Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy Book 1)

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

“That’s life in the Heartland.”

What’s life in the Heartland like? Monster corn that isn’t even safe to eat is the only crop that isn’t outlawed, floating cities above that treat the Heartlanders like slaves, and having your spouse chosen by the Empyrean government even if you’re in love with another. Life in the Heartland seems to be a s***ty existence. Of course you can always hope you win the lottery and get to join the Empyrean elite on the sky flotillas…but how likely is that?

Something about this book that I couldn’t quite put my finger on had me drawn in right away. I cared for all the characters even with just a brief introduction, nothing makes a story more fun than feeling emotionally invested in it. I rooted for the guys I liked, and against the ones I didn’t. In the end, I loved this book and didn’t want it to end. I’m going to read the second book as soon as possible!

This isn’t your standard young adult book with stupid unbelievable romance, crappy dialogue, and many of the other annoyances that riddle the genre. This was a well written (I read an uncorrected proof and it was better than some finished copies I’ve read lately) entertaining world that you can become to feel a part of. I’m a new Wendig fan because of this book!

'Under the Empyrean Sky' by Chuck Wendig is the first book the Heartland Trilogy. With a plethora of dystopian YA novels, I think this one stands out for the setting and some interesting characters.

In a future (?) the Heartland is ruled by the Empyrean. There are vast fields of corn because it is the only crop allowed to grow and it is everywhere. There are also other methods of control like government-chosen spouses and a kind of lottery to separate out people. Cael McAvoy lives in this world with a gang of friends. They spend their days sailing a rickety land boat through the corn. One day they find something highly unusual. While they try to keep it secret, it isn't long before it gets them in the kind of trouble that is way over their heads.

It's the setup for a trilogy and there are some trailing threads leading to the next book. I liked the characters because they seemed like relatively normal kids. I love the idea of the world and the dust and corn silk seemed to clog the air. I imagine the color palette to be sepia toned. I liked it and look forward to the next book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Skyscape and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

I rarely read and review young adult books, but I had read Chuck's Atlanta Burns which I also reviewed and loved it. Plus the premise of this book sounded interesting. Carnivorous corn? Dystopian society? Heck yeah! So I requested Under the Empyrean Sky from NetGalley when it became available.

I liked it. Less than Atlanta Burns, but it was still an enjoyable read. The world is interesting. Who would have thought that the world would be destroyed not by a plague or natural disaster or alien invasion but by genetically modified corn that turns carnivorous? Most of the land is covered in it. It's so virulent that it kills all other plants, so that's the only thing that grows anymore. And it's not even edible to bout!

This world has a very clear separation between the have and the have nots - the Empyreans living on their floating ships sailing high above the corn and dictating their law to the few people who still live in the Heartland. The Empyreans have everything: the best technologies, the best food, the best healthcare, while the Heartlanders live on scraps that sometimes fall from the sky.

The Heartland is a bleak, hopeless world. There is no future for those born amongst the corn. The only jobs available is to grow, harvest or process the corn. Cancer and other diseases are rampant due to the highly toxic chemicals used to process corn and keep it away from the villages. There is no school, no sports, no entertainment. Even marriages are arranged by the Empyreans who send down a list of who will marry whom on Obligation day. The only way out is the Lottery that is held once a year and which gives one family a chance to relocate into one of the Empyrean flotillas. Only everyone knows that the Lottery is rigged, though it doesn't prevent people from hoping…

Cael and his crew are salvagers. They have a glider they use to scout the sea of corn around their village for broken harvesters they can salvage for parts or anything else that could earn them a few ace notes. Cael's dream is to become rich and famous, to build a better life for his family, to be a better man than his father whom he sees as weak and incapable of providing for his sick wife and his children.

Even though I found Cael's narrative to be a bit too angry at times, I could understand it and even empathize a little: I still remember how it feels to be a teenager in full rebellion. Everything is either good or bad, black or white. There are no shadows or demi-measures. Cael is at that age when he is at odd with the rest of the world. He thinks that adults don't understand him. He doesn't want to conform to their rules. He wants the freedom to find his own path. The fact that his crew is the ultimate underdog in this town doesn't help either. No matter what they do, it ends up in disaster. All their small victories morph into failures and things go from bad to worse.

So yes, I understand why he is angry, but this is also something that didn't sit quite right with me and why I gave this book only 4 out of 5 stars. Since we see the world through Cael's eyes, all the bad people are horribly bad, with no redeeming qualities. The Empyreans are painted in such thick dark colors that they could be demons feasting on poor Heartlanders' souls for all I know. I find that a bit heavy handed. I like my worlds to be more nuanced and my villains to be a little less of a caricature and a little more real. Real people have both good and bad in them, and they can do bad things for entirely honorable reasons.

But other than that, I did enjoy Under the Empyrean Sky quite a lot and I would definitely recommend it. And I will certainly read the next book in the series.

PS. I received a free copy of this book from NetGAlley.

It seems like this book with implied sex, cursing teens (creatively, none the less), and some violence was intended for the older YA readers, and it should only be read by them; however, the characters often felt immature in their behavior and mannerisms, yet, the decisions they made against the plot were very much adult. Because of this, there were many parts I felt I was reading something similar to middle grade characters. All of this was tiring because the dynamic and unique world in this story seemed to call for much more mature characters.
The story is slow to start, but once it hits its mark, it very steady after that. It was, at times, a super fun read and again the world inside Under the Empyrean Sky is really creative and imaginative. I’m sure every other review out there talk about the corn in this story, and it was really impressive (a major character itself), but foreshadows so many other really cool things this world has to offer. I loved the world, in truth, and I admire the execution of the author’s wordology. I would have totally been a super fan had I liked, and made a connection with at least one character.
To be fair, YA books are always hit or miss with me; so either I like it or I don’t. I can’t give it three stars, because I didn’t like it, but that’s not to say YOU shouldn’t read it. I'd totally recommend it to more experienced YA readers.

Under the Empyrean Sky is dystopian sci-fi which transports the reader effortlessly into its world and carries them along in a fast paced story with just about everything you could want.

Within the first two pages, the reader immediately knows what is at stake for the main character, Cael, and gets a good glimpse of the broader political and social constructs of this world – brilliant. (I wish I read more books that did this so quickly and so well.)

Cael McAvoy lives in the Heartland and the only crop the government allows the people to grow is a genetically modified strain of corn. This corn is aggressive, wiping out other species and even trying to trap and consume people within its fields. It is also inedible.

Heartland's citizens are malnourished and suffering from different forms of cancer. Cael and his friends are scavengers sailing their ship above the corn looking for anything of value to supplement their families’ incomes. Meanwhile, the Empryean elite live in opulent sky flotillas. The government brutally suppresses all rebellion and controls almost all aspects of the lives of those in the Heartland.

Cael is sick of the injustices of his life…

Ok, so you know how this goes - our hero is going to become involved in a rebellion.

Despite the fact that at its heart this is an age old tale, Wendig executes it brilliantly and the reader is left wanting to read more. There were no surprises for me in this book, yet I loved every minute of it.

Four Stars!

Under the Empyrean Sky is a dystopian novel and the first installment in the Heartland Trilogy. Though the dystopian future has recently become an extremely popular trope, Wendig’s novel stands apart from the rest with a very unique vision of our planet’s future. The story holds an environmental message at its heart, and tackles the issues of genetic modification, the use of pesticides, and the dangers of letting a single crop and the megacorporations that regulate it control the vast majority of the food market. Wendig manages to incorporate his message into a wonderful story that is filled with well-developed characters and a fast paced plot that leaves the reader on the edge of her seat. It is a dystopian novel with real heart, and is one of the best books I have read in the science fiction genre in quite a while.

The story follows the story of Cael McAvoy, a teenage boy who lives in a small town in the middle of a sea of corn. Cael’s town is part of the Heartland, which is ruled by the Empyrean government. The Empyrean’s have everything; they live in cities that float above the earth, and are privy to all the comforts that one can dream of. But the Heartland is only allowed to grow on crop: corn, and their entire lives revolve around it. The corn is so genetically modified that it is extremely aggressive, and between the fight to keep the corn from overrunning their homes and the consumption of the corn and its bi-products, the people of Heartland are often riddled with tumors, growths and deformities. Ceal and his friends are extremely tired of living life on the ground, and coming up soon is the Obligation Ceremony where the government will choose their spouses for them. Cael is already in love, and he knows the odds are extremely good that he will lose his Gwennie forever. Cael realizes that in order to live the life he wants, he will have to make his own luck, even if it means defying the privileged Empyreans. But how will he fight against people who have everything? And even if he does succeed, what will happen to his family and his home when he brings the wrath of the Empyreans to the Heartland?

Under the Empyrean Sky contains many of the aspects that people look for in a dystopian novel. There is an enormous gap between the “haves” and the “have nots,” there is an all-powerful government that manages to control every aspect of its citizens lives, and there is even a love story between two people who are not allowed to be together. But Wendig adds so many other elements to this novel that I believe it will please both those looking for a familiar dystopian story and those who are looking to read something a bit more unique. It is very easy to become absorbed in Cael’s world, and it is the details of this world that made the story especially enjoyable for me. I also liked Wendig’s ability to write characters that the reader cares about. Even though there were not many characters that were morally ambiguous, or that took a while to gain the reader’s loyalty, I found myself rooting for the protagonists and loathing the antagonists.

Despite the novel’s environmental message, this is not the kind of story that is written to challenge the reader with flowing prose and enigmatic plot lines. It is a fun read which is set in a captivating world, and it still manages to make the reader think about the environmental ramifications of the way we grow and purchase our food. The plot stays consistently engaging, with no real slow points to the story. I also found the novel to be well written, and it is perfect for anyone that wants an easy and enjoyable read.

Overall, I would rate this book a 7.75/10.

Chuck Wendig has written a YA novel that should make readers of all ages think about the unknown dangers that could happen when we genetically alter anything.

In this world, the genetically engineered corn has mutated causing tumors and birth defects in the human slaves who farm it for world and is causing birth defects and tumors in the human slaves that farm the corn for the Empyreans. The Empryeans are evil; they use the corn for fuel and as additives for their flotillas. Humans are their slaves and they are forbidden to have animals unless it consumes the corn, the kill any animal that does not have the tumors that is caused by the corn. They also do not allow them to grow any other kinds of fruits or vegetables, corn is the only crop allowed.

Cael McAvoy is the central character in this novel; he is tired of living on the ground and he is dreading the Obligation Ceremony that he must soon participate in that allows the government to choose his spouse. He love a girl names Gwennie and knows that it is very unlikely that they will be paired. In order for him to have the life he wants he will have to rebel against the Empyreans and if he does what will happen to everyone and everything that he care about.
This is an exciting novel, set in a world where the all powerful government rules over al; there are a few who live a live of plenty and luxuries while the majority struggle to survive.

4.25/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or the publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**

Cael McAvoy is sick of life in the Heartland. The Empyrean government forces Heartlanders to grow genetically engineered corn that depletes the soil and kills all other plants. And Heartlanders aren’t allowed to grow anything else: the Empyrean outlawed the farming of other crops and destroyed the seeds. They closed down the schools, keep order through a vicious police force, and eliminate “terrorists” who buck order. Cael wants more than a life dictated by the Empyreans floating among the clouds. He’s angry. At the Empyreans for guaranteeing his life will never get better, and at his father for not being upset by that fact.

After following Chuck Wendig’s blog and Twitter since last September, I decided to check out his fiction. Under the Empyrean Sky seemed too deep into the science fiction genre for my tastes, but the opportunity to read it (and the rest of the Harvest Triology) practically fell into my lap.

The story starts off like a lot of other YA dystopia novels: Cael despises the status-quo and is getting ready for a ceremony where the Empyrean will decide a major part of his life. Sure the setting of the Heartland with the invasive corn set it apart from others, but Cael didn’t strike me as special. He came off as the stereotypical “angry young man.”

But Wendig’s writing kept me reading. I was surprised when an event that’d been foreshadowed came to fruition, even though I’ve spotted the plot device in other books from miles away. Another plot twist I didn’t even see coming. And even though I didn’t really care for the characters, I was on the edge of my seat as the novel ramped up to the climax. I’ll be starting the next book, Blightborn, very soon to find out what happens next.

Under the Empyrean Sky would be great for a reader looking for science fiction/dystopia in a YA novel.

Rating: 4/5

Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig is published by Skyscape and is available as a hardcover, paperback, and as an eBook.

**I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Under the Empyrean Sky(The Heartland Trilogy Book 1) by Chuck Wendig

This is one of those books I might not just pick up and check out; so I admittedly have gotten this through the Kindle Unlimited program and downloaded it to check it out; though it was in the wishlist.

THE CORN REACHES for the land-boat above it, but the corn is slow and the cat-maran is fast. The stretching, yearning stalks hiss against the boat's bottom, making a white noise that sounds like pollen coming out of a piss-blizzard.

Wendig, Chuck (2013-07-30). Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy Book 1) (Kindle Locations 61-63). Skyscape. Kindle Edition.

Now the above is probably why I put this in the wish list and didn't just buy it and start reading. Don't get me wrong-this is great imagery; it's just when it gets to piss-blizzard and I wandered off to try to find out what a piss-blizzard might be that it lost me back then.

This time I read through and--guess what--within context of the story there is a definition for piss-blizzard.

I think originally I felt like I'd stepped into a Ken Kesey novel or maybe something like a Richard Farina novel maybe some wierd spinoff of Been Down So Long Looks Like Up To Me. But then there are these blizzards caused by the pollen from the corn and they get pretty violent up your nose kind of yellow fog blizzard that are called piss-blizzard so that makes more sense than thinking Richard Farina has started to write science fiction Dystopia.

This is no ordinary corn this super corn engineered to be prolific and meant to be used in all sorts of applications from fuel to feed. But there is some bit of foreboding here when there is talk of the blight afflicting humans and how it slowly takes over the body until it squeezes the life out of the people. Better to take them out and burn them before everyone else is infected. But is there more to it than that and could this be tied to the use of corn for beer and alcohol and perhaps even linked to Cael's fathers rather simple warning that it's best not to imbibe in too many or anything that is made with the corn.

In the above quote the whole begining of the novel sounds like quite good imagery with corn reaching and yearning. And since I had stopped there once; it stayed that way in my mind for quite some time, but I soon found that this was more literal than literary. This corn seems to have a life of its own and if you get left out there too long and start napping you could easily become just that much more fodder for its purpose. This corn is worse than crabgrass as it reaches out takes hold and moves into the surrounding area choking out everything.

Life on the ground is structured around the control and harvesting of this corn. The villages of people who live amongst the corn receive some token support and reward in the harvesting of the corn, though I was a bit confused about what they actually have to do with that harvest since the corn seemed to be harvested by automated machinery. And when that machinery breaks down the villagers don't so much repair it as scavenge from it. So quite basically as the villagers have a transient vagrant sector that scavenge off of them they scavenge off the machinery of the Empyreans who live in the sky. So is it any wonder they are treated often like rats and just barely tolerated.

The Corn and the society seem to be threads of a plot that might run throughout the series where the central plot of this novel might be the lives of some of the people in the villages amongst the corn. In a way its all about the lives of the 'children of the corn'[my name for them-not the author's]. And that moniker might be quite appropriate to where the plot begins to guide me as a reader into the near horror in the story.

If I have a niggle in this novel it might be how it seems to take society backwards or maybe sidling depending on how one views our society today. Of course this is fiction so the author may take it any direction he chooses. It just seems to me that there are some opportunities for some strong female characters that get tossed aside for what seems like the usual male dominated tropes. This would be alright if wasn't for the fact that the plot now is driven by this male need to acquire the female. In this instance it is Gwennie who has been the stabilizing influence in Cael's team of scavengers and there is a whole relationship thing between the two that is tragically doomed when the marriage lottery that the village does matches Gwennie with Boyland, who is Cael's arch enemy. And at this point Gwennie's value plummets while the two men begin a slow dance of rivalry.

But this whole society works that way and I soon find that Cael may be on the road to repeating history. There is some potential for another girl, Wanda Mecklin, who is the one who wins Cael as a potential mate; but once again she is cast aside to move the plot forward. And there is Cael's sister Merelda who has potential to be strong and show up that way, but she disappears from the story quickly. So this becomes a male dominated story, which is not so much a problem as an observation. Then there is Proctor Agrasanto from the sky city who is a villain-ness so she has to come off tough; but even so, she constantly seems to want to be somewhere else rather than preforming her duties. So even though the women seem to be an important part of a plot point they also seem to come off as mostly window dressing which tends to weaken the whole plot point for me.

Setting those concerns aside this is still a very well written book that captured my interest enough for me to finish in one sitting. I hope that we see a brighter future for the women in the story toward reaching their potential, but I will be looking toward the next novel to find where the other threads are taking the larger story.

This is strong SFF in a classic sense with some fresh notions and a few of the usual tropes that should keep the average reader entertained for one sustained sitting.

J.L. Dobias

Slow to start dystopian story about downtrodden people living in the "Heartland", made to grow genetically modified corn, under the rule of the Empyrean. Cael, the main character, is angry with his lot in life and frequently lashes out. He captains a scavenger hovercraft, always on the lookout for that special item that he and his crew can sell. But when they come across that special something, all hell breaks loose. But glad I stuck with it as the story greatly improved with a few plot twists and turns.

Cael's anger and single-mindedness almost made me stop reading. Not enough depth of character. It mostly improved but there were times I still wanted to smack him one and tell him to get over himself.

Since KindleUnlimited also gives the option of listening to the book, I did that as well. A pretty good narrator EXCEPT has horrible female voices. But he did some really good variations of male voices as well as paced the story nicely.

Actual rating 3.5 due to the slow start and cliched dialogue but would rather round up than down.

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy, review by Chris.

When I claimed UNDER THE EMPYREAN SKY for review I had no idea this was a young adult novel. I simply saw Chuck Wendig’s name and, since I absolutely loved THE BLUE BLAZES, I quickly claimed it. When I saw that it was young adult I was a little worried. Would Wendig’s style be so watered down I wouldn’t enjoy it? I’m pleased to say that wasn’t the case at all and UNDER THE EMPYREAN SKY is a great read for both adult fans of Wendig’s writing and for the younger crowd who probably has never heard of him.

With YA fiction I often find myself rolling my eyes at the idealized teenage life the authors portray in the books. When I was sixteen I cursed, did stupid things and generally acted like someone who was too old to be a child and too young to be an adult. In UNDER THE EMPYREAN SKY Wendig does a fantastic job of portraying his teenage characters as, well, teenagers. They swear, talk about (and have) sex and make the kind of rash decisions that you probably would have made as a teenager.

The book tells the tale of Cael McAvoy – captain of the Big Sky Scavengers. He and his friends try to supplement their family’s meager earnings by scavenging what they can find in the corn fields that are, well, everywhere. In this future the Empyreans rule from colonies in the sky and people like Cael are left to manage the corn crops that supply the Empyreans with the resources they need to continue living in luxury. Corn has long since stopped being grown primarily for food and it is used in everything. When Cael and his friends stumble upon what they see as their way out of poverty, they quickly learn that nothing is every as easy as they want it to be.

UNDER THE EMPYREAN SKY is an excellent book and the only thing stopping this from being a five bat review is the lack of depth for the other characters (especially Gwennie and the other female characters). Wendig has never had a problem writing strong female characters in his adult novels and I imagine we’ll get to see more of them in the next book of this series. I’ve seen several reviews that question Wendig’s frank portrayal of teenage life, but I found it to be a breath of fresh air and I would have loved this book to pieces if I had read it when I was a teen.

Sexual Content: Off-screen sex.

This is classic futuristic done right! I really don't know how to talk about this book, especially for those who haven't read much pre-1985 futurism dystopia.

Pros: Great character development and cast of characters. The author really puts in enough time to flesh out the main crew, but doesn't over do back story. There is enough meat to feel vested in their interests, and that really drives this book forward. Secondly, great world development. Readers are given enough information to keep them wondering about the detailed workings of the current class system, and how things are going to change. The consistent writing style and tone contributes to a smooth read with good pacing.

Cons: The only con I have for this book is that I feel for YA fiction (which is what it is billed as), I feel it might be a little out of depth. Not that that is a bad thing at all, just a note. I would definitely recommend this book to my students who are dedicated readers or have shown interested in the genre before, but I feel that they'd have to have some experience in order to grasp a lot of the concepts introduced early on in the book.

Honestly, I'd give this book 4.5 stars if I could, highly recommended!

This book has many parallels to what is actually occurring in our society. The Empyreans (our 1% "elite") are they ruling class and the rest of the human race are basically slaves laboring in corn fields or in some corn related business. The corn (a take-off of the Monsanto monstrosities that have been created) is poison to eat and the plants are robust and powerful - difficult at best to deal with.

The pairing off of couples when they become of "age" by the elite whether the girl and boy like each other or not doesn't matter. The Empyreans rule every aspect of their lives. This story is about the main character and his journey to get out of this nightmare of a life. It is interesting, but I wasn't too crazy about the dialogue. It was sometimes hard for me to figure out what was going on but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It had some swearing but my kids hear worse than that at home so I wasn't offended by the reality of using swear words. Sex happened, but in a totally non-graphic way so it wasn't anything to worry about especially if the reader is already a teenager.

There were several low-star reviews complaining about language and sexuality. Since television pours these things, along with violence into people's heads, I find I difficult to get behind their rage. I work in a video game store and every day I see parents allowing their pre-teen boys to play games rated 'M' for mature. I try to caution them these games have extreme violence, offensive language, and sexuality with nudity - to no avail. Come on, people! UTES has less sexuality than a PG-13 movie and less language than in music and the aforementioned movies. We bury our heads in the sand and decry the downfall of civilization - guess what? Society has been sucking for quite a while. Anyway, on to the review:

I avoid stories with wording like 'trilogy' in the title unless it is a reissue of a completed trilogy. I find planned trilogies use weak devices like cliffhangers. Unfortunately, UTES delivers just that - a cheesy cliffhanger. I actually thought my kindle was malfunctioning, when I couldn't read beyond the last page. There are several parts of this story that are laughably predictable - but no more so than any other dystopian YA fiction. I won't take away stars for the predictability or the perceived language, or even the comically cliched villains, but Chuck loses a star for the incomplete ending.

This is not a negative review, I enjoyed every moment spent reading it. Chuck is a great writer and I will be reading the other heartland books when they come out.

Billed as the first part of the Heartland Trilogy, Under the Empyrean Sky starts slow. We're not told when or where this exactly is set but we're left to assume that it is the American heartland at some point in the future.

And the tone of the first half of the book is certainly reminiscent of the "kid coming of age in small town America books" that are not uncommon. Chuck Wendig treads a fine line of building this dystopian future where those in the "heartland" are little more than slaves for the airborne elite without just dumping a bunch of information on us.

So we are introduced to Cael, who gives us a view point on this strange world full of frustration, thwarted ambitions, hardship and pettiness. And some of the time Cael isn't very likeable. He's a bit selfish, a bit impetuous and prone to sulky behavior. Yup, he's a teenager. This is all very effectively done, but it is as I said slow.

Because everything is small. This world is small, deliberately made so by the Empyreans who control the laws, the money and every other part of the Heartlander's life. Getting your hands on a ripe apple is a major victory in this place.

But Wendig does have a larger story he's planning to tell and it slowly emerges with a twist I really didn't see coming. And then things start to speed up. The last third of the book really does fly by as non-stop action that happens in the period of a few hours. And all that previous stuff starts to pay off.

The trick to writing this style of "coming of age story" is that you have to squeeze and squeeze the protagonist until the reader is screaming for them to do something, anything. Fight back. And when they do... that's the cathartic moment. It's simple enough in theory but difficult in execution. It works here.

And there are a few stumbles. We stay firmly in Cael's head for a large chunk of the book. Which makes sense although it can be frustrating due to his frustration and attitude. But then all of a sudden we're head hopping. Not in the middle of paragraphs or anything like that but it is disconcerting because by the time it happens you've got used to the rhythm of the writing and it changes without warning.

The early focus on Cael also means that the other characters development gets truncated. They do have their own subplots but it ends up crammed into a tiny part of the book instead of being able to play out from the start.

I would also say that the book doesn't really provide a satisfying conclusion. Too many things are left up in the air, so you're going to be drawn in to reading the trilogy.

But those caveats aside, this is a well executed story that I enjoyed. How much you like it will be very much determined by your taste for this style of fiction.

Under the Empyrean Sky is a topical read born from the latest headlines of GM modified agriculature and popularity of dystopian YA novels. Although solidly written, it can't help but feel like another retread of poor beleaguered post apocalyptic souls who will have to fight against the wealthier overlords in a life or death battle to free themselves from their subsistence.

Cael McAvoy lives in a small villiage desperately trying to survive in a land ravaged by aggressive, deadly, genetically modified corn. In the sky, Empyrean city-ship fueled by the corn (who might was well be named Monsanto), lay the law and demand deadly work from the ground dwellers - causing horrible deaths from complications of working with the corn (tumors, poisons, etc.). Cael has a light airship that he crews in order to salvage - but there is dissention and a secret underground movement that will bring empyrean attention to them. Attention that caused the nearby city to be completely razed to the ground.

In all, the novel has a very 1930s feel (similar to the Hunger Games district 12 - but with agriculture replacing mining). The poverty of Depression Era America is fully realized here as Cael grapples with his affection for a local girl but must commit himself to a yearly ceremony that matches up eligible age youth in order to ensure progeny. Terrible poisons to combat that insidious corn results in horrific tumors and physical defects - ensuring that life in the town is short and painful.

As much as I enjoyed the book, I did feel a bit bored as the main character railed against his fate. He was brash and idiotic - giving way for a lot of character growth in future novels but ultimately not giving a lot of reason to read in the first novel. There is action and also rivalry in the form of the mayor's son but it all seems so trivial in light of the greater bad in which these people live. As such, it can be a hard novel to read due to the overall hopelessness of the ton. And the characters don't have a lot of depth or insight - perhaps appropriate for the setting but not necessarily making for an interesting read.

For me, though the subject was topical, I did feel like I was getting hit over the head with it. That poor corn was hit with about every kind of gene splicing you can imaging - from kudzu to venus fly trap (it kills bugs that attack it). It gave a new meaning to horror's "children of the corn."

I followed Chuck Wendig on Twitter and I read his blog posts religiously. Under the Empyrean Sky is my first taste of his fiction writing and proves to me his mastery of English. Wendig is poetic in the way he uses metaphor and simile--where people are put off by him, I think, is that he can be somewhat crude, somewhat cussy, and approaches the world in a true-to-himself, human way. Wendig takes normal, day-to-day conversational speaking and writes the s*** out of it, creating an accessible language adults and teens can understand, relate to, and enjoy. Sometimes it's nice to hear eloquent prose with bigger presumptive vocabularies, and sometimes you want someone to tell you a damn story and make it larger than life and awesome. If there is one thing Wendig is good at it, it is telling a story. This book has everything--demon corn, elitist flotilla-inhabiting 1%-ers, a polytheist religion, and a scary disease I fanfic Poison Ivy created.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I first began reading this book. I was really unsure if I was going to like it. The story seemed to drag on with not much really going on in it and it really just wasn't pulling me in. However, I really wanted to give this series a try and the more that I continued reading the more I did find myself actually getting interested in the plot line.

I love how things are sort of coming full circle in this story. Events that happened to Cael's father are happening to him and his father completely takes him by surprise and finding out that they actually have a bit more in common. The concepts in this story are original and unique but I do feel like a little bit less of world building would have helped to pull me in quicker. I felt like in the beginning I was biting off way more than I could chew with this story and if it hadn't been for the unique ideas I would have put the book down.

That being said, I actually did enjoy reading this story. Once I got to the meat of the story, it did pull me in. I was interested to find out how the events were going to play our for our characters and thought that things took an interesting turn with the garden. I found the characters slightly hard to relate to but overall not completely out of the way that I couldn't understand the emotions that they were going through. The ending held enough interest and left it at a slight cliffhanger making me wonder what is going to happen to the characters in the rest of the series.

Cael McAvoy and his friends live in the Heartland, where corn grows in spades, but Heartland’s people can’t eat it. In fact, some would say the corn is alive. One thing is for sure, it fuels everything that the Empyreans need, in their kingdom in the clouds, while Heartland’s citizens survive on scraps, because the land can’t grow anything else. Cael is, however, captain of the Big Sky Scavengers, and they’re pretty darn good at what they do, even if the mayor’s son and his crew constantly try to sabotage them. Life is hard, but not terrible, until the love of his life, Gwennie, gets Obligated to someone else, someone he hates. Soon, however, Cael and his friends discover a patch of fresh veggies and fruit growing amidst the corn, and what it signifies could change the lives of the Heartlanders, but what to do? If Cael thought life was interesting before, it’s about to get downright scary, and it certainly doesn’t help that his sister has run away, leaving him with a father that he feels does nothing to help the family and a mother who is crippled by tumors.

Most of you know by now that I love anything that Chuck Wendig writes, and his first foray into YA is a winner, inside and out. I love the world of the Heartland, where corn will attack you if you linger too long in the fields and the Blight can strike anyone at any time, causing horrible mutations and, sometimes, insanity. If you’re already a fan of his work, you know how good Wendig is at imagery, and it’s on fine display here, in this post- apocalyptic world that echoes, in some ways, the Wild West, but with hoverboards and of course, killer corn. Perhaps among one of the creepiest elements of this book is the Lottery, which one family wins every year, awarding the winner a trip to the sky, to live in promised luxury. Yet, the reader gets the distinct impression that heading to the clouds may not be all it’s cracked up to be, but you won’t find out in this installment. Since Cael’s sister has hitched a ride into the sky, I’m sure we’ll find out more in the next book, but the wait will be excruciating, at least for this reader. If you like your dystopian heavy on the creepy, with plenty of rebellious and strong characters, you’re in for a real treat. This one will appeal to teens and adults alike, and it’s not to be missed!

This is the first of three books in The Heartland Trilogy. It begins with Cael, the leader of a small group of teens who earn money by scavenging, racing against a rival team. His vessel is a boat, but not a water craft, a hover craft. The sea is an endless field of corn. Right there, I was intrigued, and then things get really interesting: love threatened by state-mandated matches, hints at former greatness next to evidence of hard times, and privileged overlords with an utter disregard for human decency.

One of the things I love about this story is wading through the hints to try to figure out when and where the story is taking place. Future? Past in an alternate universe? Country? There’s enough evidence to figure out the where, but then it becomes a question of the when. It’s never stated outright, but I don’t think it needs to be. Where would the fun be in that?

Another thing I love is the complexity of the characters. They are richly detailed, but their character and motivations are revealed in their actions, and occasionally through their narration, as the perspective of the story at times shifts to different people. Hints are sufficiently subtle that no one is an open book, making for realistic interactions that bring everyone in the story to life. Now, there do seem to be a few archetypical characters, but having read the second book, I realize that I was wrong about some of them. I love being surprised.

And on that note, I thought this was YA at first, really through most of the first book, but again, having read the second and started the third, I must say this is a bit more complex and adult than a typical YA offering. Just all around solid world building, angst, struggles, revolution, and complex characters, even amongst those pegged as villains.

I also thought this was just about the right length. It’s as long as it needs to be, and the level of complexity is engaging, without being confusing.

Alright, so overall, I’d say I love this book. I would strongly recommend this to folks who love a meaty dystopian or sci fi offering. The science and the level of dysfunction are satisfyingly realistic, with familiar themes delivered in a new way.

I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

First, I must disagree with a few other reviewers that rate the book low merely due to the use of profanity and sexual content (if you can even call it that). Human beings cuss. And, believe it or not, have sex. In fat, there isn't actual SEX in this book... just mention of it by people who are of legal age and bound to be married. Under the Empyrean Sky is far less sexual than many other YA books I've read (remember the Twilight series?). And unless you've lived in a box, kids cuss. Often worse than many adults.

The people of the Heartland -- viewed as nothing more than mere "beasts" or "animals" working for the Empyrean society (the 1%, if you will) -- are in charge of making sure the genetically altered corn is harvested. For their efforts, they are allowed to live, more or less, and get by on very little. Money, food, even who your husband/wife will be -- all decided and doled out by the Empyrean: the "upper class" who live in floating cities and aren't bound to the land. (In fact, being on land apparently makes them ill.)

Cael and two of his friends have big dreams of better lives and make a shocking discovery that threatens not only the three of them, but their families as well.

The book ends with quite a cliffhanger, and I'm eager to read the next in the series.

This was an interesting idea - I'd never thought of corn with killer instincts. The characters are interesting and the reader is left wanting more, as is the purpose of the first book in a trilogy I suppose. The conflict in the story is an old one - class war and the rich keeping the poor down. It will be interesting to see what goes on inside the wealthy flotilla ships in the next book as well as how the author will further develop the characters' depth and the storyline. Though this first book is a little weak and less fleshed out than I'd like, I will await the second book eagerly.

Wasn't sure what to expect. Intriguing story. Lots of dialog. I'd have enjoyed more visualization at times. The ending was superb for sure. Action and adventure. Worth a read. Had interesting underlying meanings that ravel into our own reality, if taken as such.

Fun to read, the pages turn themselves, Cael is a great character, caring and proud and flawed and loveable, in a dark, post-apocalyptic dystopia. I'm reading the sequel now, as well as another book by Chuck Wendig about writing.

Chuck's writing is light, fun, quirky and regularly makes me laugh so hard I have to stop reading for a moment!

Chuck, in case you read this, I will NEVER ask you to read my manuscript. ;P
And I want you to know that you are entertaining, educating, validating and inspiring me!!
So thanks for being you, and keep it up!! (:

<3

In a word: A unique farmland world ruled by corn, edgy characters that will surprise you with their emotional lives, a couple of big secrets and a couple of things worth fighting for. And did I mention the corn is alive? Jeezum Crow!

I was so eager to read this book, after falling madly for The Blue Blazes. And I was eager to see how Wendig handled young adult fiction, as his adult fiction is full of swearing and drugs and, well, other adult stuff. And I was not disappointed. Under the Empyrean Sky was an unusual story that almost had the feel of a story set in the 1950s, despite clearly being science fiction. The main characters are a group of teen boys who lead hardscrabble lives, trying to survive in a harsh environment where corn is the only crop allowed and life is miserable all around. But what makes these boys special, and by extension this story special, is the bond they've formed with each other. In many ways this was a good old-fashioned adventure story about protecting the little in life that you own and keeping those you love safe.

Boxelder is a small dusty town in the Heartland, where the genetically modified corn known as Hiram's Golden Prolific grows wherever it wants to. Automated harvesters called motorvators pick the corn, but the residents of Boxelder don't get to eat it. The corn is shipped off to be turned into things like plastic, fuel and food additives, so the townspeople survive on whatever else they can get their hands on, including the shuck rats that live among the corn stalks. The towns of the Heartland are ruled by the Empyrean, well-to-do individuals who live above the ground in floating cities called flotillas. They control almost everything the Heartlanders do, but as you might expect, that doesn't sit well with everyone.

Cael is a seventeen-year-old who captains a scavenger vessel with a rag-tag crew of teens named Rigo, Lane and Gwennie. One day, after a rival crew called the Boxelder Butchers causes their ship to crash, Cael and his crew discover something wonderful: a secret garden full of illegal vegetables--peppers, tomatoes and green beans--which changes their lives in an instant. On a quest to find the source of the garden, Cael and his friends must buck the rules of the Empyrean if they have any hope of making life better for themselves and their families.

There is so much to talk about with this book, I'm not sure where to begin! Let's start with the world building. In a sea of dystopian novels, Under the Empyrean Sky had some unusual elements that I loved:

*The corn. I was both creeped out and fascinated by the corn, which is so aggressive that it can even take over your body! I loved Wendig's descriptions of how the sharp leaves and stalks can draw blood if you brush up against them:

*The Empyrean flotillas. These floating cities are merely background material in this first book, but I'm sure in the next book we'll learn more about them and the people who live there.

*The Blight. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say there are some horrible diseases in this story, and the blight is one of the worst.

*Piss-blizzards! This is what the locals call it when a big wind whips up and blows around the pollen on the corn. The resulting blizzard looks like piss, I guess!

*Hover boats, cat-marans and magna-cruxes. Cool floating "ships" that let you whiz through the air. Kind of reminded me of the landspeeder from Star Wars. And yes, they probably run on fuel made from the evil corn.

The characters felt authentic and real to me, and even though they aren't the nicest people I've met in stories (well, actually none of the characters are perfect and many will rub you the wrong way), I was drawn in by their situations and felt for them, no matter how mean they got. Cael in particular is an angry boy whose family situation isn't the greatest. His mother is dying, her body covered in tumors from the processed food the Empyrean gives them to eat; his father is so caught up in following the Empyrean's rules that he can't see what they've done to his family; and his sister Merelda has run away from home. For me, Cael was simply a product of his environment. He lives in a harsh world and he has to act a certain way to survive. I loved his weapon of choice--a sling-shot with ball bearing ammunition that he wields with deadly accuracy. But Cael is protective of those he cares about, especially his crew. I also loved Cael's friend Rigo, abused by his father but a staunch protector and friend to Cael and the rest of the crew.

Even nasty Boyland Jr., Cael's rival in more ways than one, got to me by the end of the book. Wendig has an emotional moment for everyone at some point, which makes you begin to at least understand, if not like, some of the characters. And by the midpoint of the story, Cael and the others change from bullies to heroes, when they discover that some things in life are important enough to fight for.

Wendig's dialog is just as good as ever. The quick back-and-forth between the boys is exactly the way I would imagine teen boys talking to each other if they're stuck in a dusty cornfield chasing rats and trying to find spare harvester parts to sell.

All the pent-up tension comes to a head at the end, and the author wraps things up just right to make the reader eager for book two. I truly ended up caring for these characters and their fight against the Empyrean, and I can't wait to see what's next. Even if it's full of heartbreak. After all, that's life in the Heartland.

Many thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy. Quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof and may differ from the finished version.

Corn is King - and Hiram's Golden Prolific is the only crop people are allowed to grow, every grain of it intended as biofuel for the Empyrean fleet. Hiram's Golden Prolific is no ordinary crop though. Crossbred with other crops and genetically modified, it grows where it pleases, spreads where it wants and seems to have a mind of its own. Hiram's Golden Prolific is dangerous!

Cael McAvoy is captain of the Big Sky Scavengers, who spend their days sailing over the corn in a hovercraft searching for things lost or abandoned to the corn. And then one day they spot something almost miraculous in the corn, something that changes everything . . . .

I found myself pleasantly surprised by Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy). While the book started out bit slowly and initially made me question if this might be a Hunger Games knock-off, I found myself quickly disabused of that idea. Aimed at teens,Under the Empyrean Sky is entirely unique, a great read, a book that I found myself unable to put down.

Highly Recommended

Corn is King - and Hiram's Golden Prolific is the only crop people are allowed to grow, every grain of it intended as biofuel for the Empyrean fleet. Hiram's Golden Prolific is no ordinary crop though. Crossbred with other crops and genetically modified, it grows where it pleases, spreads where it wants and seems to have a mind of its own. Hiram's Golden Prolific is dangerous!

Cael McAvoy is captain of the Big Sky Scavengers, who spend their days sailing over the corn in a hovercraft searching for things lost or abandoned to the corn. And then one day they spot something almost miraculous in the corn, something that changes everything . . . .

I found myself pleasantly surprised by Under the Empyrean Sky (The Heartland Trilogy). While the book started out bit slowly and initially made me question if this might be a Hunger Games knock-off, I found myself quickly disabused of that idea. Aimed at teens,Under the Empyrean Sky is entirely unique, a great read, a book that I found myself unable to put down.

Highly Recommended

nder the Empyrean Sky follows Cael McAvoy as he lives life in the Heartland, scavenging for parts, sneaking off with his childhood sweeheart, and keeping the corn at bay. Yes, the corn. There are plenty of villains in this book, but none are quite as interesting or unpredictable as the corn. The Empyrean control everything the Heartlanders do, and that includes which plants they grow. They're only allowed to grow one crop, and that's Hiram's Golden Prolific, which isn't even edible. At first I was thrown off by this book, but it turned out to be a great story.

First, I would like to address the cussing apparently a lot of reviewers have a problem with; I didn't think there was very much of it to be honest. Though, honestly I myself cuss like a sailor, so that may have been why I was not that put off by what was there. And while I can see how maybe some parents would object to their kids reading it, I think that's a fairly naive attitude, especially considering the age range this book is meant for. Let's face it guys, teenagers and adults cuss, heck even little kids if we're being very honest. Maybe it isn't the way it should be, but that's the way it is. I don't really think a book should be rated lower because it has a few choice words in it.

Anywho, I'll get down off my soap box now.

The narration style wasn't to my liking and the author needs some work on characterization. I got quite bored with the book several times because I simply could not connect with any of the characters. The plot itself wasn't really anything I hadn't seen before in other such YA novels. I was originally going to give it two stars, but I think the twists that come later in the plot really gave it that boost in the end that will recapture the reader's attention and have them begging for a sequel. For me, judging off this first novel, even though I admit to curiosity about how things will work out, I don't think I'll enjoy the sequel any better. It would have to be a major improvement on this one.

This was a corn-punk roller coaster ride that kept me up well into the night. Fans of dystopian YA who crave something fresh and different will not want to miss this. The pacing, voice, and character development were just impressive, and the setting/world both fascinated and chilled me. It's been a long time since I've read a book where I said, "Wow. This really could be us in some years." Highly, highly recommended. I can't wait to dig into the second book.

*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought I was done with teenagers in dystopian settings, but Chuck Wendig pulled me back in. And I’m glad he did. I’m not going to lie, this is a weird book, and it’s not for everyone. Fortunately, it was perfect for me.

Life in the Heartland sucks big time, and that made the world truly engaging for me. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure about the main characters, but in no time, my heart was breaking a little bit for Cael, Lane, and especially Rigo (oh, my sweet baby).

What I enjoyed more was the shifting point of view. It was a delightful surprise, and very much appreciated, that made the story super fast-paced and impossible to put down. I don’t even need to say that I’m going to start the next book in the series right now!

This first book in the Heartland series feels appropriately like the first act of a larger book. There's a lot of cool setup and interesting glimpses of the world and things to come (I presume), and that makes me excited to continue. One thing I really enjoyed was midway through the book when the narrator leaves the main character to follow each of his friends in turn, since they have all split up to explore. This serves a dual purpose of showing the outcomes of the exploration but also seems to drive home that these characters are together now, but won't necessarily stick together or even get along for the rest of the story. Overall good, but definitely a first act with more to come.

I really enjoyed this book! I think the premise is really refreshing - killer corn!! As a resident of the Midwest, I enjoyed reading a sci-fi novel set in our area of the world. So not only are there mysterious Empyrean's but there are also dissidents, drunks, bullies and people being taken over by genetically modified plants. If you are up for something different - check this out!

Was initially drawn to this book because Chuck Wendig's blog is hilarious, and I love his writing style. The dialogue in this book felt like a familiar friend and Wendig's unique use of dialogue and inner dialogue helps draw you into the Empyrean/Heartland world.

This book definitely started slow. It was good and a rather intriguing premise, especially the corn part, but that was about all I had to say until probably halfway through the book. It felt like a window into an ordinary, if unfortunate/underdog, life, and then about halfway through the story accelerates. The book also changes to primarily from Cael's perspective (the main character), to a big chunk by Lane, and a big chunk by Rigo, and by the end of the book, the perspective changes rapidly with the story, which is actually an awesome way to do it.

Overall, I really loved the book. I accept that it partly is just a setup for the rest of the trilogy, but it is effective as a hook. I am excited to read the rest of the books and watch the (sometimes late-blooming) character development continue. I need answers to the questions brought up in the last little bit of the book!

Our eleven-year old daughter has been reading the books in the Hunger Games trilogy. She reports that Under the Empyrean Sky is entertaining in the same vein -- people struggling under the yoke of an authoritarian government in a future dystopian society. And with a GMO twist.

I'll update this review with an assessment of the quality of the story and writing once I have a chance to read the book myself.

Read this in one sitting, Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig is a great dystopian novel aimed at the young adult crowd and while the language at times is a little harsh it's no worse then they would hear at school and it adds to the character of the people on the books. If you liked Hunger Games or Divergent then grab this book up.

I enjoyed this book, and I'm really looking forward to the next installment in the trilogy. The mix of future tech and genetic weirdness makes this stand out as some pretty fun science fiction.

The characters don't always make sense, but that's actually pretty realistic, since they are teenagers. I'd reccommend this book to anyone who wants a fun young adult sci-fi and isn't afraid of a little profanity.

genetically modified inedible kudzu-corn covers most of the earth, grown by the oppressed 'midlanders' to fuel the floating islands in the sky where the elite lives. the midlanders are not permitted by the empyrean, to grow anything else. then one day, young cael and his friends riggo and lane crash their hovercraft only to discover a lush garden full of all kinds of fruits and veggies. who planted it? is this garden's very existence not an danger to the power of the empyrean?
chuck wendig's bleak and compelling narrative has induced this fantasy writer to write my first e-book review. characters are multi-faceted and surprising and the storyline well thought out and a real page turner. mr wendig, please don't take too long to get the sequels going, because you've made us salivate for more as if we were midlanders salivating for fresh fruits and veggies!

Genetically altered corn is all that grows in The Heartland - and you can't even eat it! These teens run a scavenger crew and it's hard to make a living, when the man is hell bent on keeping them down. A gritty coming of age story with realistic characters and scenarios, Under the Empyrean Sky is something both adults and teens will enjoy.

This book introduced us to an interesting, bleak world filled with really great characters. This is actually one of my favorite trilogies, and this book sets it up so well. This might be young adult fiction, but it is complex and interesting enough for any adult to enjoy.

I enjoy a good dystopian future story but there were too many holes in this one to work for me.

The world in which this YA novel is set has two societies: the Heartland is on the ground and is rural/very small town life with not much besides corn and the Empyrean are flotillas of ruling class flying cities with all the luxuries denied to people in the Heartland. The world building felt very incomplete and conflicting. The author gave no back story to explain how it was that the Empyrean came to rule over the Heartland, why they are living in flying cities and how they can manufacture all their goods up in the sky, why they want the people in the Heartland to be uneducated and dependent, etc. or why people in the Heartland suffer from birth defects and other ailments, including the mysterious Blight.

Also the Heartland is disconcertingly both technologically sophisticated (hover craft "boats" and sophisticated agricultural equipment) and primitive. Also agriculturally confused -- they had a harvest festival when the corn was green and tall and also a pollen blizzard. That makes no sense to this farm girl!

In this installment of the trilogy, the reader only hears about the Empyrean flotillas and doesn't actually see what life is like on one. Near the end of the book, someone with authority over the town comes down from Empyrean to Boxelder and gives the reader a little sense of how they think.

The main characters in the book are teens who live in the small town of Boxelder in the Heartland. The heroes are Cael, Rigo, Lane and Cael's love interest Gwennie who are a scavenging team. The villains are Cael's arch rival Boyland Barnes Jr., the mayor's son, and his scavenging team. None of the characters seemed particularly deep and I didn't get invested in any of them. The fathers of Cael and Boyland plus various other adults make up the rest of the town.

The book seems to have a not-so-hidden message about the evils of GMO seeds. The GMO corn in the book is not only invasive, it seems sentient and malevolent.

From a parental perspective, there is a lot of made-up/altered cursing in the book that relates to some unexplained religious/social beliefs about a Lord and Lady and also at least one F-bomb. People with a strong Christian faith may be offended by the frequent curse of "Jeezum Crow."

I'm mildly curious to see where the author takes the story in the next two installments of the trilogy, but probably not enough to read those books. The story had too many elements thrown in without context or explanation and I didn't feel drawn to any of the characters enough to care what happens to them.

I can't really recommend this book.

And I thought "Omnivore's Dilemma" freaked me out about corn.

Think "Hunger Games" meets Monsanto, thrown in a blender with some choice Wendig metaphors, poured over some romantic ice, then dropped on your head at the first drop of a rollercoaster.

It may be classified as YA, but may the Blight come and take grownups who don't read it. I pity you fools.

Reading "Under the Empyrean Sky" is strikingly close to some of the news you may have seen this summer. Or perhaps you missed it among all the other screaming about political agenda and celebrity highlights? Corn is a problem right here and right not, not in some unspecified future described in this novel. Genetic engineering and big business control is a concern for Cael and his family in Wendig's story and perhaps it should be a concern for you, too, as recent news reports reveal a form of genetically engineered corn that was never supposed to be grown is showing up in the good old USA today. The similarity between real life now and the future makes this novel so much more frightening that it could otherwise be.

The storytelling is quick paced and fairly similar to most of the YA apocalyptic novels I've been reviewing lately -- romance and out of control governments, teens the only hope, etc, etc. However unlike several other YA novels adults are not the bad guys indeed some of them turn out to be the hidden hope our teen main cast turns to. So in this regard the Heartland trilogy seems like it may be breaking the YA apocalyptic formula I'm seeing over and over again in books.

This book also breaks the YA formula I'm seeing in another way that parents may want to be aware of. There are what we commonly call swear words throughout the book along with amusing twists on vulgar words which arguably are just as vulgar even if not the ones we use right here and now in 2013. I think this language made the characters more realistic even in the crazy genetically poisoned world they are struggling to survive in.

This first book in the Heartland trilogy isn't perfect, I couldn't quite feel connected enough to our main trio of boys to really invest a lot of emotions in them but that may be more my own gender bias than a sign of the quality of writing. We aren't given quite enough information to fully understand when this nightmarish midwestern land exists but given cultural and social changes it must be a good century plus from now.

But fo the uniqueness of this story in the genre I think it is worth four out of five stars in the hopes that the next book will make a stronger emotional connection and continue to develop the unique aspects of it.

Visions of Kansas and dust bowl depression combine with Mad Max of the corn fields. In the beginning a story of corn sounds like a hard sell. And to try and explain it to someone else is an epic trial. I failed getting my wife interested. (Read, I don't work in sales.) I can only imagine how this synopsis sounded to a publisher. But it is a great book. A story of some things not being what they appear to be on the surface while others are soul crushingly exactly what they seem. Wendig paints a nice world and I look forward to the others in the series.

Take an intriguing premise -- futuristic serfs tending carnivorous corn for a dictatorial upper class who live in floating cities -- and add dialogue with the down-home wit of Firefly. It's a combination that works so well you'll feel right at home in the Heartland.

Carl and his buddies are just trying to survive, but as underdogs do, they are continually brought down. An interesting twist is the mysterious corn. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next two books.

Under the Empyrean Sky hits like a stalk of sentient corn to the face. This is a great YA book, and as a librarian, one I frequently recommend to young adults looking for a new world and new characters to get hooked on. Looking forward to finally reading book two.