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A review by zoemig
A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole
4.0
I started reading A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole back in September, and I was really enjoying it, but I have an e-book copy and it's just a long book to read (432 pages) to read at the computer, so when I finally stopped being lazy and put it on my e-reader, I was happy to start over and devour it while in Cuba. I don't read a ton of science fiction, but throw botany into the mix and you have my attention, which is exactly what happened with this novel about Octavia, who is growing up as first generation on another planet, one with a lot of rules and a fragile peace between humans and the indigenous people of Faloiv. Octavia is really interested in becoming a "whiteout" and studying Faloiv, only to discover that the science and people she loves may be hiding some dark secrets.
A Conspiracy of Stars has a very slow start with a lot of world-building and development, especially if you are used to reading mystery-thrillers like me rather than sci-fi. Probably, there was a bit too much description but it does pay off once Cole gets into the story (and also, I'm sure, for later books in the series). The more I read of the story, the more intrigued I was, and I loved all the original creations and creatures that inhabited Faloiv. I also thought Cole did an excellent job showing the relationships between the characters including some strong friendships. I didn't really find the twists surprising, but the ending was still really dramatic and intense. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and I'll definitely be picking up book 2, An Anatomy of Beasts, when it releases in April 2019.
A Conspiracy of Stars has a very slow start with a lot of world-building and development, especially if you are used to reading mystery-thrillers like me rather than sci-fi. Probably, there was a bit too much description but it does pay off once Cole gets into the story (and also, I'm sure, for later books in the series). The more I read of the story, the more intrigued I was, and I loved all the original creations and creatures that inhabited Faloiv. I also thought Cole did an excellent job showing the relationships between the characters including some strong friendships. I didn't really find the twists surprising, but the ending was still really dramatic and intense. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and I'll definitely be picking up book 2, An Anatomy of Beasts, when it releases in April 2019.