“Stella, you're going to have to let me in so I can kiss you again.”

Cringe.

Groan.

Put the book down and wonder why you picked it up.

Oh right… because you were the one to convince the book club to read it. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this was my fault.

Being honest, Brightly Burning isn’t the worst book to ever get published. I could start a long list. You don’t even have to look far, just see my review before this one. What this book does have are painful moments where you wonder what in heavens realm made you pick it up.

That’s because it was supposed to be a retelling of one of your favorite classics Jane Eyre. And to top it all off, it’s set in space. What could possibly go wrong?

Loss of all oxygen wrong.

Set in a future where a colony of ships orbit an abandoned Earth covered in ice. Survivors who’ve fled the doomed ice age dream that one day its surface will be habitable again. But, hundreds of years later, ships have begun to fail and everyone questions if the surface will in fact ever melt.

So then we have Stella, who I think is actually a pretty badass chick. Holding all the characteristics of the original Jane - also extremely strong-minded - she’s not only an engineer but she can kick butt in the literary realm as well. Left on a ship considered to fail next, she leaves it in hopes of a better life as a governess on a haunted ship. Is any of this ringing a bell yet? I hope so because it’s a play by play of the original minus the spaceships yadda yadda.

I will make a confession though…

I didn’t know going into the book that it was a retelling. It wasn’t until the end with a well-placed fire that I finally went “wait a minute”. Sorry if you haven’t read Jane Eyre. There’s a fire at the end.

Now we have Stella but the enjoyable parts end there. Hugo is not a believable Edward. Honestly, he’s the worse. The one-liners and immature character arc make you want to cringe. There are no redeeming qualities. Run away now.

Then we have the age limit on this book. Yes, I’m placing a limit. You should not be above a certain age when reading this. I have nothing wrong with books being written for younger audiences - in truth, we need more - but the enjoyment as an older reader is just not there. The maturity and overall conflict aren't developed properly. At one point we have Stella’s male friend, who’s clearly written as having feelings for her, running off to help her reunite with her lover. During the whole thing, I’m waiting for some declaration of love, but he does nothing. Nothing. What guy just follows along and helps the girl he likes to find her love? No one! Hence no conflict.

Also, it looks like Donne kept all the social constructs of the 1800s. We have the social decorum, male friends that are just friends, and social hierarchy. We all know how the story will eventually play out, there are no surprises, so spice it up a little and adapt it to the actual time period you are setting it in. All of this lends to the younger tone. The antagonist at one point says - and this is when they are just kissing -  that if he doesn’t leave he’ll do something he’ll regret.

*cue eye roll*

I thought for a time this was a series, which was fueled on by the way it read. The ending wrapped up way too quickly and felt rushed. Nothing special happens either. We don’t get this well thought out reunion that I felt was done in Jane Eyre.

Again this isn’t the worst book. I’m going to give it 2.5 stars because I think the premise was well done and being in space is always a winner for me. It just needed more work. Will I be reading anything else by Donne… probably not.

Love Kait

Reading Challenge: 47/100