Book Shelf: These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

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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Review:

Intense and lyrical, These Broken Stars by authors Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner is a thrilling and at times haunting sci-fi read that will take readers on an uncertain adventure that weaves together mystery, romance and unexpected discoveries!

I have to say, personally, I was quite blown away by These Broken Stars. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I’ve read a good YA science fiction novel but These Broken Stars actually surpassed all my expectations! Heading into this novel, I hadn’t read anything by either Amie Kaufman or Megan Spooner before. I’d heard mixed reviews about the book but I was still optimistic. That being said, in my eyes, I feel like these ladies did a terrific job with the story.

Told in the dual POV’s of Lilac LaRoux, a rich, social flower who happens to be the daughter of the richest man in the galaxy and Tarver Medenson, a poor farm boy who discovered unexpected fame for his heroic actions at war, These Broken Stars is beautifully well written and deliciously told. With the benefit of seeing events unfold through the eyes of both characters, Kaufman and Spooner recount a dangerous journey of survival and loss in the middle of nowhere when our main characters are the only survivors of a spaceship crash on a deserted plant that shockingly that holds more secrets then either of them could expect.

I have to say, I’m a big fan of novels where characters are pitted against the elements and must rely on themselves, each other and the world around them to survive. There’s something so alluring about seeing individual’s stripped back and bare, and I think it’s times like that when you really see how much strength people have or not.

In These Broken Stars, Lilac and Tarver must learn to rely on one another and trust each other after they’re thrust together due to horrible circumstances. Though they couldn’t be more different, and are practically from different worlds socially, Lilac and Tarver’s only hope really are each other and as the story progresses, we see the two of them go from reluctant allies to friends and then eventually something more.

As Lilac and Tarver are not only our main characters but are basically stranded on a planet by themselves, as a reader, we spend a lot of time in their company. After the initial introduction to their society that we get in the beginning of the book, the majority of the story is spent simply in the minds of Tarver and Lilac.

Personally, I quite liked Lilac and Tarver! Lilac, starts out stubborn but somewhat spoiled and guarded, however as the story progresses we come to understand the reason behind this. As Lilac struggles to survive in this foreign place with Tarver, her fierce determination to learn is admirable. She changes quite a lot and grows as a person—and who doesn’t love that! Tarver on the other hand is capable, brave and collected; he’s come from nothing and knows how to survive in hard, harsh conditions. There’s no doubt he and Lilac would have perished long ago, if not for his survival skills.

In These Broken Stars, Lilac and Tarver don’t get off to the best start and as they journey across lands unknown to them, skimping and skimming to survive, they fight, bicker and push each other. And yet there’s a quiet sliver of chemistry that burns between these two. As they slowly begin to get to know each other; learning the others strengths, weaknesses and what they bring to the table together, Lilac and Tarver form an unlikely friendship in the face of all hopelessness that slowly blossoms into something more. I enjoyed the relationship between Lilac and Tarver and never felt as though the authors were pushing their romance down my throat. Rather it was a nice undercurrent and tone to a story that focused a lot on survival and the mysterious unknown.

A beautiful love story, mysterious entities and unexpected plot developments, These Broken Stars may not be the most fast paced novel out there but instead tells a well told tale of survival, love and one’s inner strength in the first book in the new Starbound Trilogy by authors Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner. With loveable characters, a haunting setting and an ending sure to leave you wanting more, These Broken Stars will thrill fans of Under the Never Sky and Across the Universe!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Allen & Unwin (Thank you Lara!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Under the Never Sky and Across the Universe fans will love this!
Cover: I honestly thing this is one of the most beautiful covers of 2013--it's just breathtaking
Will I read sequel/continue with series: No doubt whatsoever that I will!