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Kaimira #1
The Sky Village
High over China, the Sky Village, an intricate web of interconnected hot-air balloons, floats above the troubled landscape, where animals battle machines for control. Mei's mother has been kidnapped, and she has been left in this strange place by her father. Half a world away, thirteen-year-old Rom struggles to survive in the ruins of Las Vegas. When his young sister is taken by a pair of demonic creatures, Rom has no choice but to follow her into a shadowy world below ground. There, he becomes engaged in gladiator-style fighting in an arena where mehanical-beast demons do battle for the entertainment of a chaotic community of gamblers. Mei and Ron have never met, but they share a common journal, a book that mysteriously allows them to communicate. It also reveals that each of them carries the strange and frightening kaimira gene and that aspects of beast and mek qualities are entwined in their very DNA. In this thrilling, intricately plotted novel, the first in a five-book series, Mei and Rom must overcome the forces that seek to destroy them and find the courage to balance the powers that lurk within.
406 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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423 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 60 reviews
October 15, 2008
Steampunk for the younguns! In an alternate reality, machines and animals rose up and began fighting the humans. Nobody really won, there was simply an odd sort of cease-fire, and the war continues in border disputes and other encroachments. Science is now forbidden because it was what started the war.
The first book starts off with Mia and Rom. Mia's father sends her to live in a hot-air balloon village while he sets off to rescue her mother from the mechs, while Rom seeks a way to free his sister, who was captured by "demons" (half-beast, half mech). Each character is connected by a book that enables them to communicate with each other, using the forbidden art of science, and the teens discover that they carry a hybrid DNA that is part human, part animal, and part machine.
Hyjinks ensue.
I liked the fast pace of this book, it covers more ground than Tamora Pierce's similar series. The plan is to release four more novels, so yay! Yet another series to stalk for the rest of the decade.
The first book starts off with Mia and Rom. Mia's father sends her to live in a hot-air balloon village while he sets off to rescue her mother from the mechs, while Rom seeks a way to free his sister, who was captured by "demons" (half-beast, half mech). Each character is connected by a book that enables them to communicate with each other, using the forbidden art of science, and the teens discover that they carry a hybrid DNA that is part human, part animal, and part machine.
Hyjinks ensue.
I liked the fast pace of this book, it covers more ground than Tamora Pierce's similar series. The plan is to release four more novels, so yay! Yet another series to stalk for the rest of the decade.
July 24, 2008
The Sky Village is the soaring debut to Monk and Nigel Ashland’s new young adult series, Kaimira. The Ashlands take the reader to a futuristic world where humans, animals and intelligent machines called meks have been fighting for decades.
In China, twelve-year-old Mei Long’s mother has been kidnapped by meks. Her father sends her to live in the Sky Village, an intricate web of hot air balloons that flies high above the earth, while he remains on land to search his wife. He entrusts Mei with the care of the Tree Book. Mei’s mother would read to her from the Tree Book each evening, telling her fantastic tales of children with names like Breaker and Lizard Girl. Her father warns her not to open the book, but Mei, desperate for a way to find her mother, disobeys him. She soon discovers that the Tree Book is no ordinary book. The children from the stories are real, and Mei’s book allows her to communicate with Breaker, a teenage boy whose real name is Rom. Rom knows Mei as Dragonfly from his own parents’ stories.
Rom lives in the ruins of Las Vegas, where the beasts roam freely and humans have been forced into hiding. Rom’s younger sister, Riley, has been kidnapped by beast-mek hybrids known as demons. Rom enters the seedy Las Vegas underground where he is forced to learn the art of demonsmithing to save his sister. Rom’s father was a master demonsmith, and Rom shares his father’s natural abilities. The demonsmiths conjure beast-mek hybrids for elaborate fights to entertain gamblers in the underground.
Mei and Rom discover that they share the mysterious kaimira gene – a gene that mixes beast and mek elements with their human DNA. The gene gives both of them power that they don’t fully understand and must struggle to control. Will this power enable them to save their loved ones? What might it cost them in the process?
I loved the imagery of the Sky Village. The colorful hot air balloons seemed so full of life that they made the contrast with the barren Las Vegas even more apparent. At first I was much more drawn to Mei’s story, but over the course of the book I really connected with Rom. His devotion to his sister and his determination to do anything to save her was very touching.
I did feel that the book lagged in some parts, while it seemed rushed in others. There is a lot going on in this book, and some elements aren’t explained as fully as they could be, which may be confusing to younger readers.
I think The Sky Village is a solid introduction to the series, and I am definitely going to pick up the next installment. I hope that we’ll get to meet some of the other characters mentioned in the Tree Book (particularly Lizard Girl) during the next four books in the series.
In China, twelve-year-old Mei Long’s mother has been kidnapped by meks. Her father sends her to live in the Sky Village, an intricate web of hot air balloons that flies high above the earth, while he remains on land to search his wife. He entrusts Mei with the care of the Tree Book. Mei’s mother would read to her from the Tree Book each evening, telling her fantastic tales of children with names like Breaker and Lizard Girl. Her father warns her not to open the book, but Mei, desperate for a way to find her mother, disobeys him. She soon discovers that the Tree Book is no ordinary book. The children from the stories are real, and Mei’s book allows her to communicate with Breaker, a teenage boy whose real name is Rom. Rom knows Mei as Dragonfly from his own parents’ stories.
Rom lives in the ruins of Las Vegas, where the beasts roam freely and humans have been forced into hiding. Rom’s younger sister, Riley, has been kidnapped by beast-mek hybrids known as demons. Rom enters the seedy Las Vegas underground where he is forced to learn the art of demonsmithing to save his sister. Rom’s father was a master demonsmith, and Rom shares his father’s natural abilities. The demonsmiths conjure beast-mek hybrids for elaborate fights to entertain gamblers in the underground.
Mei and Rom discover that they share the mysterious kaimira gene – a gene that mixes beast and mek elements with their human DNA. The gene gives both of them power that they don’t fully understand and must struggle to control. Will this power enable them to save their loved ones? What might it cost them in the process?
I loved the imagery of the Sky Village. The colorful hot air balloons seemed so full of life that they made the contrast with the barren Las Vegas even more apparent. At first I was much more drawn to Mei’s story, but over the course of the book I really connected with Rom. His devotion to his sister and his determination to do anything to save her was very touching.
I did feel that the book lagged in some parts, while it seemed rushed in others. There is a lot going on in this book, and some elements aren’t explained as fully as they could be, which may be confusing to younger readers.
I think The Sky Village is a solid introduction to the series, and I am definitely going to pick up the next installment. I hope that we’ll get to meet some of the other characters mentioned in the Tree Book (particularly Lizard Girl) during the next four books in the series.
November 24, 2008
This book was picked up on the basis of an intriguing cover and a snazzy description about a floating city. I'm a sucker for things that aren't supposed to be airborne. All I could think after a few chapters of this book was, "Wow, this would be way more amazing to me if I'd never seen an anime or read a manga in my lifetime."
While the writing was acceptable in a young adult fiction sort of way, I don't know if I've ever read a book so derivative of the popular entertainment produced in Japan. I'd like to list a few of them off:
1. The earth is plagued with robotic creatures called Meks.
2. One of the main characters controls an exotic Mek/Beast hybrid and fights others with the same in an arena against various other opponents with similar Mek/Beasts.
3. The other main character has a flying sidekick that can hide in her pocket.
4. Both the main characters are human/mech/beast hybrids.
I could go on like this, and I know some of these are also children's lit cliches in general, but that certainly doesn't help. I imagine the writers of this book being the sort of guys who ramble on endlessly to anyone who'll listen about how much more advanced and sophisticated Japanese entertainment is. Having seen a great deal of their comedy, I must disagree.
For what it's worth, the fantasy elements hold together decently. It's a fast paced, exciting story, but it's been cobbled together by a couple of geeks with a giddy love of their source material that leads to borrowing rather than inspiration.
A few years ago I read a Newtype magazine, an expensive publication simultaneously released in Japan and America, and someone on their staff took on the foolhardy task of watching every single animated program currently airing in their country. Apparently it was an immensely trying experience because of the sheer volume. Comics and animation are their bread and butter (though I don't think they're as big on bread and butter as we are) and even the fraction of it that hits stateside fills up six book shelves at the local Borders.
I guess what I'm getting at is we don't need nerdy gaijin making inferior copies of the potboiler fiction that's being shipped to us in massive quantities already.
What's more tiresome is that it's the first part of a trilogy, another dork tendency that's feels completely trite nowadays. I did not care enough at the end to want to read two more books of the same size, or anything else by these authors without a very intense recommendation from a trusted source.
I need to start reading the first chapter before I buy stuff in hardback.
While the writing was acceptable in a young adult fiction sort of way, I don't know if I've ever read a book so derivative of the popular entertainment produced in Japan. I'd like to list a few of them off:
1. The earth is plagued with robotic creatures called Meks.
2. One of the main characters controls an exotic Mek/Beast hybrid and fights others with the same in an arena against various other opponents with similar Mek/Beasts.
3. The other main character has a flying sidekick that can hide in her pocket.
4. Both the main characters are human/mech/beast hybrids.
I could go on like this, and I know some of these are also children's lit cliches in general, but that certainly doesn't help. I imagine the writers of this book being the sort of guys who ramble on endlessly to anyone who'll listen about how much more advanced and sophisticated Japanese entertainment is. Having seen a great deal of their comedy, I must disagree.
For what it's worth, the fantasy elements hold together decently. It's a fast paced, exciting story, but it's been cobbled together by a couple of geeks with a giddy love of their source material that leads to borrowing rather than inspiration.
A few years ago I read a Newtype magazine, an expensive publication simultaneously released in Japan and America, and someone on their staff took on the foolhardy task of watching every single animated program currently airing in their country. Apparently it was an immensely trying experience because of the sheer volume. Comics and animation are their bread and butter (though I don't think they're as big on bread and butter as we are) and even the fraction of it that hits stateside fills up six book shelves at the local Borders.
