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Cauldron of Stars #1
Lethal Cargo
One maverick crew against the Cluster's deadliest criminal organization...
Mike Starrunner, captain of an independent space freighter, is no stranger to trouble. But things get hotter than he bargained for when he lands on a planet occupied by Travellers. These grisly space pirates have a reputation so dire, even aliens won’t mess with them.
But even aliens aren't as badass as Shifters.
Mike and his crew are Shifters--alt-humans with the ability to Shift into animal form. When they impulsively rescue three of the Travellers' victims, they stumble on a deadly plot that spans the Cluster—and it's focused like a laser beam on their homeworld.
From deep space to the slums of Shiftertown, the chase is on.
To untangle the mystery in time, Mike will have to outwit not only the Travellers but the kingpin of his own crime-ridden Shifter community, while staying one step ahead of the police. If he fails, the Travellers will take his planet … and his beloved daughter.
Join the crew of the St. Clare as they struggle to put the clues together, battle murderous criminals, and above all, hang onto their humanity. If you’re a fan of Firefly or The Expanse, you’ll love this interstellar adventure set in a cluster of stars far, far away, in a future where we’ve colonized the stars and even altered our own DNA, but remain all too human.
Lethal Cargo is the first book of A Cauldron of Stars, a new space opera thriller series from New York Times bestselling sci-fi author Felix R. Savage. It contains swearing, sex, spaceships, unapologetic badassery, shapeshifting wolves, tigers, bears, lions, and one very large snake. You have been warned!
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About the author
Felix R. Savage
89 books120 followersFelix R. Savage writes hard science fiction, space opera, and comedic science fiction. He has also occasionally been known to commit fantasy.
Felix has a long history associated with rebellion. He was born in the 1970s, a decade of American youth rebelling against the safe culture of their parents. He is married to a wonderful woman and they have two beautiful daughters. Together the four of them live in Tokyo serving their cat overlord and benevolent protector. Felix pounds the keyboard while not translating, delighting in his family, or catering to the whims of the family’s cat. He woke up one day to learn that he was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, but he continues to keep a low profile, and never stops watching out for any sign the lizard people have found him.
Felix has a long history associated with rebellion. He was born in the 1970s, a decade of American youth rebelling against the safe culture of their parents. He is married to a wonderful woman and they have two beautiful daughters. Together the four of them live in Tokyo serving their cat overlord and benevolent protector. Felix pounds the keyboard while not translating, delighting in his family, or catering to the whims of the family’s cat. He woke up one day to learn that he was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, but he continues to keep a low profile, and never stops watching out for any sign the lizard people have found him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 23, 2018
“Humanity at its darkly magnificent worst.”
Yes, that’s correct. I still am surprised with that definition: humans are so versatile! Plot twists abound, and the research behind the story is refreshingly realistic. I was also wonderfully surprised with the shifter abilities of the characters, me not being much a fan about shifter stories due to the typical stereotype Alpha shifter romance books. This series is a hit! The combination of different genres is what captivated me reading the blurb, and it being Felix R. savage of course! SciFi, thrill and mystery, shifters and intrigue, unexpected turns and surprises, action packed, raw emotions run wild, a touch of moral issues, down to earth realistic characters, with all their flaws, broken by their past, a continuous struggle to survive in a harsh universe...I loved it! So glad to know book 2 will come out soon! This is a must read, I highly recommend it!
March 18, 2019
Mixed feelings
Probably about 3.5 stars, it's a fairly good read and I'd recommend it, but I do have some mixed feelings.
Spoilers: Lucy never felt like a real character and I assumed from the moment she was mentioned that she would be kidnapped. The main character is also sort of dumb, like he just doesn't really think things through and makes bad decisions. Idk if I should have a problem with that or not it's a strange change from most MCs. He isn't incompetant just outsmarted by others most of the time.
Probably about 3.5 stars, it's a fairly good read and I'd recommend it, but I do have some mixed feelings.
Spoilers: Lucy never felt like a real character and I assumed from the moment she was mentioned that she would be kidnapped. The main character is also sort of dumb, like he just doesn't really think things through and makes bad decisions. Idk if I should have a problem with that or not it's a strange change from most MCs. He isn't incompetant just outsmarted by others most of the time.
November 26, 2022
Asks the question no one was wondering about: what if Malcolm Reynolds were a werewolf? (Technically they’re shifters, able to change into various animals, like panthers, etc., but really it’s werewolves.) Clunky writing undercuts the story, because there’s no build up and release of tension. For instance, early on Then there’s a sort-of mystery that doesn’t really function as one. And the werewolf thing doesn’t really make any difference in the plot. It’s just a thing to add some static to their lives in the sense of “we don’t like your kind around here” prejudice. Kinda feels like a surface-level factoid from a PnP RPG. On top of that it doesn’t even have much of an ending, stopping on a cliffhanger with plot points unresolved.
