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Fractured Stars #1
Fractured Stars
McCall Richter finds criminals, con men, and deadbeats better than anyone else in the empire. She’s proud of her success and that she owns her own spaceship, especially since she struggles to understand human motivations, can’t tell when people are lying to her, and is horrible at recognizing faces. Being autistic in the empire is frowned upon—and there’s a handy normalization surgery to correct it—but she’s managed to prove her worth and avoid irking the tyrannical regime. Except for one thing. Two years ago, she liberated the android, Scipio, from an imperial research facility where he was treated worse than a slave. He’s become her business partner and best friend, but if the empire finds out she has him, a “normalization” surgery will be the least of her worries. When her ship is confiscated by a cyborg law enforcer needing to transport prisoners, McCall knows she and Scipio are in trouble. Worse, the enforcer’s pilot is a former bounty hunter and business competitor she beat to the prize many times in the past. Soon, he’s snooping all over her ship and questioning her about her past. And there's something strange about him. He knows far more about what she’s thinking than any human should. It’ll only be a matter of time before he discovers her secret. And then what?
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2018
272 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Buroker
197 books6,236 followersI'm a full-time indie fantasy and science fiction author. When I'm not writing, I'm ferrying my dogs to hiking trails for adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
October 24, 2019
This was an entertaining story of a misfit girl and a lost boy and a giant dog wandering around the galaxy. A bit of a shaggy dog tale, but it kept my attention, and there were a few chuckles along the way. Not heavy scifi, and a PG-13 romance. Still fun, and I'll likely read the others in this series.
March 18, 2019
After seeing this one a blog and hearing good things about it I bought it. I first read the novella Junkyard and enjoyed that one so much I dived right into Fractured Stars afterwards. This has been a great introduction for me to Lindsya Buroker's work as I really enjoyed this book.
The story is told from dual point of view form dash and McCall their point of views. McCall is a skip tracer and just going about her normal day when she gets hailed by a ship from a law enforcer whose ship got damaged and they need hers to transport the prisoners. McCall has a liberated/ stolen android aboard her ship and she's afraid he will be discovered. Dash is undercover on that ship as a pilot for the law enforcer, but instead he works for the alliance and hopes to free the prisoners. He used to be a bounty hunter and McCall caught his targets before him a few times, so he is all too happy to find out what she's hiding to direct the law enforcer's attention to her instead of him.
McCall is such a likeable character. I really enjoyed reading about her and how she handled things in a smart way, she might not be as handy with people at times, but I think she handled herself just fine. Her autism adds an unique flavor to her personality and I thought it was interesting to see with which things she struggled, but mostly she just seemed like a human with some quirks. I also liked how much she cares about those she has grown close to like the android Scipio and her dog Junkyard.
I have to admit I hadn't expected the direction the story took, instead of a normal job like in the novella Junkyard, instead she lands in some trouble in this book. Even tough it wasn't what I had expected and at first I wasn't sure what to think of the direction the story took, I ended up enjoying it. The epilogue is well done and I am curious to see what is next for McCall and the rest of the characters.
I am a bit sad we don't see as much of Scipio and Junkyard in this book due to circumstances. I loved both in the novella and felt that the novella almost gave me a better feel for both than this book did and I am glad I read that first as I liked having that bit of background.
There is a bit of a slow build romance, which was pretty well done. I liked the slow build and how they get to know each other better, it felt very natural how things developed. They don't get off on the right foot, but I liked how they worked things out. I felt the pace of the romance worked for this story and how it stayed a side line plot. I liked seeing the romance develop. There were multiple scenes were it was clear they cared for each other with some thoughtful moments and some fun banter.
Besides a good story and a great slow build romance, there is some action as well. And a bit about getting to know the world with the empire and the alliance. I liked getting to know a bit about the world, it was enough to get a feel for it, but I also wouldn't minded a bit more. I am happy to see it will be a series as I am looking forward to more adventures with these characters!
To summarize: I enjoyed this well paced science fiction novel with a well done slow burn romance. I liked the writing style of the author and this was a great read. McCall made for a great main character and her autism gave her an unique touch and felt realistically done. I liked the side characters, although i am a bit sad we don't see more of Scipio and Junkyard in this book. The romance was a well done slow burn and it was clear these two cared for each other, there are some great scenes with these two and some fun banter. The world building was done well too, with little pieces here and there to give a feel for the world. I enjoyed this book and plan to check out more books by this author.
