Review: Skies That Burn (Kings of Airlie Book 3) by Casey Cox

Rating: 3🌈

Skies That Burn is the finale to Casey Cox’s trilogy about the Kings of Airlie, a powerful family of kitesurfing champions, father and sons, their troubled dynamics and the dysfunctional damaging family history that’s impacted them all.

Oceans that Swim, the first book, was incredible, both in the introduction of this wounded group of brothers and in their love of and extreme talent for the little known sport of kitesurfing. Cox has brought this sport vividly to life here as well as the crazy athleticism needed to excel as champions.

By the second story, Mountains that Move, has finished, the reader and all the major characters have experienced and revealed so much of the trilogy storylines and mysteries.

Cox has had the King brothers (Terry, Troy, and Travis) have had so many dark family secrets exposed, including horrible abuses, as well as unthinkable events occur here. All during their various runs for the kitesurfing championships during the cable tv show reality series they are filming. It was a lot of storytelling but Cox did a great job with heavy emotional scenes and content. Be aware that it involved child SA, family abuse, and more. Read the warnings.

So what is left for Skies That Burn? Travis, the oldest of them, getting his romance, and plot threads , if any, are finalized.

Unfortunately for this book, it feels as though most of the passion and enthusiasm went into the other novels and brothers. Terry and Troy had the dramatic stories and histories. They had the biggest, wildly descriptive kitesurfing scenes, and were our introduction to the sport.

With Travis and Luca Silva, the Brazilian kitesurfer, so much about their journey is written by Cox, laid out in detailed descriptions. But instead of being involved or emotionally invested, their relationship felt removed and lacking chemistry. It checks all the right boxes. The potential should be there for a good romance.

But I never felt it. Even with all Luca’s substance abuse issues (that comes across as “told to” instead of his written reality as a long term drug addict), the enablers, and even the fact I kept wondering about any sports drug testing, this entire narrative didn’t make sense to me.

The many unresolved trilogy plot lines, especially the one involving their mother, that was so swiftly fixed by a fast moving investigation that the onsite paparazzi didn’t seem interested. Highly unlikely given the seriousness of the event. The father, a major figure, is basically brushed off here as an afterthought. He, along with too many other aspects of this trilogy, are given underwhelming treatment in the last story. Cox’s story is feeling more rushed and less well developed than any of the previous stories the more it progresses.

Then Cox does an odd thing and doesn’t write one epilogue, but a series of jumbled mini-scenes. Each one an epilogue.

Yes, we do finally get a measure of kitesurfing scenes but only a few. So that they come across as one more element to tie up.

This trilogy starts off strong and powerful , continuing with the haunted Mountains that Move.

Skies That Burn (Kings of Airlie Book 3) by Casey Cox ? It’s the smallest of waves, the last ride of the day. Everyone is ready to go home. It’s definitely done. Enjoyed the characters, happy that they found their own HEA, and finished the journey. Ironically, away from kitesurfing, a sport I enjoy watching now.

Kings of Airlie trilogy:

✓ Oceans that Swim #1

✓ Mountains that Move #2

✓ Skies that Burn #3

Buy link:

skies that burn: MM Rivals to Lovers Sports Romance (Kings of Airlie Book 3)

Blurb:

TRAVIS
All I’ve ever wanted is a simple life—kitesurfing, my brothers, and someone to love.

Too bad Luca Silva, the Brazilian golden boy of kitesurfing, didn’t get the memo.

We’re the epitome of on-again, off-again, our relationship a looping roller coaster neither one of us can stay off for long.

We may not choose who we love, but we can decide if we fight for them. And I’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to Luca…even as we face off against each other in the grand final.

LUCA
I’m not the perfect athlete everyone thinks I am. My whole life is a sham. The only real thing? My love for Travis.

But everything about his world is complicated. His family. His bad boy reputation. His track record in the sport.

I love Travis with everything I’ve got, but we’ve been yo-yoing back and forth for years now. And that’s withouthim knowing what I’ve been hiding.

Once he discovers my secret, it could very well destroy us—for good this time.

skies that burn is perfect if you love:

• MM sports romance

• rivals to lovers

• hate to want you

• hurt/comfort

• thrilling series conclusion (everything is revealed!)

This is the final book in a trilogy and is NOT a stand alone.

• Publication date: July 15, 2024

• Language: English

• Print length: 195 pages