Thursday, December 19, 2013

Becky's View: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner


These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
♦publisher: Disney-Hyperion
♦release date: December 10th, 2013
♦hardcover, 374 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Starbound, book 1
♦source: gifted
It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.


Review:
This book. THIS BOOK.  ♥♥♥

Most of the time, I don’t really go for survival stories, and I’ve even started to cool a bit toward the dystopian/sci-fi genre, but this book brought me right back into love with both.   The scope of These Broken Stars just feels so grand, and romance builds so genuinely that it doesn’t overpower the story. It's just the perfect blend of so many things that really make this story shine.

The Icarus is basically like the Titanic in space.   Wealthy, spoiled heiress Lilac, daughter of the ship’s creator, is on board.  Tarver, a recently decorated war hero , is on his way home to his family.  The story is told in alternating POV by these two and that worked so perfectly for this story to fully bring the reader into their completely opposite worlds.  They catch each other’s eye almost immediately, but their second encounter ends in disaster. 

And then the ship goes down.

Tarver and Lilac find themselves thrown together on a deserted planet.  As much as they try to keep hating each other---sometimes to emotionally protect themselves, sometimes to protect the other---they each can’t help but be surprised by the other’s cleverness, kindness, or unexpected skill.  I love how slowly the ice melted between them and how the reader gets to ease into knowing each of these characters back story and the reasons for being the way they are.

What I loved most is the eerie feeling of the planet itself.  The mystery surrounding the lack of life or terraforming,  the creepy, haunting occurances that start to happen, the psychological  play between madness, hallucination, or…something else.  It all had a very “Twilight Zone” type of feel to it.  There are a few wicked twists that will literally tear your heart out and leave your jaw gaping.

Beautifully crafted storytelling, a tale that I found myself swallowed up into from the beginning and hypnotized by until the end.

Find Amie Kaufman online: Website  •  Twitter  •  Facebook
Find Meagan Spooner online: Website  •  Twitter  •  Facebook

Purchase These Broken Stars: Amazon  •  BookDepository  •  Indiebound

22 comments :

  1. I had a copy from netgalley. I also enjoyed this one due to the adventure and romance. I actually didn't think this book will lure me in... but the survival side of the story glued me inside. Great review.

    -Dannielle

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    1. I was the same way, when i read about this couple trekking across a deserted planet, I thought maybe it wouldn't keep my attentions, but I was so pleasantly surprised! Glad you enjoyed it, too!

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  2. I need this book! It's not that I'm getting tired of the genre, but I'm looking for a good sci-fi book :D The mystery and the character dynamic sound great.

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    1. This was actually the perfect amount of sci-fi for me...some can be a little too cold for me. Yes, you need this---can't wait to hear what you think of it, Mel!

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  3. I keep seeing good things about this one everywhere! Sci-fi's not usually my genre but I might just have to pick this one up because everybody seems to love it. Also, nice to hear that the romance builds slowly and isn't an insta-love sort of thing.

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    1. Ah, the slow building romance. Love that :) None of that "oh, he's gorgeous, I love him already" crap. :D

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  4. I can't wait to read this one!!! I don't usually read that many sci-fi books, but this one sounds really intriguing and judging by the cover, pretty romantic. Also, love the “Twilight Zone” type of feel to it that you mentioned. Great review! :)

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    1. I'm a huge twilight zone fan, and like the show, things that happen aren't flat-out scary, but just eerie enough to make you question what's going on and make the chills run down your spine!

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  5. Yesssss, I loved the eeriness of the planet! That was definitely one of my favourite parts, and I wasn't expecting to feel creeped out. Some parts gave me goosebumps!

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  6. I love space opera-y and eerie books! And damn, that cover is gorgeous! Looking forward to reading this.

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  7. Titanic in space sounds like my kryptonite! And that cover- so gorgeous. I've heard nothing but amazing things about These Broken Stars and I loved reading your review! Hate-to-love, slow burn romances are the best kind and the planet sounds eerie and fascinating! It's sitting on my shelf, patiently waiting to be read. Might have to make it one of my first 2014 books :)

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  8. There's been so much hype surrounding this book that I'm sort of scared to start it. I don't want to raise my expectations too high. Anyways, fantastic review!

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  9. Im actually excited to get this book, your review of it was really great makes me more eager to read it :)

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  10. These Broken Stars is one of my best read in 2013! I love almost everything about the book: their slow burn romance, survival story in a strange planet, the lovely main characters... And the plot twist near the end of the book that had me speechless for a moment! Gah.

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  11. Really want to read this, seems amazing!! *.*

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  12. sounds like a great book,must buy it!!

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  13. I really, really need to get this book and find out why everyone loves it so much, especially the ending! I'm not that fond of Sci-Fi, but this book sounds too good to resist. Love the cover too and great review.

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  14. The cover is gorgeous ! I have seen so many great reviews for this book and i'm looking forward to reading it.

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  15. Honestly, all that I can say is THIS BOOK IS SITTING ON MY SHELF AND IT IS NEXT UP! And I am super excited. If this book isn't as great as I think it will be, there may be tears!

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  16. I've alwaysss wanted to read this, thanks for the review! A real prompter!

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  17. Ooh a Twilight Zone feel? Awesome. It sounds wonderfully eerie and epic.

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