What do you think?
Rate this book
Stars Uncharted #2
Stars Beyond
The crew of Another Road are back, closer than ever to the biggest score in the galaxy. . . if they can stay a step ahead of the Justice Department agents and Company men tracking them.
An engineer with a fondness for weapons. A captain with no memory. An obsessive genemodder who loves to tinker. Meet the crew of Another Road.
Josune, Roystan, and Nika have escaped the company thugs trying to kill them. They've gotten a new spaceship to replace The Road (after it was blown up underneath them). And their new ship is armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons, courtesy of Josune. All that's left to do before they head out to find the legendary lode of transurides is to restore Roystan's memory. To do that, they need to collect the genemod machine Nika has ordered.
But first, they have to shake off the Justice Department agent and the Companies tracking them.
It should be easy. They've done it before. What could possibly go wrong?
An engineer with a fondness for weapons. A captain with no memory. An obsessive genemodder who loves to tinker. Meet the crew of Another Road.
Josune, Roystan, and Nika have escaped the company thugs trying to kill them. They've gotten a new spaceship to replace The Road (after it was blown up underneath them). And their new ship is armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons, courtesy of Josune. All that's left to do before they head out to find the legendary lode of transurides is to restore Roystan's memory. To do that, they need to collect the genemod machine Nika has ordered.
But first, they have to shake off the Justice Department agent and the Companies tracking them.
It should be easy. They've done it before. What could possibly go wrong?
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2020
93 people are currently reading
1636 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
January 1, 2021
Buddy Read with my lovely MacHalo’s 😘
That was so damn good!! I love these characters! And I love how it’s left open to more books.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
That was so damn good!! I love these characters! And I love how it’s left open to more books.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
January 13, 2021
👩🏽🚀 We Lurves Space and Stuff Buddy Read (WLSaSBR™) with the MacHalos and stuff 👩🏽🚀
Actual rating: 5.8648966589 stars. More or less
I may have started 2021 with two Super Extra Crappy Reads (SECR™), but at least I ended 2020 with one of the Mostest Scrumptioussest Books of the Year (MSBotY™), so go me and stuff!
This book. THIS BOOK! So much titillating deliciousness to be had! Lusciously Luscious Addition (LLA™) coming right up!
Harem-eligible cast of characters (the whole bunch of them, yes) + body modding + frying pans and meat cleavers and cigar-shaped stunners and jeweled cross-looking dart and fire-breathers, oh my + everyone's after everyone, yay! + kick ass chicks who rescue themselves and know how to escape + “It’s not a tank. It’s not a box. It’s a machine.” + my second favorite book chef ever (don't worry, Orro dear, outranked thou shalt never be) + corporate scumbags everywhere + ultraviolet/infrared vision (definitely adding this to my 2021 Christmas list) + corrupt as fish slimeballs galore + green sticks on legs with 4 eyes and multiple limbs (I am SO in 💕lurve💕) + plagues and cures and stuff + true naivety vs plain stupidity *waves at Alistair + “operation pest control” + changing direction without turning (handy that) + fellow abandoneds + the undisputed charm of suicide trips + balance-challenging bows + small, furred creatures that can strip the flesh off a human in under five minutes (*must* get a few pack of these for my murderous zoo) + “We’re not space debris yet, Executive.” =
And also this:
And also also this:
Yes, I have avery moderate Soul Train obsession, so what?
P.S. I refuse to believe there will be no more books in this series. Actually there BETTER be more, or else...
· Book 1: Stars Uncharted ★★★★
Actual rating: 5.8648966589 stars. More or less
I may have started 2021 with two Super Extra Crappy Reads (SECR™), but at least I ended 2020 with one of the Mostest Scrumptioussest Books of the Year (MSBotY™), so go me and stuff!
This book. THIS BOOK! So much titillating deliciousness to be had! Lusciously Luscious Addition (LLA™) coming right up!
