Nominated for the Goodreads Librarians' Rising Reader Choice Award 2026
Obsidian Sky delivers an epic tale of elemental magic, ancient prophecies, dragon-riders, and a love that burns brighter than destiny itself.
"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."- NewIn Books
Thaelyn Marren enters the Asgar Training Academy wanting nothing more than to prove herself amongst the other cadets, where she must endure life-threatening trials in the hope of manifesting air, water, fire, or earth magic. Not to mention, a lucky few will pair with dragons who select their riders with ancient instinct, answering only to those whose souls burn bright enough to match their own.
When Thaelyn’s power stirs in ways no instructor can explain, she draws the attention of the crown, particularly Prince Thorne Dareth, a renowned warrior and a dragon rider. Hardened by discipline and haunted by a kingdom he was born to serve, Thorne sees Thaelyn as a danger to the realm and yet is charged with her training. And amidst clashing personalities, an undeniable pull forms between them, potent enough to awaken dark forces that once tore the world apart.
Now rift-born creatures thought to exist only in nightmares are slipping through the cracks of their reality. And as they push the realm toward open war, Thaelyn may be the only one able to stop what’s coming. That is, only if Thorne can choose between loyalty to his crown or the girl whose power could either save their world or bring it to ruin.
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Trainer to Trainee
Dragon-rider fantasy
Forbidden romance
Love and destruction
High-stakes political intrigue
Destiny/Prophecy
Elemental magic system
Immersive fantasy world-building
POV: Closed third person limited, dual POV per scene or chapter
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Obsidian Sky wrecked 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 Aster’s writing is lush and lyrical, the kind that stops you mid-page. 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 (or any other dragon-type books) Powerless, Hurricane Wars or Throne of Glass this will be your next obsession. The ending left me breathless.-Goodreads Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Obsidian Sky delivers an epic tale of elemental magic, ancient prophecies, dragon-riders, and a love that burns brighter than destiny itself.
"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."- NewIn Books
Thaelyn Marren enters the Asgar Training Academy wanting nothing more than to prove herself amongst the other cadets, where she must endure life-threatening trials in the hope of manifesting air, water, fire, or earth magic. Not to mention, a lucky few will pair with dragons who select their riders with ancient instinct, answering only to those whose souls burn bright enough to match their own.
When Thaelyn’s power stirs in ways no instructor can explain, she draws the attention of the crown, particularly Prince Thorne Dareth, a renowned warrior and a dragon rider. Hardened by discipline and haunted by a kingdom he was born to serve, Thorne sees Thaelyn as a danger to the realm and yet is charged with her training. And amidst clashing personalities, an undeniable pull forms between them, potent enough to awaken dark forces that once tore the world apart.
Now rift-born creatures thought to exist only in nightmares are slipping through the cracks of their reality. And as they push the realm toward open war, Thaelyn may be the only one able to stop what’s coming. That is, only if Thorne can choose between loyalty to his crown or the girl whose power could either save their world or bring it to ruin.
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Trainer to Trainee
Dragon-rider fantasy
Forbidden romance
Love and destruction
High-stakes political intrigue
Destiny/Prophecy
Elemental magic system
Immersive fantasy world-building
POV: Closed third person limited, dual POV per scene or chapter
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Obsidian Sky wrecked 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 Aster’s writing is lush and lyrical, the kind that stops you mid-page. 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 (or any other dragon-type books) Powerless, Hurricane Wars or Throne of Glass this will be your next obsession. The ending left me breathless.-Goodreads Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Used availability for Jill Aster's Obsidian Sky