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Skyriders #1
Skyriders
An Amazon Best Book of the Month!
Wings of Fire meets Skandar and the Unicorn Thief in this epic fantasy adventure set in a world where human and skysteed share a deep bond of friendship and love.
When monsters emerge to attack the empire, it's up to Kiesandra and her beloved winged horse N'Rah to prove to herself and the imperial army that she has what it takes to lead them to victory . . . and survival.
Thirteen-year-old Kiesandra's best friend isn't human, but that doesn't stop her from sharing jokes and secrets with her winged horse, N'Rah. She, like every other person with a skysteed, can communicate with N'Rah through her mind. Their bond is critical when one day, monsters from long ago reemerge to ravage a nearby village. No one knows how to fight the fearsome chimerae except Kie's uncle . . . and now Kie.
Injured in the battle, Uncle Dug makes her promise to bring his attack plan and weapons to the capital. Kie reluctantly agrees. At the palace, she and N'Rah attempt to gain the trust of the royals and train the army in Dug's lessons. But how can a young girl and her skysteed convince anyone that only they know how to defeat the deadly monsters?
Buzzing with action, heart, and friendship, this first book in the Skyriders series show that kids can achieve the impossible—especially with flying horses on their side.
Wings of Fire meets Skandar and the Unicorn Thief in this epic fantasy adventure set in a world where human and skysteed share a deep bond of friendship and love.
When monsters emerge to attack the empire, it's up to Kiesandra and her beloved winged horse N'Rah to prove to herself and the imperial army that she has what it takes to lead them to victory . . . and survival.
Thirteen-year-old Kiesandra's best friend isn't human, but that doesn't stop her from sharing jokes and secrets with her winged horse, N'Rah. She, like every other person with a skysteed, can communicate with N'Rah through her mind. Their bond is critical when one day, monsters from long ago reemerge to ravage a nearby village. No one knows how to fight the fearsome chimerae except Kie's uncle . . . and now Kie.
Injured in the battle, Uncle Dug makes her promise to bring his attack plan and weapons to the capital. Kie reluctantly agrees. At the palace, she and N'Rah attempt to gain the trust of the royals and train the army in Dug's lessons. But how can a young girl and her skysteed convince anyone that only they know how to defeat the deadly monsters?
Buzzing with action, heart, and friendship, this first book in the Skyriders series show that kids can achieve the impossible—especially with flying horses on their side.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published March 7, 2023
40 people are currently reading
12529 people want to read
About the author
Polly Holyoke
7 books409 followersPolly Holyoke is the author of adventurous fiction for kids. SKYRIDERS, her new series about brave young couriers on their talking flying horses, along with its sequel THE SKY KING, are available now from Viking Children's Books. SKYRIDERS was named one of Bank Street's Best Children's Books of 2024. Her books published by Disney/Hyperion include THE NEPTUNE CHALLENGE (2015) and THE NEPTUNE PROJECT (2013). They have been named to state reading lists in TX, MD, FL, HI and OH. THE NEPTUNE PROJECT won Florida's Sunshine State Young Reader's Award. The last book in the Neptune Trilogy, THE NEPTUNE PROMISE, is available on Amazon and BN.
A former teacher, Polly loves doing school visits and conducting writing workshops.
She currently lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Learn more at www.pollyholyoke.com.
A former teacher, Polly loves doing school visits and conducting writing workshops.
She currently lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Learn more at www.pollyholyoke.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 11, 2023
3.25 Stars
Skyriders reminds me of everything I love about middle grade, and it's a great introduction to this series. I love how our protagonist, Kiesandra Torsun (Kie), is a girl who finds greatness within herself and learns how she can use her gifts during the start of a war. As the mythical creatures chimera return, Kie becomes a instrumental in protecting the people. Not only does her unique ability to communicate with several skysteeds make her "The Chosen One," but so does her knowledge of how to fight chimeras the ancient way. It goes to show how vigorous training and preparation for future events could prove useful.
While I prefer coming-of-age stories where a protagonist chooses the role of being "The Chosen One" through hard work and practice, this was still a pretty good way to insert the trope. Kie is a girl who does not want to be chosen, and many have little faith in her ability to do everything. Kie is a sky courier who is of Mosai descent. There are many things working against her. The fact that she is a sky courier makes many believe she is incapable of teaching them how to fight when her job is to deliver mail.
Kie is also Mosai. Polly Holyoke creates many fictional races, and this world struggles with some of the same problems we do. The Rosari are typically the higher-ups with power, those regarded as fair and noble. There are several prejudices against the other races, such as the Mosai and Ledari. Being born as a Mosai can play a part in how a person is treated as well as where they live. Kie is also living in the poorer areas, and as she enters the capital, she becomes more aware of how some nobles live and the privileges they get. In a way, this has themes of racism and classism that are not directly given names but are introduced in a fictional fantasy world. It's a perfect way to teach kids and readers more about such topics.
N'Rah was such a loyal and compassionate friend to Kie that I loved their relationship. The sparkling personalities each character had, especially the skysteeds, were so different and unique. Characters like Princess Hella, Topar, and Prince Shayn developed nicely over the course of the story. Topar was my favorite character after Kie and NRah, who were very considerate and calm. He was such a stable presence in Kie's life. Prince Shayn was a boy with a lot of passion who yearned for respect and to prove his worth. Princess Hella was a girl dealing with some trauma and learning to work past it.
There were several questions I had about the reading, such as where the chimera came from and some explanation about certain events. However, there were barely any hints or conclusions to this that I wish could have been revealed in this volume. There were no shocking plot twists, which is why I gave this a 3.25 Stars when there was room for a lot more to be explored. Still, I hope answers will be revealed in book 2.
✅PLOT
✅🆗CHARACTERS
⛔PLOT TWISTS
Skyriders reminds me of everything I love about middle grade, and it's a great introduction to this series. I love how our protagonist, Kiesandra Torsun (Kie), is a girl who finds greatness within herself and learns how she can use her gifts during the start of a war. As the mythical creatures chimera return, Kie becomes a instrumental in protecting the people. Not only does her unique ability to communicate with several skysteeds make her "The Chosen One," but so does her knowledge of how to fight chimeras the ancient way. It goes to show how vigorous training and preparation for future events could prove useful.
While I prefer coming-of-age stories where a protagonist chooses the role of being "The Chosen One" through hard work and practice, this was still a pretty good way to insert the trope. Kie is a girl who does not want to be chosen, and many have little faith in her ability to do everything. Kie is a sky courier who is of Mosai descent. There are many things working against her. The fact that she is a sky courier makes many believe she is incapable of teaching them how to fight when her job is to deliver mail.
Kie is also Mosai. Polly Holyoke creates many fictional races, and this world struggles with some of the same problems we do. The Rosari are typically the higher-ups with power, those regarded as fair and noble. There are several prejudices against the other races, such as the Mosai and Ledari. Being born as a Mosai can play a part in how a person is treated as well as where they live. Kie is also living in the poorer areas, and as she enters the capital, she becomes more aware of how some nobles live and the privileges they get. In a way, this has themes of racism and classism that are not directly given names but are introduced in a fictional fantasy world. It's a perfect way to teach kids and readers more about such topics.
N'Rah was such a loyal and compassionate friend to Kie that I loved their relationship. The sparkling personalities each character had, especially the skysteeds, were so different and unique. Characters like Princess Hella, Topar, and Prince Shayn developed nicely over the course of the story. Topar was my favorite character after Kie and NRah, who were very considerate and calm. He was such a stable presence in Kie's life. Prince Shayn was a boy with a lot of passion who yearned for respect and to prove his worth. Princess Hella was a girl dealing with some trauma and learning to work past it.
There were several questions I had about the reading, such as where the chimera came from and some explanation about certain events. However, there were barely any hints or conclusions to this that I wish could have been revealed in this volume. There were no shocking plot twists, which is why I gave this a 3.25 Stars when there was room for a lot more to be explored. Still, I hope answers will be revealed in book 2.
✅PLOT
✅🆗CHARACTERS
⛔PLOT TWISTS
November 5, 2024
In a land where human riders can communicate telepathically with their pegasus steeds, one man has made a special study of how the ancient peoples fought off a scourge of monsters called chimerae. When the chimerae return, he entrusts a book full of his research to his niece, Kie. She and her stysteed, N'Rah, must take the book to the capital city and somehow convince the emperor to use these ancient battle techniques. Kie has been practicing using special weapons that her uncle taught her about, and she is hoping to demonstrate how effective they are against the monsters.
The best part of this book is the strong bond between the humans and their skysteeds. These are complex relationships with hundreds of years of tradition and outdated laws governing how they communicate and work together; but at the end of the day, the relationship between rider and skysteed is very personal and intimate as they hear each other's thoughts. It was so interesting to explore the different aspects of these relationships, since every human and every skysteed is so different. They don't always communicate easily or understand each other, so there was a lot of room for the story to expand around these delicate and multi-layered connections between them.
I loved Kie's character! She is really smart, but doubts her intelligence because she has trouble reading due to dyslexia. She has some great character development as she gains confidence in herself and her own abilities. Every person she meets is impressed with her courage and practical good sense, and when they express their appreciation and show that they trust her, Kie finally begins to recognize these strengths in herself.
The plot is really well-constructed as different threads from different characters begin to come together and overlap. I really loved that the focus is on Kie, but we also see a lot of supporting characters with excellent arcs that dovetail beautifully with Kie's adventures.
There are lots of battles, and legends, and magical mysteries, and training, and more battles. Kie has to navigate the difficulties of politics and she confronts some high-born people. She makes some enemies, and makes some friends.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! The friendships, the magic, the legendary monsters, and all the beautiful world-building swept me away into a fantasy land that I can't wait to dive into again in the second book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
The best part of this book is the strong bond between the humans and their skysteeds. These are complex relationships with hundreds of years of tradition and outdated laws governing how they communicate and work together; but at the end of the day, the relationship between rider and skysteed is very personal and intimate as they hear each other's thoughts. It was so interesting to explore the different aspects of these relationships, since every human and every skysteed is so different. They don't always communicate easily or understand each other, so there was a lot of room for the story to expand around these delicate and multi-layered connections between them.
I loved Kie's character! She is really smart, but doubts her intelligence because she has trouble reading due to dyslexia. She has some great character development as she gains confidence in herself and her own abilities. Every person she meets is impressed with her courage and practical good sense, and when they express their appreciation and show that they trust her, Kie finally begins to recognize these strengths in herself.
The plot is really well-constructed as different threads from different characters begin to come together and overlap. I really loved that the focus is on Kie, but we also see a lot of supporting characters with excellent arcs that dovetail beautifully with Kie's adventures.
There are lots of battles, and legends, and magical mysteries, and training, and more battles. Kie has to navigate the difficulties of politics and she confronts some high-born people. She makes some enemies, and makes some friends.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! The friendships, the magic, the legendary monsters, and all the beautiful world-building swept me away into a fantasy land that I can't wait to dive into again in the second book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
August 30, 2025
An epic middle-grade fantasy adventure that will capture the hearts and imaginations of boys and girls alike.
Skyriders is the first book in a new middle-grade fantasy series of the same name by author Polly Holyoke. The story pulls out all the stops for adventure, world-building, and overcoming impossible, overwhelming odds. This epic fantasy adventure will appeal to both boys and girls, reluctant readers, and would be perfect for reading aloud and tempting eager young imaginations.
The book’s action begins immediately with minimal exposition; there’s no waiting around! Kie is the kind of young heroine who everyone can get behind. At 13 years of age, she is humble, loving, brave, and loyal. I loved that she (and the others) could communicate telepathically with their skysteeds, and early on, readers know that her ability is not limited to N’Rah. Their foe, the chimerae, are horrific three-headed monsters and are a returning menace from her country’s past, one foretold by her beloved Uncle Dug. He was right all along! The aerial battles against the chimerae are exciting and easy to follow.The plot is an extraordinary underdog story, as Kie faces frustration after frustration trying to get those in a position to act to believe her. Her warnings repeatedly fall on deaf ears. However, it’s always a satisfying moment for young readers when young characters prove to be right and the adults wrong.
The author’s world-building is so impressive in this first volume of the series. The descriptions of the various settings are so vivid you can practically feel the mountain storms or the grit and heat of the desert. But best of all are the Pegusus-like skysteeds, sentient and wise and a welcome addition to a genre filled with dragons. You can almost feel the experience of flying on the back of one of these winged horses (but don’t call them horses!) Kudos for the fabulous cover that features Kie, N’Rah, and the monstrous chimerae and establishes a perfect visual right from the start.With its highly relatable heroine, great underdog story, and fantastic creatures of myth and legend, I recommend SKYRIDERS to readers of middle-grade fantasy and adventure.
January 25, 2023
An epic fantasy sure to captivate young readers who are looking for an adventure!
When the monstrous chimerae reappear after being defeated three hundred years earlier, the citizens of the Prekalt Empire are in grave danger. Enter Kie Torsun, a capable and skilled sky courier whose first mission is to deliver her uncle's manual on how to battle the three-headed beasts to the capital before the skyforce is deployed. Reluctant to leave her uncle whose health is failing and uncertain she'll be taken seriously, Kie takes to the sky with N'Rah, her loyal and adept skysteed. What follows is epic---aerial battle scenes, forged alliances and Kie's discovery of her unique gift. As the stakes rise, so does Kie's abilities and self-confidence. Friendships are made and Kie's view of herself and the world expands.
SKYRIDERS is an action packed, page turner with a big heart. It would be an excellent choice for a read aloud for younger children/students and a fun book club choice for third graders on up. Highly recommend! Polly Holyoke, award winning author of the series, The Neptune Project has once again built a captivating world where readers' imaginations will soar.
When the monstrous chimerae reappear after being defeated three hundred years earlier, the citizens of the Prekalt Empire are in grave danger. Enter Kie Torsun, a capable and skilled sky courier whose first mission is to deliver her uncle's manual on how to battle the three-headed beasts to the capital before the skyforce is deployed. Reluctant to leave her uncle whose health is failing and uncertain she'll be taken seriously, Kie takes to the sky with N'Rah, her loyal and adept skysteed. What follows is epic---aerial battle scenes, forged alliances and Kie's discovery of her unique gift. As the stakes rise, so does Kie's abilities and self-confidence. Friendships are made and Kie's view of herself and the world expands.
