Reviews

Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne

mxharriet's review against another edition

5.0

I think the scariest thing about this novel (and trilogy), is how realistic it is. The brutality of humans coming out becomes their only survival instinct, to save the ones they love, whatever the cost. Though the cover seems a little cheesy, it really highlights the danger and destruction in this world alongside setting the mood for the novel.

Following straight on from Monument 14 we witness the progressive destruction and damage to the world through two perspectives. Whilst Alex and his group are outside facing the dangers of the contaminated air to find help from the Army, his older brother Dean and the others must wait-it-out for them inside the supermarket. But desperation does different things to many people, and as the fight and wait carries on, their true characteristics are revealed; and the danger they face will certainly test their boundaries and loyalties, but also their need to survive.

One of the key things in this novel were the characters. Viewing the novel from the perspectives of two brothers, Dean who has stayed in the supermarket and Alex who has gone to search for help, it added an emotional perspective to the novel. You could not help but feel the rawness of their emotions, for the world that was created appeared so vivid causing their emotions to be incredibly realistic. The only thing I keep getting annoyed at was Dean's obsession with Astrid, but I could overlook that for the secondary characters in this novel were real and you as the reader had a brilliant understanding of them. There strong desire to always protect one another earned their respect, but what also made this novel what it was is the variety of ages, and how the older ones actions have changed who they are in order to protect the younger ones and those around them; many grew and matured as characters. The desperation and heartache was ever present, and you felt fully immersed in the novel.

The plot of this novel was fact-paced and dangerous. Continuously I found myself wondering what I would do if I was their situation, but the events that occurred were brutal and unimaginable, and yet it very realistic; you can understand how these events would occur because of the situations that they were in. It was one rollercoaster. The ending was a little too perfect, but the characters deserved it. I am just intrigued to see where the third and final novel will take it; their are so many possibilities.

Brutal, realistic and an emotional rollercoaster, this novel will certainly have you craving Savage Drift.

mira8's review

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

jennc's review

5.0

What a great sequel. Darker than the first (but fittingly so) it moved the story along well. It was nerve wracking at times and hopeful at others. I loved the character growth and can't wait to read the next e-book and final book in the trilogy.

thebookmaxxeryeahthatsmeteehee's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I think it’s a great book and it’s a book I read in middle school and fell in love with. Now, as an adult, I’ve noticed some flaws in the book. One big one is WHY DO THE MAIN CHARACTERS KEEP TRUSTING STRANGERS? I believe out of the 6 or 7 encounters the main characters had, majority were people trying to take advantage of them. Another flaw is I feel like some characters development didn’t seem realistic. I think some couples (romantic) that were created just seemingly came out of no where. I feel like there could’ve been a slower build to relationships but they just formed too quickly for me. The good however is how the book is structured. The group gets split into two and each chapter, you get to read each viewpoint from a character in both groups. I think that’s genius. The base plot of this book is great. Apocalyptic, survival, all of that stuff makes for a good book and it does a good job showcasing struggles and triumphs that come in a disaster such as the one in this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

bookgirl1209's review

4.0

Just as good as the first in the series.
It seemed to have more action but that may just be a result of it being the one I read most recently.

In this one, half the group from the Superstore have set out in a modified bus in hopes of reaching safety and sending back a rescue for the kids left behind. The story is told alternately from Dean's perspective and that of his brother Alex on the bus.

Now, normally I'm a stickler for proper English usage but the way Laybourne tells this story, as if it were being written by the boys themselves seems right. It's told in their voice so sometimes things are repeated or overly explained much like they would be if a 14 year old was telling you their story.

I've discovered that there is a .5 installment (I'm guessing a prequel) and a 1.5 which tells us Jake's story.

Woohoo!!

books_and_breaks's review

1.0

Disgusting. So sexist. So grossly violent.

sydniwebb's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

toebean5's review

3.0

Sometimes you want everything to end happily-ever-after. Mission accomplished. I liked this- the kids who are super annoying in the first book are still mostly super annoying. But there's resolution, and I appreciate that.

katpavlikova's review against another edition

3.0

3,5 / 5*

Bylo to lepší než jednička.. Akčnější, sympatičtější, dojemnější, lepší..

Slibuji, že pokud v posledním díle nechá zaniknout svět, dám tomu pět hvězdiček.

/•-•/•/-•-•/•/-•/--••/•//

chelseamarie90's review

2.0

I probably would have loved this series when I was younger, but now the writing style drives me crazy.