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cara_p's review
3.0
(3.5 stars)
I was given this book by Netgalley and didn't have time to read it for a long time. But I'm really glad I picked it up the other day. I read through it really quickly and very much enjoyed it. Sadly I didn't realise it was the first in a series so I guess now I have to go and read the next one.
Skyborn is about a boy who grew up in the circus after his mother died in a fall from her aerial display. He finds an item that belonged to her which he then discovers was (potentially?) responsible for her incredible talent. The problem is that item never belonged to her and she died before she could return it to its rightful owner. Now he has to find a way home to fulfil her wish while avoiding the bad guys who are after it for its magic powers.
The prose was well done and the story was well-plotted and believable. I really appreciated that Bastien, the main character, had a strong father figure. A lot of orphans in fiction don't, but one of the other circus performers basically became his dad after his mum died and I loved that relationship and dynamic. I also loved that the adults weren't dumb in this (though some were foolish or evil), and the kids did actually seek their help and advice.
This was a very enjoyable adventure. The magic creature in it was a little creepy, but it worked and Im really interested to see where the story goes next. I was initially upset with the ending (no spoilers, but I was thinking 'after all of that??') but when I realised it wasn't a standalone book, it made more sense. I only hope that it's all resolved in the next book or I really will be upset haha!
Overall a good book. Perhaps upper middle grade because of some of the themes in it and because of the magical beastie. A mature 10 year old could read this and enjoy it. It would also make a fun family read. It has the right balance of sweetness (found family), adventure (circus!) and swashbuckling adventure (sky ships!) to make for a well done middle grade adventure.
3.5 out of 5 boxes of freshly buttered popcorn.
(Ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
I was given this book by Netgalley and didn't have time to read it for a long time. But I'm really glad I picked it up the other day. I read through it really quickly and very much enjoyed it. Sadly I didn't realise it was the first in a series so I guess now I have to go and read the next one.
Skyborn is about a boy who grew up in the circus after his mother died in a fall from her aerial display. He finds an item that belonged to her which he then discovers was (potentially?) responsible for her incredible talent. The problem is that item never belonged to her and she died before she could return it to its rightful owner. Now he has to find a way home to fulfil her wish while avoiding the bad guys who are after it for its magic powers.
The prose was well done and the story was well-plotted and believable. I really appreciated that Bastien, the main character, had a strong father figure. A lot of orphans in fiction don't, but one of the other circus performers basically became his dad after his mum died and I loved that relationship and dynamic. I also loved that the adults weren't dumb in this (though some were foolish or evil), and the kids did actually seek their help and advice.
This was a very enjoyable adventure. The magic creature in it was a little creepy, but it worked and Im really interested to see where the story goes next. I was initially upset with the ending (no spoilers, but I was thinking 'after all of that??') but when I realised it wasn't a standalone book, it made more sense. I only hope that it's all resolved in the next book or I really will be upset haha!
Overall a good book. Perhaps upper middle grade because of some of the themes in it and because of the magical beastie. A mature 10 year old could read this and enjoy it. It would also make a fun family read. It has the right balance of sweetness (found family), adventure (circus!) and swashbuckling adventure (sky ships!) to make for a well done middle grade adventure.
3.5 out of 5 boxes of freshly buttered popcorn.
(Ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
vickylovesreading's review
5.0
Bastjan has never known anything other than the circus that is his home. He was born there and he was even performing when just a babe in his mother’s arms. But the circus is failing and soon the ringmaster has made a deal with the enigmatic Dr Bauer, who seems to have nefarious motives to his actions. To save the circus Dr Bauer wants to take Bastjan’s last and only memories of his mother – a mysterious box containing unusual items.
When I started reading this book I hadn’t realised that it was a prequel to the fantastic The Eye of the North which I had thoroughly enjoyed a few years ago when I was just beginning to read children’s literature again. However, my friend Liam (@notsotweets) adores Sinead O’Harts books and I trust his opinion on books and so I immediately knew I had to request and read Skyborn and boy was I not disappointed. I love tales of the circus with all that excitement and colour and death defying, jaw dropping acts and performances and I was immediately enthralled by this story. I felt immediately immersed into this beautiful world and when I realised it was a prequel, I soon began to notice threads of The Eye of the North and subtle references that delighted me. The plot was fast paced and leapt about with action just as an acrobat from the circus would and I devoured this story quickly.
The main character Bastjan is fabulous and truly likeable. He’s full of heart and watching his courage grow as he fights to save his circus family and to protect others despite their differences is a joy. The cast of circus performers who surround Bastjan feel very real and support him well. They are brought to life through Sinead O’Hart’s magical descriptions. Ringmaster Cyrus Quinn is a devious antagonist who only thinks of himself and his villainy added to Dr Bauer’s makes for two bad guys to really root against throughout the story.
Skyborn is a thrilling tale full of wonder and family and I absolutely loved this. 5 out of 5 stars to a fantastic book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Tiger Press for providing an e-book review copy.
When I started reading this book I hadn’t realised that it was a prequel to the fantastic The Eye of the North which I had thoroughly enjoyed a few years ago when I was just beginning to read children’s literature again. However, my friend Liam (@notsotweets) adores Sinead O’Harts books and I trust his opinion on books and so I immediately knew I had to request and read Skyborn and boy was I not disappointed. I love tales of the circus with all that excitement and colour and death defying, jaw dropping acts and performances and I was immediately enthralled by this story. I felt immediately immersed into this beautiful world and when I realised it was a prequel, I soon began to notice threads of The Eye of the North and subtle references that delighted me. The plot was fast paced and leapt about with action just as an acrobat from the circus would and I devoured this story quickly.
The main character Bastjan is fabulous and truly likeable. He’s full of heart and watching his courage grow as he fights to save his circus family and to protect others despite their differences is a joy. The cast of circus performers who surround Bastjan feel very real and support him well. They are brought to life through Sinead O’Hart’s magical descriptions. Ringmaster Cyrus Quinn is a devious antagonist who only thinks of himself and his villainy added to Dr Bauer’s makes for two bad guys to really root against throughout the story.
Skyborn is a thrilling tale full of wonder and family and I absolutely loved this. 5 out of 5 stars to a fantastic book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Tiger Press for providing an e-book review copy.
booksandlemonsquash's review
4.0
I have previously loved Sinead O’Hart’s books and was so excited to see a new one come out. This held exactly the right amount of magic and peril to make a perfect middle grade book for me, and totally lived up to her previous works! I hadn’t realised going in (or really, until right at the end) that this was a prequel to The Eye of the North, so I’m definitely tempted to reread that now! *eyes TBR shelves warily*
This covers Bastjan’s time in the circus, before he meets Emmeline in TEOTN, though I think it stands alone well enough. I really enjoyed getting to know Bastjan and Crake, but I loved Alice and Wares once they joined up. I would definitely not say no to more of their story in the future.
The circus is great - it’s lovely to see some of the camaraderie elements as well as the more threatening ones, and the relationships there really made the book come to life for me. I also liked Quinn as a bad guy - he’s very focused and honestly believes he is doing the best for his circus even when no one around him appears to agree. The interaction with Dr Bauer as the prod towards the end plot was fun too - a nice tie in to TEOTN.
My only teeeeeeeny niggle is that I would have liked more about the slipskins (history, interaction, everything) - its really mostly only in the very last part of the book. But the story is Bastjan’s, so really that is such a minor part of it for him.
I definitely recommend this, and if you happen to pick up The Eye of the North too? Well that’s perfect :D
4 stars.
This covers Bastjan’s time in the circus, before he meets Emmeline in TEOTN, though I think it stands alone well enough. I really enjoyed getting to know Bastjan and Crake, but I loved Alice and Wares once they joined up. I would definitely not say no to more of their story in the future.
The circus is great - it’s lovely to see some of the camaraderie elements as well as the more threatening ones, and the relationships there really made the book come to life for me. I also liked Quinn as a bad guy - he’s very focused and honestly believes he is doing the best for his circus even when no one around him appears to agree. The interaction with Dr Bauer as the prod towards the end plot was fun too - a nice tie in to TEOTN.
My only teeeeeeeny niggle is that I would have liked more about the slipskins (history, interaction, everything) - its really mostly only in the very last part of the book. But the story is Bastjan’s, so really that is such a minor part of it for him.
I definitely recommend this, and if you happen to pick up The Eye of the North too? Well that’s perfect :D
4 stars.
rachael_amber's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
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