Format: Hardcover, 420 pages
Release Date: November 9th 2021
Publisher: Wink Road Press
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Seventeen-year-old Aluma
Banks has always dreamed of soaring freely through the skies astride a
powerful winged steed of her own. But flying is a privilege granted only
to the Riders of the king’s Empyrean Cavalry, the aerial warriors who
defend the borders of their land from the fallen Kingdom of Laithlann.
Each
year, Rider hopefuls across Eirelannia compete in the Autumn Tournament
for the honor of joining the Cavalry. Aluma, trained to ride and fight
by her retired Empyrean Rider father, knows she has what it takes to
prove herself worthy—if only her father hadn’t forbidden her from
joining their ranks, in the hope of protecting his only daughter from
the perils of war. To make matters worse, Thayer, Aluma’s best friend
who could be becoming something more, is competing—and if he wins, he’ll
leave her behind.
When Aluma’s father is tragically injured
just before the Tournament, she finds herself unexpectedly thrust into
this year’s competition. But as Aluma begins to pursue her dreams, she
learns devastating secrets about the king and his never-ending war with
Laithlann. In her quest for the truth, Aluma discovers a power deep
within herself that may be the only way to save Eirelannia and the
people she loves from the darkness that threatens to consume them all.
Debut Author Shina Reynolds A Light in the Sky is the first installment in the authors Clashing Skies series. This book has been marketed as being Red Queen meets The Scorpio Races in a high-flying new fantasy filled with passion, betrayal, and adventure. Seventeen-year-old Aluma Banks has always dreamed of soaring freely through the skies astride a powerful winged steed of her own. But flying is a privilege granted only to the Riders of the king’s Empyrean Cavalry, the aerial warriors who defend the borders of their land from the fallen Kingdom of Laithlann.
Aluma's father, Hearn, was a former Empyrean rider, and something of a legend. Aluma's mother left long ago, and her brother is a sneaky little snot who needs to be punched in the throat. Unfortunately for Aluma, and her family, they are hanging on by a thread thanks to the King's property rights rules, soldiers keep taking more than they need. Now, the only way to keep her family home, may mean that her father may need to come out of retirement and become a rider once more.
Each year, a select few people from each city compete to join the king's elite Empyrean Cavalry in the Autumn Tournament. Only the most skilled warriors and their equally remarkable horses are given a chance to participate. After, horses belonging to the new Empyrean Riders are granted their wings, going from a wingless horse to an Empyrean steed overnight. Positions in the Cavalry are extremely limited because of the power it takes to give the horses their wings, so the competition is fierce,.
Aluma, trained to ride and fight by her father, knows she has what it takes to prove herself worthy—if only her father hadn’t forbidden her from joining their ranks, in the hope of protecting his only daughter from the perils of war. To make matters worse, Thayer, Aluma’s best friend who could be becoming something more, is competing—and if he wins, he’ll leave her behind. When Aluma’s father is tragically injured just before the Tournament, she finds herself unexpectedly thrust into this year’s competition.
But as Aluma begins to
pursue her dreams, she learns devastating secrets about the king and
his never-ending war with Laithlann. After a battle against the "Scalers" Aluma finds herself in Laithlann where she meets Gattacan and his family which includes his sister Wolkenna. Of course, this is where the dreaded triangle of doom pops up its ugly head when her best friend Thayer arrives after believing that she was dead. Now, Aluma and her friends are considered to be traitors by Prince Sutagas.
In her quest for the truth, Aluma discovers a power deep within herself that may be the only way to save Eirelannia and the people she loves from the darkness that threatens to consume them all. A few things, the story ends on a brutal betrayal, and a cliffhanger. Where the story goes from here is anyone's guess. Aluma has been thrust into the spotlight by her own father, but her father didn't prepare her for what's to come in a world that sees her as a possible way to balance the light and the darkness. She's a naive character at times who does silly things that end up in bad situations. This book also has elements of a dystopian novel in that Laithlann is considered to be Old World where they have tall skyscrapers that existed in the world before numerous wars.
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