Review: Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird, #2) by Claudia Gray

Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird, #2) by Claudia Gray
Publication date: Nov. 3, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Young Adult - Sci-fi
Source: Received from publisher for review (Thanks!)
Summary: Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions. Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared. (greads.com)

The Good

What a solid follow up to A Thousand Pieces of You! The author has pushed this series in a direction that completely ups the stakes, the emotions and the consequences of the creation of the Firebird. Even though it took me a couple chapters to get re-acclimated with the characters and what happened previously, enough hints were dropped to get me right back on track and I was happy to be reunited with Marguerite, Paul and Theo. While they and her parents are all in danger, it is Marguerite who is the main target for their enemies and the Triadverse. Because she’s the perfect traveler, they want to use her abilities for their own nefarious purposes. She refuses to cooperate until Paul is attacked and his soul (or more scientifically his consciousness) is splintered across multiple dimensions. And the only way to get him back safely is to search for each part of his soul and retrieve it by doing her enemies’ bidding. It takes Marguerite, along with Theo, to different worlds that continue to teach her more about fate, destiny and who she, along with the people she loves, are.

I thoroughly enjoy the adventure and seeing what each new world brought. With each jump, the author gives us tiny details about how each reality is slightly different and I appreciated how she built every world Marguerite found herself in. But beyond all the science fiction and dire situations, I love that the story deals a lot with choice. How one choice can completely change your path and consequences can maybe even change who you are. Even though there is something recognizable in every version of Marguerite, Paul and Theo, they are ultimately different. I like the idea that your choices shape you and this is something that hits Marguerite strongly as she takes over her other selves’ bodies temporarily and sees what could’ve been.

(Minor) reservations

I wouldn’t have minded a bit more romance! I think that’s what was missing. We didn’t get to see the Marguerite and Paul we know together romantically that much during the previous book and they spent most of this book apart. I still rooted for the love they felt for each other in spite of it though. (But poor Theo, I adore him.)

Do I recommend?

I do! The way this book ends left me clamoring for more! I can’t wait to see what the author does next.