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snoopydoo77's review against another edition
5.0
http://snoopydoosbookreviews.com/feature-friday-mary-fans-starswept/
Going in to this book I had no idea what to expect. I have read a few books set in the way future, some on earth, some set in space others somewhere in between. But this book is somewhat unique.
I really enjoyed the world setting, is was fantastic and really great explained. But so were the characters, I really loved Iris and her dark, yet beautiful journey in this book.
Iris, is coming from a poor household and struggles to keep afloat with her school for the arts. As if that is not enough she soon has to face so much more. She must make very hard decisions that could cost her everything. An Adryil boy, doesn’t help for the matter. And as they grow closer things are just getting more and more complicated and more dangerous for Iris.
Some things seemed odd but in the end everything just come together really great and make sense.
I really loved this book, it was dark, sweet and had some great twists. It also was really great written a much welcomed new book in the YA sci-fi book world.
This was my first book by Mary Fan but will definitely not be the last.
If you like YA dystopian, Sci-Fi books, I highly recommend this book.
I rate it 5 ★
biehlet's review against another edition
5.0
This YA Sci Fi book is beautiful from the art on the front cover to the written ending scene. A sweet and mysterious romance, melded with the natural magic of music and the arts, as well as with the technology of science fiction will have your mind entranced until you flip the last page and wonder when you can start book 2. I loved it!
wildfaeriecaps's review against another edition
3.0
I have no idea what possessed me to buy this. I am not a scifi person. I don't care for dystopian. But you know what? This was pretty good! It got very compelling about halfway through and now I think I might have to buy the second book just to see what happens!
traceyj2850's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the idea behind this story and it got more intriguing the more I read. Iris lives in the future where talented musicians are collected by an alien race called the Adryil. I really liked the story telling, it was a slow build up, but it was so worth it, also it gave the story and the characters lots of depth by not jumping straight into the action.
I loved how the characters were all unique and diverse. I thought relationship build up between Iris and Damiul was really sweet. Iris is your typical dreamer, I found myself relating to her a lot particularly when she would day dream about her life. I also liked how much she genuinely cared for the other people in her life.
I’m really hoping that Mary Fan is writing a second installment to this story because I really really want to know what happens next. Also, I wanna take a second and show my appreciation for bloody beautiful the cover is for this book! I mean seriously its stunning and I only have an e-book version, I can’t wait to see what the real version looks like
The Bottom Line:
Read this book. I won’t disappoint, particularly if you like your YA mixed with a bit of alien romance. I would defiantly recommend this book.
bibliophilebindings's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! I cannot believe how much I truly enjoyed this book. I am nearly completely at a loss for words. I could hardly put this book down and I cried during a few scenes. Mary Fan is an incredible writer and I am so happy that I decided to read this book. My only wish is that I read it at the end of February so I didn't have to wait for the next book! I would recommend this book to anyone and I cannot wait to see what the two lovers go through in Wayward Stars. I fell in love with the characters the moment I began reading this book, and I hope that more people read this book and love it as much as I do. Reading this book will take anyone on a wonderful journey, emotions being messed with at every corner. You will be able to imagine the entire world Mary Fan built with ease and the character development was well done. I really liked how each chapter had a unique picture that could be linked to something in the chapter. I thought it was very unique, as was the story. DON'T HESITATE. READ THIS BOOK.
aw_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy from Netgalley and Snowy Wings Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Starwswept by Mary Fan is a romance science-fiction that blew me away and stole my heart. It is not without its weaknesses; however, there are numerous strengths found in the author's characters as well as her world-building that more than make up for them.
Iris Lei, in particular, is the heart of this story. She is a young violist who holds a deep love for the arts. Music is her passion and despite the restrictive laws of Papilio (the performing arts school in which she resides), Iris finds great joy in creating music with her prized instrument. Iris is a fantastic character in the way she allows music to be an integral part of her identity. She is also a hopeless romantic and her fancies are both innocent and naïve, though she frequently acknowledges this.
In my opinion, Iris is very relatable as a young protagonist and is also very self-aware. She knows when she is being foolish and she also knows when she is in the right. Despite being fairly perceptive, she still makes mistakes and can be quite reckless in her actions. A few of her decisions were frustrating and impractical, but I suppose that can be a testament to her personality type. By the end, she proves to be extremely courageous and I very much appreciate how much her character evolves and changes for the better throughout the story.
Despite Iris and her amazing character, I wasn't fully accepting of the romance, mostly because the love interest, Dámiul, is absent (in body) for the majority of the story. And when he was present (holographically present) he displayed traits that were quintessentially nice and well-meaning. Even though we see more of Dámiul in the end, I'm not sure he completely stands out as a character. Because of this, I can't really understand Iris's infatuation with him. Also, their love story is along the lines of insta-love, which usually bothers me; but because their developing relationship is so sweet and beautifully written, I could almost forgive an instant connection this time around.
While the romantic relationship between an Earthling and an Adryil is the main focus of the story, Fan also touches on various political topics concerning governmental control and international (or intergalactic) relations, as well as human trafficking and slavery. The story delves into something much more dark and serious as the story goes on, and the author does well to build up this tension and suspense, which eventually leads to a heavy moment of realization for Iris.
As for the writing itself, Mary Fan skillfully demonstrates her knowledge of music through her lyrical descriptions and fluid prose. Instrumental music and dance are forms of non-verbal expression and the author manages to capture the essence of music through enchanting passages and vivid details. Her world-building is fairly strong, especially in her descriptions of Adrye; however, the setting felt somewhat limited. I really wanted to see more of future Earth. The first part of the story takes place in Papilio and the surrounding neighborhood, but not much else helps me to believe there is anything else outside of that little area.
Besides those few issues, I greatly enjoyed this book. The romance was sweet if not a bit immediate, Iris Lei was a fantastic female protagonist, the writing and world-building were strong, and the political aspect of the story was well-developed. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger in that it didn't really resolve any problems other than Iris and Dámiul's relationship, but at least the ending implies that something much more dangerous is about to take place. I can't wait to see how this story ends.
Starwswept by Mary Fan is a romance science-fiction that blew me away and stole my heart. It is not without its weaknesses; however, there are numerous strengths found in the author's characters as well as her world-building that more than make up for them.
Iris Lei, in particular, is the heart of this story. She is a young violist who holds a deep love for the arts. Music is her passion and despite the restrictive laws of Papilio (the performing arts school in which she resides), Iris finds great joy in creating music with her prized instrument. Iris is a fantastic character in the way she allows music to be an integral part of her identity. She is also a hopeless romantic and her fancies are both innocent and naïve, though she frequently acknowledges this.
In my opinion, Iris is very relatable as a young protagonist and is also very self-aware. She knows when she is being foolish and she also knows when she is in the right. Despite being fairly perceptive, she still makes mistakes and can be quite reckless in her actions. A few of her decisions were frustrating and impractical, but I suppose that can be a testament to her personality type. By the end, she proves to be extremely courageous and I very much appreciate how much her character evolves and changes for the better throughout the story.
Despite Iris and her amazing character, I wasn't fully accepting of the romance, mostly because the love interest, Dámiul, is absent (in body) for the majority of the story. And when he was present (holographically present) he displayed traits that were quintessentially nice and well-meaning. Even though we see more of Dámiul in the end, I'm not sure he completely stands out as a character. Because of this, I can't really understand Iris's infatuation with him. Also, their love story is along the lines of insta-love, which usually bothers me; but because their developing relationship is so sweet and beautifully written, I could almost forgive an instant connection this time around.
While the romantic relationship between an Earthling and an Adryil is the main focus of the story, Fan also touches on various political topics concerning governmental control and international (or intergalactic) relations, as well as human trafficking and slavery. The story delves into something much more dark and serious as the story goes on, and the author does well to build up this tension and suspense, which eventually leads to a heavy moment of realization for Iris.
As for the writing itself, Mary Fan skillfully demonstrates her knowledge of music through her lyrical descriptions and fluid prose. Instrumental music and dance are forms of non-verbal expression and the author manages to capture the essence of music through enchanting passages and vivid details. Her world-building is fairly strong, especially in her descriptions of Adrye; however, the setting felt somewhat limited. I really wanted to see more of future Earth. The first part of the story takes place in Papilio and the surrounding neighborhood, but not much else helps me to believe there is anything else outside of that little area.
