Suns Will Rise: System Divine, Book 3
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Third in sci-fi series ramps up the suspense and intrigue.
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What's the Story?
SUNS WILL RISE begins a few months after the events in the previous installment, Between Burning Worlds. Marcellus and Chatine have taken refuge with the sisters of the Vangarde in their underground Refuge. Alouette is missing, and some of the sisters are starting to lose hope and think about calling off the search. The planet of Laterre is now without an heir to the throne, so the General has assumed temporary control until a new leader is decided on. He's begun cleaning up and improving living conditions for the lowest-income citizens, and even providing them with better food and clothing. But it's not out of the goodness of his heart. The terrorist organization Red Scar is still inciting violent revenge and revolution, and their numbers are growing at an alarming rate. The planet is one giant powder keg, and the spark that ignites and destroys it could come from anywhere, unless a new leader -- the right leader -- can be found.
Is It Any Good?
This epic sci-fi series finale turns the action and suspense up to 11, and this time the quieter moments add even more tension for a real page-turner, even at over 700 pages. Off-world exploits include a thrilling raid on a massive spaceship that would be at home anywhere in the Star Wars franchise. But it's also compelling because at its core, the central theme is as basic and broad as humanity. And amid all the excitement, this story provides a lot of food for thought about what humanity means, how we show it, who has it and who doesn't, and lots of issues wrapped in its many aspects, including justice, compassion, crime, education, revolution, loyalty, and more.
A lot of parallels with Les Misérables are back to the forefront in terms of plot, too, with barricades being built and real revolution in the air. Reading the series in order is recommended to get a better understanding of the characters and events so far. But there are helpful maps and a character list that recaps the events in the second installment. With lots of other people living on Laterre, and lots of other planets in the system, there's room for lots of other stories, too, but this one definitely comes to an end in a sweet and satisfying way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Suns Will Rise. How much is too much? Is reading about it different from seeing it in movies, games, videos, and other media? Why, or why not?
This book is based on Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo. Have you seen the movie version of that classic or read the book? If you have, which characters and events do you recognize? If you haven't, would you like to now?
Why is science fiction such a popular genre across so many different kinds of media? What do we like about it so much? What can it tell us about ourselves and the world we actually live in?
Book Details
- Authors: Jessica Brody , Joanne Rendell
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Great Girl Role Models , Space and Aliens
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: August 3, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 720
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 21, 2021
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