Sky Curse by Janet Kravetz is the first book in the dystopian science fiction series The Chosen Five. The world built by Kravetz is a futuristic view of Earth in ruins. Humanity's promise to suck everything it can from the planet has happened and humans are now wholly dependent on Frankenstein technology and have even decided transforming into cyborgs is a good idea. In this man-made mess is a young protagonist named Cecilia, who is a single cog in a massive machine doing her job as a 'dream coder' and cracking on with everyday living. But unknown to her, Cecilia has a deep well of power within her and through the dynamism of a crystal, as one of The Chosen Five, this single cog becomes the possible savior of Earth and all humanity.

Sky Curse is a slow-burn starter but it feels like Janet Kravetz does this intentionally to allow readers to find their footing on a terra firma that has completely changed. Sky Curse is dystopian hard science fiction but there are fantasy elements, and if we removed it from any of those genres it could easily be labeled solid eco-fiction as well. Cecilia is initially an unremarkable character in a really remarkable world. I like books that highlight economic disparity and Kravetz weaves the theme in with the off-Earth colony of Titan, the irony being that the worst ecological offenders in the destruction of the planet are the patricians that can afford to leave it behind as a mess for the plebs. The other four of The Chosen Five are Alex, Brian, Jamal, and Kev; all developed well enough to be distinguishable from any of the others. Very highly recommended.

Sky Curse by Janet Kravetz is the first book in The Chosen Five series. This young adult novel is set in the year 2045 when humans have exhausted Earth’s resources. Cecilia Miller is one of the few who still believe Earth has a chance of surviving and supporting life. A coder of artificial dreams, Cecilia is one of the localists who want to stay behind while the Universalists abandon Earth for another habitable planet. She believes technology can help in their predicament and works toward the salvation of whatever is left on the planet. All Cecilia needs to do is work hard and fast before everything is lost forever.

While 2045 may seem quite near, the future depicted in Sky Curse is a possibility. With the way we have lost touch with our humanity and abandoned nature, it won’t be long before our planet takes its revenge. Janet Kravetz paints a convincing picture of what is to come. The narrative is futuristic yet at the same time realistic. I was transported to a depressed Earth alongside Cecilia and was holding my breath as she worked through different hurdles to make things turn in humanity’s favor. The world-building is fantastic and was so real at times that I felt uneasy. While Cecilia is the true hero of the story, Tony is the comic relief and a trusted companion that Cecilia relied on. Their chemistry is fun and relevant to the story. The pace is fast without interrupting the flow. Jamal is my next favorite, with Kev not far behind. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installments and watch these characters reach their full potential. This is a great introduction to the series.

Sky Curse by Janet Kravetz is a sci-fi thriller set in 2045. Climate change has almost reached the point of no return, the global population has surpassed unprecedented levels, and the mental health of the general populace has steadily declined. The majority of the human population (Universalists) is preparing to leave Earth and pioneer Titan into their new home. Cecilia Miller, a young cyborg, is desperate to help people through her therapeutic dreams start-up company when she is approached by Duncan Macdougall, a Localist, who wants Cecilia and four other Chosen candidates to prevent an ancient Mayan prophecy from coming true and save Earth and its people. The Chosen Five travel to Mexico and retrieve five Mayan crystals with the technology to save the planet. But first, they will have to overcome their greed and selfishness. Can Cecilia and her friends prevail?

Author Janet Kravetz touches upon some increasingly relevant topics that impact how humanity carves its present and future on this planet. Sky Curse is a cautionary tale showcasing how human activity is threatening to change the planet's ecosystem and climate. And if necessary steps aren't taken in time, the future looks quite bleak indeed. Despite the heavy themes incorporated into the story, Kravetz ends the book on a hopeful note. It will leave readers with a sense of emotional catharsis and optimistic enthusiasm that will encourage them to do their part for future generations. Cecilia is a likable protagonist and easy to sympathize with. You will soon find yourself rooting for her. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the message the author intended to convey. Recommend to readers who love stories set in dystopian worlds.

Sky Curse: The Chosen Five by Janet Kravetz is a powerful young adult science fiction novel about artificial dreams and new world colonization. At the heart of this tale is Cecilia Miller. As a coder of artificial dreams, she works with androids at Dream Information Transfer Technology Corporation, the only workplace in the future that offers special opportunities for her skills. Cecilia is part human and part machine, a woman with bionic brain capabilities that allow her to directly connect with machines with ease and to program dreams that help others. Climate chaos threatens human health at an alarming rate, and the twenty-five billion population increase isn’t helping. Humanity has been divided between the Universalists, those who are planning to leave Earth and colonize a new world, and the Localists, who still cling to hope for Earth and humanity. As a Localist and through the help of technology, Cecilia exhausts all means to become a positive force in the universe and help others achieve that goal as well since Earth faces insurmountable challenges.

The Chosen Five is the first of the Sky Curse series and is an enterprising and promising new project. This book is full of provocative ideas and interesting characters that include an android named Malee, who is Cecilia’s confidante. From start to finish, the story will keep you thinking about climate change. Janet Kravetz handles the genre skilfully. It may be highly speculative, but nothing feels too strange or too convoluted. It has a dramatic effect as the reader begins to think that what they are reading may well be the kind of future we are leaving for posterity. This is the power of Kravetz’s narrative. She has a strong command of her theme and chutzpah whenever necessary. If you are planning to invest reading time in a new young adult series, this is the one to go for.