Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ALC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was such a wonderful read!! It was hard for me to get into at first, but once the plot really started I was hooked!

This world is so unique and I had so much fun learning about it! I was especially drawn to the political side of this book and seeing our MCs slowly start to fight back against the injustices in this world!

I wasn’t sure how I felt about tanwen at first, but quickly started to love her! She is such a strong and resilient woman who would stop at nothing to help those in need.

At first, I thought there was no way I would like Zolya, but oh my gods 🤌 the way he was head over heels for tanwen was so stunning. And we love a man who learns from his mistakes!

The romance is a stunning slow burn and forbidden love story! The tension and anticipation was everything 😌

This was a solid epic fantasy. The idea came from the story of Icarus in Greek mythology, but the author really created her own world and wrote a totally unique book with nuanced characters and a complex world. Tanwen and Zolya are excellent protagonists and they both undergo a huge amount of character growth and development as they come to terms with the classicism, racism, and sexism prevalent in their world. There was only one thing that prevented me from giving the book a higher rating, and it was the romance between Tanwen and Zolya. There was no buildup at all. They barely interact with each other for most of the book, and then they are suddenly deeply in love. It came out of nowhere and felt forced. Besides that, it was a good book, and I enjoyed listening to it. The narrators did an excellent job of bringing the story to life.
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Read if you like:
▫️ Greek myth-inspired fantasy
▫️ forbidden love
▫️ political intrigue
▫️ societal divides
▫️multi POV
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Thank you to Brilliance Audio, E.J. Mellow, and NetGalley for the ALC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I listened to this twice because I felt like I didn't give it a fair chance the first time. I'm glad I did. For a romantasy, this felt fairly fresh. Not so much so that it was trying too hard but it was a good, well-paced story. I liked the interactions between the FMC and MMC and it felt more like a "forbidden" romance than most with this trope.

I didn't really care for two small events that happened, I won't spoil it but they involved minor characters I didn't feel emotionally attached to. I am curious to see what happens in the next book.

I received this title as an ARC and attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

Scorched Skies is the first book in the Way of Wings duology inspired by the Icarus myth. It’s a beautifully written fantasy romance with intricate world-building and a delicious slow-burn, forbidden romance between a Prince and a commoner.

I LOVED this. It’s told through multiple POVs with a focus on Zolya, the Volari Prince and Tanwen, a Mütra - the forbidden child of a magical winged Volari and a non- magical horned Süra. Tanwen and Zolya were perfection. Torn between love and duty, the yearning and angst between them was so freaking good!
I loved Tanwens ability to communicate with animals and am excited to learn more about the magic and the gods in the next book.
Thankfully there’s no crazy cliffhanger but after that ending, I CANNOT wait for book two!
And can we take a second to appreciate this GORGEOUS cover? I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy.

I was lucky enough to both read and listen to this and I can’t recommend the audio enough if that's your preferred method of reading. The dual narration was FANTASTIC and both narrators did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.

If you love romantasy, this needs to be on your TBR!

Dominique and Andre’s narration for Scorched Skies was so well done! I loved how I could feel the emotions of the characters through the way they preformed.

My review of the book:

𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨.

Where do I even go from here?! 😩 now, there wasn’t really a cliffhanger, but after everything that happened, I feel so lost. And I have no idea how things will go in book two!

I admired Tanwen so much!! She was so strong & I loved how she was willing to do anything to get her father and brother back home. I loved her relationship with her brother & how much he believed in her.

Zolya.. well I have mixed feelings about him. I can see the way he wants to do more/be more but under his father’s rule, it’s hard for him to find his way right now. I’m really excited to see how he’ll step up in the next book!

The forbidden relations between Tanwen & Zolya were EVERYTHING. I loved seeing those little moments they found together and I loved how Zolya started to open up to the things Tanwen had to say.

I’ll be rooting for these two, but I have a feeling EJ will put me through it till the end of this series.

𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝. 𝙏𝙤𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢.

This story started slow and got stronger near the end. This Icarus retelling has lots of forbidden love and a King you want to pummel. The main reason this wasn't a five-star read for me was the lack of world-building. I didn't feel as immersed in the story as I would like to have been. The character development wasn't as strong either. I am anxious to see where this story goes, though, because it is epic in scope when it comes to revenge.

Brave. Unique. Heart wrenching.

The long list of positive words I could use to describe this title could go on forever! But, I shall let you all read it for yourself and dare you to prove me wrong!

E.J. Mellow has created yet another masterpiece! This tale has forbidden love, a winged hero, enemies to lovers, slow burn….and duel pov! Not all authors can accomplish such tropes and emotions with their words but never doubt that Mellow can!

Scorched Skies has characters that will make you fall in love and question things that may not always be black and white. There are always reasons behind their actions whether it is known from the start or is later revealed through their journey. A bond is made with each of them with every word on the page. And speaking of bonds and characters, we cannot forgot to talk about E.J.Mellow’s side characters! Every one of them mattered and was crucial to this book however…Eli stole the show!

Strong and diverse relationships are not the only subjects that made Scorched Skies wonderful and engaging but the way the overall story was laid out with its craft did so as well. This is a tale with a beautiful setting yet still left the freedom for readers to add to it while reading, and it is a tale that has a page turning plot to keep its readers entranced.

Scorched Skies is an adult romantasy that flew by with its 541 pages because of the beautifully written style that we must all thank E.J. Mellow for!

Thank you SO much E.J. Mellow and your team for allowing me to be part of your ARC team! And thank you to NetGalley for allowing her team to have access to Scorched Skies audiobook! This books is NOW OUT in ALL formats! (P.S. there are two narrators for the audio format that make it wonderful for a dual pov story!)

In a realm where divine presence shapes society, Zolya—the crown prince—meets Tamwen, a fiercely strong-willed girl from a shunned lineage, while searching for her exiled father, Gabriel. When Gabriel and his son, Tamwen’s twin brother, are taken and held prisoner in the palace, Tamwen enrolls herself as a palace servant to free them. Placing herself in such proximity to the prince proves dangerous, as they share what seems to be a star-crossed connection that defies the law set forth by the King. Political tension, cultural taboos, and divine meddling create a story steeped in danger and desire.

We’re deep in the realm of epic fantasy romance, complete with gods, royalty, slow burn romance, and rich political undercurrents. Zolya is our tortured prince with the weight of tradition on his back. He’s surprisingly introspective and layered, especially in how he balances power and restraint, longing for a romantic connection that doesn’t center on obligation due to his station. Tamwen is strong, smart, and intelligent. Her inner monologue and slow acceptance of her feelings toward Zolya made her arc super compelling. After spending her life in hiding, she finds herself coming of age through her mission to save her family. The romance between her and Zolya is a proper burn. Nothing is rushed. Tension simmers for chapters and when the spice does arrive, it’s still emotionally guarded, which made their connection feel real. I loved my girl Princess Osla, Zolya’s “sister-cousin” and the result of an affair between his aunt and the King. Tamwen helps open her eyes in a way that leads her to oppose the patriarchal standards and begins to fight back. A queen in her own right.

The intertwining of divine influence with political rebellion was chef’s kiss. I especially loved how the gods were actually involved in the story—not just distant metaphors or names in a prayer. Mellow explores themes like identity, forbidden love, divine destiny vs. human agency, and gender roles – all layered well without being overwhelming. The pacing was mostly stead, though a few chapters took their time. But honestly, the slow progression between Tamwen and Zolya was so worth it. The story took its time – and it paid off.

E.J. Mellow writes with vivid sensory detail and emotional depth. The style was immersive without being dense, and the world-building unfolded in digestible, well-placed reveals. I was emotionally invested, not just in the main couple but the entire cast. That’s rare. And the ending? Whew. We are not okay, and we are not ready for the wait. The cliffhanger left me with a hundred questions—and a burning need for answers. This was a 4-star read for me! A beautifully imagined world, compelling characters, a divine love story, and themes that hit without being heavy-handed. I recommend this book to fans of forbidden romance with actual stakes, readers who want to see gods and mortals actually interact, anyone who needs a new fantasy world to obsess over, and lovers of slow-burns and patient spice. Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Scorched Skies by @ejmellow is book one in the Way of Wings duology and inspired by the Icarus myth! It's a story of resilience, family bonds, forbidden love, and the struggle between duty and doing what's right.

As much as I tried to take my time with this story, I completely devoured it. It's a beautifully written romantasy following a woman who needs to save her father from a dangerous winged prince. The question is, what will she do to get to him, and who will get in her way?

The story is wonderfully paced with very high tense moments. I cried, and that doesn't happen often with books for me. The world building and magic system were done so well. The characters truly made this story so captivating! So many of them had depth and purpose. I just fell in love! The story also gives you slow burn, angst, forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, found family, secrets, dual pov, and more! I can't stop thinking about it!

The audiobook just added to how much I enjoyed this story. Both narrators maintained good pace and the voices fit perfectly.

I rated this book between 3.75 and 4 stars. I love the storyline; it's reminiscent of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. Two characters on opposite sides of a social structure, on the brink of war, fall for each other and have to figure everything out. The male main character (MMC) also has wings (bonus points), while the female main character (MFC) has horns. I really enjoyed the world-building aspect of this novel; the idea of floating islands was fascinating to read about. One aspect I didn't enjoy about the novel was that in some areas, it felt info-dumpy, and the pacing at the beginning was slow. However, once you get past the 30% mark, the book accelerates. Along with the info-dumping, there was a bit of over-explanation. For instance, the author would describe an emotion, but instead of leaving it there, she elaborated on what she meant right after. It doesn't happen very often, but it was noticeable. I also found it somewhat strange to get a POV from the MFC's dad, which threw me off once things heated up. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an enemies-to-lovers romantasy with a touch of spice (a touch being about 3-4 spicy scenes). As someone with ADHD, I listened to the audiobook and found that I could zone out for a few minutes and still understand the story when I regained my focus. If you are neurodivergent too, you might appreciate that as I did.

EJ Mellow has a beautiful style of writing that has been my kryptonite for YEARS!

I am not much of a fantasy reader but was beyond blessed to be able to read Scorched Skies early! Not only was the story beautifully written but the audiobook was so well done! The voice actors were wonderful choices to deliver EJ's writing ina way that beyond does it justice.

I am beyond excited to read the second half of this duology!

This audiobook was very well done! The narrators did a great job and were enjoyable to listen to.

My only complaint is that I cannot understand why a character named Eli would be pronounced like Ellie when Eli is already an existing name with one common pronunciation. Probably not the fault of the narrators, but it definitely irritated me while listening to the audiobook.

"Perhaps then you will learn how dangerous delicate can be."

The magical winged Volari and non-magical horned Süra are at odds, and any hybrids of the two are forbidden. As one of these children, Tanwen has been in hiding with her family. Her father is also an inventor needed by the crown. Prince Zolya is tasked with tracking him down and bringing him back to the king, and Tanwen will do whatever it takes to save her family.

I love seeing the opposition of the land and sky as well as love and duty. The romance between Tanwen and Zolya gives us the slowest of burns and a new favorite bird boy 🪽, while also keeping focus on how important family is, including found family, and the lengths we will go for them. We have animal family members as well that I wasn't prepared to be so attached to. I'm a big fan of the story of Icarus, so that being an inspiration for this book was definitely a win. I also really liked that the ending was not a painful cliffhanger, but enough to keep you wanting the next piece of the story. There are a couple questions I can't wait to have answered and do I feel a war coming? I love a good build up to that, so I'm ready!

It was awesome getting to listen to the audio of this book in tandem with reading it. The audio was so well done!

[4.5 stars]

The audiobook narrators were fantastic, I binged it so fast! This take on the Icarus myth was unique. Tanwen and Zolya’s forbidden romance was full of delicious angst and tension. It’s important to note that Tanwen is a servant and the power dynamics are imbalanced. I loved that Tanwen, though attracted to Zolya, didn’t loose sight of the mission. She knew why she was there and kept working toward it no matter what. Zolya’s character did grow on me but he was a little too compliant with his father’s wishes and unquestioning of the status quo for too long. Also I don’t think we ever learn how Tanwen’s brother was being tortured? It seemed like that was a revelation being built up to based on how it affected him.

The world building and mythology were captivating, with gods and goddesses engaged in their own political machinations. The ending was fast paced and has me excited for the sequel.

4.5⭐️

I love EJ’s writing so much! If you’re looking for a romantasy with a spicy, slow burn, forbidden romance between a servant girl with a secret identity and the crowned prince of the kingdom, then you definitely have to pick this one up! The world building was captivating. There was also family dynamics, animal familiars, heartbreak (I’m still not over it - iykyk), meddling gods & goddesses, and attempts to overthrow the king. I had a really good time reading this one and I cannot wait for book 2!

Thank you to EJ and Brilliance Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

For fans of:
- why do I want to say Maximum Ride lol

This book includes:
- a paranormal race war
- a salve race
- secrets and alliances
- a family in hiding
- a Prince torn between duty and heart
- a Princess shackled to her duty
- winged creatures and mutants
- cut throat court machinations

Scorched Skies was exactly what the doctor ordered. A gripping fantasy with a dash of romance, this book literally had me gasping out loud at some of the twists. I urge you all to take a chance on this book (it has a gorgeous cover cmon) even tho Tanwen is kind of annoying in the beginning because she will really grown on you. I am also so glad that this book takes the time to explore Gabriel and his story because it allows the story to reach into deeper themes - basically the Trolley Problem. The ending was a bit weak, however the rest of the book was so good that I am still feeling super excited for book 2. If you like epic fantasy and politics, this is the book for you.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, E.J. Mellow, and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

I am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to read this book early.
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“His wingspan was as terrifying as it was magnificent.”

I loved how original and imaginative this story was. It felt so new while reading. I kept wanted to learn more about this world and the characters in it. EJ Mellow has created a beautiful new world for us. Filled with magic, Gods, multiple POVs, clans, and winged beings. She never stops bringing a creative, engaging story to life. Let’s get into some tropes:

Forbidden Love (Prince and Servant)
Undercover Mission
Who did this?
Say my Name
Prince against his Father
Supposed to be enemies to lovers

I also got to listen to the audiobook as well. I loved having multiple POVs. You have your FMC, MMC, and the FMC’s father. That was an interesting POV to have, but made so much sense to the story and added to it. I really enjoyed the cast for the audiobook as their voices followed throughout the story.

The story starts with her father and brother’s capture which leads Tanwen on a new journey that she may not return from. This journey leads her closer to the prince, who she hates. However, he is beautiful and has piercing blue eyes. He seems he could be different, but is he worth the risk? She’s here to save her family from the very people that took them. The prince would only be a problem in a well thought out plan.

If you love EJ Mellow’s past works you will love this. If you love fantasy, winged men, new worlds with an original story, Greek mythology, forbidden love, and say my name trope this is a story for you.

Scorched Skies is a coming of age fantasy focusing on duty, family, and identity (with maybe some romance). I am truly impressed by how much I enjoyed Tanwen, our heroine and her journey while simultaneously being uninspired by Zolya as both a love interest and as a protagonist. The stakes were high for Tanwen and she rose to the occasion in a way that was enjoyable to root for while Zolya consistently floundered. I probably would have rated this higher if there had been a better MMC. Still would recommend this for the female characters, magic, and worldbuilding.

P.S. Is it bad if I hope Tanwen get’s the love interest she deserves in the next book?
P.P.S Why does Tanwen have to sound so much like Tamlin? Iykyk

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing access to this audiobook for review purposes.

4.5 stars

I don’t even know how to start this review. It was absolutely incredible. It has everything I want in a fantasy romance and the story telling was just brilliant.

Zolya and Tanwen, from their first encounter I knew I was going to love them together. I mean it’s an enemies to lovers, and forbidden romance! How could I not! It’s a bit of a slow burn, and damn! I did not expect it to take the spicy to that level 😮‍💨

I feel like I don’t want to say too much, so I’m not going to. Just know that it’s epic. There are twists that just gutted me or left me off balance. I was on the edge of my seat. I cried. I raged. And I was shooketh. Many emotions accompanied this book and I absolutely can not wait for what the next it going to bring, especially from that ending 🙈

Also the narrators were so well picked! They did amazing!

Scorched Skies by E.J. Mellow reignited my love for reading with its intoxicating blend of romance, intrigue, and myth-inspired fantasy. Tanwen and Zolya’s star-crossed relationship crackles with tension, set against a richly imagined world where love and duty collide. The high-stakes court politics, forbidden romance, and breathtaking descriptions kept me utterly enthralled, making this book impossible to put down. Mellow’s lyrical prose and masterful storytelling make Scorched Skies a must-read, and I’m already desperate for the sequel!