Book Review: Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger

Let the Wind Rise

by Shannon Messenger
Series: Sky Fall #3
Published: April 26th 2016
(416 pages)

The breathtaking action and whirlwind adventure build to a climax in this thrilling conclusion to the “remarkably unpredictable” (BCCB) Sky Fall trilogy from the bestselling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.
Vane Weston is ready for battle. Against Raiden’s army. Against the slowly co...

The breathtaking action and whirlwind adventure build to a climax in this thrilling conclusion to the “remarkably unpredictable” (BCCB) Sky Fall trilogy from the bestselling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.
Vane Weston is ready for battle. Against Raiden’s army. Against the slowly corrupting Gale Force. Even against his own peaceful nature as a Westerly. He’ll do whatever it takes, including storming Raiden’s icy fortress with the three people he trusts the least. Anything to bring Audra home safely.
But Audra won’t wait for someone to rescue her. She has Gus—the guardian she was captured with. And she has a strange “guide” left behind by the one prisoner who managed to escape Raiden. The wind is also rising to her side, rallying against their common enemy. When the forces align, Audra makes her play—but Raiden is ready.
Freedom has never held such an impossible price, and both groups know the sacrifices will be great. But Vane and Audra started this fight together. They’ll end it the same way.

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The plot was a little lacking in Let the Wind Rise, the third book in the Sky Fall series. No twists. No turns. No surprises. It was a good plot it just didn’t have that wow factor. The first book was the best, but you’ll want to know what happens to these characters despite the plot getting lamer as it goes.

The characters are my favorite thing about the Sky Fall series. Vane still has a great, sarcastic voice with some self-deprecating humor. The romance didn’t have the spark that I remember them having in the other books but I still really like their relationship. She helps him be brave and he helps her think about what she really wants instead of just following the rules all the time. I like that Vane is not a stereotypical brooding romantic interest. He’s actually sweet, obeys his parents, tries not to swear, doesn’t like violence, but still acts like a confident and hormonal teenager. Here’s some of Vane’s self-deprecating humor:

Actually, ‘uncomfortable’ isn’t a strong enough word. This is like if awkward and uncomfortable hooked up and had an ugly, miserable baby that won’t stop screaming and pooping all over everything.

-Shanon Messenger, Let the Wind Rise pg 158

I’m telling you that happened to me yesterday.

Learning about the villain’s background was cool but it didn’t really go anywhere either. At the end, the background they learned played zero role in their plan to defeat him. So I’m not sure what the point of that was.

The theme in this book was faith and trust vs. pain and which was more powerful. It was an interesting concept. After finishing the book, I would say that pain has an immediate and strong power but it just doesn’t last long. Faith and trust are more enduring and therefore more powerful.

I like the magic system. Winds that can sing real words to those that can understand them and those words have magical powers is so beautiful. I also liked how Shannon used real wind storm names in her book. Did you know that simoons and haboobs are real storms? Me neither. And Vane is immature enough to laugh at the word “haboob” and that’s why I love him.

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