Member Reviews
Shkyhunter give me A Quiet Place vibes with creatures. It is action packed
Beginning was overwhelming with amount of exposition and characters but still interesting and entertaining.
Title - Skyhunter
Author - Marie Lu
Genre - YA Dystopia
I have have missed it when I had requested for this book that it was just an excerpt and this is my review on just the first three chapters of the book. As a fan of Marie Lu, there is nothing less than brilliance that had come out of this book and I'm pretty much excited about to get my hands on the complete book when it releases. The story of Talin who loses her striker in one of the Federation's attack keeps you hooked from the word go and I'm sure the entire book will not disappoint at all.
I received an extended excerpt of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was only a 52 page long excerpt, but it gripped me from start to finish! I cannot wait to have the whole book in my hands!
Mystery, monsters, beautiful raw emotion, interesting characters and cultures. It has it all within those first 50 odd pages and I wanted more. I really appreciated that the majority of the introduced characters communicate in sign language, I also appreciate that so much history was conveyed so quickly but in enough depth that you didn't feel lost. Fantastic world building.
If you enjoy dystopian-esque, sci-fi novels that start off swinging, then I think this may interest you.
There was a lot of exposition and info dumping right in the beginning, which was kind of overwhelming. I would have liked to see more of a show don’t tell approach as we are introduced to the world and the characters. That being said, the world is very fascinating and the Ghosts the protagonist has to fight are TERRIFYING. They remind of the creatures in the movie A Quiet Place, aka something I would never want to be near, let alone be tasked to fight, like Talin is.
I was given an advanced reading excerpt for this book and now I'm hungry for the whole thing. Marie Lu is a wonderful writer and this book seems like another winner. It's giving me Skyward meets Attack on Titan vibes which sounds really awesome.
I can't wait to read the whole thing and I'm thankful Net Galley have me a sample to read for an honest review.
Marie Lu is a master of world building - even in this short snippet I already had a pretty good idea of what the world was like and the stakes that the main character was facing - even better, she wasted no time getting the action started. I can’t wait to read the full book on publication day!
(This review is for the chapter sampler. I haven't read the complete book yet.)
From what I've read, Skyhunter is a thrilling fantasy.
I adored the worldbuilding — it's not a small world, and instead, sprawling and vast. The war dynamics are incredibly interesting. With food shortages, class divisions, and a discussion on how refugees are treated, Skyhunter's world, Mara, a small country that is the only one left not conquered by the Karensa Federation, is one that is believable and compelling.
While I've only met some of the characters yet, I love all of them! Talin is a wonderful main character to be in the head of. I especially appreciate how she's mute, and cannot speak. This is something rarely represented in books, and even less found in fantasy. Talin's friend, Adena, is sweet, and a lovely side character.
Overall, the plot is incredibly pulling and interesting, so far, and I'm really excited to read Skyhunter in full!
Thoughts after reading the Extended Excerpt:
Excellent beginning. This story grabs you from the first page and doesn't let up. The writing is clear and doesn't get in the way of the action - and there's plenty of action. Also, the Ghosts? Creepy as hell. Not sure I'd want to read this book before bed.
You really feel for Talin, for her loss and grief at losing her Shield / partner and her fear that she will no longer be accepted as a Striker without him to speak up for her, as she is a refugee.
I can see this book being an adrenaline-filled blockbuster, and would not be surprised if it's picked up for a movie deal.
I preordered this book after reading the excerpt alone. I love Marie Lu’s writing and she does no wrong in Skyhunter. I enjoyed the character development between each one and the world building in this sci fi setting. I already can’t wait for the next book!
I ABSOLUTELY 100% need this book RIGHT NOW. Sorry for the caps. Marie Lu is quickly becoming my favourite author. I loved The Kingdom of Back and I am so excited for Skyhunter. Her writing is flawless and so fluent and she made me care for the characters within the first few pages.
She just went ahead and ripped my heart out. Thanks. I think Skyhunter is now my most anticipated release of the year. I will sell my soul for a copy of this book. May the book gods smile on me today.
