Novels usually continue the way they start out. Weaknesses and writing errors we find in opening chapters usually repeat themselves throughout the read. Likewise, a top-notch character, if developed properly, can help carry a lot of baggage for the rest of the book.
This is especially true of Ada, a musician who is constantly finding herself out of her depth in the vicious underworld she is forced to navigate to pay for the medication for her otherwise-terminal illness. The progress of her gradual transformation, intellectually, morally and physically, keeps us interested in a story line that is aimed at the “Science” end of the Sci-Fi genre. If you’re a techno fan, this will not bother you.
But for the average reader, this novel has two weaknesses. The first is a lack of emotion. Most characters are larger-than-life, cold-blooded opportunists, capitalists and criminals. Some are given moments of humanity designed to create empathy, but save for Ada, it isn’t enough. The problem is exacerbated by a loose control of point of view, and we head-hop, often without warning, which makes it difficult to develop any depth of feeling for anyone.
The other problem is a weakness in the conflict structure that prevents the development of suspense. This happens because the conflicts, while well developed and tense, are usually solved by the revelation of some unheralded technology, often giving a character some new esoteric capability. Nothing is solved by cleverness or ethical strength. Technology reigns, and after the author has used it to solve three or for conflicts, we stop thinking, “Oh, my. What is Ada going to do now?” We begin to say, “I wonder what new gadget the author is going to think up this time?”
This results in a piling on of new characters and new powers until the book resembles a superhero graphic novel. Late in the story, a new character takes us on what should be a fascinating detour into the next bit of technology, but we just don’t care enough to want to wade through it.
Except for the structural weaknesses, this is a smoothly written novel, with plenty of creativity in setting and technology.
However, the ending ends nothing, but starts the conflict for the next episode in the series. The final result is a hard-science serial Space Opera. If you like that sort of book, you’ll enjoy this one. And the next.
Four stars
This review was originally posted on Reedsy Discovery.