center of the city on the mainland but then it split off and now it's just floating out there in the water but still close to the mainland. There's a stone forest on the island that used to be a real forest but now it's stone) She's in her 30's, I believe, and expects to take over her father's role as head of the council. Her bestie, who has been with her through thick and thin, is a Tejomayan from the slums, the slums where Zain currently hangs out. I kept thinking she was in her early 20's, like just graduated from college, if there were colleges here.
The final POV is that of Iravan, Ravi to his friend but Iravan to the reader. He's the other leader of the slums and something horrible happened in his past that made him broody and moody and stoic and worried about things. He and Dev, the co-leader of the slums, run things with the help of Yadav, a sort of mad scientist type person kind of who also has a leadership role kind of. He's full of guilt and anger and stuff. I think he's also in his 30's but I kept thinking he was 26 at the most.
There used to be airplanes in this world but they haven't existed for a long time because their fuel source, calor, is running out. Tejomaya is the last place calor exists and it comes from the blood rains because something happened some time ago that caused the gray sky to rent open and now there are red veins in the gray sky and when they burst open and rain, "blood" falls. It's not actual blood, as far as I could tell, it's just red. And when it's processed, a yellow liquid called calor is extracted and calor is the only fuel in this world. And that's why Tejomaya got colonized by the Gehennese and a few others, but mainly the Gehennese. They have soldiers called bloodstrippers who keep safe the turbines where the blood rains fall and are processed.
Zain is a leech. She steals calor from the turbines when the bloodstrippers aren't looking but Dev makes her bring him X amount of calor every month for reasons. Iravan knows nothing of this. A bloodstripper and his brother show up because they kind of catch Zain stealing? But they need her help? And there's rumor of a calor reserve underground someplace in Tejomaya and everyone is looking for it, if they believe in it, which most don't because it's just a fairy tale.
If you're confused by this summary, it's by design.
It's not that the story is confusing, it's just that it relies on vibes more than plot. I understood what was happening but reading was a little like being in a maze with paths that didn't go anywhere. Because this isn't a mystery, it was weird to have all these loose ends just dangling and never addressed again.
About halfway through the story, there's a quick sentence that reveals why Anastasia is so angry, which then explains why Iravan is the way he is, but because these little bits of information are doled out so sporadically, it takes until the last chapter for that plotline to be fully uncovered and I wouldn't even say it's fully uncovered. There's a lot that's left unsaid that the reader just has to assume.
I hate it when stories spell out every little thing but now I know I also don't like stories that hint at things but never confirm those things. It's frustrating.
I think the atmosphere was probably the most concrete character in this book. While I don't understand why or how the whole blood rains thing came to be, it was interesting to see how what was essentially climate change based on the unsustainable use of a parallel to fossil fuels played out in this other place.
Again, this wasn't a story I was keen to read in the first place so please take my sullen review with a grain of salt.
While I was reading this, I thought about to whom this may appeal. I think people who loved the tension and writing style in Sawkill Girls might like this, as well.
Next up: Strange Beasts. I should be getting it this week and am excited to read it.
The first four Bindery books were released in 2024: this one, Inferno's Heir, Strange Beasts, and House of Frank.
I put the latter two on my TBR list immediately and even created a Bindery-Book bookshelf but the first two were the ones we got in the library so they're the ones I read.
And I didn't love them.
But. BUT!
I didn't necessarily want to read this one or Inferno's Heir because the synopses did not intrigue me, they sounded like standard YA speculative fiction and that's exactly what I got. However, since they were the first two to cross my path, I tried them out to see what Bindery has to offer.
Physically, they have a LOT to offer, they're nicely formatted and bound and are printed on thick paper. The paperbacks are sturdy, like the spine-is-nearly-unbreakable sturdy. Holding these was a pleasant tactile experience.
Sadly for me, reading them was not. However, I am also not the target audience.
This one is supposed to be adult, not YA. I don't even know if it's aimed at NA because two of the three main characters are in their 30's, possibly closing in on 40. But none of the characters seem as old as they are.
