Sparrow Rising

Skyborn #1

by Jessica Khoury

In the Clandoms, everyone is born with wings, with tight-knit communities formed around bird types: Jay, Falcon, Crow.

Ellie Meadows dreams of growing up to join the Goldwings - the famed knights who defend all the people of the Clandoms. It was a Goldwing, after all, who saved her life on that terrible day her parents were killed. There's just one problem: Ellie is a Sparrow, and the Goldwings are almost invariably picked from the higher clans like Eagles and Ospreys. This rigid hierarchy means that Ellie is destined to become a farmer.

Determined to honor her parents' memories and prove herself worthy of the Goldwings, Ellie sets out on her own for the capital.

But her journey will be dangerous. Foul creatures called gargols lurk behind every cloud, ready to slay anyone unlucky enough to be caught outside in a storm - just as Ellie's family was.

Soon her path intertwines with a colorful band of fellow outcasts, each with their own aspirations...and their own secrets. Ellie's new friends offer not just roadside companionship. They'll challenge her ideas of right, wrong, and what truly makes a hero.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Childrens, Audiobook, Fiction, Young Adult

277 pages, Hardcover

First published August 3, 2021

About the author

Jessica Khoury wrote her first book at age 4, a fan fic sequel to Syd Hoff's Danny and the Dinosaur, which she scribbled on notebook paper, stapled together, and placed on the bookshelf of her preschool classroom. Since that day, she's dreamed of being an author.

When not writing, Jess enjoys spending time with family, playing video games, and oil and watercolor painting. She is also a professional mapmaker, and spends far too much time scribbling tiny trees and mountains for fictional worlds.

Jess currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina. She is the author of the Corpus trilogy, The Forbidden Wish, Last of Her Name, and The Mystwick School of Musicraft.

Reviews

[Colleen Earle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have been so into this when I was younger.
The premise is very creative. I loved the birds
Serious dissection of racism and classism throughout the book in a kid friendly way.
Will definitely be reading more from this series.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, how is a middle grade THIS good???

[Maleeha Siddiqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update April 15, 2025: Re-read after 3.5 years, this time as an audiobook. Sparrow Rising is still an amazing first book. The narration is excellent. I can't wait to listen to the rest of the trilogy. This is possibly my favorite MG fantasy series of all time.

I loved this. The cast of characters is a delight (my personal favorite is Nox) and the worldbuilding is easy to understand. What a great, unique MG fantasy! I'm excited for Book 2 to see where the story heads next.

[Leiana Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best book I've read in a long time. I don't have time for a long review right now, but this book is 100% worth reading. Worldbuilding, character depth, even questions of morality—this book has it all. My only (small!) concerns are the presence of "dark magic" (which, as far as I can tell, is only labeled as such because (very small spoiler) magic's existence is a threat to the corrupted leaders and that the wording "follow your heart!" is used instead of the book's more accurate message of "follow your conscience and use your head". Fantastic book otherwise. Great for kids 8+

EDIT: Unfortunately, the second book is an absolute disaster with its cluttered plot, backstory dumping, and the swift destruction of any likability in the characters. Not to mention that it gets far darker than middle grade fiction ever should. A main character's wings are cut off (we see "feathers on the floor"), the stone monsters change rules and start breaking into houses to kill humans without reason, Nox's mother is found but quickly dies before she is able to be rescued, and the book ends with Nox getting killed. As if that weren't enough, the author forces gay twelve-year-olds on us as well for no particular reason. A thorough disappointment.

The first book is still great, but unless you're content with stopping at book 1, this is a series to skip. First book rated four stars because it ends on a semi-cliffhanger and the second book isn't worth reading.

[Kadi P]

(Recommended by Dragons*☆4Ever)

[Jacq.and.the.readstalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant world with a brilliant concept!

Our eclectic heroes embark on a thrilling adventure, packed with moral meanings, mystery, and surprises! Ellie is a top tier protagonist, whose sheer determination despite her size, is really inspiring. Nox...I mean I have to remember he is a CHILD!...but he's like a younger version of Kaz Brekker.

I thought the different classes of birds and wings was really clever and plunged me straight into Khoury's world. I really liked that the author wasn't afraid to put in some darker elements, it really gave the story and the characters a deeper impact. Khoury doesn't shy away from social concerns regarding race and class yet still delivering an entertaining read provided with lots of action and heart.

Skyborn feels really fresh and exciting making it a real gem amongst other middle-grade reads. I really enjoyed this first book in the series.

[Jan farnworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved : The bird's serious dissection of racism and classes throughout the book in a kid-friendly way. Our main character is a sparrow, the smallest and lowest of the clans—being so small and the weakest, not expected to fight or do much beyond a meager lifestyle. Ellie is determined to be so much more than that; she wants to be a Goldwing and has studied all about them and is determined to win the ascension race to honor her parents' memories.
What Left Me Wanting More: I wanted to know more about the gargouls who terrorize the birds of all ranks. I wanted to learn more about the extraordinary power we discover that Nox has why does he have it. One other thing that I wanted to know more about is the Crow clan fall into disgrace.
Final Verdict: "What you think of as weakness are actually your strengths. You've just got to use them right." Ellie is a small sparrow, but that doesn't mean that's a weakness, and when Ellie starts to realize that, the story takes off. A lot of great gems to be found in this unique tale.

[Laurie 🤍 | laulausworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25⭐️

C’était vraiment trop trop bien!! Le livre se dévore tout seul, les personnages sont hyper attachants.

J’ai si hâte de lire la suuuuuite, mais bon pas avant janvier 2024 🙄

[Merinereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spannendes Abenteuer für junge Leser*innen mit deutlicher Gesellschaftskritik.
Schon am Anfang wird mehrfach auf Ungerechtigkeiten in der Gesellschaft der Clans hingewiesen und auch im Verlauf des Buches fällt dies immer wieder auf.
Besonders herzzerreißend ist es, Ellies Weg zu verfolgen, die etwas erreichen will, was ihr aufgrund ihrer Herkunft nicht ermöglicht werden soll.
Aber auch die anderen Figuren erleben Ausgrenzung und willkürliche Grausamkeiten, weil sie von den hohen Clans nicht akzeptiert werden.
Insgesamt gefiel mir die Geschichte, vor allem die Entwicklung der beiden Hauptfiguren Ellis und Nox war gut gemacht und am Ende gab es für beide einige Schlüsselmomente. Aber auch storytechnisch passiert vor allem zum Ende hin noch einiges spannendes und interessante Fragen werden aufgeworfen.
Ich persönlich habe erst ein bisschen gebraucht um mit dem Buch warm zu werden, aber am Ende konnte es mich überzeugen.

[TraineeBee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich will wissen, wie es weitergeeeeht!!
Das Konzept für diese Geschichte war für mich total einzigartig und neu. Ich hatte nicht das Gefühl, dass auch nur eine Idee aus einem schon existierenden Buch "geborgt" wurde. Die Charaktere sind super relatable und für die empfohlene Altersgruppe der Leser empfinde ich die Hauptpersonen doch schon als wesentlich erwachsener, als sie in diesen Jahren normalerweise wären.
Ich würde sagen, dass Skyborn eines der Bücher ist, das mich dieses Jahr am meisten überrascht hat, das ich absolut innovativ, lehrreich und inspirierend fand. Nach diesem Werk habe ich auf jeden Fall vor, mehr aus der aktuellen Kinderliteratur zu lesen:)

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be recommending this middle grade fantasy book to everyone and can't wait for book two! The world building is some of the best I've ever encountered; the author created a fantasy world that never pulled me out or stopped me from believing that these human-like characters born with wings weren't real. And speaking of characters, these all popped off the pages and I soared with them, following their adventures and flights into danger. Each character is unique, well-fleshed out with flaws and motivations and pasts. I felt the pacing was perfect and I never wanted to stop reading. Every action and word and thought propelled the story forward and I never felt the plot dragging.

Overall, this is an amazing middle grade fantasy with the perfect amount of suspense and danger. The friendships felt like found family and I can't wait to fly with Ellie, Nox, Twig, and Gussie again.

[Michelle Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty fire book map not gonna lie.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://viciousbooknerd.wordpress.com...

🌍 Welt & Handlung
Jessica Khoury entwirft mit Skyborn eine bildgewaltige, fliegende Welt, in der alle Menschen Flügel tragen und sich in Vogel-Clans unterteilen. Diese Clans orientieren sich an echten Vogelarten – von mächtigen Adlern bis zu scheinbar unscheinbaren Spatzen. Sie leben hoch über den Wolken und müssen sich gegen die Bedrohung durch sogenannte Gargols behaupten – mysteriöse, geflügelte Kreaturen, die in dunklen Wolken lauern und jederzeit angreifen können.
Der wichtigste Schutz dieser Gesellschaft sind die Goldflügel-Ritter – eine Art Eliteeinheit –, die jedes Jahr in einem gefährlichen Rennen neue Novizen auswählt. Die Goldflügel-Ritter gehören ausschließlich den Raubvogel-Clans an – mutige, starke, prestigeträchtige Vogelarten wie Falken, Adler oder Habichte.
Ellie, ein Mädchen aus dem Spatzen-Clan, will das System herausfordern. Trotz ihrer niedrigen Herkunft begibt sie sich auf eine gefährliche Reise zur Hauptstadt, um am Rennen teilzunehmen. Dabei begegnet sie Nox, einem Krähenjungen mit zwielichtiger Vergangenheit und eigenen Zielen. Beide geraten in Ereignisse, die weit über ein einfaches Rennen hinausgehen – und die Grundfesten der Gesellschaft infrage stellen.

🧭 Charaktere & Clans – Vielfalt mit Tiefe
🐦 Ellie Meadows – Die Rebellin aus dem Spatzen-Clan
Ellie ist keine typische Heldin – und genau das macht sie stark. Als Spatz wird sie unterschätzt, verspottet und an den Rand der Gesellschaft gedrängt. Doch sie gibt nicht auf. Ihr Wunsch, eine Goldflügel-Ritterin zu werden, entspringt nicht nur Ehrgeiz, sondern einem tiefen Bedürfnis nach Gerechtigkeit und Zugehörigkeit.
Ellie verkörpert Themen wie Selbstermächtigung, Mut und das Durchbrechen von Grenzen. Ihre Reise ist nicht nur physisch, sondern auch emotional – von Unsicherheit zu Selbstbehauptung.
🦅 Nox – Der geheimnisvolle Krähenjunge
Nox ist der faszinierendste und komplexeste Charakter des Romans. Seine düstere Aura, sein Sarkasmus und sein Misstrauen gegenüber Autoritäten machen ihn zu einem klassischen „Antihelden“. Doch unter der harten Schale steckt ein tief verwundeter junger Mann.
Besonders beeindruckend ist die Szene am Ende, in der er offenbart, warum er Feuer fürchtet – ein unerwarteter, emotionaler Moment, der seine Figur neu definiert. In diesem Moment erinnert er stark an Bruce Banner aus den Avengers: ruhig, kontrolliert, aber innerlich voller Macht.
Sein Clan – die Crows – scheint mehr zu verbergen, als es auf den ersten Blick erscheint. Wer zwischen den Zeilen liest, erkennt Hinweise auf politische Intrigen, historische Schuld und eine tiefere Geschichte, die sich im Laufe der Trilogie sicher noch entfalten wird.
🪶 Die Vogel-Clans – Gesellschaft im Federkleid
Khourys Welt ist stark geprägt von ihrem Clansystem. Jeder Clan steht für bestimmte Eigenschaften – Spatzen sind klein und unauffällig, Adler stolz und mächtig, Krähen geheimnisvoll und ausgegrenzt.
Diese Symbolik lädt zu tiefgründigen Überlegungen ein: Wie prägt Herkunft das Selbstbild? Wie wirkt sich Gruppenzugehörigkeit auf den gesellschaftlichen Status aus?
Interessant ist das unausgesprochene Potenzial: Leser*innen spekulieren bereits über mögliche Clans wie Flamingos, Pinguine oder sogar Truthähne. Was wäre mit einem Flamingo-Clan, dessen Gefieder sich je nach Ernährung verändert? Würden flugunfähige Clans diskriminiert – oder gar nicht existieren, da Fliegen so zentral ist?
Diese Fragen öffnen faszinierende Türen für zukünftige Bände.

📌 Zentrale Themen & Zitate
✨ Line Gems – Sprachliche Höhepunkte
Khoury versteht es, starke Sätze zu formulieren, die lange nachhallen. Drei Beispiele:
1. „Es war ein schöner Tag, um das Schicksal herauszufordern.“
→ Ein epischer Auftakt. Poetisch, selbstbewusst – fast ein Mantra.
2. „Hoffnung? Kann man Hoffnung essen? Kann man sich damit zudecken, wenn der Himmel voller Gargols ist?“
→ Eine bitter-resignative Sichtweise, die eine emotionale Tiefe offenbart. Gerade weil man innerlich widerspricht, bleibt der Satz hängen.
3. „Wenn die Regeln dazu da sind, dich zu brechen, musst du die Regeln brechen.“
→ Provokant und moralisch ambivalent. Perfekt geeignet, um darüber nachzudenken, wann ziviler Ungehorsam gerechtfertigt ist.

✅ Pluspunkte
• 🏛 Originelle Welt
Das Clansystem ist innovativ, logisch aufgebaut und bietet unendlich viele Erweiterungsmöglichkeiten. Die Verbindung zwischen Vogelart und Gesellschaftsstruktur funktioniert hervorragend.
• 🌀 Tiefe Themen
Machtmissbrauch, Diskriminierung, soziale Ungleichheit und Autoritätskritik werden authentisch aufgegriffen – ohne belehrend zu wirken.
• 🎭 Starke Charakterentwicklung
Vor allem bei Ellie und Nox sehen wir nachvollziehbare, berührende Wandlungen.
• 🔥 Überraschungsmomente
Besonders die Auflösung rund um Nox’ Angst vor Feuer und seine familiäre Herkunft am Ende sorgen für echte „Whoah!“-Momente und Theorie-Potenzial.

❌ Kritikpunkte
• ⚠️ Zu düster für jüngere Leser*innen?
Szenen wie das Abschneiden der Flügel wirken drastisch und beinahe verstörend – ein harter Kontrast zum sonst jugendlichen Ton.
• ⚖️ Pauschale Darstellung von Autorität
Autorität wird oft als korrupt oder nutzlos dargestellt. Eine differenziertere Sichtweise – mit „guten“ Autoritätspersonen – hätte mehr Nuancen gebracht.
• 💔 Frustrierende Nebenbeziehungen (z. B. Ellie & Zain)
Die angedeutete Vergangenheit zwischen Ellie und Zain bleibt diffus und emotional belastend – ohne echte Auflösung. Das kann Leser*innen zurücklassen mit dem Wunsch nach mehr Klarheit.

🧵 Theorien & Andeutungen – was steckt hinter dem Crow-Clan?
• Vergangenheit wie bei Fireborne?
Der Vergleich mit Fireborne von Rosaria Munda liegt nahe. Auch dort gibt es eine verdrängte Geschichte, eine untergegangene Macht – vielleicht waren die Crows einst wie die Eagles?
• Aron der Narr (Seite 67) als Schlüsselfigur?
Viele Hinweise deuten darauf hin, dass Aron der Fool mehr ist als ein Märchencharakter – möglicherweise ein gefallener Anführer oder ein Opfer politischer Säuberung?
• Symbolik: der „verlorene“ Vogel?
Crows gelten in vielen Kulturen als intelligent, aber düster. Ihre aktuelle Randstellung scheint nicht nur politisch, sondern auch mythologisch begründet. Wer genau hinschaut, erkennt, dass das Schicksal dieses Clans eng mit der größeren Geschichte verflochten ist.

