Can I read Sky Full of Stars without reading Fallen Empire first?

Yes, you can read Sky Full of Stars as a standalone series. While it features the daughter of the protagonist from Fallen Empire , the plot is self-contained and explains all the necessary lore for new readers.

Where does Cyborg Legacy fit into the reading order?

Cyborg Legacy is a standalone novel that takes place between the end of the Fallen Empire series and the start of Sky Full of Stars . Lindsay Buroker recommends reading it before Sky Full of Stars to bridge the gap.

How do I get the prequel novella, Smuggler Ship?

Smuggler Ship was released in 2020 as a bonus prequel novella. It is primarily made available to readers who sign up for Lindsay Buroker's official sci-fi newsletter on her website.

Is the Sky Full of Stars series completed?

Yes, the main storyline for Jelena and Thorian is completed as a trilogy consisting of The Rogue Prince , Angle of Truth , and Stolen Legacy .

Who is the main protagonist of Sky Full of Stars?

The series follows Jelena Marchenko , a young Starseer pilot and daughter of Alisa Marchenko, as she captains her own freighter and gets caught up in galactic conspiracies.

Sky Full of Stars Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

If you want the absolute best experience when diving into Lindsay Buroker's sci-fi catalog, you have two primary ways to approach the Sky Full of Stars series. Because this series is a direct spin-off of Buroker's popular Fallen Empire universe, your starting point depends on how much backstory you want before you begin.

Option 1: The Universe-First Path (Recommended)

To fully appreciate the world-building, the history of the galaxy, and the legacy of the characters' families, we highly recommend reading the original series first. In this order, you start with the main Fallen Empire books, proceed through the standalone bridge novel, and then dive into Jelena's adventures:

Fallen Empire Series (Books 1–8): Follows Alisa Marchenko and the cyborg Leonidas. Starts with Star Nomad and ends with End Game.
Cyborg Legacy: A standalone novel set a few years after the events of Fallen Empire that introduces Jasim Antar and features Leonidas. Buroker recommends reading this before Sky Full of Stars to ease the transition between the generations.
Sky Full of Stars Series: Set ten years after the Fallen Empire series, shifting focus to Alisa's daughter, Jelena Marchenko.

Option 2: The Sky Full of Stars Direct Path

If you prefer to jump straight into Jelena's story without committing to a massive backlog, you can absolutely read the Sky Full of Stars series on its own. Buroker designed the trilogy to be self-contained and accessible to newcomers. If you choose this path, the best starting order is the chronological order:

Smuggler Ship (Prequel Novella)
The Rogue Prince (Book 1)
Angle of Truth (Book 2)
Stolen Legacy (Book 3)

Sky Full of Stars: Chronological vs. Publication Order

For the core trilogy, publication order and chronological order are identical. However, the prequel novella Smuggler Ship introduces a minor wrinkle. It was published in 2020—three years after the main trilogy was completed in 2017—but it takes place chronologically before the events of The Rogue Prince.

Sky Full of Stars Publication Order

The Rogue Prince (2017) – The first novel in the series, introducing Jelena, her ship the Snapper, and her encounter with Prince Thorian.
Angle of Truth (2017) – The second novel, expanding on Jelena's Starseer powers and the crew's escalating galactic conflicts.
Stolen Legacy (2017) – The final novel in the trilogy, resolving the primary conflicts surrounding Jelena and Thorian.
Smuggler Ship (2020) – A prequel novella detailing how Jelena and her engineer Erick first obtained the Snapper.

Sky Full of Stars Chronological Order

Smuggler Ship (2020) – Book 0.5
The Rogue Prince (2017) – Book 1
Angle of Truth (2017) – Book 2
Stolen Legacy (2017) – Book 3

Should you read the prequel first? While Smuggler Ship is a fun introduction to Jelena and Erick's partnership, it is not essential to enjoy the trilogy. Reading it first gives you a smooth chronological flow, but reading it last acts as a nostalgic look back at the crew's early days.

Understanding the Fallen Empire Connection

While Sky Full of Stars stands on its own, its roots run deep in the Fallen Empire universe. The protagonist, Jelena Marchenko, is the daughter of Alisa Marchenko, the main hero of the original series. Jelena inherits her mother's pilot instincts and her father's telepathic Starseer abilities, making her a unique hybrid of the original series' dual dynamics.

Furthermore, supporting characters like Erick Ostberg (the engineer) and various galactic factions carry over from the political landscape established in Fallen Empire. Reading the original series gives you immediate context for the Starseer lore, the history of the imperial wars, and the mechanical quirks of the freighters flying through the galaxy.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you lift off, keep in mind that Sky Full of Stars leans slightly more into young adult (YA) sensibilities compared to the main Fallen Empire series. Jelena is a younger captain trying to step out of her famous parents' shadows, and the series features coming-of-age themes alongside its space battles. Expect Buroker's signature fast-paced plotting, witty crew banter (including Jelena threatening to put kitty stickers on Thorian's armor), light romantic tension, and a strong emphasis on animal rescue alongside standard sci-fi action.