by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Published by Disney Hyperion
Date: December 10, 2013
Series: Starbound #1
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 374
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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.
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A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.
- Goodreads
Lilac and Tarver live in completely different worlds. Lilac, the beautiful, young heiress of the richest, most powerful man in the galaxy, is used to being the center of attention and having the world at her fingertips. Tarver, on the other hand, is a war hero from humble beginnings who can't help but feel like he doesn't fit in with the members of high society and their world of fancy parties and ridiculous social niceties. Lilac and Tarver couldn't be more different. But, when the starship their traveling on, the Icarus, falls out of hyperspace and crash-lands on an unknown planet, Lilac and Tarver suddenly find themselves bound to one another as they fight to survive and await a rescue mission they aren't entirely sure is coming. These Broken Stars is a gripping story about survival, love, and strength that takes the genre of science fiction and turns it into something new.
These Broken Stars definitely isn't typical science fiction. It's sort of a blend of genres: a science fiction foundation forms the basis for the setting; traditional survival elements and a romance motivate the characters; and, a mystery helps drive the plot forward. If you're interested in books with traditional science fiction elements and strong futuristic settings, then this probably isn't the book for you. At its core, These Broken Stars tells the story of how Lilac and Tarver survive an unknown planet while developing a romance in the process. Like most survival stories, much of the novel's action consists of Lilac and Tarver traipsing through the wilderness, and as they face perilous situations, they eventually grow closer and fall in love.
As far as survival/romance novels go, These Broken Stars isn't that different from other YA books with similar plots. Lilac and Tarver are at odds in the beginning of the novel, and as they journey across the unfamiliar planet, they bicker and drive each other crazy until they realize they can't live without each other. Nothing really special there.
What sets this book apart from other YA survival/romance novels is the compelling/creepy mystery that keeps the plot moving forward. For much of the novel, Lilac isn't simply trying to survive; she's also trying to prove to herself and to Tarver that she isn't crazy. She starts hearing whispers and having prophetic visions that she can't explain. Lilac initially thinks she's being haunted while Tarver thinks she might be traumatized or is simply going mad. The creepy mystery surrounding Lilac's visions and the whispers makes the monotony of the wilderness more interesting and the story more captivating.
These Broken Stars is also incredibly unpredictable, which, I think, is one of its greatest qualities. With survival stories and romances, there are only so many ways things can end. And, even though These Broken Stars is a typical YA survival/romance novel, there were moments throughout the plot when I thought, "Whoa! Didn't see that coming!" There was even a moment when I actually started yelling at the book; I was so surprised and shocked the authors would throw something so unpredictable like that into the story. I won't tell you what happened because that would spoil the fun. You'll have to read it for yourself.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading These Broken Stars. Even though I was expecting traditional science fiction, I was not bothered by the survival elements, the romance, or the mystery. If anything, the blend of genres is what made me love the book so much. I look forward to reading the next installments in the Starbound series.
Posted in Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult