The Last Stars in the Sky

Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of The Last Stars in the Sky.

I have to say that I am not a Dystopian reader at all- and I was not prepared for this book to be dystopian… but I loved it!

It starts with a familiar story of a family on the brink of financial ruin, having to make the unfortunate decision to give up their family home to move to a smaller (in this case much, much smaller) home farther away from their established life, causing a marriage to be at its breaking point. Well- this is about all that is “normal” about the story.

Once settled in the family’s “rustic” (being a nice word) cabin, children unsettled without wifi, and parents sort-of speaking, the world turns on its axis. While show more watching TV on all of the few channels that come in at the cabin, report fires engulfing cities, then the connection goes out.

The book tells the story of a semi-broken family squished close together by circumstances and survival to either make it out together or break and drown.

The characterization in this is incredibly well-written with the reader reading from both the wife’s and husband’s perspectives. The reader gets a real feel for the quirks and personality traits of each character, as well as how strong the human will to live is. Hewitt describes the setting in the story so well that I have a true mental image in my head of each scene of the book- without making the amount of details overwhelming. This created a both character and plot driven story that far exceeded any expectations that I had.

This novel is genre crossing in the best way including elements from contemporary fiction, family drama, dystopian, sci-fi, mystery and thriller all wrapped up into one beautiful (I mean look at that cover) package. I loved this story and became so invested in the different characters. If you’re interested in any of these genres- or multiple, this was a great read that went in multiple directions that I had not anticipated. show less

THE LAST STARS IN THE SKY was not at all what I expected based on the blurb. Alex and her husband Daniel leave their home and life in Connecticut behind after Daniel loses his job. They uproot their teenage daughter Mattie, who is bitter over leaving a troubled boyfriend behind, and bring a younger daughter as well. The first 20% of the book moves very slowly, reflecting on the family’s troubles. Then the big twist/reveal comes, and we discover what the novel is really about. It’s impossible to review the book properly without spoiling that there is a worldwide nuclear attack and this quickly becomes a post-apocalyptic survival novel where it's every person for themselves.

As Daniel leaves Alex and his daughters behind in order to show more go back to Connecticut and get their son Sam, they are forced to fend for themselves with society quickly crumbling. This book was unlike any Kate Hewitt book I’ve read before, but I was rivetted. Very well written. I love post-apocalyptic novels and the struggle to find food and supplies and figure out how to get through winter and make it one more month was written in a very exciting way. My one criticism is that the ending is very abrupt. I would have liked more resolution and answers about what happened as far as the worldwide nuclear attacks. We don’t ever get any answers about what is going on. That’s all left up in the air. The family is shown on the run and in danger at the end and we’re just sort of left with that? Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, but I would have enjoyed it more if it had been left with a better sense of closure. 5/5 stars.

Trigger Warnings: sexual assault

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and Storm Publishing for review purposes. show less

This is a riveting page turner, from beginning to end you never see most of what is going to happen.
As this read begins we are finally in Canada having left Connecticut, and it is not a happy time. Daniel has lost his job, and as a result they have lost everything, and going to remote lake in Canada.
What you never see coming is the nuclear attack, and then Marshall Law. It becomes survival and lawlessness, and yet, you see signs of compassion.
This is a family, Alex and Daniel and two daughters, their son is at College, and when the unthinkable happens Daniel leaves to find his son. You have to think the way things are, will they ever see there Dad/Husband again?
In the end, and wow, I think it was the end, but we end on a cliff hanger!
I show more received this book through Net Galley and Storm Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review. show less

Als Daniel zijn baan verliest en hij, zijn vrouw Alex en hun dochters daardoor ook hun huis kwijt raken, besluiten ze in het vakantiehuis van Alex ouders te gaan wonen, ver in de wildernis van Canada. Het huis is nogal verwaarloosd maar ze kunnen er toch redelijk goed wonen. En dan slaat het noodlot toe. Verschillende grote Amerikaanse steden worden getroffen door nucleaire bommen en helemaal vernietigd. De electriciteit valt overal uit, er is geen wifi meer, dus ook geen nieuws over wat er allemaal gebeurt. Hun zoon Sam is net begonnen aan een universiteit in Amerika, maar komt ook naar hen toe. Dat wordt natuurlijk moeilijk want er is geen vliegverkeer meer door de radioactieve neerslag. Ze besluiten dat Daniel Sam zal gaan halen.
Er show more vormen zich milities, er wordt geplunderd en overal is angst en wantrouwen.
Alex probeert zo veel mogelijk voorraad bij elkaar te verzamelen in de relatief rustige streek waar ze wonen. Terwijl Alex, Mattie en Ruby proberen te overleven wordt de groep rond hen groter. Ze nemen Darlene, de dame die voor de ouders van Alex op het huis paste en haar dochter Kerry in huis.
Ik vond dit een erg spannend boek en heb het dan ook in een dag uitgelezen. show less