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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
Recent Reads: Steal The Sky. Megan O'Keefe's fantasy drops a conman in the middle of a putsch, a semi-steampunk Flashman deconstruction.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this!
At the beginning I wasn't very invested in our main character (Detan Honding) as he initially comes across as yet another morally grey scoundrel who is from a noble family, and initially it was the world and the side characters that held my attention. However, while at the end he still fits this description he becomes a lot more likable as you see how far he is willing to go to help others. Refreshingly he is at times impressively incompetent and over relies on his ability to sweet talk people. His actions always have consequences (both serious and petty!) which is nice to see and really makes the rest of the cast feel more real.
The world-building is very interesting - a desert continent with a very slight where the gas 'Selium' is mined by people who are 'sel-sensitive' and are basically conscripted by the government. The Sel is then used for a myriad of purposes but primarily for the working of the flying ships (airships?) that make much of the trade in this world possible. There are also the tensions between the distant Valathean Empire which rules the scorched and depends upon the mining of Sel and the people actually living in the scorched as well as the oppressed indigenous people. The world feels very real and even the most innocuous details often turn out to be important which is very satisfying to read. Many Chekhov's guns are fired (though possibly not how you would expect and some you might not have realised were proverbial firearms in the first place!).
There are also some interesting mysteries surrounding the doppel mentioned in the book's description which kept me hooked. I've already started on the sequel and it's looking great so far!
I simply could not get into this book.
Original review at The Book Adventures
Original review at The Book Adventures
This was a fun book, but a fun book with a satisfying level of complexity and some great characters. I loved the tight focus of the story on three POV characters in one city, all involved in the same imbroglio. The setting is also inventive: a basic, frontier-style steampunk without the steam (or guns), where the magic extra-floaty gas* is central to everything. The only slight let-down is that with the frenetic pace and small cast bouncing off each other in a confined space, a few of the decisions and developments didn't quite make sense to me - perhaps because there wasn't much time to explain or absorb them - and there were perhaps a few too many cycles of escapade-twist-capture-escape.
But it's a lot of fun!
* This usually annoys me in steampunk, because you can't be lighter than hydrogen, and hydrogen isn't light enough, so we are talking magic here. This book basically acknowledges that.
But it's a lot of fun!
* This usually annoys me in steampunk, because you can't be lighter than hydrogen, and hydrogen isn't light enough, so we are talking magic here. This book basically acknowledges that.
A nice little steampunk-ish adventure/rogue story, but it lacks a certain spark. The obvious comparisons are to the Chris Wooding's Ketty Jay and Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards, but O'Keefe doesn't quite have Wooding's skill at psychological characterization or Lynch's ability to weave a mystery.
It's not a bad book, but it's not a great one either. It's just okay.
It's not a bad book, but it's not a great one either. It's just okay.
Detan Honding and his partner Tibal (“Tibs” to his friends) are rogues. They steal and swindle for a living, moving frequently from place to place on the Scorched Continent. To keep ahead of their victims, yes, but also for more important reasons. Just now they’re stuck in the city of Aransa with a busted flyer. When Detan tries to raise the needed funds, he finds himself hired to steal the airship Larkspur from its owner, former Imperial commodore Thratia.
Ripka is the city watch captain of Aransa, tasked with keeping the peace and punishing criminals. She’s wary of Thratia’s ambition to become warden of the city. While the Valathean Empire technically rules the Scorched Continent, Thratia may be trying to bring the city under direct Imperial control, which would mean more hardship for the selium miners the city’s economy is based on. Worse, the reason the warden’s chair is open is that someone, probably a shapeshifting doppler, murdered the previous warden. Ripka needs to track down this dangerous killer before they strike again.
Pelkaia is an illusionist; “doppler” is an Imperial word, and she considers it an insult. Aransa has taken the last of her children; she’s got a list of those responsible, and they must all die. And if a few other people die in the process, that might be okay with her. Pelkaia is missing a few vital pieces of information, however. Her vengeance may be misaimed, and that could cost all of Aransa dearly.
These people’s lives are about to collide as each of them attempts to achieve their own goals while thwarting the plans of those they consider enemies.
The Scorched Continent is an interesting fantasy setting. A large landmass in tropical latitudes, it suffered a massive geothermal event that turned it into a volcanic wasteland. As a result, the heat is oppressive even on a good day and much of the land is unable to grow more than scrub. However, the volcanoes are the only known source of selium, which is a buoyant gas (like helium) but is also psychically sensitive, being able to be moved and shaped by those who are “sel-sensitive.” Selium has many uses, including creating airships, so most of the major settlements on the Scorched Continent are near volcanoes so they can be mined.
And this has also affected the society they live in. Sel-sensitive people are in a minority, and anyone known to have some talent in that area is drafted into working with selium in some manner, regardless of the social status they were born into. The government “takes care” of them, but it takes permanent injury to be able to leave the job. Detan has faked the loss of his sel-sense because he has a deadly “deviant” talent. The Empire is rounding up any deviants for their researchers to experiment on, and he suffered enough the first time he fell into their hands.
The first comparison that comes to mind is the Locke Lamora books; I like the characters better in this one. There’s much less of a cynical cast to the personalities; most of these folks are acting for what they believe is a good cause and care for people outside their immediate circle. The villains are that way because they allow their personal ambitions to treat people who aren’t useful to them as expendable. Detan’s selfishness is less about pleasing himself than protecting others from his dangerous temper.
There are multiple tight viewpoints, so at any given point we only learn what the current point of view character knows about events. Detan, Ripka and Pelkaia swap out being the main protagonist, with one chapter near the end being from the viewpoint of a surprise character.
There’s a fair amount of violence, and Detan has medical torture in his backstory. Tibs has what appears to be post-traumatic stress disorder from his military service when the Empire solidified its hold over the Scorched Continent by suppressing the native Catari (of which Pelkaia is one.)
I found the world-building interesting, and there is already a sequel out. This book was enjoyable, and I recommend it to fantasy fans looking for something new.
Ripka is the city watch captain of Aransa, tasked with keeping the peace and punishing criminals. She’s wary of Thratia’s ambition to become warden of the city. While the Valathean Empire technically rules the Scorched Continent, Thratia may be trying to bring the city under direct Imperial control, which would mean more hardship for the selium miners the city’s economy is based on. Worse, the reason the warden’s chair is open is that someone, probably a shapeshifting doppler, murdered the previous warden. Ripka needs to track down this dangerous killer before they strike again.
Pelkaia is an illusionist; “doppler” is an Imperial word, and she considers it an insult. Aransa has taken the last of her children; she’s got a list of those responsible, and they must all die. And if a few other people die in the process, that might be okay with her. Pelkaia is missing a few vital pieces of information, however. Her vengeance may be misaimed, and that could cost all of Aransa dearly.
These people’s lives are about to collide as each of them attempts to achieve their own goals while thwarting the plans of those they consider enemies.
The Scorched Continent is an interesting fantasy setting. A large landmass in tropical latitudes, it suffered a massive geothermal event that turned it into a volcanic wasteland. As a result, the heat is oppressive even on a good day and much of the land is unable to grow more than scrub. However, the volcanoes are the only known source of selium, which is a buoyant gas (like helium) but is also psychically sensitive, being able to be moved and shaped by those who are “sel-sensitive.” Selium has many uses, including creating airships, so most of the major settlements on the Scorched Continent are near volcanoes so they can be mined.
And this has also affected the society they live in. Sel-sensitive people are in a minority, and anyone known to have some talent in that area is drafted into working with selium in some manner, regardless of the social status they were born into. The government “takes care” of them, but it takes permanent injury to be able to leave the job. Detan has faked the loss of his sel-sense because he has a deadly “deviant” talent. The Empire is rounding up any deviants for their researchers to experiment on, and he suffered enough the first time he fell into their hands.
The first comparison that comes to mind is the Locke Lamora books; I like the characters better in this one. There’s much less of a cynical cast to the personalities; most of these folks are acting for what they believe is a good cause and care for people outside their immediate circle. The villains are that way because they allow their personal ambitions to treat people who aren’t useful to them as expendable. Detan’s selfishness is less about pleasing himself than protecting others from his dangerous temper.
There are multiple tight viewpoints, so at any given point we only learn what the current point of view character knows about events. Detan, Ripka and Pelkaia swap out being the main protagonist, with one chapter near the end being from the viewpoint of a surprise character.
There’s a fair amount of violence, and Detan has medical torture in his backstory. Tibs has what appears to be post-traumatic stress disorder from his military service when the Empire solidified its hold over the Scorched Continent by suppressing the native Catari (of which Pelkaia is one.)
I found the world-building interesting, and there is already a sequel out. This book was enjoyable, and I recommend it to fantasy fans looking for something new.
Originally posted at Thoughts Stained With Ink:
** Copy of Steal the Sky by Megan E. O'Keefe gloriously given by Agent Sam Morgan of Jabberwocky Literary Agency in exchange for an honest review**
I did this book the greatest disservice I think you can do to a book: start it right in the middle of the holidays.
I began reading Steal the Sky on December 12th, 2016 (thanks go to Goodreads for the stats). I finished it on January 13th, 2017 (curses go to Goodreads for that realization). Sure, a month isn't really a long time to finish a book. Especially when you add in going home for Christmas plus New Years, trying to balance two jobs and getting a PS4 for Christmas and rapidly playing catch-up on all of your favorite games. But for me, a month, no matter if it is December or May, is a really long time to finish a book.
Especially a book of this caliber.
I can think of two main elements that made this book positively fantastic; made it to where I actually read a solid 250+ pages last weekend, thus proving how quickly I could have (and should have) devoured it, had I not given in to other delights; made it to where I just stalked O'Keefe's website AND SAW THE SECOND BOOK IS ALREADY OUT AND I'M TRYING NOT TO HAVE AN AUDIBLE FREAK OUT MOMENT BECAUSE I'M WORKING AT A LIBRARY AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE QUIET HERE.
Ahem.
The first aspect that clued me into knowing I was going to fall in love with this book was not just the characters themselves--which, honestly, would still be enough--but their interactions with one another. Detan and Tibs deserve to see their friendship portrayed on screen, simply so I can listen to their witty banter and see their hilarious facial-expression-exchanges somewhere else besides my head. They had me laughing from the start, pulled at my heartstrings on numerous occasions and from the very first page, felt so utterly natural; so real. Add in New Chum, Ripka Watch Captain (oh, I could write pages upon pages about the badassery and favoritism I feel towards Ripka Watch Captain), the dopple and the slew of other characters that you interact with in this creative, unique steampunk universe and my friend, you will be hooked. So utterly hooked.
Yet that wasn't even my favorite aspect of the book.
I know, right? How could I fall so in love with the characters, be so drawn into their relationships, be utterly convinced at their reality that my own moods were affected by what they were going through (particularly on the Black), and yet that isn't my favorite aspect of the book? What could possibly top that?
The details, friends. The details.
I grew up on Tolkien, so there isn't any surprise that I have a fondness for details (but details that matter, details that entice and excite me, unlike the pages of details I've been forced to suffer through in works by authors like Steinbeck). O'Keefe's work was special to me because I was constantly noticing the details, but not in an overbearing way. And in noticing them and being impressed with not only how they were written, but also what they were describing and how in-scene they brought me, I found myself craving more. I wanted paragraphs, page upon page, of detail. But, like I said, we weren't onslaughted with description and backstory and the inner workings of the mind. They were sprinkled in, expertly woven into the narrative to the point that you can't imagine reading this story without them.
Personally, I feel like that mastery--and risk--over detail is a lost art.
Technology has forced us to live life fast-paced, expecting everything instantly, where we just want to go, go, go. In talking with a lot of readers, I've found that many don't appreciate a solid paragraph or page of description like readers once did. In turn, I think authors and their books run the risk of choosing to cut those details or hell, not even writing them in the first place, trying to appease the shortened attention spans and increased need to keep moving without pause of modern day readers.
Yet not O'Keefe. Not Steal the Sky. We get into the nitty-gritty of the world. We are given the extra details. We are allowed to pause and soak it all in--and with so many elements incorporated into this novel, there is plenty to soak in; plenty that deserves our pause and attention. And though I can never know if O'Keefe was purposeful in how she used detail in her novel, if there was any ulterior motive in being a more descriptive writer (in my opinion) or if she just writes this brilliantly naturally, I am so thankful for it. I am so thankful for the reminder that detail can be incorporated and it can be enjoyed and written in ways that make you smile, nod your head or cringe.
Detail is the biggest reason why I would label Steal the Sky as utterly refreshing.
Notice how I gave you no examples of what I was talking about above? No witty banter exchanges between Detan and Tibs? No paragraph showing exactly what I mean by expertly inserted and gloriously refreshing detail? I can't know O'Keefe's inspiration or process (but damn if I wouldn't love to find out), but I do know my own and I'm not afraid to admit that I purposefully left any examples out, upping your curiosity and causing an itch for you to know exactly what I'm talking about; an itch that can only be sated by procuring a copy of Steal the Sky yourself. If my not-so-cleverly-disguised-or-executed tactic didn't work, then you should just take my word for it and hop on down to the library. This is a writer--and a series--you are not going to want to miss.
Read on!
PS: Biggest missed opportunity of the year last year? O'Keefe was at WorldCon last year and I distinctly remember seeing her standing across from me in this epic writers circle I'm still baffled that I somehow was standing in the shadows of...and I didn't say hello. I'm still pissed at myself for it, especially now that I've read her work and just want to nerd out/fangirl with her about it. UGH.
** Copy of Steal the Sky by Megan E. O'Keefe gloriously given by Agent Sam Morgan of Jabberwocky Literary Agency in exchange for an honest review**
I did this book the greatest disservice I think you can do to a book: start it right in the middle of the holidays.
I began reading Steal the Sky on December 12th, 2016 (thanks go to Goodreads for the stats). I finished it on January 13th, 2017 (curses go to Goodreads for that realization). Sure, a month isn't really a long time to finish a book. Especially when you add in going home for Christmas plus New Years, trying to balance two jobs and getting a PS4 for Christmas and rapidly playing catch-up on all of your favorite games. But for me, a month, no matter if it is December or May, is a really long time to finish a book.
Especially a book of this caliber.
I can think of two main elements that made this book positively fantastic; made it to where I actually read a solid 250+ pages last weekend, thus proving how quickly I could have (and should have) devoured it, had I not given in to other delights; made it to where I just stalked O'Keefe's website AND SAW THE SECOND BOOK IS ALREADY OUT AND I'M TRYING NOT TO HAVE AN AUDIBLE FREAK OUT MOMENT BECAUSE I'M WORKING AT A LIBRARY AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE QUIET HERE.
Ahem.
The first aspect that clued me into knowing I was going to fall in love with this book was not just the characters themselves--which, honestly, would still be enough--but their interactions with one another. Detan and Tibs deserve to see their friendship portrayed on screen, simply so I can listen to their witty banter and see their hilarious facial-expression-exchanges somewhere else besides my head. They had me laughing from the start, pulled at my heartstrings on numerous occasions and from the very first page, felt so utterly natural; so real. Add in New Chum, Ripka Watch Captain (oh, I could write pages upon pages about the badassery and favoritism I feel towards Ripka Watch Captain), the dopple and the slew of other characters that you interact with in this creative, unique steampunk universe and my friend, you will be hooked. So utterly hooked.
Yet that wasn't even my favorite aspect of the book.
I know, right? How could I fall so in love with the characters, be so drawn into their relationships, be utterly convinced at their reality that my own moods were affected by what they were going through (particularly on the Black), and yet that isn't my favorite aspect of the book? What could possibly top that?
The details, friends. The details.
I grew up on Tolkien, so there isn't any surprise that I have a fondness for details (but details that matter, details that entice and excite me, unlike the pages of details I've been forced to suffer through in works by authors like Steinbeck). O'Keefe's work was special to me because I was constantly noticing the details, but not in an overbearing way. And in noticing them and being impressed with not only how they were written, but also what they were describing and how in-scene they brought me, I found myself craving more. I wanted paragraphs, page upon page, of detail. But, like I said, we weren't onslaughted with description and backstory and the inner workings of the mind. They were sprinkled in, expertly woven into the narrative to the point that you can't imagine reading this story without them.
Personally, I feel like that mastery--and risk--over detail is a lost art.
Technology has forced us to live life fast-paced, expecting everything instantly, where we just want to go, go, go. In talking with a lot of readers, I've found that many don't appreciate a solid paragraph or page of description like readers once did. In turn, I think authors and their books run the risk of choosing to cut those details or hell, not even writing them in the first place, trying to appease the shortened attention spans and increased need to keep moving without pause of modern day readers.
Yet not O'Keefe. Not Steal the Sky. We get into the nitty-gritty of the world. We are given the extra details. We are allowed to pause and soak it all in--and with so many elements incorporated into this novel, there is plenty to soak in; plenty that deserves our pause and attention. And though I can never know if O'Keefe was purposeful in how she used detail in her novel, if there was any ulterior motive in being a more descriptive writer (in my opinion) or if she just writes this brilliantly naturally, I am so thankful for it. I am so thankful for the reminder that detail can be incorporated and it can be enjoyed and written in ways that make you smile, nod your head or cringe.
Detail is the biggest reason why I would label Steal the Sky as utterly refreshing.
Notice how I gave you no examples of what I was talking about above? No witty banter exchanges between Detan and Tibs? No paragraph showing exactly what I mean by expertly inserted and gloriously refreshing detail? I can't know O'Keefe's inspiration or process (but damn if I wouldn't love to find out), but I do know my own and I'm not afraid to admit that I purposefully left any examples out, upping your curiosity and causing an itch for you to know exactly what I'm talking about; an itch that can only be sated by procuring a copy of Steal the Sky yourself. If my not-so-cleverly-disguised-or-executed tactic didn't work, then you should just take my word for it and hop on down to the library. This is a writer--and a series--you are not going to want to miss.
Read on!
PS: Biggest missed opportunity of the year last year? O'Keefe was at WorldCon last year and I distinctly remember seeing her standing across from me in this epic writers circle I'm still baffled that I somehow was standing in the shadows of...and I didn't say hello. I'm still pissed at myself for it, especially now that I've read her work and just want to nerd out/fangirl with her about it. UGH.