Kirkus Reviews

Seventeen-year-old Aleks leaves home to join the Siberene military in hopes of finding adventure but instead finds abuse, corruption, and despair.Punishing physical training, meager rations, and a brutal beating at the hands of an officer lead to the white teen's decision to desert. He escapes, traveling north to Syvana, where he finds a home, work, and romance. Unfortunately, the military quickly tracks him, dogging his steps at every turn. However, for unexplained reasons they do not take him into custody. Aleks has a dream: to fly an airship through the Stormlands. When the net finally begins to draw closed, he escapes to the skies. A chaotic plot, a bland setting, and mediocre writing are only a few of the problems in this companion to Take Back the Skies (2014). Aleks' immaturity, selfishness, and willingness to sacrifice others for his own comfort make him an unlikable hero. Unnecessary scenes filled with aimless wandering do little to enhance the story, and the ending feels both forced and abrupt. Oddly, it also introduces many missed opportunities for inspiring characters and interesting drama. Russian surnames hint at a Northern European inspiration and, unfortunately, beg comparison to the far superior worldbuilding and plotting of Leigh Bardugo. Lacking in all but length, this adventure never makes it off the ground. (Adventure. 10-14)

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Country boy Aleks ventures in search of glory and stumbles from a misadventure in the army to a big city apprenticeship to discovery via skyship of a new country beyond the Stormlands of Tellus. The threat of pursuant army officials generates more bewilderment than tension since Aleks barely seems to notice. The meandering story also includes a cringeworthy depiction of the new country's "primitive" inhabitants.

Voice of Youth Advocates

The city of Rensav beckons to young Aleks Vasin, offering him escape from his life in Tellus's rural west. The youngest of the family, Aleks yearns to prove himself by enlisting in the military. It does not take long, however, for him to realize that he has been tricked into a brutal life with little chance of escape. Following a desperate, and unsuccessful, search for his enlistment records, Aleks uncovers a dangerous scientific journal that he decides to remove from military hands. What follows is a dramatic escape to the north, landing Aleks in the city of Syvana, where he finds adventure, love, and the chance to fulfill a lifelong dreamall while evading the vengeful clutches of Lieutenant Shulga.The Almost King is an example of brilliant storytelling. The plot unfolds on two levels, connecting at intervals and merging completely in the final chapters. Pacing is generally quick, yet slows just enough to allow suspense to build. Characters are interesting without being overly complex. Tellus, the fantasy world in which the story is set, is rich and detailed: a land of storms and cold, metal, mechanics, and skyships. Still, Saxon shows restraint in describing her world, keeping Tellus in its proper place as the story's backdrop. Structurally, Saxon's second novel is almost perfect and should appeal to any reader who enjoys a great adventure story.Johanna Nation-Vallee.

ALA Booklist (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Seventeen-year-old Aleks, youngest of four brothers, quickly discovers the corrupt Siberenian military isn't for him and flees north to hide and find work in Syvana, the Siberene capital city. Once there he finds love and happiness, while his work with eccentric inventor Luka propels him to great deeds. If he can continue to avoid Lieutenant Shulga, he has hopes for a long and happy life. This companion novel to Take Back the Skies (2014), which also features a runaway protagonist, returns readers to the familiar, dystopian world of Tellus, but this time explores a different country with a new cast of characters. The storytelling is capable but at times a mite literal; however, the place names and climate are a clever riff on Siberia and its neighboring regions. Readers fascinated by clockwork adventure will enjoy Tellus' steampunk technologies and airship-populated skies. Try this with fans of Kenneth Oppel's Airborn novels, or those who aren't quite ready for Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series.