Starstruck & Starcrossed by Brenda Hiatt

By: Unknown on Sunday, April 20, 2014

Title:  Starstruck

Series:  Starstruck #1

Author:  Brenda Hiatt

Published:  August 2013 by Createspace

Length:  328pgs

Format:  ecopy

Genre:  YA SciFi

Shelf:  review

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Nerdy astronomy geek Marsha, M to her few friends, has never been anybody special. Orphaned as an infant and reluctantly raised by an overly-strict “aunt,” she’s not even sure who she is. M’s dream of someday escaping tiny Jewel, Indiana and making her mark in the world seems impossibly distant until hot new quarterback Rigel inexplicably befriends her. As Rigel turns his back on fawning cheerleaders to spend time with M, strange things start to happen: her acne clears up, her eyesight improves to the point she can ditch her thick glasses, and when they touch, sparks fly—literally! When M digs for a reason, she discovers deep secrets that will change her formerly humdrum life forever . . . and expose her to perils she never dreamed of. Yes, the middle of nowhere just got a lot more interesting!

My Review:

Hiatt develops the world surrounding this novel so naturally that even the most implausible situation seems not only plausible but completely and utterly possible. I was so wrapped up in this story that I could think of nothing else. At the same time, I had to take a step back, thinking ‘could you just imagine.’ And was my imagination ever running wild. This novel is written in such a manner that it is approachable to a teen audience but also won’t turn off older readers. Hiatt kept me guessing and kept me entertained throughout.

You really get to know the main characters in this novel inside and out. It’s quite a revealing experience and makes the novel much more personal for the reader. I also appreciated the fact that the characters were high school students written like high school students. There wasn’t some large discrepancy between what their lives should be and what they are, well, except for the Martian bit. The supporting cast was also quite intriguing. They were all such unique individuals that it made the cast seem like a real community.

As a whole, this was a brilliant introduction to the series. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next instalment.

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Title:  Starcrossed

Series:  Starstruck #2

Author:  Brenda Hiatt

Published:  January 24th 2014 by Brenda Hiatt

Length:  330pgs

Format:  ecopy

Genre:  YA SciFi

Shelf:  Review

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Marsha Truitt’s life has changed dramatically over the past few months. Instead of a nerdy nobody, she’s the newly discovered princess of a secret civilization. Even better, she’s dating the hottest guy in school, who just happens to be her literal soulmate. But when a new boy arrives at Jewel High, everything M thought she knew about herself and her future is turned on its head. Will the very destiny that lifted her from obscurity now tear her away from Rigel and their happy ever after?

My Review:

Wow. What a trip. Hiatt picks up right where she left off in the first novel in the series and takes her readers on an even more unbelievable journey. That said, she continues with the same vividly brilliant writing style that we’ve come to know and love her for. The story is ground in reality, making it easy for the audience to immerse themselves in. at the same time suspense and intrigue are abundant, drawing you forward into this brilliant world.

I quite enjoyed getting to know the new characters in this instalment. They were very well developed and added quite a bit of intrigue and mystery to the novel. Not only that, but we got more of the characters that made us fall in love with this series. The main characters become even more loveable as they grow into their roles and fight for what they believe in. At the same time, the reality of being a teen in high school shines through clearly and realistically. Overall, everyone, old and new, melded together to create a brilliantly unique cast that will take you out of this world.

As a whole, this was an extremely enjoyable novel. I really appreciated the realism behind it and how Hiatt shows her readers the possibilities in our world today without losing the forward pace of the story. I, for one, can’t wait for the next instalment in this series.

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