Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: June 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Status: Stand alone, though there is a companion novella prequel from Kai’s perspective.
Source: Received as part of a trade with Kelly at Reading the Paranormal!
Genre: Teen Science Fiction, Dystopian
Other Info: Peterfreund is also the author of the Killer Unicorns and the Secret Society Girl series.
Description and link from Goodreads):
It’s been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jump-starting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth–an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret–one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.Inspired by Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”, “For Darkness Shows the Stars” is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.
Most of the time, when I get into discussions with fellow appreciators of Jane Austen, their favorite book is Pride & Prejudice. Sometimes I’ll come across an Emma or Sense & Sensibility fan, but I’ve yet to meet anyone who, like me, put Persuasion at the top of their list. (I won’t pretend I’m not hoping to hear an outcry denying this once the post goes live.) I put out a couple of ARC requests when I first heard about this book, but when I didn’t hear back from the publisher, I decided that it was probably a blessing. My expectations for this book were so high, I didn’t think I’d be able to write a review if it disappointed.
The thing I failed to prepare for was a feeling of ambivalence. I’m enough of an Austen fan to realize that any adaptation (or re-imagining, etc.) will fall short of the real thing. Still, there have been a few books that have paid homage to the great Jane Austen in the best way. The authors of the “good” adaptations don’t so much try to retell Jane’s stories as take a narrative leaf out of her books. They highlight the ridiculous, provide a grounded heroine in a world of bizarre priorities, and introduce heroes so awesome thousands of women (and probably a few men) go to sleep fantasizing about them. All this, and a heaping dollop of wit, too.
Peterfreund’s adaptation of Persuasion is more straight-forward than that. You can easily pick out which characters are meant to be which, and in that respect, I think she relies a bit on Jane Austen’s characterization rather than bothering to create her own. Surprisingly, I think this book would have been more successful if she had paid a little less attention to Persuasion and a little more to creating her own story. I think that trying to adapt the story limited its potential.
Additionally, Peterfreunds’ Elliot and Wentforth didn’t do justice to their namesakes. I didn’t even particularly like Kai. Wentworth (from Persuasion) is a remarkable hero because he never once utters a word of reproach to Anne, and no matter how much he wants to resent her, he can’t help loving her still. Kai, in contrast, knowingly spreads lies about Elliot and comes off as spiteful, petulant and grudging. And Elliot is much more uptight, mopy, and self-righteous than Persuasion‘s Anne could ever be.
Finally, there was ending. It was too perfect, and yet left the major plot twist unresolved. It is, I think, the greatest argument I can make for suggesting that Persuasion limited Peterfreund’s story-telling. The whole subplot of the book is about the enslavement and mistreatment of the Posts. Spoiler Warning: One of the minor characters sets out to reverse this, but Elliot just rode off into the sunset with Kai. I found myself wishing she had rejected him and stayed on at the North Estate where, as an affluent and influential landowner, she could have made a difference. And that’s saying a lot from someone who hates it when the couple doesn’t get an HEA.
While I don’t think I’d recommend this book on the basis of it being an adaptation of Persuasion, it raises some interesting questions about technology, duty, and family. If it weren’t for the ending, I’d say go for it. I can’t ignore it, though, so I have to take points off for it. For Darkness Shows the Stars is an ambitious novel, even if it was not entirely successful.
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| 3 1/2 Matryoshkas: I’d flirt with this book over drinks. |
Enjoyed For Darkness Shows the Stars? Then try Jenna Starborn by Sharon Shinn! It’s a SciFi retelling of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre.
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While I absolutely loved this book–the writing just caught me!–I agree about Kai. He came back as a bit of a prick. And, yes, I agree with your spoiler assessment, too.
I think that the interpretation of JA’s characters is what ultimately makes or breaks these kinds of homages. Also, if characters are jerks and do jerky things, they have to do some major groveling to make me forgive them.
Persuasion is probably my second-favorite Austen but it doesn’t have the lightness and humor of P&P! Saying that, Darcy is only my 4th favorite Austen hero; Wentworth is 3rd for his steadfast love of Anne.
Who are your first and second favorites? Knightly and Col. Brandon?
Bummer. I’d put this one on my TBR, but as a huge Persuasion fan (it’s my favorite too!) I just don’t think it’ll work for me with all the issues you describe. I especially don’t think I could deal with a vindictive Wentworth knock-off. Hopefully it’ll draw some teens toward Persuasion, though – it’s way overshadowed by P&P and deserves more love.
Yeah, I don’t think that For Darkness Shows the Stars will stand up to serious Persuasion fans. It’s a bummer, but there you are. I’m glad to meet a fellow Persuasion fan!
I hope it draws some new readers to Persuasion, too. It’s a fantastic story.
I’m sad to read that this novel didn’t work for you to well. I might appreciate it a little more since I’m not that much of a fan of Austen (I know, it’s crazy but true). Thanks for the honest review!
Well, I’m not a Bronte fan, which I think more people find bizarre than not being a JA fan. I like JA’s light social commentary a bit more than the gloom of Jane Eyre.
My favorite is Northanger Abbey! (Though, granted, I haven’t yet read Emma or S&S…though I own both).
I’m ambivalent about this book already and I haven’t even read it yet. I’m not sure if I will. It sounds like it’s ok, but not really my thing. I don’t love how you describe the characters, either. I think I’ll pass for now.
Northanger Abbey is a lot of fun! Have you seen the Masterpiece Theatre version of it? I don’t like Emma, so if you read it and fall in love with her, we might have a problem. Jane Austen apparently consciously created a character that only she would like–though this turned out to be surprisingly untrue. I do, however, love Clueless, which is a retelling of Emma. Cognitive dissonance? Probably.
S&S doesn’t do much for me, especially as I think Edward is pretty much a limp fish and Col. Brandon lets Marianne walk all over him, which I don’t particularly find attractive in a man.
I have not seen the Masterpiece Theatre version. I’ve avoided all of their JA adaptations because I only read her books recently and I just haven’t gotten around to most of the movie versions yet.
I’ve heard that about Emma! I’m curious to see what I think of her. I don’t like Elizabeth Bennett at all, and I’m supposed to, right? So I wonder if I actually will like Emma instead.
Meh, Edward and Col. Brandon don’t sound like my kind of men
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