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The Apollo
Avira Bianco is the daughter of the most powerful skyship baron in all of Aerope. She dreams of inheriting his empire someday but knows the odds are slim given her place as a daughter, not a son. When her father betrays her by announcing her arranged marriage, Avira runs away. On board the great skyship Apollo, Avira dresses as a kitchen boy and soon develops forbidden feelings for one of her crewmates, Matteo.
But Matteo has a secret of his own. He is a detective hired by Avira's father to ensure safe delivery home. As The Apollo sails closer and closer to mysterious southern ports, Avira and Matteo's friendship blossoms into something more. But their confusing romance is the least of their worries as pirates, military generals, and warrior queens are on the hunt for Avira.
While Matteo is determined to put his heart first, Avira's new life as a vicious sky pirate may be standing in their way. After all, is there any space for love so far above the Earth?
But Matteo has a secret of his own. He is a detective hired by Avira's father to ensure safe delivery home. As The Apollo sails closer and closer to mysterious southern ports, Avira and Matteo's friendship blossoms into something more. But their confusing romance is the least of their worries as pirates, military generals, and warrior queens are on the hunt for Avira.
While Matteo is determined to put his heart first, Avira's new life as a vicious sky pirate may be standing in their way. After all, is there any space for love so far above the Earth?
- GenresFantasy
413 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2024
6 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 1, 2024
***I was sent an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
Grace Ward is great at world-building. I really loved the world that she created and the characters that she created. I am not one who usually leans toward pirate themes novels, but after seeing her videos about her novel, I was intrigued, and she did not disappoint. The characters were dynamic, and the stakes were there. The pace was off in some places because the story was so fast in some parts but then rapidly slowed down in others, but it did not ruin the experience.
If you are looking for a book that has a cast of characters that bounce off of and work well together, similar to the found family dynamic of Six of Crows, I recommend this book. Even if you don't lean towards the pirate or fantasy genre, this book is still one I think you will like because it is easy to follow for people who don't know much about those genres, which was myself, especially when it came to the pirate aspect.
She perfectly blends romance, action, aventure, and fantasy it to a fun novel. I look forward to reading more of Ward's work in the future.
Grace Ward is great at world-building. I really loved the world that she created and the characters that she created. I am not one who usually leans toward pirate themes novels, but after seeing her videos about her novel, I was intrigued, and she did not disappoint. The characters were dynamic, and the stakes were there. The pace was off in some places because the story was so fast in some parts but then rapidly slowed down in others, but it did not ruin the experience.
If you are looking for a book that has a cast of characters that bounce off of and work well together, similar to the found family dynamic of Six of Crows, I recommend this book. Even if you don't lean towards the pirate or fantasy genre, this book is still one I think you will like because it is easy to follow for people who don't know much about those genres, which was myself, especially when it came to the pirate aspect.
She perfectly blends romance, action, aventure, and fantasy it to a fun novel. I look forward to reading more of Ward's work in the future.
Want to read
December 30, 2023The author has advertised on IG that she addresses the menstrual cycle within her debut fantasy, and that is super exciting because I always wonder how biologically-female characters never seem to have a period, especially within the fantasy genre!
November 1, 2023
My blurb!
“The Apollo is a high sailing adventure! Filled with fantastic characters, a rich world, and an unforgettable plot. This is a fantasy novel you don’t want to miss.”
-Brett Shaffer, Author of A Flower Amidst the Flames
“The Apollo is a high sailing adventure! Filled with fantastic characters, a rich world, and an unforgettable plot. This is a fantasy novel you don’t want to miss.”
-Brett Shaffer, Author of A Flower Amidst the Flames
May 15, 2024
This book blew me away. It is a strong debut with a fascinating world setup, and it manages to hit all the YA fantasy tropes we love while also bringing something different to the table. I'm really excited to see where this series goes!
February 1, 2024
A phenomenal debut novel by Ms. Ward!! Highly recommend picking this up and awaiting more work from Grace.
February 12, 2024
Fantastic original story and character development. Can’t wait for more from this author!
January 12, 2024
3.5 stars
Seeking to escape her family and fiancé, Lady Avira Bianco disguises herself as Cesario to gain work as a kitchen boy on a skyship.
Matteo de Luca, "the finest detective in Veronii", an adopted young man whose origins are lost to him, is called to the Bianco estate by patriarch Grigori. Matteo is tasked with finding the runaway and bringing her home in time for her to be married to the man chosen for her.
Matteo must board The Apollo, the skyship captained by "that abhorrent Captain Artemis Cascella", which is shortly bound for Shaheen, Matteo's land of origin.
Politics rears its ugly head, as does the threat of war involving the Bianco family and the ruler of Shaheen.
A promising beginning to a series by Grace Ward. Interesting characters and just enough fantasy with a little sci-fi thrown in for good measure. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Ward takes us next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Seeking to escape her family and fiancé, Lady Avira Bianco disguises herself as Cesario to gain work as a kitchen boy on a skyship.
Matteo de Luca, "the finest detective in Veronii", an adopted young man whose origins are lost to him, is called to the Bianco estate by patriarch Grigori. Matteo is tasked with finding the runaway and bringing her home in time for her to be married to the man chosen for her.
Matteo must board The Apollo, the skyship captained by "that abhorrent Captain Artemis Cascella", which is shortly bound for Shaheen, Matteo's land of origin.
Politics rears its ugly head, as does the threat of war involving the Bianco family and the ruler of Shaheen.
A promising beginning to a series by Grace Ward. Interesting characters and just enough fantasy with a little sci-fi thrown in for good measure. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Ward takes us next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 23, 2024
I attended a book launch event for The Apollo where Ward stated she wrote the book for the eighth grader she used to be; a story for young readers and your inner young reader. Having just finished The Apollo, I can confirm that both my 14-year-old self and my 29-year-old self enjoyed the book immensely! I gasped, I cheered, I cried, I out loud called the author a monster -- all the things you want from a great book. The Apollo presents a fantastic adventure in a rich world where queerness is as commonplace as sailing through the sky in a flying ship.
If you like fun stories, you won't regret reading The Apollo.
If you like fun stories, you won't regret reading The Apollo.
April 6, 2024
Holy cow, this book 12/10! First of all the cover art is BEAUTIFUL and the map inside, incredible. Loved how it helped me be able to visualize more of the story and what it would look like in my head! Second, the story line LOVE! I'm a sucker for a good romance, mix it with adventure and you have literal magic! Couldn't recommend enough!!
March 2, 2025
An impressive first work. Grace has a remarkable talent for dialogue and characterization. I was completely captured by the world she created and the adventures she led me through. Looking forward to more.
April 3, 2024
Really fun novel! Fast paced and filled with action. Plus some romance for good measure. Very fun, especially if you love fantasy with LGBTQ+ characters.
October 12, 2025
DNF at 50%
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November 29, 2025In the enchanting realm where Grace Ward’s “The Apollo” is set, readers are whisked away on an airborne odyssey, where Avira Bianco dances on the precipice of societal expectations and familial betrayals. Amidst the clouds her journey unfolds like a tapestry, woven with threads of adventure, romance, and the delightful clash of piracy. Avira’s clandestine connection with the mysterious Matteo sprinkles in a touch of magic over the gripping narrative.
Ward’s storytelling, which is reminiscent of Robin Hobbs’s emotive finesse, guides us through clouds swirling with twists, turning the skies into a canvas of mystery, pirates, and unexpected challenges: As her debut novel, Ward’s first book in The Constelación Thief series is a delightful and enchanting entry which will scratch that itch of whimsy for anywho who is a fan of Treasure Planet, Howl’s Moving Castle, or the charming wit of The Princess Bride.
I cannot wait for future entries in this series or any other works Grace releases! This is only the beginning of what I’m sure will be a memorable and adventures future for this talented author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ward’s storytelling, which is reminiscent of Robin Hobbs’s emotive finesse, guides us through clouds swirling with twists, turning the skies into a canvas of mystery, pirates, and unexpected challenges: As her debut novel, Ward’s first book in The Constelación Thief series is a delightful and enchanting entry which will scratch that itch of whimsy for anywho who is a fan of Treasure Planet, Howl’s Moving Castle, or the charming wit of The Princess Bride.
I cannot wait for future entries in this series or any other works Grace releases! This is only the beginning of what I’m sure will be a memorable and adventures future for this talented author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 15, 2024
Well… I wrote this book so I guess I have to give it a five star rating. That feels like the right thing to do. In reality, I look at this book and think “gosh I can’t wait to write another book so I can do it better.” Writing is so weird because you get better every time you do it. This book is not my magnum opus. It’s my debut. Thank you for being here with me for the messy first steps into my life as a novelist. I’m really so proud of this book and I cannot even begin to voice my gratitude for folks who read it.
I am a writer with Dyslexia. I have actually lost sleep over the fact that I know my book has typos and my brain just doesn't process them or even see them. In theory, this is why we hire editors. I wish I could say my book is typo free, but I think we all know that's not true. So thank you for being here for this version of my work, as messy as it is. Thank you for caring about Avira and Matteo enough to parse through any weird grammar. It means more than you could ever know.
Writing fantasy is a lot like asking people to play pretend with you on the second grade playground. Thanks for playing pretend with me. See you for the next book. 💗
I am a writer with Dyslexia. I have actually lost sleep over the fact that I know my book has typos and my brain just doesn't process them or even see them. In theory, this is why we hire editors. I wish I could say my book is typo free, but I think we all know that's not true. So thank you for being here for this version of my work, as messy as it is. Thank you for caring about Avira and Matteo enough to parse through any weird grammar. It means more than you could ever know.
Writing fantasy is a lot like asking people to play pretend with you on the second grade playground. Thanks for playing pretend with me. See you for the next book. 💗
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews