Let the Sky Fall (Let the Sky Fall #1)

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Author(s)

Shannon Messenger

Publisher

Simon Pulse

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

March 05, 2013

ISBN

978-1442450417

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Vane Weston should have died in the category five tornado that killed his parents. Instead, he woke up in a pile of rubble with no memories of his past—except one: a beautiful, dark-haired girl standing in the winds. She's swept through his dreams ever since, and he clings to the hope that she's real. Audra is real, but she isn't human. She's a sylph, an air elemental who can walk on the wind, translate its alluring songs, even twist it into a weapon. She's also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect him at all costs. When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra has just days to help Vane unlock his memories. And as the storm winds gather, they start to realize the greatest danger might not be the warriors coming to destroy them, but the forbidden romance growing between them. Set amongst the desert airstreams of Coachella Valley in California, LET THE SKY FALL is about two teenagers broken by their pasts, divided by their futures, and bound by love.

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4 reviews

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4.5

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A Book that Really Blows You Away (Not Sorry About the Pun)

March 16, 2013 (Updated: December 04, 2013)

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5.0

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Being the regular Nickelodeon cartoon watcher that I am, when I saw that Shannon Messenger’s “Let the Sky Fall” was about teens who could control the wind, my initial thought was this could be too much like “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Well hold onto your airbending hats, boys and girls, because this is a marvelously new take on controlling the wind.

First off, these people literally talk to the wind and coax it to do their bidding. They don’t just get to grab the wind willy nilly and command it to do whatever they want. Being a Windwalker, as Messenger calls them, is all about learning the language of the wind and just having a nice convo with it in the hopes that it will want to do what you want it to. I love the idea that the wind has a will of its own, and is actually a character, or characters seeing as how not all winds are the same, and has a choice in the matter of where the wind blows.

What also sets this book apart is that it is an equal opportunity protagonist employer. The story is seen through the eyes of Audra, an experienced Windwalker, and Vane, the boy who is just now discovering his windspeaking abilities, and who Audra has been appointed Guardian over while he gets in touch with his inner wind whisperer.

Messenger has got teenage boys down. She has a nice mix of snark, angst, and body urges that no teenage boy can avoid. I’m always impressed when a writer can create characters of the opposite sex accurately, especially thoughts of the opposite sex, because that’s where I think gender competitiveness really comes from: not knowing what the heck is going on in the other genders’ head. Messenger gets guys’ confusion over girls they like, their desire to prove themselves as a man and an individual, and most importantly of all, guys’ cravings for greasy cheeseburgers. If Messenger ever sees a lull in her career as a writer (which I don’t think she will), she should serve as a gender translator and usher in the age of gender peace! Guys, you might think I’m overreaching here, but read the book, you’ll see what I mean.

Finally, Messenger just really pulls you into this book. You feel the heat of the nasty California desert, you feel the sweat soak your shirt from baking in the sun, you feel the wind breeze, whip, and gust against your skin as Audra and Vane manipulate the winds around them. This book is an experience, not a passive moment where your eyes take in words but nothing really registers. I got so into “Let the Sky Fall” that I tried my darndest to hear words in the wind. So far no luck, and while that my have knocked the wind out of my sails for the time being, I’ll be running like the wind to the nearest bookstore when the sequel comes out.

Good Points

Not at all like "Avatar: The Last Airbender."
Accurate and relatable boy protagonist.
Such amazing description you feel like you're in the book.

Jason Gallaher Top 50 Reviewer 106 reviews

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A Sylph Book - HOW AWESOME

July 21, 2012

Overall rating

4.0

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Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger has been a book I have been eagerly anticipating since I first heard about it. I mean, hello, sylphs? How much cooler can you get!? And with it, Shannon Messenger has really spun an intriguing tale all wrapped up in a forbidden romance and a plot that will take the world of fantasy by storm.

Let the Sky Fall is told in dual perspectives – which I was totally not expecting and I absolutely loved it. I loved hearing from both Audra and Vane, as they were both such different, dynamic characters. Both were really great narrators – Vane was funny and sarcastic while Audra reminded me a bit more of myself and was a bit more on the serious side. I also just loved Shannon Messenger’s writing – There were quite a few quotes that I found myself rereading to myself just loving the way they were written. There also were quite a few funny lines, particularly from Vane, which were lovely.

Let the Sky Fall was a slower paced novel. It was good and it was the kind of book you kind of just savored as you read along. The slower pace did make it feel like the stakes were not as high at parts, which did distract me a little. It was the last 1/3 of the book where the plot really picked up. There were also a few plot twists I could not see coming in the slightest, which took my by total surprise.

The sylph aspect of Let the Sky Fall was so darn cool. Sylphs are one of the fantastical creatures that really don’t get a lot of attention in books, so when they pop up I always find it so interesting to see what the author does with that mythology. Shannon Messengers sylphs were so different from any others I have encountered, which was a joy to read, as I was constantly trying to put together the pieces about their history and what exactly they all can do.

This was a great read from Shannon Messenger and I am very excited to see where things will go in the sequel, especially since the ending may have broken my heart a little bit. Let the Sky Fall had such a great cast of characters and I really enjoyed them all. I cannot wait to see where Shannon Messenger will take her characters next.

Erica Top 50 Reviewer 192 reviews

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User reviews

2 reviews

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4.3

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Unique, intriguing elemental tale...

August 26, 2013

Overall rating

3.7

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First, I have to give a shout out to this cover. I love the simple beauty of this cover and the wind surrounding them. After reading the story, I like the cover even better - it's a perfect representation of the story. This book follows wind sylphs, or people that have the ability to manipulate and influence the wind. I really enjoyed the unique aspect of this story.

