Review of Emilie and the Sky World

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January 23, 2014 by mmileti

Emilie and the Sky World is a fast paced steampunk novel with an extra dose of adventure. It is marketed mainly towards a YA audience, but I think that adults of any age would be able to appreciate this story. The book is a sequel to Emilie and the Hollow World, and fans of the first book will continue to enjoy the series with this installment. In addition, it is possible to read this book as a stand alone novel, and Wells sets up the plot in a way that is easy to understand and explains all the important events that happened in Hollow World.
In this installment Emilie and her friends take to the sky to take part in an adventure that has them in-between worlds, and interacting with fantastical creatures from other places. This time Emilie not only has her friends to worry about, but also her younger brother, and the situation will be dangerous and fascinating at the same time.
The worlds that Wells creates are vibrant, and her the creatures that are found in these worlds are amazingly imaginative. Even though the book includes plenty of danger and suspense, its tone remains consistently light-hearted. It is completely devoid of any dreariness or darkness, and seems to be the novel equivalent of a cup of tea and a sunny day in the country. This may sound strange, but it is not often that modern fantasy ends up feeling so overwhelmingly happy. Or perhaps I’ve simply read too much grimdark lately, it’s hard to tell.
The lightness of the book does mean that it ends up a bit lacking in depth. There are no philosophic quandaries or important allegories to daily life, but this is not the type of book that is trying to make a statement, or to get people to think. It is a purely old-fashioned adventure story, and it is a fun and enjoyable read.
Overall I would give this book a 7.5/10.
I received a copy if this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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