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Halcyon Days: The Colossus
Locke wakes up on a skyship with three years missing, no answers, and a skypirate crew with problems of their own.
The Halcyon Days is the fastest ship in the Iverian League, and maybe the only one reckless enough to take him in. Along with the enigmatic Kenzie, he is the newest member of Kaliston and Valeria's crew of lovable misfits. They take contracts, dodge war zones, and cause just enough trouble to stay ahead of the consequences.
When the Aurelian Domain unleashes a walking mountain that levels cities, Locke and the crew find themselves caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict. Secrets rise, loyalties fracture, and Locke will have to choose who he wants to be, even if he can't remember who he was.
Found family. Forgotten pasts. Sky-high stakes.
Star Wars adventure with Ted Lasso heart. Step aboard the Halcyon Days and experience an adventure beyond the clouds.
The Halcyon Days is the fastest ship in the Iverian League, and maybe the only one reckless enough to take him in. Along with the enigmatic Kenzie, he is the newest member of Kaliston and Valeria's crew of lovable misfits. They take contracts, dodge war zones, and cause just enough trouble to stay ahead of the consequences.
When the Aurelian Domain unleashes a walking mountain that levels cities, Locke and the crew find themselves caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict. Secrets rise, loyalties fracture, and Locke will have to choose who he wants to be, even if he can't remember who he was.
Found family. Forgotten pasts. Sky-high stakes.
Star Wars adventure with Ted Lasso heart. Step aboard the Halcyon Days and experience an adventure beyond the clouds.
- GenresFantasy
486 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2025
About the author
A.C. Bishkey
2 books7 followersAC Bishkey writes sci-fi fantasy stories about found families, high stakes, and people trying to do the right thing in impossible situations. His debut novel, Halcyon Days: The Colossus, releases October 21. When not writing, he's either working or spending time with his wife, son, and overenergized corgi.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 16, 2026
How this book is not more popular I do not know. It has an exciting magic system, incredible worldbuilding, distinct characters, and adrenaline inducing battle scenes. It has a wonderful found family in the skypirate crew on the Halcyon Days with daring battles both in the sky and between the two nations.
The magic system consists of crystals granting powers. Two opposing nations have their own crystal offering unique powers. Prince Lucan of Aurelia is invading Iveria and using a giant Colossus previously slumbering under one of Iveria's cities. Iveria is fighting to keep its independence from the country Aurelia and the crystal powers clash. Think immovable object meets unstoppable force.
I prefer when a story doesn't tell but shows, and despite the writing being forthright it was captivating and and the story engaging which kept me hooked.
The character on the pirate crew were split in two when the fighting required. Having the multiple POVs of the "offensive" group gives a more intimate understanding of them, and we don't get to know so much of the "defensive" group. They are definitely there yet it also makes sense since on of the POVs Locke suffers from amnesia, and has only been a part of the crew for 6 months. I hope to get to know the entire group on a deeper level in the next book as Locke cements himself further in the family he found.
4.75 stars
Thank you to CALM Studios and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The magic system consists of crystals granting powers. Two opposing nations have their own crystal offering unique powers. Prince Lucan of Aurelia is invading Iveria and using a giant Colossus previously slumbering under one of Iveria's cities. Iveria is fighting to keep its independence from the country Aurelia and the crystal powers clash. Think immovable object meets unstoppable force.
I prefer when a story doesn't tell but shows, and despite the writing being forthright it was captivating and and the story engaging which kept me hooked.
The character on the pirate crew were split in two when the fighting required. Having the multiple POVs of the "offensive" group gives a more intimate understanding of them, and we don't get to know so much of the "defensive" group. They are definitely there yet it also makes sense since on of the POVs Locke suffers from amnesia, and has only been a part of the crew for 6 months. I hope to get to know the entire group on a deeper level in the next book as Locke cements himself further in the family he found.
4.75 stars
Thank you to CALM Studios and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2025
This story is quite an epic tale as the synopsis promises! I really enjoyed the worldbuilding - from the different abilities of separate factions to the unique cities that are encountered. The fight scenes are cool and don't feel unwelcome to the story.
My struggle with this book comes from the characters. They have the trappings of a great crew that I want to be invested in, but they fell flat for me for some reason. Initially I felt overwhelmed by the amount of people that are introduced right away - but I eventually settled into figuring out and remembering peoples rolls. These characters never felt terribly compelling for me, which to me is key especially when a story focuses so much on them. I honestly think a screen adapted version of this could be very cool and possibly allow for further development of the characters to fill the gaps I felt. Also I recognize other readers might not struggle with this like I did and really find a connection with them.
This is a series that I would be curious to continue despite my trouble with the characters since the story and world are satisfying!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My struggle with this book comes from the characters. They have the trappings of a great crew that I want to be invested in, but they fell flat for me for some reason. Initially I felt overwhelmed by the amount of people that are introduced right away - but I eventually settled into figuring out and remembering peoples rolls. These characters never felt terribly compelling for me, which to me is key especially when a story focuses so much on them. I honestly think a screen adapted version of this could be very cool and possibly allow for further development of the characters to fill the gaps I felt. Also I recognize other readers might not struggle with this like I did and really find a connection with them.
This is a series that I would be curious to continue despite my trouble with the characters since the story and world are satisfying!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 12, 2025
If I got a nickel every time I read an amazing debut title surrounding sky pirates, I'd have two nickels. Weird, but I'm not complaining! Now for the review...
Yet another lengthy sky pirates book! I must say, the cover is what hooked me in at first, but as I kept reading, I began to love the crew of the Halcyon Days.
The story is in the crew and the crew is in the story. I loved learning more about the world, the differences and the many crew members. From Haruto to the twins... to our dearest leader Kal and Val and of course Kenzie and Locke.
The book definitely brought up many emotions throughout the many many chapters and POV switches. It was quite interesting to have a POV from the opposite side too, not very commonly seen in books.
Thank you for an amazing debut, A.C. Bishkey, and I'm definitely looking forward to Halcyon Days: The city in the sands. (Yes, I loved the prologue!)
Disclaimer: I did receive an ARC on BookSirens and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Yet another lengthy sky pirates book! I must say, the cover is what hooked me in at first, but as I kept reading, I began to love the crew of the Halcyon Days.
The story is in the crew and the crew is in the story. I loved learning more about the world, the differences and the many crew members. From Haruto to the twins... to our dearest leader Kal and Val and of course Kenzie and Locke.
The book definitely brought up many emotions throughout the many many chapters and POV switches. It was quite interesting to have a POV from the opposite side too, not very commonly seen in books.
Thank you for an amazing debut, A.C. Bishkey, and I'm definitely looking forward to Halcyon Days: The city in the sands. (Yes, I loved the prologue!)
Disclaimer: I did receive an ARC on BookSirens and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
July 25, 2026
Thank you CALM studios for the chance to read this book!
Halcyon Days follows a found family group of space pirates. They run odd jobs, dodge debts, and try not to get killed in the process. Six months ago the Azure colossus rose awoken by a zealot prince. It’ll be up to the team of space pirates to find a way to stop it. Our 4 main space pirates - Locke who lost 3 years of his memory and woke up on the ship, Captain Kaliston who tries to stay out of trouble, First mate Valentine who saves the team when in trouble, and finally Kenzie who Locke totally doesn’t have a crush on.
I absolutely loved the setting for this book, this is my first introduction into sci-fi genre and it has not disappointed!! I love how every place they visit has its own spirit and they feel like full universes. The people that lived there the stories that were shared it gave so much depth without it being information heavy.
All of the characters worked together so well. With this being a multi-pov book you get all of the main characters sides and perspectives as well as get their character arcs. Each character felt full and well thought out I didn’t have a character I wanted to skip their chapter or it felt unnecessary to have.
This book also kept me wanting to read it. I genuinely wanted to make time throughout my day to finish reading this book. Overall for this to be a debut novel I was so impressed with it! This book kept me thinking and kept me wondering about this world! Quite frankly I wanted a whole anime of this book like yesterday!
This story has the perfect blend of found family, sci-fi action, and slow burn romance sub plot! I think whether you are a long time sci-fi reader or just new to the genre this book is perfect for you! I hope that more people read and experience this book and get to enjoy this absolute amazing work!
September 28, 2025
Halcyon Days is a thrill ride of a book. Sky pirates, elite soldiers with unique powers, a living machine the size of a skyscraper, and an adventure grand enough to contain it all. When I read the synopsis for this book, I knew it would be something I would enjoy. I just didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.
The crew of the Halcyon Days is where this story shines. Without diving too deep into each character’s backstories, A.C. Bishkey manages to write a lovable crew that cares for each other despite their flaws. The Aurelian Empire, the main villains of this story, feel like a real threat. Their dogmatic goals and the politics of the world provide a strong framework for their motivations.
The unique powers that each side of the conflict have were such a delight to read. The battles were well-written and fast-paced. From small one-on-one battles to fleets of skyships battling in the skies, the scenes were never confusing. They were easy to follow despite their breakneck pace. And there was never a battle that felt like filler; each held weight within the story.
A.C. Bishkey has created an immersive world filled with compelling characters, sky pirates, and high flying adventure. If you’re looking for a story packed with lots of heart and action, Halcyon Days: The Colossus will not disappoint.
** I received an e-ARC of this book from BookSirens. This review is voluntary and based on my own opinions. **
The crew of the Halcyon Days is where this story shines. Without diving too deep into each character’s backstories, A.C. Bishkey manages to write a lovable crew that cares for each other despite their flaws. The Aurelian Empire, the main villains of this story, feel like a real threat. Their dogmatic goals and the politics of the world provide a strong framework for their motivations.
The unique powers that each side of the conflict have were such a delight to read. The battles were well-written and fast-paced. From small one-on-one battles to fleets of skyships battling in the skies, the scenes were never confusing. They were easy to follow despite their breakneck pace. And there was never a battle that felt like filler; each held weight within the story.
A.C. Bishkey has created an immersive world filled with compelling characters, sky pirates, and high flying adventure. If you’re looking for a story packed with lots of heart and action, Halcyon Days: The Colossus will not disappoint.
** I received an e-ARC of this book from BookSirens. This review is voluntary and based on my own opinions. **
Did Not Finish
February 11, 2026DNF at 30%.
I received this book from NetGalley and after reading the description and other ARC reviews, I really thought I was going to enjoy this. The authors writing style was a bit confusing at times but when it came to fight scenes or descriptive scenery, I felt like I could fully visualize what was happening.
The beginning was paced extremely slowly, it kinda just throws you into the story without warning or explaining anything. Every chapter was a different characters POV, which, I generally like but there were five or six different character POVs and several of the characters had similar names which made things even more confusing.
I didn’t feel like I fully grasped which character was which until about 25% through the book and by then I was just frustrated with trying to figure it out, I almost had to make a list of characters and who they were on my notes app to refer back to while reading.
I received this book from NetGalley and after reading the description and other ARC reviews, I really thought I was going to enjoy this. The authors writing style was a bit confusing at times but when it came to fight scenes or descriptive scenery, I felt like I could fully visualize what was happening.
The beginning was paced extremely slowly, it kinda just throws you into the story without warning or explaining anything. Every chapter was a different characters POV, which, I generally like but there were five or six different character POVs and several of the characters had similar names which made things even more confusing.
I didn’t feel like I fully grasped which character was which until about 25% through the book and by then I was just frustrated with trying to figure it out, I almost had to make a list of characters and who they were on my notes app to refer back to while reading.
April 15, 2026
4.5 Stars. This book follows members of a space pirate/smuggler crew as they reluctantly get drawn into a conflict with a massive crystal tech colossus. It was really fun, but has a lot of heart.
The fight scenes were fantastic and I liked seeing them from multiple POVs. The characters were all great and became more interesting as we learned more about their histories, I look forward to hopefully seeing more personality depth in the next book.
I absolutely loved the crystal magic/tech system - both the visuals and how it actually works. The descriptions and visuals throughout the book were vivid, and were likely one of my favorite parts of this book. I want to spend time on the Halcyon Days! Looking forward to the sequel! Thank you NetGalley, AC Bishkey, and CALM studios for this E-ARC.
The fight scenes were fantastic and I liked seeing them from multiple POVs. The characters were all great and became more interesting as we learned more about their histories, I look forward to hopefully seeing more personality depth in the next book.
I absolutely loved the crystal magic/tech system - both the visuals and how it actually works. The descriptions and visuals throughout the book were vivid, and were likely one of my favorite parts of this book. I want to spend time on the Halcyon Days! Looking forward to the sequel! Thank you NetGalley, AC Bishkey, and CALM studios for this E-ARC.
October 21, 2025
As a RPG gamer and Sci fi fan, I loved this adventure. It ticks the elements I look for:
An exciting story with thrilling moments.
Big and interesting world with its own dynamics, places and technology. (Even after finishing the book I still want to learn more about it.)
Interesting main characters helped by a lovable crew with its quirks.
And a fun narration style that kept me engaged.
In some nostalgic way, I got the same feeling when watching Startrek: the next gen. That feeling of wanting to be part of the world. Maybe not on the ground but on the Ship though.
Maybe the secondary characters (the crew) needed more time to be developed but I’m hopeful we will see them again.
All in all, it put a smile on my face and would read it again.
An exciting story with thrilling moments.
Big and interesting world with its own dynamics, places and technology. (Even after finishing the book I still want to learn more about it.)
Interesting main characters helped by a lovable crew with its quirks.
And a fun narration style that kept me engaged.
In some nostalgic way, I got the same feeling when watching Startrek: the next gen. That feeling of wanting to be part of the world. Maybe not on the ground but on the Ship though.
Maybe the secondary characters (the crew) needed more time to be developed but I’m hopeful we will see them again.
All in all, it put a smile on my face and would read it again.
October 29, 2025
"Halcyon Days: The Colossus" is a promising debut adventure with intriguing worldbuilding and a lot of heart. Ever since Guardians of the Galaxy, creators have been trying to capture that same tone, with snarky rogues that have a heart of gold on high-stakes adventures, but "The Colossus" has nailed the essence of that tone with far more authenticity than most (up to and including Marvel themselves). It did take some time to get to know the cast, granted, differentiating between similar names and mannerisms, but this is one of the most original works of sci-fi I've read in a while, and I'm eager to see where it all goes from here.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
March 31, 2026
A.C. Bishkey has an exciting tale of flying pirate ships, and magic from two types of crystals. Halcyon Days: The Colossus (hard from CALM Studios, Ltd) pits the Halcyon Days crew against the Azure Colossus the size of a mountain that has been raised by the evil prince Lucan to conquer the Iverian League. By the time the Halcyon Days reaches the monstrous contraption it has already destroyed cities and is within hours of reaching the capital city. All the crew are special and the ship designed to hide will be enough to actually approach the monster. This is impossible-to-put-down and an action adventure complete in itself. More adventures are planned.
September 9, 2025
I've had the opportunity to read the first 16 chapters. This is a great read, Science -Fantasy. I look forward to reading more about how the crew navigates this adventure. I am interested in finding out more about the Hollowline. Also, cannot help but being curious more about Lucan. This commitment to his path is CERTAIN and makes for a strong villain.
Looking forward to more work from this author.
Looking forward to more work from this author.
April 2, 2026
He is in for a shock when he wakes up on a spaceship with no memories of the last three years. He is now a new crew member on a ship with a crew of misfits and life is going to get very interesting for him. Follow his adventures onboard
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a wonderful space adventure
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a wonderful space adventure
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews