Sky Breaker

by Addie Thorley

Overview

Wicked Saints meets the Grishaverse in this stunning and relentless conclusion to the Night Spinner duology

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 amongst 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781645671305
Publisher:	Page Street Publishing
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Series:	Night Spinner Duology , #2
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.70(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Addie Thorley is the author of An Affair of Poisons. 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 galloping around the barn where she works as a horse trainer and exercise rider. 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 @addiethorley.

Editorial Reviews

Leaves fans of fantasy, mystery, and thrillers clamoring for more.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Fast-paced adventure, enticed by all of the narrative’s twists and turns… A thrilling retelling.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

04/02/2021

Gr 9 Up—This is the thrilling conclusion to the duology that began with Night Spinner. It continues the story of Imperial Army Commander Ghoa and Enebish, who is still reeling from the betrayals of everyone she held dear. Trekking across tundra with just her best friend Serik and a small group of Shepherds, Enebish is determined to make a stand against the Sky King, ruler of the Zemya nation. Meanwhile, Ghoa is facing Zemyan forces at the Ashkarian capital. After failing to escape, Ghoa is imprisoned and tortured. Each of these two young women seeks to bring peace to their nation while facing seemingly insurmountable odds. As with the first, this book is lyrically written. Enebish, who has the nickname Enebish the Destroyer, bears the scars that came with her warrior life through a disfigured arm and leg. Readers continue to see development in Ghoa's characterization and find meaning behind her actions. This installment moves at a faster pace than the first and continues to develop the unique world found within. The magic system remains unique and the underlying themes of magic and religion prove to be the backbone of the plot. VERDICT A well-written conclusion that will not disappoint fans of the first book.—Zoe Leonarczyk, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee

School Library Journal

2021-03-25
On the heels of Night Spinner (2020), Enebish leads a ragtag band against the Sky King while Ghoa’s beliefs are challenged.

Although Night Spinner Enebish and newly awakened Sun Stoker Serik successfully led the desperate shepherds to Verdenet, finding the hiding king is far more difficult. Enebish’s psychological wounds from being betrayed in the past are still raw, resulting in behaviors that don’t do her any favors when dealing with her increasingly reluctant followers. In Ghoa’s parallel narration, she is forced to reckon with her own feelings of being betrayed, especially as Zemya’s trap springs into action and she takes the brunt of it. Enebish seeks out logical allies while Ghoa strikes an odd partnership, all the while keeping her eye on the prize. Uniting both storylines is the common enemy—Kartok—and the reveal of the full extent of his scheme. Their stories are gracefully balanced, enabling readers to explore more of the lavishly painted worldbuilding and internal mythologies. Characters’ past hurts inform their present decisions, good and bad, creating tension in relation to decisions of trust and forgiveness. The geopolitical situation blends well with the cultural. Ethnicity follows national lines, with Zemyans being very pale and blond; Verdenese like Enebish dark-haired with golden skin; and Ashkarians like Ghoa and her cousin, Serik (Enebish’s love interest in a sweetly romantic subplot), falling in between, with tanned skin and freckles. The conclusion thoroughly wraps up the duology.

An expansive, highly rewarding read. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews

Narrators Natalie Naudus and Caitlin Davies deliver the epic finish to the Night Spinner series. Enebish, portrayed by Naudus, is still reeling from Ghoa’s betrayal. Her chapters are delivered with careful precision at an unhurried pace, allowing listeners to savor her turmoil as she struggles to unite a ragtag group of shepherds and find allies. Ghoa, voiced by Davies, is disturbed to find herself abandoned by her warriors. Davies’s narration, full of righteous fury, adopts a sinister tone as Ghoa plots against her torturer. Once the two cross paths again, they discover that it’s not just the continent at stake in the war between Ashkar and Zemya, but the gods themselves. A.K.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JULY 2021 - AudioFile