Amid Stars and Darkness Review

Title: Amid Stars and Darkness
Author: Chani Lynn Feener
Series: The Xenith Trilogy #1
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: July 2017
Source: Swoon Reads
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Pages: 368
Rating: 4.75 Stars
Reading Timeline: 17 December 2017

Goodreads Synopsis:

Delaney;s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage. 

Kidnapped by the princess's head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.

No pressure or anything. 

Factor in Trystan, the princess's terrifying betrothed who is inane on unraveling all her secrets, and her own feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.

Book Review:

Pre-Reading Thoughts:

I follow the author on Instagram and the moment that I saw this book I was intrigued. Later, when I was reading the synopsis, I decided that I should try and request the book from Swoon Reads. Fast forward a month or two and here I am about to begin this book. I am really hoping that I like this book. Sci-fi and I am kind of in a bad place right now, but hopefully this will fix the relationship!

Thank you so much to Swoon Reads for providing me with a copy of this book! Just a small disclaimer for those reading this review. I have received this book in exchange for an honest review. Please note that this does not affect my opinion in any way. All thoughts are my own.

Writing Thoughts:

I loved how easy it was to get into the rhythm of the writing. It was light and fluffy. The detail wasn't too intense, but just enough for the reader to create their own version of Xenith. I also really enjoyed the dialogue that helped to create tension when it was needed. The witty comebacks were definitely top notch.

Plot Thoughts:

The plot had really good pacing. There was a good flow of the events and I loved how we kind of got the ball rolling immediately. Everything was planned out really well. I liked how in-between the intense moments we had small pockets of swoon worthy moments. Also, this book ended on a pretty epic cliffhanger. I don't usually talk about them, but this book does it so well! I definitely need the next book immediately.

Character Thoughts:

Delaney was pretty interesting. She seemed bland in the beginning, but she grew on me as the book developed. We got to know her for who she was and we kind of go to get to know her as Ruckus did. I adored their relationship. It was so adorable. I definitely have no idea who I ship her with. I sort of wish Delaney had made a female friend except for Mariana. 

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I wasn't really sure of how everything would work out, but I really found that I enjoyed reading this book. This book definitely exceeded my expectations and was a great break from the books that I have been reading recently. The writing was light and easy to get into, the plot was well paced and full of moments that just worked well together, the characters were fun and realistic. I definitely wouldn't mind reading more about them. Thank you so much to Swoon Reads for providing me with a copy of this book! July 2018 is just too far away!

Yours in Reading,

Melleny