Starswept by Mary Fan

Starswept

About the Book:

Title: Starswept | Author: Mary Fan | Pages: 376 | Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing | Genre: Performing Arts Science-Fiction | Recommended Ages: Young Adult and Up

Book Description:

*** Finalist for 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year in Young Adult Fiction***

Some melodies reach across the stars.

In 2157, the Adryil—an advanced race of telepathic humanoids—contacted Earth. A century later, 15-year-old violist Iris Lei considers herself lucky to attend Papilio, a prestigious performing arts school powered by their technology. Born penniless, Iris’s one shot at a better life is to attract an Adryil patron. But only the best get hired, and competition is fierce.

A sudden encounter with an Adryil boy upends her world. Iris longs to learn about him and his faraway realm, but after the authorities arrest him for trespassing, the only evidence she has of his existence is the mysterious alien device he slipped to her.

When she starts hearing his voice in her head, she wonders if her world of backstabbing artists and pressure for perfection is driving her insane. Then, she discovers that her visions of him are real—by way of telepathy—and soon finds herself lost in the kind of impossible love she depicts in her music.

But even as their bond deepens, Iris realizes that he’s hiding something from her—and it’s dangerous. Her quest for answers leads her past her sheltered world to a strange planet lightyears away, where she uncovers secrets about Earth’s alien allies that shatter everything she knows.

What Authors are Saying about the Book:

"The best science fiction novel I have read in a long time. I was absolutely captivated from the first page." — Lyssa Chiavari, author of the Iamos Trilogy

"A dark and dangerous tale of secrets and intrigue brightened by one young woman’s passion for music... Romance, music, and intergalactic conspiracies make this a fascinating coming-of-age story quite unlike anything I’ve ever read." — Karissa Laurel, author of the Stormbourne Chronicles

Purchase on Amazon:

Kindle | Hardcover

My Review:

Starswept is a thought provoking science fiction novel about aliens with their higher technology and humans with their skills in the performing arts. There are dark secrets and a transcending love. The story has deep themes, one of them being human trafficking. The pace is steady and the arts are well described. The characters are multifaceted and your heart goes out to them. The ending is satisfying with a sense that there could be a sequel. It is a unique science-fiction read and I highly recommend it for young adults and up.

About the Author:

Mary Fan

Mary Fan lives in New Jersey, where she is currently working in financial marketing. She has also resided in North Carolina, Hong Kong, and Beijing, China. She has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember and especially enjoys the infinite possibilities and out-of-this-world experiences of science fiction and fantasy.

Mary has a B.A. in Music, specializing in composition, from Princeton University and enjoys writing songs as much as writing stories. She also enjoys kickboxing, opera singing, and exploring new things—she’ll try almost anything once.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. There are no affiliate links.