This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
Series: The Starbound Trilogy #2
on 19th November 2014
Pages: 384
Goodreads

Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met. Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents. Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. His sister died in the original uprising against the powerful corporate conglomerate that rules Avon with an iron fist. These corporations make their fortune by terraforming uninhabitable planets across the universe and recruiting colonists to make the planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion. Desperate for any advantage against the military occupying his home, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape base together, caught between two sides in a senseless war...The stunning second novel in the Starbound trilogy is an unforgettable story of love and forgiveness in a world torn apart by war.

After reading These Broken Stars last year, I’ve been anxiously anticipating This Shattered World – the second book in Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner’s Starbound trilogy. The first book delivered action, romance and the beginning of what promises to be a great plot involving an evil corporation who could potentially take over the universe. I couldn’t wait to see what was install for the second book!

This Shattered World introduces us to two new leads who are every bit as engaging and endearing as Lilac and Tarver. Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac are both fighting for their people. Brave, intelligent and determined not to let the other side win, they have a lot in common. Except they are fighting on opposite sides. Lee is a military captain and her reputation for being the perfect soldier precedes her. She has been touched by war before as a child and never wants anyone else to go though what she did. Flynn similarly has his childhood tainted by the war between natives and the Galactic Forces. His people are forced into hiding on their home planet and something has to change. After a kidnapping, an escape and a mysterious facility which disappears into the mist, Lee and Flynn find they may be fighting for the same thing after all.

I’m blown away with how Kaufman and Spooner manage to co-write such perfectly cohesive stories. This Shattered World alternates point of view between Lee and Flynn chapter by chapter and they way the narratives work together is incredible. The characters they write are well-rounded and multi dimensional with matters never being as simple as they seem. I loved Lee, Flynn and their adventures after that fateful night at the bar. Their histories have made each of them who they are today but neither of them are going to let their pasts rule them. They contrast beautifully and they do bring out a special something in the other. La Roux Industries is still there lurking behind the scenes and the events of this novel make perfect sense with regards to the first book.  I couldn’t get enough of their story and I devoured this book in a matter of hours.

Lee and Flynn’s story is intense, action packed and a little heartbreaking at times. However despite all that is going on, it is beautifully paced. There’s never a moment of confusion for the reader. This page turning read is a great addition to the series. There is an appearance of Lilac and Tarver (from These Broken Stars) which added some much-needed information to the overall plot arc for the series and was a great reminder of how their story ended. The setting on the world of Avon was well crafted and set the scene beautifully. The contrast from the base to the swamp was well executed and I felt the scene added an extra something to Lee and Flynn’s tale.

This Shattered World is a perfect mix of action-packed adventure, star-crossed lovers, and an original exciting plot. These characters will make you fall in love with their story and leave you wanting more. I highly recommend this series for fans of incredibly written fiction with exciting and engaging storylines. I may have only just finished reading This Shattered World but already – I’m eagerly awaiting the third book in the Starbound Trilogy!

 

Many thanks to Allen & Unwin for the review copy