Tuesday, 23 February 2016

NO MORE WAITING #6: STARBOUND SERIES

Are you fed up with cliffhangers? Are you not patient enough to wait months for next instalment when reading series? Or do you just prefer to completely lose yourself in story and marathon all the books together? If you answered "yes" to at least one of these questions, this post is for you. NO MORE WAITING is a feature on my blog that spotlights completed series. You can look forward to spoiler-free reviews and graphic arts to accompany it.


Starbound Trilogy

Written by: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Genre: YA Sci-Fi Romance

Purchase: Amazon / B&N



Luxury spaceliner Icarus suddenly plummets from hyperspace into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive – alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a cynical war hero. Both journey across the eerie deserted terrain for help. Everything changes when they uncover the truth.

The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

SERIES RATING AND REVIEW: 


Book 1 - These Broken Stars:
Book 2 - This Shattered World:
Book 3 - Their Fractured Light:

I was in a weird reading place last month, not enjoying books that my friends with similar reading tastes loved. So even though this series is loved by many, it didn't work out that well for me. *pouts sadly* Read more to find why I was unable to enjoy Starbound trilogy.


THESE BROKEN STARS


These Broken Stars is character-driven novel about forbidden love. It goes from insta-connection to animosity to love. It was entertaining to read and it was very easy to like both main characters (dual POV + snarky hero). So even though authors didn't bet on world-building, writing was lovely to read with nice flow to it.

However, story itself wasn't very addictive and I struggled with parts where basically nothing was going on. Do you ask why? These Broken Stars is more like survival kind of story on unknown planet instead of adventurous sci-fi novel that I expected it to be. Still, I accepted the fact and was able to enjoy the book.

Unfortunately twist that took place towards the end of the book lost me completely when it comes to romance and I stopped shipping Lilac & Tarver right at that moment. The thing that happened was creepy and weirded me out big time. I don't deny that it was a creative twist but it didn't work for me and ruined my positive impression of the book that I had had before.


THIS SHATTERED WORLD


As far as star-crossed lovers romance goes, this book is amazing. But (and I can't believe I'm saying it) the romance itself wasn't strong enough to suck me into the story. I wanted more world-building, more politics and more background info about characters. It was all touched lightly while romantic tension took the lead. And in my humble opinion, story suffered because of it. Simply said, This Shattered World lacks the epicness and high-stakes plotline that I would expect from sci-fi novel. All the good stuff happened towards the end of book and if it was not such a good end of book, I would rate this probably even lower.

In This Shattered World authors created ruthless, deadly and stone-faced heroine. I loved that, it was something that is not used very often in YA genre. But giving us her POV from very beginning kind of negated that and ruined her initial reputation. I was hoping that there would be space for big character development when it comes to Jubilee. But all I got was heroine who pretends to be something she is not and zero character development. Imagine if Darth Vader's reputation was just that, a reputation, and he was a big insecure softie from very beginning. Wouldn't that be boring? But I digress.

All in all, this novel taught me that delicious haters-to-lovers romance itself can't make the book for me. Banter itself doesn't make great book for me. Not when I don't love characters or when in detail world-building is missing.


THEIR FRACTURED LIGHT


Gideon, one of narrators of this novel, is my favorite male character of this series. Funny, smart and positive person, he brought a fresh air into the series. However, some of his decisions didn't make sense and went completely against logic or survival instinct. On the top of that, I had big problem distinguishing between individual POVs. Both Sophia's and Gideon's voices sounded the same and I always had to flip pages to the beginning of the chapters to see whose POV I was reading. I hate it when authors ruin dual POV like that.

Moreover, I read this book for two weeks and even though some chapters were okay, others were boring. Simply said, this story wasn't calling to me and I just couldn't force myself to finish it. Storytelling part of this novel failed completely and I had to DNF it 65%.

DOES ANYONE FEEL THE SAME ABOUT THIS TRILOGY?
OR AM I THE ONLY BLACK SHEEP HAVING NEGATIVE OPINION?

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Lucia @Reading Is My Breathing

Lucia is 29 years old passionate reader and reviewer who enjoys talking about all bookish things. Currently she lives in Prague, works in business industry and dreams of starting her own publishing company. Her weakness? She can never say no to cake, coffee or good novel.

Comments (16)

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I'm sorry you didn't like this. I've always been eyeing on this series. There's just so much hype surrounding it and I'm scared to actually touch it. I've never read it and I'm still considering it even after your review, honestly. But it's starting to really loose it grip on me. It sucks that the romance seems to be overwhelming the plot as of the book2.. and the confusing voices at book3? definitely a turn off..
My recent post [REVIEW] Earth & Sky
1 reply · active 475 weeks ago
To be honest, this series reads like teenage romantic soap opera set in space. So if you are in mood for futuristic romance go for it. Many readers love it, maybe you would too. Personally, I expected something more from it though.
I read the first book and liked it (3 stars). I thought it lagged a bit in parts but liked them as a couple. I honestly can't remember the twist now! It's been a while. I didn't continue with the series though. I didn't feel the need to for some reason. Maybe I made the right choice then!! Sorry these weren't better for you!!
My recent post Ten Book I Enjoyed Recently That Weren’t My Typical Genre
1 reply · active 474 weeks ago
First book is the best of whole series so if you weren’t blown away by it, you are definitely not missing out if you don’t continue with series, IMO.
That really sucks that this series wasn't a great one for you. I love the series, but I completely understand where you're coming from. That twist in the 1st book really weirded me out as well. I was very confused by it!
Sorry these weren't for you, Lucia, but lovely reviews!
1 reply · active 474 weeks ago
I really wanted to love this series, Nick! Everyone seems to love it but me :/
I love this feature! I seriously think the best way to read a series is after all the books are out (if you can wait) and then to binge them so I appreciate this so much! I haven't read this series yet but I can definitely see some problems based on your review! Not sure it will be for me because of the problem distinguishing between the POVs but I seriously thank you for the review! ♥
My recent post Review: The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
1 reply · active 474 weeks ago
I have the problem with distinguishing between individual POVs only in last book. First two books were okay in that regard. Still, it was too romance-y and soap opera like for me and I wanted more action and world-building.
And thanks for stopping by Eva. I plan to post regularly this feature so I am glad that you like it so much :)
Yikes. I have this marked in my elibrary to borrow since they have all three books, and I do enjoy series most when I can binge read them. I love character-driven stories and dual POV and snarky heroes, so the first book sounds great for me! Is it different main characters in each book though? Because that makes me less excited :-/ unless I really end up liking some of the side characters who get their own books.
My recent post Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’ve Enjoyed Recently That Weren’t My Typical Genre
1 reply · active 474 weeks ago
Yes, every instalment features different main couple. All characters are connected and make appearance in whole series but every book focuses on different couple. I also prefer if we have the saim main characters (couple) through out the whole series. Maybe it was one of reasons why I could not love this series more.
I'm not totally sure that I want to read this series, even though those covers are soooo gorgeous and I'm like the biggest sucker for pretty covers haha! I'm definitely going to have to have a think about it, but it's always great finding completed series to binge read them! I'm definitely going to do that when the last Raven Cycle book comes out. xD
My recent post Review: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
1 reply · active 474 weeks ago
This series comes highly recommended but it didn't grow on me :( You can still try first book and see yourself since I am clearly in minority with this negative opinion. And I also plan to binge read Raven Cycle in April, hopefully I will love it more than this series...
Awww, *sad face* I adore this trilogy. Well, I liked the middle book considerably less than the first one. I ADORED THE FIRST ONE. The plot twist had me shrieking and clutching the book and crying. Although, I do agree it dragged in the middle there? Actually I think ALL of the books could've done with losing 100-pages or so. XD hehe, I'm tough.
1 reply · active 474 weeks ago
I wanted to fall in love with this series same as everyone else, but alas, it wasn't my fate :(
Oh, sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this series, Lucia. I loved the first two books and really looking forward to the final installment. A friend of mine told me that the audiobook is great, so I plan to go for it. I sorry to hear that both POV sounded similar to you, hopefully I wouldn’t have this problem audio format.

I agree what happened in the first book was creepy, but I still liked that book a lot. I love romance, but I understand your issues with the second book, even good romance is not enough when you don’t like characters and world-building.

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1 reply · active 471 weeks ago
I think that if you enjoyed first two books, you will like the last one as well. I hope it will be up to your liking, Ksenia :)

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