“Rebellion was a plan even before I was created.”

The Sound of Stars was one that I was very interested in last year when it started popping up on my feed. I thought the premise was super interesting and hadn’t seen anything like it in YA for a while. Also the cover was so aesthetically pleasing to me. Then I learned that the main character is demi-ace and my excitement for this book doubled.

The beginning of the book was absolutely wonderful in a post-apocalyptical way. Reading about how the invasion came about and how the humans lived since really reminded me of conditions in events like WWII. Knowing that the author is American but lives in Germany made me wonder if the depiction that she was doing of the living human quarters were inspired by concentration camps. There were so many elements that could be compared to the Holocaust. Like for instance, the Ilori got rid of art in every form. Music, paintings, books you name it, it all went out the window once they took over earth. Or the humans being brought outside for exercise. There was I think of lot of correlation that could be done between the two though I haven’t found evidence right now that it was the idea behind the story.

The Sound of Stars is layered with a lot of subthemes. I do enjoy when authors put in little messages and ideologies in their writing but this one felt a bit on the verge of moralizing at times. The most important and recurring theme was how we humans treat each other. The world is invaded by aliens, a greater enemy but still humans are blinded by prejudice. Maybe even more so since the world is going to shite and everyone is paralyzed with fear. The main character Janelle is black and though you would imagine it is a time where humans should band together to fight this invader she still deals with racism.

The other subtheme that is all over this book is the environment. We learn that the alien race known as the Ilori are here to fix what we did to our planet by years of neglect and pollution. Alechia Dow goes for a wake up call with this novel in more ways than one. Treat each other better and take care of our land. I do like that she weaved these in the story but for me at some places it was a bit too much, came off as moralizing though that might have been what she was going for. I would have liked it a bit toned down.

The Sound of Stars is told in a dual POV Janelle, the human girl, and M0Rr1S a labmade alien. Honestly, I understand why she went for that but I think that the same thing could’ve been achieved with only Janelle’s POV. M0Rr1S’s POV makes us see that though you are part of the problem you can change and see that what your people/army/family is doing is wrong and fight for a better way. I do believe that by dialogue between Janelle and M0Rr1S we could’ve gotten that idea. I know authors go for multiple POVs a lot these days but I find that sometimes it seems more like a trend instead of something that brings substance to the story. It did, though, give us more information on the aliens and their ways. Janelle was such an interesting character that just seeing this world through her eyes would’ve been enough for me. She was a fully developed character with a great character arc. Janelle had closed herself off from the world but through some little acts of kindness like her library we could still see the hope she had in humanity. She tried to not give a damn about what happened to people since it seemed no one cared for her but you could see that she was kidding herself. She wanted to help, make a difference in someone’s life, change the world.

If you are looking for a fast pace sci-fi alien invasion book that will leave you breathless by the end, this is not that book. It is very much a slow build. From the growing friendship between Janelle and M0Rr1S to the start of a rebellion the book moves slowly. I have to admit I found some parts a bit too slow. I would’ve loved a more balanced action throughout the book instead of stretches with mondain scenes. The love story for me took a bit too much space but since Janelle is demi-ace I certainly understand the choice. If you are not familiar with the term demi it signifies that one has to create an emotional bond with the other person before feeling attracted to them sexually or romantically. The slow build of the characters relationship did fit the character arc of Janelle. We had a good introspection in their developing connection. The author being #OWNVOICE for demi-asexuality really showed in this.

In the end, I did enjoy reading The Sound of Stars and am excited to see what is next for the characters and Alechia Dow.

Okay, so I have to be honest and say I DNFed at 20%.

Within only a few pages, I could tell readers would have to pay close attention to all the information, terms, letters, and numbers being thrown about in order to discern what would be imperative to the story and what wasnt. It was quite confusing.

The premise of the story was of a solid dystopian sci fi variety and had a lot of promise. Aliens taking over the world and only a book loving girl to stop it with the help of her would-be enemy. I loved the nods and references to various novels, authors, songs, and musicians. It was very fun.

However, my major qualm with the book was that there was just sooo much labeling going on. Its like the author was trying to be as diverse as possible and wanted it to be very apparent that it was so. Very overt. Even if you have a diverse cast of characters, there are subtle, natural ways to go about introducing them and drawing attention to their differences. The writing around this just felt contrived. Very juvenile in a "Look at me! I am woke!" sort of way.

There was so much potential in the idea of the plot, but sadly I couldnt be bothered to make my way through the rest of the book. It was just too slow, too messy, and too contrived. The execution just needs some work.

The main selling point of The Sound of Stars was, to be honest, the illegal library that the main character is running. Janelle is a survivor of the alien invasion on Earth, and she’s running an underground library in order to help give people hope. Does that not sound like the best thing?

I was honestly more intrigued by the concept than anything. The idea of an alien and a human coming together to bond over music and books and save the human race sounded like a lot of fun. And it was, it just wasn’t as exciting as I was hoping it would be.

My main issue with The Sound of Stars was that the plot was a bit choppy. I feel like the book could have been padded out a bit more to allow for more description and more time between the action scenes. Don’t get me wrong, it was fast paced and exciting, but it didn’t really strike the balance that was necessary to properly tell the story.

The Sound of Stars does a really good job representing a demi-ace main character (Janelle), and injustice, racism, and inequality. Janelle is mixed race, and she’s very vocal about the issues that black people face.

Honestly, I hope there’s a sequel because I spent a lot of time recapping this one for Recaptains, and it would be a shame to waste my notes!

The Sound of Stars beautifully weaves different genres together to create a character-driven story with shocking plot twists. It’s a science fiction story that surpassed my expectations and captured my attention from the very first sentence. I was enamored with the characters and the world, and I cannot wait for the sequel.

Ellie is a girl after my own heart. The world she lives in, now Ilori-controlled, demands that all art, music, and books are illegal and grounds for execution if found in a human’s possession. But Ellie keeps a secret library, which I know is what I would probably do, even if it meant certain death. But books hold truth and emotion, which is a reason why Ellie keeps them. She’s a strong-minded character who wants to remember humanity for it’s creativity, not it’s captivity. She’s a character that I believe many people could relate to, including myself.

Ellie’s relationship with M0Rr1S is interesting, but also heartfelt. He may have been created in a lab and born to be emotionless, but he discovers that he possesses the same emotions and feelings that a human does. He loves music and starts to grow a bond with Ellie. This bond has the potential to save the world. Their relationship is the key to uniting two species and bringing back creativity into the world. But most of all, their relationship has the power to save each other.

Even though I loved the characterization of Ellie and M0Rr1S, I have to say that I loved the plot twists even more. There were some plot twists I saw coming and some I didn’t and the ones I couldn’t figure out beforehand were surprising. I love a book with a good plot twist, but one that has multiple makes for a fun and shocking ride. And none of the plot twists were disappointing.

Most people who read my reviews are familiar with how much I love world building. Great books have great world building. And the world building in this book did not disappoint. I felt like I had a front-row seat in this world; I could easily picture this world and its inhabitants. The world building is overall my favorite thing about this book. Everything is so intricate and magnificently designed that it’s hard not to love this world and the author’s writing. This book, overall, is pleasantly surprising and exquisitely written.

The Sound of Stars is a strong debut that I find would be perfect for many science fiction readers. It’s a book that can easily resonate with readers for different reasons. This book, this story, felt real with real and personal characters, and that alone makes me excited for the sequel.

Dow as woven a particularly grim version of the future. In this post-invasion Earth, the author borrows a bit of that star-crossed love trope with her character Ellie (Janelle) and Morris. The most striking part of this debut novel has to be the intricate world-building that has gone into the Ilori invaders and the state of humanity both before and after their arrival. It is a grim picture that, horrifyingly, resonates with today’s current events. One thing that Dow does include is a diverse group of characters. Characters introduce themselves with gender (male, female, non-binary) and appropriate use of pronouns that I found refreshing! Our heroine Ellie, is a complicated young woman stuck in an impossible situation. At times I found her relatable, and others I was very confused and had to remind myself that teenagers think differently. Like A, B, Q… Cookie instead of A, B, C. Morris was my favorite character; his growth arc continued on a fun trajectory and his personality was multi-faceted.

Even though I adored the world-building, the pacing was a bit of a mess. Readers would be moving along at a good clip and then suddenly we would be halted by a new set of obstacles that didn’t really seem to have a purpose. This results in a trudge rather than the quick clip that the intense mission calls for. Along the same issue, the ending dragged for me. I think it could have been edited down to make more of an impact. The romance itself felt unbalanced. I wasn’t really convinced of Ellie’s love even though I could see the adoration on Morris’s part.

Overall, I’m left feeling a bit confused about my stance on this book, though it is a decent debut novel. On one hand, I loved the diversity and representation in the cast of characters and I really enjoyed the world-building. And yet, the pacing issues and my lack of connection to Janelle and Morris made it really tough to feel invested in the story. Ultimately, I’m not the target age group for this book so I say if you enjoy YA and Sci-Fi then definitely give this one a try!

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. (Thank you NetGalley and the team at HQN Inkyard Press!).

This book took me through a mix of feels, even more so as all the truths that M0Rr1S had concealed started coming to the surface. But, this is more than that, giving us The Sound of Stars, which at first is a bright light at the end of a very broken, and troublesome, tunnel. It is a world that is more dystopian than anything, making the books being shared in here, as well as the music, a hope that was much needed.

Especially, once I started getting more into the novel and it began unraveling. That’s where this became more heartbreaking, even when there was love that was trying to flourish. The story of Ellie and Morris does move along pretty quickly, but it’s what I loved the most about this novel, keeping me invested even when the reality of the situation started taking over.

Because, once I started getting to the midpoint of this novel, I could see there was a much darker and sinister story afoot. Sometimes, it left me wishing that much of that didn’t exist. But, then it wouldn’t make it the story that it was meant to be, right? Just know that if you’re thinking of starting this book, it is definitely more on the shattered end of things.

It does make for a more engaging story, as those that surround Ellie and Morris try to make sense of the world they are all a part of now. And as the story progressed, I knew there was going to be an ending I wasn’t going to be completely ecstatic over. But, it’s one that was more plausible for everything that was coming down on them. A lot of the times though, I wish it could’ve been a happier one. Oh, dystopian stories, how you leave me so wrecked!

***I received this e-galley from Harlequin Trade Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

My Thoughts:

When I saw the beautiful book cover for The Sound of Stars, I knew this was a book that I wanted to read!

When aliens invade earth, one-third of the population is killed, while the other two-thirds are rounded up and contained under the strict surveillance of the Ilori labmades. Music, Art, and books are illegal. People are not allowed to come and go or socialize with one another, except for during designated times and under careful surveillance. The Ilori labmades are preparing the earth for the true Ilori to be able to land and survive in the atmosphere's conditions. A vaccine is being prepared for humans, that will allow for the true Ilori to use their bodies as a way to "vacation" on earth.

MORr1S "Morris" is a labmade commander that has been tasked with the creation of the vaccine. He doesn't have any true power, as the Ilori labmades are second class citizens and the true Ilori are their masters. Ilori are not suppose to have emotions. Morris is different, because he was raised by a mother who encouraged him to embrace his feelings.

Janelle "Ellie" Baker has a passion for books, and hid all of her family's favorites. She has an illegal library, where she smuggles books to other humans with the help of her best friend, Alice.

Morris discovered music when he came to earth, and when he discovers Ellie's illegal library, he enlists her help in rounding up more hidden music for him to discover and enjoy. He promises Ellie that he will keep her, Alice, and her family safe, if she helps him in his endeavor. As these two connect over their passion for music and books, they find themselves in a dangerous predicament, and while they're racing against the clock to save humanity, they might just discover what it means to fall in love...

I loved the strong characterization of both Ellie and Morris. I got a good sense of who they were, as well as what their hopes and fears were. Ellie was courageous, resilient, a little awkward, and very intelligent. I loved and connected with her passion for books, as well as her love and loyalty towards her best friend Alice, and her parents. Morris was a wonderful character in his own right. I enjoyed the way that he evolved as the story went on. He realized that emotions weren't something to be ashamed of, but rather, were a sign of strength. He was compassionate and caring, and I loved his excitement, exuberance, and passion for all types of music, as well as for Ellie.

It was a lot of fun reading about various musicians, and their songs. David Bowie, The Beatles, Cold Play, Queen, and Beyonce were a few mentioned, and I got excited over each new artist/song mentioned. I also loved hearing about different authors and stories, such as Pride and Prejudice, Corduroy, The Hate U Give, and Harry Potter. Important societal issues were addressed such as climate change, and civil/human rights as well as racial inequality and discrimination.

Where I struggled a bit was with the pacing of the plot. The prologue was amazing, and had me so excited to delve in to the story. Each new chapter has an interview or article about Ellie's favorite band, The Starry Eyed. I was confused at first, because these excerpts didn't fit with the story and were distracting. However, at the end of the story, the author connected and explained everything. I think the plot needed more suspense and action to move the story along at a faster and more exciting pace. The ending was great and flew by! We are left with a to be continued ending, but we get a few answers and aren't left with a crazy cliffhanger.

If you enjoy science-fiction, stories about aliens, romance, pop culture, and relevant societal issues, you might want to check out, The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow!

I really enjoyed this book!! First off, this book is set on Earth after an alien invasion takes place! Earth is taken over and humans are given "vaccinations" that essentially wipe their minds so they are easier to control. Ellie, is the main character we follow and she is pretty darn cool. She is a strong and rebellious hero!

Ellie meets Morris (an alien) pretty quick into the story! Morris is different and really takes a liking to Ellie and they start their adventure to save Earth!

I loved this book! I found Ellie to be so normal and just realistic. Like that would be how someone really acts in this situation! I enjoyed the alien things like the tech and weird communications! Although at times I found myself thinking they were more like robots than aliens but that could just be me!!

The story plays on themes that happen everyday (like racism, difference in class, ect.) Morris is different than other aliens - hes a "labmade" which essentially means hes lesser than the "true" aliens. Ellie is a black girl in New Yotk and she speaks to a lot of racism and discrimination she and her family experienced! Ellie and Morris kind of bond on these experiences. I liked how that was tied into the book!!

The chapters switch back and forth from Ellie to Morris. I liked this a lot! I got to really be inside both of their heads which created a really well rounded story! I found the ending was kind of long, its dragged on. I loved everything that was happening I just felt it took too long to happen! So that is my only real complaint about the book.

Speaking of the ending - WOW I loved it! A twist I NEVER expected happened! The ending was both heartwarming and nerve wracking! I was left with so many loose ends.... I wish I could have gotten a bit more! It ends in such a way that there could be another book or you just need to use your imagination and decide what kind of ending Ellie and Morris would have!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I tried really hard but I could not get into this story. Disappointing due to the awesome blurb! It felt way confusing in the beginning. I had no idea what was going on and therefore couldn't fall into the story. I may try this again as an audiobook. The format on my kindle could have contributed to my inability to keep pushing forward.

I have trouble reviewing YA – like being a teenager, it’s a strange in-between zone. You don’t need to be kid-friendly, but the genre also tends to dull certain aspects of adult life (sex and violence) if the novel isn’t dealing with a specific trauma.

That being said, my real rating is 3.5 stars (versus the 3 of the GR/NG system).

The diversity in the novel was fantastic – I loved that the female protagonist was a young woman of colour that wasn’t conventionally attractive, and she has a medical disability. This is important for young people to see and it didn’t feel forced. I loved the non-binary characters and the way the pronoun “they” was used without the need for some sort of unnecessary explanation. The novel’s attempts to bring in social justice concerns fell a little flat - they didn’t get enough focus to fully resonate.

One thing that was interesting to me upon reflection was Ellie’s sexuality. As someone who also wasn’t interested in sex or dating at 17 (having too many other things on the go even without living in a dystopian atmosphere), her lack of interest in sex (and her struggling to understand why she wasn’t as sexually active as her friend) was relatable.

Do alien + human love stories have to make the aliens look exactly like humans (but hotter) for the human to fall for them? Give me an ugly alien love story! Yet, the reason for Morris looking human is valid because they need to live in our atmosphere and etc., but it would have been more interesting if he was less conventionally attractive. And if he weren’t so … boring. I found him rather dull.

The love story wasn’t very exciting either, unfortunately, and took up too much time. I did like the slow burn romance aspect, but there was too much nattering on about love. Yes, this is a YA story, so I don’t expect some bodice-ripping, but maybe replace the long monologues about love with showing us why they are a good match. Perhaps the issue was that I found Ellie a little boring and Morris pedantic and too perfect. Other than their shared bravery (in different forms) and love of books/music and I didn’t see a lot that drew them together in terms of loving of another. Sexual tension and desire, sure, but the “falling in love” felt rushed (then again, they are teenagers – or at least she is). Once they establish their friendship, they don’t really argue, and they never flirt (possibly because they’re so young and inexperienced). Yet even when there’s a big misdirection in their relationship, it’s resolved so quickly we don’t see any growth on their part.

I wish the “road trip” had been drawn out and included some more instances of “fun” for them, where they got to be playful and relax around one another – this would have allowed their relationship to develop stronger. This book, despite them driving across the country, didn’t feel like a road trip novel at all.
I did enjoy the concept of the alien invasion (though I think resistance on humanity’s part would be a bit stronger in real life) and I enjoyed the hierarchy within the alien culture.

The little epigraphs to start the chapters didn’t do a lot for me and I skimmed the parts dealing with the fictional band. While I, being 34, know Bowie’s music, would someone born in 2003 know it as much? I’m not sure. My brother is 15 – maybe I’ll ask him. He’ll likely just tell me I’m old or something.

Overall, it’s a rich novel that attempts to broach large social themes as well as providing an interesting story. Would I recommend it to my daughter in 12 years or so? Sure.

The Sound of Stars features an adorable cinnamon-roll alien boy, music, stories, and a fierce ownvoices heroine--what's not to love?? I knew as soon as I heard about this book that I wanted to get it in my face immediately, and it didn't disappoint! I loved how Ellie was willing to risk her life to loan out her books (and the hope they brought with them), and the deep but complicated relationships she had with her home and the people around her. There was also a very neat twist that I liked a lot late in the story.

If you're considering reading (or preordering) The Sound of Stars, do it!

I wasn't a huge fan of this book. While it was well-written, I just didn't enjoy it. I was hoping I would, the blurb made it seem so interesting, yet I did not find it so once I started reading it, unfortunately. I know there are many that will love this book, I was just not one of them.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the storyline was well thought out and interesting. It kept my attention and had me excited to find out what happens. I was expecting it to be a stand-alone novel so I was slightly disappointed in the ending and lack of closure. I will be on the lookout for a sequel to see if Ellie & MoRr1S save the humans!

This book has my whole heart. Alechia Dow weaves together a sci-fi that is both full of love and hope for humanity's better future, yet never forgetting the long road we have to get there. It's a love letter to the people, stories, and music that made us feel less alone when life was at its worst, as well as the potential of what humans could be.

Earth has already been conquered by aliens, the Ilori. Human expression - including all forms of art - have been outlawed, and the penalty is execution. Ellie lives in a prison-like center controlled by the Ilori, and she runs a secret lending library from the basement, risking her life to keep a spark of hope alive in her community.

M0Rr1S, a young commander from the lower class of lab-made Ilori, finds himself drawn to human expression and human music, even though he was raised to be emotionless. When M0Rr1S accidentally discovers Ellie's library, he also finds himself drawn to Ellie. He seeks her out, and they develop a tentative friendship full of distrust. As their lives entangle, M0Rr1S reveals he may have a way to free humanity from the rule of the Ilori, but they must learn to trust each other as they encounter obstacles, hatred, and division from Ilori and humans alike.

At its core, this is such a sweet and loving story. Ellie and M0Rr1S are kind, art-loving souls who only want to live in peace. As part of the journey, they learn to better love themselves and each other.

But they're forced into the middle of a war where neither side is blameless. Ellie's experience as a young Black girl before the invasion was far from idyllic, and humanity was unable to unite and fight the takeover because of division and hatred. Often in sci-fi, the problems of the modern world are waved over, presumed to be fixed by the march of progress, but here they are still real and palpable, even in the middle of an existential intergalactic threat.

This book, however, wholeheartedly and lovingly embraces diversity in its pages. This is an ownvoices story with a Black protagonist. Ellie is also demi-asexual, and this is probably the first time I have seen demisexuality - an identity I share and struggled with for many years - discussed and accepted on the page. Ellie's chronic illness and anxiety disorder come into play continuously through the book, and it's one of the best representations of an anxiety disorder that I can speak to. There's also amazing body positivity, multiple characters of color, and supporting nonbinary characters both Ilori and human. This book left me with such a clear feeling of being seen and accepted, and I hope other readers will find that in this story.

The Sound of Stars broke my heart and put it back together again, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to everyone else.

This story had such promise, but besides the trudge through mud to get into the meat of the story, the meat was bland.
The characters were flat and the dialogue was robotic, but not in a charming way.

I did not care for this story, and would definitely not recommend it

Descriptions were dry and boring, and though there was an attempt at a moral to the story, it felt forced and unlikely.

"Life's short, but it's the longest thing you'll ever do, so give more than you take and be kind."

*3.5 stars

This is a super cute story about a book-loving teen and a music-loving alien finding common ground after an alien takeover of earth and how that relationship evolves during a rebellion, but "mostly about love."

I wasn't a fan of the podcast, song, and magazine article inserts, though they did link into the story at the end. I found it kind of distracting and it made it so the storyline didn't run as smoothly.

I loved that this featured a strong, black, female main character. I also loved that the story touched on everyday injustices, inequality and was incredibly LGBTQ inclusive. I also really enjoyed the book, movie, and music references.

Appreciative to have received an ARC of this book courtesy of Inkyard Press and Harlequin. It was a fun read and if there's a sequel, which I believe that there will be, it will definitely be added to my TBR list.

"Sometimes love needs only a moment to blossom, and it lingers forever."

I really enjoyed this sci-fi/romance about a teenage girl who starts off as a book smuggler in a world where aliens are in the process of colonizing humans, and ends up being a key to humanity's salvation. That she happens to be bi-racial, anxious, demi, and plus-sized is mostly incidental to the plot but enriches her character and makes her feel fresh and complex.. When she meets an alien boy who struggles with his participation in the oppression and they bond over music and literature, the story turns into a slow-burn romance road trip and ends with an interesting and action-packed twist. The book had nice meditations on race, love, literature, and music and its positive LGBTQ+ rep is appreciated.

*I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well that was...disappointing. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but that was not it.

Now before I go any further, I do want to say that there was nothing wrong with this book. It had action, compelling characters, and an interesting story that I'm sure will speak to the targeted audience. But the story moved so slowly. I think it took me more than half the book to feel truly engaged to the story itself, and the second half was honestly a blur. I don't know if that was due to the fact that I was just ready to be done with the book or not, but it felt as though on one page they were in one place and the next they were somewhere else.

The relationship between the two main characters, Ellie and Morris, is definitely what you would call a slow-burn. Honestly, it takes Ellie most of the novel to warm up to him, and Morris makes no secret of his love for her. Ellie can't seem make sense of her feelings for him, mostly due to the fact that he is a member of the alien race that rounded up and enslaved humanity. They meet because of her illegal library full of contraband books and he stumbles upon it and reads one of her books.

How Ellie and Morris get together and start their adventure were also a little fuzzy for me. I don't want to go into details because the novel doesn't come out until later this month. That aspect of The Sound of Stars, however, felt very rushed. I think the pacing in this novel was all over the place. Also, the ending...I was expecting this to be a stand-alone, but apparently there is a sequel? I think the novel was initially set up as a stand-alone, but there will be a second coming out, and I don't know how I feel about it.

Maybe others will feel differently. I do think this novel is going to appeal to teenagers. The two characters, and especially Ellie, will be relatable. Ellie speaks like a teenager and doesn't sound like an adult like so many protagonists in Young Adult today. She's socially awkward, introverted, and determined and has many flaws but shines through in spite of them.

When this novel comes out I think it will be a hit among its targeted audience. Maybe that's why it did not appeal to me as much as I initially thought it would. I would like to send a huge thank-you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with my e-galley version.

This review will post on February 2, 2020. It will be published on Goodreads, as well as my blog thatwritergirl.net

Two years ago, the Ilori invaded Earth, leaving Janelle "Ellie" Baker and her family in a building controlled by Ilori scientists and guards in the once great New York City. As the Ilori reshape the landscape of New York City and work to remove the pollution in the atmosphere for the eventual arrival of Ilori leadership, Ellie fights to stay alive while also maintaining an illegal library. When M0Rr1S "Morris" finds one of Ellie's books, he realizes that not only does he want to keep her secret but he wants to get to know her better and learn if she has access to any music, which is his favorite form of human expression. Together, the two end up leaving New York City and taking a journey through the heartland toward California, encountering humans and Ilori who both threaten and help them on their way. Against the prophetic lyrics from The Starry Eyed, Ellie's favorite band, the two seek to save both of their races while being hunted.

For a YA tale, Dow's novel does contain quite a number of familiar tropes: enemy to love interest, protagonists as outsider, "chosen one" protagonist, dystopian world, and absent parents. However, the combination of these tropes works to create a moving story that shows the importance of listening and acceptance. Dow's main points can be read as commentary on our changing world and the racial, immigrant, and partisan issues that are prevalent and are defining much of the national discourse. Since the Ilori are also trying to colonize Earth and its inhabitants as a vacation destination, there also seemed to be an unfavorable analysis of capitalism.

Despite all that is placed upon them, the bulk of the story revolves around Ellie and Morris finding that they have more commonalities than differences that allow them to create a genuine connection. Told from dual perspectives, Dow shows how art, like music and books, can bring individuals together and allow them to empathize with each other. As the narrative progresses, the threat of an Ilori vaccine administered to humans hangs over them and the role that they each have to play in order to save humanity and labmade Ilori also provides a backdrop for their own love to develop.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this novel. I guessed the narrative makeup of the middle after a few plot points emerged, but I was surprised by the ending since it didn't take the path I expected. Currently, it appears that Dow doesn't have plans for a sequel, but I feel like if she were to delve back into this world there would be more to explore. As a reader, I would hop on board if only to find out what happens to Ellie and Morris.

I was given this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book reads like it popped straight out of the golden age of YA but with a much more discerning eye. If you like paranormal romance, good representation, a new take on dystopian novels, strong girls, cinnamon roll boys, and musical roadtrips, then this book is waiting for you.

I couldn't quite believe the attention to detail and how real the novel felt despite the sci fi and fantasy elements.

I've never been this delighted by a true debut. The book is gorgeous, and I can't wait for more. Definitely an author to keep your eye on.