Book Review: Bonds of Brass #1

Author: Emily Skrutskie 

Published: 07 April 2020

Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, Space Opera

A young pilot risk everything to save his best friend — the man he trusts most and night even love — only to learn that he’s secretly the hier to a brutal galactic empire. 

Ettian Nassun’s was shattered when the merciless Umber Empire invaded. He’s spent seven years putting himself back together under its rule, joining an Umber military academy and becoming the best pilot in his class. Even better, he met Gal Veres — his exasperating and infuriatingly enticing roommate who’s made the Academy feel like a new home. 

But when dozens of classmates spring an assassination plot on Gal, a devastating secret comes to light: Gal is the heir to the Umber Empire. Ettian barley manages to save his best friend and flee the compromised Academy unscathed, rattled both that Gal stands to inherit the empire that broke him and that there are still people willing to fight back against Umber rule. As they piece together a way to deliver Gal safely to his throne, Ettian finds himself torn in half by an impossible choice. Does he save the man who’s won his heart and trust that Gal’s goodness could transform the empire? Or does he throw his lot in with brewing rebellion and fight to take back what’s rightfully their? 

“ I really enjoyed this book. Skrutskie deftly handles character definition, the well-constructed pacing, and lean action, and audaciously peppers her narrative with hard-hitting questions about ethics and responsibility that had many thoughts drawing circles in my skull. Throughout I couldn't help but approach certain characters and their choices with a critical eye, a roving skepticism, and my allegiance to them sometimes felt like a frayed rope that could snap at any moment. I had never felt more unsure about where I stood with a character before, and the novel uncertainty of it was exhilarating.”

“ Just when I think I know where the story is going, Skrutskie surprises me yet again. The ending really picked up and made me feel like I could not put the book down. I had to know what was going to happen, but nothing prepared me for the twists at the end. Emily Skrutskie is an amazing writer and storyteller, and I definitely recommend Bonds of Brass. I absolutely cannot wait for the rest of this trilogy!”