Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gory monster battles in the sky; great characters, too.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In SKY'S END: ABOVE THE BLACK, BOOK 1, Conrad is determined to bring his younger sister Ella to see their sick mother before she dies. For four years, Conrad and his mother have been banished to the poor part of the floating island of Holmstead while Ella has been raised by their cruel uncle the archduke. Conrad sneaks into his uncle's palace to find Ella, only to be caught, jailed, and offered a deal: if he's chosen by one of the Trades and proves himself in training, he can see his sister again. Conrad won't consider his uncle's offer until he rushes home to find a gorgantaun – a massive flying metal serpent -- destroying his neighborhood with his mother crushed in the wreckage. So when Conrad is chosen for the Hunter Trade – hunting and killing gorgantauns in flying ships – he is more than ready to risk his life to rid the floating islands of the awful beasts. What he's not ready for are the other Hunter recruits, some a part of family rivalries that want him dead, and some who offer friendship he could never trust.
Is It Any Good?
Get ready for some flying monster battles on a truly ridiculous scale mixed with friendship, betrayal, and fierce rivalries. At first glance this story screams BOY BOOK in all the old-school ways. The gorgantaun monsters are truly terrifyingly massive and the battles are deliciously gory. Plus Conrad, the main character, is angry, wants no friends, and just wants to be the very best to prove himself. His future greatness and seeing his sister again are all he thinks about. But wait. Even if you don't swoon when someone takes a bazooka to a metal-plated beast the size of three blue whales, there's a lot more substance to Sky's End.
Conrad really grows as a character, because he has to. If he doesn't trust at least some of his shipmates during the Gauntlet training contest, he's toast. And holy gorgantaun, do things go horribly wrong among the crew. Conrad's on a ship with his fiercest rival, Pound, a beast in his own right. There are deaths, near-deaths, betrayals, shifting alliances, and mutinies on board. Lucky for Conrad, you can only mutiny once a week. It's a lot of fascinating drama outside the battles that will draw in a wider range of readers. Also fascinating is what we learn about the floating islands and the origins of the gorgantauns. They're exciting revelations, and build a solid foundation for a stellar debut fantasy series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the gore and violence in Sky's End. Do the gory monster battles feel different than the humans fighting each other with canes? If so, why? Does it ever feel like it's too much?
What does Master Koko tell Conrad when he spends most of his training avoiding other students? How are teamwork and compassion for others essential skills for his survival?
Conrad and Pound have a fierce and cruel rivalry. Why is humility an important first step for both of them so they can work together? What's the longest you've ever held a grudge? What made you finally give it up?
What job would you want on a Hunter ship?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Humility , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Peachtree Publishers
- Publication date : January 2, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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