The Stars in Their Eyes

The Broken Stars #1

by Kristy Gardner

Survive together, or die.

For four years, Calay and Tess’s love has been their lifeline in a brutal, post-apocalyptic world devastated by alien invaders. When Calay finds herself fighting for survival and Tess missing, her only choice is clear: she must find Tess or risk losing everything.

Reluctantly, Calay ventures into the nightmarish wasteland of the ravaged Pacific Northwest, alone. What she faces is beyond her worst fears–alien executioners, a mysterious stranger, the rise of a dangerous cult, and a shocking family secret that could unravel everything she thought she knew.

Good and evil blur as Calay battles to retain her humanity, confronting the darkest truth: to survive, she must embrace her true self and resist the urge to become the monster herself. With time running out, Calay must decide if she’ll embrace who she's meant to be and reunite with Tess, or face a future of terrifying solitude.

A fast-paced, heart-pounding sci-fi queer story about love, survival, and sacrifice.

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Queer, LGBT, Romance, Fantasy, Adult

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2022

About the author

Kristy Gardner is a bisexual sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writer. She is the author of the Broken Stars queer dark sci-fi series and the award-winning cookbook, Cooking with Cocktails.

Furnished with degrees in Gender Studies and Sociology, she crafts complex characters who adventure through space, time, and emotional maelstroms questioning what identity – and home – really mean.

When she’s not jet-setting words on her laptop, she’s chasing stars, mountain adventures, belly laughs, coffee, big dog cuddles, and planning her next trip to SE Asia. She resides in Vancouver, BC, with her partner.

Sign up for her newsletter at KristyGardner.com

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Links

Website: kristygardner.com
Newsletter: kristygardner.com/newsletter
BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/kristygardner.bsky.s...

Reviews

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

SURVIVE TOGETHER.

Thank you from the deepest parts of my heart for reading my book and taking a moment to review it.

I'm biased but The Stars In Their Eyes is a book I'd read over and over again (and I have.) It was 7 years in the making, born out of a decade of loneliness, fear, and above all else, love. I wanted to tell the story of a woman who lost herself for FAR too damn long, and the perilous journey she embarked on to reclaim herself. You know, but with scary aliens.

I wrote The Stars In Their Eyes to find my way back to the living, but I also wrote it in the dream that someone else fighting through the darkness might grab hold too. I'm grateful it found its way into your hands.

If you haven't read the other two books in the trilogy, please add THE DARKEST STARS (book 1) and THE STARS INSIDE US(Book 3) to your Goodreads now.

Content/trigger warnings: alcohol, animal death, cheating, death of a loved one, gore, homophobia/biphobia, intense emotions: anxiety grief depression, moderately explicit sex scene, murder, profanity, sexual harassment, violence.1>

I hope you enjoy the journey. 🖤

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Calay is living in a nightmare. She and her partner, Tess, have survived for 5 years after an alien invasion ended life as they knew it. Calay wakes up in a warehouse to find herself injured and Tess gone with no memory of what happened. Calay's journey to track down Tess is full of twists and turns that leave her questioning everything.
The blurb on this book was intriguing and sounded right up my alley. The author is great at describing everything going on, it felt like I was right there with Calay at times. She was a likable character but made some questionable decisions along the way that pulled me out of the narrative. There were a couple of really terrible characters that had a few too many scenes for me to stomach. This left Jacob and I had a hard time connecting with his character at all. I really didn't like how pushy he was with Calay in a few instances. With all of that, the romance here just didn't work for me and the final twist at the end left me a bit disappointed. The writing was great but unfortunately the plot here just wasn't for what I was hoping for.

[Madison Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gardner weaves an inescapable, harrowing, and beautiful tale in The Stars in Their Eyes that gripped me from the first page. Each description is so vivid and unique to the story that I felt I could never leave the world Gardner had crafted. The Stars in Their Eyes is chilling, thrilling, and full of emotional depth that will leave you on the edge of your seat and questioning your own reality.

[N.C. Scrimgeour · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping tale of romance and survival in the face of an otherworldly threat. Gardner’s characters are raw and visceral, their journeys delivering one emotional gut punch after another as they fight for their lives and the lives of those they love.

Combining sci-fi, horror and romance in a gruelling road trip across the Pacific Northwest, The Stars in their Eyes shows us the dark, violent side of humanity, but also the promise—however out of reach it may seem—of something brighter.

[Ashley ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to LibraryThing, City Owl Press, and Kristy Gardner for providing me with a free copy of The Stars in Their Eyes.

For fans of The 5th Wave series, I've found your next read!

Calay is just trying to survive the end of the world. Ever since The Others showed up and all hell broke loose on Earth, she has been trying her best to make it out alive with the love of her life, Tess.

When she awakens and Tess is no longer with her, she knows she must stop at nothing to find her way back to her. That's what a love like theirs deserves.

Danger lurks around every corner as she tries to find her way back to her. The hardest thing to do in a post-apocalyptic world? Know who to trust. And trusting the wrong people is a strong talent for Calay.

Calay is impulsive, reckless, stubborn, hot-headed, and downright selfish in many ways. But as the story goes on, you slowly see her start to grow into a better, more thoughtful person with great potential leading into the promise of an endearing sequel.

Every time you turn a page, you are faced with more danger, more betrayal, more questions. An incredible action-packed story of a broken girl, just trying to find her way to a place where she belongs.

[Horror Haus Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gardner did a fantastic job balancing sci-fi and romance with a hint of horror. The survival aspect of this story was written so well and is so thrilling it was hard to put down.

The emotional rollercoaster this story put me through was absolutely insane and the twist and turns alone had me tearing through pages to know what happens next.

It’s books like this where you really see the horrid side of humanity especially in the mist of a global downfall. Calay is such a strong character, the type of woman I would hope to be in the face of an alien invasion.

I look forward to seeing what else Gardner has to offer!

[Sarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against a post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest after an alien invasion, “The Stars in Their Eyes” first begins as a dystopian lost love story. But just when you think you know where it’s going, this novel slides right out of your grip and delivers a string of surprises—one after another. At once exhilarating and philosophical, this debut dark sci-fi is a tour de force of twists and turns.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Sci-Fi apocalyptic mashup keeps one on their toes!

Read full review in the 2023 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[My Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to help Kristy with the cover reveal for The Stars in Their Eyes in 2022. It immediately went on my TBR list (because how could anyone say no to queer sci-fi) and it stayed on the TBR for much, much too long. I wish I could read it again for the first time.

I read this book in two days and that's only because my exhausted brain wouldn't let me stay away the entire night to finish it. It hooked me immediately and I fell in love with Calay and Tess and Max and was rooting for them from page one.

It's War of the Worlds meets dystopia with a kiss of romance and I couldn't have asked for a better plot. It kept me guessing, it kept me in shock, it made me feel things and it kept giving me MORE! I was truly devastated when it was over.

Kristy Gardner writes in a way that the vivid, gorgeous imagery was painted so clearly in my mind I swear I could smell the damp of the forest floor and feel the sting of broken skin. I'm still not over it. I want more. It will likely be one of the very few that I can reread.

[Amelia Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It was just them and the infinite universe, ripe with possibilities."
There are books that you just know you will love, even before you read them. This book was already special to me from the beginning and now it became one of my favourites.
It starts with a blurry and confusing thoughts of Calay, who doesn't really know what happened to her recently, and the more she explores her surroundings and gets to piece together the truth about alien invasion and why it all happened, we also get to know all of it and It's not exactly what you'd expect.
The book is full of pain, love and hope for the future. I felt on edge with every single page and when it all got cleared up, I was over the moon with excitement because deep in my heart I wanted something similar to happen, but it still surpassed all my expectations.
I want to know more, I need next book already.
Also, the part when we know the exact meaning of the title, it was beautiful, I was in awe, it was the perfect.

[Ann Fraistat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A propulsive journey of resilience and survival, The Stars in Their Eyes charts a juicily twisted path through what it means to be human, what it means to be alien, and, above all, when our world is lost, what it means to find home in each other.

[Journey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow. Wow.
This book was a roller coaster ride! The Stars in Their Eyes by Kristy Gardner was an action adventure from start to finish.

Calay and Tess have loved each other for years and it's their love that keeps them alive after aliens attack their comfortable, cozy, domestic life. When they are suddenly separated, Calay will do everything in her power to find Tess. She will fight far past her physical limit. She will cross lines she never thought possible and she will make choices she never thought she'd have to make. Why is there a mysterious man that shows up everywhere she goes and seems to be following her? Who can be trusted? Can anyone be trusted? What are the limits that Humanity will go to to defend their planet? Should we defend this planet?

There are so many questions asked about humanity and the way we treat others throughout this narrative that it truly makes you think about morality and the world. When the world is destroying itself and it's Us against Them; as well as just trying to stay alive, the lines between right and wrong are awfully hazy.

I never wanted to put this book down. Every time I started reading I wanted to just keep going and going. Unfortunately I had to pause for things like eating sleeping and working lol. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger and so many pages made me say "What?!!"

If you like action and adventure and romance and introspection and lost love and enemies to lovers and beautiful sapphic content and bisexual representation and dogs this is a book for you.
(Also it is extremely important to note that the only spoiler I'm going to give you is that the dog lives. There was a dog, and he lives! I learned that early on while reading a review and I am extremely glad for that spoiler! It is important!)

Trigger warning for homophobia, biphobia, violence, murder, gore, attempted rape, SA, animal cruelty, parental abandonment

[Ketricken · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 54%. I wanted to like it more.

She goes on and on about how she loves Tess. The second she meets Jacob she wants to jump his bones? Guess she doesn’t really care about Tess. Also, she wants to save Tess, but doesn’t know where she is, but they discussed a rendezvous? And then she doesn’t go there. Oh, she changes her mind, she is going to destroy the aliens. Oh no wait, she changes her mind again. She is going after Tess. JUST GO TO THE RENDEZVOUS!

Her internal monologue drags on for (p)ages. A lot of words and no sense.

[Deirdre Megan Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sci-fi, romance, and more this book packs a bunch. Starting off with Calay and her partner living happily while surviving a world takeover from some sky people…. Life as they know had already changed drastically….and then it did again. A journey to reunite brings us through many twists and turns.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this book and the world the author created. I also think overall, it was a well written debut novel. I loved both major twists in the story. I did not see them coming! I do think this has what I like to call "debut novel quirks," which were mostly centered around character depth. The dark parts of this book sometimes felt forced or over the top, especially in one character in particular. I felt like the harsh reality of this world was already felt without pushing it. I also felt like the character Jacob fell a little flat for me. The last character piece is more of a personal preference because it makes perfect sense with the book even if it wasn't my favorite to read. Calay's avoidant attachment / constant need to flee just wasn't for me. I do understand why she's like that, however. I do think the world was great and the foundation for all the characters is there, so I will continue on with this series at some point.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Helyna Clove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment I heard about this book, I was interested. A queer story of love and aliens and the creeping darkness? Yes, please! And it ended up being a great read, although a bit different than what I expected.

There are books where you can absolutely feel how the author's own experiences and struggles seep through the whole thing, and this is one of those books. I think I would feel it even if I didn't hear Kristy talk about her journey. Calay's fight for survival, failings, losses, wins, and choices are painted with bold, uncompromising, "hits you over the head" brush strokes. The writing is straightforward, does not hide anything, does not leave you wondering about the horrors of a post-apocalyptic world. It's cruel, and dark, and unsubtle. Calay's journey is impossible, full of mistakes and hesitancy (I wanted to shout at her so many times, argh! :D) but it's ultimately, very human.

I liked the outspoken nature of the story. I liked how intimate it was. I could not always relate and the plot sometimes evolved in a way I was not necessarily expecting or satisfied with, but the entire novel radiates sincerity. It is very much an examination of the ugly side of humanity, the Us and Them viewpoint and how it dooms us all, and how a single person, damned and blessed with her own problems and wonders, can navigate it all. It is on the nose, but it is true. I especially liked how Calay's own experiences with being queer, coming out and living with it, weaved into the narrative. There were a few very poignant analogies there.

In terms of characters, Calay was a complicated person whose layers revealed themselves only gradually. I admired her persistance and guts a lot. I wished I knew a bit more about Tess; she remained an enigma. As did Jacob: what I saw from him, I liked, eventually, but I feel like there's much much more. There are some more details of the world and characters' backstories that I'd very much have enjoyed to discover too, and which would have given a better framing of the events, but that might just be personal preference. However, my heart and soul is with Max, who is a very good boy. <3

And...the promise of a sequel? I think I will be there for it.

If you enjoy survival thriller-action in a post-apocalyptic world, a no-nonsense narration, mysterious aliens, and love in its many flavors, don't hesitate to read this.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! Get ready for something exciting, wrought with terror, but in the end, life-affirming!

The Stars in Their Eyes is horrifyingly intense and gut-wrenching, full of twists and turns with never a dull moment. Even when the action calms and the characters are allowed a respite, their minds and emotions are engaged and on alert, reliving the past, frantically planning the next move, and hoping, always hoping for a positive outcome.

Calay is the epitome of impulsiveness; the character admits as much upfront. Her impulsivity is on full display throughout her story, and it both endangers her and saves her life. She is inspiring in that despite everything she comes up against, she fixedly remains determined to find the love of her life, Tess. She finds some good in what’s left of her world, but the people she encounters are almost all heinous, desperate, and cruel, the kind who come back to haunt you. The author’s vision of the collapse of humanity is grim but so realistic feeling. And I won’t soon forget Max.

The author’s imagery of the world after The Change allows readers to develop a clear picture of the conditions the characters are dealing with and are film-ready. The writing and flow of the plot will keep you glued to the pages way past bedtime. So much happens in what seems to be one three days.

The terrifying description of the sound of whirring and the agonized grinding of metal when the alien pods were nearby quickly put my nerves on edge. The whirring reminded me of the noise the aliens made in the 1953 The War of the Worlds film starring Gene Barry. I first saw this movie as a child (what were my parents thinking?!), and the result then was the same as it was the night having started this book: a nightmare. Whew! This book is not for youngsters.

I recommend THE STARS IN THEIR EYES to readers who would enjoy a dark queer sci-fi/post-apocalyptic love story, an engaging, sympathetic, and strong female protagonist, and a plot that isn’t the same old, same old; be ready for something entirely different!

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Kristy Gardner for the eARC. This review is my own personal opinion.

The stars in their eyes starts with Calay and Tess in true bliss in their home together when destruction strikes.
Aliens have taken over the world and life as Calay knows it has forever changed.
With Tess missing, Calay sets out in an unprecedented and dangerous world in hopes to reunite with her.

Omg!! I really don't know what I was expecting from this novel but it definitely wasn't what I got! I'm so speechless, my flabber is truly gasted!!

Saying I absolutely loved this novel is an understatement. It totally blew me away with it's revelations. I wasn't expecting any of it!
The characters were brilliantly created, Calay had the fight or flight stance built right into her, though some of her actions created more problems. She was strong and fiesty, everything an undeniable stubborn, headstrong female lead needed in this world.
Jacob, initially odd, I actually loved him. His weirdness and evasiveness had me questioning his motives but I couldn't help but like him and I thought his dynamic with Calay was great.
All the other characters - without giving spoilers had me up and down like a yo yo of emotions! Everyone had their part in this story and they all did it well, love them or loathe them.
I found the writing of this novel immensely easy to read, it gripped me as soon as I started reading and I fell head first into the storyline. I was so wrapped up in the world that Kristy Gardner created, I felt the anxiety that Calay felt along with the horrors. The world building was rich with depth that it was believable.
The twists in this novel blindsided me, I loved the direction The Stars In Their Eyes took, it was so unexpected and I actually gasped and mentally swore at the end revelation!
I can't wait to read more from this series!

[Catherine (Cather.reads) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. I was doing it for a tour, I liked the premise, and the cover is gorgeous.
But I just couldn't get behind the characters. I love a good morally grey character, but Calay's personality seemed all over the place. She was talking about how she was going to stay loyal to her girlfriend and then cheating on her in the next scene even though she's holding out hope that she's alive.
Additionally the big reveal comes out of nowhere. There's no description of what the aliens are like or what they can do, and then all of a sudden all these things leading up to the reveal are supposed to make sense.
And then Guy. I couldn't stand him and the way that he treated women and even the women in charge didn't seem to really put much of a stop to him. Even though I know none of the other characters tolerated his actions and his threats of raping people, they sure didn't do much to stop him and his way of speaking. The fact that every word out of his mouth was awful just drove my enjoyment of this book into the dirt.
I'm probably missing something but between the rapist, the cheating (?), and not liking any of the characters I just didn't have a great time. I hope everyone else enjoyed this one more.

[Kathy]

This book puts you right into the action, and much like Calay you spend a lot of time trying to catch up with how the world has changed and trying to figure out the best way to survive. When we meet our protagonist, she is in a situation she doesn't remember entering, and has to try to escape and find her love. Along the way, she meets a couple companions - on canine, and one she is inexplicably attracted to. I definitely thought this was going to go one way from the beginning, and was glad it twisted another way near the end. This book explores grief, family trauma, and what it is like to be accepted for who you are.

I talk about this book in this wrap up.

[Alyssa Vang · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! 🙌 The author does a wonderful job at combining horror and sci-fi with a dash of romance thrown in. And oh my gosh, the romances in here! And the twists! 😱 I loved the descriptions in this book, they were so vivid, as were the emotions. I could see and feel everything that Calay was experiencing. I loved finding out how the title fit and walking with Calay as she worked to find herself. Also, I'm so glad Max survived! 😂😭 Brilliant book and I can't wait to read more of this series!

[Terese · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been only a handful of books I've devoured in a day and I am happy to say The Stars in Their Eyes was one of them. Every chapter had me begging for more and I was hooked with each twist. It takes a great author to make you feel their character's pain and emotions and man, did I ever feel Calay's. This is something I will read over and over again and I cannot wait to see what's next for Calay.

[K.C. Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calay’s journey is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. This book has all the great chaos and all the feels. It’s sci-fi and adventure and romance and a must-read!

Merged review:

Calay’s journey is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. This book has all the great chaos and all the feels. It’s sci-fi and adventure and romance and a must-read!

[Kate Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pacy, visceral and action-packed romp through a vividly depicted broken future. Readers will be with tough-as-nails main character Calay every step of the way on her desperate search for love and truth. Resident Evil meets War of the Worlds in this compelling debut

[Melissa Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read. The world building was amazing, descriptive, and very detailed. The characters were easy to fall in love with.

Spice: 2/5- A couple of fun scenes, but not too graphic.

[Jenny (Nyxie)]

No rating DNF. The writing just isn’t working for me.

[Melissa Karibian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling Sci Fi with all sorts of twists and turns, leaving you to wonder who the real monsters are: invasive aliens or humans that have lost their morals?

[Shanna Pranaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding storytelling of the highest order!

[Milena Constanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so proud of my friend Kristy for writing her first novel! This was a wild adventure complete with a post-apocalyptic setting, aliens, romance, and a bad ass female protagonist. Need I say more?

[For The Novel Lovers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review
Title: The Stars in Their Eyes by Kristy Gardner
Genre: Science Fiction, LGBT, Romance, Dystopia
Rating: 3 Stars
The opening to The Stars in Their Eyes was interesting and confusing at the same time since it jumps between the past and present without much warning. Despite that we are introduced to our protagonist, Calay in the present when she is injured and her girlfriend, Tess is missing and she wants to find her. In the past we learn of an event called the Change, which as far as I can tell involves aliens coming to Earth and killing a lot of people. Tess and Calay have managed to survive for months it seems, although we don’t know this for sure and now something has separated them. Calay isn’t in the best of shapes to be finding Tess and avoiding dying at the same time which is highlighted when she has to jump off the roof a building to prevent being caught and killed by the military. Right now, nothing makes much sense but I am hoping I will understand more as the novel progresses.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Calay is trying her best to avoid other people as well as the aliens referred to as the Others. She does end up picking up a companion along the way in the form of a dog called Max and with him she is just trying to survive, finding medical supplies and food. They do have a run in with the Others but they manages to evade them without getting seriously hurt. By the time she returns back to her camp it has been invaded by someone else, a man called Jacob. Jacob isn’t threatening in any way just Calay is hostile towards him even after he shares his food with her and doesn’t want anything except somewhere to sleep for the night. Calay is hesitant to trust him which I understand but her mindset of fighting him or sleeping with him wasn’t really necessary apart from highlighting how alone Calay feels and how she is doing nothing to find Tess. Eventually she does end up fighting Jacob even though he never once attempts to harm him in any way and successfully knocks him out but the questions remains over whether she will flee her camp which is the only place she has left to retreat to or whether she waits and sees what Jacob does when he wakes up.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, Calay ends up tying Jacob up and essentially leaving him to die defenceless which was cruel. However, when she gets cornered by some soldiers he is the one that comes to her rescue and even when she attempts to leave him behind for a second time she has to turn to him for help since she can’t drive a manual car. They end up finding somewhere they can rest for the night and when she wakes up in the morning Jacob is gone and Calay is far angrier than she has any right to be after the way she has treated him. However, we do learn that both Calay and Jacob have lost someone, someone who has gone missing, and neither are actively searching for them. Before Calay can set off on her own again Jacob returns telling her that they need to leave right now and I am assuming the danger is either more soldier or the Others. I really don’t like Calay as a protagonist as she is unlikeable in the worst ways, she treats Jacob so badly when he has done nothing to deserve it and even gone out of his way to help her when saving her from the soldiers and yet feels bad when he leaves her like she did to him before. I also didn’t like her whiny attitude about constantly being alone and yet turning away the one chance she has to have help and support from another person.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Calay and Jacob do end up sleeping together and forming a little bond but I was concerned over the fact that Calay isn’t looking for Tess despite her claims that Tess is her everything. We are also beginning to realise there is a lot more to Jacob as a character than we have seen yet but this is overshadowed a little when both are captured by the soldiers that have been running around. They are taken to a compound and Calay learns that these people are calling themselves the Resistance and they claim they are fighting back against the aliens and they are winning but we have seen no evidence of this so far. Calay also notices that there are no women at the compound which is beginning to worry her especially since she has been separated from Jacob and no one will tell her anything about what is going on there or what is happening to him. At this point I am torn about believing the Resistance as they seem more like a cult that a fighting force against the Others and I am still really confused over what the point of the novel is.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, things get even stranger as Calay learns that the Resistance are more of a cult since they have been capturing people and testing them to see if they are Others. Calay passed this test but Jacob didn’t meaning he is an alien which Calay doesn’t understand but when she learns the Resistance are also capturing any women they find for breeding she knows she has to leave and does although it isn’t without its challenges. Jacob soon catches up to her despite her shooting him twice and he explains that yes he is an alien and he heals faster than her and he was sent to collect their people who had gone missing in an electromagnetic storm. He explains that Calay’s mother is an alien and her father is human meaning she is a hybrid but shows more signs of her alien heritage rather than her human heritage and they need to leave now. Calay agrees that she needs to get off the planet but she wants to speak to her parents first and learn everything she can about what she is before she leaves it all behind including Tess it seems. Right now things are becoming clearly but it is also clear to me as a reader that the author had no idea where she wanted this book to go so it takes so many twists and turns without reason that it makes my head hurt at times.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Calay and Jacob go to visit Calay’s parents only to learn that her mother was killed after revealing herself to the humans. Her father explains that from the moment the aliens arrived on Earth, her mother was trying to convince people of their peaceful nature but when the war truly began her cause was lost and she paid the price for it. Her father doesn’t seem to be doing well and this is highlighted in a dark scene where he almost kills Jacob. Calay and Jacob having a fight after having sex where Calay tells him that she isn’t leaving Earth with him and is still going to look for Tess and she leaves, however, she can’t leave it alone and goes back. In the barn she finds her father trying to kill Jacob and attempts to talk him down but he explains that Jacob isn’t human and isn’t safe and will take her from him. Calay tries to explain that she isn’t leaving but her father isn’t willing to listen to reason and despite everything she doesn’t want Jacob to die so she murders her own father before breaking down. This scene didn’t really have the impact the author wanted it because Calay’s emotional flip-flopping is giving me whiplash. If the fight scene hadn’t been included it would have had a lot more weight since Calay claims to love Tess and yet repeatedly sleeps with Jacob and admits she has feelings for him, this combined with her not actively searching for Tess at all means that I felt Tess should have just been killed off to allow the story between Calay and Jacob to have more emotional weight and impact.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, I don’t know what the author was thinking but that ending was insane and not in a good way. Honestly everything had been building to Calay admitting her feelings for Jacob and leaving with him which would have been amazing but the author continued to drag Tess back into the story when she isn’t even present for the majority of it and she serves no real purpose. Honestly, it felt that the author include the f/f romance for the sake of including since it didn’t change any part of the story and it didn’t improve the characters. In fact, Calay’s stupid devotion to Tess even after learning what Tess has done made her a really unlikeable character that I didn’t like or want to support in any way. The only reason this book got three stars was because there were some interesting plot points, it was fast paced and entertaining and let’s be honest, Jacob and Max carried the story. If those elements weren’t there I would have DNF’d this pretty early on.