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amym84's review
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
In The Stars Never Rise the country has been decimated by demons. While demons have not been completely annihilated, anyone who managed to survive live in cities behind walls—cities that are controlled in large part by the Church who stepped up during the war and are still stepping up in varying conflicts with demons that continue to pop up. Because the population took such a hit, the well of souls (the soul that a baby receives upon birth) is low. The Church has taken it upon itself to be very regulatory in regards to who can and can’t have children.
Any crime against the Church is punishable to the extreme. Nina Kane works hard to keep the Church’s attention away from her home life. Her mother is a checked-out drug addict and her younger sister is just a little too wild sometimes. When that wildness threatens their carefully kept family, Nina needs to decide how far her faith in the Church extends. Along the way, she’ll come to rely on a group whose opposition to the Church calls into question everything Nina’s has ever been taught or believed in.
While I wasn’t champing at the bit to read The Stars Never Rise, when an opportunity arose to review the book, I took it because with everything I’ve read by Rachel Vincent, she’s never let me down, and with Stars I can add one more to that list.
The dystopian aspect immediately called to mind Julie Kagawa’s Blood of Eden series in that I imagine the landscape outside of these walled-in cities to be quite desolate and reaming with Degenerates (human’s that once housed demons and have now turned zombie-like). Whereas Kagawa takes her characters outside of those walls within the first story, Vincent keeps Nina and her new allies inside. The Stars Never Rise really takes its time to develop the world. Within this first book we learn of the essential misconceptions that people have been living under for hundreds of years.
None of these misconceptions are more apparent than through our narrator Nina’s eyes. She’s extremely strong-willed and street smart, yet she’s pretty much taken the Church’s word as gospel (and she’s not the only one). While this book, I suppose, is considered young adult, it really has a dark and very adult side to it that surprised me while reading. Nina doesn’t make apologies or feel shamed for what she has to do to survive, and I couldn’t help but really like and appreciate that in her character.
The obligatory romance also has a refreshing twist. I’m not sure if I’m one hundred percent committed to it as a reader yet, but I liked that Vincent tried something that I’d never encountered before in all my readings. I think it will (and did actually) pose some very interesting conflicts down the line. I think it’s one of those where it can go hokey very easily, but in Rachel Vincent’s hands, I’m confident things will turn out well.
As far as first-book-in-a-series goes, The Stars Never Rise hits the ground running. Don’t be worried about cliffhangers. I think Vincent ends this one on a pretty solid note, while still leaving enough story threads open that now I’m champing at the bit for the next book and what’s to come.
In The Stars Never Rise the country has been decimated by demons. While demons have not been completely annihilated, anyone who managed to survive live in cities behind walls—cities that are controlled in large part by the Church who stepped up during the war and are still stepping up in varying conflicts with demons that continue to pop up. Because the population took such a hit, the well of souls (the soul that a baby receives upon birth) is low. The Church has taken it upon itself to be very regulatory in regards to who can and can’t have children.
Any crime against the Church is punishable to the extreme. Nina Kane works hard to keep the Church’s attention away from her home life. Her mother is a checked-out drug addict and her younger sister is just a little too wild sometimes. When that wildness threatens their carefully kept family, Nina needs to decide how far her faith in the Church extends. Along the way, she’ll come to rely on a group whose opposition to the Church calls into question everything Nina’s has ever been taught or believed in.
While I wasn’t champing at the bit to read The Stars Never Rise, when an opportunity arose to review the book, I took it because with everything I’ve read by Rachel Vincent, she’s never let me down, and with Stars I can add one more to that list.
The dystopian aspect immediately called to mind Julie Kagawa’s Blood of Eden series in that I imagine the landscape outside of these walled-in cities to be quite desolate and reaming with Degenerates (human’s that once housed demons and have now turned zombie-like). Whereas Kagawa takes her characters outside of those walls within the first story, Vincent keeps Nina and her new allies inside. The Stars Never Rise really takes its time to develop the world. Within this first book we learn of the essential misconceptions that people have been living under for hundreds of years.
None of these misconceptions are more apparent than through our narrator Nina’s eyes. She’s extremely strong-willed and street smart, yet she’s pretty much taken the Church’s word as gospel (and she’s not the only one). While this book, I suppose, is considered young adult, it really has a dark and very adult side to it that surprised me while reading. Nina doesn’t make apologies or feel shamed for what she has to do to survive, and I couldn’t help but really like and appreciate that in her character.
The obligatory romance also has a refreshing twist. I’m not sure if I’m one hundred percent committed to it as a reader yet, but I liked that Vincent tried something that I’d never encountered before in all my readings. I think it will (and did actually) pose some very interesting conflicts down the line. I think it’s one of those where it can go hokey very easily, but in Rachel Vincent’s hands, I’m confident things will turn out well.
