"Ian and Tee'ah make choices between love and duty -- can they have both?"
Princes Tee'ah has always chaffed at the VASH way that
cloisters women. Her greatest wish is to fly and she has
quietly been learning to be more than a sheltered
princess. The day she passes her final test by landing her
ship, her father learns of her 'disobedience' and informs
her she will not be flying again. Furthermore, her
betrothal will be honored even though she does not wish
it. In a desperate bid for freedom, she steals a ship and
escapes to the frontier. We meet Ian Hamilton in STAR KING when his mother marries
the king. He is astounded when his stepfather names him
heir and feels it is his duty to act as a VASH instead of
an Earth dweller to prove himself to others in the
Federation. He is currently on a secret mission for his
stepfather and desperately needs a pilot. The drunken
young woman that approached him for aid happens to be a
pilot; so he is willing to risk helping her if she agrees
to fly his ship and crew. Their adventures take them to several planets and
interesting experiences in an effort to find who is trying
to raise the frontier -- including Earth -- into a
rebellion
against the Federation. Tee'ah was a former part of the
royal family; so she is aware of the politics and that Ian
will be honor bound to return her to her family. Her love for Ian and her galaxy gives her the strength to
help him on his peace mission, but she cannot allow him to
send her home to a forced marriage. She finds aid in
unexpected places and Ian must chose between the VASH way
he has been learning and the Earth freedoms that his mother
raised him. There is another relationship developing between Gann who
we met in STAR KING and Lara, an independent tracker and
pilot who hates VASH. She is helping him 'rescue Princess
Tee'ah' because her ship was impounded she needs the funds
for the fines. Their personalities add a bit of spice to
their trip and the story. Ms. Grant has done well in mixing together a believable
tale in a Sci-fi world. Ian's and Tee'ah's conflict
between being what others wished and following his own
heart was clearly written and the choices made believable.
I found myself very involved with the entire crew who I am
glad to say enjoyed a happy ending. BUT after his sister's
stunt, I expect there will be some interesting events
of 'brotherly revenge' in the next STAR book about Ilana. The first book of this trilogy, STAR KING was 2000
P.E.A.R.L. AWARD WINNER for SCIENCE FICTION and FUTURISTIC
Romance and I expect this story will be among the 'award
winning books' for most futuristic readers.
Courtesy:
eBOOKISLE
Reviewed by Cy Korte
Posted January 15, 2002
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