Amie Kaufman is the co-author of the These Broken Stars, the first in the Starbound trilogy, and writes science fiction and fantasy for teens. Amie had the good fortune to be raised just one block from her local library, and took full advantage of that fact growing up. She and her sister spent their childhood summers re-creating their favourite books by camping in the back yard, mapping their neighbourhood, climbing trees, stepping through magical doors and sailing the local seas. Raised in Australia and Ireland, she has kissed the Blarney stone six times, thoroughly cementing her gift of the gab.
Meagan Spooner grew up reading and writing every spare moment of the day, while dreaming about life as an archaeologist, a marine biologist, an astronaut. She graduated from Hamilton College in New York with a degree in playwriting, and has spent several years since then living in Australia. She’s traveled with her family all over the world to places like Egypt, South Africa, the Arctic, Greece, Antarctica, and the Galapagos, and there’s a bit of every trip in every story she writes.
Jaime’s Thoughts
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars!
I think I’ve been putting off writing this review because I’m not really sure how to tell you all about it. Lame, I know. Especially given how much I really enjoyed it. First of all… if you’re looking for an amazingly written Sci-fi series to get into this is it. Now don’t let the word series scare you away – these are companion books and the story that you get in this first book is complete. I’m incredibly happy that we’ll get more of Kaufman and Spooner and this world they have created. The trilogy catch phrase has me intrigued though I must say.
Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.
How lovely yet ominous does that sound!
In These Broken Stars, Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen couldn’t be more different. He is a war hero who comes from nothing and she’s the daughter of the richest man in the universe, constantly surrounded by bodyguards and expected to maintain a certain kind of appearance. When Icarus, the luxury spaceliner they are on crashes they are forced to rely on each other traveling over the strange deserted land in order to find help. Along the way they realize some things about each other and a tentative friendship forms … and then eventually more. But strange things are happening on this strange planet, and when they find out the truth behind them neither will be the same.
How cryptic am I? LOL Okay, so now you know that this isn’t just some space love story. There is definitely a bit of a mystery and some suspense and I think the best part about it is that I never once figured it out. Oh… I had suspicions, but none of them were correct. Which leads me to the first reason you need to pick this book up… its originality is off the charts. I haven’t read something like this in… ever probably.
Alternating points of view absolutely help with the pacing of this story and while there is definitely an initial attraction to each other, this is not a case of insta-love. From the first interactions where they argue and clash with each other to the gradual friendship and then eventually more, it’s a lovely progression in their relationship.
”I never realized how nice it was when you just called me Lilac.”
“Lilac?” I smooth down her hair again as she settles closer. I don’t want her to move. “I’d never be so familiar, Miss LaRoux. It would be highly inappropriate. I know my place, and apparently it’s swearing up a storm at you, hallucinating wildly. My mother would be so proud.”
And this is where I have to say, I can’t really tell you much more without fear of revealing certain key points in the story.
So, let’s talk about the characters. Lilac is strong and sensible and while she’s had a privileged life, she’s had to deal with her own losses, things that weigh upon her and ultimately have only made her stronger.
Tarver has a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
That’s all I ever hear. That all you got? Try harder. Be richer. Be smarter. Learn which damn cutlery to use. Speak like us. Think like us.
Screw that all the way to hell.
He comes across as a bit stoic and unemotional… determined not to get involved with Lilac even when he has to. But their situation forces a relationship and as they learn more about each other, they learn that they aren’t exactly who they might appear to be on the outside.
Sometimes Sci-Fi can be hard to read, but Kaufman and Spooner make this story so easy to follow and get completely immersed in that I found it hard to put down. The bits of the interview with Tarver at the start of each chapter really allows for a bit more depth into the aftermath of the story and despite being told by two different authors the story flows well and it was impossible for me to tell one writer from another.
If you’re looking for a gorgeously told story, with elements of intrigue and suspense… love and romance … and unpredictable twists and turns you’re definitely going to want to pick this one up.
Plus… what an amazing cover. I’m so happy I picked this one up at BEA and I can’t recommend it enough.
Thank you to Disney-Hyperion for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
All quotes are taken from an ARC and may be different in the published copy.
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