Ahoy there mateys!  I am not sure if this is supposed to be the beginning of a series or is just a jam packed standalone.  There is a lot to like here but ultimately this was just an okay read for me.

The alien Cutters have destroyed Earth and the majority of its colonies.  The refugees of Earth are at the edge of the galaxy making colony ships and hoping to save as many as possible before the Cutters reach them.  Ursula is one of those refugees that made it off Earth with some help from an infection by a long extinct alien race's artifact.  She may hold the key to humanity's survival.

I really enjoyed Ursula as a character.  She has changed a lot since her student days studying archeology.  We get flashbacks into her time on Earth, her time with the alien artifact, her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Jack, and her relationship with alcohol.  I appreciate that going through the end times not only produces trauma and regret but also personal growth and reflection.  How she handles the reappearance of Jack and his new loves, the ship's AI and its avatar, was another highlight.  We also get journal entries from the ship itself.

The major problem I had with the book was the overall plot itself and how Ursula's infection worked.  I just didn't find the circumstances to be that exciting.  I liked the pieces of the puzzles but not the execution.  The other characters on the ship, particularly Siegfried and Mouse, had potential but seemed to be used as plot devices only.  Several of the other crew had mentions but didn't really do anything.  The ending itself was hopeful but much too convenient for me.

In general, I seem to find the author's books to have fun concepts and characters but lackluster plots and solutions.  I am not sure if I would read anything else by the author due to this personal taste.  Again I am in the minority though but the rest of the crew loved this.  Arrrr!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.