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sjmorelos's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
sara11_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This was better than I was expecting. I liked the different points of view of the main characters. I liked that this was set in the Star Wars universe but was about new characters. The writing was a bit clunky at the beginning but got better towards the end.
ddaypunk's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this one. Loved how it parallels the main Skywalker trilogy and shows the view from the Empire at that time.
serenyty's review against another edition
5.0
It's a good feeling when you get to the end of the book and never want it to end, but it makes me hope that Claudia Gray revisits these characters. Lost Stars takes place over the course of the original Star Wars films, focusing on two characters, Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree, and their relationship as they attend the Imperial Academy and then their paths diverge. Lost Stars is easily what I'd recommend to anyone wanting a great Star Wars read - it puts the scenes of the original trilogy into a new context, adding a level of depth and gravitas, but also puts forward two phenomenal protagonists in Thane and Ciena. The morality of Lost Stars is complex, focusing on if it's possible to be a good person working within a fascist dictatorship, if it's possible to work to change things on the inside, and what it's like to form a relationship with someone with a very different ideology. It doesn't defend or justify the Empire at all (something I worry that Star Wars media does), but it takes a look at individuals who got caught up in it in a really interesting way. Thane and Ciena are two well-realized characters that I just want more from, and their relationship is a beautiful, bittersweet thing. Wholely recommend this for Star Wars fans who want a book to read.
mstiemy's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
caranneis's review against another edition
2.0
Based on the reviews I had high hopes for this novel. The end results were far from favorable.
I'll give the author credit for taking a swing and creating new characters & trying to place them in the major events of the Original Trilogy; but everything from the poor writing, lack of character development, a virtually non-existence of action, makes this a strike out.
The book revolves around two main protagonists: Ciena Ree & Thane Kyrell. These two are from the same planet but different sides of the tracks. Gray uses the familiar trope of these two forming a friendship while they were young, continuing that friendship through their time at the Imperial Academy & eventually they fall in love. Their exploits take place in & around the major events of the Empire/Rebellion war in the Original Star Wars trilogy. Like many reviewers I too felt these
were shoe-horned in. The events as they unfolded didn't seem natural. While this was a YA novel I found the characters one dimensional from beginning to end. War is serious. It fundamentally changes you. Yet, for our two main characters there was little change and no intellectual & emotional growth.
The plot was set within the Star Wars universe; but it didn't feel like Star Wars; particularly having the energy, spark & fun that the original trilogy possessed. There were sex scenes. They weren't graphic; but don't belong in a novel that middle schoolers would be reading. Besides, sex scenes seemed very awkward and out of place. I agree with many others---it felt like Twilight--immature relationship that never grows beyond the hormonal stage despite the author trying to make you think it did. There should be a warning in the description making readers and particularly parents or librarians that would be buying/recommending this book. Also, the idea that Ciena & Thane would stay together despite the enormous chasm in the difference of their political ideologies doesn't ring authentically.
I thought since this was early on in the Disney era of SW that the male belittlement syndrome the company likes to show wouldn't be present here; but I was wrong again. One example is where it says, "Thane rolled his eyes" (at the mention of Luke Skywalker). He didn't think Luke was much; but he'd trust Princess Leia. Skywalker is the hero of the Rebellion and a powerful Jedi Knight; but the female character is the better, smarter, quicker, more trustworthy, etc, etc one. Sorry Gray & Disney, tearing down male characters isn't the way to make your female characters intelligent & strong.
I know this is a YA novel; but the writing is very Sophomoric and Gray does not tell an engaging story. The ending was supposed to be a "What if?" type of conclusion; but it was an unsatisfactory ending that doesn't close the deal. It wasn't a quick read, I really had to slog through it & thought it would never end. I think I'm done with the new canon entries for Star Wars under the Disney umbrella. The movies were a fail, the Kenobi series a fail, and so far the books I've read are incredible disappointments. Pass on this unless you want a lot of teenage angst with zero plot & character development
I'll give the author credit for taking a swing and creating new characters & trying to place them in the major events of the Original Trilogy; but everything from the poor writing, lack of character development, a virtually non-existence of action, makes this a strike out.
The book revolves around two main protagonists: Ciena Ree & Thane Kyrell. These two are from the same planet but different sides of the tracks. Gray uses the familiar trope of these two forming a friendship while they were young, continuing that friendship through their time at the Imperial Academy & eventually they fall in love. Their exploits take place in & around the major events of the Empire/Rebellion war in the Original Star Wars trilogy. Like many reviewers I too felt these
were shoe-horned in. The events as they unfolded didn't seem natural. While this was a YA novel I found the characters one dimensional from beginning to end. War is serious. It fundamentally changes you. Yet, for our two main characters there was little change and no intellectual & emotional growth.
The plot was set within the Star Wars universe; but it didn't feel like Star Wars; particularly having the energy, spark & fun that the original trilogy possessed. There were sex scenes. They weren't graphic; but don't belong in a novel that middle schoolers would be reading. Besides, sex scenes seemed very awkward and out of place. I agree with many others---it felt like Twilight--immature relationship that never grows beyond the hormonal stage despite the author trying to make you think it did. There should be a warning in the description making readers and particularly parents or librarians that would be buying/recommending this book. Also, the idea that Ciena & Thane would stay together despite the enormous chasm in the difference of their political ideologies doesn't ring authentically.
I thought since this was early on in the Disney era of SW that the male belittlement syndrome the company likes to show wouldn't be present here; but I was wrong again. One example is where it says, "Thane rolled his eyes" (at the mention of Luke Skywalker). He didn't think Luke was much; but he'd trust Princess Leia. Skywalker is the hero of the Rebellion and a powerful Jedi Knight; but the female character is the better, smarter, quicker, more trustworthy, etc, etc one. Sorry Gray & Disney, tearing down male characters isn't the way to make your female characters intelligent & strong.
I know this is a YA novel; but the writing is very Sophomoric and Gray does not tell an engaging story. The ending was supposed to be a "What if?" type of conclusion; but it was an unsatisfactory ending that doesn't close the deal. It wasn't a quick read, I really had to slog through it & thought it would never end. I think I'm done with the new canon entries for Star Wars under the Disney umbrella. The movies were a fail, the Kenobi series a fail, and so far the books I've read are incredible disappointments. Pass on this unless you want a lot of teenage angst with zero plot & character development
amisompra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shes__allison's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
mayapl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25