Ten Thousand Skies Above You: A Firebird Novel (Firebird, #2)

by Claudia Gray

Tavia Gilbert (Narrator)

In this sequel to A Thousand Pieces of You by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray, Marguerite races through various dimensions to save the boy she loves. Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross through to alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse-even hurt the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked, and his consciousness is scattered across multiple dimensions. The hunt for each splinter of Paul's soul sends Marguerite racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris, where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each dimension brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with every trial she faces, she begins to question the one constant she's found between the worlds: their love for each other.

• ISBN10: 1504645626
• ISBN13: 9781504645621
• Publish Date: 3 November 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Duration: 10 hours and 50 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

Ten Thousand Skies Above You I absolutely loved the first novel in this series, A Thousand Pieces of You, and this book was just as good.  The story is woven throughout the multiverse as Marguerite fights to save both Paul and Theo.  And like the first book, this one makes you think about life, choices, and their unforeseen ramifications.
 
The events of the first novel changed Marguerite, changed her perspective on life and her beliefs about it.  Travelling through the multiverse and seeing the "what if's" has opened her eyes to how different choices can lead to vastly different lives.  But those beliefs get tested yet again as she travels through more dimensions and finds unexpected versions of the people she loves.  Those versions make her question everything.
 
And much like the first novel, the lines between good and evil are often blurred.  Whose intentions are good, causing them to do questionable things?  Whose intentions are just plain evil?  It is this kind of gray area that makes this such a thought-provoking series.  How far would you go to save the ones you love?  How far is too far?  Is there such a thing as too far?  These are just some of the questions that Marguerite has to answer.
 
The dimensions exist during the same period of time, but it is fascinating to see the different ways in which they have evolved.  To think about what that means, in terms of multiverse theory, is incredible.  The Russiaverse, a throwback in time.  The Home Office, a vision of the future.  The New York-verse, an alternate reality.  Each dimension has different versions of our characters, making them all ever more complex.
 
The story and its premise are, simply put, fascinating!  I couldn't recommend this more!

[jeannamichel]

I'm still in a state of shock. That ending.

In A Thousand Pieces of You, Marguerite’s parents make a device called the Firebird which makes traveling to different dimensions possible. When Wyatt Conley, the basis of all the evil in the world, demands to have full power over the Firebird project—and possibly the whole world—Marguerite will stop at nothing to make sure that won’t happen. However, this time Conley is stooping to new lows to try to get Marguerite to come to the dark side. Her will, though, is not so easily swayed. In Ten Thousand Skies Above You, Marguerite delves deeper into other dimensions to save the ones she loves.

IF THERE EVER WAS A PERFECT SEQUEL

Ten Thousand Skies Above You wastes no time in messing with a set up. We are thrown right into the action, hitting the ground running, literally.

Before you freak out if you don’t remember much from the first book, there is a recap and several flashbacks to bring you back to where the first book left off. The structure is so easily understood that I knew exactly where I was every moment of the book.

It was incredible to be back in the world of infinite possibilities. Sequels can either amaze you or break your heart and I think this one amazes you, all the way. All the characters I loved from the first one have returned and are better than ever.

It is, sadly, very predictable but that does not make it any less entertaining. Actually, being able to predict what happens adds to the fun of reading the book, to see if I am correct in my prediction or not.

We get some major character development in this one. It was done so well. All hats off to Claudia Gray because she has created this masterpiece of dimensional travel and still had room for a complex plot with character development. It’s absolutely astounding.

This time around we are seeing a change in the alternate universes’ people. Well, we are seeing a change in Marguerite’s thinking about the other selves and how they may be entirely different people than her own self. This not only gives us more to think about—basically it just makes me want to reread the last book to see if this type of “different selves” was present—but it also gives Marguerite tons to think about as well in how she has been, thus far, viewing the alternate universes and its people.

That ending was unexpected (so much for being predictable!). It was a cliffhanger I may never survive from. That mountain of a cliffhanger was so high, I think I am still gripping the rocky edge.

Claudia Gray has most definitely created an amazing work of art. This series is truly fantastic and I highly recommend it to everyone.

ONE MINOR COMPLAINT

Despite the flawlessness of this book, it really bothered me that Marguerite makes up words to call the different dimensions. I understand she is not scientific in any way, more on the artistic side. So, of course, she will not be naming the dimensions after numbers (dimension 1, dimension 56) but I think she could have come up with better names.
o Russiaverse is where Marguerite leaves as the High Imperial Magesty in Russia.
o Medievalverse takes place in middle ages Rome.
o Warverse takes place in California where a war is raging on.

These different universes are so magnificent, yet titled so simply that it unnerves me.

Ten Thousand Skies Above You is a fantastic sequel, one that will meet all of your expectations. However, after the wild ride of A Thousand Pieces of You, a five star rating seemed out of place for its sequel. The adventure Marguerite has is a middle point in a much greater plot, whereas I thought A Thousand Pieces of You could have potentially stood by itself. Overall, you will most definitely not be disappointed with this one and with that eyes-widening cliff hanger, you will need the third, and last, book in your possession to devour as soon as humanly possible after.

[Chelsea]

This book just feels very average. It uses all the typical YA tropes and the plot is predictable and a little boring at times.

[ross91]

I managed to finish this book in less than 12 hours and I was really hooked on it, even though I still prefer the first one.
We don't get to see our Paul a lot, but Theo grew on me a lot!
The ending though: not cool! And now I have to wait!!

[Stephanie]

I was interested for a hot minute in the last third of this book, but the extended recap in the beginning was such a waste of time for me and set a terrible pace for the rest of the book.

[Bianca]

I’ve seen versions of you who are darker, and damaged, and I don’t care. I want you even when you’re broken. I want you no matter what. Your darkness, your anger, whatever it is you fear inside yourself—it doesn’t matter. I love you completely, don’t you see? I even want the worst of you because it’s still a part of you.

[Kelly]

4.5 Stars.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/11/ten-thousand-skies-above-you.html
Loved it. Ohhh how I loved it



That ending! I think there might have been a hint of an even bigger bombshell within the storyline, wonder if anyone else picked up on it.



Ten Thousand Skies Above You picks up shortly where it's predecessor left off, with Marguerite now back in her own dimension and Theo suffering from the effects of Nightthief, a drug supplied by Wyatt to keep Theo's other self from being discovered in Marguerite's dimension. Paul is visiting the Multiverse, a magnitude of dimensions in which each of themselves already exist, leaping into their bodies in order to find a cure. But when Paul doesn't return and the Triad president himself is pressuring Marguerite to join his organisation, she soon realises that Wyatt Conley is once again holding her family to hostage.

Even though Paul seems to be the only love interest within the storyline, Theo has never been shy when it comes to flirting with Marguerite and when the two discover a dimension where Paul and Marguerite aren't together gives Theo further incentive. Even with Paul never far from her thoughts, I enjoyed that the romance wasn't the main focus of the storyline but rather the adventure of multiverse travel. Flashbacks of Marguerite's relationship with Paul while she searches for fragments of his soul, allows readers to see the bond that formed between the two after the final page of A Thousand Pieces of You. The biggest difference that sets the Firebird series apart from other time travel young adult is it's ability to simplify. There's no long and complicated explanations to confuse readers, but information scattered throughout and making it easier for readers to immerse themselves within the storyline.

It follows a similar storyline as it's predecessor, where most of Marguerite's time is spent with Theo. I loved the dynamic between the two. Even though Theo obviously cares for Marguerite far more than he's willing to admit, it's clear that neither will betray Paul with both characters making it clear that they value their friendship far more and thankfully didn't fall victim to the dreaded love triangle. Incredibly written and although it took me a few chapters to jump back into Marguerite's world, I couldn't seem to put it down.

Wonderfully written, Ten Thousand Skies Above You is a brilliant and adventurous installment in the Firebird series. Shifting the focus from a mild science fiction romance, Claudia Gray has crafted an intense and deeply engaging series that is sure to end in an epic finale to enthrall readers. Absolutely loved it.