Novel Review: Starfall (Starflight, #2) by Melissa Landers

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Genre: YA Sci-fi Romance

Publisher: Hyperion

Release Date: 2017

Spoilers?: No.

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

Starflight 1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world of Eturia to escape an arranged marriage, she had no idea her sudden departure would spark a war. Now after two years hiding as a ship hand, she is finally returning to her beloved home, but not in the way she imagined. Shackled by bounty hunters, she is violently dragged back to account for her crimes. Her only solace is that the Banshee crew managed to evade capture, including Kane Arric, her best friend...with occasional benefits.

Meanwhile, Kane and the rest of the crew of the Banshee plan a desperate rescue mission. But when they arrive on Eturia, Cassia isn't exactly in need of heroics—she's claimed her birthright as Eturia's queen, but has inherited a war-torn planet simmering with rebellion. Cassia must make alliances, and Kane, the bastard son of a merchant, isn't a choice that will earn her any friends. Kane knows he will never find someone to replace Cassia—and is certain she returns his feelings—but how can he throw away his own promising future waiting on a queen?

When the outer realm is threatened by the dangerous Zhang mafia, Cassia, Kane and the rest of the Banshee crew uncover a horrifying conspiracy that endangers the entire universe. In the face of unspeakable evil, Cassia must confront her own family's complicated legacy on Eturia and decide once and for all who her real family is.

The Cover:

I really like these covers. They're pretty, and I love the colors and shiny parts. I appreciate this one shows Cassia going back to her planet, too, since now they're not running away from anything. Since the story doesn't focus overly on the romance, I like that the covers don't, either.

Review:

This book takes place quickly after the first one, only now we're following Cassia and Kane. I was intrigued by their relationship in the first book, and I'm always a sucker for childhood friend/friends to lovers stories. They're a favorite of mine, so I was actually looking forward to this one more than the first.

Similar to the first book, the romance takes a backseat compared to the action and main plot lines. For this book, it's that Cassia's home planet is looking for her. Only for her to find out that some big things have changed, and she actually needs to go back to try and settle things.

I really liked the idea behind Cassie being a runaway princess and going back to her kingdom to take her place back and make things right again. Some of it just didn't play out as well.

I think Cassia played it well, for the most part. She played it smart and did what she needed to in the moment, trusted who she thought she could and fought when needed. Cassie and Kane were actually separated for most of the book, and then there were clear conflicts, since Cassie and Kane grew up on very different sides of the kingdom. She was a princess, and he was a merchants son.

The way it played out wasn't terribly surprising—who was behind what, who was secretly and openly against her. And it was a fun story, for the most part. But certain parts went in odd directions, and some story lines got dragged out or seemed unnecessary. But I think part of that might be that this reads almost more like an adventure novel, more than a sci-fi or romance story.

All this to say, it was all right. I didn't mind it, but it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. The romance was rather subtle and not very intense, like I hoped it would be. I'll probably try another of Landers' novels at some point, but I'll have different expectations, I think.

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.