Friday, February 28, 2014

Tin Star (Tin Star #1) by Cecil Castellucci

Series: Tin Star #1
240p.
Published: 2/25/14
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Source: ARC from publisher for review
On their way to start a new life, Tula and her family travel on the Prairie Rose, a colony ship headed to a planet in the outer reaches of the galaxy. All is going well until the ship makes a stop at a remote space station, the Yertina Feray, and the colonist's leader, Brother Blue, beats Tula within an inch of her life. An alien, Heckleck, saves her and teaches her the ways of life on the space station. 
When three humans crash land onto the station, Tula's desire for escape becomes irresistible, and her desire for companionship becomes unavoidable. But just as Tula begins to concoct a plan to get off the space station and kill Brother Blue, everything goes awry, and suddenly romance is the farthest thing from her mind.
My thoughts:
 This is a short book that I read within a day. I warn those that don't like sci-fi... it is VERY sci-fi. I do like those kinds of things so it suited me well.

In this book we meet Tula who is going to help colonize other planets. She runs into trouble by questioning Brother Blue who then beats her to near death. Tula is smart from the start and finds a way to survive the brutal beating. She is abandoned on a space station and finds a way to survive it's harsh realities. This is a story of survival where everything is alien and, in fact, where you are the alien. No other humans live on the space station.

There are a couple of secondary characters I really enjoyed. Hecklebeck who grew on you as the story progressed. I found it so interesting that you really get to know an alien who is more like an insect and come to care for him. Tourndour is the other character. He is station manager and authority. Both of them look out for her is subtle ways and help her survive. There are others, but the book brings out those two as the most important to her survival.

I liked the way the book really shows how intelligent and strong Tula was. You really get to see how she survives very well. Later in the book she finally sees other humans. The contrast was palpable. It also showed how much Tula was able to adapt to her surroundings so much better than most humans are capable. It really make her feel stronger.

I give this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed my time with Tula and can't wait to see what else is in store for this character. I recommend it to those that love sci-fi and perhaps fantasy.

24 comments:

  1. I'm definitely looking forward to meeting Tula. As a big sci-fi fan, I'm excited to see more books in that genre coming out in YA.

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    1. Oh I do think you'll enjoy it then. It was more than I expected!

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  2. My ARC of this one from NG expired on me before I got the chance to read it. :( But it does sound really cool and I like the fact that it isn't like the other sci fi books out right now with superhero power or human-alien romance (not that there's anything wrong with that but how many books can you read of the same thing?!). I'll have to look for this one at my library. Glad you enjoyed it. Happy Friday!

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    1. Oh I'd like to know what you think. I hope you get it and review it. :) Happy Friday!

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  3. I'm about to read this, and your review has me more excited! I am a big fan of sci-fi, and don't mind if it gets really intensive or technical. Can't wait to meet Tula! Lovely review :-)

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    1. It's not too bad on the technical, but the other characters aren't human at all. I found that really interesting. :)

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  4. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this one, Melissa. I'm one of those people who DNF'ed it, though, and I've heard mixed thoughts. I simply couldn't connect with Tula or the writing. Great review!

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    1. I suspect it had to do with the sci-fi part since those that tended to enjoy it liked that kind of genre. :)

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  5. I keep seeing this book everywhere but I had no idea what it was about.

    I've really been enjoying sci-fi lately so I'll check it out.

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  6. Oh, Tula sounds like a great character; one I'd love. I do enjoy a good sci-fi! :)

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  7. It might be worth a try, but it seemed to me that those that don't really like sci-fi didn't enjoy it as much as I did.

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  8. I've seen mixed reviews for this all over the place, but I do love my sci-fi, so onto the TBR this goes! :)

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  9. I DNF'd this one for total lack of anything happening. I found that the pacing was so slow and the action completely non existent. I am glad you enjoyed it though. There seem to be two camps, those who loved it and those who hated it. No in betweeners. I suspect you understood what the author was going for whereas I did not. So glad you could connect with Tuala.

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  10. Tula sounds wonderful, and I like that it is a one sitting book and I can handle the science fiction aspect, I will add to wishlist!

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  11. It sounds good, I do like some sci-fi now and then. Thanks for the review Melissa!

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  12. Surprisingly, I liked this one and you know how I dislike space things. But I think it was really well done in this one and like you I really liked Tula, she is an amazing character to follow.

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  13. I haven't read a good sci-fi space book in awhile so I would be game to give this a try especially since it its short.

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  14. Oh I just read another review of this one not long ago and I do like some sci-fi. I king of think I might like this one.

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  15. Thanks for sharing your great review! I haven't read a sci-fi book in a while. Been mostly reading Paranormal and contemp. I do have this book in my tbr pile. SO WOOHOO! Will give it a go.

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  16. Sci-fi, huh. Well, might have to look into it more. :) Thank you.

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