Tuesday, October 23, 2012

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.


I have always been a diehard Jane Austen fan. Honestly, I remember watching Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice and Emma with my mom when I was little. I loved them! Then as I got older and discovered her novels (and was old enough to understand them) I fell in love all over again. But I have to say, out of all of Jane Austen's books, Persuasion is probably my least favorite. However, when I read about this book-- a dystopian take on Austen, I was intrigued.

While the beginning of this book is just as slow as the original, I still quite enjoyed it. I really liked that there were past letters between Elliot and Kai that were woven into the story between chapters.  The letters gave more insight into how Elliot and Kai got to the strained and hateful point in their relationship that they were when they were introduced in the book. I thought it was helpful in understanding the book overall. And since it is a dystopian, be prepared for some strange supernatural elements. Just an FYI.

Granted, I felt like there were some holes in the storyline, but overall I did like this book and I would recommend it. If you are a Jane Austen fan, but sometimes want an updated, fresh take on her stories, this may just be the book for you.

Happy Reading!

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