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Starbourne
Everyday life for Jaeden Starbourne has been challenging for as long as he can remember, which as it happens, isn’t quite as long as one might think. In fact, Jaeden can’t remember anything that happened more than five years ago. He woke up aboard a medical space station with no identity, no family, no friends, no money, and no clue what to do next.
For someone without a past, finding work was never an issue. Finding honest work above-board that didn’t include illegal activity was the challenge. Securing a dangerous job as an orbital shipbreaker was by no means Jaeden’s first choice, but in this galaxy and given his circumstances, beggars can’t be choosers.
As his life in this new and unfamiliar place begins to spiral uncontrollably around him, Jaeden quickly finds himself crossing paths with criminal syndicates, mercenary companies, and worst of all, a corporate Technologist; an agent with artificial enhancements that grant the user nearly limitless abilities.
Not having a past is no longer Jaeden Starbourne’s biggest issue, because if he’s not careful, he’ll lose his future as well.
For someone without a past, finding work was never an issue. Finding honest work above-board that didn’t include illegal activity was the challenge. Securing a dangerous job as an orbital shipbreaker was by no means Jaeden’s first choice, but in this galaxy and given his circumstances, beggars can’t be choosers.
As his life in this new and unfamiliar place begins to spiral uncontrollably around him, Jaeden quickly finds himself crossing paths with criminal syndicates, mercenary companies, and worst of all, a corporate Technologist; an agent with artificial enhancements that grant the user nearly limitless abilities.
Not having a past is no longer Jaeden Starbourne’s biggest issue, because if he’s not careful, he’ll lose his future as well.
437 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 13, 2024
I can not recommend this enough!
This is so good it needs to be a movie, the sarcasm is perfect, the action scenes are entertaining, and the characters are all unique in their own way.
Jaeden might not remember his past but he wants to do better with his future, working for FERFEX as a shipbreaker, salvaging anything they could from starships.
A dangerous job but enough credits are earned to live comfortably.
When an accident happens time feels like it turns back for jaeden, and he ends up where he wanted to get away from.
So much will happen him and his friends don't know where to turn, he'll have to put his trust in something or someone before he has nowhere else to turn and his freedom is taken from him forever.....
This is so good it needs to be a movie, the sarcasm is perfect, the action scenes are entertaining, and the characters are all unique in their own way.
Jaeden might not remember his past but he wants to do better with his future, working for FERFEX as a shipbreaker, salvaging anything they could from starships.
A dangerous job but enough credits are earned to live comfortably.
When an accident happens time feels like it turns back for jaeden, and he ends up where he wanted to get away from.
So much will happen him and his friends don't know where to turn, he'll have to put his trust in something or someone before he has nowhere else to turn and his freedom is taken from him forever.....
May 13, 2024
Corporate jokes, happy go lucky thugs and badass biotech? You bet Starbourne has that and more!
As someone who doesn’t often read Sci-Fi I was surprised and impressed how quickly I immersed into this world in the first few chapters. I found our protagonist relatable and the opening set up of the book interesting to help get its hooks in me to keep reading.
The world is bright and lively so much that it jumps off the page and I can almost see all of the ads that are shone to anyone without ad blockers. The technology advancements are handled with a huge amount of care and I snorted at the fact that there’s aren’t universal inputs and some things have to be inserted the right way up like a dang USB - that got an audible chuckle.
Starbourne is a heist filled, high action sci-fi adventure with a sprinkling of well crafted humour. I’d definitely recommend this to new and old sci-fi readers and it scratched an itch I didn’t know I had, and I’ll definitely be reading more sci fi after this.
The ending is handled extremely well and leaves you wanting more and wanting to help unpick the mysteries which have started unfolding. Thank you so much to the author for an ARC copy of this book - I’m looking forward to the release!
As someone who doesn’t often read Sci-Fi I was surprised and impressed how quickly I immersed into this world in the first few chapters. I found our protagonist relatable and the opening set up of the book interesting to help get its hooks in me to keep reading.
The world is bright and lively so much that it jumps off the page and I can almost see all of the ads that are shone to anyone without ad blockers. The technology advancements are handled with a huge amount of care and I snorted at the fact that there’s aren’t universal inputs and some things have to be inserted the right way up like a dang USB - that got an audible chuckle.
Starbourne is a heist filled, high action sci-fi adventure with a sprinkling of well crafted humour. I’d definitely recommend this to new and old sci-fi readers and it scratched an itch I didn’t know I had, and I’ll definitely be reading more sci fi after this.
The ending is handled extremely well and leaves you wanting more and wanting to help unpick the mysteries which have started unfolding. Thank you so much to the author for an ARC copy of this book - I’m looking forward to the release!
May 21, 2024
I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one and I am so glad that I did.
There is so much that I loved about this book. I was most impressed with the writing style. Characters, settings, scenes, fights… really anything you can think of is described so well that it was very easy to visualize, which is something really important to me. I love the way that each character's personality shines through the writing.
I also enjoyed the world building that happens through the book. It connects just enough to our way of life so that the sci-fi portions are easy to understand while also keeping it interesting.
While reading Starbourne, you will be introduced to different plot lines and right when you start to wonder how it will all come together, it does so beautifully!
Overall, I cannot wait for the next one!
There is so much that I loved about this book. I was most impressed with the writing style. Characters, settings, scenes, fights… really anything you can think of is described so well that it was very easy to visualize, which is something really important to me. I love the way that each character's personality shines through the writing.
I also enjoyed the world building that happens through the book. It connects just enough to our way of life so that the sci-fi portions are easy to understand while also keeping it interesting.
While reading Starbourne, you will be introduced to different plot lines and right when you start to wonder how it will all come together, it does so beautifully!
Overall, I cannot wait for the next one!
May 21, 2024
Wow, this was an action packed and exciting sci-fi adventure, it was so immersive I felt like I was watching everything play out.
There's lots of drama, humour, betrayals, characters to hate, corruption, and epic heists. It's so entertaining, has great characters and it's such a vivid world you can get lost in.
The last few chapters were an emotional rollercoaster, and the ending leaves you hanging desperate for more.
This gave me Firefly, Borderlands and Halo vibes, with the tech enhancements, dangerous missions, group of misfits, and corporate enemies.
I loved it, and can't wait to see where this series goes and what happens to Jaeden next.
There's lots of drama, humour, betrayals, characters to hate, corruption, and epic heists. It's so entertaining, has great characters and it's such a vivid world you can get lost in.
The last few chapters were an emotional rollercoaster, and the ending leaves you hanging desperate for more.
This gave me Firefly, Borderlands and Halo vibes, with the tech enhancements, dangerous missions, group of misfits, and corporate enemies.
I loved it, and can't wait to see where this series goes and what happens to Jaeden next.
May 22, 2024
WOW! Organized crime, solar system living, corruption, and CLIFFHANGERS! I love a good sci-fi book and this one is just that! I look forward to reading the next book to see what happens for Jaeden, T, Atom and this key next!
Oh, and I also loved the alternative swear words. They were pretty voxxing creative and really added to the setting elements.
Oh, and I also loved the alternative swear words. They were pretty voxxing creative and really added to the setting elements.
February 5, 2025
D.G. Podporski’s Sol Accords: Starbourne is a gripping journey into a future where humanity's reach extends across the stars, but old struggles—corporate greed, personal identity, and survival—remain stubbornly present. At its heart is Jaeden Starbourne, a man recovering from cryogenic sleep and grappling with amnesia, debt, and the harsh realities of a universe dominated by bureaucracy and exploitation. The book seamlessly blends high-stakes space adventures with raw human emotions, creating a world that feels as vast and cold as the space Jaeden inhabits.
The opening prologue, with its dim lights and encroaching darkness, had me hooked instantly. Podporski masterfully sets the scene, like when the derelict ship first awakens with "sparks blowing through the door unabated." The tension is palpable, and the descriptions are so vivid I could almost hear the hissing of machinery as the ship slowly came back to life. However, the pacing can feel uneven; moments of technical description occasionally bog down the flow. That said, the immersive world-building more than makes up for it. I also appreciated the deeply flawed and relatable characters. Jaeden’s struggle with anger, debt, and his loss of memory felt painfully real. His irritability, as highlighted in the scene where he fights with the AI assistant “Lexi,” reflects the weight he carries daily. Yet, there’s a quiet resilience in him that makes you root for his survival. Supporting characters like Joanna Stokley add depth and camaraderie, though some secondary figures felt underexplored—Sylvie, for example, seemed more like a trope than a fully realized individual. The story raises thought-provoking questions about identity and second chances. Jaeden, labeled with the surname "Starbourne" to denote his orphaned status in space, embodies this struggle. The societal disdain he faces for his name mirrors real-world biases, and his journey to reclaim purpose resonates deeply. The corporate backdrop, meanwhile, critiques unchecked capitalism in a way that feels uncomfortably close to our present-day realities.
Sol Accords: Starbourne is a rich, character-driven space opera that rewards patience. Fans of slow-burn science fiction with a focus on survival and human complexity will find much to love. While the story’s pacing might challenge those looking for constant action, its emotional depth and detailed world-building make it worth the ride. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoyed The Expanse or Dark Matter and anyone who’s ever pondered the price of progress and the resilience of the human spirit.
The opening prologue, with its dim lights and encroaching darkness, had me hooked instantly. Podporski masterfully sets the scene, like when the derelict ship first awakens with "sparks blowing through the door unabated." The tension is palpable, and the descriptions are so vivid I could almost hear the hissing of machinery as the ship slowly came back to life. However, the pacing can feel uneven; moments of technical description occasionally bog down the flow. That said, the immersive world-building more than makes up for it. I also appreciated the deeply flawed and relatable characters. Jaeden’s struggle with anger, debt, and his loss of memory felt painfully real. His irritability, as highlighted in the scene where he fights with the AI assistant “Lexi,” reflects the weight he carries daily. Yet, there’s a quiet resilience in him that makes you root for his survival. Supporting characters like Joanna Stokley add depth and camaraderie, though some secondary figures felt underexplored—Sylvie, for example, seemed more like a trope than a fully realized individual. The story raises thought-provoking questions about identity and second chances. Jaeden, labeled with the surname "Starbourne" to denote his orphaned status in space, embodies this struggle. The societal disdain he faces for his name mirrors real-world biases, and his journey to reclaim purpose resonates deeply. The corporate backdrop, meanwhile, critiques unchecked capitalism in a way that feels uncomfortably close to our present-day realities.
Sol Accords: Starbourne is a rich, character-driven space opera that rewards patience. Fans of slow-burn science fiction with a focus on survival and human complexity will find much to love. While the story’s pacing might challenge those looking for constant action, its emotional depth and detailed world-building make it worth the ride. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoyed The Expanse or Dark Matter and anyone who’s ever pondered the price of progress and the resilience of the human spirit.
November 1, 2025
Sol Accords - Starbourne
Author: D.G. Podporski
Published Date: 2024
Genre: Sci-Fi
Pages: 437
Thank you to D.G. for a free copy of his novel ahead my ARC review of Chambers
Never having read much sci-fi, I really enjoyed Starbourne. We meet Jae on an orbital shipbreaker, he has no memories of his life up until 5 years ago. Just when you get comfy with the world building a catastrophic event sends Jae to Mars into a world he tried to escape. It you like, action, humour, heists and biotech…you’ll love this!
This is the “cleanest” book I have read all year! Perfect for readers who don’t care for foul language or s3x scenes.
#bookstagram #booktok #readersofinstagram #reviews #bookish #bookrec #books #bookaddict #read #scifi #indyauthor
Author: D.G. Podporski
Published Date: 2024
Genre: Sci-Fi
Pages: 437
Thank you to D.G. for a free copy of his novel ahead my ARC review of Chambers
Never having read much sci-fi, I really enjoyed Starbourne. We meet Jae on an orbital shipbreaker, he has no memories of his life up until 5 years ago. Just when you get comfy with the world building a catastrophic event sends Jae to Mars into a world he tried to escape. It you like, action, humour, heists and biotech…you’ll love this!
This is the “cleanest” book I have read all year! Perfect for readers who don’t care for foul language or s3x scenes.
#bookstagram #booktok #readersofinstagram #reviews #bookish #bookrec #books #bookaddict #read #scifi #indyauthor
December 17, 2025
This sci-fi heist adventure was great to get me back into the sci-fi genre. It let me guessing with what was next and all I can say about the end is I’m excited to see where this adventure goes. One overlooked aspect I loved is the little corporate advertisements at the start of each chapter. It felt like a video game loading screen. I personally love the little details like that because it builds the world so much. Onward to Book 2!
May 21, 2024
This book was brilliant. I loved every second of it. Amazing writing with excellent world building and character introduction. It flows wonderfully and I have been searching for any books like it since, to no avail. A must read.
October 22, 2024
🌉ARC Review🌉
Starbourne took me into an adventure filled with heists, action-packed fights, corporate humour, sarcasm, high-techy environments, found family, forced encounters, hovercrafts, and badass biotech (technologists are so cool!), it is a book sprinkled with so many things for any Sci-fi aficionado.
The characters, the environment, the tech, and the scenes are very well described, easy to visualize the words as if they were a TV show or a Movie, honestly, I can easily see it adapted into either!
The advertising on each chapter was great, filled with humour, they reminded me of Mass Effect (video game) walking through The Citadel, or even Fallout too! Honestly made me look forward to getting through each chapter so that I could read them 😊🤣
Some really tense moments had me angst on behalf of the MMC (Jaeden), poor guy needs a break! 💙 It was a thrilling read and the ending was handled well, left me wanting more, and now I will have to wait until the next book!
Thank you so much for the ARC for the exchange of an honest review. It was truly an honour to read your first book!
I cannot wait to see what awaits Jaeden and the gang on the next installment! 🚀
Until then, Happy Reading
✎ᝰJessi
Starbourne took me into an adventure filled with heists, action-packed fights, corporate humour, sarcasm, high-techy environments, found family, forced encounters, hovercrafts, and badass biotech (technologists are so cool!), it is a book sprinkled with so many things for any Sci-fi aficionado.
The characters, the environment, the tech, and the scenes are very well described, easy to visualize the words as if they were a TV show or a Movie, honestly, I can easily see it adapted into either!
The advertising on each chapter was great, filled with humour, they reminded me of Mass Effect (video game) walking through The Citadel, or even Fallout too! Honestly made me look forward to getting through each chapter so that I could read them 😊🤣
Some really tense moments had me angst on behalf of the MMC (Jaeden), poor guy needs a break! 💙 It was a thrilling read and the ending was handled well, left me wanting more, and now I will have to wait until the next book!
Thank you so much for the ARC for the exchange of an honest review. It was truly an honour to read your first book!
I cannot wait to see what awaits Jaeden and the gang on the next installment! 🚀
Until then, Happy Reading
✎ᝰJessi
March 11, 2026
Literally could not put this book down. The author really knows how to engage readers with fantastic character and world building combined with witty humour. As a sci-fi and fantasy nerd, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the authors debut book!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews