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heartscontent's review against another edition
4.0
You can find this review on my blog, Heart's Content!
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Starting The Stars We Steal, I was sure I was going to walk straight into an angst filled love story with a dash of sci-fi, mystery and lies. I was both right and wrong. There was a lot more to TSWS than just an angsty love story. The story does revolve around the relationship between the two protagonists (and the consequence of it), however, that was not all.
A large aspect I had to keep in mind while reading, was that Leo was only nineteen years old. Added to that, she was thrust into the role of being responsible for the future of her family--more than once--very early in her life. She had to make choices that, rightfully, she shouldn't have made for those reasons--including now how she's pushed to find a husband to save her family from losing all they have. There were many mixed shades to Leo that seemed to stem from uneven growth in her personality because of circumstance. There were younger sides of her that hadn't been allowed to flourish because she had to take some very adult decisions earlier on and is still doing so. Which means, just like an teenager, she can be a hypocrite without realising it; judgemental too sometimes, but that didn't take away all her efforts in doing the best she can and trying to take care of her family--oftentimes at the cost of herself.
Elliot is definitely a character that grows on you, with the strange past he and Leo share and of course the secrets that you wonder if he's keeping or not. Because if he is, then what is he hiding? If he's not ... why's he here? What does he want? But I have to say, I did like how he quickly understands Leo, learns from his misconceptions and takes steps forward to change his behaviour. At the same time, he does also remain true to who he has been described to be. The secondary characters were rather interesting and their personalities were developed, except for one character who I could never get a proper feel of: Klara. But it's possible that was the intention, given her relationship with her mother and her own prickly, hot-and-cold personality. I would actually love to hear a bit more about her. A personal favourite is Daniel, bless the boy, I'm crushing on him.
All this aside, the plot itself has a lot of relevance to our own lives, be it the larger plot that was afoot and the more minute intricacies that are addressed--like struggle for parental approval, marriage and it's pressures, effort to succeed and of course ... class and how it predetermines your position in the world. I was very surprised by the last fifteen percent of the story because I hadn't predicted anything that would happen there. I was also surprised that it was concluded without feeling rushed despite the short span of space remaining in the book. However, I do feel that there is a high possibility for the book to become a series, though with the same characters or not is yet to be seen.
I do have to comment on the humour! There's humour at surprising spots in the story that's really refreshing and has you grinning in the midst of a really serious moment. I would love to see Alexa write a rom-com. <3
I would recommend The Stars We Steal if you're into some romance, mild angst, mystery, challenges of young adults in very adult situations and some real world problems. Four stars!
Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Starting The Stars We Steal, I was sure I was going to walk straight into an angst filled love story with a dash of sci-fi, mystery and lies. I was both right and wrong. There was a lot more to TSWS than just an angsty love story. The story does revolve around the relationship between the two protagonists (and the consequence of it), however, that was not all.
A large aspect I had to keep in mind while reading, was that Leo was only nineteen years old. Added to that, she was thrust into the role of being responsible for the future of her family--more than once--very early in her life. She had to make choices that, rightfully, she shouldn't have made for those reasons--including now how she's pushed to find a husband to save her family from losing all they have. There were many mixed shades to Leo that seemed to stem from uneven growth in her personality because of circumstance. There were younger sides of her that hadn't been allowed to flourish because she had to take some very adult decisions earlier on and is still doing so. Which means, just like an teenager, she can be a hypocrite without realising it; judgemental too sometimes, but that didn't take away all her efforts in doing the best she can and trying to take care of her family--oftentimes at the cost of herself.
Elliot is definitely a character that grows on you, with the strange past he and Leo share and of course the secrets that you wonder if he's keeping or not. Because if he is, then what is he hiding? If he's not ... why's he here? What does he want? But I have to say, I did like how he quickly understands Leo, learns from his misconceptions and takes steps forward to change his behaviour. At the same time, he does also remain true to who he has been described to be. The secondary characters were rather interesting and their personalities were developed, except for one character who I could never get a proper feel of: Klara. But it's possible that was the intention, given her relationship with her mother and her own prickly, hot-and-cold personality. I would actually love to hear a bit more about her. A personal favourite is Daniel, bless the boy, I'm crushing on him.
All this aside, the plot itself has a lot of relevance to our own lives, be it the larger plot that was afoot and the more minute intricacies that are addressed--like struggle for parental approval, marriage and it's pressures, effort to succeed and of course ... class and how it predetermines your position in the world. I was very surprised by the last fifteen percent of the story because I hadn't predicted anything that would happen there. I was also surprised that it was concluded without feeling rushed despite the short span of space remaining in the book. However, I do feel that there is a high possibility for the book to become a series, though with the same characters or not is yet to be seen.
I do have to comment on the humour! There's humour at surprising spots in the story that's really refreshing and has you grinning in the midst of a really serious moment. I would love to see Alexa write a rom-com. <3
I would recommend The Stars We Steal if you're into some romance, mild angst, mystery, challenges of young adults in very adult situations and some real world problems. Four stars!
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
In a group of spaceships where captains are royalty and various people are conducting politics like they were still on earth. Princess Leonie 'Leo' Kolburg is the heir to a family with very little money left and tonnes of pride. She has ideas but no-one takes her seriously. It's Valg or engagement season on the ships where the titled and wealthy try to pair off their children and Elliot is back, Leo's first love, an he appears determined to avenge her breaking up with him. Can they get over all this and can they help get a better future in the ships.
It's an interesting read with complex character who have a variety of motivations and complex political macinations.
It's an interesting read with complex character who have a variety of motivations and complex political macinations.
janivewe's review against another edition
5.0
I wanna give this a 4.5 because I loved the story but I had some issues with it.
First of all, my favourite Jane Austen book is Persuasion, and this being an ya scifi retelling of persuasion made me put this a the top of my to-read list. It certainly did not disappoint on that aspect.
I read a few of the previous reviews given and a thing that stood out the most was the fact that it is a telling narrative instead of a showing narrative which is absolutely true. I had my suspicions with no way of proving and I usually like to figure out things before the main character.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
You've been warned. Another thing I didn't particularly liked was the resolution. When Elliot told Leo to just go read the letter and I expected the reunion to be a lot more explosive than what it actually was. Dont get me wrong, it was great, but somehow I expected more.
And I wanted to learn more about Elliot's business and about what happened to him through those 3 years they were apart. Wanted to hear it directly from him.
***END OF SPOILERS***
But like I said, I love Persuasion and an YA Scifi retelling of it was exactly the thing I didn't know I needed.
Cheers!
First of all, my favourite Jane Austen book is Persuasion, and this being an ya scifi retelling of persuasion made me put this a the top of my to-read list. It certainly did not disappoint on that aspect.
I read a few of the previous reviews given and a thing that stood out the most was the fact that it is a telling narrative instead of a showing narrative which is absolutely true. I had my suspicions with no way of proving and I usually like to figure out things before the main character.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
You've been warned. Another thing I didn't particularly liked was the resolution. When Elliot told Leo to just go read the letter and I expected the reunion to be a lot more explosive than what it actually was. Dont get me wrong, it was great, but somehow I expected more.
And I wanted to learn more about Elliot's business and about what happened to him through those 3 years they were apart. Wanted to hear it directly from him.
***END OF SPOILERS***
But like I said, I love Persuasion and an YA Scifi retelling of it was exactly the thing I didn't know I needed.
Cheers!
sly99's review against another edition
1.0
Everything is "conveniently" this and that. Having representation does not make a good book. Very disappointing to a point I needed to write a review.
clesh01's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nausicaa_teto's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
smithmd's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
jthespade's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75