This Shattered World

Kaufman, Amie & Meagan Spooner. This Shattered World. Book 2 of the Starbound series. 2014. 390p. ISBN 978-1423171034. Available at FIC KAU on the library shelves.

Avon is a young world, but colonization efforts over the last decades have stalled, and the planet is perpetually shrouded in clouds. The locals believe that the corporation which controls the planet’s development is stalling, preventing Avon from gaining full political rights.

Jubilee Chase is known by soldiers on Avon as Captain Lee Chase, a no-nonsense officer who respects her troops but demands the best. To the rebels, she is a cold-hearted soulless killer. But when she is kidnapped at gunpoint by Flynn Cormac, her life, as well as his, are forever altered.

Flynn wants to investigate a secret facility to the east of the town connected to Avon’s lack of development, but they cannot find it when they get there. In the midst of a nascent civil war, bringing her to the rebels’ hideout proves to be a bad idea, and the situation quickly devolves into open conflict. Now both Flynn and Jubilee must discover what is causing the Fury before the bloodbath engulfs the planet.

In the second book of the Starbound series, the mystery of the Whispers continue, albeit on a different planet. LaRoux Industries is still deeply involved, and the main characters from These Broken Stars make an appearance late in the book tying Avon’s mysteries to those they experienced. However, the focus is on Jubilee and Flynn’s relationship and how they cope with being on opposite sides in what appears to be a futile conflict. Kaufman and Spooner propose two well developed protagonists and a well rounded cast of supporting characters. Though action is plentiful, the plot is slow to finally evolve into a story where all the elements connect. Fans of the first book, as well as those who like impossible romance by two people on opposing sides, will enjoy this sequel.
The story concludes in This Fractured Light.