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Starswept #3
Seize the Stars
When darkness falls, the stars ignite.
Against all odds, Iris has made her voice heard. Inspired by her call for freedom, sympathizers to her cause have occupied a prestigious theater in the heart of Adrye’s capital. Their demands are simple: Abolish the cruel systems that use brainwashing to force obedience upon both Earthling performers and aberrant Adryil. Recognized as the face of the movement and caught in the thick of the demonstration, Iris finds all eyes turning to her.
The authorities are determined to stamp out the nascent uprising. When new and unexpected allies arrive in time to keep the patrolmen at bay, Iris welcomes them. However, their addition sparks further unrest. Though she pleads for peace, others believe the only viable path is an all-out battle.
Divided and under siege, the movement teeters on the brink of chaos. As the situation around her rapidly spirals out of control, Iris struggles to find a way forward—before the hope for freedom falls apart.
Against all odds, Iris has made her voice heard. Inspired by her call for freedom, sympathizers to her cause have occupied a prestigious theater in the heart of Adrye’s capital. Their demands are simple: Abolish the cruel systems that use brainwashing to force obedience upon both Earthling performers and aberrant Adryil. Recognized as the face of the movement and caught in the thick of the demonstration, Iris finds all eyes turning to her.
The authorities are determined to stamp out the nascent uprising. When new and unexpected allies arrive in time to keep the patrolmen at bay, Iris welcomes them. However, their addition sparks further unrest. Though she pleads for peace, others believe the only viable path is an all-out battle.
Divided and under siege, the movement teeters on the brink of chaos. As the situation around her rapidly spirals out of control, Iris struggles to find a way forward—before the hope for freedom falls apart.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2020
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Mary Fan
59 books370 followersMary Fan is a YA and SFF author hailing from Jersey City. Her books include STRONGER THAN A BRONZE DRAGON (YA steampunk fantasy, Page Street Publishing), the STARSWEPT series (YA sci-fi, Snowy Wings Publishing), the FATED STARS series (YA fantasy, Snowy Wings Publishing), the FLYNN NIGHTSIDER series (YA dark fantasy, Crazy 8 Press), and the JANE COLT trilogy (space adventure, Red Adept Publishing).
She is also the co-editor of the BRAVE NEW GIRLS sci-fi anthologies about tech-savvy teen heroines (proceeds from sales are donated to the Society of Women Engineers scholarship fund). Her short works have been featured in numerous anthologies, including THRILLING ADVENTURE YARNS (Crazy 8 Press), LOVE, MURDER & MAYHEM (Crazy 8 Press), MAGIC AT MIDNIGHT (Snowy Wings Publishing), and MINE! (ComicMix). In addition, she is the editor of Crazy 8 Press's upcoming anthology, BAD ASS MOMS (due out July 2020).
When she's not writing, she can usually be found splitting bags at the kickboxing gym, tangled up in aerial silks, or singing too loudly at choir rehearsal. Find her online at www.MaryFan.com.
She is also the co-editor of the BRAVE NEW GIRLS sci-fi anthologies about tech-savvy teen heroines (proceeds from sales are donated to the Society of Women Engineers scholarship fund). Her short works have been featured in numerous anthologies, including THRILLING ADVENTURE YARNS (Crazy 8 Press), LOVE, MURDER & MAYHEM (Crazy 8 Press), MAGIC AT MIDNIGHT (Snowy Wings Publishing), and MINE! (ComicMix). In addition, she is the editor of Crazy 8 Press's upcoming anthology, BAD ASS MOMS (due out July 2020).
When she's not writing, she can usually be found splitting bags at the kickboxing gym, tangled up in aerial silks, or singing too loudly at choir rehearsal. Find her online at www.MaryFan.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 4, 2021
With plenty of thrilling conflict and heartfelt emotion, Seize the Stars brings Mary Fan's mesmerizing YA science fiction trilogy to a stunning conclusion that will linger in my mind for a very long time.
I waited a long time to read this one, then somehow got caught up with way to many other things and let more than a year lapse before finally getting to this. I actually ended up listening to most of this on audio in between sporadic kindle reading, and the audio narration is fantastic. How can it not be when it's narrated by the incredibly talented Emily Woo Zeller?
