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The Lost Colony #1
Of Starlight and Bone
Cinder meets Firefly in this dark, YA science-fiction series inspired by the original Roanoke Colony.
Aurelia Peri is used to being an outsider. As if being the adopted daughter of the galaxy’s most powerful man weren’t enough, she also has to deal with the stigma of being part machine. Which is why she’s dead-set on proving her worth. But when her first mission as a D.I.S.C. agent ends disastrously, and then her suspect—a man accused of murdering and cannibalizing his own family—proclaims innocence and launches himself off the top of a building, she fears she’ll never be trusted with another case.
Auri has doubts about the man’s guilt and is certain there’s more to the case. She decides to dig deeper when her superiors suddenly order her to drop it, and her surreptitious investigation reveals a series of crimes she is convinced are connected. Determined to uncover the truth, Auri discovers an unfathomable darkness hidden in the depths of the galaxy. A darkness that threatens everything she holds dear. A darkness connected to her own past. And Auri’s involvement in the case doesn’t go unnoticed.
Something in the system has caught her scent and will stop at nothing to catch its prey.
Aurelia Peri is used to being an outsider. As if being the adopted daughter of the galaxy’s most powerful man weren’t enough, she also has to deal with the stigma of being part machine. Which is why she’s dead-set on proving her worth. But when her first mission as a D.I.S.C. agent ends disastrously, and then her suspect—a man accused of murdering and cannibalizing his own family—proclaims innocence and launches himself off the top of a building, she fears she’ll never be trusted with another case.
Auri has doubts about the man’s guilt and is certain there’s more to the case. She decides to dig deeper when her superiors suddenly order her to drop it, and her surreptitious investigation reveals a series of crimes she is convinced are connected. Determined to uncover the truth, Auri discovers an unfathomable darkness hidden in the depths of the galaxy. A darkness that threatens everything she holds dear. A darkness connected to her own past. And Auri’s involvement in the case doesn’t go unnoticed.
Something in the system has caught her scent and will stop at nothing to catch its prey.
303 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2023
2 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Emily Layne
3 books49 followersEmily Layne is the author of the YA Paranormal Fantasy THESE WICKED WATERS as well as the new YA Science Fiction series The Lost Colony Trilogy, beginning with OF STARLIGHT & BONE, all with Owl Hollow Press.
Emily grew up a proud Army brat with an Anne Shirley-esque imagination. She loves reading, eating too much pizza, and spending time with her husband—who loves books almost as much as she does.
When not writing fantastical stories, Emily can be found playing with her curious children, exploring the great outdoors, or concocting mostly-believable excuses to avoid socializing.
Emily grew up a proud Army brat with an Anne Shirley-esque imagination. She loves reading, eating too much pizza, and spending time with her husband—who loves books almost as much as she does.
When not writing fantastical stories, Emily can be found playing with her curious children, exploring the great outdoors, or concocting mostly-believable excuses to avoid socializing.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 17, 2022
One of the fun things about being an author is you get asked to give cover blurbs to books that will soon be released and this was one of them. Emily's email request was so well written and her book synopsis so intriguing, I said I'd read the book. This particular description leapt out at me, It is marketed as "Cinder meets Firefly in a dark, YA science-fiction series inspired by the original Roanoke Colony."
Cinder meets Firefly? I'm in! And the book did have quite a bit of similarities to both with a main character who's mostly Cyborg, a rebel, and terrifyingly strange creatures - I was also reminded of Guardians of the Galaxy as the book starts off with a bounty hunting/chase scene.
Here's a quote I gave for the book: Packed inside these pages is everything a SF reader desires.
Cinder meets Firefly? I'm in! And the book did have quite a bit of similarities to both with a main character who's mostly Cyborg, a rebel, and terrifyingly strange creatures - I was also reminded of Guardians of the Galaxy as the book starts off with a bounty hunting/chase scene.
Here's a quote I gave for the book: Packed inside these pages is everything a SF reader desires.
October 25, 2025
Let me tell you something, this book is SO UNDERRATED. Please read it.
It's got a ragtag crew on a mission to save the universe from a terrifying threat, a badass MC who's part machine, and a poodle sidekick! It even verges a bit on the side of horror - not gonna spoil anything, but there's a drastic revelation one third in the book that moves the plot into darker territory. In a good way, of course.
It's got a ragtag crew on a mission to save the universe from a terrifying threat, a badass MC who's part machine, and a poodle sidekick! It even verges a bit on the side of horror - not gonna spoil anything, but there's a drastic revelation one third in the book that moves the plot into darker territory. In a good way, of course.
December 5, 2022
This book was born from a nightmare and watching a fog roll across a sunset.
I had so much fun creating the world in this book. I hope you, Reader, will enjoy this story and that you find friends within the misfit characters in these pages.
I had so much fun creating the world in this book. I hope you, Reader, will enjoy this story and that you find friends within the misfit characters in these pages.
March 7, 2023
“You burn with the light of ten thousand suns.” He swiped at a smudge of dust on her cheek. “And suns aren’t concerned with their origin story. They’re too busy lighting up the entire Galaxy.”
If that quote doesn’t convince you, maybe
- cyborg prejudice
- adopted family but *feelings* for adopted brother
- space found family gang with snuggly charismatic leader who has a dark vendetta
- mysterious solar system full of complex development and tension
- space zombies
- poodle sidekick who’s actually a fantastic character and not just there because “oh haha poodles”
Will do the trick. This is a fantastic sci fi adventure!! Please read it, and then tell me what you thought!!
If that quote doesn’t convince you, maybe
- cyborg prejudice
- adopted family but *feelings* for adopted brother
- space found family gang with snuggly charismatic leader who has a dark vendetta
- mysterious solar system full of complex development and tension
- space zombies
- poodle sidekick who’s actually a fantastic character and not just there because “oh haha poodles”
Will do the trick. This is a fantastic sci fi adventure!! Please read it, and then tell me what you thought!!
January 25, 2023
I was provided an ARC copy by the author.
I loved the Japanese infusion that was put into this science fiction work. It added a very interesting layer that I enjoyed exploring.
The author markets the book as Firefly meets Cinder. Now, I have not read Cinder, but I have seen Firefly and the parallels aren't hard to draw. I could see her inspiration. However, if you're going to go off of that and say that it was a bad book because you could see the inspiration, you're likely to never read/enjoy anything again.
I thought Layne did a good job taking what she loved and creating a story she could be proud of.
This is a very fun, easy read with lots of dark angles and high-intensity action thrown in. Certainly worth the read!
I loved the Japanese infusion that was put into this science fiction work. It added a very interesting layer that I enjoyed exploring.
The author markets the book as Firefly meets Cinder. Now, I have not read Cinder, but I have seen Firefly and the parallels aren't hard to draw. I could see her inspiration. However, if you're going to go off of that and say that it was a bad book because you could see the inspiration, you're likely to never read/enjoy anything again.
I thought Layne did a good job taking what she loved and creating a story she could be proud of.
This is a very fun, easy read with lots of dark angles and high-intensity action thrown in. Certainly worth the read!
March 3, 2023
Wow! I enjoyed this so much!
I'll be honest, sci-fi books intimidate me sometimes. There is an abundance of new technology, new worlds, new creatures, new jargon. It can be confusing and bog me down, preventing me from enjoying the story. But not here, in Of Starlight and Bone!
Emily Layne creates the perfect balance between describing all the futuristic gadgets and worlds and letting the reader's imagination fill in the rest! We get enough to orient ourselves, but it's not excessive - I loved it!
On a similar writing-style note, she's also phenomenal at avoiding info-dumping. She gives you snippets of information so that you can draw the conclusions logically, rather than pausing the story to have a character monologue about the subject. It was perfect!
As for the characters, I really enjoyed reading from Auri's point-of-view. Auri herself is naïve and self-doubting, but determined. She just begins to grow in this book, and I can't wait to see more growth from her!
All of the side characters were fun and added color to the story (I'm a big fan of large character casts!). Birdie the poodle was an excellent addition and I was living for her scenes in the book. There were some moments when the overall dialogue didn't quite sit right, and there were a couple characters I wanted more from (Malachi especially). But, this is also the first in a series, so there is a lot of room for this depth to develop.
I also enjoyed the plot! The pacing was superb, and while the second half of the book holds most of the "action," the first half was captivating all the same. I wasn't surprised by much, but it didn't significantly dampen my enjoyment.
My biggest complaint was that some of the emotional scenes didn't hit me like they could have. I knew that they were supposed to be emotional, but my feelings weren't 100% convinced. I think this was a result of the scenes happening 1.) too quickly, or 2.) a character went out of their personality during them. It didn't really bother me because I wasn't expecting to get any deep, emotional moments out of this book, but seeing as they were there, I wanted more from them.
Overall, this is an extremely accessible sci-fi to even new readers of the genre! I haven't seen Firefly , so maybe that makes me biased to like this story more, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Definitely give this book a try! I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Lost Colony Trilogy!!
Thank you to the author, Emily Layne, for providing me with a free, advanced copy so that I might write an honest review!
I'll be honest, sci-fi books intimidate me sometimes. There is an abundance of new technology, new worlds, new creatures, new jargon. It can be confusing and bog me down, preventing me from enjoying the story. But not here, in Of Starlight and Bone!
Emily Layne creates the perfect balance between describing all the futuristic gadgets and worlds and letting the reader's imagination fill in the rest! We get enough to orient ourselves, but it's not excessive - I loved it!
On a similar writing-style note, she's also phenomenal at avoiding info-dumping. She gives you snippets of information so that you can draw the conclusions logically, rather than pausing the story to have a character monologue about the subject. It was perfect!
As for the characters, I really enjoyed reading from Auri's point-of-view. Auri herself is naïve and self-doubting, but determined. She just begins to grow in this book, and I can't wait to see more growth from her!
All of the side characters were fun and added color to the story (I'm a big fan of large character casts!). Birdie the poodle was an excellent addition and I was living for her scenes in the book. There were some moments when the overall dialogue didn't quite sit right, and there were a couple characters I wanted more from (Malachi especially). But, this is also the first in a series, so there is a lot of room for this depth to develop.
I also enjoyed the plot! The pacing was superb, and while the second half of the book holds most of the "action," the first half was captivating all the same. I wasn't surprised by much, but it didn't significantly dampen my enjoyment.
My biggest complaint was that some of the emotional scenes didn't hit me like they could have. I knew that they were supposed to be emotional, but my feelings weren't 100% convinced. I think this was a result of the scenes happening 1.) too quickly, or 2.) a character went out of their personality during them. It didn't really bother me because I wasn't expecting to get any deep, emotional moments out of this book, but seeing as they were there, I wanted more from them.
Overall, this is an extremely accessible sci-fi to even new readers of the genre! I haven't seen Firefly , so maybe that makes me biased to like this story more, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Definitely give this book a try! I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Lost Colony Trilogy!!
Thank you to the author, Emily Layne, for providing me with a free, advanced copy so that I might write an honest review!
January 26, 2023
I was provided with an ARC and I am so so happy I was.
I thoroughly and completely adored this book. It just hits all the sweet spots for me.
I knew by description I'd enjoy it, but this was an absolute page turner for me. (I'd read it on my break at work and not want to put it down) Cinder meets Firefly is an accurate description, but I think this book also has notes of Brightly Burning and The Stars We Steal by Donne. I mean
..if those books had Space Cannibals.
The two strongest points of this book for me were:
1) The world-building. I can tell how much research went into this. I loved seeing the promo materials on the author's FB and Instagram. I loved the idea of DISC agents having dogs.
2) The characters are by far the best part of this book. I loved the complex relationship between our MC and her adopted family the most. Auri sold me as an MC. She was believable and I was invested in her journey. I do hope to get to know more of them in upcoming books
Overall this was a fantastic read for me.
My only gripe is having to wait for the sequel.
I thoroughly and completely adored this book. It just hits all the sweet spots for me.
I knew by description I'd enjoy it, but this was an absolute page turner for me. (I'd read it on my break at work and not want to put it down) Cinder meets Firefly is an accurate description, but I think this book also has notes of Brightly Burning and The Stars We Steal by Donne. I mean
..if those books had Space Cannibals.
The two strongest points of this book for me were:
1) The world-building. I can tell how much research went into this. I loved seeing the promo materials on the author's FB and Instagram. I loved the idea of DISC agents having dogs.
2) The characters are by far the best part of this book. I loved the complex relationship between our MC and her adopted family the most. Auri sold me as an MC. She was believable and I was invested in her journey. I do hope to get to know more of them in upcoming books
Overall this was a fantastic read for me.
My only gripe is having to wait for the sequel.
January 19, 2023
I was given an ARC of this awesome book that's the beginning of a trilogy. Here is my honest review!
Aurelia Peri, AKA Auri, is an agent/enforcer for the Ancora Federation. Basically, a bounty hunter. After her first mission ends horribly, she discovers that her target may have been innocent. This sets her down a path of investigating cases that connect to her failed mission. From there, things jump into action and I seriously needed to know what the hell was going on, why, and who's the Big Baddie. Now, I don't want to give spoilers away, so I'll do my best!
The worldbuilding is AMAZING, which is always a major point for me. I liked the characters and getting to know them. I did have two issues: the description of things and Auri's personality. With certain settings (Auri's ship in the beginning), and some character physical descriptions, I had to re-read to get a gist of what they looked like. Since this takes place in space and other planets, describing the world is very important. Of course, you don't want to over-describe things, so it is a fine line to balance.
Auri did take a bit to get into. I felt like I needed more personality in the beginning, more...passion? Even after strictly being told not to dig into things, she does so without thinking twice. She got her orders from the top of the food chain, who is her adoptive father that she looks up to. She didn't have an internal battle of whether she should go against him or not; she just did it. After a while, I did warm up to her, though.
Regardless of that, I look forward to reading the sequel!
Aurelia Peri, AKA Auri, is an agent/enforcer for the Ancora Federation. Basically, a bounty hunter. After her first mission ends horribly, she discovers that her target may have been innocent. This sets her down a path of investigating cases that connect to her failed mission. From there, things jump into action and I seriously needed to know what the hell was going on, why, and who's the Big Baddie. Now, I don't want to give spoilers away, so I'll do my best!
The worldbuilding is AMAZING, which is always a major point for me. I liked the characters and getting to know them. I did have two issues: the description of things and Auri's personality. With certain settings (Auri's ship in the beginning), and some character physical descriptions, I had to re-read to get a gist of what they looked like. Since this takes place in space and other planets, describing the world is very important. Of course, you don't want to over-describe things, so it is a fine line to balance.
Auri did take a bit to get into. I felt like I needed more personality in the beginning, more...passion? Even after strictly being told not to dig into things, she does so without thinking twice. She got her orders from the top of the food chain, who is her adoptive father that she looks up to. She didn't have an internal battle of whether she should go against him or not; she just did it. After a while, I did warm up to her, though.
Regardless of that, I look forward to reading the sequel!
August 3, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Of Starlight and Bone (The Lost Colony #1) by Emily Layne is a great YA sci-fi series opener. Honestly, I only needed to hear Cinder meets Firefly inspired by the original Roanoke Colony. I mean, that alone is quite a hook, isn't it! The world-building is my favorite aspect of this novel. There's a lot to take in, but it is never overwhelming. It took me a little too long though to like reading Auri, but her character has some pretty intriguing growth over the course of the novel. Overall, if you like darker sci-fi stories with found families, cyborgs, and plenty of action, you won't want to skip this.
Of Starlight and Bone (The Lost Colony #1) by Emily Layne is a great YA sci-fi series opener. Honestly, I only needed to hear Cinder meets Firefly inspired by the original Roanoke Colony. I mean, that alone is quite a hook, isn't it! The world-building is my favorite aspect of this novel. There's a lot to take in, but it is never overwhelming. It took me a little too long though to like reading Auri, but her character has some pretty intriguing growth over the course of the novel. Overall, if you like darker sci-fi stories with found families, cyborgs, and plenty of action, you won't want to skip this.
March 7, 2023
Of Starlight and Bone by Emily Layne is a delightful and page-turning YA sci-fi that harbors nostalgia for Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
Used to being an outsider due to her cyborg biology, Aurelia Peri is determined to demonstrate her value as a D.I.S.C. agent. Although her superiors have instructed her to abandon her first investigation, she is determined to discover the truth behind a criminal’s suspicious suicide. While doing so, Aurelia uncovers a mysterious darkness linked to her past and accidently alerts a hidden force within the system of her presence which now aims to capture her.
“I wasn’t going to hurt you,” he said. “Just scare you with the possibility that I might. But you were clumsy, kisama. You were always graceful and perfect, so bumping into you tells me that you are up to something.”
My Thoughts:
Wow. Just, wow. I definitely felt Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop vibes while reading this book. The atmosphere was phenomenal, and I enjoyed the incorporation of Japanese culture in the world building. Aurelia is a total badass, but not overly so. Because of the prejudice regarding cyborgs, she experiences loneliness and discrimination that cause readers to feel sympathetic toward her (drawing us even further into the story). Plus, there is a lot of drama and key plot-points involving her being the adopted daughter of “the galaxy’s most powerful man,” and I’m a sucker for this kind of trope. While YA sci-fi isn’t my normal go-to genre, I enjoyed this book’s action, fast pace, and world-building.
Of Starlight and Bone is easily 5/5 stars.
Used to being an outsider due to her cyborg biology, Aurelia Peri is determined to demonstrate her value as a D.I.S.C. agent. Although her superiors have instructed her to abandon her first investigation, she is determined to discover the truth behind a criminal’s suspicious suicide. While doing so, Aurelia uncovers a mysterious darkness linked to her past and accidently alerts a hidden force within the system of her presence which now aims to capture her.
“I wasn’t going to hurt you,” he said. “Just scare you with the possibility that I might. But you were clumsy, kisama. You were always graceful and perfect, so bumping into you tells me that you are up to something.”
My Thoughts:
Wow. Just, wow. I definitely felt Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop vibes while reading this book. The atmosphere was phenomenal, and I enjoyed the incorporation of Japanese culture in the world building. Aurelia is a total badass, but not overly so. Because of the prejudice regarding cyborgs, she experiences loneliness and discrimination that cause readers to feel sympathetic toward her (drawing us even further into the story). Plus, there is a lot of drama and key plot-points involving her being the adopted daughter of “the galaxy’s most powerful man,” and I’m a sucker for this kind of trope. While YA sci-fi isn’t my normal go-to genre, I enjoyed this book’s action, fast pace, and world-building.
Of Starlight and Bone is easily 5/5 stars.
April 13, 2023
I enjoyed this book a little less than I thought I would, which is why I gave it 3 stars. I went in blind - this book is said to be Cinder meets Firefly and I have no knowledge of either of these things so maybe I missed something along the way. What drew me in was a solid premise.
The plot holds up under scrutiny, except for the fact that I like my sci-fi to be… otherworldly. The sheer number of Japanese references broke me out of immersion time and time again. I might have been able to accept this if there had been more world building and explanation, but there wasn’t. Each time Japanese terminology was mentioned (and an English translation was only supplied on the first time) I had no idea what was just said.
Characterisation was solid - Auri was refreshing as a protagonist - hardly perfect and carrying enough baggage for her emotions to be a little skewed, and with enough teenage angst to make her interesting. But she’s also incredibly strong willed, just what I wanted for me to explore a terrifying universe with. Other characters were great too, but the various dynamics between said characters could have done with a little more time to allow them to grow organically. Sometimes I read scenes and I felt “how did we get here?”
Either way, it was a fun read. Didn’t quite get the opportunity to explore more of the Bleeders, but I suppose that an explanation will arise in following books in the series. Will I read more when they’re released? Maybe. I like a good space opera… we’ll see.
The plot holds up under scrutiny, except for the fact that I like my sci-fi to be… otherworldly. The sheer number of Japanese references broke me out of immersion time and time again. I might have been able to accept this if there had been more world building and explanation, but there wasn’t. Each time Japanese terminology was mentioned (and an English translation was only supplied on the first time) I had no idea what was just said.
Characterisation was solid - Auri was refreshing as a protagonist - hardly perfect and carrying enough baggage for her emotions to be a little skewed, and with enough teenage angst to make her interesting. But she’s also incredibly strong willed, just what I wanted for me to explore a terrifying universe with. Other characters were great too, but the various dynamics between said characters could have done with a little more time to allow them to grow organically. Sometimes I read scenes and I felt “how did we get here?”
Either way, it was a fun read. Didn’t quite get the opportunity to explore more of the Bleeders, but I suppose that an explanation will arise in following books in the series. Will I read more when they’re released? Maybe. I like a good space opera… we’ll see.
January 16, 2023
A basic cyborg trope that recycles firefly
The world building starts with a fusion of Japanese and sci-fi dystopia with an outsider YA protagonist who begins the story as a black sheep ember of the elite before diving into the more seedy aspects of life on the rim to find answers to questions about her first and last case as an enforcer. Teaming up with a rogue ship crew with an obvious nod toward the FireFly series (Malachi = Malcom, Bleeders = Reavers, et al), agent Peri stumbles from cluster to cluster reacting to events instead of driving the fairly basic plot. While I am actually a fan of both stories/genres here, the close sync with FireFly was actually more irritating than fun for me ... but it might work better for others. Even with that, we get some reasonably fun casual entertainment from a quick read that is still worth the effort.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#OfStarlightandBone #NetGalley.
The world building starts with a fusion of Japanese and sci-fi dystopia with an outsider YA protagonist who begins the story as a black sheep ember of the elite before diving into the more seedy aspects of life on the rim to find answers to questions about her first and last case as an enforcer. Teaming up with a rogue ship crew with an obvious nod toward the FireFly series (Malachi = Malcom, Bleeders = Reavers, et al), agent Peri stumbles from cluster to cluster reacting to events instead of driving the fairly basic plot. While I am actually a fan of both stories/genres here, the close sync with FireFly was actually more irritating than fun for me ... but it might work better for others. Even with that, we get some reasonably fun casual entertainment from a quick read that is still worth the effort.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#OfStarlightandBone #NetGalley.
February 24, 2023
True to its description, this story is the perfect cross between the Lunar Chronicles and Firefly. When she's saved by a mysterious band of renegades on a distant planet, MC Aurelia (Auri) Peri quickly discovers that the life she thought she knew is teeming with deceit, lies, a race of cannibalizing murders, and cover up that involves practically everyone she thought she could trust.
Hoping to bring an end to the lies the government and her General-in-Charge "father," have been spewing, Auri along with her trained K-9, Birdie, renegade crew captain Malachi and his band of criminals turned revolutionaries, embark on a journey for the truth behind all the mysterious deaths/murders that have been plaguing the outer planets of their galaxy.
However, Of Starlight and Bone is just the beginning because by the time I finished I was on the edge of my seat, my head swimming with unanswered questions. I have no idea how long the sequel will take, but its untitled self has already reserved its place on my TBR.
Received as an ARC from BookSirens in exchange for a fair review.
Hoping to bring an end to the lies the government and her General-in-Charge "father," have been spewing, Auri along with her trained K-9, Birdie, renegade crew captain Malachi and his band of criminals turned revolutionaries, embark on a journey for the truth behind all the mysterious deaths/murders that have been plaguing the outer planets of their galaxy.
However, Of Starlight and Bone is just the beginning because by the time I finished I was on the edge of my seat, my head swimming with unanswered questions. I have no idea how long the sequel will take, but its untitled self has already reserved its place on my TBR.
Received as an ARC from BookSirens in exchange for a fair review.
January 27, 2023
YA story with all the hallmarks of an excellent and enjoyable fantasy to start a series. If you read this as a stand alone I’m sure you will enjoy the story as I did, and then want to get your hands in the next book ASAP to find out how the story continues. Aurelia Peri has mechanical enhancements to overcome horrific injuries when she was a child in a society hostile to such people. She easily trusts people and sees their best. She also has a tendency to go a little off assignment. Not wanting to let the puzzle of unaccounted murders pass her by is going to get her into lots of trouble. Trouble where she will need her trusted dog and new friends to survive, but also the chance to discover who she really is. Thank you to Hollow Owl Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
March 7, 2023
Let’s start out by saying I read this book in less than 24 hours. I *loved* it. It was everything I love in soft sci-fi with complex characters, an expansive world/universe, and plot twists. I absolutely adored the crew and how well Auri fit in. I also had major book hangover after finishing. I would really like book 2 soon….k thanks haha.
I did have a little bit of trouble at the beginning because I felt Auri’s decisions were at odds with the characterization we’d been given in the beginning, but all that faded away once I got into Act 2. And then I could not put the book down.
If you like Star Wars with a smidge of dystopian, you need this book on your shelf. Now.
This is an ARC review. All opinions are my own.
I did have a little bit of trouble at the beginning because I felt Auri’s decisions were at odds with the characterization we’d been given in the beginning, but all that faded away once I got into Act 2. And then I could not put the book down.
If you like Star Wars with a smidge of dystopian, you need this book on your shelf. Now.
This is an ARC review. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2023
*I received a free copy. This review is my true opinion and I'm leaving it voluntarily.*
What an amazing ride! I loved this book. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be "un-put-downable." That's a word, right?
What I liked
This book shined in 5 specific areas: writing style, development of the story's themes, plot, characters and their arcs, and worldbuilding.
writing style
The writing style is mellifluous without ever being overwrought or wordy. Metaphors and similes are appropriate for the book's tone and setting. For example, in chapter 1 we get this interesting simile:
...his mouth still hung open like a faulty shuttle door.
Another one that stuck out to me occurs in chapter 28. Describing Malachi's symptoms of trauma and PTSD, we get this evocative description, which is from an in-universe poem:
[he] hid demons under his skin and fought them at night
There's also a lot of sensory details that really help flesh out the scenes in a way that makes it easy to visualize. In particular, there are a lot of scents. For me, there's something about scent that just ties everything together, making it easy to imagine being in the scene.
themes
This book sets up several interesting themes. I hope the next book in the series builds upon them. There were two major themes I noticed: your past doesn't define you - your actions do; and truth is painful but necessary. I think they tie together in an interesting way.
Over the course of the book, Aurelia starts off as naive and a bit of a people-pleaser. Within the context of psychology, this behavior is called fawning and it can be a result of trauma. Aurelia displays several of the coping responses in this list.
Aurelia definitely has a lot of trauma, and it seemed to me that's where her fawning behavior came from. She's afraid of losing her family again, even though her adoptive family is disordered. At the beginning of the story, she is unconsciously letting her traumatic past define her. But as the story progresses, she embraces the truth about her past, and from that her personal power grows.
None of this is overt in the text - it's my interpretation of her behavior. But that is the beauty of a well-written book: if you think about it deeply, you see something meaningful.
plot
The plot was a fun and action-packed ride. The twists weren't the twistiest, but that's okay. The plot was rich with tension. The pacing was nearly perfect. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that.
characters
The characters are flawed, interesting, and they each have their own unique voice. They were the heart of this book. I really loved all of them. Their actions felt believable.
The crew had a lot of chemistry with each other, and I especially loved Castor and Tsuna. Their rocky yet still affectionate relationship felt realistic to me.
Malachi was amazing. Really loved him.
And Aurelia's crappy adopted brother, Ty. He made me angry, but the complexity between him and Aurelia was good. It reflected the story's themes well.
One background character that I enjoyed was an old lady cyborg who shares life wisdom and some cookies with Aurelia. We encounter her in chapter 15. After Aurelia notices the scars that indicate the lady is a cyborg, they have this exchange:
"You're a cyborg." [Auri] knew the comment was borderline rude, but she rarely met someone like her.
The woman shrugged. "Shouganai." What can you do?"
A little later, Auri asks if the woman has trouble with people disliking her. The old woman replies:
I never cared if they did or not." She leaned closer to Auri. "We got a second chance at life, you and I. That scares people, makes them jealous."
I think those words of wisdom reflect the story's themes.
worldbuilding
The blurbs compare it to the show Firefly and I think that is apt. There's a Chinese influence that gives Firefly a very distinct flavor. In this book, the worldbuilding is tinged with a Japanese influence. This pops up in a few ways. Some characters wear a yukata, a Japanese robe similar to a kimono, and characters never cuss in English, only in Japanese. Characters frequently give thanks for their food by saying itadakimasu. There are also Japanese mannerisms and cultural practices, such as characters not wearing outside shoes indoors. The overall feel of this is one of cultural diffusion: we learn in the book that there were a number of Japanese people who were involved with the early colonies, so it makes sense that their culture - or elements thereof - would spread around the galaxy.
Other aspects of the worldbuilding that stood out to me include the type of government that the galaxy is ruled by. It is a stratocracy a "military-run federation," the book says. The leader of the stratocracy is the general in command, the main character Aurelia's adopted father. Politics is rarely interesting in fiction, yet we see enough detail for how it all works for it to be intriguing rather than a slog.
And that is a common motif in this book: we get enough worldbuilding detail to be intrigued, to flesh out the world and make it feel real, rather than getting bogged down in minutiae. The details are always vibrant, never trivial, so on the rare occasion when we do get a small data dump, it feels interesting and necessary rather than boring.
Conclusion
There's so much to enjoy with this book. I would recommend this to those who like action-packed sci-fi with heart. I think it might also appeal to those who are new to the genre.
What an amazing ride! I loved this book. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be "un-put-downable." That's a word, right?
What I liked
This book shined in 5 specific areas: writing style, development of the story's themes, plot, characters and their arcs, and worldbuilding.
writing style
The writing style is mellifluous without ever being overwrought or wordy. Metaphors and similes are appropriate for the book's tone and setting. For example, in chapter 1 we get this interesting simile:
...his mouth still hung open like a faulty shuttle door.
Another one that stuck out to me occurs in chapter 28. Describing Malachi's symptoms of trauma and PTSD, we get this evocative description, which is from an in-universe poem:
[he] hid demons under his skin and fought them at night
There's also a lot of sensory details that really help flesh out the scenes in a way that makes it easy to visualize. In particular, there are a lot of scents. For me, there's something about scent that just ties everything together, making it easy to imagine being in the scene.
themes
This book sets up several interesting themes. I hope the next book in the series builds upon them. There were two major themes I noticed: your past doesn't define you - your actions do; and truth is painful but necessary. I think they tie together in an interesting way.
Over the course of the book, Aurelia starts off as naive and a bit of a people-pleaser. Within the context of psychology, this behavior is called fawning and it can be a result of trauma. Aurelia displays several of the coping responses in this list.
Aurelia definitely has a lot of trauma, and it seemed to me that's where her fawning behavior came from. She's afraid of losing her family again, even though her adoptive family is disordered. At the beginning of the story, she is unconsciously letting her traumatic past define her. But as the story progresses, she embraces the truth about her past, and from that her personal power grows.
None of this is overt in the text - it's my interpretation of her behavior. But that is the beauty of a well-written book: if you think about it deeply, you see something meaningful.
plot
The plot was a fun and action-packed ride. The twists weren't the twistiest, but that's okay. The plot was rich with tension. The pacing was nearly perfect. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it at that.
characters
The characters are flawed, interesting, and they each have their own unique voice. They were the heart of this book. I really loved all of them. Their actions felt believable.
The crew had a lot of chemistry with each other, and I especially loved Castor and Tsuna. Their rocky yet still affectionate relationship felt realistic to me.
Malachi was amazing. Really loved him.
And Aurelia's crappy adopted brother, Ty. He made me angry, but the complexity between him and Aurelia was good. It reflected the story's themes well.
One background character that I enjoyed was an old lady cyborg who shares life wisdom and some cookies with Aurelia. We encounter her in chapter 15. After Aurelia notices the scars that indicate the lady is a cyborg, they have this exchange:
"You're a cyborg." [Auri] knew the comment was borderline rude, but she rarely met someone like her.
The woman shrugged. "Shouganai." What can you do?"
A little later, Auri asks if the woman has trouble with people disliking her. The old woman replies:
I never cared if they did or not." She leaned closer to Auri. "We got a second chance at life, you and I. That scares people, makes them jealous."
I think those words of wisdom reflect the story's themes.
worldbuilding
The blurbs compare it to the show Firefly and I think that is apt. There's a Chinese influence that gives Firefly a very distinct flavor. In this book, the worldbuilding is tinged with a Japanese influence. This pops up in a few ways. Some characters wear a yukata, a Japanese robe similar to a kimono, and characters never cuss in English, only in Japanese. Characters frequently give thanks for their food by saying itadakimasu. There are also Japanese mannerisms and cultural practices, such as characters not wearing outside shoes indoors. The overall feel of this is one of cultural diffusion: we learn in the book that there were a number of Japanese people who were involved with the early colonies, so it makes sense that their culture - or elements thereof - would spread around the galaxy.
Other aspects of the worldbuilding that stood out to me include the type of government that the galaxy is ruled by. It is a stratocracy a "military-run federation," the book says. The leader of the stratocracy is the general in command, the main character Aurelia's adopted father. Politics is rarely interesting in fiction, yet we see enough detail for how it all works for it to be intriguing rather than a slog.
And that is a common motif in this book: we get enough worldbuilding detail to be intrigued, to flesh out the world and make it feel real, rather than getting bogged down in minutiae. The details are always vibrant, never trivial, so on the rare occasion when we do get a small data dump, it feels interesting and necessary rather than boring.
Conclusion
There's so much to enjoy with this book. I would recommend this to those who like action-packed sci-fi with heart. I think it might also appeal to those who are new to the genre.
February 20, 2023
When I read the description for this book I thought it could go one of two ways and if it is done well this will be really great. I am so glad I decided to give it a shot because I loved it! It was a really fun read. I couldn't put it down.
It's full of action and adventure but Layne also captures the very real internal struggles Auri is facing.
If you like high fantasy style sci-fi, witty banter, will they won't they vibes, and plenty of action then definitely check this one out. I can't wait for book two!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's full of action and adventure but Layne also captures the very real internal struggles Auri is facing.
If you like high fantasy style sci-fi, witty banter, will they won't they vibes, and plenty of action then definitely check this one out. I can't wait for book two!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2023
I just have to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me get this arc. The synopsis dragged me in and the characters kept me hooked. I kind of predicted that Aurelias dad was covering stuff up and felt like she was too trusting of her adopted brother. Which if I'm being honest kind of gave me the ick knowing she was in love with him. But the found family vibes of the crew on the Kestrel felt like a warm hug. And there are some tense moments in here that had me staying up till midnight to finish. This was phenomenal.
March 9, 2023
This book is an exciting sci-fi adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You are thrown into the action from the very beginning and tensions are high, even in some of the quieter moments. It definitely meets the marketing promise of being a fusion between Cinder and Firefly, but it somewhat pushes the edges of being a little too derivative. That being said, the world is interesting and I wanted to spend time exploring it along with the characters.
May 4, 2023
I really really liked this book, however, I didn't know it was the beginning of a series. The story is a great intro, but that's what it feels like. It didn't quite feel like a full story arc for me. Maybe a little more meat and relationships between the characters or establishment of the world?
That being said, please don't think I didn't like it, I very much plan to buy and read the next book. I just wasn't expecting a series at the start.
That being said, please don't think I didn't like it, I very much plan to buy and read the next book. I just wasn't expecting a series at the start.
July 21, 2023
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wonderful action packed Science Fiction YA.
The characters are entertaining with an engaging story.
This was one I did not want to put down.
This is a wonderful action packed Science Fiction YA.
The characters are entertaining with an engaging story.
This was one I did not want to put down.
September 26, 2023
Firefly meets the Lost Colony of Roanoke in this fast-paced space adventure with amazing characters and an edge-of-your-seat mystery. Such a great read!
March 22, 2023
I received a free ARC, but this review is my honest opinion of the book
Rating: 4.5 stars
Of Starlight and Bone was a fun and exciting space adventure with solid worldbuilding and a likable set of characters.
I tend to read more fantasy than science fiction, I haven’t read a book with a main character who is a cyborg since Cinder, so I was excited to read this. The world-building in this book was done well. I appreciated the interesting mix of Japanese culture in a futuristic setting and the depiction of prejudice against cyborgs.
Aurelia was a likable main character who had an interesting backstory. Besides Aurelia was a loveable crew who were developed enough so they were memorable and not too cliché.
The mystery and the plot were interesting, and I would definitely be interested in reading future books.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Of Starlight and Bone was a fun and exciting space adventure with solid worldbuilding and a likable set of characters.
I tend to read more fantasy than science fiction, I haven’t read a book with a main character who is a cyborg since Cinder, so I was excited to read this. The world-building in this book was done well. I appreciated the interesting mix of Japanese culture in a futuristic setting and the depiction of prejudice against cyborgs.
Aurelia was a likable main character who had an interesting backstory. Besides Aurelia was a loveable crew who were developed enough so they were memorable and not too cliché.
The mystery and the plot were interesting, and I would definitely be interested in reading future books.
May 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this fast-paced YA space opera. It was zippy and fun. It had so much to love–space zombies, cyborgs, a rag-tag crew, government corruption, adventure, and a growing found-family. There were also hints at a slow-burn romance subplot to come. Being of Japanese ancestry myself, I liked the nods to Japanese culture and the idea that people had traveled to this solar system from Japan and America in the distant past.
If there was anything that pulled me out of the story a little, it was the spelling of Japanese words. This is such a minor item, but the romanji spellings were slightly different than I might imagine, and I found myself wishing the hiragana or katakana was there (of course, this would make the book much less accessible to someone with no knowledge of the language, so I’m not sure why I am even mentioning it!).
The bottom line: Overall, the secrets that slowly unraveled left me eager to start the second book in the series and see where Auri and her new friends go next. Good thing I don’t have long to wait!
— NOTES —
Genres: YA science fiction, space opera
POV: third-person
Content: cannibalism, violence, injuries, on-page death, suicide
Romance: kissing
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 5
Enjoyment: 5
Craft: 4
Gut: 4
Total: 4.5
If there was anything that pulled me out of the story a little, it was the spelling of Japanese words. This is such a minor item, but the romanji spellings were slightly different than I might imagine, and I found myself wishing the hiragana or katakana was there (of course, this would make the book much less accessible to someone with no knowledge of the language, so I’m not sure why I am even mentioning it!).
The bottom line: Overall, the secrets that slowly unraveled left me eager to start the second book in the series and see where Auri and her new friends go next. Good thing I don’t have long to wait!
— NOTES —
Genres: YA science fiction, space opera
POV: third-person
Content: cannibalism, violence, injuries, on-page death, suicide
Romance: kissing
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 5
Enjoyment: 5
Craft: 4
Gut: 4
Total: 4.5
March 7, 2023
If you're looking for your next YA Sci-fi read, look no further!
I loved this book! Aurelia is a cyborg living in a world prejudiced against her. I loved her resiliency and how she kept on fighting to find the truth instead of accepting what others told her. Along the way we get to know her working dog, an adorable poodle named Birdie, and I absolutely loved her as a side character.
The story went along at a nice pace with a good mix of action, suspense, big reveals, and meaningful moments. I couldn't get enough of Aurelia's interactions with the mysterious captain Malachi. Looking forward to more of that in book 2!
Read if you like lots of spacey action, mystery, cool tech, found family, and slow burn romance.
I loved this book! Aurelia is a cyborg living in a world prejudiced against her. I loved her resiliency and how she kept on fighting to find the truth instead of accepting what others told her. Along the way we get to know her working dog, an adorable poodle named Birdie, and I absolutely loved her as a side character.
The story went along at a nice pace with a good mix of action, suspense, big reveals, and meaningful moments. I couldn't get enough of Aurelia's interactions with the mysterious captain Malachi. Looking forward to more of that in book 2!
Read if you like lots of spacey action, mystery, cool tech, found family, and slow burn romance.
June 26, 2023
This was fast-paced and propulsive. I was also a lot more bloody/violent than I would have thought so I believe it to be best suited for older teens. Along with Cinder, The Walking Dead should have also been in the comparison and would have prepared me for some of the story. It took some time to get introduced to the “team”/ band of misfits but they ended up being my favorite part. It left with a lot of questions which will make you want the sequel. Dog lovers will be happy with this story.
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted ecopy. All views expressed are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted ecopy. All views expressed are my own.
June 5, 2024
Loved this page-turner! Auri is such a fantastic and relatable heroine-- a cyborg with depth and heart. And I adore her dog sidekick! This unique and gripping story is brimming with suspense, mystery, love, and a touch of horror. I was sucked right in and can't wait for the second installment!
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