Friends to Lovers. Forced Proximity. Grumpy/Sunshine.

I like this universe, I've enjoyed all the other books I've read by Jessie Mihalik. I love the characters in this story. But this isn't my favorite of her works. The reader was very much given the vibe that Varro pined after Kee all of book one of Starlight's Shadow, then here from Kee's perspective, we are shown that she too has pined in silence. That she is completely oblivious to any feelings Varro may be harboring and that they both suffer in silence. They suffered so well that it felt like there was no actual romance to be had for the first half of the book. Any action one took towards progress the other would retreat/misunderstand.

Kee and Varro are up next and they have to face a boatload of danger while battling the feelings their developing for one another. Wait. Let me back up. Kee has all the feels right away. She likes Varro. She's wildly attracted to him. Yet he seems uninterested. Which means Kee does her level best to try to pull back her attraction because she knows that sometimes she gets too attached far too fast and she doesn't want to be that girl. The one who's a stage five clinger nobody wants around.

As for Varro, he's not uninterested. Not at all. But he has some hardcore abilities that cause him to keep a tight, TIGHT leash on his emotions. Because slipping that leash puts him and everyone around him in potentially uncomfortable situations. Kee has to basically blurt out her attraction (with not-so-great timing) before he gets it. But once he does, he's all in. Well, mostly. There are a few hurdles he has to work through before he can give his all.

Meanwhile, there's a lot of shady, possibly-political (of a military variety) dealings going on that are threatening to disrupt the fragile peace between the humans and the Valovians. Tavi and crew might have stopped one attempt at reigniting the war, but there are factions behind the scenes that haven't given up. Kee and Varro? They end up right in the middle of things. Literally, as it turns out. Bombings, kidnappings, stations takeovers. You name it, those two are there.

A lot of danger, a few new allies, dangerous hacking, kisses that steam, and two people who have to work around the obstacles thrown at them before they can be together. I'm loving on these two crews finding their way as they work on making the galaxy safe one dangerous situation at a time.

Since I read the synopsis for the next volume I was excited to read this one and it didn't disappoint. I knew it from Kee's point of view and I simply adore her character and personality. Perhaps because I relate to her on so many levels.
Coming back to their world after only a few months felt like coming home. Jessie Mihalik is quite consistent and if you love the first book you're going to love this one even more.
Our whimsical, sweet, fairy hair tech Kee makes arrangements to work on her own for one month and leaves the main ship, but nothing goes as she planned. Kee finds herself working with the one she was trying to avoid and set on a path to be a hero. There's a great balance between Kee's personal problems and the political situation of their worlds. I love the overprotectiveness of Varro and his dilemmas and how the author builds even more tension by cutting them from the support of their usual team. It felt more focused and closer to the reader.
The romance is fun and we get a one-bed/too-close trope and an amazing party chapter that becomes my favorite apart from the well-written action missions and scenes. As a gamer, it's very easy to visualize and enjoy.

I received this ARC through NetGalley, and this does not influence my review. In my opinion, this second book of the series was better than the first in terms of romance. I love the forced proximity trope, MCs had more chemistry than those from the first book. The romance was medium burn which I think was too fast, but I loved the plot and got invested

The second book in a new series. Kee,Varro, Tavi and the crew find more excitement at a fashion show. ARC from NetGalley.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review

Being the second book in the Starlight's Shadow series, Eclipse the Moon is a science fiction novel with a romance subplot following two different crew members that readers met in the first book, Hunt the Stars. I gotta say, I didn't know if I would like Kee and Varro's journey as much as Tavi's and Torran's in book one (since I loved their dynamic so much), but I actually think I liked the romance, suspense, and action of book two more! The storyline seems to be gearing up for a major intergalactic war, given how the politics and tension between empires and races are growing. This science fiction writing is extremely palatable, so readers who are not used to heavy world building or want to dip their toes into sci fi would find this to be easy to digest. I'm excited to find out which two characters will be the focus of the next book.

Jessie Mihalik returns with a book about another couple. We met Kee, one of the two other people that Tavi the captain from the first book keeps around. Their muscle is Eli, who is very pretty. Kee keeps her hair rainbow colored.

She decides to jump off the ship at Bastion. She wants some distance from the attractive but mysterious alien Varro. He follows her to Bastion very early in the story.

I received a review copy from NetGalley.

This book is part of a series of human bounty hunters and space elves. Each story focuses on a different member of the crew, but is a complete arc. In this novel. the computer nerd and a weapons specialist fall for each other, but can they make it work? This story feels more personal than some of the authors other tales, but in a good way. Hopefully we'll see more of the space crew in future novels. One note, and the app loaded in the middle of the book for some reason so it took a second to figure out and go back to the beginning.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hunt the Stars was my favorite read in February, hands down. Jessie Mihalik writes another space opera series? Sign me ALL the way up. Eclipse the Moon is the second in the series and should not be read as a stand-alone. Thanks to @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerUS for this ARC (publishing 7/12/2022).

Hunt the Stars was the perfect entry into a new world - a recovering from war, with humans and Valoffs reluctantly holding a truce. If the first book in the series is the ultimate enemies-to-lovers, involving war heroes who fought on opposite sides, then this next installment is the ultimate friends-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine pairing.

“A groan tore free from his chest. ‘You deserve better than me. Someone safer.’
‘I want you, Varro,’ I murmured. ‘It’s always been you.’”

First, I love the overarching plot, with each book focusing on a new couple. Unlike the first book, this couple has established a friendship when this book starts. Kee is a super smart, bubbly human hacker, with a massive crush on the stoic Valoff, Varro. Varro is a powerful weapons specialist who is always looking after Kee, even when she doesn’t seem to want his attention. He is the definition of strong and silent type… swoon.

Kee and Varro end up away from the rest of their crew on a station, and run into trouble that they need to solve together. This is a high intensity plot, with the slowest of slow burns. My only wish is that we got to see more of the MCs falling into a relationship (because I adore these two together) - but once the action picked up, it was hard for them to find time together.

Overall, another great addition to this fascinating new series. I’ll definitely be reading everything else Jessie Mihalik publishes. While you are waiting for this ARC, get your hands on the first book in the series, Hunt the Stars, today.

This book was even better than the first. Thank you Net galley for the advanced copy. It has everything you want, action, romance, a fun party...I absolutely devoured this book and cannot wait for the next one.

This series continues to bring me an infinite amount of joy with the romance and brings such great tension with the politics and power moves going on in the periphery. Only thing I don’t like is now I have to wait for the next book!!

I love how Eclipse the Moon continues Starlight’s Shadow series, and especially Kee. She is one of my favorite characters, and I see so many pieces of myself in how she needs reminders to change tasks and worries about coming on too strong when she starts to like someone. And oh my goodness, my heart was so full throughout with the many little ways Varro cares for Kee and makes sure she eats and takes breaks when she gets sucked too deep into her tasks! The romance between them is just so wonderful and delightful and has filled my heart with so much joy~

I also love the political stuff and the mystery around intent and who is “good” and who is “bad.” There are so many complicated motivations at play, and watching Starlight’s crew navigate the pressure of those with more power than them is so good. I love the ways Kee using her skills at collecting information as a means to make deals and solidify her position. I also love Kee learning her strength and ability to persevere when too often she’s felt like a burden because she’s less physically strong than Tavi and Eli.

This book, this series, is very much a favorite and I hope others fall in love with Kee and Varro and the crew of Starlight’s Shadow. Also I really want Eli, Anja, Havil, and Chira get their polyamorous story!! Strongly recommend Eclipse the Moon if you want a romance full of caretaking against a backdrop of political plots in space!

Review will be posted to Cannonball on July 5.

