Each month, #BuyIndiePress puts the spotlight on indie books from a handful of small presses and the like. All of the details are at the Buy Indie Press page. This morning, I put the spotlight on Tu Books. Tonight, it’s all about Sky Pony Press!
All About Sky Pony Press:
Sky Pony Press Official Website
Launched in fall 2011, Sky Pony Press is the children’s book imprint of Skyhorse Publishing. Following in the footsteps of our parent company, our goal is to provide books for readers with a wide variety of interests. Our continually growing list includes fiction, picture books, educational books, novelty books, and midgrade, and we even reissue some well-loved classics. Since we do not view our potential readers as generic age groups, but rather as individual children, each with specific talents and needs, we publish in a broad range of subject matter to celebrate their diverse interests.
ISBN: 978-1634506441
The first book from Sky Pony Press that I am aware that I read released earlier this month! It is the young adult sci-fi novel, Beyond the Red by Ava Jae (@Ava_Jae) which released March 1, 2016 and if I may say so myself is one of the most engaging YA sci-fi novels of 2016.
Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.
Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. But that doesn’t stop him from defending his people—at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He is given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.
When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.
Beyond the Red was great! A page turner indeed. The world was so creative and brought for a visually fully immersive reading experience. I did want more alien emphasis outside of the race war going on but aside from that, I really enjoyed the world building here, especially getting bits of the native language.
This story about murder and power and loyalty is told between two POVs, one female and one male from opposite sides of the desert. Watching their journeys merge and grow was such a treat! I really enjoyed the story developments as the power plays became more intense and the stakes were continuously raised.
With two very different main characters seemingly coming from two different walks of life, we get a thought provoking exploration of race and class discrimination and how that affects entire nations of people when the people with all of the power are the ones pushing the prejudice. I love how this is interwoven into the story and such a big part of the story and as far as diversity goes, I also want to mention that there is a brief m/m romance among a minor character.
One of my favorite aspects of the story? The relationships. I loved the sibling rivalry dynamic and really all of the relationships explored in this story. I did think that Kora (a queen) and Eros (her enslaved guard) got too comfortable with each other too quickly and even with that, there was quite a lot going on with Kora’s romance prospects in general though that was understandable and when you read the book, you’ll understand why. So these two bits aside, I really loved seeing all of the well developed relationships and could only ever ask for more.
You’ll want more after you reach the end of this. In fact, since this is a standalone novel, I was surprised with how much was left for the reader to come to terms with. There were many things that I wanted more closure with but as far as Eros goes, I did enjoy the very end! I was really satisfied with this story overall and am so glad that I was able to take the trip beyond the red! Definitely a trip worth taking! Too bad that trip is over now.
Be sure to add this title to your “To Read” shelf on Goodreads!
More Titles From Sky Pony Press To Check Out:
1. Timekeeper by Tara Sim
Two o’clock was missing.
In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.
It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.
And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.
But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.
- Note: When I was a literary intern, I was fortunate enough to read hundreds of queries, partials, and fulls for the agent that I interned for and this full manuscript made its way into the inbox. It’s one of the handful of manuscripts that I absolutely loved. It’s one of the handful of manuscripts that I saw the author get an agent and get their book deal for that book which they initially queried. I loved this manuscript and have been rooting for Tara since the first read and I cannot wait to read the published version later this year!
Releases November 1, 2016
2. Life Before by Michele Bacon
Seventeen years is a long time to keep secrets, so Xander Fife is very good at it: everyone believes he has a normal family. If he can just get through this summer, he’ll start his real life in college with a clean slate–no risk, no drama, no fear.
Xander’s summer plans include pick-up soccer, regular hijinks with friends, an epic road trip, and—quite possibly— the company of his ideal girlfriend, the amazing Gretchen Taylor.
Instead of kicking off what had promised to be an amazing summer, however, graduation day brings terror. His family’s secrets are thrust out into the open, forcing Xander to confront his greatest fear. Or run from it.
Armed with a fake ID, cash, and a knife, Xander skips town and assumes a new identity. In danger hundreds of miles from home, one thing is clear: Xander’s real life is already in progress and just getting through it isn’t enough.
Releases June 7, 2016
3. Fantastic Fugitives: Criminals, Cutthroats, and Rebels Who Changed History: While on the Run! by Brianna DuMont, Illustrated by Bethany Straker
Think fugitives are always bad guys running from the law? Think again! The twelve fugitives in this book annoyed everyone, including queens, presidents and popes. But they didn’t let the peeved or the powerful stop them from breaking laws. They stood up for what they believed in, which could be as noble as freedom or as greedy as money. They founded countries, won wars, and even ended empires—all while on the run! Follow the twists and turns of these lawbreaking lives to learn how anyone can change the world. Even you! Just make sure you have your running shoes tied tight.
Fantastic Fugitives: Criminals, Cutthroats, and Rebels Who Changed History While on the Run! is the second book in Brianna DuMont’s Changed History series. The series includes Famous Phonies: Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History (2015) and a forthcoming book on thieves who changed history.
Released January 5, 2016