I had the privilege of receiving an ARC of Ms. Marie Lu's Skyhunter and it was amazing (as her work always is)! I found it intriguing to delve into the mind of a mute character(Talin) who communicates with sign language. I also enjoyed Red, Rooke, Jeran, and Talin's mom as well as all the combat scenes. My only complaint would be that now I can't wait until next year for the sequel!

Marie Lu's storytelling hurts so good and Skyhunter is no exception. Any fan of Legend or Young Elites will love this story just as much as I did. Though the dystopian setting is nothing particularly unique, this books strengths lie in its characters and relationships.

Lu adds more to the typical tropes of the genre: along with being a skilled fighter and an outcast refugee, our protagonist Talin is also mute, which is a first for me as a reader. The use of sign language and other means of communication just goes to show that a rebellion doesn't need long-winded powerful speeches to make an impact and I was so happy to have that representation present.

The concepts of the Strikers and their Shields - their life-long battle partners - creates a relationship dynamic that makes my guilty pleasure found-family loving self just melt. There's just something about the way Marie Lu writes chemistry and yearning and trust and love and companionship that makes me immediately fall in love with every new relationship dynamic that she creates.

And of course, it's not a Marie Lu book without tragedy. But that's what I love best about it.

Overall, Skyhunter is an incredibly promising beginning to a new series and I can't wait for my heart to be shattered into a million little pieces over and over again as the story continues on.

I am a huge fan of Marie Lu’s prior works and was so excited when I got the email that I had been chosen to be part of SKYHUNTER’s Street Team. Helping promote the newest book by one of my favorite authors has been such an awesome opportunity, and to top it off, I got to read an electronic copy early!

I love Marie Lu’s style of worldbuilding and this book was no exception. Her writing immerses the reader into the world of her novels immediately, and the information given always feels natural, and not like info-dumping just to get the information to the reader. This creates a rich world and a book that is hard to put down because it is so immersive.

I loved the story of Talin, Red, Adena, Jeran, Aramin, and those who impacted their lives. That ending has me on the edge of my seat waiting for book two, and in my opinion, book two cannot come soon enough! I can’t wait to see the repercussions of that finale, and Talin’s choice at the close of the book. I found myself dragging out reading the last 20% of this book because I just wasn’t ready to leave this world, these characters, or their stories.

As a disabled reader, Marie Lu’s disability representation has always meant so much to me because her disabled characters are richly fleshed out, and allowed to be heroes and protagonists, and SKYHUNTER was no different. Talin’s disability being an advantage as a striker, and her stubborn refusal of the idea that she needed to be fixed or cured is so important for people to see. When so much representation reduces disabled characters to someone to pity, someone who is broken and needs to be “fixed” or “cured”, or a character to kill off to move the protagonist’s story or motivation forward, Lu’s dedication to making her disabled characters seem three dimensional and letting them be integral to her stories always catches me a little bit off guard because good representation is so hard to find. The fact that the other Strikers never look down on her for her muteness, her status as a refugee sometimes, but never her muteness also stood out to me.

Jeran and Aramin caught me by surprise. As secondary characters, I didn’t expect to fall in love with them and their relationship as hard as I did. There were multiple times where Aramin’s actions as they related to Jeran brought tears to my eyes. I also loved how Aramin slowly moves from being shown as an authority figure that despite being close in age to the main crew of characters is distinctly separate due to his role as the Firstblade, to being shown as the young man he is through his relationship with Jeran and his willingness to aid the main crew even when it could cause issues because he still remembers what standing in their places was like, and Jeran keeps him tethered to that experience which shines through toward the end of the novel.

I also loved Talin and Red’s dynamic as they went from enemies to reluctant allies to friends to potentially something more, which is one reason that I cannot wait for book two is to see where exactly their relationship progresses to because of the choices made at the end of the novel. Their relationship felt like a natural progression to me despite the short time frame due to their link allowing the process to be sped up a bit in getting to know each other.

Marie Lu did not disappoint with SKYHUNTER and I can’t wait to receive my finished copy in the mail!

I received an advanced audiobook copy of Skyhunter from Libro.FM, so I could share my review with you!

Talin is on the losing side of an endless war, but that won’t stop her from fighting until her last breath. As an elite striker defending the nation of Mara from the merciless Federation, Talin spends her days working to destroy the mutated “ghosts” created to wipe Mara from the map. Strikers work in tandem, but when her partner is killed in battle, Talin doesn’t know how to go on. She survives in a haze, barely collecting the strength to get out of bed each day, with seemingly no end to her grief. That is until her reality is shifted by the arrival of a Federation war prisoner captures her attention. Talin can tell he’s hiding something. Perhaps something big enough that it could turn the tides of the war. Together, they must determine what costs they are willing to pay to remain free.

You can get your audiobook copy of Skyhunter on September 29th from Libro.FM!

Marie Lu has been one of my instant-buy authors since the first pages of Warcross, and I am pleased to say that she blew me away with Skyhunter! The exciting war-front dystopia of Skyhunter is a perfect example of why I so adore Lu’s writing style. It contained the thrill of high-stakes, while also involving character development in a way that is absolutely irresistible. I found each character’s actions to be realistically motivated, giving the story an intense pull forward. I was also very pleased with Lu’s inclusion of sign language as a normalized form of communication within Skyhunter. The audiobook was especially enjoyable for me due to Natalie Naudus’s gritty narration style, which embodied Talin’s character in every word.

My Recommendation-
If you’ve enjoyed Marie Lu’s previous works (especially the Legend Series) you won’t want to miss out on Skyhunter! Packed with action and emotional devastation, this story is perfect for readers who have been looking for a post-apocalyptic read unlike any other.

4.5 Stars

I always get excited when a new Marie Lu book is coming out, and this one did not disappoint! Lu has a way of writing dystopian/scifi novels in a way that it is SO EASY to see how our world could get to that place. And how we could get there soon.

This book was no different. We learn that the world Talin lives in once belonged to the "old ones" and as far as we know, we are the old ones. I could see what was described happening to our world, and this being the outcome, and that is what makes this novel so brilliant, yet scary.

Characters

Talin is our leading lady. She is a refugee who has joined the army of her new land, the country that took her and her people in. However, took them in is putting it kindly. Really they make them live on the outskirts of the city in poverty and label them the "rats." Talin was only allowed to enter the army because of a boy who took a chance on her, and her skill. Even with the cruel treatment, she wants to protect this country and sees the value of stopping the Federation from taking over more lands. Talin also has not said a single word since her home was invaded. She does not know if it's because of the physical scars, or the mental ones, but either way we get an badass female character who is mute and communicates through sign language and it was really amazing to see! Especially since she is never looked down on for this!

Red is our main man, and our skyhunter. No this is NOT a spoiler, he literally tells you this the first time he speaks, before you learn his name. Red has had some really tough things happen to him, and the more we learned about him, the more I grew to love him. He is the looks like he could kill you but is a cinnamon roll character. Except he could actually kill you too lol! AND HE HAS A PET MOUSE! I swear this was the cutest thing ever and every time the mouse came out I just melted inside! I have a new bookish crush and his name is Red!

Rooke was a complex character. I honestly couldn't decide how I felt about her for most of the book. She has so much hatred for the Federation, that it turns her unnecessarily cruel in some aspects, but I honestly thought this was so realistic. If I had gone through what she did, I think I would be the same way, so I definitely understand why she acts the way she does. By the end though I do like her and I hope we get to see more development for her in the future!

Jurin is a sweetheart character that I loved the entire time! This guy has such a good heart and cares so much for those he loves. My heart broke for him the more I learned about his home life, and I just really hope we get to see him happy!

Talin's mom was another great character and I could see her becoming one of my favorite literary mothers!

Plot

The plot was very intriguing and definitely put a new spin on the typical dystopian story.

AND THAT ENDING! I MEAN WOWWWWW!!!

I cannot WAIT to see where the next book will take us! I'm expecting many twists and turns!

Relationships

I love that a big focus of this book was the platonic relationships of friends and family. Don't get me wrong, I loveeeee romance, but I also want there to be more. And we really got to see that! I love the relationships that shields have with each other!

As for Talin and Red, it was an enemies to lovers type situation which is my favorite! However, I feel it wasn't the strongest. I never fully felt the enemies aspect. And then I felt like they kind of jumped to friends, to maybe having more feelings, pretty quickly. I'd love to see some more development and I hope we do in the next book!

We got to see bits and pieces of one more romantic relationship that I won't give away (even though it was kind of obvious) and I really really loved this one! I hope we get to see more of it in the future!

Overall

This was a great start to a new series and I really can't wait to see where it goes from here!

When I first got the email telling me I was on the street team for Skyhunter, I nearly lost it. (I had to really school my expression because I was in class and all I wanted to do was grin from ear to ear.) I don’t think it’s much of a secret that I absolutely adore everything Marie Lu writes, and this was no exception.

From the get-go, all I wanted to do was sit down and read it all in one sitting. Unfortunately, that was not an option, nor was reading it over the course of just a couple of days. While I think that would’ve been a better experience for me personally (less disruption of flow because my goodness, this book flows like a masterpiece), it still absolutely astounded me.

I really cannot say enough about the way Lu crafts characters. She consistently writes some of my favorite characters, with complexities and intricacies that make them jump off the page. While she isn’t my favorite character in one of Lu’s books (looking at you, Adelina Amouteru), Talin is phenomenal. She is compelling and believable and sympathetic, everything I really look for in a main character. More than that, though, I think she’s inspiring. Sometimes I feel like the media and the book community in particular like throwing a “strong female character” label on every character they like. Now, I am all for strong female characters and appreciating when authors nail their execution, but a lot of the time, I find myself in disagreement over what constitutes a strong female character. I think Talin falls right into my definition: fierce yet compassionate, independent yet loyal. For me, it’s always been more than someone who kicks ass and takes names. As much as I love those characters, I also have to feel some connection with them as a person, not as a fighter or soldier or whatever the case may be. Talin is a fighter, through and through; she’s got the ass kicking down. But that’s not all she is, and throughout the book, we see more and more of who she outside of that identity, and that was what really moved me as the story progressed.

The other characters really shone for me as well. Red is one of those complex enemy-turned-ally characters that Lu always seems to execute to a T. One of my biggest gripes in a lot of books surrounds when an all-powerful character is unsympathetic to the reader, and this is so not the case here. From the beginning, the mystery surrounding him and Talin’s own sympathy for him draws you in immediately and only grows as we find out more about him. As much as I firmly believe this is Talin’s story, I kind of wish we had been able to get Red’s perspective as a character, and I am hopeful (if uncertain and unconvinced) that we’ll get multiple perspectives in the sequel.

The same really goes for both Jeran and Rooke. As much as they play a very prominent role in the story, I still wish we had been able to see more of them. There’s no shortage of backstory here, and we get a lot of it so we can see how it shaped them, but I think they’re incredible characters that I could read whole novels about, separate from this one. There are some elements of their characters that I would’ve liked to see develop a little bit more, but this is just the first book in a series and they have to go somewhere in the next one.

If there’s one thing that always gets me with Lu’s books, it’s the world-building. I truly do not know how she does it. Mara, Basea, and Karensa are those kind of places that seem more real than fictional. Sure, some of that is because they’re based off real places and times, but they’re the sort of reflections of the real world that hit closer to home than you would sometimes like. And I think that’s one of the strengths of Skyhunter on the whole: it’s an intimate reflection of the world around us. While we’re clearly this world’s Early Ones, we’re also present in the characters and the world itself in more than just their history. Some of it is subtle while other parts are not, but Lu’s ability to use the true power of fiction to create commentary on our past and present is really remarkable, and it’s one of the many things that keep me coming back to her work.

In the Federation, we see a colonialist superiority complex of manifest destiny, disguising tyranny and Machiavellian power behind a promise of advancement. In Mara, we see a desperate country laced with xenophobia and classism, a stronghold that serves as a savior from the alternative, but one that is far from a utopia. Through these lenses, Lu gives us a reminder that no place is perfect, no society is utopian. Talin recognizes Mara’s limitations, not least because her past and her experiences mark her as an outsider who cannot reap all that the country has to offer. Yet, for her, it becomes home, something that she thinks is worth fighting for. She isn’t blind to its faults, but she fights in part so she can push for their correction.

Plot-wise, this book really has everything. There are fights and battles and break-ins and more battles, with twists and turns along the way that actually surprised me, although hindsight often told me I should’ve. I think that was one of the biggest draws for me throughout: I always thought I knew what was going to happen, and sometimes I was completely right, sometimes I was completely wrong, and sometimes I had some of it right and some of it wrong. That’s really a testament to how Lu weaves her storylines through your expectations, pushing you in one direction while really moving in another. There are really any huge plot twists, but that doesn’t mean I was glued to the edge of my seat for most of the book, waiting for the next thing to happen, whether it was something I anticipated or not. I think there’s a lot to be said for books that rely more on subtle reveals that major ones, because they help to create a more comprehensive narrative overall (again, this novel flows like a dream), whereas a single big twist works towards a singular goal, rather than several smaller ones along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good plot twist, but there’s just something about a series of smaller ones that keeps me drawn in.

Also, I am now totally convinced that Marie Lu has some sort of second sight (either that, or she wrote this much faster than she let on.)(I’m gonna need us to get on the Warcross game stat, minus all the “mind control for the greater good” stuff.) Strikers wearing masks all the time? Some big disease that wiped out the Early Ones? I’m suspicious, just sayin’. With that being said, though, I think it helps the book stand as more of a warning, in a way that Lu (probably) didn’t anticipate.

The writing is, as always, phenomenal. I thought Skyhunter was a bit more action- and dialogue-driven than some of Lu’s other books, but I don’t think that was a detriment. Maybe I would’ve liked a few more visual descriptions to really engulf me in the world, but I really did think the plot and action was enough to keep me fully invested. My one complaint would be that the way the dialogue is formatted isn’t consistent, but considering I read an e-ARC, I can’t really even ground that complaint in reality, since I’m sure it’s been fixed for the final version.

Unsurprisingly, Marie Lu has done it again with an absolutely stunning book. While not my favorite Lu book (only because The Midnight Star set the bar very high), Skyhunter is a breathtaking novel that I truly cannot recommend enough. I will definitely be buying a final copy and rereading it, partly because I’m curious to see if anything changed between the ARC and the final version, but mostly because I loved it.

Skyhunter was amazing! It left me speechless.

I'm a huge fan of the Legend series, and this has some serious Legend vibes (with less romance. There's a little, but it's a very slow burn).

Talin is a striker, an elite fighter. There's only one thing: she was also a refugee, and her adopted home doesn't treat her as an equal. Her mother can't even live in a decent house.

When Red shows up as a defector in her country, he's set to be executed. Only Talin doesn't think he should be executed, and stops him. Ove the course of the book, you find out Red's secret, as well as other secrets that were left behind for years.

This was probably my favorite book so far this year. The ending--I must have book 2. It's a cliffhanger. There's a twist towards the end of the book (this is Marie Lu, after all). All I can say is: go read it.

Another great YA dystopian adventure from Marie Lu!! This was just what I needed this week. Amazing world building and strong characters. It was so hard to put down. Now comes the long wait for book 2. Sigh. Highly recommended for grades 7 and up.

I have been anticipating Skyhunter for nearly three years now, and even knowing somewhere deep down that it was going to be one of my favorite Marie Lu books, I couldn't have imagined how right I would be about that.

For those of you who don't know, Marie is absolutely one of my favorite authors, if not my favorite author, completely singular. Everything she's written so far is totally my style. I think she writes some of the strongest voices I've ever read, and I think she takes the issues we see in our society and reimagines them in compelling, fascinating ways and manifests them into her fantasy/sci-fi settings in ways that reveal certain truths and hidden understandings. And, also, she writes a wicked good thrilling story and characters who I love and would die for. So, even though I knew I would like this book, I had no idea how much I was going to LOVE this book. As much as I enjoy the Warcross duology, I think Skyhunter is going to overtake those two and fall squarely behind the Legend series on the list! (Nothing can ever quite beat Legend before me, but Skyhunter came so incredibly close!)

In Skyhunter, we meet Talin, a Basean refugee in Mara, the only country free from the Federation's rule and the place they could go, even if they aren't welcome. Talin is a Striker, a position she earned through her hard work and talent, but one that comes at the cost of discrimination and scrutiny both my other Marans who don't trust Baseans, and the Baseans who don't trust Talin for becoming one of their oppressors. The Strikers exist to fight against the Federation's army and its' Ghosts, monstrous creations that seek to kill its enemies in the fight to overtake Mara. During one of these battles, Mara takes in a mysterious prisoner - a boy without the will to live, sentenced for execution. Until Talin sees something in him that sparks her to spare his life, and suddenly the two are thrust together, tied to a bond that is stronger than either could have ever predicted.

This novel is an amazing piece of work. It's seamless to dive into this world, and Marie - as always - does a wonderful job setting up the world and its boundaries without every feeling like the reader is overwhelmed by exposition. Talin is a fierce, inspiring character and a wonderful voice. She's courageous and strong, as are all of Marie's heroines, but something about Talin rings especially brave, and I felt really inspired by her drive. For those looking for representation, Talin is also mute (and, according to Marie, is permanently mute, meaning this won't be a bait-and-switch where that representation disappears later), and many of the characters in this novel are otherwise BIPOC, along with two LGBTQ+ characters (a minor part of the story here, but I hope to see that grow in the sequel!)

The most compelling part of this book, for me, is not so much the richly imagined world, but instead the compelling tensions of life in war. Marie does an excellent job exploring the trauma that comes with war and becoming a refugee; the trauma of loss and grief; the trauma of trying to be good against evil, of good people being forced to do bad things, and the complications that arise when war is in the picture. It's a dark, difficult thing to assess, and Marie best shows us this using the bond between Talin and Red, one that I won't spoil but one which is full of complications from surface to deep and trauma-bound levels. The story also grapples a bit with power and the consequence of imperialism, colonialism, and the concept and motivations of conquering and having an empire. We get glimpses of that especially towards the end of this book, so I'm interested in seeing how Marie explores that further in the sequel.

I also appreciated the ways Marie acknowledges romance in this story, but doesn't push it into the forefront as so many stories like this do (i.e. we're very close to dystopia in this story, so imagine the romances mixed in other popular YA dystopia from our past, and you'll understand what I mean!) While those feelings are there for multiple characters, the war - and the circumstances these characters find themselves in - don't leave room for those things. That being said, the emotional connection between Talin and Red is something fierce, and I do look forward to seeing how - and if - that will play out in the sequel.

Also, completely unrelated to the book, but knowing that Legend and Warcross are connected (Warcross is a very distant future version of the world we see in Legend), I was briefly curious at the end of this book, as they begin to explain how the Federation came to be, if the world of Skyhunter is *also* connected to those worlds?! I'm not certain it is, but I felt like I could see room for that, if Marie were interested in doing that and showing that progression.

All in all, I knew I'd love this book. But I had no idea how much! As always, Marie writes a damn good book, and though I never quite forget that, she always manages to remind me when she puts out another winner like this one. Definitely recommend picking this up, but especially if you're a big Legend fan because I think this one is the closest to capturing those feelings in me that I felt reading (and rereading!) that series. Can't wait to have this in my hands!

Marie Lu is one of my comfort authors because I know she will write something good And she did it with Skyhunter. She always reinventing herself.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderful book! Marie Lu does it again, creating a rich, textured world and a plot full of intrigue and surprises. The characters are deep and complex, and I especially appreciated that the main character, Talin, doesn't speak, since I thought that added another layer of complexity to her character and her actions. I also really liked the political aspects of the book, and the relationships between empires and cultures. I thought the science fiction elements were interesting and believable, and the worldbuilding was breathtaking. Overall, another excellent YA fantasy from Marie Lu!

Okay, since this book is actually hitting the shelves I should probably review it... I've never read another Marie Lu book, so I can't say how this compares to her other series, but I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

The main character is mute, but conveniently the elite soldier group she is in relies on sign language and silence to avoid being noticed by the Ghosts. These genetically mutated monsters are a threat to Mara, the last part of the kingdom holding out against the Federation.

