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The Comet Cycle #3
The Sky Vault
The third book in Percy’s innovative and acclaimed Comet Cycle, The Sky Vault, follows an investigation of a mysterious weather phenomena in Fairbanks, Alaska, and a government secret buried since WWII.
The comet, Cain, came from beyond our solar system, its debris containing elements unknown. Now, in the isolated region of Fairbanks, Alaska, the skies shift and stretch as an interstellar dust cloud seeds the atmosphere. When a plane shudders its way through pulpy, swirling, bruise-shaped clouds, lit with sudden cracks of lightning, the sky opens and the aircraft vanishes…but only for a minute.
When the flight lands, everyone on board and in the community will be changed forever. Chuck Bridges, a local DJ and conspiracy theorist, was on board and later reported dead to his family, but not before proclaiming that something inside the clouds was speaking to him. Now his son, Theo, must chase down answers to the mystery his father unlocked. He’ll find himself at odds with Sophie Chen, an agent with a shadowy employer desperate to secure the black box from the airplane, as well as Rolf Wagner, a widowed sheriff investigating a series of increasingly strange and unsettling reports. And then there is Joanna Straub, a contractor reconstructing a top-secret government lab active during WWII and shuttered deep within the nearby White Mountains.
The answer to the comet’s origin is about to be unveiled, and its impact on Earth is more treacherous and sublime than humanity could imagine.
The comet, Cain, came from beyond our solar system, its debris containing elements unknown. Now, in the isolated region of Fairbanks, Alaska, the skies shift and stretch as an interstellar dust cloud seeds the atmosphere. When a plane shudders its way through pulpy, swirling, bruise-shaped clouds, lit with sudden cracks of lightning, the sky opens and the aircraft vanishes…but only for a minute.
When the flight lands, everyone on board and in the community will be changed forever. Chuck Bridges, a local DJ and conspiracy theorist, was on board and later reported dead to his family, but not before proclaiming that something inside the clouds was speaking to him. Now his son, Theo, must chase down answers to the mystery his father unlocked. He’ll find himself at odds with Sophie Chen, an agent with a shadowy employer desperate to secure the black box from the airplane, as well as Rolf Wagner, a widowed sheriff investigating a series of increasingly strange and unsettling reports. And then there is Joanna Straub, a contractor reconstructing a top-secret government lab active during WWII and shuttered deep within the nearby White Mountains.
The answer to the comet’s origin is about to be unveiled, and its impact on Earth is more treacherous and sublime than humanity could imagine.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2023
20 people are currently reading
2524 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Percy
791 books1,201 followersBenjamin Percy is the author of seven novels -- most recently The Sky Vault (William Morrow) -- three short fiction collections, and a book of essays, Thrill Me, that is widely taught in creative writing classrooms. He writes Wolverine, X-Force, and Ghost Rider for Marvel Comics. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in Esquire (where he is a contributing editor), GQ, Time, Men's Journal, Outside, the Wall Street Journal, Tin House, and the Paris Review. His honors include an NEA fellowship, the Whiting Writer's Award, the Plimpton Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, the iHeart Radio Award for Best Scripted Podcast, and inclusion in Best American Short Stories and Best American Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
October 15, 2023
A few years ago a comet left behind a metal that led to a lot of changes on Earth. This third book in the series continues that story and is full of inexplicable happenings and conspiracy theories. It jumps around among the povs of several characters in 2 time periods. That made the book a little confusing at times. Most of the characters are looking for a mysterious “something”. My favorites were the woman who worked for the Collectors, and was strictly in the hunt for the resulting monetary reward. I also liked the 3 teenaged boys who were attempting to find the conspiracy-nut father of one of the boys.
I read the first 2 books in this science fiction series, but I confess that I have absolutely no memory of the second book. I do remember that the first book left me with questions. Unfortunately, this third book doesn’t really answer them either. The ending is so open-ended that I think that the series will probably continue. The book was entertaining enough for me to read another one. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I read the first 2 books in this science fiction series, but I confess that I have absolutely no memory of the second book. I do remember that the first book left me with questions. Unfortunately, this third book doesn’t really answer them either. The ending is so open-ended that I think that the series will probably continue. The book was entertaining enough for me to read another one. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
November 2, 2023
First things first, I just love Ben Percy. When I moved to Minneapolis in 2015 I thought it was so cool to be in an area where there were authors published by the big publishing houses. Percy was one of the first authors I was exposed to during that time. He eventually took over writing Wolverine and X-Force during the Krakoa era and those books cemented him as a big fan of his. So, when The Ninth Metal (book one of The Comet Cycle) came out I was more than down for a new series of novels from him.
Percy has not disappointed. I loved The Ninth Metal, enjoyed The Unfamiliar Garden, and then loved this book most of all. The way Percy can so economically build a world that feels fleshed out while also juggling a big cast with their own narratives is amazing. This book is only 300 pages but it feels as real as a book the length of The Stand. Percy is just great and so is this book.
Percy has not disappointed. I loved The Ninth Metal, enjoyed The Unfamiliar Garden, and then loved this book most of all. The way Percy can so economically build a world that feels fleshed out while also juggling a big cast with their own narratives is amazing. This book is only 300 pages but it feels as real as a book the length of The Stand. Percy is just great and so is this book.
December 20, 2025
Questa serie è davvero unica!!
Non so se è la conclusione della serie o se l'autore tornerà a scrivere altro.. io lo spero caldamente.. come ogni altro suo libro le vicende finiscono, ma tanto, tanto, del mondo creato va avanti e resta un mistero..
Quindi anche se il libro è stato totalmente soddisfacente, la fine può aprire a tantissime altre cose fighe..
Qua si torna a una narrazione corale con vari personaggi, ognuno costruito magnificamente, e intervallati con alcuni racconti del 1942-1944.. i misteri paralleli si intrecciano in modo davvero eccezionale, alzando sempre più la tensione e l'ansia.. il tutto ambientato nell'Alaska rurale, cupa e crepuscolare.. rispetto agli altri due volumi il lato weird ci mette un po' di più ad arrivare, con tanti strani dettagli, voci e sussurri nell'aria, strani tentacoli nelle nuvole, animali che precipitano dal cielo, sogni e incubi e strani esseri nebbiosi.. fino al crescendo finale davvero spettacolare.. mi ha ricordato molto serie TV come X-Files e Fringe..
Spero davvero tanto che l'autore torni a scrivere altre avventure in questo mondo post meteoriti perché è qualcosa di davvero unico!!!
Non so se è la conclusione della serie o se l'autore tornerà a scrivere altro.. io lo spero caldamente.. come ogni altro suo libro le vicende finiscono, ma tanto, tanto, del mondo creato va avanti e resta un mistero..
Quindi anche se il libro è stato totalmente soddisfacente, la fine può aprire a tantissime altre cose fighe..
Qua si torna a una narrazione corale con vari personaggi, ognuno costruito magnificamente, e intervallati con alcuni racconti del 1942-1944.. i misteri paralleli si intrecciano in modo davvero eccezionale, alzando sempre più la tensione e l'ansia.. il tutto ambientato nell'Alaska rurale, cupa e crepuscolare.. rispetto agli altri due volumi il lato weird ci mette un po' di più ad arrivare, con tanti strani dettagli, voci e sussurri nell'aria, strani tentacoli nelle nuvole, animali che precipitano dal cielo, sogni e incubi e strani esseri nebbiosi.. fino al crescendo finale davvero spettacolare.. mi ha ricordato molto serie TV come X-Files e Fringe..
Spero davvero tanto che l'autore torni a scrivere altre avventure in questo mondo post meteoriti perché è qualcosa di davvero unico!!!
July 26, 2024
*4.5*
Book three of The Comet Cycle series did not disappoint. Instead of the Omnimetal-flesh hybrid of the first and the half man half plant from the second, we are greeted with horrors in the form of Lovecraftian monstrosities from another dimension. Definitely laid into the horror this time around. If you like the movie The Mist or Stranger Things, you’ll like this book. The characters are fun and it ends in a way that leads one to believe there are going to be more in the series.
Book three of The Comet Cycle series did not disappoint. Instead of the Omnimetal-flesh hybrid of the first and the half man half plant from the second, we are greeted with horrors in the form of Lovecraftian monstrosities from another dimension. Definitely laid into the horror this time around. If you like the movie The Mist or Stranger Things, you’ll like this book. The characters are fun and it ends in a way that leads one to believe there are going to be more in the series.
May 2, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel.
This is the third entry in the Comet Trilogy by Benjamin Percy. The writing is consistent with the first two entries, but the plot sprawls a bit more across time, and that only opens more questions than it answers. If this is really the final book in the series, it is a frustrating finish.
This is the third entry in the Comet Trilogy by Benjamin Percy. The writing is consistent with the first two entries, but the plot sprawls a bit more across time, and that only opens more questions than it answers. If this is really the final book in the series, it is a frustrating finish.
October 1, 2023
"Heaven and hell share the same gate." (256)
January 30, 2024
This series is not my favorite, so I question why I've now read all three of the books currently in it.
Pros: I like how each installment in the series takes place in a distinct location with a (mostly) new set of characters and a new set of stakes; This book in particular explains why a lot of stuff happened in the first two books; The books are getting more and more science-fiction as they go; the writing style is pretty nice and very cinematic.
Cons: So much is vague or unexplained and while it was intriguing early in the series it's now feeling like a chore that more and more is being left to the reader to ponder; This book introduced way more players in some large game than we ever could have imagined in the first two books (for example, ); Even within the book, there were a LOT of different plots to keep track of that ultimately felt like they exceeded the threshold of marginal returns.
I don't know, I just think the first book The Ninth Metal prepared me for a lot more of a political story surrounding the implications of omnimetal. The second book got a little weird and had nothing to do with the metal, but it was still cool and again led me to believe that the government's motives would eventually be revealed. Then in this book things started to get international, involved more than just the government and private citizens, and opened potential strings to pull on that make the possibilities for this series feel uncontained and overwhelming. This third book could easily have tied together the events of the first two and been a satisfying end to the series, but instead I'm afraid that we're only at the beginning of a journey I no longer want to be on.
Pros: I like how each installment in the series takes place in a distinct location with a (mostly) new set of characters and a new set of stakes; This book in particular explains why a lot of stuff happened in the first two books; The books are getting more and more science-fiction as they go; the writing style is pretty nice and very cinematic.
Cons: So much is vague or unexplained and while it was intriguing early in the series it's now feeling like a chore that more and more is being left to the reader to ponder; This book introduced way more players in some large game than we ever could have imagined in the first two books (for example, ); Even within the book, there were a LOT of different plots to keep track of that ultimately felt like they exceeded the threshold of marginal returns.
I don't know, I just think the first book The Ninth Metal prepared me for a lot more of a political story surrounding the implications of omnimetal. The second book got a little weird and had nothing to do with the metal, but it was still cool and again led me to believe that the government's motives would eventually be revealed. Then in this book things started to get international, involved more than just the government and private citizens, and opened potential strings to pull on that make the possibilities for this series feel uncontained and overwhelming. This third book could easily have tied together the events of the first two and been a satisfying end to the series, but instead I'm afraid that we're only at the beginning of a journey I no longer want to be on.
July 27, 2023
Amazing finish to the Comet cycle. Read more like a Stephen King novel than the Yellowstone-esque drama of The Ninth Metal. I particularly enjoyed the eldritch horrors and usage of expository logs to tell a creepy yet satisfying tale. Percy also left a relatively open-end so I do hope there is one last book (doubtful as this felt like the end). I'm thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
For fans of Dean Koontz/Blake Crouch/Stephen King.
For fans of Dean Koontz/Blake Crouch/Stephen King.
March 22, 2024
The thing that I loved about this book/series is the way that the stories stand on their own, but are still related. This one takes place in Alaska but makes reference to the other stories and characters in the series.
This story introduced a variety of new characters that were interesting ans well developed as well as a few of great secondary characters. Moses and Little Head were great and their appearances made the story so much more fun.
Like the others, this book deals with the fallout of the comet and omni-metal from the earlier books. I love that each book in the series deals with a different aspect of the world and how things are being dealt with in different places. This is such a fun series and a departure from many of the series being published.
I have yet to read anything by Ben Percy that I did not love. He is truly a gifted writer.
This story introduced a variety of new characters that were interesting ans well developed as well as a few of great secondary characters. Moses and Little Head were great and their appearances made the story so much more fun.
Like the others, this book deals with the fallout of the comet and omni-metal from the earlier books. I love that each book in the series deals with a different aspect of the world and how things are being dealt with in different places. This is such a fun series and a departure from many of the series being published.
I have yet to read anything by Ben Percy that I did not love. He is truly a gifted writer.
September 9, 2023
The Sky Vault by Benjamin Percy is a very highly recommended science fiction thriller and the third novel in the Comet Cycle. I loved this one so much I've purchased the first two novels in the series, The Ninth Metal and The Unfamiliar Garden (which I had a review copy of in December 2021). You can read The Sky Vault as a stand-alone novel, but science fiction aficionados will likely want the series.
The Sky Vault follows an investigation of a mysterious weather phenomena in Fairbanks, Alaska, and a government secret buried since WWII. The meteorite debris field of the Comet named Cain left a new metal, "omnimetal," which interferes with physics and relationship between time and space.
Chuck Bridges, a local DJ, has been trying to warn people and experts that there is a new kind of cloud over Fairbanks and has been summarily dismissed as a lunatic. He sees things in the clouds and sometimes hears soft voices. Something happens to him that send his son Theo and his friends searching for answers. Rolf Wagner, the local sheriff, finds himself investigating some odd, peculiar things. Joanna Straub is a contractor recently hired to construct a new facility on an old government site used in WWII. Sophie Chen, an agent with the shadowy group that calls themselves the Collectors, is in Fairbanks looking for something and she will do whatever she deems necessary to get what she seeks.
I was engrossed in this novel from start to finish. The writing is exceptional. The narrative is irresistible and completely engrossing. Percy expertly develops all the plot threads and brings them all together to create the larger story. The WWII chapters which are excerpts from a log book, are interesting but the full significance of them isn't revealed until later. Readers will know they need to pay attention to them as their importance becomes increasingly ominous.
The characters in The Sky Vault are varied, sympathetic, and all fully realized. I especially connected with the dialogue and thoughts of the characters and there were many times I said, "yes!" or laughed and felt as if I knew and understood these people. The Sky Vault is on my list of the best books of 2023.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of William Morrow via Edelweiss.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
The Sky Vault follows an investigation of a mysterious weather phenomena in Fairbanks, Alaska, and a government secret buried since WWII. The meteorite debris field of the Comet named Cain left a new metal, "omnimetal," which interferes with physics and relationship between time and space.
Chuck Bridges, a local DJ, has been trying to warn people and experts that there is a new kind of cloud over Fairbanks and has been summarily dismissed as a lunatic. He sees things in the clouds and sometimes hears soft voices. Something happens to him that send his son Theo and his friends searching for answers. Rolf Wagner, the local sheriff, finds himself investigating some odd, peculiar things. Joanna Straub is a contractor recently hired to construct a new facility on an old government site used in WWII. Sophie Chen, an agent with the shadowy group that calls themselves the Collectors, is in Fairbanks looking for something and she will do whatever she deems necessary to get what she seeks.
I was engrossed in this novel from start to finish. The writing is exceptional. The narrative is irresistible and completely engrossing. Percy expertly develops all the plot threads and brings them all together to create the larger story. The WWII chapters which are excerpts from a log book, are interesting but the full significance of them isn't revealed until later. Readers will know they need to pay attention to them as their importance becomes increasingly ominous.
The characters in The Sky Vault are varied, sympathetic, and all fully realized. I especially connected with the dialogue and thoughts of the characters and there were many times I said, "yes!" or laughed and felt as if I knew and understood these people. The Sky Vault is on my list of the best books of 2023.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of William Morrow via Edelweiss.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
June 9, 2025
All good things.........
A bit of a rollercoaster thrill ride this series.
New characters and a new angle with some more revelations about the Omnimetal/God particle?
This one especially had a Chuthulu vibe going on along with a Mist twist.
Some mention of events and characters from previous books in series all welcome here.
Flashbacks to the Forties and secret military labs, obviously.
Sad to come to an end.
Got to find something else to peak my interest now.
A bit of a rollercoaster thrill ride this series.
New characters and a new angle with some more revelations about the Omnimetal/God particle?
This one especially had a Chuthulu vibe going on along with a Mist twist.
Some mention of events and characters from previous books in series all welcome here.
Flashbacks to the Forties and secret military labs, obviously.
Sad to come to an end.
Got to find something else to peak my interest now.
February 18, 2025
3.75 - Very Good.
This is the weakest out of the three Comet Cycle books, but it was still an enjoyable page-turner all the way through. It left me wanting more at the end in a good way. I'm hoping that there are more Comet Cycle books to come. There is still a lot to explore in this setting.
This is the weakest out of the three Comet Cycle books, but it was still an enjoyable page-turner all the way through. It left me wanting more at the end in a good way. I'm hoping that there are more Comet Cycle books to come. There is still a lot to explore in this setting.
October 8, 2023
Great read! Can't wait to read the others in the series.
December 22, 2023
Solid sci-fi thriller still leaves unanswered questions in the series.
February 14, 2024
A fun read!
I did not read the first two, I picked this up at random from the library. The plot mostly stayed together and it was engrossing enough to zip right through. Just what I needed.
I did not read the first two, I picked this up at random from the library. The plot mostly stayed together and it was engrossing enough to zip right through. Just what I needed.
November 14, 2023
This was a fabulous book! Percy has done a great job creating this Comet universe thanks to his thoughtful research and writing both for the real and fantastic elements so they can plausibly intertwine.
There is a chapter later in the book of two men walking through the woods. I think it’s the best writing I’ve read all year. The descriptions are beautiful, the dialogue is authentic, and the progression of the story is jaw-dropping. That chapter was only about four pages and I had to close the book and savor what I just read.
There is a chapter later in the book of two men walking through the woods. I think it’s the best writing I’ve read all year. The descriptions are beautiful, the dialogue is authentic, and the progression of the story is jaw-dropping. That chapter was only about four pages and I had to close the book and savor what I just read.
October 22, 2023
Absolute best of the series
Read this just for Little Head.
This character needs an entire series of his own
Read this just for Little Head.
This character needs an entire series of his own
June 26, 2023
Ebook/Science Fiction: This is book three of the stand-alone trilogy and what an ending. The first book tells the events as the Earth goes through a comets tail. The second tells of the aftermath and how the comet's remnants affects the economy and society. This book goes further by telling the origins of the comet.
I still have questions.
I love the three teens. They remind me of the kids in Super 8.
I want to thank Netgalley for a ARC of the book.
I still have questions.
I love the three teens. They remind me of the kids in Super 8.
I want to thank Netgalley for a ARC of the book.
August 3, 2023
This standalone novel is the third in the author's Comet Cycle series. I hadn't read either of the first two, but I fell right into this one and enjoyed it immensely. I'm not a science guy, so I often have to just accept that ideas are plausible, and I had no problem accepting the premise in the book. Multiple POVs, multiple timelines, very interesting, very different characters made for an interesting read. Several instances in the last 15% of the book seemed similar to Stephen King's The Mist, which wasn't a bad thing at all.
Highly recommended, but have an open mind.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommended, but have an open mind.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2024
This finale of the trilogy didn't really work for me. The wide range of characters were reasonably interesting, but the majority of the plot was devoted to identifying and admiring the problem. In a more classical narrative structure, the focus would be on overcoming one or more obstacles. Such an endeavor was left to the last long chapter and even then, it wasn't clear that success was achieved. Another nit...the violence ascribed to the cloud creatures seemed overly gratuitous, created only to heighten the tension and drama of the story, rather that as a fundamental and necessary characteristic.
April 30, 2024
Having lived in Fairbanks for many years and being involved in aviation I was really looking forward to this book since it’s set in Fairbanks and deals in part with aviation. I loved book 1 & 2. Maybe my expectations based on location were just too high. I didn’t find this edition nearly as engaging as the previous 2. The author did do his homework on the area though. Mostly accurate. We don’t however have elk here. Maybe a moose or caribou would have sold the story?
January 3, 2026
I tend not to read books in a series directly in a row if I can help it. Giving myself a break between each installment allows my brain to breathe a bit. But with
The Comet Cycle
, I couldn't help me continue reading and crushed all three books in a row, most recently
The Sky Vault
. The final book in the series by Benjamin Percy, well at least published so far, The Sky Vault did not disappoint.
The comet, Cain, came from beyond our solar system, its debris containing elements unknown. Now, in the isolated region of Fairbanks, Alaska, the skies shift and stretch as an interstellar dust cloud seeds the atmosphere. When a plane shudders its way through pulpy, swirling, bruise-shaped clouds, lit with sudden cracks of lightning, the sky opens and the aircraft vanishes…but only for a minute.
When the flight lands, everyone on board and in the community will be changed forever. Chuck Bridges, a local DJ and conspiracy theorist, was on board and later reported dead to his family, but not before proclaiming that something inside the clouds was speaking to him. Now his son, Theo, must chase down answers to the mystery his father unlocked. He’ll find himself at odds with Sophie Chen, an agent with a shadowy employer desperate to secure the black box from the airplane, as well as Rolf Wagner, a widowed sheriff investigating a series of increasingly strange and unsettling reports. And then there is Joanna Straub, a contractor reconstructing a top-secret government lab active during WWII and shuttered deep within the nearby White Mountains.
The answer to the comet’s origin is about to be unveiled, and its impact on Earth is more treacherous and sublime than humanity could imagine.
While The Ninth Metal deals with omnimetal, the aftermath of the comet, and a metal-flesh hybrid in Northfall, Minnesota and The Unfamiliar Garden sees the story head to the Northwest and a the effects on planets with a part human, part planet being. Now, we get things from another dimension in The Sky Vault . What Percy does with three books in one series is amazing. I love the connective tissue of the comet's effects on the world, but three entirely different, and mostly self-contained tales.
This book answers a few questions posed by the first two novels, but also left a lot to be answered. This gives me the feeling the third novel in the series may not really be the final installment. We can only hope.
Benjamin Percy's The Sky Vault is a thrilling science fiction story that continues to the lore of Cain. A very cinematic reading, The Sky Vault fits right in with the rest of The Comet Cycle, but also stands out in its own way.
The Sky Vault is available at bookstores everywhere from William Morrow. The audiobook, narrated by Michael David Axtell, is available via Libro.fm!
The comet, Cain, came from beyond our solar system, its debris containing elements unknown. Now, in the isolated region of Fairbanks, Alaska, the skies shift and stretch as an interstellar dust cloud seeds the atmosphere. When a plane shudders its way through pulpy, swirling, bruise-shaped clouds, lit with sudden cracks of lightning, the sky opens and the aircraft vanishes…but only for a minute.
When the flight lands, everyone on board and in the community will be changed forever. Chuck Bridges, a local DJ and conspiracy theorist, was on board and later reported dead to his family, but not before proclaiming that something inside the clouds was speaking to him. Now his son, Theo, must chase down answers to the mystery his father unlocked. He’ll find himself at odds with Sophie Chen, an agent with a shadowy employer desperate to secure the black box from the airplane, as well as Rolf Wagner, a widowed sheriff investigating a series of increasingly strange and unsettling reports. And then there is Joanna Straub, a contractor reconstructing a top-secret government lab active during WWII and shuttered deep within the nearby White Mountains.
The answer to the comet’s origin is about to be unveiled, and its impact on Earth is more treacherous and sublime than humanity could imagine.
While The Ninth Metal deals with omnimetal, the aftermath of the comet, and a metal-flesh hybrid in Northfall, Minnesota and The Unfamiliar Garden sees the story head to the Northwest and a the effects on planets with a part human, part planet being. Now, we get things from another dimension in The Sky Vault . What Percy does with three books in one series is amazing. I love the connective tissue of the comet's effects on the world, but three entirely different, and mostly self-contained tales.
This book answers a few questions posed by the first two novels, but also left a lot to be answered. This gives me the feeling the third novel in the series may not really be the final installment. We can only hope.
Benjamin Percy's The Sky Vault is a thrilling science fiction story that continues to the lore of Cain. A very cinematic reading, The Sky Vault fits right in with the rest of The Comet Cycle, but also stands out in its own way.
The Sky Vault is available at bookstores everywhere from William Morrow. The audiobook, narrated by Michael David Axtell, is available via Libro.fm!
September 13, 2023
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
In the third book of the Comet Cycle Series, something strange is going on in the isolated region of Fairbanks, Alaska, where the skies shift and stretch as an interstellar dust cloud seeds the atmosphere. When a plane shudders its way through one of these strange swirling, bruise-shaped clouds, lit with sudden cracks of lightning, the sky opens and the aircraft vanishes…but only for a minute. When the flight lands, those left still on board and in the community will be changed forever. Chuck Bridges, a local DJ and conspiracy theorist, was on board and later reported dead to his family, but not before proclaiming that something inside the clouds was speaking to him. Now his son, Theo, must chase down answers to the mystery his father unlocked. Sophie Chen, an agent with a shadowy employer is desperate to secure the black box from the airplane. Rolf Wagner, a widowed sheriff, is investigating a series of increasingly strange and unsettling reports. And then there is Joanna Straub, a contractor reconstructing a top-secret government lab active during WWII and shuttered deep within the nearby White Mountains. The answer to the comet’s origin is about to be unveiled, and its impact on Earth is more treacherous than humanity could imagine.
I have read all three of the books in the series, and they have all been excellent. This one could actually be read as a stand-alone, since it takes place in another location altogether, and doesn't heavily rely on information from the previous two novels. There was non-stop action from start to finish, characters you loved (like Theo and his two best friends, just to name a few) and characters you hated. The airplane scene was both crazy and a little gruesome, so I definitely loved that. The way it ended left it open for potentially another book, which would be great. Overall, if you are a fan of fantasy or science fiction, then you are definitely going to want to add this to your TBR pile.
In the third book of the Comet Cycle Series, something strange is going on in the isolated region of Fairbanks, Alaska, where the skies shift and stretch as an interstellar dust cloud seeds the atmosphere. When a plane shudders its way through one of these strange swirling, bruise-shaped clouds, lit with sudden cracks of lightning, the sky opens and the aircraft vanishes…but only for a minute. When the flight lands, those left still on board and in the community will be changed forever. Chuck Bridges, a local DJ and conspiracy theorist, was on board and later reported dead to his family, but not before proclaiming that something inside the clouds was speaking to him. Now his son, Theo, must chase down answers to the mystery his father unlocked. Sophie Chen, an agent with a shadowy employer is desperate to secure the black box from the airplane. Rolf Wagner, a widowed sheriff, is investigating a series of increasingly strange and unsettling reports. And then there is Joanna Straub, a contractor reconstructing a top-secret government lab active during WWII and shuttered deep within the nearby White Mountains. The answer to the comet’s origin is about to be unveiled, and its impact on Earth is more treacherous than humanity could imagine.
I have read all three of the books in the series, and they have all been excellent. This one could actually be read as a stand-alone, since it takes place in another location altogether, and doesn't heavily rely on information from the previous two novels. There was non-stop action from start to finish, characters you loved (like Theo and his two best friends, just to name a few) and characters you hated. The airplane scene was both crazy and a little gruesome, so I definitely loved that. The way it ended left it open for potentially another book, which would be great. Overall, if you are a fan of fantasy or science fiction, then you are definitely going to want to add this to your TBR pile.
August 30, 2024
This was such an interesting read throughout but the end was VERY lacking. This book straddles exactly between the first and second books for me. Not as good as the first but better than the second--and that is reflected in my rating for all three.
I love the concept of this universe. It feels very JJ Abrams, but unfortunately, just like JJ Abrams, the author loves asking questions more than he does answering them. I love the loose interconnectedness of this universe but at some point I will need another book --not sure if one is in the works--to wrap things up and provide some answers and maybe tug all the strings at once to pull the stories closer than they currently appear.
This book gets 4 stars because of how entertaining it was to read throughout. It doesn't get that 5th star because of how lackluster the ending was and how unexplained it was. ZERO answers. No aftermath. Whereas the first book seemed to pull all the plots together at the end, this book was more similar to the second in that each one just seemed to end. It felt as if there are 20-30 more pages missing from this book. I don't mind 'some' vagueness but only if it sets something up in the future. It should not be a substitute for lazy writing. If it feels like I am being hard for a book I gave 4 stars to, it is only because the author set the bar so high with the first book.
I hope I get to read more in this series and soon. I will probably check out what else the author has written and see if anything interest me.
I love the concept of this universe. It feels very JJ Abrams, but unfortunately, just like JJ Abrams, the author loves asking questions more than he does answering them. I love the loose interconnectedness of this universe but at some point I will need another book --not sure if one is in the works--to wrap things up and provide some answers and maybe tug all the strings at once to pull the stories closer than they currently appear.
This book gets 4 stars because of how entertaining it was to read throughout. It doesn't get that 5th star because of how lackluster the ending was and how unexplained it was. ZERO answers. No aftermath. Whereas the first book seemed to pull all the plots together at the end, this book was more similar to the second in that each one just seemed to end. It felt as if there are 20-30 more pages missing from this book. I don't mind 'some' vagueness but only if it sets something up in the future. It should not be a substitute for lazy writing. If it feels like I am being hard for a book I gave 4 stars to, it is only because the author set the bar so high with the first book.
I hope I get to read more in this series and soon. I will probably check out what else the author has written and see if anything interest me.
September 26, 2023
Alaska seems a little wonky in THE SKY VAULT, by Benjamin Percy. There is a mysterious construction request, a man that goes crazy on a plane, and wildlife found on top of buildings. As unrelated as these events seem to be at first, they all relate to a larger unexplained phenomena that could forever change not only the world, but how we perceive the universe.
One of the things that hooked me on the book once I started reading was how all of the main characters are common people. A local radio DJ, an almost retired cop, a woman who recently took over a business from her father. and so on. No one is particularly special or unique, but all of them are likable and feel very real. The action of the book is a slow build and as the anticipation rises on finding out the truth, the reader starts to yearn for the answers perhaps even more than the characters. The scientific theories, while somewhat supernatural, seem quite plausible, at least to a non-scientist. The finale of the book is quite rewarding and at the same time leaves the reader with a few unanswered questions so thinking about the book won't stop until long after the reading is done.
This book is the third part of a series, but definitively stand alone and does need it's predecessors. THE SKY VAULT is thrilling from beginning to end and a pleasure to read.
Thank you to William Morrow, Benjamin Percy, and Net galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
One of the things that hooked me on the book once I started reading was how all of the main characters are common people. A local radio DJ, an almost retired cop, a woman who recently took over a business from her father. and so on. No one is particularly special or unique, but all of them are likable and feel very real. The action of the book is a slow build and as the anticipation rises on finding out the truth, the reader starts to yearn for the answers perhaps even more than the characters. The scientific theories, while somewhat supernatural, seem quite plausible, at least to a non-scientist. The finale of the book is quite rewarding and at the same time leaves the reader with a few unanswered questions so thinking about the book won't stop until long after the reading is done.
This book is the third part of a series, but definitively stand alone and does need it's predecessors. THE SKY VAULT is thrilling from beginning to end and a pleasure to read.
Thank you to William Morrow, Benjamin Percy, and Net galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 11, 2023
I have strange thoughts about this book. It is the final book in a trilogy. I have not read the other books. Parts of the story might not have felt so strange if I had. It's hard to tell because the story was complete in itself.
Back when we were trying to split the atom, a separate research group was trying to turn the atom sideways. I'm not sure what that even means since I've always thought an atom looked the same no matter how you looked at it. For the sake of the story I decided there was something they hadn't taught me in chemistry and atoms have sides. This research group built an eldritch machine and then either disappeared or went crazy.
Years later, after a comet went by and showered the planet with strange and new elements, a group decides to reopen the old research center in Alaska and start again. Now here is where this story leaves science fiction and heads into the mouth of madness. The old machine is powered up. The sky splits and fog comes out. There are things in the fog. These things are hungry. The machine must be shut off and destroyed so the fog and the things will go away.
Do you see why I had strange thoughts. Still, the story was well told. It was exciting. It left me with questions to think on. What more can you ask of a story like this. I kind of liked it. I think you might like it too.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher which I read on Netgalley. I review every book I read.
Back when we were trying to split the atom, a separate research group was trying to turn the atom sideways. I'm not sure what that even means since I've always thought an atom looked the same no matter how you looked at it. For the sake of the story I decided there was something they hadn't taught me in chemistry and atoms have sides. This research group built an eldritch machine and then either disappeared or went crazy.
Years later, after a comet went by and showered the planet with strange and new elements, a group decides to reopen the old research center in Alaska and start again. Now here is where this story leaves science fiction and heads into the mouth of madness. The old machine is powered up. The sky splits and fog comes out. There are things in the fog. These things are hungry. The machine must be shut off and destroyed so the fog and the things will go away.
Do you see why I had strange thoughts. Still, the story was well told. It was exciting. It left me with questions to think on. What more can you ask of a story like this. I kind of liked it. I think you might like it too.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher which I read on Netgalley. I review every book I read.
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July 4, 2024Benjamin Percy's The Sky Vault is the third entry in his Comet Cycle trilogy, a trio of books that use the same premise to tell three wildly different and standalone stories set in the same world. The setup is the same across all three books in the trilogy — Earth has passed through the trail of a comet and, as a result, the planet was bombarded with meteorites that had dramatic and varied effects depending on where they landed.
Set in Fairbanks, Alaska, The Sky Vault is probably the most sweeping and comprehensive entry in the trilogy thus far, fitting given that it's the final (?) book in the series. Largely abandoning the focused fungal-horror of The Unfamiliar Garden (which I think is my favorite in the trilogy), The Sky Vault brings back the multi-character approach of The Ninth Metal, though with much more satisfying results.
The Sky Vault feels a lot like a season of Stranger Things — we have mysterious going-ons in a small town, an abandoned research station, hints at otherworldly beasties, and a trio of teenagers attempting to solve a mystery. While the ending does get a little messy — it feels a little rushed — author Benjamin Percy does a pretty good of bringing a lot of the plot threads together and we finally get some answers on the origins of the comet. With some dashes of quantum-laced horror and existentialism, The Sky Vault is a fitting conclusion to a unique speculative-fiction trilogy.
Set in Fairbanks, Alaska, The Sky Vault is probably the most sweeping and comprehensive entry in the trilogy thus far, fitting given that it's the final (?) book in the series. Largely abandoning the focused fungal-horror of The Unfamiliar Garden (which I think is my favorite in the trilogy), The Sky Vault brings back the multi-character approach of The Ninth Metal, though with much more satisfying results.
The Sky Vault feels a lot like a season of Stranger Things — we have mysterious going-ons in a small town, an abandoned research station, hints at otherworldly beasties, and a trio of teenagers attempting to solve a mystery. While the ending does get a little messy — it feels a little rushed — author Benjamin Percy does a pretty good of bringing a lot of the plot threads together and we finally get some answers on the origins of the comet. With some dashes of quantum-laced horror and existentialism, The Sky Vault is a fitting conclusion to a unique speculative-fiction trilogy.
September 8, 2023
I received a copy of this book from the publisher
Each book in this series is unique but they all circle around the same theme, a comet named Cain. The first book details the immediate effects of Cain bringing a new metal to Earth and the second book focuses on the effect of the comet on our world's ecosystem.
(Read my reviews of those two here: [The Ninth Metal (2021) and The Unfamiliar Garden (2022.)]
This third installment dives into the origins of the comet but I would really label this one as a "multiverse The Mist." It's sci-fi, it's horror, it's filled with a whole cast of amazing characters, and I certainly hope this series continues because I am hooked!
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram
Each book in this series is unique but they all circle around the same theme, a comet named Cain. The first book details the immediate effects of Cain bringing a new metal to Earth and the second book focuses on the effect of the comet on our world's ecosystem.
(Read my reviews of those two here: [The Ninth Metal (2021) and The Unfamiliar Garden (2022.)]
This third installment dives into the origins of the comet but I would really label this one as a "multiverse The Mist." It's sci-fi, it's horror, it's filled with a whole cast of amazing characters, and I certainly hope this series continues because I am hooked!
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram
August 6, 2023
This is a short, fast paced whirlwind of a book, presented through many relatable viewpoints over the course of just a few days. In spite of being solidly a horror story, I really enjoyed it for the excellent storytelling. Benjamin Percy has a knack for telling you an enormous amount about a person with just a few words about their furniture, haircut, or the state of their fingernails, and a few lines of dialogue. All of the viewpoint characters are interesting and relatable, and all so different from each other. In the previous books in this series, it seems a passing comet is the source of some very strange things. In this book, you learn more about how this comet came about, and why the things coming from it are so unusual. It's set mainly in Alaska, in and around Fairbanks, and paints a picture of what it's like there in early fall before winter sets in. There's a secret government lab in the mountains that has recently been powered back on. What were they doing there? In the end, things conclude satisfactorily for Earth and humanity, but you're left with some things to think about. What exactly happened to Thaddeus Gunn, for instance. What is Ram VII going to do now that he's swallowed the alpha omnimetal sample? Creepy.
September 25, 2023
I liked this one quite a bit. I love all of the Comet Cycle, but each has its different strengths. I love the premise of Unfamiliar Garden more, because I like the idea of mutant fungus/plant life, but it was too short and compact. The Ninth Metal I thought had a really great plot, but its characters were a little underdeveloped. The Sky Vault has great characters, but the plot takes a little too long to get rolling for a 300-page book.
When it does get going, Percy's genre-hopping madness takes you on a wild ride through traces of Lovecraftian cosmic horror, 50s-esque speculative sci-fi, a Stranger Things/Goonies-esque journey of teenagers unraveling a government conspiracy, and more. This is his novel that feels most indebted to the comic book-y origins Percy has talked about in interviews.
One criticism I guess: Percy's prose is usually pretty tight and muscular, but there are spots here that feel like they were off in a way. Mostly it's in the parts focusing on Theo. Perhaps it's intentional, the author trying to get into a teenaged mind, but sometimes it reeks of "grown man trying to write a teenager".
I hope to see more novels in this universe, because Percy has started the groundwork for something great, but it needs room to develop and expand.
When it does get going, Percy's genre-hopping madness takes you on a wild ride through traces of Lovecraftian cosmic horror, 50s-esque speculative sci-fi, a Stranger Things/Goonies-esque journey of teenagers unraveling a government conspiracy, and more. This is his novel that feels most indebted to the comic book-y origins Percy has talked about in interviews.
One criticism I guess: Percy's prose is usually pretty tight and muscular, but there are spots here that feel like they were off in a way. Mostly it's in the parts focusing on Theo. Perhaps it's intentional, the author trying to get into a teenaged mind, but sometimes it reeks of "grown man trying to write a teenager".
I hope to see more novels in this universe, because Percy has started the groundwork for something great, but it needs room to develop and expand.
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