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A review by iam
A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers
4.5
This was SO much fun.
Even though the big cast of characters was kind of overwhelming in the beginning, I was invested into them all from the very start.
A Pale Light in the Black is about the crew of Zuma's Ghost of the NeoG - Near Earth Orbial Guard, think coast guard but in space! It coveres several POVs, including Rosa, the commander doubting her own competence; Maxine, the new Lieutenant fresh from basic who struggles with shaking off the abuse she's suffered from her rich but shitty family for her life choices and slightly awkward disposition; Jenks, who has a short temper despite and closely guards her heart, which is definitely in the right spot; and Nika, Jenk's brother, the Lieutenant Max is replacing because he got a promotion and new position.
While they go on missions and are involved in a case that is much more dangerous than they seem, the focus is much more on the relationships within and people outside of the crew. And I absolutely loved those relationships! So many people, so many different kinds of love and friendship and loyalty. The casual queerness and lack of sexism of it all was a perfect background setting for it for me.
Another big plot was the Boarding Games - a sports-ish competition between various military branches, including the NeoG, and which the crew is determined to win. It added such a fun sort of lower stakes aspect to it all, that was very emotionally charged and important to the characters on a personal level.
Even though this wasn't a perfect book by any means, I just had so much fun with it. I wish it would have been twice the length, and I'm immediately reacing for book 2!!
Even though the big cast of characters was kind of overwhelming in the beginning, I was invested into them all from the very start.
A Pale Light in the Black is about the crew of Zuma's Ghost of the NeoG - Near Earth Orbial Guard, think coast guard but in space! It coveres several POVs, including Rosa, the commander doubting her own competence; Maxine, the new Lieutenant fresh from basic who struggles with shaking off the abuse she's suffered from her rich but shitty family for her life choices and slightly awkward disposition; Jenks, who has a short temper despite and closely guards her heart, which is definitely in the right spot; and Nika, Jenk's brother, the Lieutenant Max is replacing because he got a promotion and new position.
While they go on missions and are involved in a case that is much more dangerous than they seem, the focus is much more on the relationships within and people outside of the crew. And I absolutely loved those relationships! So many people, so many different kinds of love and friendship and loyalty. The casual queerness and lack of sexism of it all was a perfect background setting for it for me.
Another big plot was the Boarding Games - a sports-ish competition between various military branches, including the NeoG, and which the crew is determined to win. It added such a fun sort of lower stakes aspect to it all, that was very emotionally charged and important to the characters on a personal level.
Even though this wasn't a perfect book by any means, I just had so much fun with it. I wish it would have been twice the length, and I'm immediately reacing for book 2!!