Thursday, July 13, 2023

Book Review ~ STAR BRINGER by Tracy Wolff and Nina Croft

Star Bringer
by: Tracy Wolff and Nina Croft
Genre: New Adult Sci-Fi/Sci-Fi Romance/LGBTQ+ Romance
Release Date: July 11, 2023
Publisher: Entangled ~ Red Tower Books

Firefly meets The Breakfast Club in this snarky, new adult romance.

The sun is dying...and it's happening way too damn fast.

With the clock ticking, the Nine Planets' only hope of survival rests on a fancy space station and the alien artifact it's carrying. Which is why it really sucks when some jackass doesn't want the universe saved and blows that station up-while you're still on it.

So if your only choices are flaming death or stealing a flying hunk of space junk-you pick that busted-ass spaceship. Even if it leaves seven strangers with deadly secrets trapped together: a princess, a prisoner, a con artist, a warrior, a priestess, a mercenary, and an asshole in charge of us all.

Now every faction in the galaxy is hunting this ship-from the Sisterhood to the Corporation, and the rebellion's joining in on the fun, too. We just need to stop drinking, fighting, and screwing long enough to evade them all and save the freaking universe...somehow.

Because apparently the only thing standing between a dying sun and ultimate salvation is seven unlikely misfits...ahem, heroes.

Sci-fi is so not a genre that I generally read. But I could not help but be curious about Star Bringer. In all honesty, until the hero Ian showed up, I was just mah about the book. His chapter (chapter three) had me sitting up a little straighter, and the moment he opened his mouth I was in love and there was a smile on my face.

Star Bringer is the story of strangers and enemies brought together by a horrific explosion onboard the Imperial Space Station Caelestis, a sophisticated science vessel. The Caelestis was built specifically to conduct research on an orb known as the Heptosphere, which is thought to be an ancient alien artifact. One that is also thought to be key in saving the Senestris System from being destroyed by a dying sun. During the explosion and chaos, the group escapes aboard a spaceship that appears to have seen better days, only to watch in horror as the Caelestis implodes, presumably sending those still onboard to their deaths.

When the dust settles, there are seven people aboard what is soon to be called the Starlight, who realize they don’t know, like, or trust one another. They all have different thoughts and agendas as to what they should do next. There’s Kalinda (Kali) Crown Princess of the Nine Planets, as known as the Senestris System; Rain, the High Priestess of the Sisterhood of the Light; Merrick a warrior priest and Rain’s bodyguard; Beckett, a prisoner who escapes the prison ship Reformer, which for some reason docks on the ISS; Ian and Max, two mercenaries who have snuck onboard the ISS with the sole goal of sneaking onto the Reformer to locate and rescue their friend Milla; and Gage, a technician for the ISS who has been paid off by Ian and Max to help them with their plan.

It’s not surprising that this group of misfits slowly but surely start to care for one another and become friends, as they make their way through space trying to avoid being killed by an unknown enemy or enemies. Lucky for them, the Starlight has their backs.

I found Star Bringer to be special in that the seven onboard were all missing something that they didn’t know they were. They were missing having people they could call friends and a family that was there for them no matter what. These seven souls burrowed themselves into my heart and I didn’t even know it. I loved Rain because of her curiosity, her faux pas. You immediately see her warmth and the goodness in her. Beckett is a crazy escaped prisoner who makes you wonder if she's okay. But you know inside she has a heart of gold and would do anything for those she loves. And Rain is who she loves, though she doesn't think she deserves her. Max is someone who I honestly don't think got enough page time. Oh we learn about him and we know what's in his heart and what makes him tic, but I just wanted a little more. I would have loved for there to have been a chapter or two from his perspective and really see how he was feeling about everything happening around him. Merrick has some major secrets. He's very serious and doesn't loosen up at all. But when he speaks, you know that what he has to say is important. Kali is a pampered princess who is beyond sheltered and naive. But she surprisingly doesn't want to be. She has a kind heart and will do absolutely anything for her new friends, especially because having friends is something new to her. Ian has been on his own since the death of his mother when he was eleven. Outside of Max and Milla who came into his life when he was twelve, he hasn’t had friends or cared about anyone. He isn’t prepared for the idea of being responsible for five people he’s just met, one of whom he dislikes on principle. He definitely isn’t prepared for the strong, unexpected feelings he has for Kali.

Star Bringer is a story that for me is hard to describe/explain, without spoiling it. But what I can say is that it's one of those reads that is engrossing and will have you on the edge of your seat. You will laugh. You will probably cry. You will rejoice. And you will be left dismayed because there is a cliffhanger. One that seems to have come out of nowhere. To say Star Bringer is sooo good is an understatement.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“Life’s too short to waste it on lies.”

“There’s nothing wrong with fighting for what you need. Or what you believe in.”

“I hate it when somebody tells me I can’t do something. It makes me want to prove them wrong.”

“We see people and we make judgments and believe we know who they really are, but mostly, we’re wrong.”

“We can never truly understand what someone else is going through.”

“Family is…often complicated. And love even more so.”

“There’s always a choice. You just have to accept the consequences.”

“We’re all products of our circumstances.”

“We are who we are because we’ve been taught to be that way.”

“Moments are fleeting. No matter how hard we try to capture them, they disappear as easily as they come.”

“I can make a difference.”

“Some things are worth fighting for. And so are some people.”

“When you hurt someone, you should apologize to them.”

“Never say never.”


**Received an ARC from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a hardcover copy.**

Rating: 5

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tracy Wolff is a lover of vampires, dragons, and all things that go bump in the night. A onetime English professor, she now devotes all her time to writing dark and romantic stories with tortured heroes and kick-butt heroines. She has written all her sevnty-plus novels from her home in Austin, Texas, which she shares with her family.

Places to find Tracy Wolff:

Nina Croft grew up in England, dreaming of faraway, sunnier places and ponies. When she discovered both, and lots more, could be found between the covers of a book, her life changed forever. Now Nina lives on an almond farm in southern Spain. She spends her days reading, writing romance, and riding her horse, Ranger-sunshine and ponies-proff that dreams really can come true.

Places to find Nina Croft:

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