THE ENDLESS SKIES was an entertaining and engaging YA Fantasy standalone with interesting world-building, an intriguing magic system, and compelling characters. I loved the premise at the very start of the book — how cool are shapeshifting winged lions — and the beginning pull of the book carried me along for a fun ride with our three main characters.
I love books with multiple points of view, so that was an aspect I really enjoyed in THE ENDLESS SKIES. I liked how the different perspectives showed different experiences and interactions in the same world, but I found Rowan’s POV the most engaging and I was always excited for her chapters. I thought Rowan had an interesting story to tell, and though I was most invested in her, I think the other characters did add to the story at times.
While there is a romance (if you’re looking for a love triangle you’ll find one!), I found myself more invested in the world-building and action of the story — which was totally enough to carry the book for me. I think anyone who’s a YA Fantasy fan and is looking for unique world should pick this one up! THE ENDLESS SKIES was a great filled with memorable world-building, a few great twists, and a beautiful story about what values drive us and belief in hope.

Release Date: 08.17.2021
Review Date: 11.29.2021

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

High above the sea, floats the pristine city of the Heliana. Home to winged-lion shapeshifters―the Leonodai―and protected from the world of humans by an elite group of warriors, the Heliana has only known peace. After years of brutal training, seventeen-year-old Rowan is ready to prove her loyalty to the city and her people to become one of the Leonodai warriors. But before Rowan can take the oath, a deadly disease strikes the city’s children. Soon the warriors―including two of Rowan’s closest friends―are sent on a dangerous mission to find a fabled panacea deep within enemy lands. Left behind, Rowan learns a devastating truth that could compromise the mission and the fate of the Heliana itself. She must make a decision: stay with the city and become a warrior like she always dreamed, or risk her future in an attempt to save everyone she loves. Whatever Rowan decides, she has to do it fast, because time is running out, and peace can only last so long...

Overall I thought this was an enjoyable read. Especially being a standalone. I was really glad this one was multiple pov, because Rowan as the only character would have annoyed me a lot. I felt like a lot of her decision making was ridiculous and I didn't think the love triangle was a necessary thing for us all to go through, but overall I did like the book. Callen was really sweet and I was glad we got his pov especially.
I did think the end was a little too quick and convenient though.
As a bit of a recommendation, this book felt very similar in vibe and writing to Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson. So if you liked that one you'll probably like this one and vice versa.

I think this story would have done better as a series. Or at least two books as it felt that a lot of the story was being left out. I did still enjoy it but overall it just felt like it was missing some information that should have been there. If you are looking for a simple fantasy stand alone check this one out.

I really enjoyed this one. The Heliana people sounded like mythological creatures, being able to shape-shift in a winged-lion form, and you know how I love everything with magic in it. I really appreciated this unique turn of warriors going on human land to find a cure, and losing their magic on the way. Having it all your life and then losing it for a greater cause, they really are loyal. And it's beautiful.

Many thanks to TorTeen for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A young warrior elect on the brink of her warrior ceremony, decides to risk it all to save her people! Rowan’s decisions are written well and she doesn’t appear like a silly, fickle warrior girl. The love triangle left me obsessed and I was pleased that Rowan’s decisions weren’t affected by her feelings for the boys. World building was sound, but I was left wanting to know more about the other magical peoples. The magical resolution felt a little loose and needed more explanation. The Endless Skies was an enjoyable quest/romance book and I recommend it!

The shifting POVs and the world building took a little bit to get used to, but overall, I appreciated that this was a standalone with a creative magic and world system.

I didn't realize this was a standalone when I picked it up and I think this book suffered from the same fate most YA fantasy standalones suffer from. the magic and the worldbuilding are squished in with the history of the world and it was so incredibly plot-driven that character development really suffered. although this felt like it had a lot of really great potential, i feel like the three different POVs really was not the move.

The Endless Skies about Rowan, a Leonodai warrior-elect who go to save her kingdom and found some truths behind the disease that struck her.
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First, I need more time to understand few early chapters especially in Rowan's chapter. I got lost and I think Rowan as a man. Haha.. Definitely I'm wrong 🤣. I really enjoyed reading this standalone book. It's action-packed, full of adventure, and makes me flutter. 😉
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The story written in three points of view. Those are Shirene, Rowan and Callen. And because it is an adventure story, to have many points of view will be a great experience so I can still follow each of MC's journeys. I adore Rowan. She has badass character, smart and fiery.
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One more thing that amazed me when reading this book is the world building. Such a beautiful description.
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Overall, this book perfect for shapeshifter book fans. If you're looking forward for high fantasy, battle/war and betrayal, you can try to read The Endless Skies.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Shannon Price, Netgalley, and Tor Teen for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


Was I thinking about Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki when I first read this synopsis? A little bit. It’s been many many years since I’ve actually watched the movie and I know I’m due for a rewatching – it’s on HBO Max, right? – but that was the vibe that I had in mind when I was getting into this story.

**Alexa, play Castle in the Sky DDR Ultramix**


Okay but in all seriousness, this was such a great standalone fantasy novel. I’m actually super bummed that it’s a standalone because I could imagine so many more stories in this world. They don’t have to be one big story but just learning more about the Leonodai and the city of Heliana would be absolutely magical.

As with a lot of standalone fantasy novels, our main character Rowan finds out that not all is as its seems when devastation rocks Heliana by affecting the children. Think about it – a deadly disease that only strikes children, one of the most vulnerable populations in any given society? It’s only a matter of time that something must be done, and the rest of the Leonodai are sent to find something that should help turn the tide.

Of course, Rowan is left behind. Why?

She’s left with a tough decision that will change the course of not only her life, but possibly the fate of the world as she knows it. You know, regular “Chosen One” shenanigans that I love so much.

Can I also just say that I love the fact that the Leonodai are WINGED-LION SHAPESHIFTERS?! I’ve never heard of any creature in recent stories like this before and now I’m wondering where they have been all my life.

A big thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book. I had so much fun reading this book! The world and the characters were so interesting and the story was so engaging. I loved the relationships and how they evolved throughout the book and I’m really excited to read more from this author.

Final Rating: 3.5

The Endless Skies is a YA standalone fantasy, which isn’t something we get much of but I actually kind of wish it was the first in a series, mainly because there were so many plot threads left unanswered. It’s also release day today (August 17th) so if you’re interested in this one today’s the day to pick it up!

I did really like how interesting the premise was, I can’t say that I’ve ever read a book with winged lion shifters so I really enjoyed that aspect. I also thought the idea of an illness that only affected the children of this race made the entire plot feel more urgent, because no one likes to hear about children dying even if they’re only fictional.

This is a multiple POV story, with perspectives from Rowan, her sister Shirene, and her best friend Callen who is also in love with her. I definitely liked Rowan the most, but Shirene and Callen (Callen especially) seemed a little bit flat. Callen’s only personality trait is that he’s loved Rowan for a long time, and pretty much refuses to believe that she feels any differently. Shirene’s POV felt a little pointless and was really only used to give us information about what was happening back at home while the others were on their quest for the cure, but I feel like other than that it didn’t really add anything. For once, I actually think maybe only a single POV would’ve worked a bit better. I also didn’t really like or understand the inclusion of the love triangle, it didn’t really add anything to the story and I don’t think it was believable that Rowan had these two guys to choose from, because neither really had much personality, and there was no real connection that I felt between any of them.

Like I mentioned earlier, I definitely think this could use a sequel because there are a few different plot points that I feel were just kind of abandoned or rushed, including the storyline with Ellian and Isla, what happened with Shirene, and how everything played out with the cure, which was the whole point of the quest in the first place.

I also kind of hope that if there isn’t a sequel in the works, then maybe some standalone companion novels about the other shifter races.

While I enjoyed the world building and what we saw, I was also wanting a little bit more. I was a bit confused by the name of the island and the city and the way it was referred to sometimes, and I think a map would’ve helped a lot when it comes to the island, the land the humans live on, and what I think is another continent with the other shifter races. I also wish a little bit more had been spent on fleshing out the humans, since the disease is from humans in the first place. It feels like they’re medieval humans, but then they show up with airplanes, trains, and guns while the lion shifters fight with swords and bows, which threw me off a bit.

The pacing for this book was a little slow in the beginning, but then once the action really started the book moved so quickly. It really only takes place over the course of a few days, and there’s a LOT packed into those few days.

I still really enjoyed this, and I think a lot of people are going to have a lot of fun reading this book. I would especially recommend this to either people new to fantasy, or people who are a little bit younger looking to expand their reading as there isn’t anything too graphic.

The Leonodai, winged-lion shapeshifters, have lived in relative peace as they train elite warriors to protect the Heliana, a land that floats in the clouds above the world of humans. Along with three other races of magical creatures, the Leonodai aim to distance themselves from humans and maintain their place in a world that has grown increasingly perilous. But when Leonodai children start to fall ill, warriors are sent on a mission to the human world, the only place that holds the flower needed for the cure. With a great deal to lose, including all the magic of the Leonodai, warriors Callen, Ox, Rowan, and Shirene race against time to save their people.

There are some really great aspects to The Endless Skies. First, the world building is intriguing as you have a floating city and five magical races, including one that is extinct. As a reader, I very much enjoyed the different viewpoints of the Heliana, especially ones from the air as these provided a rough layout of the city. This leads to one of the other features that was fascinating, specifically the magic system. The Leonodai’s magic to turn from a humanoid form to a winged-lion form was a new way to look at shapeshifters and magical lore.

However, there were some aspects of this novel that didn’t work quite as well. First, it seemed as though there were too many viewpoints. Shannon Price uses three: Rowan, Callen, and Shirene. Though Shirene does offer the opportunity to update the reader on the progression of the disease throughout the novel, her point of view felt extraneous. Additionally, when a young adult novel sets up two characters to contribute their point of view, it seems likely that there will be a love connection between them. This proved to be true with Rowan and Callen. As a reader, I was frustrated by Ox, who was not a point of view character, but seemed to create an unnecessary love triangle. Positives of the love triangle in The Endless Skies did include the fact that it was a subplot and both Callen and Ox were generous and decent.

The ending also felt a bit too neat and tied up. However, I sense this is because Price could have continued developing a complex and interesting world. It’s rare given that too many young adult books are made into unnecessary series but The Endless Skies is a rare exception that could have benefited from more space to explore the history of this world and the magic system.

Overall, I do recommend The Endless Skies despite its flaws. I think this is an interesting world that will continue to push the young adult genre to be better and more original in its conception of magic systems.

Great plot with amazing characters. Definitely gives you the need for more. Shannon price managed to keep me entertained during the whole book and I hope that this becomes a series so that we can read a little bit more about this world. The beginning was a bit slow for me but the pacing changed quickly and after 100 pages Price managed to hook my attention. I'm glad I did!

Anyone a sucker for gorgeous covers? I know I am! And, this one reminded me so much of Sky in the Deep but unlike Sky in the Deep, The Endless Skies fell so short of my expectations. Despite a unique and captivating premise, a frustrating love triangle, shallow characters and ridiculous plot points leave much to be desired.

Plot, Prose and Pacing: Unique, Intricate and Compelling

The Endless Skies’ one shining glory is it’s captivating and unique premise but it suffers due to a lack of in-depth story telling and a strong focus on the romantic relationships. Told from three different points of view, Rowan, Callen and Sherine, the main characters of The Endless Skies are the Leonodai, a race of winged lions who live on the floating city of Heliana where life is idyllic and peaceful. Until, a deadly disease begins claiming the life of Leonodai children and it’s only known cure lies in the lands of their human enemies. Desperate to save the future and youth of Heliana, the Leonodai warriors set off to the human lands in search of the cure and encounter a history lesson that reveals a deeper and darker secret about the tumultuous relationship with their enemies.

While the plot seems simple enough, it is actually wonderfully intricate and there are so many elements that tie in together that it is almost impossible for me to write a brief overview without going into too much detail. I do feel that The Endless Skies would have benefited if it had taken it’s time to build the story as it had break-neck pacing, jumping from one development to the other, but the beginning was incredibly slow with lots of info dumping. From the delightful variety of neighbouring shapeshifter cities to the quest-styled action and a slew of exciting twists, turns and developments, it would have been absolutely perfect. Except, there were one too many things holding it back.

For one, the prose is rather old-school and chock full of classic YA cliches of a bygone era. The descriptions of characters are rather cringey and sometimes, the dialogue in serious scenes made me break out in laughter. But, it’s major culprit is for such a wonderful plot, the whole book hinged on the frustratingly juvenile love triangle!

Characters: Three Perspectives Too Many

The Endless Skies is told from three different points of view:

Rowan: Leonodai warrior elect, Rowan is on the cusp of becoming a full-fledged warrior when the ceremony was postponed due to the threat of the disease
Shirene: Rowan’s sister and a member of the Leonodai council, Shirene also acts at The Voice of the king
Callen: Leonodai warrior and Rowan’s best friend who has a secret crush on her

But there are also a couple of other characters who make prominent appearances such as Ox, a Leonodai warrior who provides the third point in their love triangle, Seth, Shirene’s romantic partner and Leonodai warrior and Vera, Rowan’s best friend. However, they are quite one-dimensional in that they merely serve their plot purposes and roles rather than contribute any further personality to the book.

One of my great frustrations with The Endless Skies is this three point-of-view storytelling. While I normally love this style, it doesn’t work here. Rowan, brave and determined as a warrior elect, clearly carried the majority of the plot and the plot developments and it would have been more compelling if the entire book had been written from her perspective only. While Shirene and Callen were interesting characters, Callen’s perspective focused mostly on his feelings for Rowan and his semi-rivalry for her affections with Ox and and while Shirene’s perspective provided some insight into the going ons of the Leonodai city while Rowan and Callen are searching for the cure, we don’t particularly learn anything new from her as Rowan also learns of the same information.

But the biggest crime The Endless Skies commits is the unnecessary and uninspired love triangle! I’ve learnt to accept most triangles with a pinch of salt because they’re so commonplace in YA and some of them can be well-written. But this one, left me rather speechless with how old school and pointless it was. It felt incredibly childish, coupled with a rivalry that felt half-baked and just left a sour taste in my mouth with how little importance it lent to the story or the character development.

Worldbuilding: So Perfect I’m Speechless

While The Endless Skies failed to impress with its characterisation and relationships, the worldbuilding was it’s saving grace! Although there were some bouts of info dumping and at times, the world could be rather simplistic, I enjoyed learning about the world of the Leonodai and their magic, even though it made the beginning half of the book rather slow and draggy. There were so many wonderful small details that made up their society and way of life; I absolutely loved the vivid and lavish descriptions of Heliana and I loved every bit of the other shapeshifter clans. The magic system was well-explained, especially in how it integrated with Heliana’s infrastructure. I wish we could learn so much more about them as well as how the Leonodai clan would work together with the other clans and their political relationships.

Did I Enjoy It: Conclusion

To sum it all up, The Endless Skies was quite an enjoyable read. There were multiple instances where I cringed very hard at the childish prose and endured with much pain and suffering the love triangle but as the book made it into its second half, it picked up tremendously in story and pacing. While it isn’t my favourite book of the year, it was still a good read and it would definitely have it’s own audience who loves a good action-mystery and love triangles.

A story about shapeshifting warriors is something that has never even crossed my mind before. The action and adventure were perfectly balanced and allowed for a quick pace within the plot. I really enjoyed seeing the setting of Heliana in contrast to the human world below. It was very interesting to see the lore behind the humans being the presumed evil beings in this story. Rowan’s journey to find a cure for the people that she loves was a great plot device to push the story forward and I loved the sense of purpose it gave Rowan. I would definitely recommend this quick read to fantasy lovers in middle grade and beyond.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Endless Skies

Author: Shannon Price

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Publisher: Tor Teen

Pages: 354

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, romance, plague)

Explanation of CWs: Romance is heavy throughout the book and it is a love triangle (1f, 2m). Disease is prevalent in the book as it's the motivation. Violence and gore throughout the book.

Synopsis: High above the sea, floats the pristine city of the Heliana. Home to winged-lion shapeshifters―the Leonodai―and protected from the world of humans by an elite group of warriors, the Heliana has only known peace.

After years of brutal training, seventeen-year-old Rowan is ready to prove her loyalty to the city and her people to become one of the Leonodai warriors. But before Rowan can take the oath, a deadly disease strikes the city’s children. Soon the warriors―including two of Rowan’s closest friends―are sent on a dangerous mission to find a fabled panacea deep within enemy lands.

Left behind, Rowan learns a devastating truth that could compromise the mission and the fate of the Heliana itself. She must make a decision: stay with the city and become a warrior like she always dreamed, or risk her future in an attempt to save everyone she loves. Whatever Rowan decides, she has to do it fast, because time is running out, and peace can only last so long...

Review: For the most part I thought this was an okay book. It had good plot and world building. I thought the book was interesting and for someone looking for love triangles and fantasy that harkens back to early 00s YA books, this would probably be a great fit for them.

However, this was such a hard book to get through. The characters were sorely underdeveloped. The book opens up without explanation and the characters were hard to connect with. I also hated the forced love triangle and it just felt too forced.

Verdict: It was just ok.

𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎-𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔, 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙴𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞.

𝙰𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚈𝙰 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚝. 𝚅𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚍 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚊 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝙻𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚒, 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎-𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜.
𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚒 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚜, 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝙿𝙾𝚅’𝚜, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚓𝚘𝚋 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎. 𝙰𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚊𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚎, 𝚍𝚞𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚢.

𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙸𝙵 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴 :
-𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍
-𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚍𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎
- 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜
-𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
- 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎
-𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚟’𝚜

#𝚃𝚑𝚎𝙴𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚎𝚜𝚃𝚘𝚞𝚛 #𝚃𝚑𝚎𝙴𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚎𝚜 #𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚗𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚎 #𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗 #𝚐𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚕𝚢𝚗𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜

Initial Thoughts
I was excited to be chosen for this tour. This book actually flew under my radar in August when it came out and I was so glad to stumble upon this tour opportunity.

Some Things I Liked
Multiple POVs. I love when books are told from different characters’ perspectives. I feel like the reader can really gain more insight and the world can be expanded upon in a different way than with just one POV.
World building. I really loved the bits and pieces of the world outside Heliana. I would love to see more about this in sequels or spin offs. I thought the semi-dystopian sounding world was really cool.
Different ages of the characters. Rowan and Shirene are so different and are at different points in their lives. I loved that we got a more YA narrator and a narrator that leaned toward more adult thinking. The contrast was so interesting to follow.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
While I loved the POVs, I did find that one of them was a bit superfluous. I feel like I was disappointed in the way the one POV ended and it basically rendered the entire perspective useless. I also think there was a bit of a missed opportunity to go crazy and have a ton of different perspectives. If we’re going to read from one that comes to a disappointing close, let me read from the POVs of all of the side characters.

Series Value
I think this world has a lot of potential and I’d like to revisit it. I’d actually really like a prequel story here. I think the history described was really fascinating and I’d love to know more.

Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a solid standalone with a nice romance plot that I’d recommend for fans of fantasy adventures.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted an electronic copy of this book by Netgalley and Tor Teen in exchange for an honest review.

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE :
- shapeshifters
-friends to lovers
- love triangle

The Endless Skies by Shannon Price is a standalone epic fantasy about shapeshifting warriors living on a floating island above the sea. The city of Heliana is known for its people, the Leonodai, who are protected by winged-lion shapeshifter warriors. The children of Heliana are infected by a deadly disease and the warriors are sent to the human lands to recover a cure; a blazing red flower with six petals. While taking every precaution to protect Prince Tabrol, King Kharo and Queen Laianna's son who is the heir and the future of the city, the prince is soon infected and upon hearing this news, Rowan An'Talla takes it upon herself to help find the cure. Tracking the warriors who have been sent, Rowan finds herself in some life-threatening situations and can't draw upon her shapeshifting skills in the human lands since there is no magic.

The story is told from 3 POVs. Rowan who is our main character is a stubborn but driven warrior-elect waiting to take the oath. Shirene is Rowan's sister, a sentinel and the king's voice. Then my favourite, Callen who is a warrior and Rowan's best friend. We get three sides of one story and we experience the disease and its impact upon the city of Heliana, the mission to find the cure and the attack upon the city by the humans. This attack is born out of revenge and the humans have since improved their technology and battle strategy - they will ruin the city of Heliana.

A lot of worldbuilding and character introductions take place in the first few chapters, this left me a bit overwhelmed and I would have liked a list of characters to refer back to. I read an uncorrected digital proof copy so I'm not sure whether a list of characters is added to the corrected copy. I found the story interesting and I liked the mission to save the city of Heliana, the stakes are high when a kingdom is threatened. Rowan's character developed since leaving the city to help find the cure and we see how she matures. I didn't like Shirene's character, her POV adds to the story but I couldn't get a liking to her. Callen is my favourite, he is a strong character and drives the plot; while loving Rowan, he had to watch from the sidelines how she is affectionate towards another warrior.

I like the motto of the warriors, LOYALTY ABOVE ALL. In this mission to save the kingdom, be it to fight against the humans or to find the cure, we see how Rowan, Shirene, Callen and many other characters keep to this motto. There is a lot of adventure, fighting scenes and even some romance. This romance includes a love triangle. I enjoyed the shapeshifting and the magic of Heliana; there is an unspoken beauty about this floating island and the love the Leonodai have for it.

I really loved everything about The Endless Skies! Its an excellent read with an excellent premise and I really loved the world building and story.