I guess what I'm getting at is we don't need nerdy gaijin making inferior copies of the potboiler fiction that's being shipped to us in massive quantities already.
What's more tiresome is that it's the first part of a trilogy, another dork tendency that's feels completely trite nowadays. I did not care enough at the end to want to read two more books of the same size, or anything else by these authors without a very intense recommendation from a trusted source.
I need to start reading the first chapter before I buy stuff in hardback.
May 19, 2009
I cannot wait until the Second books comes out !!!~!~!!! This has got to be one of my all time fav. I have even gone on to the web book page and downloaded everything I could get my hands On. My Whole family just LOVES this Fantastic Book! Any idea when the Second Book will arrive?
````L~~~~O````V~~~~E````T~~~~H````I~~~~S````B~~~~O````O~~~~K````
Across the planet from one another, in a post-apocalyptic world fraught with constant peril, Mei and Rom fight for survival. Mei, hovering over China's desolate landscape in a community of refugees living in hot-air balloons, struggles to find her purpose in her world's highly ritualistic social order. Rom, fighting to save his sister in the caves under what is left of Las Vegas, must learn the complex rules of a decadent and demented society. These two exceptional young people find comfort when they discover they can communicate with each other through the assistance of the magical Tree Book, which holds sinister secrets of its own. The theme of balance threads together the tales of the two complex protagonists. Mei must learn to balance her physical body as she maneuvers herself on the ropes that weave together the Sky Village. Rom's challenge is to balance his emotions as he conjures his inner demons (literally) into reality in order to survive in the vile underground gambling arena. Much what these compelling heroes work to control, however, is internal. They both carry the unique kaimira gene that connects them and allows for communication with the world's warring factions, the maverick machines (meks) and the packs of ferocious, fearless beasts. With strong characters of both genders, terrifyingly unpredictable villains, frightening futuristic settings, and wonderfully written action sequences, this book, first in a planned series of five, should have crossover appeal for fans of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy.
````L~~~~O````V~~~~E````T~~~~H````I~~~~S````B~~~~O````O~~~~K````
Across the planet from one another, in a post-apocalyptic world fraught with constant peril, Mei and Rom fight for survival. Mei, hovering over China's desolate landscape in a community of refugees living in hot-air balloons, struggles to find her purpose in her world's highly ritualistic social order. Rom, fighting to save his sister in the caves under what is left of Las Vegas, must learn the complex rules of a decadent and demented society. These two exceptional young people find comfort when they discover they can communicate with each other through the assistance of the magical Tree Book, which holds sinister secrets of its own. The theme of balance threads together the tales of the two complex protagonists. Mei must learn to balance her physical body as she maneuvers herself on the ropes that weave together the Sky Village. Rom's challenge is to balance his emotions as he conjures his inner demons (literally) into reality in order to survive in the vile underground gambling arena. Much what these compelling heroes work to control, however, is internal. They both carry the unique kaimira gene that connects them and allows for communication with the world's warring factions, the maverick machines (meks) and the packs of ferocious, fearless beasts. With strong characters of both genders, terrifyingly unpredictable villains, frightening futuristic settings, and wonderfully written action sequences, this book, first in a planned series of five, should have crossover appeal for fans of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy.
September 30, 2012
(I've noticed that most of the books I have read have 5 stars - I think I just have a knack for picking out the right books for me.)
This was another of my thrift store finds, a book I was unsure about picking up, but something made me grab it anyways. I have to say that I'm very glad I did. It was a very good book - full of adventure and fantasy. I really liked the way that the authors described what was going on and the characters were easy to get behind. The story was based in China, in the possibly sooner-than-later future, after the machines and animals grow tired of the way they are treated by humans and a giant war with machines vs animals vs humans occurs. In the aftermath, there is lots of destruction and still fighting goes on. This is the story of two children's adventures - Mei's adventures in the Sky Village and Rom's adventure on the ground in Las Vegas - and the unique and unexpected connection the two have. It is described on Wikipedia as a Young Adult/Fantasy Novel - but don't let that young adult title scare you away - it really is a good read.
This was another of my thrift store finds, a book I was unsure about picking up, but something made me grab it anyways. I have to say that I'm very glad I did. It was a very good book - full of adventure and fantasy. I really liked the way that the authors described what was going on and the characters were easy to get behind. The story was based in China, in the possibly sooner-than-later future, after the machines and animals grow tired of the way they are treated by humans and a giant war with machines vs animals vs humans occurs. In the aftermath, there is lots of destruction and still fighting goes on. This is the story of two children's adventures - Mei's adventures in the Sky Village and Rom's adventure on the ground in Las Vegas - and the unique and unexpected connection the two have. It is described on Wikipedia as a Young Adult/Fantasy Novel - but don't let that young adult title scare you away - it really is a good read.
June 29, 2008
Though a teen series, Rom and Mei wrestle with adult situations as both must save those around them by recognizing and controlling their newfound genetics. Throughout The Sky Village profound questions are raised, such as a futility of progress in science, the price of power, and what differentiates man, beast, and machine. The Sky Village is an exciting new entrance into the children’s literature world, and a worthy contender.
Full review:
http://brimeetsbooks.com/2008/06/revi...
Full review:
http://brimeetsbooks.com/2008/06/revi...
March 3, 2012
The first time I read this book I loved it and was so very eager for the next book in the five book Kaimira series. I'm sorry to say that my patience was wearing out after waiting for about 4 years so I tried to read sky village again to try elevate my impatience. It did work to some small amount but still, I have the feeling of wanting to read more.
July 26, 2022
Read this book maybe ten or twelve years ago and remember really enjoying it. Would check periodically for at least a couple years for any news on a sequel, which will never exist for reasons that have been elaborated on by numerous other reviewers at this point so I won't repeat them. But I still remember it a decade after the fact, which isn't nothing.
November 21, 2008
Engaging story that brings you into a new and interesting world.
May 21, 2022
Got to chapter 6 and DNF'd.. TBH this book is really confusing even in the beginning 5 chapters. To many things are introduced like is her mom dead? Is she alive? Did she just disappear?? The MC's whole village disappeared? But she has a magical book where she can see where the robot monsters took her mom.. So why didn't her did look at this before? Why didn't her dad use this book to find the villagers that went missing?? The book can tell the future but is also like a phone to another book? SO there are other books? How do the Sky Village people expect Mei (our main character) to basically start doing all these tricks and not falling off the hot air balloons? Also, why did the one little girl just randomly throw a bowl of ramen at her? And there's flying animals that the Sky Villagers can butcher? Then there's a kid on the other end of the book has an abusive father? He's sick? None of it makes sense, not to mention the chapters are SUPER long and drawn out.
June 12, 2019
This was a lot better than I thought it would be! Usually in books when there are two different characters' stories going on at the same time, I tend to like one more than the other, but for this one I could not decide between them. They were both so good!
March 26, 2020
Love it 💓
August 31, 2020
I just couldn't get into this one.
January 10, 2021
It's a great book, I would recommend it for 12-15 year olds.
June 2, 2023
Needs a book 2. I know that there is no book two, but it needs one.
May 30, 2022
Edit: 30/5/22:
https://web.archive.org/web/201704021...
Original review:
The Case of the Disappearing Series
Bit of a curious case, Kaimira. On finishing reading, I popped online to look up www.kaimiracode.com - to read the rest of two bonus stories included at the end, in the "Artifacts" section, and maybe even "crack the kaimira code" (!). What did I find? Well, I was redirected to http://www.spexstudios.com. Not to be put off, I did a little research (ok, I admit, I just Googled it!) and found something a bit curious - a post from "chris" (Rettstatt?), dated 2014, saying the website was temporarily down due to the original owner's rights being sold to Spex Studios and would be back up within the year. This seemed reasonable enough, until I came across this post on Y!A with the very same information, only dated three years previous. Obviously this Chris might be someone else entirely, who just copied and pasted the info without citing or changing the date... but it all seems a bit coincidental that the older post is by calling themselves the author and the newer post is by a "chris" - the author's real name.
Whether this is all just coincidence, I don't know, but apart from the fact that kaimiracode.com was evidently not "back up within the year", there are a couple of other things that don't quite add up. Firstly, there are references to a deal with the BBC surrounding Kaimira and its further development - the results of which I can't find anywhere. Equally, plenty of sources mention a sequel, to be called The Terrible Everything, which "should be coming out July of next year" (2010). We're four years further on, and there is no sign of a sequel. That's a long time, particularly when the author has a) agreed to a five book deal with their publishers and b) submitted at least one draft to said publisher more than six years ago.
Where in the world is the rest of the series? There are posts all over the internet asking the same question, but evidently with no response.
Of course, what you should take from this is that I loved Kaimira. If I didn't I wouldn't be chasing the slightest hope of a sequel all over the internet. I picked it up quite by chance and nearly put it back down, not sure the whole fighting robots/genetic experiments/chimera (no prizes for guessing where the title came from) thing would be my cup of tea, but I decided to give it a try based purely on the fascinating idea of a village made of inter-connected hot air balloons.
Isn't the artwork awesome? There are half a dozen or so of these pictures dotted throughout the book. You can see some more examples in the promo video.
The story is just as fun. I don't want to give spoilers so I won't go into plot events, but this is a book that most people age 10+ will enjoy. Particularly those of you who like a bit of fantasy/post-apocalyptic fiction. I'm glad I came across it - I just hope that one day I find out what comes of Animus - The Terrible Everything.
https://web.archive.org/web/201704021...
Original review:
The Case of the Disappearing Series
Bit of a curious case, Kaimira. On finishing reading, I popped online to look up www.kaimiracode.com - to read the rest of two bonus stories included at the end, in the "Artifacts" section, and maybe even "crack the kaimira code" (!). What did I find? Well, I was redirected to http://www.spexstudios.com. Not to be put off, I did a little research (ok, I admit, I just Googled it!) and found something a bit curious - a post from "chris" (Rettstatt?), dated 2014, saying the website was temporarily down due to the original owner's rights being sold to Spex Studios and would be back up within the year. This seemed reasonable enough, until I came across this post on Y!A with the very same information, only dated three years previous. Obviously this Chris might be someone else entirely, who just copied and pasted the info without citing or changing the date... but it all seems a bit coincidental that the older post is by calling themselves the author and the newer post is by a "chris" - the author's real name.
Whether this is all just coincidence, I don't know, but apart from the fact that kaimiracode.com was evidently not "back up within the year", there are a couple of other things that don't quite add up. Firstly, there are references to a deal with the BBC surrounding Kaimira and its further development - the results of which I can't find anywhere. Equally, plenty of sources mention a sequel, to be called The Terrible Everything, which "should be coming out July of next year" (2010). We're four years further on, and there is no sign of a sequel. That's a long time, particularly when the author has a) agreed to a five book deal with their publishers and b) submitted at least one draft to said publisher more than six years ago.
Where in the world is the rest of the series? There are posts all over the internet asking the same question, but evidently with no response.
Of course, what you should take from this is that I loved Kaimira. If I didn't I wouldn't be chasing the slightest hope of a sequel all over the internet. I picked it up quite by chance and nearly put it back down, not sure the whole fighting robots/genetic experiments/chimera (no prizes for guessing where the title came from) thing would be my cup of tea, but I decided to give it a try based purely on the fascinating idea of a village made of inter-connected hot air balloons.
Isn't the artwork awesome? There are half a dozen or so of these pictures dotted throughout the book. You can see some more examples in the promo video.
The story is just as fun. I don't want to give spoilers so I won't go into plot events, but this is a book that most people age 10+ will enjoy. Particularly those of you who like a bit of fantasy/post-apocalyptic fiction. I'm glad I came across it - I just hope that one day I find out what comes of Animus - The Terrible Everything.
December 2, 2014
Mei's mother has been kidnapped by meks, but her father is determined to see her safely to her mother's people while he goes to rescue her. So Mei is sent to the Sky Village, a floating city of hot air balloons intricately roped together.
On the other side of the world, Rom ekes out a living in a Las Vegas overrun by beasts. But his familiar world is shattered when the demons take his sister---and now he must master a demon himself in order to set her free.
The two of them are bound together by a mysterious book, which may hold the key to the war between beasts, meks, and humans . . .
The ideas this book tackles were certainly intriguing: a manmade flying city, a world with a war between machine and animal, a gene that allows certain people to have inborn traits of beast, mek, and human. But mostly the ideas presented in the book summary are as far as it goes. It wasn't a bad story, it just felt rather shallow to me.
Mostly I wanted more of pretty much everything. The Trinity war (man, beast, mek) is mentioned several times but never in any great depth, which is a little strange considering how much it reshaped the world. Rom gets a better sense of personal and family history than Mei, though his final confrontation with his father still fell flat for me. The relationship between Rom and Mei is hardly there and doesn't impact either of them much that I can tell, so it feels like two separate stories rather than an interwoven whole (some of this is also due to the fact that the book is clearly setting up a series, so much is left open for future volumes to resolve). After their initial conversation, they spend more time leaving messages for each other than actually communicating.
And certain elements were never really explained. Why are there beasts in Las Vegas and not meks? For one, being an urban area, it seems to make more sense to have meks, and for another, what do the beasts eat since at this point the supply of easily caught people appears to be quite thin (most of the beasts seen are at least carnivorous, as it would be hard to explain grazers in such a desert region)? Similarly, why are the meks populating rural Asia? What is Rom eating other than canned food that's probably a hundred years old at this point, and where is he getting it? How is Sky Village getting fuel if nobody's making tech anymore? How many triggits are there, since Rom keeps destroying his opponent's triggits in the arena fights, and the implication is that this is a standard way to win?
So, if you can suspend disbelief on some of the worldbuilding, the story is fast-paced and has a couple of surprises. I like the concepts, but again, the execution did not really come through for me. I rate this book Neutral.
On the other side of the world, Rom ekes out a living in a Las Vegas overrun by beasts. But his familiar world is shattered when the demons take his sister---and now he must master a demon himself in order to set her free.
The two of them are bound together by a mysterious book, which may hold the key to the war between beasts, meks, and humans . . .
The ideas this book tackles were certainly intriguing: a manmade flying city, a world with a war between machine and animal, a gene that allows certain people to have inborn traits of beast, mek, and human. But mostly the ideas presented in the book summary are as far as it goes. It wasn't a bad story, it just felt rather shallow to me.
Mostly I wanted more of pretty much everything. The Trinity war (man, beast, mek) is mentioned several times but never in any great depth, which is a little strange considering how much it reshaped the world. Rom gets a better sense of personal and family history than Mei, though his final confrontation with his father still fell flat for me. The relationship between Rom and Mei is hardly there and doesn't impact either of them much that I can tell, so it feels like two separate stories rather than an interwoven whole (some of this is also due to the fact that the book is clearly setting up a series, so much is left open for future volumes to resolve). After their initial conversation, they spend more time leaving messages for each other than actually communicating.
