For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund

book cover of For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Title: For Darkness Shows The Stars
Author: Diana Peterfreund
Release date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 398
Source: Publisher

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, 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 jumpstarting 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.

For Darkness Shows The Stars is such a completely unique, wonderful story.  Diana Peterfreund’s futuristic reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion will blow readers away.  Fans of the original will love it and those who haven’t read the original will be dying to.
Elliot is quite closed-off at first.  She is a very independent person and she isn’t used to having people she can rely on.  She wasn’t always that way though.  Before her mom died and Kai left she was a free-spirited girl who loved with her whole heart and wanted to travel the world.  Those dreams died with her mom.  Now she is responsible for taking care of everyone on her family’s land.  It forced her to let go of her dreams and become a rather pessimistic person.   That all changes when Kai returns.
Kai, or Captain Malakai Wentforth, was not a very likable guy.  He was rude to Elliot, talked bad about her to others, and was quick to assume the worst about her.  She however never thought anything but the best about him.  Elliot was persistent and would not let Kai forget about her.  And while Kai was a jerk to Elliot he really was a good guy.  All eventually is explained regarding Elliot and Kai and readers can’t help but hope for a happy ending for the two.
The rest of the characters are quite a mix.  Elliot’s father and sister are pretty horrible, judgmental people.  Her dad makes a perfect villain.  The Fleet was like a family and they were more than happy to allow others to join that family. Olivia was a little clueless but sweet and Horatio was a good guy.  Ro was the best though.  She was so sweet and kind.  The rest of the Posts that worked for Elliot’s family were also such good people.  The cast of characters was quite the mix but they were all great in their own way.
The history of the Reduced, Posts, and the Luddite’s was the most fascinating part of the book.  How the Reduced came to be that way, how they were eventually able to have Post children, and how the Luddites managed to remain the same throughout everything was very interesting.  The history was well-developed and never once boring. 
The plot wasn’t exactly fast-paced but the book was by no means dull.  The tension between Elliot and Kai, as well as their unexplained past, kept everything interesting and it kept me hooked.  I was also dying to know how everything would work out for the characters.  The ending tied everything up nicely and I’m happy to say that this one is a standalone.  (I’m pretty sure.)
Overall, For Darkness Shows The Stars is definitely one I recommend.  Diana Peterfreund managed to make her futuristic reimagining read pretty similar to a historical and I loved that about it.  It’s such a unique kind of story.
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11 comments

  1. I’ve seen so many amazing reviews of this, so tempted to run out and buy it—but I am trying to be good and not buy anymore until after ALA! LOL This doesn’t sounds like one that I can resist much longer, though…thanks for the great review!

  2. This one was absolutely stunning. I knew I’d like it, but I was prepared to LOVE it like I do. What a wonderful book! And you’re right – the pacing never flags, and that is really a masterful job by Peterfreund.

  3. I love a book with a explanation about the history. That gives such a developed story. I must say that I fell in love with the cover first :p and the fact that it’s a retelling (sort of) from Jane Austen. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this one ^^

  4. I totally loved the world. It was a wonderful way of retelling Austen’s masterpiece and I loved how it could appeal to YA fans and other readers who like Austen. This author is wonderful!

    Lovely review 🙂