Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Series: Sky Chasers #2
Published by St. Martin’s Griffin
Publish Date: July 17, 2012
309 Pages
Source: Print – Publisher, Audio – Library
Waverly and Kieran are finally reunited on the Empyrean. Kieran has led the boys safely up to this point, and now that the girls are back, their mission seems slightly less impossible: to chase down the New Horizon, and save their parents from the enemy ship. But nothing is truly as it seems…Kieran’s leadership methods have raised Seth’s hackles— and Waverly’s suspicions. Is this really her fiancé? The handsome, loving boy she was torn from just a short time before? More and more, she finds her thoughts aligned with Seth’s. But if Seth is Kieran’s Enemy No. 1, what does that make her?
In one night, a strange explosion rocks the Empyrean—shooting them off course and delaying their pursuit of the New Horizon—and Seth is mysteriously released from the brig. Seth is the most obvious suspect for the explosion, and Waverly the most obvious suspect for releasing him. As the tension reaches a boiling point, will Seth be able to find the true culprit before Kieran locks them both away—or worse? Will Waverly follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? With the balance of power precarious and the clock ticking, every decision counts… every step brings them closer to a new beginning, or a sudden end… –(summary from Goodreads)
My Thoughts: Spark is the second book in Amy Kathleen Ryan’s Sky Chasers series. I read and blogged about the first book, Glow, not too long ago. I liked Glow and by the end of the book, I really had no idea where this author was going with the plot and I had no idea where the loyalties were among the characters. When I picked up Spark – having no idea what to expect – crazy things got crazier.
Spark picks up pretty soon after the first book ends.
Which is good because THINGS are happening at the end of Glow.
If you’ll remember, in Glow, the New Horizon attacks the Empyrean: most of the adults were killed and the young Empyrean girls were taken as hostages. The young boys were left on the Empyrean to run the ship, pretty much alone. The New Horizon crew lies to the girls, making them believe they were rescuing them from a damaged Empyrean, when really they had some pretty awful plans for them. As the younger girls begin to believe the New Horizon crew, the older girls plan for an escape.
I thought the characters kept me on my toes in Glow,
but that was only because I hadn’t read Spark yet.
Kieran had already taken a leadership role of the Empyrean in the first book after things took a turn for the bad – but now, he’s gone too far.
Kieran has taken his “role” too seriously and has become more like a dictator or cult leader than a captain. In fact, he is calling himself Captain of the Empyrean without holding elections – going as far as to make up new rules, hold people as prisoners without trial, etc. and it is starting to make the crew members and passengers nervous and angry. People are starting to question his authority. Ex-girlfriend/hero, Waverly becomes ostracized when she stands up to Kieran as he begins to turn people against her. After rescuing the young girls from the New Horizon but leaving the adults behind as hostages (not a spoiler), Waverly has her own feelings of guilt and self-doubt to deal with…she certainly doesn’t need Kieran making things worse for her. Her main goal is to catch up with the New Horizon and rescue those she left behind. Kieran is doing everything he can to keep her from her goal because 1) he knows she can accomplish it because she is strong and 2) he wants to be the hero himself.While all of this is going on, the leader of the New Horizon has been trying to establish contact with
Kieran to negotiate a peace treaty for when they finally arrive on the New Earth – so Kieran is overwhelmed with responsibility. Will he crack under all of the pressure? Does the Empyrean finally hold elections or does Kieran continue to act as a dictator? What happens to Seth and Waverly? Who is really the Saboteur? OH IT IS SO EXCITING.Spark was filled with action and plot twists
and the ending was another WHAT!?!?
I am impressed with the way Spark progressed in terms of action and plot and pacing. For me, I thought the plot was better and more complex, and the pacing was quicker and more even-paced, than it was in Glow – but I’ve enjoyed both books very much. Like I said, once I got past the first part of the story, I couldn’t stop reading/listening. I HAD to know what was going on, mainly with Seth and everything that was being thrown against him, even as he was a good guy that was trying to help everyone. These characters are so unique and so different, but they come together so well to create this story and the themes and craziness on the inside of it. I really want them to get along and find some common ground and live in peace, but I will admit that reading about them the way they are is a lot of fun. (I also wouldn’t mind if Waverly played kissy-face with one of the boys. I’m just sayin.)
I am fully invested in this series and I am thinking that the next book will be great. Flame (Book Three) is scheduled for release in June of 2013, and there are several story lines that should be wrapped up and questions that should be answered. I am completely eager to see how Ms. Ryan finishes this trilogy. I liked it when I began it, but the further I read into it, the more I like it and I am really eager to get to the last book to see how everything works out for the passengers and crew of the Empyrean. I know how I want it to work out, but I’ll have to wait and see what actually happens…
Science-Fiction, Dystopian
Action-Driven Plot
Romance, although it still isn’t HUGE in the plot:
Still not a triangle, as Waverly isn’t interested in a relationship.
An unsurprising cliffhanger!
Spark
by Amy Kathleen RyanIt absolutely picked up with this book
and I’m eager for the final book in a few months!
About Asheley
Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.
You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.
Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!
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