riftwake – GoodeyReads

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy/Sci-fi
Length: 496 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: September 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson comes the first book in a new, high-flying trilogy featuring the legendary Skyward Flight as they undertake a deadly intergalactic mission to explore a mysterious alien world.

After decades of war against alien oppressors, the humans of the Defiant Defense Force are finally free. Yet for Arturo Mendez, leader of Skyward Flight, freedom isn’t what he thought it would be.

His first postwar assignment seems simple: The DDF has found evidence of other settlements of humans who were isolated during their long war against the aliens, and Arturo and his flight of pilots are to escort a team of diplomats as they attempt to make contact. It’s an easy mission—get in, guard the diplomats, and get out.

But no element of this mission turns out to be simple. Blightfall is inhospitable, surrounded by mysterious debris and covered in giant, invasive forests that have swallowed most of the planet. Upon arrival, Arturo’s team is attacked, and it quickly becomes clear that this human settlement isn’t what it appears to be.

Now trapped in an unfamiliar world and unsure who to trust, Arturo and his team must find allies and uncover long-buried secrets if they hope to escape and return home.

Thank you to Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

THOUGHTS.

Let it be known, I love the Skyward series. It’s one of my favorite YA sci-fi series and I think it’s great for all ages. This obviously means I’ve been excited about reading this spin-off…and I was a little let down.

For a book set after Skyward the characters felt younger. This had more of a middle grade tone in regards to the jokes (your mom jokes should be nixed) and general dialogue. There were moments where the crew did act more the age I expected so I hope that continues to grow over the season.

I didn’t mind the change of scenery and the interesting mystery afoot. I’m very curious to see how finding Blightfall will influence the rest of the the world as Arturo and his team know it. I liked the addition of Elysium (go read the novella!!) too. The twisting of AI was a big theme and I think a very relevant one that created that sense of this could be real life. It was haunting and an important conversation.

Hopeful for book two!!

Overall audience notes: