More Blogs Weigh in on FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS

Leila Roy (Bookshelves of Doom) for Kirkus: I enjoyed it so wholeheartedly and so unreservedly that I told my husband that reading it was like “being stabbed over and over again…but in a good way”—a compliment reserved for my favorite kind of romance. For Darkness Shows the Stars is the sort of romance that will cause many heart pangs and much swooning, that will make you want to hug it close and want to throw it across the room in frustration—sometimes all at the same time.

Starting the Next Chapter: I’ve read several variations on Jane Austen’s work and, I have to say, For Darkness Shows the Stars is my favorite, so far.  Thanks to its setting, societal issues, and intensified versions of the characters found in Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars proved to be well worth the time it took to read it.  I found the experience to be one of both reminiscence and discovery as I explored the new world that Peterfreund created.  If you’re a fan of Jane Austen, you must give this book a try.  Even if you aren’t, I still recommend it.  It is my hope that this book finds not only many fans for itself, but also new fans for one of my favorite authors of all time.  Read For Darkness Shows the Stars.  Read Persuasion.  It just might rock your world.

Making the Grade Reviews: FDSTS has an amazing cast of characters. The heroine of this novel is, beyond any doubt, a true hero. All other literary heroines should bow down at her feet. Elliot North truly understands the meaning of selflessness, hard work, love, and sacrifice. Malakai Wentforth is a difficult man to love but also a difficult man to hate. He is vicious and cruel but even the most casual observer can see that his actions come as a result of a broken heart. It’s very hard to hate a man when all you want to do is take him into your arms, give him a hug, and tell him everything is going to be OK… In the end, all I can say is when I finished For Darkness Shows the Stars, I felt a gaping hole was left in my heart and I paced around my house for days trying to get my life back in order. This story will definitely leave a lasting impression.

Christa’s Hooked On Books: What a gorgeous and heart wrenching novel. If my reviews were only one sentence that would be the sentence for this book….So between the genius setting and the heart breaking romance, this novel had me hook, line and sinker. Though I can’t say I loved all the characters or approved of all their choices, it didn’t seem to matter. This is story telling at it’s best. And to top it all off, it’s even convinced me to give Miss Austen another chance.

Read, Breathe, Relax: If I had only one word to describe For Darkness Shows the Stars, I would choose “beautiful.” This book is full of heartache, duty and redemption. I loved the route that Peterfrend chose to take, and I want everyone to read this book!…The true magic of For Darkness Shows the Stars is in the intensity and suspense that is woven in every chapter. I had to know what was going to happen between Elliot and Kai. Did he still hate her? Did she still have feelings for him? AGH!

Bibliomantics: THE GOOD:
-BOOK COVER PORN!
-Classic Jane Austen, heart breaking, unrequited romance
-Imaginative, intriguing dystopic world- one of the more interesting ones
-Metaphor for slavery, social distinctions, and breaking the social mold
-All the feelings, equal parts great premise and bite your nails tale of romance

THE BAD:
-There is no bad, only Zuul!

A Beautiful Madness: One thing is certain, Diana Peterfreund did something not many authors could have done that beautifully. Using a well-known and really appreciated classic, as inspiration can be sometimes tricky, but she able to do it brilliantly. Even more amazing, she was able to incorporate a distopian setting AND some kind of Sci-Fi elements. I have to say, I’m utterly impressed by this novel, and I can only tell you to give it a shot, because I was far from disappointed.

A Midsummer’s Night Read: When I read that For Darkness Shows the Stars was a modern re-telling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion I was a bit apprehensive.  While my experience with Austen was limited to my British Women Authors class the first year of my Master’s program, I have to say that Persuasion was never one of my favorites.  (I still haven’t read Sense and Sensibility—BAD book lover).  However, Peterfreund managed to take a somewhat dreary Austen story into a beautiful novel about dedication to family, friends, duty, and love.

April at Good Books and Good Wine: If you buy one book based on my recommendations in 2012, let For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund be it. Friends, this book pierces my soul. I took my sweet time with this read, because I feel there’s a disservice if you read it in one big gulp instead of taking time to emote and process those feelings. Diana Peterfreund retells Jane Austen’s Persuasion in post-apocalyptic fashion.

Dot Hutchison: On its own or as a retelling, this is an amazing book with all the wonder, pain, and fragile hope of the original while taking a brave new world and a distinctly YA cast that makes this, in a word, unforgettable. For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund, absolutely not to be missed.

Not Another Book Blog: The way Diana Peterfreund had brought Ann Elliott and Captain Wentworth and their struggle to be in love with people in totally different classes from so many years ago, to a future where something similar could easily happen again, is amazing. She’s done an amazing job finding a new world or these characters so many love so much. It’s a whole new story with hints of that one along for the ride. The story is told in the present with letters that take us back to their past. It’s done so well and I didn’t want it to end. Even though I knew the ending, it was still like discovering it for the first time in so many ways. Amazingly told and exceeded my wildest expectations for this story, as high as they were set.

Rogue Librarian: It’s only June but I suspect that For Darkness Shows the Stars will be one of the best books I read this year. It completly blew me away. If you are a fan of Austen or sci-fi romances do yourself a favor and read Peterfreund’s novel sooner rather than later.