Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - The Fated Sky

I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first, blazing through the audiobook in two days' time! Great MC who struggles and learns, the plot was a bit slower than the first book but still riveting, and the commentary on sexism and racism was challenging without, I felt, getting too preachy.

The reason I'm rating this as a half-star lower than the last was that in the middle section I felt so sad. I wasn't sure why (there's tragedy in the book, yes, but I knew that wasn't it) until Elma realized that she didn't have any friends among the crew. Watching her go through her struggles alone for so long weighed down my empathic heart. Not a problem with the story by any means, but it lessened my personal enjoyment factor for quite a few chapters.

The same content warning as for the last book applies, with more scenes talking about sex and fewer actual scenes (still all fade-to-black), and a similar amount of f-bombs.

Content Warnings

oceanwriter's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

I don't know why I let so much time pass between reading The Calculating Stars and The Fated Sky. This series is so immersive and book two was as good as the first.

Now that the moon has been colonized, it's time to start preparing for Mars. Thanks to her fame as 'The Lady Astronaut', Elma is assigned as a crew member on the first Mars flight. The journey isn't easy. Being away from her home, her husband, and her family for three years is a challenge in and of itself, never mind the number of failures that can occur and the tensions between the crew members from being cooped up for so long.

The book doesn't mention the events of the first book in too much detail. It sticks to the continuation of this alternate time in history rather than reflecting. People on earth are beginning to forget about the meteor strike. If not forget, then letting it become commonplace and minimizing the repercussions it will likely have on the future of the earth. The pressure is on, especially when 'Free-Earthers' start causing trouble.

Though there are some bits and pieces in the narrative that tend to distract me from the main plot (I'm not entirely sure how to explain it without giving spoilers) and there are some things that feel unsettled or unfinished, I enjoy these books so much. Being set in the mid-20th century it has a nostalgic feel to it while also adding in modern-day elements. The characters are so darling, too. I'd forgotten how attached I'd gotten in the first book. Revisiting them and getting to meet some new ones made me even more invested this time around. I especially liked the dynamic between Elma and Parker this time around.

Content Warnings

iono's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

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