Book Review: The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

The Stars Never Rise
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: The Stars Never Rise (Book 1)
Publication: Delacorte Press (June 9, 2015)

Description: From RACHEL VINCENT, New York Times bestselling author, comes the first book in a new series about a girl who must join forces with rogue exorcists to save her sister and, ultimately, humanity.

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she’s too busy trying to actually survive. Her town’s population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she’ll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie’s sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can’t survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

My Thoughts: Nina Kane has a tough life. She is trying to survive and protect her fifteen-year-old sister. Her mother has been neglecting them for years. They live in the town of New Temperance which, like all the other towns, in controlled by the Church. They Church is in a constant war against the demons who are trying to take over humanity. Demons devour souls and now many babies die at birth for lack of souls. The Church's solution is to forcibly sterilize girls at fifteen for any minor flaw. Nina was sterilized because she has allergies, flat feet, and minor myopia.

When she turns seventeen, Nina develops that ability to exorcise demons. This puts her in danger from the Church because they only accept their own exorcists. Nina has to depend on Finn and small group of other teen aged exorcists for survival. They are planning to leave the town but Nina won't leave without her sister who was taken by the Church.

It doesn't take long for Nina to realize that the Church has been lying to people about most things. Their exorcists are fakes. They control the news and spread disinformation. But there is an even greater secret that the Church is concealing.

I enjoyed this fast paced story. The gang of teens are all distinct individuals. The most unique of them is Finn who happens to be a soul without a body who routinely borrows the bodies both of his friends in the group and strangers who can be of use. Finn and Nina begin a romance once Nina gets over the fact that he is without a body. I liked Nina's loyalty to her younger sister. I liked that she bounced back from events that were shattering and kept her goal in mind.

I can't wait to read more books in this series and about this group of characters. 

Favorite Quote:

After a minute of watching him, trying to plan my next move, I scouted out the other exit he'd mentioned, then threw my satchel over one shoulder and squatted to pick up the wooden board. Then I followed him. I was armed—kind of—and had the nearest exit in full view, and I was wanted for matricide. What did I have to lose?

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.