ARC Review: Of Starlight and Bone by Emily Layne

Hey, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. After two years of blogging, I finally got Netgalley and this is the first book I read from it. I’m glad to say it was a good start! I probably won’t be using Netgalley too often in the immediate future, since I don’t have many books on it, but we’ll see. Of Starlight and Bone was in the Read Now section, and it was one of the few YA books there.

Title: Of Starlight and Bone
Author: Emily Layne
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Series: The Lost Colony #1
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Publisher: Owl Hollow Press
Page Count: 261

Cinder meets Firefly in this dark, YA science-fiction series inspired by the original Roanoke Colony.

Aurelia Peri is used to being an outsider. As if being the adopted daughter of the galaxy’s most powerful man weren’t enough, she also has to deal with the stigma of being part machine. Which is why she’s dead-set on proving her worth. But when her first mission as a D.I.S.C. agent ends disastrously, and then her suspect—a man accused of murdering and cannibalizing his own family—proclaims innocence and launches himself off the top of a building, she fears she’ll never be trusted with another case.

Auri has doubts about the man’s guilt and is certain there’s more to the case. She decides to dig deeper when her superiors suddenly order her to drop it, and her surreptitious investigation reveals a series of crimes she is convinced are connected. Determined to uncover the truth, Auri discovers an unfathomable darkness hidden in the depths of the galaxy. A darkness that threatens everything she holds dear. A darkness connected to her own past. And Auri’s involvement in the case doesn’t go unnoticed.

Something in the system has caught her scent and will stop at nothing to catch its prey.

Content Warnings

suicide – physical violence and gore – discussion of cannibalism

Thank you to Netgalley and Owl Hollow Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way. All quotes in this review are from the ARC and may differ upon publication.

Science fiction isn’t a genre I’ve ventured into very far, but this book has convinced me to take a deeper dive. Of Starlight and Bone is fast-paced, suspenseful, and thrilling start to The Lost Colony Trilogy.

“Humans are all mismatched fragments of starlight and bone, but you can’t have starlight without darkness.”

The action starts right away, with an epic chase scene through the streets of the city. It immediately grabbed my attention, and I was intrigued within the first few pages. I loved the worldbuilding! It was easy to understand, while still being detailed. And, most importantly, there was no info-dumping! Information about the galaxy was given in small snippets, which I appreciated immensely. I feel that with fantasy and sci-fi books, some authors go on long tangents explaining the world, and it can get boring. Layne did a great job of giving us a clear sense of the world without being overly descriptive. The inclusion of Japanese culture was a nice touch, and I now know a few curse words in Japanese.

Auri was a fun protagonist and I admired her determination, even if she disobeyed orders. She learned a lot along the way. And I loved her sidekick, Birdie! Their relationship with each other was sweet, even if they’re a little too friendly to be work partners. She’s so well behaved–she has to be, she’s a DISC dog–and a lot of time, I was thinking, “Why can’t my dog be that well trained?”

“Aurelia Peri […] You burn with the light of ten thousand suns. […] And suns aren’t concerned with their origin story. They’re too busy lighting up the entire galaxy.”

The found family was one of my favorite parts. I love the crew aboard the Kestrel and the relationships that Auri forms with the members. I think one of my favorites is the relationship she forms with Marin. It’s a small moment, but it’s powerful and gives both Auri and Marin the friend they need.

“Machine or human, it’s not what you are, but who you are […] We don’t just share the same mechanical parts. We both hurt, we both feel, we both love.

I wish we got a bit more time with some of the crew members, especially Malachi. He’s a very mysterious character, with a complex background. I have a feeling we’ll be exploring more of him in the next book.

My only complaint is Ty. I thought he was okay in the first part of the book and then all the stuff happens out in space, and I didn’t like him anymore. The way he treated Auri was not cool.

I think Of Starlight and Bone is a great book for those who are just starting sci-fi. It’s easy to understand and not too complex.

My Rating: 4.5/5 dragons

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Layne is the author of the YA Paranormal Fantasy THESE WICKED WATERS as well as the new YA Science Fiction series The Lost Colony Trilogy, beginning with OF STARLIGHT & BONE, all with Owl Hollow Press.

Emily grew up a proud Army brat with an Anne Shirley-esque imagination. She loves reading, eating too much pizza, and spending time with her husband—who loves books almost as much as she does.

When not writing fantastical stories, Emily can be found playing with her curious children, exploring the great outdoors, or concocting mostly-believable excuses to avoid socializing.