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A review by kriscanread
ReDawn by Brandon Sanderson, Janci Patterson
5.0
I should probably wait to write this review, because I am in a DEEP spiral right now, but here I am.
Despite this being a novella, ReDawn has to be my favorite Skyward book so far—which is saying a lot, because I’ve loved this series. Since the beginning, I’ve been really interested in learning more about the other alien races in-universe, and when Alanik was introduced in Starsight I wanted to know more about her specifically.
ReDawn introduces a whole new world within the world of Skyward, with an entirely new culture and planet and way of life, and despite the short format I wasn’t left wanting from any of it. The world building in this novella is so clear and stunning and amazingly done, and the juxtaposition between Alanik’s people and the humans was just so well done. Within the book’s universe, they’re some of the more closely related alien races, but seeing where their shared history has influenced ReDawn versus how their years under the Superiority has shaped them—wow. I have no words.
Something the Skyward series has done so well is the relationships between characters, romantic and platonic. The romantic subplots are always such a small, side focus, but they’re so so well done with the slow burn and the tiny background moments in the midst of everything else that I lose my mind every time. Arturo and Alanik hit all the right notes for me here; whether they’re growing towards a romantic relationship or just a friendship one, watching them learn to trust each other had me absolutely hooked. Giving her the call-sign Angel made me cry. I will not elaborate.
Anyways! For a novella, this was absolutely jam packed with hard hitting plot and character moments. Even though the book is in Alanik’s POV, this wasn’t limited to her, either—Jorgen in particular had moments that hit me like a gut punch, but so did FM and Rig and really everyone else.
Despite this being a novella, ReDawn has to be my favorite Skyward book so far—which is saying a lot, because I’ve loved this series. Since the beginning, I’ve been really interested in learning more about the other alien races in-universe, and when Alanik was introduced in Starsight I wanted to know more about her specifically.
ReDawn introduces a whole new world within the world of Skyward, with an entirely new culture and planet and way of life, and despite the short format I wasn’t left wanting from any of it. The world building in this novella is so clear and stunning and amazingly done, and the juxtaposition between Alanik’s people and the humans was just so well done. Within the book’s universe, they’re some of the more closely related alien races, but seeing where their shared history has influenced ReDawn versus how their years under the Superiority has shaped them—wow. I have no words.
Something the Skyward series has done so well is the relationships between characters, romantic and platonic. The romantic subplots are always such a small, side focus, but they’re so so well done with the slow burn and the tiny background moments in the midst of everything else that I lose my mind every time. Arturo and Alanik hit all the right notes for me here; whether they’re growing towards a romantic relationship or just a friendship one, watching them learn to trust each other had me absolutely hooked. Giving her the call-sign Angel made me cry. I will not elaborate.
Anyways! For a novella, this was absolutely jam packed with hard hitting plot and character moments. Even though the book is in Alanik’s POV, this wasn’t limited to her, either—Jorgen in particular had moments that hit me like a gut punch, but so did FM and Rig and really everyone else.