Let the Sky Fall

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
Published by: Simon Pulse, ARC received via trade
Release Date: 3-5-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: A tempest of turmoil, treachery and tethered loyalties

In a world full of gales, tempests, and squalls
The sylphs live in secret, within closed

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walls
But there’s one with the power to change their fate
Can he take back his life before it’s too late?

Audra’s the guardian who will stand and fight
But will she fall prey to Raiden’s dark might?
Caught in a net of betrayal and lies
How will she fight the storm in the skies?

It’s all up to Vane and the powers he claims
Will he save his world or will it end up in flames?
The winds whisper secrets of a past he once lost
But he will fight for his love, no matter the cost.

“But I feel a change in the winds. They whip with more urgency, their songs clipped and rushed.
They know.
The Stormers are coming.” ARC, pg 311

Blasted with passion and treachery, Shannon Messenger creates a world that will lift you off your feet. Overblown with suspense, inundated with desire, and riddled with mystery, Let The Sky Fall is tempest of emotion. So close your eyes and throw caution to the wind as it sweeps you away to a place where the air really does whisper in your ear.

Let the Sky Fall was my most anticipated read of 2013, and it did not disappoint. This book starts out with a boom, and from there, it’s a steady mix of suspense, action and romance. Shannon blended her world seamlessly with ours, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us in the next few books.

The writing was peaceful at just the right times and rocky and jagged when the situation called for it. I found myself taking note of quotation after quotation for my Teaser Tuesday because Shannon is one of those authors whose words capture your attention and make you say, “Wow.” Her words are rife with ambiguity, but even so, she never gives anything away. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
You know I love a book when I gush about the heroine. Like I’ve said before, it’s easy to write a swoony guy, but a tough yet vulnerable girl who doesn’t annoy or frustrate a reader? That is a rare feat, but Shannon met that storm head on, and the result was the powerful Audra. Bound by oath, broken by her past, and beaten by her circumstances, Audra is a sylph on a mission; and she will complete her mission no matter the consequences. I admired her courage and her determination—she wouldn’t give up, and she wouldn’t let her heart get in the way. Though I found myself cheering for her to throw caution to the wind, I still admired her bravery to stand in the face of temptation and danger.

Vane was charming and funny, and his personality had me swooning. Not to mention he’s got abs of steel! He’s different than other guys in YA. He’s deeply caring and at times a bit wimpy, but when the moments count, he stands up with his armor of bravery. Usually a guy that’s doesn’t have a bad boy bone in his body would annoy me, but Shannon pulls it off with Vane. I think it’s his charm that does it—when he makes a move, it’s deliberate and charismatic, and I couldn’t help but smile!

And then there’s Audra’s mother. GRRRR! She made me so angry with her nonchalant and apathetic attitude toward Audra. She’s this super powerful sylph, but she has withered away because of the losses in her past. There were times when I just wanted to smack her and scream, “She’s your daughter! Care!” I had an extreme emotional reaction to her, so Shannon definitely did her job.

And
Then
The
Ending!

OMG…I didn’t see it coming! I was so swept up in the romance and suspense that the ending caught me completely off guard. It was brilliant and compelling ending, and I really liked that Shannon didn’t end it with one of those break-your-heart cliffhangers. It was poignant and answered many questions, but there are still many more things that are left to be revealed in the future books. I was a huge fan of the ending, and it just made me wish the next book would come out sooner.

Let the Sky Fall is perfect for teenagers and adults alike, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA literature. So if you’re tired of the same old same old in YA and you need a change in the winds (hehe), then check this one out! Enthralling and chaotic—Shannon’s world is charged with love, pierced with anger, and overflowing with deceit.

“Her face looks pale as she stares into space, ignoring me. She tosses the dove into the sky, its wings flapping in my face as it flies away..
‘Tell me what’s wrong,’ I beg.
‘We just ran out of time,’ she says, finally meeting my eyes.” ARC, pg 299

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WOAH! Where do I even begin? How about the awesome plot? Or the HOT guy? Or how about the forbidden love that changes everything?

