3.75 ⭐️

I really enjoyed The Immortality Thief, the combination of space horror and humor and lovable characters worked perfectly for me. We lose the space horror in this book, and instead get more of an action packed, political spy thriller. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much. I found it almost too fast paced at points, and the switching back and forth with the dual timeline was a bit jarring at times. What I did enjoy was the continued development of the characters and relationships between Sean, Indigo and Tamara, as well as a character we meet at the end of book 1. There's an expansion of the world building as well, this book spends a lot of time in The Republic which was interesting.

I am very much looking forward to the third book. The set up at the end of this book makes me very excited to continue.

I did reread the first book before picking this up, but I do think Taran Hunt did a good job of reminding you of important points from book 1 as they come up which is very much appreciated.

Taran Hunt returns to the world of The Immortality Thief in this super-fast paced sci fi thriller, The Unkillable Princess.

The Unkillable Princess picks up shortly after the events of the Immortality Thief, and the crew of the Viper, Sean Wren, Tamara Gupta and Indigo, the Ministerial Deserter find themselves entrenched in political espionage after Sean receives a communication out of the blue from his supposedly dead sister.

With a plot that moves at the pace of a zip wire, whilst having a bevy of twists and turns, The Unkillable Princess is a fantastic joyride of a book that never lets up.

Moving away from the isolation sci fi tones of the first novel, Taran Hunt shifts gears and tones with this the follow up. She expands the world of the republic as the book moves away from the singular location haunted house tone of the first book and takes in the planet of Parnasse and other areas of the Republic. The scope of the setting gives the narrative broadness that adds to the story.

As Sean attempts to determine if the contact that he has received is actually from his sister, we follow the group as their relationship grows. In addition to this we find out more about Sean and his background in the form of flashbacks. Initially this structure can confuse the reader, but as they become used to the structure it further expands the universe and what happened in the past.

The Unkillable Princess is a frenetically fast paced follow up to the Immortality Thief that is utterly enjoyable.

’The Immortality Thief’ had one of the best sci-fi premises I have come across in some time. Unfortunately, I didn’t really enjoy the execution of this idea. ‘The Unkillable Princess’ has a much less unique premise, but a better execution. My main issue with ‘The Immortality Thief’ was that it felt ‘sparse’, since most of the book just consisted of the main group of characters walking through an abandoned spaceship, encountering various obstacles on their way. The second book does not suffer from this; the world-building that felt very rickety before now comes to life as the characters set out to explore the galaxy they’ve been talking about. However, I still find myself somewhat apathetic towards the main trio and their relationships - in theory they are all very interesting characters and have rather intriguing dynamics playing out between them, but this failed to translate into actual emotional attachment for me.

Overall, this is a solid book; it is very readable, the plot is logical and the characters lovable. However, there are still some significant flaws that really dampened my enjoyment of the story. Initially, I was very put off by the very frequent time jumps that were happening all throughout the book. During the first ~15% of the book they are very disorienting, as the 2 times we are jumping back and forth between are not sufficiently distinct to not cause confusion. Most importantly, I don’t see what these early flashbacks are adding to the narrative. As the story moves on, the flashbacks start heading to more distant times, and thus become far less obstrusive. Sometimes the sub-headings proclaiming what time the reader was visiting would interrupt the flow of the text and yank me out of immersion, but this happened less and less as I continued reading.
Another thing that annoyed me a bit was the fact that most chapters were around 3 pages long. I understand that preferred chapter length is a matter of taste, but I just cannot understand why such short chapters were chosen.
Apart from this, there were some moments where I questioned whether Sean might’ve gotten hit on the head a couple of times too many - like when he immediately accepted that his sister was alive upon receiving a written message from her, not even once questioning whether it might be a trap - but he is written to be a bit of dummy, so that kinda checks out. I’d also like to add that, as a person working on a master’s degree in linguistics, I really appreciated the way linguistics was used in the first book, as there aren’t many fiction books that do this to begin with. So I would have loved to see more of Sean’s linguistics background, for purely self-serving reasons.

