For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Title: For Darkness Shows the Stars 
Author: Diana Peterfreund 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Received: From the library

Summary:  It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.
Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.
But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.
Inspired by Jane Austen's persuasion, "For Darkness Shows the Stars" is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

 
Review:  
So I am going  to preface this review by saying I have never read Persuasion. I know, I know, but I say this to bring home the point that this is not a strict retelling or anything like that. For Darkness Shows the Stars was inspired by Persuasion so even if you did not like Persuasion or if like me you had never read it I think you could really like this book!

I read this book in one day. Not one night which is when I normally read, one day I sat on the couch and besides some interruptions of having to do things I was reading this book. I was sucked in by Diana Peterfreund's masterful storytelling and was not let go until a few days after. I even find myself thinking about this book randomly it was so good.

I have read all of Peterfreund's other books including her adult books, and they are all really good. But For Darkness Shows the Stars has to be my favorite. Just the world building and the characters ugh. I don't even know. I just loved it.

Elliot is awesome! She is tough, strong, determined and broken. Sh has had to deal with so many things beyond her years that it takes a while for her to warm up to anyone. Especially when a certain Kai shows back up. I felt for her when she had to deal with him and I loved reading their letters to each other in between the chapters. It slowly opened up more of the story.

I loved the ending of For Darkness Shows the Stars it was awesome and I have to say that even though I adored this book I loved that it was a stand-alone.

I cannot wait for the companion novel Across the Star-Swept Sea but you should definitely check out this amazing book!

The Goddess Test Review

Title: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: April 19, 2011
Received From: Netgalley

Summary: 

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Review:

As you know if you read my blog I love books that have mythology in them. The Goddess Test was no exception.

I really liked the prologue at the beginning of the book, I know some people don’t like them because they feel that they give too much away, but in this case I think it really added to the story, my mind would go back to that scene and try to tie it into what was going on. It was a great way to add some mystery and intrigue from the very beginning.

Kate was my kind of character, while she wasn’t super heroic or anything, I liked her devotion to her mother, and how she was willing to give up so much for some girl who hated her.

I also really liked Henry, but I wish we could have gotten to know him better. There were moments when it seemed like we might be let in, but we only got a glimpse. I guess that added to his mysteriousness. I would have liked to understand his motives and why he was the way he was more though.

The idea of the tests I felt was very original but I wish some of them had been more obvious, I mean I know they were supposed to be subtle but I had NO idea what  most of them could possibly be until the end when they were spelled out for me and Kate.

I had one main problem with this book, it was that for the first part of the book I had NO IDEA what was going on. It was very vague and I wish Aimee Carter had given the readers a little more background or something.

But besides that I really enjoyed this book and I am excited to see where the story goes in the next book. Goddess Interrupted (Jan 2012)

Jane

Title: Jane
Author: April Linder
Publisher:  Poppy
Release Date:  September 23, 2010
Received From: ATWT

Summary: Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, an iconic rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer, and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past.
Part irresistible romance and part darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers

Review:

Very enjoyable modern adaptation of Jane Austin’s time-tested classic is how I would describe this book.

I started reading this book less than a month after reading Jane Eyre. I was amazed by how similar the stories were. Of course Jane does not begin with Jane being a young child  and of course Mr. Rochester was not a rock star. But the major events and basic storyline were more similar than I expected.

I actually was not a huge fan of Jane Eyre *don’t hurt me* but I really enjoyed this fast paced version. But I have to say that I liked knowing Jane from a young age in Jane Eyre better because I could understand her motivations better.

I think this book will be enjoyed by both Jane Eyre lovers and haters.

P.S. Has anyone seen the new movie? Is it worth seeing?

 

 

O, Juliet

Title: O, Juliet

Author: Robin Maxwell

Publisher: New American Library

Release Date: February 2, 2010

Received From:  Publisher/Author


Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that knows not the bounds of her great family's stalwart keep.


The latter path is hers for the taking when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable, once he determines to capture the heart of the remarkable woman foretold in his stars. The breathless intrigue that ensues is the stuff of beloved legend. But those familiar with Shakespeare's muse know only half the story...

I have always loved historical fiction! I don't know what it is about it, but I love it! Even though Romeo and Juliet was never my favorite I was excited to see a different interpretation of the story. This was my first Robin Maxwell book, but with her power of storytelling, I will definitely be picking up some more of her books.


I really enjoyed seeing into Romeo and Juliet's heads, it made the personal story even more personal. Even though the story takes place in a different time and place, then in the original, I felt that the story did not suffer at all from the setting change. I liked that Juliet was treated like an individual person, not just always connected to Romeo, like in some other interpretations.

I really enjoyed how I felt so much more for Romeo and Juliet in this version because their story was more real to me, which I really appreciated. Even though I obviously knew the ending I was heartbroken when it happened which is a testament to Maxwell's talent.

The only problem I had with this book was I felt that parts of it were kind of boring, and even though I know some of it was necessary, I was bored for a little while in the middle of the book, but the characters really got me through it!

Overall a good historical retelling!

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4/5