Imprison the Sky (Elementae #2) - A.C. Gaughen

Ain’t no better life , better life Than a cremate on Ancora Ain’t no better life, better life It’s the ship that I adore-ah

Firstly an enormous thank you to the lovely people at Bloomsbury Publishing who sent me an Advanced Readers and finished copy of Imprison the Sky. This is no way alters or influences my opinion of the book.

I mean wow. I was told by my best friend that I had to read this series and after book 1 I was hooked. I didn’t think it could get any better - I also didn’t think it was possible to love a second book more than the first, but this was it.

Imprison the Sky (book 2) on the top with the ARC and finished copy of Reign the Earth (book 1)

Similar to the characterisation formatting in Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman Illuminae series, Imprison the Sky centres around a new character (although she appeared for a page or two in book 1) Aspasia, a young Elementae who is captain of her own Ship and crew… or so we think. Aspasia “works for” a powerful Black Market Empress Cyrus who has her trading in various goods, including slaves. We of course see the characters from book 1 towards the end, and one character in particular from the first book who plays a central role in the second. A personal favourite I might add.

Like Shalia in Reign the Earth, Aspasia is Elementae. She is able to manipulate and bend the air (wind) to her will. Her gifts prove handy in a fight, not to mention valuable in the grand scheme of things. She is a bisexual character which I loved reading as it was so honest and real. She’s a protagonist you can’t help but fall in love with, as she is all the things we were missing from Shalia’s character. She is courageous, she is confident and she possesses a ruthless nature I feel book needed for the future installments.

The next section will now be a spoiler sections so please be aware! You have been warned!

* * * * * * * * * * * KAIROS MY BABY IS ALIVE! I was so damn happy to see my favourite character from Reign the Earth back, alive and playing such a pivotal role in this story. He is what links the two worlds and allows them to collide. He is a beautiful character and the perfect love interest for Aspasia. They balance each others qualities which is why they are my new OTP and SHIP (no pun intended but a little).

Kairos tugged on my fingers, and I turned, looking into his eyes. I saw how he looked at me, without anger or reproach. He stared at me in awe. Fully looked at me, like he was finally under-standing all the little pieces I was so desperate to press into his hands.

He is one of the most romantic male characters I’ve read.

On another note… Bast was an interesting character. The beginning of the book I felt quite bad for him and was mad at Aspasia’s use of him but then he went and slept with Cyrus and became and outright villain towards the end. It was a very Tamlin moment from A Court of Thorns and Roses moment for me.

It was also amazing to see our beloved main characters from Reign the Earth towards the end of the book. I got way too emotional when Kairos and Shalia reunited, just as happy as I was about Aspasia and her brother… also a very heartbreaking moment, but in a sense there would have been a mighty storm waiting for book three if his blood was still up for grabs. (hide spoiler)]

I am so excited to see who’s story we will learn next and who will be the main focus of the next book! These books have been so amazing so I cannot wait to continue the Elementae series! Once again, thank you so much Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me both an ARC and finished copy of Imprison the Sky.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review was originally posted on my goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2707189868?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1