Review: Dark Quasar Reckoning (Friends of a Former Space Janitor #3) by Julia Huni

Title: Dark Quasar Reckoning

Series: Friends of a Former Space Janitor #3

Previous books in this series: Dark Quasar Rising (#1) | Dark Quasar Ignites (#2)

Author: Julia Huni

Genre: Adult, sci-fi, adventure

Publication date: October 22nd 2025

Published by: IPH Media

Source: eARC for review from author

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Synopsis: Political drama. A rogue AI. And a coup with grandma at the helm.

Special Agent Lindsay "Vanti" Fioravanti and her crew thought their mission to Leweian space was complete. But when their AI shuttle Helva—presumed lost forever—calls for help, they are pulled into a planetary rebellion orchestrated by their shipmate Leo’s grandmother.

With friends kidnapped, loyalties tested, and her Hadriana caat stirring up trouble, Vanti has one job: survive the galaxy’s most dysfunctional family reunion and get her crew out alive.

Dark Quasar Reckoning—a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud space adventure where high-tech espionage meets family drama, and the only thing more dangerous than a galactic coup is listening to the caat.

My rating: ★★★★☆

A megalomanic wannabe empress and a self-aware Al. That is not a good combination.

I was really looking forward to this book because on this mission, Vanti sought out help from Nick and Katie Li! These characters are from a spinoff book called Luna City Limited: The Phoenix and Katie Li. It was a lot of fun with lots of spying! Anyway, I love a good crossover, which is why I was very excited to read this! And it was so much fun! I really enjoyed it!

This was such a fun adventure filled with a sentient but suspicious spaceship, a brewing rebellion, and a talking caat. Yes, caat. Don't call Noelle a cat because she's not your average housecat. Lol. She's so sassy! Not as sassy as Sashelle, the caat from the Krimson Empire series. Lol. But I still love her! Noelle was a Christmas gift to Vanti in one of the previous crossover novellas, so I have been pretty excited to get to know her in a full-length novel. I think she and Vanti make a great team!

And one thing I love about this series is that we're getting to know the real Vanti. In the original Space Janitor series, she always seemed like a no-nonsense spy, so it's been nice seeing these other sides of her.

I also enjoyed the story. I read this a little bit ago, but now that I've had time to think about it, this story almost gave me Krimson Empire vibes, what with starting a rebellion to get out from under the horrible people who were governing them. And hey, I'm all for overthrowing a terrible, no-good government... Especially these days...

I enjoyed this! It was fun! One of my favorite things about this series is the characters and the fun banter between them. Vanti and Arun have been having this will-they-wont-they sort of thing going on, so that's been fun. I was actually enjoying the banter between them at the end of this book when suddenly one of them says a thing that makes me go

and not in a good way! It gave me whiplash. To be honest, one thing that I've had a love-hate relationship with in the Space Janitor Universe books is the romance. Maybe it's just a me issue, I don't know, but I feel like the pacing of the romantic relationships is very inconsistent. They're either moving too slow for my liking or way too fast!

But aside from that, it was fun, like always. I really enjoy following Vanti on her missions, especially because she is such a badass! I am very excited to see these characters in the next main Space Janitor book—it’s going to have a time loop element to it and it's going to be so fun! I can’t wait!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