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Loyalty to the Max: A Space Opera Adventure
Max Dupont stars in his own adventure in the second installment of the Broken Union series, taking place one year after Ancient as the Stars.
Captain Maxine Dupont of the Earth Union is a rogue. A maverick. A clear-headed arbitrator of right and wrong– rules be damned.
But even Max stumbles when he encounters his latest challenge. The Union is collaborating with former enemy Mars to fix the collapse of interstellar travel, but at the cost of vulnerable citizens. Max has to figure out where his loyalties lie–and if treason is a price he's willing to pay for doing the right thing.
Meanwhile...
Lieutenant Ren Yilmaz has finally found a crew. A home. A rewarding career, on the ESS Knight.
But Ren gets drawn into a web of espionage. Her captain, Max, has shady dealings with anti-Union rebel groups and assigns her shipmates off-the-books tasks. It's Ren's duty as an officer to investigate. Snooping can be disastrous. Not only would she be betraying her newfound family, but Ren has secrets too–and if she digs too far, her own past as a spy could get spectacularly exposed.
As tensions mount, the choices Max and Ren make will test their loyalty not only to the Union, but to each other--and the crew they call family.
Captain Maxine Dupont of the Earth Union is a rogue. A maverick. A clear-headed arbitrator of right and wrong– rules be damned.
But even Max stumbles when he encounters his latest challenge. The Union is collaborating with former enemy Mars to fix the collapse of interstellar travel, but at the cost of vulnerable citizens. Max has to figure out where his loyalties lie–and if treason is a price he's willing to pay for doing the right thing.
Meanwhile...
Lieutenant Ren Yilmaz has finally found a crew. A home. A rewarding career, on the ESS Knight.
But Ren gets drawn into a web of espionage. Her captain, Max, has shady dealings with anti-Union rebel groups and assigns her shipmates off-the-books tasks. It's Ren's duty as an officer to investigate. Snooping can be disastrous. Not only would she be betraying her newfound family, but Ren has secrets too–and if she digs too far, her own past as a spy could get spectacularly exposed.
As tensions mount, the choices Max and Ren make will test their loyalty not only to the Union, but to each other--and the crew they call family.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2025
28 people want to read
About the author
Maya Darjani
8 books38 followersMaya Darjani is a writer and photographer from the heartland of America who writes genre-bending fiction about badass women, dual loyalty, and the false promise of patriotism.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 18, 2025
Broken Union series 02 Loyalty to the Max: A Space Opera Adventure by Maya Darjani
challenging informative mysterious reflective tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
This is tonally not the same at Ancient as the Stars (which was the first book I read in the Broken Union series).
I can also say, that you could start with this book, instead of the publication order. They are uniquely different in tone. I actually enjoyed the first book better, discovering this universe and trying to figure out what was actually happening.
On the other hand, this one sort of matched my mood of what is going on currently in the world (POTUS and Musk destroying our democracy, with firings, stealing people's information, and tapping into the money of the money...and defrauding the government. So, what Max is doing, may not be seen as the most legal, and he has followers that seem to be LOYAL to him, even when he's doing crazy things). Max is not AS recless as our POTUS, but to the people in the Union, he's seems to be "out there".
The two main characters from the first book, Captain Karenna Yilmaz and her "sister" Lt. Ren Yilmaz are in this story, but not the main characters. They interact with the main characer Maxime DuPont (who IS in the first book, also).
As for the story, I was locked in, and enjoying it, but unfortunately...I felt less attached to Max, that I did with Karenna and Ren from the first book. Also, in the first story, you feel discombobulated by the different TIME elements. In this story, you feel discombobulated by the unmooring of the crew from the Union, and how their captain keeps doing things without informin the crew, though they ARE very loyal to him...hence the name of the book.
I will definitely continue on with this series, and hope that the author right many more.
challenging informative mysterious reflective tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
This is tonally not the same at Ancient as the Stars (which was the first book I read in the Broken Union series).
I can also say, that you could start with this book, instead of the publication order. They are uniquely different in tone. I actually enjoyed the first book better, discovering this universe and trying to figure out what was actually happening.
On the other hand, this one sort of matched my mood of what is going on currently in the world (POTUS and Musk destroying our democracy, with firings, stealing people's information, and tapping into the money of the money...and defrauding the government. So, what Max is doing, may not be seen as the most legal, and he has followers that seem to be LOYAL to him, even when he's doing crazy things). Max is not AS recless as our POTUS, but to the people in the Union, he's seems to be "out there".
The two main characters from the first book, Captain Karenna Yilmaz and her "sister" Lt. Ren Yilmaz are in this story, but not the main characters. They interact with the main characer Maxime DuPont (who IS in the first book, also).
As for the story, I was locked in, and enjoying it, but unfortunately...I felt less attached to Max, that I did with Karenna and Ren from the first book. Also, in the first story, you feel discombobulated by the different TIME elements. In this story, you feel discombobulated by the unmooring of the crew from the Union, and how their captain keeps doing things without informin the crew, though they ARE very loyal to him...hence the name of the book.
I will definitely continue on with this series, and hope that the author right many more.
May 19, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from the author. All opinions here are my own, but they might also be shared by the story’s artificial intelligence character Peggy – who can say?
When I read Ancient As the Stars last year, I was instantly enamored with its concept, but thought parts of it fell short—namely, the characterization of one of its leads. In the standalone follow-up, however, Loyalty to the Max, Maya Darjani has not only remedied that grievance, but has also thrown in a gripping espionage tale for good measure, helping lift this sequel further to the heights I wanted of the previous book.
A year has passed since the close of Ancient As the Stars, and Ren Yilmaz has found a home aboard the ESS Knight. Her captain, Maxime Dupont, is a hotheaded rogue, but one who has earned the respect and loyalty of his crew. But loyalties are always rife to be tested. When Max learns of the Union’s consorting with former enemy Mars, he must toe the line between compliance and treason if he is to save the lives of those in the balance. But it is not only Max’s loyalty that must be tested. As Ren learns of her captain’s past ties with anti-Union factions, she is called to investigate—but doing so risks betrayal of her newfound family. Close ties threaten to fracture, long-held secrets are soon to be unearthed, and the Union may be broken—if only so it may be saved.
With a mostly fresh cast of characters—with a handful of returnees—Loyalty to the Max is something of a reset, and it benefited greatly for it. In the previous book, one of my complaints centered on the characterization of Ren, who understandably was depicted as immature, but to me, it came across as overly edgy. The year in between journeys has changed Ren for the better, and while there is still “color” to her character, it is not so oppressive or distracting this time around and allowed me to appreciate her depth so much more. The internal conflict she feels toward the external duties that potentially put her at odds with her new crew were a joy to read through, and to throw in the espionage angle to her arc lifted her chapters to the page-turners I was hoping they’d be.
But it’s her captain, Max, who is the star of the show in this one. While he doesn’t serve as a foil to Ren by any means, Max’s maverick approach to matters still inevitably puts him at odds with Ren, and how Darjani navigates this conflict kept me engaged throughout. Max’s past, while a bit tropey, makes for a perfect backdrop to explore, and it’s this exploration of how it impacts his relationships with his crew, his superiors, and perhaps some long-lost figures thought dead, that make up the heart of Loyalty to the Max.
The plot also benefits from having a bit of a tighter focus with an overall theme of the limits of loyalty, and whether that should be maintained when lives are in the balance. Between Max’s wavering faith in the Union and Ren’s apprehensions toward betraying the crew of the Knight, Darjani nails this part of the story, effortlessly flowing from story beat to story beat until I was eager to see how it all wrapped up. There are a couple pacing issues here and there—namely certain spoilery character interactions with Max’s arc that I felt could have used a little more time in the oven—but overall it’s a satisfying plot with well-realized resolutions that make me eager to see more from these characters in this universe.
Loyalty to the Max is a standalone sequel done right. It builds upon the foundations set in the previous book and expands the scope of the universe in fascinating ways, all while letting our returning characters grow along with it. This Union may be Broken, but I’ll be intrigued to see these characters continue to build it back up in the future.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go make sure my ship’s AI isn’t gonna go hold my Internet search history against me.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from the author. All opinions here are my own, but they might also be shared by the story’s artificial intelligence character Peggy – who can say?
When I read Ancient As the Stars last year, I was instantly enamored with its concept, but thought parts of it fell short—namely, the characterization of one of its leads. In the standalone follow-up, however, Loyalty to the Max, Maya Darjani has not only remedied that grievance, but has also thrown in a gripping espionage tale for good measure, helping lift this sequel further to the heights I wanted of the previous book.
A year has passed since the close of Ancient As the Stars, and Ren Yilmaz has found a home aboard the ESS Knight. Her captain, Maxime Dupont, is a hotheaded rogue, but one who has earned the respect and loyalty of his crew. But loyalties are always rife to be tested. When Max learns of the Union’s consorting with former enemy Mars, he must toe the line between compliance and treason if he is to save the lives of those in the balance. But it is not only Max’s loyalty that must be tested. As Ren learns of her captain’s past ties with anti-Union factions, she is called to investigate—but doing so risks betrayal of her newfound family. Close ties threaten to fracture, long-held secrets are soon to be unearthed, and the Union may be broken—if only so it may be saved.
With a mostly fresh cast of characters—with a handful of returnees—Loyalty to the Max is something of a reset, and it benefited greatly for it. In the previous book, one of my complaints centered on the characterization of Ren, who understandably was depicted as immature, but to me, it came across as overly edgy. The year in between journeys has changed Ren for the better, and while there is still “color” to her character, it is not so oppressive or distracting this time around and allowed me to appreciate her depth so much more. The internal conflict she feels toward the external duties that potentially put her at odds with her new crew were a joy to read through, and to throw in the espionage angle to her arc lifted her chapters to the page-turners I was hoping they’d be.
But it’s her captain, Max, who is the star of the show in this one. While he doesn’t serve as a foil to Ren by any means, Max’s maverick approach to matters still inevitably puts him at odds with Ren, and how Darjani navigates this conflict kept me engaged throughout. Max’s past, while a bit tropey, makes for a perfect backdrop to explore, and it’s this exploration of how it impacts his relationships with his crew, his superiors, and perhaps some long-lost figures thought dead, that make up the heart of Loyalty to the Max.
The plot also benefits from having a bit of a tighter focus with an overall theme of the limits of loyalty, and whether that should be maintained when lives are in the balance. Between Max’s wavering faith in the Union and Ren’s apprehensions toward betraying the crew of the Knight, Darjani nails this part of the story, effortlessly flowing from story beat to story beat until I was eager to see how it all wrapped up. There are a couple pacing issues here and there—namely certain spoilery character interactions with Max’s arc that I felt could have used a little more time in the oven—but overall it’s a satisfying plot with well-realized resolutions that make me eager to see more from these characters in this universe.
Loyalty to the Max is a standalone sequel done right. It builds upon the foundations set in the previous book and expands the scope of the universe in fascinating ways, all while letting our returning characters grow along with it. This Union may be Broken, but I’ll be intrigued to see these characters continue to build it back up in the future.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go make sure my ship’s AI isn’t gonna go hold my Internet search history against me.
July 30, 2025
This review is available on Grimoire Ink Reviews
We’re back in the Broken Union world! It’s still broken. Which kinda isn’t surprising given how things left off from Ancient as the Stars. Now, if you read my review of Ancient as the Stars you might think I was kind of middle of the road with it. I wouldn’t have initially said I was but then I finished Loyalty to the Max and comparatively…I was middle of the road.
But Loyalty to the Max! This was tons of fun. Except the parts that weren’t. Those were clearly unfun.
This time we’re jumping between Ren and Max’s POVs. Both give a lot of insight into the ship and wider world(s) and politics that we started to see in Ancient. And what we get absolute buckets of are these excellent one liners that I am coming to know will be in anything Maya’s name is attached to. “Where in Venus’s vajay—” needs to be in everyone’s vocabulary like yesterday. I’d also be embarrassed of my entire family line if I didn’t point out that Maya has the best chapter names in the history of ever.
Right so the plot and the characters and all that jazz.
So, Ren is still finding her feet after being jumped 60 years in the future, Max is still committing Union offenses under the guise of ask forgiveness, not permission. There’s literally a line that says “but in Max’s case, he never go to the asking forgiveness part. Just do.” I feel like Max and I had similar comments on our report cards. I bet he’d have gotten ‘Does not respect authority’ and ‘Talks too much’ if we went to the same schools. But alas, he was raised on a moon of Jupiter. “Wait what?”
Yeah, so this book we get a lot background on Max. His childhood, how he ended up the rogue captain of a mishmash crew that would be his alibi in nearly all instances, a lot of swearing in French. And if it’s not swearing in French, it’s just sparking vocabulary. (This makes more sense after you read the book, I promise.) All together it gives us this big picture on how this perpetual chaos human ultimately has the most north pointing moral compass that the Union doesn’t deserve.
Because this isn’t about Ren but she’s 50% of the POVs, her story is, as I said, partly about her finding her feet. Because it’s been 60 years, the politics have changed, the tech has changed, her ex-bestie has definitely changed but we knew that. A lot happens in 60 years. And it turns out when you commit treasonous spying, that can still be held against you. Crazy! Who knew! But because of this, and her relationship with herself-now-called-sister, we get more politics of the universe, and see the wider picture of what Max knows and what he does. As all roads lead to Rome, all information and clandestine acts ultimately lead to Max.
And while we don’t swap POVs with Ren’s self-now-called-sister Karenna, we do get some answers about ancients. Which is all I ever wanted from Ancient as the Stars.
Past me asked “why isn’t [becoming an ancient] more common if it’s as straightforward as it’s later depicted to be?” Shut up, past me! Here’s your answer, you curious goblin! (I have some things to work through towards myself, I know.) But in finding out about what makes an ancient, we’re lead up to some big changes in the universe.
And I really hope we’re going back here for a third installment of whatever the heckie comes next. Because you just know Max and Ren’s, and Karenna’s, actions will have even bigger impacts. I really hope one of them is Admiral Khannan getting punched in the face. I just do not care for him.
As I said, this book is a lot of fun. It’s witty, it’s quippy, it’s got memes! There are also moments of deep reflection and difficulty that are done so well you almost don’t feel the weight of them in the moment. Eventually the pieces click and you’re there like ‘Oh damn!’ Which also adds to the wittiness. I’m keen to see where the story and the whole universe goes next. I hope Maya’s other readers are too.
We’re back in the Broken Union world! It’s still broken. Which kinda isn’t surprising given how things left off from Ancient as the Stars. Now, if you read my review of Ancient as the Stars you might think I was kind of middle of the road with it. I wouldn’t have initially said I was but then I finished Loyalty to the Max and comparatively…I was middle of the road.
But Loyalty to the Max! This was tons of fun. Except the parts that weren’t. Those were clearly unfun.
This time we’re jumping between Ren and Max’s POVs. Both give a lot of insight into the ship and wider world(s) and politics that we started to see in Ancient. And what we get absolute buckets of are these excellent one liners that I am coming to know will be in anything Maya’s name is attached to. “Where in Venus’s vajay—” needs to be in everyone’s vocabulary like yesterday. I’d also be embarrassed of my entire family line if I didn’t point out that Maya has the best chapter names in the history of ever.
Right so the plot and the characters and all that jazz.
So, Ren is still finding her feet after being jumped 60 years in the future, Max is still committing Union offenses under the guise of ask forgiveness, not permission. There’s literally a line that says “but in Max’s case, he never go to the asking forgiveness part. Just do.” I feel like Max and I had similar comments on our report cards. I bet he’d have gotten ‘Does not respect authority’ and ‘Talks too much’ if we went to the same schools. But alas, he was raised on a moon of Jupiter. “Wait what?”
Yeah, so this book we get a lot background on Max. His childhood, how he ended up the rogue captain of a mishmash crew that would be his alibi in nearly all instances, a lot of swearing in French. And if it’s not swearing in French, it’s just sparking vocabulary. (This makes more sense after you read the book, I promise.) All together it gives us this big picture on how this perpetual chaos human ultimately has the most north pointing moral compass that the Union doesn’t deserve.
Because this isn’t about Ren but she’s 50% of the POVs, her story is, as I said, partly about her finding her feet. Because it’s been 60 years, the politics have changed, the tech has changed, her ex-bestie has definitely changed but we knew that. A lot happens in 60 years. And it turns out when you commit treasonous spying, that can still be held against you. Crazy! Who knew! But because of this, and her relationship with herself-now-called-sister, we get more politics of the universe, and see the wider picture of what Max knows and what he does. As all roads lead to Rome, all information and clandestine acts ultimately lead to Max.
And while we don’t swap POVs with Ren’s self-now-called-sister Karenna, we do get some answers about ancients. Which is all I ever wanted from Ancient as the Stars.
Past me asked “why isn’t [becoming an ancient] more common if it’s as straightforward as it’s later depicted to be?” Shut up, past me! Here’s your answer, you curious goblin! (I have some things to work through towards myself, I know.) But in finding out about what makes an ancient, we’re lead up to some big changes in the universe.
And I really hope we’re going back here for a third installment of whatever the heckie comes next. Because you just know Max and Ren’s, and Karenna’s, actions will have even bigger impacts. I really hope one of them is Admiral Khannan getting punched in the face. I just do not care for him.
As I said, this book is a lot of fun. It’s witty, it’s quippy, it’s got memes! There are also moments of deep reflection and difficulty that are done so well you almost don’t feel the weight of them in the moment. Eventually the pieces click and you’re there like ‘Oh damn!’ Which also adds to the wittiness. I’m keen to see where the story and the whole universe goes next. I hope Maya’s other readers are too.
June 14, 2025
The TLDR version of Loyalty:
Max has a hidden past coming back to bite him. Max is also prepared to throw away everything to stop the Union from doing something that crosses a personal red. In the process he risks alienating his closest friends and crew. Is he prepared to lose everything?
Ren is placed squarely in the middle trying to manage a bewildering gambit of internal conflict and tested loyalties. Ren’s own hidden past is coming back to bite her and her older self, Admiral Lakhani.
There are spies, terrorist, and antagonistic star nations all in play.
Space travel is “broken.” Attempting to travel between star systems might as well be considered suicide. Of course, this detail of the universe plays a crucial role in the plot. Shipboard life and planet side shenanigans dutifully accompanied by layers of espionage and betrayal on multiple fronts provide an engrossing backdrop for our players to perform
Prominent side characters from ‘Ancient As The Stars’ have the opportunity to take center stage. Max (Maxime) Dupont with Ren Yilmaz provides the majority of forward momentum while others like Solly and the fiercely loyal crew of the ESS Knight have their turn playing crucial roles in advancing the tale. I believe Maya did a splendid job with the utilization of Peggy, a baby AI that is most likely illegal that you could say has some moral conflicts along the way that provide interesting twists in the plot.
Everything is centered around Max. He is a rogue and maverick within the Earth Union Fleet. His moral compass supersedes rules, laws and regulations. Until now he has been able to balance his personal and professional loyalties keeping him out of the brig. The narrative is driven by his internal conflicts, the choices he makes, and the resulting stress this imposes on his closest friends and loyal crew.
Max could be a close cousin of the cigar smoking People’s Navy ‘Captain Cowboy’ Lester Tourville from the Honorverse. Much like Tourville, Max very consciously cultivates his roguish reputation.
Max is an exceptionally well-told character that is a joy to read. Providing just the right measures of moments that spark laugh out loud fun along with wanting to shake some sense into him. He is easy to become invested in.
Ren Yilmaz, the time skipping younger version of the Captain Karenna ‘Yilmaz’ Lakhani from ‘Ancient As The Stars’, comes into her own with in the pages of this installment. Her journey is easy to identify with and will keep you guessing as to which fork in the road she will ultimately choose. It was satisfying to see her character’s potential developed.
She owes much to Max and the crew of the Knight, but her older self, now Admiral Lakhani, will have Ren testing the boundaries of her loyalty to Max, the crew of the Knight and the Earth Union. Lakhani takes a backseat in this installment but her presence and influence over the plot are nicely leveraged.
I have also read Maya’s ‘Ancient As The Stars’ and ‘The Star-Crossed Empire’. As a reader I find Maya’s writing style to be fun, fluid and a joy to read. Her progression and growth as an author are evident and has been a pleasure to follow. AATS was good, I had a lot of fun and highly recommend it. TSCE was even better.
Maya is quickly sharpening the authorial saw with each finished work becoming an auto-buy author. Maya has delivered an exceptional read with this one.
To sum it up, Maya’s writing hits my reader’s Goldilocks zone. Pace, timing and a deft touch in cobbling together each line makes for a delightful page-turning experience. The characters are fun, interesting, will pull at your heart strings and exhibit realistic emotional depth making them easy to accept and identify with.
Loyalty To The Max is one of my favorite reads of 2025.
Max has a hidden past coming back to bite him. Max is also prepared to throw away everything to stop the Union from doing something that crosses a personal red. In the process he risks alienating his closest friends and crew. Is he prepared to lose everything?
Ren is placed squarely in the middle trying to manage a bewildering gambit of internal conflict and tested loyalties. Ren’s own hidden past is coming back to bite her and her older self, Admiral Lakhani.
There are spies, terrorist, and antagonistic star nations all in play.
Space travel is “broken.” Attempting to travel between star systems might as well be considered suicide. Of course, this detail of the universe plays a crucial role in the plot. Shipboard life and planet side shenanigans dutifully accompanied by layers of espionage and betrayal on multiple fronts provide an engrossing backdrop for our players to perform
Prominent side characters from ‘Ancient As The Stars’ have the opportunity to take center stage. Max (Maxime) Dupont with Ren Yilmaz provides the majority of forward momentum while others like Solly and the fiercely loyal crew of the ESS Knight have their turn playing crucial roles in advancing the tale. I believe Maya did a splendid job with the utilization of Peggy, a baby AI that is most likely illegal that you could say has some moral conflicts along the way that provide interesting twists in the plot.
Everything is centered around Max. He is a rogue and maverick within the Earth Union Fleet. His moral compass supersedes rules, laws and regulations. Until now he has been able to balance his personal and professional loyalties keeping him out of the brig. The narrative is driven by his internal conflicts, the choices he makes, and the resulting stress this imposes on his closest friends and loyal crew.
Max could be a close cousin of the cigar smoking People’s Navy ‘Captain Cowboy’ Lester Tourville from the Honorverse. Much like Tourville, Max very consciously cultivates his roguish reputation.
Max is an exceptionally well-told character that is a joy to read. Providing just the right measures of moments that spark laugh out loud fun along with wanting to shake some sense into him. He is easy to become invested in.
Ren Yilmaz, the time skipping younger version of the Captain Karenna ‘Yilmaz’ Lakhani from ‘Ancient As The Stars’, comes into her own with in the pages of this installment. Her journey is easy to identify with and will keep you guessing as to which fork in the road she will ultimately choose. It was satisfying to see her character’s potential developed.
She owes much to Max and the crew of the Knight, but her older self, now Admiral Lakhani, will have Ren testing the boundaries of her loyalty to Max, the crew of the Knight and the Earth Union. Lakhani takes a backseat in this installment but her presence and influence over the plot are nicely leveraged.
I have also read Maya’s ‘Ancient As The Stars’ and ‘The Star-Crossed Empire’. As a reader I find Maya’s writing style to be fun, fluid and a joy to read. Her progression and growth as an author are evident and has been a pleasure to follow. AATS was good, I had a lot of fun and highly recommend it. TSCE was even better.
Maya is quickly sharpening the authorial saw with each finished work becoming an auto-buy author. Maya has delivered an exceptional read with this one.
To sum it up, Maya’s writing hits my reader’s Goldilocks zone. Pace, timing and a deft touch in cobbling together each line makes for a delightful page-turning experience. The characters are fun, interesting, will pull at your heart strings and exhibit realistic emotional depth making them easy to accept and identify with.
Loyalty To The Max is one of my favorite reads of 2025.
April 30, 2025
So so very good! I've been in a bit of a reading slump this month, especially with my visual reads. This was partly due to not having as much free time for visual reads. Loyalty to the Max helped me not on get through but last through to enjoying what I was reading again!
The entire read was exciting edge of your seat storytelling. However the last 30%and especially the ending were just awesome!
Full review to follow.
The entire read was exciting edge of your seat storytelling. However the last 30%and especially the ending were just awesome!
Full review to follow.
March 4, 2025
I received an eARC in exchange for an unbiased, fair review.
Bottom line up front: Loyalty to the Max is 5 stars, the author nailed what she set out to do. It's an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys classic space opera. But I'd be remiss if I didn't point out some issues that would make me hesitate to recommend it to some groups of sci-fi readers that I can't take any stars away for - more personal preference than anything.
It's the second book in a series where I didn't read Book 1, and I didn't feel like I was lost or by any means out of place. It's definitely a good entry point.
Max and Ren are great characters, full of depth and conflict and who drive the plot rather than the other way around. The setting is nice, nothing special or innovative but it works well for the story - more soft sci-fi than hard but with a consistent world. The plot, though, is where it really shined. It's full of deceit and espionage and was the main driver for keeping me glued to the (electronic) pages. It didn't necessarily keep me guessing in a mystery sense but I did want to find out what was coming next. The pacing is top-notch and I never felt like it dragged at all. Ends on a really positive note that concludes the main plot arc but sets up for future sequels.
The main negative I had with the book was the dialog. It's very Joss Whedon/Marvel-style, full of quips and snarky comments with an occasional weird dichotomy with what's happening in the story. I know I am in the minority but it's not the kind of thing I enjoy - I don't think I watched a single Marvel movie after the first Avengers one, mostly for that reason. Again, can't knock the author, she nailed the Firefly comp, but it's not my cup of tea.
If you enjoy Catherine Asaro, Lois McMaster Bujold, early David Weber, Lindsey Buroker, or Firefly, I would 100% recommend this to you. I have read a lot of classic space opera and this fits in incredibly well with those authors - it's as good as any of their work.
If you enjoyed the Expanse, Alastair Reynolds, Peter F. Hamilton, Mass Effect, or any other "gritty" sci-fi you may be a bit disappointed. Not saying you won't enjoy it, but it probably wouldn't be a 5 star book for you.
Bottom line up front: Loyalty to the Max is 5 stars, the author nailed what she set out to do. It's an enjoyable read for anyone who enjoys classic space opera. But I'd be remiss if I didn't point out some issues that would make me hesitate to recommend it to some groups of sci-fi readers that I can't take any stars away for - more personal preference than anything.
It's the second book in a series where I didn't read Book 1, and I didn't feel like I was lost or by any means out of place. It's definitely a good entry point.
Max and Ren are great characters, full of depth and conflict and who drive the plot rather than the other way around. The setting is nice, nothing special or innovative but it works well for the story - more soft sci-fi than hard but with a consistent world. The plot, though, is where it really shined. It's full of deceit and espionage and was the main driver for keeping me glued to the (electronic) pages. It didn't necessarily keep me guessing in a mystery sense but I did want to find out what was coming next. The pacing is top-notch and I never felt like it dragged at all. Ends on a really positive note that concludes the main plot arc but sets up for future sequels.
The main negative I had with the book was the dialog. It's very Joss Whedon/Marvel-style, full of quips and snarky comments with an occasional weird dichotomy with what's happening in the story. I know I am in the minority but it's not the kind of thing I enjoy - I don't think I watched a single Marvel movie after the first Avengers one, mostly for that reason. Again, can't knock the author, she nailed the Firefly comp, but it's not my cup of tea.
If you enjoy Catherine Asaro, Lois McMaster Bujold, early David Weber, Lindsey Buroker, or Firefly, I would 100% recommend this to you. I have read a lot of classic space opera and this fits in incredibly well with those authors - it's as good as any of their work.
If you enjoyed the Expanse, Alastair Reynolds, Peter F. Hamilton, Mass Effect, or any other "gritty" sci-fi you may be a bit disappointed. Not saying you won't enjoy it, but it probably wouldn't be a 5 star book for you.
June 4, 2025
Well, that just flew by!
Loyalty to the Max is a sequel to Ancient as the Stars. While the first book was more focused on the two "sisters" Ren and Karenna in alternating chapters, the Ancients and stuff going wrong with space travel while being a kind of work place drama at the same time, the sequel changes things up.
Ren, the younger "sister", is still one of the two viewpoint characters. Her sister still plays a big part in the plot, but the second viewpoint slot goes to returning character Captain Maxime Dupont this time around. Ren is on his ship now. And this time we go full spy madness in space. That was already an element in the first book, but this time it is a whole multi-star system with the different factions and their agents and everybody having agendas, while no one seems to know the full picture of what is happening. Everybody talking to everybody else behind everyone's back. Blackmailing with information that someone might or might not have. Information being gained that might be crucial but .. maybe it is just the right thing to get someone riled up to do things they shouldn't? WHO KNOWS! I thought this was really well done and riveting stuff right up to the end. I honestly do not know if I would be loyal to the Max, if I was on that ship. I was pivoting quite a bit while reading this. As lovable as he is and as understandable his general motivations are .. I think he would have driven me mad after a few weeks under his command :D
The language is as colorful as it was in the sequel. I definitely learned a few new things! And a special shoutout to the chapter headings. I chuckled quite a few times.
And lastly, I always enjoy how effortlessly queer characters just ARE in Maya Darjani's books. They are there, no one bats an eye or questions it. It is not a plot point or anything. It is just normal. I hope we get there some day.
So far my favourite book by Maya Darjani and the first 5 star. Loved it.
Loyalty to the Max is a sequel to Ancient as the Stars. While the first book was more focused on the two "sisters" Ren and Karenna in alternating chapters, the Ancients and stuff going wrong with space travel while being a kind of work place drama at the same time, the sequel changes things up.
Ren, the younger "sister", is still one of the two viewpoint characters. Her sister still plays a big part in the plot, but the second viewpoint slot goes to returning character Captain Maxime Dupont this time around. Ren is on his ship now. And this time we go full spy madness in space. That was already an element in the first book, but this time it is a whole multi-star system with the different factions and their agents and everybody having agendas, while no one seems to know the full picture of what is happening. Everybody talking to everybody else behind everyone's back. Blackmailing with information that someone might or might not have. Information being gained that might be crucial but .. maybe it is just the right thing to get someone riled up to do things they shouldn't? WHO KNOWS! I thought this was really well done and riveting stuff right up to the end. I honestly do not know if I would be loyal to the Max, if I was on that ship. I was pivoting quite a bit while reading this. As lovable as he is and as understandable his general motivations are .. I think he would have driven me mad after a few weeks under his command :D
The language is as colorful as it was in the sequel. I definitely learned a few new things! And a special shoutout to the chapter headings. I chuckled quite a few times.
And lastly, I always enjoy how effortlessly queer characters just ARE in Maya Darjani's books. They are there, no one bats an eye or questions it. It is not a plot point or anything. It is just normal. I hope we get there some day.
So far my favourite book by Maya Darjani and the first 5 star. Loved it.
May 17, 2025
I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinion.
LOYALTY TO THE MAX is a tale of conflicted loyalties and chaos-inducing main characters.
There are two narrators again for this book. While Ren is a returning narrator, Karenna (aka future Ren) is not, with Max (the rogue captain) coming in as the new narrator. I liked Max; he's as unorthodox and unpredictable as Ren but in a different way, which makes him a good counterpoint to her narration. Two forms of chaos (and Max manages to up the chaos) with their own morals to work through.
There's a lot of information arriving through unofficial channels in this book. Max and Ren are talking to people they probably shouldn't be officially and yet have some unofficial permission to talk to - but not as much as they are. It's a delightful tangle of pragmatism, trying to get intelligence you can't always trust, and hidden objectives.
These two elements make for a compelling narrative - you want to know what's really happening in this world of lies and carefully controlled information flows while also never being quite sure what's going to happen next. Usually because of Max. The crew are caught in a web of loyalties - Max, the upper echelons of the fleet he's often against - with personal feelings and morals thrown into the mix.
This is a second book. I appreciated the summary of ANCIENT AS THE STARS at the start to get you up to speed on what happened if you (like me) forget most books as soon as they're shut and you're onto the next one. This being said, it has its own complete narrative arc, so probably could be read on its own.
LOYALTY TO THE MAX is a tale of conflicted loyalties and chaos-inducing main characters.
There are two narrators again for this book. While Ren is a returning narrator, Karenna (aka future Ren) is not, with Max (the rogue captain) coming in as the new narrator. I liked Max; he's as unorthodox and unpredictable as Ren but in a different way, which makes him a good counterpoint to her narration. Two forms of chaos (and Max manages to up the chaos) with their own morals to work through.
There's a lot of information arriving through unofficial channels in this book. Max and Ren are talking to people they probably shouldn't be officially and yet have some unofficial permission to talk to - but not as much as they are. It's a delightful tangle of pragmatism, trying to get intelligence you can't always trust, and hidden objectives.
These two elements make for a compelling narrative - you want to know what's really happening in this world of lies and carefully controlled information flows while also never being quite sure what's going to happen next. Usually because of Max. The crew are caught in a web of loyalties - Max, the upper echelons of the fleet he's often against - with personal feelings and morals thrown into the mix.
This is a second book. I appreciated the summary of ANCIENT AS THE STARS at the start to get you up to speed on what happened if you (like me) forget most books as soon as they're shut and you're onto the next one. This being said, it has its own complete narrative arc, so probably could be read on its own.
June 13, 2025
4.5 rounded up
General Thoughts: Love being back here but Max is not my favorite POV - he’s so shifty, unreliable narrator? I loved all the turns that this book took! What a great second book in the series.
Star Rating: 33.5/7 = 4.78 /5 stars
Here’s Why
Characters: 4/5 - I loved our characters, but they took longer to get a read on than in book 1.
Atmosphere/Setting: 4.5/5 - I loved our atmosphere and setting, although there were times when I wasn’t quite sure which setting we were in.
Writing Style: 5/5 - I love Darjani’s writing style. It is always easy to follow, good pacing, great characters and a good solid story to follow.
Plot: 5/5 - The plot was easy to follow and made sense the entire time - even with the twists and turns.
Intrigue: 5/5 - I was intrigued the entire time - especially with all the plot twists.
Logic: 5/5 - Everything made sense to me, I never questioned it.
Enjoyment: 5/5 - I truly enjoyed being back in this world and reading book 2 - Loyalty to the Max. I can’t wait for the next installment!
General Thoughts: Love being back here but Max is not my favorite POV - he’s so shifty, unreliable narrator? I loved all the turns that this book took! What a great second book in the series.
Star Rating: 33.5/7 = 4.78 /5 stars
Here’s Why
Characters: 4/5 - I loved our characters, but they took longer to get a read on than in book 1.
Atmosphere/Setting: 4.5/5 - I loved our atmosphere and setting, although there were times when I wasn’t quite sure which setting we were in.
Writing Style: 5/5 - I love Darjani’s writing style. It is always easy to follow, good pacing, great characters and a good solid story to follow.
Plot: 5/5 - The plot was easy to follow and made sense the entire time - even with the twists and turns.
Intrigue: 5/5 - I was intrigued the entire time - especially with all the plot twists.
Logic: 5/5 - Everything made sense to me, I never questioned it.
Enjoyment: 5/5 - I truly enjoyed being back in this world and reading book 2 - Loyalty to the Max. I can’t wait for the next installment!
Read
December 10, 2025Loyalty to the Max is a thrilling, high stakes space opera that blends interstellar adventure, espionage, and moral complexity. Maya Darjani delivers a story rich in character, loyalty, and interplanetary intrigue, with Captain Maxine Dupont leading a crew whose choices could alter the course of entire civilizations. The tension between duty, personal ethics, and relationships keeps readers on edge, while the nuanced world building immerses them in a fully realized galactic universe. Fans of fast paced, morally complex science fiction and space opera will be captivated from start to finish.
February 2, 2025
I’ve read Ancient as the Stars which is in this same series and therefore I had high expectations of this book. Loyalty to the Max didn’t disappoint.
This time, we get a glimpse of Max and his crew, of which Ren is one now. On the ESS Knight, she has found a family to belong, one which accepts her without question, but Max is always a maverick who must forge his own path.
With interstellar travel being impossible, the ships are stranded, but Max is not someone to sit idle. He recruits Ren into some espionage, which leads to some discoveries. Some of them are things Max never wanted anyone to know.
With her trust in her captain faltering, Ren has to make a choice. Does she follow Max or betray him and the crew that she calls family?
What I loved the most here is Max’s voice. It is so distinct from Ren’s or Karenna’s. It’s reflective of his whole personality where he appears larger than life even as he is combating chronic pain. Max’s backstory and thoughts reveal so much about him as a character. I loved him in Ancient as the Stars and I love him even more in this.
Chronic pain/illness is not often seen in speculative fic, so I was really glad to see it here. If you love space operas, conflicting loyalties, complex characters who are very relatable, and an intriguing plotline that makes you question who is in the right and who is in the wrong, you will love this book.
Also, queer and chronic pain rep.
This time, we get a glimpse of Max and his crew, of which Ren is one now. On the ESS Knight, she has found a family to belong, one which accepts her without question, but Max is always a maverick who must forge his own path.
With interstellar travel being impossible, the ships are stranded, but Max is not someone to sit idle. He recruits Ren into some espionage, which leads to some discoveries. Some of them are things Max never wanted anyone to know.
With her trust in her captain faltering, Ren has to make a choice. Does she follow Max or betray him and the crew that she calls family?
What I loved the most here is Max’s voice. It is so distinct from Ren’s or Karenna’s. It’s reflective of his whole personality where he appears larger than life even as he is combating chronic pain. Max’s backstory and thoughts reveal so much about him as a character. I loved him in Ancient as the Stars and I love him even more in this.
Chronic pain/illness is not often seen in speculative fic, so I was really glad to see it here. If you love space operas, conflicting loyalties, complex characters who are very relatable, and an intriguing plotline that makes you question who is in the right and who is in the wrong, you will love this book.
Also, queer and chronic pain rep.
May 28, 2025
Loyalty to the Max by Maya Darjani is the second book in the Broken Union series and I was delighted to get to spend some more time with the wonderfully funny but delightfully human characters she introduced in the first book, Ancient as the Stars. I will say that at first I was slightly disappointed that the main character in this book was Max, but that did not last very long at all and by the end of the book I was completely invested in his story and his potential future, and I ended up really loving him as a character. Of course we also get plenty of time with Ren and the occasional visit from Karenna, so fans of these characters need not worry. Also the sharp dialogue and pop culture references that I enjoyed in the first book are still very much in evidence here.
I would simplistically describe this as spies in space but that is really very reductive, especially with characters that have so much emotional depth and complexity and as this story unfolds it becomes very clear that the author is not afraid to put them, and by extension us as readers, through the emotional wringer. If that is not enough to tempt you, the story will not disappoint either, tense and tightly plotted with huge stakes this is an edge of your seat read especially in the last quarter or so of the book which I read in a single sitting because I could not bear to put it down. On a side note I also want to mention the good disability /chronic pain representation, something that we do not see enough of in science fiction and fantasy in general, but something that I thought was really well handled here and that I very much related to as someone with a chronic pain condition myself.
If you like a book about flawed people doing the best they can under trying circumstances then this is one I think you should definitely pick up soon.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author , all opinions are my own.
I would simplistically describe this as spies in space but that is really very reductive, especially with characters that have so much emotional depth and complexity and as this story unfolds it becomes very clear that the author is not afraid to put them, and by extension us as readers, through the emotional wringer. If that is not enough to tempt you, the story will not disappoint either, tense and tightly plotted with huge stakes this is an edge of your seat read especially in the last quarter or so of the book which I read in a single sitting because I could not bear to put it down. On a side note I also want to mention the good disability /chronic pain representation, something that we do not see enough of in science fiction and fantasy in general, but something that I thought was really well handled here and that I very much related to as someone with a chronic pain condition myself.
If you like a book about flawed people doing the best they can under trying circumstances then this is one I think you should definitely pick up soon.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author , all opinions are my own.
August 20, 2025
I'm literal-minded so this would be a 4.8 rating for me which is absolutely me screaming 'WHY HAVEN'T YOU READ THIS BOOK YET?!'
(If this review reads disjointed then it is because as an overjoyed and enthusiastic reader I couldn't wait to shout about this book and so pieced together the thoughts I had and notes I marked when reading it.)
Unputdownable.
That's this book in one word. If not for work and commitments, I would have finished this book the same day I started.
I LOVE this book and will absolutely re-read it!
It's my favourite kind of read: entertaining: fast-paced and fun with
*deep characterization and relationships: the found family camaraderie without getting saccharine,
*layers upon layers of plotting with the threads connecting beautifully,
*espionage, stratagems upon stratagems (and often stratagems under stratagems too), action,
*plus commentary on socio politics
*I enjoyed how Maya played around with the structure of a book from an interesting dual character perspective
*even the chapter headings, their design and type font!
*And that it's sci-fi! The complex science of the genre usually keeps me away except for a few authors I admire: Douglas Adams, Becky Chambers, Andy Weir, Eric Frank Russell and now Maya Darjani.
*And such innovative use of concepts such as the Particle and the proactive sapient AI.
Microscopic hiccups:
*I would have preferred a short context about certain events / people (that would help a new reader and old: I have a bad memory so though I have read Ancient as the Stars, I don't remember the details)
*the 'particle' and it's almost fantastic powers
*just getting into the book for the first 2-3 chapters
*I admit a bit around chapter 14 to mid chapter 16 my head spun with what to my brain sounded like scientific gobbledygook 🤪 and
*the wrap up that felt a little pat.
But did I mind? Not at all. I was too busy enjoying the ride. This book was near perfect.
Characters:
*Max is such an interesting character study. As a character put it: "He's cultivated a cult of personality." I love how Max, despite his irreverence, his drama and even his megalomania, has so much potential but is such a loose cannon, he requires a future Karenna and a present Ren dynamic to make sure he doesn't go off the rails
Sample this:
"Max,... what are you doing here? Really?"
"Let me explain."
"Yeah?"
Max grinned. "Yeah, but give me forty-five seconds to think of a lie."
*Ren / Karenna: the complexity of her character, her motivations, her circumstances are 🔥 Ren really comes into her own in this book after shaking off her mental shackles and Karenna kicks ass.
Themes:
'Am I a patriot?' could be the title of an essay about this book 🔥✨
There are entertaining and thought-provoking discussions woven through this fast-paced, fascinating and fun book about ethics, principles, freedom, revolution, idealism, the notion of a nation, patriotism and more.
I can barely believe the author has typed out this book on her phone with the baby in her arms?!!! Mad respect 🙇
Adored the book so much, it was easily one of my favourite reads in recent times.
Some gems I highlighted when reading:
*"Someone once told Ren a plan was just a list of things that didn't happen." Heh.
*"...age could merely be a matter of the shit you were willing to put up with."
*"She was three wiggly infants in a housecoat on a 'normal' day..."
"But cold he was. Cold in his bones. Cold to his loved ones."
"...talk was equal parts illuminating and utterly panic-inducing. Her flabbers were gasted. Her gobs? Smacked. Her bams were boozled." Hahaha!
"...that shambly authority admirals had. It was like they all got a user's manual. Play humble. Don't let anyone stand for you—act as if it is wholly unnecessary and mystifying, in fact..." the sharp observation in this passage!
Thank you Maya Darjani!
(If this review reads disjointed then it is because as an overjoyed and enthusiastic reader I couldn't wait to shout about this book and so pieced together the thoughts I had and notes I marked when reading it.)
Unputdownable.
That's this book in one word. If not for work and commitments, I would have finished this book the same day I started.
I LOVE this book and will absolutely re-read it!
It's my favourite kind of read: entertaining: fast-paced and fun with
*deep characterization and relationships: the found family camaraderie without getting saccharine,
*layers upon layers of plotting with the threads connecting beautifully,
*espionage, stratagems upon stratagems (and often stratagems under stratagems too), action,
*plus commentary on socio politics
*I enjoyed how Maya played around with the structure of a book from an interesting dual character perspective
*even the chapter headings, their design and type font!
*And that it's sci-fi! The complex science of the genre usually keeps me away except for a few authors I admire: Douglas Adams, Becky Chambers, Andy Weir, Eric Frank Russell and now Maya Darjani.
*And such innovative use of concepts such as the Particle and the proactive sapient AI.
Microscopic hiccups:
*I would have preferred a short context about certain events / people (that would help a new reader and old: I have a bad memory so though I have read Ancient as the Stars, I don't remember the details)
*the 'particle' and it's almost fantastic powers
*just getting into the book for the first 2-3 chapters
*I admit a bit around chapter 14 to mid chapter 16 my head spun with what to my brain sounded like scientific gobbledygook 🤪 and
*the wrap up that felt a little pat.
But did I mind? Not at all. I was too busy enjoying the ride. This book was near perfect.
Characters:
*Max is such an interesting character study. As a character put it: "He's cultivated a cult of personality." I love how Max, despite his irreverence, his drama and even his megalomania, has so much potential but is such a loose cannon, he requires a future Karenna and a present Ren dynamic to make sure he doesn't go off the rails
Sample this:
"Max,... what are you doing here? Really?"
"Let me explain."
"Yeah?"
Max grinned. "Yeah, but give me forty-five seconds to think of a lie."
*Ren / Karenna: the complexity of her character, her motivations, her circumstances are 🔥 Ren really comes into her own in this book after shaking off her mental shackles and Karenna kicks ass.
Themes:
'Am I a patriot?' could be the title of an essay about this book 🔥✨
There are entertaining and thought-provoking discussions woven through this fast-paced, fascinating and fun book about ethics, principles, freedom, revolution, idealism, the notion of a nation, patriotism and more.
I can barely believe the author has typed out this book on her phone with the baby in her arms?!!! Mad respect 🙇
Adored the book so much, it was easily one of my favourite reads in recent times.
Some gems I highlighted when reading:
*"Someone once told Ren a plan was just a list of things that didn't happen." Heh.
*"...age could merely be a matter of the shit you were willing to put up with."
*"She was three wiggly infants in a housecoat on a 'normal' day..."
"But cold he was. Cold in his bones. Cold to his loved ones."
"...talk was equal parts illuminating and utterly panic-inducing. Her flabbers were gasted. Her gobs? Smacked. Her bams were boozled." Hahaha!
"...that shambly authority admirals had. It was like they all got a user's manual. Play humble. Don't let anyone stand for you—act as if it is wholly unnecessary and mystifying, in fact..." the sharp observation in this passage!
Thank you Maya Darjani!
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