The premise of this middle-grade, fantasy novel sounds like it should have been right up my alley with books I enjoy and recommend. And with a bit more editorial/story development work, it would have been!

THE POSITIVE:
The world building here was unique enough to stand out, and we were introduced to many components that could lead to a successful, series built within this world. If this is a standalone book, I would recommend some of this world building condensed to the more relevant plot currently written here. Or even waiting to introduce some other (minor, in passing) characters and lands within this world at a later time to not take away from the current setting and characters.

THE NEGATIVES:
One of the main issues I had with Skylight was with the targeted audience in relation to the writing. The main characters, Sofia and Cara, are supposed to be twelve years old. But their behaviors and thoughts are oftentimes either too juvenile for that age or way too advanced. There are months (maybe even a year?) that gets fast-forwarded in the story where the girls are in a new land with people they don't know, without their parents (who must be worried about them as they disappeared one night??), and that time just skips over any conflict or emotions the characters would be dealing with during that displacement. They were technically kidnapped but then rescued by strangers, and so it sits uncomfortably with me that this isn't addressed more appropriately for younger readers (and even myself).

And then the expectations of these young girls in their new roles in the new land seem too far-fetched to be believable! I love fantasy, fiction, science-fiction. I love fables and mythology. But if you put normal people into a magical world and they no longer have their normal tendencies and you can't cohesively make their normalness work in that magical world, I really struggle with believing the plot and those "hero" characters you've introduced start to quickly unravel for me. So I'm just not sure how middle-grade readers would find the story relatable and believable.

The eBook ARC I was given access to needed at least one more grammatical revision. There were many times throughout the story where I was taken out of the flow of reading because of typos that should have been caught.

Same with revising the pacing and flow. The author would benefit from having a good editor take out the bits that aren't adding to the story cohesion, but instead distracting away from it.

Also, there is a special language used by several characters in the new land we are introduced to, where a glossary or contextual definitions would have been extremely helpful. They seem to be made up words by the author, so they can't be accurately searched for online or elsewhere. Again, as difficult and off-putting as they were for an adult, I can only imagine the struggle the target audience readers will have.

My low rating for this book is for the written condition it's currently in. But with a good editor's help: revising the plot to be most relevant, fixing the grammatical errors, providing definitions for the special language within, and adjusting the dialogue and narration for the target audience (or changing the target audience!), this could be a 4/5 stars book. I hope another stage of revision goes into this story before publication, as there is so much promise for it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eBook copy in exchange for my honest review.

This story had a kind of Castle in the Sky vibe, which was nice. It had a real fantasy vibe making it quite exciting to read on. I enjoyed the story and gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.

The story is about a tall girl in seventh grade, called Sofia Luana. She is used to being bullied at school and when her parents decide to move to California, she doesn't take this well. But after thinking about it for a while, Sofia decides this might actually be a good thing. And then she finds out her best friend Cara will be moving with her family too! So things might just be alright after all.

While on their plane ride and being halfway across the country, Sofia and Cara think they see some kind of magical door up in the clouds. Ofcourse they don't think this could actually be true, but soon enough they find out it really is. They suddenly find themselves in a new, mysterious land which if filled with the most fantastical things. They encounter a shapeshifting octopus (weird!), winged warriors (who look very young for this odd job) and they even meet the exiled sorceress called Muet. And this sorceress is planning to start a war to take the throne.

Sofia soon discovers that she's royalty and has to learn to embrace her royal lineage. But more importantly, she has to figure out who's to be trusted and who's not. Together with her best friend Sofia gets to learn a lot more about this strange land and its people. She needs to find the courage to make her own decisions so she can make an end to this war. Or else.. Muet and her Night Army will make sure to extinguish Sofia's skylight forever.

I want to say a huge thank u to Netgalley for an advanced ARC of this book

This is a middle grade fantasy book and is very gast Paced and very character focused, the story for me was fun and I enjoyed seeing the character growth and how rhe story played out.... its fun and many characters u get to like. I am glad I read this

An intriguing twist on alternate worlds and all that jazz. I can see the promise in it but it was not what I was looking for when I sat down to read it.

This would have been a great story... if it was written by a teenager. The fact that it is not knocks it down to merely okay. It had a lot of promise and potential to do something new, great and interesting, and simply did not deliver.

I´ve got several issues that pulled me out of the story. First is the very simplistic writing style. I know this is a middle grade. I read middle grade, and it´s usually more complex than this. This is on par with my writing at age 14.
Tied to the general style is the characterization. Nothing is really described, imagining either characters or setting is almost impossible, and we are consantly told people´s personalities and feelings insead of being shown. Which is a pity, because the book promised a thai inspired world and mythology, yet beyond using some words, remained very superficial and nothing was explored.
My biggest issue is the switching between points of view. We jump from character to character with no warning, difficult to keep track of or orient oneself. Not to mention there is very little need to switch POVs in the first place and it would work just fine limited to just Sofia and maybe Plaek.
As for characters, most of them are really confusing and lack depth and characterization, as I mentioned already. They are more like dolls walking around just so there is someone in the scene rather than real people. The biggest standout is Plaek, and i expected him to do something interesting, but then that lead nowhere as well. Oh and the issue that everyone talks like a modern teenager, even the royals. They lack maturity, seriousness, or even sense of "this is a different world".
The story itself is a bit meandering and spends 70% being just slice of life and showing daily life of characters that lead nowhere. The villain is eluded to have some dark past that actually gives her a justification and motivation, and yet... it is never revealed? Then she just... gives up and disappears and the plot solves itself just like that, no weight to anything at all

This book could have been good if the author took her time to actually delve deep and explore all the things she introduced into the story, or at least chose something to focus on. Definitely needs some maturing and growing on the part of the author and a good editor for guidance

Many thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book.

Skylight is a book of discovery and change. It is a book of embracing who you are. It is a book of love. I was on a hunt to find a book similar to one I read maybe 7 years ago ,when I was 12 years old. I was searching for this magical but still childish feeling. And if you search for that feeling too, then this book is perfect for that. It definitely delivered what I was searching for and it was a fresh taste of childhood that I needed. I do think some of the writing did read a bit young but obviously, as a 17 year old, I am not the intended audience of this book. However, putting myself in the mind of an 11 year old, I loved it. I am rating this 3 stars, purely based off of how much I enjoyed the book. I did enjoy it, however there were parts which made me cringe which I understand people of the intended audience would find fun.

I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Skylight by Patchree Jones is a multi-POV contemporary Middle Grade portal fantasy featuring a Thai-inspired kingdom in the sky and winged humans. Sofia and Cara are best friends living in Colorado when their moms’ job moves them to California. When they get there, the girls are taken to the kingdom in the sky where Sofia is revealed to be the lost princess and Cara learns how to fight.

What I really liked was the use of Thai culture, language, and cuisine and how it’s integrated with the sky kingdom. The veil between the sky, land, and sea kingdoms is an idea that I would love to see explored in future books as we have seen how it impacts land and sky and land and sea kingdom relations but not so much sea and air kingdom relations.

Sofia and Cara are very different characters and the POVs all felt different to me, with each character’s motivations and flaws on display as we got the chance to see the situation through their eyes. Sofia’s POV was my favorite with Muet’s at a close second because I love a villain.

I would recommend this to readers looking for a longer Middle Grade fantasy and readers looking for more Thai-inspired fantasy.

This book has a good story but I think it can be polished to be much better. The story moves quickly and I felt like I was in the middle of the story with no back story to help explain what I was reading. I think it would be better if there was some explanation of what was going on with the characters.

A great tale of friendship perfect for older and younger readers alike!

Skylight is a fancinating story that combines elements of friendship and its power with magical word building. The word explored is so fancinating and way more well done than I expected. The characters bring me so much comfort, I obviously couldn't not root for the fmcs, as their interactions with each other are simply adorable. Throught the entire book I was completely transported, this is the perfect escapist read and I'd recommend any parent or reader looking for a fun quick clean escapism book to give this one a try!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this, in return for an honest review.

Skylight is a beautiful Middle Grade book.

I think, this is a great entry to get younger readers used to the sort of things they will find in books outside of the Middle Grade books. We have some hints and uses of Skylight vocabulary, which although does not add to the plot, this is part of making you feel part of the world. The worldbuilding has a little more depth to it than other Middle Grade books I have read.

The story itself is familiar, it has tropes we are all used to encountering, making it feel homely, but at the same time, it doesn't feel like the "same" story. We have some interesting character development, and I regularly see the comment that "the character has internal thoughts, that are irrational". They are not, not really, just because people around you do something, and act a certain way, that doesn't have the same impact on everyone. The thoughts make sense for the character, the decisions they make can be unexpected because we expect them to do something we want, rather than what they should. This is a great experience to teach.

I love the twists and turns that this one took. I love the questions we have to ask ourselves, and wait for the answers to develop. Overall this journey was great fun. I loved it. I really recommend this to younger readers who will love it.

What worked:
The plot will be familiar as a baby is sent to another world to protect her from an evil sorceress. Sofia is unaware her “parents” have been protecting her on Earth since she’s the princess of a kingdom she’s never known. Upon her return to the skies, Sofia manifests previously unknown powers that connect her with nature although she struggles to control it. The author adds the possibility that a spy may be lurking in the palace so readers will begin suspecting every character they meet. The palace is supposed to be impenetrable so how did the sorceress know Sofia was coming? The author includes something unusual about Sofia’s best friend Cara which hints that her character may have a secret. It’s not uncommon in middle-grade books where seemingly innocent characters turn out to have devious intentions.
Sofia’s personality and relationships will endear her to young readers. She has an open mind about her new life in Skylight but she misses the “parents” she grew up with on Earth. The kingdom is at war with the sorceress and her Night Army so Sofia is being trained to fight. However, she doesn’t want to hurt others and she doesn’t do well on her combat tests. Sofia and Cara have grown up almost as sisters on Earth and they remain inseparable in the sky kingdom. Sofia may be the taller, larger character but Cara quickly masters new fighting skills and will defend the princess whenever needed. Cara’s extremely competitive and won’t back down from any challenge.
The author includes some unexpected twists after Sofia is captured by the sorceress. People inside the palace think she’s behaving strangely and wonder what’s caused the changes. Sofia begins to wonder who she can trust and doesn’t understand what’s made Muet want to attack the royal family and the kingdom. Why was she exiled? Being new to the conflict means Sofia doesn’t have any preconceived ideas regarding who’s right or wrong. She considers Muet’s grievances without judging and is willing to consider the possibility that Muet may have some valid reasons for being angry. Sofia doesn’t make a formal decision about Muet but she believes there must be a way to end this war. Readers shouldn’t assume the “good guys” are always right as the story provides some food for thought.
What didn’t work as well:
The author includes some Skylight vocabulary and speech that isn’t necessary as the plot moves along. It helps to develop the setting and most of the words and phrases can be figured out through context. Most of the narrative is in English so the Mehk vocabulary isn’t necessary as the story goes on. Also, some of Sofia’s thoughts about who to trust are irrational based on previous descriptions and experiences of the characters.
The final verdict:
The adventure in the sky is entertaining with the interactions between Sofia and Muet being the most intriguing part of the story. Cara’s competitive nature contributes humor to the narrative and adds action scenes to spice things up. Overall, young readers should enjoy the book and I recommend you give it a shot.

Skylight, blending elements from 'Aru Shah' and Hayao Miyazaki's 'Castle in the Sky,' introduces readers to the magical world through the eyes of twelve-year-old best friends Sofia and Cara. The premise holds promise, but the execution leaves room for improvement.

Introducing magical creatures and the exiled sorceress, Muet adds an exciting layer to the story. Still, the narrative occasionally feels rushed, leaving little room for readers to fully immerse themselves in the fantasy. The complexities of embracing royal lineage and navigating trust issues are hinted at, but they could benefit from deeper exploration.

In summary, Skylight's blend of fantasy and real-world challenges shows potential. Still, it needs more pacing, world-building, and character development refinement to fully deliver on its premise's captivating promise.

While I know I am not the book’s target audience and the book isn’t for me, it won’t stop me from recommending it to my nieces, who are within the book’s target audience.

A very dreamy and interesting story.
I loved the relationship of the two girl best friends and the colorful kingdom they discover. I am completely foreign to Thai culture so this introduction to it's imagery felt both warm and intriguing.
I must say that the fact that the main character was a lost heir and the chosen one for a dangerous quest did not really excite me at first, but I must say that it works here ! Young readers are going to love the Mehk Light series.

3 stars with the potential to be a 4 or 5

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

There is a great story here, but it needs editing and polishing. There's still some time until its release date, so I hope that happens.

I liked the main characters, best friends Sofia and Cara. Their relationship was central to the story and held a lot of it together. The other characters were good too, I especially liked Lek and Cara's competetiveness. However, my favourite character, despite his generally gross description, was Plaek. He just needs a big cuddle, and I'm prepared to give him it! Justice for danger bunny.

I was a bit disappointed at the end. I felt like everything led up to a big battle that never occurred. Muet seemed to just give up, and honestly, she wasn't very scary at all. Her character could definitely be developed, especially with such an interesting backstory.

I'm excited to see what happens with this one, I'll have to reread it once it's out!

2024 52 Book Challenge - 42) Author Debut In Second Half of 2024

This was a really cute story about a young girl and her friend who end up in a world in the sky. While I'm not the target audience, I think that it will suit middle school age very well. It wasn't massively deep, but the characters were engaging.

Skylight follows two best friends, Sofia and Cara, who find themselves in a magical land reminiscent of Castle in the Sky. It is a unique world that is easy to follow perfect for middle grade readers. The story is told from different POVs we even see glimpses of the villains as well.

Sofia is a very relatable character. She is a young girl learning who she is and not liking when adults make decisions for her without discussing it with her. I remember feeling like that when I was her age.

The story does move quickly which I felt hindered it. It felt like I was in the middle of the story with no back story to help explain what I was reading. I would have liked more explanation of what was going on around the characters.

I am interested in the next in the series in hopes that we get more exploration of this world. This is a good read if you like fantasy in the same vein as a Studio Ghibli film.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Skylight.

Got an eArc with NetGalley and this is definitely a series that I want to follow, there were some problems with pacing, but it's an eArc, thats kinda expected it will probably have some changes in the final version, but this one is really interesting, the description says it's similar to Aru Shah but honestly the plot of the book reminds more of the Cameron Battle Duology. I'm latino so I didn't knew too much about Thai culture and I did had the same thing with the Cameron Battle series and Igbo inspiration, where in most of the book I was questioning "Is this a part of the irl mithology/culture of them or something that the writer created specifically for the series?" But honestly this book was great, I liked the two main characthers, the Muet and the shapeshifter were interesting villains, there's a lot of explore about them. I still don't know how Plaek is supposed to look, I imagined him kinda like Vilgax from Ben10, like an humanoid creature but with the face of a octopus, but some of his chapters were interesting, The second book seems like we are gonna see the mermaid kingdom, definitely will check it out.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Skylight is a superb mix of teen angst, worlds connected yet separate, magic, mayhem, shapeshifting and trickery. I look forward to the next part of the story.

This book is such a heartwarming and enchanting story set in a magical Ghibli-esque world! Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was such an enchanting and sweet read! Skylight follows two best friends who are whisked away to a magical land where they begin a journey full of discoveries. I found the writing easy to follow and enjoyed the unique world building. I also loved the bonds that are developed between characters, and how the book touches on friendship and family.

I really enjoyed being reading from the perspectives of various characters, but there were moments I would find myself confused when the perspective shifted mid chapter. There were times I also wished the story would show rather than tell what happened between characters, which I think would've made me more invested in the story. However I did like how the last few chapters of the story unfolded, and how it all concluded nicely. Overall, this was a fun, lighthearted story that I think I would've loved even more when I was younger!