Review: These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars (Starbound #1)
by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Published December 10th 2013 
by Disney Hyperion

Goodreads Summary:
It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

I'm not a huge sci-fi reader. It takes a lot to keep my attention in a sci-fi novel. It took only the first 5 pages to have me hooked in These Broken Stars (TBS). 

First, I have to say... that cover is GORGEOUS! It admittedly was the reason I decided to purchase this ebook in the first place. And now I HAVE to buy a hardcover version to have on my bookshelf. 

But onto the book itself. The dual POV used was brilliant. I loved knowing exactly what Lilac and Tarver were thinking/feeling. Their character development was very impressive. I felt myself rooting for them to survive together. Having each of them realize that there was more to the appearance they portray daily. 

Having to survive on an abandoned planet without any real resources, they are tested time and time again. Physically, mentally and emotionally. They continuously help each other survive in such miserable conditions. Putting their own pain and injury aside to ensure they make it to their goal. 

The authors did a great job describing every asset of the environment and weather they had to battle through. I felt like I was there watching it happen. 

I couldn't have asked for more from this book. I loved it and it makes me want to pick up the second book in the series SO much sooner. 

Thank you for a beautiful book Amie and Meagan <3

5 (very well deserved) Coffee Cup Stars
Finished 1/2/2015

Book Tour: Excerpt | Ammonite Planets | Gillian Andrews

Ammonite Planets 
By: Gillian Andrews
Young Adult Sci-Fi
Date Published: July 28, 2014


This omnibus edition exclusive to the Kindle bookstore brings you the first three books of the award-winning Ammonite Galaxy series - a thousand pages in one volume! 

Meet Six and Diva for the first time in this special omnibus edition of the first three books in this series, starting with Valhai, which is a Readers Favorite award-winning book and a Parsec Awards finalist. 

Buy it Now: Amazon

"Awesome book! I'd give this 6 stars for writing if I could. I stayed up till 5 am last night because I was that enthralled." Rose - Podiobooks reviewer (about Valhai)  

"It continues to astound me that this author has come up with something so completely original and interesting." Cynikat, Podiobooks reviewer. 

EXCERPT

The two occupants were staring at each other in disbelief.

“You’re a no-name!” said Diva, and took a step back.

“And?” said Six, and took a step forward.

“Don’t come near me!”

“I was only going to offer you my hand!” Six said, plaintively.

“I wouldn’t touch your grubby hand if I were drowning in a sea of Xianthan crocodiles!” snapped Diva.

“Oh, So sorry, your mulchiness. If I could I would instantly remove my presence, but you may have noticed this cabin is for two, and we happen to be locked in.”

“There must be some mistake. Kindly stay on your own side of the cabin!”

“Listen, lady muck,”—the boy had the nerve to say—“if I want orders I shall give them myself, right? You might have lorded it over all and sundry on Coriolis, but that means nothing here, see?”

“How dare you speak to me like that … you … you … nomus!”

The boy laughed in her face. “You are just an apprentice, like me, my lady, and you are going to have to get used to it.”

Diva looked aghast. “Surely they wouldn’t expect me to share a cabin with a no-name? They couldn’t!”

“You haven’t heard me complaining about having to put up with you, now have you?” said the boy. “And you are not exactly my idea of a pleasant traveling companion.”

Diva drew herself up to her full height, a trick which usually served to intimidate.

The boy laughed again. “You remind me of a puffer eel faced with a giant crab! Nothing but air!” He moved his hands in front of him with a fake scared look. “Ooooooh!”

“I,” she said with huge dignity, “am Divina Senate Magmus of Coriolis.”

Six executed a bow. “I,” he said, “guessed you would have some silly sort of name like that. Only have to look at you.”

“My father is chief Elder of Mesteta on Coriolis!”

“Well, he would be, wouldn’t he?”

She stared at him.

“I mean,” he elaborated, “with you dressing like that … he would have to be.”

She frowned. “What is wrong with my garment? It is a Coriolan Ceremonious Robe.”

“Bet you said that with capitals!”

“I don’t understand you, boy!” she said haughtily.

“My name is Six.”

“What kind of a name is that?”

“Well it sure beats yours,” he said. “At least nobody named me ‘Divine’!”

“It’s ‘Divina’,” she told him severely.

“Whatever.”

About The Author:

I am English, although I live in Spain now. I've worked at all sorts of things, but have been writing too, on and off, since I was little. I have always been passionate about cosmology and astrophysics, so it was exciting to be able to bring that aspect into the series.  I recently finished a masters in astronomy and astrophysics.

Valhai is the book I always wanted to write, but I got so involved with the characters myself that I simply had to go on writing about them, which turned a one-off novel into a series. I hope readers will identify with them and enjoy them too. I myself have been practically living in The Ammonite Galaxy for the last five years. It has become so real to me that I can almost touch it!

The books out so far in the series are:

Book One: Valhai
Book Two: Kwaide
Book Three: Xiantha
Book Four: Pictoria
Book Five: The Lost Animas
Book Six: The Namura Stone (published September 2014)
Book Seven:  The Trimorphs (to be published 2015)

Ammonite Planets is the omnibus edition of Books #1-3 and is exclusive to the Kindle store, and Ammonite Stars is the omnibus edition of Books #4-5, also exclusive to the Kindle store.

Google +
www.gillianandrews.com 
www.valhai.com
www.kwaide.com
www.xiantha.com

Legacy Code: REVIEW

Legacy Code

By Autumn Kalquist

Published: July 30th 2014 by Diapason Publishing

ebook, 218 pages

Publisher Description:

The last humans fled a dying Earth 300 years ago, but there was something they couldn't leave behind: the Legacy Code. Every colonist in the fleet carries mangled genes that damage the unborn, and half of all pregnancies must be terminated.

The day Era Corinth is supposed to find out if her baby has the Defect, her ship suffers a hull breach. And it may not have been an accident. As the investigation unfolds, Era begins to question everything she’s been taught about the fleet, their search for a new Earth, and the Defect. But the answers she seeks were never meant to be found...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts: 

From the very first time I read the blurb for Legacy Code I was intrigued. I picked up Defect #1 on Amazon before purchasing this, read it quickly, and KNEW I had to get Autumns first complete novel Legacy Code. Knowing that Defect #1 took place hundreds of years before Legacy Code was fascinating. While starting Legacy Code I immediately recognized a couple of elements that I loved that were similar to a couple of TV shows that I love and currently watch.

Being 'airlocked' after committing a crime or treason is similar to what happens in The 100.

Being part of a 'lottery' to have the opportunity to get pregnant is similar to what
happens in The Lottery.

"I've never been defiant about anything." ||  "I won't go through with the abortion."

I love how Era not only stood up for herself and what she wanted/believed in but for every female on the Paragon. AND she is ONLY 17 ! I loved that Era and Ditran's love was completely genuine. They weren't forcefully paired together (as in some similar books) and showed they loved each other without having to verbally say it. 

I'm not much of a sci-fi reader, but Autumn has grabbed my attention with this (and Defect #1). It is fast-paced and a very easy read.  

4 Stars for the great writing and story but the ending made me MAD! At least she will have me reading Paragon when it comes out to see what happens! 

4 Coffee Cup Stars
Finished September 8, 2014