Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors and his latest young adult offering, Skyward, doesn’t disappoint. Sanderson is best known for his fantasy novels, but this novel length foray into science fiction is a lot of fun, with many of the twists and turns you’ve come to expect from a Sanderson novel. In typical Sanderson fashion, he keeps the pages turning and this is especially true of the climax. If you’re looking for a pulse-pounding sci-fi read, check out Skyward.

I loved the world building in Skyward. From the caverns below Alta Base to the starfighters our characters spend so much time in, there is a great deal of care that has been taken and it shows. Sanderson is known for his world building, so this should come as no surprise, but it’s still a lot of fun to read. There are also hints that there are even greater depths to the world building that I can’t wait to read about in subsequent books. The world building isn’t the only thing I loved, however. Spensa is a wonderful main character, made all the more so by the growth we see her go through in this novel. The side characters are also a lot of fun and seem real, with their own backstories, problems, and arcs—though obviously none of them are as developed as Spensa. I particularly enjoyed the fact that at times, especially early on in the novel, Spensa is obviously trying to make herself out to be someone she actually isn’t and that she realizes this as the novel goes on. There were moments in those early chapters when I didn’t particularly like Spensa, but I understood why she was the way she was. Of course, she gets herself into some truly dicey situations and there is a good deal of action throughout the novel. The starfighter dogfights are excellently detailed and thoroughly enjoyable. The novel also doesn’t shy away from the reality of war and the death it causes. While it’s hardly a treatise on the evils of war, it certainly shows the weight of pain that accumulates over time.

There are a few weaknesses to the novel. The largest of these is that at times I felt like there were elements of the novels that were a little contrived. Near the beginning of the novel, some fellow students and one teacher tell Spensa she’ll never be admitted to the flight school for starfighter pilots. This leads to her leaving her cavern and wandering around for a day in a half. It created tension, but was maybe a step too far in my suspension of disbelief. I also found certain decisions made by the leadership of the Detritus Defense Force to be counter-productive at best. This may simply be a side effect of the “adults make stupid decisions” trope in young adult books. But it was something that lessened my enjoyment of the novel slightly. There was a little bit of romance that also felt slightly contrived. The novel was still excellent overall, however.

If you’re already a fan of Brandon Sanderson, you’ll love Skyward. If you aren’t a fan but are looking for a fun YA sci-fi novel with plenty of action, look no further. I’m looking forward to the next entry in this series, I’m sure it’ll be every bit the adventure this one was.

4.4/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing