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achay91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Minor: Grief
guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic
artmuseam's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
currently struggling to find the right words to describe this breathtaking, action-packed story. i’ve always been a fan of marie lu’s works and how they keep you reading until you’ve reached the end of the novel. i was introduced to a world that made me fall in love with all the characters and the ways they worked together to fight against monsters that i pitied rather than hated. this book kept me at the edge of my seat until the very end and i can’t wait to start the next one! 10/10 recommend
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, War, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Death, Classism, and Cursing
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, War, Ableism, Death of parent, Violence, and Blood
anaguana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Ableism, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Grief, and Gun violence
meg_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a fun read, but nothing too exciting or that stood out from many other sci fi fantasy novels in the YA category. I definitely enjoyed the unique dynamic and relationship between our two main characters because I really enjoy those "soulmate" type bonds and relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
mazomazli's review
adventurous
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? Yes
4.75
This was really good! If you like Skyward (by Brandon Sanderson) and Attack on Titan then it’s a great mix of both? The setting is very interesting and I loved all of the characters including the big bad. There’s good diversity here with a mute protagonist, POC, and LGBT characters. I found the portrayal of an abused character as very realistic and respectful as a survivor myself. I appreciate how it showed the complicated feelings and friends’ reactions that come with it, even though it was a side character’s experiences. I totally recommend this and if you like audiobooks the narrator was awesome! She did a great job with all of the voices and accents which really brought it to life. I can’t wait for the next books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma
nebraskanwriter's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-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
3.0
Lu’s story takes us into a dystopian world of Mara, the last country free of the Karensa Federation’s clutches who has slowly taken over the whole island that they live on. Mara is just barely holding on to its freedom, save for the Strikers that our main character, Talin, is a part of. The Strikers are a task force of elite fighters fighting to keep Mara safe from the Ghosts (ghoulish experiments that the Karensa government sicks on their enemies) and from the Karensa Federation. Without the Strikers, Mara would have fallen long ago. When a man from the Karensa military is captured and brought before the Strikers to be put to death, no one could have imagined the events that will unfold and how Talin’s life and all of Mara will be forever changed.
•
This book was so good! I was enraptured by Talin’s story from the very beginning. A girl who is treated like dirt by the country she lives in because she is a refugee yet she still fights to protect it was a beautiful theme to explore and I am sure many people out there have felt that way being a refugee in a new country. Another thing that I loved was that in order to be as stealthy as possible, the Strikers were all taught sign. Talin cannot speak and so she signs the entire novel and I love that Lu brought that representation into this story. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020! Also, are these not the most beautiful book covers you have ever seen?
•
I would recommend this story to: those who want more representation and more diverse characters in the books they read, like dystopian novels, enjoy action packed scenes, underdog storylines and books centering around strong friendships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Torture, and Violence
quiggle's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, and Grief
plumpaperbacks's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Skyhunter is one of my favorite books of 2020, and of all time. I went in unsure exactly what to expect, as I’ve had varied opinions on Lu’s previous novels. I firmly believe this is her best book yet.
The prologue intrigued me, and there’s action and more intrigue immediately. I was emotionally invested before the first chapter ended. The whole book is intense and exciting, nerve-wracking and heartbreaking.
I loved the characters so much. Talin, Red, Adena, and Jeran are brilliant and complex, and I love the four of them. I especially love Talin and Red, who are both resilient and strong and in need of a hug. The former’s determination was admirable, and the latter is a warrior that’s soft on the inside, aka one of my favorite kinds of characters. I liked them individually and together, although there’s no romance; I’m referring to their friendship and how they work together.
Lu has always excelled at writing close-knit groups, and this was no exception. Talin, Adena, and Jeran have a great dynamic, and I enjoyed seeing Red slowly become part of their group despite everyone’s prejudices and doubts.
Lu is also phenomenal with world-building, as is evident in all three of her prior series and now this new one as well. Skyhunter’s story is set in a futuristic world full of ruins of the Early Ones’ civilization, now occupied mostly by the Federation, a cruel, power-hungry empire. The only free country on the continent is Mara, a small, struggling nation the Federation is eager to conquer. It was set up and explained so well, interesting and new and never confusing.
The world is intricate, full of things good and bad, and the worst is the Ghosts. The Federation poisons people with a substance that contorts and transforms them into unrecognizable beasts, then unleashes the feral creatures onto enemy territory.Well, there’s one thing worse than the Ghosts, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what that is.
I had to read most of this quickly in order to finish it in time to return the ebook to the library, but I think I would’ve devoured it all the same even if I had all the time in the world. I was fascinated by the world and characters Lu created, and when I wasn’t reading, Talin and company were still on my mind.
I know for sure three things I’ll be doing:
The prologue intrigued me, and there’s action and more intrigue immediately. I was emotionally invested before the first chapter ended. The whole book is intense and exciting, nerve-wracking and heartbreaking.
I loved the characters so much. Talin, Red, Adena, and Jeran are brilliant and complex, and I love the four of them. I especially love Talin and Red, who are both resilient and strong and in need of a hug. The former’s determination was admirable, and the latter is a warrior that’s soft on the inside, aka one of my favorite kinds of characters. I liked them individually and together, although there’s no romance; I’m referring to their friendship and how they work together.
Lu has always excelled at writing close-knit groups, and this was no exception. Talin, Adena, and Jeran have a great dynamic, and I enjoyed seeing Red slowly become part of their group despite everyone’s prejudices and doubts.
Lu is also phenomenal with world-building, as is evident in all three of her prior series and now this new one as well. Skyhunter’s story is set in a futuristic world full of ruins of the Early Ones’ civilization, now occupied mostly by the Federation, a cruel, power-hungry empire. The only free country on the continent is Mara, a small, struggling nation the Federation is eager to conquer. It was set up and explained so well, interesting and new and never confusing.
The world is intricate, full of things good and bad, and the worst is the Ghosts. The Federation poisons people with a substance that contorts and transforms them into unrecognizable beasts, then unleashes the feral creatures onto enemy territory.
I know for sure three things I’ll be doing:
- buying my own copy of this book
- recommending this book to everyone
- waiting eagerly for news of the sequel, and reading it as soon as it comes out
I’m excited and scared for the sequel. I want my babies to be okay, but I don’t think they will be. Lastly, I really hope that the sequel is as brilliant as this book, because so far I haven’t read a series conclusion from Lu that I truly loved. Fingers crossed Skyhunter 2 will be different, whenever it releases. Now go read Skyhunter, y’all!!
Representation:
- mute protagonist of color that communicates using sign language (I don’t think I’ve ever seen this in a book?!)
- some side characters of color
- two queer side characters (this isn’t evident until the last third of the book, and currently no romance has developed)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Body horror, Death, Grief, and Blood
Minor: Suicidal thoughts