Call me a romantic or a deluded teenage girl, but I don’t mind love at first sight. Mainly because I’ve fallen in love with countless book covers, but that’s not the point. The point is, I am “unconditionally and irrevocably in love” with the cover of Of Scars and Stardust. (Did you catch that Twilight reference? Twilight is the book for love at first sight.) However, Of Scars and Stardust is so much more than a book with a pretty cover. It’s one of those books that makes you question everything that ever happens.
After Claire Graham’s sister disappears, Claire must decide whether to stay in Manhattan or return to her Ohio hometown and face the tragedy she ran away from. Her psychiatrists call her memories “delusions,” but Claire can’t get the bloody snow or the wolves out of her head. All she knows is that she has to keep Ella safe and that Grant, an attractive boy from the past, just might know the answers to the questions Claire has. Of Scars and Stardust is a mind-blowing story for daring readers.
To be honest, the word that best describes Of Scars and Stardust is twisted. It’s not just the premise of the book itself or the dark vibe beginning from the first page. It’s also the way the story unravels, leaving the reader more and more confused until the conclusion. Of Scars and Stardust is one of those books you’ll reread again and again in order to fully understand what happens. It’s a raw, consuming story that cannot fully be described. Of Scars and Stardust is half mystery, half coming-of-age, and entirely a thriller.
In the hands of any other writer, Of Scars and Stardust wouldn’t have been pulled off. However, Andrea Hannah pulled it off. She fit everything – the characters, the writing style, the tone – around the premise such that every nuance served her purpose. Although I didn’t understand the importance of certain details as I read the story, I now see the purpose in every detail. Andrea Hannah was focused in her writing of the novel, and it truly shows.
Claire is memorable, not just because of her protectiveness or her realistic emotions. She’s easy to relate to, yet at the same time, it’s hard to entirely connect with her, which is the author’s intention. There were times when I questioned her actions yet didn’t think about it – looking back, I completely understand why I felt confused.
Of Scars and Stardust is one of those dark reads you’ll either love or love to hate. Either way, it’s worth a read!
Rating: 7 out of 10
Publisher: Flux (October 8th, 2014)
Source: Netgalley
ISBN #: 9780738740829
Length: 336 pages (Paperback)
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