Review: Rebel Skies (Rebel Skies #1) by Ann Sei Lin

*I received an advance reading copy of this book from Tundra Books in exchange for an honest review.

Rebel Skies

(Rebel Skies #1)

by Ann Sei Lin 

February 13, 2024

Goodreads Summary:

Ann Sei Lin's enchanting and action-packed debut, first in a series, will sweep readers away to an aerial world of magic, danger and political intrigue. Perfect for fans of Xiran Jay Zhao, Kalynn Bayron and the films of Studio Ghibli.

Kurara has never known any other life than being a servant onboard the Midori, a flying ship serving the military elite of the Mikoshiman Empire, a vast realm of floating cities. Kurara also has a secret — she can make folded paper figures come to life with a flick of her finger. But when the Midori is attacked and Kurara's secret turns out to be a power treasured across the empire, a gut-wrenching escape leads her to the gruff Himura, who takes her under his wing. Under Himura's tutelage, and with the grudging support and friendship of his crew, Kurara learns to hunt shikigami — wild paper spirits sought after by the Princess of Mikoshima.

But what does the princess really want with the shikigami? Are they merely enchanted figures without will or thought, or are they beings with souls and minds of their own? As fractures begin to appear both across the empire and within Kurara's understanding of herself, Kurara will have to decide who she can trust. Her fate, and the fate of her friends — and even the world — may rest on her choice. And time is running out.

Review

Rebel Skies features a most unique type of magic- paper magic. The book was easy to read though I wish there was more action and that we got to know the characters better.

In Rebel Skies, we meet Crafters. Not only were they special, their ability to create shikigami was fascinating. These paper monsters, each with unique characteristics, beg the reader to question the morality in their usage. This added a nice layer of complexity to the story. I love the author's creativity in bringing the shikigami to life.

The synopsis of Rebel Skies is a little misleading seeing that no major changes affected the world. Rather, the biggest reveal happened with Kurara. I suspected the twist so it wasn't that surprising when we learned the truth about her. The author made many subtle hints ;) Kurara's world was not kind to her but her dedication to Haru was extremely admirable. So it was extra soul-crushing to witness Himura betray her. I wonder if their relationship will be redeemed in the next book?

We meet many side characters in Rebel Skies but to me they lacked character development. I really liked Tomoe and Sayo but their existence didn't seem all that important except when Kurara needed help? Also, the Interludes with Rei were kind of boring and went nowhere? I needed more from these characters.

I enjoyed the introduction into the Rebel Skies world. Despite not loving the characters, I am curious how Kurara's story will proceed after that big revelation. I will definitely keep an eye out for the sequel's release.

*I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the ARC I received.