Kindle Edition AnthonySunderland Amazon.co.uk Category:  Science Fiction Pages: 64 Follow Janine Lewis' quest to discover her father's fate after the 1st mission to the stars ends in disaster  January 24th 2059: The exploration ships Intrepid and Valiant set sail on the first mission to Proxima Centauri. Finally the stars were within our reach. We would step out onto unexplored worlds, in our quest to reach out into the galaxy in search of exciting discoveries and new life. Mission Commander Donald Lewis promised his daughter Janine that he would return from the nineteen month mission in plenty of time for her twenty first birthday. He never came home. Janine vowed to discover her father's fate, no matter what it might cost her. This is a quest that will test young Janine's courage and resolve to their very limits. A journey fraught with massive obstacles and terrible dangers at every turn. This is the first instalment in the epic series '59.

5* This has me hooked
Wow! What an opening. Janine Lewis is alone on the beach at dusk, distraught at the prospect that her missing father is going to be pronounced dead and the search for him abandoned.
From there we see the events leading up to this distressing moment replayed through her eyes.
This device of starting a story with a bang and then jumping back in time is often used when a writer has nothing interesting to say for the first half of a story. Not here though. It is handled deftly and with style.
From the moment we are introduced to Janine's family and the space ship crews dark chapters from the past are revealed and dangers to come hinted at. Even when the story could possibly sag in the middle - the mission is proceeding smoothly, and all is well back on Earth - a sense of impending disaster is never far below the surface.
The author uses this time to let us learn more about the characters. Essential if we are to care about them and the prospects of finding them alive again.
Then suddenly. Wham! The cliffhanger ending.

4* Novella length story...first in a series
By Cheryl M-M TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A venture into the Sci-Fi genre, which is fairly short and the first in a series. I think it will appeal to older children/YA and adults alike.
For me it felt as if it was one book veering off into two different directions. One targeting the younger adventurous audience, whilst reeling the older reader in with a darker side and hints of danger to come. That was evident in the scenes which depict a more threatening male behaviour and the reader is left to wonder what he might do if given the chance. I think that at one point the author will have to decide which group to focus on more.
The main character is written in a bubbly rebellious teenagey way.You can almost sense the injustice she feels and imagine her gearing herself up for her quest.
Although short and with a few mixed signals it has enticed me enough to want to know what happens next.