Ardent Wings on Jealous Skies (Tales of Ciel Book 1) by Z. Bennett Lorimer

On the floating island of Volturnus, sixteen-year-old Effie Strait aches for a freedom she may never claim. In a world ruled by the enigmatic Celestials, only the Gifted can ascend to the skies as True Pilots, forging bonds with the mighty Leviathans. Effie’s older sister, Vanna, is the pride of Volturnus—a fearless dragoon and newly minted lieutenant—yet it is Effie who burns with ambition, even as her own Gift remains stubbornly absent.

When Effie’s closest friend, Kai, suddenly manifests his powers and is swept into Vanna’s orbit, Effie’s longing curdles into desperation. Her quest for recognition draws her into the dangerous intrigues of the island’s Patrician elite and the forbidden rituals of the wild jungle, where mortal ambition demands a price in blood.

Meanwhile, Vanna is thrust into a rebellion that exposes the Celestials’ true designs, forcing her to choose between loyalty and justice. As the sisters’ paths diverge—one chasing power at any cost, the other risking everything to protect her home—their bond is tested by betrayal, sacrifice, and the shadow of a coming war. In a sky fractured by rebellion and inequality, how far will ambition carry a girl who refuses to be left behind?

"A wholly absorbing, otherworldly tale of family, magic, and astonishing creatures." - Kirkus Reviews