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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Skyhunter by Marie Lu
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, descriptions of blood and gore, torture, public execution mention, family abuse (physical and emotional), death of a parent, medical horror
"My name Talin. I am a Striker of Mara, the last free nation on this side of the sea. We are legendary bringers of death, assassins of monsters."
Skyhunter by Marie Lu is the first book in the Skyhunter duology. I loved this book! It had been a while since reading any scifi, and this one didn't disappoint. This is also my first Marie Lu book, and I am firmly in love with her writing now.
We follow Talin, a Basean refugee in Mara, who can't speak and uses sign language. She is a Striker, fighters in am elite force tasked with killing Ghosts, people who have been turned into monsters in a lab by the enemy Federation. The Federation is trying to take over the whole continent, and only Mara is left to conquer, but Talin and her Striker friends, Adena and Jaren, are determined to stop them. When a runaway from the Federation makes it to Mara, he becomes bound to Talin.
This was a fast paced story that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Talk about tension and raising the stakes! The descriptions of the battles and fight scenes were so exquisite, it made me want to see them on tv. The world building was interesting as well. We learn about the Old Ones, the civilization that came before and left ruins all along the continent. The Old Ones were more technically advanced than the people we follow, but destroyed themselves. I'm hoping we learn more about this next book.
The characters in this were wonderful! I loved Talin's friendship with Adena and Jeran. We must protect Jeran, my abused baby. Red and Talin's relationship is definitely of the slow burn variety and I'm here for it. I love that she was finally able to fully communicate with someone. Their bond is very intimate. Also Red has a pet mouse who just chills in his shirt pocket and makes it through many intense situations.
We get themes on the cruelty that refugees face, the cost of imperialism and tyranny, and how the cowards in power will be the death of freedom. I can not wait to read Steel Striker!
"My name Talin. I am a Striker of Mara, the last free nation on this side of the sea. We are legendary bringers of death, assassins of monsters."
Skyhunter by Marie Lu is the first book in the Skyhunter duology. I loved this book! It had been a while since reading any scifi, and this one didn't disappoint. This is also my first Marie Lu book, and I am firmly in love with her writing now.
We follow Talin, a Basean refugee in Mara, who can't speak and uses sign language. She is a Striker, fighters in am elite force tasked with killing Ghosts, people who have been turned into monsters in a lab by the enemy Federation. The Federation is trying to take over the whole continent, and only Mara is left to conquer, but Talin and her Striker friends, Adena and Jaren, are determined to stop them. When a runaway from the Federation makes it to Mara, he becomes bound to Talin.
This was a fast paced story that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Talk about tension and raising the stakes! The descriptions of the battles and fight scenes were so exquisite, it made me want to see them on tv. The world building was interesting as well. We learn about the Old Ones, the civilization that came before and left ruins all along the continent. The Old Ones were more technically advanced than the people we follow, but destroyed themselves. I'm hoping we learn more about this next book.
The characters in this were wonderful! I loved Talin's friendship with Adena and Jeran. We must protect Jeran, my abused baby. Red and Talin's relationship is definitely of the slow burn variety and I'm here for it. I love that she was finally able to fully communicate with someone. Their bond is very intimate. Also Red has a pet mouse who just chills in his shirt pocket and makes it through many intense situations.
We get themes on the cruelty that refugees face, the cost of imperialism and tyranny, and how the cowards in power will be the death of freedom. I can not wait to read Steel Striker!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent