In 2020 I devoured Jessie Mihalik’s Consortium Rebellion series, Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, and Chaos Reigning. Mihalik writes a banger of a sci-fi romance with compelling characters, action, intrigue, and found family. As soon as I heard she was starting a new series with Hunt the Stars, it rocketed on to my most anticipated of 2022 list. It was as good as I thought it would be, and it looks like the second book, Eclipse the Moon, will be out in the summer. I love not having to wait a year for the next instalment.
The Consortium Rebellion focused on three sisters – daughters of one of the ruling families. Even on the run, their wealth made their adventures more possible. In contrast, the new series focuses on a crew of bounty hunters, led by Tavi Zarola. Tavi and her crew are former soldiers in the Federated Human Planet’s army, and their newest client, Torran Fletcher, is a Valovian general, and a squad of his soldiers. The war between the Federated Humans and the Valovians has ground to an uneasy peace/stalemate, and the enmity between Humans and Valovians is sharp. Despite the distrust and hostility, Torran desperately needs Tavi’s crew’s expertise, and Tavi desperately needs Torran’s money.
I’m a bounty hunter. I hunt criminals and murderers; I don’t work for them.”…
His piercing gaze seared me. “I know you. Lieutenant Octavia Zarola, hero of Rodeni,” he said with mocking reverence before his expression hardened. “Slaughterer. You are worth a lot in Valovian space.”
There is, of course, a conspiracy that may go all the way to the top and the imminent threat of restarting the unwinnable war. Hunt the Stars was a fun read and I am probably going to go reread it again right now. Jessie Mihalik is an autobuy author for me.
I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley and Harper Voyager. My opinions are my own.