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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Princess Leonie Kolburg (Please, call her Leo; and most definitely not a royal title) is in desperate need of funds in order to keep her ship, the Sofi, running. It's been generations since the people of earth fled to space as the earth froze over, and supplies and funds are running low as populations and ship repairs grow. Leo enters the season, known as the Valg, halfheartedly looking for a rich husband and wholeheartedly trying to sell her water filtration system to other ships. The last thing Leo expects is to be reminded of her first love--and first heartbreak--when Elliot Wentworth comes to rent her ship.
Worst of all, Leo is still in love with Elliot. But does he feel the same?
A 'stellar' sophomore novel by Donne--who dazzled readers with her 2018 debut, a "Jane Eyre" retelling titled "Brightly Burning"--"The Stars We Steal" blends Jane Austen with a glittering high-tech sci-fi world. With a fantastic cast of characters, brilliantly witty dialogue, and a page-turning will-they-or-won't-they? dynamic between Leo and Elliot, "The Stars We Steal" is sure to leave readers spell-bound and eager for more.
Princess Leonie Kolburg (Please, call her Leo; and most definitely not a royal title) is in desperate need of funds in order to keep her ship, the Sofi, running. It's been generations since the people of earth fled to space as the earth froze over, and supplies and funds are running low as populations and ship repairs grow. Leo enters the season, known as the Valg, halfheartedly looking for a rich husband and wholeheartedly trying to sell her water filtration system to other ships. The last thing Leo expects is to be reminded of her first love--and first heartbreak--when Elliot Wentworth comes to rent her ship.
Worst of all, Leo is still in love with Elliot. But does he feel the same?
A 'stellar' sophomore novel by Donne--who dazzled readers with her 2018 debut, a "Jane Eyre" retelling titled "Brightly Burning"--"The Stars We Steal" blends Jane Austen with a glittering high-tech sci-fi world. With a fantastic cast of characters, brilliantly witty dialogue, and a page-turning will-they-or-won't-they? dynamic between Leo and Elliot, "The Stars We Steal" is sure to leave readers spell-bound and eager for more.
I loved Alexa Donne's first book Brightly Burning, which was a retelling of Jane Eyre set in space, and I was excited for her latest book, The Stars We Steal. This one is a loose retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion crossed with The Bachelor, set in the same world as the first book.
In the future, humanity has left Earth behind and now orbits the planet in a fleet of spaceships. Princess Leonie (Leo) Kolburg is from a former royal family, but they've fallen on hard times. Although they have their own ship, it's in disrepair and they're docked on a larger ship where her aunt is the captain. Although Leo tries to keep their expenses down, her father and sister have no concept of money. Leo is a sensible young woman who has invented a new system of water filtration, but she doesn't have the funds to patent the invention or promote it to other ships. The lack of fortune leaves her with only one option, to marry a wealthy man. Under pressure from her father, she agrees to participate in the Valg Season, which is basically a combination of an old-fashioned debutante season and The Bachelor. While she and her sister are participating in the season, Leo arranges to rent out her family's ship so they can make some extra money. But then the tenants show up with a guest, Elliot, who was briefly engaged to Leo three years before. Her family pushed her to break things off, and former servant Elliot has come back as a very successful young man.
I liked this book, but didn't love it. Persuasion is one of my favorite books, so perhaps my expectations were too high. I really liked Leo. She's a great character. She's smart and resourceful and a lot like Anne Elliot in the original book. I didn't enjoy Elliot as much. He's basically a jerk for the first half of the book, and he flirts with Leo's sister and cousin, which is not cool. He gets a bit better as the book goes on, but he didn't grow on me.
There's a subplot about the massive economic inequality in the spaceship system, but it isn't very well developed. I thought this story had the potential to be very interesting, especially given the class divide between Leo, who's from a royal family, and Elliot, who was once a servant for her family. And there's a movement to make ships justify their existence by being useful to the community in some way (the larger ship that Leo and her family are docked on is basically a pleasure vehicle). But we never get a real sense of how the other half lives. The spaceship setting is cool, but I didn't feel like it added that much to the story. It felt like the story could have been set anywhere.
If you're looking for The Bachelor in space, this may be the book for you. But as a Persuasion retelling or a science-fiction novel, it's less successful.
I received an ARC from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
In the future, humanity has left Earth behind and now orbits the planet in a fleet of spaceships. Princess Leonie (Leo) Kolburg is from a former royal family, but they've fallen on hard times. Although they have their own ship, it's in disrepair and they're docked on a larger ship where her aunt is the captain. Although Leo tries to keep their expenses down, her father and sister have no concept of money. Leo is a sensible young woman who has invented a new system of water filtration, but she doesn't have the funds to patent the invention or promote it to other ships. The lack of fortune leaves her with only one option, to marry a wealthy man. Under pressure from her father, she agrees to participate in the Valg Season, which is basically a combination of an old-fashioned debutante season and The Bachelor. While she and her sister are participating in the season, Leo arranges to rent out her family's ship so they can make some extra money. But then the tenants show up with a guest, Elliot, who was briefly engaged to Leo three years before. Her family pushed her to break things off, and former servant Elliot has come back as a very successful young man.
I liked this book, but didn't love it. Persuasion is one of my favorite books, so perhaps my expectations were too high. I really liked Leo. She's a great character. She's smart and resourceful and a lot like Anne Elliot in the original book. I didn't enjoy Elliot as much. He's basically a jerk for the first half of the book, and he flirts with Leo's sister and cousin, which is not cool. He gets a bit better as the book goes on, but he didn't grow on me.
There's a subplot about the massive economic inequality in the spaceship system, but it isn't very well developed. I thought this story had the potential to be very interesting, especially given the class divide between Leo, who's from a royal family, and Elliot, who was once a servant for her family. And there's a movement to make ships justify their existence by being useful to the community in some way (the larger ship that Leo and her family are docked on is basically a pleasure vehicle). But we never get a real sense of how the other half lives. The spaceship setting is cool, but I didn't feel like it added that much to the story. It felt like the story could have been set anywhere.
If you're looking for The Bachelor in space, this may be the book for you. But as a Persuasion retelling or a science-fiction novel, it's less successful.
I received an ARC from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
So, I rate this book more 3.5 stars, than just 3.
It was a fun, fast paced read for me. One of those books where it’s hard to put down once I start.
I’m personally not a fan of Persuasion by Jane Austen, and so I may be a bit biased as to how much I like this book since it made me think of that story a lot! I really liked Leo, she seems like someone I would relate too, however, she did irritate me.at times, especially when it came to Elliott, and it just kind of would make me mad
It was a fun, fast paced read for me. One of those books where it’s hard to put down once I start.
I’m personally not a fan of Persuasion by Jane Austen, and so I may be a bit biased as to how much I like this book since it made me think of that story a lot! I really liked Leo, she seems like someone I would relate too, however, she did irritate me.at times, especially when it came to Elliott, and it just kind of would make me mad
3.5
Almost 4 but the beginning was super hard for me to get through, but I absolutely loved the rest of the book! I adored the plot, just wish there was more of a wrap up at the end!! Beautiful retelling of a classic in a fun way! Definitely worth the read!
Almost 4 but the beginning was super hard for me to get through, but I absolutely loved the rest of the book! I adored the plot, just wish there was more of a wrap up at the end!! Beautiful retelling of a classic in a fun way! Definitely worth the read!
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3,7 stars actually.
My expectations were (too) high after the incredible debut that was Brightly Burning.
While the writing was again engaging and fluent, the whole plot was very superficial with lots of teen 'drama'.
I didn't know the concept of the book was based loosely on The Bachelor, but thought it was a really fun idea. Unfortunately the potential was not used. I didn't feel any sparks with any of the couples and our MC chose to whine after her first love instead of meeting new people.
The boy she chose in the end is still a big question mark to me. There was a moment in the book where he behaved so atrociously and said terrible things to her and I for one would not have forgiven that.
The ending was rather rushed as well.
It was still a fun and entertaining read, hence the four stars, but just be aware going into this that you are not really in for a space adventure, but for teen drama and love.
My expectations were (too) high after the incredible debut that was Brightly Burning.
While the writing was again engaging and fluent, the whole plot was very superficial with lots of teen 'drama'.
I didn't know the concept of the book was based loosely on The Bachelor, but thought it was a really fun idea. Unfortunately the potential was not used. I didn't feel any sparks with any of the couples and our MC chose to whine after her first love instead of meeting new people.
The boy she chose in the end is still a big question mark to me. There was a moment in the book where he behaved so atrociously and said terrible things to her and I for one would not have forgiven that.
The ending was rather rushed as well.
It was still a fun and entertaining read, hence the four stars, but just be aware going into this that you are not really in for a space adventure, but for teen drama and love.
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
Ahh, I am so happy (like beyond happy) that I finally dove into The Stars We Steal. It was such a fun audiobook to listen to and it didn't hurt that it was also a retelling either. From the first moment that we met, I fell in love with Leonie (aka Leo) and Elliot. Heck, I knew that they were meant to be together from the moment they reunited.
Man, I love LOVE. Besides the romance and necessary drama, I enjoyed the twists and turns in this one as well. Not completely shocked about who was the bad guy in this one but at the same, I was. It just never occurs to me that close loved ones will somehow always betray you. Maybe like a best friend or something.. but not blood.
So, yeah, that was bittersweet but I did enjoy the ending! It gave me all the happy feels and now I'm super excited for my next retelling book! Or maybe another book by Alexa? #SignMeUp!
Ahh, I am so happy (like beyond happy) that I finally dove into The Stars We Steal. It was such a fun audiobook to listen to and it didn't hurt that it was also a retelling either. From the first moment that we met, I fell in love with Leonie (aka Leo) and Elliot. Heck, I knew that they were meant to be together from the moment they reunited.
Man, I love LOVE. Besides the romance and necessary drama, I enjoyed the twists and turns in this one as well. Not completely shocked about who was the bad guy in this one but at the same, I was. It just never occurs to me that close loved ones will somehow always betray you. Maybe like a best friend or something.. but not blood.
So, yeah, that was bittersweet but I did enjoy the ending! It gave me all the happy feels and now I'm super excited for my next retelling book! Or maybe another book by Alexa? #SignMeUp!
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I absolutely loved this read. The second book from Donne and I loved the first, I loved the references to the first one even more. As a Science Fiction this was thrilling to explore the world and how it influenced and developed the characters. One of the biggest things I loved was that this was a retelling of Persuasion but there was so much excitement and action in the mystery subplot running alone side. Then the ending was amazing. I got more excited the longer I read this. Great Read!