Title: The Starborn Heir: A Fivefold Universe Novel
Series: Zack Lancestrom Book One
Author: D.J. Bodden
Genre: Science Fiction, Cyberpunk
Publisher: Shadow Alley Press
Format: ebook
ASIN: B08WPZP9TR

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Summary: An ancient secret. A legacy betrayed. A path to the stars.

Zack was bred and raised to be the heir to a planet, but he’s decided he’s not the chosen one. He wants to get offworld, see the galaxy, and track down a piece of lost technology from his family’s past.

He’ll need to steal a shuttle, get past the orbital defenses, and rendezvous with a smuggler on the star system’s outskirts. But he can’t do it alone—he’s going to need a crew. Gathering a band of misfits from the colony’s underworld, Zack strikes out toward the desert. The government is close on his heels, but Zack is willing to fight the gangs, make deals with aliens, and use illegal technology in wildly unsanctioned ways to blast his way to the stars. And if he can do a little good along the way, so much the better.

Zack and his crew have a whole planet after them. The only way out is up.

Thanks so much to Shadow Alley Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First Impressions

After I read the description, I was already sold and I knew I had to read it. I am absolutely obsessed with space operas and hard science fiction. It has been a while since I’ve had a book that I had a hard time putting down. I’m finished with it and anxiously awaiting the release of book two.

Initially, it reminded me of the old science fiction books of humans leaving earth and colonizing the stars. I love each authors unique worldbuilding of those colonies, thousands of years from now. I really enjoyed Bodden’s worldbuilding which transported me into the world they created.

What I Loved

There are a lot of reasons why I loved this novel. The world building, the characters, the science–you name it!

Hard Science Fiction. Firstly, I want to talk about the hard science fiction angle. It’s not simply “oh we are on another planet!” No, they actually went into detail on how things work, whether it was a ship engine or cybernetics. I’m no scientist so I have absolutely no idea if any of it is possible or how it would actually work. However, it all sounds fascinating and realistic which kept me hooked. It sounded very realistic instead of being mindless technobabble. I admire this attention to detail and the drive to actually make a story sound realistic. 

Social Commentary. One reason science fiction as invented was to comment on something happening in society without directly talking about it. I thought Bodden did an excellent job at discussing political issues of today. One reason I loved it was because it kind of shows that the wheel keeps on turning and we, as humans, don’t always learn from our mistakes. It is highly probable that we won’t be perfect in the future and it is very probably that we will encounter the same issues that plague us today.

Cyberpunk. I am a huge fan of cyborgs and cybernetics. The Starborn Heir has a lot of different types of cybernetic implants that I haven’t heard before. I really enjoyed the detail of what they do, how they work, and what it’s like to have them. What I also liked is that it doesn’t always seem fun having those implants because it makes it feel more real. Sometimes authors will make it seem like having a cybernetic implant is fun and nothing can go wrong, but this novel isn’t like that which I find very refreshing.

Worldbuilding. I love it when authors can use their words to create entire worlds on the page that transport you from the page and into that world. Bodden is no different. I felt like I was transported into the world of Politeia and beyond.

Main Characters. I really enjoyed Zack Lancestrom because he kind of reminded me, in a way, of a young Captain Kirk. Very cocky, arrogant, and full of himself–yet having a quiet uncertainty. He is very realistic, very human, and a lot of growing up to do. Another character favorite of mine, Anya, was also like that. She is incredibly intelligent but also realistic. She knows her limitations but is also driven to move forward.

Supporting Characters. The Starborn Heir has a very diverse range of characters that have their own uniqueness to them. Not all characters sound the same and they aren’t truly good, or bad, or evil, or heroic. They are very human and humans have their flaws. I really enjoyed learning about those characters, and their motivations. I was even surprised by a few of them.

What I Wasn't Crazy About

Dialogue. I have a lot of mixed feelings about this to be honest. There seems to be a trend where young adult characters are a bit overly sarcastic and have a lot of witty one-liners. It works sometimes but when it happens constantly, it starts to get a bit old. I did see it in this book, but it wasn’t overwhelming. For me, it worked for Zack because he is young, cocky, and arrogant. He’s got some growing up to do. But when you have a bunch of characters all doing it in one conversation, it can get a little old. I think it works in a way because it shows that this isn’t a seasoned crew on a ship, but a ragtag bunch from different walks of life. So, I like it but then I don’t. It takes a little getting used to.

The Romantic Connection. So, I’m going to admit that I’m not huge on romance so it’s something I tend to avoid. It wasn’t overwhelming so I went with it and I am wondering if it will be more relevant in the next book. I do think it was oddly added and a bit unnecessary. Also, this may be a bit controversial, but I don’t think female characters necessarily need to be added into the story by being romantically involved with the main character. She is a really awesome, highly intellectual, hardcore woman in her own right and could have been easily included without having been a romantic interest. So I may not be the intended audience for this particular addition but I do know people who really like a little romance and shipping characters together so I think this will be right up their alley. I didn’t hate it, honestly–just isn’t my thing.

Verdict & Recommendation

I absolutely loved this book from the first chapter. The Starborn Heir was refreshingly new and an exciting adventure that made me want more. After that cliffhanger, I am dying to read the sequel. 

I would recommend this novel to those looking for a swashbuckling adventure in the hard science fiction or cyberpunk genre. It’s filled with witty humor, a little romance, and holds a serious side while you uncover the truth about Zack and his family history. Its definitely a more complex story and hard to predict what happens next. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a light read or soft science fiction.

I rate it as an all-nighter because I absolutely loved it and it was hard to put down. With the exception of a couple of small details, I thought it was very well done and an excellent book. I’m excited to see what happens next to Zack Lancestrom and his crew!

About the Author

D.J. Bodden is a tech-startup COO who writes books because words are magic. He’s an avid reader of science-fiction and fantasy, a gamer, a former pilot and coffee trader who’s been to every continent but Antarctica. He’s been woken up by gunfire, jumped out of helicopters, and climbed medium-sized hills in scorching weather; He likes to make people laugh for the wrong reasons; He tries to sell people grimoires disguised as fiction; He is scared of spiders, and only recently learned to ride a bike.

DJ Bodden

D.J. lives in Switzerland with his wife and thinks it’s important that they should someday be adopted by a fox. He is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and author of 8 books and counting.