Book Review: Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne

Sky on Fire

by Emmy Laybourne
Series: Monument 14 #2
Published: May 28, 2013
Genres: Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic, Young Adult
Format: ARC (212 pages)
Source: For Review

In this sequel to MONUMENT 14, the group of survivors, originally trapped together in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, has split in two. Most of the kids are making a desperate run on their recently repaired school bus for the Denver airport where they hope to reunite with their parents, be evacuated to safety, and save their dying friend.

But the world outside is dark and filled with dangerous chemicals that turn people into bloodthirsty monsters, and not all the kids were willing to get on the bus. Left behind in a sanctuary that has already been disturbed once, the remaining kids try to rebuild the community they lost. But when the issues are life and death, love and hate, who can you really trust?

Spoiler free even if you haven’t read the first book in this series. 

Sky on Fire was definitely more intense than the first book in this series and there was a lot less humor.  I mean, there was plenty of snark and bitterness coming from Alex that was kind of funny, but for the most part it was one non-stop nail-biter. It felt like I was really living through the end of the world because of the little practical details like how they could eat with gas masks on, how they would deal with the chemicals in the air etc.  And as I’m living this experience with the characters, I’m crossing my fingers that the worst won’t happen.  But of course it does like something from your nightmares.

The writing felt like reading a movie script (which I think really worked for this story).  The plot is driven a lot by the dialogue of the characters.  I love the characters.  They have very distinct personalities that makes this story all the more chilling because I really care about all of them – even that bratty girl.  Part of what makes this book truly terrifying for me was the fact that the end of the world is being shown through the eyes of kids.  Max (who is one of my favorite characters) is a young boy who brings toy cars with him on the road to probable death and is playing with them and making car noises. Like my boys do daily.  That little detail brought the story very close to home for me. Don’t cry, don’t cry.

The one thing that didn’t work for me was Josie’s story line.  I found it to be too out-of-tune with the world that the author created for me to believe it.  What happens to Josie just felt a little too convenient.  It’s not a major part of the story line, so it didn’t bother me too much.

The ending felt strange to me.  The story felt like it could be finished after this book.  There’s really only one storyline left open and I wonder if it’s enough to keep the whole next book going.  I’m stil going to read the next one because I’m curious what could happen next.  If anyone can pull it off, it’s Emmy!

Overall, this was a book that I couldn’t put down ( I read it in one day).  It was intense and chilling with characters that I loved.

Content Rating: Medium for a brief, non-graphic sex scene, disturbing scenes and violence.  I don’t remember there being any swearing, but if there is it’s very mild.

I received this book for review from the publisher, Macmillan, in exchange for an honest review. I was not told what to say, I was not paid to write this review and all the opinions expressed are my own.  I read an Advanced Reading Copy for this review.