Book Reviews

review; for darkness shows the stars

For Darkness Shows The Stars
by Diana Peterfreund

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:

I knew this was going to be a pretty good novel going in. Especially after how good Among These Nameless Stars was. But this? Exceeded all expectations.

This was one of the best love stories I have read in a while, god, it’s got the magic of These Broken Stars and This Shattered World but also the old-school romance of Pride And Prejudice which makes sense since it’s based on Persuasion and just – guys this is perfection.

Between the misunderstandings and miscommunication, the pain that is thrumming under the skins of both Kai and Elliot. The way all the characters are linked, all of them have nuances. And they all grow and learn.

Friendships between ladies, and relationships forged in difficult times, and characters that are strong and characters that are seemingly shallow, and characters that look trustworthy on the surface or even worse, not dangerous at all but turn out to be the cruelest ones that exist in-world – this has them all.

It is science-fiction and also a little old-school classic style story, and you would think those two would not mesh, but this makes it work. It makes it work so well.

I just think this is so amazing. I cannot even express myself right, this is just wonderful.

I’m Ara, a Southeast Asian writer who someday hopes to have published a novel, and who is currently losing herself in the worlds created by others. I love books and food and television and blogging and I get distracted and sidetracked easily.

8 Comments

    • Ara

      It was SO GOOD and I actually stumbled across this book on accident. I’d 10/10 recommend if you don’t mind a little bit of a slow-burn on the romance front and a few unanswered questions.

  • Olivia-Savannah

    Ooh, I do love my sci-fi at the moment, but what makes me feel the most excited about this book is how you describe it comparing all of those books. The best from the sci-fi and romance side of things, but also the best from the classics too. Ooh, that has me hooked 😀 I am so so happy you could love this book!

    • Ara

      Aww, thank you! I highly recommend it if you like sci-fi! It’s a really good read, and easy enough to get through! Not too long. Haha.

  • Fanna

    Wow, this one sounds like something I would enjoy! I’m a huge sci-fi fan and a good romance is all I need <3 Plus, great character relationships and friendships make a book all the more amazing. Adding this to my TBR right away! Great review, Aradhna 😀

    • Ara

      I hope you enjoy it! It was definitely better than I was expecting and the romance is so deliciously slowburn. I am making myself want to do a re-read.

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