The book begins in Vane's perspective which I enjoyed, I haven't read many books with a guy's perspective so I thought it added a nice touch to this story. I felt that both Vane and Audra were unique characters and some of the most realistic characters I have read. Vane was realistic in the way he dealt with things and the way he cared for Audra. Audra was realistic with her actions, she was raised to put her guardian job first and that's exactly what she does throughout the whole book (often times that isn't the case).

I don't think that I have read any books that focus on one element and the people that have the power to manipulate that element. I loved the idea that each wind has it's own language. I also loved that the the wind sylphs did not control the wind, but rather they manipulated it. The wind was wild and natural and free, just as it should be and I loved reading about an environment like that.

The only thing I felt was missing from this story was the romance. I felt like there could have been more, I wanted more from it. If you like really light romance, then this is the book for you. In the very beginning we find that Vane has been seeing Audra for a majority of his life and in turn has grown feelings for her. Audra on the other hand, often seems to take her job too seriously to let herself feel anything. Though I realize that the characters stuck to who they were - which is an aspect that I loved - I was a little frustrated that there wasn't more going on between them. Especially because I think that they are perfect for each other. However, that makes this romance a little more realistic. There is no insta-love or crazy, intense, unbelievable love and that was something that I liked.

This book was a breath of fresh air (yes, pun intended) in the unique story, and characters. I really enjoyed this one and I hope you do too, if you read it (I recommend that you should).

Katie Park Top 500 Reviewer 11 reviews

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Dangerous and Passionate!

November 08, 2012

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5.0

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Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
Published by: Simon Pulse, ARC received via trade
Release Date: 3-5-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: A tempest of turmoil, treachery and tethered loyalties

In a world full of gales, tempests, and squalls
The sylphs live in secret, within closed walls
But there’s one with the power to change their fate
Can he take back his life before it’s too late?

Audra’s the guardian who will stand and fight
But will she fall prey to Raiden’s dark might?
Caught in a net of betrayal and lies
How will she fight the storm in the skies?

It’s all up to Vane and the powers he claims
Will he save his world or will it end up in flames?
The winds whisper secrets of a past he once lost
But he will fight for his love, no matter the cost.

“But I feel a change in the winds. They whip with more urgency, their songs clipped and rushed.
They know.
The Stormers are coming.” ARC, pg 311

Blasted with passion and treachery, Shannon Messenger creates a world that will lift you off your feet. Overblown with suspense, inundated with desire, and riddled with mystery, Let The Sky Fall is tempest of emotion. So close your eyes and throw caution to the wind as it sweeps you away to a place where the air really does whisper in your ear.

Let the Sky Fall was my most anticipated read of 2013, and it did not disappoint. This book starts out with a boom, and from there, it’s a steady mix of suspense, action and romance. Shannon blended her world seamlessly with ours, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us in the next few books.

The writing was peaceful at just the right times and rocky and jagged when the situation called for it. I found myself taking note of quotation after quotation for my Teaser Tuesday because Shannon is one of those authors whose words capture your attention and make you say, “Wow.” Her words are rife with ambiguity, but even so, she never gives anything away. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

You know I love a book when I gush about the heroine. Like I’ve said before, it’s easy to write a swoony guy, but a tough yet vulnerable girl who doesn’t annoy or frustrate a reader? That is a rare feat, but Shannon met that storm head on, and the result was the powerful Audra. Bound by oath, broken by her past, and beaten by her circumstances, Audra is a sylph on a mission; and she will complete her mission no matter the consequences. I admired her courage and her determination—she wouldn’t give up, and she wouldn’t let her heart get in the way. Though I found myself cheering for her to throw caution to the wind, I still admired her bravery to stand in the face of temptation and danger.

Vane was charming and funny, and his personality had me swooning. Not to mention he’s got abs of steel! He’s different than other guys in YA. He’s deeply caring and at times a bit wimpy, but when the moments count, he stands up with his armor of bravery. Usually a guy that’s doesn’t have a bad boy bone in his body would annoy me, but Shannon pulls it off with Vane. I think it’s his charm that does it—when he makes a move, it’s deliberate and charismatic, and I couldn’t help but smile!

And then there’s Audra’s mother. GRRRR! She made me so angry with her nonchalant and apathetic attitude toward Audra. She’s this super powerful sylph, but she has withered away because of the losses in her past. There were times when I just wanted to smack her and scream, “She’s your daughter! Care!” I had an extreme emotional reaction to her, so Shannon definitely did her job.

And
Then
The
Ending!

OMG…I didn’t see it coming! I was so swept up in the romance and suspense that the ending caught me completely off guard. It was brilliant and compelling ending, and I really liked that Shannon didn’t end it with one of those break-your-heart cliffhangers. It was poignant and answered many questions, but there are still many more things that are left to be revealed in the future books. I was a huge fan of the ending, and it just made me wish the next book would come out sooner.

Let the Sky Fall is perfect for teenagers and adults alike, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA literature. So if you’re tired of the same old same old in YA and you need a change in the winds (hehe), then check this one out! Enthralling and chaotic—Shannon’s world is charged with love, pierced with anger, and overflowing with deceit.

“Her face looks pale as she stares into space, ignoring me. She tosses the dove into the sky, its wings flapping in my face as it flies away..
‘Tell me what’s wrong,’ I beg.
‘We just ran out of time,’ she says, finally meeting my eyes.” ARC, pg 299