This Shattered World (Starbound, #2)

by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

This Shattered World is probably my top most anticipated young adult read for this year. I absolutely fell in love with the world building, the romance, and the characters that both Aime Kaufman and Megan Spooner created last year in the first novel, These Broken Stars. The story this dynamic duo told, was just absolutely out of this world gorgeous and incredibly intense on many different levels. I think it's pretty much safe to say that nobody writes young adult sci-fi romance the way that these two do and manages to keep me THIS captivated and enthralled with their beautiful world and the characters set within them. And, after reading This Shattered World, I am even more enamored by this world that is filled with heart shattering romance, wonderful action packed adventures, and twists and turns that will leave you holding your breath until the very end. It's just an absolutely beautiful read and I know that I'm probably being redundant, but wow!

How can I describe how much I LOVED THIS BOOK...BECAUSE SO MANY FEELS!

I've noticed that there are a pretty good handful of people who have previously read These Broken Stars that are saddened and/or frustrated that Kaufman and Spooner decided against continuing Tarver and Lilac's story, but I actually feel differently about that. One of the things that I found most refreshing about this particular companion novel, was that it followed a different set of characters and another romance story was able to captivate and enthrall me as much as Lilac and Tarver's did. By the time I was finished reading These Broken Stars, I had felt like Lilac and Tarver's story had been told in the most amazingly and best way that it could be told and that there really wasn't much left to do with them, except maybe have them hopefully show up in cameo appearances down the line in later companion novels. This is part of the reason that I have so much respect and admiration for both Aime Kaufman and Megan Spooner, because they have the ability to know when a particular story has come to its end and they're not going to drag it out across three possibly different books, causing trouble here and there, when they could put their time, talent, and wonderful imaginative skills together and tell another quite beautiful and equally stunning story as the one they previously wrote.

My heart just about burst while I was reading This Shattered World, because I was just so in love with the bright and imaginative atmosphere, that was so gorgeously compelling and wonderfully developed. This time there was a whole new cast of characters for me to get to know and love, like, or possibly both. Plus, it was so much fun getting to know Jubilee and Flynn, because their romance and the intensity of it was just every bit as EPIC as Tarver and Lilac's was. THIS STORY you guys...this story is just absolutely stunning in every single way possible! It's full of danger, war, rebellion, intense romance, and incredible amounts of forgiveness. I didn't think that it was possible for me to say that this book would ever be able to outshine These Broken Stars, but it was such a brightly intense wonderous world of infinite possibilities and endless captivating tales that I loved ever bit as much as These Broken Stars.

Oh my goodness, Jubilee. Guys, she is one hell of an amazingly kickass heroine. She's intelligent, sassy, tough, and has definitely has nerves of steel that won't quit for days. The intense relationship that develops between her and Flynn was pretty EPIC to watch play out as the story moved along at a pretty amazing pace. I love that Flynn, who definitely was born pretty much with rebellion in his blood, came to his senses and pretty much decides to escape with Lee. Despite all of the obstacles and the fact that these were pretty much on opposite sides of the same war, I loved how they were able to come together and fight hard at getting to the truth. They are beautiful and complicated in so many ways and there was so much that was important in this entirely new and complex story that was being told. I was just so mesmerized by it all, that there were I stopped reading, and just soaked up everything that had just happened for a moment or two.

This Shattered World, is exactly that right there. The name of this gorgeous companion novel pretty much tells you everything that you need to know and sets the tone for the atmosphere and the world that you are able to embark on. It is shattered, war torn, and broken beyond belief; but there is so much love and forgiveness and heart written into these pages that the story will definitely ignite your world and your love of reading on fire. I would definitely recommend reading this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi fantasy romance novels, with wonderfully developed characters and complicated stories that scream to be told. From the big moments to the small things that happened throughout this young adult novel, I think that it has pretty anything for anyone who loves to read and I would definitely say that this is a book that should go on everyone's auto-buy list.