The Captain’s Log – skyward (Brandon Sanderson)

Ahoy there me mateys!  Okay I know that I just reviewed legion yesterday.  I needed more Sanderson!  After finishing that one, I got me grubby mitts on this absolutely wonderful gem.  I am always amazed by the talent and ingenuity of this writer.  Two stories back to back and both amazing and so different.

This yarn tells the tale of Spensa who wants to be a pilot when she grows up.  She wants to follow in the footsteps of her father who she considers a hero.  The rest of the planet calls him a coward.  Spensa wants to prove that she is no coward and clear her father’s name.

This group of humans, the Defiant, live on the planet, Detritus, in underground caverns.  The surface is dangerous because of a group of aliens, the Krell, are determined to destroy them.  The two groups fight using starships.  There is a deep layer of space debris surrounding the planet which helps keep the humans safe.  But the alien technology more advanced and they have the better numbers.  The humans are barely surviving.

There are many things I loved about this story.  The first is that Spensa is an awesome protagonist.  Raised on old Earth myths, she has a hysterical way of trying to cope with feeling like an outsider.  Like telling people, “When you are broken and mourning your fall from grace, I will consume your shadow in my own, and laugh at your misery.”  Watching her journey was lovely.  I adore her!

I loved that the characters in this book, young and old, grow and change and learn from mistakes.  Prejudices are examined and reevaluated.  Spensa grows up through the course of the book through self-discovery and the help others.  I loved that the relationships throughout the book take time to be established and end up with unexpected results.  I thought Rig was a fantastic best friend.  I loved that the young pilots had to work and weren’t instantly good at anything.  And above all I loved the talking ship.  His interactions with others made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions.

As always, Sanderson manages to give me a book that entertains, makes me think, and makes me feel.   I need book two now!  Arrr!

Don’t just take me word for readin’ this book (though it should be enough!).  Also check out what me crew had to say about this one:

Dan @ onemanbookclub – “Skyward is packed with awesome. White-knuckled, star-fighter versus alien dogfights. A patented Sanderson magic system disguised as science-fiction-future-space-tech. A mysterious star-fighter with advanced AI…think what would happen if Eragon had bonded with a spaceship instead of a dragon.”

Lynn @ lynn’sbookblog – “This is, in my opinion, storytelling at it’s best and I couldn’t put it down – just one more chapter, just one more page – until I found myself in the early hours of the morning still devouring the words.  Skyward has not only given me a whole new confidence in picking up more from this genre but has also renewed my slightly failing joy of YA.”

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Brandon Sanderson – Author

To buy the novel please visit:

skyward – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

Broadside No. 3

legion (Captain’s Log – Sci-Fi)