Starglass by Phoebe NorthSeries: Starglass #1
Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on July 23, 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space
Pages: 448
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Rating: Did Not Finish
Terra has never known anything but life aboard the Asherah, a city-within-a-spaceship that left Earth five hundred years ago in search of refuge. At sixteen, working a job that doesn't interest her, and living with a grieving father who only notices her when he's yelling, Terra is sure that there has to be more to life than what she's got.
But when she inadvertently witnesses the captain's guard murdering an innocent man, Terra is suddenly thrust into the dark world beneath her ship's idyllic surface. As she's drawn into a secret rebellion determined to restore power to the people, Terra discovers that her choices may determine life or death for the people she cares most about. With mere months to go before landing on the long-promised planet, Terra has to make the decision of a lifetime—one that will determine the fate of her people.
Okay I have to admit that I didn’t get that far into Starglass before putting it down. I maybe only got like 30% through it. Unfortunately I realized that I wasn’t clicking with it and nothing was making me want to keep reading.
The first thing that threw me off guard was the strong focus on Judaism. I have nothing against Judaism but I’m not a religious person and a ton of religious stuff in books turns me off; that’s just my personal preference. And with people in Starglass constantly talking about Judaism and saying, “mazel tov” and “mitzvah” on every page… it just wasn’t my thing.
On top of that, the plot in general wasn’t grabbing me. I felt like I didn’t have a clear idea of where it was headed, and I couldn’t bring myself to get excited about it. I read for about an hour or two straight, then went to bed, and I just had no desire to pick the book up again in the morning. 🙁 I was ready to move onto something else.
I’m really disappointed though, because I was imagining “The next Across the Universe! But that didn’t really happen, at least not for me!
If you read the book, I hope you have better luck than I did! I think if you can get past the Judaism references you might have an easier time with the book. I just didn’t expect that at all and was completely thrown off guard.
Damn this is getting freaky. XD I don’t like a lot of religious stuff in books either. XD It’s one of the reasons I didn’t like Halo…
Yeah that’s why I haven’t read Halo. 🙁 I heard it was kind of preachy… Which is a bummer because I love angel books! (As long as they aren’t preachy.)
Now you’re scaring me… XD I used to love angel books until I read a few rotten apples in the genre. Now I love them again after reading Angelfall. =)
That sucks. It makes me so sad to see a DNF but it happens. And I know what you mean about the religion thing. I have nothing against it but it doesn’t interest me either.
Yeah I remember you saying that in one of your reviews! Bummer!
Well…good to know. I had been interested in this myself, but I am just like you in that I am not interested in reading a book with lots of religious stuff – whether it’s Christian, Jewish, Muslim, even a religion made up for the book. It’s just not my thing in a fiction book, not what I prefer to read. Glad I read your review, as I had no idea that it would be a part of this book. Seems kinda strange… Thanks!
Yeah exactly the same here! I just totally didn’t expect to find religion in a sci-fi, other planet, outer space book O_O
It doesn’t really have religion. It’s not used in the same way. They just use religoise words for things that aren’t religiose.
Sorry you couldn’t get into it! I agree about religious content in books. A little bit is okay, but stop forcing it! Like you, I have nothing against religion. I’m just not into reading about it.
Exactly! At the first hint of religion, I thought I’d try to let it slide, but it kept popping up over and over.. and it just wasn’t my thing!
See, I don’t mind religious stuff at all in books, unless it ends up feeling like the author’s preaching at me. And ACTUALLY the Judaism angle is making me want to read this book even more now, lol. 😀 I’m sorry you didn’t like it, though!
Oh yay!! I think that’s awesome that it makes you want to read the book! 😀 I really hope you like it! *fingers crossed*
Oh noes!!! I was kinda looking forward to this one. But at least now I’ll go in with that warning, because it would have thrown me off too!
Yeah I was totally imagining Across the Universe epicness. 🙁 Siiiiigh.
Oh too bad really! But, I am also not a religious person and when a book focuses to much on religion its a no-burner for me. I better stay away from it!
That sucks. Seriously. I’m really excited for this book. I’ve heard good things so I’ll probably still pick it up, but I know what you mean about something just bugging you. I’m sorry this wasn’t your “Across the Universe”! Maybe another one will be. 😀
<3333 Inkykins
Aww, I was quite looking forward to this one! It sucks that this one had religious aspects in it. I totally understand what you’re getting at–I don’t have anything against Judaism either, but I’m just not interested in reading it in a YA book. Thanks for the honest review, Ashley!
I won’t read it because it sound too much like Across the Universe!
Awww, this one really did sound like the next Across the Universe which I was really looking forward to. And, I prefer my books not to have a strong religious focus too. Thanks for the honesty!
It doesn’t have a strong religious focus!
You’ve hit the nail on the headagain Ashley! What a brilliant review! I completely agree! This was just too much like Across the Universe for me to enjoy. Are you planning on reading the sequel? 🙂
Thank you Zoe! Nope, I won’t be reading the sequel. 🙂