The Blighted Stars, Review

Megan E. O'Keefe's novel, The Blighted Stars, kicks off The Devoured Worlds trilogy with a gripping tale of survival, betrayal, and conspiracy set in a galaxy where powerful families are destroying planets.

The book follows Naira Sharp, a spy determined to expose the Mercator family's secrets, and Tarquin Mercator, the reluctant heir to the family business who has a passion for geology. After a crash-landing on a barren planet, the two must pool their resources to survive and unravel the truth.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It had a fast-paced and action-packed storyline with plenty of twists and turns. The author skillfully crafted a complex and captivating world with various factions, cultures, and technologies.

The characters were well-developed, and despite initially being enemies, they had great chemistry. I appreciated how they both had their own motivations and flaws and gradually learned to trust each other.

The plot was engaging and kept me guessing until the very end - particularly as I didn't realise it was the start of a trilogy going in, so it was a lovely surprise afterwards finding out that there'll be more.

The writing was smooth and descriptive, with some clever dialogue and humour. It also delved into various themes, such as environmentalism, loyalty, family, and power.

Overall, this was an outstanding space opera that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre. Absolutely cannot wait for book two! The Blighted Stars is one of the most captivating stories I've read this year. It's so well written that I'm going to go buy some of her previous books because I need more!

Rating: 5/5