christopher paolini to sleep in a sea of stars review

Our lead character, Kira, is the one whose story we follow. Perhaps no element works as well as the novel’s characters – and there are many of them. Every element of the narrative works in perfect harmony, demanding your attention. There is a perfect blend of quieter moments where characters can shine and the narrative can be explored and big action scenes and tension-filled sequences that make you itch to keep reading. From there, there is never a dull moment. The beginning of the book takes the requisite time to acquaint you with its world before speeding off into the meat of the story. Every piece has its place and it all adds up to the tapestry that is the whole of the narrative. It is expertly plotted, put together like a massive puzzle. At no point is it more confusing than it should be. But at no point does any of this feel overwhelming. Paolini tells a complex story with a lot of moving Parts over the 800-odd pages. But what makes To Sleep in a Sea of Stars feel special is how well it does all of this. Now, sure, that could describe any and every well-told story.

Various elements build off of those introduced early on, guiding the audience through twists and turns until eventually arriving at a resolution that takes all the threads of what’s come before and weaves them into something new. It’s a long story told over several parts. I’d liken To Sleep in a Sea of Stars to some of the best-serialized television shows. This wouldn’t be an inaccurate synopsis, but it wouldn’t do the book justice, either. Then, all hell breaks loose as she finds herself at the center of a battle she is ill-prepared for. Something like: Kira, a xenobiologist, accidentally discovers and pairs with an alien symbiote. The novel’s plot could fairly easily be boiled down to something simple. And you’d be partially right, but not exactly. So, with the novel deftly handling its world-building, you might think it has an insanely complex plot. Plus, they’re balanced by some excellent action sequences – but more on that shortly. There are plenty of exposition dumps, sure, but they are handled in ways that feel rooted in the needs of the characters and, as a result, feel natural to the reader. Things may seem confusing at first, but they become clearer as the book progresses. We learn about this world as it becomes relevant. It is apparent that he has created a sprawling universe in which the story is set, but he shows quite a bit of restraint in sharing that information. Paolini finds a good balance between world-building and character/plot development. For the most part, it never feels like a moment is wasted. But it manages to feel much shorter than it is. To get the obvious out of the way, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a long book. Now, Kira might be humanity’s greatest and final hope. While Kira faces her own horrors, Earth and its colonies stand upon the brink of annihilation. First contact isn’t at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human. At first she’s delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move.Īs war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paoliniĭuring a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. Additionally, there may be mild spoilers.) (NOTE: I won an advance copy of this book from BookishFirst.

Intricately plotted, stuffed with multidimensional and endearing characters, and filled with enough action to make Hollywood jealous, it is a thrill from start to finish. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a masterclass in genre storytelling. While I love a lot of sci-fi, would I like this? Would this novel connect with me in the way I wanted his others to? In short: yes. In that context, I was unsure what to expect when approaching To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, Paolini’s first book for adults, and his first foray into science fiction. It was a classic case of it’s me not them. Which is exactly what happened with Christopher Paolini’s beloved books. I’m very picky about what kinds of fantasy books I like – the higher the fantasy and the more complex the world, the less likely I am to like it.

I tried reading Eragon a few times and I made it partway through the film, but it was never something I could get into. I never read The Inheritance Cycle as a kid.

Christopher paolini to sleep in a sea of stars review