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Tin Star #2
Stone in the Sky
In this thrilling follow-up to Tin Star, Tula will need to rely on more than just her wits to save her only home in the sky.
After escaping death a second time, Tula Bane is now even thirstier for revenge. She spends much of her time in the Tin Star Café on the Yertina Feray—the space station she calls home. But when it's discovered that the desolate and abandoned planet near the station has high quantities of a precious resource, the once sleepy space station becomes a major player in intergalactic politics. In the spirit of the Gold Rush, aliens from all over the galaxy race to cash in—including Tula's worst enemy.
After escaping death a second time, Tula Bane is now even thirstier for revenge. She spends much of her time in the Tin Star Café on the Yertina Feray—the space station she calls home. But when it's discovered that the desolate and abandoned planet near the station has high quantities of a precious resource, the once sleepy space station becomes a major player in intergalactic politics. In the spirit of the Gold Rush, aliens from all over the galaxy race to cash in—including Tula's worst enemy.
313 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 2015
9 people are currently reading
840 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Castellucci
221 books722 followersCecil Castellucci is an author of young adult novels and comic books. Titles include Boy Proof, The Year of the Beasts (illustrated by Nate Powell), First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Beige, The Queen of Cool The Plain Janes and Janes in Love (illustrated by Jim Rugg), Tin Star Stone in the Sky, Odd Duck (illustrated by Sara Varon) and Star Wars: Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
November 24, 2014
I wrote it! I talked to an astronaut for research!
April 1, 2015
I struggled with the first book, but this one was MUCH better! I couldn't put it down, I accidentally read until 3 am the first night! There is a lot of action and romance and exploration and it rocks. The only main complaint is the writing style is so choppy and disconnected still which annoys me. Also there is a love triangle though there is minimal angst about it.
March 19, 2015
This and other reviews on my site, My Friends Are Fiction
The Story:
Stone in the Sky picked up with Tula on Yertina Feray- she is well acclimated to her environment though she is living with a good amount of guilt over the events in the last novel, Tin Star. The first book was slow paced and focused a great amount of how Tula’s life had developed on this lonely space station. In this novel the action picks up and there was less time on her interactions with others though that was still a main theme. We got to travel off of Yertina Feray and see other planets which I thought was done beautifully.
Castellucci knows how to create a vivid and realistic otherworldly environment. Her alien races were well thought out and easy to visualize as being a real entity in the universe. Because we are traveling around other planets and experiencing more action on Tula’s journey the pacing was faster in this novel than the first and it felt slightly more science fiction based. I thought all the details (like a space elevator) were wonderfully approached and seemingly based on research.
The writing style was still quiet yet powerful and loaded with emotion. I was impressed with how easily Castellucci was able to jump from Tula’s internal dialog to an action sequence. My only complaint with this novel (and I think ending to the series) was that the ending felt very rushed to me. I could have read another book dedicated to the last third of this book and been much happier. I wanted more depth and detail. The ending felt a bit too wrapped up nicely.
The Characters:
Tula was still the central theme of the novel and we get to experience her growth even more in this novel. I adored Tula in the first book and even more in this sequel. I felt her character arc was beautifully executed. I feel that my main draw to these two book was my appreciation for the author’s ability to create such a well rounded, relatable character in an otherworldly environment.
Tula was still close to her special alien, Tournour. I adored their relationship and how each character brought out strengths in the other. We get to learn more about Tournour’s past which I loved. My only issue was that I read the first book so long ago I had trouble recalling what he looked like so while reading I had a blank spot for him in my mind’s eye. I plan on doing a reread of the two novels back to back and figure I’ll have an even more intense emotional response.
Of course Brother Blue was prominent in this novel and once again I loathed him…though I was able to maybe, just maybe see the tiniest bit of why he was the way he was. As much as I can’t stand him I would love to read a novella focused on him in his earlier years. I think that could be very interesting.
Final Thoughts:
I am so impressed with both Tin Star and Stone in the Sky. I think that Castellucci is a very talented writer and that fans of character driven stories and science fiction will enjoy these books.
The Story:
Stone in the Sky picked up with Tula on Yertina Feray- she is well acclimated to her environment though she is living with a good amount of guilt over the events in the last novel, Tin Star. The first book was slow paced and focused a great amount of how Tula’s life had developed on this lonely space station. In this novel the action picks up and there was less time on her interactions with others though that was still a main theme. We got to travel off of Yertina Feray and see other planets which I thought was done beautifully.
Castellucci knows how to create a vivid and realistic otherworldly environment. Her alien races were well thought out and easy to visualize as being a real entity in the universe. Because we are traveling around other planets and experiencing more action on Tula’s journey the pacing was faster in this novel than the first and it felt slightly more science fiction based. I thought all the details (like a space elevator) were wonderfully approached and seemingly based on research.
The writing style was still quiet yet powerful and loaded with emotion. I was impressed with how easily Castellucci was able to jump from Tula’s internal dialog to an action sequence. My only complaint with this novel (and I think ending to the series) was that the ending felt very rushed to me. I could have read another book dedicated to the last third of this book and been much happier. I wanted more depth and detail. The ending felt a bit too wrapped up nicely.
