Guerreira dos Céus

Night Spinner #2

by Addie Thorley

Estamos em guerra. A discórdia entre Zemya e Ashkar começou há séculos por uma disputa entre deuses e, neste momento, a única hipótese de trazer paz a Ashkar é unindo os vários povos numa revolta contra o rei tirano. Uma tarefa difícil quando se leva de arrasto uma turba de pastores descontentes… mas estes são os primeiros aliados que conseguimos unir à causa.

O cenário é negro. Eles não confiam em mim, porque a minha reputação como Enebish, a Destruidora, ainda perdura. Mas eu também sou desconfiada, pois é isso que acontece quando se é traído por quem mais gostamos. Apenas confio no Serik, o único que consegue imbuir-me de alguma esperança. Foi ele quem me motivou a percorrer o grande deserto gelado em busca de apoios para esta guerra.

E, no entanto, a maior ferida neste conflito é a minha irmã Ghoa, cuja traição me atormenta. Pergunto-me se, depois da minha fuga, ela terá vindo atrás de mim com os seus guerreiros Kalima, ou se teremos de nos enfrentar, cara a cara, na derradeira batalha final.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Retellings, Audiobook, Ebooks, Romance

432 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2021

About the author

Addie Thorley spent her childhood playing soccer, riding horses, and scribbling stories. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, she decided “hard news” didn’t contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back.

She now lives in Princeton, New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and wolf dog, and when she’s not writing she can be found gallivanting in the woods or galloping around the barn where she works as a horse trainer and exercise rider.
AN AFFAIR OF POISONS is her debut novel.

You can find her online at www.addiethorley.com or on Twitter @addiethorley.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

i absolutely adored the first book in this series because it was the first ‘the hunchback of notre dame’ retelling i have ever read and i totally fangirled over it. its such an underrated story, so i really appreciated the author taking the source material and making it her own in a world full of exciting magic.

this sequel though? ehhhh. it just falls short. not a terrible book - ive definitely read worse - but it pales in comparison to its predecessor. the storyline no longer follows ‘the hunchback of notre dame,’ but takes the plot in its own direction. not a bad thing inherently, but considering the retelling aspect is what drew me to this series in the first place, its a massive bummer. and the plot itself lacks the twists and turns that made the first book so exciting. also, the characters feel different. when i wasnt annoyed by them, i just didnt care about them. and the addition of ghoas POV didnt really do the story any favours either.

i think if you took this book and looked at it on its own, it is a pretty decent story. but as a sequel, it just doesnt feel like a cohesive conclusion, unfortunately.

↠ 3 stars

[Lucie V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The desert is the cruelest cradle. Sun and sand strip flesh from bone.
But bone can break and then rebuild, making man as strong as stone.

✅ Magic / Powers
✅🆗 Plot
✅🆗 Pace
🆗 Characters
🆗 Villain

I really enjoyed Night Spinner, but Sky Breaker fell short for me. 😔

This book picks up where we left off with Enebish after she was betrayed by everyone she knew, and is now on the run with the shepherds and Serik.

The plot was not bad, but it was not as interesting as Night Spinner. There were fewer betrayals and plot twists. The first half of the book is about Enebish and Serik's quest to unite the Protected Territories in a rebellion to oppose the Zemyan army that has invaded their home. Not much happened besides them traveling with the shepherds and dealing with the shepherd's whining.

Thankfully, the pace picks up for the second half of the book, and for a while, I just couldn't stop reading. As Ghoa and Enebish cross paths again, they come to realize they need to work together if they want to save their people, the Gods, and themselves. The last part of the book with the Gods and the ending were good, but it didn't feel that satisfying (I can't really explain why though).

My main problem with this book was the characters I think, they were definitely not as interesting as in the first book. Enebish started to get on my nerves after a while with how little she trusted everyone. I understand where it's coming from considering all the betrayals she's been through in the last few years, but her generally negative attitude annoyed me. There is also Ghoa... I was excited to have some chapters from her point of view because she was an intriguing and complex character in the first book, even though I didn't relate to her that much, but I find that she was also disappointing. She started off full of pride and hate and seeking revenge, and changed a lot, but we don't really see the development of the character, it seemed rushed and very convenient for the plot-line. I don't find Enebish and Ghoa interesting, and they're not great anti-heroes either; one is bossy, controlling, paranoid, and the other is ruthless and obsessed with pride and revenge.

Serik was nothing really exceptional in the first book, and he remained mostly the same, so no changes here. Temujin was a big disappointment for me. I really liked his complex character and his lies and betrayals, but he was so boring in this book. 🙄 The villain was also quite generic and lacked depth. I don't understand why the book took a sudden change at the beginning and the main villain suddenly changes (or if it was him in the first book, it was not made clear enough for me I guess). So yeah, overall I'm not a fan of the characters...

On a side note, I really think this series would benefit from including a map to help the readers figure out the journey of the characters, and also to better understand the conflicts and politics between different nations.


1. Night Spinner ⭐⭐⭐⭐


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[Sam (Sassyowlreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

See my full review and favorite quotes on my blog!

Upon finishing Night Spinner, I had a pretty good idea of how I expected Sky Breaker to go but I was wrong on pretty much every plot point and I couldn’t be happier about it. For starters, the fierce Ghoa gets her own point-of-view which sent me swooning as soon as I saw it. She was such an interesting character in Night Spinner and I had a lot of questions for her. Adding the second point-of-view created a lot more depth to the story than if it had just been told from Enebish’s side and gave me two strong female characters to root for instead of just one. Ghoa grows a lot throughout Sky Breaker and her journey surprised me more than anything else.

Serik is also involved more in Sky Breaker than he was in Night Spinner and tends to be the voice of reason for Enebish while she is still reeling from the events that occurred at the end of Night Spinner. Everything would have fallen apart pretty quickly without him and he had to become the leader of this motley group of shepherds and Enebish the Destroyer.

