Kira Navarez is searching for life in the galaxy. On her most recent exploration she accidentally stumbles upon a discovery that could destroy humanity.

I really enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of smart scifi this book is definitely for you. I also thought that Christopher Paolini's sense of humor was in full force in this story, and especially enjoyable if you love puns.

I did think the book was too long, I thought it would have been better suited to a duology than one giant book.

I thought this book as an introduction to the Fractalverse was fascinating, and I will absolutely read more books in the universe when he published them.


If you are a fan of scifi, rag tag groups trying to save the universe, first contact with aliens, and puns this book is for you!


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. While I did really enjoy the book, I was not the biggest fan of the audiobook. If the physical book is within your means I think that is where you should go.

Excellent World-Building and Plot

Audiobook Review:
While science fiction is not my go-to genre, I do like to read it occasionally. I found this book to be exceptionally well done. The author has crafted a very complex and disturbing world and set terrifying things in motion. The world-building was smooth, and I didn't feel like the author did an information dump, as can so often happen in speculative fiction. There's a lot of tech, but the author describes it well so you can easily understand that aspect of it. Interestingly, the story didn't really feel like it was about the characters, who died at an alarming rate (so it was hard to get close to them). The story felt more plot driven than character driven. The pacing was a little uneven—slow here and there, but at other times, with difficulties mounting at an alarming rate. I listened to the audiobook version, which weighs in at 32 1/2 hours. I wasn't particularly wild about the narrator, as she didn't do men's voices well—at least in my ear—and some female voices seemed too masculine, making them hard to distinguish at times. despite these flaws, though, listening to this book transported me to a completely different realm, which rarely happens. I loved that.

Forewarning: I am not a usual sci-fi reader, so I don't know what is "typical" for the genre. I am basing my review on the story itself.

Kira is a xenobiologist finishing up an assignment on a planet when a last minute survey operations sends her down to the planet explore. What she finds there begins her true epic adventure. 

Kira's discovery of an alien artifact scares those around her and she is thrown into numerous difficult situations as an interstellar war erupts all around. She is forced to contend with what she has found and how it affects her life, while trying to figure out how to help end a war and prevent the extinction of the human race. She makes new, unexpected friends, who warily help her in her pursuits to right her wrongs and fight against what is coming, which seem like an endless stream of horrors.

This epic novel explores wonder,  guilt, hope, loss, and strength in a way that I have never seen before. I love the originality of the story. It is truly and epic in every way. With constant battles and emotions, there is no lack for plot, story, and interesting characters.

I was missing some world building and character development towards the beginning. Kira felt like a relatively flat character at the start of the book and while that definitely improved as the book went on, I really wanted more from her at the start. 

As for the narration in the audiobook; I really enjoyed it. There was a very good distinction between characters, which was wonderful, as there are lots of them. Also, FYI this was a 33 hour long audiobook, with about the last two hours being an index of sorts and author acknowledgements.

Overall, it was definitely an interesting book with a great storyline and plenty of action.



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio ARC of this novel. My views and opinions are wholly my own.

To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars by Christopher Paolini is truly a life changing sci fi adventure worthy of being placed in the highest echelon of science fiction literature.

The main plot surrounds xenobiologist Kira who is exposed to a strange alien artifact while on a routine space mission and wakes up 4 weeks later from a "cryosleep". She is informed that this unknown entity has somehow merged within her mind and body and there is no way to extract it.

As the planets in this universe go to war Kira finds herself torn as to her allegiances when her infused alien starts to show her the other sides reasons for going to war. She starts to realize this new knowledge possibly makes her the only person in the galaxy that can save all life not just mankind. She is faced with moral and life dilemmas that are excruciatingly difficult to resolve to everyone's satisfaction including her own.

The journey we travel with Kira and her crew is exciting, adventurous, exhausting, heartbreaking and powerful. Reading or listening to this epic saga is a true commitment. The audio is over 32 hours and the book close to 900 pages. It is such a testament to this incredibly talented author that when I got to the end of the audio I was upset that my relationship with these fully developed characters had come to an end.

The narrator of this huge undertaking is the award winning video game actress Jennifer Hale. This remarkable talented human voices over 50 characters with distinct accents and personalities. It is a master class in acting listening to her.

Sci fi fans will love this book but so will fantasy, romance, women's literature, horror and thriller fans. All genres are represented in this massive story.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio via NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own

Mind-Blowing! Wow, I have no idea what to write in a review of this astonishing story. You just need to read it, but I will try. Okay, Christopher Paolini has been working on this project for like nine years, the details and every aspect of this story was perfectly planned and it definitely shows the amount of work behind it. I've been a fan of Christopher Paolini since Inheritance Series was first published. I was waiting for this book for a while and I was more than excited when I got the honor to review this title. This story is a first contact sci-fi type of story, you get fantastic characters, starting with Kira Navarez. I was so enthralled by the story, how the author added some humor and banter into the story. This book is big, and I love big books and I cannot lie, almost 900 pages, and definitely didn't feel like it, when it's a good book and you get hooked time flies. The audiobook is so well narrated, I was expecting a group of narrators, but Jennifer Hale did a fantastic job, so kudos to her, I am looking forward to what she does next for sure. Brilliant story I am hoping to watch on the big screen someday!

***I was granted ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini is a sci-fi space opera that is fun and exciting to read. The protagonist of the story, Kira, is a scientist that while out on a scouting mission comes in contact with a living alien suit that bonds with her. As she tries to find a way to control her new alien companion, she becomes caught up in a three-way war between humans and two new threats, Jellies and Nightmares, both of which have been triggered into action by the suit's discovery. Along with the crew of the ship the Wallfish, Kira has to find a way to stop the war and figure out what life will be like with her new alien suit. The plot and worldbuilding of this story were great. You can tell how much detail went into the background of the story by the way FTL and life in space are described. The characters are well done too. I enjoyed learning about each one and the relationships they build with Kira along the way. My one gripe would be that the story lagged a few times and I'd be close to losing interest but it would soon capture my attention again. But besides that, the story was great and the ending was in my opinion perfect. I read this as an audiobook and I must say Jennifer Hale was an amazing narrator. She did an excellent job with all the characters and it was a great listening experience.. If you're into science fiction, I think you will love this book.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars. Would highly recommend to a friend.

This was an incredibly beautiful story from start to finish. I absolutely adored all of the characters, the pacing was great and the world building, epic in scope. I have always been a fan of Paolini but the addition of Jennifer Hale was absolute perfection. I will be buying this book soon. Thank you for letting me listen.

Although Paolini's young adult series is in my TBR, listening to his debut science fiction novel for adults is my first experience with his writing. And while I've always hung out more in the fantasy shelves in the science fiction/fantasy section, my interest was piqued by the description. The narrator does a fantastic job with the audio version here - and it's a long book with no other performers - she brings the large cast to life. Her voice is a genuine pleasure to listen to. In some of the "bonus content" at the end, there's a conversation between Paolini and Hale where she reveals that this is actually her first time narrating an audiobook (though she has plenty of voice work experience - games, animation, as well as singing and acting), still I was shocked because this was so professional and just a fantastic debut for her! As Paolini hints at books to come, I hope that they collaborate more in the future! My only complaint about the audio version is the appendices in the end. They are lengthy and just not that enjoyable to listen to, plus they referenced images that are not really described in detail for the audio. I can see that this content wouldn't be so cumbersome in a physical book, but it just didn't translate well for the audio.

But, as for the story itself, I really enjoyed it! Set in the future, humanity continues to explore the bounds of not only our solar system, but others as well. Main character, Kira, is a xenobiologist who unexpectedly makes a discovery that changes not only her completely, but has ramifications for all of humanity. The world building here is truly *stellar* (hahaha, minor spoiler - this book contains some fun puns!). Paolini does a really great job of attending to all of the details, but never gets so bogged down in them that the reader loses sight of the characters and their development. It's an engaging and action-packed listen - though there are some dreamlike interludes that certainly raise some questions that I hope will be addressed in more detail in further books. The afterward isn't exactly clear on if there will be more to Kira's story, directly or not, though.

Still, I greatly enjoyed this and while there were a few times when I felt certain that the book was over - only to realize that there were still hours left to go (although the content at the end threw me in the opposite direction when I actually reached the ending). The lulls between action served to further the development of all of the characters - both major and minor. And while the plot isn't exactly unpredictable, it certainly makes for a fascinating and entertaining listen. And one where it wasn't until the very end that I wished I had a physical copy instead - though I really loved the audio performance.

Wow! What a rollercoaster! The narrator for this novel did a wonderful job with the story. I really enjoyed the inflection and tone given to the vast array of characters. This is a brilliant epic fantasy/sci-fi. Great overarching story with many subplots. I've never read anything else by Christopher Paolini but I've become a fan now and need to go back and read his Inheritance Cycle series. I'd love to revisit this book sometime. Just brilliant! I would HIGHLY recommend!

Thank you Macmillon Audio and NetGalley for the e-Arc of this audiobook in exchange of an honest review. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is my first exposure to Christopher Paolini's writing and I was blown away. This was one of the most expansive science fiction novels I've read in some time that was at the same time easy to follow. It also translated well to the audiobook format. Jennifer Hale's reading was great and expressive.

Kiera's journey from the time she is exposed to the alien artifact is filled with sorrow, re-birth, destruction and unity. She becomes the force that could save humanity if she can deal with what she has become. She is supported by a cast of characters that crew the Wall Fish.

The characters are wonderful (and there are many of them). At times the dialog falters as trust issues abound and topics are re-hashed, but you can really feel that Paolini poured everything into this novel.

This book is a true epic adventure in Science Fiction. It's clear from the detail and research that must have gone into this book that it was incredibly well thought out and developed. I loved all the details from the science involved to all the descriptions. The main character was extremely well developed and easily relatable. If you are into science fiction, particularly alien and first contact stories then definitely give this one a try!

If you are an audiobook listener than I highly recommend the audio version. The narrator does an amazing job bringing Kira to life and I really enjoyed listening to the story. Her voice had all the right inflections and was soothing at the same time.

Every once in a while an epic comes out that makes you want more. This is one of them. Did the fact that Jennifer Hale (Femshep herself) aid in my enjoyment of this book? Yes. Paolini painted a beautiful picture and Jennifer Hale helped bring it to life.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Christopher Paolini's Eragon series, I looked forward to listening to the audiobook of his latest novel, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.

Paolini did not disappoint. His work on this space opera spanned for nearly a decade. The research completed to make it accurate as possible shows he did not rush his writing.

Do not expect to read/listen to this in one sitting. The run time is 32 hours, 29 minutes, and the book is 880 pages. The book could have been released into a trilogy but do not let that scare you. The story may be long, but it is well built and full of completely fleshed out characters and worlds. My favorite character is Gregorovich, a ship mind. Paolini's sarcastic words and the narrator's voice makes him a character as memorable as paranoid Marvin from H2G2.

In 2013, the narrator, Jennifer Hale, was recognized by Guinness World Records as "the most prolific video game voice actor (female)." Her voice is instantly recognizable, and the array of voices she uses in the audiobook are separate and distinct from each other.

Paolini's story and Hale's voices make this an enjoyable story to remember.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/15/20.

Kira Navárez is a xenobiologist who is engaged to a man named Allan. She is sent to investigate a downed drone for a routine mission. While she is completing her inspection of the incident, she notices a strange artifact, but thinks nothing of it as she completes her mission. She wakes up from cryosleep four weeks later, and in the aftermath of her encounter with the artifact, her whole world changes. Kira soon learns that an alien entity has merged with her body, and the binding process has affected more than just her. Whatever this entity is, she is unable to remove it, and is forced to accept that this unexpected first contact has created a new reality for her. Meanwhile, humans and aliens are at war in the universe, and Kira cannot escape that conflict, particularly as she learns more about the entity bound to her body. What she chooses to do for herself, and for humanity, has the potential to change the trajectory of life and its existence in the universe, even though she never asked for any of this at all.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is amazing! I absolutely loved everything about it. What strikes me about this story and its universe is how well its structures and systems hold together, from its magical to its scientific elements. Many cultures are included as a natural part of this interstellar universe, including delicious Korean fare and practical application of Hindu deities to weapons and problem resolution. Symbolism is also rife throughout, which speaks further to the research and care spent in creating this story. Because of the sprawling, structured, fantastic, magical nature of this universe, I am grateful that a helpful appendix is provided to clarify aspects of Kira's experience and the world around her.

The characters Kira meets along the way, and Kira herself, are all so unique and complementary to the story. Kira is a nuanced, genuine person who does not feel as if she was pulled from an archetypical mold, but she lives and breathes as if she was somebody Christopher Paolini already knew. Her experiences and emotions are legitimate, and as I experienced her reactions and emotions throughout her journey, I believed every step of the way that she was the genuine article. I loved the humor and banter in this book. I LOVED Gregorovitch who is the "mind" of an interstellar ship Kira travels on. The exchanges between Kira, Greg, and the rest of the ship's crew are hilarious!

I am unequivocally gushing about Paolini's nine-year masterpiece, however you might be wondering if there is any reason that you might personally not enjoy it. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is very much a space opera full of plot and action, so characters sometimes do take a back seat. It is a large, sprawling story with lots of detail and moving pieces to keep track of. If you are looking for a short, breezy read, this is the exact opposite. For me, that's a big positive, because I really love the universe Paolini has built, but for some readers that may not match their reading style, interest, or schedule.

I experienced this masterpiece through the voice of Jennifer Hale, an excellent voice actor of video game fame who has brought her talents to the fore to voice all of the dozens of characters herself. She did a fantastic job breathing life into each individual character, and I felt as if I was privy to a real space opera being played out around me as I listened. This is a marvelous story, and I recommend both reading and listening, if you can, in order to be fully immersed in Kira's experience, the sea of stars around her, and the incredible universe that Christopher Paolini has created for us lucky readers. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a monumental achievement, one that kept my full, rapt attention for its duration, and it earns my highest, unreserved recommendation for all lovers of good stories.

This book is just epic - in all sense of the word. The world he has built has layers upon layers of detail and is so expansive I almost feel like it will never end (in a good way!) There are so many characters to dive into, so many subplots on top of the main story - it’s intense. I think if you are a fan of adult epic fantasy/scifi, you should definitely check this out. I was gifted this audiobook copy by @LibroFM and @Macmillan.Audio and the audiobook is so so so good. The narrator has perfect voice acting to really make you feel like you’re inside this story. I don't want to say too much as it will be spoilery, but this book will make you feel EVERYTHING. Well Done!

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars
by Christopher Paolini
Narrated by Jennifer Hale
Macmillan Audio
I requested this audible book from NetGalley and was unable to download despite trying everything I know to get it to work. The NetGalley app has a rating of 2 for a reason! I notified the Macmillan team, which were awesome, and they sent me the first 19 chapters and the last few chapters of the book in audible format. A large sample book!
I really feel in love with this book! I love sci-fi, aliens, main character is a woman although she is not a gun blazing bad a$$, she stands out for other reasons. Not going to spoil it.
I loved the atmosphere the book gave off, no pun intended! There is something different in this author's approach to first contact. A fresh new concept.
Wonderful characters and exciting plot. The ending was heartwarming and emotional. Loved it! Book 2?
I am definitely going to use my next Audible credit to download the full version of the book so I can enjoy the middle section too!
I think this will be one of those books that someday all high school or college students have to read! (And they will love it!)

Launching the Fractalverse: Christopher Paolini's 'To Sleep in a Sea of Stars' an epic space opera

Christopher Paolini began world-building at the age of 15, crafting an empire filled with dragons, riders and the adventures of a teenage boy. That world, “The Inheritance Cycle” tetralogy of novels, would earn the writer a Guinness World Record as a the youngest author of a bestselling book series.


More than two decades later, he’s still at it, although this time the world he’s constructed is built on more than pure fantasy. “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” (TOR) is Paolini’s first foray into science fiction, and what a fantastical launch it is.


The new book is epic in both substance and stuff. An advance copy landed on a reviewer’s desk with a thud despite its cheap pulp pages and soft covers — the substance of critical reading copies not designed to last, unlike the story, eons — because the book is massive. The final hard copy will weigh in at nearly 900 pages and more than 2 pounds. The audio version, read in a publisher’s coup by Jennifer Hale, runs more than 30 hours.



But this is Christopher Paolini, an author who needs such an expanse to fully flesh his ever-burgeoning worlds. You’ll recall “Eragon” began as a trilogy, and even now the author has vowed to write a fifth Alagaesia story once his nearly decade-long work on “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” is behind him.


And such is the promise of his new novel: Paolini has called the work a space opera, and one that will spawn future stories. “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” opens with xenobiologist Kira Navarez unearthing an alien relic on an uncolonized planet. The relic will consume Navarez’s life, and is the beginning of a galactic epoch that will launch interstellar wars between some of the most unique species and technology in the genre. And more, not only is Paolini’s world-building complete, his characters are real and the science behind such subjects as spaceships traveling faster than light (FTL) consumes an entire appendix of its own.


Oh, and there is Gregorovich, the Wallfish’s ship mind. You’ll love Gregorovich— and the idea of a ship mind takes HAL 9000 to an all-new level.


But because this is a Christopher Paolini novel, the story is not only the story. There is something more the author is trying to tell us, and not just about the Fractalverse — the universe that encompasses “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” — but of life, existence and the really big questions that consume our day-to-day. Paolini has said that metaphor is the “highest form of expression,” and in its sum and parts, “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” offers such articulation.


Paolini recently offered to share his expression — and all things “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” — with Mountain Times. The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.


Tom Mayer: I understand that your journey from fantasy to science fiction took some interesting turns and the better part of a decade. Would you talk about how you took a break from Alagaesia to craft the incredible Fractalverse and “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars?”


Christopher Paolini: Sure. First of all, I grew up reading science fiction as much as I read fantasy, so it felt like a very natural transition. I love science fiction. To me it’s often the fiction of the future, as fantasy is often the — I don’t want to say the past, but it often is colored by nostalgia and a longing for how things were. So, I wanted to write about where I thought humanity might be going and the future we might have once we expand out about the stars, which I do think should be our future. And, I wanted to have fun, too. I wanted to tell a big, entertaining story for readers that would take them on a journey that hopefully would entertain them, and give them a bit of heartache, excitement and perhaps a few bad jokes along the way.


TM: You’ve said that this novel is a love story to the genre.


CP: I did, and I mean it. There have been quite a few stories about aliens and first contact and all this other stuff, but I wanted to put my stamp on that and say the things I wanted to say with regard to a big science fiction space opera. I was very much inspired by a lot of the greats in the genre like the “Hyperion Cantos” by Dan Simmons, “Dune” by Frank Herbert, (Robert) Heinlein, (Isaac) Asimov, (Arthur C.) Clarke, (Ray) Bradbury, the “Alien” films, Ian M. Banks, who is a great British science fiction author. All of these and more gave me a love of the genre and helped inspire me to want to write my own science fiction story.


TM: Your hero in this story is female. Kira Navarez is strong, smart and, like most heroes, ultimately flawed. To me, her Achilles' heel is her self-doubt and a sometimes lack of confidence. She boosts and overcomes both by the friendship and trust she develops with the crew on the Wallfish. Would you agree?


CP: I would. She does have a number of flaws, and the thing is that, too, there is a stereotype in fiction whether it’s books or movies or what have you. You know, the lone wolf character who keeps to themselves and manages to do amazing things, but they’re not really a team player. That sort of character can be a lot of fun to read about, but especially as I’ve gotten older, I don’t think that human beings operate particularly well all by themselves. There’s a reason why solitary confinement is considered punishment.


TM: That’s interesting, because a major theme I see running through the epic is the emotional damage of isolation and loneliness. There is Gregorovich, of course, whose forced isolation led him to a level of insanity and to comment, “to be alone and without purpose is to be among the living dead.”

And Kira, herself, faces such trials. As you write: “She didn’t want to be alone, not then. She needed to see another person, to hear their voice, to be comforted by the nearness of their presence and know that she wasn’t the only speck of consciousness facing the void.” I love that line, “the only speck of consciousness facing the void.” The fear of being alone permeates the novel, Christopher. Is this a comment on the human existence?

CP: To a degree. There’s the quote that “no man is an island,” but that’s only true if we make the effort to reach out to others. Of course, if you look at us on a cosmic scale, you know, here we are as a species on this tiny, little speck of dirt floating through the universe, and you know, what’s ultimately important is each other. Life is important. There is only one of you, or one of me or each of our readers in the entire universe. So, whether or not you believe in a higher power, the very fact that we are unique and alone in the universe makes every one of us living on this planet incredibly special. That’s why the theme of preserving life and companionship was something I kept returning to in the story as a major theme because, what else is as important?


TM: If that’s so, then Kira’s suffering decision at the end of the novel is a true hero’s act. She does what Gregorovich would not. Agree?


CP: I agree. But she also has an advantage that Gregorovich doesn’t have in that she’s not entirely alone. She has a “sort of” companion with her, joined with her, and she’s been given the gift of life, the ability to help spread and protect life — which is a responsibility that gives her purpose. You can endure anything if you have a sufficient sense of purpose.


TM: Other themes in the novel I sense are the ideas of unity and respect on myriad levels. Not only is the story populated with various sentient species, but even among those are some with disabilities of their own. Again, a reflection of our culture?


CP: Everyone faces challenges in their own lives, whether those are physical or mental or emotionally. None of us gets a free pass in life, and you can look at people who seemingly have everything in life, but you never know what’s going on in their head. You never know what personal challenges people are dealing with.


I found it interesting the question of, how do you relate and deal with your body when it no longer behaves or acts like the way you want it to be? It’s something we all have to deal with at some point, as we move out of adolescence. Just because your body isn’t the way you want it to be doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person. It doesn’t mean you are morally compromised, or anything of the sort. When that sort of thing happens you have to learn and grow and hopefully become stronger as a result. So, that was a very conscious thing I wanted to deal with in the story.


TM: Your allusions to Genesis, “The Farthest Shore,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Wizard of Oz” and so many others are seamlessly sown into this and your other novels. Why is it important for you to continue those earlier conversations and incorporate them into your own work?

CP: Culture is a conversation, especially creative works. It’s a conversation between what is and what has been done. I could not have written this book without all of the science fiction and other books I’ve read over the years, just like (J.R.R.) Tolkien couldn’t have written “The Lord of the Rings” without all of the European mythology and folklore that he was exposed to. But he grew and built upon it. And other authors built and grew upon what came before; especially with this book, because “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” and the Fractalverse encompass the real world. If all of real history exists in the universe, then it felt disingenuous to not acknowledge some of those references, or make a sly wink at them and say, hey, you did this, but I’m doing this, instead. And, I love those sorts of things when I’m reading, also. I love seeing authors weave in side jokes and Easter eggs, and I think my readers enjoy them, also. It’s a nice way to say in a non-obvious way to the reader, I’m aware of what I’m doing and here’s the conscious acknowledgment of that.


TM: And along that vein, you’ve acknowledged your earlier novels with this one, have you not?


CP: There is a significant Easter egg between “The Inheritance Cycle,” the “Eragon” novels, and this book, yes.


TM: Well, we’ll leave that for readers to find. But, beyond this book, you have an interesting virtual book tour coming up, including one at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. Would you talk about how those are going to work?


CP: Sure. First of all, all of the information on my tours are posted on my website, paolini.net, and all my social media. The way it’s going to work is that people can register with these different book stores for the different events, and the first hundred people — and you do have to pay to attend, essentially the price of a book — to register are going to get a signed bookplate for their book, and then at the event itself I’ll be in conversation with various other authors and interesting personalities and we’re going to be talking about the writing process of “To Sleep.” I’ll be reading from the book, telling interesting stories, hopefully making everyone laugh, doing Q & A and essentially having a good time.


TM: And speaking of virtual, you have Jennifer Hale reading the audio version of the novel. What a coup. And what a challenge for her, voicing more than 50 characters, including some who communicate through scent. Not all authors are happy with their audio release, but you must be pleased with this one.

CP: You’re right on. It’s like 52-53 characters. She did a wonderful job. This is her first audio book. She has the Guiness World Record for the most prolific (video game) voice actress and she’s done stuff for “The Lord of the Rings,” for Disney, a lot of video games, like Overwatch. I could just go on. She’s been doing stuff for so long it’s amazing.


I actually met her on book tour back in 2012 in Australia. We ended up chatting, and it turned out that she had done some uncredited work on the Eragon video game, and I threw out this offhand comment, “Well, I have this sci-fi book I’m working on and I’d love for you to read the audio book someday.”


You say a lot of things at conventions about wanting to work with people but schedules don’t always align and it doesn’t often actually happen. But when we were looking for an audio book actor to read “To Sleep,” we were all tearing our hair out trying to think of who would be good. And, it was actually my dad who said, 'Hey, you need somebody like Jennifer Hale.' And I said, 'Duh.' So, I hopped on Twitter and sent her a direct message and said, 'I don’t know if you remember me, but the book’s coming out and I’d be honored if you read it.' Well, as I said, it’s her first audio book and she just knocks it out the park.


TM: She did. I listened to all 32 hours of it, and the result is a phenomenal story experience.

CP: Wow. Yeah, and I do believe that people who order the audio book get a pdf download of all of the interior art from the book, also. There are seven pieces of art in the book that are maps and other cool diagrams. I did two or three of the maps and the others were done by my amazing assistant Immanuela (Meijer).


TM: Christopher, I have rarely seen an author who has had more apparent fun with a book launch. From releasing weekly excerpts and social media interactions to the excellent and really weird RTC newsfeed on your website, I want to thank you for the journey.


CP: I’m glad it comes across that way, because I really am having fun with it. I’ve had the advantage of doing this a few times now, and I’m at the point in my career, in my life, that I know what I’m doing with it, I’m having fun. I want the readers to have fun. My goal is, not just with the book itself, but over the Fractalverse as a larger concept, is to just keep giving people interesting things from the universe that I hope they’ll enjoy, that I know I enjoy making. Because that is what all of this is about. It’s not like, "you have to buy this, you have to read this." No, it’s me telling a story that means a great deal to me personally, and hoping that it’s going to mean as much, or more, to readers all around the world.


TM: So, more fun, more stories coming out of the Fractalverse.


CP: Yeah, this is the setting that I want to tell essentially all of my future stories that are not exclusively fantasy. That’s why I put so much work into developing it, figuring out the science in it and generally thinking through what I wanted this to be. There are probably a few stories that aren’t fantasy that won’t fit in the Fractalverse, but the absolute majority of them are going to. And readers won’t have to wait very long to see more in the Fractalverse because I’ve already written a very long sequel novella, which will be released at some point. And, I’m currently working on revising a short prequel novel, which I actually wrote back in 2013. But it needs some decent work, so I’m picking that up now.


TM: You certainly did some extensive world building in “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.” You have several appendices, and one just on the science behind the universe.


CP: I didn’t want to dump that on readers in the main part of the story. That’s not why they’re reading the story; it wouldn’t be fair to them. What I did want to do was to sort of show my homework so that if anyone is interested in the stuff the way I am, they can look at it and say, 'Oh, yeah, I see where you’re going. I understand why you made the choices you made.' And, it helps to make the universe feel more real in a concrete sense. But, yeah, trying to edit that very technical science was quite a challenge.


TM: Beyond the Fractalverse, you’ve promised readers another story from “The Inheritance Cycle,” haven’t you?


CP: I have. Once I finish this prequel novel, which shouldn’t take too long, I’ll step back and pick my next project. But, after doing a lot of science fiction like this, it would be nice to do a fantasy.


TM: Last question: You were famously homeschooled as a child. Any advice to parents during this time of global pandemic with schools at least partially shuttered or pushing classes online?


CP: Sure, a couple of points. Within reason, try to make sure that your children have resources to do things they might be interested in. They might be interested in playing a musical instrument, and maybe there’s one in the house they could pick up if they’re so inclined. Maybe there’s some art supplies. Some tools. Maybe there’s a program so they can practice computer coding. They don’t need expensive equipment. Just enough for them to figure out if this is something they want to pursue as a career.

On top of that, I would say, figure out how your children learn. Personally, I do very badly when my attention is split over multiple subjects.


And, there are tons of resources available on the internet. And if you have younger children, and this is going to be a shameless self-promotional plug here, but my mom is a trained Montessori teacher and has developed her own educational methods and has a website called paolinimethod.com.


Last year, she released a couple of books, and the biggest book is called, “Read, write and spell.” In this book is exactly how she taught me and my sister to great success. It’s what I would hope to do with any children of mine in the future. Homeschooling can be a wonderful thing as long as parents are engaged with the process. Just as with anything in the world, custom is always going to be high quality if you can do a good job on it.


Now, you can get a wonderful education with the right public school, but if you can mange to provide a handcrafted education for your children you’re going to be leaps and bounds above everyone else — mainly because you know your children better than anyone else.


TM: I, and many parents, thank you for that. Before you leave, any last comments?


CP: Just this: I wrote “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” in an attempt to capture the sense of awe and wonder I feel when I look up at the stars at night — and I look at the future that man may have out in the galaxy. I poured my heart and soul into this story over quite a few years, and I hope readers will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.


Ultimately, when they reach the end of the book, my goal would be for readers to finish that last chapter, that last paragraph, that last scene, that last line and for the story to leave them with a tingle up their spine, and that sense of awe and perhaps even a bittersweet ache that the story has reached a conclusion.

My Rating - 3.5 Stars

To answer your question: No, there are no space dragons. Sorry.

After 9 years of relative silence, The Inheritance Cycle author Christopher Paolini presents us To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, a sci-fi epic of equally epic proportions. I mean, this boy thicc. The hardcover is 880 pages. Buckle in because you're going to be here for a while.

The premise is relatively simple. Kira Navárez is an xenobiologist who makes first (second?) contact with an alien species and things go really bad. In fact, Kira's actions lead to a galactic war for the next year. This story takes us throughout that war, through Kira's perspective, as she finds friends among foes, and learns to control, or at least contain, the alien inside.

Sci-fi fans are going to enjoy this novel. Paolini really did his research here. In fact, the last 100 pages (or so) of the book contain his scientific research and findings used to write the story. He goes deep into science fiction and only blends this with fantasy near the end of the story.

Fantasy fans might not fully enjoy this novel. As previously mentioned, this is not sci-fi lite. This is not a beautiful blend of SFF. While there are some cool battle scenes with alien tech and relics, it is not a fantasy book. If you come into this story thinking it's going to be similar to Paolini's previous works, you will be disappointed.

This is also not a character-driven novel. While there is a huge cast of characters (I ended up tracking names and bios for 34 entities), none of them are particularly interesting and there is not much character development other than in our protagonist, Kira. This point is not a jab at the novel. It's clearly not supposed to be a character-driven novel. Classic sci-fi stories tend to focus less on characters and more on technology, aliens, and space travel. Paolini does just that.

By the story's end, I was most intrigued with Kira's relationship with The Soft Blade. Interestingly enough, that was some of the more fantastical moments of the story. I guess I just love fantasy most.

The audiobook version was done incredibly well. This is voice actor Jennifer Hale's first audiobook, and you would never know that. Her character voices are flooded with character and emotion. It was a pleasure to listen to her for the full 30+ hours.

In the end, this is a good story though it's not for everyone. Paolini is a good author, with standard, technical prose, that tells a fun story that really builds out a new universe that he surely intends to explore in future entries to the series.

Welcome to the Fractalverse.

Provided by Macmillan Audio and Tor Books in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Christopher Paolini is back in business!

<i>To Sleep in a Sea of Stars</i> is a love letter to sweeping space operas and heart-pounding action. His behemoth work is large in scope yet crafted with infinitely detailed precision. The narrator, Jennifer Hale, is a perfect match for bold yet uncertain Kira, and she is the kind of character you can always root for. She is smart and courageous, albeit a little reckless, and watching her come into her own is a beautiful trajectory to match the sprawling exploration from one uncolonized planet to the starry skies beyond. The way that Paolini skillfully melds high-throttle action scenes with introspective moments of human interaction and relationship building make for a memorable and lively read.

In so many pages, there are only briefer moments where it slows down. One could almost say it feels <i>too</i> fast at times, and despite its length, I think even more times spent away from action could strengthen the various characters even more. Nevertheless, to discover Kira's journey from an aspiring xenobiologist to a woman in the thick of intergalatic conflict is truly a treat to savor. Thank you, Christopher Paolini, for giving us this true space gem, full of the magic that only science and imagination can encapsulate and bestow upon readers.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener's copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is an epic sci-fi story. It has so many facets to it, a complete history, all the science methodically researched and presented so you know that these are things that very well could happen in the future. There are different races of aliens with their own backstories, government sections to deal with aliens and outer space discoveries. Paolini definitely put years into making this book and it shows. I love that he did so much with this and I would bet there will be multiple other books in this universe.

The reasons I gave this three stars:
It's too long. At over 800 pages, there are bound to be some slow parts and when I hit those, I struggled. I feel like the scientific explanations for some things weighed this down and since I don't come from a science background, I was confused a few times. I don't think these parts were crucial to the plot and could have been cut back.

There are too many characters and alien races. I need a chart of all the aliens and their characteristics to keep track of them. Also, some creatures have different names depending on who's talking. The jellies might call it one thing but humans call it another. This made it harder to decipher what was being discussed.
Because I listened to this, I sometimes wasn't sure what a character's name was and there are so many between Kira's early crew, Falcone's crew, and the League.

Things I did like:
I love sci-fi books and the premise of this is awesome. Exploring new planets, finding an ancient alien that becomes part of you, going on the run from creatures that want the xeno inside you, all this is so cool! I also love a misfit crew and we got that with Falcone, Trig, Sparrow, and the others. They were funny and protected each other and I enjoyed their dynamic.

This book hits the ground running. It doesn't slowly delve into the story, it starts right in the action. I was hooked from the beginning and that helped push me through thirty six hours of listening.

I did like this and I think it's one I will have to reread to understand it all. Maybe a physical book this time so I can get the spelling right and take notes on the different aliens. I can see how much room Paolini left in the universe for more stories and am interested in what else he comes up with.

I received this advanced audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review