Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik [Review]

Capture the Sun (Starlight's Shadow #3) by Jessie Mihalik
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 26, 2023

Starlight's Shadow
0.5. Honor and Shadows
1. Hunt the Stars
2. Eclipse the Moon
3. Capture the Sun - Paperback | Kindle

Jessie Mihalik
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

As a recovery specialist, Lexi Bowen's jobs typically require more trickery and thievery than honest work. Her former captain might not approve of her flexible morals, but stealing artifacts for rich assholes pays the bills, and Lexi's had enough of war and death. The FHP left her to die once; she doesn't plan to give them a chance to finish the job.

Unfortunately, her latest contract takes her to Valovia itself--and right back into the orbit of Nilo Shoren, a Valovian teleporter who already cost her one payday and nearly stole her heart.

Armored against his clever charm, Lexi plans to get in, get the job done, and get out. But when her former crew goes missing in Valovian space, Lexi will have to work with Nilo to figure out what happened--and stop it--before the galaxy's two superpowers can use the disappearance as an excuse to return to war.

Thoughts on Capture the Sun: OH MAN. We're back with the Starlight crew and Lexi and Nilo are AHHHHHHHHH. Which is to say they're just as intense and focused (both on the mission and one another) as the other couples we've met and I HEART THEM SO HARD.

That said...These two aren't in the best place in the beginning. Or maybe that's just Lexi. She's so used to keeping her emotions close and not trusting anyone but Tavi and crew that she questions practically every move Nilo makes. Given their first not-so-great meeting, she expects to be betrayed and hides her hurts under edged blades and murdery looks.

BUT...Nilo had his reasons for doing what he did at their first meeting and he never meant it as the betrayal she saw it as. With perseverance and patience, he slowly chips away at Lexi's armor to get her to see that he'll do anything he needs to do to keep her safe. While that sounds sweet and gooey, these two are soon heading directly into danger and no one's really safe when they're up against rogue FHP folks AND Valovian super soldiers (not their actual name, but those warriors can do A LOT of damage with the psychic gifts and technology they have access to) who might or might not be working with the Empress's blessing.

In other words, there's a whole lot of danger, a massive dose of potential treason and/or political maneuverings, and the crew and their special Valovian someones are right in the middle of it all. Did I mention the danger? Because there's danger. LOADS of danger.

(The only downside to this book is that it's the final book in the trilogy and I really wouldn't mind more. I mean there's a ship's mechanic and a prince who might have unfinished business. I'm just saying.)