Callie Revell's Reviews > Bless the Skies

Bless the Skies is not a book to read before bed—not only because of the dark themes, but also because you won't be able to put it down and will lose sleep reading until the early hours of morning.

Julie Landry has created a world that is heartbreaking—yet still believable—in its cruelty and complexity. Forces of nature become deities not to be reckoned with, and those who refuse to bow to the will of the Skies can expect disaster in return. The geography and culture of Vilez is fascinating and intriguing. However, make no mistake—this is not Narnia, this is not Middle Earth. You will not be left with any desire to be transported to this fantasy land. In fact, you will become increasingly thankful this world is not your own. If you are like me, you will also be faced with creeping disgust and disappointment as you slowly realize this world has more in common with ours than you would like.

This book explores the limits of human suffering in a way that is both accessible and off-putting—a perfect balance that will leave you on the edge of your seat. It fosters a bit of a hatred in me for human nature as a whole, and if I’d had a physical copy of the book in my hands during some moments, I might’ve thrown it across the room. I felt so angry at the injustice of it all! When a book can evoke a physical reaction in me, I know it has captured my imagination completely.

The setting, including the geography and religion, might be a bit difficult to catch onto at first, but it’s not so complicated that it creates an obstacle. By the end of the book, you will have bought into the whole thing and might catch yourself saying, "Damn the Sun!" on occasion.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story, and I was so enthralled that I spent many more hours a day than normal with this book. The only concern I have would be that the content might be disturbing to readers below the YA or YA+ audience, so I would encourage parents of preteens interested in this book to read it first and decide if you would like to pass it along to your child or wait a few more years first. Julie is a captivating storyteller, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future!