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Star Splitter
Crash-landed on a desolate planet lightyears from Earth, sixteen-year-old Jessica Mathers must unravel the mystery of the destruction all around her--and the questionable intentions of a familiar stranger.
For Jessica Mathers, teleportation and planetary colonization in deep space aren't just hypotheticals--they're real. They're also the very real reason her scientist parents left her behind six years ago. Now she is about to be reunited with them, forced to leave behind everyone she knows and loves, to join their research assignment on Carver 1061c, a desolate, post-extinction planet almost 14 lightyears from Earth.
Teleportation is safe and routine in the year 2198, but something seems to have gone very, very wrong. Jessica wakes up in an empty, and utterly destroyed, landing unit from the DS Theseus, the ship where she was supposed to rendezvous with her parents. But Jessica isn't on the Theseus orbiting Carver 1061c. The lander seems to have crashed on the planet's surface. Its corridors are empty and covered in bloody handprints; the machines are silent and dark. And outside, in the alien dirt, are the carefully, and recently, marked graves of strangers.
For Jessica Mathers, teleportation and planetary colonization in deep space aren't just hypotheticals--they're real. They're also the very real reason her scientist parents left her behind six years ago. Now she is about to be reunited with them, forced to leave behind everyone she knows and loves, to join their research assignment on Carver 1061c, a desolate, post-extinction planet almost 14 lightyears from Earth.
Teleportation is safe and routine in the year 2198, but something seems to have gone very, very wrong. Jessica wakes up in an empty, and utterly destroyed, landing unit from the DS Theseus, the ship where she was supposed to rendezvous with her parents. But Jessica isn't on the Theseus orbiting Carver 1061c. The lander seems to have crashed on the planet's surface. Its corridors are empty and covered in bloody handprints; the machines are silent and dark. And outside, in the alien dirt, are the carefully, and recently, marked graves of strangers.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2023
133 people are currently reading
8152 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Kirby
29 books464 followersMatthew Kirby was born in Utah, and grew up in Maryland, California, and Hawaii. As an undergraduate he majored in history, and then went on to pursue an M.S. in school psychology. For ten months out of the year he works with students, and during the rest of the year he writes. He and his wife currently live in northern Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 584 reviews
July 20, 2023
”The whole idea behind body transience was letting go. Letting go of your reference body. Letting go of the belief that you even were your body. Accepting the idea that you had never been more than a divot of data, nothing but a tiny, temporary impression in the quantum fabric of the universe. That was all necessary if you planned to step into a teleportation scanner.”
If Altered Carbon gave birth to a YA baby, I believe this book would be it. Star Splitter definitely puts a unique spin on the tale, but maintains the plot that people are more than the body that they reside in and can put their essence into another one. In this book, 3D printing is the game, and I love not only how structured the world building is, but also how the “rules” behind this form of teleportation exists are explored. Anyone who is a fan of SFF books knows that unchecked power leaves a desire for balance in the story, and the author has instilled a wonderful set of limits on what can be done regarding space travel and what happens if it isn’t handled ethically.
I feel like I can’t really touch on much of the plot, because it would be a minefield of spoilers, but the reader should be aware before moving forward that, while Star Splitter is certainly a science fiction novel, it reads more like a YA thriller set in space. This is a huge plus for me, as I tend to get lost in sci-fi novels that are extremely technical, and the light horror elements, mixed with the past and present tense layout really pays off in gripping the reader from start to finish. My only gripe is that I still had questions after the end that I had hoped would be explained, or at least expounded on to give greater context into one character’s transition and outcome. Otherwise, an absolute blast of a book that I couldn’t put down!
*Thank you Penguin Teen for my review copy!
If Altered Carbon gave birth to a YA baby, I believe this book would be it. Star Splitter definitely puts a unique spin on the tale, but maintains the plot that people are more than the body that they reside in and can put their essence into another one. In this book, 3D printing is the game, and I love not only how structured the world building is, but also how the “rules” behind this form of teleportation exists are explored. Anyone who is a fan of SFF books knows that unchecked power leaves a desire for balance in the story, and the author has instilled a wonderful set of limits on what can be done regarding space travel and what happens if it isn’t handled ethically.
I feel like I can’t really touch on much of the plot, because it would be a minefield of spoilers, but the reader should be aware before moving forward that, while Star Splitter is certainly a science fiction novel, it reads more like a YA thriller set in space. This is a huge plus for me, as I tend to get lost in sci-fi novels that are extremely technical, and the light horror elements, mixed with the past and present tense layout really pays off in gripping the reader from start to finish. My only gripe is that I still had questions after the end that I had hoped would be explained, or at least expounded on to give greater context into one character’s transition and outcome. Otherwise, an absolute blast of a book that I couldn’t put down!
*Thank you Penguin Teen for my review copy!
March 21, 2023
Okay, wow. This was really great. It's exciting to see this kind of science fiction getting published in YA because it's kind of a rare occurrence. Star Splitter is sci-fi thriller exploring ideas of personhood and what makes us who we are in really interesting ways. For instance, if you teleport and your original body is destroyed in the process, are you still you? Is it just your data and memories, or do you have a soul or something more than bits and bytes? We don't get easy answers and this isn't at all heavy-handed or didactic. But it is asking some big, interesting questions while also delivering a very satisfying inter-planetary thriller. It's also casually queer as the main character is leaving behind the girl she's been crushing on.
Jessica Mathers is traveling via teleportation to meet up with the parents who abandoned her six years ago for their science. Now she will go with them to explore a new planet with breathable air. Their new bodies will be written on a spaceship above the planet, lightyears from Earth. But when Jessica wakes up, she finds herself inside a crashed lander on a planet, with graves marked with names she doesn't know. Something has gone very wrong, but what? And now, she must manage to survive on an unfamiliar planet.
I won't say more than that, but this is told in a dual timeline that I think really works. Partly because both timelines have mysteries to be uncovered and there are some cool reveals. This was a really excellent novel and one of the best examples of YA sci-fi I've seen in a while. I would definitely recommend it!
If we want to talk content warnings, it is worth noting that due to the details of teleportation, bodies are termed "broken" instead of having died and there are oblique references to suicide required under certain circumstances. It's uncomfortable, but intentionally so. In keeping with the broader theme of what makes you a person, and with that what actually is death if your data is stored somewhere? But I really liked what this book did, and it doesn't speak down to teenagers. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Jessica Mathers is traveling via teleportation to meet up with the parents who abandoned her six years ago for their science. Now she will go with them to explore a new planet with breathable air. Their new bodies will be written on a spaceship above the planet, lightyears from Earth. But when Jessica wakes up, she finds herself inside a crashed lander on a planet, with graves marked with names she doesn't know. Something has gone very wrong, but what? And now, she must manage to survive on an unfamiliar planet.
I won't say more than that, but this is told in a dual timeline that I think really works. Partly because both timelines have mysteries to be uncovered and there are some cool reveals. This was a really excellent novel and one of the best examples of YA sci-fi I've seen in a while. I would definitely recommend it!
If we want to talk content warnings, it is worth noting that due to the details of teleportation, bodies are termed "broken" instead of having died and there are oblique references to suicide required under certain circumstances. It's uncomfortable, but intentionally so. In keeping with the broader theme of what makes you a person, and with that what actually is death if your data is stored somewhere? But I really liked what this book did, and it doesn't speak down to teenagers. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
April 28, 2023
I will admit this isn’t exactly the book I expected after I read the blurb, but I think it was better than I could have imagined and better left experienced than described. I am so excited to see a dark, horror, science fiction story being written for young adults. The world building for both the space stations and the aliens planet were amazing. I’ll admit that the style of how the story was laid out was a little bit difficult to follow at times,, but once I just let myself flow with the story it was a fun ride. I also should stay that this is not true kind of story that wraps up every single question or plot line. Some pieces are left unfinished but that was ok with them. I loved the idea of scanning and printing of bodies. It was fascinating and instead of people dying their bodies were broken which made me think a lot about this world and what does that mean for death. This is the kind of book that will stay with me. Jessica is in the process of joining her parents who are researching an aliens planet to understand why life there went extinct and make sure it is now safe for human life. Jessica never asked to come but she didn’t have much choice. But when she wakes up on the planet instead of the ship and has to make sense of the bloody wreck around her.
June 5, 2023
Wow, it's been a while since a YA title had a story and characters that didn't make me feel like I'm just getting too dang old to read about annoying teenagers. 4.5 out of 5!
Star Splitter is a great sci-fi novel that reads exactly like it was written for its target audience, unlike a lot of YA novels these days. The story itself follows Jessica Mathers, who is reluctantly teleporting to join her parents out in space as they prepare to spend a year exploring and researching on a new planet. Only something goes wrong out there, because of course it does.
I really enjoyed a lot about this novel. The exploration of the self vs body, the exploration of Jessica's complicated relationship with her parents, the way Jessica struggles with self-determination and self-worth and survival, it's all great. It's earnest.
There are two narrative timelines - a present and past - but that didn't bother me. One timeline went exactly as I thought it would; the mystery of what happens doesn't really feel like it's terribly mysterious. The second timeline, however, absolutely surprised me in a fantastic way. I wasn't expecting it to go where it did and explore the themes and story that it did, and I really liked it.
Star Splitter is a great pure sci-fi space and survival story that is perfect for teens, and I think enjoyable for any adult sci-fi reader as well.
Star Splitter is a great sci-fi novel that reads exactly like it was written for its target audience, unlike a lot of YA novels these days. The story itself follows Jessica Mathers, who is reluctantly teleporting to join her parents out in space as they prepare to spend a year exploring and researching on a new planet. Only something goes wrong out there, because of course it does.
I really enjoyed a lot about this novel. The exploration of the self vs body, the exploration of Jessica's complicated relationship with her parents, the way Jessica struggles with self-determination and self-worth and survival, it's all great. It's earnest.
There are two narrative timelines - a present and past - but that didn't bother me. One timeline went exactly as I thought it would; the mystery of what happens doesn't really feel like it's terribly mysterious. The second timeline, however, absolutely surprised me in a fantastic way. I wasn't expecting it to go where it did and explore the themes and story that it did, and I really liked it.
Star Splitter is a great pure sci-fi space and survival story that is perfect for teens, and I think enjoyable for any adult sci-fi reader as well.
December 29, 2023
4.5/5
"I don’t care how many prep classes you take, or how many counseling sessions you go through, or how many waivers you sign, none of it actually prepares you to be burned apart by a laser, atom by atom."
Wow. I mean, seriously, wow.
I'm not typically a YA reader. But if there are more YA books like "Star Splitter" out there, I want them all. Right here, right now. This book has blown me away and easily takes the prize for the most thought-provoking read of the year. And let me tell you, it was 100% unputdownable.
The story takes readers on a journey through space and time, yet it keeps the stakes deeply personal and the main character completely relatable, if infuriating. It's set in 2099 when deep-space exploration has become a reality and interstellar teleportation is the preferred mode of travel for intrepid explorers. Sounds safe, right? Well, in this case, something went very, very wrong.
Seventeen-year-old Jessica Mathers was supposed to join her parents and spend a year exploring a planet. Instead, she wakes up and finds herself stranded on the desolate and post-extinction planet, Carver 1061c, some fourteen light-years away from Earth.
Unexpected.
As Jessica explores the corridors of the lander, she discovers bloodstained handprints, silent and dark machinery, and fresh graves with names she doesn't recognize. Talk about a chilling mystery! And then she meets herself - or rather a version of herself with a rather tragic memory of the last few weeks. They're both clones, but they're not the same. Also, the term clone is inaccurate - in this world, the body is perceived as a vehicle for information and genes. Whenever someone teleports, their body is destroyed and they wake up in a new one, freshly printed.
The narrative is split into two timelines, before and after, each following another Jessica's POV. They build on each other and create excellent suspense and the feeling of dread. For example, some images that should portray Jessica's crush are shredded by something with horns and claws. The planet is inhabited by intriguing lifeforms (purple ferns, bizarre ferret-like creatures). In theory, other lifeforms went extinct but Kirby has some surprises for readers.
The story works as a suspenseful mystery with well-researched science and Jessica's emotional arc (she left the Earth unwillingly, didn't have time to share her feelings with her crush, and has a troubled relationship with her parents who had chosen work over raising her). But it also gives a fascinating look at a theme that's been obsessing me for most of my life - what makes us us? A soul? Genes? Experiences? All of them? Or maybe we're just nothing but a temporary impression in the quantum fabric of the universe we don't understand with our limited senses and feeble minds? At the quantum scale, classical laws that govern our experiences and perceptions are irrelevant, after all.
Star Splitter has enough material to make you think about such things and more. Impressively, it's also a short book, written simply and concisely. I don't think it contains any wasted scenes. Kirby's ability to tackle complex themes in simple language deserves the highest praise.
His ability to write a nonlinear story impressed me a lot, too. Plus, his writing is extremely vivid and imaginative and some scenes, while technically not horror, convey a sense of dread. The same can be told about the world - we get glimpses of its history and weird ecology but the focus is elsewhere. It's more intimate.
An exceptional read.
"I don’t care how many prep classes you take, or how many counseling sessions you go through, or how many waivers you sign, none of it actually prepares you to be burned apart by a laser, atom by atom."
Wow. I mean, seriously, wow.
I'm not typically a YA reader. But if there are more YA books like "Star Splitter" out there, I want them all. Right here, right now. This book has blown me away and easily takes the prize for the most thought-provoking read of the year. And let me tell you, it was 100% unputdownable.
The story takes readers on a journey through space and time, yet it keeps the stakes deeply personal and the main character completely relatable, if infuriating. It's set in 2099 when deep-space exploration has become a reality and interstellar teleportation is the preferred mode of travel for intrepid explorers. Sounds safe, right? Well, in this case, something went very, very wrong.
Seventeen-year-old Jessica Mathers was supposed to join her parents and spend a year exploring a planet. Instead, she wakes up and finds herself stranded on the desolate and post-extinction planet, Carver 1061c, some fourteen light-years away from Earth.
Unexpected.
As Jessica explores the corridors of the lander, she discovers bloodstained handprints, silent and dark machinery, and fresh graves with names she doesn't recognize. Talk about a chilling mystery! And then she meets herself - or rather a version of herself with a rather tragic memory of the last few weeks. They're both clones, but they're not the same. Also, the term clone is inaccurate - in this world, the body is perceived as a vehicle for information and genes. Whenever someone teleports, their body is destroyed and they wake up in a new one, freshly printed.
The narrative is split into two timelines, before and after, each following another Jessica's POV. They build on each other and create excellent suspense and the feeling of dread. For example, some images that should portray Jessica's crush are shredded by something with horns and claws. The planet is inhabited by intriguing lifeforms (purple ferns, bizarre ferret-like creatures). In theory, other lifeforms went extinct but Kirby has some surprises for readers.
The story works as a suspenseful mystery with well-researched science and Jessica's emotional arc (she left the Earth unwillingly, didn't have time to share her feelings with her crush, and has a troubled relationship with her parents who had chosen work over raising her). But it also gives a fascinating look at a theme that's been obsessing me for most of my life - what makes us us? A soul? Genes? Experiences? All of them? Or maybe we're just nothing but a temporary impression in the quantum fabric of the universe we don't understand with our limited senses and feeble minds? At the quantum scale, classical laws that govern our experiences and perceptions are irrelevant, after all.
Star Splitter has enough material to make you think about such things and more. Impressively, it's also a short book, written simply and concisely. I don't think it contains any wasted scenes. Kirby's ability to tackle complex themes in simple language deserves the highest praise.
His ability to write a nonlinear story impressed me a lot, too. Plus, his writing is extremely vivid and imaginative and some scenes, while technically not horror, convey a sense of dread. The same can be told about the world - we get glimpses of its history and weird ecology but the focus is elsewhere. It's more intimate.
An exceptional read.
May 20, 2023
There's spoilers ahead, I just can't review this without spoiling.
It's quite impressive to read 300 pages of a story that ends up utterly irrelevant with a character that manages to have zero personality even when there's 2 versions of her on the page.
I thought this would be a cool space horror thriller aimed at YA. It is YA, and it is space, but that's about it. You basically figure everything out in the first third, so nothing after is hugely interesting.
This story is told in two timeliness, before and after. Jessica is the main character, a 17 year old who is forced to teleport across the galaxy at the behest of her parents to a post-extinction event planet. Teleportation in this age means being scanned, which burns up your current body, and then being printed in the new destination. Theseus, the ship she ends up on, is aptly named because if you get reprinted, are you still you? It's an interesting idea, especially as you need body scans to be able to be reprinted. So there's no real concept of death most of the time, just 'broken' bodies.
The before Jessica wakes up on the Theseus, and waits for her parents to be printed. Chaos then ensues, leading to them abandoning the Theseus for the planet. No spoilers about what goes on there.
The after Jessica wakes up on the planet, after the Theseus has been abandoned. She somehow manages to be a dull and uninteresting character in both timelines, and whilst I understand she's only 17 and has been forced into this situation, she acts like a raging, spoilt brat most of the time. It's made worse with Duncan, a 16 year old on the Theseus who acts as a great foil to show how annoying and childish Jessica is. There wasn't a single moment I liked Jessica, in either timeline.
Even though the after timeline has her trying to survive, she's still a selfish brat.
There's a whole scene with a cool alien underground city that ended up being pointless. Don't even know why it was put in, as it did nothing for the plot.
And then you get to the end! And if you're happy you spent 300 pages reading about a spoilt 17 year old, you'll be even happier to realise you spent those 300 pages reading a story THAT DIDNT EVEN MATTER. You'll understand when you get there.
The side characters were flat as well with pretty much zero characterisation. Her mum was an awful and selfish person, which made it easy to see where Jessica got it. You don't find out anything about the side characters - to the extent over half of the crew never even get named! Talk about canon fodder.
On the plus side, it was easy to read and I finished it quickly. It had good potential, and I wanted more, but I just didn't gel with the MC or the plot.
It's quite impressive to read 300 pages of a story that ends up utterly irrelevant with a character that manages to have zero personality even when there's 2 versions of her on the page.
I thought this would be a cool space horror thriller aimed at YA. It is YA, and it is space, but that's about it. You basically figure everything out in the first third, so nothing after is hugely interesting.
This story is told in two timeliness, before and after. Jessica is the main character, a 17 year old who is forced to teleport across the galaxy at the behest of her parents to a post-extinction event planet. Teleportation in this age means being scanned, which burns up your current body, and then being printed in the new destination. Theseus, the ship she ends up on, is aptly named because if you get reprinted, are you still you? It's an interesting idea, especially as you need body scans to be able to be reprinted. So there's no real concept of death most of the time, just 'broken' bodies.
The before Jessica wakes up on the Theseus, and waits for her parents to be printed. Chaos then ensues, leading to them abandoning the Theseus for the planet. No spoilers about what goes on there.
The after Jessica wakes up on the planet, after the Theseus has been abandoned. She somehow manages to be a dull and uninteresting character in both timelines, and whilst I understand she's only 17 and has been forced into this situation, she acts like a raging, spoilt brat most of the time. It's made worse with Duncan, a 16 year old on the Theseus who acts as a great foil to show how annoying and childish Jessica is. There wasn't a single moment I liked Jessica, in either timeline.
Even though the after timeline has her trying to survive, she's still a selfish brat.
There's a whole scene with a cool alien underground city that ended up being pointless. Don't even know why it was put in, as it did nothing for the plot.
And then you get to the end! And if you're happy you spent 300 pages reading about a spoilt 17 year old, you'll be even happier to realise you spent those 300 pages reading a story THAT DIDNT EVEN MATTER. You'll understand when you get there.
