Some of you read so fast! 😍 If you want to discuss book spoilers, theories, or what you think might happen next this is your place! You can ask me questions, but I may or may not answer because some of them might be spoilers for future books. :)
If you haven’t read the book yet, TURN BACK NOW.
Seriously, here be spoilers.
Run away, run away!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Okay, that should be enough to hide any comments for someone who inadvertently wanders by. Everyone else, have fun!
Ok, I’m not done with it—life got in the middle of it, so I’m still at 75%—but Torran saying, “I’m not a pet. I can look after myself.” just made me lose it 😂😂
51% through the book – darn work getting in the way. Loving it!!
Finished it and I absolutely loved it! The final chapter was just 🔥🔥, but really sweet. I really loved this about the book actually; it had less action than normal from you, I felt, but all the found family fells were exactly what I wanted from this story.
But now that I’m through with it, I’m just **WHO’S GONNA BE IN THE THIRD BOOK**. Because I was right there with Tavi, speculating about Anja, Eli, Havil, and Chira 👀👀👀 Seriously, any combination there sounds good. Really, truly, any. There’s gonna be a third book, right? I’m not hallucinating that, am I?
Now I’m really excited to dig in in the pre-order website, read the novelette and check out the translations. But I do have a question: at the end, it says the next one comes out in July.. of 2023. That’s a typo, right? I could’ve sworn it was July of this year.
I’m pretty sure that 2023 is a typo, but I’ve reached out to my editor to confirm. And there is going to be a third book! Their identities, though… 😈
Oh, thanks goodness it’s this year! I always think it’s neat when in a series, a book’s pub date gets pushed, and runs smack dab into the sequel; gotta love how that works out for us, readers lol. And a third-yay! Also, having read some of your replies, I’m remembering that you said you were experimenting with a different writing style (?), if I’m not mistaken: does that mean that we might possibly accompany Tavi again, even though the focus will be on Kee?
I don’t remember what I was referring to if I said a new writing style, but the second book will be from Kee’s point of view! Tavi and co will still be around, of course, but you’ll get a new POV.
It’s gotta be Lexi and Nilo!
You’re right! It makes a lot of sense, much as I would love to read about Elias as a protag lol! Still, discovering more about Nilo would be a fair exchange haha
Amazon lists it as July 12 2022. Thank goodness we won’t have to wait an extra year 😁
OK, the question I’ve been dying to ask since I read the ARC months ago… can we please get recipes for Tavi’s veggie lasagna and the chickpea tomato curry? 😂
The veggie lasagna is based on this Cook’s Illustrated version. It’s delicious but a lot of work!
The chickpea curry, if I’m remembering correctly, is a chana masala. There are a million different recipes, but we’ve used this one before and enjoyed it.
I snorted out loud several times, but this might have been my favorite: “I was still furious at him for keeping his nephew a secret, but I could admire and fume at the same time. I was good at multitasking.” Gotta love a woman who can multitask! 😄
So much fun. So many new characters to get to know! And what other mental capabilities might the Valovians be hiding, hmmm?
I’m about to dive back in and read through a second time, maybe more slowly this time, but the thing that struck me the most was, I sort of expected Luna to sneak into the expedition and play a pivotal role. Something like alerting the team to a threat, since that was mentioned early on about her history.
Im curious about the burbus. It’s like there’s a cultural and/or military significance to them… It’s like it speaks well of Tavi’s character that Luna chose her as family.
Their significance is more cultural than military. They are highly protected and revered on Valovia and while they aren’t generally kept as pets, having one decide to stay nearby is a considered a sign of good fortune.
But after Tavi rescued and healed her, Luna formed a strong bond to the captain. And because burbus can sense emotion and are telepathic/empathic, it does speak well of Tavi that Luna chose her, because the burbu felt Tavi was safe and kind.
I just re-read a part about shoulder guards. Then I realized- Luna weighs 5 kg? Isn’t that kinda heavy to have riding around on your shoulder, no matter how cute? Though it does sound like she hops on and off fairly frequently.
I think I said <5 kg? Maybe? Lol. She’s in the 8-9 lb range in my mind. :) Heavy, but not terribly, and she does tend to move frequently.
I finished it at 5 this morning. Luckely I got to sleep a few hours after that. Now I’m on my end reread. I do this with most of the books that I finish reading in the middle of the night. I’m always a bit afraid I missed something due to a sleepy head.
I really love the story. My guess is that Lexi is coming back for the third book and get her happy end with Nilo.
Hey Kim! You know…… you just reminded me I need to do that on this book, I kept waking myself up last night/morning and going back a page or so, as I wasn’t sure what I missed falling asleep
Finished it last night and looking forward to re-reading this weekend to see if i can catch some details that I missed.
Laughed out loud many times and truly enjoyed when she was angry. “… The meal bar I ate tasted extra delicious with a side of spite.” Hehe! Been there sister! That line really resonated with me!
Paula, that is what I am going to do too! Reread and enjoy the details. Reliving the book too, it is a delight to read.
I was curious about the significance of the aura’s that Tavi can see when she concentrates on the Valoffs? It is mentioned in the book that the FHP was unable to determine the significance of these aura’s before Tavi resigned her commission. Can you share any more? I just finished the book and I loved it.
Also, on a personal note: I work as an ICU nurse, we are deep in the Covid surge (again) here in Southern Oregon. I have seen so much pain, death and sadness, with a seemingly endless stream of critically ill covid patients since the pandemic began. So I have been trying to counterbalance all this with somewhat with exercise, spending time with family and well, reading a lot on my days off. Yesterday my wife and I listened to the first three hours of Hunt the Stars together as part of “date night” (I had to know how it ended so I just finished reading our paperback copy). Thank you for bringing a little joy to our lives this week. The book will have a treasured spot on our bookshelf.
I was wondering that too. One color of aura for telekinetic, one for healer etc.? Same with the eye color?
Plus could Tavi and Torran have kids if they chose? Are Valovians and Humans compatible that way? Torran mentioned his nephew would have the ring until he had kids of his own.
I loved the book. Thank you 📖😀
See my reply to Justin about aura color, but eye color is just like human eye color—it’s not based on ability, and the true secret is this: mostly it’s colors I think are pretty. 😉
Tavi and Torran could have kids! Valoffs are basically humans that evolved some new mental abilities. Or humans are Valoffs who lost those abilities. The scientists are still arguing about which way it went. :)
Aww, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and I adore that you listened to the audiobook with your wife! 💕💕💕
The aura colors themselves aren’t directly tied to ability or strength, but Tavi is seeing a little bit of a visual manifestation of a Valoff’s innate ability, which becomes obliquely relevant in book two, and probably more so in book three, once I write it. 😂
Just finished and loved it!! So well written and humorous and I very much enjoyed the bits with Luna. Sometime even with books I enjoy there are parts that kind of kick me out of the moment and make me pause but I didn’t experience that at all.
Thank goodness the next one isn’t in 2023. :)
And thanks for an excellent read. Can’t wait to reread it.
Thank you very much. You are one of very few authors I preorder without question, and this book surpassed expectations. The characters, interactions, and plot are all very well developed, and your writing is, as always, beautiful and evocative.
Side note, my mom called as i was mid-book, and i was having such a good time reading it and drinking tea that I answered the phone so cheerfully my mom thought i had some unexpected good news. Nope. Just a lovely time with a book :)
Oh, I love tea and a good book! So glad it brought you joy! 💕
I finished the book. Whew in a good way. I can relate to Kee so much. When I’m in the middle of doing statistics or health policy work, I tend to forget what time it is, let alone what day it is. Also, yes to apology cookies! A new name for any batch of cookies.
A future empress owing Tavi for saving her son. Oh boy. This is going to be interesting.
Thank you! Can’t wait to read the next book.
I ordered based on House Andrews recommendation and I devoured this book. I’ve been telling my husband for months that I’ve been looking for an author that I love as much as Ilona Andrews. And I’ve found her! That little burbu had my heart and each and every character was relatable and brought a happiness to my heart. I loved it. I loved the part where she said that she could fume and still admire. Also, I loved that when she found out about the boy, she was the most upset that the boy was being traumatized longer than needed because she would have approached the situation differently to get him sooner. That spoke volumes about her heart and character.
I just got covid shortly after I finished your book. The book was great and I’m enjoying listening to the audiobook while getting better. Thank you so much for the fun read.
Got alerted to the release by the Andrew’s newsletter and jumped right on it. Loved your other series. Had to force myself to put it down because of work, but finished this evening. So glad there will be more than just two books! I want to see them all get their HEAs with the proper person or persons!
And I want Morten caught and stabbed, repeatedly, and the real story exposed!
Excellent start, can’t hardly wait for more!
Great book, and ordered the second. Hmm, hunky male protagonist who is wealthy, handsome, a war hero, and powerful telekinetic. Now I know what Mad Rogan in space would be like.
Back when Polaris Rising came out, Ilona Andrews promoted it but it didn’t catch my eye really (I was deep in a historical romance binge I think). But recently I found it in my local library’s Libby offerings at the same time that House Andrews promoted Hunt the Stars. I decided to give Polaris Rising a go, fell absolutely head-over-heels in love, and promptly devoured every single book you’ve written! Just finished Hunt the Stars this afternoon and I LOVED it most of all. Excellent characters. Can’t wait for the next one!
Just found you thru Ilona, and I 💜 💜 💜 💜 Hunt the Stars! I can’t wait for Eclipse the Moon to come out! Next check, I’ll be getting your other books to help tide me over. Between you, Ilona Andrews, Christine Feehan, Patricia Briggs, Faith Hunter (and many others that I read in between), you’ve given me enough reading material that I need another 7′ bookshelf! I mean, you can only triple stack books on each shelf, any more and they’re falling on the floor (like they are almost doing anyways). 🙃
I’m so glad you enjoyed HTS! And I understand about the bookshelf conundrum, a bunch of mine are stacked two/three deep, too!