This Night So Dark

This Night So Dark is a novella that bridges the gap between These Broken Stars and This Shattered World in the Starbound trilogy. The story focuses on Tarver Merendsen during his early military career, before the events of These Broken Stars. The narrative alternates between two timelines - Tarver's present-day conversations with Lilac LaRoux and flashbacks to a rescue mission on a distant planet. Through these parallel storylines, readers learn about the experiences that shaped Tarver into the soldier he became. The novella provides context for the larger Starbound universe while maintaining the series' signature blend of science fiction, military action, and character development. The compact format delivers a complete story arc while expanding the series' mythology. The story examines themes of duty, trauma, and how past experiences influence future choices. It raises questions about the true nature of heroism and the personal cost of military service.

Readers view this novella as a quick but meaningful addition to the Starbound series that provides backstory for Tarver's character. Most note it functions best as supplementary material rather than a standalone story. Likes: - Fills in gaps about Tarver's military history - Maintains the tension and pacing of the main series - Effective character development in a short format Dislikes: - Too short for the price point - Requires reading These Broken Stars first - Some found the plot predictable Ratings: Goodreads: 4.05/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (80+ ratings) Several readers mentioned they finished it in under an hour. One reviewer noted "it answered questions I didn't even know I had about Tarver." Multiple readers said they would have preferred this content integrated into the main novel rather than as a separate purchase.

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson A female pilot discovers secrets about her father's past while training to defend her underground colony from alien attacks.

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray An elite soldier teams up with an advanced AI to uncover military conspiracies spanning multiple planets.

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine, Ann Aguirre A criminal becomes bonded with a sentient alien ship and must navigate both space warfare and political intrigue.

Avalon by Mindee Arnett A space mercenary leads dangerous missions through uncharted territories while uncovering dark truths about her employer.

Invictus by Ryan Graudin The son of a time traveler assembles a crew for heists across history until a mysterious girl threatens their operation.

🌟 This Night So Dark is a free digital novella that bridges the gap between These Broken Stars and This Shattered World in the Starbound trilogy 🚀 The story delves into Tarver Merendsen's military background and reveals a previously untold mission that shaped his character 📚 Author Amie Kaufman wrote this novella to give readers deeper insight into Tarver's psychological trauma and nightmares mentioned in These Broken Stars 🌌 The novella was released as a special thank-you to fans who supported the series, and can be downloaded at no cost 💫 While the main Starbound novels are co-written by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, this novella was penned solely by Kaufman