Blog Archives
Skyboy
Skyboy is a fast-paced and emotionally rich young adult sci-fi adventure set in a gritty post-pandemic future. It follows Konstant, a smart and scrappy teenager marked by the stigma of being a carrier of the deadly MX-13 virus. He’s bullied, misunderstood, and stuck on the fringes of society, yet he dreams of something greater. When a chance to compete in a global invention contest—the Piano Prize—lands in his lap, Konstant is hurled into a whirlwind of scientific ambition, corporate spectacle, and personal redemption. Aresty builds a world that teeters between collapse and innovation, where wonder and despair exist side by side.
Konstant isn’t your average sci-fi hero. He’s awkward, bitter, and incredibly real. His grief for his mother and the raw unfairness of his situation was emotionally resonant. Aresty doesn’t hold back from showing how cruel the world can be to those who are different. But even more powerful is how he weaves hope into all that darkness—through Konstant’s resilience, his wild imagination, and his refusal to stay down no matter how often he’s knocked flat. The writing can be vivid and punchy one moment, then pull back to let a quiet emotional truth sneak in and catch you off guard. That’s rare. It feels lived in.
The book moves fast. Some supporting characters are fun and quirky, but I was left wanting to learn more about them. I found myself wanting to spend more time with certain ideas, like the ethics of innovation or the deeper cracks in the society Aresty hints at. Still, the action is tight, the stakes are always rising, and the tech is just plain cool without getting bogged down in sci-fi babble. And the worldbuilding is bonkers in the best way. Kind of like Willy Wonka got dumped into Ready Player One with a dose of The Hunger Games grit.
If you’re a fan of high-concept sci-fi with a lot of heart, Skyboy is absolutely worth your time. It’s perfect for teen readers who love stories about underdogs and dreamers, and for adults who still remember what it’s like to feel like the world’s stacked against you. This one’s for the kids who’ve been counted out and still want to build something amazing anyway.
Pages: 321 | ASIN : B0F7FZ8SY8
The Long Haul: Pursuit of Hope
In The Long Haul, the second installment of Lena Gibson’s Train Hoppers series, readers are transported into a gripping post-apocalyptic narrative set in the remnants of the United States. The story centers around Elsa, a pivotal character in the fight against GreenCorps, a domineering corporation controlling essential resources like food and water. Elsa’s mission to distribute hidden seeds and supplies marks her as a beacon of hope amidst corporate tyranny, a journey that commences with her recovery from a near-death encounter with a high-ranking GreenCorps official.
Gibson masterfully crafts a tale of suspense and rebellion, encapsulating a world where the key to liberation lies in Elsa’s hands. The narrative unfolds with a bounty on Elsa’s head, escalating tensions as GreenCorps relentlessly pursues her. The addition of a surprising ally to her team of rebels and friends injects further complexity and danger into their mission, enhancing the story’s sense of urgency and peril.
Set against a dystopian backdrop, The Long Haul is more than an adventure; it’s a reflection on the control of basic necessities and the struggle for freedom. Gibson’s writing style is fluid and immersive, drawing readers into a world vividly painted with descriptive prowess. The pacing of the story mimics a seamless, high-speed journey, allowing readers to lose themselves in the unfolding drama without interruption. Gibson displays a keen ability to balance overarching themes with intricate details, maintaining a narrative focus while indulging readers with thoughtfully crafted scenes. Her characters are not merely players in the story; they are intricately layered individuals, each distinct and memorable in their own right, contributing to the novel’s rich tapestry.
Lena Gibson’s The Long Haul is a remarkable addition to the post-apocalyptic fiction genre. With its immersive storytelling, engaging characters, and expertly crafted plot, this novel is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking read.
Pages: 352 | ASIN : B0CSF1FYHT
The Right to Revenge
The Right to Revenge is a dystopian science fiction novel by author Veronica North. Set in a speculative future where gene editing experiments have split humanity into three categories. The “unstable” Alphas, the “normal” Betas, and the “enhanced” Gammas. This divide resulted in an ongoing genocide and civil war to stop it. In this world, we follow J, a Gamma rebel out to get revenge for the death of her sisters. This layered novel also explores her mental state and reactions to the violence around her as the story unfolds.
North’s style creates a vivid and distinct world for their characters to interact. One in which the sense of desolation caused by the war is apparent and where the motivations of each faction are understandable, if misguided. The author takes the reader on an intense emotional ride filled with action-packed scenes with quick, fluid, and exciting action.
The characters in this riveting novel are well developed and complex, drawing the reader in with their backstories and insightful dialogue. You love the good guys and have a love/hate relationship with the bad guys. The author has included some plot twists, so readers are hooked throughout the unpredictable story. J is such a strong and passionate character, and you immediately are drawn to her. However, I found it interesting that the plot and other characters in the story often influenced the main character’s actions and choices.
The science-fiction aspects of the story do not overwhelm the reader with scientific jargon but instead compliments the plot and help the story progress. In addition, the futuristic world and components add to the dystopian feel, which keeps readers on edge.
The Right to Revenge is an action-filled novel that opens with an NC-17 warning, often pulling from tropes and styles of Young Adult fiction but with some swears and steamy scenes are thrown in.
Pages: 299 | ASIN : B09MDSVRWN
LITERARY TITAN 