Dark Quasar Ignites

Friends of a Former Space Janitor #2

by Julia Huni

Impossible mission… or set up for failure?

Vanti’s handler sends her to Lewei to investigate a derelict ship. But she insists the agent take along a less-than-crack team to “help.” Saddled with a ravenous comm expert, a criminal inventory specialist, a timid chef, and a demolition expert who wants to blow up everything, Vanti must keep her wits about her simply to survive.

Command insists the mission is sneak into Leweian space, find the ship, discover what happened, and return with everything of value. And don’t let anyone know they’re there. It would be easy if anyone would follow the rules.

Aided by the reliable Arun and the inventive Elodie, plus Apawllo the cat, Vanti figures she can manage the impossible. If the whole thing doesn’t spontaneously ignite.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2024

About the author

Author of the Colonial Exploration Corps, Space Janitor, Recycled World, and Krimson Empire series.

I grew up in the US Pacific Northwest, and after twenty years roaming the country with the US Air Force, I'm back. I have a spouse, three kids, and a dog named Pippin.

I've been an IT guy, a choir director, an executive assistant, a stay-at-home mom, a college instructor, and that lady at the information booth in a tourist town. But writer is the best job ever, because I get to make stuff up. Stuff I wish were true; stuff I'm glad isn't true.

When I'm not writing, I like to knit, read, bake, and ski. I also love to travel.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! A lightly amusing & completely fun sci fi adventure! With a great crew of characters, you never know where these stories will go & that is great! Excellent ideas, so well written you are completely absorbed in the story! I do strongly recommend!

[Katrina Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book continues the adventures of Vanti, Arun, Elodie, and Leo. It has several twists and turns, keeping the reader turning the page. Ms. Huni's character driven stories and thoughtful world building continue to shine in this installment in the Space Janitor Universe. I am very much looking forward to the next story, especially with the teaser in the Notes and Acknowledgements.

[Liliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

One of my favorite characters in the Space Janitor series is Vanti, so I am very happy that she now has her own series. And this book was just as fun as the first one!

Going into this I didn’t even know what the story was going to be about. I literally went into this without reading the synopsis because I knew I was going to like it either way. Lol. And it was a nice surprise too!

This book takes place just before the last Space Janitor book, Sun Spot Remover , and at the beginning of this book, Ty lets Vanti know about his and Triana’s very exciting news! Vanti is still acting as security for Elodie, and they are both still riding with Arun (who is Triana’s cousin) when Vanti gets a new mission to look into an abandoned spaceship in Leweian space. I loved this mystery so much! And what made it even better is that Vanti got sent a team to help out with the mission, except said team was sketchy as hell! So it made the mission a lot harder because she didn’t know whether she could trust her team or not. I was hooked from the start, and things just kept getting sketchier by the second!



But not only that, there was a surprising second part to her mission that I also very much enjoyed! And I won’t say what it is because it’s not in the synopsis, but it was SO good! It was suspenseful and we got to see Vanti in all her Super Secret Spy glory! It was great! And her decision to do this just made me love her even more because it shows how good a person she actually is. I really liked getting these books in her POV because we get to see what she’s thinking and what she’s really like. In the other books, which are in the POV of Triana, Vanti puts up this front, this poker face (because, you know, she’s a spy), so you can never really be sure what she’s thinking. So I have been really enjoying this series and getting to know her a lot better.

So yes, I love Vanti. But I also love all the other characters in this series! Elodie is such a fun and unpredictable character. And Arun... omg-



He’s kind, extremely smart, and very nice to look at 😏 And despite what Vanti may say, she is absolutely smitten!

I drag my gaze away from Arun and try to focus on the files while he talks. The man's voice is so smooth, and he's so pretty to look at, it's hard to concentrate.

And Arun is really into her as well, but that’s where that relationship ends. Vanti doesn’t want to start anything even though the sexual tension between these two is crackling! And I understand why. But I have also noticed that slowly but surely, those walls that Vanti has built around herself are slowly starting to come down, and I do hope she gives him a chance eventually because I just love them together! Their banter is already so fun!

Another character I love that is fairly new to this series is Noelle, Vanti’s caat. She is very sassy and I love her 🥰 And yes, it's caat, not cat. Lol. They’re kinda like a cat, but much smarter! They are native to the planet Hadriana and it is said that they’ve got some special abilities, like telepathy 👀 We actually saw Vanti receive Noelle as a gift in A Sprinkle of Krimson , a crossover novella between the Space Janitor series and the Krimson Empire series. The planet Hadriana and the caats are originally from the Krimson Empire series, but I am so happy to see that series being slowly incorporated into the greater Space Janitor Universe because that was the only Julia Huni series that did not take place in this world. It just makes me really happy.



This was just really fun overall. I love this world and the characters with their fun banter, the story was good, and it had a fair bit of action, which I always appreciate. I’m not sure what’s next for Vanti, but whatever it is, it’s going to be exciting and I can’t wait!

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an Advanced Reader Copy... So I should have had this read before anyone else and a review posted on publication day. But life happened (mostly work stuff ugh!) And I'm now more than 10 days behind my schedule and goal, oops.

So... It's Vanti again, and it's her time to shine! As if she hasn't already done that everywhere she pops up. This time she has a mission, is given an incompetent team to assist her, and EVERYTHING goes sideways at one point or another. It turns out the mission isn't exactly what she was told, the people aren't who they claim to be, and even the spaceships are hiding secrets!

Of course this is Vanti though, so she gets everything all sorted out in the end one way or another, but it's a wild ride to get there. Gotta give this one 5 stars, life left me in a spot where I thought I needed a story with more "fluff" and less action and adventure, and I was in the middle of bingeing a series more like that. I SHOULD have just put it aside and used this one to pull me out of that rut, but I was stupid and put it off for over a week. Bad move, always get Julia's books as soon as you can and drop everything else to get them to the top of your schedule. Otherwise you will still enjoy it, but will also regret that you hadn't read it sooner too.

[Gwenda L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up and prepare for another adventure with Vanti and her “employer”/friend Elodie. Is Elodie, the vid celebrity, as much of an airhead as she pretends to be? How does her cat Apawllo seem to be wherever the action seems to be? And what about Vanti's new Hadriana Caat, Noelle? Is she the cute little kitten she appears to be? As they use Arun's ship the Ostelah Veesta to attempt a mission to forbidden Leweian space to investigate an abandoned ship, they deal with an assigned team of new agents. Can the new team be trusted? Are they who they claim to be? Is the mission as straightforward as they were told? Can they complete their mission without being captured? Is that some heat building up between Vanti and Arun? And, when did Arun get all of his skills and state of the art equipment?
Continuing the offshoot from the Space Janitor universe, this book weaves you through twists and turns and brings back some old friends and new adversaries. We get a deeper look into Vanti's thought processes and get some surprises along the way.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Tales of a Space Janitor series, Vanti was probably my favourite character, after Triana. The authors world (galaxy?) building is good and interesting and has ties to other series she writes. This Dark Quasar book was a fun read and I read it in one day. The characters in it are now familiar but can still surprise.

The mission she is sent on has a lot of twists and keeps you guessing. One character that gets more book time (as well she should!), was Noelle, a Hadriana Caat. Yes, a Caat. She made me laugh and nod my head at her personality.

I look forward to the third book in the series, especially to see what Vanti, Noelle and the rest of the series characters will be up to. I gave the book 5 stars for the story and the enjoyment of reading it.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hahaha. The book was really great.
Vanti is one of my favourite characters in any books that I read at the moment, and now she has her own brilliant sidekick, Noelle, who really comes into her own in this book. I loved how this talented author handled Noelle, and if you like cats, this is a must-read! I'm not even a cat person, but simply love great sarcasm.
The story is, as usual, good, and the writing and characters are very well done.
This is the continuation of a previous world, but could be read alone. And no nasty cliffhangers between these books.
If, however, you are a previous reader of this or the related series, or indeed any of this author's books, then this new one is a must-read!

[Susan Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a spin-off from the Space Janitor series but there is no need to read those books prior. This story involves a friend of former, space janitor Triana and this young girl’s experiences, as a part-time intelligent agent. She is given an assignment to explore a drifting, apparently abandoned vessel in hostile space, a crew of so-called experts, that she has no prior experience with and on a dangerous mission, that means trouble. She is forced to rely on less experienced friends, when espionage occurs and the discoveries in the drifting ship, lead to more adventures and danger. The plot is full of humour, interesting characters and intrigue.

[Rob Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading this book. The characters and a few plot elements are spin-offs of other series Ms. Huni has written, but it serves as a standalone just fine. The strong female protagonist has a few flaws, certainly, but you quickly bond with her as the adventure develops. The plot moves along with several story arcs, but each deviation is well-founded and justified. There's enough humor in it to keep things moving along nicely, and any sweetness is entirely palatable and not saccharine. Good plot that moves along nicely, interesting and nicely developed characters, and a heart of a story that keeps you involved. Definitely worth the read!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is even better than the first! Really enjoyed it, and finished in 2 evenings. The character development of the crew continues, with the introduction of some new characters, not all of whom are who they seem. So, there's more than a few twists and turns in the plot. While the story is complete the end makes it clear there's more to come and I'm really looking forward to it, since it involves one of my favourite characters from the first book. I must also mention Vanti has a caat companion, who while alien is very cat like, as anyone who lives with a cat will verify :)

[Julie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always left wanting more. 5⭐️

What should a special operative do when things seem a little too quiet and boring? Go in search of the action? In this case the action comes to Vanti and Elodie with a request from the higher ups to lead a reconnaissance team.
Of course nothing is as it seems. Is anyone who they say they are?
Even the young caat is more than first appears.
Well paced action with familiar characters and the meaningful introduction of some new ones. Some of which I feel we may see again.
Will reread.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, boy! Another absolutely wonderful book with Vanti and the gang, including two caats. A new assignment is easy ... but of course, things get complicated. Jigs and jags and various plot lines packing the whole book, unexpected things popping up all the time, dry wit into the bargain, and you've got a book which you can't put down. (Well, I did have to stop - once - to sleep.) Not a stand-alone, so feel free to devour the previous books first if you haven't already! - I received an advance copy and freely leave this honest review.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Vanti-tastic new adventure! :)

For this new mission, some new faces join our crew of old friends. But it wouldn’t be a proper Vanti mission if things didn’t go sideways and veer off into what-the-hey? territory rather quickly. I don’t envy Vanti trying to herd that particular cluster of cats (and caats), but it is so much fun to watch (err, read)!

As always, bonus points for the copious nods to pop culture a.k.a “Ancient TēVē”. :)

[Soundie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanti is at her finest in this 2nd book in the series.
Vanti has a very cool and efficient exterior but is (slightly) insecure inside.
A great spinoff from the excellent “Triana Moore, Space Janitor” series - I truly recommend those books.
There are plenty of twists and surprises in Dark Quasar Ignites, including her alien pet Caat (who is really in charge? Just like our Cats)
I’m really looking forward to the next in the series.

[Dr susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sci fi adventure

The worldbuilding is believable, the characters are loveable, and the story is a twisty thriller. There is an unexpected body count, but Vanti is not responsible. Noelle is fantastic and funny. The romance may have progressed a smidge. The kids are awesome and an engaging part of the supporting characters. And a beloved (by me) character makes a surprising cliffhanger return!! Now I have to wait for the next book.

[Karl Hakimian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting a view of Vanti from inside her head certainly gives a different perspective on her. I'd always imagined her way more confident and in control. It makes her a more interesting character.

The plot was fun without much in the way of surprises, at least not if you've been reading these stories for a while. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

[Dianne Stephany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanti and her team go on what was sold as a simple in-and-out that morphs into a crazy rescue mission with Mission Impossible flair ! Dark Quasar Ignites is a fun romp in space with lots of action, romantic tension, caats, mysterious boxes, and mysterious people. Is anyone or anything as it appears? Well, Leo is back! The unexpected plot twists will keep you guessing.

[Aviraj Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing book, while i loved the book and especially Noelle and Vanti, I did not like it as much as Dark Quaser Rises, the book felt like the Author was trying to Jam in Space Janitor humour, Vanti's action and Romance of Lia Huni. Overall there was no new additions or revelations except the mysterious Shade of Lewei

[Kris Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanti is called on to lead a team to the Leiwei system. One: she prefers to work alone. Two: her team doesn't want to go anywhere near Leiwei. Who does? Three: There are caats.

What can possibly go wrong?

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the series

Vanti and her recently recruited team are assigned to investigate a ship that has been abandoned in an unfriendly area. The ship and some of her team are not what they seem to be. A great story.

[William N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Although not very much like its companion series, space janitor, this series does a good job of standing on its own. A little surprised attacking how centered on boy friends the action is, but that tracks well with the space janitors preoccupations. Good read. Thanks!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Read

These books are simply good, fun reads. Nothing high-brow about them. The story-line is solid; the character fairly multi-dimensional.
Read the series. Read the original Space Janitor series. You’ll not be sorry.

[Barbara Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable series

I originally enjoyed the space janitor series & was delighted to find additional stories by this author. This (start of a) series is just as enjoyable. I look forward to more books in the series.

[Marc Sangalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story with one of my favorite characters. It's always exciting to learn more about Vanti. It was entertaining watching her, as a person that prefers order, deal with relentless chaos.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really awesome book

I really like these books and the Space Janitor and Former Space Janitor books. I'm going to read all of Julia Huni's books that I can find!

[Bill Lents · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable trip of unexpected friends....

The adventure continues as Lindsey makes her way through space. New characters keep the story fresh and the reader hooked. Enjoyed.

[B.]

Another great adventure, Vanti is challenged, vexed, puts her foot down, and keeps entertaining us! Highly recommended!