Review also on Heir of Glitter.
5 thoughts I had while reading video.

I'm not sure I read the same book everyone else did. This book has a gorgeous cover, but unfortunately I wasn't a fan.

The premise sounded really interesting, and I figured it would make for a quick, fun sci-fi read. That wasn't the case. I just don't think it was executed as well as it could've been. The plot was really slow, and at times confusing, convenient, or a bit of both.

The saving grace for me was Lilac. I wasn't a huge fan of her name, pretty as it was, but I did love her character. She was seen as the shallow, spoiled daughter of the richest man in the galaxy, but I never agreed with that. Even in the beginning, I thought she was more complex and very likable. Her reactions were very realistic; going from being pampered to having to work for your survival is a drastic change, and I think she handled it well. I admired the way she adjusted to her situation, and eventually took charge when it was necessary.

However, I wasn't a fan of Tarver at all. At first I thought he was really fun and likable, but as soon as he and Lilac got in that escape pod together, he changed. I didn't like it. He was resourceful, yes, but also stubborn and condescending. A little over halfway through, he also started to seem kind of gross; the way he thought of Lilac from time to time was really unappealing. I didn't really feel anything for him at all. :|

I liked the descriptions of the planet Lilac and Tarver crashed on, and it was fun to imagine. But I have to admit that in the midst of everything else, I think the world-building eventually got lost. I can't think of a better way to put it. I just would've liked to learn a bit more about this mysterious, abandoned planet.

It's clear that Lilac and Tarver had feelings for each other from the beginning, but kept them hidden because of their differences in status. She was the most elite girl on the ship, and he was a soldier; a war hero, but still a measly soldier. Their distaste started after the crash, but after days of being alone they seemed to realize that hiding their feelings was pointless. So they started flirting and kissing and teasing, and while normally by this point I'd be shipping them, I didn't. I'm not sure why, exactly, except maybe my dislike for Tarver made me think Lilac deserved better. I realize there was literally no one else on the planet, but that doesn't mean romance is required. >.<

As for twists, well, I don't really know what to say. I didn't predict any of the events that happened, but I also wasn't surprised by any of them. The only one I think is worth mentioning happened around 100 pages before the end, and after that I was just confused. I get how it happened, but I didn't get what was going on after. I think, maybe, the authors were trying to add too much to the story, and it became overwhelming. :|

So, to sum it all up, this book just wasn't for me. I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a new sci-fi read, but personally I didn't enjoy it enough to continue the trilogy. ;)