Book Review: These Burning Stars (The Kindom 1) by Bethany Jacobs


5/5 stars. This debut novel by Bethany Jacobs is one of the best space opera stories that I have read. I waited to read this book until after the trilogy was complete, but I wish I had started it sooner. This tale is filled with politics, scheming, deception, and the foreshadowing of a coming war. I look forward to completing this trilogy.


The Kindom is a political entity that consists of three main branches – the Clerisy (religion and law), the Cloaksaan (the enforcers of law), and the Secretariat (the financial representatives). Jacobs has created some excellent characters for us to follow in this story, with three primary points of view: Esek Nightfoot – a cleric of the Kindom and member of one of the most powerful families, Chono – a cleric and former novitiate of Esek, and Jun Ironway – a caster who specializes in hacking the net for the highest bidder. These main POVs are linked together by another person, who does not have their own POV, but who is present throughout the story – Six. The story has intricacies and connections revealed slowly throughout the tale. Excellent writing!


The audiobook is also very well done, as I listened and read this book simultaneously. The narrator, Natalie Naudus, does an excellent job with the character voices and establishing the tone of the story with her narration. I particularly enjoyed her voice for Esek Nightfoot.


Overall, I feel fortunate to find so many modern good books to read, but this book has stood out to me as a magnificent example of modern science fiction story telling with wonderful characters, a unique setting, great politics and conflict, and a creative take on religion. Highly, highly, recommended!

 



Story 5

Prose 5

Characters 5

Entertainment 5

Audiobook 5

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