A review by fdallachy
Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I really respect this book for what it's doing - it's incredibly well written and the allegory which it is using is very thoughtful and well-developed. I can't say I enjoyed it, though, on a personal level. It has a great old-school sci-fi set-up, in which we're introduced to characters, human and alien, in a version of the future, slowly realise that all is not as it seems, and then deal with the unfolding situation when it is revealed. The what's-going-on is expertly tied to themes running throughout the book of individuality and identity, and they are really well-balanced and nuanced.
The author explores ideas related to individuality versus collectivism which can be read in many different ways - colonialism, communism, technology's imminent invasion of the body, perhaps also community oversharing on social media - in a way that expresses both beauty and horror. The body-melding alien 'disease' and the eagerness of main character, Fosse, to defend his individuality through weaponry sit on either side of that line. Ultimately it falls on the side of individualism but with a strong attempt to understand the appeal of losing individuality to a larger group identity, even if this is also the source of the most disturbing imagery in the book.
  I did like the well-paced unfolding of the plot and revelation of the book's mysteries. Unfortunately, I'm a bit squeamish, and the body horror is quite disturbing and drawn-out in the final section. Readers who have no problem with this material are likely not to have the same distress, though! I'm glad I persevered beyond the point it started to freak me out, but I definitely wouldn't read it again, I'm afraid.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings