Starbreaker

February 15, 2020
Tess Bailey and her crew agree to a rescue mission which is practically suicidal, but as they prepare, she discovers deep secrets about her past that may give her and her rebel allies more leverage in their battle for freedom from the Galactic Overseer, though at great cost. Nightchaser Tess Bailey, her ship, Endeavor, and her rebel crew--which now includes her lover, Shade Ganavan, until recently a Dark Watch bounty hunter--have been given the task of freeing Reena Ahern, a scientist who could save Demeter Terre, a planet that was poisoned by the Galactic Overseer when it stood up to him, killing 90% of its population. Unfortunately, Reena is imprisoned on Starbase 12, "the most secure place in the known universe." First, though, Tess and Shade have a meeting with her uncle, Nathaniel Bridgebane, second-in-command to the Overseer, during which Tess realizes her uncle is likely an ally. They also meet his lieutenant, Sanaa Mwende, who joins their crew and helps Tess get a clearer picture of the dangerous game her uncle has played all these years. As the crew prepares for their rescue mission, Tess' first love reappears; then the crew agrees to a smaller job liberating some food supplies during a Dark Watch personnel switch and wind up rescuing hundreds of people the Overseer captured for their superblood--which, like Tess', is impervious to disease and heals extremely quickly. The stakes rise as people across the galaxy are about to be tagged and tracked, all in order to find the blood that will be used to create an army of supersoldiers, annihilating any possible rebellion. Help for their mission also leads to more secrets regarding Tess' past being revealed, setting up more hope and more danger for the next book in the series. The Nightchaser space opera continues with tons of action, romance, pathos, and fascinating worldbuilding. Another brilliant odyssey from Bouchet.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2020

Capt. Tess Bailey and her crew of Nightchasers delivered the supersoldier serum made from her blood to the leadership of the rebellion. Now they've been handed an impossible mission: rescue a scientist from the most impregnable prison in the known universe. Tess forgave Shade for betraying her to the Dark Watch the first time, but she still has doubts about his loyalty, and he knows it. As they continue to work for the rebellion, the Overseer announces a plan to crush the rebellion once and for all, and they only have six months to stop him. Unfortunately, for Tess, the hits keep coming as her world turns upside down and Shade is her only stability. VERDICT Bouchet amps up the action and shock factor in this sequel to Nightchaser, while further rounding out the characters, relationships, and plans for this universe. Libraries owning the first book definitely need this one, and others may want to go ahead and get both.--Melanie C. Duncan, Washington Memorial Lib., Macon, GA

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 15, 2020
Picking up where Nightchaser (2019) ended, Captain Tess Bailey and her crew take on a rescue mission that has them breaking into the most secure prison in the galaxy, attempting to rescue one of their own and a scientist who may hold the key to saving millions of people on planet Demeter Terre. Along the way, Tess and her crew team up with another group of Nightchasers to run a minor heist, during which Tess' first love, Gabe, finds his way back to her after seven years. He wants to continue their relationship, but Tess is now with Shade Ganavan, a former Dark Watch bounty hunter. Shade is by her side when she learns that her Uncle Nathaniel isn't as loyal to the Galactic Overseer, Tess' father, as she thought. But Nathaniel does provide Tess and her crew with intel and a few breaks that enable them to continue their missions. The action is nonstop, and the romance between Shade and Tess continues to grow despite her reluctance to let anyone get too close. Once again, Bouchet presents a fully imagined and continually surprising world and an alluring cast.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)