Nocturnal Book Reviews: Apocalyptic SciFi YA Review: And All The Stars by Andrea K. Höst

Apocalyptic SciFi YA Review: And All The Stars by Andrea K. Höst

Thursday, January 10, 2013 | Posted by kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews

And All The Stars by Andrea K. Höst

Egalley thanks to Andrea K. Höst

Synopsis from Goodreads

Come for the apocalypse.
Stay for cupcakes.
Die for love.

Madeleine Cost is working to become the youngest person ever to win the Archibald Prize for portraiture. Her elusive cousin Tyler is the perfect subject: androgynous, beautiful, and famous. All she needs to do is pin him down for the sittings.

None of her plans factored in the Spires: featureless, impossible, spearing into the hearts of cities across the world – and spraying clouds of sparkling dust into the wind.

Is it an alien invasion? Germ warfare? They are questions everyone on Earth would like answered, but Madeleine has a more immediate problem. At Ground Zero of the Sydney Spire, beneath the collapsed ruin of St James Station, she must make it to the surface before she can hope to find out if the world is ending.

Amazon US/UK | Amazon kindle US($4.99)/UK(£3.18) | The Book Depository US/UK | Fishpond

9/10

* * *

I first heard of this book through The Book Smugglers, and let me tell you that when Thea and Ana rave about a book, I pay attention.

Fight. Always fight. No matter how impossible the odds, no matter who you've lost, how you've been hurt. If there doesn't seem to be a way out, look for one. If you seem to have come to an end, start afresh. Never, ever give up.

And All The Stars is a piece of apocalyptic YA fiction set in Sydney which already sets it apart from her numerous similar North American counterparts. It actually feels like a novel with a completely different mindset.

All the characters are lovely and multidimensional, they don't just reflect Madeleine's thoughts and feelings. The plot is simple but powerful and it's really easy to believe in it.

Andrea K. Host forces us to imagine what would happen when an alien civilization decides to make Earth their personal playground, killing a big percentage of population and changing irrevocably many more by the dust sprayed through the Spires set in major cities across the world.

Madeleine's first moments in the book are in the wreck of the underground station on which one of the Spires falls. She is surrounded by the dead and dusted heavily. Managing to get out, she walks through the empty streets of Sydney while the rest of the population tries to hide from the dust behind closed doors.

She is on her own when transformation hits but soon she finds other kids like her and they bond together to survive, jokingly calling themselves Musketeers. The dynamics in the group are fantastic.

Madeleine is the strongest, Fisher is a scientist who experiments with their strengths and weaknesses, Noi cooks and organises, Pan keeps everyone entertained, Nash is quietly supportive, Emily and Min are the babies of their family. They talk, they discuss strategies and plans, actively exchange stories, they feel human and desperate for some comfort.

Then the games start and the group has to use all they can come up with to escape the city where they are hiding.

There is a little bit of romance but it doesn't overwhelm the storyline, just adds to it and makes itself another necessary part of survival. There is also a fabulous twist in the plot that made me gasp and definitely added intensity to what was happening.

Everything is very linear, the ending is satisfying and made me all teary-eyed. Plus, this is a standalone which is a big plus.

Overall, an exceptionally good story. Highly recommended.

* * *

Обалденная вышла книжка подросткового фикшн у Андреи К. Хёст. Я читала с огромным удовольствием.

Во первых сюжет развивается в Сиднее, что уже плюс, так как североамериканский апокалипсис мне надоел до жути - ведь хочется и про остальной мир почитать. Менталитет у австралийцев также очень другой, и поэтому герои оказываются помягче и позаковыристее что-ли американцев.

Книга начинается с Маделен, пытающейся выбраться из развороченного метро, на которое упала одна из инопланетных Башен, что таинственным образом приземлились в самых больших городах планеты и начали рассеивать сверкающую пыль.

Осыпанная с ног до головы пылью, Мадди добирается в квартиру своего кузена как раз когда её накидывает первая волна трансформации.

Немногие из заражённых выживают, но те, у кого это получается, разделяются на Синих и Зелёных. Маделин умудряется убъединиться ещё с 6-ю подростками в группу, которую они в шутку называют Мушкетёрами, и их главной целью становится выживание среди инопланетного нашествия.

У этой группы прекрасная динамика - каждый из характеров кажется живым, каждый умудряется рассказать немного о себе и обладает своими отличительными чертами, они разговаривают, работают над совместной стратегией и помогают друг другу понять свои новые возможности.

Однако их планы стремительно меняются когда инопланетяне наконец-то заявляют для чего приземлились на Землю и начинают свои Игры. Теперь мушкетёрам необходимо выскользнуть из Сиднея во чтобы-то ни стало.

Великолепная, добрая, трогательная книга, у меня даже слёзы на глаза под конец навернулись. Надо читать!

Tags: 9/10, aliens, Andrea K. Höst, apocalyptic, YA, апокалипсис, инопланетяне, подростковый фикшн

4 comments:

Blodeuedd said...: Oh that good, I had no idea, I have actually not heard anything abut this one, I have seen it though but not read anything; 10 January 2013 06:27
Brandi Kosiner said...: Love to hear that the characters are multidimensional! I am a character gal.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for putting on my radar, I haven't heard much about this one.
Happy reading,
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog; 10 January 2013 19:18
Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...: Oooh, a new one to look closely at. :) Thank you!; 11 January 2013 00:58
kimbacaffeinate said...: I am all over this one..you know how I love dystopian and post-apocalyptic books, love the setting too!; 13 January 2013 19:41