Hi Author Joseph J. Madden  , this is a review of "A Starhawk Tale"  .
Overall: Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres, though it does have to be well written to keep me engaged. This entry in your Starhawk series definitely achieved that requirement! Your writing has an easy-going style that shows you are comfortable with this storyline and enjoy spending time with these characters. If the author clearly has had fun writing the story, it comes through for me and adds that extra bit of magic to pull me into what is happening. This is how I felt when I read your entry. 
Suggestions/Comments:
 Your characters feel real. Even in a short time, they come alive with the descriptions and actions.
The humor is injected with a subtle flair, which is appropriate. In my opinion, most individuals reading sci-fi want to laugh at witty comments, sarcasm and sly humor. We don't need laughs delivered with a sledge hammer.
Your beginning is engaging, sets the scene and leads us into a glimpse of a bigger world. The ending was fitting and memorable, leaving me curious about what happens next and wondering about the rest of this place and its people.
The flow (and spacing for here on WdC) was well done. The timeline of events happened rapid-fire and I didn't lose my place due to long paragraphs, etc.
The beginning description of the area is fantastic. I love that you focus on dialogue thereafter, for the most part, because I really feel that is what a lot of sci-fi readers are seeking. (In general, save the big descriptions for the environment and battle/fight scenes. If characters are there, we want to hear them interact together, not be told about it second hand.)
 I did feel some confusion with so many characters thrown into the mix in such a short time. I was pretty secure about who was involved until the third set of guards and prisoner entered the room. I could foresee what was happening, but the newcomers got jumbled with the guards and even reading it a second time, it was hard to keep track. (Maybe I just need another cup of coffee! ) Also, I had the impression that Noth was in an office by himself until near the end when he had others behind him.
Noth is a good character. I love the 'honorable bad guys' that have their own lines they won't cross. Reminds me of how I think some of the mob bosses and conquerors probably were in real life. They had their own set of ethics... and well, I guess they at least had some, right? In this case, I would have liked a tiny insight as to why Noth has gotten softer (having second thoughts about his profession because he's a dad now, getting ready to retire, any number of things that could affect him). For me, since I didn't have a reason, it weakened him somewhat. With high turnover on crews, you would need to be pretty ruthless on a regular basis to keep the new guys in line (I think).
Technical Issue(s): Not many at all! Good editing.
 Before the first prisoner comes in - 'guards didhave her in custody' - needs a space.
Throughout, 'Forster' is spelled differently. I didn't think it was on purpose, but if it was, then please ignore this.
Favorite Part(s): I loved the overall plot of this entry. Old ruse, but well executed and appropriate for the circumstances. Though I had a hard time keeping up with all of them towards the end, I loved the mixture of different characters. In such a short time, you give a wide impression of this new world that is intriguing and invites readers to explore it further.
Thank you for sharing this with us! I look forward to reading more of your writing.
  Maddie
"WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group"
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Watch for places where you can eliminate the word ‘the’. It feels less formal if it can be left out and gives a more natural flow. (Example: “The whimpers of sorrow…” could just be “Whimpers of sorrow…”)
Maddie
Maddie
Sort of a world within a world, namely ours. What intrigued me the most about this piece is that it felt like the author sat down and wrote it from start to finish on a whim. The format made me look for rhyming. (Was it going to be a poem?) When there was none to find, I was actually pleasantly surprised. For this particular story, it worked well to have the short, to the point statements.
Maddie
Maddie
Maddie
Maddie
Oh, how spot on that phrase is for D&D sessions. Another favorite was when Oliver decides to sacrifice himself for the good of the party and then bestows all of the bonuses on none other than the girl whom he is trying to woo. It was a perfect set up for the rest of the story.
Maddie
Maddie