I didn't actually have high expectations going into this one, since I had to bail from The Ruin of Kings because I couldn't keep all the fantasy names and politics straight (and I usually have quite a high tolerance for name-dropping). But I really enjoyed Sky on Fire!

The fact that the first 50+ percent of the book is a linear narrative from a single perspective definitely prevented the kind of disorientation that pushed me from The Ruin of Kings -- I actually found the way the author gradually introduced lore that would become important later quite skillful. I liked the characters -- especially Anarhod, who made a great narrator -- and found the world-building intriguing, plus the prose was snappy.

The pacing was a little uneven in places; I was never bored, necessarily, but the book did feel much longer than 450 pages. I did wish a few characters had gotten more meaningful arcs, and a few loose ends went unresolved, though I didn't really mind that some elements remained mysteries. However, while the book ended rather abruptly after its climactic action scenes, I did find its conclusion satisfying, especially given that the book already felt long and I didn't really have much interest in reading more nitty-gritty details about how the world developed after the resolution.

Also, some of the reveals about the hidden truths of this world felt a little rushed or otherwise poorly executed, especially when a character suddenly discovered an entire realm of magical theory previously kept strictly hidden -- since this happened in the middle of a high-stakes chase, it felt like this discovery didn't get the space it deserved.

Despite these flaws, though, I would definitely recommend The Sky on Fire -- it was a fun read, well worth my time.