Stellar Heir: (Stellar Heir Book 1) By Scott Killian - Exceptional Coming-Of-Age Space Opera!

Stellar Heir: (Stellar Heir Book 1) by Scott Killian

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This story was a blast to read. It had everything I wanted in a story and more. I loved the characters, the world-building, the colorful action, and the way the plot unfolded and kept me turning pages.

When I started reading Stellar Heir, the beginning felt kind of made me think I had picked up a quaint young adult book. But, as time went on, the tension ramped up and I found myself involved in a mesmerizing tale.

Stellar Heir is a serious space opera and a coming-of-age story that fascinated me and often had me on the edge of my seat.

Aboard the Zigzagunda, Jael Ked'Korva and his sentient humanoid simian, Goni, survey a space battlefield as the battle wanes and ends. When they determine it is safe to approach, they board a derelict ship that shows some promise of finding treasure. Jael and Goni are scavengers just making their way as best they can.

While aboard the vessel, Jael finds something looking like it might be worth something. It is a bracelet. Out of curiosity, he tries it on, and it locks on to his wrist and he cannot get it off. The next thing Jael knows, he is having some strange and nightmarish visions. Sometimes, the visions are of a menacing figure from his past, while others are of a ghostly figure he has never seen before who gives him puzzling and cryptic messages and instructions.

Meanwhile, there are a few factions that are seeking the artifact Jael has been connected to and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. The artifact apparently will allow the holder to wield great power to control the galaxy.

The strongest part of Stellar Heir is its characters. There are the good guys, and the bad guys, and there is one I am not too sure about at this point.

The character called Garlial is an enigma to me. He seems to be an antagonist, but at the same time, he also seems to undergo a transformation, or is, at least, in the middle of one. Should that transformation prove to be the case, it is a testament to the skill of the author. 

Goni is quite endearing. He always thinks about food and eating and can never seem to get enough. He also has an irritating tendency to not follow orders. His main role is to help Jael be grounded. Goni does this through friendly barbs and quips that makes Jael think. But Goni is also a brave warrior, and he loves to test new weapons whenever he has the opportunity.

Jael is a young man who has gotten himself caught up in something that might have him just a little over his head under normal circumstances. He is resourceful, smart, inventive, and pretty good in a fight, but some people he is fighting are pretty ruthless and have really poor attitudes. One person who also helps him is a character that comes along just a little later in the book. Her name is Merzi

Merzi is a wise young woman who has abilities to help focus Jael and approach situations logically. She is a strong, intelligent, and a tough character who adds a great deal to the story in the way of wisdom and wonder.

The baddies in this book are scary, single-minded, and relentless. One, in particular, is evil beyond imagination.

My favorite plot point comes in the development of Jael's character. It isn't all spilled out at the beginning of the book but starts out slowly and when we get the entire picture later in the tale, the reader gets to understand his motivation on a deep, personal level.

My takeaway from Stellar Heir is to remember that you cannot run from your past. I guess one could call it Karma. Those things that happen to us tend to come back and demand to be resolved. At the same time, once those issues are solved, it is time to move forward to new challenges, and not make the same mistakes again.

Stellar Heir is such a good book on so many levels. It is eminently entertaining. The story contains a full spectrum of emotional content. While all the characters are well written and well developed, they are also feel like real people - they have some flaws - some more than others. The descriptions of the landscapes are colorful and provide a great backdrop for the people to perform in. There will be a second book in this series coming early in 2025. I have already pre-ordered Syndicate Moon: Stellar Heir Book 2.

I'm giving Stellar Heir high recommendations for a fun sci-fi story worth the time to read.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scott Killian grew up in California, where he consumed every bit of sci-fi and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Thomas Harris, Stephen King, and H.P. Lovecraft, to name a few, those dark portals in his mind were opened and his obsession with the macabre began. Storytelling, in any form, is his only passion.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!