3.5 Intriguing Stars!

A romantic space opera where danger and deception lurk behind glamour and wealth. With a quote like that, I couldn't help but want to check this book out. The Stars Between Us is a unique and intriguing young adult, fantasy/science fiction novel. I thought this book had an alluring plot and really sucked the reader into the story. I love the rags to riches trope and I was excited to see where this author was going to take this story.

However, I did have some issues with this book. While this story did have some romance elements, I found the chemistry to be lacking and not believable. As always with fantasy-type novels, I struggle with the pacing. I 100% understand that world-building takes time and that can make the pace feel slow, but for me, there were moments where the pacing just felt off. And while there were some good drama, mystery, and twists, I'm sad to say that I found the twists to be a bit predictable.

All in all, this book was just an ok read. It left me wanting a little more of everything and that might be a me issue. I'm giving this book 3.5 stars because, despite my issues, I think this story has great potential and I can definitely see how this book would appeal to younger readers.

This book simultaneously has too much and too little going on. It can't seem to make up it's mind if it wants to be a YA romance novel about a poor girl getting to wear pretty dresses and choosing to marry for love or a murder mystery set in front of a back drop of a colonialist dynamic between twin planets. I wish the author had either leaned into the romance aspect or the intrigue as both end up feeling underdeveloped.

It did have some enjoyable twists that made it a quick read.

A study in opposites. Terrill has created a planetary pairing with the folks on one planet being the haves, and the folks on the other planet being the exploited have nots. Yet a dead man’s greedy plan revealed in his will would require his son to marry a have not in order to inherit. She, on the other hand, is torn between her desire to have prosperity but not at the cost of her intrinsic value. Into the fray a greedy upstart is so eager to inherit in place of the true heir begets a plan to eliminate those scheduled to inherit instead of him. The book circles these conflicted individuals skillfully teasing the reader as to hidden motives and exploring the politics and hardships of an exploitive merging of societies. Recommended.

I really thought that I would love this book. Rags to Riches... in space? like okay, I'm in...

I didn't really get any Illuminae vibes, except that this also takes place in space, and having read all of the Bridgerton books I didn't that for this story at all.

We have Vika, a young woman living with her family working a crappy job on a crappy planet. She has always had a mysterious benefactor making sure she got a good education and keeping a watchful eye on her all her life.
When this mysterious guy dies, she finds out she is in his will. When we first meet Vika she is a scraper, fighting for everything she gets. As soon as she gets some money and moves to the "rich planet" she becomes a completely different person and a huge dick.

Then we have this guy Sky, I figured out who he is almost right away. He seems like a pretty shy guy who just wants to make friends with Vika, but at every turn, she is like " why are you here? don't talk to me, don't come near me... like she is super mean to him, but for some reason he is like, OMG I love you...

They do grow closer, and Vika does realize what a big old jerk she's been to Sky and her family, but it was kind of too little, too late for me. I didn't understand their relationship at all and didn't feel any chemistry between them.

This book just didn't do anything for me, however a lot of other people seemed to have really liked it, so maybe it just wasn't for me.

When Vika was little, she threw a fit so epic it attracted the attention of a passing billionaire who subsequently paid for fancy tutoring and testing. It was the closest she ever got to excitement on her bleak little planet. When her benefactor dies, she learns she's in his will as his estranged son's obligatory bride. Sudden wealth only draws out Vika's least pleasant personality traits. However, when someone starts attacking heirs she has to get her act together post haste. The mystery is stronger than the (irrelevant) scifi and (tepid) romance elements.

Thoughts

I love that this book was sci-fi. I don't read enough sci-fi. That being said, this book did not live up to all of the potential it had. That might come down to the fact that I absolutely hated Vika. Even though I was meant to be rooting for her.

Pros
Space Tropes: This book is full of good tropes that haven't been overused recently, all set to a backdrop of dazzling new planets. There's an arranged marriage plot. There are an abundance of secret and hidden identities. A murder mystery, complete with a fair bit of conniving on all sides, takes the stage for a bit. There are illegitimate children, ballroom dances, and gossip circles all played out. Ultimately, every element of this plot is good fun.

Fairytale Feel: This book feels like a Cinderella story--one that doesn't require a prince for that "happily ever after." It has all the wish-fulfilment fantasy of Bridgerton, but set in space. It has social rules, the riche elite, ballroom dances, and fancy dresses, and Vika is new to all of it. It has a bit of a Beauty-and-the-Beast undercurrent to its romances, too. It's not a serious book, but it's a fun book. Sometimes we need that.

Worldbuilding: I'm more likely to list "worldbuilding" as a con in a review. I take worldbuilding very seriously because it most certainly impacts my enjoyment of a book. The worldbuilding here is no more serious than the plot, but I enjoyed it anyway. I almost wish the world itself had become a more dominant part of the book. A hazy, polluted, impoverished planet sits in the shadow of a rich planet, bright sunshine and unending galas. The interplanetary travel sets up this Bridgerton-in-space book with its sci-fi façade, and I didn't mind that the worldbuilding didn't go deeper than that. This worldbuilding was the perfect setup for the plot that ensued.


Cons
Obvious Twists: This book had twists galore, and it would have been great... if only the twists weren't so painfully obvious. I spotted each twist a mile away, and I never actively try to guess what's coming next. This was very irritating to me. My first thought always ended up being the "big reveal" pages down the line, and I didn't like that. Nothing was secret or hidden even though it was supposed to be. And that's just disappointing.

Vika: There's a big problem when the main character's supposed to be sympathetic but isn't. I absolutely hated Vika. She was incredibly selfish and wasn't meant to be (at least, not to the extent that she was). She was unnecessarily rude and surprisingly condescending for a girl who was, you know, incredibly impoverished just a page ago. Her treatment of Sky was awful and unexpectedly harsh. Why hate him so strongly and so suddenly? She was mad at any- and everything Sky did, all the way through the end of the book (at which point, I could do nothing but roll my eyes and hope for it to be over soon). And Sky still likes her, somehow? There's absolutely no reason for him to like her, and that made it hard for me to enjoy his parts of the plot, too. Because I liked Sky, but I had no idea where he was coming from. I thought Vika was going to be a scrappy sort of space-girl protagonist at the beginning, but alas, she was just petty, shallow, selfish, and mean.

Sharp Personality Turns: The twists in the plot might not have been that sharp, but the turns in personality were. Sure, there can be a lot hiding beneath a first impression, dark intentions beneath the surface, but the personality twists here were not well executed. I hardly got a chance to get a first impression before characters were suddenly revealed to be not-like-that, and that's just irritating. I need to know the rules, including the rules for the characters themselves, before a twist can be effective. This was just irritating and sad.


Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6/10

Fans of Marissa Meyer's Cinder will enjoy this new space fairytale. Those who enjoyed E.K. Johnston's Aetherbound will appreciate this new protagonist who will do what she must to get what she wants.

Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s press for providing me with an advanced readers copy. The opinions are my own.

“It was a hard thing, learning the price of her own self-respect.”

This one line captures the theme of the whole book. Our main character is poor and is given an amazing opportunity to bring her and her family out of poverty, away from the mercs that bully the citizens, away from having to rely on a siphoned power grid that goes out for days. The only problem is, she must be ok with being “bought”. When her yet undecided plans go up in smoke, she is startled to find she is given another opportunity, one where she gets to choose her fate and possibly that of her family. Can she obtain the wealth that’s at her fingertips, and if so what is she willing to give up to get it. Throw in a murder mystery and a rebellion, and you have yourself The Stars Between Us. This book is about the journey of survival and self-respect, and sometimes the fine line between them.

I enjoyed this book a lot and in fact stayed up past my bedtime to read it. There are several plot twists in the book, most of which if your paying close attention you can probably predict, though they are not blatantly obvious. Which in my opinion is as it should be, there’s no fun in a mystery if the reader doesn’t have all the pieces to solve it themselves.

I liked the main character Vika and felt like her struggles were relatable. I also liked the two real contenders for her affection, Archer and Sky, they seemed realistic and charming. If I saw a picture, I am sure they would be swoon worthy. In fact, all the characters felt well thought out, and the writing was swell.
I believe I saw this book described as “Bridgerton in space” and I would find that accurate. If you like books about an outsider navigating high society, with a bit of intrigue and romance thrown in, then this book is probably for you.

As a young girl Vika was found to be a good match for a wealthy man's son. When he dies they must marry in order for the son to inherit.
But an explosion kills the son.
She gets taken in by the next inheriters
She learns how to play a wealthy girls game and must find a new husband to stay wealthy.
With twists and turns. Slow burn.
I did guess the plot twist pretty early.
I would say like 3.5 stars

“The Stars Between Us” by Christin Terrill is a stand-alone space murder mystery with a dash of romance thrown in the mix. This story is a example of the dangers where science and tech cause social inequality. Where the haves and have nots are extreme.
Vika Hale’s life took a strange turn when she had a chance meeting at a very young age. An unknown benefactor provide funds to have her educated.
Now as a young adult her life takes another strange turn when her benefactor dies and makes her part of his will as the wife he chose for his son.
Her dreams of a better life and not working as a barmaid to scrap a few bits to just be able to eat and help her family on occasion are coming true.
Vika becomes part of a glittering world where all appears shiny and new. Where the elite judge a person by the amount of currency they are part of and the working class is invisible.
This glamorous world starts to tarnish for her and she finds currency can corrupt in many ways. Even for why the heirs in the will are being killed in bombings.
She figures she must solve the mystery of who is behind the bombing before someone she cares about dies and maybe herself becomes a target. With the only person she can turn to from her life before the glitter and who has secrets himself and she is coming to admire, she finds she must do what she needs to do even if it is not so legal.
I found the author’s writing and the worlds she imagined well crafted and entertaining. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a mystery and quick read.

The Stars Between Us takes you on an adventure filed with mystery. It is set in a science fiction world and has some fun characters. The story centers around a mysterious billionaire and Vika. I enjoyed the relationship with Sky and Vika evolving throughout the book. I struggled at some points to relate with the main character. But, I would love to travel back to this world to see where the characters end up.

The Star Between Us is a science fiction novel that has a regency romance feel to the story! I did not really like Vika. She seemed to be a very selfish and vain protagonist. She also seemed very entitled. Nevertheless, she does grow as a character and gradually learns her errors. The story is very fast-paced. While it is set in Space, it is reminiscent of a Regency romance novel like Barbara Cartland. Therefore, the world-building is well-developed. The characters seemed real. I was surprised that there was some mystery in these pages because I was not expecting it. Nevertheless, this was a very fast-paced and engaging story that has action, romance, and suspense! I recommend this fans of Cinder, Stitching Snow, and Empress of a Thousand Skies!

This book had the potential to be soooo great but I never really connected with the main character despite her being a badass and a survivor. Disappointing because the premise sounded so good and the cover was pretty.

I cannot recommend this but I am sure other readers will find something to enjoy about this.

Thanks to Netgalley, Cristin Terrill and St Martin's Press Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 8/2/22

I am seriously a sucker for a gorgeous cover. The Stars Between Us by Cristin Terrill immediately drew my eye. The whole galaxy theme and the lovely purple dress were all the indication that I needed that this book should go on my TBR. Although I am not the biggest fan of space, I do like stories that are Dickensian in nature, so I picked this one up. Overall, I am glad to have read The Stars Between Us.

Terrill’s latest is about Vika who works as a barmaid and lives with her family on a planet peopled entirely by an underclass. However, throughout her life she has had a mysterious benefactor. One day that benefactor dies and his will is made public. It turns out that he was an eccentric billionaire. His will demands that his son Leo Chapin wed Vika or else Leo will be disinherited. The marriage is a means of escape from poverty for Vika so of course she leaps at the chance.

However, before she can even meet Leo and wed him, it turns out the transport ship he was on was bombed and he dies. So, now the money reverts to servants of Chapin’s. Still, Vika heads to the neighboring planet where life might as well be paradise compared to her prior circumstances. There she angles for a rich husband — but a young man named Sky Foster seems to keep foiling her plans. Oh, and also it seems there’s a hit out on Chapin’s heirs.

Personally, I really enjoyed The Stars Between Us. As you may or may not know, I am such a sucker for a slow burn romance. This book does has a romance that is a little bit of a slow burn. It takes Vika what feels like a long time to recognize her feelings and act on them. I really did like the chemistry she had though and how it built in small acts and over time. I also liked the power dynamics within this book. There’s a bit of realness to this — despite the sci fi setting – that we can’t discount the power of money and if you have it, you should do good with it.

Book received for free through NetGalley

This book was quick to get into and hard to put down. And enjoyable read.

I had high hopes when it was supposedly like illuminae. Then I was hesitant about the comparison to Bridgeton. Overall, it was like neither and just a very long book. It was a little bit tedious and frustrating. The names were a little bit ridiculous that I had a hard time keeping up, and it was just dragging on and on. I loved the cover and the title, but this wasn’t the book for me. I think this would work for people just getting into sci-fi.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday books for the digital review copy.

2.5 stars

E-arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was touted to be a mix of Bridgerton and Illuminae (it did give me Bridgerton in space vibes and ngl, that was cool) and I'm sure it worked for others, but it just didn't for me.
Maybe it's because I couldn't connect much to the female protagonist.

Loved this book! A beautiful blend of action, romance, and science fiction? Sign me up!

This book did a wonderful job at worldbuilding and mixing genres. I loved each character and their faults.

Vika, the main character, was a refreshing character to follow along. She was selfish and snobbish but nonetheless, it was interesting to read about a main character who doesn't necessarily have good traits.

I loved the plot of the book-- full of suspense and mystery! Overall, The Stars Between Us is a stellar book for sci-fi fans who love an addition of romance and mystery.

Bridgerton, but in SPACE.

Honestly, I don't know what I was expecting to read, but it was not this! The writing was a little confusing at times, but I did enjoy the overall story. The characters were fun and original and I really enjoyed the mystery and "WHO DUNNIT?"

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Vika is a girl living on a poverty-stricken planet. She has been working ever since she was able to help her family, and only dreams of riches. When the richest man in their planet system dies, Vika finds out that the heir to the fortune has to marry her in order to obtain his riches. Teetering between being thankful and hateful of this turn of events, she is cast down to poverty again when the heir is murdered. Feeling sorry for Vika the second set of heirs to the fortune take her in to their home and let her live the high life that she has always wanted. The novel is a cross between Cinderella, the Prince & the Pauper but set in a sci-fi/space setting, with murder tossed in. It relies heavily on a rags to riches theme for the majority of the novel as Vika, is swept up to high society because of kindly benefactors. Vika struggles with the way she clings to high society while leaving her family behind in poverty. But, this second set of heirs is threatened, too, and we are tossed into intrigue trying to figure out who is behind the attempted murders.
My favorite thing about this book was the way I teetered between loving Vika, then absolutely hating Vika and then liking her again. I never really fell back in love with Vika, though. While the who-dunnit was predictable, (I figured it out about 60% through the book) I still enjoyed the ride Vika and Sky were on together as they tried to suss out the culprit. My favorite character was definitely, Ariel. She was such a spunky thing, and in a lot of moments I forgot how old she was.
Overall, this book was a quick, easy read. I loved the eco-commentary about pollution and resources—as well as the internal struggle that Vika experienced as she learned to navigate herself. Sky was an interesting character, I felt like his hemming and hawing about coming clean as his true self was unnecessary. If he would have simply had the reason of "wanting to find out who was behind the attempted murders before coming back from the dead" that would have been enough. He wanted to "help" so much that he seemed to forget that in order to really provide people with help, you need access to funds, so I found his story arc a bit lacking in that regard. This reminded me a little bit of The Ones Were Meant to Find, being more of a journey of self revelation rather than a specific story arc.

dnf @ 20%

I requested this because I remember loving the author's debut...wow was it almost 10 years ago now? Anyways, I could tell from the start that the writing was not for me; I had also read a few reviews beforehand, so I already knew I would probably skim this book at best. I got to the 20% mark and then skipped to the last 15%. I called the villain from literally the beginning and only missed predicting the other twist because I didn't read far enough to know enough. Honestly, this book felt very 2014 YA...there was just something to it that felt dated. Maybe this book will work for you more than it did for me though!