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No Ordinary Star #1
No Ordinary Star
A soldier is summoned to the North Pole, days before the year changes, told to fix the great Clock for a celebration. He has no idea what to do.
A girl, hunted for the crime of being born, almost dies out on the ice. She is rescued by the last polar bear left alive.
A library waits for them both, a library built over a span of a hundred years, forgotten in the basement of an ice shack.
The world hasn't known hunger or sickness in hundreds of years. It has also forgotten love and beauty.
The year is 2525.
Inspired by the short stories of Ray Bradbury, this futuristic novel is set in a world where Christmas -among other things- is obsolete and a Clock is what keeps the fragile balance of peace.
Written in three installments, this is the breathtaking and sensual story of how two unlikely people change the world, and each other, one book at a time.
Immerse yourself into the icy cold world of this scorching hot new novel.
A girl, hunted for the crime of being born, almost dies out on the ice. She is rescued by the last polar bear left alive.
A library waits for them both, a library built over a span of a hundred years, forgotten in the basement of an ice shack.
The world hasn't known hunger or sickness in hundreds of years. It has also forgotten love and beauty.
The year is 2525.
Inspired by the short stories of Ray Bradbury, this futuristic novel is set in a world where Christmas -among other things- is obsolete and a Clock is what keeps the fragile balance of peace.
Written in three installments, this is the breathtaking and sensual story of how two unlikely people change the world, and each other, one book at a time.
Immerse yourself into the icy cold world of this scorching hot new novel.
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
170 people are currently reading
3,983 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Frank
35books547followers Welcome to the world of M.C. FRANK's books, where characters aren't going to have an easy time of it: They will find themselves in icy-cold dystopian worlds where kissing is forbidden (among other things), or in green forests ruled by evil Sheriffs. If they're in Jane Austen's England, they have to be running away from a traumatic childhood, or if they are in our contemporary world, they're scared they'll die before they have finished high school. That sort of thing.
Don't worry, though, she knows we all need a little hope and joy in our lives, so there's a good dose of those as well in everything she writes.
M.C. Frank (writer, reader, designer, physicist and teacher, to name a few) has been living in a world of stories ever since she can remember (that's before she knew how to write). She started writing them down when she could no longer stand the characters in her head screaming at her to give them life, and while those first scribblings weren't exactly good (nor were they books, although she insisted on calling them that), they were enough for her to discover her passion in life.
She got her university degree in physics a few years ago (yes, she's like Sheldon, only a bit crazier!) and is now free to pursue her love of reading and writing, as well her free-lance job as editor-in-chief. She lives with her 'dude' in a home filled with candles, laptops and notebooks, where she rearranges her overflowing bookshelves every time she feels stressed.
Which is often, since (as you might have noticed) she doesn't pick the easiest subjects for her novels.
Learn more about her and her New Adult, Young Adult, scifi, Greek mythology and historical novels at mcfrankauthor.com
Website: mcfrankauthor.com
Twitter: @mcfrank_author
Instagram: @mcfrank_author
Tumblr: @litlereddoll
Facebook Page: M.C. Frank
ŷ: M.C. Frank
Youtube: M.C. Frank
Don't worry, though, she knows we all need a little hope and joy in our lives, so there's a good dose of those as well in everything she writes.
M.C. Frank (writer, reader, designer, physicist and teacher, to name a few) has been living in a world of stories ever since she can remember (that's before she knew how to write). She started writing them down when she could no longer stand the characters in her head screaming at her to give them life, and while those first scribblings weren't exactly good (nor were they books, although she insisted on calling them that), they were enough for her to discover her passion in life.
She got her university degree in physics a few years ago (yes, she's like Sheldon, only a bit crazier!) and is now free to pursue her love of reading and writing, as well her free-lance job as editor-in-chief. She lives with her 'dude' in a home filled with candles, laptops and notebooks, where she rearranges her overflowing bookshelves every time she feels stressed.
Which is often, since (as you might have noticed) she doesn't pick the easiest subjects for her novels.
Learn more about her and her New Adult, Young Adult, scifi, Greek mythology and historical novels at mcfrankauthor.com
Website: mcfrankauthor.com
Twitter: @mcfrank_author
Instagram: @mcfrank_author
Tumblr: @litlereddoll
Facebook Page: M.C. Frank
ŷ: M.C. Frank
Youtube: M.C. Frank
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
July 2, 2017
Let’s all just pause in a moment of silence for how breathtaking that cover is. � I’m always thrilled when I find a book that has the trifecta: gorgeous cover art, a plot that holds my interest from the first chapter, and characters that I forge an early connection with. held all three of these fine aspects for me, which is why a 5 star rating was a no brainer upon finishing the first part in the series. For those new to these books, this is a trilogy yet in a much better format. Here you will not find those annoying, unnecessarily long installments intended to draw out a story beyond its shelf life; I have discovered the intention here was to take one continuous story and break it up into three smaller pieces as a means of greater retention of the story for the reader. I found that each segment really holds your attention, while giving your brain a moment to process and re-evaluate what you’ve just read at the end of that part. Now that you have a handle on the trilogy as a whole, let’s dive into the review of part one�
By now I’m sure you’ve picked up that this dystopia has a holiday theme, and while I want to blab so badly, I’m going to avoid talking about specific plot points as to not spoil the read for you. I think the above blurb is beautifully vague, yet draws you in just enough to know you have to experience this read for yourself. I will say that I greatly appreciated the format in which the story is told; we mostly have two points of view that vacillate between “tin soldier� and “match girl�. The reason behind the names becomes apparent as you read, don’t worry, and while we are utterly on the outside at the beginning of the novel, the reader is slowly drawn in to this unfamiliar world as if being let in on a secret plan.
While this segment is mainly the set up for the remaining two pieces of the story, it is neither boring nor an info dump that we see so frequently in YA fantasy books. Here the character development is front and center, and I found it refreshing and unique to be able to focus on the forwarding of the story without silly instalove clouding the picture. Most of the focus is on our two main characters, three if you count my favorite polar bear named Ursa, but we do get an introduction to a few minor characters that I am eagerly anticipating further development in the next two features. Overall, this was a suspenseful and intriguing read that had me constantly trying to figure out what was at play. If you enjoy YA/NA dystopia with an air of science fiction fantasy, but are tired of all the cliche tropes, I encourage you to give this brief series a try. I think you’ll find the subtle, romantic undertones with important, timely messages to be invigorating and cleansing. Highly recommended and stay tuned for my review from the next in the series, !
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy; it is a pleasure to be a part of the street team and provide my honest thoughts here!
By now I’m sure you’ve picked up that this dystopia has a holiday theme, and while I want to blab so badly, I’m going to avoid talking about specific plot points as to not spoil the read for you. I think the above blurb is beautifully vague, yet draws you in just enough to know you have to experience this read for yourself. I will say that I greatly appreciated the format in which the story is told; we mostly have two points of view that vacillate between “tin soldier� and “match girl�. The reason behind the names becomes apparent as you read, don’t worry, and while we are utterly on the outside at the beginning of the novel, the reader is slowly drawn in to this unfamiliar world as if being let in on a secret plan.
While this segment is mainly the set up for the remaining two pieces of the story, it is neither boring nor an info dump that we see so frequently in YA fantasy books. Here the character development is front and center, and I found it refreshing and unique to be able to focus on the forwarding of the story without silly instalove clouding the picture. Most of the focus is on our two main characters, three if you count my favorite polar bear named Ursa, but we do get an introduction to a few minor characters that I am eagerly anticipating further development in the next two features. Overall, this was a suspenseful and intriguing read that had me constantly trying to figure out what was at play. If you enjoy YA/NA dystopia with an air of science fiction fantasy, but are tired of all the cliche tropes, I encourage you to give this brief series a try. I think you’ll find the subtle, romantic undertones with important, timely messages to be invigorating and cleansing. Highly recommended and stay tuned for my review from the next in the series, !
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy; it is a pleasure to be a part of the street team and provide my honest thoughts here!
![Profile Image for Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1746468325i%2F66224803._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 5, 2017
I started this book, because I saw the positive ratings and the story sounded good.
But this is a confusing, strange story I can’t really comprehend. So I dnf‘d it.
Maybe it’s not nice to dnf a book, especially if it’s so short, but I didn’t like it even after reading a quarter of it.
And I want to read good, enjoyable books in my free time. So I’m not even sorry. 🤷🏻♀�
But this is a confusing, strange story I can’t really comprehend. So I dnf‘d it.
Maybe it’s not nice to dnf a book, especially if it’s so short, but I didn’t like it even after reading a quarter of it.
And I want to read good, enjoyable books in my free time. So I’m not even sorry. 🤷🏻♀�
June 28, 2017
4 "The Tin Soldier & The Match Girl" stars
It's year 2525. The world has changed. Women and men don't live together. People get to live longer and they get fed with pills. Everything is different. So when a soldier goes to the North Pole, he saves a girl and they both try to survive under difficult circumstances. They make together some discoveries and it seems that these are about to change their world forever.
I haven't read a dystopian book in a very long time and even though I'm not used in sci-fi books, I definitely enjoyed this one. My main issue with these books/movies/stories is that I can't understand well the world that they create and always need a good repeat for me to understand it. I think in a series the first book has that goal, to explain the world they create so the reader can feel himself into that world and I think this author succeeded in that.
I understood the new world she created, even though it wasn't the most pleasant for us women. But maybe that was what made me passionate about this book. How my emotions felt for these characters, both the girl and the boy. How unfair was this world, even though many of our current problems were gone, new ones had replaced them. I loved how well woven was that universe and how well explained were the changes that the world in this dystopian world had suffered. I am definitely intrigued to explore this world even further.
I would definitely recommend this book to the fantasy/dystopian fans. I am so curious to get to know these characters better, because there's definitely a lot of mystery around them. And I hope the romance will only grow stronger in the next one. What can I say, I'm a romance junkie ;)
PS: The only reason I don't rate this with 5 stars is because in a series I always want to compare them between them to see which one I like better. I think I'm going to love the next ones even more, therefore my rating. Don't let this discourange you =)
It's year 2525. The world has changed. Women and men don't live together. People get to live longer and they get fed with pills. Everything is different. So when a soldier goes to the North Pole, he saves a girl and they both try to survive under difficult circumstances. They make together some discoveries and it seems that these are about to change their world forever.
I haven't read a dystopian book in a very long time and even though I'm not used in sci-fi books, I definitely enjoyed this one. My main issue with these books/movies/stories is that I can't understand well the world that they create and always need a good repeat for me to understand it. I think in a series the first book has that goal, to explain the world they create so the reader can feel himself into that world and I think this author succeeded in that.
"The stars haven't been visable from Earth in decades."
"Oh they have been," she says. "If you know where to look. When you see a formation that's irregular, a star that doesn't look ordinary- that's a real star and no satelite."
He sighs. No ordinary star. What does that even mean?
I understood the new world she created, even though it wasn't the most pleasant for us women. But maybe that was what made me passionate about this book. How my emotions felt for these characters, both the girl and the boy. How unfair was this world, even though many of our current problems were gone, new ones had replaced them. I loved how well woven was that universe and how well explained were the changes that the world in this dystopian world had suffered. I am definitely intrigued to explore this world even further.
I would definitely recommend this book to the fantasy/dystopian fans. I am so curious to get to know these characters better, because there's definitely a lot of mystery around them. And I hope the romance will only grow stronger in the next one. What can I say, I'm a romance junkie ;)
PS: The only reason I don't rate this with 5 stars is because in a series I always want to compare them between them to see which one I like better. I think I'm going to love the next ones even more, therefore my rating. Don't let this discourange you =)
August 19, 2017
No Ordinary Star is an immersive, fast paced story that reads like a dream. It is elegantly emotional and captivating. Prepare yourself for an astronomical amount of imagery!
The Plot: In a futuristic world where hunger, sickness, and human emotions are things of the past, a soldier and an unusual girl cross paths in the North Pole. He is summoned to fix the great Clock responsible for bringing in the new year, 2525. She is a criminal on the run having come close to death in the icy wilderness. Together they uncover secrets of their pasts, and a long forgotten library beneath an icy shack in the middle of the snow.
Can I just say WOW! The entire time I was reading, I felt like I was in a dream state. M.C. has written this with such amazing imagery and sensory emotions! I became lost (in a good way) in the story and each time I looked away from the book, I was oblivious to my surroundings. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the way the book made me feel towards our two, lost characters.
Felix was so intriguing and complex. He gets broken down layer by layer. Literally, he went from being an emotionless soldier who doesn't eat real food, or sleep, to being an actual human being! Everything broke away, revealing someone who held a hunger for the world and for human companionship.
Astra was mysterious and fierce. She was brave, complex. and emotionally open. She added a layer of innocence and depth to the story while bringing out sympathy and empathy from the reader. I loved her and her fiery red hair!
Though the book was short, it packed a punch. It drew me in and brought me closer to our main characters. I felt sympathy for the lives they led. Both different lives, but both devoid of true human companionship and many other things we take for granted, such as access to books and the safety and comfort of a bed. I learned so much about both the characters and the background story of the world. I am so excited to jump in to the next two books very soon!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review and as part of being a proud member of the street team!
The Plot: In a futuristic world where hunger, sickness, and human emotions are things of the past, a soldier and an unusual girl cross paths in the North Pole. He is summoned to fix the great Clock responsible for bringing in the new year, 2525. She is a criminal on the run having come close to death in the icy wilderness. Together they uncover secrets of their pasts, and a long forgotten library beneath an icy shack in the middle of the snow.
Can I just say WOW! The entire time I was reading, I felt like I was in a dream state. M.C. has written this with such amazing imagery and sensory emotions! I became lost (in a good way) in the story and each time I looked away from the book, I was oblivious to my surroundings. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the way the book made me feel towards our two, lost characters.
Felix was so intriguing and complex. He gets broken down layer by layer. Literally, he went from being an emotionless soldier who doesn't eat real food, or sleep, to being an actual human being! Everything broke away, revealing someone who held a hunger for the world and for human companionship.
Astra was mysterious and fierce. She was brave, complex. and emotionally open. She added a layer of innocence and depth to the story while bringing out sympathy and empathy from the reader. I loved her and her fiery red hair!
Though the book was short, it packed a punch. It drew me in and brought me closer to our main characters. I felt sympathy for the lives they led. Both different lives, but both devoid of true human companionship and many other things we take for granted, such as access to books and the safety and comfort of a bed. I learned so much about both the characters and the background story of the world. I am so excited to jump in to the next two books very soon!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review and as part of being a proud member of the street team!
January 19, 2017
Hello, everyone! Just wanted to let you know that the first six chapters of No Ordinary Star have been posted for free if you're interested in reading a free sample. Enjoy!
August 11, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
This full review can be viewed on my blog along with others at:
When I first read the synopsis for this book I was like...
As vague and bizarre thesynopsis for this book is---there literally isn't a better one to give, so I'm not going to write my own. This one actually serves its purpose well!
One word kept coming to mind as I made my way through this story, and that word was emptiness.
We move from the setting of an arid desert, to a snow-covered, uninhabited Arctic region, and the feelingswiftsfrom fever-chills to real chills.
The plot itself is definitely not empty. But the landscapes, society, culture, and the people themselves are devoid of feeling, mystery, beauty, and, well, humanness. It think that is what makes a book like this so captivating, and dystopias in general so utterly tragic.
Mankind is on its way to immortality. Long lifespans, less gene imperfection, one united world (A.K.A. less war). Overall, there is less causes of death, illness, and freedom of thought.
Oh yes, this is a tricky one.
This was a short book. But I thought the length was appropriate. Rather than being distracted by all of the world building, cool gadgets (which, let's be honest, there are quite a few!) and complex plots, boils it all down to simple human emotion and the need for it.
The story is told from two perspectives, from the "match girl" and "tin soldier." These are the two characters referred to in the synopsis. Not only are they total opposites in character, they are total opposites in this new-world nature. Because of the situation they find themselves in, they learn how to compensate for each others' weaknesses in order to confront the main issue, which is getting the clock to work before new year rolls around.
My only issue with this book was how it transitioned from place to place. The characters would be outside, then suddenly inside. Or sitting then suddenly standing. I just couldn't get a good feel where the characters were actually placed, and made it difficult for me to envision at times.
Despite that, I liked this read, and am looking forward to picking up .Seeing how the nature of this book is set in the icy Arctic, and is set right around Christmas and the New Years, this would be a good book/series to read around the holidays!
Vulgarity: Some.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Minimal.
4 stars.
This full review can be viewed on my blog along with others at:
People are intentionally created, instead of just happening to be born. Imperfections are almost eliminated--the Elimination System was created for just this purpose. And it's worked wonders both in the Planet and the Colonies. To think, people didn't used to live more than eighty, perhaps a hundred years.
When I first read the synopsis for this book I was like...
As vague and bizarre thesynopsis for this book is---there literally isn't a better one to give, so I'm not going to write my own. This one actually serves its purpose well!
One word kept coming to mind as I made my way through this story, and that word was emptiness.
We move from the setting of an arid desert, to a snow-covered, uninhabited Arctic region, and the feelingswiftsfrom fever-chills to real chills.
The plot itself is definitely not empty. But the landscapes, society, culture, and the people themselves are devoid of feeling, mystery, beauty, and, well, humanness. It think that is what makes a book like this so captivating, and dystopias in general so utterly tragic.
"The stars haven't been visible from Earth in decades."
"Oh they have been," she says. "If you know where to look. When you see a formation that's irregular, a star that doesn't look ordinary- that's a real star and no satellite."
He sighs. No ordinary star. What does that even mean?
Mankind is on its way to immortality. Long lifespans, less gene imperfection, one united world (A.K.A. less war). Overall, there is less causes of death, illness, and freedom of thought.
Oh yes, this is a tricky one.
This was a short book. But I thought the length was appropriate. Rather than being distracted by all of the world building, cool gadgets (which, let's be honest, there are quite a few!) and complex plots, boils it all down to simple human emotion and the need for it.
The story is told from two perspectives, from the "match girl" and "tin soldier." These are the two characters referred to in the synopsis. Not only are they total opposites in character, they are total opposites in this new-world nature. Because of the situation they find themselves in, they learn how to compensate for each others' weaknesses in order to confront the main issue, which is getting the clock to work before new year rolls around.
My only issue with this book was how it transitioned from place to place. The characters would be outside, then suddenly inside. Or sitting then suddenly standing. I just couldn't get a good feel where the characters were actually placed, and made it difficult for me to envision at times.
Despite that, I liked this read, and am looking forward to picking up .Seeing how the nature of this book is set in the icy Arctic, and is set right around Christmas and the New Years, this would be a good book/series to read around the holidays!
Vulgarity: Some.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Minimal.
4 stars.
March 18, 2017
Title: No Ordinary Star (No Ordinary Star #1)
Author: M.C. Frank
Publisher: Createspace, 2015 (Nov 25)
Genre: YA Dystopia, YA Science Fiction
**I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my ŷ page
My Review
I included this one with the other review not because it was bad, but because it was a shorter book than I’m used to. Actually, this book was quite good! And I mean, look at the cover!
I met Frank and I think she’s an amazing artist and writer. I am currently reading her newest book Lose Me, which is a contemporary YA novel. But I had this copy for awhile and I just couldn’t put off reading it any longer. It was just too tempting with the synopsis. And since it is a short book, and it has two more installments, I’m going to try to sum it up without giving too much away.
Felix arrives at the North Pole to fix the clock that will be ringing in the New Year, 2525. He has left his military school to respond to a message from The Clockmaster, who says he is Felix’s “grandfather,� whatever that means.
Astra arrives at the North Pole as she runs from the people hunting her, and falls through the ice. She is rescued by a polar bear and taken to the Clockmaster’s shack, where Felix has been waiting. In this new world, men and women are separated, books are eradicated, and pills keep the people in line. Except for Astra, an escapee, and now Felix, who has run out as he waits for the Clockmaster to come.
As Astra and Felix both stay holed up in the shack, waiting for what to do next, they discover a hidden library that tells the story about the old ways…and as Felix watches Astra, he begins to see his “perfect� world is not so perfect if people like her can be locked away from the world.
I loved this. It was short (approx 150 pages) and it ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m dying for the next installment. I love dystopian novels and this one has me completely intrigued and hooked. I can’t give too much away…but I will encourage you to check out M.C. Frank on her Tumblr page, LittleRedDoll, with her amazing art and books! Or go to her author page with her books and blog at MCFrankAuthor.com.
So far, I give No Ordinary Star ★★★★�. Now I just need to get my hands on book two!
Author: M.C. Frank
Publisher: Createspace, 2015 (Nov 25)
Genre: YA Dystopia, YA Science Fiction
**I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my ŷ page
My Review
I included this one with the other review not because it was bad, but because it was a shorter book than I’m used to. Actually, this book was quite good! And I mean, look at the cover!
I met Frank and I think she’s an amazing artist and writer. I am currently reading her newest book Lose Me, which is a contemporary YA novel. But I had this copy for awhile and I just couldn’t put off reading it any longer. It was just too tempting with the synopsis. And since it is a short book, and it has two more installments, I’m going to try to sum it up without giving too much away.
Felix arrives at the North Pole to fix the clock that will be ringing in the New Year, 2525. He has left his military school to respond to a message from The Clockmaster, who says he is Felix’s “grandfather,� whatever that means.
Astra arrives at the North Pole as she runs from the people hunting her, and falls through the ice. She is rescued by a polar bear and taken to the Clockmaster’s shack, where Felix has been waiting. In this new world, men and women are separated, books are eradicated, and pills keep the people in line. Except for Astra, an escapee, and now Felix, who has run out as he waits for the Clockmaster to come.
As Astra and Felix both stay holed up in the shack, waiting for what to do next, they discover a hidden library that tells the story about the old ways…and as Felix watches Astra, he begins to see his “perfect� world is not so perfect if people like her can be locked away from the world.
I loved this. It was short (approx 150 pages) and it ended on a cliffhanger, so I’m dying for the next installment. I love dystopian novels and this one has me completely intrigued and hooked. I can’t give too much away…but I will encourage you to check out M.C. Frank on her Tumblr page, LittleRedDoll, with her amazing art and books! Or go to her author page with her books and blog at MCFrankAuthor.com.
So far, I give No Ordinary Star ★★★★�. Now I just need to get my hands on book two!
July 19, 2017
(Note: I received review copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. I am glad I got a chance to read this book. I’m grateful to be part of NOS street team.)
I loved that cover of the book and futuristic world drew me to this book.
How will it feel when there’s no emotions left in human? Men and women are separated? Humans can live for 300 years with no disease, no illness, no need to sleep? No festival, Christmas is forgotten and there are no books. Yeah you heard right. No books!!! Pretty messed up world it sounds right? That’s the dystopian world of ‘No Ordinary Star�.
Characters� Felix and Astra. I loved both of them. They were both nice, innocent and smart. Reading them in the book was like watching two kids under one roof. They were fun to read and all the charm of the book. Oh, and Ursa- Polar bear of the book. I loved this bear, so intelligent animal.
What I liked? I loved that concept. Isn’t it different and unique? This world author created was jaw-dropping. Every time I learned the details of this dystopian world my jaw dropped, literally! World building was the beauty and core part of this book. It’s all about the details of new world- how people are living, all sort of rules and restrictions, and past life of Felix and Astra, and how they end up at ice shack. I loved how all these were represented in the book, everything was equally balanced. Still it left me for more details. That’s what this book done to me.
Another thing I liked about the book was, the name calling Felix and Astra used, “tin soldier� and “match girl�, which are the titles of the book too. Initially I was clueless why this names and why every chapter are repeating with these title, until I reached to explanation. Alternate point of view of Felix and Astra was nicely written and they both sounded reasonable. Usually this leaves me disagreeing with one of the character, but here, I found myself agreeing with both of them. What they felt for other was the same way I felt. The title of the book was so appropriate and I loved lines about stars in the book- “…a star that doesn’t look ordinary- that’s a real star…� This is no ordinary dystopian book like a no ordinary star. I liked the color effects character was experiencing in the book, it was beautifully written. Just like all the covers of this series. Author has real something for colors I guess. 🙂
End- I haven’t expected it end here. As it is said in the blurb the story is divided in 3 installment, the end felt like first broken point of the story. The cliffhanger left me hanging, made me wish for the foothold- next book. 😉
Overall, ‘No Ordinary Star� is fast paced, quick read dystopian novel that will leave you hungry for more. When read blurb I was curious to read this book. Now that I’ve finished the book it made me curious for the next book ‘No Plain Rebel�. This is going to be perfect series for winters.
YA, Science Fiction, dystopian world lovers.
Read reviews on my blog-
I loved that cover of the book and futuristic world drew me to this book.
How will it feel when there’s no emotions left in human? Men and women are separated? Humans can live for 300 years with no disease, no illness, no need to sleep? No festival, Christmas is forgotten and there are no books. Yeah you heard right. No books!!! Pretty messed up world it sounds right? That’s the dystopian world of ‘No Ordinary Star�.
Characters� Felix and Astra. I loved both of them. They were both nice, innocent and smart. Reading them in the book was like watching two kids under one roof. They were fun to read and all the charm of the book. Oh, and Ursa- Polar bear of the book. I loved this bear, so intelligent animal.
What I liked? I loved that concept. Isn’t it different and unique? This world author created was jaw-dropping. Every time I learned the details of this dystopian world my jaw dropped, literally! World building was the beauty and core part of this book. It’s all about the details of new world- how people are living, all sort of rules and restrictions, and past life of Felix and Astra, and how they end up at ice shack. I loved how all these were represented in the book, everything was equally balanced. Still it left me for more details. That’s what this book done to me.
Another thing I liked about the book was, the name calling Felix and Astra used, “tin soldier� and “match girl�, which are the titles of the book too. Initially I was clueless why this names and why every chapter are repeating with these title, until I reached to explanation. Alternate point of view of Felix and Astra was nicely written and they both sounded reasonable. Usually this leaves me disagreeing with one of the character, but here, I found myself agreeing with both of them. What they felt for other was the same way I felt. The title of the book was so appropriate and I loved lines about stars in the book- “…a star that doesn’t look ordinary- that’s a real star…� This is no ordinary dystopian book like a no ordinary star. I liked the color effects character was experiencing in the book, it was beautifully written. Just like all the covers of this series. Author has real something for colors I guess. 🙂
End- I haven’t expected it end here. As it is said in the blurb the story is divided in 3 installment, the end felt like first broken point of the story. The cliffhanger left me hanging, made me wish for the foothold- next book. 😉
Overall, ‘No Ordinary Star� is fast paced, quick read dystopian novel that will leave you hungry for more. When read blurb I was curious to read this book. Now that I’ve finished the book it made me curious for the next book ‘No Plain Rebel�. This is going to be perfect series for winters.
YA, Science Fiction, dystopian world lovers.
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April 6, 2019
In a world where there is no Christmas; men and women are separated; and no one needs to eat or sleep or become ill....Felix and Astra are just trying to survive. They are throw together in a strange twist of fate and are put on a mission, to fix a clock before the year turns to 2525.
When you begin this book, you are completely throw into a future world with no guide, no explanations, and no idea where you are or what is going on. I'll be honest, I had to re-read the first couple of chapters a few times to try and get my bearings. It's definitely an interested plot device and it allowed me to be intrigued, but also very confused. Bits and pieces are dropped like snowflakes and you need to try and catch them and put them together to form this new world in your mind. Many times I felt myself go "huh?", such as when Felix mentioned that he has never had to sleep before.
When Felix and Astra meet, there is so much tension and wariness that I could almost feel the emotions vibrating off the pages. This is definitely a writing style that I had to get used to, because the stories seems to move in bit and spurts. I think this reflected the emotions and thoughts of the characters well, especially their situation in the beginning. This book takes many turns that leave you hanging on by the tips of your fingers, trying to follow it. Poor Felix finds out many mind-blowing things very quickly, and we get to see inside his head as he tries to process them.
The characters themselves are the best part of the book, in my opinion. Witty, extremely smart, emotional and daring. We get to see a lot of their development and I am hoping for even more as the series continues.
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC of her novel for an honest review.
When you begin this book, you are completely throw into a future world with no guide, no explanations, and no idea where you are or what is going on. I'll be honest, I had to re-read the first couple of chapters a few times to try and get my bearings. It's definitely an interested plot device and it allowed me to be intrigued, but also very confused. Bits and pieces are dropped like snowflakes and you need to try and catch them and put them together to form this new world in your mind. Many times I felt myself go "huh?", such as when Felix mentioned that he has never had to sleep before.
When Felix and Astra meet, there is so much tension and wariness that I could almost feel the emotions vibrating off the pages. This is definitely a writing style that I had to get used to, because the stories seems to move in bit and spurts. I think this reflected the emotions and thoughts of the characters well, especially their situation in the beginning. This book takes many turns that leave you hanging on by the tips of your fingers, trying to follow it. Poor Felix finds out many mind-blowing things very quickly, and we get to see inside his head as he tries to process them.
The characters themselves are the best part of the book, in my opinion. Witty, extremely smart, emotional and daring. We get to see a lot of their development and I am hoping for even more as the series continues.
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC of her novel for an honest review.
July 19, 2017
First and foremost, I would like to thank the author for sending me a ebook copy of this book to read and give an honest review.
I was super excited to read this book simply because I haven't read that many YA sci-fi books and I really want to read some more. I adored the concept of this book and I found it very interesting and intriguing which left me curious to read the second book. However, the reason why I gave it 3 stars was due to the fact that I thought the storyline was a little confusing. I understand where and when the characters are, but their dialogues and personal thoughts seemed a bit confusing to me. And although I found the main concept behind the story to be very interesting, the plot in this book is a bit slow and superficial. There's not much depth to the characters or the world they belong to.
This book gave an interesting introduction to the rest of the series but the plot and characters weren't as explored as I was expecting. Hopefully the next book, we'll have a better explanation and deeper knowledge of the characters and of the world in which the story is set.
I was super excited to read this book simply because I haven't read that many YA sci-fi books and I really want to read some more. I adored the concept of this book and I found it very interesting and intriguing which left me curious to read the second book. However, the reason why I gave it 3 stars was due to the fact that I thought the storyline was a little confusing. I understand where and when the characters are, but their dialogues and personal thoughts seemed a bit confusing to me. And although I found the main concept behind the story to be very interesting, the plot in this book is a bit slow and superficial. There's not much depth to the characters or the world they belong to.
This book gave an interesting introduction to the rest of the series but the plot and characters weren't as explored as I was expecting. Hopefully the next book, we'll have a better explanation and deeper knowledge of the characters and of the world in which the story is set.
October 11, 2017
I decided to re-read the first two books in the No Ordinary Star trilogy, before picking up the final installment and I'm really enjoing it! This was the book that brought back my lost interest in YA dystopia genre, I really loved how fresh and creative is the plot. The first book may read as a more of an introduction to the story and the world created by M.C. Frank but it's still full of suspense, engaging and beautifully written. The futuristic vision of the world is at the same time interesting and unsettling, and I'm really curious how this trilogy is going to end :)
August 6, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Dystopian
I was sent a copy by the wonderful M.c Frank herself for an honest review.
The story follows the journey of Felix and Astra in the year 2524, a journey of discovery about the real world they live in. Everything might appear to be working smoothly in this new world: children are bred in laboratories, food and sleep have become obsolete and innovative pills have taken their place. People practically forget what suffering is, but they have also lost the things that ultimately made them human.
Felix is a soldier, ‘designed� perfectly to accommodate the government’s rules and needs. The story kicks off with a suspicious message from the ‘Clockmaster�, requesting Felix to visit him at the north pole. The Clockmaster is infamous for building a special clock for the new year celebrations, however Felix is met with a scene that has nothing to do with cogs and wheels. The Clockmaster is dead and in his place Felix finds a young girl, Astra, a girl chased for the crimes of her father. Together they try to unravel the mysterious surrounding the Clockmaster and the truth about the world.
I really enjoyed this book. While I’m usually not a huge fan of YA dystopian books, this one did not disappoint at all. M.C Frank managed to create an alternative world that makes you fear your own future while also appreciating the present world you live in.
The writing was really beautiful and engaging, conjuring up wonderful imagery of the surrounding world. It was also effective in making the reader receptive of the character’s feelings, from fear, annoyance to relief. It was perfect in providing a description of the setting and I would have appreciated it if the book was longer just so I could familiarise myself better with the world. On that account I’m really looking forward to read the second book because the ending leaves the reader wanting more.
The way this book is written makes you feel like you’re in the same room with the characters. This leaves you with the feeling that you know them really well and makes it easier for you to connect with them. I loved the chemistry between Felix and Astra, the way their characters developed as they got to know each other better. I loved how they complemented each other so well: the bold and sarcastic Astra and Felix, the disciplined soldier.
I cannot wait to continue with the series and read amore about the world building and the characters. I would highly recommend it for all dystopian and sci-fi lovers out there!
I was sent a copy by the wonderful M.c Frank herself for an honest review.
The story follows the journey of Felix and Astra in the year 2524, a journey of discovery about the real world they live in. Everything might appear to be working smoothly in this new world: children are bred in laboratories, food and sleep have become obsolete and innovative pills have taken their place. People practically forget what suffering is, but they have also lost the things that ultimately made them human.
Felix is a soldier, ‘designed� perfectly to accommodate the government’s rules and needs. The story kicks off with a suspicious message from the ‘Clockmaster�, requesting Felix to visit him at the north pole. The Clockmaster is infamous for building a special clock for the new year celebrations, however Felix is met with a scene that has nothing to do with cogs and wheels. The Clockmaster is dead and in his place Felix finds a young girl, Astra, a girl chased for the crimes of her father. Together they try to unravel the mysterious surrounding the Clockmaster and the truth about the world.
I really enjoyed this book. While I’m usually not a huge fan of YA dystopian books, this one did not disappoint at all. M.C Frank managed to create an alternative world that makes you fear your own future while also appreciating the present world you live in.
The writing was really beautiful and engaging, conjuring up wonderful imagery of the surrounding world. It was also effective in making the reader receptive of the character’s feelings, from fear, annoyance to relief. It was perfect in providing a description of the setting and I would have appreciated it if the book was longer just so I could familiarise myself better with the world. On that account I’m really looking forward to read the second book because the ending leaves the reader wanting more.
The way this book is written makes you feel like you’re in the same room with the characters. This leaves you with the feeling that you know them really well and makes it easier for you to connect with them. I loved the chemistry between Felix and Astra, the way their characters developed as they got to know each other better. I loved how they complemented each other so well: the bold and sarcastic Astra and Felix, the disciplined soldier.
I cannot wait to continue with the series and read amore about the world building and the characters. I would highly recommend it for all dystopian and sci-fi lovers out there!
August 6, 2019
Actual rating: 2.5/5 stars
I cannot tell you how much I wanted to like this book more than I did! For the first 10 chapters or so, I loooved it, I was reading it consistently and I was very eager to know what would happen next! After the tenth chapter though, I just couldn't bring myself to finishing it... And it's such a shame, because it's a really short book, I should have finished it in a matter of hours!
Tbh, sci-fi isn't my preferred genre, I don't really enjoy it, but I thought I'd give it a try and see how I felt about it. Let me tell you, I loved Astra, she's was definitely a very spunky and interesting character and I'd love to read more from her POV! Felix was also an interesting character, I loved his exasperation with Astra and I also really admired his dedication to her, because even though he was a soldier for the biggest part of his life, he took Astra under his wing and felt for her more than he would have liked to admit!
I think that my main problem with the book, was the length! I would have loved it to be longer, because then many things that sparked my interest would have been explored more in depth! For example, I really wanted to know more about the current state of the world, it's clear we are in the future and more than one planets are habitable, but I wanted more than that! I had so many questions regarding the plot, and almost none were answered. Maybe the author purposefully didn't want to reveal to much or write this book with too much detail and also maybe I'm way too used to reading books that are over 400 pages that this one felt like it was missing something.
I cannot tell you how much I wanted to like this book more than I did! For the first 10 chapters or so, I loooved it, I was reading it consistently and I was very eager to know what would happen next! After the tenth chapter though, I just couldn't bring myself to finishing it... And it's such a shame, because it's a really short book, I should have finished it in a matter of hours!
Tbh, sci-fi isn't my preferred genre, I don't really enjoy it, but I thought I'd give it a try and see how I felt about it. Let me tell you, I loved Astra, she's was definitely a very spunky and interesting character and I'd love to read more from her POV! Felix was also an interesting character, I loved his exasperation with Astra and I also really admired his dedication to her, because even though he was a soldier for the biggest part of his life, he took Astra under his wing and felt for her more than he would have liked to admit!
I think that my main problem with the book, was the length! I would have loved it to be longer, because then many things that sparked my interest would have been explored more in depth! For example, I really wanted to know more about the current state of the world, it's clear we are in the future and more than one planets are habitable, but I wanted more than that! I had so many questions regarding the plot, and almost none were answered. Maybe the author purposefully didn't want to reveal to much or write this book with too much detail and also maybe I'm way too used to reading books that are over 400 pages that this one felt like it was missing something.
June 20, 2017
What initially drew me to this series was the gorgeous covers, but what I really loved about this book was that the beauty was more than skin deep. The author paints such a vivid picture of what this world looks like that I had no trouble visualizing this entire first part. I am so completely fascinated by this futuristic world in which people don't need to eat food, or sleep; where men are raised by android's they call "mothers" to become the ultimate soldiers and the women and girls are kept completely separate. It felt so real that it gave me goosebumps to think about. Felix is literally the best soldier the chairman has ever had... and yet there is something different. When he goes off to the north after receiving a message from the mysterious Clockmaster, you can tell that something incredible is going to happen. Enter Astra. Felix has never been this close to a female before but the more time they spend together, the more they learn that perhaps their world isn't quite right. I don't want to add much more about the plot because it's so fun discovering those things on your own. I was completely captivated by Astra and Felix, and really enjoyed seeing them both discover new things. By the time I got to the end of the book, I knew I needed the next installment as soon as I could get my hands on it. That cliffhanger! I can't wait to see what happens in their story next.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2018
This cover is beautiful. I've also heard some pretty great things about this book and series - so I wanted to take some time to read it for myself.
No Ordinary Star was a pretty interesting read. I went into with no expectations - mostly due to the mixed reviews on it. Yes, I did look at those before I dove into but that's only to see other opinions on it. The only opinion that matters to me about a book is my own - I don't care if everyone hated a book I loved or if I hated a book that everyone loved. I just really enjoy reading other people's opinions on books.
First off, not a fan of this whole "no christmas" thing. Nope, I'm basically a christmas baby (being born two days before and all) so this hurt me very deeply. Also, men and women are separated but that didn't matter to me after the whole no christmas bomb was dropped. ALSO, no one sleeps or eats. This doesn't sound like a world I want to live in because if you do any of those things you are ill. Yeah, hard pass. I have a great relationship with good, the gym, and my bed.
Okay, this book hooks you from the very beginning. No, it really does (even after the whole no christmas thing). Yes, I'm still salty about that. Well, we are thrown into the future with little to none information. It's interesting, intriguing, and a little bit confusing. However, I loved Felix and Astria wholeheartedly. Once they meet each other there is so much tensions that I instantly starting to ship them.
Now besides the whole story line I kind of wish I got to see more into the characters minds and how they processed things so quickly. It was mind-blowing to see them automatically come up with the answer while I'm trying to figure out how 1+sunshine = happiness. Yeah, I'm slow at math stuff but I'm a quick learner by doing.
Overall, I loved this book. Even if I seemed dumbfounded at times. I can't wait for the next book to fall in my lap because I'm invested right now. SO FREAKING INVESTED GUYS!!!
No Ordinary Star was a pretty interesting read. I went into with no expectations - mostly due to the mixed reviews on it. Yes, I did look at those before I dove into but that's only to see other opinions on it. The only opinion that matters to me about a book is my own - I don't care if everyone hated a book I loved or if I hated a book that everyone loved. I just really enjoy reading other people's opinions on books.
First off, not a fan of this whole "no christmas" thing. Nope, I'm basically a christmas baby (being born two days before and all) so this hurt me very deeply. Also, men and women are separated but that didn't matter to me after the whole no christmas bomb was dropped. ALSO, no one sleeps or eats. This doesn't sound like a world I want to live in because if you do any of those things you are ill. Yeah, hard pass. I have a great relationship with good, the gym, and my bed.
Okay, this book hooks you from the very beginning. No, it really does (even after the whole no christmas thing). Yes, I'm still salty about that. Well, we are thrown into the future with little to none information. It's interesting, intriguing, and a little bit confusing. However, I loved Felix and Astria wholeheartedly. Once they meet each other there is so much tensions that I instantly starting to ship them.
Now besides the whole story line I kind of wish I got to see more into the characters minds and how they processed things so quickly. It was mind-blowing to see them automatically come up with the answer while I'm trying to figure out how 1+sunshine = happiness. Yeah, I'm slow at math stuff but I'm a quick learner by doing.
Overall, I loved this book. Even if I seemed dumbfounded at times. I can't wait for the next book to fall in my lap because I'm invested right now. SO FREAKING INVESTED GUYS!!!
August 18, 2017
*takes deep breath, clears throat* Oh where to begin with this book? I did not like this book AT ALL. It was terribly confusing, the characters were flat and uninteresting, and the dialogue was dull at best and ridiculously irritating at worst. I picked this book up because I have always been a fan of YA dystopian novels and after seeing such great reviews for it, I figured, why not pick it up. It had the extra bonus of being less than 200 pages so I thought I'd fly through it. Boy was I WRONG! It took me four days to read this short novel and that is because I absolutely DREADED picking it back up. I would fall asleep reading it, roll my eyes at the ridiculous dialogue and wish that the end was near every time I opened my kindle. Why did I keep reading, you ask? Because I hate DNF'ing a book, especially when it's short. Also because a girl's trying to reach her reading goal for the year (I clearly have my priorities in order).
Normally in my reviews, I'd give a little summary of the book and insight into the characters. Wish I could do that now but I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT! I was confused the entire time but I didn't care enough to try and figure out what was going on. Sometimes I enjoy when a book confuses me a bit because it keeps me on my toes, like a puzzle I need to solve while reading. That was not the case with this book. I just kept pushing on wishing for the end to be near.
Needless to say I will NOT be reading the sequel to this book. The "cliffhanger" at the end was not enough to intrigue to the point of continuing this dreadful series. I've read enough YA dystopian to know a good series when I see one and this one just did not do it for me. My soul weeps for the time I wasted on this book 😩
Normally in my reviews, I'd give a little summary of the book and insight into the characters. Wish I could do that now but I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT! I was confused the entire time but I didn't care enough to try and figure out what was going on. Sometimes I enjoy when a book confuses me a bit because it keeps me on my toes, like a puzzle I need to solve while reading. That was not the case with this book. I just kept pushing on wishing for the end to be near.
Needless to say I will NOT be reading the sequel to this book. The "cliffhanger" at the end was not enough to intrigue to the point of continuing this dreadful series. I've read enough YA dystopian to know a good series when I see one and this one just did not do it for me. My soul weeps for the time I wasted on this book 😩
November 19, 2016
*The author of this book sent me this paperback copy in exchange for an honest review, so don’t expect anything less than that. I will always give an honest review, be it a positive one or a negative one.*
I feel like this entire book was just an intro for the rest of the series. A super. Long. Dragged out. Intro. The conflict was introduced but nothing ever really happened with it.
I wanted to like this book.... actually I wanted to love it, but I didn't. I had a very hard time getting through this novel. I even had to take a break from it completely, and I only kept reading because of the encouragement from others that had read it, insisting that it would get better. It didn't get a whole lot better for me.
I guess my biggest problem was that I was bored for most of the novel. I was bored with the story, the characters.... everything. And it was so confusing, I kept reading until chapter 5 and then I had to take a break, NOTHING MADE SENSE. Also too much details about the world, and less dialogue. the same problem with the characters, I didn't know enough about the characters and the life they were living to really care about them. It felt like a very long prologue to another story.
This had an intriguing plot but lacked a little uniqueness, for me. I am interested in continuing on with the series but my expectations and excitement have, unfortunately, waned a little. I already have book 2 and hopefully it's better! :)
I feel like this entire book was just an intro for the rest of the series. A super. Long. Dragged out. Intro. The conflict was introduced but nothing ever really happened with it.
I wanted to like this book.... actually I wanted to love it, but I didn't. I had a very hard time getting through this novel. I even had to take a break from it completely, and I only kept reading because of the encouragement from others that had read it, insisting that it would get better. It didn't get a whole lot better for me.
I guess my biggest problem was that I was bored for most of the novel. I was bored with the story, the characters.... everything. And it was so confusing, I kept reading until chapter 5 and then I had to take a break, NOTHING MADE SENSE. Also too much details about the world, and less dialogue. the same problem with the characters, I didn't know enough about the characters and the life they were living to really care about them. It felt like a very long prologue to another story.
This had an intriguing plot but lacked a little uniqueness, for me. I am interested in continuing on with the series but my expectations and excitement have, unfortunately, waned a little. I already have book 2 and hopefully it's better! :)
June 29, 2018
I’ll be honest - I’m not the biggest sci-fi/dystopian fan and actively try to avoid them as far as possible. What so drew me into No Ordinary Star that I didn’t dnf it (which is what I generally do to most sci-fi books) are the characters. NOS follows Felix and Astra - two of the more complex characters I have read in YA, I’m glad to say. He is responsible for turning the clock to bring in the new year 2525 and she’s a criminal on the run.
Further, I’m very intrigued by the world created here - a world where humans have overcome trifling things such as disease and live for far longer than we do, a world where even now women face problems, new problems even as the old ones have died out. Human companionship is a thing of the past and you can forget about things like sleep and books, because why would you want those in 2525?
I think the author has written the characters very well and her writing style is really poetic and draws you into this state of almost dreaming. This is more of a set up book though, which isn’t surprising since it’s so short and introduces us to a new world. For that reason, I give this the 3 stars because I think the remaining two books will only get better!
Edit - I also really love this cover! It’s beautiful 😍.
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
Further, I’m very intrigued by the world created here - a world where humans have overcome trifling things such as disease and live for far longer than we do, a world where even now women face problems, new problems even as the old ones have died out. Human companionship is a thing of the past and you can forget about things like sleep and books, because why would you want those in 2525?
I think the author has written the characters very well and her writing style is really poetic and draws you into this state of almost dreaming. This is more of a set up book though, which isn’t surprising since it’s so short and introduces us to a new world. For that reason, I give this the 3 stars because I think the remaining two books will only get better!
Edit - I also really love this cover! It’s beautiful 😍.
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2019
**1 star**
Five months ago, I gave this book 4 stars. I'm here today giving it 1 star because I no longer feel obligated to like this book for the sake of the author's feelings. I danced beautiful around the truth in my initial review, and it's sad that I felt like I had to do that.
This is extremely flawed book. I have tried to read it twice and I don't really understand the plot or the world Frank tries to set up. The characters are entirely unlikable, mostly because they're boring. There is an enormous amount of potential in this book but it fails to follow through.
Despite the short length of No Ordinary Star, it's a slow, actionless read. Literally nothing happens. They just get nostalgic about Christmas and hate each other (Astra and Felix). I also found the Christmas theme silly in a post-apocalyptic dystopia.
Ehhhhh. That's all I have to say.
Five months ago, I gave this book 4 stars. I'm here today giving it 1 star because I no longer feel obligated to like this book for the sake of the author's feelings. I danced beautiful around the truth in my initial review, and it's sad that I felt like I had to do that.
This is extremely flawed book. I have tried to read it twice and I don't really understand the plot or the world Frank tries to set up. The characters are entirely unlikable, mostly because they're boring. There is an enormous amount of potential in this book but it fails to follow through.
Despite the short length of No Ordinary Star, it's a slow, actionless read. Literally nothing happens. They just get nostalgic about Christmas and hate each other (Astra and Felix). I also found the Christmas theme silly in a post-apocalyptic dystopia.
Ehhhhh. That's all I have to say.
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July 15, 2017I am not sure how to review this book.
It's not a matter of liking or not liking it, it's just the fact that it feels more like 1/3 of a story, rather than a first book in a series. And how can I judge a story by only a fraction of it? (Even my top favourite book would lack a bit if judged only by those first 100 pages of pure, undiluted confusion *hint* jellicoe *hint*)
This being said, the cover is stunning and it's the main reason why I picked up this book. Also the first half of the book is fast paced and intriguing, I loved the urgency of it, the not so ordinary writing style and the mystery behind the characters. I loved the idea of a world in so much need of simple joy, like Christmas, of a clock that keeps everything running even when technology is incredibly advanced, of two strangers who break every rule in order to save each other.
I am a bit unsure when it comes to the world building, because there are few details revealed here. I would have liked to know what actually caused the split of this world in 2 (with men and women living separate lives); how an entire world can get rid of books and forget so many customs; what is the meaning of the year 2525, what's special about it; also based on the cover I would have thought that the SF part would be more prominent, though so far all the action takes place at the North Pole.
The problem I had with the book is that - except for the beginning - nothing actually happens. It's more of an introduction to the story and the characters, but there is no climax (in fact, no apparent conflict can be seen at this point, no potential danger threatens the characters, no villain is in sight so far).
I would assume that the next instalments will tackle all this and more, but so far I am at a loss for words. And I have no idea how to rate this book...
It's not a matter of liking or not liking it, it's just the fact that it feels more like 1/3 of a story, rather than a first book in a series. And how can I judge a story by only a fraction of it? (Even my top favourite book would lack a bit if judged only by those first 100 pages of pure, undiluted confusion *hint* jellicoe *hint*)
This being said, the cover is stunning and it's the main reason why I picked up this book. Also the first half of the book is fast paced and intriguing, I loved the urgency of it, the not so ordinary writing style and the mystery behind the characters. I loved the idea of a world in so much need of simple joy, like Christmas, of a clock that keeps everything running even when technology is incredibly advanced, of two strangers who break every rule in order to save each other.
I am a bit unsure when it comes to the world building, because there are few details revealed here. I would have liked to know what actually caused the split of this world in 2 (with men and women living separate lives); how an entire world can get rid of books and forget so many customs; what is the meaning of the year 2525, what's special about it; also based on the cover I would have thought that the SF part would be more prominent, though so far all the action takes place at the North Pole.
The problem I had with the book is that - except for the beginning - nothing actually happens. It's more of an introduction to the story and the characters, but there is no climax (in fact, no apparent conflict can be seen at this point, no potential danger threatens the characters, no villain is in sight so far).
I would assume that the next instalments will tackle all this and more, but so far I am at a loss for words. And I have no idea how to rate this book...
July 24, 2017
An icy tale of romance and the discovery of new ideas.
I was intrigued first and foremost by this books cover--it's stunning! But then I discovered it was a sci-fi and knew I had to read it. I also took note that it was inspired by Ray Bradbury's short stories and was even more intrigued.
It's been a while since I've read Bradbury, but I did get the hint of his stories with this novel, as well as M.C.'s classic style.
The story itself has a very simple cast of characters. The soldier, the girl, and the polar bear. I really enjoy the way that M.C. creates tension between her main characters. There are a lot of things that come into play to do this (no spoilers here) but I enjoy the way they change as the story progresses. I also loved the polar bear because, let's be honest, who doesn't love polar bears?
The plot itself felt a little slow in some parts, as if I was waiting for something big to happen and it never fully did. Then again, this is a series broken up into three shorter books and I think that things progress more slowly due to that fact. I liked the world that was created and described. Harsh, futuristic in some senses (mostly ideals and new cultural norms), and foreign and familiar all at the same time. The clock element still perplexes me, and yet I have a feeling we'll discover more about it on subsequent books.
The last readerly thing to note would be the point of view. This is written in third person present tense and, while I enjoyed it, I also found it a little confusing at times. To me, it creates a bit of a distant feeling to the characters in my mind. I liked that we were able to see from both main characters perspectives and to gain a perspective of their differing personalities, but it may take a little getting used to for readers who are not accustomed to this type of writing.
If you enjoy a Ray Bradbury-type tale with hints of romantic tension and a mysterious element to the story, you will likely enjoy this book! It's got a mild sci-fi feel but isn't hugely technical. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
*A note for my clean readers: There are a few instances of language in the book.
My rating: 4*
_______________
I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
I was intrigued first and foremost by this books cover--it's stunning! But then I discovered it was a sci-fi and knew I had to read it. I also took note that it was inspired by Ray Bradbury's short stories and was even more intrigued.
It's been a while since I've read Bradbury, but I did get the hint of his stories with this novel, as well as M.C.'s classic style.
The story itself has a very simple cast of characters. The soldier, the girl, and the polar bear. I really enjoy the way that M.C. creates tension between her main characters. There are a lot of things that come into play to do this (no spoilers here) but I enjoy the way they change as the story progresses. I also loved the polar bear because, let's be honest, who doesn't love polar bears?
The plot itself felt a little slow in some parts, as if I was waiting for something big to happen and it never fully did. Then again, this is a series broken up into three shorter books and I think that things progress more slowly due to that fact. I liked the world that was created and described. Harsh, futuristic in some senses (mostly ideals and new cultural norms), and foreign and familiar all at the same time. The clock element still perplexes me, and yet I have a feeling we'll discover more about it on subsequent books.
The last readerly thing to note would be the point of view. This is written in third person present tense and, while I enjoyed it, I also found it a little confusing at times. To me, it creates a bit of a distant feeling to the characters in my mind. I liked that we were able to see from both main characters perspectives and to gain a perspective of their differing personalities, but it may take a little getting used to for readers who are not accustomed to this type of writing.
If you enjoy a Ray Bradbury-type tale with hints of romantic tension and a mysterious element to the story, you will likely enjoy this book! It's got a mild sci-fi feel but isn't hugely technical. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
*A note for my clean readers: There are a few instances of language in the book.
My rating: 4*
_______________
I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
August 17, 2017
Ok, I honestly don't know what took me so long to read this book, but when I finally did, I could not put it down! I mean, I finished it in a couple of days. And that doesn't get to happen for me too often anymore. If you're a fan of The Giver, then you will definitely enjoy this book because there were quite a few things that definitely made me think of that story while still keeping to its own story. But I also like how this book tied in a retelling of an old child classic within it's midst: The Tin Soldier. It was always one of my favorites growing up. Even had the pop up storytelling book to read. haha anyways...review time
So this story takes place in the future in 2524 where an unlikely duo meet: a soldier and a runaway. They befriend each other and help each other grow, especially since the soldier has some big shoes to fill now that the Clockmaster is dead. He has to keep the history alive himself. And he has to fix a clock before the new year begins and he has no idea where to start. This new world intrigued me, cause it's a world that got rid of al its problems: hunger and sickness were taken care of by taking pills. Dystopians always intrigued me, but the way Frank weaves this story is like pure magic. Her writing is absolutely phenomenal, probably another reason why I couldn't put it down!
Want to thank M.C. Frank for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next one now!!
So this story takes place in the future in 2524 where an unlikely duo meet: a soldier and a runaway. They befriend each other and help each other grow, especially since the soldier has some big shoes to fill now that the Clockmaster is dead. He has to keep the history alive himself. And he has to fix a clock before the new year begins and he has no idea where to start. This new world intrigued me, cause it's a world that got rid of al its problems: hunger and sickness were taken care of by taking pills. Dystopians always intrigued me, but the way Frank weaves this story is like pure magic. Her writing is absolutely phenomenal, probably another reason why I couldn't put it down!
Want to thank M.C. Frank for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next one now!!
November 15, 2018
This was so beautiful and poetic and quiet and gorgeous. I didn't know what to expect of the story but now I'm very happy I picked this up. Thanks again to Darque Dreamer for recommending it! I think it's specially delightful to read around Christmas!
December 11, 2017
OHH This little gem is hiding! Why hasn't anyone given this beauty more attention!
November 18, 2021
The cover for the book is so stunning and i really wanted to like the story, but it felt meh? it was a bit confusing and wierd for me... i didn`t care for the character nor enjoy the story much.
June 21, 2017
I just got like so absorbed into this story! It didn't take me long at all to read. It technically took a day and a half but if I wasn't busy yesterday afternoon-night I would have read it real quick 😋😁 the story is a little different than some sci-fi but I really enjoyed it and I really like it when stories are different. I seriously NEED to know Felix and Astra's backstory!!
June 16, 2020
It's a little bit sci-fi, a little bit fairy tale, a lot dystopian, and I'm getting just a hint of budding romance. It's a strange mix that makes a strange little book with some surprising strengths and some obvious flaws.
First, it's pretty clear that this is just the first act of the story packaged as a single volume, because this is all set-up with very little internal forward motion. The book ends just after we get to the first goal post--we know Felix has to get the clock running, and he finally finds the clock. It's an abrupt cut-off point, though it might be logical in the larger context of the story. But that's a problem, isn't it? I feel like I can't evaluate this honestly because I'm aware that I'm trying to review just the first act of something larger, so of course it's not going to feel complete and I'm going to have problems with it.
Second, doing my best to set that aside; I think there's a lot of potential in the world-building, but it's thrown at us willy-nilly. I find the concepts themselves interesting--how different would society look if no one needs to sleep or eat? What would happen if a dictatorship forcibly separated men from women to different parts of the planet and criminalized interaction between them? How effectively can a leader strip the world of its history and culture to recreate society in their image, and what technology would that take? But the flow of information is clunky, handed to us flatly instead of being discovered through narrative, and nothing is explored in any real depth. (I'm not a fan, specifically, of how casually rape is mentioned for shock value; it's not treated seriously at all. I would rather lean in on the psychological horror of a prison where you're never allowed to sleep while you remain standing immobile, packed in a room with the other prisoners you're not allowed to speak to. That's novel, that's interesting, that's a whole wealth of trauma to explore, so why even add off-hand "and if you do fall asleep the guards will take you away and rape you to death" and that's that.)
So much of Felix and Astra's conversation is a tense push-pull of unthinking assumptions and missing information, so why can't more of the state of the world be revealed through them talking to each other? Astra knows more about how Felix lived than he knows about her, so why doesn't he learn more from her than he does? (Stubbornness, I suppose, but I'm getting to that.)
The greatest strength of this work, though, are the characters. I don't fully understand the world they're living in yet (I've got the second and third books, or maybe I should call them Acts II and III, to help me with that) but I do understand, at least a little bit, the characters and their motivations. Even if I don't get why Ulysses wants Felix to finish the clock (if these two kids are going to be rebels, why would they be supporting the status quo?) I do understand why Felix would feel compelled to follow the orders he's been given, he was raised a soldier. Even if weaning him of the drugs that kept him in line is making him question his place in the world, his underlying drive would still be to do as he's told, he's just changed commanders. And Astra? She's a born rebel whose family and whose own actions have placed her outside of the protection of the law. Of course she wants to discover the treasure of old, forbidden books that would tell her about how things used to be, how things could be again someday.
I'll keep reading. I have hope for this story. But it's kind of a rough ride getting there.
First, it's pretty clear that this is just the first act of the story packaged as a single volume, because this is all set-up with very little internal forward motion. The book ends just after we get to the first goal post--we know Felix has to get the clock running, and he finally finds the clock. It's an abrupt cut-off point, though it might be logical in the larger context of the story. But that's a problem, isn't it? I feel like I can't evaluate this honestly because I'm aware that I'm trying to review just the first act of something larger, so of course it's not going to feel complete and I'm going to have problems with it.
Second, doing my best to set that aside; I think there's a lot of potential in the world-building, but it's thrown at us willy-nilly. I find the concepts themselves interesting--how different would society look if no one needs to sleep or eat? What would happen if a dictatorship forcibly separated men from women to different parts of the planet and criminalized interaction between them? How effectively can a leader strip the world of its history and culture to recreate society in their image, and what technology would that take? But the flow of information is clunky, handed to us flatly instead of being discovered through narrative, and nothing is explored in any real depth. (I'm not a fan, specifically, of how casually rape is mentioned for shock value; it's not treated seriously at all. I would rather lean in on the psychological horror of a prison where you're never allowed to sleep while you remain standing immobile, packed in a room with the other prisoners you're not allowed to speak to. That's novel, that's interesting, that's a whole wealth of trauma to explore, so why even add off-hand "and if you do fall asleep the guards will take you away and rape you to death" and that's that.)
So much of Felix and Astra's conversation is a tense push-pull of unthinking assumptions and missing information, so why can't more of the state of the world be revealed through them talking to each other? Astra knows more about how Felix lived than he knows about her, so why doesn't he learn more from her than he does? (Stubbornness, I suppose, but I'm getting to that.)
The greatest strength of this work, though, are the characters. I don't fully understand the world they're living in yet (I've got the second and third books, or maybe I should call them Acts II and III, to help me with that) but I do understand, at least a little bit, the characters and their motivations. Even if I don't get why Ulysses wants Felix to finish the clock (if these two kids are going to be rebels, why would they be supporting the status quo?) I do understand why Felix would feel compelled to follow the orders he's been given, he was raised a soldier. Even if weaning him of the drugs that kept him in line is making him question his place in the world, his underlying drive would still be to do as he's told, he's just changed commanders. And Astra? She's a born rebel whose family and whose own actions have placed her outside of the protection of the law. Of course she wants to discover the treasure of old, forbidden books that would tell her about how things used to be, how things could be again someday.
I'll keep reading. I have hope for this story. But it's kind of a rough ride getting there.
June 23, 2017
5 BIG, SHINY STARS
"At the end of the year 2524, where there's no hunger, no illness, no feelings and also no families, everything is controlled, monitored, planned and created; men and women are separated; everything is just that perfect after the second enlightenment.
Felix was the most obedient, intelligent soldier in Baghdad training military school, until he received a mysterious message that turned his world upside down, and puts him on a journey where he meets Astra, a natural rebel, and a wanted citizen for her father's crime.
How could they deal with each other in this cold world? and how would they save the world when they can barely save themselves ?"
First things first, the author, M. C. Frank, I want to thank her for even thinking of organizing a street team to have her readers' feedback and opinions; i think it's pretty amazing of her.
This book had me hooked from the first chapter; I was instantly transmitted to the year 2524, M. C. Frank's writing is that good, and trust me, I'm not even close to overreacting. She has a way with words that turn every situation in the book into a deeply meaningful one. The feelings that Astra felt were too intense, it touched me; she went through so much, and yet she's still surviving and even thinking about those who surround her.
The feelings that Astra felt were too intense, it touched me; she went through so much, and yet she survived and was always thinking about those who surrounded her.
Felix and his confusion, after learning that he was fed a lot of lies; how he's recovering and just fighting through all these unfortunate events, is just fascinating.
And I just fell for this quote:
"
"the stars haven't been visible from Earth in decades"
"Oh they have been," she says, "if you know where to look. When you see a formation that's irregular, a star that doesn't look ordinary - that's a real and no satellite."
He sighs. No ordinary star. What does that even mean? "
"At the end of the year 2524, where there's no hunger, no illness, no feelings and also no families, everything is controlled, monitored, planned and created; men and women are separated; everything is just that perfect after the second enlightenment.
Felix was the most obedient, intelligent soldier in Baghdad training military school, until he received a mysterious message that turned his world upside down, and puts him on a journey where he meets Astra, a natural rebel, and a wanted citizen for her father's crime.
How could they deal with each other in this cold world? and how would they save the world when they can barely save themselves ?"
First things first, the author, M. C. Frank, I want to thank her for even thinking of organizing a street team to have her readers' feedback and opinions; i think it's pretty amazing of her.
This book had me hooked from the first chapter; I was instantly transmitted to the year 2524, M. C. Frank's writing is that good, and trust me, I'm not even close to overreacting. She has a way with words that turn every situation in the book into a deeply meaningful one. The feelings that Astra felt were too intense, it touched me; she went through so much, and yet she's still surviving and even thinking about those who surround her.
The feelings that Astra felt were too intense, it touched me; she went through so much, and yet she survived and was always thinking about those who surrounded her.
Felix and his confusion, after learning that he was fed a lot of lies; how he's recovering and just fighting through all these unfortunate events, is just fascinating.
And I just fell for this quote:
"
"the stars haven't been visible from Earth in decades"
"Oh they have been," she says, "if you know where to look. When you see a formation that's irregular, a star that doesn't look ordinary - that's a real and no satellite."
He sighs. No ordinary star. What does that even mean? "
February 8, 2016
First off, I am going to thank M.C. Frank for sending this to me, once again. I truly appreciate it. Now on to the book review.
I have to be entirely honest, when I started reading this book I had also started another book that was very descriptive so I had to pull myself out of that world to entire this one, and being in 3rd person it was a little difficult, but I did it and I really like this book. I also like how it switches perspectives between Felix and Astra.
No Ordinary Star is really good. It isn’t like a book I have read before. (I know I’ve said this about a few other books, but that is only because I have been branching out a little more, just a little.) No Ordinary Star goes over a span of two days. It leaves off on a cliffhanger that leaves you like, ‘WAIT! It CANNOT end there! I want to know more!�
‘Tin Man�, ‘Drone�, Felix, continues to say how annoying Astra is but I can’t see it. She’s just like anyone else, but then again if you are a ‘Tin Man� like he is, then I understand, I’m so happy that he finally sees they are not so different. Like thank goodness it gets through his thick metal head!!!! (Okay, I’m in a punny mood today, and all my puns are terrible so please bear with it.)
Astra on the other hand, I like her a lot. (Let me mention this now, I’m perfectly fine with both characters.) She has a back story that I would like to see more of. She is definitely sassy which always is a plus in characters. Although there was a relationship growth it’s not necessarily a huge growth, they both just come to realize that the other person is that bad, which is a major plus.
I hope that just because Felix’s granddad knew Astra’s dad that there’s not going to be some crazy family connection between them.
I have to be entirely honest, when I started reading this book I had also started another book that was very descriptive so I had to pull myself out of that world to entire this one, and being in 3rd person it was a little difficult, but I did it and I really like this book. I also like how it switches perspectives between Felix and Astra.
No Ordinary Star is really good. It isn’t like a book I have read before. (I know I’ve said this about a few other books, but that is only because I have been branching out a little more, just a little.) No Ordinary Star goes over a span of two days. It leaves off on a cliffhanger that leaves you like, ‘WAIT! It CANNOT end there! I want to know more!�
‘Tin Man�, ‘Drone�, Felix, continues to say how annoying Astra is but I can’t see it. She’s just like anyone else, but then again if you are a ‘Tin Man� like he is, then I understand, I’m so happy that he finally sees they are not so different. Like thank goodness it gets through his thick metal head!!!! (Okay, I’m in a punny mood today, and all my puns are terrible so please bear with it.)
Astra on the other hand, I like her a lot. (Let me mention this now, I’m perfectly fine with both characters.) She has a back story that I would like to see more of. She is definitely sassy which always is a plus in characters. Although there was a relationship growth it’s not necessarily a huge growth, they both just come to realize that the other person is that bad, which is a major plus.
I hope that just because Felix’s granddad knew Astra’s dad that there’s not going to be some crazy family connection between them.
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