Whoa. The writing was splendid and held a signature style; the plot was intricate and surprising; and great attention and detail was dedicated to the world building and beautiful characters. I didn't know that stories with pirates could be so fun and adventurous but also deep and thought provoking. A lot of the emphasis at the beginning focused on a young man transitioning from his homeland to life on his own, but the end changed into an old man laying his life down for others so that they could have a home.

This is the first book I've read by Janelle Leanne Schmidt, so I have nothing previously written by her to compare, but in my opinion, The Orb and the Airship is an instant classic, a timeless treasure that I hope will be enjoyed for generations.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"That's the way dreams can be, son. The reality of them can sneak up on you. Doesn't mean you shouldn't follow them, though. It just means that sometimes there are things you have to give up in order to do so."

"But a man could dream of freedom."

"His was a road that would always go onward, and never back."

"Even in the midst of the darkest night, there was always a shard of light."