Let the Sky Fall (Let the Sky Fall #1) http://www.yabookscentral.com/media/reviews/photos/thumbnail/200x285s/83/4e/34/_13445306-1341326379.jpeg Featured
Editor reviews
Average editor rating from: 2 user(s)
First off, these people literally talk to the wind and coax it to do their bidding. They don’t just get to grab the wind willy nilly and command it to do whatever they want. Being a Windwalker, as Messenger calls them, is all about learning the language of the wind and just having a nice convo with it in the hopes that it will want to do what you want it to. I love the idea that the wind has a will of its own, and is actually a character, or characters seeing as how not all winds are the same, and has a choice in the matter of where the wind blows.
What also sets this book apart is that it is an equal opportunity protagonist employer. The story is seen through the eyes of Audra, an experienced Windwalker, and Vane, the boy who is just now discovering his windspeaking abilities, and who Audra has been appointed Guardian over while he gets in touch with his inner wind whisperer.
Messenger has got teenage boys down. She has a nice mix of snark, angst, and body urges that no teenage boy can avoid. I’m always impressed when a writer can create characters of the opposite sex accurately, especially thoughts of the opposite sex, because that’s where I think gender competitiveness really comes from: not knowing what the heck is going on in the other genders’ head. Messenger gets guys’ confusion over girls they like, their desire to prove themselves as a man and an individual, and most importantly of all, guys’ cravings for greasy cheeseburgers. If Messenger ever sees a lull in her career as a writer (which I don’t think she will), she should serve as a gender translator and usher in the age of gender peace! Guys, you might think I’m overreaching here, but read the book, you’ll see what I mean.
Finally, Messenger just really pulls you into this book. You feel the heat of the nasty California desert, you feel the sweat soak your shirt from baking in the sun, you feel the wind breeze, whip, and gust against your skin as Audra and Vane manipulate the winds around them. This book is an experience, not a passive moment where your eyes take in words but nothing really registers. I got so into “Let the Sky Fall” that I tried my darndest to hear words in the wind. So far no luck, and while that my have knocked the wind out of my sails for the time being, I’ll be running like the wind to the nearest bookstore when the sequel comes out.
| Overall rating | 4.7 | |
| Plot | 5.0 | |
| Characters | 4.0 | |
| Writing Style | 5.0 |
A Book that Really Blows You Away (Not Sorry About the Pun)
Being the regular Nickelodeon cartoon watcher that I am, when I saw that Shannon Messenger’s “Let the Sky Fall” was about teens who could control the wind, my initial thought was this could be too much like “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Well hold onto your airbending hats, boys and girls, because this is a marvelously new take on controlling the wind.
First off, these people literally talk to the wind and coax it to do their bidding. They don’t just get to grab the wind willy nilly and command it to do whatever they want. Being a Windwalker, as Messenger calls them, is all about learning the language of the wind and just having a nice convo with it in the hopes that it will want to do what you want it to. I love the idea that the wind has a will of its own, and is actually a character, or characters seeing as how not all winds are the same, and has a choice in the matter of where the wind blows.
What also sets this book apart is that it is an equal opportunity protagonist employer. The story is seen through the eyes of Audra, an experienced Windwalker, and Vane, the boy who is just now discovering his windspeaking abilities, and who Audra has been appointed Guardian over while he gets in touch with his inner wind whisperer.
Messenger has got teenage boys down. She has a nice mix of snark, angst, and body urges that no teenage boy can avoid. I’m always impressed when a writer can create characters of the opposite sex accurately, especially thoughts of the opposite sex, because that’s where I think gender competitiveness really comes from: not knowing what the heck is going on in the other genders’ head. Messenger gets guys’ confusion over girls they like, their desire to prove themselves as a man and an individual, and most importantly of all, guys’ cravings for greasy cheeseburgers. If Messenger ever sees a lull in her career as a writer (which I don’t think she will), she should serve as a gender translator and usher in the age of gender peace! Guys, you might think I’m overreaching here, but read the book, you’ll see what I mean.
Finally, Messenger just really pulls you into this book. You feel the heat of the nasty California desert, you feel the sweat soak your shirt from baking in the sun, you feel the wind breeze, whip, and gust against your skin as Audra and Vane manipulate the winds around them. This book is an experience, not a passive moment where your eyes take in words but nothing really registers. I got so into “Let the Sky Fall” that I tried my darndest to hear words in the wind. So far no luck, and while that my have knocked the wind out of my sails for the time being, I’ll be running like the wind to the nearest bookstore when the sequel comes out.
Accurate and relatable boy protagonist.
Such amazing description you feel like you're in the book.
Let the Sky Fall is told in dual perspectives – which I was totally not expecting and I absolutely loved it. I loved hearing from both Audra and Vane, as they were both such different, dynamic characters. Both were really great narrators – Vane was funny and sarcastic while Audra reminded me a bit more of myself and was a bit more on the serious side. I also just loved Shannon Messenger’s writing – There were quite a few quotes that I found myself rereading to myself just loving the way they were written. There also were quite a few funny lines, particularly from Vane, which were lovely.
Let the Sky Fall was a slower paced novel. It was good and it was the kind of book you kind of just savored as you read along. The slower pace did make it feel like the stakes were not as high at parts, which did distract me a little. It was the last 1/3 of the book where the plot really picked up. There were also a few plot twists I could not see coming in the slightest, which took my by total surprise.
The sylph aspect of Let the Sky Fall was so darn cool. Sylphs are one of the fantastical creatures that really don’t get a lot of attention in books, so when they pop up I always find it so interesting to see what the author does with that mythology. Shannon Messengers sylphs were so different from any others I have encountered, which was a joy to read, as I was constantly trying to put together the pieces about their history and what exactly they all can do.
This was a great read from Shannon Messenger and I am very excited to see where things will go in the sequel, especially since the ending may have broken my heart a little bit. Let the Sky Fall had such a great cast of characters and I really enjoyed them all. I cannot wait to see where Shannon Messenger will take her characters next.
| Overall rating | 4.0 | |
| Plot | 4.0 | |
| Characters | 4.0 | |
| Writing Style | 4.0 |
A Sylph Book - HOW AWESOME
Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger has been a book I have been eagerly anticipating since I first heard about it. I mean, hello, sylphs? How much cooler can you get!? And with it, Shannon Messenger has really spun an intriguing tale all wrapped up in a forbidden romance and a plot that will take the world of fantasy by storm.
Let the Sky Fall is told in dual perspectives – which I was totally not expecting and I absolutely loved it. I loved hearing from both Audra and Vane, as they were both such different, dynamic characters. Both were really great narrators – Vane was funny and sarcastic while Audra reminded me a bit more of myself and was a bit more on the serious side. I also just loved Shannon Messenger’s writing – There were quite a few quotes that I found myself rereading to myself just loving the way they were written. There also were quite a few funny lines, particularly from Vane, which were lovely.
Let the Sky Fall was a slower paced novel. It was good and it was the kind of book you kind of just savored as you read along. The slower pace did make it feel like the stakes were not as high at parts, which did distract me a little. It was the last 1/3 of the book where the plot really picked up. There were also a few plot twists I could not see coming in the slightest, which took my by total surprise.
The sylph aspect of Let the Sky Fall was so darn cool. Sylphs are one of the fantastical creatures that really don’t get a lot of attention in books, so when they pop up I always find it so interesting to see what the author does with that mythology. Shannon Messengers sylphs were so different from any others I have encountered, which was a joy to read, as I was constantly trying to put together the pieces about their history and what exactly they all can do.
This was a great read from Shannon Messenger and I am very excited to see where things will go in the sequel, especially since the ending may have broken my heart a little bit. Let the Sky Fall had such a great cast of characters and I really enjoyed them all. I cannot wait to see where Shannon Messenger will take her characters next.
User reviews
Average user rating from: 1 user(s)
Published by: Simon Pulse, ARC received via trade
Release Date: 3-5-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: A tempest of turmoil, treachery and tethered loyalties
In a world full of gales, tempests, and squalls
The sylphs live in secret, within closed walls
But there’s one with the power to change their fate
Can he take back his life before it’s too late?
Audra’s the guardian who will stand and fight
But will she fall prey to Raiden’s dark might?
Caught in a net of betrayal and lies
How will she fight the storm in the skies?
It’s all up to Vane and the powers he claims
Will he save his world or will it end up in flames?
The winds whisper secrets of a past he once lost
But he will fight for his love, no matter the cost.
“But I feel a change in the winds. They whip with more urgency, their songs clipped and rushed.
They know.
The Stormers are coming.” ARC, pg 311
Blasted with passion and treachery, Shannon Messenger creates a world that will lift you off your feet. Overblown with suspense, inundated with desire, and riddled with mystery, Let The Sky Fall is tempest of emotion. So close your eyes and throw caution to the wind as it sweeps you away to a place where the air really does whisper in your ear.
Let the Sky Fall was my most anticipated read of 2013, and it did not disappoint. This book starts out with a boom, and from there, it’s a steady mix of suspense, action and romance. Shannon blended her world seamlessly with ours, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us in the next few books.
The writing was peaceful at just the right times and rocky and jagged when the situation called for it. I found myself taking note of quotation after quotation for my Teaser Tuesday because Shannon is one of those authors whose words capture your attention and make you say, “Wow.” Her words are rife with ambiguity, but even so, she never gives anything away. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
You know I love a book when I gush about the heroine. Like I’ve said before, it’s easy to write a swoony guy, but a tough yet vulnerable girl who doesn’t annoy or frustrate a reader? That is a rare feat, but Shannon met that storm head on, and the result was the powerful Audra. Bound by oath, broken by her past, and beaten by her circumstances, Audra is a sylph on a mission; and she will complete her mission no matter the consequences. I admired her courage and her determination—she wouldn’t give up, and she wouldn’t let her heart get in the way. Though I found myself cheering for her to throw caution to the wind, I still admired her bravery to stand in the face of temptation and danger.
Vane was charming and funny, and his personality had me swooning. Not to mention he’s got abs of steel! He’s different than other guys in YA. He’s deeply caring and at times a bit wimpy, but when the moments count, he stands up with his armor of bravery. Usually a guy that’s doesn’t have a bad boy bone in his body would annoy me, but Shannon pulls it off with Vane. I think it’s his charm that does it—when he makes a move, it’s deliberate and charismatic, and I couldn’t help but smile!
And then there’s Audra’s mother. GRRRR! She made me so angry with her nonchalant and apathetic attitude toward Audra. She’s this super powerful sylph, but she has withered away because of the losses in her past. There were times when I just wanted to smack her and scream, “She’s your daughter! Care!” I had an extreme emotional reaction to her, so Shannon definitely did her job.
And
Then
The
Ending!
OMG…I didn’t see it coming! I was so swept up in the romance and suspense that the ending caught me completely off guard. It was brilliant and compelling ending, and I really liked that Shannon didn’t end it with one of those break-your-heart cliffhangers. It was poignant and answered many questions, but there are still many more things that are left to be revealed in the future books. I was a huge fan of the ending, and it just made me wish the next book would come out sooner.
Let the Sky Fall is perfect for teenagers and adults alike, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA literature. So if you’re tired of the same old same old in YA and you need a change in the winds (hehe), then check this one out! Enthralling and chaotic—Shannon’s world is charged with love, pierced with anger, and overflowing with deceit.
“Her face looks pale as she stares into space, ignoring me. She tosses the dove into the sky, its wings flapping in my face as it flies away..
‘Tell me what’s wrong,’ I beg.
‘We just ran out of time,’ she says, finally meeting my eyes.” ARC, pg 299
| Overall rating | 5.0 | |
| Plot | 5.0 | |
| Characters | 5.0 | |
| Writing Style | 5.0 |
Dangerous and Passionate!
Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
Published by: Simon Pulse, ARC received via trade
Release Date: 3-5-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: A tempest of turmoil, treachery and tethered loyalties
In a world full of gales, tempests, and squalls
The sylphs live in secret, within closed walls
But there’s one with the power to change their fate
Can he take back his life before it’s too late?
Audra’s the guardian who will stand and fight
But will she fall prey to Raiden’s dark might?
Caught in a net of betrayal and lies
How will she fight the storm in the skies?
It’s all up to Vane and the powers he claims
Will he save his world or will it end up in flames?
The winds whisper secrets of a past he once lost
But he will fight for his love, no matter the cost.
“But I feel a change in the winds. They whip with more urgency, their songs clipped and rushed.
They know.
The Stormers are coming.” ARC, pg 311
Blasted with passion and treachery, Shannon Messenger creates a world that will lift you off your feet. Overblown with suspense, inundated with desire, and riddled with mystery, Let The Sky Fall is tempest of emotion. So close your eyes and throw caution to the wind as it sweeps you away to a place where the air really does whisper in your ear.
Let the Sky Fall was my most anticipated read of 2013, and it did not disappoint. This book starts out with a boom, and from there, it’s a steady mix of suspense, action and romance. Shannon blended her world seamlessly with ours, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us in the next few books.
The writing was peaceful at just the right times and rocky and jagged when the situation called for it. I found myself taking note of quotation after quotation for my Teaser Tuesday because Shannon is one of those authors whose words capture your attention and make you say, “Wow.” Her words are rife with ambiguity, but even so, she never gives anything away. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
You know I love a book when I gush about the heroine. Like I’ve said before, it’s easy to write a swoony guy, but a tough yet vulnerable girl who doesn’t annoy or frustrate a reader? That is a rare feat, but Shannon met that storm head on, and the result was the powerful Audra. Bound by oath, broken by her past, and beaten by her circumstances, Audra is a sylph on a mission; and she will complete her mission no matter the consequences. I admired her courage and her determination—she wouldn’t give up, and she wouldn’t let her heart get in the way. Though I found myself cheering for her to throw caution to the wind, I still admired her bravery to stand in the face of temptation and danger.
Vane was charming and funny, and his personality had me swooning. Not to mention he’s got abs of steel! He’s different than other guys in YA. He’s deeply caring and at times a bit wimpy, but when the moments count, he stands up with his armor of bravery. Usually a guy that’s doesn’t have a bad boy bone in his body would annoy me, but Shannon pulls it off with Vane. I think it’s his charm that does it—when he makes a move, it’s deliberate and charismatic, and I couldn’t help but smile!
And then there’s Audra’s mother. GRRRR! She made me so angry with her nonchalant and apathetic attitude toward Audra. She’s this super powerful sylph, but she has withered away because of the losses in her past. There were times when I just wanted to smack her and scream, “She’s your daughter! Care!” I had an extreme emotional reaction to her, so Shannon definitely did her job.
And
Then
The
Ending!
OMG…I didn’t see it coming! I was so swept up in the romance and suspense that the ending caught me completely off guard. It was brilliant and compelling ending, and I really liked that Shannon didn’t end it with one of those break-your-heart cliffhangers. It was poignant and answered many questions, but there are still many more things that are left to be revealed in the future books. I was a huge fan of the ending, and it just made me wish the next book would come out sooner.
Let the Sky Fall is perfect for teenagers and adults alike, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA literature. So if you’re tired of the same old same old in YA and you need a change in the winds (hehe), then check this one out! Enthralling and chaotic—Shannon’s world is charged with love, pierced with anger, and overflowing with deceit.
“Her face looks pale as she stares into space, ignoring me. She tosses the dove into the sky, its wings flapping in my face as it flies away..
‘Tell me what’s wrong,’ I beg.
‘We just ran out of time,’ she says, finally meeting my eyes.” ARC, pg 299















