Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! This series combines so many fantastic sci-fi tropes and story archetypes - space opera, a romance sub-plot that is enemies-to-lovers but also bodyguard romance, sentient AI, evolutionary crisis - with some additional hidden identity plots, lots of body swapping and mind mapping, and a well-developed and compelling cast of characters. And while book two didn't have sentient ship POV like book one (RIP), it did bring all of the right notes of horror as humanity devolves further into total chaos.

The central conflict (which I won't outline to avoid spoilers) is balanced by the earnest and genuinely tender romance between Naira Sharp and Tarquin Mercator, our two main characters. The development of this relationship in The Fractured Dark is one of the most nuanced on-page depictions of two people navigating significant power imbalance in a relationship that I've read in any genre. The vulnerability in their communication with each other, their insistence to heal from past trauma to be better partners to each other, their faith in each other in all circumstances and in the face of terrible odds - it's so affirming. Please note, though, this romance is entirely fade-to-black/closed door, so consider this a "sci fi with romance sub-plot" vs. a "sci fi romance."

My only significant content warning here (aside from the genre-typical notes of death/murder/body horror/medical trauma/etc. etc.): extended on-page attention to a deeply abusive (both emotionally and physically) relationship between one of the main characters and a side character. 

I highly recommend this series to sci-fi fans, particularly those who love a good romance sub-plot!

In Which Winnie Halifax is Utterly Ruined, by Alexandra Vasti, is the final installment in the Halifax Hellions trilogy. Our female main character, Winnie is creative and resilient, determined to live on her own terms, and ultimately a perfect match for starchy Spencer, our reluctant Earl. Their love story is absurd and earnest and so dang funny, and I loved every beat.

As I reflect on this conclusion to the trio, I can confidently say The Halifax family series is among my most comforting and enjoyable histrom series for rereads (right up there with Loretta Chase's Carsington Brothers series, which I am already rereading), and the only consolation to finishing it is knowing that we have full-length histrom coming from Vasti in 2024.

A few notes on this trio (book one is In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Reputation and book two is In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint):
💖 All three installments are novellas - well-built arcs with tight storylines, all plotlines overlapping with each other (each story adds a bit of insight to the others, but I really believe you could read them in any order if you wanted!)
💖 All three installments are perfect entry points to historical romance for new readers to the genre!
💖 All three installments center A++ consent, some delightfully sneaky k*nk, and immaculately written open-door scenes that advance the plot and deepen emotional intimacy between main characters.

This is a series I would recommend to any romance reader, full stop.