STARSTRIKE

Hwa Young pilots her lancer for the rebel clanners while figuring out where her loyalties should lie in this follow-up to 2024’s Moonstorm.

Now regarded as traitors to the Empire of New Joseon, Hwa Young and her fellow pilots are helping the rebel clanners secure their freedom. Their treasonous act—destroying the Empire’s bomb that would have created a “ravenous black hole”—has left them disoriented and grieving the loss of one of their own. Hwa Young is desperate to reconnect with Commander Aera, her clone-mother, and convince her to allow a mission to rescue her best friend, Geum—zie is being held prisoner on the Imperial flagship for helping Hwa Young. But the closer she gets to repairing her relationship with Mother Aera, the more Hwa Young loses her identity. As time passes, Hwa Young realizes the clanners aren’t much different from the ruthless Empire: Nothing in this political war over space and technology is as it seems. Amid shifting loyalties and easy betrayals, Hwa Young must figure out whom she can trust even as she struggles with her identity and sense of belonging. While the scheming and fight scenes keep things interesting, the detailed worldbuilding slows the story down at times. The characters in this Korean-inspired fantasy world are diverse in gender and sexuality and include nonbinary and transgender cast members.

Returning fans will enjoy this solid sequel, which continues the high-tech intrigue.