[ARC Review] These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
December 10th, 2013
Disney Hyperion


ARC received at BEA for honest review

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N


 

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.

So I saw this cover on Goodreads and Amazon this past  spring or something, I know it was before I went to BEA because when I saw the cover again as book up for review I knew this was a must have.  I don’t usually judge a book by its cover and, I am loathe to admit it but a pretty cover can grab my eye and stick in my mind.  These Broken Stars has one of the most gorgeous covers I have seen in a while.  This book is more than just a pretty face it is also pitched as Titanic in space.  With a pretty cover and a tag line like that who could resist picking up this book and giving it a whirl.  Let me tell you, after finishing this book it does not disappoint.  I am in love with this book.  I want to shout from the rooftops about how much I love this book, pass it out all to my friends , and pretty much push it on anyone who loves books because this book is just that amazing.

The book is about Major Tarver Merendesen and Lilac LaRoux, one is a lowly solider and the other is the richest heiress in the entire galaxy.  They meet on board the space ship Icarus while traveling.  Icarus is supposed to the best of its kind and “unsinkable” but something goes wrong and the ship crashes killing 50,000 people save for two lone survivors.  Tarver and Lilac are the only ones able to get their escape craft unlatched from Icarus in time to save themselves and find they are not only the lone survivors but there is no people on the planet they crash landed.  Then the Titanic story takes a turn and becomes more like The Blue Lagoon.  What happens when two castaways are stranded on an island, or inhabited planet, and are madly attracted to each other: romance of course.  Then Lilac starts to hear whispers in the night and sees mysterious visions and things become a bit spooky as they begin discover the mysteries of the planet.

I loved this book, have I mentioned that already, because it was moving, gut wrenching, oh so romantic, and even suspenseful.  I like how Lilac came into her own because of the confidence she finds from the love she shares with Tarver.  Her love makes her not only stronger but makes her want to become the kind of woman Tarver believes she can be.  He helps her to believe in herself and not be afraid anymore of what everyone is going to think about her.  I liked the progression of the relationship, for me, it felt real.  I liked that they start out annoyed at each other but are able to see past the idiosyncrasies and into the hearts of each other.  I liked that by the end neither one of them is just a spoiled princess or the dumb solider because together they are so much more.  

The suspense building was fantastic in this book.  Even though I kind of knew where the whispers were leading to, there were parts that freaked me out and raised the hair on my arms.  There even parts that had me reaching for the tissues because I like “no you can’t do this to me.”  I love a book that makes me feel so involved in the story:  that I am crying one moment, swooning the next, and freaking out a second later.

These Broken Stars is a book to be devoured.  I am glad I picked up this book because it was one of those rare books that lived up and surpassed all my expectations.  I can’t wait to read more because I am dying to know what is in store next for Lilac and Tarver.  I feel like they are old friends and I can’t wait to cheer them on because I know they will have to keeping fighting for their love in more stories to come.  I give These Broken Star five laser pistols and it is with a happy smile I say that I have become a fangirl of this book.