These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner Series: Starbound Universe #1
Published by Disney-Hyperion on December 10th 2013
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 374
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
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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.
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A timeless love story, These Broken Stars sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.
I have just come out the book cave (my bed) after reading These Broken Stars and honestly I wish I had read this book sooner! I first fell in love with the cover of These Broken Stars, it is gorgeous and something about the colours and the way the two of them are reaching out to one another really drew me in. Also I am a sucker for a red headed heroine, because seriously gingers rule! Just look at Ariel, Felicia Day, Barbara Gordan, Emma Stone, Jean Gray or Merida, all kick ass ladies with fiery red hair! But I digress. So this cover really had me twitching to buy it but since I had so many books already in my TBR pile I exercised what little self control I had and waited….BIG MISTAKE! Holy crap on a cracker was this book good! It starts out on a luxury space liner with two characters that you would never picture together, Tarver and Lilac, he is a war hero with a dislike for high society and she is a princess of the upper class surrounded by luxury. After an unlikely accident their ship crashes and being the only two to survive in an escape pod they are thrown into this new world having to depend on one another. Surprisingly they grow to like each other and even begin to see one another in a new light. Though as their relationship grows so does the danger that they are in as they learn that the planet they have crashed holds some dark secrets. This is one of the few books were I wasn’t correct in my predications about what it was and I could not put it down!
Now I am going to get spoilery here and if you haven’t read this book and don’t want to know what happens, DON”T READ ANY FURTHER!
Okay you have been warned, now let’s get to it!
Soo Lilac and Tarver wind up falling for one another (of course) but I really find it endearing they way they learn to trust to each other and rely on each others strengths. He thinks she is a spoiled little rich girl who looks down upon him, when really she can’t let anyone get close for fear they will be killed like her Father did to her first love. She thinks he is a rude and condescending ass when he is just trying to keep her to be strong and so she will survive. As they make their trek to find rescue they start realizing not all is right with this world and they think Lilac may be losing her mind. She starts to hear voices and see people who aren’t there. Tarver thinks she may have suffered a head injury in the crash but soon he starts to see things as well and they realize they may not be as alone as they thought.
When they finally reach the crash site for their ship and discover that there is no way for them to contact anyone for help, they start to scavenge for supplies. After Tarver is hurt Lilac cares for him and pushes herself to extremes she never knew she was capable of. Their bond truly is cemented and they set off once again to try to find a way home when they see a strange structure not far from the crash site. Along the way they have figure out that the other life forms watching them are leading them this way and they are determined to find out why.
The alien life forms they encounter are unlike any I have ever read in a book before and the tortures they had to endure at the hands of Lilac’s Father are absolutely heartbreaking. And I absolutely did not expect what happened to Lilac and what these aliens did to save her. It was a good thing I was home alone when I was reading the end because I spent a good 30 minutes sobbing.
But I don’t want to get too spoilery so go get These Broken Stars and read it for yourself because I give this book 5 shiny gold stars!!!
I have also read there will be a sequel that they need to hurry up and write it!!! Seriously I’m waiting!
About Amie Kaufman
The short bio: Amie Kaufman is the co-author of the award-winning Starbound trilogy (These Broken Stars, This Shattered World) and The Illuminae Files trilogy (Illuminae). She writes science fiction and fantasy for teens. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, their rescue dog, and her considerable library. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
The longer story: Amie Kaufman is the co-author of the award-winning Starbound trilogy (These Broken Stars, This Shattered World) and The Illuminae Files trilogy (Illuminae). She writes science fiction and fantasy for teens. Amie had the good fortune to be raised just one block from her local library, and took full advantage of that fact growing up. She and her sister spent their childhood summers re-creating their favourite books by camping in the back yard, mapping their neighbourhood, climbing trees, stepping through magical doors and sailing the local seas. Raised in Australia and Ireland, she has kissed the Blarney stone six times, thoroughly cementing her gift of the gab.
As she grew older (but not up), she continued her education, and graduated with honors degrees in history, literature and law, and a master’s degree in conflict resolution. These days she combines writing with work as a mediator, as well as regular travel throughout the US, Europe and Asia. A few of her top travel moments include camping in the Sahara overnight, climbing a mountain in Vietnam, standing on the Great Wall of China and cycling the Loire Valley, but she has a huge list left to cover.
Amie lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and their very quirky rescue dog, Jack. She’s a huge fan of chocolate and naps, has an enormous music collection, and an entire room of her house is devoted to her library. She still sails, and though she climbs fewer trees, she remains partial to investigating the occasional magical door.
About Meagan Spooner
Meagan Spooner grew up reading and writing every spare moment of the day, while dreaming about life as an archaeologist, a marine biologist, an astronaut. She graduated from Hamilton College in New York with a degree in playwriting, and has spent several years since then living in Australia. She’s traveled with her family all over the world to places like Egypt, South Africa, the Arctic, Greece, Antarctica, and the Galapagos, and there’s a bit of every trip in every story she writes.
She currently lives and writes in Asheville, North Carolina, but the siren call of travel is hard to resist, and there’s no telling how long she’ll stay there.
In her spare time she plays guitar, plays video games, plays with her cat, and reads.
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Meagan Spooner is the author of SKYLARK and SHADOWLARK, the first two books in a young adult fantasy trilogy available NOW from Carolrhoda Lab/Lerner Books. She is also the co-author of THESE BROKEN STARS, the first in the young adult science fiction Starbound Trilogy available now from Disney-Hyperion. She is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.
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