I do love a good book, and any opportunity to partake of an author's work is a joyful pastime. I applied weeks ago to read several of author Ann Hunter's works. I'd never heard of her before, but that wasn't going to stop me from giving her a chance. For all I knew, she could have had a series of gems locked inside the pages of her work. 152 pages and unblinking eyes later, I believe I have found a treasure trove in A Piece of Sky. (Although I fought hard not to super-expand and just lay out the spoilers, there are spoiler-esque parts in this review.)
If you are of reading age, you've probably heard the story of Chicken Little. The sky is falling, she's looking for answers, and nobody quite has what she's looking for. So she goes on a voyage, asks questions, makes mistakes, gets messy....
I think you get it.
So when I applied to read and review this book, I wondered what I'd be in for. Would it be a bumpy ride with a poor attempt at bringing a children's story into the adult world? Or would it be a smooth transition that was too hip for the room? Once I was accepted, I decided to leave all of that behind. I was going to read this book with an open mind, enjoy myself, and be very honest. I don't want to fill this review with lots of spoilers. However, I'm so excited about how awesome this book is, that I want to discuss my favorite parts about it. Of course, that's what a book review is all about in the first place. On that note, there's no better place to start than the beginning.
The duality of the story splits between three characters--Rós the chicken, "Little Sky" the acorn, and Abaven, the Guardian Fae. It sounds complicated, but each character's part is very fluid and open. The scenery is described in such a way that you know who is speaking/active. In the center of everything is Little Sky. He is the beginning, he is the end, and everyone in-between is finding out who he is and how important he is.
"I was formed at the dawn of creation"--Little Sky
"There's something out there..."--Rós
Then, we've got Rós. She is a typical farm chicken who basically got curious, followed the trail, and "discovers" her Little Sky swirling and twirling from the heavens. She is in awe at first sight, also gaining something that helps her walk her own path of understanding. (I'm aching to expand and warn you of all kinds of spoilers, but heaven help me--I REFUSE TO SPOIL!)
These are our two main characters, and their bond is a growing one. Rós calls the acorn "Little Sky" because she thinks he's an actual part of the sky. It's the way she handles it from that point on which makes A Piece of Sky such an interesting story. Sure, she could have eaten him and gone back to the farm. We wouldn't have much of a story! Rós is all things--curious, positive, and brave. Very few things hold her back, and she sees the beauty of all parts of the trip--the freedom to roam and eat bugs, the crisp air around her, and the colors--boy does she ever love herself some colors.
I love Rós, because she is simply positive about everything. She does not doubt Little Sky. She doesn't berate him. She takes good care of him, guarding him and instantly connecting with him as soon as she discovers they can talk to one another. Before she can even realize what Little Sky is, she already sees him as something wonderful and important. In fact, he expresses how she makes him feel:
"She was warm and soft, like light in the garden. And I could hear her thoughts. I saw my reflection in her golden eyes"--Little Sky
Next is Abaven. I got a sort of Garden of Eden angel vibe from him. Although he was also an important part to the story, he felt a little stiff to me. He first had a mission to protect the tree Little Sky first resided on. It was his job to make sure nothing else happened (again, that URGE. If I expand, I will ruin it.), aside from him guarding the Father Tree of Life. I will provide this spoiler only--Nurgal thwarts the plan. Nurgal is a plant-based creature that steals Little Sky. He attacks Abaven and steals the acorn (Little Sky) for his own nefarious, world-destroying plans.
Nurgal is a main character, but he pops up here and there. For the majority of the story, we see him in visions and nightmares of Little Sky, rather than face to face. It isn't until the near-end of the book that we stop hearing about him, and actually seeing what he can/will do. However, he is rather powerful and influential, plotting to disrupt nature itself to have his way. Little Sky plays a huge part in this plan.
This story mirrors Chicken Little in a beautiful way that expands on the journey of truth and life itself. Where the original story runs a comical course where one thing is blown way out of proportion, A Piece of Sky takes a literary fork in the road that balances comedy with thought-provoking imagery. Suddenly, the impossible becomes possible for a small farm bird. Positive reinforcement encourages a tree seedling to determine his own fate. Even a guardian--who has vowed to obey to the letter--shows us we are all imperfectly flawed.
What I liked about this (e)book is that it wasn't difficult to read nor understand. This was a very straightforward story that started on a farm, and ended in that same place, but took the reader to the forest, the sea, and even "the veil where" the stars of the heavens sit above the mortal world. All the while, Rós never turned her back. She admitted to fear once, but went the course to find the answer she desired so much. Rós never gave up, and that was inspirational enough for yours truly. It was wonderful to watch her curiosity take her to so many places. She grew as a simple farm bird, and probably didn't realize it. For her, it was all about the journey. The essence of the "free bird" where she was able to do more than just steal pig treats and lay eggs fascinated her. Even after she almost died on the journey, she's back at it, asking questions and talking to everyone and thing possible.
"There's always a choice"-Rós
I was very pleased with this book. I'm glad that I set my cynical thoughts aside to really hear it out. It's a quick story, but it has a lot of volume and thought put into it. It takes a well-known fable to a higher place to project an awesome message:
"No one is too small to change the world."
Go out and get this book. I promise that you'll be hooked after the first page. You'll find yourself at the farm. You'll feel the chill of the forest on your skin. You'll smell the salty sea air, and you might feel the warmth of Rós against your skin. You'll never want to go back home. Perhaps...you'll go on a journey of your own.
#CrownsofTheTwelve
Disclaimer: I applied via Tomoson.com to review this body of work for free. I received my free copy via Amazon's Kindle. I read the book from cover to end, forming my own opinions and thoughts. I also created posts on various social media platforms to discuss my use and opinion of the material provided.