Review: Ardent Wings on Jealous Skies by Z. Bennett Lorimer

An imaginative coming-of-age adventure that soars with epic potential for an entire series, Ardent Wings on Jealous Skies (Tales of Ciel #1) by Z. Bennett Lorimer is a timely tale of lofty dreams, destiny, and revolution.

A decade after Maug the Butcher’s brutal attack that orphaned Vanna, Effie, and Kai, the protective rule of the Celestial Armada perseveres, despite the tithes and conscription demanded of the inhabitants of the Zephyr Isles. However, not every Zephyrii is content with the Celestials’ rule, and the forced retirement of a legendary Wing Commander signals a powerful shift in the politics and power balance across the Zephyr Isles.

After witnessing her gifted sister fail to bond with a mighty Leviathan, Effie grows even more determined to succeed during her own Ascension ceremony, after which she will be whisked away on the back of a flying titan to a life of adventure and Celestial service. Effie aspires to do more than simply protect the isle of Volturnus and its inhabitants, but first she needs her Elemental gifts to manifest.

When Effie’s sister is ordered to quell an uprising against their Celestial hosts on a neighboring island, she discovers a sinister connection between the violent marauders who killed her parents and the seemingly benevolent saviors who liberated her people. As the truth of the Celestials’ parasitic power and manipulation is revealed, new lines of allegiance are drawn, and Effie is forced to pick a side – loyalist or rebel – even if choosing the latter means abandoning her grandest dream.

Riveting and unpredictable, this genre-blurring read synthesizes a spectrum of timeless themes and adventurous motifs, from young love between heroes and cultural disillusionment to mystical beast lore and conspiratorial payback for power-hungry villains. The visceral bonding of Pilots and Leviathan is a familiar aspect of other fantasy series, from Robin Hobb and Anne McAffrey to James Cameron’s Avatar, along with certain other magical powers, but the originality of the plot and richly developed characters keep this book from feeling at all derivative.

Effie epitomizes the internal paradox of modern living: push back against a vindictive and all-powerful system or accept oppression to avoid the lash. The relationship between Vanna and Effie is electrically charged and all too recognizable – the competitive clash of two gifted sisters with conflicting visions of success and purpose. While this central bond drives much of the action, Effie’s complicated connection to Kai and her own struggles with self-esteem and ambition sharpen her multi-dimensionality as a compelling protagonist.

On a thematic level, the extractive relationship between Celestials and their dependent lands reads like a tongue-in-cheek critique of neocolonialism, and a stirring parable about the overlooked power of an ideologically united populace. The big-picture plotline of the hierarchically dominated Zephyrii seeking freedom from their ivory tower overlords feels like a clear commentary on class inequality and the power imbalances that plague contemporary discourse, giving each plot development a greater layer of meaning.

Throughout the novel, the prose is clean and clever, allowing Lorimer’s linguistic dexterity to shine without veering into verbosity or excessive exposition. All in all, this opening installment sets a magnificent stage for a vibrant series, ending with a major twist that will leave readers eager for the sequel.