Review: "Sea of Stars" by Amy A. Bartol (Kricket #2)


Note: This ARC was provided by 47North via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"You made me love you!" he says harshly. "You're not allowed to give up, do you understand? No surrender to death. Whatever happens, you have to survive it."


"But what if things get really, really bad?" I ask.


"Then you fight, like you always do, and we'll pick up the pieces of us later."


"We will?" I ask.


"Yes," he says without a hit of doubt.


I exhale a deep breath. "Okay."


Fay Kricket Hollowell is a coriness of Rafe and priestess of Alameeda but she simply wants to be Kricket Hollowell, ordinary citizen of Rafe and soon-to-be consort of Trey Allairis. But life has never been simple for Kricket. Even as she pledges her allegiance to the Rafe clan, she's looked upon as a spy for the Alameeda clan and suspicion follows her wherever she goes. In the process, she and Trey are arrested, along with the Cavars who were all part of Kricket's protection detail while she was still the Regent's ward. 

Even as Kricket, Trey, and the rest of the Cavars are questioned and detained, Kricket sees the future that awaits the Isle of Skye. Kyon and the Alameedan forces are on their way to wreak havoc on their enemies and Kyon wants Kricket to finally come with him and take her place as his consort. As Kricket, Trey, and their friends and allies struggle to stay one step ahead of the Alameedans, Kricket is inundated by visions that make her even more desperate to change the future for herself, Trey, and the Rafians they care about.

I don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that I had the ARC of Sea of Stars waiting for me after I finished Under Different Stars. I mean, I'm glad that I was able to read the second part of Kricket's story right away BUT my heart was thumping like crazy by the time I finished it and that cliffhanger at the end (cliffhangers are evil!) has now made me a frustrated and anxious bookaholic. I desperately need to know what happens next, but I have try and be patient (hah!) and wait until Darken the Stars is released. Le sigh.

I was so happy at the end of book one because Trey and Kricket (plus Jax and Wayra) were finally together in the Isle of Skye and the story does pick up soon after that point. A lot happened to my favorite Etharians and this sequel was brimming with action and suspense. Kyon was extremely focused on taking Kricket back to Alameeda and if it meant being able to annihilate the entire Rafian race then he was all for it. It was interesting to see, though, that his feelings for her appeared rather genuine, albeit overly intense.

The introduction of Giffen, a half Alameedan and half Wurthem Etharian, was an interesting one. He was obviously after Kricket for her ability to see into the future but he also seemed to have developed feelings for her, although I could have read that totally wrong. I didn't particularly like him at any point in the book, which is kinda funny since there were moments that I found myself grudgingly liking Kyon. I mean, he could have killed Kricket in the previous book and at any other point in this one but never actually did.

The world that Kricket and Trey are running around in was described so vividly that I could picture it all in my head, its beauty while at peace and all that was left when war was brought to its doorstep. I know the series isn't over yet but I believe the books would do well as a movie franchise or even a TV series. Fans of the books can't get enough of the characters and the story; I should know because I'm one of them. I highly recommend you read both available books, evil cliffhanger and all. Sea of Stars gets five-plus stars. ♥♥♥

Release Date: 31 March 2015

Date read: 31 March 2015

Learn more about author Amy A. Bartol here.

Grab a copy of Sea of Stars on Amazon.

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