Published: November 2021
Pages: 403
Summary
Time is running out for the people of New Pallas. Nobody knows that better than Alvera Renata, a tenacious captain determined to scout past the stars with nothing but a handpicked crew and the promise she made: to find a new home for humanity.
But between navigating the dangers of dark space and playing first contact politics with a galactic civilisation already on the brink of war, Alvera soon realises keeping her word might not be as easy as she thought.
Her only hope may be the secrets of the ancient alien waystations scattered across the galaxy. The mysterious technology could be the key to humanity’s survival—or bring the unwanted attention of the long-forgotten beings who built them.
My thoughts
A dying planet. A desperate mission. A crew facing impossible odds. Humanity’s last hope lies with them…
I first discovered this author through her Scottish-inspired fantasy Sea of Souls (which I loved) so I really wanted to read the sci-fi trilogy which I saw her promoting. I am so glad I picked up this book!
This is one of those books where the summary barely scratches the surface of what is to come, and I love that. I went in with little expectations of following the journey of a captain wanting to save humanity, but I got so much more. This is a fast paced story filled with a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and experiences. There are alliances, and politics and so much more that I do not want to spoil for any potential readers.
In front of them, there was only darkness. In front of them, there was only hope.
With our cast of characters they are all incredibly flawed. They all have a history rich with experiences that has caused pain or influenced the way they think or feel. One of the biggest themes of this book is the assumptions that they hold of one another. The prejudices they put on others versus the prejudices they also face. It’s really interesting to see both sides and understand more of what has led them to that point. But what I loved more was the exploration that they are more than the bodies they are born in.
“We’re not what they tell us we are. We’re more than the sum of flesh and matter inside these metal shells. You can be too.”
The character development is fantastic. Now, character development doesn’t always mean growth in a positive direction. Some characters develop in a way that fuels their hatred and prejudice. I just think it’s brilliant storytelling to include different perspectives. It adds that human touch to a very challenging situation.
The other theme of this book was an ethical perspective. How far will someone go to do the right thing, and can they live with what they have to do in support of that goal? It leverages Kantianism which rejects the idea that in pursuit of doing good, the ends justify the means. But it’s a common scenario for our characters and often they are pushed by their heart and caught between two very difficult options.
Friends were scarce when you had a mother who was feared far more than she was loved. Respect was given sycophantically because of who she was, and later stubbornly withheld for the same damn reason.
The worldbuilding was vast, spread across the galaxy
My biggest downfall for me when reading sci-fi is that I find it difficult to visualise. I like a map, I like to route out where the characters are and how far away from other places. Does anyone else do that? So with sci-fi where we’re talking about planets in vast space, I get a bit lost. But I didn’t feel that so much with this story. I was never lost as to where they are, and every location had a great balance of descriptive worldbuilding that was woven through dialogue and plot points. I’d still love a map but I don’t feel that I’m missing one as it’s not impacting my experience reading this story.
Would I recommend?
Yes, this was a brilliant book. I loved the story, the range of characters and the writing style. It hit all the markers for me that I went straight to book two the minute I finished this one. I haven’t read many sci-fi books but I’m so glad this trilogy is one of my firsts. 100% recommend!