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Universe #1
When the Universe Sings
There is only one rule in the trust no one.
Juniper knows it all too well. After her home planet was destroyed and eleven years on Ebyd III, a Galactic Federation mechanical prison, the only thing she might fear now is death. Taking a chance at freedom, she climbs into the ventilation shaft of a docked pleasure barge only to be discovered by the mistress of the ship. Given the choice between certain death on Ebyd III and the unknown, she joins as their new silks dancer.
When Captain Asher Ruciyah seeks someone to complete his crew for a mysterious mission, Juniper is hired as their climber to round out their numbers. As part of this new crew intent on stealing one of the universe's most powerful weapons, Juniper discovers she wants something more than revenge on the man who took everything from her.
But nothing and no one is as it seems, especially in a galaxy filled with lies, deceit, and false identities. Juniper will learn that revenge isn’t as simple as she thought it would be and sometimes it’s not one person, but an entire universe against you.
Juniper knows it all too well. After her home planet was destroyed and eleven years on Ebyd III, a Galactic Federation mechanical prison, the only thing she might fear now is death. Taking a chance at freedom, she climbs into the ventilation shaft of a docked pleasure barge only to be discovered by the mistress of the ship. Given the choice between certain death on Ebyd III and the unknown, she joins as their new silks dancer.
When Captain Asher Ruciyah seeks someone to complete his crew for a mysterious mission, Juniper is hired as their climber to round out their numbers. As part of this new crew intent on stealing one of the universe's most powerful weapons, Juniper discovers she wants something more than revenge on the man who took everything from her.
But nothing and no one is as it seems, especially in a galaxy filled with lies, deceit, and false identities. Juniper will learn that revenge isn’t as simple as she thought it would be and sometimes it’s not one person, but an entire universe against you.
330 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
September 5, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
Apparently all it takes to keep me entertained in space is an escaped prisoner, a weapons heist, one giant mysterious blue alien and approximately three meaningful knuckle touches.
For most of this book, I was simply vibing. Asking questions was somebody else’s problem.
Then somewhere around 70%, my critical-thinking skills clocked back in. Tragic, really.
What worked for me
(aka: surviving on crumbs because the alien was hot)
Juniper survived. Then she started living.
Juniper knew how to survive. Living was the part she had to learn. After years of captivity and being treated as something useful rather than someone with choices, survival isn't just something she does - it's how she's learned to exist.
Watching that slowly change was one of the strongest parts of her arc for me. She isn't simply escaping one cage; she's learning what freedom even looks like when you've spent so long believing usefulness equals safety. Tiny things like discovering what food she likes, making jokes, wanting things and letting people care about her carried just as much weight for me as the bigger moments.
Her personality was basically escaping prison too and I was here for every little piece of it.
I also really appreciated how quiet she is, especially in the first half. We're already experiencing the world through her eyes, so I never needed her to narrate every thought out loud or manufacture banter with Asher. Sometimes she simply let that man sit in the uncomfortable silence he'd created.
Queen behaviour, frankly.
One giant blue alien and an unreasonable amount of tension
Asher had me exactly where this book wanted me.
The mask. The gloves. The scars. The secrets. The morally grey mercenary situation. Keeping us almost entirely in Juniper's POV was absolutely the right choice because I spent most of the book trying to figure this man out right alongside her.
And the slow burn? RUDE.
Their chemistry lived in tiny moments for so long that I became completely unreasonable about them. With Asher hidden behind that helmet, I was reading clenched fists and gloved hands like body language was a forensic science. Then part of the helmet came off and suddenly we had EYE CONTACT. Long hair. Actual facial expressions. Sir, this is already a lot.
And then came the bare hands.
BARE. HANDS.
By that point, Gillian Eliza West had effectively slow-edged me into believing skin-to-skin contact was third base. A prolonged look required investigation. A fingertip brushing skin deserved its own chapter. And when we finally got a knuckle touch? I was reacting like Asher had dropped to one knee and produced a ring.
In my defence, those knuckles had been carrying the romance on their scarred little backs.
I also loved the gradual shift in how Juniper experienced him. Touch goes from something associated with ownership and danger to something she can actively choose. Asher asking permission, respecting boundaries and showing up in quiet caretaker moments worked well in contrast to the man we'd met at the beginning.
Throw in the heist, a crew I genuinely enjoyed, some delicious identity reveals and worldbuilding that gave me enough to understand the universe without assigning homework and I was happily along for the ride.
Where it lost me
(aka: should've just stayed delusional)
Feral chemistry, emotional crumbs
This is the big one and ultimately why I couldn't quite give this four stars.
I completely bought Juniper and Asher's attraction. I bought the tension, the growing safety and even the intensity between them.
But eventually I needed more than knuckles and yearning.
Most of their intimacy happens around danger, trauma, secrets, physical attraction or the larger supernatural connection between them. What I started missing were the ordinary bits. Give me conversations. Teasing. Breakfast. Stupid arguments. Let them learn the tiny, useless things about each other that have nothing to do with survival. I needed to see these two fall in love without mortal peril doing half the work.
Because the rare moments where they simply got to be Juniper and Asher were some of my favourites.
Once the bigger revelations started dropping, the romance raced ahead while I was still waiting for the emotional development to catch up. So when Juniper finally asks Asher to give her time - to trust him, to know him - I thought YES. That's exactly what I've been waiting for.
And then apparently “give me time” boarded an express flight to the HEA.
The ending skips forward over exactly the stretch of relationship-building I wanted to experience. I understood the destination. I believed they could get there. I just wanted the book to let me travel those missing miles with them.
I was fine until I started inspecting the spaceship
The worldbuilding followed a similar pattern, although this bothered me less than the romance.
For most of the book, I genuinely liked its lighter approach. I knew enough about the Federation, servitude, different species, planets and cultures to inhabit Juniper's universe without being buried beneath twelve pages explaining the political history of Space Parliament.
Perfect. Keep her moving.
But once the mate bond, sacred stone and Akahzyrian lore moved from intriguing background noise to very important, I started wanting more meat on those bones. I understood enough to follow everything but some of the book's biggest pieces of lore arrived late. Even Juniper's freedom - something the story had spent so long establishing as incredibly complicated - was wrapped up with surprising ease. Meanwhile, I'd been preparing for an intergalactic legal battle.
Did it work in the moment? Yes. Did it survive me poking it with a stick afterwards? Less so.
Basically, the worldbuilding gave me enough to inhabit this universe but not always enough to interrogate it.
And unfortunately, I eventually began interrogating.
Final thoughts
This is one of those books where my reading experience matters more than how many things I can critique afterwards. I spent the majority of it genuinely entertained, invested in Juniper, feral over Asher and making entirely too much out of every look, touch and almost-moment between them.
It was only around the final third that the cracks became more noticeable. The ending gave me the right destinations - freedom, love, belonging and home - but I needed more breathing room between the big revelations for the emotional payoff to hit as hard as I wanted.
Final verdict
3.75 ⭐️ - This gave me enough mystery to keep me curious, enough chemistry to make me feral and enough emotional investment to keep me happily turning pages. I just needed the ending to slow down and actually feed me.
Turns out crumbs can sustain me for 70%. After that, I require catering.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Sci-fi romance x space heist
• Fated mates
• Escaped prisoner FMC
• Mysterious masked man supremacy
• Morally grey mercenary captain
• Slow burn that takes its job VERY seriously
• Forced proximity
• Touch her and suffer
• Caretaking and protective MMC
• Consent and boundary-conscious intimacy
• Secret identities and secrets on secrets
• Found family
• Trauma and healing
• Sacred artifact quest
• Space politics without the textbook
• Home and belonging
• Knuckle-touch supremacy
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Juniper escaped space prison and decided freedom was best enjoyed with ✨felonies✨.
Enter: an intergalactic weapons heist.
May crime heal what therapy can't 🤞🏼✨️
Apparently all it takes to keep me entertained in space is an escaped prisoner, a weapons heist, one giant mysterious blue alien and approximately three meaningful knuckle touches.
For most of this book, I was simply vibing. Asking questions was somebody else’s problem.
Then somewhere around 70%, my critical-thinking skills clocked back in. Tragic, really.
What worked for me
(aka: surviving on crumbs because the alien was hot)
Juniper survived. Then she started living.
Juniper knew how to survive. Living was the part she had to learn. After years of captivity and being treated as something useful rather than someone with choices, survival isn't just something she does - it's how she's learned to exist.
Watching that slowly change was one of the strongest parts of her arc for me. She isn't simply escaping one cage; she's learning what freedom even looks like when you've spent so long believing usefulness equals safety. Tiny things like discovering what food she likes, making jokes, wanting things and letting people care about her carried just as much weight for me as the bigger moments.
Her personality was basically escaping prison too and I was here for every little piece of it.
I also really appreciated how quiet she is, especially in the first half. We're already experiencing the world through her eyes, so I never needed her to narrate every thought out loud or manufacture banter with Asher. Sometimes she simply let that man sit in the uncomfortable silence he'd created.
Queen behaviour, frankly.
One giant blue alien and an unreasonable amount of tension
Asher had me exactly where this book wanted me.
The mask. The gloves. The scars. The secrets. The morally grey mercenary situation. Keeping us almost entirely in Juniper's POV was absolutely the right choice because I spent most of the book trying to figure this man out right alongside her.
And the slow burn? RUDE.
Their chemistry lived in tiny moments for so long that I became completely unreasonable about them. With Asher hidden behind that helmet, I was reading clenched fists and gloved hands like body language was a forensic science. Then part of the helmet came off and suddenly we had EYE CONTACT. Long hair. Actual facial expressions. Sir, this is already a lot.
And then came the bare hands.
BARE. HANDS.
By that point, Gillian Eliza West had effectively slow-edged me into believing skin-to-skin contact was third base. A prolonged look required investigation. A fingertip brushing skin deserved its own chapter. And when we finally got a knuckle touch? I was reacting like Asher had dropped to one knee and produced a ring.
In my defence, those knuckles had been carrying the romance on their scarred little backs.
I also loved the gradual shift in how Juniper experienced him. Touch goes from something associated with ownership and danger to something she can actively choose. Asher asking permission, respecting boundaries and showing up in quiet caretaker moments worked well in contrast to the man we'd met at the beginning.
Throw in the heist, a crew I genuinely enjoyed, some delicious identity reveals and worldbuilding that gave me enough to understand the universe without assigning homework and I was happily along for the ride.
Where it lost me
(aka: should've just stayed delusional)
Feral chemistry, emotional crumbs
This is the big one and ultimately why I couldn't quite give this four stars.
I completely bought Juniper and Asher's attraction. I bought the tension, the growing safety and even the intensity between them.
But eventually I needed more than knuckles and yearning.
Most of their intimacy happens around danger, trauma, secrets, physical attraction or the larger supernatural connection between them. What I started missing were the ordinary bits. Give me conversations. Teasing. Breakfast. Stupid arguments. Let them learn the tiny, useless things about each other that have nothing to do with survival. I needed to see these two fall in love without mortal peril doing half the work.
Because the rare moments where they simply got to be Juniper and Asher were some of my favourites.
Once the bigger revelations started dropping, the romance raced ahead while I was still waiting for the emotional development to catch up. So when Juniper finally asks Asher to give her time - to trust him, to know him - I thought YES. That's exactly what I've been waiting for.
And then apparently “give me time” boarded an express flight to the HEA.
The ending skips forward over exactly the stretch of relationship-building I wanted to experience. I understood the destination. I believed they could get there. I just wanted the book to let me travel those missing miles with them.
I was fine until I started inspecting the spaceship
The worldbuilding followed a similar pattern, although this bothered me less than the romance.
For most of the book, I genuinely liked its lighter approach. I knew enough about the Federation, servitude, different species, planets and cultures to inhabit Juniper's universe without being buried beneath twelve pages explaining the political history of Space Parliament.
Perfect. Keep her moving.
But once the mate bond, sacred stone and Akahzyrian lore moved from intriguing background noise to very important, I started wanting more meat on those bones. I understood enough to follow everything but some of the book's biggest pieces of lore arrived late. Even Juniper's freedom - something the story had spent so long establishing as incredibly complicated - was wrapped up with surprising ease. Meanwhile, I'd been preparing for an intergalactic legal battle.
Did it work in the moment? Yes. Did it survive me poking it with a stick afterwards? Less so.
Basically, the worldbuilding gave me enough to inhabit this universe but not always enough to interrogate it.
And unfortunately, I eventually began interrogating.
Final thoughts
This is one of those books where my reading experience matters more than how many things I can critique afterwards. I spent the majority of it genuinely entertained, invested in Juniper, feral over Asher and making entirely too much out of every look, touch and almost-moment between them.
It was only around the final third that the cracks became more noticeable. The ending gave me the right destinations - freedom, love, belonging and home - but I needed more breathing room between the big revelations for the emotional payoff to hit as hard as I wanted.
Final verdict
3.75 ⭐️ - This gave me enough mystery to keep me curious, enough chemistry to make me feral and enough emotional investment to keep me happily turning pages. I just needed the ending to slow down and actually feed me.
Turns out crumbs can sustain me for 70%. After that, I require catering.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Sci-fi romance x space heist
• Fated mates
• Escaped prisoner FMC
• Mysterious masked man supremacy
• Morally grey mercenary captain
• Slow burn that takes its job VERY seriously
• Forced proximity
• Touch her and suffer
• Caretaking and protective MMC
• Consent and boundary-conscious intimacy
• Secret identities and secrets on secrets
• Found family
• Trauma and healing
• Sacred artifact quest
• Space politics without the textbook
• Home and belonging
• Knuckle-touch supremacy
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Juniper escaped space prison and decided freedom was best enjoyed with ✨felonies✨.
Enter: an intergalactic weapons heist.
May crime heal what therapy can't 🤞🏼✨️
August 29, 2026
this was ok! it had a strong, promising start. I was really intrigued by a scifi space heist and it seemed like a really interesting world.
unfortunately it didn’t go as deep into the plot/world nor the romance as much as I would’ve liked. the romance is pretty central yes, but the development wasn’t where I would’ve liked it to be, esp considering the reluctant allies / enemies-adjacent dynamic in the beginning.
the series overall will prob answer more questions about the world. I could read the next book to see if I feel it improves.
unfortunately it didn’t go as deep into the plot/world nor the romance as much as I would’ve liked. the romance is pretty central yes, but the development wasn’t where I would’ve liked it to be, esp considering the reluctant allies / enemies-adjacent dynamic in the beginning.
the series overall will prob answer more questions about the world. I could read the next book to see if I feel it improves.
August 19, 2026
I think this book is definitely unique, and I really liked the idea behind it, but I was pretty confused in the beginning because there wasn’t much world-building. And the FMC barely talked 😭 I know she was written to be more quiet and reserved, but it made it really hard to connect with her or even get a sense of her personality.
The concept was interesting and different, but the execution just didn’t quite work
The concept was interesting and different, but the execution just didn’t quite work
August 6, 2026
When I saw the words “dystopian alien romance,” and “masked MMC” I was immediately SAT. Because let’s be honest, who doesn’t immediately gravitate towards the mysteriously dark MMC in a romance novel? If you love the vibes of Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy, this one is definitely for you bestie. This book pulled me in and I immediately felt like I was transported into another world. Not only do you get such a heart wrenching back story for both characters, I also felt like I was there traveling the galaxy and other worlds with how amazing and detail the writing was.
June and Asher’s story was so breathtaking and yet so tragically beautiful. There were so many times that I couldn’t help but tear up from the way Juniper saw herself and how her life turned out. Her grief was just so overwhelming at times it was just impossible not to connect with her on an emotional level and honestly just cry with her. Even though there are some really tough scenes in the book, I really loved this book and connected with the characters so much. When you meet Asher and find out who he is to June, you immediately want to hate him and want to kick him off of a cliff. So much so that I really was rooting for June to light the guy on fire at times. But of course, the author had to throw a twist in there with the devise handsome masked MMC and man oh man did I want to club him like a tree. I mean come on, he’s a huge masked blue alien with tattoos who threatens you and grabs you by the neck?! You would be crazy not to fall immediately under his alien spell.
When I got to the ending and learned this was going to be a series and even got a little sneak peak at the next one, I was immediately invested and so excited for book two. This is a true enemies to lovers, forced proximity, gritty and harsh dystopian romance that may also have some themes that may be unsettling or too much for some readers so make sure you read the trigger warning before diving into this one!
*Thank you so much to the author Gillian Eliza West for the ARC!*
June and Asher’s story was so breathtaking and yet so tragically beautiful. There were so many times that I couldn’t help but tear up from the way Juniper saw herself and how her life turned out. Her grief was just so overwhelming at times it was just impossible not to connect with her on an emotional level and honestly just cry with her. Even though there are some really tough scenes in the book, I really loved this book and connected with the characters so much. When you meet Asher and find out who he is to June, you immediately want to hate him and want to kick him off of a cliff. So much so that I really was rooting for June to light the guy on fire at times. But of course, the author had to throw a twist in there with the devise handsome masked MMC and man oh man did I want to club him like a tree. I mean come on, he’s a huge masked blue alien with tattoos who threatens you and grabs you by the neck?! You would be crazy not to fall immediately under his alien spell.
When I got to the ending and learned this was going to be a series and even got a little sneak peak at the next one, I was immediately invested and so excited for book two. This is a true enemies to lovers, forced proximity, gritty and harsh dystopian romance that may also have some themes that may be unsettling or too much for some readers so make sure you read the trigger warning before diving into this one!
*Thank you so much to the author Gillian Eliza West for the ARC!*
July 20, 2026
🌌 "Comfort was dangerous, especially in the palm of a monster."
2.5⭐ 2.5🌶️
here's what I loved about this story:
+ The bones of this story are fantastic! The concept is incredibly unique and unlike anything I've read before!!
+ I love the characters and setting I mean we are on a literal space ship jumping through galaxies and time I LOVE THIS
+ this is EXACTLY the kind of vibe I gravitate towards and the artwork sold me INSTANTLY
like a Reylo inspired story???? say fucking less.
+ he wears a mask.... mhm yup
+ Juniper's need for revenge is so contagious. Everything she's been through, I TOO, want her to get revenge
+ the found family is truly magical and I want them all to have their own HEAs
Okay... here's where I struggled
- I am left feeling like I knew the main characters more through their trauma than through who they actually are as people. I deeply understood their pain, but I never felt like I truly got to know them outside of that, which made it difficult for me to emotionally connect with them
- Juniper is mute for the majority of the story because she doesn't want to be vulnerable (totally get that) But because there wasn't much dialogue from her and the story is mainly from her POV I struggled to understand why they were falling for each other?... I'm not sure why they liked each other Other than finding each other attractive? I wanted more emotional development to make their relationship really click for me
I can definitely see why so many readers are loving this one but for me the emotional connection just wasn't there... so the romance didn't land the way I wanted it to
💕You will enjoy this if you are into:
+ Reylo vibes
+ masked MMCs
+ space romance
+ revenge driven FMCs
+ found family
+ galaxy hopping adventures
+ morally gray characters
+ touch her and die energy
2.5⭐ 2.5🌶️
here's what I loved about this story:
+ The bones of this story are fantastic! The concept is incredibly unique and unlike anything I've read before!!
+ I love the characters and setting I mean we are on a literal space ship jumping through galaxies and time I LOVE THIS
+ this is EXACTLY the kind of vibe I gravitate towards and the artwork sold me INSTANTLY
like a Reylo inspired story???? say fucking less.
+ he wears a mask.... mhm yup
+ Juniper's need for revenge is so contagious. Everything she's been through, I TOO, want her to get revenge
+ the found family is truly magical and I want them all to have their own HEAs
Okay... here's where I struggled
- I am left feeling like I knew the main characters more through their trauma than through who they actually are as people. I deeply understood their pain, but I never felt like I truly got to know them outside of that, which made it difficult for me to emotionally connect with them
- Juniper is mute for the majority of the story because she doesn't want to be vulnerable (totally get that) But because there wasn't much dialogue from her and the story is mainly from her POV I struggled to understand why they were falling for each other?... I'm not sure why they liked each other Other than finding each other attractive? I wanted more emotional development to make their relationship really click for me
I can definitely see why so many readers are loving this one but for me the emotional connection just wasn't there... so the romance didn't land the way I wanted it to
💕You will enjoy this if you are into:
+ Reylo vibes
+ masked MMCs
+ space romance
+ revenge driven FMCs
+ found family
+ galaxy hopping adventures
+ morally gray characters
+ touch her and die energy
August 15, 2026
EDIT: okay, I crashed out here way too much. my points still stand.
the word "male" (both singular and plural) was applied more than 200 times. i'd like to remind you that this book is not even 400 pages long. i believe this rather debunks the theory that WTUS was well-written, as such a gender binary doesn't work in the plot, especially when there is a non-binary character involved later on.
IMO the main problem of WTUS starts with its vagueness. it was set on very ill-defined ideas. nothing, and I mean it, nothing, was explained properly. political conflicts? good, we don't need to know the specifics. entire villages or planets razed to the ground? amazing, don't mind the details, don't mind the readers, they'll read between the lines. or you know what? greed will be the answer. greed is always enough of a reason.
universe singing??? "I'll explain it to you one day"? (I won't actually!)
also, where...? where... were... the.. guardians of the galaxy... as implied in the description??? I hate this trend (and it's been flooding indie publishing), because the works cited had often been more of an sentimental inspiration than a point of reference (which is not a bad thing, it's just shouldn't make the description... NEVER the cover)
the word "male" (both singular and plural) was applied more than 200 times. i'd like to remind you that this book is not even 400 pages long. i believe this rather debunks the theory that WTUS was well-written, as such a gender binary doesn't work in the plot, especially when there is a non-binary character involved later on.
IMO the main problem of WTUS starts with its vagueness. it was set on very ill-defined ideas. nothing, and I mean it, nothing, was explained properly. political conflicts? good, we don't need to know the specifics. entire villages or planets razed to the ground? amazing, don't mind the details, don't mind the readers, they'll read between the lines. or you know what? greed will be the answer. greed is always enough of a reason.
universe singing??? "I'll explain it to you one day"? (I won't actually!)
also, where...? where... were... the.. guardians of the galaxy... as implied in the description??? I hate this trend (and it's been flooding indie publishing), because the works cited had often been more of an sentimental inspiration than a point of reference (which is not a bad thing, it's just shouldn't make the description... NEVER the cover)
Review of advance copy received from Author
BRING BACK YEARNING BUT IN SPACE 🌌🛸☄️🪐
There’s only one rule in the galaxy: trust no one.
When the Universe Sings gave me REYLO, Andor vibes and a bit of Guardians of the Galaxy.
We get different species, planets, space heists, and missions. Where politics, power, liberation, and guilty pleasures are intertwined.
Juniper, an aerial silk dancer, scarred from her past, will not stop seeking revenge. Her pain became my pain. Her silence became my silence. Her distrust was valid and seeing her heal and unshackle herself was inspiring.
Asher, a merciless captain, with several masks, broody, and willing to sacrifice anything to complete his mission. But for her? He’s attentive and caring. Physical touch is definitely his love language. 🤭 You guys need to meet this blue specimen of a man.
I’m internally screaming again, spiraling over the enemies to lovers situation. The tension was there from the beginning and it was electric. Then when it untangled, we go so much emotional vulnerability with these characters. I was hanging on to every word and every interaction. Yes, and it was scorching hot too.
I had an amazing time reading this, my mind vividly depicted the described imagery. I love sci-fi so I was having the time of my life. It’s fast-paced, action packed, gripping, and the perfect standalone.
& when the revelations came along, I was left bamboozled. How the heck did I not see that coming? 🥲
There’s so much more to this universe, and I’m curious to see where we go next! Thank you so much Gillian for the physical and e-arc. 💙🛸
There’s only one rule in the galaxy: trust no one.
When the Universe Sings gave me REYLO, Andor vibes and a bit of Guardians of the Galaxy.
We get different species, planets, space heists, and missions. Where politics, power, liberation, and guilty pleasures are intertwined.
Juniper, an aerial silk dancer, scarred from her past, will not stop seeking revenge. Her pain became my pain. Her silence became my silence. Her distrust was valid and seeing her heal and unshackle herself was inspiring.
Asher, a merciless captain, with several masks, broody, and willing to sacrifice anything to complete his mission. But for her? He’s attentive and caring. Physical touch is definitely his love language. 🤭 You guys need to meet this blue specimen of a man.
I’m internally screaming again, spiraling over the enemies to lovers situation. The tension was there from the beginning and it was electric. Then when it untangled, we go so much emotional vulnerability with these characters. I was hanging on to every word and every interaction. Yes, and it was scorching hot too.
I had an amazing time reading this, my mind vividly depicted the described imagery. I love sci-fi so I was having the time of my life. It’s fast-paced, action packed, gripping, and the perfect standalone.
& when the revelations came along, I was left bamboozled. How the heck did I not see that coming? 🥲
There’s so much more to this universe, and I’m curious to see where we go next! Thank you so much Gillian for the physical and e-arc. 💙🛸
June 17, 2026
Space heist, Guardians of the Galaxy style, but make it ✨spicy✨
This book was such a fun read! And the YEARNING AND TENSION! Top tier, chef’s kiss, perfection! I was sold when I was told it was giving Reylo vibes, because of course I am obsessed and always want more of what we had taken from us. This delivered and gave me more than I bargained for. Please add this to your TBR!
Thank you to the author for a copy of the eARC!
This book was such a fun read! And the YEARNING AND TENSION! Top tier, chef’s kiss, perfection! I was sold when I was told it was giving Reylo vibes, because of course I am obsessed and always want more of what we had taken from us. This delivered and gave me more than I bargained for. Please add this to your TBR!
Thank you to the author for a copy of the eARC!
August 26, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
Ahhhh this was such a unique & fun read! This was definitely more sci-fi vibes than what I typically read & honestly it was very refreshing!
The plot was so interesting and I was hooked big time on the relationships between all of the characters.
Definitely recommend this one 🪐
2/5 🌶️
Ahhhh this was such a unique & fun read! This was definitely more sci-fi vibes than what I typically read & honestly it was very refreshing!
The plot was so interesting and I was hooked big time on the relationships between all of the characters.
Definitely recommend this one 🪐
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love this!
**ARC READ**
4.5⭐️
2.5/5🌶️
First person/dual POV
Book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones
Format: e-arc
Spoiler free
Thank you to the author Gillian Eliza West for letting me read this book in advance.
After reading this author’s Infernis Duology & liking it, I had to read this book. The art alone is stunning & drew me in. My usual go to is romantasy, but I’m always down for the kinda adjacent genre of sci-fi dystopian fantasy romance as well. So I love that this has an original concept because we’re in space!
I must also add the dedication: “For the rats. I hope this feeds you.” ….. yep she got my attention once again. & who doesn’t love a standalone??
One of the things I love about this author’s style, is her page count. She packs it all into roughly 300-350 pages & it all just works. Everything is so tightly compact that there’s no room for filler. There’s a fast pace, 2 main characters with an emotional romance that unfolds expertly, great side characters, a unique plot that builds & delivers & spicy spice. The world building was so easy to understand that I didn’t even need to refer to the glossary in the back.
Her writing has also greatly matured with every book she writes (Didn’t get into her Oylen City series though because honestly, I’m not always in the mood for vampires.)
The FMC is quiet, stoic, reserved & as a side character mentions, she almost never talks. This is a surprising change of pace from the usual hot headed fmcs I read🥲The MMC wears a mask/helmet & that’s all you really need to know about him🤣
It’s quick & easy to read with a little bit of everything for that one & done fantasy romance experience.
Note
This book could only have benefited being a bit longer. The last portion of the book was more tell then show which made it feel like the ending was rushed.
**Publishing 08/06/2026**
**ARC READ**
4.5⭐️
2.5/5🌶️
First person/dual POV
Book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones
Format: e-arc
Spoiler free
Thank you to the author Gillian Eliza West for letting me read this book in advance.
After reading this author’s Infernis Duology & liking it, I had to read this book. The art alone is stunning & drew me in. My usual go to is romantasy, but I’m always down for the kinda adjacent genre of sci-fi dystopian fantasy romance as well. So I love that this has an original concept because we’re in space!
I must also add the dedication: “For the rats. I hope this feeds you.” ….. yep she got my attention once again. & who doesn’t love a standalone??
One of the things I love about this author’s style, is her page count. She packs it all into roughly 300-350 pages & it all just works. Everything is so tightly compact that there’s no room for filler. There’s a fast pace, 2 main characters with an emotional romance that unfolds expertly, great side characters, a unique plot that builds & delivers & spicy spice. The world building was so easy to understand that I didn’t even need to refer to the glossary in the back.
Her writing has also greatly matured with every book she writes (Didn’t get into her Oylen City series though because honestly, I’m not always in the mood for vampires.)
The FMC is quiet, stoic, reserved & as a side character mentions, she almost never talks. This is a surprising change of pace from the usual hot headed fmcs I read🥲The MMC wears a mask/helmet & that’s all you really need to know about him🤣
It’s quick & easy to read with a little bit of everything for that one & done fantasy romance experience.
Note
This book could only have benefited being a bit longer. The last portion of the book was more tell then show which made it feel like the ending was rushed.
**Publishing 08/06/2026**
August 8, 2026
Thank you to the author and team for the digital ARC. 🥰
When the Universe Sings is a dystopian sci fi romance you didn’t know you needed. A detailed galaxy world with multiple planets was fascinating as was the cultures introduced.
Juniper's backstory was truly heartbreaking, so her hatred for Captain Asher was definitely valid. Girl went through a lot and it has made her cautious in trusting others. I liked her quiet softness and development and seeing how she opened up to others.
Asher puzzled me at first since I’m picturing him as a villain in Juniper’s eyes (altho if villain, why hot?). Nevertheless, he won me over—not just with his mask and man bun but with his swoonworthy words and protectiveness. Man fell first and he was tryinggg. Who doesn’t love a broody masked man who yearns?? Asher and Juniper made for the perfect slow burn romance with all the tension and angst.
The plot in which the crew are hunting for a powerful stone was interesting and I wanted to see how it played out. There was also an array of diverse side characters with a sense of found family, which I loved. Crux ended up being my favorite and I’m curious if any of them will be leads in the next standalone!
I can’t wait for this to be an audiobook so I can be all giddy for Asher’s masked voice. 🤭
When the Universe Sings is a dystopian sci fi romance you didn’t know you needed. A detailed galaxy world with multiple planets was fascinating as was the cultures introduced.
Juniper's backstory was truly heartbreaking, so her hatred for Captain Asher was definitely valid. Girl went through a lot and it has made her cautious in trusting others. I liked her quiet softness and development and seeing how she opened up to others.
Asher puzzled me at first since I’m picturing him as a villain in Juniper’s eyes (altho if villain, why hot?). Nevertheless, he won me over—not just with his mask and man bun but with his swoonworthy words and protectiveness. Man fell first and he was tryinggg. Who doesn’t love a broody masked man who yearns?? Asher and Juniper made for the perfect slow burn romance with all the tension and angst.
The plot in which the crew are hunting for a powerful stone was interesting and I wanted to see how it played out. There was also an array of diverse side characters with a sense of found family, which I loved. Crux ended up being my favorite and I’m curious if any of them will be leads in the next standalone!
I can’t wait for this to be an audiobook so I can be all giddy for Asher’s masked voice. 🤭
August 20, 2026
3.75-4⭐️
I love a heist novel and this was fun. I loved the addition of the crew and I thought the concept was cool.
There were definitely certain scenes that got me emotional and I really felt for Juniper, the FMC, throughout.
Juniper doesn’t really talk for most of the book. It makes sense for the story, but it unfortunately meant I didn’t find it believable when the rest of the crew were suddenly all good friends with her (considering most of the scenes were her sitting in the corner of a room not talking). It also meant the relationship with the MMC also felt like it came out of nowhere.
Outside of this, I thought the plot was great and the world was interesting. I’d still recommend it and I will still absolutely read more from this author because I thought the writing was good.
I love a heist novel and this was fun. I loved the addition of the crew and I thought the concept was cool.
There were definitely certain scenes that got me emotional and I really felt for Juniper, the FMC, throughout.
Juniper doesn’t really talk for most of the book. It makes sense for the story, but it unfortunately meant I didn’t find it believable when the rest of the crew were suddenly all good friends with her (considering most of the scenes were her sitting in the corner of a room not talking). It also meant the relationship with the MMC also felt like it came out of nowhere.
Outside of this, I thought the plot was great and the world was interesting. I’d still recommend it and I will still absolutely read more from this author because I thought the writing was good.
August 6, 2026
A story about two sad and broken people on the same side of a task (mostly), taking a road trip through space while trying to navigate emotions they hate. Yeah I loved it. It's well written for the genre. Even the species and planets are easy to learn and remember. Most of the twists are easily predicted but I didn't mind. I also loved the sneak peak at the end of the ebook and am excited for more adventures in this universe.
July 19, 2026
“Closer, I needed to be closer. I needed to crawl inside of his skin.”
There were so many aspects of this book that I loved that I’m not exactly sure as to where I want to start with this review. But I think I’d do the story a massive disservice by not first mentioning how incredible the FMC Juniper is. It’s so clear to see how much love and energy Gillian Eliza West has poured into her character. She is this strong and fierce woman who has been wronged enough times for it to be justified, just how badly she wants revenge. Her backstory is heartbreaking, and her coming out of all that with her head still held high is both an incredible feat and SO inspiring.
Opposite her, we have this Kylo Ren-inspired masked captain who time and time again shows how true the saying “real men yearn” is. On the surface, he is mysterious and broody, but Asher has his own struggles, just like Juniper does. He is loyal to his core, and this loyalty and honorability have led him to where he is at the beginning of the story, where he seeks Juniper out to help him and his crew in this space heist.
The progression of the story was so well structured, and at no point did things feel either rushed or too slow. And the romance slowly progressing alongside the tension in their mission was truly impeccable. Their love for each other felt so genuine, and I think that’s partly because we saw how they slowly but surely grew closer as they got to know each other better.
