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Amid Stars and Darkness

(The Xenith Trilogy #1)

Chani Lynn Feener (Goodreads Author)

3.93 · Rating details · 1,025 ratings · 239 reviews

Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage.

Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the even ...more

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Hardcover, 368 pages

Published July 18th 2017 by Swoon Reads

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May 19, 2017 Chelsies Reading Escape rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-releases, series-to-finish, amazing-books

Not sure if Im going to write a review for this. Let me know if you want one. Biggest freaking cliff hanger ever. I need the sequel more than oxygen. Seriously.

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Jun 30, 2017 Rebekah rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017, clean, fantasy, ya-addiction, sci-fi

Now, this was more than I was expecting! The synopsis of this book definitely intrigued me and I was lucky enough to read this early! But I will say this totally exceeded my expectations! YAY!

This story is about aliens. Yes, aliens. Not the kind you’re thinking of though. Aliens have been living among us and then some time ago they came out. There are those like them here and those who don’t. Delany is one who doesn’t really care for them. Not interested in knowing about them or anything. So whe Now, this was more than I was expecting! The synopsis of this book definitely intrigued me and I was lucky enough to read this early! But I will say this totally exceeded my expectations! YAY!

This story is about aliens. Yes, aliens. Not the kind you’re thinking of though. Aliens have been living among us and then some time ago they came out. There are those like them here and those who don’t. Delany is one who doesn’t really care for them. Not interested in knowing about them or anything. So when her best friend drags her to a club so she can finally meet this hot alien bartender she’s been chatting with online, Delany isn’t thrilled. But for the love of friendship she goes, after bumping into a girl she decides to leave and is kidnapped.

Delany tries to get away but when her attacker keeps calling her by the name of Lissa Olena she quickly tries to tell him that he’s got the wrong person and that he needs to let her go. Sadly it isn’t until she is taken to another planet that it becomes apparent to the kidnapper who is Ander Rukus that he indeed has the wrong person!

Here’s the thing, Delany looks exactly like the princess Lissa Olena and she was supposed to return home to marry another alien to form an alliance and if she isn’t there to fulfill her end of the deal then it’s major war between these two alien nations. No bueno. Now let’s get this clear these “aliens” look EXACTLY like humans they just come from other planets. Alright, cool.

What I liked about this story is, I felt the author did a fantastic job of coming up with different name platforms just a “Zane” for “Prince” or “Ander” for something equivalent to “Major” or “Sergeant.” The world building was great and I liked how they aren’t human but they look human so nothing too sci-fi which is appreciated for me although there are a few physical differences.

I really enjoyed Zane Trystan. He is the fiance, he’s cold, brooding, extremely perceptive and smart. There is history behind the Lissa and the Zane and no love what-so-ever between them so when the Zane thinks Delany is the actual Lissa so there is A LOT of hate. But I can’t tell you how much I LOOOOOOVE Zane and the more you read of him and the extremely slow progress with his character the more you’ll like him.

Ander Rukus, by all means, is a very GOOD guy but for me, he was just that. Good, nothing really special about him but I do appreciate that he is overall good.

There is an ever so slight possibility of a love triangle which I’m okay with because I am SO TEAM ZANE TRYSTAN! And all I can say is, IT BETTER BE TRYSTAN! He isn’t a good guy BUT he isn’t totally bad either. Read the book you’ll know what I mean.

Overall I was very much afraid I was going to be totally disappointed in this book, but indeed I WAS NOT! This is a book I would totally own!!!!

Sexual Content: mild
Language: mild
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
Violence: moderate

*Thank you, Macmillan and Swoon Reads, for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.* ...more

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Jul 02, 2017 Alyssa rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2017-releases

Nope nope nope.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Amid Darkness and Stars by Chani Lynn Feener
Book One of the Xenith trilogy
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: July 18, 2017
Rating: 2 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage.

Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alie ...more

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Jan 16, 2020 Amelia rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, 2017, romance

Definitely better than expected, this book had some interesting points.

Even though this book is not the best, actually everything about it is "okay" and "decent enough", it was a lot of fun. Honestly, I flew through it. I expected a lot of cringeyness and no plot, but I was pleasantly surprised that wasn't the case. There was a tiny bit of cringe but only at the end where the author for some reason added "she released a breath she didn't know she was holding" TWICE, but I can get past that. Als ...more

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Jul 23, 2017 Stacee rated it really liked it

Shelves: physical-arc, contains-the-evil-sentence, doctor-who-reference, read-in-2017

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but it was pretty interesting.

I loved Delaney. She's sassy and strong and smart. She stands up for herself and knows how to defend herself and I was really entertained by reading her go through this. Ruckus and Trystan are both interesting characters in their own ways.

Plot wise, it's pretty fast paced. It's starts off with a bang and doesn't quite let go. There are explosions and gun fights and swoons and sweetness and banter for days. My only real c ...more

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Jul 05, 2017 Jackie rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

Ahhh I really liked this one!!!! AND THAT ENDING. WHAT. ARE YOU SERIOUS. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK N O W

(RTC)

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Jun 09, 2017 Alyssa Janine Busia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, 5-stars, reviewed-2017, science-fiction, aliens, arc

Amid Stars and Darkness is an enthralling, engaging, and exciting piece of work by Chani Lynn Feener.

The story was all about Delaney being kidnapped and mistaken as Olena, the alien princess. She was taken to their planet. Now, she has to pretend as the Princess or else there will be war, and it might also lead to human enslavement. But, pretending was not easy because aside from assassination attempts, she also needs to be careful around Prince Trystan, and she needs to control her feelings for Amid Stars and Darkness is an enthralling, engaging, and exciting piece of work by Chani Lynn Feener.

The story was all about Delaney being kidnapped and mistaken as Olena, the alien princess. She was taken to their planet. Now, she has to pretend as the Princess or else there will be war, and it might also lead to human enslavement. But, pretending was not easy because aside from assassination attempts, she also needs to be careful around Prince Trystan, and she needs to control her feelings for Ruckus.

I am not fond of aliens story, but after reading this book, I am already thinking of reading the other books with the same theme. This novel let me see how aliens can live and co-exist with humans, and I could say that it’s exciting to see it happens in reality.

The story-line is incredible, especially how the author has written this book. Her writing style engrossed me and I know, when I read one, that her other books will also engage and entertain me. I like how her work can pull me into the story she had created and how I feel like I’m there, watching how it all played in front of my eyes as if I’m just watching a great show.

The characters really entertained me. I am still not sure whom I like for Delaney to end up with. I like Ruckus for her, but I also like Trystan. Well, I’m more of shipping Trystan and Delaney, but I can’t deny that Delaney also has this chemistry with Ruckus. I hate how the author gave her two amazing guys! And no, I won’t ship Trystan and Delaney anymore. I want her to end up with Ruckus, and then Trystan would be mine. Just kidding haha! Seriously, both of the guys have great chemistry with her. For me, the chemistry between Delaney and Trystan is much greater than with Ruckus.

Talking about Delaney, she was somehow rebellious, and it was because of her parents. She liked pulling some annoying acts just to irritate her father. She was also smart and tough. Pretending to be a princess was really hard, especially when her personality with the real Olena differed. Yes, they both liked displeasing their parents, but their ways were somehow different.

Now, Ruckus is the kind of guy you will like to be around you all the time though some parts/scenes turned me off of him. He was the savior/hero-kind-of-guy, and he was also sweet and caring. He protected Delaney from any harm even if she was not the real princess.

For Trystan, I had viewed him as an evil prince on the first few pages, but I took it back after noticing how his character changed and developed throughout the story. He was able to act differently from what he usually does, and that includes sacrificing his life for the Lissa (Delaney).

The ending was unexpected! I am in SO MUCH excitement to have the next book in my hands. I am so eager to read it and end this agony I’m feeling right now.

I am just hoping to see more improvements on the world-building. I’m also interested to know some side story about Delaney’s best friend, Marina.

Overall, this is a great read. I am really recommending this book to everyone who likes to delve in a world full of aliens. If you are also interested in reading a book that involves aliens, then I suggest you try this novel.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley.

BLOG POST LINK: https://wp.me/p7AwHZ-4qg ...more

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Mar 24, 2017 Dania rated it really liked it

Publication date: July 18, 2017

I actually liked this book a lot! I kept putting it aside until I finally decided to pick it up and it was everything! The story was amazing! And that cliffhanger... Man, I need that second book pronto.

Delaney is funny, sarcastic, tough and clever. My favorite kind of heroine! She was so entertaining to read! Despite being kidnapped by aliens, and forced to pretend to be the clearly spoiled Princess; Delaney refused to be cowered and added a humorous and brave sp ...more

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Sep 27, 2017 Shelley rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-release, young-adult-science-fiction, borrowed-library

*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Chani Lynn Feener's Amid Stars and Darkness is the first installment in the authors The Xenith Trilogy. Hello universe! My name is Delaney Grace, and I'm a recent High School Graduate now sharing an apartment with my best friend Mariana. During a night out for a bit of fun, & dancing, I was taken away by an alien named Ander Ruckus and ended up in a life or death adventure on Xenith. Aliens? Are you high? Oh wait! I forg ...more

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Jun 19, 2017 Karina rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, fantasy

Even though it was a huge downer for me for more than the first half, things turned out pretty well - especially the characters. I'll still definitely read the next installment.

Full RTC. ...more

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May 30, 2018 Amy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: and-a-half, ya

Christmas gift from Michelle!

2.5 stars
This book exceeded my - admittedly low - expectations. The main character, Delaney, shows courage and resourcefulness in the face of a lot of extreme situations, but it all comes across as realistic. The story reveals enough of her backstory to make it believable without overwhelming the "present day." The plot and world building is pretty clever.
However, I found the shadowy/bad guy villain fairly weak and had higher hopes for a better climax and twist. (v Christmas gift from Michelle!

2.5 stars
This book exceeded my - admittedly low - expectations. The main character, Delaney, shows courage and resourcefulness in the face of a lot of extreme situations, but it all comes across as realistic. The story reveals enough of her backstory to make it believable without overwhelming the "present day." The plot and world building is pretty clever.
However, I found the shadowy/bad guy villain fairly weak and had higher hopes for a better climax and twist. (view spoiler) The writing also never wowed me, though it was light and easy enough.
Overall, this book would have garnered a fairly high rating from me (for YA) if it weren't for the romance. I get that this is a Swoon Read. I came in expecting, well, swoon-worthy men. Instead, I got Ruckus.
First off, what kind of a name is Ruckus.
Second off, I didn't mind him much, but then he got all Alpha-male and that pissed me off. He's always crowding Delaney into corners and interfering with her person space. We're supposed to oppose Trystan when he gets all up in her business, but somehow it is okay with Ruckus because she is attracted to him? Meh.
Third, their relationship got physical too fast. I blame Ruckus. (Mostly because I can.)
Now, here is the thing that bothers me but also sort of redeemed this book for me. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually have at tiny soft spot for Trystan. Sure, he is a sociopathic, murderous jerk with daddy-issues, but the full on hate turned attraction he has for Delaney and her responding hate (and sassy attitude) makes for a lot more interesting story than her and the ever-faithful-and-boring Ruckus.
If the author gives their relationship center stage, I'll probably hate it too. But for now, it just underscores how annoyingly bland Ruckus was.

So here is the thing: add a better twist and give the main dude some more character traits than Loyal & Hot and you have quite a decent story going. But minus that...just sort of pleasantly meh.
My lovely roommate did, however, lend me her ARC of the sequel, so I will read that and see if anything improves. ...more

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Jul 24, 2017 Erika rated it liked it

This book is candy. Very entertaining. If you enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles you'd probably like this. ...more

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Jul 21, 2018 Nia •ShadesOfPaper• rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, books-read-in-2018, romance, books-i-own, young-adult, sci-fi, series-to-finish, 2017-book-releases

You can find this review and others on my blog shades of paper

“One definite good thing about having such a large bed: There were more than enough blankets and pillows to help muffle her sobs.”

Okay, I was super excited to read this book because I’ve heard nothing but amazing and positive things about it, and since the sequel was about to come out this month, I decided to pick it up and see if it was as good as everyone’s been saying, and though I had some issues here and there, I must admit it was a very addicting and fun read, and I cannot wait to read the sequel after that cliffhanger at the end!

I guess one of the main issues I had was that I was expecting a very sci-fi focused story, with lots of world building and a very complex plot, and this book wasn’t that at all. I would say it’s more of a love story with lots of drama but set in space, and the world building was pretty much lacking. It was more a character driven type of novel, and my main complain was that I wish I knew more about the world, because though we get a small picture of it throughout the story and about the alien’s society, there wasn’t much.

