What do you think?
Rate this book
Fly the Wild Sky: A Dystopian Young Adult Novel
Have you ever dreamed you could fly? Perhaps you woke up sad, because flying isn't real. But what if it was?
Sixteen-year-old Sparrow Harper has a relentlessly ordinary life. Her only thrills are flying dreams—but they make her bones sore, and she has no idea why. She's also heartbroken because flying isn't real. Her mother knows what's wrong with her, but won’t talk about it. There are answers at a mysterious camp in Maine . . .
On the airplane flight there, Sparrow meets Heron Cirrus. He’s arrogant and thinks he knows her so well. It’s infuriating. She isn’t sure whether to kiss him or punch him in the face. There are Raptors on the flight, too—humans with bird traits, like falcon talons and red loon eyes. To escape, Heron pushes Sparrow out of the plane at 14,000 feet over the cold Atlantic, convinced she’ll survive.
When they get to camp, it’s a training camp with deadly trials. Sparrow has no idea if she’ll survive. Worse, everyone at camp seems to know what to do but her. And they're all frightened of the Raptors.
Now she’ll have to survive, training for something she never imagined was possible—flying. And she’s an incredible flyer—so good that Heron warns her to hide her unique powers of flight. Because the Raptors are actively recruiting, and they harvest the best fledglings to join them.
Heron tries so hard to protect her, but Sparrow is too in love with the sky to rein herself in. The Raptors descend with their vultures, and she must decide whether to hide her unique abilities for flight, or fight. When her friends are in danger, will she soar like a songbird or fight like a raptor?
Fly the Wild Sky is a Young Adult dystopian debut novel with heart-pumping action, characters you'll fall for, fascinating birds, spine-tingling villains, relatable science fiction, and a slow burn romance. Book 1 of the Songbirds & Raptors series.
Sixteen-year-old Sparrow Harper has a relentlessly ordinary life. Her only thrills are flying dreams—but they make her bones sore, and she has no idea why. She's also heartbroken because flying isn't real. Her mother knows what's wrong with her, but won’t talk about it. There are answers at a mysterious camp in Maine . . .
On the airplane flight there, Sparrow meets Heron Cirrus. He’s arrogant and thinks he knows her so well. It’s infuriating. She isn’t sure whether to kiss him or punch him in the face. There are Raptors on the flight, too—humans with bird traits, like falcon talons and red loon eyes. To escape, Heron pushes Sparrow out of the plane at 14,000 feet over the cold Atlantic, convinced she’ll survive.
When they get to camp, it’s a training camp with deadly trials. Sparrow has no idea if she’ll survive. Worse, everyone at camp seems to know what to do but her. And they're all frightened of the Raptors.
Now she’ll have to survive, training for something she never imagined was possible—flying. And she’s an incredible flyer—so good that Heron warns her to hide her unique powers of flight. Because the Raptors are actively recruiting, and they harvest the best fledglings to join them.
Heron tries so hard to protect her, but Sparrow is too in love with the sky to rein herself in. The Raptors descend with their vultures, and she must decide whether to hide her unique abilities for flight, or fight. When her friends are in danger, will she soar like a songbird or fight like a raptor?
Fly the Wild Sky is a Young Adult dystopian debut novel with heart-pumping action, characters you'll fall for, fascinating birds, spine-tingling villains, relatable science fiction, and a slow burn romance. Book 1 of the Songbirds & Raptors series.
431 pages, Hardcover
Published August 22, 2025
3 people are currently reading
3610 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 21, 2025
4/5
Fly the Wild Sky by Thomasina Bloom follows sixteen-year-old Sparrow Harper, a girl who dreams of flying. Her life changes when she meets the arrogant yet captivating Heron Cirrus - someone she can’t decide whether to kiss or punch. Together, they attend a summer camp that turns out to be far from ordinary. Alongside others like her, Sparrow must endure deadly trials and confront dangerous enemies. As Heron tries desperately to protect her, Sparrow’s love for the sky refuses to be restrained. Ultimately, she must choose between hiding her unique gift or embracing it to fight.
This YA dystopian debut is packed with heart-pounding action, fascinating bird lore, chilling villains, relatable science fiction, and a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked.
Sparrow is a deeply relatable protagonist, especially with her nervousness, panic, and social anxiety. I especially loved the short explanations about different birds - they made the story richer and saved me from having to look up information myself! The concept of combining dystopia with bird facts and information is fresh and unique. It's something I’ve never encountered before.
The side characters are interesting and well written, though I wish we could have seen more of them. Sparrow and Heron’s relationship is compelling, filled with tension and emotion that keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The villains and action sequences are equally gripping, adding real stakes and intensity to the story.
Overall, Fly the Wild Sky is an imaginative and thrilling debut with memorable characters and an original twist on the dystopian genre.
Fly the Wild Sky by Thomasina Bloom follows sixteen-year-old Sparrow Harper, a girl who dreams of flying. Her life changes when she meets the arrogant yet captivating Heron Cirrus - someone she can’t decide whether to kiss or punch. Together, they attend a summer camp that turns out to be far from ordinary. Alongside others like her, Sparrow must endure deadly trials and confront dangerous enemies. As Heron tries desperately to protect her, Sparrow’s love for the sky refuses to be restrained. Ultimately, she must choose between hiding her unique gift or embracing it to fight.
This YA dystopian debut is packed with heart-pounding action, fascinating bird lore, chilling villains, relatable science fiction, and a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked.
Sparrow is a deeply relatable protagonist, especially with her nervousness, panic, and social anxiety. I especially loved the short explanations about different birds - they made the story richer and saved me from having to look up information myself! The concept of combining dystopia with bird facts and information is fresh and unique. It's something I’ve never encountered before.
The side characters are interesting and well written, though I wish we could have seen more of them. Sparrow and Heron’s relationship is compelling, filled with tension and emotion that keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The villains and action sequences are equally gripping, adding real stakes and intensity to the story.
Overall, Fly the Wild Sky is an imaginative and thrilling debut with memorable characters and an original twist on the dystopian genre.
September 13, 2025
Fly the Wild Sky is a breathtaking dystopian debut that soars from the very first page. Packed with heart-pumping action and unforgettable characters, this novel grabs hold and doesn’t let go. The touch of relatable science fiction grounds the story in a way that makes it feel both imaginative and believable.
The author’s descriptive writing is nothing short of eloquent. Every scene was painted so vividly that I could picture each day unfolding in front of me. The world felt alive, the tension palpable, and the characters instantly easy to root for. Her words are carefully chosen and beautifully woven, pulling me deeper into the story with every chapter.
By the time I turned the last page, I was left with one thought: I need Book 2 now. Fly the Wild Sky is not just a debut—it’s the start of a thrilling series that promises even more adventure, danger, and heart in the books to come.
The author’s descriptive writing is nothing short of eloquent. Every scene was painted so vividly that I could picture each day unfolding in front of me. The world felt alive, the tension palpable, and the characters instantly easy to root for. Her words are carefully chosen and beautifully woven, pulling me deeper into the story with every chapter.
By the time I turned the last page, I was left with one thought: I need Book 2 now. Fly the Wild Sky is not just a debut—it’s the start of a thrilling series that promises even more adventure, danger, and heart in the books to come.
December 10, 2025
Thomasina Bloom's debut blends heart-pounding action with emotional depth, exploring themes of power, freedom, and transformation through bird-inspired metaphors and a fresh sci-fi twist. The romance adds tension without overshadowing the high-stakes plot, making it a page-turner for fans of The Hunger Games or Divergent. While the world-building shines in its avian lore, some elements feel familiar in the genre. A solid 5/5 stars—perfect for YA readers craving empowerment and aerial escapism in a dystopian sky.
January 1, 2026
beautiful written
Instantly capturing me, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve always loved nature and animals. Balancing between imagination and reality, each scene was vivid, each character lively and relatable. I look forward to reading book 2 (Fly The Cruel Sky)
Instantly capturing me, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve always loved nature and animals. Balancing between imagination and reality, each scene was vivid, each character lively and relatable. I look forward to reading book 2 (Fly The Cruel Sky)
December 5, 2025
Loved this book! Lots of twists and a cliff hanger at the end. I need the 2nd book in the series!!
January 10, 2026
I was in a post–Sunrise on the Reading slump, but after a long search I found this book. It’s so good I could cry.
December 7, 2025
Excellent engaging read!!!!
The character names were brilliantly created, the storyline was amazing along with some interesting bird facts that I had no idea until now! So thank you for that! Super enjoyable to read would highly recommend to any avid readers.
The character names were brilliantly created, the storyline was amazing along with some interesting bird facts that I had no idea until now! So thank you for that! Super enjoyable to read would highly recommend to any avid readers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews