This book has a cat, which means it's automatically a good book. Sorry, I don't make the rules.

The Other Side of the Sky has some of the most fascinating worldbuilding that I've come across in a long time, and I would love to live there. On the one hand, there are sky islands with a steampunk kind of vibe, which I absolutely adore. But then there's the world below the clouds, which is full of mythology and magic and gods. It reminded me of if A Prayer for Vengeance met parts of the Mortal Engines series.
I actually found the plot to be the least intriguing part. I still really enjoyed reading the book and there were a few action scenes, but there wasn't much sense of urgency until the very end. I do think that book two will have some really interesting interactions, however.
North and Nimh were both very interesting and unique characters in my opinion. Nimh reminded me of Beru from There Will Come a Darkness, but her backstory and upbringing really just rounded her out to be intriguing. North is your typical charismatic prince, so of course I liked him too. The bindle cat is adorable and I know he's going to serve some special purpose. The rest of the cast of characters was pretty small, but once again, I can see that changing in the sequel.
The Other Side of the Sky is a beautiful blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements in a story focused on love and divinity. Fans of A Prayer for Vengeance and Strange the Dreamer should be sure to check out this sweet YA fantasy.
4/5
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