“‘It’s okay, I’ve got you,’ he said. ‘I promise you will come to no harm as long as I have breath.’” ~Toward A Secret Sky
This book was a brilliant adventure. One I couldn’t put down. You may be wondering why I gave it four stars…I shall tell you…
THE ENDING RIPPED MY HEART OUT OF MY CHEST AND TORE IT INTO A MILLION PIECES
*clears throat* It was a great read, but when I tell you I sobbed…
~Review~
(SPOILER FREE)
4/5 Stars
(Briefing)
After her mother’s death, Maren is sent to live with her grandparents in Scotland. There, a mysterious plot crawls around the village, and she takes it upon herself to uncover its secrets. With the help of an Angel, a coded journal, and new friends, Maren discovers nothing is as it seems.
(First Impression 5/5)
There are three reasons (excuses) why I had to buy this book…
1. One of my favorite authors wrote a review on it. (I love you, Stephanie Garber)
2. The synopsis made my eyes water with excitement. (Does anyone else sneeze when they get excited? Just me? Okay.)
3. I probably shouldn’t say this, but yes. I bought it for the cover. Can you blame me? There’s nothing wrong with wanting a pretty book.
It’s been a bit since I read Toward A Secret Sky, which just goes to show how memorable this book is. I have a horrible memory, as my friends and family know, so this review alone is solid evidence that Toward A Secret Sky is an amazing read. I rest my case.
I loved the mysterious and fantastical atmosphere of this story. It was a great balance of all things entertaining. A beautiful story, albeit emotional. The first sentence sucked my mind in, and the rest of the words wouldn’t let go. And then the ending whacked my brain with a hammer…
(Character Development 4/5)
These characters were great. Gavin stole the show, what with his muscles and attractive facial features, but Maren…gotta love a queen protagonist. All the characters grew in some way, and I love following along on those journeys. Walking beside a character as they overcome their obstacles, find their voices, and discover their goals and strengths is no easy thing to conjure up, yet Heather achieved this.
(World-Building 5/5)
SCOTLAND. Need I say more? I LOVE all things Scotland, Ireland, England, and anything abroad. It’s just so magical and I wish I dared to live in a place like those. Heather did a fantastic job at creating the perfect setting for this mysterious fantasy novel.
(Emotions 5/5)
Maren had gone through so much in such a short time. The depiction of her emotional and mental stability was so heart-wrenching. The pain Maren was in, the loneliness and loss she was overcome with, brought me to tears.
But the ending was what had me drowning in my sorrows.
(Style 5/5)
You know when you read a book, but you’re not REALLY reading it? It’s as if the words all click together like a puzzle piece and suddenly, you’re looking at a complete picture in your mind. That was this book. The words were simply parts of a vibrant image I will never forget. I also have never come across a book both fantasy and mystery with such a solid foundation.
(Cleanliness 4/5)
There were no major heat waves of inappropriate situations. The romance wasn’t sexual in any way, but sweet and pure. There is a scene where sexual abuse is vaguely implied/attempted (nothing happens, but almost) and violence isn’t out of the picture, though nothing too dramatic. Just a bit of…demon fighting…
But I don’t like gore, or demons, and this book didn’t unsettle me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t catch any Christian principles sewn between the lines—I had purchased this book from a Christian bookstore—apart from the angels (and attractive demons…? Oh, that’s right. Demons probably bring the clean scale down a bit. They are depicted as hot though, which is a little weird and extremely unfair.) Even so, for the most part, this book was a clean read, especially compared to today’s YA world. It was refreshing.
(Conclusion 4/5)
No. No no. We won’t talk about this. The plot was written precisely and had a beautiful consistency. I enjoyed this story very much. Alas, the ending was a disappointment. And I mean the near, near end. After the heartbreaking conclusion, all I was left with was half a paragraph of an epilogue. No SeCoNd BoOk. *cries in a desperate plea for help*
It wasn’t all bad, but my heart aches in remembrance.
I still, wholeheartedly, recommend this book. Especially if you’ve fallen into a tragic reading slump as I had.
Genres: young adult, romance, fantasy, fiction, mystery, supernatural
!TRIGGER WARNING!
Emotional, demons, violence, abuse, mentions of sexual assault
And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10 NIV
Julia Rose Books 