review: For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
June 12, 2012
Balzer + Bray
Young Adult | Post-Apocalyptic 
Standalone
Pages: 402
Source/Format: Bought/Hardcover
Rating: ★★★★★
Author's Website | Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound


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.

IN A SENTENCE:

If you’re looking for a romantic sci-fi, look no further: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund brings the best of both worlds in a heart-stopping retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Even if you aren’t a Jane Austen fan (or haven't read her books, like me!), For Darkness Shows the Stars should be on your to-read list.

REVIEW: 

Oh my, I loved For Darkness Shows the Stars. <3 Guys, I don’t think I can adequately review this book. It’s so freaking amazing that I think you should buy it right now.


No? I HAVE TO CONVINCE YOU? What the—okay, here’s why you should read For Darkness Shows the Stars:

Elliot North isn’t your average YA heroine. She figures things out before somebody else does and points it to her. She pieces things together. I mean, she pieced Kai’s secret and I was sitting there thinking, WHAT IS HIS SECRET?! Because guys, I SO DID NOT figure it out! Until she said something about it and then I was like “ohhh.” She’s damn smart and I love smart heroines.

The world Diana Peterfreund created. Holy crapola, I loved it. I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. It feels so real, too, which is awesome. And kinda scary because omg, what if the Reduction happens? I would so not survive it.


Malakai Wentforth. Oh God. He is . . . amazing. I loved the banter and chemistry between Kai and Elliot, even in the letters. He's just—sigh. <3 Sometimes you get angry at him, but for the most part, you end up falling in love with him. 

The letters. It adds a unique perspective to this book. I think without the letters readers wouldn’t love Kai, or feel sympathy for both of them, but with them they do—and I loved it.

The ending. Omg, it GUTTED me. I was about thirty pages from the end of the book and was left wondering how it was going to end.

The characters. The side characters were so real. I LOVED Ro. <3 There was good and mean characters and I just loved them. 

THE EMOTIONS. Oh, god, guys I felt ALL the emotions with For Darkness Shows the Stars. I wanted to cry (I didn’t, since I was in a car full of people), I laughed, I smiled, etc. <3

The fact that it’s set on a farm. How many YA books do you know of that are set on a farm? That’s what I thought.

The romance. The angst it brings. Oh, my heart broke so many times during reading this book. But no worries: it was stitched back together, slowly, until Elliot or Kai shattered it again.

I love romance and science fiction, and was so happy that For Darkness Shows the Stars brought both to the table. Guys, I keep recommending this book to everyone I love. You NEED this book in your life!

P.S. I initially thought this book was set in space (because of the cover) and was excited about that. It isn't. Also: I haven't read Persuasion by Jane Austen, but now I WANT to.

Other Reviews:

A Beautiful Madness
Katie's Book Blog
Good Books and Good Wine (which prompted me to buy For Darkness Shows the Stars.)