Mindi Briar

Dawn and Nox grew up on the rebel’s space station. Dawn is content to work in farming and food production, while her sister is a passionate soldier for the cause, each living their separate lives, until Nox injures herself and convinces Dawn to take her place in an upcoming mission. On a distant planet, Amy is a university student who is struggling to live up to her famous mother’s memory, so when she gets an offer to leave the studies that are making her miserable and join an expedition show more on another world, she jumps at the chance. Nobody expects the complications that will result from their choices.

I really liked this! I haven’t had the best luck with Early Reviewer books, but this was a very entertaining story, I liked the characters a lot, the universe is a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to reading more books in the series. I didn’t realize it was book 2 in a series until after I’d finished, so you don’t have to read book 1 first. show less

I was fortunate to win a copy of Adrift in Starlight by Mindi Briar from LibraryThing. I was sold on the book when I read the lines: “Just… avoiding contact with humans. That, more than anything, proves they’re intelligent life-forms.” This book is so much better than its blurb makes it sound and that wasn’t bad. The author has done an excellent job of depicting characters who are not cis het white and made them believable. They have also created an immersive future world that runs show more on dragon power, a fantastic combination that makes for engaging world building.The adventures of our brave crew of Tai (aka Titan), Aisha, Jimin, and Hue on various worlds are exciting and dangerous and help create this found family. I was hoping for a link to the next book at the end of this one. show less

Adrift in Starlight is the first novel in the Halcyon Universe series by Mindi Briar.

Content Note: (for this review) misgendering, acemisia, eugenics; for the novel you can find CNs in the book.

Plot:
Tai is a courtesan, and they are very good at their job. That’s why they get hired by actor Xander Bose. Only he doesn’t want to hire them for himself, but for his fiancé Aisha who he feels needs a bit of loosening up. With the money Xander offers, Tai just can’t afford to say no. But they show more soon realize that Aisha – a career-focused historian with a touch aversion – may not be easily seduced. When Tai comes to the museum opening of the exhibition on insectoid aliens that Aisha curated, things take a very unexpected turn for both of them, though.

I really enjoyed Adrift in Starlight. It’s a quick, sweet queer romance in space that gives us a nice ending for Aisha and Tai, while hinting that there is more to come in this world. Absolutely lovely.

Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2022/06/19/adrift-in-starlight-mindi-briar/ show less

An enjoyable read with interesting characters and a fun setting. I'm happy to have reveived this book through Early Reviewers, as it showed a perspective not usually present in science fiction.