Steal The Sky

by Marina Massino

A dragon slayer can free her people...if only she can capture the dragon king's heart first.

An epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with intricate world-building and a steamy, slow-burn romance full of self-discovery, claiming your power, and accepting the love you deserve.

In a floating kingdom high among the clouds, men transform into dragons, serving the gods above and protecting us mortal women below. In exchange for their protection against the savage rogues, we bear the sky kingdom's offspring. But not me. Not now. Not ever.

Twenty-five-year-old huntress Kaisa was content to kill rogues and hunt for her people, but when she defies the demi-god dragon shifter who intended to breed her, she knows she's chosen certain death. So when the leader of the rogue dragons, Ozias, offers her an escape, she takes it-even if it means betraying the only life she's ever known.

Spirited away to a land shrouded in mist and mystery, Kaisa learns of a darkness claiming the lives of hers and Ozias's people, and unless she can harness her newfound power to get close to the stoic, untouchable dragon king of the sky kingdom and steal his power to stop the darkness, she'll doom them all. But as Kaisa works alongside the handsome and charismatic Ozias, all the while secretly growing close to the dragon king, she realizes that her heart might be the most treacherous thing of all.

Genres: Romance

350 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Arie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was really easy to sink into. From chapter one, I was intrigued and felt connected to the female main character. The world is vivid and atmospheric, and the story blends political intrigue, emotional depth, and healing while reflecting some of the harsher realities of our world.

At its core, this is a genuinely empowering, female driven story. She is brave and resilient, deeply touched by loss yet still daring to hope. Her strength does not come from being untouchable, but from endurance and the support of strong female relationships.

The romance is a true slow burn enemies to lovers. There’s a lot of tension and emotional complexity, and I really appreciated that past harm isn’t brushed aside or magically fixed. The connection is messy and compelling.

I loved the twist on fated mates. It felt original and really set this story apart from others I’ve read. I was genuinely surprised by who her strongest potential bond turned out to be, and even more surprised when I later found myself drawn to him as well. The dream walking scenes were some of my favorites, and I devoured every crumb he revealed about himself.

The magical training and mindfulness sequences were fun and meaningful. Watching the female main character connect with her true self was so moving. Nothing felt rushed, and the growth took time in a way that felt honest, all while balancing a fast-moving, extremely engaging plot.

I finished and immediately wanted more. You need to read this!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Caley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a great read, so glad to share my thoughts on this ARC!

Steal the Sky introduces a dark, imaginative world divided between The Realm, where rogue dragons live under a curse, Novoba, a harsh underground wasteland controlled by the elite, and Dyeus, a city in the sky ruled by dragon shifters. The premise is gripping from the start, particularly the brutal system in which women are forced to breed with shifters and surrender their male offspring that will eventually shift. It creates high emotional stakes and a constant sense of tension throughout the story.

Kaisa is a compelling FMC, navigating impossible choices, family ties, and the weight of being marked as undesireable by the king. The love triangle is one of the book’s strongest elements. Ozias is the charming, swoon-worthy option and an easy character to like, while Zhoric (Sar Dyeus) brings a darker, more emotionally charged presence that adds real depth and conflict. Both relationships are engaging in different ways, and I appreciated that neither felt flat or unnecessary.

The world-building is ambitious and intriguing, especially the concept of rogue dragons cursed to shift at night and become feral if they cross boundaries. I loved this variation of magic and dragon bonds, I felt it was a very new and fresh take.

Overall, Steal the Sky is an engaging and atmospheric read with strong characters, a dark romantic core, and an interesting take on dragon shifters and fate bonds. Fans of fantasy romance with morally gray characters, high stakes, and emotional tension will find a lot to enjoy here.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75/5 stars, ARC. I struggled with this book. The story follows Kasia as she fights societal expectations of women first in her own life, and then on a much larger scale. Taking an opportunity to escape the dragon kingdom, she finds herself nonetheless surrounded by shifters and learns that the transgressions against women run even deeper than she knew. In this new realm, the author weaves together multiple magical elements, curses, and powers that could make for a very rich world if I was able to understand the rules governing them. Every rule of magic seemed to have several exceptions, and I struggled to parse out which rules actually mattered. I did find it really intriguing that there's no single/fated person a dragon shifter can bond with, but rather several potential connections that can shape the character's actions. I think ultimately, I was turned off from this book by Kasia's lack of critical thinking and unreasonable willingness to trust others. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace to read this book, but I think it could appeal to readers looking for complicated magic systems in a misogynistic world heavily featuring dragons.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC—this is genuinely one of the best books I’ve read. I read around 100 books a year, and this debut absolutely stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the biggest names in the genre. The worldbuilding is stunning, the writing is incredibly polished, and the characters are deeply relatable in a way that makes every choice and betrayal hit hard. The story slowly unravels layers of oppression, deceit, and manipulation through a tightly focused POV, which makes the mystery and revelations even more gripping. Watching the protagonist navigate hidden truths, conflicting agendas, and the rediscovery of herself was completely addictive. I loved every moment of this book and cannot wait to continue the series!

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]

The second I started reading i was absolutely hooked. I could not put the book down. I cant believe Marina is a Debut author. There writing is exceptional, her pacing kept everything exciting, and her characters had real depth. Im usually not a fan of love triangles, but I will admit to being a su ker for the bad guy. I had no idea this was going to be a series but now? It had better be becuase I am NOT done with Kaisa. Low key, I think I've already read my favorite book of the year

[Kelly Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world building here was unique and I enjoyed the nuances of the characters motivations and questioning what was real and who to trust at times. I appreciated how fast paced it was! I received this ARC copy and I am glad I had the opportunity to check this out and I am looking forward to see where Kaisa’s story goes next. I’m holding out hope she will right what happened and that her relationship may progress with who I am hoping for (Zhoric I am sick for a tortured soul).

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sounds amazing ,dragon shifters and a floating world .Unfortunatly i found my self unable to finish it . While I didn’t end up finishing it, I can appreciate the care the author put into the story. The writing style and story was full of detail and lots of world building . At this moment in time it just didnt gel with me . It just wasn’t quite the right fit for me at this time, but I think it will resonate with the right reader.

[Travis Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steal The Sky
Marina Massino
Pub Date: Feb 10 2026

This book is well written but honestly it's not for me if you you like romantacy and dragon-shifters this book will be right up your alley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest review.

[Amy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely dragon book with wonderful character . Was such a fun read and loved the world building. Kaisa was a great character and loved her name and all the vibes..

Thanks Netgalley 💛