{Mini Reviews} THEIR FRACTURED LIGHT and CARRY ON

Title: Their Fractured Light
Author(s): Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Narrator(s): Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews
Series: Starbound, book #3
Length: 15 hrs 6 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Source: purchased hardcover for shelf and audiobook for immediate immersion =)
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.

Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.

Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.

When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide.

I'm always nervous about companion novels as a series because more often than not, I only end up really enjoying the first set of characters' narrative. As such, I didn't think I'd want to read about anyone other than Lilac and Tarver after I finished with These Broken Stars. But dare I say it? I actually liked each couple in this trilogy equally. I mean, I also loved the glimpses of the previous couples as the saga progressed, but each set of characters stood well on their own.

I'll be honest. I'm not ready for this series to be over. I've loved every minute spent with these characters, fighting the good fight against LaRoux Industries and trying to figure out just exactly what those Whispers are. And in this conclusion, it all comes full circle and I despise Monsieur LaRoux that much more.

The thing about a series like this is that even though each book is a companion, they're continuing the same overall story arc. It was definitely worth it to see some of my theories corroborated -- even if my world was nearly shattered along the way -- and to see Lilac and Tarver and the gang get the answers they'd been seeking. And that's due largely in part to the work of this book's couple, Sofia and Gideon. I love how all of the characters are connected, how their role in all of this was cemented before it had even begun.

This was such a perfect conclusion to yet another of my favorite series! I used to be hesitant about collaborations, but this author duo definitively proved that I have nothing to worry about. From start to finish, this series was just amazing.

About the Authors:

Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are longtime friends and sometime flatmates who have traveled the world (but not yet the galaxy), covering every continent between them. They are sure outer space is only a matter of time. Meagan, who is also the author of the Skylark trilogy, currently lives in Asheville, NC, while Amie lives in Melbourne, Australia. Although they currently live apart, they are united by their love of space opera, road trips, and second breakfasts.

Visit the These Broken Stars website for the latest news on the series and follow the authors on Twitter at @AmieKaufman and @MeaganSpooner. You may also sign up for their newsletter as well! This Shattered World will be available in North America in December 2014.

Title: Carry On
Author(s): Rainbow Rowell
Narrator(s): Eoan Morton
Series: stand-alone
Length: 13 hrs 42 mins
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Source: purchased hardcover for shelf, borrowed audiobook from library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.

I really loved all of the Simon Snow snippets in Fangirl, and I knew that I'd have to read the full-length novelization of the story based on those snippets. And yet, I was worried that it wouldn't be nearly as compelling a story on its own, without Cath's narrative to make it come alive. And so even though I pre-ordered this book AND the party kit, I put off reading it. I waited and waited...and waited some more, until just recently my library uploaded the audiobook. And I knew I couldn't put it off anymore.

I was still hesitant, but I started listening last Friday, and my heart kind of melted all over again for Simon and Baz. The narrator is different from the one used to narrate the Simon Snow parts in Fangirl but it's for the better. Euan Morton's voice is PERFECT for this story. He sounds like a troubled Chosen One, a broody vampire, and a know-it-all best friend. In other words, he encompassed everything I loved about this story with his performance.

I was under the impression that some of the scenes from Fangirl would appear in this novel, so I'd already have some idea of what was happening, but I'm glad that even though I did know where the story was headed, none of this novel was a regurgitation of the previous book. It's all new and lovely and exciting. And it's my own fault for assuming that it would be the same.

If you liked the Simon Snow bits from Fangirl, you'll probably love this novel as much as I did. It very much reads like the end of Harry Potter, with explosive truths and new romances and grief and loss and hope for the future. And much like after finishing that series, I want more of this world...I want to see where the mages - and normals alike - go from here.

About the author:

Rainbow Rowell writes books. Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS and LANDLINE). Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK and FANGIRL). But she always writes about people who talk a lot. And people who feel like they're screwing up. And people who fall in love.

When she's not writing, Rainbow is reading comic books, planning Disney World trips and arguing about things that don't really matter in the big scheme of things.

She lives in Nebraska with her husband and two sons.

Find Rainbow:

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