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Star Rust
After decades of scraping by with whatever work the galaxy offers, Crix Nakato finally has his own ship—a temperamental ex-courier vessel with one dead engine and enough quirks to match its world-weary new owner. When a routine delivery leads him to a derelict ship harboring the sole survivor of a family massacre, Crix faces a choice that will challenge everything he thought he wanted.
With a nine-year-old stowaway now aboard his ship and dangerous cargo in his hold, Crix navigates the murky waters between profit and conscience as Izzy Garcia's irrepressible spirit begins to thaw his hardened heart. Together they forge an unlikely partnership amid the stars, where the true value of salvage isn't always measured in credits.
Sometimes the things we rescue end up rescuing us.
With a nine-year-old stowaway now aboard his ship and dangerous cargo in his hold, Crix navigates the murky waters between profit and conscience as Izzy Garcia's irrepressible spirit begins to thaw his hardened heart. Together they forge an unlikely partnership amid the stars, where the true value of salvage isn't always measured in credits.
Sometimes the things we rescue end up rescuing us.
- GenresScience Fiction
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 20, 2025
Well written, adventures, dangerous, exciting.....
and it looks like there is more to come.
From being strapped in every way, a happy yet desperate new owner of a limping space craft and an empty wallet is desperately searching for that ever elusive luck, to dealing in black markets, dangerously risking it all while hoping for a better life.... Nothing ever happened the way he had hoped for. And in the middle of all the many difficulties, there seems to be always more unexpected challenges - when responding to an SOS call he finds the beginnings of yet another adventure. There seems to be a string of the unexpected, character-building curves in this story.
Buckle up, tighten your seat belt, for this story will take you to the stars. Well written with almost no goofups or missed editing. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and am looking forward to more suspense - we just know that there will be more expected and unexpected happenings. An enjoyable easy adventures in the stars story, highly recommended.
and it looks like there is more to come.
From being strapped in every way, a happy yet desperate new owner of a limping space craft and an empty wallet is desperately searching for that ever elusive luck, to dealing in black markets, dangerously risking it all while hoping for a better life.... Nothing ever happened the way he had hoped for. And in the middle of all the many difficulties, there seems to be always more unexpected challenges - when responding to an SOS call he finds the beginnings of yet another adventure. There seems to be a string of the unexpected, character-building curves in this story.
Buckle up, tighten your seat belt, for this story will take you to the stars. Well written with almost no goofups or missed editing. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and am looking forward to more suspense - we just know that there will be more expected and unexpected happenings. An enjoyable easy adventures in the stars story, highly recommended.
March 13, 2026
Very captivating writing style, love his book, more to come.
Normally I read a book and give it a rating and move on. If I make it to the end I try to give it a good 4 or 5 star rating normally without a verbal response so this is unusual. Iread quite a few books annually (100+) or on average two plus a week so I try to not waste my time reading the overly verbose and boring ones. But Mr Kiln is at the top of my list of good authors of non-extraneous detail type (if that’s is even a style?) l really love the fact that he’s concise and cuts to the chase quickly but in an interesting way and still manages to give you the important facts without the unnecessary fluff. Another of my author style peeves is when they try to load so many characters into a chapter that your head is trying to explode by the end trying to remember all the details, with all the multiple players, etc so by the end of said chapters your head is spinning trying to go nuclear. kaboom.
Normally I read a book and give it a rating and move on. If I make it to the end I try to give it a good 4 or 5 star rating normally without a verbal response so this is unusual. Iread quite a few books annually (100+) or on average two plus a week so I try to not waste my time reading the overly verbose and boring ones. But Mr Kiln is at the top of my list of good authors of non-extraneous detail type (if that’s is even a style?) l really love the fact that he’s concise and cuts to the chase quickly but in an interesting way and still manages to give you the important facts without the unnecessary fluff. Another of my author style peeves is when they try to load so many characters into a chapter that your head is trying to explode by the end trying to remember all the details, with all the multiple players, etc so by the end of said chapters your head is spinning trying to go nuclear. kaboom.
January 24, 2026
Star Rust is the first book in this series, and as far as scifi tales go, it's fairly decent. There's nothing new, anyone who's been reading scifi for more than a few years could probably point to 3 or 4 other books with similar storylines, but I like the way this one was handled. It's not just your typical citizen turn renegade, it's a man minding his own business just trying to make ends meet, then getting shanghaied by circumstances, but no way he was going to leave a kid to die. It's a pretty good story, and there appears to be more books in the series, so I'll have to add those to my to read list. Be interesting to see what happens after this one.
April 10, 2026
This is an enchanting story of a young girl rescued by a grizzled old man, which forces them both into dangerous situations. Her parents were murdered and her family empire taken over by the bad guys. But that provides the thinnest plot to allow for this pair to grow and develop into a father-daughter team that can take on the universe.
Oh yeah, it's scifi, but it could be a mafia story instead, or nomads in the desert. Doesn't matter. The two MCs are what drives the story.
I'll be reading the next one.
Oh yeah, it's scifi, but it could be a mafia story instead, or nomads in the desert. Doesn't matter. The two MCs are what drives the story.
I'll be reading the next one.
February 13, 2026
Great story!
Well written and snags you immediately. Intriguing and realistic. Characters are well-developed and enjoyable. A nice respite from status-quo murder mysteries and romance novels. I really like and elderly protagonist too, thank you very much! Especially one with a decent relationship with a small child. Looking forward to the next one... And the one after that. And anything else this author has written.
Well written and snags you immediately. Intriguing and realistic. Characters are well-developed and enjoyable. A nice respite from status-quo murder mysteries and romance novels. I really like and elderly protagonist too, thank you very much! Especially one with a decent relationship with a small child. Looking forward to the next one... And the one after that. And anything else this author has written.
September 12, 2025
Sci Fi with a heart and soul.
Tough old spacer Crix rescues a girl from the wreck of her parents ship that had been savaged by pirates.
Who knew that in the long run the girl, IZZY, bright funny and fearless, would be the one saving him ?
This isn't the regular stuff folks. It's better.
Try it.
Tough old spacer Crix rescues a girl from the wreck of her parents ship that had been savaged by pirates.
Who knew that in the long run the girl, IZZY, bright funny and fearless, would be the one saving him ?
This isn't the regular stuff folks. It's better.
Try it.
January 22, 2026
Great Buddy Story
Exactly what you would expect,comforting and entertaining. Kiln is a good writer and knows words. At times some of the introspection felt repetitive but it all had heart. Beyond character building there was some good action. This story is not unique but it doesn't diminish the quality f the writing or the good feels that the story produces.
Exactly what you would expect,comforting and entertaining. Kiln is a good writer and knows words. At times some of the introspection felt repetitive but it all had heart. Beyond character building there was some good action. This story is not unique but it doesn't diminish the quality f the writing or the good feels that the story produces.
March 5, 2026
Half a book
This is a story with potential, however as written it feels like half Or quarter of a book. if you are looking at it from a literary prospective we are still in the rising action phase. I find books like this a little annoying as it takes several small books to get to what used to be one book.
This is a story with potential, however as written it feels like half Or quarter of a book. if you are looking at it from a literary prospective we are still in the rising action phase. I find books like this a little annoying as it takes several small books to get to what used to be one book.
April 29, 2026
Had a lot of promise, with a nice premise, but the writing and pacing just didn't do it for me. I did not feel invested in the main character. I know there is an additional character who livens things up, but I could not get through to that part. One of my reading friends really enjoyed this, so it could be your cup of tea.
August 23, 2025
A very interesting story
I really enjoyed reading this book. Full of family, love and adventure. I loved the idea of an old gruff spaceship captain rescuing a nine-year-old. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Full of family, love and adventure. I loved the idea of an old gruff spaceship captain rescuing a nine-year-old. Highly recommended.
June 13, 2025
star rust
Great adventure into space, with a flawed , pragmatic main character and a delightful young charge. Worth reading. Not predictable.
Great adventure into space, with a flawed , pragmatic main character and a delightful young charge. Worth reading. Not predictable.
July 22, 2025
In spots; boring, overall a good read. Book two, BORING.
July 22, 2025
A nice story with a dash of danger for spice
A good solid story that holds interest and creates a believable universe. I'd recommend it as a solid YA story.
A good solid story that holds interest and creates a believable universe. I'd recommend it as a solid YA story.
July 31, 2025
Enjoyed reading this book
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Can hardly wait to read the next book to find out what happens to the characters. I recommend
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Can hardly wait to read the next book to find out what happens to the characters. I recommend
August 20, 2025
Fantastic book, I loved how realistic the main character is, deeply considering difficult moral choices. I also loved how gritty and realistic the universe is.
August 29, 2025
I don't know why, but I really enjoyed this story. I wasn't ready for it to end.
September 13, 2025
A man gets his spaceship and picks up a passenger sidekick or two. Space opera. Fun read of trials and tribulations. Read with Alexa audio app. Borrowed on Sep 11, 2025 with Kindle Unlimited.
September 22, 2025
good read
Warm family created by mutual need . Like the characters all a mixed bag but good story line that makes you want to read more about what happens
Warm family created by mutual need . Like the characters all a mixed bag but good story line that makes you want to read more about what happens
October 6, 2025
good author
I enjoy reading anything he writes. I recommend you check out his other series, they’re very good, with interesting characters.
I enjoy reading anything he writes. I recommend you check out his other series, they’re very good, with interesting characters.
November 17, 2025
Good read and I'm ready for book 2. The nine-year old is a little precocious, but not outrageously so. And I can tell we're going to have issues with her uncle in book 2.
March 10, 2026
Don't bother with this AI slop.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews