For Darkness Shows the Stars was one of those books I've had my eyes on before its publication. It is a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, set in a dystopian world. The main character, Elliot, is 18 years old. She is the only one in her family of three (a mean and useless father and an ignorant and frivolous older sister) that is actually trying to run the estate and get money and crop so she, her family, and their estate workers can get by the winter. Elliot's family are Luddite, who are of a superior class to the Reduced or Posts. The reduced are people who caused the reduction due to their genetic experimentation going wrong. While the Posts are the children of reduced who are born without any disabilities. The discrimination can be applied not just in this world, but also in real life. I liked the concept of her childhood friendship with a Post boy and her needing to stay back when he wanted to leave with her, in order for her to take care of her family and her workers. I especially liked that four years later (when the book officially started) he comes back as a very successful ship pilot and him and his crew will stay in Elliot's property for a duration. I loved their tension and I especially loved how Elliot wasn't naive and smitten with romance. I gave this book four out of five stars and I really want to pick up the companion novel, Across a Star Swept Sea, soon.