Beyond

Broken Sky Chronicles #3

by Jason Chabot

In the epic conclusion to Jason Chabot's Broken Sky Chronicles, Elia is a fugitive, on the run from the Imperial Guards, who have launched a city-wide manhunt and offered a reward for her capture. Hokk is also on Elia's trail--one step behind and all too aware of the mortal danger she is in. Elia possesses evidence that could topple the oppressive monarchy, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to know who is an enemy and who is an ally in the quest to overcome those who have wrought misery in the realms of Above and Below. As their worlds drift ever farther apart, Elia and Hokk will have to decide where it is they truly belong and what it means to be reunited.

424 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2017

About the author

I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, but grew up in the rural outskirts of a city called Chilliwack – a Stó:lō First Nations word meaning “quieter water up the river” – where our home was built beside a gurgling creek and surrounded by forests. With no neighbors in sight and only one channel on TV, I had plenty of time to invest in my imagination.

Looking back, the seed for The Broken Sky Chronicles was first planted as a teenager when I worked at a tree nursery that supplied saplings to reforestation programs. I didn’t think a summer job could get any worse – the burning sunshine, the dirt, my aching back, the relentless little flies, always biting. I used to gaze up to the mountain peaks poking above a halo of clouds and wish I could somehow, miraculously, be transported to their alpine meadows, to relax for hours while watching everyone else slave away, far below, in the afternoon heat. “Above” always seemed like the ideal place to be, although I now suspect the bugs would have been larger and definitely more ravenous.

Many other elements of The Broken Sky Chronicles were inspired by places and moments in my life. Growing up on the West Coast, I have always been captivated by nature, whether by our storms, our oceans, or our sunsets. In Vancouver, we are always warned that the Juan de Fuca fault line is long overdue for a horrendous earthquake – so be prepared! And during an amazing trip to Egypt, I was surprised many times to see plastic trash everywhere, half-buried in the sand dunes or floating high in the air, caught in the currents where clouds should be drifting instead.

I chose to write a fantasy adventure novel for young adults because I was intrigued by all these natural elements and how they might affect the lives of two teenagers when their physical worlds collide. While Elia has been enslaved by class and drudgery, Hokk lives in almost complete isolation, and I have enjoyed exploring how each character discovers unexpected strength to survive epic challenges, yet at the same time questioning their perception of reality.

But of course, I suppose Hokk and Elia could have had it worse. They could have worked in a tree nursery!

Reviews

[Mavra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not crying, I'm just from Below and the sun of Above hurts my eyes... Yeah, that's all. Stop asking.

But seriously, this is probably my new favorite book series. I'm SO sad there isn't a fourth one. But also, it's perfect. But also also, I want a fourth one to see what happens after the end. And I was SO SCARED it wasn't going to end how I hoped. AAAH EMOTIONS!!! Love these books, thank you Mr Chabot 💜

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

after months, I finally finished this trilogy!

It's been a while since the last time I've read dystopia.

I liked those different worlds (of each side, Above and Below) and the science behind it was interesting, as well as the environmental implications (humanity turned the ocean into a massland of trash 🙈)

the story itself was interesting in the first book but it became a bit dragging in the last 2 (maybe it felt like that to me because I was extremely busy with real life 🙈) and I didn't expect the importance of all the royalty nonsense at all 🤭
I almost wanted to hate the ending but the last 2 pages saved it, even though I'm semi-satisfied. I kind of expected more and it felt a bit rushed in a way?

all and all, still a good and interesting trilogy.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Beyond” the third book in the imaginative and intriguing “Broken Sky Chronicles” begins after Elia jumped from the bridge Above, landing on a jut of land underneath, only to flee the Imperial Guard's manhunt to find her. Below Hokk hunts for Elia’s body, ending up on a garbage dump in the ocean, captured by the Merrens and finally escaping Above with Rayhan and Commander Blaitz assured that she wasn’t killed in the fall.

Well-written and captivating the new adventure heats up when Elia breaks out of the royal prison, unravels secrets about her family’s past and reunites with Tashiere, Fimal, her brother and Hokk engaging in a plan to rescue Koiyin from Below. Fast-paced as deceptions are uncovered, family secrets exposed, and history comes to light about their worlds Above and Below, the action never stops with break outs and conflicts with the Imperial Guard. Intensity and suspense escalate as the plot twists and turns keeping you on the edge of your seat until the ending which begs a fourth book.

Elia naïve and sweet in her mundane life of drudgery and hopelessness laundering clothes in the dank basement of the Noble Sanctuary has grown in her struggle becoming spirited, determined, and stubborn while Hokk who feels guilty over the bad decisions he’s made has become wiser, resourceful and more confident. It is these characters and others that infuse the story with complexity, depth and making it more exciting with each new challenge they face.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Below” and hope that this isn’t the conclusion of Elia and Hokk’s adventures Above and Below especially with the introduction of Lord Mack, and Koiyin’s return, and even if the author takes his concept in a different direction.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than book two but not as good as book one. In some ways this series reads like a children's chapter book and in other ways not.

I had a hard time buying some of the character's actions and reactions. For example, , one character finds out that her brother is not her blood brother and immediately starts referring to "my" mother instead of "our" mother, etc. She was ready to accept that he is no longer her brother and move on, which struck a wrong note with me.

As in the previous book, the science of how our world could have ended up the way it exists in these books is shaky. Also the author didn't really do as much with the dystopian facts as he could have.

The ending is flat, flat, flat, like the author had to wrap up in a few pages. The climax of the big mystery - the one that caused Elia's fall from Above to Below in the first place - takes place offstage. First thing I checked when came to Goodreads to write my review was whether this trilogy now had a fourth book.

I think my primary recommendation of this series would be for older children. I'm not sorry I read it but I don't think it will stick with me. It's not terrible but could have been much better.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like there could be another...

[Kevin Driskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very good series with this third book bringing it all together and solving the mysteries of origin and history. Suspense to the end and surprises after surprises.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed book. Book is "Book 3" of "The Broken Sky Chronicles."
Recommend reading prior books (books 1 & 2).

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all 3 books and this was my most favourite of the 3 books.

Elia grew on me, I had a love/hate relationship with her and the things she did. I enjoyed her in the 1st book, didn't like her much in the 2nd book, but began to like her again in the 3rd book (although how she treated Hokk kind of pissed me off - very childish but the redeeming quality in that is that she admitted she was stupid - I won't say anymore than that since I don't want to spoil it for anyone).

There was no resolution on one important aspect of this book which makes me wonder if there will be a 4th book. Otherwise, I liked the ending regardless of the other issue not being completely resolved or explained.

[Evonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such fun characters, and such a unique world. Great story. Loved the chapters - scenes just long enough to be a snippet of what's going on with this character and then zip zip zip and you're back with another character just log enough for another snippet over there. Very enjoyable. Didn't answer all the questions either but left you with enough information to wonder if there's a fourth in the series or if this is really it? I think there's another one coming yet.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non stop action from the start with a satisfying ending. I'm sad that it's over.

[C2015 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed these books. They weren't perfect but I didn't care. His world building was really original. I like the characters and I must say I was guessing to the very end in terms of some of the details. I would say there is a possibility of some more in that universe but no indication (Nina go ahead and read them!).