Sky Without Stars: System Divine, Book 1
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Sky Without Stars: System Divine, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Jessica Brody (Author), Joanne Rendell (Author), Vikas Adam (Narrator),
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 273 ratings
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In the tradition of the Lunar Chronicles, this sweeping reimagining of Les Misérables tells the story of three teens from very different backgrounds who are thrown together amid the looming threat of revolution on the French planet-colony of Laterre.

A thief. An officer. A guardian.

Three strangers, one shared destiny....

When the Last Days came, the planet of Laterre promised hope, a new life for a wealthy French family and their descendants. But 500 years later, it’s now a place where an extravagant elite class reigns supreme; where the clouds hide the stars and the poor starve in the streets; where a rebel group, long thought dead, is resurfacing.

Whispers of revolution have begun - a revolution that hinges on three unlikely heroes....

Chatine is a street-savvy thief who will do anything to escape the brutal Regime, including spy on Marcellus, the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet.

Marcellus is an officer - and the son of a renowned traitor. In training to take command of the military, Marcellus begins to doubt the government he’s vowed to serve when his father dies and leaves behind a cryptic message that only one person can read: a girl named Alouette.

Alouette is living in an underground refuge, where she guards and protects the last surviving library on the planet. But a shocking murder will bring Alouette to the surface for the first time in 12 years...and plunge Laterre into chaos.

All three have a role to play in a dangerous game of revolution - and together, they will shape the future of a planet.

Power, romance, and destiny collide in this sweeping reimagining of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, Les Misérables.

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  1. Listening Length
    18 hours and 33 minutes
  2. Author
    Jessica Brody, see all
  3. Narrator
    Vikas Adam, see all
  4. Audible release date
    March 26, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07KMH8WBR
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 18 hours and 33 minutes
Author Jessica Brody, Joanne Rendell
Narrator Vikas Adam, Joy Osmanski, Emily Woo Zeller
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date March 26, 2019
Publisher Simon & Schuster Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07KMH8WBR
Best Sellers Rank #163,448 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#50 in Space Opera Sci-Fi for Teens
#367 in Action & Adventure Fantasy for Teens
#373 in Fantasy Romance for Teens

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
273 global ratings
LES MIS IN SPACE! So Fantastic
5 Stars
LES MIS IN SPACE! So Fantastic
Sky Without Stars is everything you ever wanted in a space drama (and/or Les Mis retelling) AND MORE. I can’t believe how quickly this book went by and how much I was begging for book 2 at the end (Jess and Jo - are you listening? Feel free to download it directly in my brain. Thx).Let me give you three reasons why you’ll love Sky Without Stars:1. Chatine2. Marcellus3. AlouetteThat’s it! There you have it. Happy reading.Ok but no seriously - there are a million reasons to love this book but I’ll give you a few of my top reasons:1. The characters. Told in alternating chapters from each character’s perspective, Sky Without Stars takes you through the dynamics of living on a world without sun. The majority of the population, the working class, lives in horrid conditions (the Frets) and is tasked with making the finer things that the second and first class enjoy. Oh, and there’s a secret society tasked with protecting the last library on a world where the written word has been vanquished. Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette share the world of Laterre through their unique lens.2. The world. I talked about the classes above but also add in how amazing Jess and Jo are at bringing this world to life. There’s a scene that describes carrots that have been grown without sun and it’s so visceral that I can taste it in my mouth. The dichotomy of living in 500 year old space ships versus under a weather controlled dome is enough to draw you in. Then you add robotic investigators and a regime that will make you say OFF WITH THEIR HEADS and...3. The development. At no point in this story did I feel like things were going to slow down. The pacing is fantastic and I just kept turning pages (and later speeding up my audio) so I could find out what’s next. You’ve never read a space book like this!There you have it - characters you can’t wait to see again, a world you can taste, and a story that keeps you yearning for more. What more could you want (except book 2!)?!Bonus: you do not have to know anything about Les Mis before reading. I was blind going in!
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Top reviews from the United States

love2dazzle
5.0 out of 5 stars You should definitely check out this book.
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2019
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Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell is fantastic. I am loving this book. If the cover doesn't grab you right away then the story will draw you in. As the reader you are introduced to three characters, Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette. These three people couldn't be more different but they will all touch each others lives in a different way.

Chatine is a thief. Chatine has lived a hard life. She is considered to be part of the lowest part of society, the third estate. No one cares about her or others like her. Obviously she doesn't have the best outlook on life.

Marcellus is the son of a renowned traitor. Marcellus wants to be the best solider that he can be but he just isn't cut out for it. He is so used to being alone that he really just wants to be loved by anyone.

Alouette has a secret. She has lived underground her entire life. She grew up helping the sisters record history. Now she lives in a time that people don't remember the written word. Alouette wants nothing more than to go outside but once she is outside she discovers secrets about her past that she wasn't ready for.

I really enjoy these characters. Just as importantly, I enjoyed the world building. Brody and Rendell brought us a beautiful world that is so vivid. Even the drabby parts were described so beautifully. I really enjoyed this book. One thing I really appreciate is this book makes me feel like I am there and that I am part of the story.

I have read Les Miserables and I have to say that this is a great retelling of Les Miserables but I feel like a lot of backstory is left out compared to the book it is based on. I think someone who has not read Les Miserables won't have any issues with this story and they will probably breeze straight through it. Someone who has read it, will definitely notice the differences and the backstory that is missing.

You should definitely check out this book. I really like it and I think it is worth your time to read. Plus there are so many good and fun things coming out about this book. Check it out because I don't think you will regret it.
4 people found this helpful
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Danét Palmer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
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I enjoyed every moment of this fast-paced, heartfelt story. I could not sleep until I turned the last page. I’m still on the edge of my seat, ready to dive into the second book of the delightful adventure with character who have now become friends!
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Samuel Frasier
4.0 out of 5 stars Book arrived in good condition; decently well-written.
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2022
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As the title says.

This take on Les Mis is interesting and exciting. It does suffer at some points, especially at the beginning, from overuse of the passive voice. So-so editing aside, the characters are as likeable or unlikeable as intended, the story is easy to follow, and the world is presented well.
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Caitlin Bauer
5.0 out of 5 stars Les Mis In Space. A truly spectacular retelling!!!
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2019
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I knew I was going to love this book from the very first moment Jessica Brody said these 4 words to me: “Les Mis… In Space.”

Oh. My. GOD! They did NOT disappoint!!! SKY WITHOUT STARS by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell is a spectacular retelling of one of my favorite stories. I truly loved everything about this book! It was totally on point—from the three powerful voices of their leading players, to the incredibly vivid descriptions and world-building. I was completely enthralled from page one.

Don’t let the long page count intimidate you! I hardly noticed it thanks to excellent pacing. Part 1 takes off as we’re almost immediately thrown into the rumblings of a world primed for revolution. We’re given a few paces to breathe and reflect before we’re thrust into a race to a finale full of twists and turns. You’ve been warned: there’s a KILLER cliffhanger that will leave you desperate to get your hands on the next book in the series!

What really impressed me was the authors’ abilities to craft two very strong and unique female leads—particularly when it came to the character of Alouette (Cosette).

Most Les Miz fans will agree that Cosette tends to be a major throwaway character. She is passive, flat, and one-dimensional. Her sole purpose is to prompt positive action from the two male leads. 🙄 Even Eponine to some degree is primarily driven by her secret love for Marius…

I was 100% ready to HATE Alouette. Particularly since I grew up LOVING Chatine (Eponine) and I even played the role of Eponine. I had to fight some deeply rooted bias as I read this book.

Honestly, I was blown away. They managed to make Alouette a total bad-ass and they finally gave a character I couldn’t have cared less about real depth and dimension. I was surprised to find myself rooting for her by the end of the book! Well. Done.

So, if you’re looking for a compelling new YA Sci-Fi series—then you MUST give SKY WITHOUT STARS a read!

5 BRIGHTLY BURNING SOLS!

Note: I received a complimentary advanced copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Claire
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining sci-fi with multiple character points of view
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2021
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I enjoyed everything about this book - the characters, the world, the plot twists! It’s such an enjoyable book that I’ve already downloaded the second because I need to know what happens next!!
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Jiminy
5.0 out of 5 stars Gut geschrieben, tolle Geschichte
Reviewed in Germany on June 14, 2019
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Ich hatte vorher von beiden Autorinnen noch nichts gehört, aber dieses Buch hat mich überzeugt. Es ist sehr flüssig geschrieben. Das Buch ist aus der Sicht verschiedener Charaktere geschrieben. Anders als bei anderen Büchern, bei denen sich unterschiedliche Charaktere alle irgendwie gleich anhören, kann man hier sehr gut die unterschiedlichen Stimmen und Charakterzüge erkennen.
Ich werde das Buch sicher nochmal lesen und freue mich bereits auf die Fortsetzung.
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rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 30, 2020
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Very pleased with the book looks brand new.
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Corinne
3.0 out of 5 stars Not my cup of tea, I really wanted to enjoy it but for me it was lacking the magic.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2019
Verified Purchase
I have no idea why it was likened to Les Miserables - for this reason I was disappointed and struggled to read it - I’m a book worm and get through at least 2-3 books a week but I haven’t even finished this one - I have no interest in it.
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