Broken both physically and mentally, and struggling to face each day with no direction, Blake searches for a way to bring meaning to his life. He finds solace staring up at the stars, dreaming of adventures on distant worlds as a way to distract himself from the nothingness he experiences on Earth. Vice Kalis Torran, a dovrik shifter known for his strength and honesty, is the commander of the flagship vessel in the Dolian fleet. He focuses everything on his job and protecting those he loves. But when circumstances force him to seek out a rare stone or risk being stranded in the depths of space, he is forced to travel to Earth. Little did he realize that travelling to Earth would bring him exactly what he needed, and more than he ever imagined. Drawn together by fate, Torran’s dovrik senses his mate is close, but Torran is torn between finding the stone that will save his crew or finding the mate who just might save his soul.
So ..... I don’t wanna be saying this but I’m going to go out on a limb and still say it because this is nagging me. 😁 Am I the only one who’s seeing a certain body part when I look at this cover? 😱😂 I mean I didn’t notice it at first .. one minute it was a geode but once you see it, you just can’t go back. 🤦♀️ It would have been better if that geode wasn’t pink but I think there’s no helping for my weird mind with this coloring. 😂
That saying, I enjoyed this book but I didn’t love it. Considering the almost 400 pages, I didn’t get enough romance between Torren and Blake. It was action after action after action after action. 😑 It was just a bit too much. Also I definitely would like to see the scar tissue issue of Blake resolved in this book because again, this was a near 400 pages book and it should have been more than enough to tie the loose ends. 🤷♀️ I think Phoenix shifters aspect was quite unique and fun but I definitely wanted more romance out of this. 😌
I should have loved this - and it started with a real bang but it gets very quickly bogged down in itself and, for me, never recovered. I like the premise and I liked the MC's originally but then they start acting a bit like no flaw characters - and the story just kind of stops. There is a LOT of repetitive talk and repetitive thinking- I mean more than I've dealt with in quite a while in a book. It never advances the story and it felt quite excruciating to get through - it needed a cut of about 100 pages at least with a lot of tightening up of language to ditch the extra words and working on a bit more realism (might sound odd but they are so perfect at times and such martyr's that you just get irritated rather than sympathize with them). The dialogue at times is super stilted - and kind of corny even though it is SciFi so I give a lot of slack.
The bones of a good story is in here - the idea is sound and the basics are represented I just couldn't keep going. I got to 65% and tried at least 6 times to pick it back up but I felt like I was going nowhere in the story. Nothing was advancing. Nobody was growing or changing really in any meaningful way. I didn't think there was that great of chemistry that was shown. Missing contractions in dialogue. Things like "I cannot understand what to do" vs. "I can't understand what to do" - in spoken dialogue just is tough to read - formal and lacking inflection you can place in a sentence which is jarring.
I mean abused damaged MC, Phoenix shifters, Space, fated mates --- it's All HERE folks.
It might just be this author and I are not a good fit - but this got so many good reviews that I'm a bit shocked I feel this way about it. I'd definitely try another but honestly I'd be wary of the length vs. better editing to really tighten the story. I really do want to stress I feel like the story WANTS to break free - it just needed someone with courage to cut out the extra stuff that goes nowhere/does nothing to get to the middle of the tootsie roll pop.
I think I'm spoiled by the Avanti Chronicles and Demonic Tales...(also, I want more Demons!)
Don't get me wrong Love Among the Stars has a good story. It has lots of action and the action scenes are well written, but unfortunately the romance was a little too superficial for my liking. There are lots of scenes between Torran and Blake, but I was missing a sizzling need to be together. Banter. Fun. Passion. They have sex, yes, and they talk, but that's it. They more or less accept they're bonded (mates)...it was just too easy. I know it's bad form to compare books, but Demons Don't Date had more passion, banter and all consuming love. And that's what I was missing in this one.
Also I couldn't understand Torran's mother...I thought it was needless drama towards the end.
Besides that...space traveling phoenix shifters...that was unique and I'm going to read the next one as soon as it comes out.
This was a story filled with conspiracy and some mystery. The main characters were likeable although they were very accepting and accommodating of each even though they were from two different worlds. No angst in this story I liked the story line of destroying Torran's family. Hopefully we get more in book two!!
I am not a huge fan of science fiction book. What convince me here is aliens that are Phoenix shifters and soul mates. I wish those two were more explore since there is a lot of action in this book and sometimes it was hard to follow.
Kalis Torran is the Captain of a combat spaceship that get sabotage. He has to go on his with his crew for a missing part to do the repairs. The man is from Dolian, where the inhabitant has a second form of a mystical bird, similar to a phoenix. The Dolians also have a strange connection with their “bonded one”. Torran still haven’t found his, but his beast grows reckless and seems to be attracted to the planet Earth.
Blake have been called by the stars since he was little. He is considered like a waste of space by his family since he got injure in a hate crime against homosexual. Not that his family is aware of the cause. The young man starts working with a scientific and come across a strange meteorite, that happen to be the part the ship of Torran need.
When the lab where he works is attacked, Blake realize the danger of being in possession of this powerful item. Him & his roommate Will are taken by Torran and his crew. The two humans are really ok with the whole alien shifter thing.
The relationship between Torran & Blake was on the insta-love side, but this is quite common when the topics of bounded & soulmate are presents. It was cute and there was some interesting side & challenges, like needing to understand and accept the difference of cultures, getting used to the other’s way of life.
The intergalactic conflict with Torran & the other aliens was not super clear for me. I am not sure who sabotage the ship & try to kill the captain. Maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention. I liked the character personality & relationship, both love & friendship so I will pick-up the sequel when this come out.
A new series by Hannah Walker is worthy of a fist pump from me. Every one of her series has kept me captivated and crying for more.
New characters, with different colours maybe ? Some odd horns, tails , body shifters? Humanoids, with the same feelings and desires as us ? New worlds , with exceptionally described views? This book has all of the above , plus lots of stars and planets thrown in.
As expected, there is a story line that will run through all of the consecutive books. This time it's a stone, one that contains something that will have good and bad fighting over it . There will be plots within plots, plots to takeover spaceships / councils / positions of power. Enough cloak and dagger activities to keep you glued to the storyline.
And then there is Blake, the most honest and selfless young man that has a heart of gold but has to live with such horrible bullying family members. Blake dreams of the stars, his heart and mind always imagining new worlds, he believes his future lies up there, with the only person he cares for , his friend Will.
Torran is the Vice Kalis of the Gresh Imperial Fleet. He commands respect from all of his crew, for being an outstanding commander. He comes from another world, another galaxy. But fate has some cruel moves up her hand. Events will bring Torran crashing in to Blake's life, but how, and why? What will bring the aliens to earth, what do they want?
More please, l need more... l love the passion Hannah Walker has when describing new planets different animals, foods, and characters. The writing is exceptional as always.
At the outset we have everything: > a damaged MC that is mistreated and forced into hiding by his homophobic family > an afore unknown alien species that can shift into phoenixes > the first of which is about to find his fated mate on Earth.
I say yes, please, pull at my heartstrings, manipulate my emotions, I want it all!
But then it went downhill quickly. Everything was talked about explicitly and in detail, every intention, assumption, revelation, emotion, again and again and again, don't get me started on the constant apologies. Jesus, these guys were like 5 year olds: Are you really ok with me having a blue toenail? -- Of course, what could be more wonderful than a blue toenail? -- I am so glad you are ok with me having a blue toenail. But are you really ok with it? - Yes, I've only just met you but I love you already. My apologies that you think I am not ok with any part of you. -- No I am the one that is sorry for being different from you (never mind I've just landed on your planet from outer space)!
No one has a blue toenail, this is just for illustrative purposes. It killed the story brain-dead (or maybe just me). This story would have been great with a bit more character action (pursuing, claiming, wanting, some funny cultural mishaps) and a bit less over the top communication. They are supposed to be fated mates, we get it, what else is new?
Hannah Walker is most certainly a gifted storyteller and author. Unlike a number of other writers she strives to be thorough in telling the story and does not leave out or abbreviate a story based upon a designated number of pages.
This is a love story between Blake and Torran. Blake is an emotionally and physically abused human who longs to travel to the stars. Torran is an alien shifter who believes Blake to be his bonded mate. The pair come to know one another through a perilous series of events and the book is hard to put down from one scene to the next.
I’m quite fond of this author’s writing style and throughout the book it is clear that Ms. Walker loves the characters she creates. It appears this will become a series and I can’t wait to read the next book. Kudos to the author for a job well done.
I enjoyed both Blake and Will, though I felt that they changed a bit between Earth and life on the ship - as in their characters suddenly had skills and capabilities that weren't there before. We had no indication that Will had any proficiency with computers, yet he seemed to be a bit of a savant in space. Blake's personality was very passive on Earth, and yet, he was complaining about not having enough activity when on the ship.
Once they got into space, I loved how things developed between Blake and Torran. I loved the development of the overall plotline and how, while there are definitely larger machinations going on, the motivations behind this book were both irrational and so very simple.
Wish there was more than 5 stars to rate this book. So, here's a 5++++! First time reader of Hannah Walker, and I found a gold mine. I hope there's a second book coming in this series featuring Will and who... I wonder? Is there a story for Manfor? I gobbled up every word, every image, and I was there, on the ship, first seeing Dolia, fleeing in the forest, falling off the cliff, the 2 fawna nuzzling,and most of all ... the building of the love between Blake and Torran. Can't wait to read more! Thank you Hannah for creating this delightful, amazing and inspiring story.
Definitely not the typical shifter romance story. It’s a decent blend of romance and science fiction with alien shifters as part of the mix. There are a few rough moments in the story and a few grammatical issues but for the most part the story held my interest and it was easy to continue. Decent character development and some interesting science tech help the scifi aspect. Ends on a positive note with a HFN.
This is a new MM Space series by Hannah Walker and I have to say i was blown away. How can you not fall for Will and Blake those two as best friends and their antics will draw you into the book. I had a hard time putting down the steamy & action pack will keep you on the edge of your seat with the suspense. I cant wait to see what will happen in the next book maybe Will can find his special fire. If you like a twist of space MM then you will love this new series, make sure to read today
Hannah Walker is such an excellent storyteller and she proves it again with this lovely action filled story. The characters, Will and Blake, are so wonderful in their support for each other - brothers not by blood but by love. Blake has been abused by his father and brother since his mother died. Enter Vice Kalis Torran, not of earth, and the story takes off like a rocket!
Snarky human and bond guided alien. What could possibly go wrong?
Insecure but caring snarky Blake suddenly realizes his whole has just been turned upside down over an odd meteorite. Throw in human bad guys out to steal it and a group of aliens that desperately need it to get back home, life as he knew it has just changed. For the better! Along with his best friend an adventure of a lifetime awaits.
Again, Hannah has written an excellent science fiction book with MM Rom for added wonderfulness. It's rare to find an author who can properly combine story, romance and world building so seamlessly. I totally look forward to the next book by this incredible author.
Hannah Walker has such a talent for world building and I am only sorry there doesn’t appear to be another book in this series. Her Avanti series was marvelous and Love Among the Stars has the same attention to detail and in-depth character development.
I love Hannah Walker's books. Her world building is incredible. I was excited to read her latest, and once again, Hannah has knocked it out of this world. I highly recommend anything she writes.
One of my favorite authors is back with a new cast of characters to love and new worlds to discover. This amazing series starter has just wet my appetite for more, book 2 can't come soon enough.
I wanted to really like this book ... I didn't dislike it but for me it had a lot of nothing going on....I can't say to much without giving away the plot but it was just meh for me... I love Hannah Walker but this fell flat for me..
Not much for alien stories but for Hannah walker a made an exception and didn't disappoint. I love the whole bonded thing going on. I'll definitely read the next one on the series .
Once again this author has created an interesting world full of brilliant, likeable characters. The story is solid and engaging. I look forward to the next book.