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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Review and Giveaway: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner


Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Goodreads 
Release date: December 10th, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Series: #1 in the Starbound trilogy
Source: ARC from BEA
Rating: First I was like whoaaa, and then I was like SWOOOOON, and then I was like Noooooooo!

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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.

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.



If you follow me on Twitter, you might have noticed that I completely lost my mind while reading this book. To be honest, I was a little nervous going into These Broken Stars, thinking I might not like it. Not because it didn't seem like my type of book (it absolutely does), but because of all the hype. Every blogger and their grandmothers seemed to be raving about this one, especially the bloggers I trust. Which, conversely, made me more worried I wouldn't like it.

The beginning two or three chapters are quite nice, but they didn't wow me. Great, I thought. I will be the sole person in the blogosphere to dislike this. They'll revoke my blogger card and exile me to a distant planet. I'm not the first person to note this, but it's pretty much Titanic in space. The wealthiest girl in the galaxy, Lilac LaRoux, encounters lower class army major Tarver Merendson aboard the galaxy-traversing luxury spaceship, the Icarus. There is romantical tension! There is a love flirtation that cannot be! There is... a crash.



To me, the book came alive with the crash.There's tremendous action, and Lilac does some awesome things, and before you know it, Lilac and Tarver have crash-landed on an alien planet and are fighting for their lives. Very little of this book takes place aboard the ship; you should be aware of this before you go in. It's not a space tale as much as a survival tale. For nearly 90% of the book, the only two characters on the page are Lilac and Tarver themselves. Others may find this limiting, but if you connect to the characters as deeply as I did, you'll love it. Tarver and Lilac both have so much depth to them, and layers, and backstory, and you get to know them quite well.

These Broken Stars is told in alternating first person viewpoints. We switch between Tarver's narration and Lilac's, getting both sides of their struggle for survival and their struggle to get along. Because boy, do they clash. Lilac is everything Tarver doesn't trust or like: spoiled, wealthy, priveleged, used to getting what she wants, accustomed to being the center of attention, and with almost no practical skills whatsoever (almost). She has facades that, after so long, seem to have become a part of her. She's also smothered by her astronomically wealthy and powerful and protective father.

Tarver comes from humble but loving beginnings. He's a Major and a war hero from a backwater planet, and he's about as different from society girl Lilac as you can get. To Lilac, Tarver is... well, he's:


Gif credit goes to Molli and her fabulous gif review.

There is sass. There is bantering. There is all the things I like in a good hate-to-maybe-love story (my favorite trope of all time). I shipped it, you guys. I SPACE SHIPPED IT.

 

But Lilac and Tarver have to depend on each other if they're going to survive on this alien planet, and especially if they want to be rescued. Multiple misunderstandings and personality flaws stand between them, but slowly, as they traverse the harsh wilderness, encounter mysterious...mysteries... (you don't want it spoiled for you!), they begin to change. The possibility of friendship arises. And the possibility of the possibility of more.

AND THEN KAUFMAN AND SPOONER RIP INTO YOUR SOUL LIKE EVIL AUTHORLY WITCHES AND STEAL ALL THE JOY INSIDE YOU AND FEAST UPON IT GLEEFULLY.


This is what my Twitter feed looked like at a certain point:




My feels were 'sploding all over the place. #TheseBrokenFeels became a real legitimate thing for a second there. I could not handle it. Like... I STILL CANNOT. This book filleted me open and gutted me and at the end of it I just kind of sat there on my bed, empty and staring at nothing and trying to pull the fragments of my brain together. So many ups and downs (and one gigantic DOWN DOWN DOWN) and then a mystery is solved and shenanigans and ouch and... oh, look, I'm coherent just thinking about this. Honestly, there's not much else I can say. I thought this book was exemplary. Sci-fi is definitely currently the genre du jour, and These Broken Stars will no doubt be one of the best science fiction books of the year. It will also hurt your feelings, like, on a deep and personal level, so be warned. *eats some healing chocolate*

Because I loved this book so much and want to inflict it on...er, give it to others, I'm hosting an international giveaway! That's right! So long as you live somewhere that the Book Depository ships to, you were eligible to win a finished copy of These Broken Stars!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

70 comments:

  1. I am so excited for this book! I already have it on hold at the library. :)

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  2. I ended up really liking this book too! Like you, the first few chapters weren't precisely the best in the universe, and I was very worried I would end up not liking the entire novel. But thankfully, everything post-crash just really got to me in a way I didn't expect -- and it was GOOD.

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  3. I really want to read These Broken Stars! At first I was just drawn in by the pretty cover but now it just sounds so good, can't wait to get a chance to read it! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  4. No I have not read These Broken Stars yet but why wouldn't I want to?! The amazing cover, everyone and their mom seems to love it, Titanic in Space?!?! Amaxing giveaway :)

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  5. I have read it! Loved it as well, and those tweets of yours! Lmao, I can so recognise my own response in those tweets. Awesome post and great giveaway! <3

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  6. I haven't read it. The story sounds so great plus the cover :)

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  7. I have yet to read it. I am trying to read more books with space travel, so why not start with this one?! :) Thanks!!!

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  8. I haven't read it yet, but I really want to! I've never read a book with space travel so I'm super excited! :)

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  9. I have not read it! Although I really want! And I loooove the cover. It is absolutely gorgeous! <3
    On top of that, I have heard amazing things about this book.

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  10. I haven't read it yet but I'm so excited to! Your review kind of made me even more intimidated by this book though because now that you've read & loved this book, am I going to be the only one who doesn't? The fact that it's Titanic in space really makes me intrigued and excited (because I love Titanic and love/hate relationships too)! I can't wait to read this! And thanks so much for helping me make up my mind to read this!

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  11. I haven't read it, but everyone of my friends can't help but gush at the amazingness of it every time we talk about it.

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  12. No, I haven't read it yet, but I'm dying too! Only ten more days, :D.

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  13. This sounds so amazing! I can't wait to read it!

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  14. This book sounds amazing. It will definitely be on my Christmas wish list.

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  15. I haven't read it (the HYPE intimated me, and I'm not a huge fan of love/hate relationships...), but now I really WANT TO :)

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  16. I want to read it because I love its story and cover. Thank you for the international giveaway!

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  17. I haven't read it, but it's on my TBR list since the cover has been revealed. Absolutely beautiful one! Also, heard great things about it from people that've already read and now I wanna find out for myself what all the hype is about. :) So, thanks for a chance to win it! :)

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  18. Yes!! I was so looking forward to your review, Gill, and you did not disappoint! Love love love love love.

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  19. I haven't read it sadly, BUT it seems like a amazing book after I read your review! I'm a huge fan of sci fi/fantasy type books so this one seems perfect! The thing that drew me to this book was the cover. After I read your review I know that I will love this book! :)

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  20. *stocks on chocolates and tissues*

    I can't wait for my damned preordered hardcover to arrive, but I'm hoping it'll be available on Amazon.es on the 10th itself, since I have the day off and I want to devour it and ignore the world! All the hype is making me nervous, but having so many bloggers I trust love it... I think it's well deserved hype!

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  21. Haven't read it yet but your review really makes me want to! The dynamic between the main chars sounds great.

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  22. Beautiful cover, amazing premise (Titanic in space?! Yes please!), continuous awesome reviews about it - I'm all in!

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  23. Dammit, this review convinced me to put this book on hold at the library. Not like I'll have time to read it when it comes in, anyway...

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  24. I haven't read it yet, but my friends have,so I am excited to read it too.

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  25. I have not read it yet. But I want too. The cover is beautiful and the summary sounds awesome. I do hope I get to read it one day. Thank you for the chance.

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  26. I havent read this book but i have heard so many things about it and it sounds like its going to be good!!! the space travel sounds interesting--thanks for the giveaway!!!

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  27. I haven't read it yet. But I really want to read it because the cover is so gorgeous and it sound really amazing. Thank you for the giveaway! :)

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  28. I haven't yet but I've heard so many good things about this book. I mean, it's set in SPACE. That alone would make me read it. ^_^

    Thanks for hosting the giveaway!!

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  29. So like every, and I mean EVERY, blogger I follow has loved this so this must be amazing. I definitely can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  30. I haven't read it (yet), but I really want to!
    It sounds so amazing!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  31. I haven't read These Broken Stars yet, but...

    1) AMAZING cover (I know, I shouldn't, but I do)
    2) AMAZING reviews
    3) science fiction

    Brynna

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  32. I have not yet read the book but am a huge fan of books that make me cry :/

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  33. I loved These Broken Stars too! Hate-to-love is one of my favorite tropes as well, so I was shipping Tarver and Lilac hardcore.

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  34. I do, in fact, follow you on Twitter, so I was lucky enough to witness the live-action glory of your catastrophic book-induced emotional meltdown. I added the novel to my Goodreads queue immediately. :)

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  35. I haven't read These Broken Stars, yet. I really wanted to win the book because I've read so many great reviews of this book! Also the cover and the story look gorgeous! Thanks for the giveaway :D

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  36. I haven't read it yet, but every review I've read is amazing! I can't wait:)

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  37. I've put in the request for my local library to consider buying a copy.

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  38. I haven't read it, because like you, I was worried about the hype. It would not be the first time I avidly disliked a book that everyone else seemed to love. But clearly it hit you in the heartstrings, and that intrigues me... :)

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  39. I haven't read it yet and it KILLS ME. First of all, let's just take a moment to appreciate this completely gorgeous cover--how could you not want to pick it up? And then with all the hype from bloggers like yourself RAVING about this book, even with the emotional upheaval, I find myself thoroughly captivated. Regardless of whether or not I actually end up winning this, it is for certain on my TBR. And THANK YOU for the giveaway!

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  40. I haven't read it yet. The cover is beautiful!

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  41. I have not read the book yet, but I have been hearing so many awesome things about this book from friends, and the cover is just so pretty!!! Thank you for the giveaway.

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  42. I haven't read this yet, but after I read your review I'M READING THIS DAMMIT NO MATTER WHAT! XD I'm challenged by the hype. I NEEED to read this!

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  43. I'm so excited or this book and dying to about find out about the ending that everyone's is going crazy about!!

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  44. I needs this book in my hands. They are just itching for a book like this one! *contains grabby hands*

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  45. This book sounds amazing! I really want to read more traditional Science Fiction and this seems like a great one to add to the list.

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  46. Holy shit but that is a lot of comments. Okay. So.

    I was like whoa and then I was like okay and then I was like Vader NOOOOOOOOOO

    The crash was awesome. I loved it. But then I didn't connect to the characters and that was a problem. They read the same to me, which I don't think they did other people so I don't know about that, but whatever. And I should have been all over them. All the elements were there, but they were somehow too dull to me. *sighs*

    But then that thing happened and I was like "OH SHIT THIS IS EPIC. PLEASE LET THIS BE REAL."

    Then I was like "lol whut"

    Then I was like "This can't be."

    Then I was like "FUCK. But maybe still they could bring this around."

    The end = "Well, fuck, I tried so hard to be friends with you and why"

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  47. Agh I want to read this SO BADLY...but then....dreading it too. I have a hard time with hyped books - I end up spending the book thinking about what everyone ELSE thinks instead of actually enjoying the book. But who knows? CoM was my favourite read of the year even coming to it with all the hype.

    Also your Firefly gif. That is all.

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  48. YOU SPACE-SHIPPED IT. I aspire to ship like you ship, I really do. In related news, PLEASE LET ME LOVE THIS BOOK. It sounds so amazing and I love dual POV so much when it works. You have me slightly concerned about the ending though. I'm glad you ended up loving it, even if it did stomp your heart into a million jagged pieces.

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  49. You're right -- everyone I've seen has raved about this book!! Seriously, everyone!! This makes me nervous but at the same time, excited. I am ready for all these feels!! Maybe. But I do love sci fi and I'm excited to read it and see what I think!!

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  50. I have been really wanting to read this book since I read the synopsis. Now that I keep reading reviews like yours, I am even more eager to read it!!

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  51. I haven't read this book yet but I really really want to! It looks amazing!!!!

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  52. love your review. <3 I didn't end up loving this book that much, but I did think it was pretty interesting :D

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  53. I haven't yet but I really want to!

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  54. I want to read These Broken Stars because I've heard many good things about it and it's on my TBR list. My friend also suggested it to me. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! :D

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  55. I haven't read it yet. But reading your review about it, it sounds like it's an amazing book. I can't wait to read it. :D

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  56. Just finished reading this last night and I am just stunned - brilliant and wonderful and shocking and I wish I could read it again for the first time!

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  57. Haven't read These Broken Stars yet, but I'm excited to because everyone is raving about it!!! And your review makes it sound even better!!

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  58. I haven't read it, but dammmmmmn I so want to! Ahhh! It looks amazing!

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  59. Thanks for the great review! I haven't read this yet, but I've heard so many good things about it I have to read it : )

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  60. I want this book so bad!!!! GREAT review!!!

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  61. I haven't read this book yet, I want to read it since I have seen lots of great reviews!!

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  62. I have not read it yet but I want to. I have heard so many great things about!

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  63. I haven't read it yet but my book blogger friends told me that it's a book to read! :)

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  64. I have not read it but I have heard a LOT about it from fellow book reviewers.

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  65. Everyone seems to be hyperventilating about this book when I don't find it worth that much Even Marie Lu devoted an entire blog post to this. So I want to read not because IM DYING TO but because I want to know what all this hype is about.

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  66. I'm incredibly excited! This book seems marvellous. :D

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  67. I'm up for some soul destroying YA in my life! It's been too indifferent lately.
    It's been a while since I've read anything that sounds like this!

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