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Starflight by Melissa Landers // Just. Too. Good.

Starflight by Melissa Landers // Just. Too. Good.
Starflight (Starflight, #1) by Melissa Landers
Genres: Sci-Fi (YA)
Pages: 369
Goodreads

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.
When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

starflight reading progress

PLOT

At first, it started off a bit slow for me, but it’s one of those novels that when it picks up it really picks up. Once that moment hits (which isn’t that far in the book) it makes you want to keep reading page after page. When one problem seems to be resolved, another one pops up. There is plenty of gun fights, space chases, harboring of fugitives, pirates, and plot twists. This never-ending string of action-packed events makes for a very fun read.

PLOT (1)

Oh my goodness! Where do I even begin with this??! I absolutely loved the characters.

Solara and Doran are two of my all-time favorite characters. Solara is a very intelligent, stubborn, and independent female –  she’s an absolute firecracker. Doran goes through a lot of changes throughout the novel – just tons of character development. I started out disliking him, but I think he has an even tougher time than Solara does and I feel for him.

But TOGETHER? They’re magic. Just magic. I couldn’t imagine this novel from any other perspectives. They’re characters just work so well together – which is odd to say because they are so opposite. But you know how people say that in a film, actors have to have chemistry? Well, I know they aren’t actors but Solara and Doran are just drowning in chemistry and a believable story (another odd thing to say because, you know, it’s in space, but roll with it).

Even the side characters I enjoyed. I loved the personalities of all the Banshee’s crew. I really felt connected to everyone in this book – even Acorn, the damn sugar glider.

PLOT (2)

I loved Landers’ writing. It was light and fun with tons of humor and smart-ass one-liners. It set a perfect tone for the type of novel this was. And as I said before, the book is very fast-paced. However, sometimes I didn’t feel it had a very well-developed word. There were many different aspects to it, but not everything was fully explained. Although, it wasn’t really necessary to continue the plotline.

Landers’ definitely creates a very exciting world for you to dive into – even if there are some flaws in the world.

PLOT (3)

Loved it. This book was way more than I expected. Lately, I’ve been let down by some “pirate” novels that have come out. But this one, a sci-fi oddly enough, finally filled that need for a good story with some pirate badassery and a slow burn romance. The characters are well-developed and all around likable – from Solara and Doran to the Banshee crew. It was a very entertaining read that really had me consumed in the characters and plot.

Some notes:

  • I’ve noticed people comparing this to Firefly, which I can’t speak on because I have never watched Firefly. So if you have seen that show and read this book, I don’t know if it will impact what you think of it or not.
  • Also, it’s actually not inspired by Firefly, it is inspired by the 1987 rom-com Overboard starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell – if you want to check it out 🙂 (sourced from the author)
Rating Report
Plot
Characters
Writing
World Building
Overall: 4.5 / 5

17 Comments

  • Reply Alisha 04/08/2016 at 8:44 am

    I’ve been wanting to pick this book up for a while and now I’m totally sold. It sounds really good and I can’t wait to dive in! Will there be a sequel?

    • Reply Molly 04/08/2016 at 2:35 pm

      There’s no sequel but there is a companion novel about one of the secondary characters coming out next year! This one ends nicely though 🙂

      • Reply Alisha 04/09/2016 at 9:22 pm

        Okay sweet! I will definitely pick this up then 🙂 Thanks!

  • Reply Kristin @Simply Bookish Things 04/08/2016 at 8:57 am

    YAY I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this one! I just ordered this online and I really can’t wait to read it! Lovely review:)

    • Reply Molly 04/08/2016 at 2:11 pm

      Let me know what you think when you read it! & Thank you 🙂

  • Reply Daniela Ark 04/08/2016 at 9:55 am

    I’m glad Starflight is already in my GR TBR. I would definitely like to read! A scifi with good characterization especially a strong female character 🙂 AND THEY ARE MAGIC TOGETHER 🙂

    And TALKING ABOUT GR! oh it was YOU Molly! I knew I had seen the GR report somewhere! I loved that idea! I had used other GR’s screen shots in my Sunday Posts but not this one. I hope you don’t mind I borrowed it for my review of the Demonist. I mentioned I had seen it somewhere but couldn’t remember where. Now I can go back, update that post and give you credit. Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews wants to do it too. I think you just started a trend 🙂

    • Reply Molly 04/08/2016 at 1:44 pm

      I hope you enjoy it when you read it !

      Also, that’s totally fine. I’m sure I’m not the only person to do that! I just use it as a reference for me when I write my reviews, then I thought it might be fun for readers to see my real-time thoughts while reading that aren’t as formal 🙂 So, go for it!

  • Reply Greg Hill 04/08/2016 at 10:57 am

    I’m glad this was good, I’ve been thinking about it and I think you sold me! I like a good sci fi adventure and if the characters are great that’s the icing on the cake. Plus the ship and crew sound fun too- I also have never seen Firefly but I like that whole idea of the ragtag crew trying to survive. And pirates… in space. 🙂

    I’m also curious about the whole Planet X thing and what that’s all about, that sounds interesting. Adding to my TBR.

    • Reply Molly 04/08/2016 at 1:43 pm

      Ah, YAY! I hope you like it! I really enjoyed it (obviously)! And there will be a companion novel about one of the secondary characters coming out next year!

  • Reply Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews 04/09/2016 at 7:57 am

    Really excited to read this one! Even more now after seeing your review!

    • Reply Molly 04/09/2016 at 11:46 am

      Hope you enjoy when you read! 🙂 Let me know!

  • Reply Zoe N. 04/09/2016 at 6:04 pm

    Yeah! I am so glad you liked this as much as I did Molly! 🙂 And I completely agree with everything you’ve said. The slowburn romance was so refreshing and well-written, and the Dorian and Solara were both amazing characters. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3

    • Reply Molly 04/10/2016 at 11:36 am

      Yes, I loved them! And it ended so nicely too 🙂 Also, thank you!

  • Reply Alise (Readers in Wonderland) 04/09/2016 at 6:48 pm

    It sounds like the characters have a great dynamic, which I always enjoy. I never gave this one much attention but obviously I need to change that!

    • Reply Molly 04/10/2016 at 11:36 am

      Please do! I really liked it & yes, the characters are great 🙂 Let me know if you read it!

  • Reply Poulami Ghosh 04/15/2016 at 12:38 pm

    I’m dying to read this book and I’m sooo glad you loved it. Great review!

    – Poulami @ Daydreaming Books

    • Reply Molly 04/18/2016 at 5:48 am

      Hope you enjoy it! It’s a lot of fun 🙂

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