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Earth United #1
The Brighter the Stars
Caught between love and revenge, Jake has one chance to live up to the man his uncle was.
Earth crashed into interstellar politics as a lightweight, lagging so far behind other planetary weapons systems everyone feared they wouldn't survive first contact with other worlds without quick action. By 2185, Earth had united itself into five geographic sectors and developed a defense system powerful enough to keep aggressors at bay-for now, at least.
Jake Saunders became a Legion soldier to honor the memory of his war hero uncle, who was brutally murdered in front of him when he was still a young teen. Fast forward a few years, and Jake and his best friend Cal have been tasked with escorting Cal's older sister Diane to become Earth's ambassador on a far-off planet. It's the opportunity of Diane's career, very likely a lifetime post. But for Jake, that could mean a lifetime's heartbreak. He has loved Diane since they were kids, and every step closer to that ambassador assignment is a step closer to goodbye.
But somebody is after more than Earth's defense, and Jake, Cal, and Diane are on a trajectory to crash headlong into that dangerous plot. Somebody wants to play Earth against its most immediate threat, Craton, and convince both to develop super weapons-and he's working with the person who killed Jake's uncle all those years ago. When he reappears on Jake, Cal, and Diane's journey to the ambassadorship, Jake is faced with difficult choices to look out for his friends and honor his uncle's memory.
Earth crashed into interstellar politics as a lightweight, lagging so far behind other planetary weapons systems everyone feared they wouldn't survive first contact with other worlds without quick action. By 2185, Earth had united itself into five geographic sectors and developed a defense system powerful enough to keep aggressors at bay-for now, at least.
Jake Saunders became a Legion soldier to honor the memory of his war hero uncle, who was brutally murdered in front of him when he was still a young teen. Fast forward a few years, and Jake and his best friend Cal have been tasked with escorting Cal's older sister Diane to become Earth's ambassador on a far-off planet. It's the opportunity of Diane's career, very likely a lifetime post. But for Jake, that could mean a lifetime's heartbreak. He has loved Diane since they were kids, and every step closer to that ambassador assignment is a step closer to goodbye.
But somebody is after more than Earth's defense, and Jake, Cal, and Diane are on a trajectory to crash headlong into that dangerous plot. Somebody wants to play Earth against its most immediate threat, Craton, and convince both to develop super weapons-and he's working with the person who killed Jake's uncle all those years ago. When he reappears on Jake, Cal, and Diane's journey to the ambassadorship, Jake is faced with difficult choices to look out for his friends and honor his uncle's memory.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2020
2226 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Prosek
6 books115 followersBryan Prosek is a science fiction, action thriller, and mystery writer. His first three novels, The Brighter the Stars and The Darker the Skies of his Earth United trilogy, and A Measure of Serenity, have been published by CamCat Publishing. His fourth novel, Return to Yesterday’s Tomorrow, is available on Amazon. When he isn’t writing, you can probably find him watching action, dystopian, and science fiction movies or television shows. He loves the big screen and the small screen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 18, 2022
The Brighter the Stars takes place almost two hundred years in the future and it's a story of loss and revenge, but also of love and redemption. It's a class A space adventure, one I was pulled into right from the beginning.
The story follows Jake Saunders, eight years after he witnessed his uncle's murder. He is now one of the best and brightest members of The Legion and together with his best friend Cal, they're sent to escort Earth's new ambassador on a mission. Said ambassador is not only Cal's sister, but also Jake's love interest, Diane.
Things get complicated quickly, as the three get in the middle of a big conspiracy that might lead to our planet's destruction.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the adventurous narrative, as well as Prosek's way of handling the technology/science aspects in the story. Would recommend to sci-fi fans of all ages.
Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of The Brighter the Stars in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Jake Saunders, eight years after he witnessed his uncle's murder. He is now one of the best and brightest members of The Legion and together with his best friend Cal, they're sent to escort Earth's new ambassador on a mission. Said ambassador is not only Cal's sister, but also Jake's love interest, Diane.
Things get complicated quickly, as the three get in the middle of a big conspiracy that might lead to our planet's destruction.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the adventurous narrative, as well as Prosek's way of handling the technology/science aspects in the story. Would recommend to sci-fi fans of all ages.
Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of The Brighter the Stars in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2021
I am not normally a sci-fi reader, but The Brighter the Stars pulled me in. It's a story of loss, adventure, vengeance, redemption and love. Jake is a very sympathetic character that I couldn't help but root for after everything he'd been through in his life. If you like a story with honorable characters (and realistic "bad guys") and surprising and engrossing twists and turns, this is the book for you!
February 7, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Brighter the Stars in exchange for an honest review.
The Brighter the Stars is clearly a well thought out sci-fi, but I unfortunately think that's part of the problem here. It's not necessarily short for a YA novel, but definitely for a sci-fi one since sci-fi tends to be longer to account for world building. Because of that, I was assuming this was going to have little to nothing on the world building front, but it has just as much, if not more, than some 500+ page sci-fi's I've read and it really hurts the narration.
We open with world building exposition followed by a prologue followed by more world building exposition to try and fit in everything we need to know. The narration also becomes very blunt and unemotional to try and fit in all the intricacies of the world. This book needed to either be a lot longer, or a lot more simplistic.
The Brighter the Stars is clearly a well thought out sci-fi, but I unfortunately think that's part of the problem here. It's not necessarily short for a YA novel, but definitely for a sci-fi one since sci-fi tends to be longer to account for world building. Because of that, I was assuming this was going to have little to nothing on the world building front, but it has just as much, if not more, than some 500+ page sci-fi's I've read and it really hurts the narration.
We open with world building exposition followed by a prologue followed by more world building exposition to try and fit in everything we need to know. The narration also becomes very blunt and unemotional to try and fit in all the intricacies of the world. This book needed to either be a lot longer, or a lot more simplistic.
March 10, 2022
I received an audio ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The Brighter The Stars, is a YA sci-fi novel with an expansive intergalctic civilizations, and the political atmosphere regarding said civilizations.
The book stars with a clever infodump, but an infodump none the less. We receive information about the current atmosphere through an infodump and the quasimagical substances (crystals in this book) and the world building has been infodumped through the lens of a videogame. It is a clever way to provide an infodump but what would be cleverer is to avoid it altogether.
The Synopsis does a better job than I could do to summarize the book, so I am simply doing to defer to it, and just talk about my opinions on it.
After reading the book, I would say that the appropriate age range for the audience would be 12-15. Yes this book is "YA" but it's younger YA. This is a very clean book, and I'd say it would be a decent introduction to sci-fi, for younger audiences.
The plot line is very straight forward, and the dialogue is clean; bordering on cartoonish. As were the Political leaders. This sentiment of mine was amplified by the performance of the narrator, as he narrated the dialogues.
The villain is a bad guy and would threaten to kill, but unfortunately the book seems to have a plot armour bigger than the stars. Everything works out in short succession so it wasn't very entertaining for me tbh, but I really do hope it would be so, for younger readers.
None of these are any valid reasons for me to rate this book a 2 stars. I was simply not the intended audience, and I respect that. I would give this a 3 star and move on with my life, except for one small thing that irked me.
Diana faced a hostage situation. I dont really know if putting the only female member of the group and one of the most skilled at that, in a hostage situation would make for an appealing story for the current generation. Diane and Cal, the side characters would simply have made more sense and made for a more interesting story. We would see Jake sabotaging his captors from the inside and we could see the drama going on in Earth, through Cal and Diane's perspective.
I still rate this 2.5 stars and would've typically rounded it up if not for this plot decision.
The Brighter The Stars, is a YA sci-fi novel with an expansive intergalctic civilizations, and the political atmosphere regarding said civilizations.
The book stars with a clever infodump, but an infodump none the less. We receive information about the current atmosphere through an infodump and the quasimagical substances (crystals in this book) and the world building has been infodumped through the lens of a videogame. It is a clever way to provide an infodump but what would be cleverer is to avoid it altogether.
The Synopsis does a better job than I could do to summarize the book, so I am simply doing to defer to it, and just talk about my opinions on it.
After reading the book, I would say that the appropriate age range for the audience would be 12-15. Yes this book is "YA" but it's younger YA. This is a very clean book, and I'd say it would be a decent introduction to sci-fi, for younger audiences.
The plot line is very straight forward, and the dialogue is clean; bordering on cartoonish. As were the Political leaders. This sentiment of mine was amplified by the performance of the narrator, as he narrated the dialogues.
The villain is a bad guy and would threaten to kill, but unfortunately the book seems to have a plot armour bigger than the stars. Everything works out in short succession so it wasn't very entertaining for me tbh, but I really do hope it would be so, for younger readers.
None of these are any valid reasons for me to rate this book a 2 stars. I was simply not the intended audience, and I respect that. I would give this a 3 star and move on with my life, except for one small thing that irked me.
Diana faced a hostage situation. I dont really know if putting the only female member of the group and one of the most skilled at that, in a hostage situation would make for an appealing story for the current generation. Diane and Cal, the side characters would simply have made more sense and made for a more interesting story. We would see Jake sabotaging his captors from the inside and we could see the drama going on in Earth, through Cal and Diane's perspective.
I still rate this 2.5 stars and would've typically rounded it up if not for this plot decision.
April 10, 2022
A young man in love who is determined to save his beloved when she's taken and, in the process, to save his reputation and his nation. A perfectly fine and derivative SF story of youth, love, and friendship.
The audio narration didn't help in making the story feel distinct, but I guess that's not the job of the narrator.
A 2.5 star read rounded down.
The audio narration didn't help in making the story feel distinct, but I guess that's not the job of the narrator.
A 2.5 star read rounded down.
December 5, 2022
I don’t know if it was fatigue or stress or what, but I really was worried how this book was going to go when I first started it. I also struggled with an important character being named Jack and a main character named Jake. It definitely confused me more than once in the beginning!
I am happy to report, by chapter three; I was fully invested in the storyline and the characters. In hindsight, I also fully understand the purpose of everything that came before chapter three. It was important information; I just didn’t realize it! (In my defense, it is a young adult futuristic sci-fi feeling storyline so it’s definitely not my normal genre!)
I do have to add, I was told the content rating was “PG. It’s very clean.” It is clean by way of adult content, foul language, and whatever else parents may concern themselves about. The one – and I mean one – area that I found ‘not very clean’ was the violence. There are roughly three ‘battle’ scenes that I personally felt were a little intense (or maybe I just have a really good imagination!) The first ‘battle scene’ could also be slightly triggering. If violence doesn’t bother you or your young adult who plans to read this; then no worries.
Aside from the few ‘battle scenes’; The Brighter the Stars had conspiracy, action, comradery, suspense and a hint of romance – who wouldn’t like it!?
I love figuring out mysteries and have to tell you – my jaw was literally on the ground when this mystery was solved! (Those are always the best mysteries!)
I don’t want to spoil anything, but I have to tell you, I am fully invested in Jake, Cal, and Diane and cannot wait read to read book two to see how this all continues!
I am happy to report, by chapter three; I was fully invested in the storyline and the characters. In hindsight, I also fully understand the purpose of everything that came before chapter three. It was important information; I just didn’t realize it! (In my defense, it is a young adult futuristic sci-fi feeling storyline so it’s definitely not my normal genre!)
I do have to add, I was told the content rating was “PG. It’s very clean.” It is clean by way of adult content, foul language, and whatever else parents may concern themselves about. The one – and I mean one – area that I found ‘not very clean’ was the violence. There are roughly three ‘battle’ scenes that I personally felt were a little intense (or maybe I just have a really good imagination!) The first ‘battle scene’ could also be slightly triggering. If violence doesn’t bother you or your young adult who plans to read this; then no worries.
Aside from the few ‘battle scenes’; The Brighter the Stars had conspiracy, action, comradery, suspense and a hint of romance – who wouldn’t like it!?
I love figuring out mysteries and have to tell you – my jaw was literally on the ground when this mystery was solved! (Those are always the best mysteries!)
I don’t want to spoil anything, but I have to tell you, I am fully invested in Jake, Cal, and Diane and cannot wait read to read book two to see how this all continues!
December 5, 2022
The Brighter the Stars is a great start to the Earth United series. It is a wonderful way to be introduced to the writings of the talented Bryan Prosek. It was a fun journey to go one hundred and sixty years into the future. I am not a huge fan of the science fiction genre but I was quickly interested in this story. I was quite the adventure to take with the main characters, Jake, Diane and Cal. There were a lot of plot twists and turns that I could not have predictable. I liked the build up of some suspense in a few scenes. I never knew what would become of the characters from page to page. I had fun going on this adventure and the take what the Earth could possibly look like many years from now. It was entertaining read and nice surprise to try something new to read.
I am giving The Brighter the Stars four and a half stars. I believe readers who enjoy reading science fiction and young adult genres, will want to read this one. I am looking forward to reading the next book from the Earth United series, The Darker the Skies to see what happens next in the series and what else the talented author, Bryan Prosek has in store for his characters.
I received a paperback copy of The Brighter the Stars from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am giving The Brighter the Stars four and a half stars. I believe readers who enjoy reading science fiction and young adult genres, will want to read this one. I am looking forward to reading the next book from the Earth United series, The Darker the Skies to see what happens next in the series and what else the talented author, Bryan Prosek has in store for his characters.
I received a paperback copy of The Brighter the Stars from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
December 4, 2022
I’m not sure if The Brighter the Stars would be considered a space opera or a space western. There are elements of both in this Bryan Prosek young adult science fiction novel. It reminded me in many ways of the Star Wars stories. It is a space opera in the fact that there is a definite clash between good and evil that may relate to the fate of the galaxy. It has the feel of a western from the many references to old John Wayne movies by some of the characters and the similarities between the actions of the characters of the book and those of the movies.
I found the story to be well-written. It drew me in from the very beginning and I had a difficult time putting the book down. Prosek has created characters that readers will love or hate depending on the character. There is also a small amount of romance for those readers who like that thrown in - but not enough to chase away the non-romance people.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Brighter the Stars and look forward to the second book in the series.
I think The Brighter the Stars would make a great addition to the science fiction section of a K-12 Christian school (or any school) library. It will appeal to science fiction nerds and is appropriate for middle school and up. There are some battle scenes similar to what you’d find in a Star Wars movie.
I received a complimentary copy of The Brighter the Stars. This is my honest review.
I found the story to be well-written. It drew me in from the very beginning and I had a difficult time putting the book down. Prosek has created characters that readers will love or hate depending on the character. There is also a small amount of romance for those readers who like that thrown in - but not enough to chase away the non-romance people.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Brighter the Stars and look forward to the second book in the series.
I think The Brighter the Stars would make a great addition to the science fiction section of a K-12 Christian school (or any school) library. It will appeal to science fiction nerds and is appropriate for middle school and up. There are some battle scenes similar to what you’d find in a Star Wars movie.
I received a complimentary copy of The Brighter the Stars. This is my honest review.
November 28, 2022
The Author Builds the Earth United Series World in this Book. I had the opportunity to review the audiobook version of this book--and had some difficulty "seeing" the world that the author was building at first. I found myself listening a few times to the narration before settling into the characters and the story I was hearing. I think I was making the world more complex than it was--once I settled into the youthful characters' stories and the scenes that I was listening to--I enjoyed the interactions and the science fiction storyline.
The Brighter the Stars Brings Readers Action Packed Scenes. While the book felt a little short, it gave some resolution to the storyline at hand and hinted toward the future. It was well paced with interesting characters and enough side stories to keep me entertained through to the end and looking forward to Jake's future adventures and his love interest. The book does hold a lot of sci fi action and a little love interest--but, the author keeps it clean and appropriate for younger young adult readers.
Would I Recommend The Brighter the Stars by Bryan Prosek? It took me a bit to settle into the narration--but, once the characters and the plot began to develop, I enjoyed listening to the story. If you are seeking a clean science fiction adventure for younger young adults, this is an entertaining start to the series.
I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own.
The Brighter the Stars Brings Readers Action Packed Scenes. While the book felt a little short, it gave some resolution to the storyline at hand and hinted toward the future. It was well paced with interesting characters and enough side stories to keep me entertained through to the end and looking forward to Jake's future adventures and his love interest. The book does hold a lot of sci fi action and a little love interest--but, the author keeps it clean and appropriate for younger young adult readers.
Would I Recommend The Brighter the Stars by Bryan Prosek? It took me a bit to settle into the narration--but, once the characters and the plot began to develop, I enjoyed listening to the story. If you are seeking a clean science fiction adventure for younger young adults, this is an entertaining start to the series.
I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own.
February 28, 2021
Read more on my blog: https://www.mayasbookshelves.com/the-...
Once again, I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with this amazing opportunity to read this book. Bryan Prosek has such a unique and different writing style to what I’m used to, and it was really nice to read his book The Brighter The Stars. This is one of the first sci-fi novels I’ve read in quite a long time, so I have to admit, it did take me a while to get into, however, the storyline was super addicting and I became really into it which made me want to read 24/7.
Once again, I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with this amazing opportunity to read this book. Bryan Prosek has such a unique and different writing style to what I’m used to, and it was really nice to read his book The Brighter The Stars. This is one of the first sci-fi novels I’ve read in quite a long time, so I have to admit, it did take me a while to get into, however, the storyline was super addicting and I became really into it which made me want to read 24/7.
November 23, 2022
I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from iRead Book Tours. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
The Brighter the Stars begins with Jake when he’s a teen. He lives with his aunt and uncle because his parents died when he was little, so his uncle is like a dad to him. Horrifically, he witnesses his uncle’s death. This changes his life to the point that he’s obsessed with finding and exacting revenge on the murderer, a Cratonite.
Eight years later, Jake and his best friend, Cal, have enlisted and are tasked with taking Cal’s sister and Jake’s lifelong crush, Diane, to a distant planet which happens to be near Craton. That’s when the adventure truly begins with close calls, twists, fighting for their lives, and more.
The narrator was very good. His pace and voice worked for this story. I was able to tell the difference between the different characters by just a small change in his voice for each one.
I’ve always enjoyed young adult books and this one is no exception. It has young love, loss, action and more. I recommend The Brighter the Stars to young adults as well as adults who like sci-fi. I’m looking forward to listening to the next book, The Darker the Skies soon.
The Brighter the Stars begins with Jake when he’s a teen. He lives with his aunt and uncle because his parents died when he was little, so his uncle is like a dad to him. Horrifically, he witnesses his uncle’s death. This changes his life to the point that he’s obsessed with finding and exacting revenge on the murderer, a Cratonite.
Eight years later, Jake and his best friend, Cal, have enlisted and are tasked with taking Cal’s sister and Jake’s lifelong crush, Diane, to a distant planet which happens to be near Craton. That’s when the adventure truly begins with close calls, twists, fighting for their lives, and more.
The narrator was very good. His pace and voice worked for this story. I was able to tell the difference between the different characters by just a small change in his voice for each one.
I’ve always enjoyed young adult books and this one is no exception. It has young love, loss, action and more. I recommend The Brighter the Stars to young adults as well as adults who like sci-fi. I’m looking forward to listening to the next book, The Darker the Skies soon.
January 23, 2023
A thrilling beginning to a fun series. I read the second book first and loved it so much I had to come back and start at the beginning. The adventures of Jake, Cal and Diane are so exciting that I couldn't put the book down. If you like science fiction that deals with a future in space, I highly recommend you give this series a try!
June 1, 2021
Two hundred years in the future the Earth has finally united and entered a peaceful Galactic civilization. While society as a whole has improved, the lust for individual wealth and power remains a formidable threat to the fragile peace. Throw in a dose of young love and an aching desire for revenge and you’ve got The Brighter the Stars by Bryan Prosek.
Plot Summary
Eight years after witnessing the death of his beloved Uncle Ben (perhaps a subconscious reference to Spiderman?) during an audacious commando attack, Jake Saunders is a member of the Legion. Operating as mixture of military and police, the Legion protects the Earth from galactic enemies. Together with his best friend, Cal Danielson, Jake is assigned as the escort for the new ambassador to Earth’s most trusted ally. The ambassador is Cal’s older sister Diane and the love of Jake’s life. The mission quickly becomes more complicated as the young trio become enmeshed in a conspiracy that threatens Earth. Can the three junior Legion members unravel the mystery and save the Earth?
Style
This is a classic tale of an inexperienced young trio pressing beyond the limits of their training to meet an unprecedented challenge. Prosek deftly avoids falling into the trap of providing unnecessary details about future society and technology. There are several world building lead-ins for early chapters, which may annoy some readers. From my perspective this was a quick and efficient way for Prosek to provide essential background without impeding plot development. While this is a science fiction story, the author understands that the setting plays a supporting role to the characters. Prosek’s understated approach to technology avoids inundating the tale with technical jargon. Instead of trying to remember invented technologies, readers can focus on the plot twists and challenges each character faces.
Rating
The Brighter the Stars is military action adventure for young adults. It contains numerous descriptions of space battles and individual combat. Much like his approach to technology, Prosek handles these sequences with a delicate hand. His narrative weaves enough specifics for readers to paint a detailed picture without getting bogged down in gratuitous particulars. While young love is a central aspect of the story, there are no sexually explicit scenes, nor is there any foul language or drug use. With that in mind, if Hollywood turned The Brighter the Stars into a movie and remained true to the author’s vision, it would receive a PG rating. While targeted at Young Adults, I believe older Middle Grade science fiction readers would also enjoy it. I recommend this action-packed tale to anyone interested in a plot-twisting space adventure.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Plot Summary
Eight years after witnessing the death of his beloved Uncle Ben (perhaps a subconscious reference to Spiderman?) during an audacious commando attack, Jake Saunders is a member of the Legion. Operating as mixture of military and police, the Legion protects the Earth from galactic enemies. Together with his best friend, Cal Danielson, Jake is assigned as the escort for the new ambassador to Earth’s most trusted ally. The ambassador is Cal’s older sister Diane and the love of Jake’s life. The mission quickly becomes more complicated as the young trio become enmeshed in a conspiracy that threatens Earth. Can the three junior Legion members unravel the mystery and save the Earth?
Style
This is a classic tale of an inexperienced young trio pressing beyond the limits of their training to meet an unprecedented challenge. Prosek deftly avoids falling into the trap of providing unnecessary details about future society and technology. There are several world building lead-ins for early chapters, which may annoy some readers. From my perspective this was a quick and efficient way for Prosek to provide essential background without impeding plot development. While this is a science fiction story, the author understands that the setting plays a supporting role to the characters. Prosek’s understated approach to technology avoids inundating the tale with technical jargon. Instead of trying to remember invented technologies, readers can focus on the plot twists and challenges each character faces.
Rating
The Brighter the Stars is military action adventure for young adults. It contains numerous descriptions of space battles and individual combat. Much like his approach to technology, Prosek handles these sequences with a delicate hand. His narrative weaves enough specifics for readers to paint a detailed picture without getting bogged down in gratuitous particulars. While young love is a central aspect of the story, there are no sexually explicit scenes, nor is there any foul language or drug use. With that in mind, if Hollywood turned The Brighter the Stars into a movie and remained true to the author’s vision, it would receive a PG rating. While targeted at Young Adults, I believe older Middle Grade science fiction readers would also enjoy it. I recommend this action-packed tale to anyone interested in a plot-twisting space adventure.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
February 20, 2022
I read this thanks to NetGalley Thank you!
The Brighter the Stars tells the story of Jake, who we meet as a kid and leave as an adult. We are talking about future earth, the year 2185 when Earth after the discovery of some crystals -that can be used for curing and also for weapons-some war and interplanetary agreement joins into five sectors. Jake by accident is going to witness the death of his uncle -who was like a father to him- and ends up in a revenge quest.
This is an audiobook, but it felt really short, almost like a novella. For this, I felt like everything that happened, did very fast. Nevertheless, even if all the context that happened to this earth was explained very fast (as this had saga potential), the book was good and entertaining.
I felt like all the emotional development wasn't deeply described and just happened out of the actions, it was like action and then change, which I feel doesn't reflect how psychologically people work.
And I felt like the end was just like: plop, here you have it. A little bit open-ended, too much for me. But still is a good book and I recommend it.
The Brighter the Stars tells the story of Jake, who we meet as a kid and leave as an adult. We are talking about future earth, the year 2185 when Earth after the discovery of some crystals -that can be used for curing and also for weapons-some war and interplanetary agreement joins into five sectors. Jake by accident is going to witness the death of his uncle -who was like a father to him- and ends up in a revenge quest.
This is an audiobook, but it felt really short, almost like a novella. For this, I felt like everything that happened, did very fast. Nevertheless, even if all the context that happened to this earth was explained very fast (as this had saga potential), the book was good and entertaining.
I felt like all the emotional development wasn't deeply described and just happened out of the actions, it was like action and then change, which I feel doesn't reflect how psychologically people work.
And I felt like the end was just like: plop, here you have it. A little bit open-ended, too much for me. But still is a good book and I recommend it.
February 24, 2022
Extremely valuable alien plants that are coveted by thieves, weaponized by the military, and regulated as medicinal by the government lead to the death of Jake Saunder's uncle. Driven by pain and the need for revenge Jake joins the legion dreaming of the day when he can again meet his uncle’s killer. Years after his uncle’s death, Jake and his fellow legionnaires leave on a simple transport mission not knowing that the fate of the earth will soon rest in their hands and he might actually get his chance.
I enjoyed this sci-fi story. It moved at a quick pace, had exciting action scenes, space travel, and scary aliens. The main characters had some depth and heart to them making me root for their mission’s success and the lover’s happiness. There was some political mystery and intrigue that kept me guessing at the bad guy’s identity. The narrator did a decent job, but some of the voices he used made the story skew young which may or may not be the intention. Overall it was a fun read.
I enjoyed this sci-fi story. It moved at a quick pace, had exciting action scenes, space travel, and scary aliens. The main characters had some depth and heart to them making me root for their mission’s success and the lover’s happiness. There was some political mystery and intrigue that kept me guessing at the bad guy’s identity. The narrator did a decent job, but some of the voices he used made the story skew young which may or may not be the intention. Overall it was a fun read.
February 17, 2022
From the beginning, I thought that this book was going to be about Sloane and I am glad that it is not. I loved the motivation that Jake had to train to be the best that the Legion has to offer, even though the events that precede are incredibly tragic. It is mostly a plan for revenge, fought in space, while the main characters are on the run from the law. It was interesting to see how the characters dealt with issues of morality and what they could do to save the people that they loved. I wished the blind man had been in the story a little bit more, like showing up around the time of the big climax of the story. I feel like he could have played a bigger role. I could see a lot of change in the characters throughout the book, it was nice to see them think instead of being crazy and doing whatever they wanted. It was a different kind of sci fi and I really enjoyed it.
February 13, 2022
The Brighter the Stars
by Bryan K. Prosek
This is a great story about the human nature and the stars. Jake Saunders is a loyal soldier who finds that his grief has colored the lines of his life. He wants to avenge his uncles death, that by circumstance he watched unable to help. The mystery of the attack on Earth, taking a crystal of great power, has put Earth in trouble. Saunders is assigned to aid his oldest friend as his hearts desire is assigned as a emissary. This brings to light the plot that not only caused his uncles death, but also the risk to Earth. Looking at human nature, how would you respond to similar circumstance?
by Bryan K. Prosek
This is a great story about the human nature and the stars. Jake Saunders is a loyal soldier who finds that his grief has colored the lines of his life. He wants to avenge his uncles death, that by circumstance he watched unable to help. The mystery of the attack on Earth, taking a crystal of great power, has put Earth in trouble. Saunders is assigned to aid his oldest friend as his hearts desire is assigned as a emissary. This brings to light the plot that not only caused his uncles death, but also the risk to Earth. Looking at human nature, how would you respond to similar circumstance?
February 10, 2022
Got a audiobook via NetGalley and I loved it. Great space adventure and will read the sequel when it comes out in the fall.
May 5, 2022
This is an intense, detailed YA sci-fi book. Great interweaving of action, technology, and even a little romance. I'm super intrigued by that ending, and where it's going to lead in book two!
March 16, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and CamCat Books for providing a copy of The Brighter the Stars
by Bryan Prosek in exchange for an honest review.
The Brighter the Stars is a YA Sci-Fi story reminiscent of Star Wars, Star Trek, or The Illuminae Files. It follows
Jake Saunders, a Legion soldier who fights to honor his Uncles legacy and prove that he can protect Earth against the same alien aggressors who killed his beloved family member. Jake joins his friend Cal and Cal's sister (and secret crush) Diane on a journey to another planet for a political assignment when things quickly devolve into a fight for their lives. Jake must decide who to trust and whether to fight for those he loves or for revenge.
Set in 2185 Earth is only a small part of a bigger universe full of different planets and species. The author does a good job of world building and setting up the lore of the story in a short burst. This story was shorter than I expected but it still had a feeling of resolution at the end. I enjoyed learning about the crystals, different planets, political parties, and other unique aspects of this universe. The characters were a bit two dimensional but they did show growth as the story progressed. I like the parallel of Jake to other characters who have felt the need to avenge a loved ones death. He was immediately likeable and showed honor and loyalty throughout the tale. Other characters like the president and some of the legion officials had interesting side stories that helped propel the narrative along. Romance was hinted at but not pervasive, making this a good read for teens and young YA readers.
The Brighter the Stars was narrated by Joel Simler, who did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. His voice for the characters and effects was the perfect mix of clear and rumbling which made you feel like you were watching an epic Sci-fi movie.
This audiobook got three stars for interesting world building and likeable characters with a satisfying ending.
#TheBrightertheStars #NetGalley #BryanProsek
by Bryan Prosek in exchange for an honest review.
The Brighter the Stars is a YA Sci-Fi story reminiscent of Star Wars, Star Trek, or The Illuminae Files. It follows
Jake Saunders, a Legion soldier who fights to honor his Uncles legacy and prove that he can protect Earth against the same alien aggressors who killed his beloved family member. Jake joins his friend Cal and Cal's sister (and secret crush) Diane on a journey to another planet for a political assignment when things quickly devolve into a fight for their lives. Jake must decide who to trust and whether to fight for those he loves or for revenge.
Set in 2185 Earth is only a small part of a bigger universe full of different planets and species. The author does a good job of world building and setting up the lore of the story in a short burst. This story was shorter than I expected but it still had a feeling of resolution at the end. I enjoyed learning about the crystals, different planets, political parties, and other unique aspects of this universe. The characters were a bit two dimensional but they did show growth as the story progressed. I like the parallel of Jake to other characters who have felt the need to avenge a loved ones death. He was immediately likeable and showed honor and loyalty throughout the tale. Other characters like the president and some of the legion officials had interesting side stories that helped propel the narrative along. Romance was hinted at but not pervasive, making this a good read for teens and young YA readers.
The Brighter the Stars was narrated by Joel Simler, who did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. His voice for the characters and effects was the perfect mix of clear and rumbling which made you feel like you were watching an epic Sci-fi movie.
This audiobook got three stars for interesting world building and likeable characters with a satisfying ending.
#TheBrightertheStars #NetGalley #BryanProsek
March 7, 2022
Since gaining the ability to travel outside the solar system, Earth has found themselves behind many alien races. This caused humanity to unite, with one government and army/police force. After twelve-year-old Jake watches his beloved uncle get killed by the leader from another planet, he trains to become a Legion soldier while dreaming of getting revenge for his uncle’s death. When Jake and his best friend Cal are tasked with accompanying Cal’s older sister, Diane, on whom Jake has always had a crush, to an appointment as an ambassador on a faraway planet, they are asked to detour to the planet Jake’s uncle’s murderer lives on, Jake is torn between the desire to protect Diane and the desire to get revenge.
It was an interesting plot, but I felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing within the story. Despite the fact that I generally love stories with romantic storylines, whether as the main plot or a sideline, I felt this story gained nothing by adding Jake’s crush on Diane. It seemed like it was there just to check “the guy gets the girl” off at the end of the story. This is a YA sci-fi novel. I think that it would be a good book for younger teens who enjoy sci-fi; I just don’t think it will have the crossover appeal for adults. The youth of Jake and Cal came through clearly in Joel Simler’s narration of the audiobook.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
It was an interesting plot, but I felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing within the story. Despite the fact that I generally love stories with romantic storylines, whether as the main plot or a sideline, I felt this story gained nothing by adding Jake’s crush on Diane. It seemed like it was there just to check “the guy gets the girl” off at the end of the story. This is a YA sci-fi novel. I think that it would be a good book for younger teens who enjoy sci-fi; I just don’t think it will have the crossover appeal for adults. The youth of Jake and Cal came through clearly in Joel Simler’s narration of the audiobook.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
March 9, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley.
Jake and Cal have been friends since childhood and are now soldiers for Earth United. Jake saw his uncle killed during an attack on earth to steal a crystal that can power weapons or cure cancer. That experience has shaped Jake into who he is now.
The book is fast paced, succinctly tells the backstory and introduces the main characters. Jake and Cal have a fun dynamic, easy banter, and established rapport. Lots of action sequences that are explained well without being overly drawn out.
My only complaint would be that the only female characters are kind of throw away characters. One is the love interest who almost seems like an afterthought. Beautiful and smart obviously but not a lot of depth and the relationship is rushed and unrealistic.
Otherwise a fun fast read with spaceships and best friends. Also fun for me we’re the references to John Wayne westerns that I watched with my dad.
Jake and Cal have been friends since childhood and are now soldiers for Earth United. Jake saw his uncle killed during an attack on earth to steal a crystal that can power weapons or cure cancer. That experience has shaped Jake into who he is now.
The book is fast paced, succinctly tells the backstory and introduces the main characters. Jake and Cal have a fun dynamic, easy banter, and established rapport. Lots of action sequences that are explained well without being overly drawn out.
My only complaint would be that the only female characters are kind of throw away characters. One is the love interest who almost seems like an afterthought. Beautiful and smart obviously but not a lot of depth and the relationship is rushed and unrealistic.
Otherwise a fun fast read with spaceships and best friends. Also fun for me we’re the references to John Wayne westerns that I watched with my dad.
June 7, 2022
This was a fairly easy listen. It started very well and I was really engaged, however, throughout the book I found myself feeling a little underwhelmed.
I feel like there could have been so much more expansion on the plot. Typically Sci-Fi is around 400-500 pages to allow for a sufficient picture to be built via world building, for this genre is pretty important to set the scene and unfortunately this fell a little short for me.
It was a fair listen and I’m sure Sci-Fi fans who enjoy a YA would find this pleasant.
I’d like to thank NetGalley & CamCat Books for a copy of the audiobook in return for an honest review.
I feel like there could have been so much more expansion on the plot. Typically Sci-Fi is around 400-500 pages to allow for a sufficient picture to be built via world building, for this genre is pretty important to set the scene and unfortunately this fell a little short for me.
It was a fair listen and I’m sure Sci-Fi fans who enjoy a YA would find this pleasant.
I’d like to thank NetGalley & CamCat Books for a copy of the audiobook in return for an honest review.
February 25, 2022
I enjoyed this story, it was fast paced and different. I really liked the narrator, I could clearly tell the difference in the characters and it fun to listen to.
Overall the story was good and I liked it, but felt it was missing something to make me love it. I however, have no idea what I needed to bump it up into the love category.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook. This is my honest voluntary review.
Overall the story was good and I liked it, but felt it was missing something to make me love it. I however, have no idea what I needed to bump it up into the love category.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook. This is my honest voluntary review.
February 3, 2021
I guess you're allowed to review your own book, which is what I'm doing here. Of course, I have to give it five stars. The Brighter the Stars is a fast paced, fun science fiction adventure, set in our Milky Way galaxy. It has an element of love, as well as a government conspiracy, and the hero has to fight against all odds. You can check out more details on my website at www.bryankprosek.com
February 15, 2022
Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audiobook.
This was good, I just didn't get into it as much as I thought I would. Some nice world building, but it felt crammed in at the beginning. The characters were mostly well written, with only a few moments that annoyed me. The narrator did a good job. I would be willing to read more to see what happens!
This was good, I just didn't get into it as much as I thought I would. Some nice world building, but it felt crammed in at the beginning. The characters were mostly well written, with only a few moments that annoyed me. The narrator did a good job. I would be willing to read more to see what happens!
March 6, 2022
The Brighter the stars is a good sci-fi story. It was rather slow to start for me, but about halfway through, I began to enjoy the story. There was a little too much politics for my taste, but the world building and characters were great. I enjoyed the action scenes, and the romance between Jake and Diane. I also enjoyed the narration and it was a fun listen for me.
June 29, 2022
*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I am not a huge fan of scifi or anything space related but i have been known to like one now and again thanks to netgalley, this was not bad but was not one of the magical ones that made me think "Why don't i read more of this" but i would recommend this to ppl who like that kind of stuff
March 8, 2023
Enjoyable, but a little slow. I liked the characters and it had some twists, which I always love. I won this book in a giveaway so giving my unbiased opinion. If it moved along just a little faster I might of enjoyed it more. The story was a good concept. I just wish it would of moved along faster or had more adventure in it.
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