Under Different Stars - Book Review

Under Different Stars (Kricket #1)
by Amy A. Bartol

What is it about:
Kricket Hollowell is normally not one to wish upon stars; she believes they’re rarely in her favor. Well versed at dodging caseworkers from Chicago’s foster care system, the past few years on her own have made Kricket an expert at the art of survival and blending in. With her 18th birthday fast approaching, she dreams of the day when she can stop running and find what her heart needs most: a home.

Trey Allairis hates Earth and doubts that anyone from his world can thrive here. What he’s learning of Kricket and her existence away from her true home only confirms his theory. But, when he and Kricket lie together under the stars of Ethar, counting them all may be easier than letting her go.

Kyon Ensin’s secrets number the stars; he knows more about Kricket's gifts than anyone and plans to possess her because of them. He also knows she’s more valuable than any fire in the night sky. He’ll move the heavens and align them all in order to make her his own.

When everything in their world can be broken, will Kricket rely upon love to save her under different stars?

What did I think about it:
This was an entertaining read, but not what I hoped for when I picked it up.

Kricket is abducted from earth by a couple of soldiers from another planet. Of course the soldiers totally fall for Kricket because she's so feisty, beautiful, and special. And of course Kricket falls in love with one of them, even though he abducted her, orders her around, and is an all round asshole for the first part of the book. But at least he's honest! Barf...

So yeah, I wasn't buying the whole sugary sweet getting to know her abductors part of the story. Still it was entertaining enough to keep reading to see where things were going.

Then they get to their destination and more men join the Kricket fan club, fawning over her like she's the best thing since sliced bread. Some of them do seem to have more sinister plans, but keep forgetting about them as soon as Kricket says something naive and sassy. I must say I was annoyed by the lack of other women in this book, and I'm really not going to count Kricket's personal assistant who was only there to make Kricket look even more caring and perfect.

Things get a bit more violent near the end of the book, and there are some hints for more suspense and action in the next book, but I'll not be picking it up. Entertaining as it was to read about the amazing Kricket and her trained lapdogs, I'm not really interested in finding out what's next for them.

Why should you read it:
It's an entertaining YA SF read.


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