Book review: The Blighted Stars by Megan E. O’Keefe

The Blighted Stars is the latest novel from Velocity Weapon author Megan E. O’Keefe, and if you’re a fan of science fiction stories like Aliens, Starcraft, The Expanse or The Last of Us, I can only say that this is a book you definitely do not want to miss. As a longtime fan of all of the tales I just listed, The Blighted Stars scratched that sci-fi horror itch perfectly. Read on for our spoiler-free review.

Book review: THE BLIGHTED STARS by Megan E. O’Keefe (The Devoured Worlds #1)

The basic setup for The Blighted Stars is that the known galaxy is ruled by an alliance of wealthy corporate families; one of them, the Mercators, control mining of the valuable mineral Relkatite, which is essential for most of the advanced technology which has allowed humanity to colonize distant planets and unlock all sorts of intriguing sci-fi enhancements like body augmentation and near-immortality. However, their mining processes has come under scrutiny for potentially destroying planets. This leads wayward son and geologist Tarquin Mercator to return to the family business. He sets out for the lush world of Sixth Cradle to prove the Mercator mining process is safe, but things go sideways and he ends up stranded on the planet with a group of survivors. Much to everyone’s surprise, Sixth Cradle has already been biologically devastated by a virulent lichen called the shroud.

Naira Sharp, an Exemplar (think genetically enhanced space marine), is stranded with him. Naira is dedicated to bringing down the Mercators; Tarquin doesn’t know her true identity and neither does anyone else on Sixth Cradle. We won’t go into too many details, but how Naira manages to hide in plain sight is fascinating.

The enemies-to-loves story of Tarquin and Naira is at the heart of The Blighted Stars, but the book doesn’t feels like a romance first. This is a sci-fi epic with a fleshed-out romance; that distinction might feel pedantic, but I think it’s important. The Blighted Stars is a dangerous mystery set among the stars on a barren planet where two leads who have no reason at all to like each other eventually end up developing deep feelings while still remaining fixed on their overall mission. Given the gravity of events happening in the novel, the balance O’Keefe strikes between romance and adventure feels just right.

Reading is a subjective experience, but for me The Blighted Stars was one of those exceptional books where the world around me ceased to exist while I was pulled into the story. That’s thanks to the sharp prose, great characters, stellar pacing, and the wonderfully intentional way the mysteries unravel as we come to find out what happened on Sixth Cradle and what it means for the galaxy at large. As a reader, I was extremely satisfied with how everything resolved.

The Blighted Stars is a creepy, immersive book that’s hard to put down

We need to touch on the worldbuilding, which is extremely well-realized. One of the most prominent inventions is “neural mapping,” which is the idea that people’s brains can be copied like data, and then printed into new bodies. (So long as you have the funds to pay for it, of course.) This is just one of many fascinating worldbuilding elements that makes The Blighted Stars stand out.

The best part of those sci-fi concepts is that O’Keefe really takes time to explore their implications. They aren’t just set dressing, but integral parts of the story. The Blighted Stars has the momentum and power of a space opera, as well as the thoughtfulness of harder sci-fi. The book walks that fine line really well.

There’s also some great horror in this novel; I compared it to Aliens above, which is something I thought of again and again while reading. Naira is a badass action heroine who would do Ellen Ripley proud, but some of the things she and Tarquin come across on Sixth Cradle are downright terrifying. There were several times where I caught myself muttering in discomfort while reading because O’Keefe’s prose are so chillingly precise.

At this point, I realize I’ve mostly just raved about how good The Blighted Stars is, but honestly it’s hard to really think of many criticisms that aren’t extreme nitpicks. This is the first novel I’ve read from Megan E. O’Keefe, and it completely made me a fan.

Verdict

The Blighted Stars is a searingly good read; I blasted through this book in two days flat despite its respectable page count, and was left thinking about it long after reading its pulse-pounding ending. Naira and Tarquin are vivid characters with a fascinating dynamic, and O’Keefe’s worldbuilding and examination of various science fiction concepts is exceptional. This was easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and I’ll be banging down the bookstore door whenever book 2 of The Devoured Worlds comes out.

The Blighted Stars is out now from Orbit, wherever books are sold.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels