If you’re in the mood for a queer science fiction almost locked room mystery, then you’ll have to read The Stars Too Fondly. I gotta be real for a second. I wasn’t sure where the romance element would come from, because Billie is legit an AI. But when it resolves, you’ll understand. Keep reading this book review of The Stars Too Fondly for my full thoughts.
Summary
So, here’s the thing: Cleo and her friends really, truly didn’t mean to steal this spaceship. They just wanted to know why, twenty years ago, the entire Providence crew vanished without a trace, but then the stupid dark-matter engine started on its own. Now these four twenty-somethings are en route to Proxima Centauri and unable to turn around while being harangued by a hologram that has the face and snide attitude of the ship’s missing captain, Billie.
Cleo has dreamt of being an astronaut all her life, and Earth is a lost cause at this point, so this should be one of those blessings in disguise that people talk about. But as the ship travels deeper into space, the laws of physics start twisting; old mysteries come crawling back to life; and Cleo’s initially combative relationship with Billie turns into something deeper and more desperate than either woman was prepared for.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I love how The Stars Too Fondly feels like a science fiction with dangerous consequences meets locked room mystery. Cleo and her friends have always wondered what happened to the space mission which inspired their love for space. The space mission with a mystery that has never gone answered and still haunts the space program. Throughout The Stars Too Fondly, Cleo and her friends end up needing to solve the mystery, not only for curiosity but their own lives. I didn’t see half of the twists here and it kind of exploded into something that threw me for a loop.
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And while I’m not even sure I followed it even at the end, I loved the character dynamics and friendship core. It also felt timey wimey. Just enough for me to appreciate it, The Stars Too Fondly features snarky conciousnesses, scavenging the remains of what’s left, and a mystery that bridges the speculative fiction gap. It’s full of characters who reflect their fears, hopes, and dreams even as the fear of burning out approaches. The ending feels a bit hastily wrapped up, but it could be just because I was genuinely a bit confused.
That doesn’t detract from The Stars Too Fondly mostly because I’m here for the space vibes and the characters. And the queer romance obviously. It’s perfect for fans of speculative fiction and characters who pull at your heartstrings. Find The Stars Too Fondly on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.