I wanted to love this novel because I loved the authors. However, it was slow moving, and I could not connect to the characters. Still, I love the author’s writing snd their vivid descriptions.

Didn't capture my attention and engagement. I'll hopefully try again in the future. Didn't capture my attention and engagement. I'll hopefully try again in the future.

I wanted to love this so much. And at first I was sucked in, but after a while it was just so much superfluous writing taking away from the plot and the story. It could have been half the size in length.

I was really excited to read this one after loving Kaufmans Aurora Rising collaboration. I loved the idea of the sky versus the earth and all the mystery surrounding each part of those civilizations. I really enjoyed the two main characters and their chemistry as they navigate possibly being the chosen ones and what the fall out could be from that. Overall I thought it was really fun even though it did get a bit slower in pace towards the middle. There were some really fun reveals that definitely had me wanting to pick up the second book!

3.5 Stars

What originally drew me in was the cover, it is absolutely beautiful.

I loved the characters and the world, Kaufman and Spooner did a great job. It was Sci Fi meets fantasy as each of the MC come from completely different places. Such a unique idea and the contrast makes for such an interesting story.They used such vivid imagery i really felt like I was part of the story. ALSO MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IS THE CAT.

I am excited to see how the story plays out in the next book.

This was the perfect blend of light romance, science fiction, and fantasy. I am so excited to read the next book in this series that comes out in Jan. I am dying to know what happened next. This book was paced so well and I just fell in love with the characters and setting. As the story unfolded I could not put it down.

The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner will be a wonderful addition to my 8th grade and up classrooms. The story involves "must read" things like culture, magic, illness, and is told in alternating chapters, which students love. The context of this book involves so many of the "must read" things for kids rolled into one and the book is well written. Although slow to start, the book will surely chapter the attention of the kids and take them into a deep dive of the world of Nimh and North.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

It took me a long time to read this, and I have to apologize. I started reading it as soon as I got it, but it didn't draw me in. I stopped after chapter 2 and didn't pick it back up until my bookclub decided they also wanted to read it.

The Other Side of the Sky is long. Nimh is from the "earth" where they believe and practice in magic. North is from the sky where they believe and put their trust in science. Having grown up never knowing of each other makes it interesting when North crash lands on "earth". There's a lot of plot, mostly centered around Nimh being a goddess and her crown and role getting usurped. The plot might be fast, but Nimh is really unlikeable. I can't exactly put my finger on why I dislike her so much, except that she seems to change her mind left and right and does things that even she doesn't understand.

I love Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. If you liked this book, I think you will love Brandon Sanderson's series. I won't be continuing with the rest of the books in The Other Side of the Sky, which is disappointing. This is the first book by Amie Kaufman and/or Meagan Spooner that I have given such a low rating to.

*Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books for the eARC from Netgalley.

North is from the sky. He is the current heir to the throne in the sky kingdom. Nimh lives down below the sky as a goddess among her people who seeks to find her purpose. Nimh is one of the first goddesses who has yet to show any real power. Nimh longs to uncover the written prophecy for her people. She wishes for the sky god to return and show her people the way to a brighter future. North experiences the unexpected once he finds himself down below among Nimh and her people without any idea of a prophecy that he could possibly be a part of.

Nimh and North were good characters to follow. I like how there is quite a bit of movement with the plot and characters. I really enjoyed how we see different things discussed with different perspectives. North definitely brings more of the modern perspective with almost a science-fiction inclusion; while Nimh brings more of the fantasy view into the story.

I really enjoyed this one. I enjoyed both of these main characters. The plot was very interesting with the world-building and character set up. I like how the story incorporates technology and how different people interpret technology. I also enjoy how there are a few twists thrown in with different inclusions.

The inclusion of the prophecy was very interesting to me. I like how they discover different things about the prophecy as the plot advances.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story and I look forward to more. I think that this would be a great addition to a junior high or high school library.

I LOVE these authors. I am a huge fan of their Starbound trilogy, especially This Shattered World, so I was over the moon to receive an arc of this book. That being said, I had a harder time connecting with this book, especially in the beginning. The concept is a lot more “out there” in my opinion. She’s a goddess who can’t be touched. They’re both oh so fabulously good looking. Blah. The world building was inventive, and if I had never read any other work by these authors, I’d probably be less critical, but this one just didn’t hold up to their other books.

3.5*
Two worlds that have the same ancestry exist without each knowing of the other’s existence. North is from the cloudland, a world in the sky. Nimh is from the surface earth. Both worlds collide (not literally) when North’s glider crashes to earth and Nimh saves him.

The two worlds differ greatly. The cloud people have technology and do not believe in magic or gods. The earthbound people have no technology and are consumed with the Divine One – the only god who still survives on earth and wields magic. The other gods all fled to the heavens long ago.

Nimh is the chosen goddess. Her life is strictly controlled. North is a Prince in the clouds and after the crash, bands together with Nimh to try and find the prophecy that may involve the two of them. But there are forces at work to stop them and North is also anxious to get back to his world.

The world building focuses mainly on the earthly world and the culture of magic and devotion to a deity. A usurper, who proclaims herself the real Divine One, is not the only challenge to Nimh’s position or threat to her need to protect her people. Nimh feels it’s imperative to learn her true purpose and the destiny she and North must fulfill. The prophecy part is a bit muddled and not totally satisfying. But the action is intense and rushes to a climactic ending. Kaufman and Spooner know how to whip up the anticipation for the next book in the series.

Amie Kaufman never fails to impress me, and this certainly lived up to my expectations. Highly recommended for those who need a does of good fantasy in their lives lately.

The protagonists were engaging and likable. The world building added to rather than detracted from the story, but make no mistake this story felt very much like a beginning and was unfinished at the end. If you like stand alone stories skip this one, but if you love series this is the book for you.

Slow to start but I really enjoyed where this book went. I am so excited for book 2! I will gladly recommend this to several kids in my teen book club and to other adults who enjoy YA,

**3.5 Stars**

North is the playboy prince in the clouds, wanting nothing more but to fly his glyder and become the third in his best friends' lives permanently. Nimh is struggling with her purpose and loneliness, feeling like she doesn't belong as the last living divinity without having a gift manifest. Both are from two very different kinds of world that don't even know they exist, more like fairy tales. When the two end up meeting, neither world will ever be the same- and not everyone will survive what is coming.

I think one of my favorite parts of the story was the conversations that the two main characters kept having about magic versus science/technology. I feel like this is so true to life at this moment, how things that are based in science can seem like magic or divinity to those who don't know how science works. I was on North's side from the beginning, trying to find a scientific excuse for all the "magic" that Nimh did. But as the story went on I found myself wondering if what Nimh was doing was really magic... It was a very interesting perspective that I liked about the story, a nice mix of science fiction and fantasy.

Second favorite part was the villain! This person was complicated, their motives and actions so murky I loved it. At the end of the story we start to get more insight into the whys and hows behind this character and I am so conflicted whether I should root for them for being misunderstood or want them dead- super well done bad guy!

Overall I found this story to be completely unique and interesting, just sometimes I found myself disengaging from the story. I think at times the pacing was a little slow from the world building (which I agree was needed and very detailed, just a little dry) so I found my attention drifting from the actual book and I had to keep rereading parts to understand what was going on. The forbidden romance was a little forced, I would have loved it if the two main characters could be besties instead of possible lovers (North was in love with his two best friends just days before!), but that is just a personal opinion. I hate to say this, but I think this is my least favorite of the series' written by both/either of these authors. Keep in mind that this is no way a bad book, but this author duo has set the bar incredibly high for themselves. All that being said, the story ended on the mother of all cliffhangers and I will be back for more as soon as possible.

When they said this was similar to holes moving castle they were RIGHT. Secondly I hadn’t read anything by Amie Kaufman on her own but I’m glad I did! What a beautiful book. I’m so so so glad that I was able to read this and experience this beautiful story

4.5/5
A well written and developed world. I enjoy YA books set with dividing humans be it in the sky or on land. I really enjoyed the twists the story has.
Character wise I didn`t feel a huge connection to with North being so stand offish and Nimh being so reluctant to share her story and thoughts.
I look forward to seeing where their story goes in book two. This is plot driven but the world is what held my attention.
Magic vs science and how they can be used simultaneously.

The Other Side of the Sky, the first book in a new duology, is set in a post apocalyptic society composed of two worlds. The Aciel archipelago known as the Cloudlands, was launched from the Surface Below into the sky, where enigmatic engines keep it aloft. North, the heir to the throne, pilots a glider which crashes to the Surface after being sabotaged. He is shocked to find there are people still living Below. Nimh is their Divine Goddess. She seeks guidance from ancient prophecies that predict the Last Star will fall, delivering the Lightbringer to save their world, which is ravaged by mist storms that leave people insane. When a prophetic dream, leads her to the site where North lands, she is sure he is her destiny. Whereas his world is filled with science and technology, hers depends on superstition and magic. It is forbidden for anyone to touch the Divine Goddess. Nimh was chosen after the former goddess Jezara was banished when she fell in love and became pregnant. As Nimh waits for her powers to manifest, she is threatened by Jezara's daughter, who claims she is the true Goddess. The story is told from alternating perspectives, following North and Nimh's growing affection and the conflict they feel about the future. The cliffhanger ending sets up the sequel with readers hoping the two can bring together their two worlds.

The Other Side of the Sky is a story about two different people coming together from two different societies/cultures and learning about each other for the first time. When North falls from the Sky Islands he has no clue that he will find a whole civilization living on the land below. Nimh being the living God of her people has been searching for a part of a prophecy when she sees North falling down to earth. As they learn more about each other and North learns more about the destiny that he has been thrust into they begin to see the faults in both of their societies thinking and uncover more secrets about Magic, Love, Gods and Skystone.

The back and forth perspectives in this book were remarkably interesting and I really loved it. Being able to understand the inner workings of both characters instead of just grasping at what they may be thinking was insightful and I feel really helped the story unfold how it should.

I love that Nimh has been chosen as the living God in this book. Something that she feels deeply honored and obligated to. She also resents it and as the book progresses, she questions her being chosen and what that means for her and North. She must choose to balance who she is as a living God and who she wants to be as a woman.

The idea of the sky Islands, how they work, and how they got there is interesting to me. I want to learn more about the way that Norths people took to the sky and ultimately what they need in order to prevent the sky islands from falling.

I was not anticipating loving this book so much, but I am incredibly happy that I had a chance to read it. The subtle love story and the heat that is so beautifully written even though they are fated to never touch and never be together is such a heartbreaking story and makes me feel so rebellious. Wanting Nimh and North to break the rules and maybe her divinity will last if no one else knows about them being together.