I received this galley in consideration for an honest review.
Blood Of A Thousand Stars by Rhoda Belleza Series: Empress of a Thousand Skies #2
Published by Penguin on February 20, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Goodreads
War tears the galaxy apart, power tests the limits of family, and violence gives way to freedom in this exhilarating sequel to Empress of a Thousand Skies.
Empress
With a revolution brewing, Rhee is faced with a choice: make a deal with her enemy, Nero, or denounce him and risk losing her crown.Fugitive
Framed assassin Alyosha has one goal in mind: kill Nero. But to get his revenge, Aly may have to travel back to the very place he thought he'd left forever--home.Princess
Kara knows that a single piece of technology located on the uninhabitable planet Wraeta may be the key to remembering--and erasing--the princess she once was.Madman
Villainous media star Nero is out for blood, and he'll use means necessary to control the galaxy.Vicious politics and high-stakes action culminate in an epic showdown that will determine the fate of the universe.
I saw someone say that this duology was perfect for Star Wars and Firefly fans and I agree completely! I just loved the world of this book so much. The ships, the political intrigue, the planets and their various cultures…they all came together to create the world I enjoyed so much in the first book. I especially loved Nero. Well, maybe not loved, per say, but he was a complicated and interesting villain. There is nothing worse than a two dimensional villain and I kind of wish that we had gotten more background on him. Rhee and Kara both seem t grapple with identity and also what it means to be a leader, although to in the same way. I thought this issue brought some interesting questions to the forefront about justice and what makes a population truly free.
Overall, I enjoyed this second book more than the first. The author seemed to have hit her stride with the storytelling and I felt a little more connected to all of the characters. There was a little more romance in this book, which is always my favorite, so maybe that has something to do with it. I have to say that the rhythm of a duology is really growing on me. It gives the story time to resolve with being rushed, but you can avoid the possibility of middle book syndrome. I think a duology is perfect for this story and I really loved the way the ending resolved the various plot lines. Both of these books
