The Cruel Stars by John Birmingham
(The Cruel Stars, Book 1)
Released: August 20, 2019 | Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
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The galaxy was once terrorized by the Sturm, a group of “species purists” intent on destroying any human with genetic or cybernetic enhancements. Fashioning themselves as the one true “Human Republic,” the Sturm cut a bloody swath across the stars, killing billions before finally being defeated and driven into the far reaches of Dark Space. Centuries of peace bred complacency. Everyone believed the Sturm had died out in the Dark. They were wrong.
The enemy has returned and, with a brutal and decisive attack, knocks out almost all of humanity’s defenses. Now on the brink of annihilation, humankind’s only hope is a few brave souls who survived the initial attack: Commander Lucinda Hardy, thrust into uncertain command of the Royal Armadalen Navy’s only surviving warship. Booker3, a soldier of Earth, sentenced to die for treason, whose time on death row is cut short when the Sturm attack his prison compound. Princess Alessia, a young royal of the Montanblanc Corporation, forced to flee when her home planet is overrun and her entire family executed. Sephina L’trel, the leader of an outlaw band who must call on all of her criminal skills to resist the invasion. And, finally, Admiral Frazer McLennan, the infamous hero of the first war with the Sturm hundreds of years ago, who hopes to rout his old foes once and for all—or die trying.
These five flawed, reluctant heroes must band together to prevail against a relentless enemy and near-impossible odds. For if they fail, the future itself is doomed.
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John Birmingham had always been a fan of science fiction but said he “never had the guts” to write one. What finally pushed him into it was the failure of his previous series, the Dave Hooper novels. Looking to do something completely different, he decided to finally tackle the space opera he’d always wanted to write.
REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Hits the ground running in a barrage of action & comedy. 💥🤣
I’ll be honest, I’m not a “well-read” person. I never took writing classes, and I couldn’t tell you the rules of worldbuilding or character arcs. But I know what I like, and what I like is action. Call me uncultured or shallow, but give me a story that drags me along at a million miles an hour, and I’m happy. The Cruel Stars delivers exactly that.
The book follows six main characters, each introduced in the opening six chapters. Once that’s done? All hell breaks loose, and for about half the book it’s wall-to-wall action.
Now, when I say “all hell breaks loose,” I mean instantly. One moment everything’s normal, people going about their day, and the next: gunfire, explosions, and people trying to eat each other. It’s so abrupt it almost feels like you missed a page. At first it’s confusing, but I think that’s the point: the chaos hits the reader with the same shock it hits the characters.
The one real downside, though, is the heavy use of unexplained sci-fi terms and acronyms. You’re often just expected to know what they mean, or piece it together through context. It reminded me of English slang: these aren’t real words, this isn’t a real sentence… but somehow, you get it.
On the flip side, the humor is fantastic. McLennan’s banter with his AI partner Hero (easily my favorite), Seph’s “screw it” attitude, and Booker’s ongoing struggle to find a new body, there’s comedy everywhere. And when the action pauses, the laughs take over. The scene where all the protagonists finally meet is pure gold: a chaotic, hilarious clash of personalities.
Bottom line: this book is fast, explosive, and funny. I can’t wait to dive into the sequel.
