Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1) by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell -> Restarting November 10th, 2022

[Dr. Andy]

A thief. An officer. A guardian.

Three strangers. One shared destiny . . .

When the Last Days came, the planet of Laterre promised hope. But five hundred years later, it’s now a place where an extravagant elite class reigns supreme; where the clouds hide the stars and the poor starve in the streets; where a rebel group, long thought dead, is resurfacing.

Whispers of revolution have begun—a revolution that hinges on three unlikely heroes…

Chatine is a street-savvy thief who will do anything to escape the brutal Regime, including spying on Marcellus, the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet.

Marcellus is an officer—and the son of a traitor. Groomed to command by his legendary grandfather, Marcellus begins to doubt the government he’s vowed to serve when he discovers a cryptic message that only one person, a girl named Alouette, can read.

Alouette is living in an underground refuge, where she guards and protects the last surviving library on the planet. But a shocking murder will bring Alouette to the surface for the first time in twelve years…and plunge Laterre into chaos.

All three have roles to play in a dangerous game of revolution—and together they will shape the future of a planet.

Power, romance, and destiny collide in this sweeping reimagining of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Misérables.

[Dr. Andy]

Ch 25 (view spoiler)[this has taken awhile to really start off but I like the characters so far. The newest girl is strange and it seems like she’s been sheltered underground or something?? I’m curious for what will happen with the other two characters (hide spoiler)]

Ch 40 (view spoiler)[ I’m enjoying this a little more with Taios spying. I don’t trust the general or the vanguard people. Nothing is adding up and there’s definitely a lot more happening than the characters know. I hope that sheltered girl will be okay. Leaving her home doesn’t seem like the smartest decision for her. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 65 (view spoiler)[ HAH I knew it!! His grandfather isn’t a freaking saint. I wonder who shot the girl and was railing Taio. I need answerssssss (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Man this was freaking awesome. I loved the Les Mis retelling aspect even though it took me like 80% of the book to realize it. I can't wait to see what happens next! (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Ch.3
(view spoiler)[I know I just started but I already like Chatine’s POV and I am so excited for this book, I don’t even really know where it comes from I’ve just wanted to read since I heard about it andbim so glad I finally am!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Keri wrote: "Ch.3
[spoilers removed]"

Yay!!!

[Keri]

End of Part 2
(view spoiler)[I can’t believe they killed off the poor 2 year old!! And there’s no way Nadette did it. I don’t buy that just like Marcellus doesn’t.
I’m so glad Alouette came out to help him too, I liked how cute they seemed. But omg I can’t even imagine her panic when the policier droids came with how she’s pretty much never even been outside!
Also alarming that the general just right away knew Chatine was a girl...I certainly feel like he’ll hold that over her. I knew she’d make the deal and see definite potential problems ahead as she’ll soon figure out Marcellus is actually a good guy just misled by his upbringing. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Keri wrote: "End of Part 2
[spoilers removed] ..."

Man Chatine makes some strange decisions regarding that job

[Keri]

End of part 3
(view spoiler)[wow. So much is happening! I like Mabelle a lot and want to believe her about the Vanguarde. It makes sense, especially from when whoever was talking about how the third estate can’t find out how much they’re relied on and how they would succeed this time. I can’t wait to see if Marcellus finds the proof and what it is!!
Also, Alouette’s dad has been hiding some serious stuff from her! I’m so frustrated for her constantly getting no answers! Can’t believe they made her a sister just as she’s counting on that time to go outside :/
And I definitely think maybe Chatine is projecting her jealousy that she’s not even really aware of, on why she’s not an Alouette fan with no real info besides Marcellus liking her... (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

25% (view spoiler)[
I've never actually read or watched Les Miserable, so I am unfamiliar with any similarities Sky Without Stars may have with it. I am enjoying this book so far, however. I am finding the plot to be pretty interesting so far. All of the characters are also likeable. I especially like Chatine and her tough attitude. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[
I am hoping this book doesn't follow the cliché story like I think it is going to. I think Cladine is going to start to care about Marcellus, and end up not betraying him to his grandfather. I don't know what Marcellus is going to think when (not if) he finds out that "Theo" is actually a young woman, not a young man. In addition, my ranking of characters I like best has changed. I still like Cladine the most, but second is now Alouette, followed by Marcellus. He just seems to naïve and has no interesting qualities (at least none yet?). (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[
Nadette's execution was pretty intense. She was most likely innocent and was framed. Someone on the inside probably wants to start a war with the Vangarde. I also want to know how Alouette fits into all of this. The word Lark keeps turning up.

Overall, I am enjoying the story, but I don't like books with love triangles, or ones where two people like the same person. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I ended up really liking the characters and the story was really interesting. I like how the three main characters all had a connection with one another. This book left me wanting more, and I can't wait until the next one is released. I want to know if Chatine ever finds out what happens to Henri, why Alouette is so important to the Vangardes, and if there will be any romance between the characters! (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

End of part 4
(view spoiler)[NO WAY!! I cannot see how the kind sheltered curious Alouette is supposed to be the same Madeline who (supposedly) killed baby Henri!!! I’m also not convinced Henri’s dead with Chatine never getting to see a body... (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

End ch. 64
(view spoiler)[FINALLY. It was so annoying waiting for Marcellus to really search for the proof Mabelle said she hid. You know, instead of just assuming it would be gone. She’s a frickin’ Vanguarde spy, did you think she would hide it somewhere easy to find? Smh. (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[Wow I loved this!! I enjoyed the Les Mis reimagining aspect from what I could tell. I’ve never read the book but saw the play years ago, so I feel like I don’t remember is super well which I kind of liked.
Anyway, I KNEW I was right Henri was really alive, and my guess is he’s Roche. We’ll see.
I need to know more about the Vanguarde and why Alouette aka Lark is so important to them. I can’t wait for the next book, I wish I could read it now. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 10TH, 2022

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[Ellen-Arwen]

Okay, is anyone else going to start this series? Because I need someone else to keep me going lol