1,000 Balloons

by Emma Fust, Evelyn Fust

Once upon a time, the Freely family was legendary- a remarkable lineage of inventors and visionaries, whose creations brought progress to the world. But that was eight years ago, before the Freelander Disaster changed everything, leaving cousins Arlyn and Graylin Freely to pick up the pieces of their family and its legacy. However, when a fresh tragedy shakes their lives once more, the cousins begin to question what truly happened on that fateful day.

With a loyal crew and a rebuilt airship, Arlyn and Graylin are drawn into a web of mysteries that threaten to change everything they thought they knew about their family. Their journey leads them to cross paths with shadowy figures from their past, yet, the more they uncover, the deeper the questions Who were their parents, truly? Could they still be alive- and if so, is that a reunion they’re ready for?

As the cousins hunt for answers, their bond is tested by old wounds, unexpected alliances, and a haunting realization that forces them to How far are they willing to go for the truth, and how hard is it to heal from the burns the Freely family legacy left on them?

Genres: Steampunk, Comedy, Adventure

418 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2024

Reviews

[Jerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prowess with which these teenagers have created an entire world that pulls you in and leaves you excited for more is unmatched. The character development was great fun and the comedy sprinkled throughout kept me going into the next chapter. The story arc kept me guessing right up until the end. I am so excited to see what comes next for our utterly fearless heroines!

[Abby Glann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second time enjoying the adventures of the Freely cousins. The story is enjoyable and keeps twisting until the end. I think some polish could have helped the book overall, though. There are quite a few grammatical and punctuation errors that detract from the finished product. I also get lost in the modern language slang use vs. some of the imagery of the steam-punky universe the cousins live in. There are inconsistencies here and there a good edit would weed out. Overall, though, a great first novel from the Fusts.

[Emma Fust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so yes I helped write it. But also I think its pretty good. Personally, I love the characters, and I have spent a pretty good amount of time with them. Arlyn and Graylin never fail to entertain me, and I wish Leo was my uncle. Enland I think would annoy me, River I would like to annoy, and I need Lewis and Teddy to be my friends right now. The banter, humor, and unique sense of adventure always get's me pumped to work on the sequel :).

[Krystal Valster · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully inventive story. I loved the interactions between the cousins and the crew. The mystery and journey was wonderful. Belhaven sounded amazing. I really hope there is more that will happen with these characters in future books. The ending had some good drama and twists too! Very well done!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! The characters grew as the story progressed. They mystery was intriguing. The ending seemed somewhat abrupt, but it was left open for a sequel. There were still a lot of unanswered questions by the end.

[Sadie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! As part of the editing team, and former English teacher for one of the authors, I am a little biased, but I absolutely loved it and am BEYOND proud of these young ladies!

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a roller-coaster of a read. There was not a moment that I could have guessed what was coming next! That ending took me out!