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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
I really, really enjoyed this book. Was it perfect? No. Was I a huge fan of the way things wrapped up? No. Were there a couple plot points brought up early on and never mentioned again? Yes. But I just had such a good time regardless. I mean. Slow burn hate to love in space. What's not to like?!
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
it took me longer to finish this book than i thought but it felt like so much was going on while at the same time, nothing was happening ? i wish there was more development for leo and elliot as individuals and as well as being romantically involved. if there were flashbacks to their time together i think that would've added a lot to the story but we never really got that...
i really like the setting of the story. i've never read anything like it per say so that was fun to read. i mean overall it was somewhat of a good story but it just felt a little all over the place at times.
i really like the setting of the story. i've never read anything like it per say so that was fun to read. i mean overall it was somewhat of a good story but it just felt a little all over the place at times.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
ughhhh the concept.. like space royalty i can’t. i couldn’t put the book down. i really liked it and it just got me out of my reading slump
A feel good 3.5 star romance set in space. Not a traditional beach read but gives off the same vibes!
Loved
Even better than book 1. Alexa is a master craftsmen and I cannot wait to read what she has in store for us next.
Even better than book 1. Alexa is a master craftsmen and I cannot wait to read what she has in store for us next.
I wanted to absolutely adore this story, but I just liked it. Alternating perspectives would have helped this story because I needed a break from the main character. She made the same mistake multiple times and was very stubborn. Everything would have been fine if she just weren't so stubborn. That said, I thought the plot was great, and I loved the dynamics between the characters. I was drawn into this story, and I would read a sequel if Donne wrote one. I'm pretty sure it's a standalone, and it works as that. However, I thought the characters and world were so interesting that I'd gladly jump back in the world.
3 1/2 stars rounding to 4. I enjoyed this book about the first 75%, was looking forward to interesting developments but then felt it rather rushed through to a nice tidy resolution to the end, especially the epilogue. So, I liked it, but...
RATING: 3/5 STARS
I enjoyed Alexa Donne's previous book, Brightly Burning, which was a retelling of Jane Eyre. Similarly, The Stars We Steal launches Jane Austen's Persuasion into space. I enjoyed the overall storyline and felt it was unique while still integrating critical elements of the source work. The worldbuilding was creative with its descriptions of the ship's futuristic amenities. I loved a particular scene were the main characters, Leo and Elliot, were outside the ship on a spacewalk.
However, I think the dialogue could have been more interesting, especially between Leo and Elliot. I didn't feel a true spark between them. Both characters were hot and cold towards each other, which made it difficult to follow their motivations at times. Despite this, I was definitely rooting for them and was satisfied with the ending.
I recommend this if you're a fan of retellings with a touch of sci-fi! (I also appreciated the sexual orientation inclusivity of this one).
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram
I enjoyed Alexa Donne's previous book, Brightly Burning, which was a retelling of Jane Eyre. Similarly, The Stars We Steal launches Jane Austen's Persuasion into space. I enjoyed the overall storyline and felt it was unique while still integrating critical elements of the source work. The worldbuilding was creative with its descriptions of the ship's futuristic amenities. I loved a particular scene were the main characters, Leo and Elliot, were outside the ship on a spacewalk.
However, I think the dialogue could have been more interesting, especially between Leo and Elliot. I didn't feel a true spark between them. Both characters were hot and cold towards each other, which made it difficult to follow their motivations at times. Despite this, I was definitely rooting for them and was satisfied with the ending.
I recommend this if you're a fan of retellings with a touch of sci-fi! (I also appreciated the sexual orientation inclusivity of this one).
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram
In 'The Stars We Steal' we follow Princess Leonie 'Leo' as she enters the Valg Season, where she's trying to find love to save her family from finically failing, whilst also not giving up on her first love and her own idea that could save her family. Doesn't this sound like a good YA Book?
I liked this book. I did. I love the idea of the fading royals, and it being set in space but I just needed a bit more from this book.
'The Stars We Steal' was very predictable. You knew what was going to happen as soon as the book started. I feel like it tried to have a few plot twists to keep it interesting, but for me they didn't really work. They weren't surprising and I can't even say they added anything to the story.
I have to say that none of the characters particularly stood out for me. I didn't feel any attachment to them. The love story between Leo and Elliot was predictable, which isn't always a bad thing when it comes to a romance if it feels passionate and true. For me, this one didn't. It felt contrived and I didn't even feel a connection between the two.
As I said before, I loved the idea of the fading royals and it being set in space, but neither aspect was really mentioned in detail. I would've loved to have known more. It such an original idea, that somehow ended up lacking originality. The ending also felt a bit rushed, it just suddenly reached a conclusion without much depth. In fact, this whole book needed more depth. Everything from the setting, characters, love story needed to be more fleshed out.
There were some positives to this book, I liked its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. And it was a quick read, it didn't take me very long at all.
You know, I don't think this story was for me. But I'm sure lots of you will love this book.
Thank you to Titan Books for gifting me with a copy of this book in return for an honest, unbiased review. It's out February 4th.