drewbious_taste 's review for:

A Sky So Hollow by Craig Montgomery

5.0

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While I loved all of the delicious and complex world building that occurred in A Circle of Stars, it was exciting to get to dive deeper and live in the world of the story in book two. After the cataclysmic events at the end of book one, A Sky so Hollow picks up with Caspar and Helix finding their way in city that clings to a problematic past and faces a difficult future. 

The main plot was exciting and the stakes were definitely high enough. While the main message of the importance of finding “balance” was a little predictable, it was captivating enough that it was still completely satisfying. 

The relationship between Caspar and Helix was what really set this book apart for me. By the end of book one they were solidly together and had already confessed their love, which made exploring their dynamic in book two that much more enriching. Many readers hate the miscommunication trope because “everything would be fine if they would just talk to each other!!”, but in this book Caspar and Helix are completely open with each other and their relationship is still hard. Seeing the ways they communicate and make the effort to be there for each other while struggling with their own demons felt so heartening. 

On its own I felt the pacing was great but looking at the duology as a whole it feels like some of the elements from book two could have been introduced in book one to give them proper time to marinate with the reader. 

Overall this is an excellent read. It’s unique and compelling and combines many different ideas and themes in a fresh and exciting way. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys sci-fi/fantasy with empathetic and emotionally intelligent characters. (I received an early copy at no charge but my opinions are honest and my own.)