Starlost Child: Adventures of a Space Bum, Book 1

Batson’s space opera series launch introduces the disaster-prone Starwort Bacchus. She stows away aboard an automated repair ship that proceeds to take her from planet to planet on a series of adventures and escapades. As the only person on the ship, Star becomes captain by default, making friends with the increasingly personable and cooperative AI, which she names Flax. As Flax and Star meander from port to port, they encounter friends and foes alike, touching down on a world torn apart by war, escaping sex slavers on a pleasure world, mingling with the rich and powerful, and so on. All the while, Star is haunted by her past, and it all comes to a head when she’s finally caught by those who believe she knows the secret to a lost treasure map. The breezy, episodic nature of Star’s travels makes much of the story feel inconsequential, while the narrative voice hovers between YA and adult. Star’s universe is varied and interesting, but this somewhat rushed novel never reaches its full potential. [em](BookLife) [/em]