Welcome to Mikoshima, an empire of floating sky cities, cumulous whales and shikigami paper spirits, and the setting of Ann Sei Lin’s magical debut, Rebel Skies. Our hero, Kurara, is a Crafter – a person gifted with the rare ability to make paper come to life – and is recruited aboard a sky ship to hunt rogue shikigami.

The first in a new trilogy, Rebel Skies is a captivating ode to Japanese papercraft and culture with a charm reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. But what begins as a deceptively simple adventure story quickly unravels to become something else: an imaginative novel that doesn’t shy away from themes of slavery, oppression and discrimination in an increasingly divided society. The question of free will in an empire where shikigami are either bonded to Crafters and expected to obey, or hunted and killed when they go rogue, is a complex one, yet handled by Lin effortlessly.

On top of the novel’s intricate worldbuilding and deeper themes, I was pleasantly surprised by the focus on the bond of friendship over romance. The conflict between different characters’ beliefs, loyalties and motivations feels real and nuanced, setting the stage for a complex cast of characters and making me excited for their fates in the sequels. Part whimsical adventure, part steampunk, Rebel Skies will delight fans of Six Crimson Cranes and Mortal Engines with its depth and imagination. For ages 13+.

Tracy Hwang is from Readings Emporium