As far as first-book-in-a-series goes, The Stars Never Rise hits the ground running. Don’t be worried about cliffhangers. I think Vincent ends this one on a pretty solid note, while still leaving enough story threads open that now I’m champing at the bit for the next book and what’s to come.
talya_'s review
3.0
Eh. This book might've gotten four stars if not for the unbearably ridiculous insta-love and odd body-snatching romance.
ameserole's review
3.0
This book was so weird.
Like, really really weird. I didn't hate it though - I just feel like I should warn you about how weird it was.
Warning: There will be spoilers in this review and I wont hide them because I'm super lazy and tired right now. Read at your own risk.
Okay, so like I said earlier.. this book is so fucking weird. So this town is basically ran by demons and no one freaking realizes this until like the end of the book. It's like everyone just accepted that people were dying for stupid ass crimes and moved on with their lives. Like why the hell would people appreciate burning flesh in the middle of town? Crazy people. Possessed people. Not my kind of friends.
Then there's Nina, who was born to be an exorcist but doesn't know about all of this until she finds out that her mom is possessed. Also there are degenerate things that track down kids that are about to be exorcists. Yeah, it gets confusing. Then there's her sister who just happens to be pregnant. Then there's the church that is basically the demon lair.
Besides that there's Finn and his gang. BUT Finn isn't really Finn because he has no body. Nope. NOTHING. He is like a spirit, or whatever, and can jump into bodies that aren't possessed. However, whenever he does jump into someone's body their eyes always turn green - which are apparently his eyes. Then there's his weird gang and I absolutely loved almost all of them. Sorry, Devi was a bitch and I just couldn't stand her. Maybe she will have a better personality in the next book.
Speaking of the next book - maybe it will be less weird and more awesome?!? I don't know. I hope. I'll still read it no matter what though..
Like, really really weird. I didn't hate it though - I just feel like I should warn you about how weird it was.
Warning: There will be spoilers in this review and I wont hide them because I'm super lazy and tired right now. Read at your own risk.
Okay, so like I said earlier.. this book is so fucking weird. So this town is basically ran by demons and no one freaking realizes this until like the end of the book. It's like everyone just accepted that people were dying for stupid ass crimes and moved on with their lives. Like why the hell would people appreciate burning flesh in the middle of town? Crazy people. Possessed people. Not my kind of friends.
Then there's Nina, who was born to be an exorcist but doesn't know about all of this until she finds out that her mom is possessed. Also there are degenerate things that track down kids that are about to be exorcists. Yeah, it gets confusing. Then there's her sister who just happens to be pregnant. Then there's the church that is basically the demon lair.
Besides that there's Finn and his gang. BUT Finn isn't really Finn because he has no body. Nope. NOTHING. He is like a spirit, or whatever, and can jump into bodies that aren't possessed. However, whenever he does jump into someone's body their eyes always turn green - which are apparently his eyes. Then there's his weird gang and I absolutely loved almost all of them. Sorry, Devi was a bitch and I just couldn't stand her. Maybe she will have a better personality in the next book.
Speaking of the next book - maybe it will be less weird and more awesome?!? I don't know. I hope. I'll still read it no matter what though..
erazonasarah's review against another edition
5.0
Rachel Vincent's writing is beautiful and highly descriptive. The world she has created in this novel is complex and different from other books about demons.
I really liked this, though I feel like this series should at least be a trilogy, as there is so much more to be explored than can be told in just a duology.
I really liked this, though I feel like this series should at least be a trilogy, as there is so much more to be explored than can be told in just a duology.
beastreader's review
4.0
I was first introduced to this author with her Shifter series. I own all of the books. I have tried reading other books since that series ended but could not really find my groove with them. This new series does show great promise. I was able to jump into the story and the characters. Nina may not be Faythe but she does show that she can be a strong female while staring danger in the face. Also, the relationship forming between Nina and Finn is nice but again not the love relationship that I grew to love in the shifters' series but who knows, I could change my mind as this series progresses.
What I do like about this series thus far is that it is dark. Evil dark like PG-17. There are mention of sexually, killings, etc. that the younger audience may not be able to handle like the older audience. Also, the storyline was strong and believable with plenty of action to keep it moving along at a fast pace. I am looking forward to continuing this journey with Nina, Finn, and the rest of the gang.
What I do like about this series thus far is that it is dark. Evil dark like PG-17. There are mention of sexually, killings, etc. that the younger audience may not be able to handle like the older audience. Also, the storyline was strong and believable with plenty of action to keep it moving along at a fast pace. I am looking forward to continuing this journey with Nina, Finn, and the rest of the gang.
pnwtinap's review
4.0
Good solid book filled with a fully new universe and with characters that I think I will grow to love. I will read anything that Rachel Vincent writes but in this case I am glad I picked this book up. it includes a new take on demons and possession and a look at exorcists in a book where the way didn't end like they have thought. I can't wait to read the next book.
imys's review
4.0
hmm still dont know how i feel abt this book. nina definitely had her moments,, the romance grew on me, but the most notable was the premise ive never read before--which just made this book really refreshing and new.