Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik

Released February 1, 2022

Jessie Mihalik’s books are always feel-good romances, and honestly, I need that sometimes. Hunt the Stars is no different, and this is a good thing. I love predictability in some genres, that said, Mihalik still managed to surprise me with story and characterization. The book follows Tavi, a captain of a spaceship. She and her crew have been down on their luck lately, haven’t really gotten any high-paying jobs, can barely keep the ship in working condition, and are starting to feel desperate for any job. However, when that job is taking General Toren Fletcher back to his home planet, Tavi isn’t sure she can get through the journey without spacing him and his companions. The book is primarily a detective story as there was something stolen from Torren that he needs back. Mihalik is great at working in the complexity of being a detective for hire in enemy territory. Tavi is portrayed as the stoic one, who always needs to protect the people she cares about. While, Torren’s characterization changes throughout the book to adjust to the lessening resentment that Tavi holds for him and his whole planet.

The world-building is done well, primarily because we are able to experience the world through Tavi and Torren’s pasts. I am always impressed when an author can world-build without describing every element of society, but that is exactly what Mihalik does here. You get a real sense of the world that Tavi lives in, post-war with Torren’s people, and just trying to eke out a living on the edge of space. These details are sparse but they add to the overall vibrancy of the Starlight’s Shadow series.

Because I am a selfish person, I always want more. In this case, I would have loved more background into the war and the politics surrounding both sides; what each side had to lose in more detail, shown examples instead of told examples of how each side fought, and the impact on the universe after the war. All of these things are mentioned, and they answer the necessary bits that need answering, but again, I am selfish and want more. The impact of the war can be felt through Tavi and her crew’s reactions to Torren and his crew.

This book is romance. I love that Mihalik leaned into a slow burn for Tavi and Torren. This helped with pacing in the book, because the first third was fairly slow as the two crews were getting acquainted, the tension was able to build between the two crews and between Tavi and Torren. I am a sucker for romance, so I greatly enjoyed their budding relationship.

You would enjoy this book if you like romance, strong central women, or just happy-ending space adventures.

This book has elements that remind me a lot of The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, which I loved. Primarily in tone and mentions of the war between Earth and Valoff.

Where to buy:

Amazon