Skye's Fall: Book One of the Jaime Skye Chronicles

by Will Forrest

All his life, Jaime Skye knew he was different. Cursed with a power beyond his understanding, a power he’s striven to hide. A power that makes him a target. Or a weapon.Stolen from his homeland, divided from his friends, Jaime finds himself at the mercy of a devious mage on a mission to capture a monster of legend. A monster Jaime must tame, or die in the attempt. A task he alone can undertake, for the monster dwells at the bottom of a lake. A lake deeper than nearly any on earth. Cold, dark, and deadly. To anyone but a Skye, that is, for a Waterman cannot drown, can call down the rain, raise the waves with his mind. If only Jaime knew how.As dry and hard as the land of his birth, Cary Robb has spent his life in service of a law he despises. Fleeing his betrayals, he is drawn into a terrible debt to a man of pure evil, whose minion is on the hunt for something unspeakable in the wilds of colonial Canada. Cary’s only task on the dangerous venture is to mind one miserable man. A man who seems like nothing at all, until he shows the depths of his powers. A man he must protect, at first for the sake of their lives, and then for the sake of his soul.A heart-felt Achillean ARO/ACE story of companionship and devotion and a chilling tale of old monsters, new worlds, and the secrets that dwell within the human heart.-------------------------------------------***This edition contains the novella The Marvelous Mr a Tale of Elsewhen***

Genres: LGBT, Queer

248 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2023

About the author

Author, blogger, and general nuisance Will Forrest writes unusual (and usually queer) Historical and Paranormal Romances with a dash of mischief and mayhem, and grew up on a steady diet of Douglas Adams and classic 90s bodice rippers.
Will has a diploma of fashion design, a degree in social theory, and a bad habit of changing careers, life goals, and continents. Currently they live in a very warm part of Canada with three lovely humans and a succession of martyred houseplants.

Reviews

[Keturah Sergeant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing either? It's a story of friendship growing, maybe even becoming love (which may happen in the second book?), though the two MCs have very few meaningful conversations in full. They become very protective of one another, at first one sided and mostly due to obligation but it evolves naturally enough to friendship through proximity and shared enemies. Ultimately, it was a fine read, I just wouldn't read it again and I am not sure I would read the second book.

The characters were interesting but I don't feel like I actually learned anything about them? They are meant to have their own secrets/backstories but they are hardly mentioned except small hints in passing. I don't know if the prequel gives more context for both of them, it probably does for Jamie (Skye - The series is named for him, so I expect every book features him)? This book alone, however, did not tell me much about the characters beyond the singular experience of this reluctant adventure.

The development of magic was interesting but the lack of comprehensive lore in this book took away from it. I have no idea if Jamie's powers are rare? I don't know why Sandover was so powerful? There are at least two Voights from an alternate plane, where? Why? Uncertain. I'm still unsure what Cary's powers are. I don't know where the magic came from, if it's common knowledge or what was going on. It seemed to be set on earth but maybe during the British Empire? Really not sure.

Left with more questions than answers, but not enough motivation to read more of the series to get them.

[Antonella · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
This first ''real'' book was disappointing after the promising prequel. Long descriptions of travels in today's Canada not adding anything to the plot; the magic system quite vague (why can Cory do something against Sandover only now and then?); it is still unclear to me why did they have to track down the water monster, but maybe it is because I started to jump (I was bored).

Anyway: don't read this without reading the prequel The Untouchable Sky: Book 0 of The Jaime Skye Chronicles.

[Becca Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author and really enjoy their writing style. The characters work well and the story flowed.
I adore Cary and look forward to seeing his friendship with Jaime grow. Jamie's powers fascinate me and so did the creature. I wanted to keep reading!
The bonus story with Strike and Eckhart was very well done and I want to see these characters more as well.
I would very happily continue reading this series!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great start to the Jaime Skye Chronicles series, it had everything that I was looking for from the description. I enjoyed how good the characters were in this world and thought it worked well overall in the story-line. Will Forrest has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more in this series and from the author.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skye's Fall showed me a very cool, well thought-out universe that I'm glad to see has a long future ahead of it. The relationship between Cary and Jaime was that ride or die loyalty that I absolutely live for in adventure stories. Also I'm extremely envious of Jaime's powers, and I like how much they were explored in this story. Solid pick!

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Jaime Skye from The Jaime Skye Chronicles is aromantic asexual!

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...