Rating: /10

With immense losses, Merlon and his crew have escaped the cannibals of Ivory, but now they are stuck in the wrong universe with no idea which way home lies.

There is no time for grieving when it’s discovered Lucia’s rough flight through the enormous asteroid field has resulted in most of their precious water storage spilling. It’s evident Merlon isn’t done fighting against his former addiction, but in Outer Universe he finds help from unexpected corners and makes surprising discoveries.

Struggling to find a way back to Inner Universe before more of his crew are added to the death toll, new information about Lady Galantria’s heritage reveal a threat that hadn’t even entered Merlon’s worst nightmares.

Will he succeed in returning to Amule, or will they be stuck in Outer Universe forever?

Review:

With even more action and adventure, and higher stakes, Outer Universe is a fantastic sequel to River in the Galaxy.

This book begins right where the first one left off, and builds upon the established storyline and characters even more. In this second book, we get to see some of the Outer Universe and its technology. The humans of Outer Universe are much like we are, and it become evident in a few scenes that those from Inner Universe have some genetic differences that make them more resilient and better suited to sailing through space (their lungs don’t require as much oxygen and they can see better in the dark, for starters.) The type of space craft they use is also different; the Outer Universe humans use the typical sleek, metal varieties prevalent in most science-fiction, which Merlon’s crew are wholly unfamiliar with. Personally, I like Lucia’s traditional sailing ship variety better. It’s unique and whimsical, and overall, more fun.

We also learn more about the mysterious Trackers—and they were nothing like I was anticipating. The “flying beings” also make several appearances and their quirky banter gives the story some much-needed humor at times. I really enjoyed getting to see more of the two universes.

Merlon doesn’t plan to stay in Outer Universe. He needs to get back to his home harbor of Amule before his approved time is up, and that’s rapidly approaching. But as with any good story, there are difficulties encountered along the way, and overcoming them isn’t easy. Merlon shows his mettle more than once, and despite some of the setbacks he faces, he seems to be getting some aspects of his life back on track (and I especially liked the ending.)

Rating: /10

When Merlon’s parents disappeared, his world fell apart. When his best friend died, he lost the ability to enjoy life.

For Captain Merlon Ricosta, Lanier’s death, two years prior, feels like yesterday. But when a map from his parents is discovered, he decides to push aside his grief to get closure and follow the route they vanished along eighteen years ago.

Despite political trouble, Merlon leads his crew into the unknowns of strange galaxies in his quest to find out why his parents never returned.

In River in the Galaxy Merlon fights to keep his crew alive and suppress his prolonged grief and depression. But he must face his own struggles in order to protect the ship and the people aboard.

Review:

The only thing I can think of to compare this book to is Treasure Planet, but with even more focus on personal relationships.

There are sailing ships that cross the spaces between galaxies, but they’re not the usual space-faring ships; they’re more like traditional oceanic vessels with masts, sails, rigging, etc. The ships are designed to sail between the stars, using a special type of breathing wood that provides atmosphere and the sails catch energy currents rather than air. I loved the concept and the perfect blend of fantasy and science-fiction that resulted.

Our main character is Merlon, the captain of Lucia, a ship he inherited from his missing parents. He’s been eager to find out what happened to them for 18 years, but has very little to go on. So when he’s granted permission to go on an expedition to search for clues, he accepts—even when the authorities saddle him with restrictions and responsibilities that are, in my opinion, not warranted or fair. But his desperation to uncover the truth is the deciding factor (and not just for his initial decision, but for many of those that follow.)

Merlon isn’t a perfect character, and it’s the imperfections that make him relatable. He struggles with grief and depression, has a history of substance abuse, and doesn’t always have the best temper. But he’s aware of his flaws, and he tries to correct them (although sometimes he’s a bit late in doing so.) He looks out for his crew as best he can, which is probably all someone can ask for in a ship’s captain.

River in the Galaxy was not the first book I’ve read in this series (I read Quarantine Thirteen a couple years ago and really enjoyed it.) I came into this book wanting to know more of the backstory, since River is technically the first in the series. That being said, there is a lot of buildup in this book, and the first half felt a tad bit slow. Once certain elements were established, however, the story went much quicker and continued to accelerate right up to the end. My one gripe is that the ending felt rather abrupt. I wish there had been a little more to tie things up.

Anyway, if ships sailing between galaxies, adventure, and uncovering mysteries is your thing, definitely check out River in the Galaxy. I’ll be reading the second book soon.

Synopsis:

Irdessa the Undying, a renowned arena fighter in Fohrvylda, has escaped imprisonment but at great cost. Broken and alone, she must outwit and outfight her pursuers.

Basalt Kale, a failed Consonant monk of the lowest order, embarks on a quest to improve Ausgan but discovers vile secrets of his order that he cannot abide.

The heathens of Fohrvylda amass ships and beasts of war to sail the Faithless Sea and assault the monks of Ausgan, who will greet the steel-bearing invaders with elemental destruction.

Review:

Violence & Vigilance is action-packed from cover to cover featuring an array of unlikely heroes and conniving villains. It has a unique magic system employed by one side of the story, and gritty cunning by the other. There was a lot of setup done in preparation for the rest of the series (which is forthcoming, I hope.) It was a really fun read.

The way the story was relayed was a little unusual, in that there weren’t any true “main” characters. There were two distinct storylines, but each was presented from the viewpoints of a variety of characters involved in that storyline. I wasn’t immediately clear how the two story arcs related to one another, but after a while, that did become clear.

The first arc was set on the island of Forhvylda, and begins in a gladiatorial-style arena. Forhvylda is run by Vretos, a man said to be unkillable. He’s ruthless and doesn’t tolerate failure from his subordinates. His ultimate goal is to launch his fleet of ships, known as the Heathen Tide, in an attack on another island, but he can’t launch until conditions are just right. With a ruler like Vretos, there’s bound to be some dissent, though it will need something to spark the populace into outright rebellion. There were two standout characters for me in this story arc: Irdessa (who begins the story as a conscripted gladiator), and Kraus (who is crass and barbaric, very rough around the edges…but he grew on me over time.)

The second arc is set on the island of Ausgan, which is ruled by mages. Their leader is Intemrus, who is also said to be immortal. The mages have a strict hierarchy that requires not only innate talent to ascend, but also a cutthroat mentality to outcompete everyone else. The mages use Consonance, which is a blend of singing and elemental power that allows them to bend even their island’s weather to their wills. Throughout this story arc, Ausgan is dealing with native unrest, while simultaneously preparing for the Heathen Tide. Kale was by far my favorite character of this arc; he’s an anomaly amongst the mages, and his unusual ability throws a major wrench into some of the others’ plans.

With so much going on, it’s no wonder this is a massive book. I bought it as an ebook, so I didn’t realize its length until I’d been reading a while and the percent completed had only ticked up a tiny bit (Goodreads lists it at 643 pages, which might be my longest read so far this year.) But it was written so well, and the story was so engaging, that the length didn’t bother me.

Overall, this was a great first-in-series with some memorable characters and a ton of action that I definitely recommend.

Synopsis:

Even Time won’t stop him…

As the god-infected sorcerer Nammuor continues his conquest of the Triempery, the rightful heir to Essera’s throne, Handurin Stauberg Randolph, has raised a ragtag army of Khelds to resist. Handurin’s alliance with Dorilian Sordaneon seems shattered as Dorilian is forced to flee north–but Handurin isn’t counting Dorilian out.

Indeed, Dorilian is gathering his godborn powers in preparation for two inevitable confrontations: the evil Nammuor, and the Time-spanning entity of the Wall.

Review:

To quote my husband, “You authors…” which he usually accompanies with a shake of his head. I’m feeling that a bit right now, having reached the end of The Walled City, and suffering with the knowledge that I won’t know how all ends until next year.

In other words, this was another fantastic installment to the series that left me wanting more. Right now. I really don’t want to wait an entire year to know how this story ends, and yet, such is the publication timeline. So it goes without saying that The Rill Lord will be on my watchlist for preorders.

The Triempery series is a masterpiece of epic fantasy, with complex politics, god-machines, a villain that is both diabolical and cunning, and a plot so full of twists and turns that I couldn’t have predicted half of what has transpired so far. This is easily one of my favorite on-going fantasy series, and I don’t think it gets even half the attention it deserves. And since The Walled City is book five in the series, it’s difficult to say much more without dropping spoilers.

But there is one thing I need to mention here, because it’s going to be in the back of my mind for the next year. I’ve had a theory about one of the main characters since…somewhere in book two, I believe. There were so many hints dropped about that theory in this book, and the author is going to make me wait for the next one before I know for sure if I’m right. Which is why I started this review by quoting my husband. I loved this book, but not knowing… “You authors,” indeed.

