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Book Reviews and Library Request Info
- Ancient as the Stars (June 2024)
- The Star-Crossed Empire (November 2024)
- Loyalty to the Max (May 2025)
- A Stellar Spy (November 2025)
- The Clockwork Spy (May 2026)
Future Plans
Books
ANCIENT AS THE STARS (June 2024)
Library request information:
publisher: StarshotPress
- ebook release date/ ISBN: 12/23/24 9798227934093
- paperback release date/ISBN: 6/26/24 9798869304322
- hardcover release date/ISBN: 6/26/24 9798869177247
Reviews
“The author explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the consequences of past actions with a strong emotional arc of personal discovery. As the characters navigate their way through space and time, confronting their shared history and forging an unlikely alliance, the atmospheric descriptions of time and place all around them offer a perfect match to the mood of the action. Overall, Ancient as the Stars is a must-read for fans of sci-fi adventures and complex character relationships.” –K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
“The character development was the shining star of this read for me…. Maya nailed it.” – Hiking Reader
“… all I love in a space opera: a touch of thriller, strong and snarky female characters and humour.” — JAMReads
“The plot is delightfully multilayered. Time travel, confronting a younger self, the method of space travel used is unraveling, immortality and the challenge of finding a galactic terrorist with undetectable bombs are all in play. There is a lot going on, Darjani manages it all with authorial dexterity.” – BlueSmoke for SFF Insiders
“Five stars, no notes.” — Rex Burke, humorous SF author of Orphan Planet
“Better than The Expanse.” – Kel Russell, beloved indie bookseller, Main Street Books and Second Flight Books
“Between the realistic feeling characters, pop culture references and Maya’s gold standard names for chapters, I look forward to seeing what comes from her next.” – Ariana Weldon, SPSFC4 Review
“…an assured space opera with a fascinating, time-bending premise… While the military plot is fun, Darjani’s true strength lies in characterization, making both Yilmazes sympathetic but flawed in different ways and mining impressive psychological depth out of their differences and similarities.”
– Publisher’s Weekly
THE STAR-CROSSED EMPIRE (NOV 2024)
Library request information:
Publisher: StarshotPress
Release date: 11/14/2024
- ebook ISBN: 9798227239662
- paperback ISBN: 9798330203147
- hardcover ISBN: 9781088100936
Reviews:
“Maya Darjani has written a clever, rich, and complex story where love and duty collide unexpectedly. This story draws you into a web of intrigue and emotion … will appeal to science fiction fans who crave a well-crafted tale that transcends time.” – Emma Megan for Reader’s Favorite
“Experimenting with form in a way that challenges the writer and reader and still makes it an exciting journey for both while also making the reader think … to me this is a stellar achievement.” – Rajani Thindiath, Writer and Editor
“Maya has a knack for timing and pace that you don’t notice until you reflect upon what you have read. …enjoyable and over too soon.” –BlueSmoke for SFF Insiders
“…a romantic and intimate space opera, a compelling story at many levels; a proof that Darjani is an author with many registries.” –JAMReads
LOYALTY TO THE MAX (May 2025)
Library request information:
publisher: StarshotPress
- paperback release date/ISBN: 5/28/25 9798349319358
- hardcover release date/ISBN: 5/28/25 9798348586577
- ebook release date/ISBN: 8/27/25 9798231655663
Reviews:
“Pace, timing and a deft touch in cobbling together each line makes for a delightful page-turning experience … one of my favorite reads of 2025.” – BlueSmoke for SFF Insiders
“…a standalone sequel done right.” – Joe Lee for SFF Insiders
“5.0/5.0…I’d highly recommend this series to any fans of science fiction…In the running for my book of the year!” – Chad Barnard, The Hiking Reader
“This was tons of fun. Except the parts that weren’t. Those were clearly unfun.” – Ariana Weldon, Grimoire Ink
A STELLAR SPY
Library Request Information
publisher: StarshotPress
release date: 11/12/25
- paperback ISBN: 9798349511370
- hardcover ISBN: 9798868907708
- ebook ISBN: 9798232459338
Reviews:
STARRED REVIEW: “Maya Darjani has crafted a universe in the not-so-distant future that is both delightfully fantastical and recognizably human.” – Erin Britton for Independent Book Review
“Flying vehicles, digital realms, multiple habitual plants, and a deceptively useful magic system catapult us through the pages of this smoke and mirrors style adventure.” – Jeremy Schwab for Grimoire Ink
“A genre-blending masterpiece — a rare mix of heart-pounding spy thriller and emotional, magical sci-fi.” – Eric Smith for Tulsa Book Review
“Maya’s writing is crisp, and really immersive without feeling like you’re being smothered with a weighted blanket.” – Vivian Cicero for Grimoire Ink
“I knew Darjani was good, but this is really, really good and if you like spies and magic then you need this more than a blood transfusion after a vampire orgy….Overall, A Stellar Spy is a stunning achievement.” – Ed Crocker for FanFiAddict
Media Appearances
Indie SFF Author Showcase (Ancient as the Stars), Dominish Books
First Chapter Narration, Sci Fi Showcase
How Traditional Publishing Gave Me the Confidence to Self-Publish, JAMReads
Indie SFF Author Showcase (The Star-Crossed Empire) , Dominish Books
Some Thoughts with Maya Darjani, JAMReads
Maya Darjani: Character Obstacles & Writing Inspirations, Campfire Writing
Video Review of Ancient as the Stars, Literary Apothecary
Battle of the Books (multipart), Literary Apothecary
Booktasting with Bibliovino
Indie April author interview, Lines by Leon
A Stellar Spy Cover Reveal, Andre’s Early Reads
A Book and A Beverage, Bald and Balding
How I Learned to Quit Crying and Love the Sequel, JAMReads
Download press kit below:
BIOS
Short Bio (45 Words)
Maya Darjani is a writer, photographer, stay-at-home mother, and former lots of things: counterterrorism officer, legislative correspondent, freelance journalist, and executive assistant. She writes genre-bending fiction about badass women, dual loyalty, and the false promise of patriotism.You can find her online at MayaDarjani.com
Medium Bio (70 words)
Maya Darjani is a writer, photographer, stay-at-home mother, and former lots of things: counterterrorism officer, legislative correspondent, freelance journalist, and executive assistant. She writes genre-bending fiction about badass women, dual loyalty, and the false promise of patriotism. Her debut indie novel, ANCIENT AS THE STARS–a Firefly x Expanse space adventure with humor, snark, and lots of heart–launched June 2024. You can find her at mayadarjani.com and linktr.ee/MayaDarjani
Long Bio (105 words)
Maya Darjani is a writer, photographer, stay-at-home mother, and former lots of things: counterterrorism officer, legislative correspondent, freelance journalist, and executive assistant. She writes genre-bending fiction about badass women, dual loyalty, and the false promise of patriotism. Maya has been an Author-Mentor Match mentee and a RevPit winner. Her debut indie novel, ANCIENT AS THE STARS–a Firefly x Expanse space adventure with humor, snark, and lots of heart–launched June 2024, and her Vorkosigan-inspired romantic space opera, THE STAR-CROSSED EMPIRE, released in November 2024. You can find her at mayadarjani.com and linktr.ee/MayaDarjani and on social media: Twitter (@DarjaniMaya), TikTok/Threads/Instagram/BlueSky (@mayadarjani)
High-resolution Covers (right-click to download):
alt text: Cover of space opera book with the title of Ancient as the Stars. The words ‘Ancient as the’ are in white and the word ‘Stars’ is written in gold. The book cover features a spaceship, which is in a colorful nebula with a hexagon overlay behind it. There is a female astronaut figure on the lower left side. The tag line is in small text on the right and reads Facing the past. Literally. The author’s name, Maya Darjani, is written in white at the bottom center.
Author Photo (right click to download)
Book Trailers
Future Plans
Maya Darjani, Author 
