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Starhawke Rising #6
The Exile of Justice
The truth will seal her fate. To uphold the ideals she swore an oath to defend, Aurora Hawke would sacrifice her freedom. To protect her family, she would sacrifice her life. Ensnared by her adversary and isolated from her crew, she's thrust into an alien world where time has no meaning. And strength has no power.
The rules of engagement have changed.
With the Fleet under fire from without and the Galactic Council crumbling from within, only one thing is certain.
This is a fight she can't win.
If you like Star Trek style pulse-pounding interstellar adventures, intriguing alien encounters, and otherworldly starships, you'll love the Starhawke Rising series. Perfect for fans of Michelle Diener, Lindsay Buroker, and R.K. Thorne.
STARHAWKE RISING The Dark of Light The Chains of Freedom The Honor of Deceit The Legacy of Tomorrow The Siege of Alliance The Exile of Justice
STARHAWKE ROGUE Arch Allies Marked Mercenaries Resurgent Renegades
STARHAWKE ROMANCE Guardian Mate
The rules of engagement have changed.
With the Fleet under fire from without and the Galactic Council crumbling from within, only one thing is certain.
This is a fight she can't win.
If you like Star Trek style pulse-pounding interstellar adventures, intriguing alien encounters, and otherworldly starships, you'll love the Starhawke Rising series. Perfect for fans of Michelle Diener, Lindsay Buroker, and R.K. Thorne.
STARHAWKE RISING The Dark of Light The Chains of Freedom The Honor of Deceit The Legacy of Tomorrow The Siege of Alliance The Exile of Justice
STARHAWKE ROGUE Arch Allies Marked Mercenaries Resurgent Renegades
STARHAWKE ROMANCE Guardian Mate
- GenresScience Fiction
808 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2023
About the author
Audrey Sharpe
25 books52 followersAudrey Sharpe grew up believing in the Force and dreaming of becoming captain of the Enterprise. She’s still working out the logistics of moving objects with her mind, but writing science fiction provides a pretty good alternative. When she’s not off exploring the galaxy with Aurora and her crew, she lives in the Sonoran Desert, where she has an excellent view of the stars. Connect with Audrey on Facebook and visit her website to download a free copy of the Starhawke Rising prequel, COMMANDER
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 25, 2023
I waited fifteen months for this sequel to the Starhawke series of books only to be disappointed with the direction that the author is taking the story. Our protagonist, Aurora, is out matched and beaten at evert critical juncture of the story. Despite the author's excellent writing style and character development, as I finished the story I had a very negative feeling about the book and where the series is going.
May 14, 2023
I have a hard time describing how disappointed I was with this book. For a story that’s dragged on for two, if not three, more books than it needed to we really needed a part of the story where the plot moved substantively forward. Sadly, this was not the book. could have been entirely deleted from the storyline and they would have made no difference. At the end of this book, the crew is now in worse shape than they were before, in large part due to Aurora blindly making poor decisions and not doing any strategizing of her own. For example,
Other systemic issues with this series:
There isn’t a single major female character in this series who isn’t involved with – or about to be involved with – a man. I had hope for , but the author has made it clear that no woman is allowed to be single!
I really liked Jonarel in the first book, as his character showed some potential to grow into someone really interesting. Unfortunately, the author has seen fit to reduce him to only thinking/focusing on his mates. Literally not a single scene without him touching or pining over Leilindia, after ignoring her for several books? Really? Even Siginal is able to exist away from his wife; surely Jonarel can too.
The fawning of each major character over Aurora, as if she’s this amazing leader/person, gets nauseating after a while. “Aurora is to leadership as Mozart was to music” I literally laughed out loud when I read this line from Knox. How is she a great leader? Her decision-making is terrible, and her emotions are constantly out of control. Are those normal reactions for someone in her situation? Sure they are. If only the author would write her as a real person, and have others treat her that way instead of worshipping her! It’s sloppy writing to just tell us that someone is a good leader…the author needs to show us, and thus far, she hasn’t.
Inconsistency in how the author refers to the characters was confusing and frustrating in this book as it was in previous books. Reading about Leilindia and then suddenly seeing “Lee-Lee” was jarring and annoying. And as I recall (having just finished the book last night) no one actually called her “Lee-Lee” besides the author. Way to infantilize one of the main protagonists! Similarly, she continued to refer to characters mostly by their first names, and then randomly would call them by their last names (the worst of these being Kire, who would randomly be referred to as Emoto, and I’d have to stop and think/remember which of the 10,000 characters in the book had that last name). Perhaps this is a nit, but it added to all the other things I found frustrating about this book, and this series.
And my last issue with this series, and perhaps the biggest one: everything to do with "The Sovereign." The author has failed to demonstrate why Reanne wants to ruin Aurora’s life, which completely detracts from the reader buying into her motivations. Would she really go to so much effort just because she’s jealous of Aurora, or because she thinks she’s an “abomination?” Nothing about Reanne’s motivations and end goal make any sense. Also, why does everyone suddenly refer to her as “The Sovereign” instead of just calling her Reanne? Do they really think she’s Sovereign? It makes no sense, and as a reader it came off as a failed attempt to make Reanne seem more menacing than she really is.
Those are my thoughts. I hope they help someone out there who’s reading/thinking about reading this series. I won’t read the next one unless it’s the series finale (because this series really, really needs to end). Otherwise…hard pass.
Other systemic issues with this series:
There isn’t a single major female character in this series who isn’t involved with – or about to be involved with – a man. I had hope for , but the author has made it clear that no woman is allowed to be single!
I really liked Jonarel in the first book, as his character showed some potential to grow into someone really interesting. Unfortunately, the author has seen fit to reduce him to only thinking/focusing on his mates. Literally not a single scene without him touching or pining over Leilindia, after ignoring her for several books? Really? Even Siginal is able to exist away from his wife; surely Jonarel can too.
The fawning of each major character over Aurora, as if she’s this amazing leader/person, gets nauseating after a while. “Aurora is to leadership as Mozart was to music” I literally laughed out loud when I read this line from Knox. How is she a great leader? Her decision-making is terrible, and her emotions are constantly out of control. Are those normal reactions for someone in her situation? Sure they are. If only the author would write her as a real person, and have others treat her that way instead of worshipping her! It’s sloppy writing to just tell us that someone is a good leader…the author needs to show us, and thus far, she hasn’t.
Inconsistency in how the author refers to the characters was confusing and frustrating in this book as it was in previous books. Reading about Leilindia and then suddenly seeing “Lee-Lee” was jarring and annoying. And as I recall (having just finished the book last night) no one actually called her “Lee-Lee” besides the author. Way to infantilize one of the main protagonists! Similarly, she continued to refer to characters mostly by their first names, and then randomly would call them by their last names (the worst of these being Kire, who would randomly be referred to as Emoto, and I’d have to stop and think/remember which of the 10,000 characters in the book had that last name). Perhaps this is a nit, but it added to all the other things I found frustrating about this book, and this series.
And my last issue with this series, and perhaps the biggest one: everything to do with "The Sovereign." The author has failed to demonstrate why Reanne wants to ruin Aurora’s life, which completely detracts from the reader buying into her motivations. Would she really go to so much effort just because she’s jealous of Aurora, or because she thinks she’s an “abomination?” Nothing about Reanne’s motivations and end goal make any sense. Also, why does everyone suddenly refer to her as “The Sovereign” instead of just calling her Reanne? Do they really think she’s Sovereign? It makes no sense, and as a reader it came off as a failed attempt to make Reanne seem more menacing than she really is.
Those are my thoughts. I hope they help someone out there who’s reading/thinking about reading this series. I won’t read the next one unless it’s the series finale (because this series really, really needs to end). Otherwise…hard pass.
May 22, 2023
Argh, for some reason I thought this series was finished... and now I keep thinking about the story and wanting to read the next one, but I have to wait for it to be written!
I've been enjoying this series, but this installment was focused more on court intrigue on earth and I found I was waiting to get through it and back to people's lives on the Starhawke and to the various warm, welcoming planet homes and alien species. I would describe this as cozy sci fi, and I've loved the overall positive vibe of these books - but that took a hit in this one for a good while. I have some difficulties reading about emotional manipulation, so this was a little tough to get through at times. I do get that it was a setup for what comes next, but I'm looking forward to seeing how things get turned around - and to spending more time in positive settings like in the previous books.
I've been enjoying this series, but this installment was focused more on court intrigue on earth and I found I was waiting to get through it and back to people's lives on the Starhawke and to the various warm, welcoming planet homes and alien species. I would describe this as cozy sci fi, and I've loved the overall positive vibe of these books - but that took a hit in this one for a good while. I have some difficulties reading about emotional manipulation, so this was a little tough to get through at times. I do get that it was a setup for what comes next, but I'm looking forward to seeing how things get turned around - and to spending more time in positive settings like in the previous books.
April 21, 2023
Starhawke Rising-Justice
This series has become one of my favorite sf stories I’ve read in my 60 years of reading sf. Ms. Sharpe may have wanted to captain the Enterprise, but she’s much better at writing a compelling story. Ms. Sharpe, your character development is extraordinary, especially as your captain’s log describes those who were nominal at the beginning. I eagerly look forward to Book 7!
This series has become one of my favorite sf stories I’ve read in my 60 years of reading sf. Ms. Sharpe may have wanted to captain the Enterprise, but she’s much better at writing a compelling story. Ms. Sharpe, your character development is extraordinary, especially as your captain’s log describes those who were nominal at the beginning. I eagerly look forward to Book 7!
June 12, 2023
The Starhawke romantic sci-fi series
This is an awesome series if you like sci-fi with some romance added.I have read all six books and can not wait for the seventh book to come out. The characters are very believable. The supporting characters are as well rounded as the main character. I strongly recommend this series.
This is an awesome series if you like sci-fi with some romance added.I have read all six books and can not wait for the seventh book to come out. The characters are very believable. The supporting characters are as well rounded as the main character. I strongly recommend this series.
April 21, 2023
fresh breath
I really enjoyed reading all six of these books waiting for number seven. I am recommending these books to my husband and anybody that likes science fiction intrigue go for it.
I really enjoyed reading all six of these books waiting for number seven. I am recommending these books to my husband and anybody that likes science fiction intrigue go for it.
April 30, 2023
Excellent space opera
Very engaging plot, interesting aliens, good interpersonal development. Strong lead characters and a truly villainous villain. Cannot wait to read how that witch gets her comeuppance.
Very engaging plot, interesting aliens, good interpersonal development. Strong lead characters and a truly villainous villain. Cannot wait to read how that witch gets her comeuppance.
July 7, 2024
An extremely addictive and enjoyable series!!!!!
Congratulations to Audrey Sharpe for this amazing story. It’s hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides a top rated plot, characters and excitement in the stories.
Congratulations to Audrey Sharpe for this amazing story. It’s hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides a top rated plot, characters and excitement in the stories.
April 15, 2023
Great to see Aurora and friends again. Lots of action as things heat up to a cliff hanging conclusion. Looks like everyone will be back together in the next book. Hope that comes soon.
April 18, 2023
Good read
Great book series with constant character development. The series kept me wanting to follow the story. I hope to see more soon.
Great book series with constant character development. The series kept me wanting to follow the story. I hope to see more soon.
December 10, 2023
wow
This book was so exciting. It was sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat anxious waiting to see what would happen next. Loved all the characters and what they brought to the story.
This book was so exciting. It was sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat anxious waiting to see what would happen next. Loved all the characters and what they brought to the story.
March 30, 2026
Lots of family matters as Aurora is charged with treason, the situation changes.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews