What do you think?
Rate this book
Bright Star
Erin Swan's YA fantasy debut, Bright Star, is an action-packed adventure tale of rebellion, romance, and finding one's voice in the heart of a storm.
Paerolia has been at peace for two centuries, and all is well in the land—or so it seems. Beneath the surface, a tyrant is rising to power.
A traumatic experience in Andra's childhood has left her mute and subdued, a servant in the Chief Judge’s manor. But when an assassination team, led by the secretive and alluring Kael, infiltrates the manor and makes a quick escape, she takes her chance and flees with them.
Andra is thrust into the ranks of a secret rebellion—a group of outcasts and believers seeking to overthrow the Chief Judge and replace the corrupt government with new members, ones who will restore and preserve the land they love. Now, the girl who was once an outcast must somehow become the leader Paerolia needs. But she is stronger than she believes—and with the help of a fiercely loyal dragon, she may just be the one to lead them all to victory.
Paerolia has been at peace for two centuries, and all is well in the land—or so it seems. Beneath the surface, a tyrant is rising to power.
A traumatic experience in Andra's childhood has left her mute and subdued, a servant in the Chief Judge’s manor. But when an assassination team, led by the secretive and alluring Kael, infiltrates the manor and makes a quick escape, she takes her chance and flees with them.
Andra is thrust into the ranks of a secret rebellion—a group of outcasts and believers seeking to overthrow the Chief Judge and replace the corrupt government with new members, ones who will restore and preserve the land they love. Now, the girl who was once an outcast must somehow become the leader Paerolia needs. But she is stronger than she believes—and with the help of a fiercely loyal dragon, she may just be the one to lead them all to victory.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2019
36 people are currently reading
1773 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
June 7, 2019
Y’all wanted a review? Alright.
1.5 stars. NO SPOILERS.
I didn’t like this book. I felt like I was reading six or seven already published YA novels all crammed into one. It was almost like the author had plucked parts they liked from already popular series’ and tried to meld them together to make a completely different concept and it just didn’t work for me.
There were a few times when I was unsure if I had missed something important because it seemed like the reader was already supposed to know the lore of the series, when it hadn’t even been explained yet.
There was a romance in this that just felt unnecessary for me. I felt like it didn’t fit into the type of story the author was trying to write and leaving it out would have been something that set this book apart in a positive way.
Andra was your typical YA heroine - and there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s done right - but again I felt like she was all tell and no show. She was 2D at times which was unfortunate because had she been a little more rounded she would have been a match for the likes of Tris, Feyre, and Lila Bard.
I will say this for it though; there were times (I don’t want to give anything away) where I knew exactly what was going to happen, but it happened in such a roundabout way that I was genuinely unsure what was ACTUALLY going to happen. So although the writing was mediocre I still gave it a star for plot devices.
NOTE:
It’s really important that you know that if you review this book and for some reason don’t like it, the author will stalk you and then badmouth you on Twitter. As reviewers we don’t owe an author a good review, especially if we didn’t like the book. If every review was supposed to be 5 stars there wouldn’t be any point in reviewing it.
You’re welcome to message me for receipts on the author stalking and badmouthing reviewers online.
1.5 stars. NO SPOILERS.
I didn’t like this book. I felt like I was reading six or seven already published YA novels all crammed into one. It was almost like the author had plucked parts they liked from already popular series’ and tried to meld them together to make a completely different concept and it just didn’t work for me.
There were a few times when I was unsure if I had missed something important because it seemed like the reader was already supposed to know the lore of the series, when it hadn’t even been explained yet.
There was a romance in this that just felt unnecessary for me. I felt like it didn’t fit into the type of story the author was trying to write and leaving it out would have been something that set this book apart in a positive way.
Andra was your typical YA heroine - and there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s done right - but again I felt like she was all tell and no show. She was 2D at times which was unfortunate because had she been a little more rounded she would have been a match for the likes of Tris, Feyre, and Lila Bard.
I will say this for it though; there were times (I don’t want to give anything away) where I knew exactly what was going to happen, but it happened in such a roundabout way that I was genuinely unsure what was ACTUALLY going to happen. So although the writing was mediocre I still gave it a star for plot devices.
NOTE:
It’s really important that you know that if you review this book and for some reason don’t like it, the author will stalk you and then badmouth you on Twitter. As reviewers we don’t owe an author a good review, especially if we didn’t like the book. If every review was supposed to be 5 stars there wouldn’t be any point in reviewing it.
You’re welcome to message me for receipts on the author stalking and badmouthing reviewers online.
Did not finish
January 24, 2024Ok, the first half of the book was great.
The second half... it all went downhill.
I mean, the summary was promising, and upon research, a bunch of people said this book was clean. However, I had several problems with it.
1) The MC faces a lot of trauma from being raped as a child. She has flashbacks and is very jumpy around people, and at one point, a drunk man forcefully kisses her, and it just made me ick and uncomfortable, so... no.
2) There was elements that contradicted my Christian POV, such as witchcraft, palm reading, fortune telling, and mentions of "harnessing dark magic from the souls of the dead."
I hate when books don't have content warnings when some of them clearly should. It also saddens me to see so many people embrace today's modern sense of YA and are ok with stuff they clearly shouldn't be okay with. A lot of books counter what Christians should believe in, and in today's world, books are becoming more and more evil and filled with demonic things. But we as believers in Christ should have discernment and put away the things of the world and stand strong against these wrong things, because they're just portals Satan is trying to lead us into. Things that may seem so trivial are actually consequential because they deceive us into thinking these things are ok, and jurt hurt our relationship with God, who is full of light and purity, and in whom which there is no sin.
So yes, I had to DNF this... am I sad? Not at all. Why read something that just hurts my relationship with God and leads me astray?
The second half... it all went downhill.
I mean, the summary was promising, and upon research, a bunch of people said this book was clean. However, I had several problems with it.
1) The MC faces a lot of trauma from being raped as a child. She has flashbacks and is very jumpy around people, and at one point, a drunk man forcefully kisses her, and it just made me ick and uncomfortable, so... no.
2) There was elements that contradicted my Christian POV, such as witchcraft, palm reading, fortune telling, and mentions of "harnessing dark magic from the souls of the dead."
I hate when books don't have content warnings when some of them clearly should. It also saddens me to see so many people embrace today's modern sense of YA and are ok with stuff they clearly shouldn't be okay with. A lot of books counter what Christians should believe in, and in today's world, books are becoming more and more evil and filled with demonic things. But we as believers in Christ should have discernment and put away the things of the world and stand strong against these wrong things, because they're just portals Satan is trying to lead us into. Things that may seem so trivial are actually consequential because they deceive us into thinking these things are ok, and jurt hurt our relationship with God, who is full of light and purity, and in whom which there is no sin.
So yes, I had to DNF this... am I sad? Not at all. Why read something that just hurts my relationship with God and leads me astray?
July 1, 2019
This book was everything it promised to be! The character development and world building was beautiful and I was incredibly happy about the personalities that the dragons in this book were given. It is hard to find a new way to do dragon fantasies with so many out but Swan figures it out. Very happy with this book. Easily one of my top faves of 2019.
December 5, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Isabella Stocka
In her debut novel and first instalment of the Sky Riders series, Erin Swan takes you into a world in which dragons exists and the bond between a dragon and its rider is sacred. For decades the Riders kept the peace in Paerolia and once a year, dragons and men are chosen to become partners. The mental match between the two is destined. Once bonded together, they are one.
Andra is not allowed to witness this ceremony and when she is caught, she is sent away to become a servant in the Chief Judge’s manor. After a traumatic event, she does not speak anymore and sees no hope to break out of her misery. That is, until one day, a group of assassins breaks into the manor and the leader, Kael, decides to take her with them. Andra discovers that their main goal is to overthrow the current system and replace the corrupt Government to make sure that that everyone can live equally.
This book is so extremely good. Well written, catchy, plot-twists, and just pure awesome. It is Hunger Games meets Eragon and Xena in a world that is Game of Thrones like. Plus, I love books which have a deeper message and this one has many of them!
After disturbing the pairing, Andra was sent away to be a servant at one of the Chief Judge’s manor and soon after she arrives, she dared to call out the Judge’s son as being a pig after he implied that she would soon end up in his bed. Andra, then not only has to witness how her mother gets murdered in front of her, but is sexually abused for months too.
Swan takes this delicate topic and does something I wish more authors would do. She does not go all the way into these horrible moments, but she gives the reader enough information that it cannot be misunderstood.
As the story continues, there are some romantic scenes and beautiful words, but there is no sex scene in the whole book. It is refreshing for me that an author left that out completely. I sometimes think, that there is an unknown rule that every book nowadays, even if it’s YA, has to have something more. This is proof that you can write a perfect scene without writing about every little detail of a romantic encounter.
“You told me once that my old life was behind me, that I have a new life, one where I can fight back. And you were right. But I’ve also been fighting to hold on to something, fighting to keep a part of that old life with me. That part of my life felt safer, more certain than this one, so I clung to it. But . . . I don’t want to hold on to it anymore. I want my old life behind me— every part of it. Because I want every part of this new life, no matter how uncertain it may be.”
Then you have dragons but only men are allowed to become a Rider. This is turned upside down when the young dragon Tiri finds Andra and tells her, that she was not able to pair with one of the candidates, because her mind connected with Andra’s. The bond between a Rider and his dragon reminds me of the connection between a human and their daemon from His Dark Materials, which is a beautiful bond.
Not soon after, she discovers the magic which lies within her and she starts to train. She learns how to become a Rider, how to use her magic, and also how to fight.
This may sound like another Cinderella story, but it is so much more grown up. We follow Andra in different situations and this girl does not have it easy. After everything she went through, it is not easy for her to trust people nor herself. Everything she knew about herself and the world turns out to be different and it overwhelms her. I do not think that she is the fearless leader the rebellion thinks she is at the end of the book. She still has a lot to learn and conquer, but this makes her so relatable and easy to identify with.
Last but not least, there is a rebellion against corrupted leaders. The world building reminds me of our current political situation around the world. The wish to get rid of politicians who leave you paralysed with their decisions and opinions. We are the strongest together to change things.
Bright Star was a surprising read and now a favourite read of mine. It has different and important aspects and you cannot help but fall in love with the idea of having beautiful dragons around which can talk. The book moves on too fast at the beginning, and jumps from one scene to the next, but after you find your way into the story, you get rewarded with a strong female protagonist. Plus you’ll also find your next favourite book crush, Kael, who is the leader of the rebellion and a Rider himself with his dragon Eithne by his side. He’s also different to many male love interests as he is kind, patient, and genuine.
In her debut novel and first instalment of the Sky Riders series, Erin Swan takes you into a world in which dragons exists and the bond between a dragon and its rider is sacred. For decades the Riders kept the peace in Paerolia and once a year, dragons and men are chosen to become partners. The mental match between the two is destined. Once bonded together, they are one.
Andra is not allowed to witness this ceremony and when she is caught, she is sent away to become a servant in the Chief Judge’s manor. After a traumatic event, she does not speak anymore and sees no hope to break out of her misery. That is, until one day, a group of assassins breaks into the manor and the leader, Kael, decides to take her with them. Andra discovers that their main goal is to overthrow the current system and replace the corrupt Government to make sure that that everyone can live equally.
This book is so extremely good. Well written, catchy, plot-twists, and just pure awesome. It is Hunger Games meets Eragon and Xena in a world that is Game of Thrones like. Plus, I love books which have a deeper message and this one has many of them!
After disturbing the pairing, Andra was sent away to be a servant at one of the Chief Judge’s manor and soon after she arrives, she dared to call out the Judge’s son as being a pig after he implied that she would soon end up in his bed. Andra, then not only has to witness how her mother gets murdered in front of her, but is sexually abused for months too.
Swan takes this delicate topic and does something I wish more authors would do. She does not go all the way into these horrible moments, but she gives the reader enough information that it cannot be misunderstood.
As the story continues, there are some romantic scenes and beautiful words, but there is no sex scene in the whole book. It is refreshing for me that an author left that out completely. I sometimes think, that there is an unknown rule that every book nowadays, even if it’s YA, has to have something more. This is proof that you can write a perfect scene without writing about every little detail of a romantic encounter.
“You told me once that my old life was behind me, that I have a new life, one where I can fight back. And you were right. But I’ve also been fighting to hold on to something, fighting to keep a part of that old life with me. That part of my life felt safer, more certain than this one, so I clung to it. But . . . I don’t want to hold on to it anymore. I want my old life behind me— every part of it. Because I want every part of this new life, no matter how uncertain it may be.”
Then you have dragons but only men are allowed to become a Rider. This is turned upside down when the young dragon Tiri finds Andra and tells her, that she was not able to pair with one of the candidates, because her mind connected with Andra’s. The bond between a Rider and his dragon reminds me of the connection between a human and their daemon from His Dark Materials, which is a beautiful bond.
Not soon after, she discovers the magic which lies within her and she starts to train. She learns how to become a Rider, how to use her magic, and also how to fight.
This may sound like another Cinderella story, but it is so much more grown up. We follow Andra in different situations and this girl does not have it easy. After everything she went through, it is not easy for her to trust people nor herself. Everything she knew about herself and the world turns out to be different and it overwhelms her. I do not think that she is the fearless leader the rebellion thinks she is at the end of the book. She still has a lot to learn and conquer, but this makes her so relatable and easy to identify with.
Last but not least, there is a rebellion against corrupted leaders. The world building reminds me of our current political situation around the world. The wish to get rid of politicians who leave you paralysed with their decisions and opinions. We are the strongest together to change things.
Bright Star was a surprising read and now a favourite read of mine. It has different and important aspects and you cannot help but fall in love with the idea of having beautiful dragons around which can talk. The book moves on too fast at the beginning, and jumps from one scene to the next, but after you find your way into the story, you get rewarded with a strong female protagonist. Plus you’ll also find your next favourite book crush, Kael, who is the leader of the rebellion and a Rider himself with his dragon Eithne by his side. He’s also different to many male love interests as he is kind, patient, and genuine.
August 13, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Tor Teen. Thank you!
Andra, a young half-elven woman, is an indentured servant with years of bondage left. She works in the hall of the dragon riders, a plum position her mother won her by agreeing to more years of servitude for herself. When Andra accidentally disrupts a dragon bonding ceremony, she's sent back to her prior abusive assignment as punishment. There, she's impulsively kidnapped by rebels during a raid and sets out on a path to become a master magician, fighter, strategist, and dragon rider.
