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The Stars We Steal

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Good “Bookends” are important…
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne is a teen/YA story of love versus obligation for a futuristic young women, Princess Leonie who prefers to be called Leo. She carries the archaic title of princess even though the only thing she is heir to is a decrepit spaceship in the stellar settlement for the remnants of earth. These ended up in space, hundreds of years ago, after a catastrophic event plummeted earth into an unforgiving ice age. Only the wealthy and titled of the world were able to escape to space along with a crew of servants and workers. A two-tiered society has continued, with the titled and rich maintaining control through an elaborate tradition called the Vlog, a month-long event full of activities meant to match the most eligible young people for marriage and family alliances. At sixteen, Leo was forced by her family to turn her back on her first love, Elliot the son of her father’s butler, and has refused to be part of numerous Vlogs which would force her into a loveless alliance. Because of her age this is her final year of eligibility in the Vlog. Her father gives her no choice but to enter, but she continues to work on getting a patent to sell a water filtration system she has redesigned with hopes that this will be the way to maintain her autonomy without marrying for money to prevent the loss of their family ship. When Elliot returns, with progressive ideas for the future of the fleet, as the wealthy heir to a Russian ship and fortune, Leo’s Vlog experience becomes more life-altering than she planned.

For me, how an author begins and ends a book is almost as important as the story itself. If I am not “hooked” quickly it’s hard to get invested in the tale the author is trying to create. Also, if the book finishes with subplots or other integral questions unresolved I am left feeling somewhat shorted. The Stars We Steal lacked both “bookends” for me. Initially, I struggled to get engaged with the story and had to force myself to continue ready. Once I got a few chapters in, Alexa was able to craft an interesting story with a diverse cast of characters and multiple plot lines to add a touch of mystery and intrigue. Her futuristic setting along with an adapted version of the Bachelor/Bachelorette provides for a unique backdrop to Leo’s personal story involving her family and Elliot. Alexa ends most of Leo’s story in a satisfactory way but leaves a few unanswered questions, specifically with regards to her father and the fate of the lower class inhabitants of society. It made me wonder why these issues were given importance if they were at least somewhat resolved in the end.

The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne is a well-written, futuristic book that will appeal to many teens and young adults. The main story-line is engaging and there is plenty of age appropriate romance and intrigue for me to recommend this as a solid book.

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Leo, heir to a rundown and almost destroyed spaceship, is depending on either her mechanical mind or an advantageous marriage to save her family.

The backstory is a bit confusing here, but as far as I can tell, Earth went belly up at some point and some of the population escaped on spaceships. Some of their descendants now call themselves royalty, but it's unclear whether they're actual royalty or have just co-opted the title. I'm leaning towards the latter, but I'm really not sure.

It doesn't really matter, because this book is about 35% plot and 65% clothes, jewelry and will-they-won't-they. The plot is excellent, a mix of politics and Leo's attempts to save her family with a new type of water filter she's invented. The froth is at least entertaining. If you enjoyed all the parts of The Selection where America described her clothes, you'll enjoy this.

I've seen claims that Leo is demisexual. I didn't pick that up from the novel. She shows no attraction to anyone, except the guy she was already in love with, but I read that as 'I resent being forced to get married' not 'I'm not attracted to anyone until I know them'. However, that's just me, and maybe another reader will have a different experience.

I enjoyed this read, and I'd love to read more set in the same world.

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All I wanted this past week was to read a light and fluffy romance with a splash of drama, and that’s exactly what I got from The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne. Score!! So, before diving into this book, I had heard that it was kind of like The Bachelorette, but set in space. There was even a nod to the show in the book, but that is not how I would describe this book at all. Yes, there is competition for affection, but it’s not what you’re thinking. This is less like the popular television show and more like a competition between sisters and family for the affection of someone who should be off limits.

See, our main character, Leo, is a princess, and back in the day, she was in love with a boy who had no wealth whatsoever, which was bad for Leo’s family because they had some financial strain. Leo and the boy, Elliot, had planned to run away and get married, but Leo’s father and Aunt found out and put a stop to it. They sent Elliot packing for another ship, and Leo was forced to use her crown to find a more suitable match… Fast forward three years, and Leo is kind of seen as an old maid (at 19!) and has got to find a rich husband during this special courting event that is being hosted on her Aunt’s ship. The only problem is that Elliot is back, and he’s now the most eligible bachelor on board.

Side note:
After reading this book, I found out that it is a retelling of Persuasion by Jane Austen. I have not had the pleasure of reading that classic yet, but I looked up the synopsis on Goodreads and yes, this book was definitely inspired by Persuasion, and now I want to read that as well. Never ending TBR, y’all!

