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mayarend's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I received this book on the Story Graph giveaways.
It took me a while to get to it, as everyone knows, TBRs are meant to be endless... Anyways.
This was a nice introduction book, it is short and reads almost as a short story, presenting the main characters and worldbuilding. I actually quite enjoyed the world, the setting and the characters. Overall there is no big character growth because it's just an intro book really, with a soft story. It's easy-going and while there is a quite strong theme/mentions of drugs and alcohol, it is not a book focused on that.
It took me a while to get to it, as everyone knows, TBRs are meant to be endless... Anyways.
This was a nice introduction book, it is short and reads almost as a short story, presenting the main characters and worldbuilding. I actually quite enjoyed the world, the setting and the characters. Overall there is no big character growth because it's just an intro book really, with a soft story. It's easy-going and while there is a quite strong theme/mentions of drugs and alcohol, it is not a book focused on that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
kevinscorner's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun cozy scifi novella this was. The Stellar Snow Job is the first book in the Colibri Investigations series and follows a queer duo made up of private investigator and ex-military Richard and his sarcastic pilot Eddie as they take up cases across all over space as well as travel writer Alannah who gets in over her head when she joins an expedition into a restricted planet.
I loved Richard. He is a straight-laced gay man with a hearing impediment (a form of sensory/receptive aphasia), and I wanted to see more of him. Counter-balancing him is Eddie, a very quippy lesbian with a strong personality. I enjoyed their dynamic and how their relationship was set up by the author. Meanwhile, the main plot flew by so fast that it felt like more of a tease than a full story. If that was the intent, then it was successful because it left me wanting more and I would definitely read a full novel.
The Stellar Snow Job is a cozy queer space opera with fun lovable characters and some pretty chaotic energy.
*I was provided and eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
What a fun cozy scifi novella this was. The Stellar Snow Job is the first book in the Colibri Investigations series and follows a queer duo made up of private investigator and ex-military Richard and his sarcastic pilot Eddie as they take up cases across all over space as well as travel writer Alannah who gets in over her head when she joins an expedition into a restricted planet.
I loved Richard. He is a straight-laced gay man with a hearing impediment (a form of sensory/receptive aphasia), and I wanted to see more of him. Counter-balancing him is Eddie, a very quippy lesbian with a strong personality. I enjoyed their dynamic and how their relationship was set up by the author. Meanwhile, the main plot flew by so fast that it felt like more of a tease than a full story. If that was the intent, then it was successful because it left me wanting more and I would definitely read a full novel.
The Stellar Snow Job is a cozy queer space opera with fun lovable characters and some pretty chaotic energy.
*I was provided and eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Richard. He is a straight-laced gay man with a hearing impediment (a form of sensory/receptive aphasia), and I wanted to see more of him. Counter-balancing him is Eddie, a very quippy lesbian with a strong personality. I enjoyed their dynamic and how their relationship was set up by the author. Meanwhile, the main plot flew by so fast that it felt like more of a tease than a full story. If that was the intent, then it was successful because it left me wanting more and I would definitely read a full novel.
The Stellar Snow Job is a cozy queer space opera with fun lovable characters and some pretty chaotic energy.
*I was provided and eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
What a fun cozy scifi novella this was. The Stellar Snow Job is the first book in the Colibri Investigations series and follows a queer duo made up of private investigator and ex-military Richard and his sarcastic pilot Eddie as they take up cases across all over space as well as travel writer Alannah who gets in over her head when she joins an expedition into a restricted planet.
I loved Richard. He is a straight-laced gay man with a hearing impediment (a form of sensory/receptive aphasia), and I wanted to see more of him. Counter-balancing him is Eddie, a very quippy lesbian with a strong personality. I enjoyed their dynamic and how their relationship was set up by the author. Meanwhile, the main plot flew by so fast that it felt like more of a tease than a full story. If that was the intent, then it was successful because it left me wanting more and I would definitely read a full novel.
The Stellar Snow Job is a cozy queer space opera with fun lovable characters and some pretty chaotic energy.
*I was provided and eARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
clacksee's review against another edition
5.0
Alannah's a travel writer with a taste for adventure. Richard's an ex-military private investigator. Eddie a pilot trying to put bad habits behind herself. When all three are sent to the same planet for different reasons nothing is quite as it seems.
An offbeat cosy mystery in a space opera setting with queer and disability rep. Easy-reading and casually inclusive.
This one is well-written and well-edited. The characters are fully fleshed and the story is believable. An excellent series starter.
I'd recommend this to fans of Angel Martinez's Yule Planet and/or Lindsay Buroker's Junkyard.
Merged review:
Alannah's a travel writer with a taste for adventure. Richard's an ex-military private investigator. Eddie a pilot trying to put bad habits behind herself. When all three are sent to the same planet for different reasons nothing is quite as it seems.
An offbeat cosy mystery in a space opera setting with queer and disability rep. Easy-reading and casually inclusive.
This one is well-written and well-edited. The characters are fully fleshed and the story is believable. An excellent series starter.
I'd recommend this to fans of Angel Martinez's Yule Planet and/or Lindsay Buroker's Junkyard.
An offbeat cosy mystery in a space opera setting with queer and disability rep. Easy-reading and casually inclusive.
This one is well-written and well-edited. The characters are fully fleshed and the story is believable. An excellent series starter.
I'd recommend this to fans of Angel Martinez's Yule Planet and/or Lindsay Buroker's Junkyard.
Merged review:
Alannah's a travel writer with a taste for adventure. Richard's an ex-military private investigator. Eddie a pilot trying to put bad habits behind herself. When all three are sent to the same planet for different reasons nothing is quite as it seems.
An offbeat cosy mystery in a space opera setting with queer and disability rep. Easy-reading and casually inclusive.
This one is well-written and well-edited. The characters are fully fleshed and the story is believable. An excellent series starter.
I'd recommend this to fans of Angel Martinez's Yule Planet and/or Lindsay Buroker's Junkyard.
abby_reads_stuff's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blogan27's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
books_andprobablysome_wine's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a sweet and easy read, perfect for when you need something uplifting. I was lucky to receive an eARC from the author, thank you Marie! Tak for tilliden og for en god læseoplevelse
I really enjoyed this book for multiple reasons, one of them being that it reminded me about the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, one of my favorite books ever. I had a short-lived dream of being a travel writer when I was young and like Alannah I had my fair share of being underestimated so she was so relatable for me. I did have a hard time connecting with Eddie in the beginning, she has sort of a “not like other girls” vibe to her but I started to like her more when seeing how she stepped up when she had to. Richard was probably the character I found hardest to relate to, and I would like him to show some more flaws as the series goes on. I do hope it does, and I will read it!
This is not a long story, but we do get a lot of insight in to how the world is organized, thanks to the clever use of travel guide excerpts. I would not min if the story was a little bit longer to get more dept into the stakes. Also, it´s queer, which is always a plus.
For a debut it´s very good and I´m looking forward to seeing what else this author will share with us!
Merged review:
This is such a sweet and easy read, perfect for when you need something uplifting. I was lucky to receive an eARC from the author, thank you Marie! Tak for tilliden og for en god læseoplevelse
I really enjoyed this book for multiple reasons, one of them being that it reminded me about the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, one of my favorite books ever. I had a short-lived dream of being a travel writer when I was young and like Alannah I had my fair share of being underestimated so she was so relatable for me. I did have a hard time connecting with Eddie in the beginning, she has sort of a “not like other girls” vibe to her but I started to like her more when seeing how she stepped up when she had to. Richard was probably the character I found hardest to relate to, and I would like him to show some more flaws as the series goes on. I do hope it does, and I will read it!
This is not a long story, but we do get a lot of insight in to how the world is organized, thanks to the clever use of travel guide excerpts. I would not min if the story was a little bit longer to get more dept into the stakes. Also, it´s queer, which is always a plus.
For a debut it´s very good and I´m looking forward to seeing what else this author will share with us!
I really enjoyed this book for multiple reasons, one of them being that it reminded me about the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, one of my favorite books ever. I had a short-lived dream of being a travel writer when I was young and like Alannah I had my fair share of being underestimated so she was so relatable for me. I did have a hard time connecting with Eddie in the beginning, she has sort of a “not like other girls” vibe to her but I started to like her more when seeing how she stepped up when she had to. Richard was probably the character I found hardest to relate to, and I would like him to show some more flaws as the series goes on. I do hope it does, and I will read it!
This is not a long story, but we do get a lot of insight in to how the world is organized, thanks to the clever use of travel guide excerpts. I would not min if the story was a little bit longer to get more dept into the stakes. Also, it´s queer, which is always a plus.
For a debut it´s very good and I´m looking forward to seeing what else this author will share with us!
Merged review:
This is such a sweet and easy read, perfect for when you need something uplifting. I was lucky to receive an eARC from the author, thank you Marie! Tak for tilliden og for en god læseoplevelse
I really enjoyed this book for multiple reasons, one of them being that it reminded me about the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, one of my favorite books ever. I had a short-lived dream of being a travel writer when I was young and like Alannah I had my fair share of being underestimated so she was so relatable for me. I did have a hard time connecting with Eddie in the beginning, she has sort of a “not like other girls” vibe to her but I started to like her more when seeing how she stepped up when she had to. Richard was probably the character I found hardest to relate to, and I would like him to show some more flaws as the series goes on. I do hope it does, and I will read it!
This is not a long story, but we do get a lot of insight in to how the world is organized, thanks to the clever use of travel guide excerpts. I would not min if the story was a little bit longer to get more dept into the stakes. Also, it´s queer, which is always a plus.
For a debut it´s very good and I´m looking forward to seeing what else this author will share with us!
tori_renee_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a quick, fun space mystery! It has a bit of a noir ambiance to it with the character archetypes of the tough guy detective, the daring pilot, and the naive journalist. However, I was super invested in the plot and did really grow to like the characters. I look forward to their further development.
I appreciated how the author was able to create such a rich world in such a short novel, and the representation really reminded my of reading Becky Chambers. You can tell how much work and thought went into the development. I will definitely be checking out the next installment of the Colibri Investigations series!
Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciated how the author was able to create such a rich world in such a short novel, and the representation really reminded my of reading Becky Chambers. You can tell how much work and thought went into the development. I will definitely be checking out the next installment of the Colibri Investigations series!
Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
thereadinghammock's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It's hard to tell if the formatting of the ebook I got contributed to how hard it was for me to get through this book, or if it was just that I was so lost in establishing the world building. I know stepping into this heavy a sci-fi story is a bit outside my wheelhouse, but when I was offered a chance to read books 1 & 2 of the Colibri Investigations series, I took on the challenge figuring novella length is a great place to make that step. Eventually the story got there for me, but it was a struggle for most of the read.
I appreciated the efforts Marie made toward inclusion and diversity. From Richard's auditory processing issues, Eddie's history of addiction, and the various nonbinary and queer characters peppered throughout the rest of the worldbuilding.
I appreciated the efforts Marie made toward inclusion and diversity. From Richard's auditory processing issues, Eddie's history of addiction, and the various nonbinary and queer characters peppered throughout the rest of the worldbuilding.
anniereads221's review against another edition
4.0
I got an EArc from the author in exchange for an honest review
I really loved this cozy novella, it is light, it focuses on character more than plot and the mundane life combined with investigating.
I really enjoyed Alannah as a character, her pieces of writing at the start of each chapter was lovely and insightful into this world. I really loved her and her way of thinking of things.
Richard is also a lovely character we get to see, he is was wonderful and i really connected to him. He has auditory processing disorder and lip reads and messages to help him. I love his interactions with Eddie.
Eddie was just chaotic and i was here for it, i loved it so much, she was so lovely, I just adored her interactions with everyone!! I wanted more!!
This was something i really enjoyed and was just a nice cozy read
Also Colonel having they/them pronouns, i was so happy to see!!!
But yeah i was very surprised by how much i actually liked this, i am glad i did end up taking my time and not reading it all in one go and actually savoured it. This is a slow paced read.
I want another one of these!!!
4.5 stars
Merged review:
I got an EArc from the author in exchange for an honest review
I really loved this cozy novella, it is light, it focuses on character more than plot and the mundane life combined with investigating.
I really enjoyed Alannah as a character, her pieces of writing at the start of each chapter was lovely and insightful into this world. I really loved her and her way of thinking of things.
Richard is also a lovely character we get to see, he is was wonderful and i really connected to him. He has auditory processing disorder and lip reads and messages to help him. I love his interactions with Eddie.
Eddie was just chaotic and i was here for it, i loved it so much, she was so lovely, I just adored her interactions with everyone!! I wanted more!!
This was something i really enjoyed and was just a nice cozy read
Also Colonel having they/them pronouns, i was so happy to see!!!
But yeah i was very surprised by how much i actually liked this, i am glad i did end up taking my time and not reading it all in one go and actually savoured it. This is a slow paced read.
I want another one of these!!!
4.5 stars
I really loved this cozy novella, it is light, it focuses on character more than plot and the mundane life combined with investigating.
I really enjoyed Alannah as a character, her pieces of writing at the start of each chapter was lovely and insightful into this world. I really loved her and her way of thinking of things.
Richard is also a lovely character we get to see, he is was wonderful and i really connected to him. He has auditory processing disorder and lip reads and messages to help him. I love his interactions with Eddie.
Eddie was just chaotic and i was here for it, i loved it so much, she was so lovely, I just adored her interactions with everyone!! I wanted more!!
This was something i really enjoyed and was just a nice cozy read
Also Colonel having they/them pronouns, i was so happy to see!!!
But yeah i was very surprised by how much i actually liked this, i am glad i did end up taking my time and not reading it all in one go and actually savoured it. This is a slow paced read.
I want another one of these!!!
4.5 stars
Merged review:
I got an EArc from the author in exchange for an honest review
I really loved this cozy novella, it is light, it focuses on character more than plot and the mundane life combined with investigating.
I really enjoyed Alannah as a character, her pieces of writing at the start of each chapter was lovely and insightful into this world. I really loved her and her way of thinking of things.
Richard is also a lovely character we get to see, he is was wonderful and i really connected to him. He has auditory processing disorder and lip reads and messages to help him. I love his interactions with Eddie.
Eddie was just chaotic and i was here for it, i loved it so much, she was so lovely, I just adored her interactions with everyone!! I wanted more!!
This was something i really enjoyed and was just a nice cozy read
Also Colonel having they/them pronouns, i was so happy to see!!!
But yeah i was very surprised by how much i actually liked this, i am glad i did end up taking my time and not reading it all in one go and actually savoured it. This is a slow paced read.
I want another one of these!!!
4.5 stars
sektaufeis's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I won the book as a Storygraph giveaway and write the review voluntarily and as a SciFi-Nerd (:
I liked:
- diverse cast
- great worldbuilding
- fun and light story witout being shallow
- I liked the little snippets of info from alayna's travel guides - fun idea!
Could have been slightly better for me:
- I like that the book starts a bit slower to properly introduce the the protagonists but than the story took of a bit fast for my taste.
- I would have liked to know a little bit more about the alien species - I was a little bit confused because due to the relative lack of information I could not really distinguish them.
But at the same time it wasn't really necessary for the story and I am hyped for more information in the next books (:
I liked:
- diverse cast
- great worldbuilding
- fun and light story witout being shallow
- I liked the little snippets of info from alayna's travel guides - fun idea!
Could have been slightly better for me:
- I like that the book starts a bit slower to properly introduce the the protagonists but than the story took of a bit fast for my taste.
- I would have liked to know a little bit more about the alien species - I was a little bit confused because due to the relative lack of information I could not really distinguish them.
But at the same time it wasn't really necessary for the story and I am hyped for more information in the next books (:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Chronic illness, and Confinement
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty, Violence, Death, and Eating disorder