Green Sky & Sparks
In a world of magic, wind, and electricity, Catter Jeck is offered the chance to explore a myth. Travelling from city to city, his search for the centre of the magic catches others in its coils. When the Lord Heir of Meton offers to continue the search in his flying machine, the consequences of their crash – and Toru’s accidental link to a dying Healer – suddenly become of central importance to all of their lives.
Sparky indeed 🙂,
The low starting score comes from the fact that being a novella actually hampers the story somewhat. You want to know far more about the world and its customs than is initially given out – what is a Dirr, for example? – and the need to keep things tight compresses a lot of information out of the story. There’s no denying however that Kate’s characters come to life immediately and very vividly. Toru’s joy of flying and Catter’s love of information propel the story – the wind beneath its wings, if you want.
What makes Green Sky and Sparks stronger is the very complicated web of human relationships that lies at its heart. Kate’s decision to focus on this far more than on the physical mystery of the energy source earns it that fourth star – and earns the second volume Grey Stone and Steel a place on next year’s TBR list.
Enough Spark to Make Me Want to Read More,
The characters are written very well and memorable. The connections and relationships that develop in the story are certainly one of this stories greatest strengths. They are realistic characters and this gives the story a satisfactory depth to it.
The plot is intriguing and there is plenty of room to expand all the fantasy/magical and steampunk elements. This is a novella so I understand it has to be kept condensed, but part of me did want to see more magic used and more aspects to the steampunk side of the world. I hope in the following instalments this occurs. There are good elements of mystery that could perhaps have been expanded just a fraction more to really grab my attention, but it was enough to spark (sorry) my curiosity.
Overall, it is a good story that has a good blend of storytelling and characterisation. It didn’t absolutely enthral me, but I enjoyed it and will be reading the next one because I’m intrigued by the characters and where this story can go in terms of plot. I certainly recommend Green Sky and Sparks to any lovers of unique tales that mix genres.
A great introduction to a new world,
With a well-thought out set of characters, we are introduced to a series of relationships – one of them involving magic – and we see how they are tested and strengthened by the interplay of adversity and responsibility.
One more thing: the science is brilliant – capturing electricity to use for power, wind magic to fly gliders? Awesome. Really clever and original.