She does really well making each voice unique so that even if the speaker isn't mentioned by name at first, you know who it is. I was especially impressed by her male voices as sometimes I run across narrators who really only have one male inflection and it is a pet peeve of mine.

My only issue with the performance was that the narrative states quite plainly that Stella has a British accent due to the ship she was born on and the narrator didn't have that. The complexity of the society was highly intriguing and it was refreshing to see some great character growth from some highly unlikable characters. I loved the characters, I was so rooting for John despite knowing that wouldn't work out. The story kept a nice pace and the premise of having to live in space reminded me of Kass Morgan's The 100, except the story was more about being in space than the ground. Without knowing whom to trust, Stella must decide whether to follow her head or her heart.Īlexa Donne’s lush and enthralling reimagining of the classic Jane Eyre, set among the stars, will seduce and beguile you. When several attempts on his life spark more questions than answers, and the beautiful Bianca Ingram appears at Hugo’s request, his unpredictable behavior causes Stella’s suspicions to mount. Surrounded by mysteries, Stella finds her equal in the brooding but kind 19-year-old Captain Hugo. But no one warned Stella that the ship seems to be haunted, nor that it may be involved in a conspiracy that could topple the entire interstellar fleet. On the Rochester, there’s no water ration, more books than one person could devour in a lifetime, and an AI who seems more friend than robot. Stella Ainsley leaves poverty behind when she quits her engineering job aboard the Stalwart to become a governess on a private ship. Donne’s atmospheric, twisty update of a cherished classic will keep you up late into the night!” (Elly Blake, NYT best-selling author of the Frostblood Saga) “ Brightly Burning delivers a brooding gothic mystery and a swoony romance, all set in space. “One of the most anticipated YA debuts of 2018, Brightly Burning is a gothic, romantic mystery with hints of Jane Eyre, Marissa Meyer, and Kiera Cass.” ( Entertainment Weekly)

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne