#1 New York Times-bestselling author Marie Lu is back with Skyhunter, an adrenaline-laced novel about the lengths one warrior will go to fight for freedom and those she loves. A broken world.An overwhelming evil.A team of warriors ready to strike back.Talin is a Striker, a member of an elite fighting force that stands as the last defense for the only free nation in the world: Mara.A refugee, … the only free nation in the world: Mara.
A refugee, Talin knows firsthand the horrors of the Federation, a world-dominating war machine responsible for destroying nation after nation with its terrifying army of mutant beasts known only as Ghosts.
But when a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front to Mara’s capital, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? What secrets is he hiding?
Only one thing is clear: Talin is ready to fight to the death alongside her fellow Strikers for the only homeland she has left . . . with or without the boy who might just be the weapon to save—or destroy—them all.
Loyalty is life.
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Skyhunter was good. It kept my interest, I liked the characters, the action was done well, and the plot was intriguing enough to keep me reading. This was one of the more interesting books I’ve read lately in a sea of two and three star ratings. Marie Lu has a way about her writing that never fails to entertain me and I can for the most part count of a good read when I pick up her books. I liked Talin and Red a lot and want to see what happens next with these characters.
I have always been a big fan of everything Marie Lu puts out. Her Legend series will always have a special place in my heart but Skyhunter was simply amazing as well!
One of the best aspects of this book was the immaculate world building we get. There’s almost this Avatar: The Last Airbender sort of vibe with Karensa Federation and their quest to capture the last remaining free countries, and it’s captured so so well.
The main group of characters are amazing and unique and they are going to be a hit with anyone who loves the found family trope because we get that in spades here. Talin, as our main protagonist, is a wonderful, strong, and fierce female lead who did a great job anchoring the story. Her interactions with the three other main characters and the relationships they build are some of the highlights of this book for me.
Give this a go if you love Marie Lu or are simply looking to pick up another great read!
Skyhunter is another phenomenal YA book by Marie Lu. First of all the cover is absolutely gorgeous. Love the colors and contrast.
The story itself wasn’t necessarily anything new to the YA genre: nothing mind-bending or unexpected per se. However, this is Marie Lu we’re talking about, and she does storytelling so well that I am easily drawn into her worlds.
I thoroughly enjoyed the main cast of characters: Talin, Red, Adena and Jeran, even Aramin and Talin’s mother. I do wish we would have gotten Red’s perspective so hopefully that comes in Steelstriker.
I also appreciated the world-building, and I definitely want a greater look into the Federation.
I look forward to seeing how the story continues in the follow-up Steelstriker.
***I voluntarily read and reviewed a paperback edition provided by the publisher via Bookish First.***
I just have to say once again that Marie Lu does not disappoint! I’m such a big fan of hers and now this books. I genuinely loved this book, it was a light and easy read. It was really enticing and interesting, and it had such incredible characters. As well as a good plot and writing!
While this book has a lot of exact similarities that are found in this genre, Marie Lu made it fresh. She made it exciting and something unique. I love the found family in this book, it’s so comforting.
The love interest was really great as well, everything I want in one in all honesty. I liked the mission, the concept of them fighting for their freedom. (The wings) Such a good book, had all my favorite things too!! This is a lot better than much of her other works, it’s one of the best for sure.
I found some things oddly convenient in this book which was kind of annoying. But I have no complaints other than that!
There is this idea out there that YA reads tend to all follow a similar storyline. I tend to agree. What I’ve come to look forward to is the unique characters, the hierarchies, possible creatures and unforeseen twists. I think these facets are what make these books so much more to me as a reader.
Lu has a wonderful writing talent. Though this was fairly predictable in its plot progress it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed listening to this audio. Talin is definitely a relatable character. She is strong, flawed, hearing impaired and laden with being a part of an outcast people. I am thoroughly impressed with Lu’s ability to bring a character with the inability to speak and incorporate sign-language as the main means of communication in the Striker force. The monstrous Ghosts and post-apocalyptic feel is exactly what I love in my dystopian type books. Even the underlying themes are reminiscent of current events with the refugees seeking asylum and racial tensions.
Natalie Naudus narrates this novel and carries a voice perfectly befitting of Talin. I would’ve enjoyed a little more distinction between the other characters but there is enough distinction to know which character is currently speaking. She also hold true to cadence throughout the novel splendidly.
If you love Marie Lu, dystopian fiction, relatable flawed female leads or young adult fiction than I definitely recommend grabbing this one. Special thanks to Libro.FM, MacMillan Audio and Roaring Brook Press for the ability to listen to and read this advanced copy for an honest and unbiased opinion. True rating 4.5/5.
When I finished “Skyhunter” last year, even though I didn’t love it I was pretty sure I still wanted to read the sequel. Now that the sequel is out at the end of the month, and I’ve had a year to digest the first book, I’m not sure if I still want to read it… My initial review was this:
One of the most shounen things I’ve ever read in novel-format. You’ve got a near-immortal enemy (“Ghosts”), a group of people trained to defeat said enemy (Strikers), and a guy (Red) who’s fallen into their lap with a pretty awesome power that works really well against the Ghosts. There’s even a mouse that inexplicably hangs around in Red’s pocket.
There’s also the protagonist (Talin), who’s pretty good at her job, and might not be super-powered but just so happens to have been the one who saved Red’s life.
There’s a lot about “Skyhunter” I really enjoyed. Marie Lu went all out with describing the setting, and the action sequences were similarly immersive in their descriptiveness. I loved Talin as the protagonist and connected with her devotion and love for her mother, as well as the progression with her relationship with Red.
I guess I didn’t care as much about the other characters. And there are little things that I wasn’t a fan of, like some plot conveniences, and like…everything about the mouse I mentioned.
Hits all the right spots. Astounding world building. Emotional depth.
My first book from the author. This story hits all the right spots. The characters are well developed, unraveling their back stories and getting to know them better page by page I became addicted. The details and imagery of the world building is astounding. I was truly transported to another world. It has this original feel but also it’s a part of a story I love so much. I enjoyed how well the two parts played together.
A young female underestimated, undervalued and maybe even a little hated for being who she is. She doesn’t let that stop her from being bad ass and taking charge of her life in any way she can. She fights with every breath, every strike. I could not get enough of her journey and the twists along the way left me breathless. Her, her friends and her enemies are all so enthralling their emotions so deep. I was raw and gutted by the end. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
I don’t know why it took me so long to read a book by this author. This is the first one, and I cannot believe how much I liked it. I loved everything about it, and I’m truly amazed how it did not bother me that there is so little romance in it. Obviously, I hope there is a lot more in the next one, but the amount in this one was just right. Another thing that I absolutely loved is that all of the characters are well constructed (backgrounds, personalities, etc.). Even the villain is interesting. I’m counting the days until the next book is out.
Female Heroin was very strong. Though she couldn’t physically speak, her voice was heard loud and clear. Other female side characters were very inspiring and intelligent. Everyone had their own unique story that drove them and made me more and more invested.
Oof, Skyhunter hits you right in the feels and leaves you there at the end. I can’t wait for Steelstriker to come out! The descriptions of how the Strikers operated kept me on the edge of my seat and I found myself marveling at Talin’s skill in the face of staggering odds as the Karensa Federation bore down on Mara. And of course, I’m totally shipping Talin and Red. The chemistry between them is one of the few believable enemies to (possibly) lovers arcs I’ve read that really works. For such a quick read, I was also impressed with how well fleshed out all of the side characters were: from Talin’s mom to Jeran and Adena to Firstblade Aramin, they are all believable and breathing. I won’t give away the ending except to say that it will have you flipping pages going “Give me more!” It’s fantastically good.
Marie Lu’s stories are always fast-paced action with fantastic characters, so they suck me in–yet I often don’t care for her endings. They tend to spoil all the enjoyment I’ve had up until that point. Skyhunter was a happy exception to this trend, though.
Talin is a striker without a voice, wh0 loses her Shield (her partner) early in the story and is haunted by his death. “Ghosts,” in this world, are more like zombies, and they are what the strikers are trained to fight against, though they also have human enemies. One such enemy, Red, is about to be publicly executed… but something about him reminds Talin of the Shield she lost. On the impulse of a moment, she decides to step in and speak for him, to beg for his life. The High Blade decides to punish her for her embarrassing interference by consigning him to become her new Shield instead. He is foreign, and he does not speak her language… and Talin speaks only sign language, so for quite awhile they have to communicate through an interpreter, which is unusual.
But then, suddenly, in the heat of sudden battle, Talin learns that Red has been turned into a war machine by their enemies: a Skyhunter, the first of his kind. (This part reminded me of X-Men.) He was designed to bond with his makers, but then suddenly he bonds with Talin instead. This forges a mind link between them, bypassing all of their cultural and language barriers in a moment. The sudden intimacy between them after this is of course predictable, but it doesn’t immediately turn into romance. I’m sure it will in the sequel, though, as it is pretty heavily foreshadowed in this one.
I’d love to go straight to the next book in the series (Marie Lu’s books always have this effect upon me, if she doesn’t completely lose me with her endings), but unfortunately it has yet to be released!
My rating: ****1/2
Language: none that I can recall
Sexual content: none
Violence: present but not excessive
Politically correct content: present in secondary characters.
Skyhunter by Marie Lu was a quick and easy ya read that starts off a wonderful beginning to a new series.
4.5/5 stars.
This book begins in a beautiful world created by Marie Lu. Expected. I love the worlds she creates. That’s something she excels at.
Things that worked:
I loved loved loved our main character Talin. Her vocal cords were hurt when she was a child so the only way she can speak is by sign language, which lucky for her, her entire battalion is required to learn in battle. I have never read ya where the main character can’t actually speak. This novel is fast paced and easy to keep up with. I genuinely loved the progression and how easy this was for me to get through.
Things that didn’t work:
The heartbreak in this novel is continuous. Our characters are constantly beaten down and struggling. It is extremely easy to connect with them and cheer them on. Just a heads up for potential readers, it will not be an emotionally easy read
I loved this. I’m just sad it is a series and we’re going to have to wait between books. That stresses me out to no end. I highly recommend my ya fans check this book out. Definitely worth the read!
The Karensa Federation conquered most of the countries on the continent with only the country of Mara still standing independent and fighting the Federation. But with the Federation’s superior weapons, including Ghosts (mutant zombie-like humans), it’s only a matter of time before Mara falls too. The Strikers are elite fighters who are the last defenders of Mara.
The main heroine, Talin, is one of the Strikers. She is also a refugee who came to Mara with her mother when her country was conquered by the Federation. Despite being a member of the elite group, she is looked down on by Mara’s citizens because of her refugee status. After defying her commander, Talin is assigned to a prisoner of war and the soldier of the Federation, Red, who could be either a spy or Mara’s only chance to defeat the Karensa Federation.
Marie Lu is a master of creating captivating stories with compelling characters and Skyhunter is no exception. And even though I didn’t love Skyhunter as much as Warcross, I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
So, I’ve been reading books by Marie Lu for FOREVER and I absolutely can’t wait to convince someone to buy me this full book and read it! This is definitely Lu’s best ever book written and I know this just by reading the first few pages of this book! The style of this book and the way it’s written is so appealing, drawing in, captivating, and alluring all at the same time! I am absolutely in love with this book already and do I know why?! YES! It’s because everything is perfect, literally. From the cover which has such beautiful shades/hues of color and all the vibrance and so much going on to the beautiful arrangement of words to make a wonderful story, I am definitely hooked! This is amazing!
Marie Lu
That was an exciting start to a fantastic story!
I love Marie Lu’s writing and was really interested when I heard about this book.
Skyhunter is Lu’s first installment in the Skyhunter series.
Even though i didn’t get the whole book but a small excerpt of it, i can tell that this story can climb to my favorites list. In only 3 chapters it was certain that i m gonna get that book. Lu did it again. The attention to detail is unbelievable. Lu takes us in a world full of pain and politic games and fear but also friendship and hope. With such great characters and an intriguing start, I can’t wait to see the rest of the story!
I definitely going to be picking up the full book to see what happens next!
I totally recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an excerpt of the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Lu again does an amazing job of creating a new and unique world. I love the intricacy of her settings and the vivid way she describes surroundings. She also does a fabulous job of layering in the history and complex rules of a society. I also really felt connected to her main character, Talin, and enjoyed all the accompanying friends, especially Red.
This is definitely a suspenseful read, and I loved how the tension kept increasing. However, I would say that a few of the battle scenes were quite graphic. I also wish I knew beforehand that this would be part of a longer series.
Overall, another mesmerizing story in a new world that features the complicated and fearsome Skyhunter technology.
Thank you MacMillan Marie Lu & Librofm for a gifted copy of this audiobook.
5/5 Stars
Genre: YA Fantasy/Sci-fi
Let’s start off with the most obvious part of this book, this absolutely breathtaking cover! I honestly pick up books based on their covers (judge me if you’d like) and this one grabbed my attention from the very start! Once you dive into the story though, you’ll be enthralled with its wonderfully complex characters, its captivating world building and action packed storyline. This story is a great mix of Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and has a small sub theme of LGBTQ+; there’s a genre for every kind of reader within this book!
I love a story with a powerful female lead, and Talin is just that character! Talin is an elite fighter (called a Striker) who has vowed to give her life to protect the nation of Mara, even though Marians view her people as vile rats instead of the refugees they are. Talin is tough yet compassionate; she is the underdog that will fight her way to the top with unwavering bravery and dedication. I was able to instantly connect with Talin and loved watching her story unfold. I can’t wait to see what she and her fellow Strikers will do to get back at the Federation for all of the pain and destruction that they’ve caused.
This is the first book of a duology but it ended in such a way that it left you begging for more without it being a true cliffhanger. So in the meantime, I’ll just be over here anxiously waiting for the final book of this duology!
I really enjoyed Skyhunter, another winner from Marie Lu. Tallin is a refugee and is mute. She is a Striker, a special type of fighter, for the country of Mara. Mara is under threat from the Karensa Federation, which has invaded every other country except for Mara. Tallin and her mother fled to Mara when the Federation invaded their own country Basea. Mara does not treat its refugees well. Even though Tallin risks her life for Mara, she is mocked and called a “rat”. The Strikers are trained to fight “ghosts”, dangerous genetically modified people turned into monsters created by the Federation.
The story gets going when an unusual prisoner from the Federation is captured by Mara. He is slated for execution. Sensing something important about him, Tallin advocates to spare his life.
Skyhunter is a fast paced sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian. The Federation is truly chilling in its treatment of people. There are references to an ancient society that met with an apocalyptic end, which makes the reader to want to learn more. The characters are interesting and well developed. Tallin’s character offers the unique perspective of that of a refugee and a mute person. Skyhunter is the first book in a series. I look forward to future installments.
If you love wonderful characters, action, and great world building, then you will love this book! The author never fails to build such interesting and great worlds that just suck you in. I loved the characters I met in this extended preview. It was such a great beginning and I can’t wait to read the rest of it. The entire story drew me in and I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt so real and you could really connect with them and feel their emotions. Their was action and it was such an exciting adventure. Now I need to go buy this, so I can figure out what happened after that horrible cliffhanger in the preview. As always, the author created an intriguing world with great characters and all the feels, and I would definitely recommend this!
This one started a bit slow for me and then picked up and I didn’t stop reading until I was finished with the book. The ending…….oh, my!!! No spoilers here!! Another hit for Marie Lu.