Silver Stars by Michael Grant
Genre: Alternate History, Action
Published by: Electric Monkey
Pages: 496
Format: ARC e-book
Series: Front Lines
Rating: ★★★★

Okay, so, for this review we’re going to do things a little differently. I’ve already gushed about how much I adored Front Lines, the first in this kick-ass alternate history about what would’ve happened if women were allowed to fight in WWII, and now it’s time to gush about Silver Stars in a handy dandy list of reasons why it’s so good, and you will love it too!

Now, in attempt to not completely repeat myself, these are the top three reasons why I loved it, but it’s got all the same features going for it as Front Lines. 

1. RAINY.
   I’ll admit that Rainy was my least favourite of the female leads initially. There was nothing wrong with her as a character – I liked her – but her POVs always came up whenever Frangie or Rio were in the thick of it, and I desperately wanted to get back to them and found myself wavering in Rainy’s chapters. BUT NOW, oh my GOODNESS. Rainy gets to be a sort-of spy with special missions, interacting with many different groups of people, and every scene with her was dynamic and exciting. She went from being the character I was least interested in to the character I wanted to know most about! The scene when she’s getting out of the the hotel and running off to Italy, was wow, could it get any more cinematic?
2. ROMANCE.
   For Rio especially, things are getting more serious. After the events of Front Lines, it’s not surprising that she’s turning into a different person, but in Silver Stars we get to see Rio work through old relationships and make the shift into new ones. I feel in general that Silver Stars didn’t have the same balance between light-heartedness and deeply unsettling action, but a detour into Rio’s love life was surprisingly pleasant! The only problem is…it took her away from Jenou!
3. IT’S DIFFERENT TO FRONT LINES.Now that might sound ridiculous to some, but I was worried that this was going to be a rehash of the first book but in two different locations, but boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong! The war can get a little tedious, but it’s a war. It’s going to be tough and feel never ending in the moment!

Silver Stars is so much more intense, but it’s also really rewarding. It’s got the same narrator and I’m dying to know who she is, but in the end I don’t think it’ll really matter. It’s still full of girl power, with all three girls being recognised for their efforts by being awarded the Silver Star! (That’s not a spoiler, guys, it’s literally the title.) I’m really excited to see how this story will continue; I don’t know if it’s going to be a trilogy or a longer series, but either way I’m eagerly anticipating the next instalment, and I’m bitterly disappointed that I can’t read it RIGHT NOW.

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