[Review] Starflight by Melissa Landers

Starflight by Melissa Landers

Version: HC

Rating: 5 stars

Published: February 2nd 2016

Goodreads Synopsis:

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.
When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

This book had it all - action, adventure, romance, and an animal sidekick! 

Of course, Acorn is a non-talking chipmunk and not an anthropomorphic raccoon

With all that in mind, our unlikely duo of Solara Brooks and Doran Spaulding find themselves abroad the SS Banshee, the crew of which has their fair share of secrets. Captain Phineas Rossi isn't entirely human, having lost multiple limbs. Lawrence, or Renny as he likes to be called, is the kleptomaniac first mate. Kane is a womanizing flirt and the ship cook. He bickers with strong-willed Cassia, a fellow ship hand, constantly.  Solara herself is trying to find a home to call her home in the outer sectors of the solar system, a place in the fringe called Vega. She accidentally manages to coerce her sworn highschool enemy (and heir to the largest fuel corporation of the galaxy) Doran Spaulding, into aiding her.

From the start, I loved Doran-Solara's love/hate dynamic. Their witty banter made me laugh and I immediately shipped it!

"Rule number one, I'll keep the stunner," he said, holding out his palm. The weapon might come in handy if the crew discovered his identity.
"No way." She pressed a protective hand to her side pocket. "How do I know you won't use it on me?"
"Because unlike you, I'm not a lowlife convict." When she hesitated, he told her, "This is nonnegotiable."
"Fine. It only has one use left anyway." She tossed the button-like device into the air between them. "Rule number two," Solara said. "We're not sleeping together."
A snort of derision tore from his throat. "As if I'd share a bed with you."
"Then enjoy the floor."

I loved the development of their relationship, from enemies into friends. It wasn't an, oh I found you attractive and so I like you sort of development. It graduated from mutual respect and understanding into friendship, amongst other things hint hint. Character wise, Solara and Doran were both flawed beings. But they help each other grow, and their abilities contributed immensely to the ship, and to their survival.

How I picture the crew of the SS Banshee

I also loved how they interacted with the crew, and how their apprehension gave way into deeper-than-blood bonds. As secondary characters, their backstories were all well-developed and I want to see if any of their pasts play a role in the sequel! They weren't just side characters that were introduced and never seen again. We got to spend a lot of time with each character, and I loved them all! This was no ordinary crew of the SS Banshee.

When Doran was like, "I'm Daro the Red", it reminded me of Daario in GoT

What I especially liked was the adventure. The entire plot was one action scene to another. It was so fast-paced and kept me on my toes the whole time. From fighting space pirate lords to sneaking into a tourist spot in a heist to steal some medication, Starflight did not disappoint. There was never a slow moment, and I loved the intensity of it all.

This book was also insanely addictive. I started it on the train ride to school yesterday, and I finished it in the whee hours of the night. I read this book during my break, and was sad I couldn't read more because class was starting.

I soooooo want a sequel to this book.