This book is full of action, but also introspection. It finds a balance between fight-scenes and character development that will appeal to a wide-variety of readers. I found the characters interesting, and I look forward to seeing how their stories each progress throughout the series. Libraries where Marie Lu, dystopian, or sci-fi is popular will have a hard time keeping this on their shelves.

Once again, Marie Lu's writing is so fun to read and Skyhunter was a wonderful set up to a series that I'm now incredibly excited to follow along with. There's a way that Lu writes her characters that I just love and the science fiction aspect to this was very interesting, with the Skyhunters and the Watchers.

Skyhunter is a thrilling series-starter for fans of Aurora Rising, Skyward, and the Illuminae series. Talin is part of an elite force that fights for the safety of Mara, a free nation struggling to evade Federation control. When a mysterious Federation prisoner is captured, Talin feels an unexplainable kinship with him and sticks her neck out to save his life. Little does she know, saving him may save all of Mara.

This was pure action-packed fun with a dose of slow burn romance thrown in. Fans of Marie Lu will not be disappointed, and I suspect new fans will flock to her previous works after reading this one. Loved it, and have already bought a copy for my library!

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well, when one of the queens of YA tempted me with her next book, I broke my own rule of only reading a series once it's done. Talin fights as a Striker for her new homeland, Mara. The Strikers face "ghosts," which are really the traditional, non-Twilight version of vampires, and stand as a final line of defense against their enemy, The Federation of Karensa. This book is strongly fantastical, to the point where I wasn't sure if I would love it, but as always, Lu sucked me right in. I ended up adoring all aspects of this book: the monsters, the dystopian themes, the vein of romance, the drama with The Federation, and for the love of all that's good, the relationship Talin has with her mother.

Lu tackles many things in this book, yet she does it well. I can't wait for the next installment. Like seriously can't wait. Give it to me now!

At this point, Marie Lu could slap her name on a crumpled up receipt, and I'd give it five stars.

Seriously though, this book was it. I've read almost all of Lu's YA fiction (save the DC comic adaptations), and each series keeps getting better and better.

Readers of Lu's "Legend" series (and many other dystopian YA novels) may feel that the world building reads a bit familiar. The protagonist, Talin, fights for an imperfect nation (Mara) against another imperfect nation (the Federation of Karensa) among crumbling ruins and social inequality. Without spoiling anything, it is clear in both series that the government will spare no expense to save and protect those who hold power and wealth.

What carries this first book is the character development and the connections each character has to each other. The bond between Red and Talin isn't wholly unique, but unique enough for this genre that it felt refreshing. The growth of their relationship felt natural and genuine, which is rare to find in any book where there is any hint of attraction or intimacy. The minor characters were also well developed and interesting in their own right.

And in typical Marie Lu fashion, we're left with an awful cliff hanger for months or (hopefully not) years. I really need to stop reading series that aren't finished. Someone tell me if this is a duology, trilogy, quadrilogy (?). Stat.

My Thoughts:
My heart is pounding right now. I don't know what to think or even how to react. I feel oddly empty inside and I think tomorrow I'll be visiting Marie Lu's house and BEGGING FOR THE NEXT BOOK BECAUSE WHAT. WAS. THAT?!

What I loved:
- The concept. Before I even managed to get myself on the Street Team for this book, I was already hooked on the previews (which Marie posted on her IG: https://www.instagram.com/marieluthew...). Tell me that doesn't spark your interest immediately, I dare you! I even sent the previews to some of my friends to squeal about the absolute chills I got from reading them, and to be quite honest, my excitement for this story was NOT a let down in the slightest.
- The characterization and relationships. This is one of the few stories where I resonated with the villains just as much as I did with the heroes. Talin is an excellent lead. She's everything you'd ever want in a strong female protagonist, she's strong, fast, powerful, cunning, and incredibly caring to those around her. She feels deeply, trusts slowly, and seeing the world of Mara crumble through her eyes never failed to give me the chills. As for relationships, I loved hearing about Jeran and Aramin's pining (<3 they are otp material, I'm telling you!), Red's slow development into a certain someone's heart, and just in general the dynamic of the Striker pairs. I loved everything about these relationships.
- The integration of the consequences of important issues that we still face today. Marie Lu is obviously very knowledgeable about the problems we face in our world today because she never fails to include them in her writing. Whether it be the issue of race, LGBTQ+ representation, or even colonization, she's prepared to deal with it in the stories she shares.
- The ending 10%. I HAD LITERAL GOOSEBUMPS during the last 10% of the book. There is a subtle feeling of dread that builds up from the very first chapters of the story, but the last parts of the book are where I felt the MOST ADRENALINE. The stakes are ridiculously high, the suspense a veil of smoke, and truly the heart-wrenching moments are the ones where blood is spilled and a connection is severed. I could wax poetic about my tenseness during Talin's story for days.

What I didn't like:
- For some reason, the middle part of the story (maybe the middle 30%) was a huge struggle for me. There was a lot of worldbuilding going on (Marie Lu is notorious for that!) but it felt like almost too much for me. It certainly felt like a massive slow-burn. I found myself putting the book down a few times because of how much I struggled to trudge through it. Marie did such an amazing job with the anticipation and suspense that I just wanted more and wanted it immediately! That said, hook and ending were stunning.
- I have to wait for the next book. God. The struggle is real.

Final Verdict:
Would I recommend this book?
This book is legitimately competing to be my book of the year for 2020. It's got some fierce competitors but it's everything you want in a good book--great characters and relationships, interesting concept, absolutely amazing execution and integration of real-life issues. What else could you ask for (other than the next book to be released sooner, pretty pLEASE OMG)? I don't say this often, but I highlY recommend this book. And although I may have received an eARC through the publisher, all of these opinions are true and my own. I'm not getting paid and I wouldn't lie to any of you even if I were. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK so we can talk about it together. I'm screaming.

9/29. Mark your calendars. It's gonna be a wild one.

Talin is part of a fighting force that helps defend the last free nation of the world. Because she is a refugee, she understands the terrible things the Federation has done to nation after nation. Soon after losing her partner, she steps up and defends a prisoner that has been brought to Mara’s capital. She doesn’t know who he is and what secrets he might have, but he is now her partner and her responsibility. Who is this mysterious prisoner? What risks will Talin need to take to defend her homeland?

Skyhunter is the first book in a new science fiction series. Since the story takes place in the middle of a war, there are many fight scenes and hard choices to make. Talin is a fierce fighter, yet no one is perfect and she must come to terms with what she is willing to do to save the ones she loves. Lu left us with a satisfactory ending instead of a cliffhanger, but readers will still be looking for the next installment when it is released. I recommend Skyhunter to everyone who wants to read about a strong protagonist fighting for what she believes in.

Marie Lu is a go-to if you're looking for multiple series in YA dystopia. Each one takes a different tactic as to how the world went awry and how those left behind are surviving. Skyhunter takes that a bit further. The world fell but in here we're many generations from the fall and society has re-established itself, and the remnants of our technology are now secrets sought after as a means to conquer civilizations.

It's in this world we meet Talin, a Striker, part of the elite corps that helps defend the last free nation, Mara. Now Talin, according to society's rules shouldn't be a Striker. She's a refugee and her background should prevent her from entering the corps, but for one little thing. Talin is unable to speak. She's uses sign to converse with the world around her, and it's a skill that is usually reserved for Strikers alone.

You see, Strikers defend against the Federation, and the Federation uses genetically altered zombie-like creatures called Ghosts to do their dirty work. Ghosts are highly attuned to sound and so signing is a great tactic to not getting dead.

In this first book, Talin sees her fate tied to a prisoner is war who is much more than what he seems and who the Federation want back desperately. Unraveling the mystery of him will bring Talin and her fellow soldiers closer to a secret that could save them all.

Gorgeous cover art. Wonderful new set of characters to root for. I thoroughly enjoyed Lu's new foray

I loved the beginning and last half very much, but it dragged a bit in the middle. I love the concept and plot line. I liked the characters, but did not LOVE them. I suspect that my enjoyment was altered by the start of our virtual school year during the pandemic, though. I love this author & I am excited for the next installment of this political fantasy!