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literallyilliterate's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
“It has always seemed to me that a coward is a person who cares more about what people say than about what is right. Bravery isn't about what people call you, Spensa. It's about who you know yourself to be.”
*̩̩̥͙ -•̩̩͙-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)
*̩̩̥͙ -•̩̩͙-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)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
berkeley_alise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
i think this book changed my life🙌
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
blchabot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
I have wanted to get into reading Brandon Sanderson for a few years now and had felt overwhelmed trying to pick where to start. I am so glad I chose SKYWARD.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Death of parent
breathehopebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, War, and Classism
Minor: Violence and Death of parent
embersbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Another bright and breathtaking adventure, and a reminder of just why I adore Brandon Sanderson’s work. Spensa is a wonderful character, and following her personal journey and the mystery surrounding her father’s death and the circumstances of this futuristic space realm are absolutely fascinating and kept me hooked. I didn’t want to put it down - very excited to start the sequel! As always, Sanderson doesn’t disappoint - an adventure through and through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Spensa, the main character, makes a lot of colorful threats to her enemies in the war against the Krell. I wouldn’t call it terribly frequent - gets less frequent as the book goes on. But younger readers (13 or below) may find it a bit much.yourpal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
LOVE‼️ I’m sure many may complain about the length but honestly I think it was perfectly paced and written. I’m so looking forward to the next book in the series!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
cookiecat73's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Vomit, and Medical content
Minor: Ableism and Fire/Fire injury
e_emmaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Violence
readwithria's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Skyward was everything I didn’t know I wanted! So good, so fun!
These characters are all so well developed! They all feel individual, they all have compelling arcs and relationships, and they all grow so much! I adore them, and can’t wait to read about them in Skyward Flight.
Spensa is such a strong character, and she has such great development throughout the book. The themes of fear and bravery were so well explored through her character, especially with how she responds to the people around her. Also, the little bit of romantic hinting was super cute and I’m curious to see if/how it progresses.
The plot was great, the characters might be my favorite Sanderson ensemble, and I’m so excited to see where it goes. 5 well deserved stars.
These characters are all so well developed! They all feel individual, they all have compelling arcs and relationships, and they all grow so much! I adore them, and can’t wait to read about them in Skyward Flight.
Spensa is such a strong character, and she has such great development throughout the book. The themes of fear and bravery were so well explored through her character, especially with how she responds to the people around her. Also, the little bit of romantic hinting was super cute and I’m curious to see if/how it progresses.
The plot was great, the characters might be my favorite Sanderson ensemble, and I’m so excited to see where it goes. 5 well deserved stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Gaslighting
traceyanderson's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Classism