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meisbooknook's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 Stars
I always say that the best books will make you happy, sad & angry all within the span of a few pages. This book was no exception. I found myself shouting at the screen of my tablet because I became so invested in these characters. I need book two STAT.
From the moment I picked this book up, I did not want to put it back down. You are thrown into this fascinating world filled with mythical creatures, secrets, budding romance(s), and magical artifacts that can change the tide of war.
Let me start by saying, I was never a horse girl growing up. There is so much more to this world than flying horses – I promise. I absolutely adored the world that Shina has crafted in A Light In The Sky. We are introduced to three kingdoms – the conquered (Ivernister), the unconquerable (Laithlann), and the conqueror (Ulamond). In Ulamond & Ivernister – the king’s elite cavalry fight from the back of winged horses. Food is scarce among the common folk, and the rich ride along in solar-powered relics from a time long ago. I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling this cross of concepts, and I cannot wait for it to be further expanded upon in the next book.
The pacing in this book was perfect. We spend enough time in each plot point to gather all of the pertinent information, and move on without feeling rushed. Reynolds did not do anything in halves, that’s for sure. Each new place, character, and creature was described so perfectly – it was almost as if I was there. The action scenes were pretty solid as well, minus a few discrepancies with the horse-flying physics.
One of my favorite tropes is found family; therefore, I have a soft spot for Aluma and her rag-tag group of friends (and horses – I don’t think I’ve ever been more attached to horses in my life). That being said, I wished we had a bit more time with some of the more background members of the group, such as Xander and Cloverman. I feel like we did not see their friendship with Aluma fully blossom.
I was a bit confused by the introduction of a second love interest. It seems like he was there as a plot device to push Aluma and the first love interest together. The second fell for Aluma hard, whereas her feelings to him were more akin to lust. I cannot say much further about my theories behind this, because that would include spoilers…but I am interested to see how this will play out.
I still do not know how to feel about Aluma herself. On one hand, I can relate to being young and being thrust into something new that I do not know how to handle. On the other hand, I feel like she does not think about the consequences of her actions, and rushes into things (hence the aforementioned shouting at the tablet). We did see some character growth from the beginning of the book, but my hope is that we more growth in future installments of the Clashing Skies series.
Overall, this was an amazing introduction into the Clashing Skies series, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!!!
Thank you so much to Shina Reynolds & Book of Matches Media for providing me with an eARC of this book!
I always say that the best books will make you happy, sad & angry all within the span of a few pages. This book was no exception. I found myself shouting at the screen of my tablet because I became so invested in these characters. I need book two STAT.
From the moment I picked this book up, I did not want to put it back down. You are thrown into this fascinating world filled with mythical creatures, secrets, budding romance(s), and magical artifacts that can change the tide of war.
Let me start by saying, I was never a horse girl growing up. There is so much more to this world than flying horses – I promise. I absolutely adored the world that Shina has crafted in A Light In The Sky. We are introduced to three kingdoms – the conquered (Ivernister), the unconquerable (Laithlann), and the conqueror (Ulamond). In Ulamond & Ivernister – the king’s elite cavalry fight from the back of winged horses. Food is scarce among the common folk, and the rich ride along in solar-powered relics from a time long ago. I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling this cross of concepts, and I cannot wait for it to be further expanded upon in the next book.
The pacing in this book was perfect. We spend enough time in each plot point to gather all of the pertinent information, and move on without feeling rushed. Reynolds did not do anything in halves, that’s for sure. Each new place, character, and creature was described so perfectly – it was almost as if I was there. The action scenes were pretty solid as well, minus a few discrepancies with the horse-flying physics.
One of my favorite tropes is found family; therefore, I have a soft spot for Aluma and her rag-tag group of friends (and horses – I don’t think I’ve ever been more attached to horses in my life). That being said, I wished we had a bit more time with some of the more background members of the group, such as Xander and Cloverman. I feel like we did not see their friendship with Aluma fully blossom.
I was a bit confused by the introduction of a second love interest. It seems like he was there as a plot device to push Aluma and the first love interest together. The second fell for Aluma hard, whereas her feelings to him were more akin to lust. I cannot say much further about my theories behind this, because that would include spoilers…but I am interested to see how this will play out.
I still do not know how to feel about Aluma herself. On one hand, I can relate to being young and being thrust into something new that I do not know how to handle. On the other hand, I feel like she does not think about the consequences of her actions, and rushes into things (hence the aforementioned shouting at the tablet). We did see some character growth from the beginning of the book, but my hope is that we more growth in future installments of the Clashing Skies series.
Overall, this was an amazing introduction into the Clashing Skies series, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!!!
Thank you so much to Shina Reynolds & Book of Matches Media for providing me with an eARC of this book!
atrailofpages's review against another edition
3.0
This story follows Aluma who has always dreamed of following her father’s footsteps and becoming an Empyrean rider. However, her father has forbidden her because it isn’t safe, and so she has to watch while others, including her best friend Thayer, compete to become an Empyrean rider. Tragedy strikes during the competition and her father is put into a coma, which in turn causes Aluma to be thrust into the competition to become an Empyrean rider. While training, Aluma is trying to understand what happened to her father and what it may do with a little black box and a message that she was given for her father. She begins to learn about secrets the current king has about the neighboring enemy kingdom Laithlann, and learns something about herself that may change everything.
Now, this book is very well written. I wanted to give it 4 stars or more, but I have my reasons and I will explain those later. For now, what I really enjoyed about this book are the horses! I love horses, and it’s so rare to read a book with Pegasi, or a version of a Pegasus. These horses start out wingless, and can earn there wings when trained to become Empyrean steeds and if they qualify. I found that really interesting, especially the way the earn their wings. And plus, horses!
Now, this book is very well written. I wanted to give it 4 stars or more, but I have my reasons and I will explain those later. For now, what I really enjoyed about this book are the horses! I love horses, and it’s so rare to read a book with Pegasi, or a version of a Pegasus. These horses start out wingless, and can earn there wings when trained to become Empyrean steeds and if they qualify. I found that really interesting, especially the way the earn their wings. And plus, horses!
anotherstoryreader's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very exciting. It’s a bit of a dystopian world. The people have been in a war that never seems to end and no one really knows why it’s still going on. The Empyrean Cavalry are the military are elite riders on horses gifted with wings. They begin life as wingless horses but once horse and rider win the yearly competition they are granted Empyrean Rider status. This grants the horse the gift of wings and the rider a chance at glory. Only 12 riders are chosen each year. Aluma Banks' father is a retired military hero. He refuses to allow his daughter to join the ranks to save her from war. Through a series of events, she is rushed into the arena to compete.
There are a few tropes I feel I should warn you about. Not that they ruin the story only they may be reading peeves for some people.
1. The dreaded love triangle. I hate when both guys are great and even I can't choose.
2. Everyone knows the big info except for the MC and no one will filler her in. Love triangle I can deal with I'm not a fan of everyone being aware of the big picture and leaving the MC out. The MC then just bumble around making mistakes until they figure out what's going on.. and poor Aluma sure makes some naive choices with big consequences.
Overall this story was very action-packed and I was fully invested in the MC and supporting roles.
Two things I want to get off my chest so Spoiler below...
First I had such a hard time with the names of both places and people. Poor Wolkenna, Somehow I started calling her Wauconda in my head and I couldn't make myself stop. Finally, I just gave up and stuck with it.
Second, So Alumn gives the light to the king to keep safe. Her traitorous brother is in the building a few hours at most and is able to find it, steal it, and run away on a flying horse without anyone noticing.
There are a few tropes I feel I should warn you about. Not that they ruin the story only they may be reading peeves for some people.
1. The dreaded love triangle. I hate when both guys are great and even I can't choose.
2. Everyone knows the big info except for the MC and no one will filler her in. Love triangle I can deal with I'm not a fan of everyone being aware of the big picture and leaving the MC out. The MC then just bumble around making mistakes until they figure out what's going on.. and poor Aluma sure makes some naive choices with big consequences.
Overall this story was very action-packed and I was fully invested in the MC and supporting roles.
Two things I want to get off my chest so Spoiler below...
Spoiler
Things I wanted to mention that don't necessarily take away from the book as a whole.First I had such a hard time with the names of both places and people. Poor Wolkenna, Somehow I started calling her Wauconda in my head and I couldn't make myself stop. Finally, I just gave up and stuck with it.
Second, So Alumn gives the light to the king to keep safe. Her traitorous brother is in the building a few hours at most and is able to find it, steal it, and run away on a flying horse without anyone noticing.
a_court_of_words_and_phrases's review against another edition
5.0
As a self-proclaimed horse girl, I often struggle with inaccurate horse books. Thankfully, this wasn't one of them! When done well, I absolutely love reading about girls who love horses as much as me, and this one does not disappoint. Aluma is a wonderful heroine - impulsive at times, and a little naive - but strong willed, brave, and caring. Her group of found friends have a great dynamic, and I loved seeing them all come together over the course of the novel.
