What do you think?
Rate this book
The Reach #3
Skybreach
War is coming to the Reach.
Knile Oberend has located the mysterious organisation known as Skybreach. At the same time, insurgents have begun an uprising with one goal – to destroy the Consortium and everything they represent – and with a vast stockpile of weaponry at their disposal, there may be no one who can stand against them. With time in short supply, Knile and his companions will be forced to risk their very lives in order to bring Skybreach’s plan to fruition in spite of the conflict.
Meanwhile, Alec Duran tightens the net around his target. As he too is embroiled in the war, he finds that his own life may be in peril. He must make a choice between protecting those close to him or continuing his crusade at the risk of losing them all.
As the conflict escalates, the Reach stands on the brink of destruction.
Skybreach (Book 3 of the Reach) chronicles the continuing saga of the last days of Earth and the characters whose lives become intertwined as they try to escape.
Alternative cover edition: 9781519344502
Knile Oberend has located the mysterious organisation known as Skybreach. At the same time, insurgents have begun an uprising with one goal – to destroy the Consortium and everything they represent – and with a vast stockpile of weaponry at their disposal, there may be no one who can stand against them. With time in short supply, Knile and his companions will be forced to risk their very lives in order to bring Skybreach’s plan to fruition in spite of the conflict.
Meanwhile, Alec Duran tightens the net around his target. As he too is embroiled in the war, he finds that his own life may be in peril. He must make a choice between protecting those close to him or continuing his crusade at the risk of losing them all.
As the conflict escalates, the Reach stands on the brink of destruction.
Skybreach (Book 3 of the Reach) chronicles the continuing saga of the last days of Earth and the characters whose lives become intertwined as they try to escape.
Alternative cover edition: 9781519344502
- GenresScience Fiction
350 pages, Unknown Binding
Published December 20, 2015
6 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Mark R. Healy
16 books63 followersMark R. Healy is an author and musician from Brisbane, Australia. From an early age he loved to create, and often assembled his own illustrated books with accompanying stories - and then forced his parents to buy them.
Unfortunately this model was not scalable and Mark now seeks to promote his works to a wider audience.
Mark has also combined his storytelling prowess with music, creating a project called ‘Hibernal’ through which he interweaves original sci-fi stories with his own music to create an immersive theatrical experience for the listener. Combined with a professional voice cast and sound effects, these “audio movies” are available online through iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon under the name ‘Hibernal’.
Unfortunately this model was not scalable and Mark now seeks to promote his works to a wider audience.
Mark has also combined his storytelling prowess with music, creating a project called ‘Hibernal’ through which he interweaves original sci-fi stories with his own music to create an immersive theatrical experience for the listener. Combined with a professional voice cast and sound effects, these “audio movies” are available online through iTunes, Bandcamp and Amazon under the name ‘Hibernal’.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 29, 2016
Mark has done it again! His writing style and great character development grab you and take you on a thrill ride that you just cannot predict! Talk about huge doses of Murphy's Law..... If anything can go wrong with our friend's plans.... they will go wrong! Lots of twists and turns in this episode!
May 4, 2017
Another great read, the gang finally get where their headed with all the complications you expect with some great battles and another twist in the tale! Now onto the last one!
June 20, 2020
Don't start this close to bedtime as you won't be able to put it down til you finish. Fast paced.
May 8, 2016
The third installment in the Reach series delivers with nonstop action on the unique and compelling premise. From that perspective Skybreach is more than worthy of its predecessors. At the same time, it comes up a bit short in other areas.
Knile, Talia, and Roman are reunited and somewhat safe (no one in this series is ever really safe). They join forces with Silvestri and a group calling themselves Skybreach. Their mission is to get off Earth, just as Knile has always wanted. Their allies include a former Consortium security officer or Redman, named Lazarus, and a group of hackers and brawlers. Standing in their way is the Consortium, Redmen, Enforcers, and a radical religious cult that wants to blow up the space elevator that can take them off world.
Skybreach is nonstop action taking place in a unique setting: a mile-high arcology with a space elevator on top. The structure is called the Reach, with railcars that travel up the wire to Habitat One, a space station in orbit. Escape requires our heroes to fight through to the top of the Reach once again, this time together as a sort-of family. The Skybreach group was an interesting addition to the series as was the religious fanatics, known as Children of Earth. A lot is revealed at the end, which lays a captivating foundation for the next book, Sunspire. There were also sequences that were somewhat difficult to follow. More description would've been helpful in some instances, but for the most part the action is strong.
At the same time, Skybreach is missing the character development and family drama of the first two novels. Knile, Talia, and Roman are a pseudo family but their family dynamic doesn't evolve or come into play much. The secondary characters are solid, but largely this novel is plot-driven and not quite as dynamic as the previous novels.
Like in the previous novels, the main characters possess tremendous maturity and insight, somewhat contrary to their background and origin stories. There was a scene or two when Knile and Talia sounded like sitcom parents rather than ex-criminals. Roman and Silvestri also demonstrated incredible maturity and poise, which didn't seem to fit their character.
The Duran plot line was underwhelming until the second half where it intersected with Skybreach. Ursie's story intersected as well, uniting the events of the series into one. There is a lot to follow towards the end but it is largely satisfying to see things come together.
The world-building is strong, although the post-apocalyptic themes faded into the background. The Reach and Habitat One are the setting, both large pieces of futuristic technology that are falling apart. The series has largely shifted away from the depressing post-apocalyptic opening towards straight action, survival, and space travel.
The ending was amazing, with a great lead in to the next novel. The author excels at giving satisfying endings while generating a lot of excitement for the next book.
Overall, Skybreach delivers for the Reach Series when it comes to sci-fi action and great world-building. The main characters didn't drive this one as much and the themes have changed a bit but this book is well worth it.
Knile, Talia, and Roman are reunited and somewhat safe (no one in this series is ever really safe). They join forces with Silvestri and a group calling themselves Skybreach. Their mission is to get off Earth, just as Knile has always wanted. Their allies include a former Consortium security officer or Redman, named Lazarus, and a group of hackers and brawlers. Standing in their way is the Consortium, Redmen, Enforcers, and a radical religious cult that wants to blow up the space elevator that can take them off world.
Skybreach is nonstop action taking place in a unique setting: a mile-high arcology with a space elevator on top. The structure is called the Reach, with railcars that travel up the wire to Habitat One, a space station in orbit. Escape requires our heroes to fight through to the top of the Reach once again, this time together as a sort-of family. The Skybreach group was an interesting addition to the series as was the religious fanatics, known as Children of Earth. A lot is revealed at the end, which lays a captivating foundation for the next book, Sunspire. There were also sequences that were somewhat difficult to follow. More description would've been helpful in some instances, but for the most part the action is strong.
At the same time, Skybreach is missing the character development and family drama of the first two novels. Knile, Talia, and Roman are a pseudo family but their family dynamic doesn't evolve or come into play much. The secondary characters are solid, but largely this novel is plot-driven and not quite as dynamic as the previous novels.
Like in the previous novels, the main characters possess tremendous maturity and insight, somewhat contrary to their background and origin stories. There was a scene or two when Knile and Talia sounded like sitcom parents rather than ex-criminals. Roman and Silvestri also demonstrated incredible maturity and poise, which didn't seem to fit their character.
The Duran plot line was underwhelming until the second half where it intersected with Skybreach. Ursie's story intersected as well, uniting the events of the series into one. There is a lot to follow towards the end but it is largely satisfying to see things come together.
The world-building is strong, although the post-apocalyptic themes faded into the background. The Reach and Habitat One are the setting, both large pieces of futuristic technology that are falling apart. The series has largely shifted away from the depressing post-apocalyptic opening towards straight action, survival, and space travel.
The ending was amazing, with a great lead in to the next novel. The author excels at giving satisfying endings while generating a lot of excitement for the next book.
Overall, Skybreach delivers for the Reach Series when it comes to sci-fi action and great world-building. The main characters didn't drive this one as much and the themes have changed a bit but this book is well worth it.
January 2, 2016
Earth is ruined. Pollution, climate change, and human avarice in the form of a barely inhabitable planet are but a mere backdrop to the exciting near-future story of Knile Oberend and his less-than-intrepid band of followers and friends. Knile and his friends are trapped on a dying planet. The secret society of Skybreach offer the only means of escape for Knile and his motley crew of followers.
The end game is to escape to an off-world colony through corporate sponsorship or criminal skullduggery. The alternative is to face a slow, tedious death by pollution or crime in Earth’s slums that sit beneath the remaining space elevator connecting Earth to an orbital station. Railcars between a skyscraper, the Reach, and a space station, the Habitat, are the last and only departure point for planet-side dwellers seeking a better life in distant space colonies.
But to leave Earth requires money, connections, or the devious mind of a genius criminal like Knile. Knile is attempting at all cost to bring he and his pseudo-family of friends through the last remaining space elevator, to the last remaining orbiting station, where cargo and emigrants depart.
As we enter Book 3 of The Reach series, the pace quickens and readers of Mark R. Healy are rewarded with a climactic expositional arc in the story, weaved together during books 1 and 2, that come together in Skybreach.
Where Healy had developed characters and world building in The Reach and Landfall, the author brings these threads together in an exciting battle between good, evil, and all characters in between, because The Reach's world is shaded in gray and not a world of black and white. A
heart-pounding climax to the storyline leaves the reader eagerly anticipating Book 4, Sunspire.
Elements of ancient greek myths underscore The Reach, of man versus Olympus, of Jason and the Argonauts, of Odysseus' prolonged return to home and paradise. But this is no classic layman's tale, as our protagonist Knile Oberend reaches said-paradise in Book 2 only to return to Earth at the start of Book 3 and rejoin his friends in hopes of rescuing them.
Readers will find themselves burning through the pages of Book 3, feeling satiated yet eager for Book 4 - Sunspire, as Knile's journey takes an epic turn towards another lost realm known as sunspire that offers the only remaining escape from Earth, while another set of protagonists above-world in the Habitat space station work to rescue our stranded heroes below.
The end game is to escape to an off-world colony through corporate sponsorship or criminal skullduggery. The alternative is to face a slow, tedious death by pollution or crime in Earth’s slums that sit beneath the remaining space elevator connecting Earth to an orbital station. Railcars between a skyscraper, the Reach, and a space station, the Habitat, are the last and only departure point for planet-side dwellers seeking a better life in distant space colonies.
But to leave Earth requires money, connections, or the devious mind of a genius criminal like Knile. Knile is attempting at all cost to bring he and his pseudo-family of friends through the last remaining space elevator, to the last remaining orbiting station, where cargo and emigrants depart.
As we enter Book 3 of The Reach series, the pace quickens and readers of Mark R. Healy are rewarded with a climactic expositional arc in the story, weaved together during books 1 and 2, that come together in Skybreach.
Where Healy had developed characters and world building in The Reach and Landfall, the author brings these threads together in an exciting battle between good, evil, and all characters in between, because The Reach's world is shaded in gray and not a world of black and white. A
heart-pounding climax to the storyline leaves the reader eagerly anticipating Book 4, Sunspire.
Elements of ancient greek myths underscore The Reach, of man versus Olympus, of Jason and the Argonauts, of Odysseus' prolonged return to home and paradise. But this is no classic layman's tale, as our protagonist Knile Oberend reaches said-paradise in Book 2 only to return to Earth at the start of Book 3 and rejoin his friends in hopes of rescuing them.
Readers will find themselves burning through the pages of Book 3, feeling satiated yet eager for Book 4 - Sunspire, as Knile's journey takes an epic turn towards another lost realm known as sunspire that offers the only remaining escape from Earth, while another set of protagonists above-world in the Habitat space station work to rescue our stranded heroes below.
December 20, 2015
Mark Healy delivers again with the third installment of his Reach series, entitled Skybreach. For the best Reach experience read all three in order, but you can start with Skybreach as it is a stand-alone book.
Our main protagonist, Knile Oberend, has joined up with the rebel Skybreach group. The rebels aim to overthrow the villainous rulers called the Consortium and provide a way off of a dying Earth. Sounds pretty familiar, right? But wait-there is a larger and fanatical second rebel group-The Children of Earth. The Children are determined that no one gets off Earth. Healy's Skybreach novel weaves an epic battle between these factions.
Healy's pacing is spot-on in Skybreach, and the action is non-stop. I relished familiar characters from the first two books and enjoyed meeting new ones. Definitely a recommended read!
Mark Healy provided me with a free advanced copy of Skybreach in exchange for a review.
Our main protagonist, Knile Oberend, has joined up with the rebel Skybreach group. The rebels aim to overthrow the villainous rulers called the Consortium and provide a way off of a dying Earth. Sounds pretty familiar, right? But wait-there is a larger and fanatical second rebel group-The Children of Earth. The Children are determined that no one gets off Earth. Healy's Skybreach novel weaves an epic battle between these factions.
Healy's pacing is spot-on in Skybreach, and the action is non-stop. I relished familiar characters from the first two books and enjoyed meeting new ones. Definitely a recommended read!
Mark Healy provided me with a free advanced copy of Skybreach in exchange for a review.
December 2, 2015
This is book 3 of The Reach quadrilogy and what a belter it is. As with each of these books the pacing is perfect, switching from character arc to character arc at just the right moments and never allowing the pace to drift.
There are some huge slabs of marvellously constructed set piece action within this series and this book in particular. I'm not going to give any spoilers here and you really need to read the previous books to have any idea whats going on....So I'd suggest you make a start asap and then you should be just about ready for the fourth and final instalment.
I am very much looking forward to seeing how this all plays out.
A very well written series of books that are well worthy of your time
There are some huge slabs of marvellously constructed set piece action within this series and this book in particular. I'm not going to give any spoilers here and you really need to read the previous books to have any idea whats going on....So I'd suggest you make a start asap and then you should be just about ready for the fourth and final instalment.
I am very much looking forward to seeing how this all plays out.
A very well written series of books that are well worthy of your time
April 19, 2016
The third part of Mark R. Healy's Reach series certainly doesn't disappoint. It's action-packed, full of twists and turns and very, very human. You really feel like you're reading about real people, despite the futuristic setting.
Speaking of that setting, the author's world-building skills are as much in evidence here as in the previous volumes of this series. The world keeps opening up and we get right down inside its nooks and crannies. It feels authentic.
Oh, and that ending? Wow. The stakes just keep getting higher and there's no way I'm not reading book four right away!
Apologies for the brief review; I'm still very ill.
Speaking of that setting, the author's world-building skills are as much in evidence here as in the previous volumes of this series. The world keeps opening up and we get right down inside its nooks and crannies. It feels authentic.
Oh, and that ending? Wow. The stakes just keep getting higher and there's no way I'm not reading book four right away!
Apologies for the brief review; I'm still very ill.
January 10, 2016
Word's can make you or break you
I do not need the words .! So I skip over them and it takes away from the story. other word's can be used, it's all up to how you are brought up, if your mom or dad let you us those words to talk,then it's inserted. A great read except for the words.
I do not need the words .! So I skip over them and it takes away from the story. other word's can be used, it's all up to how you are brought up, if your mom or dad let you us those words to talk,then it's inserted. A great read except for the words.
April 19, 2016
Good series
It has been a very good series. The characters are engaging and I want to see what happens to them. Nicely done.
It has been a very good series. The characters are engaging and I want to see what happens to them. Nicely done.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews