Discovering Connection and Courage in The Sundered Stars: A Book Review

• Author: H.E. Bauman
• Release Date: May 9, 2025
• Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
• My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
•  Spice🌶️/5

I love how H.E. has always had a character I can connect with on some level. It’s why she is one of my favorite authors. This one is Guardians of the Galaxy meets Star Wars vibes and I was hooked, also my first sci-fi and going to need more! Betrayal, adventure and epic battles are just the beginning . Romance takes a bit of a backseat in this book, absolutely a slow burn that hopefully blooms into something more

Spoilers Ahead

I don’t think I’ve related more to a character than I do with Mo – Mora Cevi. She is a badass bounty hunter who has given herself the reputation of earning her nickname within the bounty hunter community – The Demon.

“Do you know why they call me The Demon?” Darius stared up at her with a blank face as she continued, “No? I could show you, but I don’t think you’d like it. Let’s just do our jobs Sergeant, like the professionals we are. That’s the only way this is going to work, and we both know the FSC wouldn’t be calling in bounty hunters for security on a crapshoot job like this is your team wasn’t woefully unprepared.”

One thing she doesn’t let people know about her is that she suffers from chronic pain (as do I, but she handles it way better), she takes it upon herself to try and help her body as much as she can (something I definitely don’t do), with pain management potion that cost a fortune, stretching even though it doesn’t really help, also wearing compression wraps to help. 

But Mo hated that she needed help sometimes. Life was so much easier when she could just go about her business without a second thought. Lately, those independent days were harder to come by

Does anyone else relate this quote to a T? Just me? I hate asking for help, even if I know it will make my life a little easier or even just the day. I don’t know if I even remember a day without pain, a day I didn’t have to worry about if one activity to the next will put my pain over the top or sometimes just breathing hurts. But that’s life, isn’t it?

“I could heal you, you know.”

“I’m fine.” Mo’s response was immediate, instinctual. She always refused help. She didn’t like owing anyone anything. It made for bad things down the road when people wanted to call in favors. “If I can find a few more doses of soltherin before we leave Amos, I’ll be fine.”

“Why won’t you let me help you/”

“Don’t waste your energy”

Like I said Mo is a character I relate to on so many levels and this is one of them. Stubborn to a fault, will properly end up hurt or d i e d before I ask for help or rely on someone. Too many times I’ve been left to fend for myself after asking for help. Somehow realizing I should just rely on myself. Returning the favor never bothered me, it was asking for a favor to begin with.

Some doctors had said Mo’s joint problems were due to the stress of losing her home and family. Some said it was genetic. Others had no idea. Mo was pretty sure it was some combination of all of those things that plagued her. Bodies were complicated, but they were also resilient.

I went ten years, multiple doctors, multiple appointments, Xray’s, MRIs and everything in between until finally someone listened to me and sent me to a specialist to finally get diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I was watching something the other day, I believe it was on Kill Tony, (a comedy podcast) one of the standup comedians was talking about her life and how she is also going through pain and suffering (I am paraphrasing a lot) but she said something that stuck up to me. She said that fibromyalgia is the diagnosis doctors give when they can’t find out why you are in pain or what is going on with your body as test results always come back normal. It’s a little disheartening when even doctors don’t know what is wrong with you.

There are a couple of different ways that can cause someone to get fibromyalgia. Mine was an emotional event, long story short: the younger version of me hated myself. The terrible journey I was on led me to a very stressful time and caused my brain to (in my opinion) rewire itself. And the result is widespread pain. The other ways would be genetic which I believe my grandmother also suffered from but was never properly diagnosed. An infection or physical event (which in my opinion makes the most sense). 

But this isn’t a lifestyle she can keep up forever. Saving up as much money-credits- as she can for retirement, when an unexpected military contract is put in front of her. The reward is what made her say yes with that much money. Retirement looked sooner than ever before, against her better judgment of the government. 

Can’t forget about our favorite Commander of the Federation Space Command Ezra Lyre. Caring, protective – not overly protective- gives everyone a chance and fights for what he believes is right.He is always wanting to help and having magic healing hands definitely comes in handy later. The way he slowly starts to realize his feelings had me swooning. Why is it so freaking adorable when men finally understand their own feelings and what they mean.

Even against the wishes of the Federation, something that was hard for him to do after 16 years. I couldn’t imagine going against something or someone you have believed in, and fought for and whatever else for years to finally take a look from the outside. Ezra teams up with Mo and her bounty hunter friends to figure out why he was betrayed and who ordered a manhunt for him. 

Favorite Quotes

She laughed again, and it was like music to his ears

The stars are sundering

“She likes you, you know” Kynn said

….

“A lot” Kynn added “Even if she doesn’t see it.”

Favorite Scenes

Mo choked on her food. She coughed, then reached for her drink and took a sip. It was mild and fruity, with barely any alcohol in it. “I’m easy to please?” She scoffed. “You clearly don’t know me, Lyre”

“No, I clearly don’t. But I’d like to.” She scoffed again. Nobody wanted to know her. Not like Cass and Kynn did

“Good work,” Mo said.

“Two compliments? I’ll remember this day forever Cevi”

“Your ego’s already inflated enough. That’s the last one you’ll get for a while.”

✨Tropes✨

• 🌙Bounty Hunter FMC
• 🔥Fire Daddy MMC
• 🤗Found Family
• ❤️‍🔥Slow Burn
• ❤️‍🩹Chronic Pain Rep
• ❤️He Falls First
• 💕Dual POV
• 🌟Reluctant Allies to Lovers

More by H.E. Bauman