On Rereads: Science Fiction Series Ending in November and December

On Rereads is a monthly feature on My Thoughts Lit where I talk about the books I reread during the month. It's an opportunity to share some new thoughts on a book I read before and usually to prepare for a new release. For the foreseeable future I plan to do one reread a month so I want to share my thoughts on these books the second time around.

I wanted to reread six books in October which was a little optimistic although I did reread five in November! What! I mean I didn't read as many new books but that's cool. I got to reread The Lunar Chronicles and the Starbound Trilogy by the end of the month. The fact that I had a drive to Upstate to New York to see my family for Thanksgiving definitely helped with that. I could have squeezed in a book I hadn't read but I didn't want to and these next two months that's what I want to do. But here is my thoughts on the audiobooks for....

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Cinder -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Scarlet  -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
Cress -  (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

I was both excited and nervous for the final book in this series, Winter, to come out. I'm such a fan of this series. It is one of my all-time favorite retellings, not to mention an all-around science fiction series with amazing characters and a thrilling plot. So with the final book coming out I had to marathon the whole series to refresh my memory and also experience it all together.

Once again, I really felt like this is a series that gets better and better as it goes on. Rereading it you can see how good Marissa Meyer's plotting is. Things mentioned in the first book come back in a big way in the third and final book. I was so glad I reread it too because I forgot so many details, especially in Scarlet. Plus I got to once again fall in love with these characters and swoon at the romantic moment.

But what I really liked about this reread was the audio. Rebecca Soler, the narrator does an absolutely brilliant job bringing these characters to life. She got Cinder's snark down perfectly, plus Thorne's charm, Scarlet's toughness and French accent, and Cress' awkwardness. Plus her Iko was just so spot on. I loved it so much that when I was reading Winter, I missed the audio and downloaded it so that I could listen to it too. Her Winter (the character) narration? Brilliant!

The Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)
This Shattered World - (Amazon / Goodreads / Audible / My Review)

This series, ugh, you guys. I'm so obsessed. It might be my all-time favorite YA Science Fiction novel. It's so freaking amazing. These Broken Stars was one of my favorite reads of 2014 and I was a little nervous about rereading because what I loved so much about it was the mystery and the crazy plot twist but it was just as brilliant and emotional the second time around. That is the mark of a great read if you ask me. Then with This Shattered World, I wasn't totally blown away the first time I loved it. Honestly, the second time it was even better. Reading them back to back I was able to understand more and see more connections which made it so fantastic.

I also really loved these audiobooks. I like they have different narrators for the different perspectives and I think they captured the mystery and adventure with this series. I particularly enjoyed Jonathan McClain who narrated for Tarver, who I think captured his humor and fun personality, as well as Donnabella Mortel who narrated for Lee Chase in This Shattered World because she captured her toughness and vulnerability.

Now I am ready for Their Fractured Light, the last book in the series. I'm as usual excited and nervous about how it all end but I totally trust Aime and Meg to bring the feels and the mindblowing twists. Marissa Meyers totally did in Winter. These are both great Science Fiction series. I would definitely recommend them if you haven't read them yet.

Have you read the The Lunar Chronicles or the Starbound trilogy? Did you reread in preparation for their series conclussions? Have you done any rereads lately? What books? Do you like doing rereads or not? Tell me why.  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Their Fractured Light Series: Starbound #3 Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Published: December 1, 2015 by Disney Hyperion (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.  Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.  Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.  When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide.

Why I'm Waiting 

Wow, my last three WoWs have been for conclusions to series that I absolutely love. I mean obviously those are some of my most anticipated books so it makes sense. Their Fractured Light is definitely on the list of highly anticipated releases. I read These Broken Stars a little after the hype died down and I had my mind absolutely blown by it. Not only was it an amazing science fiction novel but it had a mystery that took me completely by surprise, characters that I loved, and a serious punch to the feels. Then I read This Shattered World and was blown away again. New characters, new world, and just as much mystery and romance.

So this is the conclusion to the series and I know that it is going to be epic. I'm so excited to fall for another couple of starcrossed lovers, explore another new world, and learn all about the things that have been building with the first two books. But I also know it's probably going to destroy my feels. Although in all fairness, if it didn't I would be kind of upset.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting for Their Fractured Light with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: This Shattered World by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: This Shattered World Series: Starbound #2 Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Published: December 23, 2014 by Disney Hyperion (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.  Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the rebels.  Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. His sister died in the original uprising against the powerful corporations that terraformed Avon. These corporations make their fortune by terraforming uninhabitable planets across the universe and recruiting colonists to make the planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.  Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war. As Flynn and Lee attempt to uncover the truth about Avon, they realize that there is a conspiracy on the planet that runs deeper than either of them could imagine, one that Lee's former commander Tarver Merendsen only scratched scratcehd the surface of two years ago. The stunning second novel in the Starbound series is an unforgettable story of love and forgiveness in a world torn apart by war.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA for an honest review in return. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

These Broken Stars, the first book in this series was one of my favorite books I read this year. It had an amazing Science Fiction world, great characters, and a plot that completely blew my mind. Therefore, I had high expectations going into This Shattered World, and I was not disappointed. 

What Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner do so well is create characters that are well-rounded and interesting.  I was almost instantly connected to these characters and their struggle, and a lot of that had to do with the fact that the authors made them empathetic and complex. The revolutionary leader and tough as nails female soldier can easily become tropes but just like Lilac and Tarver, both Flynn Cormac and Lee Chase were more than they seemed. Yes, Flynn was tough, intelligent, and determined but he was also thoughtful and a peacemaker. Lee was tough and aggressive but she was also rash and sensitive. These strength and weakness, almost contradictions, make them so empathetic and likable. Plus I have good news for fans of These Broken Stars, myself included, will be happy to know that Lilac and Tarver not only make a cameo but are a bigger part than you would think for a companion novel. And that's just the start of the characters in this book. It is full of complex and interesting and interesting characters, first and foremost the main characters.

However, the romance in this one may have actually been my favorite part, and for me that is huge. But this was the perfect slowburn of the star-crossed variety. There was some definite Romeo & Juliet illusions in this book but it doesn't have the insta-love of that classic. Flynn and Jubille had a meet-cute that was full of adorable flirting but they began their relationship as natural enemies. They started with fighting and hilarious banter and I just wanted to smoosh their faces together! Then over time and their shared struggle it became so much more and I was giddy with joy. But even the romantic moments didn't come with confessions or even admittance of love until much later in the book. Oh and boy were those romantic moments great. For me romance is not something I typically love about a book. But these ladies do it so perfectly that if they were to write a Contemporary Romance, I would read it!

But I don't want them to do anything else, because Kaufman and Spooner do Science Fiction so well! The world they have created here is so interesting and enthralling. In This Shattered World we get to explore more of the galaxy that was created in the first book. And despite the fact that this was a different world entirely, with different problems, it really felt like it was a continuation of the previous book. It was like we were learning more and deeper things about the universe and the forces at play within it. Kaufman and Spooner has this great knack for creating places that seem both logical and illogical. I don't know what I thought I could figure anything out after the way the last one surprised me, but I still attempted to theorize about what was going to happen and spent most of the book trying to make sense of what was happening to these people and on this planet.  

And maybe it was because I knew what I was getting into, but unfortunately the plot of This Shattered World was not as much of a mind-fuck. Now don't get me wrong it was just as packed with action and mystery as These Broken Stars but it didn't leave me with quite the same feeling of confusion and shock. But it did keep me on the edge of my seat for nearly all it's close to 400 pages. And I think that was because the plot, like the characters were so multi-faceted. It started out as a basic story of two warring factions but it developed into so much more. And while I loved the story of revolution and those fighting for their freedom, the book didn't get really interesting until it delved deeper into the secrets of the planet and started exploring more of the larger plot lines that began in the first book and I'm sure will continue throughout the series. This is where the book me "huh face" and left me curious and confused, but I liked that.

But unfortunately for me, the length of the book and multi-faceted nature of the story did make the pacing an issue at times. It did start a little slow for me and I didn't truly start feeling interested in the story until about a third of the way in when the plot got more complicated. There seemed like things were a little disconnected and slow until them. In the end it did all make sense and really picked up but there were moments where I was waiting for the action, mystery, or even the romance to kick. Or maybe that was the fact that the plot was a little muddled with the inter-connected storylines that changed and evolved as the book developed.

But despite this minor criticism I really loved this book and it left me with my jaw on the floor desperately waiting for the next book in the series. Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have once again created an amazing and entertaining YA fantasy with amazing characters, a fascinating world, and a thrilling plot.

I give This Shattered World by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner a 9.5 out of 10

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! This book is absolutely not to be missed for everyone. If you were a fan of the first book you will not be disappointed. If you like Science Fiction, Fantasy, or books that mess with your head and leave you both confused and entertained then this is the book for you. Get ready to fall for Flynn Cormac, Captain Lee Chase, and their romance as they hunt for the secrets of Avon!

Have you read This Shattered World? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday - This Shattered World

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: This Shattered World Series: Starbound #2 Author: Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Published: December 23, 2014 by Disney-Hyperion Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.  Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.  Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. His sister died in the original uprising against the powerful corporate conglomerate that rules Avon with an iron fist. These corporations make their fortune by terraforming uninhabitable planets across the universe and recruiting colonists to make the planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.  Desperate for any advantage against the military occupying his home, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape base together, caught between two sides in a senseless war.

Why I'm Waiting 

I read These Broken Stars in January and it blew my mind into a million pieces! It completely lived up to the hype with an amazing star-crossed lovers kind of romance, complex characters, and a unique and enthralling Science Fiction plot with a lot mystery! So so much mystery!

And while I would love to follow up with Lilac and Tarver, I'm also really excited to be introduced to new characters and new stories. I already love the prospect of Jubilee, she sounds a little bit like Starbuck in the Battlestar Gallactica reboot, who I love. I also love the idea of a kickass female character who can go toe to toe with a kickass male character. I am predicting quite a lot of wonderful banter.

And did you all know that there is a Starbound short story coming out in a few weeks called This Night So Dark. It has some Tarver flashbacks like how he became so famous and also connects the two stories, so if you need a Starbound and/or Tarver fix check it out, it's free for kindle!

I am just really excited to spend some more time in this world and to see where things develop. I'm intrigued that this is a companion to These Broken Stars. I'm interested to see how things develop in the world, especially the way that the last book ended, and I'm interested to see if they answer or resolve any of the mind-blowing questions the first book brought up.

Really I just want this book in my face immediately!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you as excited for This Shattered World as I am? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!