The Starfarer (The Araloka Chronicles, #2) by Petra Landon

The Starfarer (The Araloka Chronicles, #2) Reviews

• 
  Love2ReadRomance

  I love Sila and Zh’hir! It was so interesting to see them learn about each other and how to take care of one another. Starfarer is so vividly written that I felt like I was right there on the spaceships with the characters. Loved it!
• 
  Natalie ~ The Biblioholic

  I haven't read that many sci-fi romances and I've noticed that it's a neglected subgenre on my reading list. However, between The Starfarer and the previous book in
  The Araloka Chronicles, The Mercenary, I've realized that I've been missing out!
  
  
  
  I don't know if it's because at the time when I started reading this I was also rewatching and binging on Star Trek TNG, DS9 and Voyager (yes, I'm a Trekkie), but this story read just like an episode from any of these shows. It was all too easy to picture it on the screen, which made it not only an enjoyable read, but also an entertaining one.
  
  
  
  I loved the slow build of the romance between Star Captain Zh'hir Mu'raat and Sila. The author perfectly captured the barriers to the first meeting and to their eventual friendship, such as communication, culture, experience, etc. Once they realized how compatible they were, it was beautiful to watch how their feelings for each other evolved. Despite themselves, despite the odds, they dreamt of a future together and I couldn't help but want the same.
  
  The battle between the Alliance and the Empire is far from over, but with new allies and new strategic weapons, I think they stand a better chance at winning. I'm definitely on the side of the rebels. I had so much fun immersing myself in the battle scenes. The author did a fantastic job of drawing a well developed picture, putting me right there on the front lines, driving up my adrenaline like I was there during each fight.
  
  
  
  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, which will give an in-depth look at the leader of the Alliance. He's part cyborg and I can't even begin to imagine the intricacies of this character.
  
  
  
  
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• 
  Dianne

  Space, once the final frontier is now the backdrop for Petra Landon’s THE STARFARER as an accidental kidnapping brings one woman and one alien warrior together in a bond of friendship, discovery and trust unlike anything the galaxy has seen.
  
  Galactic secrets will be unmasked and Sila will find there is more to her than her life on her agrarian planet could ever reveal. She will also discover just how deep the bond she has found with Zh’hir will run. Is he her ultimate warrior hero-the man she has been waiting for all of her life or is he the man who opened her eyes to the galaxy around her with all of its possibilities?
  
  Petra Landon make space travel and interplanetary living seem so very realistic with her ability to paint vivid scenes bathed in amazing detail, including the communication struggles of different species of life! Moments of humor, honor, danger and even romance unfold as Sila comes into her own and Zh’hir becomes her rock every step of the way, even when they are lightyears apart.
  I can’t even tell you which part I liked best, they are all so finely intertwined through this author’s dedicated attention to world building!
  
  Not sure you are ready for science fiction or space operas? The Araloka Chronicles Series may be a great place to start as this is more of a tale of life, living and acceptance! No little green men will appear, no cookbooks on how to cook a human, just fabulous reading that is out of this world!
  
  I received a complimentary ARC edition from Petra landon!
  
  Series: The Araloka Chronicles - Book 2
  Publication Date: November 16, 2018
  Publisher: Petra Landon
  Genre: Space Opera | Scifi
  Print Length: 424 pages
  Available from:
  Amazon
  For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow:
  http://tometender.blogspot.com
  
  
• 
  Mei

  I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
  
  What I most enjoyed here are the parts where there was no romance involved! LOL
  Yes, I know, the romance was the less inetersting part here and that's trange, but true nontheless!
  
  We're given deeper understanding of why the Ur’quay came back to Araloka space. Why they're a dying race. Also the reasons for their strict mental discipline.
  
  I liked the hero, Zh’hir very much. He was really intelligent and very shrewd. He pondered how every situation could evolve and thought the best way to solved the problem. He did that even if the problem involved something he valued very much. He didn't jump to conclusions or acted in a stupid way just because he was angry or desperate.
  
  I appreciated that very much!
  
  The heroine was in a grey area for me. She's meek, but not stupid. But I don't like meek heroines, so I didn't quite get why Zh'hir fell for her.
  
  It could be because she was also tooo good to be true. She went and scarificed herself for her people, but when she was rescued her people throw her away and still she did everything to help them all the same!
  
  I appreciate much a heroine who is less good and at least make them growel (call me vengeful), but that was not the case here.
  
  She didn't have Zh'hir's acumen. She acted on her moment's feeling, and every time she put herself in harm's way, forcing Zh'hir to act to save her.
  
  Still, apart from the heroine, the story was exciting and even if there're times when something was repeatedly explained, I enjoy it!
  
  I also like that characters from the previous book were included. I liked Zoran and his intercations with Zh'hir! They were great together and complemented each other very well!
  
  Also the secondary characters were nice addition: all the Hadari’Kor's mercenaries who showed their true colours like a very honorable men and also the Ur’quay warriors and their alsmost stoic acceptance of their dire situation on the brink of extinction. They didn't ust accept it, but were ready to do all they could to save their race, but without betraying their honour!
  
  I'm looking forward to reading Commander Kerovac's story!
• 
  Cheryl La Pa

  Loved it! Full of love, loyalty, and friendships, The Starfarer drew me into its sci-fi world, with its different aliens and cultures. I was hooked from the first page, found it easy to read and follow along with the different races and their politics.
  
  I totally fell for Captain Zh’hir and Sila. Despite a rocky beginning, and being different in many ways, their love still blossomed – it was a slow burn, tender & beautiful.
  
  What stands out to me in this book is the deep, real relationships between the characters and fascinating world that Ms Landon has created.
  
  In short, The Starfarer is a brilliant novel and Ms Landon is definitely an author to follow.
  
• 
  Petra Landon

  The Starfarer releases on November 16, 2018. Excerpt available
  here.
  
  Available for Amazon
  Preorder
  And on
  NetGalley -- ARC offered until November 8
  
  
  
• 
  Cindy

  Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
  Note for those who loved the first book: Buy this one, you won't be disappointed! In book 1 there are unexplained references and the reader just knows those stories are out there, waiting to be told. Which brings us to book 2, The Starfarer. The heroine, Sila, was introduced in book 1 as was her hero, the legendary Star Captain Zh’hir. This is their story. It begins before the previous book and catches up to the ending of The Mercenary about half way through – at which point the story lines pretty much march together.
  
  And for those who haven't read the first book; I highly recommend it. No, you don't have to read The Mercenary first, but I suspect you WILL want to read it. So why not pick up both and read them in order?
  
  First a word about what this book is NOT. It is not a hunky alien guy who's courtship consists of "You belong to me. The bedroom's this way." Star Captain Zh’hir treats the terrified accidentally captured human with kindness and patience – even going so far as to violate his own laws and possibly jeopardize the alliance to protect her. He allows her to learn about the wider world and encourages her to grow into the person she can be before he even lets her know he is attracted. And he allows her to make the choices that are right for her.
  
  I think a common theme for the two books could be summed up as "One person CAN make a difference." In book 1, Zoran made a difference to Saakshi and through her to balance of power between the existing power blocks of the sector. In book 2, Zh’hir saves both Sila and her planet, and commits the strength of his people to fighting their fight against the Empire. [FYI, neither of these women are wimps, they do a lot of saving as well.] It is obvious that the Universe is a better place for having these four in it.
  
  I found this to be a richly nuanced story about fascinating people and cultures and yes, I am pantingly waiting for book 3!
  
  I received both of these books for free as review copies [thank you, Ms Landon] but I purchased copies of both after I had read them. Writing like this needs to be encouraged.
• 
  Sheena

  Cosmic tale and epic love story...
  
  A glorious tale of derring do in a star system many lifetimes away from here... I have spent some considerable time debating the essence of this captivating book: it is most assuredly a thrilling sci fi adventure with warring parties and a despicable enemy, but underlying the excitement and adventure there is a slow-burning, sweet romance between Sila, a young, gifted woman, accidentally and irrevocably caught up in off world politics, and her Star Captain Zh’hir Mu’raat a hero-warrior and leader from a legendary alien race....
  
  Fundamentally, I think it is suffice to say that this book works on many levels: it has strong empathetic characters, who may be extra-terrestrial, but seem very much human with their dramas, hopes, humour, and emotions; it has a vividly described backdrop landscape, which may be an authors invention, but is realistic and completely fascinating; and it has a plot that is original, unpredictable and enthralling.
  
  The author has such a fertile imagination, and within these pages she has skilfully woven a wonderfully detailed alternative universe and storyline...everything seems so believable, the politics, the interplay, the good, and the bad, that it is almost possible to believe Arakola actually exists out there beyond our stars..
  
  This is a standalone story but it fits perfectly with the story of Saakshi and Zoran that began with The Mercenary and continues within this story... and whilst it is not essential to read the first book, the writing is so good and the world building so compelling why wouldn’t you.....I can not commend this book highly enough to anyone who enjoys a cosmic tale and an epic love story......I received an advanced copy of this book from the author.
• 
  J.D. DeHart

  The Starfarer is engaging science fiction by anyone’s standard, I especially appreciate how this author balanced a number of vivid and fleshed out characters and maintained an interesting plot along the way.
• 
  Despina

  I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.
  
  I loved this book. What a great sci-fi romance this was for me, I love how the author slowly builds this world so you get lost in the world of Araloka. This book it had everything I love romance, action, adventure, great characters, interesting worlds without overwhelming me. I just wanted to savor this book. I don't know where to start, this book was amazing for me, I just wanted it to go on and on, all the elements of romance where beautiful. Then there was the action/suspense parts which had my heart racing along, wanting to to know that everyone was going to be okay. I loved Sila and her Star Captain, so romantic and it was wonderful to catch up with Saakshi and Zoran from the first book. Petra Landon's, new book, The Stafarer definitely takes you on an adventure one that I was sad to see end. I cannot wait to see where she takes us next. Wonderful just wonderful, it's so hard to find sci fi romances like this, so when I do I just want to shout it out.
• 
  Grant Leishman

