Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Stars

SERIES: Executive Power #2

AUTHOR: Tal Bauer

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 511 pages

RELEASE DATE: November 21, 2019

BLURB:

I have looked to the stars my whole life…

For two years, Sasha Andreyev has been in NASA astronaut training, the final step on his lifelong dream. During that time, he and Russian President Sergey Puchkov have kept their love hidden. But as graduation nears, secrets start to slip, and Sergey makes a dangerous trip to Houston for a weekend with Sasha.

On the heels of their stolen weekend, a Soviet satellite—a relic from the Cold War that should never have existed—launches a devastating attack. An emergency mission is prepared, and NASA’s sole Russian astronaut is tapped to join the crew: Sasha Andreyev.

Go for autosequence start…

Sasha heads for the stars, where he and his crew must neutralize a long lost Soviet weapon before it drops its deadly cargo on America. Someone down below is working against them, someone who wants to bring the satellite—and its weapon—back to Earth.

But Earth’s orbit is hiding more than one secret history wanted to bury forever.

Soviet ghosts are supposed to stay dead…

How much will Sasha—and Sergey—sacrifice to save the world… again?

REVIEW:

Can you call in sick to work from a book-hangover? You know that punch-drunk feeling you get after finishing a great book? Especially a long one with lots going on, where the intensity just keeps building until you might explode from the pressure? Well, that’s me right now. My mind is fried from everything that happened in this book, yet somehow I still need to be somewhat coherent and write a review.

Tal Bauer has done it again. Once again he delivered one incredible book. It’s well crafted, with layers upon layers details, plots and subplots and players. I also want to say flawless writing, but honestly I wouldn’t have the first clue if it was or not. I was too preoccupied with the story to pay any kind of attention to Bauer’s writing, but that in itself is also a sign of great talent. I was truly swept away in this crazy adventure, my pulse raced, tears leaked and my eyes shone with happiness and love.

His books are never what you’d call a light read. I mean the size alone of this one tells you that, but the subject matters even more so. Most of his stories are very political, this series included. And it’s not just one county’s politics, it’s the world’s, the push and pull, how one decision leads to a reaction, partnerships formed and broken and the myriad and myriads of agendas. It’s enough to have my mind spinning for a week and be very glad I never ventured into politics. But enough about that.

For the past two years Sasha has been at NASA in training and he’s finally about to graduate the program. He’s put everything he has into his training, into learning and absorbing everything he possibly can, in the hopes of one day fulfilling his dream; travelling out in space. He’s still struggling with himself and his sexuality. He loves Sergey, but he also loves the stars, being an astronaut. He can’t imagine a world where he’d be allowed to have them both, and choosing might shatter him.

I’m flying home to you.

Not long after graduation, and old, believed to be dead satellite becomes active – too active – nuclear active. Sasha and some of his new-found friends are tasked to go up and deactivate it in a highly dangerous mission. What they find poses an even bigger threat than they ever could imagine and it has the power to wipe out most of mankind. People on earth across the globe are scrambling for answers, solutions – and we even meet some old friends; Jack and Ethan.

Stars was an incredible story, a bit slow in the take-off, but now I can appreciate that after the sheer intensity for the rest of it. At times this book almost had this apocalyptic, zombie attack feeling to it and personally it was a bit much for me, but it also kind of fit the doomsday narrative these guys always seem to find themselves in. Bauer is very detailed and descriptive in his narration so sensitive readers might get a nightmare or to from reading, but it was well worth it.

Highly recommended to anyone that have followed these guys though hell and back.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

Amazon