Book review: Across a Star-Swept sea by Diana Peterfreund

Across a star-swept sea

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Series: Companion novel to For darkness shows the stars.

Pages: 464

Rating: 5/5 stars

Source: ARC provided by publisher for review.

Summary:

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

My thoughts.

Across a star-swept sea is the breathtaking sequel to For darkness shows the stars by Diana Peterfreund.
This companion novel is a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, beautifully created and with unforgettable characters. 

In this new book we have Regs and Aristo instead of Posts and Luddite.
Persis Blake is an Aristo whose frivolous life hides her alter ego, Wild Poppy, the most famous spy all over New Pacifica.
I’m thrilled to say that this book was even better than For darkness shows the stars. To say that I loved it to pieces is not enough for such an amazing master piece.
Diana Petefeund did an amazing job creating a story than once again mixed perfectly the old fashioned ways on a modern and technologically advanced setting. The words, the descriptions, the story telling, everything was perfect!

I am not a person that really enjoys reading from different POVs because sometimes they’re not well created or they're confusing, but while reading Across a star-wept sea I never had that problem. Each character was unique and so, it was their voice.
Persis, the Wild Poppy is one of the best heroines I have ever known. I loved Elliot in the first book, she was strong and brave, and she was really mature and serious. But this Persis Blake was totally different to Elliot. She was funny and elegant, loyal and so smart. And when Persis was the Wild Poppy it was entirely different as well: Brave and intelligent, cold but always trying to help the people that needed her the most.
Justen in the other hand is a medic who’s trying to fix the mistake he made in the past. His POV was utterly different from Persis’s because he was more logical and thinks like a scientist. Justen is brilliant. And while we see the fake relationship he and Persis had, we learned to understand the way he sees the world.
There are also POVs from Justen’s sister and cousin. They’re so important because they tell and show the story of the other side.

The politics and aristocratic conflicts are well based and make the story more believable and understandable.
 The romance was well made, it wasn’t insta-love (thanks God!), but it grew slowly as the main characters start knowing each other. Both of them knew they couldn’t fall in love, but they did, they see through the facades make a beautifully real love story.
And for those who were pining for a Kai-Elliot cameo. They are in the right place and at the right time. The Cloud Fleet play an important role in the last part of the story. They are back bringing with them all the things we loved –and hated –before.
On my personal opinion, this book is one of the best of the year. There wasn’t a moment I didn’t like it, I never got bored and I enjoyed every part of it.
Across a star-swept sea is an unforgettable story about love, friendship, justice and equality. A must read.