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margaret's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 2.5 stars
“Everyone on board this ship is a bit like a solitary planet. We orbit the same sun, but on lonely tracks.”
This retelling of Jane Eyre is set somewhere in a future in which the Earth has become uninhabitable and humanity orbits around it on space stations waiting until they can return to the planet. Stella Ainsley is our “Jane” character, a young woman hired as a governess aboard a ship called the Rochester, which contains its fair share of secrets.
Starting out, I found myself having fun with this. Yes, the writing wasn’t spectacular, the worldbuilding didn’t totally make sense, and the beginning dragged, but it was entertaining and I was curious to see how things played out. Unfortunately, the further I went, the more I realized that this retelling…doesn’t really work.
I’ll admit that I was kept engaged throughout the entire book and was never truly bored, but ultimately, this felt in many ways more like a draft than a completed novel. Parts of it simply felt sloppily done. Plus, there were changes made from the original story that didn’t make sense to me. I never know whether my hesitance to changes comes simply from attachment to the original story – however, in this case, I think it’s plain that those changes weren’t right. Major issues felt skated over and plot points that didn’t make sense were added in an attempt to transfer an old story into a futuristic setting. I don’t want to spoil anything, but that ending was…A Mess.
This is probably all coming off as very negative, even though I did actually have fun reading this, in a weird way. There was a lot of potential with this idea, and done right it could have been great. Unfortunately, done right is not how I would describe this book.
Content warnings: alcohol abuse, plague
“Everyone on board this ship is a bit like a solitary planet. We orbit the same sun, but on lonely tracks.”
This retelling of Jane Eyre is set somewhere in a future in which the Earth has become uninhabitable and humanity orbits around it on space stations waiting until they can return to the planet. Stella Ainsley is our “Jane” character, a young woman hired as a governess aboard a ship called the Rochester, which contains its fair share of secrets.
Starting out, I found myself having fun with this. Yes, the writing wasn’t spectacular, the worldbuilding didn’t totally make sense, and the beginning dragged, but it was entertaining and I was curious to see how things played out. Unfortunately, the further I went, the more I realized that this retelling…doesn’t really work.
I’ll admit that I was kept engaged throughout the entire book and was never truly bored, but ultimately, this felt in many ways more like a draft than a completed novel. Parts of it simply felt sloppily done. Plus, there were changes made from the original story that didn’t make sense to me. I never know whether my hesitance to changes comes simply from attachment to the original story – however, in this case, I think it’s plain that those changes weren’t right. Major issues felt skated over and plot points that didn’t make sense were added in an attempt to transfer an old story into a futuristic setting. I don’t want to spoil anything, but that ending was…A Mess.
This is probably all coming off as very negative, even though I did actually have fun reading this, in a weird way. There was a lot of potential with this idea, and done right it could have been great. Unfortunately, done right is not how I would describe this book.
Content warnings: alcohol abuse, plague
cindeereads's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book it was so well written I like all aspects of it I will most definitely read more by this author when there is more. I really liked the characters especially Stella and Hugo I really loved their romance it was so well developed. I really liked the plot of the story it was kind of like those old governess type books I used to read by with scifi and much better writing. I liked how the story moved at a pretty good pace I was never bored I was hooked from the very start. So overall I loved this book and will read more books by this author when their are more.
literarilyjess's review against another edition
5.0
This was really fun!
RTC closer to publication. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
RTC closer to publication. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
danavanabooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jennifermreads's review against another edition
3.0
Received advanced reader copy from publisher via Baker & Taylor book supplier
An enjoyable retelling of the classic Jane Eyre uniquely set in space. I waited too long to write my review – and the book didn’t stick with me enough to give details, gush, or pan. An even three stars because I remember liking it and thinking it was clever. But, again, it just didn’t have a lasting impact.
An enjoyable retelling of the classic Jane Eyre uniquely set in space. I waited too long to write my review – and the book didn’t stick with me enough to give details, gush, or pan. An even three stars because I remember liking it and thinking it was clever. But, again, it just didn’t have a lasting impact.
kellye93's review against another edition
1.0
I was very interested in this book from a sampler chapter and by far be half way mark was planning on giving the book 2 stars. However, the ending felt so rushed and was not well planned I had to reduce my rating.
Let’s start out by saying the author had a good idea and story line, but the book could have used more edits. I found terms used that weren’t explained until a couple chapters later. I struggled through the writing style a little.
My main problem was the love interest. I felt more chemistry with one of the side characters. Since the love interest was the main story line... my rating was low. The love interest felt forced and rushed. I did not get the build up of a relationship or even the insta love feel. It felt more forced and dictatorship which led me to despise it more. I get the Jane Erye reference .. I just think it was trying to hard to fit into the plot that the novel itself suffered.
Let’s start out by saying the author had a good idea and story line, but the book could have used more edits. I found terms used that weren’t explained until a couple chapters later. I struggled through the writing style a little.
My main problem was the love interest. I felt more chemistry with one of the side characters. Since the love interest was the main story line... my rating was low. The love interest felt forced and rushed. I did not get the build up of a relationship or even the insta love feel. It felt more forced and dictatorship which led me to despise it more. I get the Jane Erye reference .. I just think it was trying to hard to fit into the plot that the novel itself suffered.
ekearle's review against another edition
5.0
My first read of 2019 is done, and I'm so delighted to say it didn't disappointed. Witty, a little sexy, and full of books, Brightly Burning was not what I expected when I heard 'YA sci-fi', and I'm so glad for it. Though this is a genre I normally ignore and a retelling of a book I never enjoyed, Brightly Burning has ignited a desire to try again after providing such a beautiful and intriguing version.
notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, this was so fun. Jane Eyre, but reimagined, up in space, after the apocalyptic freezing of Earth in another ice age. The characters are different, the plot is futuristic and crazy, but the feeling of the original is still there. Enough so that I want to go back and reread the classic that inspired this retelling, but I also feel like people who don't love Jane will enjoy this novel anyway! It's a quick read, and it's worth putting it on your TBR stack.
josreadingcorner's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75