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Star Crossed
After falling in love with handsome Rook Galloway, Lady Ariane Burke-Marchand finds herself pitted against Rook when their home planets go to war, but she is unable to overcome her feelings despite the newfound conflict.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
8 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Susan Krinard
76 books330 followersTrained as an artist with a BFA in Illustration from the California College of Arts and Crafts, Susan Krinard became a writer in 1992 when a friend read a short story she'd written and suggested she try writing a romance novel. A long-time fan of science fiction and fantasy, Susan began reading romance -- and realized what she wanted to do was combine the two genres. Prince of Wolves, her first romance novel and one of the earliest to feature a werewolf hero, was the result. Within a year Susan had sold the manuscript to Bantam as part of a three-book contract, and the novel went on to make several bestseller lists.
Since then, she's written and published over fourteen paranormal and fantasy novels, and written stories for a number of anthologies, both fantasy and romance. Both the anthology Out of This World (which included Susan's "Kinsman") and the novel Lord of the Beasts appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Susan makes her home in New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment", with her husband Serge, their dogs Freya, Nahla and Cagney, and their cat Jefferson. In addition to writing, Susan's interests include music of almost every kind, old movies, reading, nature, baking, and collecting unique handmade jewelry and decorative crafts.
Since then, she's written and published over fourteen paranormal and fantasy novels, and written stories for a number of anthologies, both fantasy and romance. Both the anthology Out of This World (which included Susan's "Kinsman") and the novel Lord of the Beasts appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Susan makes her home in New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment", with her husband Serge, their dogs Freya, Nahla and Cagney, and their cat Jefferson. In addition to writing, Susan's interests include music of almost every kind, old movies, reading, nature, baking, and collecting unique handmade jewelry and decorative crafts.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 23, 2021
Loved the world-building but I never connected to the main characters. The push and pull between them lasted through the whole book. The hero also remained sadly underdeveloped. I still enjoyed the plot, it was like a soap opera in space.
October 2, 2022
Knowing that this is an early publication by Susan Krinard, I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised. The world built here is kind of a futuristic combination of French aristocracy meets an Indian alien race (considered savages). It's not as high tech as I would have thought, given that it's in the future and a lot of it is on a spaceship, but I understand that's probably a result of when it was written. The characters are pretty interesting. Ariane comes across as pretty vain and very prejudice initially - she has a reason for hating the Kalian people, but given her upbringing she has always felt htem to be savage and inferior. She learns differently soon enough. The hero, Rook, is older and feels plenty justified in his hatred as he was sent to jail for something he didn't do. He's out for revenge and Ariane is his ticket to achieving it.
Both of these people are stubborn and there is entirely too much focus on honor, but it seems to me it has a very broad definition (and a lot of hypocrisy). I like that Rook, for all his talk of destroying Ariane's family, isn't just set on raping her and destroying their honor that way. Despite his anger, he's actually pretty decent to her. She's actually crueler IMHO. There's also a lot of angst. First, the question of betrayal. Who betrayed who? The question of trust - they bond in such a way that they're connected, but neither of them are capable of trust right off. Then there's the angst at the end, which is incredible! Made me want to cry - it was that good. And you know who's going to break down and sacrifice, but you have no idea how they're going to do it and what 's going to motivate them. It was lovely...I enjoyed this book quite a lot.
Both of these people are stubborn and there is entirely too much focus on honor, but it seems to me it has a very broad definition (and a lot of hypocrisy). I like that Rook, for all his talk of destroying Ariane's family, isn't just set on raping her and destroying their honor that way. Despite his anger, he's actually pretty decent to her. She's actually crueler IMHO. There's also a lot of angst. First, the question of betrayal. Who betrayed who? The question of trust - they bond in such a way that they're connected, but neither of them are capable of trust right off. Then there's the angst at the end, which is incredible! Made me want to cry - it was that good. And you know who's going to break down and sacrifice, but you have no idea how they're going to do it and what 's going to motivate them. It was lovely...I enjoyed this book quite a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
I loved this book! What an excellent surprise. Krinard jumps straight to the action with young Rook, returned home from his high education, finding himself in the middle of a rebellion. There he meets 16 yr old Ariane, daughter of the planet's noble family, who is secretly infatuated with him. The action is brutal and a tragedy occurs. But, all is not what it seems. Without unnecessary narrative or drawn out coverage of passing time, we are caught up to present day, 8 yes later, as Ariane goes looking for answers from a disgraced and imprisoned Rook. Using her visit as a vehicle for escape, Rook gets away from the desolate prison planet, and the adventure begins. There is intrigue, drama, romance, action, everything you want in a good space opera. The end had me in tears.
Ariane and Rook are so well matched, although it takes time to get there, as the enemies to lovers trope plays out perfectly. Intimate scenes are sweet and romantic. Highly recommend for fans of science fiction romance. 3rd person POV, old school well-written, edited, professional and intelligent, this one is a winner.
Ariane and Rook are so well matched, although it takes time to get there, as the enemies to lovers trope plays out perfectly. Intimate scenes are sweet and romantic. Highly recommend for fans of science fiction romance. 3rd person POV, old school well-written, edited, professional and intelligent, this one is a winner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2017
It's been a while since I read this one, but I searched for it just because I wanted a sci-fi romance and remembered so much about this. It was great to have space ships and proper alien species. Enjoyable read.
August 1, 2012
This book was the first one by Krinard that I read. It intrigued me enough that I picked up some of her other books. I think this and one other book by her are the only ones I've actually finished. I preferred her science-fiction/romance.
April 22, 2008
This one surprised me
April 25, 2010
Interesting because it was her first published book and a Science Fiction romance.
June 27, 2012
It was just okay for me. Had lots of potential. Perhaps could have been further developed in subsequent books, but fell flat in the end. Three-star read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews