These Burning Stars Series

Book 1

'Vivid, violent and visceral: an impressive debut' Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun

Jun Ironway, hacker, con artist, and only occasional thief, has got her hands on a piece of contraband that could set her up for life: evidence that implicates the powerful Nightfoot family in a planet-wide genocide seventy-five years ago. The Nightfoots control the precious sevite that fuels interplanetary travel through three star systems. And someone is sure to pay handsomely for anything that could break their hold.

Of course, anything valuable is also dangerous. The Kindom, the ruling power of the three star systems, is inextricably tied up in the Nightfoots' monopoly - and they can't afford to let Jun expose the truth. They task two of their most brutal clerics with hunting her down: preternaturally stoic Chono, and brilliant hothead Esek, who also happens to be the heir to the Nightfoot empire.

But Chono and Esek are haunted in turn by a figure from their shared past, known only as Six. What Six truly wants is anyone's guess. And the closer they get to finding Jun, the surer Chono is that Six is manipulating them all - and that they are heading for a bloody confrontation that no one will survive unscathed.

'One of the best SF books I've read. Period' Michael Mammay, author of Planetside

'Intricately plotted and tightly paced . . . Space opera fans will eat this up' Publishers Weekly

'A multi-layered saga full of courtly intrigue and indelible characters, Bethany Jacobs' These Burning Stars warps readers across the galaxy on a devilishly fun thrill ride' Bookpage

Book 2

On Vicious Worlds

by Bethany Jacobs

Published 15 October 2024

One of the most exciting new voices in space opera returns with the thrilling sequel to the Philip K. Dick nominated These Burning Stars, the explosive space opera debut that launched the dangerous cat-and-mouse quest for revenge against the backdrop of a galactic empire on the verge of collapse.

The Jeveni are closer to freedom than ever before, a concept few could have imagined before Chono and Six became the faces of a revolution.

But whether the Jeveni are revolutionaries or refugees depends on who you ask, and while many see their colony as the ultimate freedom from The Kindom, another group rises, growing more resentful by the day.

But the Jeveni colony is fragile, protected only by a set of eleven keys disputed to the most trusted members within the council. Somehow, the Kindom has got it's hands on one, and the informant is closer than even Six could predict.

Praise for These Burning Stars:

'An exciting start from a fresh talent, offering emotional and political complexity plus plenty of interplanetary action' Kirkus (Starred Review)

'Readers who love smart thrillers and explosive sf won't want to miss this book' Booklist (Starred Review)

'Plotted like a chess match, confident and surprising as Jacobs moves each piece thoughtfully across her board . . . If Jacobs' second entry is anything like the first, we'll have so much more to discover across her universe in the years to come' BookPage (Starred Review)