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A review by mgdoherty
Galactic Hellcats by Marie Vibbert
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
How am I supposed to just move on with my life now that I know this writer exists?
Placeholder notes:
- love how characters inner lives are explored here. Voice is expressed very differently than prev book (obvi bc different narrative conceit). The very close third person here allows enough distance that we can laugh at the characters interactions and misunderstandings but also we’re close enough to empathize when things go wrong for them.
- the plot stretches believability to the point of almost snapping, but I WANT to buy into the Galactic Hellcats’ shenanigans because the found family they become is so beautiful. If this were a book in which we seriously explored how Thane’s family is probably powerful enough to pursue and kill all our main characters with relative impunity, that would be a very different, much darker book. . Instead this book chooses to focus on the power of family and friends who love and accept you just as you are, whether that’s a sad kleptomaniac, an anxious mess who does best in combat situation, a queer prince who’s been abused all his life, or an aimless socialite in a parasocial relationship with royalty.
- I do wish this were either longer or that we have a sequel on the way. Pacing-wise, it took like 85% of the novel for the characters to start seeing each other as they truly are and begin to gel as a family/gang. Which isn’t to say we didn’t get good character beats before that — the perpetual Margot/Ki fights are really interesting because they’re coming at life from polar opposite perspectives and i would love to see that explored more. Also Margot and Thane’s tension about her trying to go home and Thane being like “some of us would have to go back to an abuse home.” Also her decision to forgo stability to protect him from having to go back to his abusive home was fascinating bc she’s angry she has to forgo stability but she does it anyway because she values his safety above her desires. And also Ki’s almost-unspoken understanding of who Thane is and why he is the way he is, and the way all she wants to do is heal the physical and emotional wounds his family have left. And the relationship Zuleikah has with Thane where she’s having to actively unlearn all the Royal propaganda that the publicists have fed the Ratanese population. Yeah. Yeah, I desperately need a sequel. An whole series.
Placeholder notes:
- love how characters inner lives are explored here. Voice is expressed very differently than prev book (obvi bc different narrative conceit). The very close third person here allows enough distance that we can laugh at the characters interactions and misunderstandings but also we’re close enough to empathize when things go wrong for them.
- the plot stretches believability to the point of almost snapping, but I WANT to buy into the Galactic Hellcats’ shenanigans because the found family they become is so beautiful. If this were a book in which we seriously explored how
- I do wish this were either longer or that we have a sequel on the way. Pacing-wise, it took like 85% of the novel for the characters to start seeing each other as they truly are and begin to gel as a family/gang. Which isn’t to say we didn’t get good character beats before that — the perpetual Margot/Ki fights are really interesting because they’re coming at life from polar opposite perspectives and i would love to see that explored more. Also Margot and Thane’s tension about her trying to go home and Thane being like “some of us would have to go back to an abuse home.” Also her decision to forgo stability to protect him from having to go back to his abusive home was fascinating bc she’s angry she has to forgo stability but she does it anyway because she values his safety above her desires. And also Ki’s almost-unspoken understanding of who Thane is and why he is the way he is, and the way all she wants to do is heal the physical and emotional wounds his family have left. And the relationship Zuleikah has with Thane where she’s having to actively unlearn all the Royal propaganda that the publicists have fed the Ratanese population. Yeah. Yeah, I desperately need a sequel. An whole series.