What do you think?
Rate this book
Starlight's Shadow #0.5
Honor and Shadows
Captain Octavia Zarola needs an infusion of credits—fast—if she’s going to keep her close-knit bounty hunting crew paid and fed. Tracking down an escaped embezzler on a backwater planet should be a piece of cake, but bounties are rarely as easy as they seem.
As the crew closes in on their quarry, the hunt becomes entangled with a local criminal overlord, and Tavi will have to decide what’s more important: money or honor, and how much she’s willing to risk for either one.
As the crew closes in on their quarry, the hunt becomes entangled with a local criminal overlord, and Tavi will have to decide what’s more important: money or honor, and how much she’s willing to risk for either one.
68 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2022
81 people are currently reading
1207 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Mihalik
13 books2,145 followersJessie Mihalik has a degree in Computer Science and a love of all things geeky. A software engineer by trade, Jessie now writes full time from her home in Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing co-op video games with her husband, trying out new board games, or reading books pulled from her overflowing bookshelves.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
December 7, 2022
I read this novella after Hunt the Stars and while I liked getting to see more of Octavia and her crew I wanted more ( to be fair I will always want more with these characters). I thought the story was a little bit rushed but overall a fun adventure. Octavia and her crew are in desperate need of money so she takes a bounty from a less than reputable source. When they get to the small planet they find the job will be trickier than they imagined.
January 30, 2023
This is a sci-fi novella about a group of bounty hunters that have hearts of gold. It reminds me of the show Firefly (not a copy, but it gives me that vibe).
It's a pretty good story and I'm excited to read the trilogy.
It's a pretty good story and I'm excited to read the trilogy.
March 15, 2022
Short prequel to Hunt the Stars. I read it after, and I think I liked it better that way than if I had read it the other way around- specifically from a 'understanding the world' perspective. There are no spoilers in it for HTS, either, so it could be read first.
December 1, 2022
I'm really loving these characters...
Wait, what? **Checks Amazon** May 2023 for book 3? Really, Mihalik? I scoff in your general direction... (in an "I love you" kinda way).
Wait, what? **Checks Amazon** May 2023 for book 3? Really, Mihalik? I scoff in your general direction... (in an "I love you" kinda way).
December 2, 2022
5 stars
This was a fun little short that leads right up to the beginning of Hunt The Stars. It was nice seeing the trio before the drama of the Valoffs and that they stayed true to firm characteristically.
I will note that although this is a prequel, I read it after Hunt the Stars, and I think that made it a more enjoyable read. Because of length, this one does not do a lot of world building and the reader has a better understanding of the world if this novella is read second.
This was a fun little short that leads right up to the beginning of Hunt The Stars. It was nice seeing the trio before the drama of the Valoffs and that they stayed true to firm characteristically.
I will note that although this is a prequel, I read it after Hunt the Stars, and I think that made it a more enjoyable read. Because of length, this one does not do a lot of world building and the reader has a better understanding of the world if this novella is read second.
November 12, 2022
As a premise for the series it wasn't bad, if a bit too "good" these members of Octavia's crew, of course though, remembering the beginning of the first book made me want to reread the whole thing, because it was really remarkable.
Come premessa per la serie non era male, anche se un po' troppo "buoni" questi membri della crew di Octavia, ovviamente peró, ricordare l'inizio del primo libro mi ha fatto venire voglia di rileggerlo tutto, perché era veramente notevole.
Come premessa per la serie non era male, anche se un po' troppo "buoni" questi membri della crew di Octavia, ovviamente peró, ricordare l'inizio del primo libro mi ha fatto venire voglia di rileggerlo tutto, perché era veramente notevole.
January 5, 2025
Honor and Shadows was a great introduction to the series and follows the crew of the Starlight's Shadow as they hunt for a bounty.
Captain Octavia Zarola needs credits soon if she's going to keep her crew on the Starlight's Shadow paid and fed. The bounty on Alan Hudson, an escaped embezzler, will more than cover their bills and the job should be a piece of cake. But as their search for Alan leads them to the local criminal overlord on a backwater planet, Tavi will have to make a choice between getting paid and doing the right thing.
The crew of the Starlight's Shadow consists of Captain Octavia Zarole, first mate Elias Bruck, and navigator/hacker Kee Ildez. I liked how the crew felt like a family and how close they were. They work well together and it's obvious they've been at this for a while. I liked how Tavi's character handled being in charge and how she was responsible what happened to the crew. Eli is the muscle of the group and it's a role he plays well. Kee was the character I was most intrigued by. She can hack just about anything and she tends to think with her heart, not her head.
Honor and Shadows opens with the group landing on a small planet in search of Alan Hudson to collect the bounty on his head. They run into resistance and hostility from the locals pretty quickly upon arriving and have to change up their initial plan. I liked how adaptable the group was and that they could quickly change things up. The bounty situation didn't play out the way I expected but I enjoyed the direction things went. There were a few tense sections that kept you guessing and I was happy with how everything turned out.
Overall Honor and Shadows was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading the first book in the series, Hunt the Stars, soon.
Captain Octavia Zarola needs credits soon if she's going to keep her crew on the Starlight's Shadow paid and fed. The bounty on Alan Hudson, an escaped embezzler, will more than cover their bills and the job should be a piece of cake. But as their search for Alan leads them to the local criminal overlord on a backwater planet, Tavi will have to make a choice between getting paid and doing the right thing.
The crew of the Starlight's Shadow consists of Captain Octavia Zarole, first mate Elias Bruck, and navigator/hacker Kee Ildez. I liked how the crew felt like a family and how close they were. They work well together and it's obvious they've been at this for a while. I liked how Tavi's character handled being in charge and how she was responsible what happened to the crew. Eli is the muscle of the group and it's a role he plays well. Kee was the character I was most intrigued by. She can hack just about anything and she tends to think with her heart, not her head.
Honor and Shadows opens with the group landing on a small planet in search of Alan Hudson to collect the bounty on his head. They run into resistance and hostility from the locals pretty quickly upon arriving and have to change up their initial plan. I liked how adaptable the group was and that they could quickly change things up. The bounty situation didn't play out the way I expected but I enjoyed the direction things went. There were a few tense sections that kept you guessing and I was happy with how everything turned out.
Overall Honor and Shadows was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading the first book in the series, Hunt the Stars, soon.
February 25, 2023
A wisp of a tale. Tav, Eli and Kee save a young woman and her lover from the grips of her evil father. Maybe a bit too short.
January 3, 2023
This was a great prequel novella. Despite its short length, there was excitement and action. I can’t wait to start the series now and get to know these characters better!
July 21, 2023
Excellent introduction to the main characters of this series
This novella is a prequel to this series, which contains some high-octane action. It is well worth reading for its entertainment value, but its content is not essential to understanding and immersing oneself in the other books in this series.
This novella is a prequel to this series, which contains some high-octane action. It is well worth reading for its entertainment value, but its content is not essential to understanding and immersing oneself in the other books in this series.
December 3, 2024
I definitely read this out of order and read this one after I had finished the series. This is a great novella to read before book one and really sets up how things get started. I enjoyed this short story. I liked the characters and seeing how much they care about people. I think this gives a good insight to the trio before they become more. Overall, a great and easy read that is perfect before starting book one.
December 20, 2022
This was such a great read, loved reading about the team before the events of the first book!
October 18, 2025
3.5 stars
November 11, 2022
*Source* Amazon
*Genre* Space Opera
*Rating* 3.5
*This is a 10,000 novella/prequel to the Starlight's Shadow series. You don't have to have read the first two books in the series to enjoy this.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Space Opera
*Rating* 3.5
*This is a 10,000 novella/prequel to the Starlight's Shadow series. You don't have to have read the first two books in the series to enjoy this.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
November 2, 2022
Basic Plot: Tavi and crew take a different path than expected when a bounty is more complicated than expected.
For someone who has not read the other books in this series yet, it is a good introduction to Tavi and her crew. For anyone who has already read the books, it doesn't really add anything to the bigger story. It is a nice bit of fluff to fill an hour, but there's just not a lot there. If there was a connection to the larger series plot, I didn't catch it.
For someone who has not read the other books in this series yet, it is a good introduction to Tavi and her crew. For anyone who has already read the books, it doesn't really add anything to the bigger story. It is a nice bit of fluff to fill an hour, but there's just not a lot there. If there was a connection to the larger series plot, I didn't catch it.
November 28, 2022
A nice snippet of crew life immediately before the events of the first book kick off, but not really essential to understanding the series or main characters.
November 4, 2022
Well, hello there, Tavi and crew. The Valovian contingent might not be present (although this takes place directly before they join the crew), but Tavi, Kee, and Eli are the same old honorable bounty hunters we've come to know and love. Given the state of Tavi's finances, it says a lot that she's willing to do the right thing ahead of making a quick buck. But, then, that's Tavi for you.
A cold planet, a colder reception, and a plan put together on the fly have Tavi and the others pitting themselves against a man who thinks he's big stuff. To be fair, he is sort of big stuff on the planet, but Tavi's faced off against those who are bigger and badder than him. And she's determined enough to do the right thing and push through despite the odds against them.
A quick little story set right before Torran approaches Tavi with his offer. We get a good overview of Tavi's willingness to do the right thing and a hint at what's coming. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
A cold planet, a colder reception, and a plan put together on the fly have Tavi and the others pitting themselves against a man who thinks he's big stuff. To be fair, he is sort of big stuff on the planet, but Tavi's faced off against those who are bigger and badder than him. And she's determined enough to do the right thing and push through despite the odds against them.
A quick little story set right before Torran approaches Tavi with his offer. We get a good overview of Tavi's willingness to do the right thing and a hint at what's coming. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
November 10, 2022
I read this before Hunt the Stars and was underwhelmed. So what happens? Tavi and her crew land on a planet to cash in a bounty because they're almost out of money. Tavi wants to find the million-credit-generating Allan, but the locals are like nope, get out.
Tavi then meets a girl who's with Allan and plans a rescue that relies on Kee's awesome (unbelievable) computer skills and Eli's gorgeous face, body, and skillzzz. They have no other support, and they're fighting against the Boss of the Town. They succeed, of course (what else were they gonna do?). But it's that deux-ex-machina moment where the town mayor grows a heart and defends them.
I knew the book wouldn't be great, and I debated between Jade City and fluff, but fluff won because it's softer on the brain and eats less time. Still, I had fun.
Tavi then meets a girl who's with Allan and plans a rescue that relies on Kee's awesome (unbelievable) computer skills and Eli's gorgeous face, body, and skillzzz. They have no other support, and they're fighting against the Boss of the Town. They succeed, of course (what else were they gonna do?). But it's that deux-ex-machina moment where the town mayor grows a heart and defends them.
I knew the book wouldn't be great, and I debated between Jade City and fluff, but fluff won because it's softer on the brain and eats less time. Still, I had fun.
October 31, 2025
A short glimpse into the dynamics and history of "Starlight' Shadow" crew to whet our appetite for the first course aka Hunt the Stars.
November 3, 2022
If you haven't read the rest of the books that are out, this short is a great introduction to the series and the characters. You can see why they good at their heart and do what is right, even if it costs them in the short term.
November 1, 2022
3.5 stars
This novelette was quick and fun. It reads like it had been cooked up in a hurry, but Mihalik is a good enough writer to pull it off.
This novelette was quick and fun. It reads like it had been cooked up in a hurry, but Mihalik is a good enough writer to pull it off.
July 29, 2023
Short and action packed - just the way I like it
December 1, 2023
This short story is perfectly fine, just not very exciting so I don't think I can rank it higher.
August 4, 2023
Very boring, story without any relief, no twist, characters devoid of interest. I haven't read the following trilogy, I wonder what the point of this introduction might be.
March 7, 2022
format: Ebook
rating: 3,4
This is a pre-order exclusive for the recently released Hunt the Stars. This is a prequel that place just before the start at the first book, but it doesn't really have any spoilers so it can be read before you start with Hunt the Stars. Some might find it adds more depth after getting to know the crew first in book 1 however. I will also say that I received Hunt the Stars as part of my bookish box subscription and the author was kind enough to let that count as a pre-order and put me on the list for those who received this story
I liked this, it was an enjoyable short story.
It was interesting to see a bit more of the crew's recent past, and how they got themselves in the financial dire straits we see them in at the start of book 1. It's short and sweet and it gets the job done
I will admit I didn't think it was VERY good, but it was better than OK. Thus the rating.
I suspect it was fortuitous that I read the first book in the series before this so I was already emotionally engaged in the characters. If I hadn't it's possibly it would have gotten a lower rating because I'm not sure the plot was interesting enough to make me care if I didn't already. But I can't really know for sure what I would have thought if i reversed the reading order.
This is really mostly a cool extra, but I think it will be quite enjoyable for followers of the series, and I hope it will get a wider release at a later date because it's something hardcore fans will definitely want to read.
So, what's the basic plot?
Our crew is out to catch a bounty, money is already tight and are starting to feel it. Despite that, the situation isn't quite what it appeared on the planet, and things quickly go awry.
One thing that bugged me with this was that it made the team and Kee especially seem less competent than we've previously seen from them.
When a situation comes up that requires them to know more Kee quickly and easily gets a hold of that information. So it seems weird that the team didn't already have it.
Why didn't they do any research on the town they where going to? Kee apparently had to do quite a bit of work to track their bounty there, it wouldn't have been too much trouble to get the lay of the land so to speak. It seems a bit unprofessional for the team to be going in to this situation half blind.
The reason this bugs me is that they are VERY good at what they do in Hunt the Stars and this just seems to clash with that. I understand why it was done for plot related reasons. But I didn't like that they came off less competent than they actually are.
Reviews of the other books in the series:
Hunt the Stars (Starlight's Shadow, #1) ★★★★ (4,3)
Other Books By The Author
Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion, #1) ★★ (1,5)
The Queen's Gambit (Rogue Queen, #1) ★★★ (3,5)
The Queen’s Advantage (Rogue Queen, #2) ★★★ (3.5)
The Queen's Triumph (Rogue Queen, #3) ★★★ (3.5)
rating: 3,4
This is a pre-order exclusive for the recently released Hunt the Stars. This is a prequel that place just before the start at the first book, but it doesn't really have any spoilers so it can be read before you start with Hunt the Stars. Some might find it adds more depth after getting to know the crew first in book 1 however. I will also say that I received Hunt the Stars as part of my bookish box subscription and the author was kind enough to let that count as a pre-order and put me on the list for those who received this story
I liked this, it was an enjoyable short story.
It was interesting to see a bit more of the crew's recent past, and how they got themselves in the financial dire straits we see them in at the start of book 1. It's short and sweet and it gets the job done
I will admit I didn't think it was VERY good, but it was better than OK. Thus the rating.
I suspect it was fortuitous that I read the first book in the series before this so I was already emotionally engaged in the characters. If I hadn't it's possibly it would have gotten a lower rating because I'm not sure the plot was interesting enough to make me care if I didn't already. But I can't really know for sure what I would have thought if i reversed the reading order.
This is really mostly a cool extra, but I think it will be quite enjoyable for followers of the series, and I hope it will get a wider release at a later date because it's something hardcore fans will definitely want to read.
So, what's the basic plot?
Our crew is out to catch a bounty, money is already tight and are starting to feel it. Despite that, the situation isn't quite what it appeared on the planet, and things quickly go awry.
One thing that bugged me with this was that it made the team and Kee especially seem less competent than we've previously seen from them.
When a situation comes up that requires them to know more Kee quickly and easily gets a hold of that information. So it seems weird that the team didn't already have it.
Why didn't they do any research on the town they where going to? Kee apparently had to do quite a bit of work to track their bounty there, it wouldn't have been too much trouble to get the lay of the land so to speak. It seems a bit unprofessional for the team to be going in to this situation half blind.
The reason this bugs me is that they are VERY good at what they do in Hunt the Stars and this just seems to clash with that. I understand why it was done for plot related reasons. But I didn't like that they came off less competent than they actually are.
Reviews of the other books in the series:
Hunt the Stars (Starlight's Shadow, #1) ★★★★ (4,3)
Other Books By The Author
Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion, #1) ★★ (1,5)
The Queen's Gambit (Rogue Queen, #1) ★★★ (3,5)
The Queen’s Advantage (Rogue Queen, #2) ★★★ (3.5)
The Queen's Triumph (Rogue Queen, #3) ★★★ (3.5)
March 16, 2023
Really nice to get a glimpse of what happened before. While this 0.5 can be read first, I suggest you read it after 1. Makes more sense then and is a bit of a treat.
December 30, 2022
Not sure what the point of that was
Felt like I was reading chapters 6-12 of a very standard sci fi book. Even though it was only 10k words they still managed to put in a bunch of fluff about what type of pasta to use in their dinner and why, what pastries they wanted to buy at the shop and why, and the bit where they went to the grocery store was just thrilling.
I guess the point was to see if you liked the author's writing style, but this wasn't a good showcase. Two different people said "you've made a powerful enemy today", we met a mercenary named "Matt" who the author seemed to immediately forget about cause they were never mentioned again, and they 'told not showed' us about how swords have a stun setting, twice. In 10k words. And it didn't even end up mattering cause they didn't use the swords on anyone.
Or maybe the author doesn't trust the reader? I feel like that's exemplified in chapter five:
Keep in mind this is 10k words. There are only two locations in the story and they just reminded us it was called Cold Town in the previous chapter.
The speech can also be pretty dumb and unnatural. Most is fine but at one point a character does say “I’ll keep them from tracking us with technology," while one of the locals tells them “Outsiders are regarded with suspicion."
Don't think this series is for me
Felt like I was reading chapters 6-12 of a very standard sci fi book. Even though it was only 10k words they still managed to put in a bunch of fluff about what type of pasta to use in their dinner and why, what pastries they wanted to buy at the shop and why, and the bit where they went to the grocery store was just thrilling.
I guess the point was to see if you liked the author's writing style, but this wasn't a good showcase. Two different people said "you've made a powerful enemy today", we met a mercenary named "Matt" who the author seemed to immediately forget about cause they were never mentioned again, and they 'told not showed' us about how swords have a stun setting, twice. In 10k words. And it didn't even end up mattering cause they didn't use the swords on anyone.
Or maybe the author doesn't trust the reader? I feel like that's exemplified in chapter five:
“Cold Valley,” she said, naming the town where we’d left Starlight.
Keep in mind this is 10k words. There are only two locations in the story and they just reminded us it was called Cold Town in the previous chapter.
The speech can also be pretty dumb and unnatural. Most is fine but at one point a character does say “I’ll keep them from tracking us with technology," while one of the locals tells them “Outsiders are regarded with suspicion."
Don't think this series is for me
February 9, 2023
3.5⭐️
In desperate need of some credits, Tavi decides to accept a contract to capture a guy who stole millions and has managed to evade the last few teams who came for him. Though the temperatures of this planet were a surprise for her and her crew, the reasons for this man’s evasion are an even bigger one. Now decisions need to be made because there’s a very large compound that needs to be broken into and the recent bar fight doesn’t have everyone in the best of moods. Working on empty pockets and almost empty food stores, the crew of Starlight is about to do what they do best even though it might not be the smartest choice.
I think this the first time in this world that I fully grasped the lifestyle that the crew of Starlight lives. Because of the contract from the first book and how the conclusions in that lead to the story in the second, it’s hard to remember how rough the crew could have it. I think this one really played well into their military background and made the moments of really good meals and the crew’s appreciation of upgrades to the ships in the main books even more meaningful. I enjoyed the many hints at what was to come in book one and the ending has me wondering if we’ll see any of these new characters in future moments revolving around the macroplot of the series. I always enjoy getting more time with characters that are a lot of fun like the ones in this series but honestly, this is not one of my favorites. I’m happy I read it and I feel fully prepared for whatever might come in book three, but at the same time, I wasn't wowed.
In desperate need of some credits, Tavi decides to accept a contract to capture a guy who stole millions and has managed to evade the last few teams who came for him. Though the temperatures of this planet were a surprise for her and her crew, the reasons for this man’s evasion are an even bigger one. Now decisions need to be made because there’s a very large compound that needs to be broken into and the recent bar fight doesn’t have everyone in the best of moods. Working on empty pockets and almost empty food stores, the crew of Starlight is about to do what they do best even though it might not be the smartest choice.
I think this the first time in this world that I fully grasped the lifestyle that the crew of Starlight lives. Because of the contract from the first book and how the conclusions in that lead to the story in the second, it’s hard to remember how rough the crew could have it. I think this one really played well into their military background and made the moments of really good meals and the crew’s appreciation of upgrades to the ships in the main books even more meaningful. I enjoyed the many hints at what was to come in book one and the ending has me wondering if we’ll see any of these new characters in future moments revolving around the macroplot of the series. I always enjoy getting more time with characters that are a lot of fun like the ones in this series but honestly, this is not one of my favorites. I’m happy I read it and I feel fully prepared for whatever might come in book three, but at the same time, I wasn't wowed.
November 3, 2022
One of my favorite series is Starlight's Shadow. "Honor and Shadows" is a prequel to the Starlight trilogy and introduces us to a young Tavi, Eli and Kee just before they meet the Valoffs. In true form, Tavi is out searching for a bounty. The search leads her to a godforsaken planet solely ruled by one cruel and controlling man, Gerald Gail.
As Tavi and the gang attempt to cash in on their bounty they meet Gerald Gail's daughter and she is sore need of assistance from her father's control. It seems Megan Gail is in love with the bounty, Alan, who is being held hostage. Being who she is, Tavi is going to do all she can to assist the two lovers start anew even though her supplies are running low and at risk of herself and her crew. Nothing is ever simple for Tavi and this little adventure is no exception.
I just love this series and was glad to see how it all began. I love the world building and amazing characters. I am saddened that there is only one more book in this series. I guess I am going to have to read the first two books all over again before the third and final installment is released in June of 2023.
As Tavi and the gang attempt to cash in on their bounty they meet Gerald Gail's daughter and she is sore need of assistance from her father's control. It seems Megan Gail is in love with the bounty, Alan, who is being held hostage. Being who she is, Tavi is going to do all she can to assist the two lovers start anew even though her supplies are running low and at risk of herself and her crew. Nothing is ever simple for Tavi and this little adventure is no exception.
I just love this series and was glad to see how it all began. I love the world building and amazing characters. I am saddened that there is only one more book in this series. I guess I am going to have to read the first two books all over again before the third and final installment is released in June of 2023.
May 23, 2023
A short novella introducing Captain Octavia Zarola, a bounty hunter and former soldier and the crew of her spaceship, Starlight's Shadow while they are on a job to track down a fugitive.
This was an enjoyable read. The author strikes a good balance between worldbuilding, explanations, character development and plot. There's a lot of action sprinkled with just enough descriptions for me to not to feel too lost. But not so much I don't feel like I wouldn't be interested in reading the rest of the series.
I liked the main character Tavi and her crew, Eli - the first officer, Kee - the systems engineer and their mascot, Luna - a burbu (which is basically a cat/ferret/fox mix) that can communicate telepathically. I would have liked for Tavi to be a bit more bloodthirsty (she's pretty pacifist) but it wasn't a deal breaker.
I'm curious to see where the story goes. 4 stars.
This was an enjoyable read. The author strikes a good balance between worldbuilding, explanations, character development and plot. There's a lot of action sprinkled with just enough descriptions for me to not to feel too lost. But not so much I don't feel like I wouldn't be interested in reading the rest of the series.
I liked the main character Tavi and her crew, Eli - the first officer, Kee - the systems engineer and their mascot, Luna - a burbu (which is basically a cat/ferret/fox mix) that can communicate telepathically. I would have liked for Tavi to be a bit more bloodthirsty (she's pretty pacifist) but it wasn't a deal breaker.
I'm curious to see where the story goes. 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews