Review of The Valley of Stars

[Merits Anih]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Valley of Stars" by Yona Katz.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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We know that Stars reach the peak of their lives and start to die, giving way for other Stars to be born. Imagine that Stars were living and were born in human form. The name of the planet is Adama, and to do all the shining in the night, the Stars needed to be educated and trained from seven years old (utterly detached from their parents and living in school) to 19 years old. As a Star, nothing short of perfection is expected; hence, the schooling and drilling system at the Valley of Stars is compulsory and as strict as it can be. Then there is the enemy, Dark, from whom the Stars are trying to protect Adama.

This is the story of a Star named Asha and an Adamian named Yusra. Asha had been unstarred and thrown out of the Valley of Stars because she was caught trying to steal information from the repository. She had met a group of students who called themselves the "Hanuns," studying closely and discretely. They aimed to pursue more Adama and Dark knowledge than the teachers taught them. That was what Asha needed because she was curious and couldn't fathom why information about Dark and Adama was kept secret. She made an effort to join them, and she did, leading to her being thrown out of the Valley of Stars. After being thrown out, she fell to Adama, injured and in pain but surprisingly alive, considering that no other fallen star has ever made it alive. But as a fallen Star in Adama, her life was in danger. Rodefs (Star chasers) were after her and, if caught, would hand her over to madans (scientists who would cut her open for experiments) in exchange for money. Luckily for her, she fell close to an orphan fugitive (Yusra) who was on her way to locate her brother (Khalil), with whom she had been separated years ago by two orphanages. Yusra helped nurse her to health and conceal her obvious Star features. Together, they allied to find Khalil. But how long can they hide from the authorities and rodefs? Will they be able to find Khalil? Why was the knowledge about certain things concerning Adama and Dark hidden? Get a copy of The Valley of Stars by Yona Katz to find out.

The story started in such a way that two different periods were told simultaneously: when Asha started school and when she was a fallen Star. I must admit, this style caught my attention and made me curious. What I loved most was the author's creativity in creating a different world, with different names for things like date, currency, etc. Reading this book was not hard at all because the pace was perfect, and there were plenty of surprises.

Another aspect of the book I loved was Yusra's questions about the need for the Stars to protect Adama from darkness when it seems all-natural. I had those exact questions! Apart from Asha and Yusra, I loved Lina's character. Constantly trying to make friends with someone who does not show interest can be daunting and annoying. I just loved how well the author developed the characters. I was also happy that, till I finished reading the book, I did not come across any errors, which shows that the book was exceptionally well edited.

There is something that needs improvement, though. Even though Asha and Yusra had been through a lot of danger to make any two people fall in love, their newfound romance looked out of place in the grand scenery of the setting. In the Valley of Stars and even in Adama, there had not been a mention of any queer couples or anything at all that resembled queerness. If this should be part of the theme of the book, there should be other background indicators that this is a "normal" way in Adama or the Valley of Stars or that what they would be venturing into is a new or forbidden kind of love in both worlds. Either way, the plot should not be so straightforward that the theme of queerness is not well developed. This is a little observation that the book will benefit from if looked into, but it did not affect my enjoyment of the book. Hence, I am glad to rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a young adult fantasy book, and those who are into this genre will love it. I also recommend it to those who enjoy queer stories. The Valley of Stars is the first book in the The Rise of Penumbra series. I look forward to reading the second book in the trilogy because I enjoyed this one and would love to see how the romance and war themes are explored.

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The Valley of Stars
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[Sameeha Ismail]

Your description of the creative world-building in "The Valley of Stars" captured my interest. I am intrigued by the author's unique and immersive setting where stars are given humanoid forms. This is indeed a curious book that I won't hesitate to read.

[Ivan Kovic]

I agree establishing precedence for diverse themes through worldbuilding context prevents marginalized groups from feeling suspiciously shoehorned into stale formulas for representation applause rather than authenticity.

[Victoria Ukamaka]

While I admire escapism transportation, emotional resonance emerges from characters navigating universal plights. Beyond fantastical adversity, insights into the protagonists’ psychological makeup convince me to invest in their journey.

[Salome Ogani]

The critique about underdeveloped queer romance threads proves valuable but could specify elements the author could strengthen so affirmative representation felt integrated rather than an afterthought for diversity points.

[Richard Thomasalw]

The creative worldbuilding of a planet where Stars take human form to protect people from darkness intrigues me. I appreciate reviewers who highlight imaginative elements transporting readers because escapism draws me more than strict realism.

[William Wrightmill]

I like the parallel storyline structure contrasting the protagonist’s past and current plight. Compelling narrative techniques that build tension through timeline reveals hold reader curiosity even when tackling complex themes.

[Brian Adamss]

The queer representation noted stands out as unusual for fantasy novels, making this storytelling feel fresh rather than rehashing the classic coming-of-age formula. However, I agree richer development around those relationships would strengthen the book.