SKYRIDERS is an action packed, page turner with a big heart. It would be an excellent choice for a read aloud for younger children/students and a fun book club choice for third graders on up. Highly recommend! Polly Holyoke, award winning author of the series, The Neptune Project has once again built a captivating world where readers' imaginations will soar.
March 28, 2023
Skyriders was a delightful middle grade fantasy/adventure! I think that this book has so much that will appeal to both boys and girls - a feisty and brave 13-year-old protagonist, flying horses (but don't call them horses!), and really exciting battle scenes with three-headed monsters (the chimerae) that will appeal to both boys and girls.
Holyoke has a nice start on world building, her main character Kie has a lot of agency, and she and the supporting characters undergo some wonderful character growth, too.
And it's not just her message of how they need to train to beat the chimerae; they also hear and accept her beliefs about respect and personal responsibility around the skysteeds. There is a power to seeing that grownups aren't always right and can make better decisions. I also appreciated that everyone learned about compromise and working together to create a better way to fight against the chimerae using the strengths of both the smaller, faster steeds and the larger, stronger ones. There's also a lovely theme of found family, as well.
Looking forward to more in this series!
Holyoke has a nice start on world building, her main character Kie has a lot of agency, and she and the supporting characters undergo some wonderful character growth, too.
And it's not just her message of how they need to train to beat the chimerae; they also hear and accept her beliefs about respect and personal responsibility around the skysteeds. There is a power to seeing that grownups aren't always right and can make better decisions. I also appreciated that everyone learned about compromise and working together to create a better way to fight against the chimerae using the strengths of both the smaller, faster steeds and the larger, stronger ones. There's also a lovely theme of found family, as well.
Looking forward to more in this series!
January 19, 2025
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I love the whole premise of the book and the characters we are presented with. It definitely feels like this was Part 1 to build up to book 2, which I most certainly will be eagerly reading this year as well.
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because sometimes I felt the pacing of the story either was too slow or rushed in some parts.
But the characters are starting to grow on me and I can't wait to see what will happen in the second installment.
I love the whole premise of the book and the characters we are presented with. It definitely feels like this was Part 1 to build up to book 2, which I most certainly will be eagerly reading this year as well.
The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because sometimes I felt the pacing of the story either was too slow or rushed in some parts.
But the characters are starting to grow on me and I can't wait to see what will happen in the second installment.
April 7, 2023
Appropriate for: age 11+
I LOVED this book. Lots of beautiful flying horses! I really liked the main character and supporting characters. The story was great with plenty of action and horses! I feel like it could've used a few less pages, but it's not even 300 pages, so it's not a huge deal.
I LOVED this book. Lots of beautiful flying horses! I really liked the main character and supporting characters. The story was great with plenty of action and horses! I feel like it could've used a few less pages, but it's not even 300 pages, so it's not a huge deal.
April 7, 2023
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.8.
April 6, 2023
Skyriders is the first in a new series by Polly Holyoke, and if this is the start, I am here for the whole thing!
Kiesandra Torsun (Kie) is living a quiet life with her Uncle Dug, working with her Skysteed N’Rah as a sky courier (and quite good at her job) and helping run the family’s orchard. But when the chimerae, monsters who were thought to be wiped out centuries earlier, reappear, all that changes. Uncle Dug always said the chimerae would return, and he trained Kie for that possibility. He tasks her with sharing her training and his manual, chock-full of useful information on how to fight the deadly creatures, to the capital city. He insists she must make someone listen to her, to get the information to the country’s Skyforce before they take flight and engage in battle.
Growing up, I loved horses. Black Beauty. The Black Stallion. National Velvet. Summer Pony. Misty of Chincoteague. King of the Wind. Even Brighty of the Grand Canyon. If it had a horse or horse-like creature, I was all about reading it. So the cover of Skyriders made the child in me squee with delight. I mean, look at it! The colors! The horse and rider! The wings!
And the story is worthy of its majestic cover. Kie is a charming protagonist and a reluctant heroine. She doesn’t seek out glory. When she is praised for taking down two chimerae herself, she demurs and turns the praise to others instead. She’s a level-headed young woman, and she keeps an admirable focus on her goal rather than getting discouraged when things don’t go the way she’d hoped.
The other characters are well written, too. Even the side characters have enough backstory to grab your interest. We see an interesting twist with Kie’s friend and fellow courier Topar, and a Skyforce cadet’s initial unpleasant attitude toward Kie offers a good opportunity for character development. Other than Kie, I think Princess Halla and N’Seella are two of my favorites. The Dowager and her more mature Skysteed, N’Talley, are also a treat. I hope there’s room for them all in future stories in the series!
The story’s themes are uplifting, things you’d be glad for your kids to read: perseverance, bravery in the face of danger, learning to think outside the box to find a solution, realizing that there is always more strength in working together. The story also emphasizes that even a young person can make a difference. Kie was able to help the Skyforce – indeed, everyone – realize that the smaller, wild Skysteeds could play a vital part in the country’s defense even if they didn’t have Skyriders. She also worked to convince those in power to change the edict that only nobles could bond with Skyriders, which made a big difference to a lot of people and Skysteeds.
There was nothing about this story that I didn’t love. Engaging characters, tension and action, change and growth, and humor, too! Five BIG stars from a horse-loving girl who hasn’t ever entirely grown up. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Kiesandra Torsun (Kie) is living a quiet life with her Uncle Dug, working with her Skysteed N’Rah as a sky courier (and quite good at her job) and helping run the family’s orchard. But when the chimerae, monsters who were thought to be wiped out centuries earlier, reappear, all that changes. Uncle Dug always said the chimerae would return, and he trained Kie for that possibility. He tasks her with sharing her training and his manual, chock-full of useful information on how to fight the deadly creatures, to the capital city. He insists she must make someone listen to her, to get the information to the country’s Skyforce before they take flight and engage in battle.
Growing up, I loved horses. Black Beauty. The Black Stallion. National Velvet. Summer Pony. Misty of Chincoteague. King of the Wind. Even Brighty of the Grand Canyon. If it had a horse or horse-like creature, I was all about reading it. So the cover of Skyriders made the child in me squee with delight. I mean, look at it! The colors! The horse and rider! The wings!
And the story is worthy of its majestic cover. Kie is a charming protagonist and a reluctant heroine. She doesn’t seek out glory. When she is praised for taking down two chimerae herself, she demurs and turns the praise to others instead. She’s a level-headed young woman, and she keeps an admirable focus on her goal rather than getting discouraged when things don’t go the way she’d hoped.
The other characters are well written, too. Even the side characters have enough backstory to grab your interest. We see an interesting twist with Kie’s friend and fellow courier Topar, and a Skyforce cadet’s initial unpleasant attitude toward Kie offers a good opportunity for character development. Other than Kie, I think Princess Halla and N’Seella are two of my favorites. The Dowager and her more mature Skysteed, N’Talley, are also a treat. I hope there’s room for them all in future stories in the series!
The story’s themes are uplifting, things you’d be glad for your kids to read: perseverance, bravery in the face of danger, learning to think outside the box to find a solution, realizing that there is always more strength in working together. The story also emphasizes that even a young person can make a difference. Kie was able to help the Skyforce – indeed, everyone – realize that the smaller, wild Skysteeds could play a vital part in the country’s defense even if they didn’t have Skyriders. She also worked to convince those in power to change the edict that only nobles could bond with Skyriders, which made a big difference to a lot of people and Skysteeds.
There was nothing about this story that I didn’t love. Engaging characters, tension and action, change and growth, and humor, too! Five BIG stars from a horse-loving girl who hasn’t ever entirely grown up. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
February 6, 2023
What worked:
The author artfully pens a descriptive narrative to help readers experience the action using all of their senses. The oppressive heat of the desert is the site where Kie and others ride atop their skysteeds (like Pegasi) to face the reemergence of terrifying chimerae. Kie’s uncle has taught her the ancient skills needed to battle these creatures but few people today see any value in learning the old ways. The chimerae haven’t been seen in hundreds of years so royalty and the Skyforce feel their bigger, stronger skysteeds can defeat any dangers. However, Kie and her smaller skysteed N’Rah use their speed and agility to narrowly survive and kill two of the beasts but they still can’t get those in power to heed their warning.
This is an underdog story as almost everyone doubts Kie. Even Kie questions herself and doesn’t feel like she’s anything special. Riders make mental connections with their own skysteeds but, Kie discovers she’s able to communicate with any skysteed she touches, an ability no one else possesses. This talent makes Kie different but readers must wait to determine its significance. Kie finds the only people interested in listening to her ancient strategies for fighting the chimerae are other couriers, stable workers, and two cadet warriors. The cadets suspect the methods taught by their military superiors won’t work so they seek knowledge and advice from Kie. Garnering support from lower characters makes this truly an emotional tale of overcoming incredible odds.
Kie’s character displays many admirable qualities that make her approachable and influential. She’s extremely humble and tries to avoid being in the spotlight. When others are amazed after she slays the two chimerae, she deflects the praise and lauds the deeds of other characters. She’s fiercely devoted to N’Rah and other skysteeds and she doesn’t tolerate any signs of disrespect toward them. This attitude creates a conflict with one cadet who’s less than impressed with accounts of her brave battles but Kie really gets fired up when he makes disparaging remarks toward skysteeds. Kie follows the chain of command, even when it seems unfair, and respects those who deserve respect. Her empathy creates connections that later become friendships and her personality is what encourages others to support her.
The Final Verdict:
The book’s synopsis is unassuming but the actual story is an exciting, emotional adventure. Kie’s struggles and persistence in trying to change the minds and attitudes of her superiors create an engrossing story. The impending invasion of hundreds of deadly, devastating chimerae accentuates the conflict as the tension grows to the final, climactic battle. I highly recommend you give this book a shot and I anxiously await the release of its sequel.
The author artfully pens a descriptive narrative to help readers experience the action using all of their senses. The oppressive heat of the desert is the site where Kie and others ride atop their skysteeds (like Pegasi) to face the reemergence of terrifying chimerae. Kie’s uncle has taught her the ancient skills needed to battle these creatures but few people today see any value in learning the old ways. The chimerae haven’t been seen in hundreds of years so royalty and the Skyforce feel their bigger, stronger skysteeds can defeat any dangers. However, Kie and her smaller skysteed N’Rah use their speed and agility to narrowly survive and kill two of the beasts but they still can’t get those in power to heed their warning.
This is an underdog story as almost everyone doubts Kie. Even Kie questions herself and doesn’t feel like she’s anything special. Riders make mental connections with their own skysteeds but, Kie discovers she’s able to communicate with any skysteed she touches, an ability no one else possesses. This talent makes Kie different but readers must wait to determine its significance. Kie finds the only people interested in listening to her ancient strategies for fighting the chimerae are other couriers, stable workers, and two cadet warriors. The cadets suspect the methods taught by their military superiors won’t work so they seek knowledge and advice from Kie. Garnering support from lower characters makes this truly an emotional tale of overcoming incredible odds.
Kie’s character displays many admirable qualities that make her approachable and influential. She’s extremely humble and tries to avoid being in the spotlight. When others are amazed after she slays the two chimerae, she deflects the praise and lauds the deeds of other characters. She’s fiercely devoted to N’Rah and other skysteeds and she doesn’t tolerate any signs of disrespect toward them. This attitude creates a conflict with one cadet who’s less than impressed with accounts of her brave battles but Kie really gets fired up when he makes disparaging remarks toward skysteeds. Kie follows the chain of command, even when it seems unfair, and respects those who deserve respect. Her empathy creates connections that later become friendships and her personality is what encourages others to support her.
The Final Verdict:
The book’s synopsis is unassuming but the actual story is an exciting, emotional adventure. Kie’s struggles and persistence in trying to change the minds and attitudes of her superiors create an engrossing story. The impending invasion of hundreds of deadly, devastating chimerae accentuates the conflict as the tension grows to the final, climactic battle. I highly recommend you give this book a shot and I anxiously await the release of its sequel.
April 3, 2023
A sweeping epic adventure for kids of all ages, Skyriders is the kind of story you can really sink your teeth into. For starters, this cover art is exactly what would have drawn me in as a preteen. It leaps off the screen the same way it no doubt is leaping off the bookshelves. I could wax poetic about the artwork and the typography is also top-notch, but I think the striking pose of Kie and N'Rah is what makes this top shelf for me. I don't always go on about cover art, but this is a fantastic example of how to do it right. But what a gorgeous cover is still an empty shell without an equally stellar story. Luckily for us Polly Holyoke is, I'm convinced, simply brilliant.
Skyriders hit all the elements I love about epic fantasy and middle-grade fiction. Kiesandra and N'Rah are couriers tasked with carrying messages across the empire. Kie loves her skysteed, her work, and her Uncle Dug, who stays on their farm due to an old war injury. While Kie doesn't let the opinions of others bother her, she's too tongue-tied to say anything if she did. All she wants is to stay home and keep her father's dream of growing their crops alive. Until everything Uncle Dug warned her would happen literally happens, and it's thanks to his teachings she escapes the legendary chimerae alive. Until Kie and N'Rah are forced to venture to the heart of the capital on what seems like a fool's errand. After all, who is going to listen to a thirteen-year-old girl? Turns out, the person she helped save is the Emperor's son, and Prince Shayne may be the key to helping Kie find her voice in the end.
Like many girls in my generation, I was obsessed with horses and their mythical counterparts. So while the fact Kie is thirteen and flying across the country vaguely terrifies adult-mom-me, pre-teen me would have absolutely been on board for Kie and N'Rah's adventures. Skyriders is similar to the fantasy books I loved as a child, with an immersive world and fun and interesting characters, while also offering something I haven't seen before. A big highlight for me is the bond Kie shares with her Uncle Dug, which drives her forward, but especially her bond with her skysteed, N'Rah. Turns out, in a world where most riders can only bond and speak with their personal steeds, Kie is unique. She's able to not only hear hers and her uncle's skysteeds across great distances, but she can hear all skysteeds she touches. If that wasn't cool enough, the battles against the chimerae are so visceral and pulse-pounding, you can't help but feel like you're right with Kei and N'Rah in the fight for their lives and the kingdom.
A brilliantly written fantasy for everyone who dreamed of flying their own pegasus as a child, Skyriders will carry you to an exciting new world.
**I was provided a copy of Skyriders by the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.**
Skyriders hit all the elements I love about epic fantasy and middle-grade fiction. Kiesandra and N'Rah are couriers tasked with carrying messages across the empire. Kie loves her skysteed, her work, and her Uncle Dug, who stays on their farm due to an old war injury. While Kie doesn't let the opinions of others bother her, she's too tongue-tied to say anything if she did. All she wants is to stay home and keep her father's dream of growing their crops alive. Until everything Uncle Dug warned her would happen literally happens, and it's thanks to his teachings she escapes the legendary chimerae alive. Until Kie and N'Rah are forced to venture to the heart of the capital on what seems like a fool's errand. After all, who is going to listen to a thirteen-year-old girl? Turns out, the person she helped save is the Emperor's son, and Prince Shayne may be the key to helping Kie find her voice in the end.
Like many girls in my generation, I was obsessed with horses and their mythical counterparts. So while the fact Kie is thirteen and flying across the country vaguely terrifies adult-mom-me, pre-teen me would have absolutely been on board for Kie and N'Rah's adventures. Skyriders is similar to the fantasy books I loved as a child, with an immersive world and fun and interesting characters, while also offering something I haven't seen before. A big highlight for me is the bond Kie shares with her Uncle Dug, which drives her forward, but especially her bond with her skysteed, N'Rah. Turns out, in a world where most riders can only bond and speak with their personal steeds, Kie is unique. She's able to not only hear hers and her uncle's skysteeds across great distances, but she can hear all skysteeds she touches. If that wasn't cool enough, the battles against the chimerae are so visceral and pulse-pounding, you can't help but feel like you're right with Kei and N'Rah in the fight for their lives and the kingdom.
A brilliantly written fantasy for everyone who dreamed of flying their own pegasus as a child, Skyriders will carry you to an exciting new world.
**I was provided a copy of Skyriders by the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.**
May 2, 2025
I was fortunate enough to meet Polly Holyoke when I hosted a writing workshop for local kids in my community and invited Polly to come do a world-building lesson for that group last year. She was a delightful and knowledgable speaker, and I appreciated the passion with which she spoke about writing and crafting a story. I am generally not interested in either young adult books nor the fantasy genre, so Skyriders is out of my typical reading wheelhouse, but I enjoyed Polly's talk enough to give it a go.
Skyriders is a story a girl named Kie who finds herself in the most undesirable circumstances of having to try to convince rich, royal people in the capital that they are in fact in danger from the monsters chimerae that were thought to have been eradicated centuries ago but have to return. With the help of her skysteed and other winged horses in the country, she has to develop the support and friendship of the people there to try to solve this problem of violent invasion from threatening beasts—at least for now.
Because Polly talked about world-building at this event I hosted, I was more appreciative of what the world looked like in Skyriders and I could certainly tell the effort she took to make the world cohesive. There was quite a bit I wanted to know more about the characters, particularly both Kie and Topar and hearing more about their pasts. Maybe that will come in the sequel, but I felt it was disappointing to not understand more about the mentalities and experiences of both of these characters. And despite the world Polly created, I admit I am also not the biggest fan of not only fantasy, but battle scenes in fantasy settings with fictional creatures—I find I just can't put myself into that setting very well, so it was rather boring to read the final climactic battle scene between the skysteeds and chimerae.
I will probably check out the second book in the series now out of curiosity more than anything, but I'm not super invested in it. It was entertaining, but it took me forever to read partially because I was insanely busy this past week but also because there were the typical fantasy elements in this book that aren't particularly engaging to me.
Skyriders is a story a girl named Kie who finds herself in the most undesirable circumstances of having to try to convince rich, royal people in the capital that they are in fact in danger from the monsters chimerae that were thought to have been eradicated centuries ago but have to return. With the help of her skysteed and other winged horses in the country, she has to develop the support and friendship of the people there to try to solve this problem of violent invasion from threatening beasts—at least for now.
Because Polly talked about world-building at this event I hosted, I was more appreciative of what the world looked like in Skyriders and I could certainly tell the effort she took to make the world cohesive. There was quite a bit I wanted to know more about the characters, particularly both Kie and Topar and hearing more about their pasts. Maybe that will come in the sequel, but I felt it was disappointing to not understand more about the mentalities and experiences of both of these characters. And despite the world Polly created, I admit I am also not the biggest fan of not only fantasy, but battle scenes in fantasy settings with fictional creatures—I find I just can't put myself into that setting very well, so it was rather boring to read the final climactic battle scene between the skysteeds and chimerae.
I will probably check out the second book in the series now out of curiosity more than anything, but I'm not super invested in it. It was entertaining, but it took me forever to read partially because I was insanely busy this past week but also because there were the typical fantasy elements in this book that aren't particularly engaging to me.
October 8, 2024
Quick synopsis
: In a world where many people bond to flying horses, Kie and her winged horse N'Rah go from a simple courier team (sort of like a Pony Express rider, but on flying horses) to being in the middle of a fight to save humanity.
Brief opinion : What a fun book! Who doesn't love the idea of having a "talking" winged horse as your best friend? (Skysteeds are telepathic, but only with his or her bonded rider.) The story is MG, but adult me really enjoyed it.
Plot : Kie lives on an orchard with her sick uncle, they're too poor to get him the heart medicine he needs on a regular basis. She works as a courier carrying mail over the dangerous mountain routes.
Her uncle has an odd obsession with his great-grandfather's manual about how to fight monsters (chimerae -- spelled that way) that were wiped out long ago and he twists Kie's arm into training how to fight them.
Turns out it's a good thing he does, because suddenly lots and lots of chimerae are back...
Writing/editing : Both were excellent!
What I Liked/What I Didn’t Like : I heard the opening theme to the Young Riders show about the Pony Express/Wild Bill and company in my head through much of this book, and that made it even better.
All the skysteeds (the flying horses) had names that started with " N' ", N'Rah, N'Kal, N'Sella, etc. I wish the book had explained where that came from, but maybe it comes up in book 2.
I really liked that the skysteeds weren't human-level intelligence creatures. They were smarter than normal horses, but they were still horses.
The worldbuilding was great. I understood the land and the races of people on it and I was interested in both. There were some teases about things like wild skysteeds, which apparently we'll learn more about in book 2.
Rating: 1-Hated / 2-Disliked / 3-Okay / 4-Liked / 5-Loved : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Loved/ 5 stars. On to book 2!
Brief opinion : What a fun book! Who doesn't love the idea of having a "talking" winged horse as your best friend? (Skysteeds are telepathic, but only with his or her bonded rider.) The story is MG, but adult me really enjoyed it.
Plot : Kie lives on an orchard with her sick uncle, they're too poor to get him the heart medicine he needs on a regular basis. She works as a courier carrying mail over the dangerous mountain routes.
Her uncle has an odd obsession with his great-grandfather's manual about how to fight monsters (chimerae -- spelled that way) that were wiped out long ago and he twists Kie's arm into training how to fight them.
Turns out it's a good thing he does, because suddenly lots and lots of chimerae are back...
Writing/editing : Both were excellent!
What I Liked/What I Didn’t Like : I heard the opening theme to the Young Riders show about the Pony Express/Wild Bill and company in my head through much of this book, and that made it even better.
All the skysteeds (the flying horses) had names that started with " N' ", N'Rah, N'Kal, N'Sella, etc. I wish the book had explained where that came from, but maybe it comes up in book 2.
I really liked that the skysteeds weren't human-level intelligence creatures. They were smarter than normal horses, but they were still horses.
The worldbuilding was great. I understood the land and the races of people on it and I was interested in both. There were some teases about things like wild skysteeds, which apparently we'll learn more about in book 2.
Rating: 1-Hated / 2-Disliked / 3-Okay / 4-Liked / 5-Loved : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Loved/ 5 stars. On to book 2!
March 29, 2023
Wow! An action-packed emotional rollercoaster ride!
Kiesandra (Kie) Torsun, a courier on her skysteed, N’Rah, lived a life of relative peace. She and her Uncle Duggan also ran the family orchard. Being farmers didn’t pay very well, so she supplemented their income with her work as a courier. This allowed her to keep her uncle in the medicine he needed for his heart.
It was on one of her emergency runs that she ran into chimerae. These evil three-headed creatures are terrifying on their own, let alone if there are scourges (multiple in one group). Thanks to her uncle’s insistence on training, not only she, but most of those who were involved, survived. This included the prince and one of the captains in the Skyforce.
When she went to report back to her uncle what happened, she was horrified to find out that one of the creatures attacked her home town. Her uncle and his skysteed were able to save the town, putting their own lives in peril. Upon her arrival, she told him what happened. He sent her to the capital with one instruction: make those in the capital listen to her and follow the instructions in a manual that contains the fighting tactics that beat the chimerae three-hundred years earlier. Can a young courier from the country make that big of a difference before it’s too late?
Polly Holyoke takes you on a literary ride! The pace continues to ratchet-up chapter after chapter, allowing you to feel everything during the heart-racing action, yet Holyoke keeps a firm grasp on the emotions swirling around the characters. By the end, I was as emotional as Kie (the main character), and through the final chapters, literal tears crept out of my eyes.
The recommended audience is ages 8-12, but I promise you as an adult, you will enjoy it, and possibly more than the intended age group. I was ecstatic to learn there is a book 2: The Sky King, due out on September 5, 2023. You can make a pretty safe bet that I already pre-ordered it!
Kiesandra (Kie) Torsun, a courier on her skysteed, N’Rah, lived a life of relative peace. She and her Uncle Duggan also ran the family orchard. Being farmers didn’t pay very well, so she supplemented their income with her work as a courier. This allowed her to keep her uncle in the medicine he needed for his heart.
It was on one of her emergency runs that she ran into chimerae. These evil three-headed creatures are terrifying on their own, let alone if there are scourges (multiple in one group). Thanks to her uncle’s insistence on training, not only she, but most of those who were involved, survived. This included the prince and one of the captains in the Skyforce.
When she went to report back to her uncle what happened, she was horrified to find out that one of the creatures attacked her home town. Her uncle and his skysteed were able to save the town, putting their own lives in peril. Upon her arrival, she told him what happened. He sent her to the capital with one instruction: make those in the capital listen to her and follow the instructions in a manual that contains the fighting tactics that beat the chimerae three-hundred years earlier. Can a young courier from the country make that big of a difference before it’s too late?
Polly Holyoke takes you on a literary ride! The pace continues to ratchet-up chapter after chapter, allowing you to feel everything during the heart-racing action, yet Holyoke keeps a firm grasp on the emotions swirling around the characters. By the end, I was as emotional as Kie (the main character), and through the final chapters, literal tears crept out of my eyes.
The recommended audience is ages 8-12, but I promise you as an adult, you will enjoy it, and possibly more than the intended age group. I was ecstatic to learn there is a book 2: The Sky King, due out on September 5, 2023. You can make a pretty safe bet that I already pre-ordered it!
November 24, 2023
Of the books about people riding winged creatures that I've read (or attempted to read) in the last year or so, this one is the best. The world building isn't perfect, but it's solid. Do I think it could use more work? Yes, absolutely. I want to know more about the various tribes (?) that make up the empire and how they get along with one another. (It's touched upon, but I feel like it could go deeper.) I wish there was more, but it's obvious that Holyoke has put a lot of thought into this and I appreciate that the world doesn't feel slapped together.
Kie is fine, I don't know if I would call her memorable, but she's earnest in an endearing way. Naturally, she's the Chosen One™, but honestly, is it fantasy novel without a one? The other characters kind of blend together, but again, their fine. No one is a standout, but no one makes me want to rip my hair out either.
The problem here comes down to pacing. I feel like it starts with a bang and then just stops. We start with a chimera attack, but once Kie makes it to the capitol, the sense of urgency is gone. It's not even like no one is aware that there are chimeras, and Kie has to spend her time getting people to believe her. It's the higher-ups not believe that her methods for fighting chimeras will work. Which isn't a bad idea, it just seems like trying to convince the various generals is lost in the shuffle of meeting new characters. And every now and something will be revealed and it feels like this should have been told to us earlier?
It's not bad by any means, I just became bored by the middle. Still, it's head and shoulders above Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, and the writing is far better than a certain dragon book that has been making the rounds on this site.
Kie is fine, I don't know if I would call her memorable, but she's earnest in an endearing way. Naturally, she's the Chosen One™, but honestly, is it fantasy novel without a one? The other characters kind of blend together, but again, their fine. No one is a standout, but no one makes me want to rip my hair out either.
The problem here comes down to pacing. I feel like it starts with a bang and then just stops. We start with a chimera attack, but once Kie makes it to the capitol, the sense of urgency is gone. It's not even like no one is aware that there are chimeras, and Kie has to spend her time getting people to believe her. It's the higher-ups not believe that her methods for fighting chimeras will work. Which isn't a bad idea, it just seems like trying to convince the various generals is lost in the shuffle of meeting new characters. And every now and something will be revealed and it feels like this should have been told to us earlier?
It's not bad by any means, I just became bored by the middle. Still, it's head and shoulders above Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, and the writing is far better than a certain dragon book that has been making the rounds on this site.
November 8, 2022
Middle grade fans of Kate O’Hearn’s Pegasus series or Polly Holyoke’s Project Neptune series will be excited to read this first installment in her newest one. Kiesandra is a strong female protagonist who braves harsh elements and strict timetables as she flies a mail courier route on the back of winged horse, N’Rah. On one such route, it is not only vicious birds who threaten the pair but a chimerae scourge (group) of mythological proportions that was said to have been wiped out years ago. Thanks to training by her Uncle Dug, a prize winning Skyrider who has studied the methods of fighting these creatures, Kie, her bonded mount, another courier pair, and some surprise help from a prince and his winged horse, the chimerae are killed. The action is non-stop in just these opening events/chapters and then readers will be drawn into a society of have & have nots that is about to come under fire from 1000s of three headed beasts with an unprepared flying fighting force. A manual passed down through Kie’s family and her own experiences may be the answer, but what influence can a teen girl have on a monarchy with such power? Holyoke’s story is filled with the kind of fast-moving action that will engage even the most reluctant reader and like her earlier series, she does not include profanity or sexual content and the violence is not filled with extraneous blood and gore. The excellent world-building is done right alongside the flying, training, friendship forging with nary a pause in the action. Highly recommended for collections serving grades 5 and up. (Strong 4th grade readers might also enjoy it!)
Thanks for sharing an arc with #BookAllies Twitter group, Polly Holyoke!
Thanks for sharing an arc with #BookAllies Twitter group, Polly Holyoke!
March 9, 2023
Buzzing with action, Skyriders is a heart pounding fantasy adventure that you won’t want to put down. I read into the wee hours of the morning so that I could finish it. It’s that good.
There are two main elements in Skyriders — the characters and the creatures.
The creatures in Skyriders really bring the book to life. The skysteeds — winged horses that can speak to those they bond with through their minds — are elegant and strong and nimble. Everything you’d want in a heroic animal. The three-headed chimerae — bloodgoat, lion and sand dragon merged together by dark, binding magic — is massive, vicious and deadly. A dangerous foe that the entire empire must fight as a united front.
On the character front, Kie is the reluctant hero. She starts out with a small “herd” (N’Rah and her uncle) and is fine with that. But through her journey, Kie learns the power of friendship. And it’s through her courage that grownups learn that children are sometimes the ones with the best answers.
While Skyriders is definitely a page-turning adventure, author Polly Holyoke has also included themes of communication, empathy and equity. It’s done so naturally that readers won’t feel as though they’ve been “taught a lesson.” It seamlessly lives within the plot’s framework and Holyoke’s prose.
Skyriders does feature a fair amount of violence and gore —there are a number of battles — but it’s written in such a way that it never feels gratuitous. It’s a fun read and a great start to a new series.
There are two main elements in Skyriders — the characters and the creatures.
The creatures in Skyriders really bring the book to life. The skysteeds — winged horses that can speak to those they bond with through their minds — are elegant and strong and nimble. Everything you’d want in a heroic animal. The three-headed chimerae — bloodgoat, lion and sand dragon merged together by dark, binding magic — is massive, vicious and deadly. A dangerous foe that the entire empire must fight as a united front.
On the character front, Kie is the reluctant hero. She starts out with a small “herd” (N’Rah and her uncle) and is fine with that. But through her journey, Kie learns the power of friendship. And it’s through her courage that grownups learn that children are sometimes the ones with the best answers.
While Skyriders is definitely a page-turning adventure, author Polly Holyoke has also included themes of communication, empathy and equity. It’s done so naturally that readers won’t feel as though they’ve been “taught a lesson.” It seamlessly lives within the plot’s framework and Holyoke’s prose.
Skyriders does feature a fair amount of violence and gore —there are a number of battles — but it’s written in such a way that it never feels gratuitous. It’s a fun read and a great start to a new series.
May 14, 2024
This is a fun fantasy series starter, perfect for tweens and young teen readers of the Warriors series or other animal fantasy books. If you've ever wanted to fly on a horse and have adventures and save the day, this is your book! :-D The author starts right out with action, as Kiesandra, a junior Courier--think flying Pony Express rider, ferrying messages across the kingdom--becomes involved in a fight with a three-headed winged monster known as a Chimera. These beasts were thought to have been defeated forever, decades ago, and the kingdom's SkyForce fighters are not prepared to fight them properly. Modern sky fighters have slower bigger skysteeds (they never call them horses, but to us that's what they are) and lack maneuverability and the right tactics. Kie must take her granduncle's ancient manual on chimera-fighting to the Emperor and try to convince him and his generals to prepare properly, before it's too late. There's a lot of fun aerial battles and a wide variety of beautifully-colored skysteeds, plus the added bonus of rider-steed telepathy! (Reminiscent of Anne McCaffrey books where dragonriders bond to their dragons and can hear their thoughtspeech, here the riders take a bonding oath to a skysteed, and the steeds all have colorful personalities.) Kie has to summon all her bravery and diplomacy as she butts heads with stubborn arrogant SkyForce cadets and befriends grooms, and learns a big secret about her own skysteed-related abilities. I'm on board for the sequel for sure! Nominated for the 2024 Buckeye Children's Book Award, grades 6-8.
July 13, 2023
*Received through Goodreads giveaway*
I loved this story so much. It was a fun and action packed read that I didn't want to put down. Suffice to say, I finished this one in less than a day. In some ways it reminded me of alot of other female led fantasy novels that I loved and devoured as a kid. (Graceling, The Frog Princes by ED Baker, Just Ella, Shadow and Bone, Scorpio Races, or any series in the Tortall world by Tamora Pierce).
Kei, as well as all the other characters, were enjoyable to read and see how they progressed. Even the ones that started off by being rude managed to find some redemption. (Except for the old classmate bully that was introduced and then not shown again. But perhaps we will see her again in a future book?) The connections between the skyriders and skysteeds was a nice concept. I just wish there had been some more history given. It would have been nice to know how the relationship between the two came to be in the first place.
If I had to pick something I didn't like about the book it would be just how quick the main character seemed to want to give up. Most of the story involved other people pushing her to do things, and her trying to convince them it wasn't a good idea. And there was some variation of the phrase "lump in her throat" repeated several times, to the point that it was very noticeable.
Looking forward to the next coming out. I need answers to things!
March 7, 2024
This book was. . . odd. I really liked the plot, and overall it felt really wholesome. But on the other hand, it casually drops two of the most horrific things — but the book never really deals with the ramifications of those things.
I also didn't like the writing style. It felt dated, like a children's book from the 1950s. Too much description, in a very particular way. "Kie looked out the window and saw something beautiful. It was N'rah!" (my interpretation of the writing style) Not my vibe. I like books that focus on character and theme, and this book was mostly plot and worldbuilding. It did those things very well, but I think the story suffered for a lack of thematic exploration. I finished it, so it's ok, but I didn't love it.
Shoutout to the dyslexia representation though!
I also didn't like the writing style. It felt dated, like a children's book from the 1950s. Too much description, in a very particular way. "Kie looked out the window and saw something beautiful. It was N'rah!" (my interpretation of the writing style) Not my vibe. I like books that focus on character and theme, and this book was mostly plot and worldbuilding. It did those things very well, but I think the story suffered for a lack of thematic exploration. I finished it, so it's ok, but I didn't love it.
Shoutout to the dyslexia representation though!
June 6, 2023
What Worked:
Skyriders is an action-packed fantasy adventure for middle-grade readers with a young female character who must pluck up all her courage to change the grownups' minds about war tactics before destroying her world. Kie and her sky horse N'rah are great characters to look up to and show that sometimes the younger crowd knows more than you think they do. Kie is tasked with convincing the king that his proven battle tactics against another foe will not work against the ancient chimera who has returned to destroy the world.
Final Verdict:
Kie learns a lot about challenging authority, bravery, and her unique talents as she attempts to share her grandfather fighting manual with the adults. Kie could easily have given up and returned to her life as a courier and let the king continue along his arrogant path, but instead, she persists. Kie has a lot of heart and is a strong female character who shows a lot of bravery against an evil monster. I am unsure if I could have bravely done what she did and still be alive to tell the tale. Skyriders is an adventure story with talking horses and would be a great summer read as we eagerly await the sequel.
Skyriders is an action-packed fantasy adventure for middle-grade readers with a young female character who must pluck up all her courage to change the grownups' minds about war tactics before destroying her world. Kie and her sky horse N'rah are great characters to look up to and show that sometimes the younger crowd knows more than you think they do. Kie is tasked with convincing the king that his proven battle tactics against another foe will not work against the ancient chimera who has returned to destroy the world.
Final Verdict:
Kie learns a lot about challenging authority, bravery, and her unique talents as she attempts to share her grandfather fighting manual with the adults. Kie could easily have given up and returned to her life as a courier and let the king continue along his arrogant path, but instead, she persists. Kie has a lot of heart and is a strong female character who shows a lot of bravery against an evil monster. I am unsure if I could have bravely done what she did and still be alive to tell the tale. Skyriders is an adventure story with talking horses and would be a great summer read as we eagerly await the sequel.
May 18, 2023
Fun flight-filled middle grade fantasy. In the Prekalt empire, magical flying horses called skysteeds exist, and if you're lucky, one will choose to bond with you. Thirteen year old Kiesandra and her skysteed N'Rah live on a fruit orchard with her uncle Dug. All her life, Uncle Dug has worried about a resurgence of the monstrous chimerae, who are believed to have been destroyed years ago. When these monsters do reappear, it is up to Kie to share the knowledge of how to defeat the chimerae with those in power, before it's too late.
This magical adventure was a delight to read. Kie's friendships with both humans and skysteeds really make the story shine. (I'd love a skysteed of my own!) The world is described beautifully. You get to watch Kie grow, overcoming her insecurities and stepping into the role she was meant to play. Readers young and old will get enjoyment out of this tale. Excited to see what happens next in this world.
This magical adventure was a delight to read. Kie's friendships with both humans and skysteeds really make the story shine. (I'd love a skysteed of my own!) The world is described beautifully. You get to watch Kie grow, overcoming her insecurities and stepping into the role she was meant to play. Readers young and old will get enjoyment out of this tale. Excited to see what happens next in this world.
April 26, 2023
I was instantly captivated by the vibrant, beautiful cover of this new MG novel and picked up this book. It's a wonderful fantasy story with a likeable protagonist and a story that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The skysteeds were definitely the most delightful part of the story, and I loved the descriptions of each one as new characters were introduced throughout the story. Often in stories with fantasy companions that bond with humans, the lives of the animals that don't bond with humans don't get addressed very much, so it was fascinating to see it here and to see how it contributed to the final plot.
I hope we get more stories in this world, because I want to know so, so much more about Kie and N'Rah!
The skysteeds were definitely the most delightful part of the story, and I loved the descriptions of each one as new characters were introduced throughout the story. Often in stories with fantasy companions that bond with humans, the lives of the animals that don't bond with humans don't get addressed very much, so it was fascinating to see it here and to see how it contributed to the final plot.
I hope we get more stories in this world, because I want to know so, so much more about Kie and N'Rah!
July 18, 2023
This is more a book about Kai’s experiences and journey than it is about the Skyriders in general or any wars against chimerae. There are only 3 battle scenes, the last one is definitely the longest and most difficult. The rest of the story is a lot of planning, considering, making friends, etc. It is perhaps not the most exciting, but there are moments of tension and conflict. Almost everything turns out well in the end, and Kai has a solid group of friends and supporters to lean on when things inevitably get tough again.
There’s no romance, but there is violence and death in the fighting, tho the worst of the descriptions are reserved for the chimerae and the injuries they receive.
There’s no romance, but there is violence and death in the fighting, tho the worst of the descriptions are reserved for the chimerae and the injuries they receive.
February 4, 2024
Skyriders is a breathtaking book to read because of the imagery of skysteeds battling the worse monster...a chimerae...but also because of the love the author has given us for these brave skysteeds and their riders who share a special bond of being able to communicate via mindspeech. Kie, our heroine, who is a courier on her skysteed, N'Rah, brings us on an amazing journey to save the lives of thousands from these monsters as she, herself, battles the prejudice of being a small girl with a small skysteed.
This first fantasy book from a series for young readers, will capture your hearts as well as entertain you.
This first fantasy book from a series for young readers, will capture your hearts as well as entertain you.
June 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, it's a good classic-like story with decent writing, set in an intriguing world. I'm writing a review because recently I've read a few similar type books that seemed to put a lot of modern day politics into them and it really draws you out of the story, but with Skyriders, if you're looking for an entertaining book, with ageless themes, that children, teens, and adults can enjoy than this is it. Also, bonus points for the best written equitation seen in a midgrade novel.
March 21, 2025
This book. There are hardly words to describe how much I loved this book!! The female protagonist is sweet, humble and kind, not the "strong, female character" type that is so popular. It has so much action, strategy, heart and friendship. Honestly, I cried at the end. It is so, so good. I will say, it is a little more violent than ones I normally recommend for this age group (the monsters get their heads cut off sometimes and there are battles), but ti is not overly violent.
Found in L4M OT Volume 10.
Found in L4M OT Volume 10.
June 23, 2023
As an adult reading this I got annoyed with the main character, Kie, dumb decisions due to embarrassment. But this book wasn't written for me! I think middle grade students will really enjoy this one. There is plenty of action, a relatable heroine, and mythical creatures.
Polly Holyoke did an excellent job with character development even if some of the development was rushed. Secondary characters were given more depth in the second half of the book. I hope there are more books to come!
Polly Holyoke did an excellent job with character development even if some of the development was rushed. Secondary characters were given more depth in the second half of the book. I hope there are more books to come!
September 19, 2023
Skyriders is an exciting fantasy adventure with a spectacular Skysteed (winged horse). The young protagonist Kie communicates with her Skysteed N'Rah through her thoughts. This is a story of a brave, resourceful and gifted young girl who faces some incredible obstacles. If you are interested in a story about overcoming the odds, bonds of friendship, winged horses and plenty of action - this will appeal!
November 8, 2025
Polly Holyoke did it again. I truly enjoyed her Neptune Project series many years back. Just finished the audiobook for Skyriders and can’t wait to start book 2! Usually I am not a fan of Fantasy but wanted to read this from our SSYRA state list and loved it! Highly recommend for any middle grade who enjoys adventure. Her character and world building is fantastic. I really enjoyed ALL the characters-winged and human.
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