Seize the Stars opens with Iris and her friends in the immediate aftermath of what happened in Wayward Stars. There's a lot going on and a bunch of players involved, each with their own motivations and desires which, while sometimes aligned in theory, often conflict in actual practice. Iris' role becomes even more significant as she is the face of this revolution, and each side wants her to go along with what they're doing, forcing her to really evaluate what she wants and what she's willing to do to get it. The author balances her cast well, and even though there are a lot of people to keep track of, some new and some old, it was easy to follow along and get a sense for the many nuances of various questions and situations that arise in the book.
Iris and Damiul are as precious as ever. The romance does take a bit of a back seat with so much going on in the world around them, but that only made the stolen quiet moments between them all the more beautiful. I especially enjoyed Damiul's character arc here. He's gone through a lot and continues to go through some difficult experiences in this book, and the author does a great job of showing how he navigates those situations (especially wihth his family). I also appreciated the family subplot woven in for Iris in this book, and those scenes were often the ones that had the strongest emotional impact for me.
Speaking of emotional impact, I can't end this review without talking about the book's ending. No spoilers here, but WOW! What an ending! I love a good bittersweet ending, and seeing how everything played out for the characters after these three books was just so, so satisfying. I was in tears--sad tears, happy tears, all the tears. I love these characters so much and could not have thought of a better, more appropriate ending for them. I'm a little sad the series is over, but it was such a great ride and a series I can definitely see myself rereading someday.
I waited a long time to read this one, then somehow got caught up with way to many other things and let more than a year lapse before finally getting to this. I actually ended up listening to most of this on audio in between sporadic kindle reading, and the audio narration is fantastic. How can it not be when it's narrated by the incredibly talented Emily Woo Zeller?
Seize the Stars opens with Iris and her friends in the immediate aftermath of what happened in Wayward Stars. There's a lot going on and a bunch of players involved, each with their own motivations and desires which, while sometimes aligned in theory, often conflict in actual practice. Iris' role becomes even more significant as she is the face of this revolution, and each side wants her to go along with what they're doing, forcing her to really evaluate what she wants and what she's willing to do to get it. The author balances her cast well, and even though there are a lot of people to keep track of, some new and some old, it was easy to follow along and get a sense for the many nuances of various questions and situations that arise in the book.
Iris and Damiul are as precious as ever. The romance does take a bit of a back seat with so much going on in the world around them, but that only made the stolen quiet moments between them all the more beautiful. I especially enjoyed Damiul's character arc here. He's gone through a lot and continues to go through some difficult experiences in this book, and the author does a great job of showing how he navigates those situations (especially wihth his family). I also appreciated the family subplot woven in for Iris in this book, and those scenes were often the ones that had the strongest emotional impact for me.
Speaking of emotional impact, I can't end this review without talking about the book's ending. No spoilers here, but WOW! What an ending! I love a good bittersweet ending, and seeing how everything played out for the characters after these three books was just so, so satisfying. I was in tears--sad tears, happy tears, all the tears. I love these characters so much and could not have thought of a better, more appropriate ending for them. I'm a little sad the series is over, but it was such a great ride and a series I can definitely see myself rereading someday.
January 8, 2021
The long awaited conclusion to an addictive series and now it’s over. For the most part I enjoyed the journey this and previous books took me on, although nothing could compare to the first book. I found from the beginning the futuristic world and plot so original and so amazing. Add the star crossed romance to it and I was completely hooked. The second and now this third book didn’t quite reach the same height as the first one but still was amazing and out of this world.
I feel like Seize the Stars was much more focused on the conflict at hand than the characters and romance, which is a bit of a downside. I mean, I liked the complexity of every different side to the conflict and the pressure it put on Iris as well as the trauma and state of mind it put Dámiul through. However, the romance, although still great, didn’t get as much spotlight as said conflict did, which is a shame. Putting that aside though, the plot and twist the story took me through was worth it to say the least and built the conflict perfectly. Sure, it was rushed some places and a bit slow in others when they were in hiding but at the end of the day there was never really a dull “I want to put the book down” moment.
In the main conflict there were other surprises with characters family, such as Iris’s family, Atikéa’s relationship with her mom and her role in the whole “war”. Best and worst of all though was Dámiul’s family. You know how impactful a story is when you can’t stop those tears from falling. It was heartbreaking and put a whole new tone to the plot and Dámiul character that made it all the more better in the most tragic way. And then when I reached the end of the story, having started to get past it, a new kind of tragedy hits and once again I couldn’t help but cry. At the same time the conclusion to the conflict reached its peak and all new mix of emotions hit, a perfect bittersweet climax you could call it.
I feel like I have a love-hate relationship with bittersweet endings. While it brings a more impactful and much more realistic feel to the book, it also isn’t a fully 100% happy ending I, with my gushy romantic heart, would have loved to see. Seeing all what Dámiul and Iris missed, yet also being thrilled over what they managed to get past, accomplish and at the end of the journey get back again though, I am satisfied with the conclusion in all the ways that count.
I feel like Seize the Stars was much more focused on the conflict at hand than the characters and romance, which is a bit of a downside. I mean, I liked the complexity of every different side to the conflict and the pressure it put on Iris as well as the trauma and state of mind it put Dámiul through. However, the romance, although still great, didn’t get as much spotlight as said conflict did, which is a shame. Putting that aside though, the plot and twist the story took me through was worth it to say the least and built the conflict perfectly. Sure, it was rushed some places and a bit slow in others when they were in hiding but at the end of the day there was never really a dull “I want to put the book down” moment.
In the main conflict there were other surprises with characters family, such as Iris’s family, Atikéa’s relationship with her mom and her role in the whole “war”. Best and worst of all though was Dámiul’s family. You know how impactful a story is when you can’t stop those tears from falling. It was heartbreaking and put a whole new tone to the plot and Dámiul character that made it all the more better in the most tragic way. And then when I reached the end of the story, having started to get past it, a new kind of tragedy hits and once again I couldn’t help but cry. At the same time the conclusion to the conflict reached its peak and all new mix of emotions hit, a perfect bittersweet climax you could call it.
I feel like I have a love-hate relationship with bittersweet endings. While it brings a more impactful and much more realistic feel to the book, it also isn’t a fully 100% happy ending I, with my gushy romantic heart, would have loved to see. Seeing all what Dámiul and Iris missed, yet also being thrilled over what they managed to get past, accomplish and at the end of the journey get back again though, I am satisfied with the conclusion in all the ways that count.
September 16, 2020
A well tied up conclusion to an excellent series.
November 12, 2021
11/11/21: YAY! I FINISHED MY RE-READ OF THE TRILOGY ON AUDIO!!!
5/4/21: It's difficult to talk about why Seize the Stars brings such effective closure to Mary Fan's Starswept trilogy without venturing into spoiler territory.
So I feel like the most appropriate response here is to talk about some of my impressions of the story arc as a whole.
What do Starswept and its sequels teach us?
- That it's possible to find real love in the midst of tragedy and injustice.
- Happy endings sometimes come with a steep cost. Maybe to us, maybe to the people around us. Maybe both.
- Getting what you want won't make you happy if it causes you to sacrifice your convictions. And yet if you're willing to (temporarily) give up what you want to serve a higher purpose, what waits on the other side may be more beautiful than you can imagine.
. . . and finally:
- The TRULY happy ending is worth the wait. Any wait.
Chances are, if you've read the first two books in this series, you don't need convincing to pick up the third. On the other hand, if you're looking at this because you haven't started the series yet and you're curious what people thought of its conclusion . . .
. . . close your browser, buy the first book, and don't waste any more time reading reviews. This is a solid story, skillfully told from beginning to end with emotion, conviction, and heart, set in a world (the Arts) that the author clearly knows bone-deep.
(Can we please have a real-life performance of Butterfly's Lament?!?!)
Timely. Timeless. Terrific. Toká!
5/4/21: It's difficult to talk about why Seize the Stars brings such effective closure to Mary Fan's Starswept trilogy without venturing into spoiler territory.
So I feel like the most appropriate response here is to talk about some of my impressions of the story arc as a whole.
What do Starswept and its sequels teach us?
- That it's possible to find real love in the midst of tragedy and injustice.
- Happy endings sometimes come with a steep cost. Maybe to us, maybe to the people around us. Maybe both.
- Getting what you want won't make you happy if it causes you to sacrifice your convictions. And yet if you're willing to (temporarily) give up what you want to serve a higher purpose, what waits on the other side may be more beautiful than you can imagine.
. . . and finally:
- The TRULY happy ending is worth the wait. Any wait.
Chances are, if you've read the first two books in this series, you don't need convincing to pick up the third. On the other hand, if you're looking at this because you haven't started the series yet and you're curious what people thought of its conclusion . . .
. . . close your browser, buy the first book, and don't waste any more time reading reviews. This is a solid story, skillfully told from beginning to end with emotion, conviction, and heart, set in a world (the Arts) that the author clearly knows bone-deep.
(Can we please have a real-life performance of Butterfly's Lament?!?!)
Timely. Timeless. Terrific. Toká!
Want to read
July 3, 2020I can't wait for this!!!! 😄😄😄😍😍
November 4, 2024
I have finally finished this trilogy. Think Ms Fan has given us a beautiful ending to this series full of the beauty of the performing arts. Due to the main character, Iris Lei, being an artist and growing up in a school meant to build the perfect artists to export across the universe, Ms Fan fills our protagonist's internal monologue with purple prose that both serves the narrative, the genre (YA romance), and character's personality.
Because books generally take a while to go through the publishing pipeline, it's probably unlikely that this book was influenced by the social uprisings that took place in the USA in 2020. However, it's impossible not to read the book in light of what the world went through 4 years ago. In that way, Ms. Fan was quite prescient in the way she depicts the abolition movement on Adrye (although as a student of history, it's definitely been a pattern whenever people fight for their rights). There's bickering within the people on the side of what's right. There are people coopting the movement for their own goals. There is state violence which leads to unintended consequences and radicalization.
There's a certain naiveté in the plot that I think comes from Ms. Fan keeping it YA (or maybe high middle grade). And yet, there is so much in here that is mature - the deaths and despair, the corrupt government officials, the coopting of the police, depression with implied suicidal tendencies. It's a book walking a tightrope between innocence and realism. I think Ms. Fan succeeds in her task there. I procrastinated on getting to this book because I found the second book a little weak because I don't think I'm the intended audience - a young YA reader who wants some romance. But this book ties it together so sell.
If you are invested in this series, I think this is a great ending for the series and definitely worth reading.
Because books generally take a while to go through the publishing pipeline, it's probably unlikely that this book was influenced by the social uprisings that took place in the USA in 2020. However, it's impossible not to read the book in light of what the world went through 4 years ago. In that way, Ms. Fan was quite prescient in the way she depicts the abolition movement on Adrye (although as a student of history, it's definitely been a pattern whenever people fight for their rights). There's bickering within the people on the side of what's right. There are people coopting the movement for their own goals. There is state violence which leads to unintended consequences and radicalization.
There's a certain naiveté in the plot that I think comes from Ms. Fan keeping it YA (or maybe high middle grade). And yet, there is so much in here that is mature - the deaths and despair, the corrupt government officials, the coopting of the police, depression with implied suicidal tendencies. It's a book walking a tightrope between innocence and realism. I think Ms. Fan succeeds in her task there. I procrastinated on getting to this book because I found the second book a little weak because I don't think I'm the intended audience - a young YA reader who wants some romance. But this book ties it together so sell.
If you are invested in this series, I think this is a great ending for the series and definitely worth reading.
February 11, 2021
“The dreaming Princess and her alien Prince, The viola player and the boy from across the stars.”
This lyrical novel intertwines drama and romance—creating a wonderful story! I was first really caught up with the cover as I think it’s stunning, but the story is great too and I really enjoyed Iris and Dámiul’s relationship!
I’ve only read this last book but now want to start at the beginning and see how everything got to be where it is!
I don’t think reading last book first ruined the experience for me. Though I was curious of certain characters and there arcs, but more so in the way that I need to read the first two books now!
*I received this book as an arc from the author, storygramtours, and astrolcolt but it did not sway my review!
This lyrical novel intertwines drama and romance—creating a wonderful story! I was first really caught up with the cover as I think it’s stunning, but the story is great too and I really enjoyed Iris and Dámiul’s relationship!
I’ve only read this last book but now want to start at the beginning and see how everything got to be where it is!
I don’t think reading last book first ruined the experience for me. Though I was curious of certain characters and there arcs, but more so in the way that I need to read the first two books now!
*I received this book as an arc from the author, storygramtours, and astrolcolt but it did not sway my review!
January 8, 2021
The long awaited conclusion to an addictive series and now it’s over. For the most part I enjoyed the journey this and previous books took me on, although nothing could compare to the first book. I found from the beginning the futuristic world and plot so original and so amazing. Add the star crossed romance to it and I was completely hooked. The second and now this third book didn’t quite reach the same height as the first one but still was amazing and out of this world.
I feel like Seize the Stars was much more focused on the conflict at hand than the characters and romance, which is a bit of a downside. I mean, I liked the complexity of every different side to the conflict and the pressure it put on Iris as well as the trauma and state of mind it put Dámiul through. However, the romance, although still great, didn’t get as much spotlight as said conflict did, which is a shame. Putting that aside though, the plot and twist the story took me through was worth it to say the least and built the conflict perfectly. Sure, it was rushed some places and a bit slow in others when they were in hiding but at the end of the day there was never really a dull “I want to put the book down” moment.
In the main conflict there were other surprises with characters family, such as Iris’s family, Atikéa’s relationship with her mom and her role in the whole “war”. Best and worst of all though was Dámiul’s family. You know how impactful a story is when you can’t stop those tears from falling. It was heartbreaking and put a whole new tone to the plot and Dámiul character that made it all the more better in the most tragic way. And then when I reached the end of the story, having started to get past it, a new kind of tragedy hits and once again I couldn’t help but cry. At the same time the conclusion to the conflict reached its peak and all new mix of emotions hit, a perfect bittersweet climax you could call it.
I feel like I have a love-hate relationship with bittersweet endings. While it brings a more impactful and much more realistic feel to the book, it also isn’t a fully 100% happy ending I, with my gushy romantic heart, would have loved to see. Seeing all what Dámiul and Iris missed, yet also being thrilled over what they managed to get past, accomplish and at the end of the journey get back again though, I am satisfied with the conclusion in all the ways that count.
I feel like Seize the Stars was much more focused on the conflict at hand than the characters and romance, which is a bit of a downside. I mean, I liked the complexity of every different side to the conflict and the pressure it put on Iris as well as the trauma and state of mind it put Dámiul through. However, the romance, although still great, didn’t get as much spotlight as said conflict did, which is a shame. Putting that aside though, the plot and twist the story took me through was worth it to say the least and built the conflict perfectly. Sure, it was rushed some places and a bit slow in others when they were in hiding but at the end of the day there was never really a dull “I want to put the book down” moment.
In the main conflict there were other surprises with characters family, such as Iris’s family, Atikéa’s relationship with her mom and her role in the whole “war”. Best and worst of all though was Dámiul’s family. You know how impactful a story is when you can’t stop those tears from falling. It was heartbreaking and put a whole new tone to the plot and Dámiul character that made it all the more better in the most tragic way. And then when I reached the end of the story, having started to get past it, a new kind of tragedy hits and once again I couldn’t help but cry. At the same time the conclusion to the conflict reached its peak and all new mix of emotions hit, a perfect bittersweet climax you could call it.
I feel like I have a love-hate relationship with bittersweet endings. While it brings a more impactful and much more realistic feel to the book, it also isn’t a fully 100% happy ending I, with my gushy romantic heart, would have loved to see. Seeing all what Dámiul and Iris missed, yet also being thrilled over what they managed to get past, accomplish and at the end of the journey get back again though, I am satisfied with the conclusion in all the ways that count.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews