For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel (Take Them to the Stars Book 3)

Book Review 

Title: For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel (Take Them to the Stars Book 3) 

Genre: Science-Fiction, Historical

Rating: 3 Stars 

Sylvain Neuvel’s For the First Time, Again closes out the Take Them to the Stars trilogy, this time following Aster, the last of the alien Kibsu, as she navigates the late 1990s and early 2000s. After the death of her adoptive father and the shocking results of a blood test, she is thrust into a race for survival—hunted by both human and alien forces. 

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From the start, the novel moves at a brisk pace, propelling Aster from one tense encounter to the next. Neuvel’s hallmark of blending history with science fiction is still present, though here the historical fabric is thinner, replaced by a steady stream of era-specific references—grunge music, dial-up internet, and even a scene where Aster flees in a Sailor Moon outfit. While this nostalgia adds personality, it also risks trivializing the stakes, which feel far lower than in the Cold War-infused earlier instalments. 

Aster’s voice is sharp, sarcastic, and distinctly teenage, which at times makes her feel authentic, but at others undercuts the drama. Lines like “If this is destiny, it sucks” or “People think being the last of something makes you special. It doesn’t. It just makes you alone” capture her frustration but also point to the novel’s tonal challenge: it wants to be both high-stakes sci-fi and coming-of-age road trip, and these modes sometimes clash. 

The shift in setting plays a large role in this tonal imbalance. The first two books thrived in a shadowy world of espionage and existential threats. By comparison, the Y2K-era backdrop feels smaller and more fragmented. The looming alien menace remains, but the urgency is diluted, making certain plot turns feel like detours rather than decisive beats in a trilogy’s finale.

Perhaps the biggest shortcoming is the ending. While there are moments of emotional payoff, key story threads remain unresolved. The final chapters leave the sense that the trilogy simply stops rather than concludes, which may frustrate readers who were hoping for a decisive answer to the questions set up since book one. 

In the end, For the First Time, Again is a solid but uneven closing act. It succeeds in maintaining momentum and deepening Aster’s character yet falters when it comes to delivering the thematic and narrative weight a trilogy finale demands. It’s worth reading for those invested in the Kibsu’s fate—but expect more of a fade-out than a finale. 

Buy it here: 

Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk                              amazon.com 

Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk                                    amazon.com