Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik Narrator: Frankie Corzo
Series: Starlight's Shadow #3
Published by HarperAudio on June 20, 2023
Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Length: 12 hours, 28 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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s a recovery specialist, Lexi Bowen's jobs typically require more trickery and thievery than honest work. Her former captain might not approve of her flexible morals, but stealing artifacts for rich assholes pays the bills, and Lexi's had enough of war and death. The FHP left her to die once; she doesn't plan to give them a chance to finish the job.
Unfortunately, her latest contract takes her to Valovia itself--and right back into the orbit of Nilo Shoren, a Valovian teleporter who already cost her one payday and nearly stole her heart.
Armored against his clever charm, Lexi plans to get in, get the job done, and get out. But when her former crew goes missing in Valovian space, Lexi will have to work with Nilo to figure out what happened--and stop it--before the galaxy's two superpowers can use the disappearance as an excuse to return to war.
In the Starlight’s Shadow series, we get a military, space opera story with high tech and a new romantic couple in each book. The females are strong and smart, former soldiers, and the books are primarily from their point of view. The battles and action are lightened by the romance layer.
I have been so excited to finally learn more about Lexi who is the thief and recovery specialist, often not with the crew, but they are there for each other when needed. She normally doesn’t live on Starlight’s Shadow like the rest of the couples. She seemed softer and a little too willing (stupid) to jump into bad situations.
Capture the Sun continues the chasing down of Frank Morton who they knew in the war and know is a war criminal. He has been possibly working with the Empress to restart the war. Lexi is headed to a job but it turns out to be a trap of sorts. Nilo saves her and they get into the same chase as the crew of Starlight’s Shadow.
I have to say I found it weird that all the romances are human women with Valovian men. There’s also the pairing up of every single person on the crew in one way or another. Eli, the only regular guy on crew, doesn’t get his own story but he is partnered up here. I understand the tying up loose ends but it didn’t feel very realistic.
Lexi and Nilo are a pair without much relationship experience. They start with casual sex and it develops as they work together and protect and support each other. I didn’t find the romance very engaging, perhaps because we have Lexi’s doubts in her head and none of Nilo’s thoughts.
The action brought fun, fear and a fast pace to the story. I enjoyed how the crew has become friends with the son of the Empress and he helps them with some access. The story arcs were well concluded with criminals being brought to trial and the crew being hired to locate others.
Narration:
I first enjoyed the narrator with this series, with the main point of views female. I am comfortable with her male and female voices. The males are a husky tone. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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.
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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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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I need to catch up with book two, ugh! I’m glad you liked this. That’s interesting about the human/Valovian pairings, but I kind of get it for a romance series.
Thanks Tammy. Well they do have males on the ship who could have connected with female Valovians so it’s a little weird. But each book is from a female POV.
Though space operas aren’t my cuppa, I love seeing you enjoy them, Anne💜
yes I love the travel, the battles and the technology. Here there is also romance.
I am not sure this one is for me. Glad to see you have been enjoying the series.
yes these are also space opera romances with this author. I’ve really enjoyed her books and writing style. The women are smart and capable.
I might have to check this one out, it sounds good.
Thank you Mary. I like the technology and battles in space opera scifi. This also has romance.
I enjoyed the first two books in this series, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she wraps everything up in this book. It is a little strange that all her pairings are human women with Valovian men though. She should have flipped one of them around.
yes, she could have flipped one around but since she pretty much always does female POV I think that’s why they are all that way.
I liked this one! I would have loved to see Eli’s story but this one was good. I thought that it did a great job of wrapping up the trilogy.
yes I’m thinking she is more comfortable writing a female POV. Tavi, Eli and Key were the main people on Starlight’s Shadow to start though.
I always find it funny in a romance series how all the brothers/friends/teammates/etc. all find love within a short period of time. But that’s just the beast of the genre. Overall, I enjoyed this story, but wish we could see more of the outfall and maybe even the Prince’s story!
It is funny how all the family /brothers / teammates /etc all find love in the same time just when it works for the books! yes I wouldn’t mind seeing The Prince. But also she seems to write from the female POV normally, hence Eli didn’t get a story.
Is that a puppy or fox or something on the cover??? Cute.
It’s a burboo, a Valovian creature.