You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
popthebutterfly 's review for:
Bright Burning Stars
by A.K. Small
Disclaimer: I received this book from Algonquin Young Readers. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (TWs for: eating disorder, body dysmorphia, mental illness, mention of suicide, attempted suicide, substance abuse, abortion, unhealthy coping techniques, emotional abuse, toxic environments, and toxic friends. Also: sex, disturbing romantic portrayals, and dreams that might not be all they’re worth.)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.
But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.
Review: Okay so I loved how this book was so bold to discuss some really deep and dark topics, especially from what I assume would be presumed to be a safe place. The writing was excellent and the plot was great. The book had some great, realistic main characters and the book did well with the duel POV.
However, this book was SO HEAVY. Like, it’s an advanced YA and I think it would probably be better suited as an NA book or adult. The amount of TWs I had to put at the top were ridiculous and while I understand that all of those can happen and a person can suffer from a multiple number of issues, but this felt more like two teens lying about all the shit they’ve done. And then at the end of the book… it was a letdown. I don’t think it sent a good message to girls and I think while it was good to showcase heavy topics, the book missed the mark in the end. I can see how the ending can be interpreted a certain way, but for me it just created a bigger mess.
Verdict: It’s heavy, but magnificent.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (TWs for: eating disorder, body dysmorphia, mental illness, mention of suicide, attempted suicide, substance abuse, abortion, unhealthy coping techniques, emotional abuse, toxic environments, and toxic friends. Also: sex, disturbing romantic portrayals, and dreams that might not be all they’re worth.)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.
But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.
Review: Okay so I loved how this book was so bold to discuss some really deep and dark topics, especially from what I assume would be presumed to be a safe place. The writing was excellent and the plot was great. The book had some great, realistic main characters and the book did well with the duel POV.
However, this book was SO HEAVY. Like, it’s an advanced YA and I think it would probably be better suited as an NA book or adult. The amount of TWs I had to put at the top were ridiculous and while I understand that all of those can happen and a person can suffer from a multiple number of issues, but this felt more like two teens lying about all the shit they’ve done. And then at the end of the book… it was a letdown. I don’t think it sent a good message to girls and I think while it was good to showcase heavy topics, the book missed the mark in the end. I can see how the ending can be interpreted a certain way, but for me it just created a bigger mess.
Verdict: It’s heavy, but magnificent.