I’ve read a decent amount of sci-fi in the past couple of years. Plenty of have been good, some have been amazing, and a handful sucked.

This book may be the best sci-fi I’ve ever read.

The story is slower and meanders a bit, but that’s okay. It’s still intriguing, and the pace allows focus to shift to the characters and complexities of the galaxy. The execution is spot-on.

There’s so much to love about this. Everything is so intricate. The aliens were so creative and they had in-depth cultures and customs. The galaxies this story spanned were just as expansive, with elite planets and fringe planets, life and no life, and everything in between.

Additionally, everyone is so lovable (even Corbin) and uniquely badass. Rosemary, Ashby, Sissix, Kizzy, Jenks, Corbin, Dr. Chef, Ohan, and Lovey are one of my new favorite group casts. They’re an interspecies crew and each member has their own discernible strengths, weaknesses, and personality. The found family dynamic was heartwarming, and their banter and loyalty and friendship and acceptance was basically perfection. This crew has my heart. (Or part of it. I’ve got too many all-time favorite characters and not enough heart. #booknerdproblems)

This novel also discusses important topics such as racism and xenophobia, and consistently includes gender-neutral pronouns (they/them) for a crew member and other characters (xe/xyr) they meet along the way. It talks about learning and respecting other cultures and the differences from your own. While it’s primarily a captivating space opera, it also has very relevant discussions that were effortlessly woven in.

There are three romances that develop over the course of the book. One is f/f while the other two are m/f, but all three are interspecies in some way. I won’t specify characters, but they’re all passionate in their own way and I was absolutely on board. One made me really, unexpectedly sad. I hope to see more of the others in the sequel.

I think all aspects of this book were written superbly. There was so much detail and development, and it’s so interesting to drink it all up while going on this unpredictable galactic adventure. I was hooked from the start, and although reading this took me a bit longer than I’d hoped, I found it gripping through to the very last page.

I feel like this book deserves a longer, more eloquent and laudatory review, but truly, my love for it goes beyond any words I can conjure at almost 11 pm. (Or any time, let’s be honest. I’m rarely eloquent.)

So, all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was my first adult sci-fi read, and I think I’ll have to try more. This was a huge surprise, albeit a pleasant one, and I’d absolutely recommend it, even if you aren’t usually a sci-fi fan. I think this book could change your mind.