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bookish_emily's review
5.0
Ia Cocha, Blood Wolf of the Skies, is the most feared criminal in the Commonwealth - so no one can believe their eyes when they find out this notorious outlaw is a petite 17-year-old girl. In order to avoid going to the worst prison imaginable, Ia agrees to join the Royal Star Force academy, living and working among her sworn enemies; the people who have been conquering the galaxy and contributed to the destruction of her home planet. Ia's every thought is directed towards escape, but over time doubts begin to encroach as she gets to know Knives, the academy's flight master, and Brinn, a cadet who shares a room with Ia.
Ignite the Stars is a fast-paced YA novel that mixes timely themes such as refugees and terrorism with fun science fiction. Each character is relatable in their own way, and the action pulls you through the story. I look forward to the next installment in the series!
Ignite the Stars is a fast-paced YA novel that mixes timely themes such as refugees and terrorism with fun science fiction. Each character is relatable in their own way, and the action pulls you through the story. I look forward to the next installment in the series!
akazen's review
3.0
This was an enjoyable story, I've been aching to read some sci-fi nevertheless this is certainly more YA SciFi. It reminds me a bit of the Skyward series by Brandon Sando, very different but similar. This is by far not a bad story, I read it within 4ish hours.
I found the world-building a bit disappointing, to be honest. I find a lot of these stories never actually explain the 'world' going on but I really wish they did. For example, we are told about 'known galaxies', 'this side of the universe' or how the ArcLite connects the known galaxies but we don't find out any more about that or the technology than the extremely basic parts; also, I wonder if it is one of the habits of stories to say galaxies as another means of saying solar systems or star groups. Oh yeah, don't forget the teasing with multiverse being mentioned once or twice, I'm not sure whether it is just buzzwords being thrown around, but it really lacks in the SCIFI aspects. I really feel like there should have been other factions (there usually are when there are super large space groups like the Commonwealth/RSF).
I'm still going to read the sequel
I found the world-building a bit disappointing, to be honest. I find a lot of these stories never actually explain the 'world' going on but I really wish they did. For example, we are told about 'known galaxies', 'this side of the universe' or how the ArcLite connects the known galaxies but we don't find out any more about that or the technology than the extremely basic parts; also, I wonder if it is one of the habits of stories to say galaxies as another means of saying solar systems or star groups. Oh yeah, don't forget the teasing with multiverse being mentioned once or twice, I'm not sure whether it is just buzzwords being thrown around, but it really lacks in the SCIFI aspects. I really feel like there should have been other factions (there usually are when there are super large space groups like the Commonwealth/RSF).
I'm still going to read the sequel
scriptrix's review
I totally expected to like this book (YA scifi, what's not to like?) but the plot went in a different direction than I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a space outlaw adventure... but instead it very quickly turns into a space military academy story. Wasn't what I came for, so I'm putting it down. :(
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
4.0
4/5
I loved this book so much! The only reason why I didn’t rank it high for the rating is because it took me a while to read it. This has nothing to do with the book, it was just some personal matters got very hectic. On that note I found it harder to remember what was going on in the plot. From what I can recall it was a very good Sci Fi.
I loved this book so much! The only reason why I didn’t rank it high for the rating is because it took me a while to read it. This has nothing to do with the book, it was just some personal matters got very hectic. On that note I found it harder to remember what was going on in the plot. From what I can recall it was a very good Sci Fi.
ambeesbookishpages's review
4.0
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
So, I never typically read reviews before I read a book. I want to go into review copies as unbiased as possible but I was a little worried. Ignite the Stars has a lot of mixed reviews. Most seem to like it, but some didn't. In my personal opinion I did have a few issues with Ignite the Stars but I still loved it and gave it four stars! Milan started off with some kick ass characters for her debut novel.
Speaking of characters can we take a moment to just admire Ia, (Pronounced Eye - Ah.) I loved how kick ass she was. She starts off as the villain in Ignite the Stars and through out the entirety of the novel we see how much she grows and changes as a character. People she swore to hate and a place she swore to destroy are things she ends up saving ultimately. Brinn never expected to befriend Ia, she is the most dangerous individual in all if the Common Wealth. But pretty soon the two are warming up to each other and developing a bond. Knives is in charge of making sure Ia stays in line, but never did he think that he would feel the way he did for a criminal that his father had spent years hunting. Ignite the Stars is told in three perspectives, giving an interesting insight to the world of Ignite the Stars as well as unique struggles that each character faces through out the novel.
I think that Milan could have built the world of Ignite the Stars up a bit more, you get a pretty clear picture. I would have loved to learn more about how the star systems came to be, how Tawny was destroyed as well as the other foreign planet refugees. I am hoping if there is more books in this world that Milan will expand on it. Regardless it isn't hard to gather a general idea of what is going on in this world. With tensions rising after Ia's capture the Common Wealth is on the break of a civil war over foreign issues.
My big issue with this book and why I took one star of the rating is the pacing is a little fast, as the book jumps around a lot. Though a couple of months pass in the entirety of the book it doesn't feel that way. It just felt a little off in a sense. It was one thing that I had a hard time overcoming.
The romance in this book is totally heart eyes worth. Ia and Knife make the perfect pair and the romance is such a slow burning that it was a sigh of relief when they finally kissed for this first time. I loved to see how they both were trying to over come their attraction for each other, considering the fact that they were suppose to be each others enemy. Brinn sort of has a love interest, it is brushed upon but nothing really happens. I'm hoping if there is another book Brinn does pursue something with this character.
Overall, I really enjoyed Ignite the Stars and loved the idea behind it. I can't wait to see what Milan has in store for these characters next, because after that ending you can only hope/need another book.
So, I never typically read reviews before I read a book. I want to go into review copies as unbiased as possible but I was a little worried. Ignite the Stars has a lot of mixed reviews. Most seem to like it, but some didn't. In my personal opinion I did have a few issues with Ignite the Stars but I still loved it and gave it four stars! Milan started off with some kick ass characters for her debut novel.
Speaking of characters can we take a moment to just admire Ia, (Pronounced Eye - Ah.) I loved how kick ass she was. She starts off as the villain in Ignite the Stars and through out the entirety of the novel we see how much she grows and changes as a character. People she swore to hate and a place she swore to destroy are things she ends up saving ultimately. Brinn never expected to befriend Ia, she is the most dangerous individual in all if the Common Wealth. But pretty soon the two are warming up to each other and developing a bond. Knives is in charge of making sure Ia stays in line, but never did he think that he would feel the way he did for a criminal that his father had spent years hunting. Ignite the Stars is told in three perspectives, giving an interesting insight to the world of Ignite the Stars as well as unique struggles that each character faces through out the novel.
I think that Milan could have built the world of Ignite the Stars up a bit more, you get a pretty clear picture. I would have loved to learn more about how the star systems came to be, how Tawny was destroyed as well as the other foreign planet refugees. I am hoping if there is more books in this world that Milan will expand on it. Regardless it isn't hard to gather a general idea of what is going on in this world. With tensions rising after Ia's capture the Common Wealth is on the break of a civil war over foreign issues.
My big issue with this book and why I took one star of the rating is the pacing is a little fast, as the book jumps around a lot. Though a couple of months pass in the entirety of the book it doesn't feel that way. It just felt a little off in a sense. It was one thing that I had a hard time overcoming.
The romance in this book is totally heart eyes worth. Ia and Knife make the perfect pair and the romance is such a slow burning that it was a sigh of relief when they finally kissed for this first time. I loved to see how they both were trying to over come their attraction for each other, considering the fact that they were suppose to be each others enemy. Brinn sort of has a love interest, it is brushed upon but nothing really happens. I'm hoping if there is another book Brinn does pursue something with this character.
Overall, I really enjoyed Ignite the Stars and loved the idea behind it. I can't wait to see what Milan has in store for these characters next, because after that ending you can only hope/need another book.
karen_hallam's review against another edition
5.0
Year 8922.
Ia Cocha: Sovereign of Dead Space, Rogue of the Fringe Planets, Blood Wolf of the Skies, the most dangerous criminal in Commonwealth history, and she’s seventeen.
Feared by all—except for maybe the refugees she’s saved in several battles across the universe, among them: the Dvvinn, the Juorti, Makolian, and the Tawnies, all refugees of the Commonwealth, and they’re discriminated against.
Student Brinn Tarver discovers the Blood Wolf is a girl just like her. Brinn hides her identity and her blue refugee hair to blend in with the Commonwealth, or risk persecution. Even if her mother doesn’t hide her blue Tawny hair anymore, Brinn isn’t ready to expose her secret. “She might be a Citizen, but that didn’t matter—the prejudice still exited.”
When Ia Cocha is captured by the Commonwealth and sentenced to fight with the Royal Star Force, she becomes Brinn’s roommate. Brinn is outraged, but soon learns they have much in common, even a brother they’d die for.
We meet Knives, the head flight instructor of the Royal Star Force and son of the cruel General Adams. He carries a deep sadness and Ia Cocha is drawn to him.
Ia Cocha makes a deal with the General to set the Tawny refugees free as she fights for the RSF, where she can survey the entire space academy, its uranium core, and send blueprints to her brother while awaiting rescue. But things don’t go as planned, and Ia has to accept the harm she’s brought to others.
Written from three POV’s, this book is fast paced—you’ll rip through the All Black, view the stars and spaceships—and Ia Cocha is a force to be reckoned with, so is Brinn, both fierce women with death-defying skills. Some of the best action scenes I’ve read, and with its outstanding pace and gripping tension, you’ll fly through this book. There are protests, propaganda, and The Sanctuary Act. The plight of the Commonwealth refugees, as they fight for justice, and a home, parallels the struggle refugees face today.
nikipez's review
3.0
3.5
Was expecting to absolutely love this book, but it didn’t really meet my expectations. The plot was relatively unoriginal, the characters didn’t really feel consistent, and the ending felt a bit rushed. What was meant to be the “plot twist” was kinda predictable and felt like an afterthought tbh. Don’t get me wrong, I did love a lot of things (Brinn’s growth, the romance, and Ia’s badass attitude), but it was a bit lacking overall.
Was expecting to absolutely love this book, but it didn’t really meet my expectations. The plot was relatively unoriginal, the characters didn’t really feel consistent, and the ending felt a bit rushed. What was meant to be the “plot twist” was kinda predictable and felt like an afterthought tbh. Don’t get me wrong, I did love a lot of things (Brinn’s growth, the romance, and Ia’s badass attitude), but it was a bit lacking overall.
books4susie's review
5.0
OMG! I don't know what it is about a strong-willed but flawed female main character witt a space setting, but those books are becoming my new fav of mine. Told from three different POV, readers are quickly immersed into the life of Ia Cocha, Brinn Tarver and Knives at a prestigious military academy where the Commonwealth sentences Cocha for her crimes. The generals reasoning is who better to fight are the Commonwealth when it's most notorious criminal is only a 17-year-old girl. Loved where this story took our three heroes on separate but intertwined soul-searching journeys to reach that climactic conclusion.
Not exactly a cliffhanger but I'm super excited to see where these three characters go next.
Not exactly a cliffhanger but I'm super excited to see where these three characters go next.
coffeestove's review against another edition
3.0
Crap. Ok this got good. When I started I expected it to fall into many of the tropes I hate about of YA and YA science fiction especially. It did. Sort of. But then pulled out of them? I ended up getting invested. I’m actually looking forward to the sequel.
jewbitche's review against another edition
4.0
Hm
Good plot, good characters, needed more time to cook, another draft perhaps.
Still good.
Romance was all wrong tho.
"Ia watched her, willing to give away all of her wealth—everything she had collected and plundered—just to erase the awkwardness between them."
There's your romance right there, knives can find someone else.
Good plot, good characters, needed more time to cook, another draft perhaps.
Still good.
Romance was all wrong tho.
"Ia watched her, willing to give away all of her wealth—everything she had collected and plundered—just to erase the awkwardness between them."
There's your romance right there, knives can find someone else.