TITLE: Stranger Skies
AUTHOR: Pascale Lacelle
PUBLISHER: Margaret K. McElderry Books
PRICE: Hardcover – $21.99
In 2023, Pascale Lacelle enchanted lovers of dark academia-flavored fantasy with Curious Tides, the first entry in the Drowned Gods Trilogy. Set in a world where magical practitioners take their powers from the phases of the moon, this first novel introduced us to a unique and intriguing cast of characters. While practitioners born under the four common phases of the moon are at the height of their powers during said phases, “Eclipse-born” are shunned for their increased powers and potential to Collapse. This overclocking of their powers turns their blood silver and leads to massive destruction… or so the people of this world are led to believe.
It behooves anyone to read Curious Tides before diving into Stranger Skies, as these books are inextricably linked. And, while one could potentially enjoy what Stranger Skies brings to the table without what comes before, it won’t hold nearly the same emotional impact. This is a story meant to be read in full—so know that coming in.
The Story
One of the major unseen characters of Curious Tides was Cornus Clover: an author from hundreds of years ago who penned a novel about a scholar who traveled between many worlds. Much of the action of this first book hinged on the belief that the events of Clover’s novel either had happened or would happened. Stranger Skies, the middle book of the trilogy, is the upshot of this.
Four main characters, who also serve as rotating narrators, return for this book. Emory was initially believed to be a Healer, but discovered over the course of Curious Tides that she is Eclipse-born. Not only that, but she is a Tidecaller: able to use the abilities of others. She and her friend Romie, reunited during the events of the first book, now find themselves moving through many different but parallel worlds. A dying forest houses witches who take their powers from the ground; an arid wasteland is inhabited by people who augment themselves with draconic powers; yet another world has banned all music for fear of upsetting its gods. But all these worlds have similar symbols, legends, and traditions that seem to link them.
As Emory and Romie travel the multiverse, their friends Baz and Kai slip backwards through time thanks to Baz’s Timespinner abilities. But they end up somewhere very specific: in the time of Cornus Clover, seemingly before he’s begun to write his legendary story. The two time travelers discover secrets about their family’s pasts, unfortunate truths about the status of Eclipse-born, and the truth behind Clover’s influence in this time.
Across both settings, the world laid out in Curious Tides grows ever more expansive. The truth behind the gods known as the Tides becomes apparent, overturning the mythology of the first book and paving the way for something grander still.
What Works
One of the best things about the Drowned Gods Trilogy so far is the aesthetic. The vibe, as they say, is impeccable, full of fancy old-timey literary salons and parties and dusty libraries. Referring to things as “dark academia” doesn’t always hit the mark, but both Curious Tides and Stranger Skies bring that feeling home. It’s not just about setting the action in a school, although that is certainly there as well. The whole story is grounded in the desire and passion for knowledge, and the many directions that can take a person. That alone can make this a dense read, but not an unrewarding one.
With Stranger Skies in particular, there’s also a great deal of worldbuilding—a building of several worlds, in fact. This could go horribly awry, as Emory and Romie and their companions jump from plane to plane, with each having its own vast history and mythology. While we only see a couple of these other worlds (the rest will have to wait for the third installment), they are well built-out. Everything feels as though it could very well have existed underneath the world of Curious Tides for an eternity; none of these worlds feel appended.
Just as each world feels unique, each point-of-view character feels unique. It’s a common trend to throw the narrative back and forth between or among characters, but this only works if the characters are unique enough in their thought processes to justify this perspective switch. In the case of Stranger Skies, this is completely valid. Romie and Emory travel together, but they have very different views of Emory’s growing Tidecaller powers and a growing distrust between them. Baz and Kai go back in time together, but each boy’s powers give them very different perspectives into what’s happening around them. And, without giving away the end game of this book, it’s definitely wise to let each of these four have a hand in showcasing the action.
It’s also worth mentioning that the print version of this book is gorgeous, with really lovely moon phases accompanying the page numbers and some fantastic typography for each section. If at all possible, treat yourself and get this one in hardcover.
What Doesn’t Work
So much of Stranger Skies is extremely strong, to the point that there’s very little to criticize about it. If there is one problem, though, it is that it suffers from a somewhat bloated supporting cast. This was an issue also present in Curious Tides, but it was a bit more excusable as the action took place within a school broadly and within a secret society with a variety of differently-powered members narrowly. As the action is divided across time and space, though, the cast creep becomes a bit much.
In Baz and Kai’s half of the story, things aren’t too bad. There are a few minor characters in addition to their core supporting cast, but they’re never really built up to be more than a supporting cast. Emory and Romie, on the other hand, are building up a large following by necessity. By virtue of the prophetic story they are fulfilling, they gain three more companions (two of whom we get to know in depth in this book); one more, equally important, also joins in. That’s a sizable cast weighing down this half of the book, but they’re well developed. But then two more characters from Curious Tides are added in, one as a love interest for Romie, as well as more characters from one of the realms through which the group travels. Which is not to say Romie’s romance should be abandoned; if anything, it should have more focus, perhaps putting aside one or two of the hangers-on. This important relationship, especially placed opposite her failing friendship with Emory, feels rather sidelined.
A cast of thousands is hardly a problem in a fantasy epic, but it does feel a bit like some characters are there who don’t need to be, leading to others not getting as much spotlight as they ought to.
Final Score
Stranger Skies is absolutely stellar as a book: the story, the characters, the worldbuilding, even the book as you hold it in your hands. If you are a lover of Victorian/Edwardian vibes, dark urban fantasy, and sprawling magical worlds you can get lost in, you owe it to yourself to dive into the Drowned Gods Trilogy.
The only thing working against it is the occasional imbalance of the cast. With one more book to go and the cast list already bursting at the seams, it’s starting to get a little worrying. But even that can’t ruin this read. It’s a perfect book for the lengthening autumn evenings.
Featured Image: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games – is the flagship show of the Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig and LeRon Dawkins are joined by friends, fellow creators, indie developers, and industry veterans to discuss the latest in the world of video games, including news, rumors, new releases, and what they’ve been playing. They also answer listener questions, debate important industry topics and Boss Rush Banter discussion points, and feature a rotating weekly segment. New episodes post every Monday.
Follow and Connect with Boss Rush Podcast on Social Media
X/Twitter + Bluesky + Instagram + Threads + YouTube
Listen to Boss Rush Podcast on Podcast Services
Apple Podcasts + Spotify + Goodpods + Amazon + More Links
Thank you for supporting Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network
Thank you for watching or listening to The Boss Rush Podcast. If you’re watching this episode on YouTube, hit the Subscribe button, Like the video, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss an episode! If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, consider leaving us a rating and a review as it helps with discoverability and growth. Support Boss Rush on Patreon for exclusive content, early access and audio versions of shows, become a Patreon Producer, and more. Visit our website for all of our content including reviews, news, daily Boss Rush Banter discussion topics, listicles, features, and more. However you support us, it means so much to us. Thank you for your continued support of the Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network.
Leave a Reply