Skysworn (Of Earth and Sky, #2) by Katee Stein
Skysworn by Katee Stein
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
I received an advance digital copy of this novel from the author. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Skysworn is a fantastic followup to Earthbound, one of the most compelling and unique science-fantasies I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This completes the Of Earth and Sky duology, and gives readers the culmination of a story that is truly epic in every sense of the word. Both books are packed with compelling characters, brimming with depth and passion and their own kind of brokenness. This world is expansive and refreshingly original, beautifully fleshed-out in terms of worldbuilding. The plot is propulsive, the prose tight and crisp, and the romance believably messy.
The second installment picks up immediately where Earthbound left off. Because of this, and because of the twists and reveals toward the end of that first half of the duology, there’s not much I can say in terms of plot without giving anything away. Even mentioning characters by name could potentially spoil that first book, so I’m going to be as vague as possible in this review.
One thing Stein did that I absolutely love—and wish every SFF author would do when writing a series—is include a recap section at the beginning. This made diving back into that world when I didn’t have time to reread Earthbound beforehand so much easier and less confusing. As with Earthbound, one thread of the story is faster paced and more gripping than the others, though I was invested in all of these threads by the time they came together toward the end of the book. Speaking of endings, I would have never guessed this outcome when I started Earthbound, but it’s just exactly right. I really appreciated how much time was spent on rebuilding after the final battle. Whether regarding relationships, hearts, or society as a whole, it was really satisfying to be given time to relish the victory and watch healing take place.
This duology is not Christian speculative fiction. Which gives the story a bit more leeway in terms of content: I would consider it fade-to-black in terms of spice, and there’s the lightest smattering of language. However, it is written from a Christian worldview, and the author’s underpinning faith expressed itself in beautiful ways in this second installment, especially in the last quarter of the book. We see grudges and vendettas, but those are balanced by forgiveness and faith. In terms of themes, this installment delved into the pain and shame of addiction in really interesting ways, as well as embarking on a compelling exploration of faith amidst corruption. Though the duology goes to some very dark places, light and goodness manage to fight their way through.
I really enjoyed my time with the Of Earth and Sky duology. In my review of Earthbound, I compared Stein’s prose and character work and worldbuilding to that of Brandon Sanderson and, having now completed the story, I stand by that comparison. If you’re a fan of the the Cosmere, or the Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, or you just love epic stories that blend elements of science fiction and fantasy, I highly recommend Earthbound and Skysworn.
You can purchase a copy of this book here.