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Songbirds & Raptors #2
Fly the Cruel Sky
"ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT LIFTS YOU TO THE CLOUDS OR DRAGS YOU TO THE EARTH."
A young songbird must unleash her inner bird of prey in this dystopian romantic thriller in a world where human flight is possible.
Sparrow Harper is now flightless, captured by the evil cult of Raptors.
In exchange for healing, she agrees to enroll in Raptor Academy, a brutal school where deadly trials weed out the weak. Jealous of her powers, the other students want her dead.
Sparrow will do anything to fly again. But everything has a price.
When she meets Goshawk Cirrus, he turns her sky upside down, until she discovers he’s grappling with torment worse than her own horrific nightmares.
When Culling Day dawns at Raptor Academy, Sparrow must choose - become a Raptor or chart a new flight path for flyers everywhere.
Praise for Fly the Wild Sky (Book 1):
BOOKFEST 2025 AWARD WINNER
"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." - Amazon Review
"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." - Goodreads Review
Reader references to bird poaching; abuse of a (fictional) addictive substance, described on the page; violence.
A young songbird must unleash her inner bird of prey in this dystopian romantic thriller in a world where human flight is possible.
Sparrow Harper is now flightless, captured by the evil cult of Raptors.
In exchange for healing, she agrees to enroll in Raptor Academy, a brutal school where deadly trials weed out the weak. Jealous of her powers, the other students want her dead.
Sparrow will do anything to fly again. But everything has a price.
When she meets Goshawk Cirrus, he turns her sky upside down, until she discovers he’s grappling with torment worse than her own horrific nightmares.
When Culling Day dawns at Raptor Academy, Sparrow must choose - become a Raptor or chart a new flight path for flyers everywhere.
Praise for Fly the Wild Sky (Book 1):
BOOKFEST 2025 AWARD WINNER
"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." - Amazon Review
"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." - Goodreads Review
Reader references to bird poaching; abuse of a (fictional) addictive substance, described on the page; violence.
519 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 11, 2026
Fly the Cruel Sky pulled me in from the very first line. It’s emotional and beautifully written. It's a story that made me feel everything from heartbreak to hope.
Sparrow Harper’s journey is both brutal and inspiring. Once a songbird with wings, she’s captured and forced into Raptor Academy, a place where survival means becoming something harder and more dangerous than she ever imagined. I found myself rooting for her through every trial and every betrayal.
What really stood out to me was the author’s descriptive language. Every scene felt alive. You can almost feel the chill in the air at Raptor Academy, hear the beat of Sparrow’s heart as she faces danger, and see the sky that she longs to fly through again. The writing is rich, and it paints such a vivid picture.
By the time I reached Culling Day, I was completely invested. The ending hit hard in the best way. Fly the Cruel Sky is about finding strength when you’re broken, about learning what it really means to fly. It’s poetic and full of heart.
This book left me thinking long after I finished it. If you love stories that blend beauty and brutality, hope and heartbreak, this one will stay with you.
Sparrow Harper’s journey is both brutal and inspiring. Once a songbird with wings, she’s captured and forced into Raptor Academy, a place where survival means becoming something harder and more dangerous than she ever imagined. I found myself rooting for her through every trial and every betrayal.
What really stood out to me was the author’s descriptive language. Every scene felt alive. You can almost feel the chill in the air at Raptor Academy, hear the beat of Sparrow’s heart as she faces danger, and see the sky that she longs to fly through again. The writing is rich, and it paints such a vivid picture.
By the time I reached Culling Day, I was completely invested. The ending hit hard in the best way. Fly the Cruel Sky is about finding strength when you’re broken, about learning what it really means to fly. It’s poetic and full of heart.
This book left me thinking long after I finished it. If you love stories that blend beauty and brutality, hope and heartbreak, this one will stay with you.
December 10, 2025
Thomasina Bloom amps up the stakes with razor-sharp twists and richer avian lore, blending visceral action—think dogfights amid thunderheads—with poignant explorations of loyalty and identity. The pacing soars, though some subplots strain under the weight of revelations. A thrilling 4.5/5 stars for YA fans of Red Queen or Skyhunter, delivering empowerment with wings clipped by cruelty. This sequel doesn't just fly—it dives headlong into the storm.
March 2, 2026
I finished book one and immediately jumped into book two. Fly the Cruel Sky was an amazing follow up to Fly the Wild Sky. The inventive story and new characters were so fun. I loved the growth and plot twists. The heartbreak is real in this storyline and kept me on the edge of my seat. This series is ramping up and you don’t want to miss these books. Amazing!
January 2, 2026
Didn’t disappoint.
My love for nature and animals got me caught up in the whirlwind of the story. Each scene was vivid and lively. I flew through each chapter, the next more exciting than the last. I had to look up a few names to make sure my mental images lined up.
My love for nature and animals got me caught up in the whirlwind of the story. Each scene was vivid and lively. I flew through each chapter, the next more exciting than the last. I had to look up a few names to make sure my mental images lined up.
February 19, 2026
Fly the Cruel Sky is the kind of sequel that deepens everything it touches. From the first page, the world feels harsher, sharper...yet somehow more luminous in its brutality.
What struck me most was the natural imagery threaded through every chapter. The sky is not just backdrop; it’s symbol, promise, and torment. The cold air at Raptor Academy feels like it presses against the skin. The wind is both freedom and accusation. Even the landscape seems to watch Sparrow Harper as she struggles to survive. The descriptions are grim and beautiful at once—steel and frost, feathers and blood, hope glinting against ruin.
Sparrow herself is a formidable protagonist. Not fearless, but forged. She begins this installment more aware of the cost of survival, and that awareness gives her strength a harder edge. Her growth isn’t glamorous. It’s painful, deliberate, and earned. Watching her navigate betrayal, endurance, and impossible expectations felt visceral. She doesn’t simply react to the world; she reshapes herself within it.
The plot is layered in a way that feels both inevitable and surprising. Alliances shift. Power dynamics evolve. Every choice carries weight. This isn’t a story that rushes from event to event; it builds pressure carefully, like a storm gathering beyond the horizon.
The worldbuilding here is sophisticated and immersive. Raptor Academy is more than a setting...it’s a system, a philosophy, a crucible. The political and social undercurrents run deep without overwhelming the reader. You feel the machinery moving behind the scenes, even when Sparrow does not.
This sequel doesn’t just continue Sparrow’s journey—it complicates it. It asks what it means to survive when survival demands transformation. It examines flight not as escape, but as identity.
If you’re drawn to stories where beauty and brutality coexist, where nature mirrors inner struggle, and where a fierce young woman must carve strength from cruelty, Fly the Cruel Sky will linger long after the final page.
What struck me most was the natural imagery threaded through every chapter. The sky is not just backdrop; it’s symbol, promise, and torment. The cold air at Raptor Academy feels like it presses against the skin. The wind is both freedom and accusation. Even the landscape seems to watch Sparrow Harper as she struggles to survive. The descriptions are grim and beautiful at once—steel and frost, feathers and blood, hope glinting against ruin.
Sparrow herself is a formidable protagonist. Not fearless, but forged. She begins this installment more aware of the cost of survival, and that awareness gives her strength a harder edge. Her growth isn’t glamorous. It’s painful, deliberate, and earned. Watching her navigate betrayal, endurance, and impossible expectations felt visceral. She doesn’t simply react to the world; she reshapes herself within it.
The plot is layered in a way that feels both inevitable and surprising. Alliances shift. Power dynamics evolve. Every choice carries weight. This isn’t a story that rushes from event to event; it builds pressure carefully, like a storm gathering beyond the horizon.
The worldbuilding here is sophisticated and immersive. Raptor Academy is more than a setting...it’s a system, a philosophy, a crucible. The political and social undercurrents run deep without overwhelming the reader. You feel the machinery moving behind the scenes, even when Sparrow does not.
This sequel doesn’t just continue Sparrow’s journey—it complicates it. It asks what it means to survive when survival demands transformation. It examines flight not as escape, but as identity.
If you’re drawn to stories where beauty and brutality coexist, where nature mirrors inner struggle, and where a fierce young woman must carve strength from cruelty, Fly the Cruel Sky will linger long after the final page.
May 7, 2026
Fly the Cruel Sky was so unbelievably good! I couldn’t put it down! It was easy to tell that Thomasina did her research--the worldbuilding and bird imagery were so vivid, and I learned so many cool bird facts (I had no idea about kettles!!). Just like the first novel, Sparrow’s journey kept me completely invested from beginning to end. The twists, heartbreak, and emotional moments hit so hard. Thomasina is an author to watch, for sure!! :)
December 7, 2025
Great story!!! 2nd Book was even better than the first...
This second book was even better than the first book in my opinion. I couldn't put it down. Loved all the characters names they were interesting and I hope I was able to pronounce them correctly when reading. Great story!!! Who knew birds would be this interesting???
This second book was even better than the first book in my opinion. I couldn't put it down. Loved all the characters names they were interesting and I hope I was able to pronounce them correctly when reading. Great story!!! Who knew birds would be this interesting???
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews