moxiemin's review against another edition
4.0
Ok so I started this book before reading the reviews. I read some about, 20 to 30 pages in... and was worried I was going to hate this book. I am happy to report I indeed do not hate this book, and worry that the ones writing the reviews, didn't get it.
This is a YA retelling of Les Misérables. I don't know if any of the folx have read the original but let me fill you in as someone who has read it in English and in French... It gets boring! Victor Hugo, was long winded as heck, but it is still a great book. It has inspired so many great things, and this book being one of them.
I really enjoyed getting to know these versions of the characters, set in a different solar system, and a different time. They still have the charm, and sparkle that they did in the original. Did I enjoy the over use of the words stupeed? No, but it isn't a reason to hate on the whole book.
So if you are into YA, and like Les Mis (I am looking at you, theater kids) it is a good read.
This is a YA retelling of Les Misérables. I don't know if any of the folx have read the original but let me fill you in as someone who has read it in English and in French... It gets boring! Victor Hugo, was long winded as heck, but it is still a great book. It has inspired so many great things, and this book being one of them.
I really enjoyed getting to know these versions of the characters, set in a different solar system, and a different time. They still have the charm, and sparkle that they did in the original. Did I enjoy the over use of the words stupeed? No, but it isn't a reason to hate on the whole book.
So if you are into YA, and like Les Mis (I am looking at you, theater kids) it is a good read.
samzilla's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.0
livvthepig's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
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? Yes
4.5
My thoughts on this book are almost all positive! Great characters, great story, great setting. I had so much fun reading it, especially after a book I didn’t really enjoy (sorry Flamecaster). It reminds me greatly of one of my favorite series, The Lunar Chronicles, specifically Cinder, but not so much that it’s uncanny.
My small gripe with the book is that sometimes it feels like things are happening very quickly. This was solidified for me when it’s mentioned that it all takes places within a week. Like huh??? And at times many of the plot points feel very predictable, like how there is literally always betrayal involved and things always go wrong, along with other things.
This is not enough for me to take too many points away from the book though. I still very much enjoyed it and am excited to read the sequels !
My small gripe with the book is that sometimes it feels like things are happening very quickly. This was solidified for me when it’s mentioned that it all takes places within a week. Like huh??? And at times many of the plot points feel very predictable, like how there is literally always betrayal involved and things always go wrong, along with other things.
This is not enough for me to take too many points away from the book though. I still very much enjoyed it and am excited to read the sequels !
linaria's review against another edition
3.0
Based on the premise, I thought that I would love this book. Unfortunately, this was a case of a 300-page book dying to escape from this 600-page beast. I don't mind a long book, but wow, the action is sparse and the world-building is large. This might not have been too bad if it hadn't been long monologues about families and territories for pages at a time. I don't remember enough of Les Mes to comment on the 'retelling' portion of the book, but taken at its own value, Sky Without Stars didn't quite grip me. I will allow that part of this may have come from the audiobook, as one of the voice actors pronunciation of the French portions of the audiobook were just, very bad.
sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
I received this as an eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
In this desperate crumbling futuristic society, Chatine steals and cons to stay alive and keep herself from the brothels. Chatine steals from the wrong person and blackmailed into spying on the commander's grandson, Marcellus, who has his own past connections with bloody rebels. Marcellus loves his country and would never join those terrible rebels, until Marcellus's father turns up dead and leaves him a coded message. Marcellus begins digging into his past, as it seems that the rebels are coming out of hiding and launching attacks against the royal family.
Aloutte, lives outside of society in a hidden convent. It is there that she and her father live off the grid and help the sisters protect the library and the last printed books.
These three stories will come together in a bloody journey to freedom.
This novel was a struggle to get through. It took time to get into the rhythm of the story and for it to begin moving. The muddled love triangle made it hard to root for anyone. I didn't realize when I was reading it that it was a Les Mis. retell, but it is.
In this desperate crumbling futuristic society, Chatine steals and cons to stay alive and keep herself from the brothels. Chatine steals from the wrong person and blackmailed into spying on the commander's grandson, Marcellus, who has his own past connections with bloody rebels. Marcellus loves his country and would never join those terrible rebels, until Marcellus's father turns up dead and leaves him a coded message. Marcellus begins digging into his past, as it seems that the rebels are coming out of hiding and launching attacks against the royal family.
Aloutte, lives outside of society in a hidden convent. It is there that she and her father live off the grid and help the sisters protect the library and the last printed books.
These three stories will come together in a bloody journey to freedom.
This novel was a struggle to get through. It took time to get into the rhythm of the story and for it to begin moving. The muddled love triangle made it hard to root for anyone. I didn't realize when I was reading it that it was a Les Mis. retell, but it is.
authorbaileyday's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jbayer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
janinereader's review against another edition
5.0
GREAT book with an ending that seriously made me mad it was over! That, and the cover art is beautiful. Umm.. can I get a #2???
storiedadventures's review against another edition
2.0
Review also on my blog, Storied Adventures
Story/Plot: The premise of the story and plot were A . I mean, a retelling of Les Miserables?! I LOVE that play (I know it's based off of the book, I've just never read it.)! Plus it's a retelling in space! That's right up my alley! And that's about all I liked of the book.
Writing: I did like the writing. It wasn't anything fancy or my favorite writing ever, but it was good. It was easy to follow along and I never got lost in the story.
Characters: Here we go. Here's the big one. I literally didn't like anyone. Chantine was the only one that I liked SOMETIMES. Marcellou and Allouette were SO BORING! I didn't care if they lived or died. Marcellou was all over the place. One minute he wanted to follow his Grandfather, the next he hated him. Even at the end of the book, I was like where are we at here, Marcellou? I also just saw him as a weak character and didn't understand his charm. Allouette was just kind of a wuss most of the time. I guess she picked up at the end but she was so boring to read about. Chantine whined a lot but she had reason to. She literally had no one. And she was poor and starving. She has a really tough life. Hers was the only story line I was mildly interested in. She was feisty and she did literally whatever she had to to survive. My suggestion to her, forget about Marcellou. You don't need him. Although, if you know the Les Miserables story, she's supposed to be Eponine, so it doesn't really end well for her anyway. I could have done without the romance in this story, and usually I'm all about those ships!
FInal Thoughts: A 2 star rating for me means I finished the book but it was hard to get through. I won't be picking up the second in the series. I will say that this might be someone's cup of tea, just not mine.
Story/Plot: The premise of the story and plot were A . I mean, a retelling of Les Miserables?! I LOVE that play (I know it's based off of the book, I've just never read it.)! Plus it's a retelling in space! That's right up my alley! And that's about all I liked of the book.
Writing: I did like the writing. It wasn't anything fancy or my favorite writing ever, but it was good. It was easy to follow along and I never got lost in the story.
Characters: Here we go. Here's the big one. I literally didn't like anyone. Chantine was the only one that I liked SOMETIMES. Marcellou and Allouette were SO BORING! I didn't care if they lived or died. Marcellou was all over the place. One minute he wanted to follow his Grandfather, the next he hated him. Even at the end of the book, I was like where are we at here, Marcellou? I also just saw him as a weak character and didn't understand his charm. Allouette was just kind of a wuss most of the time. I guess she picked up at the end but she was so boring to read about. Chantine whined a lot but she had reason to. She literally had no one. And she was poor and starving. She has a really tough life. Hers was the only story line I was mildly interested in. She was feisty and she did literally whatever she had to to survive. My suggestion to her, forget about Marcellou. You don't need him. Although, if you know the Les Miserables story, she's supposed to be Eponine, so it doesn't really end well for her anyway. I could have done without the romance in this story, and usually I'm all about those ships!
FInal Thoughts: A 2 star rating for me means I finished the book but it was hard to get through. I won't be picking up the second in the series. I will say that this might be someone's cup of tea, just not mine.