SPR dropped their editorial review of Ardent Wings on Jealous Skies this week, from senior reviews editor John Stoughton. Thankfully, it is a glowing 4.5-star review that emphasizes many of the same positives touched upon in the Independent Book Review’s write-up. Here’s the pull-quote:

An imaginative coming-of-age adventure that soars with epic potential for an entire series. Riveting and unpredictable, this genre-blurring read synthesizes a spectrum of timeless themes and adventurous motifs. The originality of the plot and richly developed characters keep this book from feeling at all derivative, and the prose is clean and clever, allowing Lorimer’s linguistic dexterity to shine. 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.

Go on…

I don’t expect every publication to bite on Ardent Wings on Jealous Skies, but we are still expecting a few more editorial reviews to come in before the release date. Most importantly, Kirkus Reviews should send out their pre-pub copy in the next couple weeks. Kirkus has been around for so long that they’ve become a key tastemaker that librarians and enterprise bookbuyers rely on. Hopefully they will concur with the Independent Book Review and SPR. 

The critical acclaim is very validating and useful for marketing materials, but most readers make their purchasing decisions based on the feedback of other readers. That’s another reason I keep beating the drum for Goodreads engagement 🙂