Love never crossed his mind until she cut into his life like a gleaming sword, slicing through his stern facade.
Hardened by heartache and too many bloody battles, General Wen Hung is focused on protecting his land and nothing more. When a beautiful healer uses a unique skill to save him from a deadly attack, she shifts something inside his heart. Now, he wants something that both terrifies and comforts him.
Determined to pave her own path, Zhao Mei Su is a talented healer with the passion of a warrior. But she has no teacher to educate her until she dares an adept warrior much older than her to give her lessons. The more she practices, the more her energy field transforms, connecting her to a cosmic realm she never knew existed. When a dragon roars for her, confusion and wonder set in as the unavoidable battle between the dark and the light erupts.
As darkness intensifies around them, Su and Hung join forces with the dragon realm to protect something more precious than they could ever imagine.
Roar of the Sky is an age-gap mentor/mentee morally gray warrior steamy dragon rider romantasy.
Caution: This book contains sexual content, profanity, violence, and kidnapping. Recommended for 18+.
Calla Zae is a USA Today Bestselling author of otherworldly romance. She loves delving into fantastical worlds where her imagination can roam wild. Calla is also an artist who enjoys playing with colors, textures, and patterns. She has a love for mysticism, astrology, astronomy, K-Dramas, C-Dramas, true crime TV shows, romantic suspense novels, cats, and nature.
Calla lives in Massachusetts with her husband who keeps her grounded to Earth and two creative children who think she has her own secret planet. They’re onto something… https://callazae.com/
Roar of the Sky is the first book in the Infinara Dragons series by Calla Zae. Calla writes in a variety of genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, romantasy, and contemporary romance. I have read many of her books, and each one is distinctly different from the others.
This book is an age-gap romantasy, and the vivid imagery in her writing transports you to different places, times, and worlds. With its dark themes of good versus evil, danger, violence, drama, high-stakes action, suspense, romance, and steamy scenes, the fantasy world Calla has crafted is engaging and entertaining. It is filled with dragons, warriors, and fate, along with fully developed and endearing characters.
This first instalment in the new series certainly starts with a fantastic premise, and I look forward to more!
I absolutely loved this book! The writing was amazing and drew me into the story. I could not put it down and romantasy is not my preferred genre so that's saying alot! Can't wait for the next book.
Honestly my favorite fantasy romance book of the year so far! I loved it so much!! It had great world building, I could picture things so clearly. It had action and suspense. Swoon worthy romance and hot spice! Also have a few plot twists that blew my mind that I didn’t see coming! I was truly at the edge of my seat needing to know what was going to happen next!
Had many of my favorite tropes; age gap, morally gray alpha, found family, magical bond, vengeance driven.
I love Su and Hung so much! They truly gave me the Mulan and Shang vibes. Their bond and connection is everything! They make a great team too!
Also I love Tempo!! Bunnies are so cute and be really was a big help to Roar Of The Sky!
Can’t wait to see what the next book has in store for us!
I also read the dragon bonus scene in the kickstarter edition of Roar Of The Sky! Love meeting new dragons and learned about what their role will be in the future. I’m so excited to see where things pick up in the next book, Spark Of The Light! Also the kickstarter edition looks so beautiful and stunning!
Roar of the Sky features General Hung Wen and healer Zhao Mei Su. General Wen is an overworked leader dedicated to protecting the people throughout Lin Din Ni. The multiple disappearances and a wave of illness had struck Luklum and Hung felt like he just existed. Su worked at an apothecary and was a skilled healer. However, she wanted to be capable of defending herself and felt she could be a skilled warrior if someone would teach her. One evening, she disguised herself as a man and followed three men to a secret meeting. Supposedly, they were meeting to resolve the wave of illnesses that had claimed the lives of many of Luklum’s residents. Eavesdropping, she realized the three men were working for the notorious Ru Malik. They were poisoning the well water. She needed to tell General Wen what was happening. Two days passed, and the three men died of red thorn poisoning. Su also showed signs of the poisoning.
General Wen seemed to be intrigued by Su and wondered what she could be hiding from him. Ru Malik attacked Luklum and fought with Hung. Su was struck with a poisoned dart that was meant for Hung. Wen was facing off with Ru Malik when the bandit started to form a ball of dark energy. Somehow, despite being injured, Su was able to slow time and use her essa to pull Hung’s gold essa, preventing the dark energy from hurting him. Ru Malik seemed baffled by what Su had done, and fled. Concerned for Su, Hung rushed her into the apothecary. Su was afflicted by a sinister poison. Hung did everything he could to find the antidote for Su. While unconscious, Su’s visions became intense, and she began a journey into the stars. Recovering from the poison, Su became brave enough to ask Hung to teach her to fight. Hung agreed to teach her to fight and hinted at other intentions he would like to show her.
This is a supernatural fantasy story of two people who were connected more than they realized. The amazing detail used to describe the surroundings made every page come to life. The story was unpredictable, and I was shocked by the true identity of Ru Malik. The sacrifice of the many people to an evil presence in Lin Din Ni was frightening. A climatic fight near the end of the book ended on a cliffhanger. Magic from traveling through time and space added an element of suspense. By using time Warps, Calla Zae’s Roar of the Sky leads readers through a journey of epic proportions. The foundation for the entire series is set, and I enjoyed following the self-discovery that Hung and Su underwent as they grew closer together. Their shared passion, determination, loyalty to the people, and fighting against a shared foe added extreme depth to the story. This is a five-star story that I believe mature romance and fantasy readers will enjoy reading as they experience a world of color and magic.
Su wants to walk her own path; she wants to do things society tells her a woman like her shouldn’t do. She wants to fight. Working as a healer, she spends her free time training to be a warrior, but she realises she can only get so far without a proper teacher. But as she trains alone, focusing on her energy, she realises she is becoming connected to a realm she would have never suspected existed. General Hung meets Su when she heals him after an attack. Enthralled by her in a way he never expected to be, he is determined to find out more about her. As their relationship deepens, dark forces make themselves known, threatening both their newfound connection and the connection Su has found to the dragon realm.
This was a pretty solid fantasy read for me. With a vibrant and fantastical world with wonderful and complex characters that feel real. I really loved the way the relationship between Su and Hung developed. I was a little concerned when we first got introduced to Su, and she seemed quite young and naive, but I thought Zae did an amazing job of developing her character in a way that felt believable. I will say that I usually don’t massively like fantasy books with dragons in, I have my firm favourites, such as Eragon, but others I’ve found I haven’t really enjoyed. I really loved the dragons in this, though and the way that Zae initially drip-fed their presence in the tale. This book gave me serious Mulan vibes, which was probably why I liked this so much, as I’ve always been a massive Mulan fan. I am really looking forward to reading the next instalment.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a romantic fantasy, with dragons and a strong female lead who is determined to forge her own path.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from RRTours and Calla Zae, and as soon as I saw the email for this book, I jumped at the chance! I’m a total sucker for slow-burn romances with morally grey alphas and strong, determined FMCs. Throw in some magic and a delicious age gap, and I’m hooked—completely dying for more! The story follows Su, a healer who longs to learn how to fight. Driven by her desire to protect the people she loves, she seizes the opportunity to train under Hung, the MMC, hardened general who only wants to protect his land. Their interactions are beautifully crafted—each scene written with purpose to show not only their growing relationship, but also the depth and development of each character individually. As Su’s connection deepens beyond what either of them thought possible—and a dragon roars for her—they must learn to fight/work together to protect something far greater than themselves. The pacing and worldbuilding kept me completely immersed; despite all the twists and turns, I never felt lost. This book delivers everything I love: betrayal, love, danger, and the temptation of darkness. The plot twists were epic! I thoroughly enjoyed this new series from Calla Zae—the worldbuilding, the chemistry, the battle scenes—chef’s kiss! I couldn’t help but get strong Mulan retelling vibes throughout, and I loved every second of it.
This is the first book in the Infinara Dragons series. This author does an amazing job of creating stories that captivate me from the first page. This is a fantasy romance with different realms, warriors and healers, dragons and dragon riders, good Vs evil and a romance between a mentor and his pupil all wrapped up in a fantasy adventure which keeps me turning the pages. General Wen Hung has been hardened in his life through the countless battles and traumas he has had to suffer through never did he ever think love would find him until a healer comes into his life. Zhao Mei Su is a healer with the heart of a warrior. She wants nothing more than to learn to be a warrior but she has no one to teach her, until she approaches General Wen Hung and asks for his help to train her to become the warrior she knows she is. As they work together they realise they must join forces along with the dragon realm to protect something more precious that either of them realise. This is a beautiful story of Su finding out just who she really is and the gifts she has, but also about Hung learning to soften his heart and learning to allow love to enter his life. All while they fight the forces of darkness. I couldn't put it down
Roar of the Sky kicks off the Infinara Dragons series with a sizzling, high-stakes romantic fantasy that blends epic mythology with intense character dynamics. The story centers on Zhao Mei Su, a gifted healer determined to forge her own path as a warrior, and General Wen Hung, a battle-hardened, morally gray commander focused only on protecting his land. Their paths cross when Mei Su uses her unique skills to save the General's life, sparking an intense connection that he never anticipated. What follows is a compelling mentor/mentee, age-gap romance as Mei Su seeks training from Hung, unknowingly transforming her energy and catching the attention of a powerful dragon realm. Zae masterfully weaves elements of cosmic power, dragon-riding, and a dramatic battle between dark and light, all while keeping the slow-burn, magnetic chemistry between Mei Su and Hung at the forefront. The world-building is rich and the action sequences are exciting, but be advised: this is a spicy romantasy that contains strong themes, violence, and sexual content. If you enjoy Asian-inspired fantasy romance featuring complex heroes, strong heroines, and dragon-rider lore with a passionate, high-heat edge, Roar of the Sky is a must-add to your reading list.
This book was an exciting, action packed fantasy adventure filled with romance, magic and a bit of fated destiny. This book very much gave me Mulan and Shang vibes, with the main FMC being a woman who wants to train to be a warrior and occasionally disguised herself as a man and her male love interest is a general for the emperor who ends up helping train her! Su and Hung made for an exciting power couple and I love the development of their relationship from a crush, to love mentor and trainee and then into lovers.
I also love the found family they both have formed and from their dual POV you can tell they both care deeply about the people around them and each other! Overall this book was full of battles against the darkness, training sequencers and political maneuvering that all made for an exciting fast paced read that I thoroughly enjoyed! I was surprised by some of the twists and betrayals and felt so sad for the losses the characters faced and loved all o the emotional highs and lows of this book made me feel! My rating 4.3/5!
Thanks to the author and R&R book tours for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Roar of the Sky is the first book in the Infinara Dragons series by Calla Zae. This is not my first read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last, as Ms. Zae always seems to bring something new to the table. This first instalment in a new series certainly sets things off to a fantastic start. A fantasy with romance, dragons/dragon rider, warriors, different realms, dark vs light, age gap, mentor-mentee romance, morally gray warrior MMC, chemistry, steam, action, adventure, violence, fate/destiny, intrigue, danger, drama, darker elements, and high stakes. Ms. Zae definitely got this recipe right, hooking me right from the beginning and keeping me reading well past my bedtime. It is well written with fully developed and intriguing characters who really made the story come to life. The wonderful, vivid world building gave this adventure extra element of interest too. Add in danger, violence, dark vs light, emotion, and some dramatic developments- made it a story that wouldn’t let me put it down - and now I have the taste for more and am looking forward to I am more instalments. Happy reading!
The cover of this book really drew me in, and once I read the synopsis, I knew I wasn’t leaving it behind. It really delivered with a blend of emotional depth, slow-burn romance, and sweeping fantasy. General Wen Hung’s hardened exterior and battle-worn past make his gradual softening toward Zhao Mei Su genuinely compelling. Their slow-burn mentor/mentee vibe is so addictive, and the age gap actually adds a really tender dynamic. Su herself is such a standout because she’s fierce, curious, and suddenly connected to this wild cosmic energy that opens up an entire dragon realm. The dragon moments? Absolutely magical, and they raise the stakes in a way that never feels overwhelming. I also loved the found-family threads that form as the world gets darker and the two of them grow closer. By the end, I was fully invested in their bond and cheering for their HEA. If you like C-Drama feels, morally gray heroes, and a dash of cosmic dragon magic, this one is definitely worth picking up. Easily one of my top 3 favorite reads for the entire year. I am beyond excited for the next book in the series!
This enjoyable and engaging fantasy romance adventure kept me happily turning the pages. General Wen Hung has been hardened by heartache and battles and now focuses on protecting his land. However, when he is saved by Zhao Mei Su, a talented healer with a unique skill and the passion of a warrior, Hung agrees to become her mentor. As Su practices, her energy field transforms connecting her to a cosmic realm, then a dragon roars for her. Su and Hung find themselves joining forces with the dragon realm in a battle between dark and light, to save something precious.
I was hooked throughout by this slow burn ‘romantasy’ with an age-gap trope. The descriptive narrative brought the fantasy world setting vividly to life, making me feel fully immersed in the story. Both Su and Hung are likeable and relatable characters whose chemistry came across in the narrative. The storyline had me gripped, with its fast paced fantasy adventure, romance and dragons! This is Book One in the exciting new Infinara Dragon Series, and I am looking forward to the next book already.
Roar of the Sky by Calla Zae is book 1 in the author's new Infinara Dragons series. The story follows, Zhao Mei Su who is our FMC. Su wants to study martial arts but she is a girl/woman and that is not allowed for women to study martial arts. Su dresses up as a man to study and hides her identity, reminds me of the Disney movie Mulan, which was one of my favorite movies when I was a young girl. I loved this book it is a perfect fantasy and Asian like culture. The world building was fantastic and well written. I was so happy to read a book where you are completely immersed into the world and characters. Su and General Wen Hung is our MC and the love interest for Su in this book. Definite Shang and Mulan vibes, watch the movie if you do not know who this is! The book has so much going on with betrayal and twists and turns in this story that you can not help be engrossed from the first page! I can not wait to read the next book called The Spark of the Light, coming soon!
Roar of the Sky is, in my opinion, a truly unique take on an ancient Asian heroic fairy tail. The use of dark magic, science, martial arts and herbology mixed together made it feel like nothing was impossible - and the characters just took every turn in stride, even while admitting that they had no clue what was happening or why (which was entertaining to read). I did love the character and relationship development between Hung and Su, though there were a few points that I felt jumped natural progression in order to keep the story moving (the book is already over 500 pages so I do understand this being necessary but it still did stand out to me at times). Also, though the twist did take me a bit by surprise, I feel that some of the antagonist aspects were forgotten about throughout the course of the storytelling. All in all, excellent writing, world building and intrigued to see this series continue!
This book is by an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book. I enjoy this author’s creativeness and characters that are not only engaging but they pop off the pages. This is a story about Hung and Su. Hung wants nothing more than to protect his lands. When he is attacked a talented healer shows up to save him. Su is determined to pave her own way. The more she practices the better she gets. When she opens up another realm, things get interesting for her. Now Su and Hung are faced with protecting something worth more than anything. You don’t want to miss what happens with Su and Hung. They are great characters that are connectable and have a great chemistry together. I enjoyed watching their growth and what they add to the story. I found their story easy and entertaining to read. This is a fast paced story that is a great story. I highly recommend this book.
I'm a sucker for Asian dramas and this one for sure caught my eye. In the realm of romantasy this one sure gets up there for dragon romance and fantasy. In this world you meet Wen, a general that has not only been through some stuff, but has seen some pretty awful things. He is content to fight to protect his lands, and not go past that. Enter Zhao Mei. A healer with a warrior's heart. Her unique healing saved Wen from a life ending injury. Wen is not sure how he feels about Zhao. He flips back and forth between wanting to love her, and wanting to stay alone. Then come the dragons. This changes everything, and both of their worlds. The storytelling was fantastic and like another reviewer it has the feeling of a more older Mulan and Shang type feel. I usually stay away from age gaps, but this was beautifully done. I enjoyed reading this first book and can't wait for the next book!
Roar of the Sky (Infinara Dragons #1) Calla Zae. This is a great age-gap romantasy that follows Wen who is a General that has been through a lot of stuff. Not only has he been through a lot he has also seen a lot. He just wants to fight to save his land and that is all but he ends up getting drug into other things. When Zhao Mei, a healer, ends up saving Wen's life with her miraculous healing he is fascinated. He has mixed feelings for Zhao Mei, one minute he wants to love her and be either her and the next he wants to be alone. He is much older than her and he worries about that but then dragons become involved and makes things even more confusing. There is political intrigue, betrayal and other unique circumstances that make this book a fast paced fantasy. Warning, you will not want to put it down once you start.
I’m giving Roar of the Sky 4 stars, and the dragons are a big reason why.
This book has:
An age-gap romance between a battle-hardened general and a strong-willed healer
An Asian-inspired fantasy world with war, politics, and magic
Dragons that actually matter to the story and feel powerful and mystical
I liked the slow-burn connection between Wen Hung and Zhao Mei Su, but what really hooked me was the dragon lore and the way their presence shaped the world and the characters’ destinies. Every scene that involved dragons or the dragon realm pulled me in even more.
I took off one star only because some parts felt a little slow and very “book one setup,” and I found myself wanting even more page time with the dragons.
Overall, if you love dragons, destiny, and slow-burn age-gap romantasy, this is a great start to a series and worth picking up.
General Wen Hung has seen a lot in his life. Harded by war and heartache he is focused on protecting his land and nothing more. That changes when a healer uses her unique healing powers to save him from a deadly attack. He has feelings that stir inside of him that has long been dormant and that frightens him. Zhao Mei Su is a talented healer but she has nobody to teach how to sharpen and hone her skills. She however is still determined to make her own path forward. After she heals the general she gets him to teach her and she discovers a world and powers she didn't think were possible. Her powers have attracted the attention of the dragon realm and a battle between darkness and light is about to ensue putting these two right in the middle. This was a good fast paced read that definitely sets you up very well to jump into the next book when it comes out.
What a way to kickstart a new series. This book is the brilliant opening to the Infinara Dragons series and it promises so much right from the word go. The characters are what first captured my attention in this book. They are so interesting – complex and with a real depth to them. The connection between them was undeniable and I loved watching how it developed as the story went on. However, it wasn’t just the characters that caught my attention. The story itself is excitingly fantastic. With different realms, dragons and fierce warriors it really does seem to have everything you could want from this kind of book. I absolutely loved this story and I cannot wait to see what else the series will have in store for us.
Roar of the Sky by Calla Zae is an imaginative, fast-paced adventure that pulls you into a world brimming with tension, magic, and high-stakes emotion. The author’s vivid descriptions make the setting feel alive, and the characters—especially the protagonist—are compelling and easy to root for.
The story moves quickly, keeping you engaged with twists and moments of real suspense. While there were a few places where I wished for a bit more character depth or smoother transitions, the overall journey was exciting and satisfying.
Calla Zae delivers a creative, immersive tale that’s well worth reading. If you enjoy fantasy with strong world-building and plenty of action, Roar of the Sky is a great pick.
Romance, slow burn, magic and dragons! What a great story about Wen a general who has seen the worst of the world and is content to live in his own bubble...until a possible life ending injury requires him to rely on a healer who is Zhao Mei. As they get to know one another Wens heart melts slowly with him wanting things he hasn't in a long time. The story really shifts when the dragons enter and something unexpected happens with Zhao Mei. Does it change everything for what Wen is willing to do? This story was lovely dragon, lore, magic and a slow burn Romance that had spice but also had substance and world building which made it feel balanced. I can tell this book is a series set up and there will be more.
This book is a slow burn romance but also so much more! Su has the heart of a warrior however she’s a healer at an apothecary center. She wants to protect her friends and patients from the poison and sickness going around as well as to protect them as the warrior she knows she is inside herself. She asks for lessons from General Wen Hung to teach her the correct ways of fighting as all she knows is from watching his soldiers practice from the sidelines. This intensifies the feelings she has for Wen and he realises he’s having feelings for her he’s never wanted for any woman, due to keeping his work as the general of his army first. If you love romance stories and you're not sure about fantasy romance please read this and it will change your mind!
In Roar of the Sky, Zae launches the new series Infinara Dragons, full of sweeping emotions, political tension, and dragons…lots of dragons. Diving into the trope of romantasy, we meet Wen Hung and the Zhao Mei Su. There is heat and spice, with an emotionally charged, over-the-top MMC that features the perfect mix of slow burn, age gap, and magic. This book was definitely outside of my normal book style. But I am so happy that I picked this one up, it pulled me in from the first page and kept me intrigued until the very end. This was the first Asian style drama, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes in the future.
I am a big romantasy reader, so when I saw this book I HAD to read it! Let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed. Calla Zae kept me hooked from the first page, and the world building was absolutely amazing! I love a book that can have world building and some spice. The bonds expressed in this book are truly magical. I finished this book in a day, I couldn’t put it down. I am not ashamed to say I read this book while I was working because I HAD to keep going. I cannot wait for the second book to come out! I got this as an ebook, and I will definitely be getting it for my bookshelf in the near future!
Roar of the Sky is a lush, sweeping romantasy that blends high-stakes fantasy, mentorship, and a slow-burn age-gap romance in a way that feels both classic and fresh. Calla Zae really leans into emotional tension. Worldbuilding is a major strength. The cosmic realm and the dragons tie into the plot in meaningful ways. There are real consequences, political intrigue, and betrayals, which elevate the story beyond just a romantic subplot. The pace mostly works, with action, character development, and romance balanced nicely. So If you’re into action, heart, and a little bit of mentorship + magic, this is definitely a book you’ll want to dive into
Roar of the Sky is an exhilarating, high-flying adventure that’s impossible to put down. The story follows a daring protagonist navigating a world of aerial battles, unexpected alliances, and personal challenges that test courage and heart. Zae’s writing is vivid and immersive, making every flight feel thrilling and every moment full of tension and excitement. The characters are dynamic and relatable, and the blend of action, emotion, and world building keeps the pages turning. It’s a gripping, fun, and uplifting read for anyone who loves adventure with a bit of heart.
Roar of the Sky by Calla Zae was a bold, adventurous fantasy romance that swept me away. It’s packed with action, magic, and passion, with characters who feel larger than life. I loved how the story balanced high-stakes battles with emotional intensity, making it both thrilling and heartfelt.
The world-building was vivid, and the romance added fire to the already explosive plot. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to keep turning pages, and it left me excited to see where Calla Zae takes the series next.
Hung is a general not looking for love but when he comes in contact with Su all that changes. Su wants to learn to defend herself and protect the ones she loves. When meeting Hung presents and opportunity she grads for it. I loved this somewhat mulan retelling where the two main characters fall and love and try to save their village but end up having a bigger mission. It ends happily but sets up for the next book and I can’t wait to see what happens next!!