Something I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned on my blog is how much I love Star Wars. I grew up watching it with my dad and the saga holds a very special place in my heart. Many years ago, I read a few of the books in the Star Wars universe but I hadn’t read any since. I recently rewatched all the movies (thanks Disney+) and I didn’t want to leave a galaxy far, far away just yet so I decided to buy some books. That is easier said than done, however, because there are literally hundreds of books to choose from. It’s a little daunting. I did some research and picked four different books. Today I’m reviewing the one I chose to read first, Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. I chose this book because of the reviews. People adore Claudia Gray and now, so do I. This review will have spoilers. Let’s get into the synopsis!

Synopsis

The reign of the Galactic Empire has reached the Outer Rim planet of Jelucan, where aristocratic Thane Kyrell and rural villager Ciena Ree bond over their love of flying. Enrolling at the Imperial Academy is nothing less than a dream come true for both of them. But Thane sours on the dream when he sees firsthand the horrific tactics the Empire uses to maintain its ironclad rule.

Bitter and disillusioned, he joins the fledgling Rebellion–putting Ciena in an unbearable position between her loyalty to the Empire and her love for the man she’s known since childhood.

Now on opposite sides of the war, will these friends turned foes ever find a way to be together, or will duty tear them–and the galaxy–apart?

My Thoughts

I was quite skeptical going into this book. I love the main Star Wars characters and I wasn’t sure if I could enjoy or care about new characters that weren’t in the movies. Thankfully, that was not an issue. Gray is an excellent writer and her characters just fit so well in the universe. It’s like they’ve been there all along. The same goes for the world building. She frequently included people and places that any fan would recognize. I felt like I was in the Star Wars universe, not just a random universe set in space. I truly loved almost everything about this book…

Ciena and Thane are our two main characters and unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy them both equally. Thane is wonderful. He’s brave, loyal and not afraid to fight for what’s right. Ciena, on the other hand, is stubborn and selfish. She never experiences any real character growth and stays loyal to the Empire until the very end. This doesn’t mean that she isn’t well written because she is, I just didn’t like her. I assumed the story would go in the direction of her choosing Thane over the Empire but that never happens. Kudos to Gray for not writing a predictable love story but Ciena’s choices were so frustrating.

The book also left off on a cliff hanger which I personally hate. I looked online to see if there were plans for a sequel and saw on Reddit that Gray had mentioned wanting to write one but of course, she’s having to wait for the okay from the Disney overlords. I might not have cared for Ciena but I think there’s room for her character to grow and I loved everything else about the book so I’m really hoping there will be a sequel.

Final Thoughts

Lost Stars was a pleasant surprise. It was much better than I expected it to be, even with its flaws. If you’re a Star Wars fan and a YA romance fan, this would be a good book for you. Does this novel sound like one you’d enjoy? Let me know! Thanks for reading and have a great day!