I thought the pacing of this one was good - it doesn't start out too slow, and we have almost constant movement and plot progression. For the most part, it doesn't feel forced either. There isn't a huge info dump despite the world building necessary to this story, and everything was pretty easy to follow. For the most part, I loved the relationships we see build throughout the book - I could do without the love triangle, but it wasn't badly done by any means. The betrayal felt a smidge predictable, but everything else was fantastically done. I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and can't wait to read the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an e-ARC.
I thought the pacing of this one was good - it doesn't start out too slow, and we have almost constant movement and plot progression. For the most part, it doesn't feel forced either. There isn't a huge info dump despite the world building necessary to this story, and everything was pretty easy to follow. For the most part, I loved the relationships we see build throughout the book - I could do without the love triangle, but it wasn't badly done by any means. The betrayal felt a smidge predictable, but everything else was fantastically done. I'm really excited to see where this series goes, and can't wait to read the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an e-ARC.
adventure_in_books's review against another edition
3.0
This is a perfect YA middle grade book! I would recommend to children 12+.
It felt like a story I had read before. Though this was my first book with flying horses! That’s what really got me excited to read it.
The book for me had one to many slow parts where I became bored and things were a bit to predictable. However I really think the younger crowd would enjoy this book. It was quick and easy to read. World building was good for younger readers. It’s easy for them to pick up on what the author is putting down. I will say I did enjoy the dialog! I could fell the personalities of the characters coming through.
It has magic, mystery and flying horses! It’s a fantasy read of the tried and true dark vs. light. Aluma is thrusted into a journey of adventure and deceit. She will find it difficult to know who to trust. Will she make the right choice or will she get mislead by her heart?
In short:
Did I like it? For my daughter yes!
Would I recommend it? To younger YA readers yes!
Would I read more by this author? I’m not sure at this time.
It felt like a story I had read before. Though this was my first book with flying horses! That’s what really got me excited to read it.
The book for me had one to many slow parts where I became bored and things were a bit to predictable. However I really think the younger crowd would enjoy this book. It was quick and easy to read. World building was good for younger readers. It’s easy for them to pick up on what the author is putting down. I will say I did enjoy the dialog! I could fell the personalities of the characters coming through.
It has magic, mystery and flying horses! It’s a fantasy read of the tried and true dark vs. light. Aluma is thrusted into a journey of adventure and deceit. She will find it difficult to know who to trust. Will she make the right choice or will she get mislead by her heart?
In short:
Did I like it? For my daughter yes!
Would I recommend it? To younger YA readers yes!
Would I read more by this author? I’m not sure at this time.
srwestvik's review against another edition
3.0
It has been years since I have read YA fantasy. I seem to remember clocking out around the time Holly Black’s Wicked King was released, and staying away since. Who can succinctly say why we enter reading slumps? Perhaps the most universal explanation is a host of internal and external factors clogging one’s mind. And when one’s mind is clogged, a return to known avenues that provide easily digestible escapism is a pretty solid way to return to the field.
I had hoped that Shina Reynolds’s debut, A Light in the Sky, would be that return for me. It tells the story of Aluma Banks, the seventeen year old daughter of a war hero and an aspiring Empyrean rider - a soldier defending the kingdom of Eirelannia from the back of a winged horse. The premise of this story - the cavalry-esque prestige and camaraderie of mounted soldiers, both a physical and political arena, and a young adult on the older end of the scale coming into her own - seemed like it could add something new and subversive to the otherwise familiar pathways of a magical destiny promised by the blurb. However, “familiar” ended up being the defining trait of this novel. And while familiarity was what I was going in for, I was still hoping for some oomph, something that pulled my emotions from my chest even if it didn’t challenge the foundations of my being.
The characters, I think, are the heart of this sense of stillness. They act and react, but do not seem to have a driver inside them, an engine spurring them on through the story. Aluma, our protagonist and our sole narrator, is no exception, which is probably why the sense of flatness is so pervasive. Aluma wants to be an Empyrean rider and she loves her father - interesting goals, understandable motivation. But there is little sense of what unsettled part of her needs to be shaken up by the plot so she can go on an internal journey alongside her external one. The why behind her deep desire to be an Empyrean rider is missing. The scope and dynamics of her familial relationships aren’t fully explored enough to feel strongly about them. This lack of complexity to her is what I feel leads her to being a fairly inactive protagonist. Characters like Lermyn say odd, evasive things, and Aluma doesn’t push or pry, doesn’t take any status-quo-altering actions, instead stewing in the strangeness of her interactions. It often felt like she was being shuttled from one place to another simply to observe, with no internal contradictions and needs and wants pushing her to make choices that altered her situation and upped the stakes.
Whenever she was motivated by her father was when her internal story showed its greatest strengths, and because of this I truly feel the novel could have benefited from developing or even prioritising her familial relationships even further. Exploring her relationship with her brother and the inherent, very deep conflict that emerges within the first few chapters would have been extremely compelling! Unfortunately, we spent more time with Thayer and Gattacan and a love triangle that really did not need to be there. A positive aspsect of this was that, at least until the introduction of Gattacan, Thayer was a genuinely kind and wholesome love interest that I have not seen much of in YA fantasy. He just was not as compelling as Aluma’s family.
The external conflict, too, was underdeveloped - Sutagus Molacus (what a name) with his Kaiser Bill-esque moustache, ripe to be twirled in antagonism, was a fairly one note villain. This can work, mind you, if it’s the best antagonistic force for the story. However, there was not enough conflict among the other characters to justify his lack of complexity in this case. Either he needed more complexity, or Aluma needed more tug and pull from the side of her allies, for the external conflict to be more engaging.
Worldbuilding was similarly a mixed bag. The concept of the Empyrean steeds was lovely and fresh, and the way they gained their magic from the Relics was fascinating to read and sparked my curiosity. But again, there was too much of some things and not enough of other things. I yearned for more exploration of the winged horses and how they knew how to fly, why the relics had the power to give them their wings and where that power came from, and I wish Aluma was asking these question and actively seeking those answers too! Yet we spent longer with the wingless horses - a solid quarter of the book. Going in I truly didn’t realise there would be such a focus on competitive jumping, especially at the start. Reynolds’s passion for and knowledge of horses and riding really shines throughout the novel, and the details are nice to read because that passion is so palpable. However, it was not what the premise promised me as a reader, and I may have tempered my expectations differently if I had known this would be more of a horse book than a fantasy or political book.
Additionally, there were far too many infodumps about many things, including the geographical and political structures of Eirelannia, that would have benefited from a more organic inclusion in the story. I think the name Eirelannia is clearly meant to be evocative of Éireann (Ireland), and thus it would have been great to have leaned in to that inspiration further, particularly given that Reynolds, according to her bio, is very interested in Ireland. Given this clear resonance, the themes of conquest and forced integration of states and cultures that were alluded to in the worldbuilging could have been expanded upon with more depth. It would have made the resistance to the crown more compelling, for example. In this sense I don’t think the worldbuilding made full use of the opportunities it had and if there will be a sequel, I hope the world can be expanded upon more deeply.
Pursuant to that, Eirelannia appears to be a very militant state, and especially in Ivernister. Perhaps my background as a student of war studies is interfering here, but I really wish the implications of militancy had been dealt with a little more deeply because of the fact that this story does, ultimately, follow along the common YA fantasy/sci-fi staple of child soldiers. Seventeen is on the upper end of the teenage years, certainly, but a seventeen year old is still closer to childhood than adulthood. I did feel that Aluma’s first experience of combat was well written, particularly the paralysis that can strike. But I do wish that the military culture surrounding Ivernister had been expanded upon, and that their training and techniques did not feel like they had been hand-waved into being. The first major combat scene with the riders gave little indication of how the riders were organised, how they were deployed, how they conducted themselves in a battle. I’m certainly not asking for a military manifesto, but it did not feel very well thought out, especially given the fact that the main purpose of the Empyrean riders’s existence and the endgame of Aluma’s involvement with them is, in fact, combat.
So many aspects of this story felt like they were harking back to the Hunger Games era of storytelling, even down to Egan Frye’s Caesar Flickerman-esque presentation of the competition in the first act, and well as the ideas of a revolt and a chosen one that emerges (though in this case, out of an inherent magical gift rather than a snowballing effect of personally motivated resistance). The chosen one, wielder-of-unique-and-rare-magic trope doesn’t have to be stale. It can be made interesting. I just did not feel that here. Aluma did not feel active, not in embracing the role nor in resisting it. And on a craft level, I was always thrown off by the casual tone of discourse in the writing (which sometimes reads younger than a seventeen year old!) that suddenly lapses into dramatic statements like “The old shall be made anew” whenever dealing with revolution or prophecy. A little more finesse would have been welcomg.
While on the topic of craft, Reynolds certainly has command of language, which I noticed right off the bat. She can write a story that goes along at a steady clip and illustrates it well for the reader. However, the pacing does suffer somewhat in the first act - again, too much time spent in the arena on the competition! - and chapters sometimes end strangely, either in cliffhangers that promise something they don’t deliver (such as the end of the first chapter and into the second) or that are anticlimactic, which is not a prerequisite for wrapping up the threads in a chapter. Some readers may not mind these aspects of structure and pace and language, but they stand out to me
Ultimately the word that comes to mind when considering A Light in the Sky is “comfortable”. The story does not break new ground, instead treading over very familiar territory and in doing so occasionally getting stuck in over-trodden ruts. It stays very much in the canon of tropes, pacing, worldbuilding, cast, and characterisation that underpinned the 2008-2015 era of YA fantasy. I always felt myself wanting more. There was so much already in the story and the world and the characters that could really have been put to work to move the story from “comfortable” to compelling. I hope that Reynolds will be able to shake things up and capitalise more on the threads she’s left lying in this story and world if or when a sequel is written. For readers new to the category and genre, it is a solid entry point. It will also easily scratch the itch of any reader longing for an uncomplicated return to another era. But anyone who is a regular consumer of YA fantasy, or who prefers more subversion and frankly more depth in their storytelling, would likely find less to take away from this novel.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 on Goodreads and NetGalley.
Thank you to Wink Road Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I had hoped that Shina Reynolds’s debut, A Light in the Sky, would be that return for me. It tells the story of Aluma Banks, the seventeen year old daughter of a war hero and an aspiring Empyrean rider - a soldier defending the kingdom of Eirelannia from the back of a winged horse. The premise of this story - the cavalry-esque prestige and camaraderie of mounted soldiers, both a physical and political arena, and a young adult on the older end of the scale coming into her own - seemed like it could add something new and subversive to the otherwise familiar pathways of a magical destiny promised by the blurb. However, “familiar” ended up being the defining trait of this novel. And while familiarity was what I was going in for, I was still hoping for some oomph, something that pulled my emotions from my chest even if it didn’t challenge the foundations of my being.
The characters, I think, are the heart of this sense of stillness. They act and react, but do not seem to have a driver inside them, an engine spurring them on through the story. Aluma, our protagonist and our sole narrator, is no exception, which is probably why the sense of flatness is so pervasive. Aluma wants to be an Empyrean rider and she loves her father - interesting goals, understandable motivation. But there is little sense of what unsettled part of her needs to be shaken up by the plot so she can go on an internal journey alongside her external one. The why behind her deep desire to be an Empyrean rider is missing. The scope and dynamics of her familial relationships aren’t fully explored enough to feel strongly about them. This lack of complexity to her is what I feel leads her to being a fairly inactive protagonist. Characters like Lermyn say odd, evasive things, and Aluma doesn’t push or pry, doesn’t take any status-quo-altering actions, instead stewing in the strangeness of her interactions. It often felt like she was being shuttled from one place to another simply to observe, with no internal contradictions and needs and wants pushing her to make choices that altered her situation and upped the stakes.
Whenever she was motivated by her father was when her internal story showed its greatest strengths, and because of this I truly feel the novel could have benefited from developing or even prioritising her familial relationships even further. Exploring her relationship with her brother and the inherent, very deep conflict that emerges within the first few chapters would have been extremely compelling! Unfortunately, we spent more time with Thayer and Gattacan and a love triangle that really did not need to be there. A positive aspsect of this was that, at least until the introduction of Gattacan, Thayer was a genuinely kind and wholesome love interest that I have not seen much of in YA fantasy. He just was not as compelling as Aluma’s family.
The external conflict, too, was underdeveloped - Sutagus Molacus (what a name) with his Kaiser Bill-esque moustache, ripe to be twirled in antagonism, was a fairly one note villain. This can work, mind you, if it’s the best antagonistic force for the story. However, there was not enough conflict among the other characters to justify his lack of complexity in this case. Either he needed more complexity, or Aluma needed more tug and pull from the side of her allies, for the external conflict to be more engaging.
Worldbuilding was similarly a mixed bag. The concept of the Empyrean steeds was lovely and fresh, and the way they gained their magic from the Relics was fascinating to read and sparked my curiosity. But again, there was too much of some things and not enough of other things. I yearned for more exploration of the winged horses and how they knew how to fly, why the relics had the power to give them their wings and where that power came from, and I wish Aluma was asking these question and actively seeking those answers too! Yet we spent longer with the wingless horses - a solid quarter of the book. Going in I truly didn’t realise there would be such a focus on competitive jumping, especially at the start. Reynolds’s passion for and knowledge of horses and riding really shines throughout the novel, and the details are nice to read because that passion is so palpable. However, it was not what the premise promised me as a reader, and I may have tempered my expectations differently if I had known this would be more of a horse book than a fantasy or political book.
Additionally, there were far too many infodumps about many things, including the geographical and political structures of Eirelannia, that would have benefited from a more organic inclusion in the story. I think the name Eirelannia is clearly meant to be evocative of Éireann (Ireland), and thus it would have been great to have leaned in to that inspiration further, particularly given that Reynolds, according to her bio, is very interested in Ireland. Given this clear resonance, the themes of conquest and forced integration of states and cultures that were alluded to in the worldbuilging could have been expanded upon with more depth. It would have made the resistance to the crown more compelling, for example. In this sense I don’t think the worldbuilding made full use of the opportunities it had and if there will be a sequel, I hope the world can be expanded upon more deeply.
Pursuant to that, Eirelannia appears to be a very militant state, and especially in Ivernister. Perhaps my background as a student of war studies is interfering here, but I really wish the implications of militancy had been dealt with a little more deeply because of the fact that this story does, ultimately, follow along the common YA fantasy/sci-fi staple of child soldiers. Seventeen is on the upper end of the teenage years, certainly, but a seventeen year old is still closer to childhood than adulthood. I did feel that Aluma’s first experience of combat was well written, particularly the paralysis that can strike. But I do wish that the military culture surrounding Ivernister had been expanded upon, and that their training and techniques did not feel like they had been hand-waved into being. The first major combat scene with the riders gave little indication of how the riders were organised, how they were deployed, how they conducted themselves in a battle. I’m certainly not asking for a military manifesto, but it did not feel very well thought out, especially given the fact that the main purpose of the Empyrean riders’s existence and the endgame of Aluma’s involvement with them is, in fact, combat.
So many aspects of this story felt like they were harking back to the Hunger Games era of storytelling, even down to Egan Frye’s Caesar Flickerman-esque presentation of the competition in the first act, and well as the ideas of a revolt and a chosen one that emerges (though in this case, out of an inherent magical gift rather than a snowballing effect of personally motivated resistance). The chosen one, wielder-of-unique-and-rare-magic trope doesn’t have to be stale. It can be made interesting. I just did not feel that here. Aluma did not feel active, not in embracing the role nor in resisting it. And on a craft level, I was always thrown off by the casual tone of discourse in the writing (which sometimes reads younger than a seventeen year old!) that suddenly lapses into dramatic statements like “The old shall be made anew” whenever dealing with revolution or prophecy. A little more finesse would have been welcomg.
While on the topic of craft, Reynolds certainly has command of language, which I noticed right off the bat. She can write a story that goes along at a steady clip and illustrates it well for the reader. However, the pacing does suffer somewhat in the first act - again, too much time spent in the arena on the competition! - and chapters sometimes end strangely, either in cliffhangers that promise something they don’t deliver (such as the end of the first chapter and into the second) or that are anticlimactic, which is not a prerequisite for wrapping up the threads in a chapter. Some readers may not mind these aspects of structure and pace and language, but they stand out to me
Ultimately the word that comes to mind when considering A Light in the Sky is “comfortable”. The story does not break new ground, instead treading over very familiar territory and in doing so occasionally getting stuck in over-trodden ruts. It stays very much in the canon of tropes, pacing, worldbuilding, cast, and characterisation that underpinned the 2008-2015 era of YA fantasy. I always felt myself wanting more. There was so much already in the story and the world and the characters that could really have been put to work to move the story from “comfortable” to compelling. I hope that Reynolds will be able to shake things up and capitalise more on the threads she’s left lying in this story and world if or when a sequel is written. For readers new to the category and genre, it is a solid entry point. It will also easily scratch the itch of any reader longing for an uncomplicated return to another era. But anyone who is a regular consumer of YA fantasy, or who prefers more subversion and frankly more depth in their storytelling, would likely find less to take away from this novel.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 on Goodreads and NetGalley.
Thank you to Wink Road Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
_zahra_'s review against another edition
3.0
So I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pick this book up because I say a Pegasus on the front cover and I love horses -so flying ones? Big yes. The book itself was a pleasant surprise! It was and enchanting book that gave me a feeling of nostalgia. The characters were written well and Reynolds explored a plethora of different relationships from ones between families, friends and romance. It did have a love triangle that I didn’t enjoy too much but the rest of the book could make up for that! The world was complex so that it was interesting and engaging but not so that it was too complicated. Overall, this was an interesting read and not one that I’d usually go for but enjoyed it nonetheless!
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
thebooknerdscorner's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastical world filled with political turmoil, rising tension, and. . . flying horses?
"A Light in the Sky" follows Aluma Banks, a seventeen-year-old who has always dreamed of becoming a member of the king's Empyrean Cavalry, elite riders who ride flying horses. Her father has taught her to ride and trained her to fight, yet her refuses to allow her to compete in the Autumn Tournament, an annual competition that is held to gauge the abilities of young members of the community, to determine if they are worthy of becoming an Empyrean Rider. When Alumna's father is injured in a suspicious "accident," Aluma is thrust into the competition. But the closer Aluma gets to receiving her very own set of wings, she realizes that the Kingdom of Eirelannia has many secrets and that the Empyrean Cavalry isn't all that she believed it was. . .
I thought that the world of Eirelannia is so interesting. It is a magical world unlike any that I have ever read filled with complicated political turmoil, an interesting magic system, and winged steeds that are much more than just pegasi. Another thing that I found was cool is how some modern elements are interwoven into the magical world such as screens that function like televisions and karriers that serve as vehicles, such as cars and boats.
The names were another thing that I completely adored in this book. Reynolds' names are all so fresh that it took me awhile to memorize most of them, but it really added to the originality of ALITS. The main group of kids include Aluma, Thayer, Xander, Cloveman, Wolkenna, and Gattacan. I mean, aren't these names just so darn cool? I also enjoyed the entire main group as characters (except for Gattacan; I'll get to him in a second.) Aluma is strong, independent, and resilient. Thayer is so sweet, caring, and hard not to love. Wolkenna is beautiful, fierce, and willing to stand up for what she believes in. The characters all mesh well together and become quite a power team when united.
I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the romance in this one. I was sold on Aluma and Thayer as a couple by page ten, so when Gattacan arrived on the scene, I became quite worried. I literally ranted about it to my sister for a couple hours after I got about three-fourths of the way through the book. I was so conflicted about the double romance element and I was making myself physically anxious hoping that Aluma would make an intelligent choice surrounding her romance options. I find Gattacan a bit possessive and demanding and he is just not my cup of tea. I'm on team sweet boy all the way!!!
Overall, I found "A Light in the Sky" to be a very unique fantasy novel filled with romance, betrayals, political turmoil, and interesting characters. I was so fully invested in every page and I kept feeling shocked that the book hadn't ended yet; it was jammed packed with action until the last page! I cannot wait to read the rest of the "Clashing Skies" series and I hope that they are just as good as this one. I am so glad that I took a chance on this book and bought it just because I thought it sounded good! I would totally recommend if you love uniquely structured fantasy worlds with complicated politics and magical systems accompanied with magic and plot twists.
"A Light in the Sky" follows Aluma Banks, a seventeen-year-old who has always dreamed of becoming a member of the king's Empyrean Cavalry, elite riders who ride flying horses. Her father has taught her to ride and trained her to fight, yet her refuses to allow her to compete in the Autumn Tournament, an annual competition that is held to gauge the abilities of young members of the community, to determine if they are worthy of becoming an Empyrean Rider. When Alumna's father is injured in a suspicious "accident," Aluma is thrust into the competition. But the closer Aluma gets to receiving her very own set of wings, she realizes that the Kingdom of Eirelannia has many secrets and that the Empyrean Cavalry isn't all that she believed it was. . .
I thought that the world of Eirelannia is so interesting. It is a magical world unlike any that I have ever read filled with complicated political turmoil, an interesting magic system, and winged steeds that are much more than just pegasi. Another thing that I found was cool is how some modern elements are interwoven into the magical world such as screens that function like televisions and karriers that serve as vehicles, such as cars and boats.
The names were another thing that I completely adored in this book. Reynolds' names are all so fresh that it took me awhile to memorize most of them, but it really added to the originality of ALITS. The main group of kids include Aluma, Thayer, Xander, Cloveman, Wolkenna, and Gattacan. I mean, aren't these names just so darn cool? I also enjoyed the entire main group as characters (except for Gattacan; I'll get to him in a second.) Aluma is strong, independent, and resilient. Thayer is so sweet, caring, and hard not to love. Wolkenna is beautiful, fierce, and willing to stand up for what she believes in. The characters all mesh well together and become quite a power team when united.
