Buckle up buttercup, for one hell of a ride.
Olthoff and Cordova have delivered an absolute blast of a novel. The characters from the very start of it hook you, the action is rapid, the story is intriguing, and the emotional highs and lows catch you and pull you along for the ride.
The story follows two characters, their stories brilliantly interwoven without feeling clunky or at odds at any time. The characters are real, their motivations and desires are human, and the woes and perils they go through leave them with scars.
Both authors did a magnificent job of weaving a story with their own elements into a cohesive whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. I like both their other individual books, I loved their work together in this one.
This is a magnificent military science fiction / space opera story, with dashes of exploration, colonization, and other bits thrown in. It’s amazing how much story and plot they fit into the book without it ever feeling rushed or bogged down in details. Their transitions were smooth, the pacing was perfect, and it was an enjoyable read that I read in one setting.
The main characters, Tavi and Blue, are relatable and unique, each having their own voice in a genre which is often overwhelmed by cardboard cutouts and
Tavi’s damaged background makes him the perfect “everyman” who needs elements of the universe explained. Blue’s knowledge and relationships allow her to be an older-sister type character who, even when she’s in over her head, looks out for others.
If you’re looking for a book that is going to keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat for the whole read, you can’t go wrong here. Great book, I’d give it six stars if I could.
Kal Spriggs 