science fiction – Page 2 – Baltimore Bibliophile

Title: Eclipse the Skies (Ignite the Stars #2)

Author: Maura Milan

Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

400 pages

4/5

Goodreads Synopsis

Ia Cōcha never thought she’d be working for the Olympus Commonwealth. But that was before she found out her trusted brother Einn was trying to tear apart the universe. Now, Ia, the Blood Wolf of the Skies, has agreed to help the Royal Star Force on one condition: when she finds him, she gets to kill Einn herself.

Brinn Tarver has just come to terms with her Tawny identity when the public lashes out against her people, crushing her family. At her breaking point, she starts to question everything she believes in—including Ia.

After the death of his mentor, Knives Adams is doing his best to live up to a role he didn’t ask for as Aphelion’s new headmaster. Still, with each new step deeper into war, he feels torn between his duties and the pull of Ia’s radical—sometimes criminal—ideas.

As they fight to keep darkness from eclipsing the skies, their unpredictable choices launch this breathtaking sequel to explosive new heights.

Review

Hi Friends 🙂 I started reading Eclipse the Skies immediately upon finishing Ignite the Stars. I just had to know how it ends! I love just being able to binge a whole series instead of having to wait for the next book to be released. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

So we’re back with my babies Ia and Knives, who both find themselves in situations they never expected to be in. Ia is on the Commonwealth’s side (mostly) because her beloved brother is trying to kill her? Plot twist I did NOT see coming! Knives is now headmaster of the Academy and is very not ready for this type of responsibility. Partly because he’s hardcore crushing on Ia who is a known criminal and normally Commonwealth enemy numero uno.

I won’t go too much into the plot of this story so I’m not too spoiler-y but I did enjoy reading this follow up. There was plenty of action and more slowburn romance from our friends Ia and Knives, though if I’m being honest it was too slow of a burn for me. There were definitely aspects of this book that didn’t fully do it for me, so I had to drop the rating. Even though Ignite the Stars was a 5 star read, I had to give Eclipse the Skies a 4/5.

First off, a lot abut the plot feels unfinished. It felt like a lot of ends were not wrapped up and I still had many questions at the end of the book. The romance was lacking, I definitely prefer more romance between the main characters. Lastly, I was not happy with the ending. It felt very stiff and wasn’t a “happy” ending – which I definitely prefer. But, it seems like she left it open so she could return to this world at a later date. For this, I will postpone final judgment.

Happy reading, bookish friends 🙂

Title: Ignite the Stars (Ignite the Stars #1)

Author: Maura Milan

Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company

Publication Date: September 14, 2018

400 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realizes that notorious outlaw Ia Cōcha is a seventeen-year-old girl.

A criminal mastermind and unrivaled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorizing the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. When the Commonwealth captures her and her true identity is exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity: by forcing her to serve them, they will prove that no one is beyond their control.

Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?

Review

If she was going down, she was going to do it one way and one way alone.
Gloriously.
Maura milan, Ignite the stars

Happy Monday book friends! I picked up Ignite the Stars from the library this past weekend as I was granted an eARC of the sequel, Eclipse the Skies, from Netgalley. Hard to read and review the second book without reading the first, right?? I’ve seen this duology around the bookstagram world but hadn’t picked it up yet. If you’ve been reading my blog posts, you’ll know that space themed sci-fi isn’t always up my alley. BUT. Ignite the Stars has my heart and I will do anything for Ia and Knives, okay? Don’t hurt my precious babes.

Ignite the Stars introduces Ia (eye-yah) Cocha, a renegade fighting against the Commonwealth because they destroyed her home planet. She is known by many names, but everyone believes her to be a man. When she is captured assisting refugees, her true identity is discovered and she is given a choice. Go to prison forever, or serve at Aphelion – the Commonwealth’s top training academy. She chooses to train at Aphelion, so she can learn all of their secrets. What she doesn’t count on, is meeting Brinn and Knives, two people who will make her question her allegiances.

Knives is my new book boyfriend. Love the name, and love the banter between him and Ia. He is a the general’s son who has no love for the Commonwealth himself. He is hurting, which is probably why I like him so much and why he and Ia work so well together. Definitely a slow burn romance here for all you fans of that.

Ignite the Stars has all the epic elements of a sci-fi novel; space travel, interplanetary war, otherworldly aspects, etc. but also has a not so slight racial undertone. It brings up a conversation around race and refugees that is very pertinent in today’s society. It is still a YA book, but I enjoy the more serious undertones and themes.

For fans of Once & Future and Illuminae, Ignite the Stars is a captivating beginning to this duology.

Happy reading, bookish friends 🙂