Crimson Sky by Amy Braun

Vampiric aliens, post-apocalyptic steampunk, airship pirates… what’s not to love about Amy Braun’s new Dark Sky series!

Title:  Crimson Sky
Author:  Amy Braun
Series: Dark Sky Book 01
Publish Date:  February 2, 2016
Genre:  Fantasy
Source: Provided by the author

Publisher’s Description: They’re always watching. They’re always waiting. They’re always starving…

Ten years ago, the sky shattered and the Hellions emerged. No one was able to keep them from destroying the city of Westraven. Now that the bloodthirsty monsters rule the skies and have forced the few remaining humans underground, Claire Abernathy lives in a nightmare. She survives by using her skills as an engineer for a ruthless tyrant connected to her mother and father’s past failure.

Then Claire’s world is torn apart when her sister Abby is kidnapped by the Hellions, and Claire herself is taken by dangerous sky pirates known as marauders. But Claire will not be intimidated by them while her sister’s life hangs by a thread, and so she strikes a deal with them: If they help rescue Abby, she will fix their ship and give them the chance to take the revenge they desperately seek.

As Claire fights for her sister’s life, she begins to realize that the Hellions are not the only dangers she’ll face. Burdensome secrets and devastating betrayals threaten her at every turn, and if she loses herself to them, it won’t just be her life that is destroyed…

Possible spoilers beyond this point.

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Invested Ivana says…

“Combining vampires and pirates into a cohesive story is something I’ve wanted to do since childhood.”  –author’s acknowledgements

Crimson Sky has more than just vampires and pirates.  Braun combines these with aliens, steampunk, post-apocalypse, family secrets, and advanced tech in a way that makes sense, is entertaining, and is quite genre-bending.

I think my favorite part of this book is the relationship between Claire and pirate Sawyer.  Both are struggling to keep themselves and those they care about alive.  Both are haunted by their families’ pasts.  They both want to open up, but have learned that doing so makes them too vulnerable and jeopardizes the lives of others.  And both are so afraid of what is to come.

If you’ve read Braun’s Cursed series (a One Book Two Standout Award winner), you will feel some similarities between the protagonists.  Both are trying desperately to save a sister, and more, they are trying desperately to stay focused on saving the sister, despite the other things happening to them and around them.  I think Claire is a little more open than Connie; not quite as damaged.  She hasn’t really trusted enough people in her life to feel betrayed by them.

Crimson Sky certainly has elements that should appeal to everyone. As with Braun’s other books, I’m really looking forward to seeing where she goes next in the series.

Nervous Nellie says…

One word to describe this book: “In-freaking-credible”!!  I admit I don’t give out many 5 stars, but this one is it.  It is a “one-sit” wonder.  I started reading after work and didn’t put it down until the very end.

Claire’s world is harsh.  When you think of electricians and engineers, I’m sure you don’t think of wicked evil warlords.  Electricians and Engineers is the primo occupation during this time.  If you control the electricity or can fix any complicated machine, you are fairly safe.  Not entirely, though. Everyone has an agenda and everyone wants to be the king of the mountain.

Claire lives within a colony of humans who lives below ground in very poor accommodations.  Think of peasants in the medieval times with access to small steampunk like tools and generators powering big airships.  The creatures that are the most savage are the Hellions – vampire-like demons that suck dry any human they can find above ground. Claire is vulnerable because she wants to protect her 8-year-old sister (a sister who has never known a world without monsters) so she has to work for the warlord.  The warlord beats her within an inch of her life more often than not, but she can’t run away. Where would she go? The warlord controls food, shelter, electricity – everything. It’s a vicious circle.

The adventure starts when 8-year-old Abby is stolen by the Hellions.  Claire is “captured” by pirates and has to convince this crew of marauders to help her save her sister.  She makes a deal with them and commences the fight of her life.   Her side of the deal isn’t impossible, but what she wants in exchange….wowzer…that in all reality has very slim chances of success.

When you start this book, be sure you have time to finish.  It is fast paced and sometimes I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happened next. Once Abby is taken, the adventure is ON.  I couldn’t look away, I couldn’t get anything to eat.  It was THAT good.  OH, and there is no cliffhanger, but there is an indication there will be more books.  I sincerely hope so, because I have got to know more about…..well……I probably shouldn’t tell you. Get the book.  Let me know what you think – I’d love to discuss this further…

Our reviews in this series…

• Amber Sky, Book 0.25
• Smoke Sky, Book 0.5
• Crimson Sky, Book 01
• Midnight Sky, Book 02
• Obsidian Sky, Book 03 — expected Feb 7, 2017

If you like this book…

…you might try Braun’s other works: The Path of the Horseman, the Cursed series, Needfire, and Call From The Grave.