Starwalkers

Starwalkers #1-6

by Lizzy Ford

(Contains all six serials in the series.)

Two sisters with special gifts and an unbreakable bond ...

Cyena and Tyana were born to powerful parents who are among the ruling class on their planet. Their lives are pampered but isolated, constricted to the city walls in which they were born.

Fun loving with a rare but powerful mind power, Tyana is accustomed to being treated like a princess and using her influence to get anything she wants – including protecting her sister from the elders and students who look down on her. The opposite of Tyana in most ways, Cyena’s second-class mind skills make others view her as a blemish on the family bloodline. No one but her sister believes in her.

They don’t know that a war is brewing, until it erupts. A class war tears their perfect world apart, leaving them helpless, alone and worse –severed from one another.

Each girl will risk her life to find the other, and each will be challenged to hone her powers in order to survive environments unlike any they’ve ever experienced.

Genres: Dystopia, New Adult

369 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2016

About the author

I breathe stories. I dream them. If it were possible, I'd eat them, too. (I'm pretty sure they'd taste like cotton candy.) I can't escape them - they're everywhere! Which is why I write! I was born to bring the crazy worlds and people in my mind to life, and I love sharing them with as many people as I can.

I'm also the bestselling, award winning, internationally acclaimed author of over sixty titles and counting. I write speculative fiction in multiple subgenres of romance and fantasy, contemporary fiction, books for both teens and adults, and just about anything else I feel like writing. If I can imagine it, I can write it!

I live in the desert of southern Arizona with a pack of spoiled dogs and Tubbs, the Godfather cat who rules them all.


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010
Email: LizzyFord2010@gmail.com
Radish: LizzyFord
Wattpad: LizzyFord

Lizzy’s books include:

Lost Vegas – young adult post-apocalyptic
Aveline
Tiana
Arthur
Black Wolf

Spell Realm Series (coming summer 2017) – young adult fantasy
Water Spell (2017)
Dragon Spell (2018)
Moon Spell (2018)
Sword Spell (2019)

History Interrupted – time travel romance
West
East
North (2017)
South (2018)

Omega Beginnings Series
Alessandra
Mismatch
Phoibe
Lantos
Theodocia
Niko
Cleon
Herakles

Omega Series
Omega
Theta
Alpha (2017)

Theta Beginnings Miniseries (novelettes)
Silent Queen
Mercenary
Shadow Titan
People’s Champion

Non-Series – 2014 - 2017
Black Moon Draw (about a reader sucked into her book)
White Tree Sound (2017)
Highlander Enchanted
The Door
The Fall of Esme (2017)
Sons of War – contemporary military romance
Semper Mine
Soldier Mine
SEAL Mine (2017)

Super Villainess
It’s Not Easy Being Evil
It’s Not Easy Being Good

Starwalkers Serials (with Julia Crane) – new adult science fiction serial
Severed
Trapped
Exiled
Revealed
Escaped
Ascended
Starwalkers – complete (#1-6)

Heart of Fire – sexy dragon shifter
Charred Heart
Charred Tears
Charred Hope

Incubatti – Buffy meets 50 Shades
Zoey Rogue
Zoey Avenger

Rhyn Trilogy – new adult paranormal with demons
Katie’s Hellion
Katie’s Hope
Rhyn’s Redemption

Rhyn Eternal – Death finds love
Gabriel’s Hope
Deidre’s Death
Darkyn’s Mate
The Underworld
Twisted Fate
Twisted Karma (2017)

War of Gods – paranormal with gods, guardians and exceptional humans
Damian’s Oracle
Damian’s Assassin
Damian’s Immortal
The Grey God

Damian Eternal
Xander’s Chance
The Black God

Hidden Evil – paranormal with angels and four horsemen
Hear No
See No (TBD)
Speak No (TBD)

Unnamed Series
Unnatural (TBD)
Unmade (TBD)

Omega
Omega
Theta
Alpha (2017)

Anshan Saga – new adult science fiction romance
Kiera’s Moon
Kiera’s Sun

Santa’s Ninja Elves (short stories)
Natasha & Hunter

Non-series titles – 2011 - 2013
Star Kissed
A Demon’s Desire
The Warlord’s Secret
Maddy’s Oasis
Rebel Heart

Witchlings – young adult paranormal
Dark Summer
Autumn Storm
Winter Fire
Spring Rain

Broken Beauty Novellas – new adult dramatic fiction
Broken Beauty
Broken World

Voodoo Nights - young adult paranormal
Cursed

As SE Reign, erotica writer
101 Nights Box Set (Serials 1-7)

Reviews

[Aneela ♒the_mystique_reader♒ · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Overall Rating : 3.5

"An expelled elite will restore a new order, but only with the aid of two and two, and the planet will know joy and prosperity beyond anything anyone has ever seen."

Serial 1 Severed: 3
Serial 2 Trapped: 3
Serial 3 Exiled: 4 (Because I loved Tyana's visit to Atlantis)
Serial 4Revealed: 3
Serial 5 Escaped: 3
Serial 6 Ascended: 3


The story is set in another world that has two moons, green sky, white trees and where everything is made of crystal. People on the planet are gifted with some special psychic powers like:

Mindwalkers are capable of reading thoughts
Starwalkers can open a portal and travel to other stars, planets and anywhere they want. They are the most honorable people and are off-limits to anything.
Relayers can send and receive telepathic messages.
Wallwalkers can walk through walls or anything solid.
Warwalkers are warriors.
Spiritwalkers can talk to spirits.

People with weak or no psychic powers are treated with humiliation as serving class.

This novel is about the affectionate bond between two sisters, Cyena amd Tyana who were separated due to rebellion on their planet. One sister is a Starwalker and is treated like a princess while the other one is humiliated because she has less psychic powers. Nonetheless, they adore each other and fight hard to get back to each other and to bring peace to their planet.

The world building and character building is good. Concept is interesting. Although there are turns and twists but the story becomes boring and predictable at some points.

At some places the story is stretched unnecassarily. The thoughts of characters are extended to two to four paragraphs between two dialogues that made me forgot what was actually going on and I lost interest. I also wish there was a back story of the prophecy and the other side of their planet. Although interesting to read, the story seems incomplete or a bit weak due to lack of back stories.


ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex ☣ Deranged KittyCat ☣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF - 61%

I need to stop after reading the third installment as the current average rating is 2.5 stars. I am now sure that if I read further, I'll only get more annoyed and drop the rating. I thought this would be something more as it is shelved on GR as new adult. But it's just angsty YA. Meh!

1. Severed - ★★★☆☆

2.5 stars

"Where are we?" one of the others asked.
The elder's face lit up. "Earth."
"Earth?" Everyone said at the same time. Disbelief in their voices.
Earth was a mythical planet. Sometimes they all whispered about, but no one really believed it were true. It was dismissed by the elders at the Academy as nothing more than a legend.

This is not really YA. It's too smutty to be. One sister (Cyena) is a virgin, yes, but the other one (Tyana) doesn't shy away from sexual relationships. Also, one is looked down upon, while the other is the next star of the planet (ugly clichée if you ask me). But, fortunately, they love each other. And as stories with siblings go, they get separated, and have to find their way back to one another.

The story is too short for me to really make an opinion of it. What I know so far is that the elite bloodlines are tyrants, and need to get punished. We'll see how this works out.

2. Trapped - ★★★☆☆

"An expelled elite will restore a new order, but only with the aid of two and two, and the planet will know joy and prosperity beyond anything anyone has ever seen."

This one was more YA-ish than the first one. No sex or smutty stuff in Trapped.

We get to follow Cyena after the events in Severed. It's amazing how she still defends those who treat her like absolute s*it. And not even a backhand or two make her see reason.

I was sure at this point that this was a one or two stars rating. Then, she started growing a backbone. Then the pairing (aka marriage) took place. I was sure I would pop a vein, but it was way cooler than that. The series actually got me excited. All I hate is the typical YA anguish part. Grrr! I will need to file a complaint with Ilona Andrews. The Andrews opened my eyes to mature, kick-arse heroines.

By the way, Kaydon and Ryker are really starting to grow on me.

3. Exiled - ★★☆☆☆

This installment follows Tyana after the events in Severed, and what happens to her on the primitive planet Earth.

Now, I've read YA before, good and bad. And even in the bad YA, the teenagers had some sense of self-preservation. Don't get me wrong. Teens in bad YA are plain stupid, yet they question the adults. In Exiled, Tyana is just too bloody trusting of Lidia, the elder on Earth, even after realizing all she knows is a combination of lies. She's just like her sister in that regard. Cyana had to get beaten to open her eyes, and I'm afraid Tyana might get a few, too. And I'm not interested in that.

*Copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Lizzy Ford writes about young women with power that ultimately save the world but don't realize their importance. These young women almost always start out in life being treated less than they should, which explains their humbleness. They get thrust into war and have to fight their way to the top. The struggle is what makes her books so good. Add in the creative mind of this author and you are pulled into a whole new world. I've yet to find a book by this author I don't like. If you are a fan of YA Fantasy, this is one to read. ARC provided by NetGalley.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Thank you Netgalley and Captured Press, Valknut Press.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

Cyena and Tyana are twin sisters from the ruling class on their planet. They have mind powers like the rest of the elite. Separated when those outside the walls rebel, they part to meet the men destined for them through prophecy. Two brothers who will help them bring peace from the ashes of the war.

I don't think anyone will be harmed in the reading of this fluff of a sci-fi romance. It was easy to read and fun in its way. I didn't hate it even though the book is confused about whether it is a New Adult genre or a Young Adult. Personally I think anyone who wants sex to be a permanent fixture in young adult books needs to read this book, just to get a taste of why it only works when it is an integral part of plot. **Warning to anyone who doesn't want to read gratuitous sex - there is a sex scene immediately and it verges on a one night stand sort of interaction. And it picks up later in the book again having suddenly morphed into a relationship thing. So its not riddled with sex but it comes up often enough to be off-putting to a certain type of reader.

Sex aside, the plot of the book is terribly simple and while you get caught up in the immediate problems much is smoothed over as each section jumps events a month at a time. I didn't hate it. Upon reflection though for this review much of the plot did not make sense nor was it tied up in a satisfactory way. All of the presented villains didn't seem like villains to me so much as scapegoats. The world building was simple but the author clearly has some skill in laying out a story well enough for us to give the story the benefit of the doubt and keep reading. There is a time spent on earth and I thought it a really cute idea despite being to most boring part of the story. The twin premise was neat and as a fan of dystopian I thought the crystal world and the mind powers were a nice twist on old favorites. The abilities were nothing new but they were described well and worked well with what plot there was.

So nothing terribly offensive with some decent writing skills put to use... (If you need something to unwind and like both NA and YA fiction then I highly suggest this book. There are no love triangles and its a thinly veiled romance that verges on instalove because the rebel guys are hot and stuck up power boys are not.) ...if not for the end!! The end made me sick and is why I gave it 2.5 stars. I won't ruin it for potential readers but the end was hurried and loose ends tied up in a nonsensical way. It was clear how it would end for the couples so the sci-fi part of the story was the focus of the end and it really disappointed.

There is one other major problem that gives me pause. The girls are portrayed in a very dangerous way. Tyana has one of the most powerful mind abilities in their society, is popular and well thought of and wants what she wants irregardless of how it may effect others. She's also of the mindset wild and free with no thought of tomorrow. Cyena on the other hand has average abilities, much is made of her having two instead of only one but she is still picked on and looked down upon. She loves her sister but her sister is literally the only person other than her nurse who raised her who loves Cyena. Cyena refuses to sleep with her guy and is horrified that her potential betrothed wants to sleep with her as soon as possible. **I think it is dangerous to connect popularity with sleeping around and maintaining one's virtue with being an outcast and of subpar talent. Through the book Tyana didn't really see the problem with their society. She wanted to sleep around and not be subject to some man from a particular family but that was more about not wanting restrictions than believing that things should change. It's Cyena because of how she was treated who wanted the changes, but even at the end much was made of Tyana's talents changing the world and it would be an effort for Cyena to come up to snuff. Is this really what we want our future generation of girls to believe?

Personally I would have made Tyana the prude and Cyena the wild and free one. Just that one change would rock this dangerous dynamic!! (Though more melded girls not so set on extremes makes for a better, more realistic story.)

BOTTOM LINE: A fluffy sci-fi romance with some dangerous subtext.

[Danielle's · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is broken down into sections however I'd recommend you just go for the whole package.

I would recommend it for the fans of authors such as Cassandra Clare and Veronica Roth. It is aimed at the young adult audience who like fantasy romance novels.

Two sisters both following a different path. Tyana is destined to have great power and is considered to have great potential in their world. Unfortunately Cyena is seen as her weaker, less desirable sister. Her powers are less and so her place in society is not the path she would have chosen. Everything they have known has lead them to believe they have to keep there bloodline pure. Everything they have been taught has been keeping them in a the dark. A war is brewing but which side is good is debatable.

This book is about prophecy and making your own decisions about what's right and wrong. The lines are blurred between good and bad.
Each sister has her own path to follow in the hope they can bring it all back together.

This book has love, magic and creative fantasy. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down well worth the read. 5 out of 5.

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Netgalley*

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starwalkers by Lizzy Ford and Julia Crane

This is one of my favorite books of 2017, co-written by two of my favorite authors. As a serial, I have read this book in pieces as each was released. When the final episode was released and put together in a paperback edition, I read them all again, together, and it was a magical new journey. The depth and understanding of these characters in an entirely imagined world was really well done. The plot is difficult, but so pleasantly unraveled at the end, I was on the edge of my seat. I can only hope to see more of the peripheral characters in the future, as their endings seem to have been misplaced.

*I dropped a star for editing in the paperback edition that I did not notice in the ebook format. I did not detract from the storyline in any way.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic plot. I loved it. But a few things seriously annoyed me, the biggest issue being this: If it was supposed to be all about equality, why was there a prophecy about the 2 and 2?? Why do they get a huge palace and statues? Isn't that raising them up above everyone else? Ugh, I seriously loved these serials but good heavens that was frustrating. I was already trying to ignore other small, silly things. But I can't ignore that.

I received a free copy of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The start is a bit clumsy and everyone whispers or snaps or cried - things that should become evident without description because of the dialogue or otherwise. It seems a bit forced, and the end feels like filler.

Overall, quite disappointing. I was expecting to love this, but it just fell a bit flat.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Starwalkers" is a fascinating sci-fi/fantasy and romance chronicling a dystopian other-world of Lemuria. Lemuria is separated into classes where the elite rule the inner-city and have all the wealth and status and the rest are left to poverty and desolation outside the city walls. The original separations were made by skills, where the psychic skills deemed the best were designated as the upper class.

The story follows two sisters, Cyena and Tyana. Tyana has one of the most elite skills of being a Starwalker, where she can open portals to anywhere and transport herself and others there. Cyena has what are deemed "low class" skills but she does have two of them, which makes her unique and allows her family to justify her remaining out of the lower class, sometimes called serving class. However, as such, her family plans to use her for breeding (since having two skills makes her unique and may produce higher class skilled offspring) and has already selected a mate, Welon, who is really just the worst (disrespectful, bordering on sexual/physical abuse). Tyana can work and then choose who she wants to marry due to her higher class skill. Both of the sisters have a steamy love interest. Tyana is in love with her bodyguard Ryker, while Cyena becomes interested in the hot new servant, Kaydon.

The sisters' world is turned upside down when the lower class rebels against the elite and all the elites are being systematically killed. They are pushed to different places by the rebellion- Cyena goes into hiding on Lemuria, while Tyana flees to Earth. Their parents and most people they knew are killed. We later find out Cyena, Tyana, and their love interests are all involved in an old prophecy, which the rebellion has set in motion.

Overall, it's well-written and engaging. It was originally written as serials, and this book includes the first six. As such, they are a little disconnected and each ends a bit like the end of a book, so it doesn't have the continuity of a novel. However, knowing these are serials made it easier to put the book down in between them. If you like to read in smaller doses, this may work really well for you.

The first few were really fabulous, set up the worlds and relationships beautifully. The last couple serials seemed a bit more like filler, as less happened and instead of focusing on all the really intense things happening around each sister, they suddenly began to fixate mostly on the other. It felt a little off to me. I am not sure if I am explaining it well. Regardless, I still read until the end and enjoyed the story. I'm definitely interested in continuing with the series and ended up really enjoying the bite size pieces of the serials!

Please note that I received this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[CrazyCat (Alex) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyana and Cyena are two sisters born with different abilities, living a sheltered live on their planet Lemuria. One power is classified as an elite class power and the other one is looked down on as a low class power. As a rebellion starts and their peaceful life is shattered, both girls find out that their life wasn't what they thought to be. When Cyena falls into the hands of the rebellion leader she has to learn what living as a commoner means. Her sister Tyana and a few of the leading elite bloodlines heirs are able to find refuge on the mystical planet, Earth. With no known way to get back to there planet all they can do is learn to blend in and search for help to get back.
Of course there are two boys falling in love and a prophecy to fulfill. And in the end everything works out. I really enjoyed the story and even if it was a little predictable, I couldn't put the book down. I hoped with Tyana and her guard Ryker. And I wanted to help Cyena to overcome her difficulties with Kaydon. "Starwalkers" is a sci-fi/fantasy book with some hot steaming romance and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

***Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review***

[Crissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy from NetGalley.

I devoured this series in one day. I absolutely loved it and I wasn’t ready for it to end. I have read a lot of books from this author and this series ranks with my top favorites. Lizzy Ford knows how to captivate her reader and hold them hostage until the very end. I loved everything about this series; the characters, the journey they face, the challenges they must overcome and most of all the love these characters had for each other. I highly recommend this book not only to all paranormal readers but all book lovers looking for the perfect book to take them on an unexpected journey.

[Ivette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

In the spirit of being honest, I didn't realize this book was YA (lol) when requesting it. Having said that I was starting to regret it, but halfway through the book, I actually enjoyed it.. My favorite of the two wonder twins, was Cyena. She seemed more sensitive and selfless, than the other one. I wish the author would have expanded more on their first impressions of Earth. That was inserting and a bit funny when describing the cat. :)

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a review copy on kindle but am posting a review for the paperback as the kindle copy doesn't seem to be available yet. I would have got very irritated to read this in 6 sections, but altogether was fine. The characters were a little thin and I got very annoyed with the 'trip to the wall', but the ideas were good and the plot developed nicely. I am an adult but enjoy much YS fantasy or scifi, but this is definitely at the teenage end of YA. I would have loved the characters to be fleshed out more, and the ideas developed a little further. But a good story for a younger reader.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it had me hooked from the first chapter however I did find it a little predictable in places and the pace dropped at times. The story line was good, a few curveballs made it interesting, the world building was good, the author made the book believable. I read the book cover to cover in one sitting.