I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Kurara is a crafter. She is one of a set of people who is able to create and animate creatures and items out of paper. Her friend, Haru, are aboard a sky ship, the Midori, when it is attacked. This connects them to another crafter with his own motives, and eventually a frightening princess who seems to have a sick fascination with the craft. Lin's creation of the world and story is imaginative drawing elements of science fiction and mythology together. The world building is interesting and relatively well done. Readers are immersed in the world, the magic, and the conflict. Where I think the book struggles is in character creation. The characters are unique, but lacking enough interaction and back story. I struggled with this. I loved the world and the crafter abilities, but I didn't feel engaged with the characters. I think this is in part due to the book being written in different points of views as well as the conflict and character reveals occurring quickly with little to no build up. In addition, the end of the book felt like it dropped off. I would call it a cliffhanger, but it didn't create that sense of urgency to read the next book. That being said, it's a really good first book in the series. I did like the concept and saw a lot of potential in the future direction of the story. I think the amount of action and the whole magic system is easy to follow and certainly will keep readers moving through the story. I will definitely look to reading the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin.

DNF @ 25%

I really wanted to love this book since the idea of a girl who can bring paper to life is so interesting, but I'm underwhelmed. While the world building is exciting so far, I'm struggling to connect with the characters, and the plot hasn't hooked me enough. Unfortunately, I'm not invested enough to continue reading, but I'm sure fans of Studio Ghibli movies will enjoy this one.

I loved this unique, compelling fantasy — it took me a little while to get into it fully, but the magic of the Crafters and Kurara’s mysterious origin were both instantly exciting. I was totally surprised by several of the big plot points and twists, and I’m very excited to see what comes next.

Super eager for part two and for more from Ann Sei Lin!

This felt like YA ADSOM meets Pokemon ethics, which is a very specific niche, but it worked.

The real star of this book is the world building - the dynamics of the political system, the concept of paper magic and shikigami, the flying ships and pirate-esque vibes of the crew - it was all so well developed, I felt like I was in the world. This is definitely where the ADSOM comparison come in - the depth of the world-building and the unique magic system made me feel like I was a part of the action.

Pokemon ethics is very specific, but the concept of these magical paper creatures, shikigami, having a master versus having autonomous thoughts feelings and the ethics behind it was a huge part of the story. What gives people the right to have governance over something/someone else? Because they're magical creature, why aren't they allowed the right to live freely? It provides interesting insight into a similar kind of ethics system and was a huge part of Kurara's story line. Honestly, one of the aspects of the story I found most interesting as her own history and shikigami history and autonomy was explored more.

I also liked the three POVs and how they contrasted each other in thought and end-goals, and how they helped to build the world. It felt like we got more of the larger picture as a result of the three POVs as well as different perspectives regarding politics and magic. That being said, I feel like this gave less time for character and relationship building - Kurara's POV was mostly ethics and Haru focused; Himura's POV looked more at Kurara's training and Crafters' knowledge limitations, as much of their history was lost; and the Interlude POV that was focused on the Sorabito people and the Sohma rebellion. There wasn't much room for the secondary characters as a result, and it felt like we didn't really get to the hearts of our three leads either because there was a lot to juggle.

While there was an overarching plot to this book, the end felt abrupt. We were left with a lot of loose ends, and while I know this is a trilogy, I felt like there wasn't anything solidly settled by the end and it felt unfinished as a result. I definitely will pick up the second book, as I'm so curious about the shikigami and exploring more of that magic system, but I do hope future instalments delve deeper into the characters and their relationships to one another.

TW: fire/fire injury, death, murder, injury detail, animal death (paper animal death, not dog), kidnapping (of sorts), slavery (of magical creatures), militaristic abuse of power; mentions war

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

ARC gifted by Tundra Books via Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I found her through instagram and took a chance. And I’m glad I did. Highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to step away from the world. 10/10

Flying ships and sky cities, what go wrong? This is a steampunk teen fantasy book that blends folklore and dystopian-esque vibes really well. What I like in fantasy the most is world building and this book didn't fell short with it. Truly a wonderful treat to experience.

Could've rated this a five if not for the ending that didn't bind well. Cliffhangers are fine especially for a series but there's a so called clincher ending that can jumpstart a reader in anticipating the next installment - didn't get it immediately here but the direction where it's heading sounds wonderful. Will I read the next one? Yes 😊

Paper magic meets Studio Ghibli with a touch of steampunk historical medieval Japan! The story follows Kurara, a girl who works on a large airship. She has a secret, she has the ability to do crafting paper magic. When her best friend is taken she'll do anything to get him back... even striking a deal with the kingdom's fearsome princess. Yet in order to get her attention she'll need hone her skills. She is taken under Himura, another crafter, and his xrew as she learns to hunt down shikigami, wild paper spirits sought after by the Princess.The more she learns about the shikigami and the more she hones her skills, the more she begins to question everything. This is the first book in a duology and while it really did lean into the Studio Ghibli-esque style, it kind of fell flat for me. The story felt a bit boring to me (unfortunately) and the characters were a bit flat. I really wanted to like this one and tried so hard to get through it, yet I constantly found myself zoning out and putting the book down. The story isn't that long yet it felt like it was dragging so much. The protagonist just didn't exactly feel like she had a personality. I feel like this would really work out for someone else but it just didn't work for me. If you like magical steampunk-esque stories with a touch of Studio Ghibli, give this one a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

The moment that I saw that it was perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli films, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read this! And it definitely did not disappoint! This is a well written story with intricate world building. It has sky cities and flying ships, a strong female lead, awesome paper magic as well as magical creatures. I love , love, love everything about it and it appeals to my younger self! Cannot wait to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lin does an incredible job of crafting a world built upon magic and awe with floating cities, flying ships, origami based magic, and monsters created from paper (shikigami). It is evident that Lin infused so much East Asian mythology into the world-building, which adds even more depth and mysticism. ⁣
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What I was not expecting is how absolutely brutal this story is! The shikigami are utterly terrifying, and Lin does not shy away from the horrors that these creatures can inflict. ⁣
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My only gripe with this book is that the last part of the book is jam packed with nonstop action that comes crashing to a halt with a cliffhanger. However, that just means that I can’t wait for book two!

Another book added to my favorites for the year! The blurb instantly intrigued me with the paper magic and the book has a wonderful introduction that further sparked my interest. The author crafted a beautiful and imaginative world that I loved reading about. As you embark on the journey of reading this book, you will come to love Kurara and her will to keep on going and fighting while there’s still so many unanswered questions she has. Still learning how to use her paper magic, all Kurara wants to do is save the only friend that has been by her side for all that she can remember. I truly felt for Kurara during all the big revelations that happened. Highly recommend checking out this book if you want found family, big twists, betrayal, and getting attached to origami figures!!!

Thank you to coloredpagesbt, tundra books, netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

Pitched for fans of Studio Ghibli, Kalynn Bayron, and Elizabeth Lim, Rebel Skies brings to life a whimsical story in a world where Crafters have the ability to manipulate paper, cumulous whales soar the skies, and the beginnings of a political revolution between the groundling empire in power and the people of the sky.

Rebel Skies had me instantly hooked from the beginning where we meet Kurara as she works on the Midori as a serving girl for the wealthy groundlings. We're introduced to the complex social hierarchy aboard the flying city which forces Kurara to keep her Crafting abilities a secret. When a shikigami dragon attacks the Midori, sending Kurara and her best friend Haru tumbling to the ground, she receives an offer from another Crafter to train in exchange for a hunting voyage on the Orihime. Determined to hone her Craft with the possibility of meeting Princess Tsukimi, Kurara soon finds herself in the sky once again heading straight into a potential political uprising.

The world of Rebel Skies is aptly compared to that of Studio Ghibli - from powerful airships to creatures made of paper, the world is absolutely breathtaking. Kurara begins her story full of this youthful innocence that is slowly shaped to reflect the world she encounters once leaving the Midori. Through her eyes, we get to explore the start of some thematic plot points that dive into man's self-righteous belief in one's natural superiority. The political elements that are set into place reflect the result of social prejudices and the belief in reclaiming a heritage that was lost. I'm honestly still scarred by a certain chapter ending and will continue to be spiteful towards the character who committed such heinous actions.

Rebel Skies sets the stage for what is sure to be an intense and fast-paced sequel. With secrets revealed and trust betrayed, so many different seeds have been planted which leads to many different outcomes and I'm desperately keeping my fingers crossed that Kurara and her friends make it out unscathed.

This was such a great concept, there were a few things that fell a little flat for me.

The world building is so good, as others have said, it's reminiscent of Studio Ghibli but also it's very much it's own thing. Kurara growing in confidence and power The Shikigami are way cool, I can't wait to learn more about them in the next book(s). The magic was day-dream inducing. As a bookseller, I'm now imagining what a Crafter could do with all the paper in the shop. It could be a great way to get kids into origami. The action was fast and fun, the characters are entertaining (but I want to know them better), and LGBTQ support is always fantastic to see.

I love love love the formatting- the decorative border at chapter beginnings, the fonts, the maps and short appendices at the end. I would absolutely have picked this up as a kid and been drawn in by those details.

I'd say this is a solid middle-grade story, the content may be stressful for some kids, but the dialogue and internal monologue made this feel incredibly young. At it's core (pun) the story is about a girl coming into her power and confidence- how old the girl is seems to be left out? I kept feeling like she was 12, but Haru seems SO YOUNG despite being older, and then Kimura feels so much older (17?) and is supposed to only be a year or two older than Kurara? I've reread the first few chapters a couple times trying to figure it out, but seem to be stumped. I also want to know more about how the ships fly, how Sola-Il floats. There's one line that mentions levistone, but how's it all work? How can that be integrated naturally within the story instead of info dumping?

The repetition of a few phrases is tiresome, I can see some higher level readers getting annoyed with it. There is a moment when I thought foreshadowing was happening concerning the control/calming of the Shikigami, but it never happened- or it's being held until a later book. I think it was a massive missed opportunity, but fingers crossed for book 2!

First off, the blue and the red in the cover make for such a beautiful combination! It's like soo pretty on the hc <3

This book was a super interesting fantasy, and I loved the main MC so so much 🥲 her bright and optimistic determination is an inspiration okay

Also, paper magic?? This is so innovative?? Also, debating the free will of magical creatures, and the MC fighting for their physical and mental freedom?? Absolute best.

TWs - violence

-- ty to the author, the publisher and @coloredpagesbooktours for a gifted copy!

This has a wonderful magic system based on Japanese culture that was fascinating. It felt like a steampunky historical medieval Japan with massive airships and interesting monsters. At the same time though, the characters were flat, I never felt like rooting for Kurara or Himura, and the twists fell flat. It's a solid middle grade book especially suitable for fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Story: Kurara works in the kitchens of the large airship Midori. It's a thankless job for an orphan but at least she has her best friend - until the unthinkable happens and he is taken away from her. Desperate to bring him back, Kurara is willing to use her strong paper-magic crafting talent in the service of the fearsome kingdom's princess. But in order to get the princess' attention, she'll need to hone her skills. Fortunately, crafter Himura is willing to take her on.

It is frustrating to have such a great world inhabited by paper thin characters (pun intended). Kurara is yet another "all action, no brains" character that constantly says or does really stupid things - and everyone just pats her on the head for it no matter how much trouble it causes. Indeed, Kurara's poor decisions will get people killed but no one seems to have a problem with this, which is baffling. As a character, Kurara is unlikable - lacking charisma or any kind defining characteristics other than impulsive decisions. I will always prefer reading about characters who use their intelligence to quietly and efficiently get things done - but there are none of those characters here. Similarly, Himura is a cypher despite having large chunks of POV throughout the story. It was hard to want to follow either as a result.

I am unsure if I want to continue the series. It ended abruptly with a twist that was very telegraphed. But I just didn't care about any of the characters and it was hard to drum up any interest in seeing where they would go. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

A unique YA book with a very cool magic system.

Picture this you live in a flying city that is being attacked by a dragon....but that dragon is made of paper. In this story the main character is a young girl who has no memory of her past. She woke up next to her best friend, but anything before that is missing. She has the ability of a creator or someone who can manipulate paper into a variety of things. She hides this talent until she is found by another creator...and so the story begins.

On the other side there is a group of rebels who believe the sky cities should be free.

The book has two main POVs, I do wish the characters would have been more fleshed out because at time they felt a little flat. The world and magic system more than make up for that shortfall though.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin is a Japanese-inspired fantasy featuring shikigami (think the paper dolls attacking Haku in Spirited Away), references to Tanabata, and a really interesting magic system. It’s quite fast paced with shorter chapters and rotates between three POVs: Kurara, our main character, Himura, a Crafter, and Rei, who has plans of his own for their world.

I read this in about three days from start to finish. It’s very easy to become engrossed in the worldbuilding’s execution and how that plays a part in the story. Kurara’s best friend, Haru, is revealed to be a shikigami himself early on and it raises a lot of questions on what makes someone human. Kurara and Himura are both Crafters and they clash in their views of shikigami but they need each other to achieve their goals.

Another thing I really loved was how much thought went into what kind of world would have sky islands and how that would impact food, clothes, culture, etc. compared to if that same world had people who lived on the ground. The Sorabito were one of my favorite worldbuilding details besides the references to Tanabata.

I would recommend this to fans of Japanese fantasy, fans of faster-paced YA fantasy with no romance, and readers looking for a unique magic system.

“We are of stardust
Forged and formed from the heavens
Universe made flesh”

Spirited Away meets Kubo and the Two Strings Ghibli-style meets steampunk fantasy YA adventure novel featuring dragons, Origami magic, Japanese mythology and folklore, and cities in the sky.

This was a beautifully imagined and intricate world with an incredibly unique paper magic system rife with intrigue and secrets and immersive battle scenes. I loved the adventure our heroine, Kurara went through to try and her get friend back. From page one she was loyal to a fault, determined, and the way she persevered through all the challenges thrown her way had me rooting for her from page one.

While the setting, the world, and magic system were fully realized there were quite a large number of characters and many of them weren't given enough screen time that I feel as if cutting down the multitude of characters introduced would've made for a much stronger novel.

Nonetheless, this was a joy to read through and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

I loved the premise of this novel -- paper monsters, Crafters who control the paper, a dark and dangerous plot that puts important people at risk. The world-building is not strong enough and I much of the first half of the novel confused and trying to get my bearings. I wasn't truly invested in the story until the 60% mark, which is really late. This is a great concept but not executed very well.

This book reads almost like it could be a Studio Ghibli movie. I could clearly picture the entire scene and its almost whimsical nature. I thought the writing, although dragged at times, was well written and paced. The characters are fully fleshed out and I really enjoyed this book.