What do you think?
Rate this book
When the Sky Breaks
An alien artifact. A prison break. A rebel with a secret.
When a young woman from Marix Desata’s past shows up at Crescent Five—a remote lunar lockup—she pulls him into a conspiracy that could topple a tyrant or destroy them both. A forbidden weapon, powerful and alive, ends up in Marix’s hands.
It whispers at the edge of his thoughts, demanding loyalty, offering power… if he dares to wield it.
But the closer Marix gets to freedom, the more dangerous the journey becomes. To survive, he’ll need to outrun assassins, outsmart spies, and navigate a world that wants to use him or kill him—starting with his own mother.
YA science fiction with a genderpunk twist. When the sky breaks, no one falls gently.
When a young woman from Marix Desata’s past shows up at Crescent Five—a remote lunar lockup—she pulls him into a conspiracy that could topple a tyrant or destroy them both. A forbidden weapon, powerful and alive, ends up in Marix’s hands.
It whispers at the edge of his thoughts, demanding loyalty, offering power… if he dares to wield it.
But the closer Marix gets to freedom, the more dangerous the journey becomes. To survive, he’ll need to outrun assassins, outsmart spies, and navigate a world that wants to use him or kill him—starting with his own mother.
YA science fiction with a genderpunk twist. When the sky breaks, no one falls gently.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2025
About the author
Septimus Brown
2 books8 followersI'm obsessed with narrative structure and all kinds of fiction, but I have a special love for the speculative. Over at DarlingAxe.com, I'm a senior editor and the co-author of Immersion & Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling. When I'm not writing or editing, I'm probably running through the forest with my dog.
I started my undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria in both creative and professional writing. However, after the first year I decided I needed more life experience before I could begin writing fiction in earnest. Ten years later, I finally started my first full-length work, and soon I had three (unpublishable) manuscripts, which taught me that I still had much to learn.
In 2010, I left my job at the University of Victoria Libraries to travel and work on my writing portfolio as part of my application to the UBC Creative Writing MFA. I hitchhiked from Vancouver to Montreal, housesat in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and crewed on sailboats from Panama to Samoa. Three years later, my application was accepted, and I completed the program in 2016.
Along the way, I've written a number of manuscripts. Two were represented by an agent, and though we got close with a few publishers, there were ultimately no bites. We (amicably) parted ways in 2022 and, since then, I've been immersed in another round of deep revision. The road to publication, as I've learned, can be a long one!
I started my undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria in both creative and professional writing. However, after the first year I decided I needed more life experience before I could begin writing fiction in earnest. Ten years later, I finally started my first full-length work, and soon I had three (unpublishable) manuscripts, which taught me that I still had much to learn.
In 2010, I left my job at the University of Victoria Libraries to travel and work on my writing portfolio as part of my application to the UBC Creative Writing MFA. I hitchhiked from Vancouver to Montreal, housesat in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and crewed on sailboats from Panama to Samoa. Three years later, my application was accepted, and I completed the program in 2016.
Along the way, I've written a number of manuscripts. Two were represented by an agent, and though we got close with a few publishers, there were ultimately no bites. We (amicably) parted ways in 2022 and, since then, I've been immersed in another round of deep revision. The road to publication, as I've learned, can be a long one!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 3, 2025
Signed up to receive an advance copy of this book, knowing nothing of the author, and had a great time with it.
Without getting into a lot of detail - because I see other reviews have already done that - it's one of those yarns that uses a split narrative to advance the story in increments. The three narrative lines are roughly contemporaneous (it's not a centuries-wide thing in the Cloud Atlas style), so there's less for the reader to keep track of. Multiple narrative voices can be a risk for the author, because narrative-switching can potentially confuse the reader or make it harder for them to become fully engaged with any one of the narratives, but Brown pulls it off pretty handily.
The speculative sci-fi portions of the story are coherent and their internal logic works; and the on-planet portions are grounded in tangible, hands-on detail (Brown's personal knowledge of sailing comes through loud and clear).
Overall it's a fine, entertaining read, and notably sure-handed for a debut novel. As it turns out, there are good reasons for that. I'd read it before looking up Brown's bio, to avoid preconceptions, and was not entirely surprised to learn that he's a veteran editor and has in fact written books about story structure and plot development. To my eye, he's made a pretty smooth transition from theory to practice.
Highly recommended, and there's plenty of room for more stories to come from this universe that he's built.
Without getting into a lot of detail - because I see other reviews have already done that - it's one of those yarns that uses a split narrative to advance the story in increments. The three narrative lines are roughly contemporaneous (it's not a centuries-wide thing in the Cloud Atlas style), so there's less for the reader to keep track of. Multiple narrative voices can be a risk for the author, because narrative-switching can potentially confuse the reader or make it harder for them to become fully engaged with any one of the narratives, but Brown pulls it off pretty handily.
The speculative sci-fi portions of the story are coherent and their internal logic works; and the on-planet portions are grounded in tangible, hands-on detail (Brown's personal knowledge of sailing comes through loud and clear).
Overall it's a fine, entertaining read, and notably sure-handed for a debut novel. As it turns out, there are good reasons for that. I'd read it before looking up Brown's bio, to avoid preconceptions, and was not entirely surprised to learn that he's a veteran editor and has in fact written books about story structure and plot development. To my eye, he's made a pretty smooth transition from theory to practice.
Highly recommended, and there's plenty of room for more stories to come from this universe that he's built.
July 24, 2025
This book felt like that crazy ride in the amusement park where you get into a cage and the machine lifts you into the air—only now the cage flips upside down and your hat falls off and you’re hanging off your seat and screaming ’cuz the sky is in the wrong place—until the cage swings upright again and you drop down and take a breather and put your organs back in place—only the cage is swinging dangerously again and before you know it you’re hanging wild like a bat in a cave losing your grip on the rock—and then Septimus Brown pushes a button and the world rights itself again. Eventually. Except now your hat is gone and you’re pretty sure it’s lost in space. But that's fine because you had a real good time and you kinda want to go again.
Do you like your sci-fi adventure stories served smart with a dash of gender-bending, mucho word play, okay yeah definitely gun fights, and a hearty dash of WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TELL ME?! Read this.
Do you like your sci-fi adventure stories served smart with a dash of gender-bending, mucho word play, okay yeah definitely gun fights, and a hearty dash of WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TELL ME?! Read this.
May 1, 2025
Septimus Brown
When the Sky Breaks
4.5/5 Add this to your reading list!
