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Skyward Inn
Skyward Inn, within the high walls of the Western Protectorate, is a place of safety, where people come together to tell stories of the time before the war with Qita. But safety from what?
Qita surrendered without complaint when Earth invaded; Innkeepers Jem and Isley, veterans from either side, have regrets but few scars. Their peace is disturbed when a visitor known to Isley comes to the Inn asking for help, bringing reminders of an unnerving past and triggering an uncertain future.
Did humanity really win the war?
A thoughtful, literary novel about conflict, identity and community; a fresh new perspective in speculative fiction from critically-acclaimed writer Aliya Whiteley. Jamaica Inn by way of Jeff Vandermeer, Ursula Le Guin, Angela Carter and Michel Faber, Skyward Inn is a beautiful story of belonging, identity and regret.
Qita surrendered without complaint when Earth invaded; Innkeepers Jem and Isley, veterans from either side, have regrets but few scars. Their peace is disturbed when a visitor known to Isley comes to the Inn asking for help, bringing reminders of an unnerving past and triggering an uncertain future.
Did humanity really win the war?
A thoughtful, literary novel about conflict, identity and community; a fresh new perspective in speculative fiction from critically-acclaimed writer Aliya Whiteley. Jamaica Inn by way of Jeff Vandermeer, Ursula Le Guin, Angela Carter and Michel Faber, Skyward Inn is a beautiful story of belonging, identity and regret.
316 pages, Hardcover
First published March 16, 2021
66 people are currently reading
2987 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
March 16, 2021
Skyward Inn is a sci-fi retelling of Daphne du Maurier's Jamaica Inn and a weird and increasingly surrealist story of love, belonging, and togetherness. Skyward Inn, on the moorlands of the Western Protectorate, is removed from modern technology and politics. When humans first went through the ‘Kissing Gate’ to the planet Qita, the protectorate turned its back on modern civilization to live in rural isolation. Although there is a spaceport nearby, the villagers have nothing to do with it. Theirs is a quiet life – The Protectorate has stood apart from the coalition of world powers that has formed. Instead, the inhabitants choose to live simply, many of them farming by day and drinking the local brew at night. The co-owners of the inn, a traditional English village pub, are Jem and Isley. Jem, a veteran of the coalitions’ war on the perfect, peaceful planet of Qita, has a smile for everyone in the bar. She abandoned her baby years earlier for a decade-long contract to plaster Qita with propaganda posters, which is where she met her partner Isley. Isley does his cooking in the kitchen and his brewing in the cellar. He’s Qitan, but it’s all right – the locals treat him like one of their own. They think they understand him, but it’s only Jem who knows his homeland well enough to recreate it in the stories she tells him at dawn.
But their peace is disturbed when a visitor comes to Skyward Inn, bringing reminders of an unnerving past and triggering an uncertain future. This is a strange, gentle, utterly beautiful book about how humanity might live alongside other people wholly unlike us – and about how we live alongside each other. It's exciting, refreshingly original speculative fiction from the pen of one of the fiercest British writers in the genre at present and is very much a character-driven novel full of strangeness and a thoroughly intriguing plot. Her vivid imagination allows her to create unpredictable, intricate, sprawling worlds rich in detail with plenty of surprises and a real feel of reading something special. It is a slow-burn tale from the very beginning and continues that way as it progresses giving Whitely ample time to craft complex, multi-layered worlds and populate said worlds with superbly developed characters and interesting lore. Through all of this, Whitely still manages to explore issues of large-scale colonisation, assimilation and invasion, among others. It's thoughtful, intelligent and asks questions of the idea of the individual and the collective, of ownership and historical possession, and of the experience of being human, it is at once timeless and thoroughly of its time. Highly recommended to those who enjoy bizarre science fiction. Highly recommended.
But their peace is disturbed when a visitor comes to Skyward Inn, bringing reminders of an unnerving past and triggering an uncertain future. This is a strange, gentle, utterly beautiful book about how humanity might live alongside other people wholly unlike us – and about how we live alongside each other. It's exciting, refreshingly original speculative fiction from the pen of one of the fiercest British writers in the genre at present and is very much a character-driven novel full of strangeness and a thoroughly intriguing plot. Her vivid imagination allows her to create unpredictable, intricate, sprawling worlds rich in detail with plenty of surprises and a real feel of reading something special. It is a slow-burn tale from the very beginning and continues that way as it progresses giving Whitely ample time to craft complex, multi-layered worlds and populate said worlds with superbly developed characters and interesting lore. Through all of this, Whitely still manages to explore issues of large-scale colonisation, assimilation and invasion, among others. It's thoughtful, intelligent and asks questions of the idea of the individual and the collective, of ownership and historical possession, and of the experience of being human, it is at once timeless and thoroughly of its time. Highly recommended to those who enjoy bizarre science fiction. Highly recommended.
March 21, 2022
I can’t give this a rating yet as I can’t make up my mind. I’ve never read anything like it.
Ok I’ve decided
I can honestly say I’ve never read anything like this book before. It was one of those books that when I finished reading it, it took me a while to decide how to feel about it. I just had to sit and think about it. But I’ve come to the conclusion that I loved it. Skyward Inn is so other worldly, its got another planet, a kissing gate and another species. And the author manages to pack in a lot of details about this everything to do with this because the book is only 251 pages. So imaginative, especially the other species. I loved how the author connected Western Protectorate and Qita, especially when you realise how the book ends. I also loved what Aliya did with the illness that people think is spreading on Western Protectorate, and then you see it from the Qitan perspective. It almost felt ethereal by the end. With this book being so other worldly, it is innately human. At the centre of this book its a relationship between a mother and son. Their relationship is so intricate and fragile and it’s fantastic to read. It shows that the two characters are flawed and how it affects there nonexistent relationship and I just found it to be really realistic. My favourite section of Skyward Inn, is when Fosse arrives on the planet Qita and he goes on a journey with his Qitan ‘tour guide’. I felt a real connection between the two and its also where we see Fosse become the character I loved. But there’s a part of the journey where Fosse has to make a decision as it comes to an end and I have to say i found it really emotional. I didn’t know what he was going to do or I didn’t know what I wanted him to do. This section was perfectly written. It was subtle but really emotive. I loved it. At the heart of this novel is Fosse, who is a character I don’t think I’ll ever forget. He’s a character you’re not sure if you’ll like at first, but you seem grow and change and you really grow to care for him. He became so gentle. In fact the whole novel has a gentleness to it. He is just so well written and Aliya has created a character with real depth. I will say I had no idea where this book was going. It became such a character driven story that I found the ending to quite emotional. Some things happen (no spoilers) and because of the connection between characters it felt so personal. As I said before its like nothing I’ve read before and I’m so glad I’ve read it.I would definitely recommend this book. It’s a book that’ll make you think, make you care for the characters and will keep you intrigued till the very last page. The more I think about this book, the more I love it. I know I’ll definitely be rereading it. Please read this book so I can have someone to talk to about it. It’s out March 16th. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for gifting me with a copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review
Ok I’ve decided
I can honestly say I’ve never read anything like this book before. It was one of those books that when I finished reading it, it took me a while to decide how to feel about it. I just had to sit and think about it. But I’ve come to the conclusion that I loved it. Skyward Inn is so other worldly, its got another planet, a kissing gate and another species. And the author manages to pack in a lot of details about this everything to do with this because the book is only 251 pages. So imaginative, especially the other species. I loved how the author connected Western Protectorate and Qita, especially when you realise how the book ends. I also loved what Aliya did with the illness that people think is spreading on Western Protectorate, and then you see it from the Qitan perspective. It almost felt ethereal by the end. With this book being so other worldly, it is innately human. At the centre of this book its a relationship between a mother and son. Their relationship is so intricate and fragile and it’s fantastic to read. It shows that the two characters are flawed and how it affects there nonexistent relationship and I just found it to be really realistic. My favourite section of Skyward Inn, is when Fosse arrives on the planet Qita and he goes on a journey with his Qitan ‘tour guide’. I felt a real connection between the two and its also where we see Fosse become the character I loved. But there’s a part of the journey where Fosse has to make a decision as it comes to an end and I have to say i found it really emotional. I didn’t know what he was going to do or I didn’t know what I wanted him to do. This section was perfectly written. It was subtle but really emotive. I loved it. At the heart of this novel is Fosse, who is a character I don’t think I’ll ever forget. He’s a character you’re not sure if you’ll like at first, but you seem grow and change and you really grow to care for him. He became so gentle. In fact the whole novel has a gentleness to it. He is just so well written and Aliya has created a character with real depth. I will say I had no idea where this book was going. It became such a character driven story that I found the ending to quite emotional. Some things happen (no spoilers) and because of the connection between characters it felt so personal. As I said before its like nothing I’ve read before and I’m so glad I’ve read it.I would definitely recommend this book. It’s a book that’ll make you think, make you care for the characters and will keep you intrigued till the very last page. The more I think about this book, the more I love it. I know I’ll definitely be rereading it. Please read this book so I can have someone to talk to about it. It’s out March 16th. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for gifting me with a copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review
March 15, 2021
ARC received from the publisher (Solaris) in exchange for an honest review.
