Praise

"Obsidian Sky is an electrifying fusion of elemental magic, dragon-rider destiny, and slow-burn romance, delivering a richly imagined fantasy world where one fierce girl’s power—and one guarded prince’s heart—might be the key to saving their realm or destroying it entirely."

Non-stop action from page one!! Fourth Wing vibes. Great new characters and a vast new world. A little spice, a few surprises makes for a great new dragon series!!

I read this book under protest. My girlfriend read it, fell in love with the characters, story and insisted that I read it as well. Normally I wouldn’t read one of her books. However, I was very pleased to discover that it was extremely well written and dudes will get into it too as it vividly describes various scenes and locations. There is battle, extreme training, history of the dragons and witty banter throughout. Get this book for yourself and/or your girlfriend/wife.

"A Dragon chooses its rider, not the other way around"

This book NEEDS to be on your radar. If you are a fan of dragon rider fantasy, magical academies, trials, elemental magic and a powerful main character, you need to add this to your TBR.

Jill has such a way with words and this is such a strong debut! It's not quite purple prose, but is so beautifully descriptive. The training montages are fantastic, there's a lot of discussion about how she was learning how to fly a dragon, which was so unique.

It is an extremely slow burn romance but there is spice in the second half of the book, and it is 🔥🔥🔥

Do not sleep on this one!

Thaelyn enters the Asgar Training Academy to become a dragon rider. From day one, Thorne, a prince and second-year student, seems to hate her. However, his feelings are complicated, and so are Thaelyn's. As the students bond with their dragons, an evil force is stirring, and war is coming. A prophecy will determine Thaelyn and Thorne's fates.

Obsidian Sky will inevitably receive many comparisons to Fourth Wing, and there are a lot of similarities in the plot and characters. However, the writing style is entirely different. Obsidian Sky uses a third-person omniscient POV, so two different characters' POVs can appear on the same page. I've only ever read one other book written like this...The book has many of my favorite tropes: enemies-to-lovers, a slight slow-burn, touch her and die vibes, hidden identities, and found family. And, of course, there are the dragons. There are still many unanswered questions and a very dramatic, almost Romeo-and-Juliet cliffhanger ending. There is a lot there to unwrap in book two. 4 stars!

Obsidian Sky delivers an epic tale of elemental magic, ancient prophecies, and a love that burns brighter than destiny itself.

Your debut novel, Obsidian Sky, immediately stood out for its ambitious scope and richly layered fusion of epic fantasy and slow-burn romance. From the elemental magic system and ancient prophecies to the high-stakes political tension and dragon-rider lore, you have crafted an immersive world that feels both expansive and intimate. Thaelyn Marren’s journey, marked by power she does not yet understand and a destiny she never sought, is compelling, fierce, and deeply human.

The dynamic between Thaelyn and Prince Thorne Dareth is particularly striking. Their enemies-to-lovers tension, shaped by duty, mistrust, and undeniable attraction, unfolds with patience and emotional weight. Your background in education and curriculum design shines through in the clarity of your world-building, the discipline of your pacing, and the depth of your character development. The dragons themselves feel ancient, sentient, and alive far more than creatures; they are forces that shape fate.

Obsidian Sky exemplifies the kind of bold, emotionally resonant storytelling the Rising Reader Choice Award seeks to honor stories that pull readers into another realm and refuse to let go.

Fans of Fourth wing will LOVE this story! To me the storylines were very similar, but I loved it. I was intrigued and I cannot wait for the next book! There was dragons, magic, bonds, ancient rituals, I want more. The world building and characters were easy to follow, some of the names are a little hard to pronounce but as I was reading I just shortened some of the names 🤣

Absolutely breathtaking.

Obsidian Sky surprised me in the best way. From the moment Thaelyn stepped into the Training Academy, I was hooked. The world is vivid and dangerous, filled with elemental magic, dragons, and secrets that unfold with perfect tension. Jill's writing is lyrical but not overboard. Thaelyn and Thorne’s slow burn is explosive, their banter sharp, their chemistry impossible to look away from. The dragons are unforgettable, ancient and powerful, with personalities that leap off the page. If you loved Fourth Wing, you'll like this one; however, beyond both books having dragons, it's an entirely different story and writing style.

The ending left me breathless. 

so.....book 2 is being released when???? 😭😭😭
This book absolutely destroyed me. Thaelyn and Thorne's love story is a SLOW burn but once its lit....be prepared!
He would literally do whatever it takes to make sure she is safe and he is literally just perfection there's no words for this man....trust me just read the book!!

The magic system and political aspects of the book are well written but how she writes about the training Thaelyn goes through with Nyxariel and her sparing were SO good
It was easy to picture everything that was happening in this story and I cannot wait for book 2

if you love dragons, their riders, forbidden magic and a love that literally will make them burn the world for each other add this to your TBR.

All I can say is Wow!🤩 Jill Aster is a Wordsmith! I was blown away with her writing style. It was beautiful and descriptive, but not overly prose heavy. I could literally see in my head the world she was describing, the training, flying on the dragons and the all characters. I thought prior to reading it that it might be too similar to Fourth Wing but it is not at all. It has dragons and they are bonded but that’s where the similarities stop. This story was about elemental magic, prophecy, lost identities and it had a unique dark world villains and war elements. The dragons were funny and the banter was great.

Let’s talk about the SLOW burn.🔥 I ate it up. Thorne is my new book boyfriend. He would do anything for Thaelyn. When the spice got going 🔥🔥.

Overall I thought it was a genius of a first novel. It was different and unlike anything out there which I think is why I enjoyed it so much. I’m looking forward to book 2. Thank you for the ARC.

Obsidian Sky completely wrecked me in the best way possible. I was lucky to get it as a beta reader. From the moment Thaelyn stepped into the Training Academy, I was hooked. The world is vivid and dangerous, filled with elemental magic, dragons, and secrets that slowly peel back layer by layer. Jill Aster’s writing is lush and lyrical, but not over the top where I would want to stop reading the book. It’s descriptive and I can picture everything in my head as if I was there. It’s writing that makes you stop and reread lines because they hit hard. This new fantasy world that was built was a huge undertaking for a new writer and she did a phenomenal job!

Thaelyn and Thorne have the kind of slow burn tension that makes you keep turning the page wanting more. He’s dark, guarded, and maddeningly protective; she’s strong, stubborn, and full of fire. Their connection feels fated and every scene between them left me on edge, in the best way. The banter between them is so funny. It is a SLOW burn but when it got there 🔥. It had the right amount of spice 🌶️ that it was believable and felt natural.

The dragons absolutely stole the show. They are so funny. They aren’t just background, they feel alive, with their own voices and emotions woven into the story. Nyxariel and Vornokh are everything I want from dragon lore: ancient, powerful, and deeply bonded to their riders.

If you love books with dragons or dragon riders, this book is going to be your next obsession. Dragon books all have a similar dragon lore vibe, and dragon rider books all have the dragons bond to its rider, which is why we love them. 🐉Obsidian Sky is more than that! It is very different and so is the story. Obsidian Sky is about forbidden magic, political control, prophecy, and a romance so dangerous it threatens the balance of the realm. It’s full of heartbreak, heat, and magic that feels both dangerous and new. I was not prepared for how emotional the ending would be, and now I’m desperate for book two which I heard will be out in 2026 too! This will be your next obsession.