Cytonic

The Third Skyward Novel

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Sophie Aldred

Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Spensa's life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary.

She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell—the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What's more, she travelled light-years from home as a spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home. Now, the Superiority—the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life—has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa has seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant.

Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator.

Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she's able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy. The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return.

To have courage means facing fear. And this mission is terrifying.

©2021 Dragonsteel Entertainment LLC (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"A nonstop, highflying opener." (Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review)

"With this action-packed trilogy opener, Sanderson offers up a resourceful, fearless heroine and a memorable cast." (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)

spectacular space adventure

Just when you think that the wonderful series can't push the ideas more, Sanderson dazzles us with imaginative and satisfying turns. Great new characters and spectacular character development in this exciting space adventure. A bit like empire strikes back in some ways, but I'm sure the payoff will be stunning. Now the wait for the last book begins.

Pointless story, filler or just a children's book?

First book was great, 2nd was ok, but this 3rd book is a waste of time. I am very disappointed.

Overwritten story that felt like a marathon to get through.

Book 1 was good, 2 was ok and this was a complete mess. Utterly painful slog just to finish it, thankfully I’m done.

Wonderful 3rd piece

This is the 3rd installment of the series. Out of 4 planned. It has both great growth ot the characters and a lot of progress in our understanding of the world.
Do notice that there are 2 productions of the series one in us English and one in uk English. This is the uk one.

A bit drawn out but great

Lots of dialogue with some action sprinkled throughout. Recommended if you love the characters.

Only Brandon Sanderson Could Do This

Just when you think you are settling into a series with bravery and reckless adventure, heroes, heroines and crazy AI's (sorry M-Bot) you find yourself wrong footed and thrown into a visionary new and challenging world.

The reach to the Somewhere is stretched almost to breaking point and we see bravery shown in a lot of different ways. Spensa learns that the courage she thought was the way of her world, is only one of many paths she can choose and she is faced with choices that will change many lives. There are surprises and there is adventure and, at the end, we see hope and the biggest fight for the peoples ready to face the Superiority.

Original

As with all Mr. Sandersons books, the character grows in unexpected ways and the villains are not what they initially seemed. A lot of fun to read.

Weakest book of the series

Sophie Alfred performance is excellent, unfortunately the material itself deteriorated. The reasons for my disappointment include the multiple cycles of self doubt, for 50% of the book a tame storyline given the cliffhangers from book 2. This is the first book in the series where I begged for the dross/padding to stop. The mini series skyward flight provides some background and storyline development but are clearly a money grab, both being shorter in length than the main books yet still charged at full price. Instead of Cytonic wrapping up a trilogy we are left once again waiting………., no doubt more opportunity to “spin” out some cash generators in the form of more short stories billed at full price. Presumably we now have another lengthy wait before the next installment.

Sando's worst book yet

This one's hard to finish. the characters we know are all relegated to bland novellas (2 are out at the time if writing) that don't go anywhere, and I just don't care about the new cast as they're under developed and clichéd alien folk.

Every time you hear "bless your stars" or something about the Saint, is like salt in the wound as it reminds you of better storytelling.

Spensa in Neverland, with pirates and magic powers is a million miles away from the Sci-fi, pilot training story that started the series.

Sorry Brandon

I love Brandon Sanderson and adore almost everything he writes but this is too fanciful, I love the first two books but what is this? it seems like a complete side step, the story didn't progress at all it's all just a ridiculous side quest, it feels like the main character just binged hallucinogens for 6 weeks, bringing back dead characters? the slug can talk? pirate champion? not a fan

first is great second good this is a poor effort.

I won't be bothering with a fourth if it comes out. This was a poor wedged in book that really is unrelated to the first two doesn't even take place in the same universe. Accept the first two and then move on.

feels too long and a bit repetative

dissapointed by Sandersen, but a boring book with too little momentum is saved by a brilliant narrotor. book feels more like a book 2.5 but is sadly about 9 hours too long for that.

only Sanderson book I struggled to get through

Unfortunately I think Sanderson should stick to fantasy. This was a pretty poor story, didn't capture me at all and the characters all seemed to be about 10 years old. In fact the characters may be the worst thing about this book.

I'm not sure if it was aimed at children but it was even at the level of YA I found.

Hopefully the next SF series he does will be a lot lot better, unless this puts him off for good.

Book 2.5

Sanderson should of kept the books as a trilogy, this book is just 9 hours to long for the story he wanted to tell. It took me nearly two months to finally finish it. Even Sophie’s performance suffers with the boring storyline and dialogue in this book. Honestly not looking forward for any more books from this collection.

Completely dropped the ball with this one

I could not finish the book, not even half of it. first 2 in the series are wonderfull but this one just misses the mark completely

Wonderful follow-up

A wonderful third part in this story and I look forward to the next, the perspective of the novel i find unique. The characters are well thought through and the story has great twists and turns.
It is well read and the characterizations really come to life in the words and voices of the narrator.
Recommended read/Listen, the only problem i have is waiting for the next episode, in both this the main story arch and the side stories.

I want more

They say “always leave the audience wanting more”. In this instance the saying rings true, it’s an ending that offers the listener/reader’s imagination to expand the possibilities. One the one hand it’s good there are “side stories” but “Skyward” has a strong story arc which offers more. We can but hope.