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A review by robotnik
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
funny
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
5.0
First off, a big thank you to my friend, Kesha, for having bought me a copy of this book and introducing me to this series! You're the best!
I'm not the biggest science fiction reader. It's weird because I can watch a lot of sci-fi movies or play a lot of sci-fi games and be immersed for hours, but I have a hard time finding sci-fi books to read that I actually enjoy. They either start off slow with their infodumping of techno-babble terms or start off quick with their techn0-babble dumping that, more often than not, sound stupid rather than good world building.
Skyward starts off quickly and it kept going, slowing down only when necessary but never dragging on in the process. It was perfectly paced for me, both with the plot progression and the information that was given to us to never feel like we just had a text book on the most boring historical events known to space dropped on our heads while nothing happens in the story. That, for me, was the perfect amount I needed to be engaged in a science fiction story.
Skyward does not start with the most unique of storylines. Humanity isn't what it used to be. They're at odds with some sort of not human force (in this case, the Krell, who are apparently aliens) and they may win battles but they're losing the war. To try and keep up with their efforts of the combating the Krell, they train children young to fight as pilots, and the best of the best graduate and take to the battle. It's pretty basic as far as human vs non-human plotlines go, but that never stops it from doing it in the best way possible. In a way, it's an amazing example of how there's no original ideas but there are original executions.
Spensa is not a likable protagonist, but not in the way that I normally gripe about unlikable protagonists. If I went to class with her, she would annoy the ever living shit out of me and I would likely, more than once, contemplate shoving her down the staircase. But as a character? Spensa is fantastic. She exhibits traits that come across as obnoxious and annoying to read about in other main characters, but she's written well enough to still make her compelling rather than a waste of space. And I love that about her. I think a lot of young adult writers with their spunky rebellious female main characters should take some notes from Mr. Sanderson because Spensa would pilot circles around all of them and still have time to go hang out with Doomslug.
Also, Doomslug.
The climax to this book was great too. We know something's being set up for that plot twist at the end and I ran through several possibilities the closer we got to the build-up. I was not disappointed in the reveal at the end, not in the least. I want to know what they do now. I gotta know. And that's what a great ending is supposed to make you want.
I'm not the biggest science fiction reader. It's weird because I can watch a lot of sci-fi movies or play a lot of sci-fi games and be immersed for hours, but I have a hard time finding sci-fi books to read that I actually enjoy. They either start off slow with their infodumping of techno-babble terms or start off quick with their techn0-babble dumping that, more often than not, sound stupid rather than good world building.
Skyward starts off quickly and it kept going, slowing down only when necessary but never dragging on in the process. It was perfectly paced for me, both with the plot progression and the information that was given to us to never feel like we just had a text book on the most boring historical events known to space dropped on our heads while nothing happens in the story. That, for me, was the perfect amount I needed to be engaged in a science fiction story.
Skyward does not start with the most unique of storylines. Humanity isn't what it used to be. They're at odds with some sort of not human force (in this case, the Krell, who are apparently aliens) and they may win battles but they're losing the war. To try and keep up with their efforts of the combating the Krell, they train children young to fight as pilots, and the best of the best graduate and take to the battle. It's pretty basic as far as human vs non-human plotlines go, but that never stops it from doing it in the best way possible. In a way, it's an amazing example of how there's no original ideas but there are original executions.
Spensa is not a likable protagonist, but not in the way that I normally gripe about unlikable protagonists. If I went to class with her, she would annoy the ever living shit out of me and I would likely, more than once, contemplate shoving her down the staircase. But as a character? Spensa is fantastic. She exhibits traits that come across as obnoxious and annoying to read about in other main characters, but she's written well enough to still make her compelling rather than a waste of space. And I love that about her. I think a lot of young adult writers with their spunky rebellious female main characters should take some notes from Mr. Sanderson because Spensa would pilot circles around all of them and still have time to go hang out with Doomslug.
Also, Doomslug.
The climax to this book was great too. We know something's being set up for that plot twist at the end and I ran through several possibilities the closer we got to the build-up. I was not disappointed in the reveal at the end, not in the least. I want to know what they do now. I gotta know. And that's what a great ending is supposed to make you want.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death