To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
Partial Galley
by Christopher Paolini
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Pub Date Sep 15 2020 | Archive Date Sep 15 2020
Macmillan-Tor/Forge | Tor Books
Description
This is a partial galley.
Exploring new worlds is all Kira Navarez ever dreamed of doing. But now she has found her nightmare.
On a distant planet ripe for a colony, she has discovered a relic previously unseen by human eyes.
It will transform her entirely and forever.
Humanity will face annihilation.
She is alone. We are not.
There is no going back.
Marketing Plan
-National media campaign
-National author tour
-Consumer advertising campaign, including ads for broadcast TV and digital streaming across news, entertainment, and genre sites, and national print and digital advertising
-Multi-phased "Unlock the Box" Pre-order campaign
-Appearances at major SFF, book, and trade conventions, bookseller and account dinners, media lunches
-Major prepublication trade and consumer advertising
-ABA box mailing and Indie Next campaign
-From Dragons to Deep Space multi-wave digital marketing campaign integrated across Tor, Tor.com, and Paolini platforms, including author videos, social media takeovers, author guest posts, exclusive content and promoted posts
-Featured title in the #ChaosXCosmos digital and publicity campaign
-Early reader consumer review campaign: NetGalley, Goodreads, BookishFirst, BookRiot
-Pre-pub consumer advertising and promotion reaching SFF, YA, and commercial fiction influencers
-In-store signage and social media graphics kit
-Promotions at BookExpo, BookCon, Emerald City Comic Con, Phoenix Fan Fusion, San Diego Comic-Con, YallWest and YallFest
-Macmillan Audio advertising and digital marketing campaigns
-Education and library outreach, including features at all major conferences
-Tor.com promotions including excerpts and content reveals
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781250762849 |
PRICE | $34.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 832 |
Featured Reviews
My thoughts
Rating:
Would I recommend it?
Would I read more of this series?
Would I read more of this author? Yes in fact he writes one of my all time favorite series The Inheritance Cycle Series
WOW just wow , I can't put into words how good this was even though it was a partial galley of the story I just couldn't stop reading it ,it just came out of nowhere and bam I was hooked. It had every thing i could want in a SCI fi book: a bit of romance , space trivial , aliens, space battlers and the fate and humankind in the hands of one person. This definitely a win for Christopher Paolini and it just might be right up there with his The Inheritance Cycle Series . Can't wait to get my hands on the book so i can read the rest of it and finds out what happens next. Once again thank you so much Tor books for inviting me to read this.
I was intrigued to find news of a new title from Christopher Paolini. Even though I only had the chance to review an excerpt, I am pleased to report that this book is engaging and made me want to keep reading more. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars may be a fresh universe, but what we readers love about Paolini's work is here, perhaps with even more authorial development. A most enjoyable excerpt of what is sure to be a wonderfully entertaining book. Thanks to the publisher for sharing this segment with me so that I could talk about it with other readers.
Paolini continues to show why he is a power in the realm of SFF with his next novel, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. Much as he highlighted in The Inheritance Cycle, Paolini again showed his skill at writing from the perspective of a non-human intelligence. Though only a partial ARC, his characters are emotional and deep, forcing you to care about their choices and fates almost immediately. His worldbuilding has advanced, with bits and pieces of the history and science of his universe doled out with plot advancements rather than exposition. Paolini has been skilled at writing action scenes since Eragon, but he shows that ability isn't limited to swords and magic as his protagonist is unwillingly thrust into a violent confrontation, almost beyond her understanding. Finishing the partial ARC left me wanting more, which is the highest praise I can give to the beginning of a story. I eagerly await the finished novel, and look forward to seeing more of Paolini's universe (and the history and stories of the denizens therein) unfold.
This is exciting! When Christopher Paolini came onto the scene it was with his Inheritance Cycle series. It was a hit with our family. We read each book with the kids and eventually they read them on their own. The anticipation for the release of any new book in the series was unequal to anything else at that time. Now, he has written another novel separate from those days. Having received a partial ARC of “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars”. It captured my attention from the beginning. It shows the writing maturity of Paolini and how much he has grown in his creativity. The characters are believable and you grow to appreciate them. Paolini’s writing creates a world that one can visit each time you open the book. It is truly something special; I cannot wait to read the entire book when it is released.
Wow. I mean...wow! Just from the sample alone, I know I've got to read this book. It was engaging, witty, frightening, and exhilarating. A xenobiologist explores a cave, and what she accidentally discovers changes the course of hers and others' lives. This is one of those books that moves at a quick pace yet is able to ground itself in calmer moments without them feeling like they're bringing the book to a standstill. All in all, I think I'll definitely be reading the whole book.
Kira Navarez is a scientist with a passion for exploring new worlds. On a routine check of equipment on one of these worlds, Kira finds an artifact that ends up transforming her life forever...and the universe.
I just have to say, I literally could not put this book down. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and read this partial galley in one sitting.
While the synopsis gives hint that there is a malevolent force or beings in the universe, I was unsure starting the book what the tone would be. To my surprise and pleasure, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars feels like classic sci-fi thriller/horror, like Alien. There’s even a colony that is called Weyland, which I feel is an intentional reference! Kira is the Ripley of the story, and she does not disappoint. Kira kicks butt and is a person to be reckoned with, but she is vulnerable and so very human as well. The tone of the story lulls you into a sense of complacency, before everything hits the fan. When the action happens, it’s delightful and disturbing. There’s a scene that makes the chest burster part of Alien seem almost less terrifying in comparison. Not sure how that’s possible, but it happened, and that’s just a taste of the tone in the book. It’s fantastic!
I really love the fact that I’ve read what I assume is a decent piece of this book with the partial galley and I still don’t know a single thing about these aliens that are apparently out there wanting to annihilate everything. Or I assume they are wanting to. I like that. Don’t show all your cards at once. Leave us hanging on every word to know what comes next. I say that and know some stories do this wrong. They don’t show all their cards right away and you get bored and annoyed. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars doesn’t allow you the opportunity to get bored. If there’s a lull in the narrative, it’s just the calm before the storm.
This was such a pleasure to read, and I really cannot wait until the full novel comes out! Thanks again to NetGalley and to Tor for allowing me to read this partial galley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Christopher Paolini's Eragon series and was unsure of how I'd feel about another. Although this genre is completely different than dragons and their riders, it does not disappoint! Paolini provides an alluring story set in another world with intriguing characters.
I will be adding this to my TBR in September on release day as I want to know how this adventure ends! Plus, the stunning cover alone will be a beautiful addition to any library or collection.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian- Tor/Forge with this excerpt ARC!
Talk about the edge of your seat reading! Straight off the bat, Christopher Paolini delivers an action-driven plot. Kira is a likable protagonist, who is forced into a fight for her life after a mission goes bad. My only complaint is that I have to wait until September to read the rest of it!
Rating: 10/10
Note: I was given an early ARC access via Netgalley. Thank you to Stephen, Pan-Macmillian, Tor, and Jamie-Lee Nardone – Links will come when it goes live.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars Part 1 needs to be put in a televison show. It is like the Expanse season 3-4-5 and Star Trek Discovery Season 1 put together. What an amazing concept. It does contain some sterotypes of characters, but it works and I’ll tell you why. This whole concept of a woman discovering an alien space station in the outer edges of space, and then having the alien called the Soft Blade inherit her and kill the remaining members of her station, including Alan…is well amazing!
Why is this not a Netflix show? Amazon? This is the stuff that most hardcore sci-fi fans would want to see. It’s a realistic avenue of what actual human contact with aliens would be. It had so many Expanse moments that I was shocked by the number of references or themes that I got out of it when I read it. The UMC are the worst corporation ever, including the politicans that sent Kira and her team to Adrasteia, an earth-sized moon that contains a lot more secrets. Carr is the worst doctor in existance.
I almost felt rage at the UMC and it’s nebulous ways of wanting to get rid of Kira’s team. Kira and Alan are such a great couple…you’ll see what I mean. The world-building is enormous, and the grasper aliens are some of the best original creations of all time. I did feel that the Soft-Blade Alien and the Grasper conflict was shown relatively well. I also loved that Kira had an idea of the langauge, but not enough to fully understand their conflict. This needs to be a TV show with John Williams as the composer. This already has the ambitious make up of an excellent sci-fi tv show that already needs to be made.
There’s so much more…that will leave you wanting to discover what happens in part 2. I do like this concept of partial galleys though my preference is towards full galleys. It really got moving fast when I read on.
From me? 10/10. You’ll enjoy this a lot.
Amazing world-building, breath-taking descriptions of high-flung galaxies and tentacles….fast and witty dialogue.
I have waited so long for another Christopher Paolini book, and let me tell you, he did not disappoint. I wasn't expecting a sci-fi novel, since Eragon was fantasy, but this book is still just as exciting. From the beginning, I was so caught up in this book. I am so sad it is only a preview. Paolini did a great job of building his main character Kira. She is relatable, smart and strong. You feel all her joy and sadness. She is a great character. I am intrigued by the alien storyline and excited to see where it goes, as well as how Kira's character grows and develops in the face of adversity. I am hooked and can not wait to finish the story!
I really enjoy Christopher Paolini's work and was very excited to learn about this new book. Although this is only a partial bit of the story, it's extremely engaging and left me wanting more. I look forward to reading the rest of this when it comes out in September. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the partial ARC.
Well, the wait until September is going to kill me, because I need to know what happens next.
Christopher Paolini has written the book I've wanted for a long time. It feels so much like some of my absolutely favorite Sci-Fi TV Shows - Farscape, Stargate...
I've only been able to read a small portion of this book, thanks to NetGalley for granting my request, and I'm so excited to see what happens next.
There was a moment in this, that I legitimately stopped breathing while I was reading. The action was so tense, s emotional, and the outcome of that scene is - well, I don't want to spoil, but it had my heart pounding. The emotional weights in this book are on point, and how many more times can I say 'I can't wait for (the rest of) this book'?
I really like Kira and how she's this pawn in a much bigger plan, and isn't really thrilled with how events turn out for her. I'm so anxious to see how this continues, because where this partial ARC ends, I'm dying to know. I NEED to know.
Since I haven't read the full book yet, I'm giving this a 3.5 - rounding up for rating sake, but I have no doubt that this is going to be a 5star read from me, and something I read over and over. I've loved everything I've read so far and I'm still a massive Christopher Paolini fan.
It is hard to give an overall rating to an excerpt of this book, but I do think that this will ultimately be quite an enjoyable read. I've been a fan of Christopher Paolini books since middle school and was really nervous to pick up a new book in a new world and a completely different genre (one that I don't often read or enjoy). I will say that Paolini's world building has grown leaps and bounds since Eragon but the writing and quality of the work is something that has remained enjoyable. I definitely left this excerpt feeling excited to read the rest of the book later this year.
I am not a SciFi book reader. I watch SciFi; I don’t read it. Following several tropes of the genre, Paolini puts together an interesting first piece—that conveniently and abruptly stops just when I was getting settled in and engrossed. I’m not complaining; I’m very glad to have been given the opportunity to read this partial ARC. But, c’mon!
Paolini’s toe dip into the genre takes some getting used to at the offset. His prose feels very choppy, but it lends itself to the pace he sets with the action he presents. He uses concise descriptions to familiarize the reader with the universe quickly in order get on with the rest of the story. I felt it was very seamless and not a taxing info dump. In fact, there is so much going on under the surface, with a book this seemingly large (it at one time was somewhere upwards of 800 pages; now it’s at 600 or so—not sure where the discordances are from), I wonder if readers will be taken all over the universe before arriving at the end.
My biggest complaint is the dialogue, which starts off a bit rough. I remember with Eragon that I could not suffer the dialogue, so I quit reading the book early on. For TSiaSoS, after the first main action sequence, the dialogue gets better and settles into something tolerable for me.
I’m certainly excited for this one to come out. It may be the gateway book for me into a new genre. I usually don’t reach for SciFi books. I may, after a pleasing experience with this one, just have to start. And I will definitely see to it that my local library has a copy for everyone to enjoy.
My thanks to NetGalley for the partial ARC, for which I give my own opinion.
This partial galley of Paolini’s newest title To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is an intriguing foray into interstellar colonization, first contact and symbiotic parasites. After devouring it in one sitting all I can say is sign me the hell up.
The set up is a little odd with the chapters dividing into sub-chapters. (though this may be for editing purposes and may not appear in the final printing) This particular galley was about 175 pages according to my ereader.
You’re following Kira who is a biologist on an alien planet. She and her crew are at the end of their assignment and she isn’t sure if she really want to go on the next one. There’s one last project that she has to tend to and its going to throw a wrench into her plans that none of them see coming.
I did find the initial introduction to the group quaint. Long standing flight/science crew with relationships that though clue you in to closeness aren’t fully established save the main protagonist and their love interest.
The story itself does feel a little generic/predictable at first and our main jumping point pops up barely two chapters in. Despite that observation, once it hit I was hooked. It absolutely did not feel like I had read as many pages as I did.
There is some clunkiness to the writing but if you’re familiar with his previous works its not uncommon and easily ignored. I cant wait to get more backstory on the other lifeforms we’ve encountered as well as the cast. With so many possibilities to go for from here I am chomping at the bit to finish the story.
*EARC provided by Macmillian-Tor/Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the partial ARC! I was super excited when I heard that Christopher Paolini was writing a new book. The Inheritance Cycle was one of my favorite series when I was younger, Though I only got to read a small portion of it, I was instantly hooked. I cannot wait for the book to come out in September and to find out what happens next. This will be a must read for Sci-Fi fans!
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars: Christopher Paolini
Breath-taking, relentless and action-driven; an epic science fiction novel.
Release date: Sept. 15, 2020
Best selling author of Eragon and the Inheritance Cycle series, Christopher Paolini debuts his first Sci-Fi novel with To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. Kira Navarez, main protagonist, is a xenobiologist that has pursued her life’s dream of exploring new worlds. During one typical and banal excursion, Kira discovers, by happenstance, a relic unseen by human eyes. As this one relic changes humanity’s existence forever, Kira struggles with loss, pain, and survival.
I received a partial ARC of this book and FELL IN LOVE. Unfortunately, I would like to finish the entire book before I do a complete review. As of now, I think the writing is engaging and Paolini, once again, transports to readers to a completely different time and place. I think he truly has a gift for creating magical, science-fiction realms that one can imagine perfectly, without confusion.
I cannot wait for the book to be completed and published! The ten-year-old in me, who adored Eragon, is screaming. And, as an extra bonus, the cover art is beautiful. To all my non-human-intelligence and space/science geeks, this sci-fi is for you!
Along with posting on Net Galley, I will be posting my review to Goodreads, Amazon (when it becomes available), my Instagram (which has over a two thousand book review followers) and my blog. Please find the link to my blog post below. I am very grateful for the opportunity to review such an inspiring novel. Thank you very much.
Link to Blog Post: https://ifyoucanreadthisdotblog.wordpress.com
Link to Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/ifyoucan_read_this/
Link to Goodreads Post: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3284258060
Respectfully
Chanel Johnson
*I would like to give a shout out to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a partial galley for review*
This was a fantastic read! The characters were fleshed out, the story was captivating, and the world-building was awe inspiring. I couldn’t stop reading it and was sad when I remembered I didn’t have the full book! Readers of sci-fi will not be disappointed by this! I can’t wait for the full novel to be published this fall.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher TOR for allowing me to receive this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars
by Christopher Paolini
This is a review of a small excerpt from the novel and not a full review of the book!
So far so good! I think I am really going to enjoy this and I am glad that I have it pre-ordered to finish it! The characters and world seem like they are going to be interesting and unfortunately need to finish the final book at release to know more about my feelings!!
Predicting this could be at least a 4 star read!
This is a review of the partial galley provided on NetGalley.
I have fond memories of reading the The Inheritance Cycle, so of course I jumped at a chance to read a partial ARC of Christopher Paolini’s newest book. The sample clocked in at 175 pages on my ereader and contains the first 10 chapters, each named and containing separate numbered sections, some around a page and some substantially longer.
It’s hard to articulate exactly what I was expecting from this, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. This definitely has a very Alien feel, complete with body horror and a kickass heroine. The world building was interesting and felt organic, and the characters, especially Kira and her reactions to her change in circumstance, felt realistic. After setting up Kira and her crew in the first chapter and a half, the action quickly picked up the pace with space battles and a nail-biting escape. Alas, no space dragons (yet!) though there were other appearances of space aliens both helpful and decidedly unhelpful.
As for cons, there’s some clunky language and some amusing nonwoman-writing-a-woman quirks, but, as in his previous books, Paolini’s excellent storytelling makes it easy to shrug off.
Overall, I finished the sample definitely wanting more. Luckily, I’ve already preordered the book, but it’s going to be a long time until September!
Christopher Paolini's "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" is very different from his "Eragon" fantasy series, and it's very good.
Its heroine is xenobiologist Kira Navarez, who has a much too close encounter with an alien entity. It changes her, but significantly enhances her chances of survival - and that of her species - as it comes upon a very hostile alien threat.
Paolini' gives readers an engaging lead in an impossible situation, with constant action and suspense throughout. How much will the entity that has become a part of Kira change her? How great is the threat to humanity?
I only had access to a portion of this exciting novel and am left anxious to read the full story (which should be available September 2020!
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for a partial galley of this book! Release date of the full book - September 15,2020.
I totally loved Eragon when I was younger, so as soon as I heard Christopher Paolini was coming out with a new book it became one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. I immediately requested this preview and oh my gosh I am hooked. It was the first 10 chapters, which actually ended up being over 200 pages. The entire book itself is 880 pages, which my first thought was who does he think he is, Diana Gabaldon? But then I started thinking, how many pages are most trilogies? Probably if you added all three books together they'd equal well over 880 pages. So this is really like a trilogy in one book, and I honestly do feel like the length of this was almost like reading the first book in a series. The great news about this is that I only have to wait until September to read the next "two books"!
I AM SO HOOKED on this storyline and these characters. I literally never wanted to put this down. I LOVE that Christopher Paolini decided to go sci-fi this time, and although I do get some vibes of books like Defy the Stars and Aurora Rising, I can tell this is going to be totally unique. The world is really interesting and also has some really great creep factor, and I can't wait to see where it goes. Total cliffhanger at the end of this preview!
The way I'm feeling about these first 10 chapters, I honestly can see myself giving the whole book 5 stars. Really creative, unique world. Great characters I want to know more about. Super creep factor and some interesting developments. Space and aliens. And an edge-of-your-seat storyline. I can't wait to get my hands on this entire book.
Intriguing.
I have been a fan of Christopher Paolini since Eragon. When I heard he was releasing a new novel, I was excited. I found myself hooked reading this and was sad it was only a partial galley. I need to know what happens next.
Kira has finally gotten engaged and decided to settle down with her fiance as a colonist on a new world. Her plans are ruined when she checks out some strange formations during a mission and she falls through the ceiling of a strange room that may have been made by alien hands. There she discovers a strange relic that may prove to be as helpful as it is deadly, but humans aren't the only ones who want it.
Greatly enjoyed the wild ride this story took me on. The mystery elements of the new discovery made me eager to find out more and made it impossible for me to put this down. I was disappointed when I reached the end of the excerpt purely because I wanted to keep reading to finish the story. Can't wait to read the rest and highly recommend this.
Wow! Welcome back Christopher Paolini! I was very excited to receive this ARC for review, since I've been a long-time fan of the Eragon series. Just from the limited text. Was given to review, I can already tell this book will be excellent. Though it's very different from his more well-known stuff, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is everything you'd hope for in a new novel (maybe series?) from such a great author. Fans will surely be pleased with this one. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for this chance to read and review! I can't wait to read the rest in September!
I NEED MORE OF THIS BOOK!!!
Firstly, I would like to greatly thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with an advanced partial galley of this in exchange for an honest review.
When I discovered that the author of the widely famous Eragon series was writing his first novel in almost ten years I was captivated! I grew up reading the Eragon books when I was younger and could not wait to get my hands on his new work and discover how his writing style had evolved! And then, by a stroke of luck I was granted a partial advanced copy!
Let's dive right in shall we?
We begin this tale with the protagonist Kira Navárez, a xenobiologist, on a routine mission on some uncharted planet. The mission is wrapping up, quite successfully, when one of their radars/beacons discovers something out of the ordinary. Kira is sent to explore this and literally stumbles upon an alien artifact. This is a major discovery in the sense that only one artifact has ever been discovered in the history of mankind signifying the existence of intelligent alien life. However, what she discovers infiltrates her body and renders her unconscious for a month!
Following a series of traumatic events (I won't go into spoiler territory here), Kira is isolated onboard a military vessel against her will and undergoes testing to better understand this alien artifact/entity. We know very little about the entity at this stage other than the fact that it bonded with Kira's body and is very dangerous. She is subject to a number of increasingly cruel tests and torture to determine a weakness of this. The term lab rat comes to mind-they don't even treat her as if she is human.
Things quickly spiral out of control from here as we switch the stage to the next section of the book. We witness a HOSTILE ALIEN SPECIES, an EXPLOSION OF CATOSTROPHIC PROPORTIONS, we witness the EXTREME ISOLATION of space travel, but most importantly, we are granted MYSTERIOUS VISIONS that begin to unveil a much more ELABORATE PLOT that will propel the story forward with increasing tension and velocity. What is the purpose of this alien species? Was its home destroyed by another more hostile species? What is Kira's role in all of this? Will she survive to find out? There are so many questions left to answer and I am hooked! I simply cannot wait to devour the rest of To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars!!!
I would highly recommend this for fans of The Martian, space operas, Hugh Howey's Beacon 23, and obviously fans of Christopher Paolini!
As this was a partial galley, my five stars may be premature but what I read was excellent. I am judging this book based solely on its ability to draw in the reader, and create believable, interesting characters and locations. I am hooked.
The story so far is kind of like Venom meets Lost in Space or Interstellar. Fans of Kristoff and Kaufman's Aurora Rising will probably like this book.
I usually read YA Fantasy, every now and then I dabble in the science fiction realm. That being said, I am not familiar with this genre. I have read the Inheritance Cycle though (over a decade ago...). Paolini could probably have written this under a pseudonym and people would not have made the connection to him whatsoever. It was very different and I want to read more.
Things I am expecting from the rest of the book (in order for it to maintain its five star rating):
1) More development of the main character - so far she's been somewhat passive and I want to see her be more proactive in driving the story
2) Development of a secondary character (besides the suit)
Review of partial galley
During a routine research mission on the Earth-sized moon Adrasteia, xenobiologist Kira Navárez makes a world-shaking discovery. Exploring new worlds has always been her dream; now it may become her lasting nightmare.
This partial “sneak peek,” encompassing the first ten chapters of the narrative, introduces the main characters, describes the discovery of the alien relic, and sets things in motion for what is to come as the story moves forward. Well-developed characters, an intriguing [albeit a tad creepy] plot, and strong world-building all work together to pull the reader into the telling of the tale from the first page.
The underlying sense of foreboding keeps the tension building as the unfolding story touches on camaraderie, romance, and fate. All but impossible to set aside, this stunning partial ARC promises readers an unforgettable tale of intrigue and wonder.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this partial galley from Macmillan-Tor/Forge; Tor Books and NetGalley
#ToSleepInASeaOfStars #NetGalley
I don't normally review books I haven't finished reading, so this isn't a review. This is a partial ARC of the novel, so these are my thoughts based on those 150 pages, or so.
I didn't know what to expect from this book. I was never a fan of Eragon. I tried to read it, but I just never got into it. The prose was clunky and it didn't gel for me at all. It just wasn't for me, I guess. Paolini was a teenager/young adult when he wrote the Eragon series, but that was the better part of a decade ago now. So, how would his writing style have changed over the years? Would I be more receptive to it now than I was as a teenager?
Well, I loved this. It's not the entire book, so I can't judge it as a whole, but I was hooked by what I read. From page one, Paolini paints a devilishly exciting picture. He's struck a better balance here with his tendency toward long descriptions, focusing more on describing what Kira is seeing and feeling. She's a compelling character and Paolini deftly develops her into someone you care about. The plot's immediately interesting, too. There are shades of other sci-fi stories - perhaps, most notably, Alien - but Paolini delivers a fresh take on some oft-tread ideas and crafts a wholly enticing story.
There's not a lot to say here. I'm just really hooked by this story. It's a great setup and I'm anxious to read the rest of it. It's well-written, well-paced, action-packed, and devilishly exciting. If the rest of the book delivers on the promises made by these first 150 pages, we're in for a fantastic read. I can't wait to read the rest.
I've never read anything by Paolini before, but I certainly will be seeking out more stories by him!
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (LOVE that title!) was a very good match for my taste. I love worldbuilding and non-"normal" POV characters (non-human in this case).
I couldn't put this arc down. I just wish it had been the whole story! I'll be getting a copy of the book as soon as it comes out.
IF you must get up early, best not take this book to read in bed.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is absolutely a bonafide page-turner. Rarely do I feel compelled to read a novel. Yet with such intriguing plot development, there was really no choice. No matter the genre. In all my time reading Science Fiction, since the mid-1950s, I can say maybe only a dozen or two have affected me so. That said, if you must get up early, best not take this book to read in bed.
To read this title in exchange for an honest review is one of the best offers I've had this year. With story development so exciting, I now feel privileged to have been introduced to this author's work.
Holy space-thriller! I requested a partial galley of this book on netgalley not really knowing what I was going to get. I've never read an "Eragon" book and had no preconceived expectations for Paolini. Furthermore, the full publication page count of OVER 800 pages really dampened any desire to read the whole thing. All I can say is boy was I wrong. It is mid-June, the book isn't published until September, and I just finished this partial galley... OMG I NEED THE REST!
This book was so good. From a classic space questing scenario where scientists are studying a planet to ultimately rehab it for human colonization, I was sucked right into the lives of those aboard, immediately worried about anyone who loved another person, immediately concerned with any last minute fixes involving trekking back out of the habitat thing ... and then things get really good. I worried about how engaged I would be with alien stuff, because sometimes that very very sci fi genre can just be too strange, but Paolini masterfully intertwined the alien situation with the person with the science, etc. that I was all in. The chapter breaks of almost vignette style - a heading with sub-chapters - really worked to release pressure/build up then begin it again or take a look from another angle. I could go on, but so far I'm very impressed. Obviously I can't comment on how the whole thing comes together in the end, but I can't WAIT to find out.
This partial galley arc only increased my interest and my anticipation! To Sleep in a Sea of Stars starts off so strong and I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the book. Counting down the days!
94 days left to go!
This took me a little bit to get into, especially with the constant use of "babe" at the end of sentences in conversations between Alan and Kira. But once I got into the story I couldn't stop, and now all I want to do is finish the book. Already preordered and am very eager for the whole story. A wonderfully immersive and believable science fiction foray.
Ok. You've gotten me interested in the book. I wish this was the whole book so I'd know what happens next to Kira. The premise of this book reminds me of Stephanie Meyer's The Host but taking place in the galaxy. Its kind of like The Host meets Interstellar. Christopher Paolini is well know for his Inheritance Cycle books showing that he know how to weave an epic tale. This book looks to be promising and if only I didn't have to wait until September to read the rest. If this is one book in another series, trilogy or cycle sign me up. I'm invested now.
I received this and as a partial eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for giving me access.
This book had me hooked. My only wish is that I was able to read the whole story.
Paolini does and amazing job of world building and creating that suspenseful atmosphere that we crave when reading.
I got huge 'Alien' vibes. The MC is similar to Ripley, yet this story is much less violent than the 'Alien' movies and books we are well familiar with.
This partial galley gave me just enough to want more, while ending at an appropriate spot. I cannot wait for To Sleep in a Sea of Stars to be published so I can continue reading this magnificent story!
I really got into this book. I was enjoying the main character and the wondering about the possibilities within the story to come, THEN I realized that this was not a complete novel. Very frustrating. Please do not do that to me again.
Oh man, this was so good. I'm not usually interested in space-based stories, but since this is Christopher Paolini I knew I had to give him a shot. Unsurprisingly, I loved it and am so excited for the release of the full story. Even just in the partial galley, there's a clear sense of discovery and change as the xeno develops from murderous body-stealing dust to a possible sort of ally. I am thrilled with how epic and unforgivingly harsh the world is. If I later found out this was all a secret documentation of real events... I would really consider that possibility.
I was lucky to be able to read the First Impression of "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" by Christopher Paolini on BookishFirst. And even more lucky once I realized that I had a bit more of a preview to read on NetGalley! I can not wait to be able to finish reading this entire book! I couldn't stop reading and can only say that I can not wait until this book is published I will be buying it as soon as I am able to! This book has a bit of everything and I think it will appeal to most everyone.
AWESOME ! Yes this book from the wee bit I read was totally amazing ! Space fantasy, intense, adventurous, dangerous with fantastic characters and world building. I read and loved this authors Eragon series this is not like that series. No this is science fiction space drama and I don’t think it is YA. I can’t wait to get the whole book
This 'sneak peek' was excellent and I'm excited for the full book's release this September. It is a brilliant start to a story I really want to keep reading and I'm now a little dismayed I have to wait another 3 and a half months to see where Kira is taken next. This feels like the beginning to an epic tale and I cannot wait to jump back in.
Wow! So much has already happened yet there is still so much we don’t know. Where did The Soft Blade come from? Does it have it’s own intentions or plans? How will Kira keep the galaxy safe from so many unknown factors? Where did the Grasper’s come from and what do they want with the Soft Blade?
I can’t wait until I can rad the rest of this story to find out what happens next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for making this partial galley available. All opinions are my own.
This was a really good ARC. I liked how it was kind of Event Horizon with a mix of Prometheus. ALso, I noticed how Chrsitopher's writing has changed since the writing of Inheritance so I will be buying the book for sure on my Kindle.
I am so sad that I only have access to the first few chapters because they were absolutely phenomenal. From the very first moment I met her, I felt a connection with the main character, Kira. The more I read, the more interesting it got. I didn't want it to end.
I've always appreciated the level of detail Paolini manages to weave into his work. It didn't feel like an overwhelming info dump and I was never bored. We are slowly introduced to the space environment, the characters and the alien species. I snatched onto any and every scrap of information sprinkled in throughout the chapters and I NEED TO KNOW MORE.
I've been in a science fiction mood for quite a while now and this book slowly but surely ticked every box. It has suspense, spaceships, xenobiology and a strong main character with a distinct personality. And of course, the last chapter in this Partial Galley left me on a cliffhanger, teasing me.
I cannot wait to read the rest of this book to see how Kira's story pans out. This has easily become my most anticipated reads of 2020 and I will definitely be grabbing a copy as soon as I can. (Let's hope the book gods are kind to me and I get to read the full ARC before it comes out in September!)
If you enjoyed books like Kaufman & Kristoff's Illuminae Files, then you'll be absolutely obsessed with this.
I am so lucky and excited to have gotten the chance to read the first look of To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. Then again, I now have to wait for the rest of the book, so maybe I'm not so lucky? All I can say is, this book has completely gotten into my head, and I am so unbelievably excited to see what happens next!
When I first heard that Christopher Paolini was writing a heavy science fiction novel, I was both curious and a bit concerned (being that he's most famous for his fantasy series). Having read the first look, I can honestly say that this was the right call for him. He's broken all of the expectations set on him by his early success and has taken some real risks here. They're already paying off, though perhaps I'm biased in saying so.
I'm already enchanted with this tale, and desperately want to see it's conclusion. Only a little bit longer now...
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars Sneak Peek (ebook)
by Christopher Paolini
the young writer i grew up with has grown up literally. Christopher Paolini has produced another story that the avid fan can follow. This is a little darker than Eragon, and has more substance as well. The first extraterrestrial xeno contact with humanity, is just the tease. Horrific and heroically he portrays the events, where the reader is glued to the page trying to see if their character finds a solution to the mounting problems, and grief before her. His development of character, and plot twists is riveting. I found it hard to sleep trying to get through this tease of the book, I can not wait for the release and to finish the story.
I knew when Christopher Pasolini was releasing a sci-fi book it was going to be amazing..
this definitely did not let me down. My only problem? Now I have to wait for the whole book to come out!!
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini is exactly what I expected, maybe not on a content level but on a quality level. I wish this was a full galley so I could write a full review but the part that we did get to experience is on par with the books he has written before. The Inheritance Cycle was one of my favorite series growing up and rereading it has always been exciting to me even as an adult. I jumped at the chance to read this partial galley as soon as I saw his name pop up. I am NOT a fan of space adventures at all generally but somehow he still pulled me in and kept me interested the entire time. I cannot wait to get my hands on the full book.
I have been waiting eagerly for years to read this book and this partial galley has me got even more excited for the release!!!! Gahhh!!! Can’t wait to get my hands on this one
Paolini makes the transition from YA fantasy to adult science fiction is a seamless manner and in a way that readers who like his style will still love this book. I was hooked from early on and am anxiously awaiting the full book.
If I were stranded on a desert Island this is one of the books I'd like to have with me. It is good from the very first chapter and the action doesn't stop. I love the premise of traveling to other planets and interacting with new life forms. Christopher Paolini has produced a book that is impossible to put down. I was only able to sample a portion of the book through NetGalley, but I will be downloading the Kindle version to finish the story on September 15th. Upon finishing this sample I was looking up other books that the author has written, and I'll definitely be adding those to my reading list as well.
Since this is only a partial arc, I can only review the sample portion. But let me give that an immediate 5 stars and pending as it was so good. Paolini is such an exciting author to me and this segment does not disappoint!
This was my first Christopher Paolini book and it was incredible! I have always wanted to read his Eragon series but haven't and now that I have read this I am going to go pick up those books. I have never been a fan of Si-Fi and since I read Brandon Sanderson's book Skyward I have reading them like crazy. If you like Skyward or Amie Kaufman/Jay Kristoff books you are going to love this! Huge Thank You to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this opportunity!
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