Besides those few issues, I greatly enjoyed this book. The romance was sweet if not a bit immediate, Iris Lei was a fantastic female protagonist, the writing and world-building were strong, and the political aspect of the story was well-developed. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger in that it didn't really resolve any problems other than Iris and Dámiul's relationship, but at least the ending implies that something much more dangerous is about to take place. I can't wait to see how this story ends.
alexperc_92's review against another edition
5.0
I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lyrical, with elegant writing "Starswept", is a book about music, love and ambition. Told from the first POV, it explores the struggle of living in a futuristic society where the Arts count for everything and sometimes the love for music is lost. I liked the characters and the setting and I'd love to read more from Mary Fan!
Lyrical, with elegant writing "Starswept", is a book about music, love and ambition. Told from the first POV, it explores the struggle of living in a futuristic society where the Arts count for everything and sometimes the love for music is lost. I liked the characters and the setting and I'd love to read more from Mary Fan!
theshenners's review against another edition
5.0
I got some Tiny Pretty Things vibes reading this, but of course the dystopian/sci-fi aspect took it down a very different path. The dystopian elements are grounded in real world systems of class inequality, so it wasn't hard for me to imagine such a world, even subtracting aliens out of the equation. The storyline of being an artist in a cutthroat environment where numbers make or break you resonated with me as an aspiring author, and Iris's passion, determination, and idealism in the face of hardship made her a sympathetic protagonist to me.
wolfshine's review against another edition
5.0
~I received a free copy for my honest review~
5/5 Stars
Simply amazing sci-fi dystopia. Starswept tells the story of Iris Lei, a young viola prodigy at a prestigious school for artists. She dreams of increasing her rank enough to gain a sponsor, someone who will pay off her school debt and allow her to live her life playing the instrument she loves. That is until she meets a young Adryil boy by the name of Damiul who teaches her that nothing is like it seems. Desperate to rescue Damiul from the dangers he is caught in, Iris learns about the true testament of friendship and love and finds a new purpose in her life.
With strongly written characters and scenes, Starswept is a real page turner. I’ve never read anything like it before and I can guarantee it will be an instant hit with YA readers.
5/5 Stars
Simply amazing sci-fi dystopia. Starswept tells the story of Iris Lei, a young viola prodigy at a prestigious school for artists. She dreams of increasing her rank enough to gain a sponsor, someone who will pay off her school debt and allow her to live her life playing the instrument she loves. That is until she meets a young Adryil boy by the name of Damiul who teaches her that nothing is like it seems. Desperate to rescue Damiul from the dangers he is caught in, Iris learns about the true testament of friendship and love and finds a new purpose in her life.
With strongly written characters and scenes, Starswept is a real page turner. I’ve never read anything like it before and I can guarantee it will be an instant hit with YA readers.
katkinney's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this delightful new book by Mary Fan. What a lovely musical journey to take alongside with Iris! This is the perfect book for those musicians out there who are looking for a book that combines romance, sci-fi, and writing that really integrates the arts.
Iris is a student at a prestigious music academy, focused solely on pursuing her viola studies (and THANK YOU, Mary Fan, for picking a less-loved instrument like the viola) when she suddenly finds herself involved in a bit of intergalactic intrigue and romance. I really enjoyed the way the plot unfolded and revealed more about the other planet and government actions occurring and the way that was interwoven with artistic competitions at the music academy.
Another thing that was really great to see was the diversity in this book. A wide variety of characters of different backgrounds and races, and a good mix of male and female characters. Recommended for music and sci-fi lovers.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader.
Iris is a student at a prestigious music academy, focused solely on pursuing her viola studies (and THANK YOU, Mary Fan, for picking a less-loved instrument like the viola) when she suddenly finds herself involved in a bit of intergalactic intrigue and romance. I really enjoyed the way the plot unfolded and revealed more about the other planet and government actions occurring and the way that was interwoven with artistic competitions at the music academy.
Another thing that was really great to see was the diversity in this book. A wide variety of characters of different backgrounds and races, and a good mix of male and female characters. Recommended for music and sci-fi lovers.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader.