Skyward

Spensa lives on Detritus, a planet under constant alien attack where humanity survives in underground caverns. Despite her father's reputation as a coward who abandoned his flight team, she dreams of becoming a pilot in the Defiant Defense Force. Through determination and an unexpected opportunity, Spensa enters flight school to train as a fighter pilot. She joins a diverse group of cadets who must learn to work together while mastering complex flight maneuvers and combat techniques. As Spensa progresses through her training, she confronts both external threats from the mysterious Krell aliens and internal challenges within the rigid military hierarchy. She searches for the truth about her father while fighting to prove herself worthy of being a pilot. The story explores themes of courage, identity, and the weight of inherited reputation in a society shaped by constant warfare. It questions the nature of heroism and the impact of fear on human choices.

Readers found the protagonist Spensa relatable despite her initial brashness, with many noting her growth throughout the story. The flight school training sequences and aerial combat received consistent praise for their pacing and clarity. Liked: - Fast-paced plot with minimal slow sections - Clear, detailed space combat scenes - Character development, especially side characters - World-building that unfolds naturally through the story - Humor balances heavier themes Disliked: - Some found the first 50 pages slow - Young adult tropes (outcast protagonist, training school setting) - Predictable plot reveals - Flight terminology can be dense for non-sci-fi readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.44/5 (153,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (9,800+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.5/5 Common reader quote: "It starts like a typical YA story but develops into something much deeper" appears in various forms across multiple review sites.

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🚀 The flight scenes in Skyward were inspired by Sanderson playing the video game Overwatch, specifically with the character D.Va. ✈️ Several major airlines have featured Skyward in their in-flight entertainment libraries, making it a popular choice for actual flying readers. 📚 Sanderson wrote the first draft of Skyward in 2016 during breaks from working on his epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archive. 🎮 The book's success led to discussions about video game adaptations, with several gaming studios expressing interest in the property. 🌟 The concept for Skyward originated from a story Sanderson wrote as a teenager, which he completely rewrote and expanded 20 years later.