Kaufman, Amie and Spooner, Meagan. These Broken Stars. Hyperion Press: 2013. Tr. $17.99 ISBN 9781423171027 ebook ISBN 9781423187783 Reviewed from electronic galley obtained via Netgalley.com
Plot Summary
These Broken Stars is a science fiction romance tale of star crossed lovers, rich girl Lilac LaRoux and war hero Tarver Merendsen. Tarver first meets the beautiful socialite Lilac aboard the luxury space liner the Icarus, owned by Lilac's father, not knowing Lilac's identity her approaches her only to later be haughtily dismissed by the spoiled rich girl. Lilac knows exactly who Tarver is, a poor boy grown into a war hero famous throughout the universe, a boy her father, the richest and most powerful man in the universe, would never approve of. When tragedy strikes and the Icarus crashes on an unknown planet, Tarver and Lilac find themselves the only survivors and must overcome their differences if they are to escape from this strange planet without going mad.
Critical Review
These Broken Stars is a survival tale as much as it is a romance and science fiction novel. Tarver and Lilac traverse the planet in hopes of finding people or a sign of civilization and a way to signal for help. After a few days being stranded the couple begins to realize that there is something strange about the planet the have landed on; not only does it seem to have been terraformed for colonies, yet there are no people, Lilac is haunted by strange whispering voices and visions. Readers are constantly kept in suspense about the truth of the planet and whether the mysterious voices mean the couple harm or have intentions to help. The romance between Tarver and Lilac unfolds gradually, as they go from finding each other obnoxious to not being able to imagine life without one another. A highly readable novel that teens will love. My only qualm was at the end when Lilac blackmails her father to protect Tarver and her father responds by destroying the planet, thus erasing all evidence and negating Lilac's threat. This new challenge is not addressed as the book ends just after the planet is destroyed.
Genre
Science Fiction
Romance
Reading/Interest Level
Grades 8 and up
Similar Books
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Marr
Author's Website
http://amiekaufman.com/
http://www.meaganspooner.com/
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