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Home: Interstellar

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"Hard sci-fi with a heart...complex, compelling tale of galactic intrigue." --Kirkus Reviews.


Tears don't fall in zero-g.


No one believed Meriel when she said the attack on her home ship, the Princess, was piracy: there had not been a reported piracy in a century, and she was just a twelve year-old kid. But Meriel knew that pirates slaughtered her parents and friends and only she could find a safe home for her sister and the surviving orphans.


Ten years later, Meriel still suffers from PTSD symptoms and struggles to carve out a normal life for herself on a new ship with a new job, a new crew, and a new romance. With brains, courage, and a few well-placed friends, she uncovers the galaxy-wide conspiracy behind the carnage on the Princess: knowledge that can get them all killed.


That same conspiracy now plots to enslave an entire sector of space to control a frontier planet, the only earthlike body humans have found outside the solar system and the place Meriel calls home.


But first they must silence her.

ebook

First published September 4, 2015

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222 people want to read

About the author

Ray Strong

8 books23 followers
Ray Strong is the award-winning author of The Dragons’ War, an epic fantasy series that launched in 2025 with Zephyr’s Flight. He began his writing journey with newspaper stories in Chicago before earning a graduate degree in engineering. That path took him around the world, where he learned from many different cultures and ways of life. Ray now lives on the West Coast with his wife and their three children, who once spent rainy afternoons acting out scenes from Castle in the Sky. Today, he writes full time, building rich worlds full of adventure, mythology, and magic.

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5 stars
126 (37%)
4 stars
128 (38%)
3 stars
61 (18%)
2 stars
13 (3%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for David Rose.
Author 7 books53 followers
March 8, 2018
A superbly well developed SF novel written in a very clean, almost spare style, this book features a vulnerable heroine engaged in a seemingly impossible struggle against almost universal corporate skulduggery.
Meriel is an outstanding character in any genre. Far from being any kind of superwoman, she has to wrestle with her own flaws and demons as well as with the sinister influence of outside forces which, at the beginning of the book, are almost incomprehensible. We 'know' she knows the truth, but under the terrible pressure of events even the reader is brought to doubt that. Nevertheless, Meriel simply will not give up, and eventually begins to see glimpses of light in the darkness. Through this process she matures as a person, from her monomaniac focus on the consequences of the loss of her ship, the Princess, to a broader understanding of the world and with a growing capacity for emotional engagement beyond her fellow orphans.
Both the SF tech setting (lightly presented, but thoroughly thought out) and the piracy, murder and dirty tricks of the entities involved are really well done. I enjoyed the little details of space travel and station life. Ray Strong leaves much unstated, but it's easy for the reader to interpolate.
His writing style is so unemotional that it took me a long time - almost half the book - to adapt to it. I felt that the first half flowed very sluggishly, and perhaps that was why. From the midpoint on, though, the book took off, and with a lot more fighting and overt thrills I really enjoyed the exciting and satisfying conclusion. I say satisfying, and I was satisfied, but readers should note that not all loose ends are neatly tied up. I like that, because it reflects real life.
Profile Image for Pedro A. Ribeiro.
Author 1 book37 followers
January 4, 2018
Good sci-fi reading

I had this book on my list for a while, and its was a good surprise. A great plot, strong characters, especially the main character. Yhe scientific concepts were well thought and introduced into the action.
A great read for those looking for a fresh sci-fi story.
Profile Image for Faith Rivens.
Author 5 books42 followers
April 15, 2018
Home: Interstellar is a well plotted a Sci-Fi with a strong heroine. Meriel was the victim of an attack when she was a child which led to her mother's death. Years later it still governs her thoughts and actions. Haunted by demons of the past and real dangers, her arc is full of conflict. The writing pulls you into the story but at times runs a bit too sparse to fully immerse the reader into the world that's being built. Still an entertaining read worth discovering. This author has a lot of potential!
Profile Image for Yvonne Glasgow.
Author 17 books69 followers
April 14, 2018
I want to start by saying there is a lot to read in this book and if you're not careful the storyline can get a little confusing at times. It's a very complex story. However, I also want to point out that it is a fascinating tale that lets you see inside the mind of a girl orphaned in space and the struggles she goes through to save her family's name and property.

The main character, Meriel, stood out to me the most because of her inner dialogue. She's a deep character with many levels, and it is her interaction with the world, the people around her, and within her mind that makes this book worth the read.
469 reviews3 followers
January 14, 2016
Good characters, interesting galaxy, main plot more than OK. Does suffer a bit from trying to do too much and would have been fine to me without the big blazing fight but I realize flinging a lot of ordnance is much loved by many. I think the writing was a bit clunky at times but nothing glaring. It's a first novel and would consider reading a sequel. A very fine and unexpected description of religious spirituality in chapter 14 was a nice little nugget. I'd give 3.5 stars if possible.
Profile Image for Valery.
Author 3 books23 followers
February 27, 2018
3.5 stars
It started out well, drawing you in just enough to be subtle, yet interesting. Then it hits you. Excitement, horror, and undeniable uncertainty, all wrapped into a good story.
The promise of the unknown-is she crazy, or isn't she-is part of that draw. Luring you back until you get the answer. I love when I find a great book, and this one seemed to come closer than a lot of things I've read lately.
There were a few drawbacks, some grammar issues and a few lulls in the story, but the thing that disappointed me the most was that I felt like the last few chapters were a little anticlimatic. Yes, there was action. Yes, there was closure. But it just didn't feel as exciting as the build up. Maybe I missed something, maybe it was the increase in grammar mistakes, but it just didn't pique my interest as much as the beggining and middle.
Still, it was a good book. Maybe with a tweak on the ending it could have been a great book.

For my clean readers:
Includes language, violence, childhood trauma, drug abuse, slavery, inferred child abuse, cult warfare, breaking and entering, stealing, lying, torture, corporate espionage, murder, and lots of drinking incidents with crew, but no f-bomb.
Profile Image for Neil.
1,593 reviews14 followers
March 31, 2021
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is one I could not put down.

A wonderful story with strong characters make this a real page turner.

If you like space opera (I do) this could be one for you.

Profile Image for Stephanie Noel.
105 reviews8 followers
September 24, 2015
If you are a fan of Ender's Game or anything with a combination of space, action and pirates than a great book is Home : Interstellar by Ray Strong. This book is about a girl named Meriel who lost her parents when their spaceship gets hijack. Meriel , her sister Elizabeth and kids that were that survived. Years later Meriel is an officer of the cargo on the ship Tiger. She ends up in the middle of struggle from trying to recover the space and bringing back family together but trying to uncover the mystery of what happened to her parents. In the middle of the story she meets the Nav officer John who catches his eye. Together and the help with Meriel's friends she tries to solve the mystery around the spaceship.

The story is a mixture of action, science fiction and pirates. On the other hand the story is also about the struggle with deal with one's demons, and trying to trust yourself and not to let people step in the way of your dreams.
In the beginning of the book I wasn't drawn into the story until the fifth or sixth chapter to be honest. But once the story got more in depth I was more interested. There was also times where I felt like the characters in the story need more developments and more in depth backstory. Hopefully in the sequel I get that. My overall feelings is that the book is a good but I would like to see more action and hopefully the sequel adds more fun.
Profile Image for Mike Milligan.
223 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2016
A girl with atitude!

With all the directions that 'Science fiction' seems to want to go recently, Its nice when the main storyline involves people actually being on space ships and going around in space, (My idea of what proper Si Fi should be, sorry).. The girl has real attitude and really strong will power to not let all the problems (and there are a few) in her life get her down, when the rest of us mere mortals would be bowing down to the pressures she faces both in her head and from the rest humanity. The storyline is smoothly written by a person seems to understand how important a storyline is, its pacing, yet not too fast (or too slow) and carries you along, always wondering where its taking you. I did enjoy the book and stayed up late to finish it in one go. I like the authors style and would read his books again. I'm off to bed now for a rest but thank you for a great escape from reality for a brief moment in time.

Review copy provided by Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Shasha.
939 reviews30 followers
May 11, 2016
Intriguing mystery science fiction with a sympathetic heroine with a psychological bent

The POV is narrow, mostly just the heroine so the reader is left to wonder about other characters. While the world building is great, details were lacking to hold me in the story. The romantic development of the heroine was vague and flat so I was surprised when feelings progressed. It was gratifying to read a novel where the characters can speak with more than just profanity.

I would read more from this author to find out more about the world but the not so much the characters.
Profile Image for Fiannawolf.
414 reviews14 followers
October 4, 2016
Liked what I saw in the sample and stayed for the rest of the journey. Hope to see more at some point.
Profile Image for Annie.
4,719 reviews86 followers
June 26, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Home: Interstellar (Hope Awakens) is a re-release of an SF thriller by Ray Strong. Originally released in 2015, this reformat/re-release from the author is 354 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. Possibly worth noting for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. This title is available in the KU subscription to borrow and download for free.

This is epic space adventure. The world building and setup are compelling and the beginning of the book introduces the reader to protagonist 12 year old Meriel Hope who is sympathetic and believable. 10 years later Meriel's still trying to heal her childhood trauma and solve her family's mystery.

In a lot of ways, this is a standard SF quest narrative. The main character is searching for Home (literally) and her struggles make for a compelling story. This is a debut novel (as far as I can tell from publishing info), but it's a good one. There are some rough spots, but in general it's well polished and finished and a good read.

It did seem as though there was maybe some overreach with the scale of the novel. This is a -huge- plot with fights and philosophy and personal growth and possibly some of that could have been foreshadowed and saved for a sequel. On the other hand, -everything- about publishing these days turns on having a franchise with dozens of 'products/units' plotted out and ready for marketing. It's exceedingly refreshing to see an author write a solid standalone book without planning for the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book very much. Four stars. Hoping for more from this author.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Profile Image for Rachel Never Enough Novels.
241 reviews33 followers
May 1, 2018
Home: Interstellar is a sci-fi tale that carries us into a future where society lives and works among the stars. Meriel Hope’s family owned a ship that transported goods around the galaxy until their ship was attacked, leaving the kids separated and alone as orphans. She’s been working for years to bring them back together and find out the truth of why their ship was targeted and who murdered her parents.

Although it took a while to understand the new terminology and futuristic society, the world building in this novel is fairly decent. I was drawn in by the “spacer” lifestyle and the search for a habitable planet. Meriel is an easily likable character and I was rooting for her from the start. There’s a decent amount of suspense relating to her experience during the attack and whether her memories are accurate. Her search for the truth and consequences of digging deeper kept the pace moving quickly. I’m still not entirely certain of the political and financial motivations behind the attack, but that could be my own lack of understanding and lack of interest in fully connecting all the dots.

I mostly enjoyed reading the second half of the novel when we’re finally introduced to John’s daughters and the other inhabitants of Haven. Their initial struggles to survive and farm on the planet as well as how they’re living now were fascinating. Plus, the daughters are simply a delight to get to know. The final battle adds just enough action and closure to wrap up the story.

While not a masterpiece, this novel would be a fun read for anyone who enjoys the sci-fi genre with a bit of mystery/suspense thrown in.
Profile Image for John Purvis.
1,360 reviews23 followers
February 10, 2020
"Home: Interstellar" eBook was published in 2015 and was written by Ray Strong. This is Mr. Strong’s first published novel and the first book in his “Hope’s War” series.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the far future. The primary character is Meriel Hope.

When Hope was 12 years old she somehow jumped a starship loaded with the dead crew and a handful of surviving children to Enterprise Station. Now that ten years have passed she is constantly being told that the ‘pirates’ she claimed attacked her family’s ship never existed and that she is suffering mental issues resulting from her experiences.

Hope is still in touch, at least she thinks the contact is real, with the other surviving children. She has been struggling for years to get her family ship back and reunite the survivors. Still, she suffers from nightmares of the event and is prescribed compulsory drugs. When she again tries to find information about the mythical planet called ‘Home’ that her mother was investigating, she triggers the awareness of those who want her story, and the survivors, forgotten.

I enjoyed the 8.5 hours I spent reading this 355-page science-fiction thriller. While the plot was good and I liked the characters, the pace of the novel seemed a little slow to me. I do like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 3.7 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
Profile Image for Amanda Van Parys.
717 reviews70 followers
October 27, 2021
So, I did find it hard to stay focused while reading, it seemed like too often I was confused and/or wondering why this or that happened and why... Maybe it was just me but large chunks of this book are a mess.



Maybe it's just me, but this book constantly made me feel like I was missing something.
Profile Image for Gina Burgess.
Author 20 books40 followers
November 22, 2019
It took me awhile to realize why I wasn't getting into the story. The premise is really exciting, and the obstacles are intriguing. There is a conspiracy going on that is extremely far-reaching.

The technology is very light. I like real science in my sci-fi, so this was a tiny stretch for me.

So what was the deal? Why couldn't I care deeply for these misplaced children who were facing enormous psychological and physical problems?

The story was told in a style that had no passion. I read a newspaper and get more passion. I didn't feel like I was right there with the characters because it seemed the author didn't care all that much for the characters. The reader can't smell or taste or feel much of what's going on because the story is told from an atmosphere as antiseptic as space is a vacuum.

When the inciting incident of a story happens in the backstory, it is very difficult to get into the story.

All that said, I liked it but it didn't make me hungry for more.
59 reviews3 followers
April 16, 2018
An exciting, fast paced plot that is as much psychological thriller as it is science fiction. This book kept me guessing, which I greatly appreciate. There were a couple of times that I thought I had a handle on what was about to happen, only to encounter another plot twist. Well done.
There is a lot going on, but not too much as to be overwhelming or confusing. When I did come to a word or abbreviation that I did not understand because it was part of the author's universe, it was nice that the word or acronym was highlighted and would direct me right to the glossary without losing my place.
This is a great read, and I recommend this to anyone looking for a good suspenseful story.
Profile Image for Jamie Rich.
376 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2018
Home: Interstellar: Merchant Princess (Kindle Edition) by Ray Strong

This was a fun, quick read. The characters drove the plots, and for the most part the good guys were good guys and the bad guys were bad. The only real, emotional development was our main hero herself. Her struggle, however, was a journey I would never willingly engage in!
A bit of confusion as to why family trading ships would have Marines in them, and who the Troopers really were, and a few other very minor items. But overall, we ll done, and it does set the stage for another book.
514 reviews5 followers
April 19, 2023
Brilliant!

Great storylines wonderful realistic characters, after grabbing your interest from the first page this one doesn't let go till the end in fact it will keep you turning pages till the small hours. Ride along as the survivors of an attack by space pirates that's then covered up by governments and conglomerates and a religious sect , but they all forgot one thing the orphans will fight tooth and nail to prove their dead parents innocence get their ship back and finally set the story straight. Do not miss this one space opera sci fi at its best, Baz.
Author 2 books27 followers
April 19, 2018
Home: Interstellar is reminiscent of classic science fiction novels with a believable future; a fast-paced plot; and underlying big questions about humanity, faith, and power. Meriel is a great character -- strong and flawed, someone I alternately wanted to root for and smack upside the head. The romantic subplot is a bit lackluster -- and honestly the story would have been just as good without it -- but overall it was a fun and enjoyable science fiction adventure.
Profile Image for Corrine Cassels.
162 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2018
This is an entertaining sci-fi novel written in an interesting voice. The narrative was sometimes odd and some of the characters seemed a little underdeveloped, but the story itself was intriguing and kept me reading. There were several layers to the story and I found myself having to go back a few pages to reread every once in awhile to keep everything straight. Overall, I really enjoyed the “unlikely hero in space” theme. I’m looking forward to reading more from Strong.
Profile Image for Dr susan.
3,062 reviews51 followers
April 14, 2022
Great sci fi adventure

I gave Home 4 stars the first time I read it but didn't review it. I think the 4 stars were because the story is rather dark. But I found out there is a sequel, so I reread Home and gave it 5 stars, because it is well-written, albeit dark, with excellent worldbuilding, likeable characters, and an intense story. And most of all, Home has hope.
Profile Image for Harry Delong.
147 reviews4 followers
December 1, 2018
Well done

Probably the best space story (meaning a story line involving living and working in space) that I have read in recent memory. Good lead character with problems but we'll written where that fits the plot but does not dominate.
Profile Image for Tom.
221 reviews3 followers
December 12, 2018
Great read!

I have read many sci fi novels/books and I must say this was a refreshing book. I enjoyed the personal story concerning the "orphaned" kids, family, intrigue, and the fact it took place in space.

Profile Image for Sonia Knippshild.
266 reviews2 followers
January 28, 2019
Quite enjoyed

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the ability to make me question whether Meriel was psychotic or not. Well written. I will read more by this author.
183 reviews
March 5, 2019
You won't put it down.

No place to call home. If all you've ever known was space, do you even know what you are looking for? Space battles, conspiracy and the love of family is what this is all about.
208 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2021
Point of origin explained

I enjoyed this book even though it challenged my mind a bit. The characters were believable but not physically described. One was big one small, had a scar did not make me picture them well but the personalities were well thought out.
65 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2023
This was a very good read. Enough mystery to keep you wondering who the good and bad characters are. The protagonist's drive to bring her family back together gives this story such a strong backbone. And her inability to recognize the love around her showed the depth of her decade-long struggle!
Profile Image for bex.
2,435 reviews24 followers
March 2, 2017
It was okay. Not great, but decent as a distraction and i liked the MC. Would read more
Profile Image for Susan.
1,455 reviews
March 28, 2019
Home: Interstellar: Merchant Princess is a standalone book. There is some violence but not a lot. This book was not what I was expecting but it was an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews

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