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A review by thebookishmutant
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody, Joanne Rendell
4.0
Clocking in at almost 600 pages, Sky Without Stars isn't quite for the faint of heart, in that respect. In fact, it's part of the reason why my reading progress lagged a bit last week. But if I'm being honest, it was worth all that, and whatever it cost.
Whether or not you've read Hugo's original work, Sky Without Stars is no doubt a daring and action-packed novel. Brody and Rendell deftly delve into the history and complex societal and political structures in place on Laterre without excessive info-dumping. The writing was incredibly vivid, making you feel as though you were transported to the slums of the Frets or the glimmering palaces of the Second Estate.
Bouncing off of that point, my favorite aspect of Sky Without Stars Granted, other than the fact that there were cyborgs, droids, and interplanetary travel, it wasn't as sci-fi as I would've liked it to be, but hey, I recognize that my standards are astronomically high.
Most of the main cast I thought to be decent. The writing made their strifes understandable, but I didn't truly get attached to any of them, save for Alouette. I suppose I've got a soft spot for her since she's the guardian of a library and has a great appreciation for literature, so no surprises there. And you know how much I despise love triangles, so the one that exists between the main cast took a little bit out of my enjoyment. Not as painful as others I've read, but not quite necessary. I could've lived without it.
Overall, a fascinating and action-packed reimagining of a classic. 3.75 stars for me, rounded up to 4.
Whether or not you've read Hugo's original work, Sky Without Stars is no doubt a daring and action-packed novel. Brody and Rendell deftly delve into the history and complex societal and political structures in place on Laterre without excessive info-dumping. The writing was incredibly vivid, making you feel as though you were transported to the slums of the Frets or the glimmering palaces of the Second Estate.
Bouncing off of that point, my favorite aspect of Sky Without Stars Granted, other than the fact that there were cyborgs, droids, and interplanetary travel, it wasn't as sci-fi as I would've liked it to be, but hey, I recognize that my standards are astronomically high.
Most of the main cast I thought to be decent. The writing made their strifes understandable, but I didn't truly get attached to any of them, save for Alouette. I suppose I've got a soft spot for her since she's the guardian of a library and has a great appreciation for literature, so no surprises there. And you know how much I despise love triangles, so the one that exists between the main cast took a little bit out of my enjoyment. Not as painful as others I've read, but not quite necessary. I could've lived without it.
Overall, a fascinating and action-packed reimagining of a classic. 3.75 stars for me, rounded up to 4.