Hunt The Stars by Jessie Mihalik review

Title: Hunt The Stars

Author: Jessie Mihalik

Series: Starlight’s Shadow #1

Genre: Sci-Fi / Space Opera Romance

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Pages:432

Release Date: 1 February 2022 (US), 31 March 2022 (UK)

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Hello fellow book lovers and today I’m back with a review of the first book in Jessie Mihalik’s brand new series Starlight’s Shadow.

Hunt The Stars is a fun, compelling and thoroughly exciting Sci-fi Space Opera with an utterly steamy, enemies to lovers romance you won’t be able to put down.

Synopsis

“Jessie Mihalik is an author to watch.” — Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Octavia Zarola would do anything to keep her tiny, close-knit bounty hunting crew together—even if it means accepting a job from Torran Fletcher, a ruthless former general and her sworn enemy. When Torran offers her enough credits to not only keep her crew afloat but also hire someone to fix her ship, Tavi knows that she can’t refuse—no matter how much she’d like to.

With so much money on the line, Torran and his crew insist on joining the hunt. Tavi reluctantly agrees because while the handsome, stoic leader pushes all of her buttons—for both anger and desire—she’s endured worse, and the massive bonus payment he’s promised for a completed job is reason enough to shut up and deal.

But when they uncover a deeper plot that threatens the delicate peace between humans and Valoffs, Tavi suspects that Torran has been using her as the impetus for a new war. With the fate of her crew balanced on a knife’s edge, Tavi must decide where her loyalties lie—with the quiet Valoff who’s been lying to her, or with the human leaders who left her squad to die on the battlefield. And this time, she’s put her heart on the line.

Review

I found this a well written and entertaining read that I honestly didn’t want to put down, I don’t often venture into Sci-fi fiction as I usually don’t find it enjoyable, filled with convoluted plot lines or characters I just don’t find enjoyable. Hunt The Stars and it’s incredible blend of romance, action and endearingly badass heroines may just have converted me (or at least convinced me to check out more sci-fi romance.)

The writing was really easy to follow and the technology we encounter was rather self explanatory and easy to grasp (so, thankfully no need to stop and Google any science-y, tech related stuff .)

One of my favourite aspects was how each and every female character we encounter is strong, smart, capable and utterly fierce—even Kee, Tavi’s rainbow haired systems engineer, who at first appearance seems utterly harmless is not someone who’s badside you want to end up on— and I absolutely loved that!

We also get some really great insight into Tavi (and her military career fighting against Tarron’s people) so watching how she navigates (and overcomes) this complex situation—the difficult history and cultural barriers—was absolutely fascinating. Especially when Tavi starts to develop feelings for the handsomely stoic Valoff and her conflicting emotions surrounding her former enemy. And it’s not just Tavi catching feelings either, as the crew members begin to grow friendlier as the book progresses too and honestly, I was all for it!

I also fell in love with the ships’ adorable telepathic mascot, Luna (a Burbu described as looking like a cross between an arctic fox, a cat and a ferret) who’s cheeky antics and constant demand for food or attention was a definitely a one of my favourite highlights of the entire novel.

So, if you love Sci-fi romance, enemies to lovers or the found families trope then I 100% urge you to go buy a copy now because it’s satisfyingly superb.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

About The Author

Jessie Mihalik has a degree in computer science and a love of all things geeky. A software engineer by trade, Jessie now writes full time from her home in Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing co-op video games with her husband, trying out new board games, hiking, or reading.

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