How I got a hold on the Starflight

I just felt like going on an imaginary space journey. That's all.

Going on a bumpy Milkyway

The fairytale of the young rich ball-gowned heir of a space empire and the tacky-yet-handsome felon takes a right-about turn and we're sailing on uncharted waters.
Am I a horrible human being if I say I didn't mind watching Doran as Demarkus beat the hell out of him? It is the very first I don't get along with the male character. In other cases I'm drooling all over them. In this case I'd rather spit him straightforward in the face. Gotcha!

Solara, on the other hand, can take her destiny in her own hands and not afraid of having the most arrogant, egoist, obnoxious, self-centered, careless, greedy (I let you look up all the words that describe a playboy) golden boy on toast. Well done little girl! It's good to have a female mechanic in the first row of male sexists. I can't detect any trace of damsel-in-distress. Do you?

Although they stated off on the wrong foot, it doesn't mean they can't turn over a new leaf. Absolutely not insta-love. But I wonder how much of this pure hatred can be transformed into a throbbing, smoldering, all-consuming love. I'd better not think about it too hard. The bottom of it they happen to be on board of a more than well-functioning ship. Who thought they had so much in common? I should add, that close-knit shuttle has something to do with the imminent sense of attraction. I am just saying...

There may have been some moments when I wished they were better off on separate paths. But all that running-away from the common enemy helped to boost the sparks between them and there was no turning back. Unless they would have fallen into a black hole...

Twinkling stars of the Starflight

—After the stuck-up fellon stopped eating exotics from the golden plate, Doran turned out to be a decent working mule.
—The thrilling manhunt across the galaxy.
—The makeshift mob of a "bespectacled kleptomaniac, a star-crossed seducer and his displaced princess, and an infuriating blue blood". Quite a golden team.
—Most importantly, the big Doran-smack-up. That's the climax of the entire story. I'm hoping in a great come-back.

And some shooting stars...

It's too soap opera for my taste with its resurrected twin-brother and all of it predictability, which took much from the stir-up. I don't go for cheap thrills.

P.S.
Although I'm not a fan of four-wall living space, it's pretty amazing traveling with the light speed of intergalactic imagination. I love space. Possibly I won't be the first to get married on the Moon but I'd love to circle around Neptune and Saturn just for fun.

"She had no idea what the future would hold for any of them, beyond possibilities as infinite as the stars."

How I feel after reading

On the fence.

Rating

3 out of 5

Songs

Coldplay - Sky full of stars

Entwined

One of my friends recommended it to read. Without further questioning I plunged into reading.

My lover

Nope.

Expectations

Well, I was simply impressed by its cover. I'm into this universe beyond our planet stuff. Stars are mesmerizing. I could stare them all night. Go out and see yourself.

Intergalactic adventure

'I can’t help but wonder how many times over I would’ve died out here without Tarver keeping
me alive.'

The stormy  relationship of Tarver an 18-year-old war hero and Lilac the heiress of the flourishing LaRoux industry set off rather unsmoothly. They end up on an uncharred planet in the galaxy after the tragic downfall of the Icarus light-years away from their home. Lilac true to her ladylikeness stripped of the comfort she's used to could only rely on the Major who handles their misfortune practically. A real survivor.

Denying their apparent affection Lilac tries to get him out her mind due to her overprotective father. During their way to the shipwreck in hope of finding rescue ships it's Tarver the classical hero figure is in charge of their two-member team. Despite of his young age he didn't merit his medals for nothing. If it weren't for him Lilac LaRoux the richest girl of the galaxy wouldn't make it. She's never experienced such harsh conditions of nature and soon she has blurry visions about the deceased haunting her. Nevertheless Tavern keeps her alive and prevents her from going mad.

The desperation and lack of faith can be easily sensed while wandering on an unknown planet just the two of them. There's little chance anyone will come for them. It's more likely even Google wouldn't find them.
More and more questions are being formed in their minds. Why nobody shows up? Why are they the only habitants of the planet? Is Tarver going mad, too? Or there's a mysterious force underneath the brisk plain of this terraformed planet? It's most likely a higher form of intelligent life they have to deal with.

'You're dead'
'Hey, no need to rub it in.” Alec grins easily. “Happens to the best of us, T.'

Observations

The story kept me in the dark for a very long time. I had no clue where it was going. However, I  wasn't too worried about their lives due to the sneak-peak fragments between the chapters which inflict they survived after all. Such a spoiler.

What I miss is the lack of conversation between Lilac and Tarver.
It feels like a never-ending journey consisting of almost-to-dies, freezing-to-deaths and am-I-going-crazy?s in a tense silence. It's nearly deafening. I miss you old exclamations, declarations and negations! Come back to me my dearest friends!

Out of action

It's all good and sweet that upon the impact of their abandonment Lilac becomes a better person, a survivor who doesn't care about her old, glinting, fancy world anymore but I'm not impressed by their relationship. I cann't count on their cosmic love because it's everything but cosmic. And I know it because I don't root for them. Though I adore good love stories. It's more like dammit-we-stuck-up-here-and-you're-the-only-representative-of-the-opposite-sex-let's-kissing kind of thing. Wow, that's a statement!
Anyway. I've expected a little more excitement or mystery. Even though Lilac has been brought back to life miraculously after she bled out in Tarver's arms I still don't get the point. Yep, an intelligent life of an another dimension saved her life and preserved her. Yep, they returned home safe and sound. Yep, her father is a jerk. Big deal.

I wonder how it's gonna continue. However, it's probable I'd never knew...

Out of place

It's really creepy with all the dead bodies lying around and the translucent fading copy of Lilac on top of it. I feel like I'll hear whispers filling my ears soon. I suppose my imaginary friends are more than enough;)

How I feel now

Haunted.

To sum up

I need a teenage-love story in the real world NOW!

P.S. I love the cover, by the way. A huge fat thank to the illustrator!

'For a moment the
image before us is frozen: our world, our lives, reduced to a handful of broken stars half lost in
uncharted space. Then it’s gone... Until all that’s left is us.'

Songs recommened

Coldplay - A Sky full of stars

https://youtu.be/zp7NtW_hKJI

Axwell - Centure of the Universe

https://youtu.be/_cscE3kwagw

One Republic - Counting Stars

https://youtu.be/hT_nvWreIhg

Starring

Can you imagine Dylan O'brian playing Tarver? The emotional side of the story would be acted out well, at least. As for Lilac I'd give a chance to Molly C. Quinn a young charming and talented actress. She wouldn't need to dye her hair for sure.

Rating

2 out of 5
(Out of generosity)