Book Review: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger (Sky Fall #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters in engrossing story

Cons: A couple moments where pacing is off

The Bottom Line:

Good main characters

In an engaging story

That's hard to put down

Get Swept Up in Let the Sky Fall

One good book means I’ve got to come back for the next.  Last fall, I enjoyed Shannon Messenger’s middle grade debut novel.  So naturally, I came back for Let the Sky Fall.  This book introduces new characters and is aimed at the young adult audience.  And it is just as much fun as her earlier book.

Vane does not remember his life from before he was eight years old.  All he remembers is the bad tornado that killed his parents and the face of a girl coming to him through the storm.  That girl has visited him in his dreams every night for ten years.

Audra has been sent to guard Vane until he is ready, and she holds the key to his missing memories.  But she is also guarding her own secrets.  When Vane starts to learn the truth of who and what he truly is, what will it mean for their relationship?

This books combines fantasy and romance for a strong read.  Both Vane and Audra are real people who we come to care about fairly quickly, actually.  As a result, it’s easy to spend the rest of the novel rooting for them to figure out a way to overcome the obstacles in their way and reach a happy ending.

And the story?  It bogs down once or twice in the middle, but that never seems to last for more than a couple of chapters.  Since the chapters are short, it’s never really an issue.  Most of the time, the story moves along quickly, mixing the romance with the danger the two characters are facing in a seamless way.  I always had a hard time putting the book down.  The climax?  It left me anxious for the next in the series.

The book is narrated first person by Vane and Audra in alternating chapters.  As a result, we really get to know both of them well.  And it truly compliments the story since it seems the chapter is always from the perfect character’s point of view.  There is a heading at the beginning to each chapter to remind you who the narrator is, but I never had a hard time keeping it straight.  The novel is also narrated in present tense, which caught me a little off guard, but I was soon used to it and back in the flow.

Speaking of flow, this may be a second novel, but it feels like the work of a polished professional.  I was always able to get lost in the story, and the pages just flew by.

Young adults will enjoy this combination of fantasy and romance.  It should even pull in adults.  Let the Sky Fall is a real winner.