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A review by laural27
Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne
5.0
After I’d turned the last page of Monument 14 I clambered over my bed to read this book sitting on my shelf, eager to continue with the story. Sky On Fire is the second book in this trilogy and what a second book it was!
At the end of Monument 14, we are left on a cliff-hanger. Some of the kids have left on the bus, trying to find Denver airport and get help and some of them (those with O blood types) have stayed behind in Greenway (the superstore). One of the kids is dying and another has gone AWOL. So, everything is going a little bit wrong!!
Sky On Fire is told through Alex and Dean’s perspective with Alex on the bus and Dean still in the store. Alex and the bus encounter numerous challenges and when they are stopped by a gang of O blood types, they have to figure out a new way to get to Denver. Not only is the bus unsafe, the store is also under attack and when people realise there is a whole stash of food and water inside the building, they all want in. Dean and Astrid have to put aside their differences and work together to keep them and the little children safe. As the book rushes towards the end, we are left wondering if anything will turn out well for the group.
It was going to take a lot to write a book half as good as Monument 14 and whilst I was excited about carrying on with these characters journeys, I was worried this book would fall a little short. Luckily, it really didn’t! To have dual narration in this book was a fantastic idea – it was so exciting to be able to see two different experiences through two different sets of eyes. It also kept the pace really well as the narrative chopped and changed between the two boys and their two situations.
The characters all go on another journey during this book and it was hard at times to read about what was happening to some of them. When an apocalypse happens, it is likely people will die or get lost and whilst it was upsetting to read about, it bought a realistic element to the plot. Dean, Alex, Astrid and Niko are, I would say, the four main characters in this novel and I felt a large affinity to each one. They made me proud and the way they all made sure the younger children were looked after was incredibly heart-warming.
Sky On Fire had a fantastic pace and I was able to read this book in two sittings, I couldn’t put it down! Laybourne has really got a skill in this genre for keeping the reader on the edge of their seats and keeping the action consistent. However, whilst there are elements of fast paced action, there are also moments of tenderness and reflection where we are privy to the characters emotions and are able to see how they are truly feeling underneath their armour of bravado: it made them seem real.
I am interested to see how the story pans out in Savage Drift (the third book in this series) because it’s hard to know where the characters will go next. The end of Sky On Fire gave an idea of what the plot will be based around, but I will be keen to find out if there are many more sub plots so that we can get some answers to lots of questions I still have!
This was a really fantastic follow up to Monument 14 and I wait in anticipation for the final instalment!
At the end of Monument 14, we are left on a cliff-hanger. Some of the kids have left on the bus, trying to find Denver airport and get help and some of them (those with O blood types) have stayed behind in Greenway (the superstore). One of the kids is dying and another has gone AWOL. So, everything is going a little bit wrong!!
Sky On Fire is told through Alex and Dean’s perspective with Alex on the bus and Dean still in the store. Alex and the bus encounter numerous challenges and when they are stopped by a gang of O blood types, they have to figure out a new way to get to Denver. Not only is the bus unsafe, the store is also under attack and when people realise there is a whole stash of food and water inside the building, they all want in. Dean and Astrid have to put aside their differences and work together to keep them and the little children safe. As the book rushes towards the end, we are left wondering if anything will turn out well for the group.
It was going to take a lot to write a book half as good as Monument 14 and whilst I was excited about carrying on with these characters journeys, I was worried this book would fall a little short. Luckily, it really didn’t! To have dual narration in this book was a fantastic idea – it was so exciting to be able to see two different experiences through two different sets of eyes. It also kept the pace really well as the narrative chopped and changed between the two boys and their two situations.
The characters all go on another journey during this book and it was hard at times to read about what was happening to some of them. When an apocalypse happens, it is likely people will die or get lost and whilst it was upsetting to read about, it bought a realistic element to the plot. Dean, Alex, Astrid and Niko are, I would say, the four main characters in this novel and I felt a large affinity to each one. They made me proud and the way they all made sure the younger children were looked after was incredibly heart-warming.
Sky On Fire had a fantastic pace and I was able to read this book in two sittings, I couldn’t put it down! Laybourne has really got a skill in this genre for keeping the reader on the edge of their seats and keeping the action consistent. However, whilst there are elements of fast paced action, there are also moments of tenderness and reflection where we are privy to the characters emotions and are able to see how they are truly feeling underneath their armour of bravado: it made them seem real.
I am interested to see how the story pans out in Savage Drift (the third book in this series) because it’s hard to know where the characters will go next. The end of Sky On Fire gave an idea of what the plot will be based around, but I will be keen to find out if there are many more sub plots so that we can get some answers to lots of questions I still have!
This was a really fantastic follow up to Monument 14 and I wait in anticipation for the final instalment!