Made of Stars

by Jenna Voris

Inspired by the lawless love story of Bonnie and Clyde, Jenna Voris's heart-stopping tale of passion and crime will have you seeing stars.

Shane and Ava are a team. He steals the aircraft, she charms their mark, and together they take what they need. Not even their distracting chemistry could get in the way. Until Shane was caught and left to rot on a prison moon. Now, freshly escaped from confinement and simmering with anger, he has his sights set on their biggest job yet.

Cyrus just graduated from the flight academy with a shiny new position lined up reporting to a well-respected general. On his very first assignment, he stops the outlaws in their tracks--or, he would have, if the annoyingly handsome Lark hadn't fallen for Ava's deception.

But when Shane uncovers a top-secret plot that would leave his home world at the mercy of Cyrus's military leaders, he makes it his mission to thwart them at all costs. It isn't long before Shane and Ava make interstellar headlines with each new heist. And thanks to a chance run-in with the rebels, Cyrus is caught between two versions of the truth. He must pick a side and fast. Because Shane and Ava will bring the planet to its knees...or die trying.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Retellings, LGBT, Fantasy, Space

368 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2023

About the author

Author also publishes as J.M. Voris

Jenna Voris is the author of multiple young adult books including Every Time You Hear That Song, and Say A Little Prayer. Originally from Indiana, she now lives in northern Virginia in a 200-year-old townhouse overflowing with books and (allegedly) revolutionary war era ghosts.

Follow her online @JennaVoris and at jennamvoris.com.

Reviews

[Sarah Book Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get HYPED YA'LL! RELEASE DATE GOT MOVED UP TO JANUARY 1ST!!

thank you to the author/publisher for this awesome arc, all my thoughts are my own and any quotes used are subject to change

If "Bonnie and Clyde in space" doesn't immediately catch your attention I'd describe it as Six of Crows meets The Darkest Minds, if you are STILL not intrigued, call this non existent toll free number:

1-800-FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH YOU

I am really surprised I hadn't heard more about this one. AND THAT COVER!? Absolutely gorgeous

Random thoughts about the cover:
-first of all why is Shane yellow? Is it the lighting or something? I know it can't be his actual skin tone because people from his home planet were described and dull and grey and devoid of life/color (I do know it's him because of the long-sh hair though and also bookworm intuition)
-The guy at the top who I'm pretty sure is Cyrus? HIS HEAD IS JUST FLOATING IN SPACE. CYRUS IS NOTHING BUT A FLOATING HEAD. What did Ava and Shane do to deserve necks?

overall absolutely stunning AND it has a wrap around cover with a cool explosion on the back (it looks gorgeous on my shelf)

ignore the fact that I just wrote a full section dedicated to the cover alone.


Characters:

Ava (space bonnie):
Yes I know Ava is based off of the legendary Bonnie, but despite all this, in the back of my mind I thought she would turn out like all these "badass" characters that just tell you they're badadd and aren't actually badass or morally grey at all.
AVA IS A TOTAL BADASS NO QUESTION. IF SHE WANTS SOMETHING DONE 💥BOOM!💥 THERE IS AN EXPLOSION OR MURDER OR SOME FUN MIX OF BOTH!
I also absolutely (I use this word too much lol) love her independence and morally grey since of justice

Shane (space clyde):
He kind of reminds me of Kaz Brekker if Kas was in space blowing things up.
evidence indicated below:

"But if you touch her again," Shane whispered, pressing the barrel of his weapon between Ares's ribs. "If you so much as look at her, I will let her break every bone in you body before dumping you in the airlock. Do you understand?"

such a badass (think kaz on crack- oooh that rhymes!)

Cyrus (space police?):
Cyrus had to have been my favorite second favorite. HE IS SO FREAKING ADORABLE AND DUMB the amount of times Ava had him completely fooled- I love him but he is so gullible

Jared (THE BEST ONE EVER IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE TO EVER EXIST):
Jared is a random side character who doesn't get the page time and attention he deserves.

JARED.
jared, jared, jared.

HE WAS MY FAVORITE ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. THIS LITTLE BABY CINNAMON ROLL IS SO FREAKING PRECIOUS AND I WILL PROTECT HIM AT ALL COSTS.

and the way he interacted with "the crew"
this quote explains everything:

"Government comms are shit to hack."
"Jared!" Ava whacked his knee. "Language!"
"Are you serious?" Jared's mouth dropped open. "I've watched you literally murder people, but I can't say shit?"
"You can murder someone when you turn sixteen"

and it was so funny because the Empire (the evil guys) thought they were up against a whole freaking army and it was really just five crazy teenagers 😂

Romance:

Ava x Shane:
Jenna Voris sure knows how to write slow burn. Sometimes I just wanted to scream at these two to "JUST FUCKING KISS ALREADY" (there is probably video evidence or me screaming that somewhere)
At the beginning, their romance was quite dull and I took a while to warm up to the idea of it. But as the story progressed and the steaks got precariously high, so did my uneven heartbeats

and those end scenes- like on the asteroid motel- my heart was about to crack

Cyrus x Lark:
YOU WON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU NEED SPACE RIVALS TO LOVERS UNTIL YOU READ THIS BOOK.
Their banter *delighted squeal* was so freaking cute
evidence below:

"I need you to know I look awful in black so, unfortunately, I won't be attending your funeral. But don't do anything reckless, okay?"

EEEEEEEEEEE
LIKE THE WAY THEY ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT EACH OTHER?!
after Ava and Shane came to the headquarters thing Cyrus looking for Lark, hoping not to find his dead body was so sweet


Plot:

While I may have loved the characters, their dynamics, and relationships, the plot fell a little short for me. I was hoping for a bit more... action.
The fight/action scenes were fantastic, don't get me wrong but they felt few and far between. I can't really pinpoint it. (my memory is a little fuzzy though AND I finished this at 4 in the morning so don't take my word for it)

an overexciting synopsis:
TWO BADASS' TEAM UP TO ROB SPACE BANKS AND GET CASH BUT EVERYTHING CHANGES WHEN THEY FIND OUT THEIR HOME PLANET's "allies" are actually going to destroy everything they hold dear! They will find help in the most unlikely ally: AN ENEMY SOLIDER THAT COMES FROM AN IMPOVERISHED BACKGROUND QUESTIONING EVERYTHING AND falling for his devilishly handsome rival

Okay but guys, THAT ENDING. I know how the story of Bonnie and Clyde ends, but WHY 😭
That was so bittersweet. I REFUSE TO BELIVE THAT IT WAS REAL.
the way Shane and Ava held hands as they died and went out together 😭😭
I do think there will be some kind of follow up after the way that ended


Overall I had so much fun reading this. I finished in a day and a half and was deprived of much sleep but it was so worth it!

PS: I am so supersized at myself for actually sort of coherently reviewing an arc instead of leaving it rtc forever

4.75 stars

Previous review:
I refuse to believe that ending was real

rtc

[Darcey · Rating 4 out of 5]

post-read review:

ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. this in no way changes my rating or review.

this was so. damn. cool!!

the space politics in this?? the adventure? heists? romance? trauma? it was good, guys – really good. i’m not usually one that runs to read political tales – even when they’re set in space – but when it’s done well (such as in this book or in my fav ‘red rising’) suddenly i’m sucked into the corrupt, confusing, insane political world. and Jenna Voris wrote this space politics brilliantly, it was believable (or as believable as adventures in space can be), not too complicated to follow, and had twists and turns throughout the story.

the characters were also so masterfully written!! and (another similarity to ‘red rising’) this book was realistic. the characters didn’t always win, and there wasn’t a big happy ending where the bad guys laid down their weapons and everyone celebrated together – hell, it wasn’t even clear who was good and who was bad half the time. the moral greyness was exquisite!!

“What was the difference, really?
Two boys who could shoot and fly and kill. Two boys from opposite ends of the system, who fought their way out of the different kinds of prisons.”

the romance was another great aspect! in my opinion, the bonnie and clyde romance between Shane and Ava was a bit fast, i almost didn’t get enough development. but Lark and Cyrus? SO PRECIOUS. i loved both of them so damn much, i reallyyy wish we got more of both characters!! cannot wait to see more of Lark next book (fingers crossed!).

thank you so much to the author, publisher and netgalley for the free copy provided in exchange for an honest review!

i definitely recommend this book, it was really enjoyable. thank you for reading!

~~~

pre-read review: ARC RECEIVED YES YES YES

[ShannonXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT’S BONNIE AND CLYDE IN SPACE AND YES IT IS ABSOLUTELY AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS.

[Lauren Lanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bonnie and Clyde duo in space is everything a sci-fi lover could want. And as a Six of Crows enthusiast, the subtle Kaz/Inej vibes between main characters added even more intrigue to their relationship.

Made of Stars is a good entertaining read, one that favours fast-paced action and character bonds over in-depth world building. I didn't really mind being placed straight into the action, since I was in the mood for a quick and easy read. Voris does a great job of making you care about her protagonists in no time. I always like following multiple perspectives that start on opposite sides of a conflict, and eventually meet for a battle or unexpected joining of forces. I think Cyrus's perspective was my favourite, since his internal struggle with shifting alliances, new secrets and repressed feelings were most interesting for me to read about. Really enjoyed this one!

[Bon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it to the halfway mark and just...couldn't get myself to care? There isn't a lot of worldbuilding but if you want a fun YA space adventure, this might be your jam. Readers get dumped into the action immediately.
Also: the cover and the queer shelving by some people made me think it's polyam. Disappointed to report it is not.

[Eden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Space Bonnie and Clyde sounds exactly like a novel I would be interested in, so let me explain why this book didn't work for me.

The reader is immediately shoved into the action of a prison break. Who are these characters? I have no idea. How are they able to break out of a highly guarded prison? No idea. Why should I care? No idea. Even after the prison break, the character dynamics are unclear. Do the mcs love one another? No idea. I'm not given information on their love for one another until later and even then, it's unclear why they aren't together yet. I also didn't care about Clyde's POV. He's a third mc who could've benefitted from more background characterization to make me care about him and his decisions.

Overall, I just didn't care. Corrupt space government? It's been done before and with greater success. I get what the author was trying to do, but it fell flat for me in every aspect.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me access to an early copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Kalena ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars, everything blew up at the end

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group & Viking Books for Young Readers for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

Something that I've noticed in recent years of me reading young adult science fiction is that it just doesn't captivate me in the way that it used to, and quite a bit of the books have very similar plotlines or concepts. Unfortauntly, this book felt into that same sort of error, but that's not to say there wasn't some good parts. Even with everything that I think could have been improved upon in this book, I did enjoy my time reading it.

First of all, the concept of a retelling of Bonnie and Clyde was really interesting as I've never read anything that's a retelling of that before. There was so much room for an amazing plotline to evolve from this concept, and while there were pieces I could see that were taken from the original history, I felt that there could have been more done. The heists in the plot and quick ambushes, as well as the link to someone inside the "empire" was interesting enough to keep me reading but I felt it could have been done a bit better. As well, there was almost zero worldbuilding in this book, or at least that's what it felt like. Without proper explanation of the different planets, people, organizations, or even types of machines this hindered my ability to connect with the story. I was getting places mixed up and found the small pieces of history given about the world hard to follow.

There was a pretty large cast in this book, but honestly, most of them were not very memorable and once again I felt like there was not enough introduction to many of them. Shane, Ava, and Cyrus were the only ones (besides maybe Cornelia) that I really remember even after just reading this book. There were some others I could describe, but I don't remember their names. At one point, there was suddenly a new crew helping Ava and Shane with very little explanation of how they got there, and that was confusing for me. As well, the villains fell very far into the typical flat villain who wants things for power, it didn't make me very invested in them.

It felt like a lot of the characters lacked depth besides Cyrus towards the end, even the depth that Shane and Ava had in the beginning was never really expanded upon. He had some changes that he went through that were inspiring but I saw coming from a mile away, though I did appreciate how his reflection upon himself felt realistic. The ending in this book was honestly not expected (it was, but not in the way that it happened) but I do think everything would have been more impactful with just more context given to everything. I also didn't like how the open ending felt in this book, I don't think it was correctly done and I think the story would have benefited from a more concrete ending.

[TW: blood and gore, depiction of trauma and PTSD, knife wounds, gun violence, starvation, death of friends, dead bodies]

[Dr. Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This needed more space gays. There were not enough, was a disservice to the story.

I loved Ava and Cyrus. Shane can jump off a cliff! I did not like that man.

Made of Stars is a YA sci-fi retelling of Bonnie & Clyde if it was set in space and instead of robbing carriages, they’re starting a revolution against a genocidal regime! This book is fast paced and full of action. Ava was my fave, followed by Cyrus. Ava was such a badass and I loved seeing her become kind of villainous. We support women’s wrongs!

Rep: white cishet female MC, cishet male MC with PTSD, queer cis male MC, various white side charaters, BIPOC cis female side character, queer cis male side character.
CWs: Torture, violence, gun violence, murder, death, grief, colonisation, blood, war, forced imprisonment, police brutality, militarism, injury/injury detail, classism. Moderate: child death, confinement, panic attacks, medical content, gaslighting. Minor: sexual content, gore.

[Jenna Voris · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ARCs start to make their way into the world, I want to remind everyone that content warnings are available on my website: https://jennamvoris.com/madeofstars

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and support, I couldn't be more grateful for everyone who's expressed interest in my book so far. It truly means the world. Goodreads is a place for readers, not authors, so I won't be hanging around here but you can find me Instagram or Twitter @ jennavoris.

Happy reading!

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~]

MAMMA MIA. HERE I GO AGAIN
WHY, WHY? I MUST DNF YOU.

DNF on pg. 152

I was liking this but lost interest after a time jump and the sudden addition of a bunch of new characters. Then I read an UNTAGGED SPOILER about the end and I was like meh.

[Carissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC.

I don’t think science fiction is a popular YA genre because it always comes out like Made of Stars. Awkward world building and bad pacing is far more easily excused when your world is medieval- a lack of technological or socioeconomic details in a science-fiction novel can and will break it. Made of Stars is broken.

I think when Jenna Voris sat down to write MoS, all she knew was that she wanted to write a space Bonnie and Clyde. it’s obvious that she built a plot around a tagline and it doesn’t work. most of the action in the first half of the book happens off page. Most of the relationship building between the important characters happens before the events of the book. The first half of the book toes between introducing the characters and setting the stage for the rest of the book but that’s just not interesting. Even the romance between Shane and Ava is told in backstory. There are honestly very few interactions between them on the page.

They aren’t even Bonnie and Clyde, they aren’t a couple! It’s false advertising.

The pacing was awful. I was constantly trying to figure out how much time had passed and where characters were. I don’t understand why there is an enormous time jump halfway through the novel that skips everything more interesting than the crap from the first few chapters. Why is the prison break, at the VERY beginning of the novel, told from the POV of someone who isn’t even present?

And finally, more than anything else: Shane and Ava aren’t the protagonists. Cyrus is. Most of the story revolves around Cyrus and his very boring stomping around military ships instead of actually following the thieves actively blowing up bases and stealing ships. If you’re going to tell a story about Cyrus, don’t pretend it’s about a romance that isn’t even in 80% of the book.

[Emily Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute honor of reading this early and I'm here to tell you that it is incredible. The characters are all so memorable and well written and I was completely captivated – I couldn't stop reading! Add to your 2023 TBR now!!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5) A phenomenal sci-fi flavored dangerous romance, the main characters were wonderfully realized throughout. The book was paced very well and the ending both surprises and leaves you wanting for more.

[ß · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok so it actually started off really well. a prison break right from the get-go—we’re shoved right into the action, which is what i always prefer. (btw idk shit about bonnie and clyde, so im not gonna reference anything about them here).

honestly, i felt like the world building and characters were all so surface level. in a better writer’s hands, shane had the potential to be space-kaz. ava could’ve had a more likeable personality. and cyrus could’ve at least HAD some sort of a personality.

also why did they keep bullying jared? ungrateful little rats….he’s basically the reason they’re always alive. he was the main character #TOME

lark and cyrus’ romance had potential as well, especially since it started off as them being rivals in a space academy, but it just flopped.

what i actually did enjoy was the fact that ava and shane killed people on page. lots of them! YA authors are so afraid of teenagers doing that. also i was stunned when shane and ava literally died in the end like….omg??

[Aaron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to penguin teen for the ARC.

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 35%. I’m just bored. It’s VERY clear the authors *trying* to be cool??? Like. It’s a lot of “and then Bonnie did this really cool thing” but not actually showing her doing really cool thing???
Example: she goes into the prison and gives Clyde a gun. But then next thing you know Clyde shows up at her spaceship? WHERE IS THE ACTION OF HIM GETING OUT?
Example two: Bonnie: oh I should steal that spaceship. Next chapter. Clyde: oh wow Bonnie showed up in super cool space ship.

Like…bruh. Is this a joke?

Then the worldbuilding? I kept forgetting it was a sci-fi half the time. So yeah take that as you will.

Honestly I was super excited for this book because like cmon? Bonnie and Clyde in space sounds so cool. So for the storytelling to just flop so hard I was pretty sad.

Honestly don’t waste your time.

[Leanne Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the pleasure to read this early and it is absolutely phenomenal. The world! The angst! SO FREAKIN GOOD. Get ready to fall in love with best bad boy! and every other character too--each so complex and memorable.

[Chloe]

I am on the FLOOR what was the ENDING I am DISTRAUGHT.

[Christine Reads]

Dual POV with 2 totally different stories thrown at us then we are dragged back in time twice? My brain short circuited

[Pradha · Rating 4 out of 5]

i can’t decide if that ending was foul or everything i needed

[Kayceeisbookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A daring and dazzling YA sci fi adventure that had me on the edge of my seat and craving more. This "Bonnie and Clyde" style book was so enjoyable and the characters were all unique and endearing.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Made of Stars by Jenna Voris was very disappointing and very much not what I was expecting. For a novel inspired by Bonnie and Clyde and set in space nothing happened. The story was so dull by the end I was just skimming because I was so bored. The cover was so bright and yet the story was the exact opposite. Very little action. All the characters did was steal spaceships and one was arrested and broken out of jail. I don’t even know how to write a proper review because the story just wasn’t there. I wasn’t interested. It was also way too long for nothing happening. I did at several points want to DNF but I thought if I kept reading maybe the story would get better. I was definitely wrong. Again I don’t even know what to say about the story nor the characters I was so board. Can I say again that I liked the cover? It was the only redeeming thing about this book.

[Sarina Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely ruined my life and I would absolutely let it again and again. You will fall in love with these characters and they’ll make you laugh just as much as they’ll make you cry. A must read for all heist loving readers!!!

[Chrissy]

HELLO YES THIS BOOK SOUNDS AMAZING. 🚀

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK!!! THIS FUCKING BOOK!!

[Eva B.]

As a major Bonnie and Clyde...fan? I am beyond hyped for this AND it comes out right before my birthday!? This is now one of my most anticipated 2023 releases!

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think the worldbuilding was very well done but the bonnie and clyde thing was cute

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO good! Think Star Wars but make it Bonnie & Clyde. And those twists at the end! I loved every second of this high-octane chase. And seeing it from two sides made it even more compelling.

The characters and their growth over the book were fabulous. I loved seeing the transformation of Ava and Shane in public perception from kids trying to save their families to murderers and criminals, and seeing that transformation play out on their bodies as they grew leaner and harder as the book went on. Cyrus's slow change of heart and realization about his future in the army was heartbreaking, as was his slow-simmering attraction to Lark.

The ending definitely left me wanting more, and I'm crossing my fingers for a follow-up because SURELY the author isn't going to just leave us hanging like that!

*Thanks to Bookishfirst and Penguin Teen for providing an early copy for review.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[hannah pachet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I saw “Bonnie and Clyde in space” and knew I needed to read this, and I’m so glad I did. This contained a perfect mix of focus on characters while still having a quickly-moving plot filled with scenes you’d expect from a sci-fi novel. I loved the mini heists we got to see, and really enjoyed the character dynamics. Ava and Shane were definitely the standouts for me and their story intrigued me more than Cyrus’s point-of-view chapters, but the whole book drew me in.

It was the type of reading experience where I desperately needed to keep going, but at the same time was dreading the end because I just didn’t want to say goodbye to the characters. Highly recommend this!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC!

[ash (smokedshelves) · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to penguin teen and viking books for young readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

i guess you could call this bonnie and clyde set in space. but honestly, besides a few quotes at the beginning of each part, and the fact that shane and ava were star-crossed lovers who also happened to be fugitives, it wasn’t really all that comparable…

i hate to say this is just another book in a recent string of books that i just don’t particularly care for. another mediocre book that’ll be forgotten by the end of the month, if you will.

none of the three main characters particularly stood out to me with their personalities. it kind of felt like they were all going in circles with their characterizations. and a particular choice just made it feel like none of the story felt worth it, you know?? (which i guess is accurate to the real story, but still. a lot else has changed, why not that.) it felt like the author was trying to go for six of crows vibes but i just didn’t feel the connection with any of them. besides my personal neutrality towards shane and ava, jared said like literally nothing??? i was expecting for him to be more prominent in the story honestly, given he was with their “gang” before the events kicked off. but nope, he was just kind of there. clara’s main thing was not to trust anyone. ares was the dick. (i can’t even really remember the other two’s names oops). that was it for them. cyrus was honestly the only one i somewhat enjoyed reading from actually. (not great when you’re trying do to bonnie and clyde, and you prefer the third mc who is neither of those).

the world building was subpar to say the least. you mean to tell me that a whole planet goes radio silent for months and not another single other planet in a supposedly large system cares? like at all? nakara has not literally one other ally i guess??? but whatever. i don’t expect most ya sci-fi space operas to be particularly fleshed out, so i kind of knew i needed to suspend my belief for that one. but i guess, i just couldn’t really understand noth’s reasoning for doing literally anything she did. we never really learned her motivations for wanting to invade nakara other than the one time she mentioned to cordova she wants more money… i guess, lol. idk, i guess i found where i personally draw my line. like if you want to make her the villain, that’s fine. but give us more of a reason why she wants and needs this invasion to happen.

overall, i was just hoping for more cohesion. and the poor development was especially noticeable for the last 15%. i feel like a few things were thrown into there just because the author wanted to. shane and ava’s storyline in particular. cyrus and lark kissing, which i personally just didn’t get any of the feelings cyrus was saying he felt toward lark. the man barely thought about him. and now apparently they’ve had this strong chemistry the whole time? noth, as i mentioned.

and i personally think, the author wanted to set it up so that it could either be considered a standalone. but also, set up so that it could potentially get picked up for a second book to be published down the road. like a decent amount felt left open ended. and that’s an odd way to finish a (currently?) standalone book.