CassaStar in The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club

Dec 12, 2016 Juneta Key rated it it was amazing

Fun adventure. I listened to the audible version too and so enjoyed it. I felt like I was there watching a movie. I also read the ebook. It is about friendship, competitiveness and having to move past that to a deeper friendship in a turbulent universe where war beckons on the horizon. There is some repetitiveness, the pace is great but the story keeps you reading and is well worth the read or listen. I definitely recommend the read to anyone that enjoys sci-fi with character development along w ...more

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Oct 08, 2013 Toi Thomas rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, sci-fi, fantasy

This book is not what I expected it to be at all and I loved it. The words “Space Opera” are suitable to describe this but there’s something else in this story that goes beyond sci-fi, fantasy, and space war.

CassaStar tells the story of a young Cassian named Byron who is talented and troubled. All he wants is a chance to escape Cassa and become a fighter pilot so that his life can have some meaning. His only problem is that, when compared to everyone around him, he has a bad and arrogant attitu This book is not what I expected it to be at all and I loved it. The words “Space Opera” are suitable to describe this but there’s something else in this story that goes beyond sci-fi, fantasy, and space war.

CassaStar tells the story of a young Cassian named Byron who is talented and troubled. All he wants is a chance to escape Cassa and become a fighter pilot so that his life can have some meaning. His only problem is that, when compared to everyone around him, he has a bad and arrogant attitude, but he is good at what he does … oh and he’s “special”. Then there’s Bassa, enter wise man/mentor, but that’s where I’ll stop. I don’t want to give too much away.

I must confess that as chicks go I’m not much for emotional outpouring which is probably why I like action, sci-fi, and fantasy, but this book has given me a whole new perspective. When considering the very nature of the Cassians, I don’t believe I would be viewed even half as well as Byron was and he was pretty much an outcast with undeniable skills. It’s one thing to make friends and to be able to mingle with your peers on a social level, but CassaStar takes social interaction and emotional bonds to a whole other level, plus there’s space ships and highly advanced technology involved.

This whole story is written in a very matter-of-fact way as to imply that everything that’s happening in the story is as it should be. You forget from time to time that you are not a Cassian and that you are simply reading a story. You are however supplied with a few moments that fill you with utter amazement as you imagine the pilots sorting through space and time and then going on grand adventures in their down time.

This is an action packed story, but it takes a while to get your heart rate going. Nothing is slow moving, but the author does take his time to really develop his characters and set up each scene for whatever it is that’s about the happen: a space battle, an emotional breakdown, a behavior evaluation, or even an intense dream. With all this story has to offer, I’m still shocked that it all boils down to a great buddy story. This book is about friendship in a way most people haven’t considered. When two men go into war willing to die or live for the other, exciting things happens.

This story is suitable for most audiences though young children may not have the maturity to understand it and many women will not be initially attracted to it. I would challenge men and women to read this story and find that they probably really enjoy it, even if it is for very different reasons.
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Apr 23, 2011 Trisha rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, action, writer_bloggers, format_ebook, series_trilogy, spec_scifi, spec_space_opera

I finally got around to reading Alex J. Cavanaugh's first CASSA book, after many years of meaning to! I really enjoyed the read, though I generally enjoy seeing a mix of male and female characters - there was one female character in this entire book and she was a minor character at the beginning of the story. But anyway, moving on from that - this book is definitely action packed and things escalate into a rather epic climactic battle at the end. It was really good to see Byron slowly opening up ...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Coquille Fleur rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, fantasy

Cassastar is a riveting space opera with a twist that really advances the plot and brings the exciting climax to a thrilling and satisfying end. While I had a hard time getting into this book at first (hence the four stars), I think it was mostly because the main character, Byron, is so awkward and troubled at first. His character arc is strong, so by the end of the novel I was able to "get" him and truly like him. The last third of this book went by like a favorite episode of Battlestar Galacti ...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Heather rated it it was amazing

Byron is a cocky pilot who doesn't follow the rules. At training at Guaard, he and Trindel, his navigator, had been successful in flight and in testing the boundaries. When Trindel decides not to continue, Byron is sent to Sorenthia, the legendary space cruiser.
At Sorenthia, Byron is assigned Officer Bassa as his navigator. Bassa was his trainer at Guaard, and had succeeded in making things difficult for Byron while he was there.
With time, the team began to build a mutual trust and respect that ...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Tyrean rated it it was amazing

A novel that explores the depth of true friendship in the midst of fast paced, page turning action . . . I highly recommend this book. However, it only gets four stars because I found the first chapter a little slow. Looking forward to reading Cavanaugh's next book, the forthcoming CassaFire. ...more

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Oct 28, 2013 Susan Swiderski rated it really liked it

I thought I'd "outgrown" science fiction, but whattaya know? Not so. At least, not when the story has as much heart and soul as Cavanaugh's tale. This is an outstanding story about relationships... of friendship, duty, and love... and it just "happens" to take place in outer space. Sure enough, this talented author paints vivid pictures of rigorous training and adrenaline-pumping high-speed battles with aliens, but for me, his well-developed and memorable characters steal the show.

How much did I ...more

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Mar 10, 2020 Jemima Pett rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, adventure, priority, scifi, ya

Young troubled teen+ seeks first career and to prove himself as the best pilot in the galaxy. I can’t remember how many of these I’ve read. I’ve marked it YA for that reason although there’s no teenage angst over the opposite sex, thank goodness!

In fact there is no opposite sex. This is an entirely male space world from what I understand of the names, although one character is excused some duty or other to commune with his ‘mate’ who is in labour (I think). [The author has included females in th ...more

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