Review: Across a Star Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Series: For Darkness Shows the Stars Book #2
Format: Paperback
Pages: 452
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult, Post-Apocolyptic, Sci-Fi
Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 
Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine. 

Review

Yay!!!. I finally read this one! I do like the first book better, but this was still a very solid book.

Not a lot of YA books are written in third person like this or at least not that I've read. I'm really glad because it helped me get a better idea of what was going on New Pacifica. I was still confused sometimes, because all the sciencey talk made me confused.

Persis especially a great character. She was pretty badass in a few different ways. There was a little bit of political navigation which I always enjoy. She has so much on her shoulders, but she doesn't become angsty or mopey.

The other characters like Isla and Justen were also well done. I actually would like another book for a few reasons like some unresolved questions. Maybe a story set after this one that follows Isla and what she does to navigate her personal and political life. But I'm guessing that will never happen. :(

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Book Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Series: For Darkness Shows the Stars Book #1

Format: Paperback

Pages: 402

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

I should probably sit with this book for a little bit before writing this, but I don’t want to. And honestly, I have no complaints. I’m sure I could find some but right now I just want to soak in the awesomeness that is this book.

I don’t even know how to start this so it may not be very coherent.

The writing is so beautiful. It felt artistic and I could see how she was influenced by Austen. And it had that restrained tension that I love about Austen. Like (potential spoiler ahead) these characters never even kiss, but you can still feel the passion and love. That takes some serious skills.

Oh and the letters. I’m a huge fan of books with letters, texts, emails, etc. And she incorporated them wonderfully. I was glad she included the letters from their past, because it really explained their friendship and romance. Then, there’s the letter at the end. I was hoping she would do this and the best thing I can say is: Kai’s letter made me feel the same way Wentworth’s letter made me feel.

So, I loved the writing. I loved the romance. I also love the characters-including the side characters like Ro, Felicia, and Andromeda. I actually really want to spend more time with Andromeda, because she’s a little bit of a mystery.

Then, there’s the scientific and post-apocalyptic aspects of the story. It was interesting to see a world that had “regressed” but knows about technology and great scientific advances. And it’s a different look at how a caste system can be formed and exist.

I’ve read that the companion novel explores even more of the science behind the past and present. So, now I’m even more excited to read that book.

 I highly recommend this story to basically anyone. And now I really want to read Persuasion again. Or maybe just Wentworth’s letter.

Thanks for reading!