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katiewhocanread's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Blood, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
kiwii091's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was an okay book overall, but not quite what I was expecting based on the blurb - in some ways I felt that the story it told wasn't the one I hoped it would be. Partly to blame for this is the how over hyped the reviews on the front were as well - they definitely made it seem like a much more exciting book than I felt it turned out to be. At times I also had to re-read parts to make sense of some of it, particularly the setting and what the characters were like at the beginning - this slight lack of development at the beginning did make it hard to picture what was happening at times but did get a little better as the book went on. Still a good book overall and I would re-read it, but just not for a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Colonisation
Minor: Death and Sexual content
booking_along's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
so strange and unique but fantastic.
a sci fi that can be read just to have a unique dystopian sci fi read or it can be read with a lot more meaning and intention of what it could mean in broader ways -from taken over land and humans (especially white ones) taken resources and other things they want, not caring about anything else.
the writing is fitting to the story and as strange but well done and while the plot could be clearer and more direct it still works.
the characters took me a little while to get used to but they never felt underdeveloped or unrealistic. so well done there too.
overall? this was a surprising find for me -i had never heard about this book or the author before seeing this and just reading it and enjoying it a lot.
and i think it might be best to not know what this book is about and just go in and see where the story takes you.
a sci fi that can be read just to have a unique dystopian sci fi read or it can be read with a lot more meaning and intention of what it could mean in broader ways -from taken over land and humans (especially white ones) taken resources and other things they want, not caring about anything else.
the writing is fitting to the story and as strange but well done and while the plot could be clearer and more direct it still works.
the characters took me a little while to get used to but they never felt underdeveloped or unrealistic. so well done there too.
overall? this was a surprising find for me -i had never heard about this book or the author before seeing this and just reading it and enjoying it a lot.
and i think it might be best to not know what this book is about and just go in and see where the story takes you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, and Colonisation
azrah786's review against another edition
3.5
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an early review copy through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
CW: violence, blood, death, contagion/disease, abandonment, substance abuse, body horror, themes of war/colonialism
Now this was both highly baffling and utterly compelling.
Skyward Inn is a speculative science fiction novel set in a future where Earth has peacefully invaded an alien world known as Qita and an interplanetary portal known as the Kissing Gate grants travel and access to its resources.
The story follows an estranged mother and son pairing who live in the Western Protectorate – an area of the United Kingdom that has cut itself of from the rest of the country and the world’s advanced technological way of life - where the people choose to live a more traditional, rural lifestyle. The mother, Jem, a veteran of the war has returned to the Protectorate and runs a safe haven pub with Isley, a Qitan she befriended while on duty. Together they serve an addictive beverage know as Jarrowbrew//Brew to the locals and share memories of the world they left behind. The son, Fosse on the other hand wants nothing more than to escape the Protectorate and the life it has confined him to.
But soon a handful of new faces breach the walls of this independent community, along with unnerving news of a disease boththreatening to upend the peace.
This is a book that gets stranger with each page. The overarching plot is slow to reveal itself and the jumble of timelines due to the dual points of view and involvement of memories within the storyline make for a disjointed and confusing read. However, the prose keeps you entranced until the end.
With subtle commentary on the themes of colonialism and xenophobia, Whiteley expertly weaves a narrative that explores human nature, human emotions and human relationships in an evocative way. I didn’t find myself connecting to any of the characters much but both protagonist’s perspectives on identity and belonging really drew me in. For a short book my copy is sprouting so many tabs with how many thought provoking quotes I couldn’t help but note!
Not at all like anything I’d usually pick up but it sure was an interesting experience. If you like sci-fi that focuses on people then definitely give this one a read! With how much I loved the writing I’d love to pick up other works by the author in the future.
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
**I was provided with an early review copy through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
CW: violence, blood, death, contagion/disease, abandonment, substance abuse, body horror, themes of war/colonialism
Now this was both highly baffling and utterly compelling.
Skyward Inn is a speculative science fiction novel set in a future where Earth has peacefully invaded an alien world known as Qita and an interplanetary portal known as the Kissing Gate grants travel and access to its resources.
The story follows an estranged mother and son pairing who live in the Western Protectorate – an area of the United Kingdom that has cut itself of from the rest of the country and the world’s advanced technological way of life - where the people choose to live a more traditional, rural lifestyle. The mother, Jem, a veteran of the war has returned to the Protectorate and runs a safe haven pub with Isley, a Qitan she befriended while on duty. Together they serve an addictive beverage know as Jarrowbrew//Brew to the locals and share memories of the world they left behind. The son, Fosse on the other hand wants nothing more than to escape the Protectorate and the life it has confined him to.
But soon a handful of new faces breach the walls of this independent community, along with unnerving news of a disease boththreatening to upend the peace.
This is a book that gets stranger with each page. The overarching plot is slow to reveal itself and the jumble of timelines due to the dual points of view and involvement of memories within the storyline make for a disjointed and confusing read. However, the prose keeps you entranced until the end.
With subtle commentary on the themes of colonialism and xenophobia, Whiteley expertly weaves a narrative that explores human nature, human emotions and human relationships in an evocative way. I didn’t find myself connecting to any of the characters much but both protagonist’s perspectives on identity and belonging really drew me in. For a short book my copy is sprouting so many tabs with how many thought provoking quotes I couldn’t help but note!
Not at all like anything I’d usually pick up but it sure was an interesting experience. If you like sci-fi that focuses on people then definitely give this one a read! With how much I loved the writing I’d love to pick up other works by the author in the future.
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Violence, and Blood