Updraft cover art

Updraft

Bone Universe, Book 1

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Updraft

By: Fran Wilde
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
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About this listen

Welcome to a world of wind and bone, songs and silence, betrayal and courage.

Kirit Densira cannot wait to pass her wingtest and begin flying as a trader by her mother's side, being in service to her beloved home tower and exploring the skies beyond. When Kirit inadvertently breaks Tower Law, the city's secretive governing body, the Singers, demand that she become one of them instead. In an attempt to save her family from greater censure, Kirit must give up her dreams to throw herself into the dangerous training at the Spire, the tallest, most forbidding tower, deep at the heart of the City.

As she grows in knowledge and power, she starts to uncover the depths of Spire secrets. Kirit begins to doubt her world and its unassailable Laws, setting in motion a chain of events that will lead to a haunting choice and may well change the city forever - if it isn't destroyed outright.

©2015 Fran Wilde (P)2015 Audible, Inc. Action & Adventure Classics Fantasy Fiction Law

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Critic reviews

"It's especially wonderful to encounter a novel — a debut! — that reminds me of nothing so much as how wildly, powerfully innovative fantasy can be....Wilde's world and characters... blew me away." (NPR)

"The world of the towers grown from bone, where residents strap on wings and soar the air currents, is captivating.... a world that readers will be anxious to revisit in future volumes of this exciting new series." (Library Journal)

"Extraordinary worldbuilding and cascading levels of intrigue make Wilde's debut fantasy novel soar.... This well-written and fascinating exploration of a strange land is an extremely promising start for an exciting new writer." ( Publishers Weekly)
Winner, Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction, 2016
All stars
Most relevant  
Did not like the performance because the performance over-pronaunced certain words so hands were haaaaannnnds. Not sure if this is the American accent or the lady not quite understanding that she does not have to read everything as if she fears for her life! What a shame. Otherwise, story is ok, not the amazing novelty it was cracked up to be though.

Annoying performance

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Updraft manages to thread the Fantasy Novel needle - it's intriguing without being opaque. The characters are likeable, but flawed enough to be interesting. The story kept me guessing, which was lovely.

It's not perfect, there are a couple of sections that felt as if they were checking off YA Fantasy Novel tropes, but these sections were mercifully short. When Updraft is fleshing out its world, and having its characters struggle against entrenched hierarchy, it's wonderful.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, but I'm also very, very concerned that it's going to have a love triangle in it. The triangle doesn't exactly establish itself in Updraft, but Fran lays the seeds for one. Hopefully she thought better of it.

Good fun, interesting world, worried about sequels

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