Sky to Sea (Crimson Sash Book 2) by Amanda Marin – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Sky to Sea by Amanda Marin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading Sky to Sea almost as soon as I’d finished the previous book in the Amanda Marin’s Crimson Sash series. I’m totally hooked! It’s an engaging dystopian YA story that engages with loads of big social issues in a well-developed world.
Sky to Sea opens with Neve and Micah safely over the border. They’ve left the Nation that has tried to break and kill them behind, and are eager to start a new life in the New Republic. But they face challenges as they must prove their eligibility for immigration, or successfully claim asylum. There are language and culture barriers, skills that were in demand in the Nation that have no use in the Republic. Not to mention the hostility towards people from the Nation meaning that Neve and Micah never quite feel safe.
Something I particularly liked about Sky to Sea is that it addresses Micah’s PTSD. After all that he endured in the previous book, he has deep wounds that require time, care and expert help to heal. Marin approaches the subject in a sensitive and clear manner. We see Neve and Micah recognising and accepting Micah’s PTSD, and Micah’s journey through treatment. I really appreciated his use of art to process his experiences.
This is a great series! Definitely gets five stars from me. I would recommend reading it in order, starting with North to Nara, as this allows you to get to know the characters and the Nation (and the books are so good you’ll want to read them all eventually, so you might as well start at the beginning!). This is a great series for young adult and older teen readers who are concerned about social issues and enjoy speculative fiction.

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