The critically acclaimed author of Polaris Rising takes readers on an exciting journey with the start of her brand-new series about a female bounty hunter and the man who is her sworn enemy.
"Jessie Mihalik is an author to watch." — Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Octavia Zarola would do anything to keep her tiny, close-knit bounty hunting crew together—even if it means accepting a job from Torran Fletcher, a ruthless former general and her sworn enemy. When Torran offers her enough credits to not only keep her crew afloat but also hire someone to fix her ship, Tavi knows that she can't refuse—no matter how much she'd like to.
With so much money on the line, Torran and his crew insist on joining the hunt. Tavi reluctantly agrees because while the handsome, stoic leader pushes all of her buttons—for both anger and desire—she's endured worse, and the massive bonus payment he's promised for a completed job is reason enough to shut up and deal.
But when they uncover a deeper plot that threatens the delicate peace between humans and Valoffs, Tavi suspects that Torran has been using her as the impetus for a new war. With the fate of her crew balanced on a knife's edge, Tavi must decide where her loyalties lie—with the quiet Valoff who's been lying to her, or with the human leaders who left her squad to die on the battlefield. And this time, she's put her heart on the line.
The critically acclaimed author of Polaris Rising takes readers on an exciting journey with the start of her brand-new series about a female bounty hunter and the man who is her sworn enemy.
"Jessie Mihalik is an author to watch." — Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Octavia Zarola would do anything to keep her tiny, close-knit bounty hunting crew together—even if it means accepting a job from Torran Fletcher, a ruthless former general and her sworn enemy. When Torran offers her enough credits to not only keep her crew afloat but also hire someone to fix her ship, Tavi knows that she can't refuse—no matter how much she'd like to.
With so much money on the line, Torran and his crew insist on joining the hunt. Tavi reluctantly agrees because while the handsome, stoic leader pushes all of her buttons—for both anger and desire—she's endured worse, and the massive bonus payment he's promised for a completed job is reason enough to shut up and deal.
But when they uncover a deeper plot that threatens the delicate peace between humans and Valoffs, Tavi suspects that Torran has been using her as the impetus for a new war. With the fate of her crew balanced on a knife's edge, Tavi must decide where her loyalties lie—with the quiet Valoff who's been lying to her, or with the human leaders who left her squad to die on the battlefield. And this time, she's put her heart on the line.
Critiques-
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November 15, 2021
The heat is on in Mihalik’s addictive Starlight’s Shadow series launch (after the Consortium Rebellion series). Captain Octavia “Tavi” Zarola and her bounty hunting crew are approached by General Torran Fletcher about locating a stolen ring. Tavi needs Torran’s money, but the recent war between the Valovians and the Federated Human Planets makes the job complicated: Torran is a Valoff, an alien race similar to humans but that has developed telepathic abilities. Tavi is a war hero for the other side and there’s a price on her head in Valovian space. As the search begins, tensions run high between the Valoffs and the humans on Tavi’s ship, and even higher between Torran and Tavi themselves. When the job proves far more complicated than merely finding the ring, Tavi’s life—and her heart—are at risk. The tenuous peace between the FHP and the Valovian government hangs in the balance as Tavi and her crew race to complete the job. Mihalik artfully juggles palpable romantic tension and fun action to create an epic page turner. This is sure to excite anyone who likes their space opera with a bit of spice. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. -
November 24, 2021
Following on the heels of Chaos Reigning (2020), Mihalik kicks off a new spacefaring adventure trilogy. The war between the Federated Human Planets and the telepathic Valovians is over, but the settlement has left bad feelings on both sides. Octavia Zarola, reluctant hero of the deciding battle of the conflict, left the military and is now captain of her own ship, Starlight's Shadow. Tavi and her crew have a reputation as successful bounty hunters, although jobs have been scarce of late and the ship needs renovations. The last person Tavi wants is to deal with is General Torran Fletcher, former commander of the enemy's forces, who wishes to hire her team to retrieve a family heirloom. The up-front fee and finishing bonus would allow Tavi to fully upgrade her ship, but how can she ever trust someone who can read minds and freeze a body in place, and who insists the investigation must begin on Valovia? Offer this to fans of Mihalik's Consortium Rebellion series or those who enjoy adversarial, action-packed team-ups like Kit Rocha's Deal with the Devil (2020).COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Starred review from March 1, 2022
The captain of a spaceship falls in love with her sworn enemy as they search for a missing ring. Tavi Zarola is the captain of Starlight's Shadow, and her small crew specializes in bounty hunting and recovering stolen items around the galaxy. Drawn together by a traumatic incident that occurred when they all served together in the military, Tavi and her crew are happy with their shoestring but peaceful existence, one that keeps them firmly out of the limelight. No one is more surprised than Tavi when Torran Fletcher approaches them with a job. He was the ruthless rival general during the war, so why would he ask them to help recover the priceless family heirloom that was stolen from his home? Against her better judgment, Tavi and her team accept the job--it's a once-in-a-lifetime payout if they can recover the item. Torran's team joins Tavi's as they travel to his home planet to investigate. Tavi is surprised by the two crews becoming a cohesive unit, not to mention the strong attraction between herself and Torran. Tavi knows she should be wary of a man with so much power and so many secrets, but their chemistry is impossible to resist. Mihalik's novel is a carefully plotted, engrossing space adventure with plenty of twists and turns. Tavi is a strong, interesting character who will always take a more difficult path rather than sacrificing her principles. Tavi and Torran are from different classes and cultures, so the conflict between them is richly layered. The combination of emotional, slow-burn romance and rollicking, high-stakes adventure makes for a fun, fast-paced read. An exciting space-opera adventure that hits all the right romance notes.COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Kit Rocha, New York Times bestselling author
"Fans of Nalini Singh will swoon for this stoic psychic space warrior hero, and fall in love with a badass mercenary captain heroine who will go to any lengths to protect her wounded-squad-turned-found-family. Compelling, steamy, and impossible to put down–Mihalik has created a world I want to visit again and again for years to come. Give me more sexy hot psychic space aliens!" — Kit Rocha, New York Times bestselling author
"A fun romantic read. If you enjoy sexy space heroes and badass heroines with a heart of gold, this book won't disappoint!" — Ilona Andrews, #1 NYT bestselling author
"The heat is on in Mihalik's addictive Starlight's Shadow series launch. Mihalik artfully juggles palpable romantic tension and fun action to create an epic page turner. This is sure to excite anyone who likes their space opera with a bit of spice." — Publishers Weekly
"For fans of romance and space opera, Jessie Mihalik once again hits the mark with amazing characters, a truly innovative plot, and enough heat to make you blush. I burned through it at an almost embarrassing pace because I simply couldn't help myself. I loved it and can't wait to see more in this new world!" — K.B. Wagers, author of the NeoG series
"Jessie Mihalik's thrilling first entry in her Starlight's Shadow series... Amid all the action and adventure, Mihalik also shows how a group of people in close quarters can become a family. Fans of "The Mandalorian" or "Firefly" will love this sci-fi romance." — BookPage
"An intoxicating journey through the galaxy." — Entertainment Weekly on Polaris Rising
"Polaris Rising is space opera at its best, intense and addictive, a story of honor, courage, betrayal, and love. Jessie Mihalik is an author to watch." — Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Polaris Rising
"The badass space princess adventure we deserve." — Kit Rocha, New York Times bestselling author, on Polaris Rising
"Heart-pounding futuristic action and scorching chemistry make Polaris Rising a thrilling ride. A gripping and sexy space adventure!" — Amanda Bouchet, USA Today bestselling author of The Kingmaker Chronicles, on Polaris Rising
"I loved everything about this story...when I finished and the story left me craving more of this world and characters. Highly recommend!"
— Jeffe Kennedy, RITA Award winning author, on Polaris Rising"Mihalik wraps up her action-packed, spacefaring Consortium Rebellion trilogy with a resoundingly romantic conclusion." — Booklist
"Read this book. Right now. Immediately." — Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
"Aurora Blazing is a standout, memorable book that oozes crossover appeal. Prefer action and adventure? One spaceship heist coming up! Find court intrigue and politics to be irresistible? Two ruling houses are at war, with a third desperately trying to remain neutral. Sucker for a happy ending? Well, it's a romance, so there's definitely that. Mihalik fills the void for every Star Wars fan who wished the franchise had more kissing." — BookPage on Aurora Blazing
