My Opinion: My opinion is very simple: I loved it!! What an awesome installment in what is becoming one of my favorite series! This book blends action, suspense, and science fiction perfectly!

In the Pearl Wars, we're introduced to a post-apocalyptic/dystopian society where sources of energy, or Pearls, are desperately needed, so when one comes down from space, the race is on to see who will find it first. Enter Jesse and Cassius, one working for the Skyship Academy and the other working for the Unified Party, who find out that they are brothers. We also find out that they are aliens, which really intrigued me. Now they are both trying to learn how to use their powers (Cassius burns from the inside and has a bad habit of catching rooms on fire without meaning to, and Jesse can open Pearls, which comes in handy in this destitute world where they are in such demand). They are both also on the run and separated from each other, so they each have their own exciting adventures in the book before they come together for what turns out to be a big showdown.

I often find that sequels to books that I absolutely fall in love with aren't as good as the first, but that's not the case here. The writing was just as exciting, and the twists and turns that the story takes kept me on the edge of my seat! The characters, good and bad, are all well written, and the pacing is perfect. I honestly can't say who I like better, Jesse or Cassius, since I go back and forth all through the book, but I think that makes it all the more exciting!

In summary, I absolutely loved this installment in the Skyship Academy series and recommend it to fans of action packed YA sci-fi stories. I'm giving it a very enthusiastic 5 stars :D

I received a copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )

--Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog--

In Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars, we learned that Jesse and Cassius both are Drifters or simply put aliens from out of Earth. Jesse and Cassiu's parents had lived on until their planet became unstable so they had to send their people off their planet , although The Authority who is composed of people who are coming from Haven (Jesse Fisher and Cassius Stevenson's home planet) who happen to be Shifters and are capable of manipulating a rare element called Ridium are trying to bring down the opposition of Green Pearl Drifters who are really part of the Rebellion of Haven. Ridium is a special pure black substance that has . The Authority are Haven's royalty including the branch of all Shifters but are now enemies to Jesse and Cassius as well as all Drifters since Jesses and Cassiu's parents are members of the rebellion against the monarchy full of Shifters. You see part of the reason, Haven had become unstable was because of the shifters manipulating Ridium in the first place which made Haven very much unhospitable environmentally-wise. Adaylla and Savon (Founders of Haven's resistance) had rebelled against the wishes of The Authority when they didn't want to cooperate in conquering Earth as their planet collapsed. Finally, we learn that Jesse is the Pearl Breaker while Cassius is the one who harnesses the recess energy from Jesse's pearl breaking into fire power. They are Earth's hope to truly stop The Authority from invading Earth. In Crimson Rising, Jesse searches for a way to build an army of Green Pearl Drifters before The Authority reaches Earth although stopping events from unfolding can go both ways. Jesse encouters a Red Pearl for the first time that seems to be a member of the dangerous Authority. Jesse is distracted though occasionally since Avery the girl he really likes had previously been captured. With Avery's return they meet Theo who quickly becomes one of the most dangerous enemies of the brothers. Theo really shows us the dangerous but amazing powers of a Shifter who can control Ridium. Jesse in the end must suffer losses even as he must remain strong for the war that inevitably looms between the Green Pearls Breakers Drifters and Red Pearl Drifters.

Nick Jame's Skyship Academy: Crimson Rising was very entertaining. To be honest here and now while did get immersed in Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars was much slower reading in pace or ocassionally loss any alarming quality that would keep you at the edge of your seat while you took it in. Now with Crimson Rising the potential that actually knew existed from The Pearl Wars exceeded in expectations in Crimson Rising. Got umbelievably far better. The action, a huge wow, increased to a kick-start by several degrees. A lot of things are moving into the grandeur scheme of the stale-mate between Green Pearl Drifters and Red Pearl Drifters which is rather good. The action and adventure also increased to any readers who had previously enjoyed Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars (which did, by the way). Given to you the reader as short and sweet: Awesome Science Fiction reading!
Overall: Amazing read!
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Steampunk, Young Adult ( )