Harem-eligible cast of characters (the whole bunch of them, yes) + body modding + frying pans and meat cleavers and cigar-shaped stunners and jeweled cross-looking dart and fire-breathers, oh my + everyone's after everyone, yay! + kick ass chicks who rescue themselves and know how to escape + “It’s not a tank. It’s not a box. It’s a machine.” + my second favorite book chef ever (don't worry, Orro dear, outranked thou shalt never be) + corporate scumbags everywhere + ultraviolet/infrared vision (definitely adding this to my 2021 Christmas list) + corrupt as fish slimeballs galore + green sticks on legs with 4 eyes and multiple limbs (I am SO in 💕lurve💕) + plagues and cures and stuff + true naivety vs plain stupidity *waves at Alistair + “operation pest control” + changing direction without turning (handy that) + fellow abandoneds + the undisputed charm of suicide trips + balance-challenging bows + small, furred creatures that can strip the flesh off a human in under five minutes (*must* get a few pack of these for my murderous zoo) + “We’re not space debris yet, Executive.” =
And also this:
And also also this:
Yes, I have a
P.S. I refuse to believe there will be no more books in this series. Actually there BETTER be more, or else...
· Book 1: Stars Uncharted ★★★★
March 1, 2020
Continuing the story of Nika Rik Terri, a legendary body-modder, her apprentice Bertram Snowshoe and the other members of the crew of Another Road including Josune Arriola (a main character in the previous book, but mostly a side character in this one). Human-settled space is a corporate plutocracy where the Justice department is completely corrupt and indentured servitude is essentially legal. In this edition we get another perspective, that of former Justice department agent Alistair Laughton who has experience in the region of space that Roy Goberling found his legendary haul of trans-uranics.
Like the first book, this is action-packed and fast-moving. It does hit the ground very fast with no real recap of the previous book, including a weird feeling that we're missing Alistair Laughton's backstory (we're not, he's new in this book). It's also a potential conclusion to this story. which was a little surprising, although there's room for a third book in the series, particularly with the revelation of the aliens presented here.
Not my favourite from these authors, but still pretty good.
Like the first book, this is action-packed and fast-moving. It does hit the ground very fast with no real recap of the previous book, including a weird feeling that we're missing Alistair Laughton's backstory (we're not, he's new in this book). It's also a potential conclusion to this story. which was a little surprising, although there's room for a third book in the series, particularly with the revelation of the aliens presented here.
Not my favourite from these authors, but still pretty good.
December 3, 2019
Stars Beyond is the sequel to Stars Uncharted, a so-called space opera, which means a story about people takes place on spaceships. Stars Beyond is at its best when it delves into action sequences be they space battles or stealth sneak attacks.
One of the central parts to the Stars universe are "body modders," a term not fully explained, but includes all types of body modification from healing to facechanging. A great body modder can alter a subject so that the subject appears to be a different person much like the face dancers in Frank Herbert's Dune world. Given how central modders are to the story, it would've been nice to learn more about how society is effected by modders and ever changing identities.
One of the central parts to the Stars universe are "body modders," a term not fully explained, but includes all types of body modification from healing to facechanging. A great body modder can alter a subject so that the subject appears to be a different person much like the face dancers in Frank Herbert's Dune world. Given how central modders are to the story, it would've been nice to learn more about how society is effected by modders and ever changing identities.
February 24, 2020
This was a fun sequel. S.K. Dunstall are auto-read authors for me after I fell in love with their “Linesman” series.
Here, the crew has a new ship, which Josune has bristling with weapons, because, well, it’s Josune. And Roystan’s health is degrading, so Nika Rik Teri, body modder extraordinaire, is on the hunt for a top-of-the-line modding machine to help him. And to get it, she’s got to stay under the radar of a, let’s just tell it like it is, totally evil corporate head who will go through anyone and anything to capture her. And Nika’s apprentice is trying to stay hidden from his former General. And, a Justice department operative is on the hunt for Nika for actually not nefarious reasons, but what these are are slowly teased out over several chapters.
There is a lot of running around and hiding in this book, and Josune and Nika continue to be my favourites. The action’s fast, and there are a lot of parties aiming for each other, keeping the tension high. Dunstall, while wrapping up a number of story threads, leaves somewhat open, leaving me hoping for a return to this universe.
Here, the crew has a new ship, which Josune has bristling with weapons, because, well, it’s Josune. And Roystan’s health is degrading, so Nika Rik Teri, body modder extraordinaire, is on the hunt for a top-of-the-line modding machine to help him. And to get it, she’s got to stay under the radar of a, let’s just tell it like it is, totally evil corporate head who will go through anyone and anything to capture her. And Nika’s apprentice is trying to stay hidden from his former General. And, a Justice department operative is on the hunt for Nika for actually not nefarious reasons, but what these are are slowly teased out over several chapters.
There is a lot of running around and hiding in this book, and Josune and Nika continue to be my favourites. The action’s fast, and there are a lot of parties aiming for each other, keeping the tension high. Dunstall, while wrapping up a number of story threads, leaves somewhat open, leaving me hoping for a return to this universe.
February 22, 2020
I really liked the characters in this book, both old and new. I liked the story but didn’t love it and know these authors are capable of more. I thought it was too fraught with crises and not enough plot. I wanted more ‘story’ and think book 2 in a series should deliver it, not more of the same from book 1.
February 4, 2020
An engineer with a fondness for weapons. A captain with no memory. An obsessive genemodder who loves to tinker. Meet the crew of Another Road.
Josune, Roystan, and Nika have escaped the company thugs trying to kill them. They've gotten a new spaceship to replace The Road (after it was blown up underneath them). And their new ship is armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons, courtesy of Josune. All that's left to do before they head out to find the legendary lode of transurides is to restore Roystan's memory. To do that, they need to collect the genemod machine Nika has ordered.
But first, they have to shake off the Justice Department agent and the Companies tracking them.
It should be easy. They've done it before. What could possibly go wrong?
This was a great sequel to Stars Uncharted. I enjoyed visiting these characters again, and going on another adventure with them. There were a lot of things wrapped up here, but not everything. There is definitely more story for future books. The world is very interesting and I really enjoyed the backstory about the Ort. I'm looking forward to reading more. Fingers crossed it doesn't take forever for the third book to get published.
Josune, Roystan, and Nika have escaped the company thugs trying to kill them. They've gotten a new spaceship to replace The Road (after it was blown up underneath them). And their new ship is armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons, courtesy of Josune. All that's left to do before they head out to find the legendary lode of transurides is to restore Roystan's memory. To do that, they need to collect the genemod machine Nika has ordered.
But first, they have to shake off the Justice Department agent and the Companies tracking them.
It should be easy. They've done it before. What could possibly go wrong?
This was a great sequel to Stars Uncharted. I enjoyed visiting these characters again, and going on another adventure with them. There were a lot of things wrapped up here, but not everything. There is definitely more story for future books. The world is very interesting and I really enjoyed the backstory about the Ort. I'm looking forward to reading more. Fingers crossed it doesn't take forever for the third book to get published.
January 1, 2021
MacHalo Buddy Read
What a crazy, fun ride this was! The action was strong with this one. This was possibly slightly better than the first one. I was a bit disappointed in the atmosphere in the end. A large portion of the story was strung tight, and then in the end it felt like a balloon deflating. I know that's how endings generally go. The dust settles and it's a HEA. I was hoping for something like
February 4, 2020
3.5 stars
November 4, 2020
Turns out I remembered almost nothing of
Stars Uncharted
, the first book in this series (duology?). As I began Stars Beyond, very little of the overall story came back to me. I contemplated re-reading Stars Unchartd, but by that point I was 50 pages in and felt committed. Fortunately, as I forged onwards, the plot of this volume cohered into something pretty easy to follow. Or should I say … plots? Because, upon re-reading my review of the first book, it turns out my criticisms apply largely to this sequel: too many characters competing for too many goals.
Stars Beyond picks up where the first book left off. Captain Roystan and his small but plucky crew are very close to unlocking the location of a treasure trove of transurides, rare elements much coveted across the galaxy. But they have enemies on their trail: corrupt agents of the Justice Department, a company executive who is unhappy his pet assassin botched the job, and people who want to talk to Nika Rik Terri, the hotshot body modder who has found herself pat of Roystan’s crew. From pretty much page one, everyone is up to something, in trouble, and moving. I will say this for S.K. Dunstall: they know how to keep the book going at a nice pace!
Epic action sequences aside, time and again I came back to this problem: Stars Uncharted has no clear protagonist. Everyone wants something a little different, and while some people could be natural allies, the book flits between various groups such that I can’t tell exactly whom I should care about most. Alistair and Cam? Nika and Snow? Josune or Roystan? (Certainly not Wickmore, of course!) This is not Game of Thrones where we aren’t supposed to be cheering for any character, really. But is it possible for me to root for them all?
Which brings me to my second issue: the ending feels very contrived. I’m not going to spoil it. I just want to say that everything comes together in such a nice, fitted way. Each of the candidates for protagonists mentioned above gets, if not exactly what they want, some kind of satisfaction. This is … boring. Dunstall throw numerous obstacles in the way of the main characters throughout the book—oh, we took Roystan out of the machine too early; oh, we don’t have the right genemod machine; oh, I can’t track down Nika Rik Teri—and so on. Yet these obstacles are small potatoes compared to the larger plot, which decides to resolve itself without much strenuous participation from any of the potential protagonists, it seems.
At least with the first book, I had my criticisms but I could genuinely say I liked it. This book bored me more than I want to admit, given how much I know I enjoyed Dunstall’s first science fiction series. I wish I could praise this series equally as much. But the confoundingly boring cast of characters combined with the lack of support for the supposed high stakes of the plot just leaves me shaking my head.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
Stars Beyond picks up where the first book left off. Captain Roystan and his small but plucky crew are very close to unlocking the location of a treasure trove of transurides, rare elements much coveted across the galaxy. But they have enemies on their trail: corrupt agents of the Justice Department, a company executive who is unhappy his pet assassin botched the job, and people who want to talk to Nika Rik Terri, the hotshot body modder who has found herself pat of Roystan’s crew. From pretty much page one, everyone is up to something, in trouble, and moving. I will say this for S.K. Dunstall: they know how to keep the book going at a nice pace!
Epic action sequences aside, time and again I came back to this problem: Stars Uncharted has no clear protagonist. Everyone wants something a little different, and while some people could be natural allies, the book flits between various groups such that I can’t tell exactly whom I should care about most. Alistair and Cam? Nika and Snow? Josune or Roystan? (Certainly not Wickmore, of course!) This is not Game of Thrones where we aren’t supposed to be cheering for any character, really. But is it possible for me to root for them all?
Which brings me to my second issue: the ending feels very contrived. I’m not going to spoil it. I just want to say that everything comes together in such a nice, fitted way. Each of the candidates for protagonists mentioned above gets, if not exactly what they want, some kind of satisfaction. This is … boring. Dunstall throw numerous obstacles in the way of the main characters throughout the book—oh, we took Roystan out of the machine too early; oh, we don’t have the right genemod machine; oh, I can’t track down Nika Rik Teri—and so on. Yet these obstacles are small potatoes compared to the larger plot, which decides to resolve itself without much strenuous participation from any of the potential protagonists, it seems.
At least with the first book, I had my criticisms but I could genuinely say I liked it. This book bored me more than I want to admit, given how much I know I enjoyed Dunstall’s first science fiction series. I wish I could praise this series equally as much. But the confoundingly boring cast of characters combined with the lack of support for the supposed high stakes of the plot just leaves me shaking my head.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
February 17, 2020
Good sequel! I enjoyed it! It picks up with the crew on the run from the Justice Dept and Wickmore!
April 7, 2020
3.5
Will review at www.fantasyliterature.com.
Will review at www.fantasyliterature.com.
January 22, 2020
If you like your fiction to be character-driven, you have come to the right place. Stars Beyond is full of great characters that, individually have potentially great stories. Together, the intermeshed greatness is vivid and glowing. Even the chapters are named after the character who’s point of view is exposed in the chapter. So to review this book, I will review a few characters. Warning, there may be spoilers if you have not read Stars Uncharted.
Hammond Roystan – the quiet hero with the mysterious forgotten past. Despite, the fact that he never even gets his own chapter, Hammond is critical to the story, more than any other character. You have read Stars Uncharted, you get the idea. But keep paying attention to Roystan.
Alistair Laughton – is the intriguing new character. Asked to take leave from the Justice Department, he is back again – at their request. But while he was on leave, his adventures were most intersting….
Nika Rik Terri – the body modder. A really good, in demand body modder. That is until someone tried to frame her for murder and kill her. Somehow she ended up with Roystan and his ragtag crew. And for some reason, Laughton is looking for her. These characters are so interconnected it must be fate that links them. Or maybe Roystan. See there he is again.
Bertram Snowshoe – well if it weren’t for Snow, we would not get to hang out with the evil mercenary Captain Oliver Norris. And he is. Evil. Nasty. Norris, not Snow. Snow is the modder apprentice, but manages to be a pretty good gunner too. Snow, like most of the ragtag crew, has many talents.
