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Hikoboshi #1
Crash Land on Kurai
He’s dangerous, and she’s desperate for his help. Will he be her savior or the cause of her enslavement?
Disgraced journalist Yumi Minamoto is no stranger to risk. She’s been handed a second chance to save her name back home by documenting a peaceful mission to the Hikoboshi System, and she’s determined to do just that. But when her ship is attacked, she’s separated from her brother, and her life pod crash lands on a dying moon. The mission is torn to pieces, and she finds herself in the middle of a deadly civil war.
Now Yumi must navigate the unfamiliar terrain, face off against murderous androids, and grapple with a paranoid leader, struggling to stay alive amidst a culture she doesn’t understand. Even more threatening, Yumi finds herself attracted to Rin and his quiet strength and soon discovers his knowledge of the native’s customs could be the key to her survival. As Yumi’s search for her brother intensifies, can she find the courage to trust Rin — and the truth she’s desperately seeking — before she’s destroyed by the power struggle between love and war?
Crash Land on Kurai is the first book in the fast-paced Hikoboshi Space Opera Romance Series.
If you like high-tech futures, intergalactic battles, and heart-pounding romance, then you’ll love S. J. Pajonas’s thrilling sci-fi adventure romance.
Note: THIS SERIES MUST BE READ IN ORDER. It is a true series and plot elements carry through every book, from beginning to end. You will miss too much by reading this series out of order or skipping around. This series contains a slow-burn romance, profanity, and sexual situations.
Disgraced journalist Yumi Minamoto is no stranger to risk. She’s been handed a second chance to save her name back home by documenting a peaceful mission to the Hikoboshi System, and she’s determined to do just that. But when her ship is attacked, she’s separated from her brother, and her life pod crash lands on a dying moon. The mission is torn to pieces, and she finds herself in the middle of a deadly civil war.
Now Yumi must navigate the unfamiliar terrain, face off against murderous androids, and grapple with a paranoid leader, struggling to stay alive amidst a culture she doesn’t understand. Even more threatening, Yumi finds herself attracted to Rin and his quiet strength and soon discovers his knowledge of the native’s customs could be the key to her survival. As Yumi’s search for her brother intensifies, can she find the courage to trust Rin — and the truth she’s desperately seeking — before she’s destroyed by the power struggle between love and war?
Crash Land on Kurai is the first book in the fast-paced Hikoboshi Space Opera Romance Series.
If you like high-tech futures, intergalactic battles, and heart-pounding romance, then you’ll love S. J. Pajonas’s thrilling sci-fi adventure romance.
Note: THIS SERIES MUST BE READ IN ORDER. It is a true series and plot elements carry through every book, from beginning to end. You will miss too much by reading this series out of order or skipping around. This series contains a slow-burn romance, profanity, and sexual situations.
296 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2017
84 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Pajonas
57 books157 followers
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Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, Capricorn, Japanophile, and USA Today Best Selling author. She loves summer, downtempo beats, yoga pants, foxes, owls, dogs, sushi, pasta, and black tea. She lives outside NYC with her husband, two great kids, and her dog who always wants to play. When it comes to her work, she writes about everyday women and uncommon worlds. Find her online at https://www.spajonas.com
Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, Capricorn, Japanophile, and USA Today Best Selling author. She loves summer, downtempo beats, yoga pants, foxes, owls, dogs, sushi, pasta, and black tea. She lives outside NYC with her husband, two great kids, and her dog who always wants to play. When it comes to her work, she writes about everyday women and uncommon worlds. Find her online at https://www.spajonas.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 21, 2018
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Yumi is a disgraced journalist trying to clear her name. Her job is to document the mission to the Hikoboshi system, and she’s determined to get it right, despite all the trouble she causes. But when unknown vessels fire on their ship, and her life pod crash lands on a dying moon her mission falls to pieces. Now she must navigate the unfamiliar and deadly terrain, deal with a society she doesn’t understand, and try to stay alive until rescue comes… if it ever does.
The short review...
I enjoyed this book from page one. The first 25% was a little awkward as we are thrown into getting to know Yumi, while also trying to understand where she came from, where she was now and where her ship was headed. When we hit Kurai the story really gets going! And I didn't look back for a moment... I was totally on board with Yumi and her overboard journalist ways as well as her loving relationship with her mentor, Kazuo.
Once we meet the inhabitants of the moon we understand that this is a tech rich world Yumi's been dropped into... even more advanced that her own which has space travel! Like Yumi we explore the world with her as she searches for her family... It's not an easy world and up until now Yumi has lead a rather headstrong life where she could be and do whatever she wants. It's a fascinating way to naturally give an empowered woman restrictions that enrich the plot! I'm so looking forward to when Yumi hits the main planet, Hikari...
Cover & Title grade -> A+
This cover totally drew me in! When the book was suggested to me in comments I went right to Goodreads to check out more about it. And that cover convinced me!! The graphic does a lot to give you a sense of the sci-fi nature of the book, the Japanese cultural flavor as well as hint at our badass female protagonist (without giving us the stereotypical girl posing on the cover! I give major kudos for that!) The font is readable but still stylistic and the title does its job well. I wouldn't change anything... pretty rare for me!
Why should you read this intriguingly unique start to a new series?
-A Woman Made to Get into Trouble!
Yumi's home planet is also based on Japanese culture but is more free toward people, so she is an empowered woman. I quite liked that she grew up in an environment like that of us the reader! She is a go getter who will do whatever she has to in order to succeed in her goals. Being a people person who can read others and react well in the situation comes in handy. Yumi isn't made for such a society as she finds herself and so we can TOTALLY relate to her reactions and having to think of self-preservation in an alien world.
-Malfunctioning Androids in a Broken Society!
“To the new ship that’s entered our system, please come get us. We’ve been exiled on Kurai for twenty years. We need food and protection, but we can provide technology in return. Please. We cannot stay here any longer.”
Yumi is quite blessed to meet someone willing to give her a chance (and I quite loved this person!) Because this is one messed up society! We get the lay of the land quickly and compactly as Yumi struggles against the Japanese corporate (honor and money) driven way of life. She wakes up already in debt to strangers just for her life. Pile on top of that androids that can kill in a heartbeat... and she is ready to high tail it off this moon!
-Battles, Hardship and Death!
The battles with androids and other humans were often and quite well described and action packed! I found them super fun and the stakes were high. But there wasn't just physical tribulations, there was also some mental and emotional hardships that kept me rooting for Yumi and feeling for her situation as if it were my own. When death unexpectedly enters the story you are left shocked and reeling!
As a Writer...
When the perfect character is developed for a world it makes me quite excited as a reader... And quite happy as a writer because it means that conflict should arise naturally! World building can be great but if the character isn't oriented within that world in a way that gives the reader something to worry about then the book will be quite dry and hard to read.
You will fly through this book! Not only was the character related to the world building is a great way... the world building itself is quite fascinating. A corporateocracy is something that I already have been exploring myself so to read another author's POV was super exciting!
This is a wonderful cross between an urban fantasy and a science fiction story based on unexpected Japanese culture. The political society and technological advances will entrance you are Yumi struggles to make sense of her role in such a world. Crash Land on Kurai is a great start to a new series, I highly suggest reading it!
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
BOTTOM LINE: Malfunctioning Androids + Japanese Corporation Culture Mixed with a Journalist Prone to Trouble = Start to a Fun Sci-Fi Series!
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinion and no other compensation was given.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
July 19, 2017
Crash Land on Kurai on was my first S.J. Pajonas book, and I admit to having been a wee bit tentative. The synopsis really pulled me in, but there was one piece of knowledge that left me uncertain. The Hikoboshi series is a spinoff of another series by the author – the Nogiku series – and a part of me feared I would be unable to understand the story without having read the author’s other work. Fortunately, this book works perfectly fine as a standalone novel – I was able to truly enjoy it without the prior knowledge associated with reading the author’s other work.
In all honesty, the book is a very strong four-point-five star rating. As I so often say, it is extremely hard to get a five star rating out of me. Due to this, I know many will gladly hand over a five star rating. I have a feeling, with time and more books, I will come to hand out a five star rating to S.J. Pajonas in the future – and trust that I will be reading more of the author’s work, this one book cementing the fact. Not only will I be reading the rest of this series (I’ve been pulled in, and I’m already on the edge of my seat as I eagerly anticipate the next book) but I will also be reading the Nogiku series.
I’m so curious about the Nogiku series after reading this one. I have so many questions, so many things I wish to know more about. There were times when I chastised myself for having not read the other series before reading this one, but the information was provided in such a way that I do not feel as though I was left out of the loop. I simply feel as though this story would have been even stronger in my mind had I read the other series. Not to mention, that damned curiosity that has me wanting to pick up the series.
My desire to read more books by the author just goes to show how powerful a read Crash Land on Kurai is. From the very first page, I was pulled into the story, unable to put it down. I kept reading and reading, ignoring the world around me as I was too invested in the world on the pages to notice what was happening in my surroundings. The world building is wonderful, the characters are amazing, and the storyline is gripping. Every little detail of the story is powerful, with each new element introduced leaving you wanting more.
As powerful as the world building, storytelling, and storyline were, the characters were easily my favourite. The world building blew me away with the unique take on space (I have never read anything in this genre where the Japanese culture is so prominent), the storytelling gripped me through the ease at which it leaves us invested in the story, and the storyline threatened to blow my brain from the many wonderful interconnected elements (I know so much and yet, at the same time, I know so little). The characters, however, buried themselves deep in my heart. It’s such a great cast of characters, and I cannot wait to see more of them in the future books. I liked them from the very start of the story, but the development that takes place throughout left me loving them. We really do have a wonderful cast of characters, each one bringing something different to the story, the interactions between the characters wonderful.
Honestly, this was a brilliant read. There were so many interesting elements in this story and I cannot wait to see where the series heads from here. It is certainly a series I’ll be keeping an eye on!
In all honesty, the book is a very strong four-point-five star rating. As I so often say, it is extremely hard to get a five star rating out of me. Due to this, I know many will gladly hand over a five star rating. I have a feeling, with time and more books, I will come to hand out a five star rating to S.J. Pajonas in the future – and trust that I will be reading more of the author’s work, this one book cementing the fact. Not only will I be reading the rest of this series (I’ve been pulled in, and I’m already on the edge of my seat as I eagerly anticipate the next book) but I will also be reading the Nogiku series.
I’m so curious about the Nogiku series after reading this one. I have so many questions, so many things I wish to know more about. There were times when I chastised myself for having not read the other series before reading this one, but the information was provided in such a way that I do not feel as though I was left out of the loop. I simply feel as though this story would have been even stronger in my mind had I read the other series. Not to mention, that damned curiosity that has me wanting to pick up the series.
My desire to read more books by the author just goes to show how powerful a read Crash Land on Kurai is. From the very first page, I was pulled into the story, unable to put it down. I kept reading and reading, ignoring the world around me as I was too invested in the world on the pages to notice what was happening in my surroundings. The world building is wonderful, the characters are amazing, and the storyline is gripping. Every little detail of the story is powerful, with each new element introduced leaving you wanting more.
As powerful as the world building, storytelling, and storyline were, the characters were easily my favourite. The world building blew me away with the unique take on space (I have never read anything in this genre where the Japanese culture is so prominent), the storytelling gripped me through the ease at which it leaves us invested in the story, and the storyline threatened to blow my brain from the many wonderful interconnected elements (I know so much and yet, at the same time, I know so little). The characters, however, buried themselves deep in my heart. It’s such a great cast of characters, and I cannot wait to see more of them in the future books. I liked them from the very start of the story, but the development that takes place throughout left me loving them. We really do have a wonderful cast of characters, each one bringing something different to the story, the interactions between the characters wonderful.
Honestly, this was a brilliant read. There were so many interesting elements in this story and I cannot wait to see where the series heads from here. It is certainly a series I’ll be keeping an eye on!
November 14, 2020
Re-read review:
I loved re-reading this one. It was great to be able to spot some of the foreshadowing of events later in the series. It was just as good the second time around. I love this series so far and this book is a solid start to the series. I enjoy how we get to know Yumi in this book. Some of my favorite parts of this one is the realism. How real Yumi feels and also the other characters and the world. There is some awesome world building and I like the way things make sense. I am glad I re-read it as there were some parts I had forgotten and it's great to have it all fresh in my head again. I hope to re-read book 2 soon!
Original review:
I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it
Crash Land on Kurai was one of my most anticipated new releases of this year and it did not disappoint! It's a spinn-off from Pajonas's Nogiku series, which I loved, but I think it works well if you haven't read the Nogiku series as well. For fans of the Nogiku series expect a few recurring characters and the main character is the daughter or an important side character in the Nogiku series. But at the same time this series brings something totally new as the characters travel to a different plant to meet those from Earth who colonized the Hikoboshi system instead of Orihime. We meet new characters and a totally different world.
Wow this book was so good! It hooked me from the start and it kept my attention throughout the whole book. It's fast paced and there's so much happening and going on. Every time we learned something new I was ready with even more questions. I wanted to know who these people were, what happened here, how their society worked and more. And when I finished the book I wished book 2 was already here as that ending makes me so curious about what will happen next!
This book is filled with action and adventure and while it's a sci-fi book first and foremost, it also has some hints of other genres. There's even a bit of mystery surrounding this new world, the people here and what's really going on. There's even a tiny hint of romance, I can't wait to see how that develops in later books. It's also about family, honor, culture and differences. It hits some topics that are playing a part in today's Japanese society as well and I thought it was very clever how the author worked those parts in, in a sort of "history is repeating itself" thing. I liked the mix of Japanese culture with a futuristic/ sci-fi world, it's so well done.
The main character of this book is Yumi, the book basically starts with her temper getting the better of her and she hits someone. I was both curious and a bit hesitant when I met her at first as journalist aren't always nice characters in books and people with a temper don't always work for me. But I quickly grew to like Yumi.
Her dedication to her brother was admirable, even though they don't always go along so well, she would everything to save him. I loved her drive for getting answers and she didn't always know when to shut up, but that's also what I liked about her. She isn't afraid to ask questions or go after what she believes in. She can be quite suspicious of everyone and doesn't quite believe when someone does something nice for her. I think that's something that will serve her well in this new world.
I felt bad for Yumi at times, she's hurt and in a difficult situation and just trying to make the best of it. I could relate to her in some ways and my headaches always seem to have the worst timings just like her migraines. She felt very realistic with how she reacts to things and also how she gets hurts and struggles with her injuries the rest of the book. Actually all of the characters and the whole situation felt pretty realistic and they all seemed like real people.
There's also a nice cast of side characters. Kazuo is one of the more important ones and someone those who read the Nogiku series will already know. I really liked seeing him in this series and how he has changed and how close he is to Yumi. He's a bit like a father to her and knows her well. Their relationship was interesting. He kinda reminded me a bit of Mark Sakai (from the Nogiku series), not sure why, maybe because of the role and protectiveness, but he also doesn't mince his words and was very honest.
There are a lot of characters were I kept doubting their motives, could they be trusted? What did they want? What were their goals? Were they as nice or evil as they seemed? Tthere is a lot of guessing and a bit of mystery both surrounding the characters and in the plot as well. I also liked Rin, even though he's a bit of a mystery. But were Yumi kept doubting him, I shared Kazuo's opinion of Rin and thought he was a good person. I am looking forward to get to know him better! There are a bunch of fellow crew members from the ship and people they meet in the new world as well.
There is this tiny hint of a possible romance and it's very slow building. But so far I liked what we've seen and I like the dynamic between these two. And with how this book ends I am really curious and excited to see how things will progress in book two! I am hoping for more romance in the next book! I was actually guessing at first who would be the love interest, but then there was a scene from where onward I was sure I knew who the love interest would be.
I loved the world building in this book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, but I know it wasn't this. It was a great twist and reveal when we find out more about this world. Without giving any spoilers, this world is so different! It was great to learn about this new system and how things happened here when they people from earth arrived. And to see the state their society and culture was in right now. Just like Yumi I just wanted to know more about hos this society works. I also liked the similarities with some issues Japan is currently dealing with. The hints of Japanese culture are nicely mingled in between the futuristic and sci-fi elements and I thought it worked really well.
To summarize: this book was awesome! It's fast paced and filled with questions an a bit of mystery and I just wanted to know more and keep on reading. The blend between the Japanese culture and sci-fi elements was well done. There's also some action and adventure elements and a hint of a potential romance too. I really liked Yumi as a main character, I liked how protective she was of her brother, her drive to get answers. She also has a bit of a temper and deals with nasty migraines, she felt like a real person. I felt bad for her for some of the things she had to go through, but I enjoyed reading how she dealt with everything. The side characters are great too and a lot of side characters I am just not sure what to think of yet or if they can be trusted, what their motives are etc. It has some fun hints to the Nogiku series and a few recurring characters, but it also can be read separate from the Nogiku series as well. This kept my attention for the whole book and I can't wait for book 2!
I loved re-reading this one. It was great to be able to spot some of the foreshadowing of events later in the series. It was just as good the second time around. I love this series so far and this book is a solid start to the series. I enjoy how we get to know Yumi in this book. Some of my favorite parts of this one is the realism. How real Yumi feels and also the other characters and the world. There is some awesome world building and I like the way things make sense. I am glad I re-read it as there were some parts I had forgotten and it's great to have it all fresh in my head again. I hope to re-read book 2 soon!
Original review:
I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it
Crash Land on Kurai was one of my most anticipated new releases of this year and it did not disappoint! It's a spinn-off from Pajonas's Nogiku series, which I loved, but I think it works well if you haven't read the Nogiku series as well. For fans of the Nogiku series expect a few recurring characters and the main character is the daughter or an important side character in the Nogiku series. But at the same time this series brings something totally new as the characters travel to a different plant to meet those from Earth who colonized the Hikoboshi system instead of Orihime. We meet new characters and a totally different world.
Wow this book was so good! It hooked me from the start and it kept my attention throughout the whole book. It's fast paced and there's so much happening and going on. Every time we learned something new I was ready with even more questions. I wanted to know who these people were, what happened here, how their society worked and more. And when I finished the book I wished book 2 was already here as that ending makes me so curious about what will happen next!
This book is filled with action and adventure and while it's a sci-fi book first and foremost, it also has some hints of other genres. There's even a bit of mystery surrounding this new world, the people here and what's really going on. There's even a tiny hint of romance, I can't wait to see how that develops in later books. It's also about family, honor, culture and differences. It hits some topics that are playing a part in today's Japanese society as well and I thought it was very clever how the author worked those parts in, in a sort of "history is repeating itself" thing. I liked the mix of Japanese culture with a futuristic/ sci-fi world, it's so well done.
The main character of this book is Yumi, the book basically starts with her temper getting the better of her and she hits someone. I was both curious and a bit hesitant when I met her at first as journalist aren't always nice characters in books and people with a temper don't always work for me. But I quickly grew to like Yumi.
Her dedication to her brother was admirable, even though they don't always go along so well, she would everything to save him. I loved her drive for getting answers and she didn't always know when to shut up, but that's also what I liked about her. She isn't afraid to ask questions or go after what she believes in. She can be quite suspicious of everyone and doesn't quite believe when someone does something nice for her. I think that's something that will serve her well in this new world.
I felt bad for Yumi at times, she's hurt and in a difficult situation and just trying to make the best of it. I could relate to her in some ways and my headaches always seem to have the worst timings just like her migraines. She felt very realistic with how she reacts to things and also how she gets hurts and struggles with her injuries the rest of the book. Actually all of the characters and the whole situation felt pretty realistic and they all seemed like real people.
There's also a nice cast of side characters. Kazuo is one of the more important ones and someone those who read the Nogiku series will already know. I really liked seeing him in this series and how he has changed and how close he is to Yumi. He's a bit like a father to her and knows her well. Their relationship was interesting. He kinda reminded me a bit of Mark Sakai (from the Nogiku series), not sure why, maybe because of the role and protectiveness, but he also doesn't mince his words and was very honest.
There are a lot of characters were I kept doubting their motives, could they be trusted? What did they want? What were their goals? Were they as nice or evil as they seemed? Tthere is a lot of guessing and a bit of mystery both surrounding the characters and in the plot as well. I also liked Rin, even though he's a bit of a mystery. But were Yumi kept doubting him, I shared Kazuo's opinion of Rin and thought he was a good person. I am looking forward to get to know him better! There are a bunch of fellow crew members from the ship and people they meet in the new world as well.
There is this tiny hint of a possible romance and it's very slow building. But so far I liked what we've seen and I like the dynamic between these two. And with how this book ends I am really curious and excited to see how things will progress in book two! I am hoping for more romance in the next book! I was actually guessing at first who would be the love interest, but then there was a scene from where onward I was sure I knew who the love interest would be.
I loved the world building in this book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, but I know it wasn't this. It was a great twist and reveal when we find out more about this world. Without giving any spoilers, this world is so different! It was great to learn about this new system and how things happened here when they people from earth arrived. And to see the state their society and culture was in right now. Just like Yumi I just wanted to know more about hos this society works. I also liked the similarities with some issues Japan is currently dealing with. The hints of Japanese culture are nicely mingled in between the futuristic and sci-fi elements and I thought it worked really well.
To summarize: this book was awesome! It's fast paced and filled with questions an a bit of mystery and I just wanted to know more and keep on reading. The blend between the Japanese culture and sci-fi elements was well done. There's also some action and adventure elements and a hint of a potential romance too. I really liked Yumi as a main character, I liked how protective she was of her brother, her drive to get answers. She also has a bit of a temper and deals with nasty migraines, she felt like a real person. I felt bad for her for some of the things she had to go through, but I enjoyed reading how she dealt with everything. The side characters are great too and a lot of side characters I am just not sure what to think of yet or if they can be trusted, what their motives are etc. It has some fun hints to the Nogiku series and a few recurring characters, but it also can be read separate from the Nogiku series as well. This kept my attention for the whole book and I can't wait for book 2!
April 16, 2021
Although this carries forward from the previous series, I had no trouble reading this after a long gap.
There is a lot happening on this new planet and moon. Grateful for the avoidance of data dumps, some of the machinations and motivations remained mysterious until the end of the book, and some still require clarification.
I enjoyed the thrilling aspects, but the hidden motivations limited their intensity. I'll read the next one in hopes that further involvement will bring more depth to both the plot and the characters.
There is a lot happening on this new planet and moon. Grateful for the avoidance of data dumps, some of the machinations and motivations remained mysterious until the end of the book, and some still require clarification.
I enjoyed the thrilling aspects, but the hidden motivations limited their intensity. I'll read the next one in hopes that further involvement will bring more depth to both the plot and the characters.
July 18, 2017
4.5/5 Stars
This book is a spin-off of Pajonas's Nojiku Series, but you don't have to read that first series to appreciate it. In fact, I have to confess that I'm horrible with remembering details of books I read long ago and I was struggling to remember all the connections between this book and the original series---but it didn't matter one little bit because I still loved this one (actually a bit more than I loved the original series, I think).
Right away, I connected with the main character. Yumi is smart, tough and more than a little flawed (especially when it comes to being somewhat hotheaded and impulsive). She's used to digging for the truth, not necessarily getting down and dirty in it, so when her ship crash-lands on a dangerous planet (well, technically on a moon), at first she feels out of her element. But it soon becomes apparent that she has to adapt to survive---and her keen ability to read people and situations just might come in handy after all, even if it is somewhat thwarted by an entirely new culture and set of customs.
The action in this book is intense, and the alien world that Yumi and her friends end up on dishes out quite a few surprises. I found myself happily immersed in the unique society that Pajonas created.
If I had any complaint, it would be that there's only the teensiest budding of a possible romance in this book, and I'm eager for more---guess I'll just have to keep reading!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book is a spin-off of Pajonas's Nojiku Series, but you don't have to read that first series to appreciate it. In fact, I have to confess that I'm horrible with remembering details of books I read long ago and I was struggling to remember all the connections between this book and the original series---but it didn't matter one little bit because I still loved this one (actually a bit more than I loved the original series, I think).
Right away, I connected with the main character. Yumi is smart, tough and more than a little flawed (especially when it comes to being somewhat hotheaded and impulsive). She's used to digging for the truth, not necessarily getting down and dirty in it, so when her ship crash-lands on a dangerous planet (well, technically on a moon), at first she feels out of her element. But it soon becomes apparent that she has to adapt to survive---and her keen ability to read people and situations just might come in handy after all, even if it is somewhat thwarted by an entirely new culture and set of customs.
The action in this book is intense, and the alien world that Yumi and her friends end up on dishes out quite a few surprises. I found myself happily immersed in the unique society that Pajonas created.
If I had any complaint, it would be that there's only the teensiest budding of a possible romance in this book, and I'm eager for more---guess I'll just have to keep reading!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
July 28, 2017
I had the honor of reading advanced copies of Pajonas's Nogiku series when each book released and I really adored that series. So when I got the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Crash Land on Kurai, the first book in a spin-off series of Nogiku, I was pretty excited.
It was nice to be back in the universe of Nogiku, and I always enjoy new sci-fi adventures. In Crash Land on Kurai, we meet Yumi, a journalist traveling to the planet of Hikobashi, to learn about the other humans that left earth.
While approaching the planet, two ships approach from the planet and start firing on their ship forcing everyone to escape in pods which then crash land on the planet's moon, Kurai. From there, the action never really stops as Yumi makes it her mission to find the rest of her people and rescue them from the moon's inhabitants.
Throughout the book, I had a little bit of a love/hate relationship with the protagonist. She was most definitely a brat and would react to situations without thinking and was usually very bad tempered. By the end, though, she appeared to be finding herself and did fairly well at redeeming herself. Whew.
I always enjoy Pajonas's writing and this book was no exception. The only problem I always seem to have is my unfamiliarity with the Japanese names, so it took me longer than usual to figure out who was who. That, however, is the fault of me the reader, and not the author. By the end, I had it mostly figured out, so I should be all set for book 2.
*Thanks to the author for providing a free advanced copy of this book.*
It was nice to be back in the universe of Nogiku, and I always enjoy new sci-fi adventures. In Crash Land on Kurai, we meet Yumi, a journalist traveling to the planet of Hikobashi, to learn about the other humans that left earth.
While approaching the planet, two ships approach from the planet and start firing on their ship forcing everyone to escape in pods which then crash land on the planet's moon, Kurai. From there, the action never really stops as Yumi makes it her mission to find the rest of her people and rescue them from the moon's inhabitants.
Throughout the book, I had a little bit of a love/hate relationship with the protagonist. She was most definitely a brat and would react to situations without thinking and was usually very bad tempered. By the end, though, she appeared to be finding herself and did fairly well at redeeming herself. Whew.
I always enjoy Pajonas's writing and this book was no exception. The only problem I always seem to have is my unfamiliarity with the Japanese names, so it took me longer than usual to figure out who was who. That, however, is the fault of me the reader, and not the author. By the end, I had it mostly figured out, so I should be all set for book 2.
*Thanks to the author for providing a free advanced copy of this book.*
December 17, 2017
Peace Trip Turned Deadly. On a peaceful exploration mission, Yumi Minamoto's ship crash lands on a dying moon and she's separated from her shipmates. As a journalist, Yumi's job on the mission is to record the events. Ironically, Yumi is the least peaceful person on the ship. She has a nasty temper, is inclined to slug someone to make her point, and has been jailed a few times. How can she hang onto her temper when she's scared to death?
This is a fast-moving space adventure that had me reading late into the night. Book 1 of a space opera series kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. When Yumi meets Rin, a corporate policeman, he tries to drown her. Not exactly a cute meet. The romance between them is secondary to staying alive and out of the hands of a sadistic corporate head.
This story is complete, but since it's part of a series questions linger. After finishing this book, I had to one-click the next in the series.
This is a fast-moving space adventure that had me reading late into the night. Book 1 of a space opera series kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. When Yumi meets Rin, a corporate policeman, he tries to drown her. Not exactly a cute meet. The romance between them is secondary to staying alive and out of the hands of a sadistic corporate head.
This story is complete, but since it's part of a series questions linger. After finishing this book, I had to one-click the next in the series.
August 1, 2017
Yumi is an interesting protagonist – from a powerful and influential family, she is clearly the cuckoo in the nest. Constantly in trouble with the authorities, I liked the fact that when she says at the start of the story that she is a pain in the neck with an attitude and a knack for rubbing folks up the wrong way – she means it. Quite often we are told at the start of a story the heroine is a trouble-maker and rebel – only to find she is actually a pleaser who very much minds what everyone thinks of her, especially the male characters. I also like the fact that she claims to be plain – and judging by the responses she gets, that does appear to be the case. That said, I wanted at times to shake her until her teeth rattle, as she really does rub folks up the wrong – even those who are trying to keep her alive
What I particularly enjoyed was the depiction of how environmental pressures affect a culture, so the colony that only a few hundred years ago was identical with the same values as its Earth equivalent from whence it came, now has morphed into something quite different. The runaway capitalism, where the majority population are born indebted and have to work continually to keep alive, is both shocking and plausible, given the ongoing warfare between the factions. The way the visitors are treated is also depressingly realistic. I’m conscious that Crash Land on Kurai is a spin-off from a previous series, but I didn’t find myself floundering in any way.
Any niggles? While I liked the idea that Yumi suffers from migraines – it seems hardly any protagonists have to deal with such physical issues in books – maybe the reason is because when pickforked into the middle of an adventure, her recovery time slows the pace somewhat. And when I think of how disabling my migraines used to be – particularly when I was in hospital and didn’t receive any pain relief – it took me days to get over it, I did feel a bit annoyed at how quickly she bounces back. However, I did enjoy how adrift and traumatised Yumi feels when subjected to the violence of real combat, even though she has regularly sparred throughout her life.
All in all, this is a thoroughly engrossing adventure and a strong start to the series that I will be definitely following in future. Highly recommended.
8/10
What I particularly enjoyed was the depiction of how environmental pressures affect a culture, so the colony that only a few hundred years ago was identical with the same values as its Earth equivalent from whence it came, now has morphed into something quite different. The runaway capitalism, where the majority population are born indebted and have to work continually to keep alive, is both shocking and plausible, given the ongoing warfare between the factions. The way the visitors are treated is also depressingly realistic. I’m conscious that Crash Land on Kurai is a spin-off from a previous series, but I didn’t find myself floundering in any way.
Any niggles? While I liked the idea that Yumi suffers from migraines – it seems hardly any protagonists have to deal with such physical issues in books – maybe the reason is because when pickforked into the middle of an adventure, her recovery time slows the pace somewhat. And when I think of how disabling my migraines used to be – particularly when I was in hospital and didn’t receive any pain relief – it took me days to get over it, I did feel a bit annoyed at how quickly she bounces back. However, I did enjoy how adrift and traumatised Yumi feels when subjected to the violence of real combat, even though she has regularly sparred throughout her life.
All in all, this is a thoroughly engrossing adventure and a strong start to the series that I will be definitely following in future. Highly recommended.
8/10
September 11, 2017
AH! I just finished this book, and I'm not even sure where to begin. What first caught my attention was the description and book cover. All just gorgeous and amped me up to read what was inside. I have been burned before by these things though so I was tentative stepping into a spin-off of a series I wasn't familiar with at all.
Let me tell you: it didn't matter that I wasn't familiar with the first series. The author does a solid job of world building and revealing characters. I was immediately struck by the dialogue. It's exactly what you would expect from people as they spar. It only gets better from there. Plus, I don't mind a good potty mouth when it is in character. The universe felt only slightly reminiscent of Firefly (the short lived but much loved Joss Whedon series) because of the Eastern elements, but I really enjoyed the deep thought SJ Pajonas has obviously dedicated to this world and these people. Nothing felt out of place unless it was supposed to.
I'm not familiar with SJ Pajonas and other books by this author, but I suspect I will be soon!
Let me tell you: it didn't matter that I wasn't familiar with the first series. The author does a solid job of world building and revealing characters. I was immediately struck by the dialogue. It's exactly what you would expect from people as they spar. It only gets better from there. Plus, I don't mind a good potty mouth when it is in character. The universe felt only slightly reminiscent of Firefly (the short lived but much loved Joss Whedon series) because of the Eastern elements, but I really enjoyed the deep thought SJ Pajonas has obviously dedicated to this world and these people. Nothing felt out of place unless it was supposed to.
I'm not familiar with SJ Pajonas and other books by this author, but I suspect I will be soon!
August 2, 2017
Glad that we are back with in the Nogiku universe. I really enjoyed those characters. Great that we have moved forward in time, so we can see what has progressed on Orihune. Of course it makes me want to hear more about how that came about and how Sanaa and Jiro are doing. Good have the update on at least one of the clans.
Great adventure story with vivid characters. My only dislike is that Yumi goes through so much physical challenge (like Sanaa did). It seemed a bit unrealistic ( and I realize this is sci-fi) that she was able to do what she did with her physical condition compromised. I prefer my characters to have more mental or character challenges.
Given that, I am looking forward to reading more in this series
Great adventure story with vivid characters. My only dislike is that Yumi goes through so much physical challenge (like Sanaa did). It seemed a bit unrealistic ( and I realize this is sci-fi) that she was able to do what she did with her physical condition compromised. I prefer my characters to have more mental or character challenges.
Given that, I am looking forward to reading more in this series
June 20, 2017
I read an early version of this book. Very fast paced -- keeps your attention! Add to your TBR!
July 17, 2017
I REALLY enjoyed this book. This story was action packed, exciting, and a constant adventure. I enjoyed reading about the characters, and there was not a dull moment in the book. I was hooked from the first page. I really enjoy the way SJ Pajonas writes, and her writing flows very well making it easy to get into the story. If you like an action packed sci-fi adventure, and Japanese culture, you'll enjoy this book.
#TheUnratedBookshelf
#TheUnratedBookshelf
August 21, 2022
A scientific vessel arrives in a system colonized by others from old earth and plan to study and ally with their fellow colonists right up to the moment one of the unprovoked startlingly hostile Hikoboshi ships fires on them. Suddenly, hot-tempered, impulsive young journalist, Yumi Minamoto has crash landed, barely survived the injuries, and with a few fellow survivors must navigate both a rough moon, Kurai, but an utterly alien culture so far from the one back home. Her guts and stubbornness are all that are carrying her battered body and mind through it all.
Crash Land on Kurai is not my intro to the author's writing since I read a recently published novella in the Pets in Space 6 anthology, but, it was my first novel-length when I could see what she did with the space to introduce an expanding sci-fi world and develop an action-packed, intrigued filled plot and complex characters. I learned from a fellow reader that this first in series is a spinoff from the Nogiku series that took place earlier in time and focused on old earth and one of the worlds that was colonized. That said, this book was easy to start with and I suspect will work just fine to get the two series out of order.
Crash Land on Kurai doesn't rose-tint the situation for Yumi and her fellow Orihime people. The attack, crash, and subsequent scenes are harsh and brutal. I appreciated how this got me right into the middle of the story and feeling a strong connection with Yumi's situation even if her personality was driving me nuts.
If there is an easy way or a hard way, a smooth or a rough way of going about something, Yumi goes hard and rough every time and then tells herself that this is how it has to be because she can't feel and she has walled off things that hurt her like trust in others and the gentler affections that others seem to have. She looks back on a pivotal moment when a teenager who was her first feeling of love dropped her to be with her twin brother, but, in truth, Yumi isn't an easy person even from earliest of childhood and knows it. She's hard at others and pushes away people before they can hurt her first. She has few people she loves and trusts and those are lost to other escape pods or possibly death, but she is driven to do whatever it takes to get to them.
Meanwhile Yumi, and the reader is dropped into a whole new way of life with the people governed by corporations vying for the top spot and control over most of Hikari and Kurai. The corps specialize in their products or services and there might be a bit of overlap, but people are in contract (citizens) of one and earn their way up social strata levels based on knowledge or skill set particularly those that get the corps the most credits. Yumi's journalistic skills are for a job that doesn't exist in this system so she barely registers at menial labor caste which isn't good because the med treatment, food, clothes, care, etc are all adding up against her debt once she is taken up by the locals. She is so busy trying to survive and adjust after so many hits to her life that she is angry and kicking out, unwilling to try to quietly figure out what is going on. Rin has taken her in and saved her a few times, but she trusts him very little and makes it harder on him to work the system. Is he honest? It doesn't matter to her so she fumbles and bumbles her way into worse danger, but always with her eyes on her goals.
As you can see, I didn't care for Yumi, but she is an amazing character who grew on me and I could respect that most of us don't have the toughness she carries in her pinky finger. Rin, a native, and Kazuo, Yumi's protector were easy characters to like. Her brother Shintaro was a fun one, too.
This opening book ends in a good place with a break in the action and some of the plot resolved, but it leaves things in an exciting, high anticipation place to get on to what comes next.
Sci-fi slow burn romance and space opera fans will relish one that combines future space with Japanese traditional.
Crash Land on Kurai is not my intro to the author's writing since I read a recently published novella in the Pets in Space 6 anthology, but, it was my first novel-length when I could see what she did with the space to introduce an expanding sci-fi world and develop an action-packed, intrigued filled plot and complex characters. I learned from a fellow reader that this first in series is a spinoff from the Nogiku series that took place earlier in time and focused on old earth and one of the worlds that was colonized. That said, this book was easy to start with and I suspect will work just fine to get the two series out of order.
Crash Land on Kurai doesn't rose-tint the situation for Yumi and her fellow Orihime people. The attack, crash, and subsequent scenes are harsh and brutal. I appreciated how this got me right into the middle of the story and feeling a strong connection with Yumi's situation even if her personality was driving me nuts.
If there is an easy way or a hard way, a smooth or a rough way of going about something, Yumi goes hard and rough every time and then tells herself that this is how it has to be because she can't feel and she has walled off things that hurt her like trust in others and the gentler affections that others seem to have. She looks back on a pivotal moment when a teenager who was her first feeling of love dropped her to be with her twin brother, but, in truth, Yumi isn't an easy person even from earliest of childhood and knows it. She's hard at others and pushes away people before they can hurt her first. She has few people she loves and trusts and those are lost to other escape pods or possibly death, but she is driven to do whatever it takes to get to them.
Meanwhile Yumi, and the reader is dropped into a whole new way of life with the people governed by corporations vying for the top spot and control over most of Hikari and Kurai. The corps specialize in their products or services and there might be a bit of overlap, but people are in contract (citizens) of one and earn their way up social strata levels based on knowledge or skill set particularly those that get the corps the most credits. Yumi's journalistic skills are for a job that doesn't exist in this system so she barely registers at menial labor caste which isn't good because the med treatment, food, clothes, care, etc are all adding up against her debt once she is taken up by the locals. She is so busy trying to survive and adjust after so many hits to her life that she is angry and kicking out, unwilling to try to quietly figure out what is going on. Rin has taken her in and saved her a few times, but she trusts him very little and makes it harder on him to work the system. Is he honest? It doesn't matter to her so she fumbles and bumbles her way into worse danger, but always with her eyes on her goals.
As you can see, I didn't care for Yumi, but she is an amazing character who grew on me and I could respect that most of us don't have the toughness she carries in her pinky finger. Rin, a native, and Kazuo, Yumi's protector were easy characters to like. Her brother Shintaro was a fun one, too.
This opening book ends in a good place with a break in the action and some of the plot resolved, but it leaves things in an exciting, high anticipation place to get on to what comes next.
Sci-fi slow burn romance and space opera fans will relish one that combines future space with Japanese traditional.
Read
July 14, 2018Got this due to Carysa Locke’s recommendation
May 13, 2018
This was awesome. You don't get many books that aren't based in the USA or set off in some remote part of Europe for paranormal kids learning how to save the world. And Yumi had faults, things that drove me a little crazy but at the same time made her endearing. She was a trouble-maker who couldn't help it, someone who didn't fit in but tried every day to be a part of it all anyway. And she was so likable. Not because of how well she followed the rules or anything, but because she had a sort of genuine thing about her that made me want to read about her journey til the end. I didn't want to leave her, and watching her improve just a little more made me smile. I loved that she had a brother who was gay and it wasn't a big thing. I loved that she had to go through sexism in her own home world but used it to make her better, instead of just whining about it all the time. I loved that she had migraines she had to suffer through. I loved that she was kinda dead inside to other people and slowly learned through uncomfortable situations that she was just... different, not dead. I just loved how different a lot of things were and yet how normal it all seemed. The story line alone is interesting, but adding in all the other stuff made it cooler.
March 16, 2023
Meh. I liked the Nogiku series when I read it, but this is all I need to read with this series. I won't be reading any of the rest.
First, the amount of injuries Yumi sustains means that she should probably be in a medically induced coma for most of the book rather than running around a foreign world and getting more and more injured with each chapter. But I can see where that wouldn't be all that entertaining to read. "Day 2. in coma. Day 3, in coma. Day 5, waking up... nope, just kidding, still in coma."
Second, I appreciate that this isn't a Western-based series. It was one of the reasons I started reading these books. I thought Pajonas either had lived in Japan for a long time, or is of Japanese descent. As far as I can tell, neither is true, and so this starts to feel a little like whitewashing someone else's culture. Especially when it appropriates only some aspects to create two new cultures. Or editing previous editions to remove all of the Japanese language and honorifics in her books to make it "easier" for US-based readers. I may not have noticed it a few years ago, but I do now, and I would rather read stories from more authentic authors.
First, the amount of injuries Yumi sustains means that she should probably be in a medically induced coma for most of the book rather than running around a foreign world and getting more and more injured with each chapter. But I can see where that wouldn't be all that entertaining to read. "Day 2. in coma. Day 3, in coma. Day 5, waking up... nope, just kidding, still in coma."
Second, I appreciate that this isn't a Western-based series. It was one of the reasons I started reading these books. I thought Pajonas either had lived in Japan for a long time, or is of Japanese descent. As far as I can tell, neither is true, and so this starts to feel a little like whitewashing someone else's culture. Especially when it appropriates only some aspects to create two new cultures. Or editing previous editions to remove all of the Japanese language and honorifics in her books to make it "easier" for US-based readers. I may not have noticed it a few years ago, but I do now, and I would rather read stories from more authentic authors.
March 30, 2018
Great start to a new series. This is the first book I've read by SJP, and I was extremely impressed by her talent and writing style. A fascinating projection of Japanese society and corporate battles into the future, set on a planet far from Earth. It oozed Japanese flavour and culture without being unapproachable. Very authentic.
The plot is steady, pulling you forward, and there are moments very reminiscent of Blade Runner, but the real magic lies with the author's characters. Deep, complex personalities and relationships that really made me care, and I loved the distinctive voice of the main character. Pajonas has fully grasped how to tease out drama and tension from every conversation.
Loved this book.
The plot is steady, pulling you forward, and there are moments very reminiscent of Blade Runner, but the real magic lies with the author's characters. Deep, complex personalities and relationships that really made me care, and I loved the distinctive voice of the main character. Pajonas has fully grasped how to tease out drama and tension from every conversation.
Loved this book.
June 18, 2022
.
.
I have NO IDEA what he is talking about; plus, I hate this:
“…Gen’s head snaps back, and if he hadn’t strapped himself in, he’d be floating away instead of unconscious at the mess hall table. That was easier than I thought it would be. When Gen’s mouth runs, my temper jogs alongside it, my foot jerking out to trip him. I should have punched him ages ago. My brother groans, knocking me out of my head and into the pain radiating up through my knuckles. No big deal. I shake my hand, but nothing feels broken, not like the last time I beat someone down. That was when I almost lost my job, though, so it was a difficult fight to top. This? This was me dealing with a bully….”
So I quit and dumped the book.
.
.
.
I have NO IDEA what he is talking about; plus, I hate this:
“…Gen’s head snaps back, and if he hadn’t strapped himself in, he’d be floating away instead of unconscious at the mess hall table. That was easier than I thought it would be. When Gen’s mouth runs, my temper jogs alongside it, my foot jerking out to trip him. I should have punched him ages ago. My brother groans, knocking me out of my head and into the pain radiating up through my knuckles. No big deal. I shake my hand, but nothing feels broken, not like the last time I beat someone down. That was when I almost lost my job, though, so it was a difficult fight to top. This? This was me dealing with a bully….”
So I quit and dumped the book.
.
.
May 23, 2021
Promising start to new Space opera. At first I though Yumi's propensity to get into fights/trouble would be annoying - in that swaggering over done way that sometimes appears in this type of book. Instead her anger and occasional poor impulse control are just part of who she is and self awareness (oft after the fact) and frustration with herself just make up the stubborn , fierce & loyal person she is. Hope Yumi & the Orihme folks manage to upend the entire culture & system during their time trapped on Hikoboshi as I hate the whole owning people and their contracts concept.
May 23, 2018
They are following ancient ancestors that went into space
Earth is gone or very close to it and Orihime one of the planet's so far colonized is starting to become a little crowded. So, they send a peaceful mission to find the ancestors that went on from Orihime. And the adventures begin.
Read and enjoy!!
Earth is gone or very close to it and Orihime one of the planet's so far colonized is starting to become a little crowded. So, they send a peaceful mission to find the ancestors that went on from Orihime. And the adventures begin.
Read and enjoy!!
September 16, 2022
A fairly decent story, It kind of went ways I didn't expect, so I guess that's good, I'll likely read more in the series, though if this new world they're on gets much more controlling, I may just chuck the whole thing, I really don't like bullies, and there's an inordinate amount of them in this book, so
May 29, 2023
I loved it.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series. The main character is a force to be reckoned with. She took a licking and kept on ticking. I love strong female characters and a well written storyline. I can't wait to see what happens with the slow burning romance.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series. The main character is a force to be reckoned with. She took a licking and kept on ticking. I love strong female characters and a well written storyline. I can't wait to see what happens with the slow burning romance.
February 2, 2019
Kind of like anime in space
The story is a good opening to the series. The characters are very Japanese, or at least how I picture them. The story is stoic and the main character seems almost like an android at times, but the imagery and world building is pleasurable.
The story is a good opening to the series. The characters are very Japanese, or at least how I picture them. The story is stoic and the main character seems almost like an android at times, but the imagery and world building is pleasurable.
March 16, 2018
Kindle Unlimited e-book
May 20, 2018
Very cool book with excellent world building. I had planned to just sort of see how this one hit me before moving on to another argues author, but I had to go get the next book right away.
May 4, 2021
Good book
This is a good science fiction book. I enjoyed listening to it and reading it. I think that people will enjoy listening to it or reading it to
This is a good science fiction book. I enjoyed listening to it and reading it. I think that people will enjoy listening to it or reading it to
June 27, 2021
Many planets
There was so much happening, with so many people and planets that it was a brain spin. There was a complexity to it all that was exciting. I was sorry to reach the end.
There was so much happening, with so many people and planets that it was a brain spin. There was a complexity to it all that was exciting. I was sorry to reach the end.
August 27, 2021
I enjoyed this book and it's main characters.
Interesting world and some real evil characters.
I will move on to the next book in the series someday soon
Interesting world and some real evil characters.
I will move on to the next book in the series someday soon
October 4, 2021
Great story
I was afraid when I read the summary before starting to read. False alarm, great story, grabbed my interest and I actually want to continue the series
I was afraid when I read the summary before starting to read. False alarm, great story, grabbed my interest and I actually want to continue the series
Currently reading
November 11, 2021Lizard: 4⋆.
Wombat: Pending⋆.
Overall: Pending⋆.
Wombat: Pending⋆.
Overall: Pending⋆.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews