Review: Flame - Amy Kathleen Ryan

Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan, published by Macmillan Children's Books on 7th January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have been scattered, and their home ship destroyed. The mission to rescue their parents didn't go quite as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Will Seth's health hold out long enough to help Waverly topple their enemy? And will Waverly find a way to unite her friends before the final battle? Nothing is certain and every second is a risk in this explosive finale.

Review:
'Flame' is the concluding part of Amy Kathleen Ryan's Sky Chasers series.  It's also one of the best sci-fi books set in space that I've ever read.  Every detail is brilliantly depicted and the very real human struggle for survival makes for compulsively addictive reading. 

Waverly and the other residents of the Empyrean are now facing life on-board the New Horizon spaceship and are struggling to adjust to being under the rule of the manipulative Anne Mathers.  Waverly, along with Kieran, are both being used as pawns by those that want to rule the ship and find themselves caught in the middle of a dangerous power struggle.  Each chapter is alternatively told from their point of view, along with Seth, who we last saw isolated and alone on the Empyrean.  Sick and in terrible trouble, Seth becomes a hunted fugitive as he seeks to stay alive.  Each character is well and truly tested to the limit in this final instalment, as life and death truly are both on the line.

Amy Kathleen Ryan doesn't take her foot off the peddle once as the action hurtles along at full speed.  I was totally absorbed and immersed in the world she's created and sad to reach the final page of what has been a rollercoaster adventure.  The whole trilogy has been full of excitement, explosive action and unexpected twists and turns with brilliant characters who have been faced with a series of impossible decisions to make.        

This book is a wonderful end to the series and I would never have guessed when reading the first book 'Glow' how everything was going to eventually work out.  Nothing was as I expected.  Tense and nerve-wracking, 'Flame' did justice to a tremendous story arc which never once failed to deliver.       

Review: Spark - Amy Kathleen Ryan

Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan, published by Macmillan Children's Books on 2nd August 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Waverly and Kieran are finally reunited on the Empyrean. Kieran has led the boys safely up to this point, and now that the girls are back, their mission seems slightly less impossible: to chase down the New Horizon, and save their parents from the enemy ship. But nothing is truly as it seems…Kieran’s leadership methods have raised Seth’s hackles— and Waverly’s suspicions. Is this really her fiancé? The handsome, loving boy she was torn from just a short time before? More and more, she finds her thoughts aligned with Seth’s. But if Seth is Kieran’s Enemy No. 1, what does that make her?

 

Review:
I loved Amy Kathleen Ryan’s debut novel ‘Glow’ which I read last year and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next book in the series ever since.

The story catches up with the crew of the Empyrean who are still trying to rescue their parents from onboard the New Horizon. In the meantime, Kieran is in charge of the ship and Waverly is still trying to come to terms with what happened to her onboard the enemy ship.

I ended up feeling very differently about a lot of the characters in this book. My opinion of Seth and Kieran almost changed around completely. Seth is now the one who seems strong and noble and good, whereas Kieran’s actions are often questionable. I went from wanting Kieran and Waverly to be together, to wishing that she would see the real Seth as he seemed much more suitable boyfriend material. I loved the way that Amy Kathleen Ryan isn’t afraid to turn things on their head. Her characters may not always be likeable but that is a quality to be admired because they are always real and like real human beings they make mistakes. They don’t always do the right thing or behave in the correct way.

‘Spark’ is brilliantly plotted, imaginative and original. Every single detail is covered and the plot is forever leading you down a path you are not expecting. The story is also shocking at times and some events had me on the edge of my seat and tearing through the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

The ending was fantastic and has left me eager for the next book, 'Flame' which should be out in 2013.  ‘Spark’ was an out of this world read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Sky Chasers series to anyone looking for a gripping and exciting series of books!