Review by Booklist Review
Following on the heels of Chaos Reigning (2020), Mihalik kicks off a new spacefaring adventure trilogy. The war between the Federated Human Planets and the telepathic Valovians is over, but the settlement has left bad feelings on both sides. Octavia Zarola, reluctant hero of the deciding battle of the conflict, left the military and is now captain of her own ship, Starlight's Shadow. Tavi and her crew have a reputation as successful bounty hunters, although jobs have been scarce of late and the ship needs renovations. The last person Tavi wants is to deal with is General Torran Fletcher, former commander of the enemy's forces, who wishes to hire her team to retrieve a family heirloom. The up-front fee and finishing bonus would allow Tavi to fully upgrade her ship, but how can she ever trust someone who can read minds and freeze a body in place, and who insists the investigation must begin on Valovia? Offer this to fans of Mihalik's Consortium Rebellion series or those who enjoy adversarial, action-packed team-ups like Kit Rocha's Deal with the Devil (2020).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The heat is on in Mihalik's addictive Starlight's Shadow series launch (after the Consortium Rebellion series). Captain Octavia "Tavi" Zarola and her bounty hunting crew are approached by General Torran Fletcher about locating a stolen ring. Tavi needs Torran's money, but the recent war between the Valovians and the Federated Human Planets makes the job complicated: Torran is a Valoff, an alien race similar to humans but that has developed telepathic abilities. Tavi is a war hero for the other side and there's a price on her head in Valovian space. As the search begins, tensions run high between the Valoffs and the humans on Tavi's ship, and even higher between Torran and Tavi themselves. When the job proves far more complicated than merely finding the ring, Tavi's life--and her heart--are at risk. The tenuous peace between the FHP and the Valovian government hangs in the balance as Tavi and her crew race to complete the job. Mihalik artfully juggles palpable romantic tension and fun action to create an epic page turner. This is sure to excite anyone who likes their space opera with a bit of spice. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (Feb.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The captain of a spaceship falls in love with her sworn enemy as they search for a missing ring. Tavi Zarola is the captain of Starlight's Shadow, and her small crew specializes in bounty hunting and recovering stolen items around the galaxy. Drawn together by a traumatic incident that occurred when they all served together in the military, Tavi and her crew are happy with their shoestring but peaceful existence, one that keeps them firmly out of the limelight. No one is more surprised than Tavi when Torran Fletcher approaches them with a job. He was the ruthless rival general during the war, so why would he ask them to help recover the priceless family heirloom that was stolen from his home? Against her better judgment, Tavi and her team accept the job--it's a once-in-a-lifetime payout if they can recover the item. Torran's team joins Tavi's as they travel to his home planet to investigate. Tavi is surprised by the two crews becoming a cohesive unit, not to mention the strong attraction between herself and Torran. Tavi knows she should be wary of a man with so much power and so many secrets, but their chemistry is impossible to resist. Mihalik's novel is a carefully plotted, engrossing space adventure with plenty of twists and turns. Tavi is a strong, interesting character who will always take a more difficult path rather than sacrificing her principles. Tavi and Torran are from different classes and cultures, so the conflict between them is richly layered. The combination of emotional, slow-burn romance and rollicking, high-stakes adventure makes for a fun, fast-paced read. An exciting space-opera adventure that hits all the right romance notes. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
