Broken Sky Part 04: Pt. 4

Broken Sky #4

by Chris Wooding, Steve Kyte (Illustrator)

It's been one year since Integration. Kia and Ryushi have banded together with the remaining members of Parakka to continue their struggle to return the world to what they once thought it was. Their fight is becoming increasingly difficult, especially now that they're in Kirin Taq, a land ruled by the cold and ruthless Princess Aurin.As revenge takes hold and anger boils over, Parakka's numbers are becoming increasingly smaller. If only there was somewhere they could turn for help...

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Chris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.

Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.

Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.

He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.

Chris lives in London.

Reviews

[Jos · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume contains Act 2: Part 1 of the Broken Sky series. Unfortunately, it certainly felt like an opener for a second act where all the changes and players are introduced based on where everything ended previously. There was not as much action as in the previous volumes and the MC's acted like annoying teenagers. There was also the requisite sister does not get along with brother's (kind-of) girlfriend along with a host of other outdated 90s tropes.

The series reads like a retro anime which has some nostalgia for me. Besides this volume being a bit weaker I am still committed to finishing this series and it is the first book that I was unimpressed with so that is a plus.

[Daniel Varona · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, Wooding's world building will always be immaculate. His writing always does so well at describing location, species and political/societal structures in such foreign places such as Kirin Taq. The massive time skip of a whole year felt a bit jarring for me personally since I was really into what occurred at the end of Book #3. Like Book #2, this was heavier on the world building instead of action since Parakka was now relocated after the events of Book #3. I always enjoy how Wooding describes alien creatures' behaviors and dialogue, making it very easy for us to see mentally.

In terms of character development, I felt like many of the characters did not go where I thought they would. With Parakka being so desperate for help, I'd figure the major figure heads, being the main characters, would find an understanding to try and get along after a whole YEAR had passed. The feuds going on between the twins, and also Kia and Calica feel a bit farfetched. The direction Ty took was a bit odd to me personally, but in context of the story, I understand its purpose.

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review may contain spoilers).

This part reveals more of the world of Kirin Taq and the people and creatures that reside there. It also hints at something more sinister that has happened with the Resonants like Elani.

I like the relationship between Ty and Kia and I like the gradually growing relationship between Calica and Ryushi. I don't quite know what to make of Whist - part of me likes him, even though the rest of me knows that he really shouldn't be trusted.

It'll be interesting to see how the new knowledge gained will help the characters in later books. There seem to be strange relationships - opposites - everywhere in the world of Broken Sky.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

One year later, trapped in that other world, we follow our heroes through another yet the same set of challenges. Hiding is always top priority, knowing the terrain and the dangers the strange flora and fauna present a close second. This books moves differently than the previous two, less survival-fighting but more moral dilemmas, more self-doubt, more insecurities in newly developing alliances and emotions.

The ending... one part I had begun to formulate on my own, but the revelations an ancient race provides left me with two expressions: da fuk, and the other eludes me. It resulted in me sitting staring into space, trying to wrap my head around part of what I just read.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hit a wall with this installment; the bad writing seemed to leap off the page in more places than before, although it's still fun and imaginative. Maybe boring because I know all the twists and turns of this childhood favorite.

[Ekaterina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say I do feel Chris Wooding in every chapter! It's great!!