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kaa's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the first book, but in this one the characters spent too much of this book plotting , and I never felt like I really knew what they were actually trying to do or what it was supposed to accomplish for them. I also didn't appreciate the way the book ended, which felt jarring and also lacking sufficient explanation. Overall, it was pretty clear that this was a transitional middle book, and maybe I was just cranky and stressed this week, but I didn't particularly enjoy it.
Spoiler
and having their plots foiledSpoiler
Personally, I wasn't bothered by not knowing how the world got the way it was, so long as the worldbuilding was internally consistent. Revealing such a massive new element so close to the end of the book made the rest of the book seem sort of pointless, especially since there wasn't any good foreshadowing and it was weird enough that you couldn't anticipate it, nor did it really explain that much about the history and context of this world.sailfin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
There are a lot of things Wilde does right with Cloudbound. For one, the first couple of chapters serve as a nice summary of what happened in Updraft, the first book in this trilogy, which is useful, since I last read that book over a year ago. Like that book, Cloudbound also wraps the story around some fascinating ideas and themes, which help to elevate what is, to me, a mediocre story, to something a little more interesting.
The book picks up a few months after the events of Updraft, and this time Wilde shifts the narration from Kirit to Nat, one of her oldest friends who wound up fighting her to help save the towers. To say their relationship is strained is being generous; there's a tremendous loss of trust between the two, and it drives their characters for the bulk of the book. Unfortunately, the characters didn't spring to life for me. Kirit is mostly a background character, with the focus shifting back to the troubles between the Spire and the towers, neither to which she belongs. She's an outcast, despite her role in bringing the corruption to the towers' attention, so she gets very little page-time in the book.
I don't find fault with Wilde shifting attention from one character to another. There are a lot of people in her Bone Universe, and it helps broaden the universe to show that it takes more than one hero to keep that world going. It's just that none of the other characters are as interesting as Kirit. She does a good job of creating a diverse cast of characters, and gives them proper motivations, but I couldn't get interested in them.
The other weird thing about the story is that it ought to have engaged me. Plot-wise, it was interesting, and expanded on what the Bone Universe is, but somehow I felt disconnected with it all. It reminded me a lot of the Craft Sequence, in that the narrative itself couldn't engage me, despite the wealth of great ideas within. I also noticed how Wilde uses sentence fragments a lot, I'm guessing for effect. Or because she felt it provided a narrative punch. (Yes, that's my attempt to show how she was using them.) For me, they were more distracting than anything else.
I'm not sure if reading Updraft would have made me more aware of these issues, since I listened to the audio production for that book. I get the feeling the sentence fragments would have been less obvious, but I'm not sure about the rest. I do know that I remember pieces of Updraft fairly vividly; time will tell if Cloudbound will stay with me as well.
As I was reading this book, I figured I might have been done with the series, but then she went and ended the story the way she did, and I get the feeling I'll be back around for book three. I know it's already out, but the stories didn't strike me as good enough to buy the books in hardcover, so I'll likely wait until the paperback is released to get caught up. If my library carried a copy, I'd get it from there, but as it is, I don't mind waiting. I have a lot of other books I'm more interested in reading right now, anyway.
The book picks up a few months after the events of Updraft, and this time Wilde shifts the narration from Kirit to Nat, one of her oldest friends who wound up fighting her to help save the towers. To say their relationship is strained is being generous; there's a tremendous loss of trust between the two, and it drives their characters for the bulk of the book. Unfortunately, the characters didn't spring to life for me. Kirit is mostly a background character, with the focus shifting back to the troubles between the Spire and the towers, neither to which she belongs. She's an outcast, despite her role in bringing the corruption to the towers' attention, so she gets very little page-time in the book.
I don't find fault with Wilde shifting attention from one character to another. There are a lot of people in her Bone Universe, and it helps broaden the universe to show that it takes more than one hero to keep that world going. It's just that none of the other characters are as interesting as Kirit. She does a good job of creating a diverse cast of characters, and gives them proper motivations, but I couldn't get interested in them.
The other weird thing about the story is that it ought to have engaged me. Plot-wise, it was interesting, and expanded on what the Bone Universe is, but somehow I felt disconnected with it all. It reminded me a lot of the Craft Sequence, in that the narrative itself couldn't engage me, despite the wealth of great ideas within. I also noticed how Wilde uses sentence fragments a lot, I'm guessing for effect. Or because she felt it provided a narrative punch. (Yes, that's my attempt to show how she was using them.) For me, they were more distracting than anything else.
I'm not sure if reading Updraft would have made me more aware of these issues, since I listened to the audio production for that book. I get the feeling the sentence fragments would have been less obvious, but I'm not sure about the rest. I do know that I remember pieces of Updraft fairly vividly; time will tell if Cloudbound will stay with me as well.
As I was reading this book, I figured I might have been done with the series, but then she went and ended the story the way she did, and I get the feeling I'll be back around for book three. I know it's already out, but the stories didn't strike me as good enough to buy the books in hardcover, so I'll likely wait until the paperback is released to get caught up. If my library carried a copy, I'd get it from there, but as it is, I don't mind waiting. I have a lot of other books I'm more interested in reading right now, anyway.
neelix's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
detailsandtales's review against another edition
4.0
This book continued the exploration of a fascinating world, and gave the perspective of a different character. I didn't like how the protagonist didn't see he was being manipulated at first, and I also found the descriptions of the setting at the end of the story confusing. Still, I intend to read the conclusion of the trilogy because I have been led to care about these characters.
crownoflaurel's review against another edition
2.0
So, it's been a while since I read the first book, but I do not remember having such a hard time getting through it. Maybe it's the narrative style of this book's POV character, but I really struggled making sense of it. I think there was way too much of the character processing info, constantly repeating things, but not stuff that clarified anything... the action made very little sense and was over almost immediately? It was very jittery. If I didn't already have the third in hand from the library, I might have given up.
sleeping_while_awake's review against another edition
3.0
I preferred Cloudbound to its predecessor Updraft. I also preferred Nate as a main character, compared to Kirit, as Nate tries to view things at the larger level, rather than taking everything personally. Kirit puts others in danger rather consistently.
In Cloudbound, now that the Singers have left a power vacuum, others are scrambling to fill it. There is a Council that is trying to do right, however, they don't have strong leadership and there are disagreements. One of Nate's mentors, Doran, is attempting to seize power, with harsh restrictions against the Singers and fledglings. As the plot progresses, it's clear that there is someone else making a power grab that is far worse than Doran.
Nate and Kirit venture down to the clouds to investigate some mysterious occurrences, and they become entangled in the power plays. It's basically Nate, Kirit, and a bunch of their friends hiding out in the clouds (still far from the ground), trying to come up with a way to reveal bad things happening to all the people without making themselves look like the bad guys.
By the end of the book, there is some reveal about the world, so if you were really wanting to know what the bone towers are, you'll find out. Although there are still many surrounding questions left to answer.
It's hard not to give a summary without spoiling. Wilde does not give any sort of recap from the previous book so it took me about 100 pages in before I felt comfortable and understood what the heck was going on in the plot. After that it was engaging, but prior it had a hard time keeping my engagement.
The plot seemed more mature to me. Probably because there's no learning and school element at this point. Even the younger kids are having to deal with adult decisions. It does take a dark element on when people are threatening to throw people off the towers to their deaths.
There was a nice mix of action and dialogue that hit its stride around page 100. Definitely a lot of flying and fighting. The ending really left me hanging for the next book. I need to understand this world!! So much mystery, I have so many questions
In Cloudbound, now that the Singers have left a power vacuum, others are scrambling to fill it. There is a Council that is trying to do right, however, they don't have strong leadership and there are disagreements. One of Nate's mentors, Doran, is attempting to seize power, with harsh restrictions against the Singers and fledglings. As the plot progresses, it's clear that there is someone else making a power grab that is far worse than Doran.
Nate and Kirit venture down to the clouds to investigate some mysterious occurrences, and they become entangled in the power plays. It's basically Nate, Kirit, and a bunch of their friends hiding out in the clouds (still far from the ground), trying to come up with a way to reveal bad things happening to all the people without making themselves look like the bad guys.
By the end of the book, there is some reveal about the world, so if you were really wanting to know what the bone towers are, you'll find out. Although there are still many surrounding questions left to answer.
It's hard not to give a summary without spoiling. Wilde does not give any sort of recap from the previous book so it took me about 100 pages in before I felt comfortable and understood what the heck was going on in the plot. After that it was engaging, but prior it had a hard time keeping my engagement.
The plot seemed more mature to me. Probably because there's no learning and school element at this point. Even the younger kids are having to deal with adult decisions. It does take a dark element on when people are threatening to throw people off the towers to their deaths.
There was a nice mix of action and dialogue that hit its stride around page 100. Definitely a lot of flying and fighting. The ending really left me hanging for the next book. I need to understand this world!! So much mystery, I have so many questions
Spoiler
Why would taking residence in what is essentially a horn growing out of an animal be a good idea? How could this knowledge be lost? Were are those adventurers who need to see what's out there? So many questions...mike_no1's review
2.0
It’s so boring compared to the first book. Relying on petty politics for plot didn’t work for Lucas either.
robynldouglas's review against another edition
4.0
Right. This was an interesting sequel to Updraft, that continued to build the world in a deep and well-thought out way. However, it was also just not a good audio book for me - the plot was complex, there's a ton of description, and, to top it off, I had an irrational dislike of the narrator's voice. So, yeah. It took me 8 months to finish!!!! I have a feeling that if I had picked it up in print I would have devoured it in several days....Oh well!
mariahaskins's review against another edition
5.0
This is a brilliant sequel to Fran Wilde's 'Updraft', and continues the story of the Bone Universe. It's told from Nat's point of view rather than Kirit's this time, and takes us straight into the political struggle and maneuvering going on right after the dramatic finale of 'Updraft'.
'Cloudbound' is well-written, fast-paced and emotionally engaging from the first sentence to the last: everything is put in jeopardy here: Nat and Kirit's lives, their families, and the fate of the city itself. It's an often gut-wrenching and heartbreaking read, that left me gasping for breath as Nat discovers a lot more about the city than he ever knew before.
The last few chapters and the ending... well, now... I just had my mind blown (my jaw literally dropped). I won't give anything away, but suffice it to say that I cannot wait for the third installment in this series.
'Cloudbound' is well-written, fast-paced and emotionally engaging from the first sentence to the last: everything is put in jeopardy here: Nat and Kirit's lives, their families, and the fate of the city itself. It's an often gut-wrenching and heartbreaking read, that left me gasping for breath as Nat discovers a lot more about the city than he ever knew before.
The last few chapters and the ending... well, now... I just had my mind blown (my jaw literally dropped). I won't give anything away, but suffice it to say that I cannot wait for the third installment in this series.