Fast past great writing and engaging characters a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved this installment of the Chronicles of Light and Shadow, as ever it was enjoyable to read. I can't wait for more from this author. ( )

Eleanor Chance finds a whisper of a chance that she can save her husband but her path brings her back with a man who is now her enemy and on the other side of the coin her former friend is chasing her for the power she contains.

Eleanor has a lot of enemies and the strain is showing, she's being stripped of all but the essentials.

It wasn't a bad read but I felt that there were some things lacking in it. ( )

Somewhat better then the second book in the series, however I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book in the series. I still think that Elle is a spoiled woman. She looses herself to her lover when she's looking for her kinda wraithe but not husband. I was a little put off by this love affair and although she uses her powers its not for good just for her self satisfaction. She banished the other oracle voices in the other book and yet she doesn't understand why they dont answer her. I am glad i'm done with this series although there is an opening for a 4th book at the end. This author is a good writer but needs to mature up her main character not slut her up but mature her up. I didn't hate the book I just didn't enjoy Elle these last two books. I wanted to see Marsh 's friend the Countess in this and we saw none of her. ( )

I would like to thank Del Rey & NetGalley for granting me a copy of this e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.

NOTE: If you haven't yet read the first two books in this series, stop here. This series builds successively with the advent of each new installment. Without the information contained in the previous books this one will have far less meaning and power. As well, the review for this book contains inherent spoilers for the other two books.

Goodreads Blurb:
"Following 'A Conspiracy of Alchemists' and 'A Clockwork Heart', 'Sky Pirates' is the third book of the Chronicles of Light and Shadow series, starring the spunky dirigible pilot Elle Chance and the handsome warlock Marsh. For urban fantasy fans and readers of Gail Carriger's Changeless and Cherie Priest's Boneshaker, a fun, fast-paced, action-packed new historical fantasy adventure series starring vampires, fairies, and the unforgettable heroine, Elle Chance.

Set during the Belle Epoque, Sky Pirates is a thrilling and inventive historical fantasy novel, where the myths and legends of Old Europe live side by side with the wondrous creations of modern scientists and aviators. It's also set in a world haunted by vampires, fairies, and other supernatural creatures. And it mixes a thrill-a-minute page-turning plot with a genuinely moving love story. In Sky Pirates, Elle and Marsh escape to the jungles of Cambodia in search of a sacred temple that holds the key to erasing the barrier between Shadow and Light."

The third book in the series, 'Sky Pirates' has found the balance between the action of the first book and the contemplative emotional aspects of the second book. A heartbroken Elle has withdrawn from life, cutting off all social contacts as she mourns the loss of her beloved husband. She is desperate to find a way to save him and restore him to her.

Desperation leads her into many a strange adventure, both those of her own making, and those well beyond her control. In her grief she has thrown herself back into flying, and accepts the charters no one else will touch, for she no longer much cares about anything, making her reckless to the point of danger and beyond. Of course, each of her choices and actions have consequences, which catch up to her in a series of disasters that seems to have no end in sight.

Her beloved Water Lily been boarded by pirates, Elle finds herself pressed into service on the pirate ship. Strangely enough, Elle slowly finds herself enjoying life again. She takes comfort in the camaraderie of the pirate ship's other crew members, yet is unwilling to relinquish her vow to save her husband if it's the last thing she ever does. However she can no longer ignore all the turmoil and vio lence that dogs her every step. Elle struggles with an immense burden of guilt, some of which she has earned the right to own, and some which she claims though it is not truly hers.

As she and the dashing Captain Dashwood are thrown together time and again Elle is startled to discover that she has feelings for the man. He may infuriate her, but there's no denying her attraction to him. The question is, does Marsh want to still be her husband, or is he using the situation to avoid being with her? Another question she grapples with is if she should act on her feelings for Dashwood or stay far away from him to protect him from the chaos surrounding her?

