A review by omnombailey
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective medium-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

I wasn't sure if I'd like this book when I first got into it. The initial 20% was pretty rough, especially when Spensa's petulance was the main focus. I get that it's a YA book with a teen protagonist, but the YA-ness of the setup plus the prose felt a bit hamfisted. But I kept reading bc the prose does flow very well, making it easy to read, and you hit a point in the narrative where it takes a left turn off a bridge in the best way possible. I couldn't put the book down after that. I teared up so many times and also laughed just as often. Are some of the reveals predictable? Sure, but it never felt bland; it all felt appropriate for the story and well-earned. I couldn't stand Spensa when I started and ended up loving her coming-of-age arc and learning to grow. All the interactions were magnificent, too. Just genuinely loved this book by the end, despite being frustrated with the beginning.