The Alliance has toppled the tyrannical empire. It should be a time for celebration, but not for fighter pilot Captain Alisa Marchenko. After barely surviving a crash in the final battle for freedom, she’s stranded on a dustball of a planet, billions of miles from her young daughter. She has no money or resources, and there are no transports heading to Perun, her former home and the last imperial … imperial stronghold.
But she has a plan.
Steal a dilapidated and malfunctioning freighter from a junkyard full of lawless savages. Slightly suicidal, but she believes she can do it. Her plan, however, does not account for the elite cyborg soldier squatting in the freighter, intending to use it for his own purposes. As an imperial soldier, he has no love for Alliance pilots. In fact, he’s quite fond of killing them.
Alisa has more problems than she can count, but she can’t let cyborgs, savages, or ancient malfunctioning ships stand in her way. If she does, she’ll never see her daughter again.
Fans of Firefly and Star Wars should enjoy this fun, fast-paced new series from USA Today best-selling author, Lindsay Buroker.
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Before picking up STAR NOMAD to read, I went through four different books that I just could not get into. It was so frustrating! Finally, I said, “Ugh. Just choose something from an author you know and like!” So I went with Lindsay Buroker. I loved STAR NOMAD! And I’m eager to read the rest of the series in the near future. I loved the adventure part of the book, the unknown world I was heading into. I’m curious about Leonidas, Alisa, Beck, Yumi, and what’s going on with Alisa’s daughter, Jelena, and what we can look forward to on Perun. This is a strong first book in a series, and perfect for those who are looking for something to binge read. The whole series is out with 9 books, and now there’s a spin-off series as well.
Since this series really has to be read all the way through and in order, I’m writing this review about the WHOLE SERIES, not just this single book. So there will be BIG SPOILERS if you read below the BIG SPOILER notice below. But for those who want a spoiler-free, overall opinion of the series, this next paragraph is for you.
I loved it! It has a very Firefly-esque-ness to it (yeah, that’s totally a word). The characters are fantastic, and the action scenes pulled me in. I kept wondering how the hell they were going to get out of the predicaments they were in, but somehow Alisa always figured out a way.
Probably the best thing about this series was the banter between characters. It’s probably the best banter I’ve ever read in a book, and for that reason alone, it’s worth reading. I also loved the post-imperial politics. I like how there wasn’t a clear good or bad side, and that the characters had emotional scars from the war.
The whole series was very fast paced. It did come a bit predictable after eight books though. Alisa and the gang traveled through space and reached their destination, and some big bad dude was there to tractor beam in the Nomad. They escape, travel through space again, and someone shows up to tractor beam them in. Travel again, and an ambush they have to escape. Very predictable. And I think this is why I wish this series had been six books instead of eight. I was ready for the characters to accomplish something, not just escape enemies over and over again.
I ended up skimming much of books 5-8 for that reason. I’m not sure if I would have skimmed is much if I hadn’t read the books back to back. I think I finished all eight books in about two weeks, so that was a ton of reading. But I would have been too frustrated and unsatisfied if I had to wait for the next books to release. *shrugs*
I give this series a very strong 4 stars, and definitely recommend it. There were a few things I didn’t love about it. Example, for two or three books right smack dab in the middle of the series, it seemed like the author forgot how to use contractions. It made the writing feel unnatural, and it was confusing because I didn’t notice a lack of contractions in the first books. When I got to end of the series, I realized the author was using the contractions again, so it read much more smoothly. So…maybe she had a different editor for the middle books?
Alright. The rest of my thoughts will be below and with spoilers, so if you don’t want spoilers, you should stop reading NOW.
BIG SPOILERS BELOW
Thing #1 that bothered me: I didn’t love the fact that Leonidas’s quest turned out to be what it was. Buroker dropped enough hints throughout the first few books, so I suspected it. I was just hoping I was wrong because it was a major disappointment. I mean, his big motivation in the book is to find a way to get laid? Or worse, start a family (gag!)? It was just weird since everyone else had important, universe-impacting goals. Plus, I was ready for a bunch of kissing, and a bunch of kissing didn’t happen much in the series. That disappointment is on me, though, not the author. I was fully aware that I was reading a Science Fiction/Space Opera type of novel, and not a romance. It’s my fault that I always want romance as a big subplot.
Thing #2 that bothered me: they found Jelena. Of course they had to. It would have been an unhappy ending if they didn’t, but my interest in the series took a major dip as soon as she boarded the Nomad. There’s nothing wrong with Jelena. She’d be fine if this was a book about her, but this book is about Alisa, her mom, and as soon as Jelena comes into the story, Alisa changes. Oh, the banter is still there, and I still love her and Leonidas and the gang, but she goes into mom mode, thinking about what her daughter will think about things, questioning whether she should take risks, and Jelena’s bedtime is a big worry. And this of course came at a time when Leonidas achieved his goal, so even when he and Alisa hooked up, it was weird. *I* felt awkward for them, even when they were caught up in the moment. *I* couldn’t get Jelena out of my thoughts.
So, yeah. I would have preferred the series to be six books, and for Alisa to find Jelena in the epilogue of the last book. lol
The book kept my interest throughout whole book. Could not put down, had to see what happened next with Alisa.
This is the first book in Lindsay Buroker’s Fallen Empire series and I’m not just recommending book one — I’m recommending the whole series! The adventures of Alisa and Leonidas will keep you up late at night turning pages, wanting to know what happens next. If you’re a fan of space opera, particularly Firefly, this series is a must-read for you.
A powerful book to read and read again. The master of fantasy and SciFi. I loved rereading this wonderful book.
This is the book that made me a Buroker fan! I loved every line.
Characters similar to her “Emperor’s Edge” series. I loved them, so I enjoyed the Fallen Empire saga, too. Buroker does an excellent job of writing a story that is both easy to read, and still mature enough for adults to enjoy. Her stories are fun and the interactive dialogue between her characters is very natural.
And any other book by this Author
Really enjoying this series on audiobook (I’m actually on Book 7 now). I especially like the interactions between the main character and all of her motley crew. It’s humorous and sometimes poignant, but always fun.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The witty banter wasn’t awkward, the action was suspenseful and I found myself wanting to reach for the book when I had other things to do.
I’m really looking forward to the next installment even though this wasn’t a cliff hanger ending. You can read this book and feel satisfied with the finalè.
Love the series. The characters are great and I love the family that Marchenko built from her ragtag crew.
This is a great read for scifi-lovers who miss Firefly.
As of the first pages, this story made me think of that series and the book kept going in that vein.
It’s so satisfying when you can figure out exactly what type of book you want to read and then be able to read that exact type of book. That was what happened when I picked up Star Nomad. After reading the novella Bearadise Lodge by this author I knew I wanted to read more by this author as it fit my reading mood. So I decided to start the Fallen Empire series. Star Nomad was a very entertaining read. It’s a science fiction book with non stop action, a fast paced plot and likable characters.
Something about Star Nomad just was perfect for my current reading mood, the characters are great to read about, but there is little drama. The story was fast paced, but not rushed and there was a lot going on and a lot of action throughout the book. It made for a very exciting and engaging read. And even with all the trouble the characters found themselves in, I found the book as a whole still have a very hopeful and uplifting vibe. The blurb describes it as for fans of Firefly and Star wars and in a sense I think that sums it up pretty well. It had the quirky cast of characters like Firefly and the action packed plot lines like in Star wars.
The story follows Captain Alisa Marchenko, who got stranded on a desolate planet after the Alliance won the war against the empire. Now that she’s recovered from her injuries she wants to make her way back to her daughter who is on another planet. To do this she returns to the ship she sold before she joined the war. And that’s where the trouble starts. She ends up with some crew and passengers. And they grow into the main cast of characters for this book. I loved learning about the characters and their quirks.
I think Alisa made for a great main character. With how she has this drive to return to her daughter, which gave her a clear mission, but she also was willing to make some detours for her passengers along the way. Then there is her belief in the alliance their mission, her love for flying and also how she returns to the ship she didn’t want to ever see again. She has her own brand of humor and I liked how she is optimistic and capable. She also seemed pretty open minded. And she quickly grows to care about the passengers and crew she takes on and quite willing to help other people.
Then there are the side character like Mica, Yumi, Beck, Leonidas and Alejandro mainly. Mica is the pessimistic, but capable engineer and friend of Alisa’s. I liked how her pessimism contrasted with Alisa’s optimistic outlook. Yumi is a passenger with her own quirks and I thought she was quite likable. Beck is the person they hire for security and he knows how to fight, but has other dreams too, which I thought was a fun twist. Leonidas stays a bit of a mystery, but we get some hints about his character and I am intrigued to learn more. Alejandro is still a bit of a mystery too and I am curious about that object and mission of his. There is a hint of a possible romance, but that’s all it is for now.
I found the world building quite interesting. we see a galaxy right after the fall of a big empire. People are stepping into the void, but there also is more unrest and chaos than before. Through dialogue and the main characters inner musings we get a bit of a feel of what the empire was like too, but it still mainly is limited to some big lines. I kinda like world like this that are set after a big event as you can get a feel of the big event and also how the world is adapting after it. Besides that the world building is still pretty limited. There are a few planets we hear about and some other factions and people. It’s obvious there is much more to this world, but we will discover that in later books probably.
To summarize: I had a great time reading this book. It was action packed, fast paced and had a fun cast of characters. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong, there is a ton of trouble they run into, lots of action and danger, but at the same time the tone is still hopeful. Which is exactly the type of story I wanted. I liked main character Alisa, with her own brand of humor, how she was capable and optimistic and her love for flying. The side characters were interesting too and they all had their own quirks and personalities. They made for an interesting group of characters and I look forward to get to know them better. I also thought the world was interesting with how the story takes place after the fall of the empire and we see a bit of how the world is doing now. I hope to see more of the world in future books. All in all this was a thoroughly entertaining read and I had a great time reading it. I hope to continue with book 2 soon.
fabulous book I loved the characters the storyline is addictive and had to continue onto the next book
I purchased Buroker’s The Fallen Empire Omnibus Collection. Buroker obviously has a clever wit & expresses it naturally through the heroine Marchenko. ‘Star Nomad’ is book 1 of a trilogy, with a short story thrown in as a prequel. It took me a little bit to pick up the flow of her writing & to get a sense of the story’s direction. Once it all clicked-in, Buroker’s trilogy hooked me. There’s military action, a little romantic tension, solid characters, interwoven story lines, & sarcastic humor. Very entertaining, & Buroker did a great job!
Interestingly entertaining as all of this author’s work is.
I have NO idea how this series managed to evade my greedy Space Opera radar, but now that I’ve found it, there’s no escaping my clutches! Another thing I could say, without fault, about this book is that the book description doesn’t lie and lives up to its promise.
It’s Firefly through and through! If someone bothered to renew the masterpiece for a second (and nth) season,that is…I mean, the MC, Captain Alisa Marchenko, is the exact female version of Nathan Filion’s character. I couldn’t stop picturing him throughout the book! Simply amazing!
Add to Alisa a motley and eclectic crew, each with its own personality and archetype, a piece of (lovable) junk as a means of transportation, throw in some danger, toe-curling action and pirates and you must surely hit the ultimate success mark! Also, kudos, rarely do I encounter such well-writen dialogue, capable of not only ensnaring a reader, but also move the plot forward. And the humor…Oh! The humor, so grimdark in nature…I love it.
If I could, I would have rated this particular book a lot higher, it’s worth it. Now, I’m out. No more time to write, the second book is calling for me 🙂
I’ve been a fan of Ms. Buroker’s writing for a while, but I really liked this series. First, it’s space opera, which is what I love to read. Second, both the main characters have some pretty big flaws along with their strengths. Third, there’s plenty of action and funny lines. Fourth, while many of the problems are the usual space opera issues, she puts some interesting twists on them. Fifth, she addresses the very real problems of veterans returning from war without being preachy or dismissive.
In short, a great series with plenty of adventure and fun!
Buroker’s Fallen Empire space opera saga begins with a bang in Star Nomad. War veteran Alisa Marchenko just wants her ship back, and to get back to her daughter and her old love. But, in the aftermath of a system wide war, things aren’t so simple. If you like Firefly, you’ll love this engaging sci-fi adventure with a dash of romance and plenty of humor by a masterful storyteller.
I enjoyed this book emensely. Parts of it remind me of Firefly but not enough that it seems like a retelling. Often the first book in a series takes a little time to get started, until the author and the characters come to an understanding. Not so here. Everything rolls smoothly from the beginning. And it’s a wild ride.