Bight Burning Stars Review

Title: Bright Burning Stars
Author: A.K. Small
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Publication Date: 21 May 2019
Source: Algonquin Young Readers
Format: eArc
Pages: 304
Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.

But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.

Book Review:

Pre-reading Thoughts:

Bright Burning Stars is one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I just remember seeing this and thinking must read book. I simply cannot wait to jump into this book, especially after all of the good reviews I've seen.

Thank you so much to Algonquin Young Readers for not only providing me with a copy of the novel but also including me in the blog tour. Just a small disclaimer for those reading this review, I have received this book for free. Please note that this does not affect my opinion in any way. All thoughts are my own.

Writing Thoughts:

The writing was incredible. The pacing was well done and flowed effortlessly. There was enough detail to make Marine and Kate's experience play out before my eyes but not too much that the book was heavy and difficult to get through. The dialogue was natural and worked well. 

Plot Thoughts:

The plot was gruesome but eye-opening. The events that both Kate and Marine go through are heart-wrenching. They made me want to message my friends and ask them about their well being and offer my support. The author does an incredible job of allowing the readers a small insight into the life of a ballet dancer and the repercussion of wanting to be the best. Kate and Marine undergo separate but equally devastating situations that not only puts their friendship to the test but their very will. 

Character Thoughts:

Each main character deals with two social issues that plague young individuals today regardless of their passions. I don't know what to say other than these characters made this story real for me. I felt their pain and their passion and love. I also felt their loneliness and loss of connectivity with the person whom they believed would always be there for them. 

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this was an incredible book that brings to light the problems that young individuals face today. The writing was incredible and the pacing was flawless. The plot was heart-wrenching but it was also educative and heart-warming in some moments. The characters did more than tell their stories, they helped to bring awareness to problems that many individuals face. This book is not only an incredible read but an eye-opening one as well. Thank you so much to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this book!

Yours in Reading,

Melleny