Overview
When the Sky Breaks is an ambitious and affecting debut novel by Septimus Brown, deftly weaving dual narratives across space and sea. With a structure that echoes the complexity of the themes it explores—identity, freedom, and the burden of perspective—this is a speculative tale that lands with emotional heft. Brown’s experience in narrative theory is on full display as the novel transitions between first- and third-person viewpoints, unraveling an interconnected mystery whose parts are greater together than alone.
This is a story of transformation, trust, and the fragile negotiations between neutrality and intervention. Though billed as science fiction, its heart is literary: character-driven, formally inventive, and rich in metaphor.
Structure & Plot
Brown constructs the novel around a dual narrative:
- "Sky" unfolds in first-person, immersing us in the immediacy of thought and sensation.
- "Sea" is presented in third-person, offering reflective distance and wider scope.
The result is a compelling contrast in tone and information flow that gradually merges as the true nature of the story’s central artifact—and its consciousness—is revealed.
Interspersed throughout are “Codicil” sections that expand the world’s political and philosophical context without derailing the pace. The timelines converge with precision, enhancing tension rather than muddling it—a feat not easily accomplished.
Characterization
- Marix begins as a flicker of impulse and curiosity, yet as the tale unfolds, something within hardens, sharpens—until duty carves a new shape from familiar clay.
- Corvun is a quieter presence—measured, precise, and unsettlingly composed. He enters the story like a shadow cast before its source, a figure burdened by knowledge and shaped by functions not entirely his own.
- Lynx evolves from distrust to fierce loyalty, her arc a meditation on intimacy and belief.
- Zedria is particularly striking—a character caught between betrayal and victimhood, whose choices echo far beyond her scenes.
- Lona, a mentor with secrets of her own, manages to be both grounding and enigmatic.
- Musgrave, the antagonist, is not a villain in the traditional sense, but a dark mirror of the protagonists' potential—an echo of what could be, under different stars.
Worldbuilding
Brown’s speculative world feels vast but navigable.
- The geopolitical tension between Alem and the Triumvirate feels eerily familiar, while the Ishari, with their neutrality and enigmatic tech, add a third axis of uncertainty.
- Settings alternate between claustrophobic space stations and open, salt-crusted seas. Each environment is richly rendered and tactically deployed.
- Alien technology is not merely aesthetic but embedded into culture, politics, and character arcs.
- Cultural distinctions feel organic, not expositional—revealed through habits, metaphors, and subtle turns of phrase.
Style & Craft
Brown’s prose is clean, evocative, and clearly influenced by their editorial background.
- Descriptive passages sing, especially in atmospheric transitions.
- Dialogue is purposeful, often layered with subtext or tension.
- Some minor issues with sentence structure arise, especially in emotionally heightened moments, but never enough to undercut the scene.
- The shift between viewpoints is handled with impressive clarity and tonal control.
Themes
When the Sky Breaks is more than an interstellar drama—it is a story about:
- The fragmenting and reassembly of identity
- The conflict between agency and compulsion
- Redemption, often hard-won and never neat
- The ethics of choosing sides when neutrality becomes complicity
- The way consciousness itself can be a prison—or a doorway
Author Background & Context
This may be Brown’s first novel under this name, but their literary experience is long and winding. Their previous nonfiction work (Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling and Story Skeleton) co-authored with Michelle Barker, gives insight into the structural care seen here. It’s rare to see a debut with such a seasoned voice.
Final Verdict
When the Sky Breaks is a confident, formally daring first novel that delivers both intellectually and emotionally. While a few rough edges remain—mostly in pacing and occasional sentence rhythm but not completely noticeable—the vision is unmistakably clear. This is a novel that rewards attention and rewards re-reading. It marks the arrival of a significant voice in speculative fiction.
4.5 out of 5 stars
A stellar beginning. A few more books of this caliber and Brown will need no qualifiers.
When the Sky Breaks
4.5/5 Add this to your reading list!
Overview
When the Sky Breaks is an ambitious and affecting debut novel by Septimus Brown, deftly weaving dual narratives across space and sea. With a structure that echoes the complexity of the themes it explores—identity, freedom, and the burden of perspective—this is a speculative tale that lands with emotional heft. Brown’s experience in narrative theory is on full display as the novel transitions between first- and third-person viewpoints, unraveling an interconnected mystery whose parts are greater together than alone.
This is a story of transformation, trust, and the fragile negotiations between neutrality and intervention. Though billed as science fiction, its heart is literary: character-driven, formally inventive, and rich in metaphor.
Structure & Plot
Brown constructs the novel around a dual narrative:
- "Sky" unfolds in first-person, immersing us in the immediacy of thought and sensation.
- "Sea" is presented in third-person, offering reflective distance and wider scope.
The result is a compelling contrast in tone and information flow that gradually merges as the true nature of the story’s central artifact—and its consciousness—is revealed.
Interspersed throughout are “Codicil” sections that expand the world’s political and philosophical context without derailing the pace. The timelines converge with precision, enhancing tension rather than muddling it—a feat not easily accomplished.
Characterization
- Marix begins as a flicker of impulse and curiosity, yet as the tale unfolds, something within hardens, sharpens—until duty carves a new shape from familiar clay.
- Corvun is a quieter presence—measured, precise, and unsettlingly composed. He enters the story like a shadow cast before its source, a figure burdened by knowledge and shaped by functions not entirely his own.
- Lynx evolves from distrust to fierce loyalty, her arc a meditation on intimacy and belief.
- Zedria is particularly striking—a character caught between betrayal and victimhood, whose choices echo far beyond her scenes.
- Lona, a mentor with secrets of her own, manages to be both grounding and enigmatic.
- Musgrave, the antagonist, is not a villain in the traditional sense, but a dark mirror of the protagonists' potential—an echo of what could be, under different stars.
Worldbuilding
Brown’s speculative world feels vast but navigable.
- The geopolitical tension between Alem and the Triumvirate feels eerily familiar, while the Ishari, with their neutrality and enigmatic tech, add a third axis of uncertainty.
- Settings alternate between claustrophobic space stations and open, salt-crusted seas. Each environment is richly rendered and tactically deployed.
- Alien technology is not merely aesthetic but embedded into culture, politics, and character arcs.
- Cultural distinctions feel organic, not expositional—revealed through habits, metaphors, and subtle turns of phrase.
Style & Craft
Brown’s prose is clean, evocative, and clearly influenced by their editorial background.
- Descriptive passages sing, especially in atmospheric transitions.
- Dialogue is purposeful, often layered with subtext or tension.
- Some minor issues with sentence structure arise, especially in emotionally heightened moments, but never enough to undercut the scene.
- The shift between viewpoints is handled with impressive clarity and tonal control.
Themes
When the Sky Breaks is more than an interstellar drama—it is a story about:
- The fragmenting and reassembly of identity
- The conflict between agency and compulsion
- Redemption, often hard-won and never neat
- The ethics of choosing sides when neutrality becomes complicity
- The way consciousness itself can be a prison—or a doorway
Author Background & Context
This may be Brown’s first novel under this name, but their literary experience is long and winding. Their previous nonfiction work (Immersion and Emotion: The Two Pillars of Storytelling and Story Skeleton) co-authored with Michelle Barker, gives insight into the structural care seen here. It’s rare to see a debut with such a seasoned voice.
Final Verdict
When the Sky Breaks is a confident, formally daring first novel that delivers both intellectually and emotionally. While a few rough edges remain—mostly in pacing and occasional sentence rhythm but not completely noticeable—the vision is unmistakably clear. This is a novel that rewards attention and rewards re-reading. It marks the arrival of a significant voice in speculative fiction.
4.5 out of 5 stars
A stellar beginning. A few more books of this caliber and Brown will need no qualifiers.
May 12, 2025
This was a clever mix of sci-fiction, fantasy, and speculative. I guessed the twist in the story early on, but the big reveal was a satisfying confirmation. I would like to know more about this realm and the history and cultures within it. Definitely a world worth exploring with characters worth knowing.
July 24, 2025
3.75
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book.
Going into When the Sky Breaks, I didn’t have all that many expectations. It was available for automatic download on Netgalley, and looked alright, so I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised! The writing was amazing! Some of the best writing I have read all year! Debuts at the moment are often so bogged down by bad, generic writing with plot holes and repetitive storylines, but this was most certainly not the case for When the Sky Breaks. The writing flowed so well, it was lyrical and beautiful and captivating. It was a rather unique story, which I enjoyed. And while the genderpunk aspects were a little odd at the start, they were interesting and different and I think worked quite well.
The actual storyline was alright, it was different, and done very well. I did guess the plot twist but it was still clever and done well. The characters were fine. Nothing special, but still complex, they were very human, which was nice.
By the end I sort of felt that nothing had happened, but it was a very nice book to read.
I would recommend to anyone looking for an entertaining enough read, with cool sci-fi and fantasy elements, and that is rather different (in a good way) to most other things currently being published.
I enjoyed When the Sky Breaks and would happily read whatever Septimus Brown writes next, even if it is purely for the writing!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book.
Going into When the Sky Breaks, I didn’t have all that many expectations. It was available for automatic download on Netgalley, and looked alright, so I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised! The writing was amazing! Some of the best writing I have read all year! Debuts at the moment are often so bogged down by bad, generic writing with plot holes and repetitive storylines, but this was most certainly not the case for When the Sky Breaks. The writing flowed so well, it was lyrical and beautiful and captivating. It was a rather unique story, which I enjoyed. And while the genderpunk aspects were a little odd at the start, they were interesting and different and I think worked quite well.
The actual storyline was alright, it was different, and done very well. I did guess the plot twist but it was still clever and done well. The characters were fine. Nothing special, but still complex, they were very human, which was nice.
By the end I sort of felt that nothing had happened, but it was a very nice book to read.
I would recommend to anyone looking for an entertaining enough read, with cool sci-fi and fantasy elements, and that is rather different (in a good way) to most other things currently being published.
I enjoyed When the Sky Breaks and would happily read whatever Septimus Brown writes next, even if it is purely for the writing!
July 23, 2025
When the Sky Breaks was fast paced sci-fi book with an interesting world, and realistic characters. It could be read as a standalone, but leaves room for an epic series. (Which I hope is the case) The world building was a bit dense and hard to understand at first. You are given facts about the world without it being explained, sort of a learn as you go kind of thing, which ends up working well for this book, but left me feeling confused in the beginning. Over all, I really enjoyed this book, and I hope the series continues.
November 13, 2025
3.25 This one was…interesting. I liked it for the most part, but I am left with many, many questions about the world it’s set in. I also feel characters shifted relationships and motives a little suddenly. But overall I had a good time and I’m intrigued to see where it goes from here.
July 1, 2025
**I received this book in a giveaway**
3.75/5 ⭐️
I spent the first half(ish) of this book completely confused. I had no clue what was happening, the characters and gender situation were throwing me off. I was frustrated.
Then I read a synopsis (like what would have been on the back of a physical book) and was able to piece enough things together to understand and enjoy the rest of the book! The characters were enjoyable, the story was varied and exciting, and the places were described fairly well!
It would have been immensely helpful to have an introduction explaining the world the book took place in, as well as some of the social system occurring in the world.
3.75/5 ⭐️
I spent the first half(ish) of this book completely confused. I had no clue what was happening, the characters and gender situation were throwing me off. I was frustrated.
Then I read a synopsis (like what would have been on the back of a physical book) and was able to piece enough things together to understand and enjoy the rest of the book! The characters were enjoyable, the story was varied and exciting, and the places were described fairly well!
It would have been immensely helpful to have an introduction explaining the world the book took place in, as well as some of the social system occurring in the world.
January 24, 2026
A free ARC of this book was made available to me through NetGalley. My review was optional and contains only my honest opinions.
I was immediately intrigued by this book's description, though now that I've finished it, only parts of it seem accurate in retrospect. Regardless, I did enjoy my time with this book; though it took me some time to finish, I was often mulling it over during my breaks.
The alternating viewpoints were handled well. Both stories had enough suspense to keep me invested, though I did find the Sea chapters a little more engaging: they felt grounded, tense, and claustrophobic in a way the sterility of the Sky's sci-fi stations and ships didn't quite match. I wasn't surprised to discover the author has experience on sailboats; the descriptions have a specificity to them that implied first hand experience, hours or research, or both.
I also found that portion of the book allowed the characters more "downtime", for lack of a better word, which painted a clearer picture of how the relationships between Corvus and his crewmates evolved. For Marix, the fast pace, secretive or guarded supporting characters, and changes in location made a lot of it feel more impersonal or detached. Still, I never found returning to the Sky chapters to be unwelcome or a chore to get through.
I was less gripped by the very brief, communications based chapters that occasionally punctuated the two stories. I admittedly found the setting's political situation a little hard to follow until things were spelled out more explicitly after the half-way point. The author takes a very naturalistic approach to exposition and worldbuilding: a lot was established through context clues or dialogue that feels conversational, rather than purely explanatory. It's a method I appreciate, but I think a few more details about the political climate a little earlier in the story would have helped to invest me further in the setting and conflict. While ominous, I didn't retain much from them and had trouble placing them in the narrative.
Though none of the twists or revelations caught me off guard, they still felt impactful. Each one was foreshadowed in a way that let me me piece it together ahead of time, but it felt satisfying rather than heavy-handed.
One of the aspects of the book that most intrigued me was the genderpunk aspect of the story, but I finished the book unsatisfied and unsure of the intentions behind it. Initially, it appeared that the setting was inverted from what one might expect of typical character tropes: most authority figures, military leaders, wise teachers, potentially lascivious sea captains, and high-school star athletes were typically women. The tragically deceased and level-headed parent was a father. Physical descriptions, likewise, would attribute more typically feminine hairstyles and diminutive frames to men and facial hair (or mentioning a lack thereof), broad shoulders, and handsome features to women.
However, as the story went on and included other descriptions of the characters' bodies and how they were socialized, I was left with the impression that the book was attributing he/him pronouns to characters who would otherwise be perceived as cis women and she/her pronouns to characters who would be perceived as cis men, as if one had used Find & Replace on the manuscript.
It left me wondering about what the author meant to communicate with the choice. To use Marix's mother as an early example, she is very straightforwardly the archetype of a stern, distant, sometimes physically abusive military leader who struggles to show her child any patience or understanding after the death of her more soft spoken, altruistic, and level-headed husband. When she's called a woman and a mother and uses she/her pronouns, but could otherwise be assumed to be viewed physically and socially as a cis man, I'm left going in circles about what I'm supposed to take away from it... or if I'm in fact reading too much into the choice to use such recognizable, gendered character tropes.
There's a pattern of pronouns and perspective being used to challenge our assumptions or view of a character, but while Corvus's use of third person is noted as odd in-universe, the swapping of traditionally masculine and feminine pronouns is not. To me, this implies that the purpose of it is on a meta level and for the sake of the reader, rather than the world building, but I'm left wondering how it all comes together. It feels gimmicky when I'm very sure it was done with intention, so it's like I can't quite adjust my gaze in the right way to decipher a Magic Eye poster.
Despite my mixed and muddled thoughts on that aspect of the story, I still found it all to be an engaging and refreshing read. I think it fits nicely into the wider genre of YA sci-fi, but has a lot of new ideas to offer those who outgrew it or have grown tired of more derivative works. If more is written about this world or its characters in the future, I'd be more than willing to see how they're expanded on.
I was immediately intrigued by this book's description, though now that I've finished it, only parts of it seem accurate in retrospect. Regardless, I did enjoy my time with this book; though it took me some time to finish, I was often mulling it over during my breaks.
The alternating viewpoints were handled well. Both stories had enough suspense to keep me invested, though I did find the Sea chapters a little more engaging: they felt grounded, tense, and claustrophobic in a way the sterility of the Sky's sci-fi stations and ships didn't quite match. I wasn't surprised to discover the author has experience on sailboats; the descriptions have a specificity to them that implied first hand experience, hours or research, or both.
I also found that portion of the book allowed the characters more "downtime", for lack of a better word, which painted a clearer picture of how the relationships between Corvus and his crewmates evolved. For Marix, the fast pace, secretive or guarded supporting characters, and changes in location made a lot of it feel more impersonal or detached. Still, I never found returning to the Sky chapters to be unwelcome or a chore to get through.
I was less gripped by the very brief, communications based chapters that occasionally punctuated the two stories. I admittedly found the setting's political situation a little hard to follow until things were spelled out more explicitly after the half-way point. The author takes a very naturalistic approach to exposition and worldbuilding: a lot was established through context clues or dialogue that feels conversational, rather than purely explanatory. It's a method I appreciate, but I think a few more details about the political climate a little earlier in the story would have helped to invest me further in the setting and conflict. While ominous, I didn't retain much from them and had trouble placing them in the narrative.
Though none of the twists or revelations caught me off guard, they still felt impactful. Each one was foreshadowed in a way that let me me piece it together ahead of time, but it felt satisfying rather than heavy-handed.
One of the aspects of the book that most intrigued me was the genderpunk aspect of the story, but I finished the book unsatisfied and unsure of the intentions behind it. Initially, it appeared that the setting was inverted from what one might expect of typical character tropes: most authority figures, military leaders, wise teachers, potentially lascivious sea captains, and high-school star athletes were typically women. The tragically deceased and level-headed parent was a father. Physical descriptions, likewise, would attribute more typically feminine hairstyles and diminutive frames to men and facial hair (or mentioning a lack thereof), broad shoulders, and handsome features to women.
However, as the story went on and included other descriptions of the characters' bodies and how they were socialized, I was left with the impression that the book was attributing he/him pronouns to characters who would otherwise be perceived as cis women and she/her pronouns to characters who would be perceived as cis men, as if one had used Find & Replace on the manuscript.
It left me wondering about what the author meant to communicate with the choice. To use Marix's mother as an early example, she is very straightforwardly the archetype of a stern, distant, sometimes physically abusive military leader who struggles to show her child any patience or understanding after the death of her more soft spoken, altruistic, and level-headed husband. When she's called a woman and a mother and uses she/her pronouns, but could otherwise be assumed to be viewed physically and socially as a cis man, I'm left going in circles about what I'm supposed to take away from it... or if I'm in fact reading too much into the choice to use such recognizable, gendered character tropes.
There's a pattern of pronouns and perspective being used to challenge our assumptions or view of a character, but while Corvus's use of third person is noted as odd in-universe, the swapping of traditionally masculine and feminine pronouns is not. To me, this implies that the purpose of it is on a meta level and for the sake of the reader, rather than the world building, but I'm left wondering how it all comes together. It feels gimmicky when I'm very sure it was done with intention, so it's like I can't quite adjust my gaze in the right way to decipher a Magic Eye poster.
Despite my mixed and muddled thoughts on that aspect of the story, I still found it all to be an engaging and refreshing read. I think it fits nicely into the wider genre of YA sci-fi, but has a lot of new ideas to offer those who outgrew it or have grown tired of more derivative works. If more is written about this world or its characters in the future, I'd be more than willing to see how they're expanded on.
May 26, 2025
I was given an ARC without promising a review, because I’m a slack-arse. I tried to avoid spoilers apart from what happens in the early parts of the novel to provide a taste of the story. (Hates spoilers, Precious.)
~
"When the Sky Breaks"—what an awesome title. This is a plot- and character-driven science fiction novel about dangerous Ishari fragments falling into the wrong hands, with—what I interpreted as—reversed traditional physical binary genders.
Close point of view chapters follow the stories of Marix and Corvun, primarily. I generally like this structure, wielded deftly by Ian M. Banks, but it often leaves me impatient for more of one of the stories, and in this case it was Marix’s.
There are also short interludes of Lookfar Letters between Lona First and Harno Third (of the Ishari people, who are seers and very powerful). I like these people, they remind me of a cross between Hari Krishnas, Tripitaka and Dune’s Spacing Guild.
Marix’s story hooked me from the start. He’s a bored, miserable teenager on Ice Moon 30, under his military mother’s thumb and trying to reconnect with friends back on the planet Darrosh. We’ve all been a version of there? I know I have.
When he’s busted by Lieutenant Piron hiding in a crawl space sending messages to his friends (yep, that would be me), he’s in huge trouble, but life actually changes a little for the better, as he’s employed by the lieutenant. His duties are menial initially, but then he’s tasked with a logistical aspect of processing an influx of recently sentenced rebel prisoners: assigning them to mines. It seems like a routine task but becomes troubling as the prisoners claim their innocence and he has to ignore them.
Things get crazy when Marix finds an old friend, Zedria, among the prisoners, and she tells him things are not as they seem and begs him to help get her case reviewed. He only needs to press a different button and so, does it.
Due to a stalled lift making him late home, Marix’s mother’s zero tolerance approach sees him heading for a dangerous school, so when Zedria then asks him to help her escape, he doesn’t have much to lose, and does it.
I enjoyed how the story kept me guessing which side was the ethical political side to be on.
Corvun’s story as a sailor on Darrosh took me a little longer to get into, but it hooked me early on, also. I’m usually bored by mariner stories, but this one is good, informed by Brown’s lived experience on the ocean.
There’s a big contrast between the two settings and main characters. Corvun seems more distant, referring to himself in third person, and this is explored and the reasons discovered deep into the novel, as the plot lines converge physically and temporally, leading into an action packed climax.
"When the Sky Breaks" explores emotional themes of coming-of-age, control and freedom, love and attraction, strength, trust and *forgiveness* which is really cool.
It explores external themes of science fiction futures, war-torn planets, resistance, mind control, futuristic tech, life and travel, intersecting cultures, ocean life, gender, oppression, rebellion, spirituality and religion, ethics, loyalty, friendship, found family and rescue.
This was an enjoyable read with great imagery and atmosphere. I give it a solid 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
~
"When the Sky Breaks"—what an awesome title. This is a plot- and character-driven science fiction novel about dangerous Ishari fragments falling into the wrong hands, with—what I interpreted as—reversed traditional physical binary genders.
Close point of view chapters follow the stories of Marix and Corvun, primarily. I generally like this structure, wielded deftly by Ian M. Banks, but it often leaves me impatient for more of one of the stories, and in this case it was Marix’s.
There are also short interludes of Lookfar Letters between Lona First and Harno Third (of the Ishari people, who are seers and very powerful). I like these people, they remind me of a cross between Hari Krishnas, Tripitaka and Dune’s Spacing Guild.
Marix’s story hooked me from the start. He’s a bored, miserable teenager on Ice Moon 30, under his military mother’s thumb and trying to reconnect with friends back on the planet Darrosh. We’ve all been a version of there? I know I have.
When he’s busted by Lieutenant Piron hiding in a crawl space sending messages to his friends (yep, that would be me), he’s in huge trouble, but life actually changes a little for the better, as he’s employed by the lieutenant. His duties are menial initially, but then he’s tasked with a logistical aspect of processing an influx of recently sentenced rebel prisoners: assigning them to mines. It seems like a routine task but becomes troubling as the prisoners claim their innocence and he has to ignore them.
Things get crazy when Marix finds an old friend, Zedria, among the prisoners, and she tells him things are not as they seem and begs him to help get her case reviewed. He only needs to press a different button and so, does it.
Due to a stalled lift making him late home, Marix’s mother’s zero tolerance approach sees him heading for a dangerous school, so when Zedria then asks him to help her escape, he doesn’t have much to lose, and does it.
I enjoyed how the story kept me guessing which side was the ethical political side to be on.
Corvun’s story as a sailor on Darrosh took me a little longer to get into, but it hooked me early on, also. I’m usually bored by mariner stories, but this one is good, informed by Brown’s lived experience on the ocean.
There’s a big contrast between the two settings and main characters. Corvun seems more distant, referring to himself in third person, and this is explored and the reasons discovered deep into the novel, as the plot lines converge physically and temporally, leading into an action packed climax.
"When the Sky Breaks" explores emotional themes of coming-of-age, control and freedom, love and attraction, strength, trust and *forgiveness* which is really cool.
It explores external themes of science fiction futures, war-torn planets, resistance, mind control, futuristic tech, life and travel, intersecting cultures, ocean life, gender, oppression, rebellion, spirituality and religion, ethics, loyalty, friendship, found family and rescue.
This was an enjoyable read with great imagery and atmosphere. I give it a solid 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
May 22, 2025
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. I've never actually done the ARC thing before, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but this ended up being a pleasant surprise.
A symphony of sky, sea, and secrets! Brown's debut novel is a hell of a ride. Starting out with stark backdrop of Crescent Five, a lunar prison, the story follows Marix as he grapples with an alien artifact that whispers promises of power and peril. Meanwhile, Corvun hitchhikes on sailboats in an effort to stay off guard and shake the spies from his trail. Eventually, the two characters will come together in an unexpected way.
Brown's prose is full of vivid imagery and understated emotion. The narrative structure defies convention in what I would call a twinned hero's journey. He weaves between perspectives with a fluidity that challenges and rewards the attentive reader. This isn't a story that holds your hand. Brown places a certain amount of trust in the reader to navigate its themes and uncover its truths.
A big strenght of this novel lies in its exploration of identity and autonomy. Marix's journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about rebellion. The genderpunk elements add some particularly unique. I don't want to say anything more about that--you'll just have to see for yourself.
There's a pivotal twist here, one that recontextualizes the narrative and invites a second reading. Honestly, it's a masterstroke. Again, you'll have to discover that for yourself.
When the Sky Breaks is a bold, unflinching entry into the cannon of what you might call science fiction lite or literary spec. It's a novel that challenges, enlightens, and lingers long after the final page. It's billed as young adult, and yeah the main characters are around 17 or 18, but I think most adult SFF fans will enjoy it.
PS. I woke up two hours before work to pee, and rather than go back to bed, I picked up the book and kept reading. It gets pretty tense toward the end!
PPS. One reviewer said something about expecting more action at the climax. I can kind of see that, but what happens felt right to me, and it sets up future potential for these characters and this world.
A symphony of sky, sea, and secrets! Brown's debut novel is a hell of a ride. Starting out with stark backdrop of Crescent Five, a lunar prison, the story follows Marix as he grapples with an alien artifact that whispers promises of power and peril. Meanwhile, Corvun hitchhikes on sailboats in an effort to stay off guard and shake the spies from his trail. Eventually, the two characters will come together in an unexpected way.
Brown's prose is full of vivid imagery and understated emotion. The narrative structure defies convention in what I would call a twinned hero's journey. He weaves between perspectives with a fluidity that challenges and rewards the attentive reader. This isn't a story that holds your hand. Brown places a certain amount of trust in the reader to navigate its themes and uncover its truths.
A big strenght of this novel lies in its exploration of identity and autonomy. Marix's journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about rebellion. The genderpunk elements add some particularly unique. I don't want to say anything more about that--you'll just have to see for yourself.
There's a pivotal twist here, one that recontextualizes the narrative and invites a second reading. Honestly, it's a masterstroke. Again, you'll have to discover that for yourself.
When the Sky Breaks is a bold, unflinching entry into the cannon of what you might call science fiction lite or literary spec. It's a novel that challenges, enlightens, and lingers long after the final page. It's billed as young adult, and yeah the main characters are around 17 or 18, but I think most adult SFF fans will enjoy it.
PS. I woke up two hours before work to pee, and rather than go back to bed, I picked up the book and kept reading. It gets pretty tense toward the end!
PPS. One reviewer said something about expecting more action at the climax. I can kind of see that, but what happens felt right to me, and it sets up future potential for these characters and this world.
June 3, 2025
Honoured to have been invited to participate in the early ARC thing, though I admit I agreed with no idea what to expect. And wow! More than pleasantly surprised.
Here's the thing. This is billed as a young-adult novel, and I supposed it has to be because the two protagonists are 17, yet When the Sky Breaks is a pretty mature novel. That's not to say there is gore or sex or anything like that. But it makes you think and it doesn't talk down to you. The prose is very nice. I quite often found myself reflecting on this line or that. So I think the target audience isn't necessarily YA. I figure most adults who like SFF will get a kick out of this.
Lots of adventure and action, but also many quieter moments. Lots to think about in terms of theme and character. Identity is a big topic. The genderpunk element (Brown seems to have swapped all character's pronouns and related nouns, so he is she and mom is dad, etc.) has a thematic foothold. It's not just a weird device, although I have to admit that's what I thought at first.
I'm a would-be novelist myself, and one thing I found particularly interesting is what Brown does with POV. It's a back-and-forth sort of thing between two protagonists, one chapter at a time, and well actually there is another kinda POV in the form of letters between two other non-protagonists. But what's really interesting is........ okay, I have no idea how to say this without a spoiler. So let's just say that I've learned something about POV from the novel. Which makes sense since Brown is an editor with a couple craft titles to his name--published as David Griffin Brown.
Okay, so this is a bit of a rambling review.
In short: really enjoyed this book. I kept thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it. Lots of cliffhanger chapter endings, but without feeling gimmicky. The sailing timeline has a slower pace than the space one, but it's more mysterious so I think I actually enjoyed it more, but I expect the opposite will be true for many readers.
Overall, a very strong debut. I'm definitely on board for whatever Brown comes out with next!
Here's the thing. This is billed as a young-adult novel, and I supposed it has to be because the two protagonists are 17, yet When the Sky Breaks is a pretty mature novel. That's not to say there is gore or sex or anything like that. But it makes you think and it doesn't talk down to you. The prose is very nice. I quite often found myself reflecting on this line or that. So I think the target audience isn't necessarily YA. I figure most adults who like SFF will get a kick out of this.
Lots of adventure and action, but also many quieter moments. Lots to think about in terms of theme and character. Identity is a big topic. The genderpunk element (Brown seems to have swapped all character's pronouns and related nouns, so he is she and mom is dad, etc.) has a thematic foothold. It's not just a weird device, although I have to admit that's what I thought at first.
I'm a would-be novelist myself, and one thing I found particularly interesting is what Brown does with POV. It's a back-and-forth sort of thing between two protagonists, one chapter at a time, and well actually there is another kinda POV in the form of letters between two other non-protagonists. But what's really interesting is........ okay, I have no idea how to say this without a spoiler. So let's just say that I've learned something about POV from the novel. Which makes sense since Brown is an editor with a couple craft titles to his name--published as David Griffin Brown.
Okay, so this is a bit of a rambling review.
In short: really enjoyed this book. I kept thinking about it even when I wasn't reading it. Lots of cliffhanger chapter endings, but without feeling gimmicky. The sailing timeline has a slower pace than the space one, but it's more mysterious so I think I actually enjoyed it more, but I expect the opposite will be true for many readers.
Overall, a very strong debut. I'm definitely on board for whatever Brown comes out with next!
May 14, 2025
I did not see THAT coming. More on that later.
*When the Sky Breaks* by Septimus Brown is a compelling sci-fi adventure set on an alternative Earth-type planet that features terrestrial life and space exploration capabilities. Brown employs the clever conceit of two separate storylines, each with its own protagonist—one in the Darrosh culture on the planet and one in orbit around the planet.
Marix and his mother live on a prison space station as a consequence of his poor choice to commit criminal damage. Corvun, on the planet below, is sailing as a crew member in the Carib region of tropical and semi-tropical islands, transporting goods from place to place. Marix wants to escape his miserable life. Corvun is drawn to follow a more mysterious spiritual path, led by something he doesn’t fully understand. Both stories had me rooting for the boys in equal measure, and my worst fear was that they might wind up as enemies, and I wouldn’t be able to choose.
In the midst of ongoing conflict between factions of the planet’s inhabitants, dangerous artifacts from a neutral third culture have been stolen. The artifacts influence both Marix’s escape from prison and the direction of Corvun’s journey. All along, the reader senses that the two storylines will eventually intertwine and lead to a climactic conclusion. They do.
Which brings me back to my first comment: I did NOT see that coming.
I unreservedly recommend When the Sky Breaks for YA (and adult) science fiction readers, as well as anyone who simply appreciates a good yarn with enough action and twists to keep the pages turning. The setting is unique, but familiar enough for us Earthlings to hang our hat on. Characters are well drawn, each with their own strengths and flaws that make them real and relatable. What Brown calls a “genderpunk” motif adds a subtle and satisfying upending of gender stereotypes and tropes, making them fresh and new in a way Gen Alpha readers will appreciate and find delightful. Be sure to grab this one when it hits the shelves!
*When the Sky Breaks* by Septimus Brown is a compelling sci-fi adventure set on an alternative Earth-type planet that features terrestrial life and space exploration capabilities. Brown employs the clever conceit of two separate storylines, each with its own protagonist—one in the Darrosh culture on the planet and one in orbit around the planet.
Marix and his mother live on a prison space station as a consequence of his poor choice to commit criminal damage. Corvun, on the planet below, is sailing as a crew member in the Carib region of tropical and semi-tropical islands, transporting goods from place to place. Marix wants to escape his miserable life. Corvun is drawn to follow a more mysterious spiritual path, led by something he doesn’t fully understand. Both stories had me rooting for the boys in equal measure, and my worst fear was that they might wind up as enemies, and I wouldn’t be able to choose.
In the midst of ongoing conflict between factions of the planet’s inhabitants, dangerous artifacts from a neutral third culture have been stolen. The artifacts influence both Marix’s escape from prison and the direction of Corvun’s journey. All along, the reader senses that the two storylines will eventually intertwine and lead to a climactic conclusion. They do.
Which brings me back to my first comment: I did NOT see that coming.
I unreservedly recommend When the Sky Breaks for YA (and adult) science fiction readers, as well as anyone who simply appreciates a good yarn with enough action and twists to keep the pages turning. The setting is unique, but familiar enough for us Earthlings to hang our hat on. Characters are well drawn, each with their own strengths and flaws that make them real and relatable. What Brown calls a “genderpunk” motif adds a subtle and satisfying upending of gender stereotypes and tropes, making them fresh and new in a way Gen Alpha readers will appreciate and find delightful. Be sure to grab this one when it hits the shelves!
May 30, 2025
Great book! The author has described it as “YA science fiction with a genderpunk twist”. I don’t know what genderpunk is, but YA, Young Adult is fitting, but don’t let the “young” set you off. This hardly young anymore reader enjoyed it immensely. I would call it Sci-Fi with a touch of Fantasy. it was a fun, engaging novel with a twist that I will do my best to not spoil.
The world is similar to Earth with a mixture of modern and futuristic technology. Planet side, travel by boat is very common. air travel is available as well. Boats travel by motor or sail, but are also blessed with this planet’s version of GPS and satellite phones and other tech. Space travel is also a common thing with stations on the moon and maybe elsewhere, but only the moon station is covered by the book.
The book follows 2 groups, one with a teen-aged boy (Marix) who starts out on a moon station, and the other with another teen-aged boy (Corvun) who is on a urgent mission to sail through a dangerous bit of sea to a remote island. Both undertake a dangerous mission fraught with much action and danger. Powerful forces would rather each boy not succeed in their mission.
This was an engaging book. There is good character development and some good action. With 2 main characters, the chapters alternate between one and the other. It was very well done. I could see this book being made into a movie. It just seems like the kind of book that could be made into a successful movie.
The world is similar to Earth with a mixture of modern and futuristic technology. Planet side, travel by boat is very common. air travel is available as well. Boats travel by motor or sail, but are also blessed with this planet’s version of GPS and satellite phones and other tech. Space travel is also a common thing with stations on the moon and maybe elsewhere, but only the moon station is covered by the book.
The book follows 2 groups, one with a teen-aged boy (Marix) who starts out on a moon station, and the other with another teen-aged boy (Corvun) who is on a urgent mission to sail through a dangerous bit of sea to a remote island. Both undertake a dangerous mission fraught with much action and danger. Powerful forces would rather each boy not succeed in their mission.
This was an engaging book. There is good character development and some good action. With 2 main characters, the chapters alternate between one and the other. It was very well done. I could see this book being made into a movie. It just seems like the kind of book that could be made into a successful movie.
May 31, 2025
This novel is an extraordinary debut that weaves together introspective sci-fi with coming-of-age depth.
Told in alternating threads, one following Marix, a defiant teen trapped on a lunar military station, the other chronicling Corvun, a fugitive sailing Earth’s fractured seas.
The novel explores identity, power, and rebellion with literary elegance.
The plot is both charged and grounded, balancing sweeping geopolitical tensions with personal stakes.
Marix’s story is fascinating: his strained relationship with his authoritarian mother and his moral dilemma over helping a labelled “traitor” provide emotional resonance.
Corvun’s narrative, slower-paced and atmospheric, acts as a philosophical counterpoint, with stunning oceanic settings and mystical intrigue.
Brown’s writing style is lush and immersive, with a poetic description that brings both space station crawlways and salt-stained catamarans to life.
The characters are complex, especially Marix, whose voice is raw, relatable, and real.
The author could trim a few dreamlike or internal monologues to improve pacing, as some readers may find the exposition dense.
Also, supporting characters like Arial and Sammy feel under-explored compared to the leads.
Still, this is a standout in speculative YA fiction; ambitious and thought-provoking. A must-read for fans of intelligent, rich sci-fi.
Told in alternating threads, one following Marix, a defiant teen trapped on a lunar military station, the other chronicling Corvun, a fugitive sailing Earth’s fractured seas.
The novel explores identity, power, and rebellion with literary elegance.
The plot is both charged and grounded, balancing sweeping geopolitical tensions with personal stakes.
Marix’s story is fascinating: his strained relationship with his authoritarian mother and his moral dilemma over helping a labelled “traitor” provide emotional resonance.
Corvun’s narrative, slower-paced and atmospheric, acts as a philosophical counterpoint, with stunning oceanic settings and mystical intrigue.
Brown’s writing style is lush and immersive, with a poetic description that brings both space station crawlways and salt-stained catamarans to life.
The characters are complex, especially Marix, whose voice is raw, relatable, and real.
The author could trim a few dreamlike or internal monologues to improve pacing, as some readers may find the exposition dense.
Also, supporting characters like Arial and Sammy feel under-explored compared to the leads.
Still, this is a standout in speculative YA fiction; ambitious and thought-provoking. A must-read for fans of intelligent, rich sci-fi.
July 28, 2025
When The Sky Breaks alternates between personal narratives from Marix, who's trapped in a space prison, and Corvun, who's evading arrest by sailing the perilous seas. Their separate worlds are linked by an artefact that draws them onto a converging path, and ultimately delivers a twist. I had expected the twist while reading, but was pleasantly surprised by how the author decided to resolve the conclusion. The ending was very satisfying indeed.
Worldbuilding took a while for me to get into, but once I got my bearings, it was an exhilarating ride. I ended up taking a week to get through the first third and binge read the rest in a day.
Pacing was rather fast, and each chapter ended on a page turner, which made it a breeze to read. Also, was nice to have some foreshadowing between several chapters in the form of letters between two other characters, though it only added to the confusion initially.
Something minor to note. Although When The Sky Breaks is marketed as a YA novel, it explores mature themes, including politics, drug abuse, and violence.
I think if you liked stories such as Six of Crows and Illuminae, When The Sky Breaks should be on your tbr.
Big thank you to Look—See—Press and Septimus Brown for a copy of the book via NetGalley!
Worldbuilding took a while for me to get into, but once I got my bearings, it was an exhilarating ride. I ended up taking a week to get through the first third and binge read the rest in a day.
Pacing was rather fast, and each chapter ended on a page turner, which made it a breeze to read. Also, was nice to have some foreshadowing between several chapters in the form of letters between two other characters, though it only added to the confusion initially.
Something minor to note. Although When The Sky Breaks is marketed as a YA novel, it explores mature themes, including politics, drug abuse, and violence.
I think if you liked stories such as Six of Crows and Illuminae, When The Sky Breaks should be on your tbr.
Big thank you to Look—See—Press and Septimus Brown for a copy of the book via NetGalley!
Did Not Finish
January 20, 2026Received free ebook as part of StoryGraph giveaway
I put this down over six months ago, in July 2025, with the thought that I may "try to get back to it"--especially because I had only read 34 pages and I usually give a book 50 pages before I DNF.
About two months or so after I paused reading, the author emailed readers with information saying he had listened to feedback and had amended the ebook to include a map of the world and a foreword "with more context for the world and story." These may be adequate improvements--but I did not look at them. When I started reading the initial PDF, I had been so confused by the world, the plot, and the characters that I could not get excited about giving the story another shot.
I do hope other readers find joy in the story. I, myself, did not feel like putting in "work" in order to get enjoyment from a read.
** Read dates: July 5 through July 6, 2025
I put this down over six months ago, in July 2025, with the thought that I may "try to get back to it"--especially because I had only read 34 pages and I usually give a book 50 pages before I DNF.
About two months or so after I paused reading, the author emailed readers with information saying he had listened to feedback and had amended the ebook to include a map of the world and a foreword "with more context for the world and story." These may be adequate improvements--but I did not look at them. When I started reading the initial PDF, I had been so confused by the world, the plot, and the characters that I could not get excited about giving the story another shot.
I do hope other readers find joy in the story. I, myself, did not feel like putting in "work" in order to get enjoyment from a read.
** Read dates: July 5 through July 6, 2025
September 27, 2025
When the Sky Breaks delivers a thrilling dual-narrative that captures both the boundless spirit of a mariner’s life and the pulse-pounding danger of an orbiting military ship. The alternating storylines not only expand the scope of the world but also maintain a steady rhythm of discovery, surprise, and suspense.
As Mar and Corvun’s paths unfold, readers are drawn into a richly imagined world where a shadowed evil stirs on the horizon — yet the most immediate threats may lie closer than they realize. The interplay of wonder, peril, and personal struggle makes this an engaging read for young adults, while offering the kind of layered storytelling that parents and teachers can confidently recommend.
Fast-paced, imaginative, and deeply atmospheric, When the Sky Breaks is an exciting addition to YA science fantasy that will capture readers from the very first page.
As Mar and Corvun’s paths unfold, readers are drawn into a richly imagined world where a shadowed evil stirs on the horizon — yet the most immediate threats may lie closer than they realize. The interplay of wonder, peril, and personal struggle makes this an engaging read for young adults, while offering the kind of layered storytelling that parents and teachers can confidently recommend.
Fast-paced, imaginative, and deeply atmospheric, When the Sky Breaks is an exciting addition to YA science fantasy that will capture readers from the very first page.
May 15, 2025
My feeling is that life is too short to read stories that don't capture my imagination. If a book doesn't hold my interest I have no problem putting it down, and I probably end up finishing a quarter of the books I start these days (thank you for the Kindle samples, Amazon).
When the Sky Breaks is not a book I put down for long. It is an intriguing puzzle that is ingeniously put together in the end. If I have a complaint, it's only that the build-up was clever and well-paced while the climactic action seemed to end too soon. But if you're in search of a truly original SF plot, you can't go wrong with this one.
When the Sky Breaks is not a book I put down for long. It is an intriguing puzzle that is ingeniously put together in the end. If I have a complaint, it's only that the build-up was clever and well-paced while the climactic action seemed to end too soon. But if you're in search of a truly original SF plot, you can't go wrong with this one.
July 23, 2025
If you enjoy speculative fiction YA coming of age, this is perfect for you. I couldn't get into it, and I was excited to get it as an ARC. I read about 60% of the way through it, and I feel like that is enough to know it just isn't my thing. I can see why some people like the book, but for me it just isn't hitting right.
Biggest is the pacing, to me, is way to slow and the world building is kinda meh at best. I am lost the whole time, and quite frankly don't actually care about the characters. Not feeling a good reason to like them, or any of the supporting cast. I couldn't even tell you their names or anything important about any of them they felt like background characters.
Biggest is the pacing, to me, is way to slow and the world building is kinda meh at best. I am lost the whole time, and quite frankly don't actually care about the characters. Not feeling a good reason to like them, or any of the supporting cast. I couldn't even tell you their names or anything important about any of them they felt like background characters.
October 1, 2025
I sometimes struggle to read fiction after years of reading academic works.
There is something different about When the Sky Breaks and the voice of Septimus Brown. I couldn't put this book down and was able to read it not just once, but twice.
It is so fun and compelling. I love the characters, the action, and the subtle world building. More than everything else, I love the voice of this writer. Every sentence is poetic and purposeful. I highly recommend this novel and would read anything Septimus Brown publishes.
There is something different about When the Sky Breaks and the voice of Septimus Brown. I couldn't put this book down and was able to read it not just once, but twice.
It is so fun and compelling. I love the characters, the action, and the subtle world building. More than everything else, I love the voice of this writer. Every sentence is poetic and purposeful. I highly recommend this novel and would read anything Septimus Brown publishes.
November 16, 2025
Septimus Brown's When the Sky Breaks is a vibrant biopunk science fiction novel that brings us on an incredible odyssey. Brown uses intriguing techniques when shifting perspectives between chapters that keep you enthralled and curious about what awaits the characters on their adventures. There are a number of fantastic twists that left me shocked and eager to turn the page. If you're looking for a delightful and engrossing tale of a new world you'd like to visit with unique seas and skyscapes When the Sky Breaks is your invitation to that journey.
July 29, 2025
This novel was a fun read. The story pulled me in right away with its space/sky dynamics. This book does a great job of mixing emotional depth with mystery and tension to keep the plot moving. I liked Marix and I feel like his character was well though out and I could empathize with him which is always nice when reading. I liked that this book wasn't strictly fantasy or strictly sci-fi but a mixed bag of sci-fi, fantasy, and speculative fiction.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews