Giving this 3.5 stars, rounded up mostly to support a lesser-known book/author.

I want to start by emphasizing that I enjoyed reading this book. While it's science fiction (spaceships, aliens, and time travel are involved), this book is primarily a love story between two women. And any time you put sci-fi and sapphics together, you know I'm going to have a good time.

I like the setup - a soldier travels back in time to prevent centuries of war, and ends up falling in love along the way - even though it's probably been done before. I like the twist resolution, even if it's not too hard to see it coming. I like the main characters, and was rooting for them to have a happy ending. I like the writing style, even if it's a bit cheesy at times, but it's a romance so I can live with that.

The problem is that everything feels rushed. And this is largely due to the in-universe deadline that the soldier MC is given to complete her mission. It's only 5 days. That's an insanely short amount of time to travel back in time, adjust to your surroundings, make a plan, and then execute it successfully. It's also an insanely short amount of time to fall in love with someone enough that their very presence will change the way you accomplish your mission. But that's what happens.

We needed more time to sit with the main characters, to learn about their backstories and worldviews, to watch them get to know each other. As it is, it feels a little too close to insta-love. And while I like Val and Nicole together, I feel like they barely knew each other. If the mission deadline had been, say, 10 days or 2 weeks, or even longer, there would still have been pressure on Val, but we would have had more of an opportunity to see this relationship develop.

Overall, there are some great ideas and characters here, but the pacing isn't as strong as I'd like. I'd still recommend this to anyone who's a fan of sci-fi/time travel romances, especially with sapphics. There's definite room for improvement, but it's still an enjoyable read.

A pilot from the future going back 800 years to save humanity from extinction. Val is the only one who can save their future, and she has about 5 days to do so. No pressure, right?

I really loved the idea of the book and was drawn in by the description, but I struggled with the storyline in spots. First, the issues were mainly resolved by the middle of the book. So for the second half of the book it felt like I needed to drag myself through it.

Another part I struggled with was that Val didn’t explain herself very well to Nicole when they first met, and Nicole pretty much fully trusted her. I personally would’ve thought that Val was an insane woman and would not be allowed in my home.

Nicole was so willing to jump in to help Val with the aliens when she had no clue what she was getting into and still, hardly knew Val but had super strong emotions for her. To be honest I think I just struggled with the timeline of it.

One part that also left me questioning a bit was when Nicole’s friend Jack was able to fix an alien motor with no prior knowledge to anything alien, and with his own tools? I found it a bit confusing.

I really really wanted to like this story, because I am huge on fantasy/alien stuff, but I just couldn’t get myself to love it. The idea of time travel and fighting aliens was so cool, but there really wasn’t much of it.

The relationship between Val and Nicole didn’t have much base to it. I loved the dynamic but there wasn’t much else.

Please note: I received an arc copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and author for a copy!

This story starts 700 years in the future. Earth as we know it no longer exists and humanity is about to be destroyed. A distant civilization has come up with a time machine and Val is going back to try and stop the slugs that destroyed earth.
Once she lands she meets Nicole an Alaskan pilot.
Val only has a few days some time is important. She knows where the hive is that holds the slugs and her mission is to destroy it but things aren’t always as they seem.
Nicole will not let her go alone after Val told her who she is.
But what will happen after the mission? Will Val jump back to her own time?

This is an amazing story and I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

When I found a book that combined all my favourites, I was so excited: sapphic bad ass MC’s, sci-fi and time travel. I so hoped that combination would work, and I was so happy when the book even exceeded my expectations.

It was amazing to read about how the badass Val travels back in time to save humanity from being extincted by giant bugs. The romance with the amazing emphatic bush pilot Nicole, such a key person for the outcome of the story, is making the book even better. Add the beauty of Alaskan nature, a lot of cocoa and pop tarts and both Val and I were sold.

The book could have been even better with a little more action, more details on life in the 28th century since I am curious about that. Let’s hope the author is planning more books, perhaps with Kass, Val’s best friend, in the lead, that would be so amazing.

I was drawn to this book by its description, which gave Recursion vibes, and its seemingly incompatible cover, which screamed Amelia Earhart.

Through Sky and Stars delivers a character-driven contemporary romance with sci-fi elements pushing the plot. Val's Post Disapora world reminded me of Starship Troopers (that giant insect war movie that I had rewatched too many times growing up).

Val was sent back in time to destroy the first colony of the alien Sh'keth. Vivid scenes of the Alaskan landscape seen from Val's eyes serve as a reminder of Earth's beauty. Nicole is a kickass but lonely bush pilot living in that dreamy cozy cabin with a library of books. Val is introduced to the beauty of Earth - the luxury of paperback books, Pop Tarts, and hot cocoa - and falls, for the planet, for the 'primitive' aircraft, and of course, for Nicole. And I LOL'ed at the first meet-cute moment; the one between Val and Beav 😏.

I'm no pilot, but the author is, and she sure delivered some details during flight scenes. (Though most of it went over my head.) And after reading this, experiencing an Alaska bush plane tour is now an item on my bucket list.

That said, as a visual reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing. It was vivid, not just visually. I could hear some scenes in my head, too.

While there were bits where the pace dipped a little (and provided reprieve), the story was generally well-paced. And I found myself drawn in.

After reading the book, the cover feels more compatible. Most of the story takes place in modern day.

The book is 5-star, but it isn't perfect. Time travel and sci-fi take a back seat until the plot needs to move, which feels like a waste. The resolution felt a little too naive, too easy. It felt like the gravity of intergalactic war that had spanned decades was brushed off like a squabble at the playground. But this is a romance novel after all, so...🤷‍♀️. Though I did wish Kass was given more "screentime".

Overall, Through Sky and Stars was an enjoyable read and one that I look forward to re-reading once it's published. I look forward to future works from the author as well.