I'm thrilled to welcome Isla Lockwood to my blog to celebrate the release of When the Sky Burns! Keep reading to learn about the inspiration behind Isla’s book, the journey to bringing this novel to life, and how she decided to separate this series from her international bestselling and USA Today bestselling pen name!
About When the Sky Burns
Enter a frozen world holding its breath… before everything burns.
Twelve perilous nights of Yule.
One ancient curse.
Two men who sought to contain her.
Until she became the weapon they feared.
The phoenixes are dying. The kingdom that worshipped them has fallen. When rebel spy Aliwen steals a sentient grimoire, she uncovers a truth the witches buried. The curse that destroyed the phoenixes was never meant to be broken.
But hidden within it is a single flaw.
Her.
On the run with the rebel leader who believes she holds the key to reclaim their kingdom — and hunted by an enemy Rider whose fire would destroy her with a single touch. Aliwen has the twelve nights of Yule to unravel the spell that reshaped kingdoms.
Or burn with it.
When the Sky Burns is a dark romantic fantasy with cursed phoenix riders, sentient books, ancient magic, dangerous loyalties, and a slow-burn romance set across the twelve nights of Yule. Perfect for fans of One Dark Window, Road of Bones, and When the Moon Hatched.
Release Date: October 15 2026
Pages:
ASIN: B0HD13RBGS
Series: Skyworld Series (Book 1)
Genre: Dark Midwinter Romantasy
Tropes: Captive x Captor, Countdown to Catastrophe, Cursed Phoenix Riders, Eyes on Me, Forced Proximity, Morally Grey Everyone, One Horse, Second-Chance Romance, Slow Burn, Touch = Death, Winter Fantasy
Content Warnings: Coercive Control, Graphic Injury, Grief, Imprisonment, Light Violence, Mild Torture, Psychologically Distressing Themes, References to Death, References to Sexual Exploitation, References to War Trauma.
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Interview
Tell us about your debut release, When the Sky Burns!
When the Sky Burns is a dark winter romantasy set across the Twelve Nights of Yule, where ancient Skyworld magic is at its strongest, and the veil between worlds grows dangerously thin. It follows Aliwen, a rebel spy who steals a sentient grimoire and discovers that the curse destroying the phoenixes might have a loophole.
Readers can expect cursed phoenix riders, dangerous loyalties, folklore-inspired magic, slow-burn romance (sort of!), morally grey characters, sentient books who are sometimes quite bloodthirsty, and the twist at the end is everything I want in a twist lol.
You’ve written mysteries under your other pen name, C. L. Miller. What inspired you to leap into romantasy, and why did this feel like the right story to debut under the Isla Lockwood name?
Fantasy has always been the genre I loved most as a reader. Long before I was writing crime novels, I was completely captivated by worlds filled with magic, mythology, and impossible choices. I wrote three fantasy books before my crime novel, which never got picked up by agents, so I switched genres and my career took off, but I never stopped writing Science Fiction and Fantasy.
I adored writing my mystery series, but there was always this story quietly waiting in the background. When the Sky Burns became that story. It grew into something much bigger than I expected, and I realised it deserved its own identity. Isla Lockwood gave me the freedom to build an entirely new world while still bringing everything I love about storytelling—mystery, atmosphere, character and emotional stakes—to a different genre.
Your world is steeped in Celtic mythology, folklore, and the Twelve Nights of Yule. What drew you to these inspirations, and how did they shape the Skyworld series?
Firstly, I’m half Scottish, and I’ve always loved Celtic and Scottish folklore and myths. And in general, I’ve always been drawn to ancient mythologies passed down through the generations. The Twelve Nights of Yule is a perfect example of this for me. We’ve all heard about it, but what actually is it? I created my own magical version of Yule that now all feels too real to me!!! I love the idea that the sky is dusted with dangerous YuleMots and anything could happen once darkness descends.
Rather than retelling existing myths, I wanted to build a world that felt as though it could have grown out of them. The Wheel of the Year (which will be in the front of the book), ancient snow-covered forests, forgotten magical FootPaths and book magic all became part of Skyworld’s lore, which hopefully feels both familiar and completely new.
The book features morally grey characters, forced proximity, slow-burn romance, second chances and a “touch = death” dynamic. Which trope was the most fun to write?
Definitely the touch = death trope. The tension is so fun with that trope, and I liked exploring what effect that would have on the Riders who could no longer be close to people. How it affected their humanity. But I also love a second chance romance! So as it’s my book, I could put it all in!
Characters I love reading are all morally grey. And they are even more fun to write! None of them see themselves as villains, and everyone believes they’re making the right choice—even when those choices have devastating consequences.
Was there a particular character or scene that surprised you while you were writing?
Character Artwork by Bex Hamer (@inkcauldron)
Torran surprised me the most.
He walked onto the page as someone readers—and Aliwen—are supposed to distrust immediately. But the more I wrote about him, the more complicated he became. But more of him in book 2!
Those are always my favourite characters to write because they keep surprising me as much as I hope they’ll surprise readers.
There are two scenes that I love – Aster tending to Wren’s wounds in the cabin. It was one of the first character art commissions I made. The other scene is at the very end when Wren makes an impossible choice, but I can’t tell you about that as it’s a spoiler!!! 😉
If you could describe When the Sky Burns in three words, what would they be?
Midwinter. Fire. Destiny.
You’ve described When the Sky Burns as “the book of your heart.” What does that phrase mean to you?
It’s the story I’ve wanted to tell for years…that I’ve been writing for years in between all my other projects.
Sometimes an idea, a character, and a setting all come together at once and burrow deep inside so that you have to get it down on paper – or Scrivener! That was how this book came to me. I wrote a very long prologue first, when Wren was thirteen and the castle fell, and then chapter 1 was ten years later. Chapter one has barely changed in the 9 drafts this book has been through. I poured everything I love about fantasy into these pages.
It’s the book I wanted to read as a reader, and finally getting to share it feels incredibly special.
This is the first book in the Skyworld series. Without spoiling anything, what can you tease about what’s coming next?
Map Illustrated by Andrés Aguirre Jurado (@aaguirreart)
Let’s just say the ending is only the beginning.
The story expands far beyond what readers see in Book One. Long-held secrets begin to unravel, loyalties are tested in ways no one expects, and the consequences of breaking an ancient curse ripple across the entire world.
The Skyworld series comprises three interconnected duologies, so while Aliwen’s journey continues, readers will also follow the other cousins, Ember and Thorn, whose stories have been quietly unfolding alongside hers all along.
Where can readers connect with you online?
I’d love to hear from readers!
Website: islalockwood.com
Instagram: @islalockwoodauthor
You can also sign up for my newsletter through my website for exclusive bonus content, behind-the-scenes updates, and news about future books in the Skyworld series.
About Isla Lockwood
Isla Lockwood is the fantasy pen name of international bestselling and USA Today bestselling author C. L. Miller.
Inspired by winter folklore, ancient myths and stories told around the fireside in the dead of winter, her novels weave together dangerous magic, impossible choices and slow-burning romance.
When the Sky Burns is her debut romantasy and the first in the duology of the interconnecting Skyworld series.
She lives in a medieval cottage in Suffolk, UK, with her family.
Join the Skyworld here: www.islalockwood.com
Connect with Isla
Instagram: @islalockwoodauthor
Threads: @islalockwoodauthor
TikTok: @islalockwoodauthor
Newsletter: Join Isla’s Newsletter
Wrapping Up
Thank you so much to Isla for taking the time to answer my questions and celebrate the release of When the Sky Burns here on the blog. I can't wait to see where the Skyworld series goes next, and I'm excited to read more of your work!
Until next time!
