I really enjoyed this one, it’s not a light read though so prepare to settle somewhere comfortable and concentrate!

It’s the first in the series but as is often the case, this isn’t a slow, setting the scene, building things up type book. This is full on from page one and none stop all the way to the end.

To be honest, I’m exhausted! But in a good way! I need a lie down….

My thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

"These Burning Stars" by Bethany Jacobs is an incredibly gripping and clever sci-fi novel. Jacobs' world-building is fascinating, creating a future filled with possibilities that had me hooked from start to finish. The story is a thrilling adventure with well-developed characters and unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Jacobs' exploration of complex themes adds depth to the narrative. Overall, "These Burning Stars" is a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating glimpse into a thought-provoking future.

This is the start of a wonderful Space Saga, where Religion, Politics and Freedom all clash, and the outcome will have repercussions for years to come.

Esek Nightfoot is a Hand of the Clerics, a fierce and ruthless woman who will do anything she wants to further her own career and that of her family's wealth and power. Chono is also a Hand of the Clerics, though she has true faith in what she believes, she is a devotee of Esek and while she knows most of what the woman does is wrong, she is in too deep to turn away. Jun Ironway is a Caster; a hacker with a gift that all envy and a way with a con that leaves many without the money in their pockets. And then there is Six, a young person spurned into action by Esek into doing spectacular and extraordinary things, though they all seem to be against Esek in particular. And when these people clash, the universe with shake.

This book was beautifully written, with lore that you can believe in and a religion that shapes each of the main worlds featured. If you love a good scifi, with flawed wonderful characters, then this is a must-read.

Quite a heavy weight for a debut novel.

Exciting premise, interesting characters and well-paced story summarize this book. These burning stars is the story of characters. On one hand, we have Jun Ironway - star hacker and con artist while on the other hand we have Esek Nightfoot - ruthless cleric and Chono - symphathetic cleric. Jun is running from her past and is trying to save her future while Esek & Chono are obsessed with a figure from their past - Six. When Jun gets her hands on a piece of contrabend that may implicate the Nightfoot family in a genocide that occured 75 years ago, Esek & chono are sent to recover the same. Esek suspects involvement of Six, a figure from their shared past she has been hunting for 20 years. What follows is an intriguing story of cat and mouse through multiple worlds, politics, double-crosses and a battle to control the sevite empire and ultimately the world.

This story is a character driven story. The characters are complex, morally grey and it's beautiful to see them develop. It is also well-paced and has the revelations at the right places. Although, Six's identity was long time coming with all the deliberate 'hidden face' scenes. Therefore, didn't surprise me much.

The only gap in this tight-knitted story was the world building itself. Since the story takes place in multiple worlds, there was not enough world building to help understand the world. It took some time to figure out the world setting and the governement setting. An initial star map (like usually accompanied in Peter Hamilton books) as well as some commentry on the worlds and the government structure would have helped to imagine and understand the world from the get go. This would have complemented the story beautifully.

All in all, a realy good book. Looking forward to the second part of the trilogy.

Thanks to Netgally and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing an ARC.

Was I drawn in? Do I need the next? Absolutely.
Great world building, a magnificent twist and a fair amount of violence.
Was all the back and forth confusing- yes- but probably necessary.
Read it!

I enjoy SF&F so did this hit the spot? Would I be looking for the next in the series.

Yes and yes. It took a little time to get hooked but once in it was really enjoyable, nicely written and paced and enough in the story and characters to want to continue the adventure with the next book.

A very good addition to the genre.

Absolutely gripping and fabulous is my verdict of this truly amazing debut and I'm still trying to get my head around the idea that it's the authors first published sci fi piece .
Essentially we have a society ( think evil Empire) that's decades ago stood by whilst genocide took place and the few survivors of that planet are now actually little more than indentured slaves to the Nightfoot family. That dynasty is in trouble as it looks like Esek will be the next matriarch but that opens up a whole can of corrupt worms. She's an unpredictable killer with apparently no real loyalty but she's hunting down her nemesis Six when called to prevent a memory chip being released.
Chono survived the academy that trained her and Six to be brutal warriors. Once working closely with Esek now she's facing her own spiritual challenges and as strong and capable as she is has never forgotten Six although life has taken them in very different directions.
Jun is on the run and its been that way for quite some time. A thief yes, a monster no. Yet she's hunted and now hunting for the ultimate prize and that's evidence that could bring their world crashing down !
Three very different characters and all startling in their own right. This the first book perhaps is more about Esek and Chono but Jun is certainly integral as slowly their history is revealed in flashbacks so pay attention to chapter dates. As for Six well are they present more than we realise with huge shocks and revelations that I truly didn't see coming. This is going to be a fabulous trilogy and I am already hungry for more.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

When I got this book, I had absolutely no idea what I was in for. Now let me tell you, I have never read a book that has a plot twist like this one. I cannot wait for book two,

Every now and then a sci-fi debut comes along that's so good it's embarrassing, Bethany Jacobs' These Burning Stars is one such. It's got it almost all: world building that's off the chart and on a par with Iain M Banks or Peter F Hamilton at their finest; morally, and sexually, ambiguous characters; and all topped with a compelling narrative. The narrative is a bit confusing at first, hence the four star rather than five star review, but when you get past that you just have to strap in and enjoy the ride. I could tell you so much more, but why spoil all the fun.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the chance to read this little gem ahead of publication.

Reading new sci-fi from alternative authors is one of the main reasons I joined NetGalley .
After reading the about this book blurb I thought I had give the author a try.
The story, if it carries on being as good as the first one, has become a contender for the title of next sci-fi Game of Thrones.
The author weaves a story through a brand new galaxy called The Kindom with multiple worlds at each others throats, mainly diplomatically.

Yes the story can be a little confusing as it moves backwards and forwards between years but when you understand why it does ,all is explained.
It's definitely worth a read and hopefully the next book in the series will be as good with some of the well written characters returning.

It’s been a while since I delved into a sci-fi book but I’m glad I picked this one up! There was a lot of politics at play throughout this book and a lot of insight into the power dynamics of the universe where it takes place and I enjoyed how it was all put together and gave context to the characters and to the cat and mouse situation between the outcasts and the ‘government’ characters. Esek’s character is blatantly terrifying and terrible, completely unpredictable, very clever and incredibly dangerous. She’s fascinating in an I-never-want-to-meet-her kind of way. I for sure would not want her to be chasing me across the kingdom, no thank you. It’s interesting to experience the story from different characters’ perspectives and also through their memories, particularly those surrounding Esek and the Nightfoots. The twist near the end was delicious and not something I’d seen coming at all and I really loved that. The book is creative and complex. It’ll draw you in and keep you on your toes as we follow Jun and Masar, and Esek and Chono on their adventures, where it’s impossible to know who to trust and what the right path is when the kingdom is at stake.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Absolutely loved this book , the characters had real depth and were really likeable, even the bad guys. The story was interesting and I'm so eager to read the second installment. Fabulous book

Do you like revenge stories? Complex and morally-ambiguous characters? Political schemings? Then buckle up because These Burning Stars will deliver.

Bethany Jacobs' debut is a queer, character-driven space-opera novel that deals with a feud spanning years, revenge, fighting for the truth and family secrets. It hooked me right away.

What are its biggest strenghts?
✨Compelling writing
✨The narrative structure (multi-pov, two timelines) keeps the reader engaged and the novel is well paced as a result ; it's character-driven, but it doesn't forget to move its plot forward
✨Queernom world
✨Complex and morally ambiguous characters (also: villains)
✨Sapphic romance
✨Warring families and political schemings
✨Hackers in space!!!! Messed-up priests!!! Assassins!!!
✨Filled with action, kept me guessing and the reread potential is high (wait and see)

What could have been better:
✖ I have to admit that the origin of the feud—the cruel action that started it—feels a bit too thin to support the whole story and I had a hard time understanding the motivations of Esek—what's the drive behind her actions towards Six, really?? Explanations are given but I don't know, for me they are a tad lacking and this shortcoming cheapens her characterization in my opinion.
✖ The characters are different but their *voices* would have benefited from being more distinct at times.
✖ Sadly it failed to engage me emotionally, and that's why it's not a favorite even though I had a great time with it.

Albeit not perfect, These Burning Stars is a great debut novel and one I'd recommend to space opera readers out there.

⚠ content warning : genocide, SA, forced prostitution, child abuse (emotional and physical), physical violence, death (including of children and parents)

Thanks to NetGalley for an Arc of this book.
I initially found it difficult to get into the story, but that was because I was only reading little bits at a time. Humanity left earth in generation ships, and some 1600 or more years later have colonised a number of planets in different solar systems, travel time having been cut by the invention of ‘jump gates’. One dynastic family controls the ‘sevite’ needed to power the gates. The matriarch of the family is dead, but her named successor cannot easily leave her official position in the Treble, who run the ‘Kindom’. She also has a very personal mission- to track down and kill an adversary who has been taunting her for years and she is ruthless in her pursuit. Several main storylines are interwoven through the book, and converge in an exciting climax.
The world building is well thought out and convincing, the main characters layered and, in some cases perplexing.
If you read this, take careful note of the times and places given at the start of each chapter; it jumps about a lot in time, leading to a satisfyingly twisty dénouement.
The story went, for me, from a slow and slightly confusing start (hence the timeline advice) to a ‘can’t put this down till I’m finished’ ending. And there will be more!

This was an ARC from Netgalley and Orbit (Little, Brown), in return for this review.
These Burning Stars is the first in a new empire-spanning space opera, which fits the trend set by Anne Leckie and Arcady Martine, among others. It’s a space opera in the same sense that A Memory Called Empire was, in that it is largely set on a planet, and planets are in space. That may be a little unfair, because my sense of the geography/topography was a little vague because the maps that will be in the final published version were not present in the ARC.
There is definitely some space ship action in the last part of the book.
If Anne Leckie gave us the Roman Empire in space, and Arcady Martine gave us the Byzantine Empire in space, then Bethany Jacobs’ offering feels a little to me like the Spanish Inquisition in space. We have clerics, one of whom (at least) is by turns ruthless, vicious, and cruel. And this particular cleric, Esek, is in pursuit of an individual, known only as Six, who has obsessed and driven her for more than 20 years.
Caught up with Esek is the stoic Chonos, who has her own reasons for pursuing Six.
Seeing Esek work: her vicious interrogations, her over the top punishments, her burning sense of justice, is to encounter a monster who yet comes across as often justified. As these clerics chase Six, the author fills in the background of this space polity, which comes across as powerful families held in a kind of equilibrium facilitated by their persecution of an “outsider” group. So, yes, you can think Borgias, Medicis, the Spanish royals and the persecution of the Jewish people in mediaeval history.
In space.
I really enjoyed this. It bombs along at pace, jumps back and forth in time, and delivers a couple of excellent twists that feel well earned.
A sequel is forthcoming…

I’m quite picky about science fiction, but I chose well with this one! A complex storyline and characters; politics, intrigue, double crossing, secrets; this one has it all! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

A gripping story that kept me interested until the end. A great read!

Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for letting me read this book.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book

This is a very well written story, the characters were well developed, interesting and had excellent dialogue, the scenes in the book were well thought out and brought pace and action to the reading experience, in my view a excellent story.

The subject of the story wasn’t something I would have sought out but I could appreciate the significant effort to tell the story so well. Excellent author and I’m sure we will be hearing more from her.

3.5 rounded up because I know this is going to be very popular indeed.
And, to be fair, I can't fault the execution. This is an extremely well crafted work, kudos to the author; everything is well-nigh perfect, from pacing to setting and atmosphere, world-building, dialogue, the way the different threads come together, character development and the eventual "reveal", followed by another almost 80 pages of further climax. Fair play.
However, for me the original plot instigator (a random, but quite characteristic, act of extreme cruelty from one of the main protagonists) was a little thin to hang most of the following action upon. I know it can be argued that tiny acts can have extreme outcomes, but it just ranked a bit. Also, even though it's well documented that victims can love their abusers, I found Chono's continued "love" for Esek (a thorough unredeemable character, and not in a fun way), strained the bounds of credibility. But it worked for the plot, I guess.
So, in short, will I read the sequel? Yes, I probably will. Will it be top of my TBR? No, but it bears repeating that this is a very well-honed work. It doesn't have the visceral, gut-punching, drowning-gasp-for-air that the likes of Simon Jimenez inspires, but that's the difference between craft and art.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.