I actually liked this finale I think the best of all three books. I think because all the characters were back in this one together for one last final showdown and the whole whispers and rift thing seemed to finally make sense to me.

I listened to the audio version too of this one and the narrator was really good except for the part where they actually whisper the "whispers." It sounded like they used some type of voice over, which was hard to understand unless you turned it up really loud and listen really closely. So I could have done without the voice-overs. It just distracted from an otherwise great narration.

I was very pleased with the ending though. I really liked it a lot. Everything was wrapped up with a nice neat bow just how I like it. I'm a little disappointed now though because I've read everything there is to read of Amie Kaufman's, that is except Gemina which I am not so patiently waiting for. I need that book right now! 

Listening to audiobook....so far this is my favorite book of the series.  The narration is really well done except for when the narrator actually whispers the "whispers." There's some type of voice-over on the whispers so it's really hard to understand what's being said unless you turn it up really loud and listen closely. 

Lilac LaRoux, heiress extraordinaire, and Tarver Merendsen, war hero extraordinaire, run into a bit of a problem when their spaceship decides to stop working and drops them off on an abandoned planet with no other survivors.

With no means to communicate, no information about they planet they've been stranded on, and some creepy things happening on the aforementioned planet, the only hope Lilac and Tarver have lies in each other.

This book tells the complicated tale of their adventures on the planet and struggle to get home, get along with each other, and survive in a harsh, harsh world, and I only have good things to say about it.

First of all, just look at that cover.

Now, you may be thinking (after, of course, you recover your eyesight from being blinded by that cover's pure gorgeousness), is this just a book about a girl floating around in space in a dress? Or maybe you think this book is going to be exactly like the Titanic, but set in space.

While I understand where you're coming from if you're thinking like this, you're completely and totally wrong.

One of the few aspects that are similar to Titanic was the economical situation of the two main characters--Lilac being the daughter of the richest man in the entire universe, and Tarver being someone who wasn't born into a rich sort of world and is only on the ship for his war-hero-ness.

Plus the whole crashing the ship thing, but these are the only two big things that remind of me Titanic. The rest is a story of its own, and a very wonderful story at that.

The writing was completely fantastic, along with the characters. At first, if you're like me, you'll probably not be the biggest fan of Lilac, but as the book progressed I came to adore them both and adore the book as a whole. I'm not going to say anything else, because I think this is a book where you should just go in not knowing too much about beside the fact that it's an amazing sci-fi, like nothing else you've ever read.

Seriously, go and pick this up. I think you'll like it.

Max

This review and many others were originally posted on our blog, Crazy for YA.

So I'm hoping this will be a little less convoluted than "Tin Star" as far as space themed/sci-fi/fantasy stories come across.  I'm surprised that I was able to jump into this one tonight. "Tin Star" was a much quicker read through despite it completely stumping me.  Not so much for lack of understanding, but attempting to understand why any of the story was presented the way it was.

I'm nervous about this because my friends have reacted to this one on a wide range scale, but I'm hoping the experience is good for me.  Let's do this.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not alter my thoughts in any way.

These Broken Stars may just be one of those books that are hard to describe and review about. I’m not even sure if I could write a decent introductory paragraph, but let’s just put it this way: when I was young, I loved playing Role Playing Games (RPGs) on the Playstation. Final Fantasy, Tales of, Suikoden… you name it. However, there was this one game series that I loved above all: Star Ocean. Sure, it has that hack and slash, leveling up, fighting monsters, and other mumbo jumbo from other similar games, but what made it different was its premise. All Star Ocean games have this thing in common: it’s about humans who suddenly find themselves in an alien planet (due to warping, technical glitches in their spacecraft, accidents in some machine that blinks you to somewhere else, etc.) and they have to fight for their lives surviving and finding a way to get back home. I loved how it blended science fiction and fantasy into one, giving me a chance to explore new worlds, other civilizations, while also making my imagination run wild of the endless possibilities of space travel. These Broken Stars reminded me of that game, of my fondness for the secrets of the universe, of my curiosity of unknown worlds in deep space… and I loved every minute of it.

There’re a lot to love in this book, but what captivated me the most was the narration/prose. Oh my goodness, it was gorgeous. Absolutely breathtaking. I loved how it gave me chills and that looming feeling of loneliness and bleakness. Like the two main characters, I also felt some sort of distress in being alone in a new, unknown world, where just a few miles away are the hundreds of bodies of people I’ve been hanging out with a few hours ago but are now lifeless corpses. The scene with the huge ship falling from the sky in flames was perfect and melancholic and… I don’t know! It was beautiful in its way, and I *felt* I was there with them as they watched everyone die. During that scene, I felt a lump forming in my throat, and I’m sorry to say, but not many authors are as effective as this. So, bravo!

Also, It’s kind of hard to find a Young Adult science fiction book that is rich in detail (the descriptions of the alien surroundings were beautiful. It wasn’t hard to imagine them at all) while also abundant in character development and build up. It was so fulfilling to be able to connect with Lilac and Tarver as their thoughts and frustrations were efficiently and stunningly sent across from the pages to the reader. Even the dialogue was well done! At the beginning, when they kept on bantering, I couldn’t help but giggle here and there.

Here’s an example:

“Would you like a rest?

“She considers the question, then nods, reaching up to tuck her hair back where it belongs. “Where will I sit?”

Sit? Why, on this comfortable chaise lounge I’ve carried for you in my pocket, Your Highness. So glad you asked.

 

The characters were also really well-rounded. There were a lot of character development that I couldn’t get enough of. At first there was some insta-love (okay, maaaybe insta-attraction) and it made me see some spots of red, but it was after their ship went down in flames did their personalities really take off in flying colours. I didn’t like Lilac in the beginning because she really acted like a spoilt brat, but she eventually grew on me once she started growing some balls. Her past, her journey, her survival – it made me really see how her growth changed her as a person. We may have started in the wrong foot, but we definitely hit it off after a while. And Tarver? Ohh lala! After reading this book, I kept on praying wishing that I meet one like him in real life. Practical, realistic, hard-working, efficient, and last but not the least, handsome… what more could a girl possibly ask for? It was swoon swoon *-* all the way, baby. There weren’t much character development from him, but I really liked how he was a crucial part in Lilac’s. Now if only Disney make Tarver figurines, I’d buy aplenty…

One thing that did throw me off was the paranormal aspect of it, or at least it seemed paranormal at first. Hearing voices in your sleep, seeing ghosts, etc. etc. I thought it seemed out of place in such a futuristic world. It makes kind of sense later on, but that doesn’t change the fact that for a few moments in the book where these events were taking place, it felt absolutely random.

Overall, this is a spectacular book. I especially recommend it to readers who don’t read Science Fiction but would love to try it out. These Broken Stars would transition you well, as it has enough Sci-Fi and Romance and Adventure to go along with it. There are a lot to love and look forward to with this book. I also recommend listening to RADIO GAIA on iTunes (Ambient section) while reading. It totally made me feel like I was walking on an alien planet!

Final Verdict: 4.5 / 5 stars!