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Find review here: https://athroughzbooks.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/book-review-ten-thousand-skies-above-you/
It’s taken me about a year to finally get around to reading this. I read the first one ages ago, and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. So, it seemed only fair to continue with the series and follow these characters on more adventures and see if the surprises continue.
Thankfully they did.
The characters I grew to enjoy in the previous installment came back in full force, with Marguerite once again serving as the leading lady with Theo and Paul in tow. I’ll start this review with what I wasn’t a fan of, and then lead into what made me enjoy this book and devour more than two thirds of it in one night. First of all, Marguerite is a mess. I may not have room to talk though, but she was all over the place in this novel. The love triangle set up in the first book was prevalent in this story, with Marguerite and Theo appearing in different universes where they’re dating, challenging the narrative that she and Paul are “meant to be” and that “destiny” brings them together. The entire side plot where she and Paul have their relationship crises and struggle with the concept of destiny or whatever is exhausting. There’s a lot of overreacting and melodrama that I could do without. Her whole hissy fit and subsequent flee to the Russiaverse from book one was a little over the top, as I really didn’t understand the reasoning. Yes, another version of Paul turned out to be rather unsavory, but it made sense to me. Of course, each universe’s people are going to be completely different. Some are going to be villains. We established this in the first novel, because each universe in unique with its own dynamics at work. I thought she was smart enough to know this, but emotions were obviously running high, so I guess logic and sense went out the window. Marguerite also was much more Paul and love focused in this novel, which makes sense all things considered, but it was a definite change from the high octane hate to slow love transition that I enjoyed in the previous story. This book also started slow, but the last one did too so I expected it. The real action doesn’t happen until about a third of the way in (the second universes always seem to be the best) so if that is always something to be aware of.
This book did not disappoint me with the plot twists though. There was one I did not call for a while, which was refreshing. A few twists I wanted to see happened, mostly on the return trip to Russia (get ready for extreme feels if you’re as attached to the Russiaverse as I am) and I was given the high stress moments I wanted that kept me glued to the page until I’d blown through the whole thing. The cliffhanger ending, while frustrating, leaves me eager for the obvious pain that is going to come from the third and final installment. I’m glad that this book didn’t run me away from the series, and that this was an interesting addition to the overall story. So, my faith in Gray is restored, and I’m excited to see what she will bring me.
It’s taken me about a year to finally get around to reading this. I read the first one ages ago, and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. So, it seemed only fair to continue with the series and follow these characters on more adventures and see if the surprises continue.
Thankfully they did.
The characters I grew to enjoy in the previous installment came back in full force, with Marguerite once again serving as the leading lady with Theo and Paul in tow. I’ll start this review with what I wasn’t a fan of, and then lead into what made me enjoy this book and devour more than two thirds of it in one night. First of all, Marguerite is a mess. I may not have room to talk though, but she was all over the place in this novel. The love triangle set up in the first book was prevalent in this story, with Marguerite and Theo appearing in different universes where they’re dating, challenging the narrative that she and Paul are “meant to be” and that “destiny” brings them together. The entire side plot where she and Paul have their relationship crises and struggle with the concept of destiny or whatever is exhausting. There’s a lot of overreacting and melodrama that I could do without. Her whole hissy fit and subsequent flee to the Russiaverse from book one was a little over the top, as I really didn’t understand the reasoning. Yes, another version of Paul turned out to be rather unsavory, but it made sense to me. Of course, each universe’s people are going to be completely different. Some are going to be villains. We established this in the first novel, because each universe in unique with its own dynamics at work. I thought she was smart enough to know this, but emotions were obviously running high, so I guess logic and sense went out the window. Marguerite also was much more Paul and love focused in this novel, which makes sense all things considered, but it was a definite change from the high octane hate to slow love transition that I enjoyed in the previous story. This book also started slow, but the last one did too so I expected it. The real action doesn’t happen until about a third of the way in (the second universes always seem to be the best) so if that is always something to be aware of.
This book did not disappoint me with the plot twists though. There was one I did not call for a while, which was refreshing. A few twists I wanted to see happened, mostly on the return trip to Russia (get ready for extreme feels if you’re as attached to the Russiaverse as I am) and I was given the high stress moments I wanted that kept me glued to the page until I’d blown through the whole thing. The cliffhanger ending, while frustrating, leaves me eager for the obvious pain that is going to come from the third and final installment. I’m glad that this book didn’t run me away from the series, and that this was an interesting addition to the overall story. So, my faith in Gray is restored, and I’m excited to see what she will bring me.
A little predictable but I was still glued to it the whole time and was completely engaged in the story, mystery, and characters.
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There were several moments I thought was questionable, and it had several overt Zionist overtones, but all in all it was a good read and it was an interesting story line!
The audiobook of this was fantastic! I was stressed and pressed but damn was it good. I think I'll check out the sequel too.
I started this book right after I read Anna and the French Kiss, so when I say this reading this book is like having whiplash that’s probably why. It was high voltage from the beginning, strapping you to the back of a motorcycle and never letting off the gas. This book left me breathless. Ryan Graudin does a fantastic job of keeping her story well-paced, maintaining a high-stakes race throughout her book. She keeps the right amount of mystery with her characters, providing just enough information to keep her readers engrossed and desperate for more.
The characters did not disappoint either. Yael is a driven, if a but emotionless protagonist. She is a meticulous resistance member, always keeping her mission in mind as she proceeds through the book (with some exceptions). She is, I suppose, the perfect protagonist for the new dystopian thriller Graudin has created. Which is the only issue I can find with this book; Yael is too perfect. She keeps herself together, and despite her understandable confusion at Adele Wolfe’s life and relationships with her brother and Luka. Despite her traumatic backstory she is able to compartmentalize and remain driven. She doesn’t have a lot of conflict about what she I setting out to do. As someone who second guesses everything I do or say, I find that a little unbelievable, but inspiring. I wish I was as focused as Yael.
The only warning bells I really had about this book came from the cover blurb, which described Luka as Adele’s boyfriend and made it seem as if Yael would let her sex drive get the better of her when dealing with Felix and Luka. I am pleased to say that was not the case. While there is some kind of relationship woe between Luka and Adele and a constant push and pull between him and Yael she does not allow it to pull her too much from her mission. A little distraction is understandable. She’s human after all, and not even Jewish reneges with super powers are able to ignore all distractions. (Oh right, Yael is Jewish, man! That’s awesome!)
Wolf by Wolf skyrocketed into my favorites list, as well as stole the spot for the best book I read this summer, if not the whole year. I was very impressed with Graudin’s use of language and her story as a whole. She is an excellent writer and storyteller. I would recommend Wolf by Wolf to just about anyone who loves badass, dynamic girl characters, motorcycle races, and alternate history. Or just good books in general.
The characters did not disappoint either. Yael is a driven, if a but emotionless protagonist. She is a meticulous resistance member, always keeping her mission in mind as she proceeds through the book (with some exceptions). She is, I suppose, the perfect protagonist for the new dystopian thriller Graudin has created. Which is the only issue I can find with this book; Yael is too perfect. She keeps herself together, and despite her understandable confusion at Adele Wolfe’s life and relationships with her brother and Luka. Despite her traumatic backstory she is able to compartmentalize and remain driven. She doesn’t have a lot of conflict about what she I setting out to do. As someone who second guesses everything I do or say, I find that a little unbelievable, but inspiring. I wish I was as focused as Yael.
The only warning bells I really had about this book came from the cover blurb, which described Luka as Adele’s boyfriend and made it seem as if Yael would let her sex drive get the better of her when dealing with Felix and Luka. I am pleased to say that was not the case. While there is some kind of relationship woe between Luka and Adele and a constant push and pull between him and Yael she does not allow it to pull her too much from her mission. A little distraction is understandable. She’s human after all, and not even Jewish reneges with super powers are able to ignore all distractions. (Oh right, Yael is Jewish, man! That’s awesome!)
Wolf by Wolf skyrocketed into my favorites list, as well as stole the spot for the best book I read this summer, if not the whole year. I was very impressed with Graudin’s use of language and her story as a whole. She is an excellent writer and storyteller. I would recommend Wolf by Wolf to just about anyone who loves badass, dynamic girl characters, motorcycle races, and alternate history. Or just good books in general.