Zain, the first POV the reader is introduced to, is 23, I believe? She's had a rough beginning, having been orphaned and having survived a fire at a temple, and having been taken in by loving religious people, and having been drawn into the criminal underworld, sorta, to be used by one of the leaders of the slums. I expected her to be tough and street smart but she reads like a 17-year-old who hasn't experienced much of the world.
The next POV the reader meets is Anastasia Drakos. She's the daughter of the head of the council (?) that's ruling Tejomaya. She's Gehennese, a colonizer. The native Tejomayans refer to them as Gengs. I think she's supposed to be ambitious and politically clever but she seems to be in her own head and unaware most of the time. And she's really angry at the Tejomayans back on the mainland (the Gehennese rulers live on an island that used to be the center of the city on the mainland but then it split off and now it's just floating out there in the water but still close to the mainland. There's a stone forest on the island that used to be a real forest but now it's stone) She's in her 30's, I believe, and expects to take over her father's role as head of the council. Her bestie, who has been with her through thick and thin, is a Tejomayan from the slums, the slums where Zain currently hangs out. I kept thinking she was in her early 20's, like just graduated from college, if there were colleges here.
The final POV is that of Iravan, Ravi to his friend but Iravan to the reader. He's the other leader of the slums and something horrible happened in his past that made him broody and moody and stoic and worried about things. He and Dev, the co-leader of the slums, run things with the help of Yadav, a sort of mad scientist type person kind of who also has a leadership role kind of. He's full of guilt and anger and stuff. I think he's also in his 30's but I kept thinking he was 26 at the most.
There used to be airplanes in this world but they haven't existed for a long time because their fuel source, calor, is running out. Tejomaya is the last place calor exists and it comes from the blood rains because something happened some time ago that caused the gray sky to rent open and now there are red veins in the gray sky and when they burst open and rain, "blood" falls. It's not actual blood, as far as I could tell, it's just red. And when it's processed, a yellow liquid called calor is extracted and calor is the only fuel in this world. And that's why Tejomaya got colonized by the Gehennese and a few others, but mainly the Gehennese. They have soldiers called bloodstrippers who keep safe the turbines where the blood rains fall and are processed.
Zain is a leech. She steals calor from the turbines when the bloodstrippers aren't looking but Dev makes her bring him X amount of calor every month for reasons. Iravan knows nothing of this. A bloodstripper and his brother show up because they kind of catch Zain stealing? But they need her help? And there's rumor of a calor reserve underground someplace in Tejomaya and everyone is looking for it, if they believe in it, which most don't because it's just a fairy tale.
If you're confused by this summary, it's by design.
It's not that the story is confusing, it's just that it relies on vibes more than plot. I understood what was happening but reading was a little like being in a maze with paths that didn't go anywhere. Because this isn't a mystery, it was weird to have all these loose ends just dangling and never addressed again.
About halfway through the story, there's a quick sentence that reveals why Anastasia is so angry, which then explains why Iravan is the way he is, but because these little bits of information are doled out so sporadically, it takes until the last chapter for that plotline to be fully uncovered and I wouldn't even say it's fully uncovered. There's a lot that's left unsaid that the reader just has to assume.
I hate it when stories spell out every little thing but now I know I also don't like stories that hint at things but never confirm those things. It's frustrating.
I think the atmosphere was probably the most concrete character in this book. While I don't understand why or how the whole blood rains thing came to be, it was interesting to see how what was essentially climate change based on the unsustainable use of a parallel to fossil fuels played out in this other place.
Again, this wasn't a story I was keen to read in the first place so please take my sullen review with a grain of salt.
While I was reading this, I thought about to whom this may appeal. I think people who loved the tension and writing style in Sawkill Girls might like this, as well.
Next up: Strange Beasts. I should be getting it this week and am excited to read it.
September 12, 2024
NetGalley ARC Review:
The new-adult, cli-fi novel And The Sky Bled, from author S. Hati, is not a bad debut. Unfortunately, it’s one I didn’t feel inclined to finish.
The book’s opening chapters are rushed, full of heavy-handed exposition that is devoid of emotive detail. Emotionally sparse world-building could be used throughout to convey the characters’ desensitisation - but, at this point, we don’t know Hati’s characters well enough for that to work. Instead, an onslaught of geopolitics and side-characters’ names ironically make the world feel too large all at once, disengaging the reader early on.
This sort of pacing feels like it should fit a YA audience but imagery like that of the fleshy gash in the sky is too gory for that. Similarly, that central image wasn’t executed as well as it could have been: Hati seems to treat it as another part of the world she needs to explain rather than use. It is mentioned, then left in the story, in the same way that the politics of Tejomaya’s colonialism are: quickly, obviously, shallowly.
Of the three main characters, despite being saddled with confusing political jargon, Anastasia’s chapters were by far the most entertaining to read. She was the most unpredictable, where Zain fell flat and Iravan acted too immaturely. Still, Hati’s tendency to ‘tell’ the audience about her characters rather than show them makes them less sympathetic: too often it took me out of the story to read such redundant and unrealistic conversations.
In general, the lack of impactful world-building felt like smog from the fire which blankets the plot. I kept reading, looking for more - more intricate characterisation, more ideas about the world’s layout, or how its bleeding sky came to be.
But the smog remains, choking the world and the characters alike.
-
I am grateful, whatever my personal views expressed, for the opportunity provided to me by NetGalley and Bindery Books to read this ARC.
The new-adult, cli-fi novel And The Sky Bled, from author S. Hati, is not a bad debut. Unfortunately, it’s one I didn’t feel inclined to finish.
The book’s opening chapters are rushed, full of heavy-handed exposition that is devoid of emotive detail. Emotionally sparse world-building could be used throughout to convey the characters’ desensitisation - but, at this point, we don’t know Hati’s characters well enough for that to work. Instead, an onslaught of geopolitics and side-characters’ names ironically make the world feel too large all at once, disengaging the reader early on.
This sort of pacing feels like it should fit a YA audience but imagery like that of the fleshy gash in the sky is too gory for that. Similarly, that central image wasn’t executed as well as it could have been: Hati seems to treat it as another part of the world she needs to explain rather than use. It is mentioned, then left in the story, in the same way that the politics of Tejomaya’s colonialism are: quickly, obviously, shallowly.
Of the three main characters, despite being saddled with confusing political jargon, Anastasia’s chapters were by far the most entertaining to read. She was the most unpredictable, where Zain fell flat and Iravan acted too immaturely. Still, Hati’s tendency to ‘tell’ the audience about her characters rather than show them makes them less sympathetic: too often it took me out of the story to read such redundant and unrealistic conversations.
In general, the lack of impactful world-building felt like smog from the fire which blankets the plot. I kept reading, looking for more - more intricate characterisation, more ideas about the world’s layout, or how its bleeding sky came to be.
But the smog remains, choking the world and the characters alike.
-
I am grateful, whatever my personal views expressed, for the opportunity provided to me by NetGalley and Bindery Books to read this ARC.
June 13, 2024
4.5 stars
I don’t know if I’ve ever read a climate fantasy book like this before, but I genuinely really enjoyed this debut! I thought the overall idea was really interesting (and slightly terrifying…) and the execution was well done. I love a stand alone and sometimes get nervous that things will be so bogged down with info dumping, but that wasn’t the case here! I do wish there was a bit more information on why things are the way they are when the book began. Things are explained over time, but I still had a few questions by the end. It also took about 30% for me to be fully invested in the characters and story; which isn’t always a bad thing- slow build ups can work and this one did. The last 50% had me staying up late and getting up early to read! I thought the characters were very nuanced and I really enjoyed reading about them and watching their growth, expect Dev…he can kick rocks and catch these hands. I really enjoyed the themes of environmentalism/climate change, found family, and forgiveness.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I don’t know if I’ve ever read a climate fantasy book like this before, but I genuinely really enjoyed this debut! I thought the overall idea was really interesting (and slightly terrifying…) and the execution was well done. I love a stand alone and sometimes get nervous that things will be so bogged down with info dumping, but that wasn’t the case here! I do wish there was a bit more information on why things are the way they are when the book began. Things are explained over time, but I still had a few questions by the end. It also took about 30% for me to be fully invested in the characters and story; which isn’t always a bad thing- slow build ups can work and this one did. The last 50% had me staying up late and getting up early to read! I thought the characters were very nuanced and I really enjoyed reading about them and watching their growth, expect Dev…he can kick rocks and catch these hands. I really enjoyed the themes of environmentalism/climate change, found family, and forgiveness.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bindery for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 9, 2024
This book was such an immersive read. from being with 3 POVs to going through an unexpected chaos and ending with a long anticipated chaos.
And the Sky Bled follows Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia as they struggle in their own ways while the world is literally collapsing. Some people are fighting for a normal life, others are fighting for their greed and a bunch think that nothing can touch them. But the climate has changed and the effects are killing people. Is there a way to stop it?
I have been savouring this book ❤️ it grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let me go until I finished it 👀 I want to know more about the world and its climate and what caused them to get there (I get the idea from the book, but I want it to be a spin off 🤭). oh and I want to know how other lands are surviving (and thriving?) without calor!!! I need so many spin offs 😄
Thanks to Zoranne together with Fantasy & Frens imprint of Bindery and the author S. Hati for providing me with the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review. And thanks to NetGalley for facilitating it.
And the Sky Bled follows Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia as they struggle in their own ways while the world is literally collapsing. Some people are fighting for a normal life, others are fighting for their greed and a bunch think that nothing can touch them. But the climate has changed and the effects are killing people. Is there a way to stop it?
I have been savouring this book ❤️ it grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let me go until I finished it 👀 I want to know more about the world and its climate and what caused them to get there (I get the idea from the book, but I want it to be a spin off 🤭). oh and I want to know how other lands are surviving (and thriving?) without calor!!! I need so many spin offs 😄
Thanks to Zoranne together with Fantasy & Frens imprint of Bindery and the author S. Hati for providing me with the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review. And thanks to NetGalley for facilitating it.
June 28, 2024
And the Sky Bled is S. Hati's debut novel, and it is fierce! I have never read a fantasy book quite like this one, and for it to be a one and done is quite remarkable. A dying city ruled by colonizers where they are harvesting something called Calor which is a magical fossil fuel from the blood rains. It has many uses, but the harvesting of it is destroying the environment. Where man's greed takes precedence over it's consequences, and other's are foced to steal it to survive. Meanwhile, heiress Anastasia tries to take control of the city and crush the slumlords, when her path crosses with Zain, Iravan, and Anastasia who have set out to find the treasure and their reunion may bring this city to it's knees.
A unique climate fantasy that will be sure to draw you in.
Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A unique climate fantasy that will be sure to draw you in.
Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 18, 2024
I don’t even know where to start!!!
I’ve never read a cli-fi book and I am so glad this was my first one. It had some of my favorite things a novel can contain: multiple povs (but not too many), storylines weaving together and meeting one another at the end, a touch of romance, and a theme that makes you sit and stare at the wall contemplating all of existence.
The symbolism was really out of this world and some of the chapters genuinely broke me (iykyk).
Tens across the board!
I’ve never read a cli-fi book and I am so glad this was my first one. It had some of my favorite things a novel can contain: multiple povs (but not too many), storylines weaving together and meeting one another at the end, a touch of romance, and a theme that makes you sit and stare at the wall contemplating all of existence.
The symbolism was really out of this world and some of the chapters genuinely broke me (iykyk).
Tens across the board!
May 15, 2025
I loved the world, the writing, and the tone. There are elements to this story that blew my mind. S. Hati has full control over her creation in a way that I found impressive, considering the scope of this story. I can't wait to see what she writes next.
dnf
August 28, 2024DNF at 33%
I wish I had known that this book is an offering of a new publisher built by and for “Booktok” influencers – that would have been my sign to ignore it. I’ve yet to read a single new book primarily pushed by Booktok that I’ve enjoyed – most of them, this one included, have catchy premises that are let down by subpar writing, clunky dialogue, and a lack of depth of themes or new approaches to genre. However, if you’ve generally enjoyed contemporary Booktok-pushed fantasy novels, you’ll probably like this one, since the premise is pretty cool, and you’ll probably feel differently about the issues I’m about to discuss.
I really don’t like to give negative reviews, and usually if I don’t finish a book, I won’t write a review of it. I'm a writer myself, and I know how much heart and work goes into any book, and I don't like the thought of making some new writer feel bad. But since this is an Advanced Review Copy that the publisher was kind enough to send me, I feel obligated to at least explain what the book is going for, why it didn’t work for me, and why it might work for you.
And the Sky Bled by S. Hati is a debut South Asian-inspired fantasy story constructed around a central climate change/oil politics metaphor: the substance “calor.” The book’s coolest piece of worldbuilding is that the world’s sky is like the skin of a giant being, and its blood, calor, is (1) the primary energy source and construction material used by the world, (2) most common, and at this point in history, exclusively located, in a conquered nation, and (3) toxic to most people after prolonged use and exposure. The main setting is Tejomaya, a city recently conquered by a clear European analogue nation, and the only remaining place under a still-bleeding sky – the last known source of calor.
The story is told from the rotating points of view of three primary characters: Zain, an orphaned “leech,” i.e., someone who steals from blood-collectors to help her people survive, Iravan, an older don of the city of de facto protector of the disenfranchised, and Anastasia, a princess of the conquering nation who was raised in Tejomaya and torn emotionally between her desire for power and her feelings for her homeland and native friend.
I can’t shake the feeling that this is a first draft. It has all the pieces of a compelling story, from a unique fantasy world engaging in contemporary issues, to a cast of characters tied together emotionally and by an important moment in their past. But nothing coheres in an interesting way. It has all the hallmarks of a beginner novel’s first fantasy: an astonishing amount of setting info-dumps right away, dialogue that’s clunky and obvious and cliched, way too many uses of an in-universe swear word stitched together with otherwise contemporary dialogue, and glaringly obvious foreshadowing.
At the end of the day, I just wasn’t grabbed by this story, and of all its faults, its rote dialogue and lack of character depth kept me from caring enough to finish. I hope that the author takes some more time to flesh out their next novel, as they’ve definitely proved they can come up with some interesting premises and the outline of something exciting, if only it had some more polish.
For an instance of a similar premise (dangerous magical substance that functions as an oil metaphor in a fantasy world with a story led by the disenfranchised), I’d recommend the upcoming Metal from Heaven by August Clarke, which is phenomenal, with beautiful prose, rich dialogue, and a deep exploration of queer desire, capitalism and colonialism. For a recent compelling fantasy written by a woman of color, I’d recommend The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed, which creates an evocative world and compelling characters with just some sparse details.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
I wish I had known that this book is an offering of a new publisher built by and for “Booktok” influencers – that would have been my sign to ignore it. I’ve yet to read a single new book primarily pushed by Booktok that I’ve enjoyed – most of them, this one included, have catchy premises that are let down by subpar writing, clunky dialogue, and a lack of depth of themes or new approaches to genre. However, if you’ve generally enjoyed contemporary Booktok-pushed fantasy novels, you’ll probably like this one, since the premise is pretty cool, and you’ll probably feel differently about the issues I’m about to discuss.
I really don’t like to give negative reviews, and usually if I don’t finish a book, I won’t write a review of it. I'm a writer myself, and I know how much heart and work goes into any book, and I don't like the thought of making some new writer feel bad. But since this is an Advanced Review Copy that the publisher was kind enough to send me, I feel obligated to at least explain what the book is going for, why it didn’t work for me, and why it might work for you.
And the Sky Bled by S. Hati is a debut South Asian-inspired fantasy story constructed around a central climate change/oil politics metaphor: the substance “calor.” The book’s coolest piece of worldbuilding is that the world’s sky is like the skin of a giant being, and its blood, calor, is (1) the primary energy source and construction material used by the world, (2) most common, and at this point in history, exclusively located, in a conquered nation, and (3) toxic to most people after prolonged use and exposure. The main setting is Tejomaya, a city recently conquered by a clear European analogue nation, and the only remaining place under a still-bleeding sky – the last known source of calor.
The story is told from the rotating points of view of three primary characters: Zain, an orphaned “leech,” i.e., someone who steals from blood-collectors to help her people survive, Iravan, an older don of the city of de facto protector of the disenfranchised, and Anastasia, a princess of the conquering nation who was raised in Tejomaya and torn emotionally between her desire for power and her feelings for her homeland and native friend.
I can’t shake the feeling that this is a first draft. It has all the pieces of a compelling story, from a unique fantasy world engaging in contemporary issues, to a cast of characters tied together emotionally and by an important moment in their past. But nothing coheres in an interesting way. It has all the hallmarks of a beginner novel’s first fantasy: an astonishing amount of setting info-dumps right away, dialogue that’s clunky and obvious and cliched, way too many uses of an in-universe swear word stitched together with otherwise contemporary dialogue, and glaringly obvious foreshadowing.
At the end of the day, I just wasn’t grabbed by this story, and of all its faults, its rote dialogue and lack of character depth kept me from caring enough to finish. I hope that the author takes some more time to flesh out their next novel, as they’ve definitely proved they can come up with some interesting premises and the outline of something exciting, if only it had some more polish.
For an instance of a similar premise (dangerous magical substance that functions as an oil metaphor in a fantasy world with a story led by the disenfranchised), I’d recommend the upcoming Metal from Heaven by August Clarke, which is phenomenal, with beautiful prose, rich dialogue, and a deep exploration of queer desire, capitalism and colonialism. For a recent compelling fantasy written by a woman of color, I’d recommend The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed, which creates an evocative world and compelling characters with just some sparse details.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
September 6, 2024
3.5 stars
My thanks to Net Galley and Bindery Books for a free eARC of “And the Sky Bleed” by S. Hati.
A sharp Political Fantasy standalone debut.
For the seasoned Fantasy readers, stories of colonialism and tensions between the occupiers and the natives over land or a precious resource is a familiar story.
But S. Hati brought a new perspective including climate catastrophe caused by the exploitation of the magic fossil fuel of this world, calor.
We follow three distinct points of view, three well developed characters that grow and change throughout the entire novel.
A common tragic event from the past affects each of these characters and even an entire community . The full extent of that event is left to be revealed at the very end and I am not entirely sure if that was the best choice. I think we would have understood much better some of the character’s choices and motivations with the awareness of at least some parts of that past event.
Also a small plot hole. Zain, one of the main characters is weaving two secondary characters in a web of lies and deceit and for some reason they never discuss those facts, but actually get attached to her. She actually falls in love with one of them even if they initially threatened the safety of her guardians.
But this is a debut and I'll keep an eye on what the author will come up next.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
My thanks to Net Galley and Bindery Books for a free eARC of “And the Sky Bleed” by S. Hati.
A sharp Political Fantasy standalone debut.
For the seasoned Fantasy readers, stories of colonialism and tensions between the occupiers and the natives over land or a precious resource is a familiar story.
But S. Hati brought a new perspective including climate catastrophe caused by the exploitation of the magic fossil fuel of this world, calor.
We follow three distinct points of view, three well developed characters that grow and change throughout the entire novel.
A common tragic event from the past affects each of these characters and even an entire community . The full extent of that event is left to be revealed at the very end and I am not entirely sure if that was the best choice. I think we would have understood much better some of the character’s choices and motivations with the awareness of at least some parts of that past event.
Also a small plot hole. Zain, one of the main characters is weaving two secondary characters in a web of lies and deceit and for some reason they never discuss those facts, but actually get attached to her. She actually falls in love with one of them even if they initially threatened the safety of her guardians.
But this is a debut and I'll keep an eye on what the author will come up next.
You can now support my passion for books with a small donation here https://ko-fi.com/mariareadssff
August 27, 2024
“The sky bathed the world in blood and fury.”
In a world reliant on the substance calor, 3 rivals in the chaotic and suffering city of Tejomaya fight to find a cache of treasure that could be the answer to all their problems. Whilst Zain, Anastasia, and Iravan all begin their stories separately, their paths tangle as more powerful forces beyond their control threaten to upturn everything they know.
“The decades had been merciless in teaching them about the fallibility of humans under a sky that bled … nothing was as effective at showing someone how little power they had as when the world decided it’s had enough.”
What an incredible story. It is hard to weave such a complex storyline with multiple characters into a standalone novel, but this was just perfectly complete. This book will stay with me for some time. It is so beautifully written and descriptive, I connected with all POV characters, which isn’t an easy thing to do. All I wanted was to give Zain, Anastasia and Iravan a giant hug. It had a good balance of world-building, action, politics, and more emotional, interpersonal parts. The build-up and mystery was also so well done, it kept me engaged till the end!
This novel explores some heavy themes, about loss, grief, abuse, and the hopelessness that can arise in terrible circumstances. However, it is a story of perseverance against insurmountable odds, and how hope and salvation can be found, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
“Just know you are worth more than you think. Make sure you’re fighting something worthy.”
Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC.
In a world reliant on the substance calor, 3 rivals in the chaotic and suffering city of Tejomaya fight to find a cache of treasure that could be the answer to all their problems. Whilst Zain, Anastasia, and Iravan all begin their stories separately, their paths tangle as more powerful forces beyond their control threaten to upturn everything they know.
“The decades had been merciless in teaching them about the fallibility of humans under a sky that bled … nothing was as effective at showing someone how little power they had as when the world decided it’s had enough.”
What an incredible story. It is hard to weave such a complex storyline with multiple characters into a standalone novel, but this was just perfectly complete. This book will stay with me for some time. It is so beautifully written and descriptive, I connected with all POV characters, which isn’t an easy thing to do. All I wanted was to give Zain, Anastasia and Iravan a giant hug. It had a good balance of world-building, action, politics, and more emotional, interpersonal parts. The build-up and mystery was also so well done, it kept me engaged till the end!
This novel explores some heavy themes, about loss, grief, abuse, and the hopelessness that can arise in terrible circumstances. However, it is a story of perseverance against insurmountable odds, and how hope and salvation can be found, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
“Just know you are worth more than you think. Make sure you’re fighting something worthy.”
Thank you NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC.
August 27, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the opportunity to read this book.
And The Sky Bled is a unique dystopian novel where the rapid depletion of calor, a vital substance for human survival, throws the world into chaos and threatens global peace. The story follows three main characters: Zain, a young woman fighting to survive in the slums; Iravan, a worshipped slumlord; and Anastasia, the colonizer's successor. Bound by the memory of a traumatic event from a decade ago, they now find themselves in a desperate race to locate a rumored reserve of calor, each with their own agenda.
I was captivated by Hati's writing. The author’s exploration of themes like colonization, climate change, and class struggle makes this story compelling. The prose is sharp and poignant, particularly in the vivid descriptions of the violent effects of calor. However, while I loved the imaginative and unique plot, the novel’s structure left something to be desired. I often found myself struggling to connect with the characters and understand the backstory, which made the narrative feel disorienting, like a surreal afternoon dream.
The ending, however, truly stood out and is the reason I bumped my rating up from 3 to 3.5 stars. I recommend this book to readers looking for something new and different, though be prepared for a slow start and some initial confusion as the story unfolds.
And The Sky Bled is a unique dystopian novel where the rapid depletion of calor, a vital substance for human survival, throws the world into chaos and threatens global peace. The story follows three main characters: Zain, a young woman fighting to survive in the slums; Iravan, a worshipped slumlord; and Anastasia, the colonizer's successor. Bound by the memory of a traumatic event from a decade ago, they now find themselves in a desperate race to locate a rumored reserve of calor, each with their own agenda.
I was captivated by Hati's writing. The author’s exploration of themes like colonization, climate change, and class struggle makes this story compelling. The prose is sharp and poignant, particularly in the vivid descriptions of the violent effects of calor. However, while I loved the imaginative and unique plot, the novel’s structure left something to be desired. I often found myself struggling to connect with the characters and understand the backstory, which made the narrative feel disorienting, like a surreal afternoon dream.
The ending, however, truly stood out and is the reason I bumped my rating up from 3 to 3.5 stars. I recommend this book to readers looking for something new and different, though be prepared for a slow start and some initial confusion as the story unfolds.
January 31, 2025
This book was interesting. Pacing was a little bit off in the first half of the book, but the world and the blood rain stuff was intriguing so I didn’t mind it. This book is one of those ones where you’re not quite sure what to say about it after you read it. I liked it, but I think I would’ve liked it even more if certain parts of it in the beginning had been fleshed out more. But overall, good and glad I read it.
March 7, 2025
Thought-provoking and unique, with a layer of suspense as the secrets and histories of the 3 alternating POVs reveal themselves in the midst of tragedy. Well done.
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