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  • These Burning Stars

  • The Kindom Trilogy, Book 1
  • By: Bethany Jacobs
  • Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
  • Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)

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These Burning Stars cover art

These Burning Stars

By: Bethany Jacobs
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
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Summary

Jun Ironway, hacker, con artist, and only occasional thief, has got her hands on a piece of contraband that could set her up for life: evidence that implicates the powerful Nightfoot family in a planet-wide genocide seventy-five years ago. The Nightfoots control the precious sevite that fuels interplanetary travel through three star systems. And someone is sure to pay handsomely for anything that could break their hold.

Of course, anything valuable is also dangerous. The Kindom, the ruling power of the three star systems, is inextricably tied up in the Nightfoots' monopoly - and they can't afford to let Jun expose the truth. They task two of their most brutal clerics with hunting her down: preternaturally stoic Chono, and brilliant hothead Esek, who also happens to be the heir to the Nightfoot empire.

But Chono and Esek are haunted in turn by a figure from their shared past, known only as Six. What Six truly wants is anyone's guess. And the closer they get to finding Jun, the surer Chono is that Six is manipulating them all - and that they are heading for a bloody confrontation that no one will survive unscathed.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Bethany Jacobs (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

'One of the best SF books I've read. Period' Michael Mammay, author of Planetside

'Intricately plotted and tightly paced . . . Space opera fans will eat this up' Publishers Weekly

'With a cast of deliciously dangerous characters and a gloriously executed plot that twists like a knife, this propulsive debut heralds the start of a sweeping space opera saga in the vein of Ann Leckie and Alastair Reynolds. Bethany Jacobs is an ingenious worldbuilder and a stunning new voice to look out for in sci-fi' Ren Hutchings, author of Under Fortunate Stars

What listeners say about These Burning Stars

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A brilliant debut

I don’t think I’ve been as impressed and excited by a debut SF author since my first Iain M Banks. Bethany Jacobs has crafted a classic space opera with a modern twist, a la Ann Leckie. Perfectly narrated too. Enjoyed every second. Cannot wait for the sequel.

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Great book

Great narrator, great story, great pace.
Enjoyed it,
Looking forward to the next books in the series

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Brilliant!

A thoroughly enjoyable listen and amazing first novel! Easily on a par with Ann Leckie’s Ancillary series, The Bobiverse Books and the Murderbot Diaries. Shout out to Jake at Future Worlds Editing for their recommendation and involvement with this book. Looking forward to the next instalment!!

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Brilliant

Great story and wonderfully read. It was a real surprise to buy an ‘unknown quantity’ and to listen to immediate quality. The multi-year timeline was a little tricky, not realising initially, but intuitively it worked. I’m very much looking forward to more.

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