This space opera-eque romance, by Jessie Mihalik, follows Kee and Varro on a quest to prevent the galaxy’s two superpowers from engaging in an interstellar war, whilst cut off from the rest of their team and fruitlessly attempting to keep things strictly platonic.
I enjoyed this book, but it was still nothing in comparison to the authors absolutely stellar original trilogy. The lead characters had chemistry and they were interesting and engaging, especially quirky hacker-slash-soldier Kee. I love the author’s world-building, and love living in the world she’s created, if only for the duration of the novel.
I would recommend this book to any fan of good romance with a plot, and give it a solid 4 ⭐️.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced reading copy.

I really enjoyed the first third of the book. As someone who doesn't often encounter books in which the female main character falls in love first, it was fun to see Kee's unrequited love and how she navigates being around her love interest when he doesn't reciprocate. However, I felt this tension disappears and completely changes the direction of the book when we learn that not only does he feel the same for her, he goes into alpha protective mode without any buildup. I would have appreciated more of a gradual development between the main characters but most of the conflict came from Varro saying he broke his oath to protect her, therefore they cannot be together, which felt like such a weak excuse. I would have also liked more of a dynamic personality from Varro other than brute protector. I also feel that Kee's character development stagnated once they began their relationship. I'm still not sure who any of the side characters from the ship were because they were just there rather than help push the story forward, but overall a pretty fun book when you understand what's happening.

Mahalia hit every note in this one. Guarded, dangerous hero shows his affection through caretaking, hyper competent heroine just starting to believe in her own badassness. Shared sexy dreams and psychic longing. Plus, intergalactic intrigue, attempted assassination, and fashion. I will follow this series wherever it goes.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first.. I love Kee, her personality is great, but I thought Varro could be fleshed out a bit more--he was written as this person who keeps all his emotion stuffed inside his shields, which protects other people, but I thought this made him stunted as a character. The amount of circling that Kee and Varro made around each other added several pages to this book that was unnecessary in my opinion. But the book moved at a fast clip and was a fun read. Will definately continue reading this series.

This is a delicious opposites attract, close proximity romance set on a space opera stage. You don’t have to read Hunt the Stars but you should because it definitely sets the stage for Kee and Varro to take the relationship to the next level.

Kee and Varro fought on opposite sides of an intergalactic war. Now they’re on the same side - trying to prevent the war from starting again but someone seems determined to instigate an interstellar incident.

So hacker extraordinaire Kee volunteers to go undercover while stern (but so gooey in the center) Varro follows her to act as protector and backup.

Eclipse the Moon gives you classic sunshine and grump - Kee is a sunny dispositioned, snickerdoodle loving sprite while Varro is a classic dark, silent, and broody.

The plot is fast-paced, the world-building is complex without being confusing, and peopled with diverse characters. You also get a fantastic friends group vibe and a bonus burbu - a fluffy, exotic, empathetic alien beastie.

For fans of Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs.

I was ready for more of this series as soon as I finished the first book, Hunt the Stars. This installment picks up soon after that one leaves off and this time we get Varro and Kee's story. They are great for each other, although in true romance novel fashion, they are the last two to realize it. The political intrigue remains interesting and engaging and we get to meet a few more great characters and see a bit more of the world. If you enjoyed Hunt the Stars you'll want to snatch this one up. If you haven't read Hunt the Stars but this premise grabbed you, start there and then follow it up with this one to get the most out of the experience.

I was excited to get an advanced copy of this book since I really enjoyed the first in the series, [book:Hunt the Stars|56754734], as well as Mihalik's entire <i>Consortium Rebellion</i> series. Unfortunately, I didn't like this installment nearly as much. I'm drawn to Mihalik's books more for her romance than her plotlines, and in <i>Eclipse the Moon</i> the former was kind of annoying and the latter was super heavy. In particular, I found our male and female's lead conflicts with "oh it's my fault" really tiresome. I still think the other side characters are fun and would probably pick up a later installment, but I don't think I'll remember this in a month.

<i>I voluntarily obtained a digital version of this book free from Netgalley and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.

This book was my ENTIRE jam! It had such a perfect balance of romance and plot and was just as amazing as the first book in this series! I must admit I was skeptical—I loved book one (Hunt the Stars) so much and I wasn’t sure I’d love any of the couples as much, but I’m SO glad to have been proven wrong! Honestly, I can’t recommend this one highly enough!

This one is about Kee and Varro. Kee has unrequited feelings for him and decides she needs to get away from the ship and put some space between them so she can get over her feelings. There’s an important event happening on the Bastian space station that she wants to check out, and she needs access to the Bastian network to do some hackery things to get information about the man they’re trying to track down, so she decides she’s going to spend three weeks on the station by herself to do these things. However, a Certain Someone is Not Happy about this turn of events and follows her so he can provide some protection. And—oops—he can’t get lodging close enough to be useful, so he has to share with her!

I LOVED this forced proximity set-up, and I LOVED how Kee was pining for Varro, and I LOVED how they worked together. There were a couple relationship-conflict things that I thought were a little repetitive, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the relationship or the book as a whole. The plot was super engaging, and I did not want to put this book down! I also love the Valoffs and their mental abilities—so cool! I especially loved how Varro’s particular ability brought him and Kee close on a deeper level.

Though this book is about a different couple than the first, it’s definitely necessary to read the first book before this one. (Not that it’s a hardship—Hunt the Stars is SO GOOD!) The overarching plot continues from book one, and there is a lot about the Valovan culture that provides context for Varro’s actions in this book.

Overall, I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves romance with a side of action. Though it’s sci-fi, I think fantasy-lovers will enjoy it as well, especially with the mental abilities the Valoffs have. Fans of Ilona Andrews’s Hidden Legacy series will love this, as well as fans of Jessie Mihalik’s Consortium Rebellion series. And if you read her Consortium Rebellion series and wished there was a bit more romance, this series (Starlight’s Shadow) delivers, so definitely pick this one up!

If you loved Hunt the Stars as much as I did, let me tell you that Eclipse the Moon is a worthy sequel. I was very happy to be back with the Starlight’s crew for more adventures and Jessie Mihalik did not disappoint. But then again, when does she?

I had already fallen in love with Kee and Varro while reading the first book and therefore I hardly believed I could love them more. And yet, here I am, crazy about them. I would pledge a life bond to these two. I’m serious, they had such a great chemistry. It’s the best friends to lovers I have read in a while. With a lot of longing that turned my heart into marshmallow. Now, call me your ‘bright star’ and I’m all yours.

Not only did I adore the romance but Varro and Kee were amazing characters. I loved that Kee was such a sweet yet strong character, I loved how smart and sensitive she was. As for Varro… I’m not one who has the ability to resist the strong and quiet kind and he was all that. But I also loved seeing his protective streak, and with each layer of his personality uncovered, I loved him even more.

Just as I had in Hunt the Stars, I loved the secondary characters as well as the found family they form. In Eclipse the Moon, Jessie Mihalik also introduces us to new characters that I hope we’ll get to see again because I liked them a whole lot!

Yet again, Jessie Mihalik wrote a story that entertained me from the start to the ending. It was so easy to get lost in the universe that she created and the story that she wove. I had so much pleasure and fun with the plot of Eclipse the Moon, I went through so many emotions and feelings, it made me feel like a kaleidoscope (in the best way).
Also, something that I absolutely love in the Starlight’s Shadow world is always learning more about the Valoff culture and just how respectful the characters that are not Valoff are of it. It warms my heart every time.

Overall, I loved this book so much. For some reason that I can’t explain, it gave me some The Lunar Chronicles vibes if TLC was adult and without the retelling aspect of it. But also, if you love reading space opera/science fiction stories with solid romance, you do not want to miss out on Jessie Mihalik’s books and Eclipse the Moon!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go figure out how I’m going to be able to wait 2023 for the third book (which I suspect will be Lexi and Nilo’s story and I couldn’t be more excited for it!)

*I voluntarily received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Harper Voyager in exchange for a honest review.