ARC Review: These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
32November 11, 2013 by Alice in Readerland
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.
The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.
Special thanks to Disney Hyperion for providing me with an ARC of this title. These Broken Stars will arrive in stores December 10th, 2013.
Oh, this book. Where do I begin with this book? If you follow my blog and Twitter, you’ll know that I loved it enough to paint my nails to match it…
…and I have been gushing over the These Broken Stars cover ever since it was revealed. Well, I’m pleased to say (again. Say again, actually, because I just can’t stop saying it.) that I found the story inside to be just as stunning as it’s cover.
So, how do I love it? Let me count the ways:
The Gorgeous Imagery
Oh. My. Goodness. This book was beautifully written, and the language was magical and dreamlike. The wonders of floating through space were intricately and fantastically described, and the terrifying, danger-filled scenes were pumped full of adrenaline and action. This is one of the top books out of any that I’ve ever read that really sucked me into it’s universe and made me feel like I was in the story.
The Mystery and Suspense
Ever since I was very young, my favorite books had always been mystery books. I was an avid fan of Nancy Drew (I still am), and when I turned ten, I dived into the book world of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. After hanging out with that crowd, I never could find a book that quite lived up the suspense and mystery I loved so much. Until I found These Broken Stars. Yes, it’s SciFi, but it has this brilliant mystery on an empty (or IS it empty?) and creepy planet. The eerie location and the tense, drawn out suspense had me on the edge of my seat. Why is Lilac hearing voices and seeing things? Is she going crazy? Or is someone-or something-trying to communicate with her? And these other strange appearances…is someone trying to lead them somewhere, or are they just hallucinations? The suspense gets even stronger towards the end of the book.
Oh, and speaking of the last few chapters, that brings me to:
The Plot Twists
Get it? Plot twist?
I don’t want to say much so I don’t spoil the book, but there is one that I did not see coming. At all.
It. Will. Shock. You.
No, really. You might not want to read this book out in public, since you’ll probably be gaping like fish.
The sequel in this Starbound trilogy, This Shattered World, doesn’t even have a release date yet, but you can bet that it’s already one of my top anticipated reads of 2014!
Alice in Readerland 
I’ve heard that so many people have loved this book and am definitely putting it on my radar! What a wonderful review and I have to agree, that cover is gorgeous!
Glad that you enjoyed this book and totally looking forward to reading it myself.
Thanks for sharing with us Alice!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it too! :)
This looks so good! I’m not usually a sci-fi reader, but the mystery element has me interested. Hopefully I can read it before 2013 ends! :)
I hope you like it if you read it! :)
I didn’t give this one much thought because it was Sci-fi and I am not a fan, but you review makes me a bit curious now. Great review.
Before this year, I wasn’t a huge Sci-fi fan, so I was surprised to see that so many of my favorites this year ended up being sci-fi! :)
So glad you liked this one! I have an ARC of it as well, but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. I’ve heard so many good things tho! I will have to pick it up soon!
Hope you love it too!!!
Oh yay!!!! This one is next for me and I can’t WAIT to get to it! The cover… oh the cover is so gush-worthy. I think that’s one of the main reasons I’m excited to read it! :)
Yay! I hope you love it! :) I just love the cover for it….it makes me excited to see what cover they’ll have for the sequel.
I was already looking forward to reading These Broken Stars, but after reading your review, I am absolutely, utterly desperate to get my hands on a copy of it. Until I can get myself a copy, I’ll just have to drool over the beautiful cover…
I heard that, in the hardback, the quote/blurb pages in front are going to be the blue galaxy/star print like in the background of the cover! I really want to see that. :)
This sounds so good! I love mystery,suspense and magical writing so I am definitely going to pick this one up when it comes out! And I’ll make sure to read the ending in private so people won’t see me break down in shock. LOL Great review!
Thank you, I hope you love it too!!! :)
This sounds awesome!
It is! :) I hope you enjoy it if you read it!
I love books with such writing-styles <3 and plot twists are the best!
I hope you love it if you read it! :D
Ahhh the plot twists! The creepy! Just so much love for the sci-fi elements on this one *hops around* Now I need to get a finished copy to pet, hehe
I was thinking the same thing, especially since I saw a photo that showed that the blurb pages were blue galaxy print. :)
I was thinking the same thing, especially since I saw a photo that showed that the blurb pages in the front of the book were printed on blue galaxy print paper!
Love the nails! :D The cover is gorgeous. I got a copy of the Aussie edition yesterday – which is the same just with slightly different font.
I’m twenty pages in and liking how it’s going. I have a feeling it’s going to be less like Titanic in Space as I go on. Thanks for not spoiling any of the plot! :D
Thank you! :D I hope you enjoy it!!!
[…] cannot rave about These Broken Stars enough (my review). It’s one of my favorite books of this year, I painted my nails after the cover, and I […]
This book is on my Christmas wish list, and I am raving about it. Thank you for making me anticipating it even more! :)
:D
Okay, now that I’ve written my review for this, I can FINALLY read yours (I told myself I wouldn’t because I don’t want to plagiarize or whatnot…a precaution since I’ve had such a hard time with reviewing this one!) I agree with you all the way here! Everything was marvelous and done beautifully. A+ for the plot twist gif ;)
Ha, I had quite a bit of fun with the plot twist gif. ;)
I saw this at the library where I work the other day, and I’ve been dying to read it ever since. I’ll definitely have to check it out now!!
I hope you love it!!! :D
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