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theewhoread's review
The book was just so simple, with overused tropes, the characters weren't lovable. And it was paced soooo slowly.
blackringbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mollywetta's review against another edition
3.0
This one was okay. Not for me, but I'm sure it will find its readers. Full review here.
pugluver11's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book wasn't bad, but it could've been really good if the pacing was better. It took a really long time for anything significant to happen in the plot, which was towards the second half. However, once the action came, it was a solid book.
The world building was unique. I don't know a lot about Jewish culture, so this felt like a breath of fresh air. I wish we could've learned more about how the Asherah came to be, but that may be explored more in the next book. One thing I was confused about was how there can be a meadow on a spaceship. I couldn't quite picture it.
The writing was well done. The way she describes characters' grief and pain makes you feel it too.
If this book stayed consistent with its pacing, it could've easily been a four star book.
The world building was unique. I don't know a lot about Jewish culture, so this felt like a breath of fresh air. I wish we could've learned more about how the Asherah came to be, but that may be explored more in the next book. One thing I was confused about was how there can be a meadow on a spaceship. I couldn't quite picture it.
The writing was well done. The way she describes characters' grief and pain makes you feel it too.
If this book stayed consistent with its pacing, it could've easily been a four star book.
twowheelsaway's review
5.0
JEWS IN SPAAAAAAAAAAAACE
This is a slightly strange book, but a really cool one. It asks some cool questions about what life might be like on a ship travelling to another planet, like:
How would privilege from Earth maintain itself?
What might a Jewish secular society look like, in this setting and in general?
How could a society sustain itself over 500 years in a ship?
What does resistance look like in a setting where some people have such absolute power?
I didn't like the main character at first, but Terra grew on me. She sometimes sucks a little bit, but this isn't a bad thing. I'm really excited to see there's a sequel to this.
This is a slightly strange book, but a really cool one. It asks some cool questions about what life might be like on a ship travelling to another planet, like:
How would privilege from Earth maintain itself?
What might a Jewish secular society look like, in this setting and in general?
How could a society sustain itself over 500 years in a ship?
What does resistance look like in a setting where some people have such absolute power?
I didn't like the main character at first, but Terra grew on me. She sometimes sucks a little bit, but this isn't a bad thing. I'm really excited to see there's a sequel to this.
ssung's review
4.0
This was pretty good! i was half afraid that it would end in more bloodshed and tears the way the koreans in space game did (Hate). Looking forward to the sequel.
michellesantiago's review
4.0
Despite my complaints about the beginning, I ended up really, really liking this one. Looking forward to book 2.
Full review on to come.
Full Review: (originally posted on 7/22/2013 on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks)
Mind. Blown.
That was my reaction after I finished reading Starglass.**
But when I actually began reading it, I wasn't sure what I got myself into. The main character, Terra, was very blah, had no personality in the beginning and we were thrust into this new world (the space ship Asherah) with very little explanation. I had a lot of questions, like how it came about that the passengers were ruled by a sort of bastardized version of Judaism (it felt like a random choice on the author's part at first), among others. And since I basically know nothing about the Jewish culture and a lot of the Jewish terms were strewn about, I was very confused.
But I plodded through it and I was very glad I did not give up on Starglass. It took more than a quarter of the book for things to happen, for the action to start and for Terra's character to get more interesting but I was rewarded for my patience because Starglass ended up being quite an original, exciting read.
So, basically, Starglass was a dystopian novel set in space. But while the set up was familiar--a girl who yearns for more than what her society dictates for its people may just get her wish when she learns that there's a rebellion brewing beneath its seemingly idyllic surface--by the last fourth of the novel everything was turned on its ear.
I was literally at the edge of my seat by the time I reached the end. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns, especially in the last quarter of the novel. The things I thought I had figured out, I didn't and I loved being surprised like that. Starglass doesn't quite follow the usual YA formula, particularly when it came to the romance part. Some readers might not like that and I myself I was like, what? Is Phoebe North really going to take the story to the realm of Avatar (the movie)? I'm still unconvinced about that unexpected turn in the romance but Phoebe North might just pull it off in the next book. Either way, I'm dying to know what will happen next.
Starglass deserves high props for originality and world building (though you don't really get a full picture of the world until you finish the novel). Unfortunately, I expect some readers may be put off by the slow and confusing beginning or the unconventional turn in the romance. Overall, though, I ended up enjoying it a lot and I'm very eager to read book two.
**I read and reviewed an advance digital galley of Starglass thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers via Edelweiss.
Full review on to come.
Full Review: (originally posted on 7/22/2013 on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks)
Mind. Blown.
That was my reaction after I finished reading Starglass.**
But when I actually began reading it, I wasn't sure what I got myself into. The main character, Terra, was very blah, had no personality in the beginning and we were thrust into this new world (the space ship Asherah) with very little explanation. I had a lot of questions, like how it came about that the passengers were ruled by a sort of bastardized version of Judaism (it felt like a random choice on the author's part at first), among others. And since I basically know nothing about the Jewish culture and a lot of the Jewish terms were strewn about, I was very confused.
But I plodded through it and I was very glad I did not give up on Starglass. It took more than a quarter of the book for things to happen, for the action to start and for Terra's character to get more interesting but I was rewarded for my patience because Starglass ended up being quite an original, exciting read.
So, basically, Starglass was a dystopian novel set in space. But while the set up was familiar--a girl who yearns for more than what her society dictates for its people may just get her wish when she learns that there's a rebellion brewing beneath its seemingly idyllic surface--by the last fourth of the novel everything was turned on its ear.
I was literally at the edge of my seat by the time I reached the end. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns, especially in the last quarter of the novel. The things I thought I had figured out, I didn't and I loved being surprised like that. Starglass doesn't quite follow the usual YA formula, particularly when it came to the romance part. Some readers might not like that and I myself I was like, what? Is Phoebe North really going to take the story to the realm of Avatar (the movie)? I'm still unconvinced about that unexpected turn in the romance but Phoebe North might just pull it off in the next book. Either way, I'm dying to know what will happen next.
Starglass deserves high props for originality and world building (though you don't really get a full picture of the world until you finish the novel). Unfortunately, I expect some readers may be put off by the slow and confusing beginning or the unconventional turn in the romance. Overall, though, I ended up enjoying it a lot and I'm very eager to read book two.
**I read and reviewed an advance digital galley of Starglass thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers via Edelweiss.
andimontgomery's review
2.0
2.5 stars. I'm disappointed that this book didn't grab me liked I had hoped. I really disliked Terra, and the plot moved along painfully slow. Even the ending didn't really excite me.
It's hard not to compare this to "Inside Out" and "Outside In" by Maria Snyder. IMO, those were stronger stories--with more likable characters--of rebellion on a spaceship.
I won't be continuing with this series.
It's hard not to compare this to "Inside Out" and "Outside In" by Maria Snyder. IMO, those were stronger stories--with more likable characters--of rebellion on a spaceship.
I won't be continuing with this series.