Rating: 4.5⭐️

This is the second series I’ve read by Jessie Mihalik and I find I’m actually enjoying it better. The world building is excellent and well laid out, it’s less Regency in space and more galactic exploration/ based, which suits me. 

And while the “alien race “ isn’t all that alien, Mihalik has given a “theory” that’s accepted for the similarity of physicality of species. 

This series takes place after a horrific galactic war between two species, humans and Valoffs. The main characters, Captain Octavia “Tavy “ Zarola, Eli, and Kee are all that’s left of their special military team , now living aboard their spaceship. 

As veterans, each carrying their own nightmares, PTSD, from the war, the characters are engaging and relatable as a found family unit. Especially with their burbu, the animal they rescued while deployed. 

When their former enemy comes in need of their assistance for a mission, old memories return as well as new relationships that are forged.

The Valoffs aren’t as strong an element as a whole. We don’t get a cultural or historical background on them, so as a people they are hard to grasp. Individually, they are characters that grow as events happen and relationships develop.

The stories are strong, the characters greatly expand into new areas of growth and it’s a fast paced series that’s entertaining and romantically a little spicy. 

Tavy and Torran’s story is filled with adventures and battles and great moments. I love it. 

Another winner. 

Starlight’s Shadow :

Hunt the Stars #1

Eclipse the Moon #2

Capture the Sun #3

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: Starlight’s Shadow 

Blurb 

Octavia Zarola would do anything to keep her tiny, close-knit bounty hunting crew together—even if it means accepting a job from Torran Fletcher, a ruthless former general and her sworn enemy. When Torran offers her enough credits to not only keep her crew afloat but also hire

someone to fix her ship, Tavi knows that she can’t refuse—no matter how much she’d like to.

With so much money on the line, Torran and his crew insist on joining the hunt. Tavi reluctantly agrees because while the handsome, stoic leader pushes all of her buttons—for both anger and desire—she’s endured worse, and the massive bonus payment he’s promised for a completed job is reason enough to shut up and deal.

But when they uncover a deeper plot that threatens the delicate peace between humans and Valoffs, Tavi suspects that Torran has been using her as the impetus for a new war. With the fate of her crew balanced on a knife’s edge, Tavi must decide where her loyalties lie—with the quiet Valoff who’s been lying to her, or with the human leaders who left her squad to die on the battlefield. And this time, she’s put her heart on the line.

Publisher

Harper Voyager

Publication date

February 1, 2022

Language

‎English

Print length

428 pages

Book 1 of 3

Starlight’s Shadow

Space opera, science fiction romance,