Amazon Review
This is the kind of book you read when you WANT the angst, you want your heart to be ripped out and then slowly patched back together again as Dawson and Cal find each other in their new reality. The kind of book that has me crying into my pillow at 2AM, still unable to put it down.
From reading just the blurb the story’s premise was compelling, and it certainly delivered on its promise and more. I really enjoyed the author ‘voice’ and her style of writing which can be dense in its detail but doesn’t feel excessive and flows well. The book is written in third person present tense, and we get glimpses of both Dawson and Cal’s thoughts throughout the story; occasionally exclusively following one or the other in the moments they are separated.
The book is a slow burn, but I don’t know how it could be told any other way. It needs the time and the space for both characters to learn and come to terms with their new reality and find a way forward.
I wasn’t sure how the supernatural aspects of the story were going to play out, given that it is not touched upon for a large portion of the book despite starting explicitly with our reaper MC. At first the idea of ‘old’ Cal being redeemed by ‘new’ Cal didn’t sit right with me, because he didn’t deserve it; but I wanted these two to be together so badly it almost didn’t matter.
Luckily for me, Dawson does get to learn the truth. The hints of the supernatural and paranormal sprinkled throughout were masterfully done and tied up nicely at the end. Maybe a little convenient, but it works – and I’ve re-read that chapter perhaps more than a few times. I can only hope that this will be a more prominent feature of the next books in this series.
I do think this book treats the matter of domestic violence and abuse quite sensitively, and the complicated way this can affect the victim/survivor’s other relationships. Both Dawson’s coming back from trauma and Cal’s learning about the world like a newborn babe felt real.
Do pay attention to the trigger warnings to see if this book is for you as it does deal with some darker/traumatic themes, however I would recommend this book to anyone and will probably be a book I revisit again and again.
Instagram Review
‘Should The Sky Fall’ by Amithia Raine is the kind of book you read when you want that angst; when you want your heart to be ripped out and then slowly patched back together again throughout the course of the story. The kind of book that tugs at the heartstrings and has me wetting my pillow with tears at 2AM.
Despite dealing with some heavy themes however, the book itself isn’t inherently heavy. There is tension, but it becomes hopeful and warm. It’s hard not to be when ‘new’ Cal is like a golden retriever, so adorably curious about and confused by many things.
I wasn’t sure how the supernatural aspects of the story were going to play out, given that it is not touched upon for a large portion of the book despite starting explicitly with our reaper MC. The idea of ‘old’ Cal being redeemed by ‘new’ Cal initially didn’t sit right with me, because he didn’t deserve it. It all works out in the end, but I sense it may require reading the following books to fully grasp how all the other characters come to terms with this too.
I purchased the event-exclusive illustrated edition at GLO 2025, but I’m now emotionally attached to the imagery on the standard edition. Eventually I’m probably going to end up with both versions – a book so nice I have to buy it twice. I’ll need to track down Amithia to get the illustrated version of book 2 too, I’m now kicking myself I didn’t buy it at the same time! (Despite how justified I was for resisting since I was overweight in luggage already at the time)
I went back and re-read the beginning of the book while trying to write this, and this is certainly a book that only improves on the re-reading! I really appreciate how the start and the end tie together so remarkably well.
Instagram Post: Review Post, Fanart Post
Read the book here: Amazon, Amazon Series Page