Katie Khan

Hold Back the Stars by Katie Khan is a romance in a science fiction setting. I accepted a review copy based on the description, but I was bitterly disappointed. This is, above all else, a romance, not science fiction. The universe is unrealistic and the sci-fi elements are laughable. I powered through to the end hoping it would get better, but my opinion of the book just kept plummeting with every chapter. This reads like a YA novel.

The description: "Trapped in the vast void of space, Carys show more and Max have only ninety minutes of oxygen left to live. None of this was supposed to happen. After a freak accident, Carys and Max are left adrift in space with nothing to hold onto but each other. As they fall, they can’t help but look back at the world they left behind. A world whose rules they couldn’t submit to, a place where they never really belonged; a home they’re determined to get back to because they’ve come too far to lose each other now. While their air ticks dangerously low, one is offered the chance of salvation - but who will take it?"

Carys and Max are both annoying characters that I could neither relate to nor muster any sympathy for them. Perhaps if the world building was better I could have overlooked my annoyance, but the world building was worse than the actual "star-crossed lovers." For future reference, please, if you are going to write science fiction... if you are going to set your novel in space... if you are going to have an asteroid field circling the Earth, (if... I could go on) please do research. And don't even get me started on the societal rules that are not logically explained. The poor world-building was not just found in the science fiction bits in space.

Now, if you enjoy romance novels, something I avoid, perhaps this novel will be just fine for you because you can ignore all the parts that I intensely disliked.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Gallery Books.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/05/hold-back-stars.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2010520762 show less

"The planets were moving towards each other in the night sky when Isaac and Thea first met.’’

Yes, this is a wonderful combination of meaningful science-fiction and a charming relationship between two bright scholars. Yes, I enjoyed it immensely. Don’t worry, no aliens abducted me:) It is just that Khan’s writing is absolutely brilliant.

Thea and Isaac meet as undergraduate students in a lovely evening when a magnificent natural phenomenon takes place in all its glory. A few years show more later, Isaac is a gifted archivist and Thea tries to prove that time travel is possible. In doing so, her greatest battle is against the dusty minds of her supervisors who a) are unable to shake those bloody cobwebs off their minds, and b) are unwilling to accept that a young woman is clearly a million times more intelligent than them. Thea carries out experiment after experiment with the aid of her faithful friends but something goes horribly wrong. Isaac returns to help and Thea has to find where she stands and fights on two fronts.

‘’Most friends call to say hello. But you got in touch to say goodbye.’’

Khan has managed to create a balance between the scientific part of the story- the main focus of the novel- and the relationship between Thea and Isaac. Understanding their feelings is as hard as proving that time travel exists and the evolution of the story is satisfactory on both levels. Naturally, being me, I paid more attention to Thea’s project that her sentimental aspirations but Isaac is such a kind, warm soul that you cannot help wanting these two to simply understand each other. Properly. Thea’s past is not without its dark spots and Isaac comes from a Jewish family of survivors. In other news, I have to tell you that I have no problem at all with love at first sight. It exists, I can attest to that. It is rare, too rare but it exists.

Don’t worry about the technicalities and the terminology of the subject matter. It may appear confusing, initially, but if you follow the story closely and let your mind contemplate the possibility of multiple universes and the non-existent limits of time, you will be able to enjoy the novel. Because Khan’s writing is very coherent and well-constructed, not dry, not sentimental. There are beautiful nightly descriptions, the haunting environment of the moors and the unique atmosphere of London where History is tightly embraced with the rhythms of an ultra-modern metropolis are exceptionally depicted. There is an elegant competition between science and philosophy throughout the story, evident in the interactions between Thea and Isaac. The idea of the parallel worlds, of being able to exist in different universes, living different lives is so fascinating, taking the doppelganger concept a lot further than the common legend and the story beyond the traditional time-travel notion. I also appreciated the fact that Khan didn’t play the tarnished card of Science Vs Religion. It was refreshing and she succeeded in not offending a significant part of the readership, which is more that can be said for other writers and reviewers.

I wouldn’t classify it is a sci-fi novel and it is a million years away from being a romance. No need for labels. It is a story that defies genres by incorporating different elements in an effective way, creating a very interesting novel with clever, contemporary dialogue and vivid characters. It will make you think and perhaps long for a time travel to the era of your choice. Or a journey to London. Or the moors.

’...all time-travel discussion turn to Hitler sooner or later.’’

Do we have the right to change the past? In the oldest question since 1945, would we kill baby Hitler if we were given the opportunity? Each one of us has their own ethical codes. I know I would exterminate the little Satan. Without mercy…

Many thanks to Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. show less

Hold Back the Stars has a simple premise. Moreover, upon first glance the story seems superficial. The language is undemanding, and the amount of world-building and character development appears to be minimal. In reality though, it is a nuanced and layered piece of fiction that explores the idea of choices and the consequences of them with in-depth characters and a compelling futuristic world.

The fact that the story is so deep comes as a welcome surprise. After all, Ms. Khan’s syntax is show more straightforward, and the first third of the novel is linear and uncomplicated. The funny thing about basic writing though is how effective it is at painting a picture and developing characters. Ultimately, Ms. Khan has to create a love story between two characters, generate enough sympathy for readers to care about their plight, explain how the two end up stranded in space fighting for their lives, and build a futuristic utopian society that is a natural progression of today’s global environment. She does this because of her basic syntax and uncomplicated storytelling. She succeeds in everything she sets out to create without being obvious about any of it, and the story is richer as a result because it allows Ms. Khan to focus on the layers that make this story so interesting.

Hold Back the Stars is another novel in which it is best not to know much about the story before starting it. Only when the novel is a complete surprise can readers appreciate what Ms. Khan does with the narrative and her reasons for doing so. Knowing what happens in advance ruins the surprise and lessens the impact of her message. In addition, any advance knowledge trivializes the story. What should be a layered story about choice becomes an overly simplistic story about doomed lovers. I know which type of story I prefer to read. show less

I loved this. The story absorbed me from the start and then I soon got caught in the web of the plot. It's hard to categorise this novel. It's about relationships, ambition, attraction, fate, science... Science fiction? Urban fantasy? "Women's fiction"? Suffice it to say, it's a great book.
The characters are great. It's so good to see brilliant minds that just happen to be female, no justification or falseness, they just are. The varying degrees and types of relationships between the show more characters is also nicely authentic.
The science is mind-twisting, the consequences incredible, and yet the way the book is written stops it from becoming overwhelming. It's easy to suspend your disbelief as you read this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this incredible ride!

I received my copy through NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion. show less