Synopsis
Zervana is a space pirate, for she has no other choice. She lives in a galaxy where interstellar travel belongs to the rich. Long ago, GIBB corp. built portals between planets, but the only way through them is by drinking the company’s high-priced elixirs. If Zervana doesn’t raid GIBB shipments and give the means of space travel to the poor, then who will?
Milo is a space pirate, for he has no other choice. He’s a Mesito, the last remaining of an eradicated, shape-shifting species thought too dangerous to roam the galaxy. His life is lived in shadows and he has nowhere to turn besides Zervana’s rebellious arms. If Milo stops assisting her in piracy, will she still harbor him?
Zervana and Milo’s splintering relationship is soon just one of many problems. Enter another band of pirates with their own histories and turmoil, the accelerating pursuit of the GIBB corporation, and—at the heart of everything—a generational secret which threatens to destroy the entire galaxy. If Zervana hopes to save her worlds, first she must reckon with them.
Review:
From the very beginning, Sanders’ journalistic style taps out a galaxy in exposition-heavy but easy to swallow reams of world building that paints a broad picture and sets out an enjoyable tone.
A world tainted by consumerism and elitist principles is the perfect place to start our two main characters on their rebellious antics. And from the start, things begin to go wrong.
Milo and Zervana’s relationship is strained from page one. After a series of heists and, no doubt, exhilarating space pirate escapades, Milo wants out, and Zervana wants more! This fragility, along with Sanders’ moreish prose, helps to keep the pages turning.
This is a book full of fun that doesn’t swerve the darkness but also doesn’t dwell on it. As a stalwart grimdark fan, this is not something I would usually read, but I did enjoy my holiday into the lighter side of the universe none the less.
This story and its colourful characters scream to be adapted into a graphic novel. Again Sanders’ style practically slaps a hook-laced comic book frame around each scene and easily encourages you to move to the next.
As someone with grim tendencies and a penchant for gritty, human-based fantasy, I found small issue with Milo’s species-specific shape changing abilities, but this did not stop me enjoying the character and his “I’m too old for this shit” narrative. Zervana’s idealistic spaced themed Robin hood was a good counterbalance and I really did enjoy the cast of characters they ran into on their fraught journey. Brady has an eye for interesting character concepts even if he is a little heavy on the info and exposition dumps, he does manage to make them slip down the throat like any good vaccitube (space travel elixir that holds this galaxy/story together, one of Mr Sanders’ many fascinating and well thought out concepts that makes his world brim with heritage and back-story support beams!)
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