The Sundered Stars by H.E. Bauman

Betrayal is just the beginning… After a decade of hunting the Federation’s deadliest criminals, Mora “Mo” Cevi is done risking her life—but she needs a way out. So, when a lucrative military contract lands in her lap, she takes it despite her mistrust of the government. Steadfast leader Ezra Lyre has dedicated sixteen years to the Federation Space Command, climbing the ranks to become one of the military’s most revered Vanguards. But when he’s assigned to protect a group of archaeologists on a remote dig, he’s confused. The Federation is at war, and he should be on the front lines, not babysitting scholars. Mo has been fighting Ezra’s orders for days, until a group of traitors steal a treasured artifact, and he needs her to help him bring them to justice. With the Federation rejecting their concerns, they pursue the thieves on their own. But as their manhunt tangles them in a web of dangerous conspiracies, Mo and Ezra find themselves racing to stop a threat that could destroy the Federation—if their enemies don’t destroy them first.

Adult • Fantasy/Science Fantasy • Science Fiction/Romance • Science Fiction/Space Opera

Content Warning: Fantasy and magical violence, including character deaths and suicide; references to past intimate partner violence; descriptions of injuries and chronic pain; casual alcohol consumption; loss of home world/planetary destruction; warfare and imperialism; abduction/imprisonment

Reviewed by MereDragonTales on 2026-07-13T19:15:01Z:

This is a space romantasy that follows 3 bounty hunters (our FMC Mo and her found family) and a military commander (our MMC Ezra). This story gave me major Firefly/Serenity and Star Wars vibes. There’s a main capital like planet where the Federation Space Command is based out of.