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Gray #2
End of Gray Skies
Centuries ago something catastrophic happened. Historians claim it was an accident that spilled the clouds out of the sky, leaving humanity under a relentless veil of gray.
For young Declan and Sammi, all they’ve ever known is a world of gray skies. Now, at odds about the past and uncertain of their future, they’re of age, and it’s time to build their lives together.
Yet the coming of the End of Gray Skies has been declared. For a world shrouded in the mysterious fog, the promise to fix a centuries-old accident brings new hope that they might one day see and feel the warmth of the sun on their faces.
But questions begin to surface. Questions of whether there ever was an accident. Questions asking what really happened that changed the Earth and what will happen if their world once again sits under the sun.
End of Gray Skies is book two in the Gray Series.
For young Declan and Sammi, all they’ve ever known is a world of gray skies. Now, at odds about the past and uncertain of their future, they’re of age, and it’s time to build their lives together.
Yet the coming of the End of Gray Skies has been declared. For a world shrouded in the mysterious fog, the promise to fix a centuries-old accident brings new hope that they might one day see and feel the warmth of the sun on their faces.
But questions begin to surface. Questions of whether there ever was an accident. Questions asking what really happened that changed the Earth and what will happen if their world once again sits under the sun.
End of Gray Skies is book two in the Gray Series.
450 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2016
17 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 19, 2018
This is a great series and even better that it is now available in one book. This series has a little bit of every thing: an apocalypse, a dystopian world, and some sci fi.
I was very intrigued by the book blurb when I first saw Grey Skies. The premise is very different than most dystopian books that I have read. There isn't that "book in the middle" feeling with any of the books. Each book leaves you on the edge of your seat and leaves you with more mysteries to unravel and ties everything up together nicely in the end.
I was very intrigued by the book blurb when I first saw Grey Skies. The premise is very different than most dystopian books that I have read. There isn't that "book in the middle" feeling with any of the books. Each book leaves you on the edge of your seat and leaves you with more mysteries to unravel and ties everything up together nicely in the end.
October 10, 2013
Gray Skies leads us into a world hundreds of years in the future. The Earth is covered in a thick fog, preventing no more than a couple yards of visibility on a good day. Declan and Sammy are young and in love and excited to be celebrating the End of Gray Skies—a day on which the mysterious VAC-machines are due to lift the fog and reveal the sun for the first time in their lives. On this same day, Sammy has decided to announce to Declan that she has chosen him to be her life partner—an important decision that falls in the hands of Commune’s seventeen-year-old females. However, with no guarantee that the VAC-machines will work, plus the added threat that an overly aggressive classmate seeking Sammy’s affection will harm her and Declan, the End of Gray Skies jubilance may stamped out.
The world building in Gray Skies is very creative and has the makings of an excellent dystopic series. The plentiful details about how the community navigates the Commune and how they live help the reader envision this strange world. While none of the details were extraneous, some passages were just too crammed with different pieces of information and felt a bit disjointed from the story. In addition, the passive writing style makes Gray Skies a slow read despite its short length. A more active voice “showing” what is taking place would help to pull the reader further into the story. Despite the writing style, the vivid descriptions of the foggy world Declan and Sammy live in, as well as the hints of a secret organization behind the fog, keeps your interest. The end leaves you dumbfounded and makes you want to pick up Book Two right away.
www.calamusworks.com/blog
The world building in Gray Skies is very creative and has the makings of an excellent dystopic series. The plentiful details about how the community navigates the Commune and how they live help the reader envision this strange world. While none of the details were extraneous, some passages were just too crammed with different pieces of information and felt a bit disjointed from the story. In addition, the passive writing style makes Gray Skies a slow read despite its short length. A more active voice “showing” what is taking place would help to pull the reader further into the story. Despite the writing style, the vivid descriptions of the foggy world Declan and Sammy live in, as well as the hints of a secret organization behind the fog, keeps your interest. The end leaves you dumbfounded and makes you want to pick up Book Two right away.
www.calamusworks.com/blog
July 24, 2013
I would probably say closer to 2.5 stars, but I like to "round up" when I hit a 1/2 star in my mind.
Gray Skies is the story of a future where our attempts to fix the environment actually caused more damage. A heavy fog has settled on the world and people can see no more than a few feet in front of them at all times. It is the story of Declan and Sammi, trying to form a life and a future together in the unknown.
