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cactuspunk's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
justgeekingby's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Piper’s life changes dramatically when she finds a trapped sea dragon at the beach. As if finding a mythological creature on a beach wasn’t odd enough, they are soon joined by a man who appears in a flying ship. When she’s offered a chance to join Lucky on his ship as his travel companion Piper hesitates at first. She was already planning to leave home, but naturally she’s reluctant to just hop on a ship, even a flying ship, with a stranger at the behest of a sea dragon she’s just met. It’s not just stranger danger, Piper is autistic, and she would rather be anywhere else than making small talk with Lucky. That’s until her parents appear and try to reach her before she leaves. Not everything is great at home for Piper and a flying ship with a stranger is looking pretty good about now.
Accepting Lucky’s offer, Piper is able to avoid dealing with what she’s going to do next. Especially as she’s swept into a world of magic and mythology that she didn’t know existed. She soon learns that the Irish gods are in fact real and alive, as are the Tuatha Dé danann, the fae. When the Irish god of the sea Manannán mac Lir joins the ship, Piper finds herself drawn into a mystery involving missing girls near fae mounds.
MacLir has never understood Lucky’s penchant for spending time with mortals – until he meets Piper. Likewise, Piper has never wanted to spend much time around anyone until she met MacLir. As they spend more time together while working to find out what has happened to the missing girls, they start to learn new things about each other and themselves. But the girls are part of a much bigger plot that involves a returning enemy and a danger to them all.
Sailing in the Sky by Starr Green caught my attention due to the Irish mythology and fae plot and the fact that this is a book with an autistic main character written by an autistic author. I had high expectations for the representation, and I was not disappointed. One thing I noticed straight away was how much more detail Green went into regarding Piper’s neurodiversity compared to other books with characters who have autism spectrum disorder. Being neurodiverse is not the same as having a chronic health condition. It’s a completely different way of thinking and feeling, and I felt that in every part of Piper’s narration. From talking about how sticky things feel on her skin, to eating certain textures and flavours, and to expressing why social situations and communication are difficult, Green covers a wide array of autistic representation without information dumping.
The story is interesting as well, offering a new spin on the Tuatha Dé danann and Irish mythology. Sailing in the Sky is a book that comes under multiple genres and was a fun read. I adored the adorable Flutterwing and the scenes with Flutter and Piper were wonderful, they balanced out the darker aspects of the book very well.
It does include the teenager dating an immortal trope, however, as MacLir is an immortal. I have mixed feelings about this trope, and found it less predatory in this book as the immortal is not a vampire. Instead, it felt that someone with a much wider view of the universe was able to connect with Piper more than someone with a mortal perspective. For those who are concerned about this trope, see below my spoiler cut:
The trope doesn’t last for very long and is not relevant by the end of the book. You’ll need to read the book to know more.
Sailing in the Sky is a great fantasy mystery based on Irish mythology, and it’s a fantastic book for anyone looking for authentic neurodivergent representation. I highly recommend checking this one out. I’m definitely looking forward to following more of Piper’s story in book two of the Wave Sweeper Trilogy!
Accepting Lucky’s offer, Piper is able to avoid dealing with what she’s going to do next. Especially as she’s swept into a world of magic and mythology that she didn’t know existed. She soon learns that the Irish gods are in fact real and alive, as are the Tuatha Dé danann, the fae. When the Irish god of the sea Manannán mac Lir joins the ship, Piper finds herself drawn into a mystery involving missing girls near fae mounds.
MacLir has never understood Lucky’s penchant for spending time with mortals – until he meets Piper. Likewise, Piper has never wanted to spend much time around anyone until she met MacLir. As they spend more time together while working to find out what has happened to the missing girls, they start to learn new things about each other and themselves. But the girls are part of a much bigger plot that involves a returning enemy and a danger to them all.
Sailing in the Sky by Starr Green caught my attention due to the Irish mythology and fae plot and the fact that this is a book with an autistic main character written by an autistic author. I had high expectations for the representation, and I was not disappointed. One thing I noticed straight away was how much more detail Green went into regarding Piper’s neurodiversity compared to other books with characters who have autism spectrum disorder. Being neurodiverse is not the same as having a chronic health condition. It’s a completely different way of thinking and feeling, and I felt that in every part of Piper’s narration. From talking about how sticky things feel on her skin, to eating certain textures and flavours, and to expressing why social situations and communication are difficult, Green covers a wide array of autistic representation without information dumping.
The story is interesting as well, offering a new spin on the Tuatha Dé danann and Irish mythology. Sailing in the Sky is a book that comes under multiple genres and was a fun read. I adored the adorable Flutterwing and the scenes with Flutter and Piper were wonderful, they balanced out the darker aspects of the book very well.
It does include the teenager dating an immortal trope, however, as MacLir is an immortal. I have mixed feelings about this trope, and found it less predatory in this book as the immortal is not a vampire. Instead, it felt that someone with a much wider view of the universe was able to connect with Piper more than someone with a mortal perspective. For those who are concerned about this trope, see below my spoiler cut:
The trope doesn’t last for very long and is not relevant by the end of the book. You’ll need to read the book to know more.
Sailing in the Sky is a great fantasy mystery based on Irish mythology, and it’s a fantastic book for anyone looking for authentic neurodivergent representation. I highly recommend checking this one out. I’m definitely looking forward to following more of Piper’s story in book two of the Wave Sweeper Trilogy!
Content Warnings
jadereadsbooksss's review
5.0
Huge thanks to the author and publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I was completely immersed in Sailing in the Sky. It is a beautiful book following Piper, a seventeen year old girl with autism who finds herself surrounded by Celtic mythical creatures and gods. I found Piper to a be very relatable character and I loved the romance, it was absolutely adorable. I also found myself liking (or at least understanding) almost every single character and I’m so excited to see what Starr Green has in store for the next two books!
I was completely immersed in Sailing in the Sky. It is a beautiful book following Piper, a seventeen year old girl with autism who finds herself surrounded by Celtic mythical creatures and gods. I found Piper to a be very relatable character and I loved the romance, it was absolutely adorable. I also found myself liking (or at least understanding) almost every single character and I’m so excited to see what Starr Green has in store for the next two books!
annarella's review
5.0
A well written, poignant, and compelling fantasy that kept me hooked. I loved this story, the excellent world building, and Piper.
Excellent storytelling and character development.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher or this ARC, all opinions are mine
Excellent storytelling and character development.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher or this ARC, all opinions are mine
theythemreads's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
I enjoyed it a lot. The characters are cool and it is really fast paced and easy to get into so perfect for getting out of a reading slump. Bonus points for amazing Autism representation and interesting Mythology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Minor: Violence
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