Initial Thoughts

I read an excerpt of this book on NetGalley a few weeks ago and, full disclosure, I thought it was the full book. I was absolutely devastated when I discovered that I only had the first three chapters. But, I was meant to read the whole thing because the following Monday, I was accepted to the Skyhunter Street Team and the first package was a full e-ARC.

Some Things I Liked

Dystopian without being too sci-fi. I’ve said this before but, I don’t love sci-fi. Sometimes, I can get into it, but not usually. For this reason, I typically stay away from dystopian novels. However, this story had a definite dystopian vibe without being bogged down with unexplainable science. I loved the set up and the references to “The Early Ones”. Similarly, the Ghosts were an interesting touch. They were explained but not overly complicated.
On that note, the next thing I liked was the fact that a disease plagued this world. I thought it was an interesting parallel to today’s climate and I enjoyed the comparison.
Disability representation. Talin was unable to speak and I loved the way Marie Lu used a variation of sign language for Talin to communicate with her peers. I also loved that it was second nature to the Strikers and Shields to communicate this way.
Subtle romance. I know, who am I saying I liked the fact that the romance was subtle and understated? But, I totally did. I loved the way Talin and Red’s relationship grew throughout the story. Their bond gave them such a deep connection and I was so happy to see it wasn’t insta-love or anything like that. I can’t wait to see what happens to them in the next book.

Series Value

It’s not if, it’s when I read the next book in this series. I’ve read every book Marie Lu has written and I’m not going to stop here. The series she has set up is fantastic and the story left me aching for more. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Final Thoughts

Thank you so much to MacMillan for sending me an e-ARC of this book. It was phenomenal and exactly what I expected. I loved every page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Legend by Marie Lu – if you enjoyed the writing style as well as the idea of a dystopian but not too sci-fi setting, try this finished series by Marie Lu.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman – again, if you liked the idea of dystopian / sci-fi that’s not over the top, try this series.

A unique fantasy that also explores serious themes like racial inequity, poverty, immigration, and medical ethics. I wish the character Red was developed more, but I hope his character will be given a chance to shine come future installments. I will definitely be recommending this title to my students.

Marie Lu has hit it out of the park again with another gut wrenching, edge of your seat story. This time we are in a land where Talin is a striker who works for her country of Mara to destroy Ghosts sent by the Federation to take over her home well the home she now lives in. The Federation destroyed her homeland in their continued conquest of the world. From the first part of the book your heart is ripped out when Talin partner is killed by a Ghost. Now these are not Ghosts ohh spooky haunting you these are men who have been changed into zombie like hunters that have to be killed by hitting a major vein in their neck. If you get bitten then you can be turned so you have to be killed when it happens. ⠀
⠀
Talin is not a native to Mara she only became a striker cause her partner wanted her and the king agreed to it. Once she looses him she fears she will be stripped of her striker position and thrown out or killed. Instead she rescues a federation prisoner from being killed and ends up being paired with him. Which leads to a whole series of events that will keep you reading up to the very end. What would you do to rescue those you love, allow yourself to be turned into a monster? At the end of book one you will be on the edge of your seat as Talin is forced to make some very difficult choices. ⠀

In this new dystopian book by Marie Lu, we meet Talin Kanami a Striker of Mara, the last free nation that has survived the attacks of the Karensa Federation. Talin and her teammates fight against an experiment created by the federation called Ghosts. The ghosts are monstrous creatures with white skin, a terrible sight, great hearing, and stronger than any human who has ever lived, that the federation use as a weapon to invade other cities.
When a mysterious young man escapes from the Federation and falls into the hands of the Strikers, Talin intervenes in their execution because she believes that the new prisoner or Skyhunter can save them from the terrible invasion of the Federation.
Let me say that Marie Lu worldbuilding in this book is incredible, the way she describes this dystopian world with luxurious details is very vivid and unique.
I really liked the main characters and the way they interacted with each other throught the book.
I really enjoyed this book, it was full of action and adventure and I cannot wait for the second book in the series.
4.5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing group for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have this thing where, when I pick up a book by Marie Lu, I lose all sense of everything else that is happening in the world. This doesn't happen very often, and I credit her amazing magical powers of character and world building for this feat.