(Seriously, though, if you’re a fan of epic fantasy and haven’t checked out the Triempery Revelations series, you’re missing out. It starts with Sordaneon, and only gets better from there.)

Synopsis:

From outer space to inner space, from realms of the never-were to those of the here-and-now and the soon-to-be, the twenty-four authors in this fifth and final collection of science fiction and fantasy by writers featured on the Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers plunge readers into fantastic worlds filled with unforgettable characters.

Teenagers are disappearing in a mysterious grove, and no one knows why—not even those who escape it. The god of love finds magical arrows just don’t cut it in the modern world of digital matchmaking. A prisoner discovers he has been stripped of thirty-five years of memories as punishment for a crime he cannot remember. Far from being a refuge from humdrum reality, dreams become a trap for one young man when he encounters those who dwell there. A man who hunts angels for a living has the tables turned on him by the last angel he corners. Talking beasts from the island of a certain infamous doctor arrive in London to make their way in the world of men, only to be caught up in the ongoing Martian invasion . . .

Shapers of Worlds Volume V showcases stories by Brad C. Anderson, Edo van Belkom, J. G. Gardner, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore, Chadwick Ginther, Evan Graham, M. C. A. Hogarth, M. J. Kuhn, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Kevin Moore, Robin Stevens Payes, James S. Peet, Omari Richards, Lawrence M. Schoen, Alex Shvartsman, Alan Smale, Richard Sparks, P. L. Stuart, Brad R. Torgersen, Hayden Trenholm, Brian Trent, Eli K. P. William, Edward Willett, and Natalie Wright. Every story is illustrated with an original black-and-white drawing by Wendi Nordell.

Review:

This collection has a wide range of fantasy and sci-fi stories, each unique and interesting in their own way. There isn’t an overall unifying theme as there is with some anthologies, but I think that gave the authors a little more creative license. From sirens to cybernetic Greek goddesses to dragons and augmented reality, there’s a bit of everything for fans of sci-fi and fantasy to enjoy.

There are 24 stories in total, so I’m not going to recap all of them. But here are a few of the stories that stood out to me as favorites:

Mad Dog by Evan Graham features a mercenary band hired to eliminate rogue AIs. The mercs are led by “Mad Dog,” who seems to be a veteran of the job, and she gets pretty creative when faced with difficult problems.

Rumspringa in Sanzheika by Alex Shvartsman is a story about augmented reality and how a future society imposes “sabbaticals” on its citizens (basically, week-long stints where they’re cut off from their implants and the net.) Not everyone handles the sabbaticals well…

Forest Dark by P.L. Stuart explores some of the lore that has only been mentioned (so far) in his Drowned Kingdom Saga regarding a somewhat obscure sect of the Anibian people. And they’re ruthless when it comes to meting out vengeance. Since I’ve been following his series for several years now, I loved getting this extra bit of worldbuilding/lore.

‘Twas by Richard Sparks is a hilarious piece featuring a band of D&D-style heroes and poetry. It had me laughing out loud.

Cupid 2.0 by Brad C. Anderson explores what the god of love might do if he was almost made obsolete by a dating app. It was entertaining and cute, with an undercurrent of hope for the future.

The Crumbling Walls: A Tale of Nahwalla by Omari Richards is set in an African-inspired fantasy world of warring clans and gods who grant foresight. Thought it’s a short story, the glimpse of the politics of that world were complex and intriguing.

Synopsis:

Rohan doesn’t want to be famous, to be rich, or to rule over the galaxy with an iron fist. All he wants is a peaceful life towing ships, a decent cup of coffee, and time to pursue the woman of his dreams.

First he’ll have to tame or destroy a self-centered god, a sector-spanning evil empire, and a race of slumbering moon-sized vampiric cephalopods.

That will require new allies by his side and new tricks up the sleeves of his purple and yellow jumpsuit.

Allies like the il’Zkin, cat people who can’t leave their homeworld, or the kaiju of Toth 3, monsters he can’t control. Tricks like the mystical technique given to him by Spiral, his mentor, that seems completely incompatible with the Hybrid rage that has been his greatest strength.

When his friend Wei Li receives visitors from her own mysterious past, Rohan realizes they might hold the keys to helping him with several of those problems.

Those visitors seem to have other ideas.

Review:

I decided to bump this book up on my TBR after reading several others that were pretty dark and/or tense because I needed some humor in my life. I knew this one would deliver, and it certainly didn’t disappoint on that front. Rohan’s jokes, Wei Li’s sarcasm, and Katya’s feline antics (just to mention a few characters) are a huge part of why I love the Hybrid Helix series. While there are high stakes and galactic-level problems to solve in each story too, the humor is what keeps me coming back for more.

Suppression of Powers shows us a slightly different side of the series’ main character, Rohan. He still gets into just as many fights, and he’s still doing his best to protect those he cares about, but he goes about it in a different way. Mastering Spiral’s technique is impossible when Rohan gets angry or afraid, but he believes he needs to learn it if he wants to succeed in saving the galaxy from the latest big threat. And that means he gets beat up. A lot. Probably more than any other book in the series so far.

While I understand Rohan’s desire to change his methods, I was getting a little impatient with him after a while. He needed to figure things out, yes, but there’s only so much of the main character being repeatedly trounced by people I know he can win against that I can take. That element of the story did get better before the end, though.

Beyond Rohan, we also get to learn more about Wei Li and Tamaralinth in this book. Both women are powerful in their own ways, but even more so than I could have anticipated (I really liked both of their stories!) I also enjoyed the addition of Terry, Rohan’s sort-of pet kaiju/pterosaur.

Suppression of Powers is the beginning of the second “sub-series” within the Hybrid Helix, and there is quite a bit of set up for things that will inevitably happen later. I’m excited to see where the series will go from here.

Synopsis:

Heaven was perfect, until they came for his son.

When angel engineer Zak’s infant son is cast down for being born without wings, he faces Heaven’s cruel mandate: forget, or fall. Clipped, Zak plummets to a broken Earth, where false prophets exploit the faithful, drug lords rule dead cities, and every truth comes with a price.

Pursued by ruthless angel hunters through decaying urban wastelands and corrupted mega-churches, Zak uncovers a conspiracy that reaches from Earth’s grimmest gutters to Heaven’s highest chambers. What begins as a father’s desperate search becomes a brutal quest for vengeance that will expose Heaven’s most devastating lies – and make them remember his son’s name.

Review:

A big thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book ahead of publication.

Clipped is a story about grief, making mistakes, and seeking the truth, but above all, it’s a story about the lengths a parent will go to in order to protect their child. It’s also a book that poses some questions about religion and faith, and what they’re built upon. (Personally, I really enjoyed that aspect, but I can see how it might not work for some readers.)

The book begins with Zachary (or Zak, as he later becomes known.) He’s an Exalted (basically an angel), imprisoned for the crime of asking questions. His son was born without wings, an imperfection, according to the Heavens, that is unforgivable and must be punished. His son was cast out with the refuse, and Zak was deemed a criminal for asking why. Rather than accept his son’s fate, he chose exile in the hopes of locating his son.

He quickly learned the human world was a mess. Crime was rampant, resources were scarce, and the most powerful people were as corrupt as they come. Zak was faced with thieves, Hunters tasked with apprehending him simply because he is “fallen,” religious zealots, conmen, drug-dealers… The setting overall was pretty bleak, and at times, Zak fell into despair. But there was some good in the human world, when he looked for it hard enough.

Zak wasn’t perfect as a protagonist. He made mistakes along the way and fell into some unfortunate habits, but he was usually driven by a desire to do the right thing—once he knew what the right thing was. The Heaven he was from and the earth he was confronted with were vastly different, so there was a definite learning curve. He made a couple decisions that didn’t fully make sense to me, but overall, I liked his character.

I want to mention that I questioned the genre classification for most of this story. It’s listed as science-fiction, but felt more like dystopian fantasy until almost the end. There’s a big reveal then, and once I read that part, there was no questioning that Clipped is a sci-fi story. And I loved that twist, because I didn’t see it coming. It also answered a lot of questions and tied everything up really nicely.

All in all, Clipped was an excellent story. If dystopian settings, unexpected twists, and a father’s desire to protect his child are themes you enjoy, take a few days to read this book. It will be worth your time.

Clipped is currently available for preorder, and will release May 31, 2025.

Synopsis:

On an almost uninhabitable rocky island off the coast of Maine, a Hotel looms over the shore, an ever-present gray lady that stands strong like a guard, keeping watch. For many who come here, this island is a sanctuary and a betrayal.

This is a place where memories linger like ghosts, and the ephemeral nature of time begins to peel away …like the sanity of all who have been unlucky enough to step foot on its shore.

In the late spring of 1873, Isabelle gave birth to her son Oscar, he cried for three startling minutes, and then went silent. During the months that follow, Isabelle is drugged and lulled into an almost hallucinatory world of grief and fear. Her life begins to feel as though it exists in a terrifying new reality separated from those around her …

When her grieving begins to make her husband, Henry, uncomfortable, he and his mother conspire to send Isabelle away to a Summer Hotel on Dagger Island, where she can rest and heal. While they are adamant that the hotel is not an asylum and that Isabelle will be able to return eventually to her home, Isabelle understands in her heart that it is all a lie. That perhaps, everything about being a woman in this time, may have always been a lie.

Her family has lied to her, and she has lied to herself.

The Hotel, of course, is not what it seems, and the foreboding Dagger Island begins to feel more like a prison than a retreat. Isabelle hears relentless sounds coming from the attic above her room, and the ever-present cries of small children scream in her head almost constantly. Are they hallucinations, or are they connected to the small cemetery she found, filled with the fresh dirt of little graves, the brokenhearted reminders of people that no one believes ever existed?

She meets a fellow guest at the Hotel, a young, enigmatic, and deeply damaged priest, named Francis.

Together they teeter on the edges of reality and try desperately to become free from the fates that their pasts have bound them to.

Review:

From Daylight to Madness is the story of Isabelle, a woman trapped in her life, burdened by societal expectations, and unable to truly take control of her future.

The book begins in the minutes after she gives birth to a son who dies almost immediately; he was premature, and in 1873, there was little that could have been done to save him. But she was never allowed to touch the baby, and in the aftermath of that loss, she’s expected to simply bounce back. To be what she was before. But she can’t. Much of the story is her struggle with a form of depression, and the callous way she is treated by her husband and mother-in-law. She is sent to “the hotel,” a bland name for a temporary asylum, to “rest” (see: to be fixed.)

The horror element was entirely psychological. The reader is subjected to Isabelle’s inner torment throughout the duration of the book, and left to wonder if what she’s experiencing is the result of her depression or the “tea” she is given to “calm” her. (It was laced with laudanum, which was used commonly in that era, and it’s an opioid, so either scenario is possible.)

In many ways, From Daylight to Madness reminded me of a darker version of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, which was written around the same time period as this book takes place, and also has similar themes (and a similar ending.) If you aren’t familiar with The Awakening, it was first published in 1899 and is considered a feminist novel of the time, featuring an unhappy woman who is married to someone she doesn’t want to be with, and in time she learns to take some control over her life. But in the end, she believes she’s only left with one option, and it’s not a happy one. I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers.

This was not the first book I’ve read by Jennifer Anne Gordon. A couple years ago, I read Pretty/Ugly, which I really enjoyed, but From Daylight to Madness lacked the same polish. There were many typographical issues throughout the ebook edition (missing punctuation, missing words, some homophone confusions), and that detracted from my enjoyment. The story was good; I just wish it had gone through more proofreading before it was published.

All in all, this was a solid story with a gothic-horror feel, so check it out if that’s your thing.

Synopsis:

Othrun of Eastrealm’s victories in battle have made him a warlord to be feared throughout the continent of Acremia. His formidable knights have wreaked havoc on his foes. Now, the ultimate test awaits him and his warriors, as the great existential threat of invasion from the north has finally come to pass.

A confederacy led by the most ruthless Sanaavian rulers has besieged the tiny Eltnish kingdom of Rogonhe, a key strategic foothold the invaders covet in their plans to conquer all of Eltnia.

King Hert of Carthlughe has long fought to keep Rogonhe free and secure. Now, Hert calls his vassal Othrun, and his other allies to march their spears north into the bitter winter, to face the deadly, marauding Sanaavians, for whom war is but a sport.

Othrun’s situation has never been so dire. He is reeling from abandonment by his spiritual guide, marital troubles, and the core foundation of his beliefs being challenged by the pagan magic surrounding him. Despite this, Othrun must face harsh weather, rampaging armies, and sinister druids, risking not only his own life, but the lives of his family, and his entire army, to be faithful to Hert’s summons.

Othrun must also contend with the daunting powers and ruthless ambition of Queen Lysi, leader of the mysterious Coven of Mages, and his complicated relationship with her.

And finally, an old, bitter rival awaits Othrun in the cold north, bent on bringing the proud former Second Prince of Atalantyx to his knees.

But under Hert’s fierce leadership, all will not be easily lost for the Eltnish alliance. Hert plans to set upon his enemies like a pack of wolves, ripping them apart.

Blood will be spilt in the snow, heroes will fall, and Othrun’s legend as a warlord is bound to only grow if he can survive the fight.

But what price will Othrun pay for fidelity, and for glory?

Review:

I want to start off by saying this series just gets better over time.

P.L. Stuart has an incredible knack for weaving intricate plot lines, and A Pack of Wolves showcased that to its fullest. It was the culmination of so many events that began in earlier books, that as a reader, I knew were coming eventually, but how they were delivered… There was no predicting some of it. And I loved that.

The only comparison I can think of to make with this plot is it reminded me of a high-stakes game of Risk, with a dozen players all vying for supremacy. Alliances are formed—sometimes out of necessity, sometimes between “friends”, but in some cases, they were forced. There was betrayal and scheming. There was revenge, and some players got what was coming to them…but some were wholly undeserving of their fates.

And of course, there was battle and blood. There was the biggest, most epic battle of the series yet—and no one came out of it unscathed. But there were also a few heart-warming moments scattered throughout the book to balance out all of the death and destruction. It was really well done.

With the intricacies of the plot in this series, it’s one of those that the reader really needs to pay attention to details, because some of the seemingly unimportant comments or tidbits of information tend to become important later on. It’s epic, political fantasy at its best—and so worth the read.

If you haven’t checked out PL Stuart’s books yet, I encourage you to do so. The series begins with A Drowned Kingdom.

Synopsis:

A planet steeped in mystery…

Jess Amiko is long past her days as a space marine, with all the glory of that time tarnished beyond repair by what came after. Trying to rebuild from the ashes, she’s taken a job as a security guard on Kenai, a lonely world far from the Council systems. It’s supposed to be easy duty – quiet and peaceful, on a docile world with no real threats, watching over an archeological dig at a site built by a race long vanished.

Betrayed and attacked by forces unknown, and finding that nothing on Kenai makes sense, Jess is plunged into a desperate fight for survival that leads her deep into the mysteries of Kenai’s past, and deep into the hardship and paradox the planet imposes on all who call it home.

Review:

Space marines, distant worlds, ancient civilizations, and an element of time travel (with potentially dire consequences) make for an intriguing story in Kenai.

I’ll be the first to admit this book wasn’t quite what I expected it would be going in, but I enjoyed it. I assumed there would be more action than there was based on the book description; the main focus of this story wasn’t about Jess the former marine fighting the attackers, but more about Jess’ role on the world of Kenai and how she ended up shaping its future. There was some fighting and her past as a marine was certainly helpful, but the bulk of this storyline was focused on other things.

Kenai itself is a weird planet. There are ancient ruins on the surface, but no intelligent life remains by the time humans discover and begin to document the world. The native creatures are mostly herbivores and pose no threat to humans, but they also have a strange habit of disappearing overnight without explanation. And I don’t mean they wander away. They literally disappear. Or so the researchers think.

What’s actually going on is a lot more complicated and involves some unique time-traveling elements that I’ve never encountered in anything else. And while the concept was explained in the book, there are still pieces of it that weren’t fully explored (like the “reset” that occurs for some aspects of the world, and why things from off-world aren’t affected. The scientist part of my brain doesn’t like unexplained anomalies…and while there might have been a plausible explanation for them, it was really just speculation on my part and was never confirmed.) But I really liked the paradox dilemma that was presented, and the fact that the consequences of messing around with time were, in most cases, pretty dire.

But the story was really about Jess’ role on Kenai. Her character changes and grows in the best sort of way. At the beginning, she’s relatively angry and hasn’t found a purpose for her life since it all fell apart. By the end, she’s found her calling, and she’s in a much better place, emotionally. She’s learned to make friends again, and she’s willing to work for a greater cause, one that’s so much more than just hers alone. I loved her character’s growth in this story.

And I loved the unpredictability of the plot. It took a number of turns I could have never guessed at, and in the end, it made for a really interesting story. Kenai is a standalone, and there is so much more to it than what I’m willing to write about here (I’m trying to avoid spoilers, and all.) Just know that it’s one of the more unique sci-fi books I’ve read in a long time, and it’s definitely worth reading.