DNF at 30%.

I could not get into this book, it was just not the story for me.

*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.

The Endless Skies follows warrior-elect Rowan who has trained to become a warrior her entire life. When Rowan is finally able to become the warrior she has always dreamed to be, tragedy strikes her kingdom: children are mysteriously falling ill, and warriors must search for the cure.

The Endless Skies is fun and engaging. However, it also feels very lackluster and forgettable. I feel as if this story would be more memorable if the world building was more intricate and important to the story. While the kingdom's history is explored, it never feels extremely urgent for the plot. Additionally, while the book does not stray away from death, a lot of character deaths have no repercussions and are seemingly more for shock value.

I also did not care for the multiple perspectives of this book or the love triangle. The chosen perspectives feel extremely odd- we follow Rowan, her sister, and one of Rowan's love interests. It feels like a cheap plot device to have Rowan's sister be the eyes of the kingdom while the others are on a quest for the cure outside of the kingdom's walls. It also makes it extremely obvious who "wins" the love triangle by adding a third perspective, even though there was no real reason for there to be a love triangle. I wished the book focused more on the emotional repercussions of the children falling ill instead of choosing between two boring men.

Lastly, the synopsis of this book feels extremely misleading. While yes, the synopsis is what the book is about, it really does not tackle the scope of the book as it mostly focuses on elements *not* included in the summary. Overall, I would not really recommend this book. This is extremely disheartening for me to say as I was really intrigued when I read the synopsis for The Endless Skies, but the story falls completely flat. It is definitely readable and I did enjoy parts of it, however it feels overly simplistic and I wanted the author to explore deeper in to the story's world and plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc to review.

This is a great standalone fantasy. Honestly there are not enough standalone books for fantasy so I was super happy to read this in the first place. BUT Price also leaves room to where I hope there's a possibility of companion novels because this world sounds fascinating. The pacing in this was quite fast, at times I wish we would have some slower moments to see the world-building and magic system grow but this is plot driven and Price delivers on that, leaving you with a full story. The writing style is engaging and the characters are easy enough to get invested in and not only that but there's still room for tender moments and some heartache as well. Definitely a fun read that I would recommend and my full review will hit my blog this coming week. Thank you so much to TorTeen for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

When a mysterious sickness infiltrates their kingdom, a group of warriors follow a traitor into an enemy land to search for a cure.

This epic fantasy is fast-paced and character-rich. Though there is a lot of world to build up front, it doesn't feel too dense on explication. I loved the inventive magical species (the protagonists are shape-shifting winged lions) and the suspense that is drawn through political intrigue and social commentary. This one is for teen and adult fans of high, epic fantasy.

Rowan is a winged lion shapeshifter who must go on a quest to save her people when all the children become ill. Whilst this isn’t a new plot theme the story is well written and engaging so kept me invested.

You’ll nearly always have me at “stand-alone epic fantasy” but throw in a magical floating city, shapeshifters, action-packed plot, and a love triangle - how could you say no?! This was so exciting and fun! Impressive writing and a satisfying conclusion.

I received this NetGalley e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this opportunity! I will be sharing on NetGalley, as well as Goodreads, Instagram, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon at the time of publication.
I truly enjoyed how the book immediately started off at a sprint, learning about the unknown health crisis hitting the beloved children of the Heliana, the Leonodai’s floating island city above the sea. We were immediately given mystery, intrigue, a dose of sadness and panic, all while introducing the general world building and some initial character introductions. From then on, the plot progresses at a constant break-neck speed, all while the stakes climb ever higher. There were plenty of unexpected twists, emotional turmoil, all while getting vivid and atmospheric descriptions of both the Heliana and the human world. This standalone was very well done!
I thought the different POV's in each chapter really brought a nice depth to the story and the characters we focused on throughout. They never felt disconnected from each other, and they added a nice layer of detail, intricacy, and emotion to the character relationships and showing how things were unfolding from person to person. It’s honestly been a while since I’ve enjoyed a “love triangle” trope, but I thought Price executed it quite nicely by not making Rowan very reliant on her two love interests, and the love interests both had great qualities in their own rights, without one being “made” into the bad guy. It was also great to see that the love interest that was NOT chosen in the end, still be a valued friend and relationship to Rowan through the end of the book.
The magic system was thorough, imaginative and refreshing, focusing on the Leonodai’s loyalty to their kingdom, its citizens, and each other, and there was clear structure within the kingdom that was followed. We were introduced to the other magical kingdoms just enough to have a clear understanding of their importance to the Leonodai, without being left wanting more or instead being confused. The human’s crisis and conflict with the magical kingdoms was intriguing while also being incredibly sad. Their struggles were actually very touching and I never knew who to really root for at any given moment. I was on the edge of my seat throughout, and was caught off guard at several twists especially from the halfway mark onward.
This book was a pleasant surprise, and the heartbreak at the very end pulled some unexpected tears from me. I do wish we got to experience a bit more of the aftermath briefly mentioned in the epilogue, but it was a satisfying ending. Very glad that I preordered myself a signed copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Endless Skies has a really intriguing premise with a unique world and interesting characters. Stories where the characters have to race against time are fun reads and typically very action packed. As one of these stories, The Endless Skies was a fun read and while I really wanted to love this book, and it wasn’t bad, there are some aspects that made it a little harder to enjoy.

