For What It's Worth


Monday, January 5, 2015

Review: This Shattered World (Starbound #2) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner


13138734The second installment in the epic Starbound trilogy introduces a new pair of star-crossed lovers on two sides of a bloody war.

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. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable 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 the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war.

Goodreads  | Source: ARC via BEA

Review:
This Shattered World has such a different feel than These Broken Stars. TBS’s was more of an action packed thrill ride with a sweeping romance while TSW is a more thought provoking story filled with romantic tension – yet the romance isn’t the focal point – more of a catalyst for Jubilee and Flynn’s character growth.

I am absolutely in love with Jubilee Chase. She’s one of the best YA heroines I’ve read in a long time. She’s strong yet shows such vulnerability that you can’t help but feel for the horrible ethical/moral choices thrust upon her. She doesn’t always make the right choice at first but she is loyal, brave and stands up to do the right thing – even when it’s not easy.

Jubilee and Flynn’s relationship goes from enemies to frenemies to maybe something more but both of them realize the implications and while their longing is palpable, they keep their eyes on solving the bigger picture. This is a heart wrenching yet low key star-crossed romance.

This Shattered World, although an entirely different story than These Broken Stars, in both location and tone, ties in elements to bring the two stories together and set up next story in the Starbound series. It was really well done. Expect a few awesome cameos (Tarver!).

As much as I enjoyed it, I do have a few nitpicks.

Some of the conflict/action scenes felt repetitive after a while. How many times can you get beat up/run away etc…?

The interludes (Tarver’s interrogation) from book #1 really worked for me. They added to Tarver and Lilac’s story but the interludes in TSW just kept pulling me out of the story and left me scratching my head. There is a big reveal at the end but they made so little sense until that point I found them to more of a distraction.Honestly, I wished I skipped them.

Sure, I had a few quibbles but I did really enjoy this installment. What a fantastic series. I love how each book explores a new side of war while still tying it all together with LaRoux Industries, Tarver and Lilac. It’s a whole new world and couple but they build nicely on the story before it.

14 comments:

  1. I know what you mean about this series but I enjoyed Jubliee and Flynn . I can't wait to read the next one , and I enjoyed seeing Tarver again.

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  2. Sounds like a nice addition with great world building and being different from the first

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  3. I don't think I've ever read a YA series that features a different couple in every book. That's a cool element here in itself. I don't think this is for me though but it's good that you enjoyed this.

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  4. Your issues with this book were pretty minor, and not enough to turn me off from reading it. I suppose that I should probably start with the first installment though. I have to 2nd Braine's comment, a YA series that alternates couples is new to me too.

    Carmel @ Rabid Reads

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    1. Yeah they were very minor and more due to expectations - thinking it would be like the first one.

      And I hadn't even thought of it but you and Braine are right. I can't think of even one series that alternates couples.

      Oh - Robin LeFevers His Fair Assassins does!

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  5. The issues don't sound like anything major. Oh this makes me want to pick up the first one even sooner than I planned. So many books.. LOL

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  6. Why did I just read Mac and Cheese instead of their names? Must be hungry

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  7. New background, holla!

    I definitely agree with you on all points. The interludes didn't transition as well in TSW as they did in TBS. Mostly they just frustrated me until I had my "oooooh" moment.

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  8. I expected A LOT from this book and I'm glad to know that I won't be disappointed. I trust these authors to always do something different, which is rare. Can't wait to get my hands on this.

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  9. Hmmm, this sounds interesting and i LOVE the cover, but i'm not sure it's for me. thanks for the great review :)

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  10. I do want to read this. I liked the first book, but glad to hear that this is less about action!
    Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics

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  11. I loved the sweeping romance in These Broken Stars, but oh-boy did This Shattered World notch it up some witht he awesome setting and tension throughout! So glad you enjoyed this Karen. I do agree that the interludes felt off this time around for me as well. Still amazing read though : )

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  12. I am very excited to see how the authors will wrap up the series. I think This Shattered World was better in terms of world-building, wheras TBS had more romance.

    Great review!

    Marianne @ Boricuan Bookworms.

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  13. I'm pretty excited to read this one (though it's been hanging on my shelf since BEA...*sigh*). The same ole, same ole (run/hide) can definitely get irritating, though.

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