Common Sense Media Review
Amusing mix of sci-fi, court intrigue, and romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In Starflight, Princess Cassia Rose fled her home world to escape an arranged marriage. Now in STARFALL, she has been captured by bounty hunters and brought back to Eturia to wed sociopathic Marius. Her friends aboard the starship Banshee -- including her best friend in the world, Kane -- devise a desperate plan to rescue her. Meanwhile, there's trouble brewing in the outer reaches of the galaxy, including an epidemic that might kill millions. Cassia, Kane, and the crew of the Banshee must rely on each other to stop an intergalactic conspiracy, even as Cassia and Kane sort out their feelings for each other..
Is It Any Good?
Readers who enjoy a tossed salad of familiar sci-fi, romance, and Western tropes will find this space adventure to be a satisfying mix of disparate elements. In Starfall, author Melissa Landers devises scenes that brim with action, humor, and passion. The will-they-won't-they romance may try the patience of some readers, but others will find it highly amusing. The book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, but it undoubtedly makes for a more satisfying experience if read following the previous volume. Either way, fans of Firefly or Guardians of the Galaxy will appreciate the snarky humor and star-crossed love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Starfall and how it uses elements of science fiction, romance and other genres. How do these different elements work together?
How is sexual attraction portrayed in Starfall? Why do Kane and Cassie have so many misunderstandings about their feelings for each other?
How is violence portrayed? What does violence add to the story? How is it used to resolve disputes?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , Pirates
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : February 7, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate
