What do you think?
The Keeper's Records of Revolution #2
Golden Flight: The Keeper's Records of Revolution
Concluding S. K. Ali's powerful duology, The Keeper's Records of Revolution, Golden Flight returns to a divided world with war on the horizon.
How difficult is it to crash the party of the decade? Literally crash it?
The Golden Flight happens once every ten years — a gala to honor elites fallen in service of Upper Earth’s brutal hold on earth’s remaining populace and dwindling resources.
It’s a party where cunning new technology gets unveiled to masked revelers thirsty for fresh entertainment.
It’s also a party Raisa and Nayf plan to infiltrate to bring Upper Earth down for good.
Even with a known traitor, and a mysterious, ruthless avenger in their midst, pulling off a dangerous mission in enemy territory feels entirely possible with record-keeper Khalda at the helm. To crack into Upper Earth, simply find strategic details hidden in the records.
However, they soon discover the toll of running a crew with competing, secretive the lines between friend and foe begin to blur to violent ends.
But on an oil rig at the edge of the world, the sun rises and shines on a team member no one knows about.
Will she bring the seed of hope or be the source of ultimate chaos?
Just who is she — and why does she know how to end the world?
How difficult is it to crash the party of the decade? Literally crash it?
The Golden Flight happens once every ten years — a gala to honor elites fallen in service of Upper Earth’s brutal hold on earth’s remaining populace and dwindling resources.
It’s a party where cunning new technology gets unveiled to masked revelers thirsty for fresh entertainment.
It’s also a party Raisa and Nayf plan to infiltrate to bring Upper Earth down for good.
Even with a known traitor, and a mysterious, ruthless avenger in their midst, pulling off a dangerous mission in enemy territory feels entirely possible with record-keeper Khalda at the helm. To crack into Upper Earth, simply find strategic details hidden in the records.
However, they soon discover the toll of running a crew with competing, secretive the lines between friend and foe begin to blur to violent ends.
But on an oil rig at the edge of the world, the sun rises and shines on a team member no one knows about.
Will she bring the seed of hope or be the source of ultimate chaos?
Just who is she — and why does she know how to end the world?
Audible Audio
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
S.K. Ali
16 books2,880 followersS. K. Ali writes the characters she never saw growing up into the stories she never saw growing up. Find her on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/skalibooks/ , on twitter at https://twitter.com/SajidahWrites , on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@skalibooks , and on her website at https://skalibooks.com/.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 2, 2026
Will be forever blessed that I got to read this!
March 29, 2026
🗐 ᯓ ✈︎ 4 stars ˙⋆✮
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ One can’t do everything, but everyone can do something to bring that mountain down. ⊹
What a rollercoaster this was. The first 1/3th-ish of the book felt a little too slow for my liking (I’m talking near slump level…) but once it picked up, it picked UP. I was having suchhh a good time reading and spam texting Yusraa evey five seconds something happens! We always have entertaining buddy reads lol.
The Stray annoyed the HELL out of me for the majority of the book, and I’m talking I genuinely could not stand him or his stupid words, but later on, I, quite unfortunately, started liking him, especially in one particular scene . I also enjoyed how Nayf and Raisa’s relationship progressed, it was so cute!! .
A moment of silence needs to be left for the ending of the book. I (and the characters) deserved that ending after all we've been through together. It was simply incredible. I literally could not think of a better way for this series to end, it was all written so well and wrapped up so nicely. Speaking of writing, the writing throughout the book in general was just phenomenal, so many key moments were weaved together so strongly that you really feel like you’re going through the adventure with them.
Overall, this was an amazing book and such a fun read, thank you to S.K. Ali and Netgally for the earc 🫶🏽
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Blades don’t wear pretty dresses. ⊹
PRE READ:
Thank you to S.K. Ali herself for giving me an eARC for Golden Flight!! 🥳💗
I am so excited to get back in this world oh my days andddddd the most fun part is that I’m buddy reading this with @Yusra since she got the ARC as wellllll 🙌🏽🙌🏽
IM SO HYPEDDDDDD GSHEHUEBSUSBSJSH I NEED TO SEE THIS ENDINGGGGGG
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ One can’t do everything, but everyone can do something to bring that mountain down. ⊹
What a rollercoaster this was. The first 1/3th-ish of the book felt a little too slow for my liking (I’m talking near slump level…) but once it picked up, it picked UP. I was having suchhh a good time reading and spam texting Yusraa evey five seconds something happens! We always have entertaining buddy reads lol.
The Stray annoyed the HELL out of me for the majority of the book, and I’m talking I genuinely could not stand him or his stupid words, but later on, I, quite unfortunately, started liking him, especially in one particular scene . I also enjoyed how Nayf and Raisa’s relationship progressed, it was so cute!! .
A moment of silence needs to be left for the ending of the book. I (and the characters) deserved that ending after all we've been through together. It was simply incredible. I literally could not think of a better way for this series to end, it was all written so well and wrapped up so nicely. Speaking of writing, the writing throughout the book in general was just phenomenal, so many key moments were weaved together so strongly that you really feel like you’re going through the adventure with them.
Overall, this was an amazing book and such a fun read, thank you to S.K. Ali and Netgally for the earc 🫶🏽
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Blades don’t wear pretty dresses. ⊹
PRE READ:
Thank you to S.K. Ali herself for giving me an eARC for Golden Flight!! 🥳💗
I am so excited to get back in this world oh my days andddddd the most fun part is that I’m buddy reading this with @Yusra since she got the ARC as wellllll 🙌🏽🙌🏽
IM SO HYPEDDDDDD GSHEHUEBSUSBSJSH I NEED TO SEE THIS ENDINGGGGGG
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
S.K. Ali has strung beautiful metaphors together to produce this masterpiece. This deserves more hype. It completes the prequel with perfection. I love her bravery for choosing to resist in her own way. I understand why this book isn't given a bigger push. I haven't seen another book that talks of oppression, occupation and the like in such a way. I thought of Palestine throughout the book, and yet, the struggle of Palestinians is worse.
This book ended in such a wholesome manner, and I loved every bit of it. I'm so happy how this turned out because it healed me so much. The first book broke me, and this book mended me. The plot twists were absolutely insane. Oh, how I've grown to love certain characters. I literally loathed some of them in the first book. This is one of those books I'll always remember. Thank you for writing this.
Note for muslim readers - this is not meant to be an outright muslim representation, but since there are hints of islamic teachings, i have to mention a few things. there is an idea of khurooj being alright. i don't know what the author is trying to say since they are all used metaphorically. i hope she's not implying what i think she is implying because it could be a problem islamically. maybe, it's a mistake on her part. if she was implying khurooj against a muslim ruler is fine, then it would be a mistake. i don't have enough knowledge about this to elaborate further. and please don't let fiction to influence your islamic beliefs and enjoy this book in a fictional sense.
pre-read
i got the arc!! thank you so much SK Ali!🥹💗 you just made my day. what an eid gift!
"This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to current global structures isn't coincidental, though."
this is exactly what i'm here for
This book ended in such a wholesome manner, and I loved every bit of it. I'm so happy how this turned out because it healed me so much. The first book broke me, and this book mended me. The plot twists were absolutely insane. Oh, how I've grown to love certain characters. I literally loathed some of them in the first book. This is one of those books I'll always remember. Thank you for writing this.
Note for muslim readers - this is not meant to be an outright muslim representation, but since there are hints of islamic teachings, i have to mention a few things. there is an idea of khurooj being alright. i don't know what the author is trying to say since they are all used metaphorically. i hope she's not implying what i think she is implying because it could be a problem islamically. maybe, it's a mistake on her part. if she was implying khurooj against a muslim ruler is fine, then it would be a mistake. i don't have enough knowledge about this to elaborate further. and please don't let fiction to influence your islamic beliefs and enjoy this book in a fictional sense.
pre-read
i got the arc!! thank you so much SK Ali!🥹💗 you just made my day. what an eid gift!
"This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to current global structures isn't coincidental, though."
this is exactly what i'm here for
Review of advance copy received from Author
Update - Sep/1: happy release day!!! 🎉🎉
Even if this book wasn’t particularly my favorite, this duology will always have a special place in my heart :)
── .✦
I was extremely excited for this book because Fledgling was genuinely my favorite book of 2025. It completely blew me away. Even though it was only one book, it managed to do so much at once, and it did all of it really well. So going into this one, my expectations were insanely high. I had been waiting for this book for months, this was one of my most anticipated reads. The second I got the ARC, I read it immediately.
But from the very beginning, I noticed that something was missing, and I still can’t exactly pinpoint every reason why. It’s just really strange.
The first thing I noticed was how different the writing style felt compared to the first book. There’s an overwhelming amount of dialogue happening constantly. Not that I dislike dialogue-heavy books, but here it felt like there was barely any descriptive language balancing it out. Because of that, a lot of scenes lacked atmosphere and depth. Especially considering how much is happening plot-wise (that’s debatable), I needed more immersion, i guess?
The second thing is that I’m still not exactly sure whether this series is supposed to be YA or not. I went into the first book thinking it wasn’t, but this sequel leans much more heavily into YA tropes, and NOT in a good way. There are so many cliché moments, whether in the romantic relationships or just in general character interactions. Everything felt toned down… the action scenes, the dystopian elements, the brutality of the world itself. I think what made the first book so compelling to me was how layered it felt. It talked about oppression, occupation, slavery, it was all nuanced and genuinely soul crushing, but in this book, it felt like everything was just watered down.
And I think part of that comes from the mission-focused plotline. See, this is supposed to be THE mission of the decade, to finally and for good bring down this regime, but for the dear life of me I couldn’t take it seriously. The writing doesn’t handle it seriously, the characters don’t handle it seriously, and overall it’s all toned down… again.
As for the characters, i honestly wasn’t a big fan of most of them in this book. The one character I genuinely found interesting was One One Eight. Her storyline had so much potential, and I liked seeing how her role developed and contributed to the story overall. But even then, I wanted more. I needed things to be more dramatic… more unhinged! That’s what I expect from stories like this.
Let me take a deep breathe before talking about the horrible trio of Musaid, Khalda, and the Stray.
Im not someone who loathes characters, i absolutely can tolerate any character… but wow the amount of times i had to stop reading and practice breathing while reading their chapters is INSANE.
Being inside their heads was torture.
Khalda especially disappointed me because in the first book, I found her fascinating due to the whole “last Record Keeper alive” aspect of her character. That lore was crazy, and we barely see any of it in this book.
The Stray was interesting before we actually met him. The idea of him intrigued me more than his actual presence in the story, and over time he started to lose appeal for me. Though I will say I liked parts of how his storyline concluded in the end.
Musaid, however… I genuinely hated him. I don’t even know what good thing to say about him. He feels like a 15-year-old guy who joined a deadly mission for fun, and the constant food comments became unbearably annoying. Like, we are literally on a life-threatening mission and somehow food is still the main thing on your mind every five seconds? Dude, it’s not even quirky anymore, it’s just so unfunny.
I still really like Nayf and Raisa, mainly because I loved them in the first book, but even in this book there’s something missing in their characters. Again, it all comes back to how much more three-dimensional the first book felt. Nothing there felt black and white. Everything had layers. In this book, those layers feel missing.
And I’m saying this as someone who can turn a single sentence into an entire cinematic scene in my head. That’s usually how vividly I experience books. But here I kept finding myself unable to fully visualize things because the writing just wasn’t giving me enough.
The plot itself honestly only started picking up around the 70% mark, which is disappointing. The first 70% genuinely could have been an email. There were so many sections that felt unnecessary or repetitive, especially considering we weren’t even moving through that many locations. Most of the story takes place across maybe two, three, or four settings max.
Overall, this book had so much potential, but it never fully lived up to it for me. I expected way more from this dystopian world. The first book handled those themes with depth and intensity, it was DRAMATIC, and I loved that.
I might expand my review more in the future, but these are my post-read thoughts. I’m genuinely heartbroken.
Thank you to the author for the arc.
── .✦
pre-read: I’ll be a different person once i finish this book, be ready.
── .✦
mar/14 - I just requested it on netgalley. I’m PRAYING to get the arc, it’s that bad .
── .✦
jan/16 - BURY ME WITH THIS DUOLOGY.
Even if this book wasn’t particularly my favorite, this duology will always have a special place in my heart :)
── .✦
I was extremely excited for this book because Fledgling was genuinely my favorite book of 2025. It completely blew me away. Even though it was only one book, it managed to do so much at once, and it did all of it really well. So going into this one, my expectations were insanely high. I had been waiting for this book for months, this was one of my most anticipated reads. The second I got the ARC, I read it immediately.
But from the very beginning, I noticed that something was missing, and I still can’t exactly pinpoint every reason why. It’s just really strange.
The first thing I noticed was how different the writing style felt compared to the first book. There’s an overwhelming amount of dialogue happening constantly. Not that I dislike dialogue-heavy books, but here it felt like there was barely any descriptive language balancing it out. Because of that, a lot of scenes lacked atmosphere and depth. Especially considering how much is happening plot-wise (that’s debatable), I needed more immersion, i guess?
The second thing is that I’m still not exactly sure whether this series is supposed to be YA or not. I went into the first book thinking it wasn’t, but this sequel leans much more heavily into YA tropes, and NOT in a good way. There are so many cliché moments, whether in the romantic relationships or just in general character interactions. Everything felt toned down… the action scenes, the dystopian elements, the brutality of the world itself. I think what made the first book so compelling to me was how layered it felt. It talked about oppression, occupation, slavery, it was all nuanced and genuinely soul crushing, but in this book, it felt like everything was just watered down.
And I think part of that comes from the mission-focused plotline. See, this is supposed to be THE mission of the decade, to finally and for good bring down this regime, but for the dear life of me I couldn’t take it seriously. The writing doesn’t handle it seriously, the characters don’t handle it seriously, and overall it’s all toned down… again.
As for the characters, i honestly wasn’t a big fan of most of them in this book. The one character I genuinely found interesting was One One Eight. Her storyline had so much potential, and I liked seeing how her role developed and contributed to the story overall. But even then, I wanted more. I needed things to be more dramatic… more unhinged! That’s what I expect from stories like this.
Let me take a deep breathe before talking about the horrible trio of Musaid, Khalda, and the Stray.
Im not someone who loathes characters, i absolutely can tolerate any character… but wow the amount of times i had to stop reading and practice breathing while reading their chapters is INSANE.
Being inside their heads was torture.
Khalda especially disappointed me because in the first book, I found her fascinating due to the whole “last Record Keeper alive” aspect of her character. That lore was crazy, and we barely see any of it in this book.
The Stray was interesting before we actually met him. The idea of him intrigued me more than his actual presence in the story, and over time he started to lose appeal for me. Though I will say I liked parts of how his storyline concluded in the end.
Musaid, however… I genuinely hated him. I don’t even know what good thing to say about him. He feels like a 15-year-old guy who joined a deadly mission for fun, and the constant food comments became unbearably annoying. Like, we are literally on a life-threatening mission and somehow food is still the main thing on your mind every five seconds? Dude, it’s not even quirky anymore, it’s just so unfunny.
I still really like Nayf and Raisa, mainly because I loved them in the first book, but even in this book there’s something missing in their characters. Again, it all comes back to how much more three-dimensional the first book felt. Nothing there felt black and white. Everything had layers. In this book, those layers feel missing.
And I’m saying this as someone who can turn a single sentence into an entire cinematic scene in my head. That’s usually how vividly I experience books. But here I kept finding myself unable to fully visualize things because the writing just wasn’t giving me enough.
The plot itself honestly only started picking up around the 70% mark, which is disappointing. The first 70% genuinely could have been an email. There were so many sections that felt unnecessary or repetitive, especially considering we weren’t even moving through that many locations. Most of the story takes place across maybe two, three, or four settings max.
Overall, this book had so much potential, but it never fully lived up to it for me. I expected way more from this dystopian world. The first book handled those themes with depth and intensity, it was DRAMATIC, and I loved that.
I might expand my review more in the future, but these are my post-read thoughts. I’m genuinely heartbroken.
Thank you to the author for the arc.
── .✦
pre-read: I’ll be a different person once i finish this book, be ready.
── .✦
mar/14 - I just requested it on netgalley. I’m PRAYING to get the arc, it’s that bad .
── .✦
jan/16 - BURY ME WITH THIS DUOLOGY.
March 18, 2026
What a stunning stunning book
If Fledgling the first book was a good solid debut for her in genre, the second book was spectacular.
Because after all the setup, the introduction to the somewhat large cast, all the world building, we get an excellently paced second book with higher stakes than ever.
The wildly different characters' paths intersect in the most interesting ways and their dynamics are amazing. We get a bit of a found family and quest vibes and it just makes for such a good story.
This arc has been sitting in my inbox since Ramadan and it took me a while to get to it but I really wanted to savour the story like it deserved, in longer siittings to absorb everything and enjoy it. I have to say it was really difficult to put down, I was so hooked.
Full review to come inshallah
Thank you to the author for sending me a digital arc, all opinions are my own
If Fledgling the first book was a good solid debut for her in genre, the second book was spectacular.
Because after all the setup, the introduction to the somewhat large cast, all the world building, we get an excellently paced second book with higher stakes than ever.
The wildly different characters' paths intersect in the most interesting ways and their dynamics are amazing. We get a bit of a found family and quest vibes and it just makes for such a good story.
This arc has been sitting in my inbox since Ramadan and it took me a while to get to it but I really wanted to savour the story like it deserved, in longer siittings to absorb everything and enjoy it. I have to say it was really difficult to put down, I was so hooked.
Full review to come inshallah
Thank you to the author for sending me a digital arc, all opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Actual Rating 4.5
Thanks to S.K. Ali and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’ll read whatever S.K. Ali writes. After Fledgling broke my heart with that cliffhanger, I was desperately waiting for The Golden Flight, with some hope in my heart.
Fledgling focused on building the story, world, and characters layer by layer. No doubt, the world-building was complex and took time to get into. Golden Flight has the upper hand in that regard and gets to run with the characters and story. Although character development and relationships were not entirely what I had built in my head for more than a year. I don’t wanna spoil much, but I didn’t like how the characters were shaped by the story and the established hierarchy. It took me a while to be okay with it. On the positive side, the whole crew came together to pull a “heist” in enemy territory. It has to be the most realistic heist that a group of young people can pull.
The character growth genuinely wrecked me. I was so angry and in denial for half of the book. One character I could not stand in Fledgling, I mean, really, really did not like, completely flipped it around. I didn’t see it coming, and I still think that the character got away with all of their past actions a little too easily. And another character who was my favorite grew perfectly, with dignity, and didn’t get bitter or lose hope in life.
This book also made me think in the way that uncomfortable books do. The food, the resources, the way people in Lower Earth survive on scraps while Upper Earth throws a gala to celebrate itself. I thought of the real world the entire time.
I felt the pacing could have been better. The first half felt slow, and a lot happened in the second half. Some of the interactions between certain characters made me smile, and I wish there were more of them.
The ending, though, was realistic and bittersweet. The book was definitely dystopian/fantasy, but so, so close to reality. I understand it is a hard and a bit uncomfortable read, but this duology deserved so much more attention than it got.
Thanks to S.K. Ali and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’ll read whatever S.K. Ali writes. After Fledgling broke my heart with that cliffhanger, I was desperately waiting for The Golden Flight, with some hope in my heart.
Fledgling focused on building the story, world, and characters layer by layer. No doubt, the world-building was complex and took time to get into. Golden Flight has the upper hand in that regard and gets to run with the characters and story. Although character development and relationships were not entirely what I had built in my head for more than a year. I don’t wanna spoil much, but I didn’t like how the characters were shaped by the story and the established hierarchy. It took me a while to be okay with it. On the positive side, the whole crew came together to pull a “heist” in enemy territory. It has to be the most realistic heist that a group of young people can pull.
The character growth genuinely wrecked me. I was so angry and in denial for half of the book. One character I could not stand in Fledgling, I mean, really, really did not like, completely flipped it around. I didn’t see it coming, and I still think that the character got away with all of their past actions a little too easily. And another character who was my favorite grew perfectly, with dignity, and didn’t get bitter or lose hope in life.
This book also made me think in the way that uncomfortable books do. The food, the resources, the way people in Lower Earth survive on scraps while Upper Earth throws a gala to celebrate itself. I thought of the real world the entire time.
I felt the pacing could have been better. The first half felt slow, and a lot happened in the second half. Some of the interactions between certain characters made me smile, and I wish there were more of them.
The ending, though, was realistic and bittersweet. The book was definitely dystopian/fantasy, but so, so close to reality. I understand it is a hard and a bit uncomfortable read, but this duology deserved so much more attention than it got.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed Fledgling when I read it 2 years ago so needless to say the sequel was a highly anticipated 2026 release.
I love the large cast of characters (though admittedly I definitely like some characters more than others 😂) and that it’s in multiple POVs. I also enjoyed the world and liked that, like any good dystopian, it makes you reflect as a reader on how this fictional world has parts and pieces that are eerily similar to our real world. I could appreciate some of the messaging and commentary that SK Ali was making.
When I started reading this sequel and got to the first chapter from Lein’s and one-one-eight’s POV my mind was churning and I was immediately stopped in my tracks thinking about who one-one-eight is and a slew of other characters’ connections to them. I thought to myself SK Ali is a mastermind for this after reading the first 6 chapters.
As I continued on however I noticed one glaring issue that hindered my reading experience - something that honestly surprised me. The execution as we progressed in the story fell a little short for me, if I’m being honest because it suffered from telling rather than showing. I think the time jump between books 1 and 2 didn’t help because it felt like we skipped out on seeing some of the character and relationship developments. So while I liked many of the characters as individuals from book 1, I wasn’t convinced of some of the relationships that developed in book 2. The same goes for the plot, there were 2 parts in the book in particular that just seemed like we were walking through the heist/infiltration type set up, step by step and it didn’t serve the plot well. I think that word count could have instead gone into showing more character/relationship development rather and having a smaller time jump rather than being told what to believe about these relationships and characters.
Still this book successfully made me a little emotional at the end. Perhaps after giving Fledgling 5 stars my expectations were high but this one for me sits at a 3.5, my lowest rating of any SK Ali book, who I am still a fan of and who I will continue to read from! Regardless I think this series is world giving a try for its commentary.
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the arc.
I really enjoyed Fledgling when I read it 2 years ago so needless to say the sequel was a highly anticipated 2026 release.
I love the large cast of characters (though admittedly I definitely like some characters more than others 😂) and that it’s in multiple POVs. I also enjoyed the world and liked that, like any good dystopian, it makes you reflect as a reader on how this fictional world has parts and pieces that are eerily similar to our real world. I could appreciate some of the messaging and commentary that SK Ali was making.
When I started reading this sequel and got to the first chapter from Lein’s and one-one-eight’s POV my mind was churning and I was immediately stopped in my tracks thinking about who one-one-eight is and a slew of other characters’ connections to them. I thought to myself SK Ali is a mastermind for this after reading the first 6 chapters.
As I continued on however I noticed one glaring issue that hindered my reading experience - something that honestly surprised me. The execution as we progressed in the story fell a little short for me, if I’m being honest because it suffered from telling rather than showing. I think the time jump between books 1 and 2 didn’t help because it felt like we skipped out on seeing some of the character and relationship developments. So while I liked many of the characters as individuals from book 1, I wasn’t convinced of some of the relationships that developed in book 2. The same goes for the plot, there were 2 parts in the book in particular that just seemed like we were walking through the heist/infiltration type set up, step by step and it didn’t serve the plot well. I think that word count could have instead gone into showing more character/relationship development rather and having a smaller time jump rather than being told what to believe about these relationships and characters.
Still this book successfully made me a little emotional at the end. Perhaps after giving Fledgling 5 stars my expectations were high but this one for me sits at a 3.5, my lowest rating of any SK Ali book, who I am still a fan of and who I will continue to read from! Regardless I think this series is world giving a try for its commentary.
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the arc.
Currently Reading
September 28, 2026September 30, 2026
September 28, 2026
Having grown up in a Muslim country where I was constantly being told by "religious" people that it's haraam and against Islam, Allah, and his prophet to go against your ruler...I love this quote and the story behind it.
"There's no one I care more about in this world than you. So I have to say this: With the work I do, every day becomes a day I might die. But I want to die knowing that--and forgive the botany metaphor here, but you know me--I want to know that you won't let your roots mold in stagnant waters. In your past."
"Nor get stunted from seeking lack of light? Being so fearful of the future?"
"Exactly. Plant yourself in the now whenever you get immobilized by grief or anxiety."
September 28, 2026
He was preparing the population down here for their oppression by teaching them that the pain of tyranny was cured by practicing patience, that this response was the ultimate goodness, the highest level of piety. And worse, he even taught them that turning against their "leaders" would result in societal chaos, which was the opposite of peace, That to "disrespect" those in charge was treachery against the One who had "set the hierarchy of the world in the first place."
Having grown up in a Muslim country where I was constantly being told by "religious" people that it's haraam and against Islam, Allah, and his prophet to go against your ruler...I love this quote and the story behind it.
September 24, 2026
Thank you very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for this advance copy!
The themes and ideas within this duology are absolutely essential. More people should be speaking about colonisation, oppression, and propaganda. Many think they are things of the past, but they are absolutely alive and well in 2026, and it's books with messaging like this that are important for people to read—particularly young people, at whom this duology is aimed. However, in my opinion, this book fails to deliver these messages and themes in a compelling and digestible and entertaining manner; for is that not the role of any media, to entertain?
Where Fledgling suffered from an overabundance of flashbacks and memories as a narrative device, this book, despite the one-year time skip, does not. Golden Flight has a different and yet equally frustrating issue: there are too many point-of-view characters. We have SIX different points of view in this book and this is responsible for slowing the pace to a crawl. Often we see an event occur, and then we have to go through each character while they mull over what happened and tell the reader how they feel about it, how they feel about their compatriots, etc etc. Additionally, none of their voices feel distinct, so I found myself frequently checking chapter titles to see whose perspective I was currently in.
There is a redemption arc in this book which I felt was poorly executed. The author did a fantastic job showing character growth in Fledgling and so I was hopeful, but in this instance I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Romantic relationships between the oppressor and the oppressed are difficult to do sensitively and the power imbalance combined with the one-year time skip meant that this growth and this relationship in particular felt unearned. Not to mention that this character, when we are in their point of view, spends the first half of Golden Flight just continuing to be a terrible person, belittling and humiliating those around them.
There were times when aspects of the group's plan were over-explained in order to seemingly prevent plot holes later which took me out of the story—such as explaining why they could have badges with pieces of paper in them but they couldn't write anything on the pieces of paper until they reached their destination because the scans on the way would identify any written word and they would be captured, etc. It was honestly quite exhausting to read and again resulted in the pacing feeling slow.
In Fledgling, narrative choices were made which were intended to show the cost and the weight of revolution, even a necessary and just revolution. Unfortunately, these choices were mostly invalidated in Golden Flight and this led to those moments of emotional attachment feeling cheapened.
This is a story of friendship, of spirituality, and of making the world a better place. The tone is hopeful, the ending was satisfying, and I think that the message is so, so important in today's world. I just didn't feel that the story itself was compelling enough to make me enjoy the process of reading it.
The themes and ideas within this duology are absolutely essential. More people should be speaking about colonisation, oppression, and propaganda. Many think they are things of the past, but they are absolutely alive and well in 2026, and it's books with messaging like this that are important for people to read—particularly young people, at whom this duology is aimed. However, in my opinion, this book fails to deliver these messages and themes in a compelling and digestible and entertaining manner; for is that not the role of any media, to entertain?
Where Fledgling suffered from an overabundance of flashbacks and memories as a narrative device, this book, despite the one-year time skip, does not. Golden Flight has a different and yet equally frustrating issue: there are too many point-of-view characters. We have SIX different points of view in this book and this is responsible for slowing the pace to a crawl. Often we see an event occur, and then we have to go through each character while they mull over what happened and tell the reader how they feel about it, how they feel about their compatriots, etc etc. Additionally, none of their voices feel distinct, so I found myself frequently checking chapter titles to see whose perspective I was currently in.
There is a redemption arc in this book which I felt was poorly executed. The author did a fantastic job showing character growth in Fledgling and so I was hopeful, but in this instance I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Romantic relationships between the oppressor and the oppressed are difficult to do sensitively and the power imbalance combined with the one-year time skip meant that this growth and this relationship in particular felt unearned. Not to mention that this character, when we are in their point of view, spends the first half of Golden Flight just continuing to be a terrible person, belittling and humiliating those around them.
There were times when aspects of the group's plan were over-explained in order to seemingly prevent plot holes later which took me out of the story—such as explaining why they could have badges with pieces of paper in them but they couldn't write anything on the pieces of paper until they reached their destination because the scans on the way would identify any written word and they would be captured, etc. It was honestly quite exhausting to read and again resulted in the pacing feeling slow.
In Fledgling, narrative choices were made which were intended to show the cost and the weight of revolution, even a necessary and just revolution. Unfortunately, these choices were mostly invalidated in Golden Flight and this led to those moments of emotional attachment feeling cheapened.
This is a story of friendship, of spirituality, and of making the world a better place. The tone is hopeful, the ending was satisfying, and I think that the message is so, so important in today's world. I just didn't feel that the story itself was compelling enough to make me enjoy the process of reading it.
September 27, 2026
After the careful worldbuilding and character development of Fledgling, Golden Flight opens with a noticeably different energy, and I found that shift fascinating.
Where the first book spends time establishing the world, its people, and the conflicts simmering beneath the surface, Golden Flight assumes that foundation is already in place. The result is a story that moves with greater urgency and momentum from the very beginning. The tension that was building throughout the first novel finally begins to pay off, and the narrative reflects that change.
Reading the two books back-to-back made this transition especially noticeable. There is less emphasis on discovery and more emphasis on action, consequence, and moving the story toward its conclusion. At first, the change felt slightly jarring, but the further I read, the more I understood why the novel needed to adopt this faster pace.
This installment carries a darker atmosphere than its predecessor. The world feels poised on the edge of reckoning, and that sense of pressure permeates nearly every chapter. There is a constant awareness that events are accelerating and that the choices being made will have lasting consequences. The tension rarely lets up, creating a strong connection between reader and story as the stakes continue to rise.
My one minor reservation is that I occasionally missed the quieter moments between the characters. Because the story begins at full speed and rarely pauses, there are fewer opportunities to simply sit with these characters and enjoy their companionship. I found myself wanting a few additional scenes that allowed them to breathe together before being thrust back into the conflict.
At the same time, I understand why those moments are limited. By the time Golden Flight begins, the story is already moving toward its major turning points. The characters simply do not have the luxury of slowing down, and that urgency ultimately serves the narrative well.
What I appreciated most was the ending. One of the challenges of dystopian fiction is that many novels conclude immediately after the central conflict is resolved, leaving readers to imagine what comes next. Golden Flight takes a different approach. Readers are given the opportunity to witness some of the aftermath and see glimpses of what life looks like beyond the revolution.
For me, this was one of the book's greatest strengths.
Those final chapters provide an emotional counterbalance to the relentless pace that precedes them and reinforce one of the duology's central questions: What price are people willing to pay to create a better world? By allowing readers to see what comes after the struggle, Ali highlights both the sacrifices made and the hope that made those sacrifices worthwhile.
Taken together, Fledgling and Golden Flight feel less like two separate books and more like a single story told in two parts. The first lays the foundation; the second delivers the payoff. Fans of thoughtful dystopian fiction, strong character relationships, and stories that ask difficult questions about justice, conviction, and change will find much to appreciate in this duology.
Where the first book spends time establishing the world, its people, and the conflicts simmering beneath the surface, Golden Flight assumes that foundation is already in place. The result is a story that moves with greater urgency and momentum from the very beginning. The tension that was building throughout the first novel finally begins to pay off, and the narrative reflects that change.
Reading the two books back-to-back made this transition especially noticeable. There is less emphasis on discovery and more emphasis on action, consequence, and moving the story toward its conclusion. At first, the change felt slightly jarring, but the further I read, the more I understood why the novel needed to adopt this faster pace.
This installment carries a darker atmosphere than its predecessor. The world feels poised on the edge of reckoning, and that sense of pressure permeates nearly every chapter. There is a constant awareness that events are accelerating and that the choices being made will have lasting consequences. The tension rarely lets up, creating a strong connection between reader and story as the stakes continue to rise.
My one minor reservation is that I occasionally missed the quieter moments between the characters. Because the story begins at full speed and rarely pauses, there are fewer opportunities to simply sit with these characters and enjoy their companionship. I found myself wanting a few additional scenes that allowed them to breathe together before being thrust back into the conflict.
At the same time, I understand why those moments are limited. By the time Golden Flight begins, the story is already moving toward its major turning points. The characters simply do not have the luxury of slowing down, and that urgency ultimately serves the narrative well.
What I appreciated most was the ending. One of the challenges of dystopian fiction is that many novels conclude immediately after the central conflict is resolved, leaving readers to imagine what comes next. Golden Flight takes a different approach. Readers are given the opportunity to witness some of the aftermath and see glimpses of what life looks like beyond the revolution.
For me, this was one of the book's greatest strengths.
Those final chapters provide an emotional counterbalance to the relentless pace that precedes them and reinforce one of the duology's central questions: What price are people willing to pay to create a better world? By allowing readers to see what comes after the struggle, Ali highlights both the sacrifices made and the hope that made those sacrifices worthwhile.
Taken together, Fledgling and Golden Flight feel less like two separate books and more like a single story told in two parts. The first lays the foundation; the second delivers the payoff. Fans of thoughtful dystopian fiction, strong character relationships, and stories that ask difficult questions about justice, conviction, and change will find much to appreciate in this duology.
September 30, 2026
Golden Flight concludes S.K. Ali's powerful duology The Keeper's Records of Revolution by returning to a divided world with war looming and fates hanging in balance. Ali crafts an epic conclusion where the Golden Flight, a gala held every ten years to honor fallen elites, becomes a backdrop for larger conflicts and personal reckonings that will determine the kingdom's future. The stakes escalate considerably in this installment; watching characters navigate political machinations and personal stakes simultaneously creates genuine complexity rooted in moral ambiguity rather than simple good-versus-evil dichotomy. The worldbuilding expands convincingly throughout, revealing layers of history and competing ideologies that suggest why conflict became inevitable. The character work remains appropriately nuanced, with no character receiving unearned redemption or simple dismissal; everyone carries complicity in systems larger than themselves. However, the sheer number of simultaneous plot threads, political intrigue, personal relationships, magical revelations, and military threat, occasionally strains narrative focus, with some character arcs receiving less attention than their setup suggests they deserve. Certain worldbuilding mysteries introduced in the first book feel slightly underdeveloped in this conclusion, and the resolution regarding the larger war leaves significant questions deliberately unresolved. The pacing occasionally stumbles when exposition about prior events competes with forward momentum, particularly in earlier sections that require readers to reorient themselves to the world. The ending arrives with genuine emotional and political consequences; characters don't escape unscathed, which carries weight and respect for reader investment. An ambitious epic conclusion that understands the cost of revolution and the impossibility of returning to innocence once you've glimpsed systemic corruption.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
WELP, this was a bit of a surprise! After getting bogged down with all the background and minutia of the world and characters in the first book of this duology, this second installment grabs the reader and doesn’t let them go! And, weirdly much of the greatness in this story is because of the depth placed in building this ensemble cast! With all the background behind us, the author is able to concentrate on the plot, action and intrigue, and boy does she do it well! Because we are heavily invested in each character, we already know their strengths and weaknesses, struggles and triumphs, and this allows us to deeply feel every pain endured and accomplishment achieved. There are twists and turns galore and surprises no one could ever guess, all tied up in a shocking climax that both astonishes and satisfies the heart.
Then, the author does something few authors often do, she permits the reader to see what happens AFTER the climax! Yep, we get to see our beloved characters a year and a half after all the horrific circumstances blew up. An extended epilogue of sorts that enables readers to close that last page absolutely happy in spite of all the heavy darkness that permeates the majority of the book before.
*A note of warning*
The feel of the story is a very dark and heavy one overall. It isn’t overly graphic but there is little joy, almost no lighthearted moments, and no comedic affects that let the reader stop and breathe. The horrific mountain of atrocities this small team is up against is unrelenting. After reading a few chapters, I would actually have to put the book down and “cleanse the pallet” with something lighter. Then, dive back in. Ultimately, however, it was more than worth it!
Then, the author does something few authors often do, she permits the reader to see what happens AFTER the climax! Yep, we get to see our beloved characters a year and a half after all the horrific circumstances blew up. An extended epilogue of sorts that enables readers to close that last page absolutely happy in spite of all the heavy darkness that permeates the majority of the book before.
*A note of warning*
The feel of the story is a very dark and heavy one overall. It isn’t overly graphic but there is little joy, almost no lighthearted moments, and no comedic affects that let the reader stop and breathe. The horrific mountain of atrocities this small team is up against is unrelenting. After reading a few chapters, I would actually have to put the book down and “cleanse the pallet” with something lighter. Then, dive back in. Ultimately, however, it was more than worth it!
September 3, 2026
Unfortunately, this book was huge disappointment. I really liked the first book (rated it 4 stars), but almost everything that I enjoyed about the first book was missing in this one.
The world building felt flat and almost nonexistent at times. I don’t know if the author just thought because everything was built in the first book there wasn’t any need to add to it in this one, but it really hampered the experience.
I really enjoyed the characters and how their relationship intertwined in the first book, but in this one I had trouble differentiating between them and honestly didn’t really connect with any of them at all.
Also the plot was SO boring and repetitive for the first at least half of the book. Almost nothing happened and they were just planning things. One thing I enjoyed about the first book was the pacing and how exciting the plot was from the jump, but this one didn’t have that same feeling until probably the 75% mark.
I just could not get into this one at all until the end. After everything that was built in the first book I was really hoping for a really interesting and satisfying conclusion to the story, but because most of this book was boring the ending didn’t feel earned.
The first book had so much backstory throughout that I was really hoping to go deeper into the history of the world and maybe have a bunch of secrets and twist come about because of that history. But we didn’t really get any new history or interesting surprises/secrets revealed.
This one was a real let down. I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the series, but I wouldn’t waste your time with this one, unfortunately.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.
The world building felt flat and almost nonexistent at times. I don’t know if the author just thought because everything was built in the first book there wasn’t any need to add to it in this one, but it really hampered the experience.
I really enjoyed the characters and how their relationship intertwined in the first book, but in this one I had trouble differentiating between them and honestly didn’t really connect with any of them at all.
Also the plot was SO boring and repetitive for the first at least half of the book. Almost nothing happened and they were just planning things. One thing I enjoyed about the first book was the pacing and how exciting the plot was from the jump, but this one didn’t have that same feeling until probably the 75% mark.
I just could not get into this one at all until the end. After everything that was built in the first book I was really hoping for a really interesting and satisfying conclusion to the story, but because most of this book was boring the ending didn’t feel earned.
The first book had so much backstory throughout that I was really hoping to go deeper into the history of the world and maybe have a bunch of secrets and twist come about because of that history. But we didn’t really get any new history or interesting surprises/secrets revealed.
This one was a real let down. I would definitely recommend reading the first book in the series, but I wouldn’t waste your time with this one, unfortunately.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The book started off really well, I was hooked immediately and didn't want to stop reading. However, only after the first 5-10 chapters, it started going downhill. The characters were suddenly so annoying, I wanted to personally slap every single one of them. Instead of focusing on the greater goal, they all were immersed in their own personal issues and grudges against each other, which was something I really didn't expect from some of them so I must admit I was really disappointed.
And fine, their behaviour may have been a part of the plot, so it can be ignored. But at the same time, the storyline slowed down and the chapters were suddenly so long, reading became a chore. thats one of the reasons it took me so long to finish it. It was as if the characters were doing nothing useful and just repeating the same things in every chapter, and it got so annoying, especially because I had been so excited for the book, and my expectations had grown even more because of the starting of the book.
Anywayy, after forcing myself to get through the middle, the book finally started picking up again and oh my God, it got sooo gooddd, I couldnt put it down. It was a buddyread and I'd forget about that and accidentally read more than I was supposed to lol (Sorryy PNY).
The ending was phenomenal and just, the best thing ever. So besides the pace in the middle of the book, everything was great. I loved the plot line and the entire base of the story, it was well executed for the most part and Im so happy I didn't give up in the middle lol.
ARC received from Netgalley and the author.
Buddyread with Yusra ❤️
And fine, their behaviour may have been a part of the plot, so it can be ignored. But at the same time, the storyline slowed down and the chapters were suddenly so long, reading became a chore. thats one of the reasons it took me so long to finish it. It was as if the characters were doing nothing useful and just repeating the same things in every chapter, and it got so annoying, especially because I had been so excited for the book, and my expectations had grown even more because of the starting of the book.
Anywayy, after forcing myself to get through the middle, the book finally started picking up again and oh my God, it got sooo gooddd, I couldnt put it down. It was a buddyread and I'd forget about that and accidentally read more than I was supposed to lol (Sorryy PNY).
The ending was phenomenal and just, the best thing ever. So besides the pace in the middle of the book, everything was great. I loved the plot line and the entire base of the story, it was well executed for the most part and Im so happy I didn't give up in the middle lol.
ARC received from Netgalley and the author.
Buddyread with Yusra ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Fledgling was a huge highlight of 2024 for me, so I was keen to pick up this sequel. I'm pleased to report that Golden Flight is an absolutely stunning conclusion to the duology! It has a rollercoaster ride of a plot, an immersive world, an endearing ensemble cast, and an elaborate plan to take down the evil regime that gave me serious Six of Crows vibes.
This is a story about what it takes to make change happen. It can’t be achieved by just one person, or one generation. It takes several different groups of people all working together, from all different areas of society, and this book sees it culminate in one epic showdown. I loved that the characters had different ideas for how to take down the government, which sometimes helped them and sometimes turned them against each other, and there was plenty of double-crossing and triple-crossing to keep me on my toes!
The book deals with urgent themes such as oppression and resistance, the importance of record-keeping and truth-telling, and technology as a tool for control. However, it manages to balance a clever and nuanced exploration of these things with tropey YA fun that will delight fans of 2010s YA dystopia. The romances are SO adorable, and the Golden Flight ball is a perfect setting for kicking butt in a glittery weaponized ballgown!
Overall, the Fledgling duology is a must-read for any fan of YA dystopia. You’ll find plenty of familiar vibes here, but also a twist on the genre as you’ve never seen it before!
Thanks to the author and publisher for the ebook ARC.
This is a story about what it takes to make change happen. It can’t be achieved by just one person, or one generation. It takes several different groups of people all working together, from all different areas of society, and this book sees it culminate in one epic showdown. I loved that the characters had different ideas for how to take down the government, which sometimes helped them and sometimes turned them against each other, and there was plenty of double-crossing and triple-crossing to keep me on my toes!
The book deals with urgent themes such as oppression and resistance, the importance of record-keeping and truth-telling, and technology as a tool for control. However, it manages to balance a clever and nuanced exploration of these things with tropey YA fun that will delight fans of 2010s YA dystopia. The romances are SO adorable, and the Golden Flight ball is a perfect setting for kicking butt in a glittery weaponized ballgown!
Overall, the Fledgling duology is a must-read for any fan of YA dystopia. You’ll find plenty of familiar vibes here, but also a twist on the genre as you’ve never seen it before!
Thanks to the author and publisher for the ebook ARC.
September 6, 2026
The YA Dystopia is back! The SomaSpace will haunt me in my sleep.
I just finished it and could not wait to write my thoughts down. When I started the book character reveal and multiple POV kept me on edge. I was taking notes. I had fun with how each of them thought about each other. Initially, when the team assembled to plan the mission, I was laughing at the Stray comments but then it got annoying. The lack of trust in the team frustrated me and almost put me in reading slump. However, after the 50% mark the book picked up and made me FEEL.
The moment 118 identity was revealed, I jumped on my bed, she was exactly who I was hoping she would be. She is an icon and I loved her. I have mixed feeling about the multiple POVs. I loved how we got different perspective over each situation however sometimes it made me pull my hair in frustration. Unfortunately, they never got to get each member on the same page. The lack of teamwork was persistent throughout the book. As frustrating as it could be, it is realistic. People fighting for the same cause do not always agree on moral and method.
I love the message in the end. The Golden Flight was not about revenge but to build a world where everyone is an equal. They achieved the oneness once Nene Nushba hoped for, no matter the cost or person lost. If anyone regardless of sides came in between, they were dealt with appropriate action.
Thanks to the author, Netgalley, and Penguin Teen for the digital arc. I can’t wait to read more books by S.K. Ali.
I just finished it and could not wait to write my thoughts down. When I started the book character reveal and multiple POV kept me on edge. I was taking notes. I had fun with how each of them thought about each other. Initially, when the team assembled to plan the mission, I was laughing at the Stray comments but then it got annoying. The lack of trust in the team frustrated me and almost put me in reading slump. However, after the 50% mark the book picked up and made me FEEL.
The moment 118 identity was revealed, I jumped on my bed, she was exactly who I was hoping she would be. She is an icon and I loved her. I have mixed feeling about the multiple POVs. I loved how we got different perspective over each situation however sometimes it made me pull my hair in frustration. Unfortunately, they never got to get each member on the same page. The lack of teamwork was persistent throughout the book. As frustrating as it could be, it is realistic. People fighting for the same cause do not always agree on moral and method.
I love the message in the end. The Golden Flight was not about revenge but to build a world where everyone is an equal. They achieved the oneness once Nene Nushba hoped for, no matter the cost or person lost. If anyone regardless of sides came in between, they were dealt with appropriate action.
Thanks to the author, Netgalley, and Penguin Teen for the digital arc. I can’t wait to read more books by S.K. Ali.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 rounding up
This was a great sequel to Fledgling, and many of the things in Fledgling that I had disliked were not present here. I think this is one of the rare cases where the second book is actually way better than the first. The story really flourished here and we finally got more backstory and more worldbuilding, and the character development was amazing. I loved getting to see more of The Bridge and Upper Earth, especially since in the first book nothing really took place on The Bridge except for in some flashbacks. The writing was also more developed and more coherent, and switching between the POVs every chapter felt a lot more fluid than it had felt during Fledgling. The pacing made more sense and kept me guessing less.
