Thoughts as I Read: A Sky Beyond the Storm
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
Just read recaps of all the books and I am not ready.
That dedication was so brutal and sweet
Part I: Waking
We’re starting with the Nightbringer, okay okay. I love a complicated villain.
Oh the voice of the Nightbringer is enticing, tortured and tired, but so full of conviction. Serious Thanos vibes.
Right, I forgot he loved Laia.
Hold up, Laia isn’t fully human? I have no memory of this.
Helena and Laia bantering about knives soooo cute
I want Elias back, too, Laia.
This plan is going to go south real quick.
The Commandant is seriously one of the most terrifying villains I have ever encountered.
So Elias is an emotionless and attachmentless Jedi now, huh.
He doesn’t remember his past!
The armlet! Laia’s armlet! Please remember, Elias!!
Please, please, please, let this be foreshadowing to Elias being released by Mauth.
Augurs are never a good sign in any story.
This prophecy better not be the order in which they die.
Aw, these moments between Laia and Helene are so wonderful. I would not have expected that when I read the first book years ago.
Of course we couldn’t leave them at peace for even a moment.
Oh this is torture, poor Laia, I couldn’t do it.
Part II The Reaping
Helene is BLOODY. She knows just what to do with that arm.
Loyal to the end!
Faris, NOOOOO!!!!!!!
Keris is legit terrifying
No, don’t walk away, Soul Catcher! Embrace her! Kiss her! UGHJHHHHHH
Spiro’s back!
Is Elias the “heir of death”? Cuz I hate this.
I’m getting teary over a villain’s death. That’s writing talent.
You just had to fall in love with such a stubborn man, Laia.
I never get tired of reading descriptions of Helene killing people.
She’s got a jinn inside of here?!?!?!?!
It’s the Nightbringer’s wife?!?!?!?!?
I can’t with Laia and the Nightbringer still having lingering feelings for each other
Imperator Invictus!
FINALLY Helene admits her feelings for Harper
“Fate will always lead you to back to her, for good or ill.”
Part III: The Jinn Queen
Meherya means Beloved. Mauth can love?
Dude, stop abandoning her!
Elias and Laia flirting is killing me.
Oh Empress Livia’s got fangs. Put that man in his place!
Oh please, please, please, give the Blood Shrike a reason to slit your throat
Musa laying down some hard truths! Do something, Helene!
Oh this is getting spicy.
Really spicy.
UGH this is killing me.
Woah, the efrits are joining the humans. I love the name Rowan, by the way.
“Why are you here, Blood Shrike?” Harper is saying this practically naked.
She’s letting her hair down for him!
Girl, get some! Freaking finally!
Hahahahaha, Helene, EVERYONE KNOWS
Elias, you whipped boy.
OMG, Livia no!!!!!
Keris is forreal just running circles around all of them.
I cannot with these spineless generals talking down to Musa, where TF were you during the Battle of Antium?
Quin Veturias is really trying to make up for raising a helion, but he’s not wrong. Helene should be named Regent
Make the vow, Blood Shrike!
“You are broken. But it is the broken things that are the sharpest. The deadliest.”
If Helene keeps walking away from Harper, at some point, he’s gonna stop following.
I would have lost it by now if I was Laia.
Oh Musa.
“And that is why you must rise. To protect all the lovers and bakers, the mothers and fathers, the sons and daughters.”
Yes, Blood Shrike! All my babies are coming back together, but now I’m terrified even more for them.
“There some things that do not die. No matter how many blades we put in them.”
Part IV: The Sher Jinnat
This battle is going to kill me, isn’t it?
These insights into the life of the Nightbringer are messing with my emotions
Wait, Karis has a heart for her son? SINCE WHEN
I miss cheeky Elias
Elias and Helene arguing like old times.
“There’s always a reason that something isn’t our fault”
“Sometimes, it is better to die than to live as a monster.”
“When it comes to you, I remember everything.” Elias, stop messing with my emotions!
FLIPPING FINALLY. This is the slowest of the slow burns, but they only get one night.
I hate these premonitions
“May death claim me first.” Oh Helene, no. Please don’t say that.
Umber has a point, they did their job and got no help when the humans turned on them.
Wait, STOP, Mauth failed? DEATH CAN FAIL!?!?!?!?
NOOOOO HARPER!!!!!!
DARIN!!!!! Stop! This has to stop!
AND NOW THE NIGHTBRINGER BUT THAT’S WHAT HE WANTS OMG WHAT IS GOING ON
Part IV The Mothers
I HATE THIS BOOK, ELIAS TOO!!!
LAIA, WHAT NO STOP!!!!!! I HATE ALL OF THIS!!!!!
Okay, I’m calm again. Not really.
Oh thank, God. Elias isn’t dead.
Oh this is a Dumbledore at Kings Cross moment with his dad
“Always Victorious”
Oh a Keris, POV.
Mirra is alive!!!!! Take her down, Mirra!!!!
My heart is breaking? FOR KERIS?!?!?!
Nightbringer. Meherya. Beloved. And now, forsaken.
Remat’s name means mercy. This book. I can’t handle this.
Finally, some good news. Thank you, Mirra. Give Elias another chance at happiness after all he has done.
“You got there first, my love. I envy you so. For how will I endure without you?” OMG Helene.
Empress as a consolation prize? I guess.
Oh she’s going to be an Elizabeth I kinda queen. I get that.
“Where there is life, there is hope.”
Part VI The Tale
Oh my heart, we get a proper goodbye from Harper and Darin in the Waiting Place
Wow, I’m actually happy for Keris reverting to her child-self with her mother and crossing over
I still don’t know how I feel about Mauth
Musa is good for Helene. I approve of this.
Forgiveness is strength.
Oh this ending, my heart is so full.
Final Thoughts
This is probably the most emotionally charged book I have read all year. I already want to reread the entire series. My babies are, though broken and healing, alive and have a bright future ahead.