Shattered Skies (The Skyfire Saga #3)
Published October 1st 2019 by Rebel Base Books, Kindle Edition
Ravaged by environmental catastrophe, planet Earth now faces a new threat from space as this dystopian sci-fi trilogy careens toward its thrilling climax.
In a future where science has been abandoned and a media empire maintains an iron grip on the minds of the public, a woman known only as H124 has learned the terrifying truth. As a deadly asteroid hurtles toward Earth, she and her Badlander companions race against time to reconstruct the ancient ruins of a spaceship that can intercept it. But they must also brace for the worst—and warn the residents of Delta City to seek shelter from the cataclysmic impact.
H124 knows that knowledge is her greatest weapon. And as news of the incoming asteroid spreads, the citizens begin to turn away from those who have kept them shackled in ignorance. Backed into a corner, Earth’s corrupt rulers will do anything to stop H124, even if it means sacrificing the planet itself . . .
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
This review was originally posted at my website, Leona Woolfolk
*I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Requesting this title was all part of an experiment you see (in my Bugs Bunny voice). I wanted to see if I could take a science fiction story without the crutch or hint of romance and still find myself enjoying the story. Well, I can honestly say that the experiment was successful and yet it wasn’t. Let me explain ...
Building up to reading
Shattered Skies , after I requested it and was approved, I found out a couple of things:
Shattered Skies is the third book in the Skyfire Saga. (This revelation sort of bummed me out because I loath reading any series that’s not romance out of order. In doing so I feel as if I’ll miss intricate world building and character development). While the cover and synopsis pulled me in initially I must’ve not read the synopsis all that clearly because I for some reason thought there was a historical element because it looked like pyramids in the cover lol.
Outside of the two things that I grappled with before I clicked to the first page of
Shattered Skies I was slightly ready to jump into its story. I say slightly because at the time I was scheduling to read this title my moody reader syndrome reared it’s ugly head and I found myself pushing this story back quite a few times. It wasn’t until I needed to create a TBR for some readathons for October that I was able to finally carve out the time to read Shattered Skies.
Usually I can tell if a story and me will get along from the first page, sometimes it takes the entire first chapter. When I began reading the beginning of
Shattered Skies the vibe was just right. The voice of the narrator was so matter of fact and solid that I felt I was watching a movie in my head. I felt my emotions crescendo with the action scene that happens immediately when the story begins. I was really invested in this story and the characters that H124 was surrounded by. The magnetism of
Shattered Skies reminds me of the first
Alien movie with how Ripley was the focus of the story but the supporting characters did a great job of carrying the load as well.
Now that I’ve given the good sides of
Shattered Skies it’s time for the critique portion of the review ...
When I stated that the experiment also wasn’t successful I meant that I found that science fiction without a hint or the crutch of romance might not be the jam for me long term. While I enjoyed myself reading
Shattered Skies I also found that while reading my mind continued to wander. If I wasn’t in the story I didn’t think about the story, it was only when I would visit Goodreads (as I do on a daily basis) that I would remember that I needed to continue reading
Shattered Skies .
I’m giving myself mixed signals because every high science fiction story I read I love but when I perusing the shelves on Amazon or the Half Price Books store I don’t gravitate towards science fiction. I may need more intentional exposure to science fiction with a hint or the crutch of romance to have a more unbiased experiment, I don’t know.
But, I am looking forward to reading the earlier stories in this saga so that I can put some things into context without making assumptions myself.
Rating: really liked it
I think this is my favorite in the trilogy... perhaps because the protagonist was largely alone in the first volume and the second volume had the most fights. This one seems the most emotional--she's bonded with her circle of friends.
Rating: really liked it
Disclaimer: This was a complimentary copy from the publisherAfter reading the first two installments of Alice Henderson's
Skyfire Saga, the final book in the series delivered on everything I'd hope it would in not entirely predictable ways. Picking up shortly after the events of
Shattered Lands,
Shattered Skies ups the action throughout the book to include helicopter scenes, ocean battles and even a submarine sequence. I ended up preferring the first and third books of this series, both of which seemed to be a race against the clock more than the second book which had a bit more normal pacing.
H124 and her friends continue to attempt to save the planet from approaching asteroids but by this point in the series things aren't going well. The original plan was to assemble a vehicle to deliver a nuclear payload
Armageddon style but that goes off the rails before too long here and not in any way I expected. My main criticisms of this series prior to this book were that none of the main characters were dying despite the continual deadly scenarios they found themselves in and I wasn't sure why H124 (a relatively blank slate of a character) was the one who had to continue being involved in every aspect of this important mission.
By the end of this final installment, H124's pretty much a badass who uses the rover technology to deadly effect. The question shifts from why is she the one carrying out these missions to how'd she get to be so deadly, which is a much more fun thing to gloss over. The deaths of supporting characters finally occur as well in a few thrilling moments that up the violence beyond what I'd have expected in this series. The last 70 pages of this book were a great climax to the entire storyline with the action going all the way to the final paragraph.
Overall I'd rank the series:
1.
Shattered Skies2.
Shattered Roads3.
Shattered LandsThis would be a tough book to pick up and really get a lot out of without reading the first two in the series. The payoffs for moments featuring Olivia and Willoughby in particular would suffer without the foundation laid in the earlier books. I didn't mind the obvious message from the author about how our current world policies are possibly creating this future, but I could see how it could feel a bit heavy handed or even political for others. If you boil that basic message down to take care of the planet, it's the only one we have I don't see how that's really debatable.
Rating: really liked it
Shattered Skies follows H124 and her friends as they try to stop an asteroid that will crash onto Earth and kill all life on the planet. This mission takes them across the planet where they must go against numerous baddies.
The plot was great with lots of action and suspense. I loved reading about the numerous baddies they must go against as they were all varied with different codes, beliefs and weapons. I thought the scared guys was Olivia and her goons due to their tyrannical belief that they are doing the right thing. Olivia made a perfect villain as she was so power hungry and willing to destroy anyone or anything that got in her way.
The characters were great but I was still shocked by H124 choice in a partner. I always thought she should have been with Rowan not Byron.
The ending was a bit shocking as I never thought the novel would follow through. The reasons made sense and ultimately, I agree with the choice but it was still shocking. And I’m glad Henderson included a major character’s death, with all the major battles the characters have participated in there should be some deaths.
In summary this was a great dystopian novel set in a bleak future with a planet on the brink of complete destruction. I would recommend this series to all dystopian fans.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC.
Rating: really liked it
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I struggled with this.
Whether it was due to not having read the previous books in the series I do not know.
I felt the characters lacked depth and appeared to keep changing names which just confused me even more.
This was not for me.
Rating: really liked it
The author, in my humble opinion, seems a bit preachy when she explains how our current environmental woes have lead to this tragic dystopian future (but such is the nature of dystopian literature). That having been said, this is a pulse-pounding, non-stop thriller that rarely lets up on the gas pedal. My only regret is that I never read the first books in the series.
Rating: really liked it
A satisfying conclusion to the Skyfire Saga series. We easily place ourselves in the main characters' shoes, and enjoy the story as it runs. It shows what a caring society can do to continue civilization beyond what the greedy spoil. I think it many ways it is a call to arms, and what we can do individually adds up overall. And sometimes, a revolution is the best solution to a serious dilemma.
Rating: really liked it
What a book! The future it depicts is all too possible. The imminent impact of a massive meteorite has people scrambling. Shocking Eden under the dome with extinct creatures. So many exciting elements to this book with a goosebumps inducing ending.. I enjoyed it tremendously! I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and freely leave this honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Maybe slightly less than three; a bit over the top with the believe-ability factor
Rating: really liked it
Nonstop battles finally brought this trilogy to a conclusion. Listening to the audio version made it easy to fly through while I was doing other things.
Rating: really liked it
What are you doing to help the Planet? Will the message to respect the earth get passed on or will the culture of greed and power prevail. H124 is born into a world of environmental devastation. The earth is under threat from an asteroid. H124 with her friends must find the A14 spacecraft to use to deflect the asteroid.
This is the third book in a trilogy and it would be well worth checking out the previous two books to get more background on the main characters and to follow H124’s journey.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
This book has some grim depictions of what may be our near future. The author has extraplated from our current state of technology with the harm that can come from mismanagement of tech. Be warned there is plenty of action and not all is rosy. If you can take fast paced adventure that sometimes has unhappy endings, you'll love this book.
H124 is the central character and how she got the name is an interesting tale in itself. Just understand that families don't work the way we're used to in this future. H124's friends and allies have a difficult task and even more difficult decisions to make in order to save Earth. It's a big job with big enemies working against them..This is a thoughtful adventure that will make you look at our current planet with new eyes. I received a free copy from #NetGalley and #ShatteredSkies is a worthwhile read.
Rating: really liked it
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. DNF. I had trouble connecting with the characters and situations they found themselves in. The story takes place in a dystopian future that is not fully explained. The references to current weather concerns is not enough to give the reader an understanding of this future.
Rating: really liked it
What a book! The future it depicts is all too possible. The imminent impact of a massive meteorite has people scrambling. Shocking Eden under the dome with extinct creatures. So many exciting elements to this book. I enjoyed it tremendously!
