Glow: Book One of the Sky Chasers

No cover — Amy Kathleen Ryan: Glow (2011, St. Martin's Press)

English language

Published Dec. 30, 2011 by St. Martin's Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-4299-9842-0

(1 review)

If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New …

If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon’s leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.

Pulse-pounding and addictive, Glow begins Amy Kathleen Ryan's Sky Chasers--the most riveting series since The Hunger Games.

4 editions

Thom reviewed Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Review of 'Glow' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

I think what bugged me most were the testimonials - this is definitely not the "next Hunger Games".

In summary: two ships are in space, bound to colonize "new Earth" after an environmental collapse. One ship has very religious types, the other a more secular mix. Long-term space travel has caused sterility in both ships; the secular solves the problem and a party from the religious ship attacks and captures all female children. Most of the adults die in this attack, leaving only the male children.

So the secular ship experiences a "Lord of the Flies", while the females on the religious ship experience oppression and violation. Specific quibbles include:
1) Bad science fiction
2) A Muslim character on the secular ship (and he is the most sympathetic of the story)
3) A direct appearance by God

This is the first book of a series. It barely stands alone, and …

I think what bugged me most were the testimonials - this is definitely not the "next Hunger Games".

In summary: two ships are in space, bound to colonize "new Earth" after an environmental collapse. One ship has very religious types, the other a more secular mix. Long-term space travel has caused sterility in both ships; the secular solves the problem and a party from the religious ship attacks and captures all female children. Most of the adults die in this attack, leaving only the male children.

So the secular ship experiences a "Lord of the Flies", while the females on the religious ship experience oppression and violation. Specific quibbles include:
1) Bad science fiction
2) A Muslim character on the secular ship (and he is the most sympathetic of the story)
3) A direct appearance by God

This is the first book of a series. It barely stands alone, and that only if you skip the Epilog. The main female character is written well enough; the main male characters are caricatures of power seekers. I had no idea what message about religion the author was trying to convey, and have no desire to read more books to find out. While this is young adult and some bad science fiction could be excused (I'm looking at you, Hunger Games), this book is over-the-top.

Subjects

Fiction, romance, suspense
Fiction, action & adventure