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Stars Fall Circle #2
When Dreamers Fall
ESCAPE WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING . . .
Breaker sacrificed everything—his home, his hand, even his relationship with his little brother—for the chance to escape Scarlatti’s war and find peace in their ancestral home. But time is running out. Supplies are low, Brody hasn’t recovered from his concussion, and Breaker’s right to lead is looking rather grim.
When a stranger arrives, Breaker realizes the world outside Scarlatti is so much bigger than even he could ever dream. Torn between the home he knows and the new home he wants, he will have to ask himself what else he’s willing to sacrifice. With old friends, two new points of view, and more secrets to unbury, read the series Kirkus has called “a propulsive, sharply crafted tale.”
WHEN DREAMERS FALL is book two of the Stars Fall Circle series and is meant to be read in order. Readers who enjoy multi-POV action-packed sci-fi will love this twisty tale.
Breaker sacrificed everything—his home, his hand, even his relationship with his little brother—for the chance to escape Scarlatti’s war and find peace in their ancestral home. But time is running out. Supplies are low, Brody hasn’t recovered from his concussion, and Breaker’s right to lead is looking rather grim.
When a stranger arrives, Breaker realizes the world outside Scarlatti is so much bigger than even he could ever dream. Torn between the home he knows and the new home he wants, he will have to ask himself what else he’s willing to sacrifice. With old friends, two new points of view, and more secrets to unbury, read the series Kirkus has called “a propulsive, sharply crafted tale.”
WHEN DREAMERS FALL is book two of the Stars Fall Circle series and is meant to be read in order. Readers who enjoy multi-POV action-packed sci-fi will love this twisty tale.
416 pages, paperback
Published September 6, 2019
5 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Abby J. Reed
11 books89 followersAbby J. Reed is the author of the STARS FALL CIRCLE series and the memoir THE COLOR OF PAIN. She has a degree in English Writing and is drawn to characters with physical limitations due to her own neurological disorder called Chronic Migraine. Abby lives in Colorado with her husband and two fluffy pups. If her hands aren’t on the keyboard, they are stained purple and blue with paint. Find her online at www.abbyjreed.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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August 15, 2019ARCs of this and book 1 are available here: [closed - other review opportunities found here]
November 5, 2019
A whole cast of characters bring unique qualities to the table, and they form an intriguing pack: Breaker, of course, but also Jupe, Malani, Tahnya, Luka, and Breaker’s younger brother Brody, and more.
Read full review in the 2019 Nov issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 Nov issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 2, 2019
I need to make a quick personal note in here. This was the very last book I requested for review as a book blogger. It makes me so incredibly sad that I didn't quite make the cutoff before the blog officially went dark. It was a really difficult decision between my co-blogger and me. As we got older, our families grew and took center stage. Our jobs became more intensive. And I was diagnosed with MS. It's great to finally have some answers, but I'm really just not able to dedicate the time and energy to the books and blog that they deserve.
And with that, I tell you that this was the best possible book to wrap up the end of an era.
I read When Planets Fall over two years ago, and even though so much time had passed, the book still held a small piece of my attention. Would there eventually be a sequel? It certainly deserved one, but maybe the author had intentionally left the big questions open, to let the readers decide the characters' outcomes. And then... GASP... there it was. The sequel. And not just that, but a planned third book! I was ridiculously excited. I was a little worried that I wouldn't remember all that had happened, and that maybe a reread of the first book was in order. Strangely enough, even though a lot of the details were hazy, the characters were still alive and well in my memory. I was able to jump right back into the story as if no time had passed!
WARNING: there may be some spoilery comments if you haven't already read the first book, so proceed with caution.
As a recap: The characters were exactly like I remembered them. Breaker, now missing his prosthetic leg, Circuit, and the worse for wear after their daring escape into space, has a whole new set of challenges, both physical and emotional. He has dragged his companions--some willingly, some not--into space on a rickety old spaceship, with only a vague destination in mind. Malani's trust has been shaken; will she forgive him for his lies? Tahnya is the same calming friend she's always been, excited for a taste of freedom away from her father's control; that is, until she makes a shocking discovery. Luka is resistant but determined, a soldier at heart, only on this journey because he promised his sister he would go; can he be trusted, or will he fight Breaker for control? And poor Brody, Breaker's 13-year-old brother. He doesn't want to be there in the first place, and things have only gotten worse. After taking a knock to the head, he isn't acting himself.
The pace of this story is absolutely perfect. There is just the right balance between death-defying excitement and world building. Because of course there's a lot to build on, right? Now that they're off the planet, the expanding universe is before them, infinite planets, and they haven't even seen a tiny fraction of it. Enter Jupe, our newest protagonist. He's working with a group of rebels, fighting for human rights over the Queen, the Solterans, and... dum dum DUMMMMM... the dreaded Extrats. These elusive villains are waiting in the wings through the entire book, always a threat looming over our characters. They felt like the boogeyman hiding under my bed, and I was appropriately creeped out.
Yes, you read all this correctly. Breaker and his crew have left their home, fleeing war, only to be met with more war! With all of the new technology, new politics, new galactic structure, it's no wonder it took a while for the second book to come out. I promise it was well worth the wait! I just really hope I don't have to wait as long for the third book... although, truth be told, I would wait forever if I had to. This series is well-written, thorough and intelligent. It's one that will linger with me for years to come.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
And with that, I tell you that this was the best possible book to wrap up the end of an era.
I read When Planets Fall over two years ago, and even though so much time had passed, the book still held a small piece of my attention. Would there eventually be a sequel? It certainly deserved one, but maybe the author had intentionally left the big questions open, to let the readers decide the characters' outcomes. And then... GASP... there it was. The sequel. And not just that, but a planned third book! I was ridiculously excited. I was a little worried that I wouldn't remember all that had happened, and that maybe a reread of the first book was in order. Strangely enough, even though a lot of the details were hazy, the characters were still alive and well in my memory. I was able to jump right back into the story as if no time had passed!
WARNING: there may be some spoilery comments if you haven't already read the first book, so proceed with caution.
As a recap: The characters were exactly like I remembered them. Breaker, now missing his prosthetic leg, Circuit, and the worse for wear after their daring escape into space, has a whole new set of challenges, both physical and emotional. He has dragged his companions--some willingly, some not--into space on a rickety old spaceship, with only a vague destination in mind. Malani's trust has been shaken; will she forgive him for his lies? Tahnya is the same calming friend she's always been, excited for a taste of freedom away from her father's control; that is, until she makes a shocking discovery. Luka is resistant but determined, a soldier at heart, only on this journey because he promised his sister he would go; can he be trusted, or will he fight Breaker for control? And poor Brody, Breaker's 13-year-old brother. He doesn't want to be there in the first place, and things have only gotten worse. After taking a knock to the head, he isn't acting himself.
The pace of this story is absolutely perfect. There is just the right balance between death-defying excitement and world building. Because of course there's a lot to build on, right? Now that they're off the planet, the expanding universe is before them, infinite planets, and they haven't even seen a tiny fraction of it. Enter Jupe, our newest protagonist. He's working with a group of rebels, fighting for human rights over the Queen, the Solterans, and... dum dum DUMMMMM... the dreaded Extrats. These elusive villains are waiting in the wings through the entire book, always a threat looming over our characters. They felt like the boogeyman hiding under my bed, and I was appropriately creeped out.
Yes, you read all this correctly. Breaker and his crew have left their home, fleeing war, only to be met with more war! With all of the new technology, new politics, new galactic structure, it's no wonder it took a while for the second book to come out. I promise it was well worth the wait! I just really hope I don't have to wait as long for the third book... although, truth be told, I would wait forever if I had to. This series is well-written, thorough and intelligent. It's one that will linger with me for years to come.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2019
I received a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. This is simply my opinion on the book and is not influenced by any external factor.
There’s a stereotype about sequels, that they are never as good as their predecessor. I have to say, after reading When Dreamers Fall, that this is not always true. When Dreamers Fall is one of the few books I know of for the sequel to be even better than the first. I think it might have to do with the worldbuilding in the first book, because this didn’t start slow at all.
Here’s what you can expect when reading When Dreamers Fall:
• The story is told from five different perspectives: Breaker, Malani, Luka, Tahnya and Jupe. Each chapter is clearly marked with the name of the narrator and each character has their own unique narrating style.
• although the characters swear and curse, the author has creatively invented a new set of curse words so as to not put them blatantly in the text. Again, as you progress in the story and come across the words more often, they make more sense and you start to decipher the ‘meaning’.
• The author has also created new words for certain words we use so often and never question. Like day, which is dia. There are also a few simple Spanish phrases here and there when we read the story from Jupe’s perspective.
• Although there is no mature content and swear words have been replaced , there is a lot of violence, blood and torture which might set off younger readers. Fair warning, there are some scenes with gore and the discussion of dismembered body parts which may be a little unsettling but it’s nothing major or nightmare inducing and only happens once or twice.
• The character development – absolutely incredible, especially with Luka.
• Once again, we have a cast of diverse characters who suffer from a range of debilitating disorders and disabilities.
• Realistic fights and interactions. Drives right into action from page 1.
• A beautiful cover
My thoughts:
The one character I can say that I did not feel for was Brody, because of the way he acts towards his brother and others who try to help him. True, he hasn’t recovered from the concussion, but even before this, Brody and Breaker did not have the best of relationships. Luka was my favourite out of the characters – there were a couple of his lines that had me smile. Luka has been presented as a sociopath in the previous book, but in this one, we learn a little more about his upbringing and see his personality shift a little. The story really ended on an exciting note, making me really wish the third book was already out.
Overall rating:4.25/5 (rounded to the nearest full star), an epic sci-fi adventure that gets you hooked on the story. Will definitely re-read this in the future and am eagerly looking forward to the release of the third.
There’s a stereotype about sequels, that they are never as good as their predecessor. I have to say, after reading When Dreamers Fall, that this is not always true. When Dreamers Fall is one of the few books I know of for the sequel to be even better than the first. I think it might have to do with the worldbuilding in the first book, because this didn’t start slow at all.
Here’s what you can expect when reading When Dreamers Fall:
• The story is told from five different perspectives: Breaker, Malani, Luka, Tahnya and Jupe. Each chapter is clearly marked with the name of the narrator and each character has their own unique narrating style.
• although the characters swear and curse, the author has creatively invented a new set of curse words so as to not put them blatantly in the text. Again, as you progress in the story and come across the words more often, they make more sense and you start to decipher the ‘meaning’.
• The author has also created new words for certain words we use so often and never question. Like day, which is dia. There are also a few simple Spanish phrases here and there when we read the story from Jupe’s perspective.
• Although there is no mature content and swear words have been replaced , there is a lot of violence, blood and torture which might set off younger readers. Fair warning, there are some scenes with gore and the discussion of dismembered body parts which may be a little unsettling but it’s nothing major or nightmare inducing and only happens once or twice.
• The character development – absolutely incredible, especially with Luka.
• Once again, we have a cast of diverse characters who suffer from a range of debilitating disorders and disabilities.
• Realistic fights and interactions. Drives right into action from page 1.
• A beautiful cover
My thoughts:
The one character I can say that I did not feel for was Brody, because of the way he acts towards his brother and others who try to help him. True, he hasn’t recovered from the concussion, but even before this, Brody and Breaker did not have the best of relationships. Luka was my favourite out of the characters – there were a couple of his lines that had me smile. Luka has been presented as a sociopath in the previous book, but in this one, we learn a little more about his upbringing and see his personality shift a little. The story really ended on an exciting note, making me really wish the third book was already out.
Overall rating:4.25/5 (rounded to the nearest full star), an epic sci-fi adventure that gets you hooked on the story. Will definitely re-read this in the future and am eagerly looking forward to the release of the third.
May 28, 2019
Loved this story! Loved the world, the scope, the stakes, and, above all, the characters.
In the sequel to When Planets Fall, we get to follow Breaker & company as they leave Scarlatti in search of their home planet. Cue intergalactic shenanigans, near-death experiences, secrets, and even a space pirate!
I appreciated how we got to learn more about the main characters from the first book, especially Tahnya who quickly became one of my faves, as well as meet fun new ones (*ahem* Jupe).
Can't wait to see where Reed takes the story next!!
In the sequel to When Planets Fall, we get to follow Breaker & company as they leave Scarlatti in search of their home planet. Cue intergalactic shenanigans, near-death experiences, secrets, and even a space pirate!
I appreciated how we got to learn more about the main characters from the first book, especially Tahnya who quickly became one of my faves, as well as meet fun new ones (*ahem* Jupe).
Can't wait to see where Reed takes the story next!!
March 4, 2022
I enjoyed book 1 but this one blew it out of the water. I loved the new characters and POVs. You don’t want to miss out on this one!
June 17, 2023
Enjoyed book 2 in this series just as much as book one. :)
May 21, 2019
When Dreamers Fall was an exciting and captivating sci-fi novel. I really liked the first novel and couldn't wait to read this one!
The sequel to When Planets Fall continues with Breaker, Malani, Luka, Tahnya and Brody having left Scarlatti to search for their ancestral planet.
The characters were strong and amazing and I learned more about them, especially Tahnya. The addition of Jupe also made things more interesting. I really liked his personality.
The plot was intriguing and filled with many new discoveries, twists and unexpected surprises. With so much happening in this novel, it was hard to put down and I'm looking forward to see what happens next especially after that ending!
"Vivir valiente, vivir cierto."
{I received a digital review copy in exchange for my honest review - this does not in any way influence the opinions of my review}
The sequel to When Planets Fall continues with Breaker, Malani, Luka, Tahnya and Brody having left Scarlatti to search for their ancestral planet.
The characters were strong and amazing and I learned more about them, especially Tahnya. The addition of Jupe also made things more interesting. I really liked his personality.
The plot was intriguing and filled with many new discoveries, twists and unexpected surprises. With so much happening in this novel, it was hard to put down and I'm looking forward to see what happens next especially after that ending!
"Vivir valiente, vivir cierto."
{I received a digital review copy in exchange for my honest review - this does not in any way influence the opinions of my review}
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews