A Conspiracy of Stars

by Olivia A. Cole

Overview

Enter the vivid and cinematic world of Faloiv in the first book of this dazzling YA sci-fi/fantasy series, perfect for fans of Carve the Mark, Red Rising, and These Broken Stars.

Octavia has always dreamed of becoming a whitecoat, one of the prestigious N’Terra scientists who study the natural wonders of Faloiv. So when the once-secretive labs are suddenly opened to students, she leaps at the chance to see what happens behind their closed doors.

However, she quickly discovers that all is not what it seems on Faloiv, and the experiments the whitecoats have been doing run the risk of upsetting the humans’ fragile peace with the Faloii, Faloiv’s indigenous people.

As secret after disturbing secret comes to light, Octavia finds herself on a collision course with the charismatic and extremist new leader of N’Terra’s ruling council. But by uncovering the mysteries behind the history she’s been taught, the science she’s lived by, and the truth about her family, she threatens to be the catalyst for an all-out war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062644213
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	1,094,350
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.60(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Olivia A. Cole is an author, a blogger, and a poet. Her books include A Conspiracy of Stars and Panther in the Hive and its sequel, The Rooster’s Garden. Olivia was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and wandered to Chicago and Miami before going back home. You can visit her online at www.oliviaacole.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/13/2017
Cole’s slow-burning adventure, first in a planned duology, is set in a distant future in which mankind has evacuated Earth (aka the Origin Planet) and established the colony of N’Terra on the planet Faloiv after a temporary pit stop became permanent. Sixteen-year-old Octavia yearns to study the natural wonders and dangers of Faloiv, but when she develops the ability to telepathically hear the planet’s native fauna and encounters one of the reclusive, indigenous Faloii, she is inspired to investigate N’Terra’s secrets. It turns out that some of her fellow colonists are no longer interested in living in harmony with nature or playing by the Faloii’s rules, and it falls to Octavia and her friends to prevent war. Though Cole (Panther in the Hive) offers evocative descriptions of the natural landscape of Faloiv, the underlying critique of colonialism, while valuable, overshadows Octavia’s personal journey, and it takes quite some time for the story to gain momentum. It’s an intriguing series opener, but the familiarity of the setup and themes don’t give it much of a spark. Ages 13–up. Agent: Regina Brooks, Serendipity Literary. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

A Conspiracy of Stars takes you on a thrilling journey filled with cool science, amazing monsters, and vivid, lovable characters. It strikes that perfect balance of great storytelling and hard truthtelling. Jump in and enjoy the ride!” — Daniel José Older, New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper

“Olivia A. Cole constructs a future world that is both fascinating and terrifying, hooking you immediately. Octavia’s mission unearths painful truths about the relationships between power, responsibility, and indigenous sovereignty. This book grabs your heart and will haunt you long after. A must-read!” — Dhonielle Clayton, author of The Belles and the Tiny Pretty Things series

★ “This fantastical read is home to exceptional world building that is intricate and lush, and vivid, well drawn characters. Its sci-fi elements…plunge readers into a mysterious, futuristic world that they will be reluctant to leave. A stellar, captivating start.” — Booklist (starred review)

“In a time when books are so often drawn into series, this installment leaves you begging for more. A great science fiction/fantasy addition to any library collection.” — School Library Journal

“This fascinating work of science fiction explores the interactions between humans and aliens, with humans as the aggressors, prone to violence with a short-sighted ‘humans first’ mentality that does not bode well for their continued existence on their host planet. Impressive worldbuilding, well-developed characters, and nonstop action.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Heart rates of readers will rise as Cole methodically weaves answers into the story, all the while throwing more questions into the mix.“ — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

Heart rates of readers will rise as Cole methodically weaves answers into the story, all the while throwing more questions into the mix.“

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

This fascinating work of science fiction explores the interactions between humans and aliens, with humans as the aggressors, prone to violence with a short-sighted ‘humans first’ mentality that does not bode well for their continued existence on their host planet. Impressive worldbuilding, well-developed characters, and nonstop action.

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Olivia A. Cole constructs a future world that is both fascinating and terrifying, hooking you immediately. Octavia’s mission unearths painful truths about the relationships between power, responsibility, and indigenous sovereignty. This book grabs your heart and will haunt you long after. A must-read!

Dhonielle Clayton

This fantastical read is home to exceptional world building that is intricate and lush, and vivid, well drawn characters. Its sci-fi elements…plunge readers into a mysterious, futuristic world that they will be reluctant to leave. A stellar, captivating start to Cole’s duology.

Booklist (starred review)

A Conspiracy of Stars takes you on a thrilling journey filled with cool science, amazing monsters, and vivid, lovable characters. It strikes that perfect balance of great storytelling and hard truthtelling. Jump in and enjoy the ride!

Daniel José Older

11/01/2017
Gr 8 Up—The survivors of the Origin Planet had only ever planned for Faloiv to be a stopping point, but a broken ship left them stranded. Octavia was born on Faloiv and has known nothing else but the compound of N'Terra and the prestigious whitecoat scientists she has always longed to become. When a new leader is elected as the head of the Council and students are suddenly able to enter the whitecoats' secret labs, Octavia should be thrilled—but something is wrong. She hears buzzing in her ears, smells things that no one else notices, and can't seem to keep it together whenever an animal is near. As she delves deeper into the labs and discovers the extremist views of their new leader, Octavia gets tangled in hidden agendas, deception, and family secrets that threaten to destroy the delicate balance and life of Faloiv. Cole has created a fast-paced adventure full of futuristic science, beautiful and imaginative creatures, and characters that run the gamut of relatable, frightening, and mysterious. While the lush, otherworldly, and at times dangerous Faloiv bares many similarities to the fictitious world of Pandora from the movie Avatar, the unique quality of the plot enables it to stand on its own. In a time when books are so often drawn into series, this installment leaves you begging for more. VERDICT A great science fiction/fantasy addition to any library collection.—Erica Deb, Matawan Aberdeen Public Library, NJ

School Library Journal

2017-09-18
In this sci-fi series opener, one girl is the link between two worlds.Over 40 years ago, humans landed on Faloiv after their home planet became uninhabitable. Since then, whitecoats, highly esteemed scientists, have been studying the planet to discover its secrets. As the daughter of two great scientists, Octavia's greatest ambition is to become a whitecoat herself, but life on Faloiv is changing. With a new, corrupt council leader, people are becoming increasingly hostile toward their native hosts, the Faloii. When Octavia discovers that one of the Faloii has been secretly kidnapped by her people—an act that could spell war—she sets out to find answers. What she discovers shakes the foundation of everything she thought she knew about herself, the whitecoats, and life on the planet. Through rich imagery and descriptions, Cole brings this beautiful world to life. She tackles complex social issues like imperialism and asks where the line is between humanity and scientific progress. The novel features well-rounded characters, from Octavia's lovable friends to her cold, calculating father. However, questions remain about life before Faloiv, as the humans seem to be strangely disconnected from their not-too-distant past. Octavia and her friends, Rondo and Alma, are black but it's unclear how diverse the human population of Faloiv is.Transporting and entrancing, the novel will leave readers craving more adventures in Faloiv. (Science fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

Heart rates of readers will rise as Cole methodically weaves answers into the story, all the while throwing more questions into the mix.“

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A Conspiracy of Stars takes you on a thrilling journey filled with cool science, amazing monsters, and vivid, lovable characters. It strikes that perfect balance of great storytelling and hard truthtelling. Jump in and enjoy the ride!

Daniel Jose Older