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My review
5 plus
Ha-Yee! readers.
K.A. Kenny releases his debut fantasy/sci-fi thriller. An amazing plot-focused, action-packed science fiction that will satisfy the Battlestar Galactica ( awesome Starbuck), Star Wars (worlds and aliens) Mass Effect (shepherd and all aliens, exploration) Star Trek (Janeway, exploration, missing her husband), Halo (awesome war against aliens, prophecy) and Expanse (Camina yes! Alien language, found a family) fan readers.
Humans have destroyed everything, their genome as well, but as these aliens learn how to breed birds to release them on new terraform planets they eventually do the same with humans. But like all creators, they feel they own them, even the discarded ones. Supremacy of race, nature taking its course, and predictability of humans and life leads to a future of supersoldiers, or also under and slaves that borrow a lot from the worst of our race from the past. As well as war, but also a feeling of wanting to rebel and save the minorities against their owners.
Gayle (Zim) Zimmon is an amazing female lead who doesn't act like a male to be a badass. She still wants to marry, love, and have children the traditional way. She wants to wear a fancy dress or amazing lingerie, and have fun on an exotic honeymoon kind of vacation before she has to accept the prophecy is real and she is a galaxy-chosen one also known among others and enemies as the hero commander who eats the brains of her enemies if that's what it takes.
The first chapters (being a lot of information and action during a war against the Aldrakin) are not easy to get into, but then I couldn't put it down. Once she ends the war and the ceremony reveals the Prophecy, the book focuses on Zim's perspective.
What I love about this first volume is that the author was clever in reversing the climax and rhythm of a sci-fi military novel. Instead of starting with a nobody who grows into a chosen hero and ends with war, the author gives all in a different order; Starflower is a world hero who stops the War, who children want to become one day, although she is an under, a non-perfect human. The book's rhythm makes it all surprising and more interesting to read. It's still a bit predictable in some parts, but it's only to create tension (so we fear for the characters because we know of dangers more than the characters who are walking into it). It is very rich in sceneries, scenes, and action, from fighting sea monsters firing their honeymoon to being characters in romance fan fiction (Zim and Mac) to hiring the worst to be her new crew.
It reads well. I finished in two days not wanting to take a break. No doubt will read the trilogy.
Ha-Yee (traditional common greeting like Aloha)
So happy the author reached out to me with a copy. I would not have found this gem otherwise.
Author
What the world says of it:
Praise:
“The Starflower is truly a magnificent first effort for K A Kenny. It's loaded with action, tension, and more bizarre aliens than Star Wars. The Starflower is rollicking good fun, and sure to someday be recognized as one of the classics of this genre.”
– Donald Rogers (Amazon reviewer)
“A sci-fi story you’ll stay up late reading! Filled with imaginative characters, creatures, aliens and robots – their distinctive personalities will win you over, or you’ll cheer at their demise. Kudos to the author for spinning a thrilling tale.”
– SamanthaReads (Amazon reviewer)
“The Starflower takes you on an adventure of new, unexpected worlds, but with themes that resonate with our current and past history. A compelling plot with excellent combative and diplomatic conflict, the reader is left wondering what will happen next. Looking forward to more.”
– Dave B (Amazon reviewer)
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