Angelfyre by Lydan Francis is sci-fi at its best. Casey was having the strangest day of her life. A Felsian girl, she stumbled across something quite stunning, a device that implanted itself in her head and gave her the ability to fly a huge spacecraft called Angelfyre as if she were flying her own body. Her adventures took her gliding across the planets, through oceans, over strange other-worldly landscapes, and even a massive, unruly gas giant. When she befriended a synthetic intelligence called Angel, they joined forces to learn from one another, but the adventure had to come to an end. Every being in the cosmos was under threat from dark forces, and Angel and Casey would be put to the test. Would their abilities be enough to save everyone?

Angelfyre by Lydan Francis is an unusual take on the sci-fi genre. It’s an intriguing story and it feels real, even though it is fiction. It’s full of action from start to finish, and the descriptive writing draws you in, making you a part of this amazing story. It’s a refreshingly different kind of tale, one that makes you think and maybe even question how far AI will go. The characters are well-developed, and there is some backstory that lets us understand the main ones before we are flung wholeheartedly into a suspense-filled adventure laced with humor. Written from a third-person perspective, this is one story you will read right through without stopping. Highly recommended for all fans of sci-fi.

Lydan Francis’ Angelfyre features Casey’s journey. Casey is an outcast because she is a Felsian. They are a mix of a human and a Fel, a humanoid with larger eyes that change color with their mood. Casey collects what she finds pretty, even if it has no value to her foster mother Elissa. On one excursion, she finds a blue glass-like stone that Elissa uses for a necklace. Later that evening, Casey attempts to fight a group of Traxans who snatch the necklace. The necklace breaks and Casey is knocked out, landing unconscious on top of the stone. She wakes up to see a girl in a white dress and finds the stone embedded in her neck. The girl claims that Casey is Angelfyre’s pilot. Elissa is in a coma after crashing her vehicle, so Casey goes with the girl she names Angel.

Lydan Francis has penned an original science-fiction fantasy full of adventure. The different planets that Casey and Angel venture to are vivid. The internal transformation of Angel is exceptional. Casey’s depressive mental state changes as she learns more about the capabilities of the Angelfyre. Casey’s belief about Angel being more than just a robot was logical, and I believe she was right. Elissa’s character shocked me near the end of the story. I could picture a woman with wild hair and eyes laughing at anyone willing to challenge her. Angelfyre was stunning with all the capabilities it possessed. I could imagine the speed and acrobatics it performed as though I were inside with Casey and Angel. The suspense drew me into the story. I recommend Angelfyre to readers who enjoy a fast-paced science-fiction story filled with well-developed characters.