He ups the ante in Starsight to unprecedented levels by introducing a plethora of alien races for Spensa to contend with. In Skyward, Sanderson explored the nature of identity, both human and artificial. It’s a lot to handle, especially when she’s cut off from everyone she’s ever known. Along the way, Spensa must covertly navigate through a corrupt shadow government that rules through secrecy and extortion, all while her cytonic powers start to grow. She must now face new challenges against horrifying demons-universe-swallowing “delvers”-not only in thrilling space battles, but in metaphysical and symbolic trials as well. On a surface level, she examines a societal hierarchy that is determined to keep ‘lesser races,’ such as humans, under government control. In the excellent sequel Starsight, Spensa is pushed far out of her comfort zone (if she ever really had one to begin with) and is forced into facing what she fears most. In the first volume of Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series, we explored Spensa’s metamorphosis from an angry, defiant teen into a determined leader who is just starting to learn what kind of person she really is.

What’s a girl got to do to catch a break? Lucky for us readers, we get to continue Spensa’s story and find out. It’s enough to terrify even the strongest of souls. The mysterious AI, and your cytonic powers of understanding faster-than-light radio signals. Is there any period in life more difficult to navigate than adolescence? Worrying about school, figuring out which hottie you want to smooch, and finding new ways to act rebellious can be exhausting.

Sanderson starsight