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jessh165's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bolynne's review against another edition
5.0
****I received a copy of this ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review!****
And the awesome sci-fi kick continues!
This book is exactly how a first installment in a series should be: a complete story on it's own with it's own stakes and own resolution and a lead off into the next one. I am not very happy when I get to the end of a book and it's literally just exposition and the characters freaking out about this BIG BAD THING only to get a tiny taste of what that thing is followed by a STAY TUNED FOR THE REAL ACTION NEXT TIME MAYBE I DUNNO I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY THOUGHT THIS THROUGH BUT I NEEDED TO GET A BOOK OUT. Because it is an ARC and that means the second book won't be coming out for quite some time, I'm satisfied with where we have ended, because at least I got a full experience out of this. The author also gives a fair bit about how this world works and therefore allows us readers to wonder and stew on just how much is, hopefully, coming for us next time.
It also had one of my favorite villains that I've read lately. He's a fully realized person and that's made very clear. I actually enjoyed his POV just as much, if not more, than our Protagonists'.
I like the direction this series seems to be headed and will definitely pick up the second installment when it gets written/released. I recommend this book to any sci-fi fan. Seriously.
And the awesome sci-fi kick continues!
This book is exactly how a first installment in a series should be: a complete story on it's own with it's own stakes and own resolution and a lead off into the next one. I am not very happy when I get to the end of a book and it's literally just exposition and the characters freaking out about this BIG BAD THING only to get a tiny taste of what that thing is followed by a STAY TUNED FOR THE REAL ACTION NEXT TIME MAYBE I DUNNO I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY THOUGHT THIS THROUGH BUT I NEEDED TO GET A BOOK OUT. Because it is an ARC and that means the second book won't be coming out for quite some time, I'm satisfied with where we have ended, because at least I got a full experience out of this. The author also gives a fair bit about how this world works and therefore allows us readers to wonder and stew on just how much is, hopefully, coming for us next time.
It also had one of my favorite villains that I've read lately. He's a fully realized person and that's made very clear. I actually enjoyed his POV just as much, if not more, than our Protagonists'.
I like the direction this series seems to be headed and will definitely pick up the second installment when it gets written/released. I recommend this book to any sci-fi fan. Seriously.
firerosearien's review against another edition
5.0
Space wizards, with swords, and it's f---ing awesome!
Really, though - there is some exquisite world building going on here, the type that leads support to a series of infinite length - and that's my favorite part of reading fantasies. The good writing, surprisingly complex villain, and gender parity are also pretty cool.
Really, though - there is some exquisite world building going on here, the type that leads support to a series of infinite length - and that's my favorite part of reading fantasies. The good writing, surprisingly complex villain, and gender parity are also pretty cool.
esseastri's review against another edition
4.0
Skyfarer is like Firefly on steroids, but with magic.
Which means it is absolutely 100% My Shit.
Listen, there are spaceships, but also the people in command of the spaceships are sorcerers and knights in magic armor with magic swords. There's a prophecy. There's magical portals that are sort of like hyperspace but instantaneous. There's a spaceship that's also a mountain. With laser cannons. There's magic spells and people throwing fire at each other and it's all very epic fantasy. It's sort of the perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy that I'm always here for. My favorite blend, to be quite honest.
Of course, some of it is very dark--there's mind control and an invasion of a besieged castle and all the violence that comes with that--but it's very optimistic. It's dark, but not grimdark. It does not revel in the violence. The main character, sorceress Aimee, is exactly the bright, intelligent, chaotic good heroine needed to balance out the dark, brooding violence of the black knight and the other antagonists. She's strong and full of magic, and it was like reading a better version of Rey and Kylo Ren. A much better version.
I'm desperately looking forward to the next one. I'm eager to see where this story goes--what allies might become enemies, what magic might mingle with what new technology, what trouble our tight-knit crew of scrappy vagabond adventurers might get themselves into. This book was like reading an adrenaline rush and I can't wait for the ride to continue.
Which means it is absolutely 100% My Shit.
Listen, there are spaceships, but also the people in command of the spaceships are sorcerers and knights in magic armor with magic swords. There's a prophecy. There's magical portals that are sort of like hyperspace but instantaneous. There's a spaceship that's also a mountain. With laser cannons. There's magic spells and people throwing fire at each other and it's all very epic fantasy. It's sort of the perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy that I'm always here for. My favorite blend, to be quite honest.
Of course, some of it is very dark--there's mind control and an invasion of a besieged castle and all the violence that comes with that--but it's very optimistic. It's dark, but not grimdark. It does not revel in the violence. The main character, sorceress Aimee, is exactly the bright, intelligent, chaotic good heroine needed to balance out the dark, brooding violence of the black knight and the other antagonists. She's strong and full of magic, and it was like reading a better version of Rey and Kylo Ren. A much better version.
I'm desperately looking forward to the next one. I'm eager to see where this story goes--what allies might become enemies, what magic might mingle with what new technology, what trouble our tight-knit crew of scrappy vagabond adventurers might get themselves into. This book was like reading an adrenaline rush and I can't wait for the ride to continue.
cjterry07's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book, couldn't put it down once I got it. The story and the characters really pull you in. The next book can't come soon enough. :)
rhiancmoore's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
thrabenvaliant's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a fun read, not book junk food as there is a lot to process, but very well-paced with enjoyably diverse vocabulary. The characters all have depth and are extremely believable. The magic in the world is more science and rules based and I absolutely love that about it. The battles are tense and the descriptions plentiful enough to follow easily.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
colossal's review against another edition
3.0
A light space fantasy book that's action-packed and inventive but feels extremely derivative.
The Drifting Lands are continents floating in an endless sky. Somehow humans live on them and can travel between them using magical skyships and sorcerers that allow travel via teleportation portals. Aimee de Laurent is a newly graduated portalmage just starting as apprentice to the legendary mage Harkon Bright aboard his skyship Elysium. An unexpected outcome of her first teleportation portal puts the Elysium and her crew in the middle of an invasion of a peaceful kingdom by the Eternal Order led by the dark knight Azrael and soon everyone is fighting for their lives.
This feels very much like Star Wars to me. I can also see parallels to Final Fantasy. It's interesting that we only get the most cursory introductions to the supposed main characters Aimee and Harkon and the crew of their skyship. Instead the focus is on the more interesting character of Azrael as he stalks through the book like a deeply-conflicted Darth Vader. That's not to say that anyone gets much character development: it's very clearly an action-packed story that requires a lot of exposition without much room for other things.
I do have to say that I'm sad to see that Michael Underwood edited this, as the editing is probably my biggest complaint about the book. There are some real clunkers delivered here and there in the text (including in the cringe-worthy opening paragraph) that really should have been sorted out in the edit stage, as well as some truly awful story-telling cliches, particularly including several "as you know Bob" scenes.
The ideas and characters are fun; the execution needed more work.
The Drifting Lands are continents floating in an endless sky. Somehow humans live on them and can travel between them using magical skyships and sorcerers that allow travel via teleportation portals. Aimee de Laurent is a newly graduated portalmage just starting as apprentice to the legendary mage Harkon Bright aboard his skyship Elysium. An unexpected outcome of her first teleportation portal puts the Elysium and her crew in the middle of an invasion of a peaceful kingdom by the Eternal Order led by the dark knight Azrael and soon everyone is fighting for their lives.
This feels very much like Star Wars to me. I can also see parallels to Final Fantasy. It's interesting that we only get the most cursory introductions to the supposed main characters Aimee and Harkon and the crew of their skyship. Instead the focus is on the more interesting character of Azrael as he stalks through the book like a deeply-conflicted Darth Vader. That's not to say that anyone gets much character development: it's very clearly an action-packed story that requires a lot of exposition without much room for other things.
I do have to say that I'm sad to see that Michael Underwood edited this, as the editing is probably my biggest complaint about the book. There are some real clunkers delivered here and there in the text (including in the cringe-worthy opening paragraph) that really should have been sorted out in the edit stage, as well as some truly awful story-telling cliches, particularly including several "as you know Bob" scenes.
The ideas and characters are fun; the execution needed more work.