Ashborne

A fascinating, poignantly written short story. The sharp style hits you hard and keeps you glued to the end. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

I realize this is common for short fiction, but I found the transitions to be jarring. I often wasn't sure how we landed with each new chapter. That being said, it's well written and foregoes the self-indulgent prose that many flash fiction stories have.

The Skybound World is a searing, beautifully told sci-fi epic of fire, memory, and rebirth. Keith Holly crafts a gripping post-apocalyptic journey through the eyes of Kael Thorne, a disgraced soldier destined to become Ashborne—the living conscience of Earth’s forgotten defense system. With lyrical prose and cinematic scope, the story blends myth and machine, exploring how sacrifice, not strength, becomes the key to survival. As Kael descends into a world of ash storms, corrupted titans, and haunting AI echoes, his final stand reshapes a dying planet into something new. Emotionally charged, thematically rich, and visually stunning, this is a must-read for fans of character-driven sci-fi with heart and fire at its core.