Enebish really struggles with trusting others and paranoia for awhile so it takes some time for the En we all know and love to reemerge but once she does, there’s no standing in her way. She is willing to sacrifice all to stop the Zemyans and Sky King, even if it means accepting the help of some unlikely allies.

Because this is a duology, Sky Breaker is unsurprisingly a slower read than Night Spinner. A lot of growth and development had to happen for any kind of resolution to occur, not to mention the amount of traveling on foot. I loved the light romance throughout the book and was glad that it didn’t end up overshadowing the greater dangers that were looming.

The themes of forgiveness and redemption run strongly throughout the book and we are left with a somewhat bittersweet ending which I greatly prefer to a saccharine ending. I didn’t love Sky Breaker quite as much as Night Spinner but I still really liked it. An excellent conclusion to a phenomenal duology!

A huge thanks to Page Street YA for sending me this copy of Sky Breaker in exchange for an honest review!

[Khushi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, THE BETRAYALS JUST WON'T STOP. I REPEAT, THE BETRAYALS JUST WON'T STOP. (You guys should understand that if I keep saying this, I mean the case is severe.) Stop with all the manipulating and give Enebish a break and a hug. Poor, poor Enebish.
Ugh, this series, this book, this author just makes me realize how backstabbing, cruel and selfish the world actually is. Wonderfully written. There are so many good things about this book, but one thing I'd like to stress on is character development.
Wowza.
I always mention it in my reviews when it comes to protagonists, they go through a lot of traumatic experiences, but that's it. They don't really show how it impacts them, that's where the line between reality and fantasy glitches, but here? No way.
Enebish is destroyed (no pun intended), the betrayals have taken such a big toll on her, she won't trust anyone, and it gets unhealthy, but that's how it is. We can't sugarcoat it just so it will be more pleasant to read. And can we talk about Serik, my cinnamon roll? Honestly, at first, I did not like him. But he just gets better and better and smarter and smarter, all my love.
Chef's kiss to the character development. And then there's Ghoa. Oh, Ghoa, Ghoa, you twisted woman, you brought it upon yourself. I hate you so much that I love you. Let me make myself clear, only the one Cardan Greenbriar has achieved that compliment from me so now you know what I am talking about.
I just want to talk about every fricking character, that's how well developed this is, but I obviously can't so I'll talk about this one character and that is the Zivana, princess of Verdanet. She's thirteen and she's badass, yes. I always hate it when YA authors make 13-year-olds such babies, in reality, they are not. I started reading YA when I was thirteen and believe me, I was pissed at how lame they look, in reality, 13-year-olds are way more mature when it comes to circumstances. For example, Ziva, best portrayed 13-year-old in any YA book ever.

*******here ends the review I was preparing while I was reading the book********
*******here begins the review I wrote after I finished reading this book**********

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHAUDBSJNCKAOOUIXHKSZJDK;LLAAALNCHAOSSSSSSSSSSKILLLLLMEEEEEEEEEWHHHHHHATTTTTTTJUSTTTHAPPPPPPPENEDDJAKJBVZBCBZJBSKJUCGBZBLKHSAGHIGOHAHJTREASURETREASUREASAHIHASEUKELAMUJIDIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

BRUH WHAT WAS THAT, ARE YOU JUST-
YOU JUST DID NOT, ADDIE THORLEY, YOU DID NOT-
WHA-

I am lost.
I have got so much to say but this review is so insanely long already and it's nearly 2:00 am.
I wish I had written this book. I usually respect the author's work and appreciate their talent no matter how good the book is, BUT NO ADDIE, GIVE. ME. THIS. BOOK.
Why is this ending so sad, I am ugly crying, what the hell-
*sobs*
I had serious blood pressure fluctuations while reading this, I am not kidding.
I am in awe, I don't think I have ever felt that way with any book I have ever read.
WHY DOES GOODREADS HAVE ONLY 5 STAR RATING? THE HELL-
Don't you just LOVE it when amazing book covers don't deceive you. I am proud to have judged this book by its cover.
I don't want to say goodbye, why are you doing this to me, Thorley???
JUST GODDAMN READ THE BOOK ALREADY, WHY DO YOU NEED THIS REVIEW TO ASSURE YOU?

[Eileen (BookCatPin)]

Sky Breaker wasn't bad but sadly I just could not get into the book. It's been sitting on my bedside table for some time and when I realized I had zero desire to pick it up again I knew it was time to DNF it.

I think my biggest issue with Sky Breaker was Ghoa. I did not care for her and her POV at all. I wish I did because at the end of Night Spinner I knew she had redeeming qualities. But as I started on the sequel, I just could not muster up any feelings for her story :(

I may come back to Sky Breaker because I did enjoy Night Spinner and want to know how Enebish and Serik fare in the end.

[Shannon Miz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

Okay, so I may have not finished this one. However. I really think this might have been a case of me, and not the book? I just was having a really hard time, and rather than rate it lower than perhaps it deserved, I threw in the towel. Which, you know I don't do often, but I do in cases like this.

Anyway, I enjoyed the first book well enough, and was looking forward to seeing how the story wrapped up. Enebish is a really strong character, and she'd been through so much. So what made me stop? I was honestly just a little apathetic/bored, and like I said, it felt like it was much more a personal issue than a book issue. I will say, the pacing did feel slower to me, which may have played a role. But otherwise, I really think it was my problem. (As such, I am giving the series away, in hopes that it finds a loving home who will appreciate it!)

Bottom Line: It's not you, Sky Breaker, it's me. Probably.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Sammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Check out my full review on my blog (posting May 10) We Write at Dawn

The sequel to Night Spinner, Sky Breaker picks up where we left off with Enebish after she was betrayed by everyone she knew. On the run with the shepherds and hiding out as they try to find King Minoak and take back the kingdom. 

In the first book, Enebish is a disgraced warrior after she used her powers to kill innocent people during a battle. That is, until we find out she didn't kill anybody, her adoptive sister, Ghoa, did. Enebish tries to take down the Sky King and release the nation from his clutches, but is betrayed by her partner and outlaw, Temujin. Now, she has to find King Minoak, the rightful king, to bring balance back into the world. 

To start off this book, I do not like Enebish as a character. At all. I didn't like her in book 1 and I liked her even less in book 2. In book 1, she went from being this fierce warrior, a girl who took no crap, to a sniffling, cry baby. Like she just turns into a puddle at any inconvenience, and it was annoying. And she compared her current self to her old self so much it made it even more dramatic and even worse. Then you add that she becomes this paranoid, controlling person in the sequel and I had to tap out. I was not interested in listening to her anxious thoughts or constantly undermining everyone around her. If it wasn't for Serik, her best friend, I'm sure everyone would have left her by now and she would be in big trouble. 

Then we add in Ghoa's point of view, which was interesting, but she's also a character I do not like and can't relate with. Getting into her head made the book even worse, even though it did give insight on what was going on in the city. I only got 34% into the book and I didn't want to read further, at all. I've noticed my tolerance for books I don't like is going down and I'm becoming less afraid to DNF books recently, which is probably why I just couldn't find the motivation to finish this, even though I probably would have a year ago. 

Based on other reviews I've read, a lot of people have had similar issues with the characters. Enebish and Ghoa are not interesting characters to read, in my opinion. And they're not great anti-heroes in my opinion either. One is bossy, controlling, paranoid, and the other is a ruthless jerk, who is obsessed with pride and revenge. And while I am a bossy and controlling person, I also know when to trust people and hand over the reins, unlike Enebish. 

Plus, the book took a HUGE turn in the beginning that I was not expecting and I wasn't a fan. It just seemed like a convenient way to change the plot instead of going with the original storyline. I won't spoil anything, but the original villain is just tossed aside for a new villain who we kind of know a little bit about, but also not really, because they weren't the focus in the first book. And the way the original villain was disposed of was so ... not original....

[Erin Arkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

I was excited to be able to pick up book two of the Night Spinner series by Addie Thorley. I will admit that I had to go back to book one to get caught up on where things left off before diving in and I'm glad I did as it was a great reminder of Enebish's story and how things wrapped in that book.

Enebish is in a tough spot with taking a stand against the Sky King and when her only allies, the shepherds, begin to doubt her, things become more difficult than they already are. I loved how Serik was the one person who helped Enebish keep her balance and the development of their relationship was really well done.

We also got to see how things are going for Commander Ghoa and when she is abandoned by her fellow warriors, she ends up being held captive by the Zemyan sorcerer Kartok where she learns more about his ambitions and what he is truly up to.

As Ghoa and Enebish cross paths again, they come to realize they need to work together to save their people and themselves. I enjoyed this book and thought Thorley did a great job with wrapping this series up. If you're looking for a YA Fantasy to pick up, grab this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start out by saying I really enjoyed the first book, Night Spinner. I loved the idea of a gender-bent Hunchback of Notre Dame retelling in a fantasy world with magic and warring kingdoms. Unfortunately, Sky Breaker didn't live up to the first book for me. Here are a few reasons why.

First, Enebish started to get on my nerves with how little she trusted everyone and her generally negative attitude throughout the book. Subsequently, I didn't really care about the plot that much. Second, I didn't love Ghoa in this book. I didn't love being in her head and her ending in the book (no spoilers from me). Third, the ending overall was just a bit weird. I didn't love the sudden focus and reality of religion. It's my pet peeve when authors mix omnipotent gods with humans in the plot.

Anyways, this book just didn't do it for me, but I do like Addie Thorley's writing. I'll be sure to visit her future books, and I'm interested to see what she does next.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 2
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you, Page Street Publishing, for the ARC!

[Becca Mee · Rating 4 out of 5]

SKY BREAKER was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, and I was not disappointed! I won't lie, it took me a minute to readjust myself to Enebish's world and her story simply because it has been so long since I read Night Spinner, and that did slow me down at first, but once I was feeling familiar with this story again, I remembered why I love anything that Addie Thorley writes. As with Night Spinner, Sky Breaker's world building is expansive and unparalleled. I'm amazed that Thorley created such a wide variety of cultures and people and still managed to keep everything straight. I also appreciated how Thorley depicted the effects of how deep betrayal from loved ones can deeply wound someone, and I could really relate to Enebish in that regard. I also really enjoyed seeing lighter moments with Serik and Enebish and forgot how much I loved that romance. I love that Thorley included Ghoa's POV in this story and thought that it was a daring move that paid off in spades. Ghoa is such a complicated character who is so entrenched in what she believes, and watching her struggle with expanding her worldview and with her complicated dynamic with Enebish was really interesting. I love a good morally grey character arc and Ghoa is most certainly that. I am satisfied with the way that this duology ended and can't wait to see what Thorley writes next. SKY BREAKER is a story about family, betrayal and sacrifice that is a fantasy lover's dream.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher for review.

This was a fitting and satisfying continuation and completion of the duology. It picks up right after Night Spinner ended and had compelling character development, exciting twists, and satisfying resolutions.

The magic system in this series has several similarities to Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse with the elemental powers and combination of magical and non magical armies. It might be fun for fans of those books to read these while they are looking to fill a void.

I still think this series would really benefit from including a map to help keep the different areas straight. It's possible the final versions had maps since I read an ARC for the first and second book, but to my knowledge they haven't.

Trigger/content warnings: torture and war related violence, but not gratuitous.

[Cathy | A Case Full of Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This did not live up to the first book for me. The plot seemed almost non-existent for most of the book, with Enebish and her reluctant crew just wandering around.

It finally picked up closer to the end, and I did enjoy the ending a lot more than the rest of the book. I'm always fascinated to learn more about the gods and mythology that authors create for their books, and the ending really fulfilled that desire for me.

[Becky Benn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good not great, not as gripping and the first book.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always I enjoyed the magical aspect of this novel and the world-building. I loved traveling through the different cities and meeting their townsfolk. Understanding the histories, cultures, and values that each place holds dear was a joy to read.

The characters, on the other hand, weren’t as great as in the first book of the duology. I found Enebish annoying, Ghoa extremely manipulative, and the villain was okay. The secondary characters were what made the book interesting. I adored Zivana the thirteen-year-old Princess, the Prince from the other city, and the rulers of the different kingdoms. I wished for a greater redemption arc for Temujin.

The ending wasn’t as captivating as The Night Spinner but maybe that’s because it’s the final book in the duology. I personally wasn’t a fan of Ghoa’s ending but I did enjoy the location where this storyline took place.

In saying all of this I did enjoy reading the book, Addie Thorley’s writing is very easy to read, and while reading with a nice coffee it’s just what the doctor ordered when you need a fun and smooth read.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this sequel to the fantastic Night Spinner! I read it over a year ago, so I didn't exactly remember everything, but I had no trouble diving back into Enebish's world. Here, we follow Enebish and the sheperds she rescued, as the try to find the lost king, and figure out how to take back the kingdom.

As usual, I really loved all the action in the book. There's never a boring moment! Whether it's plotting, or fighting, the characters are always busy. I also enjoyed reading some events from Ghoa's perspective. I don't remember if her POV was already in Book 1, but this was really nice here.

Contrary to Night Spinner, I found myself enjoying Ghoa's part of the plot waaaaaaaay more than Enebish's. She did a lot for the plot, and many interesting things happened to her, when Enebish's side of the story felt a little slow and unnecessary. Ghoas really was the highlight of her book. You can truly see how her evolution has gone, and is still going. Obviously, I have a soft spot for the "villains", but she really had a cool background and evolution in Sky Breaker.

On the other side, Enebish mostly annoyed me. Such a shame! I couldn't stand her attitude until 40% in the book. She's basically an emo teen until then. "Uuuuh, no one ever believes me... Uuuugh no one ever listens..... No one likes me, no one understands me, blablablabla". I just wanted to slap her back into reality! That was kind of a pain to read, which is why I'm not giving the book all the stars.

Otherwise, the book is really good. It's full of action, and the final confrontation scene is fantastic. I couldn't stop reading it, I just needed to know how it would end. And I was not disappointed! I don't think it was a mind-blowing conclusion to the book or the series, but it was satisfying enough, and it brought me closure, which feels super nice. Good job Addie Thorley! Can't wait to read your next novels!

[marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Thindbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

*This arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

This is the second book in the Night Spinner duology. This is a retelling of Hunchback of Notre Dame but just gender-swapped. I liked this book and it picks off right where it ended in Night Spinner. In this book, I didn't enjoy the writing as much. I felt that the pacing was off and it didn't have the same vibe as the first book. This book did have action but it just wasn't the same. I did enjoy the traveling in this book where the characters had to get to their final destination in order to get aid. The world-building was still amazing and I did enjoy the plot structure of this book. Also, this book is written in two POVs which I loved reading since we got two different perspectives of what was going on.

The characters in this book changed and weren't the same as from book one. In this book, Enebish was annoying and had little trust in her friends. She had a great development in book one but in book two it just went downhill for her. Ghoa was the other main character in this book and I enjoyed her more than Enebish. This book has some great side characters and I enjoyed their involvement in the book. Though for the antagonist, I felt was a little weak and that he was better in book one.

This book did have a good ending and it was great to see the duology end. In my opinion, I thought that book one was amazing and more enjoyable than book two. It felt a little different and didn't give the same vibe as Night Spinner. Don't let this review discourage you from reading the duology as the book was still great but just has some small problems. I still recommend reading this book to those who are fans of Hunchback of Notre Dame.

[TheGeekishBrunette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an earc to read in exchange for a review!

After reading the first book last year, I knew I needed to get my hands on the second book! I loved the characters, especially Enebish and Serik.

Enebish is struggling a lot more in this one than the last book. A lot of damage was done to her trust from those who were close to her and in any situation like that, it’s easy to distance yourself from others. You don’t want to be hurt again and that is understandable. Been there, done that! It is easy to feel for her and connect with her again just like in book one. Enebish’s flaws are definitely on full display and cause rifts among those she is trying to help as well as with Serik.

Even though there is a lot of inner strife that she is dealing with, she still remains a strong character that will do anything to make things right again. Although, she can be quite stubborn about it.

As in the previous book, there is a bit of love interest between her and Serik. I thought the relationship would have more buildup but it remains a smaller plot point much like in the first book. There are a few scenes between them but most of their interaction is Serik being the voice of reason.

A few minor characters from book one are back but there are also many new faces. It was enjoyable to get to know the new cast and see how they would fit into the plot.

There is a bit of a difference between this book and the first and that is the dual point-of-view this time around. Ghoa was introduced in book one and had a lot to do with Enebish. I wasn’t sure at first how I would like this point-of-view since she wasn’t very nice before. Just like Enebish, she is fighting her own battles. She does get a redemption arc which I am not always a fan of, but it was done well and I didn’t dislike it. I am still not a huge fan of her but it was good to see her side of things and it does show that people can change.

Although the beginning of the book was a bit on the slower side, there are still many plot twists and action in the rest of the book to keep you going back for more. The plot wasn’t like anything I expected. There is a lot more about the magic system and religion as well as tying in important topics from our own world such as freedom and justice for everyone.

Overall, this was a really good conclusion for the duology. I will be sad to see these characters go but will be looking forward to any books this author writes in the future.

[Kate J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to combine my book 1 review with book 2 because I didn’t want to worry about book 1 spoilers on my first review.

In the first book, my thoughts on Enebish is like “OK, people see this girl who lost control of her powers and killed a few innocent people.” Enebish laments on this much of the first book, but you can sympathize with her hurt. However, at the end of book 1, you find out that it was actually Ghoa who killed those innocent people and then “froze” Enebish’s memory so she would forget. I immediately thought “How do you freeze someone’s memory completely? Wouldn’t you either just give them brain freeze or kill them?” I know this is magic, but I don’t see how you can physically freeze a memory.
Moving on to book 2 and we have this fiery warrior Enebish back because now she knows she didn’t lose control. This is fine, however it isn’t common knowledge to everyone at this point, and most people saw Enebish decimate the king’s palace with her starfire at the end of book 1. The shepherds in book 2 don’t trust her, and why would they? She has shown no reason for them to trust her. Enibesh’s inner dialogue throughout much of book 2 is how she was betrayed and that people should trust her, etc etc, but she is so focused on herself in the beginning she doesn’t take into the account that common people probably don’t care that she was betrayed. These people are in the middle of a war with little to no resources and many people get sent to the war front to just die. Enibesh’s trust issues are the last thing these people are gonna care about- not to mention she never really tries to earn their trust in the beginning.

Also, there were plenty of times later in this book when Enebish clearly was not at fault for something and the shepherds blamed her for it. It become such an over-used plot device of “let’s always blame Enebish” even when she was clearly not at fault that I assumed many characters in this book were simply idiots lacking a brain cell. Not sure if that was the authors intention or if the intention was for the audience to see Enebish as an outcast, but constantly I’m saying to myself to these shepherds “Yes, we get it, you want to blame Enebish because you’re a bunch of idiots.” I also hate Serik telling Enebish “Oh try to be their friends.” Honestly, I was exactly 28% through this book when I thought “Just kill the shepherds or run away Enebish. If they want to complain, leave them.” Of course she has to be the “hero” so she wouldn’t do that but so many of these repeated dialogues between her and the shepherds got old so fast. Also, Ziva has the exact same power, yet they love her for it? That didn’t make much sense to me. Again, I just wanted Enebish to leave if these people weren’t seeing her efforts. But then again, she has made some big mistakes, is not a great leader and *spolier* when the shepherds kick her and shackle her and push her to the mud while she says “I let them see me for the first time since we met ashamed, terrified, but trying. But it’s useless.” I’m reading this like Enebish shut up, every page makes me like her less and less. At first I want her to abandon the shepherds, but it feels like her own pride makes her want to “save them.” I’m like, girl, leave. Then when those same shepherds push her to the mud and hate her, I’m like “Good, you were annoying me Enebish.” She’s constantly trying to be the perfect leader, trying to prove herself. Like stop trying already. Give up, but give up trying to win everyone over. Give up trying to be a leader. Just live your life already. Enough of the complaining. */spoiler*
Enebish: “It’s amazing what a little bit of hope can do.” No, it’s amazing that the shepherds only wanted, food, water, and shelter and after they lost that because of you - and Ziva came bearing it with her arrival - suddenly they were “hopeful.” Honestly, I don’t think they care about the mission, they always just wanted the bare necessities which Enebish constantly forgets about in her “journey to free the territories.” She keeps shoving this in the shepherds faces and they’ve made it clear so many times that they just want the bare necessities, they could care less about her mission. But of course, she doesn’t listen and she’s the “hero of the story.” My least favorite character.

The ending had a surprisingly twist. I wasn’t a huge fan of Ghoa’s narration because it wasn’t in the first novel, but I feel like it redeemed itself by the end. There is a final battle and some survive while others don’t.
I also thought Temijin was a very interesting character. You see a side of him in book 1, and book 2 I believe his intentions are skewed based on the fact that Ennibesh and Ghoa hate him and they are narrating. *spoiler* Unfortunately his “redemption” arc (from being mind-controlled) included jumping in front of Ennebish to save her life. He was unable to go through character growth in the story (despite being mind-controlled and forced to do bad things). He felt like he had no control, he was remorseful, and yet even after sacrificing his life to save Ennebish, it’s barely even acknowledged- like just a couple of sentences. Temijin went through just as much character growth as Ennebish and Ghoa, and he didn’t even narrate the story like they did. I thought he was so interesting because he was flawed, he was torn, he wanted redemption but felt he didn’t deserve it, and when it came down to it, he sacrificed his life for Ennebish. And Ennebish doesn’t even bring it up later? Doesn’t linger on what that meant? No acknowledgement that he was basically mind-controlled and forced into servitude. They did him dirty. */spoiler*

3-stars because Ennebish complained throughout much of the book, because Temijin got a brief moment of redemption that was never touched on again after like a single sentence, and because the shepherds were kind’ve idiots who Ennebish also never quite grasped that she was forcing them to do things they never wanted to do for the sake of her showing “leadership.” The only reason it’s not 2-stars is because the world building and concept of war was explained well, especially among the main territories. Essentially, I enjoyed the plot but found the characters annoying.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly disappointing. Mild spoilers.

I came into this series extremely intrigued, both by its premise and also its cultural inspiration. It has heavy Central Asian and Mongolian cultural elements, evident in a lot of the names. I have lived in Kyrgyzstan, and I had major whiplash seeing the name, Azamat, a popular boys name I've heard only in this region of the world (it is derived from Arabic but only popular really in Central Asia, I've known at least ten boy students with the name). On the otherhand, I don't know if the author slipped in the name Temujin and thought I wouldn't notice that it's Genghis Khan's name. Like hold up, I read that, and I had flashbacks to AP world history class. Also, it may be popular in Mongolia (I don't know if it is or not), but one of the only, if not THE only, famous person to have it is Genghis Khan. Unfortunately for the narrative Temujin in this series fails to reach anywhere near the heights of his legendary namesake. I'm not sure if that's well known and she was trying to use symbolism of sorts or if it's a historical/nerdy easter egg for me.
Anyhoo.
I generally liked the first book. I thought it was intriguing if a bit rushed and surface level in its themes. I also need to go and rewatch the Hunchback of Notre Dame, as evidently the first book is inspired by it, though I didn't see the parallels until I read some online reviews.

Anyway, I think the ending of the first book and its path into the second narratively falls very flat. I don't expect every series to be A Song of Ice and Fire complex, obviously, I read a lot of romantasy and YA/new adult low fantasy. BUT, I dislike the narrative choice near the end of book 1 to reduce the conflict to one evil guy trying to take down the gods. I really liked the complexity of the first book and just having the characters be at odds about who is right in imperial politics. Imperial politics especially in a diverse continent that the author has created, particularly about issues like refugees, poverty, administering aid, imperial administration, prejudice, are all incredibly interesting, and I liked the first book analyzing it. I liked the complexity of Temujin's fight (it had some Robin Hood elements, intentionally so). I also really liked the arguments about their different religions and belief systems, and the Mongolian empire (which I'm using as an analogue) was actually very tolerant of diverse religious beliefs.
But I hated in book 2 the reduction of all these complex ideas into good guys versus bad guys. When you deal with higher level politics and attempt to interrogate who is right and wrong in situations of power, you need to have slightly more nuanced takes than what was given. I liked in book 1 how Enebish analyzed the stories Ghoa and Temujin told her, analyzing their biases and why they believe what they believe. She seemed to understand that they both could believe they were doing what's right and achieve it in different ways. And I think that is such a vital lesson especially in major conflicts where the oppressed versus the oppressor can be very murky. I even liked the conversation Serik and she had where they have fundamental disagreements.
But then the story throws it all away. Enebish is right. Ghoa and Temujin are both evil and have been played. The evil magical Zemyans are coming. Temujin is nothing but a man conned into believing lies. I especially find the second one sad because after the major reveal, we see little of who Temujin is as a person. I admit I held his name against him, being named for Genghis Khan and then offering little to no development certainly was a choice. I enjoyed Enebish's anger and rage in book 2. I found her unbearably arrogant and annoying, but I think it was the point. But I also think the story overly vindicated her. I also am sad that all of Temujin's crew disappear in this book, especially after becoming such interesting parts of the first book. The new characters are fine.

I also have mixed feelings about the religious aspect. Like I said, I liked that in the first book, they have disagreements about which gods are real and which ones operate in their lives. I primarily would've preferred if we didn't see them at all. I think vindicating and showing the gods of Enebish's belief system undercuts the entire themes of faith in the book in my opinion. If we're running parallels to Hunchback, God never appears outright to Frollo or Quasimodo. Of course, there are instances, in the movie at least, which are rife with Christian symbolism and things one can interpret as divine intervention, but it's never explicit, and I like that. Once god shows up, you confirm which gods are real. That's not to say stories which feature actual gods aren't interesting, just that if a major theme in the story is belief, then boo you for showing it. In the first book, Ghoa and Serik and Enebish (and even Temujin) have conflicting ideas about the Lady and the Father, and it's something Serik struggles with, and a disagreement Ghoa and Enebish have. But I think at the end with Enebish basically saying "Oh, why don't you believe in the gods, they're right there? Shame on you" reduces all that complexity.

Rant over. Enebish is an annoying but overall okay character. The villain was boring, and I think the villain SHOULD have been a more abstract idea like power itself, or the difference in perspective and conflicting ideologies. The new characters are mid. Temujin deserved better and more time in the novel, especially befitting his name. Serik was a wet blanket the whole time, and his clashes with Enebish were annoying to read. Ghoa's redemption was fine. The themes went to shit. Overall, a very sad and disappointing conclusion to what could have been. I was going to give it 1 star, but 2 stars for an interesting attempt at Central and East Asian cultural representation.

[Sheila G]

Book 1: Night Spinner ★★★★

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[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t friggin wait!!🤩 such a good series so far. Night spinner was a great novel, had good twists and turns. Can’t wait to see more of Enebish <3

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this shocking and satisfying conclusion to Night Spinner, faith and determination collide in the battle to end all wars. Addie Thorley crafts a sequel whose ending will stun you. With a specific focus on character development and diving deeper into the implications of belief, Thorley's Sky Breaker not only perfectly resolves with worlds of Ashkar and Zemya, but will leave readers with a sense of hopefulness and belief in the power of faith.

Addie Thorley is the author of An Affair of Poisons and Night Spinner. She spent her childhood playing soccer, riding horses, and scribbling stories. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, she decided "hard news" didn't contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back. When she's not writing, she can be found gallivanting in the woods and eating cookies. She currently lives in Princeton, New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and wolf dog. You can find her online at www.addiethorley.com or on Twitter and Instagram @addiethorley. You can find more of my reviews of Addie's works here.

Enebish has been deceived by everyone she once considered a friend. On the run across the tundra, her only allies are her best friend Serik and a band of ill-tempered shepherds. Her only hope of bringing peace to Ashkar is to unite the people of the Protected Territories and make a stand against the tyrannical Sky King and the hostile nation of Zemya. But that's easier said than done. As supplies dwindle, the shepherds become far more desperate for food than freedom. Meanwhile, Zemyan forces have stormed the Ashkarian capital. Imperial Army Commander Ghoa throws all of her power into a last-ditch effort to save her king, only to be abandoned by her fellow warriors. Held captive in a prison forged of magic and tortured by the zealous sorcerer Kartok, Ghoa learns his true ambitions lie far beyond the warring countries—he wants vengeance on the gods themselves. The war between Ashkar and Zemya began centuries ago as a feud among the gods. Now it's up to the two most hated people on the continent—the monstrous outcast, Enebish, and the notorious war criminal, Ghoa—to heal that spiritual divide before Kartok brings the skies crashing down on all of them.

Enebish, after being betrayed and deceived too many times to count, by people she counted on, is unwilling to hand out her trust so easily at the opening of Sky Breaker. While Enebish is trying to stay focused on the bigger picture of saving her kingdom, she is being pulled in so many different directions without fully trusting anyone to help her figure out the best way forward. All of these moments where Enebish is being told to trust others is a wonderful way to introduce Enebish's less-trusting character after the actions of Night Spinner. As I got deeper into the novel, I wondered why she was fighting so hard—she's not doing it for her family (dead), or for the shepherds (who clearly she doesn't like), and she's not doing it for the army (since they're rogue rebels). So, I couldn't figure out what Enebish's motivations were to put herself through so much trouble to build up this force. I think maybe this could have been resolved by tying the two books closer together at the ending, and also reiterating her motivations throughout her lowest points. I wondered if her faith was a big motivation, and as we see later, it definitely is. I loved how Enebish's faith was depicted, because we often don't see a lot of faithful heroines in fantasy novels, or just in young adult novels in general. Near the end, there were a lot of revelations Enebish arrives at after being devout, which leads to such a resolved and satisfying ending.

A small note on the romance between Serik and Enebish. It was hinted at at the end of Night Spinner that they would be getting romantically involved, and it was clear that Serik had feelings for Enebish. Yet, it wasn't until in the middle of Sky Breaker where Enebish acted on any of her feelings. I personally felt like this romance was a little underdeveloped, only because so much of the story was focused on the faith aspects and its character building regarding the world and the personal decisions made by is characters in either saving or destroying it. I understand the desire or potentially the need for the development of a romance, however I just don't think this storyline got the development or focus as the rest of the story.

When I noticed that Sky Breaker was going to be told in alternative point of view chapters with both Ghoa and Enebish, I was a little skeptical. Because we hadn't seen a lot of Ghoa in Night Spinner—despite her obvious presence in Enebish's consciousness—I wondered how including her perspective would benefit what I saw as mostly Enebish's story. Now, I can see that Sky Breaker was as much Ghoa's journey as Enebish's, especially by the way the story resolved. Tracking her development from beginning to end was especially crazy, since we start at such a low point for Ghoa: she's being abandoned by the Kalima warriors she fought so hard to lead. That entire scene was written so well, my grief for Ghoa was real despite my not totally loving her character just yet. Once she enters the Zemyan prison and Ghoa starts reliving old memories, I found that it was interesting to see how she viewed specific events pre- and during Night Spinner—especially what she called "Enebish's betrayal" at trying to get the Commander of the Kalima position. After her experience in Zemya, her allegiance changes quickly, for reasons we find out later that I guessed pretty quickly early on. The unfortunate thing about the alternating point of views is that readers are privileged to information that characters don't have, which is how I was able to guess at the reason Ghoa's allegiance shift. Regardless, I think Ghoa would have come to a lot of the same conclusions on her own accompanying the Zemyan heir, and I truly enjoyed tracking the development of her character.

Faith and religion are often taboo subjects, both in everyday conversation and in young adult books. But Thorley does not shy away from including conversations of faith and belief in her duology, which I was excited to see develop further in this sequel. I loved how the Lady of the Sky and Father Guzan were brought very deeply into the sequel, to where each character was left to reconcile with their different beliefs. Some of my favorite moments were closer to the end, where Enebish and Ghoa are grappling with the types of things they're seeing, and interacting with. Watching them grapple with their earthly concerns and their deep religious beliefs was a fun dynamic to contrast between the two women. The ending was totally satisfying regarding this religious aspect, and I personally enjoy the decision about the Kalima powers. I think that makes a powerful statement about the power of humanity and faith. I think that is the biggest message that I will taking away from this duology, so I truly thank Thorley for including such necessary conversations about faith and belief and humanity in her duology.

Readers are not provided a short re-introduction paragraph back to Enebish's story and world, which might make it difficult for readers to dive back into the world if they don't reread the first book before picking this one up. I highly suggest a reread of the first one if you've read it already before diving into this one! Just so that you remember the betrayals and the way Thorley built up Enebish's faith. Both of these are important foundational understandings for Enebish's character and the belief system of the world. I'm not sure if this was just something I experienced, but I also felt like I could get lost in the world. I love visualizing the fantasy worlds I enter, which is why I love maps in fantasy book so much. Not having a map for Night Spinner or Sky Breaker didn't completely hinder my understanding of the story, but I feel like it would have helped fill in some of my gaps of understanding the worlds of Ashkar, Zemya, and the Protected Territories.

(*Spoilers in this paragraph!!*) Okay, but can we talk about that ending? I was not ready for all the character deaths, especially Temujin's, Ivander's, and Ghoa's! Especially since they were all in quick succession, I was actually shocked. I understood the reasoning behind all of them, yet I still mourned all three characters. Temujin represented this hope for Enebish, and was essentially her inciting incident of her entire movement once she uncovered who he really was. Ivander was the one who began to show Ghoa just how much bigger the world was, and I really wanted Ghoa to fully understand that for herself. And, of course, we tracked the development of Ghoa throughout the book, and I was happy yet sad to see it end in such a devastating way.

Thorley ends Sky Breaker with a wonderful grouping of parallels. Enebish becomes a trainer, to honor the dead before her, even though she refused to train Ziva at the beginning. Serik is now a force to reckon with in the elite army, after being told for so long that he didn't deserve to be on the front lines. And Ghoa, who had for so longer murdered and deceived to get to the top, sacrifices herself for a greater power at the end so that those she loves can fix the world she helped destroy. Thorley is a good storyteller, and masterful with endings, so I'm excited to see what Thorley will do next!

*This review can also be found on my blog, toreadornottoreadnm.blogspot.com*

[Luna Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sky Breaker by Addie Thorley is a fierce, emotionally charged conclusion to the Night Spinner duology that delivers on every promise of its dark, imaginative premise. From its opening pages, the novel plunges readers into a brutal, unforgiving world where betrayal, survival, and faith collide, and it never loosens its grip.

Enebish’s journey is especially compelling. Stripped of trust and hunted across the tundra, she is forced to confront what leadership truly costs. Her struggle to unite fractured people while battling hunger, fear, and her own reputation makes her arc feel raw and deeply human. Thorley excels at portraying moral ambiguity, Enebish is not a flawless hero, but her determination and resilience make her impossible not to root for.

Equally gripping is Ghoa’s storyline. Once a feared commander, now a captive, her chapters crackle with tension and psychological depth. Her imprisonment and confrontation with Kartok reveal layers of ambition, fanaticism, and divine reckoning that elevate the story beyond a simple war narrative. The idea that the conflict began as a feud among gods adds a mythic weight that enriches the stakes and worldbuilding.

Thorley’s prose is sharp and atmospheric, balancing large-scale battles with intimate emotional moments. Themes of power, redemption, and faith are woven seamlessly into the plot, giving the story resonance long after the final page. The reluctant alliance between Enebish and Ghoa is a standout element, proving that hope can arise from the most unlikely bonds.

Dark, relentless, and ultimately cathartic, Sky Breaker is a satisfying and memorable finale that cements Addie Thorley as a bold voice in fantasy.

[Anais (atrailofpages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gahhh!!! I just love this duology So. Much.

The second book takes place right after with Enebish trying to find her missing king and to unite the Protected Territories to stop Kartok. Meanwhile, Ghoa ends up being captured by the Zemyans and tortured by Kartok to get information from her to stop the Ashkarians.

This was such an emotional journey for both Enebish and Ghoa. Told from both their POVs, watching them learn more about who they are as a person, as well as gaining confidence in that type of person they are. My heart always went out to Enebish! She just has gone through sooooo much and has been betrayed sooo many times, I totally get why she couldn’t bring herself to trust anyone but Serik(and don’t even get me started on this boy 😍 his loyalty to Enebish is unparalleled!). It’s a long journey for her, but she does eventually learn to trust people and how to tell when she can trust them. Ghoa, on the other hand, was an interesting read. She’s sooooo prideful and determined to prove her worth to her king and her fellow soldiers, that she’s determined to do whatever she can to save face. To watch her learn how to actually care about someone other than herself was quite the cringe read. I mean so many times I wanted to smack her and be like “girl! You’re better than that!”. She learned eventually, but it makes her more relatable and believable because it’s not easy to just flip a coin and change. It takes time, and patience of others to change and become a better person.

I love these books so so much! The second book is a heart wrenching story about two sisters who are so different and have such different views of the world and to see them come together again was just beautiful. I hope there will be more stories in this world since it seems so big, but until then, I’m rereading these for sure!

[Simi Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought this journey would end since it is a duology. I really enjoyed it so much, especially the second book. Though I'm not used to it, what with new challenges and new characters. But it was good in the end.

I do want to thank Page Street YA for gifting me a copy of the book after winning the giveaway. I was so looking forward to reading it, and I finally have it in my hands.

What made me fell in love is the world building and the character development with the main characters: Enebish and Ghoa. Ghoa!! I was amazed to learn that we were learning about her side of the story. Even though I was skeptical at first since we're talking about the person who betrayed Enebish, but I'm glad it went well. Ghoa had a bit of change of heart in the end, and she wanted to redeem herself in a way. And she was deciphering what is right and wrong after her country betrayed her. And as for Enebish, she was learning how to trust people, considering how much people stabbed her in the back in the past. And I cringe a bit from her behavior, especially when she believed that Ziva doesn't know anything. In the end, she learned how to trust people, and she had help along the way. It's something I could relate since I felt that way before, and I'm still working on it. At least Ghoa and Enebish were able to grow through this journey, and it was perfect.

I'm still saddened that I have reached the end of the duology, but that is ok. There was a beautiful ending to it, and it was worth it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little torn on this. I adored the first one. It was like reading poetry. I loved the development of Enebish and the plot was twisty and amazing. This book didn't have the same flow to it. I understood Enebish's struggles with trusting, but a good chunk of the book had me just wanting to give her a good shake. I did enjoy seeing Ghoa's development and we absolutely needed to be in her head to understand her better, but I did not like the ending as it related to her. I didn't really like the ending as it related to a lot of things, to be honest. I also felt really frustrated with the way Enebish and Serik's relationship was portrayed. I felt like it wasn't really developed well. They're just suddenly a couple but the few scenes we have with them it felt more like being told that they were a couple and in love than seeing it. Like a few moments of supporting each other made this deep connection. Them viewed by Ghoa was way more romantic than anything we got from the two of them and from Enebish's internal narrative. ANYWAY. I personally just felt really let down by this book after how much I loved, loved, loved the first one.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enebish and Ghoa are so unlikable, I almost gave up so many times. They are selfish narcissists so focused on only themselves while the author and a few other characters try to convince us that they're good people. They aren't. The moral of the story is that evetyone deserves a second chance and can change, but I disagree when it comes to these two. They were too far gone. En and Gjoa didn't even start to redeem themselves until like 60% but by then it was way too late for me. The basic plotline/idea was really good, but even that couldn't save this book. Every single character sucked. I think this is the only book I've ever read where I wouldn't have cared if every single character died in the end. I might write more later. I could definitely analyze these characters and write a much more eloquent review, but I don't really want to waste my time on these characters anymore.

One last positive though: this duology has so many unexpected twists and turns. It definitely breaks the traditional YA mold and I loved that aspect.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel to The Night Spinner. I really enjoyed the first book and was super excited to read this one, but I had a hard time getting into it.

This one has duel POVs, with Ghoa being the second pov.

Honestly I'm not the biggest fan of hers, and it took most of the book for me to begin to like her and find interest in her part of the story.

With Enebish I was still invested in the plot and her story. But I felt like I was reading about the fourty years in the desert, with how the Shepards complain and bicker and blame. To be honest I probably would have left them to their fate if I was the mc in this world. They definitely made reading the book feel slightly tedious.

All in all the story itself was good. And Ghoas chapters were definitely needed. The ending was definitely satisfying and it all worked to a good end. I liked the end result of Enebish and Ghoas character developments and would definitely recommend the duology despite my qualms with this book.