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A review by areaderamongthestars
Seven Devils by L.R. Lam, Elizabeth May
5.0
Seven Devils is feminist science-fiction at its best. With a perfectly crafted queer cast and a gripping plot, this book delivered the Star Wars: Rebels vibes that had been missing from my life since I finished watching the show.
On the surface, the core of Seven Devils seems to be the classic conflict between a cruel empire and a group of ragtag rebels relying on luck and very few material resources, with the addition of certain captivating elements to the world-building (from an omniscient godlike AI, to brain-engrafted chips acting as mind-communication device). But, as the story goes on, it became clear that in truth this one is a story about a group of women retaking possession of their own selves and engraving a path of their own choice on a road cemented by others.
Seven Devils also succeeds in portraying “heroes” that feel realistic, by highlighting how even if the good guys (or gals, in this case) have the best intentions, the right motives, sometimes they can still end up making enormous and unforgivable mistakes. After all, not every plan will end up with the hoped result, especially when fighting merciless villains.
An already stunning book couldn’t, obviously, miss a chaotic found family. The way they had to learn how to work together, to ignore mistrusts and past history to save their lives and those of the rest of the galaxy, but then found themselves deeply bound to each other, was so lovely and made me shed a tear or two.
And while the relationships that formed between some of them, both romantic and not, are so heartwarming, individually they are such incredible characters. Each of them is so perfectly crafted, and having multiple POVs made it really easy to immerse inside their minds, to understand how their personal experiences and traumas impact the way they move into the world and the decision they take.
To choose only a fave among them is not an easy task, but I admit I have a soft spot for disgraced princesses with horrible fatherly figures and a soft heart, even if there is blood on their hands.
I totally recommend Seven Devils to everyone who is looking for a well-written sci-fi novel with brilliant plot twists, and doesn’t mind ending up mildly traumatized and quite heartbroken- I promise it’s so worth it!
On the surface, the core of Seven Devils seems to be the classic conflict between a cruel empire and a group of ragtag rebels relying on luck and very few material resources, with the addition of certain captivating elements to the world-building (from an omniscient godlike AI, to brain-engrafted chips acting as mind-communication device). But, as the story goes on, it became clear that in truth this one is a story about a group of women retaking possession of their own selves and engraving a path of their own choice on a road cemented by others.
Seven Devils also succeeds in portraying “heroes” that feel realistic, by highlighting how even if the good guys (or gals, in this case) have the best intentions, the right motives, sometimes they can still end up making enormous and unforgivable mistakes. After all, not every plan will end up with the hoped result, especially when fighting merciless villains.
An already stunning book couldn’t, obviously, miss a chaotic found family. The way they had to learn how to work together, to ignore mistrusts and past history to save their lives and those of the rest of the galaxy, but then found themselves deeply bound to each other, was so lovely and made me shed a tear or two.
And while the relationships that formed between some of them, both romantic and not, are so heartwarming, individually they are such incredible characters. Each of them is so perfectly crafted, and having multiple POVs made it really easy to immerse inside their minds, to understand how their personal experiences and traumas impact the way they move into the world and the decision they take.
To choose only a fave among them is not an easy task, but I admit I have a soft spot for disgraced princesses with horrible fatherly figures and a soft heart, even if there is blood on their hands.
I totally recommend Seven Devils to everyone who is looking for a well-written sci-fi novel with brilliant plot twists, and doesn’t mind ending up mildly traumatized and quite heartbroken- I promise it’s so worth it!