Let me tell you that I was completely wrong about this book. At first glance, I thought it was another angel book. WRONG! Instead, I am lead into a whole new world that

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is engaging and dangerous. Full of deadly secrets and lost language, Ms. Messenger wrote a fantastic plot. I love it. It was non-stop action from start to finish, leaving me very little time to catch my breathe. Each chapter brought new light to what really happen. I loved that this world is so new to me. I read many different stories before and this one is off the charts. Different and standing out of the crown, the plot brings real attention to detail.

The love interest! AHHHH! What can I say other that I am a sucker for love. And this love pulls me in fast. It's has all my favorite elements. It's forbidden, dangerous, and quite amusing. I like that these characters has so much to live for and fight for. The harsh reality of their past is coming upon them fast. They make hasty decisions which fuels more action. I can't wait to read the second book to see where this little development will go.

Let The Sky Fall is a beautifully written story that I want to read again. Solid and moving plot, Let The Sky Fall is impossible to resist. Dark and romantic, Let The Sky Fall is stunning!

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There is a lot predictable about this paranormal YA coming of age book; a lot that is creative; and lot that is funny - intentionally.

When Vane Weston was seven, he lost his parents in a category five tornado in Nebraska. He miraculously and inexplicably survived, but with little memory of what

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happened. He can only remember the face of a girl, and that girl has been appearing to him in his dreams ever since.

Now Vane is seventeen, living in “the hottest freaking place on the planet” in California’s Coachella Valley, where his adoptive parents took him when he was eight. Suddenly, on yet another abortive attempt at a date, he sees the girl “of his dreams” and everything changes, including Vane’s understanding of who he really is.

The Good:

The power of a kiss (as opposed to, say, way more than that)

Sense of humor of the author – both overt and subtle

Creativity – it’s nice to see paranormal characters who aren’t angels, devils, werewolves, vampires, necromancers, harbingers, witches, faeries, and the like, but rather something a bit more original.

The Bad:

Plodding predictability of boy-girl romance.

The evil character (Arella) is too cardboardy.

Not Sure:

Popular culture or product placement? The Cheesecake Factory, McDonald’s, and In-N-Out Burgers are probably sending the author royalties as we speak. Especially In-N-Out Burgers: imagine the power of these burgers if they can break the willpower of someone who hasn’t eaten in ten years!

Evaluation: This is book one of a trilogy (of course) but I probably won't be returning to the series. It has its good points, but for me, it doesn't really measure up to the competition enough for my limited reading time. I recommend it, however, for tweens, and parents looking for some "cleaner" paranormal coming of age materials.

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Shannon Messenger, welcome to my favorite authors list!

I really, really enjoyed 'Let the Sky Fall' and I think it had a lot to do with loving the writing style. Similar to what I experienced when reading 'Keeper of the Lost Cities', Messenger started 'Let the Sky Fall' off with a bang, created

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fantastic characters, and crafted a very easy to read story.

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This story was definitely more interesting than I was prepared to give it credit for. I especially enjoyed the back and forth POV from Audra to Vane. This not only helped me feel more connected with both characters but also built the suspense as you awaited to return to the other charater's POV. It

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was refreshing to read something new amongst the typical YA paranormal but it still followed the expected formula along the way. As a first in a series and one of Messenger's first novels I suppose it makes sense to do so. Vane was awesome. I love Messenger's take on the teenage boy and being inside his thoughts were great! Audra was a tough cookie to crack and her self sacrifice and guilt were beginning to irritate me and yet all at the same time I understood it well. This was not one of my favorites, the story moves at a snail's pace and there was much more I would have preferred to see/read but it was still a solid read all around. I'll definitely be checking in on the second part.

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Since I didn't review this before...here it goes

I got a little bored with this book about halfway through, I had a hard time liking the characters and well I probably wouldn't have finished it but for the fact that I have had this book on my TBR for ages.

Oh and the cover-its really pretty.

Still

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not anything special though, and well I finished it. I gotta stop judging books by their covers though, it gets me in trouble sometimes.

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I had high hopes for this book the moment I heard of the book deal announcement. There's not many books in YA that are about Sylphs, and it sounds pretty awesome. And I can say the book was good, but I did feel like it dragged a little.

I liked that Let the Sky Fall jumps between Vane and Audra's

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POV's. I really liked that we got Audra's side of the story, just because there's more information about the Sylph's and what they do and how they manage everything. I found the world very fascinating. With Vane, we don't get any of that because he doesn't remember anything from his childhood when the tornado came and killed his parents.

The story did seem kind of boring at times. I think the one thing that made me feel like this was because a lot of the book is about Audra preparing Vane for this big fight with some evil guy. So all it was, was Audra yelling at Vane to take it seriously and trying to get him to learn his Westerly language. Which, like I said, the concept is really interesting, I just wish more happened.

Vane drove me a little crazy at times with his refusal to accept that he's a sylph. I mean, I get that it's a little crazy to find out you're a sylph, but he just got under my skin a bit. I really liked Audra though, she had a very tragic background and has gone through a lot and I really appreciated how she handled everything, even when she wasn't handling something's very well. And I really appreciated how the book ended.

I also really enjoyed the writing. It's really simple and easy to read.

Overall, I really liked the story, there were just some moments where I felt like nothing was really happening. But all in all, a quick and easy read.

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"I don’t know where I’m going. But it’s time to find my peace."
—Audra

The things that caught my interest the first time I saw this book was mainly its title.
It kind of reminded me of Adele's song for James Bond film, and since that song was quite catchy, this book stuck in my head as well.

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Then, there was the cover. Couple, hugging, and orange. A real, bright orange.
I didn't see many books supporting orange cover and looking great this day, but this book definitely did.
Lastly, there was an uncommon mythical creature being told here.
Not faery, not vampire, not werewolf, and not all of their overly-told YA creature friend. And that was a definite huge plus point that made me picked this book up almost immediately.

Let the Sky Fall told us about Vane Weston, the so-called 'Miracle Child' who survived a tornado that killed his entire family with barely a scratch.
Remember nothing about his past, the only thing he ever seen from before his parent's death was a girl.
A dark haired, dark eyed girl who had haunted his dreams ever since.
But when his—literally—dream girl turned out to be a real person, Vane's life was about to take a drastic turn as he learned his true heritage . . . And a deep-buried secret that could shatter them both.

The opening of this book was gripping, and it was really easy for me to delve into the world of Let the Sky Fall. The world building was well-told, and really imaginable.
The concept of wind-controlling sylph who can't eat and drink to get their full ability was interesting as well, and it really was a fresh read on today's YA Fantasy dominated by common myth creature.
The plot line was fast-paced, and the PoV switch between Vane and Audra was woven well enough that made the story flowed with ease, and still be detailed and informative.
The twist in the end of the book was really shocking and unpredictable as well, and it really opened up many possibilities for the next book.

The character of this book, however, was not as brilliant as the plot.
There were some strong and memorable character, such as Vane. But the secondary character, even the important ones, lacked development and tended to feel flat and not so believable.
Vane Weston, as our main character, was surprisingly hilarious and very likable. I didn't read many books told mainly from a boy PoV, but Vane's strong and unique personality, as well as his distinct voice and inner thought made this book really enjoyable to be read even by the people who were not really fond of boy's PoV.
I also love how he was not all flat and able to master this and that in a blink of an eye, but rather had to work his way to achieve it. His personality really stood out as well, and by not having an all-nice-and-heroic character, he was actually able to stood out more.
Audra, our other main character as well as Vane's counterpart, though, was a different case. It was not like she was boring or annoying or irritating, but rather . . . bland.
She was portrayed as a tough and hard girl, but at first, she came out a bit too flat and stereotypical.
Nearing the end of the book, she eventually developed some characteristic that made her quite interesting, but I personally thought that even when the book ended, she was still not strong and memorable enough as a main character.

Some things, other than Audra, that I'm not quite fond of this book, was its antagonist, Raiden.
He was first introduced when Audra told Vane what really happened the day his parents died, what he was looking for, and what he was capable of.
Even though he was mentioned a lot on this book, Raiden never actually made an appearance. And, well, okay, even though he wasn't there at all, the climax was quite great to keep the reader flipping the pages and wanting to know more.
But I thing what was lacking from this book are the tension, the stakes, and what would Vane lose if he failed. Sure, Audra told him this and that, but that didn't actually make the readers feel they should root for Vane—because the threat was simply not real enough, and didn't quite hit. And Raiden was just a mere name, which really didn't help.

Overall, even though this book didn't really have a strong supporting character, I think the concept was really great and unique.
If you are looking for a YA Fantasy to be read, and would like to try something new and not your ordinary mythical creatures, you should definitely give this one a try.

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“"3.5 stars"

I was super excited to get this Nook book half-off one weekend, I dug right into it. It started off pretty interesting but then kind of bored me a bit. This was basically how it went the entire book. The parts that really bored me were when they started talking into depth about the

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different winds, for some reason I had trouble keeping interest during those parts. I would find myself re-reading them over because I would loose interest and start thinking about something else.....not good.

Vane and Audra were the reason I continued to read this book, so much tension and desire for each other. You just wanted them to be together. I just couldn't help but smile when they would have their moments together.

The ending was a bit unsatisfactory for me, it wasn't necessarily a cliffhanger, just seemed like a bit unfinished.I re-read the last couple pages thinking I missed something but no, that was the ending. Maybe there is another book in the making?!?”

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Possible Spoilers Ahead...

I picked this up because I was interested in the elemental aspect (and the pretty cover). I thought the premise was unique to the young adult genre. It could have been amazing if it didn’t read like a cut & paste teen novel.

The story is bland and typical of a young adult

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supernatural romance. The two main characters Vane and Audra are tied to each other from childhood. When they meet again at 17 they are instantly attracted to each other... but not in the normal way... with tingling and warm sparks. Great! Not eye-roll worthy at all! As if that isn’t enough, Vane refers to himself in the first person quite often. The sexist and immature things that are portrayed by the author may not be far from the truth of teenage boys but why include this type of personality in the book?

I should mention that it is written from each Vane’s and Audra’s point of view. Audra feels bad for what she did in their past. So much that she has lived in isolation and watched over Vane and protected him from other girls for most of their lives. Because, if you are a sylph, kissing someone means you are bonded to them for life.The last half of the book is basically about them trying not to think about kissing each other.

I believe this story could have been great if the main characters were completely different. I don’t mind romance in young adult supernatural books but why focus on their forced attraction to each other instead of the deeper shared connection to their powers?

I would have preferred this first book without the romance. I feel that Messenger could have excelled with the sylph universe if she had hinted at a romance near the end and began the next book with their feelings for each other.

I am a Goodreads addict. Somehow I didn’t know when I picked this up that it was going to be a three-part series. Let the Sky Fall would have been a great read minus the brash male lead and weird romance if it were a standalone, but as a series. No way.

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Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick and Dirty: A girl has to prove that she isn’t a failure, while a guy is coming to grips with being a sylph and learning the girl of his dreams (literally) is real.

Opening Sentence: I’m lucky to be alive.

The Review:

Vane Weston has forgotten his entire

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younger years. After being pulled out of the rubble from a tornado at 8 years old, Vane is completely ignorant to the fact that he’s a sylph, someone who can communicate with the winds and convince them to follow directions. Audra is his guardian — and the girl of Vane’s dreams (literally). She is tasked with keeping Vane safe and unnoticeable, while trying to unlock his Westerly breakthrough. Each wind has a different language, and each sylph has a native tongue. Vane is the last Westerly alive, thus the only person who can speak to the western wind. So when Audra accidentally calls attention to themselves, she has only days before Stormers — the evil cronies of Raiden, who is trying to master the languages of all the winds — show up to kidnap Vane. In a battle for time and feelings that are getting harder to ignore, Audra must continue to fight, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

This is your classic young adult paranormal romance. It’s action-packed, angst-ridden, and secret-filled. Snarky narrative and sweet romantic scenes fill the book creating a fast-paced romance that will keep you turning the page (even if it is midnight and you have to wake up early the next day).

Want a classic young adult hero, with a dash of sarcasm? Vane’s your man. He’s cocky, difficult, and extremely faithful (especially to a girl he’s only seen in his dreams). Sometimes he makes you want to hug him and squeeze him and call him George. But other times, such as training, he can be so difficult and rebellious that you might want to slap him (or point a sword with thousands of needles called a “Windslicer” at him). He’s the last living Westerly, and has the potential to be the most powerful of all the Windwalkers, if he can master all the languages. He’s also the Gale Force’s next king, and therefore is betrothed to the last of the royal line — a Southerly (the most calm of all the winds). But the girl he only has eyes on is an Easterly and might not live to see the end of the week.

Audra has something to prove. Ever since the day of the storm, she’s been carrying around the guilt of killing her father and Vane’s parents. She had to save Gavin, her pet bird, from falling. So she called a Northerly and set off their location to the Stormers. Her mother doesn’t care; she blames Audra for killing her husband. Plus she’s the youngest Windwalker with the most important mission — keeping Vane safe. So there’s no pressure. Audra is the most strong-willed and courageous heroine I’ve read about. Although her bravery is due to her lack of self-perseverance, Audra still has to carry on her days, knowing she will likely have to sacrifice herself in order to destroy the Stormers, just like her father did before. She also has to resist Vane’s continuous flirting, even though they both feel the same spark when they touch. But she can’t kiss him; he’s betrothed. Bonding would mean she would be kicked out of the Gale Force as a traitor, and they are the only thing she has left. But if she only has a few days left to live…

A swirling romance, sly writing, and a last 50 pages that will knock you off your feet, Messenger is a great debut author, and I cannot wait for more.

Notable Scene:

He reaches into his bad and pulls out another fry, holding it out. “You can start small.”

The whole world fades away, leaving just me, Vane, and that French fry. It looks almost as tempting as the boy holding it.

“Your body is hungry, Audra. Give it one thing it wants.”

All my years of training scream at me to resist. To shove his hand away and refuse to prolong my days of weakness.

But deep, deep down, a tiny voice whispers something else. The same words Vane says next.

“What’s it going to hurt?”

Only me, when I have to endure extra months of weakness.

But I probably won’t live through the week. Why not give myself one tiny thing I want?

Before I can change my mind, I grab the fry and shove it in my mouth. My first bite of real food in ten years.

And it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted.

FTC Advisory: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Let the Sky Fall. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

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This was such a unique concept to me! Vane, now a teenaged boy, has grown up remembering only that his parents were killed when he was young and that his adoptive parents have cared for him as their own child. Audra, a guardian for the Gales, is a sylph who can control the winds and is currently

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assigned as Vane's guardian.

Vane has dreams about Audra but doesn't know that she is real until she shows up one day to keep him from kissing another girl. Audra then reveals that Vane is also a sylph and must start training with her so he can defeat the Stormers who want to capture him. Things really start to get interesting now, but I don't want to spoil the book for anyone. I strongly recommend that you take the opportunity to read Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger as soon as possible. Now I need to go check to see if there is a sequel waiting out there.

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I wanted to read this one because I haven't really read much about the sylphs, the wind walkers and I was intrigued by them as well as the dual perspective girl/guy which I have come to really like. I also love the cover-- the colors and the couple embracing really catches my eye.
Vane is easy to

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relate to because he (thinks he) is just a normal guy. He has a dry sense of humor and he is a sweet and good guy overall. He of course reacts to Audra like she is a dream at first, because that is where he sees her, night after night. Then things get even more paranormal and I always love that transition into the fantasy world where the main character is clueless and gets thrown in head first. It's also a great and natural way to set up the world because they don't understand anything just like me as the reader. I think that Vane is right in questioning things, but I think that he was too stubborn and reluctant at times, especially when Audra tells him the stakes and he still sulks and doesn't try or cooperate. I think that it is too much to take in and that is why he acts that way, but there were moments where I wish that he would just step up. And then finally we do get to see him do just that. He becomes more man than boy in his taking of the responsibility, in understanding what is at stake and working towards that with Audra's help, and in standing up to his parents and for his feelings. I saw such growth in him, and can't wait to see where the sequel will continue to grow and develop him as he understands more about the paranormal world he is a part of and what he can do.
Audra comes on the scene, and she is awesome because she is strong, dedicated and she has this desire to protect Vane, she looks up to her father who died as an example of how to be strong and also as a motivator to be strong and do the right thing, to make his sacrifice worth it, and also to honor his memory. I love it when a woman is fierce, strong and able to take care of herself in a physical setting. She is trained in what she does and knows how to kick butt and take names. Since that is nothing like me, I love getting swept away with someone who can.
The world building was great. Shannon Messenger, the author, lets us and Vane know things when we need to while still leaving us with questions to be answered later in the story. How Audra interacts with and is a part of the wind is mysterious but so great to read about, unique and it makes sense the way it is presented. The pacing is good and got my attention right away through Vane's quest to kiss a girl--a totally normal, awkward, and sweet moment. Until Audra interrupts, and as we learn, she has done this many times. Then quickly we switch to her pov and get tastes of what the sylph world is like.
I really enjoy how the romance is and develops in this story. Audra and Vane have some instant chemistry and attraction but there isn't any declarations of feelings or love immediately. When they touch there is a static power connection but they each keep it and what they are thinking about the other to themselves, but slowly flirt and feel even more towards the other as they are training and in close quarters with each other. I love the slow build up and burn that comes to this head, this big explosion.
The action is really neat, and I like how there are these commands that they use to get the winds to cooperate and how intricate it all is. It isn't some mindless hack and slash, you have to be smart, quick and crafty. I think that is partially why at the big fight scene I did feel a bit let down or like I missed something. But I loved the ending and wrap up, the questions it answered as well as the problems it posed as far as moving along in this world. I think that Audra has so much guilt from the past and hurt from losing family members as well as her strange and then got even more complicated at the end relationship with her surviving mother.

Bottom Line: Unique story line with a fierce female main character and deliciously slow building romance.

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Let The Sky Fall is a very interesting read! It's just that the delivery feels flat. It was a slooooooow book. It certainly took time for things to get interesting.

The story was just a unique concept, a very good twist in the paranormal genre. Well, it was a first for me to encounter these kind of

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fictional creatures so I have to say that.

The characters:

Vane. He is a type of guy who is easy to like because he has a great sense of humor. I understand his curiosity and his need to ask questions because a huge revelation just being suddenly dropped in your life and you don't get to reject it but just accept it?? Not cool.

Audra. She might act all mighty and tough outside but she's indeed broken. All her life, she believed that everything bad that happened was all her fault so she punished herself. And after all that suffering, to know that all the guilt you felt isn't exactly yours to feel, I am glad she did something finally for herself.

The ending:

All loose ends are neatly wrapped up but I still wonder what will happen next. I'm not that much emotionally invested in this but you know when you just have to continue reading a story because when you don't you will never stop thinking how it will all went? That's what I feel anyway. And because of that, I will definitely read the sequel.

This is recommended to those people who is patient(it has a very slooooow start, seriously) but is in a serious need of something new and different. This is like a breathe a fresh air.

Final Rating: 3/5 stars

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