Writer Leon Langford shines in debut YA sci-fi novel ‘StarLion: Thieves of the Red Night’

*Writer’s Note: The contributor of this piece knows the book’s author but is committed to giving a fair and honest book review. Because in this economy, ain’t nobody got time (or money) for anything less. Buffy. The Charmed Ones. The little wizard boy written by that transphobic British lady. Who doesn’t love a good “Chosen One” story? You know the ones where an average Joe or Jane discovers that they’re actually a superpowered do-gooder destined to save the world? The trope of the reluctant hero struggling to juggle their new responsibilities with the mundane life they took for granted is well worn territory. But what happens when our underdog hero isn’t reluctant or chosen, but embraces their role with confidence, hard work, and unabashed Blackness? That’s what screenwriter and author Leon Langford (Hot Seat, Kontaxt) delves into with his debut YA novel StarLion: Thieves of The Red Night.

Jordan Harris, aka “StarLion”

A City in Crisis Released in 2021, StarLion: Thieves of the Red Night follows the exploits of 14-year-old Jordan Harris, a Black American 8th grader living in an alternate version of Houston, TX. In this world superheroes exist thanks to some humans being imbued with a bit more “stardust” than the average person (we’re all made up of the stuff actually). Jordan has the gift of gravity manipulation. He can take invisible graviton particles (a real concept) and can manipulate them for a wide range of feats, from running alongside tall buildings, creating concu…