Zenith Dream

After the angst-filled, cliffhanger ending [b:Ghosts & Ashes 32615120 Ghosts & Ashes (Broken Moon, #2) F.T. Lukens https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476558024s/32615120.jpg 53200430], I was almost afraid to read the final book in F.T. Lukens' [b:The Star Host 27830154 The Star Host (Broken Moon, #1) F.T. Lukens https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447534529s/27830154.jpg 47811227] trilogy. Fortunately, Zenith Dream is a strong conclusion to a memorable series. The action is almost nonstop as techno-pathic Ren has to find and rescue his boyfriend Asher and his brother Liam, defeat several sets of bad guys and restore some semblance of peace in his universe without letting the star that lives within him spiral out of control.The plot is strengthened by secondary characters who are Ren's family now – tough-as-nails ship captain Rowan, stalwart Ollie, caring Penelope and her husband Lucas – as well as a new crew member who adds a welcome touch of humor and shadiness. I wish the parents and other adults hadn't almost uniformly been portrayed in a negative light, but I guess this is a YA fantasy after all where teens/young adult are happily in charge.Throughout the series I've been impressed by the world building and the contrast that Lukens has created between planetary “dusters” and space station “drifters.” The diverse lifestyles and customs were actually more interesting to me than the villains' predictable dynamics.Readers who are most interested in the Ren/Asher romance won't be disappointed. Once they're reunited, they talk through the misunderstandings that kept them apart in the previous book, and the few fights they get into are pretty quickly resolved. There's no doubt that they are a couple now, and their physical relationship deepens although it's implied rather than explicit and quickly fades to black. The HEA they get is absolutely appropriate and leaves just the tiniest chance that this may not be the end of their story...or at least, the last time we'll see this world. I wouldn't mind if Lukens stretched the trilogy into a longer series. There are bad guys still lurking around and characters I'd like to revisit. The Star Host trilogy may not be the most unique or brilliant thing I've read but it was a rollercoaster of fun, anguish and exhilaration. I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an objective review.