These Broken Stars

Author(s): Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Series: Starbound # 1

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Released: 11 December 2013

Summary: courtesy goodreads.com 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. 

My: Review: These Broken Stars is, by far, one of my favorite science fiction reads of all time.  And it IS my favorite survivalist story.  There were so many layers to this novel, so much meat on the bones of this story, and so much genuinely great storytelling that I really don’t know where to begin.

Let me begin by saying: all of the love this book already has, all of the anticipation, is totally and completely deserved.  This novel, literally, has something for every reader.

The world building in These Broken Stars is real and believable.  I saw this alien planet, its similarities and its differences of what we view as normal.  There were sections of this book that literally had my heart racing with fear.  The unknown aspect is so perfectly and beautifully and horrifically illustrated and I felt I too had crash landed on an unknown planet with Lilac and Tarver.  It is so effortlessly real.

Lilac and Tarver were both well rounded characters.  Their relationship with one another reminded me of another favorite series (Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky - though Lilac and Tarver’s relationship is one step farther, deeper, darker, and gritter.) This book kept me reading late into the night – and made me want to keep the lights on.  There is so much happening that this will appeal to readers of every genre, both boys and girls.  It is transcendent throughout ages.  I think everyone from a grandmother to a teenager is going to find something in this book that they can relate to, whether it’s Lilac’s initial need to retain a standard set by society, or Tarver’s unwillingness to fail – this is one of the most relatable and best books I have ever read; unexpectedly so.

I don’t generally like to spoil a novel in a review, but I will say this: the ending of this novel is unexpected, heart wrenching, and incredibly great writing.  I am excited to see where Kaufman and Spooner take us next because they have both created a world that I cannot wait to return to. I also cannot wait until this book hits shelves so I can recommend it to every one that I meet.  It will definitely be one that I gift for Christmases or Birthdays or those that just need a heavy dose of awesome, because that's exactly what this book is.  A heavy does of freaking awesome.