Review: The Star-Crossed Empire by Maya Darjani

Blurb:

For fans of Lois McMaster Bujold, David Weber, and KB Wagers. Get swept away into a lush and romantic space opera that transcends time, untangles court intrigue, and spans the entire Galactic Whorl.

A Republic soldier

A reluctant Emperor

When love and duty collide, who wins?

Layla is a patriotic soldier of the Altainan Republic. And patriots don’t ally themselves with rival empires. But when she reencounters the handsome imperial noble she fell in love with years before, she falls again. Hard. And she decides: she’s going to marry that man. Duty be damned.

Unfortunately, he’s also the new Valharan Emperor.

And their planets are about to go to war.

As tensions rise between the two worlds, Layla’s attempts at neutrality go awry. She finds herself unsafe and threatened, a foreigner no matter where she lands. Eventually, instability in their isolated galactic community leaves it ripe for invasion. Layla has to overcome her dual loyalty and end this war for once and for all–before the Whorl goes up in flames, and she loses the man she loves.

Review:

With her second full length novel Maya Darjani presents us with an entertaining galactic romp.  Having read and enjoyed her first full length piece, Ancient As The Stars, I am delighted to report that Maya has turned it up a another notch as a story teller with Star-Crossed.  Well done, Maya.

The blurb sets the stage.  What it doesn’t hint at is how deftly Maya incorporates representations of cultural and societal differences where various levels of bigotry can be found.  Where matters of belief and loyalty to a system of governance can divide and hinder prosperity and encourage strife.  These are the props of the stage that enhance the story and character development.

The main character, Layla, hails from a social system where poverty is the way of life.  One is expected to live the life their progenitors lived.  To think you can do better and to try will have you become ostracized.  Despite the obstacles, Layla finds a way out via military service.  It is her ticket off planet and to unimagined heights.  Even so, the larger society of the Republic looks down on military service. 

But Layla’s ascension is not the story of Star-Crossed.  It is, however, a foundational piece of what motivates her.  The tale begins with Layla as a war hero and assistant/speech writer to the Altainan Republic’s president.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, for Layla, during the episode that made her a hero she became smitten with an officer of the Valharan Empire.  The Republic is not excited about their long-distance relationship such as it is.  Especially when this officer becomes Emperor.  

Layla is a loyal citizen of the Republic but finds herself under suspicion and treated harshly.  From here the seeds are set for her moral dilemma and her eventual path.  Maya capitalizes on Layla’s cognitive dissonance to great effect for Layla’s character arc.   

Maya enthusiastically markets Star-Crossed as a romance.  In today’s publishing environment many have come to associate “romance” with smoldering eyes, wanton desire and all to often open door, lights on bedroom scenes.  This book does not contain that kind of “romance.”  

The romance that is involved is about a couple that love each other and the obstacles they must overcome if they are to succeed and find that happily ever after.  I would go far to say that Star-Crossed is more of a tale of political machinations where the couples love is a foundational component for much of what drives them.  It is not a sappy love story but does have a great story about love within the pages.  Don’t let the romance moniker turn you aside if that’s not your thing.  Think of it as more of a Honor Harrington/Hamish Alexandar kind of romance.

Maya utilizes a “Then” & “Now” timeline jump throughout the novel that I found to work well.  Through the use of these jumps timely backfill and world building come to light.  For me, I found no confusion or frustration with this device and felt that it was an enhancement to the story telling.

Maya’s character work is spot on.  The main and side characters feel original and fill their spaces within the pages with humor, intrigue, heroics and dastardly deeds with great success.

Dialogue is handled with a skillful touch lending a natural flow to conversations allowing for wit, humor, drama and wide array of emotions.  

I found the prose to be flowing and eagerly consumed.  This was an easy page turner.  Maya has a knack for timing and pace that you don’t notice until you reflect upon what you have read.  Reading Star-Crossed was enjoyable and over too soon.

Lovers of galactic/political pieces shouldn’t hesitate to pick up The Star-Crossed Empire.  It just happens to have an authentic love story that is darn good reading.