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Release Date: May 15th 2012
Source: Purchased
Rating: 8 (Excellent. Recommended.)
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Indiebound, Amazon
It’s been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.
Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth–an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.
But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret–one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund is a re-telling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion set in a post-apocalyptic future. Can you say awesome? People have their Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, I’ll take this over it any day. It’s the way a re-telling should be, enough of nods that you can tell its source material but different enough that you’re still interested.
I read Persuasion right before diving into this book because I wanted to be able to appreciate it more and I’m so glad I did! I like Anne Elliott’s gentle, sensible nature in Persuasion but I absolutely love Elliot’s stronger personality in this. She’s so caring to the point of self-sacrificing and she just tries so hard to maintain everything. It’s really tough being in her position, especially with her family, and I admire her tenacity so much. So when Kai reappears all shiny and hard lines, I wasn’t too keen on his remarks about her. However, Peterfreund wrote a prequel about him called Among the Nameless Stars that made me understand him more. Also, if you’ve read Persuasion, you’ll know about that moment that knocks you over sideways. Let’s just say Jane Austen can really write letters and Peterfreund captures the swoon seamlessly.
It’s not only the romance that makes this book great but also the questions it raises. It’s really creative the way Peterfreund incorporated the class differences by making them innate. In this post-apocalyptic world, people are divided into Luddites (the high society), Reduced, and Post-Reduced (Posts for short). Luddites are the natural humans and the Reduced are the descendants of people who used to science thinking they would be gods, only to have it backfire. I think it’s really interesting in regards to science vs. nature, humanity, &c, especially when Post-Reduced are add into the mix. Elliot is a Luddite while Kai is a Post, a class difference that persists with them. I wish I could see this explore a tad more in terms of the Posts we meet in the story but overall, I was satisfied.
For Darkness Shows the Stars is not merely a pretty cover but a glittering, tour de force that captures the essence of Austen. I really enjoy this one and I’ll be checking out Peterfreund’s other works for sure.
Sound: Feist – A Commotion
If it rips you all apart
The grudge has still got your heart
I think Feist’s album, Metals, can work for this romance in this novel because it has heartbreak, beautiful and subtle.
I’m glad you loved this one too! Nice catch on the class differences. I think they’re more extreme in For Darkness Shows the Stars, which was an interesting direction to take the story. (Of course, fewer people in Austen’s time would’ve seen much of a problem with innate class differences.)
SUCH a great review….and I’m DYING to get my hands on this one!! :D Seriously – it sounds magnificent and I’ve heard mostly great things about it.
Soooo excited!!
Sierra @ Yearning to Read
Sierra @ Yearning to Read recently posted..Review: What I Didn’t Say by Keary Taylor
Fab review! I really, really want to read this book. Mostly because I LOVE the book Persuasion – which is one my favourite books by Austen.
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG Elena! I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I am desperate to get my hands on a copy of this book after reading your review now! And that cover, I’d buy this book just for the cover alone! LOL. Anyway…I’m so intrigued by Kai and Elliot!
Awesome review, Elena! ♥
Celine recently posted..#121 Book Review: Love Notes from Vinegar House
So glad to hear the content lives up to the gorgeous cover. This sounds fantastic! It’s been a few years since I last read Persuasion but I did really like it. Amazing review, Elena! I’m eager to start this soon. :)
Sam @ Realm of Fiction recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday (#15)
FIrst of all, I love you for putting Feist’s song in your review, Elena! <3 Second, I don't know that I can be even more excited to read this book, but you prove me wrong! I love the cover very much, and I adore Jane Austen's books. I think I'm bound to love this! <3
Such a gorgeous review, Elena! <3
Hilda K recently posted..Review: Retro Geeks by Karen Mueller Bryson
Ah, I loved this book too! I think you’ve said it perfectly here: “For Darkness Shows the Stars is not merely a pretty cover but a glittering, tour de force that captures the essence of Austen. I really enjoy this one and I’ll be checking out Peterfreund’s other works for sure.” This is Peterfreund’s best book, by far – and I now I am just really excited for the future.
Also: great song selection! I thought of Feist and Florence + The Machine while reading it, myself.
Cecelia recently posted..waiting on wednesday (31)
Oh my goodness, so this is a buy?? This totally sounds like a buy!!! Everyone keeps giving it epic reviews (and I mean EVERYONE), but somehow I was still wary on buying it because I haven’t even read Jane Austen’s Persuasion yet. But I think I’d rather read For Darkness Shows the Stars because Elliot sounds more like my kind of heroine and it’s dystopian! (Yay, I love dystopian!) This is one of my favourite covers, and I’m so glad to know the inside lives up!
Absolutely amazing and beautiful and convincing review, Elena! I’m off to order For Darkness Shows the Stars right now :’) <3
Mimi Valentine recently posted..Review: Tiger Lily
RIGHT?! I jus reviewed this today as well, And I just love love loved it! Totally beautiful book and I’m so glad to see that people are loving it, but I’m amazed at how relatively unheard of it is! And I’m happy to hear that you also read Persuasion – I’m dying to read it now, and it’s so nice to hear that you enjoyed it as well!
Brenna from Esther’s Ever After
Brenna recently posted..Canada Day Giveaway Hop!
Your reaction to this book is SO INTENSE and I LOVE it! It makes me extra excited to read it when I can.
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books recently posted..Book Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Sigh. I loved this book so much!! Even reading your review I’m taken back to how much I loved it!!! I think Peterfreund really captured Austen’s voice with this story, her writing ability is just amazing. I haven’t read Persuasion yet, but I definitely want to now! I’m really hoping Peterfreund will do another retelling of something Jane Austen, because I feel like she did such a great job with this one, she’ll do great with anything!! Awesome review :)
Great review, hun! I didn’t know anything about this book before reading your review but you’ve totally sold me on it. Also, thanks for the tip on reading Persuasion first ;)
VeganYANerds recently posted..One Moment by Kristina McBride
I really want to read this book since it sounds really interesting. I haven’t read Jane Austen’s Persuasion, but like you I’ll read it before I start this book.
I like strong characters and the main character seems exactly that! I can’t wait to see what the romance is like !
Lovely review, Elena !
Nick @ Nick’s Book Blog recently posted..Review : Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
I have this in my list to read! I’m actually not an Austen fan at all (I know! I know! I have to give back my girl card!), I tend to prefer male authors when it comes to my classics, but this seems far enough removed for me to enjoy.
Sorcha recently posted..SadBot
Ohmygosh, just picked this up from the library today! SO excited to dive in. Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel, and I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book. :)
Kristen recently posted..The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Book Review)
This sounds like THE PERFECT retelling, Elena! I love that it’s a Jane Austen retelling set in a post apocalyptic universe! That is plain genius!! I probably will read Persuasion before I read this book as well. I haven’t read any Austen novels other than P&P and Emma and I ADORED Emma. Awesome review, Elena!
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I wish I had had the time to read Persuasion first! Still, I plan on watching at least the movie sometime soon because I really want to compare as well. Elliot was just such an achingly good person with her insistence on doing what’s right over doing what her heart wants. I just loved her. I also loved all the ethical questions the book raised. And thanks for reminding me that I still need to read Among the Nameless Stars! I thought Kai was pretty frustrating as well so it would be nice to see another side to him. Wow, I completely agree with every single thing said in this review!
Great review! I’ve been meaning to pick this one up, it sounds like it will be awesome :) Plus everyone is raving about it…
Love your blog <3 So happy that I came across it :)
Hayley recently posted..Otherkin Review
I haven’t heard of this before. However, I do like me some Austen and zombies, so this looks right up my ally. Thanks for letting me know!
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