Eclipse the Skies by Maura Milan
(Ignite the Stars, Book 2)
Released: September 3, 2019 | Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Space Opera
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Ia Cōcha never thought she’d be working for the Olympus Commonwealth. But that was before she found out her trusted brother Einn was trying to tear apart the universe. Now, Ia, the Blood Wolf of the Skies, has agreed to help the Royal Star Force on one condition: when she finds him, she gets to kill Einn herself.
Brinn Tarver has just come to terms with her Tawny identity when the public lashes out against her people, crushing her family. At her breaking point, she starts to question everything she believes in—including Ia.
After the death of his mentor, Knives Adams is doing his best to live up to a role he didn’t ask for as Aphelion’s new headmaster. Still, with each new step deeper into war, he feels torn between his duties and the pull of Ia’s radical—sometimes criminal—ideas.
As they fight to keep darkness from eclipsing the skies, their unpredictable choices launch this breathtaking sequel to explosive new heights.
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Rather than simply continuing the action, Milan wanted the characters to grapple with whether they believed in the causes they were being asked to fight for, and whether they were willing to sacrifice their own futures for everyone else. She described the emotional challenge of saying goodbye to these characters after spending years writing the duology, saying she was practically crying by the time she finished.
REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ☆ ☆ ☆
A quality-of-life update.
To be clear, Eclipse the Skies is only better by the slimmest of margins. Its improvements feel like “quality of life” changes (to borrow a video game term): adjustments that make the experience smoother and less frustrating without changing the core of the work. In this case:
The story is more focused.
The tone is more consistent.
The characters are better fleshed out.
The overuse of “mif” is toned down (still wish it had been cut entirely, but hey, progress).
Now, yes, these are things that would normally be considered actual improvements. But when we’re talking about a series, and fixes are things that should’ve been there from the start, they’re quality-of-life updates. Fight me.
My biggest frustration? The relentless bragging about Ia’s reputation. Every few pages, we’re reminded she’s the Blood Wolf of the Skies or the Sovereign of Dark Space. I get it. Stop telling me how legendary she is and show me. Let me actually see her be the badass you keep claiming she is.
And just like in my review of Ignite the Stars, there’s still the glaring issue of these characters being teenagers… in name only. Their dialogue and actions feel far more like seasoned adults, more jaded, more experienced. You adapt to it after a while, but then something reminds you of their actual age, and the immersion shatters.
So, why only two stars if the positives outweigh the negatives? Because the small improvements are still overshadowed by the big, glaring flaws. Honestly, I’m just not enjoying the story. It’s generic, predictable, occasionally nonsensical, and often a chore to get through. Just not for me.
That said, credit where it’s due, the writing has improved. Ignite the Stars was messy, unfocused, and full of problems. This sequel is tighter, more consistent, and has more nuanced characters. I truly hope the author keeps building on that progress.
