A review by nmcannon
Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

After enjoying her Dominion of the Fallen series, Fireheart Tiger, and In the Vanishers’ Palace, I was eager to dive into de Bodard’s science fiction novellas. Luckily, my wife has a bunch on her Kindle!

Vân is a poor scholar barely making end’s meet. Her work ethic and good reputation hide her from questions about her illegal homemade mem-implant. Her careful life is interrupted by a very rude someone dumping a corpse in her tutoring room. Seeking help, she finds her way to mindship Sunless Woods, a thief who may just come out of retirement for a beautiful girl.

While hard sci-fi is very different from fantastical historical fiction, Seven of Infinities had some classic de Bodard elements. The Việt characters, culture and setting are essential weaves and wefts. Sapphic themes and kisses delight. Non-Euclidian geometry flips the reader topsy-turvy, though thankfully not as violently as In the Vanishers’ Palace. Sunless Woods’ character is based on the great French thief, Arsène Lupin, and the literary reference added extra spice to my read. Sunless Woods is a more realistic take on Lupin. She feels her age and expresses actual doubt, hahah. If you’ve read the Lupin stories around WWI, you might find Sunless Woods more familiar. Some minor world-building niggles distracted me during my read: the exact mechanics of the ship’s avatars, how solid a mindship’s touch was, and how the mindships had human sense memories. Contrary to annoying me, these niggles left me wanting more. 

I want to read more of this universe! The Tea Master and Detective is on the Kindle….

My review of The Tea Master and the Detective: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9020cccd-a9e0-4fdc-9e9b-053ad0397837