Zac Wilson can’t die. Daredevil Zac Wilson isn’t the first celebrity to keep a secret from the world, but his might be the most marvelous in history: Zac doesn’t age and injuries can’t kill him. What’s more, he’s part of a close-knit group of others just like him. Holed up in Harbor Vale, Michigan, Zac meets two more of his kind who claim others in their circle have died. Are their … others in their circle have died. Are their lifetimes finally ending naturally, or is someone targeting them–a predator who knows what they are?
The answers Zac unearths present impossible dilemmas: whom to protect, how to seek justice, how to bring peace to turmoil. His next action could fracture forever the family he longs to unite. Now might be the time to ask for help. . .from God Himself. But Zac’s greatest fear is facing the God he has run from for more than a century.
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From Sky to Sky was such a different story, from the literal first page you are immersed in this world where a few people have been blessed, or cursed, with long life. Amanda G. Stevens took me on a journey of questioning why we live each day as if we have an infinite amount when we truly do not know how many days we get to live. She presented the gospel through her characters in a very meaningful and honest way, not shying away from the struggles people face. I thought that Zac was an interesting character and that he showed a lot of caring given his situation. The other secondary characters were also well developed, and I hope to learn more about them in the books that follow, as this book left me with a sense of just beginning to know their characters.
I would highly recommend reading this series in order as From Sky to Sky does drop you into an already moving plot, that is easier to understand after having read the first book. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative storyline, the consistent characters, and for making me think about how fragile life really is.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
My Thoughts on From Sky to Sky:
This is a unique book. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it or not but I actually did.
I can’t imagine being alive forever or never ageing. Part of me thinks it would be wonderful. Think of all the knowledge you could gain and all the things you could witness. Very intriguing. But then again, you’d watch people you love die and would never have a constant companion as they would age and die as well.
First time for me reading this author and I have to say I did enjoy her style. While this book is not my normal genre or style it was good and I can recommend it.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
From Sky to Sky is a fascinating mix of fantasy and Christian fiction and once again, I find myself feeling sorry for those who live far beyond their years and have seen their own children and grandchildren die before them. When you live a long time you are bound to experience a lot of joy and happiness but also a lot of pain and grief. Just imagine how these emotions would be multiplied if you were to live 165 years? What if you were born in 1855, stopped aging in 1887, and were still alive in the year 2020? Can you begin to contemplate what you would have seen and felt? This is the story of such a man.
Yes, Zac Wilson is a longevite, a person who cannot die, and author Amanda G. Stevens explores his life and the lives of others like him. She first introduced us to longevites in No Less Days and I was fascinated with David Galloway and his feelings of isolation until he discovered that he wasn’t alone. There were others who couldn’t die and one of them was Zac Wilson. Now, in From Sky to Sky, we learn more about Zac, his relationship with another longevite Moira, and his efforts to resist God. Until, he realizes that “Father, I can’t keep carrying all of their pain. Please take it.” (p. 262). And, in a deeply touching scene, he begins to read a Bible and remembers that “He hadn’t touched God’s Word in 100 years.”
This is a book that will make you think and prompt you to question ‘What if?’, but also remind you of God’s ultimate plan and His promise of grace, redemption, and eternal life, after our physical lives are over. Amanda G. Stevens has written another great Christian speculative book and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. A positive review was not required and these are my own thoughts.
The title fits one of the main characters well since the sky is important to Zac Wilson and helps calm him. The complex characters and story in this captivating book hold the readers’ interest but sometimes make it hard to follow. I didn’t realize this was the second in a series until I was in the midst of it. So much backstory begs to be more fully explored to be better understood, so read the first book before plunging into this wild ride. I struggled to connect with and care deeply about the intense characters. The premise of people who can’t die and the challenges they face as longevites offers a compelling puzzle. The question of suicide is explored too. What I really liked was the way some of the characters were there for each other no matter the circumstances. I appreciate the faith element thread, but some words were not ones I expected to read in a Christian novel. If you like speculative fiction and want the challenge of navigating this intriguing adventure, check out this series. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
While “No Less Days” immediately captured my interest and never let go, this sequel was not quite as intriguing. I was thankful that the prologue replayed a scene relating to the ending of book one to refresh my memory, but the rest of the narrative proceeded at a pace that I personally feel is too slow for a book categorized as suspense. The opening chapters were not that interesting to me, so my anticipation dropped quite a bit. While there is an element of suspense regarding whether this group of near-immortals are finally reaching the end of their long lifespans or are being hunted down, I was not very engaged with the plot and was not dying to know what would happen next.
Where “From Sky to Sky” truly does shine, however, is in the faith element. Calloused by a century of avoiding God, Zac Wilson must surrender his heart back to the One whom he has run from for so long. With other longevites dying, Zac’s unique family is threatened, and in a beautiful display of the redemption and promise of Romans 8:28, Zac is finally at a seminal point in which both his life and faith journeys intersect. This is where the story becomes most readable, and to witness the longevite’s and his family’s response to the Gospel and what it means to and for them makes this a worthwhile read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
From Sky to Sky is the second book in the No Less Days series by Amanda Stevens. While it is easily read as a stand-alone book, I think reading the first book in the series will give more full enjoyment. Speculative fiction, while not necessarily a favorite of mine is still a genre I enjoy. Stevens writes of Longevites, immortals, individuals who cannot die. It’s a small group who has become a family and now two more have shown up, needing help. What happens to the dynamics of the family? How will the individuals interact and react to the situations presented? Stevens tells a fascinating story. The story flows well with vivid prose and is rich with interesting and well-fleshed out characters and some twists to the plot that I did not see coming. Characters that are complex and realistic (strong yet flawed and timeless emotions despite being immortal) and evocative (you like them or you don’t, you root for them to connect and make the right decisions). From Sky to Sky is a story about fears, friends, and family…about finding a home. It is a story about coming to recognize the grace of God is at work throughout one’s life, about recognizing that God never left, He has always been there through every situation. I like how the author wrote a list of discussion questions at the end of the book, questions that help the reader think more about the themes of the book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
This is a great book filled with wonderful characters. I recommend that you read book one in the series first so that you know who everyone is in book two. This was inspirational and it made me laugh and cry. I don’t think I would care to live forever but that is me. I hope there are more books in this series because I want to know how each of the characters lives continue. I received a copy of this book from Barbour publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I thought that this book was interesting and a fabulous read for anybody who loves the idea of living a longer life. When I first came across the description of this book, I knew that I wanted to read it and find out what happens to the characters in this story. For anybody who is wanting to read this series, please read the first book No Less Days before jumping into this one. I think that the author has an incredible imagination to have come up with a creative story plot and characters, so kudos to Amanda G. Stevens!#FromSkyToSky#NetGalley
*Thank you to NetGalley & Barbour Publishing, Inc. for allowing me to read an e-copy for free in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
I enjoyed the previous book in this series, and was really intrigued by characters that cannot die that aren’t vampires. As odd as it may sound to have a Christian series of books about people who cannot die, this is a really cool series.
Sky to Sky centers on the one who is the most interesting in my opinion: Zach, the daredevil stuntman. This series isn’t suspense, but this one leaned more suspenseful as they raced to find someone who seemed to have found a way to end their lives.
The book also brought new characters that shared the immortality of the others, and also brought into play one that I think was mentioned in the previous book, but wasn’t really part of the story: Simon, another interesting character I hope gets his own book.
I really enjoyed the book, the characters, their interacting to each other, and the plot. And again, it was interesting to think what life would be like if you couldn’t die, the good and the bad. What sticks out most in the story to me was Zach’s struggle to overcome his severe fear of closed spaces, and his century of running from God. Slight spoiler: There is a scene where Zach is in trouble, and feels God near. He asks God “how can you still want me as your Son?” He later relates it to his friends, and wonders again how after running from God for more than a century, how God could possibly want him. He was reminded that with God, a hundred years is as just a day. Those scenes, and the rest of Zach’s spiritual journey really touched me. Yeah, it is just fiction, and he is just a fictional character…….a really cool one……but it was a great reminder of God’s grace, and how quick and willing He is to forgive and welcome the wanderer back.
Sky to Sky was a great read, and it definitely left me wanting to read more of these interesting immortal people.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
I did have a very hard time getting into this book. I was not really sure what was going on and wished I had read the first book in the series. With that being said I wanted to give this book a fair chance. After all it is not the fault of the author that I didn’t read the first book. The story is set in a fantasy type setting which opens the door for imagination to soar with expectations. Over the last year I have come to embrace this genre with guarded anticipation. Some are over the top and hard to grasp, but this story felt easy to jump into with little trouble after the first chapter. I began to know the characters and how they think. Their objectives began to come clearer and yes I was hooked to some extent.
I liked Zac from the start. I don’t know if he was easy to relate to or easy to be leary of. Being a famous person for him certainly had its quirks but underneath all the fame, was a person desperate for answers. The author brings the subject of immortality to the surface and dives into the what if’s with intense emotions from characters. Would you want to live forever? What if there was a high price to pay, would you still take it? Even though I could sympathize with Zac I still felt like the author was leaving parts of the story out that were vital for the story to flow smoothly.
I did get a sense that Zac struggled with faith and wasn’t sure if God existed at times. You can feel his turmoil that stopped him from seeking God at times . What really struck me was his ability to feel emotions from other people. What would that be like to feel pain, loneliness, abandonment, hopeless and other emotions? Zac became this person who needed answers and deep down he knew who could help him. There are several things going in the story that helped keep me interested. The struggle Zac was having trying to save and protect others while trying to understand his own life was emotionally draining at times for him. The author does achieve an intriguing concept that makes readers think about their own mortality.
In the end I wanted Zac to find the answers he was looking for and embrace the feeling that God is allowing him to feel. Could it be that he feels like Jesus does? Zac could represent any of us as we struggle with just knowing God in His infinite wisdom and learn to accept why we are the way we are. Zac gave me hope and I loved the spiritual elements throughout the book that will have me reminiscing for days. We may think we can run from God, but He sees us and for Zac he will have a divine appointment that will impact his life.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion
I’m not sure what genre this book fits but I’m guessing speculative which is not my usual taste. The characters are so well written that I was drawn into the story and kept wondering what would happen next. Most of the characters are longevites–people who were given a serum to save their life. They have not aged since then even though they may be one hundred and fifty years old! The book was weird to me but I will probably read the next book in the series out of curiosity. i received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Since this is the second book in a series, I’m glad I read book one first. It’s very entertaining if you can read them in order.
Zac Wilson is a famous internet celebrity as a daredevil and when he has a life threatening injury he does not ever die. He’s surrounded by a few others that cannot die either and they call themselves longevites. It is so interesting to hear them talk about their experiences a century ago, for example.
This story is about the mysterious deaths of some of their friends and what and who did this to them.
Christian Sci-fi is unique and this book is a really good story. Once I started getting into the book, I had to find out what all happened! The characters are likeable as well as interesting.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Amanda G. Stevens provides yet again a tale that weaves themes of faith into a story with suspense. I really was hooked with the first book, No Less Days. The main lead in that book was named David. While it isn’t necessary to read No Less Days before this book, I found it helpful to know what happened before this story started. When I opened the book, it took me but seconds to remember the previous plot and story because this one seems to pick up where the other one left off.
In From Sky to Sky, the focus is on Zac who has been given a serum that causes his body to rejuvenate. Zac has walked away from God. He wants to confront problems he sees with justice; yet, deep inside he knows he isn’t getting what he deserves. Zac has friendships with a few mortals, but his world is rocked when he realizes another longevite has committed crimes that Zac didn’t realize were occurring, but to him those actions require payment and answers.
Readers will be entertained while also thinking about some of the questions the author presents via fiction. I am not usually a sci-fi or speculative fiction kind of reader, but I do enjoy Amanda’s books. I believe the reason others would enjoy them is that there are characters, situations and problems in the book people will relate to. While this is a work of fiction, the personalities and spiritual wrestling matches that happen in the plot seem as if they are drawn from real people living with real wrestling moments of the soul. Grab a copy, enjoy the tale and then share with family and friends while waiting to see what Amanda shares next!
There is something about Amanda G. Stevens ability to capture my attention. Her stories don’t usually have a lot of high octane suspense that I graviate toward, but she has the ability to capture my attention and beg me to keep flipping pages. Her stories have deep theological questions that majority of humanity wrestle with and allows the characters to deal with them in a realistic way. I really enjoyed the plot in From Sky to Sky. I couldn’t wait to keep reading, so I finished the story in one day.I honestly stayed up way to late reading this story. It begged to be devoured. I really can’t wait to see what Stevens does with the next installment. Overall, From Sky to Sky is a unique, well-written, and woven story filled with remarkale characters who have heart and are looking for the meaning to their long lives. I believe fans of James Rubart should pick up this series and enjoy them. I sure do.
I received a complimentary copy of From Sky to Sky by Amanda G. Stevens from Barbor Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Not sure how to take this book since I missed out on the first one so therefore I didn’t enjoy it as much and I’m guessing since Zac can’t die he’s a vampire or something along those lines.
There were some pretty good twists and turns in the book so I did enjoy that. I love to be kept guessing. It makes the story a tad more interesting.
I’m sorry I couldn’t leave a better review.
I want to read the 1st book first.
My thanks to Netgalley. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own.
This is the sequel I was hoping for after reading No Less Days and I highly recommend reading it first, especially if you are looking for something very different. I felt more connected to the characters in this one as they seemed more open and real. Zac deals with suffocating panic attacks and you can feel it in the writing as it is palpable. You will greet old characters and be introduced to new ones. This is a great blend of speculative fiction with a little mystery, a little romance, and the thread of Faith to weave it all together. This is a very imaginative read and holds much pleasure between its pages. I’m hoping there is a book three as I need to see where it goes from here. Plus the cover just draws you in.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
The concept of someone living forever is somewhat difficult to get your head around. I imagine if it is hard for me to understand, it must be ever so much more difficult if you are the one who continues to bury those you love, only because they are mortal and you are not. Zac finds himself preferring to be alone just so he doesn’t make any new attachments. David, on the other hand, would welcome the chance to become mortal. Is it possible that the serum might be able to be reversed? Several new characters are introduced in this second book and we learn how they will fit into this family of longevites or elderfolk.
The character development of Zac is quite interesting to follow. The author deals with his panic attacks very gently and thoroughly helping the reader understand that there is nothing wrong with allowing others to see you are suffering open about some of the things he struggles with like fear, claustrophobia and developing close relationships. He looks at himself as screwed-up, thin-skinned and irredeemable. However he finally realizes that his feelings of guilt are forgiven and covered by grace, something that didn’t make sense until he could see grace for what it is.
This fabulous book was received through NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. These personal impressions and comments were in no way solicited.