“Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner prove they are two living goddesses of writing, creating two compelling worlds with high stakes and gripping emotions.” —Sarah Rees Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of the Demon’s Lexicon trilogy and the Lynburn Legacy seriesNew York Times bestselling author duo Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have crafted a gripping tale of magic and logic, fate and … gripping tale of magic and logic, fate and choice, and a deadly love. Perfect for fans of Laini Taylor and Brandon Sanderson.
Prince North’s home is in the sky, in a gleaming city held aloft by intricate engines, powered by technology. Nimh is the living goddess of her people on the Surface, responsible for providing answers, direction—hope.
North’s and Nimh’s lives are entwined—though their hearts can never be. Linked by a terrifying prophecy and caught between duty and fate, they must choose between saving their people or succumbing to the bond that is forbidden between them.
Plus don’t miss the thrilling sequel, Beyond the End of the World!
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The main characters of The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner literally live worlds apart. On the ground, Nimh is the Divine One, descended from the only god who did not ascend into the Cloud Lands so many years ago. Touching Nimh is a big no-no, as it will strip her of her divinity and her powers. In the sky (or the region referred to as the Cloudlands by those on the ground), we have Prince North. North believes the secret to the technology required to repair his floating kingdom lies on the ground his ancestors abandoned so many years ago and is determined to go there to find it. Nimh and North find themselves linked by prophecy and fate, and they must choose between their heart and their duty. Can they fulfill the prophecy and save both their people in the process?
The characters were a highlight of the book. The struggles that Nimh and North go through felt so real. For example, Nimh’s position has caused her to suffer from a lot of self-doubts, and the rules surrounding the “divine one” have forced her into isolation. Her saving grace is the Bindle Cat. I’m a big fan of animal companions, and this badass feline is no exception. Without the Bindle Cat, she would have had no physical contact since the day she was chosen at 5 (she’s about 15 when we meet her in the story). I don’t think I could have ever gone that long without physical contact, but I’m in awe of the dedication and discipline that Nimh possesses that allowed her to do so. The contrast between the issues that North and Nimh must face as a result of their positions of power was also very intriguing. Despite both of them essentially being born into their positions, the problems they must contend with are vastly different.
The blend of sci-fi and fantasy was exciting. The council’s response to the failing technology keeping them aloft reminded me of how many politicians today respond to the issue of climate change. It’s very much an “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” approach even when they know very well that it’s in the process of breaking. The approach to and normalcy of queer relationships in the story was cool. For example, North has a blood mother and a heart mother. Despite how widely accepted the queer relationships are, the issue of “lineage” and “bloodlines” remains relevant. I feel like that made it feel more authentic for me because it introduced very real and relatable concepts that exist in our world today.
The ending of the book is a total cliffhanger. Holy wow! Talk about an author (or authors) pulling the rug out from under you. I have to read Beyond the End of the World now to figure out how everything ends. Overall, The Other Side of the Sky is a great choice for readers who enjoy epic fantasy with an almost dystopian sci-fi feel. I would happily recommend this book to readers at the young adult level and above.
Wonderfully woven story from these two authors. Fantastic characters and two well developed different worlds. Two people from different worlds one tech world one magic world and the two struggle with believing in each other. Stuff happens. evil comes, battles happen, lives lost, goddesses lost it’s all left on a cliffhanger. This beek spent a lot of time in the magic world I think the next might be more tech world based. I’m really looking forward to continuing with this series
I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy from Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review.
The Other Side of the Sky is a captivating, fast paced, action packed story that drew me in from the very first page. Team Kaufman and Spooner have yet again managed to build a unique world with relatable and very likable characters. I eagerly anticipate the next installment.
Prince North is from a series of islands suspended in the sky with the use of a technology that none of his people understands anymore. As with most royalty, North fights the constraints his mothers have imposed on him. With the help of his friends, North sneaks out and participates in races with a glider he built from scratch. During one of his flights, North’s glider malfunctions, sending him over the edge of his world and crashing to the planet below.
Nimhara is a living goddess residing in a temple on the planet below North’s islands in the sky. Her people appear to be much more primitive, using magic, telling prophesies, and worshiping divinity. Nimhara believes that someday a star will fall from the sky bringing forth the end of her current society so that they may all be reborn into a better world. Could North be that star?