When the Sky Falls by B.R. Spangler and narrated by Ina Marie Smith this is the first book in the new Dark Skies Apocalypse series and it was an excellent audiobook. It was a gripping post-apocalyptic survival thriller that just had me hooked. I don't usually read this genre, but the cover caught my eye, I am so glad it did.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture audio / Second Sky for my arc.

When the Sky Falls by B.R. Spangler and narrated by Ina Marie Smith was very well written, a great concept and well narrated, it just didn't connect with me in the way I hoped it would based on the synopsis. Not to say it is a bad book, it really isn't, it's just not quite connecting

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio | Second Sky, BR Spangler and the narrator for this ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The opening events immediately pulled me into the story. Especially after a certain reveal that happens relatively quickly, it made me become emotionally involved with the characters - feeling their pain and loss. I wasn’t expecting the time jump and it did take me a little bit to get back into the story. Due to that and the book did feel a bit rushed I rated this 3.5/5.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book!


The one thing that did slightly annoy me was how the mother was portrayed in one of the scenes (while they are leaving the house). The daughter continues to recommend obvious decisions the mom should be making but instead is not. That being said, the more I thought about it - everyone reacts to trauma & an emergency differently. Some people do freeze up and can’t think straight.

A gripping story about Emily and sammi and their fight to stay alive in the mall after a toxic cloud ravages the world.

This book was scarily realistic on what could happen to the world if humans don't stop messing with everything.

When the poisonous air keeps everyone from going outside.

Emily manages to get herself and her sister sammi to the Mall, which is the best place to hole up until things getter. They spend 15 years there in hopes that one day, they can return to a normal world but humanity is just as sick after the deadly fog as before it.

It started out really good but when they hit the 15 years later part, it kinda fell apart a bit for me. The girls being older seemed a bit of a weird transition and their likeability went down. It was almost as if the next aprt of the story was rushed and not quite as cohesive.

I am open to listening to book 2 becuase the ending did catch my attention enough to want to.

3.5 stars rounded up

2.5 rounded up to 3
In the first in a new series, B.R. Spangler show what happens when humans mess with the environment:

The machines were supposed to help, they were supposed to save the world from Climate change, reverse the damage that humans had caused to Earth. When the machines are turned on, the unthinkable happens, the Machines do the opposite of what they were supposed to do and release a toxic fog that not only burns those who touch it but it has the ability to tear apart anything that was made from organic material. Emily has one job given to her by her parents is to take her sister Sammi to the mall, where they will be safe. Her father is trying to fix the machines make the fog go away and he would meet them there. But you can never see anything Fog and something the Fog is the safer than humanity.

As the first in a new series, I think that the premise that Spangler has presented here is one that had me instantly sold. I will say I did not realize that it was a YA book, so that took me a bit by surprised and I had to readjust my expectations for the book and this did take me a bit. The majority of the book also takes place in about few days after the Fog emerges and a lot happens in that time, frame very fast paced as everything is going to shit, which i feel is very realistic, but then when get a huge time jump.

I'm on the fence with the 15-year jump in time that occurs, part of me wishes that we got to see how Emily and Peter were able to survive but at the same time, I'm happy for the time jump to see how far the colony has come. However, there are some Significant events that happened in those 15 years that are not addressed. Also the time jump occurs around the 75% mark of the book, so it was almost like a teaser for the next book especially with the cliffhanger at the end.

I liked the idea of the Fog coming from a man mad machine that was supposed to help but the opposite happens. I feel like this is the premise of many dystopia books, so not that original but I appreciate that Spangler took the route of Fog causing the earth to be uninhabitable outside and trying to find places that the Fog could not eat through.

As with any end of the world type book there are tragedies in this book, and most of them I did not see coming. Spangler did a great job of showing that no one is safe and heartbreak can happen to anyone.

I liked the characters and felt the heartbreak with them but never really knew the characters as the reader is with each of them for only a short amount of time between the two timelines. This is more of a plot driven book than i thought it would be.

There are A LOT of unanswered questions by the end of this book, from the Outsiders to the Machines, there are many things that need to be resolved or explained further. I have so many questions and I don’t really like that Spangler left so much unresolved/unexplained.

This book was okay. I think if you like plot driven books, end of days and YA book then you will enjoy this book. I am unsure if I will continue on with the series, I mean the cliffhanger is pretty big but I don’t like all the unanswered questions in this one and if Spangler continues this, I know I would not enjoy the second book.

Cheers!!!!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'When The Sky Falls' by B.R. Spangler

This book is very well written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

This book is an absolutely brilliant dystopia post apocalyptic novel that I absolutely devoured in one sitting listening to the Audiobook version. It is the first book in Spangler's 'Dark Skies Apocalypse' series and this book is set over two parts. The first part tells us how the world changed after poisonous clouds cover the sky hiding the sun, buildings collapse, communications fail and corrosive fog consumes everything in its way. Emily and her baby sister Sammi seek refuge in the mall with other survivors. She helps anybody who is injured and goes on supply runs but what she cannot tell anybody is that it is her father who caused the disaster in the first place!! Part one tells us of the devastation the disaster has caused and how the survivors try to continue to survived. It is only Emily and Sammi left in their family at the mall after their mother died on the way and their father left to try to stop the disaster from getting worse. The first part is ram packed with suspense, tension, heartache, stress, action and everything you could ask for in a very fast paced post apocalyptic dystopia storyline. It is a scarily realistic situation to be in especially after what happened in the world with Covid some things don't seem as science fictional as they may once have seemed. My heart went out to Emily and Sammi and I cant even begin to imagine the terror and fear they were feeling throughout. Part Two is set fifteen years later and Emily's secret about her father is out. The survivors are trying to live as best they can although the danger is still there and they live in darkness surrounded by burning fog. However, it is not just these disasters that they are in danger from but now the threat also comes from a savage gang called The Outsiders who will attack anyone and everyone and take children from their parents. Emily even lost her son to them and fears for Sammi's life. Sammi has now found love with another survivor called Declan but Emily cannot find her. Emily has one chance to save Sammi and that is through her father who is the only one who can bring the sunlight back and is currently within the machine that turns the sky to acid. I was rooting for Emily and Sammi every single moment of the book. Thanks to Spangler's evocative and emotive descriptions as well as the narrator Marie Smith's fantastic narration skills they ensure the reader can feel the fear, love, tension, stress and every emotion they are feeling throughout. I even ended up with tears in my eyes which is not an easy feat so make sure you have the tissues at the ready! This fantastic book leaves the reader/listener needing to know what is going to happen next!! Thankfully the second book in this series is already available to purchase and is called 'When The Dawn Breaks' which I am off to read as soon as I have finished typing this up!!
With realistic, strong, likeable and unlikeable characters that make you want to shout at, sympathise with and more this book will keep you glued to the pages. I really could not recommend this book more!!! It has got to be one of the best dystopian books I have read in a long time and I would definitely recommend it to fans of apocalyptic and dystopia novels!! This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Marie Smith who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Marie did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices as well as managing to convey and portray the characters emotions through her voice!!!

This is one of those books that once you have picked it up you will not be able to put it down and it is also an absolute emotional rollercoaster ride of emotions so clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready as even I shed several tears and that is not an easy feat!!!

Congratulations B.R.Spangler on another absolutely fantastic and addictive page turning read!!!

Overall an absolutely captivating, gripping, action packed and heart racing addictive suspense packed post apocalyptic dystopia novel!!!

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In the book When the Sky Falls, author B.R. Spangler writes about Emily and her family. Emily’s parents helped her escape with her baby sister Sammi as the world was crashing down around them. Why was the world crashing down? Because of poisonous clouds with a corrosive fog that is causing everything to crumble. What is causing the fog? Some kind of machine that Emily’s father helped to build and run.
This was a strange story that had a lot of holes in the story line and the ending was confusing. I might recommend this book if the next one is good and fills in some information. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think that this book is relatively good- but suffered in a few ways that I struggled to look past just because of how much they broke my immersion. The younger sister's dialogue was completely inconsistent. Sometimes she is speaking in broken and simplistic baby talk and then suddenly she has full sentences conveying her thoughts clearly. I don't know what age she was and couldn't guess based on her characterization.

Another part that confused me was the introduction of Isla. I spend a good deal of time around Spanish- speaking people with Spanish names. Not a single time has one of them felt compelled to tell me their name is Spanish or what it means in Spanish. That is just a white person's filter thinking that kind of clarification is needed. And then immediately after making certain to explain her "cinnamon skin" made the intent clear.

I suggest a continuity and sensitivity read before this officially releases.


Narrator did a good job for their part.

I could not be more excited for the next book in this series after reading BR Spangler's WHEN THE SKY FALLS. What an exciting pivot for this fantastic author. I loved the characters, I loved the premise, I loved the world building, I loved the narration, I loved everything about it!

This book was AMAZING! The narrator did such a great job. I felt like I was watching everything play out in my head. I could not put this down. I was almost sad to finish this book but I’m excited for the next one to see where the story goes. It gave very much Netflix “The Rain” vibes and now I want to go rewatch that show. It does have a time jump which was interesting to read on how people have adapted. Emily has suffered so much and that ending left me with my jaw on the floor. I am searching information on the next book immediately!

I recommend this story to everyone especially people who love Sci Fi and apocalypse vibes.

Thank you to the author, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for this audiobook.

Not many books leave me speechless when I finish them, after finishing When the Sky Falls this book left me not only speechless but had me immediately looking for the sequel.

When the Sky Falls mostly takes when the fog first arrives. The fog is poisonous and will burn anyone who gets stuck in it. The fog is also burning through different structures like houses and eating through different car parts making them not run. Emily’s dad is a scientist and engineer who was on a team working on machines that caused the apocalyptic event. He knows what the fog is capable of so he tells his family to flee to the mall, knowing the the structure of the mall will survive the fog.

Emily and her younger sister Sammi head to the mall with their mother. The trip to the mall is eventful and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Once they are at the mall ideas on survival and rationing take over and everyone's survival instinct kicks in.

This entire segment was so well written that I felt like I was in this mall with them. We then move into the future and without talking about what happens here just know I was left in utter disbelief. I loved how it ended and can not wait to see how it continues.

If your TBR is long, bump this one up towards the top.

I’m a sucker for apocalyptic tales. Good or bad. I usually don’t care if they are hyper-realistic or outrageously mindless, it’s rare I can’t find something to enjoy from such tales. (Not sure what that says about me, but I probably don’t want to know, lol). Well I wouldn’t say B.R. Spangler’s When the Sky Fell is ultra-realistic, but I also won’t call it mindless. What I will say is that it was definitely entertaining, at least the first half. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the entire experience book, but the first half really hooked me. Spangler pulled me in right from the start. And it wasn’t just the deadly fog that descends upon the world or the mystery of what Emily and Sammi’s father had to do with it. It was little Sammi. Let me reset. The story starts with the Stark family preparing to flee their home. The fog is coming. It’s all mysterious of course as we don’t truly know what is happening. But Emily’s father seems to have something to do with it, insists he must try and correct the situation and wants his wife to take Emily and her little sister and escape to the mall, which he believes will be a safe spot. Without going too deep into spoiler territory, tragedy occurs, leaving Emily responsible for getting her little sister to safety. There is just something about putting little kids in danger that tugs at the heart strings and pulls me into a story, especially when it’s a kid you can really like. But getting to the mall is just the start of the adventure and their struggle to survive. As I said, I was hooked early on and must admit before I even realized it I had listened almost 5 hours of the story or roughly half of the book. Ina Marie Smith does a good job with the narration, capturing the characters and the intensity of the story quite well. It might not be perfect but it was mostly definitely entertaining and was a great break from reality. I’d like to thank Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and advanced audio copy of When the Sky Falls.

A dystopian apocalyptic end of days book…yep, sign me up. Started off fast and kept my attention, I really enjoyed When the sky falls by B R Spangler. Solid 4/5.

Apocalyptic world? Sign me up!
I literally listened to over 80% of the audiobook in one sitting and it killeeeeeeed me to have to wait for the next day for the last 20%! What a world building!

The story starts it’s still the “normal” world and then this virus or whatever it is (listened to it/ready if and you’ll find out) happens and then you get into the action straight away. A little bit of the story happens at the beginning of the apocalypse so they all try and understand what’s happened and how to survive and then the rest of the story takes place few years later where the apocalyptic world is just the new “normal” world and so many kids only know this world!

10/10 for the story, the action etc’!
10/10 for the characters and the narrators!

Loved it! I need book 02 like right this second!

When the Sky Falls
3 Stars
TW: Animal Abuse, Self Harm, and SA in 2nd portion of the book

Thank you Netgalley for letting me listen to this Audio ARC. I was really excited to get the chance to read this as I hadn't heard of it before and love apocalyptic survival thrillers.

I enjoyed the beginning part of the book, but after the 60% mark in the second half, I found myself not enjoying the storie's direction as much. There were suddenly multiple POVs and some of the characters lost the qualities that had made them some of my favorites in the beginning part of the book. I was also incredibly frustrated with how the book finished. The ending just fell flat for me and I finished the book with more questions than answers.

NetGalley ARC Review

Star Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

If you go to read this I have great news for you! You get two books for the price of one. Warning: I had more fun writing this review than reading the book. I kind of feel like Olaf telling the story about Elsa and Anna's parents. I assume reading my review will also be more fun than you will have actually reading the book. If you don't though, try reading the book it'll be right up your alley!

TL;DR - Love life. Time travel, Love life. With a hazy fog of sci-fi sprinkled over the top.
(I enjoyed the narrator much more than the book, thought I should point that out)

Book One
Is about a post apocalyptic world brought on by a killer fog. The fog is caused by a machine that was created by the main characters dad. How far does the fog extend, you'll never know. Why was the fog created, you'll never know. Why a couple character aren't effected by the fog, you'll never know. Why the characters make really dumb decisions sometimes, you'll never know. What you do know is they need to get to the mall. Mom dies first. Quickly followed by dad. They make it to the mall. Instantly re-falls in love with her crush and what do you know he loves her too. They need food and medicine, they get food and medicine. Wait! Dads alive and he can stop the machine. Alas, there is a hurricane on it's way. It starts to rain. The fog is safer now, but the rain has the capabilities to melt a person down to goo. Good thing the eye of the storm is here! "I'll save us and stop the machine" - Dad. "Okay, I lied, the machine can't be stopped. I just stay inside it to continually stop it when it turns back on" - Dad. "You won't die on my watch Isla they'll fix you" - Dad. Who are they you ask? Say it with me, you'll. never. know. The fog never leaves, but turns out it's at least safer now. just bundle up when you go outside. The End.

Book Two
Is set 15 years later. They have successfully set up shop in big office building. They have successfully explored the fog and found others. The main characters got married; had a kid; kid got kidnapped; they never talk anymore. Who kidnapped the kid? You'll nev...... The Outsiders did it. Who are the Outsiders? You'll never know! You remember how the dad said he had to go back to the machine, turns out the machine won't let him out. Why? You'll never know. They can't see into the machine, but he can see out of the machine. He also likes to stab himself, because he's mentally unstable and needs to know what is real. Why? You'll never know! What happened to Isla? You'll never know! Emily is a teacher now and has a super cool and super advanced robot. Where is came from and how it works? You'll never know! The coolest part though is the executives that you hear so much about. Well... you really only hear that they have super fancy rooms at the top of the office building and they have super scary guards that will kill anyone. That's about all that said, all the time, every time the executives are brought up. Then you find out the they have a day that celebrates the end of the gray skies, because of the fog. Why? The fog is still there. The younger sister is attacked multiple times by a creepy thug kid. Multiple times in front of people. They never see. Personally I think the bully has super duper cool invisibility powers or something. You remember the machines that have been keeping the fog going for over 15 years with no signs of stopping, there is no way that they are going to.... Oh crap, they stopped. The skies are clearing. Too bad the main characters little sister has a full stomach and can't enjoy the celebration with everyone else. Are you still wondering about Isla, the stolen kid, the outsiders, the machine, the alien/ai/whatever, the dad, the day celebrating the end of the gray skies even though the gray skies were still there. why the fog stopped, why was the robot there and how is it so advanced? Well, keep wondering because then the book ends and you have no idea about anything.

Altogether you get a lot of pages about a girls love life, with a sprinkling of sci-fi. Time travel Then more pages about a different girls love life. The End.

Like always read it and decide for yourself!

Thank you Bookouture Audio, Netgalley and B R Spangler for the audio Arc of When The sky Falls.
Narrated by Ina Marie Smith

Recently getting more into Sci- fI genre of books, I enjoyed this dystopian fantasy. When the Sky Falls, follows the journey of Emily and Sammi Stark, who have to make their way meet their Dad after these machines were switched on to cleanse the air on Earth. They did exactly the opposite and starts producing toxic clouds, fog and rain which acts like acid. The first part of the book tackles the survival of these 2 MC, mainly from the POV of Emily. The second half of the book is set 15 yrs later and what has come to pass and the struggles that Emily is now encountering as a young adult.
I felt the pacing of the book started out very quick and then slowed down to a medium pace. I can understand, due to the nature of the storyline. why and I felt it was well done. It did feel a little disjointed when part 2 jumped 15 yrs and left some questions ( which hope will be answered in book 2!) The ending, well, was left on a cliff hanger and enough for me to read the 2nd book. Its certainly a thought provoking book.

The character building, I felt was great. I gelled to Emily and Declan, which they do make some ropey decisions along in their story but what young adults don't?! They felt relatable and real enough which is probably why I gelled with them both.

The Narrator, Ina Marie Smith did a superb job in reading this book. I love her voice. Her pacing suits the narrative, with the right kind of tension and emotion.

4 stars

When the Sky Falls is an easy dystopian read with an interesting premise.

I was sucked in quickly with the concept of the mysterious machines which had resulted in the apocalyptic scenes at the opening of the story. Unfortunately this one wasn’t quite for me. I found the storyline disjointed, and struggled to make sense of the character’s choices. I think seeing more about how the society developed, and the sister’s experiences post disaster would have helped me better understand the second part of the book. There was a lot of questions left remaining, and unfortunately too many to entice me to pick up the next book.

Having said that I can see this being enjoyable for someone looking for a quick and action packed read. The audiobook narration was wonderful, and the narrator really brought the character’s emotional experience to life. The production really added an extra degree of creepiness when the characters are first grappling with understanding the fog. Overall the premise is really intriguing, and does have me tempted with the next book, to resolve the mystery of the machines. It’s great that the next book is already available!

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I assume the second book in this series explains something….anything? I refuse to take the chance that the next book ends like this one.

This book started out great. It jumped right into the action of a world changing event and a family trying to find safety. After the family got to where they were going, it was a snooze fest. Then part two jumped 15 years into the future and seemed promising. However, it only left me wishing I had been able to jump 8 hours into the past and tell myself not to listen to this audiobook.

*spoilers*
The teenager had just lost both her parents and 24 hours later she’s starting a budding romance? Come on. WTF is the machine? In part two the dad just pokes himself in the neck with skewers, trying to commit suicide, and says that the machine will bring him back? Who are all the other people at the machine??

Rating this a 2 because it had moments of suspense building and had my attention. Overall, it was bad.