A great squeal, that was excitibg to the end, with surprises, twists and turns through out, I can't for the next book to be released.

Once again I had a lot of fun with Taran Hunt's Kystrom Chronicles. This 2nd instalment picked up the story that was developed in the first book and took it in some great directions. What I didn't enjoy very much was the constant flashbacks and time changes. Some longer sections in the here and now and then minor intrusions of the past would have made for a better, more succinct reading experience. As it is the flashbacks really hurt The Unkillable Princess and I'd love the next book to do without them, or to have them done in a more fluid way.

The Unkillable Princess is the sequel to 2023’s The Immortality Thief by Taran Hunt. Sean with his new companions Republican defector Tamara and Minister general Indigo have just escaped the Nameless with a third of the Philosopher Stone data and blackmailed a Senator to start peace talks with the Ministers. When Sean’s long thought dead sister contacts him for help, they are dragged into a conspiracy to ignite the cold war between the Republic and the Ministers into all out war.

This sequel has a very different vibe and energy from The Immortality Thief. From the scifi horror thriller that first book was, this is a full on scifi spy thriller. This will be down to personal taste, but I quite liked The Immortality Thief more than I did this sequel which just didn’t deliver what I was expecting. This book had plenty (too much actually) of formal flashbacks that really broke up any momentum as compared to the previous book where the flashbacks were more informal recollections thrown in that served to break the tension. This structure just didn’t serve the new direction of the plot as well. That said, the story is action-packed, thrilling, and fast paced with a twisty plot that delivers on its spy thriller premise.

What it has going for it though is the development of the interpersonal relationships between Sean, Tamara, and Indigo as a found family of their own. It is in the quiet moments with this newly bound family that The Unkillable Princess outshines The Immortality Thief as we explore each of these characters and why they are drawn to each other. It’s that hint of coziness that allowed for the book to reach its many emotional highs and lows. I did tear up in this one (which the first book didn’t manage to get me to do).

We get to see the implications of Indigo’s confession and how Sean and him can build a relationship despite it. Here, Sean is faced with many more moral questions including choosing between the family he thought he lost or the family he found in the aftermath. One question that continues to hound me is the exact relationship of the central trio. Are they in a queerplatonic relationship? A throuple? Or just a family? I really don’t know, but I welcome any of those choices.

The Unkillable Princess takes the series to a different direction but retains its heart in these characters we grow to know and love.

*Thank you to Solaris Books for the eARC via NetGalley

The Unkillable Princess is a fast paced Sci Fi story full of narrow escapes, spies and a great example of a found family. It follows directly on from the events in Taran Hunt’s previous book but takes the story in a whole new direction. The trio of Sean, Tamara and Indigo want to use their discoveries of the previous book to bring peace to the warring sides of the Republic and the Ministers when Sean receives a very unexpected from his sister. This message from someone he though was dead for the past eight years leads the three of them on a journey that takes in multiple planets, political intrigue and rebellion.
I missed the tightknit, almost claustrophobic setting of The Immortality Thief but loved the way that the found family theme of the book deepened as the bonds between Sean, Tamara and Indigo grew stronger. The plot was extremely wide-ranging and for me, there was almost too much in this book especially combined with the frequent flashbacks which meant that the storyline sometimes felt quite fragmented.
This was a great read and I look forward to seeing what happens next in the Kystrom Chronicles.
Thank you as always to NetGalley and the publishers, Rebellion, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Immortality Thief was hands-down one of the best books of 2022. It was always going to be a hard act to follow but oh boy did The Unkillable Princess knock it out the park! I don’t know how to put into words just how good this was and how much I desperately need news of a book three after this ending (Solaris? Solaris, hello?? Don’t leave me hanging!!). This series is sci-fi at its very very best.

Having discovered that his sister is actually not dead at the end of book one, Sean is now on a quest to find her, alongside (initially unwittingly) Tamara and Indigo. Except, heading to find her brings him back into the orbit of the senator who sent him to the ship in the first place, and Brigid might not be the same sister Sean knew any longer.

There’s so much about this book and series that’s incredible but truly what makes it for me is the relationship between Sean, Tamara, and Indigo. They started out as very reluctant allies and, to an extent, they still were by the end of book one. But their progression in this book… Amazing! Show-stopping! Spectacular! Sean and Indigo in particular had some scenes that left me almost winded. Especially at the end. (Hence the need to hear about a book three because you can’t just leave it like that!!) (Also I’m starting to side-eye various interactions between Sean and Indigo like, am I meant to read into them Like That or what?)

On top of this, the series as a whole is meticulous in its worldbuilding. This is a book you find yourself absorbed in, not just on account of the character relationships, but because the world itself is so incredibly compelling too. Obviously, book one didn’t move much beyond the haunted ship, but in this one we get to see more of the universe around that, we get to see Sean, Indigo and Tamara interacting with locations and scenarios that aren’t a horror ship. It’s tonally different from the previous book in that respect and it’s so fun for it.

And then, the plot. First of all, Sean is a fool, a first-class fool, but it’s okay. We knew that. Most of the plot involves our three main characters chasing after Brigid, but there’s an undercurrent too of the implications of releasing the philosopher’s stone data as they did. They’re being hunted on two fronts, by the senator who wants revenge and by factions unknown. It’s a plot that sinks its hooks into you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go.

Then, horror of horrors, it leaves you on a cliffhanger with no news of a book three even having been sold. Please, Solaris, I can’t go through another City of Lies situation, I just can’t! Therefore, I need everyone who reads this review to commit to picking up this series. You won’t regret it!

7.5 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/the-unkillable-princess-by-taran-hunt-review/

It’s really hard to bottle lightning twice. After the claustrophobic and haunted corridors of an ancient spaceship in orbit above a nameless star, the return to regular space feels like a letdown, and the same elements I loved in the Immortality Thief didn’t quite have the same allure in its sequel. But then, if you spend the entire first book stuck in one room only to emerge into the world proper at its end, one of two likely things are going to occur. Either you’ll feel overwhelmed by the beauty of the vibrant world, or you’ll feel underwhelmed by the lack of detail in the underpopulated world. I hate to say it, but Unkillable Princess is very much the latter.

There’s still some detail to be had, but it’s only really found at the two worlds that we visit over the course of the tale. Otherwise there’s empty space, an under-described spaceship, and not much else. The atmosphere is completely different—and while I understood the necessity of it—this still proved a disappointment. Luckily the story’s still solid, if conveyed in a bit of an awkward way. See, this installment takes place over two general timelines: the present day, and the past.

Now, if you thought “the past” was kinda vague—yeah, it is. At first, “the past” was back when Brigid was alive, when Kystrom was unspoiled. The first few flashbacks took place here. Then, the started skipping around at random. They were still relatively consistently placed, but rather than taking you back to tell the story of Sean and his sister, they… just kinda fill in wherever. This was awkward as hell, and just as confusing to start, but eventually I got used to it, and—as the overarching plot unfolded—whatever lore this could glean was appreciated. Because, again, as awkward as this sequel was at times, I still found the story quite good: compelling, immersive, and often even heart-wrenching. True, the atmosphere was dramatically different than its predecessor, but it was nonexistent, just… changed.

The story itself is quite good, and immersive enough to carry the load left by its atmosphere. The characters remain the book’s Number 1 strength, both the returning cast and the new core that have been added in. There are more glimpses of Benny in the past, as well as Brigid, and in the present Tamara and Indigo have new friends and foes to compete with. It all works quite quite, despite everything failing to fall together like they did in the Immortality Thief.

I will say that where before some attempt was made to include science in this fiction, there’s little in the way of it here. Time dilation is completely ignored, and no reason is given for it being ignored. Hyperspace too, is just accepted as a thing that exists, and that’s about the end of it. It’s far from a deal-breaker, and I know most people might not care, but I like a little tech-speak in my sci-fi novels. A little explanation for why things are the way they are. Another added detail of the universe. Something that the Unkillable Princess really could’ve benefited from.

TL;DR

The story may have changed, but the characters are more than welcoming enough to readers returning to what they knew and loved from Book #1. And honestly, while I found the atmosphere and its weight and description lacking, the story this new world tells is a really good one. But other than the story and its characters, the Unkillable Princess has little else going for it. Chaotic, often awkward flashbacks may add lore and plot, or they might distract from it. But the overarching question remains: even without the perfect storm, can the story and its cast carry the day? And yes, it seems they can. For while a had a myriad of issues with this sophomore effort, it remains an adequate, entertaining entry in the Kystrom Chronicles, and one that deserves to be loved.

If the first book in the Klystrom Chronicles ("The Immortality Thief", go read it if you haven't yet!) was an isolation horror novel, this book is a run-against-the-clock spy thriller, centered around chosen families and blood families, too, and how one doesn't always mean the other has no place. It's about trust and finding ways toward peace, and dealing with ugliness when you're just so very tired of everything being so ugly.

Both books are also about how sometimes, the loved on in your memory no longer exists - and in their place is a violent stranger, because people don't stop changing when you stop looking at them.

A wonderful read between Christmas and the New Year. This is book two of The Kystrom Chronicles by Taron Hunt. The three main characters met in book one and as that book is so good, you really should read it first.

In this book, the three are family and trying to establish peace between the twin star systems. A big ask to say the least! It picks up just where the first book ends and is a full pelt adventure. I read it in two sittings.

This book contains camaraderie, danger and thrills but isn't as terrifying as book one. Our trio go undercover, break into government facilities, liaise... There were also tears! Oh goodness, there was such a sad part....

The book is published on 11th February so you have plenty of time to order it and read book one. Enjoy.

The Unkillable Princess is the follow up to Taran Hunts debut, The Immortality Thief. It follows on from the first book as Sean finds a link to his past and he, Tamara and Indigo work together armed with the knowledge they discovered from their previous mission

I still love the found family of the 3 main characters in this story and the connection they have includes bickering, banter and a loyalty to another, which is a strong undercurrent throughout. Taran writes characters and speech very well.

I adored the first book but personally I felt this book became a bit too convoluted with ideas. New characters, planets, settings and subplots of government spy’s were introduced. This was heavily interlaced between present setting, memories of childhood and at times flashbacks to the previous 24 hours. I found this made it sometimes difficult to follow and a various times I found I had to reread parts to follow what was going on as the flicking between the time periods would happen so quickly with no strong reason as to why.

This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the book because I did, but I just feel it was bit more effort to immerse myself into this world due to the chopping and changing which lasted over half the story. If more books were to be released in this series I would still continue on.

Overall score 3.5/5

Thankyou to Solaris books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

The Unkillable Princess by Taran Hunt rockets back into The Kystrom Chronicles with an electrifying sequel that doesn’t just raise the stakes — it shatters them. Packed with heart stopping action, razor sharp twists, and gut wrenching emotional beats, we're reunited with our beloved intrepid trio while expanding the universe, diving into the political and personal ramifications of the discovery of the philosopher's stone data. Pivoting from the scifi horror thriller of The Immortality Thief to a scifi revenge spy thriller, this book hits like a lightning strike. Hunt delves deep into themes of family, forgiveness, atonement and the cost of vengeance. delivering a narrative that's equal parts action packed, heartfelt and brilliantly witty. The Unkillable Princess is sure to keep you captivated from start to finish.

If you haven’t read the first book, don’t worry - Hunt skillfully sets the scene so new readers can jump into the story, though there are spoilers for The Immortality Thief. That said, do yourself a favor and read the first installment too - it’s a masterpiece in its own right!

Shifting gears from the first book’s science fiction horror thriller roots, The Unkillable Princess morphs into a pulse pounding blend of scifi, spy thriller, and revenge fueled adventure. The result is a thrilling ride that never loses its humanity. Every twist and turn is a testament to Hunt’s ability to craft heart stopping action sequences while seamlessly weaving in reflective moments that hit like a gut punch. It's everything that made the first novel so gripping, with new flair that elevates the series to new heights.

Once again at the heart of the story are Hunt's characters and their evolving relationships. Sean, Indigo and Tamara return as a found family whose bonds are being grown and tested. Their evolving dynamics are as heartwarming as they are heartbreaking, leaving you eager to spend even more time with this unforgettable trio. The introduction of Brigid, Sean’s long lost blood sister, adds fresh tension as he’s torn between the family he’s chosen and the sister he believed dead. This clash of loyalties exposes raw, emotional stakes that resonate deeply, grounding the high-stakes drama in profoundly human dilemmas.

Against the backdrop of choices that could ignite a universe ending war, interstellar stakes are balanced with personal, intimate moments. Hunt digs deeply into the nuances of true forgiveness, the cost of atonement, and the seductive pull of revenge, crafting a narrative that’s as emotionally powerful as it is thrilling. And somehow Hunt still finds time to make us laugh with hilarious chapter titles, silly shenanigans and sibling rivalry antics that anyone with a brother or sister can relate to.

Bursting with heart, grit, and high octane action, The Unkillable Princess is a masterclass in storytelling. It's a shining example of what makes science fiction extraordinary, solidifying Hunt as a standout voice to watch. Whether you’re here for the gripping narrative, the unforgettable characters, or the themes that linger long after the final page, one thing is clear: this series is unmissable.

Thank you Solaris Books for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

The Unkillable Princess is the second book in The Kystrom Chronicles. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and highly anticipating the sequel. One thing is for certain; Taran Hunt knows how to write a great story. In this book, we follow the same trio from the first book as they travel through space. This time, the focus shifts away from horror elements and leans more toward character relationships and political intrigue. I absolutely adore the dynamics between the characters. Everything about this book was amazing—the story, the pacing, and the character development were all top tier. I'll definitely be rereading this book before the next installment comes out. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy found family dynamics with fast-paced, high-action sci-fi. I can't wait to read more from this series. Thanks to Netgalley and Rebellion | Solaris for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

A fantastic second installment for one of my favourite new sci-fi series. I love everything about this world and I was especially drawn in by the bond between Sean, Indigo and Tamara. The Unkillable Princess did a great job expanding on the world. I found the constant flashbacks a bit jarring at first but quickly got used to them. Sean and Brigid's relationship was intriguing and I felt that Taran Hunt did a great job with this, they truly felt like siblings. The ending left me reeling and I need the third book so badly

You will pry this trio away from my cold, dead hands.

Sean, Tamara “Lantern-Eyes”, and Indigo are back at it again for a very different space adventure in this action-and-hilarity-packed sequel.

While this story lacks the creepy, spooky atmosphere of its predecessor, it packs a punch in wit, psuedo-spying, and unraveling a years-old mystery. It gives me strong Doctor Who and Indiana Jones vibes this time around. I especially loved the well-paced flashbacks and how they compared to the present day timeline. It is really well done and very cinematic!

While Sean will always be a character that gives me everything I could ever need, I really enjoyed Tamara’s character work in this story. I will say—I wish we got more of Indigo!

I hope this isn’t the end of the adventure—I would love a book 3!!

"The Immortality Thief" is one of my favorite books from recent years. I always worry a little about a second book in a series, as many of them are not as good as the first. I shouldn't have worried. "The Unkillable Princess" continues the story of Sean, Tamara, and Indigo in a smashing way. The pacing, character building, and emotional depth of the story were just superb. I hope Taran Hunt continues to write for many years to come, so I can continue to enjoy such wonderful stories.

First, let me say how excited I was to get access to this ARC. I adored the Immortality Thief earlier this year and was so excited to see more from indigo, Tamara “lantern eyes”, and Sean. This absolutely did not disappoint. I will say, while the first book leaned more into the horrors of the nameless ship, the Unkillable Princess settles into a found family adventure across space as our trio bounces between Galactic governments, secret operatives, and real family dramas. I really love Taran’s writing style. I wish I could say more without spoiling anything but if you enjoyed Immortality Thief , you will enjoy the Unkillable Princess keep reading the series. I need a book 3!

Exactly what I wanted out of this sequel!

After the events of book one, Sean is on the run with Indigo and Tamara and has found out that his sister may be alive. However, he isn't sure if the message is really from her and doesn't want to get his companions involved in case there's danger lurking.

The second book has less of a horror vibe than the first and focuses more on political intrigue but still has the same quick pacing and adventure. I loved seeing more of the relationships between the main trio, and they really started to feel like a found family. There was also lots about Sean's actual family and trauma - and a bit about Tamara's as well. Still not too much about Indigo's past (although a little more) but this set up very well for a third book so I'm hoping we see more then!

Every year, at the end of December, I rank the top books that I have read and create for myself a best of the best. In 2022 I chose 'The Immortality Thief' as best book of the year (out of 201 read in total) so I was very enthusiastic when I saw a successor was finally upcoming.

'The Unkillable Princess', book two of 'The Kystrom Chronicles', takes off where 'The Immortality Thief' ended, almost starting with the same sentences that ended the first book. Sean Wren receives a message from Brigid, his younger sister who was killed eight years ago. The search for his sister becomes Sean's new goal in life. The scope of the first book was limited to the inside of a space ship, with only one last chapter introducing us to the planet Parnasse. Readers learned a great deal about the background of the human society, but didn't get to see any of it. 'The Unkillable Princess' is set on that same planet, and on a moon called Wentor. The scope of the story widens a little bit, but not too much yet. Space opera series sometimes tend to explode at a certain point, presenting an increasing number of intrigues and subplots. For now, 'The Kystrom Chronicles' is still under control. I read book one in June 2022 and started in the second without re-reading anything. I still remembered the gist of the first book, but not all the details. There is no 'what happened before' chapter, but it only took a few chapters before things started to come to memory again. Taran Hunt integrated the need-to-knows neatly into the new story without these awkward moments when protagonists start telling each other things they already know for the sake of the reader's flawed memory, and there is indeed really no need for a preface telling the reader about the story so far.

Entangled with the main story line, lots of flashbacks were added about Sean's childhood and teenage years, mostly with his sister. They explain events from the past that shaped his present, and give insight in the relationship between the siblings (speaking of which: make sure to read the afterword to find out how young Taran Hunt dealt with the coming of her baby sister -- so funny). Chapter titles, which are sometimes lengthy and funny, include hints about when these flashbacks occur. Because these hints are mostly relative compared to another event, it's basically one big chaos of "X years before event A happened, Y years after event B happened". It's only an apparent chaos though, and this style definitely adds value to the narrative. The flashback stories on themselves are entertaining (and a rare time poignant) and add a lot to the emotional depth of Sean.

The main story lines --the search for Sean's presumed sister and the parallel attempt of Sean, Indigo and Tamara to stay out of the hands of the authorities-- are not very complex. There is pursuit, there is some rather straightforward intrigue, and there is humour, the latter mostly the result of Sean's inability to think his actions through before diving into them. The end result of this combination is simply a very well written, fast-paced and entertaining book, difficult to put aside while reading, easy to pick back up if real life forced you to put it aside anyway. 'The Unkillable Princess' is a worthy successor to 'The Immortality Thief'. After having read it, I wasn't even close to becoming bored. I still want to know (a lot) more about Sean, Tamara and Indigo. Extrapolating the time between publishing dates though, a third episode is to be expected not sooner than around June ... 2027! That's a bummer. Someone should bribe Taran Hunt into becoming a full time writer because she's good at it.

(Thank you Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for an early DRC in exchange for an honest review.)