I always want to say something nice, so here it is. S.R. Ranganathan formulated 5 rules that have become the guiding principles of library systems. One of the rules is "Every person his or her book." This means that libraries should acquire a variety of materials for a wide range of needs and not judge patrons on what they choose to read. I also interpret it to mean that a book, despite how much I dislike it, may be exactly what someone else needs at a critical time in their life. I sincerely hope that someone who reads this book, perhaps with a past or present filled with abuse, is comforted by Andra's journey from powerless wretch to awesomeness. I certainly don't judge anyone harshly who does enjoy this.
I personally struggled a lot to get through this book. I can appreciate when terrible things happen to book characters because it's usually a sign that the character isn't a Mary Sue. Like real people, they can suffer, and that suffering changes them. Unfortunately, despite a lot of abuse, that isn't what happens here. Kirkus Reviews accurately described Andra's off-screen rape and on-screen torture as superficial, and it truly is. We don't see a fully-fleshed woman who's gone through years of abuse recover from that and grow stronger-- we see a character told by a brawny male love interest to defend herself, and that's most of what she needed. This would have been a much more compelling read if we had seen Andra slowly work through her experiences and grow into her abilities bit by bit. Instead, we see her go from a defenseless young woman to the strongest magic user to a rider of with minimal reflection. Such a progression with no true character development doesn't do justice to topics of rape and abuse.
The problem is exacerbated by the quick pace. I deeply appreciate what appears to be a standalone fantasy novel (not everything has to be a trilogy!), but there is way too much happening here with too little substance. If Andra's emotional, physical, and magical development had been spread across multiple volumes, it would have felt more natural. It would have also left more space to flesh out the dragon, elven, and dwarven peoples, who are all otherwise pretty homogeneous.
I want to call out one particular event in the book that I found deeply troubling. After being kidnapped by the rebels and taken to their home base, Andra is approached by a male dragon rider. He assaults her in public, and the dragon rider remains in a position of prominence within the rebel camp after receiving only superficial injuries. I think it would have been really cool if this organization fighting for freedom would have severely punished this man for the kind of abuse regularly inflicted on oppressed people. It would have also been interesting if it had been used as an opportunity for Andra to realize that the rebellion is also imperfect, and perhaps she needed to take matters into her own hands and assume a leadership role. Instead, it's just an isolated and superficial event in a book full of such events.
For those looking for books with similar themes that do it better, I suggest Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and The Hero and the Crown or The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley.
Andra, a young half-elven woman, is an indentured servant with years of bondage left. She works in the hall of the dragon riders, a plum position her mother won her by agreeing to more years of servitude for herself. When Andra accidentally disrupts a dragon bonding ceremony, she's sent back to her prior abusive assignment as punishment. There, she's impulsively kidnapped by rebels during a raid and sets out on a path to become a master magician, fighter, strategist, and dragon rider.
I always want to say something nice, so here it is. S.R. Ranganathan formulated 5 rules that have become the guiding principles of library systems. One of the rules is "Every person his or her book." This means that libraries should acquire a variety of materials for a wide range of needs and not judge patrons on what they choose to read. I also interpret it to mean that a book, despite how much I dislike it, may be exactly what someone else needs at a critical time in their life. I sincerely hope that someone who reads this book, perhaps with a past or present filled with abuse, is comforted by Andra's journey from powerless wretch to awesomeness. I certainly don't judge anyone harshly who does enjoy this.
I personally struggled a lot to get through this book. I can appreciate when terrible things happen to book characters because it's usually a sign that the character isn't a Mary Sue. Like real people, they can suffer, and that suffering changes them. Unfortunately, despite a lot of abuse, that isn't what happens here. Kirkus Reviews accurately described Andra's off-screen rape and on-screen torture as superficial, and it truly is. We don't see a fully-fleshed woman who's gone through years of abuse recover from that and grow stronger-- we see a character told by a brawny male love interest to defend herself, and that's most of what she needed. This would have been a much more compelling read if we had seen Andra slowly work through her experiences and grow into her abilities bit by bit. Instead, we see her go from a defenseless young woman to the strongest magic user to a rider of with minimal reflection. Such a progression with no true character development doesn't do justice to topics of rape and abuse.
The problem is exacerbated by the quick pace. I deeply appreciate what appears to be a standalone fantasy novel (not everything has to be a trilogy!), but there is way too much happening here with too little substance. If Andra's emotional, physical, and magical development had been spread across multiple volumes, it would have felt more natural. It would have also left more space to flesh out the dragon, elven, and dwarven peoples, who are all otherwise pretty homogeneous.
I want to call out one particular event in the book that I found deeply troubling. After being kidnapped by the rebels and taken to their home base, Andra is approached by a male dragon rider. He assaults her in public, and the dragon rider remains in a position of prominence within the rebel camp after receiving only superficial injuries. I think it would have been really cool if this organization fighting for freedom would have severely punished this man for the kind of abuse regularly inflicted on oppressed people. It would have also been interesting if it had been used as an opportunity for Andra to realize that the rebellion is also imperfect, and perhaps she needed to take matters into her own hands and assume a leadership role. Instead, it's just an isolated and superficial event in a book full of such events.
For those looking for books with similar themes that do it better, I suggest Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey and The Hero and the Crown or The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley.
June 25, 2020
Anyone who knows me knows I'm an absolute sucker for dragons, so this rating should come as no surprise. However, I am very picky about my dragons, and I like them to be done WELL. I like them to have agency and character, I like them to be unique and exciting, I love when they're intelligent and powerful, and Bright Star delivers on all fronts.
This book pulled me out of a terrible reading slump. I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that ever since last December (which is when I picked it up at my local Barnes & Noble) it had been a the bottom of a TBR pile that I just could. Not. Get. Through. I was forcing myself to slog through two other books that killed my reading momentum, and it was difficult to get my mojo back. Call it covid problems or just me being my usual mercurial self. But I did eventually get through them and get to move on to Bright Star, and I'm so glad I did.
This was just what I needed to wash the taste of reading slump out of my mouth. Apart from the dragons (of course), I loved the world building and the dynamic between Andra and Kael. And dragon bonds? YES PLEASE, OBVI. Enough said. I loved that the dragons were treated with respect, given agency, and were given the attention they deserved.
All the stars for Tiri!! I recommend Bright Star for people who, like me, absolutely cannot get enough dragons in their lives. If you enjoy adventure, magic, and immersive fantasy worlds, then definitely add it to your TBR list (but don't be like me and take six months to get to it).
This book pulled me out of a terrible reading slump. I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that ever since last December (which is when I picked it up at my local Barnes & Noble) it had been a the bottom of a TBR pile that I just could. Not. Get. Through. I was forcing myself to slog through two other books that killed my reading momentum, and it was difficult to get my mojo back. Call it covid problems or just me being my usual mercurial self. But I did eventually get through them and get to move on to Bright Star, and I'm so glad I did.
This was just what I needed to wash the taste of reading slump out of my mouth. Apart from the dragons (of course), I loved the world building and the dynamic between Andra and Kael. And dragon bonds? YES PLEASE, OBVI. Enough said. I loved that the dragons were treated with respect, given agency, and were given the attention they deserved.
All the stars for Tiri!! I recommend Bright Star for people who, like me, absolutely cannot get enough dragons in their lives. If you enjoy adventure, magic, and immersive fantasy worlds, then definitely add it to your TBR list (but don't be like me and take six months to get to it).
June 13, 2019
* Thank you to Raincoast Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review *
ACTUAL: 4.5 stars
After an assassination at the manor where Andra is serves, she is thrust into a growing rebellion plot to overthrow the corrupt government who run the land of Paerolia. As she begins to find herself, and her voice, among these rebels, she also learns of a great power within her, that could be the key to a ensuring peace in Paerolia once again.
I absolutely loved this story - the bold fantasy realm, the brewing rebellion, and a girl with an unknown amount of power. Readers follow along as Andra learns to stand up for herself, and those she loves. It was enjoyable to see her character grow and mature throughout the novel. I liked the writing style - it was fast paced, and had a great mix of action, romance, and magic. The fantasy world had magic, expansive and lush lands, and dragons, and it was interesting to read about the bond between dragons and their Riders. The chemistry between Andra and Kael was also enjoyable, and I like that it was not rushed throughout the novel. Overall, I highly recommend this one to fantasy fans, cannot wait for its official release!
ACTUAL: 4.5 stars
After an assassination at the manor where Andra is serves, she is thrust into a growing rebellion plot to overthrow the corrupt government who run the land of Paerolia. As she begins to find herself, and her voice, among these rebels, she also learns of a great power within her, that could be the key to a ensuring peace in Paerolia once again.
I absolutely loved this story - the bold fantasy realm, the brewing rebellion, and a girl with an unknown amount of power. Readers follow along as Andra learns to stand up for herself, and those she loves. It was enjoyable to see her character grow and mature throughout the novel. I liked the writing style - it was fast paced, and had a great mix of action, romance, and magic. The fantasy world had magic, expansive and lush lands, and dragons, and it was interesting to read about the bond between dragons and their Riders. The chemistry between Andra and Kael was also enjoyable, and I like that it was not rushed throughout the novel. Overall, I highly recommend this one to fantasy fans, cannot wait for its official release!
December 8, 2019
I enjoyed the overall concept of this book, and the characters.
But I really really really wish the author had taken the time to write a unique backstory instead of just pulling from the history of Alagaesia as if this were an Eragon spinoff. I literally started a list because it was getting ridiculous.
I also feel like this could easily have been a duology, because it felt so rushed. There was definitely enough story to span two books - there was even a good cliffhanger moment we could have used to end book one. But alas it was all crammed into one book. Sad days.
My 3 might seem generous, but it’s def a low 3 and I’m giving that because I really did like our cast of characters.
But I really really really wish the author had taken the time to write a unique backstory instead of just pulling from the history of Alagaesia as if this were an Eragon spinoff. I literally started a list because it was getting ridiculous.
I also feel like this could easily have been a duology, because it felt so rushed. There was definitely enough story to span two books - there was even a good cliffhanger moment we could have used to end book one. But alas it was all crammed into one book. Sad days.
My 3 might seem generous, but it’s def a low 3 and I’m giving that because I really did like our cast of characters.
August 24, 2019
Unfortunately, the style of writing was really off-putting. A “traumatic” event happens to Andra, but I felt nothing over the story as neither Andra or any of the other characters had been fleshed out enough for me to care. The style of the story is childish, all tell, not show, and the concept is nothing new either.
May 6, 2019
I love the poetic story telling, the world building, the characters, and was so pleased to receive an ARC. This is an action-packed fantasy tale with a strong heroine lead. Add dragons and magic to that and it just keeps getting better!
May 20, 2019
I first read this book years ago on Inkitt and fell in love with the story. Its got my favorite things-dragons, magic, bit of romance, and strong characters. I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC last year and it is a prized possession, not gonna lie.
The reading itself is easy, everything flows really well together. The development of the characters isn't rushed but isn't too slow either. The details are great and its definetly a book that I think many will come to enjoy.
I cant wait to read more!
The reading itself is easy, everything flows really well together. The development of the characters isn't rushed but isn't too slow either. The details are great and its definetly a book that I think many will come to enjoy.
I cant wait to read more!
May 14, 2019
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor for the E-arc copy of this novel.
#BrightStar is a fast-paced, action packed novel from beginning to end. I enjoyed the main character, Andra, she is strong lead in this story. Her combined with all the world building details make this a must read for young adult fantasy lovers. It does have some romance, but it entwines into the story seamlessly. It doesn't feel force as an extra into the story.
#BrightStar is a fast-paced, action packed novel from beginning to end. I enjoyed the main character, Andra, she is strong lead in this story. Her combined with all the world building details make this a must read for young adult fantasy lovers. It does have some romance, but it entwines into the story seamlessly. It doesn't feel force as an extra into the story.
August 25, 2019
I feel bad. I wanted to like this so much. It has a lot of potential and for once I feel like an author gave us dragons like we want. Real personalities. Not pets. Real bonds. I just can't seem to enjoy it more and I cant tell you why. Its...fine. But I'm eager to move on and will probably forget it. And that makes me sad
April 25, 2019
Really enjoyable read.
May 22, 2019
Be prepared to root for a young heroine like no other underdog!
August 5, 2019
I received an ARC from TorTeen on twitter. (Also sorry if it’s not the best review, I really only review ARCs I get and this is only my second so I’m a bit inexperienced)
This book did remind me a lot of Eragon. I saw other comments of people who believed the same. If you love stories like that, you will love this one!!!! This was, in my opinion, and average book. It was by no means terrible, but nothing spectacular either. This is also what I thought when I read Eragon, so again, if you LOVED that book, you may love this one too.
The good part about this book is it is a quick read. While the world building sometimes left something to be desired, it was not confusing and I actually got acquainted with it very quickly. It was so easy and fun to dive into. The characters had distinct personalities and I could easily tell them apart. I LOVED the dragons!!!! I loved the dragon bonds as well!!!!
The bad part is the pacing was so off. I agree with Kirkus Reviews for the most part. The author tried to jam a bit too much in one book, which meant many important things were glossed over, completely ignored, or brought up too late or too early in the book. I could make a list of dozens of things I thought she neglected or brushed over too easily.
The pacing also made some decisions seem rash because they were made so quickly or recoveries from injuries seem meaningless because they happened so quickly. Relationships, particularly the two romantic ones, seemed unrealistic to me in how they played out.
However, many of the issues I saw in this book, I see with lots of debut authors. Therefore, I would not mind reading more of her future works to see how she improves. I do not regret reading it at all! It was a good book, just not one I would be dying to reread over and over. I also would really recommend it for people just getting into YA.
This book did remind me a lot of Eragon. I saw other comments of people who believed the same. If you love stories like that, you will love this one!!!! This was, in my opinion, and average book. It was by no means terrible, but nothing spectacular either. This is also what I thought when I read Eragon, so again, if you LOVED that book, you may love this one too.
The good part about this book is it is a quick read. While the world building sometimes left something to be desired, it was not confusing and I actually got acquainted with it very quickly. It was so easy and fun to dive into. The characters had distinct personalities and I could easily tell them apart. I LOVED the dragons!!!! I loved the dragon bonds as well!!!!
The bad part is the pacing was so off. I agree with Kirkus Reviews for the most part. The author tried to jam a bit too much in one book, which meant many important things were glossed over, completely ignored, or brought up too late or too early in the book. I could make a list of dozens of things I thought she neglected or brushed over too easily.
The pacing also made some decisions seem rash because they were made so quickly or recoveries from injuries seem meaningless because they happened so quickly. Relationships, particularly the two romantic ones, seemed unrealistic to me in how they played out.
However, many of the issues I saw in this book, I see with lots of debut authors. Therefore, I would not mind reading more of her future works to see how she improves. I do not regret reading it at all! It was a good book, just not one I would be dying to reread over and over. I also would really recommend it for people just getting into YA.
January 22, 2020
What a fun read! Andra's ascension from slave to hero kept me thoroughly engaged. Erin Swan created an easily envisioned world that took me out of the mundane and into a journey filled with magic, dragons, and romance. The magic system was believable and epic, and I loved Andra's struggle to discover her potential. Swan's cast of supporting characters were colorful; from handsome protector to creepy antagonists, well done, all of you! Bright Star is time well spent for any fan of magic and dragons!
August 7, 2020
I really liked that it was a standalone, but at the same time, that meant that the characters and plot weren’t as flushed out as they could have been.
April 8, 2020
"But Andra knew that she wouldn't. She had spoken a single word, and that word became a death sentence. She wouldn't allow it to happen again."
At the start of this story, Andra is a servant in the Chief Judge's manor. She serves with her best friend, Talias, and the two are always managing to get into mischief. The pair sneaks into the introduction between potential dragon riders and the dragons. Curious, Andra eventually also sneaks into the pairing ritual, where she interrupts the rare violet dragon as she's about to make her choice. As a result, five years are added to Andra's contract and she's sent to Judge Castigo's manor, where her mother and her tormentor, Ledo, live.
Enraged with Ledo's antic, Andra insults him and Judge Castigo deems that his son can pick a fitting punishment. Extremely cruel, Ledo decides to execute Andra's mother. Horrified, Andra decides to remain silent and protect those around her. For an entire year, she suffers abuse at Ledo's hands until she is rescued by a group of rebels, who infiltrate the Judge's manor. Among the rebels is Kael, the leader, who protects Andra and decides not to kill her, as well as, Alik and Colmen, who are also rebels. From here, Andra becomes involved in the rebel cause and learns she possesses an extremely formidable power.
Star Bright started off very promising. Immediately, I have liked the characters and enjoyed the antics of the pair. I was settling into the environment and the relationship, but then suddenly this was ripped away. Andra was sent away, then her mother died, then a year passed where she was abused, immediately Kael rescues her, and then they're off on various rebel plots. The plot moved at lighting sped and overall felt rushed. There was barely any explanation for the main plot and Andra also developed her powers with little to no training. This also affected the romance, where one moment Andra and Kael were skirting around each other and the next, they were declaring their undying love. It was a story that would have benefitted from being a trilogy and allowed Andra to grow into her impressive powers.
My second problem was the lack of world-building. The book starts off with a lot of interesting concepts, including this idea of dragons being paired with a rider and the system of the Judges, but there's really no explanation. About halfway through the book, I stopped to wonder why the rebels were actually revolting. Sure, Judge Castigo and his son were horrible and illustrated how the political system could be corrupt, but was that an overall problem or just one judge? This still remains unclear to me and I felt like it more of a plot convenience than actually spending time creating the world and outlining what the issues were.
At the start of this story, Andra is a servant in the Chief Judge's manor. She serves with her best friend, Talias, and the two are always managing to get into mischief. The pair sneaks into the introduction between potential dragon riders and the dragons. Curious, Andra eventually also sneaks into the pairing ritual, where she interrupts the rare violet dragon as she's about to make her choice. As a result, five years are added to Andra's contract and she's sent to Judge Castigo's manor, where her mother and her tormentor, Ledo, live.
Enraged with Ledo's antic, Andra insults him and Judge Castigo deems that his son can pick a fitting punishment. Extremely cruel, Ledo decides to execute Andra's mother. Horrified, Andra decides to remain silent and protect those around her. For an entire year, she suffers abuse at Ledo's hands until she is rescued by a group of rebels, who infiltrate the Judge's manor. Among the rebels is Kael, the leader, who protects Andra and decides not to kill her, as well as, Alik and Colmen, who are also rebels. From here, Andra becomes involved in the rebel cause and learns she possesses an extremely formidable power.
Star Bright started off very promising. Immediately, I have liked the characters and enjoyed the antics of the pair. I was settling into the environment and the relationship, but then suddenly this was ripped away. Andra was sent away, then her mother died, then a year passed where she was abused, immediately Kael rescues her, and then they're off on various rebel plots. The plot moved at lighting sped and overall felt rushed. There was barely any explanation for the main plot and Andra also developed her powers with little to no training. This also affected the romance, where one moment Andra and Kael were skirting around each other and the next, they were declaring their undying love. It was a story that would have benefitted from being a trilogy and allowed Andra to grow into her impressive powers.
My second problem was the lack of world-building. The book starts off with a lot of interesting concepts, including this idea of dragons being paired with a rider and the system of the Judges, but there's really no explanation. About halfway through the book, I stopped to wonder why the rebels were actually revolting. Sure, Judge Castigo and his son were horrible and illustrated how the political system could be corrupt, but was that an overall problem or just one judge? This still remains unclear to me and I felt like it more of a plot convenience than actually spending time creating the world and outlining what the issues were.
July 31, 2020
Dragons, magic, more dragons, romance, elven, dwarves, handsome Rider. Need I say more?
With that promise in mind, the book was pretty solid. I love the dragon and magic concept. Sadly boys are the only ones who can be Dragon Riders and so when Andra, a slave with a contract she has to serve, spies on the choosing ceremony between a dragon and a possible Rider she interrupts the process by getting caught and disrupting someone else's bond to a dragon. The dragon ends up bonding with her and in this world it is forbidden for a woman to bond with a dragon.
Andra is then sent away to a horrible place and where she is reunited with her mother. Andra gets defensive against an enemy and causes the death of her mother and goes into year of silence. Andra gets captured by the rebellion and from there she learns to speak without consequence, is taught to defend herself, and falls for the guy Kael who is helping her grow.
Overall the book is definitely a solid 3 stars.
The connection between Andra and Kael is cute but comes across as too much too soon. I wish it was developed more as a friendship and then love interest as more time passes.
The villains were your typical YA villains and fell flat and boring. The fight scenes were good, the communication between Rider and the dragons was cool and the magic is a nice touch. I do think Andra was too much of the "chosen one" trope and it felt unnecessary.
3 stars.
With that promise in mind, the book was pretty solid. I love the dragon and magic concept. Sadly boys are the only ones who can be Dragon Riders and so when Andra, a slave with a contract she has to serve, spies on the choosing ceremony between a dragon and a possible Rider she interrupts the process by getting caught and disrupting someone else's bond to a dragon. The dragon ends up bonding with her and in this world it is forbidden for a woman to bond with a dragon.
Andra is then sent away to a horrible place and where she is reunited with her mother. Andra gets defensive against an enemy and causes the death of her mother and goes into year of silence. Andra gets captured by the rebellion and from there she learns to speak without consequence, is taught to defend herself, and falls for the guy Kael who is helping her grow.
Overall the book is definitely a solid 3 stars.
The connection between Andra and Kael is cute but comes across as too much too soon. I wish it was developed more as a friendship and then love interest as more time passes.
The villains were your typical YA villains and fell flat and boring. The fight scenes were good, the communication between Rider and the dragons was cool and the magic is a nice touch. I do think Andra was too much of the "chosen one" trope and it felt unnecessary.
3 stars.
September 12, 2019
The book was overall extremely well written. It was difficult to tell that this was a debut novel...at first. Upon further inspection of the contents, it's easy to tell that the author got into a habit of having the characters tell each other to go to sleep when she had nothing else for them to say. If I had written out a tally of every time I saw the phrase "Get some rest" I would have gotten carpal tunnel by the time I was done. Many reviews are pointing out that the ideas, plots, and characters are unoriginal but I feel the problem lies in the fact that everything is so two dimensional that it's easily compared to other works.
The disturbing underlying themes of Stockholm syndrome between the main character and her love interest made it difficult to see this book in a romantic light. While Andra is saved from an abusive past by Kael it's easy to tell that whoever had come to save her would have likely sparked Andra's interest.
Andra is also a classic case of overpowered protagonist as the source her tremendous power are loosely explained in the novel but never covered in depth
The novel was actually decent in general with witty dialogue and a riveting heroic journey but with so many predictable outcomes and flat tension scenes I am unable to give this book a full 5 stars.
The disturbing underlying themes of Stockholm syndrome between the main character and her love interest made it difficult to see this book in a romantic light. While Andra is saved from an abusive past by Kael it's easy to tell that whoever had come to save her would have likely sparked Andra's interest.
Andra is also a classic case of overpowered protagonist as the source her tremendous power are loosely explained in the novel but never covered in depth
The novel was actually decent in general with witty dialogue and a riveting heroic journey but with so many predictable outcomes and flat tension scenes I am unable to give this book a full 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2021
At the bottom of my review, I’ve inserted tropes that I saw while reading. They contain slight spoilers, as tropes always do, so if you don’t want to know that much then don’t scroll to the bottom.
Please check TW’s before reading.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I read it in two days because I just couldn’t put it down. If I hadn’t had to go to work it would have been done the day I started it.
The only thing I didn’t like was most of the female names were pretty much all very similar in that they almost all ended with an “a.” Not sure if that bothers anyone else but it’s just a personal preference. That has nothing to do with the quality of the book, though.
Tropes below—DO NOT CONTINUE READING IF YOU DOMT WANT TO KNOW THEM, THEY CONTAIN SLUGHT SPOILERS.
TROPES:
- enemies to lovers—“you got in the way of my mission, but you’ve seen my face so now you’re coming with me”
- “Who did this to you”
- tending to wounds
- one on one training lessons
- riding on the same horse
- one bed trope/one dragon trope (yes, you read that correctly)
- intense, awestruck stare down when she walks out and he sees how beautiful she is—if you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the Princess Diary’s you heathen.
- one on one swimming lessons
- found family
- self sacrifice for the live interests safety (gave me Aelin from Throne of Glass vibes)
Please check TW’s before reading.
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I read it in two days because I just couldn’t put it down. If I hadn’t had to go to work it would have been done the day I started it.
The only thing I didn’t like was most of the female names were pretty much all very similar in that they almost all ended with an “a.” Not sure if that bothers anyone else but it’s just a personal preference. That has nothing to do with the quality of the book, though.
Tropes below—DO NOT CONTINUE READING IF YOU DOMT WANT TO KNOW THEM, THEY CONTAIN SLUGHT SPOILERS.
TROPES:
- enemies to lovers—“you got in the way of my mission, but you’ve seen my face so now you’re coming with me”
- “Who did this to you”
- tending to wounds
- one on one training lessons
- riding on the same horse
- one bed trope/one dragon trope (yes, you read that correctly)
- intense, awestruck stare down when she walks out and he sees how beautiful she is—if you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the Princess Diary’s you heathen.
- one on one swimming lessons
- found family
- self sacrifice for the live interests safety (gave me Aelin from Throne of Glass vibes)
May 12, 2024
A very good book. Clear writing, good plot. I liked the slow-burn romance between the two main characters.
Interesting politics and conflict.
Dragons always make things more interesting. I feel like this is what Fourth Wing should be.
I like that I found this book at the dollar store but it was a gem. Good character development overall as well.
Interesting politics and conflict.
Dragons always make things more interesting. I feel like this is what Fourth Wing should be.
I like that I found this book at the dollar store but it was a gem. Good character development overall as well.
January 12, 2020
“You are a fascinating girl. Your mind burns as brightly as the morning star.” Eithne. Dragons, magic, fighting for truth and justice, and romance. A marvelous exciting adventure for sure.
June 25, 2020
Only two problems
I do not agree with one part of the early storyline, nor the death of a brother in heart. Beyond those two things, I loved this story.
I do not agree with one part of the early storyline, nor the death of a brother in heart. Beyond those two things, I loved this story.
August 8, 2019
I won an ARC of this book on Twitter and even thou I wasn't really interested in the story, I decided to give it a try. This is the first dragon's book I've ever read, so that plays a big role in my review, I have nothing to compare it to (regarding dragons).
The story starts with Andra and her friend and crush, Talias, sneaking into an event where they see a dragon meeting with children who may become dragon riders. Andra and Talias are servants, but Andra is basically a slave bound to pay 10 years of labor before beign free. When the pairing of the dragons and riders comes, Andra sneaks out to see the event, but when a rare violet dragon is about to chose a rider, it notices her, interrupting the pairing and she is sent to a place called Castigo's manor and is added 5 years to her sentence as punishment for interrupting, because the rare dragon got scared and didn't pair with a rider. The manor is home to judge Castigo (a powerful goverment figure) and is the place Andra lived before her mother sent her away to protect her from the judge's son. The day Andra arrives at the manor her mother is killed because Andra talked back to the judge's son, Ledo, this makes her submisive and she decides to stop talking, even if she suffers a lot on his hands. One day a band of rebels get into the manor and take her with them because one of them didn't want to kill her, but they don't want to let her go so she won't speak of them to the authorities. Andra at first tries to escape but then understands that their cause is a good one and joins them.
The little synopsis I just wrote is like the first 50 pages of the book, so the beginning is really fast paced and a lot happens, I think that from page 1 to page 50 a whole year goes by. The beginning was giving me average fantasy book vibes and I was having a different idea of where the story was going, but I was kinda wrong.
Is this book an average YA fantasy book? probably yes. It has elements I've seen before, like the main character having a super incredible rare power, a rebellion against a bad government, and obviously, there had to be a romance, thankfully there's no love triangle.
But still with all those repetitive elements, I enjoyed this book more than others with similar premises that I've read lately.
I think this is because I really liked the characters and their relationships with each other. I really felt sympathy for Andra, her life was horrible, and I liked her progress through the book. She is snarky and rebelious at first, and then becomes submisive and mute as consequence of her trauma. It takes a lot for her to finally be able to speak again, she becomes more confident in herself and learns to trust others along the way, and she actually changes her original goal.
There is a romance in the story but it's not insta love, they get to spend time together and to know each other before falling in love, and I liked that, and I liked the romantic tension between the characters.
About side characters we have Kael, the rebel leader, a kinda grumpy guy with a good heart; Egan, who is a dick, but kinda improves; Alik, a very serious dude whose name and existence I kept forgetting; and Colmen, a nice dude who I loved so much. There are also the dragons and other characters that were there, but meh.
I liked the lore of the story, the relationship between dragons and riders, and even if it was kinda info dumping, the history of the land was interesting.
The book really got my attention since page 1, but around the middle I was starting to get a bit bored, mainly because it's the training part, where Andra discovers she has magic and tries to learn how to use it and how to fight too, in this part also the romance starts, but not much was happening with the plot, if I hadn't like the romantic tension and Colmen, I would've be bored.
One of my complaints is basically that Andra has this super rare power which made her very strong and good at everything, even if she didn't know how to use it, it made her untouchable. I felt like Andra was never really in danger of dying. She was basically a walking miracle.
Also I felt that the final resolution was too simple and everyone accepted it just fine. It was an interesting final battle, but I would've liked a real confrontation between Kael and the villain, after all, Kael was the leader, but it was all the time Andra and the villain.
I really enjoyed the book, it made me feel things. So if you are into fantasy with dragons, give it a try, but as I said at the beginning, this is my first dragons book, if you've read others it may be kinda repetitive, I don't know.
Oh, and one last thing, I really dislike the cover. There are mentions of blue/purple fire as Andra's powers, why wasn't that incorportated in the cover? It could've been the color palette, and an illustrated cover would've been better than a photo manipulation one, I can't even see her face! and the dragon is badly photoshopped at the top, that doesn't really tell much about the role of dragons in the story, it seems like a random fantasy element.
The story starts with Andra and her friend and crush, Talias, sneaking into an event where they see a dragon meeting with children who may become dragon riders. Andra and Talias are servants, but Andra is basically a slave bound to pay 10 years of labor before beign free. When the pairing of the dragons and riders comes, Andra sneaks out to see the event, but when a rare violet dragon is about to chose a rider, it notices her, interrupting the pairing and she is sent to a place called Castigo's manor and is added 5 years to her sentence as punishment for interrupting, because the rare dragon got scared and didn't pair with a rider. The manor is home to judge Castigo (a powerful goverment figure) and is the place Andra lived before her mother sent her away to protect her from the judge's son. The day Andra arrives at the manor her mother is killed because Andra talked back to the judge's son, Ledo, this makes her submisive and she decides to stop talking, even if she suffers a lot on his hands. One day a band of rebels get into the manor and take her with them because one of them didn't want to kill her, but they don't want to let her go so she won't speak of them to the authorities. Andra at first tries to escape but then understands that their cause is a good one and joins them.
The little synopsis I just wrote is like the first 50 pages of the book, so the beginning is really fast paced and a lot happens, I think that from page 1 to page 50 a whole year goes by. The beginning was giving me average fantasy book vibes and I was having a different idea of where the story was going, but I was kinda wrong.
Is this book an average YA fantasy book? probably yes. It has elements I've seen before, like the main character having a super incredible rare power, a rebellion against a bad government, and obviously, there had to be a romance, thankfully there's no love triangle.
But still with all those repetitive elements, I enjoyed this book more than others with similar premises that I've read lately.
I think this is because I really liked the characters and their relationships with each other. I really felt sympathy for Andra, her life was horrible, and I liked her progress through the book. She is snarky and rebelious at first, and then becomes submisive and mute as consequence of her trauma. It takes a lot for her to finally be able to speak again, she becomes more confident in herself and learns to trust others along the way, and she actually changes her original goal.
There is a romance in the story but it's not insta love, they get to spend time together and to know each other before falling in love, and I liked that, and I liked the romantic tension between the characters.
About side characters we have Kael, the rebel leader, a kinda grumpy guy with a good heart; Egan, who is a dick, but kinda improves; Alik, a very serious dude whose name and existence I kept forgetting; and Colmen, a nice dude who I loved so much. There are also the dragons and other characters that were there, but meh.
I liked the lore of the story, the relationship between dragons and riders, and even if it was kinda info dumping, the history of the land was interesting.
The book really got my attention since page 1, but around the middle I was starting to get a bit bored, mainly because it's the training part, where Andra discovers she has magic and tries to learn how to use it and how to fight too, in this part also the romance starts, but not much was happening with the plot, if I hadn't like the romantic tension and Colmen, I would've be bored.
One of my complaints is basically that Andra has this super rare power which made her very strong and good at everything, even if she didn't know how to use it, it made her untouchable. I felt like Andra was never really in danger of dying. She was basically a walking miracle.
Also I felt that the final resolution was too simple and everyone accepted it just fine. It was an interesting final battle, but I would've liked a real confrontation between Kael and the villain, after all, Kael was the leader, but it was all the time Andra and the villain.
I really enjoyed the book, it made me feel things. So if you are into fantasy with dragons, give it a try, but as I said at the beginning, this is my first dragons book, if you've read others it may be kinda repetitive, I don't know.
Oh, and one last thing, I really dislike the cover. There are mentions of blue/purple fire as Andra's powers, why wasn't that incorportated in the cover? It could've been the color palette, and an illustrated cover would've been better than a photo manipulation one, I can't even see her face! and the dragon is badly photoshopped at the top, that doesn't really tell much about the role of dragons in the story, it seems like a random fantasy element.
March 10, 2020
A nostalgic blend of Eragon and early Robin McKinley.
Caught observing a dragon Rider ceremony, Andra is sent from her position at the Hall back to the Chief Judge’s estate. Where Andra was born, where her father was killed, and where further unspeakable horrors are thrust upon her just days after her return. Alone and unwilling to speak, Andra’s suffering routine is interrupted when she witnesses a group of rebels assassinate the Chief Judge’s son. The rebels make their escape, taking Andra with them, starting this servant girl on a path to find her voice, new friends, and reasons that make life worth living.
Andra’s world seems to draw heavy inspiration Paolini’s Alegaesia. Dragon Riders were established in ages past to bring peace between man, dragon, and elf. Rider-dragon pairs have enhanced magic, share a telepathic connection, and are revered by the general populace. And of course, each Rider has a color-coordinated sword. Elves live in the forest, dwarves mind their own business, and humans run around making a mess of things.
And hey, I wasn’t mad about it. It brought me back to the old days of searching internet forums for fan theories on the rock of Kuthian or the Vault of Souls while waiting YEARS for the next book to be released (I’m looking at you, Brisingr).
What made Bright Star spark, other than feel-good reminiscence, was the almost classic tone. It’s part distance, part manner of speech, and a whole lot of things I can’t really describe but made me think of Robin McKinley’s The Blue Sword. This went well with the rousing rebel speeches, moments of sweet romance, and telling quite a bit of story in less than 400 pages.
Sadly, as the action picked up, my enthusiasm declined, and I struggled with the final chapters. Andra remained oblivious or indifferent to her over-powered abilities, I felt cheated out of a training montage, and I couldn’t get past a sense of emotional discontinuity. Several moments stuck out as being huge and powerful, because of what they meant to Andra or other characters, but I spent the first half being baffled because there was no build up. It’s a testament to the writing that I wanted to empathize so badly without being able to understand why the character was displaying such acute emotion.
Oh well. There were dragons to love, one-liners to hate , and enough nostalgia to see me through to the end.
Caught observing a dragon Rider ceremony, Andra is sent from her position at the Hall back to the Chief Judge’s estate. Where Andra was born, where her father was killed, and where further unspeakable horrors are thrust upon her just days after her return. Alone and unwilling to speak, Andra’s suffering routine is interrupted when she witnesses a group of rebels assassinate the Chief Judge’s son. The rebels make their escape, taking Andra with them, starting this servant girl on a path to find her voice, new friends, and reasons that make life worth living.
Andra’s world seems to draw heavy inspiration Paolini’s Alegaesia. Dragon Riders were established in ages past to bring peace between man, dragon, and elf. Rider-dragon pairs have enhanced magic, share a telepathic connection, and are revered by the general populace. And of course, each Rider has a color-coordinated sword. Elves live in the forest, dwarves mind their own business, and humans run around making a mess of things.
And hey, I wasn’t mad about it. It brought me back to the old days of searching internet forums for fan theories on the rock of Kuthian or the Vault of Souls while waiting YEARS for the next book to be released (I’m looking at you, Brisingr).
What made Bright Star spark, other than feel-good reminiscence, was the almost classic tone. It’s part distance, part manner of speech, and a whole lot of things I can’t really describe but made me think of Robin McKinley’s The Blue Sword. This went well with the rousing rebel speeches, moments of sweet romance, and telling quite a bit of story in less than 400 pages.
Sadly, as the action picked up, my enthusiasm declined, and I struggled with the final chapters. Andra remained oblivious or indifferent to her over-powered abilities, I felt cheated out of a training montage, and I couldn’t get past a sense of emotional discontinuity. Several moments stuck out as being huge and powerful, because of what they meant to Andra or other characters, but I spent the first half being baffled because there was no build up. It’s a testament to the writing that I wanted to empathize so badly without being able to understand why the character was displaying such acute emotion.
Oh well. There were dragons to love, one-liners to hate , and enough nostalgia to see me through to the end.
November 23, 2020
DNF at 66%.
I will start with the good in this. The premise is interesting and captivating. The dragons have real personalities and I liked that they were integral to the story rather than used as bait for drawing readers. Uh... that might be it.
Starting off, I want to stress that this is MY opinion and I try not to let any other reviews influence it. I will say however, I do agree with the things the 1 to 2 star reviews are saying. Okay let's dive in.
If you're gong to have abuse in your story, I would rather see it, than have it implied. The implications were a bit too vague and glossed over way too much to make an impact in the way I think the author was hoping. It almost felt like there's was no point in including it if it wasn't a big deal. Her "overcoming" the abuse wasn't even shown as she went from a meek slave girl to the most powerful person ever in .02 seconds. Everything seemed to come easy to her and it negated her previous trauma.
I had a big issue with one scene in particular: While in the rebel camp, someone begins to sexually harass her and basically they got away with it. What the fuck? That makes the whole book feel contradictory up until now. She tries to overcome her trauma only to get harassed again with NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THE HARASSER. Whaaat???? I thought it would have been an excellent time to show that harassers have consequences, but nope?
I finished the book during the fight with the Kingsmen when Andra releases a powerful explosion of magic. Just before that, she kills a bunch of soldiers no problem. I found that entirely unbelievable. And then to finish it off with her being super overpowered, I just lost all interest entirely.
I would read works from this author again, as I did find her writing to be engaging, but this one was not for me.
I will start with the good in this. The premise is interesting and captivating. The dragons have real personalities and I liked that they were integral to the story rather than used as bait for drawing readers. Uh... that might be it.
Starting off, I want to stress that this is MY opinion and I try not to let any other reviews influence it. I will say however, I do agree with the things the 1 to 2 star reviews are saying. Okay let's dive in.
If you're gong to have abuse in your story, I would rather see it, than have it implied. The implications were a bit too vague and glossed over way too much to make an impact in the way I think the author was hoping. It almost felt like there's was no point in including it if it wasn't a big deal. Her "overcoming" the abuse wasn't even shown as she went from a meek slave girl to the most powerful person ever in .02 seconds. Everything seemed to come easy to her and it negated her previous trauma.
I had a big issue with one scene in particular: While in the rebel camp, someone begins to sexually harass her and basically they got away with it. What the fuck? That makes the whole book feel contradictory up until now. She tries to overcome her trauma only to get harassed again with NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THE HARASSER. Whaaat???? I thought it would have been an excellent time to show that harassers have consequences, but nope?
I finished the book during the fight with the Kingsmen when Andra releases a powerful explosion of magic. Just before that, she kills a bunch of soldiers no problem. I found that entirely unbelievable. And then to finish it off with her being super overpowered, I just lost all interest entirely.
I would read works from this author again, as I did find her writing to be engaging, but this one was not for me.
July 13, 2022
This book was sensational! I loved so much about this book!
4.5/5 Stars
Things I loved-
-This book was full of magic! But they explained it very well and it made sense because the main character was learning all about magic at the same time (Due to her circumstances-it really made sense) and the author didn't try to explain everything at once.
-I love clean fantasy! This book had kissing and desire in it, but that's about it. It had a few traumatic abuse scenes, but overall it was not spicy! I appreciate that so much! The author could have shown a little more desire on the Main Character's side (The girl), but because of her past maybe that was too difficult.
-I appreciated how the Main Character dealt with loss. That was done really well, and I liked how she definitely "showed us" how the loss affected the MC. (Instead of "telling us")
Things I didn't like-
- I am a super visual reader, and because of this I imagine every single scene. Like with most books, I was confused in a number of scenes. I couldn't tell if I was envisioning something the wrong way, or if the author didn't get the events right. It made me stop and reread until I figured it out. I hate that. How hard is it to put "He stood" Before your next sentence? Because how does a person hug someone else when one is standing and the other sitting? I really get disappointed by this problem.
- I felt like the author threw the Main Character back into a normal pattern after her rescue. I wish the author would have let her have problems (speaking, sleeping, trusting) after she was rescued.
4.5/5 Stars
Things I loved-
-This book was full of magic! But they explained it very well and it made sense because the main character was learning all about magic at the same time (Due to her circumstances-it really made sense) and the author didn't try to explain everything at once.
-I love clean fantasy! This book had kissing and desire in it, but that's about it. It had a few traumatic abuse scenes, but overall it was not spicy! I appreciate that so much! The author could have shown a little more desire on the Main Character's side (The girl), but because of her past maybe that was too difficult.
-I appreciated how the Main Character dealt with loss. That was done really well, and I liked how she definitely "showed us" how the loss affected the MC. (Instead of "telling us")
Things I didn't like-
- I am a super visual reader, and because of this I imagine every single scene. Like with most books, I was confused in a number of scenes. I couldn't tell if I was envisioning something the wrong way, or if the author didn't get the events right. It made me stop and reread until I figured it out. I hate that. How hard is it to put "He stood" Before your next sentence? Because how does a person hug someone else when one is standing and the other sitting? I really get disappointed by this problem.
- I felt like the author threw the Main Character back into a normal pattern after her rescue. I wish the author would have let her have problems (speaking, sleeping, trusting) after she was rescued.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews