This Shattered World
Publisher:Disney-Hyperion
Series: Starbound #2
Pages:Genre: Sci-Fi, YA
Release Date: December 23rd
Summary:
The second instalment 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.
Review:
When I first realised that there was going to be a sequel to These Broken Stars, I was elated. When I finally read the synopsis of This Shattered World, I was heartbroken. I loved Lilac and Tarver together. I loved their chemistry, their story and I definitely wasn’t ready to let them go. But I still loved the plot and the writing enough to wait impatiently to get my hands on this book.
This Shattered World is set in another planet called Avon that has been in the stages of terraforming for decades. Since the planet isn’t developing enough to have an independent status, there is a lot of unrest among the civilians. The military there is ruthless and unyielding which has led to rebellion colonists forming a terrorist like group called the Fianna. The war has been brewing for years now and just a little misstep from either group could be the tipping point and lead to a blood bath.
The thing that I most like about Kaufman’s series Starbound is the story building and the relationship between the characters. The story starts right off with Jubilee and Flynn’s encounter in the bar. Jubilee as a character is very smart, perceptive and rational. Despite having faced trauma at a very young age, she wasn’t a broken, shattered girl. I’d say she was a good blend of strong, bitter, kick-ass and practical. As for Flynn, he was peaceful where Lee was violent, forgiving where she was resentful, optimistic where she was despondent. However both of them were loyal to their duties and never shirked away from their responsibilities. Their relationship wasn’t one of the slow building, getting to know each other kinda love story; it wasn’t even an insta-love/lust scenario (okay…there were attracted to each other from day 1) but it was just perfect for the story. I’ve definitely read my share of forbidden love stories, but this one didn’t focus as much on the romance (even though the story revolved around them working together).
I won’t say that the plot line was unpredictable or anything I’ve never read before, but it had its own charm and that worked for me. There wasn’t a dull moment in the book but that said.. I do feel that a few things could have been left out since they didn’t contribute much to the whole plot. You wouldn’t feel it while reading the story but after you’re done and contemplating everything that happened, I think you might feel the same. Besides that, the pseudo villain of the story, McBride, seemed to be diabolical just for the heck of it. I would have appreciated it more if his hatred had been more subtle instead of being portrayed in a way that just felt like a useless addition.
To sum it up, this book isn’t perfect and I don’t adore it as much as the first one but it has an action packed, thrilling plot that keeps you hooked till the end. Tarver and Lilac do make an appearance and play a significant role (Jubilee and Flynn were really not getting anywhere without them). It’s a story of a girl living her job until she finds the boy who wants a better future for his people and changes her meaning of life. The boy who helps her dream again and she in return fulfils. It is a good story and one I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
My rating? 3.5 bright stars.
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