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 abigailjohnson on

4 of 5 stars

Share
Other reviews have described THESE BROKEN STARS as Titanic in space, and while in the beginning that is a very accurate comparison of the setting and characters, a more fitting description of the entire book would be Titanic in space meets Robinson Crusoe.

Less than 10% of THESE BROKEN STARS takes place on the Icarus spaceship, the majority occurs after it crashes into a deserted planet leaving rich Lilac stranded with soldier Tarver. As these two are forced to survive together on a dangerous, uninhabited planet, a tender romance blossoms. There is no insta-love, but rather respect born from mutual reliance and sacrifice, and eventually a deeply bonded love.

The strange phenomenon they encounter and the mystery of why the planet was abandoned is equally as exciting as the romance. It was unpredictable and full of twists that made the ultimate revelation all the more rewarding. And while this is a SF book, those elements are very light so even SF phobic readers will be transported by this romantic survival story. I can't wait for the next book in the Starbound trilogy which takes place 6 months after this book and will feature a new couple.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 6 January, 2014: Finished reading
  • 6 January, 2014: Reviewed