4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2020/05/11/the-girl-and-the-stars-book-of-the-ice-1-by-mark-lawrence/
The Girl and the Stars is the first Book of the Ice and a great start to series. In true Lawrence fashion it has incredible world building and I suspect, as with the rest of his books, is going to be something that has the ‘big picture’ in mind.

This is Abeth, the cold and the wind make for very uncomfortable living. Life on the ice is tough and life expectancy short for most and for those who are different, well, it’s really short. The tribes who live in these extremes can’t afford difference, they have to be tough, fast and resilient and for those who can’t fit in the prospects are harsh.

When we meet Yaz, she is travelling across the ice with her family. It is time for another meeting of the tribes and for the frightening initiation ritual that the children must face. Yaz is afraid. She knows she’s different and that this difference will lead to her being discarded and thrown into the bottomless pit where all outcasts end their days known as the ‘Broken’. And, this is when the story takes us, down into a dark pit.

I’m not going to elaborate on the plot, there are plenty of reviews that already do so very well and so it’s unnecessary. I would mention that if you’ve not read anything by Lawrence before, although this is set in the same cold world as the Book of the Ancestor series, it isn’t necessary to have read his previous books in order to pick this one up, although clearly there will be certain references that you may not pick up, but you won’t know that you’re not picking them up, so it’s all good. After all, if you’ve never eaten chocolate you don’t know that you’re missing out – but, wait, what? Why wouldn’t you eat chocolate!

I’m always excited to pick up a new Lawrence book, I can genuinely say that I’ve enjoyed everything of his that I’ve read so far and the expectation of reading a book set on the Ice – which is where a character that I particularly enjoyed from the previous series comes from – well, if anticipation could be measured you still wouldn’t be able to measure mine. And, this gets off to a great start. I loved the opening chapters. They delivered so much. I found myself, in short order, really liking Yaz and at the same time being very worried about what she was expecting to face. The reckoning that Yaz and her family are racing towards is no small threat and the tension that was evident in everyone came across so well. Like they were holding their breath, muscles tense, just waiting for everything to be over so they could breath out again and release those bunched up shoulders. And then the worst happens, it’s not a spoiler to mention here that Yaz ends up in the very place that she most dreads – but, what I will say, is that the way she came to be there was very much a surprise and also, once she is inside her own worst nightmare, It’s completely different than she expected.

The world building in TGatS is fantastic. The Pit of the Missing is deep. So deep that it seems to contain at least another world completely. Imagine an ice age, everything you know has been consumed, the ice has enveloped it and continued to grow. The survivors eek out an existence on the surface with little awareness of the history beneath their feet. Everything here speaks of an apocalypse, perhaps this is a future-earth and the worst has happened, the world being consumed in a dark age where few survived – I don’t know, I’m simply throwing random conjectures around to see if anything will stick. What I do know is that this is the same world as the Book of the Ancestor, although I’m not sure if events here take place before or after that series. I’m sure all will become clear eventually (did I mention ML and his long game?) Anyway, there are certain elements to the story that were familiar such as mention of Gerants (giants) and also the strange abilities and (river of) magic that Yaz is able to tap into.

So, Yaz. She’s an intriguing character to read. Her life has been mapped out before her, expectations of her future partner already planned, and yet, at the back of her mind she knows she doesn’t fit it and there’s the dilemma of desperately not wanting to be found to be different whilst at the same time yearning for something different from life than that which is planned. She loves her family and in fact this is what drives the plot and also gives her a desperate, running around like a headless chicken vibe at certain points, plus, she’s a young girl of little experience and sometimes that is very clear. But, even with her youth and naivety Yaz has inner strength and a certain gravitas and her emergence in the pit causes a stir and is probably a catalyst for events.

A different and dark world exists under the ice, think Journey to the Centre of the Earth meets Lord of the Flies and you might be onto something. Again, I don’t think it’s a spoiler to mention that a lot of the children thrown into the pit survive. Yaz survived after all so why shouldn’t others, and this is a strange community of children who have lived with horrors. It’s also a brutal world of dog eats dog and apart from the bickering and jousting for position that exists there are other threats from the Tainted and from Hunters from the underground city. Yaz could definitely be a leader here, she immediately gains the confidence and trust of others but she has her own mission and this comes first and foremost.

In terms of other characters, I didn’t really form an attachment to any at this point, they’re interesting to read but the story here takes place over a very short time span – I think maybe four or five days? It was difficult for the characters themselves to develop strong feelings towards each other during that time so it’s only natural that I would feel similarly. As it happens, I would very much have liked to spend more time under the ice and would have enjoyed this part of the story taking time to develop a little more slowly, but, and here I’m about to turn into Jekyll and Hyde, I can also see why the story had this breakneck pace. There’s an urgency to the plot that really drives the pace plus a twist that once revealed makes the need for swift action a necessity.

As with all my reviews for ML this is becoming ridiculously wordy and yet I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I want to say. So I’m going to round things up.

This is an excellent start to series, the writing is simply superb and the crafting of a dark and claustrophobic world filled with unusual stars is absolutely excellent. I look forward to seeing what’s next in store for Yaz.

My rating 4 of 5 stars.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Let me start by saying I am a massive Fan of Mark Lawrence’s The Book of the Ancestor trilogy. Red Sister was the first book of his I picked up and I have been totally hooked on his writing ever since. When I heard he was writing a book set in the same world as Nona I was sold. This has easily been one of my most anticipated books of 2020 and I may or may not have pre ordered two copies. I will admit nothing!
Then I found myself in a slight quandary. Had I hyped this up too much? Would it disappoint me? I started with much trepidation but I needn’t have worried, once again the opening line drew me in and I turned the pages feverishly until the final sentence. And now I find myself trying to gather my thoughts enough to write a decent review.
Do you need to read The Book of the Ancestor first?
In short, no. You absolutely do not need to have read the previous trilogy to read and enjoy this story. Yes, it is set in the same world, but we are far away from Nona’s Abeth and Yaz’s story (our main protagonist) is set solely on the brutal world of the ice.
Those of us that have read the Ancestor books will recognize early on the magic style, as well as the stories of the Ice that we learn’t about through Nona’s journey with Zole. If you are new to this World however, don’t worry, Mark has your back. Everything is explained and we learn alongside Yaz.
The Story
Yaz lives in one of the ice clans. Every four years the clans gather to present their children to the Priest of Black Rock. Any child deemed ‘broken’, and unlikely to survive on the ice, is thrown into the pit of the broken. It is seen as a kindness and a way of ensuring the clans continued existence.
Of course, things are not that simple and Yaz really goes on quite the journey. The book itself actually only spans around a week in time. However, so much is discovered and learned it seems to be much longer. Such is the joy of the writing.
The Characters
Our main protagonist is Yaz of the Ictha, the northern most dwelling of the ice clans. They have to be strong, unbending, focused solely on survival of the ice. I loved how her notions of everything are challenged. She is thrown into a world few knew existed. There she learns the secrets of who she is and what she can do. She also finds friends for possibly the first time.
The story is told in first person, so we see everyone through Yaz’s eyes. Even so I formed opinions on who could be trusted and who might be playing a longer game. I didn’t get it all though and one character in particular really surprised me at the end.
There are a lot of characters and it did take a little time to get my head around who was who. As the story progresses though the focus becomes on a much smaller group and you begin to get to know them so much more. I fell in love with so many of these characters and formed attachments quickly, not advised in a Mark Lawrence novel – FYI!
The Writing and The Setting
If you haven’t already guessed I love Mark Lawrence’s writing style. He really pulls you into the story and creates such a believable atmosphere. In fact, in one part of the book there is a section that involves heights. I have a massive fear of falling, even if I see a high bridge or building on the telly I get the full-on fear. Never has that happened with a book until now. My toes were curling, palms sweaty, I had to put the book down and give myself a talking to. Such is the power of his words.
You are totally drawn into the story and the setting in places is breath taking. The way the stars are worked into the ice just presented some beautiful imagery. I totally fell in love with it. The hidden city, giant caverns under the ice, there is just so much to explore here and I felt that with every step Yaz took.
There are also the darker, more gory elements as well that I’ve come to associate with his novels. Everything was worked together so well.
Final Thoughts
I loved this book; the pacing is suburb and the story isn’t all neatly wrapped up. This is most definitely setting up for bigger things. The ending left me slightly frustrated but only because I’m going to have to wait to find out what happens. It is a true cliff hanger ending. Mark Lawrence is the master of a trilogy. I highly recommend this to any fantasy lover. Go buy it, you will not be disappointed.
Massive thank you to Anne to inviting me on to the blog tour and to the publishers for giving me a copy to review. Thankfully one of pre order copies did arrive in time.

I am a huge Mark Lawrence fan so was so excited to be approved for this title. It starts slow with world building but then is utterly gripping and amazing characters.

The Girl And The Stars is certainly not Mark Lawrence’s first rodeo. However, It is the most poignant epic fantasy that I have experienced in a long time. The story envelops you like a long lost relative after decades apart…everything about it just feels right. This is the kind of story that leaves you grappling with the fight for cognitive cohesion. How on earth do you get your thoughts down in a review in regard to a book of this magnitude. The narrative took me hostage and posted my ransom. I didn’t want to be found, I wanted to be immersed in this world for the foreseeable future.

My kindle only made it through the read by the skin of its teeth. There are some elements of a story that just speak to you and The Girl And The Stars just had it all. it drew out unbreakable connections, the electricity snapping between us. The book quite simply felt like a living and breathing entity. You feel the emotion and the outpouring of love that Mark Lawrence has for this story and it spoke completely to the heart. It’s almost like the book knew how you tick and brought you everything you have been craving.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a book that you can read a few chapters at a time. The Girl And The Stars will rapt your attention and the fight against it will be a futile struggle. Epic fantasy. Survival. Family. Unbreakable bonds and children of different abilities. The prose was like titanium – solid.

Mark Lawrence is an author that I have failed to get around to reading, I am ashamed to admit but now I have had a taste of his work, I will be seeking to change that immediately. He has brought The Girl and The Stars to life with such a glorious 8k dimension to it. He has created a fully immersive epic fantasy and surpassed all expectations – my brain wanted to explode. The world building was mind blowing and I was experiencing it in VR.

We meet Yaz, our sixteen-year-old female protagonist, a member of the ice tribe, the ictha. She knows that she cannot ascend to an adult member of the tribe without being judged by the regulator, Kazik. Yaz has known for many a year that she wasn’t normal, her abilities would be judged harshly and would end up being cast away into the pit of the missing, where all broken children end up.

Inadvertently or not Yaz ends up in the pit with her brother, Zeen. Her one and only mission is to save her brother, who in her mind, doesn’t deserve to be in the pit. After a considerable amount of time she comes face to face with a despicable giant – who just happens to gorge on the flesh of the broken. Yaz, however, is rescued by other members of the broken and she is introduced to a new clan that can survive below the ice. They have adapted to their new environment and Yaz has a whole lot of adapting to do.

The Girl And The Stars laser precise and hits its target every time. An intricate magical spell, you fall deep, and its rich narrative is a fresh take on a populated genre.

This book started out so strong and I was absolutely hooked! But then it went downhill from there. I lost interest in the characters and the plot. I can't explain why I lost interest - there was a decent pace to the plot and action. I think perhaps this just wasn't a book for me.

My Thoughts: I always love discovering a new author and this my first dive into one of Mark Lawrence’s books, and afternoon this one I will definitely be picking up more from him in the future.

We follow Yaz a member of the Ictha tribe who thrive in the cold, that’s their domain, it’s what they’re used to, the day has come to find out if the youngest members of the tribe have made it to adulthood, it’s a horrible tradition where they stand in front of the “pit of the missing” if the priest thinks you’re grown up you stay, if not you get pushed in!

The first book in this trilogy is all about Yaz’s journey in the pit (you’ll have to read the book to find out how she ends up down there, it’s not as straight forward as you think 😉) she soon discovers that the pit of the missing is not as it has been described from up top, there’s a whole civilisation down here! – can she integrate herself and find what she is looking for before it’s too late?

The story was absolutely magical and not just because our main character can control how bright the stars shine just by talking to them.

The world building was amazing, I was left feeling claustrophobic at times almost like I was actually down the pit with the characters of the story.

Seeing Yaz develop from a scared unsure ‘child’ into a woman who is not afraid to go after what she wants was so nice to see, who doesn’t love a bad ass female character?

It took me w while to be totally invested, adult fantasy series always start off slow because there is so much world building and character introducing to do, but by about 25% I was hooked and totally lost in the story.

Be prepared for long chapters, this isn’t something I’m used to, so was very strange to me, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story.

As with most first books, this one was left on one hell of a cliffhanger which has left me wanting book 2 now.

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!

https://theworldsofsff.com/2020/book-of-the-ice-01-the-girl-and-the-stars/

This was exactly the kind of book I needed to bring me out of my reading slump. It’s great.

I’ve read a few Mark Lawerence books recently. First, Red Sister, which is the first book in the Book of the Ancestor series and was looking forward to book 2. But then, Mark was kind enough to send me a short story which follows on from the Red Queen’s War trilogy—a trilogy I had yet to read. I’ve read the first two books in the past 6 weeks or so. I’ve really enjoyed them also. When I saw The Girl and the Stars appear on NetGalley, I requested it as Mark in now one of my favourite authors, and luckily my request was accepted. Receiving an ARC does not impact my reviews.

The Girl and the Stars is set in the same world as the Book of Ancestor series, though you do not need to have read it t read this book, and this book contains no spoilers for the Book of the Ancestor series. They are totally different stories. The world of Abeth is a frozen planet, very very thickly covered in ice, except for the ‘corridor’ which is also known as the ‘green belt’. This belt is where the Book of the Ancestor series takes place. The Girl and the Stars takes place on the ice.

"Many babies have killed, but it is very rare that the victim is not their mother.”

We follow sixteen-year-old Yaz throughout the entire story, however, this does not take away how great some of the other characters are. This book is wonderfully written, and the story masterfully told. Yaz is a member of the Ictha tribe, the physically strongest of the ice tribes—the only tribe able to survive in the coldest regions on the ice. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and family. A protector. Somebody willing to make sacrifices. She’s relatable as a young person going through changes in her life, emotionally. She tries to do what’s right. She also happens to be incredibly powerful. She’s a quantal, which if you’ve read the Book of the Ancestor series you’ll understand.

Similarly, there are others who are Marjal, Hunska or Gerant. Again, you’ll already know these if you’ve read Book of the Ancestor. Don’t worry if f you haven’t, as I have already said, they are not linked, other than the world and you’ll learn about each in this book.

Every four years the ice tribes come together at the place where there is a large hole in the ice created by heat from below. Children are assessed by the Regulator, if he deems them broken, he throws them down the hole. Among the tribes, it is believed that the broken children cannot survive on the ice. Therefore, for the good of the tribes they are thrown down the hole, presumably to their death. Children need to be at least eight (from memory) before they can be tested and must pass two tests, four years apart, before they are accepted as adults and permanent members of their tribe.

“In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown.”

However, the children don’t die, there is a whole world at the bottom of the hole. Filled with factions, evils, machines, and a rich history. Plus, plenty of twists and turns in the plot all the way to the end… cliffhanger anyone?

One thing I really love about this book is how Lawerence introduces lore so naturally. It isn’t weighty. It isn’t unnatural. It’s isn’t forced. It’s done beautifully and it was wonderful to learn more about the world of Abeth and the Missing. There are some ‘drops’ about the gods but these are then referred to in the story too. One-character who is key to learning the lore is Erris, who is thousands of years old, but I’ll leave it at that as I don’t want to give any spoilers. Another is the ‘evil’ Theus who helps drive some of the lore. While on the topic of ‘evil’, there are a few villains of varying degrees in this book, and all are well-written. They are not just evil and that is that. There is reason and meaning. And, in the case of Theus, he’s one of those who you begin to wonder about, is he really evil? Is it his fault?

The dialogue throughout is meaningful, I didn’t feel there were words wasted. And the story is great. It’s the trials of life in almost inhospitable conditions. The challenges of a society so pressured by their environment. The haunting remnants of the past. It’s a story filled with injustices and obstacles to be overcome. I was fully engrossed in a way I haven’t been since reading Mistborn 1-3 and the Kingkiller Chronicle. I’d still put those books slightly ahead of this, but this trilogy could be truly magical. It was so easy to visualise the world and I kept thinking how great this would look on TV.

I have yet to read all of Mark’s book, but I will do in the coming months, but from what I have read so far, this is his best work yet. I cannot wait for the second book.

“Now though, with darkness and despair literally reaching out to engulf her, she knew how cruel and fragile a thing hope is, and how sharp the edges of new forged dreams can be once shattered.”

Honestly anything I write here will never encompass how much I enjoyed - no slash that, absolutely bloody adored this book I totally fell in love with Yaz from the first page and I'm 100% biting at the bit to get cracking and read all of Mark Lawrence's back catalogue now if this is anything to go by I'm in for one hell of a reading treat!

We follow Yaz on her way to the pit of the missing to be judged along with other children by the regulator Kazik to ascend to adulthood you must first be judged anyone who shows weakness, strangeness or unexplained qualities are deemed the broken unable to survive in the the ice and thrown into the pit, Yaz knows she's different and is expecting to be thrown in but something unexpected happens and Yas must venture into the unknown.

Following Yaz throughout this was just so fantastic she is such an amazing character strong willed, extremely powerful, caring and just totally a character that you 100% route for, the cast of characters that are in this with her are also so amazing mark Lawrence knows how to write a belter of a character, characters you really love and some you hate, Yaz and Thurin being my total favourite.

Along with the absolutely terrific characters there is also the nail biting awesomeness that is the setting the tension that I felt reading while everyone is either running for there lives in the caves or trying to find people in the caves was seriously epic, totally reminds me of the Lord of the rings but instead of one chapter in a cave it's the whole book bloody excellent, and absolute cracker of a fantasy, this honesty blew me away and I cannot recommend this enough I also cannot wait for book 2!


Thank you so much to the publishers and Anne from #randomthingtours for allowing me to take part in the blog tour

Yet again Mark Lawrence has written a beautiful book. It’s not often you can deceive a book as beautiful, but Lawrence’s divine prose deserves to be described as such.

As you would expect from the author, this is a dark tale, yet it offers hints of redemption and resilience in a very bleak world. Set on Abeth, from the Red Sister series, this book further explores the magics and mysteries that already played a part in the previous series. With a new cast of characters, all of whom are broken in their own way, Mark Lawrence weaves a story that is gripping and enthralling.

The man is a master. His books are so clever, they really are a joy to read.

In the same world as the Red Sister Trilogy,I was excited to red this new book! But I just couldn't get into it at all. The characters didnt have much personality and I found it really hard to feel anything or connect with them.

Yaz knows that she is going to get thrown down the pit, a sacrifice to keep her clan strong and healthy. She soon discovers a whole new world beneath the ice.

I received a free copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Yaz is part of the Ichta, one of the four clans who live on the ice, who are renowned for their stamina.
She is weaker than the others, and although she tries to hide this weakness, she knows what will happen in the end.
Every few years, there is a reckoning, where all the tribes gather, and children are assessed. Those that are strong, are returned to their tribes as adults. Those that are weak, and will be an increasing strain on their tribe, are sacrificed for the good of the group.
They are thrown into the pit. As far as everyone is concerned, this is a death sentence.
What they don't know, is that their Broken children have their own community under the ice, where they mine for metal and stars, in return for food and supplies from the priests.
Of course, they aren't the only things down there.

I loved the world that Lawrence has created.
All Yaz and her kin have ever known is the world of ice they live on. It's ice as far as you can travel, eventually meeting the sea. Their whole existence is about survival; working together, and pouring every ounce of effort into staying alive. Their survival is precarious, and no one questions the need to throw weak children down the pit.
But they're not necessarily weak, they are just different. With traits that might be the next step in evolution, but unfortunately don't work well on the ice. Some are super-fast but can't keep warm; others are extra tall and strong, but need too much food.
Yaz is different, she's a quantal, someone who can control things with her mind. Just as her new friend Thurin can control water, Yaz learns that she can control the stars (spherical chunks of glowing rock that provide energy, but can also drive people insane).

I enjoyed following Yaz, as she discovered just how big the world was. She had always accepted the old stories, that the four tribes arrived from over the sea, and there was no other life than the ice.
She has never seen soil or rocks. She doesn't know what mushrooms are, nor has she any idea that plants grow.
She's warm, and for the first time in her life, she is free to make her own choices. She's not limited by merely staying alive.

Not everything is for the better. Not all the children that are thrown down make it to the relative safety of the Broken community. Some die from the fall; or are killed by cannibals. Some are possessed by demons that linger in the black ice, always hunting for their next victim.
There are unstoppable hunters, powered by stars, that roam the caves.

The setting was A-MA-ZING.

The not-so-good.
Yaz was an OK main character, and this was super-promising for the first third. She jumps into the pit to save her brother; discovers she has this awesome ability to control the stars (which means she's the only person amongst the Broken that has a chance to drive back the demons etc); and she's heralded as the bringer of change. She's all set to be a kick-ass heroine.
Then... she spends an awful lot of time drifting about with various people in her wake. Her goals constantly seem to be moving, and her drive seems completely selfish.
One moment she's giving a big speech to the Broken, promising to lead them to freedom; and the next, she's leaving them all to die under Pome's attack, with absolutely no shits given.
There are other hints along the way of saving the city, or saving the possessed; but these wither and die.
The key group that Yaz is willing to protect constantly changes. It doesn't seem to matter who she saves, as long as a couple survive at the end of the story.

There are various characters that pop up and are super-important for a brief moment, but once the aide to the plot is done, Yaz doesn't spare them any thought. As such, it was hard to keep track of all the characters that were introduced. On the conveyor-belt, none of them particularly stood out or had any real depth, except from ex-possessed-Thurin and cute-assassin-Maya.

Overall, the writing and world-building was great. I don't think I'll continue with this series, but I'll definitely look into the rest of Lawrence's work.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for having me on the blogtour for 'The Girl And The Stars', published by Harper Voyager on the 30th April in hardcover and ebook formats, thanks to Harper for my gifted ebook review copy.

This is the opening sequence in a new set of books by Mark , called The Book Of Ice, and as such, it has a tmendously hard job to do-not only is it world creating, it has to introduce and sustain characters that the readers care enough about to follow the series through.

In Yaz, he has created a hero who from the start has her own way of doing things-it is assumed from the prologue that she is the child who, when given to the priestess of their Ictha tribe to tell the future, kills the priestess instead. She then takes the hand of a witch -being sensible, these parents do not abandon their baby and seek a second opinion, the witch does not get off so easily from contact. Being from an ice tribe, set either in this world or another, having a fortune based in  fire is not a great start. All the Ictha tribe travle south every 4 years to present their children to the pit of The Missing, where the priest judges their worthiness to be part of their tribe.

If they are found to be 'broken', then into the pit they go.

Yaz is pretty certain that this is the future hanging over her, for various reasons and is hoping that this time , she will be presented and sent down the pit to end the prophecy and free her family to move on.She sees it as a kindness, all the tribe do as if a child is broken, they will not survive on the ice.Rather like the Spartans, they weed out the infirm, the less than worthy rather than tie their fate and survival to those not able to make it in the long run.

A startling development which I won't discuss because of spoilers, ends up with Yaz on the run, fighting cannibals and finding that her fate has not only been long forseen, other tribes are aware of her special nature too.

What I loved about this book is the strong female lead, the introduction to the mythology of Yaz and the stars, not entirely knowing where it is going in terms of plot development and yet happy to be swept along for the ride. It's a book to lose yourself in, and, when you've finished, immediately look up the publication date of the sequel.

The over arching themes are resonate in the real world as well as in the realms of fantasy-self determination and strength to break out of the chains that society, culture and family have created for you is far from easy, but with a small band of people who believe in you, you can reclaim it for yourself and find self worth. Remember, stars are seen as icy, cold and distant but they are also full of fire and the light we see from Earth is because they are burning...it is all a matter of perspective!

I have something to confess.. I have never read a book written by Mark Lawrence before so I don't know if this is normal for him to something slightly different. I did, however, really enjoy this book, it wasn't quite the epic fantasy that I was expecting but I enjoyed it all the same.

I really liked Yaz and was invested in what happened to her, I mean, life really sucked from the start didn't it. I also enjoyed some of the 'vague' unknown words for items that are commonplace in our current society.

I would recommend this book, especially as a starter for Mark Lawrence's writing, I am very much looking forward to the next book that comes out!

A superb fantasy read with great world building. A world within a world and an unlikely heroine! A great start to a new series.

The Girl and the Stars *Sparkled*

*I received this from Netgalley in exchange for review- but the hot take is all me 😉*

And my hot take is that this is an EPIC start to a new series! Intriguing and with chilling breadcrumbs scattered along the way, I had so many thoughts on the opening alone! From the instant I picked up the book, I was immersed in the world of the Book of the Ancestor once more, I was gripped by the icy setting, I was struck by the promise of something a little different… and I wasn’t disappointed.
With its fantastical edge and carefully balanced storytelling style, the writing was nothing short of awe-inspiring. I felt like I plunged a thousand feet into another world.

Even more so, I was stunned by the world building. Though you don’t have to read Book of the Ancestor (as much as I recommend it!) to get to this bad boy, it is set in the same world. And this book doesn’t simply resurrect the world of Red Sister, it excavates deep into its bones and plants something new. Out of that story, we get an entirely new fantasy to capture our imaginations. There were fascinating developments in the lore; there were intriguing hints at all that is to come. This was a substantial expansion of the world- and it came from the most unexpected of directions. And it was a most welcome distraction in the current times.

The characters were interesting as well- particularly Thurin. Yaz herself stood out, not just because of her powers, but for her inspirational grit and determination. I will admit that I did have some trouble connecting to her as a main character- though I cannot say for certain where this disconnect came from and I have a sneaking suspicion this is because of my mood while reading, so please bear that in mind.
The person I actually liked the most, surprisingly, was one of the villains. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I found his tone delightful and even wise at times. It was a clever touch and left a deep impression on me.

Plotwise it’s a non-stop thrill ride, hurtling by so fast you won’t have time to stop and think about where it’s headed. By the time it came to the end, I was breathless I’d completely lost sight of this world. Then, just when you think it’s all over: BAM! The twists hit out of nowhere and they’re powerful. The strong opening was undoubtedly matched by a brilliant ending. Best of all, I can see that it’s all building to something spectacular. It makes for a bright start to a new series!

Rating: 4/5 bananas

So, do you plan to read this? Or have you read the Book of the Ancestor? Let me know in the comments!

Copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

I was very disappointed in this book. I'd heard great things about Mark Lawrence from friends of mine, but reading The Girl and the Stars was in the end a frustratingly underwhelming experience. It felt as if I had come into a long story far too late- a couple of key plot developments hinge on the introduction of elements that I was clearly supposed to recognise but failed to spark any chord with me, and big chunks of the exposition delivered to Yaz by various characters (dear God, the exposition!) just seemed confusing, and Yaz didn't react to such earth-shattering developments as 'your people are not the first to be on your planet' with anything like the shock that such a revelation would merit. I understand she'd been through a lot already by that point, but come on!

Besides which, it seems that the narrative often makes a big step and then undermines it later on- Yaz will commit to doing something very dangerous, and succeed with great effort, and then something else bad will come along and undo all her hard work. I felt extremely bad for her by the end as she attempted yet another big, heroic act, waiting for the metaphorical football to be pulled away once again.

Add to that the surprisingly shallow characterisation of a lot of the supporting cast (and a tendency of some of the major players to reference things such as the Bible, which clearly implies they're from *our* world, not Yaz's, but is never explained), this book was a frustrating slog and it was only through a great effort of will I actually finished the damn thing.

I'm sorry to be so harsh. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or maybe I should have tried with a different story, But if you're looking to get into Mark Lawrence's work, this is not the point to do so.

Another amazing tale from Lawrence again! LOVED every minute of the world he builds, the characters, and the exciting plot.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Mark Lawrence can quite literally, do no wrong for me.
I've been a fan of his books for a while now and i'm so pleased this did not disappoint!
I LOVED Yaz as a main character. I thought the plot was exceptional, well paced and thought out.

Thank you so much Netgalley for giving me what is sure to be one of my favorite reads of the year.

I don't read a lot of adult fantasy but it is a genre I want to dive into more. That's why I was thrilled to get a chance to be part of the blog tour for Mark Lawrence's newest book, The Girl and the Stars.

Yaz is a member of the Ictha tribe living on Abeth, a frozen ice planet. Every four years, all of the tribes gather at a dark hole in the ice where the Regulator evaluates the children of each tribe to determine if they have what it takes to live the rugged life on the ice. Those who don't meet the standards are pushed into the hole and never seen again. Yaz previously passed her first test at the hole, but secretly she knows there is something wrong with her and she is confident this visit to the hole will be her last. Much to her surprise though, she is saved just in time to watch her brother Zeen be pushed into the unknown. Yaz immediately jumps in after him but instead of an immediate death, she actually gets a second chance at living.

She is welcome into the Broken, a group of people who have been deemed unworthy. However, Zeen has been captured by The Tainted, an evil tribe bent on destruction of the Broken. Not only does Yaz have to learn how to navigate a new world, she must also learn how to save her brother.

This book is extremely complex and a lot of time is set on world building. The cold ice-covered world is basically one of the villains itself and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about all of its complexities. So much of this unknown land is new to Yaz and while there, she is learning that she has special abilities which makes many want to control her. Yaz is able to harness and control the stars, a valuable commodity which is used as power. She encounters a unique band of broken and forms new friendships and alliances.

Lawrence definitely has a way with prose. I loved his description of all the various scenes and settings but what I loved the most was the character of Yaz. Yaz has always considered herself broken but during the course of the novel, the reader can see Yaz's confidence growing and is able to witness firsthand her learning how "unbroken" she is. Yaz has the ability to forge a new path in this hidden world and I'm so excited to see where the series leads.

So basically, if you have EVER considered trying this author, do so. I will admit that it took me a tad longer to read this book than I expected but that it because Lawrence paints such a complex fantasy world. I also wanted to make sure I had a good grasp on the plot and characters as I definitely plan on picking up subsequent books in this series. I feel that I must also add that there is one character who emotionally destroyed me when a certain plot element was revealed. At that point I was actually swearing at the book.

Now I need to go back and read the original series because reading The Girl and the Stars was a complete joy!

Returning to the world made so vivid in the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, here Mark Lawrence has created a really fascinating science fiction and fantasy genre mash up that asks more questions than it answers and expands on the world in unexpected and interesting ways. We follow Yaz, a young woman of the Ictha tribe who has spent her whole life on the ice. However, she is torn from the life she knows and discovers a world she never dreamed existed.

The Positives: There are some truly fascinating aspects introduced to Abeth that really expand on the mythos created in the Book of the Ancestor. There is much more of a science fictional element to the story here, which I really enjoyed and I just felt like all of the new directions Lawrence is taking are incredibly interesting. I thought the world beneath the ice was very well drawn and had some pretty creepy aspects to it that I wasn't expecting, but were always welcome.

The Negatives: There were times when I felt like the book was trying to do a bit too much and I found it a bit difficult to follow. I also thought that Yaz was a bit flat as a main character - she didn't have a great deal of depth for me.

Overall, I thought this was a compelling and intriguing first instalment in this new trilogy and I will definitely be continuing on with book 2.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.