A gripping and heartfelt horror-tinged space adventure from the BSFA award-winning author of Stars and Bones and Embers of War. Readers of James S.A. Corey and Becky Chambers will love this fast-paced story of space piracy, deadly alien artifacts and a race to save what is left of humanity.When archaeologist Ursula Morrow accidentally infects herself with an alien parasite, she fears she may have jeopardised her career. However, her concerns become irrelevant when Earth is destroyed, billions die, and suddenly no one needs archaeologists anymore…Two years later, she’s plucked from a refugee camp on a backwater world and tasked with retrieving the artefact that infected her, as it just might hold the key to humanity’s survival. With time running short, and the planet housing the weapon now situated in hostile territory, she realises she’s going to have to commit an act of desperate piracy if she’s going to achieve her objective before the enemy’s final onslaught.A thrilling, page-turning journey into deep space, where the fights are brutal and the relationships are complicated, from the BSFA award-winning author of Stars and Bones and Embers of War.
Ursula is a great protagonist, and I enjoyed getting to know her in a very real situation before the main story truly takes off. Is this to be a heist? Nope, she's no thief! OK, an explorer then. An adventurer with a haphazard crew? Or just a lone human with a few friends (and suspicious acquaintances), a sentient ship and a bizarre infection carried from her past...
It's a great adventure, beautifully told and without any unpleasant overly-scientific exposition-dumps that took me out of the story. Like I said: humans doing their best to survive in the Black. A thoroughly enjoyable ride.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.