This is a book I honestly wouldn’t have picked up (based on how I felt after reading Fledgling), if I didn’t already have it on my kindle, but I’m glad I read on anyways. All of the themes are so important, and the whole idea of The Great Catastrophe and how the world became structured after that is really not far fetched at all. We are so close to hitting that tipping point of environmental and ecological disaster that I would not be surprised at all if similar events happen within our next 50-100 years just like in the book’s timeline. There’s also so much great commentary about corruption, colonialism, capitalism and overconsumption, hyper-surveillance, etc.
This was a great sequel to Fledgling, and many of the things in Fledgling that I had disliked were not present here. I think this is one of the rare cases where the second book is actually way better than the first. The story really flourished here and we finally got more backstory and more worldbuilding, and the character development was amazing. I loved getting to see more of The Bridge and Upper Earth, especially since in the first book nothing really took place on The Bridge except for in some flashbacks. The writing was also more developed and more coherent, and switching between the POVs every chapter felt a lot more fluid than it had felt during Fledgling. The pacing made more sense and kept me guessing less.
This is a book I honestly wouldn’t have picked up (based on how I felt after reading Fledgling), if I didn’t already have it on my kindle, but I’m glad I read on anyways. All of the themes are so important, and the whole idea of The Great Catastrophe and how the world became structured after that is really not far fetched at all. We are so close to hitting that tipping point of environmental and ecological disaster that I would not be surprised at all if similar events happen within our next 50-100 years just like in the book’s timeline. There’s also so much great commentary about corruption, colonialism, capitalism and overconsumption, hyper-surveillance, etc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating :: 4.5 🌟
Source :: ARC from author's invite for Netgalley.
Thoughts ::
First of all, I want to say I love the covers of both books so so much. The colors, the masks, the capes, I am in love. I will buy these books just because of the covers alone. They are so so pretty 🔥
This is a perfect duology. The world building was amazing in book 1. And book 2 is the perfect conclusion 👌. Raisa and Nayf join forces with more people, make a team, plan together to go to a gala in Upper Earth, where all hell will break loose.
All the characters have amazing growth. One of the character have redemption arc. You can see the change from anger to satisfaction. It was very satisfying to see. That character I didn't like at the start, but their growth, their understanding to see other's perspective, to forgive others was very good to see.
One of the character was like a glue who held all others together for their mission. I absolutely love her growth from shy to confidence.
This story will remind you so much of the real world, especially the food in poor countries. The author has pictured it so accurately, it will always stay in my heart. I feel even more for these people who can't have proper food and have to survive on rubbery packet foods. I relate so much with Musaid.
Love the twist in Chapter 27 and 29. Chapter 27's twist, I had a feeling it was coming, but still I got goosebumps and happy tears.
Source :: ARC from author's invite for Netgalley.
Thoughts ::
First of all, I want to say I love the covers of both books so so much. The colors, the masks, the capes, I am in love. I will buy these books just because of the covers alone. They are so so pretty 🔥
This is a perfect duology. The world building was amazing in book 1. And book 2 is the perfect conclusion 👌. Raisa and Nayf join forces with more people, make a team, plan together to go to a gala in Upper Earth, where all hell will break loose.
All the characters have amazing growth. One of the character have redemption arc. You can see the change from anger to satisfaction. It was very satisfying to see. That character I didn't like at the start, but their growth, their understanding to see other's perspective, to forgive others was very good to see.
One of the character was like a glue who held all others together for their mission. I absolutely love her growth from shy to confidence.
This story will remind you so much of the real world, especially the food in poor countries. The author has pictured it so accurately, it will always stay in my heart. I feel even more for these people who can't have proper food and have to survive on rubbery packet foods. I relate so much with Musaid.
Love the twist in Chapter 27 and 29. Chapter 27's twist, I had a feeling it was coming, but still I got goosebumps and happy tears.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book! I ended up rereading the first book in this duology in anticipating of reading this and I think that made my reading experience better. I can't go much into what I liked and disliked about this book because they are literally all spoilers, but there were a few things that were happening in this novel that kept reminding me I was reading a YA novel. One thing in particular was a pretty big aspect of the story, and despite this being a dystopian novel, really made it hard to think of things as realistic. Otherwise, I really enjoyed reading from the different characters POVs, especially One-One-Eight, and I think having such a large cast of characters really helped the story. One or two characters could be off doing one thing and we still got POVs of characters that were off doing another. It really helped tie everything together and helped the reader see how everything came together. I am a bit sad that this storyline is over, but S.K. Ali tied everything together in the end and left me satisfied with very few unanswered questions. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, I hope she writes more dystopian!
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Kokila for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Kokila for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5
What a beautiful sequel to the first book. This duology did what dystopian stories are supposed to do: provide commentary on the corruption and oppression inherent to capitalist society, the longstanding and intergenerational effects of colonialism, and, in this particular case, the dangers of hyper-surveillance.
But as much as I appreciated said commentary, it was the characters who really made this duology for me. They were so easy to love and root for particularly because of their imperfections. They were flawed, frustrating, and sometimes made terrible decisions, but that’s what made them feel so real and endearing. I especially loved seeing the different forms of strength among the women in this story. There was a certain “corruption” arc that I found incredibly nuanced and complex, and I appreciated that this book did not try to simplify these characters or their actions.
The romances were a little understated but never overlooked, if that makes sense. They felt like a natural part of the story without needing to be the primary focus.
While I do think the ending was a bit rushed and certain parts should have been longer, overall, this was a beautifully written and compelling sequel.
Thank you to S.K. Ali, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC!
What a beautiful sequel to the first book. This duology did what dystopian stories are supposed to do: provide commentary on the corruption and oppression inherent to capitalist society, the longstanding and intergenerational effects of colonialism, and, in this particular case, the dangers of hyper-surveillance.
But as much as I appreciated said commentary, it was the characters who really made this duology for me. They were so easy to love and root for particularly because of their imperfections. They were flawed, frustrating, and sometimes made terrible decisions, but that’s what made them feel so real and endearing. I especially loved seeing the different forms of strength among the women in this story. There was a certain “corruption” arc that I found incredibly nuanced and complex, and I appreciated that this book did not try to simplify these characters or their actions.
The romances were a little understated but never overlooked, if that makes sense. They felt like a natural part of the story without needing to be the primary focus.
While I do think the ending was a bit rushed and certain parts should have been longer, overall, this was a beautifully written and compelling sequel.
Thank you to S.K. Ali, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC!
September 3, 2026
There was a lot to enjoy about Golden Flight, the second book in the Keeper’s Records of Revolution Series. The worldbuilding is highly descriptive, especially the many scenes that focus on Lower Earth and the various indignities heaped upon its citizens. The themes that carry throughout both books are important and thought provoking: propaganda, corruption, inequality, the importance of your own history (and analog records.) The action is high stakes, with various revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries alongside a corrupt government trying to literally rewrite the narrative and history of the people, and the POV of those who are trapped within the jaws of the system.
However, I felt ambivalent about a couple of parts. There are so, so many character points of view through the two books, sometimes complicated by name changes or treachery and switching sides that it legitimately became difficult for me to keep up with who was who at times. The action also felt like it was a little more heavy handed than book one with speeches and explanations toward the big final gala showdown. Finally, the big "twist" seemed like it was pretty obvious (and I do not try to guess the twists, so maybe it was supposed to be obvious?)
Overall, I'd give this 4 stars.
However, I felt ambivalent about a couple of parts. There are so, so many character points of view through the two books, sometimes complicated by name changes or treachery and switching sides that it legitimately became difficult for me to keep up with who was who at times. The action also felt like it was a little more heavy handed than book one with speeches and explanations toward the big final gala showdown. Finally, the big "twist" seemed like it was pretty obvious (and I do not try to guess the twists, so maybe it was supposed to be obvious?)
Overall, I'd give this 4 stars.
September 7, 2026
3.75 stars
I really almost DNF-ed this book. Again the story dragged too much and I felt that many things could have been trimmed and the story could have been paced better. I do like the ending and how it was a HEA but I felt like it too long and it was way to convoluted and it did not need to be. I think the plot itself was very interesting and how every character played into it BUT I think that it would have been better and more gripping IF it was a faster pace. There was some character growth for a couple characters but I felt like all of the main characters could have used growth and the revelations of things took too long and that they were have been more successful as a team if things were revealed sooner. I am not sure I have the best things to say about this book because I felt that it dragged on way too long. I really had hopes that since the world building was done in the first book that the final book would move faster and it did not.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Kokila for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really almost DNF-ed this book. Again the story dragged too much and I felt that many things could have been trimmed and the story could have been paced better. I do like the ending and how it was a HEA but I felt like it too long and it was way to convoluted and it did not need to be. I think the plot itself was very interesting and how every character played into it BUT I think that it would have been better and more gripping IF it was a faster pace. There was some character growth for a couple characters but I felt like all of the main characters could have used growth and the revelations of things took too long and that they were have been more successful as a team if things were revealed sooner. I am not sure I have the best things to say about this book because I felt that it dragged on way too long. I really had hopes that since the world building was done in the first book that the final book would move faster and it did not.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Kokila for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2026
Great sequel! Ahh, I love the plot twist in Chapter 27!!
There are many perspectives to keep track of, but you get the hang of it the farther you go on; remembering who’s who.
This duology definitely has some similarities to the Hunger Games series—with a touch of Big Hero 6–but it’s plenty unique at the same time.
This also book features the creepiest virtual reality ever—it’s honestly not that far off from reality…
And the way Upper Earthers see Lower Earthers is very Holocaust-like. The team in this book is literally bringing the rich “down to earth.”
I like its optimistic message of “planting seeds” and “reconciliation over revenge…[breaking] the cycles of oppression, [with] no generation [inheriting] the sins of the past…”
(I’m sad that a character doesn’t like “Human” by the Killers.)
*Spoiler alert: Hasuf = Snape! Salwe = Evelyn from Divergent!
There are many perspectives to keep track of, but you get the hang of it the farther you go on; remembering who’s who.
This duology definitely has some similarities to the Hunger Games series—with a touch of Big Hero 6–but it’s plenty unique at the same time.
This also book features the creepiest virtual reality ever—it’s honestly not that far off from reality…
And the way Upper Earthers see Lower Earthers is very Holocaust-like. The team in this book is literally bringing the rich “down to earth.”
I like its optimistic message of “planting seeds” and “reconciliation over revenge…[breaking] the cycles of oppression, [with] no generation [inheriting] the sins of the past…”
(I’m sad that a character doesn’t like “Human” by the Killers.)
*Spoiler alert: Hasuf = Snape! Salwe = Evelyn from Divergent!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an absolutely smashing sequel and finale to this duology! The characters and their arcs are so satisfying, the action-to-reflection ratio is excellent, the twists and turns and plot revelations just keep coming. I even loved all the little comic relief moments that provide levity to such a high-stakes conflict. But the best and most notable thing about Golden Flight is its willingness to incorporate elements of our real world that is increasingly sliding towards dystopia. Within the character arcs there is gentle reckoning for those that prefer the comfort to the doing the necessary work towards justice. The whole premise is a biting critique of colonialism and as well as a critique of eurocentrism in the name of modernity. I felt this installment was highly in conversation with current conflicts and the harsh realities of them - rarely in dystopia are we stared in the face by the fact that children are starving or hear a character talk about gathering a loved one's scattered remains for burial. Lastly, I'll say that the presence of Islam is my favorite part. It goes deep and even though it is lost in name its truth is what galvanizes the characters constantly. The callback of Surah Kahf, the references to the seerah 🥲. I know this is mainstream and written for the masses, but this is one author I can say writes for Muslims. My sole cons are that: I had a hard time getting into the story at the beginning, there was far too much romance, and I really, really believe the story would be more effective if one particular character had died.
August 17, 2026
This book has more action than the first! I also thought it was well-written and the characters were lovable! This story will remind you so much of the real world, especially 3rd world problems!
I was rooting for humanity… and while book 2 does deliver that. It seemed that the story lagged a bit in the first half. I found myself wanting stronger character development and a smoother execution to fully bring them to life. However, I did think the ending brought everything together well. I would definitely recommend. This was a solid duology!
Thank you very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for this advance copy!
I was rooting for humanity… and while book 2 does deliver that. It seemed that the story lagged a bit in the first half. I found myself wanting stronger character development and a smoother execution to fully bring them to life. However, I did think the ending brought everything together well. I would definitely recommend. This was a solid duology!
Thank you very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for this advance copy!
September 23, 2026
This book was such a sweet, emotional read. I loved the character dynamics and the way the story balances romance, family, and figuring out what you actually want for yourself.
The characters feel really easy to connect with, and there’s something so comforting about watching them grow while navigating all the messy feelings that come with relationships and expectations.
It has that perfect mix of heart, humor, and romance without feeling overly dramatic, and I definitely found myself wanting to keep reading.
If you love heartfelt romances, relatable characters, family dynamics, and stories about finding yourself along the way, definitely add this one to your TBR.
The characters feel really easy to connect with, and there’s something so comforting about watching them grow while navigating all the messy feelings that come with relationships and expectations.
It has that perfect mix of heart, humor, and romance without feeling overly dramatic, and I definitely found myself wanting to keep reading.
If you love heartfelt romances, relatable characters, family dynamics, and stories about finding yourself along the way, definitely add this one to your TBR.
September 28, 2026
Overall this was a good conclusion to this very deeply moving duology. I fell in love with the first book and was very excited for this one, although the beginning felt a little off compared to the feeling and depth to the first book, it did start to come together around the halfway mark and I enjoyed how all the characters and the storyline was wrapped up.
I would recommend this duology if you love the feel of a futuristic dystopian, like multiple POVs, and enjoy a story with a lot of deep roots in friendship, humanity and using the past to shape the future.
I would recommend this duology if you love the feel of a futuristic dystopian, like multiple POVs, and enjoy a story with a lot of deep roots in friendship, humanity and using the past to shape the future.
July 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨sequel to Fledgling
✨sci-fi/POC
✨parallel 🍉
✨duo join forces for justice
✨plot twists
✨redemption
I really enjoyed book 1- the characters, the world building, the internal dialogue. I was rooting for justice, for hope, for humanity… and while book 2 does deliver that. It seems at times the story was a bit slow and the characters were a bit surface level. But the ending really brought it all together. I truly enjoyed this.
✨sequel to Fledgling
✨sci-fi/POC
✨parallel 🍉
✨duo join forces for justice
✨plot twists
✨redemption
I really enjoyed book 1- the characters, the world building, the internal dialogue. I was rooting for justice, for hope, for humanity… and while book 2 does deliver that. It seems at times the story was a bit slow and the characters were a bit surface level. But the ending really brought it all together. I truly enjoyed this.
September 1, 2026
Love, Lies and Loyalty are put to the test. Join the keepers revolution and fight for truth and justice.
S K Ali delivers a powerful conclusion on her epic duology that’s fast paced filled with adventure, romance and striving for a better world. This book will leave you feeling seen and heard. It weaves together messages of hope, survival and that we can all be responsible for bringing about positive change for humanity.
Thank You to Net Galley for an ARC that was provided for me to review
S K Ali delivers a powerful conclusion on her epic duology that’s fast paced filled with adventure, romance and striving for a better world. This book will leave you feeling seen and heard. It weaves together messages of hope, survival and that we can all be responsible for bringing about positive change for humanity.
Thank You to Net Galley for an ARC that was provided for me to review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The best sequel I could have asked for. This series deserves so much more hype than it gets. If you guys want a dystopian done right, mark your calendars for this! Full review closer to the release date.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews