by Rachel Bach
*****
SciFi
November 2013
cover - How can you not love this cover. there's a space suit helmet, an intense face in there, and all those code and symbols running across her visor.... all her feeds. Yep. Intense.
I just love a good SciFi novel, especially when there are gadgets and implants, wetware, soft ware, etc., along with a good strong intense female lead. I'm not crazy about the almost out of control temper on this particular woman, but she's not my best friend or family member, so it's all just part of a good story. Except in the place where I'm rolling my eyes because she's a little quick to lash out with her temper, when she's supposed to be a highly trained soldier....but - it's all story line. To be fair, I do find my self rolling my eyes at many random things lately - maybe I'm just cranky. ;)
In this book, Deviana - aka Devi - has signed on to a ship that is well known as an illfated ship to be on. She signs on to it, because she's too impatient to rise up the ranks and be noticed for an elite position in an elite kings' guard position. This position just about backfires on her.
She ends up almost dying a few times, has some adventures and falls for this cook who seems to be more than your average cook. In fact, everyone on this ship is a little more than appears.
I enjoyed the characters - except for the stereotypical almost sexist co-mercenary who has signed on at the same time. I would hope that by the time any civilization gets into space, and terraforms many planets that the usual male looking down on female coworkers would have been on the down swing; what with evolution, the fact that there are many females in the armies, etc. I would hate to think that we could possibly go thousands of years and still be dealing with males pulling the whole cock of the roost thing. But - then Devi wouldn't have been able to show off her macho state of being, her toughness, and her armor. (Wink)
Aside from that, I enjoyed the story along with the strange characters on the ship. I like the universe and other beings that Bach as written into the story. The backgrounds of each race are interesting - you have to read to appreciate....
Even the Doctor of the ship is of a being that are usually known to humans as a warring race, and Devi almost shoots the navigator before they are introduced. The doctor in fact, is one of my favorite characters.
There are some fun plot twists in this novel - one of three so far. (novels, not plot twists). There is a romance that is nipped almost before it starts, unrequited love, friendships where Devi never expected to find friendships, mysterious crew and captain, a ship raid or three that they barely survive, and some freaky deaky stuff that goes on.
I am looking forward to reading the next in the series - and according to some of the other reviews, book three is even more intense than the first two. wow.
Rachel Bach also writes as Rachel Aaron (The Spirit Thief)
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