The side characters were flat as well with pretty much zero characterisation. Her mum was an awful and selfish person, which made it easy to see where Jessica got it. You don't find out anything about the side characters - to the extent over half of the crew never even get named! Talk about canon fodder.
On the plus side, it was easy to read and I finished it quickly. It had good potential, and I wanted more, but I just didn't gel with the MC or the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2023
Exactly the kind of YA novel I want to write.
January 5, 2024
There were many intriguing and interesting concepts brought up throughout the book that never really get flushed out. Which is a shame. The potential to be a mind blowing book was there, the execution failed to reach the depths that would have made it so.
There’s enough to keep you interested and turning pages. The pacing was all over the place, but it’s a quick read and I was engaged throughout.
There’s enough to keep you interested and turning pages. The pacing was all over the place, but it’s a quick read and I was engaged throughout.
January 30, 2023
What if you could travel lightyears without fear?
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. I mean, body 3D printing in space? Wow--what a great idea! I was intrigued from the first page that sets up the book so well, giving you insight into Jessica, the main character.
Or is she?
The author took such a unique approach to the narration, splitting it into Before and After, showing Jessica in two separate states and how those worlds collided. Plus it was set on a space ship and then an alien planet so my scifi heart was SO happy.
I was really enjoying it at first, and then something happens and we also get to explore the new planet, and the solidified even more how much I enjoyed this book. It's a unique take on planetary exploration, how we see ourselves and how our experience shapes us, as well as the lengths to which humans will go.
There are a few unanswered questions I would have liked some additional info about by the end, but I also felt like the ending was a nice way to wrap it up.
I hope this author writes more YA scifi!
To me, while it is scifi and involves space, it's not in the same way other popular books have done so. It's very accessible and would appeal to lovers of contemporary with a tinge of mystery/suspense.
Note: There is a bit of language in this one.
My rating: 4.4*
---
Thanks to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. I mean, body 3D printing in space? Wow--what a great idea! I was intrigued from the first page that sets up the book so well, giving you insight into Jessica, the main character.
Or is she?
The author took such a unique approach to the narration, splitting it into Before and After, showing Jessica in two separate states and how those worlds collided. Plus it was set on a space ship and then an alien planet so my scifi heart was SO happy.
I was really enjoying it at first, and then something happens and we also get to explore the new planet, and the solidified even more how much I enjoyed this book. It's a unique take on planetary exploration, how we see ourselves and how our experience shapes us, as well as the lengths to which humans will go.
There are a few unanswered questions I would have liked some additional info about by the end, but I also felt like the ending was a nice way to wrap it up.
I hope this author writes more YA scifi!
To me, while it is scifi and involves space, it's not in the same way other popular books have done so. It's very accessible and would appeal to lovers of contemporary with a tinge of mystery/suspense.
Note: There is a bit of language in this one.
My rating: 4.4*
---
Thanks to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2023
I don't think the blurb gave an accurate picture of this story, but I loved it all the same. I was definitely thinking that Jessica was going to wake up on a completely deserted spaceship, and would have to piece together clues from what she could find, but actually, there's other people in this story.
One of the other people is Jessica herself, the first Jessica to wake up on the ship before a disaster happened. Transporting people across space is a bit like copy and pasting them, which resulted in two Jessica's, as we find out pretty early on.
The new Jessica has to try and adapt to this situation after thinking she would be waking up and meeting her parents after 6 years, while trying to get any information out of the first Jessica as to what exactly happened.
The story switches back and forth showing the perspective of both Jessica's, and despite them being the same person, I kept up with this easily, as the experiences that shape them make them very different people.
Star Splitter is a thoughtful novel, with a powerful ending that questions what it is that makes us human, and what can happen to change the way we think and act. This combined with a sci-fi horror and a truly terrifying villain easily made this a 5 star read for me.
One of the other people is Jessica herself, the first Jessica to wake up on the ship before a disaster happened. Transporting people across space is a bit like copy and pasting them, which resulted in two Jessica's, as we find out pretty early on.
The new Jessica has to try and adapt to this situation after thinking she would be waking up and meeting her parents after 6 years, while trying to get any information out of the first Jessica as to what exactly happened.
The story switches back and forth showing the perspective of both Jessica's, and despite them being the same person, I kept up with this easily, as the experiences that shape them make them very different people.
Star Splitter is a thoughtful novel, with a powerful ending that questions what it is that makes us human, and what can happen to change the way we think and act. This combined with a sci-fi horror and a truly terrifying villain easily made this a 5 star read for me.
June 9, 2023
Wow. This was absolutely brilliant. I've known Matt for years, and I know how intelligent and creative he is, and I've loved his other books but . . . WOW. This one is really something special. I don't want to point out anything specific, because I would hate to ruin anything, but this is . . . SO GOOD.
April 18, 2023
yay for some queer rep but besides for that this was a shitshow. I am left with so many questions it feels like there’s just plot holes everywhere. I barely understand anything that happened in the past or present. and death felt so meaningless in this
May 14, 2023
Really gave me some chills reading this. It was like reading the Martian and Project Hail Mary at once, but better.
June 20, 2023
Very good story. Was worried at times it was going to fall into one cliché or another, but it managed to avoid all the ones I was worried about. Worth the read!
July 20, 2023
3.5 stars for this book. I liked the concept of the plot and I think it had a lot of potential to be more than it ended up being. There are plot holes that are never explained and we are left with a huge cliffhanger at the end that I did not appreciate. I liked the fact that the author explored the concept of what happens to our conscience if teleportation would be a fact?. This book has the beginnings of a serious discussion on the matter of cloning, transportation and ethics but they are not executed correctly and are forgotten altogether towards the end.
March 6, 2024
Terrible. That’s what I thought of his book. It had a mildly interesting premise—people’s minds could be transferred into identical bodies grown in machines as far as light years away. And that is what happened to the main character, Jessica, a highly annoying 17-year-old girl who was to join her parents (who had left her with her grandparents 6 years earlier) while they investigated a far away planet. The book, though, didn’t focus on that tech or evidence of other civilizations on the other planet. Instead, it focused on the teenage angst of Jessica and, worse, a second Jessica, and their unrealistic behavior. I’m not going to waste any more thought on reviewing this terrible book except to say that if it has a target audience it would be 14-17-year-old girls who have an interest in sci fi and who aren’t particularly intelligent or curious. Perhaps the book was so bad because an adult male was trying to capture the inner thoughts of a teenaged girl through an entirely unrealistic set of circumstances.
A postscript to any readers of this book: we never get an explanation of the image of the monster on Jessica’s photo, what became of the civilization on the planet, what happened to Jessica’s father that created his issues, and whether the monster image had anything to do with anything. No explanation at all.
What a terrible book.
A postscript to any readers of this book: we never get an explanation of the image of the monster on Jessica’s photo, what became of the civilization on the planet, what happened to Jessica’s father that created his issues, and whether the monster image had anything to do with anything. No explanation at all.
What a terrible book.
April 5, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC.
2.5/5 rounded up to 3.
Star Splitter follows one character for the majority of the book, Jessica Mathers. Unfortunately the character development left a lot to be desired. As a reader we just barely scratch the surface of Jessica Mathers. Who is she as a person? Why should we care about her? I think the author should have fleshed out her character a lot more- because that is who we are stuck with for the entire book. The side characters were equally unimpressive and seemingly unimportant. The entire crew on DS Theseus was just so BLEH. BORING.
The writing was mediocre. I'm not a big fan of paragraphs after paragraphs describing the most mundane tasks. A lot of the descriptions should have been cut to make room for actual plot. Pacing was also a little bit clunky. At times the story was dragging and then suddenly we were blasting through the pages.
A lot of ideas and concepts are brought up never to be explained or touched on again. I would have liked to know more about the alien ghost subplot because it was actually very interesting.
Matthew J. Kirby had some fantastic ideas, and some of them do show (mostly in the last 25 percent of the book). I think the potential was there, because the parts I did enjoy- I enjoyed them a lot. The science and concept of cloning (plus the ramifications) are very intriguing.
Anyway, Star Splitter makes you want to keep reading. The reader will find it hard to resist getting to the bottom of the mysterious things that are happening. As well, there is just enough thrilling scenes to keep you hooked.
2.5/5 rounded up to 3.
Star Splitter follows one character for the majority of the book, Jessica Mathers. Unfortunately the character development left a lot to be desired. As a reader we just barely scratch the surface of Jessica Mathers. Who is she as a person? Why should we care about her? I think the author should have fleshed out her character a lot more- because that is who we are stuck with for the entire book. The side characters were equally unimpressive and seemingly unimportant. The entire crew on DS Theseus was just so BLEH. BORING.
The writing was mediocre. I'm not a big fan of paragraphs after paragraphs describing the most mundane tasks. A lot of the descriptions should have been cut to make room for actual plot. Pacing was also a little bit clunky. At times the story was dragging and then suddenly we were blasting through the pages.
A lot of ideas and concepts are brought up never to be explained or touched on again. I would have liked to know more about the alien ghost subplot because it was actually very interesting.
Matthew J. Kirby had some fantastic ideas, and some of them do show (mostly in the last 25 percent of the book). I think the potential was there, because the parts I did enjoy- I enjoyed them a lot. The science and concept of cloning (plus the ramifications) are very intriguing.
Anyway, Star Splitter makes you want to keep reading. The reader will find it hard to resist getting to the bottom of the mysterious things that are happening. As well, there is just enough thrilling scenes to keep you hooked.
April 15, 2024
✨ “𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛. 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚎’𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜.” 💫
May 31, 2025
This book asked a lot of interesting questions and has some great world building, but then it ends very abruptly leaving characters in a very unresolved situation and the reader doesn't find out what ultimately happens to them. I hope there's a sequel at some point, because otherwise the end is very abrupt And leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
January 30, 2023
Thank you so much to Penguin Young Readers for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!
OH MY where do I start with how much I loved this book!? It hooked me immediately and I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen next. It is such a wonderful mix of sci-fi and horror/thrillers, and I loved every second of trying to unfold the mystery and determine what was happening and what had already happened.
I loved the suspense of this, especially when it comes to the two different Jessicas and the way that her story evolves. It has such a deep message at the end, and it unfolded so well that it was made even more impactful. The plot twists kept me on my toes, and I loved the way that everything evolved and came to light. It still left questions, and I will definitely be thinking about it for a while after finishing it!
This is such a familiar and yet unique story within sci-fi, and I was worried at first that the teleportation aspects were going to be too much for me to keep up with. But I ended up adoring that aspect and loved the story as a whole. It really gave so many emotions from elation, fear, intrigue, joy, desperation, to so much more. I can't explain how much I loved this book!
If you're a sci-fi fan, please make sure you pick this up when it releases!
OH MY where do I start with how much I loved this book!? It hooked me immediately and I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen next. It is such a wonderful mix of sci-fi and horror/thrillers, and I loved every second of trying to unfold the mystery and determine what was happening and what had already happened.
I loved the suspense of this, especially when it comes to the two different Jessicas and the way that her story evolves. It has such a deep message at the end, and it unfolded so well that it was made even more impactful. The plot twists kept me on my toes, and I loved the way that everything evolved and came to light. It still left questions, and I will definitely be thinking about it for a while after finishing it!
This is such a familiar and yet unique story within sci-fi, and I was worried at first that the teleportation aspects were going to be too much for me to keep up with. But I ended up adoring that aspect and loved the story as a whole. It really gave so many emotions from elation, fear, intrigue, joy, desperation, to so much more. I can't explain how much I loved this book!
If you're a sci-fi fan, please make sure you pick this up when it releases!
August 31, 2023
I had great difficulty putting this book down once I got started. It begins with a teenage girl getting ready to be teleported to live with her parents who are studying a volcano on a Goldilocks planet that had an extinction event millions of years ago in order to see if it's safe for humans to live there. Their method of teleportation is key to the storyline, as your original body burns up with the laser that scans you, and you're printed elsewhere -- like across the universe. When Jessica exits the printer at her destination, she finds that there's been a terrible accident and she needs to get to a remote location to alert someone to reprint the bodies of those who have "been broken." The book is written from two timelines, so you slowly learn what happened to the crew as Jessica treks across uncharted terrain. Along the way, she accidentally discovers that the planet had been inhabited before the extinction event. There's so much I'd like to say about this book, but it would be too spoilery. It does bring up some interesting philosophical ideas about teleportation and kind of leaves you wanting more. It's definitely one of the books I've enjoyed most this year. It's labeled as young adult, but it doesn't really have a YA feel.
December 20, 2024
Life of Pi meets sci-fi, but without the cannibalism.
Some disjointed thoughts after reading:
* Biggest plot hole- how did alien dad even make it to the planet? AND how did alien dad survive on the planet without before Jess and Duncan seeing him all that time?
* The total mercy and grace given to before Jess as the plane is crashing was really astounding.
* lol did Duncan know he shares a name with a ferret?
* So much potential wasted with the ancient civilization. Also started to feel like The Host or Damsel with their cave glow worms.
* “Last backup: 6 years ago”💀
* Tried describing this book to my husband 3 ways:
* Imagine having your life sent to iCloud and then using that backup in a different body
* They’re basically just faxing themselves into space. I’m old😂
* Basically everyone dies because of this family’s decisions
* Anti-mat peeps?? Barely touched on.
I loved the premise, it just didn’t seem fleshed out very well. I also loved the touches of horror and wished there were more! Alien dad standing in her room for half an hour watching her sleep? My skin crawled! Also I liked the intro to each body and how the thoughts were exactly the same until they became their own person? Body? Regardless, little bummed.
Some disjointed thoughts after reading:
* Biggest plot hole- how did alien dad even make it to the planet? AND how did alien dad survive on the planet without before Jess and Duncan seeing him all that time?
* The total mercy and grace given to before Jess as the plane is crashing was really astounding.
* lol did Duncan know he shares a name with a ferret?
* So much potential wasted with the ancient civilization. Also started to feel like The Host or Damsel with their cave glow worms.
* “Last backup: 6 years ago”💀
* Tried describing this book to my husband 3 ways:
* Imagine having your life sent to iCloud and then using that backup in a different body
* They’re basically just faxing themselves into space. I’m old😂
* Basically everyone dies because of this family’s decisions
* Anti-mat peeps?? Barely touched on.
I loved the premise, it just didn’t seem fleshed out very well. I also loved the touches of horror and wished there were more! Alien dad standing in her room for half an hour watching her sleep? My skin crawled! Also I liked the intro to each body and how the thoughts were exactly the same until they became their own person? Body? Regardless, little bummed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2023
Wow! Enough twists and turns in one plot to keep even the most hardened roller coaster enthusiast on the edge of their seat. There are too many reveals that would definitely be spoilers to mention in a review. This is worth reading for those not afraid to have the very essence of human life challenged. Just hold on to your brain as it is about to get jostled.
Popsugar23: #2 - A book you bought from an independent bookstore
(The King’s English. At Matt’s book launch. Well done, Dude. Thanks for letting Jessica always be the red piece.)
Popsugar23: #2 - A book you bought from an independent bookstore
(The King’s English. At Matt’s book launch. Well done, Dude. Thanks for letting Jessica always be the red piece.)
June 3, 2025
If Dark Matter and Project Hail Mary had a YA baby- it would be this. Except this was more entertaining to me than PHM was. This book will make you question quantum physics, the idea of the self, and so much more, all wrapped in a moderate/fast paced space-based mystery. I liked the alternating POVs and non-linear timeline. I also liked that the ending was left open a bit.
August 20, 2023
It started off so strong w so many questions and mysteries but then it got really bad w pacing and basically nothing was answered :(
December 23, 2024
Kind of a curious book, mystery in space with some existential thoughts thrown in. I liked the mystery, I liked the setting but I was left unsatisfied with the ending. I would have loved to know more about the planet (and perhaps another book is coming), more about what happens to Jessica.
I didn't find it particularly young adult, I would classify it more as an adult book but others disagree.
I didn't find it particularly young adult, I would classify it more as an adult book but others disagree.
February 2, 2025
I thought I was liking this book - a lot. The idea was interesting. Then, the problem that happened just didn't feel right. After that, teenage angst that just didn't feel true, a scientist who won't accept the data available from the circumstances.... On the planet, the mere survival to have the underground adventures. The worries about the water, which are then never mentioned again. It all just ran the story aground for me.
October 31, 2024
⍋ 8/10 ⍋
Star Splitter is the book to read if you’re easing your way into the sci-fi genre.
Matthew J. Kirby’s writing is fantastic, bringing forth a level of vividness that reads like a movie — words blossoming into images on their own. It’s not convoluted scientific jargon, and neither is it dumbed-down explanations. It’s the sweet spot right between the two. Especially taken into account the visionary storyline and its genre, it’s utterly gratifying to read. The mere interpolation of the second point of view into the story, and how well executed the idea was, brings me awe and admiration for Kirby’s ingeniousness.
However, though the book was filled with intriguing secondary plot-lines and strange incidents, not enough of them were expanded on. It’s a dreadful miss to leave so many hanging threads laying around, with no explanation nor pay-off.
Additionally, though this is more of a personal preference, another downside was the small amount of spotlight given to Duncan. The character brought forth so much charm and dimension to contrast with Jessica. It made the dialogue entertaining, and it gave a different perspective to the events that neither Jessica could provide. It’s a shame the character was under-utilised.
For all it’s worth, Star Splitter reads as a stand-alone, but I would be lying if I wasn’t desperate for a sequel.
Star Splitter is the book to read if you’re easing your way into the sci-fi genre.
Matthew J. Kirby’s writing is fantastic, bringing forth a level of vividness that reads like a movie — words blossoming into images on their own. It’s not convoluted scientific jargon, and neither is it dumbed-down explanations. It’s the sweet spot right between the two. Especially taken into account the visionary storyline and its genre, it’s utterly gratifying to read. The mere interpolation of the second point of view into the story, and how well executed the idea was, brings me awe and admiration for Kirby’s ingeniousness.
However, though the book was filled with intriguing secondary plot-lines and strange incidents, not enough of them were expanded on. It’s a dreadful miss to leave so many hanging threads laying around, with no explanation nor pay-off.
Additionally, though this is more of a personal preference, another downside was the small amount of spotlight given to Duncan. The character brought forth so much charm and dimension to contrast with Jessica. It made the dialogue entertaining, and it gave a different perspective to the events that neither Jessica could provide. It’s a shame the character was under-utilised.
For all it’s worth, Star Splitter reads as a stand-alone, but I would be lying if I wasn’t desperate for a sequel.
February 3, 2023
I don’t know what I was expecting going in but it wasn’t this. This is one of the best sci fi novels I’ve ever read! I’ve never felt tension and suspense like this save from watching things like Alien, and the way this went back and forth between past and present seriously amped up those feelings.
Every chapter ended on a cliffhanger and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved Jessica and her story and the author did a great job establishing the differences between the past and present selves. I was racing to finish and my heart stopped more than once and I needed to know everything right away.
There was no romance which I thought was great and perfect because it would’ve slowed down the story and I am obsessed with the ending.
Even if outer space isn’t your thing, put this on your list!
Every chapter ended on a cliffhanger and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved Jessica and her story and the author did a great job establishing the differences between the past and present selves. I was racing to finish and my heart stopped more than once and I needed to know everything right away.
There was no romance which I thought was great and perfect because it would’ve slowed down the story and I am obsessed with the ending.
Even if outer space isn’t your thing, put this on your list!
September 24, 2023
Honestly so much potential with this story, but so many great ideas left unexplored or unexplained. I wanted to know the *actual* reason her dad went bozo, I wanted to know what happened with Duncan after evacuating on the landers, I wanted to know more about the underground city, I wanted to know what happened to Duncan after returning to the habitat, I wanted to know so much more. All these amazing storylines unexplored only to flesh out Jessica at the end which was … unremarkable I guess. Oh well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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