Skyward

The First Skyward Novel

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Skyward

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Sophie Aldred

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About this listen

THE INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON BEHIND THE COSMERE

****

'We must not cower in the dark because we're afraid of the spark within us. The answer is not to put out the spark, but to learn to control it'

Spensa's world has been under attack for hundreds of years. An alien race called the Krell leads onslaught after onslaught from the sky in a never-ending campaign to destroy humankind. Humanity's only defense is to take to their ships and fight the enemy in the skies. Pilots have become the heroes of what's left of the human race.

Spensa has always dreamed of being one of them; of soaring above Earth and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with her father's - a pilot who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, placing Spensa's chances of attending flight school somewhere between slim and none.

No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, but she is still determined to fly. And the Krell just made that a possibility. They've doubled their fleet, making Spensa's world twice as dangerous . . . but their desperation to survive might just take her skyward . . .

****

SANDERSON IS AN EXCELLENT STORYTELLER:

'Thrills and snappy dialouge'
DAILY MAIL

'Episodic and fast-paced with surprises around every turn'
SCI FI NOW

'I loved this book. What else is there to say?'
PATRICK ROTHFUSS

'Epic in every sense'
GUARDIAN©2018 Dragonsteel Entertainment LLC

Adventure

Epic

Fantasy

Science Fiction

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fiction

Aviation

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Critic reviews

another brisk YA fantasy from Sanderson - inventive, action-stuffed and surprising until the end

Secrets intensify this ripping yarn, which is crammed with peril, thrills and snappy dialogue

Skyward is an adventure and a half that you won't want to miss. Even hardcore Cosmere fans will enjoy the special mix of fantasy and sci-fi that unfolds as you watch Spensa learn what it means to be truly brave.

Steelheart is the literature equivalent of a blockbuster; episodic and fast-paced with surprises around every turn.

Full of action

All the main characteristics of a Sanderson novel from a writer at the top of his game.

With this action-packed trilogy opener, Sanderson offers up a resourceful, fearless heroine and a memorable cast-including a strangely humorous, mushroom-obsessed robot-set against the backdrop of a desperate conflict. As the pulse-pounding story intensifies and reveals its secrets, a cliffhanger ending sets things up for the next instalment.

as always, Brandon Sanderson creates a unique and interesting universe we get to explore alongside the protagonist...a fun, action packed ride for those of us who remain a child at heart.

The world of The Reckoners is suddenly presented in all its glory. It's an incredibly vibrant setting that showcases the entire breadth of Sanderson's talent. Expect to finish this one in single sitting.

This deeply entertaining first episode in a series is for fans of aerial warfare stories in which the characters are as well-devised as the machines.

Startling revelations and stakes-raising implications ... Sanderson plainly had a ball with this nonstop, highflying opener, and readers will too

The stories are complex, fascinating, and filled to the brim with three-dimensional characters

Firefight is a visual, almost cinematic novel

Firefight is a rollercoaster ride of action, entertainment, and humour

Firefight is filled with a spine-tingling adventure and heart-racing action that promises to satisfy fans both new and old

A terrifically tall tale, packaging the superhero action into compelling, punchy chapters that keep you reading. It's a fast, feisty read with characters that are skillfully drawn, assassinations, gunfights, physics bending motorcycle chases and a world you can't wait to hear more about.

Most relevant

For me this reads as young adult sci fi. Was enjoyable and almost had the feel of ready player one but lacking the fan fiction cheese.

Really enjoyed the narrator after Sanderson has been so reliant on his go to pals in the past.

The plot is interesting and does not follow the usual plot of the protagonist possessing powers that make them untouchable (though towards the end I can see that trope coming back)

Overall not a bad book.