So, let’s talk about some things I loved about the book, as well as some things that maybe could have been improved on…
First off, I was impressed with the side characters. They were all so lovable, and I think there may have been a few that I preferred over the two main characters. Also, the representation for the LGBTQ+ community in this book was a pleasant surprise. Now, I am not a member of that group, so I cannot speak for them on how well it was done, but hey — it’s still huge to me that we had multiple characters representing that community.

Something that really bothered me was that some of the side characters that were heavily present in the first half of the book [who I was enjoying reading about] are suddenly just gone later in the story, and I do not know why. I think maybe the pacing was off, because in the first half, everything is drawn out, and we’re getting so detailed with characters, the past, and the current situation between Leo and Elliot. However, towards the end, it’s a whirlwind, and I feel like maybe the author didn’t know how to fit certain characters in. Also, that ending you could see from a mile away, but it felt like it came out of nowhere and fast! For a minute, I really thought this book was going to be the first in a series, but things wrapped up nicely in the last few pages.

My Overall Thoughts
The last thing I have to say is that so much of what happens in this book could have been avoided with a little communication! So often the characters have something major that they should really be sharing with others and instead decide to hold off on telling. Like, what?! This is such a common thing in movies, television, and books to keep the drama up, and for me, it’s frustrating, but it also gives me a chance to laugh and roll my eyes a bit, which I thoroughly enjoy doing.

In the end, I really did like this one. I got caught up in all the drama and romance, which was just so much fun. It really reminded me of Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner’s Starbound Trilogy. So, if you haven’t read those yet, please do, and also, mark your reading planners, ’cause The Stars We Steal releases Tuesday, February 4, 2020!

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for sending me an e-arc for review.

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I was so excited that this book was set in space, but the sci-fi elements were almost non-existent. We just got stuck following a group of teenagers through weird and awkward experiences. They happened to be in space, but it didn't add to the story like I was hoping. The teenage angst was too much.

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Well that was fun. The Stars We Steal is about Leonie who is looking for a husband against her wishes during a weeks long matchmaking event aboard her ship where the elite try and find spouses. When her ex comes back in the picture and sets out to make life difficult for her, things get interesting.
There were a few dragging moments and some predictable moments but overall it was a really enjoyable read. I really liked the elements of mystery and politics and wish that could have been explored a little bit more. But as much as I might wish that I was such a sucker for the romance. If I had to compare The Stars We Steal to anything I would say it’s The Bachelor meets The Selection meets The 100. And if that doesn’t convince you that this book is tons of fun I don’t know what will.

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This is a Persuasion meets Star Wars YA sci fi romance. The heroine (Princess) Leo has an Anna/Rey vibe. It would be a typical young romance story except these rich European heiresses and heirs are soaring around space.
(They are doing what Elon Musk, Leonardo DiCaprio and Richard Branson dream to do in a few years.)

The plot gets especially nail-biting at the last third of the book, and it would help readers to know about the political battles and betrayals in the plot, rather than just the matchmaking event.

Thank you for the ARC

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The first chapter grabbed my attention in the clear descriptive writing and beautiful setting, so I was quicikly drawn into Leo's world and her future with Elliot and the starving resistance. It gave the impression of The Bachelor meets Austen's Persuasion in SPACE with political influences. So, I was surprised to find out that Leo is more worried about her romantic interests than starving people, as that part of the story line never goes anywhere and she does nothing to help them. With undertones of communism, masked as "Robin Hood", and constant drinking of alcoholic beverages (like A LOT!) frustrated me and made this book a disappointment.

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"Engagement season is in the air. Eighteen-year-old Princess Leonie “Leo” Kolburg, heir to a faded European spaceship, only has one thing on her mind: which lucky bachelor can save her family from financial ruin?"

When I heard this book was the bachelor meets Jane Austen meets space, I could not wait to dive in. The storyline was pretty original, and I did enjoy the world that Donne put together. I especially loved the idea of a female protagonist making her own way instead of waiting around for a future husband to save her and her family. While this new world was interesting to be a part of, I found myself massively struggling with characters and parts of the plot. There were so many things that seemed trivial and childlike. For a protagonist that wanted to be so strong, she sure put herself down a lot. Despite the confusion, I would still recommend this to my students. It seems like more of a YA meant for younger readers.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

My major issue (and reason for 3 stars) was the ending. Throughout the novel, I kept wondering, "what is up with this swimming thing being brought up so many times?" In the end, when the "villain" was revealed, I had a hard time wondering why so much extra drama was put in about the mother's murder so late in the game. Why was this even a necessary plot point to shove in at the absolute very end of the book? What did this help? We already knew the Aunt was a backstabbing you-know-what. We didn't need this additional, petty drama and "mystery" of a murder that didn't affect the choices made AT ALL.

*I was given a copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I was provided an arc by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start by saying I liked The Stars We Steal and I might have liked it more if I didn’t love For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund, which is also a sci-fi retelling of Persuasion.

“I was chasing dreams like starlight.”

Elliot comes back to see Leo suffer, suffer guys. They were engaged and she rejected him. He went away and came back more successful than anyone could have imagined and he wants, again, to make her suffer. He says a few mean things, flirts with her sister but it all felt forced when you knew he just wanted to sweep her into his arms which is not a bad thing. It just fell flat against all the angst I had built up in my head.

““I came back for you,” he said.”

I would recommend this book for those that enjoy Austen retellings and easy romances.

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Fleeting yet fun, romantic yet unremarkable, THE STARS WE STEAL can be summed up as a "THE SELECTION"- or "THE BACHELOR"-style romp through space.

It's cute, it's light, and the courtship is FUN. Leo, the MC, is a passionate, intelligent, quick-tempered Princess whose faults simply make her more loveable. I have to say, though, side characters Evgenia, Carina and Daniel (omg, DANIEL *heart-eye faces*) stole the show - can we get a spinoff novel starring any and/or all of the three of them?!

The story was more character-driven than plot-based, resolving itself in a fairy-tale-ending conclusion that felt a little rushed (and slightly unsatisfying? Though that may only be because of my character preferences...). Regardless, it was an enjoyable read... and WOW, can we talk about that cover?! Absolutely GORGEOUS!

Technically I'd give this 3.5 stars, as despite following what I believed to be an unremarkable plot with a lack of a draw-in or "hook"-factor, the romances were enjoyable and there were characters that I absolutely LOVED. I'll round it up to four, though, because we can only rate in full-star increments... and, again, *that cover* definitely warrants at LEAST half a star ;)

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Oy. This book.

I have a pretty long list of things that bothered me, but I’ll keep the summary of my irritations short.

1. These characters are awful. Every single one. Bland. Flat. Undeveloped. BORING.

2. The writing was inconsistent. Amid a page full of simple sentences you would find words so far outside of normal use that you’d be tempted to look them up. It didn’t fit and it felt like someone picked up a thesaurus to see how they could fix the repetition without fixing the writing.

3. Since I’m ranting about the writing , let’s pause to mention how some of these characters did not fit. This also circles back to #1. Daniel pops in then disappears for the entire book before becoming relevant. Then he gets pushed to the side again. Seems like a hurried plot element to get us to a resolution. Then there is Evy. I really feel she was written an entirely different way but was changed towards the end to broaden the appeal of the book. There are other complaints, but these two were my biggest.

4. On the topic of Evy... can we say failed social agenda? Does this author even have experience with life from this perspective? I didn’t find it believable at all. In fact, I felt it was under developed and just a slight nod to whatever it was trying to be in a rushed effort for inclusiveness. Same goes for Daniel.

5. Circling back to #2, I have to mention the sprinkling of futuristic swearing with totally blasé current sayings and references. I think we should revisit Scott Westerfield’s UGLIES series or the amazing RED RISING saga (Pearce Brown) if we want to see what believable futuristic world building looks like. This book was not it. In fact, why was it even in space ? The setting served near zero purpose for this story. There was hardly anything sci-fi or futuristic about the story. We had dilapidated space ships, 5 pages dedicated to a “space walk”, some basic tech imaginings and a nod to earth’s demise. But nothing was really developed. I should mention I’m not a sci-fan anyway, so when a lackluster story fails to draw me in the pain is twice as acute.

6. Finally, the pacing was off. It was so slow. Dry. Very little action occurred. It was a story with a lot of filler and missed opportunities. The final 10 pages (minus the useless epilogue) were the best in the book.

I really do feel this was a waste of my time, which is so sad to say about any book. I’m really glad I didn’t buy it, so thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing ARCs. This one, however, is going to be a hard pass going forward if it’s a series.

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In this fun, and engaging story--billed as the Bachelorette set in space, with shades of Jane Austen--Princess Leonie (Leo) is tasked with saving her family's fading standing by landing a wealthy fiancé even though she'd rather research ways to save water on their space ship. When her ex-fiance and first love shows up during the Valg season (when all the young nobles of the spaceships gather to find mates in an era of dwindling human population), Leo finds herself torn between her old flame and political intrigue. This is a swoon, enjoyable read with interesting, complex characters and diverse queer representation.

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I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely love Leo. She’s a strong female character, with a strong wit and is not described as a waif, which is refreshing especially in the YA category. Her love story with Elliot was so compelling I couldn’t put this book down!

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This is a retelling of Persuasion set in space with a dash of The Bachelor. People from Earth now fly around in spaceships, and those of the nobility have especially luxurious ones. Leonie, aboard The Scandinavian, is such a one, only her family is on the verge of becoming impoverished and she is going to have to take part in the extravagant match-making ceremony called the Valg, along with her sister and cousin, to help save the family fortune.

Leo is therefore shocked and horrified when her childhood friend and ex-fiance, Elliot, arrives for the proceedings. When he left her, angry and heartbroken, he was still considered "the help." Now he is the captain of a ship that manufactures whiskey and considered quite the eligible bachelor. She watches him flirt with all the other women in front of her, still wanting him and wishing she didn't, all the while trying to broker a deal for a new water filtration system that will save her family without her needing to marry, while also trying to investigate some mysterious goings-on aboard the ship that hint at treachery and, maybe, murder.

I enjoyed this book a lot for many reasons. First, as a science-fiction book, it's pretty light, so don't pick this up expecting hardcore space opera. The Bachelor in Space is a pretty apt description for this book. It isn't quite THE SELECTION (thank God), but nor is it Star Trek. I actually enjoyed the drama, and the artfully done will they?/won't they? between Elliot and Leo just about killed me.

Leo is a pretty great protagonist. I liked the fact that she was tall (5'11"!) and curvy. I thought it was cool that she was an inventor and a significant portion of the plot is about her filtration design. She also has a pretty healthy relationship towards other women. Even though she has a lot of jealousy towards her cousin and sister, it doesn't dissolve into a mess of girl-on-girl hate or shaming.

Regarding things that this book could have done better-- well, it was pretty fluffy, and I think it would have been nice to have more action beneath all the hearts, flowers, and trimmings. I also thought the LGBT+ rep was a bit clumsily done. There's an introduction of an ace character towards the end who basically serves as the foil for someone else's romantic relationship, and about 60% of the dialogue of the one lesbian character is her reminding all the characters that she's a lesbian and oh, by the way, are there any available girls around? It felt like her sexuality was a stand-in for her personality, which made me kind of sad, even though her character improved a little bit in the last quarter of the book.

Overall, though, I did like THE STARS WE STEAL a lot. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 out of 5 stars

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So I'm just casually scrolling through NetGalley a few months ago and this gorgeous cover snags my attention. I mean it is gorgeous! And then, my Jane Austen loving heart realises this is a Persuasion retelling and well, here we are. I really enjoyed it. As I knew I would.

This to me is basically Persuasion in space. It reminded me a bit of the very beginning of the 100. So yup, loved it! I'm not going to go into too much detail. But, basically girl rejects boy because he's "the help." He comes back, he's rich, he hates her for rejecting him. Now everyone wants him. Lots of mutual pining and pretending not to still love each other.

It was a light and fun read. And I enjoyed it so much. It's definitely one that I'll be reading again!

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3.5

Man am I bummed about this, you guys. For those of you who didn't know, this is a loose science fiction re-telling of Persuasion by Jane Austen. I personally have never read that book before but I HAVE read and loved For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund which was also inspired by the book. After finishing that I watched the movie from 2007 just to see how the Austen version went. Basically, this story is one of the move FRUSTRATING (but ultimately rewarding) cases of slow-burn/second chance romances that you will ever see in your entire life.

This version had a LOT of potential and I still think that a lot of people will really like this. I personally think that I would have liked it more if it had even been a duology. Even though the world building and plot were pretty well formed and made sense, there was still so much MORE that could have been delved into if there had just been even one more book.

The concept of this book is that the inhabitants of Earth who had the means to do so, left in a fleet of space ships based on the different nationalities after another Ice Age came on and froze the planet solid. Our main female protagonist, Leo, is considered a princess even though her family is just about destitute an the title is only really that--a title. Her aunt, who is captain of a much larger ship that is doing really well and has quite a bit of wealth, allows them to dock there.

This season she is hosting an event called the Valg Season which allows young people from all the different ships a chance to come together to find a suitable partner from a different bloodline. Surprise, surprise, Leo's old love (who she had been engaged to for a hot second years ago before she was talked out of it by her father, aunt, and cousin because he was poor) shows up. Only now, he's got money and is suddenly the heir to a ship. The two are at each others throats understandably after what happened in the past and there is a lot of tension due to a number of different things that go down.

As much as the small snippets of them reconnecting had my stomach fluttering, I wanted more. More, more, more. There wasn't enough of them reconnecting because too many other things were going on with different political things. I didn't learn nearly enough of what their past was like, or even who they had been as people to compare to the people they had grown to be in each others' absence. Again, if this had been more than one book, I think everything could have been executed perfectly with a better balance between the two things. Either way, it was still a quick read and I did still enjoy myself.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. ♥

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I think on netgalley this was pitched as The Selection in space and let me tell you, that sums it up pretty well! Basically, Leonie doesn’t want to get married but she has a duty to her family to marry someone rich because despite being “royal” in title, they’re basically broke. Then along comes Leo’s first love Elliot and things take a bit of a dramatic turn… dun dun dunnnn

Leo was an interesting character to follow. Right off the bat we’re introduced to her as the reluctant older sister that has to take responsibility for the family. She’s sarcastic and emotional and funny and definitely kind of relatable. I liked that she wasn’t JUSt focused on love or family. She had other dreams that I enjoyed hearing about!

Her sister Carina is basically like her polar opposite and it was fun to see their dynamics, especially as the “compete” for love. There’s also Leo’s cousin Klara who fit the whole “mean girl” trope. She definitely added to the angst and drama, and it was fun to see her at different stages in the story!

I’m going to be honest and say Elliot was just…eh. He was kind of average and was there to fit that specific mold. But hey, I like tropes and I wasn’t deterred by that. The mood of this story just fit really perfectly with what I needed to read at the time so it worked out!

But the real spotlight I think should go to Evgenia and Daniel. I loved their characters and I wish we’d gotten more time with them! They both were people I’d really want to sit and have lunch with and be friends with! I don’t want to get too into the details of these characters because of spoilers though, but they were definitely my favorites!

Now, in regards to the plot, I had a lot of fun with the whole Valg season of trying to get married and meet new people. There were a lot of fun scenes with speed dating and fun dates. I especially loved the way the whole “we live in outer space” thing factored into the plot. It was definitely interesting to see the politics and background about the world and I wish there had been more of that political intrigue!

I didn’t rate this a full 5/5 because I was honestly waiting for a lot more drama and angst and even though there definitely was some, it just felt like it was missing something. The ending felt like it got resolved entirely too quickly in my opinion and I was definitely hoping for more angst, especially given the scenarios! BUT, the story overall kept me engaged and I was thoroughly entertained!

If you like dramatic royals, a little bit of a love triangle-esque drama, second chances, SPACE WALKING, speed dating, dancing, and parties. If you enjoyed The Selection, you’ll definitely enjoy this one! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a quick fun read!

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Set in space, after the Earth has become inhabitable, Princess Leonie Kolburg is trying her best to live up to her father’s expectations, solve their financial problems, and be happy. When her ex-fiancé Elliot returns with a dark secret, Leo does her best to move on, struggling to find a way to patent a water-filtration system that could alleviate her family’s financial problems once and for all. As Elliot’s secret comes to light, Leo finds out a dark family secret as well, that her mother’s death wasn’t an accident.
This book was very interesting. I enjoyed reading it tremendously. Leo’s down-to-earth-ness was welcome, and the fact that she doesn’t resemble the average young adult protagonist was exciting. The book explores blackmail, secrecy, politics, technology, love, and opens up a whole new world, Earth society in space, and is beautifully written.

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This is a unique retelling. I was hoping for a little more world building, because right from the start I felt thrown into this world with little explanation as to what was going on. In the same way I was hoping for a little more depth to help me connect to the characters.

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Princess Leonie Kolburg (Please, call her Leo; and most definitely not a royal title) is in desperate need of funds in order to keep her ship, the Sofi, running. It's been generations since the people of earth fled to space as the earth froze over, and supplies and funds are running low as populations and ship repairs grow. Leo enters the season, known as the Valg, halfheartedly looking for a rich husband and wholeheartedly trying to sell her water filtration system to other ships. The last thing Leo expects is to be reminded of her first love--and first heartbreak--when Elliot Wentworth comes to rent her ship.

Worst of all, Leo is still in love with Elliot. But does he feel the same?

A 'stellar' sophomore novel by Donne--who dazzled readers with her 2018 debut, a "Jane Eyre" retelling titled "Brightly Burning"--"The Stars We Steal" blends Jane Austen with a glittering high-tech sci-fi world. With a fantastic cast of characters, brilliantly witty dialogue, and a page-turning will-they-or-won't-they? dynamic between Leo and Elliot, "The Stars We Steal" is sure to leave readers spell-bound and eager for more.

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