Author : Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Genre : Sci-Fi
Published Date : December 10th 2013
Publisher : Disney Hyperion
Pages : 374
Source : Bought
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.
Review
From the hype that surrounds it and the cover that is simply too pretty to be ignored, I've heard about These Broken Stars like half a year away before it was even released. By the nickname "Titanic on space" I say I have a pretty high expectation for this book. Because, honestly, I've watched Titanic over and over since I was a child and it somehow still amaze me. But did this book meet that expectation?
Surprisingly, it exceeds it.
"But she's here, she's mine. I'm hers."
—Tarver
From the very first page of the story, this book already started as intriguing, and the more the story proceed, it turned to be addicting. The pacing and the plot structuring was nicely done, keeping us hooked but still managed to built the tension. The way the story was narrated in dual PoV from both Lilac and Tarver also help strengthening this already solid story.
And then after those amazing-ness, there's this world building. And did I say that it's just sooo pretty and beautifully described without being over, and overall so vivid it seems like it was laid out before my eyes?
Lilac LaRoux as our main character was really lovely too. Although she tried to portrayed herself as a bratty, spoiled rich girl, her personality is actually way more deeper and complex than that.
She's actually strong, independent, and the way she narrates her part of the story is actually admirable as well. And I also love how her back story and all support her personality and proved that her attitude doesn't come out from nowhere just because the author feels like it.
"His opinion of me is already a lost cause—years later, when he looks back at this escapade, I’d rather he think bitch, than weakling."
—Lilac
See why I adore her so so much? I mean, many girl in many condition would be happy to be damsel in distress just to save their image or something. And yet here's our Lilac with her attitude, who prefers to be a bitch any time.
And the way she bluntly stood up or playing it sly, she could totally nailed it all while still being such a badass. And honestly, if I could add her into my book crush, I will, because she's just so freaking amazing.
Tarver, as Lilac counterpart, also complements her nicely. I love their funny banter. I love te way Tarver saw Lilac on his mind, thinkin sarcastically over her all the time. I love how his opinion slowly changed in a very believable way. And not like any other character who;s usually overshadowed by such a strong character like Lilac, Tarver managed to shine with his own light.
And when the two of them are combined? Well, here's me :
And those little snippet of Tarver interviews in between chapters are really fun to read too. It gives us hope that they'll survive, and the way it merges with the story in the end is also seamless as well.
And then there's their romance, and it's just asdfghjkl amazing. I just totally love love the fact that this two people like literally needs each other to stay alive, and that they didn't meet and fall in love just because they have to.
And I also totally adore the fact that Lilac also played a huge part on keeping them both alive, not just Tarver and always Tarver do all the work. It's like they fitted each other just perfect, and it's just soo beautiful.
One thing that I also noticed was how after every struggle and impossibility that seems to drive the story to a dead end, I found myself dying a little inside hoping that they could find a way, rather that being annoyed—which I usually do a lot when it comes to endless cycle of problem. And that's kinda proves just how much of a chemistry Lilac and Tarver have, no?
Overall, I think couldn't name a single flaw of this book. I might be biased, but for me this is a bundle of amazingness wrapped with an impossibly real world-building and romance that will left you wanting more and more of it. So who will I recommend this book to? My aswer is : Everyone.
If you're an avid sci-fi lovers, or honestly, if you're a reader, try this one because it's just amazing.
Cheers, x
NK