And certain elements were never really explained. Why are there beasts in Las Vegas and not meks? For one, being an urban area, it seems to make more sense to have meks, and for another, what do the beasts eat since at this point the supply of easily caught people appears to be quite thin (most of the beasts seen are at least carnivorous, as it would be hard to explain grazers in such a desert region)? Similarly, why are the meks populating rural Asia? What is Rom eating other than canned food that's probably a hundred years old at this point, and where is he getting it? How is Sky Village getting fuel if nobody's making tech anymore? How many triggits are there, since Rom keeps destroying his opponent's triggits in the arena fights, and the implication is that this is a standard way to win?
So, if you can suspend disbelief on some of the worldbuilding, the story is fast-paced and has a couple of surprises. I like the concepts, but again, the execution did not really come through for me. I rate this book Neutral.
July 25, 2010
This is the second novel that seems to fit into the "Steampunk" genre that I have read in the past year. It would seem as though I've found a genre I cannot help but love. The perfect mix of technology and history as it would seem just make for one of those fantastic adventure type novels that you don't ever wish you had to put down. I'd also like to point out both steampunk novels I've read have had the most amazing illustrations and covers, I look forward to finding more of that type of book, I do enjoy illustrations, well my inner child does. I'd like to point out that this story is told from two very distinct points of view, Mei and Rom, who through The Tree Book, a mysterious journal type book they are able to communicate. The pair have never met, yet they each find comfort in the fact that they are able to communicate with one another. Together they unlock the secrets hidden within their very DNA, the fact that they are part machine, beast and human.
What can I say about this brilliant novel? Well, firstly, I cannot wait for the next book, I'm still trying to get a copy and am willing to wait however long to do so, because I was captivated by the world this novel presented. Also, I'm just one of those people who have to find out what happens to the characters in the end, I'm just that way about series. In particular good series. I really loved these characters, I cared about them, and wanted to see them succeed. I particularly loved Rom in particular his struggles were just heartbreaking at times, being thrown into a situation like that, well it would just destroy me. However his determination is just astonishing, I could not believe how strong he had to be, not only for himself, but also for his sister and at such a young age it's difficult to imagine them alone in a world like that. Mei, too was brilliant, strong minded and at times completely selfless, or completely selfish. It changed at times. Not that this affected my overall opinion of her. She was still one of those brilliant characters that I was left wondering about.
The writing brings this story to life, that is one of the most magical things about this book, the writing. It's difficult to find a book such as this, I guess I was fortunate to find it on the shelves of the second hand book shop I am so fond of. A brilliant read for teenagers and above.
4 Stars.
What can I say about this brilliant novel? Well, firstly, I cannot wait for the next book, I'm still trying to get a copy and am willing to wait however long to do so, because I was captivated by the world this novel presented. Also, I'm just one of those people who have to find out what happens to the characters in the end, I'm just that way about series. In particular good series. I really loved these characters, I cared about them, and wanted to see them succeed. I particularly loved Rom in particular his struggles were just heartbreaking at times, being thrown into a situation like that, well it would just destroy me. However his determination is just astonishing, I could not believe how strong he had to be, not only for himself, but also for his sister and at such a young age it's difficult to imagine them alone in a world like that. Mei, too was brilliant, strong minded and at times completely selfless, or completely selfish. It changed at times. Not that this affected my overall opinion of her. She was still one of those brilliant characters that I was left wondering about.
The writing brings this story to life, that is one of the most magical things about this book, the writing. It's difficult to find a book such as this, I guess I was fortunate to find it on the shelves of the second hand book shop I am so fond of. A brilliant read for teenagers and above.
4 Stars.
June 3, 2012
The world is in peril. The Trinary Wars have effected everyone. Even after the wars end, humans, animals, and machines continue to find one another for control of the world. While the beasts use force to stay in control, the Machines, or Meks, use tactics to take over new territory and eventually the whole world. Humans try to hide from the Beasts and the Meks. When Dragonfly, a Chinese fly who's actual name is Mei, and Breaker, an American boy who's actual name is Rom, each receive a book with a tree carved into it, the world as they know it, changes forever. The tree book contains the Kaimira gene which also lurks inside Dragonfly and Breaker. This means that they are Beast, Mek, and Human. A strange voice inside the tree book that calls itself Animus promises power to Dragonfly and Breaker. If they set it free. When they need the power the most, they have to use it. No matter what happens.
I think the theme of this novel is to never give up because Dragonfly and Breaker never give up on saving the ones which they love. Dragonfly is persistent to save her mother since her mother who was captured by the Mek army that destroyed her village. Breaker is persistent to save his sister, Riley, that was kidnapped by a heartless person named Diamond Teeth who is i control in the Demon caves. Breaker learns how to Demonsmith. Demonsmithing is a kind of power in which you create a creature using your mind and a machine called a Trigit. The Demon caves hold fights in which numerous Demonsmiths compete and try to win money and to stay alive in the caves. Breaker will do anything to save his sister. Even if it means he will lose his humanity
I think the theme of this novel is to never give up because Dragonfly and Breaker never give up on saving the ones which they love. Dragonfly is persistent to save her mother since her mother who was captured by the Mek army that destroyed her village. Breaker is persistent to save his sister, Riley, that was kidnapped by a heartless person named Diamond Teeth who is i control in the Demon caves. Breaker learns how to Demonsmith. Demonsmithing is a kind of power in which you create a creature using your mind and a machine called a Trigit. The Demon caves hold fights in which numerous Demonsmiths compete and try to win money and to stay alive in the caves. Breaker will do anything to save his sister. Even if it means he will lose his humanity
August 16, 2009
In this first installment of the five part "Kaimira" series, we are introduced to two children who live worlds apart. Rom, who lives in the ruins of an old metropolis in the United States, and Mai, a young girl living in China. Tragedy strikes and the two soon find themselves connected through the mysterious Tree Books given them by their respective parents. It is a good beginning, setting up characters, motivations and future events without seeming too cluttered, or just as bad, leaving out too much and leaving you largely clueless. It ends at a good point, where there is much to be done, you are not sure where this is leading, but neither are you dangling off of a cliff. The characters were enjoyable and I look forward to seeing where this series goes.
Excerpt: As our weapons became more sophisticated, their wielders killed more men from further away. This was a cowardly path. Killing a man from such a distance removes the humanity from the act and reduces it to little more than pushing buttons on a factory floor. These weapons of chaos were used without wisdom or discipline, by those who did not deserve their power. When you kill a man with a sword, there can be no pretense. You see the life drain from him. You hear him call out his final prayers. The knowledge of what you have done is like fire in your veins. Thus, a true warrior kills only when its necessity screams with a thousand voices.
Excerpt: As our weapons became more sophisticated, their wielders killed more men from further away. This was a cowardly path. Killing a man from such a distance removes the humanity from the act and reduces it to little more than pushing buttons on a factory floor. These weapons of chaos were used without wisdom or discipline, by those who did not deserve their power. When you kill a man with a sword, there can be no pretense. You see the life drain from him. You hear him call out his final prayers. The knowledge of what you have done is like fire in your veins. Thus, a true warrior kills only when its necessity screams with a thousand voices.
December 11, 2009
I was first drawn to this book by its fantastic cover art, with a painting of what seemed to be a fascinating mystical world. The art was right: there were a lot of really clever ideas in this book. The world overrun by warring robots and beasts, with people left as victims on the sidelines; a Chinese city carried by hot air balloons that people traverse on tightropes; a gambling den of coliseum fights underneath a decimated Las Vegas; a book that allows you to communicate with others. The trouble was, there was so much going on in the book—a new world, multiple story lines, a number of themes—I couldn’t find anything to grab hold of. As soon as I got excited about a character’s ability to speak to animals, I’d be thrown into another character’s quest to save a family member, and then immediately get lost in wondering about the theme of what separates humans from beasts or robots, then off again to something else. And this is just the first in the series! I wish this book alone had been broken into half a dozen more so I’d get a chance to watch the development of so many great elements.
July 28, 2008
The Sky Village is a unique fantasy with rich world building. Monk and Nigel Ashland have created two fascinating cultures, each of which shows elements of their root cultures. The Sky Village is a lovely concept, a city made of balloons tied together and floating above China. The culture of the Sky Village is an interesting mixture of traditional Chinese elements with unique elements unique to an airborne society. I particularly loved the nuptial rituals. The caves under Las Vegas, by contrast, have a culture steeped in greed and gambling that seems appropriate to their location.
The characters are also interesting, varied and colorful. The two protagonists are likable, sympathetic, and quite human: they make mistakes and they fail, sometimes with disastrous consequences, but they are both courageous and caring, and try to make up for their mistakes. The plot is exciting and holds your interest, although I did find Rom's story a little more exciting than Mei's.
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The characters are also interesting, varied and colorful. The two protagonists are likable, sympathetic, and quite human: they make mistakes and they fail, sometimes with disastrous consequences, but they are both courageous and caring, and try to make up for their mistakes. The plot is exciting and holds your interest, although I did find Rom's story a little more exciting than Mei's.
Read my entire review
November 2, 2015
This book is technically sci-fi, I guess, but it feels like fantasy.
"The Sky Village" has an intricately woven plot set in an intricately woven world full of rampant beasts and meks, basically animals and renegade robots, in a war-torn world as the humans, beasts, and meks all fight for control.
The two main characters are connected only through the Tree Book, which they use to write to each other. They haven't actually met. One lives in the Sky Village, an airborne tangle of hot air balloons and ropes floating over China, and the other in a sort of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas overrun by beasts.
The ideas in this book are very original--the whole thing with the Sky Village and the demons and kaimira and Animus. Rather than being hurtled at you, these things are hinted at and then slowly revealed, creating a strong sense of mystery and giving the world of "Kaimira" a strong depth that makes you want to keep exploring it and seeing what all these things are about.
A brilliant story, and I look forward to reading the second book.
"The Sky Village" has an intricately woven plot set in an intricately woven world full of rampant beasts and meks, basically animals and renegade robots, in a war-torn world as the humans, beasts, and meks all fight for control.
The two main characters are connected only through the Tree Book, which they use to write to each other. They haven't actually met. One lives in the Sky Village, an airborne tangle of hot air balloons and ropes floating over China, and the other in a sort of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas overrun by beasts.
The ideas in this book are very original--the whole thing with the Sky Village and the demons and kaimira and Animus. Rather than being hurtled at you, these things are hinted at and then slowly revealed, creating a strong sense of mystery and giving the world of "Kaimira" a strong depth that makes you want to keep exploring it and seeing what all these things are about.
A brilliant story, and I look forward to reading the second book.
July 23, 2009
With interesting characters, future tech, and an astoundingly well-realized world, I recommend this book for any sci-fi/fantasy fan. The downside is that it is the first book of a five book series, and number two doesn't come out until 2010.
For comparison, I would say it's like The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson and the Avatar: the Last Airbender series. Better than Stephenson, and close to Avatar.
I'm excited/anxious for the next book. I'm impatient because I usually like to read a series all together. The Sky Village shows great promise.
There's tons of extra information in the back of the book, like excerpts from the world's myths, as well as diary excerpts from some of the secondary characters. Monk Ashland has obviously spent a lot of time on this, and it shows.
For comparison, I would say it's like The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson and the Avatar: the Last Airbender series. Better than Stephenson, and close to Avatar.
I'm excited/anxious for the next book. I'm impatient because I usually like to read a series all together. The Sky Village shows great promise.
There's tons of extra information in the back of the book, like excerpts from the world's myths, as well as diary excerpts from some of the secondary characters. Monk Ashland has obviously spent a lot of time on this, and it shows.
October 21, 2012
I read the Sky Village some time ago, I had seen the book at Barnes and Noble and then again at Half-Price Books. I had just finished Philip Reeves' Hungry City Chronicles (the original series) and was eager to pick up something comparable. Indeed, Sky Village has many of the same far future post-apocalyptic themes as Reeves' books, but neither the characters nor the setting were as intriguing nor as well written. If you can find a copy, it's not a bad read, but many of the story elements feel borrowed (which put me off) and the book is meant to be the first in a series and seeing as it's been years since this came out and nothing further has been released, I think it's fairly safe to assume this is all we're getting.
April 15, 2014
Mei Long from China and Rom Saint-Pierre from Las Vegas were facing many challengers to survive what is coming for them .
For Mei , she faces the villagers in the Sky Village while Rom in Las Vegas was trying to survive in a horrible , destroy controlled by beast place with his sister , Riley .
And then both was able to communicate with each others because both of them have a very special book called The Tree Book .
It was a very tragic and sad story for both of both them . Mei's father when to save her kidnapped mother while Rom was struggling to survive and want to see a smile on his sister's face while his father when off somewhere .
I finished this book and it mention it has a second book called The Terrible Everything , is still not out yet . Can't wait.
For Mei , she faces the villagers in the Sky Village while Rom in Las Vegas was trying to survive in a horrible , destroy controlled by beast place with his sister , Riley .
And then both was able to communicate with each others because both of them have a very special book called The Tree Book .
It was a very tragic and sad story for both of both them . Mei's father when to save her kidnapped mother while Rom was struggling to survive and want to see a smile on his sister's face while his father when off somewhere .
I finished this book and it mention it has a second book called The Terrible Everything , is still not out yet . Can't wait.
February 26, 2009
I couldn't finish this. I may try it again and like it better--but this is the second time recently I've seen a book (the other book was Atherton: House of Power by Patrick Carman) that grabbed me initially with its really cool premise (I mean, villages of balloonists living in the sky, how cool is that) but didn't give me good writing and character development to go along with that premise. But I only got about 70 pages in so maybe it got better.
For someone whose premises are all that and a bag of chips and who can do character development too, see Philip Reeve.
For someone whose premises are all that and a bag of chips and who can do character development too, see Philip Reeve.
February 8, 2009
This book fits into my favorite genre. It's a book about sometime in the future when humans have destroyed the world and are trying to cope with the aftermath. It is the first of a series and I look forward to the next one. This book was a gift from Claire, and we disagreed about whether we liked the ending. The book is a little out there but certainly draws you in and makes you visualize some amazing worlds. It also shows you the lengths (and depths) human nature reaches in a fight for survival.
March 15, 2010
Not my favorite book of all time. I borrowed it from another library to see if I should purchase it for our library. I've decided not to. There were exciting elements & intriguing ideas, but the 2 main characters lived on oposite sides of the planet & their connection felt artificial. Also, particularly at the end of the story during the climax, I felt like the story wasn't being told completely. All in all, it was a so-so book. Didn't hate it, but definately didn't love it either.
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