Meanwhile, Patrice is back with a vengeance, and vengeance is exactly what he's out for. He blames Elle for everything that has befallen him and is out for blood. Elle's blood to be exact. With all the radical changes that have happened to him at the end of book two, Patrice has actually become a force to be reckoned with. Well, at least he seems to think so, and it appears he has others thinking the same thing. Clearly a confrontation between Patrice and Elle will be taking place, the only unknowns are when and where. And of course who will survive the coming battle is a mystery, particularly since Elle is starting think everyone would simply be safer if she'd just allow herself to be locked up all alone in a cave - the Warlock Council's original plan.

With the number of unusual choices and extraordinary events in this installment of the series one might expect it to be the final chapter of Elle's story, but that isn't the case. Instead the ending is decidedly full of unresolved questions and issues. To make matters even more interesting, Elle learns from one her friends that she has some very serious work that must be started right away. Work beyond what's already on her to-do list. And there is already some seriously strange, and exceedingly dangerous, work awaiting Elle. So with a laundry list of tasks ahead of her, Elle will most certainly be back for another adventure, the kind which she is fast finding to be exceedingly exasperating. Who knows which man, if either, will be at Elle's side for her next journey? ( )

I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley. This was a very well done continuation of this steampunk adventure series. I continue to enjoy Elle as a character and love all the magic of the Barrier and the constant balancing between the powers of Light and Shadow.

Elle journeys far from her home in this book, eventually ending up as part of a pirate crew on an airship. She adventures through deserts and jungles in a desperate effort to find a way to return her husband Marsh to the realm of the living. In the end her search leads her to the forgotten temple of Angkor Wat.

I have really loved this series. There is a lot of action and many wonderful steampunk elements. The writing flows well and is easy to read. There is a little bit of romance in here as well but this series definitely tends to a more steampunk/urban fantasy type feel than paranormal romance.

Elle is a fantastic character to read about. She is obviously grieving still in this book and has driven many of her friends away. She is not the normally spunky girl that we have seen in the first two books. There are times where her behavior is fairly despicable, by I still admired her will to survive and her moxy.

With Elle’s husband Marsh turned wraith and missing, a new male lead enters the scene. Elle is traveling with the hunky Logan Dashwood. Elle is strangely drawn to him despite her loyalty to her husband.

I didn't like the portions of the book told from Patrice's view that much (he is the resident bad guy), but they were necessary to the story. They just weren’t as exciting or engaging as Elle’s portions of the story.

I liked that this story took place in some exotic locations. I also enjoy the power of the Oracles and the balance that is (or is not) maintained between Light and Shadow, it is some interesting and creative magic.

There were a few inconsistencies. When Elle first meets Dashwood’s first mate she vows to kill him, then by the end of the book the are bosom buddies. This was a bit too broad of a shift for me. We don’t really get to see a ton of the part where Elle goes from loathed by Dashwood’s crew to loved and are left to assume that Elle gains their respect over time. Also I didn’t really like where the story went with the whole Elle, Marsh, Logan parts.

SPOILER ALERT
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Also Elle talks a lot about loyalty to Marsh but then there is a fairly explicit pool scene between Elle and Logan where this all goes out the window; of course their indiscretion is blamed on magic. I also did not like the ending when Elle brings Marsh back. It puts Elle right in the middle of a rather embarrassing love triangle and left me worrying about where this all is going. I hope Elle doesn’t end up with a whole harem of adoring men like some of our favorite urban fantasy heroines have.
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SPOILER END

Overall this is a fun steampunk adventure. I enjoy Elle as a character and love that she traveled to exotic locations in this book. I also really enjoy the idea of Light and Shadow and the role the Oracles play. There were a few inconsistencies in the story and I am concerned about where the whole Elle/Logan/Marsh thing is going. However I am still eager to see what happens next. On a side note I have really loved all the covers to this series, they are very well done.

Recommended to those who enjoy steampunk adventure with some magic. If you enjoy Brook’s Iron Seas series, Carrgier’s Parasol Protectorate series, or Priest’s Clockwork Empire I would recommend checking out this series. ( )