These Broken Stars

That was. . . really good. Like seriously, REALLY good!

I totally LOVED the dual perspectives, the slow building romance, and the slight mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. Not to mention the mixture of sci-fi, futuristic technology, and Victorian sensibility.

Above all, though, I loved the writing. This book is SO cinematic! I could picture everything so clearly in my head --- the crash of the Icarus was. . .EPIC. Lilac and Tarver's exploration and subsiquent fight for survival on an alien planet was ridiculously believable---convincing---accurate??? Whatever it was, I totally bought it.

The mystery behind the "whispers" had me enthralled and turning the pages at warp speed, and the last 20% of the book was surprisingly intense show more --- I almost cried!

I understand that the next book is more of a companion book than a sequel and ,normally, I'm not a fan of this. But, if it means I get to read more of this duo's incredible writing, or there's even a slight chance that we get to see Lilac and Tarver again, I feel like the odds are favorable for my liking it ;) show less

These Broken Stars is a beautifully structured, beautifully written novel which, refreshingly, has logical and believeable motivations for both characters all the way through the story. I was initially dubious about the 1st person POV that alternates chapters - as someone who reads quite quickly and for long stretches at a time, I can easily get confused by this structure (usually because I don't notice that I've even started a new chapter). I had no such problem with this book, and the double view point enabled me to become more invested in both main characters. I loved the 'interrogation snippets' between chapters too. I could really feel Tarver's frustration, and respect his patience given that I knew what he really wanted to say show more (don't worry, T, I said it for you. Out loud. On the plane). I loved watching Lilac find her strength. Can't wait to see what she does next. show less

When the luxury space liner Icarus plummets out of hyperspace and crashes onto an unknown planet only two people are able escape in a pod to land safely on the planet’s surface. Thus opens These Broken Stars by Aimee Kaufman and I was immediately pulled into this YA survivor/romance story as the two, Lilac and Tarver, embark on a journey across this strange planet to try and find rescue. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe while Tarver is a simple soldier. Their attraction to each other was obvious but I was pleased that the romance was held back in favor of survival. Only once they were relatively safe did these two give in to their growing emotions.

This is the opening book of a trilogy and although the beautiful show more cover both attracted me and made me a little leery that there was going to be too much teen angst, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. Both the writing and the plotting are well done and, even as the main characters start hearing whispers, see ghosts and hallucinate, the story makes sense. Told in alternating fashion the reader sees the story unfold from both characters point of view, and while I would have like a little more of the science part of the story and a little less of the romance, overall it was an engaging read and I will not hesitate to continue on with this trilogy. show less

I read something by Meagan Spooner last year and was curious about what else she had written, so when I saw the library had the audiobook, I gave it a go.

I am not a fan of the cover. It screams “clichéd YA about star-crossed lovers!”, which is not my favourite, and the first two chapters didn’t alter that impression. Two teenagers meet while travelling through hyperspace aboard the Icarus. She’s a privileged socialite. He’s a lowborn military officer, only allowed on the upper decks because of his medals for heroics. When they meet, they’re immediately interested in each other. (Of course.) But Lilac knows how her father reacts if she shows interest in a boy, so when Tarver asks to see her again, she turns him down show more publicly.

However, the story abruptly changes direction when something goes wrong on the Icarus. Lilac and Tarver are left with no choice but to work together. Their survival depends upon it.

I was glad I pushed past my initial doubts. These Broken Stars is intense and gripping. I loved the suspense and the mystery, formulating my own theories of what was going on. (Including wondering why Tarver is answering evasively in the interview excerpts which prefix each chapter.) I loved the dramatic visuals of the landscapes - halfway through I thought This would make an awesome movie. And I really enjoyed seeing Tarver and Lilac learn to work together and trust each other. They have to navigate disagreements and their differences (of opinion and of abilities), and while I was frustrated by a few of their earlier choices, it was really satisfying to watch the characters - and their relationship - grow. I was surprised by how invested I became.

“What did you make of your companion?”
“It was a change of pace from a platoon.”
“That’s not a substantive response, Major Merendsen.”
“I hadn’t had long to form an opinion. The situation wasn’t ideal.”
“For you or her?”
“For either of us. Do you know anyone who’d have been pleased in our places?”
“We’ll ask the questions, Major.” show less

I liked this audiobook a whole lot more than I expected to. I sometimes (ok, often) rant about books that are just a little too YA and full of tropes. This one does have some of the usual for the genre, and at the beginning I was rolling my eyes at Lilac and Carver (those name...) and their angst even before anything happened, but it got better. The sci-fi elements and the whole Titanic-like vibe put it solidly in the pick column.

These Broken Stars is a sneaky novel. In the beginning, it appears to be a standard science fiction young adult romance and coming-of-age story. Lilac is a snob with hidden depths, and Tarver has the ability to empathize with her and overlook her ruder behaviors. Naturally, they each have vital skills and knowledge that help them both survive the crash and beyond. It is a given that they will fall for each other, especially because their differences are so pronounced.

The romance may be predictable, but the story of their survival on the planet is anything but that. Ms. Kaufman and Ms. Spooner hide details of their futuristic world in the internal and external dialogues, forcing readers to pay close attention for snippets of information show more that will help them process this unfamiliar world. Yet, through a careful scrutiny of the dialogue, readers become thoroughly enmeshed in the story and in Tarver’s and Lilac’s fates. Readers learn more about them, and they both become something other than words on a page. Lilac is no longer the poor little rich girl, and Tarver is not someone with a chip on his shoulder. It is a symbiosis that befits a science fiction novel but also creates a fairly unique reaction to the story as it unfolds.

Ms. Kaufman and Ms. Spooner know how to use plot twists. They deftly weave the unexpected into their story and have no qualms about doing so. The dangers change so often, and neither authoress is shy about killing off characters. The fates of Lilac and Tarver are never 100 percent certain. While readers know that they will fall in love, they are less confident about whether both characters will make it to the end of the story alive. To say that such ambiguity provides a rush is an understatement.

Cynthia Holloway, Johnathan McClain and Sarge Anton work very well together narrating this intricate story. Ms. Holloway in particular masterfully adopts Lilac’s changes in tone and attitude as she evolves from spoiled rich heiress to someone much more humble and human. Sarge Anton, as the mysterious interrogator, has the perfect amount of wry hostility and disbelief as he seeks to wrestle the answers from Tarver. It is Johnathan McClain, however, who steals the show. His version of Tarver is everyone one would hope it would be. He exudes Tarver’s confidence, his homespun background, and his intelligence. He is also adroit at allowing cracks to filter into his performance so that readers can also catch glimpses of Tarver behind his war hero façade, the one who remains utterly devoted to his parents and the manners he learned at their hand. The trio brings this witty and intriguing story to life, drawing out readers’ emotions and holding captive their interest.

With elements of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Star Wars, These Broken Stars is bound to attract a myriad of fans. The science is solid, the descriptions are luscious, and the dialogue is snappy. Most importantly, the story never drags into the melodramatic. The world inhabited by Lilac and Tarver may be mostly unfamiliar, but there exists a sense of realism and familiarity that keeps the story grounded. Yet, it is in the unfamiliar which builds up suspense and captures a reader’s interest. The fact that anything can and does go within the narrative is a refreshing bit of freedom within a novel that could have very easily fallen prey to the stereotypical and trite. Instead, These Broken Stars is an exciting, romantic, unpredictable, and trippy glimpse into a potential future in which humans are no longer limited to just one planet of which there is always consequences. show less

THESE BROKEN STARS was a great treat. The writing was excellent, the world-building sufficient, and best of all the story had plot twists that took me by surprise.

The story begins when Lilac, the only child of THE richest man in the known universe, meets lowly soldier Tarver. There's chemistry between them but Lilac is keen on keeping to herself because daddy wouldn't approve --and bad things can happen when daddy doesn't approve.

This little problem goes away when daddy's huge star liner disintegrates and the two of them are cast onto a near deserted planet, miles away from anything and anyone but forest and forest critters.

At this point I was fairly happy. I thought 'oh, now we're going to get a nice survival story'. I like surviving show more in the wilds stories so I was entirely unprepared for the huge twist the story takes.

In the second half of the book everything changes. The story takes a sweeping turn and gets creepy and mysterious, and I-for-one wasn't sure where things were headed. The world wasn't what it appeared to be, and in fact, the universe wasn't exactly how it seemed. Very cool. And very much something like what Keith Laumer or even young Heinlein might have penned in their younger years.

Dazzling first book. It was familiar in parts and then it evolved into something wonderfully original.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND. show less