However, it was a very action packed and fast paced story, and if you’re looking for a fun and entertaining read maybe this one will be perfect for you, because though those elements I’ve mentioned before weren’t as developed, I had such a good time reading it, and it was a super addicting read. I couldn’t stop reading, and yes, there were some revelations that were a bit predictable, but I was having a good time, so I didn’t really mind that.

“I don’t care that I don’t know what you really look like, don’t you get that? It’s not the package that I’m interested in here. It’s you. The girl who fought off three tellers with nothing but her smarts.”

The characters were okay, though I wasn’t super impressed by them. I would say they are your typical YA romance main character and love interest, but I’d say the protagonist had a nice development throughout the story, and despite being quite annoying at times and not making the best decisions (does it ring a bell?), I enjoyed reading from her perspective and getting to know everything that was happening to her.

The romance didn’t blow my mind. I guess I was expecting something different, and though it took its time to happen (I cannot remember if it was insta love-y, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t as hardcore as other books I’ve read), there was something about the relationship between those characters that made me feel I’ve read that before.

But I have to admit that Amid Stars and Darkness had a very interesting antagonist. At the beginning I wasn’t the biggest fan of him, but as I continued reading the story, I started to find him more and more interesting and mysterious, and after the ending I would really like to see how he’s going to be in the sequel.

Overall, though the plot and the world building were pretty simple and it was more a character driven type of story, it was a very fun and entertaining book and I really enjoyed the ending, so of course, despite not being in love with this first installment, I’ll be picking up the next one!

Actual rating: 3.5⭐️ ...more

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Mar 06, 2018 Rylee Richard rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star

This book was a quick read simply because I COULD NOT put it down. At no point did I lose interest. The ending is a cliff-hanger, but in a good way. It made me excited for what comes next.

It's a space romance, and thankfully doesn't get bogged down with world-building details. There's enough to give you an idea of how the world works, but the focus is on the character development. Essentially, in this alternate world, there is earth and two alien kingdoms. Delaney, our very human protagonist, i This book was a quick read simply because I COULD NOT put it down. At no point did I lose interest. The ending is a cliff-hanger, but in a good way. It made me excited for what comes next.

It's a space romance, and thankfully doesn't get bogged down with world-building details. There's enough to give you an idea of how the world works, but the focus is on the character development. Essentially, in this alternate world, there is earth and two alien kingdoms. Delaney, our very human protagonist, in a case of mistaken identity gets abducted into space as an alien princess. Ruckus is her love interest and guard. Trystan is her fiancé, the prince from the other alien kingdom. If she doesn't successfully pose as the princess and fool her fiancé, then war will be the result, and earth will be destroyed.

The heroine is easy to root for. She's strong, but she's also realistic. She's human, and behaves like we'd expect her to, but through her challenges grows to be more sure-footed.

The real draw though is the possibility of a love triangle. Ruckus is an easy choice. He's gorgeous and protective, and so sweet. He's her foundation in unfamiliar territory. It's easy to see why she falls for him. Buuuut I'm not a huge fan of easy.

Which leads me to Trystan. *fans herself* Our protagonist hasn't fallen for him. Not even close. They're enemies, and argue constantly. He's dangerous and volatile, but saves her repeatedly even though he doesn't want to marry her. Despite her appearance as the princess, Lissa Olena, he can still see past her disguise for who she is, though he doesn't understand what he sees. He's not a white knight character, but he's not a villain either. He's got some edge to his goodness, but that makes him all the more appealing. I'm totally rooting for this character!

I'm so curious to see how the story unfolds in the next book. Lissa Olena is definitely not fit to lead her kingdom, and Delaney can't just go back to living the boring life of a human, can she?

Overall, this book was AMAZING and left me wanting to dive straight into the next! ...more

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Jan 30, 2016 Caroline Vaught rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars, favorites, ebooks, owned, swoonreads

After reread:
After finally reading the final copy, I'm still in love with this book. Absolutely must have my hands on the next one!

Originally posted on: acrossthebookiverse.blogspot.com

WOAH MAN
WOAH
AND WOAH
I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT

This book is officially on my favourites list. It was epic, it was romantic, it was overall fantastic and everyone needs to read it.

For starters, ALIENS. Everyone loves a good alien story, but when it's a story where aliens are widely known, it's not one you hear a ...more

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Aug 02, 2017 Fallon rated it it was amazing

OMG that ending!!! I need more

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Oct 01, 2017 Jennifer Kelly rated it really liked it

This is the first book in the Xenith Trilogy and follows Earthling Delaney Grace as she is mistaken for the princess of Xenith and taken from Earth, along with the inevitable fallout.

I really enjoyed this book! It was light-hearted with great banter, but then also had an action-filled plot (let's just say not everyone is a fan of the princess). I kept turning pages needing to know what happened. The quasi-villain Trystan has major Darkling vibes, but I'm definitely a fan of the main love interes ...more

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Oct 24, 2017 Morgan rated it it was amazing

I love love loved this book! It was a fast paced, fun plot with a swoon worthy love interest and a kick ass female lead. If you like Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Lux series this one’s for you!

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Aug 18, 2017 Sarah Calaway rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book sucked me in from the beginning! Chani is an amazing author, and she has a way of picking and choosing the correct words. Her characters and world seemed so real to me, and I was emotionally invested the whole time. The plot was well done, and I found it to be different from other books like it that I've read. It has a certain uniqueness to it. Also, the romance was so well written and not cheesy, even if it was a tad bit fast. All in all, I need the next book asap! ...more

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Dec 17, 2017 Kim rated it really liked it

DAMNNNNNNNNN Not only was this book CRAZY GOOD it was CRAZY GOOD!!!!!!! Seriously I'm surprised this book has really wow just wow. With fantasy and romance, what more could you ask for? It has been cleverly written making each page enjoyable. I loved the characters with all my heart and with all my soul. Amen. ...more

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Oct 03, 2017 Dayle (the literary llama) rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-fantasy

his book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a popular term being bandied about more and more lately... Space Opera. I mean, it seems a bit self-explanatory but at the same time I’m like, “What does that even mean”? It’s not a new term, popular movies like The Fifth Element or the Star Wars franchise are squarely inside the Space Opera genre. And I've read multiple books in the past couple years that claim the label but it's been awhile since I've found one th his book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

There’s a popular term being bandied about more and more lately... Space Opera. I mean, it seems a bit self-explanatory but at the same time I’m like, “What does that even mean”? It’s not a new term, popular movies like The Fifth Element or the Star Wars franchise are squarely inside the Space Opera genre. And I've read multiple books in the past couple years that claim the label but it's been awhile since I've found one that captured me so thoroughly from the get-go as did AMID STARS AND DARKNESS.

This book is addicting. I love storylines that take a somewhat clueless earthbound human and thrust them into the thick of alien madness. I think, in a way, it's being able to relate to the main character more easily that sucks me in so quickly. Learning a new sci-fi or fantasy world just makes more sense when you're learning it right along with the main character...in this case Delaney. I loved the author's choices.

Royalty, romance, and intergalactic relations... what more could you want from a space opera?! How about kidnapping and assassination? ... Intrigued, right?! Like I said, it's addicting from the very beginning. I was so pleasantly surprised, not many books in this genre get me hooked that fast. The pace was incredible, quick and then slow, in all the right places. Action-packed and full of interesting relationships. The author keeps you entertained and guessing in equal measure.

Let's talk about that romance and the drama. Once you read it you'll understand that this entire book feels like an amazing build-up to something even better but you don't know what that better is yet...because the romance in this one is pretty darn good all it's own. BUT there's more coming and I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say any more on the subject.

It's not a perfect book (although I obviously enjoyed the heck out of it). There were some sections that I thought were a little sparse. Some world and culture building that I thought needed more detail and attention. But really, the strength of the relationships and action sequences that the author built let me easily overlook the bits I thought needed touch more.

Cliffhanger. You have been warned. This cliffhanger is decent sized and left me anxious for more. I can't wait for book 2! ...won't you join me in the waiting, because I highly recommend AMID STARS AND DARKNESS. ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Amanda rated it really liked it

3.75 stars!

So somehow I missed the fact that this is a trilogy and I ended up rushing through the last 25% of this book and boy do I regret that bc it would've been much more enjoyable if I'd taken my time. Halfway through I found myself becoming enraptured with Trystan who, btw, is the most interesting character in the book. I was almost certain that (view spoiler) I was half right, and again, since I di ...more

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Jan 26, 2016 Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow! A thrilling high-stakes read. From the very beginning I was sucked in and pulled along this intense journey filled with danger at every turn. The story was paced well and really pulled me along.
The characters were fantastic. I love the main character, Delaney. She was a strong, take no crap woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind. I loved how she wasn't some whiny damsel in distress.
Ruckus was an alpha protector who saw through her and sought to protect and help her. Not to mention he wa ...more

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Jan 24, 2017 Aila rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, arc, 2017-release, action-packed, predictable, cute, enjoyable, scifi-dystopia

3.5 stars

With superficial world-building, a predictable plot with kickass action, and a sweet romance that I never really got invested in, Amid Stars and Darkness was a fun, light adventure in space. However, "light" is all it really was, and I found myself taking quick breaks while reading just because it never really offered anything other than cute antics with the very likable and down-to-earth heroine and the situation she gets caught up in.

Nonetheless, I would recommend this to readers read ...more

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Feb 15, 2017 Nemo (The Moonlight Library) marked it as to-read

Shelves: wow

Lissa Olena sounds an awful lot like Larisa Oleynik.

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Jul 17, 2017 Dylan rated it liked it

RTC.

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Jul 20, 2017 Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, sci-fi, aliens, 2017, romance

Same Review Also Posted In My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. It was more than I was expecting and I loved it. Even though I had no very high expectations on it, I was quite excited to read this book because the premise totally intrigued me and that beautiful cover made it even more irresistible so I knew I had to read this. I've already read the author's Beguiling Trickery which is my first book from her but sadly, it didn't worked out for me. I'm so glad this one Same Review Also Posted In My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. It was more than I was expecting and I loved it. Even though I had no very high expectations on it, I was quite excited to read this book because the premise totally intrigued me and that beautiful cover made it even more irresistible so I knew I had to read this. I've already read the author's Beguiling Trickery which is my first book from her but sadly, it didn't worked out for me. I'm so glad this one turned out to be so entertaining and amazing. I loved every aspect of this book! I loved the characters, the plot and the swoony romance.

Delaney is a normal human girl who is having fun with her friend Mariana at a club but suddenly her life turns into a chaos when she gets kidnapped by an alien bodyguard Ruckus who mistaken's her for Lissa Olena, alien princess of Vakar who is hiding on earth to escape from an arranged marriage with the prince of their enemy planet Kint. After realizing their mistake, Ruckus has no choice but to force Delaney to impersonate Lissa until they found the real princess for the sake of saving both of their planets. Now Delaney has to act like the spoiled princess Lissa who seems quite opposite to her personality but the real surprise comes in the form of her betrothed prince Trystan of Kint who looks alluring but he's terrifying as hell. They totally hate each other but they both agreed to this marriage to keep the peace between their planets. When Trystan meets her, he gets pretty surprised by her sudden change of behavior and is intent on finding out all her secrets that she's hiding. With her developing feelings towards Ruckus, Delaney needs to convince Trystan that she's princess Lissa until they find the real princess and get her back.

I loved Delaney! She's pretty great in this book and I totally loved her personality. She's smart, funny, stubborn, witty and brave. Despite being thrown into such a difficult situation, she always stood strong and acted smart. She's never afraid to speak her mind and never gives up without a fight. Ander Ruckus is totally swoon worthy character. He is loyal, fun, protective and handsome. He feels sorry for kidnapping Delaney from her home and later forcing her to act as an alien princess but with the dangerous situation they're in with the Kints he got no choice. I loved the slow burn romance between Delaney and Ruckus. It was sweet, fun and swoon worthy. Trystan is quite an intriguing character. He acts like a Jerk but I still think he's not such a bad guy and I can't wait to know more about him. Despite I enjoyed every interaction between Trystan and Delaney, I'm still rooting for Ruckus. The secondary characters are also good but they're not fleshed out well enough to know much about them. I liked Mariana, Gibus and Pettus. Mariana who is best friend of Delaney is a fiesty and fun character. I hope we get to see more of her in the next book because this book needs more girl friendship.

The plot is entertaining and engaging! Even though it was a bit predictable, it was well executed and I enjoyed it till the end. It's a fast paced story filled with action, sweet romance, drama and intrigue. I was hooked to the plot from the first page and It never left me bored. The writing style of the author is pretty good and easy to understand. The whole book is told in third person POV. I liked the world the author created but sadly, there isn't much world building in this book because most of the story is set inside the castle of Vakar. I hope the next book has more world building because I really want to explore more of this world. The aliens in this book looks just like humans except for their height and eyes. I liked the unique culture of Vakar and their tandem games.

Overall, It was a great read! The book finally concludes with a huge cliffhanger which I already saw it coming but it still left me dying for the next book. I can't wait to read the next book. I hope the author releases it as soon as possible. ...more

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Jul 05, 2017 Nannette Demmler rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a fast paced space adventure with a fascinating alien culture, and a sassy heroine who manages to make the best of a really bad situation.

Delaney knows that aliens walk among us. They have been for many centuries but it isn't until recently that humans have found out about them. She doesn't know very much about them except for the basics. They mostly look like humans except for their size and their eyes. She tried not to think about them at all. S I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a fast paced space adventure with a fascinating alien culture, and a sassy heroine who manages to make the best of a really bad situation.

Delaney knows that aliens walk among us. They have been for many centuries but it isn't until recently that humans have found out about them. She doesn't know very much about them except for the basics. They mostly look like humans except for their size and their eyes. She tried not to think about them at all. So when she is kidnapped by one of them, she has no clue how to act or even what to think. Then she is given the task of impersonating the princess, who it appears is not a very nice person, and maintain the pretense until the real princess is found. As you can imagine all sorts of things go wrong, not to mention that many factions are trying to kill the princess/Delaney. Delaney is a smart girl and can keep her cool under fire, but also has a smart comeback for every situation which sometimes gets her into trouble. She was a delightful character to spend some time with.

Ruckus was also fun. He is the alien that mistakenly kidnaps her. He is truly interested in her as much as she is with him. Trying to figure out human behavior as well as keep her out of trouble. I enjoyed watching him teach her about his world and all of the marvelous things they have, (except the food, ick!). You could also tell that even though he didn't like the real princess he was devoted to protecting her as much as he was able.

Trystan, the prince that Lissa Olena is suppose to marry, was a nasty piece of work and you could tell that his dislike of Olena was paid back in spades from her. But as he got to know Delaney, he began to figure out that something wasn't quite right with his betrothed. Something on Earth had changed her, but what? Even though he does have a very high creep factor, at times I sort of admired him and realized that he was just as trapped as Olena was in the arranged marriage.

The alien culture that the author has created was fascinating. Although they look very much like humans, their culture is very different. Delaney is the first human to visit their planet and so she gets to see things that no one else has. They have an interesting sport which is played on an emu like creature. She also learns a card game and is exposed to plants and animals unlike anything seen on earth. The food sounds horrible, but it is possible that our tastebuds are quite different, although the aliens seem to enjoy our food just fine. It was mostly this interesting culture that she has developed that really kept my interest in the story past the usual romance adventure story line.

A great summer read that was fast paced and keeps you riveted to the story. There were a few twists in the plot to keep you guessing as well. Looking forward to the next book and Delaney's and Ruckus's further adventures.

...more

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Aug 11, 2020 Paige Green rated it it was amazing

Disclaimer: I bought this book based on my friend @aparanormalromance recommendation!

Book: Amid Stars and Darkness

Author: Channi Lynn Feener

Book Series: The Xenith Trilogy

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: Sci-fi, alien human romance, political intrigue

Publication Date: July 18, 2017

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Pages: 357

Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, bombing TW, language, kidnapping TW, slight violence and gore)

Synopsis: Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Ol ...more

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Oct 27, 2019 Jocelyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: witty-sarcastic-heroes-heroines, series, young-adult, 4-stars, alpha-men, sci-fi-space, 2019-reads, fantasy, leave-me-swooning-romance

At first, it was all a bit confusing, with all the outlandish terms, but then, the plot was really engaging, the characters charming, the pacings just right, the romance's inevitable but not overpowering, and I found myself really enjoying this and eager to know more about their alien world.

As I was constantly pointing out whenever I get a chance to revuew my reads, characters play a vital role whether I would like the book or not. I really like Delaney, she's spunky and bold, not the whiny typ ...more

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About Chani Lynn Feener

Chani Lynn Feener

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Chani majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. She is the author of the Xenith trilogy, and the teen paranormal series, The Underworld S ...more

Other books in the series

The Xenith Trilogy (3 books)

Books by Chani Lynn Feener

Between Frost and Fury (The Xenith Trilogy, #2)

Within Ash and Stardust (The Xenith Trilogy, #3)

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“I don’t care that I don’t know what you really look like, don’t you get that? It’s not the package that I’m interested in here. It’s you. The girl who fought off three tellers with nothing but her smarts. And who stood up to the Basileus.” — 2 likes

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