It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones

It Takes Death to Reach a Star Reviews

• 
  May 舞

  4.5 stars
  
  As I was telling my friend about this book, about how it portrays a bleak future in which rich people separate themselves from the rest of us "inferior" beings and live in the sky, enslaving us to work for them under inhumane conditions and setting us against each other via acts of terrorism and barbarism, while also making themselves biologically superior through genetic modification...She was like "Dude, that's our world now."
  
  And while that may sound like an exaggeration, I do believe that this astonishingly cruel future is not only possible, but also highly probable as the gap between the rich and the poor widens, as those in positions of power push for less government regulation of the economy and for lower taxes and increasingly limited welfare services.
  
  In It Takes Death to Reach a Star, we get a glimpse of that future. We see the cruelty human beings are capable of inflicting upon one another, and how some of us are more than ready to squish others like bugs if it will advance their own interests. However, we also get to see our great ability to empathize and cooperate with those with whom we share no blood bond; our strength and resilience in the face of adversity; and how we can fight for what we believe is right and just and good.
  
  
  We get to meet Mila, one of the most badass women I've had the pleasure of meeting. She is strong and fierce and kind, and I really enjoyed seeing how her character developed throughout the book. Her relationship with her brother and Bilgi and Farouq was heart-warming.
  Then we have Dimitri, who is this mountain-like guy around 2 meters tall but who is also so sweet and intelligent and brave in his own way. Growing up the way he did, I'm very surprised he turned out as well as he had in the end. I also liked how he questioned everything and didn't just believe what he was told like a good puppet. PS: I am going to be anxiously waiting for the second book in the series! The ending was such a terrible cliffhanger and I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT
  
  The world building was very clear. Unlike other science fiction novels I have read, I did not have any trouble with the first few chapters. It was all very smooth from the word go. I loved how the book discussed such important issues and broke down some stereotypes along the way. Examples include but are not limited to: the SEVERE harms of unregulated Capitalism, religious fundamentalism, racism, and traditional gender roles and expectations (emotional, meek, subordinate women; emotionally repressed, cruel, overly macho men).
  
  As for the writing, it was decent. Clear and easy to follow. I did not have any trouble with the multiple points of view, and all were equally interesting (even that crazy asshole, Vadmek). I don't know if the science mentioned in the book was solid or not, but it did not seem far fetched. I will have to read more about quantum mechanics and black holes to fully understand it. In any case, the explanations offered were not too complicated and they did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel.
  The pace was just right, not too slow nor too fast. I finished the whole thing in two settings.
  
  Overall, it was a very enjoyable, horizon-expanding experience. I love books that discuss important ideas and draw upon our reality, offering novel perspectives and food for though. It Takes Death to Reach a Star is definitely one of them.
• 
  L.S. Popovich

  I received an advanced review copy of the book without knowing anything about the authors beforehand. Immediately, I was not sure about the title. “It Takes Death to Reach a Star” brings to mind a corny line from a sci-fi movie, something a character says right as they press the button to enter hyperspace.
  A few things you should know before reading this book, and I do think you should read it:
  The chapters are very short. It is a relatively quick read due to the unrelenting pace and short sentences. It is told in the present tense, which makes it feel very contemporary, but may grate on some fans of “traditional” narration. The first person perspective has shifting narrators, indicated (thankfully) by the character’s name at the beginning of each brief chapter. There is heavy use of made-up terms, right off the bat, at a frequency of several per page, which takes some getting used to.
  The dialogue is clipped, punchy, like if Elmore Leonard wrote a post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure. Lots of death in this thrilling fantasy world, and plenty of methodical world-building. The scenery is well-described, all in an off-world setting that leaves enough to the imagination not to feel forced. That is, the narration never slows down. The method of the rapid internal monologues, full of personality and pizazz, make for a steep learning curve but an interactive reading experience. It feels very vivid, and though the character banter can be a little abstruse, it never goes on for too long. There are always things happening, plots unfolding, and these writers are not the type to hold your hand along the way. Rather, the co-authors fling you headfirst into a new universe, part William Gibson, part Ann Leckie.
  It is definitely worth the short amount of time it will take you to finish it, to bravely immerse yourself in the effective, technological drama of this novel.
  
• 
  Sherry Fundin

  Started out slow for me, but it ended with a bang! I absorbed the detail of the ‘cities’ and characters. It Takes A Death T Reach A Star is much more than I expected. I have two pages of notes I took while reading, but most of that is going by the wayside and I’ll shoot from the hip.
  
  The book takes place in Russia, but it’s not like the Russia you know. Some people have managed to survive WWIII and the New Black Death, where almost nine billion people died..
  
  Mila is a Robust and Dimitri is a Gracile. The details of their existence is better if you learn about it for yourself. They are never meant to interact as friends or comrades, but when they do come together, they will never be the same…and neither will their world.
  
  Mila walks to her own drum, but Dimitri is a follower. It is rare for him to step outside his comfort zone and when he does, the action becomes nonstop…and dangerous. Mila is my idea of ninjas in the future. She is a badass and I love her. Dimitri is one of the herd, but I knew he was going to grow and morph into someone to be reckoned with. Glad he’s on ‘our’ side.
  
  Their missions become one and we are off to the races. The first lap is their meeting. The mid laps are the action that brings them to their biggest, out of this world, battle. The finale is me being able to take a breath and find out who is left standing.
  
  Gareth Worthington and Stu Jones can write, creating a world that becomes easy to visualize by the details of their imagination and they do make me wonder, could that be our future? The characters roll off the pages as if they are real, growing and developing into people worthy of our respect or our disgust. But, you can’t have the good without the bad.
  
  The suspense and anticipation is ramping up, becoming intense, as the lines are drawn, sides chosen and the battle rages. Gareth and Stu don’t believe in saving all their characters, so be careful who you become involved with. They may not survive. When they took out ‘her’, I was bummed, but when they took out ‘him’, I rejoiced. Just goes to show you how involved I became in their lives and the outcome of the story. It went further than I thought it would and I loved it even more, for the ability of the authors to take me somewhere I have never been. The title is very appropriate.
  
  OH NO. It’s over. But what a great ending it was. Will there be more?
  
  I love when the author’s are just as interesting as the book, so be sure and check them out.
  
  I voluntarily read a free copy of It Takes A Death To Read A Star by Gareth Worthington and Stu Jones.
  
  See more at
  fundinmental
• 
  Jonas Saul

  What an insane ride! I loved every page of this novel. Man, these guys can write well. The ideas, the world, and the characters, all came together to drive this novel into a wicked conclusion. For the record, as much as I loved several characters--like Mila and Demetri--I really loved Vedmak. I wanted more Vedmak! His dialogue was spot on and had me gasping and laughing at different times. Excellent work. Cannot wait for more from these guys.
• 
  Bella James

  A perfect blend of Dystopia and Sci-Fi *****
  
  Intrigued by the cover and great title I was not disappointed with this perfectly crafted Thriller. I love when writers can cross genres to make the unbelievable believable.
  "Unputdownable" in every sense.
• 
  Carrie

  There is something about this cover that makes me excited to read this book.
• 
  Tess Burnside

  It Takes Death To Reach a Star was a remarkable read. I just finished reading an ARC of It and it blew me away.
  
  It takes a whole lot of creative genius to create a world, characters and scenes that are so believable that they just grab you and pull you in. The fact that it was a creative partnership between Gareth Worthington and Stu Jones just amazes me. I'm familiar with the work from both of these authors, and it is wonderful. They have come together and poured their souls into a worthwhile read that will leave you wanting more.
  
  Well done, gentlemen.
• 
  BeesBookHollow ♡

  "We have one life to live, use yours to make a difference."
Synopsis:
Set in a dystopian Earth ravaged by the New Black Death the generations of survivors have founded Etyom, a society where genetics matter and there is one called the Leader to rule them. The genetically engineered Graciles live above the clouds and plague in advanced homes; The Robusts make up the enclaves below where savagery, drugs & sex are a means for survival.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Mila Solokoff is a bounty hunter of sorts dealing with the dredges of Lower Etyom and the cold to make money. Hardened by a dark past Mila is a fierce fighter with an even fiercer heart. Demitri Stasevich is a scientist battling schizophrenia and drug addiction while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. To fight his demons he risks discovery by everyone in his perfect society.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
The two cross paths on a dangerous mission to retrieve information that holds all of Etyom in it's grasp and to fight their demons or be succumbed by them. In this action-packed and dark sci-fi the authors will lead you into a future where there are no limits. Goodreads synopsis here.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
I was given this book by Booktasters in exchange for an honest review, this in no way sways my opinions about the novel ✨
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
My Thoughts:
I am a huge fan of sci-fi and this was such a dark adventure filled with science and plenty of dystopian goodies so I was satisfied. I was slightly confused in the beginning by all of the terms unique to the book and it took me a while to get used to them but I eased into it as the novel went on. It's set in the year 2251 after a plague called the New Black Death pretty much wipes out all of civilization and everyone moves to Siberia; So this whole novel is cold to say the least which only adds to the crappy environment of the enclaves. There is a lot of political and religious conversation in this book and the xenophobia is everywhere with all of these surrounding races clumped into small territories and forced to do whatever it takes. At times I found the amount of slurs random characters threw around to be tiresome but this was all part of the overall "we only trust our own" vibe that everyone has. I was more invested in the characters than the plot and that's not to say that the plot wasn't interesting because it was! These guys really did their research and used their life experiences to make this book come to life.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
 "You're not the Lightbringer Mila, you can't save everyone."
  
Mila Solokoff: I absolutely loved this strong female character, she takes absolutely no prisoners and is strong in her faith. People often call her an angel and she is one considering she's saving everyone's lives this entire novel. Mila's brother recently went missing after working in the mines that her people are forced to toil in day in and day out so the fate of that weighs on her shoulders as well as the burden of the mission she's taken on. She naturally grows into herself and her journey as the book goes on and she was my #1 forsure.
  
  ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

  "Demetri. I need your help. We all need your help. You're the only one who understands this well enough to stop it."
  
Demetri Stasevich: Demetri is easy on the eyes and easy on the heart in this novel, he struggles with an evil inner voice that he named Vedmak that threatens to take him over. To say that he's intelligent is an understatement and being genetically engineered only adds to his status as a favorite of the Leader's. To keep his evil personality at bay he uses DBS supplied by a fellow scientist to mellow out. I enjoyed watching his development and realization that he is not his monsters; the whole novel he exhibits such humanity for someone that was grown in a bio-lab. The struggle he goes through in this novel just to be brave and to figure out what the hell is going on stressed me out.
  ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
 "In this body, I am a machine built for war. A machine the Graciles never understood how to harness."
  
Vedmak: As far as I'm concerned everyone should be worried about a personality that can literally rip people to shreds. There are a few instances in this book where Vedmak completely takes over Demetri and I did not see that coming and when he does it is for no other purpose than to ruin everyone's day in the surrounding areas. Vedmak has even the most violent people running for the hills, if they can make it that far in the first place. He's evil and is constantly telling Demetri how worthless he is and how one day he'll be free and that he'll take over Etyom, y'all he is insane.
  
The Leader: I wasn't really into this character because Vedmak was the real villain for me and all of the violence that Mila & Co. were experiencing overshadowed this master plan that he concocted. The Leader is the puppet master of this novel and has played his hand well by the end of it, him and his minions give Mila and Demetri a run for their money .
  
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Wrap up:
There is a God vs. Science debate going on in this novel which made for a pensive feel that I enjoyed. For readers that are worried there is drug usage and sexual assault themes, these were all a part of the plot and overall story. I would definitely read more of their works, I only found the end to be a little bit lackluster but it was a whirlwind and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I rated this book 3.9/5 🌟
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
  
"We are free people. The Elites do not control us!"



  www.bookishpisces.wordpress.com ✨
• 
  Katie Harder-schauer

  I was hired to proofread this book. The only aspects of the story that I influenced were the spelling and grammar. If you feel that my connection to this book makes my review untrustworthy, so be it, but this is my honest review.
  
  I am a big fan of dystopian novels, but I occasionally find myself wondering why certain places end up being where humanity survived whatever caused the collapse of society as we know it. That was not the case for me with It Takes Death to Reach a Star. It makes perfect sense that a city in the frozen wasteland of Siberia would manage to escape the plague that wipes out the rest of humanity because it would already be at least somewhat isolated, and it's so freakin cold there that the virus or whatever caused the plague in the first place wouldn't survive long enough to infect the inhabitants. It was just a great set-up for "this is where people live because this is where it's 'safe'." I love that we actually get that information and it makes so much sense. It makes it easier to accept the other facts of life in this dystopian world.
  
  Read the rest of my review on my blog. -->
  http://justanothergirlandherbooks.blo...
• 
  daisy

  I finally realised that I can download kindle/kobo apps on my phone, so I wanted to get through some of the books I've nabbed for free or while they were on sale. I don't know what it is about ebooks, but I always seem to zoom through them, so hopefully this'll put an end to my reading slump!
  
  1.5 stars.
  Overall... pretty disappointing. I didn't really have high expectations because I didn't know anything about it prior to starting, but??
  Maybe RTC but I don't know if I'll ever get around to typing a review up for this one.
• 
  Space Cowgirl

  Use Your Life To Make A Difference🔪🔫
  
  Dystopian Sci-fi
  
  World War III💥 and The New Black Death💀 pretty much annihilate the human race on Earth🌍. Survivors gravitate to a Russian city in Siberia where the Black Death💀 can't seem to touch them. Much. The new city is named Etyom.
  
  Etyom, A couple of hundred years later.......
  The descendants of the original refugees are still living in Etyom. It's still a deathly cold, miserable place. The New Black Death💀 is still present but not so much anymore.
  
  In this new, technology heavy world, there are several types of DNA modified humans. Two meter tall, naturally ripped and handsome, Demetri🐺, is a Gracile, originally created to resist the New Black Death💀. His genetics are far beyond that now. He is a vastly superior being compared to the original human race, and the Robusts, too.
  He has a secret, though, he's not quite as perfect as he looks, he is schizophrenic, a massive death sentence💀 fault he hides with an illicit drug💊 produced by the other type of human, the inferior Robusts. The drug💊 keeps his personal demon, Vedmak👹🔫🔪, at bay.
  
  Mila is a Robust👩, a Logosian, a young woman trained in martial arts. She is in The service of the Lightbringer, and at night she dreams of Yeos, their god, but he only shows her death💀 and destruction.
  Mila's job as a courier gives her money or tradable items, but she gives most of it to the less fortunate. She never asks what is in the packages she picks up and delivers.
  Etyom is divided into factions, and most of them are at war with each other. Luckily, or unluckily, there is a desolate No Man's Land between the walled sections the various factions live in, making life even more difficult.
  
  The Gracile🐺 are definitely at the top of the food chain, and they live at the top of Etyom, too, far above the Robusts, who scurry around living like peasants, fighting for existence in the streets below.
  
  Demetri's inner demon, Vedmak👹🔫🔪 is an evil bastard, he urges him to kill his brother, His lab coworker. Demetri🐺🍆🌋 and his brother run the atomic collider, bashing neurons and protons together in an effort to produce, what?
  
  Vedmak👹🔫🔪 wants death💀 and destruction💥 all around, he wants to come out and play! He wants to take over Demetri's body. Demetri🐺🍆🌋 is out of his drug💊, and his dealer was injured in a terrorist attack and is unavailable. OH NO! OH YEAH............
  
  ARC Received from HG for a Voluntary and Honest Review.
  
  Absolutely loved this book📑, a collaborative effort by two very different authors! It's written from dual points of view, which helps the reader understand the two disparate worlds🌍 the characters live in. I usually don't read dystopian novels because they are so depressing, but there's some hope here. Somewhere....
  Highly Recommend!
• 
  Patrycja

  I won this book through GoodReads giveaway.
  
  "We take death to reach a star" Vincent van Gogh.
  
  I just finished this novel...
  And I am trying to digest the whole story.
  And I want to scream because this is not the end I was expecting. How dare you Mr. Jones and Mr. Worthington to play with my emotions this way?
  This novel is such a rollercoaster. It is written with amazing style, the characters are so well developed. There is bad Ass female protagonist. And bad guys, and good guys.
  This is great sci-fi novel, that will keep reader captivated. You will not want to put this novel down. Mark my words!
• 
  Jena

  “The streets are dark and cold, shadows upon shadows concealing the horrors of Etyom. It’s hard to believe this place was once considered a haven.”
  
  We find ourselves in a distant but believable future. One where a plague, powerful, resistant, crept over the world while we fought over things that in the end, didn’t matter. The cold and isolation of a distant city in the Northern reaches of Siberia, the only one to survive.
  
  From this city, mankind has lived, though they’ve struggled. And two very different people emerged. The Graciles, wealthy and powerful, have been genetically modified and bred to be resistant to the plague. They live in towers far above the ground, called Lilypads. And, the Robusts. The rest of humanity left to fight and survive on the ground below.
  
  Within the first two chapters, we get to know our two narrators, Mila and Demetri. The authors manage to provide us with quite a lot of information regarding this world and the people in it, but it isn’t bulky, distracting, or read like information download. Between what we know from the blurb, and the details filled in by our narrators, we are fully immersed in this world seamlessly and quickly.
  
  “The world has changed, but the people in it didn’t. Information is still power–and money.”
  
  This fast-paced transition and immersion are necessary and match the pacing of the entire book. It is intense, with a ton of fight scenes and some spectacular explosions. Many parts read like an action movie. You can see the scenes unfolding as they are narrated, which is something that isn’t always easily achieved. However, it is well rounded with character development, so it doesn’t feel all action all the time.
  
  Mila is my favorite character in the book. She is strong and persistent, smart and adaptable. I really enjoyed every scene she was in. Demetri was a bit hit or miss with me. I didn’t mind him, but his character confused me and felt like he was missing something. He didn’t feel as well rounded, and in many scenes, felt like a contradiction. He was strong but weak, superior but inferior. Normally I love this type of dichotomy in a character, but he didn’t feel complete to me, so I had a hard time getting him solidified in my mind. I did love Vedmak though. I know, he’s not exactly a nice guy, but his lines were sharp and his character was focused, both of which I am very fond of in a villain.
  
  “You think too much and act too little, Vedmak says.”
  
  While this is a really fun book to read, it is going to appeal to readers who really enjoy action elements in a novel. This isn’t a bad thing, but there is a lot of focus on the action, with a lot of explanations rather than letting the characters show the reader what’s unfolding. The action and fighting are vivid and real, but if I had one criticism, I wish the dialogue and character development were just as strong.
  
  If you’re looking to get caught up in a kick-ass book with a strong female character this book is for you. Fans of military type thrillers or books where the action is nonstop will fall in love with the intense fast-pace of this novel.
  
  It Takes Death To Reach A Star is the first in a series. I am looking forward to the next book, especially with the ending we were given! I’m hoping to see much more Vedmak, and maybe start to feel a bit more connected with Demetri. And of course, GIVE ME MORE MILA!!!
  
  Thank you to TLC Book Tours for including me on this blog tour, and for sending me a review copy!
• 
  William

  This was a fun read.
  
  Stu and Gareth have very different takes on what the sci-fi genre should feel like and I think they compliment each other well. Both were able to craft a world ripped apart by death and disease, yet ripe with a feel of an advanced, alternate future. I was attracted to the main characters immediately because they are, in and of themselves, two types of science fiction, working together to blend post-apocalyptic grit with futuristic, yet realistic science.
  
  The action is surgically precise, so fight scenes were both frenetic and realistic. It’s clear Stu and Gareth have a knack for choreographing through text.
  
  The world is well thought out, and descriptions are meaty. I felt there were some continuity issues here and there, but to be perfectly honest, I was too caught up in the action to harp on it much.
  
  All in all, it’s an exciting romp through an alternative universe that’s not too far out from our own. I would recommend this to fans of Elysium, Metro 2033, Mad Max, and Deus Ex.
  
• 
  JenMarie

  An original work in this genre, which i believe is hard to find. Stu and Gareth gave us a perfect futuristic novel that makes you want to keep the pages turning. The characters were well developed and the plot perfect. Just enough action to keep it thrilling.
  
  I personally love how Mila has a blind faith in something and plans to stick to it. I enjoyed how Demitri has enough history to keep the readers wanting more.
  
  I enjoyed how the authors works melded together to make ITDTRAS. sometimes when more than one author write together, you can tell the difference, but Stu and Gareth made it work in a way that it just flowed perfectly.
• 
  Marieke Treloar

  If you love dystopian Sci-fi this is for you. Escape into a brilliantly written future of genetically enhanced beings, religious zealots, kick-arse female protagonists, hapless hero's and maniacal bad guys. Enjoy the ride and the twist in the tale. Thank God this is just book one.
  
  For those of us who love our bad guys twisted the Gracile Leader and Kapka add great spice but really Vedmak is my man (written so well it all creeps up on you Mila and Demitri won't see it coming).
  
  Enjoyed the edginess and honesty that shines through. Great action. I have already referred the story to my military buddy's as I know they will enjoy the action scenes (there are things the human body does and does not do, they get pretty pissed off if I ever write things that don't ring true).
  
  The style of the story is fluid with smooth transitions. The dystopian setting is fantastic. Make sure you get onto the website
  http://www.ittakesdeathtoreachastar.c... great to have an interactive map and support material.
  
  For a writer creating your own world/peoples is not as easy as it sounds and to keep it all straight is even more impressive. Happy to say no discrepancies so nothing distracting to irritate you whilst reading this one.
  
  This has become one of my all time favourites and would recommend it to anyone who loves this genre.
• 
  Sarah Walters

  I loved it, the fast pace and excitement. You could relate to the characters either feeling like you are weak but really strong or strong and perfect but with major flaws. The story really took you through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I had never read these two authors before but their collaboration was excellent. I look forward to reading more from them.
• 
  Heather

  Wow. Just wow. I haven’t read anything sci-fi or dystopian in a while, so I had zero expectations going in to It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington. The blurb sounded interesting and what I found inside of the pages was phenomenally well-thought out, researched, and executed. Set two hundred years in the future after an antibiotic resistant plague has wiped out most of humanity after the end of World War III, only a small population of humans living in Siberia has survived in a city called Etyom.
  
  Several groups of people divided by religion and walled parts of the city on the ground barely scrape by–the Robusts–surviving on their immunity to the New Black Death plague and what little ways they can eek out an existence. Above Lower Etyom, the Graciles live on floating platforms called lillipads, and they are the genetically manufactured descendants of the mega-rich and have an engineered resistance to the plague. While war, starvation, and greed still run rampant on the ground in Lower Etyom, the Graciles like to think that they are above such things–but dig in to the meat of It Takes Death to Reach a Star and you find out if the faults of humanity extend to those perfectly modified beings as well.
  
  Mila Solokoff is a Robust who’s lost her parents to the plague and her brother to the mines, so she’s turned to being an illegal information courier to survive. She’s been trained in combat by a master, and she’s not afraid to fight if she needs to. Mila is fierce, loyal, protective, spiritual, and smart, but above all she’s reluctant to stir up trouble where she doesn’t belong. When she gets mixed up with a group of Robusts calling themselves the Resistance that are trying to go against the Graciles, she certainly has her reservations.
  
  Demitri Stasevich has been genetically engineered to be attractive, smart, well-mannered, and obedient. Like all perfect Graciles, he should be mindlessly following his assigned roll, which happens to be an experimental physicist. But Demetri has always had another voice in his head which he thinks is mental illness, and this Vedmak wants to bring about the destruction of everyone around them. While Demetri uses illegal drugs that he can only get from Lower Etyom to quiet his inner demon, he’s sure that he will be killed if the Leader knows about his less-than-perfect condition–like all Graciles are Ax’d once their usefulness has run out. Gentle Demetri has always questioned the perfect front of the society he lives in, and he reluctantly embraces the opportunity to explore and fight with Robusts when the time comes.
  
  I posted about this fantastic book on
  Instagram, and my caption really sums up my feelings about this book:
  
  I’m blown away by how fantastic this week’s read is. The rich, gritty, dystopian world inhabited by such realistic and fierce characters has entertained me and left me wanting more. I highly recommend It Takes Death to Reach a Star to everyone. The accurate martial arts and science aspects really sealed the deal for me as both a martial artist and a PhD chemist!
  
  The action in this book was front and center, and the fight scenes did get pretty technical–which I really loved since I’m student of combat hapkido and kickboxing myself. You don’t find many books that are technically accurate while being entertaining at the same time, and Mila sure can fight. The science was spot on as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts where the modern day science was taken a few steps into the future and reimagined in a totally realistic way.
  
  The one thing that nagged at me was Demetri’s drug of choice – krokodil – and his lack of horrible side effects from his long term use. This could be explained away by his superior healing, but it’s still a drug that doesn’t have that long of a high, so he wouldn’t be able to keep Vedmak at bay for very long without using it constantly. And the chances of him using and remaining unscathed are pretty slim.
  
  I give It Takes Death to Reach a Star a 4.5 out of 5. I truly love when two authors blend their writing together seamlessly. This was a serious page turner for me, and when I got to the end I really wanted another 200 or so pages to beef up this volume because I didn’t want it to end. I’m used to my sci-fi dystopians being much more epic in length, but It Takes Death to Reach a Star certainly doesn’t skimp on the action or meatier details. The pacing is pretty furious without being overwhelming, and the settings are vivid with realistic dialog that flows smoothly from unique character to character. It’s not hard to imagine our crazy current day world turning into the doomsday world of New Etyom and Lower Etyom, and I think that’s what makes It Takes Death to Reach a Star that much more of a great read. Pick up this book, and I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel–especially with that ending.
  
  (Also on
  Bewitched Bookworms. Book received for free from authors in exchange for honest review for TLC Book Tours. )
• 
  FanFiAddict

  First off, thanks to the authors and publisher for a copy of It Takes Death to Reach a Star in exchange for an honest review. Receiving a free copy of this novel in no way, shape, or form influences my thoughts or opinions.
  
  2018 DRAGON AWARD FINALIST – BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL
  2018 SCIENCE FICTION WINNER OF THE NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL
  2018 CYGNUS AWARD SHORTLIST
  
  “…merging the best of apocalyptic fiction and sci-fi … compelling.” – Library Journal
  
  “Cinematic, thought-provoking, immersive … in the manner of the novels of Philip K. Dick.” – Booklist
  
  “[I] cannot fathom how Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington created this masterpiece.” – Reader’s Favorite.
  
  You know, considering this book has been nominated for a few prestigious awards (and won one of them), and had some great coverage as far as early reviews go, I am surprised I haven’t seen this book talked about more.
  
  If I had to blurb it, this is how it would go:
  
  “Elysium meets Blade Runner in this high-octane dystopian thrill ride, set in the bowels of the Siberian wasteland. Jones and Worthington have created what can only be described as an all-too-plausible future covered in darkness, harsh temperatures, and monsters not only without, but within.”
  
  The year sits at 2251. After the end of World War III, a new plague spreads across the world and wipes out everything in its path except one city – Etyom. Set in northern Siberia, Etyom was resistant to the plague thanks to its harsh climate and its citizen uncommon immunity, but its denizens still have their own conflicts to worry about.
  
  In the upper metropolis live the Graciles – beings who were bio-engineered to resist the plague, sons and daughters of the wealthy and elite.
  
  In Lower Etyom live the Robusts – offspring of the poor and homeless, somehow immune to the plague ravaging the rest of the world and living off what they can find to afford more time to exist.
  
  (Sort of reminds me of the Reds and Golds from Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Saga.)
  
  Mila Solokoff is a Robust who makes a living trading information, no matter the risk, in order to continue her meager existence. Demitri Stasevich is a Gracile, stricken with a sickness that could get him killed if found out; the only way to rid himself of this darkness is a drug found in the Robust-filled city.
  
  In the most unlikely of scenarios, both of these figures become entangled with one another and must foil a plot that looks to destroy everything below what the Gracile’s hold dear. But something inside Demitri has… other plans.
  
  One thing this book does well is that it never puts on the brakes. From page one, the reader is thrown into the thick of it, only coming up for air long enough to get roundhouse kicked in the face and forced back under. The fight scenes are some of the most descriptive I’ve ever seen, the world-building is expansive yet claustrophobic, and, while I can’t say you’ll fall head over heels for the characters, you’ll definitely be rooting for them from the get-go. It is a novel with plenty of heart at its base, and you don’t have to read too closely to see the religious undertones peppered in.
  
  All in all, if you enjoy dystopian fiction with some hard science thrown into the mix, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this book. Definitely for fans of PKD and Pierce Brown, or those that enjoyed movies like Elysium or Bladerunner.
• 
  Amanda

  {I recieved an ARC from the authors and @tlcbooktours for an honest review}
  
  Let me start by saying I do not read much Sci-fi so this book took me completely out of my comfort zone. I found It Takes Death To Reach A Star to be a solid beginning to what I believe will be a great Science fiction dystopian series.
  
  It Takes Death To Reach A Star has complex characters and a complex story line. Let's start with Mila Solokoff, she's a bit rough around the edges. In this dystopian world she is part of the lowest class who fights daily to survive, known as the Robust. Even though she's been through a lot in her life she still manages to stick her neck out for those in need. Her belief in her god, Yeos, keeps her going when it seems there's no hope left. The next main character is Demitri Stasevich , who has no faith in himself or the society he's a part of. He is part of the elite society where everyone is born in test tubes to create the perfect person, known as a Gracile. Demitri may be physically perfect but his mind is far from it. There is a voice in his head, who he has named Vedmak, that speaks to him and it's not pleasant. Unlike Mila, Demitri has no faith and when he is thrown into the middle of a revolution he struggles with his place in it all. The two opposites have to find a way to work together before everything they know is destroyed.
  
  There was quite a lot that I enjoyed about It Takes Death To Reach A Star. I really enjoyed Demitri, he was probably my favorite of the book. His internal struggles were distressing and I just wanted to give him a big hug [[I know that's sappy and totally doesn't fit this book but oh well 😂]] I also really enjoyed Vedmak, that may be an unpopular opinion but I felt he was such a wildcard and made things interesting. There is also a whole cast of the well written side characters that played important roles in the story line. The book had so much going on that I appreciated the world building details. Also, the fighting and combat scenes were seriously bad a** and descriptive which was awesome.
  
  By the end of It Takes Death To Reach A Star by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington I was left wanting more and in dire need to know the fate of these characters, especially my Demitri 😍. I will without a doubt be reading the sequel when it releases.
  
  "You think too much and act too little"
  
   
  
  "I know what's about to happen, but I can't stop it as the dream shuffles forward, sometimes in slow motion, sometimes skipping and jumping ahead with flashes of light. I know this place. Every sound, every falling snowflake - it's as real as anything I have ever livedm except I haven't..."
  
  4/5 🌟
• 
  Jennifer Perkins

  
  I chose to read, “It Takes Death to Reach A Star,” based on the Van Gogh quote of the same topic. This book did not disappoint. It is classical science fiction. It makes you think, it makes you dream. It makes you excited. It terrifies you. It has you on the edge of your seat, and you can’t put it down.
  
  The story takes place from the point of view of several characters: the lower class Mila, who’s just trying to make a living; Dmitri, who’s trying to stop the demon in his head; and Vedmak, who’s the demon trying to break free. The description is so vivid and refined the reader can see the world the characters live in and the inhabitants as clear as if watching them on film. The plot is full of action and the dialogue is presented in a relatable fashion. The dystopian world of science fiction is well thought out and gives the reader a true sense of viewing the action from the speaker’s shoulder.
  
  Like most science fiction, you need a working intelligence of the genre to fully enjoy the book. While the book could be enjoyed by anyone, there are broader themes which the reader could miss. The title carries the concept of the villainous plan in a subtle way. The idea of extra dimensions, where the lives of those passed exist, and the concept that it takes death to reach the plane, and the allusion to a black hole is beautiful and brilliant. The classicism of the work also plays on the title of the starry world above where people are recycled, created, and improved to the point of near perfection, and the image of the lower class, living way below the perfect city, is an eerie portrayal which lingers with the reader.
  
  The concept that some things never change is presented in a gritty, graphic, and wonderfully futuristic way. That society, even thousands of years from now, will always be what it is at it’s core, is a varied glimpse of what we as a people are at our core. The depictions of racism, religion, classicism, disease, war, addiction, and lust for power is carried through the novel like DNA. The great writers of science fiction scare us, because they show a future where science has developed, full of all the advances and wonders of the mind, as well as, the terrors of such amelioration. What happens when we have full control over genetic manipulation? What happens when we find a way to make ourselves near perfect? Great science fiction delves into the things we don’t want to talk about, and forces us to face those topics. This book is a profound work which is so much more than the plot of a tale.
  
  I have two constructive criticisms. First, there are words that are anachronistic and jar the reader out of the future presented. For instance, it is highly unlikely, that far in the future, the drug the main character takes, krokodil, will see be in the same form or name as the street drug is monikered today. The authors do an excellent job of creating their own slang and terms for the novel, modern terms (like krokodil and the various modern racial slurs) seem out of place. Unfortunately, as a society now, and definitely in the one presented, surely their would be a change in etymology. Although, I recognize the argument that some words have such an impact, they survive thousands of years.
  
  My second criticism is I believe the novel starts too slowly. In reading other reviews, I feel like the people who gave the novel low scores, did so because they didn’t stick with the novel. Despite it’s slow introduction of the main plot, it is well worth the read.
  
  In fact, I believe the novel would make Isaac Asimov and Gene Roddenberry proud.
• 
  Cath

  A story about different classes of people. Various ones, separated by race or religion, live in their own areas of Etyom. The only city to survive after the third world war and then a plague which decimated most of the inhabitants of the planet, in a not too distant future. The people who think themselves above all those on the ground, the Graciles, live in pods far above the ground and completely separated. They have enhanced themselves with tech and genetics and ‘broken’ manufactured embryo’s are ‘ax’d’ straight away.
  
  Mila is a Robust, trying to survive all alone on the ground, after losing her parents and her only brother going missing years before. She works somewhat like a courier of today, delivering packages of information between different parties and earning just enough to keep going. Her path will shortly cross with Demitri, a sort of ‘broken’ Gracile, who hides his problems by using a drug manufactured on the ground and buying his supply from a dealer on the pod platforms above, where he lives and works.
  
  There is a plan afoot that could kill the whole human race or save just those Graciles deemed important enough to keep alive. The whole planet could be destroyed if this leader has their way. An interesting story of different classes/tribes of people and how mankind has not changed much in their dealings with those that are different from themselves!
  
  Parts of the story go a bit slowly, but you get a good idea of the areas the characters live in, the arctic coldness of the surroundings, thought to help stop the spread of the plague. The extremes of technology the groups have, differ greatly, as do the weaponry that can use against each other. Bring into the mix, metallic and robotic soldiers and guards called Creed, who work for the elites up in the sky.
  
  Bring in the complexity of Mila’s character, her training with her mentor and her beliefs and it adds to the interest of the story and contrasts against Demitri’s character. I enjoyed this and obviously want to know what happens next, without giving anything away to any other readers. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
  
• 
  M. Inks

  From page 1 I felt that I was right there in the enclaves and on the Lili pads. I realized about halfway through the book that I was going to tear through the book in less than a week I was so into the story. It Takes Death To Be A Star, takes you right into the dangerous world of the Robust and the Gracile struggling to maintain the only world they’ve ever known and have left. I loved chapters that would switch from Mila to Demitri. Being inside his head was a constant struggle between himself and Vedmak. I felt like I craved understanding as much as Demitri did and couldn’t wait for the anticipated meeting of Mila and Demitri. When I started reading, I expected Mila to be cold and merciless. Vedmak, though violent, was amusing and funny. He came across like a grouchy old man with a commentary for everything at first. As for me Demitri, I thought of him and still think of him as a sweet cinnamon roll boy. Mila and Vedmak changed my mind though. In the untrusting world of the Robusts, Mila stays tough but she was also sympathetic and daring. Vedmak turned out to be more than commentary, but as someone to be feared and not to be toyed. Between Vedmak, the Rippers, and the Leader the story had me hanging on to every chapter wondering if the rebels would come out alive. I absolutely loved this book and I’ll be crying until there’s a sequel out. This book isn’t your typical division of the classes or society after some sort of apocalypse story. These characters are unique with emotion, backstory, and heart that you can’t but help feel for. I’ve already recommended it to a few coworkers and anyone looking to enjoy a little action, adventure in a very unique intriguing post-apocalyptic word, and unique soul-searching characters.
• 
  Christine Vazou

  I have never ever read a story like this for its genre and I loved it. The authors managed to create a book that includes history, religion and science. It’s dark and that’s only natural since humanity has suffered the Third World War and a plague, darkness is what makes it realistic.
  
  The Robusts are the poor and the unfortunate, while the Graciles are at the top of the world, literally. I was expecting the classical two different worlds fight, but it never happened and I was not disappointed by it, like at all. A Gracile fought with the Robusts, Graciles helped the Robusts and Robusts were fighting each other. Graciles are not the perfect society, quite the opposite I would say, and Dimitri struggled by not being able to fit in.
  
  Both Mila Solokoff and Demitri Stasevich made me feel that good and bad (not evil) can coexist and that different people can work together and even be friends. Their inner turmoil and suffering made them the perfect characters for this post-apocalyptic world.
  
  The battles were so intense and the description so vivid that I could imagine myself in their place fighting and holding their super weapons. The ending made me jump from relief to horror and the need to read the sequel is just too much.
  
• 
  Christine Grace

  It Takes Death to Reach a Star is a very interesting dystopian story set in northern Siberia. I love reading fiction books set in dystopian worlds, especially when one is very intelligently and meticulously created. When it feels real while I read it, when it makes my heart beat so fast anticipating what's next, that's when I know a book is good. And this book is definitely one hell of a ride, original, and breathtaking!
  
  At first, it started very slow for me. However, I understand how the author has to set the world in motion, carefully putting into place all the details, settings, and the characters in it. But reaching the middle, everything became such an awesome ride! The story is also very well researched and clearly a well-established world. Thank you for letting me in Etyom by giving me a free copy, Mr. Stu Jones and Booktasters! I enjoyed it!
• 
  Chrissi

  If you love a sci-fi read, you will love this!!
  The authors have created a fantastic story. The characters are rich and fully developed, and the world in which they live, is one that is easy to envision. This book will suck you in and spit you out the other side- make sure you have no plans because you will not out this down once you start!
• 
  RedzDw

  „It takes death to reach a star“ was one hell of a good read for me. The writing is quick and rich at the same time- didn‘t feel for one second as if I was reading through some pages too fast, as I usually do.
  
  The way the book is written, in first person present tense from the point of view of the two main characters makes the story even more interesting and touching.
  
  As a professional scientist I enjoyed the carefully placed facts and ideas in it and even felt inspired.
  
  The ending of this book makes me curious how this adventure will continue- can’t wait book two to be released.