Series Review: Inherit the Stars by Tessa Elwood

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Inherit the Stars Series

Synopsis for Inherit the Stars (from Goodreads):
Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.

Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren’s life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.

But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?

Author Tessa Elwood’s debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.

Series: Inherit the Stars
Author: Tessa Elwood
# of Books: 2 (Inherit the Stars, Split the Sun)

There is a short story prequel, Inherit the Stars: Reprive

Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Politics
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Date: December 18, 2015 – December 6, 2016
Source & Format: Netgalley–eARC

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I saw this book in the Young Adult Gallery on Netgalley and planned to request it closer to the date but when I later saw that it was available as a Read Now, I immediately grabbed it.

I’ve been searching for a great YA SciFi since I read Across the Universe and I hoped that this one would fit the bill nicely. I mean, it has everything I love: space, romance and politics, so the odds were in its favour…

What I Liked:

-The Politics-

I loved the high-stakes, blood thirsty political world this novel is set in. It was fast-paced and was a major part of the plot. It wasn’t some little side plot but a core element of the story and I loved that. It’s hard to say more without giving things away.

-The Romance-

This was a slow burn romance and if you are worried that it is going to overshadow the story, rest assured that isn’t the case. It builds quite nicely and it wasn’t long before I rooted for them.

-Asa’s Fighting Spirit-

Asa was a character that had great growth I thought. Sure, she suffers a little bit from lead-heroine-sacrifice-syndrome but at the same time, I really don’t blame her for feeling that way. And I liked that she was always thinking about how to solve this problem or that. It really made you want to root for her.

What I Didn’t Like:

-The World Development-

I love books that have fast plots and I liked that this one thrusts us into the action from the first page. However, I felt like I was left hanging for the rest of the story. I was so lost in terms of the world. What is the Blight specifically? Why do people have to go through decontamination? I mean, I get the concepts (they easily parallel our real world) but I just wish they were explained fully. I felt like it was assumed I knew the world and all it’s elements–like it was explained a chapter earlier but we didn’t have it–and I definitely learned as I went, but I spent the first third trying to grasp the world while keeping track of the actual plot.

Now, that doesn’t mean I didn’t like the world, because I did, I just wish it was explained in a different way than it is.

My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:

I’m really looking forward to what is going to happen next! I love the political side of the plot and I can’t wait to see how these characters grow!

–December 11, 2016– Book #2: Split the Sun

DNF’d at 33% (pg 95/290)

This book wasn’t really what I was anticipating for the sequel. I was expecting a continuation of Asa and Eagle’s story truthfully, not the introduction of a new character that I would have to reorient myself with.

Kit provides an interesting side to the overall plot of this series. She’s a regular person with regular problems who is stuck dealing with the consequences of the previous leads’ actions. It’s something as a critic I can appreciate. Inherit the Stars focused on the politics and higher society aspect while Split the Sun changes the focus to the people who are directly impacted by their choices. But the reader in me just wanted more.

For that first 33% of the book, nothing was really happening. It was mostly Kit moaning about her problems (and she has a lot) and going through the motions which isn’t interesting to me. I needed some action or even a hint of where the plot was going to keep my interest. I think the plot had just started to show its potential direction just before I stopped but I wasn’t as invested in Kit’s story as much as I wanted to be (even if I sympathized with her situation).

So while I appreciate the direction this series wanted to go by changing the lead characters, I didn’t like the execution of it at all. I would have much preferred a direct sequel of Asa and Eagle’s storyline.

My Rating: DNF

Inherit the Stars 3.5/5 | Split the Sun DNF

While the world building leaves something to be desired, the plot speaks for itself. If you like stories that are politically driven and heroines who will do anything to save their world, this is a great one to pick up!

Read if You Like: YA science fiction, slow burn romance
Avoid if You: want stronger world building, want more romance