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nyx_transfem_of_the_night's review
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mirificmoxie's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shipwrecksteph's review against another edition
4.0
I received an uncorrected proof at NYCC 2019. Many thanks to Harper Collins for the copy.
This book was a little difficult to get into at first (more on that below). But once it gets going it's a really enjoyable journey. I liked all the POV characters, which is rare. Their stories were very compelling. This made for a nice balance as the story propelled towards the finish. Normally there's the inclination to skim the material to see what happens. But here, the author makes us care enough about the character personal journeys enough that we want to read every word.
The setting feels like it's on a timeline halfway towards the Wayfarers series. We're in space, but not as deep. Technology has advanced, but not as far. Humanity has improved, but not as much. The story and writing are completely different, but the SciFi is along that same trajectory. This scratches an itch for Star trek fans who love this sort of aspirational SciFi but would prefer the characters to have actual human emotions.
As mentioned above, the book takes a bit to get into. It's content is compelling enough. But the characters are impossible to follow because of how their names work. Every person has a rank, and that rank's abbreviation, a given name, a family name and a nickname. The nicknames in no way resemble their actual names and everyone is called different things by different people. I spent the first few chapters just reading the dialog without any notion of who was saying what and hoped for the best. I don't like to be molly-coddled by a story, but this was a little overwhelming. Fortunately once they make introductions within the narrative, things flow smoothly.
Overall this was a really great read. It's great science fiction. There's wonderful representation. The main story wraps up well, but I am looking forward to the next installment in this universe.
This book was a little difficult to get into at first (more on that below). But once it gets going it's a really enjoyable journey. I liked all the POV characters, which is rare. Their stories were very compelling. This made for a nice balance as the story propelled towards the finish. Normally there's the inclination to skim the material to see what happens. But here, the author makes us care enough about the character personal journeys enough that we want to read every word.
The setting feels like it's on a timeline halfway towards the Wayfarers series. We're in space, but not as deep. Technology has advanced, but not as far. Humanity has improved, but not as much. The story and writing are completely different, but the SciFi is along that same trajectory. This scratches an itch for Star trek fans who love this sort of aspirational SciFi but would prefer the characters to have actual human emotions.
As mentioned above, the book takes a bit to get into. It's content is compelling enough. But the characters are impossible to follow because of how their names work. Every person has a rank, and that rank's abbreviation, a given name, a family name and a nickname. The nicknames in no way resemble their actual names and everyone is called different things by different people. I spent the first few chapters just reading the dialog without any notion of who was saying what and hoped for the best. I don't like to be molly-coddled by a story, but this was a little overwhelming. Fortunately once they make introductions within the narrative, things flow smoothly.
Overall this was a really great read. It's great science fiction. There's wonderful representation. The main story wraps up well, but I am looking forward to the next installment in this universe.
metafiktion's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
questionablechilli's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
astudyinsolitude's review against another edition
(too busy with work / starting from beginning)
barnesm31's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed the novel and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I have seen it described by RENAE as "Pro-Military Propaganda (But Queer?)" and she is not wrong. Over at KIRUS they describe it as "A military sea novel set largely in space: Patrick O’Brian meets Elizabeth Moon"
For myself I really liked these characters, I'm interested in the mystery that is lurking behind the narrative which is driven by the upcoming Boarding Games, an annual competition that pits various military infiltration teams against one another for bragging rights
The protagonist is one of these Interceptors (the specialists in the space coast guard who excel in boarding actions) Maxine (Max) Carmichael is trying to carve a place in the world on her own–away from the pressure and influence of her powerful family. The last thing she wants is to cause trouble at her command on Jupiter Station. With her new team in turmoil, Max must overcome her self-doubt and win their trust if she’s going to succeed. Failing is not an option–and would only prove her parents right.
But Max and the team must learn to work together quickly. A routine mission to retrieve a missing ship has suddenly turned dangerous, and now their lives are on the line. Someone is targeting members of Zuma’s Ghost, a mysterious opponent willing to kill to safeguard a secret that could shake society to its core . . . a secret that could lead to their deaths and kill thousands more unless Max and her new team stop them.
A tip to any writers out there, if you can convince a library to stock a copy of the first book in your series like my local library did with this one, then I can promise you it will generate sales as the first thing I did after seeing the next book in the series 'Hold Fast Through the Fire' wasn't available from my library I went and bought a copy.
For myself I really liked these characters, I'm interested in the mystery that is lurking behind the narrative which is driven by the upcoming Boarding Games, an annual competition that pits various military infiltration teams against one another for bragging rights
The protagonist is one of these Interceptors (the specialists in the space coast guard who excel in boarding actions) Maxine (Max) Carmichael is trying to carve a place in the world on her own–away from the pressure and influence of her powerful family. The last thing she wants is to cause trouble at her command on Jupiter Station. With her new team in turmoil, Max must overcome her self-doubt and win their trust if she’s going to succeed. Failing is not an option–and would only prove her parents right.
But Max and the team must learn to work together quickly. A routine mission to retrieve a missing ship has suddenly turned dangerous, and now their lives are on the line. Someone is targeting members of Zuma’s Ghost, a mysterious opponent willing to kill to safeguard a secret that could shake society to its core . . . a secret that could lead to their deaths and kill thousands more unless Max and her new team stop them.
A tip to any writers out there, if you can convince a library to stock a copy of the first book in your series like my local library did with this one, then I can promise you it will generate sales as the first thing I did after seeing the next book in the series 'Hold Fast Through the Fire' wasn't available from my library I went and bought a copy.
sartzer's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dariam's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jennms_qkw's review
5.0
I love the authors other two series in that great universe. This one is also wonderful. I had a free book, and I love the characters so much.