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Starchild #1
Exile
Millions of years ago, an alien civilization mysteriously vanished.
They left behind the surge gates--portals that let ships travel from one star to another. These gates are now controlled by a tyrannical government, and all interstellar traffic is carefully scrutinized.
When a young rebel gets captured, her friends plan a prison break. To accomplish their illegal mission, they need a rare ship called a Bloody Wing, a priceless alien artifact with the power to travel outside the surge gates, off the grid.
So they hire a man who has stolen one of these Bloody Wings—
A renegade pilot named Starchild.
They left behind the surge gates--portals that let ships travel from one star to another. These gates are now controlled by a tyrannical government, and all interstellar traffic is carefully scrutinized.
When a young rebel gets captured, her friends plan a prison break. To accomplish their illegal mission, they need a rare ship called a Bloody Wing, a priceless alien artifact with the power to travel outside the surge gates, off the grid.
So they hire a man who has stolen one of these Bloody Wings—
A renegade pilot named Starchild.
- GenresScience Fiction
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2019
146 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
J Washburn
23 books29 followersJ Washburn is the author of smart scifi and fantasy novels, including the acclaimed STARCHILD space opera books! He co-hosts the Start Writing podcast. And if you're wondering out his first name, check out
www.jwashburn.com !
www.jwashburn.com !
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 10, 2024
George Lucas + Ayn Rand + The Buddha. I really enjoyed this! It's definitely reminiscent of Star Wars, but Disney ruined Star Wars, so perhaps this can fill the void? I particularly enjoyed the main character, Nak, and his sidekick, a cubed consciousness named Cup. The dialogue was fun and witty, and the story intriguing. The magic system has quite a bit of Eastern influence and is wielded by warriors passionate about political philosophy. There are many interesting perspectives I will be thinking more about. I’m looking forward to reading the entire trilogy.
October 17, 2023
Rated PG
I got to read an early copy of this book, before all the revisions had been made, but even still, I really enjoyed the story. The action sequences were really well written, and the blending of magic and science was well done. While some of the themes common in many sci-fi books are present, J included enough differences that this book is it's own thing, and it's a pretty fun ride. My favorite character was the AI CPC4K3, affectionately known as cupcake, and her story arc was one of the best in the book.
If you like stars, wars, spaceships, dogfighting (planes not animals), daring missions, secret facilities, or damsels who can kick butt on their own, this may be a book you'll enjoy.
I got to read an early copy of this book, before all the revisions had been made, but even still, I really enjoyed the story. The action sequences were really well written, and the blending of magic and science was well done. While some of the themes common in many sci-fi books are present, J included enough differences that this book is it's own thing, and it's a pretty fun ride. My favorite character was the AI CPC4K3, affectionately known as cupcake, and her story arc was one of the best in the book.
If you like stars, wars, spaceships, dogfighting (planes not animals), daring missions, secret facilities, or damsels who can kick butt on their own, this may be a book you'll enjoy.
April 9, 2019
The core of Starchild is the driving motivation and philosophy behind each character. As they battle the reigning galactic tyranny each wonder if what they hope and believe in will remain when the rebellion is finished. Many ask themselves if it's worth fighting for, worth dying for, or worth compromising for.
Starchild is deeper than most space operas as it probes into the characters and tries to understand why they personally join and fight with the rebellion. Then it ponders the impact of victory, what happens when those united with a single goal to overthrow an evil empire must then make a new world and discover they don't agree what it should look like.
Starchild is deeper than most space operas as it probes into the characters and tries to understand why they personally join and fight with the rebellion. Then it ponders the impact of victory, what happens when those united with a single goal to overthrow an evil empire must then make a new world and discover they don't agree what it should look like.
May 14, 2019
My favorite book from J Washburn thus far. This was a fun read - I enjoyed the Stars Wars-esk setting and feel, and the likable characters.
June 30, 2019
The first book in J Washburn's 'Starchild' space opera series and it was a fun read!
The initial plot was very reminiscent of the original 'Star Wars' film - a band of rebels on a daring prison break, and then grouping together to take on a tyrannical galactic empire in an epic battle - 'Starchild' definitely pays homage and takes its cues from some of the film's beats, but 'Star Wars' has influenced a whole generation or two, and here it was all done in a way that still felt original and intriguing enough to keep on reading, without being pulled back to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.
The world building was really crafted well and you got real sense that Taiberos and his Witch Hunters really had the galaxy in the grip of an iron fisted rule, and that it would take a supreme effort for our heroes to best that might.
The magic system at play was really good as well. Very philosophical and Eastern inspired, which infused a kind of thoughtfulness and spirituality, adding another layer of depth to Washburn's space opera.
I liked the way the main cast of characters were written too. Each coming across as very three dimensional, complete with their own flaws, perspectives and motivations, as well as some good dialogue and witty banter, especially between Nak and Cup, and the scene between Cup and Kalh was a stand out. Together it all made each character very relatable and feel alive.
The vocabulary for time periods took a bit of getting used to, as did the literal blanking out of profanity uttered in the dialogue, but these are just nitpicks. 'Starchild: Exile' is a solid entry in a new space opera series, one that has a compelling and engaging story of good vs evil and is filled with great characters, mystical magic and epic world building with plenty of action, humour and a bit of romance. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
The initial plot was very reminiscent of the original 'Star Wars' film - a band of rebels on a daring prison break, and then grouping together to take on a tyrannical galactic empire in an epic battle - 'Starchild' definitely pays homage and takes its cues from some of the film's beats, but 'Star Wars' has influenced a whole generation or two, and here it was all done in a way that still felt original and intriguing enough to keep on reading, without being pulled back to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.
The world building was really crafted well and you got real sense that Taiberos and his Witch Hunters really had the galaxy in the grip of an iron fisted rule, and that it would take a supreme effort for our heroes to best that might.
The magic system at play was really good as well. Very philosophical and Eastern inspired, which infused a kind of thoughtfulness and spirituality, adding another layer of depth to Washburn's space opera.
I liked the way the main cast of characters were written too. Each coming across as very three dimensional, complete with their own flaws, perspectives and motivations, as well as some good dialogue and witty banter, especially between Nak and Cup, and the scene between Cup and Kalh was a stand out. Together it all made each character very relatable and feel alive.
The vocabulary for time periods took a bit of getting used to, as did the literal blanking out of profanity uttered in the dialogue, but these are just nitpicks. 'Starchild: Exile' is a solid entry in a new space opera series, one that has a compelling and engaging story of good vs evil and is filled with great characters, mystical magic and epic world building with plenty of action, humour and a bit of romance. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
June 22, 2019
Dug this book! Sure the fundamentals aren’t that groundbreaking, but what piece of art isn’t somewhat inspired elsewhere.
What I love most are the ethics and morality it orbits around. A lot of great exposition from both Benton and Kalh. Why is the Kalh/Cup exchange just my fave?
I saw someone else state that Cup had the book’s best arc, and I can roll with that....definitely my favorite character. I coulda used even more of said arc.
What I love most are the ethics and morality it orbits around. A lot of great exposition from both Benton and Kalh. Why is the Kalh/Cup exchange just my fave?
I saw someone else state that Cup had the book’s best arc, and I can roll with that....definitely my favorite character. I coulda used even more of said arc.
June 4, 2025
Starchild was well told with some truly excellent world building, a momentous feat considering this 'world' is actually an entire universe.
Washburn's characters were complex, 3-dimensional, and likeable. My personal favorite was CPC4K3 but I was impressed with the character arc Nak went through, and as the story completed, he was one of my favorites as well. I would say the best part of the book was how everything came together in the final battle, with all the little details coming full circle as events clicked into place. It was a masterful finale.
My one critique is that I wished we would have gotten more time to become emotionally invested in Kalhette's story before she's captured by the Witch Hunters and we are thrown into this impossible rescue mission to the Strand. But that only gives me higher hopes for the prequel that will be releasing soon.
Starchild is definitely something I would recommend to Sci-Fi lovers, and Washburn's work is some I will be returning to in the future for sure.
Washburn's characters were complex, 3-dimensional, and likeable. My personal favorite was CPC4K3 but I was impressed with the character arc Nak went through, and as the story completed, he was one of my favorites as well. I would say the best part of the book was how everything came together in the final battle, with all the little details coming full circle as events clicked into place. It was a masterful finale.
My one critique is that I wished we would have gotten more time to become emotionally invested in Kalhette's story before she's captured by the Witch Hunters and we are thrown into this impossible rescue mission to the Strand. But that only gives me higher hopes for the prequel that will be releasing soon.
Starchild is definitely something I would recommend to Sci-Fi lovers, and Washburn's work is some I will be returning to in the future for sure.
January 1, 2025
Interesting story, similar to Star Wars
I enjoyed this one but there are similarities to Star Wars. I was interested in which manipulation the demon was going to pull. I figured what the ending was going to be.
I enjoyed this one but there are similarities to Star Wars. I was interested in which manipulation the demon was going to pull. I figured what the ending was going to be.
July 21, 2023
I was enjoying this book, but it just went on too long, and kind of started going off the rails toward the last.
June 17, 2024
awesome read!
Sci fi fantasy at its finest! I love story’s set in space and even better when there is solid action!
Sci fi fantasy at its finest! I love story’s set in space and even better when there is solid action!
February 2, 2020
This was an awesome read. I never felt bigged down by an over bearing sense of details. Instead the story moved and flowed well as I experienced it through the perspectives of the different main characters.
The story follows a group fighting for, essentially, their freedom from a tyrannical overload. A power known as the Song can radiate through people, which the government tries to contain at all cost. We mainly follow Kahlette, a girl who has the gift of the Song, as she strives to save herself and those oppressed.
About the only thing that felt rough to me was the use of time in this universe. I continually was flipping to the reference page when millos or aions or sequels were brought up since I had a hard time remembering their equivalents so I could gauge the sense of passage of time. Looking back I probably should have just focused on "this is a long time" and "this is a short time", but I didn't.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this for anyone that enjoys a solid scifi book. I felt connected to the characters (Dray and Nak being my favorites) which made the experience of their adventures very worthwhile for me. 5/5 for me
The story follows a group fighting for, essentially, their freedom from a tyrannical overload. A power known as the Song can radiate through people, which the government tries to contain at all cost. We mainly follow Kahlette, a girl who has the gift of the Song, as she strives to save herself and those oppressed.
About the only thing that felt rough to me was the use of time in this universe. I continually was flipping to the reference page when millos or aions or sequels were brought up since I had a hard time remembering their equivalents so I could gauge the sense of passage of time. Looking back I probably should have just focused on "this is a long time" and "this is a short time", but I didn't.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this for anyone that enjoys a solid scifi book. I felt connected to the characters (Dray and Nak being my favorites) which made the experience of their adventures very worthwhile for me. 5/5 for me
May 26, 2019
First a note: This book took me a long time to finish only because I hate reading books on my phone. Even my old dad is on board, but I need paper and ink.
I’ve read several books that don’t follow a traditional publishing path and usually they’re clumsy, messy things. Washburn, once again, proves they don’t have to be. In Starchild he’s built a complex world with some beautifully flawed human characters. Perhaps his most brilliant move is presenting some of our pressing social and political issues in a galaxy far from ours and forcing us all to inspect our biases a little more objectively.
Bravo. I look forward to part two (as long as I can order the book).
I’ve read several books that don’t follow a traditional publishing path and usually they’re clumsy, messy things. Washburn, once again, proves they don’t have to be. In Starchild he’s built a complex world with some beautifully flawed human characters. Perhaps his most brilliant move is presenting some of our pressing social and political issues in a galaxy far from ours and forcing us all to inspect our biases a little more objectively.
Bravo. I look forward to part two (as long as I can order the book).
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews