I go through phases where I don’t want to read fantasy, no matter how well-reviewed it is. Unfortunately I was in one of those phases when I picked up Last Star Burning by Caitlin Sangster The opening I read reluctantly, my will rebelling. But it didn’t rebel long. 

The dystopian future pulled me in, as did the evocative writing style, fabulous action sequences, rich characters, well-thought backstory. I felt like I’d been dropped into a fully developed reality, a unique and disturbing one. I especially loved the twists in what is known, what is true, who can be trusted…

I won’t bother with a plot synopsis—get that anywhere—I will say this book felt a little like Star Wars (the originals!) meets Divergent with an Asian twist. I loved the protagonist, the understated romance (I hesitate to call it romance because it’s really not, NOT that sort of book), the political backstory. The only thing I might have liked was a little more speed to the opening. I tried to use it as a read-aloud but got bogged down in the (albeit important and vivid) detail.