Synopsis
Fleeing from the bone palace and crashing into the waters below its steep walls, Lufeng and her siblings reach Gear, with its huge deadly water wheels, where their sister Sangshu is waiting for them. In the chaos of the enormous waves, within moments they’re snatched away and taken into rebel territory, where they learn more of the deadly experiments Zinc has wreaked upon the people.
Loyal to Copper now, Sangshu herself is a victim of Zinc’s experiments. Desperate to find her family, she races through Gear to Engine, ruthless Zinc’s industrial heartland, where she burns with a desire to fix her own mistakes and those of others and find a way to save her world.
Review
A River From The Sky is a lyrical slice of science fantasy that flows so beautifully, you could sail to the heavens on how lush and rich it is.
It concludes the Natural Engines duology that began with A Palace Near The Wind, and it provides an incredible conclusion to the journey. In my opinion, it surpasses the first book and really cements this series as a must-read for any fan of SFF.
There might be some who argue that these novellas should have been lumped together into one novel-length story. However, I believe the decision to keep these books as two independent stories pays off in so many ways, not least in the dual narrative that is introduced in this book.
A Palace Near The Wind is told entirely from Liu Lufeng’s perspective. She has tree bark for skin, belonging to a tribe of tree-folk, and is selected to become a princess in the palace. This leads to conspiracies and secrets being revealed that threaten to disrupt the natural order of things, and Lufeng is forced to escape.
A River From The Sky is what happens once Lufeng has escaped, and it takes place primarily from the perspective of Lufeng’s sister, who is acting as a kind of gifted rebel in an industrial city. The story flashes back and forth between the viewpoints of the two sisters and this allows greater scope for speculation and exploration. The book is a lot more like a conversation around the issues of nature vs progress and the impact of technology on the natural world, as opposed to a manifesto. And I really loved how the tone allows your mind to absorb more than just the story being told. It lets you soak up the themes and ideas too.
Ai Jiang has such a knack for writing complex family dynamics, and that’s on show here. Both sisters are powerful characters in their own right, but it’s the relationship between them that really crackles. For most of the story, they’re kept apart physically, but the slow yawning of realisation that they will meet acts as a fantastic method to propel the story onwards, and it helps to keep the pace up from beginning to end. It’s very easy to devour this book in one sitting, and I thoroughly recommend that you do.
Overall, this first series from Ai Jiang mixes philosophy with emotion, the cerebral with the heartfelt, and allows room for big ideas to breathe even in a small space. It’s mature and insightful, and told with the skill of a true master. This is a thoroughly worthwhile and satisfying end to a fantastical duology that takes a look at our relationships with each other and the world we inhabit, and it will leave you with plenty to ponder, and even more to feel.
A River From The Sky is a spring of fresh water that will sate your SFF thirst.
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