Review: Aurora Blazing - Jessie Mihalik

To save her brother and protect her family’s future, a powerful princess must join forces with a dashing man from her past in this thrilling space adventure, the second novel in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy.

As the dutiful daughter of High House von Hasenberg, Bianca set aside her personal feelings and agreed to a political match arranged by her family, only to end up trapped in a loveless, miserable marriage. When her husband unexpectedly dies, Bianca vows never to wed again. Newly independent, she secretly uses her wealth and influence to save other women stuck in dire circumstances. Information is power and Bianca has a network of allies and spies that would be the envy of the ’verse—if anyone knew about it.

When her family’s House is mysteriously attacked, Bianca’s oldest brother, the heir to House von Hasenberg, disappears. Fearful for her brother’s life, the headstrong Bianca defies her father and leaves Earth to save him. Ian Bishop, the director of House von Hasenberg security—and Bianca’s first love—is ordered to find and retrieve the rebellious woman.

Ian is the last man Bianca wants to see. To evade capture, she leads him on a merry chase across the universe. But when their paths finally collide, she knows she must persuade him to help her. Bianca will do anything to save her sibling, even if it means spending time alone on a small ship with the handsome, infuriating man who once broke her heart.

As the search takes them deep into rival House Rockhurst territory, Bianca must decide if she can trust Ian with the one piece of information that could destroy her completely . . .

Consortium Rebellion Series:
Polaris Rising
Aurora Blazing
Chaos Reigning (May 2020)

Visit Jessie Mihalik's website for more information

Review:
As the oldest daughter of House von Hasenberg Bianca did her duty and married a man she didn't love to help her father build political alliances. It wasn't a happy marriage, especially since her husband was a mad scientist who liked to experiment on her, so after she is unexpectedly widowed Bianca vows to never marry again. Instead she uses her newfound independence, and her own secret network of spies, to help other women trapped in difficult situations.

When the House is attacked and her oldest brother Ferdinand is taken prisoner, Bianca decides to put her network to even better use as she sets out to bring him home. Her father sends the House head of security to bring Bianca back home but she will do whatever it takes to convince Ian that the best chance of bringing Ferdinand home alive is by working together to find him.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I realised that each book in this series was about a different couple just because I liked Ada and Loch so much in the first book and wanted to spend more time with them. The change in narrators ended up working really well though and I found Bianca was just as enjoyable to read about as her sister. Bianca is older than Ada and sees herself as the protector of her siblings, she has always gone along with her father's wishes so that the younger ones don't have to but when Ferdinand is in danger she can't just sit back and let someone else take control of his rescue. She has unique resources that Ian and the rest of the security team don't have access to and nothing is going to stop her from using them.

Bianca and Ian have a difficult relationship because they both have feelings for each other that they know they can't act on for various reasons. There is no way her father would ever have approved a match between them but that never stopped Bianca from dreaming, right up until her wedding. Now she has sworn off of relationships but it doesn't make it any easier to hide her attraction to Ian when they're working so closely together. I loved the slow build romance between them and the way Bianca was so brave to open her heart again after being betrayed so badly by her husband. Both Bianca and Ian have plenty of secrets but they're really well matched and I enjoyed watching them work together.

This story had just as much action as the first book and we learn a bit more about the rivalry and building war between House von Hassenberg and House Rockhurst. Revelations towards the end of the book left me desperately waiting for the final book in the trilogy, Chaos Reigning, so I'm glad I don't have to wait too much longer to get hold of a copy.

Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Queen's Advantage - Jessie Mihalik

When Queen Samara Rani fulfills the promise she made to Emperor Valentin Kos to visit his court and meet with his advisors, she knows they won’t welcome her with open arms, especially when she’s been tasked with discovering the traitors within their ranks—traitors she tricked out of five million credits.

As soon as Samara begins her investigation it becomes clear that Valentin’s advisors want her gone and they aren’t picky about how. After their tactics turn violent, Samara and Valentin race to unravel the web of treachery and lies before the next attack ends in tragedy.

When the conflict escalates in ferocity and rumors start blaming Samara, she is forced to continue her hunt alone. Uncovering traitors is difficult when courtiers learn to lie before they learn to walk, and one misstep could cost her life. However, Rogue Queens aren’t easy to kill and Samara has more than a few tricks of her own.

Rogue Queen:
The Queen's Gambit
The Queen's Ambition

Visit Jessie Mihalik's website for more information

Review:
I first read The Queen’s Advantage when it was available on Jessie Mihalik’s blog as a free online serial and I enjoyed it enough that I purchased the final, edited version when it went on sale. The story was officially edited and expanded upon before official publication and I enjoyed the story as much, if not more, the second time around.

Queen Samara Rami promised to help Emperor Valentin Kos figure out the traitors in his court who are trying to have him killed. To fulfil that promise she's travelled to his home planet and plans to spend at least two weeks living at the palace pushing buttons trying to get the traitors to betray themselves. It quickly becomes clear that someone doesn't want her there and that they're willing to use her, and the rest of her people, as scapegoats for the continuing attacks on Valentin.

I think this story had a little less action than the first book, there were still some great fight scenes but there was also a lot of political intrigue as Samara tried to figure out who was targeting Valentin. It was interesting to meet some of the people closest to him but I have to admit I missed Samara's loyal people who had remained behind to hold the Rogue Coalition together while she was gone. I'm still really enjoying the developing romance between Samara and Valentin, it's still very slow build (come on just give into temptation already!) but I think that works for them as a couple since they both have good reason to be wary of outsiders.

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next when Jessie Mihalik starts posting book 3 on her blog.

Source: Originally read as an online serial on Jessie Mihalik's blog but I then purchased a copy once it had been edited and published

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Review: Deliverance - Pippa DaCosta

"You can't say no to a pistol in the face." ~ Caleb

Bren's missing with a bounty on his head, which isn't Caleb's problem, until Turner Candelario makes it Caleb's problem. But why does a pirate with an ax to grind suddenly want to work with the down-and-out captain who killed his sister?

Coded messages. Abandoned mining outposts. And Fran's keeping secrets.

The mission stinks worse than the iron mines, but what else is there to do in the Nine systems now Caleb's trying to fly-right? Besides, Bren's bounty looks mighty tempting.

One should be dead, but death didn't stop her before. Chitec is gone, the Nine systems left in disarray, and in the chaos, One moves among them like a ghost, seeing what others cannot: a new malevolent force rises. A force One has encountered before. And caught in the middle of it all? Brendan Shepperd.

Chitec was just the beginning. The true 1000 Revolution begins now...

The 1000 Revolution:
Falling (Short Story)
Betrayal
Escape
Trapped
Trust
Deliverance

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely love Pippa DaCosta's 1000 Revolution series so I was thrilled when she announced she was writing a whole new series of books about these characters. Think of Deliverance as the first book in season two of the 1000 Revolution, it's the beginning of a whole new overarching plot but because it draws heavily on events that have gone before it's not really the best place to start if you're new to this world so I'd strongly recommend starting with the first book, Betrayal.

Anyway, this story picks up a few months on from the end of Trust. Caleb believes that One is dead and blames himself, he's been staying on planet running a bar but when Fran and the pirate Turner Candelario steal his ship to go hunting for his brother Caleb is forced to shake himself off and get back into the game. Brendan has been missing for weeks and there's a huge bounty on his head but just what did he do to deserve that? Meanwhile One has found herself a new body but she's also uncovered some very dark and dangerous secrets that she's uniquely qualified to deal with. There are reasons that she's not contacted Caleb to tell him she survived but it won't be too long before their paths cross as they're both thrown right back into another deadly fight for survival.

It was so much fun being back in this world. I'm glad I chose to reread the previous books first because I'd forgotten so much in the three years since the last release. These characters all have such complex histories and all love hoarding secrets so every time you think you have something worked out a new twist comes along and changes everything. Deliverance was just as action packed as I hoped it would be, there is danger around every corner and you never know what will happen next. I'm so glad we've got another 3 books to look forward to and I can't wait to spend more time in this world.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Off Planet - Aileen Erin

In an all-too-plausible future where corporate conglomerates have left the world’s governments in shambles, anyone with means has left the polluted Earth for the promise of a better life on a SpaceTech owned colony among the stars.

Maité Martinez is the daughter of an Earther Latina and a powerful Aunare man, an alien race that SpaceTech sees as a threat to their dominion. When tensions turn violent, Maité finds herself trapped on Earth and forced into hiding.

For over ten years, Maité has stayed hidden, but every minute Maité stays on Earth is one closer to getting caught.

She’s lived on the streets. Gone hungry. And found a way to fight through it all. But one night, while waitressing in a greasy diner, a customer gets handsy with her. She reacts without thinking.

Covered in blood, Maité runs, but it’s not long before SpaceTech finds her…

Arrested and forced into dangerous work detail on a volcano planet, Maité waits for SpaceTech to make their move against the Aunare. She knows that if she can’t somehow find a way to stop them, there will be an interstellar war big enough to end all life in the universe.

There’s only one question: Can Maité prevent the total annihilation of humanity without getting herself killed in the process?

Aunare Chronicles:
Off Planet
Off Balance (2020)

Visit Aileen Erin's page on goodreads for more information

Review:
Set in a future where giant corporation SpaceTech pretty much controls all of the human colonies across the universe this is the story of Maité, a half-human half-aunare young woman who is just trying to live her life in peace. SpaceTech have been trying to start a war with the aunare race for years, starting 10 years ago with the massacre of all aunare people living on planets they controlled, now they'll stop at nothing to destroy an entire species just to keep their control over humanity.

Maité and her mother have been hiding on earth for 10 years hoping that her father, who is a powerful general in the aunare army, will find them and help them get to safety. If Maité is discovered by SpaceTech then it will be a death sentence but it's getting harder and harder to live under the radar. She is so close to freedom when she makes a dreadful mistake, one that could cost her everything. After her arrest she is sentenced to a work detail on a dangerous volcanic planet, every day she comes a little closer to death and if her father's representatives don't get to her in time to save her then war will be inevitable.

I thought Off Planet was a brilliant start to this new series, I've not read anything by Aileen Erin before but after enjoying this so much I think I definitely need to check out some of her backlist. I really liked Maité's character, her aunare blood makes her stronger and faster than most but that's almost more of a curse than a blessing as she's constantly having to try to hide her abilities so that people don't figure out who or what she really is. Her life has been tough but she has a strong bond with her mother and some close friends who are always there for her and even though she's constantly in danger she always tries to help others too.

This is only the first book in the series but we've already met some really interesting characters both human and alien that I want to spend more time with. Roan is like a best friend and brother rolled into one, Declan was sent to save her but to be honest hasn't been all that great at doing the job, she made some interesting allies on Abaddon but I think the person I'm most curious about is Lorne, the aunare who will stop at nothing to rescue her even if that does mean starting a war that could end up killing billions. One thing I'm really hoping is that we're not going to see the formation of a dreaded love triangle though, there were hints that it might end up going in that direction but I really hope the author surprises me and doesn't take the easy drama route.

The world that the author has created is an interesting one, I was fascinated and horrified by the conditions on the volcanic planet so appropriately called Abaddon and I'm really looking forward to finding out more about the aunare home world too. I'm a bit curious about why this is being marketed as YA, Maité is 20 and her friends are all her age or a fair bit older and although the story is appropriate for teens (there's no sex, I didn't notice much in the way of swearing and even when Maité is being tortured it doesn't go into super graphic detail) I would still class this as an adult sci-fi because of the age of the characters and the themes it covers. Maité doesn't think or act like a teenage narrator so the YA label is misleading in my opinion. That really is a minor issue as I think the story will be enjoyed by both teens and adults but I do think it's important to clarify these things correctly. I've already added the next book, Off Balance, to my wish list but it's going to feel like a long wait until it's release next year!

Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Polaris Rising - Jessie Mihalik

A space princess on the run and a notorious outlaw soldier become unlikely allies in this imaginative, sexy space opera adventure—the first in an exciting science fiction trilogy.

In the far distant future, the universe is officially ruled by the Royal Consortium, but the High Councillors, the heads of the three High Houses, wield the true power. As the fifth of six children, Ada von Hasenberg has no authority; her only value to her High House is as a pawn in a political marriage. When her father arranges for her to wed a noble from House Rockhurst, a man she neither wants nor loves, Ada seizes control of her own destiny. The spirited princess flees before the betrothal ceremony and disappears among the stars.

Ada eluded her father’s forces for two years, but now her luck has run out. To ensure she cannot escape again, the fiery princess is thrown into a prison cell with Marcus Loch. Known as the Devil of Fornax Zero, Loch is rumored to have killed his entire chain of command during the Fornax Rebellion, and the Consortium wants his head.

When the ship returning them to Earth is attacked by a battle cruiser from rival House Rockhurst, Ada realizes that if her jilted fiancé captures her, she’ll become a political prisoner and a liability to her House. Her only hope is to strike a deal with the dangerous fugitive: a fortune if he helps her escape.

But when you make a deal with an irresistibly attractive Devil, you may lose more than you bargained for . . .

Consortium Rebellion Series:
Polaris Rising
Aurora Blazing
Chaos Reigning (May 2020)

Visit Jessie Mihalik's website for more information

Review:
As the fifth of six children Ada's main purpose in life was always to marry into one of the other prominent houses so that her father, the head of the von Hasenberg, could place a spy in an enemy camp. Her father doesn't care that it would be a loveless marriage and that she'd be miserable, he just sees it as her duty to her family. Ada isn't quite so willing to go along with his plans though and she's spent the last couple of years on the run, hiding as a mercenary and taking whatever jobs she can just to survive.

Now her father has lost patience with her though and placing a huge bounty on her head left her vulnerable to any lowlife who just wants to collect the cash. Taken prisoner she is thrown in a cell with another notorious and high value prisoner Marcus Loch. Ada will do whatever it takes to escape before she's taken back to her father and if that means allying herself with another prisoner then that's what she'll do. She doesn't trust Loch but neither of them stand a chance of escaping alone so they'll have to work together in the short term at least.

Polaris Rising was such a fun read and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was the perfect blend of sci-fi world building and romance with plenty of action, great characters and hot chemistry. Ada is a brilliant character who is both smart and fierce, she has no intention of getting caught by her father or her unwanted fiancé and she will do whatever it takes to figure out why House Rockhurst are so eager for the marriage to go through. Loch is the kind of mysterious alpha who I find it very hard to resist, it's obvious he has secrets and I enjoyed unravelling some of the layers to find out more about his past. Ada and Loch fit together really well, they balance each other out as a couple and even when they have a big misunderstanding they're both adult enough to talk things through rather than just act without thinking.

This is a romance so that is a large focus of the story but there was plenty of other things going on too. The romance is fairly slow build and completely believable and the action and mystery kept me on my toes while I was reading. I'd be very happy to read more books with Ada and Loch as the main characters but I'm also excited that the next book stars Ada's sister Bianca. The next book is definitely at the top of my wish list and Jessie Mihalik is an author to watch out for.

Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Queen's Gambit - Jessie Mihalik

When the Quint Confederacy and the Kos Empire went to war—again—Queen Samara wisely kept her Rogue Coalition out of the conflict. But staying neutral in a galactic war doesn’t pay the bills, not when both sides refuse to trade with neutral sectors.

With her people on the brink of starvation, Samara hatches a daring plan to snatch the kidnapped Kos Emperor from the Quint mercenaries holding him. The Kos Empire will pay a fortune for their emperor’s return, enough to feed the Coalition’s citizens while they wait for the return to a begrudging peace.

But when her plan goes sideways, Samara finds herself evading Quint mercenaries with the very man she intends to capture. And the more time she spends with Valentin Kos, the more she realizes that he’s not the coldly indifferent villain she imagined. Torn between duty and desire, Samara must decide if saving her people is worth giving up the one thing she’s always wanted.

Rogue Queen:
The Queen's Gambit
The Queen's Ambition

Visit Jessie Mihalik's website for more information

Review:
I first read The Queen’s Gambit when it was available on Jessie Mihalik’s blog as a free online serial and I enjoyed it enough that I purchased the final, edited version when it went on sale. The story was officially edited and expanded upon before official publication and I enjoyed the story as much, if not more, the second time around.

Samara is a great character, she’s the queen of a ragtag group of refugees and rebels who are living in the outer reaches of the solar system and just trying to get by without drawing attention of two warring factions. The war has made food and other supplies scarce and her people are struggling just to survive on very low rations. Samara has done everything she can think of to get food for her people but desperation has made her a little reckless and now she’s decided to kidnap Valentin, the new Emperor of the Kos Federation hoping to use the ransom for food and supplies. After all Valentin’s war is the reason her people are suffering in the first place so the least he can do is provide the means to save them.

I don’t want to say much more about the story but things with Valentin aren’t all what they first seemed and Samara may have bitten off more than she can chew by abducting him. Now she just has to decide if she can work with him for the good of her people or whether he will stab her in the back at the first chance he gets.

Jessie Mihalik has created a fun futuristic world with lots of interesting technology but even though this is only a novella I never found myself lost or struggling to keep up. There was a nice amount of action, a good selection of side characters and I also enjoyed the developing romance. I’m already looking forward to reading the sequel and luckily I don’t have to wait long because the author has already started posting instalments of The Queen’s Advantage on her blog!

Source: Originally read as an online serial on Jessie Mihalik's blog but I then purchased a copy once it had been edited and published

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Review: Nightchaser - Amanda Bouchet

US Cover

Tess Bailey: the galaxy's Most Wanted.

Captain Tess Bailey is in deep trouble. She and her crew are on the run, pursued by a tyrant who'll take them dead or alive. Tess's best hope is a tall, dark, and much-too-appealing stranger, Shade Ganavan, who says he can help her. But his motivations are far from clear...

Shade Ganavan: arrogance, charm...and that special something that makes you want to kick him.

With the dreaded Dark Watch closing in, what Tess and Shade don't know about each other might get them killed...unless they can set aside their differences and learn to trust each other before it's too late.

The Endeavour Trilogy:
Nightchaser
Starbreaker (2020)

Visit Amanda Bouchet's website for more information

Review:
Tess Bailey is the captain of the spaceship Endeavour, a ship she stole with the help of her entire crew when they all managed to break out of prison in the middle of a riot. They’re all wanted criminals with a price on their heads but instead of laying low they all chose to join the rebellion against the oppressive Overseer who put them in prison in the first place. They spend their time stealing supplies like food and medicine from the rich to help people who are desperately in need and they do it without expecting anything in return.

When a close encounter with the Overseer’s military leaves them with a badly damaged ship they are forced to take refuge on a planet where they have no existing connections. It’s imperative to keep their identity safe and get the repairs completed as quickly as possible but with the Dark Watch hot on their tails and a huge price on their heads escape might not be as easy as they thought.

I’m a huge fan of Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles so she’s already on my auto-buy list and I was incredibly excited to read Nightchaser, the first book in her new sci-fi romance series. Let’s just say we’re off to a fabulous start and I’m now desperately waiting for the rest of the series, so no pressure Amanda!

I really liked Tess and her whole crew, they all brought different skills to the table and combined they make a pretty good team. Tess is hiding some huge secrets but her crew are like her family and she will do whatever she has to in order to protect them. Tess is a pretty fierce character but she had some vulnerable moments too that made her very easy to relate to and of course I always feel like I could be friends with a woman who loves both books and cats!

They meet Shade when they land on planet and employ him to carry out repairs on their ship but he has his own secrets and they’re ones that could destroy everything Tess cares about. I was glad that we got parts of the story from his POV as well as from Tess’s because seeing his thoughts and feelings made his actions much easier to understand. I don’t want to give too much away about the story but Amanda Bouchet definitely excels at writing slow burn romances and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Nightchaser is a brilliant start to a series that I’m excited to continue reading.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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UK Cover

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Review: Stars Uncharted - S.K. Dunstall

In this rip-roaring space opera, a ragtag band of explorers are out to make the biggest score in the galaxy.

On this space jump, no one is who they seem . . .

Captain Hammond Roystan is a simple cargo runner who has stumbled across the find of a lifetime: the Hassim, a disabled exploration ship--and its valuable record of unexplored worlds.

His junior engineer, Josune Arriola, said her last assignment was in the uncharted rim. But she is decked out in high-level bioware that belies her humble backstory.

A renowned body-modification artist, Nika Rik Terri has run afoul of clients who will not take no for an answer. She has to flee off-world, and she is dragging along a rookie modder, who seems all too experienced in weapons and war . . .

Together this mismatched crew will end up on one ship, hurtling through the lawless reaches of deep space with Roystan at the helm. Trailed by nefarious company men, they will race to find the most famous lost world of all--and riches beyond their wildest dreams . . .

Stars Uncharted Series:
Stars Uncharted
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Visit S.K. Dunstall's website for more information

Review:
After loving Linesman I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of Stars Uncharted and I have to say that S.K. Dunstall has done it again and created another fast paced, action packed story full of great characters and fun world building. I loved the fact that all of the main characters were keeping secrets, some we know about from the beginning and others that you only discover as you carry on reading. Nothing on board Roystan's ship is quite what it seems but the characters all have reasons to hide their full identities and are distrustful of others due to past experiences.

I really enjoyed the banter between the shipmates and the way that there was such a strong bond between the original crew members who had been working together for a long time. Roystan was a great captain who looked out for his people and they respected him for that. Josune had joined the ship under false pretences but quickly grew to like the people she was working alongside and started questioning everything about her mission. Then you had body-modification artist Nika who was running from dangerous people and needed safe passage off planet to pretty much anywhere that she could start over under a new identity.

Each character brought something different to the story and I loved the way body-modification was described, what a fantastic technology that would allow people to change their appearance via their DNA so those changes were permanent. Well, until they fancied another new look anyway! Although Stars Uncharted works well as a standalone I'm really glad that the Dunstall sisters plan to write more stories about this group & I'm definitely going to be first in line for the next one.

Source: Received from Turnaround in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Perdition - Ann Aguirre

Welcome to hell.

The prison ship Perdition, a floating city where the Conglomerate's most dangerous criminals are confined for life, orbits endlessly around a barren asteroid.

Life inside is even more bleak. Hailed as the Dread Queen, inmate Dresdemona "Dred" Devos controls one of Perdition's six territories, bordered on both sides by would-be kings eager to challenge her claim. Keeping them at bay requires constant vigilance as well as a steady influx of recruits to replace the fallen. Survival is a continual battle, and death is the only escape.

Of the newest convicts, only one is worth Dred's attention. The mercenary Jael, with his deadly gaze and attitude, may be the most dangerous criminal on board. His combat skills could give her the edge she needs, if he doesn't betray her first. Unfortunately, that's what he does best. Winning Jael's allegiance will be a challenge, but failure could be worse than death . . .

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Set in the same world as Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax series Perdition takes place on a prison space ship that is the dumping ground for the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. Everyone sent to Perdition has been given a death sentence and the ship has been set up with is no chance of escape so the authorities don't even bother to provide guards to keep the prisoners under control. With limited resources and full of the most violent and terrifying prisoners the ship isn't exactly a safe place to be, separated into territories and run by different gangs its a constant battle to protect what is yours and even within the sectors you have to be careful not to end up with a knife in your back.

Dred is the leader of one of the six territories inside of Perdition and its a role she takes very seriously. She has to constantly be on her guard and must never show any sign of weakness because there are always people looking to steal her crown and take the reins. With the latest influx of new prisoners Dred  ends up recruiting mercenary Jael to her gang, he's an incredible fighter who can heal from practically any wound so he's the perfect person to have on her team but can she trust him not to betray her?

I absolutely loved Jael when he was first introduced to the Sirantha Jax series but understandably went off him after certain events in Doubleblind so I was wary of his character going into this. I'm actually glad he's being given the chance to redeem himself though and I really enjoyed getting to see some of the story from his point of view. Getting inside his head helped put previous events in a different light, it doesn't excuse Jael's actions but it makes it easier to understand where he was coming from and why he chose to do what he did. Because we get Jael's point of view we see see a softer more vulnerable side to him which made him easier to connect to, he's still his badass self though and there is plenty of his jokey banter to add a bit of levity to what is essentially quite a dark story.

Dred is a brilliant character too, as the one in charge she can never show even a hint of weakness or she'd be eaten alive by the people around her. No matter how respected she is these are hardened criminals and there is a reason they all ended up on Perdition in the first place. Dred is as ruthless as she needs to be and she can certainly hold her own in a fight but when she's alone with Jael she is able to show a side of herself that she has to keep hidden around everyone else. I'm totally shipping them as a couple but what remains to be seen is how they can build a better life for themselves in such a toxic environment.

Ann Aguirre writes about life on the ship brilliantly, she shows just how desperate people are thanks to the lack of resources and she's definitely captured the sense of hopelessness that everyone feels knowing they're stuck there. The only one who still has hope is Jael because he is determined to find a way to escape but everyone who has been there longer knows its an impossible dream. This book is dark, life on board is ruthless and nobody is safe so be prepared to have your heart ripped into tiny little pieces, life is dangerous and not everyone is going to survive in such a horrific environment. This was a great introduction to the series and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what else Dred and Jael can achieve working together, I may end up enjoying this even more than Sirantha's series!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Endgame - Ann Aguirre

Regret nothing.

Sirantha Jax has the J-gene, which permits her to "jump" faster-than-light ships through grimspace. She loves nothing more than that rush, but the star roads have to wait . . .

Her final mission takes her to La'heng, a planet subjugated during first contact. Sine then, the La'hengrin homeworld has been occupied by foreign conquerors.

All that's about to change.

Now, as part of a grassroots resistance, Tax means to liberate the La'hengrin. But political intrigue and guerrilla warfare are new to her, and this will be the most dangerous game she's ever played - involving spies and conspiracies, a war of weapons and hearts. And not everyone is guaranteed to make it out alive . . .

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
After Aftermath I was a little nervous about reading Endgame, I was worried about the direction certain things went and I wasn't happy at what seemed to be turning into a love triangle between Sirantha, March and Vel. As it turns out I'm actually quite glad that I did read it, if nothing else it means I have closure on the series and there were things I really enjoyed about the story.

To start with the positives I was really pleased to see Sirantha follow through on her promise to Loras to help him free the La'hengrin. They had been treated horrendously by humanity and have been suffering ever since we decided to meddle in their biology so it was great to see Sirantha step up to do something about it. I enjoyed watching Loras lead the rebellion, they're in the middle of an all out war so things aren't easy for any of them but Loras has come a long way from the beginning of the series. Vel as always stands out as a brilliant character and I love the humour that Baby Z always brings to the show.

I'd been really angry with the way things ended between Sirantha and March in the previous book so I was pleased that they manage to turn things around here. At the same time though I do think the way things were resolved just made the drama from the last book feel even more forced and just a cheap way to tug at readers heart strings. If there is one thing I really think ruined this series it's the constant issues between the main couple. They were absolutely fantastic in the first couple of books but from there onwards it's been one thing after another keeping them apart and putting blocks between them. Vel has been one of my favourite characters since the moment he was introduced but I love him as a friend for Sirantha and I think their relationship got far too complicated and blurred a few too many lines for me. I know they've never actually crossed the line completely but I'd have enjoyed it much more if they'd been firm friends and allies all the way through. I just reached the point where I struggled to believe Sirantha's proclamations of undying love for March because she always treated him badly. He wasn't much better at times but at least he usually had better reasons.

I also missed the wider scope of the earlier books, it was so much fun to see them travelling through space and visiting different planets so I got a little bored when they spent the entire book in one place. They had an important mission but I'd have liked it to tie up a little faster and for us to actually see them start their next adventure. Especially because that would have given us a chance to catch up with characters like Dina and Hit who were completely absent from this book. Considering what major characters they were early on it was disappointing that we didn't get the chance to catch up with them one last time in the final book of the series.

Overall for me this series started out amazingly strong and fizzled out a bit in the last couple of books. I still think it was well worth reading, particularly for the AMAZING early books though and I'm looking forward to trying the spin off series too.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Aftermath - Ann Aguirre

Dead heroes get monuments. Live ones get trials.

Sirantha Jax has the right genes - ones that enable her to "jump" faster-than-light ships through grimspace. But it's also in her genetic makeup to go it alone. It's a character trait that has gotten her into - and out of - hot water time and time again, but now she's caused one of the most horrific events in military history . . .

During the war against murderous, flesh-eating aliens, Sirantha went AWOL and shifted grimspace beacons to keep the enemy from invading humanity's homeworld. The cost of her actions: the destruction of modern interstellar travel - and the lives of six hundred Conglomerate soldiers.

Accused of dereliction of duty, desertion, mass murder, and high treason, Sirantha is on trial for her life. And only time will tell if she's one of the Conglomerate's greatest heroes - or most infamous criminals . . .

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
It's taken me a long time to write a review of Aftermath, probably because I still can't quite decide what I think of everything that happened in it and I'm kind of torn at this point over whether I even want to read the final book in the series. On one hand I want to know how it ends but on the other I'm pretty nervous because I'm not sure I like where the series is going. Anyway, let's focus on Aftermath for now and leave fears of Endgame until this review is finished!

I knew that the aftermath of Sirantha's actions at the end of the previous book were going to be catastrophic and I wasn't wrong, changing the Grimspace beacons has made interstellar travel practically impossible to anyone but Jax and until she trains a new wave of Jumpers the entire galaxy is going to pay the price for her actions. Even worse is the number of ships that were lost mid-jump due to her actions. So I get why she did what she did but I'm so angry for her that she didn't think things through and at least try to get a warning out, she was so determined to avoid March so that he wouldn't know what she was up to that she didn't bother to warn anyone of the consequences. Just a little more thought and she could have saved hundreds of lives so I'm angry with her reckless behaviour. Yes she did the right thing and yes she feels guilty about the people who died as a result but it wasn't quite enough for me.

Of course now she has to pay the price for her actions so the first part of the book is Sirantha on trial for  dereliction of duty and mass murder. This gives the author a good excuse to send our favourite couple in opposite directions again as March leaves to search for his nephew while Sirantha is stuck in a prison cell. At this point I just don't understand why these two ever became a couple, what was the point of creating this epic romance between them when they spend so much of their lives apart? I had such high hopes for them at the beginning of the series but now it just feels like I'm being emotionally manipulated by the drama that constantly occurs to keep them apart. Events at the end of Aftermath were both heartbreaking and utterly infuriating and I'm honestly not sure that I care about them as a couple anymore. Sirantha is too selfish to ever put March first and March is just wasting his life sitting around waiting for her.

Vel has been one of my favourite characters since he was introduced and he continues to be his awesome self. He's the saving grace of this series and I loved that we saw so much more of him in this book. I've always loved the friendship between him and Sirantha but I have to admit I'm worried at the hints of love-triangle developing here. That's not what I was expecting and I'm not happy about it. I did love the scenes with Baby Z though and events when they visited his planet were really interesting. I really enjoy exploring this world and I love Sirantha when she's on top form exploring new territory. I just hope the next book focuses more on their discovery than on doomed relationships and potential love triangles.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Killbox - Ann Aguirre

Talk is cheap when lives are in jeopardy.

Sirantha Jax is a "jumper," a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate faster-than-light ships through grimspace. With no tolerance for political diplomacy, she quits her ambassador post so she can get back to saving the universe the way she does best - by mouthing off and kicking butt.

And her tactics are needed more than ever. Flesh-eating aliens are attacking stations on the outskirts of space, and for many people, the Conglomerate's forces are arriving too late to serve and protect them.

Now Jax must take matters into her own hands by recruiting a militia to defend the frontiers - out of the worst criminals, mercenaries, and raiders who ever travelled through grimspace . . .

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Diplomacy has never been Jax's biggest strength so she's relieved to have resigned from her role as Ambassador and trying to figure out what to do with her life next. Then March gets an offer from the Conglomerate that he can't refuse, they want him to recruit a military fleet for them and marshal their forces against the human-eating Morgut who are currently plaguing the most vulnerable human outposts in the far reaches of space. Jax jumps at the chance of being in the action again and is more than willing to start training the next generation of jumpers on navigating Grimspace. It's time for humanity to come out fighting and show the Morgut that we're not a race to be messed with.

After the slower pace of Doubleblind I was thrilled to be back in the thick of the action for Killbox. The universe has been in disarray since Jax helped bring down Farwan, as much as the corporation committed terrible atrocities they did have the manpower and ships required to keep the peace and protect the humans spread across the galaxy. Now pirates and privateers are making life difficult for honest traders and it's up to March and Jax to try and convince the mercenaries to join with them and fight for the conglomerate rather than against them. There is definitely a lot going on in this book and I flew through the pages desperately trying to figure out what would happen next.

I have to admit I was slightly disappointed by a few things though. Firstly I wasn't happy with the new barriers put in the way of Jax and March's relationship, I love them best when they're working together for a common goal and it's getting a little tired that in pretty much every book something comes between them and forces them apart. I was also upset that the core crew ended up spending much of their time apart from each other and I particularly missed Vel's character. I understand why he was needed elsewhere but I love him so much and I didn't like how isolated Jax became as her friends all went off in their own directions. I was extremely upset at Doc's actions too, I think his story could have been handled in a hundred other ways that wouldn't have annoyed me as much as what actually happened and it's going to take a lot to make me interested in forgiving him.

I don't want to sound too negative though because this was still a brilliant book and there was so much to love about it. Jax is her awesome self, I still love March in spite of his stupid choices, Dina and Hit are brilliant together, Constance is really coming into her own and I adore Vel. Throw in some familiar faces from the past and we really do have a brilliant central cast of characters. We get loads of action, plenty of danger and Jax sticking her neck out for the people she loves. I'm a little worried about what she did at the very end of the story and the book ends on a killer cliffhanger but that's okay because the entire series has been published so I'm not going to have to wait around for the next instalment. This is such a fun series and I can't wait to continue reading it!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Doubleblind - Ann Aguirre

It's not easy to tread lightly wearing steel-toed boots.

Sirantha Jax isn't known for diplomatic finesse. As a "jumper" who navigates ships through grimspace, she's used to kicking ass first and taking names later - much later. She's not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.

And Ithtorian council meetings aren't the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to manoeuvre carefully. Her lover is frozen in permanent kill mode, and his hair trigger threatens to sabotage the talks - not to mention their relationship.

But Jax won't give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates and flesh-eating aliens, an alliance with the Ithtorians may be humanity's only hope. Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job . . .

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Doublebind is quite different to the previous books in the series, there's less action and more politics as Jax and her crew have finally arrived on Ithiss-Tor and she has to put her diplomatic skills to the test. We all know Jax as someone who speaks first and thinks later but she has to completely put her impulsive nature to one side and make nice with the locals if she wants any chance of building an alliance between humans and the Ithtorians. Although some of the Ithtorians are open to the alliance and hoping to profit from new potential trade routes the old guard is dead set against having anything to do with beings as primitive as humans.

In some ways I really like the new side we see to Jax here, I like the fact that she isn't just out for herself like she used to be and I appreciated that she was trying her best to make the alliance work but I have to admit she's more fun when she's being her impulsive normal self and you can't tell what she'll do next. Luckily we see a bit more of that side of her towards the end of the book and it led to a very interesting adventure. I enjoyed learning more about the Ithtorian culture but I think certain things could have been expanded upon. One thing I definitely missed was seeing more of the crew. Jael, Dina, Hit and Doc all have fairly minor appearances but they're fairly absent for much of the story and I missed the usual camaraderie we see between them.

March is like a completely different man to the person we met in the first book, events in Wanderlust have changed him and it's not a change for the better. I spent much of the book wondering why I fell in love with him in the first place and hoping that things wouldn't be dragged out for too long but luckily Jax finds a very clever way to make a breakthrough and that was one of my favourite moments in the story. The character who is on top form throughout is Vel, he's been a favourite of mine for a while now but this book just made me love him even more. I adore the friendship between him and Jax, he always has her back even though they're on his homeworld and he's going against cultural norms.

There was a certain event that completely shocked me and kind of broke my heart a little. I don't want to say too much but I was gutted by the way one character behaved, especially because of the reasoning behind their actions. I really hope that they are given the chance to redeem themselves in the future but it's not going to be easy to trust them again. Things are getting very tense in the outside world too as the Syndicate do their best to undermine the Conglomerate and I think it's going to be interesting how the Conglomerate deals with this and other threats. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up Killbox to see how Jax and her crew deal with the aftermath of this mission.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Wanderlust - Ann Aguirre

Sirantha Jax doesn't take chances . . . she jumps at them.

Sirantha Jax is a "jumper," a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate the faster-than-light ships through grimspace. Jax has worked for Farwan Corporation her entire career. But now word's out that the Corp deliberately crashed a passenger ship, and its stranglehold on intergalactic commerce has crumbled - which means Jax is out of a job.

She's also broke due to being declared dead a little prematurely. So when the government asks her to head up a vital diplomatic mission, Jax agrees to do it. Her mandate: journey to the planet Ithis-Tor and convince its inhabitants to join the Conglomerate.

But Jax's payday is light-years away. First she'll have to contend with Syndicate criminals, a stormy relationship with her pilot, man-eating aliens, and her own grimspace-weakened body. She'll be lucky just to make it to Ithis-Tor alive . . .

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
After absolutely falling in love with this world and these characters when I read Grimspace I couldn't wait to dive into Wanderlust. It's not often I find a series as addictive as this one and I'm happy that the second book continued that trend, I wouldn't say this was quite as good as the first book but it wasn't far off it and I'm still incredibly excited about reading the rest of the series. Where Grimspace was full of action and humour Wanderlust takes a darker turn, it still had it's humorous moments but there was some relationship drama that made it a little more angsty. The side characters and the amount of action pulled me through that though, there was enough going on that I could easily ignore the things that irritated me and I still love this world.

I love some of the changes we've seen in Jax, the way she wants to be a better person and how she tries to do the right thing is great but I do find it annoying that she tries to do everything on her own and doesn't ask her friends and crew for assistance even when she really needs their help. I also didn't like the way she tried to push Marsh away "for his own good", you don't get to make that kind of decision on someone else's behalf - especially not when you're hurting them in the process! I guess it was more realistic that their relationship wouldn't be plain sailing though, they both have difficult pasts and thats bound to effect the way they deal with things and lets face it they've not really had much time to get to know each other yet. I actually respected Marsh for his decision to stay behind to help Keri with her battle, she obviously needed his help and she's like a little sister to him so I think it's important that he didn't just abandon his family for Jax. It was still disappointing to see Jax and Marsh separated for so much of the story though and it's going to be interesting to see how their relationship proceeds now he's such a different man.

The side characters continue to be one of my favourite things about this series. I love that Ann Aguirre is happy to surround Jax with strong women as well as men, that's something we don't always see enough of. Dina and 245 remain favourites but we also have a new addition to the kickass women of the crew in Hit, a lethal assassin who luckily is on Jax's side (well for now anyway, let's hope she remains there!). The boys are still represented too and Vel is definitely one of my favourite characters in the series, for a shapeshifting giant praying mantis he's actually a pretty sweet character but he's always full of surprises and definitely a good person to be near in a fight. I love new addition Jael, what we've learned about his background is intriguing and definitely left me wanting more, he's a fun character but I'm a little nervous about the apology he made towards the end of the book so I'm going to be keeping a close eye on him in the future.

This series has quickly become one of my favourites and I can't wait to continue reading it.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Grimspace - Ann Aguirre

By all accounts, Sirantha Jax should have burned out years ago...

As the carrier of a rare gene, Jax has the ability to jump ships through grimspace—a talent which cuts into her life expectancy, but makes her a highly prized navigator for the Corp. But then the ship she’s navigating crash-lands, and she’s accused of killing everyone on board. It’s hard for Jax to defend herself: she has no memory of the crash.

Now imprisoned and the subject of a ruthless interrogation, Jax is on the verge of madness. Then a mysterious man breaks into her cell, offering her freedom—for a price. March needs Jax to help his small band of rogue fighters break the Corp monopoly on interstellar travel—and establish a new breed of jumper.

Jax is only good at one thing—grimspace—and it will eventually kill her. So she may as well have some fun in the meantime...

Sirantha Jax Series:
Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame

Dred Chronicles:
Perdition
Havoc
Breakout

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Sirantha Jax has a rare genetic ability to navigate through Grimspace, her talent is highly sought after and she's always been considered a bit of a celebrity because of that. It all goes horribly wrong when a ship she is navigating crashes killing over 80 people, Jax is the only survivor but she has no memory of how the crash happened. The Corporation she works for seem to believe it was her fault though and she has been a prisoner ever since undergoing psych-evaluations and constant questioning. When a mysterious man breaks into her cell and offers her the chance at freedom it's a chance she has to take, even if it does come with a very high price and leave her with a price on her head.

It's been a long time since the first book in a series grabbed me quite as hard as Grimspace did. I was totally hooked from the very first page and if I'd had more time on my hands I could easily have devoured this in a day. As it was I was irritated that real life got in the way of my reading time and when I was busy doing other things I was constantly trying to find time to squeeze in just a couple more pages. The book wasn't quite perfect and there were a few points where I was a little confused but it gets the full five star rating for its pure addictiveness!

There is just so much to love about this world and particularly the characters. Jax is a mess, she's paranoid, suicidal and only one step away from a full on psychotic break but she's also a tough as nails survivor with a snarky sense of humour and a tendency to act before she thinks. She doesn't let people close easily but once she does she will fight to protect them and she's definitely the kind of person you want to have your back in a tough spot. Then we have Marsh (oh hello new book boyfriend!) who is just as as much of a smartarse as Jax and twice as messed up, he has a homicidal streak a mile wide but he has mad mind reading skills and the boy knows how to use his Theta waves! I love that he's not manipulative, he's pretty much a what you see is what you get kind of guy which means he'll tell you the truth even when you don't want to hear it. The romance between these two was pretty spot on, yes it starts happening very quickly but it never felt rushed and I loved every minute of it.

They're not the only great characters though and I also loved Dina for her sarcastic sense of humour, Doc for always being the peacemaker, Loras for his incredible act of bravery, Baby-Z for all round adorableness and adding so much humour to the story and Velith for being such a surprise. There are so many things to love about this story and the clever dialogue and interesting world building is only part of it. Grimspace has all the humour and action of Firefly, Jax is a space travelling, equally kickass version of Kate Daniels and the story will keep you gripped from beginning to end. I'm so glad I'm late discovering this series because that means I can devour all six books (and the spin off trilogy!) without having to wait between releases. Now I'm off to make a start on Wanderlust!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Revenger - Alastair Reynolds

A superb science fiction adventure set in the rubble of a ruined universe, this is a deep space heist story of kidnap, betrayal, alien artifacts and revenge.

The galaxy has seen great empires rise and fall. Planets have shattered and been remade. Amongst the ruins of alien civilizations, building our own from the rubble, humanity still thrives.

And there are vast fortunes to be made, if you know where to find them.

Captain Rackamore and his crew do. It's their business to find the tiny, enigmatic worlds which have been hidden away, booby-trapped, surrounded by layers of protection--and to crack them open for the ancient relics and barely-remembered technologies inside. But while they ply their risky trade with integrity, not everyone is so scrupulous.

Adrana and Fura Ness are the newest members of Rackamore's crew, signed on to save their family from bankruptcy. Only Rackamore has enemies, and there might be more waiting for them in space than adventure and fortune: the fabled and feared Bosa Sennen in particular.

Revenger is a science fiction adventure story set in the rubble of our solar system in the dark, distant future--a tale of space pirates, buried treasure, and phantom weapons, of unspeakable hazards and single-minded heroism and of vengeance...

Visit Alastair Reynolds' website for more information

Review:
I've heard great things about Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series but for some reason I've never got around to trying it so when I was offered a copy of his new YA novel Revenger for review I jumped at the chance. This was actually a great introduction to his writing and it's definitely left me planning to read more of his books in the future, I'm actually hoping for a sequel to this one but I'll have to check out some of his other books while I wait.

Adrana and Fura have led fairly sheltered lives but their father's lack of business sense has left them struggling financially and the girls feel responsible for turning the family's fortune around. Adrana is the more adventurous of the two and she manages to almost trick her sister into joining Rackamore's crew of space pirates, promising Fura that they'll be able to earn enough money in six months to pay off their father's debts and to give them a secure future. Fura is reluctant at first but once she gets away from her father's influence she quickly starts to enjoy her adventure, until it all goes horribly wrong and she's left wishing she'd never left home at all. Fura now has a difficult decision to make, head home with her tail between her legs and beg her father for forgiveness or set out on her own terms to rescue the people she cares about and to get revenge for everything that they have suffered.

Alastair Reynolds has created a really interesting world here and I was fascinated by the idea of the baubles that are scattered throughout the universe hiding secret worlds that can only be accessed at certain times and contain all kinds of long forgotten treasures. It takes specialised skills to be able to get inside one of the baubles and if a team is lucky they can find riches beyond measure in a single trip. Of course the dangers are high and even if they're successful in their retrieval mission they may find themselves up against fellow pirates who have been targeting the same bauble. I think my only slight disappointment with the story was that I wanted a little more information about how these baubles were created and who left them behind, there are hints that they're leftover relics from alien civilisations but I'd have liked to have seen that expanded upon a bit more.

Revenger is a fast paced pirates-in-space adventure mixed in with a story of growing up and finding your place in the world. It's about being brave enough to do the right thing and standing up for what you believe in and it's about friendships and the family you can create for yourself. Although the story has a proper ending it definitely leaves things open for a sequel and I'm really hoping that we'll get the chance to spend more time with Fura and her crew of pirates.

I alternated between reading this myself and listening to the audiobook so I thought I'd mention that the narrator Clare Corbett did a great job telling the story. I did find that the volume wasn't always consistent which meant I'd have to turn it up high one minute only to be deafened the next but apart from that I enjoyed her performance.

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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