Oh, how I love this series. The second book in the System Divine trilogy is just as good as the first. Though I am reserving my complete review for when I finish the third book so I can do a full series review.

This fantastic Fantasy/Sci Fi sequel to Sky Without Stars is a page-turner.  Readers will be on the edge of their seats in suspense to follow Marcaellus, Chatine, and Allouette as they race to save Laterre.

The chosen one mentality strikes again. Sure it is the oldest trope out there but man does it get old. I thought that this would be an ensemble, where people pf different backgrounds come together to save the world but nope. It has people of different backgrounds come together to support the chosen one. one to fall in love with and the others find life-changing friendships. all the cliches in one place. 
Now this being said I still liked it and enjoyed it. and cannot wait for the third one. This is a place I want to visit. I want to be one of the people from the different backgrounds who support Chatine and Marcellus in their quest to save Laterre

This one started off much like the first book, full of information and a little bit slow which makes it difficult to feel fully immersed in the story. I kept thinking this was another super long book that could have been trimmed down a lot and still gotten the point across. The last quarter of the book though really made up for the first three quarters, it was full of excitement and emotion and I was a little more interested in the story at that point!

Rating 4.5/5

I have been looking forward to this book ever since I read the first in the series, Sky Without Stars, this time last year. I think sometimes that anticipation and expectation does mean that you can sometimes run the risk of being bitterly disappointed but that was definitely not the case with this book if anything it exceeded my expectations.

In Between Burning Worlds it definitely breaks away from its original inspiration and becomes this suspenseful and engrossing adventure of a book. You can still recognise that it stemmed from Les Mis, some of the characters names and the characters arcs are similar but start to really come into their own and weave a story that has had me utterly gripped. Which is impressive as it is quite an intimidating book at over 650 pages long but once I got sucked into the world of the System Divine I hardly noticed.

One thing that I was so grateful for at the start of the book; and I really do think that authors writing series should include more; was a recap of each character, which helps you remember where everyone was at the end of the first book and helped me recall some of the key plot points. It meant that I didn’t feel like I was having to try and figure it out whilst reading the first few chapters and could actually just enjoy getting back into the story.

Chatine continues to be my favourite character, I love her strength and determination even though she faces some very bleak situations. I’m glad to say that I’m happy with where Marcellus’s journey is taking him, that he is becoming more of his own person. I am also pleased that Alouette has more character in this book, I wasn’t really all that sure of her in the first book but she actually has a purpose now and there are a lot of intriguing questions about her past and her future that made her sections a lot more enjoyable.

There are also a host of new characters that have popped up in this story, which I am enjoying especially as it plays with the dynamics that were created in the first book with the main three. There are also a lot more stressors in this book, the power plays are coming from all angles, there are some surprises and it makes for some very intense reading as we discover new parts of this world.

Between Burning Worlds is an amazing continuation of the series, it has the same wonderful world-building but with even more drama and tension and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

I wanted to love this one but it just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t relate to any characters and that is a huge part for me.

Such a remarkable book, I love how this second book immersed me back into this magical world of Paris. The storyline behind the third estate and everyone involved keeps me coming back for more. I am looking forward to the third book!

This book was a good conclusion to the first book. I was a huge fan of the characters quite a bit, and i loved how much they were devoloped. The plot was awesome, even if it kinda did seem slow at times, but it's amazing!

The one thing I have to complain about is that I wasn't too much of a fan with the romance, but it's seriously really amazing and I'm surprised that not much people have read it!

Between Burning Worlds was just as good as the first one! I loved being back in this world. I loved being with the characters again. Everything about this series is so well done! I can't wait to see how it will end!

This was a super intense read and an excellent follow up to Sky Without Stars. As the plot continues were it left off from the first novel, this book gets even a little crazier and leaves the reader thirsty for more. You won't want to sleep because knowing is so much more important!

I really enjoyed the first book.

THIS ONE IS SO MUCH BETTER (which I never say about a second book). The new characters are fabulous, the story telling is better and the pacing is much better.

I am loving this series! Fun, rich characters, lots of great twists, and just the right amount of romance. Really wonderful reimagining of the French Revolution as a futuristic cyber/space world. Les Mis meets Cinder is the perfect description.

4.5*
This sequel to Sky Without Stars is as good as the first book. The retelling of the classic Les Miserables adds new characters and other worlds as Marcellus, Alouette and Chatine try to thwart the General (Marcellus’ grandfather) who has a new weapon in production that will create even more havoc on Laterre. The authors have expanded upon the Hugo tale by bringing in fresh and creative twists. Alouette’s father, a key player in the original tale, is not included here and he is missed. But there’s so much to like that one can overlook his absence.

New characters include a “criminal mastermind” (or so he self-describes himself), a flashy hacker from the Second Estate, a dashing guy from the outer realms and a new rebel leader who is bent on revenge. The adventures go beyond Laterre and the Bastille (the mining prison), to other planets and to the outer reaches that are thought to be uninhabitable. The new characters bring lively dialog as they trade barbs with members of the original cast. The world building continues to impress as the story expands to other areas in a creative and fascinating way.  

As Marcellus works to outwit his grandfather, he is repeatedly reminded that his grandfather is always two steps ahead of him and, just like with their chess games, he’s continually bested by the older man. It will take a Herculean effort for him and his band of friends to stop his grandfather’s evil plan. Fortunately, Chatine, Alouette and Cerise have talents of their own that make them a formidable team. No doubt, it’s the women who shine here. Chatine is especially remarkable for her daring, her savvy and her gritty determination. Her character also develops in interesting ways. Alouette comes to appreciate the training she received at the hands of the Sisters and learns more about her who she really is.

As the book closes, there are new revelations and a twist that will leave everyone with a burning desire to read the next installment as soon as possible. This series has so much action and intensity that it will leave readers breathless. Riveting story with great writing – a true tour de force.

I was so excited to get approved for this book! The first book was amazing and I knew I would love this one just as much. Because school has been kicking my butt this term I wasn’t able to read this book before it came out, but I did get to listen to the audiobook. The narrators, once again, did an amazing job bringing these characters to life.

Although we meet a few new characters in this book, our POVs stay the same. We still follow Marcellus, Chatine, and Alouette. A few things have changed for our lovely characters though. Alouette has decided to leave the sisterhood and find out as much as she can about her mother. Marcellus decides to join up with the Vangarde to stop his grandfather from taking control over Laterre. And Chatine is in prison on Bastille. They are all fighting their own battles, but of course, Brody and Rendell find a way to bring them all together again.

This go-round I liked Alouette more. It’s not that I didn’t like her in the first book, but I felt like from the get-go I was team Chatine lol. But Alouette really is a strong character and has grown so much from when we first met her. Chatine is still my favorite character and she teams up with someone new, who I absolutely love! I cannot wait to read more about him in the next book… at least there better be more about him. And Marcellus, he has grown a bunch as well. He is no longer the boy who wants nothing more than to make his grandfather proud. He is coming into his own now and I love it.

So many things are revealed in this book that completely shocked me! It was an awesome ride for sure. I am so excited to get my hands on the next book because I have to know what happens next. I definitely recommend Between Burning Worlds! Go and read it ASAP, you won’t regret it.

I've been dying to read 'Between Burning Worlds' ever since I finished reading the first book in the series. I have to admit that I went into it with pretty high hopes and expectations because I loved the first book so much and I wasn't let down in the least. I basically adored every single part of the novel - from the world building and setting to the characters and the wonderful science fiction plot mixed as a retelling of Les Miserables, it was everything I hoped for and more.

I loved the three main characters - Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette. They were each realistic with positive traits and flaws, which made each of them easy to identify with in their own way. I loved getting to know each of them separately, as their own character, as well as seeing how their relationships with the other characters began and grew throughout the novel. The plot was intense and the science fiction angle put it on a whole new level that definitely makes it stand out from anything else out there right now. It's wholly original and completely unique - which is hard to find anymore these days. I loved the world building and enjoyed getting to know the history of Laterre, the past including the Last Days, as well as the intricate details of this planet and its people. The authors used fantastic descriptions and vivid imagery to bring this world to life in front of our eyes and made it easy for me to imagine I was there among the main characters while everything was happening during the story. I'm really hoping this is going to be a series because I definitely want - no, need - more. I'm excited to see where the authors and plot will take us next. I very highly recommend this book to fans of YA fiction, science fiction, fantasy, retellings, and re-imaginings.

This book was a fantastic read! The characters were interesting and the storyline was adventurous and exciting. I was hooked from the first chapter. I even finished this in two sittings. Fantastic and definitely recommend!

If there was ever a team that was meant to write in unison, that would be Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell. Together, they brought us a Sky Without Stars and hurled readers into a space and time where the elite live in extravagance and the poor are left to their starvation and death outside their guided gates. With the hints of rebellion in the air, this was one retelling of Les Misérables that readers in their own version of "Do You Hear the Readers Sing."


I was absolutely entranced by the continual world building in Between Burning Worlds and how Rendell and Brody layered socio-economic themes from Les Misérables, all the while creating their own dynamic setting with sci-fi elements. The multiple POV's enabled readers to have a great expanse over the world Laterre and how each individual played  a part in the impending revolution for control over Laterre. Marcellus, Chatine, and Alouette are all such dynamic characters and it has been quite the journey to see how their paths and fates have intertwined. Marcellus's quest for honor and dignity will make him go against the high society he's been a part of for so long-even if that means he must also go against his grandfather. Chatine has known a life of hardship and loss....and is still willing to give more to the cause. After a life secluded underground by the world's last library Alouette must now find the truth to her own past in order to realize her role in Laterre's destiny.


These three are like the three musketeers of Laterre who are all championing the cause for the people with the best of intentions in their hearts. The question remains though if they will be able to rise together and save Laterre...or will they be caught in between burning worlds?

If you thought the first book in this series was a nail bitter you not seen anything yet. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this whole book. You really feel like your inside the story and the advantage of each chapter being a different character really adds to the oh my word what gonna happen next. Their are plot twists that i did not see coming and some that were a bit easy to predict. Your in for a treat as well cause if you thought this was a two book series your wrong this one ends on a might cliff hanger and i like what what, how much more edge of seat can i take. I have no idea how many more books we are going to get but if they are all as good as the first two then i in tel l the end. It hard to review this one without giving anything away so i just end with pick it up and enjoy.

I need more.

Between Burning Worlds was absolutely amazing.

The book picks up a few days after the end of the first one, Sky Without Stars. The pace was super quick while still taking plenty of time to give a whole crapola of backstory that we didn’t necessarily get in the first one. BBW was a perfect mixture of character driven and plot driven. And I could not get enough.

The three main characters: Alouette, Marcellus and Chatine were so amazing in this book. Chatine especially. She really grew into her own as well as her world. Chatine was able to grow so much as a person and as an essential character in this epic retelling of Les Miserables.

And for me to say that takes a lot. I adore Les Mis so much. I read the book and watched the movies and watched the musical production and the TV shows. I mean I really like it. It’s a classic. But System Divine is setting up to become the new classic for a new generation. The little hints and callbacks to the original were perfect in my mind. It wasn’t the greatest when I was reading because I constantly wanted to break into song but I do not have Hugh Jackman’s voice so it was not going to be pretty.

The cliffhanger was absolutely terrible and I need a resolution like yesterday.

I am a little disappointed that I figured out the twist in the end but it was a little obvious looking back on it. There were plenty of hints but the story is so captivating that you legit don’t pay attention to them until they are called on. I need more backstories and more everything. Also I need that ship that was teased to actually happen because I will riot harder than the french people if I don’t get it.

Sky Without Stars launched me onto another planet last year with the authors’ retelling of Les Misérables in space.
I’m super excited to get the chance to read the sequel in the System Divine trilogy because the first book promised some shenanigans are going to be in store. And I definitely don’t remember what happened in the first book, so cracking open to an overview of the first book is a blessing. If you’re like me and you reread maybe 1% of the time, you’re in good hands.

The second book in the System Divine trilogy starts right where Sky Without Stars ends, with each of the characters on their own path:

Marcellus secretly working with the Vanguarde, with the desire to stop General Bonnefacon from overthrowing the Patriarche of Laterre and taking the planet for his own.

Chatine ends up on Bastille’s harsh working conditions and wants to get out; even if it means getting herself indirectly involved with the Vanguarde.

Alouette is searching for the answers of her past with what little information she has; she’s not thrilled she’s been lied to by the sisters her entire life… but let’s be honest: who’s ever thrilled?

Much of Between Burning Worlds is further building up the world Brody and Rendell first introduced us to in Sky Without Stars, taking us to other planets and unknown places of Laterre. While it may seem the trio are on different paths, they’re more intertwined than they think.

Brody and Rendell kept me on my feet constantly.
I never liked General Bonnefacon, and if you want my honest opinion, he deserves charred bacon and nothing but charred bacon. Everyone just gets screwed over by him for his own gain. But Marcellus’ grandfather is seriously one of the most cunning characters of the series; he’s always upending everyone’s plans. It’s no wonder he’s still going. In this sequel to Sky Without Stars, the General continues being a key character constantly plotting his next move.

What a strategist and sharp mastermind. If I had to stan villains, he would be one of them. 11/10 would not mess with grandpa.

I’m in love with the new characters.
Between Burning Worlds introduces us to quite a few new characters in addition to the returning cast: Cerise, Gabriel, Etienne. I loved every second they were on the page; there are moments of banter and humor involved and it made this whopping sequel go by much quicker. 600+ pages felt like nothing. Someone protect Gabriel though, he’s such a cinnamon roll and I’m worried about what will happen to him in the third book. 🥺

Then again, none of the characters get a break or room to breathe, not with General Bonnefacon around at least. While Chatine and Alouette grow as characters from when we first meet them in book one, Marcellus undergoes the most character development here as he goes head to head with his grandfather. Gabriel should still be protected though. I’m hoping for the chance to see the three of them again in the next book.

Between Burning Worlds is an absolute trip, and it’s a good type of trip.
With new characters to the series and a brewing revolution on a corrupted planet, Brody and Rendell continue bringing readers on a trip through space while constantly keeping them on their toes until the very end.