Split the Sun

Inherit the Stars #2

by Tessa Elwood

The Ruling Lord of the House of Galton is dead and the nation is divided. Kit Franks, a nobody escalated to infamy since her mother bombed the House capitol city, wishes she were dead, too. Then Mom-the-terrorist starts showing up on feeds and causing planet-wide blackouts and Kit becomes a target.
Kit's inundated with half-truths, betrayals, and the coded subtext in Mom's universal feed messages meant for her alone. Everyone from family to government enforcers seems to have a vision for Kit's future. The question is, does Kit have a vision for herself?

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Young Adult Science Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2016

About the author

Tessa Elwood is a Midwestern web-designer obsessed with stories, coffee, and running shoes. She writes YA sci-fi and is particularly fascinated by messy lives and complicated loyalties.

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Perseus Books Group, Running Press and NetGalley.)

This was a YA sci-fi story, but it wasn’t quite what I expected.

Kit was a bit of a mess in this book, she gave in to people, ran away from people, got dosed, hit, and was generally just all over the place, and it was hard to know what she was going to do next.

The storyline in this was about Kit, following her mother bombing somewhere, and having problems with her family who all wanted to take her apartment from her basically. I did find the storyline in this quite confusing though, and I struggled to see how it related to the first book at all until right at the very end. Needless to say that I didn’t really enjoy this book, and was quite disappointed with it after loving the first book so much.
6 out of 10

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Split the Sun is the second book in Tessa Elwood's Inherit the Stars series but it follows a completely different character than those in Inherit the Stars, on a completely different planet. Kit Franks is the daughter of a terrorist - her mother blew up a lab, killing people and unleashing a virus on the power source for the district. Now Kit needs to deal with the hatred directed at her because of her mother's actions, while also figuring out if her mom left some clues behind for her to follow.

I really enjoyed this one and it's a book I've been anticipating reading because I really fell in love with Inherit the Stars. While I was a bit disappointed Asa and Eagle weren't in this one at all, I did highly enjoy Kit's individual story. And just like Inherit the Stars, Split the Sun was an extremely fast-paced, dramatic read. There were times I felt for Kit a lot as it seemed like she never had a break to even rest, it was always one thing or another.

I really liked the story around Kit and her mother and their history. I think I would have liked a bit more world building, though we got it to some extent with The Prime and how Kit explained who he was. I think people could read Split the Sun before Inherit the Stars and not be too spoiled for the first book as there it very little links between the two - though I hope if there's another book, all the character meet up. I wasn't sure about Kit and Niles relationship at first - it seemed to good to be true and Niles kind of just appeared out of nowhere. I wasn't quite as invested in the relationship as I was with Asa and Eagle's, and I would have been okay if Niles backed away as Kit is a character who can stand on her own two feet.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book though I don't think I was quite as in love with it as Inherit the Stars. I really hope there is a third book!

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I told you to be careful, that they drink death like wine."

This was an okay sequel - full of interesting parts of the world and the people. I remember almost nothing from the first book, so I did my best to catch on quick. The grid and the Archives were interesting to learn about (I didn't remember them from before). However the enforcers and the controllers and the bleeders were all....confusing. I didn't understand the love story and just couldn't get behind him promising her to live every day until he changed their relationship.

It was entertaining and I'm glad I finished the duology.

[Jamie Coudeville · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a weird read. I couldn't really connect to it. We got thrown right into the story without really knowing what was going on and that's how I felt through most of the story. Also, the MC's family really got on my nerves, but I guess that was intentional.

[rachel, x · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I had more to say about this book but it was terrible and completely forgettable. It’s been exactly one week since I read this book and I barely remember anything about it. The biggest distinguishing feature about this book was the nonsensical plotline. There was so much going on and none of it was elaborated on so I spent way too much of my time floundering, trying to piece together the key events. Honestly, this is the type of book that you just cannot write a recap for. Not because of poor memory (though that may be an issue in my case) but because it impossible to know what was happened! I still do not understand how certain events connected together or even what the protagonist was trying to achieve. The whole time I was reading it, I felt like I was a missing a vital piece of information - something that would connect the dots and give me that much needed aha! moment. The synopsis revealed more to me than anything in the book did, and I’m still confused whether this had any major links to the first book or not. Was it just set in the same world?

On top of that, this book did not just suffer from poor world-building, it lacked world-building full stop. It was tough to imagine that the book was set in space. If you ignored some of the mentions of planets and stars you would think it was in your everyday post-apocalyptic world which, for a sci-fi story, is just sad. Also, the fact that world-building was also my biggest problem with Inherit the Stars means that the author has not made any improvements in this area since writing her debut and that is never a good thing.

The characters did worsen the situation. I did not like a single one of them in all honesty. Kit irritated me because she was impulsive and made too many dumb decisions to blame it solely on luck. She jumped to conclusions and was quick to the blame. Her family was also a massive let down. I would have liked to explore their bonds after suffering a trauma like they did but they were all arseholes and I wanted nothing to do with them. Kit’s romance with Whatshisname was another source of disappointment. I strongly dislike relationships built on lies and fraud, and it did not help that they had no chemistry together whatsoever. Their relationship was rushed and awkward - much the same as the romance of Inherit the Stars in fact.

This book also had some troubling portrayal and commentary concerning suicide.

I would not recommend this book.

Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* YA, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3-3.5

*My Thoughts*

Split the Sun, by author Tessa Elwood, is the second installment in the author's Inherit the Stars series. Elwood's story is a young adult, science fiction romance that takes place in a galaxy far, far away. It is a galaxy that is ruled by three houses; Fang, Westlet, and Galton. This story focuses on the House of Galton, the largest of the houses. 18 year old Kreslyn "Kit" Franks, is the only daughter of Millie Oen, former Archivist, data technologist, and person most responsible for bombing Galton House's Archives.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

Expected publication: December 6th 2016 by Running Press Kids

[Sully · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is also posted at http://readingnookandcranny.blogspot....


I received a free ARC of this novel from the publisher for an honest review.

In Split the Sun, the second and final novel in the Inherit the Stars series, we are introduced to a new leading character, Kit. It has been a while since I read the first novel, Inherit the Stars, so I cannot say with full confidence that this novel does not link back to the original in any way other than the universe, but for me Split the Sun did not trigger any recollections of the first novel.

My fundamental issue with Split the Sun is that I honestly can't really tell you what the plot was supposed to be. Elwood works on a handful of different subplots, but none of them take center stage to grab the reader's attention. If I had paid closer attention to the synopsis of the book, it alone would have given me this clue as even the summary seems to be a bit everywhere with no real focus. I have never done this type of review before, but here's the synopsis from Goodreads below with my comments thrown in.



The Ruling Lord of the House of Galton is dead (this does feel a bit like carry over from the first novel, as I seem to recall the characters in the first one causing all sorts of havoc.  But again, I can't be certain), and the nation is in shock—or celebrating, depending on the district. Kit Franks would be more than happy to join him. (you mean 'them' right, not 'him'.  Who is 'him'?)



Kit’s mother bombed the digital core of the House, killing several and upending the nation’s information structure (this feels like this should have been the core plot for the novel.  Political intrigue laying the ground work for a great dystopian where the common man rises up against the totalitarian government bottle-necking and controlling all the dwindling resources in the solar system). No one wants the daughter of a terrorist. Kit lost her job, her aunt wants her evicted (this is a major subplot that takes a lot of focus away from whatever the main plot was supposed to be.  Her relationship with her aunt and her cousin plays a heavy part in what is going on, as Kit inherited her grandmother's apartment upon her death, and her aunt and cousin has a big beef over that.  Unfortunately, her annoying aunt and her drug addicted cousin don't add much interest to the story at all), her father is using her as a shield against a drug lord (her father follows the same story line as her aunt and cousin.  She isn't close to him, he has some serious drug/gambling issues - I honestly don't even remember which it was - and causes all sorts of problems when he tries to crawl back into her life to mooch off of her.  Again, it does nothing to grab the reader's attention.  If anything, it was Elwood's attempt to make readers emphasize with Kit, but she handles everything so poorly with all the matters relating to her family that it's hard to sympathize with her), a group of political rebels need Kit to ignite an interplanetary war (I almost forgot this happened.  Another example of the most interesting aspect of the novel being lost in the host of other issues that plague the story.  Kit keeps getting kidnapped and drugged, but she's too busy worrying about her dead mom, her deadbeat family, and her love interest to really focus on what should be very disconcerting), and the boy two floors down keeps jacking up her suicide attempts—as if she has a life worth saving (a classic, cliched young adult love at first sight/instalove case for these two unfortunately.  Their snarky banter had some potential but was wasted with everything else happening)



When Mom-the-terrorist starts showing up on feeds and causing planet-wide blackouts, everyone looks to Kit for an answer. The rebels want Mom on their side (mom who is alleged dead, by the way). The government needs to stop Mom’s digital virus from spreading before there’s no record of government left (this part wasn't entirely clear to me in the book even.  I remember some hacking of video feeds and the like, but did not even realize it was a virus type issue until I got towards the very end). Both sides will do anything, destroy anyone, to make Kit crack. They believe she’s the key to Mom’s agenda and the House’s future. Worst of all, they may be right (this whole plot is so bogged down by poor planning that it's kind of hard to follow and loses most of its momentum to other plots going on in tandem).


Kit’s having dreams she can’t explain, remembering conversations that no longer seem innocent, understanding too much coded subtext in Mom’s universal feed messages. Everyone, from Mom to the rebels, has a vision of Kit’s fate—locked, sealed, and ready to roll. The question is, does Kit have a vision for herself (it seems like she wants to kill herself, which is a vision I guess)?


Tessa Elwood’s final book in the Inherit the Stars series introduces readers to a strong, unique heroine who must chart her own destiny against a minefield of family ambitions and political agendas (I do have to say again that I enjoyed Kit's snark.  But I would not necessarily call her strong or unique.  More like desperate not to lose her home and weak to her family and her nosy neighbor's cookies).

[Christaaay · Rating 1 out of 5]

We killed all independent planets outside house borders by extracting fuel from their cores. And once we burn through all the garnered energy, where do we think the next batch will come from? Right now, planets on the Brink are rationed down to five hours of energy a day, while here we gawk at nonstop ad-screens and control the temperature outside.

House Galton has a rebellion on its hands: citizens from independent planets want revenge on Galton’s empire for destroying their planets to steal energy for wasteful consumption. Unfortunately for Kreslyn “Kit” Franks, the Enactors think she's involved in the rebellion. But unlike Kit’s mother, a terrorist who blew up the nation’s digital core, Kit herself was never involved in the rebellion. She just wants to survive the fallout. That becomes more difficult as her mother’s terrorism continues, and everyone looks to Kit for a solution she doesn’t have…or does she? YA Sci-Fi, Romance. Will be published December 6, 2016. Thanks to Tessa Elwood, Running Press & Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of Split the Sun.

That sounds like a cool premise, right?

What I Liked: (1) The cover. Isn't it gorgeous? (2) The worldbuilding of book II was much improved over book I; although there was less emphasis on politics, until the very end, the author brings some texture to the blank slate of book I’s intergalactic milieu. (3) The premise. It’s a cool idea.

The Problem: The premise was buried in distractions and I spent most of the first 70% trying and failing to decipher a plot line. I didn’t understand, for most of the book, that the real conflict came from energy politics.

Most of the conflict appeared to come from two places: Kit’s family dispute over the basic essentials of living off the streets—money, housing and drugs; and the romantic tension between her and Niles, a mysterious neighbor boy who won’t leave her alone, even as Kit says (over and over again) that she wants him to. Neither of these conflicts was very interesting and I couldn’t decipher the plot through their distractions. As a result, I was bored, confused and irritated throughout most of the book.

Let’s talk about Kit, for a minute. I liked her, at times. Case in point, her snark, exemplified here in her description of her apartment building:

“I swear something died in the elevators once, and you can always spot visitors by who hits the call button.”

She’s a tough, scrappy girl, eking out a living and caring for a thankless family. Her humor adds lightness to the heavy setting and tension.

But I didn't enjoy being in her head. Her prickly, dark personality makes her difficult to get along with, even for the kind people in her life (few and far between though they are). Here’s a normal conversation between Niles and Kit:

“‘So, how are your feet?’ ‘None of your business.’ ‘Are you bleeding anywhere else?’ ‘Why do you care?’ ‘Just making conversation.’ ‘Don’t.’”

Can you guess which one is Kit?

I also found myself bored, reading from her perspective. In her plot arc, she's a constant victim of other people’s avarice, instead of a proactive agent for positive change (like Asa Fane was, in book I, Inherit the Stars). During the first 70%, Kit doesn’t engage the real problem of the book—she avoids it; and it’s hard to root for her, if she's not working on the problem and illuminating the clues for the reader.

I think the author withheld secrets (like the purpose of Kit's mother's terrorism) to keep readers wondering, in suspense, "Who is really the antagonist, here? Kit’s mom? The gang of goony kids who chase Kit around the city? The author doesn’t reveal until much later that these are the energy rebels. The Enactors?"

Unfortunately, the lack of information left me in confusion, not in suspense. Kit wasn't chasing "other" bad guys who turned out to be benign, or something like that; she was just trying to survive, which was completely unrelated to the real plot. As a result, her actions during the first 70% felt inconsequential and the pace felt like it dragged.

The last 30% of the book was a marked improvement, in my reading experience. All of a sudden, clues were making sense and I was much less frustrated. One of my favorite moments in the book was discovering the true identity of the philosopher Gilken.

But this book had so many problems, I would have DNFd it, if it wasn’t my very first Netgalley arc: I didn’t get the answers I was hoping for, after the cliff-hanger of book I; the prose didn’t improve much, if at all; and this sequel lacked the speed, tension and drive of book I.

Recommendation: Book I, with its quick pacing, complex milieu politics and proactive, sympathetic protagonists, might still be worth reading, since these books are standalones; but I recommend skipping book II.

If you liked this review, you can read more of my speculative fiction reviews on my blog, here.

[Laurence R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not what I was expecting. I liked the story, but I was hoping that it would be more about Inherit the Stars. I also feel like things were going too quickly sometimes because I had a hard time following the storyline.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first book but still enjoyable.

I do wish Kit had been less impulsive and stupid some of the time.

Disclaimer: An advanced reader copy has been provided through Netgalley for reviewing purposes.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Split The Sun mixes fast-paced and edgy drama, action, family, romance and one hell of a resilient character to create an addictive story.

Kit has achieved a status of notoriety thanks to her mother blowing up their planet's archive. Kit is left feeling both guilt and hopelessness, despite her ignorance about her mother's deadly plans, despite what the rest of the planet chooses to think about her. But it seems like no one will let Kit fade into the obscurity she craves - not the crowds who lay blame, the government who seek answers, a rebel group of protestors that think Kit might live up to her mother's apparent glory, her family who only want to take from her, nor the boy who lives in the apartment above Kit. Kit will need to decide what she will fight for - if anything.

Split The Sun is the second book in the Inherit the Stars series. It is more like a companion book, with a different set of characters and different plot line, but set in the same world and with the same mix of action, sci-fi adventure and romance. I think I enjoyed Split The Sun more than I did Inherit The Stars. Both are great books but I really connected with Kit. I had initially expected Split the Sun to continue the story of Eagle and Asa from Inherit the Stars, but wasn't disappointed at all in Kit. She is a fantastic character. Continually knocked down, she is on the very edge of giving up and yet she cares so much about people, does everything she can for the people that treat her like rubbish. Her resilience and strength is amazing.

It's really interesting to read a sci-fi from the perspective of basically a minor player in the world's politics and ruling class. She's not the princess who must save them all. She's not someone with all the answers. She's just a girl who has had a rough life, left to deal with the mistakes of her parents. And yet, unbeknownst to her and against her wishes Kit has the chance to make a difference to her both her own life and her planet's. Split The Sun reads like a contemporary but with the very cool technology and setting of a sci-fi.

The romance is a great addition to this story. Tessa Elwood has a knack for writing characters and partnerships that blossom naturally through time and circumstance. Kit might start off disliking her dark-haired neighbour, resenting his continual appearances and interference, but she's drawn to him, his quirky smile and gentle nature.

This book really has so much going for it. While the Split The Sun's timeline follows on from the end of Inherit The Stars I think the books could be read in any order.

The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Find more reviews on my blog Madison's Library.

[Elevetha · Rating 2 out of 5]

*An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

2.5 stars.

Granted, this is an ARC, so some things might change before publication, but that being said, this had a lot of issues. One of the biggest being that Inherit the Stars really needed more of a sequel than a companion novel, and this is very much a companion novel. I mean, it's set in the same universe and low-key mentions a couple big players from ITS but...that's it. Which might have been okay if this book also didn't feel like it could use a sequel or a stronger ending.

Also, things were a little discombobulated, especially near the beginning and then again in the last quarter. Though we did end up with mostly a complete story in this book, I still felt like a lot of the details of what was going on were unclear.

As far as the characters went, though I did like Niles and, yes, Kit, she could be a real bitch sometimes. And I don't say that lightly. I realize that she's had an extremely rough go of it and is very emotional and actually straight-up suicidal, but when one minute she's making out with Niles and acting like he's the greatest thing that's ever happened to her (he is) and the next she's treating him like trash, she doesn't lend herself for the readers to ever really LIKE her. I would have, personally, appreciated a little less romance, especially considering Kit's mental and emotional state and everything that was going on plot-wise. Plus, it felt like it was pretty much just making-out, and then it was made to seem like it was more meaningful, but it still just read like making out.

Super duper appreciated the GKC nods throughout and in the Author's Page. Niiice.

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked on this book from the first three sentences: “MY SANDAL’S INTENT ON DESTRUCTION. IT SLIDES OFF my foot and drops eighteen stories. Maybe it longs to be lethal, kill a pedestrian” – how could you not be smitten? The writing in this book is exceptional, and along with a great story line, it is not a book to be missed.
This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I didn’t know about the first book before finishing this one, but now have to get hold of it, as – on the strength of this book - the author is so good.
The heroine of the tale is Kit. She has been willed a nice apartment by her dying grandmother, on the understanding that none of the rest of her dysfunctional family spend any time there. Her vengeful aunt (““Don’t be like that.” She all but drips sugar, even as her next smoke ring hits my ear”) along with an incumbent drug addled, dangerously indebted son want to wrest it from her. Her alcoholic and likewise heavily indebted father wants to move in. And if that wasn’t bad enough, her mother has just blown up the Archive, which is the most important repository of information and records on the planet, and essential to finding the next in line to the hereditary ruler post, to avoid an interplanetary takeover. Kit’s mother, who had abandoned her in childhood, died in her explosion, leaving Kit with the sins of the mother to become the most hated person on the planet. With an entire planet (and the people of another) against her, she finds it very difficult to trust the mysterious Niles (“His scent has layers. Open with undercurrents. Like the city up high, at night on the rooftop, but more . . . boy”), who seems to want to help her.
On the surface, this is a personal story about a girl fighting against impossible odds, foisted upon her by family and strangers. Everyone wants something from her, that she may not be able to give. But, as with all great scifi stories, this has a wider remit. Who suffers that we can live in luxury? Does our welfare (personal and planetary) trump that of others? Of their very existence? Do people in genuine fear of their lives have the right to use any means they feel necessary to avoid their fate?

On Kit’s head is the fate of her family – and of the planet: “ “Niles,” I say. Flat, suspended. I’m suspended. The world balanced in an eye of calm.”. What can she do?
The book ends with a wonderful (though mathematically rather dubious) quote: “Words can’t express the dead space between isolation and having one ally. Four may be twice two, but two is not twice one. Two is two thousand times one.”
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Saruuh Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Inherit The Stars - the world, the characters, the romance, all of it. This book ... not nearly as much. I liked the romance. The story itself was part cool, part strange. I just didn't get why Kit was involved, why she cared at all. And it didn't make sense that she knew nothing about her mum's motive but also knew her secrets at the same time. I just couldn't figure Kit out. BUT I like that she's mean, and unlikeable, and brash. I like that in my ladies - we don't all have to be sweetness and nice.

I liked the romance too. It was pretty sweet, with a layer of angst and drama. And the plot was pretty interesting, even if there were too many people and events to really keep track of and I didn't understand what was driving Kit or what the main storyline really was. But it was decent and interesting and I liked Niles a whole lot. My favourite part was the throwaway reference to the marriage between Fane and Westlet - my babies! - which says a lot about which book I really loved.

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read 130 pages and skimmed the rest. I didn't like it. The characters were questionable and annoying, I didn't feel like there was any kind of plot or agency from Kit, everything just happened to her and she responded with utter teenage hormonal rage and angst. I didn't know what I was expecting since this was the second book in the series and I read it on a whim that maybe it'd be a continuation of the first, but it felt too discombobulated to make sense of, and wasn't interesting enough to read fully. Not my cup of tea.

[Seabrooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I actually thought this book was better than Elwood's debut, in terms of strength of plot, though no one could beat the slow build of Asa and Eagle's love arc, let's be honest. I felt this book could perhaps have been 30 or 40 pages longer to flesh out some worldbuilding and characters / side arcs, but I still really enjoyed it. I do hope Elwood ends up writing more books, despite the reception of these two.

[Yi Chen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book on a bench in school and, I got attracted to the cover. At first, I thought that this book would be really interesting to read, but once I flipped through the first twenty pages; I lost interest.

As a young adult, I feel that this book could be better if the plot is organized. The chapters are not titled, so I get lost really easily.

The description of the futuristic world is really creative, but the plot and story development could be better.

[Meghann Vdv · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story that it could've been.

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Ginger Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previewed would finish

[Sigourney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received from NetGalley for review.

3.5 stars

‘History records, but stories ground us. Prove that these limitless terrors have a limit, that our universe holds something greater than darkness and stronger than fear.’

Split the Sun is set in the same universe as Inherit the Stars, this time on the planet of Galton, but the two stories don’t really cross over apart from that. It tells the story of eighteen-year-old Kit, who finds herself suffering from the repercussions of her mother’s actions – blowing up the Archives and killing Lord Galton. Everyone seems to want something from Kit – information on what her mother was planning, either to bring her down (the government) or hold her up as a god (the Brink kids who don’t want their planet destroyed).

The story itself is incredibly fast-paced and action packed with a narrative that is wonderfully easy to read, but I found that it lacked enough depth and substance for me to become completely invested it in. As with Inherit the Stars the world building doesn’t really exist – Galton is simply there and always has been, as has the museum where Kit used to work. The basic premise is that Millie Oen has blown up the Archives and killed Lord Galton after discovering the destroying of planets to provide the three main houses with energy, and continues to wreak havoc across Galton. There’s not much more of a backstory than that, although we do learn more about Kit as the story progresses. I enjoyed reading this more than Inherit the Stars, but I think that was largely down to Kit being a much more relatable and badass character, and the romance between her and Niles being way more enjoyable than Asa and Eagle.

I really felt for Kit. Her family, with the exception of her recently deceased Grandma Yonni, are all useless scumbags who only think of themselves and only want Kit for their own advantage. She finds herself ostracized because of her mother’s actions and targeted by her family for money and help as Yonni left her everything. She feels the blame for her mother’s actions deeply, so accepts people’s actions towards her which is something I’ve never really grasped; I don’t quite know why people place the blame for other’s actions on themselves and feel they deserve any negativity they receive because of it. There’s the potential for some depth with Kit – she’s lost her Grandma, her parents, her job, all because of something out of her control, but I feel that the suicide angle Elwood used didn’t work. Kit frequently considers jumping off buildings and into traffic because of her situation, and I would be completely invested in her mental health issues if they were properly explored but, as with the world building, it lacks depth and exploration.

Many of the secondary characters were infuriating, if fairly bland – Kit’s family are largely repulsive and made my blood boil with their actions, but their appearances were brief enough to push them aside. Yonni was a babe, though. The story mostly revolves around Kit dealing with the aftermath of the Archives being destroyed, and then the relationship that blossoms with the equally troubled Niles, who lives in the same building as her. I have to admit, I did enjoy the relationship between Kit and Niles; Niles was there for Kit as a friend (even though she didn’t think she wanted one) and looked out for her before the inevitable romance happened, and there was something about the pairing that had me rooting for them. Everyone needs someone to look out for them and I’m glad Kit had Niles.

Split the Sun is definitely the more compelling of Elwood’s books, but it is still a mostly superficial story that centres around Kit and Niles, and the aftermath of her mother’s actions. There’s no denying, however, that it is a quick and compulsive read, and a brilliant book to pick up for some not-too-heavy space adventure fun.

[Glittery · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was nice to see the House of Galton and the interaction in how the government works. The House of Westlet & House of Fane were briefly mentioned. I am curious to see more books in the series to give more character interaction after the events in both books. It was well written and enjoyable

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I managed to do it again - begin with the second book in the series… So has it impacted on my understanding and enjoyment of this fast-action, foot-to-the-floor adventure?
As it happens, this time around I’ve got away with it as Elwood has shifted the action and focus on a completely different protagonist to those featuring in her first book Inherit the Stars. This book is all about Kit, who has had a hard time of it – the only person in her life who saw fit to spend time and energy on her upbringing has recently died. And on top of that, her mother has just been revealed as the perpetrator of a catastrophic attack on the city, killing dozens and inflicting ongoing damage on the systems used to run and control the administration necessary to run everything.
Kit finds herself the centre of attention – and not in a good way. The book starts with her attempting to fling herself off a building. Needless to say, that doesn’t happen. But the story then takes us on a roller-coaster ride as Kit is harried by events and folks who want information out of her – and in amongst all the fighting and fleeing, she has to discover who she is and what she wants.
Elwood’s writing is intense and Kit’s spiky persona pings off the page. I had originally intended to pick this one up, read a few pages and then settle down to sleep. Except I didn’t – the Kindle just wouldn’t leave my hands as I continued pressing the pages to discover what would happen next. Elwood’s ability to interweave Kit’s dysfunctional past amongst all the mayhem falling on her head is impressive and had me fiercely rooting for her. While romance isn’t normally my thing, Elwood handles the unfolding relationship between Kit and Niles really effectively so this doesn’t suddenly transition into a soft-focused lurve story after being a fairly gritty adventure – a transformation I personally hate. Kit’s growing attraction to Niles isn’t the centre of her existence, and something she tries to put into context, not surprising given everything else that’s going on around her. I was initially a bit concerned about Niles, but grew to like him more and more as the book progressed, which is a testament to Elwood’s writing skill. I’m generally immune to buff and endearing love interests…
My one grizzle – and it is normally a dealbreaker – is that the conclusion is slightly fumbled. The non-stop action needed to slow down just a tad more at the end in order to allow the reader to fully catch up with the events that wrapped up the storyline. However, I’ll even forgive Elwood this – she has written a cracking adventure tale set in the far future with an engaging enjoyable protagonist and took me with her on the action-packed journey. Great stuff!
Receiving a copy of Split the Sun from the publisher via NetGalley has in no way affected my honest opinion of this book.
8/10

[Lauren - SERIESous Books]

-- Want to know if the whole series is worth reading? Read my overall review of the whole series at seriesousbookreviews.com! Spoiler Free!

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**

DNF'd at 33% (pg 95/290)

This book wasn't really what I was anticipating for the sequel. I was expecting a continuation of Asa and Eagle's story truthfully, not the introduction of a new character that I would have to reorient myself with.

Kit provides an interesting side to the overall plot of this series. She's a regular person with regular problems who is stuck dealing with the consequences of the previous leads' actions. It's something as a critic I can appreciate. Inherit the Stars focused on the politics and higher society aspect while Split the Sun changes the focus to the people who are directly impacted by their choices. But the reader in me just wanted more.

For that first 33% of the book, nothing was really happening. It was mostly Kit moaning about her problems (and she has a lot) and going through the motions which isn't interesting to me. I needed some action or even a hint of where the plot was going to keep my interest. I think the plot had just started to show its potential direction just before I stopped but I wasn't as invested in Kit's story as much as I wanted to be (even if I sympathized with her situation).

So while I appreciate the direction this series wanted to go by changing the lead characters, I didn't like the execution of it at all. I would have much preferred a direct sequel of Asa and Eagle's storyline.

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-11S
Actual Rating: DNF'd

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley.

I LOVED the first book in the series inherit the stars so I was super excited to receive a chance to read this one. I was disappointed to see that it wasn’t about Asa & Eagle from the first book but prepared to enjoy it nonetheless, based on how much fun the first one was.

Sadly I found it nowhere near as good. The story was somewhat boring and I didn’t like suicidal, doormat Kit as a heroine. Her decision to let her horrible family walk all over her, the way she had kind of given up on life , her half hearted suicide attempts all these things made me not care what became of her. My main complaint with book one was the scarcity of world building and explanation about the world. And in this one there was even less! Plus despite being billed as the second book in a duology this story had nothing to do with the first book. The only thing in common was that it was set in the same universe.


Merged review:

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley.
I LOVED the first book in the series inherit the stars so I was super excited to receive a chance to read this one. I was disappointed to see that it wasn’t about Asa & Eagle from the first book but prepared to enjoy it nonetheless, based on how much fun the first one was.
Sadly I found it nowhere near as good. The story was somewhat boring and I didn’t like suicidal, doormat Kit as a heroine. Her decision to let her horrible family walk all over her, the way she had kind of given up on life , her half hearted suicide attempts all these things made me not care what became of her. My main complaint with book one was the scarcity of world building and explanation about the world. And in this one there was even less! Plus despite being billed as the second book in a duology this story had nothing to do with the first book. The only thing in common was that it was set in the same universe.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I'm rather fond of this series. It's unfortunate there won't be a book three because I think this world still has a lot to offer.

As with book one, my biggest frustration with this book was the complicated worldbuilding. There's both a political power structure and an almost endless supply of futuristic sci-fi technology that seems interesting, but it's not fleshed out nearly enough to be anything but confusing and therefore mildly annoying. It also didn't help that I remembered very little of the more technological aspects of the first book.

Where this series shines brightest for me is in its characters and stories. In book one, it was Asa I found most captivating - her courage, strength of conviction, and ability to look beneath the surface and love someone who believed he was unloveable. Book two brings us another intriguing protagonist in Kit, as well as a charmingly flippant love interest named Niles. Also of note: almost everything about this story feels completely different from book one. As with Asa, Kit is sometimes...unusual. But her character worked for me in a really big way, partly because she didn't react at all the way I expected her to in several situations. For me, these moments were the difference between just an "okay" book and one that had me on the edge of my seat for the last 50%, all without managing to be a huge let down in its resolution (I'm looking at you The Fate of the Tearling and almost every thriller I've ever read).

There is a prequel novella of some sort that goes with this series that I know is available through my library. I think perhaps I should read it and see if it clears up any of my more technical questions. If not, well I hope the author finds another way to publish further books in this series because I would certainly read them.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this to read from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The protagonist, Tess, is not drawn as clearly as would've been ideal. Nevertheless, she's a sympathetic character with the world aligned against her, and it's always hard not to root for the underdog! It's harder to understand her sympathy for a father who was never a father to her, and for a cousin who clearly has no respect for her. Tess's quest to survive is moderately compelling.

I hadn't read the first book in the series, and was a little confused about the House system and government of this world. Afterwards, I went back and read the first book, and continued to be confused. It's clear that the Houses rule the worlds, and that each house has its own planet or set of planets, but that's as far as it's laid out. I think this book would have benefited from an appendix or some explanation of the planetary systems, so that, going in, the reader can understand what it means that Tess's mother destroyed the archives.

Overall, it was a quick read, and somewhat entertaining.

[Yara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. After loving the first book, I was so excited when I got an arc for this. What a disappointment. It was difficult for me to follow the main character, she was all over the place. I understand that the author was probably trying to show the other side of the tracks (the first book starred a princess), but even with everything pitted against her, it was hard for me to like, understand, or connect with Kit. The last 15% of the story was its saving grace. I was also really disappointed that this duology didn't have any of the same characters, only mentioned like seeing them on tv or something.

[Toni House · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Split the Sun" Scfi-YA novel, book 2 in and two book series. I was looking forward to reading this book. Once because of the cover and two because of the description of a young female heroin. Kit the main character did have a lot going on around her, with her mother being a terrorist and her father fighting against a drug lord and Kits own suicide attempts, the story seemed disjointed and clunky.

But, teens and young adults will still enjoy the book. Especially if they have read book one first.

I received a digital copy of the book through Net Galley for an honest review.

[Chelsea DiCicco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my, goodness! Where do I begin? Did I love this story? Yes! I was captivated the entire time and enjoyed every complex moment. Wonderful! If I could give you more than five stars I would. Just so enjoyable. I read this in two days, unable to stop. If I had not been working one of those days, it would have been finished in one day. I loved the main character and very much enjoyed the surrounding characters as well. I don't want to give any spoilers but this is definitely a book I would recommend reading.