The story is told from dual point of view form dash and McCall their point of views. McCall is a skip tracer and just going about her normal day when she gets hailed by a ship from a law enforcer whose ship got damaged and they need hers to transport the prisoners. McCall has a liberated/ stolen android aboard her ship and she's afraid he will be discovered. Dash is undercover on that ship as a pilot for the law enforcer, but instead he works for the alliance and hopes to free the prisoners. He used to be a bounty hunter and McCall caught his targets before him a few times, so he is all too happy to find out what she's hiding to direct the law enforcer's attention to her instead of him.
McCall is such a likeable character. I really enjoyed reading about her and how she handled things in a smart way, she might not be as handy with people at times, but I think she handled herself just fine. Her autism adds an unique flavor to her personality and I thought it was interesting to see with which things she struggled, but mostly she just seemed like a human with some quirks. I also liked how much she cares about those she has grown close to like the android Scipio and her dog Junkyard.
I have to admit I hadn't expected the direction the story took, instead of a normal job like in the novella Junkyard, instead she lands in some trouble in this book. Even tough it wasn't what I had expected and at first I wasn't sure what to think of the direction the story took, I ended up enjoying it. The epilogue is well done and I am curious to see what is next for McCall and the rest of the characters.
I am a bit sad we don't see as much of Scipio and Junkyard in this book due to circumstances. I loved both in the novella and felt that the novella almost gave me a better feel for both than this book did and I am glad I read that first as I liked having that bit of background.
There is a bit of a slow build romance, which was pretty well done. I liked the slow build and how they get to know each other better, it felt very natural how things developed. They don't get off on the right foot, but I liked how they worked things out. I felt the pace of the romance worked for this story and how it stayed a side line plot. I liked seeing the romance develop. There were multiple scenes were it was clear they cared for each other with some thoughtful moments and some fun banter.
Besides a good story and a great slow build romance, there is some action as well. And a bit about getting to know the world with the empire and the alliance. I liked getting to know a bit about the world, it was enough to get a feel for it, but I also wouldn't minded a bit more. I am happy to see it will be a series as I am looking forward to more adventures with these characters!
To summarize: I enjoyed this well paced science fiction novel with a well done slow burn romance. I liked the writing style of the author and this was a great read. McCall made for a great main character and her autism gave her an unique touch and felt realistically done. I liked the side characters, although i am a bit sad we don't see more of Scipio and Junkyard in this book. The romance was a well done slow burn and it was clear these two cared for each other, there are some great scenes with these two and some fun banter. The world building was done well too, with little pieces here and there to give a feel for the world. I enjoyed this book and plan to check out more books by this author.
April 23, 2025
Science-fiction, action-adventure, military romance
Fractured Stars features two admirable leads caught in the crosshairs of an evil empire’s grip: a solitary bounty hunter with a strong moral code, and a telepathic undercover agent hiding in plain sight.
McCall Richter, a skip tracer in her late thirties, is neurodivergent and emotionally guarded but highly skilled, so much so that she owns her own ship and operates independently. Her closest companion is Scipio, an android she rescued from a government facility. Scipio, introduced in the prequel novella, Junkyard, has evolved into a semi-sentient being and business partner, though he and McCall's quirky dog, Junkyard, play only a minor role in this full-length novel.
The hero, Dash, is also in his late thirties and secretly telepathic. He’s posing as a deputy under Sheriff Axton, a decommissioned military cyborg, whose sadistic rule in the border zones keeps everyone terrified, including McCall, whose ship he commandeers after his is damaged. McCall and Dash's first meeting is anything but friendly, but as their forced alliance evolves, so does a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance built on mutual respect, shared values, and frequent, high-voltage situations in which they save each other's life.
This book shines in its character work. McCall and Dash are honorable, competent, and easy to root for. However, the action-adventure plot left me emotionally drained. The pacing never lets up. Danger follows danger with no meaningful reprieve, amidst the looming threat of a hopeless galactic war. Though the MCs develop deep feelings for one another, the ending does not offer a true HEA, and the resistance storyline feels grim and unwinnable.
Fans of Star Wars-style space opera may find this exhilarating. I found it bleak. I prefer stories in which the romantic protagonists can build alliances and gain enough strength to realistically challenge overwhelming odds. However, romance fans looking for intelligent MCs, clever repartee, and SF world-building grounded in ethical dilemmas may appreciate this novel.
Fractured Stars features two admirable leads caught in the crosshairs of an evil empire’s grip: a solitary bounty hunter with a strong moral code, and a telepathic undercover agent hiding in plain sight.
McCall Richter, a skip tracer in her late thirties, is neurodivergent and emotionally guarded but highly skilled, so much so that she owns her own ship and operates independently. Her closest companion is Scipio, an android she rescued from a government facility. Scipio, introduced in the prequel novella, Junkyard, has evolved into a semi-sentient being and business partner, though he and McCall's quirky dog, Junkyard, play only a minor role in this full-length novel.
The hero, Dash, is also in his late thirties and secretly telepathic. He’s posing as a deputy under Sheriff Axton, a decommissioned military cyborg, whose sadistic rule in the border zones keeps everyone terrified, including McCall, whose ship he commandeers after his is damaged. McCall and Dash's first meeting is anything but friendly, but as their forced alliance evolves, so does a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance built on mutual respect, shared values, and frequent, high-voltage situations in which they save each other's life.
This book shines in its character work. McCall and Dash are honorable, competent, and easy to root for. However, the action-adventure plot left me emotionally drained. The pacing never lets up. Danger follows danger with no meaningful reprieve, amidst the looming threat of a hopeless galactic war. Though the MCs develop deep feelings for one another, the ending does not offer a true HEA, and the resistance storyline feels grim and unwinnable.
Fans of Star Wars-style space opera may find this exhilarating. I found it bleak. I prefer stories in which the romantic protagonists can build alliances and gain enough strength to realistically challenge overwhelming odds. However, romance fans looking for intelligent MCs, clever repartee, and SF world-building grounded in ethical dilemmas may appreciate this novel.
October 18, 2018
Okay. Where to start with this. Set in the Fallen Empire universe, but I'm pretty sure it works as a standalone although you'll probably understand the politics behind what's happening a little better if you've read that series. I don't think it's necessary, but it will give you a little insight into the Cyborg Corps and the Alliance and why there are people willing to fight against the Empire despite the overwhelming odds against them.
But this is ultimately McCall's story. Well, McCall's and Dash's. She's a law-abiding (for the most part) citizen trying to keep her nose clean and fly under the radar. He's...something else. And in trying to keep *his* nose clean (or at least look like he's keeping his nose clean), Dash pus McCall into the cross-hairs of a rather volatile cyborg.
It turns out not all cyborgs are as calm, cool, and collected as those we've met in the FE series.
But I digress. The cyborg isn't the focus here. A former bounty hunter and the captain who has a few problems relating to most everyone else are. Dash and McCall DO NOT hit it off when they first meet. It isn't until they're thrown into a highly charged, dangerous situation and have to rely on one another that things begin to change.
They're a good team, btw. I like them together.
A touch of danger. A few questionable choices that turn out for the best. A grudging respect that urns into something more. I LIKE.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
But this is ultimately McCall's story. Well, McCall's and Dash's. She's a law-abiding (for the most part) citizen trying to keep her nose clean and fly under the radar. He's...something else. And in trying to keep *his* nose clean (or at least look like he's keeping his nose clean), Dash pus McCall into the cross-hairs of a rather volatile cyborg.
It turns out not all cyborgs are as calm, cool, and collected as those we've met in the FE series.
But I digress. The cyborg isn't the focus here. A former bounty hunter and the captain who has a few problems relating to most everyone else are. Dash and McCall DO NOT hit it off when they first meet. It isn't until they're thrown into a highly charged, dangerous situation and have to rely on one another that things begin to change.
They're a good team, btw. I like them together.
A touch of danger. A few questionable choices that turn out for the best. A grudging respect that urns into something more. I LIKE.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
October 4, 2023
This was fine, I suppose. I'm really torn. I've liked everything I've read by Buroker a lot more than I liked this. On paper, I should have loved this. Late 30s/early 40s, autistic hero and heroine in space... heck yeah. Fashionista android...I'm on board. Rescue dog...yes! I should have loved this. Instead, it kind of fizzled for me. I didn't hate it. I don't think it was bad. But it didn't light me up as I expected, either.
Part of the reason is that I bought and read this after reading the prequel short story Junkyard, where the heroine and her trusty android solve a mystery and save a pooch. I wanted more of the heroine/android (and dog) antics. Instead, the android and dog are basically not in the book. They make cameos, but that is all. So, the very thing I read the book for wasn't there. Instead, we were given a pretty bland escape-the-prison-planet plot. Meh.
The writing and editing are perfectly readable. I just didn't love it.
Part of the reason is that I bought and read this after reading the prequel short story Junkyard, where the heroine and her trusty android solve a mystery and save a pooch. I wanted more of the heroine/android (and dog) antics. Instead, the android and dog are basically not in the book. They make cameos, but that is all. So, the very thing I read the book for wasn't there. Instead, we were given a pretty bland escape-the-prison-planet plot. Meh.
The writing and editing are perfectly readable. I just didn't love it.
December 11, 2018
Standalone story from the Fallen Empire World before the Alliance fight the Empire.
Successful skip tracer McCall’s ship gets sequestered from an Imperial Sheriff who is bringing prisoners to Frost Moon 3. His pilot Dash is an undercover agent for the Alliance, and a (if not weak) Starseer to boot. When the brutal sheriff leaves McCall and Dash in the prison mines of the moon, they plan an outbreak and getting her ship back.
This is a typical Lindsay Buroker fast paced and action packed story with interesting characters … but. I think what I loved about the Fallen Empire as well as Emperor's Edge were the not only extremely well developed lively side characters, but also the strong main protagonists. This story fell short of both. The sidekicks were forgettable, and both protagonists had too many insecurities and self-doubts to deal with to really emphasize with them.
That this is nevertheless a 4 star read for me is thanks to Lindsay’s outstanding talent to keep a story twisted and going, nothing ever works out as the reader would expect, and yet it keeps flowing plausible.
Successful skip tracer McCall’s ship gets sequestered from an Imperial Sheriff who is bringing prisoners to Frost Moon 3. His pilot Dash is an undercover agent for the Alliance, and a (if not weak) Starseer to boot. When the brutal sheriff leaves McCall and Dash in the prison mines of the moon, they plan an outbreak and getting her ship back.
This is a typical Lindsay Buroker fast paced and action packed story with interesting characters … but. I think what I loved about the Fallen Empire as well as Emperor's Edge were the not only extremely well developed lively side characters, but also the strong main protagonists. This story fell short of both. The sidekicks were forgettable, and both protagonists had too many insecurities and self-doubts to deal with to really emphasize with them.
That this is nevertheless a 4 star read for me is thanks to Lindsay’s outstanding talent to keep a story twisted and going, nothing ever works out as the reader would expect, and yet it keeps flowing plausible.
July 27, 2019
3.5
another fun series in the Fallen Empire universe!
another fun series in the Fallen Empire universe!
October 5, 2018
This author is becoming one of my go-to authors if I want something fun and action filled. I am not a hard core fantasy or sci-fi fan so no idea if these books would appeal to those types. I do enjoy some action, silly (in a good way) dialogue and light fantasy/sci-fi elements with also some very light romance. In general this is a good author for escapist reading.
October 1, 2018
I loved her heroine, liked the hero, got a bit bogged down in the plot.
December 19, 2018
A great, character driven science fiction!
I love McCall and how quirky and fun she is! Dash is great too, but for me, McCall is a unique character. I especially loved her in the epilogue. All the feels! 💚
I love McCall and how quirky and fun she is! Dash is great too, but for me, McCall is a unique character. I especially loved her in the epilogue. All the feels! 💚
September 29, 2018
Dash and McCall are AWESOME together! Wonderful characters and dialogue, great, twisty plot and fabulous writing. I loved this book!
December 24, 2018
What can I say, Lindsay is one of the most prolific and consistent authors I read. Another great book in another great series!
September 21, 2023
I’m a fan of any character who collects needy animals (and/or androids) but I missed her interactions with them at the level the novela was. Even with this, I would enjoy reading the next step in her adventure.
September 28, 2018
If there were enough of them I’d happily read Lindsay Buroker’s books 24x7. Sadly there aren’t enough of them. It’s not her fault. She’s highly prolific across several genres (sci-fi, steam punk, fantasy, and even sci-fi romance under a pen name), it’s just that (darn it) she must occasionally take time out for minor things like sleeping and eating, spending time with family and friends. There’s simply no way humanly possible for her to match my craving for her books. That’s why a new novel, like Fractured Stars, is so very much welcome. No surprise too that its so very much wonderful. The lead here, McCall Richter, is a wonderfully crafted character. A spaceship owning bounty hunter with autism in a star empire that “frowns on” anyone on the autistic spectrum and “encourages” handy-dandy “normalization surgery”. She’s got no particular desire for such “encouragement” to be effective. If only she hadn’t put herself so very much in front of various target sites. I’m going to stop right there as the publisher’s blurb does a good job of explaining all of this without spoiling anything. I will say that this plot is fantastic. That I’m overjoyed to be back in a universe with Starseers (I love Starseers), an alliance against an empire, and wonderful characters like Dash (more on him below) and Scipio, McCall’s android business partner who she, umm, “liberated” from an imperial research facility. Most of all I’m happy because I’m sensing that this will be a new series (yaay!) and one that will not only be filled with excitement and wild adventure but also have a subplot slow burn romance (hello again Dash, you yumminess, you’re just who McCall needs ... trust me, and don’t worry as I won’t reveal your secret in this review even if it is a fantastic doozy of one) with wonderfully built characters and dialogue that are the hallmarks of this masterful writer. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.
October 8, 2018
9/10: Fantastic, left me wanting more.
First off: Lindsay, please write more!
Secondly, this was great! I loved the familiar Fallen Empire world, but seen through different eyes. I adored McCall’s eccentricities, Dash’s humour, and the differing prejudices from previous books. I’d love to see more of Scipio.
I enjoy Lindsay’s sci-fi books immensely and hope she considers writing on in this series. This was a highly enjoyable read.
First off: Lindsay, please write more!
Secondly, this was great! I loved the familiar Fallen Empire world, but seen through different eyes. I adored McCall’s eccentricities, Dash’s humour, and the differing prejudices from previous books. I’d love to see more of Scipio.
I enjoy Lindsay’s sci-fi books immensely and hope she considers writing on in this series. This was a highly enjoyable read.
November 7, 2018
Politics, Romance, and Autism...how timely
I have enjoyed everything I've read by this author, but I especially liked this book because it resonated with regards to the current political climate and it's protagonist has autism. I love how she's found ways to make the most of her unique mind and make meaninful connections with others.
I have enjoyed everything I've read by this author, but I especially liked this book because it resonated with regards to the current political climate and it's protagonist has autism. I love how she's found ways to make the most of her unique mind and make meaninful connections with others.
December 24, 2018
Not her best work, a bit rambling and superficial, needed more depth in the characters and more tension in the action.
January 11, 2019
I really liked the story and characters. There was a bit too much repetitive internal dialogue.
October 4, 2018
This is a charming space adventure, featuring a heroine on the autistic spectrum who's used to not understanding her own species, and a hero who's accustomed to hiding his widely-feared telepathic abilities despite their being considered worthlessly minor by the other Starseers he was raised among. It takes place in the author's Fallen Empire universe, but earlier in time, while the rebellious Alliance is still in the process of ramping up to actual military action against the Empire.
McCall Richter and her runaway (or as law enforcement would have it, stolen) android business partner Scipio have a great dynamic, where she prefers to leave as much as possible of the contact with actual human beings up to him. McCall is content flying around in her purple spaceship, with only the eccentrically fashionable and fastidious Scipio and another adopted stray, a big mutt called Junkyard, for companionship. She gets paid for using her research and data-analysis abilities to track down fugitives, then lets others take care of the actual captures. But action, danger, and political idealists find her whether she wants them to or not.
One-time bounty hunter turned Law-Enforcer Deputy Arjun "Dash" Deshmukh is secretly an undercover agent of the Alliance. In his attempts to avoid suspicion from his hostile superior, the unstable ex-imperial cyborg Sheriff Axton, Dash ends up discovering and revealing McCall and Scipio's secret, realizing too late that former rival McCall is not merely involved in some crooked and selfish scheme as he would have preferred to believe.
I don't want to reveal too much more of the plot, since that's where the blurb's teasers end, but the story involves a conflict of agendas between a group of Alliance prisoners and McCall's determination to recover her confiscated ship and find out what's become of her friends; firefights and escapes where the protagonists are sometimes hampered by their reluctance to use lethal force; and even a colony of reclusive retired cyborgs. McCall and Dash turn out to build a surprising acceptance of each other's quirks as they work together. The narrative is told with parts from both their perspectives.
This is not a sexy romance, especially since McCall is rarely welcoming of much physical contact and has little experience, much less enjoyment, of dating (and being a secret Starseer can give one a complicated romantic history, too, we learn), but it's sweet, funny, and hopeful, with an HFN ending.
In Ms. Buroker's Afterword, she says, "I intended this to be a single stand-alone novel, but I am a little intrigued by what McCall and Dash might do next." I do hope to see more, beyond the free online vacation-gone-wrong story Bearadise Lodge, which I enjoyed, and the how-McCall-met- Junkyard novella now in progress (link to part I).
(N.b., the other McCall prequel short, Here Be Dragons in the Bridge Across the Stars anthology, had kind of a downer ending, I'm afraid, unusual for a Lindsay Buroker story.)
McCall Richter and her runaway (or as law enforcement would have it, stolen) android business partner Scipio have a great dynamic, where she prefers to leave as much as possible of the contact with actual human beings up to him. McCall is content flying around in her purple spaceship, with only the eccentrically fashionable and fastidious Scipio and another adopted stray, a big mutt called Junkyard, for companionship. She gets paid for using her research and data-analysis abilities to track down fugitives, then lets others take care of the actual captures. But action, danger, and political idealists find her whether she wants them to or not.
One-time bounty hunter turned Law-Enforcer Deputy Arjun "Dash" Deshmukh is secretly an undercover agent of the Alliance. In his attempts to avoid suspicion from his hostile superior, the unstable ex-imperial cyborg Sheriff Axton, Dash ends up discovering and revealing McCall and Scipio's secret, realizing too late that former rival McCall is not merely involved in some crooked and selfish scheme as he would have preferred to believe.
I don't want to reveal too much more of the plot, since that's where the blurb's teasers end, but the story involves a conflict of agendas between a group of Alliance prisoners and McCall's determination to recover her confiscated ship and find out what's become of her friends; firefights and escapes where the protagonists are sometimes hampered by their reluctance to use lethal force; and even a colony of reclusive retired cyborgs. McCall and Dash turn out to build a surprising acceptance of each other's quirks as they work together. The narrative is told with parts from both their perspectives.
This is not a sexy romance, especially since McCall is rarely welcoming of much physical contact and has little experience, much less enjoyment, of dating (and being a secret Starseer can give one a complicated romantic history, too, we learn), but it's sweet, funny, and hopeful, with an HFN ending.
In Ms. Buroker's Afterword, she says, "I intended this to be a single stand-alone novel, but I am a little intrigued by what McCall and Dash might do next." I do hope to see more, beyond the free online vacation-gone-wrong story Bearadise Lodge, which I enjoyed, and the how-McCall-met- Junkyard novella now in progress (link to part I).
(N.b., the other McCall prequel short, Here Be Dragons in the Bridge Across the Stars anthology, had kind of a downer ending, I'm afraid, unusual for a Lindsay Buroker story.)
November 26, 2022
Buroker at her best
I discovered Ms. Buroker about one year ago and she has become one of my favorite writers. I love the quirky characters. Casmir from the Star Kingdom series is is one of my 3 top characters of all time. Since I've been reading for 57 years that is high regards. I read 50 books at a time and of those there is 4 or 5 books of hers in.that line up.
She is an immensely talented writer. I love the action and adventure of her books, but I love even more how she makes me laugh. Action can be done by just about any one. You have a plot and you just throw bodies, danger, and high stress situations at different stages in the plot. We'll that's apparently what a lot of writers believe, because I've read way too many books that feature that kind of story telling. Lindsey takes it a big step further by telling the story so well that it's more living than reading her books. Add being able to slip humor that makes me laugh out loud. Now that's a gift from a true storyteller.
McHall and Dash were perfect for each other. There story was a lot of fun to read. I'd love to see more stories of them. The hardest thing about a Buroker series is coming to the end of one.
I discovered Ms. Buroker about one year ago and she has become one of my favorite writers. I love the quirky characters. Casmir from the Star Kingdom series is is one of my 3 top characters of all time. Since I've been reading for 57 years that is high regards. I read 50 books at a time and of those there is 4 or 5 books of hers in.that line up.
She is an immensely talented writer. I love the action and adventure of her books, but I love even more how she makes me laugh. Action can be done by just about any one. You have a plot and you just throw bodies, danger, and high stress situations at different stages in the plot. We'll that's apparently what a lot of writers believe, because I've read way too many books that feature that kind of story telling. Lindsey takes it a big step further by telling the story so well that it's more living than reading her books. Add being able to slip humor that makes me laugh out loud. Now that's a gift from a true storyteller.
McHall and Dash were perfect for each other. There story was a lot of fun to read. I'd love to see more stories of them. The hardest thing about a Buroker series is coming to the end of one.
October 19, 2018
This book was awesome! I say that about most of her books, but they all deserve it....
One thing I loved most was how the heroine had her own mental issues (I loved the short story where she was introduced and we got a peek at her eccentricities) and how the hero took the time to work with them. There wasn't a magical fixing that I was afraid might happen in a small part of my brain. I mean like what if she had starseer genes that hadn't manifested and he does and voila! she isn't so unique anymore.
I love how we got to see how she collected strays, like androids, mutts, and alliance rebels.... I adored how they became her family and she was fixated on getting them back. Seeing how she dealt with her differences and utilized them to come so far and become so independant was admirable. I love seeing how people grasp their differences and make them work for them to excel in life. Reading how the hero took the time to pay attention to her and notice how she reacted to things and did the work to show he cared.... to me that is romantic not some of the other alpha/macho blahblah heros. That just reminded me how much I love her heros and heroines.... so different!
One thing I loved most was how the heroine had her own mental issues (I loved the short story where she was introduced and we got a peek at her eccentricities) and how the hero took the time to work with them. There wasn't a magical fixing that I was afraid might happen in a small part of my brain. I mean like what if she had starseer genes that hadn't manifested and he does and voila! she isn't so unique anymore.
I love how we got to see how she collected strays, like androids, mutts, and alliance rebels.... I adored how they became her family and she was fixated on getting them back. Seeing how she dealt with her differences and utilized them to come so far and become so independant was admirable. I love seeing how people grasp their differences and make them work for them to excel in life. Reading how the hero took the time to pay attention to her and notice how she reacted to things and did the work to show he cared.... to me that is romantic not some of the other alpha/macho blahblah heros. That just reminded me how much I love her heros and heroines.... so different!
October 7, 2018
I haven’t read a story by Lindsay Buroker that I haven’t enjoyed, so of course I was excited to read this new one set in the same universe as her Fallen Empire series, except it starts at the very beginning of the war between the Empire and the Alliance. The main character is McCall Richter, a skip tracer who finds criminals using her brain and computer skills, and has made a great living doing so until her ship is taken over by a cyborg law enforcer and his pilot, Dash. When Dash starts nosing around the ship to find something on McCall so his boss will not look at his activities too closely, he causes a problem that will affect McCall, her ship and all she holds dear . What follows is an exciting experience that will show McCall and Dash that when they work together, their individual quirks make them a great team at getting them out of trouble and into what they both want out of life. I love the humor that is always included in this author’s stories, and the quirky characters she comes up with are always a delight. I hope to see more adventures for McCall and Dash.
December 31, 2018
Fun adventure with androids,cyborgs and the like.
I enjoyed this tale set in the "Fallen empire" universe - before it had "fallen". It is basically a live story between the two main characters who are 'atypical' of the general populace shall we say - and all the more interesting for it.
I have recently discovered Lindsay Buroker's work in the form of the Fallen Empire series and an enjoying them so .much that I thought I would try Fractured Stars as an interlude before pressing on with the 4th instalment "Relic of Sorrows". I anticipate spending quite a lot of time with L.B.'s books in the near future. I hope a follow up to Fractured Stars is in the offing! As a guide for prospective readers, I have only really become a devotee of Sci Fi in the last couple of years. I have enjoyed the books of Evan Currie. Jamie McFarlane, Lois McMaster Bujold, Michael Man may and particularly the Honor Harrington books of David Weber so if I am a guide , readers of those authors should enjoy 'Fractured Stars'
I enjoyed this tale set in the "Fallen empire" universe - before it had "fallen". It is basically a live story between the two main characters who are 'atypical' of the general populace shall we say - and all the more interesting for it.
I have recently discovered Lindsay Buroker's work in the form of the Fallen Empire series and an enjoying them so .much that I thought I would try Fractured Stars as an interlude before pressing on with the 4th instalment "Relic of Sorrows". I anticipate spending quite a lot of time with L.B.'s books in the near future. I hope a follow up to Fractured Stars is in the offing! As a guide for prospective readers, I have only really become a devotee of Sci Fi in the last couple of years. I have enjoyed the books of Evan Currie. Jamie McFarlane, Lois McMaster Bujold, Michael Man may and particularly the Honor Harrington books of David Weber so if I am a guide , readers of those authors should enjoy 'Fractured Stars'
November 15, 2018
For whatever reason, I had a little trouble getting into Fractured Stars. However, once I did get into the story, I really enjoyed it. McCall is a bounty hunter with her own space ship in the Fallen Empire world while the Empire is still firmly in control. She travels with her oversized dog and her android business partner Scipio. Her ship is run down by a damaged law enforcement ship and she is consigned to take the cyborg sherif, his deputy, Dash (a very low-powered starseer) and some Alliance prisoners onto her ship for transport to a frozen prison. Dash is undercover for the Alliance and realizes that McCall is hiding something (she "liberated" Scipio from a slave-like situation) so he turns the sheriff's suspicions onto McCall and off of him. They're both found out and sent into the frozen prison along with the prisoners, and have to work together to escape. The book was a fun read with a sweet romance.
December 14, 2018
Skip tracer extraordinaire McCall Richter is generally a law-abiding citizen - except for that one time when she liberated an android named Scipio from a research facility where he was being mistreated. Now he's her friend and business partner, but if anyone finds out she has him, she'll be in a heap of trouble. The last thing she needs is therefore having her ship confiscated by a cyborg sheriff in need of a vessel to transport prisoners on. Even worse, his deputy and pilot is entirely too perceptive and soon sticks his nose into everything he shouldn't, with unintentionally unpleasant consequences for everyone involved.
Lindsay Buroker never disappoints, and this book was no exception. Set in one of my favourite fictional universes of her creation, the world of the Fallen Empire and Sky Full of Stars series, this is (so far) a standalone novel - but I very much hope it won't remain one.
Lindsay Buroker never disappoints, and this book was no exception. Set in one of my favourite fictional universes of her creation, the world of the Fallen Empire and Sky Full of Stars series, this is (so far) a standalone novel - but I very much hope it won't remain one.
October 11, 2018
I absolutely loved this story. I loved the humour, the adventure, the adversity and the ingenuity of both the author and her characters. The writing is first class, this story held my attention from start to finish, it was only arc commitments that meant I didn't read it in one go.
McCall was just perfect in her quirky and oddly imperfect way. I loved her, she wasn't a super strong bad-ass, instead she was a little weird and a lot awkward. Dash was just such a perfect partner for her and I loved this couple. In fact he may have just replaced a certain red armour wearing cyborg as my favourite Ms B hero.
You seriously need to read this (so far) stand alone novel, and L Buroker seriously needs to make it part of a series. These characters are too good not to be given some more adventures to enjoy.
McCall was just perfect in her quirky and oddly imperfect way. I loved her, she wasn't a super strong bad-ass, instead she was a little weird and a lot awkward. Dash was just such a perfect partner for her and I loved this couple. In fact he may have just replaced a certain red armour wearing cyborg as my favourite Ms B hero.
You seriously need to read this (so far) stand alone novel, and L Buroker seriously needs to make it part of a series. These characters are too good not to be given some more adventures to enjoy.
August 13, 2020
=*sigh* I had such high hopes. Especially after reading the novella 'Junkyard' beforehand and knowing the main characters from there. Yes, it is well written, yes the characters introduced in the novella are there, but boy what a boring and foreseeable plot. And damn if I wasn't reminded of the ice moon in ST: The undiscovered country and Hoth base from SW: TESB. Where is the diversity? Where are the ALIENS? Perhaps I should have taken a page out of the Starkiller books which also has a very one dimensional human-populated (not even Humanoid) universe. But I thought this might be different. But having an autistic heroine was thought to be diversity enough. Don't get me started on that 'reconditioning' therapy for 'different' ppl. Let some scientist screw around in your brain and be normal. Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2018
Good read with interesting characters. McCall is an interesting real character and explores the thoughts of people that conceptualize differently than others. This book never bored me, was tactful with the romance, all in all it did exactly what I want a book to do, take me away from my troubles to a different life and different problems
McCall is an interesting character and looks into the mind of one who thinks differently than some do. The evolving relationship between McCall and Dash revealed how people from many different backgrounds can end up thinking the same. I found this an enjoyable book that kept me coming back to read more
McCall is an interesting character and looks into the mind of one who thinks differently than some do. The evolving relationship between McCall and Dash revealed how people from many different backgrounds can end up thinking the same. I found this an enjoyable book that kept me coming back to read more
June 21, 2025
I’m really surprised how much I liked this novel. The lead female character is a somewhat autistic woman who has never been “normal” with her social interactions. She has had a few short relationships but doesn’t really enjoy being touched. Her best friends are an android and a huge dog. She’s a specialist in finding people and things that nobody else can. She is forced into helping a cyborg Sheriff and his pilot whose spaceship police cruiser was nearly destroyed by a small group fighting for freedom from the Empire. This begins a surprising journey into betrayal, friendship, action, adventure, and love.
September 22, 2025
This is a fun story and just gives some nice cozy vibes. The character interactions and dialogue are what I love from Buroker. I didn’t realize in Junkyard that it was in the same universe as Fallen Empire series but that was a fun tie in. I appreciate that while this is an overall cozy vibes there is still themes of government overreach and oppression. The ideas of mind control and reprogramming.
I felt more comfortable with the representation and the main character. There is also exploration of how perceptions and assumptions about people can be harmful and just negative. The way we as humans can be so uncomfortable with difference.
I felt more comfortable with the representation and the main character. There is also exploration of how perceptions and assumptions about people can be harmful and just negative. The way we as humans can be so uncomfortable with difference.
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