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jeniecegoellner's review against another edition
3.0
This is a bit of a middle of road book for me.
Pros: Gorgeous world building. Vivid and beautiful description of all elements from the natural setting, exotic creatures, and stark technological tools. Really great characters as well. You truly care for everyone of them and want to know more.
Cons: A bit to much like the movie Avatar for me. The pacing was also a bit to slow and I had a hard time to pay attention at times.
The ending was strong though, so I would probably read the second book when it comes out.
Pros: Gorgeous world building. Vivid and beautiful description of all elements from the natural setting, exotic creatures, and stark technological tools. Really great characters as well. You truly care for everyone of them and want to know more.
Cons: A bit to much like the movie Avatar for me. The pacing was also a bit to slow and I had a hard time to pay attention at times.
The ending was strong though, so I would probably read the second book when it comes out.
alessamonroe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
umbreen's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I felt that the build-up was a bit too dragged out. Most of the first 3/4 of the book seemed to be the Octavia noticing something weird and then waiting for somebody to explain it to her piece by piece. However, I did really enjoy the world the author created. I was intrigued by the science-based community described, and the last ~1/4 book was full of action. The ending the book left off on was very interesting, and I find myself wanting to know what happens next.
mkpatter's review against another edition
4.0
I won't lie, I want an alien love triangle in book two.
reveal's review against another edition
3.0
I dragged myself to finish this book. The prose is just... too languid for what should be a quick, snappy book by it's 60 percent mark. Very interesting content and very interesting politics, though. Would I stick around for book 2.... not anytime soon.
timbooksin's review against another edition
4.0
I love how inspired this book is by other powerhouse writers. Such great themes, an engaging plot, understandable characters, a fascinating world. Only thing I didn't like was the romance (but what can you do?). Looking forward to the next one!
sartzer's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
4.0
spiringempress's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. A Conspiracy of Stars had all the tail-tell details of a really good and well-written young adult sci-fi. Octavia lives on the planet of Faloiv with her parents, who are both brilliant scientists, and she wants to become just like them. However, one day while accompanying her father to the aviary, Octavia witnesses one of the exotic birds being corralled and contained by several scientists and faints. After this, Octavia starts to notice details about the world around her and develops an awareness of the environment that's not shared by her classmates. She can smell scents that don't exist and hear things that others can't. At this point, we start to learn that Octavia's people are not original inhabitants but coexists with the native Faloii, who set restrictions on the N'Terra group. One night, Octavia sees a native man being sequestered by a group of scientists, one of which is her father and begins to sense that not everything is as it appears. Her parents are also drifting apart and her mother starts to interfere in her life.
This book had a really intriguing premise. I really loved the idea of this unknown planet called Faloiv and the indigenous people, who allowed this stranded space crew to live, cultivate and study the native and newly discovered environment, ecosystems and animals. Cole created some highly interesting species and I loved reading/learning about them. However, the novel fails to earn a higher rating because I think the author focused on the wrong elements. Octavia's character is weak overall; the character is situated in a fascinating setting but fails to live up to the hype of Faloiv. She spends the majority of the book conflicted about whether she really wants to be a scientist, talking to Rondo and being suspicious of everyone. With this type of book, I want a heroine, who is determined, curious and a hardcore scientist, who wants to investigate and explore a planet unknown to the reader. I don't really want to read about teenage angsts and a kinda boring romance that fizzles.
And with this in mind, I think the main conflict fails to take hold because Octavia's character is kinda muddled and her actual desires vary. Does she want to a cool scientist or does she want to just make out with Rondo and listen to him play his weird instrument? If Octavia was hellbent on ethical science and not interfering with the natural systems, her fight against the council would have felt more personal. Furthermore and SPOILERS, escaping and entering the Faloii territory would have seemed more like a riveting individualized choice than a mean's to an end or plot facilitation. At the end of the story, we aren't witnessing Octavia fighting for her values as a scientist and going rogue to follow her own credo but instead, we're seeing a confused girl, who's forced to leave and kinda thinks the Faloii are right but mostly because her mom said so. I guess ultimately my point is that I am tired of reading young adult books, where the heroines are internally conflicted, unsure, and more interested in some guy than being strong, confident women, who kick ass and take names. After reading this, I wanted Octavia to be a know it all with a strong belief in the scientific method. I wanted her to be furiously taking down detailed notes when she experiences something strange, to be testing/experimenting on herself and chasing down species and tracking fauna in the woods. I wanted her whole worldview to be turned upside down she realizes that her fellow peers/society aren't actually doing science ethically. And I want her to escape to the Faloii because she is determined to set it right and learn about these individuals in a way that is befitting the name of science.
This book had a really intriguing premise. I really loved the idea of this unknown planet called Faloiv and the indigenous people, who allowed this stranded space crew to live, cultivate and study the native and newly discovered environment, ecosystems and animals. Cole created some highly interesting species and I loved reading/learning about them. However, the novel fails to earn a higher rating because I think the author focused on the wrong elements. Octavia's character is weak overall; the character is situated in a fascinating setting but fails to live up to the hype of Faloiv. She spends the majority of the book conflicted about whether she really wants to be a scientist, talking to Rondo and being suspicious of everyone. With this type of book, I want a heroine, who is determined, curious and a hardcore scientist, who wants to investigate and explore a planet unknown to the reader. I don't really want to read about teenage angsts and a kinda boring romance that fizzles.
And with this in mind, I think the main conflict fails to take hold because Octavia's character is kinda muddled and her actual desires vary. Does she want to a cool scientist or does she want to just make out with Rondo and listen to him play his weird instrument? If Octavia was hellbent on ethical science and not interfering with the natural systems, her fight against the council would have felt more personal. Furthermore and SPOILERS, escaping and entering the Faloii territory would have seemed more like a riveting individualized choice than a mean's to an end or plot facilitation. At the end of the story, we aren't witnessing Octavia fighting for her values as a scientist and going rogue to follow her own credo but instead, we're seeing a confused girl, who's forced to leave and kinda thinks the Faloii are right but mostly because her mom said so. I guess ultimately my point is that I am tired of reading young adult books, where the heroines are internally conflicted, unsure, and more interested in some guy than being strong, confident women, who kick ass and take names. After reading this, I wanted Octavia to be a know it all with a strong belief in the scientific method. I wanted her to be furiously taking down detailed notes when she experiences something strange, to be testing/experimenting on herself and chasing down species and tracking fauna in the woods. I wanted her whole worldview to be turned upside down she realizes that her fellow peers/society aren't actually doing science ethically. And I want her to escape to the Faloii because she is determined to set it right and learn about these individuals in a way that is befitting the name of science.