4.5 Stars

SHATTER THE SUNS is another roller-coaster ride of emotions as these characters struggle to find a cure before those who seek power do. A story full of non-stop action, continuous danger, and characters with choices that will greatly impact their world. Recommended to those who enjoyed the first book and Dystopian and SciFi YA fans.

"Maybe I have changed to fit into the places I've been standing."

This series... Intense. That's what it is. This second book moved back and forth from somewhat intense to more intense and back again. I did get a little frustrated in the beginning with Sev. I thought she'd be a little more sure of herself and a little more quick in defending herself, but she's pretty shook up and kind of all over the place. I also got frustrated by all the mistrust and trust where there shouldn't have been. I still love Sev though, and June, and Howl. Oh, Howl. He's just plain awesome. I love all the banter and teasing between this group of characters. And the constant tension. There were also all these fabulous little nuggets of wisdom (I've included a few quotes from the finished copy with this review). Then there's quite a few twists and a slight cliffhanger, which means I'm dying for the next book.

"You can't take back the worst things you've done unless the other person lets you."

In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a great sequel if you're a fan of the first book and are ready to find out more about this world and what happens next. A page-turner that is definitely hard to put down, and a story I thoroughly enjoyed diving into.

"Hope is something you fight for, Howl." He breathes again, deep. "I would do anything to have that kind of hope."

Content: Quite a bit of violence.
Source: I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.

This is such an amazing series. Great new dystopian, mixed with some The Hunger Games vibes. Sev just needs a break and to be loved. She has had to deal with so much since she was a child. She was told that she had a deadly disease that was given to her by her traitorous mother. She saw her father burned to death and her little sister shot in the street. She was manipulated by many people who all wanted the same gain for them selves.

Shatter the Suns by Caitlin Sangster is the second book in the Last Star Burning series. The Last Star Burning series is a young adult science fiction/dystopian fantasy read that continues over from book to book with Shatter the Suns picking up right after the first book left off so it is best to read the series in order.

In the first book readers were introduced to Sev who was branded as a traitor and criminal when she was only eight years old, her only crime being her mother’s daughter. Sev’s mother had betrayed their entire nation and her body was displayed in a paralyzed half-sleep above Traitor’s Arch for all to see what happens when going against the city. Sev’s mother had brought the same plague into their safe zone that now keeps her on display reminding all those of her crimes.

When Sev was out with her only friend who still treated her as if she were still the same girl before being branded a bomb exploded injuring them both. When Sev awakens she found that the government was putting the blame for the bomb directly upon her so she had to either run or stay and possibly be killed for being a traitor, Sev chose to run and this installment picks up where the last left off trying to find the cure for the Sleeping Sickness.

Reading Last Star Burning last year the one thing I had absolutely loved with that opener to the series was that it had been non-stop action and adventure with a strong female lead. Starting out this second book of the series seemed the exact opposite of my feelings for the first book. The story seemed to drag on and not really want to take off and go anywhere this time. Really there wasn’t much in over a hundred pages and the one big thing that happened I was kind of scratching my head to remember as the author really didn’t do any kind of refreshing the story at the start of this book like most continuing series do. So it may seem really odd but this series went from a 5 star opening down to 3 with this second installment and hopefully it was simply a case of that dreaded middle book slow down.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Shatter the Suns is book 2 of a trilogy by Caitlin Sangster. The first book pulled me in due to the cover alone and the story left me anxious for the next installment of this story. Shatter the Suns left my mouth open at the end and wanting Book 3 NOW!!! It was PERFECTION!!!! We are back with Sev, continuing the search and the riddle her mother left her in regards to the cure. You’ll be surprised with whose back, and big betrayal #2. I actually really like Sev. She wants to help people. She trusts people. She forgives and loves and fights for people. She ultimately makes a huge sacrifice that makes you really want book 3. I feel as if Sev and June have this adopted sister relationship that I absolutely adore. She grows so much in Shatter the Suns. And the ending….wow. Definitely recommend.

I stumbled upon Shatter the Suns while perusing NetGalley, not realizing that it was a sequel, so I moseyed on over to the local library and checked out Last Star Burning (Spoiler: it was awesome).

While I flew through the first book, with no regard to the already sleep-deprived state I was in, its sequel seems to drag on at a snail’s pace; and I just could not keep my concentration long enough to finish more than 20 or so pages at one time.

What made the preceding novel in the series so engrossing for me was the dialogue among all of the characters. Every page had a conversation that spoke to relationships and family, forgiveness and distrust, love and betrayal. Contrarily, Shatter the Suns was mostly internal reflection and analysis through Sev’s very confused point of view. Any plot propulsion was missing until 65% of the way through the narrative, and though I stayed with it because I felt obligated to read the complete ARC before I give feedback, I don’t know for sure if readers picking it up after its release will be patient enough to stick it out.

That being written, because Sangster has given readers not one but two novels in the SciFi genre for young adults devoid of foul language and a profuse number unseemly sexual encounters, this series is ideal for advanced readers in the tweens or younger teens that need something rich in vocabulary and plot but less mature in content or older teens or younger twenty somethings who don't feel like reading any of that, either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel!
#ShattertheSuns #LastStarBurningBook2 #Trilogy
Sev and her crew are back for book two of the trilogy. Sev now faces a race to beat Dr. Yang to Port North for the cure, but stopping the epidemic is just part of her new challenges. Sangster delivers a action filled second novel that gives your favorite characters a lot to face. I can say that this is not a "filler" book by no means. Shatter the Suns is a full on trilogy with no punches pulled. A definite do not skip series with great characters, action, and plot twists.