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Sky Ghosts #1
Sky Ghosts: Initiation
Evil stalks New York streets at night – and she is its worst nightmare.
Patricia aka Pain is known as a "kill first/ask questions later" kind of girl. Living in a city crawling with Beasts – her own kind gone rogue and using their supernatural gift to prey on humans – she's a skilled fighter doubling as a bodyguard. She's prepared for anything, except the two civilian guys who bring hell on her head.
Hunted by the most dangerous man in the city, they claim innocence. But as she's assigned to protect them no matter the cost, she can't help but question the enemy's true motives – and the humans' story. Especially when one of them gets dangerously close to becoming more than just a client.
As the enemies threaten to destroy everything she holds dear, she will have to choose: keep running or take a final stand.
Even if it means giving up her own life.
Previously published as Sky Ghosts: All for One. This is a revised, updated edition with 4 new chapters.
Patricia aka Pain is known as a "kill first/ask questions later" kind of girl. Living in a city crawling with Beasts – her own kind gone rogue and using their supernatural gift to prey on humans – she's a skilled fighter doubling as a bodyguard. She's prepared for anything, except the two civilian guys who bring hell on her head.
Hunted by the most dangerous man in the city, they claim innocence. But as she's assigned to protect them no matter the cost, she can't help but question the enemy's true motives – and the humans' story. Especially when one of them gets dangerously close to becoming more than just a client.
As the enemies threaten to destroy everything she holds dear, she will have to choose: keep running or take a final stand.
Even if it means giving up her own life.
Previously published as Sky Ghosts: All for One. This is a revised, updated edition with 4 new chapters.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2014
125 people are currently reading
4044 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Engellmann
7 books236 followersAlexandra Engellmann is a self-published author and artist. At ten years old, she was allowed into the adult fantasy section of her local library, which might have scarred her for life. At twelve, she started learning English from Eminem's songs, which did not please her teachers. At eighteen, she got the first glimpse of a story that later became the Sky Ghosts series. Ten years later, having quit a career in IT, she splits her time between writing, painting, and procrastinating, and dreams of escaping to the sea with her possibly telepathic cat Cookie.
Follow Alexandra on Instagram at @engellmann
*No private messages on Goodreads due to spam, please contact via email alex.engellmann@gmail.com
Follow Alexandra on Instagram at @engellmann
*No private messages on Goodreads due to spam, please contact via email alex.engellmann@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
May 11, 2015
(Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon.co.uk)
This was a YA fantasy story with lots of action, but I found it quite confusing.
The characters in this didn’t really appeal to me all that much, and I found it really difficult to pinpoint how old they were. Once I’d worked out that they were all 17+, I did think that they were maybe a little immature, as they came across as quite a bit younger than 17.
The storyline in this had quite a lot of action, but I found it confusing. I couldn’t really work out what was going on or why, and things would happen and I just didn’t understand the significance. I don’t know if this was just me, or if the writing style just didn’t do it for me, but it took me several attempts to get through this book, because I just got so confused as to what was going on.
The ending to this was okay, and I’m pretty sure the good guys prevailed, the epilogue did then leave us with a bit of a cliff-hanger.
Overall; I do think other people will enjoy this book, and it looks like I’m one of the few people who didn’t really enjoy it, but I think this was maybe just not the book for me.
6 out of 10
This was a YA fantasy story with lots of action, but I found it quite confusing.
The characters in this didn’t really appeal to me all that much, and I found it really difficult to pinpoint how old they were. Once I’d worked out that they were all 17+, I did think that they were maybe a little immature, as they came across as quite a bit younger than 17.
The storyline in this had quite a lot of action, but I found it confusing. I couldn’t really work out what was going on or why, and things would happen and I just didn’t understand the significance. I don’t know if this was just me, or if the writing style just didn’t do it for me, but it took me several attempts to get through this book, because I just got so confused as to what was going on.
The ending to this was okay, and I’m pretty sure the good guys prevailed, the epilogue did then leave us with a bit of a cliff-hanger.
Overall; I do think other people will enjoy this book, and it looks like I’m one of the few people who didn’t really enjoy it, but I think this was maybe just not the book for me.
6 out of 10
December 5, 2015
Thanks to the author for providing me a copy for an honest review.
This book gets it right in the end. Good finale, good action, good eventual character development, even a nice celluloid ending. I was consistently reminded that I was probably reading a video game script during the last 40% of the novel, and that's not a bad thing in my estimation. There's some pretty good video games out there. We have firmly established that the Sky Ghosts are superheroes battling the other super group, the Beasts. Very comic-y.
If you like Urban Fantasy and expect snark as a matter of course, the novel has it, too. It may not be the best snark I've ever read, or even making it into the top 20, but it is snark. It tends to bring the apparent age of the characters down to the mid-teen level instead of the 17+ range that they're actually in, so I get the impression it's actually YA. It probably isn't, but that' just my impression.
Now, for the bad. The opening was fine, although I could have done with a few better character hooks to make them stand out better and keep my interest. Almost immediately after the rescue, I was dismayed to find out that I was going to be reading about a bunch of fairly well-behaved college freshmen in dorm, doing a bit of light exercise, playing video games, reading magazines, taking showers, and doing nothing else except joshing around with each other. As a means to get to know the characters and flesh them out, it was slow and annoying, and perhaps there's a lot of people out there that like this kind of really light entertainment, but I kinda expected a lot more out of a novel that has peeps with freaking SUPER POWERS based on nothing more handwavium-powered than simple WILLPOWER (and a bloodline). There was only one briefly terrifying event that mostly happened off stage, and then we're treated to a new setting. No more dorm. We get to do a bit of light exercise, play video games, read magazines, take showers, and do nothing much else than joshing around with each other AT A FARM. And that's just about it for the first 60% of the novel.
There are much better ways to develop characters than have them tell me, the reader, that they're bored. If THEY are bored, then what the hell do you think the READER is? A HUGE editing session would have been absolutely delightful. Pacing is truly a reader's joy.
The last 40% of the novel was good. Action, character development, twists, they're all there. It kept my attention just fine and never once did I wonder why I was still reading. That kind of polish and plot and development should have been active from the very beginning.
Unless, of course, the novel is designed to appeal to the early college crowd exclusively, directly tapping into the banal normalcy of waiting for your next assignment while nothing much of anything happens except snark with your friends. I'm sure there's a market for that. It seems to happen a lot in certain novels these days.
Don't get me wrong. I like a good snark. It's just not enough to carry more than half a novel, especially if it's not absolutely brilliant dialog.
Overall, I didn't think the novel was bad. I did actually find myself wishing that I had a good infodump of some sort to chew on while nothing much happened. A bit of worldbuilding or even just seeing a bit of New York (where most of it took place), would have given it some spice. Hell, I still don't know why the Sky Ghosts and the Beasts fight each other. The beasts rob people. Okay. Sky Ghosts stop them. Okay. That's... just... okay. Truly barebones. At least I knew where I ought to have stood, even if I didn't quite care beyond the impact of the characters... eventually.
This book gets it right in the end. Good finale, good action, good eventual character development, even a nice celluloid ending. I was consistently reminded that I was probably reading a video game script during the last 40% of the novel, and that's not a bad thing in my estimation. There's some pretty good video games out there. We have firmly established that the Sky Ghosts are superheroes battling the other super group, the Beasts. Very comic-y.
If you like Urban Fantasy and expect snark as a matter of course, the novel has it, too. It may not be the best snark I've ever read, or even making it into the top 20, but it is snark. It tends to bring the apparent age of the characters down to the mid-teen level instead of the 17+ range that they're actually in, so I get the impression it's actually YA. It probably isn't, but that' just my impression.
Now, for the bad. The opening was fine, although I could have done with a few better character hooks to make them stand out better and keep my interest. Almost immediately after the rescue, I was dismayed to find out that I was going to be reading about a bunch of fairly well-behaved college freshmen in dorm, doing a bit of light exercise, playing video games, reading magazines, taking showers, and doing nothing else except joshing around with each other. As a means to get to know the characters and flesh them out, it was slow and annoying, and perhaps there's a lot of people out there that like this kind of really light entertainment, but I kinda expected a lot more out of a novel that has peeps with freaking SUPER POWERS based on nothing more handwavium-powered than simple WILLPOWER (and a bloodline). There was only one briefly terrifying event that mostly happened off stage, and then we're treated to a new setting. No more dorm. We get to do a bit of light exercise, play video games, read magazines, take showers, and do nothing much else than joshing around with each other AT A FARM. And that's just about it for the first 60% of the novel.
There are much better ways to develop characters than have them tell me, the reader, that they're bored. If THEY are bored, then what the hell do you think the READER is? A HUGE editing session would have been absolutely delightful. Pacing is truly a reader's joy.
The last 40% of the novel was good. Action, character development, twists, they're all there. It kept my attention just fine and never once did I wonder why I was still reading. That kind of polish and plot and development should have been active from the very beginning.
Unless, of course, the novel is designed to appeal to the early college crowd exclusively, directly tapping into the banal normalcy of waiting for your next assignment while nothing much of anything happens except snark with your friends. I'm sure there's a market for that. It seems to happen a lot in certain novels these days.
Don't get me wrong. I like a good snark. It's just not enough to carry more than half a novel, especially if it's not absolutely brilliant dialog.
Overall, I didn't think the novel was bad. I did actually find myself wishing that I had a good infodump of some sort to chew on while nothing much happened. A bit of worldbuilding or even just seeing a bit of New York (where most of it took place), would have given it some spice. Hell, I still don't know why the Sky Ghosts and the Beasts fight each other. The beasts rob people. Okay. Sky Ghosts stop them. Okay. That's... just... okay. Truly barebones. At least I knew where I ought to have stood, even if I didn't quite care beyond the impact of the characters... eventually.
January 12, 2016
As soon as I read the book's tagline 'The Avengers meets Shadowhunters' I knew I had to give it a try!
I was immediately intrigued by the book's foundation concepts - the idea of an elite group of gifted warriors called the Sky Ghosts who protected the city from the Sky Beasts.
Also...any book featuring badass women who fight with katanas is already off to a great start.
However, although the concepts were fresh and exciting there were times where I felt they should have been further explained and explored. The overall cohesiveness of the piece could have been improved upon.
Book cover: Am loving the Maximum Ride vibes the cover instantly gives off! The intense fiery wings are a delicate contrast to the all-black outfit and shining blade, making for a very striking and bold book cover.
The paint-like look is seriously stunning. I like the subtle touches of orange that create the feathery effect, as well as the way the bottoms of the wings fade off into a smoky red.
Plot: The adventure begins with a bang!
Barely a few pages into the first chapter and Ms. Engellmann serves us up a dish of badass fighting with a layer of mystery. A wealthy young man named Dave spots a girl taking down two goons. Rather than running away in the opposite direction (like any normal person would, me included!) he hides in the shadows and watches. After she's killed the men, the girl spots Dave, but instead of killing him on the spot she offers to answer any questions he may have...before she then disappears into the night.
At this point, I was bursting with excitement. Our mystery girl seemed sassy and a lot like Isabelle from The Mortal Instruments which is always a good thing. I was excited to see how the characters we'd met would develop and how the concepts would be explained.
However, I found myself slightly disappointed. Not by the concepts - oh no. They were amazing! I loved the lore behind the Sky Ghosts, their founding story, the significance of the mark on their necks, etc. I also liked the idea of a reverse The Mortal Instruments series with the newcomers being male and the warriors being female.
But the story's characters work against it somewhat, as do the POV shifts or shifts in focalisation. Unlike the cohesive and easy flow of the first chapter, the following chapters had many sudden shifts in focalisation. To simplify: in one chapter there were many jumps into different characters' minds. One second you're in Jane's, the next you're reading Pain's thoughts, and then over to Dave, then back again to Jane. It created a very abrupt reading pattern that didn't make for a very immersive read.
Characters: I was truly hoping the story would focus more on the characters who displayed layers and depth. However, intriguing characters like Jane and Dave seemed to get lost in the overwhelming chaos of the story's star, Pain.
Yes, her name is Pain! She delivers it to her foes, her friends...basically to everyone.
She was tiring to read about to an extent. I tried to like her - I really did! - but Pain is just so very in-your-face abrupt and argumentative. There was a lack of realism to her constant tantrums, nasty comments, rude ways, and testy attitude. It was like watching a toddler interact with a cast of adults at times. Pain caused drama to erupt wherever she went, regardless of whether it was necessary or not. I wouldn't have minded if it were just one part of her personality that was brought up on occasion....but Pain seemed to be constantly on edge.
Pain only seemed to have one mode: I Want To Murder You In Your Sleep Mode.
I actually would have liked for her to have been more like her sister, Jane. Jane was witty, badass, and she knew how to be nice some of the time. Not a bad way to be!
Also, the formation of the romantic relationships between characters did not come about organically. Love interests often felt slightly forced, or indecisive - like with the gawking and 'eeny meeny miny moe' crushing. One minute you think Dave likes Pain...next minute you're convinced Marco does...and then you have no idea!
Favourite quote:
I was immediately intrigued by the book's foundation concepts - the idea of an elite group of gifted warriors called the Sky Ghosts who protected the city from the Sky Beasts.
Also...any book featuring badass women who fight with katanas is already off to a great start.
However, although the concepts were fresh and exciting there were times where I felt they should have been further explained and explored. The overall cohesiveness of the piece could have been improved upon.
Book cover: Am loving the Maximum Ride vibes the cover instantly gives off! The intense fiery wings are a delicate contrast to the all-black outfit and shining blade, making for a very striking and bold book cover.
The paint-like look is seriously stunning. I like the subtle touches of orange that create the feathery effect, as well as the way the bottoms of the wings fade off into a smoky red.
Plot: The adventure begins with a bang!
Barely a few pages into the first chapter and Ms. Engellmann serves us up a dish of badass fighting with a layer of mystery. A wealthy young man named Dave spots a girl taking down two goons. Rather than running away in the opposite direction (like any normal person would, me included!) he hides in the shadows and watches. After she's killed the men, the girl spots Dave, but instead of killing him on the spot she offers to answer any questions he may have...before she then disappears into the night.
At this point, I was bursting with excitement. Our mystery girl seemed sassy and a lot like Isabelle from The Mortal Instruments which is always a good thing. I was excited to see how the characters we'd met would develop and how the concepts would be explained.
However, I found myself slightly disappointed. Not by the concepts - oh no. They were amazing! I loved the lore behind the Sky Ghosts, their founding story, the significance of the mark on their necks, etc. I also liked the idea of a reverse The Mortal Instruments series with the newcomers being male and the warriors being female.
But the story's characters work against it somewhat, as do the POV shifts or shifts in focalisation. Unlike the cohesive and easy flow of the first chapter, the following chapters had many sudden shifts in focalisation. To simplify: in one chapter there were many jumps into different characters' minds. One second you're in Jane's, the next you're reading Pain's thoughts, and then over to Dave, then back again to Jane. It created a very abrupt reading pattern that didn't make for a very immersive read.
Characters: I was truly hoping the story would focus more on the characters who displayed layers and depth. However, intriguing characters like Jane and Dave seemed to get lost in the overwhelming chaos of the story's star, Pain.
Yes, her name is Pain! She delivers it to her foes, her friends...basically to everyone.
She was tiring to read about to an extent. I tried to like her - I really did! - but Pain is just so very in-your-face abrupt and argumentative. There was a lack of realism to her constant tantrums, nasty comments, rude ways, and testy attitude. It was like watching a toddler interact with a cast of adults at times. Pain caused drama to erupt wherever she went, regardless of whether it was necessary or not. I wouldn't have minded if it were just one part of her personality that was brought up on occasion....but Pain seemed to be constantly on edge.
Pain only seemed to have one mode: I Want To Murder You In Your Sleep Mode.
I actually would have liked for her to have been more like her sister, Jane. Jane was witty, badass, and she knew how to be nice some of the time. Not a bad way to be!
Also, the formation of the romantic relationships between characters did not come about organically. Love interests often felt slightly forced, or indecisive - like with the gawking and 'eeny meeny miny moe' crushing. One minute you think Dave likes Pain...next minute you're convinced Marco does...and then you have no idea!
Favourite quote:
'"You know, I’m not surprised to see that dark-haired dude with the Beasts. He’s clearly screwed up,” Pain whispered.
“Yeah? And why is that?”
“To see me, wielding a sword on a dark street, and just come to take a look at me? Who do I look like, Fairy Godmother?”
“Only if he took your katana for a wand,” Jane grinned with mischief.'
January 21, 2020
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
I read the original version of this book in 2015 and it was one of those books that just stuck with me. I have been checking back looking for future books and then I was contacted by the author with the chance to read this updated version with extra chapters. I was excited to go back into this world of Sky Ghosts & Beasts.
It was every bit as good as I remembered. I still loved these characters. I love the sisters and how they relate to each other and everyone around them. Pain is sassy & snarky and I love it. This is easily one of my favorite books (both old & new versions). I can't wait to see what book 2 has to bring when it comes out in the near future.
I read the original version of this book in 2015 and it was one of those books that just stuck with me. I have been checking back looking for future books and then I was contacted by the author with the chance to read this updated version with extra chapters. I was excited to go back into this world of Sky Ghosts & Beasts.
It was every bit as good as I remembered. I still loved these characters. I love the sisters and how they relate to each other and everyone around them. Pain is sassy & snarky and I love it. This is easily one of my favorite books (both old & new versions). I can't wait to see what book 2 has to bring when it comes out in the near future.
March 2, 2020
I'm sad bcs i expected much more.
There's a lot of action, but nothing relevant happened at all. I felt like the main characters were just rambling all the time, and there was not a strong plot or character development at all.
All the characters were too perfect and unrealistic, so i wasn't caught up by the story.
There's a lot of action, but nothing relevant happened at all. I felt like the main characters were just rambling all the time, and there was not a strong plot or character development at all.
All the characters were too perfect and unrealistic, so i wasn't caught up by the story.
March 9, 2015
First, I like that the author doesn't make romance the central point of the story, there are other elements involved in it that make it quite a well developed, action packed and very intriguing plot. The suspense was nerve wracking in a very good way and not predictable. The dialogue was natural, too natural which made the setup of the story more inviting, fresh and very charming read. All the characters were flushed out skillfully. I read the unedited version and the now updated version. Alexandra Engellmann has created a masterpiece that surely will have a massive following, and from what I can see is steadily building, I have become part of this following and an undying fan. I have been writing for 24 years and I think this young author has taught me something about the concepts of writing that I will cherish for all time. Excellent and Bravo Ms. Engellmann!
February 27, 2015
If you’ve read any of my other reviews out there on books, you’ll discover I have a thing for characters. This book has four major characters that really shine, and a few minor characters that also manage to shine. Though most of the characters are equipped with supernatural abilities, none of them are outrageous geniuses or flawless superheroes. They are all very human in their thought processes and decisions.
I say four major characters, but it could be argued that the main character of this story is Pain. She really does steal the show. If you’ve had an easy life you might not get her. You might not even like her. You might think the guy in the story that ends up liking her shouldn’t even like her.
I can identify with the character Pain. In my past chosen professions, I’ve been that one girl among the group of men in a non-corporate environment. Anything goes, the jokes are rude, and the talk is crude. I’ve developed quite the mouth, though in polite company I adhere to the Bambi rule of “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” I’m often quiet. I don’t think Pain behaves politely in any company, but she doesn’t have to. She lives in a world surrounded in hardened fighters, and they tolerate her with a special fondness. Her days are full of chopping off the heads of enemies with her katana, and you want her to be nice on top of that? Pfft, people aren't that ideal.
I also get her attachment to her katana. Although I’ve never maimed, killed or injured another person, I do have a special fondness for my blow gun. It has a special place in my heart for its ability to send darts slicing through their target like butter. I would certainly carry it around with me everywhere if it were appropriate. But no, people would be like “Why did you bring your blow gun to the restaurant? People are staring, and what do you need it for?” If only I were a Sky Ghost.
Circling back to the four characters thing, there is something to be said about it. In this book, you get into all the characters heads. Sometimes I find this style distracting, to know what everyone is thinking. It’s not the way of the world. We only know what we are thinking, and even if you ask someone what they are thinking, do they tell you, honestly?
I’ll be honest, it was distracting for me in a few places. I’ll blame it on my own lack of attention to detail though, because the times I had to back up a paragraph to figure out who’s head I was in, it was clearly stated. In the end I enjoyed knowing what everyone was thinking because knowing what they thought, then watching their decisions made the story multidimensional.
This is a fantasy book, so aside from the POV and the characters the supernatural side of the story is a thing. At some point in a fantasy book you have to give your readers some sort of believable explanation for things like, how the heck are these ninja-like characters flying around the City of New York. It’s important.
I’ve given my son a very detailed story about how I know he is a leprechaun, and it’s not just because of his orange hair or the jangly way he dances about. If it weren’t for the very believable explanation about how I was tricked by a leprechaun into receiving the greatest treasure in the world (him) over a pot of gold, he wouldn’t be the leprechaun he is today.
If it weren’t for Alexandra Engellmann’s explanation about the origins of Sky Ghosts, it just wouldn’t do that there are flying ninjas in New York. I really enjoyed her supernatural origin story because there is truth in it. Humans have always wanted the ability to fly. Envious of the birds, we’ve made our own birds to launch ourselves into the sky. We don’t even let the grisly failures where hundreds have lost their lives stop us from hanging around up in the clouds.
This book gets five stars from me because it is rich in all the areas that please me. Now I understand that members of the grammar police have expressed some complaints and have dropped a star or two because the author says things an odd way here and there with English being her second language. I’ve had author’s with English as their first language rip me out of their story with a grammatical error or an odd phrase, and I get it. No one wants to be pulled out of a scene. It’s like the person that talks in the movie theater. However, if I was so in love with the English language to let it stop me from loving a story, I’d probably just sit around reading Encyclopedias instead of reading books like Sky Ghosts.
I look forward to the next book in the series. So hurry up and write it Alexandra Engellmann! Just kidding, take your time.
I say four major characters, but it could be argued that the main character of this story is Pain. She really does steal the show. If you’ve had an easy life you might not get her. You might not even like her. You might think the guy in the story that ends up liking her shouldn’t even like her.
I can identify with the character Pain. In my past chosen professions, I’ve been that one girl among the group of men in a non-corporate environment. Anything goes, the jokes are rude, and the talk is crude. I’ve developed quite the mouth, though in polite company I adhere to the Bambi rule of “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” I’m often quiet. I don’t think Pain behaves politely in any company, but she doesn’t have to. She lives in a world surrounded in hardened fighters, and they tolerate her with a special fondness. Her days are full of chopping off the heads of enemies with her katana, and you want her to be nice on top of that? Pfft, people aren't that ideal.
I also get her attachment to her katana. Although I’ve never maimed, killed or injured another person, I do have a special fondness for my blow gun. It has a special place in my heart for its ability to send darts slicing through their target like butter. I would certainly carry it around with me everywhere if it were appropriate. But no, people would be like “Why did you bring your blow gun to the restaurant? People are staring, and what do you need it for?” If only I were a Sky Ghost.
Circling back to the four characters thing, there is something to be said about it. In this book, you get into all the characters heads. Sometimes I find this style distracting, to know what everyone is thinking. It’s not the way of the world. We only know what we are thinking, and even if you ask someone what they are thinking, do they tell you, honestly?
I’ll be honest, it was distracting for me in a few places. I’ll blame it on my own lack of attention to detail though, because the times I had to back up a paragraph to figure out who’s head I was in, it was clearly stated. In the end I enjoyed knowing what everyone was thinking because knowing what they thought, then watching their decisions made the story multidimensional.
This is a fantasy book, so aside from the POV and the characters the supernatural side of the story is a thing. At some point in a fantasy book you have to give your readers some sort of believable explanation for things like, how the heck are these ninja-like characters flying around the City of New York. It’s important.
I’ve given my son a very detailed story about how I know he is a leprechaun, and it’s not just because of his orange hair or the jangly way he dances about. If it weren’t for the very believable explanation about how I was tricked by a leprechaun into receiving the greatest treasure in the world (him) over a pot of gold, he wouldn’t be the leprechaun he is today.
If it weren’t for Alexandra Engellmann’s explanation about the origins of Sky Ghosts, it just wouldn’t do that there are flying ninjas in New York. I really enjoyed her supernatural origin story because there is truth in it. Humans have always wanted the ability to fly. Envious of the birds, we’ve made our own birds to launch ourselves into the sky. We don’t even let the grisly failures where hundreds have lost their lives stop us from hanging around up in the clouds.
This book gets five stars from me because it is rich in all the areas that please me. Now I understand that members of the grammar police have expressed some complaints and have dropped a star or two because the author says things an odd way here and there with English being her second language. I’ve had author’s with English as their first language rip me out of their story with a grammatical error or an odd phrase, and I get it. No one wants to be pulled out of a scene. It’s like the person that talks in the movie theater. However, if I was so in love with the English language to let it stop me from loving a story, I’d probably just sit around reading Encyclopedias instead of reading books like Sky Ghosts.
I look forward to the next book in the series. So hurry up and write it Alexandra Engellmann! Just kidding, take your time.
October 23, 2015
I received this book from the author for reviewing.
2/16/2015
Review Update
There has been a major update to the book since I last read it at the beginning of January. The contents have been cleaned and tightened and the plot more focused. The ending has also been tweaked. If you have an older version of the book just contact Amazon Support (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contac...) and ask them to update your copy. They're really quick about it too. For all new buyers you'll automatically have the new updates. I've changed my score to reflect the improvements from the updates.
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This is a book for those looking for action, heart, realism, sexiness, romance, loads of humor, and a dark and visual world.
Sky Ghosts: All For One is filled with babes and blades, studs and swords, and beyond all that a lot of heart. What I mainly liked about this book was its fusion of eastern ideas and western style. That fusion can be seen most clearly in the way that the character's powers work and the way they fight. The powers of the characters all come from inside. There's some genetic factors at play but mainly the power functions essentially like Ki or Qi as it is understood in eastern philosophy. Characters here are stronger, faster, and can fly! And what's better than that is the fact that with practice a person can hone these powers to an even greater degree. I dug the powers immensely and the way each character applied such abilities was distinct. It reminded me of the anime Claymore where everyone has access to the same abilities but some specialize in certain aspects over others like speed or power or healing.
The strongest aspect of this book was the way the characters interacted and played off of each other and the dialogue they had with one another. There was an abundance of humor anytime this young cast did anything together. Pain and Marco were hilarious early on. Their banter, bullying of each other, and combined bloodlust made me laugh so hard and wince a little bit too (these two rarely pull their punches). Beyond the humor there's a lot of sincerity and heart in the dialogue and emotions between everyone. You end up feeling for all the characters even ones you might not like.
The fight scenes are particularly awesome and bloody! There's a lot of blood. Be warned! The violence is stylistic and each character fights how you'd imagine him or her to do so in stunning aerial sequences of steel, blood, flesh, and bone. Being the action junkie that I am I could picture every scene perfectly as if it were an action movie.
Now as a guy--no that's a bit of a copout--I'll just say that I'm not that inclined to like drawn out romances. All the back and forth kills me every time. So romance isn't my genre. There's a lot of romance here and there's a nice amount of back and forth to it. It's not my cup of tea but fans of the genre will no doubt like it. That said I still like how it played out, it was just a little over suspenseful for me. I guess I didn't mind it so much because I did want these two characters to succeed with each other.
So if you like all this stuff you'll definitely enjoy Sky Ghosts. I, myself will be patiently awaiting for the sequel to see what's next for this cast.
Awesomesauce
+Powers
+Fights Scenes
+Humor
+Dialogue
+Realism
+Cool and Badass Characters
+Sexiness
+Believable Romance
Not so Awesome
-Some errors
-Somewhat Anticlimactic
2/16/2015
Review Update
There has been a major update to the book since I last read it at the beginning of January. The contents have been cleaned and tightened and the plot more focused. The ending has also been tweaked. If you have an older version of the book just contact Amazon Support (https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contac...) and ask them to update your copy. They're really quick about it too. For all new buyers you'll automatically have the new updates. I've changed my score to reflect the improvements from the updates.
***********************************************************************
This is a book for those looking for action, heart, realism, sexiness, romance, loads of humor, and a dark and visual world.
Sky Ghosts: All For One is filled with babes and blades, studs and swords, and beyond all that a lot of heart. What I mainly liked about this book was its fusion of eastern ideas and western style. That fusion can be seen most clearly in the way that the character's powers work and the way they fight. The powers of the characters all come from inside. There's some genetic factors at play but mainly the power functions essentially like Ki or Qi as it is understood in eastern philosophy. Characters here are stronger, faster, and can fly! And what's better than that is the fact that with practice a person can hone these powers to an even greater degree. I dug the powers immensely and the way each character applied such abilities was distinct. It reminded me of the anime Claymore where everyone has access to the same abilities but some specialize in certain aspects over others like speed or power or healing.
The strongest aspect of this book was the way the characters interacted and played off of each other and the dialogue they had with one another. There was an abundance of humor anytime this young cast did anything together. Pain and Marco were hilarious early on. Their banter, bullying of each other, and combined bloodlust made me laugh so hard and wince a little bit too (these two rarely pull their punches). Beyond the humor there's a lot of sincerity and heart in the dialogue and emotions between everyone. You end up feeling for all the characters even ones you might not like.
The fight scenes are particularly awesome and bloody! There's a lot of blood. Be warned! The violence is stylistic and each character fights how you'd imagine him or her to do so in stunning aerial sequences of steel, blood, flesh, and bone. Being the action junkie that I am I could picture every scene perfectly as if it were an action movie.
Now as a guy--no that's a bit of a copout--I'll just say that I'm not that inclined to like drawn out romances. All the back and forth kills me every time. So romance isn't my genre. There's a lot of romance here and there's a nice amount of back and forth to it. It's not my cup of tea but fans of the genre will no doubt like it. That said I still like how it played out, it was just a little over suspenseful for me. I guess I didn't mind it so much because I did want these two characters to succeed with each other.
So if you like all this stuff you'll definitely enjoy Sky Ghosts. I, myself will be patiently awaiting for the sequel to see what's next for this cast.
Awesomesauce
+Powers
+Fights Scenes
+Humor
+Dialogue
+Realism
+Cool and Badass Characters
+Sexiness
+Believable Romance
Not so Awesome
-Some errors
-Somewhat Anticlimactic
August 17, 2015
3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
This was actually not bad! Not that I expected anything bad, but I usually don't read YA, so you must always take my reviews of YA books with caution. Either way, I liked the book! There were a few things I wished were different, but overall I did like it.
Possible spoilers ahead!!
I liked: The idea of people flying. No wings. Just flying. I usually DON'T like superhero shit. If you'll excuse my language. I like fantasy to be realistic. Yeah, I know, I just said a stupid thing. Oxymora is my middle name. :D No, really, I usually like to have things well described and logically explained. Flying without any visible aid usually doesn't fall into that category. Even so, I didn't mind it in this story. It was explained in a way that left a lot of space for more, but gave us enough of an explanation for you to think "ok, that might work."
Characters: Pain and Jane are really nicely written! Especially Pain, who seems to be the focal character in this story. The sisters are strong, true warriors. I love strong women. Even so, the way they are made to be flawed is what made them even better. Flawed strong women is even better.
Dave and Chad. I liked them! Especially the progress they made as characters, as well as persons. They were just two ordinary boys, in no way warriors we're used to reading about in those kind of books. I really loved their ordinarity (is that even a word?), which actually evolved into something else, something more. Chad is a great character. I loved him!
I also loved suspense and the overall gloomy atmo. I love that in a book. I love other side characters as well, hope to see them more in subsequent books. There will be more books, right?
I loved the writing style, too. Especially considering that, if I understood correctly, English is not Alexandra's first language. It's far from it to me, too, so I will just say, I loved it. I use a lot of "love" in this review... forgive me. Must be I'm PMS-ing or something.
Didn't like: Constant POV switch. I found it confusing many times. I often had to go back to see who's POV I was reading. If there was ONE thing I would like to see changed in next books of the series, it's the POVs.
There was also one stretch of pages where it got a little boring, and unclear what was actually happening. This is not such a bad thing, as it just fits into the style of writing. It's just my personal preference and has nothing to do weather the writing is good or bad. And it's good.
So, anyway, why only 3.5 stars, since I was loving it all the way? My rating system is, as I've already described a few times, a bit odd. 3.5 stars is to me, what someone else would think of 4.5 stars. 3.5 stars for me is a very, very good book! A book I enjoyed very much, but that still has some space for improvements, at least for my taste. It does not mean the same "flaws" will apply for others as well. I'm peculiar in my taste.
This is absolutely a recommended read for everyone who likes to read YA, and for others too, when you want to take a break from other genres ;)
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
This was actually not bad! Not that I expected anything bad, but I usually don't read YA, so you must always take my reviews of YA books with caution. Either way, I liked the book! There were a few things I wished were different, but overall I did like it.
Possible spoilers ahead!!
I liked: The idea of people flying. No wings. Just flying. I usually DON'T like superhero shit. If you'll excuse my language. I like fantasy to be realistic. Yeah, I know, I just said a stupid thing. Oxymora is my middle name. :D No, really, I usually like to have things well described and logically explained. Flying without any visible aid usually doesn't fall into that category. Even so, I didn't mind it in this story. It was explained in a way that left a lot of space for more, but gave us enough of an explanation for you to think "ok, that might work."
Characters: Pain and Jane are really nicely written! Especially Pain, who seems to be the focal character in this story. The sisters are strong, true warriors. I love strong women. Even so, the way they are made to be flawed is what made them even better. Flawed strong women is even better.
Dave and Chad. I liked them! Especially the progress they made as characters, as well as persons. They were just two ordinary boys, in no way warriors we're used to reading about in those kind of books. I really loved their ordinarity (is that even a word?), which actually evolved into something else, something more. Chad is a great character. I loved him!
I also loved suspense and the overall gloomy atmo. I love that in a book. I love other side characters as well, hope to see them more in subsequent books. There will be more books, right?
I loved the writing style, too. Especially considering that, if I understood correctly, English is not Alexandra's first language. It's far from it to me, too, so I will just say, I loved it. I use a lot of "love" in this review... forgive me. Must be I'm PMS-ing or something.
Didn't like: Constant POV switch. I found it confusing many times. I often had to go back to see who's POV I was reading. If there was ONE thing I would like to see changed in next books of the series, it's the POVs.
There was also one stretch of pages where it got a little boring, and unclear what was actually happening. This is not such a bad thing, as it just fits into the style of writing. It's just my personal preference and has nothing to do weather the writing is good or bad. And it's good.
So, anyway, why only 3.5 stars, since I was loving it all the way? My rating system is, as I've already described a few times, a bit odd. 3.5 stars is to me, what someone else would think of 4.5 stars. 3.5 stars for me is a very, very good book! A book I enjoyed very much, but that still has some space for improvements, at least for my taste. It does not mean the same "flaws" will apply for others as well. I'm peculiar in my taste.
This is absolutely a recommended read for everyone who likes to read YA, and for others too, when you want to take a break from other genres ;)
February 3, 2015
This book is something new and different. I liked it. I think this style of writing is very engaging. The author pulls you in from beginning to end. I like the action, heart, sexiness, romance, and the humor. I would never guess the author's first language is not English. This is a great book. You should differently check it out. See what you think!
Merged review:
This book is something new and different. I liked it. I think this style of writing is very engaging. The author pulls you in from beginning to end. I like the action, heart, sexiness, romance, and the humor. I would never guess the author's first language is not English. This is a great book. You should differently check it out. See what you think!
Merged review:
This book is something new and different. I liked it. I think this style of writing is very engaging. The author pulls you in from beginning to end. I like the action, heart, sexiness, romance, and the humor. I would never guess the author's first language is not English. This is a great book. You should differently check it out. See what you think!
January 18, 2015
An action packed novel featuring Jane and Pain, two sisters with powerful abilities who work as bodyguards. Armed with katanas they rescue two guys from their enemies and are then charged with protecting them. Strong characters and a great storyline that will keep you hooked. Recommended to fantasy and action fans.
January 17, 2020
Very refreshing and full of fun, action, and subtle sexiness that I wish more authors knew how to write about!
Complex characters, unpredictable plot, entertaining dialogues, and a simple yet interesting world. UF fans will love it.
February 16, 2015
Sky Ghosts (All for One) by Alexandra Engellmann.
I received a copy of this book for review.
The author’s cleverness left me reeling after finishing this book. In fact, it struck me immediately. She has seamlessly changed the POV between several characters. This creates a situation where the reader already has an inkling of what the protagonists are about to encounter, allowing the author to lengthen and draw out the ‘big reveal’. The reader is simultaneously satisfied, but eager for more. I really hope I’ve explained how well crafted this part of the book was - because it deserves a lot of limelight.
Another big plus for me, which you rarely see in other books, was the amount of decoys she had. We don’t know who will get together or who will get on or what is about to happen (none of my guesses were right - which I love). I really thought the first point, about who would get together, was an accurate reflection of real life. There was no ‘boy meets girl and they only have eyes for each other’ because, seriously, when does that ever happen? This is one of those books which you can imagine sliding into reality, despite its fantastical elements.
This book has everything. Love, action, fantasy and world-building. It is professional written as detailed above and you both like and dislike the characters by the author’s design. Stereotypical story lines are avoided, but the elements which make a great story are still retained (hot guys). I personally don’t think you can go wrong with this book. And, as always after a good book, I am left wondering when the next instalment is out!
I received a copy of this book for review.
The author’s cleverness left me reeling after finishing this book. In fact, it struck me immediately. She has seamlessly changed the POV between several characters. This creates a situation where the reader already has an inkling of what the protagonists are about to encounter, allowing the author to lengthen and draw out the ‘big reveal’. The reader is simultaneously satisfied, but eager for more. I really hope I’ve explained how well crafted this part of the book was - because it deserves a lot of limelight.
Another big plus for me, which you rarely see in other books, was the amount of decoys she had. We don’t know who will get together or who will get on or what is about to happen (none of my guesses were right - which I love). I really thought the first point, about who would get together, was an accurate reflection of real life. There was no ‘boy meets girl and they only have eyes for each other’ because, seriously, when does that ever happen? This is one of those books which you can imagine sliding into reality, despite its fantastical elements.
This book has everything. Love, action, fantasy and world-building. It is professional written as detailed above and you both like and dislike the characters by the author’s design. Stereotypical story lines are avoided, but the elements which make a great story are still retained (hot guys). I personally don’t think you can go wrong with this book. And, as always after a good book, I am left wondering when the next instalment is out!
February 24, 2015
Full review to come
July 13, 2015
Sky Ghosts is an awesome fantasy thriller fills with actions and romances. Under the cover of night the mystery unfolds. Hidden among humans, mythical warriors and assassins emerged in the sprawling city of New York to wage battle. The story began when Jane and Pain, the protagonists engaged in a brawl of sword fighting with their nemesis. They emerged victorious and decided to save two boys. But little did they know that their spontaneous act of kindness could unravel their lives. From there, the plot thickens. Every so often something unforeseen happens and I was left wondering. But in no time the twists and turns leads me right back into the story. Before I knew it, I was in a lockdown mode contemplating the onset of a burgeoning war that seemingly has to do with the two boys. Read the book for yourself and find out.
Alexandra Engellmann, the author of Sky Ghosts: All for One is a relatively new author. I’ve never heard of her before till now. I came across her book from a posting in Goodreads and boy, I was glad that I did. During the last week, I have enjoyed reading her book tremendously. Alex has a remarkable sense for creating wonderful plots and characters. Her wits will keep you guessing till the end. I strongly recommend this book and looking forward to the sequel. Five starts rating from me.
Alexandra Engellmann, the author of Sky Ghosts: All for One is a relatively new author. I’ve never heard of her before till now. I came across her book from a posting in Goodreads and boy, I was glad that I did. During the last week, I have enjoyed reading her book tremendously. Alex has a remarkable sense for creating wonderful plots and characters. Her wits will keep you guessing till the end. I strongly recommend this book and looking forward to the sequel. Five starts rating from me.
July 21, 2015
I received a free copy of the book for an honest review.
The amount of detail Alexandra Engellmann put into each character is amazing! I could easily picture each character in my head, as if they were standing right in front of me, and I felt like I had known them forever. The story is so different from anything else I've read, even though I initially thought it would be the typical "angels and demons" story authors usually write, but this was refreshingly different and so so good! I am obsessed, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
The amount of detail Alexandra Engellmann put into each character is amazing! I could easily picture each character in my head, as if they were standing right in front of me, and I felt like I had known them forever. The story is so different from anything else I've read, even though I initially thought it would be the typical "angels and demons" story authors usually write, but this was refreshingly different and so so good! I am obsessed, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
April 26, 2015
Sky Ghost Review
This book is amazing. It keeps the tension and boringness/ info loaded parts perfectly balance. It doesn't make love the center of the plot. It has great family and friendship bonds. It has a FANTASTIC world. Also the characters transition perfectly through it- 5/5 ⭐️ definitely recommend.
This book is amazing. It keeps the tension and boringness/ info loaded parts perfectly balance. It doesn't make love the center of the plot. It has great family and friendship bonds. It has a FANTASTIC world. Also the characters transition perfectly through it- 5/5 ⭐️ definitely recommend.
May 10, 2015
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
The characters were okay, but I did think some of them acted younger than what they were.
This wasn't an awful read, but I did find it incredibly hard to follow at times - Especially at the start. It was confusing, and quite jumpy, and due to that, there was quite a few times where it bored me.
The characters were okay, but I did think some of them acted younger than what they were.
This wasn't an awful read, but I did find it incredibly hard to follow at times - Especially at the start. It was confusing, and quite jumpy, and due to that, there was quite a few times where it bored me.
March 8, 2015
The characters and the scenes are well-written and very interesting.
I absolutely love the book! I can't wait for the next one, I'm really curious about who the people in the epilogue are!
I absolutely love the book! I can't wait for the next one, I'm really curious about who the people in the epilogue are!
April 30, 2020
It always pains me to give a lower rating to any book, whether it is independently or traditionally published. I know first-hand how writers can pour their heart and souls into their works, so I will refrain from shaming it. There is definitely potential in Sky Ghosts, however there is much work to be done.
.
Let's start with something positive! I did enjoy Pain's character, and I can understand how she distances herself from people she loves in order to not hurt them. I wish that had been more of a reoccurring characteristic with her, or maybe even the leading part of her character arc, but at least it was something I could understand from someone of her occupation.
.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of aspects in the story that I felt needed to be improved. First off, I wanted more from the world. The reader does get a clip of information, such as the origin of the Sky Ghosts, yet there is nothing about customs of the people, maybe a unique fighting style (though there is a lot of decapitation), or anything about the antagonists: the Sky Beasts. Eugene wasn't strong enough of an antagonist, and I wanted more backstory of his character, as well as the reasons behind his motives. I am a believer that the best antagonist is the one you secretly like, so Eugene did not make the cut. I was also confused when Engellmann told the reader how Eugene's main building was empty of Beasts during the day. Couldn't the Ghosts have attacked then? I saw no real development in Chad and Pain's relationship—it was as if they were thrown together without them having time to figure out their feelings for one another. The characters lacked the complexity in their feelings, actions, and conscious thought that I enjoy reading.
.
Sky Ghosts has lots of potential, but I feel it was put into the world much to early. It requires lots of lengthy editing sessions before it is ready. Again, it is never my intention to shame a novel, so my apologies if I offend anyone who has enjoyed this novel. It is merely my opinion.
.
Final grade: 2/5⭐️
.
Let's start with something positive! I did enjoy Pain's character, and I can understand how she distances herself from people she loves in order to not hurt them. I wish that had been more of a reoccurring characteristic with her, or maybe even the leading part of her character arc, but at least it was something I could understand from someone of her occupation.
.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of aspects in the story that I felt needed to be improved. First off, I wanted more from the world. The reader does get a clip of information, such as the origin of the Sky Ghosts, yet there is nothing about customs of the people, maybe a unique fighting style (though there is a lot of decapitation), or anything about the antagonists: the Sky Beasts. Eugene wasn't strong enough of an antagonist, and I wanted more backstory of his character, as well as the reasons behind his motives. I am a believer that the best antagonist is the one you secretly like, so Eugene did not make the cut. I was also confused when Engellmann told the reader how Eugene's main building was empty of Beasts during the day. Couldn't the Ghosts have attacked then? I saw no real development in Chad and Pain's relationship—it was as if they were thrown together without them having time to figure out their feelings for one another. The characters lacked the complexity in their feelings, actions, and conscious thought that I enjoy reading.
.
Sky Ghosts has lots of potential, but I feel it was put into the world much to early. It requires lots of lengthy editing sessions before it is ready. Again, it is never my intention to shame a novel, so my apologies if I offend anyone who has enjoyed this novel. It is merely my opinion.
.
Final grade: 2/5⭐️
September 12, 2015
Hey you. Yeah, you. Are you staring at me? Cause if you're staring at me, then that means that you have eyes. If you have eyes, why are you not reading the story about me and my friends? If you're not using your eyes and your brain by reading my story, then you're just an overgrown mouth-breather. You don't want to be that do you? So go read my story.
These words would be spoken by one of our main characters, Pain (she was given that nickname for a reason), if she was going to be the one to tell you to read this book. Sky Ghosts: All for One by Alexandra Engellmann is a fast-paced, smart-mouthed, action-filled book in the fantasy genre. Pain, and her sister Jane are different from other girls their age. For one, they have wings and can heal themselves, but also, they live with a family of others like them in a large building that houses dorms--where they live, and training areas--where they can hone their fighting skills. Along with the others, they are known as Sky Ghosts. Oh, and they can fight. Like, scare-the-big-dudes-they-live-with fight. Jane is the younger sister who is very even-keeled, and plays the voice of reason to her bigger, complicated, fiercely passionate sister, Pain. Pain and Jane are patrolling one night, looking for Sky Beasts (their mortal enemies, wicked versions of themselves), when they find two boys being attacked by a group of these Beasts. The girls save the boys (Dave and Chad), and this is where the story really begins. The girls are tasked with protecting the boys when it is found out that Eugene, leader of the Beasts, is looking for one of the them. They are sent to secret areas, and must hide away with the boys and guard them, no matter the cost. During these times, Jane and Pain grow close to the boys (though you would never know it with Pain), and begin to care about them.
Pain is a very complicated character, and you never know exactly what to expect from her, even up to the ending. I must admit that I loved her sarcasm, but at times it just seemed overly harsh and annoying. But, I kept reading, and that is when I realized that I was annoyed with her because she is so much like me (well she is a little more rough with her sarcasm than even I am). I am always very sarcastic, and people never know what to expect until they get to know me. It is only then that they realize that I am fiercely loyal and kind and would do anything for those that I care about. I'm not just some mean, sarcastic person. Pain is this way as well, but is also very guarded, and will not let anyone into her graces easily. I came to love her, and wanted to see her grow and find happiness. As the story progresses, Pain is still Pain, but she does open up to someone and it changes her whole outlook on life. Who? That is none of your business! Find out for yourself, Sherlock!
I loved the characters, and found myself drawn in by them. Pain was one that kept your interest as you just really wanted to figure her out. I took the message of the book to be: Be open about who you are and what your feelings are, and fight for those that you love, with reckless abandon. Battles rage, tempers flare, and many Sky Beasts are torn apart along the way. The action doesn't stop for long, but when it does the bantering and sarcasm keep the story moving along nicely.
What I found distracting was the language barrier. The story was obviously translated into English, and this made it hard to read at times. In the beginning I struggled, and then I realized that these are not necessarily errors, but a dialogue issue, and after that I read the story in a different way. Once I overcame this, the translation was not as much of an issue. There were also some errors, but nothing that stands out to me glaringly now that I am done reading the book.
Hot chicks (probably dudes too, I don't remember..were there guys in the book?), sarcasm, fighting, flying, and bada** hot chicks! There is a battle at the end that is epic, and at the center of it was.............bada** hot chicks! Ok, I have all of the guys attention now--on to the seriousness. Sky Ghosts: All for One was a fun and action-packed adventure, and I am looking forward to seeing what the author gives us in the future with these characters. I enjoyed it, and gave it 3.5 out of five stars. You should read it too, or Pain will come for you.
These words would be spoken by one of our main characters, Pain (she was given that nickname for a reason), if she was going to be the one to tell you to read this book. Sky Ghosts: All for One by Alexandra Engellmann is a fast-paced, smart-mouthed, action-filled book in the fantasy genre. Pain, and her sister Jane are different from other girls their age. For one, they have wings and can heal themselves, but also, they live with a family of others like them in a large building that houses dorms--where they live, and training areas--where they can hone their fighting skills. Along with the others, they are known as Sky Ghosts. Oh, and they can fight. Like, scare-the-big-dudes-they-live-with fight. Jane is the younger sister who is very even-keeled, and plays the voice of reason to her bigger, complicated, fiercely passionate sister, Pain. Pain and Jane are patrolling one night, looking for Sky Beasts (their mortal enemies, wicked versions of themselves), when they find two boys being attacked by a group of these Beasts. The girls save the boys (Dave and Chad), and this is where the story really begins. The girls are tasked with protecting the boys when it is found out that Eugene, leader of the Beasts, is looking for one of the them. They are sent to secret areas, and must hide away with the boys and guard them, no matter the cost. During these times, Jane and Pain grow close to the boys (though you would never know it with Pain), and begin to care about them.
Pain is a very complicated character, and you never know exactly what to expect from her, even up to the ending. I must admit that I loved her sarcasm, but at times it just seemed overly harsh and annoying. But, I kept reading, and that is when I realized that I was annoyed with her because she is so much like me (well she is a little more rough with her sarcasm than even I am). I am always very sarcastic, and people never know what to expect until they get to know me. It is only then that they realize that I am fiercely loyal and kind and would do anything for those that I care about. I'm not just some mean, sarcastic person. Pain is this way as well, but is also very guarded, and will not let anyone into her graces easily. I came to love her, and wanted to see her grow and find happiness. As the story progresses, Pain is still Pain, but she does open up to someone and it changes her whole outlook on life. Who? That is none of your business! Find out for yourself, Sherlock!
I loved the characters, and found myself drawn in by them. Pain was one that kept your interest as you just really wanted to figure her out. I took the message of the book to be: Be open about who you are and what your feelings are, and fight for those that you love, with reckless abandon. Battles rage, tempers flare, and many Sky Beasts are torn apart along the way. The action doesn't stop for long, but when it does the bantering and sarcasm keep the story moving along nicely.
What I found distracting was the language barrier. The story was obviously translated into English, and this made it hard to read at times. In the beginning I struggled, and then I realized that these are not necessarily errors, but a dialogue issue, and after that I read the story in a different way. Once I overcame this, the translation was not as much of an issue. There were also some errors, but nothing that stands out to me glaringly now that I am done reading the book.
Hot chicks (probably dudes too, I don't remember..were there guys in the book?), sarcasm, fighting, flying, and bada** hot chicks! There is a battle at the end that is epic, and at the center of it was.............bada** hot chicks! Ok, I have all of the guys attention now--on to the seriousness. Sky Ghosts: All for One was a fun and action-packed adventure, and I am looking forward to seeing what the author gives us in the future with these characters. I enjoyed it, and gave it 3.5 out of five stars. You should read it too, or Pain will come for you.
January 22, 2016
The story is exciting, full of action sequences and comical interludes. The plot kept my attention throughout. Engllemann is a very visual author. She makes everything so very easy to picture and to become part of. I loved the way that the history and mythology of the sky ghost was developed and presented. There were a few times that the plot dragged as the author filled in the background info, but it picked up again quickly. The action and suspense really ramped up at the last 1/3 of the story. And above all, it was fun.
Engllemann places her realistic characters in a fantastically exciting, supernatural world. The natural dialogue allowed me to experience the characters as they really were. The way that the characters were written I forgot that they were only in their teens, yet at the same time, they weren’t made to seem older than their experiences. I enjoyed the way that the characters were developed so you really get to know them.
This is an original and captivating novel that is the perfect launch to this series. It is a new to me author (& series) that I can’t wait to get more of.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Engllemann places her realistic characters in a fantastically exciting, supernatural world. The natural dialogue allowed me to experience the characters as they really were. The way that the characters were written I forgot that they were only in their teens, yet at the same time, they weren’t made to seem older than their experiences. I enjoyed the way that the characters were developed so you really get to know them.
This is an original and captivating novel that is the perfect launch to this series. It is a new to me author (& series) that I can’t wait to get more of.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2015
This is a fast-paced, fanciful page turner, sure to appeal to any fan of strong women kicking butt - and who doesn't enjoy that? The story concerns a secret society of superhumans known as the Sky Ghosts - the name derives from their ability to fly. They operate as a high level security force, and are matched up against a sinister force of evil types, led by a rogue former member of the Ghosts. The lead characters are a pair of young sisters who are among the elite warriers of this force, Jane and her sister Pain (her nickname is well-earned). They are assigned to protect two young men who have caught the attention of the evil forces, although nobody seems to know why. Lots of bloodshed ensues..
The novel is well-paced, features some entertaining characterization, and will indeed leave you in suspense. Best of all, it's the first in a projected series. Simply put, it's a very good read.
The novel is well-paced, features some entertaining characterization, and will indeed leave you in suspense. Best of all, it's the first in a projected series. Simply put, it's a very good read.
July 13, 2015
I was given a complimentary copy for an honest review by author Alexandra Engellmann. This is book 1 of the Sky Ghosts series.
Jane and her sister Patricia are sky ghosts and they fight against the evil beasts in their city. When Dave and Chester are confronted by a couple beasts Jane and Pain stop them and take them to their headquarters to find out why the beasts want them. Can they keep the boys safe and learn the truth or will evil win against them.
This was a very well written story and I really liked how the 4 main characters came together and how they worked with the other characters and they really made this story work.
This is a must for any paranormal book reader who like a little more in their story.
Jane and her sister Patricia are sky ghosts and they fight against the evil beasts in their city. When Dave and Chester are confronted by a couple beasts Jane and Pain stop them and take them to their headquarters to find out why the beasts want them. Can they keep the boys safe and learn the truth or will evil win against them.
This was a very well written story and I really liked how the 4 main characters came together and how they worked with the other characters and they really made this story work.
This is a must for any paranormal book reader who like a little more in their story.
July 23, 2015
I enjoyed this. With its interesting characters and writing, it's impossible. Five stars and worth the time in reading.
August 14, 2015
I was given a copy of this to review by the author.
I’m a big fan of Urban Fantasy, and despite not being in the first flush of youth any more, I enjoy reading Young Adult fiction, so I was very happy to review this for the author when she was looking for readers. It also didn’t hurt that the premise sounded a bit different to the obvious witches, vampires and werewolves (or my pet beefs - “half” vampires and “half” werewolves: sorry guys, you either are or you aren’t!), and it has a striking cover (the author is also an artist) which piqued my interest.
Once I started reading, it took me a while to get into it. In the early third of the book, there’s too much action and not enough explanation, so it felt rather confused. This probably wasn’t helped by the fact that English isn’t the author’s first language, and therefore some of the sentence constructions and word choices weren’t quite right. As a result, I found myself mentally editing the text, and that got in the way of the narrative at times (in my defence, I’m an Editor for a living - I can’t help it!). However, by about a third of the way through I’d got used to the style, the story had got into its stride, and I began wanting to know what happened next. It rounded off nicely at the end, and even had the obligatory “Coming Up” epilogue.
The world the author is creating has a lot of potential. It's based on an interesting premise with a slightly different take on supernatural guardians living among us. It definitely made a change from the more obvious UF norms of witches, vampires and werewolves. If anything, the "Ghosts" remind me most of the Malakim from the RPG In Nomine, taking ake contracts to protect normal people, without revealing their reasons and abilities. On the other side, the “Beasts” are their complete opposites, having rejected using their abilities to help people in favour of helping themselves.
Initially, I did have problems with the main focus character, Pain. Yes, she was up there in the “strong warrior-woman” category, but she started out so far over the top at that, that she was more of a stereotype than a character. That said, she did round out as the story progressed, and by the end, I did feel a bit more sympathy towards her. However, I preferred her sister Jane, who seemed like a more thoughtful and interesting character, and who I would happily have seen more of. Maybe in another book or side-story.
The two male leads, Dave and Chad who were the ones the girls were protecting, both came across as wet and ineffective for the first third of the book. I'm not sure if this was intentional on the part of the author, emphasising the fact that women can protect men as well as the other way around, or whether they just ended up that way. However, Chad does become a lot more interesting as it becomes apparent that he’s the real target of the Beasts hostilities. Dave, alas, still seems to be a wet blanket by the end, though given the epilogue, maybe the author does have plans for him.
The other "Ghosts", started off as kind of a crowd, but as the story progressed they began becoming more individual and better defined. I especially liked Marco and Skull. It will be interesting to see how this supporting cast develops as the series progresses, and whether the author uses different focus characters in subsequent stories.
To sum up, despite the book feeling more like a work in progress than the finished article at the start, that feeling subsided the further I got into the story, and I ended up enjoying it. I’m definitely curious to see where she takes things from here.
I’m a big fan of Urban Fantasy, and despite not being in the first flush of youth any more, I enjoy reading Young Adult fiction, so I was very happy to review this for the author when she was looking for readers. It also didn’t hurt that the premise sounded a bit different to the obvious witches, vampires and werewolves (or my pet beefs - “half” vampires and “half” werewolves: sorry guys, you either are or you aren’t!), and it has a striking cover (the author is also an artist) which piqued my interest.
Once I started reading, it took me a while to get into it. In the early third of the book, there’s too much action and not enough explanation, so it felt rather confused. This probably wasn’t helped by the fact that English isn’t the author’s first language, and therefore some of the sentence constructions and word choices weren’t quite right. As a result, I found myself mentally editing the text, and that got in the way of the narrative at times (in my defence, I’m an Editor for a living - I can’t help it!). However, by about a third of the way through I’d got used to the style, the story had got into its stride, and I began wanting to know what happened next. It rounded off nicely at the end, and even had the obligatory “Coming Up” epilogue.
The world the author is creating has a lot of potential. It's based on an interesting premise with a slightly different take on supernatural guardians living among us. It definitely made a change from the more obvious UF norms of witches, vampires and werewolves. If anything, the "Ghosts" remind me most of the Malakim from the RPG In Nomine, taking ake contracts to protect normal people, without revealing their reasons and abilities. On the other side, the “Beasts” are their complete opposites, having rejected using their abilities to help people in favour of helping themselves.
Initially, I did have problems with the main focus character, Pain. Yes, she was up there in the “strong warrior-woman” category, but she started out so far over the top at that, that she was more of a stereotype than a character. That said, she did round out as the story progressed, and by the end, I did feel a bit more sympathy towards her. However, I preferred her sister Jane, who seemed like a more thoughtful and interesting character, and who I would happily have seen more of. Maybe in another book or side-story.
The two male leads, Dave and Chad who were the ones the girls were protecting, both came across as wet and ineffective for the first third of the book. I'm not sure if this was intentional on the part of the author, emphasising the fact that women can protect men as well as the other way around, or whether they just ended up that way. However, Chad does become a lot more interesting as it becomes apparent that he’s the real target of the Beasts hostilities. Dave, alas, still seems to be a wet blanket by the end, though given the epilogue, maybe the author does have plans for him.
The other "Ghosts", started off as kind of a crowd, but as the story progressed they began becoming more individual and better defined. I especially liked Marco and Skull. It will be interesting to see how this supporting cast develops as the series progresses, and whether the author uses different focus characters in subsequent stories.
To sum up, despite the book feeling more like a work in progress than the finished article at the start, that feeling subsided the further I got into the story, and I ended up enjoying it. I’m definitely curious to see where she takes things from here.
August 27, 2015
Sky Ghosts: All for One was a thrilling ride from start to finish. Our heroine(s) kept giving me flashes of familiar characters: Buffy Summers, Faith (also from the Buffy series), River Tam, Beatrix Kiddo (aka "The Bride")...if you're a fan of ass-kicking female leads in the vein of heroes* like these, you may find what you're looking for in the character of Patricia, AKA Pain, and her sister Jane: a consummate sword-fighter with virtually no equal.
And yet, as impressive as Pain's martial prowess is, it's not her most fascinating trait. In this character, I also saw shades of other familiar characters, most notably Dr. Gregory House, M.D., if you'll allow me a minute to explain. Much like with the titular TV character, Engellmann's heroine has a noble and vulnerable core, defined by a deep-rooted desire to help that, like House, they view as a weakness or something to be hidden. Accordingly, Pain's true nature is wrapped under layers of sarcasm, feigned indifference, and even cruelty at times, and only the characters (and readers) willing to dig deep enough will find what lies beneath.
This is what allows the other characters to shine through, from her "to-the-death" sister Jane, to her friends among their order who came to respect Pain after being introduced to the reason behind her nickname, to those who are almost innately able to see past the gruff and grumpy nature she wears as a veil, knowing that there is gold at the heart without ever actually seeing it. Engellmann presents a heroine whose self-inflicted flaws can't even drive her friends away, and in fact just make them all the more willing to fight and die for her, just as she would do for them, no matter what she might say to their faces.
The combat scenes can be graphic, so your personal tastes may differ here, but there is one particular stretch of the book where there's fighting, then what seems to be an end, only to turn out to be a momentary lull before more fighting erupts. And then more, and then more. It's a thrilling roller coaster of adrenaline and emotion, to the point where the reader is left thinking, "When will they get 5 seconds to breathe?" Engellmann has captured the senses of urgency and desperation, and because of the way the reader is drawn to actually care about the protagonists, it's a thrill ride for both the actors and the audience.
Overall, Sky Ghosts is a great mixture of sword-fighting, humor, wit, sexual tension, and "imperfect romance" that brilliantly lets the readers feel like the characters, while supernatural, are fairly ordinary people underneath it all. We are left to care about the characters, and care what happens to them, and that keeps us turning pages - which means the book is a success. I am looking forward to future volumes in the series, especially after the ending.
* - Disclaimer: Faith and Beatrix Kiddo aren't exactly "heroes," but for the sake of argument....
And yet, as impressive as Pain's martial prowess is, it's not her most fascinating trait. In this character, I also saw shades of other familiar characters, most notably Dr. Gregory House, M.D., if you'll allow me a minute to explain. Much like with the titular TV character, Engellmann's heroine has a noble and vulnerable core, defined by a deep-rooted desire to help that, like House, they view as a weakness or something to be hidden. Accordingly, Pain's true nature is wrapped under layers of sarcasm, feigned indifference, and even cruelty at times, and only the characters (and readers) willing to dig deep enough will find what lies beneath.
This is what allows the other characters to shine through, from her "to-the-death" sister Jane, to her friends among their order who came to respect Pain after being introduced to the reason behind her nickname, to those who are almost innately able to see past the gruff and grumpy nature she wears as a veil, knowing that there is gold at the heart without ever actually seeing it. Engellmann presents a heroine whose self-inflicted flaws can't even drive her friends away, and in fact just make them all the more willing to fight and die for her, just as she would do for them, no matter what she might say to their faces.
The combat scenes can be graphic, so your personal tastes may differ here, but there is one particular stretch of the book where there's fighting, then what seems to be an end, only to turn out to be a momentary lull before more fighting erupts. And then more, and then more. It's a thrilling roller coaster of adrenaline and emotion, to the point where the reader is left thinking, "When will they get 5 seconds to breathe?" Engellmann has captured the senses of urgency and desperation, and because of the way the reader is drawn to actually care about the protagonists, it's a thrill ride for both the actors and the audience.
Overall, Sky Ghosts is a great mixture of sword-fighting, humor, wit, sexual tension, and "imperfect romance" that brilliantly lets the readers feel like the characters, while supernatural, are fairly ordinary people underneath it all. We are left to care about the characters, and care what happens to them, and that keeps us turning pages - which means the book is a success. I am looking forward to future volumes in the series, especially after the ending.
* - Disclaimer: Faith and Beatrix Kiddo aren't exactly "heroes," but for the sake of argument....
May 21, 2015
I was sent this in exchange for an honest review so here goes.
The story was slow to begin and took me a long time to actually want to continue reading it but I pushed through, once I got through this part though it became very fast paced and action packed, like every chapter was filled with action which is great for an adrenaline read I felt a lot of it was rushed along and at times very confusing. The plot was interesting don't get me wrong just some scenes seemed confusing moe than entertaining and we only got to now some characters very briefly like just their names which made it harder to understand.
There were a few characters that appealed to me in this, Marco, Skull and Ryan mainly Pain and Jane were interesting to read about and through their points of view but I have to say Pains character was a bit too far fetched in the way she behaved like she was made up of the worst extremities, which although a few people could be this bad she was made to be completely downright awful with very few redeeming features that made her appealing as a character. Jane was quite the silent partner of the pair and was often overlooked in fights and battles and in her own skill like she lives in her sisters shadow, constantly underestimated because of it but I kind of like that about her that she was forever trying to prove her worth made her a bit more of a likeable relate-able character. Chad well what can I say about him, he was quiet and reserved and humorous at first then all of a suddenly turned out to be arrogant and a bit obnoxious around Pain which as entertaining as it was to watch the sexual tension between them grow when it finally came to a head at the end it was a little unbelievable because both her and him became giddy and almost like leprechauns dancing euphorically happy which was so outside of both of their characters it made me laugh.
I liked the way it was told in different points of view but I think having more than one point of view was a little confusing especially when the telling didn't differentiate in the narrating so it was hard to work out who's eyes we were seeing it through sometimes.
Overall, after the first 6 chapters I grew to like it a little more and wanted to read more so I liked it. But the cliffhanger didn't have me impatient for the next in the series, but I would like to read more from other characters points of view and how they came to join the sky ghosts.
The story was slow to begin and took me a long time to actually want to continue reading it but I pushed through, once I got through this part though it became very fast paced and action packed, like every chapter was filled with action which is great for an adrenaline read I felt a lot of it was rushed along and at times very confusing. The plot was interesting don't get me wrong just some scenes seemed confusing moe than entertaining and we only got to now some characters very briefly like just their names which made it harder to understand.
There were a few characters that appealed to me in this, Marco, Skull and Ryan mainly Pain and Jane were interesting to read about and through their points of view but I have to say Pains character was a bit too far fetched in the way she behaved like she was made up of the worst extremities, which although a few people could be this bad she was made to be completely downright awful with very few redeeming features that made her appealing as a character. Jane was quite the silent partner of the pair and was often overlooked in fights and battles and in her own skill like she lives in her sisters shadow, constantly underestimated because of it but I kind of like that about her that she was forever trying to prove her worth made her a bit more of a likeable relate-able character. Chad well what can I say about him, he was quiet and reserved and humorous at first then all of a suddenly turned out to be arrogant and a bit obnoxious around Pain which as entertaining as it was to watch the sexual tension between them grow when it finally came to a head at the end it was a little unbelievable because both her and him became giddy and almost like leprechauns dancing euphorically happy which was so outside of both of their characters it made me laugh.
I liked the way it was told in different points of view but I think having more than one point of view was a little confusing especially when the telling didn't differentiate in the narrating so it was hard to work out who's eyes we were seeing it through sometimes.
Overall, after the first 6 chapters I grew to like it a little more and wanted to read more so I liked it. But the cliffhanger didn't have me impatient for the next in the series, but I would like to read more from other characters points of view and how they came to join the sky ghosts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2015
I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW AND THIS IS MY HONEST REVIEW ...
A DIFFERANT KIND OF BOOK FOR ME.....I AM VERY HAPPY I GOT IT...AND I WANT MORE, July 18, 2015
This starts with Dave a generous , if possibly bored ,rich young man who might be a little to curios for his own good. A young woman who at there first meeting you don't find out who she is but discover her own type humor. A week later you meet Jane she is Patricia's (Pain- pain in A**) little sister, among friends they are also know as sister's, they are going on patrol. Where they will come upon Dave and his friend Chester being attacked by 5 Beasts (the bad guys) , but the girls stop it and take them to safety and their boss. And then the fun begins, first which one did they want and why, second what to do... they must be protected till they can find out.. but of course the girls found them and are body guards so boss assigns them to protect them at all times. This means share their room, see to it they go everywhere they do,eat, practices ect. Peter thinks he knows which one Eugene Zhorr (head of the Beast) wants and maybe why but they check out both when they say they don't know. But when they find nothing and have to keep protecting them after a recon to see if they can hear anything at Eugene's offices, what they learn is not what he expects. Then he sends them to a private location, then back , then another even more private. Somehow the Beasts keep finding them and after a huge battle they have to be moved. Then when they end in a battle they don't think they can win, something even more surprising happens. But there is even more surprises when they decide they need to see Peter, to the horror of all the Sky Ghost, the last thing they ever expected has happened. The guys each make a decision about their own life's, surprising even each other and themselves. But the out come has managed to pull Sky Ghost together to a finale battle. Finally time to talk to the father to find out who, why and how all the secrets were made and kept. I can't wait for the next book to see what they will all get into next. After all they are still kids and must have more adventures I do hope.
A DIFFERANT KIND OF BOOK FOR ME.....I AM VERY HAPPY I GOT IT...AND I WANT MORE, July 18, 2015
This starts with Dave a generous , if possibly bored ,rich young man who might be a little to curios for his own good. A young woman who at there first meeting you don't find out who she is but discover her own type humor. A week later you meet Jane she is Patricia's (Pain- pain in A**) little sister, among friends they are also know as sister's, they are going on patrol. Where they will come upon Dave and his friend Chester being attacked by 5 Beasts (the bad guys) , but the girls stop it and take them to safety and their boss. And then the fun begins, first which one did they want and why, second what to do... they must be protected till they can find out.. but of course the girls found them and are body guards so boss assigns them to protect them at all times. This means share their room, see to it they go everywhere they do,eat, practices ect. Peter thinks he knows which one Eugene Zhorr (head of the Beast) wants and maybe why but they check out both when they say they don't know. But when they find nothing and have to keep protecting them after a recon to see if they can hear anything at Eugene's offices, what they learn is not what he expects. Then he sends them to a private location, then back , then another even more private. Somehow the Beasts keep finding them and after a huge battle they have to be moved. Then when they end in a battle they don't think they can win, something even more surprising happens. But there is even more surprises when they decide they need to see Peter, to the horror of all the Sky Ghost, the last thing they ever expected has happened. The guys each make a decision about their own life's, surprising even each other and themselves. But the out come has managed to pull Sky Ghost together to a finale battle. Finally time to talk to the father to find out who, why and how all the secrets were made and kept. I can't wait for the next book to see what they will all get into next. After all they are still kids and must have more adventures I do hope.
March 16, 2016
This book was a total surprise for me in a very pleasant manner. I hadn't read anything by the author before, so wasn't quite sure what I was going to think of her writing style but the synopsis was intriguing and I decided to give it a go - and I'm very glad I did! The story concerns groups of paranormally talented people who call themselves Sky Ghosts and their equally talented enemies, the Sky Beasts. When the sisters, Jane and Pain (real name Patricia but no one called her that!), discover two men being attacked by the Beasts and overhear the Beasts discussing whether to capture or kill the men. They are intrigued enough to rescue them. Their organisation can see no reasons for the beasts interest in the men, but the girls are assigned to keep them both safe. That's the start to a fast paced adventure in which the feisty young ladies are definitely the heroines - and woe will betide any male getting in their way. They will have battles to fight, friends who will be in danger, and the mystery of why the Beasts want one of the two men, too, in this intriguingly different paranormal adventure.
The author manages to portray the emotional turmoil of all the characters as the story unfurls, making it easy for readers to empathise with them in the different scenarios. The skills and talents of the Ghosts and Beasts are made to feel believable, their encounters and fights action packed and thrilling. Their story encapsulates a variety of genre, with mysteries to be solved, secrets to uncover, battles to be won and even love to be developed. This is a great adventure that I suspect will particularly appeal to young adult readers as well as to older readers, like myself and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys definitely different paranormal adventures and romance!
Many thanks to the author gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The author manages to portray the emotional turmoil of all the characters as the story unfurls, making it easy for readers to empathise with them in the different scenarios. The skills and talents of the Ghosts and Beasts are made to feel believable, their encounters and fights action packed and thrilling. Their story encapsulates a variety of genre, with mysteries to be solved, secrets to uncover, battles to be won and even love to be developed. This is a great adventure that I suspect will particularly appeal to young adult readers as well as to older readers, like myself and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys definitely different paranormal adventures and romance!
Many thanks to the author gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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