Official Review: Chronicles of a Starchaser

Drew-MW · Post by **Drew-MW** » 09 Jun 2015, 18:36

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Chronicles of a Starchaser" by T. M. Saunders.]

2 out of 4 stars

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Chronicles of a Starchaser by T.M. Saunders will be a welcome addition to any sci-fi fan's library. This tale features all the essential aspects of an intrepid space venture, with a certain drive and pulse towards exploration that is addictive. By the end of the novel, one feels ready to head off on their own star-chasing journey.

The protagonist of the novel is Bishop Alexandrah Hays, a resident of Northern Antarctica who's prospects seem smothered under the grind of a mundane life. By twist of fate she meets a curious and enigmatic individual who is known simply as The Commander. And so, they set off into the cosmos in search of adventure. Ultimately, their journeying brings them to a strange and seemingly ancient world, and herein they meet a bizarre folk known as the Paraxidiax Goram Thosit. They soon discover that this an alien race heard of often in myths and legends, a people dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. The Paraxidiax bear grave tidings of a malevolent, terrible foe invading their homeworld. Bishop and The Commander pledge to aid the Paraxidiax in their pursuit of the Orb, an artifact that contains limitless knowledge and wisdom. This search takes the band into the very heart of the invasion as they come face-to-face with the wicked Desolators. The tale culminates in realization that Bishop and her friends will either overcome a infinitely depraved enemy, or see the universe crumble beneath the Desolators' ruinous powers.

The most enjoyable quality of this book is certainly the characters that it introduces. There is a certain simplicity and sincerity to their personalities that leads the reader to immediately hold them in high esteem; these are the kind of people one would desire to have as friends. The longing for adventure that Bishop Hays finds herself experiencing is a deep connection point to any modern reader, and they will quickly find themselves sharing in the same desire to escape the monotony of everyday life. The charming and jovial way that The Commander carries himself will be an instant hit, this coupled with his nonplussed manner of handling conflict will certainly forge a desire to be in the presence of this blissfully eccentric individual. A strength of this work also lies in its capacity to make an engaging and interesting world. Ultimately, one wants to know more about the strange species that are encountered, to know more about the origin and purpose of the awful Desolators, and to know the history and journeys of The Commander.

However, the reality is that this world is not developed and much of the potential to cultivate a full and complete universe is lost. One wonders why the author chose to wait until nearly halfway through the novel to begin unpacking and revealing the plot that will be the centerpiece of the story as a whole. By doing this, much opportunity to develop and create a rich and vibrant setting for the tale is neglected. Once the central plot line is established, the book moves at a lightning pace from event-to-event and leaves the reader with a real sense of discontent. Without being given more insight into the world that the author has created, all the occurrences that unfold as interval parts of the plot lack a certain clarity and depth that could be present if the setting was further developed. At the close of this book the reader walks away with a sense of incompletion and a longing to be given a wider window into what promises to be a very interesting and intriguing world.

I rate this book at a 2 out of 4 stars. This story introduces a cast of loveable and endearing characters that create instant affection. Their sincerity of heart and overall noble bearing are the highlights of this book. Unfortunately, the lack of a developed setting detracts from the overall enjoyment of reading this tale. Ultimately this leaves the reader with a pronounced sense of disappointment and a longing to be privileged with further details about this potentially fascinating universe.

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Chronicles of a Starchaser
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Rachaelamb1 · Post by **Rachaelamb1** » 11 Jun 2015, 20:13

I don't read a lot of sci-fi but I love books with interesting characters. Too bad the world isn't developed better.

Lovely_Loreley · Post by **Lovely_Loreley** » 21 Jun 2015, 16:13

Great review! I always love complex and relatable characters so I might give this one a shot. Although I do love to read about well-built words, I also enjoy imagining it and filling in the details for myself. Do you think this is one of those books where the reader can establish an acceptable word through imagination, or were there not enough details to manage even that?

maclean · Post by **maclean** » 30 Jun 2015, 18:14

Okay review. I found the book to be a rather exciting read and interesting. The author paints the reader a wonderful picture of settings and feelings to the main character, Bishop. Though some might consider the beginning chapters to be slower paced than the rest, the author is clearly setting up a strong background to the main character. I found it quite effective that she is then thrown into a lightening pace adventure later. Such is life. The story is clearly a beginning to a much larger tale and I hope the author continues it.
I must point out that the origin and purpose of the Desolators is quite clear and so are the journeys of The Commander. Granted the Commander's history may be vague, this adds to his mysterious quality and it is even told in the a chapter, "... a very unique being." I also wonder what was meant by the world is not developed. I did not see this, but then critiquing is an opinion. I found it to be developed rather nicely. I think one really has to form they're own opinion and take chance to read this fun adventure/fantasy. My opinion is it's a great story and I sincerely hope this author continues it as the last chapter seemingly indicates.