All Things Halloween Review - Their Fractured Light

Their Fractured Light (Starbound, # 3)

By: Aimee Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Publication: December 1st 2015 by Disney-Hyperion

400 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library (Christmas present from Holly)

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Goodreads description--A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.

Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.

Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.

When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide.

Their Fractured Light is combination of a new couple's story and the conclusion of how six people's lives are interconnected to the same end. That being said, the prior two books seemed to have more focus on the individuals of the book rather than the conspiracy and overall conflict of the series where Their Fractured Light had less time to focus on Sophia and Gideon due to having to wrap up the series conflict. Obviously this had to be the case, but I kind of missed the focus being on the two main characters of the book. However, I did enjoy seeing so much of Lilac, Tarver, Jubilee, and Flynn.

Sophia has been on the run for a while and because of this she's learned a few skills about staying under the radar. She has an uncanny ability to read people and a similar ability to mask her own intentions and actions. This, mixed with being on the run all the time, has kept her from trusting most people. Add in that her father was killed indirectly by Roderick LaRoux. This has her seeking information on how to take down LaRoux. But unlike others, she feels like LaRoux only deserves the same end as her father.

Gideon is an amazing hacker. He's been on his own since he was twelve. Because his identity as a hacker is top secret, he also has very few people he trusts. Those who know him only know parts of him and not his physical person. He also plans to take down LaRoux industries, but he doesn't quite have the intentions that Sophia does.

These two are joined together on their quest when Sophia attempts to throw Gideon--at the time, a random guy--under the bus. Only when she realizes that she's about to be run over by the same bus does she change strategies and Gideon becomes an unintentional ally. The two end up depending on each other and a bond and relationship begins to build. Yet the two both have secrets that might serve to destroy their rocky relationship.

I can't decide if I fully like the direction that everything went with the Whispers or not. It kind of felt like the authors were doing some kind of social commentary in a way, but I wasn't 100% sure. Usually, I don't enjoy social commentary in my books, but this wasn't overly done to the point where I was annoyed or felt like they were trying to teach a lesson.

Favorite quotes:

-A good mark always wants to trust you--a good mark wants you to con him. The audience wants you to succeed.

-...reason plays no part in fear.

-"The right kind of pressure can turn anyone into a monster."

-"But free will is what it means to be human, and no one can determine the path you take through this universe. Choice is our greatest right, our greatest gift--and our greatest responsibility."

Their Fractured Light was a good end to a series that I've enjoyed a lot. I won't say it was my favorite book in the series, but it was still worthy of 4 Stars. Have you read Their Fractured Light? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.