Review by CarolineWilliams -- Protostar by Braxton A. Cosby

[CarolineWilliams]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Protostar" by Braxton A. Cosby.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Braxton A. Cosby’s Protostar is a tale of overcoming tradition and preconception, and of discovering who you really are. The story follows Prince William Derry, heir to the throne and Bounty Hunter, who is sent to a distant planet to complete a mission that will restore honour to his family name. He must kill the Star-child, who is perceived as a potentially deadly threat to the galaxy. Whilst preparing for his task, he discovers a lot about who he really is, and how strong his ties to family, honour, and tradition actually are, and how to deal with unexpected emotions. He discovers that his people’s beliefs about the Star-child don’t match up with the personality of who he finds, which causes him some emotional turmoil. His preconceptions regarding his target are turned on their head, and he struggles to reconcile this new knowledge with what he previously believed. Meanwhile, the Star-child is beginning to discover unexpected powers, and is learning how to deal with them. The Star-child was raised as a normal child, and, much like any teenager, has a group of close friends to turn to. But the arrival of Prince William causes tensions within the group, and friendships are subsequently tested. The Prince learns much about the ways of friendship, and begins to understand what it means to care for someone. Can he complete his mission, or will the attraction of the Star-child prove too powerful?

I enjoyed reading this story, as I am particularly fond of science fiction and fantasy stories. The developing relationships between the characters, and how these relationships affected the Prince’s mission, were easy to follow and I felt that they were portrayed well. The description of the characters and surroundings made it easy for me to picture the action as I read it. My only small disappointment is that I would have liked to see a more marked difference between the alien culture and Earth culture, but the similarities between the two made it easy to relate to the characters. The differences that were apparent gave the character qualities similar to that of a superhero, which I believe appeals to the female mind. Braxton A. Cosby makes use of some well established science fiction ideas, such as cloaked ships, but also introduces you to some very novel ones, such as power sources.

I would suggest that Protostar is likely to appeal to teenage girls, or adults who want a quick read that isn’t too taxing. I believe that it would also be suitable for particularly mature younger readers, as there are some references to romantic relationships which may not be suitable for younger readers. The language used is clear and easy to understand, and any technical words used are in context and aid the storyline. When new situations, ideas, or technology are introduced, they are explained well, without getting bogged down with too much detail.

I would rate Protostar 3 out of 4 stars, as I enjoyed the story and thought that it was well written. I believe that the story is engaging enough to keep the interest of younger readers who have not tried this genre before. The plot follows several characters, giving different viewpoints whilst still being easy to follow. As it is the first book in a series, I expected the story to feel unfinished, but it works well as a standalone work. I am, however, intending to read the remaining books, to see where the story takes the characters and their relationships.

I don’t recall seeing any spelling or grammar errors in the book.

******
Protostar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like CarolineWilliams's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Zimall]

I just finished reading and reviewing this sci-fi /fantasy and didn't like it much. It got me bored sometimes. It wasn't very great but interesting for the targeted readers.
Thanks for the review CarolineWilliam☺