To be honest, that’s even more of a feat considering that a lot of the action takes place in quite distinct places, this isn’t exactly an explore-y book. Sanderson manages to write the cave systems and the world that humans have managed to make out of the scraps that they salvage feel incredibly rich and detailed. A couple of years ago I started work on the beginnings of an idea for a subterranean world and I don’t think I can write it now because this was so much better than I could have written it. I’ve mentioned the concept but I think it’s worth delving deeper into the setting because it captured my imagination. It’s like when you talk to someone about something they’re passionate about (you get it a lot when people are mid-thesis) and they just light up from within, that’s how Spensa feels as a character. I know I read a lot of books where heroines have to struggle against the odds to get what they want, but what I adored about Spensa is that she doesn’t let it turn her into a miserable character, nor does it feel like a quest for revenge (though I suppose in part it is) because she’s caught up in the dream of flying.

Conceptually this book is just fantastic (please read that in the voice of the ninth doctor so we keep this sci-fi feel going). Once I was around three chapters in I was already telling my spouse that they are absolutely going to love it (talking spaceships are their jam). I mean this book pretty much hit every note for me, unlikely female heroines struggling against their fate, competition between students, training montages, talking spaceships and so much more. My first foray into the world of Sanderson. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible-assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. Maybe I was making a mistake by choosing a science fiction novel written by someone so well known for fantasy, but who said reading was about making good decisions?ĭefeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. But since I’m now friends with some amazing humans who love his books I thought it was about time I followed their advice and read something he had written.

I don’t know whether it was a timing thing, or a covers thing or something else entirely, but I never thought they would be books that would interest me. Small confession to make – I’ve never read any Brandon Sanderson before. Hello humans! it’s time for my spot on the Skyward Blog tour! There are some amazing other bloggers on this tour so I urge you all to go and check out each post!

Skyward brandon sanderson series