John Harvey is the author of three novels. Broken Sky was published in 2021 and is the first book in The Cirrus Chronicles series. It is the 10th book I completed reading in 2025.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to minor scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as PG.

The primary character is 16-year-old Jack Scatter. He lives on the ring-shaped space station known as Cirrus. He has developed as a mechanical whiz. He can fix almost anything. He lives in a remote farming community on Cirrus and does his schooling virtually. Close friends, though they have never met in person, are Sarah Rogers and her best friend Jada.

A major part of the plot line is the prediction by Sir Isaac Newton that the world would end before 2090. Portal crystals are used to deliver everything from water to power. A limited number of people in the time when the novel is set are Travellers. People who can remember the future, move objects with their minds, and control the thoughts of others. The Travellers support Newton’s prediction, and the deadline is rapidly approaching. When Jack’s cousin Chase and his parents arrives from Earth, odd things begin to happen.

Pieter Reynard is very wealthy and has business interests both on Earth and Cirrus. He is also a Traveller and has used that skill to build a business empire. With Newton’s prediction of an Apocalypse looming ahead, he is willing to risk everything to make himself even more wealthy and powerful.

The parents of both Jack and Chase are arrested by Corporate Police on Cirrus at the direction of Reynard. He is looking for Jack’s grandfather and the secret private portal he is believed to have. The kids must strike out on their own to avoid Reynard’s thugs. They struggle to stay a step ahead of the security forces.

Jack, Chase, Sarah, and Jada seem to be the only ones standing in the way of Reynard. They meet a policewoman, Priya Singh, who believes them and is willing to help. With the funds and personnel available to Reynard, they seem to have little chance of success. Jack seems destined to eventually confront Reynard.

Will Jack and his friends survive? Can they save Earth? Can they save Cirrus?

I enjoyed the 8 hours reading this 358-page young adult fantasy. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3.9 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

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Not sure how to feel on this one. It was a premise that I found intriguing but lacked in execution. I wish there was more to it.