Starsight (Skyward #2) – Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Science Fiction 
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
Pages: 461
Release Date: November 26, 2019

 

Haven’t read the first novel, Skyward? Check out my review here!

 

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she’s a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing.

Spensa is sure there’s more to the story. And she’s sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars–and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself–and she’ll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

 

Starsight is a worthy sequel to its predecessor, Skyward, as it opens the world and introduces new characters.  

Starsight picks up a couple months after the events of Skyward. New leadership has been installed and they try to decide what to do next. I figured Starsight would focus on exploring the planet they find themselves on while fighting the Krell more and more, but an unexpected event happens and changes the course of the novel. This course change is a welcome one as it allows Sanderson to explore more of the world he’s created and introduce new and interesting characters. 

Spensa and M-Bot’s mission and interactions are some my favorite parts of Starsight. They’re banter is fun and witty while also diving into philosophical questions of identity and belonging. Though these themes are not given as much weight as I would have liked, they are given more screen time, if you will, than any other YA novel. 

Starsight is action packed from beginning to end. Spensa’s piloting abilities have increased since Skyward now that she can openly practice with M-Bot making the space battle scenes a wild ride. 

As mentioned previously, Sanderson introduces many new characters in Starsight at the expense of the previously established characters. Though the new characters are great, I’m excited to return to Jerkface, Quirk, Cobb, and the gang. 

Overall, Starsight is a spectacular sequel that will keep you on the edge of you seat and make you beg for more once it’s finished. The only downside is a potential 2021 release for the final novel. 

 

Have you read Starsight? What did you think?