Novel Review: Starflight (Starflight, #1) by Melissa Landers

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: YA Sci-fi Romance, Space

Publisher: Hyperion

Release Date: 2016

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Solara Brooks needs a fresh start, someplace where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. The outer realm may be lawless, but it's not like the law has ever been on her side.

Still, off-world travel doesn't come cheap; Solara is left with no choice but to indenture herself in exchange for passage to the outer realm. She just wishes it could have been to anyone besides Doran Spaulding, the rich, pretty-boy quarterback who made her life miserable in school.

The tables suddenly turn when Doran is framed for conspiracy on Earth, and Solara cons him into playing the role of her servant on board the Banshee, a ship manned by an eccentric crew with their own secrets. Given the price on both Doran and Solara's heads, it may just be the safest place in the universe.

It's been a long time since Solara has believed in anyone, and Doran is the last person she expected to trust. But when the Banshee's dangerous enemies catch up with them, Solara and Doran must come together to protect the ship that has become their home-and the eccentric crew that feels like family.

The Cover:

I really like this cover. It definitely caught my attention, as it's simple but eye-catching, and the colors are very pretty. The gold stands out really nice. I think it gives the right idea of what the book is about, too; to expect the sci-fi, spaceship travel aspect.

Review:

I've been wanting to try out Landers' stories since she debuted years ago, even though I'm not typically a sci-fi reader, and just never got around to it. Her stories just sound light and fluffy, with some space travel included, and I was intrigued.

I'm hesitant to compare this to Firefly, just because that's the only sci-fi series I've actually watched, and I'm sure there are other similar shows and movies. But, it did remind me a lot of Firefly, in a very good way. This is set mostly on a spaceship, traveling from planet to planet and dealing with pirates a few times and running from the government. It's also much more action-based than romance-focused, though.

The romance is rather sweet. Solara and Doran start out hating each other; they competed in school, and Doran has always bullied Solara. Solara is an orphan but a good student and a very good mechanic, but she's always been looked down on and gotten scraps. Doran is the son of a billionaire, the man who discovered and sells fuel. They're forced together when, at first, Solara needs Doran's help to leave Earth, and then Doran gets framed for conspiracy and has to hide from the government with her help.

They've got chemistry, and they form an understanding that grows to accepted attraction, and then a real relationship. It's sweet, but it's not all that intense. And, mostly, I mean that it's not given too much attention, it falls more in the background. I would have enjoyed more romance, but I actually didn't mind, since it made it less dramatic. This story focused more on the action. They join a crew of misfits, and they all get into quite a bit of trouble, several times during this book.

I really liked the crew they join. There's Renny, who pickpockets without realizing; their tiny sugarglider mascot; then Kane and Cassia, who constantly banter but actually seem closer than they let on. Then the older, part metal, captain, who sees more than he lets on and has been through a lot in his years.

This was a really fun book. The romance was subtle, but the action was exciting. I'm really looking forward to reading the next one and seeing what happens with Cassia.