Clara’s Verdict
Companion novellas are a curious beast. At their worst they feel like marketing exercises – extended footnotes to a series that didn’t really need them. At their best they do something the main novels cannot: slow down, sidestep the principal cast, and let the world breathe. ReDawn, the second Skyward Flight novella co-written by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson, is emphatically the latter. By choosing Alanik of the UrDail as its protagonist rather than the ever-charismatic Spensa, the novella creates genuine space for a new kind of character study – one about distrust, political disillusionment, and the particular courage required to trust people who are not your own.
At under seven hours it is trim and purposeful, and Suzy Jackson’s narration is a fine match for the material. This is the Skyward universe at its most politically nuanced.
About the Audiobook
ReDawn is the second instalment in the Skyward Flight novella series, sitting chronologically between Starsight and Cytonic. It runs to 6 hours and 57 minutes and was published by Gollancz in October 2021. Co-written by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson, it follows Alanik – the UrDail pilot who crash-landed on Detritus in Starsight and warned Spensa: “Don’t trust their lies. Don’t trust their false peace.”
Returning home to ReDawn, Alanik discovers that the faction within her government favouring appeasement of the Galactic Superiority has seized the upper hand. Her mentor Renakin has been captured, leaving her without allies – except, unexpectedly, for Jorgen, FM, and Rig of Skyward Flight. Together they must navigate the fractured politics of two planets simultaneously, while pursuing an ancient technology that may hold the key to resisting the Superiority.
The novella is particularly effective in its exploration of the UrDail’s history with humanity – a relationship freighted with old wounds and mutual suspicion – and in tracing the slow transformation of Alanik’s reflexive distrust into something more considered. Patterson, who handled characterisation in this collaboration, writes Alanik with genuine interiority.
The Narration
Suzy Jackson handles the shift in perspective from the Skyward novels’ familiar voices with admirable confidence. Alanik is a more measured, guarded character than Spensa, and Jackson finds that register without making her cold. The Skyward Flight characters, when they appear, are rendered with consistency, suggesting Jackson has done her homework with the previous audio editions.
At under seven hours this is a comfortable listen – long enough to settle into the world, short enough to finish comfortably over a weekend. Jackson maintains pace and emotional pitch throughout.
What Readers Say
ReDawn holds a 4.6-star rating from UK listeners. Mask, who reviewed it upon release, called it “excellent” and noted that “Patterson has clearly worked hard to maintain continuity and work seamlessly with Sanderson – the characters read like them.” K. G. A. Alavi appreciated the thematic clarity: “Both Skyward Flight and Alanik’s people need to learn what they are fighting for.” RayncloudArt described being “thrown right back into the world” and praised the chance to explore Alanik’s culture and her “feelings towards people of different backgrounds.” Graham Blades offered a cooler but positive assessment, noting the different character lens as a welcome “refreshing take.”
Who Should Listen?
Readers who are already in the Skyward series and looking for bridging content between Starsight and Cytonic will find this essential. It also works well for listeners who found themselves more interested in the wider galactic politics than in dogfighting sequences – this novella leans into the former with confidence. Read Sunreach first, then come here.
Listen to ReDawn on Audible UK and discover whether Alanik can save her people from the Superiority’s false peace.
