Ahoy there me mateys!  I received an eArc of this sci-fi novel through NetGalley in exchange for me honest musings . . .

I really, really enjoyed three days in april by this author so was excited to read this one.  This novel follows Mickey who works as an expendable on a human colony.  Have a job on the colony where the end result is likely death?  Mickey is the solution.  If he dies, no problem.  A new body is made and a backup of his brain is installed.  Only Mickey isn't so thrilled because those memories include how he previously died and the emotions that went with it.

There is also the rule of only one expendable per colony as making new bodies uses precious resources in limited supply.  Mickey7 has experienced death 7 times.  Circumstances occur where he is supposed to die but doesn't.  Only Mickey8 is already baked.  Problems ensue.

I really loved the set up of the book and learning about both the colony and how Mickey found himself in his weird job.  I also loved how flashbacks were used in this novel to slowly give details of the prior versions of Mickey to enhance the story.  I did enjoy Mickey7.

The plot did end up being a bit of a let down in the end.  The middle of the book was kinda slow.  The sections of the two Mickeys in the same colony were unbelievable and poorly done.  Both 7 and 8 should have been caught immediately.  There was relationship angst that could have been interesting but felt more like a red herring.  Also the native creatures aspects of the colony planet were glossed over and simplified.  The resolution of all conflict and the ending of the book left much to be desired.

Most of this book didn't work for me but I don't regret reading it for the parts I did like and the concepts of the expendables' usage in establishing a new colony.  I would read more of the author's work in the future.  Arrrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank ye kindly St. Martin's Press!