  Reviewed for The Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman
  
  I’ve said it in the past, but it bears repeating that; one of the most rewarding parts of being a professional reviewer is the opportunity to watch an author grow and develop within his/her genre. This is certainly the case, for me, with Petra Landon. The Starfarer (The Araloka Chronicles Book 2) is now the fourth Landon book I have read and I continue to watch her story-telling skills evolve and improve. Within her four books, we have two very distinct and different genres, the first being fantasy, with the Saga of the Chosen series and the second being Science Fiction in the Araloka Chronicles. While on the surface it might seem like they are two very different genres, the reality, on closer inspection, is that they are not. Landon writes about relationships, especially relationships between different and disparate people, including inter-species. This is what ultimately ties her four books together. The core of her writing is about love, commitment and the underlying ideals that underpin humanity. In two of her novels she has chosen to clothe these ideals in a background of fantasy and in two, in a science fiction background. For me, as a reader, this just makes her books more interesting and displays her innate story-telling ability.
  In this latest iteration, of the Araloka Chronicles, we meet a new character along with many of the characters we met in the first of this series, The Mercenary. Star Captain Zh’hir Mu’raat is of the Ur’quay species. Once renowned and feared throughout the galaxies as one of the foremost space-travelling and honourable species, inexplicably several centuries ago, the Ur’quay chose to cut themselves off from the rest of the cosmos, in order to preserve and purify the Ur’quay line. This decision has been a disaster for the people of Ur’qia and now, short on food and facing extinction, as a species, Zh’hir has been sent out to find food sources and most importantly the fuel Ur’qia needs to survive – the ubiquitous skoal. When Zh’hir arrives in the Araloka sector of the universe, a sector his forebears were very familiar with, he discovers the sector at war with the evil Budh-Ketaari Empire, bent on galaxy domination. Linking up with the Kampuchan Alliance and the Hadari’Kor mercenary Zoran, Zh’hir is determined to use his people’s advanced technology and history of warfare to rid the galaxy of the Budh-Ketaari Empire.
  When gathering samples of stoal on Terra-Agri-5, Zh’hir inadvertently collects more than he bargained for, in the form of a beautiful, young terran woman by the name of Sila Gatherer. The attraction between this young woman and the massive, Ur’quay warrior is instantaneous and it soon becomes obvious that Sila, as a person, is much more than they initially thought. Sila holds some secrets, within her, that will open Zh’hir’s eyes as to the wrongs perpetrated by his own forebears, centuries earlier.
  I found The Starfarer (The Araloka Chronicles Book 2) to be a fantastic read, full of adventure, action and thrills, all tautly pulled together by author Petra Landon. A few things lifted this book up above the rest of the science fiction market, for me. The first of those is the underlying themes that run through the threads of the story. It is rare to meet characters such as Zh’hir and Zoran who are so beautifully drawn and also remarkably faithful to their morals and their beliefs in what is right or wrong. Warriors and fighters they may be, but they governed their lives and instincts by their respective “codes”. The camaraderie of the two vastly different, but ultimately similar forces, the Hadari’Kor and the Ur’quay was wonderfully crafted by the author.
  Counterpointed against the violence and the battles was this dual love affair, between species, that occurred between Zoran (a Hadari’Kor) and his love, Saakshi (a Budheyan) along with Zh’hir and his passion, the young terran, Sila. I thought the romance and love scenes were incredibly sensitively written, sensual, without being smutty and just added to the entire story beautifully. The allegory from this story of the inter-species relationships, for me, was the idea that no matter what your culture, your skin colour, your religion, your creed, your physical characteristics; love is always love and love trumps all of it. I really appreciated that in the story.
  The other underlying theme that resonated with me, especially in today’s increasingly separatist and isolationist world is learning the lessons the Ur’quay people had to learn the hard way – that separating yourself from the rest of the universe (read humanity here) is ultimately a self-defeating road. I almost expected Zh’hir to produce a cap from centuries ago that read – “Make Ur’Qia Great Again”. The author may or may not have intended that to shine through her work, but for me it definitely did.
  Petra Landon has thrilled me again and I cannot wait to read more of her work in the future. I like my science fiction with lots of story and a minimum of confusing technology and technical expertise. Petra Landon’s Araloka Chronicles fills that requirement perfectly. I hope there are further sequels to both the Araloka Chronicles and the Saga of the Chosen, as I am still excited by both of these sagas however I am also anticipating where Landon’s muse might lead her in the future. I have no doubt it will be successful and highly readable. Make no mistake Petra Landon is one of the top indie authors, in my opinion, in the marketplace today, for sheer readability and excitement.
• 
  Julia Red Hatter Book Blog

  The Starfarer puts all other sci-fi romance books to shame. The way Petra Landon seamlessly wrote the sci-fi action and romance together has put The Starfarer in a class of it's own! I'll start off by saying this is the second in the Araloka Chronicles, The Mercenary being the first, and you don't have to read the first one but I highly recommend it! Now that I've said that, let me continue to wax poetically about how much I friggin loved The Starfarer. I'll be honest, I knew I'd love it but I thought it wouldn't be able to compare to my love for The Mercenary. I was wrong! Petra Landon stepped this one up by about 100 notches. We meet the Star Captain and Sila in the first book, and you are instantly curious about them. This book starts off a bit before the last one and continues on from there. Sila is from a farming planet and hasn't been content in her life for awhile. A mishap brings her aboard the Henia and into the sights of the Star Captain. After learning they share some secrets, an unlikely friendship arises. When Sila is finally sent home, they both realize they will miss each other. This is a time of war, not everything will be neat and not everything will happen as it's suppose to. When these two meet back up, we are gifted with one of the most sweet and innocent romances to ever bloom.
  
  I am so in love with this world. I really am. Not only do we have the sweet romance blooming, we also have an unavoidable war blooming. With the Star Captain and his people being the secret weapon. These pages are filled with love, hope, action, and courage. I kinda want to shout from the rooftops that everyone needs to read this!
  
  The writing will have you so wrapped up in the story that you won't notice what time or day it is. You get so lost into the pages that you have no desire to set it down. These characters just jump off the pages. They feel so real. Everything does.
  
  Obviously I recommend this book to everyone. Any sci-fi fan will spend hours lost in this book. The Starfarer will grab you and not let go until the final page, all while wishing you could be immersed in this world again.
• 
  TJ

  Nothing to deep but a lot of fun if you like an enjoyable evening with Sci-fi romance.
• 
  Joyffree

  Landon has once again delivered.
  This is the second book in the Araloka Chronicles, it can be read as a standalone. Though in my personal opinion the story flows better and is more emotionally potent having read the first book.
  If you are new to The Araloka Chronicles you are in for a treat!
  The world building is spectacular - Landon has built such a complex and vivid universe with this series. The storyline is meticulous and engaging, effortlessly drawing me in and keeping me entertained.
  Sila and Zh'hir are enchanting main characters. Both are well scripted and endearing - as a reader I couldn't help but be drawn into their emotional vortex
  Sila is surviving and it seems she is not always without mishap, but she tries. An error by the Ur'quay's lands her in a bit of a situation. The resulting incidents that follow her return change her life forever providing her with the adventure she has always sought but possibly at a higher price than she can afford to pay - the old saying "be careful what you wish for" possibly applies here
  Zh'hir understands that it is time for his people to step forward and embrace the new world or face the possibility that their race will die out and become only starfire stories. He has chosen to embrace.
  The Starfarer is an action-packed space opera that will indulge all of your reading whims - action, suspense, adventure, exploration, and romance.
  I absolutely craved the turn of each page - each new twist and discovery a consummate reflection of the strength in Landon's writing"
  I read a copy via kindle unlimited
• 
  Frances Dunning

  I'm devouring this book. I thought The Mercenary was action packed The Starfarer will take your breath away. I don't want this story to end.
  
  This is a must read for anyone that enjoys a sci-fi romance full of non-stop action and adventure. Sila and Zh'hir story is truly brilliant. I absolutely loved them. There is just the right amount of technical data and science that you can imagine yourself transported right into the middle of the action. It was exciting to watch the characters evolve in the story and how the characters from The Mercenary played an integral part in the story. There was a sense of closure for me with Zoran and Saakshi. While lines were being dangled for the future stories.
  
  Truly the best sci-fi series. The writing is flawless. The balancing of romance in the plot with the space opera intrigue and action is truly unique. I can't imagine finding a better read.
• 
  Esther

  Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
  So much fun to have my hands on another Petra Landon book. This is the fourth one I've read and I haven't given her a rating lower than 4 stars. The books are so much fun and especially the worldbuilding is so good. It even includes a lot of made up words and little bits of a totally different language. This is the second book in this series and the first one was great to read as well.
  
  
  A longer review can be found at Bite Into Books
  
  One of the fun things when you're a blogger is to meet new people. Other bloggers, different authors... I can easily say that I've got this great collaboration thing going on with Petra Landon. It all started with her first book, I was hooked and after that we hit it off by emailing at least once a week. I just love her books, love her as an author, but Petra Landon is also a very sweet person. I do hope we can do this together for a very long time; her writing books and me fangirling over them.
• 
  Behind Closed Doors Book Review

  Amount of sex 2 / 5
  How explicit is the sex scenes 2 / 5
  Story 4 / 5
  Overall: 4 / 5
  
  Review: An unlikely pair - a starship captain and field worker meet by accident and start an unexpected romance and adventure. Sila keeps to herself as she can read minds unlike the rest of her Terran species. When she is accidentally transported on to a starship, she finds herself in danger and thrust into a new life. Zh'hir is from a mysterious alien race that is working with the Alliance to rid the galaxy of the evil Imperial Forces. Zh'hir feels responsible for Sila when his ship takes her while looking for a resource that is essential to his planet. But is it only his honor that keeps him drawn to her?
  
  Petra Landon's epic space drama continues after The Mercenary. We get to see lots of Zoran and Saakshi from The Mercenary, but this is clearly Sila and Zh'hir's book. Landon does a great job of creating this universe. It is complicated and detailed. It is almost as much about the romance as it is about the ongoing war. Both Sila and Zh'hir are great characters that you just want more. This is perhaps my main critique of the book - the author takes a lot of time explaining the inner works of this particular universe. The book becomes less about Sila and Zh'hir and more about the war. Don't get me wrong - I liked the book and defiantly fell in love with these star-crossed lovers.
  
  Read voluntarily with a gift copy. 
• 
  Space Cowgirl

  The Star Captain🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫 Finds His Mate👸
  
  Alien Alpha Male Space Opera with an Adult Romance.💕
  
  What a ride! This book is quite exciting and involved, with a human woman being saved from slavers by Zh'hir🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫, an Ur'quay Star Captain and warrior. He has never seen a human before and she has never seen a being like him!
  It's a long book and there are lots of situations that Sila💃💋, the human woman, gets into, and that Zh'hir🐺🍆🌋🔪🔫, the ultimate bad boy warrior, rescues or protects her from.
  
  The Hadari'Kor Aliens are enemies of the Emperor, the commander of the Imperial Forces. There are space battles 💥, spaceships🚀, and space stations💫, all described in detail by the author. Great World🌍building!
  This is NOT your typical alpha alien romance, it's much better!
  
  ARC Received from Author.
  I also got the book with KU.
• 
  InD'tale Magazine

  An incredible way to escape reality for a few hours that evokes visions of the kind of alien love that makes everyday life appear plain and boring.
  
  Read full review in the
  2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
• 
  Malkhai

  Original review:
  https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/20...
  
  This is one of those books I want to update the mark to make it lower after a second thought, but I want to be honest with my first impression after ending the book. As the author claims, this was meant to be a short story that evolved into something else. The same way I prefer a Pikachu to a Raichu, I would also have prefered that this story would have remained in the short size. This second part of The Araloka Chronicles is clearly inferior to its older sister, but it still has some bite. Let’s jump to the Henia to start this new journey!
  
  This time we follow Zh’hir, a mysterious Ur’quay starfarer who is the new secret face of the peculiar treaty between the Ur’quay and the Alliance. His homeworld needs a natural resource to survive and some of the Alliance planets have plenty to offer. One of them is Terra 5, where Sila is just a farmer leading a very simple life. By accident, the ship where Zh’hir is First Commander kidnaps her when taking some samples. The starfarer makes his own quest to deliver her to safety, a task that puts him way closer to her than expected. Sadly, the accidental kidnap has stirred some dangerous waters and Zh’hir doesn’t leave Silas as safe and sound as he thinks. Will the alien run to her help or will he leave the poor terran to her own devices? If you pick the second option, you should really read more Romance books…
  
  The main enemy of this book is its own size. Let’s be honest, the story doesn’t have enough weight to properly fulfill almost 400 pages. It should have been half of that size, because most parts of the books are just endless loops or repetitions that get us nowhere. The cadence chosen for this story is as follows: one good chapter with a good pace followed by two or three chapters that are slower than a lazy snail. I’m not a quitter as a reader, but this time I have struggled with myself in order not to give up and just forget about it. The lively parts were good, but sadly not that good as to make me forgive the densely narrated chunks were almost anything happened. Or worse, what happens was already told in the first book.
  
  When there is action and danger and space ships involved, this book gets entertaining. Yes, one of those scenes is rather similar to one we read in the first book; but at least we have some fire to warm us before the long winter. When this book gets a plot of its own, the author show us her easiness at building complex galactic conflicts and filling them with plenty of cultures to last a lifetime. All the lore pills we have to ingest leave a very pleasant aftertaste and feel like a reward after the more boring scenes of the book. One thing I must admit is that the Araloka System could be a caulddron for hundreds of stories and I don’t imagine myself getting bored of them. The distilled version of this second story is Space Opera at its best! I’m actually suprised about the epilogue, though. I do not like that something that big gets such a tiny portion. I don’t think it is an ending of the saga, but it cheates us from a good and hugely important space battle.
  
  The story was good, but too slow. Sadly, the characters are mostly sleep-inducing ones. The main ones are so plain, that is hard to mention something about them. Sila is just the classic good girl of the Romance genre. A bit naive, but with enough punch for modern standards. Zh’hir is just the big alien, who is good at figthning and that falls in love almost at first sight. Neither of them have any distinguishable personality trait to make them mildly interesting. That made the romantic aspect of the story a very unremarkable one and a part I could discard without blinking twice. Their relationship is terse most of the book, with stiff dialogs where both of them were incapable of using first names and akward moments were I couldn’t tell if they were about to kiss or butt heads. I’m usually a defender of relationships that follow all the logical steps to true love, but this time I would have just prefered a hormonal fest to aliviate my boredom.
  
  I was expecting something more of this book. Actually, the story has almost everything I want (except an enjoyable romance), but it is buried under dozens of pages that suffocate it. But I really like the setting and its unending opportunities, so if a third book is ever published I have no doubt I will read it.
• 
  OneDayI'll

  From farm girl to the front lines
  
  Sila Gatherer has a job. It isn't glorious but it's necessary. Gathering harvests feeds more than just her world. But an accidental kidnapping by starfaring aliens lands her in a holding cell and worried about becoming a menu item. But then she's returned, and then kidnapped again. Because her ride home put her planet on slavers' radar. Her only rescue is the aliens who kidnapped her the first time. But her rescue comes with even more problems because her ability is about to put her center stage in a war her planet was completely overlooked in. This was definitely not the adventure she dreamed about while on the farm.
  
  Spoilers ahead.
  This. Here is the powerful story that Mercenary hinted at but didn't quite achieve. Even with time skips and jumps, randomly interspersed POVs, and a few grammatical errors this one grabs you much harder. And the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because of those jumps. Give us the bonding time, those moments that draw us in closer just as the characters are growing closer. Show us the friendships forming, the war room chats, the day to day lives as the time for battle gets closer. It would add so much power to this story. In 30% we've skipped a 20 day unintentional kidnapping and release, a 6mo life of returned home with no longing, worries or anything else just poof and gone. We skip along a new kidnapping, several days hunting her down to get her back but allowing all those other women to remain slaves. We skip several days on a station to get her free. We skip around her time on a ship forming friendships with mercenaries. We skip over her being abandoned by her planet that she saved and settling into her new role. We skip over that span of months to where the first book ended with the alliance base being attacked. We get skipped along for basically a whole year before time slows and things focus in- somewhere around the 45% point. And still it's a powerful read. Imagine what it could be with all that included? A lot about the new aliens come to light in this book- their past, why their involved now, and what this means to their future. And even more questions arise.
  *They have to understand that isolation combined with famine means births are going to be low. Trade would bring in food as well as possible mates.
  *Not telling about the past hurts both sides. And can possibly create a lot of resentment when those struggling with gifts that bring madness without help have a focus to put the blame on. That hero status won't protect them long.
  *Knowing her connection to (not spoiling it) when the (not spoiling it) blew, why didn't they use that handy device they have to protect her? It was literally right there and they had warning.
  
  This was good. This book shows the abilities seen in their other series. The way this one ended, I'm not sure where Sentinel will take readers. With the focus jumping, again, certain events in play, and big revelations looming- all focused on the previous parties, it makes you wonder what journey we'll be taken on with a previously background character and a complete unknown.
• 
  Jennifer Tooker

  Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.
  
  Sila’s Story
  
  Sila Gatherer lives a sheltered life on her planet Terra Agri 5. At the far ends of Alliance airspace, her people have mostly enjoyed the protections of the Alliance without the wars and strife that has plagued the other planets in the system. But her life takes a drastic swerve when while on a gathering trip one day she is whisked up into a passing alien ship. Finding herself alone in a strange environment with creatures that she has only heard rumors of, Sila is out of her element but manages to form a relationship with Zh’hir. The Star Captain becomes her protector and defender as Sila navigates the new reality that faces her. As an ambassador for her people, Sila learns that her small insignificant planet may play more of a role in intergalactic dealings than she could ever imagine.
  As the follow up to last year’s “The Mercenary”, “The Starfarer” is also set in the same world as its predecessor but works just as well as a stand-alone novel as it does part of an overall series. Sila’s story was an interesting if not a unique one. As a veritable loner on an agrarian world, she has inherited a strange gift that eventually sees her exiled from her own people. To make matters worse, as the only person known of her race to possess this gift, questions arise as to how she came to possess such a skill. While many of the same places and a few characters make an appearance in the story, Landon has crafted The Starfarer in such a way that nothing is lost by reading the books out of sequence. For me having previously enjoyed The Mercenary, this new novel was a really nice way to catch up with Zoran and Saakshi in addition to becoming acquainted with the new players in what is shaping up to be a very interesting series. But, where The Mercenary struck me as more of a classic romance, The Starfarer at times held a bit of melodrama that would rival even the longest running soap opera. Even with that being said, Landon has delivered with a second book in the series that is worth the read for anyone who likes their Science Fiction filled with alien races, fascinating places and just enough drama to keep it all interesting. After having been introduced to the Mercenary and the Starfarer, Landon’s next installment is The Sentinel. Once again, I will be looking forward to catching up with the inhabitants of Sector Araloka to discover what more adventures are in store.
  
• 
  Happy Booker

  The Starfarer is the second book of the Araloka Chronicles. This science fiction story follows book one where Sila and Zh’hir continue and grow to become closer. The reader gets to learn and see Zh’hir more in action saving Sila and her planet, as well as everything else that places the characters into place.
  
  
  
  This thrilling story enriches the genre of science fiction with the concept of its storyline being an alien saving the world for a woman he likes. The characters are strong and the plot is filled with action, excitement, romance, emotions, and drama. The description of this alternative universe and the way things are woven together made this experience to be a plotty page-turning pleasure.
  
  
  
  I personally enjoyed the way Zh’hir felt the need to protect Sila. The connection drawn and written between the two characters were particularly attractive.
  
  
  
  The book ends providing enough information for a continuation of the storyline. It is recommended that anyone interested is better off starting from the first book.
  
  
  
  I appreciate everything the story stood for and look forward to reading the next book.
  
  
• 
  Donna

  In this segment of the Araloka Chronicles, we are introduced to new people: Sila and the Star Captain. It starts off as a mistake that Sila meets the Star Captain, and understanding and progress is slowly made. It takes some time for Sila to get that she's a "guest" and that the Captain is helping her. Since Sila has an unique gift that has been underutilized and misunderstood, the Star Captain takes on the responsibility to help train her. And I have to say that during the initial few days/months, there is definitely an attraction between the two, which - what can I say? - I am a hopeless for!
  
  Although they care about each other, life gets in the way and they are separated for awhile. Although physically separated, their feelings and thoughts are still bound to each other. Eventually, they overcome adversity but not without some trials.
  
  I really enjoyed this book. I feel that it's a great second book to the Mercenary (which was SO GOOD!) and we get a better and broader view of what's going on in the galaxy. Can't wait for book 3!
• 
  Anne Szlachcic

  To fully understand the worldbuilding and characters in this book you really should read the 1st in series .
  
  
  The hero was intelligent and took action when necessary BUT he seemed to take too much time to resolve
  any issues that arose .
  The heroine was too meek for me - she did not stand up for herself enough …… allowing herself to be overlooked and rejected by those she helps despite all she does for them .
  The book had its moments where it gripped my attention but they were too few .
  
  I am unsure if I would read any other books that might follow .
  
  I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.