golden flight – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★.5
Audience: YA Dystopian / Sci-fi
Length: 528 pages
Author: S.K. Ali
Publisher: Penguin Teen
Release Date: September 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Concluding S. K. Ali’s powerful duology, The Keeper’s Records of Revolution, Golden Flight returns to a divided world with war on the horizon.

How difficult is it to crash the party of the decade? Literally crash it?

The Golden Flight happens once every ten years — a gala to honor elites fallen in service of Upper Earth’s brutal hold on earth’s remaining populace and dwindling resources.

It’s a party where cunning new technology gets unveiled to masked revelers thirsty for fresh entertainment.

It’s also a party Raisa and Nayf plan to infiltrate to bring Upper Earth down for good.

Even with a known traitor, and a mysterious, ruthless avenger in their midst, pulling off a dangerous mission in enemy territory feels entirely possible with record-keeper Khalda at the helm. To crack into Upper Earth, simply find strategic details hidden in the records.

However, they soon discover the toll of running a crew with competing, secretive the lines between friend and foe begin to blur to violent ends.

But on an oil rig at the edge of the world, the sun rises and shines on a team member no one knows about.

Will she bring the seed of hope or be the source of ultimate chaos?

Just who is she — and why does she know how to end the world?

Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted copy.

IT WAS FINE.

I remember enjoying the first one enough to continue this duology but after diving in I realized what the problem was, this book just didn’t stick out in a memorable way to me. I liked the characters, I think the themes remarked upon were good. It has some of the classic young adult dystopian vibes I know many of us love. Yet, it was still missing *something* that would have made it stand out more.

The audiobook was fantastic though. It’s multiple POV with various narrators for each one. It made it easy to follow and know what was speaking each time.

I would be interested in reading more books from this author. I liked the way things came together in the end and I do think the writing was good too.

Overall audience notes: