By Chris Wooding Twilight War (Broken Sky) (Broken Sky) (New Ed) [Paperback]

Broken Sky #1-3

by Chris Wooding

Forces of evil are gathering...Ryushi and his sister Kia have spent their whole lives hidden, sheltered, learning to control the awesome powers bestowed on them. Now they have discovered why...The greatest adventure of their lives is about to begin.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Unknown Binding

About the author

Chris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.

Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.

Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.

He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.

Chris lives in London.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book so long ago that I can't remember when it was, when it was broken down into 9 little books. I do remember loving it, more so than my brother who was the one buying them. Looking at the publication dates (Broken Sky #1) I must have been 9 or 10, making this one of the first fantasy books I'd read. It seems to have had a huge impact on me and my reading tastes.

Chris Wooding has built a wonderful world, with a magic system I love and remember being quite jealous of when I was growing up. It's inventive, and one where actual work and finesse is required, and there being associated drawbacks.

The story follows twins Kia and Ryushi in the aftermath of the complete destruction of all they've ever know. Their father is betrayed, and in one fell swoop they lose their whole family and their whole life. This changes them and gets them into a whole world of danger. Their reactions to this life-changing event felt real, and their emotions and consequent actions through the whole story were believable.

I love this book, but at the same time am very aware of the fact that this is in part because it's tinged with childhood memories of it being amazing to 9-year-old-me. I'm sure there are negatives, but I'm quite happy to sit here reading it in my rose-tinted glasses. We'll see if they hold for the next two books in the series.

[Lyndsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember picking up this book as a kid and being completely enthralled by it, but I never continued the series (I don't think I knew at the time that there were more). Picking this back up and reading as an adult allowed me to appreciate the themes and Wooding's storytelling a lot more than when I was a kid.

I still love the steampunk aesthetic as much as I did when I was younger, but reading about the political motivations, teenage angst and strife from losing family, and the consequences of war hit a little harder as an adult. the Twilight War is a YA tale that has aged well, in my opinion. The characters and story arc, while somewhat trope-y, are still really enjoyable.

[Tomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read it, but not because it was boring, my reading habits from my youth are long gone.

I liked the book, I really liked that the danger of mirrors and I liked the characters. They did not really develop that much (Kia is still driven by her emotions and Ryushi can't control his release of power), but there are seed planted and I hope they grow and also meet new characters and deepen the relationship with them.

[Briar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the series growing up. Rereading it downgraded it a bit. Good characters, great setting, but it need a bit more meat. It could have been fleshed out a bit more for plot elements and a few more touches of world building. Kinda sad the kindle version didn't have the character art. Great overall.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and interesting

This series was a particular favorite of mine growing up. I'm pleased to say it is still a great read. Awesome characters and really interesting world building.

[Lucas Ndongo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book pacing was splendid characters had plenty of depth and felt relatable

[Lyndsey T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these many many years ago, and am faithfully holding on to them to read again with my child(ren) in the future! Such great stories should be shared and cared for!

[Michael Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I ever read, absolutely fantastic. I remember being devastated when I found out part 9 was being the last.

If you come across this gem, buy it for someone.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a full review. Just my thoughts.

First the things that niggled me.

- It's really, really, really obvious who the traitor is. In saying that, I think there's a continuity error regarding their appearance, and that's the thing that bugs me.

SPOILERS AHEAD

When we first meet Takami, his hair falls to shoulder-length. Then it's described as a ponytail that reaches to the middle of his back. And that's during the attack on Osaka Stud. There's no way hair grows that fast.

- Small nitpick but the names of the characters don't work so well with the world-building. Why do only some of the characters have Japanese-sounding names? As far as I'm aware, the characters are from the same culture.

- The numerous instances of the word 'get' are either used completely wrong or could be substituted with a better word. I wish the editors had picked up on that.

- Is Hochi's battle wound just completely forgotten about at the end of the book? How does he walk properly without pain or limping?

Onto the good stuff!

- After a bit of a slow start, the book chugs along at a great pace. I've read so many kids books where the momentum shifts from being too fast to too slow, but I reckon this book gets it right.

- Hey, a veldt! You don't see a lot of veldt in fantasy books. It makes a nice change from the geography and climate of Ye Olde Fake England.

- Kia. Holy crap, you go girl. I've read heaps of books with female characters but none have ever allowed a girl to carry such a rage within them. Fantasy books tend to treat girls as incapable of extreme anger so it's so refreshing to see Kia raging around in all her glory without being shamed for it. Because her anger is understandable and makes sense within the context of the story. Her transition from being cheery to ice cold is so natural. God yeah, it feels good.

[Deirdre]

In a pseudo-japan Ryushi and his siter Kia have spent their whole lives hidden, learning martial arts and trying to control the stones they got when they were young. They are quite powerful and there are secrets in their life but things change when their father comes home after going to the city. Imperial forces attack their home and they have to go on the run.

It's a pretty typical anime-style story with fantastic powers and a concrete evil. Quite readable.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It had a good story-line, and was interesting. The thing I didn't like was that it seemed to take to long to get to anything important to the story.
Ryushi and his sister Kia have spent their whole lives learning how to fight. When their home is destroyed they find out why. With the help of new friends, they must fight to survive...

[Selah Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It had a good story-line, and was interesting. The thing I didn't like was that it seemed to take to long to get to anything important to the story.
Ryushi and his sister Kia have spent their whole lives learning how to fight. When their home is destroyed they find out why. With the help of new friends, they must fight to survive...

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever read shonen manga, then you'll know that this plot is pretty clichéd. Twins with special powers who've been training for years away from the world? Aside from the initial stereotypes, however, this is a pretty cool and well-written story. I'm surprised it isn't more popular.

[Jeffery Chatham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read and fairly unpredictable. I love the world it takes place in and the way it works. I can't wait to start the next book in the trilogy.

[Shelley]

ok, not as good at the other ones