Those few chapters flew by. I nearly stabbed my Kindle because it wouldn't turn over right when it got really interesting.
Can't wait to read the whole novel.
Skyhunter by Marie Lu is a very interesting book. It follows Talin Kanami, a refugee who joins the Strikers, the elite protectors of Mara. They hunt and kill Ghosts, mutated creatures sent by the Karensa Federation to attack Mara. These Ghosts have heightened senses so the Strikers communicate primarily through sign language, which definitely heightens my interest in this book.
The book starts off really well. It does a good job of explaining the world of Skyhunter. The main protagonist is strong and doesn't let her differences hold her back or define her. She knows what she wants and works hard for it. The secondary characters are also pretty great. All of them have really interesting backgrounds and storylines. From what I've read, this book has plenty of surprises, twists and turns hidden in it. Skyhunter definitely has the potential to be great and I look forward to reading more!
What an exciting excerpt leaving the reader wanting more. I’m a huge fan of Marie Lu, and can’t wait to see where she takes us in SKYHUNTER.
Wow. What a ride! This preview of Skyhunter has me totally on board for all the action to come. So thankful that I was approved for the full book - it would have been torture to wait.
2020 has been a quiet year for YA Sci-Fi, and I'm so glad to have this one to recommend to teens soon. I've already ordered a copy of it for my branch. I know it'll be a hit!
I was a little disappointed to find out that this is only a preview of the book but it definitely has me excited for the book.
From the very first moment on I felt engaged in the story and I liked the fast pacing. The pacing also really seems to fit the story. The world-building that we got so far is very intriguing and I also already like the characters and I cannot wait to get to know them better.
When I read this preview of Skyhunter, I definitely didn't want to stop. Unfortunately, since this was just a preview of the book, it ended after roughly three chapters.
I really like Talin - she is a relatable character and I would love to read more about her.
Skyhunter promises to be an amazing book, as is par for the course for Marie Lu's books. The story is, as always, very well written and keeps the reader engaged throughout the read. This YA Sci Fi/Fantasy is sure to please current Marie Lu fans and bring new ones to the table.
I really enjoyed these first three chapters and I'm excited to read the full book when it releases in September!
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a sample in exchange for an honest review.
This was only an excrept so it only judges the first 3 chapters. Really well paced story that grips you from the first page. Marie Lu has created an engaging and scary world. If there's something I didn't like it's that characters felt a tiny bit dull bit I really can't judge that after just 3 chapters. Waiting for the whole story to come out!
[ this was an excerpt of the book. I do not have/own a completed copy yet ]
Honestly, this was absolutely amazing! The story was straight up engaging and the pacing was really fast (which I appreciated). Our main character was brave, smart and cunning, separated from society for being an outsider and judged because of her racial identity and maternal country. This did not stop her, though, and I loved how Marie Lu portrayed her ignoring everyone's hurtful comments and being a badass goddess! I'm absolutely in love with this story and I can't wait to read the whole book.
Happy reading!
I will read anything and everything Marie I have never not loved one of her books. Also that cover?? Absolutely stunning.
Talin, a voiceless refugee from a territory overtaken by the Federation is a member for a force, in the free nation of Mara working to destroy the human mutated creatures known as Ghosts. When a war prisoner is brought to Mara, Talin is intrigued as to who he is and what it is him being there means.
From reading the first three chapters the world-building is very evident from the very start and creates a dark, sombre dystopian mood you are instantly drawn to. The writing itself contributes to this greatly, it has an almost melodic descriptive quality to it which draws you into the world.
I did not expect it to get so intense so fast I was happily enjoying the fighting, it’s intensity and excitement and getting a glimpse into what the ghosts are like when it got very dark and sad very quickly.
I loved seeing the dynamic between Talin and Corian, seeing how they became friends and what their friendship was like. It was great to begin to see the characters and their qualities and interactions. I really liked Talin, viewing the world through her eyes and how were priorities and ideals were aligned, how much she cared for her mother and how she felt about where she had come from.
Overall I really enjoyed of what I have seen of it so far and can’t wait until it comes out to see what happens.