Book Review: TO Avenge a Fallen Star by Qilanna Quinn 2.5/5 stars

 I broke a rule I made for myself this year to read the Advance Reader Copy of To Avenge a Fallen Star by Qilanna Quinn!  (my rule was that I'm only requesting advanced listener copies as it takes me a really long time to read a print copy) .

I love a space based romance.  I am not sure why but if I look back at my most enjoyable reading experiences in the past three years, books I adored with my whole heart, lungs and mind - more than I care to admit were Space Based Romance.  They masquerade a bit as "Science Fiction"  but mostly, if the entire story could be moved to a different setting and not really lose much- I consider them to be a "relationship book"  based in Space. 

So when I saw this on Net-Galley, I resisted for a few days and then decided to give it a go.

Many Many thanks to Net-Galley and Qilanna Quinn for trusting me with this earc. Quinn is an Independent author, and I can tell that this is a work of passion for this author.

To Avenge a Fallen Star feels a bit like a fan -fiction mash up of Squid Games, The Hunger Games and a touch of Star Trek- combined with some explicit on page romance scenes. Readers who have enjoyed these novels and shows may want to pre-order a copy for the March release of this book.

We follow Gemma, a somewhat unlikely heroine as she competes in a series of mental and physical trials to determine if she can leave her planet (populated by the descendants of prisoners) to serve as an elite protector of a different "parent" planet. Gemma isn't just a one trick pony- she's also got an ulterior motive, she's hoping to spark off a revolution that will help her people gain more political power and hopefully live better lives. Is she the best person for this job? Maybe not, but she's giving it her all!

As Gemma competes, and develops relationships, (one particularly swoony one with a very sincere young man) she learns that all may not be as it seems and that she's possibly underestimated both sides of the conflict. In addition, she seems to have possibly developed some additional super powers that no-one anticipated.

This book is full of difficult decisions, hidden motives, found family, romance, and some cool world building. Gemma makes several choices based on her heart, and to find out what happens, you'll want to pick up a copy of this novel. For me personally, not all of the characters really jumped off the page, and some of the writing was a bit awkward, but I still was able to finish the book without any issues. 

The Cover- is stunning - created by digital artist Kateryna Vitkovskaya and it really sold me on the book. I really wanted to hop right into that scene!

STATS:

First Published: COMING March 25. 2025 BRAND NEW! 

Pages: 374

Available as an Audiobook: No

Trigger warnings: Parent loss, suicide, depression , Child abuse, SA, generational trauma, violence, war violence, .

As always this is not a complete list, please read responsible.