I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the romance in this one. I was sold on Aluma and Thayer as a couple by page ten, so when Gattacan arrived on the scene, I became quite worried. I literally ranted about it to my sister for a couple hours after I got about three-fourths of the way through the book. I was so conflicted about the double romance element and I was making myself physically anxious hoping that Aluma would make an intelligent choice surrounding her romance options. I find Gattacan a bit possessive and demanding and he is just not my cup of tea. I'm on team sweet boy all the way!!!
Overall, I found "A Light in the Sky" to be a very unique fantasy novel filled with romance, betrayals, political turmoil, and interesting characters. I was so fully invested in every page and I kept feeling shocked that the book hadn't ended yet; it was jammed packed with action until the last page! I cannot wait to read the rest of the "Clashing Skies" series and I hope that they are just as good as this one. I am so glad that I took a chance on this book and bought it just because I thought it sounded good! I would totally recommend if you love uniquely structured fantasy worlds with complicated politics and magical systems accompanied with magic and plot twists.
toodlebean's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed A Light In The Sky and I appreciate it more for pulling me out of a slump.
ALITS brought me back to the YA books of my teens and when I first started reading the genre. It delivers nostalgia with a dash of something new. A distinct dystopian world combined with dark royalty and ancient, unexplainable magic.
This is a fast paced novel that is not overly complicated. The author has done a great job of not drowning the audience with too much unnecessary information. The characters are made real, the environments are rich and I am committed to completing this story when it's available.
ALITS brought me back to the YA books of my teens and when I first started reading the genre. It delivers nostalgia with a dash of something new. A distinct dystopian world combined with dark royalty and ancient, unexplainable magic.
This is a fast paced novel that is not overly complicated. The author has done a great job of not drowning the audience with too much unnecessary information. The characters are made real, the environments are rich and I am committed to completing this story when it's available.
libraryofabibliotaph's review against another edition
3.0
I started this book hoping to read an exciting story set in a fantasy world where horses play a prominent role alongside the main characters. Overall, I found the book not great, but not bad either.
First the minuses in my opinion. The biggest drawback I found is that the story is rather superficial and predictable. As a reader, you can see the intended plot twists coming from miles away, the world and characters are only developed in a limited way and do not evolve much. In addition, every chapter seems to end with a somewhat dramatic sentence. Everything seems to go so smoothly, obstacles (not only figuratively but also literally) are always easily overcome, even if they are things that are said to be very difficult and almost impossible. No, this is not because of exceptional skills of the main characters, although they do have their strengths. Everything just seems to work out at once, against all the odds. Even when there is a setback, it is quickly worked around. What also bothered me, as an experienced rider, is that certain things about the horses and Steeds are just not possible or logical. For example, getting your horse out of its stable and immediately galloping off on a mission, jumping (without wings) over obstacles that are metres and metres high... I do understand that this fits within the story and that it is difficult to have it happen in another way in such a context, so this is perhaps not really a negative point, but rather something that bothers me personally sometimes. As a last remarque, I absolutely didn’t like the dynamics between Aluma, Thayer and Gattacan. I get what the author tried to do here and sometimes something like this really works, but it this case it only made me like Aluma less because it just seems like she can’t choose and thus decides to have the best of both worlds…
Now for the positive points. First of all, I really liked the idea of the Empyrean Cavalry (where can I sign up?
First the minuses in my opinion. The biggest drawback I found is that the story is rather superficial and predictable. As a reader, you can see the intended plot twists coming from miles away, the world and characters are only developed in a limited way and do not evolve much. In addition, every chapter seems to end with a somewhat dramatic sentence. Everything seems to go so smoothly, obstacles (not only figuratively but also literally) are always easily overcome, even if they are things that are said to be very difficult and almost impossible. No, this is not because of exceptional skills of the main characters, although they do have their strengths. Everything just seems to work out at once, against all the odds. Even when there is a setback, it is quickly worked around. What also bothered me, as an experienced rider, is that certain things about the horses and Steeds are just not possible or logical. For example, getting your horse out of its stable and immediately galloping off on a mission, jumping (without wings) over obstacles that are metres and metres high... I do understand that this fits within the story and that it is difficult to have it happen in another way in such a context, so this is perhaps not really a negative point, but rather something that bothers me personally sometimes. As a last remarque, I absolutely didn’t like the dynamics between Aluma, Thayer and Gattacan. I get what the author tried to do here and sometimes something like this really works, but it this case it only made me like Aluma less because it just seems like she can’t choose and thus decides to have the best of both worlds…
Now for the positive points. First of all, I really liked the idea of the Empyrean Cavalry (where can I sign up?