Review: These Broken Stars

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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. The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.

Genre: science fiction romance

Publication date: December 2013

Mature content: no

Review: These Broken Stars is book one in the Starbound Triology by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner, and it's amazing. If anyone had told me a week ago I would be reading an young adult science fiction book, I would probably say - no way! I came across These Broken Stars purely by chance, mostly attracted by the cover - which I love. 

Actually, I love everything about this book, from the cover to the characters and the plot. I usually balk at reading books written in the first person, but in this case the alternate chapters are just right for the story - each chapter is told from the point of view of either Tarver or Lilac. I confess I was on the fence about this system for the first few pages, but then I became so engrossed in the book I just couldn't put it down. 

The plot is fast paced, with unpredictable twists and turns, and both characters are amazing - though Lilac acts like a spoiled brat in the beginning. Sometimes it's hard to remember that Tarver is supposed to be just eighteen, but that actually worked in my favor because I could forget this was supposed to be a young adult book. 

I totally recommend These Broken Stars, and I can say that I'm well into book two now (This Shattered World: A Starbound Novel (The Starbound Trilogy Book 2)) and loving it too. Review to follow. 

Happy readings,