Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I really did enjoy this book. Great fun, proper sci-fi, and didn't remind me of any book I had read before, which is a Really Good Thing. I thought the writing was good, the characters were great, and best of all believable, and I look forward to reading others in this series.

Unfortunately I just could not get into this book. It may be one for other readers, but I was unable to finish it.

An action-packed sci-fi adventure, Skyward is complex with flawed characters and absolutely recommended! Combining lots of teenage angst, a wonderful and often hilarious AI ship, and Sanderson's usual amazing worldbuilding, this is YA SF done excessively well!

I wasn’t as nervous about this compared to when I first got this book. Now I’ve read a few Sanderson books so I know what to expect. Although I was interested to see how the writing would be different compared to his adult work.

This was fast paced. I flew through this. Not wanting to put it down. The Science wasn’t too heavy. It was east to understand without info dumps. Which I was thankful for.

Spin was relatable in some ways. How angry she was when it came to her father. How she was unfairly treated differently just because of what he did. Even if she was possibly a little too much at times. I still enjoyed her character and interested to see where her character goes next.

Doomslug and M-Bot need honorable mentions. M-Bot personality and interactions with Spin made me laugh at times.

I liked the no romance. Instead focusing on Spin and her quests and story. Of her finding answers to her fathers past and having to overcome being held down/back.

Sanderson continues to not disappoint. Science fiction isn’t a strong genre for me but this was a quick easy read. I never felt confused or lost. I’m just left wanting more straight away. I’m glad book two is already out I just need to buy it.

I wish I could say that I enjoyed reading Skyward but I really didn't. There is character development but it relies on the main character being initially very one dimensional. There is a big reveal at the end that relies on a whole society not asking questions and instead being eager to throw themselves/loved ones into essentially suicidal missions in a war against an enemy about whom nothing is known, as all information about them is classified. Unfortunately, I thought it was a boring and frustrating read.

Coming off the back of reading the entire Cosmere books I was a little concerned on how I would feel reading a YA from this author especially as I had heard mixed reactions but I loved this book. It’s so fun and so fast paced. I did kind of see the ending coming but that did not effect my enjoyment any. Off to download the second one, I need to know what happens!

Late review but better than never, right? This was my first experience of Brandon Sanderson. As a fan of fantasy, I'm not really sure why this is the case. So as I started this I was getting Becky Chambers/Wayfarers vibes in terms of aspects of the premise (fleet from Earth building a new society) and the manner of the world building. Then I thought it was going to be just too YA - there is a scene of pure teenage wish fulfilment that I'm sure even teenagers would question as far-fetched. But the theme (star ship pilot comes of age in space) has a special place in my heart so I stuck with it. And I must say Sanderson's writing is extraordinary. The words on the page flow without resistance through my eyes straight into my mind's eye without me being conscious of undertaking the act of reading. It really is that silky and immersing. Before I knew it I was totally invested and having the most fun I've had for many a long book. Some plot points are clunkily obvious (Jerkface I'm looking at you) but the twists were delicious and I will definitely be seeking out the next book.

Skyward was a decent book, but so disappointing when comparing it to other books I've loved by Brandon Sanderson like Elantris or Warbreaker.

And I know it's entirely unfair to compare a book to others by the same author, they should stand by themselves and be judged that way, but I couldn't help myself.

I know why I was disappointed though. This book is YA and I've shifted to almost exclusively adult SFF, romance or mystery as of late. My tastes have changed and yes this review is so extraordinarily late, but I think when I read Skyward my tastes were in the process of shifting.

I just didn't really realise it at the time and I didn't write by review before now because life got in the way, but yeah.

It was good, just not epic.

Sci-fi, in space with a strong female read... what more do you need?

Absolutely adored this book so much so that I speed read it against my partner (he reads faster than me so he beat me), can’t wait to read the follow up.

Book choices, are especially hard for me. With so many new books and authors coming out, it's usually a struggle. But when a Brandon Sanderson book comes out, the choices become simple. You drop everything else and just dive into it.

Skyward - is a Young Adult novel about a young girl and her starfighter. Based on Top Gun, How to Train Your Dragon and Ender's Game, as claimed by Sanderson himself. If you have been fans of these ‘originals’, then you realize that the influence of these references are pretty strong as you tear through the book. But Brandon hasn't just referenced these stories. In true mastercraft form, he's created yet another blazing masterpiece - in terms of the standout characters, the worldbuilding and the amazing plot. Be it Spensa “spin” nightshade, the rebellious young fighter pilot, or Detritus - the abandoned planet that has become the only world for the future of the humanity or that rollicking plot featuring mysterious alien races, hair-raising masterful sequences of aerial dog-fighting that reflect Brandon's philosophy of building up a world of elaborate magic systems, here translated to aerial-fighting even reflecting the realities of high-speed flying and breathtaking maneuvers. I will be frank, despite being a YA story - Skyward is super entertaining, hilarious at times and non-stop fun. Hell, there’s even a sentient spaceship that has a soul and is ever trying to break into the comic-standup routine with lame jokes galore.

Spensa grows up on the upper caverns of the planet Detritus – a place where humanity crashed about eighty-odd years back – fighting to survive against a alien race called the Krells. She has always harbored high-flying ambitions of being a pilot – after her Dad – a famous fighter pilot on the Defiant Defence Force (DDF) dies ignominiously branded as a coward who ran/flew away from the biggest battle to save Humanity. Spensa grows up shunning the rest of humanity, believing in her father’s innocence and exemplifying the angry defiant teen who hides behind her epic proclamations that she’s gained from her grandmothers’ stories of “heroes” like Beowulf. The rest of the society brand her as the “coward’s daughter” but she against all odds, makes it to the training class – to start fighter-pilot classes as a DDF cadet within the academy.

Spensa makes friends who don’t judge her for the first time in her life, enjoys the flying classes and soon becomes an ace pilot, focused and intense about her ambitions to fight the Krell and clear her father’s name – “Look up and claim the stars” being her driving ambition as instructed by her father. Now in the meanwhile, Spensa who is still regarded as a “threat” or an outsider by the disgruntled leader of the DDF, Judy Ironsides, is forced to spend her nights outside the academy – back to hunting rats in the caverns and in that process, one night chances upon this broken down ship – that doesn’t have DDF markings and looks to be a completely different design, possibly superior to her own fighter planes. The old ship surprisingly is a functional AI – one that revels in writing new subroutines to experiment with human ‘emotions’. Spensa harbors wild dreams of flying her ‘own’ ship one day – with M-bot fully fueling her wild reckless ambitions by assuring her that he is able to fully shield himself against DDF radio/scouts.

The stakes soon go up though – The class loses a few of the cadets in ensuing Krell attacks through the months of her training. Spensa soon realizes that this was never a game – That there are lives at stake. She also figures out secrets about her father in that fated battle of the Alta, raising questions that she has no answers to. It builds up into a climactic battle where Spensa has to fight for not just her life but clearing up her father’s name and also saving the rest of humanity as the mysterious aliens bear down on planet Detritus in an all-out attack.

Spensa’s character arc is fascinating. Brandon, as usual, knows how to paint up a “heroic” protagonist whom we love to fall behind and root for. She goes through the grind as an outsider committed to a vision that only she can see, ridiculed and made fun of but who never loses target of her goal. Her one fiery ambition fires her through the life’s unfair loops. She is annoying at first but slowly at the class where she makes real friends and loses some, we feel her pain and we see her growing up. At seventeen years, hardly five feet three inches – Spensa doesn’t make for a typical heroine. And yet she stands head and shoulders above the others – with her stout heart and plenty of pluck. There are others in the class whom Brandon has also painted out to be three-dimensional and real. Jorgen ‘Jerkface’ stands out among these. The honorable flight-leader, who is as confused as others when it comes to making a connect with the rest of his flight, who reads lines rehearsed from a rules-book and yet, has a heart of gold, helping out the rest of his flight. And then there is the AI, M-bot a sentient machine that tries to “emote” by writing it’s own sub routine programs. Enough questions for us to ponder over the concept of what is the nature of one’s identity. Both through the AI as well as Spensa’s own questions about humanity and it’s future.

There are fights aplenty – Brandon spends time in helping us get familiar with the rules of “dog-fighting” maneuvers that he’s fully developed out. It’s a pleasure to be a part of the whole training class sequences and the battles with the Krell. I initially thought it would be a detached experience but Brandon fully engages his audience with well thought out sequences that are truly mind-blowing and exhilarating.

It's a light read – but one that never lets up on that pedal called “fun”. I heartily recommend this one – breakneck pacing that doesn’t pull back even at Mag-10 or beyond, a pint-sized rocker of a heroine who doesn’t let the society pull down her stratospheric ambitions of wanting to ‘claim the stars’ – and assured world-building that hints at larger questions and exciting build-up for the next volume(s) in store. Vintage Brandon Sanderson that you cannot miss, Skywards is a gripping opener to this YA series that is all sorts of flaming fun and startling revelations.

I've had this arc for an embarrassingly long time and I would like to apologise for not getting to it sooner.

I don't read Science Fiction much, but it seems when I do, I absolutely love it! Brandon Sanderson is obviously an amazing and well established author, and his books are always so well-developed and full of interesting characters and great world building, so I knew this was gonna be a winner.

The story of Spensa, and her goal of becoming a pilot despite her history, was fascinating and drew me instantly. Who doesn't love an underdog story? Especially when that underdog is facing scrutiny from everywhere and wants to prove that her worth and ability. The set up was heartbreaking and Sanderson did a good job at making me feel for Spensa from the very beginning.

I loved this book, but it wasn't perfect. There was a big moment towards the end that felt anti-climatic to me, but it might have just been me and my expectations. That being said, I'm eager to dive into the sequel immediately.

Took me a while to get into the story as there are plenty of characters and at first they seem quite flat but as the story develops so does our heroes.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anybody interested in the genre. I really enjoy the flight game descriptions and the lack of love triangles!
This was the first book of the authour I’ve ever read and I’m sure it’s not going to be my last as i just downloaded the audio version of the second of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC over a year ago. Please forgive me for finally getting round to it!

I rate this book 4.5 stars. At first I was sceptical over this book, because sci-fy books just really aren't my thing. And parts of the book were a little boring and drawn out a bit too much. The mystery aspect of this book however, and the suspense, was what grabbed me. Especially towards the end when answers were revealed and battles of epic proportion were taking place, I couldn't get enough! As a result, I was hooked and can not wait to get the second book in my hands at some point soon!

We follow Spensa whose dad was shot down in his spacecraft for cowardice. He has been named a coward, and as a result, so has Spensa. Everyone looked down on her and punished her for her fathers actions. But that didn't deter her. Determined to follow in his footsteps to become a pilot, and also to find out the truth behind her fathers cowardice, Spensa takes the test to become a cadet but which has been rigged for her to fail. But she is a fighter, and this is portrayed time and time again throughout the book. Even when she is potentially named a coward for her own actions, she still fights on for what she knows is right!

A truly enjoyable read and I was hooked!

Brandon Sanderson has been on my TBR list for years. When I came across Skyward on Netgalley, it was my chance to be introduced to his writing without taking on the epics. While he’s more commonly known for his fantasy work, Skyward is a science-fiction novel following humanity as they struggle to exist on a planet bombarded with enemies.

It took me a little while to get into Skward. Spensa – callsign: Spin – is the daughter of a supposed coward, shunned by society and denied the chance to fulfil her true calling: becoming a pilot like her father. Spensa has a chip on her shoulder and an arrogance that made it initially hard to connect to her. She’s justified in her attitude, but it acted as a barrier between reader and character.

That doesn’t last long. Spensa softens – she acknowledges her faults and grows and learns from her experiences. She becomes a strong and determined character, with a vulnerable side that makes her far easier to empathise with compared to the very beginning.

The secondary characters are strong. Some are clichés: Jorgen, the rich, spoilt boy who instantly becomes a leader. Rig, the overlooked best friend who is paramount in getting Spin where she needs to be. Cobb; the ex-pilot who grudgingly teaches a class to stop them from being killed. But they all have personalities that shine through that helps you to overlook the stereotypical roles they play. Jorgen is ultimately a good leader, who, like Spin, let’s his guard down.

M-Bot – a conscious and talking ship – adds an element of humour to an otherwise grave situation by commenting on humanity at irrelevant times. His role never quite made sense to me, but he plays an important role in helping Spin become the pilot she is destined to be.

The plot is gripping and fast-paced. The majority is made up of Spin and her classmates training, but there is danger, explosions and fights scattered throughout from the very beginning. Just because they are cadets doesn’t mean they are safe and it makes for a compelling read. The story itself is engaging, with enough mystery about the enemy (and allies) that nothing is predictable.

The only thing I wasn’t sure about was the odd snippets told from another view point. I wasn’t certain what they added other than a convenient information-dump for the reader.

When the fight becomes serious, I couldn’t put the book down. That moment when breathing results in a squeal because you’re so invested in what is happening? That was me! Characters were given the chance to be heroes but perhaps more importantly, they got to show what their team-work could do.

This book is full of bravery and stubbornness; friendship and loyalty; trust and dedication. The characters are at a cusp in their lives where they are deciding who they want to be and the choices they make are the type you want to inspire to.

If you’re looking for an engaging read, I recommend this!

Really enjoyed this book from Brandon Sanderson. I know that some of his fans found it a bit sci-fi/ya but I think it's an excellent introduction to his works for those that are new to the genres. Highly recommended reading.

This isn’t my favourite Sanderson, but as ever, the world-building is brilliant and it was lots of fun. M-Bot earned the book a whole extra star - amazing!

Although I am far older than the market this was written for I really enjoyed this.
The characters were engaging and the story rocketed along at a unrelenting pace.
Brilliant.

Wow, wow, wow!!! I absolutely loved this book. Sanderson is a truly incredible storyteller and I can't wait for book 2.

This was my first book by Sanderson and I have to confess that despite being lucky enough to get a copy from Netgalley I put off reading it for ages, a combination of fear that yet again I would be that one person who didn't like his writing and also my general wariness of all things sci fi.

When I finally picked it up though I found myself instantly hooked. I knew from pretty much the first page that this was a book I was going to love and I was 100% right. Yes, I can look back at it objectively and say it's maybe a little longer than it needs to be, some of the characters are underdeveloped and it's not the most original of stories but while I was reading it I was completely swept away by it.

There's something about it that just feels epic sci fi. Something that made me nostalgic for those sci fi films from the 80s and 90s. It has that brilliant combination of alien attacks and school setting kind of like Enders Game or Top Gun (OK I need to think of better comparisons) and there is something about the writing which made it all feel very familiar and comfortable (despite having never read the author before). It's hard to put into words but I just instantly knew that I could trust him to tell a story I'd love.

The characters do veer a little into stereotypes, the hot headed, fiercely independent and determined heroine on a journey of discovery, the grumpy but goodhearted mentor/teacher, the nerdy, genius best friend, and the seemingly aloof, privileged nemesis/love interest but it didn't matter. I loved main character Spensa and the journey she goes on. She's just so determined and I love a character who's proactive, who makes mistakes and who learns.

I loved the emotion in the story too, there is a lot of humour and many, many funny conversations between the Spensa and a certain ship AI but there's a lot of heart there too. There are some wonderful friendships which develop between the characters and for YA it's nice to see these rather than the usual romance take centre stage.

The story and the world building are very well done too. There is plenty of action and lots of conflict to keep the story moving on, and the reader hooked. Yes it does get a little repetitive in places, one battle against alien invaders after another does become a little same old, same old but there's enough going on with the characters to keep you hooked. I should also add here that I often get lost in big action sequences and struggle to visualise or keep up, but that was never an issue. I was seriously impressed with how Sanderson made it all so easy.

There are a few unexpected turns in the story and while parts are predictable (and a smidge tropey) it still surprised me. The ending in particular was epic in scale and left plenty of loose ends for the next book.

I was lucky to be provided with an ARC from the publisher - all opinions my own.

Skyward is the sci-fi novel I didn't know I needed in my life until I read it.

It is action-packed, addictive, beautiful and exciting. Having never read any of Sanderson's novels before (but heard many good things), I dived in with no pre-conceived notions about his work.

Skyward follows Spensa, the daughter of a dishonoured pilot, as she struggles to make it out of the lowest class on planet Detritus - a barren rock in space, regularly attacked by an alien species, where people live underground - and into the prestigious flight school to become a pilot and set right her father's reputation. In the process, she discovers that the corrupt administration is set against her for reasons quite different to the story she'd been told so far.

One thing worried me from the start: the girl on the cover. Could a man write a convincing young female character in a dystopian sci-fi setting? Yes, yes he can. Spensa is one of my favourite characters of all time because she is like no other girl I've ever read about before. She is as brash and reckless as any male YA character, but also determined, humble, funny and clever. She makes mistakes and then fixes them. In other words, she's like so many girls I know. I was rooting for her the whole way through.

I loved every other character for similar reasons: each of them was unique, flawed and complicated, and the most unlikely of friendships form (but not so unlikely that you wouldn't believe them). Some are reminiscent of a typical American superhero film (e.g. the gritty war veteran mentor with sometimes questionable teaching methods). There are some moments that are almost predictable - but Sanderson makes up for it with edge-of-your-seat cliffhangers, characters you want to call your friends and world-building that leaves you wanting more.

I can't wait for the next book. (My husband would like Sanderson to finish The Way of Kings first, though!)