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These Burning Stars

by Bethany Jacobs

A secret with the power to threaten an interstellar empire

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Awards & Recognition

  • Award recognition

    Winner of the 2024 Philip K. Dick Award

    Winner of the 2024 Philip K. Dick Award

  • Critical praise

    Kirkus starred review

    Starred review praising the book as an exciting start from a fresh talent.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A secret with the power to threaten an interstellar empire

Jun Ironway’s theft puts her in possession of a secret capable of bringing down the Kindom, a galaxy-spanning power built on genocide. Two of its clerics, Chono and Esek, are sent to hunt her, while Six—a figure tied to all three pursuers and pursued alike—tracks them across the stars. The story’s central chase links personal histories to the Kindom’s larger legacy, with manipulation and betrayal shaping the conflict. Its space-opera framework brings together a hunt for revenge, competing secrets, and the possibility that exposing the truth could unsettle worlds.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in space opera and interstellar empires
  • Readers drawn to stories built around pursuit, revenge, and hidden secrets
  • Readers interested in conflicts that connect personal histories with political power

Themes

Revenge and pursuitSecrets and betrayalEmpire and genocidePersonal histories and political power

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

WINNER OF THE 2024 PHILIP K. DICK AWARD

"These Burning Stars pulls off one of the most brazen, gasp-inducing reveals I've experienced in an age." -Esquire

A dangerous cat-and-mouse quest for revenge. An empire that spans star systems, built on the bones of a genocide. A carefully hidden secret that could collapse worlds, hunted by three women with secrets of their own. This is an explosive space opera debut from one of the most powerful new voices in science fiction.


On a dusty backwater planet, occasional thief Jun Ironway has gotten her hands on the score of a lifetime: a secret that could raze the Kindom, the ruling power of the galaxy.

A star system away, preternaturally stoic Chono and brilliant hothead Esek-- the two most brutal clerics of the Kindom--are tasked with hunting Jun down.

And tracking all three across the stars is a ghost from their shared past known only as Six. But what Six wants is anyone's guess. It's a game of manipulation and betrayal that could destroy them all. And they have no choice but to see it through.

★ "An intricate plot for revenge drives this far-future SF political thriller. An exciting start from a fresh talent."―Kirkus (Starred Review)

★ "Readers who love smart thrillers and explosive science fiction won't want to miss this book."―Booklist (Starred Review)

★ "A devilishly fun thrill ride ... These Burning Stars is plotted like a chess match, confident and surprising as Jacobs moves each piece thoughtfully across her board."―BookPage (Starred Review)
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