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Starganauts #3
Defector
In the betrayal of one lies the salvation of many.
Months have passed since Grunn’s devastating war. While clearing its rubble, Samantha Harris receives disturbing news: the end of the Starganauts is coming. The team embarks on a mission to protect a village from raiding Cybrium space pirates, and Samantha's worst fears are confirmed.
Eight leave. Only seven return. Bereft of a crewmate, Samantha leads them on a personal quest across the galaxy to save one of their own. There’s just one problem. Her obsession with control could be their downfall and forces Sharko into a leadership crisis.
After a mission goes wrong, one of the Starganauts is kidnapped by the merciless Cybrium. Yet their leader proves enigmatic and surprising. When he asks for help, the Starganaut must make an agonizing choice. The fact he’s beginning to sympathize with his captor hardly helps, either.
Journey into the unknown reaches of the Gorvan Galaxy as the Starganauts seek to rescue their teammate…before he can betray them.
Months have passed since Grunn’s devastating war. While clearing its rubble, Samantha Harris receives disturbing news: the end of the Starganauts is coming. The team embarks on a mission to protect a village from raiding Cybrium space pirates, and Samantha's worst fears are confirmed.
Eight leave. Only seven return. Bereft of a crewmate, Samantha leads them on a personal quest across the galaxy to save one of their own. There’s just one problem. Her obsession with control could be their downfall and forces Sharko into a leadership crisis.
After a mission goes wrong, one of the Starganauts is kidnapped by the merciless Cybrium. Yet their leader proves enigmatic and surprising. When he asks for help, the Starganaut must make an agonizing choice. The fact he’s beginning to sympathize with his captor hardly helps, either.
Journey into the unknown reaches of the Gorvan Galaxy as the Starganauts seek to rescue their teammate…before he can betray them.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2023
8 people want to read
About the author
C.E. Stone
7 books79 followersC.E. Stone is a tutor by day, award-winning Christian author by night. She is also the editor of the Daughters of Tamnarae series by M.H. Elrich. The wife of a chronically-ill husband, she tutors a host of students between writing her next book and plotting a galactic takeover. She created Starganauts at the age of 10.
Though primarily a fantasy writer, she told her best friend about the Starganauts universe one day. For 2 hours. Afterward, her friend insisted she write everything down. Starganauts is the result. C.E. hopes to follow in the footsteps of her favorite authors, Tolkien and Lewis, albeit with a sci-fi twist.
Though primarily a fantasy writer, she told her best friend about the Starganauts universe one day. For 2 hours. Afterward, her friend insisted she write everything down. Starganauts is the result. C.E. hopes to follow in the footsteps of her favorite authors, Tolkien and Lewis, albeit with a sci-fi twist.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 4, 2023
I had a blast reading this final version of Defector to my husband, and he really enjoyed it! The characters, stakes, action scenes, and dialogue are some of my favorite things.
Most of all, I love the Christian messages God inspired me with while writing this. Most importantly, how faith...or the lack of it...influences us during hard times. I hope you enjoy Defector!
Most of all, I love the Christian messages God inspired me with while writing this. Most importantly, how faith...or the lack of it...influences us during hard times. I hope you enjoy Defector!
June 10, 2023
**NOTE: I received an ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
A great sequel to the two "Starganauts" books, and a great end to the first Generation of Starganauts.
I enjoyed this book, especially at the end. This book featured epic space battles, a defector; (hence the title), realistic life problems, Christian faith, and trusting in God. I enjoyed C.E.'s depth into every character, from the Starganauts to more minor characters. They felt very genuine, which I enjoyed. The very beginning was a bit slow, but it picked up shortly after.
C.E. Stone added a lot of description to the book. For example, some scenes would have too many descriptions in several paragraphs, and then C.E. would add some description after each scene. For example, there would be paragraphs of the characters' thoughts or explaining the scene, etc. in-depth, and it was a little too much. That's why I rated it only four stars. But if you don't mind what I just mentioned, and enjoy Sci-Fi, this book is a great read!
A great sequel to the two "Starganauts" books, and a great end to the first Generation of Starganauts.
I enjoyed this book, especially at the end. This book featured epic space battles, a defector; (hence the title), realistic life problems, Christian faith, and trusting in God. I enjoyed C.E.'s depth into every character, from the Starganauts to more minor characters. They felt very genuine, which I enjoyed. The very beginning was a bit slow, but it picked up shortly after.
C.E. Stone added a lot of description to the book. For example, some scenes would have too many descriptions in several paragraphs, and then C.E. would add some description after each scene. For example, there would be paragraphs of the characters' thoughts or explaining the scene, etc. in-depth, and it was a little too much. That's why I rated it only four stars. But if you don't mind what I just mentioned, and enjoy Sci-Fi, this book is a great read!
April 25, 2023
4/5 A worthy read with minor problems on this grand voyage
(Minor spoilers but these events occur early in the story, so no really significant plot details will be spoiled)
C.E. Stone deals with tough topics and issues which is something that I think few authors would tackle. Childlessness for instance is one that I have rarely seen and only my own story is the most recent one where I’ve seen it. But Mrs. Stone handles the sadness and hope of finding they could have kids well and accurately show having children creates a bond between husband and wife.
Also, the Christian issue about us living up to our religion and following the rules is addressed here. I’ve noticed that today, in both Christian and other fiction, there’s a focus on just following the rules, all of them to the extraneous ones similar to how the Pharisees did it. But Mrs. Stone explores pretty well that rules drive us from God and it isn’t about keeping the law. We cannot keep it. We follow God’s laws because we love God and have a relationship with Him.
Grief and the issues of change are dealt with pretty well here. There isn’t any quippy jokes or “At least we’re alive” when there is a battle going on. No, the grief is dealt with pretty well here and the characters actually mourn. They take a moment to be sad and, even when celebrating victories, understand the price paid for them. This is a rare thing to be seen in today's creative world and I applaud her for sticking to realism.
There were some things I felt could’ve been improved. Krista (Sorry I don’t remember how her name is actually spelled) and Mike’s issue I felt could’ve been made clearer. It seemed like they found out they couldn’t have kids and then didn’t investigate alternatives. This didn't align with their established longing for children. Perhaps Mrs. Stone could’ve added a line where they mentioned “We’ve been checking whenever we can, but every doctor has told us no.” I feel like a clarification that they haven’t, in their free time, been able to find a solution, would not only make a certain character's mess-up, but also make the solution all the more of a hope. As of my reading, I didn’t get the feeling like the couple tried to find solutions. Nonetheless, I did appreciate that Mrs. Stone didn’t give a sure-fire guarantee solution and only a “50-50" shot at having children. But that hope is enough for the couple and the reader. It's also a good reminder that, in our fallen world, a 50-50 chance can be the best you can hope for. That realism is rare in clean Christian fiction and it was a breath of fresh air to find it here.
Also, there were little bits where the characters acted different to how I was introduced to them also came up. But, then again, it’s like I’ve just watched Return of the Jedi without seeing ANH and TESB. I have no context which is probably what’s getting me confused. I will confess that I haven't read the previous books, so my knowledge is a little limited.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and appreciate how C.E. Stone dealt with some difficult issues in a creative way. One wouldn't expect a clean Christian fiction book to handle such heavy topics, but Stone took a shot and, I'd say, hit the mark enough to make it enjoyable. I’ll definitely be rereading this once I’ve read the first two books and get a clearer idea of the world and the characters' background. Definitely glad for the ending and cannot wait to see what comes next!
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book. All of the views stated above are entirely my own. I wasn't paid to give a review.
(Minor spoilers but these events occur early in the story, so no really significant plot details will be spoiled)
C.E. Stone deals with tough topics and issues which is something that I think few authors would tackle. Childlessness for instance is one that I have rarely seen and only my own story is the most recent one where I’ve seen it. But Mrs. Stone handles the sadness and hope of finding they could have kids well and accurately show having children creates a bond between husband and wife.
Also, the Christian issue about us living up to our religion and following the rules is addressed here. I’ve noticed that today, in both Christian and other fiction, there’s a focus on just following the rules, all of them to the extraneous ones similar to how the Pharisees did it. But Mrs. Stone explores pretty well that rules drive us from God and it isn’t about keeping the law. We cannot keep it. We follow God’s laws because we love God and have a relationship with Him.
Grief and the issues of change are dealt with pretty well here. There isn’t any quippy jokes or “At least we’re alive” when there is a battle going on. No, the grief is dealt with pretty well here and the characters actually mourn. They take a moment to be sad and, even when celebrating victories, understand the price paid for them. This is a rare thing to be seen in today's creative world and I applaud her for sticking to realism.
There were some things I felt could’ve been improved. Krista (Sorry I don’t remember how her name is actually spelled) and Mike’s issue I felt could’ve been made clearer. It seemed like they found out they couldn’t have kids and then didn’t investigate alternatives. This didn't align with their established longing for children. Perhaps Mrs. Stone could’ve added a line where they mentioned “We’ve been checking whenever we can, but every doctor has told us no.” I feel like a clarification that they haven’t, in their free time, been able to find a solution, would not only make a certain character's mess-up, but also make the solution all the more of a hope. As of my reading, I didn’t get the feeling like the couple tried to find solutions. Nonetheless, I did appreciate that Mrs. Stone didn’t give a sure-fire guarantee solution and only a “50-50" shot at having children. But that hope is enough for the couple and the reader. It's also a good reminder that, in our fallen world, a 50-50 chance can be the best you can hope for. That realism is rare in clean Christian fiction and it was a breath of fresh air to find it here.
Also, there were little bits where the characters acted different to how I was introduced to them also came up. But, then again, it’s like I’ve just watched Return of the Jedi without seeing ANH and TESB. I have no context which is probably what’s getting me confused. I will confess that I haven't read the previous books, so my knowledge is a little limited.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and appreciate how C.E. Stone dealt with some difficult issues in a creative way. One wouldn't expect a clean Christian fiction book to handle such heavy topics, but Stone took a shot and, I'd say, hit the mark enough to make it enjoyable. I’ll definitely be rereading this once I’ve read the first two books and get a clearer idea of the world and the characters' background. Definitely glad for the ending and cannot wait to see what comes next!
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book. All of the views stated above are entirely my own. I wasn't paid to give a review.
October 3, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed the storyline that included space pirates, a rescue mission, a mystery villain, and high stakes.
Positives
This book contains plenty of action: space weapon combat, spaceship battles, jetpacks, and boss battles. The action is exciting and described in a way that makes it fast-paced and easy to follow.
This book shows more of the galaxy and creativity of worlds, alien races, and other elements that make the Starganaut setting feel more like a galaxy (vast, rich, has a history, diverse).
The plot was interesting. Some aspects of the pot were predictable, but I still enjoyed reading the space pirate main plot. The high stakes drew me in and kept me reading.
Negatives
The characters' words often felt crafted for a purpose rather than real words people would say. While I do appreciate the many messages the author was trying to convey, the messages lost their strength because of how idealistic instead of realistic they sounded as dialogue. It would have been better if the situations had been allowed to convey the truths rather than the sermon-like lectures the characters gave on another.
Some problems were resolved too easily. The main plot problems felt like legitimate, hard-to-resolve struggles. Quite a few personal struggles were resolved so easily, though, that they added to the unrealistic quality of the characters. Sometimes those easy fixes also painted Christianity in a rosier way than real. God can absolutely do miracles and change lives in an instant, but people usually don't so simply let themselves change.
The multiple titles each character had became confusing at times, especially when the titles no longer applied (like their long-ended occupations from book one).
I didn't like how so many characters were paired off. This isn't a romance, but it seemed like so many characters were focused on a relationship and being coupled.
Positives
This book contains plenty of action: space weapon combat, spaceship battles, jetpacks, and boss battles. The action is exciting and described in a way that makes it fast-paced and easy to follow.
This book shows more of the galaxy and creativity of worlds, alien races, and other elements that make the Starganaut setting feel more like a galaxy (vast, rich, has a history, diverse).
The plot was interesting. Some aspects of the pot were predictable, but I still enjoyed reading the space pirate main plot. The high stakes drew me in and kept me reading.
Negatives
The characters' words often felt crafted for a purpose rather than real words people would say. While I do appreciate the many messages the author was trying to convey, the messages lost their strength because of how idealistic instead of realistic they sounded as dialogue. It would have been better if the situations had been allowed to convey the truths rather than the sermon-like lectures the characters gave on another.
Some problems were resolved too easily. The main plot problems felt like legitimate, hard-to-resolve struggles. Quite a few personal struggles were resolved so easily, though, that they added to the unrealistic quality of the characters. Sometimes those easy fixes also painted Christianity in a rosier way than real. God can absolutely do miracles and change lives in an instant, but people usually don't so simply let themselves change.
The multiple titles each character had became confusing at times, especially when the titles no longer applied (like their long-ended occupations from book one).
I didn't like how so many characters were paired off. This isn't a romance, but it seemed like so many characters were focused on a relationship and being coupled.
May 5, 2023
This book was impactful! Not to give any spoilers, but the ending really stuck with me and definitely wasn't what I expected; however it was so good!
Author C.E. Stone dealt with some really tough issues in this book and handled them wonderfully.
I was impressed to see her broach the issue of a married couple not being able to have children in a gentle manner, while also bring realism and hope to the situation.
I also liked how she explored deeply that we follow God's laws laid out for us because we love Him and want to serve Him; not because it is what buys our salvation or freedom from pain in this life.
In keeping in tone with the first two books, the suspense and action were great. It was a page-turner and I enjoyed it.
I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series and definitely recommend this one!
***I received a complimentary ARC of this book. A review was not required. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.***
Author C.E. Stone dealt with some really tough issues in this book and handled them wonderfully.
I was impressed to see her broach the issue of a married couple not being able to have children in a gentle manner, while also bring realism and hope to the situation.
I also liked how she explored deeply that we follow God's laws laid out for us because we love Him and want to serve Him; not because it is what buys our salvation or freedom from pain in this life.
In keeping in tone with the first two books, the suspense and action were great. It was a page-turner and I enjoyed it.
I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series and definitely recommend this one!
***I received a complimentary ARC of this book. A review was not required. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.***
May 25, 2023
Things have definitely ramped up in book three of the Starganauts series, with a promise for more! Stone’s series is a wonderful addition to the sci-fi world with just enough fantasy to allow someone who’s not that much into sci-fi to enjoy it.
I loved how Stone decided to tackle some difficult topics with a sense of grace and maturity. Like the topic of yearning for children without the promise of one. I thought that really interesting, since it’s not seen often. I’ve only read one other story that touched on the subject. I also liked how she touched on mental health from a Christian perspective and what it really means to be a Christian. It was such a wonderful breath of fresh air in fiction.
Overall, Stone’s Defector was really a nice turning point with surprising twists and a beautiful ending. Can’t wait to see more from her!
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved how Stone decided to tackle some difficult topics with a sense of grace and maturity. Like the topic of yearning for children without the promise of one. I thought that really interesting, since it’s not seen often. I’ve only read one other story that touched on the subject. I also liked how she touched on mental health from a Christian perspective and what it really means to be a Christian. It was such a wonderful breath of fresh air in fiction.
Overall, Stone’s Defector was really a nice turning point with surprising twists and a beautiful ending. Can’t wait to see more from her!
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 21, 2023
A fitting ending for the series and a great adventure, going through intense struggle, learning to follow God´s leading and trusting Him in everything.
July 20, 2023
An emotional (mostly) conclusion to the Starganauts...
I have read, fangirled, and helped C.E. Stone with this story, and I got to say, reading it completed was a wonderful experience. I loved going back on a journey with the Starganauts as they seek to save one of their own, and exploring the galaxy in a new and unique way. Honestly, besides the emotional ups and downs of this story, I most enjoyed getting to see mysterious planets never before featured in the Starganauts books. Speaking of the emotional ups and downs of this story, I can only say without spoilers that some characters will break your heart and others will have you cheering for their heroism. Overall, C.E. does a fantastic job of balancing both character development, worldbuilding, and action akin to an epic fantasy book.
Seriously, if you haven't given her books a try because of your fear of sci-fi, you should push down your fear and start them. You won't regret it.
I have read, fangirled, and helped C.E. Stone with this story, and I got to say, reading it completed was a wonderful experience. I loved going back on a journey with the Starganauts as they seek to save one of their own, and exploring the galaxy in a new and unique way. Honestly, besides the emotional ups and downs of this story, I most enjoyed getting to see mysterious planets never before featured in the Starganauts books. Speaking of the emotional ups and downs of this story, I can only say without spoilers that some characters will break your heart and others will have you cheering for their heroism. Overall, C.E. does a fantastic job of balancing both character development, worldbuilding, and action akin to an epic fantasy book.
Seriously, if you haven't given her books a try because of your fear of sci-fi, you should push down your fear and start them. You won't regret it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews