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Guest Review: Imprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Imprison the Sky by A.C. GaughenImprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen
Series: The Elementae #2
Published by Bloomsbury YA on January 22, 2019
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

Stolen from her family as a child, Aspasia has clawed her way up the ranks of Cyrus's black market empire to captain her own trading vessel--and she risks it all every time she uses her powerful magic to free as many women, children, and Elementae from slavery as she can.

But Cyrus is close to uncovering her secrets--not only that Aspasia is an air Elementa with the ability to sail her ship through the sky, but that she is also searching for her lost family. And if Aspasia can’t find her younger siblings before Cyrus does, she will never be able to break free.

Armed with her loyal crew full of Elementae and a new recruit who controls an intriguing power, Aspasia finds herself in the center of a brewing war that spans every inch of the ocean, and her power alone may not be enough to save her friends, family, and freedom.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Imprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen!

You can find Lissa on Instagram!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I didn’t have time to re-read Reign the Earth before I read Imprison the Sky, and having just finished, I am a bit indecisive as to whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe both. It seemed problematic when I started Imprison the Sky because I felt like I remembered nothing and had no idea who anyone was. Then as I got into the story (it sucked me in completely, regardless!) I remembered bits from Reign the Earth and realized I would have mostly been clueless anyway. Which is when I switched my opinion on the re-read issue.

If I had re-read, I would have been clamoring for a direct continuation of Shalia’s story. And this was not that – it read almost as a companion novel rather than a sequel. For all I know, since I still haven’t read the blurb (I didn’t need to, I knew I wanted to read this book even without the blurb), maybe that is what it is supposed to be. It did, however, forward the overall story arc in the end.

Anyway, wanting/missing Shalia and Galen would have been a disservice to this wonderful, enthralling, couldn’t-put-down adventure. I have a thing for spunky seafaring heroines (like Sherwood Smith and Alex Lidell write) and this was just perfect – complimented by A.C. Gaughen’s characteristic grit (Oh, how her heroes/heroines suffer!).

So here I am, urging you to read this book (even if you haven’t read Reign the Earth) and already dying for the next one – though I imagine that will be companion-like as well, so now I know and will be better prepared for it.

five-stars

Guest Review: Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Guest Review: Reign the Earth by A.C. GaughenReign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen
Series: The Elementae #1
Published by Bloomsbury on January 30, 2018
Pages: 438
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Shalia is a proud daughter of the desert, but after years of devastating war with the adjoining kingdom, her people are desperate for peace. Willing to trade her freedom to ensure the safety of her family, Shalia becomes Queen of the Bonelands.

But she soon learns that her husband, Calix, is motivated only by his desire to exterminate the Elementae—mystical people who can control earth, wind, air, and fire. Even more unsettling are Shalia’s feelings for her husband’s brother, which unleash a power over the earth she never knew she possessed—a power that could get her killed. As rumors of a rebellion against Calix spread, Shalia must choose between the last chance for peace and her own future as an Elementae.

This intense, richly drawn high-fantasy by the author of Scarlet will hold readers spellbound.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen!

You can find Lissa on Twitter!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I adored A.C. Gaughen’s Scarlet trilogy, in all its dark, and brutal glory. It has been a long time since we have had a new book by this author, so I was alternately ecstatic and concerned in the lead up to the release; however, any fears I had as to whether or not I would love it were unfounded.

A.C. Gaughen has a unique ability to write complex and emotional characters in such distressing situations, without making the squeamish (i.e. me) turn away. The intensity of her writing creates such vivid scenes, I am thankful I can hide behind the distance pages (as opposed to movie images) give me.

Shalia’s sacrifices and loses tore me to pieces, and the brief moments of happiness she was allowed were a trickle compared to a waterfall. I need the next book ASAP! Highly recommend this one.

five-stars