The Characters:
Tula was still the central theme of the novel and we get to experience her growth even more in this novel. I adored Tula in the first book and even more in this sequel. I felt her character arc was beautifully executed. I feel that my main draw to these two book was my appreciation for the author’s ability to create such a well rounded, relatable character in an otherworldly environment.
Tula was still close to her special alien, Tournour. I adored their relationship and how each character brought out strengths in the other. We get to learn more about Tournour’s past which I loved. My only issue was that I read the first book so long ago I had trouble recalling what he looked like so while reading I had a blank spot for him in my mind’s eye. I plan on doing a reread of the two novels back to back and figure I’ll have an even more intense emotional response.
Of course Brother Blue was prominent in this novel and once again I loathed him…though I was able to maybe, just maybe see the tiniest bit of why he was the way he was. As much as I can’t stand him I would love to read a novella focused on him in his earlier years. I think that could be very interesting.
Final Thoughts:
I am so impressed with both Tin Star and Stone in the Sky. I think that Castellucci is a very talented writer and that fans of character driven stories and science fiction will enjoy these books.
February 23, 2015
I read this book about 6 months before its release date. It was an absolutely incredible read. It was my 3rd favorite read in 2014 out of 187 books. I have said it before but with every book by Cecil Castellucci that I read I am more impressed. This one was amazing. Literally I finished it and started reading it again at a slower pace to savor it because the first time I could not pause and raced through the book to finish the story.
One of the greatest strengths of Castellucci's writing is her strong female characters. In this case we return to the story of Tula Bane. I thought the first book in the series had plot twists and unexpected turns, this second part of the story make it look like a walk in the park. Tula is now a wandering human alone in space, trying to warn other humans and still intent on seeking revenge. But she is also finding that her path is a different one than she expected.
This story is a strange mix of revenge, love, family and some sense of redemption of justice. I know I plan on going back and rereading both books back to back again. The writing is incredible. It is an excellent read and if you have not picked up the first book give it a try.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More. As well as an author profile and interview with Cecil Castellucci.
One of the greatest strengths of Castellucci's writing is her strong female characters. In this case we return to the story of Tula Bane. I thought the first book in the series had plot twists and unexpected turns, this second part of the story make it look like a walk in the park. Tula is now a wandering human alone in space, trying to warn other humans and still intent on seeking revenge. But she is also finding that her path is a different one than she expected.
This story is a strange mix of revenge, love, family and some sense of redemption of justice. I know I plan on going back and rereading both books back to back again. The writing is incredible. It is an excellent read and if you have not picked up the first book give it a try.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More. As well as an author profile and interview with Cecil Castellucci.
May 27, 2021
I finally got to read this book!
It has been quite the epic to get my hands on this. After wanting to read Tin Star, (because it's Casablanca set in space, yes please) I finished up then ordered book two. Which was out of print, and has remained so for a really long time. I paid for a copy four times, only to be told that no one could get it from their distributors. So now, six years after finishing the first book, I finally got to read how it ends. Crazily enough, I could still remember the first book and didn't need a re-read, it's one of those books that sticks with you long after it's closed.
Things are changing at Yertina Feray, and Tula has her world shattered once more. But she's strong enough to pick up the pieces.
I found this to be a quiet sort of story, where things and characters creep up on you and slowly forge their way into your heart, instead of pounding it over your head every page. So despite the violence it's a gentle read, perfect for late nights and calm days. Glad I kept trying and finally got my hands on a copy.
It has been quite the epic to get my hands on this. After wanting to read Tin Star, (because it's Casablanca set in space, yes please) I finished up then ordered book two. Which was out of print, and has remained so for a really long time. I paid for a copy four times, only to be told that no one could get it from their distributors. So now, six years after finishing the first book, I finally got to read how it ends. Crazily enough, I could still remember the first book and didn't need a re-read, it's one of those books that sticks with you long after it's closed.
Things are changing at Yertina Feray, and Tula has her world shattered once more. But she's strong enough to pick up the pieces.
I found this to be a quiet sort of story, where things and characters creep up on you and slowly forge their way into your heart, instead of pounding it over your head every page. So despite the violence it's a gentle read, perfect for late nights and calm days. Glad I kept trying and finally got my hands on a copy.
October 25, 2016
FULL BLOG REVIEW: http://lalatoadstone.blogspot.com/201...
I was given an ARC by the author, but this has in no way influenced my review rating!
I was given an ARC by the author, but this has in no way influenced my review rating!
June 21, 2017
I LOVED Tin Star, it was the perfect science fiction book and this sequel did not disappoint. There's a little bit of everything in it, space travel, adventure, revenge, and romance. I highly recommend both books!
February 17, 2015
Abandoned and left for dead on a remote space station, no one expected Tula Bane to survive. Yet over time, she sound friends, family, and even love. When it's discovered that the desolate planet beneath the station is verdant with a rare, invaluable resource, aliens from across the galaxy rave over, including Brother Blue, the man who nearly killed Tula years ago. The man she has dreamed of destroying ever since. But Tula needs him alive to ensure the protection of the Human Wanderers who hitch from spaceship to spaceship. Without her leadership, they are as sure as dead. Mired in an intergalactic power struggle and town between two loves, Tula must tread carefully to save those in her care, and the lives of Humans throughout the galaxies.
Stone in the Sky, like its predecessor, explores what it is to be Human, what it is to struggle to find your place in the world and among the stars. It explores what home is, whether it be a person or a place, and how much Humans crave having a place to call their own.
It's been more than a year since Tula became the only Human on Yertina Feray again. More than a year since Brother Blue tried to kill her, again, when she threatened to expose his con. More than a year since she finally found her place on the station. But Brother Blue would always be a threat as long as he was alive, and now that he's returned, Tula's forced to fight back again. It's not as easy this time. She struggles even more than before, searching, waiting. She's still resourceful, still smart, still Tula. But this journey seems so much harder on her.
What was refreshing about the first book was the lack of romance. Years apart from Humans, Tula had no idea how to react around them, but they made her feel again. Made her feel Human again. She didn't want it, didn't want to be vulnerable again, but she still craved being around them. She wasn't as alone with them around. There's just as much romance here, but this time around I longed for it. Because the story continues, I wanted more of it. After the first book I wanted her to be happy, and she was, but that would never last. After Tin Star, only part of Tula's story had been told. The romance here makes me happy. Tula is torn because both give her something she's needed after years of being alone. Both make her feel. Because of the story, because of Tula, it works.
There's a lot to be said about the resiliency of Humans, about our ways of continuing on and coming together in times of great hardship. About how manipulative and sneaky we can be. Our greatest traits and worst flaws come together to show what imperfect creatures we are. This duology has been such a journey, it couldn't have ended better.
(I received an advance copy of this title to review from Raincoast Books.)
Stone in the Sky, like its predecessor, explores what it is to be Human, what it is to struggle to find your place in the world and among the stars. It explores what home is, whether it be a person or a place, and how much Humans crave having a place to call their own.
It's been more than a year since Tula became the only Human on Yertina Feray again. More than a year since Brother Blue tried to kill her, again, when she threatened to expose his con. More than a year since she finally found her place on the station. But Brother Blue would always be a threat as long as he was alive, and now that he's returned, Tula's forced to fight back again. It's not as easy this time. She struggles even more than before, searching, waiting. She's still resourceful, still smart, still Tula. But this journey seems so much harder on her.
What was refreshing about the first book was the lack of romance. Years apart from Humans, Tula had no idea how to react around them, but they made her feel again. Made her feel Human again. She didn't want it, didn't want to be vulnerable again, but she still craved being around them. She wasn't as alone with them around. There's just as much romance here, but this time around I longed for it. Because the story continues, I wanted more of it. After the first book I wanted her to be happy, and she was, but that would never last. After Tin Star, only part of Tula's story had been told. The romance here makes me happy. Tula is torn because both give her something she's needed after years of being alone. Both make her feel. Because of the story, because of Tula, it works.
There's a lot to be said about the resiliency of Humans, about our ways of continuing on and coming together in times of great hardship. About how manipulative and sneaky we can be. Our greatest traits and worst flaws come together to show what imperfect creatures we are. This duology has been such a journey, it couldn't have ended better.
(I received an advance copy of this title to review from Raincoast Books.)
July 3, 2025
As much as I enjoyed Tin Star last year, the ending left me feeling like I needed (and wanted) something more to the story. Fortunately for me, Stone in the Sky quickly followed and as a sequel it absolutely delivered in every way I hoped it would.
Reasons to Read:
1. Incredible world building:
While Tin Star introduced us to a breathtaking sci fi world, Stone in the Sky fills us in on all the details. Tula ends up leaving the Yertina Feray and we get to explore the galaxy with her as she embarks on a continuation of her adventure. And this is where the story really shines, because it becomes clear that while there are only two relatively short books in the Tin Star series, Cecil has clearly put in a significant amount of time with creating and developing a world in which Tula's stories take place.
2. Huge revelations for the plot:
Tula had her own theories about Brother Blue and the Human colonies as set out in Tin Star, but I really appreciate a story that clearly follows up on those questions and provides some answers. We don't get to find out everything, but the story is certainly resolved and satisfying. I had so many questions while reading the first book and I was so pleased to see they were answered in Stone in the Sky. But more importantly, I loved how thoughtful and complex the story was.
3. A thoughtful look at humanity:
Tula often considers and compares Humans to the other aliens she encounters. She's a thoughtful character, and her responses and comments on other species are truly fascinating. This comparison also serves a purpose as it reveals more about humanity and Tula's own character. We can see how we take certain traits for granted, which are not shared by other alien species. And interestingly, this reveals more about why Tula has reacted in such a way to the events in her life.
Cecil Castelluci writes brilliant sci fi books, and while these are not the most action-oriented books they are some of the most thought-provoking and complex YA books available. They are written beautifully and feature lovely prose and subtle ideas incorporated within the overarching story.
I would advise readers that this is not a fast-paced series, so readers should not expect that nor turn to the Tin Star books for that type of read. These are books that can be read at a slower pace, in order to be truly appreciated and so as to not miss any of the fine details!
ARC received from publisher for review; no other compensation was received.
Reasons to Read:
1. Incredible world building:
While Tin Star introduced us to a breathtaking sci fi world, Stone in the Sky fills us in on all the details. Tula ends up leaving the Yertina Feray and we get to explore the galaxy with her as she embarks on a continuation of her adventure. And this is where the story really shines, because it becomes clear that while there are only two relatively short books in the Tin Star series, Cecil has clearly put in a significant amount of time with creating and developing a world in which Tula's stories take place.
2. Huge revelations for the plot:
Tula had her own theories about Brother Blue and the Human colonies as set out in Tin Star, but I really appreciate a story that clearly follows up on those questions and provides some answers. We don't get to find out everything, but the story is certainly resolved and satisfying. I had so many questions while reading the first book and I was so pleased to see they were answered in Stone in the Sky. But more importantly, I loved how thoughtful and complex the story was.
3. A thoughtful look at humanity:
Tula often considers and compares Humans to the other aliens she encounters. She's a thoughtful character, and her responses and comments on other species are truly fascinating. This comparison also serves a purpose as it reveals more about humanity and Tula's own character. We can see how we take certain traits for granted, which are not shared by other alien species. And interestingly, this reveals more about why Tula has reacted in such a way to the events in her life.
Cecil Castelluci writes brilliant sci fi books, and while these are not the most action-oriented books they are some of the most thought-provoking and complex YA books available. They are written beautifully and feature lovely prose and subtle ideas incorporated within the overarching story.
I would advise readers that this is not a fast-paced series, so readers should not expect that nor turn to the Tin Star books for that type of read. These are books that can be read at a slower pace, in order to be truly appreciated and so as to not miss any of the fine details!
ARC received from publisher for review; no other compensation was received.
March 2, 2015
I loved being back on Yertina Feray, and Stone In The Sky was a wonderful continuation of a book I really enjoyed. Once again, the world of the space station, with its multiple alien species and sometime dangerous blending of cultures, formed a world in which I could immerse myself. Tula survived the ordeals of book one, but I knew that she would have many more struggles ahead of her. It was inevitable that Tula would have to confront Brother Blue and, in fact, she wants that. Despite her quiet and comfortable life on Yertina Feray, Tula has never let go of that need to revenge. There is a lot of unexpected travel and politics in Stone In The Sky. Tula must leave the station to find answers and what she finds provides quite the twist, but she is still able to stay connected to the beings who supported her on the station. Along with Brother Blue, she finds others from her past that I thought for sure we wouldn’t see again after book one and those surprises kept the story flowing quite nicely.
Tula really grew in this book. In fact, whether it was intentional or not, I saw a parallel between Tula’s growth and the growth of the colony on Quint; it was hard work, there were setbacks, but it lead to something so much better in the end. I can’t say enough about how much I loved the journey she takes, as well. She meets wanderers who never set foot on any type of planet, pirates, and ruthless politicians. They all have a role to play in Tula’s life in this book. Because it was so unique, I feel like I should address the love triangle, but hear me out, those of you that hate them. This was not two boys fighting over a girl who just can’t seem to make a decision. This was 100% about what Tula needed and wanted, and that is where the decision stayed. Perhaps because the two romantic interests were of different species, it made it less conventional, but this is not your typical YA love triangle in any way. Of course, I had a favorite, but I really would have been ok either way, because there was only one choice in the end, and I really believed that Tula was doing what was right for herself. Tula’s agency really made the ending so wonderful that I felt intensely satisfied when I closed the book. Stone In The Sky was thrilling, interesting, full of suspense and intensely (yet subtly) romantic. I enjoyed it so, so much and I think that this quiet science fiction duology deserves your attention.
Tula really grew in this book. In fact, whether it was intentional or not, I saw a parallel between Tula’s growth and the growth of the colony on Quint; it was hard work, there were setbacks, but it lead to something so much better in the end. I can’t say enough about how much I loved the journey she takes, as well. She meets wanderers who never set foot on any type of planet, pirates, and ruthless politicians. They all have a role to play in Tula’s life in this book. Because it was so unique, I feel like I should address the love triangle, but hear me out, those of you that hate them. This was not two boys fighting over a girl who just can’t seem to make a decision. This was 100% about what Tula needed and wanted, and that is where the decision stayed. Perhaps because the two romantic interests were of different species, it made it less conventional, but this is not your typical YA love triangle in any way. Of course, I had a favorite, but I really would have been ok either way, because there was only one choice in the end, and I really believed that Tula was doing what was right for herself. Tula’s agency really made the ending so wonderful that I felt intensely satisfied when I closed the book. Stone In The Sky was thrilling, interesting, full of suspense and intensely (yet subtly) romantic. I enjoyed it so, so much and I think that this quiet science fiction duology deserves your attention.
March 12, 2015
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
It was so easy to slide back into the dark and dangerous world of Tula Bane and her life on the Yertina Feray.
In Tin Star, the first book in this series, Tula was struggling to survive. Left for dead she was alone, with absolutely nothing on a strange hunk of metal in the sky. A hunk of metal which wasn’t particularly friendly towards humans. But survive she did. In fact she did more than survive – she thrived. She moved up through the social hierarchies of the Yertina Feray and bided her time, collecting favours and information, so that one day she would be able to take down her nemesis, Brother Blue.
I really admire Tula Bane. She’s not “the chosen one” or anything fancy like that. She’s just a girl. But she has personality, drive and a will to survive and something tells me that might count for more in the long run than if you happened to be the chosen one. And I find her easy to sympathize with, because when it comes to difficult decisions, she doesn’t always know what to do. She can be indecisive, or stubborn or simply confused. Simply put, she’s human. Which makes her the most compelling thing in this novel, despite being surrounded by aliens and spaceships. (This is a huge compliment since I love to read about aliens and spaceships.)
I don’t want to say too much about the plot of Stone in the Sky, partially because it’s the second book in the series, but also because I think it’s best to go into this story knowing as little as possible. Castellucci has worked her magic once again and created a brilliant, intricately layered story and the best experience is traveling through it, not knowing what’s behind the corner up ahead. And this story is wrapped up in the haunting prose I gushed over in my review of Tin Star. Castellucci’s writing is poetic and haunting. It’s full of the kind of quotes that make you stop reading and pause for a moment, just so you can truly appreciate them. If you’re the kind of person who marks up their books – have your highlighters and sticky notes ready!
If you’re a science fiction fan I can’t recommend the Tin Star series enough. It’s beautiful and captivating and full of adventure. This is one sequel that doesn’t disappoint.
It was so easy to slide back into the dark and dangerous world of Tula Bane and her life on the Yertina Feray.
In Tin Star, the first book in this series, Tula was struggling to survive. Left for dead she was alone, with absolutely nothing on a strange hunk of metal in the sky. A hunk of metal which wasn’t particularly friendly towards humans. But survive she did. In fact she did more than survive – she thrived. She moved up through the social hierarchies of the Yertina Feray and bided her time, collecting favours and information, so that one day she would be able to take down her nemesis, Brother Blue.
I really admire Tula Bane. She’s not “the chosen one” or anything fancy like that. She’s just a girl. But she has personality, drive and a will to survive and something tells me that might count for more in the long run than if you happened to be the chosen one. And I find her easy to sympathize with, because when it comes to difficult decisions, she doesn’t always know what to do. She can be indecisive, or stubborn or simply confused. Simply put, she’s human. Which makes her the most compelling thing in this novel, despite being surrounded by aliens and spaceships. (This is a huge compliment since I love to read about aliens and spaceships.)
I don’t want to say too much about the plot of Stone in the Sky, partially because it’s the second book in the series, but also because I think it’s best to go into this story knowing as little as possible. Castellucci has worked her magic once again and created a brilliant, intricately layered story and the best experience is traveling through it, not knowing what’s behind the corner up ahead. And this story is wrapped up in the haunting prose I gushed over in my review of Tin Star. Castellucci’s writing is poetic and haunting. It’s full of the kind of quotes that make you stop reading and pause for a moment, just so you can truly appreciate them. If you’re the kind of person who marks up their books – have your highlighters and sticky notes ready!
If you’re a science fiction fan I can’t recommend the Tin Star series enough. It’s beautiful and captivating and full of adventure. This is one sequel that doesn’t disappoint.
January 13, 2015
This sequel to TIN STAR begins shortly after the actions in that book. Tula Bane is living on the space station, the Yertina Feray, and has opened a water, sweets and salts store which welcomes aliens of all kinds. While Tournour, the alien sheriff and Tula's love, has been good at keeping the station under the radar of the new Imperium, things change when a ship crashes on Quint, the planet the station orbits, and discovers alin. Alin is a pollen that is very scarce and very much in demand among all sorts of aliens. This discovery initiates a rush and draws the attention of the Imperium.
The first official from the Imperium to arrive is Tula's enemy Brother Blue. Brother Blue wants Tula dead because she is one of the few who know that Brother Blue is running a scam. He says that he has settled five planets with human outposts but Tula knows there are no settlements. Tula is forced to flee from the station to save her life.
Tula wanders the galaxy looking for her friend Caleb. For his safety, she had sent him to the edge of the galaxy where he intended to recruit help to improve Earth's place in the government of the worlds. Along the way, she finds groups of humans who are called Wanderers. They were among the first groups to leave Earth and are not allowed back. Tula tries to convince them to avoid Brother Blue's attempts to recruit them as colonists for his worlds.
Tula finally finds her way back to the Yertina Feray and Quint but she still has to deal with Brother Blue who still wants her dead. Tula also has to decide between her love for Tournour and her love for Reza, a human who was the one who discovered alin on Quint. She has to finally decide what future she sees for herself after spending years wanting only revenge on Brother Blue.
This was an interesting science fiction story. This one still had lots of different alien species but less emphasis was placed on Tula interacting with them and more emphasis was placed on the bigger political problems.
Fans of science fiction will enjoy this one but should definitely read TIN STAR first.
The first official from the Imperium to arrive is Tula's enemy Brother Blue. Brother Blue wants Tula dead because she is one of the few who know that Brother Blue is running a scam. He says that he has settled five planets with human outposts but Tula knows there are no settlements. Tula is forced to flee from the station to save her life.
Tula wanders the galaxy looking for her friend Caleb. For his safety, she had sent him to the edge of the galaxy where he intended to recruit help to improve Earth's place in the government of the worlds. Along the way, she finds groups of humans who are called Wanderers. They were among the first groups to leave Earth and are not allowed back. Tula tries to convince them to avoid Brother Blue's attempts to recruit them as colonists for his worlds.
Tula finally finds her way back to the Yertina Feray and Quint but she still has to deal with Brother Blue who still wants her dead. Tula also has to decide between her love for Tournour and her love for Reza, a human who was the one who discovered alin on Quint. She has to finally decide what future she sees for herself after spending years wanting only revenge on Brother Blue.
This was an interesting science fiction story. This one still had lots of different alien species but less emphasis was placed on Tula interacting with them and more emphasis was placed on the bigger political problems.
Fans of science fiction will enjoy this one but should definitely read TIN STAR first.
February 20, 2015
Like Tin Star, Stone in the Sky is a book that was impossible for me to put down, even though it's a very different story. Whereas Tula Bane and both the alien and human characters she meets on the Yertina Feray in Tin Star are stuck there, Tula travels to various planets, moons, and from one ship to another in Stone in the Sky. In Tin Star, Cecil Castellucci builds a world, peppered with various alien species, but using one setting, she controls the way readers are introduced to the world and ensures that they get a solid foundation into the way the future she imagines works. This foundation allows the story and Tula to bloom and grow in new and unexpected ways when Castellucci expands the world to show readers the various settings and introduces them to more alien species and different ways of being human in this world as well as additional members of the alien species with whom we're already familiar. Moreover, she complicates the geopolitical landscape of her world's universe and the characters who we already know. When combined, all of the ways of opening up the story, characters, and world make it stronger instead of resorting to cheap and one dimensional ways of portraying the world. While Castellucci could have ended Tula's journey at the end of book 1, fans will agree that we're all the better for her decision to expand the story in the way she did.
March 18, 2015
Tula is living quietly on the Yertina Fertay station, selling water, sweets, and salts. Her relationship with the station's Loor Security Officer provides her stability and comfort, though she still misses the two humans she sent away in cryostorage to save their lives. She also still burns for vengeance against Brother Blue, who has killed her twice.
When one of her human friends returns with news that Quint, the planet that the Yertina Fertay orbits, can grow alin, the rare and valuable plant that all species covet, it's the end of a Tula's quiet life.
Much more activity in this book. Tula leaves the station, traveling through space on many ships, visiting the home world of the Loor, and one of the Human "settlement" planets. What she finds there sends her back into space, looking for the humans called Wanderers. After almost four years being the only Human on her station, she barely knows how to communicate with the Wanderers.
What Tula knows about Brother Blue, and the other species, Major and Minor, may be the only thing that will give Earth, and Humanity, a chance to survive and live in peace among the stars.
There is a sort of love triangle going on, but it ended the way I knew it had to, so yay for me being so smart. And yay for Cecil Castelluci, for writing a piece of scifi that drew me in and entertained me so well.
When one of her human friends returns with news that Quint, the planet that the Yertina Fertay orbits, can grow alin, the rare and valuable plant that all species covet, it's the end of a Tula's quiet life.
Much more activity in this book. Tula leaves the station, traveling through space on many ships, visiting the home world of the Loor, and one of the Human "settlement" planets. What she finds there sends her back into space, looking for the humans called Wanderers. After almost four years being the only Human on her station, she barely knows how to communicate with the Wanderers.
What Tula knows about Brother Blue, and the other species, Major and Minor, may be the only thing that will give Earth, and Humanity, a chance to survive and live in peace among the stars.
There is a sort of love triangle going on, but it ended the way I knew it had to, so yay for me being so smart. And yay for Cecil Castelluci, for writing a piece of scifi that drew me in and entertained me so well.
