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Reviews for For Darkness Shows the Stars

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  • review from Blkosiner's Book Blog4

    Brandi Kosiner I was confused at first by all the terminology and the groups of people. Even though the synopsis tells a bit, I still was floundering. But the letters between Elliot (also confused me a bit, because she is a girl) and Kai when they were children cleared up some of it. It also served the purpose of setting up their history together, the friendship that spanned years and even though there was a difference in class, they still were smart and had many similarities. After a while though, I began to get tired of the letters, I think mostly because I just don't normally do that format, and skimmed them.
    Even with the initial confusion, the writing was good, and Elliot's voice really got me. I wanted for her to succeed, and I admired the responsibility she felt toward those under her in class, to make sure they were fed, and how she truly cared about them as people.
    But like Ashley at Nose Graze said better than me... Not a lot happened, it was a lot of talk about what should be right, and if Elliot is doing the right thing, or if she is doing what got the previous generations in so much trouble. And the romance... Kai is pretty mean to Elliot when he comes back, and there is just no justification for that. The things he said about her and her family when she is doing the best she can... Maybe the lit feeling and some of Kai's actions are because of the Persuasion influence and I just don't get it because I have never read it... I don't know.
    But I surely cannot deny the chemistry between Kai and Elliot. In their clipped conversations and meetings, it is igniting, and I have to remind myself how mean he was. That he is seeing a 14 year old--which was another thing I hated, but had a feeling that the triangle and age gap is also an Austen influence. I had to remind myself that he was either leading on an innocent and sweet girl, or Elliot would get her heart broken in those moments.
    So, even for the world building that confused me, the romance that at the same time enthralled me and that I hated, and the lit feeling, I still couldn't put it down. I had to know what would happen, and I couldn't look away.
    For everything that was wrong with this book, the ending was right. It touched me and almost made me cry how everything came together when I didn't see how it possibly could. I will be reading the next one!

    Bottom Line: I had my issues, but I couldn't put the story down. by Brandi Kosiner

  • For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund5

    Christy @ Captivated Reading Ohmygoodnessgracious!!!!!

    This book. It SO wasn't what I was expecting! I don't WHAT I was expecting, but it wasn't this.

    Okay, let me back up a little bit.

    Hearing that this book is comparable to Jane Austen's Persuasion (which is one of my all-time favorites, by the way), I KNEW I had to pick it up. So, when I won it from the EXTREMELY fabulous folks over at Epic Reads, I knew it was meant to be that I read this.

    How does Ms. Peterfreund get a book to be squeal-worthy when the main characters never even lay LIPS on each other?! I don't know...But, hot dang, she did it!

    After refusing her love, Kai, four years ago, Elliot is surely shocked to see him show up with the group that is renting out her grandfather's land to build a ship. But, Kai isn't the same Kai that left Elliot four years ago.

    Between Kai's romantic interest in Elliot's neighbor, a father and sister who continue to treat Elliot--as well as their workers--with continued disdain, and a love for boy who seems to have morphed into someone who both hates her and someone she doesn't recognize anymore, Elliot is sinking quickly into a life that's getting beyond her control.

    Her only concern is keeping her workers safe and making life better for them, and everyone that she's in charge of...And maybe pining after Kai a little bit, as well.

    The premise may be borrowed, in a way, from a brilliant author, but the background is as original as it gets.

    Jane Austen in a dystopian-society? YES!!! Now, if Ms. Peterfreund would just make a sequel. by Christy @ Captivated Reading

  • Review from Esther's Ever After5

    Brenna Staats This is one book that definitely hasn't received nearly enough attention for how amazing it is- seriously underhyped! It's a fantastic retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion (which I actually have yet to read- but I know I will after loving this one so much) set in the future with a definite science fiction feel to it.

    A story just bursting with creativity and a truly epic romance, this is one book that will definitely have widespread appeal and is a must read for 2012.

    Reasons to Read:

    1.Gorgeous writing:

    I haven't read any of Diana Peterfreund other books, but I have to say that I feel like she was the ideal author to pen this particular book. The style of writing is perfectly suited to the story- it stands on its own, but is still reminiscent of classical stories but with its own futuristic slang subtley woven in.

    2.Fantastic blend of diverse genres:

    It's hard enough to write a new story inspired by a famous, classical one and somehow retain that same feel of the story while placing it in a new setting with new characters and somehow making it your own. Diana proves that Persuasion is a timeless tale, one that we can still identify with in our own ways, even if the world she imagines is vastly different from our own in many ways. Yet she instills her own thoughts and questions to it, to make the story even more applicable to contemporary times (and questions which will still be around for a while, because of the relevance of technology). I've only seen a handful of authors do this well, but For Darkness Shows the Stars proves that books including historical, "classic" themes along with science fiction actually can be combined and work WELL together.

    3.Truly epic romance:

    I hesitate to call this an epic romance, but it's the romantic plot that stays closest to the idea of Persuasion. Childhood best friends who've grown apart because of their class differences within society - not quite by choice, yet not entirely starcrossed either. You have to keep in mind that the plot really does centre around the romance a fair amount. And I loved that this one was different - no love at first sight here! It's a gradual build up of trust and friendship all over again for Kai and Elliot.

    That being said, I still felt like the romance could have been set up a bit better- there was so much angst there (understandable) but it felt like it switched over too quickly so it felt a tad jarring. I think it really could have been milked for all its worth to make it far more effective- something that I find Jane Austen to be excellent at doing! And considering that the plot was very driven by the romance, I was expecting a bit more power from it at the end.

    I also wasn't particularly pleased with some of the secondary characters, like Elliot's father and sister who felt far too flat for me. A little too simple, and not enough depth for my liking personally.

    But other than those two small areas, this book is completely brilliant. It's tragic and moving and emotional, and completely nostalgic of some old favourites. But still shiny and new!

    ARC received from HarperCollins Canada. by Brenna Staats

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