I was looking forward to reading this 2nd book in the NEO-G universe. Set about 400 years in the future after an unspecified calamity, this series follows the Near Earth Orbital Guard, Coast Guard in space, on their various adventures. K. B. is a non-binary author and their book has a host of various trans, and non-binary characters, as well as a loving and affectionate team of spacefarers. I was a little concerned that all the hand holding and loving between ship captains and crew was going to drive me out of the story… not sure why… maybe because conform to my lived experience? That is probably it at some level. But I love the found family aspect of the crew.
I did struggle with the first half of the book and it took me longer than it should have to get through it. Part of it was that I just didn’t remember who was who from book one, and who was dating who, but if I let that go and got to meet the characters new again for the first time, it was ok. I did probably miss out on some of the details. I also have had a stressful few weeks and that didn’t help my concentration.
But the last 1/3 of the book really drove fast. I read it in two evenings, and last night when I finished the book, I had to stay up to finish it. That, to me, is the sign of a good book, not being able to put it down. I feel like if I had been paying more attention (had been able to) then the first half would have been stronger for me.
I do like this universe and these characters, and I am proud of myself for correctly guessing one of the twists. They dropped just enough clues and I was like… no, thing a that happened couldn’t have actually happened, and I was right. So i was happy to have guessed that plot twist. I am looking forward to continuing this series; the next book is due out fairly soon I think.