4.5 stars 
 Awesome start to this new sci-fi romance series. Amie & Meagan are quite good with sudden sucker punches that bring out the feels. This is like a cross between Titanic, Across the Universe, Article 5, Aliens, and every single survival novel ever, and I loved it. Full review TK. 
 Review posted here. 
 By page 20, I was hooked. 
 What made TBS so intriguing? Well, really it's the premise. This book is like Titanic mixed with Across the Universe mixed with Firefly/Serenity mixed with Article 5 mixed with Halo AND Aliens mixed with every survival story ever. And yet, although it shares elements and plot points with all these stories, it manages to stand by itself as something unique and interesting. See, first, we're on the Icarus (SO ill-named, a fact that Lilac discusses at one point) rubbing elbows with the fancy first-class, but then the ship is evacuated. By the magic of book luck and plot manipulation, Tarver and Lilac end up alone in an escape pod. They manage to detach from the ship and land on a nearby planet-that they've never heard of before. Enter survival mode. How is this unique? you ask. Well, there's also an absolutely insane paranormal-y twist that I didn't expect at all. It's so subtle that I was questioning Lilac and Tarver's sanity right along with them. 
 When you have a movie or a book with few characters, you can also concentrate on them. Think Castaway or Gravity. To some extent, Catcher in the Rye. Not only is TBS plot-driven, but the fact that other characters are not often present, Amie and Meagan were able to really develop Tarver and Lilac. Their relationships to others is intrinsically important to their development and the plot, but we don't actually know these other characters, and that allows us to get to know Tarver and Lilac really well. 
 First person dual pov is such a blessing because we can hear BOTH main characters' thoughts. I knew immediately that Lilac was no princess, that there was a lot more to her. She's so smart, so calculating, but not necessarily in a cruel way, except when necessary. She's strong and passionate and utterly likeable. Likewise, Tarver isn't the big dumb soldier that he pretends to be around others. He's also smart and he's considerate, but he also makes the tough decision occasionally to be momentarily less kind in a life-or-death situation. While in those moments he seems like a jerk, Tarver is totally the kind of guy who would sacrifice anything to keep someone else safe, even the girl who publicly humiliated him, especially the girl who publicly humiliated him, and that's a testament to just how good of a person he is. 
 Amie and Meagan did a great job creating these two characters that I loved very early on. I sympathized with every rough moment, every harrowing near-miss, every injury. I cheered every obstacle cleared. I was completely engrossed in this slow-building romance that reminded me of embers that are slow to ignite, but when they finally catch, they blaze with such heat and light that you have to step away. The romance, when it happened...just WOW. And the thing is, it wasn't insta-love. When two characters go through such hardships, it's no wonder that they grow close, but it wasn't just that. It's apparent in their first meeting that Tarver and Lilac have a deeper connection. 
 I loved every aspect of this book. I feel like everything was addressed properly and in good time. After they land, I'm sitting there going, "Lilac is NOT going to hike around in high heels," and the problem was fixed. What would happen to the canteen? SOLVED. I absolutely loved that Tarver's investigation co-incided with the novel. Those chapter breaks gave me something to look forward to when things dragged OR got too intense. It was like listening in to Tarver's side of the story, but getting the full thing since we know he's being selective with his answers. The breaks also gave good insight to a snarkier, slightly resentful Tarver, which was definitely fun to watch. 
 Why didn't I give this novel 5 stars? I can't really say. I think I'm giving it some growing room. I was sucked in by page 20, but by page 120, I wanted a break. I didn't have to read it all in one sitting. I always wanted to finish, but I didn't absolutely HAVE TO FINISH IT RIGHT NOW. But by the end of the novel, when I woke up at 2 AM and couldn't get back to sleep immediately, I wanted to finish. The drama increases and the stakes rise exponentially in a mad conclusion. I can't wait to read This Shattered World, book two of the Starbound trilogy, which will be released in 2014. This is a companion series rather than direct sequels, but I sincerely hope to see characters from TBS again...at least the ones who survived. ;) 
 PS I totally love the cover. It was what attracted me in the first place. And before you go off about pretty white girls in prom dresses, the dress is actually pretty significant.