What is alien and what is normal? To Inan, she’s just a girl on her homeworld, yet she dreams of travelling to the stars and experiencing all the adventures they promise. Dream is all she can do, as her people’s customs forbid girls to face dangers - especially amongst the stars. Instead of adventures, they are expected to serve their families as leaders and never take personal risks. But that is about to change as Inan’s life takes a sudden turn.

A series of events lead to her being lost in space, shipwrecked and kidnapped by soldiers-turned-pirates, a remnant from the war fought many, many years ago. With only an alien being to keep her company, she is forced to use her wits to stay alive. As she struggles, she befriends Alan, a human boy who is little more than a captive himself. Yet things go from bad to worse after a failed escape attempt when Inan comes into contact with an unknown ancient artefact which ultimately will decide the fate of the whole galaxy.

Catapulting the reader into an exciting space-opera universe, In Between the Stars is an original take on human-alien interactions, with quirky characters, high humour and endless amounts of drama. Readers aged 12 years and above will delight in the rich world that has been created, inspired by the likes of the great Science Fiction writers.

A. A. Ripley is a pen name of Agata Czaczka. She graduated with a BA in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of St Mark and St John in Plymouth and made her Master Degree in Creative Writing at the University of Exeter. She now lives in Devon in the heart of the English Riviera. This is her debut novel.