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Zenith Dream

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Member Reviews

A fabulous end to one of my favorite series of all time. I've read and re-read this one, and this series so many times. Lukens is so gifted with painting clear scenes and characters that I feel like I've entered a movie every time I read one of their books.

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Unbelievably, I am not a huge science fiction fan; although, recently, I have reviewed several new novels in this genre, but none have thrilled me more than the release of F.T. Lukens’ final book in the Broken Moon series entitled Zenith Dream. I have been waiting with bated breath to see what would happen with poor Ren and Asher and the motley crew of the spaceship Star Stream since the second novel ended with such a gut wrenching cliffhanger. Before I continue, I will warn you there will be spoilers here if you have not read the previous two novels in this series, The Star Host and Ghost & Ashes, respectively. I would encourage you to grab them up, because I feel this is perhaps some of the best Sci-Fi work I have read in a long time.

So when we last left our intrepid crew, Ren had been horribly betrayed by Millicent, and presumed dead. Asher was grabbed by the corps and hustled off to a place no one knew about. After six weeks of recovery, Ren wakes aboard the ship just as it’s being broken into while the rest of the crew is on the drift they’ve landed on. Thwarting the spunky thief, Darby, Ren collapses in exhaustion. But not for long. He is determined to find Asher and save him. Rowan, the captain of their ship and brother to Asher, agrees to help, as does the rest of the crew. They enlist Darby’s help and all too soon realize that the danger Millicent represented is far from over; in fact, she is just getting started, killing corps members who don’t willingly follow her, and conquering one small drift after another.

First Ren must find Asher, then he must find his brother, Liam, who has also been taken by the corps and whom Ren believes is imprisoned in perilous space. If he doesn’t get himself and everyone else killed doing all that, then he will finally have to face down Millicent—another star who wreaks havoc with his emotions and his powers to the point where he appears to be unstable and dangerous, even to the crew he loves. But Ren is about to discover just how much power he holds and if he can wield it without going all supernova and imploding.

There is never a moment in this novel when you disbelieve that Ren loves Asher and will do anything to find him and keep him safe. The tentative emotional attachment we saw growing between Asher and Ren in the first two novels blossom into a full-blown relationship in this one, and it is really quite lovely to watch unfold. Along with that, we get even more time spent with the crew: Ollie being like Ren’s protective shadow, and even Lucas, the navigator, opening up and admitting his growing respect and friendship with Ren. The feisty Darby is a fantastic addition to the group as she lends much-needed humor to one tense life threatening situation after another. It certainly spices things up when they realize how much she loves to play with explosives.

With not one but two daring rescue missions to execute and then the final confrontation where most all the baddies of both novels come back into play, this novel barely gives a reader time to breathe before jetting off to another harrowing job. But it is those rare moments between Asher and Ren, when they are alone and emotionally intimate, that really provide the most beautiful of interludes. Note that I said emotionally intimate; there is no doubt that this is a young adult novel, but I must honestly tell you that the story is so riveting the lack of on-page sex will not be missed by anyone, fan of the series or new to this author’s work.

F.T. Lukens is a gifted writer, creating alternate worlds and inhabiting them with fascinating characters who may fall to the traumas they endure but are never ruled out for long. They are resilient and courageous, and I love that this author took the time to create more than one hero in the series. The love story is there and a vibrant part of the novel. These are people who will live on in your heart and mind well after you turn the final page. The story is just that good. I highly recommend not only this installment but the entire Broken Moon series to you. Sci-Fi lover or not, this trio of tales will make you a fan of space adventures, guaranteed.

Reviewed by Sammy

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Rating 4/5

Such a fantastic finale to an action-packed trilogy! After that horrifying cliffhanger at the end of book 2, I needed this to know what happens!!! And this ending did not disappoint! Pick up these series because it is more than worth it!

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After the angst-filled, cliffhanger ending Ghosts & Ashes, I was almost afraid to read the final book in F.T. Lukens’ The Star Host trilogy. Fortunately, Zenith Dream is a strong conclusion to a memorable series. The action is almost nonstop as techno-pathic Ren has to find and rescue his boyfriend Asher and his brother Liam, defeat several sets of bad guys and restore some semblance of peace in his universe without letting the star that lives within him spiral out of control.

The plot is strengthened by secondary characters who are Ren’s family now – tough-as-nails ship captain Rowan, stalwart Ollie, caring Penelope and her husband Lucas – as well as a new crew member who adds a welcome touch of humor and shadiness. I wish the parents and other adults hadn’t almost uniformly been portrayed in a negative light, but I guess this is a YA fantasy after all where teens/young adult are happily in charge.

Throughout the series I’ve been impressed by the world building and the contrast that Lukens has created between planetary “dusters” and space station “drifters.” The diverse lifestyles and customs were actually more interesting to me than the villains’ predictable dynamics.

Readers who are most interested in the Ren/Asher romance won’t be disappointed. Once they’re reunited, they talk through the misunderstandings that kept them apart in the previous book, and the few fights they get into are pretty quickly resolved. There’s no doubt that they are a couple now, and their physical relationship deepens although it’s implied rather than explicit and quickly fades to black. The HEA they get is absolutely appropriate and leaves just the tiniest chance that this may not be the end of their story…or at least, the last time we’ll see this world. I wouldn’t mind if Lukens stretched the trilogy into a longer series. There are bad guys still lurking around and characters I’d like to revisit. The Star Host trilogy may not be the most unique or brilliant thing I’ve read but it was a rollercoaster of fun, anguish and exhilaration.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an objective review.

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Once again another book that did not disappoint. I enjoyed the other two books in this series and I'm glad that this last book did more than live up to my expectations. I still adore Ren and Asher. I'm almost sad to see them go but all good things most come to an end. I enjoyed the story and how the characters continued on in face of pain and adversary, but they never gave up. I will definitely read more from this author. Read together all three books flow flawlessly.

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Ren's journey from when he was captured by soldiers and taken from his home planet, Erden, through discovering that he was a Star Host, learning and struggling to live with his new powers and abilities to be both, human and Star while being enslaved and then on the run from the Phoenix Corps who wanted him dead – and eventually killing him! – all the while making friends, living aboard the Star Stream and falling in love will always stay with me!

I adored Ren and Asher from the moment we met them in book #1 The Star Host. I LOVED continuing their outer space adventure with Ghosts & Ashes which came to an exciting, electric really, ending with Zenith Dream!

I'm a bit teary eyed still, having to say goodbye to Ren, Asher and their old and new friends!! This was such a wonderful series, one I'll never forget...

Zenith Dream was FANTASTIC.

The book opens with Ren opening his eyes weeks after being reanimated by his friends from the Corps' lethal attack in the previous installment. Watching Ren return into his corporeal body after staying in the Star Stream for weeks was rough, I worried for a while he wouldn't manage to get back to his old self. BUT! Not only did he get better, I feel like he grew into an even stronger and more wonderful person throughout the book!

In the beginning of the story, the gang makes a new friend, Darby, who is a great addition to the family! I enjoyed seeing everyone grow closer, fighting the bad guys, and man, having Asher back was truly the best feeling in this world! =D

Honest. I'm probably the biggest fan here. I was completely captured by the story and atmosphere, I didn't want to put the book down. Every little moment between Asher and Ren were my highlight, not gonna lie.

I'm glad to see the series got a (lovely) epilogue, which rounded everything up nicely.

Perhaps we can still hope for a coda or two on FT Luken's website? Something...!

I just hate endings & goodbyes.


Many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.

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