The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei

If you enjoy the science fiction subgenre of space opera, I suggest reading Stardust Grail, the author’s second novel. A little like Becky Chambers’ work, but not as optimistic, along with some Indiana Jones; the characters are searching for a grail, after all.

Maya Hoshimoto is human, but was infected with the Frenro virus years ago. During migraines she has brief visions of the past or the future. Maya can hear Auncle’s voice in her head and respond telepathically. Auncle is very tall with tentacles. Xie is Frenro, an aquatic species. Wil, an armored human female and Medix, a robot, join them in their quest.

Maya, along with Auncle, found and returned stolen artifacts. Now she’s a grad student with writer’s block on Earth, at Princeton. Liam is a fellow graduate student. Then Auncle arrives, asking Maya to come along on one last adventure. They have the journals of Dr. Huang to guide them, one of the last to see the stardust grail, which is desired by multiple species.

The four of them, later joined by Liam, travel through many space nodes, get involved in a space battle, and visit settlements, a watery moon, and an underground museum with booby traps, with Maya wondering if anyone will survive to return home. And just where is home for her?  An entertaining and thought-provoking read.

Brenda