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Sky Chasers #3
Flame
In the thrilling conclusion to the Sky Chasers series Waverly, Kieran, and Seth struggle to survive on-board the New Horizon—and take down their enemies before it's too late.
Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have scattered, and their home ship has been destroyed. Their mission to rescue their parents didn't go as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Kieran has been pulled under Anne Mather’s wing, but is she really trying to make peace, or just using Kieran to build her own power? Meanwhile, Waverly is taken in by a mysterious old man who wants to help her bring Anne Mather down—but the more Waverly cooperates with him, the more dangerous her position is, and the more at odds with Kieran she becomes.
Seth's situation is even worse. After setting out from the Empyrean on his own, with only a vague strategy to guide him, he is a fugitive aboard the New Horizon. He's doing what he can to challenge the power of Anne Mather, but he's badly hurt, and getting sicker.
Will Seth ever see Waverly again? Will his health hold out long enough to help her topple their enemies? And will Waverly find a way to unite with her friends before they all fall? Nothing is sure and every moment is a risk in this explosive finale of the Sky Chasers series.
Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have scattered, and their home ship has been destroyed. Their mission to rescue their parents didn't go as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Kieran has been pulled under Anne Mather’s wing, but is she really trying to make peace, or just using Kieran to build her own power? Meanwhile, Waverly is taken in by a mysterious old man who wants to help her bring Anne Mather down—but the more Waverly cooperates with him, the more dangerous her position is, and the more at odds with Kieran she becomes.
Seth's situation is even worse. After setting out from the Empyrean on his own, with only a vague strategy to guide him, he is a fugitive aboard the New Horizon. He's doing what he can to challenge the power of Anne Mather, but he's badly hurt, and getting sicker.
Will Seth ever see Waverly again? Will his health hold out long enough to help her topple their enemies? And will Waverly find a way to unite with her friends before they all fall? Nothing is sure and every moment is a risk in this explosive finale of the Sky Chasers series.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2013
About the author
Amy Kathleen Ryan
20 books703 followersAmy Kathleen Ryan earned her MA from the University of Vermont, and her MFA from The New School in New York City.
Amy only reviews books she thinks are excellent.
Proud to be included in this list of classic science fiction titles: https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2015/0...
Follow her on TWITTER!!
https://twitter.com/AmyKathleenRyan
Website:
http://www.amykathleenryan.com
Amy only reviews books she thinks are excellent.
Proud to be included in this list of classic science fiction titles: https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2015/0...
Follow her on TWITTER!!
https://twitter.com/AmyKathleenRyan
Website:
http://www.amykathleenryan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
April 27, 2014
I can't believe this series is now over. But I think it was a great ending for the series.
I swear for the whole book I was on edge worried what would happen next and rightfully so. There were quite a few things I did not see coming that had me sitting just having the word 'Fuck' going over and over in my head.
Waverly was awesome as usual and loved her strength throughout this book even though she was shit scared for most of it.
Kieran was more tolerable but I will never like him.
My heart broke for Seth like Jesus this guy has to go through a heap of bullshit and pain.
I will continue to recommend this series and it needs way more attention than it gets.
Update 31/08/2013 Oh my god a blurb!
Kieran you are a stupid piece of shit I want to punch you so much. I hope Waverley kicks his ass for me.
Update 21/2/13
JANUARY 2014!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
------------------------------------------------------------------
If there are more books does that mean the next ones will be Blaze and Lava?
I swear for the whole book I was on edge worried what would happen next and rightfully so. There were quite a few things I did not see coming that had me sitting just having the word 'Fuck' going over and over in my head.
Waverly was awesome as usual and loved her strength throughout this book even though she was shit scared for most of it.
Kieran was more tolerable but I will never like him.
My heart broke for Seth like Jesus this guy has to go through a heap of bullshit and pain.
I will continue to recommend this series and it needs way more attention than it gets.
Update 31/08/2013 Oh my god a blurb!
Kieran you are a stupid piece of shit I want to punch you so much. I hope Waverley kicks his ass for me.
Update 21/2/13
JANUARY 2014!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
------------------------------------------------------------------
If there are more books does that mean the next ones will be Blaze and Lava?
June 11, 2021
I just finished the entire trilogy and it lowkey slapped.
Book 1 was a wee-bit disturbing,,, like definitely search up TWs before you read it. (I was just really caught off guard with some of the main plot points😭☝🏼)
Book 2&3 were really good though! Idk I was expecting some cringey 2011 dystopian crock pot mess and so my expectations were kinda below hell and in Earths core BUT it wasn’t nearly as horrendous as I thought it would be and I honestly kinda vibed with it.
The characters all had character arcs (and pretty drastic ones too) that were very addicting to read. My favorite was specifically Keirans because they made you love him, hate him, want him dead, want him not to die, tolerate his presence, feel horrible for him, and then love him again. A big whirlwind - roller coaster - jumble of emotions towards that guy.
Also I’m in love with Seth. I would die for Seth. I would give Seth my left AND right lung. I would happily make him cookies from scratch. I would go through every line at Disney world and not ride a single ride for him. I would sit in a tub of hand sanitizer covered in paper cuts for him. I would walk barefoot through a snake infested mud pit for him. I would bake him an infinite number of brownies if he asked me to. I would give him my last hair tie. I would burn all of my books for him. I would tell Booktok that I actually enjoyed Twilight and get eaten alive by booktokers for him. And I would happily break my left arm for him😁😁😁
Waverly is the icon, the legend, and she IS the moment. I want to be her ~minus the trauma~. She’s a baddie who doesn’t need saving or a mans.
Anyways y’all— if you read it, keep your expectations in a bar in hell because this isn’t some life changing piece of perfection. It’s about average. I’d rank it next to Acotar except it’s missing the *growls of pleasure* 🏃🏽♀️💨
Book 1 was a wee-bit disturbing,,, like definitely search up TWs before you read it. (I was just really caught off guard with some of the main plot points😭☝🏼)
Book 2&3 were really good though! Idk I was expecting some cringey 2011 dystopian crock pot mess and so my expectations were kinda below hell and in Earths core BUT it wasn’t nearly as horrendous as I thought it would be and I honestly kinda vibed with it.
The characters all had character arcs (and pretty drastic ones too) that were very addicting to read. My favorite was specifically Keirans because they made you love him, hate him, want him dead, want him not to die, tolerate his presence, feel horrible for him, and then love him again. A big whirlwind - roller coaster - jumble of emotions towards that guy.
Also I’m in love with Seth. I would die for Seth. I would give Seth my left AND right lung. I would happily make him cookies from scratch. I would go through every line at Disney world and not ride a single ride for him. I would sit in a tub of hand sanitizer covered in paper cuts for him. I would walk barefoot through a snake infested mud pit for him. I would bake him an infinite number of brownies if he asked me to. I would give him my last hair tie. I would burn all of my books for him. I would tell Booktok that I actually enjoyed Twilight and get eaten alive by booktokers for him. And I would happily break my left arm for him😁😁😁
Waverly is the icon, the legend, and she IS the moment. I want to be her ~minus the trauma~. She’s a baddie who doesn’t need saving or a mans.
Anyways y’all— if you read it, keep your expectations in a bar in hell because this isn’t some life changing piece of perfection. It’s about average. I’d rank it next to Acotar except it’s missing the *growls of pleasure* 🏃🏽♀️💨
July 15, 2019
God, why can't every YA series be as well formed and written as this one? Full review after future re-read.
April 25, 2015
My history with trilogies is that usually the first book is the best. In the case of Amy Kathleen Ryan's Sky Chasers, the third book is the best. Which fills me with such delight, because it means the author's skills have IMPROVED over the course of the series - just the way writing should be.
With the two earlier novels, the three lead characters were very annoying. That's gone here in Flame - Waverly, Kieran, and Seth are more concerned with staying alive and the wellbeing of their parents than they are about relationship dramas.
In the earlier installments Anne Mather seemed like a cult leader, but here she's just a political figure - and there's more political intrigue in store. Will Waverly and Kieran commit perjury? It's Mather and her crew versus the church elders, and neither team is ideal to lead.
What I've most loved throughout this whole series is the marvellous setting, complete with nebula. This is science fiction the way it should be: more about actual SCIENCE, rather than military/war/invasion. And there are medical issues all the way to the end.
I was all set to rate this five stars, until I got to the final chapter. It's not labelled as an "epilogue", but we all know what it is. The more this last chapter continued, the more disappointed I became.
Less is more, authors. You don't have to tie every knot - you can leave something up to the reader to decide for themselves. Better to leave something unknown, rather than erase possibility. I still heartily recommend this series to anyone willing to try it. Just go without that final chapter.
With the two earlier novels, the three lead characters were very annoying. That's gone here in Flame - Waverly, Kieran, and Seth are more concerned with staying alive and the wellbeing of their parents than they are about relationship dramas.
In the earlier installments Anne Mather seemed like a cult leader, but here she's just a political figure - and there's more political intrigue in store. Will Waverly and Kieran commit perjury? It's Mather and her crew versus the church elders, and neither team is ideal to lead.
What I've most loved throughout this whole series is the marvellous setting, complete with nebula. This is science fiction the way it should be: more about actual SCIENCE, rather than military/war/invasion. And there are medical issues all the way to the end.
I was all set to rate this five stars, until I got to the final chapter. It's not labelled as an "epilogue", but we all know what it is. The more this last chapter continued, the more disappointed I became.
Less is more, authors. You don't have to tie every knot - you can leave something up to the reader to decide for themselves. Better to leave something unknown, rather than erase possibility. I still heartily recommend this series to anyone willing to try it. Just go without that final chapter.
February 9, 2014
I find I don't have very much to say about Flame. From the moment I put down my copies of both Glow and Spark, it was as if my fingers were possessed, desperately needing to type, to crow in glory, to shove this series into the hands of every unsuspecting bibliophile. After Flame, however, I remember sitting. Simply sitting, soaking up the lingering words in my mind. I was - and still am - very much shocked by the brilliance of this concluding installment. While I may not have much to regale about this novel - not without giving away spoilers, at any rate - Flame has been one of the few satisfying conclusions I've read in a very, very long time and I suspect it might remain that way for awhile to come.
Compared to its predecessors, Flame is a much slower novel than Glow or Spark were. And rightfully so. After the bitterness of violation, the anger of rebellion, the closed fist of anarchy, and the open strike of betrayal, these characters are exhausted. Kiernan and Waverly are now on the New Horizon, back under the influence of Anne Mather. Or are they? When Waverly meets an old doctor on board the New Horizon, she agrees to help him take down Anne Mather but, soon enough, she begins to question just who is the true enemy aboard the New Horizon. Meanwhile, Seth is - once again - a fugitive aboard a space ship, only this time it's the New Horizon. While he receives help from a small group of rebels aboard the New Horizon, his health is slowly deteriorating. All aboard on the same ships, friends and enemies alike, these teens don't know where - or who - to turn to. Despite having their parents back, they have been brainwashed by Mather and follow her blindly. Which means that, once again, Waverly, Kiernan, and Seth are alone. Only, this time, if they don't stop the evil aboard the New Horizon once and for all, they might not get another chance.
What makes Flame such a spectacular sequel is the fact that it stresses ideals such as redemption, friendship, and love. After writing such a bloodthirsty, violent series, Ryan comes back to these core values in a manner that never feels jarring but one that, rather, slips into the story line perfectly. Waverly and Kiernan, despite the differences they've shared, learn to set those aside and work together for the first time since their break-up. While they, along with Seth, try to infiltrate the New Horizon from within, though, they are no longer as convinced of Mather's cruelty as they once were. As they learn, Mather is not the only tyrant aboard the New Horizon. Escaped convicts from the prisons of the Empyrean have made it back to the New Horizon with the intent of wrecking havoc and Waverly's doctor has a following of adults who don't seem wholly trustworthy. Although these multiple villains may seem to overwhelm the plot, in reality they paint a picture of different kinds of evil. Mather has always been a villain with an extraordinary amount of depth and her gray matter is explored in even more detail within this installment. Although the other "villains" in this conclusion do not share the same degree of depth that Mather does, they nevertheless contribute to the slow, but constant, build-up to the climax of this tale.
As far as the plot goes, Flame is impeccable. It forces Waverly, Kiernan, and Seth to reach new heights as characters - areas from which they are able to look past the injustices done to them and the anger they feel. Ryan has truly made these teens transcend their barriers and the bumps they experience along the road are realistic. Additionally, this novel wraps up perfectly too. Ultimately, there are sacrifices that must be made and bittersweet separations as well, but I ended this novel utterly satisfied. While Flame is the most romantic installment to-date, its love stories never overwhelm the focus of the story. Although these romances remain minimal, they are heartfelt, equal, and true which I appreciated. Moreover, and perhaps best of all for me, is the fact that every loose thread is tied up, albeit not always in ways we want. Seth, Waverly, and Kiernan don't find the answers to all their questions, but they find enough to live by. Ryan has always been impeccably realistic, to the point of harshness, in this series and I loved that her stance on realism was never compromised in this finale.
Ever-so-slightly bittersweet, achingly romantic, heart-pounding action, and an influx of complex moral situations made this a conclusion to love. Amy Kathleen Ryan: write something else amazing! Quick!
Compared to its predecessors, Flame is a much slower novel than Glow or Spark were. And rightfully so. After the bitterness of violation, the anger of rebellion, the closed fist of anarchy, and the open strike of betrayal, these characters are exhausted. Kiernan and Waverly are now on the New Horizon, back under the influence of Anne Mather. Or are they? When Waverly meets an old doctor on board the New Horizon, she agrees to help him take down Anne Mather but, soon enough, she begins to question just who is the true enemy aboard the New Horizon. Meanwhile, Seth is - once again - a fugitive aboard a space ship, only this time it's the New Horizon. While he receives help from a small group of rebels aboard the New Horizon, his health is slowly deteriorating. All aboard on the same ships, friends and enemies alike, these teens don't know where - or who - to turn to. Despite having their parents back, they have been brainwashed by Mather and follow her blindly. Which means that, once again, Waverly, Kiernan, and Seth are alone. Only, this time, if they don't stop the evil aboard the New Horizon once and for all, they might not get another chance.
What makes Flame such a spectacular sequel is the fact that it stresses ideals such as redemption, friendship, and love. After writing such a bloodthirsty, violent series, Ryan comes back to these core values in a manner that never feels jarring but one that, rather, slips into the story line perfectly. Waverly and Kiernan, despite the differences they've shared, learn to set those aside and work together for the first time since their break-up. While they, along with Seth, try to infiltrate the New Horizon from within, though, they are no longer as convinced of Mather's cruelty as they once were. As they learn, Mather is not the only tyrant aboard the New Horizon. Escaped convicts from the prisons of the Empyrean have made it back to the New Horizon with the intent of wrecking havoc and Waverly's doctor has a following of adults who don't seem wholly trustworthy. Although these multiple villains may seem to overwhelm the plot, in reality they paint a picture of different kinds of evil. Mather has always been a villain with an extraordinary amount of depth and her gray matter is explored in even more detail within this installment. Although the other "villains" in this conclusion do not share the same degree of depth that Mather does, they nevertheless contribute to the slow, but constant, build-up to the climax of this tale.
As far as the plot goes, Flame is impeccable. It forces Waverly, Kiernan, and Seth to reach new heights as characters - areas from which they are able to look past the injustices done to them and the anger they feel. Ryan has truly made these teens transcend their barriers and the bumps they experience along the road are realistic. Additionally, this novel wraps up perfectly too. Ultimately, there are sacrifices that must be made and bittersweet separations as well, but I ended this novel utterly satisfied. While Flame is the most romantic installment to-date, its love stories never overwhelm the focus of the story. Although these romances remain minimal, they are heartfelt, equal, and true which I appreciated. Moreover, and perhaps best of all for me, is the fact that every loose thread is tied up, albeit not always in ways we want. Seth, Waverly, and Kiernan don't find the answers to all their questions, but they find enough to live by. Ryan has always been impeccably realistic, to the point of harshness, in this series and I loved that her stance on realism was never compromised in this finale.
Ever-so-slightly bittersweet, achingly romantic, heart-pounding action, and an influx of complex moral situations made this a conclusion to love. Amy Kathleen Ryan: write something else amazing! Quick!
June 8, 2014
From a thrilling start to an okay middle, we all expect either the good or the bad for the ending. I'm very proud to admit that Amy Kathleen Ryan has done it again with Flame. This was a heart-pounding thrilling ending to the trilogy, and she just topped it off with the perfect ending that we never would've imagined happening in the first book.
I'd really like to begin talking about that ending first. So this was my reaction when I was done with the book:
I just couldn't believe it came out like that. I guess you could say that it was a sad ending in a way (if you like Waverly and have your ships for her) but I say that it was the best ending that was suited for this trilogy. I mean, I never saw it coming from the start. It was a major plot twist that just flipped things around from the ordinary. Waverly was absolutely suited to have that kind of ending. She was too spoiled and everything had to revolve around her during the past times, so now it's her turn to not be happy. (Oh em gee I sound so mean, but I really hate Waverly.) I was going to give this book a 3.5/5 star rating, but when the amazing ending showed up, I just had to give it a 4.
As most series go, this book started off where Spark ended. The previous book didn't have a huge plot twist or surprise at the end, so it's not like we start off with a huge action scene or anything. Everything's chill but you still are asking the book many questions, that you really want to be answered by the end of this book. And I have to admit, all of my questions were answered, and that's the magic of Amy Kathleen Ryan. So the Empyrean has been destroyed, and everyone's scattered around everywhere, basically. It's like the aftermath of a war or natural disaster. People are depressed, people are crying, and some people are still looking for revenge and evilness to get back on people. The key thing in this book is the people's survival. Some children are totally orphaned, and others are happy. It's an up and down situation, and supposedly Waverly and the other main characters are trying to create peace and make everything back to the way it's supposed to be, and part of making peace is bringing Anne Mathers down. Haha, you must be thinking:
And guess what? Don't click on that button. Just let me begin with my Waverly-hate on this matter. So we all know that Anne and Waverly have been enemies from the start, right? Well when something happens to Anne, Waverly gets all sad and holds her hand and feels so much pity. Pity, you ask? Yes, pity. *grumpy cat face* I just don't freakin' understand! You're enemy is living, and YOU'RE HOLDING HER HAND AND FEELING PITY? Anne was a total bitch and I have to admit that they both deserved to DIE. I finally let my anger out on that matter, phew.
The plot was pretty slow in the middle. The beginning and ending were absolutely awesome and Ryan definitely knew how to captivate us in and out. Since this was the ending, so many things were happening and our questions were getting answered all throughout the book, so I will never classify and say that I was bored with this book, because that's just *Last Book Sin*.
But I do have to say that the characters were hideous. For a while, I have never seen such a horrible group of characters-- and that really saddens me to say. We all depend on characters, love characters, and relate to characters, but in this book, I cannot even say that we were close to at least disliking them, I was hating them so much that I wish I could've traded them in for some other people. This was probably because of their stupidity, choices, and emotions. Every character, and I'm pointing to you, Waverly, was stupid. These people did not know what to do in the worst case situations and somewhat went on the bad people's side. It just confuses me! And their mood swings, UGH. Waverly's all nice and happy then she turns so cruel and mean.
"At one time, Waverly and Lena had been close and had even belonged to the same book club. They used to laugh together at one witty novel or another, giggling at passages, eyes alight as they imagined the green pastures of preindustrial England."
Oh, I understand why they're not close anymore... *creepy grin*
But there was one character who really stood out and shined in this book for me, and that was Seth. I used to hate this guy in the previous books, but I actually really love him.
Just like that. <3
And I don't really want to get started on the romance because of Kieran and Waverly. Since I hated both of them, I didn't really see any nice connection because Waverly was a) trying to fight but was really bad or b) being cranky. So I don't know.
So the characters took out one major star from the book, and you probably know that I have hated them since the beginning, but Waverly has gotten worse during every book. But in conclusion, the ending was absolutely spectacular and was a very enjoyable read.
"What do I have that you could possibly want?" Waverly said, pulling her cardigan closer around her. He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "I want what everyone wants: peace." "Seems to me everyone wants power," Waverly shot back.
I'd really like to begin talking about that ending first. So this was my reaction when I was done with the book:
I just couldn't believe it came out like that. I guess you could say that it was a sad ending in a way (if you like Waverly and have your ships for her) but I say that it was the best ending that was suited for this trilogy. I mean, I never saw it coming from the start. It was a major plot twist that just flipped things around from the ordinary. Waverly was absolutely suited to have that kind of ending. She was too spoiled and everything had to revolve around her during the past times, so now it's her turn to not be happy. (Oh em gee I sound so mean, but I really hate Waverly.) I was going to give this book a 3.5/5 star rating, but when the amazing ending showed up, I just had to give it a 4.
As most series go, this book started off where Spark ended. The previous book didn't have a huge plot twist or surprise at the end, so it's not like we start off with a huge action scene or anything. Everything's chill but you still are asking the book many questions, that you really want to be answered by the end of this book. And I have to admit, all of my questions were answered, and that's the magic of Amy Kathleen Ryan. So the Empyrean has been destroyed, and everyone's scattered around everywhere, basically. It's like the aftermath of a war or natural disaster. People are depressed, people are crying, and some people are still looking for revenge and evilness to get back on people. The key thing in this book is the people's survival. Some children are totally orphaned, and others are happy. It's an up and down situation, and supposedly Waverly and the other main characters are trying to create peace and make everything back to the way it's supposed to be, and part of making peace is bringing Anne Mathers down. Haha, you must be thinking:
And guess what? Don't click on that button. Just let me begin with my Waverly-hate on this matter. So we all know that Anne and Waverly have been enemies from the start, right? Well when something happens to Anne, Waverly gets all sad and holds her hand and feels so much pity. Pity, you ask? Yes, pity. *grumpy cat face* I just don't freakin' understand! You're enemy is living, and YOU'RE HOLDING HER HAND AND FEELING PITY? Anne was a total bitch and I have to admit that they both deserved to DIE. I finally let my anger out on that matter, phew.
The plot was pretty slow in the middle. The beginning and ending were absolutely awesome and Ryan definitely knew how to captivate us in and out. Since this was the ending, so many things were happening and our questions were getting answered all throughout the book, so I will never classify and say that I was bored with this book, because that's just *Last Book Sin*.
But I do have to say that the characters were hideous. For a while, I have never seen such a horrible group of characters-- and that really saddens me to say. We all depend on characters, love characters, and relate to characters, but in this book, I cannot even say that we were close to at least disliking them, I was hating them so much that I wish I could've traded them in for some other people. This was probably because of their stupidity, choices, and emotions. Every character, and I'm pointing to you, Waverly, was stupid. These people did not know what to do in the worst case situations and somewhat went on the bad people's side. It just confuses me! And their mood swings, UGH. Waverly's all nice and happy then she turns so cruel and mean.
"At one time, Waverly and Lena had been close and had even belonged to the same book club. They used to laugh together at one witty novel or another, giggling at passages, eyes alight as they imagined the green pastures of preindustrial England."
Oh, I understand why they're not close anymore... *creepy grin*
But there was one character who really stood out and shined in this book for me, and that was Seth. I used to hate this guy in the previous books, but I actually really love him.
Just like that. <3
And I don't really want to get started on the romance because of Kieran and Waverly. Since I hated both of them, I didn't really see any nice connection because Waverly was a) trying to fight but was really bad or b) being cranky. So I don't know.
So the characters took out one major star from the book, and you probably know that I have hated them since the beginning, but Waverly has gotten worse during every book. But in conclusion, the ending was absolutely spectacular and was a very enjoyable read.
"What do I have that you could possibly want?" Waverly said, pulling her cardigan closer around her. He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "I want what everyone wants: peace." "Seems to me everyone wants power," Waverly shot back.
September 1, 2016
4.5 stars
I think this quote by Noam Chomsky, chosen by Amy Kathleen Ryan and included in Flame, sums up this trilogy rather well:
It is only in folk-tales, children’s stories, and the journals of intellectual opinion that power is used wisely and well to destroy evil. The real world teaches very different lessons, and it takes willful ignorance to fail to perceive them.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We’ve seen far too many examples in Amy Kathleen Ryan’s Sky Chasers trilogy. No one can be given huge amounts of power and responsibility and remain unchanged.
Flame picks up where Spark left off, with our three main characters separated and in deep trouble. All three of them are in a very bad place, depressed, powerless and weak. Make no mistake: Weaverly, Kieran and Seth are no heroes. All three of them have made some horrible choices in the past, either drunk with power, or desperate under the weight of responsibility… or both. But unlike other power players aboard the New Horizon, the three of them always did what they thought best for everyone at that particular moment..
Ryan’s characterization is, simply put, superb. She gave each character their due attention, even the peripheral ones, and built them to absolute (and absolutely flawed) perfection. The work she did on her three point-of-view characters, as well as her many villains, makes her stand out as an author of extreme talent and skill. Anne Mather, Captain of the New Horizon, is exactly what a villain should be, her shudder-inducing nature making her one of the most memorable characters in YA literature and beyond.
The Sky Chasers trilogy could just as easily be marketed as adult. Its protagonists may be young, but they are all mature well beyond their age, and the problems they deal with are extremely unsettling. At least the three of them are united against common enemies, which is a very nice change after all the damage they did to each other in previous books.
Like the two books before it, Flame is a very grim, claustrophobic read. It’s more than just limited space that makes it an almost suffocating experience; it’s also not being able to trust anyone and drowning in the feeling of hopelessness alongside the main characters. And yet Ryan succeeded in turning things around in an entirely believable manner and showing us that good things often come from entirely unexpected directions.
While this trilogy is not for the faint of heart, it’s thought-provoking and brilliant and I cannot recommend it enough.
I think this quote by Noam Chomsky, chosen by Amy Kathleen Ryan and included in Flame, sums up this trilogy rather well:
It is only in folk-tales, children’s stories, and the journals of intellectual opinion that power is used wisely and well to destroy evil. The real world teaches very different lessons, and it takes willful ignorance to fail to perceive them.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We’ve seen far too many examples in Amy Kathleen Ryan’s Sky Chasers trilogy. No one can be given huge amounts of power and responsibility and remain unchanged.
Flame picks up where Spark left off, with our three main characters separated and in deep trouble. All three of them are in a very bad place, depressed, powerless and weak. Make no mistake: Weaverly, Kieran and Seth are no heroes. All three of them have made some horrible choices in the past, either drunk with power, or desperate under the weight of responsibility… or both. But unlike other power players aboard the New Horizon, the three of them always did what they thought best for everyone at that particular moment..
Ryan’s characterization is, simply put, superb. She gave each character their due attention, even the peripheral ones, and built them to absolute (and absolutely flawed) perfection. The work she did on her three point-of-view characters, as well as her many villains, makes her stand out as an author of extreme talent and skill. Anne Mather, Captain of the New Horizon, is exactly what a villain should be, her shudder-inducing nature making her one of the most memorable characters in YA literature and beyond.
The Sky Chasers trilogy could just as easily be marketed as adult. Its protagonists may be young, but they are all mature well beyond their age, and the problems they deal with are extremely unsettling. At least the three of them are united against common enemies, which is a very nice change after all the damage they did to each other in previous books.
Like the two books before it, Flame is a very grim, claustrophobic read. It’s more than just limited space that makes it an almost suffocating experience; it’s also not being able to trust anyone and drowning in the feeling of hopelessness alongside the main characters. And yet Ryan succeeded in turning things around in an entirely believable manner and showing us that good things often come from entirely unexpected directions.
While this trilogy is not for the faint of heart, it’s thought-provoking and brilliant and I cannot recommend it enough.
April 16, 2014
Another ending to a trilogy...I started this knowing how much I liked the first two, like many other trilogies, and just hoped I would enjoy the ending...and I did. It wasn't smooth sailing though.
It’s been quite awhile since I read the other two and unable to find a good summary to recap I had to remember as I read since I don’t reread. It was easy to get back into the story though but maybe because it was slow and it let me get to know the characters again although I know I was missing the feelings of love or hate that came with the previous two books (I recommend reading them closer together to get the full effect!). It was intriguing and I was interested but it was slow and at times confusing and I wanted it to pick up. When it finally did I felt it was a little chaotic. Action packed but chaotic. Then it had a fantastic, although bittersweet, ending that left me smiling, a little teary, and satisfied.
I feel like the Sky Chasers series is unique. The villains and heroes all have good and bad in them making it hard to figure out what is right throughout the series. In Flame, I liked that although their stories were separate mostly, our 3 “heroes” came together in a way, despite their differences, to try to do what they thought was right and help one another. The villains are corrupt and manipulative and you never know who you should trust. I think that’s what I enjoy the most about this book. The characters continued the struggle with good, bad and forgiveness. I also enjoyed the appearance and stories of some of the side characters I had wondered about.
Overall Flame was a good ending to a great series. Corrupt villains of all sorts, heroes you don’t always love and even a love story that I was surprisingly happy with by the end. Even though I didn't love it like I did the other two books I wasn't completely disappointed either!
It’s been quite awhile since I read the other two and unable to find a good summary to recap I had to remember as I read since I don’t reread. It was easy to get back into the story though but maybe because it was slow and it let me get to know the characters again although I know I was missing the feelings of love or hate that came with the previous two books (I recommend reading them closer together to get the full effect!). It was intriguing and I was interested but it was slow and at times confusing and I wanted it to pick up. When it finally did I felt it was a little chaotic. Action packed but chaotic. Then it had a fantastic, although bittersweet, ending that left me smiling, a little teary, and satisfied.
I feel like the Sky Chasers series is unique. The villains and heroes all have good and bad in them making it hard to figure out what is right throughout the series. In Flame, I liked that although their stories were separate mostly, our 3 “heroes” came together in a way, despite their differences, to try to do what they thought was right and help one another. The villains are corrupt and manipulative and you never know who you should trust. I think that’s what I enjoy the most about this book. The characters continued the struggle with good, bad and forgiveness. I also enjoyed the appearance and stories of some of the side characters I had wondered about.
Overall Flame was a good ending to a great series. Corrupt villains of all sorts, heroes you don’t always love and even a love story that I was surprisingly happy with by the end. Even though I didn't love it like I did the other two books I wasn't completely disappointed either!
August 17, 2017
To bylo tak ... NÁDHERNÝ, BOŽÍ, EPICKÝ, NEUVĚŘITELNÝ!!
Nemůžu uvěřit, že tahle série skončila. To bylo něco překrásného a tak napínavého a tak .. překvapujícího! Moc autorce děkuji za tak úžasné knížky a za ten konec. Moc děkuji! Hrozně moc jsem si to užila! <3 <3
Nemůžu uvěřit, že tahle série skončila. To bylo něco překrásného a tak napínavého a tak .. překvapujícího! Moc autorce děkuji za tak úžasné knížky a za ten konec. Moc děkuji! Hrozně moc jsem si to užila! <3 <3
April 17, 2016
***Review of the entire trilogy***
4.5 out of 5 stars (for each one)
I read the first book of this trilogy, Glow, last year, and it was a book that grew on me more and more as I looked back on it. I reread it recently so I could finish the trilogy, and I wasn’t disappointed.
So we have two massive ships on their way to New Earth: the Empyrean (where the main characters live) and the New Horizon. The New Horizon should be way ahead of the Empyrean (they left a year earlier), but everyone’s talking about how they can see the New Horizon just up ahead. We also find out in the first chapter that there are no children on board the New Horizon (there were fertility issues on the Empyrean for years, but they solved them, and now the oldest young adults on board are 15 and 16 years old). Suddenly the New Horizon attacks and kidnaps all of the young girls on board, leaving all of the boys to run a damaged ship with most of the adults dead or gone.
These books are gripping, and they aren’t cookie cutter at all. That’s one of the reason I love them so much; I couldn’t ever quite predict what would happen next. Let me warn you, though, that they get fairly dark (mostly the first one, in my opinion). A lot of things are alluded to rather than explicitly shown, but there’s lots of talk of assault in various forms, and lots of people die. I gave my husband a short summary of the first one and all he said was, “Jesus…”
But these books are also just really freaking good. Everything is a moral grey area. All of the characters are morally grey throughout all three books, villains and heroes alike, and I really appreciate how deeply fleshed out every single character is. They’re all very real. I felt myself constantly changing my opinion of the characters because every scene had me empathizing with different sides.
The second book in particular, Spark, is an amazing political drama; I couldn’t believe how entertained I was throughout that whole book. Very little action, but the intrigue was fascinating. The third one, Flame, might have been my least favorite, just because the first half is a little slow and I don’t know if I believe the way that characters choose to deal with situations in that book. It comes across like it wants to read as a great game of political strategy, but it felt a little forced and unreal to me. Still, the trilogy as a whole was just so freaking well done and captivating.
I'm rounding up to 5 stars for each of them, but I can’t quite explain why I feel like a 4.5 star rating is more appropriate than 5, because these books hit all my buttons. I've added them to my Favorites shelf as well my “books I want to own” shelf (I’m very picky about what books I own–I’m more of a library reader). They feel just about (but not quite) perfect to me, and I highly, highly recommend them to pretty much everyone.
(Cross-posted on Youth Book Review)
4.5 out of 5 stars (for each one)
I read the first book of this trilogy, Glow, last year, and it was a book that grew on me more and more as I looked back on it. I reread it recently so I could finish the trilogy, and I wasn’t disappointed.
So we have two massive ships on their way to New Earth: the Empyrean (where the main characters live) and the New Horizon. The New Horizon should be way ahead of the Empyrean (they left a year earlier), but everyone’s talking about how they can see the New Horizon just up ahead. We also find out in the first chapter that there are no children on board the New Horizon (there were fertility issues on the Empyrean for years, but they solved them, and now the oldest young adults on board are 15 and 16 years old). Suddenly the New Horizon attacks and kidnaps all of the young girls on board, leaving all of the boys to run a damaged ship with most of the adults dead or gone.
These books are gripping, and they aren’t cookie cutter at all. That’s one of the reason I love them so much; I couldn’t ever quite predict what would happen next. Let me warn you, though, that they get fairly dark (mostly the first one, in my opinion). A lot of things are alluded to rather than explicitly shown, but there’s lots of talk of assault in various forms, and lots of people die. I gave my husband a short summary of the first one and all he said was, “Jesus…”
But these books are also just really freaking good. Everything is a moral grey area. All of the characters are morally grey throughout all three books, villains and heroes alike, and I really appreciate how deeply fleshed out every single character is. They’re all very real. I felt myself constantly changing my opinion of the characters because every scene had me empathizing with different sides.
The second book in particular, Spark, is an amazing political drama; I couldn’t believe how entertained I was throughout that whole book. Very little action, but the intrigue was fascinating. The third one, Flame, might have been my least favorite, just because the first half is a little slow and I don’t know if I believe the way that characters choose to deal with situations in that book. It comes across like it wants to read as a great game of political strategy, but it felt a little forced and unreal to me. Still, the trilogy as a whole was just so freaking well done and captivating.
I'm rounding up to 5 stars for each of them, but I can’t quite explain why I feel like a 4.5 star rating is more appropriate than 5, because these books hit all my buttons. I've added them to my Favorites shelf as well my “books I want to own” shelf (I’m very picky about what books I own–I’m more of a library reader). They feel just about (but not quite) perfect to me, and I highly, highly recommend them to pretty much everyone.
(Cross-posted on Youth Book Review)
May 29, 2015
Wow, wow, wow, and again I say, WOW!!! I have loved this series ever since I read the first sentence of the first book, and this finale just about knocked me into the middle of next week. Amy Kathleen Ryan has pulled off a fantastic and epic conclusion to one of my favorite series of all time.
When I first started reading this series, I loved it, but at the same time, there was a part of it that turned me off because I wasn't sure that I really liked the characters. The story itself was so intriguing though that I found myself loving it despite that. Little by little throughout the series, you watch these characters grow, change, build into something that even they didn't know they could be.
The three main characters, Kieran, Waverly, and Seth, are not perfect. Far from it. These are people with great capacity for both good and bad, and in the course of the series, you see both sides to each of them. There were times that I both hated and loved them. In this final book of the series, however, their character journeys are complete, and you finally get to see which side they will each fall to, what final choices, good or bad, they will each make, and what they are each truly made of.
As I said, the story itself sucked me in like a vacuum cleaner, the suspense whirled me around and knocked me off my feet (enough cliches for you?) but it was definitely the characters and their growth that made this book, this series, unforgettable.
The author wrote real, honest characters, flaws and all, which made me respect her as a writer all the more. The romance, which I found to be hot, hot, hot, was satisfyingly concluded. The ending was exactly as it should be, but yet the author didn't leave us with a perfect world in the end. Just like the characters, there are flaws, things that didn't exactly work out all neat and clean. I think it made the story more believable, unpredictable, and more memorable.
Bravo to Amy Kathleen Ryan!! This book and series was phenomenal!
When I first started reading this series, I loved it, but at the same time, there was a part of it that turned me off because I wasn't sure that I really liked the characters. The story itself was so intriguing though that I found myself loving it despite that. Little by little throughout the series, you watch these characters grow, change, build into something that even they didn't know they could be.
The three main characters, Kieran, Waverly, and Seth, are not perfect. Far from it. These are people with great capacity for both good and bad, and in the course of the series, you see both sides to each of them. There were times that I both hated and loved them. In this final book of the series, however, their character journeys are complete, and you finally get to see which side they will each fall to, what final choices, good or bad, they will each make, and what they are each truly made of.
As I said, the story itself sucked me in like a vacuum cleaner, the suspense whirled me around and knocked me off my feet (enough cliches for you?) but it was definitely the characters and their growth that made this book, this series, unforgettable.
The author wrote real, honest characters, flaws and all, which made me respect her as a writer all the more. The romance, which I found to be hot, hot, hot, was satisfyingly concluded. The ending was exactly as it should be, but yet the author didn't leave us with a perfect world in the end. Just like the characters, there are flaws, things that didn't exactly work out all neat and clean. I think it made the story more believable, unpredictable, and more memorable.
Bravo to Amy Kathleen Ryan!! This book and series was phenomenal!
December 31, 2015
The stage is set for a thrilling clash of wills in "FLAME" the conclusion to the "Sky Chaser̈"series after an explosion forces the survivors of the Empyrean to evacuate their floundering ship. Trapped in a hostile environment on the New Horizon where Anne Mather is trying to build peace after all her crimes, threads of this exciting story follow Waverly Marshall's manipulation by an unscrupulous Council Elder and his untrustworthy son; Anne Mather's efforts to thwart their scheme by recruiting Kieran Alden; and Seth Ardvale's tenacity and self-sacrifice in trying to prevent a killer from murdering the girl he loves as well as the ship's leader.
The plot is action-packed and mesmerizing as events unfold that have Waverly fighting to survive a devious plan that undermines her ethical values; Kieran becoming a living bomb; and Seth facing death to undermine a killer. In the topsy- turvy chaos as the heroine and heroes constantly face death, love blossoms between Kieran and Felicity Wiggam as the bond between Waverly and Seth strengthens. In all the violence and chaos new friendships are born, as hope, mercy and forgiveness grows.
The main characters - Waverly, Seth and Kieran- are unforgettable with all their imperfections and failings. Feisty and impulsive Waverly will do anything to protect her mother and easily falls into the clutches of the conniving and decrepit Dr. Wesley Carver, going along with his plan until his son threatens her life. Plagued by guilt Kieran Alden will do anything to save the survivors from his home ship, so is an easy target for the ruthless plotting of Anne Mather. Haunted by abuse and a lack of self-esteem which fuels his bad-temper, Seth's love for Waverly begins to change him, enabling him to sacrifice even his life to save her. These three and a host of others add high-energy, passion and drama to a plot that keeps you guessing until an explosive confrontation at the end.
I enjoyed this entire series but rate "FLAME" highly. Intriguing and suspenseful, it's enthralling from beginning to the end.
The plot is action-packed and mesmerizing as events unfold that have Waverly fighting to survive a devious plan that undermines her ethical values; Kieran becoming a living bomb; and Seth facing death to undermine a killer. In the topsy- turvy chaos as the heroine and heroes constantly face death, love blossoms between Kieran and Felicity Wiggam as the bond between Waverly and Seth strengthens. In all the violence and chaos new friendships are born, as hope, mercy and forgiveness grows.
The main characters - Waverly, Seth and Kieran- are unforgettable with all their imperfections and failings. Feisty and impulsive Waverly will do anything to protect her mother and easily falls into the clutches of the conniving and decrepit Dr. Wesley Carver, going along with his plan until his son threatens her life. Plagued by guilt Kieran Alden will do anything to save the survivors from his home ship, so is an easy target for the ruthless plotting of Anne Mather. Haunted by abuse and a lack of self-esteem which fuels his bad-temper, Seth's love for Waverly begins to change him, enabling him to sacrifice even his life to save her. These three and a host of others add high-energy, passion and drama to a plot that keeps you guessing until an explosive confrontation at the end.
I enjoyed this entire series but rate "FLAME" highly. Intriguing and suspenseful, it's enthralling from beginning to the end.
April 6, 2014
272!!! pages only ! That was my first though when I began this book,which by the way I didn't want to start because I didn't want to finish the best YA sci-fi trilogy EVER.
How disappointing (or human) are the crew members depicted by Amy Kathleen Ryan and the truth about how everything started is definitely heart-breaking .But given the way Spark ended I supposed that things were going to get worse before improving.
On page 24 I am aghast at how fast I am reading ,I am going to finish it in no time.It is definitely a page turner.
After reading page 91 I had a cup of Darjeeling tea.
It goes without saying that Seth goes through hell and Weaverly takes her sweet time to finally make up her mind.
On page 262 my heart skipped a beat !
What an amazing story of survival ,true love and friendship. Cheesy?, well, isn't happiness a relief after such an ordeal?.I am a huge fan of books that make you feel good when you turn the last page.
A continuation , if possible, would be certainly welcome and I wish they made a film based on these books , just to see the ships, specially the rainforest which reminds me of the rainforest in KLIA.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
How disappointing (or human) are the crew members depicted by Amy Kathleen Ryan and the truth about how everything started is definitely heart-breaking .But given the way Spark ended I supposed that things were going to get worse before improving.
On page 24 I am aghast at how fast I am reading ,I am going to finish it in no time.It is definitely a page turner.
After reading page 91 I had a cup of Darjeeling tea.
It goes without saying that Seth goes through hell and Weaverly takes her sweet time to finally make up her mind.
On page 262 my heart skipped a beat !
What an amazing story of survival ,true love and friendship. Cheesy?, well, isn't happiness a relief after such an ordeal?.I am a huge fan of books that make you feel good when you turn the last page.
A continuation , if possible, would be certainly welcome and I wish they made a film based on these books , just to see the ships, specially the rainforest which reminds me of the rainforest in KLIA.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
May 19, 2015
Nejdřív jsem myslela, že A. K. Ryan přetrhnu, protože TAKOVÝ MEGA ŠOK jsem už dlouho nezažila, ale... UFF!
Perfektní zakončení série. A mé vřelé doporučení všem, kteří máte rádi příběhy z vesmírného prostředí. Skvělá série s tak lidskými hrdiny, jakou jsem snad ještě nečetla. Jsem vážně nadšená! :-)
Perfektní zakončení série. A mé vřelé doporučení všem, kteří máte rádi příběhy z vesmírného prostředí. Skvělá série s tak lidskými hrdiny, jakou jsem snad ještě nečetla. Jsem vážně nadšená! :-)
January 9, 2014
Omg the last book!!! One of the best trilogies ever!!!
July 26, 2020
Oproti druhému dílu to bylo opět slabší. Celkově to nebyla úplně špatná série, ale hodně toho prostě chybělo. První díl byl navíc tak slabý, že jsem měla chuť s ní seknout, a pak ty další mi přišlo, že autorka nejenže hodila velkou zpátečku (jasně, sice se mi ta tísnivá atmosféra moc nelíbila, ale když to pak v dalších dílech najednou zmizí, tak je to taky zvláštní), ale navíc byly vztahy mezi postavami vylíčené způsobem, že mi na nich ani tolik nezáleželo.
February 1, 2018
In the thrilling conclusion to the Sky Chasers series Waverly, Kieran, and Seth struggle to survive on-board the New Horizon—and take down their enemies before it's too late. Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have scattered, and their home ship has been destroyed. Their mission to rescue their parents didn't go as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon
You never know who to trust. Who are the good people and the bad people of the New horizon. A lot of lying and secrets.
I really enjoyed seeing the same characters in this book from the previous books and to see how they would all end up together.
You never know who to trust. Who are the good people and the bad people of the New horizon. A lot of lying and secrets.
I really enjoyed seeing the same characters in this book from the previous books and to see how they would all end up together.
June 27, 2017
Completely unexpected ending. Ryan kept me guessing to the last page.
February 4, 2020
One of my new favorite trilogies. Keeps you on your toes and makes you feel connected with all of the characters. Great writing. Great story. I'd recommend to anyone.
September 13, 2016
(3.5 stars)
From www.pingwings.ca
Source: Review copy received from publisher
From Goodreads:
You can read my reviews of the previous books, Glow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... Spark (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...). Spoiler alert!
Ending a series is difficult. That has been discussed an awful lot lately, especially around the release of Veronica Roth’s Allegiant, and I understand the apprehension that we readers feel when venturing into the last book in a series, wondering how – or even if – things will be resolved and what will happen to the characters that we care about and whose journeys we’ve followed over the course of the series.
I really enjoyed Glow and Spark. They both came out a while ago and I’ve read so many books since then that I had to go back and familiarize myself with the characters and story before I started this. Once I remembered how dire the situation was at the end of Spark, I got super excited to pick this up and find out what happened next!
Unfortunately I didn’t love this book the way I loved its predecessors. Kieran, Waverly, and Seth were all in different places at the start of the book, and I kept waiting for them to find each other and spend some time together, which didn’t totally happen (although that was mostly due to Anne Mather’s influence).
For some reason, I felt that the three different storylines – Seth’s, Waverly’s, and Kieran’s – were a bit tough to follow. Maybe there was just too much going on, but I was always feeling like I was a bit confused.
I liked the action in this book, and there were some characters that I was really happy to see again, as their fates were unknown at the end of Spark (I don’t want to say their names for spoiler-y reasons).
What I enjoyed the most about this book was that the characters were still grappling with ideas of good and bad, forgiveness, and seeing that things aren’t always black and white, but shades of grey.
I also liked the ending. It was happy, hopeful, but definitely not what I was expecting, which was nice. It fit with the rest of the series, and like I said above, it is not easy to end a series, but I think the author did a great job of tying things together in the end.
Overall, this was a good end to a pretty great series!
From www.pingwings.ca
Source: Review copy received from publisher
From Goodreads:
In the thrilling conclusion to the Sky Chasers series Waverly, Kieran, and Seth struggle to survive on-board the New Horizon—and take down their enemies before it’s too late.
Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have scattered, and their home ship has been destroyed. Their mission to rescue their parents didn’t go as planned, and now they’re at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Kieran has been pulled under Anne Mather’s wing, but is she really trying to make peace, or just using Kieran to build her own power? Meanwhile, Waverly is taken in by a mysterious old man who wants to help her bring Anne Mather down—but the more Waverly cooperates with him, the more dangerous her position is, and the more at odds with Kieran she becomes.
Seth’s situation is even worse. After setting out from the Empyrean on his own, with only a vague strategy to guide him, he is a fugitive aboard the New Horizon. He’s doing what he can to challenge the power of Anne Mather, but he’s badly hurt, and getting sicker.
Will Seth ever see Waverly again? Will his health hold out long enough to help her topple their enemies? And will Waverly find a way to unite with her friends before they all fall? Nothing is sure and every moment is a risk in this explosive finale of the Sky Chasers series.
You can read my reviews of the previous books, Glow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... Spark (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...). Spoiler alert!
Ending a series is difficult. That has been discussed an awful lot lately, especially around the release of Veronica Roth’s Allegiant, and I understand the apprehension that we readers feel when venturing into the last book in a series, wondering how – or even if – things will be resolved and what will happen to the characters that we care about and whose journeys we’ve followed over the course of the series.
I really enjoyed Glow and Spark. They both came out a while ago and I’ve read so many books since then that I had to go back and familiarize myself with the characters and story before I started this. Once I remembered how dire the situation was at the end of Spark, I got super excited to pick this up and find out what happened next!
Unfortunately I didn’t love this book the way I loved its predecessors. Kieran, Waverly, and Seth were all in different places at the start of the book, and I kept waiting for them to find each other and spend some time together, which didn’t totally happen (although that was mostly due to Anne Mather’s influence).
For some reason, I felt that the three different storylines – Seth’s, Waverly’s, and Kieran’s – were a bit tough to follow. Maybe there was just too much going on, but I was always feeling like I was a bit confused.
I liked the action in this book, and there were some characters that I was really happy to see again, as their fates were unknown at the end of Spark (I don’t want to say their names for spoiler-y reasons).
What I enjoyed the most about this book was that the characters were still grappling with ideas of good and bad, forgiveness, and seeing that things aren’t always black and white, but shades of grey.
I also liked the ending. It was happy, hopeful, but definitely not what I was expecting, which was nice. It fit with the rest of the series, and like I said above, it is not easy to end a series, but I think the author did a great job of tying things together in the end.
Overall, this was a good end to a pretty great series!
January 23, 2014
Flame is the highly anticipated finale to Amy Kathleen Ryan's explosive Sky Chasers series, and this time we see Waverly, Kieran and Seth trying to take down their enemies aboard the New Horizon in completely different ways. With Anne Mathers trying to organize peace on board, things don't exactly smooth when the people of the Empyrean find it hard to forget. They've lost so much - their home, their friends and their families and starting over on the New Horizon with people that rule with an iron fist, is not what they had in mind. Can Waverly, Kieran and Seth help their people get back all that they lost - or will they forever be under the rule of Anne Mathers?
As soon as I started Flame, everything I adore about Amy Kathleen Ryan's writing came flooding back to me. From the very first page of this series, I've been completely at Amy's mercy because of her addictive storyline and with each book she's wrote it's been even better than the last, so Flame certainly didn't disappoint. I'm always worried when I head into a final book to a series because you just never know what to expect, and with Amy throwing in so many shocking twists, in all, it was a fantastic conclusion.
I've always been a fan of Waverly's and this time around, she was just as good. She's clearly had a rougher time because she couldn't see anyway out of the mess her and her friends were in, and the fact that she felt so alone didn't help either. I think she's a very strong character, one that always tries to do the right thing, even though the right thing was not done to her. Her connection with Seth is as strong as ever and I was glad the story didn't focus on the love triangle - if anything, there isn't one any more. All three players - Waverly, Kieran and Seth all know what they want, and I was glad there was a happy ending for all. Seth and Kieran, by the end, I loved both of them. In the first two books I was on one team and then another, but like I said before, I'm glad Flame was more about the plot and not the romance.
There are many players in the plot of this book, it's exciting to unravel whose really the 'good' person and who deserves to be the leader the most. Old faces pop up and new faces, and the whole story is a really driven plot. It's full of suspense and quiet emotional in parts. So as you can see, there's nothing that I didn't like about this story, there's nothing not to like. I think what stood out for me was the ending. I believe Amy really took the time to deliver an ending that would be unforgettable and do her readers proud, one that if I'm honest shocked me - but in such a good way. I honestly never would have thought about ending it the way she did, but I loved the idea and what she did for the characters was fantastic.
I'm glad I decided to pick up the Sky Chasers series because it's one of my favourite science fiction series and I honestly don't have many, because I don't read much of the genre. But Amy has created a great series and I'm exciting to see what she writes next!
As soon as I started Flame, everything I adore about Amy Kathleen Ryan's writing came flooding back to me. From the very first page of this series, I've been completely at Amy's mercy because of her addictive storyline and with each book she's wrote it's been even better than the last, so Flame certainly didn't disappoint. I'm always worried when I head into a final book to a series because you just never know what to expect, and with Amy throwing in so many shocking twists, in all, it was a fantastic conclusion.
I've always been a fan of Waverly's and this time around, she was just as good. She's clearly had a rougher time because she couldn't see anyway out of the mess her and her friends were in, and the fact that she felt so alone didn't help either. I think she's a very strong character, one that always tries to do the right thing, even though the right thing was not done to her. Her connection with Seth is as strong as ever and I was glad the story didn't focus on the love triangle - if anything, there isn't one any more. All three players - Waverly, Kieran and Seth all know what they want, and I was glad there was a happy ending for all. Seth and Kieran, by the end, I loved both of them. In the first two books I was on one team and then another, but like I said before, I'm glad Flame was more about the plot and not the romance.
There are many players in the plot of this book, it's exciting to unravel whose really the 'good' person and who deserves to be the leader the most. Old faces pop up and new faces, and the whole story is a really driven plot. It's full of suspense and quiet emotional in parts. So as you can see, there's nothing that I didn't like about this story, there's nothing not to like. I think what stood out for me was the ending. I believe Amy really took the time to deliver an ending that would be unforgettable and do her readers proud, one that if I'm honest shocked me - but in such a good way. I honestly never would have thought about ending it the way she did, but I loved the idea and what she did for the characters was fantastic.
I'm glad I decided to pick up the Sky Chasers series because it's one of my favourite science fiction series and I honestly don't have many, because I don't read much of the genre. But Amy has created a great series and I'm exciting to see what she writes next!
October 13, 2015
After the brilliance of Glow and Spark, I had my expectations pretty high for the series conclusion Flame. Unfortunately, however, I think I simply set my expectations a bit too high because, as much as I enjoyed Flame, it just didn't live up to the quality of the first two books in the series.
The rescue operation to save their parents failed, and now the children of the New Horizion are being held captive in their sister ship, the Empyrean. And the only three people who can save everyone - Waverly, Kieran, and Seth - are all separated.
This wasn't quite as grim and unsettling as the first two books. It's more action-packed than the first two, and the majority of it is seeing how the characters react psychologically after all the atrocities and trauma that have induced upon them in Glow and Spark.
As the ending to the series, this wrapped things up nicely. Justice is acquired, but that's clearly no compensation for the characters after everything they've gone through. I suppose I just wanted...more.
Yet, this is still a thought-provoking and intelligently written story. It's one of the best dystopian series I've read recently, and it reminds me why I love the genre so much. Amy Kathleen Ryan takes some very important social trends and she comes up with a thought-provoking and eerily plausible future.
April 30, 2016
Flame is an amazing (and satisfying) ending to this action-packed trilogy.
Everyone is aboard the New Horizon. Waverly and Kieran are in the clutches of Ann Mather. Waverly also finds herself in a tug of war with another political actor on board.
In the previous two books I felt tugged between who to support among the three protagonists. In Flame, it felt good supporting and rooting for all three of them. They acknowledged that their previous actions messed up their relationship with others and they all worked to improve themselves.
The whole series was descripted, creative, and an action-packed space opera that included philosophical and moral questions.
Flame was a lot slower paced than the other two, but I did feel like I was continuously pulled to keep reading and find out what would happen next.
The ending made my heart ache! But all in all, it made sense, and that’s what made the ending satisfying (and good to live with). It definitely reached a 5 rating because I felt good with the ending, which personally, is something so rare with books these days.
Also, this is a great crossover series. I’m sure it’ll appeal to both young adults and adult readers.
This review and others are also available at, Where's My Bookmark?
Everyone is aboard the New Horizon. Waverly and Kieran are in the clutches of Ann Mather. Waverly also finds herself in a tug of war with another political actor on board.
In the previous two books I felt tugged between who to support among the three protagonists. In Flame, it felt good supporting and rooting for all three of them. They acknowledged that their previous actions messed up their relationship with others and they all worked to improve themselves.
The whole series was descripted, creative, and an action-packed space opera that included philosophical and moral questions.
Flame was a lot slower paced than the other two, but I did feel like I was continuously pulled to keep reading and find out what would happen next.
The ending made my heart ache! But all in all, it made sense, and that’s what made the ending satisfying (and good to live with). It definitely reached a 5 rating because I felt good with the ending, which personally, is something so rare with books these days.
Also, this is a great crossover series. I’m sure it’ll appeal to both young adults and adult readers.
This review and others are also available at, Where's My Bookmark?
September 13, 2014
I think I quite liked the first book, and then it just went steadily downhill. I hated most of the characters in the second, since they seemed to switch personalities depending on what the plot called for. I think that was my main problem with it, I never connected to them because they didn't ring true. (The Kieran/Felicity thing especially. 'Oh, you're pretty, I guess I'll love you now.') This book picked up a bit, and I think the last third was particularly good, with a solid ending. But it didn't make me feel much of anything.
Questions I had: why did Waverly's dad et al poison the New Horizon people in the first place? What was their end game/motivation? I didn't really enjoy the 'I guess we'll never know'. Why were the NH people so stupid to use the 'cure' en masse in the first place? You wouldn't test it? How is Waverly so ok with her eggs being taken? How will that affect the rest of the NH colony in future? You have hundreds of babies taken from a few genetic sources, that won't cause problems? There are probably others.
Questions I had: why did Waverly's dad et al poison the New Horizon people in the first place? What was their end game/motivation? I didn't really enjoy the 'I guess we'll never know'. Why were the NH people so stupid to use the 'cure' en masse in the first place? You wouldn't test it? How is Waverly so ok with her eggs being taken? How will that affect the rest of the NH colony in future? You have hundreds of babies taken from a few genetic sources, that won't cause problems? There are probably others.
September 21, 2015
And so it all ends! This has got to be one of the most tense books I have ever read. Having the two opposing groups of people trapped on the same ship was such a cool idea and it was so hard to guess what might happen next! The part before the ending was so eventful and emotional - amazing. After all that tension I wasn't expecting such a sentimental and cheesy ending, but it was good nonetheless. I was preparing myself for a more tragic and sudden end, and probably would have preferred one, and but even so this was a brilliant, well done book and a fitting end to the series.
November 14, 2013
I was lucky enough to get a review copy of this book! It was a brilliant and satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite trilogies! Like the first two books, this one had exciting, fast-paced action, plenty of suspenseful intrigue, and lots of unexpected twists and turns. I also loved seeing how the main characters' relationships developed-- I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I'll say that it was heart-poundingly good stuff! I'm sad to see this series end, but the ending was so deeply satisfying, it will stay with me for a long time.
August 19, 2016
Nejlepší ze série, i když jsem po předchozím díle měla pocit, že tenhle propadák už nic nezachrání. Bylo to napínavé, přestože některé zvraty byly až moc nečekané a trošku příběhu ubíraly na reálnosti, což je trochu zvláštní označení pro knihu tohoto typu. Moc se mi líbilo, jak to nakonec dopadlo s Kieranem. Se Sethem to bylo trochu horší, ale pořád fajn. A i když dávám pět hvězdiček, série jako celek by dosáhla tak sotva čtyř.
December 29, 2014
This trilogy is perfection. Amy Kathleen Ryan is a fantastic author and I agree with every single twist and turn this story took. I went though so many emotions and really grew to love all three of the leading characters along with a lot of secondary characters.
This series deserves so much more recognition than it gets.
Gaia <3
This series deserves so much more recognition than it gets.
Gaia <3
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