Publisher's Weekly Review
Like the other floating islands comprising the Skylands, Holmstead is a Meritocracy, where family status can be won or lost in a duel. When Conrad was 10, his uncle Ulrich murdered Conrad's father, the archduke, and claimed his title. Ulrich then took Conrad's younger sister, Ella, to raise as his heir and exiled Conrad and his mother to live in financial precarity. After a monstrous sky serpent called a gorgantaun kills Conrad's mother, Conrad, now 16, strikes a deal with status-obsessed Ulrich: if Conrad achieves greatness within one of the esteemed Twelve Trades, he and Ella can reunite. Conrad gains membership into Hunter, the defenders of the Skylands, and schemes to become a captain. But first, he and seven other trainees must survive the Gauntlet--a perilous competition between skyship crews to slay the most gorgantauns. Following a somewhat melodramatic start, debut author Gregson plunges headlong into a first-person-present adventure that alternates high-stakes action with nuanced interpersonal drama. Mutinous machinations and improbable alliances distinguish this rousing trilogy opener, and snarky banter and sophisticated character arcs lend dimension to the intersectionally diverse cast. Ages 14--up. Agent: Heather Cashman, Storm Literary. (Jan.)
Kirkus Review
To save his younger sister from their villainous uncle, a 16-year-old enters a perilous contest that involves killing massive sky serpents. Anyone living on the socially stratified floating islands can rise in status by dueling or entering a Trade. Conrad, once a High, is demoted after his uncle kills his father and assumes the role of Archduke. After his mother is killed, Conrad tries to reunite with Ella, the sister his uncle abducted, but Uncle demands that he first enter the Selection and rise through the ranks of one of the Twelve Trades. Chosen by Hunter, which is responsible for exterminating the menacing, steel-scaled gorgantauns, Conrad is soon taking part in the Gauntlet, a deadly contest between airships to see which crew can kill the most gorgantauns. But he won't just have to battle sky serpents--Conrad also faces the ever-present threat of mutiny, a murder attempt, and shifting loyalties. Amid budding friendships, the crew unearths startling truths about their world, revealing a more profound conflict than Conrad envisioned. Gregson's YA debut provides a skillful blend of action, suspense, and comic relief. After each airship battle, readers can barely draw breath before political intrigues turn the story on its head, but this is also a touching story of found family and personal growth. Most major characters read white; in this racially diverse world, one crew member has dark skin. A thrilling and brilliantly realized series opener; readers will clamor for the next installment. (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In the Meritocracy, rising is everything. A single duel can raise or lower an entire family's status. Conrad of Urwin has fallen from High to Low after the death of his father. Just barely scraping by, he is determined to rise again and free his younger sister from his vicious uncle. He joins the Selection and is drafted by Hunter, the most dangerous Trade of all the Select. In Hunter, he will have the chance to rise but also faces the daily risk of death by gorgantauns--massive metal and steel beasts that threaten the floating islands upon which the society of the Meritocracy lives. While fighting for survival, Conrad must also contend with his bully cousin Pound, the mysterious Bryce of Damon, and reconciling his need to rise at all costs with the unexpected friendships he is making on the ship. When an even bigger threat emerges, and it becomes harder to distinguish friend from foe, Conrad has to reconsider everything he knows about the world he lives in. This debut YA fantasy has an intricate class-based dystopia, teeth-clenching and gory battle scenes, complex and well-developed characters with constantly evolving relationships, found family, loyalty, and a hint of romance. First in an upcoming trilogy, this book is highly recommended to readers who love fantasy and dystopia.
