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.

"The floating market takes shape amid a flutter of torches and spellfire, each pinprick of light tailed by its glittering reflection in the river beneath. The sun is still below the horizon, though hints of peach and copper streak the underside of the cloudlands, hanging far above the clutter of our market." ~ "The Other Side of the Sky"


While there was nothing inherently wrong with this novel, it just wasn't for me. I wanted to try a different scifi book with futuristic elements; however, I wished for this book to go deeper, be more dynamic. There wasn't enough character development, the plot progression was slow, and the book's ending left me unsatisfied.


I usually love character-driven stories, but it felt strange to only have the focus of this book to be on Nimh and North. So many chapters were just spent between the two of them with little to show for it. It felt like they just spent this book walking around and explaining their backstories. I feel like we didn't even get enough backstory on the cat traveling with them! The two main characters had no chemistry - their romance felt forced and the prophecy made it unclear whether they were destined to be together or not. I think my main struggle while reading this book was that I couldn't emotionally connect with any of the characters.


All of the secondary characters were underdeveloped and I didn't understand their motivations. Also, the villain had the potential to be truly, masterfully complex but her storyline felt rushed. Only in the last fifty pages did we get her backstory, and then the cliffhanger left me confused. Did the mist somehow affect her? This was one of those books where the beginning and middle of the plot moved so slowly and the ending was too rushed.

I love this writing duo. They always manage to create these magical and completely unique stories. This one was no different but wasn't quite what I was expecting. I really enjoyed reading it, but I felt like the story was just too long. That being said, there is a lot to love about this book - it is so vivid and full of mystery with some very real characters. I think it will be a popular read.

I enjoyed reading The Other Side of the Sky very much. I loved that fact that it was based on science fiction and especially fantasy. I loved the world building and especially the characters. I enjoyed both Nimh and North's point of view. The ending really got to me especially because it ended in a cliffhanger. Can't wait for book 2. I know my students will definitely enjoy The Other Side of the Sky.

[3.5 stars, rounding down to 3 stars]
Hmmmm. Cool concept, a few genuinely unexpected twists, and yet some general plot stuff that didn't really do it for me.

The Other Side of the Sky is a story told in two alternating POVs: North, the Prince of Alciel AKA the cloudlands AKA a big island in the sky and Nimh, the solitary living person imbued with leftover goddess magic chilling on the regular old planetary surface. North and his people believe that no one lives below their sky island anymore. Nimh and her people believe that the gods left a long time ago and moved to the cloudlands to enjoy a separate god party without loser-ish mortals getting in the way of a good time. The sky lands are super technologically advanced: the ground people are more religious and magically inclined.

Nimh spends her time focused on a prophecy that predicts the emergence of the Lightbringer - a.... god who was supposed to end the world a few thousand years ago but got cold feet and took off before the deed was done. Apparently, everyone on the ground floor is super excited for the "remaking" of the world, which would result in lots of death and destruction. Sounds like a good time?

After his personal sky plane is sabtoaged, North crash lands on ground level. Nimh sees her prophecy unfolding just perfectly: this cloudlander god must be the second coming of the Lightbringer, here to destroy this stupid world. FINALLY. However, lots of political scheming happens that shakes up what Nimh thought she knew about her world, her religion, and herself.

The Other Side of the Sky has a really cool premise (two separate civilizations - one thinks the others are gods! one thinks the other doesn't exist anymore!). There is a big focus on technology and science versus religion and magic, a theme which is complex and constantly evolving throughout the story. A few other concepts give this story a fun boost: "mist" storms that can pop up and kill people, drive them insane, or give them super strong magical powers; the history of the Divine One, and how the single living god is chosen and must live their life; and some interesting side characters, like Matias the archivist (love a good archivist popping up in a fantasy story).

Unfortunately, the whole Lightbringer prophecy is a little convoluted and the idea of destroying the whole world just seems like a bad idea that most people would agree upon? The romance in the novel was fine but mostly expected and barely there. More time spent in the big sky island would have been nice, but that's likely to come in book number two.

Overall, this is a fairly refreshing young adult fantasy novel that's well plotted and has a whole bunch of interesting concepts with a lot of potential to grow in subsequent installments. I would recommend to those looking for a Brandon Sanderson lite type of fantasy.

I get excited when a book has a fresh story concept. I love when I can get lost in a world that feels real but totally new. My favorite thing is when I can stop reading, but the characters stay with me in my head and heart like good friends. It is rare when I find a book that combines all of these elements, but it doesn’t surprise me that it comes from Kaufman and Spooner. Anything these two (and throw Kristoff in for good measure) is awesome!

A vessel for divinity, living on a hostile yet magical Earth. A prince from a sky kingdom utopia ruled by science. Fantasy meets science fiction in The Other Side of the Sky.

Nimh lives on a sparsely-populated planet full of wilderness and magic. The religious teachings say that long ago the gods abandoned the Earth to make their home in the clouds. Only one god stayed: the divine one who is reincarnated into human vessels each lifetime. Right now, Nimh is that vessel, but trouble is brewing. Most divine vessels manifest a particular aspect or talent that represents the state of world during their reign. Nimh's predecessor, for example, had an affinity for healing; a crucial ability in a world beset by a terrifying Mist that burns the skin and addles the mind. Nimh has yet to manifest her aspect, and a cult of nonbelievers threatens to destroy her temple and all the old ways that protect humanity from the Mist. Then, Nimh receives a prophecy: the Lightbringer, Destroyer of Worlds, will return to the Earth and Nimh will assist him in ending the suffering of this world and summoning forth the peaceful next-- if she can find him.

North is a prince of the sky kingdom Alciel. The sky cities are powered by massive engines, the technology of which has been lost among North's people. And now, it seems, the engines are slowly failing, the cities drifting ever closer Below. No one in the skies has been Below in centuries-- the sky people have forgotten the names of the animals and plants that reside there, and they don't recall why humanity abandoned the planet, only that the planet became too hostile for human existence. Leaving the sky is not an option. But North has a different idea: he has built a plane from scratch using scrapped pieces from the city's engine. He doesn't fully understand how it works, but if he can discover the secret of flight then he'll be able to save his kingdom. He is certain the answers lie Below, where humanity built and launched the giant sky cities, but visiting the Earth is forbidden. Engine failure and a crash landing make the decision for him, and soon North finds himself stranded in an unfamiliar hostile landscape with a strange, secretive, impossible girl for his guide.

Wow. I really loved this story. The mix of fantasy and sci-fi was so interesting, and I loved the dual perspectives of the main characters who were raised in entirely different societies. The world-building totally sucked me in and I liked both Nimh and North's characters. The plot has a lot of mystery to it, as Nimh works to interpret the prophecy she believes will save the world, and North works to discover the secret of flight and return to his home in the sky. They're both using each other, but they also can't help their growing attraction to each other, which is complicated by the fact that Nimh is not allowed to have physical contact with anyone who isn't divine like she is. There's also an adorable cat side character tagging along with Nimh and North's adventure who I'm convinced is more intelligent than your average cat, and helps them out of a number of scrapes.

Both North and Nimh are POC, North being described with light brown skin and Nimh with skin darker than North's, and they both have black curly hair. There are other characters described with pale skin and lighter hair, so it's clear that the MCs are meant to be POC. I'm pretty disappointed in the cover artist for not representing the characters' descriptions faithfully, though otherwise the cover is gorgeous. North also has sapphic mothers, who he calls his bloodmother and his heartmother, and is in an "it's complicated" polyamorous multi-gender relationship with his two best friends. However, despite North's feelings for his friends, they don't get a whole lot of mention after North meets Nimh and begins developing feelings for her. North is told in the beginning by his mother that a prince cannot have a marriage of three for inheritance reasons, so I guess we're just supposed to accept the idea that things wouldn't have worked out with the three of them in the long run anyway, but it still feels like a weird characterization choice. I'm hoping they'll get more page time in the next book.

The book's main flaw is that it is over-long. Granted, there's a lot of world-building to accomplish before the action can really get going, but the book just feels too long, like the pacing is off. When I mistakenly believed The Other Side of the Sky was a standalone fantasy (which I did through reading a good 90% of the book), the length made sense, but now knowing it's a series it seems like maybe the world-building could have been spread out a little better over the sequels to relieve some of the first book's length. Even though the story slows down in the middle, I never lost my investment in the story and characters. I'm so excited to find out more about this world and its history in the next book! 4.5 stars

North is a boy from the sky where technology beyond our own exists. Nimh is a girl from the earth, who serves as the god of her people and wields powerful magic. When North crashes to earth and encounters Nimh, she realizes they are bound by prophecy. As a false goddess attacks Nimh's temple and she and North go on the run in a desparate effort to save both of their peoples.

There are some really good things here. First and foremost, I loved the casual queer representation in both cultures. Absolutely stellar, and I hope we see more like this. I also really liked how magic and technology are portrayed as sides of a coin— if North can't understand the technical specifics of his sky world's technology, isn't it then a kind of magic?

Now some issues.

This book has the double challenge of building two worlds early on so we can see the distinctions between where Nimh and North are from. It means a ton of expositions and descriptors early on that really bogged down the start, and I don't feel like I ever got from under that as a reader. Perhaps as a consequence, the characters felt quite thin with too much telling and little showing.

However, the cliffhanger end was intriguing, so I may seek out the second volume when it becomes available.

I love the dynamic duo of Kaufman and Spooner, and this book is no exception.

I am a sucker for a good "fate be damned" story, and I think this series is going to shape up to be that very nicely. The characters in this book are on opposite sides of nearly everything - culture, class, understanding - and still it is evident that they are connected.

There is a lot of world building in this book, and the setting is really amazing. It's a world of magic and the realms of the sky and the earth, and when the two meet all sorts of delightfully disastrous things happen.

I am very interested to see where the story goes, and how K/S is going to resolve the fact that each of these characters have responsibilities and cares of their own, yet are drawn in separate directions.

The Other Side of the Sky is an outstanding YA fantasy blended with science fiction. And, let me just tell you, the world-building is incredible. Human goddess Nimh lives Below on the surface where survival is crucial with jungle and rivers where most everyone lives on floating houses, believes in the goddess as their salvation, and uses magic. They also believe the people in the sky are gods. Prince North lives in a sky city powered by technology and the people up there believe nothing is below. North and Nimh’s lives are going to collide. It is impossible to see the direction this story goes in. Filled with forbidden romance, strange creatures, prophecies, an excellent blend of magic and science, and solid characters, readers will be unable to put The Other Side of the Sky down. And the ending is just excellent. Highly recommended to readers looking for something fresh in YA fantasy that will truly keep them guessing. Be sure to check out The Other Side of the Sky today!

I found this book to be a wonderful examination of what happens when 2 very different belief systems crash together. The characters, especially Nimh were multi-faceted and the dual perspective gave readers a glimpse into both characters thought processes. There were some cliches and moment that were obvious as well as incredulous. Certain aspects could of been way better but for the most part the book was extremely well done at dealing with the fallout when two groups meet that are vastly different from one another.

The Other Side of the Sky is a brilliant mashup of both Sci-Fi and Fantasy. In this book, you follow two POVs: Nimh's whose is filled with magic, and North's whose is filled with science and technology. Now I am not generally a huge fan of multiple POVs as it can be either confusing, difficult to follow, or feel unnecessary, but I think the authors did a wonderful job of balancing the two. It never felt like they overlapped and I think the use of the two POVs is honestly part of what made this book amazing. Instead of only getting to see the magic or science POV, we get to see both sides as well as the two characters slowly accepting and understanding the other's worldly views.

Overall, this is was a really enjoyable read! I love Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels so to have one that combined both into one was pretty exciting. This book is pack full of action, excitement and of course romance! There is definitely a star-crossed lovers/forbidden romance feel to this book that I just couldn't get enough of, so if you're into that you will definitely want to pick this book up. I definitely recommend this book and am itching for the next one now, and yes it does end on a cliffhanger :)

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

I honestly haven't been <em>this</em> disappointed in a book I was extremely excited for in so long. <em>The Other Side of the Sky</em> disappointed me <em>so much</em>, in fact, that I'm kind of angry I wasted time reading it. This book had such a brilliant premise, too. Which is why it kind of kills me that I spent half my time with it <em>massively</em> annoyed. I'll give Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner this much: their characters are very realistic. I just couldn't stand how <em>stupid</em> the majority of them were.

<b>Magic vs. Religion</b>

I <em>love</em> stories about magic. Always have. I don't mind stories with religion, but they certainly aren't my favorite. But I think my <em>biggest</em> problem with this book is that Kaufman and Spooner were never <em>once</em> clear on whether or not the religion in this novel was real. The fact that I am still uncertain on this point really irks me.

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

<b>The Premise</b>

In essence, when things on the surface of this world grew difficult, due to impressive scientific advancement a subsection of the populace used technology to lift islands up into the sky. They abandoned the people living on the ground and eventually forgot about them. As far as they knew, the people were long dead. Alternately, those left to continue their lives below, forgot all about technology but never once forgot about the people who ascended into the sky. Of course, losing their understanding of science left them to fall to religion for answers.

Instead of seeing the sky people as subsets of their ancestor's populace, they grew to view them as gods. Lack of understanding for their world resulted in belief in magic. Anything they could not explain thus became so. And though the "gods" had all escaped to the sky, one living "god" remained below to take care of them. Well, for all intents and purposes the current living god is Nimhara.

Later, the Prince of the technologically run land in the sky--North--has a malfunction with his glider and plummets back to the ground. Nimhara, attempting to decipher the meaning of a long passed down prophesy, witnesses his fall. Upon meeting, she immediately determines he must be a god and thus part of the prophesy.

<u>The "Divinity"</u>

So, the loss of technological understanding results in "magic." This seems to basically just be code for science the people don't understand and therefore call magic. At the same time, though, Kaufman and Spooner give conflicting messages on this. On the one hand, they regularly put forth science-like explanations for the so-called magic. On the other, occasionally they make it seem as though it actually <em>is</em> magic. This muddled way in which they never really took a stance on the matter genuinely infuriated me.

What's worse is that the <em>single </em>character who did have some understanding of technology regularly waffled as well. North's entire understanding of the world made it very clear to me what stance he should take. That stance was reinforced on <em>numerous</em> occasions. Every time he interacted with a new piece of technology, it was <em>very</em> much implied that was exactly what it was. Meanwhile, there's Nimh so utterly certain in her beliefs that she spent the majority of the book trying to persuade North that he was a moron. He simply needed to believe in her magic, destiny, and so-called divinity, as far as she was concerned.

Nevermind that left and right the authors were throwing in whatever they could to debunk her entire faith. Half of what she thought she knew turned out to be a lie in the end. To further the horribleness of it all, Nimh wasn't even the only character operating on some belief that would eventually be debunked. There were <em>so many </em>of them. What good is this religion if it's being picked apart at every turn?

<u>The Science</u>

So, then, perhaps this is a commentary about science over religion. And, for all intents and purposes, that's kind of what it seemed like the book would be. A <em>lot</em> of the material throughout suggested as much. And honestly, this is a story that I can get behind. I rather feel as though it's indicative of a truth about the world as a whole and love that someone would think to write about it.

But...Kaufman and Spooner floundered with this idea. You see, because North spent the book certain that Nimh simply didn't know any better. He was certain for much of the story that she was using some form of science despite believing and claiming it was magic. Again, technology showed up time and time again to further prove his certainty. And yet, for some <em>unfathomable</em> reason, he actually started to believe in magic near the end of it?

I don't think he ever started to belief Nimh was truly a "goddess," since such a suggestion would make him a "god." And at least on that much, he knew better. I'll say that it's respectable that he was considerate to Nimh's beliefs, of course. Still, why have him start believing out of nowhere for no reason? He's a child of science. When all the evidence pointed toward the religion being a farce, why did he then waver?

<b>Conflict (and Evidence)</b>

So, the main conflict of the novel is kind of where I feel everything went downhill for me. I think I could have liked this book had it taken a stance on the religion/magic vs. science thing. Obviously, I lean science. I don't think I'd have minded if there was something to the magic aspect, so long as it was handled well. I find the "gods" piece more difficult. This is somewhat because that very idea suggests the people in the sky are gods. But the book makes it very clear that they are not. At the same time, it could have been kind of fascinating for the gods to have forgotten themselves, too.

That said, the technology piece really kind of negates that as a possibility.

With the arrival of the main conflict and antagonist, I literally felt as though I was reading a book about a bunch of ignorant fools all making incredibly dumb decisions because they forgot about science. They lost their ability to think critically and ask questions, deciding instead to simply accept magic and divine right as an answer. They wasted their time on prophesy and destiny rather than the more important struggles at hand.
And the people suffered for it.

<u>Death and Destruction</u>

While all this other nonsense is going on, there's this mist. The mist is incredibly dangerous--and for a time seemed like some sort of weather-based pollution--to the point that it maims, deforms, and sometimes kills the people. When kept properly, a special steel protects the people from the mist. Unfortunately, it has been deteriorating with time.

Thus a great many villages are in danger of falling to the mist. One village is even subjected to a huge massacre. And what are the supposed "heroes" of this story doing as this is happening?

Instead of focusing on the important detail of protecting everyone from this dangerous mist, the characters all fight over a prophesy and whose destiny it is to "destroy and remake" the world. Nimhara's supposed to be a goddess, sworn to protect and serve her people. Yet, <em>somehow</em> chasing after a random prophesy and finding one's destiny is the central focus of all the key players' minds. These characters even spend an inordinate amount of time trying to convince others of their own idiocy. What's worse is that the science-related character often lost <em>pathetically</em> in every debate he started, despite having more evidence than the rest.

And people <em>die</em>.

<b>The Leftovers</b>

It's funny, because at this point I haven't even discussed any of the minor plots in this novel. One of the most fascinating was that of Jezara's story. I <em>loved</em> everything she added to the novel. There was so much depth to it, thus resulting in Inshara being perhaps the most tragic character of all. I loved the role that these two played. At the same time, though, both Inshara and Nimhara's stupidity was <em>astounding</em>.

Ultimately, I've waffled back and forth on whether to give this book a 2-star or 3-star rating for a long time. It's been inordinately difficult to figure out what this book deserves.

Unfortunately, I've arrived at the final consensus that I do not have enough information yet to determine the book's value as a whole. My final rating depends entirely upon what Kaufman and Spooner do with Nimhara and the religion/magic system of this book. TOnly one path would make me okay with the sheer idiocy and baiting that <em>The Other Side of the Sky</em> is drenched in.

I have no way of knowing for certain whether that is the path they will take. Thus, until this book has a sequel, I couldn't tell you whether this is a 2- or a 3- star read.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

Two very different worlds living on one planet and the two are connected through a prophecy. I had a really hard time connecting to this book, I’m at 52% and I just feel that there is nothing grabbing me to keep reading. It has been a very slow start and I like the alternating POV’s of the characters but they both have annoyances that I’m not sure I can overcome. I will probably be in the minority here but it just isn’t worth it for me to keep reading, so sorry.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Nimh and North are very different characters. One is considered a living goddess, who is trying desperately to figure out a way to save her people. The other is a clever prince who is also trying to figure out a way to save his kingdom. Could they be the answer to each other's problems?

I've been a fan of this duo since <em>These Broken Stars.</em> So I was eager to get my hands on this new trilogy!

There's a lot to like. The worlds are well described and I felt like I could see the differences between Nimh's world and North. Also, I liked how different both characters were. North's character and circumstances added a bit of mystery to the story too which I'm eager to find out about. (Why did his flying machine malfunction?!) And it's easy to read and quickly to get into.

That said, I had some trouble with the book. I couldn't connect to either Nimh or North. Nimh is such a tragic figure, not good enough as a goddess, not able to be touched for fear she will lose her magic. She was so sad and lonely and I had hoped that the story would provide her with some spark, some fight. But it didn't really happen until the end and even then, it didn't seem really enough. I liked North far more, but he kept flip flopping between being very hurt by this girl he just met and suspicious by her at the same time. And there was some insta-love which annoyed me a bit.
That said, I think it's the good beginning of the trilogy. And that cliffhanger!

Content warning: this has THE RUDEST cliffhanger ending in any YA series I have ever read. This is the reason I don't read YA series before they are finished anymore. I have to be more diligent about sticking to this rule. No, seriously, I'm mad! Not even in the frustrated-but-excited-to-see-what-happens-in-the-next-book way. I'm just straight up irate.

Anyway.

Nimh is a sixteen-year-old goddess on a quest to find her destiny. She has not manifested a power, which typically arrives for the divine a year or two after ascending. But it's been ten years, and hers is still MIA. Nimh is determined that her destiny has been prophesied and sets out to see it fulfilled.

Enter North: the Prince in waiting of Alciel, a large city in the sky. His favorite hobby is flying his ironically named glider. Since news has spread that the engines in this cloud-city are potentially failing and the island is sinking (a blip of social commentary I hope returns in book 2), North is convinced that he can make it down to Below.

For Nimh, North is the potential answer to all her questions and doubts. For North, Nimh is the only one who can potentially get him back home.

This story was fun, albeit not very unique. As others have noted, the bones of this plot line are essentially the same as the TV show/novel "The 100". While not wholly derivative, it did read awfully familiar. I also found some of the major plot points to be predictable (although some did genuinely surprise me).

I did, however, find the story of Nimh and North engaging! I wish there was more world building in certain areas, but I'm sure we'll get that in book two. I'm sure I'll get over my anger about the cliffhanger by then to pick up the next book in the series.

At times this book felt insta-lovey. But at other times it felt like too slow of a burn. There was never a time while reading this, where I was satisfied with the romance. The world was interesting, if not confusing at times.

Thank you SO MUCH for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I love these authors so much, and I am so excited that I got to read this early! Especially because I was just... soo... SO. Blown away by this. It was such a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, but it worked SO WELL. And I really loved their first series together, I loved These Broken Stars!! But this book... man. MAN. I can just tell how much they’ve grown in their craft with this one! It’s better! In a good way! The TWISTS. There were some that I could pick at and see with foreshadows, but there others that snuck up on me! And I LOVED THAT. And I’m so glad this is a series, because I have SO MANY QUESTIONS. (I won’t ask them here, I am not aiming to spoil!) So yes. I loved it. It was brilliant and amazing. And I absolutely highly recommend it, and I cannot wait to hand sell this at my library!

Kaufman and Spooner make magic AGAIN. This book combines fantasy and sci-fi and I couldn't be happier.

I've had a really hard time sitting down to read this year because *waves hands around at 2020* of all this, but that wasn't a problem with The Other Side of the Sky. The problem was me staying up way too late several nights in a row and being tired at work the next day. Man, that was an excellent problem. The way they take 2 characters from very different worlds and have them interact and learn and survive was frustrating at times because of how real it was. The disbelief and confusion and misunderstandings were so relatable and frustrating that it made me want to reach into the book and shake the characters until they saw sense. I wouldn't have wanted them to be any other way though, since this is exactly what made them feel so real. And what made the pay-off soooo worth it.

'"I'm still here with you," I murmur. The words are soft, but they're enough to make her focus on my face again. "I'm real. And you've taught me to believe, Nimh. In things I can't see or touch. But more than anything, I believe in you. And I'm real."'

I had a feeling I knew where this story would end, and I was partially right, but knowing something is so different from seeing it executed so perfectly on the page that it makes your heart explode.

I definitely connected more with North, because his position is significantly more relatable: coming from a society based on science, but not knowing exactly how everything works, being dropped into a society where everything works by magic and living gods. I would have a difficult time adjusting to that and not questioning everything too. But Nimh is pretty much what you expect from someone raised to be a humble god personified, and would be the kind of person I would follow.

'She's like a torch in the darkness, pushing away the fears and horrors of the night.'

And we can't forget the bindle cat! Showing up and leaving at his own whims, it is good to know cats in this world do not allow stupid humans to boss them around.

I am usually a character-driven reader, and these characters are awesome, but the world is just AMAZING. So complex and beautifully described that I felt like I was there. (This was enhanced when I went outside, because the river-sea is just as humid as Florida in the summer apparently.) Overall, if you loved Kaufman and Spooner's These Broken Stars (Which is just, gah, SO GOOD), then this is right up your alley.

Now, if someone can get me some magic or device that could send the sequel back in time into my greedy little hands, I would be very grateful.

This book – just wow! Loved it! I’m a fan of Kaufman’s Illuminae series, but I hadn’t read anything of Spooner’s before. I rarely give books 5 stars, most area solid 3 for me – enjoyable but they don’t stand out. Doesn’t mean I won’t recommend them, but it takes a lot for me to give a book more than that.

This book blends science fiction and fantasy perfectly! As a fan of both genres I love seeing how science and magic existed in the same world and how the characters reacted to each. While the setting of this book definitely leans more into the fantasy (where the book takes places), I think science fiction fans will definitely enjoy it and relate to North’s experience. (Also – let us take a moment to appreciate and chuckle at the name North for the significance in the book). Not to mention the set up for book two will be the opposite – based more in the science fiction part of the world. I also loved the exploration of faith and religion throughout the book.

The world building, the writing, the plot – ALL of this book was amazing and I will be singing its praises and handing it out all the time at the library. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.