Starsight
**ALL HER LIFE, SPENSA'S DREAMED** of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumors of his cowardice are true--he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.

Spensa is sure that there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars--and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself--and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

This description comes from the publisher. *Starsight* is the second book in the Skyward series, the first of which is *Skyward*.
nyt:young-adult-hardcover=2019-12-15, New York Times bestseller, Young adult fiction, science fiction, general, Young adult fiction, dystopian, Young adult fiction, action & adventure, survival stories
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson (born December 19, 1975) is an American author known for his intricate and imaginative works in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sanderson developed a passion for writing at a young age. He attended Brigham Young University, where he studied English and later earned a master's degree in creative writing.

Sanderson is best known for creating the Cosmere, a vast fictional universe that encompasses many of his fantasy novels, where they share subtle connections and a common mythology, including the *Mistborn* series and *The Stormlight Archive*. The *Mistborn* trilogy, starting with the novel [*Mistborn: The Final Empire*][3], is a thrilling fantasy heist story set in a dystopian world ruled by a tyrannical lord. *The Stormlight Archive*, starting with the novel [*The Way of Kings*][8], is an epic fantasy series that combines political intrigue, war, and extensive world-building.

In addition to his work within the Cosmere, Sanderson completed [Robert Jordan's][4] epic fantasy series "The Wheel of Time" after Jordan's passing. He has also authored several young adult series, such as *The Reckoners* and the *Skyward* series.

Sanderson's analytical approach to world-building includes his "Sanderson's Laws of Magic," which distinguish between "hard" and "soft" magic systems in fantasy literature. His ability to create immersive worlds and compelling characters has earned him a dedicated fan base and numerous accolades, including the Hugo Award in 2013 for his novella [*The Emperor's Soul*][5], the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for his novels [*Elantris*][6] in 2005, and [The Hero of Ages][7] in 2008, as well as David Gemmell Legend Awards in 2011 for [*The Way of Kings*][8] and in 2015 for [*Words of Radiance*][9]. In 2022, Sanderson's Kickstarter campaign for four secret novels became the most successful in history, raising over $41 million.

As of 2022, he is a co-creator and former host of the *Writing Excuses* podcast, an educational podcast for writers by writers that was started in 2008.

(Sources: [1][1],[2][2])

[1]: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/pages/hello-my-names-brandon
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Sanderson
[3]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5738148W
[4]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL233594A
[5]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19960448W
[6]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5738147W
[7]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5738154W
[8]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL15358691W
[9]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16813053W