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Dark Star (Dark Star #1)

by Bethany Frenette (Goodreads Author)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 876 ratings · 153 reviews

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it's hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she's lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human--something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile.

Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn't fight crime...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published October 23rd 2012 by Disney Hyperion

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Oct 27, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I caught something else in his depthless eyes.
There are some places it's best not to look, I thought.
Some places look back.

3.5 stars. Consider Dark Star as leaning more to the paranormal side than the sci-fi side of the genre spectrum. True, there are "technically" superhero types of people, but not in the traditional sense. So much of the way this story flowed reminded me of Hex Hall, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maybe the snark wasn't quite as in-your-face as it was in HH, but I kep...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Katy rated it 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars - Aw, come on. I had high hopes for this book, which had promised superhero awesomeness. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book, and I liked it because there was some funny dialogue. But it was your just typical paranormal book.

You know how there are those books that try to draw out what's going on as long as they can to keep you curious? Well, this was one of them. The first chapter was truly a waste of time because it talked about dreams, and it...more 2.5 stars - Aw, come on. I had high hopes for this book, which had promised superhero awesomeness. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book, and I liked it because there was some funny dialogue. But it was your just typical paranormal book.

You know how there are those books that try to draw out what's going on as long as they can to keep you curious? Well, this was one of them. The first chapter was truly a waste of time because it talked about dreams, and it showed a scene with Gram saying she needs to tell Audrey about herself, but it never tells us anything. And the first few chapters were so bogged down with the past that I just wanted to skip them to find out what was going on right now. And this wouldn't have been a problem, but all that did not tell me anything about what was going on.

It picked up about halfway through the book, and the story wasn't bad, but it was your typical paranormal book - girl in the dark about her heritage, girl experiences some life changing event, girl wants to know about herself but people trying to protect her by not telling her, girl decides to take matters into her own hands, and of course makes you want to throw your book across the room because she makes everything more difficult.

I think my problem with the book is the pacing and story progression. At times, I felt the scenes went by too quick where it barely tells us much and skips to the next scene. At other times, it seems like Frenette went on and on, and you didn't get much out of it. I felt the explanations for the Knowing, the Guardians, the Kin, the Remnant, the Beneath and everything else were 1) offered so late in the book and 2) so scattered and a bit incoherent that I had a hard time grasping the concepts, how they were different and how they all tie in together (because it's not just hereditary). And I think I understand what's going on, and I have theories about the Remnant from Frenette's hints, but she kind of threw me off, too, and I'm not 100 percent.

Also, after finishing the book, I think I understand everyone's role in the book except for Tink. With Gideon, we were told about how they met as kids and how he found out about their family. With Tink, she just popped in a scene with her craziness, so we couldn't even tell if she was just some random friend or the BFF. And I know that Frenette kept her shady for a reason, but it was really hard to get a feel on her character early on. And now that we know certain things about Tink, I still don't see how she ties in to the whole story, though I have some theories.

Like I said, overall, it's not a bad book. And it can be quite entertaining at times. But the story progression really aggravated me, and I think the end leaves us a lot of things unanswered. I just wasn't satisfied enough.(less)

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Jul 28, 2012 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley-and-first-reads, debut-author-2012

I think I should start out by saying that, contrary to what you might read, Dark Star is not a superhero novel. I'll say it again: Dark Star is not a superhero novel. At least, not the usual type. When I think superheroes, I tend to think of a scene similar to The Avengers with a bunch of kick-butt people in colorful suits battling evil with their epic skills. Yeah, that scene from The Avengers? It's not there in Dark Star. In actuality, Dark Star is a novel about a teenage girl who...more

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Nov 09, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: covergasm, owned-ebooks, boooooring, cant-believe-i-finished, i-am-disappoint, meh-it-was-okay

This review is also available over at my blog.

______________________

Book, I am disappoint.

Right off the bat I was so excited to read this, because it's about damn time there was a friggin superhero YA novel. Unfortunately though, I'm gonna have to wait a little longer for that time to come, because there were really no superhero qualities at all in this book.

For me, the whole superhero thing was kind of false advertising, because this book was purely, 100% paranormal YA. It has demons and Guardi...more This review is also available over at my blog.

______________________

Book, I am disappoint.

Right off the bat I was so excited to read this, because it's about damn time there was a friggin superhero YA novel. Unfortunately though, I'm gonna have to wait a little longer for that time to come, because there were really no superhero qualities at all in this book.

For me, the whole superhero thing was kind of false advertising, because this book was purely, 100% paranormal YA. It has demons and Guardians and magic powers and, yeah. I was so disappointed, like really. This was a lot like when I realized Alice in Zombieland wasn't an Alice retelling at all. But I was like "Okay, so the faux superhero theme was a bummer, but maybe there would be other things that I'd like about it" and I decided to give it a chance and read on.

I was bored from beginning to end. Literally, there was barely any action in the book. I couldn't follow the plot because these things just kept stacking up over each other, with the thing about these demon creatures called Harrowers, and then this "Remnant" thing that everyone seems to be looking for, and this powerful Harrower called Patrick Tigue, and I'm pretty much just lost at this point.

Audrey was an extremely passive heroine. She doesn't really do anything the whole book, and those "powers" she has aren't nearly as badass as I thought they were gonna be. She has this thing called a Knowing and it's basically like...reading someone's mind, I guess? But more than that. I dunno, it's hard to explain. But yeah, her powers aren't that useful, since she can't use it as an offense or defense. But I guess the fact that she's helpless most of the time isn't really her fault, since her mother kept her in the dark all her life.

One positive thing I will say about this book is the romance. It was barely there, and the love interest, Leon, is someone Audrey's known for a long time. Most of the book, they're bickering and arguing, and Leon's being all overprotective of her. Audrey gets some moments of fluttery-ness around him but very few. In fact, they don't even kiss until the final chapter, and there weren't even any almost-kisses before that, which I applaud.

The ending was cliche for me, and my expression stayed the same as it did when I started. This book overall really just lacked originality. I really was hoping for a superhero book, because YA needs that, but all I got was just another paranormal that doesn't really stand out from others. On top of all of that, it was a major borefest. There were very few engaging moments that it took me so long to finish the book. If this were to become a series, which I definitely think it will, I doubt I'd continue it, simply because the world of the book just doesn't interest me.

So final verdict, this book was very boring and lacked originality, but the non-annoying romance made up for it, in my opinion. Would I recommend this book? Not really, cause it really doesn't differentiate itself from other PNR YA out there. But if you wanna give it a shot, I won't stop you. I don't think this book was bad by any means, it just wasn't great.(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Kaylee Magic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once again, no one rocks more than Mimi for lending me her copy before she even had a chance to read it herself!!!! *megahugs* This book is SERIOUSLY. EPIC. Like, superheroes epic times twenty -- and this book is about superheroes!! ;) <3333333

Read this book, you must!

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Nov 24, 2012 Aneeqah marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2012-debut-author, covers-to-die-for, paranormal, other-supernatural, urban-fantasy, wishlist

I clicked "Add" when I read the word superhero. Excuse me, but doesn't that sounds super amazing?

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Jan 04, 2013 Dani rated it 4 of 5 stars

first of all, there seems to be argument over whether or not this book is a superhero novel. It is, just in a different way. The guardians are supers (I know they aren't running around in tights--but they are a tad bit cooler than that), and Audrey just happens to be the psychic daughter of the most badass super out there? (Sound familiar? Damien Wayne, son of Batman.) But Audrey's actually pretty cool, sarcastic, witty, fearless. Just the personality traits a good super should have. But she's n...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ordinary is not a word Audrey would use to describe her family. Between her mother the superhero/vigilante ‘Morning Star’, the psychic abilities she shares with her grandmother and her mother’s side-kick/teleporter Leon, Audrey is well accustomed to strange happenings in her household. But none of that could have prepared her for learning (rather violently) that her mother isn’t fighting criminals, but demons. And something is stirring in this new world she finds herself in – something which thr...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Ardo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, young-adult, paranormal-urban-fantasy

Okay. This wasn't a superhero book.

I expected a superhero book but this wasn't it. Now, to be fair, this book is marketed under the genre of YA urban fantasy. What is YA urban fantasy? The best example would be Cassandra Clare's series, the Mortal Instruments, which is a series that takes place in a city-like setting with something paranormal in nature incorporated into it...oh, and it's written for young adults. That's what this book is and, without the mention of superhero in the synopsis, tha...more Okay. This wasn't a superhero book.

I expected a superhero book but this wasn't it. Now, to be fair, this book is marketed under the genre of YA urban fantasy. What is YA urban fantasy? The best example would be Cassandra Clare's series, the Mortal Instruments, which is a series that takes place in a city-like setting with something paranormal in nature incorporated into it...oh, and it's written for young adults. That's what this book is and, without the mention of superhero in the synopsis, that would be fine...kind of.

Let's begin with the plot. This book took too long to get to the point or action of the story and if you cut out some scenes and chapters or fused some scenes and chapters, it would actually be too short. You know Patrick Tigue? The dude mentioned in the synopsis that you assumed would be one of the main focus' on the book? The first mention of him can be found more than halfway through the book. He was, in fact, a minor character but was only "major" in name only and not in an actual role. This story spent most of it's time discussing Audrey's inability to handle the unfathomable idea of demons (despite the fact that her mom is super strong and has super healing...).

No, seriously. Audrey is probably one of the most annoying heads to be in. The writing is such that her feelings are told to us (not shown!) over and over and over again to the point where I just wanted to scream and say, "WE GET IT! YOU'RE AFRAID AND CONFUSED BUT PLEASE GET OVER IT SO I CAN ENJOY SOME ASS KICKING..." I understand that not all characters can be bad asses but even Clary in Clare's the Mortal Instruments (Books 1-3 to be more specific) is a lot more helpful than whiny. Even when Audrey does go out to help, she does so without a plan and she's almost always rescued. Also, the climax was anti-climactic and it might be due to the fact that it took too long to build Frenette's world or that there was no significant build up to the climax at all.

The dialogue and exchange between characters fell flat for me and therefore creating 1 dimensional characters. I didn't genuinely care about or like anyone. Leon had his moments when he's not constantly coming in when it's convenient for the plot and then leaving just as abruptly. I did like Morning Star - Audrey's superhero mom and the scenes with Detective Wyle. I feel like the story should have been about her as a teenage instead (that would have been a really cool story from what it sounds like when discussing her past). Kind of like the beginnings of a reluctant superhero since she's just fighting Harrowers at first and was deemed a hero by the public. Just add in the occasional crime fighting outside of Harrowers (like a hostage situation in a bank or a super villain...) and you can have a nice balance between a superhero book and an urban fantasy.

Overall though, this book was an effort to read. I feel that, even if you're okay with the whole "it's not really a superhero novel", it's still not a well put together book for whatever genre it was intended for.

For more of my review: http://aaomer.wordpress.com/2012/10/2...(less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Jessica ♡~ Book&Coffee Lover ~♡ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

3,5 Stars for this one

"No. You're not adopted. But your hidden."

"Rule #47 of living with a superhero. Don't mess with her costume."

Someone. Something. Something human and not human.Something with talons and teeth..

There were parts I really liked and then there where parts I found a bit stretched out.. I mean some parts where a lot of info/history/background into the world of the Kins & Guardians.. But overall I liked the story :) although I would have really liked it if there was a litt...more

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May 13, 2013 The Twins Read rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nicole-s-shelf, purchased

Actual Rating: 3.5/5

This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.

So the thing that finally persuaded me to read Dark Star was the mention of "superheroes". I'm a sucker for stuff like those - spandex and secret identities, I find them highly amusing - so I definitely could not resist.

Audrey Whitticomb's mother is a superhero, or a Guardian as she'd rather be called. No joke. She thought her mother was just like those heroes in comic books, fighting crime and saving the world from bad...more Actual Rating: 3.5/5

This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.

So the thing that finally persuaded me to read Dark Star was the mention of "superheroes". I'm a sucker for stuff like those - spandex and secret identities, I find them highly amusing - so I definitely could not resist.

Audrey Whitticomb's mother is a superhero, or a Guardian as she'd rather be called. No joke. She thought her mother was just like those heroes in comic books, fighting crime and saving the world from bad guys. What Audrey doesn't really know is that yes, while her mother does fight bad guys, they're just not the ones she had in mind. One fateful night she encounters the things that her mother battles - Harrowers they're called, or demons I suppose - and her world is turned upside down because who knew that things like those actually existed, right?

I liked Audrey, she's an engaging and entertaining character, I couldn't help but love her interaction with Leon, her mother's sidekick. She's smart and witty and she's not afraid of her emotions seeing as how she readily admits that she's scared of those demons and doesn't go the whole I'm-not-scared-of-anything route but she puts on her brave face and big girl pants and faces her fears. Audrey is also curious and that curiosity usually puts her in danger and in the line of fire. Now Audrey isn't like her mother, she isn't a superhero - no super strength, no teleporting abilities - or anything but she does have some sort of psychic powers. She can read people when she gets close enough to them and she can also see glimpses into the future. Little does Audrey know though that she's got a bigger role in the scheme of all things and it's about time she stepped into it.

Now Dark Star's pacing was fine, it was a bit slow at first but then it picked up and kept steady. But what irked me a bit was how at the end I was expecting something epic to happen some big reveal or tell-all or at least fireworks and lots of explosions and action because you know, there was a battle and stuff. It was all kind of anti-climatic really, like everything just fell into place and happened so fast that it was kind of disappointing. Although it was pretty obvious Leon had a thing for Audrey, they're totally adorable together.

If you're in the mood for something fun with decent helpings of adorable romance, entertaining dialogue and superheroes, don't miss out on Dark Star. It's also got murder, mystery and a whole other dimension - literally - built in for added fun and enjoyment.(less)

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Mar 28, 2013 Whitley Birks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, almost-good, female-hero, ya-fantasy

Dark Star is just so delightfully clichéd. I don’t really know how else to put it. This book is not just a mediocre YA urban fantasy, but it’s basically what I wish mediocre all books were like. Weird thing to say, I know, but it’s true. This book, however, has somehow managed to combine all sorts of trite and overused story elements, contribute very little original content, and completely fail to be offensive. It’s sad that I have to point that out, but considering the market these days, it see...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

hmmmmmmmm...... what to say.....what to say. Honnestly I thought it was pretty good. There were some very predictable parts but the rest kept me on the edge throughout the whole book. The characters were suprisingly well written considering I thought this book was going to have characters with no depth at all.

Audrey: audrey hands down might just be one of my favorite characters of all time. She was brave and cunning but also she really cared for her friends and family which is obviously a good t...more hmmmmmmmm...... what to say.....what to say. Honnestly I thought it was pretty good. There were some very predictable parts but the rest kept me on the edge throughout the whole book. The characters were suprisingly well written considering I thought this book was going to have characters with no depth at all.

Audrey: audrey hands down might just be one of my favorite characters of all time. She was brave and cunning but also she really cared for her friends and family which is obviously a good trait to have. She went head on into her fears to protect them and she came out ok becoming even stronger and braver.

Morning Star aka Audrey's mom Lucy: Well she's a superhero which is really cool. I wouldn't expect her to be the best mom because of that but suprisingly she was. She really tried to keep Audrey safe even if it ment leaving her in the dark. I wasn't very happy about that by the way. I felt she should have told Audrey about the demons sooner no matter what her reasoning behind it was.

Leon: From the begining I could tell Leon was an idiot. I just didn't like him. I think that's what the author was intending but if he was going to end up loving Audrey like he does aren't we suposed to like him? Plus you could tell he was going to be the love intrest of Audrey from the beging because of the way he treated Audrey. the only good thing about him is that he always protects Audrey when she is in danger.

Gideon and Tink: First of what kind on names are those? Was the author trying to make them sound weak because that's what they were. I felt they ere point less charaters and were just along for the ride.

Iris, Elspeth, and Esther: They were srtong, level headed characters who had more of a point than Tink and Gideon did. But, I could tell from the begining that Iris was up to something. the was she acted whas a dead give away. Elspeth and Esther on the other hand, they were genuinely nice and were dead set on helping Audrey ajust to all of the new information.

The overall plot was much more interesting than I thought it was going to be. I've read some pretty bad books about demons and I thought this one would probably be the same. I'm so happy I was wrong. This book was amazing and I can't wait foe the next one. Please let there be a sequel. I will most deffinently read it.(less)

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Aug 29, 2012 Ravenous Biblioworm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3/5

I’m a superhero fan. So I was looking forward to this book. Superhero books written by male authors tend to lean towards the action and plot and lacks the character building (not that there’s anything wrong with that) so I was curious about this book since it’s written by a female author. It wasn’t what I expected, which was neither good or bad. The story was compelling enough, but it lacked that “oofmph!” that made me greatly thoroughly enjoy this book.

I’ll address the multitude of v...more Rating: 3/5

I’m a superhero fan. So I was looking forward to this book. Superhero books written by male authors tend to lean towards the action and plot and lacks the character building (not that there’s anything wrong with that) so I was curious about this book since it’s written by a female author. It wasn’t what I expected, which was neither good or bad. The story was compelling enough, but it lacked that “oofmph!” that made me greatly thoroughly enjoy this book.

I’ll address the multitude of voices who says that this isn’t a superhero book. It isn’t in the traditional, generalized, and vague sense. But I do recall superheroes having specific stories. Some are aliens, some can do magic… not mutant but do magic… the mystic arts. Some have weird powers because of some weird technology either from another planet or dimension. So if the characters dress up to mask their identity to fight crime, I would say they are superheroes. Audrey may not be a superhero but her mother is, because her mother goes go fighting crime and evil in a get-up and Audrey knows about it. No they aren’t like the X - Men, or the Flash… Audrey and her mother have a “magical” origin. Just because it’s a supernatural magical origin most people screams and pouts that this isn’t a “superhero” book. Then I guess Doctor Strange, Wiccan, Wonder Woman, Pixie, Thor, etc. aren’t superheroes too because their powers derive from magic or is magical in nature. But Audrey and Co. only fights one type of evil. So does Blade. He fights vampires only. There are others too in superhero comics that does the one type evil fight, but I can’t think of any on the spot. Let me get to the actual review.

Okay, with that all said. I liked the story. The gradual build of tension via events in the book was done well enough for me to like the ideas behind this book. The incidents that happen (involving the certain missing gender folks) gave more weight to the dire situation that is beginning to unfold in Minneapolis. The ideas and lore behind the story was intriguing. I didn’t recognize the lore from a specific mythological world from any real world beliefs (or if thought in the opposite way, it was too board and vague that it encompassed multiple myths), but Frenette did expand the details to support the world in her book enough for me to buy the situation that was presented.

There were moments were the story slowed in pacing and it was one of those cases where I couldn’t let it pass because I felt it didn’t reveal anything new about our characters or the plot or it didn’t build any more tension. Hence a few point drops here.

The characters were all nice. Pleasant but not completely human for me. Audrey’s voice and personality seemed a bit dull for me. I enjoyed the storyline but for a large part of the story she felt very indifferent to me about many of the events that happens. She does things because it’s thought as morally right on a humanistic level but things don’t seem to be done at a personal level to her as a person/character. Then there’s the relationship between her friend Gideon that bordered on strange, in the way that there could be something going on between the two (maybe it’s was just in my head but it totally felt that way to me). The whole Leon and Audrey relationship felt forced at times and Aubrey’s love/hate of Leon got a bit childish and annoying (meaning unconvincing to me).

Overall, I liked the story. The characters were “okay.” There writing wasn’t terrible. It was also good. I was impressed with the ideas and several of the linking scenes, but overall, I felt there was more to be desired from Audrey, since she’s our main character.

Verdict: It’s worth a read. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I will. Fans of supernatural stories will enjoy this too. No need to be a superhero geek as people have said, this book doesn’t quite give that comic book superhero vibe.

Visit my book review blog at http://ravenousbiblioworm.wordpress.com (less)

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Aug 12, 2012 Andrew Shuping rated it 4 of 5 stars

ARC provided by NetGalley

Audrey Whitticomb has never led a normal life. Her mom is the superhero Morning Star, the most revered and feared superhero in the Twin Cities. But there is a whisper in the night that something in town isn’t quite right. She keeps having dreams of burning down the city. And young girls are disappearing and found dead weeks later with no clue as to who is committing the crimes. Then...they come for Audrey. She escapes, but discovers that her mom isn’t fighting your typic...more ARC provided by NetGalley

Audrey Whitticomb has never led a normal life. Her mom is the superhero Morning Star, the most revered and feared superhero in the Twin Cities. But there is a whisper in the night that something in town isn’t quite right. She keeps having dreams of burning down the city. And young girls are disappearing and found dead weeks later with no clue as to who is committing the crimes. Then...they come for Audrey. She escapes, but discovers that her mom isn’t fighting your typical criminal. She’s fighting demons. And Audrey has the power to fight them as well. But will she use her powers to defeat them....or will her dreams come true?

I think what I like most about this work is that it isn’t your typical superhero novel. You aren’t reading the story of Audrey’s mom, Morning Star. Instead you’re reading the story of a young girl who discovers that there’s more to the world than what she’s been led to believe. And that there is more to her life than she knows. And while there are some formulaic plot points to the work, such as the romance that develops between Audrey and her mom’s ward/partner (which frankly just annoyed the crap out of me), there are some good moments to this book--such as the characters themselves. Although they could have use a bit more depth to them Audrey and her friends weren’t your stereotypical oversexed, perfect, confident teens. Instead...they act like real teens, with bursts of confidence, but mostly still trying to feel out who and what they are. Audrey’s friend Gideon is probably my favorite, because I recognize myself in him. He’s kinda of that shy, somewhat awkward kid that everyone likes because he’ll stand by his friends when they need him and because you can kinda sense that there’s something special about him.

My one complaint about the book (other than the romance) is that I really want this to be a series, where the world and the mystery of the demons is developed further. And while the ending hints this maybe the case, to me the ending almost felt force, just so that if there wasn’t a second book we’d at least have something to wrap the story up with. Even with that complaint about the ending though, there are still some really nice plot twists happening at the end that will catch the reader off guard (in a good way.)

This is engaging and fast paced book and I really do hope there’s a second book in the series, because this is just the right combination of paranormal and hero all thrown together. I’d recommend this to teen readers +.(less)

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Mar 14, 2013 Gillyb rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.75 Stars

Rating: A book that totally took me by surprise. It took a while for all the information to come to light, but once it did, it was fun, quirky, and action-packed!

The cover: Look at all the awesome superhero realness! I love the color of the buildings, the dramatic angle of the camera, her strong pose and billowing curls. She looks like she could take you. Easily.

The story: I had never heard of this book before Lili challenged me to read it. After gobbling it down in about a day, I must...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of Audrey who is a perfectly ordinary girl if you overlook the fact that she has the ability to do something called "Knowing" which lets her read people and events some of the time and that her mother is a superhero. Audrey has good friends - Tink and Gideon - and she has the same interests as many high school kids. She wants to get her driver's license but has failed one part of the test a few times. She wants to hang out at clubs like Drought and Deluge. But things start chan...more

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Nov 23, 2012 TheBookSmugglers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Original review posted on The Book Smugglers

Ana’s take:

WARNING: This review contains spoilers.

I’ve wanted to read Dark Star since I first heard about it because it was supposed to be a superhero book (this impression was based on the blurb as well as the cover). Given my recent bad experiences with this subgenre, I was hopeful this would break the bad streak I was having.

Imagine my disappointment (and anger) when I realised how mislead I was when it turned out this is not, and I repeat, NOT a su...more

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May 09, 2013 Rachael Mae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ehem, I am in love! Audrey Whitticomb is the best heroine I have ever met, plus the book was epic!

The plot:
Fast paced, humorous and mysterious. All the things I ask for in a book. I found myself laughing throughout the entire story, Bethany sure has some wit. There was blurred action that was interesting and exciting. Plus, a whole bunch of creepy monsters that attacked in the shadows. There were some crazy twists I never saw coming!

The characters:
So as I said, Audrey was awesome! She was humble...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Maggie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Advance copy from NetGalley

This is a book high school librarians will want to add to their collection. However, do not promote it as a superhero book; that will make the true superhero fans mad. This is a fantasy book and the super powers these characters have will appeal to the readers that enjoy the stories about the "other" realms and good vs. evil. This first book will hold the attention of those readers who enjoy reading and are interested in demons, magical powers, and humans who posses sp...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Bridgid Dianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Disney-Hyperion

I had a difficult time reading, Dark Star, at first. I'm glad I didn't put it down though because it improved and I really enjoyed it. I think this is a book that young adult boys and girls would enjoy reading. I like that it is different from the wizard/vampire genre that seems to run through a lot of young adult novels.

Audrey Whitticomb is a high school girl whose mom is a super hero--Morning Star. She fights devil like creatures called Harrowers disguised as humans. They are f...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Carmen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

Rating this book was surprisingly difficult. First of all I enjoyed it quite a lot. Audrey, the main character, is smart and fun and fierce. She's instantly likeable. Her relationships with the other characters are interesting and balanced. Romance is kept firmly in the background while there is a mystery to solve, and yet while in the background is fizzes away promisingly.

This book was so nearly a four star one. What stopped it from getting there was a bit of misreprese...more

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May 15, 2013 Kezia Goodman rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal

I'm not sure how to describe this first installment of dark star, weird is too mild a word.... unconventional is good, unique...that's tolerable. Truthfully it was very 'harrowing' lol!

It was certainly interesting how Bethany portrayed demons, in this all new paranormal/fantasy/teenage/YA novel... the story line is unique and one of a kind. There is a sci-fi feel to the book and the relationships weaved throughout the story are quite normal.

Leon's guardian relationship with Audrey was bound to g...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Blythe marked it as to-read

Shelves: judge-a-book-by-the-cover

This is on NetGalley!

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Nov 09, 2012 YAL Book Briefs rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: false-advertising, demons, things-that-go-bump-in-the-dark, yawn

To see the full review click here: http://yalbookbriefs.blogspot.com/201...

Talk about deceptive advertising. Those expecting to get a superhero book will be surprised and maybe even disappointment. Superheroes are only mentioned in this novel. In reality, it's just YA paranormal.

And it's not a bad YA paranormal. In fact, I'd say it's a little bit above average. The characters are nice enough. The use of cliches isn't horrible. It's just not...well, that memorable or exciting. And I did have quit...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, teen, adventure, fantasy, paranormal, thriller, action, netgalley

Audrey Whitticomb’s mom is a superhero. No, really. Every night she goes out and fights crime in the Minneapolis, Minnesota tri-cities area. Audrey worries about her, but hey, that’s what she was born to do. Then one day Audrey finds out her mom isn’t really out fighting muggers, bank robbers, and would-be killers. Nope. She’s fighting something worse - demons. They’re stealing, draining, and killing teenage girls, looking for the blood of the chosen one to help them cross over into our world. A...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Erin Forson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Audrey comes from a family of very powerful and unusual women. Her mother is is a superhero, the “Morning Star,” a woman who spends her nights in The Twin Cities preventing crime, her grandmother is a"Seer," and Audrey herself has powerful psychic abilities. So when girls from Audrey's high school turn up murdered, Audrey's figures her mom will stop the killer. But when Audrey's BFF, Tink, is attacked, Audrey uncovers evidence that her mother may be the killer's next victim. Now, Audrey must use...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Hilda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, young-adult

3.5 stars

Wow, this book is absolutely not your normal definition of superhero book.

Audrey has always been idolizing her mother, the superhero Morning Star. It’s bad enough that her mother doesn’t seem very keen to have Audrey following her path, but it’s even worse when her mother’s sidekick, Leon, keep tugging her patience. Strange things are happening in the city with high school girls gone missing, but Audrey’s mother refuses to give out any information to her. When Audrey’s friend is falling...more 3.5 stars

Wow, this book is absolutely not your normal definition of superhero book.

Audrey has always been idolizing her mother, the superhero Morning Star. It’s bad enough that her mother doesn’t seem very keen to have Audrey following her path, but it’s even worse when her mother’s sidekick, Leon, keep tugging her patience. Strange things are happening in the city with high school girls gone missing, but Audrey’s mother refuses to give out any information to her. When Audrey’s friend is falling victim and almost dead, Audrey decides to take matters into her own hands and uncovers what her mother and Leon has been fighting all this time. But like Gram said, there are some places it’s best not to look…

The writing in Dark Star is great and very easy to follow. I also like the relationship between Audrey and her mother. Although they fight at times because Audrey’s mother tends to keep her in dark, it’s clear that both of them love each other very much. I like how Audrey keeps first aid kit everywhere in their house because her mother doesn’t want to get Audrey worry when she comes home injured. Leon, with her cookies smell, flour in his hair, and ironed shirt also get some pieces of my heart too.

However, I felt like the characters in this book are not used wisely. They have just the right characteristics to make them even more awesome: a bit reckless and justice-must-be-served heroine, a vigilante superhero as her mother, a mysterious sidekick, stern grandmother, and supporting best friends, but I feel like I didn’t know them much better in the end. I also wished for more romance in air because really, Audrey needs more time to talk to Leon without getting into banter and later, fight.

In overall, Dark Star is a good read but it’s not something that I expected. Although this book gives sense of comic-like superhero, it’s nothing near. It’s a great book but with the superhero thing stamped in the synopsis, I think I raised my expectation bar too high. I think devoted fans of paranormal stories (who can endure slow pacing in their books) would fall in love with this book. I hope there would be a sequel because for me, Dark Star felt more like an opening for an enjoyable series.

But that night I lay awake thinking of girls lured out into the sweet night air, the darkness that awaited them, vanishing lights and a rising wind. Tricia and Kelly and those other nameless girls, bound to me by a shared ancestry and by the cuts above our heels. And when I slept, my dreams were filled with blood.(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Jenn Brower rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy, ya-paranormal

I really did enjoy this book. I was pulled in, wanted to keep reading, couldn't wait to find out how the "mystery" of Leon's overly-concerned behavior towards her and what power was buried deep in Audrey. I quickly realized that this wasn't a superhero story at all, but the idea of the "kin" using their gifts to protect humans was very intriguing.

But then, the big moments came...and I was let down. It became obvious as to what this book is...a setup for the series.

Will I read the next book when...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Audrey Whitticomb is the daughter of a superhero, her mom, aka Morning Star, and her sidekick Leon patrol the streets of the Twin Cities and keep everyone safe. I thought this book was good, I enjoyed the humor throughout the book and the relationship between Audrey and her mom. I would have liked to have seen some more character development for the secondary characters like Tink and Gideon, they were a little flat to me. I did enjoy the hint of romance and look forward to exploring that relatio...more

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Young Adult

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Fantasy > Paranormal

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Fantasy

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Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

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Paranormal > Demons

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Romance

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About Bethany Frenette

I’m an author of YA books, a keeper of small cats, a fan of all things geeky, and a lover of the absurd. I was born and raised in the great snowy north of Minnesota, from which I have never yet managed to escape.

In my spare time, I read, play video games, and do everything within my power to annoy my friends. Parlor tricks include making an eerily accurate frog noise and the ability to recite Maur...more

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Quotes from Dark Star

“Remind me again why I put up with you?"
''Cause you sold me your soul for five bucks, and now you must submit to my will?' I still had the sheet of paper, written in his untidy fifth-grade scrawl. Gideon David Belmonte. One soul.” — 18 people liked it

“I already made icing. I told you not to buy any."
"Oops," I said, taking another scoop. "Looks like I messed up again. Guess I'll have to eat this."
He glanced toward me, giving a pointed look to the two containers I had set beside me. "All of it?" he asked.
"Maybe if you're nice, I'll share...But considering you've already met your niceness quote for the year, I wouldn't bet on it. And you can't have any sprinkles."
"There goes my reason for living."
"I thought that was to make me miserable.” — 11 people liked it

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Dark Star (Dark Star #1)

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