The book isn’t offensive, it’s just not very well done. Even the spaceship names are completely uninspired: the St. Clare, the Garibaldi, the Margarita.
The book isn’t offensive, it’s just not very well done. Even the spaceship names are completely uninspired: the St. Clare, the Garibaldi, the Margarita.
August 19, 2019
Not shabby
Well written and constructed, but a little lacking in the originality department. Not a bad read, an excellent way to pass an afternoon, but not what I would recommend if one is looking for something different
Well written and constructed, but a little lacking in the originality department. Not a bad read, an excellent way to pass an afternoon, but not what I would recommend if one is looking for something different
October 14, 2018
This book is right up there with the mobius files as one of the bestcrook gone straight stories I've read. It's very long too, which is just a bonus, since it's a great story, well edited, and well told to boot. If you are looking for a story that will keep you up reading as long as you can stay awake, and you're a scifi fan, then this just might be the book for you. But, oh, so heartbreaking at the end. Now I just have to read the next one to see where it goes.
September 18, 2018
Exciting, suspenseful, hilarious, heart breaking, and wildly imaginative book! Great characters, super twisty plot, wonderful dialogue, and incredible world building. Starrunner, the shifter, gets stiffed on a shipment, he and his crew become embroiled in a terrorist plot, little kids get rescued (sort of), and ... I hate the ending! Despite that, I can hardly wait buy the next book!
September 29, 2018
It was fine until
A little chaotic in the narrative, but it kept things burbling along interestingly. Then the captain meets the guy who he is pretty sure shot and killed his only human crew member...and he treats him like a potential shipping client.
Wut. Does not compute.
Broken narrative. So far out of character as to be incomprehensible.
I stopped on that scene. Maybe it gets better, but I can’t think of how you explain this.
The world building is a bit clunky, but it’s not terrible. Shifting is poorly explained, for instance.
A little chaotic in the narrative, but it kept things burbling along interestingly. Then the captain meets the guy who he is pretty sure shot and killed his only human crew member...and he treats him like a potential shipping client.
Wut. Does not compute.
Broken narrative. So far out of character as to be incomprehensible.
I stopped on that scene. Maybe it gets better, but I can’t think of how you explain this.
The world building is a bit clunky, but it’s not terrible. Shifting is poorly explained, for instance.
February 7, 2019
I take exception with authors who use excessive profanity in their writing. It's tough enough to live in a world where the "f-bomb" is used as noun, verb, adjective, adverb, conjunction, and of course EXPLETIVE, but to have to read it over and over and over again is boring. I didn't get past 5% of the book, before I became BORED with the limited vocabulary of the author.
December 19, 2018
I'm not a fan of fantasy books. Just because there are spaceships involved doesn't make the story science fiction. I think shape shifting falls in the category of fantasy and removes the science from the story. This occurs early in the book and spilled the story for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2018
Bad, right off the bat.
September 20, 2018
Stunning, thrilling, knock down rip roaring, success of a book!
I know this author's work, I have read books by Felix R Savage in the past. But I honestly thought I had read his best work a little time ago.
How wrong can you be!
This book starts off innocently enough, but within the space of a few paragraphs, there were explosives going off, space chases and great action sequences that left me smiling. This is how a space opera should be I thought. Felix R Savage not only hit the nail squarely on the head; but he buried the nail deep into the wood with this brilliant book.
This is a story basically about lies, deceipt, greed, and hatred. Species to species hatred, and man to man hatred. It's about a deceipt that could cost the main character, everything. Especially his daughter. It's about innocent people getting hurt and the guilty getting what they are owed.
This story is based around a product, a product that was not claimed and paid for upon delivery as arranged. A product which was then removed from the drop off point and taken back in the space ship it had arrived in and that should have been that, but violence ensued, violence which culminated in the death of a young crew member. The captain, Mike Starrunner, has no clue who, or why, he's been shot at by. So they fly away with all possible speed and head for home. However, the people who shot at them, have followed them to their home planet, and they start shooting again. Still unsure why his ship is under attack, Starrunner retaliates, destroying the other craft.
Then the story really gets started!
The plot thickens, as they say, and the mystery is becoming more and deep and difficult to unreavel. Nothing makes sense! What is so special about that shipment? Why did the other ship want to fire on them? And most importantly what has happened to Starrunner's daughter?
The excitement never let's up in this thrilling story. The story about how humans became shifters, was very well written, and the uses for each type of animal was well thought out. There are humans, aliens, animals, robots and more in this wonderful and great read. I couldn't put it down, and read it in one sitting! I loved this book and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
I know this author's work, I have read books by Felix R Savage in the past. But I honestly thought I had read his best work a little time ago.
How wrong can you be!
This book starts off innocently enough, but within the space of a few paragraphs, there were explosives going off, space chases and great action sequences that left me smiling. This is how a space opera should be I thought. Felix R Savage not only hit the nail squarely on the head; but he buried the nail deep into the wood with this brilliant book.
This is a story basically about lies, deceipt, greed, and hatred. Species to species hatred, and man to man hatred. It's about a deceipt that could cost the main character, everything. Especially his daughter. It's about innocent people getting hurt and the guilty getting what they are owed.
This story is based around a product, a product that was not claimed and paid for upon delivery as arranged. A product which was then removed from the drop off point and taken back in the space ship it had arrived in and that should have been that, but violence ensued, violence which culminated in the death of a young crew member. The captain, Mike Starrunner, has no clue who, or why, he's been shot at by. So they fly away with all possible speed and head for home. However, the people who shot at them, have followed them to their home planet, and they start shooting again. Still unsure why his ship is under attack, Starrunner retaliates, destroying the other craft.
Then the story really gets started!
The plot thickens, as they say, and the mystery is becoming more and deep and difficult to unreavel. Nothing makes sense! What is so special about that shipment? Why did the other ship want to fire on them? And most importantly what has happened to Starrunner's daughter?
The excitement never let's up in this thrilling story. The story about how humans became shifters, was very well written, and the uses for each type of animal was well thought out. There are humans, aliens, animals, robots and more in this wonderful and great read. I couldn't put it down, and read it in one sitting! I loved this book and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
September 16, 2018
Amazing Alt-human saves the planet
Felix R Savage is a hell of a writer. This guy writes the kind of book that keeps you up all night, on the edge of your seat, glued to the insane adventures of improbable heroes. The Clusterverse - that far-flung sector of the galaxy which humans long ago invaded, colonized, and remade in their own messy, ingenious and nefarious ways, is the home of the Travellers. Travellers are uber-pirates, the organized criminal scourge of all planetary economic activity. Mike Starrunner has another reason to hate them - his runaway ex-wife is one of them. He's just a struggling shifter, trying to make a (mostly) legal living hauling interplanetary freight, while single parenting his little girl. He and his crew of ex-militay buddies are on one of those freight runs when the Clusterverse dumps on them, resulting in a sh*t-storm of epic proportions. The pages fly by as he faces off against piracy, murder, kidnapping, bio-terrorism, criminal insanity, and customers who run off without paying him for delivering their merchandise. Mike and his crew of humans, alt-humans, and bots conduct an outer-space "Mission Impossible" tour de force in an effort to stay alive, stay in business, save the children and do The Right Thing, while bumping into business rivals, bears, law enforcement, and tons of ordnance. And if that isn't enough, Miike's got his own personal drama going with his ex-wife, his daughter, and a pretty teacher who makes her intentions crystal clear... This guy gets in over his head, blunders his way into heroism by the back door, and otherwise makes Lethal Cargo the most wildly entertaining space opera I've ever read. Thanks to FRS for the ARC, the laughs, and the thrills, and this is a voluntary, independent and uncompensated review.
Felix R Savage is a hell of a writer. This guy writes the kind of book that keeps you up all night, on the edge of your seat, glued to the insane adventures of improbable heroes. The Clusterverse - that far-flung sector of the galaxy which humans long ago invaded, colonized, and remade in their own messy, ingenious and nefarious ways, is the home of the Travellers. Travellers are uber-pirates, the organized criminal scourge of all planetary economic activity. Mike Starrunner has another reason to hate them - his runaway ex-wife is one of them. He's just a struggling shifter, trying to make a (mostly) legal living hauling interplanetary freight, while single parenting his little girl. He and his crew of ex-militay buddies are on one of those freight runs when the Clusterverse dumps on them, resulting in a sh*t-storm of epic proportions. The pages fly by as he faces off against piracy, murder, kidnapping, bio-terrorism, criminal insanity, and customers who run off without paying him for delivering their merchandise. Mike and his crew of humans, alt-humans, and bots conduct an outer-space "Mission Impossible" tour de force in an effort to stay alive, stay in business, save the children and do The Right Thing, while bumping into business rivals, bears, law enforcement, and tons of ordnance. And if that isn't enough, Miike's got his own personal drama going with his ex-wife, his daughter, and a pretty teacher who makes her intentions crystal clear... This guy gets in over his head, blunders his way into heroism by the back door, and otherwise makes Lethal Cargo the most wildly entertaining space opera I've ever read. Thanks to FRS for the ARC, the laughs, and the thrills, and this is a voluntary, independent and uncompensated review.
September 16, 2018
Felix Savage is a favorite scifi author. His stories are always full of thrills and adventure, with great plots and characters, while also thought provoking and with futuristic science that seems to make sense. That’s the essence of what great sci fi should do. No surprise that I was delighted to get my hands on Lethal Cargo: A Space Opera Adventure, the first book of his new A Cauldron of Stars series. I’m happy to report that he has once again succeeded. This is a great book; a truly fun read. Mike Starrunner is a superb leading character, and it’s a total fun-riot following along as he and his crew of shifters take on space pirate “Travellers” and everything else thrown at them (see the blurb for a good taste of what this all is). 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. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
September 18, 2018
As always, wordmaster Felix Savage has created a marvelously crafted science fiction/fantasy/space opera...I could add a few more genres that Lethal Cargo includes, but no matter what I label it, this fantastic novel grabs you from the first page and will not release you until you get to the last page. I am definitely one of his writing's most adoring fans. This was a fact before I read this, his latest creation. Now it is more true than ever. He just keeps raising the bar for quality and imagination and then he surpasses even that. This is the first in the series, A Cauldron of Stars, and I am anxiously awaiting book 2. In case you are unable to discern my feelings for Mr. savage or his writing, I freaking LOVE them. If you are still reading my review, imagine how much you will adore this novel, so, go get it, lol. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting my honest review.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting my honest review.
September 29, 2018
I really enjoyed this first installment of the sci-fi series called "A Cauldron of Stars". The author does a beautiful job integrating the crazy concept of shifting humans into animals. I had my doubts, but he's made it seem so natural that it just works. And its not overdone, just used at the right times.
The characters are fully developed and I ended up truly liking them. The story is hard to put down. Lots of action and twists.
There's a very interesting robot that has a penchant for human females that adds some humour.
I certainly look forward to the next installment in this series.
Added edit: Once you finish this book there's a link to unlock a free gift, which is a nice prequel story called "The Hurtworlds Heist". If you're not already a subscriber to the authors newsletter, you'll also get FOUR other subscriber exclusive books. The "The Hurtworlds Heist" is quite good and offers insight into the characters before the time line of the Lethal Cargo story. The author recommends reading it after finishing Lethal Cargo and I would have to agree.
The characters are fully developed and I ended up truly liking them. The story is hard to put down. Lots of action and twists.
There's a very interesting robot that has a penchant for human females that adds some humour.
I certainly look forward to the next installment in this series.
Added edit: Once you finish this book there's a link to unlock a free gift, which is a nice prequel story called "The Hurtworlds Heist". If you're not already a subscriber to the authors newsletter, you'll also get FOUR other subscriber exclusive books. The "The Hurtworlds Heist" is quite good and offers insight into the characters before the time line of the Lethal Cargo story. The author recommends reading it after finishing Lethal Cargo and I would have to agree.
October 25, 2018
Lethal Cargo—A Cauldron of Stars, Book 1—by author Felix Savage left me with a feeling of “uummm.”
Don’t get me wrong, it was an okay read and sci-fi adventure, full of plot twists and turns I did not see coming. It even had its share of strange: humans able to shift their physical form at the molecular level into one or two Earth animal forms. Bizarre, to say the least, but considered somewhat normal in the story world.
I’m not sure what left me with a neutral feeling towards this book, but I’m going to pin it onto the author’s writing style. Nothing I can name definitively, just something that sat wrong with me. Perhaps I was wrong for the story.
Included is lots of space travel, strange spaceships, family togetherness, and bioterrorism.
Family friendly and a satisfactory read. Recommended.
Don’t get me wrong, it was an okay read and sci-fi adventure, full of plot twists and turns I did not see coming. It even had its share of strange: humans able to shift their physical form at the molecular level into one or two Earth animal forms. Bizarre, to say the least, but considered somewhat normal in the story world.
I’m not sure what left me with a neutral feeling towards this book, but I’m going to pin it onto the author’s writing style. Nothing I can name definitively, just something that sat wrong with me. Perhaps I was wrong for the story.
Included is lots of space travel, strange spaceships, family togetherness, and bioterrorism.
Family friendly and a satisfactory read. Recommended.
September 24, 2018
In book 1 we are introduced to Mike a single father who happens to be a shifter and mostly on the right side (ok really grey area) of the law. It was full of danger, gun battles, space flight, mystery, family, and a wild story that kept me reading for the entertainment value and learning along with Mike what was going on and how it all fit together. I laughed through most of it. The one liners killed me and Mike was a great character and all the secondary characters fit seamlessly into the story. I thought it was a great blend of different genre's with a Felix Savage twist that makes an amazing read!
September 16, 2018
*the author graciously sent me an ARC*
Mike Starrunner is your average cargo hauler. Move cargo from A to B and get paid. He has a small daughter who depends on him totally, no mommy in the picture. Everything Mike does is for his daughter, and friends. But life generally gets in the way of people trying to just make an honest living. This is the first book in a new series, "A Cauldron of Stars". Although the book starts out with humans, there are also good ones, bad one, aliens, animals, you name it, this book has it all. I look forward to reading more of the books in this series.
Mike Starrunner is your average cargo hauler. Move cargo from A to B and get paid. He has a small daughter who depends on him totally, no mommy in the picture. Everything Mike does is for his daughter, and friends. But life generally gets in the way of people trying to just make an honest living. This is the first book in a new series, "A Cauldron of Stars". Although the book starts out with humans, there are also good ones, bad one, aliens, animals, you name it, this book has it all. I look forward to reading more of the books in this series.
September 25, 2018
#reading I don't like werewolves or shapeshifters. So you can imagine how good Felix R Savage 's 'Lethal Cargo' is by me telling you I finished it in one go.
It's ridiculously action packed, gritty and realistic. Well, for a novel about shape shifting man-wolf space couriers slash guns for hire.
There's a bit of romance in there, even.
But read it for the great world building, balanced sci fi, and awesome characters.
Looking forward to more!
It's ridiculously action packed, gritty and realistic. Well, for a novel about shape shifting man-wolf space couriers slash guns for hire.
There's a bit of romance in there, even.
But read it for the great world building, balanced sci fi, and awesome characters.
Looking forward to more!
September 26, 2018
Intrigueing
A very good start to a new series, has a feel of the TV series Serenity about it.
The author mansges to keep the resder hooked with a well thought out narrative and a anti hero thst is very likeable. The Robot MechanicalFailure steals the show!
A very good start to a new series, has a feel of the TV series Serenity about it.
The author mansges to keep the resder hooked with a well thought out narrative and a anti hero thst is very likeable. The Robot MechanicalFailure steals the show!
October 7, 2018
Mr. Savage tells a great and different story of space bad guys and good guys that aren't really that good. This story is full of imagination including shifters of every kind and family bonding but still makes a mystery to make the reading hard to put down. A great and interesting read.
December 22, 2018
Different
I am still at a crossroads as to why I like the story line and I did enjoy the characters as they were individually established and well developed. I am looking forward to reading the future stories about this group.
I am still at a crossroads as to why I like the story line and I did enjoy the characters as they were individually established and well developed. I am looking forward to reading the future stories about this group.
January 12, 2019
On to the finale!
Excellent read! New kind of sci-fi for me - and I REALLY like it! Big 👍! Actually loved the "Shifters" too. Didn't think I would! Can't wait to see what else the mighty space Captain can become ... maybe a 🦄 ?! LOL
Excellent read! New kind of sci-fi for me - and I REALLY like it! Big 👍! Actually loved the "Shifters" too. Didn't think I would! Can't wait to see what else the mighty space Captain can become ... maybe a 🦄 ?! LOL
September 30, 2018
Good Story
Good Story with action, adventure, battles, aliens, and a mystery to solve. No heavy reading just a good space adventure.
Good Story with action, adventure, battles, aliens, and a mystery to solve. No heavy reading just a good space adventure.
September 28, 2018
Great
Very good story everyone should enjoy. Great author lots of good books to catch up on in your spare time
Very good story everyone should enjoy. Great author lots of good books to catch up on in your spare time
October 7, 2018
Good story
Liked the crew. Nice character development. Shifters are cool for a sci-fi story. Looking forward to the next book. In the series
Liked the crew. Nice character development. Shifters are cool for a sci-fi story. Looking forward to the next book. In the series
October 15, 2018
Space, shifters, suspense, adventure bundled in a SiFi thriller. What is not to like.
October 29, 2018
3.5 stars.
Loved the sci-fi. The shifter stuff? Not so much.
Loved the sci-fi. The shifter stuff? Not so much.
January 21, 2019
As good as ever
Another "page turner" from Felix!
Ready to start part 2 right away.
More words for Amazon's stupid system STUPID SYSTEM!
Another "page turner" from Felix!
Ready to start part 2 right away.
More words for Amazon's stupid system STUPID SYSTEM!
December 13, 2022
Good book but the crossing of genres did take away from the overflow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews