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theshaggyshepherd's review
3.0
Skyward Inn // by Aliya Whiteley
I have been somewhat dreading writing this review because days after finishing this book, I am still not entirely sure what to think about it. It seems that every time I go back to contemplating it, I figure out something new. I usually do not read other people's reviews of a book either until mine is written so that their opinions cannot influence mine but I even broke that self-imposed rule this time. And again, every time I read one, I find out something new about this book that I didn't realize before. So it obviously isn't a story that is just not that great. It is a story that has multiple hidden layers that are slowly peeled back the more you think about it. I am not used to reading books like that so it has been an interesting experience for me. I've never been a fan of star ratings but I am forced to choose one but please do not pay too much attention to that because I just did not know which to go with.
At its very surface, this is the story of a mother and son, first contact with an alien species, the relationship between humans and that species, and a disease that forces much of Earth to go into quarantine. Peel it back a little though and you will see in more detail the struggle of fitting in for several people and how that affects their lives differently. Rather than seeing a weird inter-species emotional relationship, you'll understand the reason for the physical distance between the characters. And what about the peaceful meeting of two species that surprised everyone? It took me until the very end of the book to understand this things just weren't what they seemed.
I am used to much more detail in the SFF books that I read so at first I was pretty underwhelmed by this book. Nonetheless, the weirdness and relative short length compelled me to read it relatively quickly, which then allowed plenty of time for me to sit there stunned. Whiteley impressed me with the way she incorporated community, belonging, individuality, colonialism, othering, fear, adventurism, and so much more into this short book with language that makes you feel as if you are reading a philosophical book. I don't have much experience with experimental sci-fi but if that is what this book is, then I at least know that I want more of it because I love a book that makes me think about it longer after I finish it.
But despite this uniqueness and thought-provoking writing, I was also surprised that an author that for the most part seemed to be so intentional with their writing would spend time on scenes that just to me felt unnecessary. We know that sex is on many teenagers' minds but the detail of masturbation just felt very out of place to me personally. Is this just another one of those things that I'll learn to understand later on? Maybe during a reread even? I don't know. But it did throw me off and kept me at a distance emotionally for a long time because I wasn't sure anymore if this was the kind of book I really wanted to be reading at that time. It just felt like it was there more for the shock factor than character development or anything else.
Also, despite reading the synopsis beforehand, I wasn't 100% of the location at the start either. Was there another planet aside from Quita and Earth where the inn was located? Were there more species than Quitans and humans that we needed to know about? Is the appearance of Quitans much different to that of humans and could that affect relationships between the species? As I said above, I am used to much more detail in my usual books and while I can see how the lack of it can be very thought-provoking, which for the most part has been very well done in this book, I still think that adding a little bit more detail in certain areas would have helped me get more invested in the story overall.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have been somewhat dreading writing this review because days after finishing this book, I am still not entirely sure what to think about it. It seems that every time I go back to contemplating it, I figure out something new. I usually do not read other people's reviews of a book either until mine is written so that their opinions cannot influence mine but I even broke that self-imposed rule this time. And again, every time I read one, I find out something new about this book that I didn't realize before. So it obviously isn't a story that is just not that great. It is a story that has multiple hidden layers that are slowly peeled back the more you think about it. I am not used to reading books like that so it has been an interesting experience for me. I've never been a fan of star ratings but I am forced to choose one but please do not pay too much attention to that because I just did not know which to go with.
At its very surface, this is the story of a mother and son, first contact with an alien species, the relationship between humans and that species, and a disease that forces much of Earth to go into quarantine. Peel it back a little though and you will see in more detail the struggle of fitting in for several people and how that affects their lives differently. Rather than seeing a weird inter-species emotional relationship, you'll understand the reason for the physical distance between the characters. And what about the peaceful meeting of two species that surprised everyone? It took me until the very end of the book to understand this things just weren't what they seemed.
I am used to much more detail in the SFF books that I read so at first I was pretty underwhelmed by this book. Nonetheless, the weirdness and relative short length compelled me to read it relatively quickly, which then allowed plenty of time for me to sit there stunned. Whiteley impressed me with the way she incorporated community, belonging, individuality, colonialism, othering, fear, adventurism, and so much more into this short book with language that makes you feel as if you are reading a philosophical book. I don't have much experience with experimental sci-fi but if that is what this book is, then I at least know that I want more of it because I love a book that makes me think about it longer after I finish it.
But despite this uniqueness and thought-provoking writing, I was also surprised that an author that for the most part seemed to be so intentional with their writing would spend time on scenes that just to me felt unnecessary. We know that sex is on many teenagers' minds but the detail of masturbation just felt very out of place to me personally. Is this just another one of those things that I'll learn to understand later on? Maybe during a reread even? I don't know. But it did throw me off and kept me at a distance emotionally for a long time because I wasn't sure anymore if this was the kind of book I really wanted to be reading at that time. It just felt like it was there more for the shock factor than character development or anything else.
Also, despite reading the synopsis beforehand, I wasn't 100% of the location at the start either. Was there another planet aside from Quita and Earth where the inn was located? Were there more species than Quitans and humans that we needed to know about? Is the appearance of Quitans much different to that of humans and could that affect relationships between the species? As I said above, I am used to much more detail in my usual books and while I can see how the lack of it can be very thought-provoking, which for the most part has been very well done in this book, I still think that adding a little bit more detail in certain areas would have helped me get more invested in the story overall.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
readmoreyall's review
This book is strange in a good way. I’m not sure if I can rate it because I don’t want to read it again but I also really enjoyed it. I have so many questions!
mimib4's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Brilliantly, beautifully written.
rhifallows's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is probably my first sci-fi novel that I’ve ever read and I actually really enjoyed it!
I didn’t really know what to expect but safe to say I didn’t predict a spaceport in Swansea, an intergalactic Kissing Gate and the colonisation of an alien race. I’ve definitely never read anything like it before but the author really drew me in. Her writing was nuanced and believable and despite the other worldly nature of the story, everything was very clear and easy to follow.
It read more like a philosophical novel on the human psyche with almost religious connotations of rebirth and other realms thrown in for good measure. I honestly didn’t realise this book would give me so much to think about.
Thoroughly enjoyable and if anyone fancies something completely different (unless you read sci-fi all the time
I didn’t really know what to expect but safe to say I didn’t predict a spaceport in Swansea, an intergalactic Kissing Gate and the colonisation of an alien race. I’ve definitely never read anything like it before but the author really drew me in. Her writing was nuanced and believable and despite the other worldly nature of the story, everything was very clear and easy to follow.
It read more like a philosophical novel on the human psyche with almost religious connotations of rebirth and other realms thrown in for good measure. I honestly didn’t realise this book would give me so much to think about.
Thoroughly enjoyable and if anyone fancies something completely different (unless you read sci-fi all the time
lauralauralaura's review against another edition
3.5
This book is more of a mood than a plot. Kind of about the end of the world, or the start of a new one.
haileydonna's review
3.0
Skyward Inn was certainly unique. I took a few days after I finished reading this book to collect my thoughts and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel. On the one hand, Aliya Whiteley succeeded at creating an engaging novel that captivates the reader. I was thoroughly invested in the story and I didn't want to put the book down, however, I'm not sure if that's a credit to the actual writing or simply an indication of how confused I was and much I wanted answers. I was a bit irked by the alternating points-of-view (Jem's was first person, yet Fosse's was third person) and I thought that some unnecessary elements were added simply to unsettle the reader, when the surrealist nature of the book would have been sufficiently unsettling on it's own. I really could have done without Fosse's masturbatory scenes at the farm and the rather distasteful revelation about "brew" and bodily fluids. There was also a sudden and unexplained timeline shift toward the end of the book that didn't feel all that effective as a plot device.
Initially, the book seemed to be a commentary about colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples, their land and their resources. When the "Kissing Gates" appear on Earth, humans immediately seize the opportunity to mount a military incursion on the planet of Qita. They then take advantage of the Qitan's peaceful nature in order to appropriate the planet's resources and bring them back to Earth. The author also makes a powerful statement about the nature of assimilation and how little choice people are often given in the matter.
Most of the story is set in the Western Protectorate, which seceded from the UK and rejected all modern technology following the appearance of the Kissing Gates. I thought that the Western Protectorate beautifully encapsulated the concept of hiraeth, a Welsh word with no true English equivalent that can be translated as a "longing for a home that no longer exists or never was". Many characters in the book have an idealized, nostalgic view of the Protectorate that they try to cling to even if change is inevitable. I think that in our rapidly changing world, where technology seems to take precedence, the desire for simpler times will resonate with a lot of readers.
At then end of the day, I do think that Skyward Inn is a worthwhile read. Stylistically, it's quite different from other books on the market and the content will challenge the reader's perceptions and leave them thinking long after they finish reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris Books for providing this ARC.
Initially, the book seemed to be a commentary about colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples, their land and their resources. When the "Kissing Gates" appear on Earth, humans immediately seize the opportunity to mount a military incursion on the planet of Qita. They then take advantage of the Qitan's peaceful nature in order to appropriate the planet's resources and bring them back to Earth.
Spoiler
Ultimately, it is revealed that the Qitan's aren't quite as docile as they appear, and that maybe it isn't the humans who are the colonizers. So perhaps the story is actually a critique of human arrogance. Either way, it was a stunning twist that I very much was not expecting.Most of the story is set in the Western Protectorate, which seceded from the UK and rejected all modern technology following the appearance of the Kissing Gates. I thought that the Western Protectorate beautifully encapsulated the concept of hiraeth, a Welsh word with no true English equivalent that can be translated as a "longing for a home that no longer exists or never was". Many characters in the book have an idealized, nostalgic view of the Protectorate that they try to cling to even if change is inevitable. I think that in our rapidly changing world, where technology seems to take precedence, the desire for simpler times will resonate with a lot of readers.
At then end of the day, I do think that Skyward Inn is a worthwhile read. Stylistically, it's quite different from other books on the market and the content will challenge the reader's perceptions and leave them thinking long after they finish reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris Books for providing this ARC.
archie_author's review against another edition
3.0
After reading the first two parts, it just could not get into it and stopped reading. I have no clue why it was the Times SF book of the month.
ananotherthing's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5