Above the clouds, there are no rules—only survival.
In Above the Black, Marc J. Gregson crafts a world where islands float in the sky and gravity isn’t the only force threatening to pull people under. At the heart of this young adult fantasy series is Conrad, a seventeen-year-old boy with nothing to lose and everything to prove. When he's forced into a deadly competition aboard a warship that prowls the skies like a predator, he isn't just fighting to live—he’s chasing secrets that could topple the fragile order of this airborne world.
But this isn’t just another tournament story. The battles in the sky are brutal, yes—but it’s the emotional terrain that hits hardest. Trust is fleeting, loyalty is dangerous, and the truth? Often more lethal than a blade. Gregson weaves sweeping world-building with intimate, character-driven tension, letting readers feel the cold wind of the upper atmosphere and the deeper chill of betrayal. Floating cities, sky serpents, political intrigue, and quiet moments of hope—the series balances spectacle with soul.
With Sky’s End already earning acclaim for its cinematic scope and heartfelt intensity—and a film adaptation in the works—this series is quickly establishing itself as a standout in the YA fantasy genre. Perfect for fans of fierce competitions, found family dynamics, and morally gray choices, Above the Black doesn’t just imagine a world above the clouds—it dares you to fall through it.
What price would you pay to rise above the wreckage of who you were? This series asks, and never lets you look away.
