Friday, September 29, 2017

#Review - Amid Stars and Darkness by Chani Lynn Feener @TempestChani #YALit #SyFy @SwoonReads

Series: The Xenith Trilogy # 1
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Release Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Source: Library
Genre: YA / Science Fiction / Romance

A high-stakes space opera that combines science fiction and romance, this debut novel features plenty of action and a heroine whose unique brand of humor and tenacity make her easy to root for.
Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on earth in order to escape an arranged marriage. Kidnapped by the princess’ head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.
No pressure or anything.
Factor in Trystan―the princess’ terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets―and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, Chani Lynn Feener’s debut novel Amid Stars and Darkness is a thrilling space adventure complete with perfectly detailed alien planets and a super sexy secret romance.



Chani Lynn Feener's Amid Stars and Darkness is the first installment in the authors The Xenith Trilogy. Hello universe! My name is Delaney Grace, and I'm a recent High School Graduate now sharing an apartment with my best friend Mariana. During a night out for a bit of fun, & dancing, I was taken away by an alien named Ander Ruckus and ended up in a life or death adventure on Xenith. Aliens? Are you high? Oh wait! I forgot that part. Sorry! You see, 3 years ago, aliens visiting and living on Earth revealed themselves to the humans. 

There are two kingdoms on the planet Xenith. The Vakars and the Kints. Think of the Amish when thinking about the Aliens on Earth. Why, you ask? Because Aliens have their very own Rumspringa (Denzeration). It's a period in every Vakar's life when they come of age and are allowed to explore Earth. To get to know the planet, the primitive lie-forms, and decide if they'd like to say as an analyst, or return home to Xenith. For one particular Vacar, Princess Olena Lissa, she has been on her Denzeration for 5 years, and it was supposed to be her time to go home. But, she had other ideas.

Guess what? The dirty little minx did something to me that made me look exactly like her. In fact, when Ruckus appears, he actually thought I, of all people, I, who had no inclination or love for aliens unlike my best friend Mariana, was actually Olena!! How rude! Oh, you think that's cool do you? Do you think being kidnapped and taken to another planet is cool? Do you think having to pretend to be a Princess from another Planet is cool when everyone, and I mean, everyone hates her? Do you think it's cool that I have to pretend to be Olena so that war doesn't break out, or Olena's betrothed, Trystan Zane, doesn't go mad? Do you think it's cool that the Tars have repeatedly tried to kill me? Well, I am telling you that is exactly what happened and you can't get me to change my story!

For those who have made it to this point, I adore you all. Thank you for sticking with me. I thought I would have a bit of fun with this review because I loved this story so very much. If you are a fan of Melissa Landers' Alienated, you will love this story as well. I absolutely loved Delaney. She doesn't go quietly with Ruckus, she fights back. She's the anti-Olena. She's not spoiled, or childish, or arrogant. Instead, she's quick witted, strong willed, likable, and she knows that she is in a terrible position of having to avoid making an enemy out of Trystan for fear of setting of a war between alien races. 

Ruckus won me over early in the story despite his huge mistake of taking Delaney, and despite having to be careful not to let anyone know about their growing feelings towards each other. I loved their connection. On the other hand, I found myself struggling with Trystan. He's overpowering one moment, and likable the next. He seems to want to kill Delaney one minute, and ends up saving her life the next. I mean, then again, he finds this new Olena some much more appealing that the old version who was on Earth for 5 years. The ending of this book took my breath away, and I don't normally like cliffhangers. In fact, I loathe them. This cliffy is so brilliant and heart breaking at the same time. GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK! 





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