Author TJ Hapney

Description/Blurb:

It wasn’t easy for Molly being the only girl in Flight Academy, but getting expelled was even worse. Abandoned by her family when she was young and now tossed from the only home she’s ever known, her future looks bleak.

But then Molly hears that her father’s old starship has turned up halfway across the galaxy. Setting off to retrieve the old craft, she hopes it will hold clues to his disappearance. Accompanying her as a chaperone is Cole, her old flight partner from the Academy.

Molly can’t believe it. She’s now the proud owner of her own starship. Her Spring Break is going to be spent traveling across the galaxy with a cute boy. Could things possibly get any better?

Little does Molly know, they are about to get much, much worse . . .

Review 4 of 5 Stars

I’ve read all of the other Hugh Howey books at this point so I thought I’d try his earlier series about Molly Fyde. It wasn’t hard to tell that this book was an earlier work. I’m actually on the third one in the series now, but I found Molly’s character development to be interesting. Along the way you see many traits in Molly that later appear in other characters by Hugh Howey. Molly is a strong, independent young woman and she is a fun companion to travel along with on this action adventure ride.

The story and romance between Molly and Cole, her friend from the Academy, might seem to some as if it belongs in a young adult book, but I found the story to be well-written. This story was no more a young adult book than Ender’s Game was in my opinion. It just went a different direction. I wasn’t looking for a romance novel so the light romance between these two as they are growing up didn’t bother me at all. I enjoyed the book very much and immediately began the second one.

Molly begins this tale at the Flight Academy, but before long she and Cole are ready to set off on an adventure of their own, before having an even bigger adventure thrust upon them. Walter is another interesting character, but I’ll leave him for you to discover on your own. The story was fun, engaging, and kept my interest. I found the different planets and their populations to be interesting as well and Molly’s back story with her parents promises to lead to new adventures in her future. All in all I enjoyed the story and the characters.

As I stated near the beginning of this review, I’m already on the third book. That’s about as good of a recommendation as I can give. If you are interested in reading some of Hugh Howey’s earlier stuff then jump right on in for a science fiction action adventure. The series has kept my attention this far and I am enjoying traipsing about in this new universe with Molly Fyde and her companions. This first book in the Bern Saga was entertaining reading and the hours easily slipped by while I followed Molly and her friends on their adventures. I hope you enjoy it.