Everyone knows I am a huge Pintip Dunn fan, so when I saw this newest book which combined my love AND space, I was sold. Seriously.
Summary
In a world where nutrition can be transferred via a pill, and society is split into Eaters and Non-Eaters, seventeen-year-old Princess Vela has a grave dilemma. Her father, the king, is dying, and only a transplant of organs from a healthy Non-Eater boy will save him.
Vela is tasked with choosing a boy fit to die for the king, which is impossible enough. But then Carr, the boy she’s loved all her life, emerges as the best candidate in the Bittersweet Trials. And he’s determined to win, because by doing so, he can save the life of his Non-Eater sister.
Refusing to accept losing the boy she loves, Vela bends the rules and cheats. But when someone begins to sabotage the Trials, Vela must reevaluate her own integrity—and learn the true sacrifice of becoming a ruler.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this free book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Star-Crossed is a story about friendship, family, and love. The world building in Star-Crossed is rich and the details of the food made my own mouth water. But what I loved about Star-Crossed was the main character of Vela. She’s kind hearted and empathetic, and struggling. Vela struggles with knowing what is right and what is wrong, not in principle, but in what she should sacrifice. She has to make hard choices that effect people she loves.
I enjoyed seeing Vela’s decision making and evolution of a character. She has to consistently make difficult ethical decisions and figure out the costs of sacrifice. If I were like a character in Star-Crossed I think I would be a lot like Vela. I’m not sure if I would have it in me to make these hard decisions, but that’s part of what being a leader is
Vela has to realize that becoming a leader is no easy task. And if she wants the responsibility, she has to accept the costs.
Characters
Besides Vela, I really liked the other characters too! I loved the romance element to this story because even though it progresses in the story, it’s based on a foundation that is established before the book even started. There are events and moments together that are unraveled as the story evolves.
A smaller aspect which I really enjoyed was the exploration of themes of family. Within her own family it’s a difficult situation. Vela is struggling with the loss of her mother, her sister sees her as competition, and her father is a constantly loving.
This is juxtaposed by Carr’s family. His mother only showed affection when he brought her the drugs she needed. And his father never really loved him. So we have these two different family structures resulting in Carr’s idea that love is bound up with sacrifice and giving.
I loved seeing how this progressed and how they are able to show each other different sides to their own experiences. They are so different. But bonded by similiarities that lay beneath the surface.
Overall
Another aspect I really loved was the world building. You could feel the tension and Dunn does a fabulous job showing us all these different aspects. There’s injustice and unrest. But there’s also history and sacrifice. And you’re not really sure where you will end up.
Giveaway
About the Author
Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B., and received her J.D. at Yale Law School.
Pintip’s novel FORGET TOMORROW won the 2016 RWA RITA® for Best First Book, and SEIZE TODAY won the 2018 RITA for Best Young Adult Romance. Her books have been translated into four languages, and they have been nominated for the following awards: the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire; the Japanese Sakura Medal; the MASL Truman Award; the Tome Society It list; and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her other titles include REMEMBER YESTERDAY, THE DARKEST LIE, GIRL ON THE VERGE, and the upcoming STAR-CROSSED and MALICE.
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