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The Change #2
The Sky Warden & the Sun
Sal's life has been thrown into turmoil and he is on the run, from more than one pursuer, it appears. He is accompanied by his new-found friend Shilly and he's not entirely sure where he wants to go-but Shilly is. She wants to find her teacher Lodo's old teacher, the Mage Van Haasteren, which means they must head north to the Interior, where Sal's mother was born. The journey is over rugged, mountainous country on the Old Line and it's dangerous. The Sky Warden Shom Behenna is after them and they must risk all top reach the Divide and get across to the other side, not even knowing if the Stone Mages will help them.
390 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2005
3 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Sean Williams
277 books468 followers#1 New York Times bestselling Sean Williams lives with his family in Adelaide, South Australia. He’s written some books--forty-two at last count--including the Philip K. Dick-nominated Saturn Returns, several Star Wars novels and the Troubletwister series with Garth Nix. Twinmaker is a YA SF series that takes his love affair with the matter transmitter to a whole new level. You can find some related short stories over at Lightspeed Magazine and elsewhere. Thanks for reading.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 6, 2020
I was lukewarm on the first book of this series, but I had trouble putting this one down. The story benefited a lot from the characters being out on their own and having their own agency, and even at times when that agency was taken away, the story continued to keep itself interesting by having them push back against it in interesting ways that didn't go in quite the directions I expected.
August 10, 2009
The Sky Warden and the Sun by Sean Williams is the second book of The Change. The first book is called The Stone Mage and the Sea.
This book sees Sal and Shilly continue their adventure. Their guardians have been killed and they have been left to flee capture by the sky wardens, one in particular. In the first book, the children were just that...children. In the second book, we can see their forced growth as they struggle with decisions that adults would have trouble making.
Again, the story isn't fast paced, but the characters, setting and plot are not lacking. I was again impressed by the sense of realism. I feel as if I know the two main characters extremely well. In fact, I found myself caring about what was happening to them, which meant that I was eager to read on and I admired the author's writing ability because of it.
The other thing that impressed me with this book, which could be considered the “middle” of the story, was that it didn't sag in any way – often the middle of a story does, I find. Every scene was there for a reason and what seemed like “fluff” turned out to be important information or was definitely connected in some way. I also noticed references to parts of the first book that made everything fall clearly into place as well. These might sound like silly things to comment on, but together they make for a much smoother reading experience.
The series was published in 2002/2003, so I have had a lot of trouble getting hold of the third and final book in the trilogy – The Storm Weaver and the Sand. For a few days I thought I was going to be disappointed and miss out on how Sal and Shilly's story ended, but I'm glad to say that I managed to get my hands on a copy of the book and it is presently making its way to me through the post.
This book is highly recommended and I am patiently waiting to read the final book of The Change.
This book sees Sal and Shilly continue their adventure. Their guardians have been killed and they have been left to flee capture by the sky wardens, one in particular. In the first book, the children were just that...children. In the second book, we can see their forced growth as they struggle with decisions that adults would have trouble making.
Again, the story isn't fast paced, but the characters, setting and plot are not lacking. I was again impressed by the sense of realism. I feel as if I know the two main characters extremely well. In fact, I found myself caring about what was happening to them, which meant that I was eager to read on and I admired the author's writing ability because of it.
The other thing that impressed me with this book, which could be considered the “middle” of the story, was that it didn't sag in any way – often the middle of a story does, I find. Every scene was there for a reason and what seemed like “fluff” turned out to be important information or was definitely connected in some way. I also noticed references to parts of the first book that made everything fall clearly into place as well. These might sound like silly things to comment on, but together they make for a much smoother reading experience.
The series was published in 2002/2003, so I have had a lot of trouble getting hold of the third and final book in the trilogy – The Storm Weaver and the Sand. For a few days I thought I was going to be disappointed and miss out on how Sal and Shilly's story ended, but I'm glad to say that I managed to get my hands on a copy of the book and it is presently making its way to me through the post.
This book is highly recommended and I am patiently waiting to read the final book of The Change.
July 10, 2021
what do you know another story ruined right in the middle for a cheap twist. Happens every single time i try to read anything I dont think Im going to bother trying anymore
March 27, 2023
Loved it
June 11, 2013
Excellent follow-up to 'The Stone Mage & the Sea', starting with a a fantastic escape sequence across the Australian-style landscape, and then immersing us in the complex politics of the Stone Mages and Sky Wardens. It's deliberately-paced yet taut, the descriptions of this strange world are searing and immediate, we're introduced to some great new characters (including the endearingly hyperactive Skender and his solemn yet kind father), and believable new tensions arise between protagonists Sal and Shilly, both well on their way to adulthood and thrust into a conniving adult world, which make the story immensely readable. Great stuff.
September 30, 2012
Once you have met Shilly and Sal, you will understand how the lives of these two are intertwined to make a great adventure. You will not want to let up on the story until you see it through to the last page -- and you will not be disappointed.
Sean Williams uses the extremes of two magic forces, built ultimately on the same principles to show the futility of racism and the blindness of the uneducated. All the while immersing you in a grand adventure across the planet, with imaginative scenery and colorful characters.
It was a great story -- highly recommended.
Sean Williams uses the extremes of two magic forces, built ultimately on the same principles to show the futility of racism and the blindness of the uneducated. All the while immersing you in a grand adventure across the planet, with imaginative scenery and colorful characters.
It was a great story -- highly recommended.
July 26, 2010
It took me ages to get into it and continue on and on with it, but I think I read the last 3/4s of it in two days. That first 1/4 was hard... but then WHOOSH.
I adore it. The end half was amazing and all I could do was keep turning the pages.
I adore it. The end half was amazing and all I could do was keep turning the pages.
Read
July 29, 2011Continues the story and the intrigue grows. The conflict between the main characters was unexpected, but gives a greater sense of realism to them. I'm looking forward to discoering how it all ends.
January 23, 2012
It is one of the books I just wasn't able to put down. It doesn't happen very often that I care so deeply about the characters. Cannot wait to read the third one!
September 1, 2014
Interesting, different to other fantasies.
April 27, 2020
4.5 stars
March 14, 2013
Still a good story. The characters are particularly well drawn.
August 9, 2013
The magic gets more impressive in this book
Read
July 6, 2017Enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews