https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2024/05/2024059-brightly-burning-alexa-donne.html ( )

Well that was an interesting sci-fi reimagining of Jane Eyre.

I think the author spent a bit too much time on some elements of the story foregoing what were, in my opinion, the more interesting ones. I mean pretty much the entire human population is orbiting a frozen earth in a fleet of space ships! Some of which are about to plummet down to earth due to their state of disrepair. That stuff is the gold right there! Anyway, I guess the Jane Eyre part is important too. The relationship between Stella and Hugo felt a bit forced in my opinion. I liked Stella but don't think Hugo was written in a way that made him romantically appealing. He was a bit of a broody blaggard. I would have also liked to see the creepiness and spook factor dialed up a notch as that was an engaging storyline. Overall though, a go0d addition to the library. ( )

Wow, it took me like three days to read that book. I loved it so much. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books, so I was really looking forward to this, and boy Alexa Donne did not disappoint!
First, a few things, I could kind of tell this was Donne’s first book, at the beginning some of her word choice and dialogue seemed, I’m not sure how to phrase it, amateur, I suppose. However, this soon dissipated as I got completely lost on the ship, Rochester. Even though I knew the mystery, because it would be the same as Jane Eyre I was still fully engrossed in the story. I was almost surprised when I looked up to see my bedroom and not the slick black interior of the ship.
When Donne/Stella describes being in the shared quarters with other servants, I was brought back to similar experiences at summer camp. It was so easy for me to get lost in Donne’s words and world.
I can say, I see why some people might not like this, especially if they read Jane Eyre, Rochester’s character, Hugo is quite different from his counterpart, or at least his interactions with Stella are different. He is more flirty and friendly, not quite the old man with years of issues, instead he is young. I felt a little unsure of this change, but it worked out well and Hugo won me over with his delicious library and banter. Emotional impact, in terms of writing, not as great as the original, however, still feel it and understand characters’ motivations.
Now, the plot. Because Hugo was younger, I was able to piece together it was his mother that was hidden. However, the whole Mason plot line intrigued me greatly, clearly there was something more there than the original. The human made virus was both terrifying and a great plot line to add. It makes sense within the universe and due to my own recent encounters with a virus, (COVID -19) shook me! Reading about Hugo’s decent to Earth shocked me, I could not read for like two minutes. Even though they discussed descending almost the whole book I not expecting it. Then, when there were survivors! Wow. Poor cinnamon roll George! When he was shot, I thought of Helen, sweet childhood friend. It broke my heart amidst all the panic of the breakout.
I don’t read a lot of mystery, however, my liking for this book and the original might have to change that. I was so wrapped up in the mystery of it all just like Stella, it was a good pay off to learn the truth, see all the cards on table.
Overall, glad I read it, nice retelling, new twists. ( )

A scifi Jane Eyre retelling. Overall I enjoyed it. There are some changes to Rochester's character, in this case, Hugo. He is a few years older than her and instead of his daughter, she teaches his younger sister. It does touch upon social economy issues that are not necessarily fixed but, Stella does help expose a corrupt individual.
I also enjoyed the romance, as it shows a lot more than the original in my opinion. ( )

A fun adaptation of Jane Eyre, the winks and nods to the original story were very entertaining and the story stood well on its own. By the end I wasn't 100% sure where it was going to go but that's okay it took me along with it ( )