The ladies of Apocalypse Reads thought we would change it up a bit. Instead of a normal review, we have reviewed These Broken Stars interview style. Enjoy! Let us know what you think in the comments!
How would you best describe These Broken Stars to someone who might be interested in reading it?
Rebecca: Mysterious love story on an alien planet. Can they and their love survive the harsh conditions they find themselves in? Will love triumph overall? It is also a story of perseverance and test of character. What will harsh conditions reveal about Lilac, the heiress to the LaRoux empire, and Tarver, a young war hero?
Esso: It has been pitched as a "Titanic in Space", but I certainly disagree with that statement. Yes, there is luxury space liner that inevitably "crashes", a clash of societal classes, and the potential for a budding romance, but it is also so much more. I would describe the book as more of a survival story than a romance.
What did you like or dislike most about this book?
R: I disliked how disconnected I felt with the characters. I wanted more. I also have mixed feelings about the big confrontation at the end. While it was appropriate because of the bad guy’s lying and manipulation, I did not like the dynamics and lack of respect between parent and child. I like the additional story line progressing in addition to the story. The dual story lines kept me reading and made me anxious about the ending.
E: For some reason, this is a hard question for me to answer. Overall, I really enjoyed the story, but if I could name one thing that bothered me it would be that the characters didn't feel "alive" enough. I would have liked to build a more solid connection with them. One thing I did end up liking was the turn of events. I never saw it coming!
What was your experience with this book?
R: I enjoyed reading it; I could not put it down. I immediately read book 1.5 to get further into the series.
E: Initially I thought that there were going to be definite spoilers because of the interrogation pages before each chapter. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that was not the case. Also, this was the only other book, aside from The Monstrumologist series, that gave me the heebie jeebies. I actually had a hard time reading it before bed. Embarrassing, but true.
Who would you recommend this book to?
R: I would recommend this book to someone who likes survival love stories.
E: I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a science fiction read coupled with a survival story. Also, someone who doesn't mind a little bit of the supernatural in their stories.
Are there any other thoughts you'd like to share with the readers of Apocalypse Reads?
R: I wanted to keep reading this series. Unfortunately I had to wait for it become available at the library. I still have This Shattered World in my possession. For some reason because I was not able to read it immediately I have yet to read it. I would recommend all three books being available, so one can read all three at once.
E: After finishing These Broken Stars I did go on to read the short story in between books 1 and 2. I thought it shed some light on the characters from the book and was worth the read. (It's also free as an ebook!) I'm sure I will go on to finish the series.
