Tay's father has been arrested and Tay finds herself at the Overseer's house, to plead her case to his son Darius. What started as an act of desperation, Tay finds herself owing Darius a favor, one that she has no idea what it will entail. Without any say on her part, Tay is now a maid in a wealthy family's house, potentially acting as a spy- but for what side? Is she there to do some mysterious favor for Darius, or is she a pawn for the dangerous revolution that got her father arrested?

This is the second book that I have read by Claire, in an entirely different series and world, and enjoyed it more than the first, most likely since this is dystopian vs the historical setting that was the first book. The story dropped the main character Tay and the reader right into the middle of an uncomfortable situation where neither of us knew what would happen next. The world built piece by piece, little bits revealed as the plot progressed and I was anxious for more. It was the perfect way to get me interested and keep me hooked, completely uncertain as to what was coming next.




The story is just how I like my dystopians, full of gritty details and dangerous situations, where a happily ever after may not really be how the story plays out. Tay slightly resembled Katniss from The Hunger Games to me in the regard that she was willing to go without and make any kind of bargain to better her sibling's life, as well as the fact that she did not want to be a part of any rebellion and yet still she found her way smack dab in the center of one- pretty much against her will. Tay was one of those characters that liked to fly under the radar, was content to continue her depressing, half-starved existence as long as it meant she could live. What started as a quest to better her father's situation ended up with her in the middle of a mess not of her own making. And boy, what a sad way to live. I wanted to have an intervention, but after living in her shoes for a week, it was hard to see what sort of future potential she even had. This world is hard, and it is so easy to break someone down. So yeah, now that I am reflecting on the story, maybe don't pick this up if you are looking for something upbeat or super happy, because you might be a little surprised at what you get.

The setting took me a little bit to figure out, but a childhood "bedtime story" mentioned strategically during the book helped to fill in the gaps. A mysterious, perhaps fantastical coil was created to help out mankind and ended up turning the sky the Amber color it is now (supposedly, it was blue once- can't be true!) and things were great, but then the coils went missing and bad things started happening such as crops dying, and humanity turned on itself, leaving the system that is now in place. The rich control all, the poor are dying, social injustices abound- people having no rights, and pretty much reverting back to a class system with servants and the poor as if it was the 1800s. I found the world to be interesting, especially since I did not at first realize that this could be our future.




There was a surprising paranormal element to the story that I never even anticipated, so that was a pleasant surprise, but don't expect a supernatural story. The story was a nice mix of mystery, danger, romance (yep, some lurv that I didn't even mention here since I was caught up in the world and the danger, so there!), harsh life reality and the possibility for a better world. I look forward to the next story because this is a big mess of an ending that leaves you hanging, beware- Cliffhanger! I look forward to more from Tay and Darius, as well as this interesting world building adventure.

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I've already read a couple of this author's previous books from the Night Flower series, and although they weren't quite 4 stars I found them to be wonderfully unique and engaging and I couldn't wait to read more.

Unfortunately Amber Sky wasn't quite as captivating for me. I was expecting more of a fantasy/paranormal factor but it was actually more set up to feature in the sequel rather than in this first installment, which was a downer for me because it's the fantasy aspects that I love the most!

It's a strange mix of a steampunk historical fiction and dystopian, but it worked and the world building was my favourite thing about this story. It's like an alternative dystopian history in which some magical element (The Coils) has turned the sky amber instead of blue and there's allusions to many fantasy elements that we didn't quite get to see. I will probably pick up the second book in the series as soon as I get the chance just because I can't wait to learn more about the world and find out more about the fantasy side.

I thoroughly enjoyed the framework of the caste society and the history of the world that Warner built; the story of the rebellion was believable and convincing and I really felt like I could envisage the settings. On the flip side there was just something lacking in the way the actual prose read and it didn't flow like I had come to expect from her previous books.

I also didn't feel as though the characters had the 'zing' that I'm used to from this author and some of the interactions are stilted and awkward. The worst part though was that I wasn't sure that the character's motivations were believable enough for me.

While this one definitely showed some weaker aspects it was entertaining and I did enjoy this book and I am interested in seeing where this story goes.

This book is thrilling. You won't be able to put it down. It keeps you on your toes and wanting more.

Voluntary review of Advance Reader Copy. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley.

Okay, I have to admit I started this book then stopped. Yet, something made me pick it back up again and let me say I'm so glad that I did. Taya is great character, she is selfless, kind, and wanting to help her siblings. Her character plays well off Darius, the mysterious and interesting man who calls in a favor that Taya owes him. It takes place during an industrial revolution age where the social systems are very different than our own. The writing is vivid and well paced. The story is about power and a rebellion. I don't give spoilers in my reviews, but this novel is full of twists that you keep turning the page to find out what will happen next. I recommend this book for those who like regency novels, series, and mysteries. It is a solid read for young adult readers and will appeal across many genre's.

This is a fine book. For a YA dystopian novel, it fulfills everything expected. There is a mysterious history, a love triangle (one of them of course is royalty), a twist involving a parent, and some sort of quest the main character feels the need to begrudgingly complete. This book doesn't really do anything new, but it a perfectly fine read.

Rating: 4.5/5

I'm a sucker for a good dystopian novel and this one hit the spot for a quick weekend read. You still get that vibe that all have - Hunger Games, The Testing, etc. - but the COILS concept is very interesting and I'm really curious to see where it goes. At first, I kind of thought this book happened in a version of the past, but the more you see in the city, I think it's more futuristic dystopian where more is being kept from society than they even realize. The character development is great and you can feel the tension between Tay and Darius and you just want to smack their heads together. I'm really curious what's going on with Talon, and maybe Sarah J. Maas has just made me super distrustful, but I'm curious where this triangle goes - and even more so to see if some more minor characters come back into play. I'm incredibly curious as to what is going to happen, with the cliff hanger that this is left on. Once I got into chapter 3, I essentially read the story in one sitting because I just needed to know what was going on. I'm interesting to see how the COILS concept ties in and more of what's going on with that, because I have so many theories and I just need the next book to know if I'm right. Definitely would recommend as an easy, light read.

When Tay's father is arrested for being part of a rebellion against a ruling class Tay must now take care of her siblings. She begs Darius James who is son of the overseer to help her. He tells her that if he helps her father, then she will owe him a favor he can call in at any time. This book creates a unique distopian world with poverty, class struggle and rebellion.

While the premise was interesting. This book didn't full suck me in. I actually ended up putting it aside after reading a good portion of it. I did enjoy what I did read, but not enough to finish (I am trying to read so many things right now that this just doesn't get priority at the moment). I wanted to write a review before I was done because I did get this from NetGalley to review, and I am not totally sure if I will go back to it. I think if you like dystopian YA fiction with a strong female character you would enjoy this. However, nothing about it totally stood out to me (again I didn't finish it so take it with a grain of salt).

Political, Powerful, Rebellion. I truly loved this story. The political world in this book was very interesting to read about. The secrets everyone kept were griping. The sibling bonds were amazing. The mysteries in this story will keep you guessing until the very end.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.*

Amber Sky is a YA dystopia, with a strong female MC, who will do anything for her family. Even replace a noble, which would merit her death. Luckily, she has help...or does she not?

With an interesting plot, little romance and lifes on the life, this book makes an alright read.

Fans of Pierce Brown's Red Rising Trilogy will be enamored. Though Brown did it better, and the story lines are similar with the ruling upper class being infiltrated by the lowest of the low in a call for rebellion, Amber Sky is fresh and new with that ending.

I was willing to write this one off as nothing special. Taya is the lowest of the low, recruited to become part of the high society and gets the attention of the highest in society. Darius is... typical. I can't tell you more without risking spoilers. But even in his cliche character, I feel in absolute love with him. And you literally have no attachments to anyone else because they aren't at all fleshed out.

But then that freaking ending. Thanks to it, I am happy to say I did enjoy the book and believe that though the pilot book in the series is good, but not entirely original, the series will be incredibly original, fresh, and packed full of a brand new world. Plus, when an ending can make me angry and then turn around and make me even more angry out of protection for the main characters, you know you've got a good one.

The setting brings to mind a post apocalyptic Victorian Steampunk era with multiple mental images of an orange, foggy sunset as the background. It's clever with world building, and it seems to enjoy playing off of what the UK could become in an end-of-the-world class system.

There is a slow burn romance, but then I felt played with at the end with back peddling. Slow-burn is my favorite type, but once there's a reveal it should stay that way. Unfortunately, this didn't happen. But the book--and over all series--is not a romance. So I can forgive this. Kinda. Maybe. Well, sorta.

In the end, if you enjoyed Red Rising or Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen, pick this one up because you're in for a treat.

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Warner, and Raven Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really good. The setting is distopic: I can not tell you if we are in a future where society has returned to the age of nobles and servants or if the reality of the book is a parallel timeline of the eighteenth century where something went wrong, but it is however, a setting with its charm (let me be clear, the fact that women are still seen as an object of exchange between families only suitable for weddings benefits irritates me a lot but the romantic setting always has her je ne sais quoi).
If you think about it the reality of the book recalls a lot of Hunger Games with the division into numbers even though there is no clear distinction between numbers and sectors, and The Jewel with the subdivision into castes: a mix that makes me shiver just thinking about it. Our protagonist Tay is obviously poor, in the last social step and with both parents who have given themeselves to the rebellion cause (The Selection vibes) and she is also forced by the events to join it. Well, I did not like this thing much: I'm not saying that the protagonist of a dystopian book should always be a hero of initiative, etc. but that at least she believes in the revolution and not simply being dragged in it would have been better.
Darius is the male protagonist and as far as I like the shiny shadowy mele prototype he does not make me crazy ... and for the first time in a long time I think the protagonist is better with the second lead aka the prince (eh, the poor girl not only makes a man of a higher rank fall for her, but also the prince of the reign!).
Possible ship apart, the plot becomes somewhat confused at the end of the book when our protagonists have to decide how to handle what they have learned and whether or not to play the game of the court. We'll see ... For the whole book there were so many ups and downs that I could not wait to finish it. The conspiracy games and the mysteries to discover are beautiful only when they end!
Recommended? It's definitely nothing new but the author's way to write is simple and easy to follow and I just want to know how the story is going to end so I guess it's worth reading it! ^^

First, I just want to say when the first thing you do after a book is finished is reach for your phone to share it with a friend, you know you've got a keeper.

Amber Sky originally had me guessing what this book would be about. Now that I'm at the end I'm somehow still wondering, but now I'm caught up in the world of twists, turns, and what seems to be such a scramble for power that it seems to be taking (albeit much lighter) notes from the Game of Thrones.

The world building within was wonderfully clever, and I'm still not sure if Amber Sky is set on our world or not. However, what got to me was the character growth and the reality of the relationships within the book. We aren't thrown into insta-love or an overload of description when you first meet the characters. They all have their own complex lives and drives. At times I almost wanted slightly more depth, but I know that there is much to come in the next novel, which I wait for anxiously.

With a slower start, which was needed to help give a feel for the world, only left me wanting the book to be longer as the ending seemed maybe slightly rushed. Or the fact that it ended on a cliffhanger left me wanting to know what happens next.

This slightly steampunk-meets 1984-with a ruling class novel is led by a heroine who doesn't start off too brave, instead just someone trying to make ends meet and keep her family alive-something I think everyone can relate to. Amber Sky is well worth the read to anyone looking for something fresh in what can sometimes be an overstocked fantasy genre.

Book: 4.25 Stars overall, I look forward to watching the characters develop and the pacing settle down. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Warner, and Raven Press for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a slightly confused dystopian. The setting seems to reflect the age of the industrial revolution in England. However, there are vague references to technology that wouldn't belong. So, is it a future that looks like our past? That would be okay, but the technological advancements are confusing and poorly developed.

The characters are really caricatures of various archetypes. They are still fun to read, but each character feels familiar and, thus, predictable. Also, as members of the rebellion, they are all technically spies. And these are like the worst spies ever. I'll just leave it at that to avoid spoilers. But oh my, are they all terrible spies.

As for the plot, it has some logical gaps. The overall idea of these mystical Coils somehow dispelling the strict caste system left me feeling unconvinced. Also,most of the twists are predictable until the end. Then there are so many twists you feel like you have whiplash.

The overall writing style is a little flat. The prose in this novel missed opportunities to ignite your imagination instead of to simply inform. There were long descriptions to help you visualize, but it failed to leverage literary tools that would have painted the picture with fewer long, informational passsges. There are some typos in the copy I was given,

Despite these critiques, I will admit the lady half of the book kept me up till I could finish it. I enjoy YA dystopian novels, and while this one has its flaws, it was definitely entertaining. I've r ad some that were just painful to read. This was by no means painful, but it wasn't exactly memorable either.

I was given an advance copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved every minute of this book ! I felt transported into another world while reading even when I wasn't I couldn't stop thinking about this book! I will definitely be continuing with this series because I'm dying to know what is going to happen ! You will find yourself in the same boat as me, hooked and unable to stop thinking about the coils of copper and brass, what is going to happen to Tay and Darius?! A must read !!!