A city floating in the sky with shape-shifting warriors, where women can be and are in prominent authoritarian roles was refreshing. So often there are stories where girls and women have to fight to be respected and in the city of Heliana, women in positions of power are normalized. As a female warrior, Rowan is a badass. She is confident, intelligent and it is clear that her desire to protect her people is respected, especially by her male peers. This is another aspect I appreciated. The men in her life did not treat her any differently than they would have treated another warrior.

The magic system of shape-shifting lions was another unique aspect of this book. The way the characters could shift at will from their human form to their lion form was well done throughout. I would have loved more exploration and backstory to this world and the magic, which leads to some of the aspects that didn’t sit well with me throughout the book.

I thought this story moved at too fast a pace, especially for a standalone. If this book was part of a series, I could understand the faster pace and the lack of detail, but since it is a standalone, having more backstory and all around knowledge of the world would have been helpful. Certain aspects that could have been explored more weren’t and as the reader, it felt like getting a flyby through the story, rather than stopping to really enjoy it. The plot felt condensed rather than fully flushed out. In addition, some aspects of the story were predictable, like the love triangle. I am not a fan of love-triangles and this one was pretty clear from the start, who Rowan would end up with.

While this wasn’t my favorite read, I did enjoy The Endless Skies. I think it would be a good read for someone just starting out in fantasy since it's not too heavy with world-building. With its shape-shifting characters and race against time, this book has great potential. I will be looking out for more books from this author as well!

I really enjoyed reading The Endless Skies and loved that it was a standalone. It wrapped everything up story wise and loved the character arcs. All the characters were amazing and loved the interactions between them all especially between Rowan and Ox. The world is incredible one that I haven’t read anything like before. Will definitely be reading more from Shannon Price

This book was a good read with such potential but it fell flat for me. World building was great and I love the idea of a magical floating city out of reach of the human world occupied by shape shifting wizards who work together to protect their kingdom.

Rowan is in training to become a warrior for her kingdom. She is a lioness shape shifter and will do anything to save her kindgom from a human disease that is affecting children. She is a rule follower that bends the rules for the greater good of her people. This sometimes lands her in some trouble and exciting adventures.

There was a love triangle between Rowan, Ox and Callen. Nothing too interesting. Seemed boring and predictable for this kind of story. The choice she ends up making was no surprise to me.

The story moved a long way too quickly. Lots was left untouched, unexplained and the ending felt rushed. There were several battles that also seemed to end way too quickly without enough explanation nor details. As a story about a kingdom that is fighting to defend itself from enemies a lot of the fighting was quick efficient and again predictable.

I do like that there are several POVs and it is easy to keep up with the different characters. It gives the reader great insight into what is going on inside their heads at the same moments. The ending was ok. Just ok nothing special, didn't make me think wow I need to read more. Overall a good read but wish there was more to the entire story. Potential is there and I hope the author considers making changes to any future novels.

Rowan is a warrior in training in the magical city of Heliana, home to shape-shifting winged lions. When a deadly disease infects the city's children and many warriors are sent in search of a cure, Rowan is devastated to be left behind. But she learns a secret that can compromise the safety of the sick children, the warriors behind enemy lines, and everyone she loves, and she risks her own future to bring them the truth.

Wow this book was so exciting! It took me a minute to get into the story, but after I did, I was hooked! I finished the last half in one sitting.

Rowan is such a cool heroine - strong, intelligent, and aching to prove herself - but not too perfect and still in need of maturing. I also love the world of shape-shifting winged lions. What a creative universe and system of magic.

I typically don't like love triangles but I think the author did a good job of making both potential loves desirable. Usually there is a clear winner, and I struggled to decide along with Rowan. Ultimately I agreed with her, though I love how the "rejected" lover's story wrapped up.

This is definitely worth picking up if you enjoy fantasy or dope leading ladies.

I really enjoyed this stand alone!

The world is so different. There are humans and then there are Leonodai. They are shape shifters and live in the sky. I'm the beginning of this book we find out there is a disease killing children. Warrior elect Rowan runs off and tries to find it.

I liked the pacing of this book and the characters were interesting. I could even like this as a series if it does ever continue.

I would recommend this book.

*Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read the book and in exchange for a honest review.*

I really really wanted to be able to connect to the story and characters but I am having a hard time finishing the book. It may not be for me and that's okay but I definitely feel the next generation of YA Fantasy lovers will enjoy this more. I did like the alternating POVs and thought that was a good idea but in some cases it felt like I was reading the same character from the previous chapter.

I do plan on giving this book another chance in the future but currently I am going to have to pause my reading (about 65%) and move on to something else. The premise for the story sounded interesting and drew my attention but, like I said, there was a lack of connection for me personally.

2.5 or 3 solid stars (for what I have read)

Thanks to Netgally for the eARC! This story was unlike any I can recall reading.

The Endless Skies follows a group of people called the Leonodai who are winged-lion shapeshifting warriors who live in the city in the sky: Heliana. Not only does the story contain the winged-lion shapeshifters living in the skies, protecting the sky from humans, but it also contains: the Sea-Folk, the Bearkings, and the Horselords. While also briefly describing the former Fox-Kin: shapeshifting foxes who suffered a tragic end at the hands of the humans forever creating a rift between the remaining shapeshifters and humans.

One day, a horrible disease begins ravaging through the streets of Heliana targeting only one group of Leonodai: the children. The disease, which was carried into Heliana by the birds, was a disease unknown to the Leonodai, one in which they had no present cure and no idea how to prevent it from progressing. Luckily for the Leonodai, there just so happens to be one individual who may have an answer on how they can obtain a cure. A deserter: a Leonodai who left Heliana to go live amongst the humans. The deserter reveals there is a flower in which will not only stop the progression of the disease but will essentially save all the children. The only problem? The flower is amongst the humans, territory that the Leonodai are no longer welcomed on. So, the Leonodai do what they know they have to: they gather up groups of Warriors to send into the human lands in search of the cure. Unfortunately for Rowan, she is only a Warrior Elect aka a soon-to-be Warrior, meaning that she is unable to travel with the Warriors in search of the cure, something she feels an obligation to do to protect the Leonodai children. But after recent information surfaces, Rowan knows she has no other option but to act fast and take matters into her own hands even though she knows she risks being labeled as a deserter which would forever ruin her chances of making it to the Endless Skies. This is where the real adventure began.

Overall, I could have done without the constant switching between the point of views. The only POVs that matter in my opinion was Rowan, the main character, and a couple of Shirene’s, the main character’s sister. The only benefit that Callen’s POV had was to read about his feelings for Rowan. I wish there either was no love triangle or more of a presence of the love triangle. You can never get enough of the female leads. I adored how it was a story about shapeshifters. I feel it was a topic that isn’t in any novels that I have read recently, sort of like a fresh breath of air. I felt the characters were written nicely, there wasn’t a presence of weak characters, I mean even the Queen was a former Warrior which I adored. We also cannot forget the ending, an ending that was happy until it was not. It was definitely a death I could have went without, a death that was selfish to make, one of which did not seem to have a benefit to the overall outcome of the story.

It is a book I would recommend, gladly.

This wasn't really something I enjoyed, but I would definitely recommend it to fans of Adrienne Young and fans of girls having the adventures.

This story had a great premise but for me it fell a little bit flat. The world building was great but the story seemed a bit rushed as I read and I wasn't able to fully connect with the characters. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book… WOAH! Going in I truly had no idea what to expect and I was taken completely by surprise!

The Endless Skies is a stunningly unique tale full of adventure, magic, and wonder! I was drawn in right from page one. We follow Rowan, a warrior-elect, trained for battle with the ability to shift into a winged lion. (Like what?! How cool right!) She hails from the amazing floating city of Heliana. Ya guys, floating. *cue magic heart eyes.

