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![Steal the Sky [Dramatized Adaptation] by Megan E. O'Keefe](https://cdn.thestorygraph.com/dpb255twz8h46upq4fh4ajagkvxt)
3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
Interesting world with interesting characters but the pace was just too slow for me.
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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars
The characters are definitely the highlight in this book, and almost outshine the actual story. The worldbuilding is a really creative desert-steampunk that felt completely different.
The characters are definitely the highlight in this book, and almost outshine the actual story. The worldbuilding is a really creative desert-steampunk that felt completely different.
DNF
(approx) PG 60
So, before I get into talking about this book, I'm going to give you a little background. This book has been on my to-read shelf here for over three years. I do not remember what drew me to the book. It could have been the steampunk. It could have been heist-esque story in the synopsis. (The synopsis that is really drastically different than the book itself.) The fact is, though, I just don't remember. It has survived several list cleanings, but it never graduated to a 'buy' book.
Now, for the past year and a half or so, my disposable income has been severely reduced for multiple reasons. That means I've been buying fewer books, which means when I do spend my hard earned cash on a book, it must be certain to like it. It also means that, until the past couple weeks, I've been reading less. The change during the past couple weeks has been my rediscovery of the library and my shock at them having many books - even many of the niche books - that I've been wanting to read.
Much to my own shock, my library system did have this book available, but only as an audiobook. I'm not the biggest fan of audiobooks, but I've listened to several that were plain awesome so I figured I'd give this a go while working on some mindless computer tasks.
This book does, actually, show a lot of potential. The world building is good, having some great ideas. Mechanically, the writing is sound. I would be slightly curious to read later work by this author, after she settles into creating characters and dialogue - because that's where it falls down for me.
In the first chapter, we only have two characters and everything between these two characters feels so stilted. The dialogue sounds very odd, it doesn't flow well. This is not helped at all by the narrator, who reads the book like he was told emote constantly, having the most overblown tone imaginable.
The voice for the main guy I personally find very grating, as well as the little I get of his personality. This is just, over all, something that is not going to work for me, and there's no reason for me to bother with something that frustrates me this much.
(Rather unfortunately, all my library has is the Scorched Continent series and that only in audiobook, so I will likely never be back to this author.)
(approx) PG 60
So, before I get into talking about this book, I'm going to give you a little background. This book has been on my to-read shelf here for over three years. I do not remember what drew me to the book. It could have been the steampunk. It could have been heist-esque story in the synopsis. (The synopsis that is really drastically different than the book itself.) The fact is, though, I just don't remember. It has survived several list cleanings, but it never graduated to a 'buy' book.
Now, for the past year and a half or so, my disposable income has been severely reduced for multiple reasons. That means I've been buying fewer books, which means when I do spend my hard earned cash on a book, it must be certain to like it. It also means that, until the past couple weeks, I've been reading less. The change during the past couple weeks has been my rediscovery of the library and my shock at them having many books - even many of the niche books - that I've been wanting to read.
Much to my own shock, my library system did have this book available, but only as an audiobook. I'm not the biggest fan of audiobooks, but I've listened to several that were plain awesome so I figured I'd give this a go while working on some mindless computer tasks.
This book does, actually, show a lot of potential. The world building is good, having some great ideas. Mechanically, the writing is sound. I would be slightly curious to read later work by this author, after she settles into creating characters and dialogue - because that's where it falls down for me.
In the first chapter, we only have two characters and everything between these two characters feels so stilted. The dialogue sounds very odd, it doesn't flow well. This is not helped at all by the narrator, who reads the book like he was told emote constantly, having the most overblown tone imaginable.
The voice for the main guy I personally find very grating, as well as the little I get of his personality. This is just, over all, something that is not going to work for me, and there's no reason for me to bother with something that frustrates me this much.
(Rather unfortunately, all my library has is the Scorched Continent series and that only in audiobook, so I will likely never be back to this author.)
A very difficult book to review and rate. The author starts the book almost in media res. The characters are fully developed and you are dumped right in the middle of these characters, characters who share a fair bit of history and an overall setting that also bears scars of the past and a barely concealed animosity and fear towards what the future represents.
Into this cauldron step our leading pair, a pair of crooks, looking for a ride out from a city that is on the edge given a high profile murder and the presence of a ruthless bloodthirsty commodore who wants to win an election to take over the city.
On first observation, they seems to be a riff on Locke and Jean given the camaraderie, bond and humor they share but thats kind of where the book diverges from Lynch's effort and where my fundamental issue with the book lies. The book quite didnt make up its mind of what it wants to be, whether it wants characters to be quippy and bantery or whether it wants to be a dark book and this results in a fair bit of inconsistency in the tone of the book, which nonetheless manages to super spiffy and pacey. Definitely is a promising start and given the hints of the world-building and repercussions of the actions of this book, book 2 should be worth waiting for
Into this cauldron step our leading pair, a pair of crooks, looking for a ride out from a city that is on the edge given a high profile murder and the presence of a ruthless bloodthirsty commodore who wants to win an election to take over the city.
On first observation, they seems to be a riff on Locke and Jean given the camaraderie, bond and humor they share but thats kind of where the book diverges from Lynch's effort and where my fundamental issue with the book lies. The book quite didnt make up its mind of what it wants to be, whether it wants characters to be quippy and bantery or whether it wants to be a dark book and this results in a fair bit of inconsistency in the tone of the book, which nonetheless manages to super spiffy and pacey. Definitely is a promising start and given the hints of the world-building and repercussions of the actions of this book, book 2 should be worth waiting for
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting start, then found the book dragged till I got 1/3rd of the way in. Then, stuff started happening. I kept getting confused about locations the characters were in, and couldn't understand why Thratia just kept Tibal and Dentan unconfined in her compound, or her ship, or somewhere. See what I mean? I couldn't get the locations straight.
Liked Tibal and Ripka. Frequently found myself a little irritated by Dentan. Liked that Pelkaia was so mono-focussed, and totally didn't seem to care about the implications of her actions--this is normally what one will find with male, vengeance-seeking characters, not women. And Thratia--not one redeeming quality about her. gain, refreshing to see in a female character.
Liked Tibal and Ripka. Frequently found myself a little irritated by Dentan. Liked that Pelkaia was so mono-focussed, and totally didn't seem to care about the implications of her actions--this is normally what one will find with male, vengeance-seeking characters, not women. And Thratia--not one redeeming quality about her. gain, refreshing to see in a female character.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated