This was a good technical writing experience. There was good logical scene progression and the movement was timed perfectly with story line advancement. Do you hear a but?

This novel never gets off the pot. The minute you feel like your moving forward in temporal fashion, we are suddenly transported back in time to the MCs initial life experiences. Coupled with lengthy scene descriptions, this was hard to get through so I didn't.

3,5 stars

The Unkillable Princess is the sequel to The Immortality Thief, a scifi book from 2022. It jumps right in where we left off.

I'll be honest and say that I struggled a little with the start of this book. Partially this is due to it having been more than 2 years since I read the first one and I didn't quite remember everything that happened in the first book. Secondly the first few chapters go forth between current time and a few days within the chapters, and sometimes years prior. Sometimes the switches were a little jarring. Some of them also felt a little unnessecary. Luckily there were plenty of references to the first book to jog my memory and by the midway point I was enjoying the book a lot more.

It is a fast spaced story with quick chapters and a lot of action scenes. Sometimes I wish there was a little more time for reflection. Sometimes that is sort of thrown in with a flashback that I don't think always worked instead of having it being a normal scene.

Tamara and Indigo are solid and great characters. Sean, our point of view character, feels like a bit of a dummy. He isn't, not really. He is a languistic expert. He just likes to put his head in the sand. But I wish he was written a little more mature at moments. It would make him feel less like some poor comedy. He doesn't have to be. He has a lot in him but it takes a lot of digging sometimes to find it in this book.

I liked getting to see more of the world. The first book was very contained. The scope became a lot wider in this installment and they have to deal with a lot more people. The politics, rebellion, spies and two very different goverments.

Overall I think this is a a solid installment and sequel. If you love a fast spaced space book and can look past some of its flaws, this will be a great book (and series) for you.

I didn’t like this one quite as much as the previous one (mostly because of the near constant mid-chapter flashbacks; I had a really hard time following along with the audiobook because of that) but I really liked the deep dive into sibling relationships and grief.

I think overall the plot was less tense than book one (I mean, they weren’t trapped in a spaceship being stalked by enemies of the human or monster variety), but I liked that we got to see a bit more of the world and the impacts that our main trio’s decisions would have on it.

Absolutely hype for book three, which I assume is forthcoming… eventually.

“Oh, I don’t like to plan ahead,” I said. “It ages you. I want to stay young and beautiful forever, like Indigo.”

Most anticipated release of my whole entire life? Methinks yes.

I have literally been recommending The Immortality Thief to anyone who would listen for YEARS, and now I get to add The Unkillable Princess to that list.

I had no doubt that this book would not only live up to my expectations, but exceed them as well, which is exactly what happened.

The Unkillable Princess is a masterpiece, second book syndrome who? Not my girl, that's for sure.

This book isn't spooky like the first one was, but the stakes are upped to the max. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, unable to breathe as Sean, Tamara and Indigo got themselves into trouble for the billionth time, and I wondered how they'd get themselves out of it.

I love my silly little space family SO MUCH you guys, I can't even describe it. I swear, I experienced an emotional roller-coaster right along with them and that ending just about broke me. I'm in tears just thinking about it. If you looked at my highlights, yes, you'd see a bunch of funny lines, but then there's chapter 80 where I have entire pages highlighted, I'm telling you, I was internally screaming.

Then there was the ending of chapter 73, where my mouth actually dropped open. I was 100% not expecting it to happen that way, and by that person. It made a lot of sense later, but at that moment I was shook. I also grew to like that character, and was hoping they'd make it to the next book, but alas.

And the ending-ending was obviously a cliffhanger, but it was a pretty optimistic one, so I have HOPE that everything will work out and everyone will be well.

Now, can we please talk about Taran Hunt's incredible writing skills? She's one of those writers who could write a sentence, and it would be the best (and funniest) thing I've ever read.

I will never get tired of Sean's internal monologue, the clever chapter titles, or the flashback sequences that let us know exactly when they occurred with a healthy dose of humour.

Speaking of flashbacks, I had a grand ol' time seeing kid-Sean's antics, and his relationship with Brigid. I wasn't sure how I felt about her, until we heard what she did for Clover, that won me over (just a bit, the second part of my trust came at the end).

We got a world expansion, and with it, new problems for our heroes. This is all done in a way where it's not overwhelming, you gradually get to discover more and more, and, as I'd love to explore every nook and cranny of this universe, I had a blast with even the tiniest things (hello place that only serves blue and not green drinks).

But the best part of this series, is, of course, the characters. They're incredible and leap off the page. Each of them would sooner face death than see their friends get hurt, but more importantly, they don't leave anyone behind. They fight together, and stay together, as a real family does.

Even when Brigid joins the fray, and complicates things, it doesn't stop our favourite trio from growing closer. The depth of feelings shown in this book...you can tell Sean, Indigo and Tamara have an indescribable bond that will only grow stronger as time passes.

I also enjoyed the teeny tiny potential romance crumbs we got, I ship all of them with everyone so however they end up I'll be happy, but I just wanna say that I'm glad it's such a slow burn, because we get to see their friendship properly develop before we jump into anything else. That's how you know their foundation will be strong.

The Unkillable Princess is a fast paced read, but nothing felt underdeveloped, not the world, not the plot, and certainly not the characters. The chapters are short, so the book is easily bingeable, but I found myself trying to drag it out as long as possible because I simply didn't want it to end. I would live in this world if I could.

If you're a fan of shows like Firefly or Vagrant Queen, you'll love this book. If you trust any of my recs, please trust this one. Taran Hunt is an amazing author, and I need this series to take over the universe, so PLEASE READ IT!!! And also buy it so the rest of the books can come out too, thank you!!

P.S. I'm in hibernation until book three.

*Huge thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Brilliant. Quite different to the first book, although I enjoyed that one too, but this was very different in character, although not in characters...
The first book was quite gruesome and claustrophobic, but this one had a variety of locations, and although there was some violence, it was quite different. I guess what I'm saying is that readers who may have been slightly put off by some of the first book, will not have a problem with this sequel!
The plot was great, the characters became much more well-developed (not constantly running for their lives will do that...) and it was interesting to see the interactions between the three of them. There were a few more characters, which did compliment the story, although I found the Sisters and the sisters quite amusing.
The novel is quite long, but as there was plenty of action, plenty of twists and a great plot, I stayed head down for very long stretches!
I can't wait for more from this clever author!

At the start of the last book, I’d found Sean’s constant cheeky chappie persona a tad wearing. However, his overly cheeriness wasn’t an issue this time around – for once his long-dead sister surfaced, so did Sean’s trauma about the lethal attack that took out his family. Not surprising, given that he’d stood and mourned over his sister’s battered body, before fleeing the ongoing attack with his best friend, Benny when he was a mere teenager.

I thought this was very deftly handled. Sean’s shocked response and introspection could have so easily derailed the narrative drive and prevented this book from being the action-packed, plot-twisting adventure Hunt was going for. Instead, while we are treated to plenty of musings on his troubled past – Sean also has a whole lot going on right now. Stuff that could quickly end his life if he doesn’t pay attention. In addition, he finds himself caught up in a plot involving two mortal enemies – the Republic and the Ministers, who are the immortal overseers who’d destroyed Sean’s home planet, Kystrom.

This being Hunt, the above description makes the whole business sound a lot more cut and dried than it actually is. Sean is never sure exactly who are the major players – and whether Brigid is an innocent who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or one of the major players in her own right. Along with all the double-dealing, unexpected ambushes and sudden attacks, issues such as forgiveness, survivor guilt and how far family bonds should matter are explored.

We are given a ringside seat into the no-holds-barred sibling rivalry between Sean and Brigid during their upbringing. Some of the incidents are funny, while others reveal a darker side to both siblings’ driven personalities and their need to always win. That drive has clearly helped Sean survive the tough years when he and his best friend, Benny, ended up having to survive any way they could. Brigid had quite a different experience, having been rescued as one of the relatively few survivors and been adopted and brought up by one of the Ministers. An experience that has left her very bitter. While sibling relationships often act as a trigger to a narrative – I’m trying to recall the last time when I read such a frank deep-dive into the unspoken aspect of sibling relationships. The fact that when it comes to your parents and your interactions with them as a child, you are always competing for attention and approval with your brothers and sisters. Hunt’s portrayal of Sean and Brigid’s relationship completely sidesteps any hint of sentimentality and is all the more poignant and powerful because the resentments and guilt is right there, alongside the longing and loss they both experienced on believing the other one was dead.

All in all, this is cracking read on several levels. There is sufficient double-dealing and action to please the soul of any space opera reader, while Hunt’s skillful depiction of the main characters gives all that rushing about extra heft, because I really cared what happened to both Sean and Brigid. Highly recommended for fans who like their adventure to feature complex, interesting characters – but whatever you do, read The Immortality Thief first. While I obtained an arc of The Unkillable Princess from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.

I was so keen to receive this book, having loved the first instalment! A good sequel is like meeting up with old friends, and this really didn't disappoint in that regard. I was particularly interested to see what happened next with Sean - after his 'changes' in the previous book - and Indigo, now estranged from his people. The backstory is also excellent as it slowly unfolds and we discover more about what is going on between the humans and the Ministers.

The only flaw for me was the time-jumping. Sean's flashbacks helped flesh out his backstory in the first book, but here it sometimes took me out of the action (of which there is a LOT!). I understand why it's necessary but I found myself putting this aside between chapters, whereas before I'd been gripped throughout.

Definitely happy to have more from Taran Hunt, though. They're on my Must Read list moving forward!

The book starts more or less immediately when the previous one ends. The story continues with our three protagonists trying to save the world and bring peace to a fractured society, while also struggling to overcome their own personal demons. In contrast to the previous book, this one is far heavier on emotion and philosophy, and much lighter on horror, and, to some extent, even sci-fi.

I liked this book in many ways even more than the previous one, which I also liked a lot. The emotional depth this installment brings to our characters, and the more existential themes it touches, make the story so much more well rounded. It's hard not to root for the protagonists on their own personal journeys of redemption. This book also takes this series beyond the realm of sci fi, and into literature per se. The humaneness of the message and emotional nuance in the relationships described are rarely seen in this genre, making this series all the better for them.

The writing is as vivid and enegergising as in the previous book - making it very difficult to put down. I read it basically in two goes, finding distractions annoying. The author is clearly an exceptionally talented storyteller, with a lot more to give us, her readers.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and really hoped to love it as much as that one, yet it fell just a little short. It was really good, once I got into it, it just flows a little differently and at times the constant back and forth is a little confusing and distracting. I felt it was hard to connect with the characters the way I did in the beginning of their journey. Do not get me wrong, it was exciting and action pact with an emotional component that wove the story together in a nice little package. Towards the end, I really felt myself getting into the groove of it and was right there with our three friends as they fight constantly to stay alive and together. They seem to find danger everywhere they go, and its never simple. I am really looking forward to more from this world and hope so much to find the next one easier to get into, because I really love the characters and spent a couple of years checking and checking for a publishing date for this one. That is how much I loved the first one. Such an interesting storyline, science fiction at its finest, and I love a little romance too, but this one does not have that element, yet the love they feel for each other really hits me. Family is not always what your born into and this really shows you that. I cannot wait for more!

3.75 ⭐️

I really enjoyed The Immortality Thief, the combination of space horror and humor and lovable characters worked perfectly for me. We lose the space horror in this book, and instead get more of an action packed, political spy thriller. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much. I found it almost too fast paced at points, and the switching back and forth with the dual timeline was a bit jarring at times. What I did enjoy was the continued development of the characters and relationships between Sean, Indigo and Tamara, as well as a character we meet at the end of book 1. There's an expansion of the world building as well, this book spends a lot of time in The Republic which was interesting.

I am very much looking forward to the third book. The set up at the end of this book makes me very excited to continue.

I did reread the first book before picking this up, but I do think Taran Hunt did a good job of reminding you of important points from book 1 as they come up which is very much appreciated.

Taran Hunt returns to the world of The Immortality Thief in this super-fast paced sci fi thriller, The Unkillable Princess.

The Unkillable Princess picks up shortly after the events of the Immortality Thief, and the crew of the Viper, Sean Wren, Tamara Gupta and Indigo, the Ministerial Deserter find themselves entrenched in political espionage after Sean receives a communication out of the blue from his supposedly dead sister.

With a plot that moves at the pace of a zip wire, whilst having a bevy of twists and turns, The Unkillable Princess is a fantastic joyride of a book that never lets up.

Moving away from the isolation sci fi tones of the first novel, Taran Hunt shifts gears and tones with this the follow up. She expands the world of the republic as the book moves away from the singular location haunted house tone of the first book and takes in the planet of Parnasse and other areas of the Republic. The scope of the setting gives the narrative broadness that adds to the story.

As Sean attempts to determine if the contact that he has received is actually from his sister, we follow the group as their relationship grows. In addition to this we find out more about Sean and his background in the form of flashbacks. Initially this structure can confuse the reader, but as they become used to the structure it further expands the universe and what happened in the past.

The Unkillable Princess is a frenetically fast paced follow up to the Immortality Thief that is utterly enjoyable.

’The Immortality Thief’ had one of the best sci-fi premises I have come across in some time. Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy the execution of this idea. ‘The Unkillable Princess’ has a much less unique premise, but a better execution. My main issue with ‘The Immortality Thief’ was that it felt ‘sparse’, since most of the book just consisted of the main group of characters walking through an abandoned spaceship, encountering various obstacles on their way. The second book does not suffer from this; the world-building that felt very rickety before now comes to life as the characters set out to explore the galaxy they’ve been talking about. However, I still find myself somewhat apathetic towards the main trio and their relationships - in theory they are all very interesting characters and have rather intriguing dynamics playing out between them, but this failed to translate into actual emotional attachment for me.

Overall, this is a solid book; it is very readable, the plot is logical and the characters lovable. However, there are still some significant flaws that really dampened my enjoyment of the story. Initially, I was very put off by the very frequent time jumps that were happening all throughout the book. During the first ~15% of the book they are very disorienting, as the 2 times we are jumping back and forth between are not sufficiently distinct to not cause confusion. Most importantly, I don’t see what these early flashbacks are adding to the narrative. As the story moves on, the flashbacks start heading to more distant times, and thus become far less obstrusive. Sometimes the sub-headings proclaiming what time the reader was visiting would interrupt the flow of the text and yank me out of immersion, but this happened less and less as I continued reading.
Another thing that annoyed me a bit was the fact that most chapters were around 3 pages long. I understand that preferred chapter length is a matter of taste, but I just cannot understand why such short chapters were chosen.
Apart from this, there were some moments where I questioned whether Sean might’ve gotten hit on the head a couple of times too many - like when he immediately accepted that his sister was alive upon receiving a written message from her, not even once questioning whether it might be a trap - but he is written to be a bit of dummy, so that kinda checks out. I’d also like to add that, as a person working on a master’s degree in linguistics, I really appreciated the way linguistics was used in the first book, as there aren’t many fiction books that do this to begin with. So I would have loved to see more of Sean’s linguistics background, for purely self-serving reasons.

A great squeal, that was excitibg to the end, with surprises, twists and turns through out, I can't for the next book to be released.

Once again I had a lot of fun with Taran Hunt's Kystrom Chronicles. This 2nd instalment picked up the story that was developed in the first book and took it in some great directions. What I didn't enjoy very much was the constant flashbacks and time changes. Some longer sections in the here and now and then minor intrusions of the past would have made for a better, more succinct reading experience. As it is the flashbacks really hurt The Unkillable Princess and I'd love the next book to do without them, or to have them done in a more fluid way.

The Unkillable Princess is the sequel to 2023’s The Immortality Thief by Taran Hunt. Sean with his new companions Republican defector Tamara and Minister general Indigo have just escaped the Nameless with a third of the Philosopher Stone data and blackmailed a Senator to start peace talks with the Ministers. When Sean’s long thought dead sister contacts him for help, they are dragged into a conspiracy to ignite the cold war between the Republic and the Ministers into all out war.

This sequel has a very different vibe and energy from The Immortality Thief. From the scifi horror thriller that first book was, this is a full on scifi spy thriller. This will be down to personal taste, but I quite liked The Immortality Thief more than I did this sequel which just didn’t deliver what I was expecting. This book had plenty (too much actually) of formal flashbacks that really broke up any momentum as compared to the previous book where the flashbacks were more informal recollections thrown in that served to break the tension. This structure just didn’t serve the new direction of the plot as well. That said, the story is action-packed, thrilling, and fast paced with a twisty plot that delivers on its spy thriller premise.

What it has going for it though is the development of the interpersonal relationships between Sean, Tamara, and Indigo as a found family of their own. It is in the quiet moments with this newly bound family that The Unkillable Princess outshines The Immortality Thief as we explore each of these characters and why they are drawn to each other. It’s that hint of coziness that allowed for the book to reach its many emotional highs and lows. I did tear up in this one (which the first book didn’t manage to get me to do).

We get to see the implications of Indigo’s confession and how Sean and him can build a relationship despite it. Here, Sean is faced with many more moral questions including choosing between the family he thought he lost or the family he found in the aftermath. One question that continues to hound me is the exact relationship of the central trio. Are they in a queerplatonic relationship? A throuple? Or just a family? I really don’t know, but I welcome any of those choices.

The Unkillable Princess takes the series to a different direction but retains its heart in these characters we grow to know and love.

*Thank you to Solaris Books for the eARC via NetGalley

The Unkillable Princess is a fast paced Sci Fi story full of narrow escapes, spies and a great example of a found family. It follows directly on from the events in Taran Hunt’s previous book but takes the story in a whole new direction. The trio of Sean, Tamara and Indigo want to use their discoveries of the previous book to bring peace to the warring sides of the Republic and the Ministers when Sean receives a very unexpected from his sister. This message from someone he though was dead for the past eight years leads the three of them on a journey that takes in multiple planets, political intrigue and rebellion.
I missed the tightknit, almost claustrophobic setting of The Immortality Thief but loved the way that the found family theme of the book deepened as the bonds between Sean, Tamara and Indigo grew stronger. The plot was extremely wide-ranging and for me, there was almost too much in this book especially combined with the frequent flashbacks which meant that the storyline sometimes felt quite fragmented.
This was a great read and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the Kystrom Chronicles.
Thank you as always to NetGalley and the publishers, Rebellion, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Immortality Thief was hands-down one of the best books of 2022. It was always going to be a hard act to follow but oh boy did The Unkillable Princess knock it out the park! I don’t know how to put into words just how good this was and how much I desperately need news of a book three after this ending (Solaris? Solaris, hello?? Don’t leave me hanging!!). This series is sci-fi at its very very best.

Having discovered that his sister is actually not dead at the end of book one, Sean is now on a quest to find her, alongside (initially unwittingly) Tamara and Indigo. Except, heading to find her brings him back into the orbit of the senator who sent him to the ship in the first place, and Brigid might not be the same sister Sean knew any longer.

There’s so much about this book and series that’s incredible but truly what makes it for me is the relationship between Sean, Tamara, and Indigo. They started out as very reluctant allies and, to an extent, they still were by the end of book one. But their progression in this book… Amazing! Show-stopping! Spectacular! Sean and Indigo in particular had some scenes that left me almost winded. Especially at the end. (Hence the need to hear about a book three because you can’t just leave it like that!!) (Also I’m starting to side-eye various interactions between Sean and Indigo like, am I meant to read into them Like That or what?)

On top of this, the series as a whole is meticulous in its worldbuilding. This is a book you find yourself absorbed in, not just on account of the character relationships, but because the world itself is so incredibly compelling too. Obviously, book one didn’t move much beyond the haunted ship, but in this one we get to see more of the universe around that, we get to see Sean, Indigo and Tamara interacting with locations and scenarios that aren’t a horror ship. It’s tonally different from the previous book in that respect and it’s so fun for it.

And then, the plot. First of all, Sean is a fool, a first-class fool, but it’s okay. We knew that. Most of the plot involves our three main characters chasing after Brigid, but there’s an undercurrent too of the implications of releasing the philosopher’s stone data as they did. They’re being hunted on two fronts, by the senator who wants revenge and by factions unknown. It’s a plot that sinks its hooks into you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go.

Then, horror of horrors, it leaves you on a cliffhanger with no news of a book three even having been sold. Please, Solaris, I can’t go through another City of Lies situation, I just can’t! Therefore, I need everyone who reads this review to commit to picking up this series. You won’t regret it!

7.5 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/the-unkillable-princess-by-taran-hunt-review/

It’s really hard to bottle lightning twice. After the claustrophobic and haunted corridors of an ancient spaceship in orbit above a nameless star, the return to regular space feels like a letdown, and the same elements I loved in the Immortality Thief didn’t quite have the same allure in its sequel. But then, if you spend the entire first book stuck in one room only to emerge into the world proper at its end, one of two likely things are going to occur. Either you’ll feel overwhelmed by the beauty of the vibrant world, or you’ll feel underwhelmed by the lack of detail in the underpopulated world. I hate to say it, but Unkillable Princess is very much the latter.

There’s still some detail to be had, but it’s only really found at the two worlds that we visit over the course of the tale. Otherwise there’s empty space, an under-described spaceship, and not much else. The atmosphere is completely different—and while I understood the necessity of it—this still proved a disappointment. Luckily the story’s still solid, if conveyed in a bit of an awkward way. See, this installment takes place over two general timelines: the present day, and the past.

Now, if you thought “the past” was kinda vague—yeah, it is. At first, “the past” was back when Brigid was alive, when Kystrom was unspoiled. The first few flashbacks took place here. Then, the started skipping around at random. They were still relatively consistently placed, but rather than taking you back to tell the story of Sean and his sister, they… just kinda fill in wherever. This was awkward as hell, and just as confusing to start, but eventually I got used to it, and—as the overarching plot unfolded—whatever lore this could glean was appreciated. Because, again, as awkward as this sequel was at times, I still found the story quite good: compelling, immersive, and often even heart-wrenching. True, the atmosphere was dramatically different than its predecessor, but it was nonexistent, just… changed.

The story itself is quite good, and immersive enough to carry the load left by its atmosphere. The characters remain the book’s Number 1 strength, both the returning cast and the new core that have been added in. There are more glimpses of Benny in the past, as well as Brigid, and in the present Tamara and Indigo have new friends and foes to compete with. It all works quite quite, despite everything failing to fall together like they did in the Immortality Thief.

I will say that where before some attempt was made to include science in this fiction, there’s little in the way of it here. Time dilation is completely ignored, and no reason is given for it being ignored. Hyperspace too, is just accepted as a thing that exists, and that’s about the end of it. It’s far from a deal-breaker, and I know most people might not care, but I like a little tech-speak in my sci-fi novels. A little explanation for why things are the way they are. Another added detail of the universe. Something that the Unkillable Princess really could’ve benefited from.

TL;DR

The story may have changed, but the characters are more than welcoming enough to readers returning to what they knew and loved from Book #1. And honestly, while I found the atmosphere and its weight and description lacking, the story this new world tells is a really good one. But other than the story and its characters, the Unkillable Princess has little else going for it. Chaotic, often awkward flashbacks may add lore and plot, or they might distract from it. But the overarching question remains: even without the perfect storm, can the story and its cast carry the day? And yes, it seems they can. For while a had a myriad of issues with this sophomore effort, it remains an adequate, entertaining entry in the Kystrom Chronicles, and one that deserves to be loved.

If the first book in the Klystrom Chronicles ("The Immortality Thief", go read it if you haven't yet!) was an isolation horror novel, this book is a run-against-the-clock spy thriller, centered around chosen families and blood families, too, and how one doesn't always mean the other has no place. It's about trust and finding ways toward peace, and dealing with ugliness when you're just so very tired of everything being so ugly.

Both books are also about how sometimes, the loved on in your memory no longer exists - and in their place is a violent stranger, because people don't stop changing when you stop looking at them.

A wonderful read between Christmas and the New Year. This is book two of The Kystrom Chronicles by Taron Hunt. The three main characters met in book one and as that book is so good, you really should read it first.

In this book, the three are family and trying to establish peace between the twin star systems. A big ask to say the least! It picks up just where the first book ends and is a full pelt adventure. I read it in two sittings.

This book contains camaraderie, danger and thrills but isn't as terrifying as book one. Our trio go undercover, break into government facilities, liaise... There were also tears! Oh goodness, there was such a sad part....

The book is published on 11th February so you have plenty of time to order it and read book one. Enjoy.