Description
Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realizes that notorious outlaw Ia Cocha is a seventeen-year-old girl.
A criminal mastermind and unrivaled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorizing the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. When the Commonwealth captures her and her true identity is exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity: by forcing her to serve them, they will prove that no one is beyond their control.
Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?
Overall Thoughts
5/5 stars
OH. MY. GOD.
Give me a moment to pick my jaw up off the floor, because even three days after I finished this book I am still in shock. WOW.
*Takes a deep breath*
Okay, if you are looking for a morally grey POC main character whose badassery knows no bounds, you want to read Ignite the Stars. If you crave action, angsty introspective searches for the thin line between right and wrong, and an MC who actually lives up to her title as a the Blood Wolf of the Skies & Sovereign of Dead Space, you NEED to pre-order Ignite the Stars. Betrayal, a dash of romance, and world building that makes me want to get on the first shuttle to space, Ignite the Stars is THE YA sci-fi of the year.
I know what you’re thinking! Kennedy, It’s only July.
THIS BOOK IS JUST THAT GOOD!! The plot was well paced, I read it in one day and wish I had the sequel in my hands right that moment. My love for this book knows no bounds. I RARELY ever give out 5 star reviews, but this one was such a well rounded read!
Plot
This book starts off with a bang as Ia Cocha is captured in a fierce battle against the Olympus Commonwealth. From there the book just RUNS with it. You know that feeling when you are riding a rollercoaster and you get to the very very top, that moment when your heart is in your throat and your pulse is skyrocketing because you’re about to drop and you know it’s going to be a crazy ride? THAT is the feeling this book gave me. Every plot point in this book, played out like a movie. Maura’s writing style allows to the reader to become one with the pages of the novel and when you read this book you forget that you’re on earth instead of an alien planet. While the book is pretty action packed, there’s a good balance between external and internal conflict (which I LOVED).
Ia struggles to find her place in an enemy's military academy and is confronted with the realization that not everything is as black and white as she once believed. All the meanwhile, Ia plans her escape and the vengeance she will exact on those who captured her. The world building was superb, everything from the tech to the planet systems was fantastic. Even though the story is set in the familiar genre of Sci-Fi, the details that Maura crafted felt crisp and new.
Characters
Ia Cocha isn’t one of those characters who only had a badass reputation, she proves it. She doesn’t pull her punches, she says it like it is. While she is deserving of her criminal title, Ia Cocha is more than just a law breaker. She’s a complex character hardened by the trials of war, trying to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong in a world that constantly tells her she is the enemy. Despite her criminal nature, there’s a depth of compassion and honor to Ia that makes her a character you can root for. In addition to Ia, the novel features the POV of two other characters, Brinn and Knives.
While I noticed some readers mentioned that they didn’t think that Brinn’s POV was necessary, I thought that all three of the POV’s worked together beautifully to create a well rounded view of the narrative. I loved all the characters, Knives was especially swoon worthy and I loved the resilience and character growth Brinn developed. The backgrounds and characteristics of each individual, heightened the authenticity of the story and promised much more drama in the next novel.
Concluding Thoughts
AHHHH! I absolutely LOVED this book!! 5 star ratings are not run of the mill for me, but Ignite the Stars had everything I wanted in a book. It was action packed, the characters had a depth and inner struggle, and a dash of romance. It also just makes my heart sing, knowing that such a fierce female MC is a POC who shares a similar heritage as me.
Even though this novel was amazing, I feel like Maura just scratched the surface of what Ia has to offer, the ending leaves room for an even more action packed sequel and I can’t wait to see what she has in store next of the legendary Blood Wolf of the Skies! I would highly recommend you pre-order this novel. It’s a book that you most definitely want to read, so you might as well pre-order it now and take advantage of the awesome pre-order campaign, which will get you an enamel pin of Ia Cocha’s red feather.
Click here to pre-order Ignite the Stars
Click here to take advantage of the Ignite the Stars Pre-order campaign
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About the Author of Ignite the Stars
Maura Milan grew up in Chicago and now resides in Los Angeles, where she works in video production. She received a BA from USC's School of Cinematic Arts and has placed a number of short films in festivals all over the United States. In her free time, you can find her drinking green tea lattes and writing in cafes, watching Korean dramas, and hanging out with her dog, Thor. Ignite the Stars is Maura’s debut novel. Visit her website and find her on Twitter and Instagram.
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