Hunt the Stars. is the first book in an exciting new series by Jesse Mahalik. The story is well-paced and immersive, there’s a ton of action, and the enemies-to-lovers romance is fantastic! I really admire Tavi as a leader. She is so strong and intelligent, and she always has the best interest of her crew at heart. Plus, she is sarcastic and funny! Tavi’s fiercely loyal and super determined, and her compassion knows no bounds. Torran is a great leader as well, and he and his crew, much like Tavi’s, seem more like a family than a team. I think it says a lot about Tavi and Torran’s characters that they have this core group that is so completely loyal to them.

The crews separately are well oiled machines, but I love them best when they are all together. Putting together two crews who fought on opposite sides of a devastating war has many challenges, yet this crew makes it work. Tavi can take a lot of credit for that, as she does specific things to encourage a sense of community and comradery. The two teams form such a unique and interesting connection together, and I think they learn so much through this deepening relationship. And speaking of the crew, I’m really curious to find out what happened between Lexi and Nilo. They have something simmering between them, and their chemistry is so palpable. Hopefully, they’ll be the focus of a future book in the series!

The love story in this book focused on Tavi and Torran, and they have a great enemies-to-lovers romance. They have an undeniable chemistry even though they begin as strangers from opposite sides of a war. Because Torran can actually invade others’ minds, there is a strong emphasis on consent, which I liked. This includes his romantic and professional relationship with Tavi. There is a definite sense of respect and knowing one’s boundaries.

The story has a lot of action and suspense, and the political and military intrigue adds to them. Lies, betrayals, manipulations, and more are unraveled, and the situation that Ravi, Torran, and the others find themselves in proves way more complicated and dangerous than they initially realized. It’s even more intriguing because Torran is revered in his military, and Tavi was formerly in the military but left for ethical reasons. Seeing both characters explore their feelings about the government, politics, the military, and everything that entails weigh heavily on both characters as the story progresses.

This is a great start to what promises to be an action-packed and suspenseful sci-fi romance series. The world-building is immersive, the dialogue is on point, the found family aspect is strong, and the romance is swoon-tastic! Oh, and there’s a super adorable pet too! I can’t wait to continue the series and am so grateful to Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

*I will add links closer to pub. date

This was such a fun read! I absolutely loved Tavi and Fletcher, and I forget her name, but the burbus (little alien fuzzy animal)- this adorable pet was actually my fave character :) At this point I'll read anything Mihalik writes, all her books have been a pleasure to read.

Hoo-boy, did I like this book. Tavi and her crew and Torran and his people were...hmm, how to put this? They were ruthlessly polite in the beginning. Careful, but pushing boundaries. And woe to anyone who crossed any lines they didn't think should be crossed.

Despite her misgivings about taking this job, Tavi did just that. Then she had to weave the two crews together while making sure tempers didn't blow. All while battling memories of her past and an irritating attraction to Torran. Irritating because SHE DID NOT WANT TO FIND HIM ATTRACTIVE. Yet she did.

Oh, yeah, and she's trying to plan a retrieval while Torran is being decidedly tight-lipped about the circumstances around the theft.

Yeah, there's a little friction. Some good, some bad. Torran is put in a tough situation that somehow turns even tougher and he's trying to figure out a way to make things work without breaking any of his oaths. It's sticky and not fun for everyone involved and BOY does it make for good reading.

Enemies to allies to more, a little betrayal, facing memories of the awful variety, the uncovering of something that could have big implications on the future, steamy kisses, and telekinetic touches. Tavi might not have wanted to take this job and Torran might have been roped into something he wanted no part of, but they sure do work well together. Them and their blended crew.

This was phenomenal. A badass heroine, a hero worried about his honor in two seperate sides of a long, brutal war. There are twists throughout the book, and the stakes are incredibly high. I loved all the side characters, and can't wait for the next book.

Octavia (Tavi) served with the Federated Human Planets (FHP) in the war against the Valoffs. Now that the war has ended, she is a war hero of Rodeni and works as a bounty hunter with her close-knit crew. One day, Tavi is scouted by Torran Fletcher, a war hero of Valovia and former Valovian general, who is in need of her expertise in finding lost items. Suffice to say, relations remain strained between humans and Valoffs, but Torran makes an offer Tavi can’t refuse. The two join forces and a thrilling space adventure ensues!

I adored everything about this book! The plot was action-packed and intriguing. The writing was engaging and the witty banter was ON POINT! The MCs and secondary characters were ALL likable bada$$es. In fact, Tavi was one of my favorite characters of all time! She was smart, funny, kind, loyal, dependable, responsible, and fair. I also loved the cuddly, always-hungry, telepathic cat! This book had the sweet found family trope and the satisfying, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers trope. The romance was truly irresistible! There was respect, consent, and attraction/chemistry. Moreover, the magic was envy-inducing. There were telepathic, telekinetic, and empathetic/healer Valoffs.

If her previous series is any indication, Mihalik’s future books (in this series) will likely feature a secondary couple from Hunt the Stars as the main leads; I’m really hoping that couple is Kee and Varro. But in the meantime, read this book! I highly recommend it, especially for fans of Polaris Rising and The Mandalorian.

Thank you a thousand times, Harper Voyager, Jessie Mihalik, and NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tavi used to be a high-ranking soldier with the FHP, but now she’s a bounty hunter. When she gets hired by Torran, a general with the Vallorians who were the opposing side of a war that’s still fresh in her team’s mind, she gets drawn into a conspiracy and attempts to reignite the war between humans and Vallorians.

I was interested in this book after hearing it praised as a book for folks who love Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, and it definitely delivered. It’s very much it’s own story, and I loved so many elements of the world and book, but it also had enough of the same vibes to make it hard to put it down in the same way I’ve found the Psy-Changeling series to be.

Jessie Mihalik does such a phenomenal job with chosen family and creating community. Seeing Tavi and Torran’s groups come together to form one large group was amazingly done, especially with early conflict influenced by prejudices from the war. There’s also trauma on both sides from the things they had to do and see and experience, and the navigation of that was delicately done, in my opinion. I loved the emphasis on consent between Tavi and Torran and the ways they navigated their relationship while also dealing with the job Tavi was hired to do.

This was a really good book full of so many elements I adore - chosen family, adorable pet, and an emphasis on consent. I had so much fun reading this and cannot wait to read more with these characters and in this world!

For fans of romance and space opera, Jessie Mihalik once again hits the mark with amazing characters, a truly innovative plot, and enough heat to make you blush. I burned through it at an almost embarrassing pace because I simply couldn't help myself. I loved it and can't wait to see more in this new world!

Jessie Mihalik has done it again! I love her Consortium Rebellion series and Hunt the Stars is the perfect read if you've finished those but just can't get enough adventure and love.....IN SPAAAACE! It is full of adventure and intrigue and delicious romance. The chemistry between Tavi and Torran is palpable from very early on and their development feels earned. The secondary characters are amazing as well and I cannot wait to to read their books! The mystery element was engaging and I love the glimpses we get into this intriguing world (hello telepathic cat/ferrets!). I can't wait to see it develop more in subsequent books. I am very excited about getting to follow this crew on their adventures around the galaxy!

Great Space Opera, constant action, romance and a great story that will continue with another adventure in the next book and with the same group of characters. Read it in one day.

I love Jessie Mihalik's work. Her world building is so interesting, and this book was no exception. I thought the characters, the two mains as well as all the supporting, were excellent. I was completely riveted. Full disclosure, I read this over the course of several hours -- couldn't fall asleep without finishing it! Stayed up until 2 am.

This caught me from the first page and that lasted until the last quarter of the book. From there it was getting the two main characters in bed together and a weak finish to the story line. Still this is worth a read especially if you are a SciFi fan. The story is interesting with a lot of secrets that no ones knows and keep revealing at important points in the story. First in a series. Getting everyone in line for the next book was part of the weak finish.

I really loved "Hunt the Stars"! It's a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance between Captain Octavia Zarola, hero of the Human Federated Planets and the humanoid and telepathic Valoffs, particularly General Torran Fletcher. There's a truce between the two sides after decades of war, but it's tentative and Zarola still has a bounty on her head on the Valoff side. That still doesn't dissuade her from accepting Fletcher's more than generous offer to finding a missing heirloom in Valoff territory.

So this is definitely a character driven story rather than action, which occurs at the end and is very tense--had me flipping through the pages to find out what happened! There's a couple of steamy scenes that were nicely done. You can also see the author has improved her writing since "The Consortium Rebellion" trilogy (which I hope she still does Benedict's, Ferdinand's, and Hannah's stories!!): there's no awkward dialogue exchanges and the author shows more in this book than tells. I love the fact that a sub-theme of "Hunt the Stars" is food--the way to my heart is definitely through my stomach, too, Torran **coughcough**! This book feels like a setup for a larger, more complex story for the next, I think, two books. Can't remember if it's a trilogy. Very interested where Jessie Mihalik takes us next!

I was excited to see that I was chosen to read an ARC for this book, so thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to try out this new series. I was familiar with Jessie's other books but I haven't read them. I really liked the summary for this so I thought I would give it a try.

WOW.

This book was pretty damn good. I felt that the story flowed rather naturally. It reminded me a lot of Firefly. You have a Captain who once worked for a government, then when they lost (or when both sides formed a truce), after a incident involving her last mission/objective, she leaves with the rest of her team. She becomes a bounty hunter.

- This was a bit of a quibble because I felt the character didn't really prove/show off that she was a bounty hunter by any means? I mean, she talks about her military training.... you can see that her team knows what they're doing (fighting, computer knowledge/mechanics), but her? You really don't see it. I see the book is going to be a series so I'd like for book two to give us more kick-ass fighting moments than the half-shown/hinted at ones we got in here.

The other side that fought in the war are a group of humanoid aliens who are telepathically linked and have various powers. One can heal, one can read minds, one can teleport. The general of these aliens was named Tarran. At first, the meeting and the tone of this book kind of felt like weird regency romance since both Octavia and Tarran meet and their personalities clash. Yet, the more they get to understand one another, and see that they are not really enemies, that tension starts simmering away.

- Me being the 'clean romance' fan I am, I like sex in stories when I feel as if it was earned. There was two scenes that were / earned and Tarran was a complete gentleman in them. First, lets say that - THANK GOD he asked her for permission every time before invading her thoughts (or training her on how to block her thoughts better). Second, the two scenes really, really were well done and didn't feel like sex written for the sake of sex. It was hot, it was perfect. Third, he cares about a woman's pleasure over his (one of them included a shower scene where she was pleasuring herself and he couldn't touch her - part of the story, you'll find out why) and he used his telepathic thoughts to get her going and indicated he would wait until they could actually do it. Then when they DO actually have sex, he asked permission for pre-sex AND, he also asked permission to telepathically link them. THAT'S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. Now that they did it, I want them to continue having this respectful sex in space - but not exactly at that level, since it appears he has marriage on the mind eventually.)

I'm rating the book down one star (just one) because I feel like the other characters while being well developed were not really ... in the story all that much. I am hoping that they will be, and some of them won't be backdrop characters (Eli seemed to be there only to defend her when Tarran was involved), Adjia too (when she was literally just hired on and nobody knew anything about her). It also seems like those two are the POC and LGBT, so hopefully they will get a chance to shine.

I read a book not long ago called Starflight which was more YA and was a beat-by-beat rip off of Firefly. This while had shades of Firefly was its own thing and it ended up on such a high note that I can't wait to see what Book 2 brings.

I am split on this review, hence the four stars. I think Jessie Mihalik is quite good at what she does, which is write fast-paced, character-driven, twist-filled, romance novels set in reasonably generic space opera futures. I’m not the target audience for her books but I see why her fans love her. I prefer solid world-building, politically driven, new style space opera and the focus in this book on romance, the human/“alien” compatibility, just weren’t for me. So 5 for futuristic romance fans and 3 for solid space opera fans leads me to a 4. But I would guess readers will be fans or won’t be, not my diplomatic blend.

This is my first time diving into a story like this. Hunt the Star has such an amazing plot with relatable characters and interesting plot. What I really enjoyed was the romance which was refreshing!

Jessie Mihalik did it again! When I realized that there was an opportunity for me to read one of my most anticipated books of 2022 BEFORE 2022, I did not hesitate one second. Jessie Mihalik is one of my favorite authors and there’s a good reason for it—she writes amazing science fiction books with irresistible romance.

If you have read and loved her previous books, there is no way that you won’t love Hunt the Stars as well. And if it’s your first by this author, you will want to read her other books afterward. You want to travel through the universe? Jessie Mihalik’s is so easy to get lost into because it is deeply interesting and well built but NEVER confusing. And let me tell you, what a great universe it is! I adored learning about it, and most specifically, everything about the Valoff culture. From now on, if someone wants my forgiveness, they will have to bring me an apology gift. It is non-negotiable.

If you are looking for lovable characters, look no further. I’m picky and have a hard time loving all the characters in one book. I actually mostly believe that it is impossible. And yet, if you asked me to choose a favorite from Hunt the Stars, I wouldn’t be able to pick one because I loved them all. What I loved most was how different they all were, which made it even easier to remember them from the beginning and then to simply love them. For example, Anja had barely shown her face that I was already in love with her. As for the main characters—Tavi is the embodiment of leadership. She’s badass and she doesn’t make stupid decisions. And Torran is calm strength.

Speaking of these two, I loved them together. Jessie Mihalik does not rush her couple, and she gives them time enough to earn each other’s respect and to simply get to know one another enough that their attraction and love will make sense. Torran and Tavi had one sizzling chemistry and I always wanted more of these two. (In other words, they made me smile a lot.)
And while the romance is not the main plot—this book is not romance in space for the sake of having a romance taking place in space—, it was definitely there. It didn’t overshadow the rest of the story but it wasn’t forgotten in the background either. Jessie Mihalik found the perfect balance between the two.

As for the plot in itself, I will not say much about it. Actually, all I’m going to say is that I loved it and that I loved the pace that Jessie Mihalik set for it, if it makes sense. And if it doesn’t make sense, just go read the book when it releases in February 2022. But what you need to know is that it takes time for the characters and for us, the reader, to get all the pieces of the puzzle but it is delicious!

Speaking of delicious, as a bonus, if you’re the kind of person who loves a book in which food is almost a character in itself because it’s so definitely present, Hunt the Stars was probably written for you. I don’t personally care about characters’ and their dinner but it was fun to read about, somehow. And there’s one super cutie and fluffy little creature that has an obsession for food so maybe she’s your soulmate? (Actually, maybe said creature was my favorite character…)

Overall, I loved Hunt the Stars. So much so that I didn’t want to finish it. I wanted to keep reading it forever, and beyond. But if you’re looking for more Jessie Mihalik or if you loved Rules of Redemption by T.A. White, all you have left to do is mark your calendar for the release date!

*I voluntarily received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic romance. Pacing is spot on, characters are compelling, and the main characters have great chemistry. I was sad when it was over and sincerely hope it's the start of a series.

Hunt the Stars is an explosive, exciting adventure in a futuristic world coupled with a tantalizing romance. This is a book that you have to read in one sitting because you won't be able to put it down. I can't wait for future adventures with Tavi and Torran.

Strong characters. Solid storyline. Lots of mystery, betrayal, and of course, romance. Tavi and Torran are a hot couple. Tavi is hired as a bounty hunter by the general of the enemy that they fought a devastating war against. An exorbitant payday that is badly needed, sways the decision to acceptance against her better judgement. Torran is holding information back, and Tavi fears a trap. While a nice romance, action was only at the end of the book. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

I had really fun time with this! If you've read Mihalik's Consortium Rebellion series, you'll like this too. It's the same kind of vibe, although I'd argue that all Mihalik's books are romances set in space, rather than sci-fi novels that also include romance! This is a good example of what I call fluffy sci-fi (as in, it is set in space, rather than incorporating actual hard science into the fiction). That being said, it delivered on what I was in the mood for, and I'm really hoping that the main leads for future books in this series are the side characters present in <i>Hunt the Stars</i>!

For readers that really like the multi-species romance between galactic war heroes vibe, [book:Rules of Redemption|43954881] is REALLY similar - read the blurb, and you'll see what I mean!