novelshire 's review for:

The Two Lies of Faven Sythe by Megan E. O'Keefe

3.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

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Faven Sythe is crystborn – high ranking people who are valued for their ability to plot difficult starpaths that space ships use for navigation. When Faven receives a suspicious request for a navigation job, she uses the opportunity to meet with someone disreputable enough to help her discover what really happened to her missing mentor. Faven is then "rescued" from the encounter by the infamous space pirate Bitter Amandine.  Their journeys become entangled and lead them to the dangerous region of space known as the Clutch where they uncover more than they bargained for.

It's been quite a while since I've read a space opera, and maybe that meant I wasn't really up to speed for the start. I found the initial set up a bit confusing, although I did then get more invested. There was a lot going on with lots different terms, social structures and politics. Combined with a fairly quick pace, I could have done with a few more moments to slow down and absorb what was happening. 
I liked the whole conspiracy and mystery but it all came together very quickly and there was just too much info in too short a time and I wasn't really sure who was really in the right. 
The characters were interesting, but again, I needed a few more slow moments to really connect with them and find their relationships believable.

I'd recommend if you're looking for an entertaining, fast-paced, standalone space opera.

Thanks to Orbit UK for providing a netgalley copy for review.