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Riftwake #1
Blightfall
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson comes the first book in a new, high-flying trilogy featuring the legendary Skyward Flight as they undertake a deadly intergalactic mission to explore a mysterious alien world.
After decades of war against alien oppressors, the humans of the Defiant Defense Force are finally free. Yet for Arturo Mendez, leader of Skyward Flight, freedom isn’t what he thought it would be.
His first postwar assignment seems simple: The DDF has found evidence of other settlements of humans who were isolated during their long war against the aliens, and Arturo and his flight of pilots are to escort a team of diplomats as they attempt to make contact. It’s an easy mission—get in, guard the diplomats, and get out.
But no element of this mission turns out to be simple. Blightfall is inhospitable, surrounded by mysterious debris and covered in giant, invasive forests that have swallowed most of the planet. Upon arrival, Arturo’s team is attacked, and it quickly becomes clear that this human settlement isn’t what it appears to be.
Now trapped in an unfamiliar world and unsure who to trust, Arturo and his team must find allies and uncover long-buried secrets if they hope to escape and return home.
After decades of war against alien oppressors, the humans of the Defiant Defense Force are finally free. Yet for Arturo Mendez, leader of Skyward Flight, freedom isn’t what he thought it would be.
His first postwar assignment seems simple: The DDF has found evidence of other settlements of humans who were isolated during their long war against the aliens, and Arturo and his flight of pilots are to escort a team of diplomats as they attempt to make contact. It’s an easy mission—get in, guard the diplomats, and get out.
But no element of this mission turns out to be simple. Blightfall is inhospitable, surrounded by mysterious debris and covered in giant, invasive forests that have swallowed most of the planet. Upon arrival, Arturo’s team is attacked, and it quickly becomes clear that this human settlement isn’t what it appears to be.
Now trapped in an unfamiliar world and unsure who to trust, Arturo and his team must find allies and uncover long-buried secrets if they hope to escape and return home.
496 pages, Library Binding
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Brandon Sanderson
402 books295k followersI’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
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July 6, 2026🚀🌌 Blightfall 🌌🚀
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• YA Science Fantasy
• Space Adventure
• Military Squad
• First Contact
• Found Family
• Survival Mission
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
Thank you to Delacorte Press, Random House Children's Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• YA Science Fantasy
• Space Adventure
• Military Squad
• First Contact
• Found Family
• Survival Mission
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
Thank you to Delacorte Press, Random House Children's Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
August 15, 2026
Thank you Random House and Net Galley for this ARC!
On a routine peace mission to make allies with a previously uncontacted human planet, this team that includes humans, aliens and….slugs? runs into trouble and has to figure out how to survive and get home.
This is a fun, quick paced read that has great action, world building and humor in all the right places. Sanderson fans, and Patterson fans, will enjoy this one. I found it to be an amazing start to a new series. One that I’m looking forward to continuing to read, and hopefully the story keeps getting better!
On a routine peace mission to make allies with a previously uncontacted human planet, this team that includes humans, aliens and….slugs? runs into trouble and has to figure out how to survive and get home.
This is a fun, quick paced read that has great action, world building and humor in all the right places. Sanderson fans, and Patterson fans, will enjoy this one. I found it to be an amazing start to a new series. One that I’m looking forward to continuing to read, and hopefully the story keeps getting better!
July 30, 2026
Review to come upon release. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a pre-lease copy.
Want to Read
January 24, 2026╰┈➤ Pre-Release
I’m actually so so so excited for this 🤩 The Skyward series is one of my favorites ever, and I’m so interested to see what this series holds.
I’m actually so so so excited for this 🤩 The Skyward series is one of my favorites ever, and I’m so interested to see what this series holds.
Want to Read
March 23, 2026I am hoping Janci grows Riftwake with her audience. I felt like mental health was not treated authentically in Evershore and Defiant. If you're going to portray characters like Jorgen with massive PTSD, grief, and emotional instability, then you can't have them "fail upwards" or consistently avoid death (because the enemy is very accommodating and incompetent) in combat situations and during war; that’s like having your cake and eating it too. It's one thing to try and create a realistic portrayal of these PTSD mental loops, but if you never follow through in a truthful way, it starts to look like a caricature.
The failing upwards in Evershore was ridiculous too - Jorgen is shut down and in his own head, grieving and suffering from massive PTSD - being extremely reckless in combat, trying his new mind blades without shields in his cockpit, etc. - only to become vice-admiral and become temporary leader of Detritus. Like what? Odds of survival = 0% in reality.
I am also hoping this series lays off the navel-gazing. Evershore was extremely guilty of this. There are at least four chapters where Jorgen is mostly just in his head - like multiple 20 minute chapters via audiobook - and then two more chapters almost entirely dedicated to "therapy speak" sessions between characters, as if the goal of the book were simply to spread the message of mental health. The enemy was very accommodating while one of them was happening too. Evershore didn't actually get going until Chapter 16 (out of 21 Chapters). I cannot read an entire novel written like that.
Because of this, I am definitely holding out on Blightfall until I can ask people what is actually in the book. This is a sci-fi series; it should be about ideas, solving problems in new ways, and action. I just hope the balance is right this time because I feel like the series went off the rails in Evershore. And then when you read Defiant, you realize no character development happened because Jorgen was still suffering PTSD, grief and leadership pressures. I just don't think this series handled mental health and emotional character arcs well (not that it was a requirement - not every novel/series needs it, but if you're going to do it, do it well).
The failing upwards in Evershore was ridiculous too - Jorgen is shut down and in his own head, grieving and suffering from massive PTSD - being extremely reckless in combat, trying his new mind blades without shields in his cockpit, etc. - only to become vice-admiral and become temporary leader of Detritus. Like what? Odds of survival = 0% in reality.
I am also hoping this series lays off the navel-gazing. Evershore was extremely guilty of this. There are at least four chapters where Jorgen is mostly just in his head - like multiple 20 minute chapters via audiobook - and then two more chapters almost entirely dedicated to "therapy speak" sessions between characters, as if the goal of the book were simply to spread the message of mental health. The enemy was very accommodating while one of them was happening too. Evershore didn't actually get going until Chapter 16 (out of 21 Chapters). I cannot read an entire novel written like that.
Because of this, I am definitely holding out on Blightfall until I can ask people what is actually in the book. This is a sci-fi series; it should be about ideas, solving problems in new ways, and action. I just hope the balance is right this time because I feel like the series went off the rails in Evershore. And then when you read Defiant, you realize no character development happened because Jorgen was still suffering PTSD, grief and leadership pressures. I just don't think this series handled mental health and emotional character arcs well (not that it was a requirement - not every novel/series needs it, but if you're going to do it, do it well).
Want to Read
March 25, 2026Skyward was the series that got me to read again after not reading for ~6 years. It's just that good! It got me totally hooked, and reading became one of my main hobbies again.
Sooo excited for this next series! Can't wait to go back into this world that gave me back my love for reading 😊
Sooo excited for this next series! Can't wait to go back into this world that gave me back my love for reading 😊
July 15, 2026
Imaginative and Immersive
Brightfall delivers exactly what Sanderson fans come for: a vivid world, clever magic, and characters who feel like they’re carrying the weight of something bigger than themselves. The story moves with a confident rhythm; steady enough to follow easily, but punctuated with those sharp, satisfying turns Sanderson is known for.
I especially enjoyed the worldbuilding. It’s layered without ever becoming overwhelming, and the lore feels lived‑in rather than decorative. The characters are engaging and are genuinely memorable.
Some sections feel a bit more predictable than others. Still, the execution is strong enough that even the expected moments are enjoyable, and the payoff is worth the journey.
Overall, Brightfall is a highly enjoyable fantasy adventure—immersive, imaginative, and absolutely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for this ARC copy. This is my review.
Brightfall delivers exactly what Sanderson fans come for: a vivid world, clever magic, and characters who feel like they’re carrying the weight of something bigger than themselves. The story moves with a confident rhythm; steady enough to follow easily, but punctuated with those sharp, satisfying turns Sanderson is known for.
I especially enjoyed the worldbuilding. It’s layered without ever becoming overwhelming, and the lore feels lived‑in rather than decorative. The characters are engaging and are genuinely memorable.
Some sections feel a bit more predictable than others. Still, the execution is strong enough that even the expected moments are enjoyable, and the payoff is worth the journey.
Overall, Brightfall is a highly enjoyable fantasy adventure—immersive, imaginative, and absolutely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for this ARC copy. This is my review.
May 4, 2026
Review of Advance Readers Copy (Netgalley)
I loved the Skyward series and was a little skeptical of what else could be added to it. I was wrong. This book pulled me in right from the start. All in all a great adventure for some of the beloved Skyward characters, getting to know some more than the past books allowed and a few great new characters as well.
I really enjoyed this book and think Janci Patterson did an incredible job!
I loved the Skyward series and was a little skeptical of what else could be added to it. I was wrong. This book pulled me in right from the start. All in all a great adventure for some of the beloved Skyward characters, getting to know some more than the past books allowed and a few great new characters as well.
I really enjoyed this book and think Janci Patterson did an incredible job!
August 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! 🥰
“I just think that even though there’s a lot of darkness and destruction, there’s a lot of hope and beauty too.” 🙌🏻
Wow, what a GREAT start to this trilogy! Young adult books can be hit or miss for me, but this was a fun, fast paced adventure enjoyable for teen readers and above. I love Sanderson's work, so I’ll read anything with his name on it, and teaming up with Petterson makes them the perfect duo for this story.
I absolutely adored the two main characters. They have distinct personalities, which made switching between their perspectives such a fun experience. The world building was fantastic, and the twists and turns kept me constantly surprised. My favorite part, though? The slugs. Bob and Naga for life! The interludes put the BIGGEST smile on my face, and Cosmere fans will be thrilled to spot a few fun Easter eggs. 👀
The romance was so sweet, plus getting two distinct romantic subplots was a great touch. I also appreciated how the story explored cultural differences that persist into the future, making the world feel grounded and relatable. On top of all that, the action scenes had my heart racing! 🚀Everything about this novel was fantastic, and I can’t wait for the rest of the Riftwake series. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel honored to have received an advance copy. Thank you again for the opportunity to review this wonderful book! ❤️
“I just think that even though there’s a lot of darkness and destruction, there’s a lot of hope and beauty too.” 🙌🏻
Wow, what a GREAT start to this trilogy! Young adult books can be hit or miss for me, but this was a fun, fast paced adventure enjoyable for teen readers and above. I love Sanderson's work, so I’ll read anything with his name on it, and teaming up with Petterson makes them the perfect duo for this story.
I absolutely adored the two main characters. They have distinct personalities, which made switching between their perspectives such a fun experience. The world building was fantastic, and the twists and turns kept me constantly surprised. My favorite part, though? The slugs. Bob and Naga for life! The interludes put the BIGGEST smile on my face, and Cosmere fans will be thrilled to spot a few fun Easter eggs. 👀
The romance was so sweet, plus getting two distinct romantic subplots was a great touch. I also appreciated how the story explored cultural differences that persist into the future, making the world feel grounded and relatable. On top of all that, the action scenes had my heart racing! 🚀Everything about this novel was fantastic, and I can’t wait for the rest of the Riftwake series. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel honored to have received an advance copy. Thank you again for the opportunity to review this wonderful book! ❤️
July 31, 2026
4.5? 4.75? idk it could be 5 stars actually.. regardless i’m rounding up!
this was scudding delightful! nedd and sadie seriously rival fm and rig for being my favorite couple in this series. they’re SO awkward LOL but so so cute i just love them!
i do feel like the book had troubl finding its footing at first. i didn’t feel super engaged with the story until like 30-40% in. but then i finally got hooked and i couldn’t put it down!
one of my worries (and i think one that other skyward fans share) was that this would change spensa’s ending. like she had such a perfect conclusion at the end of defiant. and i can completely say her ending and resolution all feel completely intact still! this story is very seperate from her and just develops other characters we didn’t get to see enough of during the main series.
i know i already said how much i love nedd and sadie but i need to reiterate how much i adore just sadie now! prior to this book i kinda.. didn’t like her.. but turns out she’s actually incredibly relatable to me and i love her!!
if you loved the main skyward flight series, there’s no reason you won’t love blightfall! give the mysterious medieval times in space book a chance! you won’t regret it!
this was scudding delightful! nedd and sadie seriously rival fm and rig for being my favorite couple in this series. they’re SO awkward LOL but so so cute i just love them!
i do feel like the book had troubl finding its footing at first. i didn’t feel super engaged with the story until like 30-40% in. but then i finally got hooked and i couldn’t put it down!
one of my worries (and i think one that other skyward fans share) was that this would change spensa’s ending. like she had such a perfect conclusion at the end of defiant. and i can completely say her ending and resolution all feel completely intact still! this story is very seperate from her and just develops other characters we didn’t get to see enough of during the main series.
i know i already said how much i love nedd and sadie but i need to reiterate how much i adore just sadie now! prior to this book i kinda.. didn’t like her.. but turns out she’s actually incredibly relatable to me and i love her!!
if you loved the main skyward flight series, there’s no reason you won’t love blightfall! give the mysterious medieval times in space book a chance! you won’t regret it!
July 2, 2026
As a big fan of Brandon Sanderson's adult fiction, I was excited to receive an ARC of this YA novel set in the Cytoverse.
While the writing style has a different, more accessible feel than his sprawling adult epics, it still delivers the same fast-paced, highly enjoyable fantasy I've come to expect. The worldbuilding is fantastic, and I loved the teleporting, cuddle-loving slugs!
I am also excited to finally find a Sanderson book that is appropriate for my 9-year-old son. He loves a good fantasy, but Sanderson's other works are still a bit too mature for him. I will have to investigate the rest of the books set in the Cytoverse while I await the next installment of the trilogy.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.
While the writing style has a different, more accessible feel than his sprawling adult epics, it still delivers the same fast-paced, highly enjoyable fantasy I've come to expect. The worldbuilding is fantastic, and I loved the teleporting, cuddle-loving slugs!
I am also excited to finally find a Sanderson book that is appropriate for my 9-year-old son. He loves a good fantasy, but Sanderson's other works are still a bit too mature for him. I will have to investigate the rest of the books set in the Cytoverse while I await the next installment of the trilogy.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.
July 31, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow. Not only was I chosen by the book gods… but what an epic journey back into the Skyward universe.
Janci Patterson and Brandon Sanderson delivered on the continuation of the series.
You can definitely read this without the initial series but it does help with background information. I love the illustrations in between characters. Thank you, NetGalley for the advance copy. Out September 1st.
Wow. Not only was I chosen by the book gods… but what an epic journey back into the Skyward universe.
Janci Patterson and Brandon Sanderson delivered on the continuation of the series.
You can definitely read this without the initial series but it does help with background information. I love the illustrations in between characters. Thank you, NetGalley for the advance copy. Out September 1st.
Want to Read
December 19, 2025The Skyward Saga is one of Sanderson's better works, with Janci Paterson proving to be a very talented author in her supporting role.
Go to the Coppermind Wiki to get a summary ... per Sanderson this is Book #1 of at least a 3-book series. Blightfall is due out in early 2026, while he indicates Book #2 Songrise may be out later in 2026.
Note on Janci Paterson ... she also writes as part of Cara Witter .. The 5-Lands Saga
Go to the Coppermind Wiki to get a summary ... per Sanderson this is Book #1 of at least a 3-book series. Blightfall is due out in early 2026, while he indicates Book #2 Songrise may be out later in 2026.
Note on Janci Paterson ... she also writes as part of Cara Witter .. The 5-Lands Saga
Want to Read
December 16, 2025I actually ADORE this series ah ah ah ah im so excited for 2026
re-reading RIGHT NOW AHHHHHHHHHH
re-reading RIGHT NOW AHHHHHHHHHH
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A fast-paced YA space adventure with snails, romance, and plenty of hijinks. I couldn’t wait to see what Sanderson would do with a YA novel, and I had so much fun. I’ve never encountered a snail assisting on space missions before, and somehow, it works.
Speaking of snails, can we talk about the interludes. Bob and Naga’s inner monologues were humorous but also very insightful. Having more information on their species and the unique communication. Since they weren’t able to fully converse with the other characters getting insight to how they think brought another layer to the world. The amount of constant cuddling was amazing.
Also, speaking of snails, I have to point out the Easter egg at the beginning involving Hoid. I read the name and thought, “It couldn’t be…” Hoid is one of my favorite characters from the Stormlight Archive, so I was absolutely delighted to see him referenced as part of Old Earth. He really does pop up where you least expect him, doesn’t he?
Okay, enough about the snails. Let’s get into it.
One thing I really enjoyed was the romance. We have two couples on opposite ends of the spectrum. Arturo and Alanik are both more literal and analytical, but they come from completely different worlds: a human and an alien. Society doesn’t want them together, and almost everyone around them seems intimidated by them. Their awkward banter is adorable and gives us a chance to see a softer side of the flight leader. I especially enjoyed the cultural differences, such as trying to figure out what something as simple as holding hands actually means. Those little details helped establish the world in a way that felt natural rather than forced.
Then we have Sadie and Ned, who are almost the complete opposite of Arturo and Alanik. I admit I enjoyed them the most. Sadie was incredibly relatable, and I was initially surprised that she would become one of the main POV characters based on how she was introduced. I’m very glad she did. She brought a lot of humor to the story, and it was even better she awkwardly pointed it out. I loved the way she and Ned interacted. Their dialogue was sweet and one of my favorite parts of the book.
The worldbuilding was also well done. It wasn’t quite as complicated as figuring out “lashing” in the Stormlight Archive (sorry, I had to mention it again), but there were still plenty of layers to how everything worked. There were definitely moments when I had to stop and think, “Wait, what?” but there was enough context and subtle repetition to help everything fall into place.
The one area where I occasionally struggled was during the action sequences. With so much terminology being introduced at once, I sometimes had difficulty tracking exactly what was happening during the fights. That said, I was still having fun that I was perfectly content to buckle in and enjoy the ride.
One thing I love about science fiction is the perspective it gives us on our own world. There’s something fascinating about living in the present and imagining how people in the future might look back at it. I loved seeing things we take for granted now become old world delicacies, ruins, or remnants of another time. Even something as familiar as pizza becomes a delicacy. Especially when we have fox/squirrel like creatures serving them on a hover disk.
I can absolutely see myself becoming obsessed with this series. Especially as a YA novel, I could easily imagine my younger self falling in love with it. It has so many elements that make for a memorable series: found family, humor, young love, political intrigue, adventure, and even a post-apocalyptic edge.
I enjoyed this collaboration a lot. I’m not as familiar with Patterson’s work, but after reading this, I’d definitely be interested in exploring more of her books. The combination of their styles worked wonderfully, and the result was a genuinely fun adventure.
As a longtime fan of Brandon Sanderson, getting the opportunity to read this ARC was especially exciting for me. I requested it with my fingers crossed and was absolutely thrilled when I was accepted. I went into it with high expectations, and I’m happy to say that I had an absolute blast reading it.
-Midnight Margins
A fast-paced YA space adventure with snails, romance, and plenty of hijinks. I couldn’t wait to see what Sanderson would do with a YA novel, and I had so much fun. I’ve never encountered a snail assisting on space missions before, and somehow, it works.
Speaking of snails, can we talk about the interludes. Bob and Naga’s inner monologues were humorous but also very insightful. Having more information on their species and the unique communication. Since they weren’t able to fully converse with the other characters getting insight to how they think brought another layer to the world. The amount of constant cuddling was amazing.
Also, speaking of snails, I have to point out the Easter egg at the beginning involving Hoid. I read the name and thought, “It couldn’t be…” Hoid is one of my favorite characters from the Stormlight Archive, so I was absolutely delighted to see him referenced as part of Old Earth. He really does pop up where you least expect him, doesn’t he?
Okay, enough about the snails. Let’s get into it.
One thing I really enjoyed was the romance. We have two couples on opposite ends of the spectrum. Arturo and Alanik are both more literal and analytical, but they come from completely different worlds: a human and an alien. Society doesn’t want them together, and almost everyone around them seems intimidated by them. Their awkward banter is adorable and gives us a chance to see a softer side of the flight leader. I especially enjoyed the cultural differences, such as trying to figure out what something as simple as holding hands actually means. Those little details helped establish the world in a way that felt natural rather than forced.
Then we have Sadie and Ned, who are almost the complete opposite of Arturo and Alanik. I admit I enjoyed them the most. Sadie was incredibly relatable, and I was initially surprised that she would become one of the main POV characters based on how she was introduced. I’m very glad she did. She brought a lot of humor to the story, and it was even better she awkwardly pointed it out. I loved the way she and Ned interacted. Their dialogue was sweet and one of my favorite parts of the book.
The worldbuilding was also well done. It wasn’t quite as complicated as figuring out “lashing” in the Stormlight Archive (sorry, I had to mention it again), but there were still plenty of layers to how everything worked. There were definitely moments when I had to stop and think, “Wait, what?” but there was enough context and subtle repetition to help everything fall into place.
The one area where I occasionally struggled was during the action sequences. With so much terminology being introduced at once, I sometimes had difficulty tracking exactly what was happening during the fights. That said, I was still having fun that I was perfectly content to buckle in and enjoy the ride.
One thing I love about science fiction is the perspective it gives us on our own world. There’s something fascinating about living in the present and imagining how people in the future might look back at it. I loved seeing things we take for granted now become old world delicacies, ruins, or remnants of another time. Even something as familiar as pizza becomes a delicacy. Especially when we have fox/squirrel like creatures serving them on a hover disk.
I can absolutely see myself becoming obsessed with this series. Especially as a YA novel, I could easily imagine my younger self falling in love with it. It has so many elements that make for a memorable series: found family, humor, young love, political intrigue, adventure, and even a post-apocalyptic edge.
I enjoyed this collaboration a lot. I’m not as familiar with Patterson’s work, but after reading this, I’d definitely be interested in exploring more of her books. The combination of their styles worked wonderfully, and the result was a genuinely fun adventure.
As a longtime fan of Brandon Sanderson, getting the opportunity to read this ARC was especially exciting for me. I requested it with my fingers crossed and was absolutely thrilled when I was accepted. I went into it with high expectations, and I’m happy to say that I had an absolute blast reading it.
-Midnight Margins
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Blightfall is the first in Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson’s new science fiction trilogy set in the world of his acclaimed Skyward series. Our story follows the perspectives of two characters: Arturo, the lead captain of a pilot team figuring out what life looks like now that the war has ended, and Sadie, a pilot in his flight team trying to make a good impression. The two are chosen, along with a team of humans and aliens alike, to approach a human settlement in the furthest reaches of the galaxy. When they get there, however, the settlement isn’t as undefended as it seemed, and Arturo, Sadie and their friends must evade, infiltrate and escape the world where they have been trapped.
This book is a continuation of Sanderson’s Skywards series, which I (unfortunately) have never read. However, I do feel like this book did an excellent job of establishing the world. Sometimes, spin off series assume a lot of background knowledge, which thankfully Sanderson and Patterson did not; I felt equipped to read the book, follow the worldbuilding and the characters, without needing any information from the previous series from outside of the text itself. I’m sure that there would have been lots of little Easter egg moments I would have gleaned enjoyment from that probably went over my head, but I didn’t feel like I missed out by reading the book before the others.
I do have questions about how this book is being marketed; this book is being distributed as a young adult novel, which I do not think is an accurate depiction. The characters do not have large questions about their identity, autonomy, or belonging; the characters are not minors; and the struggles they face are much more focused on surviving an alien world than discovering meaning. There are two romance subplots (each of our characters becomes romantically involved with a side character), and neither is explicit. It felt more like New Adult, with young adults centered as our main characters, but without the explicit content I don’t know that it would be grouped with that either. I think this book is YA in the way that Mistborn is considered YA, but also, I think Mistborn has more of those identity questions that are core to the young adult experience. I guess I’m saying I don’t know where to group this book in the publishing world, but I didn’t feel like it was a young adult novel as I was reading it.
I really enjoyed myself when reading this book. The battle sequences were clear and not overwhelming, the espionage sequences were engaging, and the overall mystery was interesting. The romance was a small subplot, and I wish it was a little more developed. The romance was the part of the story that felt the most young adult, because the characters seemed very inexperienced and young for their ages specifically around dating. I don’t know if these characters were more developed in their previous books, but it felt like their chemistry was already established off-page.
Altogether, this would be a fun read if you like science fiction without a huge learning curve, fun characters, and a small romantic subplot. I enjoyed myself and am interested in reading more of these stories in the future.
Thank you to Brandon Sanderson, Janci Patterson, RandomHouse Children’s Books, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
This book is a continuation of Sanderson’s Skywards series, which I (unfortunately) have never read. However, I do feel like this book did an excellent job of establishing the world. Sometimes, spin off series assume a lot of background knowledge, which thankfully Sanderson and Patterson did not; I felt equipped to read the book, follow the worldbuilding and the characters, without needing any information from the previous series from outside of the text itself. I’m sure that there would have been lots of little Easter egg moments I would have gleaned enjoyment from that probably went over my head, but I didn’t feel like I missed out by reading the book before the others.
I do have questions about how this book is being marketed; this book is being distributed as a young adult novel, which I do not think is an accurate depiction. The characters do not have large questions about their identity, autonomy, or belonging; the characters are not minors; and the struggles they face are much more focused on surviving an alien world than discovering meaning. There are two romance subplots (each of our characters becomes romantically involved with a side character), and neither is explicit. It felt more like New Adult, with young adults centered as our main characters, but without the explicit content I don’t know that it would be grouped with that either. I think this book is YA in the way that Mistborn is considered YA, but also, I think Mistborn has more of those identity questions that are core to the young adult experience. I guess I’m saying I don’t know where to group this book in the publishing world, but I didn’t feel like it was a young adult novel as I was reading it.
I really enjoyed myself when reading this book. The battle sequences were clear and not overwhelming, the espionage sequences were engaging, and the overall mystery was interesting. The romance was a small subplot, and I wish it was a little more developed. The romance was the part of the story that felt the most young adult, because the characters seemed very inexperienced and young for their ages specifically around dating. I don’t know if these characters were more developed in their previous books, but it felt like their chemistry was already established off-page.
Altogether, this would be a fun read if you like science fiction without a huge learning curve, fun characters, and a small romantic subplot. I enjoyed myself and am interested in reading more of these stories in the future.
Thank you to Brandon Sanderson, Janci Patterson, RandomHouse Children’s Books, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.
July 12, 2026
"Blightfall" by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson is a YA novel in the Cytoverse series. I need to disclose that YA fiction is not really something that I enjoy. I don't love the focus on teenage angst, the predictable tropes about not fitting in, friendships making everything better etc., and the strange connection between Young Adults and dystopian worlds which implies to me that too many Millennials are writing YA, lol.
Having said all of that Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors of all time. So I couldn't resist the urge to read this when the opportunity came up.
The plot unfolds with a mystery that overshadows a Skyward Flight mission. The mission takes the main characters out of their normal environment and forces them to scramble and to try to unravel the mystery at the heart of the book.
My favorite parts of this book were the slugs. Honestly, the interludes where the slugs talk about snuggling just made me laugh. I also appreciated the nod to the Cosmere, Sanderson's main universe (that everyone should go out and work through over the next 4 years of their lives...yeah there is a lot of it to read). But despite what I said about YA...I did appreciate the surprisingly deep conversation that two of the characters had about life and optimism/pessimism and working to be happy. It was well written and caused some organic character relationships to form as it should have since it was probably the most profound section of the book (in my opinion).
If you are a fan of the Cytoverse you should definitely check out this latest installment. It is the beginning of a 3 book arc. If you are a fan of YA books, this is much more refined than a lot of YA books that are out there. I would say that you probably shouldn't start with this book if you don't want to be confused about important references made to this universe that are taken for granted and not explained. However since I had read at least 3 other books in this series I knew what they meant without any trouble. Start with "Skyward Flight" and work your way forward chronologically. I think that is the most helpful way to approach this book.
I'm grateful to Random House Children's Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Having said all of that Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors of all time. So I couldn't resist the urge to read this when the opportunity came up.
The plot unfolds with a mystery that overshadows a Skyward Flight mission. The mission takes the main characters out of their normal environment and forces them to scramble and to try to unravel the mystery at the heart of the book.
My favorite parts of this book were the slugs. Honestly, the interludes where the slugs talk about snuggling just made me laugh. I also appreciated the nod to the Cosmere, Sanderson's main universe (that everyone should go out and work through over the next 4 years of their lives...yeah there is a lot of it to read). But despite what I said about YA...I did appreciate the surprisingly deep conversation that two of the characters had about life and optimism/pessimism and working to be happy. It was well written and caused some organic character relationships to form as it should have since it was probably the most profound section of the book (in my opinion).
If you are a fan of the Cytoverse you should definitely check out this latest installment. It is the beginning of a 3 book arc. If you are a fan of YA books, this is much more refined than a lot of YA books that are out there. I would say that you probably shouldn't start with this book if you don't want to be confused about important references made to this universe that are taken for granted and not explained. However since I had read at least 3 other books in this series I knew what they meant without any trouble. Start with "Skyward Flight" and work your way forward chronologically. I think that is the most helpful way to approach this book.
I'm grateful to Random House Children's Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4*
Like all books in the cytoverse, this is a fun, fast-paced YA adventure. We focus on a group of characters (Arturo, Sadie and Alanik) that were side characters in the skyward series, and now become main characters.
I had honestly hoped to be able to enjoy this book fully without feeling the need to brush up on other cytoverse books, but unfortunately, at least for me, that just really didn't work. Given that it is a separate and new series within this same universe, I was hoping there would be (unobtrusive) broad strokes reminders of who these characters were, what their previous history was, and what some of the concepts in the world meant again. While there was a little bit of that, it wasn't enough for me, and I found myself constantly looking things up online about the skyward series and the cytoverse. And note that I have read all books in the cytoverse series at least once, some up to three times. I think I would have gotten a lot more out of this book if I had read it right after finishing a reread of the main cytoverse series as well as the skyward flight novellas. As an ARC reader, I didn't end up having time for that, but I'd recommend (if you do have time for it) rereading at least the novellas and maybe a summary of the books in the main series before jumping into this book. Interestingly, based on the acknowledgments section as well as some recent interview quotes from Janci Patterson I found online, she was very aware of this challenge and struggling with it during writing.
Other than that criticism, the book was really fun. Just like in the novellas, I quite enjoyed being in the POVs of a different set of characters. Honestly, my favorite POVs were . They provided a really nice change of pace from the other two POVs in the book, which served as a nice way to break up the story. The action was fast-paced and the story sets up the new cytoverse riftwar trilogy well. So yes, I do look forward to songrise, the next book in the trilogy, and I will personally just do more re-reading before starting that than I did for this one, since I think it will vastly improve my enjoyment of the books.
I was provided with a netgalley eARC by the publisher of this book and have tried to write an unbiased review.
Like all books in the cytoverse, this is a fun, fast-paced YA adventure. We focus on a group of characters (Arturo, Sadie and Alanik) that were side characters in the skyward series, and now become main characters.
I had honestly hoped to be able to enjoy this book fully without feeling the need to brush up on other cytoverse books, but unfortunately, at least for me, that just really didn't work. Given that it is a separate and new series within this same universe, I was hoping there would be (unobtrusive) broad strokes reminders of who these characters were, what their previous history was, and what some of the concepts in the world meant again. While there was a little bit of that, it wasn't enough for me, and I found myself constantly looking things up online about the skyward series and the cytoverse. And note that I have read all books in the cytoverse series at least once, some up to three times. I think I would have gotten a lot more out of this book if I had read it right after finishing a reread of the main cytoverse series as well as the skyward flight novellas. As an ARC reader, I didn't end up having time for that, but I'd recommend (if you do have time for it) rereading at least the novellas and maybe a summary of the books in the main series before jumping into this book. Interestingly, based on the acknowledgments section as well as some recent interview quotes from Janci Patterson I found online, she was very aware of this challenge and struggling with it during writing.
Other than that criticism, the book was really fun. Just like in the novellas, I quite enjoyed being in the POVs of a different set of characters. Honestly, my favorite POVs were . They provided a really nice change of pace from the other two POVs in the book, which served as a nice way to break up the story. The action was fast-paced and the story sets up the new cytoverse riftwar trilogy well. So yes, I do look forward to songrise, the next book in the trilogy, and I will personally just do more re-reading before starting that than I did for this one, since I think it will vastly improve my enjoyment of the books.
I was provided with a netgalley eARC by the publisher of this book and have tried to write an unbiased review.
June 30, 2026
Review of Advance Reader's Copy (Netgalley)
Skyward is a series I really enjoyed, and what Janci did with Skyward Flight really breathed a new life into the series for me, so I was very excited for Blightfall's release, and ecstatic when I got my eARC.
Picking back up some time after the end of Defiant, Skyward Flight has a new mission: go to Blightfall, a planet surrounded by a spacial anomaly, to contact an isolated human colony. Uppon arrival they are attacked by the human's alien jailers, and must change their approach if the mission is to succeed.
While reading the prior books is recommended, this could also be an entry point into the series for new readers. Janci managed to strike a good balance between introducing us to new characters and concpets while still maintaining cohesion and a throughline with the Skyward saga.
It is worth mentioning that the writing is very consistent with the previous books, in tone and quality, especially with Skyward Flight and Defiant, and brings back some of what made the first Skyward book really stand out from the rest for me.
The pacing of this book was enjoyable. Action and investigation/introspection felt balanced to me, and I enjoyed the voices of our two narrators.
One of the stronger parts of the book is how it develops the slugs, their inclusion was a great decision and brings both levity and emotion to the story.
I personally enjoyed the humor, but that may not be the case for other readers. If previous books in this series were not your cup of tea, don't expect a radical change in this one.
Readers looking for a deeper exploration of some of the character's arcs from previous books, especially when dealing with heavier topics like mental health and the consequences of war might find this book lacking. It sticks to the "young adult" lable on that front.
However, I did find the romantic relationships more fleshed out than in previous books in the series, as well as its queer characters.
All in all, a fun, relatively low-stakes adventure with good banter between the Flight, a hallmark of this series and one of its stronger points.
Skyward is a series I really enjoyed, and what Janci did with Skyward Flight really breathed a new life into the series for me, so I was very excited for Blightfall's release, and ecstatic when I got my eARC.
Picking back up some time after the end of Defiant, Skyward Flight has a new mission: go to Blightfall, a planet surrounded by a spacial anomaly, to contact an isolated human colony. Uppon arrival they are attacked by the human's alien jailers, and must change their approach if the mission is to succeed.
While reading the prior books is recommended, this could also be an entry point into the series for new readers. Janci managed to strike a good balance between introducing us to new characters and concpets while still maintaining cohesion and a throughline with the Skyward saga.
It is worth mentioning that the writing is very consistent with the previous books, in tone and quality, especially with Skyward Flight and Defiant, and brings back some of what made the first Skyward book really stand out from the rest for me.
The pacing of this book was enjoyable. Action and investigation/introspection felt balanced to me, and I enjoyed the voices of our two narrators.
One of the stronger parts of the book is how it develops the slugs, their inclusion was a great decision and brings both levity and emotion to the story.
I personally enjoyed the humor, but that may not be the case for other readers. If previous books in this series were not your cup of tea, don't expect a radical change in this one.
Readers looking for a deeper exploration of some of the character's arcs from previous books, especially when dealing with heavier topics like mental health and the consequences of war might find this book lacking. It sticks to the "young adult" lable on that front.
However, I did find the romantic relationships more fleshed out than in previous books in the series, as well as its queer characters.
All in all, a fun, relatively low-stakes adventure with good banter between the Flight, a hallmark of this series and one of its stronger points.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this book, BUT (and this is a big but) it is NOT a new series. It's a sequel to the Skyward series- which I started years ago and never finished. So while I liked this book overall, I had a lot of questions while reading that weren't answered (I suspect because I didn't finish the Skyward series).
First, the good: I enjoyed the sci-fi setting and the action. The concept of having to free humans from a different world (and why they needed freeing in the first place) was a good one, and super interesting. There was plenty of action, both in-flight and hand-to-hand. The characters grew over the course of their adventure, and I would read more of this series to see how they develop over time.
The not-so-good: I was super confused for most of the book about how everything functioned and how the characters related to each other. The book establishes that a war ended beforehand, but not the details (I assume these are in the Skyward books). The "Bad Guys" aren't fully explained- there are references to Delvers and the Superiority, but I didn't have any background on why they were bad or what their motivations were (again, it's been years since I started the Skyward series, and I never finished it, so I'm assuming I would have known these things if I had read the other series). The characters are all working from a knowledge framework that I just wasn't in on. Case in point: I broke down at 83% and just Googled what "cytonic" meant. It's used throughout the book to describe people/aliens/events, but never fully defined. There aren't any flashbacks in this book, so I had very little idea about the relationships between the characters. I had to take it all at face value, because there weren't any anecdotes tying these characters together from before the current adventure, just a series of catastrophes that the characters had to make it through together.
If you enjoyed the Skyward series and have all the background information, you will probably love this book. As for me, I'll go back and finish the Skyward series before I read the next Riftwake book and hopefully fill in the gaps of background information that didn't get answered in Blightfall.
First, the good: I enjoyed the sci-fi setting and the action. The concept of having to free humans from a different world (and why they needed freeing in the first place) was a good one, and super interesting. There was plenty of action, both in-flight and hand-to-hand. The characters grew over the course of their adventure, and I would read more of this series to see how they develop over time.
The not-so-good: I was super confused for most of the book about how everything functioned and how the characters related to each other. The book establishes that a war ended beforehand, but not the details (I assume these are in the Skyward books). The "Bad Guys" aren't fully explained- there are references to Delvers and the Superiority, but I didn't have any background on why they were bad or what their motivations were (again, it's been years since I started the Skyward series, and I never finished it, so I'm assuming I would have known these things if I had read the other series). The characters are all working from a knowledge framework that I just wasn't in on. Case in point: I broke down at 83% and just Googled what "cytonic" meant. It's used throughout the book to describe people/aliens/events, but never fully defined. There aren't any flashbacks in this book, so I had very little idea about the relationships between the characters. I had to take it all at face value, because there weren't any anecdotes tying these characters together from before the current adventure, just a series of catastrophes that the characters had to make it through together.
If you enjoyed the Skyward series and have all the background information, you will probably love this book. As for me, I'll go back and finish the Skyward series before I read the next Riftwake book and hopefully fill in the gaps of background information that didn't get answered in Blightfall.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was ecstatic to be given an ARC for Brandon Sanderson. A big thanks to the publisher. I very rarely give anything written by BrandoSando less than 4 stars, so I felt slapped silly by the end of this novel When I clicked the 2 star button, my heart broke a little bit. This was clearly written more by the apprentice than the master. Patterson is not ready to stand on her own just yet.
Two star removal: scud. Mostly I'm disappointed that Sanderson let Patterson curse so much. I do not care if it is a made up word. The curse word of choice in the Cytoverse is meant to consolidate all the English curse words down to one. While I found its presence annoying (and worrisome for the future of Sanderson's language) in the first series, this time it was just downright prolific (and my worries seem to have been quite founded). Arturo finds 6 ways to say you dislike something, you really couldn't avoid cursing?
Next star removal: Dayan. Every scene this character was involved in became a sluggish read and difficult to follow what was happening to whom in action sequences. When other groups are present, plural pronouns don't work. And this is 2026, stop telling me how I should feel about society. Show me all the alien societies and leave me to decide if I like them or not. Diones, yes. Dayan, no.
Two stars: Great pacing, great action, great interpersonal dialogue. The taynix interludes are gems, and I'm not sure the Cytoverse can exist now without them. The Skyward flight characters were well developed and had some excellent character growth. Getting more from perspectives we have yet to experience was great arc development. Gilaf comes in hard with the your-mom jokes so be prepared for that flashback. In terms of the new characters, you already know I do not appreciate Dayan, but Ivy is an amazing villainess.
All the things I do not want to find in my fiction were present in one novel. I knew this was simply the first in a series going into the read, but the cliffhanger was just icing on the cake of disappointment. With so many negatives that may reappear in the second book, I am incredibly hesitant.
Two star removal: scud. Mostly I'm disappointed that Sanderson let Patterson curse so much. I do not care if it is a made up word. The curse word of choice in the Cytoverse is meant to consolidate all the English curse words down to one. While I found its presence annoying (and worrisome for the future of Sanderson's language) in the first series, this time it was just downright prolific (and my worries seem to have been quite founded). Arturo finds 6 ways to say you dislike something, you really couldn't avoid cursing?
Next star removal: Dayan. Every scene this character was involved in became a sluggish read and difficult to follow what was happening to whom in action sequences. When other groups are present, plural pronouns don't work. And this is 2026, stop telling me how I should feel about society. Show me all the alien societies and leave me to decide if I like them or not. Diones, yes. Dayan, no.
Two stars: Great pacing, great action, great interpersonal dialogue. The taynix interludes are gems, and I'm not sure the Cytoverse can exist now without them. The Skyward flight characters were well developed and had some excellent character growth. Getting more from perspectives we have yet to experience was great arc development. Gilaf comes in hard with the your-mom jokes so be prepared for that flashback. In terms of the new characters, you already know I do not appreciate Dayan, but Ivy is an amazing villainess.
All the things I do not want to find in my fiction were present in one novel. I knew this was simply the first in a series going into the read, but the cliffhanger was just icing on the cake of disappointment. With so many negatives that may reappear in the second book, I am incredibly hesitant.
July 22, 2026
Scud, that was such a fun read.
First of all, I became one giddy kid when I saw ... there really was no subtlety in the references, was there?
Upon seeing Random House Children’s Books as its publisher, I expected accessible prose with whimsical banter and vivid action scenes. Which I definitely got. I mean, and somehow this book has them.
The whole band of characters is likable.
The storytelling is very cinematic. Too cinematic, so much so that the Can't complain, though, as I tend to visualize books like a movie anyway.
The ending is satisfying and a perfect way to start off the new Riftwake series.
This was my entry point into the Cytoverse, and I think I will read the Skyward series once I have gone through all the released Cosmere titles.
Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books, Brandon Sanderson, and Janci Patterson, for this fantastic ARC!
(Oh, and the picture attached: I started reading the entire book a few hours before my flight, and then I finished it before I landed. It really was one quick and easy read!)
First of all, I became one giddy kid when I saw ... there really was no subtlety in the references, was there?
Upon seeing Random House Children’s Books as its publisher, I expected accessible prose with whimsical banter and vivid action scenes. Which I definitely got. I mean, and somehow this book has them.
The whole band of characters is likable.
The storytelling is very cinematic. Too cinematic, so much so that the Can't complain, though, as I tend to visualize books like a movie anyway.
The ending is satisfying and a perfect way to start off the new Riftwake series.
This was my entry point into the Cytoverse, and I think I will read the Skyward series once I have gone through all the released Cosmere titles.
Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books, Brandon Sanderson, and Janci Patterson, for this fantastic ARC!
(Oh, and the picture attached: I started reading the entire book a few hours before my flight, and then I finished it before I landed. It really was one quick and easy read!)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Blightfall || Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
”I just think that even though there’s a lot of darkness and destruction, there’s a lot of hope and beauty too. And even if they don’t balance each other out, even if the good stuff doesn’t erase the bad stuff… the bad stuff doesn’t get to erase the good stuff either, you know? The hope and the pain, they can exist simultaneously.”
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. Release date 9/1/2026.
Quick Summary: Taking place after the events of Skyward Flight, the leader of Skyward Flight, Arturo is tasked with contacting an isolated group of humans on Blightfall, but when he and his team is ambushed, they realize that although their war with The Superiority is over, there may be a bigger battle awaiting them.
Thoughts: In full honesty, this is my first ever Brandon Sanderson book, which means, I did not read the Skyward Flight series, so I was as lost as Arturo and crew in the Nowhere at the beginning of this book. With that said, once I got some context and bearings, I found myself enjoying the story and the group of people. My favorite character had to be Sadie, who is the 2nd POV of this story. She started as the lowest ranking member of the team, but what Arturo originally found annoying about her, became her greatest strength, her ability to communicate. I liked the friendships in the story, as well as the budding romance. This is a young adult book and based on the content and writing, I believe this book would be great for late middle school/early high school readers. It’s a wonderful sci-fi adventure that is clean without crude romance or explicit language. There is some death and violence, but not overly excessive or upsetting.
-sci-fi
-adventure
-dangers of AI
-space travel
-romance
-friendships
-going against the grain
-dual POV
-young adult (great for middle school readers)
-clean
-ARC, 9/1/2026
”I just think that even though there’s a lot of darkness and destruction, there’s a lot of hope and beauty too. And even if they don’t balance each other out, even if the good stuff doesn’t erase the bad stuff… the bad stuff doesn’t get to erase the good stuff either, you know? The hope and the pain, they can exist simultaneously.”
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. Release date 9/1/2026.
Quick Summary: Taking place after the events of Skyward Flight, the leader of Skyward Flight, Arturo is tasked with contacting an isolated group of humans on Blightfall, but when he and his team is ambushed, they realize that although their war with The Superiority is over, there may be a bigger battle awaiting them.
Thoughts: In full honesty, this is my first ever Brandon Sanderson book, which means, I did not read the Skyward Flight series, so I was as lost as Arturo and crew in the Nowhere at the beginning of this book. With that said, once I got some context and bearings, I found myself enjoying the story and the group of people. My favorite character had to be Sadie, who is the 2nd POV of this story. She started as the lowest ranking member of the team, but what Arturo originally found annoying about her, became her greatest strength, her ability to communicate. I liked the friendships in the story, as well as the budding romance. This is a young adult book and based on the content and writing, I believe this book would be great for late middle school/early high school readers. It’s a wonderful sci-fi adventure that is clean without crude romance or explicit language. There is some death and violence, but not overly excessive or upsetting.
-sci-fi
-adventure
-dangers of AI
-space travel
-romance
-friendships
-going against the grain
-dual POV
-young adult (great for middle school readers)
-clean
-ARC, 9/1/2026
May 25, 2026
ARC Review
My non spoiler review of Blightfall with all of my slug friends :)
Do you need to read Skyward First? You absolutely should read Skyward, but no worries if you haven’t. Janci has worked hard to ensure Blightfall is a comfortable entry point into the series and can be read without Skyward.
My overall review: Blightfall is absolutely everything I hoped and dreamed it would be.
A quick summary of the book! Blightfall picks up shortly after the events of Defiant and focuses on our friends in Skyward Flight. The DDF is sorting through a world without the harsh leadership and control of the Superiority. They are sending diplomatic teams out to free formerly enslaved planets and not everything goes according to plans. From there, the chaos of everything we loved about Skyward shines through. The space chaos, the friendships, the life and death stakes, and the mission to always do the right thing.
Right from the first page, I am in the shoes of these characters and fully understand their thoughts, emotions, and what will drive their decisions. Janci is the queen of bringing the taynix to life and the imagery of the book is best it’s ever been.
This book had me screaming while my husband was asleep next to me, laughing on airplanes where people stared at me, and so heavily invested that I broke away to read it at every possible opportunity. I laughed and cried and my heart was so full the entire time.
Thank you Brandon for originally gifting this universe to us, and thank you Janci for bringing Skyward to life again. I could not be more thankful to see this series continued in the absolute best hands possible.
Please please read this book and talk to me about it!
My non spoiler review of Blightfall with all of my slug friends :)
Do you need to read Skyward First? You absolutely should read Skyward, but no worries if you haven’t. Janci has worked hard to ensure Blightfall is a comfortable entry point into the series and can be read without Skyward.
My overall review: Blightfall is absolutely everything I hoped and dreamed it would be.
A quick summary of the book! Blightfall picks up shortly after the events of Defiant and focuses on our friends in Skyward Flight. The DDF is sorting through a world without the harsh leadership and control of the Superiority. They are sending diplomatic teams out to free formerly enslaved planets and not everything goes according to plans. From there, the chaos of everything we loved about Skyward shines through. The space chaos, the friendships, the life and death stakes, and the mission to always do the right thing.
Right from the first page, I am in the shoes of these characters and fully understand their thoughts, emotions, and what will drive their decisions. Janci is the queen of bringing the taynix to life and the imagery of the book is best it’s ever been.
This book had me screaming while my husband was asleep next to me, laughing on airplanes where people stared at me, and so heavily invested that I broke away to read it at every possible opportunity. I laughed and cried and my heart was so full the entire time.
Thank you Brandon for originally gifting this universe to us, and thank you Janci for bringing Skyward to life again. I could not be more thankful to see this series continued in the absolute best hands possible.
Please please read this book and talk to me about it!
July 22, 2026
This was my first book by Brandon Sanderson, and honestly, the reason I requested it was a little unexpected. My 8-year-old granddaughter came home talking about Brandon Sanderson after a friend at school recommended his books. As someone who loves reading with and for my granddaughters, I was curious to see what all the excitement was about.
Even though Blightfall is part of the Cytoverse, I was still able to enjoy the story without feeling completely lost. I could tell there were references to previous books and characters that longtime fans would appreciate more, but the main story was easy enough to follow.
The pacing was one of my favorite parts. There was always something happening, whether it was action, mystery, or uncovering secrets about Blightfall. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end without ever feeling slow.
The worldbuilding was creative and imaginative, and I especially enjoyed the alien creatures—particularly the slugs. They brought some much-needed humor and were easily some of my favorite moments in the book.
While young adult science fiction isn't a genre I pick up often, I found this to be an enjoyable read. It has plenty of adventure, strong friendships, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning.
Now I'm curious to go back and read the earlier books in the series to get the full story before the next installment releases. And after reading this, I can definitely see why Brandon Sanderson has such a loyal fan base. More importantly, I'm excited that I've found an author my granddaughter is eager to discover, and I look forward to sharing this series with her as she grows into it.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Even though Blightfall is part of the Cytoverse, I was still able to enjoy the story without feeling completely lost. I could tell there were references to previous books and characters that longtime fans would appreciate more, but the main story was easy enough to follow.
The pacing was one of my favorite parts. There was always something happening, whether it was action, mystery, or uncovering secrets about Blightfall. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end without ever feeling slow.
The worldbuilding was creative and imaginative, and I especially enjoyed the alien creatures—particularly the slugs. They brought some much-needed humor and were easily some of my favorite moments in the book.
While young adult science fiction isn't a genre I pick up often, I found this to be an enjoyable read. It has plenty of adventure, strong friendships, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning.
Now I'm curious to go back and read the earlier books in the series to get the full story before the next installment releases. And after reading this, I can definitely see why Brandon Sanderson has such a loyal fan base. More importantly, I'm excited that I've found an author my granddaughter is eager to discover, and I look forward to sharing this series with her as she grows into it.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader's copy.
Blightfall follows Arturo and Sadie, members of an intergalactic flight crew, who are assigned to escort a diplomatic corps to a world--Blightfall--that had been cut off from other human contact. After defeating the alien threat keeping humans separated across the galaxy, the diplomatic mission's goal is reach out to the humans on Blightfall to establish diplomatic relations and form an alliance. However, as Arturo and Sadie's team reach the belt of debris circling the world, an unexpected threat causes the mission to go sideways. Together with their teammates, Arturo and Sadie navigate the complexities of completing their mission and figuring out the mystery around Blighfall's isolation.
It took a while for me to understand who exactly was who and for the plot to pick up in this book, but it really got good around 40% and from that point on I couldn't put it down. I loved the dynamics between the cast of characters and even warmed up to Sadie--who i found initially annoying and cringe. Additionally, the light romance in the book felt earned and actually added to the plot in a delightful way.
The real stars of the story were the vivid worldbuilding and super interesting plot development. I didn't read the Skyward series so the universe felt fresh and I didn't feel like I was missing critical background despite there being a whole other series in the same universe. The author did a great job bringing new readers into an already existing series and keeping the pace exciting without bogging us down with context.
Overall, Blightfall is a fun, imaginative, and high stakes read that blends sci-fi, mystery, and adventure into one action packed narrative. Can't wait for book 2!
Blightfall follows Arturo and Sadie, members of an intergalactic flight crew, who are assigned to escort a diplomatic corps to a world--Blightfall--that had been cut off from other human contact. After defeating the alien threat keeping humans separated across the galaxy, the diplomatic mission's goal is reach out to the humans on Blightfall to establish diplomatic relations and form an alliance. However, as Arturo and Sadie's team reach the belt of debris circling the world, an unexpected threat causes the mission to go sideways. Together with their teammates, Arturo and Sadie navigate the complexities of completing their mission and figuring out the mystery around Blighfall's isolation.
It took a while for me to understand who exactly was who and for the plot to pick up in this book, but it really got good around 40% and from that point on I couldn't put it down. I loved the dynamics between the cast of characters and even warmed up to Sadie--who i found initially annoying and cringe. Additionally, the light romance in the book felt earned and actually added to the plot in a delightful way.
The real stars of the story were the vivid worldbuilding and super interesting plot development. I didn't read the Skyward series so the universe felt fresh and I didn't feel like I was missing critical background despite there being a whole other series in the same universe. The author did a great job bringing new readers into an already existing series and keeping the pace exciting without bogging us down with context.
Overall, Blightfall is a fun, imaginative, and high stakes read that blends sci-fi, mystery, and adventure into one action packed narrative. Can't wait for book 2!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Blightfall by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson — 4.5 ⭐
Blightfall is a fantastic start to the new Riftwake series and a very welcome return to the world of Skyward. It picks up shortly after the events of the Skyward series and brings back many familiar characters while introducing new characters, new races, and a whole new setting to explore.
A note for prospective readers: READ THE SKYWARD SERIES FIRST. While Blightfall is technically the first book in a new series, it follows directly from the events of Skyward and contains immediate spoilers for how that series concludes. I would highly recommend reading the Skyward books before starting Riftwake to get the most out of this story.
As a longtime Skyward fan, I found Blightfall to be a very easy and engaging read. The story moves along at a great pace, with plenty of action, mystery, and character development, while still having that sense of adventure that makes the Skyward universe so much fun. I especially enjoyed getting to see more of some of the supporting characters who didn't always get as much time in the original series.
Compared with the later Skyward books, this first Riftwake installment has a little more drama and a little less comedy. That isn't necessarily a negative because the original Skyward series also started with a more serious tone before becoming increasingly funny as the characters and their relationships developed. If that pattern continues, I'm hopeful we'll see more of that trademark comic relief as the Riftwake series progresses.
Overall, Blightfall is a fun, fast-paced science-fiction/fantasy adventure that expands the Skyward universe without losing what made the original series so enjoyable. If you already love Skyward, I absolutely recommend picking this one up. And if you haven't started Skyward yet, go read that first, you'll be glad you did!
Blightfall is a fantastic start to the new Riftwake series and a very welcome return to the world of Skyward. It picks up shortly after the events of the Skyward series and brings back many familiar characters while introducing new characters, new races, and a whole new setting to explore.
A note for prospective readers: READ THE SKYWARD SERIES FIRST. While Blightfall is technically the first book in a new series, it follows directly from the events of Skyward and contains immediate spoilers for how that series concludes. I would highly recommend reading the Skyward books before starting Riftwake to get the most out of this story.
As a longtime Skyward fan, I found Blightfall to be a very easy and engaging read. The story moves along at a great pace, with plenty of action, mystery, and character development, while still having that sense of adventure that makes the Skyward universe so much fun. I especially enjoyed getting to see more of some of the supporting characters who didn't always get as much time in the original series.
Compared with the later Skyward books, this first Riftwake installment has a little more drama and a little less comedy. That isn't necessarily a negative because the original Skyward series also started with a more serious tone before becoming increasingly funny as the characters and their relationships developed. If that pattern continues, I'm hopeful we'll see more of that trademark comic relief as the Riftwake series progresses.
Overall, Blightfall is a fun, fast-paced science-fiction/fantasy adventure that expands the Skyward universe without losing what made the original series so enjoyable. If you already love Skyward, I absolutely recommend picking this one up. And if you haven't started Skyward yet, go read that first, you'll be glad you did!
August 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Blightfall.
I really enjoyed returning to the world of Skyward. Coming back to a familiar universe with both old and new characters was genuinely rewarding, especially because Blightfall doesn’t just put you back into the same conflict. Instead, it shifts the focus to characters who were previously more on the sidelines, giving Nedd, Arturo and Sadie, a chance to become much more important to the story.
The transition felt natural, too. The book does a great job of reminding you what happened previously without turning those reminders into a recap of Skyward. I never felt like the pacing dragged, and there was a larger mystery at the center of the story that kept me interested. I also appreciated that the reveals felt earned and nothing seemed to come completely out of left field.
I do think Blightfall benefits from having read the Skyward series first. You can probably follow the story without it, and enough context is provided to understand what’s happening, but I think you’ll get more out of this book if you already know the world and characters. This is especially true with the cytonics. Since those abilities were discovered alongside the characters in Skyward, there is a different level of earned understanding that you don’t quite get when they’re already an established part of the world.
Overall, Blightfall felt like a strong start to a new series while still feeling connected to the world I already enjoyed. I’m definitely planning to continue with book two.
I really enjoyed returning to the world of Skyward. Coming back to a familiar universe with both old and new characters was genuinely rewarding, especially because Blightfall doesn’t just put you back into the same conflict. Instead, it shifts the focus to characters who were previously more on the sidelines, giving Nedd, Arturo and Sadie, a chance to become much more important to the story.
The transition felt natural, too. The book does a great job of reminding you what happened previously without turning those reminders into a recap of Skyward. I never felt like the pacing dragged, and there was a larger mystery at the center of the story that kept me interested. I also appreciated that the reveals felt earned and nothing seemed to come completely out of left field.
I do think Blightfall benefits from having read the Skyward series first. You can probably follow the story without it, and enough context is provided to understand what’s happening, but I think you’ll get more out of this book if you already know the world and characters. This is especially true with the cytonics. Since those abilities were discovered alongside the characters in Skyward, there is a different level of earned understanding that you don’t quite get when they’re already an established part of the world.
Overall, Blightfall felt like a strong start to a new series while still feeling connected to the world I already enjoyed. I’m definitely planning to continue with book two.
August 10, 2026
4.50 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc of this title. This book was a great "continuation" of the "Skyward" Series. I would say you definitely need to read that series to understand what is happening in this new off branch of the series (Including the "Skyward Flight" Novellas). Now, in this new series we get two new points of view form the original series. These characters were side characters in the OG series. It was really nice to "see" some familiar faces throughout the story. I thoroughly enjoyed where this story took us. We head to Blightfall, a planet full of other humans that the people of Detrius want to make contact with and try to ally with; now that the superiority has been handled. However, when the flight heads to Blightfall they are immediately attacked, and the story goes from there. I absolutely adored the interludes of this book. I won't say whose point of view we get in these parts, but it's amazing to say the least. I still love the Taynax's we met and loved in the Skyward Saga. Overall, this book was really fun and I'm glad about the direction that this story took. I liked how the details we needed to learn were given to us in this book too. The only reason I can't give it five stars (without rounding) is just because I think I enjoyed the Skyward Saga a tad more, but I also am in a massive reading slump, so when I reread this once the audiobook comes out, it might become a five-star book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc of this title. This book was a great "continuation" of the "Skyward" Series. I would say you definitely need to read that series to understand what is happening in this new off branch of the series (Including the "Skyward Flight" Novellas). Now, in this new series we get two new points of view form the original series. These characters were side characters in the OG series. It was really nice to "see" some familiar faces throughout the story. I thoroughly enjoyed where this story took us. We head to Blightfall, a planet full of other humans that the people of Detrius want to make contact with and try to ally with; now that the superiority has been handled. However, when the flight heads to Blightfall they are immediately attacked, and the story goes from there. I absolutely adored the interludes of this book. I won't say whose point of view we get in these parts, but it's amazing to say the least. I still love the Taynax's we met and loved in the Skyward Saga. Overall, this book was really fun and I'm glad about the direction that this story took. I liked how the details we needed to learn were given to us in this book too. The only reason I can't give it five stars (without rounding) is just because I think I enjoyed the Skyward Saga a tad more, but I also am in a massive reading slump, so when I reread this once the audiobook comes out, it might become a five-star book.
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