Untethered Sky

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This isn't a story about literal transformation, though, only the metaphorical transformation that occurs when the central dream of your life is won - and then something goes wrong. Beautifully told by Fonda Lee (my brain keeps trying to correct her name to Jane Fonda, aging is a curse), Untethered Sky tells the story of a rukher on a mission and the roc that brings all her closest-held dreams into being. The characters are written superbly. Even though the writing was understated, I could tell exactly what kind of people (or rocs) they were from the brief time I was with them. Every part of the book was crafted with this same care. I love stories like this: Untethered Sky doesn’t stay longer than it needs to, but it left an indelible impression on my heart nevertheless. thank you, i whispered, as she disappeared from my straining sight for the last time. for allowing me to hunt with you. for letting me borrow your strength. for lending me your wings. ”

Out of every five apprentice ruhkers, two will be killed or maimed, two will leave or be sent away, and only one will ever fly a roc. And the dangers do not diminish after that. Babak had seen apprentices come and go. He would place no odds on my success, yet his equanimity was an odd comfort, because I shared his blunt assessment: Either I would become a ruhker, or I would die trying. I would train and care for Zahra, yet she could never belong to me. In name, she belonged to Antrius the Bold and the Kingdom of Dartha, but even that was not true. A roc is always a wild thing, always God’s monster alone. When you love a person, you are expected to give them their freedom, but when you love a monster, you keep it caged. The story has a powerful ending with substantial growth for each of the major characters. Anyone who has ‘owned’ a pet can draw some parallels from this story. Untethered Sky is a rich and rewarding journey that soars. But aside from the feels, the two works are very different, which just showcases Fonda Lee’s incredible range.I feel bad about this, but Untethered Sky was just all right for me. I never warmed to it, not for any particular reason. The book is well-written (though nothing about the writing did much for me personally), the character arcs make sense, the world-building is (theoretically) interesting, and the presence of the manticores is genuinely frightening (this is one of the few things that 100% worked for me). Maybe this needed to be a full novel for it to work for me? Regardless, not the best first experience to have with an author, a resounding 'meh'. Ruhkers must be endlessly patient, determined, and stoic. They can’t express frustration, anger, or pain around their charges. During his apprenticeship, one of the other young ruhkers, Darius, had his arm broken by a roc while he was tethering it. He passed the leash to his other hand, tied it one-handed, and finished his chores cleaning the mews, sweeping with his right arm while his left hung dangling. All the while he never made a sound. After Darius’s arm healed, Babak gave him the next roc to train. A beautifully told story of a young woman, her magnificent, monstrous raptor, and her journey through grief, obsession, courage, and love."—Kate Elliott darius. darius and ester's relationship actually made me hurt sm. they. could. have. had. it all. 😭 they may not make grand gestures or profess their love loudly from the rooftops. but their love is real, and it's deeper than any words or actions could ever express. sometimes, the most powerful love stories are the ones that unfold quietly, in the spaces between words and actions. and in those quiet moments, their love speaks volumes ❤‍🩹 i actually cried myself numb when darius watched ester leave and he stood there stupidly without following her. but that ending healed me and gave me hope, that they got the chance to be happy and together someplace safe. the real star of the book was ester and zahra though <3

The length of this novella was also just right, which is not something I get to say often. But just as Lee knew to keep the story simple, she also knew exactly how to pace it and when to end it. The plot flowed smoothly, moving naturally from scenes of thrilling action and adventure to softer, more sorrowful moments without feeling rushed or experiencing any lulls. Perhaps the only exception to this was the ending, but I can’t decide if it was actually too abrupt or if I’m just letting my emotions get the better of me! Admittedly, it wasn’t the most satisfying conclusion, but I can also accept that it was appropriate given the overall themes and tone of the book.

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Fonda Lee weaves an enchanted world of giant majestic birds, those who would bond with them, and the terrifying monsters they must pursue. In this beautifully spun tale, a woman driven by loss and the pursuit of justice will be tested by the limits of her endurance, and how much she is willing to sacrifice."—P. Djèlí Clark I loved Untethered Sky. As I said, I do wish the novella was longer, but that's only because I can't get enough of Lee's writing and storytelling quality. Fonda Lee hasn't let me down yet with her books. And I believe this trend will only ceaselessly continue, especially with Jade Shards upcoming publication later this year and more. The dark days acclimate the roc to the ruhker’s voice and presence. In the long period of sensory deprivation, the fledging starts to forget her old life, to feel that perhaps she has always been in this dark room, that the voice of her trainer is the only constant, the only thing there is, the only thing there ever will be.

I tilted my face toward the sky, trying to soak in enough sunlight to carry me through the days to come. Then I went into the pen to join my splendid monster in darkness. Untethered Sky is a story about loyalty, friendship, vengeance, and unrequited love. It examines the ties that form between human and nature, and the potential strength those ties bring. It’s also a testament to the power of dedicating your life to a craft, and the sacrifices you make in becoming an expert in your field. I nodded in wordless thanks, relaxing a little into her optimism. Most ruhkers paid little attention to the apprentices, but Nasmin was one of the younger women in the mews and one of the few who’d been kind to me when I’d arrived a year ago. The simple knowledge that I had a friend who’d gone through what I was facing and was confident in my survival made it easier to not think about the alternative.Lee follows up her phenomenal Green Bone Saga trilogy with this fantastic stand-alone epic fantasy novella that feels like a classic folktale.... Untethered Sky is an evocative, emotional novella you’ll want to finish in a single sitting because it’s just that good"— BuzzFeed

Fonda Lee is an author I hold in exceptionally high esteem. Her Green Bone Saga was nothing less than transformational in my understanding of modern fantasy. That trilogy didn't simply push the boundaries of what is expected of fantasy, it does a pirouette over the fence into uncharted territory. When I wrapped up Jade Legacy, the final book in the trilogy, I knew that Lee had scored me as a lifelong reader.Judging this by my novella standards, Untethered Sky is one of the best standalone novellas I’ve read.