This book was no exception. The premise was very original (check the Goodreads blurb) and I liked seeing how Lu took the "rival countries" trope and made it fresh and interesting.

I also loved the characters. Talin was so brave and broken, and someone I could definitely support. I am holding back my opinion on Red, because I think there is so much MORE of him. The supporting characters are important, not just there for filler or throw-away. They have talents of their own, and bring a lot to the table.

I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

I have some mixed feelings about this book. I had been excited to read it for ages, as I have been a fan of Marie since her first book came out. And this new one sounded pretty amazing. And it was. At first. I found the beginning to be pretty great. Thought I would love this book. But then I grew bored. I just did not love it.

Which breaks my heart a little. Giving this book three stars. I so wish I could have loved it. But I also still liked it a lot. I liked the characters a lot. I enjoyed learning more about this world. And the writing was good. Not perfect, as I had issues, but was good and I did enjoy a lot of this book. I just didn't love it like I wished.

There is so much I wish to share about this book. Yet I'm certain I will not be able to write much of it down. Will be sharing some plot details about it, yet not really any spoilers. This book takes place in a world almost ours. The people in this place knows that there were people existing long before them, better people who knew much more than they did. There were ruins of their cities and a few books about the things they did. But what happened to these ancient people are not known. They are just gone. And those living in this world now are just trying their very best to survive. One type of people are having a war with everyone else. They have conquered every land so far, except for one. The land and people of Mara. Where our main character, Talin, live now.

Getting to know this girl was pretty good. At first I felt certain that I would adore her. But I grew so bored with her and everything. I felt like so little happened and I felt like her thoughts just stopped being all that interesting. Which was the worst. But yeah. There were parts of Talin that I did love, though. She and her mom escaped from their home about ten years ago, when the Federation took over their city. They fled with so many others, while others lay dead behind them. It was so sad to read about. So real at times too.

And so Talin has lived in Mara for years now. With her mom and their people being forced to live on the outside of the city walls, not with the people of Mara. They are being called names and not treated well at all for being foreign to those who live there. It was heartbreaking to read about and so very real with the world we live in too. We learn about Talin and her mom. I liked them both. But Talin has a big hole in her memory, and I felt like this was being mentioned a little too much without anything ever happening with it.

Talin has not spoken a single word since the day she and her mom escaped from their home. And so she speaks with sign language. And that was another thing I really loved. I loved the diversity in this book and the inclusion of people who do not speak. I felt like it was done well, though I cannot know for sure, as I'm not without speak. But for me, it was written good. I adored Talin even more for this. Despite how I felt like this book was boring. Oops. But it was not all bad. As I liked learning about this world. Just wanted more.

Talin has trained as a Striker since she was twelve. Since a boy noticed her watching them. She was not allowed to be there, inside the city walls. But she was. And she wanted to be a Striker so badly. This boy helped her become one. When they had never included someone like her before. She wasn't treated well by everyone. Which was not good at all. But she had her Shield. The boy she fought with every day and trained with to get better. Corian. Whom then died straight away. Yeah. I felt like there was too little grief.

This book is about Talin and her now country fighting to remain free from the Federation. About her and her friends being the best to defend their land. They are trained to fight Ghosts, some type of awful man-made monster sent at them. I found that interesting, but not scary enough at all, to be honest. Ack. It is the story of Talin saving an enemy soldier from being executed. About being forced to then take care of him after that. A man named Red. I did like him a lot. Still, wanted more. Sigh. He was exciting, though.

Because Red had been through so much. He was not quite human. They had done experiments on him. Which was the very worst. Yet so interesting too and I liked reading about it all. I was just fully confused at times. It starts with him being whipped, until he was almost dead. Yet it is never mentioned again. Did he not have any damage, when he almost died? Too weird. How quickly he trusted Talin and her friends. How he suddenly just defended them and forgave them all. It seemed way too unreal and weird for me.

But yeah. I still liked getting to know Red and I liked reading about him and Talin. An almost romance. I shall not say much more about this book. Already said way too much. Oops. I liked the characters. I just found them a bit boring. I liked the plot, yet that was a bit boring too, which disappointed me. At first I did like the writing. But then I just wanted the book to be over with already and could not find it in me to care about any of them. Which I am not pleased about. Sigh. But still. Three stars. As I did enjoy this book too.

Huge thank you to the publisher, Roaring Brook Press, for letting me read this book early via Netgalley. I'm glad I read this one. And will still be getting a hardcover for my Marie collection. This book also ended on a big cliffhanger. I did not care that much, but I must know what happens next too, ha. Skyhunter was a pretty great book. Not perfect to me, sadly, but pretty exciting at times too. The characters were mostly good. The story was mostly interesting. I just did not love it. But so curious what the rest of you will think.

Talin is a refugee from Basea who now lives in Mara, the last free nation not residing within the Karensa Federation’s control. Losing her voice and her home to the Federation, Talin now fights as a Striker against Ghosts, the Federation’s monstrous war experiments, to keep them from taking over Mara. When Mara’s defeat seems inevitable, Red, a mysterious runaway from the Federation, is caught and sentenced to be executed. Talin, however, sees more to this prisoner than meets the eye and saves him from his fate, only to be tied to him in more ways than one. Now Talin and her friends, Jeran and Rooke, work to discover how to save their country and how Red might be the key to saving them all.

At this point, I have learned to read (and love) anything that Marie Lu has written and Skyhunter was not an exception. It was full of what I have come to expect and love about Marie Lu’s books – amazing characters, a strong female protagonist, superb worldbuilding, a fast-paced and action-filled plot, and crazy sci-fi elements. I really enjoyed this book and I truly did not want it to end.

The Worldbuilding

Marie Lu’s worldbuilding in this novel was simply incredible (as always). I do not know where she comes up with such unique, vivid, and believable dystopian worlds, but I hope that she never stops. The world is so masterfully crafted that I truly felt like I was there, and I could picture the world around the characters with ease. I really enjoyed the sharp and distinct contrast that was made between the Early Ones and the people now as well as between Mara and the Federation and the Inner and Outer Cities of Mara, which really worked to demonstrate how different things are in terms of wealth, living conditions, and technological advancements during and within various times, locations, and people. The dynamics and history behind the world of the novel were also well-executed and I really enjoyed learning about both the world in the present and in the past.

The Characters

Like with worldbuilding, Marie Lu has a gift when it comes to creating characters in that I cannot help but love literally all of them. I absolutely loved all the characters that Marie Lu introduced in this book. They were all so unique and different, with such varying personalities and backgrounds that I really enjoyed. All of the characters also had multiple sides to them and other things going on in their lives that really helped to create and develop their characters, even if these events were not upfront the entire time.

Talin: I absolutely LOVE Talin. She is such a strong character who is willing to fight for her country and do anything to protect it, even if that same country shows no love for her. I love the relationship that she has with her mother and how they are both willing to do anything to protect each other. I always adore strong mother-daughter bonds, and this is one of the best that I have read in a novel before. I also really enjoyed Talin’s relationship with Corian and his role in her life as someone who believed in her, despite being seen as someone “lesser” and not worth the time. I also loved her relationship with Red and how they go from enemies, to allies, to friends, to perhaps something more. There is so much chemistry between them both on the surface and underneath and the bond between them (both literal and physical) is so sweet, I love them both so much! This is also the first time that I have read a book where the protagonist cannot speak and uses sign language to communicate and I really liked seeing this sort of representation in a young adult novel. The use of sign language also played a big role in the world of the novel, which I enjoyed as well.

Red: I love Red so much! Like most of the characters, he had a lot of layers that Talin uncovered throughout the story and I enjoyed learning more about him as Talin did. I enjoyed seeing him slowly open up to Talin about his past and his family. I also love that he literally has a pet mouse (but it needs a name, please Marie Lu give the mouse a name!) and how the mouse reminds him of his younger sister killed me. I only wish that we got to learn more about his family as opposed to getting a few things here and there and that Red’s relationship with them was developed more, especially since they played such a major role in his life before fleeing to Mara. Like I mentioned previously, his bond with Talin is so sweet and her kindness and sense of purpose literally gave him a reason to live to fight for her and Mara, which I found adorable.

Rooke: Like Talin, Rooke is such a strong female character. I mean, she literally spends her time making and improving weapons, how cool is that? I enjoyed seeing different elements of her personality - the daring fighter, the mom friend, the smart weapon improver/inventor, the one afraid to slit the throat of a fellow Striker attacked by a Ghost, and the vulnerable girl still dealing with the loss of her brother. I loved her relationship with Talin as well as with Jeran (their banter is hilarious). I also greatly enjoyed seeing her shifting relationship with Red and learning to see him not as an enemy (but of course I totally get why she did not like him at first because of the death of her older brother at the hands of the Federation), but as a friend and fellow Striker.

Jeran: Jeran is literally my son and if anything happens to him, I am going to cry because I LOVE him so much! I swear that I fell in love with him as soon as we met him, and I never stopped! I really enjoyed witnessing the two sides of his character – the ruthless, tactful fighter and the clumsy, loyal, and sweet friend. I liked his ability to speak and understand multiple languages (which worked well with the climate of the story) and how it impacted Talin and Red’s ability to communicate early on. I felt so bad for him about how his father and brother treat him like dirt and abuse him just because he was unable to test into the Senate and is not up to their “standards.” I loved his relationship with Talin and Rooke and their whole friendship dynamic is superb, I want to be in it! I do wish that we saw more of his relationship with Aramin, especially since we see little of the two of them together despite how close they are described to be.

The lesser characters such as Aramin, Talin’s mother, the Premier, etc. were also really interesting, I just wish that we saw more of them and learned a little bit more about their backgrounds. I hope that we get to see more of these lesser characters in book two!

The Action & Adventure

This book was definitely fast-paced and full of action and adventure. I really enjoyed the pace of the novel, it was set in tempo with the overall plot which worked well for the story, I literally could not put this book down! I liked the contrast between the high-action fight and battle scenes on the war front and the more subdued ones where the characters just hung out and talked. I also enjoyed the elements of suspense as well as the twists and turns that the novel brought and found that they added a lot to the overall story. And that ending though! I cannot wait to see what happens next and what is in store for the characters in the following book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to Marie Lu lovers as well as those who generally enjoy dystopian/science fiction novels. I cannot wait for the sequel to come out next year!

Skyhunter is a quick, engrossing read, which is exactly what I expected from Marie Lu. I cannot wait to get this book into students' hands. It was an exciting and interesting book.
Skyhunter is about a teen girl, Talin, who lives in a post modern society. Talin is a Striker, an elite fighter for a nation that's about to be overrun. Her fellow Strikers take a prisoner of war, which is the launching point of the novel. The novel follows Talin and the Strikers through their efforts to stop the opposing country and sets up the book for a sequel.

This is an absolutely amazing book, in which Marie Lu has given us characterization and world-building that is too good for anything I can possibly write in praise of it! I literally could not put this young adult novel down. I was immediately invested in Talin and Red and the entire supporting cast of characters. I will recommend this title to everyone and simply cannot wait for what comes next in the series.

Talin and her mother are refugees from the Karensa Federation’s attack on their home country of Basea. They are just barely tolerated by the citizens of Mara, who call them “rats” and force them to live outside the city, with limited resources. Unusually talented, Talin is chosen to train as a Striker for Mara, bonded to her fighting partner, Corian, for life. The Federation is moving to conquer Mara, and in a fierce battle with the Federation’s zombie-like Ghost soldiers, Corian is killed and a mysterious Federation soldier, Red, a winged cyborg, is captured. When Red is sentenced to death, Talin advocates for him, arguing that his actions suggest he defected and that he might be a source of information about the Federation’s battle plans.

Assigned as partners, Talin and Red must learn to communicate and rely on each other as these two outsiders navigate the mistrust of many of their colleagues and struggle to defend a nation that has not welcomed them. Within this fantasy adventure, Lu tackles some big questions - what does it mean to be a refugee? What is worthy of loyalty? What does it mean to be silenced and to find your voice? What are tools of resistance? Fans of the author’s Legend series will be especially pleased. EARC from NetGalley.

Dystopian and sci-fi mix that I couldn’t put down!
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Marie Lu’s newest book, Skyhunter!
Talin lost her ability to speak years ago when the Federation attacked her home and her vocal cords were burned by a chemical they released. She learned sign language, along with her mother, so they could communicate. She becomes a Striker, a Maran soldier that fights the Federation, and she’s extremely good at it. She becomes a Striker because another soldier saw her worth and helped and supported her. His name was Corian and he has a wonderful, strong set of values and character. The two of them make a fantastic fighting team together. A Federation soldier finds his way to Mara, causing suspicion, since no one knows whether or not he’s a spy. The minute Red arrives, the danger from the Federation amps up. This dystopian book opens up a new series that promises suspense, action, intrigue and an array of interesting characters, 5 stars!

Skyhunter is an intense ride!
Marie Lu does such a fantastic job of world building and creating characters like ones we have never seen.
The "Ghosts" are all but creepy and a bit terrifying.
Talin and Red are two characters brought together in excruciating circumstances to try and save this place they call home.
I really liked Talin and the way she developed and changed throughout the story, but also stayed true to herself.
I think Marie Lu fans and other teens will really enjoy this book.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 stars

I am a devoted fan of Marie Lu, which I think is the case with most folks reading YA these days, and for good reason. Her main characters are kick ass women of color, she excels at writing action, and she develops characters who typically exceed generic types. In _Skyhunter_, Lu continues to demonstrate these skills, and she also has some great perceived villains.

In addition to all of these strengths, the relationship between Talin (the m.c.) and Red is pretty intriguing. I am especially interested in the way they communicate and look forward to seeing more of that in future installments.

I've not had this feeling in other works by Lu, but I did - at times - feel like the plot was dragging a bit. There were some balance issues in general for me. For example, the first major incident (vague so as to be spoiler-free) seems formative and important in that way, but talk of it pretty much goes away until suddenly it's mentioned again late in the novel...only to be let go of again. I wanted to know more about Talin's relationships with some of the other characters aside from Red and her mom, too. Some of these connections felt too shallow. None of these issues fully impeded my curiosity, but in relation to Lu's previous works, this fell somewhat flat for me.

Of course, I'll continue to be excited for anything Lu distributes, and I will absolutely be waiting for the next installment of this one. I hope some of the missing pieces and/or areas for further development get handled in that space.

. Marie Lu does an excellent job building the world of this novel. The main character's position as a refugee and the inner conflict she faces as well as conflict with those she serves/loves is fascinating. As an secondary educator, I could definitely see my students connecting with several of the characters.

Skyhunter is Marie Lu for the generation who grew up reading the Legend series. Its cast of older, mature characters do gritty and gory acts, dream of sexy entanglements, and make some of the hardest decisions human beings have to make. In Rebel, we received the smallest dose of the kind of romance and darkness Marie Lu is capable of, but Skyhunter brings it to the forefront, leaving the reader openly shocked within every single part.

Talin can't speak. Or refuses to speak. She's still unsure after the Federation destroyed her county and forced her and her mom to seek asylum in Mara, the last remaining country on their continent. Without the help of a well-off Maran child who nudges her to becoming a Striker, Talin and her mom would have remained on the outskirts of Mara, in the dilapidated shanties all the refugees go and are ignored. With Corian's help, Talin joins the Strikers, a group of stealthy and silent fighters sworn to defend Mara from the Federation of Kerensa and its Ghosts, mutated humans whose bite is lethal. It is with the Strikers that Talin is given a community she fits into, even if some people disagree with her acceptance into the elite group of warriors as a refugee. The Strikers communicate via sign language, so she's never at a loss for words. Corian becomes her Shield, her partner in all things. But it's when something happens to Corian and Mara manages to obtain a prisoner of war unlike any other that the balance in the war starts to tilt in Mara's favor. Talin and her friends, Jaran and Rooke, are confident things will change for the better, but several unexpected changes will tilt the scales further and everyone is left unsure of where it will fall. Ending with the most shocking of cliffhangers, Skyhunter is the start of an excellent new series from Marie Lu that I cannot wait to continue.

Marie Lu does many things well in this novel. The use of sign language isn't a gimick. It's well incorporated into the world and into the novel, including the detailed descriptions of how to do several signs (which I found myself doing in the middle of my plane ride). It is clear Marie Lu enjoys her dystopic worlds, but this one still stands out as different than previous ones. However, the use of one key word and some minor descriptive details has me thinking this may take place in a world we've encountered before, just several thousands of years later. The technological advances (and limitations) described are believable on both sides and the hint of what is likely to occur also is believable and well done. I get some Shatter Me vibes as far as world building goes, but it's done very well in Skyhunter (and didn't take three books to establish). Overall, I'm very impressed because I did devour this relatively quickly and the relationship between two key characters enthralled me to no end. I definitely see this series being as well-loved as the Legend series, because, as I said earlier, it seems as if it was written for the children and young adults who grew up reading it but now want something grittier, darker, and sexier.

After fleeing her home and the federation, Talin works her way into the most elite branch of fighters in her new home, Mara, the Strikers. She lost her voice fleeing her home from some chemical burns but that doesn't hold her back since the Strikers rely on silence or they will bring on the awful ghosts of the federation down upon themselves and have to fight them without the upper hand. After Talin loses her shield, the only partner she has ever had, and her champion for being a Striker the Firstblade brings in a odd prisoner to put to death. When Talin saves him, she is told he is her new shield and responsibility, however in the thick of battle they become bonded in a way no one saw coming.
Marie Lu has another fast paced, suspense filled, hit on her hand and trust me when I say the first book will leave you clamoring for more. The characters are awesome and so is how they come together in the story. You will stay up way past your bed time just to see what happens next it is that exciting. Yes, I too want Ms. Lu to hurry so I can read more about these friends.

This will appear on my blog 29 Sept. 2020

Marie Lu has written another sci-fi thriller with roots firmly set in the issues of today. Talin is the kind of hero we root for--strong, skilled, and fearless. A displaced refugee, and outsider to mainstream society, she becomes part of a highly skilled group of warriors fighting what seems like a hopeless battle against the power-hungry Federation. That is, until the Skyhunter arrives.

Skyhunter's world is richly crafted, as are it's inhabitants. Any reader who loved Legend, will love this book. It moves at a fast clip, with plenty of action, but is also a story of relationships and the many ways we are connected to people, places and ideals. It explores the meaning of duty and humanity, and where those lines cross. The story, in fact, is set in motion as Talin makes a decision based on humanity, that goes against what is seen as her duty. There is plenty here for students to both enjoy and consider.

You had me at ragtag army of rebels fighting impossible odds to take down the Big Bad Corporation. Also? I will read anything by Marie Lu. Love how she incorporates action packed sci-fi with questions of what it means to be a moral human. Can you mourn, be gentle, have kindness and still be a killing machine? So much yes to this book.

I enjoy Marie Lu, and have read several other of her titles. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the relationships between the characters. (small spoiler) There's a little bit of an X-men, Wolverine vibe with the Skyhunter warrior storyline. Talin's inability to speak is woven into the narrative as a beneficial characteristic as a soldier, which gave her depth and required her inner thoughts to progress the action. The action is fast paced - I usually avoid books with zombies, or anything like zombies within them, and felt a little squeamish from time to time. This is the only downside to this book. I'm really excited for the next installment!

Suspense, science fiction, and a dab of fantasy elevate this YA novel!
Meet Talin:
A warrior for one faction in a post apocalyptic Earth.
Meet Red:
A engineered weapon for the opposing side.

Together they come together to try and save their world. A rich cast of characters and a super creepy new type of weapon called a "ghost" will keep readers on the edge of their seats!