Stevie‘s review of Starbreaker (Nightchaser, Book 2) by Amanda Bouchet
Science Fiction Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 28 Apr 20
I enjoyed the first book in this series, although with some reservations, and while this story maybe didn’t entirely address my concerns, it was a damned good adventure and heist nonetheless. This time around, Captain Tess Bailey and her crew find themselves hired to execute the jailbreak of a rebel scientist, the one person who might be able to fix the results of an environmental disaster on her home planet. Along the way, the group gets sucked into a whole load of other plots, while Tess learns more about her new partner, Shade Ganavan, and about her own family history.
While the focus is very firmly on Tess and Shade this time around, we do see the beginnings of secondary romance plots between familiar and new characters. We also get to see a wide variety of worlds, and in doing so learn about Tess’ and Shade’s respective pasts as they slowly let each other into their lives. While both have been drawn into the rebellion proper somewhat against their better judgement, they each have a strong sense of right and wrong, and this helps them build on their existing and rather spiky relationship dynamic to create something that might stand the test of time.
There are a lot of concepts I really like in this series. As well as the well-loved trope of reluctant rebels fighting the oppressive government while trying to earn a mostly honest living, we get the excellent twist that Tess is not only the adopted daughter of the chief oppressor, but also one of the rare individuals both sides are anxious to investigate because of their potentially game-changing biology. This is space opera at its most gripping, as we learn that former enemies may be working on the side of good, but that there is also a lot more going on behind the scenes with all factions than was ever made clear initially.
I also like the way so many issues run parallel to those real-life, current-day activists are tackling, while others are unique to the worlds in which they occur. I would love to see this series translate to either the small or big screen, because I can visualise so many scenes but want someone else to project them to somewhere beyond the workings of my brain.
I’m eagerly anticipating the next in the series, but also hoping to see a bit more of some of those other diverse cast members as the overarching story progresses.
Grade: A
Summary:
THEY NEVER WANTED TO BE HEROES
Captain Tess Bailey and Shade Ganavan are still the galaxy’s Most Wanted, and with revolution in the wind and the universe on the brink of catastrophic war, the situation couldn’t be more desperate. Despite the Dark Watch scouring the known sectors for them, rebel leaders have handed the crew of the Endeavor a delicate and dangerous mission: break into Starbase 12 and free renowned scientist Reena Ahern. She’s the only one who stands a chance of tipping the odds in their favor for the first time in decades.BUT PULLING OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE IS WHAT THEY DO BEST
The clock is ticking. But as their attraction builds and secrets are revealed, Tess and Shade must decide if they trust each other enough to execute this impossible prison break. They could change the course of history, but they’ll be risking everything… They’ll just have to tackle one crisis at a time.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
