Fonda Lee has a way of immersing you in a new world so quickly and seamlessly and UNTETHERED SKY does just that. There are layers of tension in this novella that kept me glued to the page until the very end. I hope we get more stories in this world, because I'd love to dive deep into all of the characters.

Fonda Lee is a master when it comes to character and has proven it to be true with this novella. It did feel as if her writing were slightly different than what most have come to expect from her and I can see that being a bit of a shock and maybe slightly disappointing, but that isn't to say that her writing in this isn't still phenomenal. She is great at writing and crafting massive trilogies and she is just as phenomenal at creating novellas.

I’m sorry this was incredibly boring to me guys. I enjoyed the world building and the rocs, large falcons. How they’re trained and the relationship from roc to ruhker. I love a good animal companion. But that was the extent of it.

I don’t typically mind slow pacing but there was no reward for how long it dragged. The plot and the ending fell so flat for me 😔.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ARC.

Untethered Sky releases on April 11, 2023.

This was a solid four star read for me. Well written and engaging but also too short, which is often the case with novellas. I’m hoping it’s not a stand-alone but I can see if that’s the case too. The book was different than her previous greenbone saga books, which I absolutely loved. Having said that I still loved this one too. I took off one star for a few pacing issues but overall a really good read.

Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee is the high fantasy story of Ester, whose past childhood trauma at the hands of a vicious manticore, drives her to become a hunter of the dangerous creatures. To do so she must tame another monster, a roc, a giant, bird-like creature that is the only being that can defeat the manticore. We follow her story as she comes of age and learns her craft.

The magic of this book is Ester’s beautifully written, emotional and complex relationship with her roc, Zahra. It’s a quieter fantasy novel that prioritizes relationships and growth over action and adventure.

This is a great read for fantasy lovers who like character-driven writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ARC.

Untethered Sky releases on April 11, 2023.

While I certainly enjoyed this story, I went in with completely different expectations. This story is very character focused and really focuses on the relationship between our mc and her roc

I enjoyed my time reading this and would definitely like to see more from this world

TL;DR: This was a complete departure from her famous Green Bone Saga trilogy but it was no less fantastic. Lee's ability to pull readers into a story and wholly immerse them into a new world with vivid descriptions and detailed but not overwhelming world-building is, in my humble opinion, unmatched. Don't expect a fast-paced story as this wasn't action-packed, but it has more of a quiet 'slice-of-life' quality to it that I personally enjoyed. I loved following Ester's journey as she trains to become a rukher with her roc, Zahra, and the friendships and life lessons she experiences over the course of several years; all culminating in a heartbreaking yet hopeful ending that had me all up in my feels. Pick it up if you love Lee's work but also pick it up if you want a small taste of how amazing her work is!

Being a massive fan of the author's famous trilogy meant that I went into this with very high expectations. I mean, it's kind of hard not to when you love an author's previous work so much that it very quickly became one of your all-time favourite books and the writer an all-time favourite author. So, big shoes to fill and I shouldn't have been surprised that Fonda Lee was able to do so because thankfully, Untethered Sky lived up to my expectations but in a very subtle and unexpected way.

I have to say that if you're looking for an action-packed and "loud" story, this is not it. This is a story about the quiet beauty, power, and unpredictability of nature, about myths and monsters of both the good and bad kinds, and about the bond between humans and animals. It's about a young woman's obsession with and love for rocs, the majestic and terrifying giant hunting birds who are trained to kill the monsters who brutally destroyed her family.

In less than 200 pages, Lee proves her talent for storytelling and world-building by creating an immersive world that felt so real. I was completely drawn into this fictional world and absorbed in the life of rukhers. The story is told from Ester's pov, as she recalls key moments in her life and we follow her on her journey to become a rukher and learn of her admiration and love for rocs. This was a beautiful examination of the bond between humans and animals, particularly wild and deadly creatures who are trained for a specific purpose. The pages are infused with the wonder and respect that Ester feels for her roc, Zahra, and I really enjoyed learning about how rocs are trained, what it means to be a trainer, and how precious the bond is between a rukher and their roc. There's a "slice-of-life" quality to the story as we follow Ester in her daily tasks, as she bonds with Zahra but also as she builds a life for herself as a rukher, alongside her friends Darius and Nasmin. I really enjoyed how the story focused on the rukher way of life and the world of rukhers, as the kind of "isolated" world matched the fixation and passion the rukhers had for caring for these birds.

I love that even in a short number of pages, Lee was able to make me care about Ester, Zahra, Darius and even Minu. Although parts of me felt like I was being lulled into a false sense of calm, another part of me was always tensed up and waiting for the chaos to erupt and death to ensue—and that's not a spoiler but simply because it's Fonda Lee (and I obviously don't mean that in a bad way, at all)! 😂 Did I expect to find myself gasping at midnight and subsequently crying into my pillow reading the final section/pages of this book? The strength of emotional attachment I felt for these characters really snuck up on me at the last minute and I found myself feeling heartbroken by the loss but also comforted by the acceptance. Ugh, Lee really had me all up in my feels and I was shook but also awed!

There's actually so much packed into this novella but it never felt overwhelming or undercooked and while obviously, I would've loved to have more time with these characters and to get their story as a full-length novel, this novella felt complete to me; which is an issue I tend to have with novellas. Overall, I would highly recommend this book, especially if you love Lee's previous works, but also if you want a small taste of the author's ability to create fantastical worlds and well-rounded characters that you just can't help but care for.

Myth: 3.5/5

Untethered Sky dives right into the world of ruhkers, as Ester meets her match Zahra. A brief exploration of the binds between ruhker and their roks a complicated relationship with a dangerous beast. One that Ester all to willingly admits, she needs more than her rok.

Magic: 4/5

This wasn’t an overtly magical world. It was more the giant birds of prey and the deadly manticore that made this a magical realm.

Overall: 3.5/5

This was a favorite quote of mine from the story:

“When you love a person, you are expected to give them their freedom, but when you love a monster, you keep it caged.”

Untethered Sky was my first Fonda Lee novel, and I have to say, it was an impressive read. The book gave me the push I needed to check out their other works. The writing style was captivating, and the descriptions of the world-building helped me immerse myself in the story quickly. The main character's longing and obsession were palpable, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the book.

However, I must say that I was left wanting more from the story. I felt like I was being set up for a bigger climax than I got, and the ending left me asking, "And then what?" Despite this, I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others, but I advise readers to prepare themselves for a bit of a letdown at the end. Overall, I'm glad I picked up this book and can't wait to explore more of Fonda Lee's works.

Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee Is a riveting coming of age story that follows Ester and her roc (Zahra) as they encounter dangerous situations and hunt for man-eating manticores reeking havoc among the country’s townsfolk. When a tragic event takes place, Ester makes it her mission to train as a ruhker, i.e., a professional roc trainer and avenge the deaths of her loved ones. I absolutely loved this story. It’s short but it packs a punch. Ester and Zahra’s bond and relationship is one that I won’t soon forget. Although Zahra is Ester’s roc, there never seemed to be a sense of onwership, only reverence for the giant bird and it’s abilities. Also, the beautiful prose completely captivated me, I really didn’t want the book to end. This was such a wonderful read and I can’t wait to see what Fonda Lee does next!

Book review - Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

Untethered Sky takes place in a world inhabited by dangerous Manticores and giant Rocs, eagles who hunt these Manticore. We follow members of an elite hunting group who train these Rocs to hunt for them in an intimate story about growth, bonding and loss.

Normally we don't read the same book together, but as we both love Fonda Lee we decided to give it a go. This way you get both our views on this great short story, coming out tomorrow!!

His view: 5🌟 - I loved the bonding between the handlers and their Rocs so much. The intimate personal bond between human and animal are explored in such an amazing way. It shows how animals and humans will always stay true to their nature.

Her view: 4🌟- This felt like a heartwrenching memoir of Esther a rukher born from trauma and the obsession she has with her Roc. I love animal companions and this story shows how love can drive obsession. How it shapes us and prevents us from living.
"When you love a person, you are expected to give them freedom, but when you love a monster, you keep it caged."

Untethered Sky was underwhelming. It was fine. Just, fine.

Untethered Sky is the newest work from the critically acclaimed author, Fonda Lee. Fonda Lee has diverged from the Jade Bone Saga to give us something new and short. This is a 160 page novella about a girl and her massive bird- a roc. I read this in one afternoon and unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype.

"I wanted to be the monster that kills other monsters."

Ester believes her purpose in life is to be a ruhkers. Ester is fuelled by family tragedy but expresses it is a purpose willed by God. At age 13, Ester's life changed when a manticore attacked her family. At age 18 she joined the fight against the monsters that tore her family apart. A ruhkers role is to developing a partnership, train the rocs and hunt manitcores. Her self-worth is tied to being a ruhker. Without it, she feels she has no use, no reason for why she survived when h

Ester believes her purpose in life is to be a ruhkers. Ester is fuelled by family tragedy but expresses it is a purpose willed by God. At age 13, Ester's life changed when a manticore attacked her family. At age 18 she joined the fight against the monsters that tore her family apart. A ruhkers role is to developing a partnership, train the rocs and hunt manitcores. Her self-worth is tied to being a ruhker. Without it, she feels she has no use, no reason for why she survived when her family didn't.

"Being a ruhker was a difficult and unusual achievement, not something any ordinary person could do."

Being a ruker is a role that is filled with hard work and sacrifice. There is no guarantees. Death and injury is always a constant threat. It demands leaving your family and past behind and whole heartedly embracing this new path. Not everyone survives, and not everyone who survives is unscathed.

"Out of every five apprentice ruhkers, two will be killed or crippled, two will leave or be sent away, and only one will every fly a roc."

The book spans multiple years, through the major events of Ester's life. We follow Ester as she grows and experiences the life of a ruhkers with and her friends Darius and Nasmin. It's about found family, their deadly creatures and discovering your purpose in life. The entire novella is dedicated to the training of rocs and the hunting of manticores. There is very little space for dramatic character arcs, so the the relationships are the backbone of this book- it is the relationships with the animals, their families, the public, and the other ruhkers.

Ester's goal was to train and fly Zahra, her roc, and hunt manitcores. There is very little plot to carry the story and I felt it was a little dry in retelling Ester's adventures, and how her relationships developed over time. I wanted more. I wanted something. What I got was meh. I wasn't emotionally connected to any characters. There lives felt distant. I had no feelings on where there stories were going.

The best aspect the relationship between trainer and bird. The constant tug of war between this illusion of control and the natural instincts of the roc was interesting to read. Ester's obsession with Zahra was fascinating and done well. I liked that the ending demonstrated this conundrum.

Overall, I think it was a fine book. I hope Jade City is more promising.


Would I recommend this book?
Yes
I recommend it for people who like animal companion books.
The Scorpio Races has similar deadly animals aspect, The Storm Crow for the relationship between animal companion and trainer.

Will I re-read this book/series?
No.

By turns chilling and invigorating, this novella is a perfectly-tuned exploration of both the harmony and terror that humanity finds in the wild.

I was surprised to be approved for an ARC of Untethered Sky, and happy, too. I loved Fonda Lee’s Greenbone Saga, so I was looking forward to reading whatever else she decided to write. Untethered Sky is a fantasy novella about Ester, who saw a manticore kill her mother and little brother, and who wanted nothing more than to become a roc handler so she might hunt the monster that tore her family apart. She ends up in the Royal Mews where she is paired with a fledgling roc named Zahra. Though Ester immediately loves the giant bird and is willing to sacrifice everything for her, even trained rocs are wild creatures that will never return that love. When a sharp rise in manticore attacks prompts a prince to host a massive hunt, Ester and Zahra’s bond will be tested to its limits.

Novellas are tricky things, and when they involve an entirely new world that must be explained, on top of all the characters and relationships that must always be explained, it can be easy to gloss over things for the sake of brevity. In the case of Untethered Sky, Ester’s relationship with one of her friends was the element that wasn’t fleshed out enough, and while there is enough there to ensure that the story makes sense, there wasn’t quite enough to give events toward the end of the book the weight they needed to make the impact they felt like they should have. Another ten or so pages to flesh out said relationships would have done the story good, as the fallout from those terrible events would have hit much harder. An extra few pages would also have helped make the story feel like one that was drily being related to me, and more like one I was experiencing along with Ester. Still, I did find it interesting on the whole, and the ending was satisfying so if you’re looking for a story involving mythical animals that aren’t dragons or unicorns, Untethered Sky is a good one to try.

Overall, I thought this novella was just fine.

Highlights:
- 1st person POV
- AWESOME worldbuilding with giant falcons and monsters
- Persian/Central Asian-inspired setting
- Slow pacing, but not boring (lots of twists and turns)

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. Like, REALLY enjoyed it. I got totally sucked into the awe of ruhking and wanted a full-legnth book about these characters—or even a whole series set in this world!

But the ending of this book fell flat for me. I get how some people might enjoy the ending, but I just found it unsatisfying. I think the author chose being poetic and "realistic" over giving a satisfying ending to the story. (If you get my meaning.)

If you like stories that feel gritty with realism and have a sort of literary poetic conclusion, then I think you'll love this book and highly recommend it. If you don't like that sort of thing, it's more of a toss up. I'm happy to have read this, but it's nothing I'll remember for years to come or be raving about.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan/TOR for the advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

3.5 stars

Untethered Sky is a powerful fantasy novella about love, loyalty, and control. Fonda Lee beautifully captures the complex relationship between the roc and their ruhker trainers. The story spans years as Ester trains her roc Zahra and slowly grows to love the wild creature.

"A roc is always a wild thing, always God's monster alone."

I enjoyed the wide scope the story took—sacrificing everyday details in order to cover a wide range of events during Ester and Zahra's time together. It was the perfect approach for such a short story. The world is relatively simple, again befitting a novella, but includes just enough detail to keep the reader interested. The creatures are very well done. Lee captures the honest detachment and instinct of a wild animal rather than making the rocs an overly personified, beloved pet. The manticores were absolutely horrifying and made for a very effective "villain" in a book with no true main conflict.

Untethered Sky is incredibly effective at everything it sets out to accomplish. However, I felt very little emotional connection to any of the characters. Though Ester's devotion to Zahra was fascinating to read about, she has very little substance outside of that. Even the two side characters didn't stand out to me. I may have felt more attached had this been a full-length novel and I realize that there was very little room to spend on complex character development. However, I had a very similar sense of detachment while reading Jade City so I suspect that Fonda Lee's writing simply isn't for me.

I highly recommend this novella and I would be very interested in reading more stories in this world!

Not entirely what I was hoping for, but Untethered Sky was still a quick and interesting read. Fonda Lee’s writing was engrossing as always and the world-building was well developed throughout such a short novella.

I was a bit surprised at how… traditional this was, I guess? Nothing about it really captured my attention all that much, but I did enjoy reading about Ester and her bond with Zahra. I think the pace was a little too slow for me and there weren’t many moments of action or tension.

The little snapshot we got of this world and what it meant to live in it–and the prices characters paid for their dreams–was pretty cool, thought. And the ending was bittersweet, but it fit well with the overall tone of the novella.

I have no idea what made me think I could come out of a Fonda Lee story without a broken heart, but here I am, my hubris forcibly corrected. Untethered Sky tells the story of Ester, a young girl who dreams of becoming a roc trainer, tamer of the giant birds her people use to hunt dangerous beasts, and the triumphs and heartbreaks throughout her journey. The tight bond Ester had with her Zahra and her camaraderie with Darius and Nasmin felt so powerful. In a short 160 pages, Lee has managed to so vibrantly craft the development of culture and a group of characters throughout at least a decade in a way even full-length novels sometimes fail to achieve. For me, Untethered Sky achieves the perfect scope that every novella aims for, where the reader comes out completely satisfied and the story and the world don't seem to require another 100 pages to feel satisfactory. Overall, I rate this book a 4.5/5.

Lee has such a compelling style of writing. I was sucked in and engrossed in the story right away. The amount of world building Lee is able to fit in this novella is more than some authors are able to fit in 500 pages. I cannot wait to read more from Fonda Lee in the future

Book Summary:

Ester was born to be part of the King's Royal Mews; she knows it. These are the brave people who work with rocs (think extremely large falcons) to hunt a dangerous animal known as manticores.

Admittedly, Ester has a personal connection to this hunt. She lost her mother and brother to a manticore and barely survived the monster herself. Since then, it has become a personal obsession to help the hunt. Then she was given her own roc. Never could she have dreamed of being so connected to another creature.

My Review:

Oh wow. Untethered Sky has got to be one of the most emotional books I've had the luxury of reading. It is powerful and has so much of everything. There are layers to this novella that take it to new heights (pun not intended, but appreciated). It's certainly going to warrant another read-through (or two).

There is something so profoundly human about Esther's obsession. That's what gets me. Yes, the monster-hunting elements are fun (and dangerous), but it's the main protagonist of this story that makes it so compelling.

It would have been nice if we had more time to explore these concepts. Likewise, I would have loved a chance to get to know some of the secondary characters better. It would have added to the impact of the conclusion, for better or worse. I understand that, as a novella, that wasn't possible to do. Still, I would love to see this world turned into a series. It has the potential!

Untethered Sky is a high-fantasy novel with depth, grace, and so much to offer. It'll pull readers in, forge an emotional connection, and then take them along on a fantastical journey. What I wouldn't give to go back and time to read it for the first time again.

Highlights:
High Fantasy
Extreme Falconry
Monster Hunting

Trigger Warnings:
Animal Death
Severe Injuries
Familial Death