ARC Review: The Starfarer by Petra Landon

A feisty gatherer with a dangerous heritage and a mysterious starfarer from a mighty race engage in a delicate dance of love, faith, longing and survival, while the sector burns around them!

On a sleepy agrarian planet, Sila Gatherer hides a deadly secret. Until an accidental encounter with a mysterious alien starship changes her life forever. Star Captain Zh’hir Mu’raat is Ur’quay — renowned across the galaxy as warriors and explorers. Thrown together, the starfarer and his accidental captive forge an unlikely bond. One that is tested, time and again, when Sila finds herself threatened, exiled and adrift.

In a dangerous sector of space where powerful factions battle for control, Sila and the Star Captain must fight for a future together as her ability, Ur’quay tradition and a complicated legacy test their faith. When a powerful foe threatens Sila, they race against time to unravel a centuries-old secret. With the fate of Sector Araloka and the Ur’quay at stake, can the starfarer follow his heart or will history repeat itself again …

Author’s Note: This is the second book in The Araloka Chronicles, a collection of SciFi Romance tales with Space Opera undertones. The story is standalone, though the reader’s experience will be enhanced if the books are read in order.

Goodreads * Amazon KU

MY REVIEW

★★★★☆

I haven't read that many sci-fi romances and I've noticed that it's a neglected subgenre on my reading list. However, between The Starfarer and the previous book in The Araloka Chronicles, The Mercenary, I've realized that I've been missing out!

I don't know if it's because at the time when I started reading this I was also rewatching and binging on Star Trek TNG, DS9 and Voyager (yes, I'm a Trekkie), but this story read just like an episode from any of these shows. It was all too easy to picture it on the screen, which made it not only an enjoyable read, but also an entertaining one.

I loved the slow build of the romance between Star Captain Zh'hir Mu'raat and Sila. The author perfectly captured the barriers to the first meeting and to their eventual friendship, such as communication, culture, experience, etc. Once they realized how compatible they were, it was beautiful to watch how their feelings for each other evolved. Despite themselves, despite the odds, they dreamt of a future together and I couldn't help but want the same.

The battle between the Alliance and the Empire is far from over, but with new allies and new strategic weapons, I think they stand a better chance at winning. I'm definitely on the side of the rebels. I had so much fun immersing myself in the battle scenes. The author did a fantastic job of drawing a well developed picture, putting me right there on the front lines, driving up my adrenaline like I was there during each fight.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, which will give an in-depth look at the leader of the Alliance. He's part cyborg and I can't even begin to imagine the intricacies of this character.