These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1)

by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

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 to 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 in this place 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.

The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

Reviewed by ladygrey on

4 of 5 stars

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This book is INSANE. insane.

First of all, how can you have a book that only includes two characters that is so engrossing? Two characters dynamic enough to actually carry the entire story and keep it so interesting. It's like the book version of Supernatural where two characters are just completely capable of doing all the heavy lifting.

And secondly... just. . .
At first you think it's just a survival story that will walk its way into a romance. But it's also refreshingly realistic. Not that I know an awful lot about the realism of being stranded on a strange planet but they don't shy away from the conflicts of the elements or the raw sort of living that would be. I like that they dealt with practicalities in an honest way without being boring.

The writing is pretty straight forward, but not in a way that's annoying or anything. Just in a way that's nice. In a sci-fi, matter of fact way that still marvels at wonder and acknowledges when the world takes your breath away.

And the interludes between chapters give Tarver so much personality and say so much about the story without saying anything at all. And then... it's so... horrifying. And filled with this unexpectedly poignant grief. So haunting...

I really liked Lilac as a character because she's sixteen. She's naive and condescending but she manages to also be tough and honest and dimensional. She is never a trite character and I liked her for that.

And Tarver's awesome. He'd have to be because it's just the two of them and this book is never boring. It's intriguing and surprising and sweet and I can't wait to read the next one.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 February, 2014: Finished reading
  • 7 February, 2014: Reviewed