Tarnished Are the Stars

Many years ago humans ruined earth with their technology, or so the stories go. So now on Earth 2 tech is forbidden while some people live in 'civilized' city, governed by the Commissioner and following the laws against tech while they try to determine how to make the world safe for wholesale inhabitation, and other folks live in a secret encampment where tech is not only made and used but necessary for survival. Anna is proof of that need - she has a clockwork heart. She's also known as The Technician; she smuggles tech into the city for those who are willing to break the rules. When the Commissioner's son, Nathaniel, who also secretly has a Ticker for a heart, decides to try for his father's approval by tracking down the Technician show more himself, he finds more than he expected in Anna. And then Eliza, Nathaniel's betrothed, arrives from the space station where the elite live and wait for the new world to be inhabitable for them, both he *and* Anna are in for a mess of surprises.

This was a fun one. Slightly different from most YA post-apocalyptic novels, it stays clear of overly-fraught love triangles and too-angsty teens. There's also really good representation of LGBTQ+ people, including ace/aro. Recommended. show less

*I got this book for review from the publisher*

I really did enjoy this read. I liked how we got three very different POV and how each POV gave the audience such a different look at this world. I really did enjoy this world building but thought it had some issues describing the world to the audience but towards the middle of this novel this was not a large issue. I really did enjoy the political focused of this novel. The highlight of this novel was the LGBTQ rep and also how easily it was explained these types of topics to the audience. I feel that this book is such a strong standalone and would actually be okay, if there were no more books but I would welcome to see these characters again.

*I got this book for review from the publisher*

I really did enjoy this read. I liked how we got three very different POV and how each POV gave the audience such a different look at this world. I really did enjoy this world building but thought it had some issues describing the world to the audience but towards the middle of this novel this was not a large issue. I really did enjoy the political focused of this novel. The highlight of this novel was the LGBTQ rep and also how easily it was explained these types of topics to the audience. I feel that this book is such a strong standalone and would actually be okay, if there were no more books but I would welcome to see these characters again.

3.5 stars rounded down because it is a debut novel that was very clearly a debut novel (lots of showing AND telling at the same time, inconsistent characterisations, and pacing issues) but still an overall enjoyable read. I picked it mostly for the beautiful cover and the asexual and aromantic BOY rep that is so very rare.

Anna is the Technician, an expert in illegal technology and the Commissioner's most wanted person. As her life intersects with Nathaniel, the Commissioner's son with a mechanical heart, and Eliza, his fiance and spy for the queen, the three of them hatch a scheme to bring down the Commissioner.

Bit hard for me to follow on audiobook, so I'll pick it up again when I can find the physical book!

this was amazing go read it what a masterpiece omg