So I finished reading this terrific book yesterday and I'm finding it hard to move on to another book so easily. Is it what they call a book hangover?So I finished reading this terrific book yesterday and I'm finding it hard to move on to another book so easily. Is it what they call a book hangover? Maybe. That's my I need to get some of my thoughts down here!
I loved this book! I finished it in less than three days which is fast for me. It's when I spend a week or more on a book that I know something isn't totally working for me. That's been happening this year more than I like, even with good books. And granted, Starflight is a fun and adventurous sci-if journey that is not overly long, so it didn't need all my time and focus - it still had my complete and total attention and I did not want it to end even as I reached the final page.
World building: The world building is awesome. It's a bit more show than tell. What's told is very well explained and easy to understand. No crazy terminology to hit you on the head. Basically, humas have spread out across the galaxy, dividing it into colonized and terraformed planets, tourist spaces, ore mines, prisons, and the fringe, which we learn of as we go through the journey with the characters. Earth is where the main governmental base is, though. I've never seen Firefly (which is the show it's compared to) and I'm not that big a fan of dystopian books, but this one was pretty cool. It had its fair share of dangers and challenges but wasn't all gloom and doom.
Summary: The above being said, life isn't easy for our main girl in the story, Solara. The story starts with her trying to hitch a ride to the fringe of the galaxy; lawless lands (planets) where no one will care about the tattoos on her hands that won't allow her escape from past mistakes. To her luck, the only person who lets her on a ship as his servant is Doran Spaulding, the rich boy whose dad's company is the main fuel supplier in the whole galaxy, and who's resented her since their time in school (for his own stupid reasons). And he only does it to make her life hell. In short, they don't like each other. At all. So things happen (not spoiling but it's his fault), which lead them to jump on a worn-out space ship, named the Banshee, with this ragtag crew of people, each with secrets of their own and reasons to be on the run. So everyone's after them from the law, to pirates, to this terrifying and mysterious group of assassins called the Daeva. You learn "why" as the story unfolds with its twists and turns.
Characters: All the characters are so likable. Solara is an orphan, a strong character who's had to struggle through life but still retains her kindness and compassion. Doran, who starts as a spoiled and arrogant dickhead (but clearly with issues of his own) is hard to like at first. But I dare you not to warm up to him and even love him as he faces temporary amnesia, space pirates, false but major indictments, and of course, "eargasm" inducing mushrooms. You love him as he and Solara start to trust each other. What I'm trying (and failing) to say is that he does not remain a jerk. He definitely changes and evolves throughout the story, and comes through again and again, proving himself a character to really root for. What else can I say except that I loved Doran! I loved all the characters on the ship. There's Kane (the flirt) and Cassie (loud but lovable), who have this obvious bond but are at each other's throats most of the time. There's also the kleptomaniac but sweet first mate, Renny, and of course, the captain Rossi who has taken them all in. It's not always easy to get along and trust each other, but despite that, friendships and family-like bonds are made, which I really enjoyed.
Romance: The romance between Solara and Doran is a slow burn that's so well done and believable that I basically swooned the first time the word "friend" was mentioned between them. It's hate to love at its finest (with some humorous bickering and having to share a room on the ship, of all things), while still being fresh and unique to the characters' development together and apart. I liked them as friends, as a couple, as a team - they really don't disappoint. The romance was no doubt my favorite part of the book.
I definitely recommend this if you're looking for an adventure-filled, fun, uplifting, and romantic book. It's light but it's got a little of everything, and a lot to enjoy.
4.5 stars
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One last thing. (Could be spoilery)
I don't have anything to complain about, except that I read this thinking it had a sequel. It turns out the second book is more of a companion novel that picks up where this one left off, but with the focus being on characters who we knew as supporting characters in this book. That's sounds like fun. But while Starflight does not end on a cliffhanger and the main obstacles are resolved and conquered (I loved how it ended), there's still a little bit of Doran's story I expected to be resolved or even expanded on. It's not a big thing, since I can picture how things could play out based on what was revealed at the end. Still, the second book is a sequel in its own way, so I'm sure we'll get all the answers and more then. Maybe I'm just not prepared for the focus to shift from Doran and Solara. :p...more
How can it end there?! And how long do I have to wait till the sequel?? I'm glad I went into this knowing it was a trilogy, otherwise I wouldn't cope How can it end there?! And how long do I have to wait till the sequel?? I'm glad I went into this knowing it was a trilogy, otherwise I wouldn't cope with that ending. Not really a cliffhanger, but there's clearly still so much more to the story that you want to read about. Which is exciting.
It's advertised as X-Men meets Jane Austen and I was happy to discover that that's mostly true! In all the ways I wanted it to be. It's set in Victorian England and you have your main character, Evelyn Wyndham, who sets off to find her sister, Rose, who she's convinced has been kidnapped. On her search, she discovers strange abilities she and some select people have which are the cause for her sister's disappearance, and she's assisted by two dashing and mysterious gentleman. Something along those lines but a lot more interesting than I know how to summarize.
The point is that this book was so much fun! It broke my heart a little but it was still such a joy to read. It's pretty clear that it's setting up the next books in the series. Both the plot and the characters left me wanting more. I really liked the the characters. The main character, Evelyn, is my favorite kind of heroine. Strong, stubborn and with so much wit that I ended up smiling at a lot of her thoughts. I feel that sort of humor is usually missing in YA Fantasy, especially in the main characters, but maybe I haven't read enough to know really? I loved the banter in this book, especially between Evelyn and Mr. Kent, though the parts with her and Mr. Braddock were my favorite. I've read a few reviews with people worried about the possible love triangle but I found it didn't bother me. Evelyn doesn't go back and forth with her feelings for the two men. She's focused on finding her sister, and there's the revelations about the powers and a terrifying villain to occupy her thoughts. There are hints of a building romance in this book, yes and yay for that, but it's a slow burn, which I really appreciated and enjoyed! More than wondering who she ends up with (it was obvious who she was falling for and I'm happy about it), I thought both male characters were really interesting themselves. Sebastian is introduced as the mysterious and broody one while Mr. Kent's is more charming, sharp-witted with a mostly sunny attitude. Then we learn there's so much more to them. Another major player is Evelyn's former governess Miss Grey, who joins the group in trying to rescue Rose.
Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this one. It's a suspenseful, fun, and fast paced read with likable characters.
Ever since I found out this book existed a few months ago, it became one of my top most anticipated releases for 2016. A Peter Pan retelling with a tw
Ever since I found out this book existed a few months ago, it became one of my top most anticipated releases for 2016. A Peter Pan retelling with a twist on Captain Hook? Seeing as I always lean more towards the morally grey and problematic characters rather than the hero (Guy of Gisbourne from BBC's Robin Hood, Marvel's Loki, Rhysand from ACoT&R, Hook from OUAT), I was crazy excited for this book. So was it everything I expected and more??
While reading, I would have answered: I do not know. I couldn't tell how I was feeling about the book. Now that I finished it, I'll say yes and no.
Summary:
The story is seen through the eyes of our heroine Gwendolyn "Gwen" Allister. At first I thought her name had to mean she was Wendy or a modern 21st century version of her! But then Wendy's name is never mentioned in the novel, and I stopped reading into it. Anyway, so Wendy - err, Gwen (!) moves to London with her mother at the start of the story, and we learn her mother's been dragging her from place to place since she was a child, always running from the 'monsters' she believes are after them. Gwen doesn't share her mother's fear, but she can't (or doesn't) do anything about it. Gwen's best friend Olivia is there to stay for a short while, and it's not long before Gwen gets to learn whether her mother's fears were unfounded or not when dark creatures abduct her and Olivia from their beds at night. From then on they're taken to a strange world where Gwen is separated from her best friend, and where she encounters those 'monsters' but also a young enigmatic pirate and another young man who can fly, who just might be Peter Pan. And of course she's caught in the dangers and secrets of this world which are much bigger than just the Peter Pan vs. Hook conflict we know.
World Building:
This isn't a light or heavenly interpretation of Neverland, it's pretty dark. Like in other retellings, it's a place filled with wonder and magic but it's also dangerous and deceptive. Mostly because it makes a person forget where they come from and who they are. It's a place that requires brutality to survive and some of the things the characters have to do are disturbing. And it's mostly filled with children.
“They may look like children, but in this world, there isn’t room for innocence. In this world, there are few who can even begin to comprehend what the loss of a life means. Most would kill you one day and not remember your existence the next.”
The rules of the human world (right and wrong) don't apply here. Because it's not a place for humans, any way - especially if they're not children anymore. You'll find Neverland being "ruled" by a human but it's a place where Fey, dark and light, exist and inhabit it more fittingly.
One thing I found odd and intriguing at the same time is that the characters are very much aware of the original Peter Pan tale by J.M. Barrie. That, and a few clues and admissions from the characters made me wonder if (in this book's world), Barrie's tale was inspired by these characters or if it was the other way around. I'm not sure there's only one answer. That's one ambiguous part of the world-building.
Honestly, I found the world building a tiny bit lacking (confusing) at some points, in that I needed more information. (view spoiler)[The aging rule isn't explicitly stated. I understand they age but very very slowly (because time moves differently in Neverland), until they become too old to survive and fall apart - unless of course they do that awful thing. If you've read the book - did you see it that way? (hide spoiler)]. Almost everyone in this book is cryptic with their descriptions and answers, so it was kinda hard to put some pieces of this world together.
But everything's clear enough by the end. You see that this version of Neverland has its own set of rules and mythology to it. It's closer to a lot of Faery stories and their dark politics than a magical place where children's dreams come true.
Characters:
--First we have Gwen, a.k.a Not-Really-Wendy. Gwen was not a hard character to like and root for. She's spent her whole life having no say in where she lived, and sadly for her, she doesn't find herself any more in control of her life in Neverland. She yearns to settle and to belong, and that's a dangerous feeling to have when you start to forget your past. She deserves credit though, for being determined enough to hold onto herself and memories of Olivia in order to save them both. But it's a little frustrating how she's constantly being pushed and pulled in different directions, kept in the dark, lied to and manipulated for a good part of the book. Still, she does come in to her own, eventually. She learns to trust herself and she finds someone she can trust, as well.
--Now let's talk about the titular character, our favorite pirate: "Captain Rowan", a.k.a Captain Hook", a.k.a Luke Skywalker. Why is Captain Hook compared to a jedi knight? Only one reason: he doesn't really have a hook in place of his missing hand. Guess what he has instead? Did you say a fully functioning mechanical arm because if you did, you guessed right!
"You’re Hook?” I say, my voice faltering. He gives me a dark and dangerous smile that has something equally dark and dangerous curling in my belly. “The role quite suits me, no?” The mechanism beneath his glove ticks softly as he opens and closes his fist. “Looks more like Luke Skywalker than Hook to me,” I say, a feeble attempt to disarm the moment. “Aye?” he says finally, and the word carries with it more weariness than any single word should be able to. “Will said as much when he learned of it as well. Though I’ve not been able to discern his meaning, exactly,” he tells me, his expression faltering.
Hahaha. Poor Rowan, he missed the release of the Star Wars movies. There's nothing "futuristic" about him at all, though, besides that arm. He's not the mustache twirling Captain Hook we know, nor is he the cocky and swaggering flirt from OUAT. He's a young man - described to look about 19. But he's not like the other children in Neverland (old or young), who have become forgetful and aimless. He knows what he's doing and he chose his role as Captain Hook; as the pirate who's Pan's nemesis. For a while, he's hard to pin down. He's not very forthcoming when we meet him, but he never really tries to manipulate or trick Gwen, and he shows actual care for his crew. And yet he makes hard and brutal choices too - ones that made it hard for Gwen (and me!) to trust him at first. However, keep reading... I won't spoil what happens, but while I didn't know how I felt about him sometimes, this young and tormented pirate will surprise you (maybe even make you swoon) in this story as he does Gwen.
--Of course we can never forget Peter Pan, or rather Pan, a.k.a "Himself", a.k.a "The One Who Calls Himself Pan", or "He Who Must Not Be Named"
Why all the mystery? Why not just call himself "Peter"?
“You said we’re in Neverland!” Saying it out loud only makes it sound more ridiculous. “As in the story? As in Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys and Peter Pan?” The Captain stiffens, and when he responds, his voice has turned cold and dangerous. “He doesn’t usually call himself Peter. Finds it a bit too human for his tastes.”
Yeah, because he is not exactly the Peter Pan we know and love. I actually really like the author's twist to the legend of Peter Pan. The 'boy' is a bit older than we're used to (he and the Captain 'look' to be the same age). Unlike the Captain, he does try to win Gwen's favor, making promises to reunite her with her friend Olivia, and temping her to make a home in Neverland. And she feels an odd and inexplicable pull to him. He's sort of like Neverland in that way. (Minor spoiler) (view spoiler)[He has a connection to it because of powers that were given to him by his "mother", the former Fey Queen of Neverland. But Peter isn't Fey himself. (hide spoiler)] There's quite a bit to his story and there's the question of what he wants from Gwen, and whether or not she can trust him. The answer to that is pretty obvious, except to Gwen, of course!
--Then we have our fairy Fiona. She's not Disney's Tinker Bell, for sure. She's dangerous and a cunning, and of course that makes her another character you have no clue if you can trust.
--There's also Olivia, Gwen's best friend who gets dragged into Neverland along with her. How many YA books have I read now with a heroine off to rescue her sister or best friend? Not that I mind at all! I'm all for reading more of sisterly love and friendships. But while Olivia shows promise as a character at the start, when we meet her again in Neverland, she's too taken by it and isn't the same anymore. Gwen is there to save her and to help her remember, but I felt that Olivia's only served the purpose of being an anchor and incentive for Gwen to keep trying to get them home, instead of actually showing any character of her own. Oh, well.
--There are other characters like the boys from Rowan's crew and the ones from Pan's fortress, who are on opposite sides of course. One notable character is Will, one of the older boys in Rowan's crew who's like a brother and best friend to him.
The Romace: The romance is between Rowan and Gwen, and is actually pretty well done. You could see hints of it from the beginning when she's on his ship, but it isn't until later when it's just the two of them working together that they really start to get close. I didn't think I would like them together, only because there's so much doubt on her end for a good portion of the book. I was afraid their time together would be rushed and the romance not really necessary. But I was pleasantly surprised that the romance actually worked, and by the end I found myself really wanting them to end up together. Note there is no love triangle. It was more like who can she trust between them at the start... If she felt anything for Pan (and it's very fleeting and weak), it's not as simple as developing a crush on the next pretty boy. She couldn't trust what she felt around Pan. With Rowan, there's no doubt it's really what she feels.
Final thoughts:
I really enjoyed this story, even though there were points that were frustrating because I needed things to be explained in more detail (one thing in particular drove me crazy until I discussed with someone), or the plot to be moved along. I know that sounds like I'm contradicting myself. I don't know. Things didn't really pick up and get exciting until around the 70% mark. And while the action in the last 20% was good, a lot happens pretty quickly. So, I warn you, it might feel a tiny bit rushed by the end... That didn't bother me, actually. I wanted things to move fast at that point. And I enjoyed it! I found the last chapter and the epilogue both especially satisfying! I won't spoil it, but I was happy and a little surprised, since it's not what I always expect from the endings of Peter Pan tales.
Would I recommend it? If you're a big fan of fantasy, fairytale retellings, Fey stories, morally ambiguous heroes, and good romance then yes, give it a shot!...more
Rating: 3.5/5 stars. (Torn about that extra half star, though, but I'm leaving it for now.)
Everything must come to an end. In every myth,
Rating: 3.5/5 stars. (Torn about that extra half star, though, but I'm leaving it for now.)
Everything must come to an end. In every myth, paradise is meant to be lost.
I always love a good time travel story. But add in myths, legends, ships and pirating, and it becomes even more irresistible to me. I held off reading this book last year because the mixed responses got to me (I know, I should see for myself but reviews can be helpful when you're unsure). But this month - right after the sequel's release - I decided to give it a try, especially since I remembered that my friend, Nastassja, had read it recently and wrote a review that made me curious about the book and especially about certain characters! (click on her name to read her awesome review).
What I discovered in the book is that, more than all the fun themes I just ticked off, this story is mostly about family, love, and loss. When you have the ability to change time and bring back a loved one, how far would you go? And what are the consequences that could affect the loved ones you have with you? In this book, our main character, Nix, is constantly living in frustration and fear over her father's neverending attempts to travel back in time to save her mother - who died when Nix was a baby. His life long obsession scares Nix because she doesn't know what will happen to her if her father changes the past- will she just disappear from existence, or have her life rewritten - what will she lose?
Why did the stories I knew best never end well? But why too did I feel at home among them? I could never give up the myths, the maps, the ship that had shaped me. Blake’s home might be paradise, but my home was the Temptation.
World-building: For the traveling to work, all the captain needs is an authentic map dated in the exact time period he wants to take his ship. This is an ability Nix's father has - though why and how is still a mystery. What's interesting, though, is that they are not just able to travel through history -- but through mythical places and legends as long as they have a map for it. So, their ship - "the Temptation" - holds all kinds of fantastical items they've collected in their travels. But not just souvenirs - each member of the small crew comes from a different place, real or imaginary.
But as much as the fantastical aspect is fascinating, there isn't that much time traveling occuring in the book. Most of the story is set in Honolulu around the mid 1880's and the island's own legends and history are more prominent to the plot.
Still -- the magic and rules to the time-traveling system are still vague. We eventually get some clarifying answers but it still feels like we don't know enough to truly grasp the conflict that Nix is facing because of her father's decision to reverse her mother's - and her - history. It's still not entirely clear what would happen to her. That vagueness made some parts (conversations, internal character struggles) a bit difficult to get into.
Plot and pacing: The crew's current stop takes place during a time of political turmoil for the island - which our crew gets involved in, in a deal to get the map Slate needs. The book's plot was interesting, bringing together history and legend, and there was some suspense near the end. But I think that despite all that, the book had a very mellow vibe to it. Also, there was a sense of melancholy and bittersweetness that I liked. But at times the book felt slow moving. Not slow enough to be boring, really. But there were lots of descriptions of the island and its stories - which eventually proved important. It was a nice and easy read, but not the most compelling plot-wise.
The characters: I really liked the characters - one of them already becoming of my favorites. But let's start with the MC first -- Nix. Her struggles with her father, her loyalty and bravery despite her constant fears, her moral center, all make her likable and easy to understand. Her voice doesn't feel that distinctive or especially memorable, but her emotions feel real. Like the novel itself, her impact on the reader is subtle but its there.
My favorite character - and favorite part of the book, really - is Kashmir. He's a crew member, a talented and unapologetic thief, Nix's best friend, and witty and charming enough to make this story all the more interesting.
"Who said it was thieves who know the price of everything and the value of nothing?” "Oscar Wilde,” I said. “And it’s cynics, not thieves.” "Ah! That explains it, then.” I stuck out my tongue at him.
He's apparently from a fairytale world (author's notes say somewhere from A Thousand and One Nights - exciting!), where he got by stealing until he joined Nix's crew. But he still picks pockets and speaks multiple languages, switching from one to another. And it's a lot of fun how he slips into different roles when needed, or sometimes just to amuse Nix.
“And Mister . . . ?” "Firas,” Kashmir said, folding his handkerchief neatly and making a crisp bow. Blake’s brow furrowed as he took in the fine clothes. "A sailor?” "Her tutor,” Kashmir said smoothly. Blake cocked his head. “You’re much younger than any of my tutors.” "Baleh, I am wise beyond my years,” Kashmir said. “And of course I have a natural inclination to it. My people did, after all, invent algebra. Including the zero.”
And he clearly loves Nix, but shows his feelings subtly. Plus, he steals jewelry as gifts for her, philosophizes smoothly about his ideas of morality when she disapproves, and is an all around great character I wanted even more of in the story!
Nix's father, Slate, the captain of the ship, is troubled, lost in his past, addicted to opium, and is the reason Nix is the way she is - wary of love. The father-daughter conflict is an important part of the book. He thinks he can have both, but to Nix it feels like he has to make a choice between preserving his present (Nix) or fixing his past (for her mother). And Nix is resigned to his decisions but still constantly hurt by his recklessness.
I bit my lip to keep it from trembling; he’d let me go a long time ago. After all, you can only hold one person tight if you’re holding on with both hands.
And there's Rotgut and Bee - the other two members of the crew - who have been on the ship before Nix was even born, and are like family members to her.
That said, I'm hoping the sequel gives more answers to the mysteries of this book's time traveling and magic. Also I'd like more insight into Kashmir's character - I hear he gets chapters from his point-of-view in the sequel, so that's promising!
As for the "love triangle" in this - ((this isn't really spoilery but it's a conclusion I came to past the mid point of the novel - so maybe avoid it if you want to be totally unspoiled)). - - - I actually thought it fit well with Nix's character development. The way she saw Blake - as a fleeting and adventurous flirtation with nothing to fear of losing - is very different from her feelings for Kashmir, who is dear enough to her that she's afraid losing him will have her end up like her father.
The beauty of the ephemeral was in its impermanence; I couldn’t have let myself feel for Blake had I not known there would be an end. And I could admit it now: I did feel for him. There was safety here, at the end of our short story, and it made me bold.
Had I been too selfish? I had never known my mother, but I knew my life as it had been without her: the ship, the sea, the myths, the maps . . . and, yes, Kashmir. The pain I felt at the thought of losing him—the same pain that kept me at arm’s length—gave me a hint of my father’s own struggle.
- - - Love triangle aside, I liked Blake as a character, and his role in the book isn't just as a second love interest. He has his passion and devotion to the island he grew up in, his artistic talent, all proving important to the plot. As for his crush on Nix - it was kind of cute. And his and Kashmir's dislike for each other made for some fun banter!
All in all -- it's not the most exciting fantasy or impressive time travel story so far, but its an easy read with enough magic, emotion, fascinating concepts and likable characters to make me enjoy the book and want to read the sequel....more
Nouf *LostinFantasy*
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