This took a little bit of getting into, since although it is a standalone, it's in a previously-published universe, and I felt like there needed to be just a little bit more world explanation early on, especially around the different alien races. However, the plot pulled me along through that steep learning curve, and the characters made it all worthwhile overall. 

Give it a try if you're interested in sci-fantasy ... it's a great blend of those genres with something like a murder mystery.

16/20.