This was a good story, but I admit I am not a fan of short stories that are part of a series. I believe if you have multiple parts in mind, then they should be combined into one story. Short stories rarely feel right in a series. Also, the writing was a bit heavy with simile. It seemed like the writer was struggling to find a way to describe so he compared the world to other things a lot.
I did like the story and the mystery behind the world Declan and Sammi are living in. I am interested enough to continue reading and want to learn more about the future that these characters live in.
Gray Skies is the story of a future where our attempts to fix the environment actually caused more damage. A heavy fog has settled on the world and people can see no more than a few feet in front of them at all times. It is the story of Declan and Sammi, trying to form a life and a future together in the unknown.
This was a good story, but I admit I am not a fan of short stories that are part of a series. I believe if you have multiple parts in mind, then they should be combined into one story. Short stories rarely feel right in a series. Also, the writing was a bit heavy with simile. It seemed like the writer was struggling to find a way to describe so he compared the world to other things a lot.
I did like the story and the mystery behind the world Declan and Sammi are living in. I am interested enough to continue reading and want to learn more about the future that these characters live in.
July 19, 2013
very good book, loved the ending. look forward to following books
February 20, 2014
3.5 of 5 Stars
I’ve decided that I’m going to award the half star on my blog even if I can’t add it on Good Reads.
The books in the Gray Skies series are short. I didn’t realize that before I started reading the first book but I accept it now. The first Brian Spangler book I read didn’t impress me but after checking out his blog and finding that his reading passions are in supernatural and paranormal fiction I decided that I should give his writing a second chance by checking out a book he’s written that’s more in the style he reads. Writing in the genre you enjoy reading makes a big difference.
Gray Skies starts by explaining how the gray skies started. It doesn’t explain in scientific detail how the clouds formed or exactly what is in them but it does let the reader know that the phenomenon is man-made. My guess is there will be more explanation in further books. The characters do not reappear after chapter one but they are developed enough that the reader is emotionally invested with the main character.
The rest of the book takes place a few centuries later. The description and explanation of the world the main characters, Declan and Sammi, live in does a wonderful job of painting that world in the reader’s mind. The main characters are developed well and I felt myself attached to them. The supporting characters were not as fully developed and in the end one of those supporting characters became the main character of the final chapter. Still don’t understand why that character was important but the synopsis for Blinded By Sight, book 2, suggests that character becomes a bigger player.
Why I gave Gray Skies 3.5 stars was that it seemed too short. What I thought was the main story ended and the new story within the story was beginning and I expected it continue. I guess it will in book 2. Well I wish the main story has been longer I am certainly intrigued enough that I will be reading Blinded By Sight.
I’ve decided that I’m going to award the half star on my blog even if I can’t add it on Good Reads.
The books in the Gray Skies series are short. I didn’t realize that before I started reading the first book but I accept it now. The first Brian Spangler book I read didn’t impress me but after checking out his blog and finding that his reading passions are in supernatural and paranormal fiction I decided that I should give his writing a second chance by checking out a book he’s written that’s more in the style he reads. Writing in the genre you enjoy reading makes a big difference.
Gray Skies starts by explaining how the gray skies started. It doesn’t explain in scientific detail how the clouds formed or exactly what is in them but it does let the reader know that the phenomenon is man-made. My guess is there will be more explanation in further books. The characters do not reappear after chapter one but they are developed enough that the reader is emotionally invested with the main character.
The rest of the book takes place a few centuries later. The description and explanation of the world the main characters, Declan and Sammi, live in does a wonderful job of painting that world in the reader’s mind. The main characters are developed well and I felt myself attached to them. The supporting characters were not as fully developed and in the end one of those supporting characters became the main character of the final chapter. Still don’t understand why that character was important but the synopsis for Blinded By Sight, book 2, suggests that character becomes a bigger player.
Why I gave Gray Skies 3.5 stars was that it seemed too short. What I thought was the main story ended and the new story within the story was beginning and I expected it continue. I guess it will in book 2. Well I wish the main story has been longer I am certainly intrigued enough that I will be reading Blinded By Sight.
October 19, 2015
Thank you to Brian Spangler for this spectacular e-book! Declan and Sammi have grown up in the mysterious fog. It is their world. It is all they know. They are finally of age and it is time to start their lives together. Sammi is preparing to announce her chosen life partner while The End of Gray Skies is coming. The community is hopeful that finally the fog will disappear and they will see the sun for the first time in centuries. Sammi and Declan know that this will change their lives forever - only they are unsure if it will be for the better.
This book is a fantastic view of life in the fog. Space is measured in how many hands a person can see in front of them, children are not free to run and frolic but must be constantly tethered to a parent when outside the commune, lines are painted on the ground as breadcrumbs to follow to get to various destinations, and people must beware of the Outsiders who can snatch up lost children. The blossoming of the relationship between Declan and Sammi is beautifully developed. I adored them both.
This was a fantastic follow-up to Going Gray. It is absolutely impossible not to move on to the next book (Blinded by Sight) when this one concludes.
Highly recommended!!
This book is a fantastic view of life in the fog. Space is measured in how many hands a person can see in front of them, children are not free to run and frolic but must be constantly tethered to a parent when outside the commune, lines are painted on the ground as breadcrumbs to follow to get to various destinations, and people must beware of the Outsiders who can snatch up lost children. The blossoming of the relationship between Declan and Sammi is beautifully developed. I adored them both.
This was a fantastic follow-up to Going Gray. It is absolutely impossible not to move on to the next book (Blinded by Sight) when this one concludes.
Highly recommended!!
March 9, 2016
As other reviewers have noted, the action was fast-paced at the beginning and end of this series, but stalled a bit in the middle. I almost didn't finish reading this series after book two, but based on other reader reviews, I kept going. I'm glad I did, because the last quarter of the series really picked up the pace and got into the good stuff (which is learning the true purpose of the VAC machines).
This series comes off as more of YA fiction than adult fiction, and I wish it had focused less on the romance element than the actual VAC machines, which were far more interesting. I didn't really care for how every single character had to be romantically paired by the story's end, and how conveniently each pairing fell into place. I think the actual science fiction concepts in this series are really interesting and I would love to have seen them developed more. If you're looking for hard sci-fi, this is not for you. This story is character-driven, and there's a wide array of story lines to keep track of. I actually found Phil to be one of the most intriguing characters as the VAC engineer, and I'm sad we didn't see more of him since he is the one character who really ties the timeline of the series together.
This series comes off as more of YA fiction than adult fiction, and I wish it had focused less on the romance element than the actual VAC machines, which were far more interesting. I didn't really care for how every single character had to be romantically paired by the story's end, and how conveniently each pairing fell into place. I think the actual science fiction concepts in this series are really interesting and I would love to have seen them developed more. If you're looking for hard sci-fi, this is not for you. This story is character-driven, and there's a wide array of story lines to keep track of. I actually found Phil to be one of the most intriguing characters as the VAC engineer, and I'm sad we didn't see more of him since he is the one character who really ties the timeline of the series together.
September 15, 2015
Gray Title, Gray Prose
I DNFed after I finished the first book. I could not bring myself to read the other three. Gray prose is about as exciting as sticking your head in oatmeal. Even though the story is about a machine poisoning an entire coastal area, replacing the air with acidic mist that quickly kills, it makes it so underwhelming, so boring, I started skimming the text soon after the start.
The protagonist, a teenage girl who loses part of her family in the first mists, agonized over the same things again and again. She is more interested in her former high school crush and the way dead people's skin feels then she is about her little brother or her future. Even when action scenes occur, which is not often, the author focuses on strange details to highlight, which make the scenes feel flat.
Most of the story talks about everyday activities in such a way that it makes the story as interesting to read as watching paint dry. I was hoping it would get better once the emergency was established, but I was wrong. It just drags on. By the time I reached the epilogue, I couldn't believe it. That was a complete book? Really???
Not Recommended!
I DNFed after I finished the first book. I could not bring myself to read the other three. Gray prose is about as exciting as sticking your head in oatmeal. Even though the story is about a machine poisoning an entire coastal area, replacing the air with acidic mist that quickly kills, it makes it so underwhelming, so boring, I started skimming the text soon after the start.
The protagonist, a teenage girl who loses part of her family in the first mists, agonized over the same things again and again. She is more interested in her former high school crush and the way dead people's skin feels then she is about her little brother or her future. Even when action scenes occur, which is not often, the author focuses on strange details to highlight, which make the scenes feel flat.
Most of the story talks about everyday activities in such a way that it makes the story as interesting to read as watching paint dry. I was hoping it would get better once the emergency was established, but I was wrong. It just drags on. By the time I reached the epilogue, I couldn't believe it. That was a complete book? Really???
Not Recommended!
February 9, 2016
Intriguing story with an Interesting Plot
I never read anything written by this author before, and was pleasantly surprised that this was a very very good story. I'm glad I read it as an omnibus, because I hate to read short serialized stories individually. I was a little confused at first about where the story was going and what it was about, and was pleasantly surprised when it went in a direction different than where I thought it was going. I would recommend this if you like a nice science-fiction story that is plausible and pleasant to read.
I never read anything written by this author before, and was pleasantly surprised that this was a very very good story. I'm glad I read it as an omnibus, because I hate to read short serialized stories individually. I was a little confused at first about where the story was going and what it was about, and was pleasantly surprised when it went in a direction different than where I thought it was going. I would recommend this if you like a nice science-fiction story that is plausible and pleasant to read.
May 9, 2015
This series was okay. Just okay and not fantastically great. However, it did seem to have an interesting twist on devastating world-ending scenarios (as far as I know since I am not a huge apocalyptic story fan). It did address some concerns such as "If there's no sun, how do you grow plants/food?" and likewise "How do you have power to operate lights and things?" So, interesting. Not boring but also not an edge of your seat page-turner either.
May 29, 2016
This series was exceptional! In many ways it was a typical sci-fi dystopian story of cataclysm, and survival, yet it was also wonderfully original. The story spans a thousand years, but remains cohesive throughout; I wouldn't have thought that possible in 700 pages.
In an effort to be sure not to reveal too much, I will keep this review brief, and simply say that you should check this series out. By far the best indie books I've read.
In an effort to be sure not to reveal too much, I will keep this review brief, and simply say that you should check this series out. By far the best indie books I've read.
February 21, 2016
I loved the first book; read it very fast. The second book had me intrigued...the third book I stalled a little but had to keep going to uncover what was happening. I loved finding out what was behind the story and was totally gripped to the end. I love a sprawling story spanning long periods of time and this series of books really captured my imagination. Wonderful twist! Excellent read.
June 20, 2014
Good story, very well crafted world and characters. I only wish it weren't a short, however. This one deserves a full novel treatment to develop the characters even
further. But for a short story, it was very enjoyable to this reader/writer.
Kudos!
further. But for a short story, it was very enjoyable to this reader/writer.
Kudos!
February 26, 2015
Omg! I just love this book. I am so confused and so intrigued I just don't have the words! At one point while reading my husband came in and said he could tell I was reading something so intense just by the size of my eyes! Starting book 3 now because I can't wait to see whats next!!
March 15, 2015
Good series
No spoilers but there are some real surprises. A fairly quick read. Interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the the plot as it built and the realization that nothing was as it seemed.
No spoilers but there are some real surprises. A fairly quick read. Interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the the plot as it built and the realization that nothing was as it seemed.
April 12, 2015
For an indie book series I really enjoyed it. I read it on my Kindle and I thought it was an easy read. Kept me interested and I needed to find out who was behind the gray skies. Ended well. One flaw, where did the birds come from at the end? Not a big issue though.
November 18, 2015
I enjoyed this book. It took a while, and was kind of teen-lit in places, but the story hooks you after a while with the mystery. I thought it was a different take on the usual end of the world story and I liked that. I recommend.
February 3, 2016
Fun and interesting read
I enjoyed the story line and the author's unique style. I stayed up all night to finish the book in one day. I look forward to Brian's future novels.
Betty S
I enjoyed the story line and the author's unique style. I stayed up all night to finish the book in one day. I look forward to Brian's future novels.
Betty S
October 8, 2017
While this was an improvement over the first book in the series, it was still pretty disappointing. The characters are flat simple stereotypes of people. The storyline is predictable and the whole premise is just too unbelievable.
September 8, 2014
Loved it!
Shockingly dark & sad at times, but with a hell of a twist at the end. Fans of Silo should read this.....
Shockingly dark & sad at times, but with a hell of a twist at the end. Fans of Silo should read this.....
February 7, 2016
An entertaining apocalyptic series of novels set in a world where the sky suddenly goes gray and poisonous,
August 23, 2016
Very enjoyable
I liked the second book as it answered so many questions that I had from the first. I am glad that l kept going. It was a pleasure to read
I liked the second book as it answered so many questions that I had from the first. I am glad that l kept going. It was a pleasure to read
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews