To keep it simple: If you're looking for a fast-paced, easy, and enjoyable read with lovable characters, this is it. Really, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this read. The setting and plot are well-laid and the characters come to life through their interactions. For what felt like a light read, there are definitely some action-packed, edge-of-your seat scenes that had me fully immersed in the story. I have to say I was nervous about our fighter pilot character, but our "expert" character was well-done and their knowledge on the planes they fly and fix felt very real and believable. Overall, Tiffany Alexanderson does a great job balancing characters, story development (i.e pacing), descriptions, and characters together to craft a fun and intriguing story.

This was a lot of fun - better than I was expecting, although given I'd read a previous work by this author and thoroughly disliked it, I'm surprised I picked it up at all!

The setting comes across as a fantastical WW1 Britain, an island leading commonwealth of other nations around the world, although they're apparently the only one upon which the stardust falls. The aviators and leaders of the armies (not the ordinary soldiers!) are seen in high regard, and the living is easy - for those with money wealth and power. The chapters are all clearly marked with the narrators' name as the characters chop and change. The opening is from Adam, a junoir Agent of the government charged with keeping the peace as the annual celebrations get under way. All seems quite in the capitol, so he makes his way around the less salubrious outskirts, visiting contacts who think him one of them. One points him towards a suspicious boat just arrived with rumours of arms smuggling. Meanwhile an innovative air-captain meets a charming battle-mage heroine from a famous family, and invites her for a flight. Of course national celebrations are a fine time for rebellions, and so everything very quickly goes hay-wire.

Mostly it's just fast-paced enough to follow without thinking too hard about the details. The descriptions are just enough to fill in the scenes, and the characters interactions sparkle together well with good magnetism, even if it's all very contrived. Sadly it pretty much just ends without a resolution, some escape on a boat and that's it. There doesn't seem to be a continuation written (or even planned) so perhaps that will be all we'll ever learn, which is a shame as finding stories that balance pace, action, descriptions and characters together this well are tricky to find. ( )