Heliana, holds a tumultuous past with the humans located on the mainland and when Rowan discovers a disease that is laying waste to the local children, she must decide between two fates: stay and protect the city and monarchs she swore to defend, or abandon her station, be labeled a deserter and leave her city to search the human lands for the only known cure.

The humans are said to be deadly, untrustworthy and she will be starting this journey on her own. With a warrior motto like Loyalty above all… what will she decide?

Shannon Price knocked the world building and character descriptions out of the park! The magic system was creative and unlike anything I have come across in other YA books. It felt palpable and with every high and every low I was right there alongside these characters. To me, that is true talent. I also really loved that this story is told in multiple POV’s.

I was completely enthralled up until about the 70% mark where we begin to encounter some decisions plot-wise that I didn’t entirely agree with. I still think overall, Shannon Price did an amazing job.

I would have loved for the surrounding cities and characters to have been a bit more fleshed out. I mean, we are talking about mermaids and people that can turn into bears! Tell me more please! I also tend to always be looking for romantic relationships (in YA) to have solid foundations and I felt these were a little lacking - be warned for all my love triangle despisers, this does have one.

If you are in the mood for descriptive battles, unexpected betrayals, endless adventure, found love, broken hearts, so much turmoil but also, HOPE, then I would definitely recommend this book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it!


Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review and a huge shout out to the design team at Tor for literally nailing this cover design! It is absolutely stunning.

Absolutely loving Price's debut YA fantasy novel. The characters are spunky and compelling, and having multiple POVs shows us various perspectives on the conflict and stakes for different community members. The writing is so cinematic -- I can picture the citadel with such clarity. And the winged-lion forms are so cool.

Some readers may find it too close to home to read about a pandemic during an ongoing global pandemic, but honestly I find this fictional pandemic comforting because of how the community rallies and prioritizes the cause, instead of devolving into petty and selfish politics (a la real life).

I would like to thank Netgalley and Shannon Price for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange of an honest review. The endless skies is a young adult fantasy set in a world where there are different kingdoms. Three of these kingdoms are occupied by shapeshifters. These three kingdoms are connected through a counsel. The last kingdom is occupied by human's who despise the shapeshifters. Rowan a winged lioness shapeshifter citizen of Heliana of the Leonodai people dreams of becoming a warrior like her sister and late father. But days before she goes from a warrior elect to a warrior a mysterious illness strikes Heliana. We follow Rowan in adventure, heartbreak, friendship and bravery throughout the book. The Endless Skies is a standalone and I am glad for that as I feel that Shannon Price has ended and closed this story quite well. The story had an easy flow, and the world building was steady and easy to keep up with. The story was told from multiple different points of view. However, I often found myself frustrated with the lack of side character's point of view. Often hoping that Rowans would end and that Shirine wouldn’t just have a point of view every fifty-something pages. This was often the cause of under and poorly developed side characters. However other then that the story was decent. The story was quite original and unique, and I was happy and impressed as it is quite difficult to write a unique and not stereotypical, predictable fantasy. However, this was only for about a quarter of the book as after that the story was predictable and followed some very boring and overused tropes in fantasy. However, tears were brought to my eyes at the end and that only shows how powerful the authors words are. The Endless Skies is a great read for the right people. I wouldn't recommend it to people who enjoy complex fantasy and not for people who are not a huge fan of fantasy. Overall, it is a great read, and I did enjoy it, well maybe not the ending because it broke my heart.

This book was a lot of fun to read, and I felt like I was defiantly taken on a journey with all of the characters. I really enjoyed stand alones, and I was very impressed by the author and how she still was able to write well rounded main characters in such a short amount of time, especially with how expansive the plot was already. I would have still loved to see this as a series. The world was so interesting and I would have loved to see more of the side characters progress as well as some of the romances between the main characters. But overall for a stand alone this was an incredible story!

Rowan was a great main character, and I feel as though the author did a great job at letting the reader see her consider every choice from all angles so we were really able to understand her. Often main protagonists can be a little bit annoying at times, however Rowan was one of my favourite characters in this series!

I felt like the plot was very unique, and in fantasy these days I do find that to be rare. A society of shapeshifters? That was just so cool in itself. So if you are sick of fantasies that all follow a very similar idea I totally recommend trying this book out so that you can get something different!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Overall: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing:4/5