I went into Last Star Burning hopeful and expecting but have left on a more sour note. Sangster pulled out the big guns for her debut and developed a world that was complex and clever. This story touched on a lot of important themes of freedom and society that I think will really tickle a lot of readers, but it lacked heart. I was never with the characters in the story. I found them tired and a tad shallow. I never came to truly connect with them, which left me in the awkward position of not becoming emotionally invested in their story.

Like I said, Sangster’s world was definitely clever. The blend of fantasy and dystopia worked wonders. Sangster mentioned that she was inspired by the Chinese Cultural Revolution and that inspiration was quite evident in the story. It led to some very interesting topics being raised throughout the plot which I enjoyed. I know that dystopian stories with these themes may be a tad overdone for the majority of readers but I adore them, so it was exactly to my liking.

With that being said, I really struggled with the plot. It was slow and a tad trudging. Maybe it was more of my personal mood affecting my patience but I was constantly distracted. I wanted something to happen that pulled me in and left me truly engaged. The pacing was not quite perfect. There were slow moments and rushed action scenes and a general lack of emotion that left me distanced from the unfurling plot. The last quarter was a particular drag. It fell back on a lot of tropes and failed to hit that emotional climatic sweet spot that all stories should at the 75% mark. I had to force myself to concentrate so I could actually finish the book.

The characters were okay. I never disliked them but I also never came to truly care for them. I found Sev an odd blend. She was meant to be humorous and sharp-witted but… I didn’t find her funny. I know that seems such a weird thing to call a character out on but we were constantly told that Sev was sassy and she had all these ‘witty lines’ that just did nothing for me. It was a weird experience to see all the characters laughing at this characters and fell so unattached and not in the moment. It really added to my disconnection from the story.

Overall? I think Sangster has potential as an author. Their world-building was clever and impressive for a debut. I loved the themes raised and definitely want to see where this story is heading in the sequel. I just wish the characters and storyline had been more engaging.

Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.