My Goodreads review: The Scourge Between Stars

[ankh_hpl]

The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


[Disclaimer: I received a free advance copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]

This debut novella has the feel of a full-blown SF novel, and very nearly as much plot. Set aboard a colony ship escaping a failed attempt to settle an unsuitable world, it combines a terrifying onboard threat with some dark interpersonal problems. The general feel is a bit Alien-ish, though the actual situation is not. There is, however, at least one pretty memorable "bug hunt." Ness Brown writes action skillfully, and the pages turn (or swipe) at an increasingly rapid pace.

With an emphasis on female leadership and diversity among the crew, Scourge is an up-to-date space opera with many sympathetic characters -- at least one of them nonhuman. After a while, however, keeping track of their motivations and relationships becomes a little difficult. This novella really wants to be bigger than it is. Some of the most tantalizing subplots are never fully worked through, and the end comes -- for this reader, anyhow -- a bit too abruptly.

That said, this was still an exciting and atmospheric read for those of us who enjoy deep space drama -- and I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next. Three stars (3.5, if I could), heading for four.





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