Review: The Last Uncharted Sky

The Last Uncharted Sky by Curtis Craddock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read and enjoyed the first in this series when it came out several years ago (long enough ago that I didn't remember that much), and somehow missed the middle one. But there was enough "previously-on" that I didn't feel too confused.

It's a wonderful high-concept swashbuckler, with a world of floating skylands and skyships plying between them, multiple imaginative types of sorcerers, political intrigue, religious fanaticism, ancient magical artefacts, action, adventure, exploration, quests, espionage, loyalty, friendship, mentorship, twue wuv... really, it has a bit of everything, but doesn't feel patched together as a result. All of the elements are well handled, and the multiple plot threads are brought to a rousing and satisfying conclusion.

Unfortunately, in the pre-publication ARC I got from Netgalley, it's clear that the author is an extremely sloppy typist and has a slightly smaller vocabulary than he thinks he does, two things that will take a lot of work from a good editor to correct. Hopefully it will get that work, because it is a terrific story.

And the protagonist is exactly the kind of protagonist I love: an intelligent, capable woman who is also unshakeably determined to do the right thing, which is the kind thing; who wins over others (even the crazy memories of her awful ancestors) by her goodness and insight and empathy, without ever being weak or foolishly idealistic, and accepts risk herself rather than pushing it onto others.

Now I want to read the second volume.

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