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Starswept #2
Wayward Stars
Sing your truth. Defend your dream. Defy your stars.
A month has passed since Iris joined an underground rebel group to save Dámiul from the brutal prison he was sent to for fighting back against his world’s oppressive system. Here, conformity and compliance are enforced through telepathy, and Earthling performers are brainwashed into absolute obedience.
Word of a merciless crackdown on those who sympathize with their cause leaves both Iris and Dámiul yearning for action. Determined to liberate her kind, Iris volunteers to return to her former patrons and covertly recruit supporters.
A raid on their hideout catapults her plan into action sooner than expected and forces her to leave Dámiul behind. After persuading the authorities that she’d been telepathically manipulated into helping him, Iris assumes the role of a dutiful musician while secretly spreading whispers of a possible uprising among her fellow performers. But the authorities always seem to be one step ahead, and anyone who defies them is swiftly mind-wiped.
Soon, Iris is forced to confront a horrifying fact: there’s a traitor among them. Desperately clinging to her cover, she races to find out who before her true loyalties are discovered—and the search leads her to an unthinkable answer.
A month has passed since Iris joined an underground rebel group to save Dámiul from the brutal prison he was sent to for fighting back against his world’s oppressive system. Here, conformity and compliance are enforced through telepathy, and Earthling performers are brainwashed into absolute obedience.
Word of a merciless crackdown on those who sympathize with their cause leaves both Iris and Dámiul yearning for action. Determined to liberate her kind, Iris volunteers to return to her former patrons and covertly recruit supporters.
A raid on their hideout catapults her plan into action sooner than expected and forces her to leave Dámiul behind. After persuading the authorities that she’d been telepathically manipulated into helping him, Iris assumes the role of a dutiful musician while secretly spreading whispers of a possible uprising among her fellow performers. But the authorities always seem to be one step ahead, and anyone who defies them is swiftly mind-wiped.
Soon, Iris is forced to confront a horrifying fact: there’s a traitor among them. Desperately clinging to her cover, she races to find out who before her true loyalties are discovered—and the search leads her to an unthinkable answer.
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First published February 26, 2019
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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 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 15, 2018
Every once and a while you get a book so perfect, it hits every high note. Literally. When I read Starswept last year, I was blown away: the story was compelling, the plot was unpredictable, and there were such amazing twists that I was continuously caught by surprise. So when the author said there were ARCs available, I pounced; and let me tell you, it’s going to be so hard to wait until February for when I finally talk freely about it!
Wayward Stars picks up a month after Iris went into hiding with the rebels, a wise move from the author as she puts us right back into the action. From the very first chapter, the book catches you off guard, setting up to be one kind of story and instead spiraling into another. The author has such a skillful way of building you up to an event you might think is predictable, then swerving away at the last minute, just like in the first book (you know the twist, I mean!).
Unlike the first book, focusing on Iris’s discovery of the Karys’il manipulation, Wayward Stars focuses on the fight against it. The rise of the abolition movement is something we all want, but it comes at a steep price, not to mention is incredibly dangerous. Iris and her growing team of artists and Adryil must live in the shadows, facing the dangers of leading a revolution.
Both Iris and Dámiul go through extreme growth in this book. While I want them to be happy and cute and to get to go on normal dates, we know that’s not the focus of this story. They’re put through so much, and they change as a result, leading to exceptional growth. I can’t wait to see how they’ll be at the end of this.
As for the rest, I don’t want to give it away. Suffice to say the author brings the same magic back to the page as she did in the first book. The love of music and the fight for freedom coming together in beautiful ways.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who has a passion for the arts and a head in the stars. It’s beautiful, poignant, and one heck of a thrill ride.
Wayward Stars picks up a month after Iris went into hiding with the rebels, a wise move from the author as she puts us right back into the action. From the very first chapter, the book catches you off guard, setting up to be one kind of story and instead spiraling into another. The author has such a skillful way of building you up to an event you might think is predictable, then swerving away at the last minute, just like in the first book (you know the twist, I mean!).
Unlike the first book, focusing on Iris’s discovery of the Karys’il manipulation, Wayward Stars focuses on the fight against it. The rise of the abolition movement is something we all want, but it comes at a steep price, not to mention is incredibly dangerous. Iris and her growing team of artists and Adryil must live in the shadows, facing the dangers of leading a revolution.
Both Iris and Dámiul go through extreme growth in this book. While I want them to be happy and cute and to get to go on normal dates, we know that’s not the focus of this story. They’re put through so much, and they change as a result, leading to exceptional growth. I can’t wait to see how they’ll be at the end of this.
As for the rest, I don’t want to give it away. Suffice to say the author brings the same magic back to the page as she did in the first book. The love of music and the fight for freedom coming together in beautiful ways.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who has a passion for the arts and a head in the stars. It’s beautiful, poignant, and one heck of a thrill ride.
November 29, 2018
Original review
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Mary Fan!
Wayward Stars is the second book in the Starswept series and continues the story of Iris and Dámuel, and the Abolition!
Once upon a time, I fell in love with a beautiful boy from another world. The forces of darkness tried to take him from me, but I found him. Then they tried to erase him from my mind, but I found him again. As long as I love him, I will always find a way. Even if I’m scared, even if I’m powerless, even if I’m small…
You will not destroy me.
