Seven Devils by Elizabeth May and Laura Lam- book review

Here is my review of Seven Devils by Elizabeth May and Laura May fast paced space-opera dominated by a motley crew of women trying to bring down an empire in a star wars kind of way.

Genre: Science Fiction/space opera

Series: Seven Devils book 1

Source: My own

Eris has been assigned a new mission: to infiltrate a spaceship ferrying deadly cargo and return the intelligence gathered to the Resistance. But her partner for the mission,  Cloelia, bears an old grudge against Eris, making an already difficult infiltration even more complicated.
When they find the ship, they discover more than they bargained for: three fugitives with firsthand knowledge of the corrupt empire’s inner workings.
Together, these women possess the knowledge and capabilities to bring the empire to its knees. But the clock is ticking: the new heir to the empire plans to disrupt a peace summit with the only remaining alien empire, ensuring the empire’s continued expansion. If they can find a way to stop him, they will save the galaxy. If they can’t, millions may die.

Review

Seven Devils by May and Lam has been on my TBR list for a while now- I loved the idea of a female-only crew taking down an evil empire in a star wars kind of way and the book was a fun, entertaining read.

Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings- Book review

I loved this space opera with a touch of time travel with strong Firefly vibes. Here is my review of Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings.

Genre: science- fiction/space opera

Publication date: 12 May 2022

Source: Thank you Jess Gofton at Rebellion Publishing

Blurb

Fleeing the final days of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven’s freighter the Jonah breaks down in a strange rift in deep space, with little chance of rescue—until they encounter the research vessel Gallion, which claims to be from 152 years in the future.
The Gallion‘s chief engineer Uma Ozakka has always been fascinated with the past, especially the tale of the Fortunate Five, who ended the war with the Felen. When the Gallion rescues a run-down junk freighter, Ozakka is shocked to recognize the Five’s legendary ship—and the Five’s famed leader, Eldric Leesongronski, among the crew.
But nothing else about Leesongronski and his crewmates seems to match up with the historical record. With their ships running out of power in the rift, more than the lives of both crews may be at stake.

Review

I just had to read this book after I saw the cover- I haven’t seen many space-opera book covers in pastel and light colours and this cover is just pretty. Yes,I judged a book by its cover.

A Desolation called Peace by Arkady Martine – Book review

I’m catching up with my sequels as part of the March of Sequels hosted by Sue’s Musing and the sequel to A Memory called Empire was on my list.Here  is my review of A Desolation called Peace by Arkady Martine.

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Texicalaan Duology

Source: My own

An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with it, no one can destroy it, and Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is running out of options.

In a desperate attempt at diplomacy with the mysterious invaders, the fleet captain has sent for a diplomatic envoy. Now Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass—still reeling from the recent upheaval in the Empire—face the impossible task of trying to communicate with a hostile entity.

Whether they succeed or fail could change the fate of Teixcalaan forever. Review

Review

It has been a while since I read A Memory called Empire, so I have to admit – it took a while to get back into the complicated world created by Arkady Martine.

The book gets off to a slow start picking up not long after the events in the first book but not just in The City. This time the story and action take place in space on the station world of Lsel and on the spaceship tasked with stopping the alien invasion.

Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen- Book Review

That’s another one ticked off my #beat the backlog challenge created by @owlbesatreading. I enjoyed this space-opera by Essa Hansen.

Genre:Science fiction,space opera

Source: my own

Caiden’s planet is destroyed. His family gone. And, his only hope for survival is a crew of misfit aliens and a mysterious ship that seems to have a soul and a universe of its own. Together they will show him that the universe is much bigger, much more advanced, and much more mysterious than Caiden had ever imagined. But the universe hides dangers as well, and soon Caiden has his own plans. He vows to do anything it takes to get revenge on the slavers who murdered his people and took away his home. To destroy their regime, he must infiltrate and dismantle them from the inside, or die trying.

Review

I bought this book when it was on a Kindle deal as the blurb looked interesting and I was in a space-opera phase and started it as soon as it downloaded. I stopped reading after the first chapter as Caiden, the main point of view character telling was fourteen years old and I didn’t fancy reading a middle-grade book.

So, do I feel a bit stupid when I read this as a part of the beat the backlog challenge . This is an adult science-fiction with many dark themes. Caiden in fact undergoes a procedure of accelerated growth to become a grown-up and thoughtful hero of twenty.

Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott – Book Review

Unconquerable Sun, Book 1 of the Sun Chronicles was a perfect book to lose myself with epic space battles, aliens, pollical intrigue in an eastern-based Galaxy far far away and I can’t wait to read the next instalment.

Genre: Science Fiction, space opera

Review

I read this book last year, at the peak of the pandemic and I found myself immersed in its eastern-based Chaonia and its battles with the Phene and the Gatoi and reread the book before I read the second part.

Sun, is half Chaonian and half Yele, the daughter and heir to the Queen- Marshall but despite her military successes, she still has to defend her right to be heir against ambitious houses seeking to put their children forward as heir. The book follows her, and her companions and court as they battle enemies in dining rooms and space as well as untangling the numerous political intrigues and plots that abound.

The book has chapters from the points of view of Sun, and Aparna a Phene fighter pilot as well as a 1st person POV from Persephone Li, former space cadet and now reluctant companion to Sun.