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Bone Universe #2
Cloudbound
"As children, we learned early that the clouds were dangerous. Turns out the city wasn't all that much safer."
After the dust settles, the City of living bones begins to die, and more trouble brews beneath the clouds in this stirring companion to Fran Wilde's Updraft.
When Kirit Densira left her home tower for the skies, she gave up many things: her beloved family, her known way of life, her dreams of flying as a trader for her tower, her dreams. Kirit set her City upside down, and fomented a massive rebellion at the Spire, to the good of the towers—but months later, everything has fallen to pieces.
In Cloudbound, with the Towers in disarray, without a governing body or any defense against the dangers lurking in the clouds, daily life is full of terror and strife. Naton, Kirit's wing-brother, sets out to be a hero in his own way—sitting on the new Council to cast votes protecting Tower-born, and exploring lower tiers to find more materials to repair the struggling City.
But what he finds down-tier is more secrets—and now Nat will have to decide who to trust, and how to trust himself without losing those he holds most dear, before a dangerous myth raises a surprisingly realistic threat to the crippled City.
In the sky-high city of living bone, to fall beneath the clouds is to be lost forever. But Nat Densira finds more in the grey expanse than he ever expected. To survive, he must let go of everything he believes.
After the dust settles, the City of living bones begins to die, and more trouble brews beneath the clouds in this stirring companion to Fran Wilde's Updraft.
When Kirit Densira left her home tower for the skies, she gave up many things: her beloved family, her known way of life, her dreams of flying as a trader for her tower, her dreams. Kirit set her City upside down, and fomented a massive rebellion at the Spire, to the good of the towers—but months later, everything has fallen to pieces.
In Cloudbound, with the Towers in disarray, without a governing body or any defense against the dangers lurking in the clouds, daily life is full of terror and strife. Naton, Kirit's wing-brother, sets out to be a hero in his own way—sitting on the new Council to cast votes protecting Tower-born, and exploring lower tiers to find more materials to repair the struggling City.
But what he finds down-tier is more secrets—and now Nat will have to decide who to trust, and how to trust himself without losing those he holds most dear, before a dangerous myth raises a surprisingly realistic threat to the crippled City.
In the sky-high city of living bone, to fall beneath the clouds is to be lost forever. But Nat Densira finds more in the grey expanse than he ever expected. To survive, he must let go of everything he believes.
396 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2016
70 people are currently reading
1299 people want to read
About the author
Fran Wilde
116 books524 followersTwo-time Nebula Award-winner Fran Wilde has (so far) published nine novels, a poetry collection, and over 70 short stories for adults, teens, and kids. Her stories have been finalists for six Nebula Awards, a World Fantasy Award, four Hugo Awards, four Locus Awards, and a Lodestar. They include her Nebula- and Compton Crook-winning debut novel Updraft, and her Nebula-winning, Best of NPR 2019, debut Middle Grade novel Riverland. Her short stories appear in Asimov’s Science Fiction, Tor.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer, Nature, Uncanny Magazine, and multiple years' best anthologies.
The Managing Editor for The Sunday Morning Transport, Fran teaches or has taught for schools including Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She writes nonfiction for publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, and Tor.com. You can find her on Instagram, Bluesky, and at franwilde.net.
The Managing Editor for The Sunday Morning Transport, Fran teaches or has taught for schools including Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She writes nonfiction for publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, and Tor.com. You can find her on Instagram, Bluesky, and at franwilde.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 2, 2016
In the aftermath of the Spire's Fall, the city of bone stands on the verge of tearing itself apart, the citizens desperate to find someone to blame. Nat, the son of a man who was thrown down for defying the Spire, is now a councilman, but his political mentor appears all too eager to appeal to the city's basest instincts. As he and his friend Kirit search for answers in the ruins of the Spire, they find out about the past of the city--and about the dangers to its future...
A fantastic follow up to UPDRAFT--I liked it better than its predecessor, particularly for what it says about the politics of fear and prejudice, and how giving people what they want isn't always the best thing (spoiler-not-really-a-spoiler: people sometimes want really bloody things that involve denying other people their basic rights). It's also very smart about politics and how hunger for power can be harnessed for the good of the city--or, sometimes, not. And it's got a host of new and returning creatures too--bone-eaters, gryphons, and my personal favourites, the littlemouths who glow when Singers hum to them, oh-so-cute (and handy when you don't have a torch!). Wilde continues to work out the logistics and physics of flight rigorously: I loved the discussion of how to handle rising pressure, among other things. And the ending sets up for a very interesting third volume, by revealing more about the world and expanding it in new and interesting ways.
A fantastic follow up to UPDRAFT--I liked it better than its predecessor, particularly for what it says about the politics of fear and prejudice, and how giving people what they want isn't always the best thing (spoiler-not-really-a-spoiler: people sometimes want really bloody things that involve denying other people their basic rights). It's also very smart about politics and how hunger for power can be harnessed for the good of the city--or, sometimes, not. And it's got a host of new and returning creatures too--bone-eaters, gryphons, and my personal favourites, the littlemouths who glow when Singers hum to them, oh-so-cute (and handy when you don't have a torch!). Wilde continues to work out the logistics and physics of flight rigorously: I loved the discussion of how to handle rising pressure, among other things. And the ending sets up for a very interesting third volume, by revealing more about the world and expanding it in new and interesting ways.
April 4, 2017
Right. This was an interesting sequel to Updraft, that continued to build the world in a deep and well-thought out way. However, it was also just not a good audio book for me - the plot was complex, there's a ton of description, and, to top it off, I had an irrational dislike of the narrator's voice. So, yeah. It took me 8 months to finish!!!! I have a feeling that if I had picked it up in print I would have devoured it in several days....Oh well!
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November 15, 2016Fran Wilde went from 0 to light speed with her first novel, Updraft--introducing us to a strange world of bone towers and people who have adapted by building wings. One of the sheer pleasures of this story is how believable Wilde has made flight; it's not only the physics of flight done correctly, but skillfully depicted so that the reader can feel it to the extent of getting that stomach-clutching sense of falling.
I thought it a daring move to shift POV in this book. This time we follow Nat, Kirit's best friend and adoptive brother, and so we get to see Kirit from other eyes. She is if anything more driven because the stakes are even higher.
When the book opens, Kirit is both heroine and villain, which I cheered: not everybody feels the same about major events that impact everyone's life, so when in books I find an entire populace with a single emotional reaction, I begin to disengage from the world a bit.
Back to the opening. Unfortunately, the guiding council is about to take an action--a traditional action--that Kirit and Nat feel is wrong. Nat comes to it more slowly; he's been accepted into the council before the book starts, and is now studying under a charismatic and dedicated mentor. He is invested in the system, which before he had questioned. Kirit--demonstrating evidence of traumatic reaction--is a full-on rebel. The two are feeling tension.
But then Nat falls, both literally and figuratively. It's here that the book hits a frenetic pace, and pretty much is climax all the way to the end.
The pacing was so consistently breakneck, in fact, that I found myself having to pause more frequently. I think most readers will be glued to those pages, especially as the worldbuilding gets weirder and weirder. Wilde has come up with an amazing world, whose secrets still have not been altogether revealed, though we get a stunning discovery toward the end.
In reflecting on those breaks, I think the problem for me is that the narrative stayed on a single, anxious, driven note pretty much all the way as we jetted through the perils and tangled secrets, tension accelerated through the many taut sentence fragments. I tend to need moments of laughter, tenderness, and beauty. More beauty (we do get a truly lovely image ) but not enough for me). Character development shown through life that is not all crisis all the time.
I have to emphasize that for me because I suspect I'm the old age outlier here. As a teen reader--the target audience--I'm sure I would have been sucked in, reading straight to the end. But, being me, I did appreciate the relationship development that I got, which did not go in predictable directions.
Looking forward to the third book, and what new discoveries are to come.
Copy provided by publisher
I thought it a daring move to shift POV in this book. This time we follow Nat, Kirit's best friend and adoptive brother, and so we get to see Kirit from other eyes. She is if anything more driven because the stakes are even higher.
When the book opens, Kirit is both heroine and villain, which I cheered: not everybody feels the same about major events that impact everyone's life, so when in books I find an entire populace with a single emotional reaction, I begin to disengage from the world a bit.
Back to the opening. Unfortunately, the guiding council is about to take an action--a traditional action--that Kirit and Nat feel is wrong. Nat comes to it more slowly; he's been accepted into the council before the book starts, and is now studying under a charismatic and dedicated mentor. He is invested in the system, which before he had questioned. Kirit--demonstrating evidence of traumatic reaction--is a full-on rebel. The two are feeling tension.
But then Nat falls, both literally and figuratively. It's here that the book hits a frenetic pace, and pretty much is climax all the way to the end.
The pacing was so consistently breakneck, in fact, that I found myself having to pause more frequently. I think most readers will be glued to those pages, especially as the worldbuilding gets weirder and weirder. Wilde has come up with an amazing world, whose secrets still have not been altogether revealed, though we get a stunning discovery toward the end.
In reflecting on those breaks, I think the problem for me is that the narrative stayed on a single, anxious, driven note pretty much all the way as we jetted through the perils and tangled secrets, tension accelerated through the many taut sentence fragments. I tend to need moments of laughter, tenderness, and beauty. More beauty (we do get a truly lovely image ) but not enough for me). Character development shown through life that is not all crisis all the time.
I have to emphasize that for me because I suspect I'm the old age outlier here. As a teen reader--the target audience--I'm sure I would have been sucked in, reading straight to the end. But, being me, I did appreciate the relationship development that I got, which did not go in predictable directions.
Looking forward to the third book, and what new discoveries are to come.
Copy provided by publisher
August 24, 2016
Cloudbound continues to explore the world Wilde established in Updraft: a setting where living towers of bone pierce the sky, where travel is done by wing, and where it is difficult to decide whether humans or flying-invisible-tentacle-beasts are the worst monsters. Here, the threat is decidedly more human. With the leadership of the Spire fractured, the City enters civil war as politics escalate to outright violence.
This book changes narrators to look through Naton's eyes. He doesn't offer as dynamic a character as Kirit, though Kirit was so impulsive, so frenetic, that she could be difficult relate to at times as well. I found Nat's voice grew on me as I came to regard him as a kind of Everyman with a cool, even outlook on events. The action flows well as Nat, Kirit, and their motley companions are forced into the clouds to survive. I regarded it as a solid book at that point... and then came the ending and huge, huge revelations that made this already-awesome world all the more stunning.
This book changes narrators to look through Naton's eyes. He doesn't offer as dynamic a character as Kirit, though Kirit was so impulsive, so frenetic, that she could be difficult relate to at times as well. I found Nat's voice grew on me as I came to regard him as a kind of Everyman with a cool, even outlook on events. The action flows well as Nat, Kirit, and their motley companions are forced into the clouds to survive. I regarded it as a solid book at that point... and then came the ending and huge, huge revelations that made this already-awesome world all the more stunning.
October 12, 2016
A really excellent follow-up to Updraft with an ending that has me already looking forward to the final book in this story arc, Horizon.
December 7, 2016
I wanted to love it, I really did. I think I said the same thing last time too. I liked it but I didn’t love it. Part of the reason could be that it straddles the line between YA and adult, but not entirely successfully. This could be part of why had trouble engaging, maybe part of why I found the style to be a bit bland? It wasn’t dramatic enough for YA or intricate enough for an adult story. I felt oddly distanced much of the time and frequently wanted to skim to move things along faster, but not in an eager, can't wait to see what's happening next way but in a kind of bored, don't care that much about these people way. I don't know why, it has all of the right elements. The world was interesting, the characters seemed fine on the surface. Maybe that was it, I didn’t get into the characters enough. There was no passion there for me. I wasn’t in love with any of them. But I liked it. And I really liked the revelation near the end that explained even more about this fascinating world, really differentiated it from any any other story I’ve read up in the clouds, and set up the wider scope of the next story intriguingly.
As an example of the lack of passion, Nat lives with Ceetcee and Beliak, but the author just hints around at their relationships. Ceetcee is pregnant, so someone is her lover. Nat never says he's going to be a father, but it isn't clear from how much he loves them that they're just housemates either. They feel kind of like lovers sometimes, but maybe they’re just really good friends, I don’t know. Minus any terms of endearment or physical contact or just saying what the relationship was, I couldn’t tell and it added to the feeling of distance.
As an example of the lack of passion, Nat lives with Ceetcee and Beliak, but the author just hints around at their relationships. Ceetcee is pregnant, so someone is her lover. Nat never says he's going to be a father, but it isn't clear from how much he loves them that they're just housemates either. They feel kind of like lovers sometimes, but maybe they’re just really good friends, I don’t know. Minus any terms of endearment or physical contact or just saying what the relationship was, I couldn’t tell and it added to the feeling of distance.
October 16, 2016
*3.5 stars
I read Updraft last year and thought the book was just ok. I LOVED the writing style, which is always a plus for me, but I never really felt any connections with the story and the backstory of the world was lacking for me. But I wanted to give the second book in this series a chance.
Until around the last 5 or so chapters of the book, I pretty much felt the same way about this book, too. It was a tough book for me to get through. I listened to the book on audio, which I thought might help me get through it quicker, but I found myself forcing myself to listen to it.
I think for me it was lack of connection to the characters. There was constant talk about uprisings and rebellions and traitors and secrets, but I wanted to know who these people really were, their interests, their backstory, what made them tick. There was none of that besides a few token character traits that somewhat differentiated them from each other. Who cares about political stuff if you don't care about the characters? Even in the midst of a rebellion, wouldn't there be a few quiet moments of reflection or personal revelation?
Towards the middle of the book, we finally get to see what is beneath the clouds, but we still don't see the surface of this world at that point. How the heck could people in this world not be more curious about their world and want to explore more? It's a lot of "Hey, there are lots of secrets! Let's talk about these secrets for three of four chapters until another "secret" (not really) is revealed."
It's not until almost the last few chapters that a HUGE plot twist takes place, one that I admit is pretty fascinating! It's for that reason alone that I will finish reading the rest of this trilogy. But I will be REALLY upset if enough of the backstory of this world, its creation and evolution, is not explained well enough in the conclusion, because for now it's a little unbelievable. I also REALLY hope these characters develop more and become more like real people because no matter how cool this new plot development is, it will still be a struggle to read if the characters remain flat.
I read Updraft last year and thought the book was just ok. I LOVED the writing style, which is always a plus for me, but I never really felt any connections with the story and the backstory of the world was lacking for me. But I wanted to give the second book in this series a chance.
Until around the last 5 or so chapters of the book, I pretty much felt the same way about this book, too. It was a tough book for me to get through. I listened to the book on audio, which I thought might help me get through it quicker, but I found myself forcing myself to listen to it.
I think for me it was lack of connection to the characters. There was constant talk about uprisings and rebellions and traitors and secrets, but I wanted to know who these people really were, their interests, their backstory, what made them tick. There was none of that besides a few token character traits that somewhat differentiated them from each other. Who cares about political stuff if you don't care about the characters? Even in the midst of a rebellion, wouldn't there be a few quiet moments of reflection or personal revelation?
Towards the middle of the book, we finally get to see what is beneath the clouds, but we still don't see the surface of this world at that point. How the heck could people in this world not be more curious about their world and want to explore more? It's a lot of "Hey, there are lots of secrets! Let's talk about these secrets for three of four chapters until another "secret" (not really) is revealed."
It's not until almost the last few chapters that a HUGE plot twist takes place, one that I admit is pretty fascinating! It's for that reason alone that I will finish reading the rest of this trilogy. But I will be REALLY upset if enough of the backstory of this world, its creation and evolution, is not explained well enough in the conclusion, because for now it's a little unbelievable. I also REALLY hope these characters develop more and become more like real people because no matter how cool this new plot development is, it will still be a struggle to read if the characters remain flat.
November 24, 2020
There are few writers who worldbuild as well as Fran Wilde. She continues to explore the world she introduced in last year's UPDRAFT but this time through the eyes of Nat which I found immensely satisfying. To me, the world in which characters inhabit is the most important aspect of a story so I relished the opportunity to learn more about the society (especially its political scene which in many ways resonates with our current election cycle) through his eyes. I enjoyed seeing Kirit and the ramifications of her actions in UPDRAFT from someone else's perspective, too. And then you have the final part of the book which is one brilliantly executed action scene after another on top of revelation upon revelation that makes me wish HORIZON was out today!
October 28, 2017
3.5 stars
December 6, 2016
In UPDRAFT, Kirit changed the status quo in her city above the clouds, now in the second book, CLOUDBOUND, it’s up to Nat to help deal with the resultant fallout. For all that’s changed since Kirit became a Singer, there’s still so much more change to come.
If you read UPDRAFT, you have reason to be excited about this next installment where we get so many questions answered. But don’t think you’ll understand what’s going on in CLOUDBOUND if you haven’t–in fact you’ll be completely lost from page one. So go read the first book and then come back for the next installment. You won’t be disappointed.
Where Kirit was our PoV narrator for UPDRAFT; but this time around CLOUDBOUND is told from her best friend Nat’s PoV. Nat is now a member of the Council, the group of people with representatives from each tower who make decisions for the city. And their current decision is to hold a Conclave where the disgraced Singers will be thrown down in punishment. While Nat used to go along with his mentor Doran’s council, he’s beginning to think for himself (courtesy of Kirit’s commentary on the state of things), and wonder at Doran’s motivations. Singers aren’t bad necessarily because they’re Singers, and surely the children in training are innocent. There has to be another way to satisfy the city’s sense of justice.
Nat and Kirit are able to convince Doran to give them time to find the true source of trouble in the city, because they’ve discovered someone is drilling into the heartbone of a tower in order to use the marrow for their inventions and to kill the tower. But everything goes horribly wrong. For, like, the entire book. It’s awesome.
Kirit was a great character in UPDRAFT, but it’s nice to see the city and people from Nat’s PoV. He doesn’t instantly distrust people like Kirit does, and instead tries to see their strengths. He wishes he were better at diplomacy and changing others’ opinions the way Councilor Doran seems to be able to. But if anything, Nat is earnest in his desire to do what’s right for his family, friends, and the city. Unfortunately that means fighting against people who seem to be unbeatable, because he’s barely out of his youth and they have experience and strength of arms on their side.
However, Nat has his own little ‘army’ of friends and family who are willing to help him: Kirit, Kirit’s mother Ezarit, his mother Elna, mother-of-his-child Ceetcee, , former Singer Wik, and even the children Ciel and Moc who had been in training to become Singers, and others. He meets scavengers below the clouds, one in particular, Aliati, helps them explore parts of below the clouds that no one else dares to visit because of the dangers involved.
The best part of this scenario is that we learn so much more about this city, answering questions we were asking in UPDRAFT, such as why do they live in bone towers? Why can’t they live on the ground? Why is the Spire dying? And so many more. As the story progresses, we see more and more of this strange new world, as Nat and friends descend below the clouds they discover ancient plates that describe machines and skills no longer in use, find meadows suspended in air, and learn that singing causes the littlemouths to glow. So much to discover and explore; however, they must do it under duress, for they’re in hiding as the politics above turns into outright war.
As in the first book, CLOUDBOUND moves as a steady pace, mixed with action and scenes of learning and discovery. Occasionally the prose gets terse as Wilde skips to characters movement (however, she’s improved from UPDRAFT), and I got a little lost in the political discussions, but that’s just me (see LARCOUT). But those are minor complaints compared to the utter creativity and imagination of this engaging series. There’s so much to talk about in CLOUDBOUND, but I think you should read it and find out what Wilde has to offer for yourself.
Recommended Age: 12+
Language: None
Violence: Fighting, blood, death, but nothing particularly bloody or gruesome
Sex: None
Find this and other reviews at Elitistbookreviews.com
If you read UPDRAFT, you have reason to be excited about this next installment where we get so many questions answered. But don’t think you’ll understand what’s going on in CLOUDBOUND if you haven’t–in fact you’ll be completely lost from page one. So go read the first book and then come back for the next installment. You won’t be disappointed.
Where Kirit was our PoV narrator for UPDRAFT; but this time around CLOUDBOUND is told from her best friend Nat’s PoV. Nat is now a member of the Council, the group of people with representatives from each tower who make decisions for the city. And their current decision is to hold a Conclave where the disgraced Singers will be thrown down in punishment. While Nat used to go along with his mentor Doran’s council, he’s beginning to think for himself (courtesy of Kirit’s commentary on the state of things), and wonder at Doran’s motivations. Singers aren’t bad necessarily because they’re Singers, and surely the children in training are innocent. There has to be another way to satisfy the city’s sense of justice.
Nat and Kirit are able to convince Doran to give them time to find the true source of trouble in the city, because they’ve discovered someone is drilling into the heartbone of a tower in order to use the marrow for their inventions and to kill the tower. But everything goes horribly wrong. For, like, the entire book. It’s awesome.
Kirit was a great character in UPDRAFT, but it’s nice to see the city and people from Nat’s PoV. He doesn’t instantly distrust people like Kirit does, and instead tries to see their strengths. He wishes he were better at diplomacy and changing others’ opinions the way Councilor Doran seems to be able to. But if anything, Nat is earnest in his desire to do what’s right for his family, friends, and the city. Unfortunately that means fighting against people who seem to be unbeatable, because he’s barely out of his youth and they have experience and strength of arms on their side.
However, Nat has his own little ‘army’ of friends and family who are willing to help him: Kirit, Kirit’s mother Ezarit, his mother Elna, mother-of-his-child Ceetcee, , former Singer Wik, and even the children Ciel and Moc who had been in training to become Singers, and others. He meets scavengers below the clouds, one in particular, Aliati, helps them explore parts of below the clouds that no one else dares to visit because of the dangers involved.
The best part of this scenario is that we learn so much more about this city, answering questions we were asking in UPDRAFT, such as why do they live in bone towers? Why can’t they live on the ground? Why is the Spire dying? And so many more. As the story progresses, we see more and more of this strange new world, as Nat and friends descend below the clouds they discover ancient plates that describe machines and skills no longer in use, find meadows suspended in air, and learn that singing causes the littlemouths to glow. So much to discover and explore; however, they must do it under duress, for they’re in hiding as the politics above turns into outright war.
As in the first book, CLOUDBOUND moves as a steady pace, mixed with action and scenes of learning and discovery. Occasionally the prose gets terse as Wilde skips to characters movement (however, she’s improved from UPDRAFT), and I got a little lost in the political discussions, but that’s just me (see LARCOUT). But those are minor complaints compared to the utter creativity and imagination of this engaging series. There’s so much to talk about in CLOUDBOUND, but I think you should read it and find out what Wilde has to offer for yourself.
Recommended Age: 12+
Language: None
Violence: Fighting, blood, death, but nothing particularly bloody or gruesome
Sex: None
Find this and other reviews at Elitistbookreviews.com
October 19, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book, the sequel to Updraft. In many ways, it felt like a timely read. In the book, it tells the story of some characters in a society that have been involved in a rebellion...after a rebellion, who emerges as a leader? How do you lead? And how do you avoid tyranny? All relevant topics in this pre-election time in the US.
The book took an interesting twist and something fairly huge is revealed. It really makes me want to know more of the backstory of the creation of the towers, though.
I listened to the audiobook and had the Kindle edition. I liked listening but the narrator definitely wasn't my favorite. He pronounced some words either weird of flat out wrong, and that made it confusing to listen to at times.
I wonder who will be the narrator in the next book...
The book took an interesting twist and something fairly huge is revealed. It really makes me want to know more of the backstory of the creation of the towers, though.
I listened to the audiobook and had the Kindle edition. I liked listening but the narrator definitely wasn't my favorite. He pronounced some words either weird of flat out wrong, and that made it confusing to listen to at times.
I wonder who will be the narrator in the next book...
January 16, 2017
I enjoyed the first book, but in this one the characters spent too much of this book plotting , and I never felt like I really knew what they were actually trying to do or what it was supposed to accomplish for them. I also didn't appreciate the way the book ended, which felt jarring and also lacking sufficient explanation. Overall, it was pretty clear that this was a transitional middle book, and maybe I was just cranky and stressed this week, but I didn't particularly enjoy it.
October 19, 2016
I loved this book. At first I was a little bit thrown by the different pov, only because Kirit is such a strong and forceful character, whereas Nat is more deliberate and diplomatic--it took a bit to get used to the change in tone that brought to the story. But I appreciate seeing things from Nat's pov. I got to see the world through different eyes and see Kirit and her actions through the lens of someone else.
In this book we got into a lot more of the politics of the Bone Universe. I wasn't expecting that either, but since I love stories with a lot of political jockeying, this was a pleasant surprise.
We also explored a lot more of the world here. I learned a bit more about how some things work, but for every question answered there was at least one new question raised.
Finally, I loved the ending. It left off on the absolute perfect note.
In this book we got into a lot more of the politics of the Bone Universe. I wasn't expecting that either, but since I love stories with a lot of political jockeying, this was a pleasant surprise.
We also explored a lot more of the world here. I learned a bit more about how some things work, but for every question answered there was at least one new question raised.
Finally, I loved the ending. It left off on the absolute perfect note.
August 27, 2017
I liked Updraft well enough - but it had some problems, mostly with tone and pacing. I'm happy to report that Cloudbound is more mature, more honed plot-wise, and really, really good. I'd return to the city of bone towers anyway; the imagery is stunning. But that was a much happier and more enthusiastic return: Nat's dilemma felt so very real, and Kirit finding herself in a new role grew as a character so much.
July 12, 2016
I love the way Fran Wilde weaves her world. With the foundation firmly established in the first novel, Cloudbound shifts perspective both through the character's voice as well as through the setting which allows us to see the world within the clouds. After reading Cloudbound, I feel ready to spread my wings and leap from the tower ready to explore the rest of Fran Wilde's universe.
August 1, 2016
A solid follow-up to the award-winning debut UPDRAFT, taking us deeper into a world of flight, danger, and intrigue both political and personal. I found myself genuinely concerned for/worried about the characters, and turned pages anxiously to the end.
April 30, 2018
After reading UPDRAFT, and loving it, I dove dove right into the second book in the Bone Universe series, CLOUDBOUND, by Fran Wilde.
This time told from Nat's point of view (and not Kirit's), the YA dystopian novel is not a stand-alone. You should definitely read UPDRAFT first. Doing so let's you get the most out of the storytelling, and amazing world building.
In the City, Cloudbound meant to disappear. No songs sung about the lost. No Remembrance.
After a war, the city needs to rebuild. The Spire, where the Singers lived, has fallen. The Towers are filled with unrest. They want the satisfaction of justice. Punishing the surviving Singers, and the supporters of the Singers will give them that.
Although a Conclave was the Singer way for doling out justice, the City politicians want the method adopted. Throwing the Singer, and Singer supports from the Towers might seem like the only viable solution. Few survived being tossed down to the clouds.
The Towers started below the crowds. The living bone grew, taking the residents living within the towers to heights far above the clouds. Legends, and horrific tales mark what might exist below. Unfortunately, wanted for treason and conspiracy, Nat and Kirit find themselves in a deadly race to survive while Cloudbound.
They have been searching for answers. The City is close to a revolution, a mutiny. The government's sinister plans need to be exposed if there is any hope at all for saving the people from yet another archaic ruler, not unlike the Singers.
With new, secret, weapons being developed, and treasures from the past uncovered, Nat and Kirit attempt using the discovered knowledge to prevent another war. Will they have time, and will they be able to make it from below the clouds back up to the tops of the towers before it is too late? It doesn't look good for them and their band of loyal friends. Not good at all!
CLOUDBOUND was as gripping a read as UPDRAFT. I am dizzy after reading the two books back to back (and I don't care much for heights). The characters fly on homemade wings. The action-packed fighting scenes take place in the air. Bows and arrows. Knives and bone hooks . . . There are monsters, and more monsters. Like an onion (a simply terrible comparison), readers learn more and more about the City as the characters explore deeper, and deeper into the base --and bare bones-- of the towers.
Can I say any more to make you want to read this series without spoiling the wonderful twists and creative plot Wilde has spewed forth? I think not. So do yourself a favor. Grab a copy of the series, and read it. Love to hear if you think differently. (No, seriously, I would. Let me know what you think)!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Absolute Zero
and Damn the Dead
This time told from Nat's point of view (and not Kirit's), the YA dystopian novel is not a stand-alone. You should definitely read UPDRAFT first. Doing so let's you get the most out of the storytelling, and amazing world building.
In the City, Cloudbound meant to disappear. No songs sung about the lost. No Remembrance.
After a war, the city needs to rebuild. The Spire, where the Singers lived, has fallen. The Towers are filled with unrest. They want the satisfaction of justice. Punishing the surviving Singers, and the supporters of the Singers will give them that.
Although a Conclave was the Singer way for doling out justice, the City politicians want the method adopted. Throwing the Singer, and Singer supports from the Towers might seem like the only viable solution. Few survived being tossed down to the clouds.
The Towers started below the crowds. The living bone grew, taking the residents living within the towers to heights far above the clouds. Legends, and horrific tales mark what might exist below. Unfortunately, wanted for treason and conspiracy, Nat and Kirit find themselves in a deadly race to survive while Cloudbound.
They have been searching for answers. The City is close to a revolution, a mutiny. The government's sinister plans need to be exposed if there is any hope at all for saving the people from yet another archaic ruler, not unlike the Singers.
With new, secret, weapons being developed, and treasures from the past uncovered, Nat and Kirit attempt using the discovered knowledge to prevent another war. Will they have time, and will they be able to make it from below the clouds back up to the tops of the towers before it is too late? It doesn't look good for them and their band of loyal friends. Not good at all!
CLOUDBOUND was as gripping a read as UPDRAFT. I am dizzy after reading the two books back to back (and I don't care much for heights). The characters fly on homemade wings. The action-packed fighting scenes take place in the air. Bows and arrows. Knives and bone hooks . . . There are monsters, and more monsters. Like an onion (a simply terrible comparison), readers learn more and more about the City as the characters explore deeper, and deeper into the base --and bare bones-- of the towers.
Can I say any more to make you want to read this series without spoiling the wonderful twists and creative plot Wilde has spewed forth? I think not. So do yourself a favor. Grab a copy of the series, and read it. Love to hear if you think differently. (No, seriously, I would. Let me know what you think)!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Absolute Zero
and Damn the Dead
May 8, 2020
I had a harder time connecting to this book the way I did to the first one. Some of that is probably my fault, it has been a while since I read Updraft and it took me a while to remember what happened and reconnect with the characters. It was also hard because Kirit is no longer a POV character, this book is all from the perspective of Nat and I kind of missed Kirit.
Once I got over those two things I was really grooving on this book for a while. I loved the political intrigue and backstabbing and we got to see more of characters I loved and meet new ones like Alaiti who I really connected with. The plot was propulsive and well honed.
I have always found the universe these books take place in to be super intriguing and the layers of mystery kept going deeper and deeper until like the characters I found myself dropped into some massively weird shit. The last fifth or so of the book was so out of left field and bizarre. I honestly liked the world better before. SPOILER ALERT Apparently the bone towers exist on the backs of some kind of enormous creatures??? IDK I will try to keep an open mind and read the last book but it threw me for a loop and really took me out of the story.
Once I got over those two things I was really grooving on this book for a while. I loved the political intrigue and backstabbing and we got to see more of characters I loved and meet new ones like Alaiti who I really connected with. The plot was propulsive and well honed.
I have always found the universe these books take place in to be super intriguing and the layers of mystery kept going deeper and deeper until like the characters I found myself dropped into some massively weird shit. The last fifth or so of the book was so out of left field and bizarre. I honestly liked the world better before. SPOILER ALERT Apparently the bone towers exist on the backs of some kind of enormous creatures??? IDK I will try to keep an open mind and read the last book but it threw me for a loop and really took me out of the story.
May 28, 2019
This intriguing world drew me in immediately. This second book has a lot more political intrigue and a more complex story. Written in the pov of Kirit's friend Nat, his voice has a different tone, and allowed for the political focus. I wanted him to speak up more, and I was not always entirely clear why they did things the way they did, but things quickly picked up. We went beyond anywhere we went in book 1 and it's been as exciting as I'd hoped.
The exciting climax kept me up many nights. I wasn't sure who'd survive. The discoveries made at the end were mind blowing. Everything's changed. Can't wait to see what happens in book 3.
The exciting climax kept me up many nights. I wasn't sure who'd survive. The discoveries made at the end were mind blowing. Everything's changed. Can't wait to see what happens in book 3.
dnf
December 19, 2017Pages read: 181
These books are great if you read primarily for setting, world building, and political maneuverings. There's a lot that I admire about this series, but I find Naton even flatter than Kirit was, and she wasn't a particularly well-built character either. I'm pretty sure I only stuck it out so long because I really REALLY want to love these books because the covers are so fucking gorgeous, particularly this one.
If you're not as character-focused a reader as I am, I'd still potentially recommend this one, because it's definitely a good book, just not for me.
These books are great if you read primarily for setting, world building, and political maneuverings. There's a lot that I admire about this series, but I find Naton even flatter than Kirit was, and she wasn't a particularly well-built character either. I'm pretty sure I only stuck it out so long because I really REALLY want to love these books because the covers are so fucking gorgeous, particularly this one.
If you're not as character-focused a reader as I am, I'd still potentially recommend this one, because it's definitely a good book, just not for me.
November 17, 2017
I preferred Cloudbound to its predecessor Updraft. I also preferred Nate as a main character, compared to Kirit, as Nate tries to view things at the larger level, rather than taking everything personally. Kirit puts others in danger rather consistently.
In Cloudbound, now that the Singers have left a power vacuum, others are scrambling to fill it. There is a Council that is trying to do right, however, they don't have strong leadership and there are disagreements. One of Nate's mentors, Doran, is attempting to seize power, with harsh restrictions against the Singers and fledglings. As the plot progresses, it's clear that there is someone else making a power grab that is far worse than Doran.
Nate and Kirit venture down to the clouds to investigate some mysterious occurrences, and they become entangled in the power plays. It's basically Nate, Kirit, and a bunch of their friends hiding out in the clouds (still far from the ground), trying to come up with a way to reveal bad things happening to all the people without making themselves look like the bad guys.
By the end of the book, there is some reveal about the world, so if you were really wanting to know what the bone towers are, you'll find out. Although there are still many surrounding questions left to answer.
It's hard not to give a summary without spoiling. Wilde does not give any sort of recap from the previous book so it took me about 100 pages in before I felt comfortable and understood what the heck was going on in the plot. After that it was engaging, but prior it had a hard time keeping my engagement.
The plot seemed more mature to me. Probably because there's no learning and school element at this point. Even the younger kids are having to deal with adult decisions. It does take a dark element on when people are threatening to throw people off the towers to their deaths.
There was a nice mix of action and dialogue that hit its stride around page 100. Definitely a lot of flying and fighting. The ending really left me hanging for the next book. I need to understand this world!! So much mystery, I have so many questions
In Cloudbound, now that the Singers have left a power vacuum, others are scrambling to fill it. There is a Council that is trying to do right, however, they don't have strong leadership and there are disagreements. One of Nate's mentors, Doran, is attempting to seize power, with harsh restrictions against the Singers and fledglings. As the plot progresses, it's clear that there is someone else making a power grab that is far worse than Doran.
Nate and Kirit venture down to the clouds to investigate some mysterious occurrences, and they become entangled in the power plays. It's basically Nate, Kirit, and a bunch of their friends hiding out in the clouds (still far from the ground), trying to come up with a way to reveal bad things happening to all the people without making themselves look like the bad guys.
By the end of the book, there is some reveal about the world, so if you were really wanting to know what the bone towers are, you'll find out. Although there are still many surrounding questions left to answer.
It's hard not to give a summary without spoiling. Wilde does not give any sort of recap from the previous book so it took me about 100 pages in before I felt comfortable and understood what the heck was going on in the plot. After that it was engaging, but prior it had a hard time keeping my engagement.
The plot seemed more mature to me. Probably because there's no learning and school element at this point. Even the younger kids are having to deal with adult decisions. It does take a dark element on when people are threatening to throw people off the towers to their deaths.
There was a nice mix of action and dialogue that hit its stride around page 100. Definitely a lot of flying and fighting. The ending really left me hanging for the next book. I need to understand this world!! So much mystery, I have so many questions
August 16, 2017
The danger of a sequel is that it just won't hold up to the original.
I liked Cloudbound even better than Updraft. Everyone talks about the world building and original the setting is, but what delights me is the depth of the characters, what drives them, and the warty understanding of humanity.
It's a really good book. The narrative starts a few months after Updraft ends and tackles the big issues that the first novel left unresolved. Most obviously, what do you do when the hierarchy of your society is cast down. There's a lovely interworking of politics in this book, but it never leaves the intimacy and point of view of the main character. We discover what's going on as he does. Wilde does this well without losing pace, action, or that sense of moment that every book needs.
About two-thirds in, it switches from a politics fantasy to much more of an adventure/survival story and that's okay by me. The end, once again, leaves some big questions, but it feels more resolved. We know what's coming next or at least what our heroes are up against.
There's also a nice little bit about anthropology and science in this book though it's not our anthropology or science... and one of the things I like about the way Wilde develops this is that she doesn't use our language, has most people not understand it, and establishes that inventing is hard... even if you have recovered some ancient blue prints.
I liked Cloudbound even better than Updraft. Everyone talks about the world building and original the setting is, but what delights me is the depth of the characters, what drives them, and the warty understanding of humanity.
It's a really good book. The narrative starts a few months after Updraft ends and tackles the big issues that the first novel left unresolved. Most obviously, what do you do when the hierarchy of your society is cast down. There's a lovely interworking of politics in this book, but it never leaves the intimacy and point of view of the main character. We discover what's going on as he does. Wilde does this well without losing pace, action, or that sense of moment that every book needs.
About two-thirds in, it switches from a politics fantasy to much more of an adventure/survival story and that's okay by me. The end, once again, leaves some big questions, but it feels more resolved. We know what's coming next or at least what our heroes are up against.
There's also a nice little bit about anthropology and science in this book though it's not our anthropology or science... and one of the things I like about the way Wilde develops this is that she doesn't use our language, has most people not understand it, and establishes that inventing is hard... even if you have recovered some ancient blue prints.
November 18, 2016
From my blog at miriamseidel.com:
Cloudbound is the second book in Fran Wilde’s Bone Universe Series. Updraft, the first book, won Wilde both the Compton Crook award for best first science fiction/fantasy novel and the Andre Norton Award for outstanding young adult science fiction/fantasy. Updraft introduced a world where people fly on silk wings between living bone towers, and followed Kirit Densira’s discovery of her destiny as a Singer, along with the machinations of the secretive Spire.
Cloudbound picks up after the Spire’s power has been broken, and shifts to the experience of Kirit’s tower-mate Nat. With Kirit and a small band of outcasts, he flees the conflict-ridden City, traveling down into the clouds in search of long-hidden secrets...
Read more at http://miriamseidel.com/2016/11/01/ot...
Cloudbound is the second book in Fran Wilde’s Bone Universe Series. Updraft, the first book, won Wilde both the Compton Crook award for best first science fiction/fantasy novel and the Andre Norton Award for outstanding young adult science fiction/fantasy. Updraft introduced a world where people fly on silk wings between living bone towers, and followed Kirit Densira’s discovery of her destiny as a Singer, along with the machinations of the secretive Spire.
Cloudbound picks up after the Spire’s power has been broken, and shifts to the experience of Kirit’s tower-mate Nat. With Kirit and a small band of outcasts, he flees the conflict-ridden City, traveling down into the clouds in search of long-hidden secrets...
Read more at http://miriamseidel.com/2016/11/01/ot...
September 7, 2017
Just no. A book has to be more than just cool. This one definitely has cool bits. But the endless running , the endless fighting stopped being interesting way before the end. And by the time we get to the big reveal, I didn't believe it and I didn't care. I wanted this all to make sense - and sure I'm sure it can be explained, but that doesn't make it better. So no. And unless I see some surprising reviews, I doubt I'll read a sequel if one were to appear.
August 6, 2016
CLOUDBOUND takes us deeper into the Bone Universe first introduced by the award-winning UPDRAFT: deeper into a society on the verge of collapse, deeper into the characters intent on saving (or destroying) it, and deeper into the mysterious world of the bone towers and their origins. I found myself racing to the end--and what an ending.
February 7, 2018
Fran Wilde's Bone Universe is one of the truly original stories I've ever read (and I read A LOT). It began with Kirit's journey in Updraft and continues with her wing-brother, Nat. As I said in my review of Updraft, a story isn't good unless things go wrong. Everything in Nat's life has gone wrong. Everything.
I'll be honest, I was so wrapped up in Kirit, that I resented Nat. He is impulsive, curious, headstrong, and occasionally blind to the actions of others. Nat is a strong character, who drives the story with sheer determination to survive the unrest of the towers and protect those he cares about. Cloud bound is not an easy story. Nat, Kirit, Moc, Ciel, Wik, and Ceetcee struggle when tower turns against tower and the world becomes ever more unstable. But can they band together to save the inhabitants of the tower from themselves and the unexpected? Read it to find out. You won't regret it.
I'll be honest, I was so wrapped up in Kirit, that I resented Nat. He is impulsive, curious, headstrong, and occasionally blind to the actions of others. Nat is a strong character, who drives the story with sheer determination to survive the unrest of the towers and protect those he cares about. Cloud bound is not an easy story. Nat, Kirit, Moc, Ciel, Wik, and Ceetcee struggle when tower turns against tower and the world becomes ever more unstable. But can they band together to save the inhabitants of the tower from themselves and the unexpected? Read it to find out. You won't regret it.
June 7, 2020
A good one. Cool setting expanded more into it's politics and a intresting continuation of what happened before. Also a continuous exploring of the world even deeper down below the clouds.
Like that it is a diffirent main as the former is almost emotionally destroyed by what have happened showing another depth to the story often missed; how to handle the things that have been and what it evolves to. As well as rasism and cast systems.
Like that it is a diffirent main as the former is almost emotionally destroyed by what have happened showing another depth to the story often missed; how to handle the things that have been and what it evolves to. As well as rasism and cast systems.
March 7, 2018
ok that got weird
March 2, 2022
DNF- just couldn’t abide the nonsense. Lots of unconnected actions and arbitrary interpretations. Maybe if read together?
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