A review by inquisitrix
Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No

4.0

 Under Fortunate Stars is a rollicking good time of a novel. If you like stories about friendship, found family, and sympathetic smugglers in space, this one might be for you. 

This is a nice read for anxious times, as its stakes are somehow never particularly high despite the fate of humanity apparently and unexpectedly resting on its protagonists’ shoulders. Hutchings’ narrative arc and light, entertaining writing style keep dread and terror at a safe distance, making it clear that no matter how tense things get for the crews of the two spaceships accidentally brought together via a rift in time, things will work out. At times I found that this distance also kept me from becoming emotionally engaged with the characters and events, but I enjoyed the book anyway. After all, sometimes it’s nice not to get worked up and worried; sometimes it’s nice to read a far-flung adventure story and simply look forward to the inevitable mostly-happy ending. This is a great book to read if you just want to feel amused and be distracted from whatever else is happening in your world. 

I’d recommend this title to readers who enjoy space opera and stories in which everything somehow comes together despite all odds. 

I received a free e-ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my review.