Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik Narrator: Frankie Corzo
Series: Starlight's Shadow #1
Published by Harper Voyager, HarperAudio on February 1, 2022
Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Length: 12 hours, 2 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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.
If you enjoy this author’s other series, you will enjoy Hunt the Stars. I was thrilled to start the Starlight’s Shadow series. While the overall story arc might be urban fantasy style, there is a new couple in each book. It feels like fantasy romance. The situations are very much military, space opera with plenty of tech. The romance lightens the story and I love this author’s style. Her female characters are strong leaders.
Our main characters are Tavi, a human and bounty hunter, who led her team on the human side during the war. Torran, is a Valoff, and a general on the Valoff side. So we begin with no trust, a desperate situation for each of them, which moves along into attraction. It’s an intense version of enemies-to-lovers.
Both of their teams are talented and compassionate. Both have suffered loss and changes from the war. They are united in this finding mission. However, the truth is tough to pin down. Slowly, with trust, some truth is shared. But it’s easy to feel betrayed when details are omitted. The battle is hard fought to complete their joint mission, which turns out to be more far reaching and consequential than first known.
I loved this exciting story with strategies and battles, as well as a surprising romance. I believe in these characters and am looking forward to more. The ending makes it clear where things will be heading next in Eclipse the Moon releasing in July.
Narration:
I had not listened to this narrator previously. I enjoyed her very much, feeling comfortable with both her male and female voices. The consciousness is from Tavi so it’s mostly a female point of view. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
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About Jessie Mihalik
Jessie Mihalik has a degree in Computer Science and a love of all things geeky. A software engineer by trade, Jessie now writes full time from her home in Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing co-op video games with her husband, trying out new board games, or reading books pulled from her overflowing bookshelves.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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I really enjoy her books, and I’m excited the next book comes out so soon!
Yes I’m glad it is July and not a year away. I love her style with strong women, high tech and a romance.
Sounds like a great start to the series. I have heard about the author, but never read any of her books before.
I love her style. If you like one of her books you will probably like them all as the her style and the elements in her stories is consistent. Strong women, high tech, romance, She does a great job with characters and I love the battle / strategy elements.
Terrific review, Anne. This sounds like a wonderful start to a new series.
Thank you Wendy. I loved it.
I need to finish Mihalik’s Consortium series (which I’ve loved!) and get onto this one, Anne. It sounds like Mihalik delivers everything I like about her writing in this one. 🙂
If you like her other series, you will enjoy this one also. I love the way she writes her characters, the tech and the romance.
This one’s next in my TBR. I can’t wait to read it!
I love the combination of the space / techy and the strong woman finding romance.
Me too! That’s basically all I write. Lol. ☺️❤️
Oh I love these kinds of novels thanks for sharing Anne
I love her work, the feel of it.
So glad you loved this, Anne💜
Thank you! It’s a different feel than other scifi romance I’ve read.
I love Mihalik’s other series! (Especially Polaris Rising!) I didn’t know she’d started a new one. I can’t wait to check this one out. 🙂
If you loved her other series, you will love this one. The story is different but the feel is similar.
I have always planned to try the first series, but I’m glad to know this second one is starting strong. I love space opera so I’m sure it will be a hit.
I love both of her other series and now this one. I think you would enjoy them.
I loved her other series and I really really want to read this one
I hope you can find time to read it. I really enjoyed it.
I’m glad to hear this one is just as good as her previous series (which I really wish she would have continued). I thought about pursuing a review copy, but ended up waiting. I’ll get to it eventually! Thanks for the review.
I really loved it and I thought the narrator was good too.
I just finished this last night. I love the narrator and find this author doesn’t disappoint.
This author is on my must read list for sure. It was my first time with the narrator but I enjoyed her.
I really enjoyed this one and am glad that you did as well. I can’t wait to read more of the series!
Yes! And I’m glad the next book is in July not a year away.
I haven’t read her books before but I do like the sound of this one. I will have to give it a try!
I’ve really enjoyed all her series. I hope you do.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one! I still haven’t read her other series… but I have all three of the Consortium Rebellion books on my Kindle for whenever I’m in the mood for some space-opera romance.
I don’t think I’ve read the author before but the blurb and your review definitely caught my interest. I’m trying to not buy books if I don’t have time to read them straight away but I may just make an exception for this one!
Well I hope you enjoy it. I love all her books. You could also try Polaris Rising as it is older and might be less expensive. Or do you have a library? Anyway, Polaris Rising was my first time with this author and it was a 5 heart read.
I still have Polaris Rising sitting on my shelf and really need to read it. This new series sounds great too.
I’d start with Polaris Rising since you have it and the style is similar. I gave Polaris Rising 5 hearts! But I’ve really loved everything Mihalik has written.
Sounds like a good series! And a narrator can make or break an audiobook for me. Great review!
Thanks Lisa! I am very partial to certain narrators. But I can adapt mostly and this was a very good narration.