What is it about the term ragtag that automatically gets my attention?
Jacques Saloman – chef and cargo master. Mostly chef. You gotta love a man who thinks food, good food, is the solution for everything. And on Another Road, it pretty much is.
Leonard Wickmore – bad guy. Wickmore got the first chapter in Stars Beyond, where we learn he is after Rik Terri. He is a thoroughly despicable character that did not deserve to live past book one. I prefer my villains to evolve and grow just as much as the protagonists and if not, they need to be eliminated….somehow. But Dunstall thought he was needed in this story. Okay, if you need someone to boo and hiss at, Wickmore is your man.
The Ort. First contact species with a need for a special body modder. Everybody seems to want Rik Terri.
The Vortex. While not technically a character, the spaceship-ripping Vortex is an astronomical phenomenon that happens to be very close to the center of all that is important. Beware the Vortex. Roystan does.
These motley characters are combined with a story line that gallivants enough to throw in a few surprises. (Surprises are good.) Beware the Vortex cannot be said enough.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Hammond Roystan – the quiet hero with the mysterious forgotten past. Despite, the fact that he never even gets his own chapter, Hammond is critical to the story, more than any other character. You have read Stars Uncharted, you get the idea. But keep paying attention to Roystan.
Alistair Laughton – is the intriguing new character. Asked to take leave from the Justice Department, he is back again – at their request. But while he was on leave, his adventures were most intersting….
Nika Rik Terri – the body modder. A really good, in demand body modder. That is until someone tried to frame her for murder and kill her. Somehow she ended up with Roystan and his ragtag crew. And for some reason, Laughton is looking for her. These characters are so interconnected it must be fate that links them. Or maybe Roystan. See there he is again.
Bertram Snowshoe – well if it weren’t for Snow, we would not get to hang out with the evil mercenary Captain Oliver Norris. And he is. Evil. Nasty. Norris, not Snow. Snow is the modder apprentice, but manages to be a pretty good gunner too. Snow, like most of the ragtag crew, has many talents.
What is it about the term ragtag that automatically gets my attention?
Jacques Saloman – chef and cargo master. Mostly chef. You gotta love a man who thinks food, good food, is the solution for everything. And on Another Road, it pretty much is.
Leonard Wickmore – bad guy. Wickmore got the first chapter in Stars Beyond, where we learn he is after Rik Terri. He is a thoroughly despicable character that did not deserve to live past book one. I prefer my villains to evolve and grow just as much as the protagonists and if not, they need to be eliminated….somehow. But Dunstall thought he was needed in this story. Okay, if you need someone to boo and hiss at, Wickmore is your man.
The Ort. First contact species with a need for a special body modder. Everybody seems to want Rik Terri.
The Vortex. While not technically a character, the spaceship-ripping Vortex is an astronomical phenomenon that happens to be very close to the center of all that is important. Beware the Vortex. Roystan does.
These motley characters are combined with a story line that gallivants enough to throw in a few surprises. (Surprises are good.) Beware the Vortex cannot be said enough.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 20, 2019
As I read this just kept getting better and better. Josune, Roystan, and Nika as well as the other characters kept the action going and the plot thickening. I loved the first book and Stars Beyond lived up to my expectations. S.K. Dunstall is on a roll with first the Linesman books and now the Stars Uncharted. This could be the last book in this series but I am hoping for one more. I love the crew and would love to see how they carry on after all the danger and tension in this book.
March 3, 2020
This series is like “Firefly” - an amazing space opera that no one watched when it was on. Not enough people are reading THIS amazing space opera. If you’re missing “Firefly” - pick this up. The cast of space-faring misfits is just as endearing, their capers just as entertaining. You’ll love it and you'll read Dunstall’s “Linesman” series next. I guarantee.
March 5, 2020
I had trouble remaining engaged with this one. I can't say if it was the book, the new characters in addition to the plethora of old, or if it was just me and where I am at right now.
Either is possible.
Either is possible.
February 11, 2020
3,5 stars. I’m having a lot of fun with my sci-fi series this year. Cannot wait for the next book 🪐
March 19, 2021
Stars Beyond is by the writing team, of two sisters, collectively known as S.K. Dunstall. They are known for their very popular Linesman series. This book is the second in the Stars Uncharted series.
This one is a Space Opera about a close-knit crew with very distinct and different characters who have to overcome a lot of issues in order to reach all of their goals, the main one of which is just staying alive. It has good character development and a well-developed plot. Rika and friends have to dodge evil people and fall victim several times only to win their way out, sometimes by their wisdom, sometimes by luck. The action seems continuous and is often dark.
I enjoy the authors because they have imaginative heroes and situations and their books are full of action. I recommend this book to fans of Space Opera and fans of S.K. Dunstall. I look forward to buying their next book.
This one is a Space Opera about a close-knit crew with very distinct and different characters who have to overcome a lot of issues in order to reach all of their goals, the main one of which is just staying alive. It has good character development and a well-developed plot. Rika and friends have to dodge evil people and fall victim several times only to win their way out, sometimes by their wisdom, sometimes by luck. The action seems continuous and is often dark.
I enjoy the authors because they have imaginative heroes and situations and their books are full of action. I recommend this book to fans of Space Opera and fans of S.K. Dunstall. I look forward to buying their next book.
January 6, 2022
Space opera at its best
Interesting characters, novel situations and camaraderie aplenty.
I read a lot of space opera and this series of two books is one of my favourites. I hope the author considers a third episode - but another plus is that the second book reaches a point which could be a satisfactory conclusion.
Emily Woo Seller has a hypnotic voice which could make listening to a shopping list a worthwhile experience - which is great if, like me , you like to switch between reading and listening.
Five stars from me! (At least measured against other space opera - ok its not Pride and Prejudice and it isn't High Art so it's a different scale - but if you don't want to work too hard to enjoy your reading, it is great fun and transports you to, and immerses you in, a different place/time/universe. What more do you need?).
Interesting characters, novel situations and camaraderie aplenty.
I read a lot of space opera and this series of two books is one of my favourites. I hope the author considers a third episode - but another plus is that the second book reaches a point which could be a satisfactory conclusion.
Emily Woo Seller has a hypnotic voice which could make listening to a shopping list a worthwhile experience - which is great if, like me , you like to switch between reading and listening.
Five stars from me! (At least measured against other space opera - ok its not Pride and Prejudice and it isn't High Art so it's a different scale - but if you don't want to work too hard to enjoy your reading, it is great fun and transports you to, and immerses you in, a different place/time/universe. What more do you need?).
March 5, 2022
Continuation of the rollicking space opera in Stars Uncharted. All our friends are back but now facing two new evil men, one with the Company who wants Rika Nik Terri’s body exchanger, and the other captain of a ship of indentured contractors (who would never be able to buy out their contracts). The latter wants Snow, one of Roystan’s new crew members, returned so he can be punished for escaping. Much about body modding and the intricacies of space flight and the scramble for weapons. I really loved these two books.
June 11, 2021
Action and character development
I like the balance between space opera action and character interaction. There are quite a few characters but all are handled well.
I like the balance between space opera action and character interaction. There are quite a few characters but all are handled well.
January 31, 2025
I don't *love* Emily Woo Zeller's narration. She's a whispery kind of narrator so it's difficult to focus on when played on anything other than an earbud. Phone speaker, nope. Car speaker, nope. She's gotta be RIGHt in my ear in order for me to hear properly lol. Geez, I feel old saying that. 🤣 I didn't feel like I needed a recap of Stars Uncharted though it's been some years since I read that. There's enough new content to be its own novel so that was good. But this was just fine.
January 27, 2020
So good to read a real sf series. They seem few and far between at the moment. I enjoyed this addition to the story.
January 13, 2023
3.5 stars. Too many silly physics issues to give it more stars. Also, I enjoyed the other books by these authors more than this latest one.
October 19, 2020
I did like the first book in this series but was struggling to engage with this one and many of its characters (2020-itis?) ... perhaps I left too big a gap between the two books.
October 22, 2024
This was so fun. I love space operas! Thank you to the random list that recommended the first book in this series, I've really enjoyed being part of the ragtag crew of Another Road, exploring deep space, hunting for precious metals, interacting with other sapient species, running from evil corporations, stealing and breaking and entering, floating in space, fighting with the bad guys, escaping prison, modding the bodies of everyone, saving lives, and punching the bad guys.
My one complaint is that the plot slowed down a bit in the middle and it took me longer than it should have to read it. I got a bit bored. Too much pew-pew for me (action is not always Dunstall's strong point; they describe it without giving it much detail, class telling over showing!), and sometimes, the list of things that didn't *quite* work got annoying (at times, the number of problems layered on problems felt contrived, and it was, give them a break! But on the flip side, sometimes things worked too easily. A funny imbalance.).
But still, this is a very fun series of space operas, co-authored by two sisters, and would recommend to anyone who likes silly space books without any sense or science, but plenty of adventure and fun.
My one complaint is that the plot slowed down a bit in the middle and it took me longer than it should have to read it. I got a bit bored. Too much pew-pew for me (action is not always Dunstall's strong point; they describe it without giving it much detail, class telling over showing!), and sometimes, the list of things that didn't *quite* work got annoying (at times, the number of problems layered on problems felt contrived, and it was, give them a break! But on the flip side, sometimes things worked too easily. A funny imbalance.).
But still, this is a very fun series of space operas, co-authored by two sisters, and would recommend to anyone who likes silly space books without any sense or science, but plenty of adventure and fun.
January 22, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
This Stars Uncharted series should be read in order. I really enjoy this author and the first book in the series, also Stars Uncharted was excellent and harrowing. I have been reading several different science fiction / space opera type series where there are corporate groups running things and they are greedy and corrupt. That is certainly a theme here.
In Stars Uncharted, the point of view was primarily that of Nika and Josune. They are strong, intelligent, talented women. Nika is a body modder and Josune is a ship engineer. Nika is a genius and really, so is Josune. They both are so skilled others want them to use them.
They ended up both on the run and have become fast and loyal friends. There are two other points of view added in Stars Beyond. Leonard Wickmore, corrupt executive, is after them. Alistair Laughton is looking for Nika. He took leave from the Justice Department 2 years ago and worked on a remote planet. There were some serious issues on the planet and he needs Nika to resolve some of them.
Wickmore is evil and I hate him. It's just that simple. Alistair is not stupid exactly but he is horribly naive / idealistic. He is skilled with investigating and surviving, but his knowledge of companies and political aspects is dismal.
I loved this action-packed tale with battles, escapes and heists. There's also inventive discoveries and ingenuity to solve problems (yes, the women, Nika and Josune). I can't wait for more in this series. I want to see how they handle the companies in the next go round.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
This Stars Uncharted series should be read in order. I really enjoy this author and the first book in the series, also Stars Uncharted was excellent and harrowing. I have been reading several different science fiction / space opera type series where there are corporate groups running things and they are greedy and corrupt. That is certainly a theme here.
In Stars Uncharted, the point of view was primarily that of Nika and Josune. They are strong, intelligent, talented women. Nika is a body modder and Josune is a ship engineer. Nika is a genius and really, so is Josune. They both are so skilled others want them to use them.
They ended up both on the run and have become fast and loyal friends. There are two other points of view added in Stars Beyond. Leonard Wickmore, corrupt executive, is after them. Alistair Laughton is looking for Nika. He took leave from the Justice Department 2 years ago and worked on a remote planet. There were some serious issues on the planet and he needs Nika to resolve some of them.
Wickmore is evil and I hate him. It's just that simple. Alistair is not stupid exactly but he is horribly naive / idealistic. He is skilled with investigating and surviving, but his knowledge of companies and political aspects is dismal.
I loved this action-packed tale with battles, escapes and heists. There's also inventive discoveries and ingenuity to solve problems (yes, the women, Nika and Josune). I can't wait for more in this series. I want to see how they handle the companies in the next go round.
February 15, 2020
I have been anxiously awaiting this book and it did not disappoint. Stars Beyond picks up where Stars Uncharted left off with our rag tag group from Another Road on the run from the Justice Department, the evil Captain Norris and his ship of mercenaries and the nefarious Leonard Wickmore. All chasing the mysterious mother lode of treasure. If you are fan on Space Opera then this series is for you: evil corporations, check, hero’s with secrets, check, introduction to an alien race, check, overall lawlessness in space, check. Whereas Stars Uncharted built a mystery and left the reader with a lot questions, Stars Beyond fleshes out many of the backstories leading to an effective ending that could serve as both a jumping off point as well as subsequently allow the Another Roads journey to continue. With the introduction of the Ort SK Dunstall has expanded the universe and I am curious to learn more about this mysterious race. Plus, who doesn’t want more stories involving a body modder?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews