New England Book Award Finalist “A top-notch dragon story…Both nuanced and real.” –Shelf Awareness (starred review) “I absolutely devoured it.” –Mackenzi Lee, bestselling author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue “Perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce, Renée Ahdieh, and Cindy Pon.” –Saundra Mitchell, author of All the Things We Do in the Dark and editor of YA anthology All Out A … in the Dark and editor of YA anthology All Out
A determined young woman sets out to rescue her kidnapped girlfriend by stealing a dragon from the corrupt emperor in this stunning fantasy debut that’s perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman.
Raised among the ruins of a conquered mountain nation, Maren dreams only of sharing a quiet life with her girlfriend Kaia–until the day Kaia is abducted by the Aurati, prophetic agents of the emperor, and forced to join their ranks. Desperate to save her, Maren hatches a plan to steal one of the emperor’s coveted dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold.
If Maren is to have any hope of succeeding, she must become an apprentice to the Aromatory–the emperor’s mysterious dragon trainer. But Maren is unprepared for the dangerous secrets she uncovers: rumors of a lost prince, a brewing rebellion, and a prophecy that threatens to shatter the empire itself. Not to mention the strange dreams she’s been having about a beast deep underground…
With time running out, can Maren survive long enough to rescue Kaia from impending death? Or could it be that Maren is destined for something greater than she could have ever imagined?
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Shatter the Sky is an incredible novel that follows one Maren, a quiet girl with no delusions of grandeur as she embarks on an adventure to save her girlfriend from the corrupted grasp of the empire. It is a fast-paced story that builds and builds upon itself as it moves forward. This knitting pattern of storytelling allows the structure of the overall story to hold to together artfully and in the way the story stacks upon itself, mirrors the journey of the character. The setting and world-building structure blends the realism into the story, taking the fantasy and wrapping it in a world of realism. The mechanics of this world are easy to understand and engage the reader, allowing the reader to fully grasp how dragons and magic fit into this world seamlessly. The added political tension adds dimension and works to keep the story grounded and captivating for the reader.
The other part of the novel that makes it so compelling is Maren. She begins as such a soft-spoken character, but her evolution, the challenges she faces, the push against her and she pushes against them and past them to continue her quest. However, her journey and character development are not her most substantial assets, but rather, her identity is. Maren is a not only a QPOC (Queer Person of Color); she is also a biracial character. While Maren faces no outright racism, she has never felt as though she properly fit in with her small village. Her journey from her mountain top allows her to not only grow as a character, but it also allows her to grow more comfortable in her skin, sending a powerful message to readers.
The inclusion and representation do not stop with the depiction and texture of her skin, hair, and eyes, but also expands to her sexuality. Wells uses Maren and the world she has built to showcase the LGBTQ community in such a beautiful way. Her sexuality is never once frowned upon, questioned or demeaned but instead treated with the acceptance and normalcy it deserves in real life.
Shatter the Sky is a thrilling story that sucks the readers in with the dragons and representation that fills the pages with enthralling believability.
How can you not love a book about dragons, beautifully lush worlds, and delicious foreboding? More than just a gorgeous fantasy, it’s about rising up and staying true to who you are—a fantastic addition to every bookshelf!
Quiet homebody Maren determines to rescue her kidnapped girlfriend by stealing an imprisoned dragon – and compelling, engrossing fantasy ensues. Thoughtful world-building and seamless writing ground this adventure story that ultimately asks the question: What makes a hero? I’ll be watching for Rebecca Wells’s next book.
Shatter the Sky and its dragons gave me a romantic, adventurous, consuming, and dangerous world I both feared and didn’t want to leave. An extremely welcome addition to YA’s queer fantasy canon.
Rebecca Kim Wells has written a captivating debut with a bold heroine to root for and a richly imagined world to get lost in. I was enchanted from the very first page.
A compelling, emotional, and satisfying read with a believably reluctant but determined heroine, a well-drawn world with a history and details that matter to the story, and—best of all—dragons! I wish I’d had books like this to read when I was a teen, and I’m so glad I get to enjoy this lovely novel now.
In Shatter the Sky, Rebecca Kim Wells has created a fierce, brave, stalwart protagonist and a full-realized fantasy world reminiscent of writers like Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley, all infused with intersectionality, feminism, and, of course, dragons. This is a fairytale for people who have never seen themselves in fairytales before. Anne McCaffrey for the next generation, and I absolutely devoured it.
Shatter the Sky is masterfully transportive, a high fantasy that soars with the dragons and scales the heights for love. Every page left me riveted. Perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce, Renée Ahdieh and Cindy Pon, Shatter the Sky invites the reader into a world they will want to visit again and again.
Rebecca Kim Wells’ debut combines epic storytelling and inclusive worldbuilding to create a novel that feels both timeless and timely. Come for the dragons; stay for the exhilarating ending that will have you eagerly awaiting the sequel.