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Skyborn
The circus has seen better days, but for Bastjan, it's home. He will do anything he can to save it, even if it means participating in a death-defying new act. But when that fails to draw in the crowds, the ringmaster makes a deal with a mysterious man by the name of Dr Bauer. In exchange for his help, Bauer wants a box that belonged to Bastjan's mother and came from her birthplace - the faraway island of Melita. Bastjan is desperate to keep his only memento of his mother out of Bauer's hands. And as he uncovers more about the strange objects contained within, he realises it's not only the circus that's in terrible danger....
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First published June 10, 2021
About the author
Sinéad O'Hart
14 books72 followersSinéad O'Hart was born on a long-ago Monday in one of the many corners of Ireland. She grew up - not very far up, to be honest - with one brother and two parents, in a small house full of books. She always wanted to be an author, but somehow managed to wander through a variety of careers (including butcher, bookseller, and university lecturer, among others) before finally getting around to what she should have been doing all along, which was writing.
Her first book, THE EYE OF THE NORTH, was published by Knopf BFYR (US/Canada) in 2017, and by Stripes Publishing (UK/Ireland) in 2018. Her second book, THE STAR-SPUN WEB, came out in 2019 (Stripes, UK/Ireland; Knopf BFYR, US/Canada). In 2021 she published THE RAVENS' CALL with Harper Collins Children's Books and a third novel with Stripes/Little Tiger Press, SKYBORN, a prequel to her first book, The Eye of the North. Her fourth and fifth novels, THE TIME TIDER and THE SILVER ROAD, came out in 2023, the former with Stripes/Little Tiger Press and the latter with Piccadilly Press. In 2024 she began publishing her series of younger readers with Nosy Crow, beginning with LOLA AND LARCH FIX A FAIRY FOREST. Three titles in this series published in 2024, along with her sixth novel, SWORD OF THE SUN (Piccadilly Press).
She lives with one husband and one energetic youngster in the midlands of Ireland, in a small house full of books.
Her first book, THE EYE OF THE NORTH, was published by Knopf BFYR (US/Canada) in 2017, and by Stripes Publishing (UK/Ireland) in 2018. Her second book, THE STAR-SPUN WEB, came out in 2019 (Stripes, UK/Ireland; Knopf BFYR, US/Canada). In 2021 she published THE RAVENS' CALL with Harper Collins Children's Books and a third novel with Stripes/Little Tiger Press, SKYBORN, a prequel to her first book, The Eye of the North. Her fourth and fifth novels, THE TIME TIDER and THE SILVER ROAD, came out in 2023, the former with Stripes/Little Tiger Press and the latter with Piccadilly Press. In 2024 she began publishing her series of younger readers with Nosy Crow, beginning with LOLA AND LARCH FIX A FAIRY FOREST. Three titles in this series published in 2024, along with her sixth novel, SWORD OF THE SUN (Piccadilly Press).
She lives with one husband and one energetic youngster in the midlands of Ireland, in a small house full of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 31, 2021
Bastjan has been raised in the circus. His mother, who was the star of the show, died while performing her act. Since then he’s been reliant upon his found family, the other performers. When the ringmaster (boo!) makes a deal with a stranger, Dr Bauer (BOO!), Bastjan’s life becomes much more complicated.
I absolutely loved Sinéad O’Hart’s The Star-Spun Web so had expected to adore Bastjan’s story as well. Don’t get me wrong; I did enjoy it, but I didn’t fall in love with it like I’d hoped.
I think this could be a case of bad timing as I’m in a bit of a reading slump at the moment. I’m also wondering if it might have made a difference if I’d read The Eye of the North first.
You see, Skyborn is the prequel to The Eye of the North, something I didn’t know about until after I finished Skyborn. Some things make more sense to me now, including why both the story itself and many of its characters seemed to be hovering around a neon sign at the end that said, ‘To be continued…’.
From the reviews I’ve read, readers loved The Eye of the North and have been delighted to delve into Bastjan’s backstory. Without having read that, I found myself more interested in Alice’s story in Skyborn and am disappointed with where we left her. I’m hoping her story will continue in The Eye of the North.
I did like Bastjan and really liked Crake, a strongman with a heart of gold, but Alice and her protective dog, Ware, stole the show for me. I want to learn more about Dawara, the Silent City and the Tunnellers.
I would be interested in rereading this book once I’ve read The Eye of the North to see if that helps me get caught up in the magic.
Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
I absolutely loved Sinéad O’Hart’s The Star-Spun Web so had expected to adore Bastjan’s story as well. Don’t get me wrong; I did enjoy it, but I didn’t fall in love with it like I’d hoped.
I think this could be a case of bad timing as I’m in a bit of a reading slump at the moment. I’m also wondering if it might have made a difference if I’d read The Eye of the North first.
You see, Skyborn is the prequel to The Eye of the North, something I didn’t know about until after I finished Skyborn. Some things make more sense to me now, including why both the story itself and many of its characters seemed to be hovering around a neon sign at the end that said, ‘To be continued…’.
From the reviews I’ve read, readers loved The Eye of the North and have been delighted to delve into Bastjan’s backstory. Without having read that, I found myself more interested in Alice’s story in Skyborn and am disappointed with where we left her. I’m hoping her story will continue in The Eye of the North.
I did like Bastjan and really liked Crake, a strongman with a heart of gold, but Alice and her protective dog, Ware, stole the show for me. I want to learn more about Dawara, the Silent City and the Tunnellers.
I would be interested in rereading this book once I’ve read The Eye of the North to see if that helps me get caught up in the magic.
Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
May 9, 2022
This is a prequel to The Eye of the North, about Thing’s story before the events of that book took place. I absolutely loved Thing, so I was so excited. This was a dark & thrilling tale full of heartbreak.. & hope too. The circus has seen better days, but for Bastjan it’s home. He will do anything he can to save it, even if it means participating in a death-defying new act. But when that fails to draw in the crowds, the ringmaster makes a deal with a mysterious man by the name of Dr Bauer. In exchange for his help, Bauer wants a box that belonged to Bastjan’s mother & came from her birthplace – the faraway island of Melita. Bastjan is desperate to keep his only memento of his mother out of Bauer’s hands. And as he uncovers more about the strange objects contained within, he realizes it’s not only the circus that’s in terrible danger…The ringmaster is horrible, & you see over the course of the book more & more the Thing we grew to know & love in The Eye of the North-he becomes Thing because of everything he went through. So much trauma mentality, physically, emotionally. I loved seeing his courage grow more & more, & his need to make things from the past right. How loyal of a son & friend he is as well. Absolutely LOVED Alice so much. Wares & Crake have my heart though. Lol now I’m hoping for a THIRD book, 1 that continues on from The Eye of the North & brings all the characters from both books together some how. That would be awesome, & I think would be so satisfying. This was dark, thrilling, dangerous, fast-paced, & full of friendship, bravery, mystery, loyalty, family, secrets, heart, & hope. Bastjan’s whole backstory, as well as his moms, was so intriguing. Everything about where his mom is from, the bracelet, the Slipskin..all of it. Really enjoyed this, & getting to know more about Bastjan(Thing). BEAUTIFUL cover by Sara Mulvanny too!💜
March 31, 2021
Skyborn is the story of Bastjan, a circus boy who, under the stern hand of his uncaring Circus Master stepfather, is encouraged to attempt the most daring high-wire act – the very one that killed his mother, Ester. But he knows he must go up, or everything else will tumble… But let's step back a bit...
Bastjan has discovered a box of his late mother’s notebooks and possessions, including a bracelet which holds the memories of all those who have possessed it – secrets of old times and other worlds that mustn’t fall into the wrong hands. And I don’t think it’s a huge spoiler if I say that Bastjan’s stepfather, Quinn, definitely has a pair of wrong hands. But they’re not the only ones.
To protect his mother’s secrets, Bastjan is launched on a chase and race adventure through a nineteenth century landscape, caught between real and imagined. It has grime and steampunk, with descriptions so vivid you can smell the mess tent, the campfire smoke, the greasepaint of the backstage make-up. You can hear the whirr and clunk of an old circus get-up and the crowds, and the animals as they whinny and snort in the late evening air. Everything, even the murkiest corner, is in such sharp relief, it’s like Dickens with WD40. O’Hart’s writing slides the reader from one scene to the next, nose and eyes full of the world she’s created, allowing it to build and build and envelop the senses.
The story is jam-packed with colourful characters – each as showy as the acts they perform, but with real depth, flaws as well as draws. But it’s Alice, the headstrong stowaway girl, and Crake, Bastjan’s strongman friend, that are the star supports. Each brings a saving grace without interfering with Bastjan’s own journey, as he turns nervous tumbler to fearless quester. The adventure takes place on the ground and in the air, and, swinging like a trapeze, flawlessly catches the threads and weaves them together. There’s nothing loose or unsolved, until the end… And this is what I love so much…. The performance isn’t wrapped up neatly with a bow; the ringmaster doesn’t come in and introduce the final act. It hangs. And where the story was so marvellously the creation of the writer, what happens next will be down to your imagination.
Immersive and imaginative, magical and tense as a tightrope, Skyborn is a superb story. An Oliver with a twist in the tale. It should be a film. It’s definitely a modern classic.
Bastjan has discovered a box of his late mother’s notebooks and possessions, including a bracelet which holds the memories of all those who have possessed it – secrets of old times and other worlds that mustn’t fall into the wrong hands. And I don’t think it’s a huge spoiler if I say that Bastjan’s stepfather, Quinn, definitely has a pair of wrong hands. But they’re not the only ones.
To protect his mother’s secrets, Bastjan is launched on a chase and race adventure through a nineteenth century landscape, caught between real and imagined. It has grime and steampunk, with descriptions so vivid you can smell the mess tent, the campfire smoke, the greasepaint of the backstage make-up. You can hear the whirr and clunk of an old circus get-up and the crowds, and the animals as they whinny and snort in the late evening air. Everything, even the murkiest corner, is in such sharp relief, it’s like Dickens with WD40. O’Hart’s writing slides the reader from one scene to the next, nose and eyes full of the world she’s created, allowing it to build and build and envelop the senses.
The story is jam-packed with colourful characters – each as showy as the acts they perform, but with real depth, flaws as well as draws. But it’s Alice, the headstrong stowaway girl, and Crake, Bastjan’s strongman friend, that are the star supports. Each brings a saving grace without interfering with Bastjan’s own journey, as he turns nervous tumbler to fearless quester. The adventure takes place on the ground and in the air, and, swinging like a trapeze, flawlessly catches the threads and weaves them together. There’s nothing loose or unsolved, until the end… And this is what I love so much…. The performance isn’t wrapped up neatly with a bow; the ringmaster doesn’t come in and introduce the final act. It hangs. And where the story was so marvellously the creation of the writer, what happens next will be down to your imagination.
Immersive and imaginative, magical and tense as a tightrope, Skyborn is a superb story. An Oliver with a twist in the tale. It should be a film. It’s definitely a modern classic.
May 17, 2021
Skyborn by Sinéad O’Hart was a fast-paced magical read full of eye-popping performances, adventure, and an amazing cast of characters.
Circus, airships, London, islands ̶ Skyborn will definitely take the readers to a roller coaster ride of adventure and steampunk flawlessly intertwined together. I was hooked from the start and I just can’t stop reading. It’s action-packed that readers would never get bored and Sinéad O’Hart has a way with storytelling! The way she sets and describes the scenes will transport the readers there. It’s so unpredictable that I devoured the book in one sitting.
The characters are well-fleshed out. Bastjan is a likable and relatable character. He’s courageous and steadfast, and the way he’s longing to connect with his dead mother felt realistic. Also, the side characters are quirky and fun. They are so supportive of each other. The found family trope is well-developed, it’s perfect. Also, the villain is despicable ugh!
Overall, Skyborn is an imaginative and thrilling read that both young and adult readers would enjoy. It left me wanting to read more books from the author. And I did not know that this is a prequel to her novel, Eye of the North, so would read that the soonest.
Thank you, Little Tiger Group for the e-ARC of Skyborn. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Circus, airships, London, islands ̶ Skyborn will definitely take the readers to a roller coaster ride of adventure and steampunk flawlessly intertwined together. I was hooked from the start and I just can’t stop reading. It’s action-packed that readers would never get bored and Sinéad O’Hart has a way with storytelling! The way she sets and describes the scenes will transport the readers there. It’s so unpredictable that I devoured the book in one sitting.
The characters are well-fleshed out. Bastjan is a likable and relatable character. He’s courageous and steadfast, and the way he’s longing to connect with his dead mother felt realistic. Also, the side characters are quirky and fun. They are so supportive of each other. The found family trope is well-developed, it’s perfect. Also, the villain is despicable ugh!
Overall, Skyborn is an imaginative and thrilling read that both young and adult readers would enjoy. It left me wanting to read more books from the author. And I did not know that this is a prequel to her novel, Eye of the North, so would read that the soonest.
Thank you, Little Tiger Group for the e-ARC of Skyborn. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
April 4, 2021
Bastjan has never known anything other than the circus that is his home. He was born there and he was even performing when just a babe in his mother’s arms. But the circus is failing and soon the ringmaster has made a deal with the enigmatic Dr Bauer, who seems to have nefarious motives to his actions. To save the circus Dr Bauer wants to take Bastjan’s last and only memories of his mother – a mysterious box containing unusual items.
When I started reading this book I hadn’t realised that it was a prequel to the fantastic The Eye of the North which I had thoroughly enjoyed a few years ago when I was just beginning to read children’s literature again. However, my friend Liam (@notsotweets) adores Sinead O’Harts books and I trust his opinion on books and so I immediately knew I had to request and read Skyborn and boy was I not disappointed. I love tales of the circus with all that excitement and colour and death defying, jaw dropping acts and performances and I was immediately enthralled by this story. I felt immediately immersed into this beautiful world and when I realised it was a prequel, I soon began to notice threads of The Eye of the North and subtle references that delighted me. The plot was fast paced and leapt about with action just as an acrobat from the circus would and I devoured this story quickly.
The main character Bastjan is fabulous and truly likeable. He’s full of heart and watching his courage grow as he fights to save his circus family and to protect others despite their differences is a joy. The cast of circus performers who surround Bastjan feel very real and support him well. They are brought to life through Sinead O’Hart’s magical descriptions. Ringmaster Cyrus Quinn is a devious antagonist who only thinks of himself and his villainy added to Dr Bauer’s makes for two bad guys to really root against throughout the story.
Skyborn is a thrilling tale full of wonder and family and I absolutely loved this. 5 out of 5 stars to a fantastic book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Tiger Press for providing an e-book review copy.
When I started reading this book I hadn’t realised that it was a prequel to the fantastic The Eye of the North which I had thoroughly enjoyed a few years ago when I was just beginning to read children’s literature again. However, my friend Liam (@notsotweets) adores Sinead O’Harts books and I trust his opinion on books and so I immediately knew I had to request and read Skyborn and boy was I not disappointed. I love tales of the circus with all that excitement and colour and death defying, jaw dropping acts and performances and I was immediately enthralled by this story. I felt immediately immersed into this beautiful world and when I realised it was a prequel, I soon began to notice threads of The Eye of the North and subtle references that delighted me. The plot was fast paced and leapt about with action just as an acrobat from the circus would and I devoured this story quickly.
The main character Bastjan is fabulous and truly likeable. He’s full of heart and watching his courage grow as he fights to save his circus family and to protect others despite their differences is a joy. The cast of circus performers who surround Bastjan feel very real and support him well. They are brought to life through Sinead O’Hart’s magical descriptions. Ringmaster Cyrus Quinn is a devious antagonist who only thinks of himself and his villainy added to Dr Bauer’s makes for two bad guys to really root against throughout the story.
Skyborn is a thrilling tale full of wonder and family and I absolutely loved this. 5 out of 5 stars to a fantastic book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Tiger Press for providing an e-book review copy.
June 8, 2021
I have heard some great things about Sinéad’s Eye of the North, so when I saw her newest book on Netgalley of course I requested it. But it wasn’t for me.
First off, the writing… now it does need bearing in mind that I read an eArc of this so some of these issues may have been edited out. But… the accents of the characters were incredibly inconsistent. It would switch between two sentances and go from non-existent to extremely heavy for the same character. It made for some very jarring reading. I got also really annoyed with the fact that there were very arrupt changes in POV, without even so much as a pagebreak. It was so confusing!!!
Then on to the plot. The story we got wasn’t the one I wanted to read. I loved the prologue! A young girl climbs the wall of some mysterious city and accidently steals the bracelet of some creature. The book itself follows her son Bastjan and his life in the circus. Like fine… but I want to know what these creatures are and why they live in a walled city! Tell me about them, not about how Bastjan gets sold to a farmer (and yes I get how the farmer relates to who his father is, but this never gets explored in the story so in general it serves absolutely no purpose to the plot other than give us less time on the island with the creature). I just feel there was a much more interesting story in this book than the one we were told.
The characters were also just fine. I liked Bastjan, and ‘appriciated’ his panic attacks. And some of the people in the circus were decent characters as well. But Alice… she felt completely out of place in this. Her backstory was too little too late for us to care for her, and in general she just felt like a means to push the ‘learn to love your imperfections’ agenda. Just a way to get a good message in there, and someone who conveniently can read.
And then there are the many plot holes and illogicial decisions, which combined with all of the above just made this an incredibly frustrating read. And I’m sorry for it, because I really thought I would love this book (and looking at the other reviews many people did). This one really wasn’t for me.
First off, the writing… now it does need bearing in mind that I read an eArc of this so some of these issues may have been edited out. But… the accents of the characters were incredibly inconsistent. It would switch between two sentances and go from non-existent to extremely heavy for the same character. It made for some very jarring reading. I got also really annoyed with the fact that there were very arrupt changes in POV, without even so much as a pagebreak. It was so confusing!!!
Then on to the plot. The story we got wasn’t the one I wanted to read. I loved the prologue! A young girl climbs the wall of some mysterious city and accidently steals the bracelet of some creature. The book itself follows her son Bastjan and his life in the circus. Like fine… but I want to know what these creatures are and why they live in a walled city! Tell me about them, not about how Bastjan gets sold to a farmer (and yes I get how the farmer relates to who his father is, but this never gets explored in the story so in general it serves absolutely no purpose to the plot other than give us less time on the island with the creature). I just feel there was a much more interesting story in this book than the one we were told.
The characters were also just fine. I liked Bastjan, and ‘appriciated’ his panic attacks. And some of the people in the circus were decent characters as well. But Alice… she felt completely out of place in this. Her backstory was too little too late for us to care for her, and in general she just felt like a means to push the ‘learn to love your imperfections’ agenda. Just a way to get a good message in there, and someone who conveniently can read.
And then there are the many plot holes and illogicial decisions, which combined with all of the above just made this an incredibly frustrating read. And I’m sorry for it, because I really thought I would love this book (and looking at the other reviews many people did). This one really wasn’t for me.
March 31, 2021
WHOA! Skyborn is bursting with so much action it’ll make your head spin. From the circus & airships to weird creatures & London city - I was up on the high wire with Bastjan & running through tunnels with Alice. I need a sit down. WOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 8, 2021
1 received an eARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
3.5 stars
I'm not entirely sure what this book's genre is. It's definitely an alternate world - some places have the same name (Oxford) but others don't (Afrik.) There are shapeshifters and airships (I also couldn't tell you when this book is vaguely meant to be set beyond "Victorian or later", thanks to the newspapers and trains)
It's sort of fantasy, but very light on the fantasy elements. Instead, I think it would be called "Action and Adventure", which is a pretty broad genre that's only really found in MG (things tend to slot more neatly into other genres as the age range increases, partly due to the market.) The main defining element is the adventure the lead goes on, with a physical journey as a major component. Think Enid Blyton's Secret Series.
SKYBORN features a not-quite-comfortable life getting upended and steadily worse, the arrival of a new character with problems of her own who becomes a friend, a journey first with people who are known and then being separated from them, a mission to set matters right that requires more travelling. It's a nice collection of ideas, with a quiet inner journey to compliment the outer one.
t's not the sort of internal character change that stands out a mile and is a major focus of the book. I'd be hard-pressed to put into words exactly how Bastjan changed across the book, but he didn't feel the same at the end as he did at the start. And that's OK - it wasn't the focus of the story, but rather the natural progression of what would happen to someone who's been through an adventure (that wasn't always pleasant) of this magnitude.
The ringmaster is a really satisfying villain as he's so human in his horribleness. His motivation to save the circus (by what he considers the only meaningful metric - money) at any cost is just too believable. He will bully and trample on anyone he needs to in order to meet his ends, seeing the people who make up the circus as nothing more than expendable tools.
Most of the story is told from Bastjan's perspective, but his new friend Alice narrates for a bit, and then there are one or two scenes from a slipskin's perspective (plus the prologue from Bastjan's mother.) The ending then slipped from third person past to first person present, which was rather jarring and I'm not quite sure what purpose it was meant to be serving narratively, as I just really struggled to get into it, which is a pity as it was the last chapter, and so tying everything up.
3.5 stars
I'm not entirely sure what this book's genre is. It's definitely an alternate world - some places have the same name (Oxford) but others don't (Afrik.) There are shapeshifters and airships (I also couldn't tell you when this book is vaguely meant to be set beyond "Victorian or later", thanks to the newspapers and trains)
It's sort of fantasy, but very light on the fantasy elements. Instead, I think it would be called "Action and Adventure", which is a pretty broad genre that's only really found in MG (things tend to slot more neatly into other genres as the age range increases, partly due to the market.) The main defining element is the adventure the lead goes on, with a physical journey as a major component. Think Enid Blyton's Secret Series.
SKYBORN features a not-quite-comfortable life getting upended and steadily worse, the arrival of a new character with problems of her own who becomes a friend, a journey first with people who are known and then being separated from them, a mission to set matters right that requires more travelling. It's a nice collection of ideas, with a quiet inner journey to compliment the outer one.
t's not the sort of internal character change that stands out a mile and is a major focus of the book. I'd be hard-pressed to put into words exactly how Bastjan changed across the book, but he didn't feel the same at the end as he did at the start. And that's OK - it wasn't the focus of the story, but rather the natural progression of what would happen to someone who's been through an adventure (that wasn't always pleasant) of this magnitude.
The ringmaster is a really satisfying villain as he's so human in his horribleness. His motivation to save the circus (by what he considers the only meaningful metric - money) at any cost is just too believable. He will bully and trample on anyone he needs to in order to meet his ends, seeing the people who make up the circus as nothing more than expendable tools.
Most of the story is told from Bastjan's perspective, but his new friend Alice narrates for a bit, and then there are one or two scenes from a slipskin's perspective (plus the prologue from Bastjan's mother.) The ending then slipped from third person past to first person present, which was rather jarring and I'm not quite sure what purpose it was meant to be serving narratively, as I just really struggled to get into it, which is a pity as it was the last chapter, and so tying everything up.
March 28, 2023
(3.5 stars)
I was given this book by Netgalley and didn't have time to read it for a long time. But I'm really glad I picked it up the other day. I read through it really quickly and very much enjoyed it. Sadly I didn't realise it was the first in a series so I guess now I have to go and read the next one.
Skyborn is about a boy who grew up in the circus after his mother died in a fall from her aerial display. He finds an item that belonged to her which he then discovers was (potentially?) responsible for her incredible talent. The problem is that item never belonged to her and she died before she could return it to its rightful owner. Now he has to find a way home to fulfil her wish while avoiding the bad guys who are after it for its magic powers.
The prose was well done and the story was well-plotted and believable. I really appreciated that Bastien, the main character, had a strong father figure. A lot of orphans in fiction don't, but one of the other circus performers basically became his dad after his mum died and I loved that relationship and dynamic. I also loved that the adults weren't dumb in this (though some were foolish or evil), and the kids did actually seek their help and advice.
This was a very enjoyable adventure. The magic creature in it was a little creepy, but it worked and Im really interested to see where the story goes next. I was initially upset with the ending (no spoilers, but I was thinking 'after all of that??') but when I realised it wasn't a standalone book, it made more sense. I only hope that it's all resolved in the next book or I really will be upset haha!
Overall a good book. Perhaps upper middle grade because of some of the themes in it and because of the magical beastie. A mature 10 year old could read this and enjoy it. It would also make a fun family read. It has the right balance of sweetness (found family), adventure (circus!) and swashbuckling adventure (sky ships!) to make for a well done middle grade adventure.
3.5 out of 5 boxes of freshly buttered popcorn.
(Ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
I was given this book by Netgalley and didn't have time to read it for a long time. But I'm really glad I picked it up the other day. I read through it really quickly and very much enjoyed it. Sadly I didn't realise it was the first in a series so I guess now I have to go and read the next one.
Skyborn is about a boy who grew up in the circus after his mother died in a fall from her aerial display. He finds an item that belonged to her which he then discovers was (potentially?) responsible for her incredible talent. The problem is that item never belonged to her and she died before she could return it to its rightful owner. Now he has to find a way home to fulfil her wish while avoiding the bad guys who are after it for its magic powers.
The prose was well done and the story was well-plotted and believable. I really appreciated that Bastien, the main character, had a strong father figure. A lot of orphans in fiction don't, but one of the other circus performers basically became his dad after his mum died and I loved that relationship and dynamic. I also loved that the adults weren't dumb in this (though some were foolish or evil), and the kids did actually seek their help and advice.
This was a very enjoyable adventure. The magic creature in it was a little creepy, but it worked and Im really interested to see where the story goes next. I was initially upset with the ending (no spoilers, but I was thinking 'after all of that??') but when I realised it wasn't a standalone book, it made more sense. I only hope that it's all resolved in the next book or I really will be upset haha!
Overall a good book. Perhaps upper middle grade because of some of the themes in it and because of the magical beastie. A mature 10 year old could read this and enjoy it. It would also make a fun family read. It has the right balance of sweetness (found family), adventure (circus!) and swashbuckling adventure (sky ships!) to make for a well done middle grade adventure.
3.5 out of 5 boxes of freshly buttered popcorn.
(Ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
April 14, 2021
Bastjan was born into the circus, his mother Ester the star of the show. When she tragically dies during a stunt, Bastjan is left in the charge of his step father, the circus ringmaster, Quinn. Years later, Quinn bribes Bastjan into attempting a risky stunt in return for some of his mothers possessions. The stunt that killed his mother. Desperate to have something to connect him to his lost family, Bastjan begins training to become the new super star of the circus, but someone soon comes looking for a box that had belonged to Ester. Bastjan sets out on a journey to right an old wrong, making friends and redefining what it means to be family along the way.
Sinéad O’Hart absolutely captured my heart with this fast paced, action packed story. The characters are so well developed, each as eccentric and flamboyant as you'd expect from a troupe of circus performers. The 19th century settings are described in such depth and detail that you're transported so smoothly from the real to the magical and you forget what you're reading is fiction.
O’Hart doesn't fall into the trap of wrapping the story up with a big bow, it's nice to have a middle grade fiction with an ambiguous ending. Answers to questions you don't even notice you have are subtley placed for you to piece together yourself, for example, the indentity of Bastjan's father. This makes it as immersive a read for adults as it is for children.
There still feels so much to explore in this world; the Silent City, the Tunnelers, the farming family and their connection to Bastjan and the circus. To me, the mark of a great book is putting it down when it's finished and wanting more, and Skyborn definitely made me want to read more from Sinéad O’Hart.
A massive thank you to Netgalley and Little Tiger Publishing for my copy in exchange for my Hienst review
Sinéad O’Hart absolutely captured my heart with this fast paced, action packed story. The characters are so well developed, each as eccentric and flamboyant as you'd expect from a troupe of circus performers. The 19th century settings are described in such depth and detail that you're transported so smoothly from the real to the magical and you forget what you're reading is fiction.
O’Hart doesn't fall into the trap of wrapping the story up with a big bow, it's nice to have a middle grade fiction with an ambiguous ending. Answers to questions you don't even notice you have are subtley placed for you to piece together yourself, for example, the indentity of Bastjan's father. This makes it as immersive a read for adults as it is for children.
There still feels so much to explore in this world; the Silent City, the Tunnelers, the farming family and their connection to Bastjan and the circus. To me, the mark of a great book is putting it down when it's finished and wanting more, and Skyborn definitely made me want to read more from Sinéad O’Hart.
A massive thank you to Netgalley and Little Tiger Publishing for my copy in exchange for my Hienst review
December 9, 2021
I have previously loved Sinead O’Hart’s books and was so excited to see a new one come out. This held exactly the right amount of magic and peril to make a perfect middle grade book for me, and totally lived up to her previous works! I hadn’t realised going in (or really, until right at the end) that this was a prequel to The Eye of the North, so I’m definitely tempted to reread that now! *eyes TBR shelves warily*
This covers Bastjan’s time in the circus, before he meets Emmeline in TEOTN, though I think it stands alone well enough. I really enjoyed getting to know Bastjan and Crake, but I loved Alice and Wares once they joined up. I would definitely not say no to more of their story in the future.
The circus is great - it’s lovely to see some of the camaraderie elements as well as the more threatening ones, and the relationships there really made the book come to life for me. I also liked Quinn as a bad guy - he’s very focused and honestly believes he is doing the best for his circus even when no one around him appears to agree. The interaction with Dr Bauer as the prod towards the end plot was fun too - a nice tie in to TEOTN.
My only teeeeeeeny niggle is that I would have liked more about the slipskins (history, interaction, everything) - its really mostly only in the very last part of the book. But the story is Bastjan’s, so really that is such a minor part of it for him.
I definitely recommend this, and if you happen to pick up The Eye of the North too? Well that’s perfect :D
4 stars.
This covers Bastjan’s time in the circus, before he meets Emmeline in TEOTN, though I think it stands alone well enough. I really enjoyed getting to know Bastjan and Crake, but I loved Alice and Wares once they joined up. I would definitely not say no to more of their story in the future.
The circus is great - it’s lovely to see some of the camaraderie elements as well as the more threatening ones, and the relationships there really made the book come to life for me. I also liked Quinn as a bad guy - he’s very focused and honestly believes he is doing the best for his circus even when no one around him appears to agree. The interaction with Dr Bauer as the prod towards the end plot was fun too - a nice tie in to TEOTN.
My only teeeeeeeny niggle is that I would have liked more about the slipskins (history, interaction, everything) - its really mostly only in the very last part of the book. But the story is Bastjan’s, so really that is such a minor part of it for him.
I definitely recommend this, and if you happen to pick up The Eye of the North too? Well that’s perfect :D
4 stars.
August 22, 2022
With the most daring young heroes, the most villainous villains, with circuses and airships, shapeshifters and lost cities, with all of the mystery and adventure, excitement and intrigue, Sinéad O'Hart's Skyborn is an utter triumph of a book!
Skyborn has been written as a prequal to The Eye of the North, Sinéad O'Hart's first published novel, though either book works perfectly well alone. It reveals the origins of one of the most fascinating, fun and intriguing characters in Eye, the orphaned boy called Thing. It turns out he wasn't always called Thing, and he wasn't always travelling the world alone.
The Eye of the North is one of my absolute favourite books, so dipping back into that world was a real treat and Thing isn't the only familiar face to make an appearance. Knowing a little of how the story ends for some of the characters gave the whole thing a really interesting twist, and actually kept me guessing right up until the end. It took twists and turns I just never saw coming, like an aerialist spinning and shifting effortlessly on silks. And like an enraptured circus audience, I just sat back and enjoyed, open mouthed, at the skill on display.
In style, Skyborn is a Victorian-esque fantasy with strong steampunk elements, an aesthetic I absolutely adore. There are fantastical creatures in this book, but like in all of the best fiction the real monsters are all too human! The depiction of casual cruelty made the everyday seem monstrous and had me rooting for the young heroes from the start.
Skyborn has been written as a prequal to The Eye of the North, Sinéad O'Hart's first published novel, though either book works perfectly well alone. It reveals the origins of one of the most fascinating, fun and intriguing characters in Eye, the orphaned boy called Thing. It turns out he wasn't always called Thing, and he wasn't always travelling the world alone.
The Eye of the North is one of my absolute favourite books, so dipping back into that world was a real treat and Thing isn't the only familiar face to make an appearance. Knowing a little of how the story ends for some of the characters gave the whole thing a really interesting twist, and actually kept me guessing right up until the end. It took twists and turns I just never saw coming, like an aerialist spinning and shifting effortlessly on silks. And like an enraptured circus audience, I just sat back and enjoyed, open mouthed, at the skill on display.
In style, Skyborn is a Victorian-esque fantasy with strong steampunk elements, an aesthetic I absolutely adore. There are fantastical creatures in this book, but like in all of the best fiction the real monsters are all too human! The depiction of casual cruelty made the everyday seem monstrous and had me rooting for the young heroes from the start.
May 31, 2021
Skyborn by Sinead O'Hart is a sort-of-prequel to her fabulous book, The Eye of the North, as it tells the back story of the mysterious character 'Thing'.
Skyborn starts off in the world of a travelling circus. Bastjan, a young performer, has grown up in the circus and, following the death of his mother, Ester, he lives with strongman Crake - even though his stepfather is the ringmaster Quinn. Quinn has been searching for a new acrobatic act since Ester's death and wants Bastjan to take over from her. When Bastjan realises that Quinn has a box that belonged to his mother, he becomes obsessed with the contents until, finally, he gets hold of them and tries to uncover the mysteries that they hold.
Along with Alice, a young orphan who has run away from her grandfather, Bastjan sets out on a dangerous journey to right wrongs from the past and to prevent Quinn from getting his hands on a mysterious creature to become his new acrobatic act.
This is a great adventure story which will appeal to older primary children.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Skyborn starts off in the world of a travelling circus. Bastjan, a young performer, has grown up in the circus and, following the death of his mother, Ester, he lives with strongman Crake - even though his stepfather is the ringmaster Quinn. Quinn has been searching for a new acrobatic act since Ester's death and wants Bastjan to take over from her. When Bastjan realises that Quinn has a box that belonged to his mother, he becomes obsessed with the contents until, finally, he gets hold of them and tries to uncover the mysteries that they hold.
Along with Alice, a young orphan who has run away from her grandfather, Bastjan sets out on a dangerous journey to right wrongs from the past and to prevent Quinn from getting his hands on a mysterious creature to become his new acrobatic act.
This is a great adventure story which will appeal to older primary children.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2021
In ‘Skyborn’, Sinead O’Hart has created a magical story set in several different magical worlds. Her characters are appealing in their bravery and comradeship, and there are many layers to both Bastjan and Alice, who grow more appealing as the novel progresses. I like the way that we get a lot about Bastjan’s backstory right at the start of the novel, but then Alice’s past is revealed little by little. Crane is also a strong supporting character. It was refreshing to have an evil step-father/ringmaster in this novel, and there is even an evil doctor thrown in for good measure.
I did find the many different settings a little ‘choppy’ - I really enjoyed the parts of the novel set in the circus, which told of a child yearning for knowledge of his dead mother, but then the novel shifted into science fiction and steampunk in it’s later sections. I’m not sure whether younger readers may find this a little confusing, although in fairness, everyone seems to cope okay with Philip Pullman, and there are lots of connections to his style here.
Overall, I can see this book being very popular with younger readers, especially those with a wild imagination. Be prepared to suspend your beliefs and explore O’Hart’s fantasy world.
I did find the many different settings a little ‘choppy’ - I really enjoyed the parts of the novel set in the circus, which told of a child yearning for knowledge of his dead mother, but then the novel shifted into science fiction and steampunk in it’s later sections. I’m not sure whether younger readers may find this a little confusing, although in fairness, everyone seems to cope okay with Philip Pullman, and there are lots of connections to his style here.
Overall, I can see this book being very popular with younger readers, especially those with a wild imagination. Be prepared to suspend your beliefs and explore O’Hart’s fantasy world.
April 19, 2021
Skyborn by Sinéad O'Hart
Skyborn is about Bastjan who is in the runner beans, a group of tumblers in the circus. When a nasty old ringmaster called Cyrus decides to put Bastjan on the high rope to perform his mother's act but he fails, Cyrus had to find a new headline act and goes off in search of one. Bastjan feels the need to return something on behalf of his mum who took it accidentally as part of her treasure box.
**spoiler** My favourite bit about this book when shape shifter stops Cyrus escaping in the pod and got revenge.
You should read this book if you like stories about shapeshifters, mean villans and the circus. It is a mix of real life and fantasy.
I felt emotional reading this book because there are lots of feelings to explore like terror, happiness, sadness and excitement. I have never read a book about a circus before.
Skyborn is about Bastjan who is in the runner beans, a group of tumblers in the circus. When a nasty old ringmaster called Cyrus decides to put Bastjan on the high rope to perform his mother's act but he fails, Cyrus had to find a new headline act and goes off in search of one. Bastjan feels the need to return something on behalf of his mum who took it accidentally as part of her treasure box.
**spoiler** My favourite bit about this book when shape shifter stops Cyrus escaping in the pod and got revenge.
You should read this book if you like stories about shapeshifters, mean villans and the circus. It is a mix of real life and fantasy.
I felt emotional reading this book because there are lots of feelings to explore like terror, happiness, sadness and excitement. I have never read a book about a circus before.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2021
I loved this prequel to Eye of the North, telling the story of Thing. I have read a few circus themed stories but this one depicted the depth of the various characters as well as the bond between them. The ringmaster always seems to be the villain, as is the case in Skyborn, despite an ultimate villain in the shadows behind him. Obviously Thing, or Bastian in this story, was my favourite character but I did love Crake with his gentle compassion.
Great for people who have read Eye of the North or just if you want an adventure with a compelling back story.
Great for people who have read Eye of the North or just if you want an adventure with a compelling back story.
April 25, 2021
I loved it! A very exciting and highly entertaining read, moving along at cracking speed. The characters are all strong and the circus setting is just wonderful. Anyone who has read O'Hart's two previous novels (The Eye of the North & The Star Spun Web) will love this; you don't need to be a child or young adult to find the magic in these pages. Highly recommended.
November 4, 2022
I loved this book! Having read The Eye of the North when it first came out, I was very excited to hear that it was going to have a prequel based of the experiences of my favourite character, Thing.
The book is packed with action and has brilliant characters who you cannot help but fall in love with. Whilst being intended for middle-grade children I believe anyone can enjoy it.
The book is packed with action and has brilliant characters who you cannot help but fall in love with. Whilst being intended for middle-grade children I believe anyone can enjoy it.
October 29, 2024
Goed verhaal, avontuur met gevonden familie, zorg voor elkaar, personages die hun eigen kracht ontdekken, schijnbare gebreken leren zien als sterktes. Maar dat einde… ik weet dat het bedoeld is als verhaal over Thing uit Eye of the North, maar de overgang van Bastjan naar Thing maakte het geheel voor mij minder in plaats van een meerwaarde te zijn.
April 7, 2021
Wow! Just finished #Skyborn by Sinéad O'Hart, the thrilling sequel to #TheEyeOfTheNorth. Brilliantly written with a pacey plot, this action-packed adventure, set in a Pullman-esque fantasy world, is a must read. Great characters, a circus, airships and monsters - I loved it. 5 stars!
April 24, 2025
I read this book and I found it enjoyable, good and joyful because I thought the story was well written.It is good book to children 8 to 12 and people hard to read. I will reading more Sinéad O' heart books in the future. I recommended you reading this book for yourself or with children.
June 2, 2021
Wonderful speculative fiction for 9-12 year olds, read my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
June 8, 2021
Book Review here: https://www.mrripleysenchantedbooks.c... Please check it out :)
November 5, 2021
3.25 stars
April 9, 2022
3.5 / 5
Quite a sad story. Crake was my favourite character by far. There is a lot of information to take in with these books but they are enjoyable.
Quite a sad story. Crake was my favourite character by far. There is a lot of information to take in with these books but they are enjoyable.
August 7, 2022
I liked how this tied into the Eye of the North. My heart broke a couple of times in this story and now I kind of want more from the world. A good read.
September 17, 2025
This is great! A really unique and exciting adventure that took all sorts of twists and turns I never saw coming, with a bittersweet and unexpected ending. Really enjoyed!
July 3, 2021
I can’t believe it’s been almost 4 years since the Eye of the North was released, but I was a huge fan of that when I read it in 2017, so I was very excited indeed when it was announced that Sinéad’s new release was a prequel, focusing on Thing back when he was known as Bastjan, and lived in a travelling circus that has fallen on hard times financially. A mysterious man named Dr Bauer offers to be their benefactor in exchange for a mysterious box that belonged to Bastjan’s mum, it’s up to Bastjan, his circus family, runaway Alice and her plucky dog Wares to keep it safe and work out what is really is and how to make things right. Thing was probably my favourite in the Eye of the North (although I really loved Emmeline too!!), so it was lovely to learn more about him and his background even though so much of it was heartbreaking. The father-son relationship he has with the circus’s strongman Crake is just gorgeous and perfect, and I also loved the way his friendship with Alice developed. The adventure is so exciting and fast paced, with interesting magical elements and amazing, cinematic descriptions of everything. Finally, there a few little Easter eggs about the Eye of the North in here that made me smile so much, which is lucky really as the ending made me shed quite a few tears, even though I know how Thing’s story really ends.
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