Sky Full of Stars Series

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Book Series, Indie Author, Lindsay Buroker, Self Published Book, YA Sci-Fi

Title & Author: The Rogue Prince (book 1), Angel of Truth (book 2), Stolen Legacy (book 3), Lindsay Buroker

Genre & Publication Date: YA Sci-Fi, April 16, 2017 (book 1)

Book Description: (from book 1: The Rogue Prince) “Starseer, pilot, and animal lover Jelena Marchenko wants to prove to her parents that she’s ready to captain her own freighter and help run the family business. When she finally talks them into getting a second ship and letting her fly it, it doesn’t faze her that the craft is decades old and looks like a turtle. This is the chance she’s craved for years.

But it’s not long before the opportunity to rescue mistreated lab animals lures her from her parentally approved cargo run and embroils her in a battle between warring corporations. To further complicate matters, her childhood friend Thorian, prince of the now defunct Sarellian Empire, is in trouble with Alliance law and needs her help.

Torn between her duty to her family and doing what she believes is honorable, Jelena is about to learn that right and wrong are never as simple as they appear and that following your heart can get you killed.”

First Line: A bleep came from the sensor panel, and Jalena Marchenko slid her sparkly, purple stallion mug to the side.

My Take: So, this series is a spin-off of the “Fallen Empire” series I read and reviewed a while back. I liked the original series but didn’t love it (you can read the full review here). Why did I decide to give this one a try if I was medium about the last one?…Well, I just can’t resist YA Sci-Fi, what can I tell you? “Sky Full of Stars” (does anyone else hear Coldplay’s song “A Sky Full of Stars” when they saw that title? It was in my head every time I read this) is based on the original heroine’s daughter, Jelena, and takes place ten years after the events in “Fallen Empire”. I am happy to report that I had a blast reading it!

At eighteen, Jalena is finally allowed to join her parents’ business and run freight in a starship, something she’s been dreaming of doing because, like her mother, she loves piloting. Her first ship? Your typical first car situation, an outdated clunker that you adore with all your heart. Also like her mother, Jalena’s inaugural run veers into all manner of ill-conceived side-missions full of action and adventure, and of course, hilarious banter. This is peppered throughout the series with plenty of coming-of-age stuff, like learning how independence comes with responsibilities, that choices have consequences, and when following your heart, it’s worth the time and effort to plan ahead somewhat too.

I really liked Jalena for her idealism and compassion, as well as her ability to grow as a person while still holding on to who she is. I also really enjoyed the fact that she loves sparkly, colorful stuff. You see so many YA heroine’s with their black boots and their monochrome outfits and their disdain for all things “girly” that it becomes its own kind of cliche. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with this per se (hell, I only have one pink shirt to my name and you will NOT find me in colorful sparkles), but it’s nice to see a heroine with plenty of agency who isn’t portrayed as diminished because she likes shiny rainbow colored shoes. This is offset nicely by Thor, the son of the former galactic emperor who was murdered during the coup. Broody and mysterious, he fulfills the black wardrobe requirement–something Jalena teases him about, often threatening to put kitty stickers on his armor if he doesn’t lighten up. Yeah, I laughed my way through much of these books.

The Magical: Side characters are interesting and three-dimensional with their own fears and quirks and pasts. Even though the story is told from Jalena’s point of view (third person limited), you get a full picture of their personalities: there’s the guy she grew up with who is like an older brother (no love triangle, thank God), and the hardened woman cyborg who joins the crew and who we’re not entirely sure should be trusted.

The Mundane: The series so far has three books, all of them a ton of fun, but the story is nowhere near complete. This is a big universe, so I’m sure it’s that the story is just larger than three books but I do miss the days when I could count on the things finishing within a trilogy or (dare I say it?) in a single novel.

Summary of Thoughts: Super enjoyable YA Sci-Fi adventures with Jalena that I’m happy to recommend. The first book, “The Rogue Prince”, is only $0.99! There’s plenty of action, a little romance, compelling characters, and even Starseer magic. Everything you need for a great read:)

Curious what others thought? Check out Amazon’s reviews here

Want to know about the author and her work? Explore her website (and the first chapters of “The Rogue Prince”) here

Shattered Past (Dragon Blood)

Tags

Book Review, Lindsay Buroker, Self Published Book, Steampunk

Title & Author: Shattered Past (Dragon Blood), Lindsay Buroker

Genre & Publication Date: Steampunk

Book Description: “An elite forces officer with a dreadful reputation.
A bookish paleontologist with a love for mysteries.
An ancient stronghold full of secrets that will take both of them to unearth.

Professor Lilah Zirkander (yes, she’s related to the famous pilot, and no, she can’t get him to autograph your undergarments) is looking forward to a summer in the paleontology lab, researching and cataloging new fossils. But that summer takes an unexpected turn when the king sends her into the Ice Blades to a secret mine where ancient dragon bones have been discovered. Rumor has it that they’re cursed and dangerous, but Lilah is more concerned about dealing with the outpost commander, a fierce officer with the temperament of a crabby badger.

As punishment for irking the king, Colonel Vann Therrik is overseeing the hardened criminals working in the remote Magroth Crystal Mines. He would like a chance to redeem himself—and escape the loathsome duty station—but nothing is going his way. Cursed fossils have delayed production, miners are trying to escape, and now a scientist has shown up, making demands on his time. Worse, she’s the cousin of his nemesis General Zirkander. As if one Zirkander in his world wasn’t bad enough.

Investigating the fossils leads Lilah and Vann into the depths of Magroth Mountain where centuries-old secrets lurk, and a long-forgotten threat stalks the passages. To have any chance at survival, they’ll have to work together and perhaps learn that neither is what the other expected.

Shattered Past is a stand-alone novel set in the author’s Dragon Blood world.”

First Line: Professor Lilah Zirkander walked down the aisles between the desks, setting exams facedown in front of students who alternated between looking warily at her and gazing longingly at the clock.

My Take: This book was provided by the author for review.

Another great steam punk adventure from Buroker! This story revolves around two interesting characters, Vann Therrik, someone seen in a secondary role in other books of her Dragon Blood series, and Lilah Zirkander. Therrik seemed an unlikely hero since he held the role of antagonist in a previous book, but the author does a great job pulling me into his perspective and making me sympathize (even if I don’t agree with) some of his reactions and prejudices against all things touched by magic.

As is Lindsay Buroker’s style, Lilah was an awesome heroine. I am always impressed with the way women characters in her books can be both strong and vulnerable at the same time, all while working within the limits of what a reader would expect that character to be capable of. Lilah is a professor, but in her back story she was once a scientist working out in the field, so she knows how to shoot and has some defense moves. She can take care of herself but she’s not Rambo. This sets up Therrik, the disciplined military man, to be there for her when there’s danger, while simultaneously making him admire her ability to fend off at least some bad dudes. Loved their chemistry against a backdrop of magic and curses and threats from both men and monsters!

The Magical: The characters. So three dimensional, complicated, and full of conflicting emotion. Therrik and Lilah are very different, but in many ways they are the same as well and suffer a similar loneliness that they try hard to pretend doesn’t exist.

The Mundane: The good news is the book was full of action!…Yet, I got to the end and kind of wondered what I just read. Not a lot actually happened when you get right down to it. Bit of a side adventure feeling to it instead of a novel all its own. Still, I enjoyed the heck out of myself in the reading of it.

Summary of Thoughts: Fun, action-packed, mixed with tempers and romance to put heat in the pot. Well written and I really felt like I knew the characters. Definitely recommended!

Many thanks to author Lindsay Buroker for providing a copy of the book to review!

Curious what others thought? Check out Amazon’s reviews here

Want to know more about this author and her work? Explore her website here