Book Review: Across A Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Across A Star-Swept Sea
For Darkness Shows the Stars #2
Author: Diana Peterfreund
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian
Released: October 15th 2013
Review Source: Harper Teen

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction--the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars--is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries' weapon is a drug that damages their enemies' brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo... is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can't risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he's hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country's revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he's pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she's not only risking her heart, she's risking the world she's sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine.

Across a Star Swept Sea is a good story to read, slow paced but it contains an important message – do not judge anyone without truly knowing them. Although I have not read the classical tale in which Across a Star Swept Sea is based on, The Scarlet Pimpernel, it is not hard to figure Peterfreund gives this novel an original voice. Such as For Darkness Shows the Stars.

In For Darkness Shows the Stars, we are introduced the world of Reduced and how the world began experimenting genetic codes with one another. Unlike the first book, in Across a Star Swept Sea we are provided the other side of this world. Yes, there is life in the other side of this world.

We met Persis Blake, a beautiful and young socialite. Truly, she lives a double live. She is secretly the Wild Poppy, the country’s most infamous spy. Persis couldn’t help but feel pity for the poor regs she’d rescued. In one of her many missions, Persis is medically assisted by Justen Helo. Justen is running away from his past – he invented what is tearing his country apart. This is what Persis is against, the reason why she risks her life for. Hero vs. villain kind of story.

Although, Across a Star Swept Sea was beautifully written, there was lack of interest between the characters for me. Sure I am used to the slow pace of this series but I found myself getting bored at times, especially with the lack of romance. Much like the first book of the series, the main characters, Persis and Justen, really don’t share any type of chemistry. Throughout the book all they do is just argue. At least in the first book both characters shared a history.

However, this book is filled with action, after all Persis is a hero which requires missions. I truly enjoyed how Peterfreund provided us different point of views in this sequel. It allowed us to better understand at times the character’s actions. I also enjoyed reading the reactions of people when they realized the true identity of Persis. One shouldn’t judge others without truly knowing.