I’m always on the lookout for more SFF slice of life. Especially weird literary SFF slice of life. So when Fabienne brought this book to my attention, I knew I’d have to read it. And it turned out to be one of the most unique things I’ve found in a while – at the same time somehow a seamless blend of super chill sci-fi slice of life (slight Becky Chambers vibes anyone?) and something altogether more unsettling.
There is a very literary feel to it and the prose is absolutely stunning. Even though it’s a very short novel, it felt exactly as long as it needs to be. I loved how natural and gradual the change in tone felt – never jarring, and even though I’m a wimp who normally avoids horror like the plague and is especially sensitive to body horror, I wasn’t ever terrified or disgusted enough to stop reading. Creeped out, sure, but not in a way that’d be a dealbreaker.
In addition to that, it also touches upon complex family relationships, space colonization and how it affects communities, and personal autonomy. The tagline, “this is a place where we can be alone, together” is very on point. Only now I realise it hits another of my favourite tropes, books that take place after a big conflict is done and deal with its aftermath. It’s not a central plot since the focus is firmly on the characters, but it’s there.
Most highly recommended.
Enjoyment: 4.5/5
Execution: 5/5
Recommended to: slice of life fans, prose appreciators, those looking for something unique
Not recommended to: those who are turned off by (maybe contagious) body horror
Content warnings: body horror, epidemic
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
I’m always on the lookout for more SFF slice of life. Especially weird literary SFF slice of life. So when Fabienne brought this book to my attention, I knew I’d have to read it. And it turned out to be one of the most unique things I’ve found in a while – at the same time somehow a seamless blend of super chill sci-fi slice of life (slight Becky Chambers vibes anyone?) and something altogether more unsettling.
We burn history down, over and over, as an act of remembrance. When there are no answers, there is recollection, and repetition.Jem and Isley – a human and a Qitan alien – manage the titular Skyward Inn. It’s a place where people from a small village in the Protectorate, a community of humans that rejects technological progress, can share a drink and exchange stories of the past. It all starts as a very quiet slice of life story, just Jem’s POV, in first person, alternating with that of her estranged teenage son, in third person, following their daily lives, but it slowly and seamlessly blends in an element of strangeness bordering on horror.
There is a very literary feel to it and the prose is absolutely stunning. Even though it’s a very short novel, it felt exactly as long as it needs to be. I loved how natural and gradual the change in tone felt – never jarring, and even though I’m a wimp who normally avoids horror like the plague and is especially sensitive to body horror, I wasn’t ever terrified or disgusted enough to stop reading. Creeped out, sure, but not in a way that’d be a dealbreaker.
In addition to that, it also touches upon complex family relationships, space colonization and how it affects communities, and personal autonomy. The tagline, “this is a place where we can be alone, together” is very on point. Only now I realise it hits another of my favourite tropes, books that take place after a big conflict is done and deal with its aftermath. It’s not a central plot since the focus is firmly on the characters, but it’s there.
Most highly recommended.
Enjoyment: 4.5/5
Execution: 5/5
Recommended to: slice of life fans, prose appreciators, those looking for something unique
Not recommended to: those who are turned off by (maybe contagious) body horror
Content warnings: body horror, epidemic
More reviews on my blog, To Other Worlds.
January 10, 2022
3.5/5
So, Skyward Inn. It's weird. And character-driven. It combines science fiction with weird fiction and personal drama. Jem runs a pub in a region of Britain disconnected from the modern world. There's a spaceport in the area, but no one uses it.
Before coming here, Jem spent ten years on the planet Qita with a Qitan named Isley. Her story unfolds slowly and revolves around the consequences of humanity's contact with aliens. She may also be serving a psychedelic brew at her inn.
Either way, Jem's family and emotional life is complicated. Her son, Fosse, feels alienated. In addition, the people of the Western Protectorate are suffering from a strange illness, and it turns out that the story of Qitan's surrender to humans is different than generally believed.
Interplanetary travel is possible because humanity has discovered a wormhole. After discovering Qita, a coalition of countries decided to conquer it. Only Britain has vowed to stay out of the war and live a rural life without modern technology. The residents of the Protectorate, including Jem and Isley, want to keep out of the war, but their decision is tested when a desperate visitor from Isley's past shows up one night.
Skyward Inn isn't the fastest book around. Nor is it the easiest to get into. But those who've read Whiteley's works before will appreciate the subtle surrealism, the quirkiness, and the family drama. I love her writing style, but I must confess that I almost lost interest in the story. So look elsewhere if you're looking for a fast-paced, plot-driven story. But if you're more into literary and philosophical themes, you'll love Skyward Inn. Ultimately, it's a thoughtful book about how we as humans relate to each other and come together or break apart.
So, Skyward Inn. It's weird. And character-driven. It combines science fiction with weird fiction and personal drama. Jem runs a pub in a region of Britain disconnected from the modern world. There's a spaceport in the area, but no one uses it.
Before coming here, Jem spent ten years on the planet Qita with a Qitan named Isley. Her story unfolds slowly and revolves around the consequences of humanity's contact with aliens. She may also be serving a psychedelic brew at her inn.
Either way, Jem's family and emotional life is complicated. Her son, Fosse, feels alienated. In addition, the people of the Western Protectorate are suffering from a strange illness, and it turns out that the story of Qitan's surrender to humans is different than generally believed.
Interplanetary travel is possible because humanity has discovered a wormhole. After discovering Qita, a coalition of countries decided to conquer it. Only Britain has vowed to stay out of the war and live a rural life without modern technology. The residents of the Protectorate, including Jem and Isley, want to keep out of the war, but their decision is tested when a desperate visitor from Isley's past shows up one night.
Skyward Inn isn't the fastest book around. Nor is it the easiest to get into. But those who've read Whiteley's works before will appreciate the subtle surrealism, the quirkiness, and the family drama. I love her writing style, but I must confess that I almost lost interest in the story. So look elsewhere if you're looking for a fast-paced, plot-driven story. But if you're more into literary and philosophical themes, you'll love Skyward Inn. Ultimately, it's a thoughtful book about how we as humans relate to each other and come together or break apart.
April 6, 2021
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
On the coast of what used to be Devon sits a small inn called Skyward Inn. It's a place where people come to relax and share stories and it's run by a human woman called Jem, and a not-so-human Isley. Jem and Isley have a close relationship, and Jem feels more comfortable with Isley than her own family - including her son Fosse who lives nearby with his uncle. But as strange things start happening, and strangers appear on the shores, Jem finds herself reaching out to Fosse and connecting with him in a way she never did before.
This book was just...not what I thought it was going to be, to be honest, and maybe because of this I really struggled with it and I don't think I enjoyed it at all. I know this book is being compared a little bit to the Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers, and while there are some similarities such as the slower pace, the easy exploration of space without guns and bloodshed but I also think it's very different in lots of other ways and may not suit readers who prefer Becky Chamber's storytelling.
I was confused for a good portion of the book trying to figure out what was going on, and I honestly, can't say for certain I 100% knew what had happened by the time I finished it. The story and writing just didn't gel with me at all, and I felt myself very disconnected to the story and part of this may have just been disappointment when I realised early on, the style of writing was not what I expected it to be.
I've read a good bit of science fiction now and sometimes the stories stick with you, and sometimes they don't and this was just the case of a don't.
On the coast of what used to be Devon sits a small inn called Skyward Inn. It's a place where people come to relax and share stories and it's run by a human woman called Jem, and a not-so-human Isley. Jem and Isley have a close relationship, and Jem feels more comfortable with Isley than her own family - including her son Fosse who lives nearby with his uncle. But as strange things start happening, and strangers appear on the shores, Jem finds herself reaching out to Fosse and connecting with him in a way she never did before.
This book was just...not what I thought it was going to be, to be honest, and maybe because of this I really struggled with it and I don't think I enjoyed it at all. I know this book is being compared a little bit to the Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers, and while there are some similarities such as the slower pace, the easy exploration of space without guns and bloodshed but I also think it's very different in lots of other ways and may not suit readers who prefer Becky Chamber's storytelling.
I was confused for a good portion of the book trying to figure out what was going on, and I honestly, can't say for certain I 100% knew what had happened by the time I finished it. The story and writing just didn't gel with me at all, and I felt myself very disconnected to the story and part of this may have just been disappointment when I realised early on, the style of writing was not what I expected it to be.
I've read a good bit of science fiction now and sometimes the stories stick with you, and sometimes they don't and this was just the case of a don't.
May 15, 2021
Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley is a speculative fiction loosely based on Jamaica Inn but is hugely different. Establishing relationship dynamics in a foreign planet is an attempt made beautifully by the author. What we understand by the term 'alien' warps in by itself when one begins to read this novel. The differences that begin between two races are starkly similar to the ones we often face in real life between Countries, Religions, Caste, Color and so on.
Who is the real alien? Aren't we sometimes alien to humanity itself? Through the colourful array of characters, the author depicts just that. Be it Isley, who's a Qitan living on the other side, or Jemima struggling to find her hold in the Western Protectorate with Isley by her side, they are alone, together yet a flimsy, invisible boundary always seem to lurk between the two. And the arrival of a stranger only magnifies the former.
While the story theme is extremely engaging, I think the execution could have been better. First person narration suddenly changes to second person narrative of a different character in the middle of a chapter. I think this disrupted the flow and hampered the reading experience a little. However, the writing is impeccable.
With uncertainty in the near distance, this story progresses slowly endowed in a dark, gloomy atmosphere of regrets, longing and heartbreak.
Who is the real alien? Aren't we sometimes alien to humanity itself? Through the colourful array of characters, the author depicts just that. Be it Isley, who's a Qitan living on the other side, or Jemima struggling to find her hold in the Western Protectorate with Isley by her side, they are alone, together yet a flimsy, invisible boundary always seem to lurk between the two. And the arrival of a stranger only magnifies the former.
While the story theme is extremely engaging, I think the execution could have been better. First person narration suddenly changes to second person narrative of a different character in the middle of a chapter. I think this disrupted the flow and hampered the reading experience a little. However, the writing is impeccable.
With uncertainty in the near distance, this story progresses slowly endowed in a dark, gloomy atmosphere of regrets, longing and heartbreak.
March 22, 2022
2.5 Stars
This was an interesting premise for a story, but one that fell a bit flat in execution. This is a slower piece of science fiction that failed to leave an impact on me. I expected it to be more literary or character driven, but the narrative didn't seem to know what it wanted to be and instead left the story uneven.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was an interesting premise for a story, but one that fell a bit flat in execution. This is a slower piece of science fiction that failed to leave an impact on me. I expected it to be more literary or character driven, but the narrative didn't seem to know what it wanted to be and instead left the story uneven.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
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May 28, 2021Surreal, unique and unsettling
Skyward Inn is the gathering place in the Western Protectorate, where people come to unwind or contemplate about the past. Jem and Isley, who once were on different sides of the war before the Earth invaded Qita, run the Skyward Inn. Everything changes when a stranger enters the Skyward Inn, pleading for help and thereby bringing reminders of a troubling past and an uncertain future.
Firstly, I have to compliment the beautiful cover. I adore the use of vibrant colours, which make the cover stand out on the shelf!
Skyward Inn is a Sci-Fi story with an unsettling atmosphere and strange writing, which effectively unnerves the reader throughout the story. Skyward Inn is a story about belonging, complicated relationships, and the constant struggle to deal with your past.
Aliya Whiteley’s writing is strange and confusing, which made it incredibly difficult for me to enjoy and follow the story. Although Whiteley effectively uses her writing style to create a mysterious atmosphere, it was just a bit too much for my preference. Moreover, Skyward Inn’s plot is vague and mysterious throughout the whole book. This kind of storytelling will appeal to some readers, but sadly this was not the case for me.
I have never read a book like Skyward Inn before. I wouldn’t be able to summarise or discuss what this book is about, however, I would still recommend you check out this book for yourself. Although it was not quite my preference you might find you enjoy it.
Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Skyward Inn is the gathering place in the Western Protectorate, where people come to unwind or contemplate about the past. Jem and Isley, who once were on different sides of the war before the Earth invaded Qita, run the Skyward Inn. Everything changes when a stranger enters the Skyward Inn, pleading for help and thereby bringing reminders of a troubling past and an uncertain future.
Firstly, I have to compliment the beautiful cover. I adore the use of vibrant colours, which make the cover stand out on the shelf!
Skyward Inn is a Sci-Fi story with an unsettling atmosphere and strange writing, which effectively unnerves the reader throughout the story. Skyward Inn is a story about belonging, complicated relationships, and the constant struggle to deal with your past.
Aliya Whiteley’s writing is strange and confusing, which made it incredibly difficult for me to enjoy and follow the story. Although Whiteley effectively uses her writing style to create a mysterious atmosphere, it was just a bit too much for my preference. Moreover, Skyward Inn’s plot is vague and mysterious throughout the whole book. This kind of storytelling will appeal to some readers, but sadly this was not the case for me.
I have never read a book like Skyward Inn before. I wouldn’t be able to summarise or discuss what this book is about, however, I would still recommend you check out this book for yourself. Although it was not quite my preference you might find you enjoy it.
Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2021
Skyward Inn takes place in a future where humanity lives peacefully alongside the Qitans, an alien species whose planet we have colonised and stolen resources from. The titular setting is a pub in an isolated human settlement that deliberately avoids advanced technology, so has a rural village feel. The narration is split between Jem, who runs the pub with her alien partner Isley, and Fosse, her estranged son. Almost exactly halfway through the novel, it becomes clear there is something weird going on that has to be connected with the aliens. I found the eerie realisation of what the aliens truly are suitably unsettling and effective. Fosse's strange journey with a Qitan guide was a particularly pleasing way to discover this. However, the first 150 pages before the alien weirdness gets underway were less interesting to me. I found the humans and their bucolic village life a little dull, frankly, and the set up for the interesting alien developments seemed unnecessarily long. The relationships that Jem has with Isley and Fosse didn't make much of an impact. The last third of the book was very good, although the ending didn't entirely convince me. In general, it felt to me like the intriguing alien concept didn't quite fit with the narrative of Jem's personal relationships. Nonetheless, there are some wonderfully weird moments and images.
June 6, 2021
Is it weird that I didn’t know that this book was a weird but sci-fi retelling of Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier? Probably not, considering the fact that I haven’t read that book. Oh, well. It’s the kind of after the fact information that sometimes bothers me. This time, it didn’t.
Skyward Inn is a place where people come to contemplate about the times and their lives, it’s a place where people come to after a day of hard work on the farm and to taste the local brew. On the surface, everything is so astonishingly normal that it’s a bit unnerving, especially considering the fact that this is all happening on a different world. A world where there’s spaceports but people in this story have decided to have nothing to do with it. The history of this planet and Earth is not pretty and everybody seems to be ignoring that in favour of living a simple life. Even though one of the people at the inn is Isley, who is Qitan and does his cooking and brewing on his own. The local humans accept him though, because he’s like them, he’s just like them. He cooks well and brews well, there’s peace in their village why would they alienate him? Jem, the other owner of the inn, is a veteran of the war that brought ‘peace’. The planet Qita and its history with humans is not a pretty one but there’s nothing they can do about it but live apart from the coalition and the Western Protectorate.
Of course, nothing stays peaceful for long. A stranger comes to the village and to the Inn with a plea for help that shakes the peaceful facade that the villagers have built around themselves. There is the reminder of the not-so-peaceful past and uncertain future. I think the thing I enjoyed the most in this novel was the slight feeling of something being off the whole time I was reading it. The pace of the writing and the overall image it creates is a sleepy and almost languid one and I loved that. I truly didn’t realise that the pace was not gonna be a thing in this book and perhaps that disappointed me a bit but overall, the writing really won me over. This is not a book you go in for action and fast pace, it’s far more character focused and imaginative in a slightly eerie way.
Overall, I really loved the writing style and the characters’ interactions and would love to read more by this author. I still can’t let go of the slightly off, unsettling tone of the whole book, I wonder if that’s the case with all of Aliya Whiteley’s writing.
Skyward Inn is a place where people come to contemplate about the times and their lives, it’s a place where people come to after a day of hard work on the farm and to taste the local brew. On the surface, everything is so astonishingly normal that it’s a bit unnerving, especially considering the fact that this is all happening on a different world. A world where there’s spaceports but people in this story have decided to have nothing to do with it. The history of this planet and Earth is not pretty and everybody seems to be ignoring that in favour of living a simple life. Even though one of the people at the inn is Isley, who is Qitan and does his cooking and brewing on his own. The local humans accept him though, because he’s like them, he’s just like them. He cooks well and brews well, there’s peace in their village why would they alienate him? Jem, the other owner of the inn, is a veteran of the war that brought ‘peace’. The planet Qita and its history with humans is not a pretty one but there’s nothing they can do about it but live apart from the coalition and the Western Protectorate.
Of course, nothing stays peaceful for long. A stranger comes to the village and to the Inn with a plea for help that shakes the peaceful facade that the villagers have built around themselves. There is the reminder of the not-so-peaceful past and uncertain future. I think the thing I enjoyed the most in this novel was the slight feeling of something being off the whole time I was reading it. The pace of the writing and the overall image it creates is a sleepy and almost languid one and I loved that. I truly didn’t realise that the pace was not gonna be a thing in this book and perhaps that disappointed me a bit but overall, the writing really won me over. This is not a book you go in for action and fast pace, it’s far more character focused and imaginative in a slightly eerie way.
Overall, I really loved the writing style and the characters’ interactions and would love to read more by this author. I still can’t let go of the slightly off, unsettling tone of the whole book, I wonder if that’s the case with all of Aliya Whiteley’s writing.
February 6, 2023
(3.5) At some point in the future, what was once Devon is now part of the Western Protectorate, a rural enclave where people live quietly and simply, rejecting otherwise-common advances such as space travel and brain implants. Human Jem runs Skyward Inn with Isley, an alien from the peaceful planet Qita. When another Qitan turns up asking for Isley’s help, their fragile relationship is put under strain. Meanwhile, Jem’s semi-estranged son Fosse develops a fascination with three strangers who have set up home on an unoccupied farm. The two threads are brought together when a strange illness starts to spread across the Protectorate. If I describe it as a sci-fi Jamaica Inn meets Society (1989), I’m only partly joking: the book’s tagline – ‘this is a place where we can be alone, together’ – takes on increasing significance as the plot progresses, becoming a motto that encapsulates so many aspects of what this story is about.
The nature of Jem’s feelings for Isley (she loves him, but their relationship has never got very far, partly because of the difference in human and Qitan perspectives on concepts like love) is brilliantly realised, and exemplifies the emotional heft I associate with Whiteley’s writing. Fosse is a tougher nut to crack; for much of the book I didn’t feel like I had any sense of who he was or what motivated him, perhaps because of the distance created by the stripped-back third-person narration. This changes later – in one of Skyward Inn’s best sequences, an older Fosse explores Qita with a memorable guide. This is a fresh, thoughtful sci-fi novel with some unpredictable turns, albeit not as personally resonant for me as Greensmith was.
The nature of Jem’s feelings for Isley (she loves him, but their relationship has never got very far, partly because of the difference in human and Qitan perspectives on concepts like love) is brilliantly realised, and exemplifies the emotional heft I associate with Whiteley’s writing. Fosse is a tougher nut to crack; for much of the book I didn’t feel like I had any sense of who he was or what motivated him, perhaps because of the distance created by the stripped-back third-person narration. This changes later – in one of Skyward Inn’s best sequences, an older Fosse explores Qita with a memorable guide. This is a fresh, thoughtful sci-fi novel with some unpredictable turns, albeit not as personally resonant for me as Greensmith was.
February 27, 2021
A few weeks ago I read, enjoyed, and reviewed Aliya Whiteley’s ‘The Secret Life of Fungi’, so when I was caught in the throes of a late-night @netgalley binge, spotted this striking cover and recognised the name (and after a quick Google, confirmed that they were the same person and that Aliya is a fairly prolific author of Sci-Fi and speculative fiction), I was really intrigued.
The synopsis is sparse and, having now finished it, I’m similarly stumped on how to describe this book. It’s the kind of story that leaves you feeling strangely sluggish and foggy-headed when you turn the final (in this case, electronic) page. My head is still whirring with the utter strangeness and unsettling nature of this book, still unpacking the various layers of meaning and turning over the various, complex character relationships that I think really made this unusual story so compelling.
I loved the evocative prose, the stark contrasts between the utterly alien world of Qita, and the familiarity of The Protectorate (once known as Devon) back on Earth. The world-building is almost as sparse as the synopsis, leaving plenty of gaping holes for the reader to fill with imagination and speculation, and what is explained is unraveled at a sleepy, tantalising pace. This is very much a character-driven narrative and it was the interactions between those characters that really captured my imagination, particularly the strange nature of the relationship between Jem and Isley, proprietors of the Skyward Inn.
It seems to be receiving mixed feedback so far which doesn’t surprise me in the least. This won’t be for everyone, it’s languidly paced and when it does really hit its stride, distinctly strange and unsettling but I really enjoyed it. It’s certainly not often that I feel this level of urgency to scribble down my thoughts before they lose their sharpness.
Described as ‘Jamaica Inn by way of Vandermeer, Le Guin, Carter and Michel Faber’, I’d like to speak to the validity of the comparisons but I haven’t read any of them!
Huge thanks to @netgalley and @rebellionpublishing for my early copy. Out on the 18th March.
The synopsis is sparse and, having now finished it, I’m similarly stumped on how to describe this book. It’s the kind of story that leaves you feeling strangely sluggish and foggy-headed when you turn the final (in this case, electronic) page. My head is still whirring with the utter strangeness and unsettling nature of this book, still unpacking the various layers of meaning and turning over the various, complex character relationships that I think really made this unusual story so compelling.
I loved the evocative prose, the stark contrasts between the utterly alien world of Qita, and the familiarity of The Protectorate (once known as Devon) back on Earth. The world-building is almost as sparse as the synopsis, leaving plenty of gaping holes for the reader to fill with imagination and speculation, and what is explained is unraveled at a sleepy, tantalising pace. This is very much a character-driven narrative and it was the interactions between those characters that really captured my imagination, particularly the strange nature of the relationship between Jem and Isley, proprietors of the Skyward Inn.
It seems to be receiving mixed feedback so far which doesn’t surprise me in the least. This won’t be for everyone, it’s languidly paced and when it does really hit its stride, distinctly strange and unsettling but I really enjoyed it. It’s certainly not often that I feel this level of urgency to scribble down my thoughts before they lose their sharpness.
Described as ‘Jamaica Inn by way of Vandermeer, Le Guin, Carter and Michel Faber’, I’d like to speak to the validity of the comparisons but I haven’t read any of them!
Huge thanks to @netgalley and @rebellionpublishing for my early copy. Out on the 18th March.
January 11, 2021
In England's rural Southwest, the Protectorate has annexed itself from the Coalition of world powers. Jem, a veteran of the interplanetary war with the Qitans, runs the Skyward Inn, the Protectorate’s community hub.
The novel contemplates belonging, othering (domestic and galactic), and how we process uncomfortable truths. Reference or metaphor is made also to conspiracy theories, resistance to change, language use(s), the living world, evolution and primordial soup.
Whiteley's characters are real and affecting. She adroitly handles non-linear time, and melds the humdrum with the perilous: the minutes of weekly Council meetings record decisions taken on the use of surplus apples in schools, alongside quarantine regulations against an unidentified disease.
The author's previous works include The Secret Life of Fungi: Discoveries From A Hidden World (non-fiction) and The Beauty (fiction), and here she shows her interest in the collective remains unabated.
Original and thought-provoking.
My thanks to NetGalley and Solaris for the ARC.
The novel contemplates belonging, othering (domestic and galactic), and how we process uncomfortable truths. Reference or metaphor is made also to conspiracy theories, resistance to change, language use(s), the living world, evolution and primordial soup.
Whiteley's characters are real and affecting. She adroitly handles non-linear time, and melds the humdrum with the perilous: the minutes of weekly Council meetings record decisions taken on the use of surplus apples in schools, alongside quarantine regulations against an unidentified disease.
The author's previous works include The Secret Life of Fungi: Discoveries From A Hidden World (non-fiction) and The Beauty (fiction), and here she shows her interest in the collective remains unabated.
Original and thought-provoking.
My thanks to NetGalley and Solaris for the ARC.
March 13, 2021
I'm not really sure what I think about this book. The prose lends this post-war, alien contact, bigotry, anti-technology, dysfunctional family, connection, body horror, coming of age narrative a dreamy quality. There’s also a slow ratcheting up of dread, and some revulsion, all served up in big glasses of brew.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a review.
January 26, 2022
7/10 stars
I requested Whiteley’s novel after I’ve read her collection of short stories, From the Neck Up and Other Stories. These were unusual, dark and difficult to classify, straddling the border between horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Not all of them were great, but they were unique enough for me to want to read more, with questions concerning identity and humanity, and a significant dose of body horror thrown in the mix. And so I picked up Skyward Inn, whose blurb admittedly didn’t sound too interesting – I gave it a pass the first time it was available, because it just seemed like another generic “alien encounter” novel. But after reading the short stories I reconsidered: nothing written by Whiteley could be really generic.
My hunch proved correct; Skyward Inn is certainly not your typical “alien encounter” or “first contact” novel, though it is that, too. It starts innocuously enough, with a pair of unlikely partners, a human woman Jem and a Qitan called Isley, managing the titular inn located in a rural and secluded part of Devon that seceded from Earth after Earth invaded Qita. Jem is a veteran of that conflict, filled with regrets and unrealized longings; Isley is her Qitan mirror, similarly disenchanted, similarly filled with vague hope for better future, or a slice of happiness that may never come. They are surrounded by others: Fosse, Jem’s son abandoned by her after birth and raised by her parents and later her brother, Dom; Dom, locked in eternal conflict of unbridgeable differences with her sister; inhabitants of the Western Protectorate, seemingly technologically locked in 19th century and behaving as if they moved back in time to the slowly tamed Wild West.
They all seem content enough, drinking their fill of Qitan main export, a special brew that brings back memories and sharpens emotions, until an unexpected and unwanted visit from Isley’s acquaintance throws the situation entirely off balance; the sudden appearance of this additional presence acts like a catalyst for the whole Qita-Earth relationship, forcing a far-reaching redefinition of their common history – and their future.
Saying anything more would constitute a spoiler, so I’ll stop myself here. Let me focus instead on this novel’s strengths and weaknesses, as it has abundance of both.
Whiteley has a penchant for slow-paced infusion of the weird into everyday life. She’s very skilled at building a feeling of unease and tension, of presenting everyday situations in a way that awakens questions and anxiety. This novel is no exception. Written in a deceptively simple yet quite poetic way, it creates a depth of history filled mostly with negative emotions: regret, dislike, old conflicts, mistrust, defeat. I’ll be honest: I didn’t like any of the characters at the beginning, and nothing that happened in the novel made me warm up to them. They are flawed and seem wilfully locked in their misery, never trying to change, resigned to defeat even before it happens. But I did feel empathy, and pity, and understanding – and I think that may be more important in the long run.
Whiteley has been compared to Le Guin, Faber, and Vandermeer, but I don’t think these comparisons do her justice; for me, most comparisons with Le Guin are certain to bring disappointment and this novel is no exception. While Whiteley deals with similar themes and topics, certainly in discussion with Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, she gives them her own spin: fills them with keen attention, or even obsession, with body and its secretions, and is focused more on the peculiarities of individual relationships than humanity’s peculiarities per se. That said, I felt a bit underwhelmed by her portrayal of these relationships; maybe I just like a bit more hope in my books, while the whole air of this novel is subdued, melancholy, and slightly dispiriting. Or maybe it’s my view of the choice Whiteley presents here: I’m hard-pressed to find anything positive in it ;).
[...]
Skyward Inn is an imaginative, slow-paced and increasingly creepy trip down the rabbit hole of alienness in all the various meanings of the word – a first contact story in which “contact” becomes much more important than “first.”
I have received a copy of this book from the publisher Rebellion through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I requested Whiteley’s novel after I’ve read her collection of short stories, From the Neck Up and Other Stories. These were unusual, dark and difficult to classify, straddling the border between horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Not all of them were great, but they were unique enough for me to want to read more, with questions concerning identity and humanity, and a significant dose of body horror thrown in the mix. And so I picked up Skyward Inn, whose blurb admittedly didn’t sound too interesting – I gave it a pass the first time it was available, because it just seemed like another generic “alien encounter” novel. But after reading the short stories I reconsidered: nothing written by Whiteley could be really generic.
My hunch proved correct; Skyward Inn is certainly not your typical “alien encounter” or “first contact” novel, though it is that, too. It starts innocuously enough, with a pair of unlikely partners, a human woman Jem and a Qitan called Isley, managing the titular inn located in a rural and secluded part of Devon that seceded from Earth after Earth invaded Qita. Jem is a veteran of that conflict, filled with regrets and unrealized longings; Isley is her Qitan mirror, similarly disenchanted, similarly filled with vague hope for better future, or a slice of happiness that may never come. They are surrounded by others: Fosse, Jem’s son abandoned by her after birth and raised by her parents and later her brother, Dom; Dom, locked in eternal conflict of unbridgeable differences with her sister; inhabitants of the Western Protectorate, seemingly technologically locked in 19th century and behaving as if they moved back in time to the slowly tamed Wild West.
They all seem content enough, drinking their fill of Qitan main export, a special brew that brings back memories and sharpens emotions, until an unexpected and unwanted visit from Isley’s acquaintance throws the situation entirely off balance; the sudden appearance of this additional presence acts like a catalyst for the whole Qita-Earth relationship, forcing a far-reaching redefinition of their common history – and their future.
Saying anything more would constitute a spoiler, so I’ll stop myself here. Let me focus instead on this novel’s strengths and weaknesses, as it has abundance of both.
Whiteley has a penchant for slow-paced infusion of the weird into everyday life. She’s very skilled at building a feeling of unease and tension, of presenting everyday situations in a way that awakens questions and anxiety. This novel is no exception. Written in a deceptively simple yet quite poetic way, it creates a depth of history filled mostly with negative emotions: regret, dislike, old conflicts, mistrust, defeat. I’ll be honest: I didn’t like any of the characters at the beginning, and nothing that happened in the novel made me warm up to them. They are flawed and seem wilfully locked in their misery, never trying to change, resigned to defeat even before it happens. But I did feel empathy, and pity, and understanding – and I think that may be more important in the long run.
Whiteley has been compared to Le Guin, Faber, and Vandermeer, but I don’t think these comparisons do her justice; for me, most comparisons with Le Guin are certain to bring disappointment and this novel is no exception. While Whiteley deals with similar themes and topics, certainly in discussion with Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, she gives them her own spin: fills them with keen attention, or even obsession, with body and its secretions, and is focused more on the peculiarities of individual relationships than humanity’s peculiarities per se. That said, I felt a bit underwhelmed by her portrayal of these relationships; maybe I just like a bit more hope in my books, while the whole air of this novel is subdued, melancholy, and slightly dispiriting. Or maybe it’s my view of the choice Whiteley presents here: I’m hard-pressed to find anything positive in it ;).
[...]
Skyward Inn is an imaginative, slow-paced and increasingly creepy trip down the rabbit hole of alienness in all the various meanings of the word – a first contact story in which “contact” becomes much more important than “first.”
I have received a copy of this book from the publisher Rebellion through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2022
Netgalley ARC
This began as a sweet, meandering story telling of a woman, Jem, and her alien friend, Isley, running a pub together in rural Devon reminiscing about their time where they met on planet Qitan. They now live in the Western Protectorate that is separate from the rest of the world that has amalgamated after the invasion of Qitan. The WP is purposefully turned its back on modern technology and world politics. The only new product is the brew that Isley makes at the Skyward Inn that all the locals love.
We follow the lives of Jem, her brother who is head of their town and her son as they live in rural isolation and how they each navigate this lifestyle. Then Won arrives from Isley's past and triggers an unimaginable future.
This was a lovely read. The characters were fleshed out and I wanted to follow their individual paths through this new world to see how they developed. The world building was subtle and easy to absorb, which is rare in some sci-fi I've read. The creep factor builds so subtly you only realise too late. This was an engaging look at how humans and aliens could meet and coexist. This book combines so many arcs but does it so well it's hard to separate them; belonging, love, coming of age, loneliness, passion, fear.
This began as a sweet, meandering story telling of a woman, Jem, and her alien friend, Isley, running a pub together in rural Devon reminiscing about their time where they met on planet Qitan. They now live in the Western Protectorate that is separate from the rest of the world that has amalgamated after the invasion of Qitan. The WP is purposefully turned its back on modern technology and world politics. The only new product is the brew that Isley makes at the Skyward Inn that all the locals love.
We follow the lives of Jem, her brother who is head of their town and her son as they live in rural isolation and how they each navigate this lifestyle. Then Won arrives from Isley's past and triggers an unimaginable future.
This was a lovely read. The characters were fleshed out and I wanted to follow their individual paths through this new world to see how they developed. The world building was subtle and easy to absorb, which is rare in some sci-fi I've read. The creep factor builds so subtly you only realise too late. This was an engaging look at how humans and aliens could meet and coexist. This book combines so many arcs but does it so well it's hard to separate them; belonging, love, coming of age, loneliness, passion, fear.
February 11, 2021
Skyward Inn was certainly unique. I took a few days after I finished reading this book to collect my thoughts and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel. On the one hand, Aliya Whiteley succeeded at creating an engaging novel that captivates the reader. I was thoroughly invested in the story and I didn't want to put the book down, however, I'm not sure if that's a credit to the actual writing or simply an indication of how confused I was and much I wanted answers. I was a bit irked by the alternating points-of-view (Jem's was first person, yet Fosse's was third person) and I thought that some unnecessary elements were added simply to unsettle the reader, when the surrealist nature of the book would have been sufficiently unsettling on it's own. I really could have done without Fosse's masturbatory scenes at the farm and the rather distasteful revelation about "brew" and bodily fluids. There was also a sudden and unexplained timeline shift toward the end of the book that didn't feel all that effective as a plot device.
Initially, the book seemed to be a commentary about colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples, their land and their resources. When the "Kissing Gates" appear on Earth, humans immediately seize the opportunity to mount a military incursion on the planet of Qita. They then take advantage of the Qitan's peaceful nature in order to appropriate the planet's resources and bring them back to Earth. The author also makes a powerful statement about the nature of assimilation and how little choice people are often given in the matter.
Most of the story is set in the Western Protectorate, which seceded from the UK and rejected all modern technology following the appearance of the Kissing Gates. I thought that the Western Protectorate beautifully encapsulated the concept of hiraeth, a Welsh word with no true English equivalent that can be translated as a "longing for a home that no longer exists or never was". Many characters in the book have an idealized, nostalgic view of the Protectorate that they try to cling to even if change is inevitable. I think that in our rapidly changing world, where technology seems to take precedence, the desire for simpler times will resonate with a lot of readers.
At then end of the day, I do think that Skyward Inn is a worthwhile read. Stylistically, it's quite different from other books on the market and the content will challenge the reader's perceptions and leave them thinking long after they finish reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris Books for providing this ARC.
Initially, the book seemed to be a commentary about colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous peoples, their land and their resources. When the "Kissing Gates" appear on Earth, humans immediately seize the opportunity to mount a military incursion on the planet of Qita. They then take advantage of the Qitan's peaceful nature in order to appropriate the planet's resources and bring them back to Earth. The author also makes a powerful statement about the nature of assimilation and how little choice people are often given in the matter.
Most of the story is set in the Western Protectorate, which seceded from the UK and rejected all modern technology following the appearance of the Kissing Gates. I thought that the Western Protectorate beautifully encapsulated the concept of hiraeth, a Welsh word with no true English equivalent that can be translated as a "longing for a home that no longer exists or never was". Many characters in the book have an idealized, nostalgic view of the Protectorate that they try to cling to even if change is inevitable. I think that in our rapidly changing world, where technology seems to take precedence, the desire for simpler times will resonate with a lot of readers.
At then end of the day, I do think that Skyward Inn is a worthwhile read. Stylistically, it's quite different from other books on the market and the content will challenge the reader's perceptions and leave them thinking long after they finish reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris Books for providing this ARC.
March 2, 2021
Skyward Inn // by Aliya Whiteley
I have been somewhat dreading writing this review because days after finishing this book, I am still not entirely sure what to think about it. It seems that every time I go back to contemplating it, I figure out something new. I usually do not read other people's reviews of a book either until mine is written so that their opinions cannot influence mine but I even broke that self-imposed rule this time. And again, every time I read one, I find out something new about this book that I didn't realize before. So it obviously isn't a story that is just not that great. It is a story that has multiple hidden layers that are slowly peeled back the more you think about it. I am not used to reading books like that so it has been an interesting experience for me. I've never been a fan of star ratings but I am forced to choose one but please do not pay too much attention to that because I just did not know which to go with.
At its very surface, this is the story of a mother and son, first contact with an alien species, the relationship between humans and that species, and a disease that forces much of Earth to go into quarantine. Peel it back a little though and you will see in more detail the struggle of fitting in for several people and how that affects their lives differently. Rather than seeing a weird inter-species emotional relationship, you'll understand the reason for the physical distance between the characters. And what about the peaceful meeting of two species that surprised everyone? It took me until the very end of the book to understand this things just weren't what they seemed.
I am used to much more detail in the SFF books that I read so at first I was pretty underwhelmed by this book. Nonetheless, the weirdness and relative short length compelled me to read it relatively quickly, which then allowed plenty of time for me to sit there stunned. Whiteley impressed me with the way she incorporated community, belonging, individuality, colonialism, othering, fear, adventurism, and so much more into this short book with language that makes you feel as if you are reading a philosophical book. I don't have much experience with experimental sci-fi but if that is what this book is, then I at least know that I want more of it because I love a book that makes me think about it longer after I finish it.
But despite this uniqueness and thought-provoking writing, I was also surprised that an author that for the most part seemed to be so intentional with their writing would spend time on scenes that just to me felt unnecessary. We know that sex is on many teenagers' minds but the detail of masturbation just felt very out of place to me personally. Is this just another one of those things that I'll learn to understand later on? Maybe during a reread even? I don't know. But it did throw me off and kept me at a distance emotionally for a long time because I wasn't sure anymore if this was the kind of book I really wanted to be reading at that time. It just felt like it was there more for the shock factor than character development or anything else.
Also, despite reading the synopsis beforehand, I wasn't 100% of the location at the start either. Was there another planet aside from Quita and Earth where the inn was located? Were there more species than Quitans and humans that we needed to know about? Is the appearance of Quitans much different to that of humans and could that affect relationships between the species? As I said above, I am used to much more detail in my usual books and while I can see how the lack of it can be very thought-provoking, which for the most part has been very well done in this book, I still think that adding a little bit more detail in certain areas would have helped me get more invested in the story overall.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have been somewhat dreading writing this review because days after finishing this book, I am still not entirely sure what to think about it. It seems that every time I go back to contemplating it, I figure out something new. I usually do not read other people's reviews of a book either until mine is written so that their opinions cannot influence mine but I even broke that self-imposed rule this time. And again, every time I read one, I find out something new about this book that I didn't realize before. So it obviously isn't a story that is just not that great. It is a story that has multiple hidden layers that are slowly peeled back the more you think about it. I am not used to reading books like that so it has been an interesting experience for me. I've never been a fan of star ratings but I am forced to choose one but please do not pay too much attention to that because I just did not know which to go with.
At its very surface, this is the story of a mother and son, first contact with an alien species, the relationship between humans and that species, and a disease that forces much of Earth to go into quarantine. Peel it back a little though and you will see in more detail the struggle of fitting in for several people and how that affects their lives differently. Rather than seeing a weird inter-species emotional relationship, you'll understand the reason for the physical distance between the characters. And what about the peaceful meeting of two species that surprised everyone? It took me until the very end of the book to understand this things just weren't what they seemed.
I am used to much more detail in the SFF books that I read so at first I was pretty underwhelmed by this book. Nonetheless, the weirdness and relative short length compelled me to read it relatively quickly, which then allowed plenty of time for me to sit there stunned. Whiteley impressed me with the way she incorporated community, belonging, individuality, colonialism, othering, fear, adventurism, and so much more into this short book with language that makes you feel as if you are reading a philosophical book. I don't have much experience with experimental sci-fi but if that is what this book is, then I at least know that I want more of it because I love a book that makes me think about it longer after I finish it.
But despite this uniqueness and thought-provoking writing, I was also surprised that an author that for the most part seemed to be so intentional with their writing would spend time on scenes that just to me felt unnecessary. We know that sex is on many teenagers' minds but the detail of masturbation just felt very out of place to me personally. Is this just another one of those things that I'll learn to understand later on? Maybe during a reread even? I don't know. But it did throw me off and kept me at a distance emotionally for a long time because I wasn't sure anymore if this was the kind of book I really wanted to be reading at that time. It just felt like it was there more for the shock factor than character development or anything else.
Also, despite reading the synopsis beforehand, I wasn't 100% of the location at the start either. Was there another planet aside from Quita and Earth where the inn was located? Were there more species than Quitans and humans that we needed to know about? Is the appearance of Quitans much different to that of humans and could that affect relationships between the species? As I said above, I am used to much more detail in my usual books and while I can see how the lack of it can be very thought-provoking, which for the most part has been very well done in this book, I still think that adding a little bit more detail in certain areas would have helped me get more invested in the story overall.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
arcs
December 9, 2020Thanks to NetGalley and Solaris (Rebellion) for providing an ARC!
February 21, 2021
I'm still losing my mind a little bit with this book but first of all, thanks to Rebellion Publishing for sending me a copy of this book for review!
Do you Dream of Terra-Two meets Annihilation
So, let me tell you the story about why I requested this book. I though that it was going to be one of those philosophical sci-fis, filled with metaphors, the meaning of humanity, etc. I was looking for something similar to Do You Dream of Terra-Two and boy, oh boy, was I right and wrong.
We start following Jem, who owns the Skyward Inn along with Isley, both of them from diferent sides of the war between the Qitans and humans. One day another Qitan named Won, shows up and things start to get weird. Little did I know about the turn this book will take.
When I started Skyward Inn I knew I was going to enjoy it and at the beginning it drag a little bit for my taste, I was pretty sure I was going to give it 3 stars but DAMN WAS I WRONG. Towards the middle of the book we are still given a lot of metaphorical thinking, usually through Jem consuming the Brew, a drink that makes you, how can we call it? More peaceful. But things take a turn when others strangers show up, quarantine is being imposed in some zones because of a weird disease and something really weird is going on in Qita.
Every single character felt extremelly real also and I really liked the writing style and the narration in general, mostly because I really enjoy this type of, let's call it, philosophical reads. So maybe this might not be for you, but try it anyway, because the ending really blew my mind and I think it's the best part of the novel!
I wish I could tell you more but I really want to keep this spoiler free, still the most important question is in the back of the book.
Did humanity really win the war?
Do you Dream of Terra-Two meets Annihilation
So, let me tell you the story about why I requested this book. I though that it was going to be one of those philosophical sci-fis, filled with metaphors, the meaning of humanity, etc. I was looking for something similar to Do You Dream of Terra-Two and boy, oh boy, was I right and wrong.
We start following Jem, who owns the Skyward Inn along with Isley, both of them from diferent sides of the war between the Qitans and humans. One day another Qitan named Won, shows up and things start to get weird. Little did I know about the turn this book will take.
When I started Skyward Inn I knew I was going to enjoy it and at the beginning it drag a little bit for my taste, I was pretty sure I was going to give it 3 stars but DAMN WAS I WRONG. Towards the middle of the book we are still given a lot of metaphorical thinking, usually through Jem consuming the Brew, a drink that makes you, how can we call it? More peaceful. But things take a turn when others strangers show up, quarantine is being imposed in some zones because of a weird disease and something really weird is going on in Qita.
Every single character felt extremelly real also and I really liked the writing style and the narration in general, mostly because I really enjoy this type of, let's call it, philosophical reads. So maybe this might not be for you, but try it anyway, because the ending really blew my mind and I think it's the best part of the novel!
I wish I could tell you more but I really want to keep this spoiler free, still the most important question is in the back of the book.
Did humanity really win the war?
March 25, 2021
hmmm. How to describe this book...
Skyward Inn is set on Earth in the near/semi-distant future in a time after a big war and after we've made contact with an alien race via a gateway. Earth established a base on Qita in order to help collect natural resources from that planet. Many Earth troops were sent to "the raid" which ended up being kind of less than expected since the Qita seemed open and welcoming.
Back on Earth, veteran Jem lives in The Protectorate, a corner of England where a group of people have closed themselves off from the rest of the world in an effort to live in the "old way" with reduced/no technology. Jem operates the Skyward Inn, where she serves up brew with her partner Isley, a native of Qita. Then an old friend of Isley's shows up asking for help.
So, this was definitely a slow burn and a more literary approach to sci-fi. It starts much more about life on Earth in The Protectorate and how Jem, her son, and other residents are getting along with life.
There is some prejudice against Isley since he is from Qita and Jem tries to push back on that. The premise held promise for me but didn't quite gel for me in the end . I will poke around and see what else this author has available because I see a spark of something I like there. :)
What to listen to while reading...
Alien Days by MGMT
A Lot's Gonna Change by Weyes Blood
Call it Fate, Call it Karma by The Strokes
Space Song by Beach House
Love and Truth by Mother Mother
Summer Breeze by The Isley Brothers
Across the Universe by The Beatles
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
March 5, 2021
Welcome to the Skyward Inn ... not just a pub but really a meeting hall for locals to commiserate while imbibing the "alien brew" . The brew actually is addictive and warps time and space for its user. The pub is located in the Western Protectorate, an area that has succeeded from England and prefers to live without modern technology. The proprietors are Jem and Isley, an alien from Qita. Jem returned from the Quitan encounter with her "soul mate" Isley in tow. She abandoned her son Fosse to be raised by her brother, while she explored the stars with the "invading" Earth contingency. Rather than conquer the Qitans, they apparently reached an accord to share the resource-rich world. Even though Jem and her son Fosse now share the same small area they remain distant and aloof .... apparently this is the prevailing emotion of a large swath of the locals. A foreboding uneasiness and uncertainty pervades the narrative. In the background, there is talk of an expanding plague that leads to ever increasing size and necessity for quarantines.
Whiteley proves to astound with her masterful and lyrical prose. However, the pacing is extremely languid and is magnified due to lack of character development and growth. Although multiple themes (friendship, relationships, colonization, and coexistence ) are explored this is certainly not a compelling page-turner. Perhaps future novels will benefit from brisker pacing and richer character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion & Solaris Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Whiteley proves to astound with her masterful and lyrical prose. However, the pacing is extremely languid and is magnified due to lack of character development and growth. Although multiple themes (friendship, relationships, colonization, and coexistence ) are explored this is certainly not a compelling page-turner. Perhaps future novels will benefit from brisker pacing and richer character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion & Solaris Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2021
Welcome to the Skyward Inn ... not just a pub but really a meeting hall for locals to commiserate while imbibing the "alien brew" . The brew actually is addictive and warps time and space for its user. The pub is located in the Western Protectorate, an area that has succeeded from England and prefers to live without modern technology. The proprietors are Jem and Isley, an alien from Qita. Jem returned from the Quitan encounter with her "soul mate" Isley in tow. She abandoned her son Fosse to be raised by her brother, while she explored the stars with the "invading" Earth contingency. Rather than conquer the Qitans, they apparently reached an accord to share the resource-rich world. Even though Jem and her son Fosse now share the same small area they remain distant and aloof .... apparently this is the prevailing emotion of a large swath of the locals. A foreboding uneasiness and uncertainty pervades the narrative. In the background, there is talk of an expanding plague that leads to ever increasing size and necessity for quarantines.
Whiteley proves to astound with her masterful and lyrical prose. However, the pacing is extremely languid and is magnified due to lack of character development and growth. Although multiple themes (friendship, relationships, colonization, and coexistence ) are explored this is certainly not a compelling page-turner. Perhaps future novels will benefit from brisker pacing and richer character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion & Solaris Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Whiteley proves to astound with her masterful and lyrical prose. However, the pacing is extremely languid and is magnified due to lack of character development and growth. Although multiple themes (friendship, relationships, colonization, and coexistence ) are explored this is certainly not a compelling page-turner. Perhaps future novels will benefit from brisker pacing and richer character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion & Solaris Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2021
هرچی هم بگن کتابو از رو جلدش قضاوت نکنین بازم من انقدر جذب جلد بعضی کتابا میشم که توقعم از محتواشون هم بالا میره و انتظار دارم به اندازه جلدشون لذت بخش باشن.
این کتاب نه خیلی بد بود نه خیلی خوب. از اوناس که اوایل کند پیش میره اما از یه جایی به بعد یهو به خودت میای میبینی داره صبح میشه.
مدتیه مردد موندم که نظر نهاییم راجع بهش چیه و هنوز نمیدونم.
قول میدم بعدا راجع بهش بیشتر بنویسم. بعدا یعنی وقتی که دو تا کتابی که نویسندش ازشون الهام گرفته رو بخونم:
Jamaica Inn - Daphne de Murier
The Left Hand of Darkness -Ursula le Guin
این ها هردو نویسنده های محبوبی برای من هستن و شاید دلیل دیگه ای که باعث میشه اونجور که باید از این کتاب خوشم نیومده باشه همین کپی کاری و قطعیت سطح پایینترش باشه.
این کتاب نه خیلی بد بود نه خیلی خوب. از اوناس که اوایل کند پیش میره اما از یه جایی به بعد یهو به خودت میای میبینی داره صبح میشه.
مدتیه مردد موندم که نظر نهاییم راجع بهش چیه و هنوز نمیدونم.
قول میدم بعدا راجع بهش بیشتر بنویسم. بعدا یعنی وقتی که دو تا کتابی که نویسندش ازشون الهام گرفته رو بخونم:
Jamaica Inn - Daphne de Murier
The Left Hand of Darkness -Ursula le Guin
این ها هردو نویسنده های محبوبی برای من هستن و شاید دلیل دیگه ای که باعث میشه اونجور که باید از این کتاب خوشم نیومده باشه همین کپی کاری و قطعیت سطح پایینترش باشه.
March 9, 2022
A book very much of two halves. The first, set in the pub of an unassuming, low technology village in Dorset had some intriguing references to things taking place elsewhere and a resident alien to pique the reader's interest. But it was so slow and the characters unappealing, that I almost gave up on several occasions. The latter half of the book picks up, as we learn that the aliens that humanity have encountered are up to something, but its all too disjointed and there are some big questions left unanswered. The ending felt a little forced and I remained confused about what was going on. The last couple of pages are a mystery. Avoid it if you like your novels more literal.
May 3, 2021
This is the most unexpected read. What an ending. It starts in one place, and ends up somewhere totally different. Covering themes around community, belonging, independence, choice and conflict, I am still unsure whether the ending is a 'good' or a 'bad' thing, or even who the 'villain' is, in the end. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and the sense of realism, that this could be a future, not far from our own. Recommended if you enjoy or fancy a quick sci-fi with some big-thinking elements.
Want to read
March 12, 2021Skyward Inn has immediate resonance - the characters leap off the page all feelings and frustrations and fears - and I think I’m going to really enjoy it when I’m in the right mood to engage with it. Sadly that’s not this week, so I’m laying it aside for a bit so that I can do it justice.
January 15, 2025
2.5
ENGLISH VERSION BELOW
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Skyward Inn von Aliya Whiteley ist ein ungewöhnliches und anspruchsvolles Buch, das durch seinen hervorragenden Schreibstil überzeugt. Die Geschichte entfaltet sich langsam und setzt auf eine surreale Atmosphäre, die zum Nachdenken anregt. Besonders das Ende hinterlässt einen bleibenden Eindruck und verleiht dem Buch emotionale Tiefe. Das Ende, welches mich sehr berührt hat, hat für mich das Buch auch gerettet.
Trotz dieser Stärken bleibt der Zugang zur Handlung schwierig, insbesondere für Leser:innen, die mit spekulativer Science-Fiction wenig vertraut sind. Die Mischung aus persönlichen Dramen, philosophischen Fragen und surrealen Elementen erfordert Geduld und Offenheit für Interpretationen.
Für mich war es ein schwieriges Buch. Ich mag Science-Fiction selten. Ich bin auch kein Fan von zu viel offenen Fragen, Spekulationen, mangelnden Erklärungen. Wer Bücher mag, die viel Raum für eigene Interpretationen lassen, wird Skyward Inn lieben. Wer es, wie ich, bevorzugt, dass Autor:innen ihre Gedanken hinter ihren Ideen ins Buch einbauen, wird sich eher durch das Buch quälen.
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Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley is an unusual and challenging book that impresses with its excellent writing style. The story unfolds slowly, relying on a surreal atmosphere that encourages reflection. The ending, which deeply moved me, left a lasting impression and ultimately saved the book for me.
Despite its strengths, the narrative can be difficult to access, especially for readers unfamiliar with speculative science fiction. The blend of personal drama, philosophical questions, and surreal elements requires patience and a willingness to embrace open interpretations.
For me, it was a difficult read. I rarely enjoy science fiction. I’m also not a fan of too many unanswered questions, speculation, and a lack of explanations. Those who appreciate books that leave ample room for personal interpretation will love Skyward Inn. However, readers like me, who prefer authors to weave their thoughts and ideas more explicitly into the narrative, might find themselves struggling through it.
ENGLISH VERSION BELOW
---------------------------
Skyward Inn von Aliya Whiteley ist ein ungewöhnliches und anspruchsvolles Buch, das durch seinen hervorragenden Schreibstil überzeugt. Die Geschichte entfaltet sich langsam und setzt auf eine surreale Atmosphäre, die zum Nachdenken anregt. Besonders das Ende hinterlässt einen bleibenden Eindruck und verleiht dem Buch emotionale Tiefe. Das Ende, welches mich sehr berührt hat, hat für mich das Buch auch gerettet.
Trotz dieser Stärken bleibt der Zugang zur Handlung schwierig, insbesondere für Leser:innen, die mit spekulativer Science-Fiction wenig vertraut sind. Die Mischung aus persönlichen Dramen, philosophischen Fragen und surrealen Elementen erfordert Geduld und Offenheit für Interpretationen.
Für mich war es ein schwieriges Buch. Ich mag Science-Fiction selten. Ich bin auch kein Fan von zu viel offenen Fragen, Spekulationen, mangelnden Erklärungen. Wer Bücher mag, die viel Raum für eigene Interpretationen lassen, wird Skyward Inn lieben. Wer es, wie ich, bevorzugt, dass Autor:innen ihre Gedanken hinter ihren Ideen ins Buch einbauen, wird sich eher durch das Buch quälen.
---------------------------
---------------------------
Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley is an unusual and challenging book that impresses with its excellent writing style. The story unfolds slowly, relying on a surreal atmosphere that encourages reflection. The ending, which deeply moved me, left a lasting impression and ultimately saved the book for me.
Despite its strengths, the narrative can be difficult to access, especially for readers unfamiliar with speculative science fiction. The blend of personal drama, philosophical questions, and surreal elements requires patience and a willingness to embrace open interpretations.
For me, it was a difficult read. I rarely enjoy science fiction. I’m also not a fan of too many unanswered questions, speculation, and a lack of explanations. Those who appreciate books that leave ample room for personal interpretation will love Skyward Inn. However, readers like me, who prefer authors to weave their thoughts and ideas more explicitly into the narrative, might find themselves struggling through it.
March 20, 2021
Skyward Inn is proper mind-bending science fiction. I read a lot of SF which, while thrilling and fun, is basically... domesticated. People in space ships doing things. Apocalypses. Complex tactical books involving politics conspiracies and manoeuvring. Often, all of these at the same time. And they can be really great. But sometimes I miss a sense of deep weirdness, of unknowableness - a sense that Skyward Inn delivers in spades. The book won't be for everyone, but really did it for me.
In a near future, suffering (in a background way) from climate change, a gateway (the 'kissing gate') has opened in space, allowing travel to an alien world, Qita - an opportunity eagerly taken up by 'the coalition', a suppurate or alliance of states (it's never clear which - though in this future English has become a little regarded, minority language) with dream of conquest. Part of England, the 'Western Protectorate'; has seceded, either in principled opposition to this or possibly just to preserve a self-sufficient, bucolic way of life. Again, it's never clear.
Within the Protectorate, Jem and Isley run the Skyward Inn, serving Qitan 'brew' to the locals. Both are veterans of the war: Jem, a local woman who ran away to space and Isley, a Quitan. Jem is estranged from her son Fosse, who lives nearby with Jem's brother, Dom, a leader in the community.
It's a very simple setup, on the surface, but Whitely uses it to explore so much - ideas about family, about the structure of society, what it means to be human and our responsibilities to each other and to the world. I need to be careful what I say here because the book is one of those which achieves its effect slowly and incrementally. Things seem a bit odd from the start, when Fosse, slipping away to an abandoned farm to do what teenage boys do in private, encounters strangers who Arte, well, strange, but do him the great service of paying him attention, something he's not used to.
At the same time, another stranger, a visitor from Qita, appears at the Inn, needing help. There are suggestions here of prejudice and even violence: their existence must be kept secret. The arrival does, though, trigger Jem's memories of her time in Qita. They're strange, almost hallucinogenic, episodes involving her travels ostensibly involving nothing more than posting bland propaganda leaflets wherever she goes. We're primed for a significant encounter, or a misstep, perhaps the breaking of some cultural taboo, but what Jem was doing eventually turns out to be both more and less significant the that. Less, because there are no incidents, no misunderstandings, no politics or warfare. More, because, as becomes clear to another, later traveller to Qita, what Jem did was, actually, all-important.
In this book, intentions and unintended consequences bounce off one another. As the citizens of the Protectorate struggle to maintain their principled, isolated lifestyle, they're threatened from various directions: shortages of food, materials and medicines, an ominously spreading, mysterious disease which causes some areas to be quarantined, and those strangers that Fosse runs into. At the personal level things are tense between Fosse, Dom and Jem. A lot of family history is being buried as people hold to positions and talk past one another. And that stranger, Won, at the Inn also creates tensions and misunderstandings.
Just how strange all this gets, I can't say. I will say that's it's a growing, creeping weirdness. The alienness of the Qitans in this book is both less than we have been primed to accept by the run of SF - they don't excite horror by their appearance - and more, as we are eventually shown. In exploring both aspects Whiteley creates a truly compelling story, one where I simply didn't know what was going to happen (or, indeed, exactly what had happened!)
There is some gorgeous writing here, whether capturing the turbulence of adolescence ('He never thought he'd miss going to school, but being kept at home for a few days made Fosse aware that school offered a quiet, resilient shape to his day...'), the frustration of a woman torn between standing by her past decisions or attempting to remake her future or the gentleness and thoroughness of Dom checking a dog for injuries (yes, this book contains dogs!)
In short, reading Skyward Inn was a truly unsettling experience, but an immersive, wonder-filled one. It is a remarkable book.
In a near future, suffering (in a background way) from climate change, a gateway (the 'kissing gate') has opened in space, allowing travel to an alien world, Qita - an opportunity eagerly taken up by 'the coalition', a suppurate or alliance of states (it's never clear which - though in this future English has become a little regarded, minority language) with dream of conquest. Part of England, the 'Western Protectorate'; has seceded, either in principled opposition to this or possibly just to preserve a self-sufficient, bucolic way of life. Again, it's never clear.
Within the Protectorate, Jem and Isley run the Skyward Inn, serving Qitan 'brew' to the locals. Both are veterans of the war: Jem, a local woman who ran away to space and Isley, a Quitan. Jem is estranged from her son Fosse, who lives nearby with Jem's brother, Dom, a leader in the community.
It's a very simple setup, on the surface, but Whitely uses it to explore so much - ideas about family, about the structure of society, what it means to be human and our responsibilities to each other and to the world. I need to be careful what I say here because the book is one of those which achieves its effect slowly and incrementally. Things seem a bit odd from the start, when Fosse, slipping away to an abandoned farm to do what teenage boys do in private, encounters strangers who Arte, well, strange, but do him the great service of paying him attention, something he's not used to.
At the same time, another stranger, a visitor from Qita, appears at the Inn, needing help. There are suggestions here of prejudice and even violence: their existence must be kept secret. The arrival does, though, trigger Jem's memories of her time in Qita. They're strange, almost hallucinogenic, episodes involving her travels ostensibly involving nothing more than posting bland propaganda leaflets wherever she goes. We're primed for a significant encounter, or a misstep, perhaps the breaking of some cultural taboo, but what Jem was doing eventually turns out to be both more and less significant the that. Less, because there are no incidents, no misunderstandings, no politics or warfare. More, because, as becomes clear to another, later traveller to Qita, what Jem did was, actually, all-important.
In this book, intentions and unintended consequences bounce off one another. As the citizens of the Protectorate struggle to maintain their principled, isolated lifestyle, they're threatened from various directions: shortages of food, materials and medicines, an ominously spreading, mysterious disease which causes some areas to be quarantined, and those strangers that Fosse runs into. At the personal level things are tense between Fosse, Dom and Jem. A lot of family history is being buried as people hold to positions and talk past one another. And that stranger, Won, at the Inn also creates tensions and misunderstandings.
Just how strange all this gets, I can't say. I will say that's it's a growing, creeping weirdness. The alienness of the Qitans in this book is both less than we have been primed to accept by the run of SF - they don't excite horror by their appearance - and more, as we are eventually shown. In exploring both aspects Whiteley creates a truly compelling story, one where I simply didn't know what was going to happen (or, indeed, exactly what had happened!)
There is some gorgeous writing here, whether capturing the turbulence of adolescence ('He never thought he'd miss going to school, but being kept at home for a few days made Fosse aware that school offered a quiet, resilient shape to his day...'), the frustration of a woman torn between standing by her past decisions or attempting to remake her future or the gentleness and thoroughness of Dom checking a dog for injuries (yes, this book contains dogs!)
In short, reading Skyward Inn was a truly unsettling experience, but an immersive, wonder-filled one. It is a remarkable book.
dnf
February 23, 2021DNFed at 50 pages.
This is definitely a case of 'it's not you, it's me'. I think Skyward Inn is a lovely and unique book that will appeal to lots of readers of literary sci-fi, but it wasn't one that ended up clicking with me.
It's a slow burn, something I don't usually mind, but I couldn't find myself connecting to the characters or their stories.
As I work through my TBR, I am DNFing at a much more brutal rate and Skyward Inn got the chop. However, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a lyrical sci-fi novel.
This is definitely a case of 'it's not you, it's me'. I think Skyward Inn is a lovely and unique book that will appeal to lots of readers of literary sci-fi, but it wasn't one that ended up clicking with me.
It's a slow burn, something I don't usually mind, but I couldn't find myself connecting to the characters or their stories.
As I work through my TBR, I am DNFing at a much more brutal rate and Skyward Inn got the chop. However, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a lyrical sci-fi novel.
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