Wayward Stars was an amazing sequel and was just everything that I needed. I loved reading about Iris and Dámuel again and just love the world Mary Fan has created. It’s so original and I cannot get enough of it!
There happened so many crazy things in Wayward Stars, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I was so scared that something was going to happen to Iris or Dámuel. Of course, something did happen to them and I think that was a good thing. You got to see how Iris and Dámuel learn to deal with their problems and that shows that there’s some good character development.
I also really like that Mary Fan created her own alien language and that there are some beautiful pages in this book. Every new chapter begins with 2 dark pages, and it’s just so beautiful. I love it when authors decorate their pages because it gives the book something extra.
Wayward Stars is definitely one of my favourite books and although Wayward Stars had a beautiful ending, I just have to read the sequel!
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Mary Fan!
Wayward Stars is the second book in the Starswept series and continues the story of Iris and Dámuel, and the Abolition!
Once upon a time, I fell in love with a beautiful boy from another world. The forces of darkness tried to take him from me, but I found him. Then they tried to erase him from my mind, but I found him again. As long as I love him, I will always find a way. Even if I’m scared, even if I’m powerless, even if I’m small…
You will not destroy me.
Wayward Stars was an amazing sequel and was just everything that I needed. I loved reading about Iris and Dámuel again and just love the world Mary Fan has created. It’s so original and I cannot get enough of it!
There happened so many crazy things in Wayward Stars, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I was so scared that something was going to happen to Iris or Dámuel. Of course, something did happen to them and I think that was a good thing. You got to see how Iris and Dámuel learn to deal with their problems and that shows that there’s some good character development.
I also really like that Mary Fan created her own alien language and that there are some beautiful pages in this book. Every new chapter begins with 2 dark pages, and it’s just so beautiful. I love it when authors decorate their pages because it gives the book something extra.
Wayward Stars is definitely one of my favourite books and although Wayward Stars had a beautiful ending, I just have to read the sequel!
March 7, 2019
“You will not destroy me”
“Once upon a time, I fell in love with a beautiful boy from another world. The forces of darkness tried to take him from me, but I found him. Then they tried to erase him from my mind, but I found him again. As long as I love him, I will always find a way. Even if I’m scared, even if I’m powerless, even if I’m small…”
I’ve read my fair share of alien romance in the past. However Wayward Stars (as well as Starswept of course) concept and storyline was so unique and cleverly written that it felt like it’s very own genre. I am amazed how Mary Fan came up with the idea (especially the glowing colorful eyes) and how she executed it so well with such complexity and detail. She even found a way to use different points of views in a story with only Iris as the point of view and it was made to complement the alien mind reading well. This story pretty much leaks cleverness. I am especially impressed with the character Soraï Ydaya as well some other characters in the book where it was never fully clear what side they were on. It was refreshing seeing characters in a YA that was neither good nor bad, black nor white, but grey. Attentional by the author I could never tell if she was against or for the ka’risil treatment. Because while she treated them as below her class and almost like pets she did and opinionated some things that contradicted it as well. She and her unclear stand is one of the many reasons as to why I am excited for Sieze the Stars.
As in every book there are aspects that I don’t fully agree with, one being Milo. While I liked his character plenty I did not understand one thing. It was explained that his and Cara’s situation (trying to keep it spoiler free) was too dangerous, but why did he then think it fine to try it with Iris? Why was that even a thing? It didn’t seem to have a point and that is why I don’t understand it. I am however hoping it will be explained in the next book.
Another thing that disagreed with me was their age. This may just be my personal preference, but I would have liked the main characters a bit older than they were. One reason is for the romance. While I loved the relationship and how well Iris and Damiul worked together, it felt like you perhaps are a bit too young at 15 to feel such a strong and serious connection to another. And the other reason is just that in general the characters was too mature and insightful for their age. If they had been just a bit older, around 19 or 20 I feel like it would have worked better. Considering how everything else worked so perfectly however, these issues were minor.
I love the fact that the author didn’t feel the need to end with a cliffhanger. While I don’t necessarily have any problems with cliffhangers, to not use one honestly gives it a much more confident and professional vibe. It tells me that the author knows how to keep the readers intrigued and emotionally invested to the entire story to keep going through the series without “tricking” the reader in the end to continue. And boy did she know exactly what she was doing writing the book, because she kept me on my toes the whole time. The book was cleverly and beautifully written with both emotional highs and lows, compelling romance, tragedies, humorous moments, melancholic moments and a original thought-out storyline. As a reader there’s just no way that I could ever stop reading the series with all of that. However I am disappointed. After such a thrilling and captivating read I now have to wait for over a year for the next installment and I know it will feel like forever. Mary Fan really knows how to end a book with a bang and I am now so so hyped for what will happen next!
“Once upon a time, I fell in love with a beautiful boy from another world. The forces of darkness tried to take him from me, but I found him. Then they tried to erase him from my mind, but I found him again. As long as I love him, I will always find a way. Even if I’m scared, even if I’m powerless, even if I’m small…”
I’ve read my fair share of alien romance in the past. However Wayward Stars (as well as Starswept of course) concept and storyline was so unique and cleverly written that it felt like it’s very own genre. I am amazed how Mary Fan came up with the idea (especially the glowing colorful eyes) and how she executed it so well with such complexity and detail. She even found a way to use different points of views in a story with only Iris as the point of view and it was made to complement the alien mind reading well. This story pretty much leaks cleverness. I am especially impressed with the character Soraï Ydaya as well some other characters in the book where it was never fully clear what side they were on. It was refreshing seeing characters in a YA that was neither good nor bad, black nor white, but grey. Attentional by the author I could never tell if she was against or for the ka’risil treatment. Because while she treated them as below her class and almost like pets she did and opinionated some things that contradicted it as well. She and her unclear stand is one of the many reasons as to why I am excited for Sieze the Stars.
As in every book there are aspects that I don’t fully agree with, one being Milo. While I liked his character plenty I did not understand one thing. It was explained that his and Cara’s situation (trying to keep it spoiler free) was too dangerous, but why did he then think it fine to try it with Iris? Why was that even a thing? It didn’t seem to have a point and that is why I don’t understand it. I am however hoping it will be explained in the next book.
Another thing that disagreed with me was their age. This may just be my personal preference, but I would have liked the main characters a bit older than they were. One reason is for the romance. While I loved the relationship and how well Iris and Damiul worked together, it felt like you perhaps are a bit too young at 15 to feel such a strong and serious connection to another. And the other reason is just that in general the characters was too mature and insightful for their age. If they had been just a bit older, around 19 or 20 I feel like it would have worked better. Considering how everything else worked so perfectly however, these issues were minor.
I love the fact that the author didn’t feel the need to end with a cliffhanger. While I don’t necessarily have any problems with cliffhangers, to not use one honestly gives it a much more confident and professional vibe. It tells me that the author knows how to keep the readers intrigued and emotionally invested to the entire story to keep going through the series without “tricking” the reader in the end to continue. And boy did she know exactly what she was doing writing the book, because she kept me on my toes the whole time. The book was cleverly and beautifully written with both emotional highs and lows, compelling romance, tragedies, humorous moments, melancholic moments and a original thought-out storyline. As a reader there’s just no way that I could ever stop reading the series with all of that. However I am disappointed. After such a thrilling and captivating read I now have to wait for over a year for the next installment and I know it will feel like forever. Mary Fan really knows how to end a book with a bang and I am now so so hyped for what will happen next!
March 12, 2019
Disclaimer: Thank you Mary Fan for providing me the copy in exchange for a review!
Actual rating: 4.5 🌟
Wayward Stars is one of my most anticipated reads of 2019.💫 And I am SO thrilled to get the chance to read it because to be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to read it.👀
In this story following after Starswept, Iris is back to her former patrons, the Ydayas. She is hopeful and determined to spread the words to other performers and recruit them into the Abolitionist. It isn’t as easy as she thought. Everything she does needs to be extra careful or she’ll get caught and get mind-wiped. Everything was good. 👏🏼 It was very intriguing, but I kind of have mix feelings when the story turned upside down. There have been many struggles throughout the story and there are also good fortune too. I just… really don’t know how to feel about it. 😥
When I got into Act Two which is the second part of the story, I was surprised and sad, kind of. 😰 I’m disappointed with everyone in this story. See? Everything really turned upside down. 😫 The traitor—I don’t know which character is to be blame. I know Master Verik is the monster here but… I feel all of them make mistakes even though I don’t actually see it. I just… really don’t know how to feel anymore. I don’t want it to be that way but it is that way. My heart tingled of all this. 💔 I just want to wipe all of those Adryil. Well, not Mistress Ydaya, not Atikéa, not Jaerin and certainly not Dámiul.
Personally, I think Dámiul is the most who suffered here. 😔 Even from the beginning, he was the one who really went through a lot than the others. My heart really aches for him. 💔 What happened to him and what they—the authorities—did to him is so cruel. 😡 Iris got it worse too, but Dámiul… gosh, my heart is swelling. 💔😭
Anyway, in here, we get to meet Ximena—the one who Dámiul saved at first. She has been mentioned a lot in Starswept and I didn’t even think we will see her character in here. And it’s really good to finally meet her. ✨ Ximena is an acrobatic and her personality is just same like Cara’s; brave, loud and strong-headed. 💀
In addition, I was hoping more from Mistress Ydaya but it’s still not enough for me. 😖 I really hope she will be good with the Abolitionist and maybe, just maybe, be one of them. I was happy when she defended Iris but that’s just it then. I thought I could participate in that just to burst my anticipation since I’ve planted my hope in her. But there’s no more story of that scene. 😩 Again, maybe, she could be Iris’ godmother. Girl—me can only hope for now. 😌💝
Alsoooo, I didn’t even know there is going to be another book in this series???? 😱 Like… How come I just know this?! I only know it when I was checking out the series on Goodreads and stumbled upon it. I am thrilled. 😍 Once again.
Last but not least, this is all so exciting, aching and uplifting. 💖🖤💔 From the beginning and even throughout the book. Especially the ending. Gosh, I can imagine the scene of all of them on the stage. 🔥 I got goosebumps. ✨💫 Well, my heart was surely in pain while reading this book, but it’s a good kind of pain, you know? 👀 When the author just really played your feelings into something. I love that. It succeeded. 🌟 And I can’t wait for the next book! 💃🏻
Actual rating: 4.5 🌟
Wayward Stars is one of my most anticipated reads of 2019.💫 And I am SO thrilled to get the chance to read it because to be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to read it.👀
In this story following after Starswept, Iris is back to her former patrons, the Ydayas. She is hopeful and determined to spread the words to other performers and recruit them into the Abolitionist. It isn’t as easy as she thought. Everything she does needs to be extra careful or she’ll get caught and get mind-wiped. Everything was good. 👏🏼 It was very intriguing, but I kind of have mix feelings when the story turned upside down. There have been many struggles throughout the story and there are also good fortune too. I just… really don’t know how to feel about it. 😥
When I got into Act Two which is the second part of the story, I was surprised and sad, kind of. 😰 I’m disappointed with everyone in this story. See? Everything really turned upside down. 😫 The traitor—I don’t know which character is to be blame. I know Master Verik is the monster here but… I feel all of them make mistakes even though I don’t actually see it. I just… really don’t know how to feel anymore. I don’t want it to be that way but it is that way. My heart tingled of all this. 💔 I just want to wipe all of those Adryil. Well, not Mistress Ydaya, not Atikéa, not Jaerin and certainly not Dámiul.
Personally, I think Dámiul is the most who suffered here. 😔 Even from the beginning, he was the one who really went through a lot than the others. My heart really aches for him. 💔 What happened to him and what they—the authorities—did to him is so cruel. 😡 Iris got it worse too, but Dámiul… gosh, my heart is swelling. 💔😭
Anyway, in here, we get to meet Ximena—the one who Dámiul saved at first. She has been mentioned a lot in Starswept and I didn’t even think we will see her character in here. And it’s really good to finally meet her. ✨ Ximena is an acrobatic and her personality is just same like Cara’s; brave, loud and strong-headed. 💀
In addition, I was hoping more from Mistress Ydaya but it’s still not enough for me. 😖 I really hope she will be good with the Abolitionist and maybe, just maybe, be one of them. I was happy when she defended Iris but that’s just it then. I thought I could participate in that just to burst my anticipation since I’ve planted my hope in her. But there’s no more story of that scene. 😩 Again, maybe, she could be Iris’ godmother. Girl—me can only hope for now. 😌💝
Alsoooo, I didn’t even know there is going to be another book in this series???? 😱 Like… How come I just know this?! I only know it when I was checking out the series on Goodreads and stumbled upon it. I am thrilled. 😍 Once again.
Last but not least, this is all so exciting, aching and uplifting. 💖🖤💔 From the beginning and even throughout the book. Especially the ending. Gosh, I can imagine the scene of all of them on the stage. 🔥 I got goosebumps. ✨💫 Well, my heart was surely in pain while reading this book, but it’s a good kind of pain, you know? 👀 When the author just really played your feelings into something. I love that. It succeeded. 🌟 And I can’t wait for the next book! 💃🏻
April 9, 2021
This book picks up right where the previous one left off - Iris Lei and the rest of the abolition are trying to plan out their next steps. From there, the plot goes off into a few twists, but in a fairly expected progression. The end is satisfying on its own, but it seems like Ms. Fan might have been setting up at least a trilogy if not an on-going series.
This book was supposed to be a nice, light book after having finished The Parable of the Talents and The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Both take place in a dystopian America that's just a little too close to home. Vs, say, Panem, where it's so far in the future it wasn't painful to read. Sure, Iris Lei is former slave who is now part of an abolitionist movement, but the book was so much lighter than Ms. Butler's books. I can't remember if Starswept is meant to be YA, but it sure seems that way. (At least in terms of violent/sexual content being 99.9% absent). So I figured I'm in for a light dystopian romp. NOPE-TY NOPE NOPE!
Ms. Fan brought out the real emotions (and near-tears) as Iris went through her plan and met with various resistances. The previous book mostly just spoke about mind control and mind wipes. But this book has it in spades. One character's encounters with it seemed like a metaphor for Alzheimer's. Another character has everything taken in a way that is just heart-breaking and seemed more of a violation and torture than any scene I've seen or read of physical or sexual violence. It was crazy. (And probably would have been even crazier in a non-YA world.... if you can erase memories why not an underground Ka'rasil Red Light District)
Look, this is a YA sequel in which most of the main characters are older teens/young adults who are in the arts and who carry torches for their crushes like they're on a CW show. This may or may not be your cup of tea. But if you got invested in the main characters in book 1, then I can't believe you'll escape this book without having "the feels" really hard for the characters. They go through some stuff. I'm a fan of Ms. Fan's work (no pun intended), and I think this series continues to do a good job of melding her passions (Music - she has a degree; and the performing arts - her Twitter account is her learning circue-de-solieil-style ropes stuff). I look forward to seeing if this story continues.
This book was supposed to be a nice, light book after having finished The Parable of the Talents and The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Both take place in a dystopian America that's just a little too close to home. Vs, say, Panem, where it's so far in the future it wasn't painful to read. Sure, Iris Lei is former slave who is now part of an abolitionist movement, but the book was so much lighter than Ms. Butler's books. I can't remember if Starswept is meant to be YA, but it sure seems that way. (At least in terms of violent/sexual content being 99.9% absent). So I figured I'm in for a light dystopian romp. NOPE-TY NOPE NOPE!
Ms. Fan brought out the real emotions (and near-tears) as Iris went through her plan and met with various resistances. The previous book mostly just spoke about mind control and mind wipes. But this book has it in spades. One character's encounters with it seemed like a metaphor for Alzheimer's. Another character has everything taken in a way that is just heart-breaking and seemed more of a violation and torture than any scene I've seen or read of physical or sexual violence. It was crazy. (And probably would have been even crazier in a non-YA world.... if you can erase memories why not an underground Ka'rasil Red Light District)
Look, this is a YA sequel in which most of the main characters are older teens/young adults who are in the arts and who carry torches for their crushes like they're on a CW show. This may or may not be your cup of tea. But if you got invested in the main characters in book 1, then I can't believe you'll escape this book without having "the feels" really hard for the characters. They go through some stuff. I'm a fan of Ms. Fan's work (no pun intended), and I think this series continues to do a good job of melding her passions (Music - she has a degree; and the performing arts - her Twitter account is her learning circue-de-solieil-style ropes stuff). I look forward to seeing if this story continues.
March 26, 2019
I can say a lot of wonderful things about this book, but the biggest compliment I can think of is to say that Mary Fan took this story in directions I never expected, and that's a difficult thing to do in a second book. Nothing about Wayward Stars was predictable--not the world building, not the relationship between Iris and Damiul nor their relationship with the rebel faction fighting against human slavery. And especially not the brilliant "twist" in the plot. I don't want to state any spoilers, but I did NOT see that coming!
Rich, beautiful, musical, and brilliant--Mary Fan has constructed yet another thrilling tale of artistic rebellion, political intrigue, and heart-racing romance that is literally out of this world.
Rich, beautiful, musical, and brilliant--Mary Fan has constructed yet another thrilling tale of artistic rebellion, political intrigue, and heart-racing romance that is literally out of this world.
October 27, 2021
10/26/21 update: Finished the audio version tonight. Another wonderful performance by Emily Woo Zeller!!!
Original review: Part of me hates the moment where you finish a great book and you have to sum up what makes it so great.
Honestly? It's impossible. 5 minutes after you finish writing the review, you're already thinking of other things you wish you'd said about it.
And so it is with WAYWARD STARS, Book 2 in this lovingly constructed series by Mary Fan. "Lovingly constructed" is a deliberate word choice, since it's clear that just about every aspect of this series--its passionate characters, its fascinating settings, its sense of conviction, its invented language, and even the book itself as a physical object--has been given a great deal of thought and heart.
It feels like a privilege to be able to experience this type of storytelling, where the author not only has something worthwhile to say but can say it in a way that keeps your interest and can grab the reader's emotions.
I will try to say this without spoilers, but the section of Wayward Stars where a character . . . loses themselves and has to rebuild their identity one step at a time . . . is not only a demonstration of an author successfully tackling a tricky narrative challenge, but it is also a profound (and I have to say, heartrending!) meditation on the most basic things that make a person a person.
I wish I could say something like, "Thank God we don't live in a world where someone's identity can be stolen from them at a moment's notice," but I think most of us know that this isn't quite true.
You don't have to be mind-wiped to feel like you've lost who you are.
There's another very important scene in Wayward Stars that made me think of the first story in Tolkien's The Silmarillion. In "The Ainulindalë," we read of how Middle-earth was created . . .
. . . by music. Specifically, we read of an entirely new world being created by the harmonies of a group of beings united in song, by their shared faith in what that music will result in.
I saw deep echoes of something like that same concept at work here in Fan's universe.
People uniting in song to create a new world. People speaking life and love and freedom into existence through their shared convictions.
I fear these comments won't make complete sense until you've read the book for yourself. But it isn't for me to spoil the details of just how this sweeping symphony plays itself out.
Just pick up this lovingly crafted literary instrument and let its melody work its way into your ear.
You might just find that melody stuck in your head days later!
P.S. Book 3, here I come!!!
Original review: Part of me hates the moment where you finish a great book and you have to sum up what makes it so great.
Honestly? It's impossible. 5 minutes after you finish writing the review, you're already thinking of other things you wish you'd said about it.
And so it is with WAYWARD STARS, Book 2 in this lovingly constructed series by Mary Fan. "Lovingly constructed" is a deliberate word choice, since it's clear that just about every aspect of this series--its passionate characters, its fascinating settings, its sense of conviction, its invented language, and even the book itself as a physical object--has been given a great deal of thought and heart.
It feels like a privilege to be able to experience this type of storytelling, where the author not only has something worthwhile to say but can say it in a way that keeps your interest and can grab the reader's emotions.
I will try to say this without spoilers, but the section of Wayward Stars where a character . . . loses themselves and has to rebuild their identity one step at a time . . . is not only a demonstration of an author successfully tackling a tricky narrative challenge, but it is also a profound (and I have to say, heartrending!) meditation on the most basic things that make a person a person.
I wish I could say something like, "Thank God we don't live in a world where someone's identity can be stolen from them at a moment's notice," but I think most of us know that this isn't quite true.
You don't have to be mind-wiped to feel like you've lost who you are.
There's another very important scene in Wayward Stars that made me think of the first story in Tolkien's The Silmarillion. In "The Ainulindalë," we read of how Middle-earth was created . . .
. . . by music. Specifically, we read of an entirely new world being created by the harmonies of a group of beings united in song, by their shared faith in what that music will result in.
I saw deep echoes of something like that same concept at work here in Fan's universe.
People uniting in song to create a new world. People speaking life and love and freedom into existence through their shared convictions.
I fear these comments won't make complete sense until you've read the book for yourself. But it isn't for me to spoil the details of just how this sweeping symphony plays itself out.
Just pick up this lovingly crafted literary instrument and let its melody work its way into your ear.
You might just find that melody stuck in your head days later!
P.S. Book 3, here I come!!!
January 4, 2019
After reading Starswept a little more than a year ago, I was immediately chomping at the bit to find out what would happen to the characters I had grown to love and the incredible world the author created. Wayward Stars proved to be a worthy sequel to that first book and was everything and more than I could have hoped for. The story gets off to a quick start as Iris is almost immediately thrust back into action, striving to help a rebellion whose goal is to free human Artists enslaved on an alien planet. The stakes are higher than ever before, as is the risk of discovery. Sometimes with stories like this, it’s easy for suspension of disbelief to be shattered as we watch characters somehow miraculously get themselves out of one bad situation after another. That’s not the case in Wayward Stars as author Mary Fan never shies away from putting her characters through the wringer, and the unique world she has created allows the story to take many unexpected turns. It makes for an incredibly emotional journey that had me fully invested in the story from beginning to end.
One of the things I loved so much about Starswept was the way art—especially music—is woven into every fiber of the story. It makes sense, given the nature of the world and the societal interactions between humans and Adryil. But it also ends up being central to certain plot elements and conflicts in unexpected ways, and that just made everything feel so much more real. It also gives Iris a distinct narrative voice, the lack of which is always one of my biggest qualms about books with first-person narrators. With Iris, however, I always felt like I was actually seeing things through her point of view, like everything was distinctly colored through her own unique experiences, values, and understanding.
Many of the secondary characters I loved in Starswept reappear here and become even more fleshed out, which I appreciated. Cara remains one of my favorites, but I was also glad to see Damiul’s character develop to a point where I felt like I could connect with him more than I had previously. I became a lot more invested in his relationship with Iris as a result. I also loved learning more about rebel leader Atikea and will look forward to seeing how things play out for her in the end. The ending felt a bit abrupt to me, but it provided what I’m sure will be a good transition leading into the next book.
This is such a great series and I absolutely love it. So much of Iris’ love for her music resonates with me on a personal level as both a writer and an artist, and that connection is further reinforced by the fact that she feels very much like a real, three-dimensional person. The journey she goes on in this book is at times thrilling, at other times heartbreaking, but always incredible. If you enjoy YA science fiction, dystopia, and/or romance, you definitely need to pick up this series.
One of the things I loved so much about Starswept was the way art—especially music—is woven into every fiber of the story. It makes sense, given the nature of the world and the societal interactions between humans and Adryil. But it also ends up being central to certain plot elements and conflicts in unexpected ways, and that just made everything feel so much more real. It also gives Iris a distinct narrative voice, the lack of which is always one of my biggest qualms about books with first-person narrators. With Iris, however, I always felt like I was actually seeing things through her point of view, like everything was distinctly colored through her own unique experiences, values, and understanding.
Many of the secondary characters I loved in Starswept reappear here and become even more fleshed out, which I appreciated. Cara remains one of my favorites, but I was also glad to see Damiul’s character develop to a point where I felt like I could connect with him more than I had previously. I became a lot more invested in his relationship with Iris as a result. I also loved learning more about rebel leader Atikea and will look forward to seeing how things play out for her in the end. The ending felt a bit abrupt to me, but it provided what I’m sure will be a good transition leading into the next book.
This is such a great series and I absolutely love it. So much of Iris’ love for her music resonates with me on a personal level as both a writer and an artist, and that connection is further reinforced by the fact that she feels very much like a real, three-dimensional person. The journey she goes on in this book is at times thrilling, at other times heartbreaking, but always incredible. If you enjoy YA science fiction, dystopia, and/or romance, you definitely need to pick up this series.
February 25, 2019
4.5
The sequel starts fairly close to where Starswept left off. Iris and Dámiul are hiding in their hideout until suddenly the Adryil police finds them. Iris soon finds herself back in Mistress Ydaya home with Cara and Milo as she pretends she was kidnapped and brainwashed by the (abolition) while trying to figure out how to free her fellow members of the Arts from this under covered slavery they are in.
I loved Iris so much. Especially in the sequel. The thing about Iris is that she never loses sight of her goal and objective — not even for the boy. Iris is persistent, brave and stands up for others even when fear is eating her up.
Much like in book one Mary Fan does such a fantastic job describing music. And I don’t mean describing it in sounds, but describing how it feels and the emotions it brings. It’s really powerful and it shows that she understands how music feels and how playing an instrument feels. As a former violist, the way Ms. Fan explains how playing/listening to a song feels to a musician is so magical. At times it gave me goosebumps.
The novel what split in two acts. Much like a play or musical. However, act one felt very slow and it felt like it dragged on for ages. I felt like nothing was really happening and I found myself putting the book down to go do other things. But it’s towards the end of act one that things begin to get very interesting and I could put the book down. And act two was phenomenal, it really felt like a second part of symphony where everything comes together and many things are happening at the same time. It could not set the book down during act two. I don’t want to say too much without giving away too much, but the way Ms. Fan wrote Iris’ thoughts and her actions were so great. Especially the muscle memory about the fact that you never truly forget something or someone.
New characters were introduced in Wayward Stars and they were all so fantastic. However the one person we still haven’t met was Iris’ mom which annoyed me a bit because in book one Iris was very desperate to reunite with her mom but in book two it is never brought up even when Dámiul destroyed the walls blocking her memories. How did someone so important to Iris just become so meaningless? The whole time I was waiting for her to run into her mom, but nada.
Other than the lack of mom, my other key complaint was that sometimes the dialogue was a bit hard to follow when Dámiul and Iris were communicating through thoughts using the Zexa device. It was hard to differentiate who was speaking and I have to read the passages several times to try to figure out if it was Iris speaking or Dámiul.
Wayward Stars was a fun read, and I when I reached the end I was caught off guard because I wanted to read more! Did they win? Is change coming? Where is Iris’ mom? And the beautiful opera singer Estelle? I have so many questions!!!
If you haven’t read Starswept check my book review. You should definitely give it a read.
Also check out the special interview with Mary Fan on my blog!
The sequel starts fairly close to where Starswept left off. Iris and Dámiul are hiding in their hideout until suddenly the Adryil police finds them. Iris soon finds herself back in Mistress Ydaya home with Cara and Milo as she pretends she was kidnapped and brainwashed by the (abolition) while trying to figure out how to free her fellow members of the Arts from this under covered slavery they are in.
I loved Iris so much. Especially in the sequel. The thing about Iris is that she never loses sight of her goal and objective — not even for the boy. Iris is persistent, brave and stands up for others even when fear is eating her up.
Much like in book one Mary Fan does such a fantastic job describing music. And I don’t mean describing it in sounds, but describing how it feels and the emotions it brings. It’s really powerful and it shows that she understands how music feels and how playing an instrument feels. As a former violist, the way Ms. Fan explains how playing/listening to a song feels to a musician is so magical. At times it gave me goosebumps.
The novel what split in two acts. Much like a play or musical. However, act one felt very slow and it felt like it dragged on for ages. I felt like nothing was really happening and I found myself putting the book down to go do other things. But it’s towards the end of act one that things begin to get very interesting and I could put the book down. And act two was phenomenal, it really felt like a second part of symphony where everything comes together and many things are happening at the same time. It could not set the book down during act two. I don’t want to say too much without giving away too much, but the way Ms. Fan wrote Iris’ thoughts and her actions were so great. Especially the muscle memory about the fact that you never truly forget something or someone.
New characters were introduced in Wayward Stars and they were all so fantastic. However the one person we still haven’t met was Iris’ mom which annoyed me a bit because in book one Iris was very desperate to reunite with her mom but in book two it is never brought up even when Dámiul destroyed the walls blocking her memories. How did someone so important to Iris just become so meaningless? The whole time I was waiting for her to run into her mom, but nada.
Other than the lack of mom, my other key complaint was that sometimes the dialogue was a bit hard to follow when Dámiul and Iris were communicating through thoughts using the Zexa device. It was hard to differentiate who was speaking and I have to read the passages several times to try to figure out if it was Iris speaking or Dámiul.
Wayward Stars was a fun read, and I when I reached the end I was caught off guard because I wanted to read more! Did they win? Is change coming? Where is Iris’ mom? And the beautiful opera singer Estelle? I have so many questions!!!
If you haven’t read Starswept check my book review. You should definitely give it a read.
Also check out the special interview with Mary Fan on my blog!
January 22, 2019
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review*
This story is simply beautifully written. I was a little nervous because I absolutely loved Starswept and I know sometimes sequels don't always turn out to be great but this one was just freaking fantastic!
The story picks up a month after Starswept ended, Iris and Dámiul are still on the run but they are determined to free the humans on Adryil. Iris makes the decision to go back to her sponsor and resume her position as musician all the while spreading the word about their cause. But treachery lies in every corner and Iris soon realizes that a traitor is among them whose identity is more shocking than she could have imagined.
I love Iris and Dámiul, they are so sweet together. Their relationship and what they feel for one another is written so uniquely its like reading poetry, it was simply breathtaking. It's really like nothing I've read before, it just made me feel feelings it's very hard to explain but I adore them.
The story is immersive, addictive and very unique, there is so much at stake and I was waiting for something bad to happen at every turn of the page - it kept me a state of suspense right to the end, there are just so many unexpected twists and turns. The descriptions of everything really made me feel like I was there. One scene that particularly comes to mind, is when Iris and Dámiul are on a space ship and they are passing the rings of Saturn - I could picture this so vividly it was almost like I was looking out the window with them.
I honestly couldn't have asked for a sequel, it was everything I didn't know I wanted and more. If you love Starswept this is a must read and if you haven't but love sci-fi dystopia then go read Starswept and pre-order this one!
This story is simply beautifully written. I was a little nervous because I absolutely loved Starswept and I know sometimes sequels don't always turn out to be great but this one was just freaking fantastic!
The story picks up a month after Starswept ended, Iris and Dámiul are still on the run but they are determined to free the humans on Adryil. Iris makes the decision to go back to her sponsor and resume her position as musician all the while spreading the word about their cause. But treachery lies in every corner and Iris soon realizes that a traitor is among them whose identity is more shocking than she could have imagined.
I love Iris and Dámiul, they are so sweet together. Their relationship and what they feel for one another is written so uniquely its like reading poetry, it was simply breathtaking. It's really like nothing I've read before, it just made me feel feelings it's very hard to explain but I adore them.
The story is immersive, addictive and very unique, there is so much at stake and I was waiting for something bad to happen at every turn of the page - it kept me a state of suspense right to the end, there are just so many unexpected twists and turns. The descriptions of everything really made me feel like I was there. One scene that particularly comes to mind, is when Iris and Dámiul are on a space ship and they are passing the rings of Saturn - I could picture this so vividly it was almost like I was looking out the window with them.
I honestly couldn't have asked for a sequel, it was everything I didn't know I wanted and more. If you love Starswept this is a must read and if you haven't but love sci-fi dystopia then go read Starswept and pre-order this one!
April 14, 2019
Once again, I need to refer how lovely are the details of the photographs in the beginning of each chapter! Throught this we can see how much work the team put in this project.
I really enjoyed being able to see more of the alien language, Adryil. Seriously, I love the fact that the author created a whole new language.
With a captivating, clear and almost poetic writing, the author transports us back to this fantastic world.
It was great to meet with these characters again. Characters that developed a lot in this book and demonstrate how strong and determined they are.
There are many catchy and interesting things in this book. However, I feel this book fell into the typical book of rebellion, you see? For example, there are many sagas in which people of a certain system discover that there are many bad things happening, in the second book begin to revolt and then in the third they solve things with a great war and everything ends well .. I am afraid that this saga is following this path already so well known to us, readers.
I really liked this book but I didn't love it as I loved Starswept... I give this book a 3,6.
I really enjoyed being able to see more of the alien language, Adryil. Seriously, I love the fact that the author created a whole new language.
With a captivating, clear and almost poetic writing, the author transports us back to this fantastic world.
It was great to meet with these characters again. Characters that developed a lot in this book and demonstrate how strong and determined they are.
There are many catchy and interesting things in this book. However, I feel this book fell into the typical book of rebellion, you see? For example, there are many sagas in which people of a certain system discover that there are many bad things happening, in the second book begin to revolt and then in the third they solve things with a great war and everything ends well .. I am afraid that this saga is following this path already so well known to us, readers.
I really liked this book but I didn't love it as I loved Starswept... I give this book a 3,6.
March 30, 2019
Iris and Dámiul, the actual star-crossed lovers.
Gorgeously illustrated, the style of this book is almost an alien device itself - connecting the reader to the story simply through sensory input. Mary Fan is the conductor of a symphony of sensation.
The first act was a bit slow for me, but the rest an operatic cabaletta - building suspense.
I wish we would have heard a bit about Iris's mom, and that the story between Iris and Dámiul had progressed a bit. Something happens to each of them, but their relationship is more like buddies in this installment.
Overall I still want to know if they're ever freed. Guess we will have to wait and see in 2020!
Gorgeously illustrated, the style of this book is almost an alien device itself - connecting the reader to the story simply through sensory input. Mary Fan is the conductor of a symphony of sensation.
The first act was a bit slow for me, but the rest an operatic cabaletta - building suspense.
I wish we would have heard a bit about Iris's mom, and that the story between Iris and Dámiul had progressed a bit. Something happens to each of them, but their relationship is more like buddies in this installment.
Overall I still want to know if they're ever freed. Guess we will have to wait and see in 2020!
November 12, 2018
**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**
WOW. Honestly the kind of intensity I expected as a follow up to Starswept! Picks up right where it left off, plunges you IMMEDIATELY back into the action, and brings you into a bigger conflict than before. Excellent writing propels the book along and makes you crave more. A few parts were a bit slow and lost my interest, but it quickly picked back up and continued on in the fashion it did before. Excellent book. Makes you crave the ending and the answers!
WOW. Honestly the kind of intensity I expected as a follow up to Starswept! Picks up right where it left off, plunges you IMMEDIATELY back into the action, and brings you into a bigger conflict than before. Excellent writing propels the book along and makes you crave more. A few parts were a bit slow and lost my interest, but it quickly picked back up and continued on in the fashion it did before. Excellent book. Makes you crave the ending and the answers!
April 14, 2019
Great Second Book
I really liked that the plot development was good. It was nice continuing the story and again not ending just abruptly but nicely. Yes it would be good to have more stories set in the universe. I really could not put this book down at all.
I really liked that the plot development was good. It was nice continuing the story and again not ending just abruptly but nicely. Yes it would be good to have more stories set in the universe. I really could not put this book down at all.
August 2, 2019
Really, really good.
May 4, 2019
Wow wow wow wow wow wow❗️
Starswept was my top fantasy/science-fiction book of 2017 & ever since I closed it, I’ve been desperate for Wayward Stars... it did not disappoint. I was just as obsessed with this book as the first & nearly made myself very, very ill by staying up late on work nights just because I couldn’t put it down. Iris is amazing, her story & the messages that come with it are incredible & Mary presents them so well. I’m more than desperate for the final book in the series & will sob my heart out when I get my hands on it.
Thank you so much to Mary & Snowy Wings Publishing for allowing me to be an early reader for this series - I owe you so much.
⚠️ This book contains mild violence & slavery of the human race by a fictional race ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2L3
Starswept was my top fantasy/science-fiction book of 2017 & ever since I closed it, I’ve been desperate for Wayward Stars... it did not disappoint. I was just as obsessed with this book as the first & nearly made myself very, very ill by staying up late on work nights just because I couldn’t put it down. Iris is amazing, her story & the messages that come with it are incredible & Mary presents them so well. I’m more than desperate for the final book in the series & will sob my heart out when I get my hands on it.
Thank you so much to Mary & Snowy Wings Publishing for allowing me to be an early reader for this series - I owe you so much.
⚠️ This book contains mild violence & slavery of the human race by a fictional race ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2L3
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