Clan of the Skyriders | By Florence Phillips | Book Review
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Contents
Book Blurb
My Review
About the Author
Book Blurb
A rebel huntress with a heavy secret – A young chief with a broken heart – A once-mighty clan on the brink of extinction.
Fierce and misunderstood, Efalaa Vonaborn, rejects the strict rules of her clan and yearns for a new life, free from the invisible wounds of her past.
But her childhood friend, Morgunn, the son of the Chief, reveres the traditions that have kept the Skyriders safe from the Raider-riddled Wastelands.When a earthquake destroys their village, a handful of grief-stricken survivors turn to Morgunn to lead, and both face an agonising choice between duty and freedom.As Efalaa chooses exile and leaps into the unknown on her stolen bird, with nothing but grit in her saddlebags to survive the Wastelands, a heartbroken Morgunn must stay and save what’s left of the Clan from starvation and despair.
They’ve never needed each other more, yet what are the odds they will survive the trials ahead, let alone be reunited?
“Outsiders gaped at our tall, strong bodies, elaborately braided hair and harmonious features. They marvelled at our feathery mounts and wondered how we kept from falling out of the skies to our deaths. They called us Skyriders. We just called ourselves the Clan.”
My Review
This is a dystopian/ epic fantasy/ romance, but set in a world that has reverted to almost primitive times. This book reminded me a lot of the Clan of the Cave Bear books by Jean. M Auel (which I love), mostly for the setting and the clan community and lifestyle. The people have giant birds that they can ride and use to hunt, I liked this added fantasy element. This reminded me of the Rukhin people from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I liked how the birds were part of their everyday life and fitted in perfectly to this dystopian world and clan dynamics.
Plot Summary
Efalaa battles with herself and the strict rules and traditions of the clan. When devastation hits her village, Efalaa must choose to stay behind and help rebuild a community she doesn’t believe in, or follow her instincts and leave everything she knows behind.
Morgunn, the new chief, must do what it takes to keep the clan together and try to get Efalaa to stay. But Efalaa steals one of the clan’s giant birds and flies off to find a new life. She quickly realises that the world awaiting her is cruel, and she realises she actually misses Morgunn. She faces a fate worse than death in the wastelands, and it takes extreme measures to survive. She is torn between finding a new life and having to survive, or returning to the clan.
Plot
I enjoyed the story. It was an easy to follow plot with slow building romance, for most of which Efalaa was in denial. The story had a few slow points, but overall had great pacing. I felt engaged most of the time, and each scene added something new or interesting.
Characters
The story is told from two points of view, from Efalaa and Morgunn. It was fun seeing their conflicting feelings and misunderstandings, but at the same time tackled real issues. There are themes of trauma from sexual assault that felt very real. This difficult subject was handled with sensitivity and was more about Efalaa’s journey of healing than an actual romance.
Efalaa was a well written character. Despite all her flaws and strong misbeliefs, you couldn’t help but root for her and want her to be happy. I didn’t really like Morgunn. But he had a lot to deal with, and was trying to do his best all the time, but he seemed to be so brainwashed by the clan ways that he had no common sense.
Setting
I liked the setting. The writing isn’t overly descriptive, but I had a clear picture of the village and the cave they took sanctuary in. I imagined everything to be similar to the settings in the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean. M. Auel, like in the Mammoth Hunters book.
There was a lot of detail to do with the season and what they could plant and harvest, what materials they had to help with survival, and the plants and animals in the surroundings. I appreciated these small details and explanations into what they were doing. The author had researched everything really well. All the small details that went into everything made it feel like a real world and real people. With the survival parts it made the stakes feel high, and the danger real.
Summary
Overall, this was a good read all about survival, love, and overcoming challenges. I would recommend this to anyone interested in dystopian fantasy and to fans of the Clan of the Cave Bear series. I look forward to reading the other books in this trilogy.
“The moonlight crept through the cracks in the battered door, and my breath was like a silver cloud. Hopelessness hung in the air. I could smell death.”
About the Author- Florence Phillips
A word from the author-
I’m so pleased to be sharing the Skyriders’ world with you. I started writing as a hobby years and years ago, and the more I wrote, the more I loved writing. I’m in love with stories and characters and making the words behave.
Florence Phillips Author of Clan of the Skyriders
I can’t remember how I imagined the world of the Skyriders or Efalaa and Morgunn’s love story. I’m sure it was the result of much aimless daydreaming. I just know that one day I had a story to tell. And then another, then another…
I have already written three books in the Skyriders series, and book 4 is well on its way. I still have many stories waiting in my head, so if you like dystopian worlds, strong female characters and love stories, stay around!
Check out Florence Phillip’s website
Connect with her on social media!
other books in the trilogy
About the reviewer- Jenny sandiford
Hi I’m Jenny. I am passionate about promoting new authors and sharing any amazing books I find with the world. I am a book blogger, bookstagrammer, YA fantasy writer and travel writer.
I’m also a lover of nature, hiking, Harry Potter, cats, fantasy lands and quiet places.
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