The Shattered Star: Starlight and Shadow (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781968493011)

"...a promising interplanetary saga." - Kirkus Reviews

"Ostrom's novel is powered by palpable emotional intensity, and its deep development of its central characters and unapologetically graphic depiction of war pack an undeniable punch..." - Kirkus Reviews

A war fought among the stars. A brother torn between loyalty and conscience. A Covenant of light hiding only shadow.

The Starlit Covenant has ruled the galaxy for a thousand years, demanding obedience in the name of peace. Kael Vallen believed in their oath, in the promise of light - until the war showed him the truth.

The enemy he was ordered to kill are not monsters, but people. Families. Children. And the brother he trusted, Auctor, may be more dangerous than any Starless rebel.

As battles rage, Kael must survive the deadliest test: not only to lead his comrades, but to decide who he truly is.
Is he a soldier bound by duty?
Or a man willing to defy the Covenant, even if it means becoming a traitor?

A character-driven military science fiction novel with epic scope and emotional depth.

• For fans of The Forever War, The Expanse, and thoughtful space operas.
• Blends military sci-fi action with philosophy, betrayal, and human drama.
• Explores loyalty, conscience, and rebellion against oppression in a collapsing galactic empire.

If you want gritty military science fiction with heart, where soldiers bleed, betray, and endure, then you might enjoy The Shattered Star.