Brandon Sanderson (2018). Skyward.

OK, so after enjoying Elantris and failing to do the same with Mistborn, I tried this YA novel. There is a short story set in the same universe, hundreds of years before, Defending Elysium. Tiny SPOILER: in the short story there are cyber-enhanced psionics that can be rather powerful. D&D-like powerful; Bester's The Stars My Destination powerful. Nothing like the subtler psi in David Brin's The Uplift saga, or the way Frank Herbert managed the psi/supernatural.


Now, about Skyward proper: The training of a wannabe cadet/soldier/pilot is a classic theme of SF. From before the Golden Age to Heinlein to Scott Card and beyond. So far, Sanderson manages to confer the story some original aspects, while making it very engrossing. Really, this is a page turner that developes at a pace that will beg for a sequel (it does exist, Starsight). The protagonist is a female teenager that can throw a tantrum or two and makes mistakes, but she can learn from those mistakes as well. A nice read that can be recommended to any child or kid that you care for.

A good light reading for either the younger ones or tired grownups at the end of a long day.