Updraft

This book came with a YA label, which admittedly biases me against it slightly, but I will say I enjoyed it a lot more than I usually do YA. The setting is extremely unique and there's a great steampunk vibe without actually being steampunk. The characters live in towers made of living bone that grow with the city. They fly on manufactured wings to get from place to place, living under the traditions of a central Spire controlled by the mysterious Singers. The city is terrorized by monsters called Skymouths, tentacled horrors, invisible until their maws open way too close to you. I feel like the story would do very well as a Ran Murata style anime.

As a novel, it's quick and not terribly challenging. The characters are good or bad, the plot unfolds about as you would expect it, and our hero follows the typical journey. The beauty is all in the setting and culture Wilde creates, but not enough in the storytelling for it to be one of my favorites. It was a fun deviation from my usual comfort zone, though, and one I'd recommend to people who enjoy the YA structure.