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These Broken Stars

(Starbound #1)

Amie Kaufman (Goodreads Author),

Meagan Spooner (Goodreads Author)

3.90 · Rating details · 65,474 ratings · 8,499 reviews

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 to 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 li ...more

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Kindle Edition, 384 pages

Published December 1st 2013 by Allen & Unwin

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Jan 31, 2015 Jesse (JesseTheReader) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book was SO GOOD. Not what I expected it to be at all! I'm excited to discuss this at the booksplosion live show. :) ...more

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Dec 18, 2013 Emily May rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 2013, romance, sci-fi

I am crazy minority lady :(

Let me break down my thought process on this book from the very first time I noticed it on goodreads because somewhere along the way something went really really wrong. Just a quick scroll down the GR page and I can see all my friends' ratings of five or four stars... but the attraction is lost on me.

1) The description appears on goodreads. We are promised science fiction and space and "a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain". A setting in space, a story ...more

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Feb 27, 2015 Christine Riccio rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is more of a 3.7 for me - i enjoyed it but i'm not crazy about it, here's my full booktak/review: http://youtu.be/ZD-m6fhRfhA =) ...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-publication, read-2013, crush-worthy-boys, hyperion, sci-fi-or-futuristic, 2013-favorites, young-adult, own-dtb-tbr, aussies, heroines-butt-kicking

4.5 stars Here's what you need to know:

-- This story is incredibly original, and unlike any other scifi book I've ever read before. Leaps and bounds above most YA science fiction for sure, and with an interesting mood/tone that you don't often find in this genre.

-- Much of the book is also a survival story, so if you like that sort of thing (as I do!), this one will probably interest you.

-- The writing is terrific. Don't let the "Titanic in space" idea fool you; while technically true (and a spe ...more

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Dec 13, 2013 Navessa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, young-adult, science-fiction

Boom. Five stars.

You know why? Because I enjoyed the shit out of this book.

You want a detailed breakdown of what happens in it?

Look elsewhere.

You want me to tell you how fucking gloriously understated yet wholly satisfying this world building was?

Too bad.

You want to know why I started losing my mind 70% in?

HOW'S IT FEEL TO WANT?

This book is everything that makes me keep coming back to the YA category. Because sometimes, sometimes an author does it right. Kaufman and Spooner did it right. ...more

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Oct 05, 2020 jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

at first, this story was giving me major ‘titanic in space’ vibes. and then it became like ‘castaway in space.’ and im not mad about any of it.

i thought the story was fun. the sci-fi aspect isnt the strongest (if youre comparing it to other books in the genre), but the world is cool and the characters are worth reading about.

i will say though, at the end, i did ask myself ‘what was even the point of this?’ im hoping this will be answered in the next book because the story definitely feels unres ...more

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May 20, 2013 Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, romance, awesome-guy, sci-fi

This is a wilderness waiting to swallow me; I’d barely make a dent trying to fight it. There are no rules for me to learn, no points to be scored, no bluffs to be called. This is a hell I’ve never imagined.
And I think I’m going to die here.

A lot of people have been calling this an intergalactic Titanic, and while there are certain similarities, particularly in the beginning of the book, the parallels to that doomed cruise liner ends there. I really liked this book. This is a beautifully written space opera, with elements of the paranormal. The plot is very much survival-based, and more than anything, it is the relationship between the survivors that makes this book stand out.

The writing is beautiful, the descriptions are exceptionally well done, without any elements of purple prose; it flowed exceedingly well, and had I not known that this was a collaboration between two authors, I never would have suspected that this book was co-authored. The romance was well built, and completely believable, although a little overwhelming at times given the environment and the situation. I wound up liking both of the characters, even if I didn't start off that way. Lilac and Tarver's relationship and its development was the best thing about this book. Warning: I wanted to punch Lilac in the face for the first 30% of the novel. She improves, I promise.

With that said, I do have reservations about the book that keeps it from being a great novel, including the slowness of the plot, the unconvincing character of Tarver (however much I love him, and I do love him), and the complete lack of world building.

The plot dragged on at times because an overwhelming part of the book is composed of the pair traipsing through an alien planet, trying to survive an unknown environment. The narrative flows well, but Tarver's character does not seem convincing to me as a male. He feels a lot like Ethan Wates, in the Beautiful Creatures series, for the femininity of his narration. He is a soldier, he is toughness mixed with compassion, but there are certain aspects about his narrative that does not make him feel entirely realistic as an 18-year old boy.

The Summary: Lilac LaRoux is the wealthiest heiress in the galaxy. She has spent her life surrounded by adoring fans, false friends, due to her status as the adored daughter of the galaxy's wealthiest man, a self-made engineer. He is a loving father who suffocates Lilac with his ovoerprotectiveness. Lilac knows that her father is only too willing to destroy any man who dares to come close to his precious only daughter.

Lilac Rose LaRoux. Untouchable. Toxic.
I should’ve been named Ivy, or Foxglove, or Belladonna.

Tarver Merendsen is 18, a war hero, more due to luck than anything. Heavily decorated for a brave act, he is now an honored guest on board the spaceship Icarus, but feels largely like a monkey being paraded around, until one beautiful red-headed girl catches his eyes. Lilac has no choice. She rejects him coldly. Humiliates him in front of a crowd. Lilac knows the consequences if her father finds out that this lower-class young man is interested in his princess.

Despite their distrust of one another, Lilac and Tarver are thrown together in an escape pod when something goes terribly wrong. Something has knocked the Icarus out of hyperspace. The ship is going to be destroyed.

A ripple of white-hot energy shoots through its metal frame. I taste copper, and then the universe goes black with a sound like a thunderclap in my ears. All the lights, the countdown, even the emergency lighting … gone. We’re left in utter blackness but for the stars outside the viewport.
Stars that are no longer stretched thin. The Icarus has been torn out of hyperspace.

The passengers must evacuate in the life pods. The Titanic had over 1100 people on board. The Icarus has over 50,000 passengers, and few survivors.

Their escape pod lands on an alien planet. The air seems safe to breathe, but the environment is nothing like what Lilac has known before. Lilac has grown up in a simulated natural environment, with perfect trees, perfect landscapes, she is unused to the reality of real, unsimulated terrain and its dangers, but she is tougher than she looks. Tarver, as a military man, is much more in command of the situation.

Lilac and Tarver have to work together. She is terrified, afraid, but brave, masking her insecurities with anger and hatred. He is still biting from the humiliation he received on board the ship, angry, frustrated at his attraction to her, despite her attitude. The two have a lot to work through if they are to remain alive long enough to be rescued.

But survival is not all they have to be concerned about. There is something strange going on on this alien planet. There are glimpses of things, shadows of people, disembodied voices. Is it the hallucinations of two minds in shock, or is it something more?

The Premise: One of my sole complaints in the book. Frankly, there is none. It's like being plunged into the middle of a season of Star Trek. Sure, it's entertaining, but man, give us some effing background, would ya? There is absolutely nothing about the past, about the present. There's not much mention of technology besides the hyperspace drive and escape pods and stars and a sci-fi-ish gun. There is nothing about the culture, the history. We don't know why this society is so strictly class-segregated. We know absolutely jack shit about this setting. It is a futuristic novel in name only.

The Characters: Loved them. I didn't expect this, because, as I mentioned, I spent about 30% of the book wanting to punch Lilac in the face, but Lilac turns out to be just the type of female character I like. Lilac is initially imperfect, even abonimable at points, but she matures from the experience; she has character, she is never one-dimensional. Lilac is a spoiled, pampered princess, but she is smart. However, what made me hate her at first was her attitude of "I must be strong: strong means bitchy." She is an absolute terror to poor Tarver in the beginning, as he struggles to get both of them to safety, and she persists on being obnoxious for a large chunk of the novel, in order to feel like she has control of the situation.

His opinion of me is already a lost cause—years later, when he looks back at this escapade, I’d rather he think bitch, than weakling.

Lila starts off being overly stubborn to the point of hurting herself. She is so determined to prove herself strong, right in everything she does that she will not admit to being wrong. Lilac would trample through a forest wearing high heels and a ball gown, for the sake of her pride. In her defense, and I like this about her, she does not complain. She ends up shredding her feet to shreds, and she does not shed a tear. Her pride will only go so far, and Lilac becomes a much more likeable character once she gets over herself. She is not afraid to admit she is wrong.

So yes, I was cruel afterward. I’m cruel because it’s the fastest way to get a man to lose interest, and trust me, I’ve learned how. My father taught me well. And maybe I’m cruel because it’s easy, and because it’s something...something I can be good at.

I really like Tarver's character, he is an absolute gentleman, and if I were to be stranded on a desert island, I'd want him as my partner. However, Tarver's narration does not feel accurate as an actual teenaged male to me. Yes, he is a soldier, but he is overwhelmingly, exceedingly romantic in his perception of Lilac from the very beginning, and as much as I like him, he is unconvincing as a man. He is too effeminate. For example, these are some of his observations about Lilac:

"Both her eyes are marked underneath with dark smears of blue and purple, and one is still marbled black and yellow as her magnificent black eye starts to fade. She’s pale, with new freckles from the sun overhead standing out like punctuation on a page.
But she’s captivating too, maybe more than she was before."

"There are dirty smudges mingling with the freckles all over her face, and that bruise on her cheek. Even in sleep, her mouth is pulled into a straight, determined line.
There are purple half circles underneath her eyes, and she’s sweaty, beat up, and utterly exhausted.
She’s never looked so beautiful."

Tarver's part of the narration is littered with his feelings, how much he finds Lilac beautiful, lovely, captivating. He constantly makes observations on her beauty, her hair, the marks on her face, the ways she enchants him. Tarver is an awesome guy, but he's just not a realistic one.

The Romance: I loved the way the romance between Lilac and Tarver was portrayed in this book. They start out as enemies, and their feelings grew beyond that, into trust, friendship, and something more. It was a really well-written love story. I love seeing from both their narratives, how their feelings and internal conflicts grew and changed, how they got past their reservations, how they gradually fell in love. Sweet is the best word to describe their romance.

Overall, a well-written and interesting novel that is quite different from most YA paranormals and sci-fi out there. ...more

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Jun 17, 2015 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book

I really enjoyed this book the second time around!

The first time I read this book was back in 2015 and I'm not sure why I gave it 2.5 stars. I had an old review that told me some of the reasons but they make no sense to me now!

I loved Tarver and Lilac and yes I wanted to smack them a few times. I always feel like that so it's nothing new.

Lilac is the daughter of one of the richest men if not the richest men and Tarver is a lowly Major that didn't come from a whole lot. They didn't really like ...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Kat Kennedy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-want-for-christmas, sci-fi-alicious, to-ya-or-not-to-ya, fun-fantasy, favorites, kat-s-book-reviews

I can't review this yet. I quite liked it, yet don't know how to describe it.

I know I read it instead of doing Buzz Worthy News, which is a big no-no for me. But I just couldn't help myself. And whilst I won't give anything away, I finished it like I had a spell over me.

Dreamy

"It was nice, ya know? Just real nice..."

Review to come closer to release date. ...more

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Jan 16, 2017 L A i N E Y ~back in a bit~ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: humor-i-get, reviewed, in-space, ooh-chemistry, ya

Normally, I do not like snarky boys, well to be precise, in real life, I don't like my boys with this much snark. But in the case of Tarver, I think it totally worked for him.

I really liked the romance between him & Lilac.

There was no 'insta-love' here. It wasn't quite really that.

I'd called this 'insta-attraction' but that was it. Hallelujah!

...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Christina (Ensconced in Lit) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: won

I won a copy of this ARC from Disney Publishers, and I haven't gotten a chance to read it until now. What a mistake. This is by far my favorite YA read from 2013.

These Broken Stars, written by the duo Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, takes us to space aboard a massive luxury ship, similar to the Titanic. We immediately meet our two main characters-- Tarver, a solider, and Lilac, the daughter of the richest and most powerful man in the universe. Right away, something happens to the ship, and the I won a copy of this ARC from Disney Publishers, and I haven't gotten a chance to read it until now. What a mistake. This is by far my favorite YA read from 2013.

These Broken Stars, written by the duo Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, takes us to space aboard a massive luxury ship, similar to the Titanic. We immediately meet our two main characters-- Tarver, a solider, and Lilac, the daughter of the richest and most powerful man in the universe. Right away, something happens to the ship, and the two of them are stranded on a deserted planet left to forage and survive on their own without help. Slowly, something happens between them, beautiful and fragile. And in the end, Tarver and Lilac will have to make the difficult decision of giving up the wonderful peace they've found with each other to find their way back to civilization.

Any plot synopsis won't do this book justice. The way Lilac and Tarver interact is perfect. The prose is gorgeous. The world building is immense and believable. And I even went along with the science, because it's clear that these two authors have done their homework. Just fantastic. I can go on and on about the lush description, the pitch perfect characterization, and the most successfully done dual POV I have seen maybe ever in YA. I actually wonder if each voice was written by a different author, because the two voices are very unique, and I never wondered whose perspective I was in. Each scene is deliberate, ramping up the tension and the stakes, and ultimately, having us care about these two characters so much that one heart wrenching plot twist is entirely a shock to the system. I had to sit stunned for a day before I could continue, and then devoured the pages until the end to see what happened.

Overall, this book is a gem. I can't think of a single criticism, and my inner writer is salivating with jealousy. I can't say enough how people must read this book immediately. It's beautifully written, described, and characterized with perfect pacing. My favorite YA read of the past year, and I'll be waiting impatiently until I can get my hands on the next installment. ...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Sasha Alsberg rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

an amazing, truly amazing book

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Jul 30, 2013 Molli Moran rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

** Look for my tour stop (hosted by The Midnight Garden) on the blog on 11/25/13 and a chance to enter an awesome THESE BROKEN STARS giveaway! **

5 stars simply isn't enough. Terrific world-building, heart-stopping action, poignant romance, and two of the best written characters I've ever come across.

OR IN GIFS TO EXPRESS MY FEEEEEEEELS:

THESE BROKEN STARS = TITANIC in space. Thus, Tarver = Jack Dawson, and Lilac = Rose.

Let's meet Lilac, aboard the Icarus:

This is Lilac at the beginning of THE ...more

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Jan 27, 2014 "That's All" Ash rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ehh

Good job, Disney!

4-star book.

2-star ending.

Kind of like Miley Cyrus.

photo tumblr_inline_mvgcy21D5U1s294hr.gif

:)

It’s a futuristic sci/fi fantasy book. And the rudiment of the story is that the richest girl in the galaxy gets stranded on a planet with a military boy. So, we’ve all read this story before, right? It’s one that has been done over and over and over again. But the thing with These Broken Stars is that there’s actually a lot of originality in this book! It’s co-written by two brilliant ladies, Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spoo ...more

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Jun 02, 2013 Ari rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-galley-or-author, aussie-and-nz, movie-to-be, best-of, cover-love

This book reminds me why I love reading so much.

...How trilling it is to dive into a new story, a new world, new lives and new adventures that leave me breathless every time!

This was such an unusual & original story! I have nothing to measure it against. It was nothing like I thought it would be. The world building is awesome, the action is trilling, the characters are strong and determined, the turnarounds made me tear a bit and the ending left me full of hope.

THESE BROKEN STARS tells a s ...more

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Jun 20, 2015 Reynita ★ The Night Reader ★ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-reads, i-love-the-cover, warm-my-heart, great-books, original-and-fresh-story, i-cried-over-you, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn-romance, ya-books, paranormal

4.5 Stars

Actually, last year I read a few pages of this book but I did not understand because my English wasn't really good that time so I decided to read another book that I understood.
and then 13 days ago I started reading this book again because I didn't know what to read except this book.
I thought this book would be weird and boring because everytime I think the book will be great, then it will turn out to be boring. But I wronged this time, very very wronged.
I enjoyed this book so much!! I ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Giselle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, arc, signed

Guys! This is not a story about a girl flying in space in a dress! That's only in the first chapter. I swear!

Actually, most of this book is a survival story. After a crash land on an anonymous planet, Tarver and Lilac have to find a way to get along and stay alive amongst the wild animals and Lilac's questionable state of mind. It's not a fast paced read, but rather a slow trek on this mysterious planet full of whispers, visions, ghosts, and other bizarre happenings. This is what keeps it comple Guys! This is not a story about a girl flying in space in a dress! That's only in the first chapter. I swear!

Actually, most of this book is a survival story. After a crash land on an anonymous planet, Tarver and Lilac have to find a way to get along and stay alive amongst the wild animals and Lilac's questionable state of mind. It's not a fast paced read, but rather a slow trek on this mysterious planet full of whispers, visions, ghosts, and other bizarre happenings. This is what keeps it completely enthralling. You get that constant need to read just one more chapter to try and get some answers as to what exactly is happening in this weird place. Is Lilac going insane, or are the voices real?

Told in dual point-of-views, we get the story from polar opposite perspectives. Tarver is on his turf. He was trained to survive in situations like these. He's an award winning leader and expert in motivating people, pushing them to do what is needed to survive. I really enjoyed his strength, his drive, and especially his patience with Lila who, on a completely different standpoint has never been close to being in a situation like this where a ball gown is impractical and things are…. dirty. The character growth that Lila goes through during this ordeal is impressive, and frankly I was so thankful for it. I could have slapped her at the beginning, but she really changes completely until I came to fully adore her. As expected, there's a romance that sprouts between these two. It's sweet and genuine, bringing out an emotional side to the story that becomes fairly monumental when certain unexpected turn of events are strung out at us. I really really wish I could talk about these! *forcefully keeps her mouth shut*

In addition to the dual POV we also get interview sessions between each chapter. These are very brief but full of hidden meaning. I both loved and hated them, however. I disliked them because it tells us from the start that they were rescued and are now being questioned about what happened on the planet. This makes the anxiety in regards to them surviving a little less so. On the other hand, they deepen the mystery just a smudge more when we see Tarver being so strongly interrogated. You just know what they saw on that planet - what we're about to find out - is worth this much scrutiny. In regards to the plot, I can't say much obviously, but it becomes fairly mind-boggling as far as the sci-fi aspect. Some of it I'm still putting together, but overall I was quite impressed with the originality and imaginative nature of it all. Still, this sci-fi conspiracy side of the book was not my favorite - for personal taste more than anything. The main reason I loved it is due to the character oriented, suspense-filled survival story that encompasses 90% of it. Therefore, I'm not sure what I will make of the series as a whole (edit: apparently the others are companions so I'm excited!), but as far as this first installment I couldn't get enough!

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

...more

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Jun 11, 2013 C.G. Drews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: best-of-2013, sci-fi, young-adult, 5-star, aussie-authors, read-2013

Oh. Wow. Just OH WOW. (I swear this review will be a little more coherent. Honest.) This book was TOP of my want-right-now list, because of a) the beautiful cover, and b) YA sci-fi. It did not disappoint. Not even a little bit! It’s so freakishly amazing I want to recommend it to every human, alien, and stray cat. GO READ IT!

Where do I start? I could just say “the entire book from cover to cover is amazing”, but that’s not a helpful review, is it? I shall explain the awesomeness. No. Too much. Oh. Wow. Just OH WOW. (I swear this review will be a little more coherent. Honest.) This book was TOP of my want-right-now list, because of a) the beautiful cover, and b) YA sci-fi. It did not disappoint. Not even a little bit! It’s so freakishly amazing I want to recommend it to every human, alien, and stray cat. GO READ IT!

Where do I start? I could just say “the entire book from cover to cover is amazing”, but that’s not a helpful review, is it? I shall explain the awesomeness. No. Too much. I shall sum up.

Premise? It’s a sci-fi! Of course the premise is awesome. I love the huge space-ships doing warp speed with all their laser guns and stuff. What I DID NOT know though, was that this is a survival book. I don’t know why this isn’t promoted more! That’s awesome. I’ve always loved books like HATCHET by Gary Paulson. And surviving a deserted planet with deathly secrets? Yes, please.

Characters? I adore them. Lilac LaRoux is a “princess”. Not literally, though she might as well be. She’s a stuck-up snob, but not because she wants to be. She does it to protect people. Her father basically controls the galaxy (he’s the stinking rich kind) and he dotes on her. Usually snobs are hard to like at the beginning of books. Not Lilac. Her voice was spot-on. I loved her from the start and never once thought her too complainy or whiny. She was the best. She dual narrates with Tarver.

Where do I begin with Tarver? He’s every bit the epic, young, war-hero, gentlemen. Except that he’s feisty. His humour was awesome! I loved how he was frustrated out of his brain cells because of Lilac, but he was never cruel to her. I love how he kept being a gentleman – no matter what the circumstances, his feelings, his thoughts. Since it’s duel narrated, I was worried their voices would be easy to confuse. No way. They were so different and so alive!

What I loved most about Tarver and Lilac is – they hated each other! It’s hilarious. Of course, they don’t stay that way (it is kind of a romance after all), but they’re so snarky at the beginning. They’re so 3-dimensional.

Between each chapter is a snippet of Tarver being interrogated. You don’t know when it is or why or who’s asking the questions. (It’s like the snippets at the beginning of each chapter in ENDER’S GAME.) I loved these! My only criticism is: some of them sounded the same. I couldn’t decided if they were the best part of the book, or too repetitive.

It’s a big book, but the plot is interesting 99% of the time. I leave off the 1% only because sometimes I felt the chapters will killing time. The same stuff happened. Walk. Sleep. Hate each other. So what? Don’t get me wrong, I adoooored all of that, but I just wish it varied more.

The ending will blow your mind. I don’t say that lightly either! I can’t – I still don’t – woah.

This goes down as one of my best-reads-of-2013. Easily. It’s a sci-fi that’s worth every centimetre of its huge hype. ...more

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Aug 20, 2014 Vanessa J. rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, love-the-cover, sci-fi, young-adult, dnf

DNF at 51%

God, I can't do this to myself. I kept telling myself I must have been reading the wrong book, because EVERYONE loved this, but... I just can't see why.

Many reviewers have described this as Titanic in space, and that is a great description. Thing is, this is a love story. That's all. The first time Tarver sees Lilac, he thinks she's the most beautiful girl there, and it only gets more cheesy and cliched the more I read. Ugh.

When I got to the 50% mark I stopped and asked myself: Why am DNF at 51%

God, I can't do this to myself. I kept telling myself I must have been reading the wrong book, because EVERYONE loved this, but... I just can't see why.

Many reviewers have described this as Titanic in space, and that is a great description. Thing is, this is a love story. That's all. The first time Tarver sees Lilac, he thinks she's the most beautiful girl there, and it only gets more cheesy and cliched the more I read. Ugh.

When I got to the 50% mark I stopped and asked myself: Why am I continuing with this anyway? My brain's answer was silence, and that's when I realised I should stop torturing myself with a book that was giving me headaches.

You see, we are promised an epic journey through space, and that's why I started it. If you didn't know, getting lost in space (or the fact of getting out of Earth) is one of my biggest fears. Think about it: You're getting lost in something that may be infinite. God, no, it's horrible. I wanted to see how this book would manage that situation, but that's not what we got. A summary of what happened up until where I abandoned this was:

Tarver: *sees Lilac* OMG, isn't she so pretty?
Lilac: *sees Tarver* I will let him flirt with me for a while.

*spaceship crashes*

T: Oh, no, my lovebird is in danger! I must risk my life to save her!

*L & T land safely on a weird planet*

T: Well, we made it. Now, are your shoes okay?
L: *looks the high heels she's wearing* Yes.
T: Don't you want to get rid off them? I mean, we are on a desert planet and we know absolutely nothing about it. We might have to run at some point.
L: Nah.

*there's danger and they have to run*

L: Shit, you were right. You can take off my shoes and bandage my feet.

*T does that*

T: Isn't this place cold?
L: Yeah.
T: We must give each other heat. Let me wrap my arms around you.
L: Okay.

That's pretty much everything. Really, where is the survival story? Where is the thrill and terror of being alone is space? But above all, where is the epic sci-fi story I was promised?!?! I don't know and I don't care enough to keep reading. ...more

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Jan 04, 2015 Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-ive-reread

Reread 1/13/16: I don't think re-reading this after Illuminae was a good idea because no other sci-fi book will ever live up for me now. Either way though this was still mega entertaining and I can't wait to finally carry on with the series !

Original review 1/6/15: This book. Oh my god. Drowning in a puddle of my feels for all of eternity ...more

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Jul 02, 2013 Kiki rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, dystopian, awesome-ya, awesome-heroine

Well, this was bloody brilliant. But what did I just read? Tension and telepathy and spaceships, and then romance that I actually gave a shit about (I know, right?) and then a giant twist - a twist so twisty that it's almost physically painful. A twist so twisty, you'll pull a muscle in your back.

Just...

What are you, These Broken Stars?

[Proper review to come.] ...more

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Apr 03, 2018 Aj the Ravenous Reader rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: physically-owned-books, sci-fi, apocalyptic-post-apocalytic, dystopia, young-adult

What started out a space opera ended up in a story of survival out in the wilderness of a strange, abandoned planet and once again, it surprises me how much I enjoyed the book from start to end. In some instances, the reading experience reminded me a little of that when I read Illuminae especially in the last quarter of the story when the plot reveals the ultimate twist explainable by scientific stuff like hyperspace, other dimensions and temporary energy-matter conversion. I won’t pretend to un ...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Mara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, rereads

This book though. These Broken Stars was most definitely my most anticipated release of 2013, with that cover luring me in like sirens do sailors at sea ever since its release announcement. I mean, that cover is probably the most beautiful thing I had seen all year. It has the perfect space odyssey/mythology ratio that just did it for me even way before I knew what the whole story was about. I was so, so happy when These Broken Stars became everything I had hoped for. I finished it in three hour This book though. These Broken Stars was most definitely my most anticipated release of 2013, with that cover luring me in like sirens do sailors at sea ever since its release announcement. I mean, that cover is probably the most beautiful thing I had seen all year. It has the perfect space odyssey/mythology ratio that just did it for me even way before I knew what the whole story was about. I was so, so happy when These Broken Stars became everything I had hoped for. I finished it in three hours without a single break because, yup, it was that good.

These Broken Stars has been helmed as ‘Titanic in space’ so often I couldn’t pass a chance to mention it. It’s a perfect tagline, really, for a story about two star-crossed lovers who travel through space on one of the most advanced ships ever built. Here’s the thing, though, where These Broken Stars manages to make a name of it’s very own – we leave behind the Titanic disaster element of the story fairly early on, morphing into a haunting survival story that reveals evermore injustices of this sci-fi dystopian universe. After the Icarus crashes on an unknown planet, the two leads are faced with an unexplored terrain, an eerie presence that radiates through the lands, and whether or not they have the will and reason to make it out of this tragedy alive.

The book’s opening chapters are incredibly spot-on. We meet both main characters, Lilac LaRoux – daughter to the richest man in the galaxy – and Tarver Merendsen – the youngest war hero of said galaxy – right in the beginning. We immediately know they’re going to be in each other’s lives for far longer than initially set up as, and yet you keep wondering that maybe their stories aren’t going to intertwine for long at all. And that is what makes the crash and their subsequent journey together so much more compelling, because as much as we have learned about them as individuals, they have both so far acted out choices that would have had them not cross paths ever again. Most of the time, early meetings throw me off because I’d rather have a little bit of mystery within the plot, but both Lilac’s and Tarver’s inner monologues work their magic so convincingly, I didn’t mind once. There are doubts about their standpoints all the way through the story, and I think it takes a lot of skill to create characters that are both likable one instance and then dislikeable the next as they temporarily fall back into old patterns. It’s the easiest way to just go ahead and form perfect heroes and heroines out of words who do nothing wrong or who have a character development as fast as light travels, but Kaufman and Spooner have done a wonderful job to create real people instead of plot twist agents. Lilac and Tarver are both stubborn and condescending at times, and yet they are loyal, steadfast and compassionate, too. They both start off the journey with different morals and goals, yet manage to find a common ground throughout their track across the planet’s grass planes and rocky hills, and there’s just something about the connection they form that resonated deeply with me. They really just work so well together. The backdrop of the galaxy being but a small map due to the invention of hyperspace travel further made for such a unique mash with what Lilac and Tarver have to face at the end of the road, and that originality had me tear through the pages as fast as I could. The final 30% or so of the book had me gasping over every new chapter, there are so many bizarre things happening that made for a grandiose finale.

The book’s structure is something that I feel needs a special mention, because every chapter has a 1-page-preface of sorts that consists of dialogue only from an interview being conducted with Tarver that took place at the end of the book. It created a heart-stopping suspense as well as some funny moments. I honestly can’t wait for the second book to arrive, even though that one will be about two new characters, but I’m 100% convinced it will be just as epic as this one. There’s a lot to tell about Kaufman and Spooner’s universe, and I can’t wait to see it unfold! ...more

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Nov 08, 2016 ambsreads rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: best-covers, fantasy, science-fiction, 2017-re-reads, young-adult, not-for-me, contemporary, romance, buddy-read, d-n-f

SECOND ATTEMPT
DNF @ 20%

BUDDY READING with my wife, Caitlin.

I tried. Boy, did I try. I struggled through 20% of pointless interactions and pointless information to give up. This book just isn't for me and I'm sad because I really did want to like this.

In one of her updates Caitlin said this was basically the Titanic in space - I hate the Titanic. I hate the movie with a burning fiery passion of "wtf why did I just waste like two hours of my life??"

The characters are one dimensional for me. I ...more

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Nov 30, 2014 Natalie Monroe rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: not-worth-the-hype, pleasantly-surprised, derp-moments, copycat, when-sparks-don-t-fly, loved-while-reading-but-forgettable, good-but-not-great, what-the-hell-was-that-endings

3.5 stars

“But who names a starship the Icarus? What kind of man possess that much hubris, that he dares it to fall?”

I went into These Broken Stars expecting a Titanic retelling. We all remember what happens at the end; Kate is a dumbass and runs after Jack, then they both get stranded and Jack freezes to death. Also, he never wins an Oscar.

But I digress. My point is, a Titanic retelling has to have at least two things: a sink sinks, and someone dies.

And guess what? No one dies. (view spoil ...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Beth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, sci-fi

Absolutely brilliant. This is the sci fi I've been waiting for! Action, romance, twists and turns--this book has it all! ...more

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Jul 08, 2015 emi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: summer-2015, favorites, girls-kicking-ass, kindle-library, 5-stars, cover-porn, male-protagonist, i-spent-my-money-on-this, book-husbands, books-in-space

~~More like a 3.7. It was going so good, but went downhill a little past halfway into it.~~

Haha, 2015 Emi is such a liar. Ignore everything she said above. She was fresh out of reading Harry Potter and so obviously her views of literature were scewed.

Luckily, we have 2018 Emi here and she is happy to tell you that These Broken Stars is amazing and cheesy and everything she loves in a book. And that ending is weird AF but A+++.

She just really loves this series, okay?

update:
2020 Emi here just droppi ...more

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Nov 04, 2016 Kainat 《HUFFLEPUFF & PROUD》 marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Whatever Amie Kaufman writes, i read. No questions asked. In case some of you don't know, she is also the author of Illuminae and Gemina. SHE IS AMAZING! ...more

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Mar 13, 2015 Mandy K rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya

Full Review

Part Titanic in space, part I Shouldn't Be Alive and part Doctor Who/The Twilight Zone, this is a sci-fi/fantasy/survivor story/romance all in one and I loved it! We start out on the glamourous Icarus, and have just enough time to get a taste for the gigantic luxury spaceliner when she is yanked from hyberspace and sucked into an unknown planets gravity. Our main characters Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merenderson end up in a crew escape pod and just barely survive the crash down to the pl ...more

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May 16, 2018 Lara (Bookish_turtle) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: the-cover-is-so-pretty-i-cant-even, young-adult, read-in-2018, aussie-authors, science-fiction, outer-spacey, i-will-go-down-with-this-ship, 5-stars

This book was not at all what I expected! I thought that this would be quite a typical YA cutesy outer-spacey romance, but oh my goodness. My mind has been blown about seventeen times over. It was incredibly awesome, and everything was so unexpected!

I want to just quickly address the fact that they named the ship Icarus though. I MEAN, SERIOUSLY?! I cringed, ever time I read that.

But ship name aside, WOW!!

The cover is beautiful. My library's edition had a different font, but I'm not changing it ...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Kaufman, Spooner - These Broken Stars [Mar 1, 2021]	3	5	Feb 03, 2021 06:54AM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. 2 young people fall in love on planet-sized space ship. [s]	3	24	Sep 12, 2020 09:55AM
Challenge Corner: Starbound series by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner --> Starting July 10th, 2020	52	9	Sep 01, 2020 10:40AM
Play Book Tag: [Poll Book Tally] These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner 3+ stars	2	8	Jul 04, 2020 12:30PM
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Sci-fi/romance. Set on cruise spaceship that crashes. Rich girl and major in army crash land on nearby weird planet, only survivors. Rich girl is spoiled, soldier doesn't like the wealthy. They learn how to trust and survivor together. [s]	6	686	Mar 25, 2020 08:29PM
Readers Unbound: These Broken Stars	12	15	Sep 30, 2019 07:04AM

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About Amie Kaufman

Amie Kaufman

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Amie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work is slated for publication in over 30 countries, and is in development for film and TV. Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, their rescue dog, and an extrem ...more

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“Major, to what extent did you act upon your feelings for Miss LaRoux?"

"Medium."

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"How am I supposed to answer that question?” — 287 likes

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