A review by vinwriteswords
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
3.5
Claudia Gray's Lost Stars is a little too cliche, some of the characters are frustrating, and the writing style isn't particularly nuanced... But wow. None of those criticisms really matter, because this is the REAL DEAL. I could not put this book down. I stayed up night after night, uncontrollably reading 20% at a time. For an entire week, I was so excited to read this book, to get immersed in the characters' drama and their struggles and their hopes. Lost Stars is thrilling, emotional, and breathlessly enjoyable. The plot rapidly picks up within a few chapters and doesn't slow down until the very last page. I loved this book so much.
One of the coolest parts of the book is how it incorporates details, settings, and events from the Star Wars universe. This is a fantastic companion piece to the films, even adding extra emotional depth to some of the things we see on screen. The way Claudia Gray examines the Empire and the Rebel Alliance through the point of view of normal humans makes Lost Stars feel like a YA predecessor to Andor. Gray uses Star Wars features to give context to the themes, settings, and politics of the book, playing into the excitement of the film references without letting fan service dominate. This book is solidly focused on telling an engrossing story about two friends who grew up together during wartime. It would have been a fantastic book even without the Star Wars elements, but the film references just make it better.
Fast, emotional, twisty, Lost Stars is a great romantic drama set during the Star Wars Original Trilogy. I can't recommend this book enough.
One of the coolest parts of the book is how it incorporates details, settings, and events from the Star Wars universe. This is a fantastic companion piece to the films, even adding extra emotional depth to some of the things we see on screen. The way Claudia Gray examines the Empire and the Rebel Alliance through the point of view of normal humans makes Lost Stars feel like a YA predecessor to Andor. Gray uses Star Wars features to give context to the themes, settings, and politics of the book, playing into the excitement of the film references without letting fan service dominate. This book is solidly focused on telling an engrossing story about two friends who grew up together during wartime. It would have been a fantastic book even without the Star Wars elements, but the film references just make it better.
Fast, emotional, twisty, Lost Stars is a great romantic drama set during the Star Wars Original Trilogy. I can't recommend this book enough.