Mini Review: Sky on Fire (Monument 14 #2) by Emmy Laybourne

Author: Emmy Laybourne
Series: Monument 14 #2
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Pages: 215
Format/Source: Hardback/Purchased
Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.
Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .
Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .(Cover and synopsis from Goodreads.)
Since this is the second book in a series, I’m going to write one of my mini reviews where I just share some of my notes:
- I had read Monument 14, the first book in this series, about a year before I read Sky on Fire, so I didn’t remember too much about the first book, but as I was reading Sky on Fire I was able to remember a lot.
- I love how there’s a map of the Greenway store in the front of the book, and in the back there’s a map of the path Alex and the others took on the bus from the store to the airport. Maps always add so much to a book, I think!
- There is still a lot of suspense in this book, both in Dean’s chapters in the store and in Alex’s chapters on the bus on the outside. And tons of suspense near the end!
- I’m glad that in this book there wasn’t a recurrence of the strangely censored curse words that appeared in Monument 14.
- Some very sad parts; I even got a little choked up at one point and I hardly ever cry at books!
- The end was kind of interesting. I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the next book from the way Laybourne left this one…

Rachel Hoyt
March 7, 2014 at 11:25 pmOoh, I definitely agree! These are fun and quick books. :) And I'm super curious to see how the third book plays out, especially since I really thought this was a duology and given the ending of this one. :) Great review!
Rachel @ Paper Cuts
Amber (Books of Amber)
March 8, 2014 at 1:13 pmI quit this series because I wasn't a fan of book one, but now I'm kind of tempted to continue! This sounds a lot better than the prequel, and I'm always a fan of books that make me cry.
Fifi Islaih
March 8, 2014 at 2:37 pmOoh! I may have to start this series!
Greg
March 9, 2014 at 7:02 amI've looked at these books a bunch of times, I should really read them. I like the concept and it sounds like they're suspenseful and fast paced.
Bittner
March 11, 2014 at 12:15 amYou choked up at a book!!! Wow, it must be good!
Brittany S.
March 12, 2014 at 9:16 pmI think I liked Monument 14 a bit more too but I loved how quick-paced this one was and it was short and to the point! I'm looking forward to starting Savage Drift soon!!