Review: Under Different Stars by Amy A Bartol

Under Different Stars

Author: Amy A Bartol

Series: Kricket

Pages: 297

Publisher: 19 December 2013

Release date:

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis (Goodreads)

Kricket Hollowell is normally not one to wish upon stars; she believes they’re rarely in her favor. Well versed at dodging caseworkers from Chicago’s foster care system, the past few years on her own have made Kricket an expert at the art of survival and blending in. With her 18th birthday fast approaching, she dreams of the day when she can stop running and find what her heart needs most: a home. 

Trey Allairis hates Earth and doubts that anyone from his world can thrive here. What he’s learning of Kricket and her existence away from her true home only confirms his theory. But, when he and Kricket lie together under the stars of Ethar, counting them all may be easier than letting her go. 

Kyon Ensin’s secrets number the stars; he knows more about Kricket's gifts than anyone and plans to possess her because of them. He also knows she’s more valuable than any fire in the night sky. He’ll move the heavens and align them all in order to make her his own. 

When everything in their world can be broken, will Kricket rely upon love to save her under different stars?

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

I purchased a copy of Under Different Stars on a whim; I have been in a terrible reading slump so whilst browsing Amazon I came across this little gem, I had previously read Amy A Bartol’s The Premonition series which I enjoyed and this one kept me glued to the pages right from the very beginning, it’s a great start to the Kricket series.

Our MC, Kricket Hollowell is a character you instantly connect with and like, full of snark and wit there was some great dialogue and witty banter; she has always known there was something different about her but she was clueless as to why. Her childhood was rough and she had only a few months left of hiding away from child services before she would be able to chase her dreams so when two different groups of guys come in search of her and she ends up kidnapped, my heart was breaking for her but she never stopped fighting for a way out.

Kricket soon learns more about her parents and why she is being taken to another planet all together – Ethar, one group after her was from her mother’s home and the other from her fathers, she is a half breed and wanted by both for different purposes; she was clueless prior to this about her past. She also learns that her genetic gifts as a truth seeker and also her ability to see the future makes her a sought-after commodity and could also be the reason for the brewing war between the Alameeda and Rafe houses. 

The guys who came for Kricket were pretty awesome, led by Trey who was intriguing we also meet Wayra and Jax, we also meet a few not so great guys who were also after Kricket, Kyon grated on my nerves and I never quite understood whether he was sincere or not and Manus was creepy.

We do get a great romance between Kricket and Trey, it doesn’t start off that way and once it did happen it was quite full-on but I am interested to see how it pans out. Seeing Trey try to fight his feelings was entertaining.

I thought the plot was original and action-packed, we also get some pretty fabulous world-building; I loved learning about the planet of Ethar and their customs and rules, it was interesting. What I was keen to learn more about though was regeneration, I know Trey had this but I never quite grasped the reasoning and how it happens & if it is a possibility for everyone?

Under Different Stars in an impressive read, Amy Bartol’s writing is perfectly detailed with fabulous descriptions; the characters were each great and I can’t wait to read the sequel! A wonderful addition to the YA Sci-fi genre.

Fave quotes:

“She's in your head, Trey."
"My head, my heart, my blood," Trey responds immediately.”

“Trey, I thought that the Znou was beautiful and I wanted to keep it,” I say, explaining myself to him. “I wasn’t trying to kill myself. If I get suicidal, you’ll know ’cuz I’ll be dead. The only thing I’m feeling right now is homicidal, so watch your back.” 

“You cannot thrive under the wrong stars, Kricket,” Trey says in a calm, soothing voice. “The stars here are in opposition to you . . . can’t you feel it? You are foreign to them. You have no ancestry here—no lineage. Let us take you home.” 

About the author: Author of Inescapable: The Premonition Series (Volume 1), Intuition: The Premonition Series (Volume 2), Indebted: The Premonition Series (Volume 3) , and Incendiary: The Premonition Series (Volume 4). Currently working on a fifth novel in the Premonition Series entitled Iniquity. 

Under Different Stars (Kricket Series Book 1) 
Sea of Stars (Kricket Series Book 2)
Darken the Stars (Kricket Series Book 3) --Release Day 9/8/15 *pre-order available on Amazon.com

The Divided - A Science Fiction Romance short story, which is included in the Take Me To Your Reader: An Otherworld Anthology. 

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: www.amyabartol.weebly.com