🎯 Fazit:
Skyborn – Die Goldflügel-Prüfung ist ein beeindruckender Auftakt mit Herz, Tiefe und Flügeln. Jessica Khoury gelingt es, eine vielschichtige Welt zu erschaffen, die junge wie erwachsene Leser*innen gleichermaßen begeistert. Die Parabel auf soziale Ungleichheit, Macht und Selbstbehauptung wirkt nie mit dem Holzhammer, sondern entfaltet sich organisch durch starke Charaktere, originelle Symbolik und spannende Wendungen.
Auch wenn einige Elemente – wie die Härte mancher Strafen oder die Schwarz-Weiß-Darstellung von Autorität – problematisch oder unausgereift wirken, überwiegen die positiven Aspekte klar.
Die Neugier auf die nächsten Bände ist geweckt – nicht zuletzt wegen der offenen Fragen rund um Nox, die Crows und die politische Geschichte der Clans.

4 von 5 Sternen!

[papilionna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im Meer der Kinderbuch-Neuerscheinungen ist es schwer, etwas komplett neues zu erfinden und auch Jessica Khoury hat mit "Skyborn" das Rad nicht neu erfunden, überzeugt aber mit kreativen Wesen und kindgerechtem, aber vielschichtigem Worldbuilding.

Nach einem rasanten Prolog lernen wir Ellie kennen, die vom Spatzenclan kommt und davon träumt, eine Goldflügel-Ritterin zu werden und das Reich zu beschützen. Doch nur Kinder aus den höheren Clans werden zum großen Rennen und zur Ausbildung zugelassen. Sie will es trotzdem versuchen und lernt auf ihrer Reise den Krähenjungen Nox kennen, der mit seiner Bande ein ganz anderes Ziel verfolgt.

Ellies Motivation und die Hindernisse, die ihr bei der Verwirklichung ihres Traums in den Weg gestellt werden, sind realistisch und nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Durch die zwei Erzählperspektiven lernt man auch den männlichen Protagonisten Nox gut kennen und ist schließlich hin- und hergerissen, wessen Mission man lieber erfüllt sehen will.

Ein großer Pluspunkt ist für mich die Welt, die die Autorin erschaffen hat. Es ist im Prinzip das Abbild einer Gesellschaft, die mit Klassenunterschieden und Rassismus zu kämpfen hat, und in der man als Niedriggeborener kaum Chancen hat, in eine höhere Gesellschaftsschicht aufzusteigen.

Die Konsequenzen dessen sind fast schon brutal dargestellt. Gewalt und Tod finden in der Geschichte Erwähnung, was man vermutlich von Kind zu Kind abschätzen sollte.

[belle ☆ﾐ (thisbellereadstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ellie joined the race as a sparrow, something that was not done ever since sparrows are mostly farmers. due to their wingspan and type of feathers, it's hard for any sparrows to win against other clans like the hawks. not only that, there's dangers in the sky that she might not outfly. the deaths of her parents motivated her dream to become a goldwing knight. while she was fighting for third place in the race, ellie found an injured crow clan member named nox.

Never be ashamed for wanting to change the world.

it's a story about a girl motivated by her dreams to become a goldwing knight, who refused to stay in her own lane just because others deemed her to. despite a tough upbringing, ellie remained optimistic and naive about the world. during her journey to thelantis, she meets nox (of the crow clan that no longer exist), twig (a child of two clans), and gussie (who was chased out of her home because she didn't want to follow the tradition of her clan).

ultimately, both nox and ellie are forced to recognise the reality of this world and make tough decisions while receiving the most devastating news. i really enjoyed the setting of the clandoms, with a huge focus on the different types of birds, and their place in this world. there's so much wrong that ellie discovered but through that, she found her drive.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it’s just been too long since I’ve read a middle grade book, but I don’t remember them being this dark. Sure, it’s wrapped in a nice protective layer of humor and a cute fantasy world, but man… nearly every single trauma in the Pandora’s tragic backstory box here… But every single one made sense to the plot and characters and world and it was clear how relatable this story would be to a child facing prejudice or parental pressure or trying to understand why there’s evil in the world or what to do when the people you trust disappoint you. These are heavy topics that need to be discussed and this book is a wonderful place to explore that, I just wish the pacing was slower. I get that this book needs to hold interest so it has to move, but there were so many moments I just wanted to dwell in. I’m excited to see what unfolds in the sequel!

[Aliya Gerow · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a middle grade book, this is AMAZING! The characters had me invested and the culture and worldbuilding was epic!

I love love love the culture so much! The way it all ties together and how much it affects the characters is wonderfully done.

Ellie was such a fun character to follow and I was rooting for her the entire time! Her motivations are amazing and she is just such a cute little cinnamon roll child.

There was just enough suspense to keep me reading and wanted to know what happens next. It was super enjoyable and I love this story so much! My only problem was that it was too short. Can’t wait to read the next books in this series!

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! I thought it was quite an original tale, but that makes sense for books are where the fresh ideas happen more often. There are some things I want to highlight starting from the top.

Cover
Overall, I like the cover on its own power. I like the art style and the coloring. Those are all good. The problem is when comparing it to the actual contents. For me, I thought the book was darker than what the cover suggests. Yes, there are some shadows, but overall I would describe the cover as bright and shiny. I think there need to be darker hue colors, if you want the cover to match the book's insides.

Bird Clans
I hope as the series progress we see more clans based on the different bird species. I would be curious to know if the author would include more exotic birds or flightless birds. I would say no on the flightless birds, because there seems to be a focus on flying. Yet, I think it would be an interesting concept. In terms of exotic, I would like to see how the author would do the Flamingo Clan, if she decided to do a clan of flamingos. Flamingos get their pink coloring, due to shrimp. Would the Flamingo Clan be near the ocean or on an island to ensure they have the pink coloring or would their wings be a different color, due to diet?

Line Gems
There were some lines that I was like "Oooh, I like that!" or "Oooh, that is some powerful stuff." Some I am not sure if I can find again.
1. "It was a beautiful day to challenge fate." I just like how that sounds. Read it aloud. Savor the words.
2. "'Hope?' he replied. 'Can you eat hope? Can you wrap it around yourself to stay warm, or hide under it when the sky is full of gargols? Hope is empty. Hope is waiting for other people to solve your problems instead of doing it yourself.'" While I cannot approve of this quote, I respect the emotions and feelings behind it. This is from someone who just feels so defeated by the world or at least if he admits it. This catches your attention.
3. "...when the rules are designed to break you, you have to break the rules." I am not sure how I feel about this one. I chafe at the concept of breaking rules, but if the rule goes against a higher rule then I guess you do break it? I have to ruminate on this one.

Nox-Beginning
I called it! I called it as soon as I was read it. I mean come on! He's a Crow! If you knew anything about crows then you would call it, too. If it was Magpies then would probably be even more obvious. I was hoping he might be a little bit different and be like George Cooper after he gave up his previous way of life, but that was not the case.

A Bit Dark
In this book, the people all have wings. The one of the highest punishments you can receive is getting your wings cut. That was shocking to me, because how it was described was just seem a little too dark for a juvenile book. There were some other moments that just seem a little too dark.

Zain and Ellie
This relationship hurts. You want it to be fix so badly, but there is a lot of unresolved issues.

Thoughts on Authority
I am not a fan on how authority is presented here. In theory, there is nothing wrong with an authority that rules over others. The issue is when an individual abuses power or does not act in the best interest of the people. Like with everything, we have to be discerning with the different threads. This is something that I am learning. I much rather deal with the bulldozer to get rid of any possible shady thread, instead of taking a scalpel to separate each thread an determine its quality and worth for there is anxiety about making sure you weigh the thread "correctly."

Nox-Ending
Whoah! I did not see it coming, but I was so excited when things started to click. Listen to this: "'You know why I'm terrified of fire?' he asked as his hands closed around her staff and gently pulled it away. 'It's not because I'm scared it'll burn me.'" This was such a cool thing, because it made me think of Bruce Banner in Avengers when he said "That's my secret, Cap" before he drop the reveal. The same thing happen here. We also learn more about Nox on page 261 and that sent so many theories in my head swirling, which I will discuss indirectly in the next section. I mean the reaction of the king shows that Nox and his family are important on page 262.

The Crow Clan
Okay, I have several theories. One theory is the Crows were like the Eagles, but something happen like in Rosaria Munda's Fireborne and the Crows were left in their current state. Second theory has to do with Aron the Fool (page 67) and the truth behind Nox's fire fear. Based on the stories about Aron the Fool, it sounds like he belongs to a certain clan. When looking at the different legends, look at what word keeps showing up in 3 of the stories. What bird is that word usually associated with? Third theory the Crows were not like the Eagles, but they were the right hand folks of the clan who did, if the trait that Nox has could be rampant among the entire clan, and some clan overthrow the current ruling clan and the Crows. With this theory, it would be hilarious if it was a Turkey Clan. You see Benjamin Franklin wanted the Turkey to represent America, instead of the Eagle. Bottom line: the status of this clan and its duration does not happen for no normal reason. There is some trickery going on. I think it will lie around Aron the Fool and the gargols.

Verdict: I am so excited for the next book!

[bittertea]

i got more than halfway through this but lost interest. not sure why! winged hybrids are totally my jam and the story has plenty of action & adventure. i think it just feels very… basic. like a carbon copy of a billion other books. it gets the job done but it’s nothing special. would likely be 3 stars if i finished but since i didn’t, no rating. will update review + add rating if i end up finishing before my library loan expires.

[Eliana Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently rediscovered this trilogy at the back of one of my bookshelves. The SkyBorn series used to be one of my absolute favorites so I was thrilled to find it just as well written and exciting as it was 5 years ago. The concept of people with wings was so exciting to 11 year old me that it inspired me to write my own story about flying people, which led me into a love of writing. So, bottom line, I have a deep affection for this series and I credit it for my own love of writing. ❤️

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting book through and through. Solid world building and great lessons for kids to learn about the world, corruption, caste systems, and such. Fantasy has an obligation to be imaginative, but if it also mirrors the real world, then it accomplishes so much more. I bought this solely for the glorious cover. Am happy to say that not only was this not a wasteful purchase, but one I hope my nieces and more kids will flock to. Not just because of the aforementioned reasons but also because this book can be a great gateway drug to get into reading!

[Dawn Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A nice cast of characters, well-paced, and, for the most part, well-written and imaginative about its world and its language. The only flaw? The author's repetitive use of the word gasp. *sigh* All these people gasp, all the time.

[Holly Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, Jessica is the queen of middle grade fantasy!! I read this in 2 days...it was that good!! The worldbuilding is incredible, the plot exciting and unpredictable, and the characters/arcs are everything! I'm diving into the sequel stat!!

[Heather Venkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this book ...Ellie and Nox are strong main characters that are definitely not one dimensional. And the other side characters are not forgotten as well. What a strong fantasy world Jessica has created!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. The boys were absolutely begging for more chapters every evening because they wanted to know what was happening next. Had to order book 2 before we finished this because they didn't want to have any manner of break between books. I really enjoyed this as well and am delighted that there are 2 more books to share with my boys.

[Shaunna MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one and can’t wait for book 2! #LittleSparrowGirl #DontGoChasingMoonMoths

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this flipping book!!! It was so good it pained me whenever I had to set it down. And when it finished I cried because I have to wait a whole six months for the second one!!!!! Why!?

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where everyone is born with wings, stone monsters prowl the skies, hunting those who dare to fly too high.

[Dea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spannend, voll von Abenteuer, einer interessanten Welt und sehr tollen Charakteren. Nox und Ellie sind mir richtig ans Herz gewachsen und ich bin schon sehr gespannt wie es weiter geht :)

[Emmalynn Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good for kids,fun and adventurous