I picked up 'Updraft' expecting a cool flight-centric fantasy, but it ended up being so much deeper. Kirit’s journey starts as this relatable coming-of-age story—she’s just a kid trying to prove herself in a rigid society where your family’s reputation determines your path. But when she’s forced to join the Singers (who are part-judges, part-mystics), the story twists into this gripping political thriller. The Singers control knowledge, and their ‘laws’ are enforced through eerie, bone-chilling songs that can literally reshape reality. Wilde’s world-building is chef’s kiss—especially the living bone towers that grow and change, almost like they have a will of their own.
What I loved most was how Kirit’s curiosity becomes her greatest weapon. The more she learns about the Singers’ lies, the more she questions everything—even the nature of the city itself. There’s a moment where she realizes the towers might be alive, and it gave me full-body chills. The book’s climax is a whirlwind of betrayals and aerial battles, with Kirit torn between loyalty to her family and the truth she’s uncovered. It’s one of those rare books where the setting feels like a character itself.
'Updraft' is a sky-bound adventure with teeth. Kirit’s world is brutal—fall from the towers, and you’re dead; defy the Singers, and you might wish you were. The plot kicks off when she accidentally crosses paths with a skymouth (think: invisible sky jellyfish with a taste for humans), and her survival forces the Singers to recruit her. From there, it’s a crash course in power and propaganda. Wilde doesn’t shy away from showing how oppressive systems crush dissent, but Kirit’s stubbornness makes her a spark in the tinder. The flight mechanics are detailed enough to feel real, and the bone towers’ eerie biology adds a layer of body horror. By the finale, with rebellions brewing and secrets exploding, I was glued to the page.
Fran Wilde's 'Updraft' is this gorgeously inventive fantasy that hooked me from the first chapter. It’s set in a world where cities are built on towering Bone spires, and people navigate the skies with wings strapped to their backs. The protagonist, Kirit Densira, dreams of becoming a trader like her mother, but everything changes when she breaks a simple rule and attracts the attention of the mysterious Singers—these enigmatic figures who govern the city’s laws from their hidden spires. The book’s got this incredible sense of verticality—like, you feel the height and danger of the world with every scene.
What really stuck with me was the way Wilde explores power and tradition. The Singers enforce brutal laws, and Kirit’s defiance forces her into their ranks, where she uncovers dark secrets about the city’s past. The tension between individual freedom and societal control is woven so tightly into the plot. Plus, the flight scenes? Absolutely exhilarating. The way Wilde describes the wind, the weightlessness, the near-misses—it’s like you’re gliding right alongside Kirit. By the end, I was desperate to know how the rebellion she sparks would play out in the sequel.
2026-01-31 09:52:22
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Vanessa's heart began to beat faster, "I don't understand," she said, "What for?"
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Vanessa's jaw dropped. Christopher was dead! It was impossible to believe. She'd just spoken to him that afternoon. It had to be a mistake.
She nodded, "I…. I…. I need to call my lawyer," she said, when she finally found her tongue,"
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—-----------
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