Stranger Skies is an ambitious sequel which I feel like I immediately need to re-read. It adds further color to this world which is so fantastic. I am just in awe of the world Lacelle has created. Keep reading this book review of Stranger Skies for my full thoughts.
Summary
Opening locked doors has a price—even for those who hold a key. After going through the door that called to them both in dreams, Emory and Romie find themselves in the the same verdant world written of in Song of the Drowned Gods, albeit a twisted, rotting version of it. A sinister force has awoken with their arrival, intent on destruction as it spills across realms, and now Emory and Romie must stop it before it reaches their own shores.
Meanwhile, Baz and Kai are desperate to follow their friends through the door to other worlds, but a mishap pulls them back in time instead—where they come face to face with Cornus Clover himself, famed author of Song of the Drowned Gods. Stuck together in the past, they must navigate a very different Aldryn as they unravel the school’s darkest secrets.
Across time and worlds, Emory, Romie, Baz, and Kai find their fates eerily interwoven with the heroes from Clover’s book. But when stories can’t be trusted, friendships are put to the test, and deadly enemies are not always as they seem, they must decide who gets to be a hero—and who is desperate enough to see themselves become a villain.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Stranger Skies is impressive and ambitious. It gives further layers and detail to the already brilliant world of Curious Tides. Stranger Skies continues the tensions and animosity. And what I found most moving was the themes of change. Can we forgive, can we move on from these misconceptions, these betrayals? This is no second book syndrome as the twists and action in Stranger Skies keeps upping the ante and the stakes. It’s a bit of a hurdle to jump back into, but the atmosphere of Stranger Skies goes even further than book one. It’s also a testament to the way we grow apart from each other and asks us whether we can find our way back to each other and these new versions of ourselves.
Some of the new perspectives did confuse me a bit, I feel like I need to re-read Stranger Skies to get the full picture. I enjoyed Stranger Skies, but I did find some parts a bit convoluted even in this impressive world. Like, at parts, it felt long. I kept wanting to be back in the world, but sometimes would have trouble falling really deeply into the reading experience. Stranger Skies has some great character work as it explores whether being strong requires someone else to be weaker. It’s a solid sequel which made me appreciate the world even more and I’m excited for Infinite Shores.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)
Find Stranger Skies on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.