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grace_b_3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, and War
fairhairedwarrior's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death and Death
literarylily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War
literallyilliterate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*̩̩̥͙ -•̩̩͙-ˏˋ⋆ ⋆ˊˎ-•̩̩͙- *̩̩̥͙
Where do I even begin with this book?
As I read the very first sentence of Skyward, I felt a great peace in my heart, as if it was saying "Here you go. Here's a book you can finally feel at home in." This feeling never left me.
I've read a lot of mediocre books lately. Books that I feel relieved to end. Books that I immediately forget as I move onto something else. This isn't one of those books. This is a book that'll stick with me for a long time.
I can't even begin to describe it well, so I'm just going to ramble. First of all, the characters. Each one felt so real, so comforting. It was easy to love them and even easier to root for them. Spensa, who has the teenage angst of an Olivia Rodrigo song (how on earth does a grown man write a teenage girl so well? I don't understand!). Jorgen aka Jerkface, a boy who seems unbearably annoying on the surface, but who had me internally screaming at his every interaction with our main girl. Kimmalyn, bless her stars! FM (who gave one of the best speeches about the glorification of war I have ever read). Sweet Rig. Nedd and Arturo, who were absolutely hilarious. Cobb the grumpy old man who also gave so much dad energy my heart was melting. And of course, the sarcastic and mushroom-obsessed M-Bot. And all the other characters I didn't mention. Each one taught me something different. Each one captivated me, some made me laugh, others made my heart sink. But all were so well-written.
Next, the sheer amount of detail and intricacy. The amount of love and care that went into this book is incomprehensible. A lot of things went over my head. But it was INCREDIBLE to read. I felt like I was in flight school with the rest of our characters, learning to fly alongside them. One would think Sanderson is a pilot himself with how well he wrote the flying scenes. This book read like a mix of Star Wars and Top Gun. Obviously I am obsessed. Everything flowed so smoothly and felt like watching a movie. And just like when watching a movie, I felt like I was on the edge of my seat, heart pounding, feeling all the feelings. I ACTUALLY CAN'T HOW IS THIS BOOK SO FREAKING GOOD????? If I had even a crumb of Sanderson's talent I could write an amazing book I swear. He is an INCREDIBLE writer. Thank God for him.
What surprised me most about Skyward was the little bits of kindness, hope, and pure unfiltered humanity sprinkled throughout the story. I saw several hints of God throughout the story, which was honestly so cool considering this isn't a "Christian" novel. I am actually so grateful to have read this book. It's definitely one of my all-time favorites now.
I will probably update this review, to add more things I may have missed. But I am telling you guys, read the dang book. Even if you don't like sci-fi or YA. READ IT. You won't regret it, I promise.
The fact that there are three more books in this series and several novellas is a gift from God like actually. I am forever in love with the world of Skyward and the sense of home and comfort it has given me.
*̩̩̥͙ -•̩̩͙-ˏˋ⋆ ⋆ˊˎ-•̩̩͙- *̩̩̥͙
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Swearing: 1.5/5 (they use a fake word "scud" to replace a loooot of swear words)
Sexual Content: 0/5
Violence: 1/5 (there's a lot of action but i wouldn't say much intense violence)
Moderate: Death and Violence
kaziaroo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
berkeley_alise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
blchabot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love science fiction. The exploration of the unknown, imagining the future of space travel, what does humanity look like outside the context of Earth... all of it fascinates me. Reading SKYWARD gave me all of those feelings.
The novel starts with a young Spensa exploring the surface of their planet Detritus with their father, a renowned fight pilot with the callsign Chaser. While exploring, Chaser received a radio transmission of an incoming attack from an alien species called the Krell and sends Spensa home.
You learn that Chaser died in that battle, not because he was caught by the Krell, but because he ran from the fight. Being a coward does not fly (pun intended) on Detritus when one is a member of the Defiant Defense Force.
Regardless of this, Spensa is determined to become a pilot and prove that not only is her father not a coward, but that neither is she.
Top Gun meets Starship Troopers in this fiesty first novel of the SKYWARD series. With a fearless (and occasionally over confident) heroine and a memorable cast of characters, SKYWARD truly was one hell of a ride.
Some of my favourite moments were with Spensa watching the world from the outside, too proud and stubborn to make different choices, only to realize that many of the obstacles she felt she had to overcome were put there by herself and her attitude. M-Bot had me laughing out loud and I teared up at multiple points of the story where we lose a few cadets Skyward Flight.
If you enjoy introspective, action-packed adventure with real stakes and a main character that actually changes over the course of the narratives you'll love SKYWARD.
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Death of parent
mdoniez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
linda_wolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Death and Death of parent
breathehopebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, War, and Classism
Minor: Violence and Death of parent