What do you think?
Rate this book
The Starless #5
Moonlit
Several years after the Temorshian-Earth War, the Galaxy is at peace. La’Mursians, Temorshians, and Humans have started working together alongside the Galactic Court to bring stability and prosperity to citizens of their three worlds. Although harmony begins to blossom, a rebellious faction emerges and tests the newly formed bonds between the three planets. As discontent grows, Layla Aves and Glaklin Lerd are asked to step in and help facilitate a truce.
Layla Aves has finally achieved her dreams, and as she eagerly awaits her assignment for her next mission, she pushes away her growing terror that someone will find out she’s not fit for her new role. As she tries to navigate her inner turmoil, she quickly realizes that her dearest friend, Glaklin Lerd, might be able to help her in more ways than one.
Glaklin Lerd has always held a special place in his heart for Layla Aves. He would never let it get in the way of their close friendship, but part of him wonders what could be if he was brave enough to voice his true feelings.
As alliances are tested, can love conquer all or will it unravel everything they’ve all worked so hard for?
Layla Aves has finally achieved her dreams, and as she eagerly awaits her assignment for her next mission, she pushes away her growing terror that someone will find out she’s not fit for her new role. As she tries to navigate her inner turmoil, she quickly realizes that her dearest friend, Glaklin Lerd, might be able to help her in more ways than one.
Glaklin Lerd has always held a special place in his heart for Layla Aves. He would never let it get in the way of their close friendship, but part of him wonders what could be if he was brave enough to voice his true feelings.
As alliances are tested, can love conquer all or will it unravel everything they’ve all worked so hard for?
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2022
4 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Heuwagen
5 books42 followersSamantha Heuwagen works as a Marriage and Family Therapist that specializes in Sex Therapy in Atlanta, GA. She is a graduate of Mercer University School of Medicine where she earned her second Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her first Master’s degree is in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of South Florida where she first realized her passion for sex education and the power of the written word. When she isn’t working with clients, she writes about faraway places and tries to change the world through fiction bridging mental health awareness and social justice together.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Read
September 19, 2022I was graciously offered an ARC copy in exchange for a review.
Moonlit is a sci-fi romance set in the Starless Series Universe. I strongly suggest reading the others in this series before reading this one. (While it isn’t strictly necessary, I think it’ll greatly enhance your enjoyment of this book!)
After the war with the Temorshians, Earth is rebuilding. Humans and La’Mursians are working hard diplomatically to make it work with Temorshia. Among these dedicated diplomats are Layla Aves and Glaklin Lerd, two people who experienced the ward first hand. Since their time together on Earth, the human (Layla) and La’Mursian (Glaklin) have been dancing around each other as friends until this diplomatic mission brings them together on the same planet.
I really enjoyed that this romance was based on a solid foundation of friendship. Our two leads had to learn how to communicate and compromise, as any people do, but they already knew many of the things that were important to each other. For example, Layla didn’t sacrifice her career goals for romance. Glaklin is very aware of how much Layla believes in this mission and never once tries to change that, even if his idea of how to proceed doesn’t match hers. Layla sticks to her principles the whole way through.
The book doesn’t shy away from the difficult parts of war. Sexual assault and PTSD for example, so please read with care. The author is sensitive to these topics and handles them well, but they may be triggering to some. I appreciated how she discussed and navigated Glaklin’s anxiety around sex, body image and consent. It’s not often you seem male anxiety portrayed with such nuance and consideration.
If you like space, sexy aliens, headstrong women with hearts of gold, and some great mental health rep, this book could be for you!
August 28, 2022
For those wishing for a love interest who doesn't fit the popular "dark haired and morally grey" mold, for those who are a little alien-curious, for those craving a wholesome romance with delicious spice and achingly real stakes, run don't walk -- you need Moonlit!
This is a character driven story that will make you fall in love with everyone, from the MC to the tertiary characters. And while it's light on sci-fi (Layla, our heroine, is in galactic post-war politics), there's just enough world building and alien lore to give our characters a fully realized world in which to live out their romance.
A story of old friends to reluctant crush to lovers, there's enough tension here to cut with a knife, and more than enough sex scenes for those whose tastes run spicy.
Wholesome, sweet, sexy, and framed by just enough political intrigue to keep readers on their toes, Moonlit is going to be the perfect cozy autumn read.
This is a character driven story that will make you fall in love with everyone, from the MC to the tertiary characters. And while it's light on sci-fi (Layla, our heroine, is in galactic post-war politics), there's just enough world building and alien lore to give our characters a fully realized world in which to live out their romance.
A story of old friends to reluctant crush to lovers, there's enough tension here to cut with a knife, and more than enough sex scenes for those whose tastes run spicy.
Wholesome, sweet, sexy, and framed by just enough political intrigue to keep readers on their toes, Moonlit is going to be the perfect cozy autumn read.
October 6, 2024
One spark can change everything…
Out 9.7.22
Out 9.7.22
October 30, 2022
In addition to her work as a storyteller, Heuwagen is also a therapist, and her years of experience in that latter role are clear in Moonlit. The novel is set in the same storyworld as Heuwagen's "Starless" series, but after the Temorshian War, during a time when the cultures we met in the earlier novels are trying to find a way to coexist.
The meshing of different cultures provides fertile ground for Heuwagen's sophisticated understanding of interpersonal relationships, and also for her to use the "alienness" of the other species as a mirror whereby we can reflect on more terrestrial foibles. While the worldbuilding and character development are fascinating, Moonlit is ultimately a book about communication and relationships, and it is at its best when we observe the characters' struggles to understand each other.
This is a dialogue-heavy, first-person novel where the POV moves regularly between the protagonists, allowing us to see their conflicts from the inside *and* the outside. Heuwagen intentionally uses the shifting POV to cause us to question how our own sympathies can change when we go from judging someone by what they say to hearing how they think and feel. This carries forward into the sex, which we reach after the slowest of burns, and which is hot without feeling gratuitous. We get to experience intimacy from both protagonists' perspective, and in a context of consent that should be a model for other novelists who include physical intimacy in their work.
The romance between Glaklin and Layla is, of course, about much more than sex. It's about loyalty, vulnerability, trust, and the challenge of communicating across cultures - all of which can be expressed through physical intimacy, but are not limited to or by it. These themes run throughout Moonlit, and it's a delight to explore them in the company of someone who is as knowledgeable as Heuwagen is when it comes to navigating those waters.
The meshing of different cultures provides fertile ground for Heuwagen's sophisticated understanding of interpersonal relationships, and also for her to use the "alienness" of the other species as a mirror whereby we can reflect on more terrestrial foibles. While the worldbuilding and character development are fascinating, Moonlit is ultimately a book about communication and relationships, and it is at its best when we observe the characters' struggles to understand each other.
This is a dialogue-heavy, first-person novel where the POV moves regularly between the protagonists, allowing us to see their conflicts from the inside *and* the outside. Heuwagen intentionally uses the shifting POV to cause us to question how our own sympathies can change when we go from judging someone by what they say to hearing how they think and feel. This carries forward into the sex, which we reach after the slowest of burns, and which is hot without feeling gratuitous. We get to experience intimacy from both protagonists' perspective, and in a context of consent that should be a model for other novelists who include physical intimacy in their work.
The romance between Glaklin and Layla is, of course, about much more than sex. It's about loyalty, vulnerability, trust, and the challenge of communicating across cultures - all of which can be expressed through physical intimacy, but are not limited to or by it. These themes run throughout Moonlit, and it's a delight to explore them in the company of someone who is as knowledgeable as Heuwagen is when it comes to navigating those waters.
September 28, 2022
This book is so unique in the way it depicts healthy relationships and the individual struggles people have within relationships. I love the characters and found the plot to be well thought out and interesting, however, what really made me love the story was the MC's internal struggle through insecurities. Heuwagen's background as a therapist really lends to her unique perspective on these heavy topics and she addresses them with her MCs in a way that is relatable and give you, the reader, a better understanding of how to approach difficult topics within your own relationships.
As someone who isn't typically into romance sci-fi, I have to say that I really loved this book (I read it in three sittings!) and can't wait to read Heuwagen's other books!
As someone who isn't typically into romance sci-fi, I have to say that I really loved this book (I read it in three sittings!) and can't wait to read Heuwagen's other books!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews