Inherit the Stars by Tessa Elwood | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Upon reading the description to Inherit the Stars I couldn’t help but to be intrigued instantly; feeling that bubble of interest spring up immediately after spotting this little guy on Net Galley. Who can pass up the opportunity of scoring this little gem up as a freebie? I certainly couldn’t. I’d been anticipating diving into this the second I downloaded it, but had to pace myself due to my TBR pile having grown.

I’ve been longing for a good, short but not lacking, sci-fi book to read ever since my hangover from The Corridor and Inherit the Stars absolutely looked like it could be just the right fit. It’s difficult to mix genres in the way that Inherit promises, but based on the summary alone it sounded like Tessa Elwood would proceed doing so gracefully.

She does.

And yet while it was enjoyable, an interesting mix of royalty and science fiction tied together with teenage angst and the desire to save ones home; there felt like there was something I was missing from time to time that lowered my rating for it. This isn’t to say it wasn’t good or that I found it frustrating – I really, genuinely enjoyed the story and found myself invested in Asa’s story and cannot wait for any future installments, especially after the cliffhanger ending.


I just felt, at times, there was something missing from the story and I kept getting certain details confused/messed up in my mind.

In many ways, it lives up to the the excitement stirred merely by its summary and promises us a twisty, royal ride of sci-fi suspense that will surely cater to readers looking forward to something new this winter. It contains family dynamics that are interesting, to say the least, and the possibility of death for one member is what keeps Asa fighting.

The science fiction aspects of this are fascinating and will be easy for readers to follow even if they aren't typical science fiction fans. In fact, aside from the moments that seem slow/to be missing something, the story is written in a light and quick-to-the-point tone that will engage younger readers to the point of being unable to sit this one down.

Surely, Inherit the Stars will captivate its target audience and become something of a beloved addition to young adult bookshelves. I daresay it will be on the list of many’s favorites especially when you calculate Asa’s likeability and bravery, the intrigue and mystery of their worlds and families, and her relationship with Eagle. It's impossible not to like these two by the end of the book.

It has all the makings to be amongst the next ‘must haves’ in young adult fiction and plays out for readers like a movie; vivid, full of life, hints of romance and mysterious elements that will leave them reaching out for more. I could easily see these ideas building up to more, the plot possibilities endless, and I am really looking forward to any future installments.

I hope to see more of this rich history, these worlds and how they came to be, as well as many plots filled in with the gaps that left behind many questions. Overall, I enjoyed this enough to say that I would without a doubt read more from these characters and hope that Tessa fills in the blanks for us all in the future.