Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Image from Goodreads

Title: These Broken Stars
Series: Starbound #1
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: 10 Dec 2013
Source: Review Copy
Rating: 3/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

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.

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.

REVIEW BY HONOR – YEAR 8

This story is romantic sci-fi adventure set in the far future, when the human population is spread around the galaxy and hyperspace travel is frequent and popular. It’s on one of these huge luxury space liners that disaster strikes; and only two people seem to survive: the heiress to a million and daughter to the richest man in the universe, Lilac LaRoux, and Tarver Merendsen; a young war hero who long ago decided that girls like Lilac are way more trouble than they’re worth. Together they must try to survive against all the odds, and discover if they really are alone.

My favourite part of the book is when Tarver and Lilac are attempting to escape from the ship, with the calamity and confusion mixing together to create a perfect balance of chaos and excitement. However, after the initial crash, causing the deaths of 5,000, people, nothing exciting really seems to happen; the rest of the story is devoted to Tarver and Lilac’s attempts journey of their landing planet and the overseeing of their relationship.

Lilac LaRoux’s glamour, riches, and complete inexperience of their situation does not make her Major Merendsens ideal survival partner; however she seems to have a lot more to her than meets the eye, as an initially surprised Tarver, and herself, come to realise. However, only after mourning the loss of a flower more than a two thousand Galactics worth of dress does she actually realise how much she’s changed. Through ought the book you see how Lilacs character changes: she progresses from a self-obsessed diva to a kind, daring spirit; making her, in my opinion into one of the most interesting characters in the story.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT****My least favourite part of the book was when Lilac, to the great dismay of Tarver, dies in an explosion. She is later reborn by creatures determined to be noticed by Tarver and Lilac. The reason I disliked it is because it seemed too unreal, even in this unusual setting. It was also the fact that death, for us, is final and irreversible, and it seems to be the same there, making it even more unrealistic.*****

The way that the author(s) have written the story is through alternative views of Lilac and Tarver, changing with each chapter. This method worked well with the plot, enabling you to see the two different views of a situation: for example, Lilacs annoyance and pain in having to trek through the unexplored wilderness in ruined high heels and Tarver’s general frustration at the hindrance that ‘Miss LaRoux’ is causing him.

I would give this book a 3/5, the cataclysmic crash being the main factor in this along with the main plot and development of the characters. I would probably read another book by either or both of the authors, depending on the genre and setting of the book. I enjoyed the overall story and would definitely recommend it to others.