Quotes
A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2020 Nominee
2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List (Young Adult Fiction)
An Amazon Best Book of the Month for April 2019
Publishers Weekly Best Books 2019
* "The richly textured world, painted in snow and fire, filled with disparate, diverse people who all want to win the war, is background to a powerful, slow burning story that develops Linné and Revna's reluctant friendship, their growing understanding of the world, and their emerging identities as soldiers who may not entirely trust the country they are willing to die for. Undercurrents of religion, hypocrisy, betrayal, and honor roil beneath the alternating third-person perspectives.... A fierce and compelling breakout debut that should not be missed."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Bartlett's electrifying feminist fantasy debut uses keenly wrought characters, harrowing action sequences, and creative yet economical worldbuilding to explore misogynistic military culture and the human cost of war."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Rich characterizations and an enemy that, while it looms in the background, never feels quite as threatening as the country the girls are fighting for complete a story set against the bright, brutal backdrop of war. A breathless series starter from a new voice to watch."—Booklist, starred review
* "Full of sharply realized characterizations, intriguing magical elements, and twisty plots."
—School Library Journal, starred review
"An empowering story about the power of female friendships that questions the blind loyalty associated with patriotism and provides insight into the role that women have actively played in battle."—BCCB
"Has the feel and imagery of a World War II novel, but in a world run on magic... This novel is about beating the odds, female empowerment, and female relationships. It's a strong novel and I loved it all."—Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana (Frederick, MD)
"Throughly enjoyable. Linne and Revna deal with complicated issues of family, country, loyalty, and trust and how those intermingle... Their conflicting relationship, stemming in large part from their different backgrounds, drives the story as they both work for the success of the women aviators in a world with fascinating living metal planes."—Gwendolyn Baltera, Buttonwood Books & Toys (Cohasset, MA)
"A fantastic story of fierce female friendships, flying, and finding your place...The world doesn't have enough stories about girls who need each other to survive--and this fills that void amazingly."—Amanda Quain, One More Page Books (Arlington, VA)
"Set in a world torn apart by war...how they get out and what they learn about each other is the main point."—School Library Connection