a bit confusing yet overall a standardly average dystopian. unfortunately, the story does not wrap up neatly enough for it to be a solid enough conclusion without the rest of the story that has yet to be written.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I read this book in one sitting because I could not put the book down, I highly recommend reading this book!

I was a bit confused with the time period for this novel, but I think that made me more interested and intrigued with this novel. It felt like it was in the English industrial revolution but there were bits of technology that I am not really sure would belong in that time period. I know people think that the characters being the worst spies are a turn off, but I thought it added to it because in a way it made it funny and a tad bit unpredictable. I can't describe it very well but I just thought it made it fun to see them be bad spies and it changed things up a bit. Normally spies in novels tend to be very good spies. Nice to see the other side. I am on the fence about continuing this series but I think I will. The ending made me curious enough to check it out, and I did enjoy the characters enough to want to see more from them.

This is the first book in the series and it starts right off with the action. Set in a dystopian world were the opporessed are trying to overthrow the mighty in a search for the elusive coils and brass that will save the world. Are they real or is it just a fairy tale told to give hope to an oppressed part of the world? The author does a great job of drawing us into the story and the last part of it is where the action really picks up to the point where you don’t want to put it down. Amber Sky is well worth the read to anyone looking for something fresh in what can sometimes be an overstocked fantasy genre.

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this YA Fantasy dystopian book. It is similar to a lot of other books out there, but it's still an enjoyable read. I will definitely read the next book in this series.

The nobility run the country and control the population by controlling the jobs they can work, the food they eat and their education. They also control the C.O.I.L.S. of Copper and Brass, which is rumored to have powers to control the amber sky and other elements.

Tay is a young girl barely keeping her siblings alive after her father is arrested. She begs the Overseer's son, Darius, for help, but it comes at a cost. She will owe him a favor that he can ask at any time. As a part of the bargain, Tay is given a job that takes her to the Palace. Before she leaves, she is pressured to find out information to assist the rebellion.

Tay risks everything to help her family, but Darius has secrets that complicate matters and endanger them more than they could imagine. Tay and Darius must decide if they are going to just help themselves, or help the rebellion, seek the C.O.I.L.S. and help everyone.

"The Coils of Copper and Brass were a fantasy, an old fairy tale told to children, and certainly nothing to pin dreams of freedom on."

3.5/5 stars

Over the course of Christmas Break, I thought it would be best if I wrote reviews for all the books I have read over the past couple of months. When Christmas Break came and went , I saw there were no reviews written, so I am using the few days I have gotten off from school due to freezing temperatures to write reviews. The first review I thought I should start off with is one in which I thought the cover was stunningly beautiful and the description was intriguing. Who is ready to jump into a review about more than just pretty dresses and steamy romances?

First, the plot was very interesting and I found it very intriguing. However, it is overused as it is a dystopian society where the government controls all the knowledge of its people. Also, everyone is sorted into social classes depending on where one lives. It reminded me too much of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; however, there were no kids fighting to the death. Though there may not have been a brave character choosing to fight in the place of her sister to save the world, I got to see some of the politics of this world and be in the place of a stealthily spying character.

Next, I really enjoyed the characters, especially Tana as she had a really good character arc. When reading a story, I look for a character to relate to, and this book did not disappoint. I really saw myself in this book as I am very shy and meek, like Tana; however, as the story progresses, Tana begins to find herself and begins to stand up for herself as she learns new things and becomes a spy for Darius and his sister. That is the opposite of me as I will probably always be a small turtle hiding in my shell. The other character I wanted to discuss is Darius as he is the main love interest for Tana. He is a lot more selfless than I thought he was going to be as he loves his sister, whom he will protect forever, and would rather save the world than stand on the sidelines. Although I may have enjoyed Darious as a character, I really wish that Darius had as much character development as Tana as he was just the brooding male heroine/love-interest.

Also, I also really enjoyed the romance. Usually, I either love or hate the romance, and this one did not disappoint me as I was shipping Tana and Darius from the start. Who cannot find an OTP in a book? That is impossible as I have started doing it in real life; such as when I may have started shipping Canada and Mexico together. It is not a problem until you start identifying it as a problem. However, I hate that a love triangle was starting to form with Tana, Darius, and some soldier whose name I cannot remember. I just want a romance without a love triangle forming because it never happens in real life. Just, why?!

Now that I have at least written one nice thing about this book, it is time to bring in some saucy drama. Ooooh!!! One not so good quality of this book was when the story line got super slow, like slug slow. The story would just trudge on, and of course me being me, I would start reading at midnight and end up falling asleep five minutes later. Just because I have low patience does not mean that I should have to wait for the action scenes and high drama. Also, I have said this before, but the plot is cliché and used too often in books, movies, and so many television shows.

Lastly, the only reason why I decided to give this book 3.5 stars was because it was interesting, and I know I would have enjoyed this so much more in the prime years of dystopian. Even though the plot was a bit overused, which I have said for the three millionth time, it did bring me some nostalgic memories of reading The Hunger Games, Divergent, Matched, and so many other books that were part of the young adult dystopian craze. Also, the ending left me wanting more so you probably know what I will be requesting next!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

Love,
newbookcats

It's beautifully written, but I'm just so tired of "awesome female lead starts a rebellion from within the oppressor's court" stories...

Something Wicked Lurks Beneath the Amber Sky…
In the future, something has happened to turn the sky amber…the idea of a blue sky has faded into myth and legend. Specifically, a legend that says that the blue sky can be restored through use of tools called the Coils of Copper and Brass, and that this may be the key to bringing down the brutal caste system that has developed. As in any good dystopian tale, most of the oppressed class has accepted their lot in life, toiling away under brutal conditions, barely scraping by, yet unwilling to risk death in a violent spectacle in an effort to change the status quo. They look askance at members of the rebellion who are willing to risk it all, seeing them as foolish dreamers, or worse as rabble rousers who deserve to be punished. Tay, the heroine of Amber Sky, falls somewhere in the middle. She and her siblings have suffered harsh consequences due to the work their parents have done for the rebellion; their mother is presumed dead following food riots, and their father has been jailed for working to subvert the government. This has affected Tay’s ability to get a good job, and to provide rations above starvation quantity for her younger brother and sister. And so, although she hates the nobility, she is unwilling to join the rebellion…until she is forced into it.

Amber Sky is an excellent start to what is sure to be a riveting series. I can see a love triangle forming between Tay and a noble (Darius), and the crown prince (Talon), although Tay for her part views both possibilities as more dangerous than they are worth, and accepts that her love for one of them will only lead to a broken heart since in their world any future is an impossibility. By the end of the book she is so tangled up in a web of lies and deceit that it is difficult to fathom how she will pull herself out of it unscathed. This is a must read for those who like dystopian novels; there’s a flavor reminiscent of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Selection mixed together with brand new ideas, to make for a entertaining, quick read. I highly recommend checking it out!

I’m doomed. I have to suffer waiting for the next book and this is why I don’t read book series unless all the instalments are out. I hate waiting. Yes, I’m not bit ashamed to admit that I’m not patient person. But I saw this on Netgalley and foolishly clicked the request button. Not that I’m complaining but I’m doomed.

Okay, with that statement and my star-rating, obviously, I like this book. No, LIKE is understatement. I looooove it. I devoured it. I read it in one sitting (though my goodreads log might tell you differently).

You might wonder why I didn’t give it five star then. It’s because I can’t say that everything is perfect with Amber Sky, which is perfectly understandable and common in first books of series. This is a Sci-fi/Dystopian series which means it introduces the readers to a different world with different rules, governments, and even people. So somehow, there are few parts that I found little slow.

The plot is interesting and promising. Though I must admit, when I first read the name of the series, COILS of Copper and Brass, I found it uninteresting and not appealing. AT ALL. But don’t be deceived. The series’ name actually added to the mystery which makes the story more interesting and captivating as you read the novel. Even the title Amber Sky made me wonder if the sky is actually rusty? Besides the series name says COILS, COPPER and BRASS.

The author created this world where people haven’t seen a blue sky or at least our protagonist haven’t. In this world, there is this unfair government where everything is controlled by the nobility. Thus the rebellion…(familiar? everyone?)

The Characters gave me mixed feelings but in a good way. First half, I’m almost frustrated with Tay, our heroine. She lacks backbone. Now, looking back I’m now enthralled by Tay’s cowardice. Why? Because it’s refreshing to meet a less courageous heroine in a YA dystopian. She started so weak, but then when her father was arrested due to said rebellion, she was forced to do something courageous – approaching a man named Darius James, a member of the nobility.

From then, Tay grew a backbone throughout the book and I’m totally excited to see her on the second book because she’s gonna be a badass. I’m sure of it.

The guys, for me, seemed like they were transported from Romance erotic novels. No, there are no explicit contents. But the men’s personas resemble those sexy, controlling, unapologizing, mysterious billionaires I often find in erotic novels. WHICH IS VERY GOOD, BY THE WAY. I just wish that I see more of their character developments in the next book. In here, I still consider the guys as flat characters for the lack of development.

Overall, this is a very engaging read. This book is perfect for the fans of Hunger Games, Divergent and alas! The Mortal Instrument. Go figure Why. Sorry no shadowhunters but there’s this little misunderstanding in TMI that can be found here too though not directly but it was the first plot point that got my attention. I was like Oh my God, the Romance is gonna be exciting. Anyway, this book will leave you asking for more and excited for the next book. This is a story of courage, survival and equality. Of family and love.

Though it wasn’t THAT thrilling and mind-blowing, it succeeded on taking hold of my mind and heart so I found myself connected in the story and made me interested and care for what will happen next. Blame it to the twists and turns throughout the story.

Excited for the next book which I’m sure is filled with a bad-ass adventure!!!

Every time I had a Goodreads vote on what to read next this book won. I didn’t understand why until after I finished reading when I realized that this book had one of the most intriguing concepts I have ever read and it was executed very well.

What I found to be most interesting was the unique class systems based around ratings even among the wealthy. This made for some interesting social dynamics where no matter who you are your rank is never safe and it is possible for you to loose all your status.

I also loved the imagery of the Amber Sky in this book and the fact that the sky ever having been blue was almost one thing of myths for them. It was almost difficult to grasp in my head because all my life I have thought of the sky being blue and to think of it being any other color was a bit strange. What I liked mot about the Amber sky however was that it is almost a representation of the secretive and oppressed state of the people in this story.

Our heroine in this story is also a bit of an unusual one because she does not seem to even want to be a heroine. She was mostly coerced into it because she did not want any more of her family getting hurt for the resistance cause anymore.

This book for me was a mix of political and octal intrigue, mixed with a rebel cause and a little bit of romance to make for one of the most unique storylines I have ever read. Amber Sky has a lot to offer and I am so excited to see what happens next in book two!

I liked it, although it reminded me of a mash up of several other books that I have read. The ending was intriguing. I will definitely be reading the sequel to see what happens next.

I found Amber Sky by Claire Warner to be a quite enjoyable book to read. The plot may sound generic with its dystopian feel and the lower classes being trod upon by the nobles, but the story itself gives it its own unique feel.
I quite liked the characters and the protagonist, Tay, felt real to me. She had the weight of the world thrust on her shoulders and took the routes she felt were best to protect her younger siblings. At times she felt overwhelmed and reacted accordingly
The prose wasn't heavy and flowed easily and naturally. It was a book that I found hard to put down and found myself still reading in the early hours of the morning. The twists and turns that lead up to the ending left me wanting to read the next book in the series.
I would recommend it to those who enjoy young adult novels with a female protagonist. There is a little bit of romance sprinkled in as well.

A free copy of this e-book was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I will admit that it took me a while to get into the book, I wasn't captivated by Tay or Darius to begin with or the opening in general BUT I soon was! When Darius called in his favour, I was hooked. The story's setting is Victorian-esque which is a breath of fresh air in the dystopian/fantasy genre, I recommend this book to anybody wanting to escape to a world that has glimpses of the past as well as those who don't want a perfect male lead (I'm looking at you, Darius).

What a fun book! Between the writing and the dialogue and the characters, everything about this book was EXACTLY what I needed!

It was an okay book. There wasn't anything about it that stood out from the rest in its genre. It was disappointed in that. I'm not sure if I would read a sequel, personally.

Tay's father has been arrested and Tay finds herself at the Overseer's house, to plead her case to his son Darius. What started as an act of desperation, Tay finds herself owing Darius a favor, one that she has no idea what it will entail. Without any say on her part, Tay is now a maid in a wealthy family's house, potentially acting as a spy- but for what side? Is she there to do some mysterious favor for Darius, or is she a pawn for the dangerous revolution that got her father arrested?

This is the second book that I have read by Claire, in an entirely different series and world, and enjoyed it more than the first, most likely since this is dystopian vs the historical setting that was the first book. The story dropped the main character Tay and the reader right into the middle of an uncomfortable situation where neither of us knew what would happen next. The world built piece by piece, little bits revealed as the plot progressed and I was anxious for more. It was the perfect way to get me interested and keep me hooked, completely uncertain as to what was coming next.




The story is just how I like my dystopians, full of gritty details and dangerous situations, where a happily ever after may not really be how the story plays out. Tay slightly resembled Katniss from The Hunger Games to me in the regard that she was willing to go without and make any kind of bargain to better her sibling's life, as well as the fact that she did not want to be a part of any rebellion and yet still she found her way smack dab in the center of one- pretty much against her will. Tay was one of those characters that liked to fly under the radar, was content to continue her depressing, half-starved existence as long as it meant she could live. What started as a quest to better her father's situation ended up with her in the middle of a mess not of her own making. And boy, what a sad way to live. I wanted to have an intervention, but after living in her shoes for a week, it was hard to see what sort of future potential she even had. This world is hard, and it is so easy to break someone down. So yeah, now that I am reflecting on the story, maybe don't pick this up if you are looking for something upbeat or super happy, because you might be a little surprised at what you get.

The setting took me a little bit to figure out, but a childhood "bedtime story" mentioned strategically during the book helped to fill in the gaps. A mysterious, perhaps fantastical coil was created to help out mankind and ended up turning the sky the Amber color it is now (supposedly, it was blue once- can't be true!) and things were great, but then the coils went missing and bad things started happening such as crops dying, and humanity turned on itself, leaving the system that is now in place. The rich control all, the poor are dying, social injustices abound- people having no rights, and pretty much reverting back to a class system with servants and the poor as if it was the 1800s. I found the world to be interesting, especially since I did not at first realize that this could be our future.




There was a surprising paranormal element to the story that I never even anticipated, so that was a pleasant surprise, but don't expect a supernatural story. The story was a nice mix of mystery, danger, romance (yep, some lurv that I didn't even mention here since I was caught up in the world and the danger, so there!), harsh life reality and the possibility for a better world. I look forward to the next story because this is a big mess of an ending that leaves you hanging, beware- Cliffhanger! I look forward to more from Tay and Darius, as well as this interesting world building adventure.

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I've already read a couple of this author's previous books from the Night Flower series, and although they weren't quite 4 stars I found them to be wonderfully unique and engaging and I couldn't wait to read more.

Unfortunately Amber Sky wasn't quite as captivating for me. I was expecting more of a fantasy/paranormal factor but it was actually more set up to feature in the sequel rather than in this first installment, which was a downer for me because it's the fantasy aspects that I love the most!

It's a strange mix of a steampunk historical fiction and dystopian, but it worked and the world building was my favourite thing about this story. It's like an alternative dystopian history in which some magical element (The Coils) has turned the sky amber instead of blue and there's allusions to many fantasy elements that we didn't quite get to see. I will probably pick up the second book in the series as soon as I get the chance just because I can't wait to learn more about the world and find out more about the fantasy side.

I thoroughly enjoyed the framework of the caste society and the history of the world that Warner built; the story of the rebellion was believable and convincing and I really felt like I could envisage the settings. On the flip side there was just something lacking in the way the actual prose read and it didn't flow like I had come to expect from her previous books.

I also didn't feel as though the characters had the 'zing' that I'm used to from this author and some of the interactions are stilted and awkward. The worst part though was that I wasn't sure that the character's motivations were believable enough for me.

While this one definitely showed some weaker aspects it was entertaining and I did enjoy this book and I am interested in seeing where this story goes.

This book is thrilling. You won't be able to put it down. It keeps you on your toes and wanting more.