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The Sky Riders
On the floating cities above the cloud-floor, the only rule is don't fall.
Enter the avionic steampunk world of master storyteller Christopher Hopper as he takes readers on a fast-paced, death-defying adventure in the skies.
Junar is a seventeen-year-old boy following in the footsteps of his Ace Pilot father, Leif, as a flyer in the Kili-Boranna Guild, better known as The Sky Riders. As if life couldn't get any better, Junar's First Year apprenticeship riding the massive birds of the sky, the majestic felrell, takes a fortuitous leap forward when his father is promoted to the most prestigious position in all of Aria-Prime-Timber Pilot. Upon moving to the capital city of Christiana with his family, Junar meets fellow apprentices Liv, a strong-headed and alluring confidant, and Erik, whose favorite pastime is making life miserable for Junar.
Junar's world takes an unexpected turn, however, when his father has a startling change of heart about his promotion. Embarrassed by his father's weakness and his mother's past, Junar endeavors to excel in his apprenticeship, and distances himself from his family by making his own name in the Guild. He sets his sights on competing in the Champions Race-a cross-world gauntlet whose winner is listed among the greatest felrell pilots in history.
But behind the scenes, political factions and government conspiracies collide with Junar's new plans. The young pilot suffers a horrific blow at the hands of the Zy-Adair-the notorious Sky Pirates. And soon, his perfect world is spiraling out of control.
From his unsuspecting alliance with the Inventors-dubious tinkerers and social outcasts-to his unlikely associations with the Brologi-the Chancellory Police-Junar must find a way to plead his case before the Chancellor of Aria-Prime and piece together a puzzle that threatens his entire world's way of life.
Enter the avionic steampunk world of master storyteller Christopher Hopper as he takes readers on a fast-paced, death-defying adventure in the skies.
Junar is a seventeen-year-old boy following in the footsteps of his Ace Pilot father, Leif, as a flyer in the Kili-Boranna Guild, better known as The Sky Riders. As if life couldn't get any better, Junar's First Year apprenticeship riding the massive birds of the sky, the majestic felrell, takes a fortuitous leap forward when his father is promoted to the most prestigious position in all of Aria-Prime-Timber Pilot. Upon moving to the capital city of Christiana with his family, Junar meets fellow apprentices Liv, a strong-headed and alluring confidant, and Erik, whose favorite pastime is making life miserable for Junar.
Junar's world takes an unexpected turn, however, when his father has a startling change of heart about his promotion. Embarrassed by his father's weakness and his mother's past, Junar endeavors to excel in his apprenticeship, and distances himself from his family by making his own name in the Guild. He sets his sights on competing in the Champions Race-a cross-world gauntlet whose winner is listed among the greatest felrell pilots in history.
But behind the scenes, political factions and government conspiracies collide with Junar's new plans. The young pilot suffers a horrific blow at the hands of the Zy-Adair-the notorious Sky Pirates. And soon, his perfect world is spiraling out of control.
From his unsuspecting alliance with the Inventors-dubious tinkerers and social outcasts-to his unlikely associations with the Brologi-the Chancellory Police-Junar must find a way to plead his case before the Chancellor of Aria-Prime and piece together a puzzle that threatens his entire world's way of life.
332 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2013
13 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Hopper
46 books230 followersChristopher Hopper is an American novelist, creator and co-author of the best-selling mil-scifi series Ruins of the Galaxy with J.N. Chaney.
His other series include Resonant Sun, The Sky Riders, The White Lion Chronicles, and The Berinfell Prophecies.
Christopher lives with his wife and four children in the 1000 Islands of northern New York. He loves flying FPV race wings and RC planes, performing music with his wife, and traveling to distant lands—physical and fictional.
He's had breakfast with Winnie Mandella, canoed with dolphins in Southern California, kite-surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived on 19th-century shipwrecks in the 1000 Islands, sailed a yacht in St. Martin, posed with white rhinos in the wilds of South Africa, spoken on national television in Mexico City, performed a concert on a Dutch beach, and climbed the Great Wall of China.
For more on Christopher, visit his blog at christopherhopper.com.
His other series include Resonant Sun, The Sky Riders, The White Lion Chronicles, and The Berinfell Prophecies.
Christopher lives with his wife and four children in the 1000 Islands of northern New York. He loves flying FPV race wings and RC planes, performing music with his wife, and traveling to distant lands—physical and fictional.
He's had breakfast with Winnie Mandella, canoed with dolphins in Southern California, kite-surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived on 19th-century shipwrecks in the 1000 Islands, sailed a yacht in St. Martin, posed with white rhinos in the wilds of South Africa, spoken on national television in Mexico City, performed a concert on a Dutch beach, and climbed the Great Wall of China.
For more on Christopher, visit his blog at christopherhopper.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 1, 2017
Um, okay, so that ending though. Why?
October 28, 2019
The Sky Riders is a difficult book for me to review, primarily because I was close to the process in its final stages—I was privileged to be a proofreader for this book. Between going on a treasure hunt for clues when all we knew about the book was its nickname, "TSR", and spending a week checking every line of 90K words for grammatical errors and wording issues, I'm sentimentally attached to this story. I have a signed paperback copy. I wrote one sentence on page 200. (Well. I reworded it and it was accepted. It's the same thing.) Full disclosure. I'm not blind to TSR's flaws, but I could be biased. A little bit. Maybe.
In my initial endorsement for The Sky Riders, I wrote, “The story of the Sky Riders is a roller coaster ride that will make your hopes soar to the apex of the sky and plunge into the unknown.” Christopher Hopper (CH) is not afraid to put his characters through the wringer. TSR is an emotional ride. It's founded deep in Junar's head, and as a result I feel with Junar in his hopes and dreams, his love and bitterness, his struggles and his despair, and his character change. One particular scene still makes my hair stand on end.
The supporting characters were sketched distinctly but simply. The book spends most of its time focusing on Junar, and the supporting characters do their job to assist Junar's journey. The writing style, which resembles an instant journal, supports the focus on Junar and was engaging and immersive, if not always perfectly grammatically correct. (In fact, I first started writing in first person because of this book.) I thought that CH's characterisation was sufficient, though not exceptional.
In terms of pacing, structure, closure, the skeleton of a story, TSR could have been better. Mysteries introduced in the beginning are left unresolved, though you can guess some by implication. The beginning was drawn out a little too long before the main conflict was established, with more than one case of randomly generated conflict to prop up the story in the absence of a driving antagonist. The scene from Leif's POV could have been cut without a problem—all the necessary information was established or revealed across Junar's POV scenes, and cutting Leif's scene would have provided a better element of mystery to the resultant investigation. Not to mention that Leif's scene stands out and not in a good way, because it's the only scene in the book that Junar's not narrating.
I identified a few minor plot inconsistencies, in particular which saddle One major case of foreshadowing has no closure. I understand the author's reasoning for leaving it hidden, but I can guess the reveal from the seeds in this book. I think the foreshadowing should have been toned down or provided with closure. And I've come to accept the ending. CH is infamous for his mean tricks. Yeah. I've come to accept it.
At the end of the day, TSR is not perfect. I would have suggested another draft, another revision, primarily in the area of pacing and story structure. But despite its imperfections, TSR has a good heart, a powerfully emotional plot. I enjoyed TSR. I believe in TSR. I will happily recommend it, knowing that readers will take my review and recommendation with a grain of salt.
Read it. For the heart. For the ride.
In my initial endorsement for The Sky Riders, I wrote, “The story of the Sky Riders is a roller coaster ride that will make your hopes soar to the apex of the sky and plunge into the unknown.” Christopher Hopper (CH) is not afraid to put his characters through the wringer. TSR is an emotional ride. It's founded deep in Junar's head, and as a result I feel with Junar in his hopes and dreams, his love and bitterness, his struggles and his despair, and his character change. One particular scene still makes my hair stand on end.
The supporting characters were sketched distinctly but simply. The book spends most of its time focusing on Junar, and the supporting characters do their job to assist Junar's journey. The writing style, which resembles an instant journal, supports the focus on Junar and was engaging and immersive, if not always perfectly grammatically correct. (In fact, I first started writing in first person because of this book.) I thought that CH's characterisation was sufficient, though not exceptional.
In terms of pacing, structure, closure, the skeleton of a story, TSR could have been better. Mysteries introduced in the beginning are left unresolved, though you can guess some by implication. The beginning was drawn out a little too long before the main conflict was established, with more than one case of randomly generated conflict to prop up the story in the absence of a driving antagonist. The scene from Leif's POV could have been cut without a problem—all the necessary information was established or revealed across Junar's POV scenes, and cutting Leif's scene would have provided a better element of mystery to the resultant investigation. Not to mention that Leif's scene stands out and not in a good way, because it's the only scene in the book that Junar's not narrating.
I identified a few minor plot inconsistencies, in particular which saddle One major case of foreshadowing has no closure. I understand the author's reasoning for leaving it hidden, but I can guess the reveal from the seeds in this book. I think the foreshadowing should have been toned down or provided with closure. And I've come to accept the ending. CH is infamous for his mean tricks. Yeah. I've come to accept it.
At the end of the day, TSR is not perfect. I would have suggested another draft, another revision, primarily in the area of pacing and story structure. But despite its imperfections, TSR has a good heart, a powerfully emotional plot. I enjoyed TSR. I believe in TSR. I will happily recommend it, knowing that readers will take my review and recommendation with a grain of salt.
Read it. For the heart. For the ride.
February 11, 2014
For anyone who enjoys science fiction and steampunk, this book will be very satisfying. It is a fun adventure with edge-of-your seat scenarios and great character development!
April 16, 2019
So I was really enjoying this book, but I do not understand the end. Cliffhanger? A lesson to be learned? Whatever it was, I did not get it....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2016
One part good, one part bad and one which way is up? Lots of teenage angst (anger), as in Dad has betrayed my ideal of him (way too much). The ending was not a surprise but leaves a wide path for at least one more book.
March 31, 2019
. Great adventure can’t wait for the next installment
A great read I cannot wait for the next one I seem to always get myself in this position where I start a series and don't realize the Next book is not out yet!
A great read I cannot wait for the next one I seem to always get myself in this position where I start a series and don't realize the Next book is not out yet!
December 14, 2013
I was just reading author's other work The White Lion Chronicles trilogy when The Sky Riders was released. So, after finishing the trilogy I read this book with great anticipation. In it author puts us in an unusual environment, several floating cities and some mountaintops where people could live. The whole earth is enveloped by a deadly cloud which on the other hand is used as a fuel source. Everything is steam powered (may be this is why book's category is Steampunk) and it feels both modern and like in the industrial era at the same time. People move in air balloons and ride big birds. And flying with the main guy was so real. Just incredible. Author knows how to put the reader inside the protagonist. It's like thinking, speaking, flying and going anywhere with him. Not that I always liked what he did or said. There was a point at the end that I just wanted to distance myself from him.
The only unbelievable point for me was when the guys got pilot weapons without permission and went on a night ride to fight pirates. This went without any objection from the Headmaster. At least I expected some rebuke, getting into account how he treated the guy previously.
As usual I always look for the lessons author wants to teach those reading. In my opinion the main lesson here is about greed that encompasses those in power and on the opposite side is integrity that it's worth dying for.
The second half is almost as reading a crime book. A lot of twists and turns. I suspected some characters, but not that much. The finish is leaving protagonist in mid air falling. I'm sure it will survive but how, we will read in the next installment named "Raising Thendara". I anticipate it very much.
My first comment on Sep 14, 2013:
I purchased this book on September 10, 2013, the exact day when author released it for Kindle. I have no idea what exactly awaits me. It seems very different than the Chronicles trilogy. Also, I don't know what steampunk genre is. But, currently I'm reading Athera's Dawn third book of The White Lion Chronicles and just wanted to say thank you author, first for providing the Athera's Dawn free for Kindle at some point (I purchased the first and the second book as well). Most probably I wouldn't find these gems in other way. Also thank you for the lessons and the time spend with characters in these books.
I will read the Kindle edition of TSR not listed on Goodreads (edit: now listed as a separate book). ASIN: B00F2X0S4I
The only unbelievable point for me was when the guys got pilot weapons without permission and went on a night ride to fight pirates. This went without any objection from the Headmaster. At least I expected some rebuke, getting into account how he treated the guy previously.
As usual I always look for the lessons author wants to teach those reading. In my opinion the main lesson here is about greed that encompasses those in power and on the opposite side is integrity that it's worth dying for.
The second half is almost as reading a crime book. A lot of twists and turns. I suspected some characters, but not that much. The finish is leaving protagonist in mid air falling. I'm sure it will survive but how, we will read in the next installment named "Raising Thendara". I anticipate it very much.
My first comment on Sep 14, 2013:
I purchased this book on September 10, 2013, the exact day when author released it for Kindle. I have no idea what exactly awaits me. It seems very different than the Chronicles trilogy. Also, I don't know what steampunk genre is. But, currently I'm reading Athera's Dawn third book of The White Lion Chronicles and just wanted to say thank you author, first for providing the Athera's Dawn free for Kindle at some point (I purchased the first and the second book as well). Most probably I wouldn't find these gems in other way. Also thank you for the lessons and the time spend with characters in these books.
I will read the Kindle edition of TSR not listed on Goodreads (edit: now listed as a separate book). ASIN: B00F2X0S4I
July 21, 2017
The Riders of the Sky
The sky. The great expanse above the cloud floor. The cities in the air that hide more things than expected. Bellride, home. Christiana, adventure. Felrell, Sky ships and the balloon matrixes!
Junar lives in Bellride with his mother and father in a decent home and a peaceful life with his best friend Lance. He loves his guild and his Felrell, Serio. Life seems good, and then it gets better! Junar's father gets promoted to the high position of Timber Pilot and his family is moved to Christiana. The capital city of all of Aria Prime! Where he meets a young pilot named Olivia and finds her to be a friend worth having. But Christiana hides more than it reveals and Junar finds himself forced into the most tangled and stomach wrenching adventure of his life. One that is played out above the poison cloud floor on the wooden floors of Christiana, and the sky.
This book surprised me with its deepness and the emotional characters that the author makes you feel so close to. The betrayal is deep and hurts a lot. The loss is intense. And the forgiveness is triumphant. I am very pleased with this book and I cannot wait for the next one, Raising Thendara here I come!
The sky. The great expanse above the cloud floor. The cities in the air that hide more things than expected. Bellride, home. Christiana, adventure. Felrell, Sky ships and the balloon matrixes!
Junar lives in Bellride with his mother and father in a decent home and a peaceful life with his best friend Lance. He loves his guild and his Felrell, Serio. Life seems good, and then it gets better! Junar's father gets promoted to the high position of Timber Pilot and his family is moved to Christiana. The capital city of all of Aria Prime! Where he meets a young pilot named Olivia and finds her to be a friend worth having. But Christiana hides more than it reveals and Junar finds himself forced into the most tangled and stomach wrenching adventure of his life. One that is played out above the poison cloud floor on the wooden floors of Christiana, and the sky.
This book surprised me with its deepness and the emotional characters that the author makes you feel so close to. The betrayal is deep and hurts a lot. The loss is intense. And the forgiveness is triumphant. I am very pleased with this book and I cannot wait for the next one, Raising Thendara here I come!
January 18, 2014
I loved this book! It is set in a steampunk environment with floating cities, sky pirates, and zepplins. It is definitely a book made for Christians (which is a plus in my book), as it deals in the faith of a young boy, "Junar."
Points I liked:
-It is an original Christian book made for teenagers. Let's face it. At most Christian book stores, the teenager section is usually really small, and most of the books are non fiction.
-Its steampunk. :-)
-The first person format of the book let's you see into Junar's thoughts, really fleshing out his Character.
Points I didn't like:
-There were two cuss words by my count. There might have been three. I can't account for anyone else, but it annoyed me personally.
-"SPOILER ALERT" It ended with Junar believing that God doesn't care. This isn't a problem though, because there will be a second book. Given the fact that Christopher Hopper is a Christian, I believe he will bring Junar's faith back later. Or at least I hope he will. I will just have to wait, and see.
All, in all, I enjoyed the book, and I can't wait for the second entry coming later.
Points I liked:
-It is an original Christian book made for teenagers. Let's face it. At most Christian book stores, the teenager section is usually really small, and most of the books are non fiction.
-Its steampunk. :-)
-The first person format of the book let's you see into Junar's thoughts, really fleshing out his Character.
Points I didn't like:
-There were two cuss words by my count. There might have been three. I can't account for anyone else, but it annoyed me personally.
-"SPOILER ALERT" It ended with Junar believing that God doesn't care. This isn't a problem though, because there will be a second book. Given the fact that Christopher Hopper is a Christian, I believe he will bring Junar's faith back later. Or at least I hope he will. I will just have to wait, and see.
All, in all, I enjoyed the book, and I can't wait for the second entry coming later.
September 6, 2016
It was a little slow at the beginning but once you get into the story it is quite exciting. There's a little bit of mystery, a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of steampunk, and a little bit of dystopian. Which is actually really cool if you ask me.
Christopher Hopper really does know how to craft a story, and this is no exception. In these floating cities, there's a message of forgiveness, family, betrayal, and love. Junar faces some of the most challenging things and yet proves strong enough to overcome each obstacle.
As the mystery folds out, I found myself screaming at Junar not to trust anyone. And as betrayal comes, it's not always from the places I thought it would. Several plot twists take the story in a direction I never would have guessed.
And Mr. Hopper, you really need to get to writing the second because I'm dying to find out what happens next!
Christopher Hopper really does know how to craft a story, and this is no exception. In these floating cities, there's a message of forgiveness, family, betrayal, and love. Junar faces some of the most challenging things and yet proves strong enough to overcome each obstacle.
As the mystery folds out, I found myself screaming at Junar not to trust anyone. And as betrayal comes, it's not always from the places I thought it would. Several plot twists take the story in a direction I never would have guessed.
And Mr. Hopper, you really need to get to writing the second because I'm dying to find out what happens next!
June 5, 2015
Thank you Christopher Hopper for creating yet another fantastical world and memorable, vivid characters. I love the depth achieved amidst a fast paced, action packed novel. It is also wonderful to read a book that addresses issues teens face such as social status, independence, the death of a loved one, tension with parents, forgiveness, and handling talent.
Not going to lie, my heart was tugged a million directions. It did seem like one tragedy occurred after another. However, I see the author is working toward breaking this character down. I hope to see him built up when the next novel is released.
Not going to lie, my heart was tugged a million directions. It did seem like one tragedy occurred after another. However, I see the author is working toward breaking this character down. I hope to see him built up when the next novel is released.
October 7, 2013
Hopper created a world that is truly unique & different than our own, yet the characters emotions & feelings are so relatable. Written in first-person perspective, I was wrapped up in the story and felt as though I was inside Junar flying with the Kili-Boranna Guild. You will think you have figured out the mysteries, but the end will shock you. I'm ready for book two!
December 14, 2014
captivating read....loose ends for the next installment?
January 18, 2017
Fantastic!
What a "fantastic" read - in every sense of the word. Engaging pacing, the book was over all too soon. Highly recommended!
What a "fantastic" read - in every sense of the word. Engaging pacing, the book was over all too soon. Highly recommended!
March 23, 2025
I will always be sad that this series is unfinished.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews