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  • A Song for the Stars

  • By: Ilima Todd
  • Narrated by: Justine Eyre
  • Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)

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A Song for the Stars

By: Ilima Todd
Narrated by: Justine Eyre
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Publisher's Summary

Hawaiian Islands, 1779

As the second daughter of a royal chief, Maile will be permitted to marry for love. Her fiance is the best navigator in Hawaii, and he taught her everything he knows - how to feel the ocean, observe the winds, read the stars, and how to love. 

But when sailors from a strange place called England arrive on her island, a misunderstanding ends in battle, and Maile is suddenly widowed before she is wed. 

Finding herself in the middle of the battle and fearing for her life, Maile takes John Harbottle, the wounded man who killed her fiance, prisoner, and though originally intending to let him die, she reluctantly heals him. In the process, she discovers the man she thought was her enemy might be her ally instead. 

John has been Captain James Cook's translator for three voyages across the Pacific. He is kind and clearly fascinated with Maile's homeland and her people - and Maile herself. But guilt continues to drive a wedge between them: John's guilt over the death he caused, and Maile's guilt over the truth about what triggered the deadly battle - a secret she's kept hidden from everyone on the island. 

When Maile is tasked with teaching John how to navigate using the stars so he can sail back to England, they must also navigate the challenges of being from very different cultures. In doing so, they might also find the peace that comes when two hearts become one.

©2019 Ilima Todd (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining but not credible

I like a good story. This was good, but is it romantic fantasy or historical fiction?

Many things were hard to believe, and if there is some correspondence to reality, I doubt the end was happily ever after. Some linkage to historical documents would have made it more credible.

i don't generally like breathy female narrators. The alternation between ~ British and ~US accents for the two main characters works, sort of.

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  • 05-02-2022

If you love nature and history, try this one.

I found this a really moving story as it interwove history with fiction. I am familiar with Captain Cooks history which is referenced in passing but this was my first introduction to the culture of Hawaii which if accurate, was fascinating. The beautiful connections with nature, most especially the ocean that were depicted, were palpable. Also, the summation of the dichotomies we face in life felt true and poignant, despite a sometimes fairytale sheen to the story at times. I will look for this author again.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.