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The Girl and the Stars

Book of the Ice, Book 1

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The Girl and the Stars

By: Mark Lawrence
Narrated by: Helen Duff
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About this listen

From the critically acclaimed author of Prince of Thorns and Red Sister comes a chilling new epic fantasy series.

Only when it's darkest can you see the stars.

East of the Black Rock, out on the ice, lies a hole down which broken children are thrown.

On the vastness of the ice there is no room for individuals. No one survives alone.

To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is fatal. And Yaz is different.

Torn from her family, from the boy she thought she would spend her life with, Yaz has to carve a new path for herself in a world whose existence she never suspected. A world full of danger.

Beneath the ice, Yaz will learn that Abeth is older and stranger than she had ever imagined.

She will learn that her weaknesses are another kind of strength. And she will learn to challenge the cruel arithmetic of survival that has always governed her people.

©2020 Mark Lawrence (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Action & Adventure Dark Fantasy Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction

Critic Reviews

"An excellent writer." (Number one New York Times best-selling author George R.R. Martin)

"Dark, passionate, tense, with a female hero anyone could relate to - I was utterly fascinated! This is no pretty, flowery tale, but one of vastly different people struggling to survive when a hostile government comes to power." (Number one New York Times best-selling author Tamora Pierce)

"If you like dark you will love Mark Lawrence. And when the light breaks through and it all makes sense, the contrast is gorgeous." (Number one New York Times best-selling author Robin Hobb)
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Very well written.
The steady progress of the story leaves you wanting more with every chapter.

Fantastic

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I really enjoyed this book. The ice-bound world is fascinating and the details are gradually uncovered bit by bit as the plot progresses. Clearly there is an epic scale to the story which is only hinted at in this first installment.

The writing is top notch and there are lovely gems of poetic turn of phrase throughout. The characters are reasonably well developed, though some get more of a look in than others. Between the joy of discovery as the world is uncovered and the strong pace of the plot as it progresses, there is plenty here to keep readers engaged throughout. Looking forward to Book 2.

Unique plot, wonderful prose, fascinating world

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The narrator's voice was so boring and monotone that it prevented me from following the story. I honestly couldn't tell you what happens in this book after the first couple chapters.

I have no idea what happened

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Intriguing world building, interesting take on classic fantasy/magic tropes with a sci-fi undercurrent.
This book stands out as something fresh and interesting that lovers of fantasy will adore.

Fresh, captivating fantasy

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Another brilliant offering from Mark Lawrence, I couldn’t put it down!!
Great characters and a suspenseful plot, now I have to wait for the next book :(

Completely addictive!!

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If you enjoyed Book of the Ancestor, you'll enjoy this too. It's very well written and I loved the suspenful atmosphere of the story. The characters and the mystery of the their culture are well developed. Narrator is great, love her smooth tone and her accents are really good, she does male voices very well too, she doesn't try to oversell it.

Great Story!

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The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence is a gripping, icy plunge into a haunting fantasy world. Yaz, a fierce outcast, descends into a brutal, hidden society beneath the ice. Lawrence blends raw emotion, chilling landscapes, and deep philosophical questions. Rich in lore and suspense, it’s a powerful, thought-provoking start to an unforgettable series.

A fresh new story that hasn’t been told

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This new story arc in the world of his previous (and magnificent) Book of the Ancestors series is very promising. It’s a bit uneven in the way the plot moves, racing swiftly through some events and then slowing down for others, almost as if there could have been a two books here that have been edited down to one. Helen Duff is an excellent narrator and carried the book up a level.

An excellent read

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Brilliant book, makes me want to go back and re-read the Red Sister trilogy. Great!

Brilliant Book!

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Helen duff does a great job narrating this book, as she did with the red sister series. This book was great, although almost a little too action packed, but still a sold book

Great narrator

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