You can see all my reviews here: Books Are The New Black




3.5 stars rounded up

I would like to start by saying that Science Fiction is not my typical genre. This one sounded so fun from the blurb that I wanted to give it a shot. I’m coming around to more Sci-Fi. This was definitely a fun Space Opera, and I enjoyed myself for the most part. Even though, I didn’t fall completely in love with this, I think it’s worth the read. Especially, if you love any of these aspects already!

I loved the idea of humans and mechs coming together to try and fight a big enemy. It was such an interesting take on the end of the world. The aspect of adding music to communicate with them was also really cool. I do wish we would have gotten a little more of that. I felt like it took a bit of a sideline. There are a lot of things that were side-lined for the relationship.

The biggest problem and negative about this book is the relationship. I have never or will ever be a fan of instant love. I just can’t do it and I don’t buy it. Can people come together when they are faced with their end days- yes! I would think that to be heavily encouraged. Do people fall instantly in love with a night together that didn’t even go that great? I’m sorry, but no. Then this book focuses so heavily on this romance and how all this is keeping them from sleeping together. I’m pretty sure if I was faced with saving the world, a person I met the day before, would be the last thing on my mind. There’s a lot more to it but I just couldn’t connect with this relationship. I found that a lot of this book was in Arden’s POV more than Gus’s. I also wanted more of Gus’s past trauma because we barely touch it and then the subject is changed.

The relationship that I thought had much more depth and I enjoyed was Ardent and his agent. She was funny and Ardent wouldn’t have made it far without her. I’m hoping that we see a lot more of her in the future. I think that White did an excellent job with representation in this book. I will admit, it took me a minute to figure out that Ardent was nonbinary.

The world-building is cool and I think he did a great job describing all the Vanguards (mechas). The plot is complicated and it did take me longer than usual because I’m not a typical Sci-Fi reader. Although, there are times that the pacing was slow just because it was slow.

I loved the addition of the gang at the end. White does know how to write some cool characters! I would have enjoyed this much more if we would have been introduced to them sooner. Even though the ending was a bit anti-climatic, I think there’s a lot of great setup for the next book.

Overall, I didn’t love this as much as I was hoping I would. I did have some fun and laugh-out-loud moments. I thought the characters were cool and the world-building. The music aspect was also a cool tough but I wish it would have been explored a little more. I do think a lot of people will enjoy this one. It’s fun and a bit crazy!

Many thanks to Orbit for providing me with an ARC. Thoughts and opinions are my own!