The Stardust Grail

 

By- Yume Kitasei

  ⭐⭐⭐ / 5

     I found this book in the giveaways for the Goodreads app, I entered to win but like usually I did not win. Regardless, the cover intrigued me, the beautiful colors and what looks like an octopus in space had me interested. I do not recall finding an octopus in the novel, but it was still an interesting read. 

    The story starts on earth, I say it starts on earth because humanity can successfully interstellar travel. However, it is not by their own technology but from the technology from other alien species and civilizations. There are several aliens in the book from Frenro, Belzoar, Quietling, and more. They are very different from humans in culture, biology, and philosophically. The main character, Maya, was born on a settlement far from earth and raised in a way where she experienced other alien cultures. She is currently enrolled in  Princeton university and studying and working toward her PHD in comparative cultures. Before enrolling in her undergrad classes she travels the stars with her Frenro best friend Auncle. They traveled together stealing artifacts and selling them, all the while searching for the mysterious and legendary Grail. An object wanted by many civilizations, for the ability to create nodes. Nodes are by my understanding a doorway to other parts of the galaxy, created by the Frenro long ago. They no longer have the knowledge or ability to build these nodes and without them the galaxy cannot travel to each other they could be cut off from everyone. Maya has since left that life and is doing her best to be a good student and ignore the call of adventure. While going through a collection donated to the university, Maya discovered a rare and sought after journal of a great earth explorer and last known person to see the Grail. Auncle some how knows of her discovery and shows up for one last job, but the earth government also know and tries to recruit her to find the grail for them. Maya is conflicted but her loyalty and trust sit with Auncle, together they set off on an adventure.

    Overall, pretty good novel I rated it three out of five stars. I cannot figure out what was missing for me to make it a five out of five. The story is complex and unique, the author does a great job introducing us to alien cultures and gives us enough information without making the book overly long. The characters are developed as the story goes on with some humor mixed in that made me laugh out loud a couple of times. The beginning of the book sucked me in making me excited to turn the page and see what is happening next, but as I read the story lost momentum. I still wanted to know how it ends, the excitement and suspense was gone for me personally. I definitely recommend this book to fans of science fiction and space travel, it is worth the time to read.