Juniper and Asher truly are so SO special to me. Their love is tender and beautiful, but at the same time, it feels intense and explosive as well. I wouldn’t mind reading five hundred more pages of them just being them, and existing in each other’s space (did you pick up on the silly little double entendre?).
If you love Star Wars and/or Guardians of the Galaxy, or simply just love a good sci-fi romance, you should run to pick up When the Universe Sings. The story itself, and the romance, give off the exact same vibes as those fan favourites, and you will most definitely NOT be disappointed.
The author very kindly provided this arc in exchange for an honest review.
There were so many aspects of this book that I loved that I’m not exactly sure as to where I want to start with this review. But I think I’d do the story a massive disservice by not first mentioning how incredible the FMC Juniper is. It’s so clear to see how much love and energy Gillian Eliza West has poured into her character. She is this strong and fierce woman who has been wronged enough times for it to be justified, just how badly she wants revenge. Her backstory is heartbreaking, and her coming out of all that with her head still held high is both an incredible feat and SO inspiring.
Opposite her, we have this Kylo Ren-inspired masked captain who time and time again shows how true the saying “real men yearn” is. On the surface, he is mysterious and broody, but Asher has his own struggles, just like Juniper does. He is loyal to his core, and this loyalty and honorability have led him to where he is at the beginning of the story, where he seeks Juniper out to help him and his crew in this space heist.
The progression of the story was so well structured, and at no point did things feel either rushed or too slow. And the romance slowly progressing alongside the tension in their mission was truly impeccable. Their love for each other felt so genuine, and I think that’s partly because we saw how they slowly but surely grew closer as they got to know each other better.
Juniper and Asher truly are so SO special to me. Their love is tender and beautiful, but at the same time, it feels intense and explosive as well. I wouldn’t mind reading five hundred more pages of them just being them, and existing in each other’s space (did you pick up on the silly little double entendre?).
If you love Star Wars and/or Guardians of the Galaxy, or simply just love a good sci-fi romance, you should run to pick up When the Universe Sings. The story itself, and the romance, give off the exact same vibes as those fan favourites, and you will most definitely NOT be disappointed.
The author very kindly provided this arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2026
reylo meets…ice planet barbarians?
July 17, 2026
a fantastic sci-fi adventure that gave major star wars & guardians of the galaxy vibes! I enjoyed this so much. I actually found myself wishing it were even longer — if only to wring out some more of this delectable world that gillian has crafted.
as for the characters: I absolutely loved asher. I thought he was so well-written and just as broody and pathetic as I love my fictional men. juniper on the other hand unfortunately felt a little two-dimensional at times. she had a very interesting backstory, but I just never felt connected with her & thought she felt a bit underdeveloped. I also didn’t fully understand her motivation or intentions at times? once asher’s backstory was revealed, she spent entirely too much time continuing to dislike him.
while the romance absolutely had it’s enjoyable moments (gillian is the QUEEN of yearning) I found myself getting to the 85% mark and thinking to myself “does juniper even like this man? like at all?” she was SO mean to my man lowk 🥺 and while i’m always happy to see a take on fated mates that holds more autonomy, it just seemed to be a little too rushed at the ending for it to be compelling. I think their story would’ve been better suited for a duology tbh.
tldr; I ADORED the world-building, the side characters & the mmc, but the fmc and romance as a whole could’ve used some more development. but I am actively looking forward to the next book in this series and will be sat for it!
thank you to gillian & her team for the arc and the opportunity to read this a few weeks early 💙 it was a treat!
as for the characters: I absolutely loved asher. I thought he was so well-written and just as broody and pathetic as I love my fictional men. juniper on the other hand unfortunately felt a little two-dimensional at times. she had a very interesting backstory, but I just never felt connected with her & thought she felt a bit underdeveloped. I also didn’t fully understand her motivation or intentions at times? once asher’s backstory was revealed, she spent entirely too much time continuing to dislike him.
while the romance absolutely had it’s enjoyable moments (gillian is the QUEEN of yearning) I found myself getting to the 85% mark and thinking to myself “does juniper even like this man? like at all?” she was SO mean to my man lowk 🥺 and while i’m always happy to see a take on fated mates that holds more autonomy, it just seemed to be a little too rushed at the ending for it to be compelling. I think their story would’ve been better suited for a duology tbh.
tldr; I ADORED the world-building, the side characters & the mmc, but the fmc and romance as a whole could’ve used some more development. but I am actively looking forward to the next book in this series and will be sat for it!
thank you to gillian & her team for the arc and the opportunity to read this a few weeks early 💙 it was a treat!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have a new genre that's captured my heart, and that's sci-fi romance. The universe laid before my eyes, the space travel, the tech — all of this mixed with heart-wrenching romance, sizzling tension, and even more sizzling spice. That's what this book gifted me. All of this and more.
When The Universe Sings is an interconnected standalone novel set in a universe where power rules with an iron fist, where colonization and oppression are seen as the inevitable consequences of power-driven individuals, and where those less fortunate are merely pawns.
And this is the universe Juniper knows too well. Her suffering is so palpable and so heartbreaking. Each of her actions is driven by the ghosts of her past, and each choice is shaped by her fears and distrust. So, when she is thrust once again into an unfamiliar setting with unfamiliar people, her fears and anxiety keep rising. It's hard to tell friends from foes after a lifetime of servitude and pain, but Juniper will have to do just that and learn to trust again.
Juniper and Asher's story is more than your typical love story. It's a story of love born amid chaos and war, amid space heists and betrayals, long-forgotten stories and myths. And yet, that's what makes their love so strong. It was born and forged in chaos, but finding its true path in devotion.
In the end, love conquered. For now, at least.
Thank you, Gillian, for letting me read this book early. I loved every second of it.
When The Universe Sings is an interconnected standalone novel set in a universe where power rules with an iron fist, where colonization and oppression are seen as the inevitable consequences of power-driven individuals, and where those less fortunate are merely pawns.
And this is the universe Juniper knows too well. Her suffering is so palpable and so heartbreaking. Each of her actions is driven by the ghosts of her past, and each choice is shaped by her fears and distrust. So, when she is thrust once again into an unfamiliar setting with unfamiliar people, her fears and anxiety keep rising. It's hard to tell friends from foes after a lifetime of servitude and pain, but Juniper will have to do just that and learn to trust again.
Juniper and Asher's story is more than your typical love story. It's a story of love born amid chaos and war, amid space heists and betrayals, long-forgotten stories and myths. And yet, that's what makes their love so strong. It was born and forged in chaos, but finding its true path in devotion.
In the end, love conquered. For now, at least.
Thank you, Gillian, for letting me read this book early. I loved every second of it.
September 11, 2026
When The Universe Sings by indie author Gillian Eliza West is a standalone sci-fi space heist romance that doesn’t mince words.
Juniper, our FMC, has learned to expertly retreat within herself for a false sense of safety. She disassociates from feeling anything in real time. She wields silence as both a weapon and a shield… and perhaps, at times, a crutch. Asher, our masked MMC, is the captain of a mercenary crew in search of a sacred, priceless and dangerous artifact. He’s aloof and determined if not a bit harsh in his delivery & suspicions.
This book could have easily been crafted into an epic sci-fi romance. The world building and bones are all there. It’s clear that the crew of mercenaries look to their captain with both loyalty and trust and it’s hinted that they have their own reasons for following him without reservation into the unknown. I would’ve loved learning more about the different cultures/species, political machinations and the intricacies behind the character dynamics — but I wasn’t disappointed at all when the story limited its scope and prioritized the romantic pull between Juniper & Asher.
When The Universe Sings is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones. I think it will call to romance readers who are interested in exploring sci-fi elements without experiencing the overwhelm of sci-fi itself. It’s more than an outer space backdrop and it has an almost dystopian feel to it, which offsets the “beep boop bop” noise that can sometimes be associated with sci-fi. It also had moments that genuinely unzipped me. There were revelations, regrets and vulnerabilities that left me unmoored in an achingly beautiful way.
Sci-fi romance readers that enjoy space heists, masked MMCs, revenge mission meets healing journey, one bed, he falls first, fake relationship (for infiltrating high security parties) and slow burn to open door spice should add this to their TBR!
Juniper, our FMC, has learned to expertly retreat within herself for a false sense of safety. She disassociates from feeling anything in real time. She wields silence as both a weapon and a shield… and perhaps, at times, a crutch. Asher, our masked MMC, is the captain of a mercenary crew in search of a sacred, priceless and dangerous artifact. He’s aloof and determined if not a bit harsh in his delivery & suspicions.
This book could have easily been crafted into an epic sci-fi romance. The world building and bones are all there. It’s clear that the crew of mercenaries look to their captain with both loyalty and trust and it’s hinted that they have their own reasons for following him without reservation into the unknown. I would’ve loved learning more about the different cultures/species, political machinations and the intricacies behind the character dynamics — but I wasn’t disappointed at all when the story limited its scope and prioritized the romantic pull between Juniper & Asher.
When The Universe Sings is the first book in a series of interconnected standalones. I think it will call to romance readers who are interested in exploring sci-fi elements without experiencing the overwhelm of sci-fi itself. It’s more than an outer space backdrop and it has an almost dystopian feel to it, which offsets the “beep boop bop” noise that can sometimes be associated with sci-fi. It also had moments that genuinely unzipped me. There were revelations, regrets and vulnerabilities that left me unmoored in an achingly beautiful way.
Sci-fi romance readers that enjoy space heists, masked MMCs, revenge mission meets healing journey, one bed, he falls first, fake relationship (for infiltrating high security parties) and slow burn to open door spice should add this to their TBR!
September 21, 2026
3,5 stars.
I was entertained for most of this book and was just going with the flow, but then, around 2/3 through, my mind started asking questions... And quite a lot of them, unfortunately.
I liked Juniper, at least in the beginning. But then she started making some decisions that annoyed me to no end. The fact that she so easily trusted her mistress, but at the same time she didn't want to trust even her oldest friend who was like a brother to her, or any of the crew who had treated her with nothing but kindness and understanding. The fact that she got so angry with Asher when he revealed their connection made me mad at her since it was by no means his fault, and she acted like he had betrayed her. Only for her to make a complete turnaround only a few pages later.
I really liked Asher and I loved the secrets, the mask, the gloves, the scars, and most certainly the morally grey mercenary situation. Also, I simply had no idea that I would find knuckle touching that sexy!
I liked the plot and the heist kept me happily entertained. Until it didn't.
Because ultimately, both plot and romance suffered the same fate: there just wasn't enough to make me truly believe or understand.
The romance worked a lot of the way, but eventually I needed more. I wanted conversations, development, facts about their lives that were not survival and duty. Once their connection was revealed, Juniper asked for time, but then, within just a few pages, everything moved forwards with a speed not even rivalled by The Millennium Falcon. And that is where the romance lost me.
The exact same thing happened to the worldbuilding: I needed more. I wanted to know more about the different planets, the species that inhabited them, their cultures, the Federation. A lot seemed inspired by Star Wars, but inspired by was just not enough to keep all my questions at bay. I wanted more pages and an ending that slowed down and took more time to settle.
I was entertained for most of this book and was just going with the flow, but then, around 2/3 through, my mind started asking questions... And quite a lot of them, unfortunately.
I liked Juniper, at least in the beginning. But then she started making some decisions that annoyed me to no end. The fact that she so easily trusted her mistress, but at the same time she didn't want to trust even her oldest friend who was like a brother to her, or any of the crew who had treated her with nothing but kindness and understanding. The fact that she got so angry with Asher when he revealed their connection made me mad at her since it was by no means his fault, and she acted like he had betrayed her. Only for her to make a complete turnaround only a few pages later.
I really liked Asher and I loved the secrets, the mask, the gloves, the scars, and most certainly the morally grey mercenary situation. Also, I simply had no idea that I would find knuckle touching that sexy!
I liked the plot and the heist kept me happily entertained. Until it didn't.
Because ultimately, both plot and romance suffered the same fate: there just wasn't enough to make me truly believe or understand.
The romance worked a lot of the way, but eventually I needed more. I wanted conversations, development, facts about their lives that were not survival and duty. Once their connection was revealed, Juniper asked for time, but then, within just a few pages, everything moved forwards with a speed not even rivalled by The Millennium Falcon. And that is where the romance lost me.
The exact same thing happened to the worldbuilding: I needed more. I wanted to know more about the different planets, the species that inhabited them, their cultures, the Federation. A lot seemed inspired by Star Wars, but inspired by was just not enough to keep all my questions at bay. I wanted more pages and an ending that slowed down and took more time to settle.
August 12, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ for this addicting, face paced Sci-Fi romance!!!
Guardians of the Galaxy fans... THIS ONES FOR US!
This was a breath of fresh air... a tasty little space snack if you will. Gillian's descriptive writing had this whole space heist playing out like a movie in my mind and I read this in under 24hrs. Could not, would not put this down for one second.
Junipers home planet was destroyed, she ended up in prison where she had to survive some horrific events and in an act of total desperation she escapes onto the pleasure ship, where she trades one prison for another. Needless to say our girl is working through some trauma and she has spent years dealing with it the only way she knows how... being silent. You get the impression that if she were to speak to the pain she feels inside she would quite literally never stop screaming and/or crying and yet she still plots and plans to find a way to gain some freedom. She has become one of my favorite FMCs. Reading her healing journey was an absolute delight.
"Because if I was to acknowledge his touch I didn't know if I would lash out and beat my fists against his chest until bones broke and I crushed his heart... or if I would bury my face in his neck and sob until I was merely a husk of myself. I hated that I wasn't sure which would win out."
Look up patience in the dictionary and you'll find Asher's face. THIS MAN!! I loved how he was so moody and yet so gentle and patient with Juniper. When we got that first Asher POV and saw things from his perspective I was a goner. Add in the guilt and torment he felt and I was a puddle on the floor!! Oh and did I mention he's masked? And has an insanely hot man bun?? And teaches her how to dance?? And has a nickname for her in a foreign language!!!
"I don't know whether to fall to my knees to worship you or lock the door and never let you leave. Maybe both."
This is book 1 in an interconnected standalone sci-fi series and I cannot wait for book 2 - I got a little sneak peak and the MMC is a super soldier 👀🔥
Guardians of the Galaxy fans... THIS ONES FOR US!
This was a breath of fresh air... a tasty little space snack if you will. Gillian's descriptive writing had this whole space heist playing out like a movie in my mind and I read this in under 24hrs. Could not, would not put this down for one second.
Junipers home planet was destroyed, she ended up in prison where she had to survive some horrific events and in an act of total desperation she escapes onto the pleasure ship, where she trades one prison for another. Needless to say our girl is working through some trauma and she has spent years dealing with it the only way she knows how... being silent. You get the impression that if she were to speak to the pain she feels inside she would quite literally never stop screaming and/or crying and yet she still plots and plans to find a way to gain some freedom. She has become one of my favorite FMCs. Reading her healing journey was an absolute delight.
"Because if I was to acknowledge his touch I didn't know if I would lash out and beat my fists against his chest until bones broke and I crushed his heart... or if I would bury my face in his neck and sob until I was merely a husk of myself. I hated that I wasn't sure which would win out."
Look up patience in the dictionary and you'll find Asher's face. THIS MAN!! I loved how he was so moody and yet so gentle and patient with Juniper. When we got that first Asher POV and saw things from his perspective I was a goner. Add in the guilt and torment he felt and I was a puddle on the floor!! Oh and did I mention he's masked? And has an insanely hot man bun?? And teaches her how to dance?? And has a nickname for her in a foreign language!!!
"I don't know whether to fall to my knees to worship you or lock the door and never let you leave. Maybe both."
This is book 1 in an interconnected standalone sci-fi series and I cannot wait for book 2 - I got a little sneak peak and the MMC is a super soldier 👀🔥
August 14, 2026
ABSOLUTELY 100% YES!! This is my first sci-fi romantasy and it is an absolute delight! Think Oceans 11 but space heist, with like Mandalorian vibes mask wearing MMC, acrobatic/tortured soul/quiet/greaseman of the crew FMC, going after essentially an infinity stone. This is a standalone, and it’s not a very long book, yet somehow I feel like the entire story was just so much bigger with the way it is written! The descriptors are easy to picture (for me) making the whole universe depicted unfold seamlessly in my mind. And the building tension between Juniper and Asher throughout the story is palpable, like it had me panting more than a couple of times! It’s an adventurous, beautiful, heartbreaking, loving, space odyssey. Forced proximity, yearning oh the yearning, dystopian sci-fi universe, true enemies to lovers, 🌶️🌶️🌶️ maybe 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ level spice, slow burn but it’ll melt you to a puddle! Check the trigger warnings before you read. Easy 5 stars. Loved this, need more from this universe, post haste!
Thank you SO MUCH to Gillian Eliza West for allowing me to be part of your early reader team! This one is excellent enough to order the shelf trophy to read again in the future!
Thank you SO MUCH to Gillian Eliza West for allowing me to be part of your early reader team! This one is excellent enough to order the shelf trophy to read again in the future!
August 6, 2026
🌶️Yes
Astro romances are hands-down my favorite genre to read in. There’s something that always gets me about space and the environments that it set up for the romances. (yes I grew up loving Star Wars and I was convinced Anakin would be my husband one day.) so when I find a book in this genre, I am nothing if not, just genuinely excited.
This one is also a pretty good blend for fantasy readers, jumping into sci-fi.
Or FMC is a climber turned silk dancer that gets loaned out for a space heist… and the man leading the crew. Was there on the worst day of her life. And to top it all off, she has to pretend to be his pleasure companion during the heist.
* cue me screaming *
The romance is actually so soft and sweet, given the parameters when they meet. And part of me wants to reread certain scenes just because I lost my chill a little bit when I was reading it.
All of this being said- there is not a lot of books in the Astro romance genre so if you’re looking for an Astro romance, I do recommend this book but in my opinion, this was really good, but it was not really great and it is actually a disappointment because I loved so much of this- the plot, the character, the world building, but it was very rushed and it’s a rare time when I want something to be longer. I wish this was a duet. I wished this was more expanded upon and flushed out a bit more, but I say that because I loved it so much if that makes sense.
Astro romances are hands-down my favorite genre to read in. There’s something that always gets me about space and the environments that it set up for the romances. (yes I grew up loving Star Wars and I was convinced Anakin would be my husband one day.) so when I find a book in this genre, I am nothing if not, just genuinely excited.
This one is also a pretty good blend for fantasy readers, jumping into sci-fi.
Or FMC is a climber turned silk dancer that gets loaned out for a space heist… and the man leading the crew. Was there on the worst day of her life. And to top it all off, she has to pretend to be his pleasure companion during the heist.
* cue me screaming *
The romance is actually so soft and sweet, given the parameters when they meet. And part of me wants to reread certain scenes just because I lost my chill a little bit when I was reading it.
All of this being said- there is not a lot of books in the Astro romance genre so if you’re looking for an Astro romance, I do recommend this book but in my opinion, this was really good, but it was not really great and it is actually a disappointment because I loved so much of this- the plot, the character, the world building, but it was very rushed and it’s a rare time when I want something to be longer. I wish this was a duet. I wished this was more expanded upon and flushed out a bit more, but I say that because I loved it so much if that makes sense.
August 13, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
When this was marketed towards the audience that “wanted to know how Kylo Ren fucked,” I immediately added to my tbr. The vibes of what it intended were there, but it didn’t deliver the way I wanted.
This dangerous heist in space didn’t feel as high-stakes & complex as it should’ve. I wanted more action, more danger, more teamwork aside from just Juniper & Asher.
The characters were missing depth that I need to fully connect with them. Juniper was consumed in trauma, Asher was consumed in ominous mystery, which is great to create initial tension, but their relationship felt like it was missing important, authentic pieces. I loved how non-talkative Juniper was, but it became a detriment to her character development, because how do you build a real relationship without true conversations? Their connection was relying on the reader’s ability to visualize their chemistry instead of actually providing fleshed-out scenes to witness it. And adding lust-inducing drugs to push their initial sexual encounter was a lazy, disingenuous method that I really despise.
The way scenes were narrated added either more drama than what the actual scene warranted, or mismatched emotions. Here’s an example…. When Juniper left Asher after almost succumbing to the lust-boosting wine, she was angry at herself for wanting him. The very next time they talk, she asks Asher “Who are you today? Are you the ruthless mercenary leader of the Kuxatana? Or are you smooth-talking Captain Ruciyah? Are you the male who knelt at my feet or the one who ran away from me?” —- it just felt like such misplaced thoughts, especially because she technically ran away from him. To top it off, the very next scene, Asher comes to her after she had yet another nightmare & they start getting touchy-feely. This stream of scenes just felt like fake relationship building & I decided to stop at that point.
I also would’ve liked to get to know the other crew members better. They’re supposed to be essential to the mission, but they only popped up during convenient times. It was a missed opportunity to build the mcs’ characters along with the plot. I would’ve loved to see way more rekindling between Crux & Juniper, as well as bonding between Juniper & Zoleka.
This is a small issue, but I think it would’ve been more significant if Asher wasn’t forced to unmask at the gala, & instead got to do it in an intimate way with Juniper.
I think a much longer story would’ve allowed for the details I craved.
dnf 69%
When this was marketed towards the audience that “wanted to know how Kylo Ren fucked,” I immediately added to my tbr. The vibes of what it intended were there, but it didn’t deliver the way I wanted.
This dangerous heist in space didn’t feel as high-stakes & complex as it should’ve. I wanted more action, more danger, more teamwork aside from just Juniper & Asher.
The characters were missing depth that I need to fully connect with them. Juniper was consumed in trauma, Asher was consumed in ominous mystery, which is great to create initial tension, but their relationship felt like it was missing important, authentic pieces. I loved how non-talkative Juniper was, but it became a detriment to her character development, because how do you build a real relationship without true conversations? Their connection was relying on the reader’s ability to visualize their chemistry instead of actually providing fleshed-out scenes to witness it. And adding lust-inducing drugs to push their initial sexual encounter was a lazy, disingenuous method that I really despise.
The way scenes were narrated added either more drama than what the actual scene warranted, or mismatched emotions. Here’s an example…. When Juniper left Asher after almost succumbing to the lust-boosting wine, she was angry at herself for wanting him. The very next time they talk, she asks Asher “Who are you today? Are you the ruthless mercenary leader of the Kuxatana? Or are you smooth-talking Captain Ruciyah? Are you the male who knelt at my feet or the one who ran away from me?” —- it just felt like such misplaced thoughts, especially because she technically ran away from him. To top it off, the very next scene, Asher comes to her after she had yet another nightmare & they start getting touchy-feely. This stream of scenes just felt like fake relationship building & I decided to stop at that point.
I also would’ve liked to get to know the other crew members better. They’re supposed to be essential to the mission, but they only popped up during convenient times. It was a missed opportunity to build the mcs’ characters along with the plot. I would’ve loved to see way more rekindling between Crux & Juniper, as well as bonding between Juniper & Zoleka.
This is a small issue, but I think it would’ve been more significant if Asher wasn’t forced to unmask at the gala, & instead got to do it in an intimate way with Juniper.
I think a much longer story would’ve allowed for the details I craved.
dnf 69%
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
This was incredibly boring.
From the way this was marketed I was expecting a lot more action. There was no where near enough worldbuilding- I wanted to know more about the different planets and species. There was an entire universe to work with and we get nothing except for the fact the FMC had a big tree everyone lived in on her home planet.
The FMC was dull- she was pretty and that’s all she had going for her. I wanted to like her, but I wasn’t given anything to like?
The MMC was just a carbon copy of every single other MMC in romantasy. What about the crew? What a massive missed opportunity for the found family trope. The crew was probably involved in 50% of this book, I could not tell you anything about them. There was no camaraderie between them. I didn’t care about them because the author did nothing to make me care about them. None of them seemed to have their own personality other than just hoovering in the background.
This had so much potential but it was not executed well at all. I seen a couple of reviews online which compared this to Guardians of the galaxy (one of my fav movies) and while I could see a couple of very small similarities in regards to the actual plot, I would not say “if you love GOTG then got gotta read this” cause you’ll be disappointed!
From the way this was marketed I was expecting a lot more action. There was no where near enough worldbuilding- I wanted to know more about the different planets and species. There was an entire universe to work with and we get nothing except for the fact the FMC had a big tree everyone lived in on her home planet.
The FMC was dull- she was pretty and that’s all she had going for her. I wanted to like her, but I wasn’t given anything to like?
The MMC was just a carbon copy of every single other MMC in romantasy. What about the crew? What a massive missed opportunity for the found family trope. The crew was probably involved in 50% of this book, I could not tell you anything about them. There was no camaraderie between them. I didn’t care about them because the author did nothing to make me care about them. None of them seemed to have their own personality other than just hoovering in the background.
This had so much potential but it was not executed well at all. I seen a couple of reviews online which compared this to Guardians of the galaxy (one of my fav movies) and while I could see a couple of very small similarities in regards to the actual plot, I would not say “if you love GOTG then got gotta read this” cause you’ll be disappointed!
August 8, 2026
“I heard the song of the universe, its unending melody, and the sound was so beautiful I wanted to weep.”
Ugh I LOVED this! This was so refreshing to dive into, and something that pulled me out of my slump. I truly enjoy sci-fi, and I enjoyed falling head first into this epic quest of traversing not only planets in space, but the dynamics between Asher & Juniper. Throw in a space heist to retrieve something so monumental that multiple parties are vying for it, and pages fly by faster than you can blink. Fantastic worldbuilding, beautiful found family, and a sweet reunion between certain people that were once thought lost.
Asher is a softie, and I loved how he held patience and space for June to heal, and to overcome severe trauma from her past while letting her know he was a steady shoulder to lean on regardless of his moody broody disposition at the beginning. She truly comes a long way and it was so satisfying to see her finally happy in the end.
Just overall such a great story and I really fell in love with the pacing and prose.
I’m so ready for A Song Without End!!
Ugh I LOVED this! This was so refreshing to dive into, and something that pulled me out of my slump. I truly enjoy sci-fi, and I enjoyed falling head first into this epic quest of traversing not only planets in space, but the dynamics between Asher & Juniper. Throw in a space heist to retrieve something so monumental that multiple parties are vying for it, and pages fly by faster than you can blink. Fantastic worldbuilding, beautiful found family, and a sweet reunion between certain people that were once thought lost.
Asher is a softie, and I loved how he held patience and space for June to heal, and to overcome severe trauma from her past while letting her know he was a steady shoulder to lean on regardless of his moody broody disposition at the beginning. She truly comes a long way and it was so satisfying to see her finally happy in the end.
Just overall such a great story and I really fell in love with the pacing and prose.
I’m so ready for A Song Without End!!
October 30, 2026
Welp I spent a lot of this book ugly crying so I def connected emotionally to Juniper. She was so traumatized from the awful hand life gave her and very slow to trust. Asher didn’t do so hot with giving her a reason to trust right off the bat, but he also had oodles of his own traumas. The world was complex and full of all the ugliness of indentured servitude and enslavement, genocide, corrupt government. The only reason I didn’t do the full 5 stars was because I wanted more from Juniper and Asher’s connection.
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: Indentured servitude Implied past sexual assault Attempted sexual assault Violence Murder Genocide Torture Secret identities Mild bullying of FMC by MMC Drugging Blood/gore, dubcon after both MCs are drugged, sexual harassment, slavery, burn injuries, threat of world destruction, imprisonment and enslavement of child, speciesism, explosion, mass death, hospitalization
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: Indentured servitude Implied past sexual assault Attempted sexual assault Violence Murder Genocide Torture Secret identities Mild bullying of FMC by MMC Drugging Blood/gore, dubcon after both MCs are drugged, sexual harassment, slavery, burn injuries, threat of world destruction, imprisonment and enslavement of child, speciesism, explosion, mass death, hospitalization
July 25, 2026
Masked man anyone?
I really devoured this story, I’m a sucker for forced proximity bonus if it’s a sci-fi and the MMC is broody looking alien with a mask!
But my best part was Asher’s yearning for Juniper you could clearly see it through the pages but meanwhile she was thinking he hated her 😍 The world around this story was fascinating I would have like to know more about it. I’m hoping we get more books in this universe to explore more about it to know more about the planets and all the different races.
First book I read from Gillian and it won’t be the last it left me wanting for more. I already have all her other books on my tbr.
Thank you Gillian Eliza West for the gifted ARC
I really devoured this story, I’m a sucker for forced proximity bonus if it’s a sci-fi and the MMC is broody looking alien with a mask!
But my best part was Asher’s yearning for Juniper you could clearly see it through the pages but meanwhile she was thinking he hated her 😍 The world around this story was fascinating I would have like to know more about it. I’m hoping we get more books in this universe to explore more about it to know more about the planets and all the different races.
First book I read from Gillian and it won’t be the last it left me wanting for more. I already have all her other books on my tbr.
Thank you Gillian Eliza West for the gifted ARC
August 5, 2026
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
An absolutely magnificent read!! I was hooked immediately… as in read this book in one sitting because I refused to let real life interrupt this amazing book. Juniper is an absolutely stunningly written character. From chapter one you can’t help but love her, I mean her whole world has literally crashed down around her, she’s been taken to the worst part of the universe, and where most might’ve just given in… Juniper refuses to lose her spirit, and is determined to find a slice of the universe that she can all her own. And man oh man is she willing to fight for that dream. And watching her growth throughout this book, from a girl who is untrusting and has learned to be nothing more than a shadow to someone who learns to use all the skills that her tormentors didn’t even realize they were teaching her in order to turn the tables on those tormentors was just fantastic in every way! Of course we can’t forget about Asher… I mean from the second he’s introduced… his mystery alone makes you want to know more. I mean a man after a super powerful and rare item just happens to need someone with Junipers skills? Makes you want to know his motives. But when Asher and Juniper are thrown together… omg do the sparks fly. First because neither one of them trusts each other, and the sparks flying are ones of mistrust and plotting… but soon those sparks begin to kindle into a beautiful swoon-worthy, and unbreakable romance that’ll have you falling in love right alongside these characters! If you’re looking for a sci-fi book that’s set in space, that’s filled to the brim with enemies to reluctant allies to lovers romance, sweet moments, spice, secrets, truths uncovered, possible betrayals, amazing fight scenes, a bit of drama just to keep you guessing, and a happily ever after then I highly recommend grabbing a copy of When The Universe Sings immediately!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
An absolutely magnificent read!! I was hooked immediately… as in read this book in one sitting because I refused to let real life interrupt this amazing book. Juniper is an absolutely stunningly written character. From chapter one you can’t help but love her, I mean her whole world has literally crashed down around her, she’s been taken to the worst part of the universe, and where most might’ve just given in… Juniper refuses to lose her spirit, and is determined to find a slice of the universe that she can all her own. And man oh man is she willing to fight for that dream. And watching her growth throughout this book, from a girl who is untrusting and has learned to be nothing more than a shadow to someone who learns to use all the skills that her tormentors didn’t even realize they were teaching her in order to turn the tables on those tormentors was just fantastic in every way! Of course we can’t forget about Asher… I mean from the second he’s introduced… his mystery alone makes you want to know more. I mean a man after a super powerful and rare item just happens to need someone with Junipers skills? Makes you want to know his motives. But when Asher and Juniper are thrown together… omg do the sparks fly. First because neither one of them trusts each other, and the sparks flying are ones of mistrust and plotting… but soon those sparks begin to kindle into a beautiful swoon-worthy, and unbreakable romance that’ll have you falling in love right alongside these characters! If you’re looking for a sci-fi book that’s set in space, that’s filled to the brim with enemies to reluctant allies to lovers romance, sweet moments, spice, secrets, truths uncovered, possible betrayals, amazing fight scenes, a bit of drama just to keep you guessing, and a happily ever after then I highly recommend grabbing a copy of When The Universe Sings immediately!
August 9, 2026
2.75 rounded up
I really liked the writing of this story, like the physical words..it was smooth and really tied me in. I enjoyed the IDEA of the plot, but this is where it kind of fell apart for me.
I do not think a standalone sci fi romance (or romantasy) should be done in 300 pages. This is not enough time to 1. flesh out the world building 2. convince me these characters like one another
This book greatly suffers from telling and not doing. I can’t even be convinced that these characters like eachother considering they BARELY INTERACT. You’re trying to tell me that Juniper feels something for this man by the fête when you have barely made them interact “on screen?”
This book could’ve benefitted from at least 1-200 more pages of just character building (did they even have personalities outside their trauma?) and UNIVERSE BUILDING. How can you write a science fiction novel and BARELY UNIVERSE BUILD ??? We are introduced to other planets and races but there is nothing in depth about them.
This could’ve been a found family story had the author made her characters have genuine interactions. I get that Juniper is mute, but you’re telling me these people get nothing from her? I feel like writing her like this is doing her a disservice, especially after we find out Crux is her long lost friend. Like you really could’ve spent time fostering that relationship instead of making her into a box.
I don’t know, I think I get so sucked in by fanart and then I’m just disappointed.
I really liked the writing of this story, like the physical words..it was smooth and really tied me in. I enjoyed the IDEA of the plot, but this is where it kind of fell apart for me.
I do not think a standalone sci fi romance (or romantasy) should be done in 300 pages. This is not enough time to 1. flesh out the world building 2. convince me these characters like one another
This book greatly suffers from telling and not doing. I can’t even be convinced that these characters like eachother considering they BARELY INTERACT. You’re trying to tell me that Juniper feels something for this man by the fête when you have barely made them interact “on screen?”
This book could’ve benefitted from at least 1-200 more pages of just character building (did they even have personalities outside their trauma?) and UNIVERSE BUILDING. How can you write a science fiction novel and BARELY UNIVERSE BUILD ??? We are introduced to other planets and races but there is nothing in depth about them.
This could’ve been a found family story had the author made her characters have genuine interactions. I get that Juniper is mute, but you’re telling me these people get nothing from her? I feel like writing her like this is doing her a disservice, especially after we find out Crux is her long lost friend. Like you really could’ve spent time fostering that relationship instead of making her into a box.
I don’t know, I think I get so sucked in by fanart and then I’m just disappointed.
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