ARDENT WINGS ON JEALOUS SKIES

Sisters in a world of floating islands question their respective destinies in Lorimer’s YA fantasy novel and series opener.

On the floating isle of Volturnus, violet-haired teen Effie Strait watches her big sister, Vanna, fail during the annual Ascension Ceremony. This year, none of the Gifted (who possess such abilities as Vanna’s “windshaping”) manage to tame a wild Leviathan (animals that spend their lifetimes in the sky). But Vanna is still a talented dragoon, belonging to a corps that helps protect Volturnus. All islands in the Zephyr Archipelago are under the protection of Celestials, Gifted crystalline beings who thwarted a piratical reign of terror (“Petty crews piloting kite-ships and steam-powered reavers harried the merchant fleets and trolley lines carrying goods and people to and fro across the archipelago”) 11 years earlier. The dragoons’ latest mission, however, which involves them looking into a potential rebellion, finds them debating what exactly the Celestials and the Celestial-appointed island governors have been up to. Meanwhile, Effie laments that her Gift hasn’t yet manifested. Even if her Gift never shows up, she’s determined to get an opportunity to tame a Leviathan and become one of the much sought-after Leviathan Pilots. Lorimer’s briskly-paced novel introduces readers to a fascinating world. A bevy of curious elements crop up, including the Long Drop (a fall into the “bare sky” is an infinite plummet), Leviathan (colossal beasts resembling dolphins, tortoises, and more), and glimpses at the harrowing pirate life. The contrasts between the Strait sisters make these intriguing characters even richer; reserved Vanna tends to roll with the punches while Effie rarely holds back her emotions. The younger sister can be overwhelming at times, as she blatantly resents those (including a close friend) with Gifts and seemingly believes she’s worthless without one of her own. (What she does to get what she wants provides a gleefully unpredictable turn.) Where Effie’s choices take her, along with a handful of dangling mysteries (like the Jokai, who “bless” people with Gifts), are left for sequels to resolve.

A wholly absorbing, otherworldly tale of family, magic, and astonishing creatures.