Mundie Moms

Monday, January 10, 2011

Book Review- Star Crossed

By Elizabeth C Bunce
Published by Arthur A Levine Books
Released on October 1st, 2010
Source- Scholastic
4 Stars- It's A Great Read, Go Pick It Up

Digger thrives as a spy and sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse, dodging the Greenmen who have banned all magic. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner and lover Tegen is killed, she has to get out of the city, fast, and hides herself in a merry group of nobles to do so. Accepted as a lady's maid to shy young Merista Nemair, Digger finds new peace and friendship at the Nemair stronghold--as well as plenty of jewels for the taking. But after the devious Lord Daul catches her in the act of thievery, he blackmails her into becoming his personal spy in the castle, and Digger soon realizes that her noble hosts aren't as apolitical as she thought... that indeed, she may be at the heart of a magical rebellion (quoted from Goodreads).

Star Crossed is a fantastic book that blends together fantasy with the Renaissance era, and throws together action, a little romance, secrecy and betrayal. From page one, Star Crossed pulled me into the story with it's action scene. The story's main character and heroine Digger is on the run from the Greenman, a group of guards who work for the King and are highly feared as they have banned all magic. Digger and her best friend/boy friend Tegen have stolen something from the King. Digger barely escapes the Greenman, but she's left behind the only person she's ever loved or trusted, Tegen, who's now at their mercy. Digger is a trained thief, someone who's lived on the streets and on her own since she was 11. Now at sixteen, she's mastered the art of stealing to survive. Digger is an bold, independent character who harbors a secret- she can find Magic.

Escaping Gerse, Digger finds herself welcomed among a group of nobleman and quickly finds that her life will be ruled by the lies she continues to weave in order to survive, but what she doesn't except to find is loyalty and trust in other people. Star Crossed has a fantastic cast of characters, who like Digger are ones I grew to love more and more as the story progresses. I was thrown for a loop more than once while trying to figure out which characters were traitors and what some of their motivations really were. Digger to me is one that I think many readers will like. It's all about survival for her, but when she becomes Celyn Contrare, the lady in waiting for Lady Merista, I was able to see Digger's character evolve so much more. She's caught between loyalty to the noble family who takes her in, finding a way to free Tegen, finding answers to what's really happening with the noble families and the neighboring countries (which make for great plot twists), and being black mailed by the oh so evil Lord Daul.

I really enjoyed the beautifully described settings where Digger's adventures take place. From the cobblestone streets that lay in the city of Gerse, to the beautiful surrounding mountains where the castle of Bryn Shaer sits, which is where much of the story takes place. It was really easy for me to picture these places in my mind while I read the story. I felt the setting and the plot were well written. The plot has a lot of richly detailed history of war, and magic that is woven into the story. I also liked how Tegen is introduced at the beginging of the story and only brought in at various times through Digger's remembering things they've done. I really enjoyed Lady Meri and Wierolf's characters and if I say much more I'll give too much away.

I was hoping to get to see more of a few characters who made brief appearance, but my guess is that they'll be back in Digger's sequel, Liar's Moon, which I can't wait to read. I would highly recommend this fabulous read for fans of fantasy. It's a great clean cut read that even older middle graders could read. Star Crossed was an engaging read, and one who's great plot twists, fabulous characters and history completely intrigued me and let me wanting more.

1 comment:

  1. This looks like a really great read. Thank you for reviewing it!!!

    ReplyDelete

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