April 6, 2016
This is my FAVORITE book of Cecil Castellucci. I liked Tin Star but Stone in the Sky.....wow, loved every minute of it. I thought the plot was so much more complex than Tula seeking out revenge. I enjoyed how more is revealed about the Imperium's motivations such as not wanting the species to mix. I liked that Tula was a strong female character with vulnerabilities. I appreciated that she wasn't completely unstoppable and doing things like flipping in the air firing two blasters. There seemed to be an emphasis in her using her galactic "street smarts" from Heckleck rather than her physicality. Her skill of bartering shown in the first book is a big reason why I love the character of Tula. The fact that she was able to open the Tin Star Cafe and leave the underbelly of the station shows how resourceful she is. And I thought it was cute.
Normally I would not enjoy a "love triangle" in a book but enjoyed how the relationship between Tula, Reza, and Tournour was handled. The two male characters were not fighting over the "girl" while she languished in indecisiveness. I am SO thankful for this. And man, I am a Tournour fan girl right now.
I can't stop gushing over how fabulous I think this book is. My husband even noticed that I was smiling when I finished it. I am seriously debating reading Tin Star again.
Normally I would not enjoy a "love triangle" in a book but enjoyed how the relationship between Tula, Reza, and Tournour was handled. The two male characters were not fighting over the "girl" while she languished in indecisiveness. I am SO thankful for this. And man, I am a Tournour fan girl right now.
I can't stop gushing over how fabulous I think this book is. My husband even noticed that I was smiling when I finished it. I am seriously debating reading Tin Star again.
June 11, 2018
Unfortunately I didn't like this as much as I had hoped. It started on a bad note for me with the story summary in the first chapter contradicting some things that happened at the end of the last book (which I'd just finished re-reading). Very clearly at the end of the first book Brother Blue kills Els knowing who she is (not thinking she is Tula as this intro states) and Tula aims to send Reza and Caleb to opposite ends of the universe (not together to the outer rim). Some of the factors that I disliked about the first book continued - the sparse unemotional writing style with lots of telling how she felt but never feeling it. Lots of repetition. And unfortunately the contradictions and illogic of what the characters thought and felt continued throughout the book. Also the plot felt all over the place. Tula's actions don't make much sense a lot of the time e.g. hopping around from ship to ship trying to warn the Wanderers but when she meets with them just giving them some vague warning to stay away from humans with no explanation. Things felt haphazard and it didn't hold together in the way the first book did. Had potential but just didn't pull it off to my taste.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2015
A thoroughly enjoyable sequel to Tin Star that continues the adventures of Tula Bane while incorporating the exploration of some very interesting issues. This is science fiction in the style of adult SF and SO welcome for teens!
Castellucci's world-building is so intriguing, particularly the idea of humanity being regarded as a very minor species. Tula was a compelling character still dealing with issues earth-bound teens could sympathize with.
Castellucci's world-building is so intriguing, particularly the idea of humanity being regarded as a very minor species. Tula was a compelling character still dealing with issues earth-bound teens could sympathize with.
April 3, 2015
This sequel to Tin Star was even better -- why oh why is there no sixth star for special circumstances?
Go read Tin Star, but have this on at the ready for when you finish. Actually -- maybe wait a month in between, because wondering what will happen next in Tin Star and letting your imagination work on Tula's circumstances for a while is part of the magic.
Go read Tin Star, but have this on at the ready for when you finish. Actually -- maybe wait a month in between, because wondering what will happen next in Tin Star and letting your imagination work on Tula's circumstances for a while is part of the magic.
March 16, 2015
Maybe it's just me, but with the way the first book ended with the surprise of Tournour, I expected Stone in the Sky to be more of a story about him and Tula. Was disappointed that it wasn't, but other than that it was a good quick read.
December 20, 2014
Words can't even describe how Amazing this is. Review to come closer to release date.
July 11, 2015
The writing style was pretty choppy and the plot that this story circled around didn't seem very logical to me.
July 7, 2015
Draaaags.
May 28, 2016
Space opera in the vein of Star Wars, rather than the Vorkosigan saga. Lots of aliens, lots of evil, lots of impenetrable bureaucracy no one can get through, lots of death toll.
June 13, 2016
A very weak second installment to this duology. I almost DNFd several times. I was really disappointed.
August 17, 2016
Yes Tula Bane is a good character, yes loving aliens is the next thing to do, but (OMG) the galactic background and the plot with Brother Blue are so ridiculous !
January 9, 2020
Stone in the sky is written by Cecil Castellucci is a sixth grade reading level. Tula gets off of the space station with the help of her friends because she was going to be killed. Once she gets off she travels around the galaxy and goes on a planet and meets the cousin of the alien that she loves. The cousin helps her with a little bit and to get off the planet. She travels from ship to ship and on the way she tells all of the Wanders because Brother Blue puts them on a planet to die so that he looks good and so he doesn't have to provide much for those planets. But on one of the ships she gets captured but it gets stopped by pirates which is her old friend. The form together with each other and go to a planet to see if what they thought it was true, but it was much worse. They then disguised themselves as human workers and the pirates took them to the space thingy, and worked on the planet below to harvest allium. Brother Blue eventually found out about her, but he also got fired, so he then tried to kill Tula, but she killed him with her robot, Trevor, first.
I think that this books main theme was helping others will always reward you in the end, and with different ways than you expected because Tula was trying to help the Wanders and she eventually did. As they got to know him he tried to deceive them, but that made their hate for him even stronger, as with their want for revenge. They then helped her and she got to do one of the things she most wanted to after she was beaten and abandoned for death of the space thing, which was getting revenge on brother blue. She helped the Wanders by warning them about Brother Blue and his plan to kill them for his own wealth. And after they seen that they too wanted to get revenge on him for killing their family and friends, so it was a win-win for both Tula and the Wanders when she killed him because they got their revenge on him for his wrong doings to them.
I really liked the book, I would definitely recommend it. It was very interesting with all the drama about Brother Blue lying about everything and sending Wanderers to cover his back. Especially when they went to one of the colonial planets and seen just how bad it was. There was a giant pile of diseased bodies, which count as waste because they just hover over the planet to see if there’s waste. I also really liked when Tula had to decide between Tourntor and her friend. She in the end choose Tourntor and they lived with each other on the planet below of the space station. I thought it was like a futuristic/mystery/slight romance type of book. I wish that there was a third book in the series that went into the relationship more with Tula and Tourntor.
I think that this books main theme was helping others will always reward you in the end, and with different ways than you expected because Tula was trying to help the Wanders and she eventually did. As they got to know him he tried to deceive them, but that made their hate for him even stronger, as with their want for revenge. They then helped her and she got to do one of the things she most wanted to after she was beaten and abandoned for death of the space thing, which was getting revenge on brother blue. She helped the Wanders by warning them about Brother Blue and his plan to kill them for his own wealth. And after they seen that they too wanted to get revenge on him for killing their family and friends, so it was a win-win for both Tula and the Wanders when she killed him because they got their revenge on him for his wrong doings to them.
I really liked the book, I would definitely recommend it. It was very interesting with all the drama about Brother Blue lying about everything and sending Wanderers to cover his back. Especially when they went to one of the colonial planets and seen just how bad it was. There was a giant pile of diseased bodies, which count as waste because they just hover over the planet to see if there’s waste. I also really liked when Tula had to decide between Tourntor and her friend. She in the end choose Tourntor and they lived with each other on the planet below of the space station. I thought it was like a futuristic/mystery/slight romance type of book. I wish that there was a third book in the series that went into the relationship more with Tula and Tourntor.
December 28, 2024
i read tin star when i was pretty young and was so enchanted by this story of a girl who was about my age surviving alone on a space station. i was desperate for a sequel but i also appreciated it as a stand-alone story. for whatever reason i could never manage to get ahold of stone in the sky until now, about 10 years later. it definitely lived up to my childhood expectations, which is probably saying something. i do wish it expanded upon tula’s relationships with tournour and reza a bit more, and the first act of the book had me thinking that polyamory was going to happen, which had me REALLY excited), but i liked how things ended regardless. i did miss the yertina feray as a setting (especially since we spent so little time in the other various settings in comparison), but i also understood that we needed to see tula in those other places in order for her character to be fully realized. i borrowed this from the library, but i’ll definitely be buying it for my shelves soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2017
A definite improvement on the first book and actually quite enjoyable.
The writing and pacing are still hit or miss sometimes and I don't know if I'd actually recommend this duology or not. But I AM glad I read this conclusion.
The first book is really a character study where the plot takes a front seat in this one much more. It's not bad that they were different, and I actually liked to plot quite a bit, but I don't know. Parts of it felt really... simplistic? I think that was the writing style, to be honest.
But I love one (1) alien boy, let me tell you.
The writing and pacing are still hit or miss sometimes and I don't know if I'd actually recommend this duology or not. But I AM glad I read this conclusion.
The first book is really a character study where the plot takes a front seat in this one much more. It's not bad that they were different, and I actually liked to plot quite a bit, but I don't know. Parts of it felt really... simplistic? I think that was the writing style, to be honest.
But I love one (1) alien boy, let me tell you.
Read
March 13, 2023Graded By: Regina
Cover Story: Lonely World
BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Space Western
Bonus Factors: Worldbuilding, Diversity
Anti-Bonus Factor: Genocide
Relationship Status: Premium Water on the House
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Lonely World
BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Space Western
Bonus Factors: Worldbuilding, Diversity
Anti-Bonus Factor: Genocide
Relationship Status: Premium Water on the House
Read the full book report here.
February 5, 2025
Gosh, what a good book. I don't enjoy it as much as Tin Star, the first book in this 2 book series, but I love the main character and watching her learn, adapt, and grow.
I think this book has "too many". There are too many characters, too many storylines, and too many settings. Because it's a fantasy/sci-fi, it's also harder to keep track of these things because they are invented. I can't relate, it's hard to remember.
But I have read it so many times that it is finally starting to sink in :)
I think this book has "too many". There are too many characters, too many storylines, and too many settings. Because it's a fantasy/sci-fi, it's also harder to keep track of these things because they are invented. I can't relate, it's hard to remember.
But I have read it so many times that it is finally starting to sink in :)
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