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The Empty Sky
Eight moments in time...eight people experiencing the best - and worst - moments of their lives.
Violence and bloodthirsty carnage is all he's ever known, although residing in hell has taught him not to expect too much. But there's something not right with the world in which he lives and even God himself is not as expected...
***
As her ship hurtles towards an asteroid heading for Earth, Doctor Xu questions her role in the mission. Is she an important asset or just a hindrance to the rest of the crew, who might just harbour a deep secret...?
***
Plus, The Girl and the Monster; Melina's Mistake; Chasing Fate; A Step Behind; Even the Cake Was in Tiers; and The Salvation of Tomorrow.
Violence and bloodthirsty carnage is all he's ever known, although residing in hell has taught him not to expect too much. But there's something not right with the world in which he lives and even God himself is not as expected...
***
As her ship hurtles towards an asteroid heading for Earth, Doctor Xu questions her role in the mission. Is she an important asset or just a hindrance to the rest of the crew, who might just harbour a deep secret...?
***
Plus, The Girl and the Monster; Melina's Mistake; Chasing Fate; A Step Behind; Even the Cake Was in Tiers; and The Salvation of Tomorrow.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2018
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 18, 2019
4.5 stars
You know when you read a book and you just don’t want it to end? This is how I felt about The Empty Sky. The book is comprised of eight short amazing stories, each one with a great message behind them, no matter what the topic was.
The Empty Sky provided me with a lot more than entertainment. A girl fighting a monster under her bed threw me back to a lonely childhood and having to fight the “monsters” on my own; the personification of two particular topics made me think and see things in a different light; a boy with a secret, a woman with a wish (or better yet, three wishes), a doctor on a mission in a spaceship, a man who has lived a thousand lives, a serial killer... all these characters, all these stories and many other things I didn’t list here made The Empty Sky my favorite read of the year so far.
You know when you read a book and you just don’t want it to end? This is how I felt about The Empty Sky. The book is comprised of eight short amazing stories, each one with a great message behind them, no matter what the topic was.
The Empty Sky provided me with a lot more than entertainment. A girl fighting a monster under her bed threw me back to a lonely childhood and having to fight the “monsters” on my own; the personification of two particular topics made me think and see things in a different light; a boy with a secret, a woman with a wish (or better yet, three wishes), a doctor on a mission in a spaceship, a man who has lived a thousand lives, a serial killer... all these characters, all these stories and many other things I didn’t list here made The Empty Sky my favorite read of the year so far.
November 19, 2021
📍I received an ebook by the author in exchange for an honest review📍
This book was freaking AMAZING! I was constantly DMing her what I thought of every story I finished from her book.
So this book features 8 short stories (I'm seriously liking books with short stories), and let me tell you that @k.b.elijah has a unique way of writing or an interesting way of thinking.
Some would way "a story stood out more than others". That's not the case here my friends, all of them were so good.
The Salvation of tomorrow: about Luke, was about to kill him self but bam, Perry, a mind reading time traveler "stopped" him and showed him (told better said) thing. Ooooo👻 😂
Chasing Fate; oh man, this one got me thinking. Story build up around two peeps, Fate and Chase. This story was so funny and entertaining that's it had me smiling with every obstacles they were encountering and how they were resolving it.
A Step behind; Now this one is worth reading again and again. Samuel a serial killer but he doesn't like being called that because he's doesn't fuck up. He's called his victims the Chosen and they are picked by their name as well as their birth month; Calendar Girls. Anyways, the ending was just mind blowing! Enough said!
Finally the Empty Sky: if you ever wonder what the character of the video you are playing is thinking, well this story is for you. It gives you the perspective of the character "world" and what he thinking about "God", us the ones who hold the control. Amazing!
This book is, will be a reread for me. I cant stop saying how amazing this book was and I'm probably using the wrong word to describe it, but I just hope the author knows how much I appreciate her sending me this and letting me review it, and that that I gave a good enough review so others would give this book a chance. 💕💕💕
This book was freaking AMAZING! I was constantly DMing her what I thought of every story I finished from her book.
So this book features 8 short stories (I'm seriously liking books with short stories), and let me tell you that @k.b.elijah has a unique way of writing or an interesting way of thinking.
Some would way "a story stood out more than others". That's not the case here my friends, all of them were so good.
The Salvation of tomorrow: about Luke, was about to kill him self but bam, Perry, a mind reading time traveler "stopped" him and showed him (told better said) thing. Ooooo👻 😂
Chasing Fate; oh man, this one got me thinking. Story build up around two peeps, Fate and Chase. This story was so funny and entertaining that's it had me smiling with every obstacles they were encountering and how they were resolving it.
A Step behind; Now this one is worth reading again and again. Samuel a serial killer but he doesn't like being called that because he's doesn't fuck up. He's called his victims the Chosen and they are picked by their name as well as their birth month; Calendar Girls. Anyways, the ending was just mind blowing! Enough said!
Finally the Empty Sky: if you ever wonder what the character of the video you are playing is thinking, well this story is for you. It gives you the perspective of the character "world" and what he thinking about "God", us the ones who hold the control. Amazing!
This book is, will be a reread for me. I cant stop saying how amazing this book was and I'm probably using the wrong word to describe it, but I just hope the author knows how much I appreciate her sending me this and letting me review it, and that that I gave a good enough review so others would give this book a chance. 💕💕💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2019
This book does not disappoint. The 8 short stories are so good, that you don't want them to end! They all also make you think or make you ask yourself a question, like if you had 3 wishes what would you wish for? This is a quick read and perfect for any age.
March 7, 2020
The empty sky is a collection of 8 short speculative fiction stories. From a sci-fi about a ship is space, a genie with a book of wishes granted, monsters under the bed and a god who curses and tantrums. It has something for everyone. Some amazing dialogue and dark ventures in to human nature.
My own personal favourite stories were definitely Even the cake was in tiers and the empty sky.
But I must confess my favourite character out of all of them was the genie. Hoping to see more of him in the future.
My own personal favourite stories were definitely Even the cake was in tiers and the empty sky.
But I must confess my favourite character out of all of them was the genie. Hoping to see more of him in the future.
February 13, 2019
Diverse and intriguing, this anthology of short stories is a highly recommended read. The author has an exceptional insight and ability to turn random ideas, experiences and characters into fantasy stories often ending with an unexpected but satisfying twist. Most of the stories are just the right length in which to immerse yourself in the storyline but also to be able to complete in one or two reading sessions.
February 26, 2019
I received a free ebook from the author and this is my honest review.
The Empty Sky is a collection of eight diverse and very interesting fantasy stories. Each story is unique and fascinating. I really enjoyed reading this book. My favorite stories were The Girl and the Monster and A Step Behind.
The Empty Sky is a collection of eight diverse and very interesting fantasy stories. Each story is unique and fascinating. I really enjoyed reading this book. My favorite stories were The Girl and the Monster and A Step Behind.
March 30, 2019
Going into this book, I really wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a marvellous collection of fantasy and sci-fi stories about all kinds of adventures, featuring headstrong and relatable characters.
Full of time-travel, conspiracy theories, hidden magic, diverse representation and twists of fate, K. B. Elijah's debut anthology took my breath away!
KB's writing style is stunning- the dialogue is casual and easy, seeming very realistic and there is a good balance between the dialogue and description. However, I found there was not enough description of the character's features.
I found that all her stories well written and easy to follow, with captivating plots and interesting, unique characters. A mix of first and third person viewpoint was used in different stories but we were always granted access to the characters feelings.
The characters were quickly relatable and seemed very human. They had flaws, which helped me to emphasise with them. They weren't perfect, and that made me like them all the more! They sometimes regretted their decisions and seemed to me like actual, real people. KB created characters who stood up for themselves and she somehow created wonderful character arcs in less than 60 pages!
The plot always left you questioning, asking why! All the stories were full of plot twists despite their short length, and they always surprised me!
These unexpected twists were one of the best things about the stories, somehow there was something awesome or strange (or often both) to discover in each of the stories! Though the story was a little rushed in some places, I think KB perfectly balanced plot twists and character arcs to create a wonderful collection of stories!
Most of the time I had no idea what was going to happen, though there were one or two predictable moments.
The beginnings of these stories drew you in and the ends left you almost satisfied but also ready for Part Two!
My favourite story had to be The Girl and the Monster, but all of KB's stories were ingenious pieces of fiction! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this.
Full of time-travel, conspiracy theories, hidden magic, diverse representation and twists of fate, K. B. Elijah's debut anthology took my breath away!
KB's writing style is stunning- the dialogue is casual and easy, seeming very realistic and there is a good balance between the dialogue and description. However, I found there was not enough description of the character's features.
I found that all her stories well written and easy to follow, with captivating plots and interesting, unique characters. A mix of first and third person viewpoint was used in different stories but we were always granted access to the characters feelings.
The characters were quickly relatable and seemed very human. They had flaws, which helped me to emphasise with them. They weren't perfect, and that made me like them all the more! They sometimes regretted their decisions and seemed to me like actual, real people. KB created characters who stood up for themselves and she somehow created wonderful character arcs in less than 60 pages!
The plot always left you questioning, asking why! All the stories were full of plot twists despite their short length, and they always surprised me!
These unexpected twists were one of the best things about the stories, somehow there was something awesome or strange (or often both) to discover in each of the stories! Though the story was a little rushed in some places, I think KB perfectly balanced plot twists and character arcs to create a wonderful collection of stories!
Most of the time I had no idea what was going to happen, though there were one or two predictable moments.
The beginnings of these stories drew you in and the ends left you almost satisfied but also ready for Part Two!
My favourite story had to be The Girl and the Monster, but all of KB's stories were ingenious pieces of fiction! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this.
March 31, 2019
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book from the lovely Author and her publishers. Thank you so much K.B Elijah for the opportunity to read your book!
This book was a leap of faith for me, I am not usually a fan of short story anthologies, but this one sounded intriguing, so naturally I was excited to receive a copy to review!
Within this book, each story deals with some element of time, from time travel, to reliving the same things over and over again, to fate and destiny. Each tale has a play on time woven into its content and it is amazing to see how well K. B Elijah has done this.
Each story holds its own within this book. Each dealing with a topic that will make you think, long after you have finished the final word. This is why it took me longer than usual to finish this book. I found myself going back through stories as after I had read them, I had questions pop up. I did this a few times with Melina's Mistake, The Salvation of Tomorrow and Chasing Fate.
K. B Elijah has a wonderful writing style, her words flow upon the page, making the stories really shine. Her style keeps the pacing fast and the pages turning. So easy to read!
This book is perfect if you are into short stories, time travel, or even if you are in a reading slump and need something short to read, I love that you can read one story then take a break then jump back in later. The stories are all perfectly sized and allow for a conclusion to be formulated properly, no feelings of unsatisfaction here!
Once again, I am greatful to the author and her publishing company for sending me a copy of this fantastic book. I have no doubt, I'll be flicking through it again, soon!
This book was a leap of faith for me, I am not usually a fan of short story anthologies, but this one sounded intriguing, so naturally I was excited to receive a copy to review!
Within this book, each story deals with some element of time, from time travel, to reliving the same things over and over again, to fate and destiny. Each tale has a play on time woven into its content and it is amazing to see how well K. B Elijah has done this.
Each story holds its own within this book. Each dealing with a topic that will make you think, long after you have finished the final word. This is why it took me longer than usual to finish this book. I found myself going back through stories as after I had read them, I had questions pop up. I did this a few times with Melina's Mistake, The Salvation of Tomorrow and Chasing Fate.
K. B Elijah has a wonderful writing style, her words flow upon the page, making the stories really shine. Her style keeps the pacing fast and the pages turning. So easy to read!
This book is perfect if you are into short stories, time travel, or even if you are in a reading slump and need something short to read, I love that you can read one story then take a break then jump back in later. The stories are all perfectly sized and allow for a conclusion to be formulated properly, no feelings of unsatisfaction here!
Once again, I am greatful to the author and her publishing company for sending me a copy of this fantastic book. I have no doubt, I'll be flicking through it again, soon!
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August 19, 2024So I normally don’t like short stories but found the description intriguing enough to request a review copy in exchange for an honest review. I freaking LOVE this collection. The author has an amazing scope and each tale is different from each other. I really loved the characters of each story, the things they overcome (or don’t in some cases). I want to keep this spoiler free but I highly recommend this book. Every story is so creative and each character flawed but relatable. I know short stories can require a leap of faith but, my people, TAKE THE LEAP this time. I really hope the author releases a full length book at some point because I would be keen to read it.
May 28, 2020
Interesting collection
I'll be honest, it was a toss-up between 3 and 4 stars here. If we could give a rating out of 10, I'd have given a 7 because it feels like this was a solo effort and to reach this standard without the help of editors or beta readers is good work. And I'd rather err on the side of kindness and reward the amount of effort that went into writing the book.
I think the writer has genuine potential, but would benefit from editorial assistance to really shape this into what it could be. There are some interesting premises explored in the stories, but the execution needs to be tightened up, and in some cases more research done: I nearly ditched after the first story for the improbability of the protagonist's work situation, for example.
I look forward to seeing what part 2 holds later this year.
I'll be honest, it was a toss-up between 3 and 4 stars here. If we could give a rating out of 10, I'd have given a 7 because it feels like this was a solo effort and to reach this standard without the help of editors or beta readers is good work. And I'd rather err on the side of kindness and reward the amount of effort that went into writing the book.
I think the writer has genuine potential, but would benefit from editorial assistance to really shape this into what it could be. There are some interesting premises explored in the stories, but the execution needs to be tightened up, and in some cases more research done: I nearly ditched after the first story for the improbability of the protagonist's work situation, for example.
I look forward to seeing what part 2 holds later this year.
June 22, 2020
I loved this collection of stories, this book contains a lovely mixture of tales each with their own unique twist on life. I was lucky enough to be sent a copy and I'm so glad to have read them. The characters are vibrant and the author allows their stories to unfold at a beautiful pace. I really enjoyed the mixture of light and dark storylines, I was always left surprised by each new tale. Definitely go in blind, the less you know the better. Overall this is a gem of a collection.
October 21, 2020
I thought it will be boring at te begining but then it got very interesting. Every story is unique and pleasant to read. It is very nice written and it’s easy to read for non-native english speakers. I will read another book of this author in the future.
August 12, 2019
Calling all fans of Black Mirror!! I’m normally not a fan of short stories because I always want more at the end and it kind of ruins it for me. Black Mirror is the exception to that. I’m always satisfied with the endings and this book was just like that! I didn’t need anymore than what the author gave us. This book is a collection of eight sci-fi/ fantasy stories. Some are sad, some are fun and some are just WHOA. I loved all eight of the stories but my absolute favorite was the last one, A Step Behind. It’s about a serial killer and l did NOT expect that ending! I thought it’d take me a few days at least to finish the book once I started it because it’s easy to find a stopping point with short stories. That wasn’t the case at all. It was unputdownable and I need more! I’m seriously hoping this turns into a series. I will read them ALL.
January 28, 2022
The Empty Sky by K.B.Elijah ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️stars
So I have read volume one and two round the wrong way but that’s the beauty of short stories, it really doesn’t matter. Never really been into short stories but this author has intrigued me to look into others.
K.B.Elijah is an amazing author that just pulls you into the stories, they are long enough that you can get attached to the characters but short enough to be a short story.
My favourite is definitely The Girl And The Monster with Chasing Fate a close second.
So I have read volume one and two round the wrong way but that’s the beauty of short stories, it really doesn’t matter. Never really been into short stories but this author has intrigued me to look into others.
K.B.Elijah is an amazing author that just pulls you into the stories, they are long enough that you can get attached to the characters but short enough to be a short story.
My favourite is definitely The Girl And The Monster with Chasing Fate a close second.
October 10, 2019
3.5 stars, rounded up.
I really enjoyed half of the stories, and didn't care for two of them at all. The most interesting part of these stories are the twists and moral lessons, reminiscent of Aesop's fables.
I really enjoyed half of the stories, and didn't care for two of them at all. The most interesting part of these stories are the twists and moral lessons, reminiscent of Aesop's fables.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews