I liked 5 out of 11 of these stories which is good. ( )

Characterization and badassery

This anthology involved a variety of female protagonists. Some are fighters, some are thinkers, but they’re all up for the adventure of life and whatever it throws at them. I liked these characters and the variety of stories they represent.

Plot and pacing

I liked these stories. The first two really grabbed me and got me involved. From there, the stories were steadily good, with just a couple I didn’t like as much. I won’t point out which were which for me, because everyone’s highs and lows will be different. But this is a great collection.

Prose and editing

Very good, overall. For some reason the last few stories did not seem quite as polished as the others. I don’t know if that was a matter of writing style, editing, or what. Stuff happens when so many people are involved with a project. But it did seem a little uneven.

Summation

Of course I’m going to like the idea of an anthology with all female leads. But that doesn’t guarantee I’ll enjoy the book—that’s up to the execution. Starbound lived up to my hopes, and has prompted me to seek out more stories by some of the authors. I already have Anthea Sharp’s Stars and Steam on my Kindle. ( )