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ncholmes2022's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was okay. I had higher hopes for it based on other reviews.
The flight school and the training to defend against aliens was a unique idea.
I did see character development in several main characters.
There were more battle scenes than I typically enjoy.
The dialgoue was often cheesy, but that can be forgiven for teenage characters, because I was cheesy at that age too.
The biggest problem for me was the bad grammar. This book badly needed editing.
I will not be continuing the series.
The flight school and the training to defend against aliens was a unique idea.
I did see character development in several main characters.
There were more battle scenes than I typically enjoy.
The dialgoue was often cheesy, but that can be forgiven for teenage characters, because I was cheesy at that age too.
The biggest problem for me was the bad grammar. This book badly needed editing.
I will not be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Death of parent
xvicesx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
I don't know how I feel about this. I enjoyed it, but I was also able to put it away for weeks without feeling a desperate need to get back to it.
The characters are very interesting, and realistically done, with motives that explain their behaviour even when they're being particularly nasty. Even the baddies eventually get reasonably balanced by the end of it all.
I enjoyed it, but I have no clue how I feel about it and whether I'll pick up future books from the series.
The characters are very interesting, and realistically done, with motives that explain their behaviour even when they're being particularly nasty. Even the baddies eventually get reasonably balanced by the end of it all.
I enjoyed it, but I have no clue how I feel about it and whether I'll pick up future books from the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
akswhy's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
A flawless sci-fi novel. Excellent balance of humor and high stakes with well-paced reveals and rounded characters. I am already itching to read book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
allisonsmith120's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and War
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Classism
steven_v's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, and Mental illness
robotnik's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
5.0
First off, a big thank you to my friend, Kesha, for having bought me a copy of this book and introducing me to this series! You're the best!
I'm not the biggest science fiction reader. It's weird because I can watch a lot of sci-fi movies or play a lot of sci-fi games and be immersed for hours, but I have a hard time finding sci-fi books to read that I actually enjoy. They either start off slow with their infodumping of techno-babble terms or start off quick with their techn0-babble dumping that, more often than not, sound stupid rather than good world building.
Skyward starts off quickly and it kept going, slowing down only when necessary but never dragging on in the process. It was perfectly paced for me, both with the plot progression and the information that was given to us to never feel like we just had a text book on the most boring historical events known to space dropped on our heads while nothing happens in the story. That, for me, was the perfect amount I needed to be engaged in a science fiction story.
Skyward does not start with the most unique of storylines. Humanity isn't what it used to be. They're at odds with some sort of not human force (in this case, the Krell, who are apparently aliens) and they may win battles but they're losing the war. To try and keep up with their efforts of the combating the Krell, they train children young to fight as pilots, and the best of the best graduate and take to the battle. It's pretty basic as far as human vs non-human plotlines go, but that never stops it from doing it in the best way possible. In a way, it's an amazing example of how there's no original ideas but there are original executions.
Spensa is not a likable protagonist, but not in the way that I normally gripe about unlikable protagonists. If I went to class with her, she would annoy the ever living shit out of me and I would likely, more than once, contemplate shoving her down the staircase. But as a character? Spensa is fantastic. She exhibits traits that come across as obnoxious and annoying to read about in other main characters, but she's written well enough to still make her compelling rather than a waste of space. And I love that about her. I think a lot of young adult writers with their spunky rebellious female main characters should take some notes from Mr. Sanderson because Spensa would pilot circles around all of them and still have time to go hang out with Doomslug.
Also, Doomslug.
The climax to this book was great too. We know something's being set up for that plot twist at the end and I ran through several possibilities the closer we got to the build-up. I was not disappointed in the reveal at the end, not in the least. I want to know what they do now. I gotta know. And that's what a great ending is supposed to make you want.
I'm not the biggest science fiction reader. It's weird because I can watch a lot of sci-fi movies or play a lot of sci-fi games and be immersed for hours, but I have a hard time finding sci-fi books to read that I actually enjoy. They either start off slow with their infodumping of techno-babble terms or start off quick with their techn0-babble dumping that, more often than not, sound stupid rather than good world building.
Skyward starts off quickly and it kept going, slowing down only when necessary but never dragging on in the process. It was perfectly paced for me, both with the plot progression and the information that was given to us to never feel like we just had a text book on the most boring historical events known to space dropped on our heads while nothing happens in the story. That, for me, was the perfect amount I needed to be engaged in a science fiction story.
Skyward does not start with the most unique of storylines. Humanity isn't what it used to be. They're at odds with some sort of not human force (in this case, the Krell, who are apparently aliens) and they may win battles but they're losing the war. To try and keep up with their efforts of the combating the Krell, they train children young to fight as pilots, and the best of the best graduate and take to the battle. It's pretty basic as far as human vs non-human plotlines go, but that never stops it from doing it in the best way possible. In a way, it's an amazing example of how there's no original ideas but there are original executions.
Spensa is not a likable protagonist, but not in the way that I normally gripe about unlikable protagonists. If I went to class with her, she would annoy the ever living shit out of me and I would likely, more than once, contemplate shoving her down the staircase. But as a character? Spensa is fantastic. She exhibits traits that come across as obnoxious and annoying to read about in other main characters, but she's written well enough to still make her compelling rather than a waste of space. And I love that about her. I think a lot of young adult writers with their spunky rebellious female main characters should take some notes from Mr. Sanderson because Spensa would pilot circles around all of them and still have time to go hang out with Doomslug.
Also, Doomslug.
The climax to this book was great too. We know something's being set up for that plot twist at the end and I ran through several possibilities the closer we got to the build-up. I was not disappointed in the reveal at the end, not in the least. I want to know what they do now. I gotta know. And that's what a great ending is supposed to make you want.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
christygsp's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. My. Stars.
I loved this book so much. I laughed so often and to the point of coughing up a lung. I was so invested that I was yelling and cringing at all times. The story was flawless? The characters fabulous and the interplay between all the characters was just *mwah*
Can I also say - the mushrooms? I just loved the randomness of that 😂
The development of character growth, the amazingness of the action, the fascinating other world pilot training, it was everything I could have asked for.
Masterfully written - absolutely adored it.
I loved this book so much. I laughed so often and to the point of coughing up a lung. I was so invested that I was yelling and cringing at all times. The story was flawless? The characters fabulous and the interplay between all the characters was just *mwah*
Can I also say - the mushrooms? I just loved the randomness of that 😂
The development of character growth, the amazingness of the action, the fascinating other world pilot training, it was everything I could have asked for.
Masterfully written - absolutely adored it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Mental illness
grace_b_3's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and War
fairhairedwarrior's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I LOVE Skyward so scudding much!! The worldbuilding is incredible, and I felt as if I was right next to Spensa the whole time. I could not put this book down. It captivated me from the beginning, with a spunky heroine who is both alike and unlike other heroines I’ve read, funny dialogue, and characters who I fell in love with from the start. 100/10 would recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
literarylily's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and War