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Starstruck #8
Dreadknot
Can anxiety be weaponized? Asking for a friend.
After saving the Alliance’s butt at the ball turned massacre, Sally’s excited to be home and sitting pretty with her presidential pardon. The only rain on her parade? She’s overshot her time by three years, and everyone seems more wired and irritable than she left them – is anxiety suddenly airborne?
When the Alliance begs the Siblings to find the source of this so-called Dread, her worst fears are confirmed: Earth is one of many worlds suffering intense agitation and escalating panic threatening the collapse of society. But the search forces Zander and Blayde to confront their past, uncovering secrets much more dangerous than flamethrower cats and talking sand traps.
Between them and accidentally space-napped James Felling, saving the universe and finding answers shouldn’t be this hard. Someone is clearly pulling the strings, and if Sally can’t find out who, the entire universe could implode. But hey, it’s all in an end-of-days work.
After saving the Alliance’s butt at the ball turned massacre, Sally’s excited to be home and sitting pretty with her presidential pardon. The only rain on her parade? She’s overshot her time by three years, and everyone seems more wired and irritable than she left them – is anxiety suddenly airborne?
When the Alliance begs the Siblings to find the source of this so-called Dread, her worst fears are confirmed: Earth is one of many worlds suffering intense agitation and escalating panic threatening the collapse of society. But the search forces Zander and Blayde to confront their past, uncovering secrets much more dangerous than flamethrower cats and talking sand traps.
Between them and accidentally space-napped James Felling, saving the universe and finding answers shouldn’t be this hard. Someone is clearly pulling the strings, and if Sally can’t find out who, the entire universe could implode. But hey, it’s all in an end-of-days work.
Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2021
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Anderson
28 books159 followersS.E. ANDERSON, PhD, is the author of the YA science fiction humor series THE STARSTRUCK SAGA and OVER THE MOON, as well as a YA contemporary novel, AIX MARKS THE SPOT, based on her childhood in Provence.
During the day, she's an astrophysics researcher and studies what comets can tell us about the formation of the Solar System. She currently lives in Marseille, France, where she is currently trying to wrangle some comets, her cats, and her husband.
During the day, she's an astrophysics researcher and studies what comets can tell us about the formation of the Solar System. She currently lives in Marseille, France, where she is currently trying to wrangle some comets, her cats, and her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 21, 2022
Dreadknot is the eighth book in the brilliantly witty sci-fi series, Starstruck, by S.E. Anderson. This series follows Sally Webber on her whirlwind adventures through the various secrets of space both outside and within earth’s atmosphere. While readers have come to expect crazy antics, witty giggles, and amazing pop culture references throughout, this latest installment is by far the wildest addition to the series yet. Fighting a feeling instead of a physical villain makes for more twists and turns than one could even imagine, well except the brilliant author herself. Will our favorite universe adventurers be able to differentiate their own feelings from the overwhelming feeling of dread weighing down every being in the universe before it’s too late?
Character development in this book is on point. After so many adventures, so much trauma, there is so much to unpack and learn from. It would be so easy to lazily write it off as some regenerative power locked inside the mechanism that also gives these lovable characters immortality, but instead Anderson does the hard work of ushering her characters through the emotional ups and downs that come with all the crazy antics she’s put them through. Sally’s deep inner voice is a brilliant effect used to show not only the depth of her character development over time, but also the depth of the emotional damage as a result of the dread infecting her universe.
The universe building is once again lightly described; enough that the reader can create vast alien expanses in their minds without being bogged down with trying to read and imagine too many details at once. Anderson’s writing is a brilliant example of the idea that a novel, or any piece of art, becomes what the reader or viewer makes it. I’m just saying, I bet my Zander is way hotter than your Zander.
Anxiety as a theme is brilliant, relatable, and incredibly hard to pull off. And yet, Anderson manages to bring it to life in a way hat makes sense. How do you portray a feeling as a villain? How do you fight against that feeling as something outside yourself? How do you survive when all the odds are against you? These questions are answered and more, through brilliant writing and storytelling.
The words that could best describe the plot can be found within the novel itself: “quantum entanglement.” This plot takes all the plots that came before it and ties it up in a knot so twisted and confused that you would think the book would be unreadable, and yet, it is impossible to put down. Each new page and chapter bring new answers, and along with them, more entanglement, keeping readers entrenched in a wild adventure right through to the end, which as is customary in a series, leaves more questions with the hope that the next book will be along quickly to answer them.
In a nutshell, this novel delivers on all aspects. Amid trying times where it seems that anxiety over pandemic illness and regulations has plagued the globe, Anderson paints anxiety in the light it deserves and provides an adequate distraction from global stress in the form of another whirlwind adventure for our favourite immortal trio. If you like serious topics covered with a hint of comic relief, decent pop culture references, and amazing characters, then this book, this series, is definitely something you need to get into.
Character development in this book is on point. After so many adventures, so much trauma, there is so much to unpack and learn from. It would be so easy to lazily write it off as some regenerative power locked inside the mechanism that also gives these lovable characters immortality, but instead Anderson does the hard work of ushering her characters through the emotional ups and downs that come with all the crazy antics she’s put them through. Sally’s deep inner voice is a brilliant effect used to show not only the depth of her character development over time, but also the depth of the emotional damage as a result of the dread infecting her universe.
The universe building is once again lightly described; enough that the reader can create vast alien expanses in their minds without being bogged down with trying to read and imagine too many details at once. Anderson’s writing is a brilliant example of the idea that a novel, or any piece of art, becomes what the reader or viewer makes it. I’m just saying, I bet my Zander is way hotter than your Zander.
Anxiety as a theme is brilliant, relatable, and incredibly hard to pull off. And yet, Anderson manages to bring it to life in a way hat makes sense. How do you portray a feeling as a villain? How do you fight against that feeling as something outside yourself? How do you survive when all the odds are against you? These questions are answered and more, through brilliant writing and storytelling.
The words that could best describe the plot can be found within the novel itself: “quantum entanglement.” This plot takes all the plots that came before it and ties it up in a knot so twisted and confused that you would think the book would be unreadable, and yet, it is impossible to put down. Each new page and chapter bring new answers, and along with them, more entanglement, keeping readers entrenched in a wild adventure right through to the end, which as is customary in a series, leaves more questions with the hope that the next book will be along quickly to answer them.
In a nutshell, this novel delivers on all aspects. Amid trying times where it seems that anxiety over pandemic illness and regulations has plagued the globe, Anderson paints anxiety in the light it deserves and provides an adequate distraction from global stress in the form of another whirlwind adventure for our favourite immortal trio. If you like serious topics covered with a hint of comic relief, decent pop culture references, and amazing characters, then this book, this series, is definitely something you need to get into.
February 23, 2022
S.E. Anderson is back with another stellar contribution to her Starstruck Saga; Dreadknot. Eight books into a series is undoubtedly going to mean an immense number of story and plot lines to continue weaving but Anderson does this perfectly, continuing to develop the plot and the characters in an entertaining and insightful way.
Throughout their lives – immortal or not – Blayde, Zander, Sally, and James have had their fair share of bad fortune and misadventure, all of which will of course take its toll on an individual, though we still have the witty and sarcastic humour, this is also increasingly entwined with some more serious and heartfelt moments where the characters open up a little and we see the emotional baggage each of them are carrying with them. This was definitely more prominent in this book; perhaps spurred on by the universal anxiety-pandemic but it is a fantastic way of introducing further development for the characters from an angle we don’t often see, but this has really helped them become more rounded and relatable.
Multiple POVs (though still mainly the loveable Sally) has allowed us to gain greater insight into the lives and thoughts of Zander and even Blayde; the latter of which has been the most mysterious until this book, so it was amazing to learn more about her and even some cracks in that almost-indestructibly tough exterior of hers?!
The plot as a whole is engaging throughout; and one thing I love about these books is that there is just enough detail for the reader to be able to paint their own picture of the planets, and characters we meet, but gives us enough freedom to put our own spin on the setting as well as allowing the wild-ride pace to be maintained. Along with the hilarious banter between characters and pop culture references I definitely laughed way too hard at, Dreadknot as a whole is just one entertaining read.
It’s apt timing that this book would be released now, with the world in the situation it’s in, and increasingly Anderson proves her mettle as an author by dealing with real world, serious subjects in a respectful manner, whilst using humour to maintain the tone of the book as a whole. It fits so perfectly in this saga, and if anything makes the characters even more understandable. Just another brilliant instalment to the saga, and for anyone seeking an entertaining and hilariously funny sci-fi, this is a series for you.
Throughout their lives – immortal or not – Blayde, Zander, Sally, and James have had their fair share of bad fortune and misadventure, all of which will of course take its toll on an individual, though we still have the witty and sarcastic humour, this is also increasingly entwined with some more serious and heartfelt moments where the characters open up a little and we see the emotional baggage each of them are carrying with them. This was definitely more prominent in this book; perhaps spurred on by the universal anxiety-pandemic but it is a fantastic way of introducing further development for the characters from an angle we don’t often see, but this has really helped them become more rounded and relatable.
Multiple POVs (though still mainly the loveable Sally) has allowed us to gain greater insight into the lives and thoughts of Zander and even Blayde; the latter of which has been the most mysterious until this book, so it was amazing to learn more about her and even some cracks in that almost-indestructibly tough exterior of hers?!
The plot as a whole is engaging throughout; and one thing I love about these books is that there is just enough detail for the reader to be able to paint their own picture of the planets, and characters we meet, but gives us enough freedom to put our own spin on the setting as well as allowing the wild-ride pace to be maintained. Along with the hilarious banter between characters and pop culture references I definitely laughed way too hard at, Dreadknot as a whole is just one entertaining read.
It’s apt timing that this book would be released now, with the world in the situation it’s in, and increasingly Anderson proves her mettle as an author by dealing with real world, serious subjects in a respectful manner, whilst using humour to maintain the tone of the book as a whole. It fits so perfectly in this saga, and if anything makes the characters even more understandable. Just another brilliant instalment to the saga, and for anyone seeking an entertaining and hilariously funny sci-fi, this is a series for you.
January 19, 2022
Another wild romp for Sally, Zander and Blade with James thrown in too. I feel you really need to read the previous books to get the full effect of what they are going through. This one has a few emotional parts added concerning Zander and Blade's past. Story is fast paced with lots and lots of action. One of my favorite series. *note - I would have read in 2 days but family came in for the weekend.
March 19, 2022
As the author, I always wonder if it's right to review my own book. But if I don't believe in it, who else will?
January 21, 2022
How do you fight a feeling that consumes the whole world? Sally struggles to wrap her head around the unease plaguing everyone she meets.
Dreadknot is another stellar installation in the Starstruck saga, and really makes me wish I had a bunch of alien superheroes to help me battle my own anxiety. Maybe the Dread is here already...
I received an advance copy of Dreadknot, and devoured it twice.
Dreadknot is another stellar installation in the Starstruck saga, and really makes me wish I had a bunch of alien superheroes to help me battle my own anxiety. Maybe the Dread is here already...
I received an advance copy of Dreadknot, and devoured it twice.
May 16, 2022
The thing about comedies...every now and then, they punch you in the gut.
Dreadknot, the eighth entry in S.E. Anderson's slapstick sci-fi series, does just that. Oh, there's humor. Plenty of it. Lots of absurd situations, cracking dialogue, and laugh-out-loud one-liners. There's also action, intense set pieces of zap-or-be-zapped that feel right at home in this particular drama.
There's also heart. For a series where so many of the characters are immortal, there's a lot of heart. Then again, we're eight books in, and if you aren't emotionally invested in Sally and Zander and Blayde and all the rest by now...what are you doing?
But with that heart comes the gut-wrenching finale. See, while Anderson was making you laugh over the course of eight books, she was also tricking you into feeling for these characters. Not just as individuals, but the collective. The way they interact with each other, the way their relationships evolve from book to book -- even from chapter to chapter.
And then, at the end, she rips the heart out.
Sci-fi being what it is (and this series being what it is), nothing is truly final. But in the moment, it feels like it. Victories are hollow, tainted with the sorrow of loss. This is one of the funnier books in the entire Starstruck saga, but it's also the most emotionally resonant.
Then again, this book does have the word "dread" in the title.
Dreadknot, the eighth entry in S.E. Anderson's slapstick sci-fi series, does just that. Oh, there's humor. Plenty of it. Lots of absurd situations, cracking dialogue, and laugh-out-loud one-liners. There's also action, intense set pieces of zap-or-be-zapped that feel right at home in this particular drama.
There's also heart. For a series where so many of the characters are immortal, there's a lot of heart. Then again, we're eight books in, and if you aren't emotionally invested in Sally and Zander and Blayde and all the rest by now...what are you doing?
But with that heart comes the gut-wrenching finale. See, while Anderson was making you laugh over the course of eight books, she was also tricking you into feeling for these characters. Not just as individuals, but the collective. The way they interact with each other, the way their relationships evolve from book to book -- even from chapter to chapter.
And then, at the end, she rips the heart out.
Sci-fi being what it is (and this series being what it is), nothing is truly final. But in the moment, it feels like it. Victories are hollow, tainted with the sorrow of loss. This is one of the funnier books in the entire Starstruck saga, but it's also the most emotionally resonant.
Then again, this book does have the word "dread" in the title.
April 22, 2022
I have been reading this series for so long, so when this one popped up as coming out, I had to have it. I adore Anderson’s way of telling a story and love Sally and Zander, Blayne and the crew. This one picks up where the last book left off and I jumped in with both feet, hooked on the story. The plot is threaded through the story, the imagery is perfectly formed and allows you to get lost in the world. The twists and turns kept me guessing and more and more of Zander and Blayde’s backstory got teased out. I adored this book, and that ending has me desperate for more, wanting to know what could possibly happen next. Overall, very much recommended!
March 24, 2025
This book was so much fun, as are all the others in this series. I'm glad I finally picked it back up where I had left off. While some scenes change so fast and I had a little trouble keeping pace at times, there's always a method to the madness. Definitely would recommend this and the rest of the series. Now, on to book 9!
March 23, 2023
Sally, Zander and Blade are trying to find the source of the Dread. Anxiety filling everyone. Terrible. The three of them have to save the universe. Running out of time. Now there are four. So much happening. Absolutely fantastic story and cannot wait to read the next one.
October 14, 2024
Yay I still have two books to read.
I don't know why I was thinking this was book mine but seeing that it's book eight has me pumped. This is a phenomenal series and I am enjoying every second of reading it.
On to book nine.
I don't know why I was thinking this was book mine but seeing that it's book eight has me pumped. This is a phenomenal series and I am enjoying every second of reading it.
On to book nine.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews