Scan barcode
A review by alyson7
Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne
3.0
What if there was a retelling of Jane Eyre... but it took place years into the future... in space?
Two hundred years ago, the last of humanity left earth in large spaceships hoping that one day, the ice-encased earth will thaw and will be habitable once more. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Stella Ainsley longs to leave her ship and unrequited crush behind. After posting her name everywhere for a governess position, one ship accepts, The Rochester. The Rochester is unlike any ship, and its nineteen-year-old captain Hugo Fairfax is ever an enigma. As Stella draws closer to Hugo, she discovers that he might be hiding secrets from her, secrets that go beyond The Rochester.
So, right off the bat, it must be said that any retelling of Jane Eyre will never be as good as the original. To compare a retelling with Jane Eyre is like comparing the Mona Lisa to a pop art caricature. It cannot be compared. So, with that in mind, I proceeded to judge Brightly Burning for what it is, inspired by my favourite classic novel, and a space drama with romance.
Here is what I enjoyed: it's really inventive and creative. Stella leaps off the page and into our imagination. The book reads quickly and has a lot of action. Here is what I didn't like so much... Hugo. He's a drunk who is only nice to Stella. And there was something else about the book that fell a bit flat despite its creativity. Although it read quickly, I kept finding myself putting it down. It didn't have that "wow" factor. I didn't really see why Stella liked Hugo at all.
As a whole, it was a fun book and great concept, but lacked a bit on the execution.
Two hundred years ago, the last of humanity left earth in large spaceships hoping that one day, the ice-encased earth will thaw and will be habitable once more. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Stella Ainsley longs to leave her ship and unrequited crush behind. After posting her name everywhere for a governess position, one ship accepts, The Rochester. The Rochester is unlike any ship, and its nineteen-year-old captain Hugo Fairfax is ever an enigma. As Stella draws closer to Hugo, she discovers that he might be hiding secrets from her, secrets that go beyond The Rochester.
So, right off the bat, it must be said that any retelling of Jane Eyre will never be as good as the original. To compare a retelling with Jane Eyre is like comparing the Mona Lisa to a pop art caricature. It cannot be compared. So, with that in mind, I proceeded to judge Brightly Burning for what it is, inspired by my favourite classic novel, and a space drama with romance.
Here is what I enjoyed: it's really inventive and creative. Stella leaps off the page and into our imagination. The book reads quickly and has a lot of action. Here is what I didn't like so much... Hugo. He's a drunk who is only nice to Stella. And there was something else about the book that fell a bit flat despite its creativity. Although it read quickly, I kept finding myself putting it down. It didn't have that "wow" factor. I didn't really see why Stella liked Hugo at all.
As a whole, it was a fun book and great concept, but lacked a bit on the execution.