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Secret Sky: The Young Universe
Discover the Secret Sky universe and embark on an epic fantasy adventure! The stars speak in a language of secrets, yet their stories cannot remain hidden forever. Do you ever dream of flying through the stars? Skylar does, but his dreams are more than just dreams—they’re the key to saving his world. Billions of years ago on an ancient Earth, Skylar’s life is turned upside down when he leaves his home for the last time. To survive, he must fall in with the knights who destroyed his peasant village and live under the shadow of the king who sent them to exterminate Skylar’s people. But no one realizes Skylar is haunted by dreams where he becomes a starship soaring through space. Magic, which should only exist in dreams, becomes real—and he holds immense powers others would not want him to have. Skylar must keep his head down, and his secrets hidden, for as long as possible. Enter a world filled with monsters, brave knights, powerful magic, hidden treasures, and ancient mysteries. Because the key to unlocking it all is the Secret Sky that guides Skylar’s dreams.
- GenresFantasy
484 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2024
4 people are currently reading
2027 people want to read
About the author
T. Alan Horne
2 books18 followersT. Alan Horne is a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and tales of high adventure. He specializes in taking familiar genres to new places and creating characters that readers get to keep forever as souvenirs to live in their imaginations.
His first book, Advent 9, garnered high praise, and was called “Absolutely Brilliant!” by bestselling author David Farland—the writing teacher and mentor of Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Mull, Stephenie Meyer, and James Dashner.
Mr. Horne spends most of his time writing but occasionally answers fan inquiries.
His first book, Advent 9, garnered high praise, and was called “Absolutely Brilliant!” by bestselling author David Farland—the writing teacher and mentor of Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Mull, Stephenie Meyer, and James Dashner.
Mr. Horne spends most of his time writing but occasionally answers fan inquiries.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 27, 2025
poorly written book that needed an editor and a thorough copy editor.
into-the-void
September 28, 2025Vile human, crappy book.
Author is abusive to women on social media, and his book is also poorly written trash.
Bad combo.
Author is abusive to women on social media, and his book is also poorly written trash.
Bad combo.
September 29, 2025
Couldn’t even get through the first chapter. Horribly written.
August 22, 2024
Opening Line: "This is the oldest story I know, which makes it the oldest in the world."
In this fantasy science fiction story, the first of a trilogy, the life of 10-year-old Skylar is upended when his secluded mountain village is destroyed by the decree of a faraway king. As the king laid on his deathbed, he commanded his son, Prince Sage to burn Curon Village to the ground, sparing no one. Miraculously, Skylar emerged from the carnage unharmed and is later rescued by a band of the king's knights who take him back to the capital under the guise that he is the "nephew" of the captain.
Yet, ever since Skylar left his small village, he has been plagued by a recurring dream. In it, he is no longer a small boy but is transformed into a starship, voyaging across the cosmos, able to converse with the stars. Uru-Ana, the first star he encounters on his journey, reveals that a vast treasure lies at the end of Pilgrim's Road, and that Skylar's parents are alive, eagerly awaiting him. All that he has to do is navigate his way to them using the map that is stitched into his shirt. Just as Skylar begins his voyage, he abruptly awakens. Magic, once thought to be only the thing of dreams, now becomes a perilous reality. Can Skylar conceal his true identity and keep his new powers hidden now that he has entered the capital, and especially once he is confronted by Prince Sage face to face?
Anyone who knows me knows I enjoy imaginative worlds, books with magic, some adventure. Give me a couple of knights, a castle, some mystery and I'm pretty satisfied. Secret Sky is that kind of story, the one you read to connect to the characters, you get to know them as they go into battle together, as one begins to develop powers and as they interact with one another. Being character driven, the plot develops at a slower pace, but luckily there is this mysterious narrator who interjects from time to time, sometimes speaking directly to the reader, filling in some of the slower parts with well-placed lines of humor and a few moments that I'll admit totally threw me. Let me explain that last one a little bit.
As I said before this is fantasy and science fiction. Most of the book takes place during what appears to be medieval times, horses and knights with a band of travelers making their way across the country. At the same time, it's alluded to that Skylar's world is just one of many futuristic worlds, or one of many Earths. One where there are even Shieldeater Boars, or monsters that are as big as a tractor.
Then there is the importance of stars in Skylar's world, how they play a huge part in writing destines, make their own plans and set things into motion. How in Skylar's dreams when he's among the stars he can speak with them. Which kind of gives me some The Little Prince vibes. Skylar even becomes a starship following the constellations, but not just any starship, he has missiles, explosives, and energy shields. So yeah, be prepared for some mixing of medieval times with space and a few common day things thrown in too. Which were the moments that took me by surprise, like the narrator mentioning that confessing to murder had not been on his "bingo card."
Overall, I must say I enjoyed the read. The black and white illustrations are lovely, and Skylar is quite the character; I can truly imagine him growing across the trilogy. Learning more about his powers, maybe meeting a few more stars and finally seeing how things go with Prince Sage. Yeah, that ending really has me wanting to read the next book now. I like surprises like that. Plus, the interjecting narrator is quite humorous with their asides. So read this if you like a mixing of genres, children with hidden talents and want to dive into the characters of the story.
A huge thank you to T. Alan Horne for the opportunity to read Secret Sky in exchange for an honest review.
In this fantasy science fiction story, the first of a trilogy, the life of 10-year-old Skylar is upended when his secluded mountain village is destroyed by the decree of a faraway king. As the king laid on his deathbed, he commanded his son, Prince Sage to burn Curon Village to the ground, sparing no one. Miraculously, Skylar emerged from the carnage unharmed and is later rescued by a band of the king's knights who take him back to the capital under the guise that he is the "nephew" of the captain.
Yet, ever since Skylar left his small village, he has been plagued by a recurring dream. In it, he is no longer a small boy but is transformed into a starship, voyaging across the cosmos, able to converse with the stars. Uru-Ana, the first star he encounters on his journey, reveals that a vast treasure lies at the end of Pilgrim's Road, and that Skylar's parents are alive, eagerly awaiting him. All that he has to do is navigate his way to them using the map that is stitched into his shirt. Just as Skylar begins his voyage, he abruptly awakens. Magic, once thought to be only the thing of dreams, now becomes a perilous reality. Can Skylar conceal his true identity and keep his new powers hidden now that he has entered the capital, and especially once he is confronted by Prince Sage face to face?
Anyone who knows me knows I enjoy imaginative worlds, books with magic, some adventure. Give me a couple of knights, a castle, some mystery and I'm pretty satisfied. Secret Sky is that kind of story, the one you read to connect to the characters, you get to know them as they go into battle together, as one begins to develop powers and as they interact with one another. Being character driven, the plot develops at a slower pace, but luckily there is this mysterious narrator who interjects from time to time, sometimes speaking directly to the reader, filling in some of the slower parts with well-placed lines of humor and a few moments that I'll admit totally threw me. Let me explain that last one a little bit.
As I said before this is fantasy and science fiction. Most of the book takes place during what appears to be medieval times, horses and knights with a band of travelers making their way across the country. At the same time, it's alluded to that Skylar's world is just one of many futuristic worlds, or one of many Earths. One where there are even Shieldeater Boars, or monsters that are as big as a tractor.
Then there is the importance of stars in Skylar's world, how they play a huge part in writing destines, make their own plans and set things into motion. How in Skylar's dreams when he's among the stars he can speak with them. Which kind of gives me some The Little Prince vibes. Skylar even becomes a starship following the constellations, but not just any starship, he has missiles, explosives, and energy shields. So yeah, be prepared for some mixing of medieval times with space and a few common day things thrown in too. Which were the moments that took me by surprise, like the narrator mentioning that confessing to murder had not been on his "bingo card."
Overall, I must say I enjoyed the read. The black and white illustrations are lovely, and Skylar is quite the character; I can truly imagine him growing across the trilogy. Learning more about his powers, maybe meeting a few more stars and finally seeing how things go with Prince Sage. Yeah, that ending really has me wanting to read the next book now. I like surprises like that. Plus, the interjecting narrator is quite humorous with their asides. So read this if you like a mixing of genres, children with hidden talents and want to dive into the characters of the story.
A huge thank you to T. Alan Horne for the opportunity to read Secret Sky in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2024
This is a new, creative and refreshing fantasy read. If you want your kids to read Brandon Sanderson soon, start here.
It's a good example of a sci-fi fantasy because it has medieval technology, but is also a sci-fi with a starship in the dream world.
M words are forbidden, such as magic or miracle. Haha. The narrator is not from that parallel Earth or time, so it can make a lot of comparisons using pop culture or contemporary references to make the reader be at ease or relate more to this strange world.
It's a great new spin on farm-boy-chosen-one-goes-on-a-quest, but with a lot of vibes from our favorite reads. At the same time, it's not close enough to be distractive. You'll get nuances that will speak to your experience as a reader, and to some it will feel like X to others like Y, depending on what left a mark on your memory. It's also mystery and the quest is far from being completed in book one. A great hero journeys classic vibe.
I appreciate that this book has a 10 year old as a main character but is also the type of fantasy that is not just for kids but for scifi-fantasy lovers of all ages.
Has a great pacing with humor to balance the darkness. The narrator breaks the 4th wall and this helps with the characterization of the narrator himself.
Continues in the next volume.
High fantasy, action, and always feels like moving forward, a lot happens (including befriending squirrels and fast horses, eheh) but the main story is slow paced at the same time.
(According to my internal library:) For fans of Brandon Sanderson, Mercedes Lackey with a hint of Neil Gaiman.
It's a good example of a sci-fi fantasy because it has medieval technology, but is also a sci-fi with a starship in the dream world.
M words are forbidden, such as magic or miracle. Haha. The narrator is not from that parallel Earth or time, so it can make a lot of comparisons using pop culture or contemporary references to make the reader be at ease or relate more to this strange world.
It's a great new spin on farm-boy-chosen-one-goes-on-a-quest, but with a lot of vibes from our favorite reads. At the same time, it's not close enough to be distractive. You'll get nuances that will speak to your experience as a reader, and to some it will feel like X to others like Y, depending on what left a mark on your memory. It's also mystery and the quest is far from being completed in book one. A great hero journeys classic vibe.
I appreciate that this book has a 10 year old as a main character but is also the type of fantasy that is not just for kids but for scifi-fantasy lovers of all ages.
Has a great pacing with humor to balance the darkness. The narrator breaks the 4th wall and this helps with the characterization of the narrator himself.
Continues in the next volume.
High fantasy, action, and always feels like moving forward, a lot happens (including befriending squirrels and fast horses, eheh) but the main story is slow paced at the same time.
(According to my internal library:) For fans of Brandon Sanderson, Mercedes Lackey with a hint of Neil Gaiman.
October 3, 2025
A creative and moving story that mixes fantasy, science, and big questions about life. I enjoyed following Skylar’s path as he faced danger and chased his dreams among the stars. It’s both imaginative and heartfelt—a memorable read.
September 9, 2024
A Fascinating Dive into a Mysterious Universe
This book completely captivated me with its imaginative world and intriguing storyline. The concept of a young universe is both unique and thought-provoking, keeping me hooked from the very first chapter. The characters are well-crafted, and I found myself fully immersed in their journey. If you enjoy stories that transport you to new realms with a sense of mystery, this is definitely a must-read!
This book completely captivated me with its imaginative world and intriguing storyline. The concept of a young universe is both unique and thought-provoking, keeping me hooked from the very first chapter. The characters are well-crafted, and I found myself fully immersed in their journey. If you enjoy stories that transport you to new realms with a sense of mystery, this is definitely a must-read!
October 14, 2024
I love the way the story starts out with the narrator telling us the oldest story that they know. That was an interesting book for the reader and makes you want to read the rest of the book to find out what the story is. And the narrator is engaging the reader in wanting to read the story as well which I love when I read stories.
This is the story of Skylar and the one of the first ever Earth’s. Skylar is 10 years old and I love the names of the characters in this book of each of the characters. His father is an interesting character as he is a strong, firm, but patient man. His father is giving him a calf to take care of and to be responsible for, so he can learn how to be a grown-up soon.
I especially loved the illustrations of the characters in this book and found the illustrations to be well done, as you can really see Skylar’s brother Jim being so much bigger than Skylar. It’s a nice way for kids and adults alike to be able to see parts of the story through the author’s eyes. I found the story to be highly engaging and many parts of the story between Old Torta and Skylar were intriguing as you find out more about Skylar’s destiny. The book overall was very well written you get an idea of the setting, the characters were great, and the story had a great plot I highly look forward to volume 2!
This is the story of Skylar and the one of the first ever Earth’s. Skylar is 10 years old and I love the names of the characters in this book of each of the characters. His father is an interesting character as he is a strong, firm, but patient man. His father is giving him a calf to take care of and to be responsible for, so he can learn how to be a grown-up soon.
I especially loved the illustrations of the characters in this book and found the illustrations to be well done, as you can really see Skylar’s brother Jim being so much bigger than Skylar. It’s a nice way for kids and adults alike to be able to see parts of the story through the author’s eyes. I found the story to be highly engaging and many parts of the story between Old Torta and Skylar were intriguing as you find out more about Skylar’s destiny. The book overall was very well written you get an idea of the setting, the characters were great, and the story had a great plot I highly look forward to volume 2!
November 11, 2024
What starts as a simple tale of survival, soon morphs into something much grander as Skylar is pulled into a world where magic and futuristic technology collide. His recurring dreams about becoming a starship traveling through space, conversing with the stars, and uncovering the truth about his destiny are absolutely fascinating. The blending of medieval elements, like knights and castles, with advanced concepts like starships and cosmic journeys, keeps the story engaging and full of unexpected twists.
Secret Sky is a wonderful, imaginative tale with a unique premise and a promising start to what I hope will be an unforgettable trilogy. If you enjoy mixing medieval fantasy with science fiction, a bit of mystery, and a lot of heart, this book is definitely worth checking out. Highly recommend, and I’m excited for the next installment!
Secret Sky is a wonderful, imaginative tale with a unique premise and a promising start to what I hope will be an unforgettable trilogy. If you enjoy mixing medieval fantasy with science fiction, a bit of mystery, and a lot of heart, this book is definitely worth checking out. Highly recommend, and I’m excited for the next installment!
October 5, 2025
This book absolutely pilled me in with its mix of dreamy space travel, ancient kingdoms, and a main character I couldn't stop rooting for. Skylar's journey feels fresh and emotional, with secrets, danger, and magic woven together in unexpected ways. The blend of fantasy and sci-fi wprks beautiful, and some of the imagery, especially the flying dreams, stuck with me long after. I did have to slow down a couple times to follow the shifts between dream and reality, but the payoff was worth it. A good one if you love thoughtful adventure with heart.
November 8, 2024
Secret Sky: The Young Universe is an intriguing, wholly imaginative science fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Ender's Game. It has balanced offerings of adventure, mystery, humor and action sure to delight readers of all ages though I'd recommend it more to the younger generation.
Really enjoyed Andrew Eiden's narration which provides additional depth to the characters, especially our main, Skylar.
Really enjoyed Andrew Eiden's narration which provides additional depth to the characters, especially our main, Skylar.
September 29, 2025
If there's one thing Sexy Radagast knows, it's sexiness.
And while a children's book cannot be sexy, Sexy Radagast likes to believe some books can be sexy...in spirit. That's why he loves Secret Sky, in all its non-sexual sexiness. The sexy moral. The sexy mystery. The sexy platonic relationships. It's enough to send Sexy Radagast to live in the woods, cause he is in HEAT for some lighthearted action-adventure fantasy.
Sexy Radagast rates gives this book an "S" for fun.
And while a children's book cannot be sexy, Sexy Radagast likes to believe some books can be sexy...in spirit. That's why he loves Secret Sky, in all its non-sexual sexiness. The sexy moral. The sexy mystery. The sexy platonic relationships. It's enough to send Sexy Radagast to live in the woods, cause he is in HEAT for some lighthearted action-adventure fantasy.
Sexy Radagast rates gives this book an "S" for fun.
September 3, 2025
"Secret Sky is an imaginative and heartfelt journey that blends cosmic wonder with the raw struggles of a boy caught between destiny and survival. The mix of dreams, magic, and star-spanning adventure makes the story both intimate and epic. Fans of fantasy with a cosmic twist will find themselves deeply moved by Skylar’s journey."
October 2, 2025
Secret Sky is a captivating blend of science fantasy and adventure that sweeps readers into a cosmos full of danger, mystery, and wonder. Skylar’s journey is both epic and deeply personal, balancing action with heart. With vivid worldbuilding and timeless themes of hope and destiny, this book enchants young and adult readers alike.
October 4, 2025
A cosmic medieval story you can't stop enjoy.
This was an interesting mix of science fiction and medieval fantasy genres, where a boy dreams of exploring the stars searching for his family that sadly was murdered. At the same time he struggles in real life with the challenges thrown at him.
A great story, with fascinating world building as well as good character development.
This was an interesting mix of science fiction and medieval fantasy genres, where a boy dreams of exploring the stars searching for his family that sadly was murdered. At the same time he struggles in real life with the challenges thrown at him.
A great story, with fascinating world building as well as good character development.
October 4, 2025
My middle-grade nephew couldn’t stay interested, so I opened it to see why because it should’ve been right up his alley. I’m not surprised; it was disappointing. Poor writing, and overall just very meh.
October 5, 2025
I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover artwork, and after reading the description, I knew this book was something special - and it did not disappoint. It is the kind of story that can transport readers into another exciting world.
October 23, 2025
Fun mix of fantasy and sci-fi that follows Skylar, a kid from one of the first Earths who starts having strange dreams about starships and magic. The story’s full of imagination, character-driven fantasy with a dreamy vibe. Only complaint is sometimes tricky to follow.
October 24, 2025
A wonderful mix of fantasy, science, and emotion. Skylar’s story is touching and full of imagination, with moments that made me smile and others that made me pause. It’s written with warmth and wonder—a beautiful, hopeful adventure.
October 24, 2025
Clear plot, smart pacing, and an interesting fusion of fantasy and science fiction. The author builds the setting with precision and keeps every element consistent. A strong, intelligent story that makes sense from start to finish.
January 9, 2025
such cute fantasy/adventure. younger readers would probably enjoy this book -s
March 4, 2025
To Come
September 29, 2025
This writer is very abusive to women on his social media accounts & is a very harassing person. I hear the book is subpar, too
September 29, 2025
Truly the UGLIEST book I've ever had the displeasure of encountering. Vile. Its author's behavior is even worse than the writing.
October 2, 2025
poor writing that makes for a convoluted read. even the dedication/intro is hard to get through and has a weird quality.
the audio narrator is excellent, but he can't save the book itself.
the audio narrator is excellent, but he can't save the book itself.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews